A Lovely Twin Soul Quote

" . . . when two such people encounter each other, and their eyes meet, the past and the future become unimportant. There is only that moment, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written by one hand only. It is the hand that evokes love, and creates a twin soul for every person in the world. Without such love, one's dreams would have no meaning.”

― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

Only a Few Days Left!

     You're stressed, you're overwhelmed, you haven't completed your holiday shopping and you can't find your car keys.  I know, I know.  I'm an empath, remember?

     Do yourself a favor.  Go online, order The Gemini Bond for those special people in your life, and relax.  Your keys are bound to turn up sooner or later.

(photo courtesy of pixabay.com)

A Beautiful Twin Soul Quote

"From every human being there rises a light that reaches straight to heaven. And when two souls that are destined to be together find each other, their streams of light flow together, and a single brighter light goes forth from their united being." 

Sadly, I do not know the author of this (too bad it wasn't me!).

 

Holiday Shopping?

     It's that time of year -- too much to do and too little time to do it in.  No doubt your shopping list is full of friends and loved ones who deserve a little something special this year. Is there someone on your list who loves to read and who enjoys thinking out of the box a little bit?  Or perhaps you know someone who enjoys a good story with some meat to it?  Is there someone who is interested in psychic phenomena and metaphysics?  Or can you think of someone who is a romantic and would enjoy the ultimate love story -- about Twin Souls?

     Get them The Gemini Bond!  That would make anyone listed above happy.

    Or do one of the descriptions listed above describe you?  Do yourself a favor -- order The Gemini Bond today. 

     Happy shopping!

(photo courtesy of pixabay.com)

A Lovely Twin Soul Quote

"Love is but the discovery of ourselves in another, and the delight in the recognition." 

~ Alexander Smith 

(photo courtesy of pixabay.com)

I Am Thankful for You

I am thankful for all who have ventured here.

I am thankful for all who have read my book.

I am thankful for all who want to know more about Twin Souls.

I am thankful for you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 



A Helpful Book for Empaths, Part 3

     While I highly recommend Rose Rosetree's book, Become The Most Important Person in the Room, which teaches the empath how to function healthfully, I need to talk about style.

     If you are the kind of person who likes to be poked in the ribs by your teacher until you crack a smile, and who likes clown noses on your newscasters, then you will love this book.  However, if you are from the "just the facts, ma'am" camp, well, consider this a lesson in tolerance.  I personally found the style a little off-putting at first, but since the content is so useful, I learned to overlook it. 

     If you are an empath struggling with picking up other people's stuff, do yourself a favor and order this book.  But in terms of the style, consider yourself forewarned.

A Helpful Book for Empaths, Part 2

     The book, Become The Most Important Person in the Room, is organized as a 30-day plan to learn to function healthfully as an empath.  The author, Rose Rosetree, states that most empaths pick up stuff from other people (physical pain, emotional gunk, and so on) because they do not know how to do an empath merge safely.  For the first 27 days of the program, Rosetree teaches the struggling empath about how to stop doing these unskilled empath merges by focusing on different parts of oneself.  This way, you become the most important person in the room (an uncomfortable state for most empaths, at least in the beginning). 

     At first, I was skeptical.  After all, aren't empaths gifted for the purpose of helping others?  What about those empaths who can take in other people's stuff on purpose, then funnel that stuff into Mother Earth to be recycled?  Although I know people who can do this, I cannot at this point.  Rosetree's techniques help me to keep from doing the unskilled empath merges in the first place.

     I know, I know, we were all taught to protect ourselves with a thick layer of white light.  Rosetree stated, much to my relief because it confirms my own experience, that this doesn't work for most empaths.  One quick thought, one lingering look in some one's eyes, and WHAM -- we've done an unskilled empath merge.  With that, we've brought into our aura all sorts of stuff that really doesn't belong to us.  By the end of the day, we're wiped out, or we get sick because of all the extra issues we carry around that we really don't need to.

     Are you an empath?  Do yourself a favor and order this book.  In a month, you'll find yourself with a whole new way to life.

    

A Helpful Book for Empaths

     While researching different coping techniques for empaths, I found a website that advertised a book that was supposed to provide helpful tips.  Of course, I ordered it.

     Thirty days later, I found a whole new way to function.  Not only did this book give me several ways to turn my gifts off, but it also gave me techniques to use my gifts safely.  That's huge!

     What is this book?  It's called Become the Most Important Person in the Room by Rose Rosetree.  You can view ordering information here.  Next week, I'll discuss some of the things I learned.

Anam Cara and Twin Souls

     It's this time of year that my heart hearkens back to Celtic lands and the old ways.  Perhaps it is the echo of Celtic past lives ringing in my ears. 

     There is a term used by the Irish that fits the unique relationship of one soul to another:  anam cara.  It means literally "soul friend," and it refers to the relationship in which one feels completely understood and accepted by another soul.  The Irish believe that one's aura becomes melded with the aura of the soul friend and the two souls become uniquely bonded.  It reminds me in many ways of the Twin Soul relationship.

     I think that the late Irish poet John O'Donahue said it best:  "You are joined in an ancient and eternal union with humanity that cuts across all barriers of time, convention, philosophy, and definition.  When you are blessed with an anam cara, the Irish believe that you have arrived at that most sacred place:  home."

A Beautiful Twin Soul Poem

Unending Love

 

I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times . . .

In life after life, in age after age, forever.

My spellbound heart has made and remade the necklace of songs,

That you take as a gift, wear round your neck in your many forms,

In life after life, in age after age, forever.

 

Whenever I hear old chronicles of love, its age old pain,
Its ancient tale of being apart or together.
As I stare on and on into the past, in the end you emerge,
Clad in the light of a pole-star, piercing the darkness of time.
You become an image of what is remembered forever.

 

You and I have floated here on the stream that brings from the fount.
At the heart of time, love of one for another.
We have played along side millions of lovers,
Shared in the same shy sweetness of meeting,
the distressful tears of farewell,
Old love but in shapes that renew and renew forever.

 

Today it is heaped at your feet, it has found its end in you, 
The love of all man's days both past and forever: 
Universal joy, universal sorrow, universal life, 
The memories of all loves merging with this one love of ours --
And the songs of every poet past and forever.

by Rabindranath Tagore
(1861-1941)

Jamming the Signal -- An Explanation

     OK, people, we need to talk.  For some reason, there is an extraordinary interest in one of my previous posts called "Jamming the Signal -- An Update."  Most of the interest seems to come from an Eastern European country, which I am sure is just lovely this time of year, but which shall remain nameless.

     People, as much as I love your readership, let's not misunderstand me here.  I am interested in Twin Souls, empathy, psychic phenomena, and spirituality.  I am NOT interested in explaining how to avoid governmental mind-reading and tips on how to create tin-foil hats. 

     What did "Jamming the Signal" refer to?  Perhaps something was lost in translation, but I will try to be clear here:  it refers to the times when we get so caught up in our busy lives that we feel we lose our connection to the Divine.  The busyness "jams the signal."  Get it? 

     That's all I meant.  Really.

A Psychic Empath

     When I created the character of Rissa in The Gemini Bond, I based some of her abilities on those that I have.  For example, she is clearly an empath, which serves her well in her career as a social worker.  Not only is she able to feel what others are feeling and can quickly ferret out family dynamics, but she can also tell when people are not telling the truth.  I find the gift of being an empath a double-edged sword -- it's great to know what is going on inside other people, but it can often be overwhelming.  I wish I were as good as Rissa at breathing through the emotions and letting them go.

     However, Rissa has some abilities that I don't share.  She has precognitive dreams on a regular basis, which I think would be very troubling.  She also has a form of clairvoyance, a gift which surprised her at a crucial time in the book.  Most importantly, she has a psychic link with someone she has never met before, but who is extremely important in her life.  Who is that?  Well, to find that out, you'll just have to read The Gemini Bond.

Are Empaths Psychic? Part 2

     As I was thinking about the question of whether empaths, such as myself, may be considered psychic, an image suddenly came to mind.  Let me show it to you before I explain (please click here.)

     Oops!  I forgot to advise you to put your earplugs in -- the woo-woo alert is really going crazy!

     There, feel better?  Now let me continue.  The above-mentioned picture, as I'm sure you know, is of the chakras (the colored balls of light running down the center of the body) and the aura, with its seven (or more) layers.  Here's what I think empaths do when they receive emotional or physical information from another person.  I think that they are reading the layer that is the second one out in the aura from the body -- the emotional body.  In some pictures I've seen, it is orange, to correspond to the second chakra.  I believe that other psychics read other layers in the aura, for example, a medical intuitive probably reads the first layer, which is the etheric body; a person who might pick up another person's thoughts would be reading the third layer, the mental body.

     As I've said before, I'm no expert, but this makes sense to me.  Take it or leave it as you will.  Just be sure to remove the earplugs before exiting.

Are Empaths Psychic?

     While researching the biology of hypersensitivity and empathy, I developed a new question:  Are empaths psychic?  (Please be advised that the woo-woo alert is sounding).

     Many writers on the web and elsewhere believe that being an empath is a form of psychic knowledge.  They argue that the information that the empath receives -- usually in the form of feeling the emotions or physical symptoms of others -- is extra-sensory.  It is not a common gift.  It can be used to heal, if one chooses to open oneself up to the feelings of others and then act as a conduit to release these feelings into the Earth. 

      One writer, however, believes that empaths are NOT psychic.  Rose Rosetree (you can visit her website here) argues that empaths are not exhibiting psychic behavior because they do not usually work with a specific guide, their information is not objectively experienced, and the information they receive is not often experienced as a sudden "hit," but felt gradually. 

     First of all, I don't claim to be an expert in this area.  I know that I am an empath, but don't feel qualified to teach others in this gift.  That said, I can think of instances in which I did have sudden "hits" of emotion or physical symptoms from others, and while I acknowledge my guides (the woo-woo alert is really clanging away!), I don't necessarily have to go through them to receive my knowledge.  So, I guess I'll come down on the side that says that empaths are psychic.  More on my reasoning in next week's post.

Some Survival Tips for Highly Sensitive People and Empaths

     If you've read the previous four posts, you've followed my exploration into the biology of empaths and highly sensitive people.  Now, if you are highly sensitive or a highly sensitive empath, you know how hard it is to get through each day with some emotional balance and sanity intact.  Here are some survival tips:

• From Dr. Elaine Aron, who has studied highly sensitive people extensively:  spend at least 8-10 hours per day in bed, plus two hours per day in quiet time (meditation or solitude); spend at least one hour per day exercising in a natural setting; have plenty of down time, such as one day off per week and one month vacation per year; spend plenty of time in nature and with animals; carry with you earplugs (for excessive noise) and protein snacks (because over-stimulation decreases blood sugar). 
• From Kathy Moore, a hypnotherapist based in San Antonio:  energy release work such as yoga, Reiki, hypnotherapy, dance, and for empaths, some sort of shielding or transmuting practice.

     Let me explain the latter a bit more.  There are some empaths who believe the best way to get through the day is to imagine a shield or cocoon of white light protecting one's aura from other people's stuff.  When it works (which it sometimes doesn't for me), other people's moods or negative thoughts should bounce off the shield and return to sender. 

     Others disagree.  Dr. Judith Orloff, herself an empath, recommends that one stay completely, one hundred percent, open.  She believes that she can act as a transmuter of negativity, simply by being open and allowing the negativity to pass through herself like a conduit and then be transformed in Mother Earth.   I've tried this a few times, and it really requires you to be extremely grounded.  Still, it might be an answer for those who would rather put their empathy to good use. 

Empaths and Biology, Part 4

     Last time we discussed the traits of a highly sensitive person, and it led me to ask the question:  Are all empaths highly sensitive, and are all highly sensitive people empaths?

     From what I've read, many writers equate the two.  An empath is highly sensitive, and highly sensitive people are empaths.  One writer, however, disagreed.

     Rose Rosetree, a trainer for empaths, believes that there are two main differences between empaths and highly sensitive people.  (If you're interested in taking her quiz to see if you are an empath, click here).  The two differences Rosetree sees are:

• Highly sensitive people make up about 15-20% of the population.  Empaths make up about 5%.
• Both highly sensitive people and empaths have a highly refined nervous system.  However, empaths go a step further, and are able to directly experience what it is like to be other people in a vivid, personal way.  Rosetree believes that the experience does not necessarily need to be emotional, but can occur in other ways.

     Rosetree offers a couple of books which explain how to survive as an empath.  I haven't read them, sorry, but you are free to look at them on her website or on Amazon. 

     Next time, I'll explore some survival tips for us empaths. 

Empaths and Biology, Part 3

     I came across some more research that gave more insight into us empaths.  Dr. Elaine Aron has found in her studies that fifteen to twenty percent of the population can be labeled "Highly Sensitive."  What is that? you ask.  Basically, it is the tendency to feel overwhelmed by stimuli (noises, lights, smells, etc.) that most people find only mildly stimulating.  It is the ability to be aware of moods or other subtle cues that most people miss.  It is marked by the need to be alone and/or be in a nature setting in order to "detox" from the day.  It is shown by the need to focus on one thing at a time, rather than multi-tasking.  Highly sensitive people find music and art to be a richly rewarding experience.  They find that tight deadlines are extremely stressful. Does this description fit you or someone you know?  If you'd like to take Dr. Aron's test to see if you are highly sensitive, click here.

     What else has been discovered about highly sensitive people?  For starters, they have more blood flow in the right hemisphere of their brain, indicating that they are more internally, rather than externally, focused.  It would also predispose them to be more imaginative and artistic.  Second, they have a tendency to have lower serotonin levels, due to the stress of repeated episodes of over-arousal.  Third, they may have a highly sensitive body as well, showing up in allergies and a very sensitive nervous system.  Last, both men and women may have this trait; it is not gender specific. 

     Next time, we'll explore whether empaths are highly sensitive, or if all highly sensitive people are empaths. 

Empathy and Biology, Part 2

     In the last post, I was discussing the theory of mirror neurons.  These are neurons in the brain which are designed to react to other people's actions or experiences.  My question was, do empaths have more of these mirror neurons than others, or is there some other way to explain our gifts?

     If empaths are gifted with more than the usual amount of mirror neurons, perhaps this suggests that the mirror neurons are distributed among the population unequally, with some people receiving more, and others less.  One researcher's work may support this idea.  Dr. Iacoboni found that children with autistic spectrum disorder tended to have fewer mirror neurons than others without this disorder.  In fact, he found that the children with severe ASD had far fewer mirror neurons than those less affected by ASD.  So, maybe empaths were just born with more mirror neurons.  That is a possibility.

       But it doesn't answer certain questions about what empaths can do.  For example, how do you explain the ability to walk into a room and know what people's moods are almost instantly?  Or, how do you explain feeling family member's or close friend's emotions from across great distances?  Or, how do you explain the ability to sense the moods of someone you've never met, as I have with my Twin Soul?

      Researchers of the world, get on it!

Empathy and Biology

     I was re-familiarizing myself the other day with the whole theory of mirror neurons.  This theory is based on the research by two Italian scientists, Dr. Rizzolatti and Dr. Fadiga, who studied monkeys' brain responses.  In one study, they found that the same motor neurons would fire in monkeys who were watching someone pick up a banana or eat a peanut.  In other words, the monkeys who were watching the action didn't have to move, but their brain responded as if they had done the same action that they had witnessed.

     When researching whether mirror neurons existed in humans, studies have shown evidence that similar areas in the brain react when people are watching other people who are performing specific actions, smelling noxious odors, feeling certain tactile sensations, and so on.  The psychologist Dr. Ramachandran believes that the discovery of mirror neurons is one of the "single most important unpublicized stories of the decade."

     Scientists have speculated that mirror neurons developed for the purpose of building empathy, which is necessary for social coherence.  My question is:  Are empaths equipped with more of these mirror neurons, or is there another explanation for their gifts?  More on that to come.

A Beautiful Twin Soul Poetic Description

     I love Rumi, don't you?  A while back someone gave me a book of his poems, one for each day.  This is my second year through it, and each time I read one of Rumi's poems, they come to me as fresh as the morning dew.  Here is part of a poem in which Rumi describes what it was like to meet Shams, his Twin Soul (my opinion):

     . . . Like swimmers
     who love the water, their souls knit together
     without being sewn, no seam.

Don't you just love Rumi?

Twin Souls and Evolution, Part 2

     I made some pretty bold claims in the last post, and I wanted to take the time to expand on them here.

     Years ago (and I wish I could find the source!), I read or heard that ancient civilizations were more advanced than the current version of humans because they relied less on external gadgetry and more on the power of their minds.  Think of the amazing monuments that still remain from those times -- the pyramids in Egypt, the amazing cities laid out on specific lines to correspond to celestial events, Chichen Itza in Mexico, Stonehenge, the Nazca lines in Peru, and so on -- and modern people still haven't figured out definitively how they were constructed.  Not only was the construction of these monuments beyond our fathoming, but the planning of these creations -- how did the ancient peoples do it without a computer? 

     I would like to hope that we will find the wisdom in returning to those ancient ways.  Not the barbarity, obviously, but the ability to develop our minds.  Rather than burying our nose in our smart phones and sending instant messages, let's take a moment to focus on the person we're thinking of and ask:  What is that person feeling at this moment?  What do they see or smell or hear or taste?  Then, check and see how much you are correct.  That's right, I'm advocating developing telepathic gifts. And let's do more.  Let's see if we can evolve ourselves away from the dependence on electronic gadgets.  Let's see if we can develop our minds and hearts and wean ourselves away from the trivial pursuits of our current age and embrace a new view of our role here on Earth.  Let's get back to our roots.  Let's grow up.

(photo courtesy of pixabay.com)



Twin Souls and Evolution

     I was watching Into the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman the other day and was captivated by some ideas that were presented.  One idea was that since people are becoming more and more reliant on electronic gadgetry, human brains in the future will shrink and lose complexity.  It's like the electronics become an external brain.  I'm hoping that this is not true.

     Another idea was that people may evolve by becoming less reliant on language.  One theory is that humans are destined to become telepathic and may even become a social brain species much as ants and bees are.  One experiment showed a man thinking in dits and dots like Morse code and a computer was able to accurately translate his thoughts.  The researchers claim this these are just beginning steps.  Whew!

     Here are my thoughts (to take with a grain of salt, as desired):  I believe that my experience with my Twin Soul (read more about that here), and many others' paranormal experiences, are predictors of where humanity may be headed.  That is, I see the desire for instant messaging as a precursor to telepathy and clairvoyance; the internet as a metaphor for the Akashic records; and the concept of Twin Souls as an explanation of the concept that we are, in fact, all one. 

    Come back in a few lifetimes and let's see which theory is closer. 

A Beautiful Wedding Rite

     I just read an article about Buddhist wedding rituals, and even though it's not exactly about Twin Souls, it's still lovely. 

     The Buddhist wedding has a flower-exchange tradition that dates back centuries, several lifetimes before the Buddha had achieved enlightenment.  This earlier Buddha, named Shakyamuni Buddha, was a handsome warrior, known for being both brave and benevolent.  The story goes that he was walking along a road when a young maiden saw him, immediately fell in love with him, and spent all the money she had on some flowers to give him.  He took the flowers with a smile, promising that they would someday be together, in a future life.  How would she recognize him, she asked.  He answered, "I will give you the same bouquet of flowers."  So, in many Buddhist weddings, the bride and groom exchange bouquets, each explaining the reason they chose those particular flowers. 

     If you were to meet your Twin Soul today, what flowers would you give him or her?  Would it be roses for beauty?  Sunflowers for lightness?  Cosmos for seduction?  Witch hazel for magic?  Or would you realize that the best bouquet is made of the flowers in your soul, which you have spent so many lifetimes tending to and perfecting? 

A Sweet Twin Soul Story

     Sometimes the Universe wills that two halves should be together, and in this case, these Twin Souls have been married for 70 years!  Here's the story:

     Eileen and Ron were born in the same hospital (perhaps even in the same hospital bed, Ron joked), although seven months apart.  Their parents dressed them up as bride and groom when they were four, for a carnival.  Not long after that, the families moved apart and did not see each other for fourteen years.  Once Eileen reached the age of 18 and started working, she learned that one of the perks of her job was the opportunity to use the telephone.  Whom did she first call?  Her childhood sweetheart's mother.  Soon, the young couple began courting, and with the onset of World War II and Ron ready to serve in the Navy, they were engaged to be married.  "It feels like Ron and I were thrown together many times in our lives.  I suppose you could say it was fate."  Five days after his return home from service, they married.  The secret to their long marriage?  Ron said, "We promised to love, honor, and obey -- and I did all the obeying." 

     Wise man.

     If you'd like to read more, or enjoy the photos of the couple at age four, at their marriage, and at their platinum anniversary, please click here.  It will bring a smile to your face.

Happy Independence Day!

Whether you are celebrating a national holiday,

or celebrating independence from something that no longer fits in your life,

I wish you a Happy Independence Day!

 

(photo courtesy of pixabay.com)

 



Half Moons and Twin Souls

     I was doing a bunch of errands this afternoon and noticed that it was a half moon, visible in the blue sky of daytime.  You don't see a moon like that everyday, and I paused a moment to marvel at it.

     It also got me to pondering.  The moon is always a sphere, although it may appear as only half when the sun doesn't shine on its other half.  That other half is visible somewhere, right?  In my romantic way of thinking, it's like Twin Souls.  My soul is made of this human unit currently writing in my blog and living a relatively happy life while the other half of my soul, my Twin, is currently doing whatever my Twin is doing and hopefully leading a relatively happy life as well.  Together, we are like the sphere of the moon, but my half is visible here and my Twin's half is visible somewhere else.  What will eventually unite us?  The sun of enlightenment, I suppose.  I still have so far to go . . .

(photo courtesy of pixabay.com)

Kahlil Gibran and Twin Souls

     As I've noted in previous posts, some of the writings by Kahlil Gibran seem to show a belief in something like Twin Souls.  Consider this quote from a story about a woman who has married a wealthy man whom she does not love (a frequent theme in some of his stories), but loves another, materially poor man:

    "Please, my dear, do not contrive to console me, for the calamity through which I have realized the power of my love is my great consoler.  Now I am looking forward from behind my tears and awaiting the coming of Death to lead me to where I will meet the companion of my soul and embrace him as I did before we entered this strange world."

     Gibran never married and had a series of friendships and romantic relationships with various women over his lifetime.  However, there was one woman who played a great role in his life.  When he was 21, he met Mary Haskell, a woman who became probably his closest friend as well as his supporter, financially, emotionally, and professionally, as his editor, critic, and biographer.  Apparently, they discussed marriage at a certain point, but for some reason they never agreed to do so.  Most biographers believe that their relationship was never sexual.  Still, it is interesting to note that later in life, Mary married a much older, wealthy man who did not approve of Gibran.  Is this the soul separation and unhappy marriage that Gibran writes about in several of his stories?  Was Haskell his Twin Soul?  Also, since Gibran was raised as a Maronite Christian, how did he develop these ideas of reincarnation and Twin Souls?  Sadly, Gibran often embellished his background and the truth of his influences may never be known. 

A Beautiful Twin Soul Quote

     I'm still knee-deep in my Kahlil Gibran collection, and I came across another beautiful description of Twin Souls.  Here it is:

     Earthly bodies must often separate for earthly purpose,
     And must live apart impelled by worldly intent.

     But, the spirit remains joined safely in the hands of Love,
     Until death arrives and takes joined souls to God.

I really must find out how Gibran came to this concept of joined souls, what we now call Twin Souls.  I'll dig around and see what I find, then let you know.  I'll keep you posted!

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Have you purchased your e-book version of The Gemini Bond yet?  Remember, it's on sale, just in time for your summer reading!

Another Sweet Twin Soul Story

     As I continued reading my collection of stories and poems by Kahlil Gibran, I read the story entitled "Madame Rose Hanie," which recounts the tale of a woman who left her materially wealthy husband for a poor man.  The whole town believed her to be a low life for having done so, but she explains to a stranger that although she had been wealthy in possessions, she was starving for love in the rich man's house.  When she listened to the call of her heart and left him to live with a impoverished man in his little hovel, she found the true wealth of love.  While I struggle with the idea of leaving one's mate for another (leftovers from my pious upbringing), I do understand her point of view, expressed so movingly here:

Today I am one with the man I love; he and I sprang out as one torch from the hand of God before the beginning of the world.  There is no power under the sun that can take my happiness from me, because it emanated from two embraced spirits, engulfed by understanding, radiated by Love, and protected by heaven.

Lovely, no?

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Remember to purchase your e-book version of The Gemini Bond soon  -- take advantage of the great Gemini sale!  That's right, during the sign of Gemini, The Gemini Bond can be purchased at a reduced price.  Hurry -- the sign of Gemini is ending soon!

A Sweet Twin Soul Story

     I was reading The Collected Works by Kahlil Gibran and came across an enchanting story entitled "Ashes of the Ages and Eternal Fire."  It tells the tale of two lovers separated by centuries and how their souls recognized each other the instant their eyes met.  Here's a delicious quote:

She raised her head and looked at him with her soul . . . the look of a human which, in mighty silence, belittles the conventional words used amongst mankind; the expression which offers myriads of thought in the unspoken language of the hearts.  She bore the look of a person who accepts Love not as a spirit in a body of words, but as a reunion occurring long after two souls were divided by earth and joined by God.

Although Gibran doesn't specifically speak of Twin Souls, the fact that he has them recognize each other on a soul level after several centuries, in my opinion, parallels the idea of a Twin Soul reunion.  It's definitely worth reading.

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A gentle reminder:  during the sign of Gemini, The Gemini Bond, e-book version, will be on sale.  Click one of the hyperlinks on the right hand side of this page to choose your preferred format.  Stock up on your summer reading today!

Time to Stock Up on Your Summer Reading!

     Yes, summer is just about here and it's time to get your summer reading in order.  Imagine, sitting by your favorite pool while working on your tan, or overlooking the ocean with breezes ruffling your hair, or relaxing in a cozy cabin after a day hiking mountain trails -- and what do you need?  A great book to escape into, an exciting story to lose yourself in, a tantalizing tale to learn about Twin Souls.  Yes, during the sign of Gemini, The Gemini Bond (the e-book version only) will be on sale just so you can get yourself ready for summer.  There's no better time to buy yourself a copy!  Remember, when the summer solstice hits, this sale will be over.  Get your e-book today!

(photo courtesy of pixabay.com)

A Gemini Sale!

Yes, folks, in honor of the sign of Gemini,

The Gemini Bond will be on sale (over half off!)

 between May 21 and June 20, 2013. 

This is for the ebook version only,

and will be available

 through Amazon.com and BarnesAndNoble.com

(see links to the right of this page). 

 Stock up on your summer reading now!

 

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A Lovely Twin Soul Quote

     I found a quote in a book of The Collected Works by Kahlil Gibran.  It's from a short story (only two pages!) called "The House of Fortune."  I don't know if Gibran meant it this way, but I imagine (in a swooning, romantic sort of way) that the narrator, a man, is speaking of his Twin Soul:

"Oh human heart, woman is your own reflection, and whatever you are, she is; wherever you live she lives; she is like religion if not interpreted by the ignorant, and like a moon, if not veiled with clouds, and like a breeze, if not poisoned with impurities."
 

     Lovely, no?

Groundhogs and Twin Souls, Part 2

     I'm continuing with the idea that a movie about having to relive one day again and again is a metaphor for the journey toward Twin Soul reunion.  In the movie Groundhog Day, the main character, Phil, must relive February 2nd (Groundhog Day) over and over.  Why?  He needs to learn to become a better person, to let go of his cynicism, to become less self-centered, to learn to be considerate and kind to others, and to perfect himself, not for the purpose of winning the girl, but to finally learn what true happiness is. 

     How is this like the path to Twin Soul reunion?  In my view, souls take a separate journey in order to become perfect and balanced.  In life after life, they learn lessons which guide them to let go of hedonistic pleasures, of violence and lawlessness, of self-centeredness, of manipulating or using others, of a quest for fame or wealth, of negative or cynical thinking, and all the rest.  This is the lesson that Phil learned in the movie.  For him, to become perfect is not to measure up to someone else's standard of the ideal man (such as Rita), but to become his own ideal man -- someone who is kind and helpful, generous and caring.  It is when he finally achieves this ideal that he finds love with Rita, the Twin Soul in this movie. 

     It struck me, watching this film, how so many people think that reuniting with one's Twin Soul means that somehow they must contort themselves or manipulate others into a relationship.  This movie teaches differently.  Only when we become our highest and best self --our complete, balanced self --can we be ready for reunion with our Twin Soul.  By then, we learn that in our completeness, we are happy and no longer need our Twin.  By letting go of our neediness, we remove the last block to our reunion.  Happiness together requires happiness alone.  That's the lesson here.

Groundhogs and Twin Souls

     I was watching an old movie that I picked up for cheap at the neighborhood drug store, a movie that I hadn't seen in probably 20 years or so.  Perhaps you've seen it,but if not, maybe you can pick it up at your local DVD bargain bin.  It's called Groundhog Day. 

     I was struck, this many years later, how much this movie parallels my beliefs about Twin Souls. The director mentioned that many people contacted him about how their religion was mirrored in the movie's themes.  Apparently, Buddhists, fundamental Christians, Catholics, and others were really touched by this film! 

     That being said, I thought I'd add my two-cents' worth about how Groundhog Day illustrates the path to reunion with one's Twin Soul. 

     But first, I should probably give you a brief synopsis of the movie.  Phil, a cynical, sarcastic, and self-centered television weather reporter, is sent to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to do a live feed on Groundhog Day. (For my foreign readers, this is the day when Punxsutawney Phil, a groundhog, is awakened from his burrow to predict the weather.  If he doesn't see his shadow, it will be an early spring, but if he does see his shadow, it means another six weeks of winter).  His new producer, Rita, is sent along with the camera man, Larry.  Rita is sweet, unjaded, kind to all, and a perfect target for Phil's sarcastic comments.  Because they are unable to leave the town due to a blizzard, they all have to stay the night, much to Phil's unhappiness.  The next morning, Phil wakes up to hear the same song played on his radio alarm clock ("I Got You, Babe" by Sonny and Cher), and when he hears the same radio patter and sees the same people he saw the morning before, he realizes that he is living Groundhog Day all over again.  This happens day after day, reliving February 2nd over and over seemingly hundreds of times.  At first, Phil decides to abandon all responsibility for his actions, since what he does this day will be erased by the next morning when he has to repeat the day again.  He later tries hedonism (sex and gluttony), and then, desperate to escape this hell, he commits suicide in all different ways.  Later, he tries to mold himself into the person that Rita might be interested in, all to no effect (although he gets slapped several times for his efforts).  Finally, he decides if he can't get together with Rita, at least he can learn to be kind like her, so he ends up being the town hero and resident savior, and Rita finally falls for him.  Cue the romantic music.

Gemini, the Sky Twins

     For whatever reason, I was never really drawn to astrology.  Still, when I was writing The Gemini Bond, I became fascinated with the mythology connected with the sign of Gemini.  To get the whole description, of course, you'll need to read the book, but what interested me for today was its symbol.

     No doubt you've seen the sign:

(image courtesy of pixabay.com)

 

     It's the Roman numeral for two.  It pretty much describes whatever astrological traits you might read about Geminis.  They're chatty, inquisitive, intelligent, great multi-taskers, can be double-minded, and might speak with a forked tongue. 

     Here's how I look at it:  the Gemini symbol is made of two complete one's put together.  In other words, if Gemini is the symbol for Twin Souls (and if you read The Gemini Bond, you'll understand), then it is necessary for each Twin to be complete in and of themselves before they can join.  Each one must become fully One before they can become Two-in-One. That's what I take from this symbol.

Twin Souls and Trees

     It's gardening time here in the desert Southwest, and while I was thinking about how to space a couple of new trees in our yard, I had one of my warp-speed thought links.  Have you ever had one of those?  It's where your brain takes you on a super fast tangent via a series of linking ideas.  It happened as I was standing there in my yard, baby trees at my feet, deciding on how far apart to plant them.  Of course, right now the trees look quite small and twiggy, but in a few years, they will grow and fill out (hopefully), and I needed to plan for that.  That's when my brain took me on its tangent.

     I thought, if these trees are like Twin Souls, isn't it necessary for the Master Gardner to sometimes plant them far apart so that they reach their fullest potential?  After all, if I planted our little trees close together, their branches would eventually intertwine and their roots would compete for moisture.  That would be detrimental for the health of both trees.  Instead, they need to be planted far enough apart to have room to grow into healthy trees.

     Perhaps that's why my Twin Soul and I haven't yet met in this lifetime.  We needed room to grow.  I just hope that I will grow enough in this life to eventually be able to reach out a branch and touch, just touch, the soul of my Twin.  That would be enough for me.

     I think.

Giant Twins!

     Fasten your seat belt, because in about 4 billion years, our Milky Way galaxy will crash into our nearest neighbor, the Andromeda galaxy.  Of course, our sun will be too large and hot by then to allow water to remain liquid on this planet, rendering life here impossible, but imagine the excitement to come!

     Scientists estimate that the two galaxies are twins in astronomical terms, both being around ten billion years old.  Once the two galaxies coalesce into one gigantic galaxy, which could be renamed the Milkdromeda galaxy, the two enormous dark holes at the center of each former galaxy will merge into one. 

    Merging into one -- sounds a little like Twin Souls, doesn't it?  Two entities created from one (as in the Big Bang), developing and growing, and, after years and lifetimes, finally meeting and melding and becoming one again.  Pretty cool. 

(photo courtesy of pixabay.com)

Happy Easter!

     Being a full-service blog, today's topic will be the origin of Easter.  The word Easter comes from the name of a fertility god worshipped by the old English as "Ostara" and the ancient Celts as "Eostre."  Both groups revered the rabbit for its prodigious ability to reproduce.  In fact, the Celtic Eostre was believed to change into an enormous rabbit at the full moon.  Imagine that.

     The Easter egg came from the ancient Egyptians, who equated the egg with the symbol of birth and life.  They believed that the Earth hatched from a (very, very large) egg, and would bury their nobility with eggs in the tombs.  Over time, egg worship spread throughout Europe, and the Europeans would paint or dye their eggs as a means of teaching children about the resurrection of Christ. 

     So, enjoy your Easter, whether you celebrate it for the coming of spring and new life, or for its Christian traditions.  Either way, here's to the renewal of the cycle of life. 

Revisiting an Old Friend

     The other day I found myself staring at my bookshelves, figuring out which book would take its place next to my bedside, since I had just finished another book.  I pulled out an old friend, one that I hadn't looked at for over twenty years, and put its on my bedtime reading pile.  I had forgotten the old-fashioned poetic writing, the luscious descriptions, and the cutting distinctions in its lines, but I did find a quote I thought would be appropriate here.

     From The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran:

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.
Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
 

     Isn't that beautiful?

A Couple of Twin Soul Poems

     These are from Rumi:

During the day I was singing with you.

At night we slept in the same bed.

I was not conscious day or night.

 

I thought I knew who I was,

but I was you.

 

---------------------------------------------

 

The minute I heard my first love story

I started looking for you,

not knowing how blind that was.

 

Lovers don't finally meet somewhere.

They are in each other all along.

 

--------------------------------------------

 

{translations by Coleman Barks}

Empaths as Harmonizer Souls

     In Destiny of Souls, the author Dr. Michael Newton explains that every soul has a role in the between-life.  Often, this role will play out in the incarnated life as well.  For example, souls he calls Nursery Teachers in the between-life have the duty to train and guide young souls.  In their embodied life, they may become teachers, counselors, or wise relatives.  The soul category that piqued my interest was the one Dr. Newton called Harmonizer Souls.

     In the between-life, Harmonizer Souls have the main duty of restoring disrupted energy on Earth.  In their incarnated form, they may be "statesmen, prophets, inspiration messengers, negotiators, artists, musicians and writers."  Dr. Newton adds, "they are souls who balance the energy of planetary events involving human relationships."  This could be in a public forum, or behind the scenes.  The author adds that they are not necessarily healers in the one-on-one sense, because "Harmonizers function on a larger scale in attempting to diffuse negative energy." 

     I've often thought that when I'm working well as an empath, I can sense a disharmony and then I mentally send positive light toward the people I'm watching.  For example, I was in a store not long ago and I saw a mother and daughter getting in a tense conversation with each other.  I could tell it could get very ugly rather quickly.  I took a deep breath and sent white, calming light toward them, imagining that it was like a cloud of peace that floated around their heads and gradually enveloped both of them.  The tenseness that I had originally felt eased.  They came to some agreement and left. 

     Although Dr. Newton doesn't mention empaths in his books, I'm wondering if our duty is to work as Harmonizers.  If so, will you take the challenge to bring peace to our troubled world?  Let's put our gifts to good use!

A Wonderful Book

     During one of my rare times of being able to sit and read a book in one day, I read Dorothy Gilman's Caravan. What a fabulous book!  If you enjoy something that evokes a sense of mystery, of other cultures, of atmosphere, of yearning, and of a character growing and learning at every turn, this book is for you.  It's not quite a Twin Soul book, but it's close.  I also loved the romantic story and how that ended up.  Of course, anyone who threads quotes from Marcus Aurelius and Shakespeare in her story has my vote.  Pick this up and get lost in a great story!

A Late Valentine Story

     A little too late for Valentine's day, I read a touching story (for the full article, click here) of a man who met the love of his life when she was 14 and he was 17.  They met on the volleyball court, and he was instantly smitten.  As he wrote,

 

     "Yes, I was in love with this girl, to the extent that a young boy could know of such things.  I was in love with her spirit, and the impact of her spirit stayed with me for my entire life.  I like the version of me that I was when I was with her, and that stayed with me, too.  I didn't know it at the time, but I would always search for her spirit and for that version of me.  The impact of our friendship never went away."

 

     Of course, when they attended different colleges and life intervened, they drifted apart and went on to live separate lives.  But each was always in the back of the mind of the other.  Later, the woman admitted that she always searched for him when in airports.  She remembered his goodness, and believed that his goodness would only expand with time's passing.

 

     Forty-nine years after their first meeting, the woman developed breast cancer.  Now divorced, she decided to join an online breast cancer survivor site.  The man, one year later and also divorced, decided to put his search for her in full gear and found her through an old posting on a summer camp blog about how to find her -- by looking on this breast cancer survivor site.  The man contacted her, and after exchanging photos and numerous phone calls, along with several cross-country trips, they were married a little over a year later. 

 

     Although this man called her his soul mate, I still can't help but wonder if they aren't twin souls.  Read the story and decide for yourself.

A View From the Soul Level

     After reading Dr. Michael Newton's books, Journey of Souls and Destiny of Souls, I have a whole new perspective on people.  Rather than going to my default mental loop of judging people or feeling pity for them, I'm looking at them as souls on a journey.  I know, many people already are able to do this, but in all honesty, I've spent much of my life being judgmental.  Not nice, I know, but I've learned a thing or two about myself in the process, and I've also learned a thing or two about how not to act by watching other people. 

     Here's my revelation in action:  today I went to the post office to drop some things off, and there was this man in a pickup truck who barely dodged another car as he turned left into the parking lot.  To be honest, he was a little reckless in that maneuver.  Anyway, I followed him in the post office, smelling the fumes of cigarette smoke emanating from him.  After he dropped off his letter and checked that it went into the slot (why do we always do that?), he turned and faced me on the way out.  I saw that he was in his late 20s, with a hard, closed face, as if he were used to protecting himself from a challenging world.  His clothes were well-worn; perhaps he was in a life that couldn't afford niceties, or else that was part of his protective barrier.  As he passed, the judging me was unusually quiet.  Instead, I heard the thought, "He's probably a younger soul having some hard lessons.  How great that he gets to learn some things and grow!"  As he got in his truck and roared off, I silently blessed him. 

     We're all on the same journey.  We're all here for the same purpose:  learning and growing.  That's my new view from the soul level.  I rather like it.

Happy New Year!

     Tomorrow is the Chinese New Year, so Gung Hay Fat Choy!  It will be the year of the snake, specifically the water snake.  You can read about all the characteristics of a water snake if you wish (this is a good site, among others), but basically what they boil down to is this:  water snakes are mysterious, mesmerizing, and quiet.  They are planners and focus intently on what they want. 

     Snakes in general have a wonderful ability to slough off their old skin so that they can grow.  For this year, let's adopt that ability and let go of  that which no longer fits us.  Let's also focus on what we do want, and plan carefully on how to get there.  There's no need to be noisy about things, but rather let's conserve our energy and use it for the purpose of letting go and moving on.  Let's make this year a step in the direction of our dreams for a better world. 

(photo courtesy of Pixabay.com)

Twin Souls and Soul Mates, Part 4

     In the last several posts, I've discussed Dr. Michael Newton's book, Destiny of Souls, and how his findings have been contrary to the notion of Twin Souls.  While I freely admit that I have a hard time letting go of the concept of Twin Souls and that I could be completely wrong about it, I'd like to address my thoughts on his argument.

     First, I want to reaffirm my admiration for Dr. Newton's fascinating research.  He has brought the world of hypnotherapy and exploration of life between lives to a whole new level.  That said, I'd like to state that one problem with his research, which bedevils all research of this type, is that his clientele is entirely self-chosen, and therefore exclusive in many ways.  He couldn't research all people of all types because all people of all types weren't able or open to seeing him. 

     Second, his questions may have reflected an unconscious bias.  I'll admit here that my belief in Twin Souls is colored by my own experiences, and my research into Twin Souls has been driven by my desire to make sense of these unusual experiences.  To give some meat to my argument, one of his clients while in trance said that "Frances and I have been with each other from the beginning.  We are so close because we have struggled together, helping each other . . ." 

     My final take?  We may be two different people trying to explain what an elephant looks like from having touched it in a dark room.  Perhaps Twin Souls didn't turn up in his research because those people didn't elect to be included in his clientele.  Perhaps bias has crept into both of our research conclusions.  Perhaps Twin Souls and soul mates are just different terms for the same concept.  Perhaps we are, in the most basic way, both right and wrong at the same time. 

     I guess the afterlife will explain all.

Twin Souls and Soul Mates, Part 3

     In Destiny of Souls, Dr. Michael Newton talks of the different kinds of soul relationships, but disagrees with the concept of Twin Souls. 

     First, he counters that notion with his discovery of what he terms "parallel lives," in which a soul may choose to split into two or more parts and then experience life in simultaneous incarnations.  According to his explanation, a soul in parallel lives differs from what I would term a Twin Soul in two ways:  (1)  The two parts often don't have contact with each other in that lifetime; and (2) There is no drive, no deep yearning, to reunite.  Dr. Newton further explains that very few souls choose this kind of incarnation. 

     Second, he states that at the moment of creation, we are individuals, not a part of some other soul.  As he writes, "Each energy particle is unique in its own right and created as a single entity."  He denies the idea that Twin Souls are two halves of one soul, created to be united again at the end of our incarnations. 

    What's my take on all this?  More on that to come.

Twin Souls and Soul Mates, Part 2

     In Destiny of Souls (see previous post), Dr. Newton explains the difference between soul relationships.  He wrote that the primary soul mate is that soul with whom we have the closest affinity, our "closely bonded partner."  He writes, "No other soul is more important to us than a primary soulmate and when my subjects describe lives with these souls as their mates most will say their existence is enriched beyond measure." 

     Another kind of soul relationship is that of companion soulmates.  These are members of our primary cluster group, who came in existence together and often reincarnate together.  They can be friends, parents, siblings, sons or daughters, or other close relationships.  Dr. Newton writes, "Within this cluster group there is usually an inner circle of souls who are especially close to us, and they play important support roles in our lives and we do the same thing for them."  While the number varies for each soul, there are typically three to five souls in this category.

     Finally, there are affiliated souls, which Dr. Newton defines as the classification of souls which pertains "to members of secondary groups outside our own primary cluster but located in the same general spiritual vicinity."  There could be as many as one thousand souls or more in this group.  Often our parents come from an affiliated soul group. 

    Where do Twin Souls fit in to all this?  More on that to come. 

Twin Souls and Soul Mates

     I finished reading the second book by Dr. Michael Newton, a hypnotherapist who specialized in regressing people to the time between lifetimes.  Fascinating stuff!  If you're interested in reading it, I'd suggest you get his first book, Journey of Souls, to understand his framework, and then if you would like to explore more in depth, continue with Destiny of Souls, which is the book I'm going to discuss.

     In Journey of Souls, Dr. Newton argues against the idea of Twin Souls.  He uses the term "soul mates" to describe the one soul who is closest to you, the one who often is first to meet you on the other side, the one who often works closest with you in any given lifetime.  I wondered, as I read the book, if perhaps it was the terminology that was getting in the way of a core concept.  After all, I couldn't really just throw away essential teachings from native Hawaiians, from Plato, from mystics the world over, could I?  As I read, I also wondered how unbiased Dr. Newton was in questioning his clients.  This is not to knock his methodology -- after all, I consider his achievements to be astounding.  Still, it's hard not to wonder if our own biases quietly creep in when we do our explorations.

     And that, of course, includes my own.  More on this to come.

A New Year's Resolution

     One of my New Year's resolutions is to get back to some heavy-duty writing.  Yes, the blog is fun and all that, and I'm grateful for all the readers I've had, but I need to use my time to get back to work on my next novel.  Yes, the second novel is a continuation of Rissa, Trey, and David's story from The Gemini Bond, exploring more of the relationship these Twin Souls can and cannot have, given their circumstances (of course, I really can't say more if you haven't read The Gemini Bond yet).

     But I will miss visiting with you, so how about this:  I'd like to cut down my posts from twice a week to once a week while I get back to writing.  And if you miss me terribly, there are a whole lot of old posts you can explore, or you can always read my first novel -- again! 

Wishing You A . . .

Happy New Year!