Author: Julie Tourangeau
Interconnectedness: Can others feel your thoughts?
Have you ever thought about someone, then look down at your phone the next moment to see them calling you? What if your thoughts about someone sent a signal to them and vice versa? Would you try to control your thoughts? Thoughts are energy and have profound ripple effects on the material world. Material reality is connected to the energy we can’t always see and feel.
Albert Einstein once said, “If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life thinking it was stupid.” What if your judgements projected on someone else? They feel it. They start to believe your feelings as their own. What if that thought was negative? And sure enough that person you thought about starts to doubt themselves. It’s a common unseen mistake. Send people positive thoughts. It’s like that feeling you get when you first meet a person and right away you know if you like them or not, beyond how they appear on the outside. Something happens in the astral and auric plane. Information is exchanged with a thought. To be kind in your outer behaviors is one thing, but to be genuinely kind from the inside out with your thoughts continuously is another level of kindness entirely. Send love and compassion with every thought to every person you meet. It will have a profound impact on others, as well as your own life and relationships.
Facing Perception and Rejection
During the time in my life I consider my spiritual awakening, everything I had come to know was transitioning. I had surrounded myself in high school and college with very judgmental people who loved to gossip, chase wealth, party, and position themselves as elite in many ways. It has taken many years to funnel the people out of my life who refused to grow, and surround myself with totally accepting, loving people. I started this journey alone in many respects as I let go of those that no longer had my best interest at heart. I had experienced so many synchronistic moments after my dad had passed that I was busting at the seams wanting to share them. I sometimes worried about what others would think of me if I openly talked about signs from heaven and life after death. The beautiful truth that the dead are never lost is something that I wanted to share beyond myth, legend, and fairytale. Synchronicity made this truth tangible for me, and I felt my story would help others. Synchronicity taught me that all beings are deeply connected, even in death. I felt a deep calling to make this work the center of my life.
There was one day in particular, right after I quit the insurance biz and focused on writing, that I meditated outside behind my apartment in the sun. There was a long stretch of grass near the woods that lined up against my complex that I often liked to visit. It was a gorgeous spring day. I sat concentrating on a patch of dandelions nearby. The only way I can describe my state of being was one of a blissful trance. I was beaming from the inside out and smiling. I felt at peace with myself and finally free from pressures of a stuffy business job and business school. I knew others (at least the others that were in my life at that point in time) would not understand my choices, but I wanted to share this peace I had found with the world.
A thought came to me as I happily sat near a bunch of dandelions, enjoying their beautiful bright yellow color that resonated with me as such a happy flower. I thought about how many people think of this beautiful flower as a weed. I realized that I was very much like a dandelion as well. I remember concentrating on a particular sentence as I continued to meditate: “Some people think I am a weed, but really I am a beautiful flower.” This truth truly freed me from any perceived judgements of others. At that moment, it didn’t matter what anyone said or thought about me. My heart was full of love and my soul was lit by a calling to share my spiritual experiences, no matter how others perceived my choices.
I sat in the sun for quite some time until finally I decided to make my way back to my apartment. As I opened the screen door, I was greeted by my two miniature dachshunds, Reesie and Scooby. Over their happy yelps and wagging tails due to my return home, I heard my email notification on my iPhone go off. I picked up my phone off of the kitchen table to check it out. It was a Live Nation email letting me know I was eligible for a pre-sale for my husband’s favorite band that was going to be playing across the street at Meadowbrook, where they had never played before. I could often hear bands play there from my place it was so close. Extremely interested, I scrolled down the email to get the code. To my absolute joy, the code for the pre-sale just happened to be “dandelion” when moments ago I had meditated so intensely on a dandelion. Albert Einstein once said coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous. I took this meaningful coincidence as validation of my break through. When synchronicity happens, I often perceive the meaningful coincidence as the universe’s way of telling me to keep going.
From that moment on, I haven’t cared about what other people think of me. If there is one thing I learned from that experience it is that even if the majority of the population perceives you as a weed, you will still find others out there who know you as the beautiful flower you are. The perception of a weed and a flower is only established by your mentality. The way you view the world is your choice. To let others’ choices define you is a mistake in thinking. My hope is that this story helps you overcome the judgement of others and know true freedom to be yourself.
Label Me: The Human Condition
Nothing ever stays the same, yet year after year so much changes that it still surprises me. We are constantly evolving, searching and experiencing. Throughout this life, we find ourselves moving in different directions, trying on new labels for ourselves, and moving on to the next. We are a child, a best friend, a student, a lover, an ex-girlfriend, a friend, a roommate, and a soulmate. We go through all of these labels, all the while exchanging experiences with other labels like teacher, boyfriend, boss, and grandma. We are constantly interacting with a sea of faces that go on swapping labels, like best-friend, coworker, and date. At the end of the day, we have a hard time looking past the labels we use to define others’ relationships to us, as well as defining ourselves.
“Behind every atom of this world hides an infinite universe.” – Rumi
Remember, that you are a reflection of the divine. You are a part of the universe, and the universe is a part of you. You are part of all that ever is, all that ever was, and all that ever will be. We are infinite beings, experiencing a finite existence. To get caught up in the matters on the surface is to lose sight of the infinite reality that is your soul: the ghost operating and observing the three-dimensional vessel that is your body. Anything that ever took place in your life is timeless. Anyone you ever exchanged experiences with in this existence is infinitely a part of your story as you are of theirs. Being a part of a creation that is happening through us, and not just to us, is to recognize the divine in every experience you’ll ever have. The truth is, you are as infinite as the entire universe as well as a mere piece of it. As much as change appears to be a reality, there is a constant divine flow that runs through absolutely everything, as we are all a part of all of creation. The next time you catch yourself labeling anything or anyone, consider this: To label yourself as anything less than infinite is to sell yourself short.
Above All Things, This Story is About Love
About ten years ago, I received numerous mixed burnt CDs from my friend Jeff, whom I called Christian, and he called me Mercedes. Jeff and I were very close and had tons of great memories getting ready for a night out or dancing in the car to the music he made us. In 2008, when I bought the iPod I still have now, I uploaded all of these music files and named the ones I recognized. There was an amazing instrumental that speeds up the tempo as the song goes on. It is mesmerizing. I didn’t recognize it, so I saved the artist under “Ask Jeff Feys”. I always meant to ask him what this instrumental was from, but unfortunately never found out.
Friday night, I decided to put something on I hadn’t seen in awhile. I put on the movie Moulin Rouge. It had probably been about 5 years since I watched it, so I am not sure why I decided to put it on Friday. The movie embodies the bohemian lifestyle, upholding the values Truth, Beauty, Freedom and Love. It is something that has resonated with me since I was in middle school. The movie ends in tragedy, however, the message is clear. “The greatest thing you will ever learn is just to love, and be loved in return.” Even though the main character, Satine, dies tragically, she definitely was able to love and be loved before she died. Even though she dies, she was able to learn the greatest lesson there is to learn in life.
I sat through the movie and cried like I usually would. The ending credits came on, and I sat on my couch with my dog, Reesie, not wanting to get up quite yet. To my surprise, a familiar song that had eluded me for years came on during the ending credits of the movie. Yes, it was the “Ask Jeff Feys” instrumental from my iPod. I found myself very happy and smiling that the mystery was finally solved. I recalled Jeff loving this movie, so it made sense. I was surprised I hadn’t stopped to listen to the credits before.
The next day, I logged onto Facebook, about to tell him about the song. To my devastation, I found out he had passed the night before. Jeff had tragically died by being hit by a car when he was crossing the street in Warren, Michigan. I spent my 4th of July thinking about Jeff all day. Part of me felt guilty that we hadn’t spoke much lately outside of Facebook. The other part of me laughed and giggled at all of our ridiculous memories together as I listened to old mixed CDs he gave me with hilariously inappropriate titles, like “Cupcake for Mr. and Mrs. Titface”. Jeff was one of the brightest people I ever knew. I know people say that about people who passed all the time, but Jeff was different. Jeff truly lit up a room with his larger than life personality and presence. He was one of the funniest people I knew. He was greatly loved, and he cared so much for other people.
He personally helped me find myself after I graduated high school. I ended a 4 year relationship, and Jeff was right there with me, filling my days with laughter and uplifting memories. I recall working on a song with my vocal coach at a music college I attended. She taught me to bring more emotion to the song I was singing by telling me to think of the most upbeat, energetic person I knew. It worked like a charm because I knew the perfect person to channel. That person was Jeff.
Now that the initial shock has worn off, I am left to reflect about the events from this past weekend. It was extremely auspicious to me that the mystery song he gave me was solved hours within his passing. I can’t help but feel he made sure to answer the question I had on my IPod for years the night he left us. I found out the song was put at the end of the movie to lift the viewers’ mood after witnessing such a tragic end for Satine. This is why the tempo starts slow and speeds up at the end. I see so many parallels between the lesson from the movie and the lesson of Jeff’s life. I do not believe this was a mere coincidence. He died way too young, and very tragically. To be hit by a car crossing the street is not the way Jeff ever expected to go, I’m sure. I keep coming back to the message in the movie and how it can also relate to Jeff’s life: the greatest thing you will ever learn is to love and be loved in return. Jeff was undoubtedly loved. He was deeply loved and will be missed dearly. I definitely believe he learned how to love and be loved in his short lifetime, more than most. That’s the silver lining in all of this.
I love you, Jeffrey.
Rest in Peace.
1986-2015
Experiencing a Supportive Universe
When you find the people who celebrate your quirks, and say, “me too!”, you have found people who you should strive to surround yourself with. As much as many people pride themselves as being independent, it is foolish to think it didn’t take a village to get you where you are. Whether people who were once in your life stay there or not, people come into your life for a reason. It is safe to assume you wouldn’t be the person you are today without the interactions you’ve had with other people. To think you only need yourself is short sighted. While being alone is nothing to be scared of, and something that can be empowering, there are definitely helpful people out there. You never need to go through your challenges alone.
The people around you who get the bigger picture are those who will continue to lift you up on your journey. It is often the helpful people around us who will continue to ensure the manifestation we are creating comes to fruition. I truly believe the universe works through others to bring us messages or anything we may need. We are all co-creators of our reality. When the people around you share your vision, you are an unstoppable force. Never take someone who “gets it” for granted.
Following Your Intuition to Your Life’s Purpose
When developing your intuition, you may often find yourself against the grain of society. You may leave a job everyone else in their rational minds would kill for. You may follow a dream that seems impossible. As you honor your inner knowingness, others may not be privy to the divine guidance you are following. Know that there is a good reason for this.
Albert Einstein said it best when he said: “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.” The world around us is often full of people who live their life by rational logic, weighing statistical chances with decision making for a safety net of a future. The truth is though that no matter how much you plan, or take the path that seems the safest, there are no guarantees that things will go as planned. Flexibility is called for as we live in a Creation that is still happening. Things are constantly changing and to pigeon hole yourself into a certain lifestyle or plan goes against your very nature as a child of the universe. The truth is, living from your intuitive self is your direct hotline to an all-knowing, all-being mind. We may not understand completely why we feel we must follow a certain path or action when we follow our intuition, but one thing is certain. A higher power definitely does understand the bigger picture, and having faith in our intuitive guidance is the first step in co-creating a life lived to the fullest.
Many people would agree that following your intuition sounds good in theory but when putting this notion into practice, it may not be super clear. There are many things you can do to clear your mind and develop your intuition. A good place to start developing your intuition is here: Julie Tour Discusses 5 Simple Steps to Develop Psychic Awareness. There are also many divination tools that can help you sort out true divine guidance from fear. As someone who once had a cushy corporate position, drove a luxury car, and had every material perk one could ask for, I found out the hard way that following that path was not the key to happiness. I was operating from the rational, servant mind and at the end of the day, materialism is only an illusion of security and, to top it all off, my job wasn’t my true passion. If your situation isn’t fueling your passion, chances are that you missed your calling. The good news is that every day that you are still breathing, you have the opportunity to live passionately. When operating from your intuitive mind, your sacred gift from God, your life becomes magical, meaningful, and full of wonder. Never lose your divine birth right to co-create a meaningful, rewarding life.
Spiritual Transformation: Dealing with Outward Changes as You Change Within
When we grow, we change. And true to the law of attraction, when we change, the environment around us changes. Sometimes these changes are difficult. Sometimes, as you raise your awareness and your energy level, we no longer are attracted to the same situations and people. In turn, the people who were once attracted to us may no longer be attracted to brighter versions of ourselves.
One of the toughest lessons I have ever learned was that people you love may leave you, and it’s completely okay. They may not even care to bat an eye that you are pained by that. But just because your big heart cares so much for them when it is not reciprocated, it does not make you weak; it makes you stronger than them since you are capable of unconditional love despite outward appearances. If people let you down, let them walk away. I truly believe that what is lost will always be replaced with something better. Holding on to a situation or person that no longer fits who you are is never the answer. Never be afraid to change yourself as you see fit. Without change, we will never become the best versions of ourselves. And change in ourselves will always mean changes in all areas of our life. Let the old fall away so the newer, brighter future can manifest. The universe is abundant and loving and will never let you down when you let go of the reigns and let the world do the heavy lifting for you. Unconditional love will never be denied to the unconditionally loving heart.
Living Consciously
We have been conditioned from birth to feel the need to expand ourselves, to set goals, to achieve, to acquire. Once we accomplish a goal, we move on to the next, always needing to validate our lives with the next big accomplishment. The problem with always having your sights on the future is that you might just miss the journey. Every moment you spend awake, consciously in a state of just being is a blessing and a miracle. There is no need to validate your miraculousness.
Take a moment each morning to set a new goal for yourself: to relax and enjoy every moment of the day. When we rest, and nurture ourselves, we grow without striving and struggling. When we are rested and practice mindfulness, ideas will come naturally. If that leads to be a future accomplishment, let it, but don’t let your mind dwell in the future. The more we go with the flow, stay present in the here and now, and honor ourselves as whole beings, the less we need to struggle. We push against the energy of the universe when we vibrationally tell the world we need more. When we honor what we have and who we are as whole, we send the vibration of leading a whole life. This is the foundation of living a conscious life.
Easter Ponderings
“Mommy, do bunnies lay eggs?”
There is a reason aspects of our holiday traditions don’t make much sense. Where does the name Easter come from? How do bunnies and eggs relate to the ascension of Christ? The truth is, they don’t.
Meet the formerly celebrated divine feminine entities for this time of year and how their influence is still present in our Christian traditions: The Goddesses of Easter .
Julie Tourangeau 