I have discovered Essential Oils as a wellness tool and I just love, love, love them.  I know they have been around for centuries, but I have never quite understood them.
I have to admit, I use to ignore the classes on Essential Oils at seminars and trainings that I went too.  I just wasn’t interested, until I listened to my friend Stef, who I use to do a radio show with, talk about them.
So, I tried them out this last month on myself, my kids, my husband and my mother.  My mom’s experience was pretty miraculous.  She came home from visiting her family in

Montana with gout in her foot.  She could barely put any weight on it.  I looked up what oils to put on it to see if it would work.  We used Lemon (you can also use Geranium) and by the end of the day she could put weight on it.  By the next day, she was pain free.  She did not even have to fill her prescription for it.  She says it usually takes months using her prescription to heal it.

Then my son, Jacob, woke up with a cold.  I kept him home from school that day, gave him the Onguard and Breathe oil blend from doTerra and he reported feeling better immediately.  He was well enough to go back to school the next day.

My husband had a pinched nerve in his back, after we put some Deep Blue blend on it the pain and the “pinch” went away- with in seconds!  Wow. 

Here is a clip from Youtube that shows what Essential Oils do for your blood.  It shows blood of someone before the oils, and the blood 60 seconds after the oils.  It is cool.  

Essential Oils are natural aromatic compounds found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants.  They are used for their healing properties, both physically and emmotionally.

I love them so much that I decided to add doTerra to my wellness business. You can check out more info about Essential Oils at http://www.mydoterra.com/kareywilliams/

Did you know that we have more receptor sites on our body and in our energy fields for joy than we do for pain?  We are literally hardwired for joy.  As an energy therapist and life coach, I am frequently asked, “So, what are some easy things to do to feel better more often and access more feelings of joy?”

 

With the Holidays upon us, here are some of my favorite and easy tips to make our experiences this Season more intentional and fulfilling. I am always impressed with the great blessings we receive with just a little bit of effort on our part.  You can do all or some of the following tips this season to increase your joy intake.

• Create the type of Holiday you would like to have spiritually first through meditation or prayer.   Take five minutes at the beginning of your day to do this.  Imagine how you’d like your Holiday to look: Who would be there?  How would you feel?  How would they feel?  Notice how gracefully and easy the cooking or gift giving is.  Notice the environment free of stress.  See the parking spaces open up to you.  See the sights, sounds, and smells. Feel the peace.  At night, give gratitude for the physical results of your spiritual creation.
  

• Open up your Heart Chakra.  Our Heart Chakra is an energy center located on our chest.  It carries feelings of hope and love.  When disconnected, it can hold feelings of depression, heaviness and grief.  If you are feeling down this Holiday, give your energy support by stirring your Heart Chakra.  Do this by making a fist with your hand.  Hold your fist about four to six inches above your chest.  Make a circle using your fist to stir the energy clockwise (as if you had a clock on your chest facing up).  As you do this say, “I am okay no matter what.  Everyone else is okay no matter what.”  You can also add any affirmation you’d like. 
  

• Write Holiday affirmations to focus your energy.  Remember, what you focus on grows.  Write a list of affirmations either on a piece of paper or on your bathroom mirror with dry erase markers.  Start the affirmations with either “I am….” or “I am experiencing…..” or “I am grateful for……”  For example, “I am grateful for traveling safely to all of my Holiday events.”  “I am experiencing a lot of sleep and rest.”  “I am peaceful.”  “I am knowing exactly how to serve others this holiday.”  “I am experiencing all of my needs met.”  “I am having fun with all of this.”  Review your list often to change your focus to love and joy this  Holiday.
  
• “Zip-up” energetically before you go shopping or are out in large crowds.   There is a lot of energy floating around during the Holidays- and not all of it is uplifting.  We read and pick up other people’s energy before we do anything else- even before we notice their body language or tone of voice.  You have built in energy systems that are designed to protect you from negative energies.  To zip up is easy!  Just use your hand to draw an imaginary line from your pelvic bone up to your lips.  The line should go straight up through your torso.  Repeat three times.  What you are doing is actually tracing a main energy meridian with your hands that are electro magnetic.  This tells the energy to zip-up and protect. However, it actually makes you more available to share your cheery self, because you are not taking on other people’s energy stuff.

Remember, we are designed for joy.  It is suppose to be easy.  So, let it be easy.

I was feeling a little annoyed and negative the other night with some of the things I chose to read in my email and on the internet that were so full of malice and judgment and fear.  I get that everyone has an opinion and everyone believes they are “right.”  And I get that a lot of people believe the world is going to hell if this or that candidate is elected or if this or that law is passed. Most of it was suppose to be “ethics” based and “Christian” based but it came off as something totally different energetically.

 

I found myself buying into the bleakness, so I opened up this book of poetry that I have.  It seems to calm me and put things in perspective. I love this poem by Emily Dickinson that points out how people operate different in their spiritual beliefs- and that is just fine with me.  There can be such a wide gap between spirituality and religion.  Here is the poem…

 

Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church

By, Emily Dickinson

Some keep the Sabbath going to church;

I keep it staying at home,

With a bobolink for a chorister,

And an orchard for a dome.

 

Some keep the Sabbath in surplice;

I just wear my wings,

And instead of tolling the bell for church

Our little sexton sings.

 

God preaches, -a noted clergyman,-

And the sermon is never long;

So instead of getting to heaven at last,

I’m going all along!

 

I was born in a very small town in Montana.  In this town, there were very few people of my religious faith.  I did not have any friends at school that shared my faith- but that did not matter to me.  Who cares, let’s just have fun- right!?

 

I moved to Utah towards the end of elementary.  It was very different to me to have a church on what felt like every corner and to have many friends that went to my same church. 

I remember one evening that all of the kids in the neighborhood were going to play a big game of “kick the can.”  So, I said to my friend, Heather, “Let’s go get (so-and-so) who live on the corner to join us.”

 

Heather said, “No.  My mom said I can’t play with them.”

 

“Why?” I asked.

 

“Because they are not mormon,” she said.

 

I didn’t get it.  In fact, this really messed with my ten-year-old brain.   It didn’t feel right.  I was use to not having any friends that were my same religion.  It didn’t bother me.  In fact, it did not make any difference. 

 

I started thinking, “Should this matter?  Did Heather’s mom know something I didn’t?  Did I miss something in Sunday School?”

 

I went straight home and found my mom.  She was folding clothes.  I said, “Mom, Heather can’t play with (so-and-so) because they are not mormon.  Is that what we’re suppose to do?”

I remember my mom calmly smile and ask, “What is the first law of the gospel?”

 

I said, “Love God.”

 

“And the second?,” she continued.

 

“Love your neighbor.”

 

She just looked at me for a moment and said, “Well, there you go.”

 

And I never felt confused again.  I am thankful for a wise mom.  And I pray that I will always be on the side of love instead of fear and judgment.  That I will always worship with joy in whatever way I see fit.  And, that, when I am inspired to stand up for something- I will do it from a space of light and truth.

This last week my good friend Cari (expert energy therapist and infectious laugh extraordinaire) and I started our Energy HealthCare Self-Care evening classes.  These classes have been in the works over the last year and we were so excited to see our first class come into reality.

We had a fantastic turn-out and it was such a great feeling in the atmosphere.  I am always amazed at the caliber of people attracted to this information.  It was great to see so many friends there.

Our intention behind these classes is to teach practical information that people could use everyday to work with their energy- since that is where it all starts.  Each class we teach an Energy Exercise.  Last class we taught an Energy Exercise called the “Hook-
Up.”  It is a technique that comes from Donna Eden’s work.

You can use the energy Hook-Up when: 1) your mind feels disconnected from your body, 2) you feel out of control, 3) you feel agitated, and/or 4) your thoughts are disjointed.

You do the Hook-Up by placing your middle finger on the “third eye” (between the eyebrows above the bridge of the nose) and place the middle finger of your other hand in the navel.  Next, gently press each finger into the skin and pull upwards.  Hold for 12-30 seconds.   

When I do the Hook-Up, I usually experience wanting to take a deep breath.  That is when I know my upper and lower energy centers are “hooked up.”

No matter how much I think I know about my energy and how to work with, I still get to be reminded sometimes.  Just yesterday, I said to my husband Dave (who attended the class) that I was feeling kind of out of it and like my body was not doing what my mind wanted it to do.

He looked at me a little perplexed and like the answer to my problem should be obvious and said, “Well, did you do the Hook-up?”

I had just taught it, and yet, I still didn’t immediately do it for myself when it would have helped.  It was a great lesson to me about how valuable simple energy tools are. 

Needless to say, I did the Hook-Up and felt much better and clearer.

I can’t wait for each of the Energy Excercises that we will be discussing in the next Energy HealthCare Self-Care classes.  They are stand alone so you can come to some of them or all of them.  For more information, visit my event’s calendar at: http://www.kareywilliams.com/events.php?category=5

Life is much better when you feel connected!

Have a great day!

This year for New Year’s day, my three kids, my husband, and I decided to write our intentions for 2008 on posters and hang them in our hall where we would walk by them frequently.

It turned into a fun and enlightening process for all of us.  I was really surprised and delighted to see what my children’s plans and dreams were.  It was a fresh perspective for me to see goal setting through a child’s eyes.  It was all about what they wanted to feel and experience- not what they thought they “had to be.”

Jacob, my ten-year-old put on his poster that he wanted to try new foods.  I believe his current diet consisted of potatoes, cheese, and more potatoes.  So, as his mom, I am thrilled he wants to expand his horizons.

Hannah, my six-year-old, wants to take art lessons and play more basketball.

Daniel, my four-year-old, desires to be a Kung Fu master like Bruce Lee.  He even drew a picture of Bruce on his poster.

They each want to be nicer to each other and keep their rooms clean (it wasn’t even my idea- :))

After we drew and wrote on our posters we “infused them with energy” by sending good, loving feelings to our goals and dreams.  My two oldest children told me they can “feel” the energy of the posters coming off the wall to them.  I have even seen them stop several times and look at them and recite them.

What do you want to experience this year?  What have you always wanted, but never dared to verbalize?  What dreams did you have as a child that you shelfed?  Take those dreams and dust them off and have fun.  Write intentions about what you want to experience- not what you think you “should be or do.”

I love the music of Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband.  To quote one of their songs, “When you dream, dream big. As big as the ocean blue. When you dream, it might come true.  When you dream, dream big.”

Happy New Year!

P.S.  I have a great audio for Kids and Teens with great affirmations on it to assist them in understanding their power and potential to create what they want.  It is called Energy Tools and Visualizations for Kids and Teens.  You can find it at: http://www.kareywilliams.com/products.php

Happy Halloween!

A note came home from my children’s school that said, “Students may not wear masks to school on Halloween.”  Jacob, my ten-year-old, had chosen a costume with a mask.  He asked why they had that rule.  I said that I believed it was for safety reasons and for the teachers to know who everyone was.

Having this conversation made me ponder on the masks that we, as adults, may wear. Masks that may disguise our true selves, cover up our light, or cater to what we think other people would rather have us be.  For our own safety it would be good to have come to the planet with the rule that “Students of earth life may not wear masks.”

How many times have you put on the mask of conformity?  Have you agreed to do something you knew was not right for you because you were worried about how some one might respond or feel?  Have you adapted so much that you are not sure where you actually went?  Did you feel like doing what someone else wanted was the “noble” thing to do only to find that you felt empty?

In one of my favorite books (that I recommend to everyone) The Sequoia Seed, by Karen Wright (www.wrightminded.com) in the chapter titled “Forever and Always Me,” a story is told of a woman who changed everything to gain the love of a man.  She switched careers, friends etc to gain his approval.  Karen asked her if she could change just one more thing to magically ensure that this man would love her, would she do it? 

The woman, of course, replied with a yes.  And, Karen, then said something that I found very profound.  She asked the woman, “Then who would he be loving?”

She pointed out that he would not be loving the true her, but rather the illusion she created to gain his love.  It left me, the reader, thinking- How could it even be real love if it was based on an illusion?

Putting on masks is actually hazardous to our health- emotionally and spiritually.  It is not safe to stay under the masks of fear that only create lies and illusions and eventually end up disappointing ourselves and others.   

Remember, you are perfect as God created you.  I truly believe this.  You may be having experiences that don’t feel so perfect- but the design of you is perfect.  Therefore even your weaknesses are perfect for you to learn from and grow from. 

Take off the masks- Be true to yourself, Let your Light Shine!

The Real, maskless, you- is Divine.

Feel the fear and do it anyway!

I saw this saying once and it made me laugh but then I found out exactly what it meant on a cruise in the Mexican Riviera.

Since I was in elementary, I knew that I lacked the ability to carry a tune. It might have been after the excruciating silence and open jaws that fell across the room of my fifth grade class after singing my solo for try outs. Or the fact that I was always put on the back row during school singing performances. Or it could have been the confusion I felt when my grandma kept saying it sounds like this “Mares eat oats, and does it oats and little lambs eat ivy…” even though I was singing the correct words back to her.

By the time I was in Junior High, I sadly only tried out for school plays instead of musicals and my secret dream of being a rock star faded. I figured that there was a reason that no matter how hard I tried, I still couldn’t sing on key. Maybe the singer life style was not for me. Maybe I was destined to be a mother in suburban Utah and that would be reward enough. Or maybe it was good that I didn’t sing well- it would help me appreciate the contrast so that I would love my voice even more in the next life!

My fear about having other people hear me sing began to grow. I would mouth the words to songs in church so no one would know my shame. And after I had children, I would fret that if I sang lullabies to them, they too might pick up my tone deafness.

Back to the Mexican Riviera.

I was on a cruise last March watching a “Pop Star Karaoke Contest.”It is kind of like an American Idol for cruise ships.

My husband smiled and said, “I am going to sign you up to sing.”

Instant fear gripped me. “No!” I yelled. I could stand up in front of hundreds of people and speak, but to sing would be absolutely terrifying and humiliating. Let alone, having an audience rating my performance on a scale of one to ten.

My husband said, “They judge you on three things: your voice, star quality and stage presence.”

My inner child yelled “Go for it!” and my adult self remembered the saying “Feel the fear and do it anyway” besides, I said to myself, “Two out of three ain’t bad”

So, I did it.I faced my fear and stepped out of my comfort zone. I remembered that fear and excitement create the same physiological responses in your body. I chose excitement.

That night I was a rock star.

After I sang, I found out that my friend Jon had recorded it. As I watched the video clip, I thought, “Wow!Your singing voice is pretty bad- but you rocked it!”

I have posted that clip on this blog for your viewing pleasure (if not for your listening pleasure).

So enjoy the show! I hope it makes you laugh, but even more- I hope it gives you the motivation to enjoy yourself and take risks no matter what you may think other people think! I don’t just hope you dance. I hope you rock!

Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway.

P.S. I didn’t make the Pop Star finals, but the director told me it was close and I technically came in seventh place overall. He couldn’t believe it was my first time karaoking. Watch out for me next time Mexico!