2012 - Setting powerful, divine fueled goals that stick

Dearest Soulies, It's that time of year again when we all haphazardly 'start afresh'. We set ourselves a host of sparkling goals, which lose their sheen several weeks into January. We set ourselves up mission impossible and we invariably fail. So here is my little guide to making your changes stick for 2012.

Shift Your Focus...

Firstly you need to change the way you think about your goals. Rather than just jumping towards the first thing that you think you would like, it's best to look back over recent times and really, carefully assess what is making you happy, and what is not? It's tempting to swear off bread, or commit to losing 14 pounds by feb, but realisitically... will these things make you happy? Take a few minutes to dig deep into that thought...

Secondly think back to the most recent time you felt truly happy. Then consider what it is you want to change about your life. For example, you want to lose weight, or you want a new career. Consider how important that change was to you when you were really happy? So the last time you were happy, were you bothered by your extra weight, did your job really irk you?

This will help you to assess how 'real' these changes are for you. If you find that you were happy despite these things, then your goal can be loosened and made realistic.

To make a goal realistic we don't focus on the goal itself, but a little more on the outcome. You may not focus on your stubborn tummy fat, but rather switch your goal to something along the lines of, 'In 2012 I intend to find peace and happiness and joy in my own skin'. Write it up on the fridge or bathroom mirror where you can see it and keep it fresh in your mind. Remind yourself of that time you felt happy and know that happiness comes not from changes in your life but from a shift of attitude.

Happiness Shift...

Remember that happiness always comes from the inside of you. So whilst goals are handy, they are simply a tool we use to try to achieve something we already have easy access to. Remember this when setting your goals and know that digging for joy may not take a year of self punishment, but could be found through a simple acceptance that you have it, and you deserve it, irrespective of your lousy job or your dress size!

Divine Intervention

Another way to set powerful goals is to ask for divine intervention... This too is so easy. A great time to ask for the help of the spiritual 'big guns' would be New Years Eve or New Years Day. Don't doubt who they are, or what they are capable of. Whilst hosts of angels are unlikely to swoop down and give you feather trimmed liposuction, it remins that setting an energtetic intent into the New Year, whilst asking for the help of whatever divine helpers are around you right now, can help you to make the right decisions.

So as we career into 2012, have a little think what you would like. Take into account the switch of focus explained above and prepare to ask your divine helpers to give you the power and inspiration to change your life and find yourself happy in whatever situations are thrown at you. A little ritual will assit set this intent into your own mind, so here is what I reccomend...

The Ritual

Light a candle or two, cleanse yourself with sage smoke, or have a long soak in the bath. Empty your mind of all it's issues with a brief 2 minute meditation, focus on your breath and clear your space with powerful positive thought, relaxing meditation music, and maybe with the gentle drift of incense.

When you feel ready take a pen and paper and write down what you would like to be different about 2012, what you desire in your life, what would make your heart sing? Focus very much on the positive... Do not fill your list with 'I don't want's', instead focus on what you DO want. Address this letter to your divine helpers and know that in whatever way the solutions find you, they most certainly will occur. Not always as you expect of course... but it is vital to trust in what manifests. Take a moment to acknowledge that what will be, will be, and that however the change comes, you are ready to hold and accept it in your life. Choose to have faith, and let your divine assistants know that when your faith is proven right, you will choose to accept it totally and unconditionally.

Then take your letter, read it back. Place the words in your heart, and burn the letter itself. In burning it, you release it out to the magical energies of the universe. You set the goal free to be what it will. Then you can get on with your life, knowing in your heart that change will come. Don't hold onto that scrap of paper because the goals will become stale. Burn it, release it, TRUST.

So Good Luck with your goals Soulies! 2012 is going to be a magical year for us all, feel it, believe it and love it!

Alice Grist x

Managing Editor of Soul-Cafe, Author & Soul Rocks Publisher

Bloodthirsty Anyone...?

Oh my gosh, has the world gone mad? No I think it probably always has been... So Colonel Gaddafi got killed, but do we really need to celebrate it across the front pages of our 'civilised' publications? Do we need to shout out about revenge. Do we need to see the bloody, brutal details? Doesn't this reak of hypocrisy? Doesn't our societies tolerance and celebration of this bloodthirsty, vengeful act send a shiver up your spine?

And if you doubt the hypocrisy here consider this. Yesterday I heard that Britney Spears had been lambasted by politicians for being insensitive. Her new music video, shot in London, features her holding a gun. Her insensitivity is apparently related to the London Riots. And yet, it's OK to parade images of a shot, bloodied up dead man all over the country. So one day we have alleged gun related 'insensitivity' and then the next day the sordid, vivid details of what guns can do is deemed appropriate for front pages and indeed is celebrated. Something ain't quite right here...

In THHGTSL I talk about Dumb Culture. I think that this little chapter of our history could well fit into that section of my book. I can't help feeling like I'm in the middle ages watching an execution. The thing is, back then executions were entertainment, street theatre. And as I pass blood soaked copies of red top newspapers outside newsagents, at the height for any passing toddler to see, I can't help think that we have again gotten sucked again into a carnival of cruelty.

Irrespective of what Mr Gaddafi may be guilty of there is no need to sensationalize, publicise and hype up his brutal death. Well there is a need, a need to fuel the coffers of the media. And that my lovely Soulies is Dumb Culture in action.

Karma has her way with us all in her own time. I have faith and first hand experience in that. I'm not sure if Gaddafi got his Karma, but I do know that revenge is an act of anger and hate. And because of all that anger and hate I am sure that Karma is being dosed out by the barrel today.

We live in a partially sucky world. Other parts of this life are miraculous, beautiful, astonishing. I will choose to take a think about them next time I see glorified murdered corpses littering the covers of our established and respected broadsheets. I will not join the goon squad baying for blood and revenge. News is news, I don't want to live in denial, but what I saw today was nasty.

That's my outrage done and dusted. I don't have an answer to this, it's too big a thing to deal with on a Friday evening. Peace and love are my only 'go to' answer, and somehow, right now, I think they are far from may people's hearts. I will hold them tight in mine, as I am sure you will in yours. And that, I hope, will be enough for now.

Beyond that I will practice some forgiveness, Goddess bless everyone involved victims, perpetrators and journalists just trying to make a dollar. Goddess bless us all.

September 2011 and Prediction!

September 2011 is turning out to be probably one of the best months of my life ever! Most recently I was paging through the fabulous Prediction Magazine and I came across their 2011 awards. I was absolutely chuffed to bits and pieces to see that I had been nominated in the book category for The High Heeled Guide to Spiritual Living - which is just such an honour! I never imagined something like this would happen and I'm a bit speechless.

The competition is pretty incredible too, I'm up there with the talented Isabel Losada of Battersea Park Road to Enlightenment fame. So whilst I don't expect to win, it would be sooo lovely to get some votes! If you fancy casting a vote for THHGTSL then please do buy a copy of Prediction or you can

download a vote form here....

If that is not enough, Prediction also wrote a stuningly brilliant review of THHGTSL, so a big thank you to them for that too!

Any Scottish Soulies, please buy yourself a copy of the Scottish Sun on 20th September, and you will see my smiling face coming out from the pages of the Oracle! Love to know what you all think of it?

Beyond all this book related stuff, I'm generally having a lovely, lovely time right now. As we all know life has it's ups and downs, but right now I am happy to report I am on an up! So I will ride this baby whilst it is here.

Hope you are all doing really well, looking forward to more of your blogs and discussions in the coming weeks!

Lots of Love

Alice x

A review of my book! The High Heeled Guide to Spiritual Living

Feel very blessed to have had the following review published in US trade mag New Age Retailer:

"In her first book, The High Heeled Guide to Enlightenment, Grist recounted her search for spirituality through the wisdom of ancient spiritual traditions. Instead of finding the answer she was looking for, she found more questions. It opened a door that allowed spirituality to find her. Actually, it allowed her to realize that she was already spiritual and everything in her life was part of her spiritual journey. It’s a truth that any authentic guru will give to his/her followers. It’s a truth that readers will relate to and revel in.

She divides the book into eleven lessons. Each lesson is a kind of meditation on a topic: faith, the Goddess, love. Dynamic, witty, and filled with insight disguised as common sense, her writing puts universal experiences, especially women’s experiences, into language that allows us to look at them from a new perspective. This one will apply to a broad audience. It’s fun to read and will leave readers feeling better about themselves. Of course, you’ll want to display it with The High Heeled Guide to Enlightenment — a perfect package."

Thanks to Anna Jedrziewski from the New Age Retailer

Tarot reading of the week: Three of Wands

Every week, me, ALice Grist (Author and Tarot expert) interprets a card specially for you... I figure the people who need to see it, will do! And those that don't may see next week's cards! Hope this helps you wherever you are!

Three of Wands

There is no time to keep looking behind you when the future is keeping you busy. This does not mean you can't learn from the past, you should, it is part of you and it props you up. But right now there is NO use dwelling on the past. Do not waste your time and energy. There are things right now that need your attention. The energy from the past is always with you in some small ways, and right now it is saying go forward, embrace what you have, take this life and new experiences and run with them. You are not the same person you were, nor are you the person you are trulymeant to be... not yet/ But you are the you who you desevre to be right now. You may well be on the cusp of something amazing. So release past hurts, past negativities, past failure, and focus insead on what you are achieiving right this moment. What does this moment mean to you, right now, this second? Think about that, meditate on it. Move forward with it in your heart. There is something perfect happening, take hold of it and enjoy!

Alice Grist Tarot Readings www.alicegrist.co.uk

Blog bye bye

I don't really use this blog anymore, but you can find all you need to know about me and the High Heeled Guide to Enlightenment on my website.

http://www.alicegrist.co.uk