Ilumine-Ao

The following note is a response by a good friend of mine Santhan Naidoo in regards to what is going on with our world. Santhan is Heaven Admin for Heaven’s Letters and I had the pleasure of having him in my home for a couple of weeks and sharing insightful perspectives.

From me to you Love is the answer…all ways.

For our best and highest good, all ways…
Ilumine Ao, Al Diaz

The Waking Dream You Walk Through

by Santhan Naidoo

Dear Mark,

I accept your invitation to rewrite this from another perspective.

I’ve traveled approximately 23712km (14733 miles) within the last two months. From Buenos Aires to London to Bruge to Paris to Istanbul to Tel Aviv to Bucharest to Johannesburg to Los Angeles and so on. I lived in the homes of people from all around the world, listened to their stories, shared their pain and celebrated their laughter.

That there is change coming to our world, yes we all agree. The nature of life is change. In this world, there are the opposites which have been playing against each other from the beginning of creation. Each has their season. There is a season of more light and a season of less light. Through both seasons there is always light.  Even when the world is completely cast in shadow there is light.

What we see happening in our world is a transition to a new season of light. In this season the tree of creativity and love blossoms, and their fruits form. As the clouds of ignorance, attachment, pride, anger and envy are dispersed, the ones who lived in their shadow scramble and struggle to accustom to the season of light. There are desperate actions to prevent the light from shining through. These desperate actions are very visible in our world today.

God has given the highest of His creation the power to rise above all conditions. That power when awoken in man, lifts man up to his divinity from where he casually watches the play of life. The divine man knows his true nature and knows his Creator and sees that everything is always in divine order. The monster called fear becomes his puppy.

As there are desperate and fearful actions, so too are there harmonious and loving actions at work in our world today. The ones who have cast aside their winter garments are kindling the flickering flames of faith that remained alight through the season now coming to a close. It is not a mindset of fear, hiding, protection, separation and preparation for disaster that guides these ones actions. Celebration, sharing, creativity, unity and community are the thoughts they hold as they guide the world through the transition into the season of more light.

Through my travels, I have seen clearly a common resonance amongst people of all cultures. There is a love vibration bringing us closer to The Creator and the source of all power. This love of God is breaking through all boundaries and uniting us across distance, languages, cultures, religions and ways of life. Its like we are moving closer to a common point of reference (the highest reference point that exists!) and forgetting our differences. In the light of The Creator one begins to see that the world is a game and existence is eternal.

Here’s what God says…

” You walk through the Halls of Heaven every day. I would say that you reach the top every day, and yet there is no top of Heaven to reach. Heaven is borderless. Even as you walk the common borders of everyday life, you are not obliged to the borders. You think you are, yet every day you cross the Seven Seas that make up the life you know. You are not a one-level Human Being. You travel in circles of the Universe. You might as well know that you travel with Me, and I with you. You are Earthed and Heavened at the same time. ”

The Waking Dream You Walk Through
Heavenletter #3266 Published on: November 3, 2009 http://www.heavenletters.org

Oceans of Love,

Santhan

To live from the Heart and have ego serving you is the optimal way to BE. Read this great article by Phil Lane Jr.

For our best and highest good, all ways…

Ilumine Ao, Al Diaz

Developing the Wisdom of the Heart

by Phil Lane Jr.
A wise elder once told me, “Grandson, the longest road you will ever have to walk is the sacred journey from your head to your heart.” Another elder said, “We will never solve the many critical and life-threatening issues before us solely through the intellect; for every problem the intellect solves it creates ten more.” Unto itself the intellect is a sacred gift of the Creator, but, equally, without an open, visionary, and creative heart, there is no wisdom. Both the mind and heart are sacred. Both are inseparably connected.

To help us develop the wisdom of the heart, the wisdom of peace, we must turn to Mother Earth. “You know Grandson, the Great Spirit, Wakan Tanka, has given all people wisdom,” my grandfather told me. “To every living thing he has given something special. Some people receive their knowledge and understanding through books. In your life, Grandson, you too must read and study books, but remember to take with you on your journey only those things that bring more unity within yourself and others, that bring goodness and understanding and help us to serve one another in better ways.”

“Wakan Tanka,” he continued, “also gave our Native people, and all other people who live close to Mother Earth, wisdom and knowledge through dreams, visions, fasting, prayer, and the ability to see the lessons the Creator has put in every part of creation. Look at those trees standing over there; the alder does not tell the pine tree to move over; the pine does not tell the fir tree to move over; each tree stands in unity, their mouth pressed toward the same Mother Earth, refreshed by the same breeze, warmed by the same sun, with their arms raised in prayer and thanksgiving, protecting one another. If we are to have peace in the world, we too must learn to live like those trees.”

“Look, Grandson,” he said, “at the beautiful teachings the Creator has put in the little stream. Feel the water and see how gently and lovingly it touches your hands. It travels through deserts and mountains and many places, but it never turns its back on anyone or anything. Even though it gives life to all living things, it is very humble, for it always seeks the very lowest spot. But it has great faith, power, and patience, for even if a mountain stands in its path, it keeps moving and moving until finally that mountain is washed into the sea. These are the spiritual gifts the Creator has given each one of us. If we are to be happy within ourselves and with one another, we too must develop these sacred gifts.”

In all of our actions, we must seek to be living examples of the changes we wish to see in the world. By walking the path, we make the path visible. We must find the courage and dedication to use the wisdom of our elders on the path of a peaceful and equitable future. Using that wisdom, we will find we have the power to carefully and lovingly remove the barriers limiting our development as human beings and communities. The greater the difficulty in our path, the greater the opportunity for our growth and ultimate victory; we can always become more than we have ever been.

We know from our ancient teachings that the sacred eagle of humanity has two perfectly balanced and harmonious wings — one representing woman, and one representing man. In our relationships as women and men, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, we must join together to eliminate all forms of disrespect, mistreatment, or lack of sharing in the responsibility of raising the world’s children.

It is my deepest prayer that with every new sunrise, we can recognize more and more that the most sacred and holy of all the wonderful gifts the Creator has given us is the birth of a child. Everything we can do to provide our children and communities the best possible future is a sacred gift and responsibility.

For is not the moment long, long overdue, my beloved relatives, through the unfailing power and love of our good creator, for us to free ourselves completely from the hurt of both the past and present, so we may truly soar like majestic eagles to the promised greatness of our sacred destiny and future?

It’s time to go to next level in your Life… and fulfill your Heart’s desires. Read this great article by Diane Chambers.

For our best and highest good, all ways…

Ilumine Ao, Al Diaz

It’s All Up to You

by Diane Chambers

For most people, deciding what to do in life is a pretty tough decision, and one that requires more than a few moments’ thought. Maybe that’s why so many of us avoid thinking about it. Besides, when we simply react to life as it presents itself, we can make life itself responsible for what happens to us, rather than taking any responsibility ourselves. How many times have you heard the following statements?

“I’d be able to afford a nicer car if my boss would give me a raise.”

“The factory laid me off, so the bank foreclosed on my house.”

“She got the promotion because she’s always kissing up.”

“It’s not what you know, but who you know.”

“They hired a snot-nosed kid right out of college to be my boss.”

These seemingly good excuses often elicit a sympathetic response, but if you examine them closely you will find that they contain a common thread: everything is someone else’s fault.

Before you can identify the need and desire to make a change, it’s imperative that you get past the blaming stage. Blaming keeps you in the past.

No matter how much you believe in your excuses, you simply cannot deny that your success depends on the choices you make. You may have a tougher time than others because of barriers beyond your control (race, gender, age, and so on), but probably your toughest obstacle is the one you’ve created for yourself by failing to believe in your potential.

To overcome this obstacle, you’ve got to allow yourself the luxury of dreaming. If you’ve been struggling for some time, it might be tough to begin this process, but it’s free and can be a lot of fun.

Once you’ve decided you need to make a career change, ask yourself a few simple questions in order to reveal the what. We’ll call these the “I” questions:

1. Am I happy in my current job?
-If so, how could I enhance my skills to make it more enjoyable or profitable?
-If not, what is it I don’t like — hours, pay, people, tasks?

2. If I could walk into any job tomorrow (no questions asked), where would I choose to go? Why?

3. If I were financially independent, what would I do with my time?

4. If money were no object, what would I do to improve myself personally, academically, or socially?

5. What profession or activity did I secretly dream about as a child?

Sometimes, by asking these kinds of questions, we unlock hidden desires we didn’t realize were there. Some people have never thought about these things because they’ve always discounted their ability to ever achieve them. Many were raised with strong opposition to dreaming:

“Don’t get your hopes up and you won’t be disappointed.”

“No use thinking about something you can’t have.”

“There’s no time to waste on foolish notions.”

This so-called sensible philosophy can breed a stable no-nonsense approach to life, but it can also block valuable forethought and necessary planning for today’s complicated and competitive environment.

By allowing yourself to think beyond the present, you may discover that your current situation isn’t as sensible and practical as you once thought.

For example, Linda has been working as a factory supervisor for the past seven years. Linda is thankful for her job, but it’s not something she ever dreamed she’d be doing at this stage in her life. When her husband divorced her unexpectedly two years ago, she was left with three children to feed and a house to pay for. She always thought of her job as a second income, extra money to help pay for things like a nicer car, a yearly vacation, and her daughter’s orthodontics. When it became her sole income, however, her job no longer looked very appealing. Nevertheless, after seven years, Linda thought it made sense to continue on until her retirement was vested in three more years.

When Linda was asked about her desire to do something different with her life, her response was, “I don’t know. It would be nice to not work these crazy hours . . . you know, to have more time to be a real mom. Things get so crazy around our house now that their father isn’t around anymore. It doesn’t feel like we’re a family. I’m just maintaining a lifestyle.” Therein lay Linda’s why. Deep down she wanted more than the good pay she was receiving.

Upon further inspection, Linda discovered she felt no pride in her work. To her, it was work anybody could do. She knew she was intelligent and outgoing, and she could probably use her people skills in a job that would make her feel more fulfilled. It became apparent that Linda wanted more than a better work schedule; she wanted to feel pride not only in her career but in her ability to handle job and motherhood simultaneously, with satisfaction.

I once asked a friend, who was also contemplating a career change, to write down her idea of a perfect day. Here’s what she wrote:

I wake up in the morning before my kids get out of bed. I make a cup of coffee and scan the newspaper. I greet each of my kids one by one as they make their sleepy-eyed way into the kitchen. We chat for a few minutes over a piece of toast or bowl of cereal. I go shower and pick out what I in going to wear for the day. I dress, put finishing touches on my hair and face, and the three of us are out the door to start our day. I’m not in a big hurry, but fully aware of the necessary routine while looking forward to the challenges.

After dropping the kids off at school, I make my way to work. I arrive early enough to stop and talk with a few of my co-workers and to grab another cup of coffee while it’s fresh. Whatever job I’m doing, I know it well and feel confident about my ability to do it. My superiors and my peers respect me because of my knowledge and my commitment to hard work. I want to be there because it feels good to be appreciated — it feels good to be paid for work I enjoy — it feels good to be challenged, knowing I can handle whatever problems confront me.

At the end of the day, I’m tired, but not exhausted. I look forward to picking up my kids and hearing about their days. They help me with dinner; I help them with homework. We laugh and share stories before bed. I hear their prayers, then I say my own. I’m thankful for what I have. I’m not materially rich, but I’m spiritually and personally fulfilled. Life isn’t perfect, but it’s meaningful.

My friend’s idea of a perfect day may be completely different from what you might want. Again, what’s important is your ability to picture the kind of daily routine that would be comfortable for you and your family. Obviously, my friend’s day sounds like something from a modern-day storybook. She doesn’t mention the kids grumbling about helping with dinner or fighting with each other over the last bit of Frosted Flakes. But just because we know life is never perfect doesn’t mean we shouldn’t think about the ideal. Carl Shurz said, “Ideals are like stars: you will not succeed in touching them with your hands, but you choose them as your guides.”

It’s easy to dream, but it’s much tougher to make all the pieces of the career puzzle fit. Many things have to be considered, such as your personality and temperament, your likes and dislikes, current job availability, compensation, geographic location, and required education or training. These must all be resolved one by one before you can realistically start on a road to learning new skills.

Step # 1
Dig deep to the bottom of your desires.

Answer the “I” questions.

Study your answers and look for a common theme.

Write a paragraph about what you think a perfect day would be like.

No Excuses
I’ve talked with hundreds of women over the years who seem to think they are incapable of learning and succeeding at anything new. Somewhere along the line, they’ve been told by parents, spouses, or friends that getting ahead was reserved for the lucky ones. I suspect the naysayers in their lives discouraged them for one of two reasons: (1) misery loves company, or (2) the realization that responsibility is a personal choice just might make them accountable for their own lives. Whatever the reason, it’s hogwash (that’s a midwestern term).

Most people are naturally opposed to learning new things because of fear of failure. “What if I don’t do well and end up looking stupid?” “What if I’m not smart enough?” “What if my brain isn’t large enough to hold another bit of information?” To answer these questions, I offer the following:

Making an effort to do something more challenging is always going to be respected by the people in your life who really count. Ignore the others.

No one is asking you to become a nuclear scientist or brain surgeon, unless, of course, you feel drawn to those professions, which is exactly the point. We usually feel attracted to areas and levels of skill that are within our comfort zones. Trust your instincts. Know the difference between lack of ability and lack of desire. If the desire is strong enough, chances are you have the intelligence to back it up.

Folk wisdom says that we use about 10 percent of our brain’s total capacity. It might sound like a good excuse, but you’ve got a long way to go before your mental hard drive crashes!
Everyone will have different reasons for making career changes, ranging from needing financial stability to desiring a greater sense of self-worth or life fulfillment. Timing will depend on a variety of individual circumstances and maturity levels.

There is absolutely no good reason to believe that learning new skills and succeeding in life is beyond your reach.

What is your own personal definition of success that comes from your Heart? When you kNow the answer to that… then you will achieve it. Read this great article by Chris Widener.

For our best and highest good, all ways…

Ilumine Ao, Al Diaz

Measuring Success

by Chris Widener

As I have worked with people over the years I have seen an amazing thing. People often get frustrated because they aren’t achieving “success.” There are lots of possible reasons for this but one reason I have found that sticks out is that many people allow their definition of “success” to be driven by someone or something else.

Instead, we ought to be looking at our own skills, opportunities, life situations, etc. to determine what it would mean for us to be a success in our own mind rather than someone else’s.

Thus, the key to “success” is all in the head—our head! We develop our own thinking about what it will mean to become a success.

The frustration comes in when we look at what someone else thinks is a success and try to attain it, only to find it elusive.

For one person, being a success may mean to make $100,000 a year. For another it may be $250,000. Another may not be concerned with the yearly income but be more concerned with a net worth.

Still another may not be motivated by money and may consider himself a success by how many street kids he gets pointed in the right direction and into a productive life.

Now the temptation would be for the person working with street kids to think they aren’t a “success” because they don’t make much money. The temptation for the person making $100,000 may be to think they aren’t a “success” until they make $250,000. And the temptation for the person making $250,000 may very well be to think they aren’t a “success” because they aren’t helping street kids! And round and round it goes when we are gauging ourselves by another’s measure of success.

So my advice is this: Set your own course, and stay on course. Don’t measure yourself against any other standard of success. Do what you do best and the rest will take care of itself.

Here is the truth. Being a success is doing your best, not being the best.

When we get to that point, we will experience a lot more joy and a lot less frustration. That sounds good to me!

Chris Widener

The following article by Doreen Virtue discusses the guidance she received from her angels in regards to the economy. There are some great insights she is sharing, but what is also important and of value is that we can also receive guidance other than from what we see and hear in our external reality. I am aware of this guidance as my mom who transitioned in April 08′ supports me every single day.

Ilumine Ao,
Al Diaz

The Angels on the Economy by Doreen Virtue

Economic conditions are more affected by human beliefs and expectations, than by oil prices or political concerns. This is true for you personally, as well as for everyone globally. Your personal finances are greatly influenced by your expectations and emotions, so it’s doubly important to keep your thoughts and feelings at as high a level as possible.

The angels advise:
Avoid any thoughts or discussions about blaming politicians, countries, or anyone else for your personal or the global economy. Placing blame upon others puts you in a victim role, energetically. This lowers your energies, and has you attract more experiences of victimization.

If you are around someone (including a media report) who is making negative statements about money or the economy, silently (or aloud if the person is open-minded) say: “Cancel, Clear, Delete” or “In spiritual truth, we are all perfectly and abundantly supported. I now open my arms to receive and share plentifully.”

Engage in activities that make you happy! Please don’t scrimp on hobbies or trips, but instead look at them as investments in your happiness, which is the most important influence in your personal economic conditions. When you are happy, you automatically attract and create new opportunities. Your happiness also lifts up the energies of those around you.

Affirm frequently: “God is omnipresent love, wisdom, and creativity. I am forever one with God’s grace and love. I am completely supported in all ways by the love of God. I follow my Divine guidance along pathways of giving of selfless service, and receiving the support that God offers to everyone.”

Keep your thoughts about other people’s finances at a very high level. Frequently affirm that we are all richly abundant in all ways. Avoid any pity thoughts about anyone, but do give donations and support as you are guided.

Don’t worry about HOW your finances will be supported or resolved. Remember that God’s creativity, wisdom, and love is boundless. Your prayers will be answered in surprising, miraculous, and unexpected ways.

Whenever you get a strong intuitive lead to do something positive, follow it without delay! Remember that God frequently answers your prayers by giving you strong and repetitive messages to take action. These messages may come to you as an emotional or physical feeling; an idea or inspiration; a vision or dream; or words that you hear. As you follow this guidance, you co-create the answer to your prayers.

The angels say that we are already collectively seeing economic improvements which will continue into October and November. You can see and experience these improvements for yourself with faith, hope, and trust. Pray for more faith, and it is always given – I especially recommend praying for increased faith, hope, and trust as you’re falling asleep – you’ll be amazed at how much better you feel when you wake up in the morning.

I am praying on your behalf, as well.

For our best and highest good all ways… In every moment.

Ilumine Ao,
Al Diaz