The color Violet and its entire spectrum from deep purple to lavender has a great deal to offer humanity. Violet has often been referred to as the color of royalty. It was used by the emperors of Rome for ceremonial garb and common folk were prohibited . . . → Read More: Healing Qualities of Color]]> Violet
The Benefits and Healing Properties of Violet

The color Violet and its entire spectrum from deep purple to lavender has a great deal to offer humanity. Violet has often been referred to as the color of royalty. It was used by the emperors of Rome for ceremonial garb and common folk were prohibited from wearing the “imperial” color.

In the Chakra system, violet is represented in the highest Chakra, the crown Chakra which extends from the hairline to the top of the head. This Chakra is connected with the highest functions of mankind: harmony, peace and the ability to connect with the realms of spirit.

Since ancient times, many types of violet stones have been used to enhance our connection to the Divine. Amethyst is the most common of these stones. It was one of the gemstones in the breastplate of the high priest of Israel. The breastplate was worn when the priest was acting as an oracle.
Amethyst is used by many psychics to strengthen spiritual visions and messages. The gemstone Sugalite, another purple stone, enhances spiritual love.

Violet is known as the color of healing and transformation and the wide variety of purple to lavender gemstones and minerals incorporate this healing ability. Violet is the color used by the Ascended Master St. Germain. In many of his writings he describes the Violet Flame of Consuming Love. One may visualize the flame surrounding oneself and ask it to transform any negative feelings and emotions. (Details may be found in the I Am Discourses available from the Center for the New Age.)

Amethyst helps many types of physical disorders. It has been used for headaches, insomnia, hearing difficulties and addictions. And in today’s world where stress related disorders are manifest, the use of violet gemstones can be very helpful in dissipating these conditions.

Carry purple fluorite to discourage chaos and disorder. It helps bring one back into balance. Labradorite is a gemstone that has a tranquilizing effect upon people. It is found to aid in stress reduction and to help people come out from under the cloud of depression and despair. Some Labradorite earrings or a pendant can work wonders.

The violet gemstones can also help strengthen our connection to the Divine. Sugalite is a mineral that makes it easier to feel spiritual love and unity. It opens all the Chakras so that the Kundilini (life force) energy can emerge from the base of the spine. Sugalite also promotes forgiveness, an important quality to achieve for those wishing to walk the spiritual path.

As you can see, there are many ways that violet can brighten our day.

If you have had a hard day at work, school or with the kids, light a purple candle, put some lavender oil behind your ears and under your nose and lie down. Place a violet scarf over your eyes, listen to some soothing music and you will see that peace of mind is not far away at all.

Blue is associated with the fifth Chakra, or energy center in our body. This particular center includes the throat and face area up to and including the . . . → Read More: Healing Qualities of Color]]> Blue
The color blue is the most popular color in the world. It is one of the three primary colors from which all other colors are derived.

Blue is associated with the fifth Chakra, or energy center in our body. This particular center includes the throat and face area up to and including the third eye. This Chakra center is the focus of the throat thereby encompassing communication in all forms. Wearing a blue scarf or tie, or wearing a necklace with blue stones will help you speak up for yourself and say what needs to be said. In terms of public speaking, blue is the color to wear. Is it any wonder that presidents and male television personalities most often wear blue shirts when facing the public?

The color blue is also associated with peace and calm. When you are feeling tense, or just had a long day, burning a blue candle will help you to relax and feel more peaceful inside.

The area of the father is also connected with blue. If you are having troubles with an authority figure or an older father figure, you may want to wear or have blue calcite next to your skin. This brings calm, clarity and good connection with these individuals.

Royal blue is associated with the 3rd eye location between the eyebrows. This is the region of psychic attunement. There are several blue gemstones – lapis, tourmaline and blue topaz among others – that work with this area.

Azurite is a very powerful stone for stimulating 3rd eye activity. It is good to lie down and place azurite directly on the 3rd eye center. Relax and let it take you to other worlds. Azurite is also good for communication with your spirit guides. Apatite is another important mineral for stimulating the 3rd eye area. It helps expand intuition and clairvoyance! It also helps one to achieve a deep state of meditation and reflection.

Celestite is another blue mineral which acts to open the spiritual realms to a seeker. It stimulates the use of your spiritual gifts. It can assist one in astral travel if that be your desire. Just place celestite near your bed before you go to sleep. As its name implies, celestite can help you communicate with the angelic realms.

Mother Mary is traditionally pictured in blue robes. One might very well emulate this color choice to take pleasure from the many wonderful spiritual and healing potentials the color blue offers you.

Green is a very popular color and plays an important role in cultures throughout the world.

In the Oriental tradition, green is significant as the representation of the element of wood. It stands for all plant life that is continually growing and expanding. Putting bamboo . . . → Read More: Healing and Transformational Qualities of Color]]> Green
Green – A Gateway to the “Heart Chakra”

Green is a very popular color and plays an important role in cultures throughout the world.

In the Oriental tradition, green is significant as the representation of the element of wood. It stands for all plant life that is continually growing and expanding. Putting bamboo plants in the eastern area of your home will bring prosperity and abundance. In this same area, Jade or Fluorite statues of the Buddha will promote good luck. Having a statue of the Chinese Goddess of Compassion – Quan Yin – in Jade, will also promote abundance. A jade or fluorite dragon will add energy to the abundance process and burning green candles in the eastern portion of the home will also help with issues of plenty and bountifulness.

The Druid religion of Great Britain also honored the color green. Wearing green was said to connect one with the fertility of the earth. Malachite has strong green energy. Wearing a pendant or bracelet of this gemstone will accelerate abundance.

Green is associated with the fourth Chakra or energy center of the heart. For this reason, green is analogous with emotional healing and release of painful issues of the past. Green jewelry such as green aventurine and fluorite can be used as auric cleansers. Wearing green jewelry in the heart area will help with issues of envy, jealousy and other negative emotions that are associated with love relationships.

Green is also good for creating new beginnings. If you have been going through a big change or release of the past, you may want to have a green statue of the Ganesh, the elephant god of India. He is said to release obstacles on one’s path. You may also wish to have green scarves or beads hanging in your bedroom to promote emotional healing during the dream state.

Chrysocholla is a very good stone for women to use when they wish to go through physical healing.

As you can see, green can be helpful to you in many ways. It will open and heal your emotions, help you take new directions in your life, and give you the prosperity to manifest your dreams.

Yellow is the color of the third Chakra, found in the solar plexus between the navel and the diaphragm.

As you might expect, the color yellow is concerned with assimilation, with receiving, and with digesting or utilizing energy in many forms. It deals with . . . → Read More: Healing qualities of color]]>

Orange is a color that has been understood very little, and not often used. However, orange offers many benefits when it is understood and utilized properly.

This dynamic color is associated with the second Chakra or energy center. Its area of influence on the body is . . . → Read More: HEALING QUALITIES OF COLOR – ORANGE]]>

WHAT IS COMMITMENT

A great business leader once said:

“…the basic philosophy, spirit, and drive of an organization have far more to do with its relative achievements than do technological or economic resources, organizational structure, innovation, and timing. All these things weigh heavily in success. But they are, I think, transcended by how . . . → Read More: Surviving the Storm – Commitment]]> COMMITMENT

WHAT IS COMMITMENT

A great business leader once said:

“…the basic philosophy, spirit, and drive of an organization have far more to do with its relative achievements than do technological or economic resources, organizational structure, innovation, and timing. All these things weigh heavily in success. But they are, I think, transcended by how strongly the people in the organization believe in its basic precepts and how faithfully they carry them out.” (from Thomas J. Watson, Jr., A Business and its Beliefs – The ideas that helped build IBM).

As true as this is for the success of a corporation, it is even more so for the individual. The most important single factor in individual success is COMMITMENT. Commitment ignites action. To commit is to pledge yourself to a certain purpose or line of conduct. It also means practicing your beliefs consistently. There are, therefore, two fundamental conditions for commitment. The first is having a sound set of beliefs. There is an old saying that goes, “Stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.” The second is faithful adherence to those beliefs with your behavior. Possibly the best description of commitment is “persistence with a purpose”.

Many successful business people are hailed as visionary leaders. On careful inspection they are found to be individuals who hold firmly to a simple set of commitments, usually grounded in beliefs such as “the best product money can buy”, or the highest possible customer service”. It is the strength of these commitments, religiously followed, that led to their business success.

WHERE TO PRACTICE

It appears that effective leaders hold dearly to a half dozen commitments. The first, and most basic, of these is a commitment to a set of values, principles or beliefs. These underlying principles define both the organization’s uniqueness and the fundamental direction in which it wants to head. This first commitment leads to a common vision and purpose within the organization.

The second commitment is to oneself, to how one acts as a leader. An effective leader possesses a strong sense of personal integrity and self confidence. This leads to a willingness to share the credit for success. Another side to this commitment is a deliberate emphasis on continual self-improvement.

The combination of a strong, positive commitment to self and to a set of principles serve as a foundation to effectively maintain the remaining four commitments. These commitments are to: customers, results, employees, and the organization.

Everyone has a customer and is a customer to someone else. Customers are usually thought of as external to the organization who needs your product or service. A question worth asking is, “How much are others willing to pay for my work?” The price your customers are willing to pay measures its values in their eyes.

Besides serving customers, all organizations target specific results. Given the large number of demands placed on all of us, it is important to concentrate on achieving the most important goals and objectives. Commitment to results is largely determined by how clear priorities are, what actions get rewarded, and what risks are being taken to improve intended results.

The next commitment is to the people. The quality of the organization’s commitment to customers and results is largely based upon the quality of its commitment to people. The simple reason for this is that it is these people who serve the customer and achieve results. How are people treated in the organization? Commitment to people is largely the product of treating people with respect, challenging them, and giving them effective feedback on how they are doing.

The final leadership commitment is to the larger organization. Other departments, higher management, the organization’s overall strategy & mission are important. Communication is the key with this commitment. How people talk to, and about, each other greatly affects the quality of cooperation. How open are the channels of communication up, down, and across? Can management be challenged? Will people support management decisions and changes?

Balancing all six commitments is the key to well directed leadership. When management supports its employees, they will be able and willing to achieve intended results, When these results support customer needs and expectations, customers will support the organization with their business. A strong and healthy organization can then continue to show commitment to its people. The glue that holds this process together is the values and leaders in the organization.

HOW TO PRACTICE COMMITMENT

Effectively demonstrating commitment to others, to the organization’s basic principles, and to oneself is never easy. The truth is, demonstrating commitment is hard work. Wavering commitment is usually seen as no commitment at all. The only way to achieve a reputation for commitment is through determination and persistence. Genuine commitment stands the test of time.

Day to day, commitment is demonstrated by a combination of two actions. The first action is called supporting. Genuine support develops a commitment in the minds and hearts of others. This is accomplished by focusing on what is important and leading by example. It is not uncommon for people to be either confused as to what is important, or lose sight of it over time. Supporting means concentrating on what adds value, spotlighting what’s working, and rewarding others who are focusing on what is important and leading by example. A crucial aspect of true support is standing up to those who would undermine commitment, those whose words or actions show disrespect.

The second action underlying commitment is called improving. Improving stretches our commitment to an even higher level. Commitment means a willingness to look for a better way and learn from the process. It focuses on eliminating complacency, confronting what is not working, and providing incentives for improvement. The spirit of improving is rooted in challenging current expectation and ultimately taking the risk to make changes. These changes are based more on an optimism in the future than dissatisfaction in the past. It is embodied in the reply of car maker Professor Porsche, who, when asked which was his favorite model in the long line of Porsche automobiles replied: “I haven’t built it yet!”

It is the combination of both supporting and improving behaviors that makes up the practice of commitment. Separately neither action is capable of sustaining commitment. Promoting alone can come across as a shallow and pollyannish. Continuous improvement can be seen as “good is never good enough”. Together they provide a needed balance. Both are essential to commitment.

WHEN IT IS MOST IMPORTANT

Commitment is most difficult and most readily proven during tough times. How someone weathers the storms most clearly demonstrates their basic beliefs. In antiquity, Epicurus stated: “…a captain earns his reputation during the storms.” When your competition scores big against you, when the money dries up, or when the glamour of success wears off, this is when it is easiest to compromise your commitments. The real test comes when you can hold the line against the easy route of compromise.

Fortunately, paying the price that commitment commands has payoffs worth the cost – a reputation for integrity and, even more important, the commitment of others in return. Commitment is a two-way street. You only get it if you are willing to give it.

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From Dancing the Dream by Michael Jackson.

Michael is a guide for me. I believe as this book found me. I am so . . . → Read More: Goddess Rising at Heaven Meets Earth]]> “Consciousness expresses itself through creation. This world we live in is the dance of the creator. Dancers come and go in the twinkling of an eye but the dance lives on.”

From Dancing the Dream by Michael Jackson.

Michael is a guide for me. I believe as this book found me. I am so grateful for finding it.