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 Happiness is a butterfly, which, when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will set down quietly, may alight upon you.

–Nathaniel Hawthorne

Happiness is a state that is attainable for each one of us at any given moment of the day; however, it is a conscious choice we must make. Here are the five ways that I personally fill my capacity for spiritual happiness.

1. Meditate or pray. Each and every morning, as I awaken, I lie in meditation. I breathe through each part of my body and awaken the energy in each cell. Then I focus on each of my chakras and imagine them as my favorite flowers: first chakra is a red rose, second chakra is an orange poppy, third chakra is a yellow sunflower, etc… I imagine them blooming vibrantly. Once I have gone through each chakra, I connect to Universe and bring its energy through the crown of my head and let it flow through my entire being and out my feet into Mother Earth. Next I pull Mother Earth energy up through my feet and through my entire being and out into Universe. Finally I listen. I listen for God’s wisdom, angel wisdom, ancient wisdom, or guided wisdom. Sometimes it comes in pictures, sometimes it comes in words, sometimes it comes in numbers. And, sometimes it doesn’t come at all. No matter what occurs during this sacred time, I always come back into consciousness peaceful and happy.
2. Be around children. They are my best teachers for happiness. The simple acts of blowing bubbles, running through sprinklers, singing songs, or making a silly face can bring the gutteral laugh of joy booming out of the smallest child. In the presence of the innocent, happiness is a natural by-product.
3. Get outside. God’s gifts of spiritual happiness are everywhere I look: from a puffy cloud in the shape of an elephant, to the sound of hummingbird wings flapping wildly, to the smell of a lilac bush outside my door. The possibilities of being brought to a sense of gladness are limitless when I pay attention to our natural world.
4. Move the body. Every cell in my body craves movement, although the type of movement varies from day to day. Sometimes my body feels like the steady motion of my bicycle. The rhythmic cadence of my pedals and the wind blowing across my skin brings me joy. Other days my body is more in the mood to be cradled by the water at the hot springs and submerged in its silence. Many times, my body wants to get its groove on. Then it has a mind of its own as it shakes, shimmies, and gyrates to music. Joy pours out of my body in movement.
5. Be surrounded by loving people. I seek people who are expressing happiness and love, and I stick close to them. They have found the secrets to spiritual bliss and the more I am in their presence, the more I discover my own fountain of happiness and love. I give my attention to what I want in my life and steer clear of everything else.

Whatever brings you spiritual happiness, honor it. It is your guide to self discovery and higher levels of consciousness.

Written by Amy Spradlin

Co-Founder

Seeds of Intentions

“Plant Yours Today”

Copyright 2011 Amy Spradlin and Seeds of Intentions

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

John Newton

 Amazing Grace, to me is a very powerful, inspirational song.  Each time I hear someone sing it, its vibration touches me deeply.  Lately the inspirational song has crossed my path a few times, so I thought that I should dive into the word grace and see what meaning it holds for me personally.

Grace, according to the dictionary, means favor or good will.  In the inspirational song, “Amazing Grace”, it’s referring to God’s favor or good will.  But, I think that grace isn’t just reserved for God.  I wonder what the world be like if we attempted to be more God like and extended grace to one another.

Imagine pulling into traffic at 5:00 p.m. and knowing that your drive is going to be slow and long.  Out of the corner of your eye you notice the car next to you attempting to pull in front of you.  You have a choice.  You can say, “I’ll be damned if you’re going to be ahead of me.”, or you can say, “I am going to exercise grace today!” and with a smile and a wave allow that car to be first.

Imagine coming face to face with the person who changed your life.  He or She was the creator of an experience that was pivatol in your past and not in a good way.  You have a choice.  You can hold on to the anger, bitterness, and resentment, or you can offer the greatest gift, the gift of grace.  You can forgive another.

Imagine witnessing a verbal assault or an altercation of some type and instead of pretending that it’s not happening, or walking away, you stop and intervene with loving kindness.  That is a choice made from the heart of grace.

I think that each and every day we are offered many opportunities to be givers of grace and receivers of grace.  Today I am going to be mindful of my actions and am going to go through my day with a spirit of grace.  Maybe you are moved to do that as well. 

I thank God for the gift of grace and appreciate all those loving beings who have extended grace to me.  “Amazing Grace” is a sweet, sweet, sound!

Please enjoy Aretha Franklin singing Amazing Grace.  She truly is channeling the angelic realm. 

Click here to listen.

Written by Amy Spradlin
Co-Founder
Seeds of Intentions
“Plant Yours Today”

Copyright 2011 Amy Spradlin and Seeds of Intentions

Here at Seeds of Intentions, we love good inspirational quotes.  So, we have picked our top 10 favorite inspirational spiritual quotes on love.  Our intention is that you find one that is speaking to you and let it be a guide for the week ahead.

Quote #10

It doesn’t matter how long we may have been stuck in a sense of our limitations. If we go into a darkened room and turn on the light, it doesn’t matter if the room has been dark for a day, a week, or ten thousand years — we turn on the light and it is illuminated. Once we control our capacity for love and happiness, the light has been turned on.

Sharon Salzberg

Quote #9

Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand.
 

Mother Teresa

The thought manifests as the word. The word manifests as the deed. The deed develops into habit. And the habit hardens into character. So watch the thought and its ways with care. And let it spring from love, born out of concern for all beings.

 

Buddah

This sky where we live is no place to lose your wings so love, love, love.

Hafiz

Quote # 6

All you need is love.
 

John Lennon

Quote #5

Through my love for you, I want to express my love for the whole cosmos, the whole of humanity, and all beings. By living with you, I want to learn to love everyone and all species. If I succeed in loving you, I will be able to love everyone and all species on Earth… This is the real message of love.

 

Thich Nhat Hanh

What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.
 

Helen Keller

Some people care too much, I think it’s called love.

 

Winnie the Pooh

Quote #2

Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.

Rumi

We hope at least one of the above  inspirational spiritual quotes on love  was the one you were meant to hear today.  Remember that you yourself are love.

Written by Amy Spradlin
Co-Founder
Seeds of Intentions
“Plant Yours Today”

Copyright 2011 Amy Spradlin and Seeds of Intentions

My kitchen is a mystical place, a kind of temple for me.  It is a place where the surfaces seem to have significance, where the sounds and odors carry meaning that transfers from the past and bridges to the future.

Pearl Bailey

A few years ago, I had my first experience at an ashram, a Hindu hermitage, called Shoshoni Yoga Retreat.  This ashram is tucked away outside of Boulder, Colorado, and I highly recommend spending time at this special place.

The setting is unbelievable, the people are lovely, the yoga is invigorating, and the meditations will send you soaring.  However, that is not only what makes Shoshoni memorable.  Shoshoni is as much known for its vegetarian cuisine, as it is for its yoga.   And truth be told, the dining experience at Shoshoni is one of the main reasons I go back frequently.

What makes the food so special?  Well, each recipe is divinely inspired.  The ingredients are locally grown and fresh.  But, something much more important goes into each dish prepared at Shoshoni.  That something is divine love, shakti. 

As a meal is being created in the kitchen at Shoshoni, the chef seeks to connect with God and disperses that energy into the food.  Ritual is followed during the preparation of each meal and  incorporates blessing of the food, connecting to heart source, and listening to and singing sacred music.  I am telling you, to sit down and eat the food prepared at Shoshoni is a consciousness elevating experience.

Why can’t the every day experience of eating  in our own homes be as sacred as it is at the retreat?  What if we all stopped for a moment when we are cooking, either for ourself or for others, and intentionally prepare the meal with divine love.  I wonder if our meal would be a different experience…one with peacefulness and not mindless hurry, one with harmony and not dissonance.

I’m going to seek spirituality and shakti when I cook from now on and see if  my kitchen and the meals in my home change for the better.  Spirituality should not be saved for a morning meditation or a Sunday communion, it should be incorporated into each moment of the day. 

Bon appetite and may God’s love surround you and your kitchen.

Written by Amy Spradlin
Co-Founder
Seeds of Intentions
“Plant Yours Today”

Copyright 2011 Amy Spradlin and Seeds of Intentions

A mother’s love

like a canyon

the depths disappearing

the width overwhelming

A mother’s love

like a tree

the longevity unending

the resilency withstanding

A mother’s love

like a lupine

the tender healing

the beauty unfolding

like a deer

the gentleness surrounding

the sacrifice overwhelming

A mother’s love

like God’s song

the  voice mesmorizing

the words floating.

A mother’s love.

 

For all you mothers out there, may you know the impact of the love you impart to your children.  For all you daughters out there, may you never forget the gift God  provided called Mother.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Written by Amy Spradlin
Co-Founder
Seeds of Intentions
“Plant Yours Today”

Copyright 2011 Amy Spradlin and Seeds of Intentions

Only do what your heart tells you.
Princess Diana

Princess Diana was wise beyond her years, free spirited even when it was discouraged, and attuned to her heart.  She gave of herself and goodness seemed to ooze out of her.