Awaken your gifts of leadership

Wow, I am still in the energy of our amazing Vision 2021:The Great Reset. People came from Slovakia, Turkey, Hawaii Honduras, Bermuda and all over the USA. This has been my personal vision: to create global transformation through ritual and spiritual practices. That is the silver lining in doing workshops via Zoom.

And I want to give a special shout out to Lana Smith and Joule L’Adara for keeping everything running smoothly, Emily Fletcher from Ziva Mediation for her powerful vision exercise, Biba, who zoomed in from Turkey to dance our vision out in the world, Joule L’Adara for her healing sound baths and Miriam Novalle for making us special Vision teas.

Today, I simply want to share this message from the late John O’ Donahue.

May the gift of leadership awaken in you as a vocation,
Keep you mindful of the providence that calls you to serve.
As high over the mountains the eagle spreads its wings,
May your perspective be larger than the view from the foothills.
When the way is flat and dull in times of gray endurance,
May your imagination continue to evoke horizons.
When thirst burns in times of drought,
May you have the wisdom to read time clearly
And know when the seed of change will flourish.
In your heart may there be a sanctuary
For the stillness where clarity is born.
May your work be infused with passion and creativity
And have the wisdom to balance compassion and challenge.
May your soul find the graciousness
To rise above the fester of small mediocrities.
May your power never become a shell
Wherein your heart would silently atrophy.
May you welcome your own vulnerability
As the ground where healing and truth join.
May integrity of soul be your first ideal.
The source that will guide and bless your work.

-John O’ Donohue

MERCURY RETROGRADE ALERT: JAN 30 - FEB 20
SLOW DOWN AND BACK UP EVERYTHING

Shine your light ✨

Dear Friend,

This is a monumental time in the history of the USA. We have an opportunity to create a new beginning that will focus on unity, justice, wisdom, truth, freedom and compassion for all.

Each one of us is called to acquire greater wisdom, deeper love, empathy and greater self-mastery. Now is a time of conscious enlightened action as we draw from the lessons of the past to focus on the unlimited possibilities of the future. This is the way forward.

Take extra time this week to meditate and connect with your higher wisdom and guidance. And pay attention to your nervous system as well as your physical body.

Here is a short technique I learned from my teacher Omraam Mikhael Aivanhov to soothe your nervous system and re-energize your mind, body and spirit. Think of it as charging your batteries.

Go into a quiet room where you will not be disturbed.
Stretch out face down on a bed, or yoga mat.
Relax your arms and legs.
Imagine you are sinking into an ocean of light.
Allow yourself to sink deeper and deeper into this pool of light.
Feel every cell in your body relaxing.
Deeper and deeper
Stay here for 3-5 minutes.

Today at 5:30pm The Presidential inaugural Committee is hosting a memorial in honor of the lives lost to the Covid-19 pandemic. You are invited to light a candle and ring a bell in a national moment of unity and remembrance.

Please send Light to the Inauguration on Wednesday. Imagine filling Washington DC with a force field so strong that it will transmute all desire to use free will destructively, and replace it with the intense desire to serve God and Humanity with Reverence for ALL Life. Let us call for a protective sapphire blue shield of energy to surround all for a peaceful transition of power. May light and protection be sent to:

The President of the United States of America and his Cabinet—now and forever.
The Senate and the House of Representatives for the United States of America—now and forever.
The Supreme Court and ALL Courts of Law, and ALL legal procedures—now and forever.
The United Nations and ALL of its members—now and forever.
Through ALL World leaders and those associated with the Governments of Earth at national, state and local levels—now and forever.

(to read the full invocation of Light from Patricia Cota Robles, I have posted it on my FB page)

VISION 2021: THE GREAT RESET is almost here.

Join our amazing community to take a deep dive into what we most require this year. We must learn from our past, but not allow it to direct our future. 2021 is a doorway into this new age of Aquarius and it is calling us to co-create a new world together.

Through meditation, spiritual practice, ritual, sound-healing, art and dance we will dare to dream big and open to the support necessary to write our new stories.
Payment Plans available. Register now!

Many Blessings, 
Barbara

Turn this mess into your message

Many of you have asked me why I am holding Vision 2021 at the end of the month this year, since I have run this for over 25 years earlier in the year. The short story is that I was guided not to do this workshop before the Inauguration. I felt that January was going to be a time of breakdown and chaos and wanted to start our journey together with new energy.

As I was meditating this morning, this song from Carousel kept looping through my mind.

When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm
There's a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of the lark
Walk on, through the wind
Walk on, through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone
When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm
There's a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of the lark
Walk on, through the wind
Walk on, through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone
Walk on, through the wind
Walk on, through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone
Never walk alone

When we are wrapped up in fear and powerlessness, we lose our objectivity and make choices that limit our options. The best thing we can do at this time is to be present with what is, feel our feelings, do whatever we can to stay centered and grounded, reach out for support and trust our ability to handle change. A good question to ask yourself at this time is, “What can I change alone and where do I need help?”

If it were stormy outside, you would put on a raincoat, rubber boots and protect yourself as best you can. The same goes for your energetic field.

Shields Up!!

Imagine a golden mesh shield around you that acts as a repellent to negative energy. It also transmutes your own negative thoughts and absorbs them so they do not get embedded in your field or get sent out to the world. I also like to imagine a double rainbow around myself and my friends and family for extra protection.

Together we can safely navigate this time.

Join me at VISION2021: The Great Reset.

“Vision 2020 was my fifth time participating in this life-affirming weekend intensive and this year’s program was the most powerful yet! I ended 2019 feeling depleted and defeated. My attitude has shifted 180 degrees, from “Why me?” to “Why NOT me!?” Just a few days out, I’ve returned to my businesses not only recharged but rebirthed, taking the lead on setting up meetings, completing stalled projects, you name it.”

—Hope C. Tarr, Multi-published author and third-degree Reiki practitioner

Work with Barbara

Clearing/Healing: It is time to sever negative energetic cords from past relationships including your ancestral inheritance so you can move forward with more ease. Book a session now or set up a Tarot Reading to get clarity on the forces around you that want to leave and the new energy that wants to come in.

Many Blessings, 
Barbara

How to move forward in 2021

Dear Friend,

It is crucial to be willing to adapt to change. Life has an ebb and flow and this year, more than ever, we need to trust ourselves and trust life as we surrender to the flow of the Universe.

As I have been saying for months, the energy that has entered the planet is new. It is a higher frequency of Divine love with wisdom and in order to receive it and integrate it, we must expand and strengthen our energetic container and ground ourselves in this new state of awareness. We are going through a cosmic initiation as we awaken knowledge from within and from our spiritual ancestors.

On that note, please be fully present with what is and do not rush to make resolutions or set goals that are based on the past. If you have a project launching that you love, that is fine, however if you are still not clear on where to put your energy, that is totally perfect since this is a time of flow… of being.

This is not an instant fix. We have to learn how to give ourselves the time, silence and trust that this process takes. Then we can embrace our passions, rather than fear them; otherwise, we will diminish our power and allow others to invade our boundaries. And we have to learn to use our voices if we want them to be heard.

By the end of January, it will become clearer, what you need to focus on and that is why I have moved our Vision Workshop: The Great Reset to January 23-24. And I am thrilled that we will be joined by Emily Fletcher (Ziva Meditation), Joule L’Adara (Sounding Circles) and Bianca Rothchild (artist and founder of Alchemy of dance).

The weekend will be a true celebration of our Spirit and a powerful reset for love, abundance and success with good to all concerned. SPECIAL EARLY BIRD PRICE ENDS JANUARY 10TH.

Join us to create rituals for transition that support us to move beyond anxiety and procrastination, and that honor the fear and help us face our lives head on. This shift will bring us miraculous new resources, liberating us to expand and seek new horizons.

Many Blessings,
Barbara

An inspiration to start off 2021 🌟

Much has been written about 2020: It will certainly go down in history as one of the most challenging years of the 21st century. So now it is time to say goodbye and open to the new frequency of 2021. Your destiny is calling.

2020 taught us how to prioritize our health, deepen our spiritual practice, appreciate our friends and family, navigate the world of Zoom and technology, juggle work and kids and take a hard look at how we use our time and energy. Many of us became great cooks, fabulous gardeners, graduated from schools and online courses and watched more Netflix and Amazon than ever before. We struggled with depression, food insecurity, illness and lock-down anxiety. We re-connected with The Earth and each other. We watched a New President become elected and a country divided.

2021 gives us the opportunity to do things in a different way. It is time to step up and shine your light, dare to dream and create strong communities that will stabilize and sustain us in the coming years. The time of silence is over. The time of “fixing” is over. The time for creating is now.

The Age of Aquarius offers us many gifts of innovation, creativity, and expansion. And it cautions us to create rules, traditions and structures that will support the new growth. We are the ones we have been waiting for as the saying goes. Right now, is the most important time of our lives. Right now we are creating our futures with good to all concerned. We are the ancestors of the future.

The vibrational frequency of the planet has shifted and we are required to shift with her. I have spoken about the intense downloads that we have been experiencing, and the key to receiving them. We must expand and ground our energetic containers. We can only receive what we have the capacity to hold. Think of a high voltage of electricity going through a small light bulb. It will shatter it.

We upgrade our phones, our computers, our cars and televisions, but are not always aware that we require energetic upgrades as well. That is why I have been offering power time activations, new and full moon rituals and workshops as well as private sessions.

MY GIFT TO YOU

As always, I am offering my FREE 12-day intention intensive. You will be receiving one mp3 daily starting January 1st to guide you in setting intention for 2021. As my teacher Omraam Mikhael Aivanhov taught, the first 12 days of the year set intention for the entire year. If your friends want to receive these, have them go to my website and sign up for our newsletter.

And to lighten your spirits, here are some global New Year’s Rituals.

Spain: Eat 12 grapes at midnight for good luck in the coming year.

Southern USA: Black eyed peas and collard greens are believed to bring money and abundance into your year.

Greece: Vasilopita is eaten (cake with a coin inside). Whoever finds the coin in her piece of cake will be especially lucky during the coming year.

Italy: Throw out old furniture, clothes, pots……open the windows to throw out the old. I DO NOT RECOMMEND YOU THROW THINGS OUT THE WINDOW. Best to put them out on the street for people to take.

Japan: Eating soba noodles on New Year’s Eve or Day is believed to bring in longevity and abundance.

BRAZIL: New Year's Eve priestesses of the local macumba voodoo cult dress in blue skirts and white blouses for a ceremony dedicated to the goddess of water, Yemanja. A sacrificial boat laden with flowers, candles and jewelry is pushed out to sea from Brazil's famous Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro.

South America/Mexico: For travel in the coming year, walk around the block with an empty suitcase.

And don’t forget to wear Red Underwear to bring in Love and Passion. (I will share more about the psychology of color at another time)

VISION 2021: THE GREAT RESET

I urge you to give yourself the gift of support, practical spiritual tools and inspiration to start off 2021. This weekend is packed with rituals, sound-healing, spiritual activations, meditation, art and movement. It is a life-changing experience.

It is a time to RECALIBRATE and leave the struggle and chaos of 2020 behind. If you are ready to move into this new year with passion and purpose, then this is the shift that will make a difference. I want you to live your life to the fullest.

Special guests: Emily Fletcher of Ziva Mediation will be sharing a powerful manifestation practice and Joule L’Adara of Sounding Circles will be immersing us in her sound healing bath. Stay tuned for more surprise guests.

And to make it easy, we have an Early Bird Savings if you register by January 10th and payment plans are available.

Vision 2020 Participants

But don’t take my word for it, hear what others have to say:

“There is nothing quite like Barbara Biziou’s Vision. And with such a traumatic year behind us, we are in absolute need of this spiritual detox and refresh in 2021! Ever since I started going in 2016, I so look forward to the magic of Vision. A weekend of meeting and re-connecting with amazing people, all gathered together to build something beautiful. From meditation and release rituals to sound healing and vision boarding, there is truly something that speaks to everyone. So, no matter who you are, what age, what background, whether it’s virtual or not, I promise you, you don’t wanna miss out on Vision. We all deserve a better 2021, and it starts with our vision for it.”

- Alex Remmel

Many Blessings,
Barbara

Questions to Ask Yourself This Week

Dear friend,

We are entering the grand finale of 2020. 2021 is a great unknown… filled with enormous potential to expand our thinking and transcending old limitations. And at the same time, it may feel like the whole world is falling apart as the old order seems to be crashing down and life feels unstable and fragile.

Yet, this is the time to slow down. We need to be grounded and agile at this time. Life can change in the blink of an eyelid so why waste energy trying to control everything. Now is the time to learn to be flexible and adaptable.

Mysterious forces are around us and trying to control everything will just limit the opportunities that are coming to us. Mental agility combined with a strong supportive community will be the key to moving forward in 2021. I know this is easier said than done. Here are some suggestions to guide you to end this year consciously.

Take time this week to ask yourself:

Are my roots embedded in rich fertile soil or are they planted in earth that will not sustain them?

What is my relationship to uncertainty?

What messages am I receiving in my dreams, meditations and around me?

What wisdom have I gained this year?

“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms and like books that are written in a very foreign tongue.”

- Rainer Maria Rilke

The world is going through unprecedented change and we all require greater resources to ground us, stabilize us and allow us to navigate these transformational times. All leadership requires vision and it is time to re-vision our lives and our world in a completely new way.

I am really excited to open VISION 2021: THE GREAT RESET. For the first time in over 25 years, we will be meeting virtually on our sacred Zoom room. And yes, we will be dancing, meditating, doing ritual (especially my powerful fire ceremony of release), experiencing a sound bath, making collages and sharing with an incredible group of like-minded people.

This year two of my special guests are Emily Fletcher from Ziva Meditation and Joule L’Adara from Sounding Circles (more to be announced).

"I have been attending Barbara Bizou's Vision workshops for 10 years, and each time I leave the two-day event transformed and clear about my intentions. Barbara has a gift of knowing how to create a safe place for people to share, to heal, to let go and to start anew. I can't imagine beginning my year without the gift of this beautiful experience."

- Elayne Fluker, Author of Get Over "I Got It" (HarperCollins Leadership), elaynefluker.com

MY GIFT TO YOU

My spiritual teacher Omraam Mikhael Aivanhov taught me that the first 12 days of the year set intention for the entire year, so I will be sending out my INTENTION INTENSIVE free to everyone on my newsletter list. You will receive one guided meditation a day for 12 days. If your friends want to receive this powerful way to start out the year, please tell them to subscribe on my website.

For those of you who celebrate… Merry Christmas and a Happy Kwanza.

Many Blessings,
Barbara

Five Languages of Love & Appreciation

Dear friend,

Do you notice how easy it is to feel left out? Unappreciated? Isolated? This goes for your personal life as well as at work.

I have been paying attention to what makes me feel appreciated, loved, valued and connected and it reminded me of a book I read years ago, The Five Languages of Love by Gary Chapman.

According to Chapman, the five ways to express and experience love called "love languages" are:

1. words of affirmation,
2. quality time,
3. receiving gifts,
4. acts of service,
5. physical touch.

Words of affirmation: If this makes you loved you need to hear some of the following: “You did a great job”, “I really appreciate our friendship”, “Wow I can see how much effort you put into making the Holidays special”. Make sure to use kind and compassionate words. Harsh language and criticism are devastating to those who need words to feel loved. And a handwritten note of thanks and gratitude can go a long way in showing someone that you feel they are important. And don’t underestimate the power of praise in front of others. Sincerely acknowledge them in front of others at a virtual cocktail party, business meeting or family gathering.

Quality Time: If you are like some of my friends, this translates into one-on-one personal FaceTime, Zoom or phone calls. Those who value quality time do not want to always share you with others. And this means becoming a good listener. Take the time to reach out one on one and give them your full attention. Or if possible, meet for a walk or at an outdoor café. And for business interactions know that large group Zoom meetings do not always work for those who are introverted or feeling low. They will probably not share what is really going on with them.

Physical Touch: In this time of Covid, personal touch may mean giving a gift certificate for a pedicure or massage. The days of hugging friends and family is not as simple as it used to be and even a good handshake with a colleague may be off limits. But you can do virtual high fives and send virtual hugs. And you may want to consider getting a real-life pet.

Receiving gifts: For me, it is about meaningful gifts that show someone took the time to think of me. The key is to give a gift that represents something the person values. If they love cooking, a new set of top-quality knives or pots would be fabulous, to a gardener, a gift certificate to their favorite garden store would be appreciated and to someone into exercising, a piece of gym equipment, or a personal training session may do the trick. And for those a bit witchy, aromatherapy and crystals are the thing.

Acts of Service: Take the time to go out of your way to do something nice for someone. If you are a techy person, offer to show a friend or co-worker some tips on their new computer, phone or their new smart tv, fashionistas can share ways to look better on zoom , experts in math, language and science can offer to coach kids who are learning at home. Especially now, everyone can use some help, so find something that would be useful to your friends and co-workers.

Work with Barbara - personal transformation and vision coach.
Specializing in : Ancient Rituals, Tarot Readings, Energy Clearing, Spiritual Re-Aligning, Igniting Intuition, Amplifying Emotional Intelligence, and Corporate Wellness.

There are only 17 days left before 2021. This is a powerful time to do a virtual space clearing of your home or office or a ritual to let go of old baggage. If you want to see what is in store for you in 2021, book a reading to gain clarity and guidance.

Many Blessings,
Barbara

A Season of Light 🕯️

December 2020 is gifting us with the potential to let go and open to our Divine Potential. It is preparing us for 2021 and our possible future.

On a spiritual note, the frequencies of The Divine Mother are all around us and if we pay attention, get quiet and open to Her, we can absorb the highest frequencies of Love and Wisdom that have entered our planet.

Our lives are the sum total of the moments we experience and savor, so let us become especially available to receiving these downloads.

Join me at 12:15PM Today on IG LIVE with founder of Ziva Meditation to discuss Rituals to End the Year Consciously @zivameditation and at 5pm on FB LIVE for more tools on building Spiritual Resiliency.

This Thursday begins the Holiday of Hanukkah. For those of you who do not know what this Holiday symbolizes, here is the meaning.

Chanukah is the Jewish eight-day, wintertime “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods like potato latkes (pancakes) and donuts.

In Jewish mysticism, the number eight represents pure potentiality, transcendence, infinity. During Hanukkah we light eight candles. We enter into a time of miracles, a time of potentiality, a time of pure transcendence, a time of infinity.

In the second century BCE, the Holy Land was ruled by the Seleucids (Syrian Greeks), who tried to force the people of Israel to accept Greek culture and their beliefs. Against all odds, a small band of faithful Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, defeated one of the mightiest armies on earth, drove the Greeks from the land, reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it to the service of G-d.

When they sought to light the Temple's Menorah (the seven-branched candelabrum), they found only a single cruse of olive oil that had escaped contamination by the Greeks. Miraculously, they lit the menorah and the one-day supply of oil lasted for eight days, until new oil could be prepared under conditions of ritual purity.

So, at this time we celebrate the reemergence of light in times of darkness. On each of the eight nights (even if you do not normally celebrate Hannukah), light a candle and set your intention to be the Light and to shine brightly in the world.

Bringing light to the darkness created by Covid.

Bringing light to the darkness of our climate crisis.

Bringing light to the darkness of racial and religious injustice and intolerance.

Bringing light to the darkness of any prejudice.

Bring light to the sorrow of having lost a loved one.

Let us commit to shining our light throughout the year.

Many Blessings,
Barbara

Entering a Collective Shift in Consciousness 🌟

I want to thank everyone who reached out to me on my birthday Sunday. I was touched and feel incredibly blessed to have such a supportive and loving community. It is so important to have deep connections - especially at this time - and I don’t take them for granted.

We have arrived at the last month of 2020. December holds the energy of introspection and renewal. Last night we celebrated the Full Moon Lunar Eclipse: a Powerful Download of Cosmic Energy aligning us with the Higher frequencies of Light entering our planet and we will continue to receive these gifts of light throughout the entire month.

During this time, be aware that we are experiencing a collective shift in consciousness. In order to fully integrate this energy, the following is necessary.

Take Quiet Time to allow this integration to take place. Think of the old buildings with intercom systems. You had to push the talk button to communicate with the person living in the building. Then you had to press the listen button to hear his/her answer. Without the quiet time to listen you may just miss the answers that you are looking for.

Finish Old Business. It is time to put the old stories to bed. Right now, is an opportunity to honor and say goodbye to the old before we enter into the New Year. I once heard someone describe holding on to past stories as carrying around old empty suitcases on your shoulders.

At different stages of our lives, some beliefs are necessary for our development. You wouldn’t give a 2-year-old matches or let them walk across a crowded city street alone. However, there comes a time, when you can safely light a match and cross the street by yourself.

Holding on to the old patterns that sabotage your success make no sense. Playing it small has no place in this new decade. Everyone’s light counts.

Call in your Angels. It has been said that the month of December is an auspicious time to ask the Angelic Forces to help us with our love life, health, protection, and creative projects. Create an altar with flowers, crystals, and some vanilla. Light a white candle (in a fireproof bowl for safety) and call in your angelic team to guide and support you. Talk to them as you would to beloved friends. Do this every night for 7 days (7 is the number of the goddess and a lucky number).

Many Blessings,
Barbara

Work with Barbara

There are only 31 days left in 2020. Let’s make the best use of them by gaining clarity on what 2020 really meant to you personally. This will allow you to more easily move into the New frequency of 2021…

Set up an appointment now for an intuitive tarot reading or ritual. Gift certificates are available.

How To Press Pause for this Thanksgiving + a Free Meditation 🥧

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays, however this year we all are being called on to re-invent this time.

Most people are celebrating either virtually or with a small group of people and the traditional rituals that have allowed us to share from our hearts and connect meaningfully with one another have drastically changed.

This year as a Thanksgiving Ritual (whether it is your holiday or not), I want to encourage you to:

• Put down the heaviness of the past and give thanks for the gift of this Holiday.

• Fast from complaining.

• Be present to what is instead focusing on what isn’t.

• Notice the small things in life.

• Stop comparing yourself to others or measuring your success by impossible standards.

• Be open to the countless gifts you have and for the possibilities of the future.

• Laugh and do things that bring you joy.

“Put down the weight of your aloneness and ease into the conversation. The kettle is singing even as it pours you a drink, the cooking pots have left their arrogant aloofness and seen the good in you at last. All the birds and creatures of the world are unutterably themselves. Everything is waiting for you.” - David Whyte

Listen to this special meditation I have recorded as a gift to you:

Many Blessings,
Barbara

Human. Kind. Be Both

As I was writing my Women’s New Moon Diwali ritual last week, an old teaching story came to mind.

A young student was sitting with her teacher. She asked the teacher to explain the difference between heaven and hell.

“In hell, her teacher explained, people are sitting around a long table filled with the most delicious food. Yet, they are starving.”

“Why?” asked the student. “They cannot bring the food to their lips because they cannot bend their arms,” answered the Teacher.

“What is heaven,” asked the curious student?

“In heaven, all the people are sitting around a fabulous table filled with the most delicious food, said the Teacher. They also can’t bring the food to their lips because they cannot bend their arms.”

“So, what is the difference between heaven and hell?” the baffled student asked.

Her wise teacher replied, “In heaven, all the people feed each other.”

Although this story has been changed in some cultures (in the Chinese versions, the people are eating with very long chopsticks, and in others the people are eating with very long spoons), the message remains the same. We all need to feed and care for each other.

Today, as a ritual act, do a random act of kindness for someone in need.

Many Blessings,
Barbara

Planetary Reboot 🌠

Saturday morning, I decided to rent a bike and go down Hudson Park to Battery Park. I needed to get some fresh air and let off the nervous energy that I was feeling watching the election returns dribble in. As I approached the Statue of Liberty, I started to hear cars honking and people shouting. My first thought was “OMG I am in the middle of a protest”. I turned to a couple near me and asked what was going on. “We won!” they said. “Joe Biden is President.”

At that moment it felt like a thousand-pound weight had been lifted off my shoulders. As Leonard Cohen said in his famous song Anthem:

“Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in”

I looked around and saw The Statue of Liberty standing strong and welcoming. If you listened to my meditation to set intention for the election, I asked you all to connect to Lady Liberty (the goddess of freedom) to see this nation and her people surrounded with spiritual light, to bring greater clarity and harmony into this election. As my mother would have said, “It was bashert” – destiny, meant to be – a sign from the Universe that She is a shining force of Light.

Yes, we all need to celebrate and have some fun. As I walked around the streets of NY, I kept hearing people say that they can finally breathe and didn’t know how badly they felt until it was over. And now we can actually get a good night’s sleep, because we don’t have to constantly check the news or social media to find out what is the next horrible thing happening in the world. And to be honest, those things don’t seem to have the hold they did before, because now there is a feeling of hope.

Watching Joe Biden and Kamala Harris Saturday night showed us what a diverse country we are. Having worked for women’s rights since the 70’s, I felt a new sense of pride and hope when Kamala (wearing white for the suffragettes) stood up and acknowledged all the women who had come before her.

I am only sorry that my mother and her friend Gert weren’t here to see this.

MY PRESCRIPTION

1. Put on some music and let it rip. My friends sent me “Dancing in the Streets” which seems really appropriate at the moment. I love that my friends at Daybreaker were dancing outside the polling sites and took to the streets over the weekend. Check them out on Instagram @dybrkr.

2. Take a stand to right the wrongs of the past. Let us each commit to doing whatever we can to bring healing into the past and to create a new positive future for all of us and our descendants.

On Saturday we will be celebrating the Hindu Festival of Diwali: festival of Lights, which celebrates the victory of goodness over evil and light over darkness.

And on Sunday The New Moon is in Scorpio - Scorpio demands that we take responsibility for the tremendous impact we have on what happens in the world. This is the true meaning of power.

There is a lot of work to be done, however I believe that together we can do it.

Stress Busters For The Upcoming Election

Dear friend,

On this election day in the US, I have decided to simply share some techniques that I have used to counteract the stress that most of us are feeling.

STRESS BUSTERS

• Deep Breathing: Breathe in through your nose. Take slow belly breaths to the count of four. Exhale through the mouth to the count of four.

• Exercise: According to a Duke University study, working-out for 30 minutes 3 times a week is equivalent to popping Zoloft.

• Put cool water on your face and hands.

• Get some fresh air.

• Write down all your fears and concerns on a piece of paper. Then rip up the paper and throw it away or burn the paper if you can do so safely.

MEDITATION TO SET INTENTION FOR THE ELECTION

Imagine you can connect to the Goddess of Liberty…her soul , her highest purpose, and see this nation and her people surrounded with spiritual light and love to bring greater clarity and harmony to this election.

Ask the higher spiritual forces to protect the election process on a national, state and local levels and to ensure a fair election.

Join me in a meditation to set positive intentions for this election and please VOTE.

LISTEN TO THE GUIDED MEDITATION HERE:

The Real Meaning of Halloween 🎃🦇

Halloween to most of us means candy, costumes and trick-or-treating. For New Yorkers (pre-Covid) it meant one of the biggest parades of the year. And every year you could count on my friend and colleague Donna Henes, who would lead the parade with her Blessing Band.

Hallows or Hallomas started out as a festival to honor the Crone – the wise grandmother. Over the years it has been transformed and commercialized into wicked old witches flying on broomsticks with black cats. Even the cauldron has changed meaning as it represented the womb of the Goddess – a symbol of rebirth.

For the Celts, it is called Samhain - summers end - and it is the beginning of the Celtic New Year. From darkness, endings and death comes light and rebirth. Something we all need to remember.

This is a holy time when the veil between the worlds is thin. For many cultures this is a time when the ancestors return to visit and communicate with the living. In Ireland, it is believed that the fairies come out on this special night. 

HONORING ANSCESTORS 

In Latin America, El Dia del las Muertes is celebrated at the cemetery. Families sweep the graves, bring food, create altars with marigolds and sugar skulls and celebrate those who have died. It is also a way to teach children that death is part of life and not to fear it. Christians all over the world celebrate All Souls Day and All Saints Day (November 1st and 2nd).

In the true spirit of Halloween let us take some time to honor our ancestors and to share their gifts with our children. This was the beginning of the story telling season, so why not make this Halloween a time to honor our elders by asking them to share stories of their past. Personally, I love doing video interviews. 

Remember, this is also a volatile Full Moon. Truth coming into light! Make sure to be grounded and flexible. And Vote!

As this Chinese Proverb says,
 

“When the winds of change blow,
Some people build walls and others build windmills.”

Work with Barbara

I am really excited seeing the clarity, the Aha’s and the practical action steps that my clients are taking after a reading with me. Book your session now.

I am also available to work with you personally or with your company to bring in more clarity, focus, creativity, and a deeper sense of calm during these challenging times. It is not easy to juggle your personal and professional life (especially if you have young children or elderly parents) at this moment so why not reach out and get the support you require.

We are fast approaching the end of 2020 and the more you can clear out the old, the more room you will have for the new in 2021.

Many Blessings, 
Barbara

7 Blessings for all of us 🙏

On Saturday I was delighted to officiate my first outdoor socially distanced wedding and on Sunday I officiated the celebration of life memorial for my dear friend Gert.

Both of them affirmed the power of connection. Both of them affirmed the power of love. Both of them affirmed the power of spiritual resiliency.

For the I Ching says, "but when two people are at one in their inmost hearts, they shatter even the strength of iron or bronze; and when two people understand each other in their inmost hearts, their words are sweet and strong, like the fragrance of orchids." 

It reminds us of the power that we give and receive from each other. It reminds us that each moment is a memory in the making. And as we understand the preciousness of memories, we can be more conscious of the ways we live our lives.

Justin and Carissa’s wedding showed us that love, compassion, family and community are priorities in life.

Gert’s memorial showed us that we are special because of knowing her. 

In many cultures, it is traditional to offer 7 blessings (a mystical and sacred number) to the wedding couple. Today I decided to write 7 blessings for all of us.

1.May you be blessed with an abundance of resources and comforts and be generous to others.

2. May you be healthy, strong and resilient.

3. May you live each day to its fullest.

4. May you be thankful and kind.

5. May you be blessed with happiness and joy.

6. May you live true to your personal values and contribute to the world.

7. May you always have an abundance of friends and support.

Work with Barbara

Readings give you insight into the past, current and future events. Discover where you are right now and gain clarity on the practical steps you need to take to bring you healing, success and love.

Coaching and rituals are customized to guide and support your journey.

I am also available to speak at your company or event as well as curate and moderate workshops to guide your audience through life-changing and thought-provoking rituals.

Many Blessings,
Barbara

Celebrating Navratri - The Hindu Festival of 9 Nights

Since right now we can use as much assistance as possible, I want to share with you the Hindu Festival Navratri which starts October 17th.

This is a nine night festival that honors the Divine Feminine/Mother and looks to her for spiritual cleansing, guidance, and enlightenment. It lasts for nine nights and ten days. 

The first 3 nights are spent meditating upon the Divine Feminine in her powerful and destructive aspect known as Durga or Kali. We ask the goddess to help us identify and eliminate those aspects of our self that are not helpful, skillful, or productive, such as greed, envy, procrastination, laziness, lying, gossiping, etc. We also ask her to protect our spiritual practice from its many dangers and pitfalls.

The next 3 nights are spent meditating upon the Divine Mother in her spiritual wealth-giving aspect know as Lakshmi. We ask the goddess to help us develop and maintain helpful qualities, such as patience, forgiveness, compassion, loving-kindness, and integrity. 

The third set of nights are spent meditating upon the Divine Feminine in her spiritual wisdom-bestowing aspect known as Sarasvati. We ask the goddess to help us to achieve self-realization and understand universal truths such as our divine nature and the interconnectedness of living beings. 

By the way, it is also a time to bless your bank accounts, business ledgers, stocks and bonds, Quickbooks and anything else that represents your wealth.

Many Blessings, 
Barbara

Surviving and Thriving During Mercury Retrograde

As if things were not crazy enough Mercury is about to go retrograde on October 13th-November 3rd. I can already hear you saying, “No, No No!! enough chaos! However, there are things that you can control, so start preparing now and this time will be much easier and smoother.

Since Mercury rules communication, transportation and technology, these areas can appear “glitchy”, so here are some tips to help you navigate this time.

Slow down. During this time, I know I can go too fast and spill my water bottle on my computer, misplace my keys, break my favorite wine glass or double book a meeting. Think of this time as a long-distance race not a sprint.

Take a deep breath before answering the phone, email or text. You will be more focused and relaxed.

Do not answer an email or text if it makes you angry. Wait 24 seconds, 24 minutes or 24 hours before responding. You may even want to show your written response to someone before sending to make sure you are not saying something you will regret later. 

Do not take everything personally. Friends and co-workers may be under extra stress so try and be forgiving if they say something off.

Back up everything. 

Read emails and documents carefully. If there is something you do not understand, get a second opinion. 

Edit and revise. This is a perfect time to improve on all creative projects.

If possible, do not sign important documents or contracts until Mercury is direct.

Give yourself extra time if you are traveling anywhere.

Be open to running into or hearing from old friends and lovers This is the Universe’s way of helping you with unfinished business.

Complete projects that have been hanging around.

Ground yourself : spend a few moments a day barefoot in nature, do a grounding meditation and spray my aromatherapy spray GROUNDED around you, hold a grounding crystal like hematite, smoky quartz or obsidian. 

My friend Anita Rosenberg has a wonderful MERCURY RETROGRADE CANDLE. 

VOTE

EARLY

IN PERSON

DROP OFF YOUR COMPLETED BALLET AT BOARD OFFICE NEAR YOU

IF MAILING IN, READ INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

Work with Barbara

As we move closer to the end of 2020, this is a perfect time to get a reading to give you clarity and guidance. Rituals are also available to bless your projects, relationships and homes. I am also officiating small outdoor weddings and rituals as long as there is social distancing.

If you are serious about moving forward, having the right support is crucial. I have found that my clients who work with me consistently over a concentrated period of time, get faster and more grounded results so for a limited time I will be taking some new coaching clients. Together we will release the limiting patterns from the past, create the habits that will support you, and expand your capacity for more abundance, love and success. 

Many Blessings, 
Barbara

Ritual for New Beginnings

Fasting and contemplation are a major part of my ritual on Yom Kippur. No matter where I am in the world, I stop and spend a day fasting and in prayer. I have learned that there is a power in stopping and in silence. It is time when I can get a new perspective on my current situation.

In fact, the idea for writing my books, The Joy of Ritual and The Joy of Family Rituals came out of a 3 day period of silence and fasting I did with my spiritual teacher Brugh Joy over 20 years ago.

Recently I read a blog by Suzanne Sabransky called The Mindfulness of Fasting (www.ritualwell.org). Here are some of the things that touched me.
 

“We take for granted that we have food to eat,
Unless we are among those who don't.”

     We take for granted the quality of life we enjoy,
Unless it is lost, gone forever, a distant memory.

We take for granted all the blessings we have,
Unless we don't seem to have any to begin with.”
 

As I enter this New Year, I choose to be grateful for all that I have.  Even though many plans I had were derailed, and my life has been a rollercoaster ride, I know deep in my heart that I am always guided if I take the time to really listen. 
 
It is time for all of us to take stock of our lives before we move forward. My affirmation for this time is I RETHINK MY INTENTION AND RESHAPE MY FUTURE.

RITUAL OF NEW BEGINNINGS

1. Take some clay or play dough.
2. Create a symbol or figure that represents you.
3. Sit quietly and focus on things you want to create or change.
4. Visualize yourself with these new qualities.
5. Keep the symbol on your altar as a reminder of the New You. 

Work with Barbara

It is time to take stock of your life and put in the corrections you require to move forward. In order to do this you must commit to building a stronger more resilient emotional container. Contact our office to set up your personal reading or a private session.

Here is a testimonial we received from a client this morning:

"Barbara did a space clearing at Sloomoo Institute, cleansing the energy of COVID and inviting in a fresh, healthy, new energy of abundance and joy. We literally sold out every weekend since and it has been truly beautiful - our guests have been full of pure happiness!"  - Karen Robinovitz, Co-Founder at Sloomoo Institute.

Many Blessings, 
Barbara

How to deal when it is just too hard

Dear Women,

if you have a credit card in your own name and your own credit history,
If you have leased an apartment or bought property in your name,
If you have consented to your own medical treatment,
if you played a sport in school, you can thank Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
 

And to everyone, words from my heroine …
 

“Anger, resentment, envy, and self-pity are wasteful reactions.
They greatly drain one’s time.
They sap energy better devoted to productive endeavors.” 

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

We are in a turning point and we all are required to step up and do the best we can to take a stand for our individual and collective greatness. As spiritual souls walking on this physical earth, we must do whatever we can to ensure that the values of honesty, compassion, respect, integrity and abundance for all are upheld.

Take the time you need acknowledge your emotions.
Reach out and get help if you need it (some things we can do alone and there are times when we require outside support).
Get clarity around your vision at this time.
Take action. Small consistent action steps lead to success.
 

RITUAL FOR THIS TIME

1. Create a “IT’S TOO HARD TO DO ALONE” altar.
2. Write down anything that feels overwhelming.
3. Place it on the altar with a crystal.
4. Offer it up to God, Goddess, Spirit, Creator, Your angels.
Affirm: I surrender all anxieties to a power greater than me.

To assist you at this time, I am offering private readings at a special savings (you save $60) as well as short Power time Activations (by donation only) and a special 3-hour VISION BOOSTER on October 3rd to strengthen your ability to revision your personal and our collective future.

I am also available to work with your organizations. Contact our office.

Read my new article in MindBodyGreen here or click on the photo below.

Ritual Of Scrubbing The Soul Clean

We are all obsessed with immunity from Covid, but what we really require is spiritual immunity from all negativity.

This Thursday we celebrate the New Moon in Virgo, Friday night begins Rosh Hashana in the Jewish tradition and the official beginning of Fall (autumn Equinox) begins on September 22nd.

One of my favorite rituals at this time of year is the ritual of Tashlich… It is a symbolic releasing of our sins (meaning to go astray) into the water. What I love about it is the connection between our taking action to release and the helping hand that comes from Spirit. As we move into action… spirit comes to help us. This year it is held on Saturday, September 19th.

Traditionally we throw small pieces of bread into moving water. This way the bread feeds the birds and fishes. Each piece represents the things that blind us to our own truth. We release anything that we have done by our words, deeds or actions that have harmed others or ourselves. We release our sense of inadequacy, our limiting viewpoints, and anything that has hardened our hearts. In fact, the biggest sin is the one of forgetting our own Divinity and connection to God. Rabbi David Ingber called it a ritual of scrubbing the soul clean.

Even if this is not in your tradition, I recommend you try this ritual:

• Reflect on the past year and focus on the things that you are ready to cast off.

• Take small pieces of bread and throw them into moving water. If you are not near water, fill up a bowl with water and throw them in the bowl. 

• Throw away the pain from the past.

• Throw away the judgments that keep you from seeing the bigger picture.

• Throw away the resentments and anger that keep your heart closed.

• Throw away the shoulds and coulds.

• Throw away the need to compare yourself to others.

• Throw away anything that keeps you small and stuck.

• Throw away any fear, anger or resentment you are holding about our upcoming election in the US.

"May your actions transform this world from a world of harshness to a world of compassion, from a world of ignorance to a world of enlightenment, from a world of death to a world of life renewed, and from a world where sin destroys us to a world where we destroy sin.” - Prayer Un’taneh Tokef.

Work with Barbara

I am really excited seeing the clarity, the Aha’s and the practical action steps that my clients are taking after a reading with me.

I am also available to work with you personally or with your company to bring in more clarity, focus, creativity, and a deeper sense of calm during these challenging times. It is not easy to juggle your personal and professional life (especially if you have young children or elderly parents) at this moment so why not reach out and get the support you require.

Zoom weddings are still legal in NY. If you are interested in a ceremony via Zoom or in person please contact our office. I am also available for wedding showers and baby blessings.


Many Blessings, 
Barbara