When I was in my thirties, I lost a good friend. When I say I lost them, they didn't die or move away. They misused our friendship and I was left totally devastated. Not only did they hurt me irrevocably, they then lied to me, telling me that my extended family believed there was something wrong with me. We had been best friends for many years, and I was absolutely sure we would be lifelong friends. However, she had a perception of me that wasn't true to who I am. I may have once been that way, but we all grow and evolve. That's what life is all about. I embraced and accepted the changes in her, but she was unwilling to do the same.
Just lately (over twenty years later), she has been 'popping into' my head. In the last month or so, I have been wondering how she is, not to reclaim our friendship, but perhaps because there was a piece of me that wanted to heal the pain from our parting.
I was out shopping the other day and, while waiting at the bookstore checkout, I became 'present in the moment' and realised I was standing next to this friend of my past. As we chatted, I realised I had almost bumped into her about ten minutes prior. As I had come out of the post office, I almost tripped over a woman who had bent over to pick up her car keys. I had, on some level, noticed her necklace, but, because I was so lost in my thoughts and what I needed to do, I hadn't really taken any notice of who she was.
After we had finished speaking, we both separated a little to go to our respective cars. The third coincidence was when we discovered that we had parked right next to each other. Now, as you know, three is always a charm for me, and a sign that the Universe was assisting me in some way.
Although we didn't 'kiss and make up' and we didn't speak of the past, there was a sense of peace and closure when we parted.
As I drove away, I thanked my guides for allowing me to release the old emotions and pain from the past. It was interesting to note that the old anger I had thought I had forgiven and resolved came through as I drove home. I was surprised that they came from a place deep deep down, hidden away from my conscious thought. I listened to these feelings. I honoured them and then I released them.
Sometimes, when we see someone who has hurt us in the past, and allow those little knots to loosen up, we can move forward a lot lighter and freer. We don't forgive so the other person feels better. We forgive for our sake, because we don't need that extra weight within our energy field.

With love, respect and integrity
Cherie xx

Sometimes our negative thoughts can get in the way of enjoying life. As we allow our minds to dictate our energy, we can spiral into negativity, not realising that we are the ones creating everything that is happening around us. We begin to attract more and more experiences that confirm that life is not working for us and that we don't deserve to be happy.
A great way to help change our negative behaviours, words or thoughts is to have a stress-less box.
Now I find the best way to feel as if you are really investing in creating positive change, is to create a box. Decorate it in any way that you like, and as you do so, consciously think about how this box is going to change your life and the energy around us. The intent as well as the way you have decorated the box will help. Write a name on it, eg. 'Stress-less Box'. After you have finished, either cut a slot in the top, or ensure that you can take the lid off. I prefer to have mine tied with a ribbon, so that I am in the present moment as I untie it, open the box and retie it again. You will have your own way that works for you, so be sure to spend some times making sure your box resonates with you.
Start carrying around a small notebook and pen or ensuring they are in convenient places arond your home, in the car or at work.
Each time you feel a negative thought coming through. Write it down and put it in your Stress-less Box. (If you can't get to it until later, don't worry about it too much. The writing is just as important as putting it in the box.
While you are doing this, you are not just giving your worry away to your worry box, you are also living in the present moment; the place where you are creating your reality. You are distancing yourself from those thoughts, enough to acknowledge them and see them for what they are.
The important thing is not to define them, pull them apart or judge them. When we focus on the why and what, of our negative thoughts, we give them power. By writing them down and putting them in our box, we remove the power that they have over us.
It doesn't matter how many times we write the same thought down, or how many different ways we express it. Some thoughts will try to fight to survive, and this isn't about fighting them off. This is about allowing them to 'be', acknowledging them and then releasing them.
A stress-less box can take a few days or may months to help us let go of a limiting thought - the time is relative to the focused intent we have towards it, our motivation to change and how long we have been 'carrying it around with us'.
*Don't give up if you don't feel a change straight away - anything that is for our highest good is worth waiting for! You may not notice as your energy shifts, but, believe me, it will be!
When you feel ready, take that box , or its contents, if your box is wooden, metal or plastic, and bury it in the garden under a plant. This will show you that something good and positive can grow from those thoughts. Or you can burn it in a safe controlled place. If you choose to burn it, you can scatter the ashes somewhere that is relevant or important for you. You are not limited to how you dispose of your notes or box. You will know what works for you; what symbolises completion and what will give you an enormous sense of satisfaction.
*Burning it during a full moon is a great way to add emphasis to your release.
**There is no limit to how many Stress-less Boxes you have. If you feel the need to start another at any time, then repeat the process.

with love, respect and integrity
Cherie xx

I have been talking to a couple of people tonight about spirits, astral travel and crossing over. I am surprised at the amount of fear that was generated in the room about 'evil spirits' and hell

On a positive note, there was a consensus that ‘we have the gift of choice’ in our life journey while we are here on the earthly plane. However, I hasten to add that we also have the gift of life!

Coming to the earthly plane IS a gift – not everyone comes back when and if they want to. During our time here, we always have a gift of choice. We will have chosen specific lessons to learn within this lifetime, but we choose whether to do this functionally or dysfunctionally, living within our light or hiding within the shadow of who we are.

There are 7 levels of hell and 7 levels of hell: I personally don’t believe in heaven and hell. It is all about choice. We can make life here on the earthly plane as positive or as negative as we like – it is us that choose whether this life is hell or heaven on earth. I believe we go back to source when we pass, going back to the etheric, where all things are possible and we live in love and light.

Evil spirits goad us into behaving badly: I don’t like this idea at all. I feel it gives us an excuse, someone else to blame if we misbehave – and if this is true, where is our gift of choice that we first spoke about? I also struggle with the idea of ‘evil spirits’. Spirits are made up of energy, so whatever energy we project is what they absorb and reflect back. If we are in fear or another negative emotion, then it stands to reason that our energy is ‘spread around’ to other energetic forms. Have you ever walked into a room after there has been an argument and felt uncomfortable about the energy in there? Back to the point in question – we decide what we do, we have free choice, free mind…only we decide what to do, not some mysterious mini devil sitting on our shoulder.

Spirits will come and watch you in the bathroom/toilet: Now I found this amusing. If a person isn’t allowed to come in and watch you having a shower while they are alive, the chances are they won’t do it when they have passed over. What possible gratification would you get as a spirit, in seeing a naked body?

Most spirits are stuck: This is sooo not true. Most spirits have a choice. Some prefer to stay here for a variety of reasons, and that is their decision. We, as lightworkers should not feel obliged to help them cross over – after all, who are we to decide who should stay or go…its not about OUR choice, is it? Just for the record, when someone commits suicide doesn’t always get stuck either. The main thing that creates ‘stuck-ness’ for a spirit is a belief that they are not worthy, that they don’t deserve to go back ‘home’. The only person that judges us when we pass is US. It is not a jury, a judge or an all powerful and cranky entity. We decide whether we lived the life we chose and we know all the reasons why we and others acted as they did. It opens us up to see the many lessons we learnt or taught. However, if we feel we didn’t live true to our purpose, we can decide to stay…and that is when we light-workers can help them to ‘see the light’ and go home.

Spirits can go through your stuff: Why would they? Really, what have we got that they could possibly want to take? What would it achieve? When we are over on the etheric, we can have anything we want, because we merely have to visualise what we want, whether it’s a new outfit, hairdo, place we used to visit or food we enjoyed while we were on the physical plane.

Spirits are scared of wooden crosses and if you have one over your bed, they will stay away: We don’t need to scare spirits off to make them stay away. They have every right to be here - just like us. What we do need to do is to speak from our heart-space and ask them, with love, to leave.
Does someone screaming, yelling and swearing at you make you want to leave? Not me…I dig my toes in and stay just to irritate the person who is being rude to me! Why should a spirit be any different?!
 And really, what about a wooden cross is scary to anyone? Intent is everything. This person believed the cross would protect her and that’s exactly what happened. She could have put a glass of water beside her bed and said ‘This will protect me and keep them away’. Spirit hears, understands and listens and responds to our requests. It is as simple as that!

with love, respect and integrity
Cherie xx

As some of you know I am a house-sitter. Sometimes the houses I sit have extra special things 'going on' while I am there. It is not uncommon for me to have serious issues with my phone or laptop as the house spirits let me know they are around. Sometimes its amusing, sometimes frustrating but always unique!The house I have been sitting in for the last ten days is 110 years old so I knew I was in for an interesting time....and I have not been disappointed. When I first visited the house to meet the owners, I could sense a few friendly spirits. I went to my friends afterwards and as I was sleeping that night a young girl in period dress, around 8 years old, came to 'visit' me. She told me that she had lost her parents and didn't know where to find them. Given the style of her dress, I assumed they had probably passed over and told her as gently as I could. I fully expected to be asked to help her cross over when I arrived at her old home four weeks later, but she had already gone. Perhaps 'knowing' where they were had been enough?! It turns out that the house was brought into this area and cut in half, with one half being placed on the other side of town. Interesting stuff. My first night there I had serious trouble with my phone. It kept disappearing. I got pretty tired of this after the first four times, knowing exactly where I had left it. I gave the spirits a piece of my mind, telling them I was there for the next ten days and they had better get used to it. (I admit I did use a few expletives and stamped my feet as well!) That night I was woken three times with different faces appearing over me. I didn't feel threatened at all, they were obviously 'checking me out'. I told them to go away as I was trying to sleep...or words to that effect. The first week was full of bumps and things, internet issues, lost 'stuff' - that appeared as soon as I got cranky and told them to stop playing games. The lights flashed, the doors opened and closed by themselves and. I swear I could hear them talking about me...in not so hushed tones. I'm okay with all that. Its one of the 'benefits' to being psychic and spirits knowing I can see/hear/sense them. And don't you worry I gave them a rev up whenever the situation called for it.  Last week I went out for tea, returning around 11pm. I had complained to my friend that I had forgotten to leave a light on in my haste to leave.
As I pulled up I found I could see my way quite clearly and thanked the Universe for the light in the fishtank. However, when I got inside, I found the TV on with no sound. I had been busy with clients and studying all day and knew the TV hadn't been turned on at all. Funny, I mused. I went to get ready for my shower and heard a noise, similar to someone getting off a chair. As I headed back through the lounge to get some clothes, I noticed the TV was now switched off.
I laughed, wishing them a good night and thanked them for waiting up for me.
The last morning, I was 'dreaming', even though I could hear/sense what was going on around me, like the birds singing and the cat meowing...I was taken on a guided tour of the house from when it was 'complete'. It wasn't until later I realised that I had seen parts of the house that were not there...
One day I had a busy day with clients and they fooled me again. The electric clock gained an hour...but I didn't realise this until I arrived at my appointment way too early! Gotta love sassy spirits with a sense of hunour! They are so gonna miss me when I leave!

Remember to look and listen for signs from your loved ones. There is nothing to be fearful about, they are just letting you know they think about you just as much as you think of them. ...and if the spirits that 'reach out to you' aren't yours, you can be sure they are just letting you know they are there and saying 'Hi!'

With love, respect and integrity
Cherie xx

I would like to share a dream I had the other night. I dreamed I was in my car traveling to an unknown destination. The road was steep and curving around a mountain. I was happy as I travel led along, singing along to the music playing in my car. Suddenly someone stepped out in front of my car with their right arm outstretched. 'You cannot go this way. It is too dangerous and your car is not sturdy enough to make it.'
'But this is the direction I need to go', I replied. 
'There is another way and I can show you how to get there,' the person said as she got into my passenger seat.
The road up was only one way, so I had to reverse my car back through the curves and potholes i had already come through. Even in a dream my reversing skills were sadly lacking. I was scared and i couldn't always see where I was going. My passenger kept insisting I carry on, insisting on pointing out the mistakes I made along the way. 
Suddenly the road fell away and my car fell horizontally into a swimming pool. I got out and looked despairingly at my beautiful car submerged in the water. My husband and I had purchased this car before he passed and there was a fear that I didn't have the skill to buy another car that would be anywhere near as good without him running through my mind. How could I be able to keep going without his expertise in that area? I asked myself.
All seemed lost and I felt sad and powerless. 
Some friends came to my aid, using a crane to hoist it out of the pool and onto dry land. 
A little while later, I got back in my car, and although it looked a little worse for wear, it still went well. In fact it seemed to be going a lot better than it had before, I mused, as I continued on my journey. I carried on my way, up the road I had previously been on. All of a sudden I realized that I wasn't as worried and scared as I had been before. I knew I was heading in the right direction and that everything was going to be alright.
When I woke up that morning I thought about my dream and the implications it had had, with regard to my current life situation.
When we dream about a car it is usually significant to our journey in life, the road is the path we have chosen and water is repressed or unresolved information. 
I had had a rough month where the path I had chosen had been fraught with difficulty. Others had been trying to tell me that what I was doing was wrong and I needed to 'back up'. Reversing my journey had been hard to do, because it meant going back to a way of living or being that wasn't being true to who I was, or my journey. I felt alone and abandoned by those who had tried to 'turn me back', the road seemed unclear, and fraught with danger, resulting in burying myself within the emotion of other people's wishes and opinions, as well as my own, of not being able to 'go on'.
However, when friends had helped me to retrieve myself and enable me to go on my journey there was a sense of peace and fulfillment as I resumed my journey. I knew that 'carrying on' was being true to me and what I needed/wanted to do.
And so it is with life. Often we 'reverse', our intent to try and please others, when essentially, we are here to travel our own path, regardless of what others perceive or believe to be our truth.
This dream highlighted this aspect of my life for me and enabled me to see that I am not alone. I can ask for help and assistance if I need to, but most importantly I am able to move forward in a way the resonates with me and my purpose.
Remember to be true to you, who you are and your chosen path - after all this is what you were born to do and what you chose to do in this lifetime.
With love, respect and integrity
Cherie xx 

The past two weeks, actually the last two months have been a build up to a past life healing for me. Around about two months ago, I had a slight tickly cough and felt an immense heaviness in my chest. I assumed this was mostly due to the way the holiday season brings my grief to the surface as I consider another Christmas or new year beginning with Butch....and in truth, some of it was. However, this became all consuming, I struggled to breathe, as it caught in my throat and forced me to cough to create air intake.
As you know, I believe that whatever we are feeling or emoting at any given time is relative to the symptoms and signals we are receiving from our bodies. I knew the lungs was where my grief and heartache were centred, my frustration at life and feeling constricted or bound by the life I had, instead of the one I had planned. The throat is where we speak our truth, are heard or release our grief, so at the time it made perfect sense....until about two weeks ago!
Karen was doing an acutonics treatment on my back (which is relative to not feeling supported by the Universe - just saying!) one day and this awesome healing chant came on her ipod.
I had a sense of many people in the room, and later we discussed various things that had happened during the treatment - the blockages I was experiencing, where and why; the extra pair of hands on my forehead; the music that totally resonated with me and how I hadn't coughed once during the treatment (and many others that I can't remember).
I asked Karen if I might borrow the CD with the healing chant on it, and I felt there was some kind of urgency attached to it. Of course she agreed - thats what good friends do! ☺
I took it back with me and as soon as I was in the door, I had it playing in my laptop. I became quite fixated with this hour long chanting, playing it over and over, wondering why I felt as if I should know the words, as I could certainly feel the emotion behind it. I even played it before I went to sleep, hoping my guides would give me some insight or advice. Nothing.
Two days later, I was having breakfast, with my feet dangling in my current house-sits pool, listening to the the chant. Water is a great conductor for emotion. Next thing I was given a visual of a group of people standing on a hill, chanting, while their assailants rode around them, killing them as they stood. I felt that these were a peaceful people and they had chosen not to war with them, instead singing in unison to prove that they would not be changed by those that were around them. I also had the impression it was in 1890, and happened around Christmas time, hence the extra emphasis on my grief this time.
(If you are wondering why I never noticed it in other Christmases, I believe it is because I wasn't ready for it or open to it until this year....and possibly I would have struggled to differentiate between the grief I already felt with Butch's passing)
I could see the chief/leader, and he was only wearing a single feather or headdress, which I felt was strange given that I would have thought he would have had the big regal one - but then, would that have been tantamount to a challenge in a very aggressive way - who knows? He was very tall, almost freakishly tall.
I sat there crying my heart out as I saw those I once loved fall around me...and then the vision stopped. I wanted more! I tried everything, but nope, apparently I wasn't ready for the rest of this story yet.
I kept listening to the healing chant continuously, feeling a sense of peace that I couldn't explain. However, my breathing and heaviness got worse. I had various excuses for it, cutting back on various types of foods, concentrating on my vege juice and immunity supplements. When I coughed I felt like I was turning inside out! I made my never fail cough mix to help prevent the coughing which had made my throat raw and sore. It eased the throat, but the cough just got worse.
Christmas night onwards, I felt like I was truly dying. I know that sounds dramatic, but the coughing was leaving me light-headed, I couldn't breathe, I couldn't talk, I couldn't sleep, and I felt like there was an elephant sitting on my chest, who only moved when I doubled up in pain.
Finally the 27th came and I could get a doctors appointment... As I spoke about my symptoms and the lead up (without explaining the spiritual side of it, of course) to that day, he smiled and nodded. I had asthma! I have never had asthma, so I found that quite interesting...and annoying.
All day I thought about what asthma meant to me. I had established the sore throat was merely an on going effect of the asthma - coughing to produce air obviously inflamed my throat.
Asthma tells me I don't want to be here, that I am done. I feel suffocated, angry, unable to vent my emotions, deeply depressed and grief devastated. I pulled faces at this thought, as it didn't quite fit how I believed I felt.
This morning, as I was pondering this and listening to the chant. I was given the final part of the vision. I was a young girl of around 10 or 12 when this massacre had happened. As my people were falling around me, my brother had thrown me on the ground to protect me, landing on top of me when he was killed. I was SO angry. I wanted my chance to die with pride and he had cheated me out of that! I fought against the dead weight of his body until I was so exhausted, I could move no more. Our 'enemies' left, not realising I was still alive.
I wasn't shown what happened after that, but I get a huge sense of displacement, intense anger, feeling cheated out of a glorious death, losing everyone I loved and forced to live a life I would never have chosen. I wanted to scream at my brother for what he did, but that would have disrespected his spirit and the love he had shown.
A couple of days ago I went on facebook to ask if anyone knew of a massacre that took place in 1890, without the group fighting back, and was told of the Massacre at Broken Knee (my knee just happened to be one of the blockages I had when Karen did the treatment - a hint perhaps?!). It took place on the 29th December!
Now I can't say unequivocally that this is where it took place, because my inner skeptic refuses to take anything at face value without heaps of  evidence. (and skepticism is healthy!) The chief was tall and although it doesn't appear he was wearing a single feather on that day, here is a picture I found. His name was
Miniconjou Chief Big Foot, meaning 'Touch the Clouds'.
Perhaps this needed to be healed before the actual date, or maybe there is more to the story, who knows?!
Today I feel peaceful, at peace and grateful for the ability to breathe once again.
...and it all started with a cough and a healing chant....
Who knows what past lives we carry within us that can be healed and accepted? We have all been here many times before, it makes sense we carry soulular and cellular memories. After all, can you remember something from Christmas Day that touched or upset you? Memories are powerful things.
with love, respect and integrity
Cherie xx
PS. As a by the by, I have established who my brother was in that lifetime, and now understand why every time I see him, I feel an irrational sense of betrayal, anger and sadness.
This also explains why I have taken to plaiting my hair a lot more and in a different way in the past two months. I have always loved all things from this culture, but have felt myself strongly drawn to clothing, etc that pertained to this lifetime in a way I couldn't explain before.... Interesting stuff, hey?

As some of you may know, I do housesitting. I love the variety that it brings into my life. I get to visit areas and places that I wouldn’t normally. If there is a dog to walk, by the time I leave, I have a reasonably good idea of where I am and how to find certain streets/places – extremely handy for someone like me who is directionally challenged.

I love the energy of other people’s homes, and I will admit, in some cases, I have cleared their homes of spirits that weren’t there for their highest good. I also let others be, because it is not up to me to decide whether they come or go. If they need help I’m sure they could get it, one way or another.

Originally, it was a great way to rediscover my gypsy roots, long forgotten under a pile of lists and forward planning. I loved the idea about learning to be spontaneous and relatively carefree. I have met some beautiful souls, spirit, human and animal.

I also learnt how to downsize and recognise what was truly important to me, and what was best released or removed from my life.

It was daunting at first and I was so stressed as I contemplated not knowing where I would be, sometimes from week to week…

Everybody is different, all housesits are unique, each animal(s) special in its own individual way. Each animal I have housesit for has held a place in my heart, and sometimes I am more than sad to say farewell to them. They all teach me a lesson of sorts. Through them, I have had lessons on stamina, trust, capability, joy, peace, tranquility and unconditional love.

Each kitchen is set up differently. Right down to the dishbrush, each person has a different view of how an efficient and happy kitchen is run….and every one of them works!

As I was doing the dishes this morning and mastering a strange shaped dishbrush, a thought struck me. Being a housesitter has encouraged me to see others as they are and to leave them that way. I don’t have to tell them which is the best implement, how to clean their home, where things should go or what they should use. Their way is perfect for them. It may not suit me, but I only have to do it their way for a brief moment in time. I don’t have to like their way and I don’t need to get my own way.

And you know what…that’s how it is with life. We don’t need to love or even like what other people do. It is not up to us to choose who is right or wrong – because we are all right. We all do what is right for us and what is perfectly normal for our ‘self’.

Sometimes it is better to take the focus off what we believe is the right and true way and accept that we will all be different. We will all approach things differently and none of us is wrong.

When we can begin to accept that this is the truth of the matter, that this is a major clincher on our life path, we are better able to accept others as they truly are, instead of who we want them to be.

…and all that from doing the dishes….!

With love, respect and integrity
Cherie xx

I'd like to share a story with you. The plant in the bottom left hand corner of this picture has a special significance to me. When Butch and I got married, it appeared in the background of all of our ceremony photos. After Butch passed away, I took this plant with me wherever I lived. Not all these homes had the same airy semi shade area as it was used to, but I needed it to be around me, so there it was.
It was an amazing plant. It didn't matter what happened to it, it still survived. As I walked past it, I would pat or stroke its leaves. I would thank it almost daily for being there whenever I returned home, as I am well known for my 'plant cemetery' full of good intentions and dusty plant pots of years gone by. I know it sounds strange, but there were even times when I would brush against it and I could feel a dampness and see droplets, as if it grieved alongside me.
I have recently moved and couldn't take it with me, but whenever I went to stay with my daughter and her family, I would be able to visit it, so it wasn't too bad.
One day my daughter rang me, most upset and worried. She told me that the plant had snapped off the day before and they hadn't known whether to tell me, because they knew how much it meant to me.
I reassured her that it was okay, that what is meant to be is meant to be. A week later I was visiting and noticed they had stuck the broken part of it into the pot as well. I didn't hold out much hope for either piece and said so.
Each time I visited I could see the top part had deteriorated more, the leaves were collapsing and dying. Yesterday, I decided that I needed to accept the inevitable, that this plant was beyond help.
As I went to empty it out of the pot, I noticed some new growth under the original stem. How exciting!
I looked at the other section of it and resolved to throw it away later. As I was preparing to do so, I mused that the plant was teaching me a lesson - that from old and broken parts of our life, there will always be new beginnings.
Imagine my surprise when I pulled the broken stalk out and found there was a whole new root system on the end of it!
The other part of my lesson is that although something may appear broken and will never be the same again, it can still be a part of my life, it will just be altered and different.
And thats how it is with life. We hold onto some things because of how they make us feel or the emotions they invoke. We want them to stay the same because thats how we remember them and need them to be. But nothing ever stays the same, change is an integral part of our lives. And sometimes things have to break to remind us that life is worth living, that there is more to look forward to and that change isn't all bad, it's just different!
with love, respect and integrity
Cherie. xx

The other day as I was driving I saw a sign outside a church, saying 'You must be Reborn'. As I drove by, I pondered about the bible and how we all have our own perspective on what is happening around us, what we say and what it means when we do.
I started thinking about when the bible was written and how the person who wrote it wasn't the person who did the talking. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not bible bashing, I am merely pointing out a truth of life.
We could have an event happen in a room full of people and not one person will tell the story the same, because we all have our own unique view of the world. The emotions and energy around us dictates what we have to say and why. It also decides how we interpret something, whether it is a thought, a word or an event.
I also struggle with the idea that I must be 'born again' to live the 'right kind of life' that makes me a good person.
Having had a large taste of religion as I grew up, I cannot believe in a God that is vengeful, angry and thinks I am bad. The God I believe in knows that I am always thinking of others, I am almost always kind, compassionate and caring, that I will put others before me sometimes, that I never intentionally do harm of any kind and that I am doing the best with what I have, what I know and the resources I have at my disposal in this lifetime. He understands that I don't believe I should go to church to be this good. He knows that 'his church' is everywhere - in nature, in others, in situations, wherever I am standing/sitting/be-ing, right here, right now.
...anyway, back to my car musings....
As I was considering the possibility that someone may have interpreted the words in a different way to which they were intended. I pondered on the fact that I have my own beliefs on the whole 'reborn' issue, and what could possibly have been an alternate definition....and then I had an Aha! moment!
We chose to come here on the physical plane. We chose to have a human existence, to learn various lessons, but most of us 'forgot' what we had come here to achieve, thanks to natal amnesia*.
We have various ways of 'remembering', whether it is snippets of deja vu, synchronistic meetings and signs, dreams, readings, the 11:11 shout out to the lightworker and many other variations on a theme. Even books and movies can help to jog our memory about what we need to look at in this lifetime, or what we need to remember from past lifetimes.
What if the message wasn't about being 'reborn? What if it was a wake up call? What if it was a reminder to remember? What if we are meant to awaken our senses, all of them? What if we are meant to rise from our earthly slumber of constantly 'do-ing', so we could awaken and begin 'be-ing'? What if we were meant to remember the strong and powerful person we all truly are?
Wouldn't that be amazing? And wouldn't it make a lot more sense than being reborn? When you think about it, wouldn't living be more about being totally us, immersing ourselves in the total experience of our existence, not just on a physical level, but also on a spiritual level, embracing all of who we are, knowing that we are magnificent?
We don't need to be reborn...but we do need to wake up, to 'awaken' and be who we are meant to be and be sure to love the person that is us, totally and unconditionally.
Quick! Stretch! Yawn! Be Awake!
with love, respect and integrity
Cherie xx

*We each have a life plan that we created on the etheric plane. However, until more recent times, most of us 'forgot' as we came into the world. This is known as Natal Amnesia.
**If you would like to more about our Life Plans, or The Story of our Life, contact me to purchase my mini ebook 'Life Plans', or to ask about others in the series.**

I have a wonderful new part time job that ticks all my boxes. It has variety, challenge, people and appreciation. What more could I possibly ask for?
The other day I went in to see my boss, telling him that I had decided this job was way more awesome than I first thought.
He looked up and asked why.
I said 'Well, I have been working on the patient database all day and I have realised that each time I enter anything it asks me if I want to 'save patient' or 'cancel'.
He looked at me blankly for a moment, and I added, 'I can't wait to tell my family and friends that I 'save' at least 12 patients every day!'
Although I was having a laugh about the process, it reminded me that there are two things we should always consider every day. (There are actually way more than two, but for the purpose of this blog, we'll stick to two)
1. There is always something positive, uplifting and funny in every day and every activity. We just need to be on the look-out for it.
2. Everything is a matter of perspective. How we perceive ourselves and what we do is the single most important ingredient to who we are and how we travel in our life journey.
For me, when I head off each time to my awesome job, I know I am going to save a few patients each day.....
Are you seeing the blessings and positivity in your day?
with love, respect and integrity
Cherie xx

Lets talk about karma. Today I was told by someone that the reason why their life has been so crappy is due to the karma they are receiving as a result of their behaviour in past lifetimes. Personally, I believe karma is a belief system. It is also a self flagellating system. There is no karma per se. What there is, is the responsibility for our actions, words and deeds. There is no one keeping a track of all the bad and good things we are doing. We are the 'record keepers'.
Karma is not a punishment eked out by anyone else. It is the belief system of the record keeper that dictates the severity and tenure of our karma. Karma isn't automatic punishment for anything we have ever done. Karma is brought about by our belief that we have done something wrong. Either we believe we should be punished or we don't...
This is why, some people, who have done horrendous things to other people, don't experience karma. They believe they were acting in their best interests and that their actions were justifiable - end of story. It also explains why some people lead charmed lives regardless of their actions, but then begin experiencing misfortune (read: karma) after they develop a conscience or feel responsible.
Sure, we can bring that belief of requiring punishment back in with us, as a cellular or soulular memory, into a following life, but thats all it is, a belief.
As long as we believe we need to be punished, or that we don't deserve a great life, we attract exactly what you are asking for.
To me, its not about serving time or being punished, it is about saying 'That was then, this is now. I am not the same person. I am not accountable for past life deeds and actions'
I am not 'dissing' anyone elses' beliefs or opinion, I am merely stating that my belief system is this, and it is up to everyone to decide what they believe.
We are not here to be judged. We are never found 'wanting'. We have certain lessons we have learnt in each lifetime. We chose them. Some were easy, some were kind, some where self serving, some were lovely, some were cruel, some were sad, and some were extremely difficult. 
There is no 'wrong' to be had, because we chose what experiences we would have, and the ones we would share with others. I know that's difficult to believe when we look at some of the terrible things people do to each other, but for us to learn all the many aspects of the physical plane, we have had to experience the good with the bad. This helps us to see all sides of everyone, the light as well as the shadow. It helps us to accept everyone for who they are without question, without judgement.
However, what we believe in, is what decides or dictates whether karma happens or not....
If we all lived in a way that we accept responsibility for our actions, respect all things and remain aware of what we are doing, not just to others, but also to ourselves, then words like karma would not exist. As record keepers, we would be redundant.
So before you start feeling you are being punished for something you don't recall, perhaps you need to remember this:
You are not a bad person, you never have been. You have just been fulfilling the lessons you chose in each lifetime. There is no blame...only learning!
If you want a way to help you 'let go' of this belief, tomorrow is full moon. Write a 'letter ' releasing yourself from any blame or consequence' and burn it when you are done.
with love, respect and integrity
Cherie xx

Let's talk a little about astral projection....
How many of us have felt that sudden rush of heat as we have woken up, or that strange jolt as we kinda 'fall into' our body again? Did you ever stop to consider you have been out all night travelling?
As a child, I used to get quite excited when I could feel a shift in the energy around me as I lay in bed, signalling that I was about to go on another 'trip'.
Now I'm older, I find it interesting to note that I sometimes have sore legs or arms from the 'work' I do at night.
I can remember going to a psychic when I was younger and her asking me if I felt I was here to do something specific. I said 'Yes, ever since I can remember I have felt that I have an important job to do but I have no idea what it is. As I get older I am getting a sense of urgency, as I worry that I am not fulfilling my life's purpose.' I then added, 'and I worry that it's somewhere in a third world country, because I don't even like camping!' I am truly inspired by those who visit these places and actually live amongst the people, while doing wonderful things, but seriously, it's just not for me.
She laughed and said 'But you are already doing it! Each night, you travel to far off places to help those less fortunate.'
This made perfect sense to me, because I would have snippets of memories where I running with children through forests, or building bricks out of mud. And sometimes, I would wake with an 'impression' of a bruise or unexplained aches and pains.
I don't always remember my travels, but I do know I go on them. I have visited parallel lives, other planets and even friends and family (both living and in spirit) to 'check up' on them.
Many years ago, before I realised that what I did as a child was actually astral travel, I bought a book to help me 'do it'. I was really disappointed in my purchase. Not only did the person who wrote it, have a guru complex, where two thirds of the book was all about him and how amazing he was, but he also created a lot of fear. In the end I donated the book to charity (I never throw books away, they are too precious). In subsequent conversations with others I have sensed this 'fear' all too often, so I've decided it's time it was laid to rest. So lets look at some of them:
What if you get lost?
There is no 'lost'. You are connected at the solar plexus with a beautiful cord (rather like an umbilical cord) that gives you as much leeway or length as you need. When  it is time to come home, you can be either 'reeled in', hence the jolting feeling, or you can just gradually enter your body when you are ready, which explains the sudden heat wave we feel as our astral body and physical body become 'one' again.
What if the cord was to break?
The cord will never break. The only way your astral or etheric body and your physical body can become separated is through death. Even then it is not an abrupt ending, it is a gentle floating up and out motion. The cord has to wither and separate, not snap.
What if someone/something tries to enter my body while I am away?
Well, should this extremely doubtful thing even begin to happen, your physical body would send a message along the cord and you would be back faster than someone/something could get past your toes! Your physical body is specifically made for you and all the parts of you. No one and nothing else will be welcome in your body, without your express invitation.
What if my house catches fire while I'm gone?
Once again, your physical body would 'call you' back.
Where can I go?
It is possible to set your intent and ask to travel to specific places. My favourite is to set up a test with someone, and ask them to place something on a table and I will tell them after I have visited, what it was. It is possible to go anywhere you choose, or just to let your astral/etheric body to have free range.
I can't astral travel, what shall I do?
Just because you can't remember whether you travel or not, doesn't mean it isn't happening. Instead of focusing on trying to, start noticing the areas/countries your dreams are set in. Start noticing any strange aches and pains that are not easily explained.
I think I travel, but I don't remember anything. Why not?
Sometimes we aren't meant to remember everything. Sometimes that information is stored within our inner wisdom and it is later,when we say something that we can't remember learning about or knowing, that the information is ready to be used or utilised.
If you have any other questions that I haven't thought of, please feel free to contact me on [email protected].
with love, respect and integrity
Cherie xx

I know I have talked about this before, but I have an urge to 'chat' to you about it from a slightly different perspective.
I believe that before we come down to this earthly plane, we make a life plan, involving the people around us, what country we are born in, the bodies we are blessed with, the experiences we will have and the lessons we will learn to help us complete our life journey. Some of them were/are pleasant, some not so - and that is applicable for people, places and experiences/lessons written up in our plan.
All too often I hear people complain about their family, their parents who weren't that great, that life surely would have been better if they had only been born to a different family.
We chose our family, we chose our parents, our siblings, our grandparents. We chose them because they all had something to teach us, and in return, we had something to teach them. We may not have always liked the lesson, but we learnt it...well, most of the time....and if we didn't, we met someone else later on who provided the same lesson with a different slant to it.
We chose our names, we chose our birthdate, because we knew that the vibration we entered and lived in this world was important. We knew that we could 'tap into' some of our lessons and get some inside knowledge through astrology, palmistry and numerology. We knew there would be hints, signs along the way...some that would be subtle and comforting and others that were 'slap in the face' brutal and confronting.
We chose our bodies, we knew the lessons we would learn through the amazing physical form we had chosen. We knew part of our life plan was to learn to love ourselves unconditionally.
All the important people around us that are a part of our life, the good, the not so good and the downright nasty, we also chose...actually, we asked them to help us to learn specific lessons....and because they loved us, they agreed to come down to the physical plane with us. Such unconditional love! Some agreed to be our worst enemy, knowing we would not remember while we were down here that last lifetime we were best friends, lovers, siblings or family.
And anytime you feel there is no truth to what I'm saying, I want you to remember the image attached to this post. I received this earlier this year from a friend. This little girl (whose name has been changed for the purpose of this post) started this conversation out of the blue...without prompting, without knowing that what she said would be so incredible or validating...
The children coming through now remember so much more than the rest of us who came before. They are 'aware' and 'knowing', and there is less chance of them being 'squashed' by parents, family and society, as more of us embrace the knowledge that there is so much more to life than we could begin to comprehend.
Its important we honour their inner wisdom and sensitivity as well as nurturing our own. For they will help to bring about huge changes within our world....and we knew that before we came down to this earthly plane. We agreed to help!
with love, respect and integrity
Cherie xx

We all get signs in various ways and sometimes if we're aware of the synchronicity around each message, we can take notice of what we are being told or nudged to change within our lives.
As I've mentioned before, it isn't until after the third similar sign or message that I usually have an Aha! moment, (much to the irritation of my guides and angels, I'm sure!) 
So, the other week I noticed a pattern forming. The first sign I had was as I was walking through someone's lounge and Big Bang Theory was on. (I love this comedy). They were talking about psychics and how Sheldon couldn't believe he was dating a girl who believed in psychics.
The next day I overheard a conversation,while at work, about psychics and lets face it, it wasn't the most complimentary debate.
That night I was getting my hair done and, although the radio was on the whole tim,e it wasn't until they began pooh-poohing psychics that I took any notice.
That weekend I was talking to my good friend Karen about the synchronicity of these three, obviously connected, signs. I asked her what she thought it was all about, and if there was a message I might need to take notice of.
She thought for a few seconds and asked 'When you introduce yourself to people and they ask what you do, what do you reply?'
I smiled and said 'I work part time at a bank'
She said 'So, do you tell them what else you do?'

'Umm, well I might tell them I am a massage therapist, reiki practitioner, an author or teacher...'
'Do you say you're a psychic?' When I shook my head, she asked 'Why do you think that is? And why do you say you work at a bank when it's only part-time and everything else you do is part of who you are?' (you can always rely on Karen to cut to the chase)
'Ahh, well, umm, I....guess it's because there is less fear and less judgement...and less pressure'
Actually when I tell some people I'm a psychic, for some reason I can't fathom, they instantly believe I can read their minds. I watch as they struggle not to 'think' anything with this whole conversation going on in their head 'I mustn't think...I mustn't think..I wonder how long it will take before she stops looking into my head, oh crap, I did it, I just thought of something...now she knows what I thought...stop thinking...stop thinking...!'
The mischief side of me watches and desperately wants to say 'I bet I know what you're thinking...!'
Of course there's also those that say 'Well, what do you get from me? Who's around me? What does my guide look like? What does the future hold for me?'
Anyway, back to my original story...
I am who I am. Being psychic or a healer is all part of what makes me who I am, so why didn't I say 'Hi, I'm Cherie, I'm a psychic, an author and a healer, oh and I work part time at a bank...'
A part of me understands why I didn't, but another part doesn't. I need to change the way I view myself, or lets face it, the messages and signals will just get bigger and more obvious. Its time to 'own me' and honour who I truly am. Since then I have made a concerted effort to be true to my gifts, instead of only taking them out when it suits. It has been surprising to discover that, the majority have been extremely receptive and willing to talk (and think) about their own experiences that they too had kept hidden away.
So, my question to you is, what parts of you are you keeping hidden? What hidden parts of you need to be acknowledged and honoured? Is it time you celebrated all of who you are as well?
with love, respect and integrity
Cherie xx

I don't know whether you've noticed the change in energy around us.  When it first happened, in early December, it felt like a dark energetic cloud had enveloped all of us. People became excessively emotional and I remember saying to a few people, that... nergy changed and it felt as if there was a dark energetic cloud that enveloped all of us. I remember saying to a few people, that it would take until the 16th of January for it to dissipate.
I was reminded of that the other day and yes, I can feel the changes, and I'm sure plenty of you can too. Have you been having vivid dreams, strange experiences, synchronicity, voices singing or calling out your name, just to name a few? Well here is my belief about what is happening, and I must emphasise it is my belief. You don't have to agree with it or even read about it, because that is your choice and your belief that you must follow.
The veil between the worlds is thinner than it has been in a long time, so those on the other side, whether they are angels, guides or our spirit family are better able to assist us. Where once they had to lower their vibration dramatically to get through the veil, they can now 'walk through' a lot easier. They are able to ensure we have more synchronicity and signs within our lives as they help us to remember what we are here for, what we chose as our life plan this lifetime.
This can be a bit frightening if you get a visit from the other side and you aren't sure why or how to react.
When we wrote our life plan, we created some 'clues' or' signs' to remind us of our mission here on earth. We asked our guides to remind us, for events to help us realise we weren't alone and that we can be master manifestors, if we so choose. It started off as something simple like the number 11, which is why many of us see 11 within our day to day life. This was the call to the lightworker, it was a reminder that we agreed to be a part of this shift in consciousness, from this way of being. We signed our name on the dotted line and we asked for a wake up call.
Butterflies and feathers were other symbols, designed to remind us it was time to change, to transform into who we truly are, to be the best us we can possibly be.
Children born since 2000 were born knowing, even more so than any other generation. When we are born, we forget our 'life plan' thanks to natal amnesia, but sometimes we can get a sense of deja vu when a memory hasn't been totally erased. For many of us, we didn't just forget...as we developed and talked about imaginary friends or magic, we found out that not everyone could see or hear what we could, so we learned to keep quiet and to hide that side of us.
Around 18-36 months of age, the children of today experience unexplainable crying, which can throw their parents into a panic. As these children become more conscious of the physical and energetic world they are born into, they can become fearful of the huge job there is ahead of them. It's important for us as parents and grandparents to remind them they are not alone that we are all here to help.
There is going to be change, huge change within our world. It won't happen overnight, it will be a gradual process, but it will be faster than what we have experienced to date. Those on the other side are impatient for us to wake up, to become more heart centred and to see things from a different perspective.
In the last six months, more spirit family and guides have appeared in readings, to get their message across, to help us transition smoothly into where we are inevitably going. Their point is that once we know what they have to say, we cannot possibly ignore the signs they are giving us.
Don't feel you aren't ready yet, or that you aren't up to the challenge of change. Remember you chose to be here. You chose to be a part of the shift. ...and you chose to be reminded in many ways...including this blog!
(just as I chose to be reminded by writing it)
with love, respect and integrity
Cherie xx
PS. I tried to post this up earlier and everything froze....I was given a gentle nudge that I wasn't quite finished...
'As with all things dear ones, you have freedom of choice, you have the right to refuse to step into your lightworker role. Although you may have agreed on the etheric plane to fulfill your destiny and purpose, you were, at that time living in a place of love and light. You had no idea how heavy you would feel on the physical plane or how difficult it would be to instigate change. You never knew that you would be surrounded by a form of energy that would encourage you to forget how magnificent and limitless you are. Although there is a shift in energy, you are not required to participate unwillingly - you have the right to choose your own path without judgement or censure.'

I don't know whether you know this, but I am not one of those psychics that believe totally in all things spiritual. I am a huge skeptic, always preferring to see with my own eyes what other people tell me is truth. As much as I know I have a gift that I share willingly, there is also a part of me that tests my boundaries and encourages me to question everything.
So, when someone suggested I have some angels come and 'visit' me for five days and five nights, my skeptic radar was going off the Richter scale.
I was actually feeling a bit low when it was suggested to me. It was almost Christmas and it's around that time a lot of grief bubbles to the surface and I can sometimes struggle to stay 'connected with my present moments'.
When I received the message from a friend through Facebook, I thought to myself 'Scam!' and ignored it completely. A couple of days later, I was answering another friend's message and the angel message caught my attention.
After a few moments deliberating, I decided to answer the message. After all, I reasoned, it couldn't possibly do me any damage, and who knows, it might help me with my runaway emotions. There was every chance my friend had already found someone else, especially as I hadn't even replied.
Fortunately for me, she hadn't rushed off and found someone else, so I was going to get visitors on the 20th of December 2012!
I followed all the instructions, found another three people to send them on to after my 5 days and nights were up, organised a plant, candle and my wishes. I created my 'sacred space' and was more than ready when the big night arrived.
I have to tell you, that although I had done all the preparation, there was still that part of me that said this was going to be a huge waste of time and money. (the candle cost me $2.10 on special!) I had no expectations at all, I was quite prepared for nothing at all to happen.
The night they arrived, I opened the door to welcome thin, as per my instructions, and to my surprise, I sensed the presence of five angels, but shrugged it off, putting it down to tiredness. I'd stayed up, waiting for them to arrive, and was ready to go to bed. It seemed a bit rude to just say 'Hi, good night', so I sat there in the lounge, thinking about what I wanted the next five days to bring. High on my list was a sense of peace and resolve about my life. After a bit, I decided I was just being silly and I went to bed.
I hadn't slept a full night in about three months, not because I was stressed or sad, I just wasn't sleeping. That night I slept the best I had in such a long time. I felt energetic, relaxed and ready to face the day when I awoke. 
As I went about my day I felt 'different'. I couldn't explain what it was or why. It was just this sense of being safe and peaceful. I was different around others and they noticed and commented on it as well. There were other small signs that there really were angels around me, but if I wrote about them all, we'd be here for a very long time. 
Each night, I felt a sense of healing around me. I had severely damaged my foot about three weeks prior and was still hobbling around in a restrictive bandage, when the angels had come to visit. The emotional source of my injured foot was about feeling constrained or restricted with what I needed to do next. I'd been struggling for some time with a few issues, problems and directions I wanted to travel in, with no real idea of how I would achieve them. 
On the last morning I woke, with a sense of 'intent'. It was as if everything was clear in my mind. I knew exactly what it was I wanted to do and how it would unfold. My foot no longer hurt and I knew I was ready to step up and into the next part of my journey. As I walked to work that morning, I realised that the last five days had left me feeling 'peace, love and harmony'. I knew I'd received healing on my heart space and I could physically feel the difference. My aura had become brighter and I could feel and see it's resonance. 
It was sad to say goodbye to my angels. My place felt quite empty without them, and the temperature was a little cooler in my place, after I escorted them to the door.
I am forever grateful to the angels who visited me, in spite of my skepticism and also to my friend who was patient enough to wait for me to realise a visit was just what I needed.
It was an awesome experience and I have to say that it is less than a month later and two of my wishes are already well on their way to being granted. 
with love, respect and integrity
Cherie xx

Sometimes the strangest things push our buttons. It can be the way someone looks at us, the way they act or speak to us. It can be the way the world looks today, it can be the way it feels and it can just be how we feel.
Quite often I tell my clients they need to write the 'Because..' letter. When something makes us angry or fearful, we can use this as a strategy for finding out why we feel this way.
So, if you are feeling cranky with the world or a specific someone and you can't really explain why, maybe this is a good thing for you to try too.
Start your letter with a sentence that says how you feel right now. For example,' I'm angry at Simon'. At the end put 'because'. Start a new line and follow on from that first sentence. Add 'because' again. Keep doing this until you run out of things to write...don't finish too soon, allow whatever thought pops into your head to be written down. Don't overthink it. 
You will know when you're done...but don't stop because you subconsciously don't want to know the answer.
I love doing this because you just never know where it might end up. For example, it could turn out that you are angry with Simon because he took the last piece of cake and somewhere along the way you remembered that your younger brother always did that and your Mum always let him 'get away with it'. 
Sometimes the things that bother us the most that we can't explain have roots deep in our childhood. Once we have worked out what they are, we can heal that part of us and move on.
Alternatively, you can do it for something that's good in your life. It may turn out that the reason why you like red roses is because your Great Aunt Freda, who used to give you chocolate cake wore a fragrance called red rose...or she had an apron with a red rose on it. There's nothing like a pleasant memory we can call upon whenever we see red
It's an interesting way to look at things, isn't it? As we unravel those reasons, we also heal some of those outdated belief systems from when we were children and adults told us life was black and white while we were exploring the greys! 

There are times when we desperately want change in our lives. We want that awesome new job, a loving relationship, to own our own business, to be financially independent....and the list goes on and on.
I was talking to someone the other day who was bemoaning that she kept attracting the same kind of man into her life. Each time they would start off great, and eventually they would 'wander off' to greener pastures. We talked at length about her views on relationships and self worth and it turned out that she didn't believe in long lasting love and she didn't love herself very much either.
The problem is that we all want change, especially the positive kind. But, do we want to change 'us', our perceptions and beliefs to achieve that change? 
Do we wish desperately for another job, but think we couldn't get anything better because we don't have the skills we believe are required? Do we hate the job we're in, but figure we just have to 'put up' with it so we can pay our bills or keep a roof over our heads? Do we feel this way about all the jobs we've ever had? 
Do we long for a wonderful and lasting relationship but expect that we'll attract someone unsuitable, because that's what we've always done? Do we figure they'll get sick of us or find someone more interesting eventually? Do we hold back in giving of ourselves in the misguided belief that no one can hurt us if we are 'semi-detached'?
Do we wish we could have health and well-being, but still eat in ways we know aren't good for us? Do we imagine every symptom or pain is the sign of something drastic? Do we neglect our body when it tells us it's tired and wants a rest, by pushing it to it's limits?
Well, if we do any of these things or even variations of them, we know for sure that we are attracting all the 'crap' we don't want in our lives. If we believe we are unworthy, unlovable, unskilled, unhealthy (Please note, all those words start with 'un-') then we keep attracting more of the same kind of attention or situations that we always have.
To encourage more possibilities and positivity into our life, we need to look at what we need to change within to make it possible. We need to love ourselves unconditionally, to know that we are totally awesome, awe-inspiring and perfect in every way to be the person we are and to live the life we desire.
 That's why we chose to come here to the physical plane. We knew we could do whatever we wanted, we knew what we are capable of, and we knew we were limitless. We also knew there'd be challenges, like our body shape, our belief systems, our childhood, relationships, unpleasant situations, and day to day problems.....but we also knew that these made up the whole of us, that by accepting who we truly are and believing in our magnificence we could conquer any obstacle in our path. 
So what are we waiting for....? Are we waiting for someone to wave a magic wand (so not going to happen, by the way), or are we just waiting for us to realise we Can, we Will and we Are living the life we are meant to, and that we have the power to change all that exists within it!
with love, respect and integrity
Cherie xx

As most of you are aware, I am a firm believer in the effect our emotions have on various parts of our bodies. I also believe there isn't a need to spend oodles of money to 'address' some of these issues.
This is my belief and I wouldn't say it is the only one in the world, or that you shouldn't visit a doctor.  Each case is an individual experience and a decision must be based on what you are feeling and how it affects you. It is not up to me to dictate what you should or shouldn't do. 
I would like to share a little story about my day yesterday.
Some of you may be aware that I do mobile massage/reiki /card readings.
Due to someone doing something that may or may not affect my personal safety, I had to remove any advertising from my vehicle. To say I'm wasn't happy about it would be an understatement. As I scraped and removed all signs of a business I have worked hard to establish and maintain, I did a lot of that muttering we all do when we are feeling unsupported by the Universe. Things like 'Well, how am I supposed to advertise what I do now?' 'Is this a sign I'm not meant to do this?' Is the world full of weirdos and why do I always seem to attract them?'  and 'Fine! Well, I'll just sit on my butt and do nothing from now on, 'cos obviously that's where I'm headed!'
Okay, so I was really angry, having gone past my usual balance of reasonableness and finding fault with everyone and everything.
I'm just like everyone else. I try to accept others as they are and 'allow' the Universe to send me signs or give me directions, but yesterday I was in a place where everything was against me, and life was just another big struggle I was sick and tired of fighting against.
I spent the day working on 'other things, like creating booklets and handouts for my upcoming classes and reading. I refused to think about massage, reiki or card readings, as I stayed in my 'fug' about how life wasn't fair and how upset and angry I was.
About 4pm, I had lower back pain, but I shrugged that off due to the position I'd been sitting in all day. A couple of hours later I had a UTI. (for those of you who are blessed enough to never have had one of these, it is when it burns and stings when you pee. It's very painful.) 
It was then I had an Aha! moment and began to listen to my body. I knew the lower back pain was about  not feeling supported by the Universe, reliving old emotional struggles and comparing then to this present day one and yes, there was an element of fear and lack of personal security attached to it. However, I also knew that the UTI was  because (and I'm sorry of you don't like the following word, but it's the only one that fits) I was incredibly pissed off, to think that this person could affect my life so much and create a change that I wasn't ready to accept. I was also a little annoyed with myself, to be honest, for being so upset about something so insignificant as car advertising.
 So, I sat down and had a talk with my body. I acknowledged my anger, my fear and told it I realised it wasn't the same as any other experience I had been through. It was slightly similar or familiar, but it wasn't the exact same experience or situation. I admitted I felt like I was being punished by the Universe and I knew that it wasn't my truth, it was my reaction to the situation. I had picked the wrong attitude as I created the change in my life (and car!). I realised I hadn't been embracing myself with honour and appreciation, I had turned my feelings inward instead of acknowledging how I truly felt.
Within half an hour (I had to do a bit of sweet talking to myself!), my lower back pain had disappeared, as had the UTI. Coincidence? I think not.
...something to think about, isn't it?!

The other day I was talking to someone who is getting a tattoo done this weekend. I asked her what she was going to get and she said 'What is meant for you won't go by you'. What a beautiful quote!
All too often we think of missed opportunities as something someone has 'taken' from us or we have 'lost' or 'missed out'. When we wrote our life plan on the etheric plane, we chose our opportunities, our disappointments, our obstacles, our relationships and our backup plans. We chose our parents because we knew they would teach us what we needed to know to begin taking the steps to fulfill the lessons we would learn during our life journey.
We chose our friends, the situations and events that would shape us, as we learnt more about ourselves and life in general. We chose our bodies, those divine vessels that transport the magnificent perfect being that is us. We did this deliberately because even our body shape has something to teach us, whether it's acceptance, self love or that we are 'more than' the outer layer.
We chose our opportunities - we even chose backup plans for each one. If we weren't ready to attempt something new or accept the opportunity, it wouldn't be lost forever, there would just be a different way to 'get there'. No one can 'steal' these from us, because they were designed with us in mind - by us!
We chose where we would live, how we would live and what that would teach us. We picked our playmates, our family, our friends, we even chose the people we would work with or meet briefly.  
We also chose our spirit guides for this life, the ones that would be here to help us always, those that would help us briefly and those that would assist during traumas or life changing experiences.
This doesn't mean that everything we do here on the physical plane is pre-determined. Each time we are challenged or at a crossroads, we choose what happens next. We decide whether to step forward, to step away or to step off  in another direction. 
An example of this is how I met my husband, Butch. We were born in the same hospital, five days apart. (in those days mothers stayed in hospital about 10 days before going home) Our parents didn't meet. We lived two roads away from each other, but never noticed each other. We almost went to the same school - but my family moved overseas. We found out years later we even had a mutual friend. It wasn't until we were in our 20's we officially met and fell in love.
So you see, if we had met earlier, there would have been a different scenario as a result. 
So, when it feels like life is difficult and everyone else seems to be getting all the breaks, remember that you chose the where, when and what of your opportunities. There will be many to choose from and you will choose what is right for you at the right time. And if you choose not to, there will be a backup plan. And if you don't like that one, another choice or backup plan will come along when you are ready.
Our life journey is like a movie or a book, we set the scenes on the etheric, but we live the adventure on the physical! We are the main character, the director, the screenwriter and the producer. We decide how our life here unfolds, moment to moment! How awesome is that?
with love, respect and integrity
Cherie xx

I'd like to 'chat' about expectations. We all have them, whether it is about a person, and event or something we would like to manifest into our lives.
The problem is that we sometimes create an expectation and feel that everyone and everything should follow through with our wishes or visualisation. 
We meet someone and form an expectation of who they should be and how they
should act, but we cannot influence others to be anyone other than themselves.
We might think we can, but unless that person is willing, ready or even believes
they need to change, nothing will ever come of it. Part of our mission on this physical plane is to love everyone as  they are right now and not expect we can change them to suit our expectations.
If we can't love someone wholly and generously, then we can focus on a part of
them we do love, whether it's their smile, their compassion or the way they make
us feel when we are around them.
How boring would it be if we were all the same, if we all looked  the same, acted the same and talked about the same things? ....yawn....

We decide to follow our dream and sometimes everything doesn't fall into place or flow as  evenly and calmly as we would have hoped. We sometimes give up hope when events on the way don't meet our expectations.
If the road to wherever we wanted to go was paved with golden experiences, where would be the challenge? How would we know if we really wanted what we were working towards if it just fell into our lap? Would we just take it for granted because it was too easy? Would we  appreciate it if we didn't have to strive and persist to get to our desired destination?

Sometimes the Universe places challenges along the way to 'test' us, to ensure this is something we definitely want to do. Sometimes there are many tests, especially if we are only 'sorta' following the path and not committing ourselves wholeheartedly. (When it happens to me, I can hear the Universe asking 'So, how much do you want this, Cherie?' It's then I realise I have dawdled or wandered off the path I chose to follow and I correct my direction and pace)

When we get caught up in 'expectation', we miss the magic and magnificence of those we meet and we fail to see the surprise and synchronicity along the road to our dreams.
Expectations create a tiny box that no one and nothing can fit into. Sometimes when we try to create the shape and size of others, events, situations or the outcomes we seek, we miss the opportunity to experience the freedom of allowing them to be incredible and as exciting as they can possibly be!
with love, respect and integrity
Cherie xx

Sometimes we can experience situations or issues that repeat within our life that can be the leftover residue of a past existence. These can be unexplained symptoms, relationship problems, certain things that trigger a strong response from us or repetitve events, to name a few.
These can make us feel as if everyone is treating us unfairly and it must be a 'pattern' we attract. They can also cause severe reactions when things happen in our life. We don't understand why we've responded in such a way, sometimes we're even shocked at how we acted as a result.
On a cellular and a soul-ular level, we 'remember' events from our past lives, especially those ones that weren't completed in another lifetime.
For example, if you were stabbed in the throat you may find it difficult to swallow tablets. If molten metal was poured down your throat for speaking out, you may not want to speak your truth in this lifetime. If a huge slab of rock fell on your foot, you may have issues with that same foot within this lifetime.
We are fascinated in past life readings, we all want to hear about a time we were here before, to identify why we have a passion for a specific culture, or why we feel a sense of 'knowing' when we visit other countries.
Most of us (including me) hope it will be positive and uplifting, but sometimes this isn't the case. If we are carrying a 'lesson' we didn't learn in a past lifetime, there may be a disappointment attached to it.
With a past life reading it is important to look at what similarities there are in your past life and your present one to discover whether you have now resolved it within this lifetime or if you need to pay more attention to a particular issue. For example, if you were stabbed in the back by your men during a war, you might ask yourself if you are being 'stabbed in the back' by those you trust at work. 
Learning about a past life doesn't mean you need to get therapy or 'work on' yourself. The most important thing is to acknowledge the past life and it's lessons or pain, compare it to this one and decide whether you have finished with that particular lesson. A healing afterwards can be a good thing, to re-align your soul-ular and cellular body, but an ongoing permanent regular therapy isn't required.
Don't be disappointed if your past life reading isn't as positive or as uplifting as you may have expected. Instead, look truthfully at the lessons you attempted to learn in that lifetime, ask yourself if it's repeating within your present life and does it need closure or do you have it sorted this time around. After you have done that, acknowledge it for what it is and then let it go....
You might be surprised the difference a bit of knowledge makes!
with love, respect and integrity
Cherie xx
 

As we know colours can represent many things and it's well known that specific colours create certain emotional responses. Even though we may not be aware of it, sometimes we can wear specific colours to add strength to our chakras. We can also use colour to portray who we are to the world at large. If we want to look powerful and yet deflect other people's energy, we will wear black and red. If we are going through a period of change, orange is the signal colour. When we are feeling at one with the Universe, white is the colour of choice.
On the wheel shown here are some of the emotions attached to the basic colours -  there are many more, this is just a sampling. Different shades and hues can mean we are projecting more or less of that particular emotion.
When we aren't wearing a uniform, the colours we choose to wear say a lot about us, whether it's that we're feeling happy, invisible or at peace, etc.
When we are lacking in passion, or personal power, we may wear red to help boost that specific feeling. If we feel we are out of balance and our chakras need an extra boost, wearing the colour of that chakra will strengthen it and help to re-energise it. If we are feeling as if we don't trust in our own opinions; that we allow others to speak for us, we need to wear blue.
It's amazing how choosing the colours we choose can affect our emotions, responses and attitude for the day.
So, next time you get ready for your day and you are picking out what to wear, ask yourself 'What colour do I need to wear to feel more balanced?' or 'What emotion am I trying to project into the world?' 
Take notice of how you feel when you wear certain colours. Do some of them feel like overkill because you have an abundance of that specific emotion, or do you feel like you are in balance when you wear them?
Sometimes it's not about the style of clothes we wear, but the colours that resonate with our inner self and emotions. This can explain why a favourite item is hard to throw away, especially if every time you wore it, you felt a certain way.
So what colour are you wearing today.....?
with love, respect and integrity
Cherie xx

We all know the impact others have on us. When someone tells us how great a colour looks on us, we unconsciously wear more of it. If someone tells us we are ‘crap’ at something, like drawing or playing a sport, many of us doubt our abilities and lose interest in pursuing it further.
All too often what we believe is our truth originated in a comment or someone else's perception of who we are and what we are capable of.
As children we're told some of our dreams are ridiculous, that they can't possibly come true, that we aren't clever or creative enough. We're told not to be greedy, not to talk too loud or draw attention to ourselves. Good boys/girls don't do that and you don't want to be a bad girl/boy, do you?
If we had psychic gifts and weren't lucky enough to be born into a family that nurtured this, we soon learned to hide it, to reject our 'imaginary friends' and close off from our magical side. For years we towed the line, we pretended to be all the things our family and elders wanted. As time went by, we forgot who we were, how amazing, magnificent and unique we were.
We went to school and learnt that we needed to conform or be 'the same', we weren't always encouraged to have original thoughts or to know more than the person who taught us. We tried all sorts of activities and it was usually the teachers who decided whether we were any good at them. Enjoying something wasn't in the same category as succeding at it. Those that were up to the standard teachers needed were nurtured, while many others fell by the wayside.
By the time we went out into the workforce, a lot of us were 'shaped and molded', we weren't our true selves, we weren't even sure how to be ourselves. Peer pressure evolved as we did. As we grew older we discovered there were many peer groups that could stifle our originality, school had only been the beginning.
Then one day, we wake up! We realise we aren't living our truth, we know there's more to us than is visible to others. The problem is that not only are we unsure how to access this person, we're not even sure we'll like him/her...after all, isn't that why society had squashed them down, so they wouldn't escape?
Gradually, ever so gradually we unpack the person within, the magical and magnificent person that was there all along. Sometimes we saw slivers of them during our life, but now we release them and allow them to 'be'. We step into us!
Finding ourselves is about finally accepting the who of ourselves, warts and all.
So today, and everyday, I encourage you to embrace all of who you are, to acknowledge and celebrate your magnificence and to shed those outdated belief systems that prevent you from being You!

You're probably wondering about the significance of the picture at the top of this blog. When I was about 7, I painted a tree for art class, telling my teacher I had seen this tree and wanted one just like it. My teacher told me it was rubbish, that trees didn't look like that, I couldn't possibly have seen one like that and I was obviously a liar. She then said it wasn't even pretty and I would never be an artist. I never painted or drew again until I was in my twenties.
Yesterday, while I was surfing the internet, I came across this picture of the Tree of Life. It was just how I remembered it! What a lot of years I wasted believing I couldn't enjoy art because of one person's belief system.
...and how sad I couldn't tell her where I remembered it from.....!   ;-P 
with love, respect and integrity
Cherie xx