AprilRucker | i am april rucker - Part 5

Kindness Project

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I sent this idea out to clients and friends a couple months ago, and I wanted to share it with you.

For the next day, week, month, year (whatever timeline aligns for you) place notes of encouragement on strangers cars, bicycles. Trust what you write on the note, things like “you matter, don’t give up on your dreams, thank you, trust your instincts,” to name a few.

Who knows maybe one will end up on your car or bicycle.

So here is what I do. I take 25 small pieces of paper and write kindness notes on them.

I put them in a small baggie in my car so at anytime I can spread kindness. I then place them on a car, a bicycle, or if I feel inclined, hand them to a person. You could also set aside a couple of hours during the day and drive around placing them on cars … let this organically take shape for you.

 * Add it to your to do list       * Make room in your schedule

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Astronomer or Astronaut?

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Wow, this year is really flying by isn’t it! The first days of spring are already upon us and I’ve already begun my spring planting and blowing that tough winter off the outdoor furniture and plants, hahha.

The other night I heard a quote in a movie and it really made an impression on me. I wanted to share it with you all, “there are two types of men, astronomers and astronauts”. Isn’t that a cool perspective, the one who studies it to the depths and the one who goes into and touches it to the depths. Which are you? Do you switch between the astronomer and the astronaut depending on a certain area of your life? If by identifying where you are an astronomer and where you are an astronaut do you gain more clarity? Do you have judgements about one or the other? Do you have peace with both roles of astronomer and astronaut in your life? Just a different perspective to gain more insight!

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Prayer

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Recently, I held a tea with the “theme/intention” of prayer. I read passages from Anne Lammott’s book and spoke of my own experiences about prayers. While we sipped the bug bitten oolong and the an extinct puerh tea you could feel a calmness, a sweetness begin to emerge.

As we laughed about first experiences with prayers, those that panicked at sleepovers when they heard “now I pray The Lord my soul to keep, if I should die” die- “wait what! I thought we were having pancakes in the morning”. To other experiences of elders using words like thou Belm of thy kingdom, forsaketh – words that some of us realized made us feel like “what ARE we supposed to say”?

Lastly, we spoke about the prayers others have prayed for us. In that moment of quite pause, as the hummingbirds danced all around our tea bowls, I felt this huge swelling of emotion within me while acknowledging and truly feeling all of those thousands of prayers that have been spoken for each one of us.

I ask you to consider this month to pray, pray to your guides, source, nature, the universe. Speak it your way- say ” hey what’s up” , “I’m gonna need some big awesomeness with this one angels”. When your praying, asking, thanking this month please pause in those moments of prayer and ask to feel all those prayers that have been said for you. In my opinion, that moment will awaken you to a whole new relationship with prayer.

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Every Step

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So as I thought and thought about what do I want to share with all of these special people this month: Should I write about meditation or getting out of the way and surrendering, should I talk about 2014, about what’s going on around the world?

But the only topic that really pulled me was to tell you how much I love you, to tell you how special and remarkable you are. To remind you that you are limitless beings who can have the life of your dreams.

I have been so blessed with some of the most amazing souls who walk through my gates. I am in awe of the triumphant and courageous steps each of you take in not only your spiritual journey but your all encompassing life steps. The way I see you all learning to not take all of this so seriously, watching you begin to trust yourselves, to love yourselves. And then watching you go out there and remind others how to trust themselves, love themselves, how to laugh about it all.

Every step I love you, if I see you once in this lifetime, once a week, once a year. I love you. I am one of many
in your corner laughing and (maybe throwing some glitter) cheering you along. You have thousands of angels, guides, earth tribe members, friends and loved ones supporting you, loving you. I love you every step of
the way.

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one of my favorite songs

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Oh sacred place that sets my soul alive
There’s a rainbow above me that the storm clouds hide
And kind works will never die
Cuz the magic in kindness springs from the love, love, love
Little acts of kindness and little words of love
Make our earthly home heaven above
And there is no sorrow heaven cannot heal
A fire within, no cross, no crown
Running from mercy, hidden and coy
Swimming upstream down oceans of joy
Die in the arms of a natural life
Waking our happiness drowning in light
Waking our happiness drowning in light
Little acts of kindness, little words of love
Make our earthly home like heaven above
And there is no sorrow heaven cannot heal
A fire within, no cross, no crown
This thing was not born with wings
Slow to stop our ways sing (chorus)

You, you wake up!, come on boy, come on little boy
Don’t you stop her, don’t you stop her
There’s that door
I’ve got that door
I know where that door is
Just follow me and you wake up
Come on with me girl
Tomorrow

 

Perspective

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When your asking all those questions about ” was I royalty in Egypt” or “anyone famous”, asking your friend when something special will happen to you.

I ask you, did you know the man you just walked past and ignored was once a great king whom you used to beg and beg to be invited to his ceremonies.

 

Why did you long to be invited to his castle? If it was about the man, sit now with him, he holds the same soul and has more time for you now.

Or was your longing about the king, the castle, everyone that would be at the ceremony? Was it about what being invited would give you for your self worth?

The Breath is a Miner

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The breath is a miner. The breath is the link between mind and body. Your breath is an indication of your condition. So much so that the breath is used for diagnosis in several Eastern medical traditions that have been practiced as far back as 3000 BC. Fundamentally, we can change our condition by changing our breath, and this is a core principle of the science of breath work.

 

How deep is your breath? Are you conscious of it? Do you clutch for air at your clavicle when you think about certain things? Do you have a hard time catching your breath or retrieving the breath in the depth of your belly?

 

Deep breath deep life, shallow breath shallow life.   

 

You see at the base of our diaphragm where the deep breath must be retrieved from and travel to is where energy pockets of trauma are stored.

The Maori have a technique using pressure to release the toxicities in this spot of the diaphragm and breath work can help to release them as well. The breath,  allowing more for the emotions of these toxicities to release.

 

Here is a simple exercise to get you started.

Set a time for 10-15 minutes. And for 3 weeks, breath in 1-2-3 and out 1-2-3. Keep it simple, allow the breath to be the powerful archeologist.

See what emotions come forward, are you comfortable doing this, do you feel a need to add something else, does your ego say this is too simple?

 

just let go and give it a try.

stop and just acknowledge your breath.

Start With Nature

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Start with nature. 

 

 

 

Listen, I get it, this spiritual “stuff” can be a lot. It’s a new world, It can be a little over the top, where do I start, what’s comfortable for me out there, Etc…

Believe me I get it, I grew up in west Texas where Football and cotton farming were part of the religion so to speak.       

 Yes, I have found merit in grounding, meditation, crystals, drums, and connecting to my spirit guides and the other side. 

If that’s not comfortable for you, or doesn’t resonate with you, start with nature, start with purest form of it all.

The most profound and ultimate transformational tool is nature. When you are tired or thinking of a get away vacation you think of heading to the mountains or the water most often, right?

There is no mistake in that soul desire. Nature is here to support, to fill, to soften, to provide clarity for us.

 

Some things you can do to begin: go on a hike or walk, sit by the beach, fill your house with fresh flowers.

And after the hike, the day at the beach, acknowledge how you feel.  Do you feel better? Rejuvenated? More hopeful? Clearer?

 

You see, nature fills our energy tanks and clears us. As you start to notice more and more what a resourceful life tool nature can be,  begin to work with it.

 

 

Take a current struggle or uneasiness you are having and walk to the edge of the ocean (river, lake) line, with that current situation/struggle in mind ,

let the ocean rinse up over your feet and take the present presence of struggle from you. Let it take that from you as the tide goes back to the ocean.

Walk up to a tree and sit with your back against it and breath, just breath. If you want an answer to a question or concern have the question or thought in your heart,

as you breath with your back against the tree ask for clarity within, see what happens, just breath and be patient.

 

Give it a try and see…. It couldn’t hurt could it?

 

Spiritual growth is about your journey. No one else’s. If something doesn’t resonate with you then leave it for now.

You don’t need to fill your house with Tibetan bells, books, crystals, pictures of gurus, incense, unless those items resonate with you, with your journey.

  A “fig” tree can provide you with all the fulfillment, lessons and teachings you need. Find what is true for you and trust yourself.

 Keep it Simple and Enjoy.

Woulda Coulda Shoulda

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Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda

All the Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
Layin’ in the sun,
Talkin’ ’bout the things
They woulda coulda shoulda done…
But those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
All ran away and hid
From one little Did.

Written by Shel Silverstein (1930-1999)