In a Blink of an Eye the World Changed - Rachel Devine
I want to say from the onset that this is not a political blog; it’s a spiritual one.
Last Saturday, there was a miracle that took place in Butler, Pennsylvania, that the world can see. It was a spiritual intervention that only those who don’t blink will recognize. When we become too busy to really look at God’s enormous power, we miss an opportunity for spiritual enlightenment or growth.
There was a deranged shooter who was able to somehow take 6 shots at Trump at the rally. Had Trump not turned his head, he would have been hit in the head by the bullet, but rather the bullet grazed his ear. In a blink of an eye the world changed with this miracle.
Let’s look at what happened and shine a spiritual spotlight on this miracle that took place for everyone to see and benefit from.
First off, Sean Parnell who was an Army Ranger, combat infantryman with the elite 10th Mountain Division, and veteran of 485 days of fierce fighting along the Afghan-Pakistan border said, “The moment I walked into that rally, there was something different, something in the air.” He went on to describe a tragic incident in 2006 in Afghanistan. He was hit by a bomb, and he said he was unconscious; he didn’t know if he was dead or alive, but something spiritual beckoned him to get up. It felt like his grandfather, who had died the day before he went to Afghanistan. He felt that same spiritual presence on the stage in Butler, PA, when he spoke before Trump took the stage. After the rally, people kept sending him pictures of the American flag that got twisted from the wind above the rally stage, shaped like an angel.
I want to say from the onset that this is not a political blog; it’s a spiritual one.
Last Saturday, there was a miracle that took place in Butler, Pennsylvania, that the world can see. It was a spiritual intervention that only those who don’t blink will recognize. When we become too busy to really look at God’s enormous power, we miss an opportunity for spiritual enlightenment or growth.
There was a deranged shooter who was able to somehow take 6 shots at former President Trump at the rally. Had Donald Trump not turned to look at a screen, he would have been hit in the head by the bullet, but rather because he turned the bullet grazed his ear. In a blink of an eye the world changed with this miracle.
Let’s look at what happened and shine a spiritual spotlight on this miracle that took place for everyone to see and benefit from.
First off, Sean Parnell who was an Army Ranger, combat infantryman with the elite 10th Mountain Division, and veteran of 485 days of fierce fighting along the Afghan-Pakistan border said, “The moment I walked into that rally, there was something different, something in the air.” He went on to describe a tragic incident in 2006 in Afghanistan. He was hit by a bomb, and he said he was unconscious; he didn’t know if he was dead or alive, but something spiritual beckoned him to get up. It felt like his grandfather, who had died the day before he went to Afghanistan. He felt that same spiritual presence on the stage in Butler, PA, when he spoke before Trump took the stage. After the rally, people kept sending him pictures of the American flag that got twisted from the wind above the rally stage, shaped like an angel.
The United States of America flag twisted in the image of an angel.
Sean Parnell’s story. (video)
I can relate to Sean Parnell’s spiritual experience, since I had my own spiritual experience back in 2000. This is the way I described it in 2009 in my book, The Third Road.
“It happened sometime in the summer of 2000. I was crossing a major turnpike with two lanes of two-way traffic plus a turn signal lane. I was in a hurry to get to the other side of the street. There was a red light, and two cars were stopped at the light. The car to my far right was a large van. There was a left-turn lane next to the van that had a green turn signal light where cars could make a left turn. That lane appeared to be empty, but I was not really paying attention since my mind was on a million different things. Therefore, I was not thinking about the left turn lane as I hurried across the street, while the other two cars were stopped at the red light. The van was blocking my view of the left-turn lane at the far end. As I approached the left lane, I felt an incredible force push me back. It was the most amazing feeling I had ever felt in my life. It was not a visible force or an audible force, just a strong, silent force that pulled me back. I was actually immobilized. I could not move at all. I remember being frozen in the middle of the street.
The only way I can describe what happened is in this way. It actually felt like my father’s hand pulling me back away from danger. I remember when I was a child riding in the front seat of our old Rambler with my father; there were no seat belts back then, or at least not in my father’s old Rambler. When he would stop short at a red light, he would extend his arm out to hold me back from falling into the dashboard. I remember how loving this felt when he tried to protect me from harm. It was the same feeling as when I was crossing the street. It felt like a loving force holding me back from possible death.
I could not see anything holding me back, but there was a definite power stopping me from continuing to go across the turnpike, and this power extended across my heart. As I stood there, literally unable to move, a van came screeching past me at a very high speed. Had I taken one more step, I would have been hit by this van. I remember looking down at the solid white line on the road and thinking that had I crossed that line and made one more step, I could possibly have been killed, since that step would have simultaneously put me right in front of this speeding van.
These thoughts raced through my mind. What was this power that held me back? I suspected this was the power of God, but how did this work? Why did this happen to me? Whose arm pushed me back and made me unable to move, shielding me from sudden death? I was baffled for years and had no clue what happened that day or who saved me from possible death. It felt like the hand of God, but I needed more of an explanation to comprehend the mystery of this phenomenon. I never told anyone about it for fear of not being believed. After all, miracles are sometimes viewed as foolish and highly unlikely. and I felt that doubt was prevalent in most of society. Plus, I had no idea what happened to me that fateful day, so I had a hard time processing it, let alone explaining it.”
End of transcript from The Third Road.
My theory is God spares people who have unfinished business. I believe that God spared Trump because he has more work to complete on this earth. I believe the same for me back in 2000, but of course on a much different level.
The question begs: why wasn’t Cory Comperatore saved? He shielded his wife and daughter from the bullet and lost his own life. His daughter describes him as a superhero. When he died, it was a very sad moment. So why didn’t God save him?
All I can say is what Joel Osteen said once, and I will paraphrase it. He said, When a tragedy strikes and someone dies, you can’t explain why; you have to put it in a box called, I just don’t know.
We truly don’t know why God saves some and not others; all I know is that the power of God was with Trump in Butler, PA, last Saturday, and his life was spared. If Trump hadn’t turned his head when he did, the bullet would have hit his skull, but instead it grazed his ear. It was a miracle of great proportion for the world to see.
This is a time for reflection on the power of God in all areas of life. It’s a time to open our eyes to a world that changed last Saturday in a myriad of ways, but in a way that could be a spiritual awakening or perhaps strengthen your faith. Any way you look at it, God’s Spirit was present at the rally in Butler and a miracle took place. Don’t let the busyness of the world stop you from taking a moment to contemplate this enormous event.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff - Choose Peace over Conflict - Rachel Devine
Life is too short to become stressed over every little thing other people do that we don't like. Remember, you can't control anyone but yourself. When someone irritates you, remember that you have the choice of how to respond. Typically, we respond with a reactive one. What if we took a moment to just breathe and decided that we didn't really want to give this person the power to ruin our day?
Let's look at some techniques to choose peace over conflict and not sweat the small stuff.
Life is too short to become stressed over every little thing other people do that we don't like. Remember, you can't control anyone but yourself. When someone irritates you, remember that you have the choice of how to respond. Typically, we respond with a reactive angry attitude, because the other person hit a nerve. Or perhaps the other person triggered us, which can be emotionally overwhelming. What if we took a moment to just breathe and decided that we didn't really want to give this person the power to ruin our day? Also, at times, it may not be the other person. It may be how you react to whatever happened.
Let's look at some techniques to choose peace over conflict.
Count to Ten
When you encounter someone you know is hard to deal with and they go into a rant that sets you off, stop and count to ten, leave the room or take some deep breaths. Taking a few seconds to compose yourself will help you have more control and, in turn, be able to have more control over your emotions and how you respond. Try not to react, rather, take a time-out and respond with a level head. This is key to keeping your cool during conflict. Abraham Lincoln said, “When angry count to 10, when very angry count to 100.”
Take your power back
When we allow others to ruin our day because they are rude to us, we have handed over our power to the other person. Picture it this way. The other person has a remote control and presses a button that says, “ruin their day,” or a button that says, “make them angry” or “make them stressed.” Don't allow others to push your buttons. Take the remote control back, and in turn, you will take back your power. Remember, you always have the choice of how you will respond to others' rudeness. They are not ruining your day; you are choosing to let them ruin your day.
Detach with love
Detachment is the key to serenity. You might live with someone who is totally obnoxious and difficult to live with. The key is to detach from the person with love. In other words, observe what is happening from an outsider's standpoint rather than get emotionally involved in the encounter. Just act as an observer of what is happening and then react from that state of mind. You will be able to be more rational in walking away from the conflict. Remember, if you leave the room, the person has no one to fight with. This will give you peace. Don't focus on the person who is hard to live with; rather, focus on your own life and detach with love. It’s important to recognize ways to overcome the obstacles that come your way in order to be happy with your life. One major way is to detach with love and discover how peaceful life can really be.
Peace
Daily peaceful techniques
Doing a daily meditation will help you get more centered in a peaceful state of mind. You can do a number of different meditations, from being in your happy place to listening to a peaceful meditation on YouTube. To get to your happy place, close your eyes and simply meditate on a place that makes you very happy and sit in that place in your mind. Perhaps you want to get quiet in a room alone, meditate with peaceful music, and add some scented candles to the mix. Taking a nice, relaxing bath will also help you feel more at peace.
Forgiveness is an act of self-love
Forgiveness is the key to getting rid of resentment and bitterness. Our resentments usually cause an irrational response to someone pushing our buttons. Forgiveness is an act of self-love. When you forgive the other person, you are releasing the venom that is going through your veins in the form of bitterness. Releasing the bitterness will release you from the stress that causes health issues. Also, ask yourself: Will this conflict matter tomorrow, a month or a year from now, or when you are on your deathbed? Sometimes what is important in the heat of the moment will not be important tomorrow. A good slogan many use is "How important is it?" In the scheme of everyday life, how important is this showdown of conflict? This is a great slogan to ponder.
People take simple conflicts to the point of cutting people out of their lives. Our pride usually gets in the way of reaching out to the other person for a mutual resolution. Remember, it is the strong person who can put aside their pride and reach out to the other person to communicate with them to resolve conflicts. Again, the question arises: how will you feel in the future about this same situation? Another good question is, how would you advise a friend who has the same conflict? Sometimes what seems so magnified now will look trivial in the future.
In conclusion, with a little awareness, you can become peaceful again if you take your power back, detach with love, and forgive the person you are in conflict with. You can forgive them without speaking to them. Remember, the person you are in conflict with is your greatest teacher. Those who can push our buttons have much to teach us. You might one day look back on your life and realize that the person who pushed your buttons taught you more than anyone else. Sometimes these lessons can be very powerful. These life lessons are here to show us an aspect of ourselves we didn’t realize existed.
I want to end with this great quote by Dr. Wayne Dyer: “If you have the choice of being right or being kind, choose kind.”
Discover the power you have within as you journey on the third road and lavish in a peaceful state.
Rachel Devine is the author of Discover the Power of the Secret within, a book on the power of the subconscious mind and the inner child. The Third Road, a book that gently guides one to the power within and their purpose in life, and Lessons from the Needle in a Haystack, a spiritual book on dating and relationships.
Devine Intervention - The Inner Healing Center website.
Look for my new book on short stories sometime in September 2024!
Please leave your ideas in the comments. Or please also feel free to contact me. I will answer all emails.
Special Weekend Getaway - Theme: Letting Go - Embrace a New Beginning
The benefits of a spiritual retreat are unlimited. It’s a time where you can emerse yourself in serenity as you take solace in manifesting your dreams. It’s a time for growth and renewal. A weekend retreat recharges your batteries an d gives you tools to last a lifetime.
The team and I are planning a special retreat with the theme, ‘Letting Go: Embrace a New Beginning.’ Save the date, August 30, 2024, or better yet, sign up early and get a discount on the cost. This retreat will fill up quickly, so the sooner you register, the better. Full details and a link to register will be at the end of this article.
Let’s look at how this retreat can benefit you and details about this special retreat. A spiritual retreat offers numerous benefits that can lead to personal growth, self-discovery, and a deeper understanding of one's place in the world. It is a special opportunity to embrace serenity. It allows one to put focus on long-held goals and allow time for reflection. It is also a time for fun, a special “me time,” and a chance to meet new like-minded friends.
The Christ Center, where we will stay.
The team and I are planning a special and exciting weekend getaway with the theme, ‘Letting Go: Embrace a New Beginning.’ The date, August 30, 2024, sign up early and get a discount on the cost. The deadline for the discount is June 30, 2024. Pricing and full details at the end of this newsletter. This retreat will fill up quickly, so the sooner you register, the better.
As they say, ‘a picture tells a thousand words.’ Let’s first look at some more pictures of this amazing new retreat house called Crossroads.
This main discussion room will serve as a room where we will gather for talks and have our movie night. There is plenty of room for 3 large tables/chairs.
One of three decks in the retreat house we can use.
The Christ Center main room.
We will have a kitchen with coffee/tea/snacks available throughout the day and a microwave and a refrigerator for everyone’s use.
Comfortable room that will spoil you with your own full bathroom with shower, toilet and sink, along with your own AC unit.
Dining room is a rustic place with a great ambiance and we can sit inside the room or at a picnic table.
Inside the dining hall - where we will share our meals together.
Pool is fully decked out in the summer with lodge chairs and a lifeguard and the price of the weekend includes free-time by the pool.
Full details of this retreat & pricing:
Letting Go – Embrace a New Beginning
Weekend Getaway Retreat Aug 30-1, 2024
Crossroads Retreat House
29 Pleasant Grove Road, Port Murray NJ 07865
The retreat is located WEST of NYC, so traffic usually goes south to the Jersey shore on the weekends. 90 min easy drive. Contact me on this link if you need to carpool.
This special retreat is designed to be relaxing & fun as we bask in the serenity of this beautiful retreat house. We will embark on a new journey where we will make s’mores on a campfire, lounge by the pool, eat delicious chef-made meals, see a great movie and meet new friends. This reflective spiritual journey is designed to assist you in letting go of the things you cannot change and embracing a new beginning. We have a full program in line with the theme.
Retreat registration starts on Friday at 5:00 pm and the retreat ends Sunday at 1:00 p.m. There will be 5 delicious home cooked hot meals by the retreat chef, lodging for 2 nights in a double room with a private bathroom, shower and AC unit, all on the ground floor (no stairs) of an amazing retreat house, that we will have for ourselves. There will be a program on ‘letting go’ with a series of talks, fun activities and plenty of free time to relax by the pool.
Review from our last retreat: “I have been on many retreats, but this by far is the best retreat I have ever been on.” MC
· Double room cost for all of the above is $350 pp - bring a friend!
· If you come Saturday, one night + all of the above $285
· Rates are per person, double occupancy. If you want a single room the cost is $125 more.
There are no extra charges.
Prepayment of the full cost is due at the time of registration to guarantee your room per retreat house rules. If you need to car pool, please contact me. You can pay by credit card on my website or send me a check. This is not a cursillo event.
Overall,we are planning a fun, exciting, relaxing, healing and spiritually connected weekend. Remember, a weekend retreat can be a transformative experience that provides physical, mental, and emotional benefits. It offers a chance to step back from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, allowing you to focus on personal growth, self-awareness, and spiritual development. A retreat is a gift of peace and serenity for yourself, and the benefits can be transform your life. You can walk away with a sense of purpose and clarity as you journey through life, with more tools for living your best life. And we all deserve the gift of a relaxing and fun retreat.
Full details on this link and to register for the retreat.
Devine Intervention - Inner Healing Center.
Contact me with any questions.
Letting Go of the Past - Rachel Devine
The past is just an illusion that holds a ton of memories and feelings. However, make no mistake about it, the past is over and cannot be changed. We can hold onto the fears that certain past experiences have embedded in our mind, but the reality is, it cannot hurt us anymore. The past is just a fleeting thought that does crop up when we want to move forward in life either with perhaps a family matter, or a relationship, a new job, or any number of situations that propel us in life. Leading your life with past emotional baggage can only cause fear, anxiety and one to feel stifled. It zaps one of happiness.
Letting go of the past is the key to moving forward on your journey through life, especially resentments and any other unforgiveness. Let’s take a look at ways to let go of the past.
The past is just an illusion that holds a ton of memories and feelings. However, make no mistake about it, the past is over and cannot be changed. We can hold onto the fears that certain past experiences have embedded in our mind, but the reality is, it cannot hurt us anymore. The past is just a fleeting thought that does crop up when we want to move forward in life either with perhaps a family matter, a relationship, or a new job, or any number of situations that propel us in life. Leading your life with past emotional baggage can only cause fear, anxiety and one to feel stifled. It zaps one of happiness.
Letting go of the past is the key to moving forward on your journey through life, especially resentments and any other unforgiveness. Let’s take a look at ways to let go of the past.
Here are some concrete ways to let go of past emotional baggage:
Practice mindfulness meditation to stay present and avoid dwelling on the past.
Write a letter expressing your feelings, then ceremonially burn or destroy it.
Talk to a therapist or life coach to process unresolved emotions.
Use the "empty chair" technique: speak to an imaginary person from your past.
Engage in physical activities like exercise or dance to release pent-up emotions.
Practice forgiveness exercises, both for others and yourself.
Create a "letting go" ritual, like releasing balloons or floating paper boats.
Use cognitive restructuring to challenge and reframe negative thought patterns.
Practice gratitude daily to shift focus from past hurts to present blessings.
Volunteer or help others gain perspective and create new, positive memories.
The Power of writing a letter
I want to elaborate on writing a letter as a way of letting go. I have done this several times in my life, and I have to say that it is powerful beyond comprehension. Whoever you need to let go of, write in a letter thanking the person for teaching you any life lessons you may have learned. For instance, if you have a disgruntled boss that has given you a hard time, you can write a letter telling the boss that you are grateful for learning the lesson that you deserve to be treated with respect and kindness and further elaborate on other aspects of the relationship. Or if you had a breakup with a romantic partner, you can list all the lessons from the experience of the relationship. When you are done writing, you can simply say at the end, “I forgive you, and I release you to God for the good of all.” Then you can read it out loud and burn the letter either in the sink or in your backyard, or just destroy it in a sink with water or tear it up.
Letting go of past hurts and fears in this manner is a way to let God’s vast universe know that you learned these lessons and don’t want to have to repeat them again with someone else. It will get released from your subconscious mind so it doesn’t have power and control over your thoughts. It is also a way to release you from the pain of the past.
Practice gratitude in the moment
When you practice gratitude on a regular basis, you are staying in the moment. Being grateful is a gift, but so is being in the present moment. When you are in the moment, there is no room for ruminating about the past or projecting a dire future. The moment is when you can live your life to the fullest and be part of the living. When we start to look at the past or the future, we have lost touch with reality, because the only reality we have is breathing in this very moment of our lives. Past regrets, angst and unforgiveness is emotional baggage that weighs us down. Letting go of these past wounds is liberating.
Talking it out
Of course, speaking about our past is therapeutic because it releases us from the burden of past wounds. There is a saying, “We are only as sick as our secrets.” Getting a therapist or life coach is crucial to working out issues that get stuck in our minds. Speaking about the past is a good way to come to terms with what happened and release it. Also, a good therapist or life coach will help you work through any issues that linger in the present moment.
Some statistics on the power of letting go:
While exact statistics can vary, research supports the benefits of letting go, and I found these statistics.
A study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that people who practice forgiveness have 34% lower levels of stress hormones.
Research from Stanford University showed that individuals who let go of grudges were 43% more likely to report higher levels of happiness.
A study in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine found that people who practiced emotional release techniques reported a 23% reduction in physical pain symptoms.
According to a survey by the American Psychological Association, 62% of Americans believe that letting go of negative experiences from their past would significantly improve their mental health.
These findings suggest that letting go can lead to improved mental and physical health, increased happiness, and better overall life satisfaction. By releasing past baggage, individuals can free up mental and emotional resources to focus on personal growth, build stronger relationships, and pursue their goals more effectively.
Take a moment to contemplate what you may need to let go of, and then pick one or two of the above suggestions and release the past so you can have a brighter present-day experience. And remember, forgiveness is an act of self-love. It frees you from the burden of resentments that seep into our body and create stress related illness. Liberate yourself from the chains of another person having all that power over you.
The research I did for this book taught me so much and I share all of that with you.
Special Weekend Getaway - Theme: Letting Go - Embrace a New Beginning
The benefits of a spiritual retreat are unlimited. It’s a time where you can emerse yourself in serenity as you take solace in manifesting your dreams. It’s a time for growth and renewal. A weekend retreat recharges your batteries an d gives you tools to last a lifetime.
The team and I are planning a special retreat with the theme, ‘Letting Go: Embrace a New Beginning.’ Save the date, August 30, 2024, or better yet, sign up early and get a discount on the cost. This retreat will fill up quickly, so the sooner you register, the better. Full details and a link to register will be at the end of this article.
Let’s look at how this retreat can benefit you and details about this special retreat. A spiritual retreat offers numerous benefits that can lead to personal growth, self-discovery, and a deeper understanding of one's place in the world. It is a special opportunity to embrace serenity. It allows one to put focus on long-held goals and allow time for reflection. It is also a time for fun, a special “me time,” and a chance to meet new like-minded friends.
The Christ Center, where we will stay.
The team and I are planning a special and exciting weekend getaway with the theme, ‘Letting Go: Embrace a New Beginning.’ The date, August 30, 2024, sign up early and get a discount on the cost. The deadline for the discount is June 30, 2024. Pricing and full details at the end of this newsletter. This retreat will fill up quickly, so the sooner you register, the better.
As they say, ‘a picture tells a thousand words.’ Let’s first look at some more pictures of this amazing new retreat house called Crossroads.
This main discussion room will serve as a room where we will gather for talks and have our movie night. There is plenty of room for 3 large tables/chairs.
One of three decks in the retreat house we can use.
The Christ Center main room.
We will have a kitchen with coffee/tea/snacks available throughout the day and a microwave and a refrigerator for everyone’s use.
Comfortable room that will spoil you with your own full bathroom with shower, toilet and sink, along with your own AC unit.
Dining room is a rustic place with a great ambiance and we can sit inside the room or at a picnic table.
Inside the dining hall - where we will share our meals together.
Pool is fully decked out in the summer with lodge chairs and a lifeguard and the price of the weekend includes free-time by the pool.
Full details of this retreat & pricing:
Letting Go – Embrace a New Beginning
Weekend Getaway Retreat Aug 30-1, 2024
Crossroads Retreat House
29 Pleasant Grove Road, Port Murray NJ 07865
The retreat is located WEST of NYC, so traffic usually goes south to the Jersey shore on the weekends. 90 min easy drive. Contact me on this link if you need to carpool.
This special retreat is designed to be relaxing & fun as we bask in the serenity of this beautiful retreat house. We will embark on a new journey where we will make s’mores on a campfire, lounge by the pool, eat delicious chef-made meals, see a great movie and meet new friends. This reflective spiritual journey is designed to assist you in letting go of the things you cannot change and embracing a new beginning. We have a full program in line with the theme.
Retreat registration starts on Friday at 5:00 pm and the retreat ends Sunday at 1:00 p.m. There will be 5 delicious home cooked hot meals by the retreat chef, lodging for 2 nights in a double room with a private bathroom, shower and AC unit, all on the ground floor (no stairs) of an amazing retreat house, that we will have for ourselves. There will be a program on ‘letting go’ with a series of talks, fun activities and plenty of free time to relax by the pool.
Review from our last retreat: “I have been on many retreats, but this by far is the best retreat I have ever been on.” MC
· Double room cost for all of the above is $350 pp if register by 6/30 bring a friend!
· Double room cost for all of the above is $375 pp if register after 6/30
· If you come Saturday, one night + all of the above $285 by 6/30
· If you come Saturday, one night + all of the above $300 after 6/30
· Rates are per person, double occupancy. If you want a single room the cost is $125 more.
There are no extra charges.
Prepayment of the full cost is due at the time of registration to guarantee your room per retreat house rules. If you need to car pool, please contact me. You can pay by credit card on my website or send me a check. This is not a cursillo event.
Overall,we are planning a fun, exciting, relaxing, healing and spiritually connected weekend. Remember, a weekend retreat can be a transformative experience that provides physical, mental, and emotional benefits. It offers a chance to step back from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, allowing you to focus on personal growth, self-awareness, and spiritual development. A retreat is a gift of peace and serenity for yourself, and the benefits can be transform your life. You can walk away with a sense of purpose and clarity as you journey through life, with more tools for living your best life. And we all deserve the gift of a relaxing and fun retreat.
Full details on this link and to register for the retreat.
Devine Intervention - Inner Healing Center.
Contact me with any questions.
Everyone Loves a Good Short Story- Rachel Devine
I know this is a big statement, but I think everyone loves a good short story. Aesop's Fables are very brief stories featuring animals who demonstrate human traits such as speech and human follies. Each tale imparts a life lesson to its readers, as it always ends with a profound moral to the story. I used to love reading Aesop Fables to my two sons when they were little, and they loved them. It was very clever to use animals in the fables that children could relate to.
Other short stories can bring us back in time or propel us into the future. Some are designed to bring the reader to another dimension. And some tug at the heart, with human compassion at the forefront. And yet, some have great endings, and others have tragic endings.
I know this is a big statement, but I think everyone loves a good short story. Aesop's Fables are very brief stories featuring animals who demonstrate human traits such as speech and human follies. Each tale imparts a life lesson to its readers, as it always ends with a profound moral to the story. I used to love reading Aesop Fables to my two sons when they were little, and they loved them. It was very clever to use animals in the fables that children could relate to.
Other short stories can bring us back in time or propel us into the future. Some are designed to bring the reader to another dimension. And some tug at the heart, with human compassion at the forefront. And yet, some have great endings, and others have tragic endings.
The Origin of Short Stories
Short stories have existed since ancient times, with early examples found in the tales of Aesop's Fables, the stories of the Arabian Nights, and even the parables in the Bible by Jesus. However, the modern short story form is generally traced back to the 19th century, with writers like Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Anton Chekhov being among the pioneering masters of the genre.
Tones and Voices in Short Stories
One of the defining features of short stories is the ability to enlist a wide range of tones and narrative voices.
Some common tones include:
Humorous/Satirical: stories that use wit, irony, and exaggeration to poke fun at human behavior or societal norm.
Dramatic/Emotional: Stories that explore intense emotions, conflicts, and human experiences.
Suspenseful/Thrilling: stories that build tension and keep readers on the edge of their seats.
Reflective/Philosophical: Stories that delve into existential questions, human nature, and the meaning of life.
We all have our stories. What would your short story look like?
Famous Short Story Titles and Authors
Here are some renowned short story titles and their authors:
"The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson
"The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry
"The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant
"The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
"The Dead" by James Joyce
"The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka
"The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs
"The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe
"The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula K. Le Guin
"A Good Man Is Hard to Find" by Flannery O'Connor
I have to confess, I have not read all of them. My research brought these up as significant short stories of our time. I did read a few of them, and I would highly recommend “The Yellow Wallpaper,” “The Gift of the Magi,” and “The Lottery.” As you might guess, these short story examples showcase the diverse range of styles, themes, and voices that have contributed to the rich tradition of short fiction over the centuries.
I am very excited to announce that I am just completing a manuscript of my own short stories. My short stories have a range of different topics and definitely have endings that make you think about the moral of the story. I would say they fit into the category of number 2 and 4 of the, Tones and Voices in Short Stories listed above. I wanted to do a book on short stories for a while, and I finally just sat down and started it, and before long, I only have one chapter left to complete. I am hoping to have it completed by the beginning of September and put in a book form.
In closing, let me just say that short stories are a way to give us an exciting escape from everyday life and visit perhaps the Riviera, travel back in time to the 1800’s, or perhaps peer into the life of someone who is experiencing a “God Moment.” And you can do all of that without leaving the comfort of your living room.
Let me know what your favorite short story is in the comments or by emailing me.
Devine Intervention - Inner Healing Center
Information on our upcoming retreat
How to Find Hope in Dark Times - Rachel Devine
We live in a time where there is great darkness and challenges in our world. We no longer have a feeling of peace, especially with war raging in areas abroad.There is a feeling of uncertainty and perhaps hopelessness. Horror stories that emerge from the news are disturbing, to say the least, and weigh heavily on our wellness. Hope seems to be a forgotten friend.
I will explore how we can find some hope in dark times. I will explore ways to find hope, irrespective of what is happening around us. We can always decide how we view what is going on in the world and in our own world. Do we look for what’s wrong, or do we look for what’s right? Herein lies the key to finding hope. It’s all according to how you view the world.
This article is about finding hope. Let’s look at 5 ways to find hope in dark times:
We live in a time where there is great darkness and challenges in our world. We no longer have a feeling of peace, especially with war raging in areas abroad. There is a feeling of uncertainty and perhaps hopelessness. Horror stories that emerge from the news are disturbing, to say the least, and weigh heavily on our wellness. Hope seems to be a forgotten friend.
Let’s explore ways to find hope, irrespective of what is happening around us. We can always decide how we view what is going on in the world and in our own world. Do we look for what’s wrong, or do we look for what’s right? Herein lies the key to finding hope. It’s all according to how you view the world.
Let’s look at 5 ways to find hope in dark times:
Your worldview
Your worldview is paramount to having hope in dark times. We can look at things happening from a catastrophic point of view. However, that will only bring us down and really doesn’t help the challenging plight. Now, what if I view the world from the perspective of the good that is happening in the darkness? What if I focus on the humanitarian aid, the people on the ground helping out, possible future changes, and the prayers to God that are being said? That would offer some light in the darkness and hope in the midst of calamity. How you view the challenges in the world is a choice only you can make. Looking for the good that will emerge from the calamity means looking at the world from a different perspective.
Detaching
Detaching from the news for a while will help you find some hope and peace. Watching every little nuance of the atrocities in the world will only keep you in a state of despair and hopelessness. The news can bring you into fear to the point of not wanting to leave your house. The bad news will assure you that you will wallow in the darkness of world affairs rather than the light of hope. The news has one purpose, and that is to sell to their audience. The majority of what they are selling is bad news, and if you wallow in that, it will be difficult to find any hope. The news will bring you the worst possible situations, and when you are done watching, you might feel depleted and anxious. That is the time to turn it off. Believe me, the world will keep spinning on its axis whether you watch the news or not. In other words, don’t be a participant in the dictates of a news program that causes a feeling of despair. Allow yourself 10 minutes to catch up on the news, and then do yourself a favor and turn it off. Perhaps reading a book or some quotes on finding happiness will help turn things around.
Prayer = hope and peace
Prayer is the equalizer in times of any challenge. Prayer can bring you to a place of hope in an instant. Let’s look at how to find hope in God. When we pray, we are in the moment of our prayer, and that brings us from the darkness to light. God can only be found in the moment. He is not in the past or the future; he is in this very sacred moment. When we are in a prayerful state, we are connected to the peace of God. Darkness disappears when in prayer. It's like shining a flashlight in a dark room. I believe in the power of prayer; therefore, prayer helps me feel at peace and gives me a lot of hope. It helps me let go of the things I cannot change. Remember, you have the power within to offset any darkness in the world. Pray for the world at large.
Louise Hay said, “The point of power is always in the present moment.”
Finding hope in a support group
Being around people of like-mind will help you feel brighter. Join a support group. Perhaps a prayer group, a focus group, a writing group, a 12-step group, or join a meetup group that socializes. Getting out and talking to other people helps prevent the power of the chaos from infringing on the mind and also gives a well-deserved break from world affairs. Detaching from the chaos and being around people of like-mind can be as refreshing as taking a dip in the ocean. Expressing yourself in a group setting is a healthy move in the direction of inner peace. Or give yourself the gift of a weekend getaway. These mini vacations can help recharge your batteries and detach from the world’s chaos. These are some ways to find hope and happiness in your life.
Gratitude
In the center of hope lies the enormous power of gratitude. Counting your blessings is a way to shift from feeling hopeless to finding hope. It’s okay to feel fortunate in times of challenge in the world. It’s okay to be grateful for all you have. I suggest you make a gratitude list of at least five things you are grateful for daily and read it out loud in the morning and before you go to bed at night. Going to bed in a peaceful state of gratitude is priceless. It will help you manifest the power of God’s goodness into your life.
In conclusion, finding hope and peace in dark times is a choice. We all have the power to decide what we allow into our psyche. Our choices will dictate whether we are shining in the light or wallowing in the darkness. However, when anxiety becomes the norm, it really is time to set some boundaries. And remember, you have the power and the choice to decide what you allow to come into your emotional world.
“In life, we have to be strong and bright enough to face our dark times. Eclipse may come and eclipse may go; nothing should stop our inner strength’s flow."
― Munia Khan
I suggest you stay in that inner strength’s flow, under the tent of God.
Our Weekend Getaway information
Devine Intervention - The Healing Center website.
Look for my new book with a target date of the end of September, 2024.
Please leave your ideas in the comments. Or please also feel free to contact me. I will answer all emails.
Weekend Getaway - Theme: Letting Go - Embrace a New Beginning
The benefits of a spiritual retreat are unlimited. It’s a time where you can emerse yourself in serenity as you take solace in manifesting your dreams. It’s a time for growth and renewal. A weekend retreat recharges your batteries an d gives you tools to last a lifetime.
The team and I are planning a special retreat with the theme, ‘Letting Go: Embrace a New Beginning.’ Save the date, August 30, 2024, or better yet, sign up early and get a discount on the cost. This retreat will fill up quickly, so the sooner you register, the better. Full details and a link to register will be at the end of this article.
Let’s look at how this retreat can benefit you and details about this special retreat. A spiritual retreat offers numerous benefits that can lead to personal growth, self-discovery, and a deeper understanding of one's place in the world. It is a special opportunity to embrace serenity. It allows one to put focus on long-held goals and allow time for reflection. It is also a time for fun, a special “me time,” and a chance to meet new like-minded friends.
The Christ Center, where we will stay.
The team and I are planning a special and exciting weekend getaway with the theme, ‘Letting Go: Embrace a New Beginning.’ Save the date, August 30, 2024, or better yet, sign up early and get a discount on the cost. This retreat will fill up quickly, so the sooner you register, the better. Full details on this retreat is at the end of this article.
As they say, ‘a picture tells a thousand words.’ Let’s first look at some more pictures of this amazing new retreat house called Crossroads.
This main discussion room will serve as a room where we will gather for talks and have our movie night. There is plenty of room for 3 large tables/chairs.
One of three decks in the retreat house we can use.
The Christ Center main room.
We will have a kitchen with coffee/tea/snacks available throughout the day and a microwave and a refrigerator for everyone’s use.
Comfortable room that will spoil you with your own full bathroom with shower, toilet and sink, along with your own AC unit.
Dining room is a rustic place with a great ambiance and we can sit inside the room or at a picnic table.
Inside the dining hall - where we will share our meals together.
Pool is fully decked out in the summer with lodge chairs and a lifeguard and the price of the weekend includes free-time by the pool.
Full details of this retreat & pricing:
Letting Go – Embrace a New Beginning
Weekend Getaway Retreat Aug 30-1, 2024
Crossroads Retreat House
29 Pleasant Grove Road, Port Murray NJ 07865
The retreat is located WEST of NYC, so traffic usually goes south to the Jersey shore on the weekends. 90 min easy drive. Contact me on this link if you need to carpool.
This special retreat is designed to be relaxing & fun as we bask in the serenity of this beautiful retreat house. We will embark on a new journey where we will make s’mores on a campfire, lounge by the pool, eat delicious chef-made meals, see a great movie and meet new friends. This reflective spiritual journey is designed to assist you in letting go of the things you cannot change and embracing a new beginning. We have a full program in line with the theme.
Retreat registration starts on Friday at 5:00 pm and the retreat ends Sunday at 1:00 p.m. There will be 5 delicious home cooked hot meals by the retreat chef, lodging for 2 nights in a double room with a private bathroom, shower and AC unit, all on the ground floor (no stairs) of an amazing retreat house, that we will have for ourselves. There will be a program on ‘letting go’ with a series of talks, fun activities and plenty of free time to relax by the pool.
Review from our last retreat: “I have been on many retreats, but this by far is the best retreat I have ever been on.” MC
· Double room cost for all of the above is $350 pp if register by 6/30 bring a friend!
· Double room cost for all of the above is $375 pp if register after 6/30
· If you come Saturday, one night + all of the above $285 by 6/30
· If you come Saturday, one night + all of the above $300 after 6/30
· Rates are per person, double occupancy. If you want a single room the cost is $125 more.
There are no extra charges.
Prepayment of the full cost is due at the time of registration to guarantee your room per retreat house rules. If you need to car pool, please contact me. You can pay by credit card on my website or send me a check. This is not a cursillo event.
Overall,we are planning a fun, exciting, relaxing, healing and spiritually connected weekend. Remember, a weekend retreat can be a transformative experience that provides physical, mental, and emotional benefits. It offers a chance to step back from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, allowing you to focus on personal growth, self-awareness, and spiritual development. A retreat is a gift of peace and serenity for yourself, and the benefits can be transform your life. You can walk away with a sense of purpose and clarity as you journey through life, with more tools for living your best life. And we all deserve the gift of a relaxing and fun retreat.
Full details on this link and to register for the retreat.
Devine Intervention - Inner Healing Center.
Contact me with any questions.
How Defining Moments Shape Our Destiny - Rachel Devine
Certain pivotal events have the power to permanently shift the entire course of our lives. Understanding how these “defining moments” tie into quantum physics principles can help us appreciate how they transform us. A defining moment in life is a gift. These moments are a mystical blessing that come out of left field and literally transform our lives. I believe at the center of any quantum moment is the power of God giving us an opportunity to change our course in life. Let’s look at this phenomenon more closely.
Certain pivotal events have the power to permanently shift the entire course of our lives. Understanding how these “defining moments” tie into quantum physics principles can help us appreciate how they transform us. A defining moment in life is a gift. These moments are a mystical blessing that come out of left field and literally transform our lives. I believe at the center of any quantum or defining moment is the power of God giving us an opportunity to change our course in life. Let’s look at this phenomenon more closely.
Defining Moments Described
Quantum moments have been described as surprising—unexpected, uninvited, and unforeseen. Quantum moments are benevolent; in other words, they come with feelings of peace, serenity, and bliss in a mystical fashion. The fourth quality of a quantum moment is that it never goes away. That moment is burned into our consciousness as a vivid picture that won't be forgotten.
Quantum moments are life-changing, if one is open to the message of the moment.
A Defining or Quantum Moment Transforms Lives.
Having a ‘quantum moment’ that is truly defining and life-changing refers to an experience or realization that profoundly shifts one's perspective or understanding of the world in a way that is transformative and paradigm-shifting.
The power behind such a quantum moment lies in its ability to shatter previous assumptions, beliefs, or limitations that had constrained one's thinking or perception of reality. It is a moment of profound insight or awakening that opens up new realms of possibility and understanding, much like the strange and counterintuitive principles of quantum physics challenged our classical understanding of the physical world.
A defining moment can come through various means, such as a deep spiritual experience, a life-altering event, a revelatory encounter, or a sudden breakthrough in understanding after prolonged contemplation or study. It can feel like the veil has been lifted, and one sees the world through entirely new lenses, with a heightened sense of clarity, interconnectedness, and expanded awareness. And to reiterate, the mystical power behind the quantum moment is God. A quantum moment can also come from being on a retreat, where you have the opportunity for quiet time.
This is Holy Family Church, where I had my spiritual awakening.
My Personal Defining Moment
I had my own sacred, quantum moment on Christmas Day in 1996 in a church. I was separated from my husband and was caring for my 4 and 10-year-old sons alone. Life was a blur from one day to the next. I remember lying in bed, feeling exhausted. I prayed for the gift of faith. It was a faint prayer that I honestly forgot about. Two weeks later, I took my sons to our church for Christmas mass. I wanted to feel the faith and warmth of my church that I had when I was a child. During the mass, I felt an enormous power swirl from one end of the church to where I was sitting and pierce my heart. It was an enormous jolt of energy that seemed to come out of nowhere. I had no idea what was happening. I just sat there feeling frozen in time, or, I should say, in the moment. A few minutes passed, and when everyone sang Silent Night, my heart was transformed into a feeling of peace that surpasses all understanding. I started to cry happy, confused tears. I felt like my soul was awakening from a long hibernation, and God granted me the gift of faith on that glorious day.
From that day forward, all I wanted to do was nurture this newfound faith. I joined my prayer group, became involved with the church, went on retreats, eventually directed spiritual retreats, did speaking engagements, and wrote several books that were designed to help others. That sacred Christmas day in 1996 was the start of my spiritual journey of faith, purpose, and helping others along their life’s journey. That quantum moment transformed my life. The shift brought me from feeling like a victim of life circumstances to empowering me to change.
What about you? Have you had a defining moment in life? Did this defining moment shape your destiny? Did it change the course of your life? Did you ride the wave to find out what it was all about?
In conclusion, by harnessing the currents of mystical change ignited by defining moments, you gain influence over your unfolding destiny. Pivotal points require a purposeful response to ignite a lasting positive impact. Don’t ignore these quantum moments. Rather, use them to shape your destiny and redefine who you are.
Rachel Devine is the author of The Third Road on Amazon.
Amazon review: “Every word sent a beam of light straight to my soul.” Dawn K
Devine Intervention: Inner Healing Center website
Full details regarding our upcoming retreat
Let me know about your ‘defining moment’ in life.
More Pictures of our Retreat: Letting Go - Embrace a New Beginning - Rachel Devine
The benefits of a spiritual retreat are unlimited. It’s a time where you can emerse yourself in serenity as you take solace in manifesting your dreams. It’s a time for growth and renewal. A weekend retreat recharges your batteries an d gives you tools to last a lifetime.
The team and I are planning a special retreat with the theme, ‘Letting Go: Embrace a New Beginning.’ Save the date, August 30, 2024, or better yet, sign up early and get a discount on the cost. This retreat will fill up quickly, so the sooner you register, the better. Full details and a link to register will be at the end of this article.
Let’s look at how this retreat can benefit you and details about this special retreat. A spiritual retreat offers numerous benefits that can lead to personal growth, self-discovery, and a deeper understanding of one's place in the world. It is a special opportunity to embrace serenity. It allows one to put focus on long-held goals and allow time for reflection. It is also a time for fun, a special “me time,” and a chance to meet new like-minded friends.
The Christ Center Retreat House, where we will stay.
The team and I are planning a special and exciting retreat with the theme, ‘Letting Go: Embrace a New Beginning.’ Save the date, August 30, 2024, or better yet, sign up early and get a discount on the cost. This retreat will fill up quickly, so the sooner you register, the better. Full details on this retreat is at the end of this article.
As they say, ‘a picture tells a thousand words.’ Let’s first look at some more pictures of this amazing new retreat house called Crossroads.
This main discussion room will serve as a room where we will gather for talks and have our movie night. There is plenty of room for 3 large tables/chairs.
One of three decks in the retreat house we can use.
The Christ Center main room where we will have discussions and our movie night.
We will have a kitchen with coffee/tea/snacks available throughout the day and a microwave and a refrigerator for everyone’s use.
Comfortable room that will spoil you with your own full bathroom with shower, toilet and sink, along with your own AC unit.
Dining room is a rustic place with a great ambiance and we can sit inside the room or at a picnic table.
Inside the dining hall - where we will share our meals together.
Pool is fully decked out in the summer with lodge chairs and a lifeguard and the price of the weekend includes free-time by the pool.
Full details of this retreat & pricing.
Letting Go – Embrace a New Beginning
Weekend Getaway Retreat Aug 30-1, 2024
Crossroads Retreat House
29 Pleasant Grove Road, Port Murray NJ 07865
The retreat is located WEST of NYC, so traffic usually goes south to the Jersey shore on the weekends. 90 min easy drive. Contact me on this link if you need to carpool.
This special retreat is designed to be relaxing & fun as we bask in the serenity of this beautiful retreat house. We will embark on a new journey where we will make s’mores on a campfire, lounge by the pool, eat delicious chef-made meals, and meet new friends. This reflective spiritual journey is designed to assist you in letting go of the things you cannot change and embracing a new beginning. We have a full program in line with the theme.
Retreat registration starts on Friday at 5:00 pm and the retreat ends Sunday at 1:00 p.m. There will be 5 delicious home cooked hot meals by the retreat chef, lodging for 2 nights in a double room with a private bathroom, shower and AC unit, all on the ground floor (no stairs) of an amazing retreat house, that we will have for ourselves. There will be a program on ‘letting go’ with a series of talks, fun activities and plenty of free time to relax by the pool.
Review from our last retreat: “I have been on many retreats, but this by far is the best retreat I have ever been on.” MC
· Double room cost for all of the above is $350 pp if register by 6/30 (no extra cost) bring a friend!
· Double room cost for all of the above is $375 pp if register after 6/30 “ “
· If you come Saturday, one night + all of the above $285 by 6/30 “ “
· If you come Saturday, one night + all of the above $300 after 6/30 “ “
· Rates are per person, double occupancy. If you want a single room the cost is $125 more.
Prepayment of the full cost is due at the time of registration to guarantee your room per retreat house rules. If you need to car pool, please contact me. You can pay by credit card on my website or send me a check. This is not a cursillo event.
Overall,we are planning a fun, exciting, relaxing, healing and spiritually connected retreat. Remember, a retreat can be a transformative experience that provides physical, mental, and emotional benefits. It offers a chance to step back from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, allowing you to focus on personal growth, self-awareness, and spiritual development. A retreat is a gift of peace and serenity for yourself, and the benefits can be transform your life. You can walk away with a sense of purpose and clarity as you journey through life, with more tools for living your best life. And we all deserve the gift of a relaxing and fun retreat.
Full details on this link and to register for the retreat.
Devine Intervention - Inner Healing Center.
Contact me with any questions.
Weekend Getaway Retreat: Letting Go - Embrace a New Beginning - Rachel Devine
The benefits of a spiritual retreat are unlimited. It’s a time where you can emerse yourself in serenity as you take solace in manifesting your dreams. It’s a time for growth and renewal. A weekend retreat recharges your batteries an d gives you tools to last a lifetime.
The team and I are planning a special retreat with the theme, ‘Letting Go: Embrace a New Beginning.’ Save the date, August 30, 2024, or better yet, sign up early and get a discount on the cost. This retreat will fill up quickly, so the sooner you register, the better. Full details and a link to register will be at the end of this article.
Let’s look at how this retreat can benefit you and details about this special retreat. A spiritual retreat offers numerous benefits that can lead to personal growth, self-discovery, and a deeper understanding of one's place in the world. It is a special opportunity to embrace serenity. It allows one to put focus on long-held goals and allow time for reflection. It is also a time for fun, a special “me time,” and a chance to meet new like-minded friends.
The team and I are planning a special and exciting retreat with the theme, ‘Letting Go: Embrace a New Beginning.’ Save the date, August 30, 2024, or better yet, sign up early and get a discount on the cost. This retreat will fill up quickly, so the sooner you register, the better. Full details on this retreat is at the end of this article.
Let’s look at how this retreat can benefit you and also look at details about this special retreat. A spiritual retreat offers numerous benefits that can lead to personal growth, self-discovery, and a deeper understanding of one's place in the world. It is a special opportunity to embrace serenity. It allows one to put focus on long-held goals and allow time for reflection. It is also a time for fun, and to have a special “me time,” and a chance to meet new like-minded friends.
As they say, ‘a picture tells a thousand words.’ Let’s first look at some pictures of this amazing new retreat house called Crossroads.
This main discussion room will serve as a room where we will gather for talks and have our movie night. There is plenty of room for 3 large tables/chairs.
Each bedroom has a private bath with shower and an individual ac unit in a lovely and roomy comfortable setting.
The Christ Center is where we will stay. We will have the whole place to ourselves. There are 3 decks, 2 conference rooms, bedrooms that sleep 30 people, and each one has a private bathroom and a main discussion room. It is highly recommended to book early, since we always fill up our rooms.
We will have a kitchen with coffee/tea/snacks available throughout the day and a microwave and a refrigerator for everyone’s use.
Here are some of the key advantages of our retreats:
Spoiled Fun: The most important benefit is a chance to have fun. We will have plenty of free time, and if you want, you can lounge by the pool during our free time. We will have our movie night on Saturday and then have a campfire and roast s’mores in the evening. We have an enlightened program and a series of talks on ‘Letting Go.’ We will have delicious chef-cooked meals together and a hotel-style room with a private bathroom and AC unit.
Inner peace and relaxation: A spiritual retreat provides a serene environment that allows you to disconnect from daily stressors, find inner peace, and focus on self-reflection. You leave your daily routine and put your focus on yourself. It gives you the opportunity to recharge your batteries and focus on what really matters in life.
Self-discovery: Retreats offer the opportunity to explore your inner self, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and gain a better understanding of your true desires and aspirations. A retreat offers you the gift of time—time to get in touch with your heart and uncover some long-awaited goals.
Enhanced mindfulness: Spiritual retreats can help you develop mindfulness and improve your ability to focus, be present, and develop self-awareness. This benefit allows us to go back to our daily lives with a clear and focused mind, which will enhance our productivity.
Connection with nature: Our retreat is located in a beautiful, natural setting, which can provide a deeper connection with nature and help you recharge. This is the time to focus on the moment, where dreams manifest and take flight. Walking in nature, without the cares of everyday life, can be a gift with great benefits. The serenity of a quiet walk in nature could provide answers to long-held problems and direct your future to a shift in consciousness.
Building community: Spiritual retreats bring together like-minded individuals seeking similar goals, fostering a sense of community and the opportunity to make new friends and connections. Our retreats have always fostered life-long friendships, which is a great benefit to our lives. It helps us connect to others in a deep and meaningful way, which lasts a lifetime. It also gives us an opportunity to bring a friend along and deepen that relationship.
Improved mental health: A retreat can help alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression, leading to improved overall mental well-being. We can move forward from the state of the world to one of a deep feeling of peace, support, and purpose. Our lives become more meaningful, with purpose and clarity, as we navigate our lives in a more enhanced way.
Deepening spiritual practice: Retreats offer the opportunity to immerse yourself in spiritual practices and teachings, leading to a deeper understanding and stronger connection with your beliefs. It is an opportunity to get closer to the higher power of your understanding, nurturing that relationship with your spiritual side.
Developing new habits: The structure and discipline of a spiritual retreat can help you develop new habits, such as regular meditation, that can be incorporated into your daily life. Or perhaps put you on a healthy eating regimen.
Emotional healing: A spiritual retreat can provide the space and support needed to process and heal from past grief, or emotional pain. It is a way to look at deep issues that have played havoc in your subconscious mind and bring the issue to light, where it will lose its power over you. You will do this in a safe and supportive environment. A loving experience team will be your guide as you journey into other areas of healing and comfort. It’s always your choice on if you want to explore areas to let go of.
Overall,we are planning a fun, exciting, relaxing, healing and spiritually connected retreat. Remember, a retreat can be a transformative experience that provides physical, mental, and emotional benefits. It offers a chance to step back from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, allowing you to focus on personal growth, self-awareness, and spiritual development. A retreat is a gift of peace and serenity for yourself, and the benefits can be transform your life. You can walk away with a sense of purpose and clarity as you journey through life, with more tools for living your best life. And we all deserve the gift of a relaxing and fun retreat.
Full details on this link and to register for the retreat.
Devine Intervention - Inner Healing Center.
Weekend Getaway Retreat
Aug 30-1, 2024
Let Go - Embrace a New Beginning
Crossroads Retreat House
29 Pleasant Grove Road
Port Murray, NJ 07865
A Holy Pause - Rachel Devine
A rainy morning in New York City and two people experience a holy pause in an Uber cab on the Cross Island Parkway, as they share more than a ride, rather they shared a sacred, God moment together.
When we are forced to pause in life we can take a moment to discover so much about ourselves. It’s in the silence of the pause that we can be awakened to many different aspects of our life. It is in the silence between the notes, that we find a treasure of wealth in our connection to our Higher Power or as I call Him God. This true story is a testimony to an incredible holy pause, which brings so much clarity when we take the time to listen to the message.
It was a rainy morning in New York City. The rain was pounding against my apartment window as I was rushing around to get ready to babysit for my grandson. I glanced out the window to see the water from the rain had flooded the parking area, including my car. The water was past the exhaust pipe. I gasped as I went to find my knee-high boots. When I went downstairs, it looked impossible for me to move my car since the area was flooded all around the parked cars. I went back upstairs, took the boots off, and summoned an Uber car. The uber would be downstairs in 6 minutes.
I made my way down to wait for the Uber car. I called my son to tell him I was delayed. I kept glancing down at the Uber app, and it kept saying, 1 minute for the arrival. Finally, several minutes had gone by when I saw a message on the Uber app that said, “I am here.” I glanced towards the circle of my building, and there was the Uber driver. I was waiting in front of the building, and he was in the circle. I motioned to him, and he drove over to where I was standing. The driver said, “I was waiting around 8 minutes; I was going to leave.” I responded, “Thank you so much for waiting for me.” The app kept saying 1 minute, even though you were here.” He replied, “These apps are not always reliable.” As he pulled out, I told him to take the Cross Island Parkway; it was about a 20-minute ride, according to my app. He wanted to take the Clearview Expressway. The Uber driver reluctantly got onto the Cross Island Parkway. He drove for approximately ½ a mile when there was a dead stop on all cars going both ways. There must have been an accident up ahead. I apologized for urging the driver to get on the parkway, and he said it was fine; he just wanted to get me to my destination. I felt like he probably wanted to kill me for the delay. I was so emotionally distraught over forcing him onto the Cross Island Parkway, which felt like a big mistake. I sat there telling myself I should never direct an uber driver, especially when they have a navigator.
We sat in silence, and I texted a friend, Barbara, to pray for me because my car got flooded and I was hoping it was not permanently damaged. She texted me back and said that she would dedicate her rosary to me this morning. I was so grateful for her prayers. At that point, I sat in the Uber car, feeling responsible for the delay and quite miserable. The traffic was at a dead standstill. As I sat there feeling bad that I persuaded him onto the parkway, I searched my phone to see what happened. I found information that there was a bad accident right before the Northern Boulevard exit, and one person was killed. I couldn’t help thinking that texting and driving can cause these types of accidents. There was a helicopter hovering overhead. The rain was beating on the window as the windshield wipers were going on overdrive. I sat there thinking to myself. Here I was so upset about my car getting flooded and someone just died on the parkway. I found myself blurting that out loud, and the Uber driver, Mo, said, “If we hadn’t been delayed the 8 minutes for this ride, we could have been right in the middle of the accident. I am convinced we were delayed for a reason.”
Wow, I was suddenly thrust into a holy pause. Everything stopped in the real world, and I was thrust into a spiritual realm outside of this world. It felt like I was no longer sitting in the uber car, but in a realm between this world and another one. It was like a cloud had cleared, and the almighty sunlight was shining into the Uber car like a hallow of love from God. I could see, in my mind’s eye, a metaphoric bright light shinning through the miserable rainy day. The silence was welcoming. My thoughts stopped tormenting me about the direction we were going. I started to realize that Mo was right. We were delayed for a reason, and had I seen the Uber driver by my house, we would have headed out 8 minutes earlier than we did. I sat there in this sudden holy pause where life seemed to stand still for quite some time, and what appeared so important earlier was trivial in this holy moment. I suddenly felt safe, and the 90-minute delay didn’t seem annoying anymore; rather, it felt like holy time allotted by God for reflection. All I knew was that we were safe and not in the midst of that horrible accident. I felt incredibly grateful. We were safe, sitting in this Uber car in traffic on a rainy Monday morning. I took a moment to pray for the person who was killed that morning and thanked God for protecting Mo and me.
I initially thought Mo would be so angry at my insistence on going on the Cross Island Parkway, and now we were talking like old friends. Mo was a man very much connected to God. He told me he felt supernatural protection with the 8-minute delay this morning, and I agreed with him. I told him I had seen these synchronized God moments in my life in the past. It was God’s way, at times, of getting our attention. We were both having a spiritual, God-given moment that only we could both fully understand. We continued talking, and he told me he lost his business due to COVID. He had a textile business that went bankrupt because the Chinese company he was affiliated with closed. He was grateful he was able to support his family by driving an Uber cab. He was genuinely happy and grateful. We discussed the impact of COVID on businesses. He had a daughter in college, although he looked too young to have a daughter in college. Mo was originally from Egypt. However, he lived in the US for 25 years. We talked about COVID closures for businesses. I told him our power was at the voting polls, and he semi-agreed and said, “I do my part.”
After a 90-minute delay, the traffic cleared, and we were on our way. When we reached my destination, I handed him a $20 tip. He actually said, "No, that isn’t necessary; it was nice just to meet you.” Wow, that was incredibly kind. That holy pause was at its very high point, and I said to him, “This is the right thing to do. God bless you and stay safe.” I excited the cab as the $20 bill was laid by the cupholder of the car.
Two strangers met under what seemed like regular circumstances; however, God created what I call the holy pause, bringing light and love to what appeared to be a dreadful morning. God reminded us both of the power of gratitude and being thankful for the blessings all around us and the protection of God. It made us realize how precious life is. Our lives touched one another, and I will always remember this holy experience. I was also fortunate when I got home later on to know my car was okay; it just needed to be dried and cleaned out. Another reason to be so grateful.
That is the end of my true story.
So, what are the lessons we can take away from this story? I think the main thing is that God is in charge and that life can change on a dime. And perhaps to live each day to the fullest. And the question begs, why were we spared and the other person was killed? And I guess this is a mystery that no one can determine. Sure, we can speculate, but the reason why things happen as they do will always be just that—a mystery of life and of God’s inner world.
Life is a beautiful, amazing, and mystical experience that has many twists and turns. And this one was a real beauty.
The Power of Music: Enhancing Our Lives One Melody at a Time - Rachel Devine
At its core, music holds the capacity to resonate deeply within us, evoking a wide range of emotions and serving as a catalyst for inner healing. By tapping into our emotions, music can help us process and release pent-up feelings, alleviate stress and anxiety, and foster a greater sense of emotional balance and well-being.
Studies have shown that engaging with music, whether through listening, playing an instrument, or singing, can stimulate the release of various neurotransmitters, including dopamine and serotonin, which are associated with feelings of pleasure, happiness, and emotional regulation. Moreover, music has been found to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, contributing to a reduction in anxiety and an overall calming effect on the mind and body.
Music is the epicenter of many lives. The melodies, the lyrics, and the mood are all incorporated into the feelings a song invokes. Music does make the world a better place. However, did you know that music can be healing? Did you know that music can raise your endorphin levels? Did you know that music can benefit your health? Let’s take a look at how music can benefit our lives.
Music is more than just an art form or source of entertainment; it is a potent force that can profoundly impact our emotional, psychological, and even physical well-being. Throughout history, humans have harnessed the power of music for inner healing, expression, and inner exploration. In our modern age, scientific research has shed light on the remarkable benefits that music can provide, validating what artists and music lovers have known for eons. Inner healing music can enrich your life in a myriad of ways.
Inner Healing and Emotional Balance
At its core, music holds the capacity to resonate deeply within us, evoking a wide range of emotions and serving as a catalyst for inner healing. By tapping into our emotions, music can help us process and release pent-up feelings, alleviate stress and anxiety, and foster a greater sense of emotional balance and well-being.
Studies have shown that engaging with music, whether through listening, playing an instrument, or singing, can stimulate the release of various neurotransmitters, including dopamine and serotonin, which are associated with feelings of pleasure, happiness, and emotional regulation. Moreover, music has been found to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, contributing to a reduction in anxiety and an overall calming effect on the mind and body.
Enhancing Mood and Raising Endorphins
Beyond its emotional benefits, music has a remarkable impact on our physiological state, particularly in terms of mood enhancement and the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers and mood-boosters. Research has demonstrated that listening to music we enjoy can stimulate the production of endorphins, leading to a heightened sense of pleasure, euphoria, and even pain relief.
This endorphin release can be particularly beneficial for individuals dealing with chronic pain, depression, or other mood disorders. By uplifting our spirits and promoting positive emotions, music can serve as a powerful tool in managing these conditions and improving overall quality of life.
Health Benefits and Improved Well-Being
The benefits of music extend beyond the emotional and psychological realms, offering tangible physical and physiological advantages as well. For instance, studies have shown that music can lower blood pressure, reduce heart rate, and promote better sleep patterns, all of which contribute to improved cardiovascular health and overall well-being.
Additionally, music has been found to enhance cognitive performance, improving memory, focus, and concentration. This can be particularly beneficial for students, professionals, and individuals seeking to boost their productivity and mental acuity.
Embracing the Power of Music
In a world often marked by stress, anxiety, and physical and emotional challenges, the transformative power of music stands as a beacon of hope and healing. By incorporating music into our daily lives, whether through active engagement or simply appreciative listening, we can tap into a profound source of emotional nourishment, inner healing, and overall well-being.
Conclusion:
Whether it's listening to a soothing melody to alleviate stress, playing an instrument as a form of self-expression, or joining a choir to foster social connections, the benefits of music are vast and far-reaching. So, embrace the power of music, and let its harmonies and rhythms enrich your life, nurture your spirit, and enhance your journey towards a more balanced and fulfilling existence.
What songs do you love that transforms your life with joy? Please put them in the comments.
Rachel Devine
Devine Intervention - Inner Healing Center
The Sound of Silence - Rachel Devine
Dr. Wayne Dyer was a renowned author and spiritual leader. He said, in essence, that it is the silence between the notes that makes the music. As I reflect on this, I believe it is the silence in our own lives that makes the music. If we listen carefully, we will hear with our hearts, not our ears. Silence is the melody of our lives. It is in the silence that we can hear the whisper of God beckoning us through our intuition. Intuition is the notes between the melody of our lives and directs on a clear path that we have chosen and God has guided us on.
Dr. Wayne Dyer was a renowned author and spiritual leader. He said, in essence, that it is the silence between the notes that makes the music. As I reflect on this, I believe it is the silence in our own lives that makes the music. If we listen carefully, we will hear with our hearts, not our ears. Silence is the melody of our lives. It is in the silence that we can hear the whisper of God beckoning us through our intuition. Intuition is the notes between the melody of our lives and directs on a clear path that we have chosen and God has guided us on.
My cousin recently died from a long battle with cancer. I was so sad for him, and I wanted to drive to South Plainfield for his wake, but I didn’t want to go alone. I had a little falling out with a friend, Judy, and I didn’t want to call her and ask for a favor. We spoke around a week ago. I was standing in my kitchen the night before the wake, and I just thought, ‘If Judy calls me and goes to the wake with me, I will go.’ It was a couple of minutes that passed, when Judy called me. I was amazed at this synchronized connection from God! When I asked her to go to the wake, she replied, “Of course I will go with you!”
I was really astonished by the fact that my thoughts connected to Judy’s thoughts, and she called me. I believe it was God’s will for me to go to the wake. It was in the silence of my mind that my intuition took over, and of course God made it all happen in His glorious, loving way. We can only access this inner voice, which is the power of God, in the silence, in the calm, and in the serenity of our minds. It really is the sound of silence where miracles are birthed.
How many times did you think about someone and then they called you, or maybe you saw them in the bank or in the supermarket?
I remember talking to Judy about a friend who moved to Delaware. And the next day I went to the local supermarket, and behold, right in the produce aisle was the friend we were talking about. Think about all that had to transpire for me to be in that exact moment in time that this friend was. She said she was visiting her sister from Delaware for Easter and just happened to wind up in the supermarket at the same time I did. Coincidence? Or divine intervention? You get to choose.
I know for me, it was divine intervention, and I have had many similar divine, grace filled moments in the past. And I am grateful for each one. Awareness is the key to listening to the silence of our intuition and heart. It is in the silence that miracles happen. The sound of silence is a sweet melody only you can hear in the quiet of your mind. Sit in silence and see what transpires in your life.
And remember, it is in the silence that divine inner healing takes place on all levels.
The Power of Music for Inner Child Healing - Rachel Devine
I remember recently hearing a Beatles song that my mother loved, I want to hold your hand, and I was instantly transported to my house in Woodside, NY to an innocent time in the 1960s, relishing in that long-forgotten memory. Or when I hear the song, Kumbaya, I remember my grammar school graduation. Have you ever had a time when you heard a song that instantly transported you mentally to a forgotten time from your past? Music has the power to bring us back to a place and time that is tucked away in our subconscious mind, where our inner child dwells.
We all have an "inner child" within us—the childlike part of ourselves that holds onto the emotions, beliefs, and wounds from our childhood experiences. Healing this inner child is an important part of personal growth and self-acceptance for many people. One powerful tool for accessing and nurturing your inner child is music. Memories from listening to music are important to connect the power of music to the inner child's healing. Let’s explore the power of music and its healing benefits.
I remember recently hearing a Beatles song that my mother loved, I want to hold your hand, and I was instantly transported to my house in Woodside, NY to an innocent time in the 1960s, relishing in that long-forgotten memory. Or when I hear the song, Kumbaya, I remember my grammar school graduation. Have you ever had a time when you heard a song that instantly transported you mentally to a forgotten time from your past? Music has the power to bring us back to a place and time that is tucked away in our subconscious mind, where our inner child dwells.
We all have an "inner child" within us—the childlike part of ourselves that holds onto the emotions, beliefs, and wounds from our childhood experiences. Healing this inner child is an important part of personal growth and self-acceptance for many people. One powerful tool for accessing and nurturing your inner child is music. Memories from listening to music are important to connect the power of music to the inner child's healing. Let’s explore the power of music and its healing benefits.
The therapeutic benefits of music
Music has long been recognized for its therapeutic benefits for the mind, body, and spirit. It can induce physiological changes by slowing the pulse and decreasing levels of stress hormones. Music also triggers the release of mood-regulating chemicals like dopamine that make us feel good. But beyond these biological effects, music speaks to us on a deeply emotional and even spiritual level.
The right music can take us back to the feelings and memories of our childhood in a profound way. Certain songs seem to strike a resonant chord within our inner child. When we engage with this music in an open, accepting way, it creates a safe space for our childlike emotions, beliefs, and traumas to surface and be acknowledged. This process of giving a "voice" to the inner child through music can be incredibly healing and therapeutic.
Using Music for Inner Child Work
There are many ways to incorporate music into your inner child's healing journey. One simple approach is to make a playlist of songs that resonated with you as a child or adolescent. As you listen to these songs as an adult, pay attention to the thoughts, emotions, and even physical sensations that come up. You may be surprised at how vividly these old songs can conjure up memories and feelings from your childhood.
You can take this a step further by doing some active inner child work while listening to the music. For example, you might write a letter or have an imaginary dialogue with your inner child, expressing the love, validation, and nurturing that he or she needs. Or you could engage in creative expression like drawing, dancing, or acting out scenes from your childhood while playing meaningful music.
Certain genres of music, like lullabies, nursery rhymes, and children's songs, can be particularly evocative for doing inner child work. Even if you don't remember specific childhood associations with these songs, their inherently soothing, simple, and often imaginative qualities can facilitate a sense of innocence, safety, and comfort for your inner child.
Reparenting yourself with music
As you listen to nurturing, comforting music, you can hold a pillow, doll, or stuffed animal and mentally envision your inner child and speak to yourself as a caring parent figure, providing the love, understanding, and reassurance that your child needs to feel secure. You might recall a time you felt alone as a child, unsafe, or scared. If these feelings come up, you can be the parent to the inner child and let your child know they are safe; they need not fear, and that child is never alone because you are acknowledging your inner child and his or her feelings.
Music Therapy
In general, music therapy provides a range of health benefits, both physical and mental/emotional. Here are some of the key health benefits of music therapy:
Physical Benefits
Pain management: music can help reduce perceived levels of pain and promote relaxation in patients.
Improved respiratory function: Listening to music can improve respiration rates, oxygen saturation, and breath intake.
Improved cardiovascular health: Music can positively impact heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure levels.
Mental/Emotional Benefits
Stress and anxiety reduction: The relaxing effects of music can significantly decrease levels of stress and anxiety.
Improved mood: Music releases dopamine in the brain, helping to elevate mood and counteract depression.
Increased motivation: The energizing effects of music can boost motivation and drive patients.
Enhanced communication: For patients with difficulty communicating, music can provide an alternative channel for self-expression.
Memory and cognitive stimulation: music taps into different brain systems and can help stimulate memory recall and cognition.
Overall, music accesses the brain in very unique ways compared to talk therapy alone. When applied skillfully by a trained music therapist, it can facilitate healing across multiple domains—physiological, psychological, emotional, social, and spiritual.
In closing, remember that the path of inner child healing through music is a highly personalized journey. You may need to experiment with different types of music and approaches to find what resonates and facilitates this special process for you. You might also enlist a skilled music therapist to help you along the way. Be patient, keep an open mind and heart, and allow the music to work its gentle magic.
Benefits to Being Present in the Moment - Rachel Devine
Life unfolds in the current moment. Yet so often we mentally time-travel back to the past or into the future, missing the gift of the present. We look back on the past with regrets or look towards the future with worry. The one thing most of us forget is the present moment is really all we have. The future is not promised to anyone, and the past is just an illusion in our mind that no longer exists. Being present in the moment has scientifically validated benefits for physical and mental well-being, as well as spiritual awakening. Let’s look at ways on how to practice being present. The present is the place where dreams become our reality.
Life unfolds in the current moment. Yet so often we mentally time-travel back to the past or into the future, missing the gift of the present. We look back on the past with regrets or look towards the future with worry. The one thing most of us forget is that the present moment is really all we have. The future is not promised to anyone, and the past is just an illusion in our minds that no longer exists. Being present in the moment has scientifically validated benefits for physical and mental well-being, as well as spiritual awakening. Let’s look at ways to practice being present. The present is the place where dreams become our reality.
Being present lowers stress
Stress often arises when attention fixates on regrets, future worries, or trying to control circumstances or problems. Research shows present-moment awareness activates the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing anxiety and lowering heart rate and blood pressure.
As Eckhart Tolle, the author of The Power of Now, advises, “The key is to have your attention on the now—not the problem, but the result you want.” Transform life’s moments by awakening to the richness available in your senses whenever you redirect focus to the present.
According to Eckhart Tolle, “Stress is caused by being ‘here’ but wanting to be ‘there.’ Centering in the now neutralizes stress by aligning how you feel with where you are. The present is all there ever is.
Boosts in Joy and Performance
Mindfulness boosts the production of feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins. Brain scans reveal happier people exhibit more present-moment focus. Heightened attention also drives excellence by enhancing productivity, focus, and creativity.
"Wherever you are, be there totally." Eckhart Tolle
Immune System and Cellular Health
Studies link present-moment awareness to improved immunity and telomere length, a biomarker of longevity and health at the cellular level. Mindfulness appears to slow cellular aging through positive genetic changes influenced by decreased psychological stress. Anything you can do to decrease stress will benefit your health and wellness. Staying in the moment seems like a good option. However, it isn’t easy, and it does take some focused effort. But the benefits far outweigh the energy that you put into it.
Spiritual Awakening
Most mystical traditions teach that enlightenment unfolds in the ever-unfolding now. Being immersed in the eternal present brings glimpses of timeless consciousness and cultivating non-attachment. And one very important factor is this: The only place you can access your higher power, or God, is in the moment. God’s Spirit is never in the past or the future. God’s Spirit dwells within all of us, and connecting to that Spirit happens in the moment. When one connects with prayer, they are in the moment, in a sacred place of power. The power of prayer is beyond anyone’s scope, and yet it only happens in the moment.
As Louise Hay teaches, “A powerful way to stay conscious and present is to constantly remain aware of the energy in your hands.” In other words, bringing awareness to the sensations in the hands—slight pulsing, warmth, and tingling—gives you an energetic focal point to keep you present. By continually returning focus to actively noticing the "energy" or aliveness in the hands, it gives the busy mind something specific to pay attention to right now.
And all of this will make your life so much happier.
Ways to be Present
According to Dr. Wayne Dyer, "Mindfulness is simply being aware of what is happening right now without wishing it were different." Refocusing on the present is a skill developed through practices like the following:
Meditation: sit quietly, noticing your breath and sensations.
Yoga: synchronize movement and breath together in the moment.
Nature immersion: absorb sights, sounds, and smells fully.
Conscious walking: feel each footstep, sync to your rhythm, and gaze at nature.
Mindful eating: savor flavors and textures intently.
Listening to music: be absorbed in the melody and beat.
Arts and crafts channel focus into the creative process.
Observing thoughts: watch them arise and pass without attachment.
Daily routines: make activities like brushing your teeth mindful.
And remember, “This moment is all we have. Don’t believe me? Try to capture the previous moment or the future moment and change it.” Rachel Devine from The Third Road.
Life is too short to live in the past or worry about the future. Grab onto each moment. Moments turn into hours, hours to days, days to weeks, and before you know it, years are squandered away. Start living in the now.
Rachel Devine, The Third Road
Devine Intervention Inner Healing Center
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How to Process the Pain of Grief - Rachel Devine
Grief is part of life. Everything that lives will eventually die. This is the cycle of life and death. However, this fact does not make the grief less painful.
We lost a priest, Father Zuk, in our community, and his funeral was this week. He was only 50 years old. I knew him to be a kind person with a big heart. It was a very sad funeral mass, with many people trying to make sense of his death. As I was driving to the cemetery for the priests’ funeral with a friend, my brother called to tell me my cousin Robert had died. Robert battled a long four years of pain and suffering with cancer. He really wanted to live, but God had other plans. I was his champion, by his side to pray for his recovery and put out prayer requests, but God had another plan. I felt bad because I was meaning to call him in the last few weeks; the last time I spoke to him was a few months ago. I believe he died at home.
Grief is part of life. Everything that lives will eventually die. This is the cycle of life and death. However, this fact does not make the grief less painful.
We lost an amazing priest in our community, Father Richard Zuk, and his funeral was this week. He was only 50 years old. I knew him to be a kind person with a big heart. It was a very sad funeral mass, with many people trying to make sense of his death. As I was driving to the cemetery for the priests’ funeral with a friend, my brother called to tell me my cousin Robert had died. Robert battled a long four years of pain and suffering with cancer. He really wanted to live, but God had other plans. I was his champion, by his side to pray for his recovery and put out prayer requests, but God had another plan. Robert’s faith was unwavering and I know how much he loves God. I felt bad because I was meaning to call him in the last few weeks; the last time I spoke to him was a few months ago. I believe he died at home.
My friend said at the funeral for the priest that he was numb, as I felt the same way on Tuesday with all that was transpiring with two fine men dying. As I struggled to make sense of it all, I knew I had to process the grief, so I started to review ways I learned in the past to sit with grief and feel the feelings. The same process I write about and tell others in my coaching to use. I also knew that if I didn’t process the grief now, it would come back out of left field in the future as a major trigger with painful emotions much worse than what I feel now.
So, I stopped being busy yesterday, sat with the painful feelings, and allowed myself to feel the pain of grief and cry. Crying is cleansing and part of grieving. My friend said a long time ago, “In order to heal, we have to sit and feel the pain.” Now, who wants to feel the pain? I know I don’t, but I do know that feeling the pain of grief is crucial for inner healing. Pain cannot be pushed away, it gets buried deep within and will come out some time in the future when we least expect it.
So I took the steps I tell others to take. I started journaling about how I felt about both of these men, and it helped put some clarity on the grief. At least I was connecting to the painful loss and not ignoring it or stuffing the feelings deep within. I also spoke about my grief to a friend. As the saying goes, “We are only as sick as our secrets.” Therefore, talking about grief is very therapeutic.
So to recap, journal about your feelings, sit with the feelings of grief, talk to people about it, and allow yourself time to ponder the grief and cry. Crying is therapeutic and part of the grieving process. Give yourself at least a week to process the grief, and longer if needed. It’s okay to be sad, in fact, it is a great way to healing the pain.
And the final component is prayer. I pray every morning, and I each morning I would pray for my cousin Robert’s recovery to good health. This morning, I had to pray for his soul. It made me very sad that my prayers turned from life to death. What I learned is not my will, but God’s will prevails. For whatever reason that is beyond my comprehension, God called back Father Zuk and Robert Bernard to be with Him. I can pray for the grief-stricken family and these two men's souls to enter eternal life. I can also pray that God grant me the process of grieving at this time, with the comfort of knowing that the Spirit of God that dwells in all of us is there for my comfort and support. And remember the death and resurrection of Christ, with His promise of eternal life and hope for all who went before us.
Rachel Devine
Devine Intervention - Inner Healing Center.
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Breaking the Cycle: Overcoming Depression Rooted in Childhood Trauma - Rachel Devine
You might be wondering why your life doesn’t seem to be as happy as you want it to be. You might be fighting depression and feelings of hopelessness and may not even know where these feelings are coming from. Unfortunately, our subconscious mind holds almost all emotions from everything that happened in the past and does unleash it’s negativity onto our lives in the present without any notice. It's increasingly recognized that childhood trauma and adverse experiences can have a profound effect on mental health later in life, often manifesting as depression in adulthood. The impact of emotional neglect, abuse, the loss of a parent, domestic violence, or other traumatic events can create long-lasting psychological wounds and negative core beliefs about oneself.
Let’s take a look at these inner child wounds and ways to recover from the negativity from the past to alleviate the depression that may be plaguing you in the present time.
You might be wondering why your life doesn’t seem to be as happy as you want it to be. You might be fighting depression and feelings of hopelessness and may not even know where these feelings are coming from. Unfortunately, our subconscious mind holds almost all emotions from everything that happened in the past and does unleash it’s negativity onto our lives in the present without any notice. It's increasingly recognized that childhood trauma and adverse experiences can have a profound effect on mental health later in life, often manifesting as depression in adulthood. The impact of emotional neglect, abuse, the loss of a parent, domestic violence, or other traumatic events can create long-lasting psychological wounds and negative core beliefs about oneself.
Let’s take a look at these inner child wounds and ways to recover from the negativity from the past to alleviate the depression that may be plaguing you in the present time.
Overcoming depression!
How Childhood Trauma Leads to Adult Depression
Traumatic childhood events can lead to complex feelings from the past of shame and insecurity, and a lack of self-worth that persist long after the trauma occurred. Past inner child wounds can also cause depression, hopelessness and a feeling of self-loathing, just to name a few. This inner critic and negative self-talk increases vulnerability to anxiety and clinical depression over time. It’s important to recognize the inner negativity that may creep up on your day in the form of negative self-talk. The deep seated wounds are in the subconscious mind and drive your life. The key is to try to reverse the negative past to a positive present moment.
Healing childhood trauma!
Healing Childhood Trauma to Overcome Depression
While the impact of childhood trauma runs deep, there is hope for healing and undoing the mental anguish and depressive symptoms rooted in the past. Again, the key is to work on the subconscious mind where the trauma is stored. Some powerful techniques include the following:
Inner Child Work—visualizations, inner child letter writing, and reparenting your inner child through work and internal family systems therapy—can rematrix core childhood wounds. Inner-child healing is possible with some effort. Nurturing your inner child is key to healing the wounds from childhood.
EMDR Therapy: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based therapy using bilateral brain stimulation to reprocess and resolve traumatic memories.
Cognitive Behavioral Techniques: CBT helps identify and change negative thought patterns, core beliefs, and cognitive distortions stemming from adverse childhood events.
Trauma-Focused Therapies: Other top modalities include prolonged exposure therapy, emotion-focused therapy, and accelerated experiential dynamic psychotherapy (AEDP), which foster emotional release and new experiences of feeling safe and secure.
Mindfulness Practices: Mindfulness meditation, self-compassion work, and practices cultivating self-love help quiet the inner critic and build emotional resilience.
Positive affirmations: Feeding yourself positive affirmations is a way to manifest change for the subconscious to a positive, which holds the trauma and negative experiences. Keep telling yourself you are worthy, you are loved, you are valued, and you are loveable. Saying I love you daily to yourself is a positive affirmation that is valuable to healing old childhood wounds of perhaps not feeling so loved.
Brainspotting: Brainspotting is a way to clear the subcortical brain, better known as the subconscious, of negative experiences from the past. Brainspotting can penetrate the subconscious and clear the mind of trauma from the past.
Somatic Therapy: Body-oriented approaches like somatic therapy can help resolve trapped trauma in the body. Breathwork, sensorimotor psychotherapy, massages and other mind-body practices promote healing.
Your mental health does matter!
It’s important to recognize that most depression has roots in childhood trauma and negative experiences. This awareness is crucial to inner healing. With patience, commitment to the inner work, and the right therapeutic approach, it is possible to break the cycle—replacing depressive core beliefs with self-compassion and self-love, which will assist in undoing the impacts of childhood adversity—to alleviate the depression and get back to being happy again.
Rachel Devine is the author of, Discover the Power of the Secret Within - Healing your Inner Child to Manifest your Dreams.
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Inner Child Healing Techniques for Emotional Wounds - Rachel Devine
Life has its ups and downs and peaks and valleys. It’s all part of the journey. However, when life becomes more of a burden than a joy, it’s time to take back your life. The center of our adversity often lies in the fact that we have some unfinished business from the past. This unfinished business can creep into our lives in unexpected ways. It usually comes in the form of anger, fear, or mistrust towards a situation or people in our lives. The inner child is usually at the center of the negative emotions that comes out when we least expect it.
There are many negative emotions that come out of childhood. However, let’s take a look at these 3 prominent emotions and see how we can connect them to the inner child healing techniques:
Life has its ups and downs and peaks and valleys. It’s all part of the journey. However, when life becomes more of a burden than a joy, it’s time to take back your life. The center of our adversity often lies in the fact that we have some unfinished business from the past. This unfinished business can creep into our lives in unexpected ways. It usually comes in the form of anger, fear, or mistrust towards a situation or people in our lives. The inner child is usually at the center of the negative emotions that comes out when we least expect it.
There are many negative emotions that come out of childhood. However, let’s take a look at these 3 prominent emotions and see how we can connect them to the inner child healing techniques:
Inner child anger
Inner-child anger is when you have unresolved anger from childhood. This can stem from your parents not being there for you emotionally, or perhaps from getting shamed or bullied. Some people carry around resentments and anger for years from their inner child wounds. Unfortunately, the anger is lying dormant until it is activated by a trigger. A trigger is an emotion come from a past memory and reminds us of a childhood wound. All of a sudden, out of the blue, the anger erupts like a pandora’s box from the past just flipped open. All of this is done on an unconscious level, since our locked emotions are in the subconscious mind, where we don’t have conscious access to.
Inner Child Fear
Inner child fear works in the same way anger does. There is some fear from childhood that was unresolved, and it sits dormant in our subconscious mind. During a trigger, fear erupts. I will give you an example from my own situation when a trigger brought on intense fear.
When I was 7 years old, my grandmother suddenly died. We went to the funeral, and her coffin was open. I remember my mother and her siblings going past the coffin and kissing my grandmother. My mother motioned for me to come to the coffin. I stood in the back of the church, alone and feeling petrified from fear. I was so afraid I would be forced to go up to the coffin. Now, fast forward to 2018, when my beloved and best friend, Luke, who was my Siberian husky, died. His death triggered the incident in the church with my grandmother, and I was filled with fear—the same petrified fear I felt as I stood alone in the back of the church as my mother was beckoning me to go up to the coffin. That was an unresolved fear from childhood that was buried in my subconscious mind, which suddenly erupted when my dog passed away. Thankfully, I was able to work through the intense fear with a very knowledgeable therapist.
Inner Child Mistrust
Again, the same premise applies to inner child mistrust. When a child is in a situation where they were perhaps sexually abused, had parents who were addicts who were not present, or just parents who could not provide a safe living space, this all creates a mistrusting nature. Additionally, it brings on the other two emotions of anger and fear. This can cause havoc in all forms of relationships, from romantic to friendships.
Let’s explore the following 7 inner child healing techniques:
Recognize your inner child through journaling
In order to heal the inner child wounds from the past, the first step is to recognize your inner child as a real part of your life. It is also important to recognize the patterns and what transpired in your childhood. Try to look back on your childhood and identify areas where you may have developed anger, fear, or mistrust. I suggest you look at any issues in your present life and look back on your childhood and journal about any patterns you find. Then, when you have the pattern in place, do some more journaling on how you felt in the past and how you feel now. Trying to recognize a pattern from an incident in childhood that relates to an incident in adulthood is a good starting point. Journaling is a great way to get in touch with your feelings.
Go back to your childhood
The second inner child technique is to go back to an incident in your childhood where your inner child needed support and love. You can go back in time through your imagination and visualization. You can visualize on a time in your life when you really needed someone to be there for you during times of anger, fear, or mistrust. Just sit and put yourself in the scene of what transpired, and be the parent to your inner child. You can speak soothing words to your inner child or hug your inner child in your imagination. This will bring amazing healing and comfort to your inner child. The more you comfort your inner child, the fewer the triggers will be in the future. If you can do this often, you will find some peace with your past.
Feel the feelings
You have to sit with the feelings. It doesn’t feel good to get wrapped up in anger or fear from the past, but it’s crucial to healing. When you sit with your inner child, embrace the emotions. It will help you heal. The only way to heal is to feel the pain from the past and then let it go. It’s a natural process of letting go. You can envision putting the emotion in a balloon and watching it drift away into the sky. Or handing the emotion over to God or your Higher Power.
Lean on your faith
Lean on your Higher Power, or God. It’s important to have a spiritual entity you trust and love to be there with you through this healing process. Stay in prayer, meditate, or light some candles, and stay in faith. Faith is important when one is feeling uneasy. Faith is a guiding light that comforts us in times of vulnerability.
Inner Child Affirmations
Use positive affirmations like "I am worthy of love" or "I deserve to feel safe" or “You are safe and I will take care of you.” This will help to reprogram limiting beliefs from childhood. Visualize the words sinking into your inner child’s heart. Using positive affirmations is a great way to reprogram the subconscious mind to a positive state. It’s also a great way to reparent your inner child.
Inner Child props
Use drawings, photos, or objects to symbolize and interact with your inner child in an experiential reparenting process. You can put a picture of yourself as a child where you can see it daily. Use the picture to tell your inner child how loved he/she is and how much you are going to be there for him or her.
Seek professional help
It is important to get professional help from a therapist or a life coach who specializes in inner child healing. Having someone to bounce off emotions is crucial since unlocking the anger and fear from childhood can be overwhelming. It’s imperative to get a good therapist to help you with this journey. The benefits will far outweigh the emotional pain you may feel from unlocking the inner child. Trauma is usually at the core of our inner child wounds. There are several techniques a good therapist can use to help you.
Many types of therapy are useful for trauma. Some examples of trauma therapy include:
These different techniques can help you with inner child pain in one session. For instance, brainspotting can unlock different negative emotions and trauma from the subconscious mind. Once the trauma is cleared, the fear or anger associated with it also dissipates. However, there are usually layers to unlock, like peeling an onion, so be patient with the process.
In closing, I want to emphasize that these inner child techniques are just suggestions and do not replace professional therapy; they enhance professional therapy. I have used these techniques, and they do work. I have also used therapy to help with inner child wounds. Remember, inner child work is emotionally messy, and you may feel more angry or fearful, but with patience and continued work, you will come out on the other side with a liberated emotional state of happiness and joy.
Rachel Devine is the author of, Discover the Power of the Secret Within - Healing the Inner Child to Manifest your Dreams.
What is Inner Child Healing and How Can it Transform Your Life? Rachel Devine
Inner child healing is a process of emotional and spiritual healing from past inner wounds, trauma, and pain to alleviate adverse negative wounds that continue to affect one’s life as an adult.
Many of us, including myself, have found ourselves either in a rut or with a continuous challenge in life. For instance, you may have wanted to lose weight for years but couldn’t make any progress. Or perhaps you want to start a new business, but you aren’t quite able to get started. Or maybe you have continuous romantic relationship issues. Or perhaps continuous problems with family or work. Usually, these issues stem from blocks that formed from inner wounds from our past. These blocks lay heavy on our subconscious mind, where we are not even aware of the problem.
Buried in each of us is some kind of childhood or past wound that is lying dormant. Unfortunately, these wounds dictate the direction our lives will go. It’s incredible to know that our subconscious mind dictates 95% of our life actions! That’s an astonishing fact to digest. Most of our automatic actions in a day or our decisions are dictated by our subconscious. Therefore, if you have buried wounds in the subconscious mind, these wounds will block you from moving forward in life. The reason these blocks are inhibiting us is that the same old negative tapes are playing in our heads from the past that caused the inner child's subconscious mind wounds.
Inner child healing is a way to get to the root of the problem. There are ways to penetrate the subconscious mind to change it from a negative to a positive way of thinking. The good news is that we can change our subconscious to a positive state that will drive our lives in a positive direction. Inner-child healing is the pathway to that freedom.
Inner child healing is a process of emotional and spiritual healing from past inner wounds, trauma, and pain to alleviate adverse negative wounds that continue to affect one’s life as an adult.
Many of us, including myself, have found ourselves either in a rut or with a continuous challenge in life. For instance, you may have wanted to lose weight for years but couldn’t make any progress. Or perhaps you want to start a new business, but you aren’t quite able to get started. Or maybe you have continuous romantic relationship issues. Or perhaps continuous problems with family or work. Usually, these issues stem from blocks that formed from inner wounds from our past. These blocks lay heavy on our subconscious mind, where we are not even aware of the problem.
Buried in each of us is some kind of childhood or past wound that is lying dormant. Unfortunately, these wounds dictate the direction our lives will go. It’s incredible to know that our subconscious mind dictates 95% of our life actions! That’s an astonishing fact to digest. Most of our automatic actions in a day or our decisions are dictated by our subconscious. Therefore, if you have buried wounds in the subconscious mind, these wounds will block you from moving forward in life. The reason these blocks are inhibiting us is that the same old negative tapes are playing in our heads from the past that caused the inner child's subconscious mind wounds.
Inner child healing is a way to get to the root of the problem. There are ways to penetrate the subconscious mind to change it from a negative to a positive way of thinking. The good news is that we can change our subconscious to a positive state that will drive our lives in a positive direction. Inner-child healing is the pathway to that freedom.
Inner child healing is possible.
Techniques for inner child healing:
Journaling and Self-Reflection: Writing about one's thoughts, feelings, and experiences can promote self-awareness and facilitate the processing of emotions. Journaling can be a powerful tool for inner healing.
Mindfulness and Meditation: Practices such as mindfulness meditation can help individuals cultivate present-moment awareness, reduce stress, and develop a greater sense of inner peace and self-acceptance.
Inner Child Work: This approach involves reconnecting with and nurturing one's inner child, the part of the self that experienced wounds or traumas in childhood. It can involve visualization, inner dialogues, or symbolic activities. It is recommended that you do this inner child work with a professional.
Energy Healing Techniques: Some individuals find techniques like the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Reiki, brainspotting, or other energy healing modalities helpful in releasing emotional blockages and promoting inner healing.
Support Groups: Participating in support groups with individuals who have had similar experiences can provide a sense of community, validation, and shared understanding, which can be invaluable in the healing process.
Inner Healing Therapy and Counseling: Working with a qualified therapist or counselor can provide a safe and supportive environment for exploring and addressing past wounds. Modalities such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychotherapy, or trauma-focused therapies can be highly effective.
It's important to note that inner child healing is a deeply personal journey, and different techniques may resonate with different individuals. It's often helpful to explore various approaches and seek guidance from qualified professionals to find the most effective path to healing and growth.
Happy & healthy father and son.
Benefits of inner child healing:
Emotional Freedom: Inner child healing helps individuals release emotional baggage, such as fear, anger, resentment, or shame, that may have been carried from past experiences. This emotional freedom allows for a more positive and fulfilling life.
Improved Relationships: By addressing and healing past wounds, individuals can develop healthier relationships with themselves and others. They become more capable of trust, intimacy, and effective communication.
Increased Self-Awareness and Self-Acceptance: The process of inner healing often involves gaining a deeper understanding of oneself, including one's strengths, weaknesses, and core values. This self-awareness can lead to greater self-acceptance and self-compassion.
Reduced Stress and Anxiety: Unresolved emotional wounds can contribute to chronic stress, anxiety, depression, and even physical health issues. Inner healing can help alleviate these symptoms by addressing their underlying causes.
Personal Growth and Transformation: Inner healing facilitates personal growth and transformation by allowing individuals to let go of limiting beliefs, patterns, and behaviors that no longer serve them. This can lead to a greater sense of purpose, meaning, and fulfillment in life.
Moving Forward with Goals: Inner healing helps one to remove blocks that previously were in the way of goals of perhaps losing weight or starting a healthy relationship. It’s important to release the past wounds and the blocks that are stopping us from having a successful and fulfilling life.
As you can see the potential benefits to inner child healing is unlimited and each individual will benefit in their own personal way.
Conclusion:
Remember one thing: It’s okay to ask for help in life. We only have one life to live. It’s so important to live life to the fullest. Why would anyone want to live a mediocre life of mundane routine living the shadows of the inner child when they can live their life to the optimal state of being? There is a little work involved in inner child healing; however, as you can see from this article, the benefits are priceless.
Rachel Devine is the author of a new inner child book called Discover the Power of the Secret Within: Healing Your Inner Child to Manifest Your Dreams.
Take the Inner Child Quiz and see if you have past wounds affecting you as an adult.
Devine Intervention: Inner Healing Center Website