Category: Uncategorized

Death/Afterlife

by Terah Drake, posted in Uncategorized

I’ve been thinking lately about death.  Not necessarily in a morbid, everyone’s going to die sort of way, but rather pertaining to how it relates to living.  Death can be a complicated subject and goodness knows everyone has their own opinion of it, but how often do we avoid even the idea, pretending it doesn’t exist?   But of course, it does.  And as much as we may try to prolong our lives – sometimes not so much to keep really living, but rather to avoid dying – we all have to go some time.  

I’ve never feared death, even as a child.  I’m not saying that we should embrace dying, but I am saying we all need to be able to look our mortality directly in the eyes and know that when our time comes, we can say that we have lived, and lived well – rather than prolonged our lives to avoid what many believe is the finality of death.  

Most cultures actually believe the opposite – that death is simply a transitioning to another place.  Christianity often teaches that that other place can be either wonderful or awful depending on how you lived and whether you were “saved” or not.  I once had a Catholic priest, after a lengthy discussion on Catholicism, explain that “now that he had told me about the faith, I must convert or essentially be damned.” 

Wow. I genuinely believe this priest’s heart was in the right place – he was trying to “save” me. I’m sure that most religions, insisting their way is the only way genuinely believe this, as well. But we are each of us an incredibly unique amalgam of genetics, experiences, cultural norms, and the choices we are constantly making based upon those components.

Wouldn’t an omnicient Creator speak to each of us based upon our unique personalities and circumstance rather than expecting us to accept a homogonized version of God that a particular religion presents? Even the bible teaches that God, whatever God is, is Love. Not hate. Not Judgement. Not Fear. Fear, itself is a lie – “False Evidence appearing Real”, and Source can not hold fear or lies. In fact, it is impossible to be in the light and hold another in darkness, which is exactly what religion does when it defines what our belief systems should be.

But here’s the thing:  I believe we are ALL already saved.  When we die, we are met with Love.  Love, or Source, or God – whatever works best for you – shows us the story of our lives, and we judge ourselves based on our actions and our hearts.  We decide our own fate from there.  Do we stay on the “other side” perhaps what some cultures call “heaven”, with our loved ones, choose to be reborn, and continue our journey of lessons and blessings – or something else?  

I don’t know that any of us could possibly say for certain what lies beyond the veil of death, but most stories told by NDE’rs – those who have died and come back, tell of something very much like what I spoke of above.  They journey to the light and are met with loved ones from this past life and others.  Very occasionally, these people have experiences that they call “hellish” but I believe this experience is simply a reflection of what they believe they deserve at the time and not necessarily where they will remain.   

The Egyptians believed something similar – that the heart was weighed by Osiris when we journeyed to the netherworld.  How our hearts weighed out would determine where we went from that point.  Most other spiritual traditions around the world hold similar views, as well.  

What all this boils down to is simply this – we should not fear death.  But we should understand that how we live right now will be reflected in how we judge ourselves upon passing.

Did we live in the light?  Did we live big with joy, with love, with kindness?

Did we leave positive marks on the world, no matter how seemingly small?

Did we treat others well; with love,  kindness, and compassion? 

Did we live big – juicy, caring, wonderful lives, or did we live small, fearful, self-serving lives, ignoring the plight of others and the world?

Did we judge others – or ourselves – harshly?

Or did we have compassion for all different lives and ways of thought?  

This question is perhaps the most important of all.  We can not be in the light and hold another in darkness.  So when we judge others, or ourselves, for that matter, and find them lacking – by our own standards, or expect another to believe as we do, in spite of what is likely very different life experiences, we hold that person or persons in darkness.  And we are no longer in the light, ourselves.   

This doesn’t mean we should accept others’ bad behavior as right. Sometimes people in our lives behave in ways that are hurtful and selfish.  But ultimately, their behavior has nothing to do with you.  The behavior likely stems from habits and patterns that were in place long before you came along.   We can have compassion for that person/people/behavior, realizing that the journey another is on is exactly that – their journey.  Wish them well and send love, peace, and abundance, and let it go so you can focus on the things that are important.

By forgiving ourselves and others, we increase our vibrational field.   When we can view ourselves and all others in love, we vibrate at the highest vibrational frequency – the God frequency.  If it’s our time to move to the other side, wouldn’t we rather be in this state rather than one of darkness?   When we heal those wounds that hold us in this life, I believe it makes our passing that much more joyous and easy.  And since not one of us is guaranteed tomorrow, why not make those changes today?   Much love, friends!

Arizona feels

by Terah Drake, posted in Uncategorized

Often, when I travel I have things planned ahead of time to avoid most challenging surprises.  But this trip I decided to let Source be my travel guide and take things as they came.  The first few days down with my daughter weren’t without challenges, but for the most part, we were satisfied with the way things unfolded, in spite of long days of driving.  The night before her drop off, I sat on the floor of our hotel trying to figure out my travel plans for the next week or so.  At least a rough idea.  But after over an hour of mapping out different routes and ideas for where to stay/what to do, I was tired and wasn’t having any luck.  So I closed my computer, said a little prayer to Source for guidance, and went to bed.  

The next morning, I opened my computer and immediately found a place for the night at the Rancho Manãna Resort in Cave Creek; an adorable little old-west town in the middle of Arizona.  To be honest, I wasn’t paying that much attention to the details of the place – it felt right, looked nice and it was in the area I had wanted to be in.   I didn’t think about it again until after I had moved my daughter into her new apartment, explored Tempe a little then headed to my lodging.  

As soon as I walked into the fabulous two-bedroom villa I had booked, I knew it was where I was supposed to stay.  The space is beautifully appointed in Southwestern style, complete with a fully equipped kitchen, two huge bedrooms and a spa bathroom.  I immediately booked two more nights.  I was even more thrilled to discover that the pools and hot tubs were open, though social distancing is encouraged and the disinfecting protocols enhanced.  After settling in to my room, I went down for a soak to ease the tension of several days of travel from my muscles and mind, incredibly grateful to sit in hot water in nature, but the experience was so much greater than a soak. I wish I could somehow send the sound of the cicadas whirring in the early evening light; unearthly to this Washingtonian, transcendent.   I wonder what they sing –  and if it’s to each other or just because?  

A light breeze ripples the palm fronds, desert willows, and palo verde trees overhanging the rock pool where I sit soaking.  Bats swoop and circle overhead, catching mosquitoes and the small flies that seem to be everywhere down here.  Occasionally, little sand-colored lizards skitter across the warm stones around the blue pools, and tiny black ants moving at a frenetic pace race across my skin when the water becomes too warm to sit in.  How does time move for such a small, speedy creature?  

Eventually, the heat becomes too much and I slowly make my way back to my villa, enjoying the stroll past native cacti and palm trees, feeling blessed and loved by the Universe to have had this perfect evening.  I believe that this experience has been perfect because I gave my worry over, asked for the best possible outcome, and had faith that things would unfold perfectly.  When we have faith in those we love, those we love usually come through for us.  Think of how much greater our outcome when we have faith in something so much greater.🥰. Much love, friends.💖

Metamorphosis

by Terah Drake, posted in Uncategorized
Metamorphosis – noun

1a: change of physical form, structure, or substance especially by supernatural means
the metamorphosis of humans into animals
b: a striking alteration in appearance, character, or circumstances
The company has gone through a series of metamorphoses.
2: a typically marked and more or less abrupt developmental change in the form or structure of an animal (such as a butterfly or a frog) occurring subsequent to birth or hatching
the metamorphosis of caterpillars into butterflies

Hello, Beautiful;

These past months have been challenging for nearly every human being around the world as a result of the fallout from Covid.  We have all experienced isolation and tension over the way we have had to change our public business and interactions.  Many of us (myself included) have lost our livelihoods, our financial, and our emotional equity.  The emotional fallout from these stressors has been hard for most and nothing short of cataclysmic for some.  We see marriages failing, families falling apart, and pretty much everyone has had to rethink the way they move in the world.  But perhaps an aspect of how we re-think things is to consider that this has been a necessary process for our society as a whole and we are in the process of transformation – metamorphosis – from a system that hasn’t worked in some time into something greater.  

Recently I have been seeing butterflies everywhere – at the lake, in my yard, on social media, when I open my email each morning.  This has gotten me to thinking about the process butterflies take to achieve their own metamorphosis and how it seems incredibly relevant to what’s happening in our society right now.  
 
We all admire butterflies for their gentleness, power of flight, and beauty.  In the Monarch particularly, the long, arduous migratory journey they make over 3000 miles each year is an incredible inspiration for perseverance.   The transformation these beautiful creatures make from lowly caterpillar to majestic butterfly is also a powerful symbolism for transformation to be used in our own lives when we are experiencing difficult circumstances.  

But did you know that when the caterpillar: an eating machine, finally stops consuming to create its cocoon, it does not just sprout wings and burst from its chamber fully-formed?  The transformation is a messy, difficult journey.  It literally digests itself into a viscous goo and gradually re-forms from that primordial soup around imaginal discs; tiny little cells that contain DNA building blocks for each body part.   

Our own transformations can be much like this.  We experience a catalyst, such as this pandemic, where the parts of our life that weren’t really working well, to begin with, break entirely.  We often experience tremendous pain or grief as we deal with the loss of whatever it was that was familiar to us; the dissolution of a marriage, the loss of a job, etc. – and dissolve into our own primordial goo for a bit as we try to manage these tremendous changes.  But slowly, we begin to re-frame our points of reference and build new foundations, hopefully around good mental health and better situations.  We may not even realize we have transformed and emerged from our cocoons until one day, we find ourselves soaring through clear skies, the sun on our face and the wind at our backs, new, stronger, beautiful, and free at last.   

If you are experiencing your own painful transformation right now, keep moving forward, and know that you are not alone in this journey. This too, shall pass.  Keep feeding yourself love, nurturing, and good and you will emerge from the darkness of your transformation back into the light.  Maybe not today, tomorrow, or even a month from now, but when you get there, you will be grateful for this experience, knowing that it brought about the radical transformation that took you from larvae to butterfly.  Much love, beautiful.

Nosce te ipsum – Know Thyself

by Terah Drake, posted in Uncategorized

The most important relationship you will ever have is with yourself. Get to know yourself – who you truly are; what makes you – you and become comfortable in that being-ness. There are a thousand ways to gain an understanding of who you are, from self-speed dating (“Hi, Me, nice to meet you. Name ten things that make you happy”) to traveling to someplace fabulous for a ten-day retreat intended to sink deeper into the Self. Whatever means you have at your disposal to begin a relationship – a love relationship – with yourself, there is no better time than the present to do just that.

The key word here is Love. It is vital not just to know who you are, but to love who you are. All too often we love our kids, our partners, our families, and even our neighbors and communities better than we love ourselves. We nurture those around us but neglect our own needs. We snuggle and provide physical love but neglect to meet our own basic needs for nurturing and support. We prepare meals based upon what our families will enjoy but lose touch with what our own bodies are craving for optimal health – and wonder why we find ourselves in front of the refrigerator at 2 am with a pint of ice cream or a tub of cold spaghetti, crying into our Haagen Daz with no idea of where the tears are coming from, or we eat out of resentment because our families never learned to care for and nurture us in the same we do for them.

But how can those around us learn if we don’t teach them? We teach others through our own actions, and the soul is a garden that requires care-full cultivation and love. What is your soul mirroring into your external reality? If you find yourself feeling depleted and disconnected right now, take some time to nurture the soul and care for your self. Slow down, get quiet, and listen. What do you need today? Whether it is green smoothies and exercise or Haagen-Daz and a hot bath, give yourself some love, care, and grace, and don’t forget the gratitude. You are an amazing being! Care for yourself as you would a precious, loved child. Gaze at yourself in the mirror and marvel at those things that make you uniquely, beautifully you. Feed your body and spirit with what it needs – and watch your inner garden blossom. You deserve it. Much love, beautiful!

-Terah

I Have A Dream…

by Terah Drake, posted in Uncategorized

57 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King gave a speech at the “March on Washington; a peaceful protest attended by over 250,000 people:  In his speech, “I Have A Dream”,  Dr. King’s words move the minds and hearts of people of all races around the world:  “There is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.”  Powerful words from a man who actually instigated real change in a time when racism was rampant.  

Doctor King also famously said “Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; toughness begets a greater toughness. We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love… Our aim must never be to defeat or humiliate the white man, but to win his friendship and understanding.”   This could be said for all of us.  We should be striving for friendship and understanding with all peoples – this is the only way to lasting peace.  

The recent riots have been confusing to many. What began as peaceful protests around the country in response to the wrongful murder of George Floyd by a minneapolis police officer quickly bubbled up into violent riots, killing twelve innocent people, several in cold-blooded murder – to date – and devastating the lives of many others.  I have heard and read people trying to justify this behavior with reasons and excuses ranging from “People are angry from years of racism” (absolutely understandable, but NOT justified by violence and murder) to “We learned violence from the white man” – excuse my language but that is pure bullsh#t.  

Take a quick look at history, friends.  Racism and slavery is nearly as old as our history. Egyptians were enslaving Jews thousands of years ago. The Nazis created a hatred for Jews a hundred years ago and many still experience prejudice to this day. Africans were both enslaving and selling their own people as slaves long before the white man decided to get in on the game. For a current example, look at the entire continent of Africa where slavery is still practiced – young children being forced from their homes to join military groups, child soldiers being taught to kill the innocent in the name of the civil unrest that is rampant across the country – but often the leaders of these military groups just use guns and violence as an excuse to gain power.  Young girls and women are routinely gang-raped or used as sex slaves in military encampments.  I’m not in any way justifying or excusing the atrocity that is slavery by Caucasians or any other group – I’m just saying don’t use whites to justify violence, looting, and murder, and the ends NEVER justify the means when we turn our anger to violence.  

Did David Dorn, a caring, well-loved African-American retired police chief from St. Louis deserve to die as he was trying to protect his friend’s business from looters?  Four other St. Louis officers were shot by someone in the crowd while standing “at ease” during the protests.  Did they deserve to be shot?  O what about the three other officers that have been murdered across the nation?  Did their families deserve to lose their husbands and fathers?  What is wrong with a country that will riot and protest for one man but not for those that risk their lives every damned day?  Nearly ninety law enforcement were murdered last year, but who stands for them?  

What about Dave Patrick Underwood, the African American security guard who was gunned down in a drive-by, David McAtee, the bbq restaurant owner who was shot – or the others of varying race who have lost their lives over the last six days of violence?   Did Korboi Balla, an African American firefighter deserve to lose his lifelong dream – the sports bar he invested his life savings in – to looters who burned it to the ground after looting it?  

I would like to think that the resounding answer would no. 

Again, I need to state that I am not condoning racism.  Bias sucks in any form.  I’ve been with friends of color and have experienced firsthand racism through their eyes and frankly, it is shocking and heartbreaking.  I’ve also been in parts of the country where I was in fear of my life as a caucasian female in primarily black areas due to reverse racism.   We all need to move to understanding, compassion and acceptance of our differences, whether color, sex, or belief system. 

Most of us can relate to what it feels like to experience some form of prejudice or another.  As a female, I and likely nearly every other woman on the planet have faced sexism from childhood on.  In many countries women are still treated as slaves.  American Indians have lost their way of life, their lands, and their self-respect and still battle prejudice and racism every day.  Many Asians in this country and others confront racial and cultural bias in the workplace and beyond.  For that matter, as an American who travels frequently, I have personally experienced intolerance for those of our country in Europe and I know many others who call themselves Canadian when traveling abroad due to this cultural intolerance.  

I understand this bias.  Politically and spiritually there are aspects of our country that are bereft of good, but isn’t it often the few who ruin things for the many?  It is those few uneducated, ignorant “good ol’ boys” who rattle their sticks loudest and unfortunately end up representing the majority of us who are moderate in our beliefs and truly want a peaceful, healthy planet.  Or those on the extreme left who are also biased, who scream “racist”, “zealot”, “nazi” to any that speak in favor of freedom – speech, religion, or otherwise – of all – rather than only those that believe as they do.  Again, I repeat Dr. Martin Luther King’s words – “Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.” 
The media seems intent on amplifying the division we are experiencing, but it is only through unity that we can create tolerance. It is only through tolerance that we can achieve peace.  It is only through peace that we can create a world that is safe, happy, and equal to all.  Please, friends, let’s speak out against ALL violence.  Let’s stand together in equity regardless of race, gender, culture, sexual preference or career. 

I, too, share the dream of Dr. King – I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal….I have a dream that my childrenwill one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.  I have a dream that one day soon, we can stand together as one people, united by our differences and our strengthened by our sameness, meeting each other not with physical force but with soul force. Much love, friends.

To Find The Honey

by Terah Drake, posted in Uncategorized

I have not drawn into despair, 

I did not go mad in gathering honey,

I did not go mad,

I did not go mad,

I did not go mad. 

  • Hoda al-Namai

Hello Beautiful;

This beautiful poem speaks of repeating a painful process – gathering honey from a live hive – and remaining sane through the process.  Of course, the hive and the honey are metaphor for moving through a painful process, hoping that the outcome will be sweet.   This is a process many of us are experiencing right now, our hands in the hive of COVID-19, and an uncertain immediate future.  Frankly, for most, it sucks.  

We all have been trying to learn new routines from what we have been accustomed to for years.  Those of us that have families at home are finding it hard to emotionally reset as we are with our people every minute, leading to some minor craziness, especially for moms who have a tendency to be constantly “on” when families are around.  Our social norms with friends and being among people – other than our families – are gone and for those of us who live alone, that sense is amplified tenfold.  Added to all of this is the intense financial worry many who are unemployed are experiencing.  Small business owners have and will continue to be especially hard-hit from the shut-in and many friends have already had to let go of their spaces and are uncertain of their future.  

Here in Washington State, we have just gotten word that it is probable that schools will not resume on campus in the fall of 2020, leaving so many parents with school-age children in a bad place.  Homeschooling for many is hard while at home full-time due to the mandatory shelter in place order, but assuming many of those folks will be getting back to full-time employment that becomes impossible.  I am grateful that my kids are out of school, but my heart aches for the parents dealing with this struggle.   

So as we go through this painful process, the question becomes, where is the honey?  What can we hope for while being stung by a hundred bees of worry and anxiety?  The answer to that, I believe, is complex – we must acknowledge our pain (I’m a big believer in crying as a release for stored negative emotions.  Did you know that elephants, with their huge brains and ability for empathy, cry?) but then we need to get back to the moment.  When we get into the cycle of stress, worrying about the future may feel all that the mind is capable of – but if we can just shift our thoughts, that anxiety melts away, creating ease rather than pain.  Call it a distraction from the sting.  When Hemmingway experienced writers’ block, he said he would write one true thing.  Just one, which would always lead to the revived flow of his creativity.  Can you find one true thing of joy, of beauty, or ease with which to distract your mind from the dis-ease of the moment? 

Rumer Godden; an early 21st-century writer who began her career in the midst of World War 2 and went on to write more than fifty books, said: “How to be happy when you are miserable.  Plant Japanese poppies with cornflowers and mignonette, and bed out the petunias among the sweet peas so they shall scent each other.  See the sweet peas coming up.  Drink very good tea out of a thin Worcester cup of a colour between apricot and pink…”  

For me, one example of finding joy when I’m miserable is watching the way the sun streams through my living room window, illuminating the plethora of orchids and other tropical plants that I keep.  I especially love it when my little Pekingese bathes in a patch of sun just below the greenery.  I slow my breath and my racing thoughts and just enjoy the wash of color and light.  This one true moment of ease and beauty creates a space of lightness around what felt like anxiety just a minute before, allowing the rest of the day to flow more beautifully.  What is one true thing of beauty or joy you can find right now?  

The next aspect of finding our sweetness is in having hope for the future.  We must have something to look forward to or we lose momentum, even if that something is a dream you aren’t sure how to achieve.  Having a sense of purpose plays into this – what do you feel led to do?   We help others by living our own dreams, and making a difference in the world around you is another aspect of the path to fulfillment.  

Do you love to create, or perhaps you have dream of becoming a teacher, a medical professional, activist, CEO, speaker or designer?  If you aren’t sure of what you would like to do, start a list of things that light you up.  Share your dreams with someone close, and brainstorm ways to move you in that direction.  If you are already on the path, keep setting goals and moving towards them.  Or maybe your fantasy is traveling the world?  Start a list of countries you hope to visit first.  When will they open to foreign travel?  Can you find a way to visit one place on your list?  If not, how can you experience the joy of travel somewhere closer until international travel eases? 

If you are one of the many who were living your dream but have lost it as a result of this quarantine, you may just need to re-frame what you were doing.  A friend of mine who had a beautifully designed consignment store has shifted to online sales to keep her business going.  A healer I know has begun zoom and teleconferencing to continue to meet her client’s emotional needs.  Many restaurants that once had great business from in-store clients have found they do just as well with takeout only.

Martin Luther King Jr. said  “Only in the darkness can you see the stars.”   When we gaze into the night sky, we know that the stars shining beautifully are millions of years old and light-years away (even more mind-blowing is that we are seeing them as they were a hundred years ago – effectively looking into the past) but they are still there, illuminating the darkness of the sky.  When the sky is obscured by clouds, though we can not see them, we know that they are still there.  Hope is just like this.  The darkness around us may feel pervasive, but we know that the light is so very close – we just have to reach out for it.  

When it feels like things are out of our control, remembering that ultimately, Source has our back. and things are always working out.  I have found that holding this knowledge in the forefront of my mind not only helps me to stay light but also ensures that things do always work out.  I use a favorite line from the poem “There could be holy fallout” by my favorite Sufi mystic and poet, Hafiz to help me stay centered around this thought: “It is all, it is all in the Beloved’s will.”  Hafiz speaks eloquently from centuries past of what we so many are experiencing right now in the entire poem:  

We are often in battle.

So often defending every side of the fort,

It may seem, all alone.

Sit down, my dear.

Take a few deep breaths,

Sit down, my dear.

Take a few deep breaths,

Think about a loyal friend.

Where is your music,

Your pet, a brush?

Surely one who has lasted as long as you

Knows some avenue or place inside

That can give a sweet respite.

If you cannot slay your panic,

Then say within

As convincingly as you can,

“It is all God’s will!”

Now pick up your life again.

Let whatever is out there

Come charging in,

Laugh and spit into the air,

There could be holy fallout.

Throw those ladders like tiny match sticks

With “just” phantoms upon them

Who might be trying to scale your heart.

Your love has an eloquent tone.

The sky and I want to hear it!

If you still feel helpless

Give our battle cry again,

Hafiz

Has shouted it a myriad times,

“It is all,

It is all the Beloved’s will!”

What is that luminous rain I see

All around you in the future

Sweeping in from the east plain?

It looks like, O it looks like

Holy fallout

Filling your mouth and palms

With Joy

Do what you can to find your joy in the moment.   Start daydreaming about all of the amazing adventures and blessings the future will hold.    Let go of the stuff you can’t control and when all else fails, know that Source has your back and though things might not go exactly according to plan, things always work out.  It is all, it is all in the Beloved’s will.  Much love, beautiful!

  • Terah 

Madness to Magic – Mood, Neurotransmitters and Co-creation

by Terah Drake, posted in Uncategorized

Hello Beautiful;

How do you feel as your mornings begin?  Do you feel rested and ready for the day, or do you tend to feel a little groggy and out of sorts? How have you been managing your emotional state through the COVID-19 crisis, but especially your time before sleep and upon waking?  I definitely need my morning “power coffee” to feel my best as I start the day, but most days I wake feeling well, optimistic, and excited about the day in front of me.  Of course, we all have times when we wake on the wrong side of the bed.  We feel depressed, irritable or just out of sorts; in a funk.  

I recently had one of those days.  Knowing that we are vibrational beings; at all times in an emotional frequency – our feelings follow our thoughts, and those thoughts produce frequencies that not only send messages to the universe but also to those around us – I didn’t want to pollute my families’ emotions with my bad mood.  Add to that how much better it feels to feel good, I knew I had to take some steps to pull myself out of that funk and shift into a higher vibrational mindstate, which is when I open up my self-care toolkit.  

On days like this, the first thing I do is try to get to the heart of why I am feeling unhappy.  That particular day, my mood was likely a result of a bit of residual yuck from a couple of days of stress at home, compounded by oversleeping and bad dreams.  This is often the case` when I don’t get up by seven, and lately, I’ve neglected my morning routine more often than not, staying up far too late and oversleeping as a result.  Keeping to our healthy habits when other aspects of our lives may be out of sorts is especially important, and my unhappy state was an unfortunate consequence of my lack of routine.  

 Beyond acknowledging the why of where we are emotionally and vibrationally, we have two choices.  We can continue in this negative state of mind, often cycling into a full day or more of yuck, or we can choose to shift our mindset into something better.  I recognize that this often seems easier said than done – when we are feeling down, it’s easier to allow ourselves to just sink into the mud.  The mud is comfortable and damn it, it just requires so much effort to lift ourselves out of the mire and start back up the hill.  

It’s ok to remain in the mud occasionally.  Sometimes our circumstances, surroundings, or past experience feel insurmountable in a current state, and having grace for yourself and honoring where you are is part of the healing process when depression is a result of something deeper.  But feeling good feels better, doesn’t it?  Being the master and commander of your ship, feeling on top of the world, and enjoying the miracles and meaningful “coincidences” that tend to manifest themselves when we are in a positive vibrational state is amazing – so the sooner we can get back to that co-creative space, the better.  This is where we are best served by adding a little understanding of the science of feeling good to the spiritual and emotional aspects of living our best lives.  

We have previously discussed neurotransmitters and how important they are in being healthy.  Dopamine is one neurotransmitter that is largely responsible for how healthy we feel emotionally.  Dopamine is a feel-good transmitter, created from Tyrosine, an amino acid that the body produces naturally when we do not consume enough, but should be ingested through food sources, as well.  Good sources of Tyrosine are eggs, fish, poultry, avocado, cheese, and legumes.  Exercise is another good way to increase dopamine, and interestingly enough, yoga in particular has been found to significantly increase dopamine production.  (Age-related changes in cardiovascular system, autonomic functions, and levels of BDNF of healthy active males: role of yogic practice Pal R1, Singh SN, Chatterjee A, Saha M.) Beyond mood, Dopamine is linked to energy, learning, motivation, kidney and blood vessel function, attention, appetite regulation, pain and pleasure processing and movement.  A deficiency of dopamine can lead not only to depression but also to obesity, addiction, and has been linked to ADHD and Parkinson’s disease.  

Serotonin is another important neurotransmitter in maintaining a happy, healthy brain.  Serotonin regulates sleep, memory, learning, and emotion regulation.  Serotonin and Dopamine work together in vital function of brain and motor coordination, mood and appetite regulation, and many other functions, but most importantly for the sake of the subject we are addressing is how it affects your mood.  Not enough serotonin equals increased anxiety and depression, an inability to digest properly/nausea, and a decrease in our ability to learn, maintain healthy relationships, and keep our vibrational state light.  

The amino acid Tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin production and rich sources can be found in salmon, poultry, especially turkey, nuts and seeds, spinach, dairy and soy products.  But here’s the problem – the brain/body barrier doesn’t easily assimilate tryptophan without a carbohydrate present.  Simplex carbs are a no-no for healthy blood sugar levels, which also affect mood, so eat brown rice or quinoa (pre-soaking before cooking removes arsenic and saponins; toxic chemicals many plants produce and makes your grains more digestible) with your protein, whole grain, organic bread with nut butters or eggs, etc.  

Regular exposure to sunlight and aerobic/cardiovascular exercise also helps the brain to increase serotonin.  (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2077351/) A brisk walk, hike or trail run, outdoor yoga, (Did I mention that yoga significantly increases dopamine and serotonin levels?😁) swimming or working in your garden can increase serotonin and dopamine and make you a happier, healthier human.   So whatever activity makes you light up, do that.  

Just understanding some basics of brain function can move you towards a better mindstate, but beyond that understanding, taking the steps to change a potentially dopamine and/or serotonin-deprived brain to keep moving forward are necessary to feel your best.  Nourishing our body and brain with foods that increase serotonin and dopamine is an excellent beginning, but having a self-care tool kit can help get us fully back on track.  Here are a few of the tools and resources that I use on those days when I need a little extra boost: 

1. Gratitude: Take some time for gratitude – writing just five things you are grateful for is a powerful tool for shifting your psychological state.  Try to really connect with the feeling of gratitude from your list.   For example, I’ve been playing “Fortnite” recently with my son as a way to stay connected.  Last night we scored “Victory Royale” for our first two matches; a team victory over the 100 other players in each game.  As I wrote my list this morning, I went back to how amazing it felt to win with my son, and how we congratulated each other on awesome teamwork to get there.  Just thinking about that feeling of connection lifted my spirits.  (I actually have a “gratitude practice” that I use every single day – no exceptions.  I believe this is a huge part of what keeps me feeling happy most days.)

2.  Inspiration:  Listening to inspirational podcasts, youtube videos, or audiobooks – having an outside source remind you of your value and power can be a huge help in being able to remember that power and value.  Abraham Hicks, Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, Tony Robbins, and many other high-vibration beings have an assortment of uplifting material to listen to or watch that can bring us back to connection with our Source and our Self.  

3. Take 20-30 minutes (or more, if you have the time) for the Three “M’s”:  Music, Movement, Meditation/Prayer/”Sourcing”: 

What Music lifts you up and moves your?  Do you prefer something classic, soft and soothing, such as Pachelbel’s “Canon”, Beethoven’s “Symphony Number 7” or “Fur Elise”, or perhaps Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons”?  Or maybe jazz is your groove, and you enjoy the lively Miles Davis or sultry voice of Ella Fitzgerald.  Do you love to throw down the funk or shake it to hip-hop?  When I’m needing some serious energy Lizzo (Queen!!), George Ezra, Flo-Rida, Usher, or Pit Bull are a few of my go-to’s, but follow your own inspiration.  Even better if you can incorporate some Movement into your music therapy – dance, do some yoga, go for a walk, do a ten-minute HIT workout.  Get your energy flowing!  Finally, Five to ten minutes of sivasana, quiet Meditation or prayer is not only essential self-care but also helps to be a kinder, gentler human to others – filling our cup with the good we need to be able to pour into our families, friends, and community.  

4. Tuning in to the Self/Self-care:  Asking your inner self what it needs physically is another tool for a positive day – what foods would best nourish you and feel a little luxurious?  Could you make yourself an omelette, smoothie bowl or healthy banana bread for your first meal?  What clothing choices would make you feel good?  My first choice this morning was a pair of slouchy sweats and sweater.  Luckily the sweater needed washing and I realized the sweats would probably just perpetuate the slouchy feeling I was experiencing, so opted for a pair of stretchy jeans and a so-soft cashmere sweater – texture can be another tool for moving into a feeling of abundance and ease, and the jeans were both comfortable and structured just enough that I felt “normal” in my dress rather than slouchy.  I also put on a little make-up, though I have no plans to leave the house outside of walking my dogs, each time I look in the mirror I want to feel fabulous about the face that looks back, and a little eyeshadow and mascara help to get me there faster. 

By the time I had followed my “Three M’s”, enjoyed my power coffee and gotten prepared for the day, I was 100% back to my normal, optimistic, happy self and felt fortunate that my partner made a fabulous, veggie-filled frittata for breakfast (Tyrosine rich eggs and goat cheese).  Fueled by my mood and good food, I was ready to get to work – a far cry from the heavy, angsty state I had been in just a few hours before.   Do you have an emotional resource toolkit that you can use when you are in a funk?  I hope that on those days you are feeling a little low, you might be able to use some of the resources I have shared today to get you back into that high-flying vibrational state, into feeling the gorgeous, capable, abundant and joyful creator that you are.  You deserve it!  

Desire. Ask. Believe. Receive – Faith and prayer

by Terah Drake, posted in Uncategorized

More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of. – Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Desire, Ask, Believe Receive – Stella Terrell Mann

Hello Beautiful;

For many living in today’s world, the idea of prayer – or of God, whatever that may be – may feel obsolete. But isn’t faith the very substance of creation? Understanding that regardless of circumstances, everything is always working out for us is the foundation for creating a life where exactly that is true.

We may want to have faith but can’t truly accept that there is something out there so much greater than we can know – so we halfheartedly pray to a Being that we don’t really believe is there – like a child peeking through half-closed fingers, hoping that beautiful birthday cake will be on the table but not really expecting it to be. I understand this deeply. As Mulder from the X files said, “I want to believe.”

But faith can sometimes be hard when we are in the midst of sorrow or adversity and can’t see the whole picture.

The topic of God, faith and prayer is an enormous topic. But when it comes down to it, the distillation of most religious doctrine begins and ends with faith.

I believe if you truly want to manifest a fulfilled life of abundance, joy, and meaning, faith is the vital aspect of that creation; or rather, co-creation, along with gratitude and love. But it for all sentient beings, manifestation begins with want.

The simplistic breakdown of this is – we are hungry. We need food. We search for food, we find food, we eat said food and we are satisfied, at least for the moment.

But on a less basic vibrational scale, We have a desire, we ask for that desire to be fulfilled, we believe that it’s on its way and through that belief, we receive the fulfillment of our dreams and wishes.

Part of this is through our own “reality filter” – the Reticular Activating System in the brain that searches through the billions of bits of information we ingest each second through our senses for whatever our focus might be. But I believe that Source also sends unexplainable synchronicities and gifts along the way to show us the path to fulfilling our deepest desires.

As an aside, I don’t believe that Source, or God, or the All That Is is relegated to any one religion or has to be for you what it is for someone else. God is not an old guy in robes and a long white beard sitting somewhere in the cosmos judging everyone.

God is to each of us exactly what we need, and speaks to us in a language we can easily understand, and I don’t think it matters if you refer to Source as God, Yahweh, Allah, Shiva, Gaia/Earth/Nature, Sheila or George, or if you see Source as a creator God, an intelligence, or the wizard behind the curtain – as long as you believe and are willing to start a conversation.

Rumi said “We are stars wrapped in skin. The Light you are seeking has always been within.”

To me, God is Love made manifest. An intelligent Divine Spark, infused in our every molecule; into every atom of the universe – like water in cells. Like cells themselves. If you have been following my other letters, you know that molecules respond to thought. Dr. Masaru Emoto’s experiments on water are a great example of this. Researchers would speak to labeled bottles of water phrases such as “I hate you”. “I love you.” “You are beautiful.” The molecules within those bottles literally altered their physical structure depending on what content was being directed to them.

The water molecules given positive phrases took on beautiful, snowflake-like structures while the negatively impacted water altered to a similar structure as a chemically polluted river. He also studied the structural changes in water from music. The structure molecules would take on altered drastically from Beethoven to Metallica. Amazing stuff!

The point is that if molecules respond to thought, then perhaps God, whatever God may be, is in every molecule composing the fabric of the universe; and we can safely assume that those molecules respond to our thoughts in much the same way as the water molecules responded to the messages and music in Dr. Emoto’s experiments.  What we put out in thought and prayer we get back, whether negative or positive – though I personally feel that God/Source/ divinity is a thinking, feeling, responder and loves deeply all that is.  

Here’s where it gets especially interesting and where I believe we supercharge our creative magic. In every major religion that I have researched, commonly used prayers always begin and usually end with gratitude. To give a few examples: most of us know the Lord’s prayer – “Our Father, hallowed (Holy) be your name…” This is a form of both gratitude and acknowledgment of power. “Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever….” Also power and gratitude. In Islam, every prayer I have read begins in a similar manner. “Allah the Most Beneficent”…. “All the praises for Allah.” “Blessed is your name….”Your majesty is Exalted.” The Hindus chant or sing mantras from the Rig Veda and other holy scripture – repeated prayer/conversation/communication with the Divine. One of the most commonly used is the Gayatri mantra, which translated roughly breaks down to love and gratitude of God asking for wisdom and enlightenment.

Two of my personal favorite mantras are Ek Ong Kaar – God and We are One. And Ra Ma Da Sa, which is simply Sun, Moon, Earth, Space, God, I am you. Both are sung with sublime gratitude and love.

If you are interested in listening to these beautiful reminders of our connection to the divine, I would recommend Snatum Kaur’s ethereal voice. Incidentally, many believe that Hinduism is the worship of many gods, but it would be more accurate to say that each god is an avatar of one Divine being.

I see it as a way to help humans connect with the divine through accessing an aspect or attribute that is especially relatable, much as we used to worship many different gods such as Athena – goddess of wisdom and war – and Hestia, Goddess of homemakers in the Greek/Roman tradition, or Thor, God of bravery and righteousness and Balder, God of beauty and kindness in the Norse tradition. Source evolves with our understanding.

Praise and gratitude.✨

A Catholic prayer: “Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits thou hast given me, O most merciful friend, redeemer, and brother…” What I find interesting about this particular prayer is that it refers to Jesus as a brother rather than a supreme being, which would suggest an equality rather than subservience.

In the New Testament of the bible, in John 10:34, Jesus himself says “Is it not written in your Law (God’s word) ‘I have said you are Gods’?” Psalm 82:6 confirms this: “You are Gods, children of the Most High.” The scripture before speaks of mortals wandering in darkness and the scripture after says “But you will die like mere mortals and fall like every other ruler.”

This is so true – we fear to step into our power – to take full responsibility of ourselves and our lives and be the Creators we were meant to be, so we wander, fumbling in the darkness rather than lighting a lantern when we can’t see the path. But I digress.

We are meant to be creators – or co-creators – of our lives. We have the magic. We have the power within us. But for that power to fully unfold, it must begin and end with faith. Faith that Source/God has our back. Faith that things are always working out. Faith that when we ask, our prayers have already been answered. Not necessarily in the timing that we hope for, but in much the same way that atoms can exist in multiple places at exactly the same time, God has to be a timeless, dimensionless being.

We have faith that Source knows precisely the right timing for everything. Physicists have discovered that time is a construct for humans, anyway. We think time is always moving forward but in actuality, the past, present and future are happening at exactly the same moment. Mind blown, right?🤯

Much like the concept of God, I can’t even begin to fully wrap my mind around this notion, but it sure is fun to try! Or maybe that’s just my inner nerd coming through …😋

Caffeine and ADD-fueled segues aside, you probably get the gist of the letter.  Faith and gratitude.   Hopefully, the interjection of a little science helps you to better understand the concept and mechanisms behind co-creation and manifesting your deepest desires and wishes; to living a life on-purpose and receiving a constant inflow of abundance and blessing.  

Know that there is a deeper intelligence ruling the universe, dear one. Know that you are divine and meant to be a creator. Know that you are not selfish for desiring abundance, or love, or purpose – these are seeds planted within you before you were born. It is up to you to provide the proper nourishment for those seeds, however – this is where co-creation comes in.

With desire, faith, love, gratitude, and commitment, those seeds will grow to create exactly the life that you imagine.

Much love and big hugs.💖

– Terah

Master and Commander

by Terah Drake, posted in Uncategorized

Today is a good day.  I know it may not feel it with nearly the whole world in some form of shutdown as a result of COVID-19, and the widespread anxiety many are experiencing, but there is still so very much to be grateful for.  For me, good coffee, books, my gratitude rock, the sun streaming through my window and a cozy “fire” at my feet as I write are just a few things making me happy right now – but I could name hundreds more.

This doesn’t mean I am ignoring the world situation.  There is no denying that we are in the middle of a storm right now.  The “Shelter in Place” happening in Washington State as of yesterday means I will not be teaching any classes, likely for a while.  The beautiful studio space I looked at renting the week before things really blew up here sits empty. For millions of others in Washington and the world over, businesses will not recover and the economic impact of this will be frightening.  The short-term (months) result of the worldwide shutdown will be difficult for many and feel impossible for some, and none of us can predict what the longer-term impact will be.

But how we navigate the storm will affect how we emerge.  We are each of us the master and commander of our own ship – we own our thoughts, our actions,  our life. So here’s the question – what does your ship look like, and how are you choosing to navigate through the wind and rain?  I was recently in an office that had beautiful lithographs of the most gorgeous, six-masted ships from the late 1800’s as they sailed proudly into Bellingham Harbor; the city I largely grew up in.  I would like my life to look like something from these paintings. Are you steering a sleek sailboat, a proud six-masted schooner or a broken up dingy? When we come out of this, will you stand proudly on the prow of your ship, grateful for the beautiful horizon and safe harbors you have arrived at, knowing your ship will be repaired and perhaps better than before – or will you hide in the bow, seized by anxiety?  

Ultimately, we WILL get through this.   We are incredibly resilient and marvelously made.  So let’s focus on that. Let’s be grateful for navigating our ships through this storm together.  Let’s be grateful for those that share our waters and the time we get to really be present with – perhaps for the first time in years.  Let’s be grateful for the food we are able to set on our tables, for the good health that most of us still enjoy, for the projects we can get to, the walks we can enjoy, the books we have time to read.  What are you grateful for today? How are you navigating your ship? Visualization is a powerful tool for creation – I would love to know what your ship looks like! Much love, friends! ⛵️🛥🛳💖

Three sentences

by Terah Drake, posted in Uncategorized

Hello, Beautiful;

I recently read a little quote that was so simple and yet succinct in its message that I wanted to share it with you: “Accept what is.  Let go of what was.  Believe in what will be.”  These three little sentences pretty much sum up the entire message of this and many other books written over the last few thousand years or so.  I believe we come to this plane of existence for three purposes. One, to learn to be a Creator. Scratch that. We are here to learn to be motherf#cking Sourcerers.  We were meant to be wizards; to remember our divinely- connected power to create our existence, for better or for worse. Second, to be of value and service to ourselves and others on this planet.  Third, to have the best possible time while doing it -to have fun, live joyously and enjoy every bliss soaked moment we are given here. But the only way to achieve any of that is to follow those three sentences.  

Accept and honor what is – but remember your ability to change your circumstance at any given moment.  One of my favorite quotes is that everything is either a lesson or a blessing.  So true, if we choose to view the trials we will inevitably experience in that way, and those lessons often turn out to be blessings in disguise!

Let go of what was –  If we are to fully experience the good that these three purposes bring us, the first thing we have to do – and have to continue to practice for as long as we are here – is to release and relinquish all that does not support forward progress.  This is so important I will say it again:  We must release and relinquish all that does not support our forward progress!  And the thing that we most often have difficulty relinquishing is our attachment to the past.  But here’s the thing – we can either allow that attachment to bind us – or help us through learning the valuable lessons they have provided and moving on.  Marie Kando wrote a wildly popular book entitled “The life-changing art of tidying up”.  I believe the reason this book was so highly regarded is that people who were exposed to the message – of letting go – recognized that that which we own often owns us, and there is a slavery in being bound by our possessions.  This message translates directly to the thoughts, memories, and emotions that we hold from the past, often going back to again and again, unable to release those negative feelings, which unfortunately turn into negative patterns of living.  

Trent Shelton, former NFL wide receiver current thought leader/speaker who reaches over 60 million people every week with his honest and engaging youtube videos often reminds us that “If you don’t own your past, your past will own you.”  Until we recognize that truth, we will continue to be slaves to those negative emotions and actions that are connected to our past; unable to move on to the ability to dictate and create our best possible reality that freedom from that slavery can bring us.  

Believe in what will be –  Faith is the foundation of creation.  Taking ownership of our existence and believing not just the possibility but the probability that everything we have dreamed of is within reach, and it is our responsibility on this planet to create the happiest, healthiest and most abundant reality we can – for ourselves and others.  

In the last month and a half, I have had the incredible blessing of purchasing outright a dream sportscar, traveled to Alaska, Charleston, South Carolina, and Scotland, and will be spending three weeks in Portugal from January through February.  The previous year, I spent nearly three months of the year traveling, my favorite trip being the two weeks my daughter and I spent between France and the UK with friends.  I am not a millionaire – yet – but I absolutely believe in my ability to co-create and manifest anything I put my mind to.   

So when I start feeling that itch to get out there and see new things, I remind myself of every glorious blessing currently in my life, then put my love of travel at the forefront of my awareness – so my ability to create the trips I wish for can unfold like cotton candy from a sugar spinner.  I use that analogy because the sweetness of creation feels just like that. Sugar goes into the drum, becomes heated and agitated, and begins spinning out as the delicious, light as air confection that we enjoy in the social, happy environment of fairs, carnivals and circuses. Likewise, when we have faith in our ability to shape our reality, our desires and positive thoughts go into our minds, are taken up by our RAS – (remember the Reticular Activating System, aka our awareness filter?) and the magic begins to unfold as we watch those desires spin into real things.  Like sportscars, amazing trips, dream homes and the ability to share your blessings with others.  

I don’t mention these blessings to brag, though it is incredibly exciting to see thoughts become things, but because I want you to see that you, also are a bountiful, abundant co-creator and director of Source; a capable creator of all that is good.  If I could have just one wish for today, it would be that you would know this to be true, for when your belief meets reality, you, also will understand and be amazed by your ability to create magic and fulfill your wishes and deepest desires.  

An added benefit to this knowledge is that this magic is not a “secret” to be hidden, but I know that when you become a Source-erer, you will be so excited that you will want to share your inspiration with others, as I have.  And maybe, just maybe, in another decade or two, that inspiration and creation will have been passed on to enough people that this whole world will be on fire with it, and just imagine the b place this will be. Can you see it?  I can, and believe me, gorgeous, it is sweeet!  I love you!

  • Terah