transformation

Angels sure do come in many shapes and sizes. I recently got a puppy. She is so full of unconditional love. Her antics bring a smile to my face and joy to my heart. When she runs her ears flap like angel’s wings. How can you resist those eyes?

My dad has Alzheimer’s and recently his step daughters took him to Vermont to live. He can be very difficult and impatient at the best of times and with this disease ravaging his brain he gets paranoid and afraid very easily.

Long story short, after a month and a half in Vermont they are trying to ship him off to live with me in Hawaii. I go to Lithuania for the month of September so I can’t take him until I get home. I talked to him today and he is afraid and angry. There is a sweet young girl working in the nursing home they placed him in. I asked her to circle the date on the calendar when I will meet him and print out an e mail I wrote explaining everything. That way he can read it when he gets scared or forgets what’s happening.

Today she is my angel. Angels come in so many shapes and sizes. They are always there, right at the edge of our reality, waiting to help us, all we have to do is be willing to ask. I remember one of my mentors telling me that asking others to help was a gift for both them and me. People often enjoy feeling cherished and useful.

I used to have a bumper sticker on my car that said commit “random acts of kindness and senseless beauty.” What would happen to the world if a whole bunch of us decided to make that our mission for a month or two? It might be a very different world!

Some of the things I love to do:

Put flowers on people’s windshield
Pay for other people’s parking meters
Buy coffee for the person behind me
Throw extra coins in the toll booth
Stop and let people in line
Smile a lot
Say kind things to strangers
Pick up liter
Plant flowers
Cut someone else’s lawn
Listen, really listen to someone else

Who can you be an angel for today? How can you make this world a better place right here and right now?

With love and aloha,
Susan

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I live on the Big Island of Hawaii, the home of Pele. Right now the volcano is very active and creating a beautiful show as it flows down the pali and into the ocean. I feel so honored to have the opportunity to live in her backyard and be a caretaker for a small piece of her aina (land).

Pele is definitely the goddess of fire. Light a big candle or build a bonfire. Write a letter to this fiery goddess. Tell her what you want to let go of, what you would like to transform and what you are willing to do. Choose your words carefully. Not only is she a jealous goddess but she knows how powerful your words are. When the letter feels right burn it and throw the ashes into the wind. Listen carefully for her guidance and allow her to help you transform your life.

Pele will help you:

Increase the passion in your life
See your life with greater clarity and understanding
Transform your thinking
Deal with an unfaithful lover
Get to the heart of the matter

An Excerpt from:

The Encyclopedia of Angels, Spirit Guides and Ascended Masters

All material copyrighted 2008

With love and aloha,
Susan

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A friend sent me this and I thought it was very interesting. I have no idea who the original author was but I am passing it along with thanks to the writer whoever they are!

The 4th of July

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the
Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured
before they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.

Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two
sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the
Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their
sacred lives.

What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine
were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated,
but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that
the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his
Ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and
properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move
his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay,
and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from
him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer,
Walton,Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British
General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his
headquarters.

He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was
destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed
his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside as she was dying. Their
13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were
laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves,
returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. Some
of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn’t.

So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and
silently thank these patriots. It’s not much to ask for the price
they paid.

Remember: freedom is never free!

Patriotism is NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than
beer, picnics, and baseball games.

With love and aloha,
Susan

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Gadiel is called the most holy of angels. His name is said to mean, “God is my wealth.” He is one of several guards for the gate of the south wind. His name has been found inscribed on amulets used to ward off evil. Sorcerers often invoke Gadiel in order to conjure up great power.

When you call upon Gadiel you may see flashes of yellow or green. You may also see your curtains stirring even though the windows are closed. Trust his love to point you towards the truth and the best direction for you to take in your life.

If you are feeling down or victimized by life, Gadiel is the angel to call upon. Before you confront any negative situation, call upon him to protect you. Gadiel will also help you release any negative feelings you have after a disagreement with a friend, an unfavorable assessment from a boss or an argument with a lover.

This is the angel Gadiel who will help you:

Maintain a positive outlook
Repair a damaged relationship
Improve your job performance
Transform your life
Release limiting beliefs
Create abundance

Invocation

One way to call upon Gadiel is to go outside when the wind is blowing and invite the wind to carry your prayers to him. His name has great power, so saying Gadiel repeatedly while you ask for his assistance is also a wonderful way to invite him closer.

Another way to call him is to close your eyes and imagine that your request is tied to a beautiful balloon. Take a few deep breaths and when the time feels right imagine letting go of the balloon. Know that Gadiel will always answer your prayers.

An Excerpt from

The Encyclopedia of Angels, Spirit Guides and Ascended Masters

All material copyrighted 2008

With love and aloha,
Susan

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Aloha everyone,

I just came back from the third annual Pow Wow here in Hilo, Hawaii. It was wonderful. I could sit and feel the beat of the drums all day long. The head dancer asked to speak for a moment and reminded everyone that the Pow Wow was an opportunity to connect with the Great Spirit, that it was after all a spiritual gathering. When he danced I could really feel his connection to spirit.

Since it was Memorial Day there was a moment of silence to honor all veterans. When they brought the flags in for the opening ceremony I was surprised, at a Native American gathering, to see flags for each of the branches of the US Military. It was after all the US military that displaced Native American tribes in the first place.

When I got home I received an e mail with a quote from Abraham-Hicks which I thought was very appropriate.

Two statements that will serve you very well. The first is: There will always be war. There will always be those who aggravate within others a sense of trouble in order to promote the solution that they already have their mind made up about. And so you’re never going to come into agreement as a mass consciousness that this is “the way.” There will always be disagreements; therefore, there will always be turmoil; there will always be war.

The other statement, that is our favorite is: Well-Being will always abound, so the dominant experience of the majority of people will always be one of Well-Being. So you can decide, at any point in time, in what part of this you want to play. You can use anything as your excuse to align with Well-being, or you can use anything as your excuse to not align. The thing that we think is at the heart of this discussion, is my own personal power. We think that’s what you are, sort of, struggling for and reaching for.

Every moment we do have that choice - to connect with our filter system or with our spirit. We can judge what is or see the perfection of what is. As my Aunty says, “Everything is pono (perfect) until we think otherwise.”

I had the wonderful opportunity to sit here in paradise, watching beautiful dancers and feeling the magic of the drums singing forth. I wouldn’t have had that opportunity if some people hundreds of years ago hadn’t decided to fight over some land.

I continue to bask in the perfection of the moment and to celebrate my life. May your life be filled with love, a sense of connection and gratitude as well, or war, which ever is your choice.

With love and aloha,
Susan

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Aloha everyone,

When I first began my spiritual journey I really thought it was about learning lessons. And believe me it felt like I had a lot of lessons to learn! The funny part was as long as I thought of my process that way life felt like it was a series of tests and I kept getting poor grades.

Then one day while I was meditating I realized it was a matter of remembering my true nature. There was nothing I needed to learn. I just needed to surrender my old limiting beliefs and remember my limitless nature.

That realization made a huge difference in my life. No more tests, no more suffering, just a wonderful journey in which I continually deepened my connection with who and what I really am. My life became a blessed journey and the universe became a much more loving and supportive place. When I had to learn lessons the universe seemed more like an opponent than a wonderful environment specifically designed to help me reconnect with my limitless nature.

Are you still learning and being tested or are you ready to just remember?

With love and aloha,
Susan

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I have received this as an email several times. Each time it touches my heart. I have no idea who the author is but it is beautiful.

I talk a lot about dominion and the perfection of everything. In the Hawaiian tradition my kumu (teacher) talks about everything being pono - a word that roughly means perfect. Her grandfather used to say, "Everything is pono until you tell yourselves otherwise."

Puppies For Sale

A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that read "Puppies For Sale." Signs like that have a way of attracting small children, and sure enough, a little boy appeared under the store owner’s sign.

"How much are you going to sell the puppies for?" he asked.

The store owner replied, "Anywhere from $30 to $50."

The little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some change. "I have $2.37," he said. "Can I please look at them?" The store owner smiled and whistled and out of the kennel came Lady, who ran down the aisle of his store followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur.

One puppy was lagging considerably behind. Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said, "What’s wrong with that little dog?"

The store owner explained that the veterinarian had examined the little puppy and had discovered it didn’t have a hip socket. It would always limp. It would always be lame. The little boy became excited. "That is the puppy that I want to buy."

The store owner said, "No, you don’t want to buy that little dog. If

you really want him, I’ll just give him to you." The little boy got quite upset. He looked straight into the store owner’ s eyes, pointing his finger, and said, "I don’t want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and I’ll pay full price. In fact, I’ll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a month until I have him paid for."

The store owner countered, "You really don’t want to buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to run and jump and play with you like the other puppies."

To his surprise, the little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace.

He looked up at the store owner and softly replied, "Well, I don’t run so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands!"

We ALL need someone who Understands!!

Imagine a world in which we all had that kind of love and compassion for everyone including people we think are evil or wrong!

With love and aloha,
Susan

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A business man decided to find the meaning of life. He went from teacher to teacher. He read every book he could find, went from class to class and even meditated daily. Each day he continued to feel disconnected and unsatisfied. Finally he went to a remote monastery and asked to speak to the master.

He was led into an austere room overlooking a beautiful garden. There was a beautiful altar, some pillows and a small table. The monk gestured for the man to sit on a pillow facing the altar. The man sat and waited impatiently.

Finally an old man entered silently with a pot of tea. He sat down opposite the man, placed the pot of tea and two cups on the table. He sat in silence for a few moments, bowed before the altar and then turned to look at the man.

“I have meditated for years, lived in ashrams and met all the great masters. Yet I still find myself searching.” The man continued to tell the master all the practices he had done, books he had read and teachers he had studied with.

The old man nodded, placed one of the cups in front of the man and began pouring tea. The master filled the cup and quietly continued pouring. The man jumped up angrily as the tea spilled into his lap.

“What’s the matter with you old man!” he yelled.

The master smiled and said, “You can’t fill a cup that is already full.”

As long as we think we know the answers, as long as we hold onto our old beliefs, happiness, peace of mind and love often remain illusive.

True freedom is our ability to explore life with curiosity and have the courage to say ‘I don’t know’ a lot!

With love and aloha,
Susan

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Aloha everyone,

In my writings I talk a great deal about the paradigm of dominion. It is a way of looking at the world that is very freeing and expansive. Symbolically it is represented as a sphere. Society is generally based on the paradigm of domination which is symbolically represented as a line. Osho speaks about peace from that place of dominion.

A man of peace is not a pacifist; a man of peace is simply a pool of silence.

He pulsates a new kind of energy into the world, he sings a new song.

He lives in a totally new way his very way of live is that of grace, that of prayer, that of compassion. Whomsoever he touches, he creates more love-energy.

The man of peace is creative. He is not against war, because to be against anything is to be at war. He is not against war, he simply understands why war exists.

And out of that understanding he becomes peaceful.

Only when there are many people who are pools of peace, silence, understanding, will the war disappear.

OSHO, from: ‘Zen: The Path of Paradox

How can you create more of peace of mind, happiness, joy and ease in your life?

With love and aloha,
Susan

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Welcome to my new blog. There is a story behind its name. One of my friends in San Diego was a crusty old man with an incredibly beautiful spirit. Whenever he’d say good bye he’d smile broadly and say, ‘Angels on your shoulders!’ At the time I thought it was cute but certainly never expected to write a book about angels.

I am so blessed that I now have the opportunity to show people how to connect with the angels and other celestial beings that always surround us and are so willing to help even though we so seldom acknowledge their presence. Anyone familiar with my work knows that I am very concrete, practical and grounded. Angels can be presented in an airy, fairy way or we can learn to make them an integral part of our lives, using them to help us feel loved and safe enough to risk opening our hearts and our minds to the limitless possibilities life holds.

Writing a book on angels wasn’t particularly on my list of ‘to dos’ but when my agent asked me if I would be interested in writing this encyclopedia I answered with a resounding YES. Writing this book has been such an incredible gift in my life and hopefully it will be in the lives of its readers. I feel like a messenger delivering a reminder that anything is possible and that hope, joy, love, laughter, magic and miracles can become the basis of our everyday lives.

This blog will be a collection of ‘feel good’ stories, practical ways to improve the quality of your life and hopefully your stories as well. Over the years I have collected emails, often by anonymous authors that offer profound insights and expand the way I think about life. So if you have a story or questions feel free to e mail me at susan@angelsonyourshoulder.com. I look forward to getting to know you and sharing the love, light and laughter angels always bring with them.

Remember angels can fly because they take themselves lightly and there are always “Angels on your shoulder!”

With love and aloha,
Susan

My book is now available if you’d like to order it just click here

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