The Phoenix Rising Collective

Inspiring Women. Empowering Change.

Monthly Archives: April 2014

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Good Vibes: 4 Ways to Honor and Tap Into Your Intuition

follow your intuition[the phoenix rising collective]

We think, feel, and act on our vibes without question or hesitation. -Sonia Choquette

What are vibes and why should we trust them? Our vibes are our intuition, and we make our best decisions by listening to them.

Learning About Vibes: Aisha’s Story

I only recently got into vibes. I was having a pretty difficult time, with life in general, when Simone (being the lovely friend she is) sent me a book geared at teaching me to trust my vibes. The book Simone sent me was Trusting Your Vibes by Sonia Choquette. I decided to start reading the book at night before bed and low-and-behold, it helped to give me some better insight into this whole vibe thing.

Now that I’m officially on board with the concept of vibes, let me tell you as a beginner what exactly trusting my own vibes has meant to me. There are a few themes that have resonated with me thus far on my journey:

The Importance of Sleep – Wait, What is that Anyway?

Anyone who knows me knows that I have problems with sleep. Mainly my problems with sleep come from just not getting any sleep, or infrequently getting a good night’s rest. Even as I write this, it is 1:47am, and I plan to be up early to go to class. One of the things Choquette suggests in the book is getting sleep, because you can’t listen to your vibes correctly if you are too tired. This resonated with me. As I move toward better listening to my vibes and following my intuition I have begun to focus on trying to get adequate amounts of sleep (if we don’t count tonight).

Paying Attention to What Goes In - Eating Better

Eating right and being nice to your body is also important for being able to pay adequate attention to your vibes. This is one thing that I have begun to refocus on lately, and it has helped. My sister who is on deployment asked me to take part in a fitness challenge with her, which requires that I journal all of my food and liquid consumption and all of my exercise. Taking the time to be conscious of what I am putting in my body has helped me have a better understanding of what listening to my body means.

The Power of Words

I always knew that words had power – but learning about trusting my vibes has solidified this for me. I now understand how what I put out in the form of words can affect my overall being. With that in mind, I’ve been working with a statement that I try to repeat to myself several times throughout the day – that statement for me is “this shall pass” – and so far it has helped immensely.

Your sixth sense is really your first sense. -Sonia Choquette

Trusting My Vibes: Simone’s Story

I love the quote above by Sonia Choquette. A few years ago, my Godmother let me flip through her copy of Choquette’s Trust Your Vibes. I had always thought of myself as very intuitive; however, it was the skim through Choquette’s book that encouraged me to dive deeper into my intuition and spirituality. I read her book just about everyday because it guides me in following spiritual law instead of living a life where I am not in tune with the Universe or myself.

Live in the Moment + Expect the Very Best from the Universe

In the past, I was very anxious, always expecting the worst. However, Choquette’s book has taught me to live in the moment and expect the very best from the Universe. To me, this means focusing on and enjoying what is right in front of me instead of trying to control everything. When I live in the moment, I am able to recognize the love around me: The laughter coming from my friends’ bellies, the mason jar of grapes feeling me with energy, and my cat, Ice T staring a hole into my soul!

Recognizing love, for me, lets me know that everything is already all right. I love being full of laughter, health, and good music, so I stay where good things are and expect them to be good, again and again. In the moment, I know that my power lies in being happy and full of love. If you are thinking about that typo you may or may not have fixed in your final draft, you might miss the opportunity to return a smile to a stranger or miss the sun setting on the way home from class. You could also miss the answers to your prayers. The moment is not only filled with happiness and love, it is also a place of intuition. I’ve learned so much about my life’s purpose and myself just by observing the colors, sounds, animals, buildings, etc. that surround me. I often say what I observe aloud or mentally; for example, “Ice T is snoring!” This technique helps me to recognize the love and beauty that surrounds me, which in turn, keeps me happy and full of positive energy.

Four Ways To Honor/Tap Into Your Intuition

We have complied a list of ways to stay in the moment and tap into your intuition. Get ready to trust your vibes, baby!

  1. Create a Personal Altar - You can use your altar to connect with your spirit, intuition, and God. You can place pictures of family, candles, plants, purified water, and healing stones on your altar to help you connect with the deeper parts of yourself. Visit your altar everyday, and give thanks for guidance.
  2. Keep an Intuition Journal - Create a journal to document your intuitive moments. Did you know you’d win those front row tickets to the Beyoncé concert? Write it down. Did you decide to take another way home and later discover that there had been a huge accident on your usual route? Write it down. The more we write down our intuitive moments and give thanks for our vibes, the more empowered we are to think positively and live in the moment.
  3. Meditate / Yoga - “When you listen you become intuitive.” Meditation really encourages you to be still. In our experiences, being still helps us to become aware of the thought patterns, habits, etc. that keep us from accessing our vibes. Moreover, being still gives us the opportunity to listen to ourselves and connect with our intuition. Yoga does the same for us. And the plus with yoga is that we get both a physical and spiritual “workout.”
  4. Eat Well + Sleep Well + Exercise - As Aisha mentioned, a healthy body is a great starting point for tapping into your intuition. When you’re rested and full of energy, you are more likely to feel your vibes.

 

Listening to our vibes has worked wonders in our lives. We’ve presented excellent papers at conferences, started new activities, met new people, and have been laughing so much more. Oh, and we’ve found missing bobby pins in the moments where we’ve stopped to cook ourselves a nice breakfast. Yes, bobby pins are everywhere!

So, tell us, have you trusted your vibes lately? If not, when will you begin?

Recommended Resources:

Making Positive Change Happen in Your Life: Awesome Tips and Creative Ways to Achieve Your Personal Goals

Check Out My Altar (and Learn to Make Your Own)

Trust Your Vibes: Secret Tools for Six-Sensory Living by Sonia Choquette

 

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About the Contributing Writers:

AISHA_BLOG[PHOTO]Aisha Upton is a second-year PhD student at the University of Pittsburgh, studying Sociology and Women’s Studies. Her research interests include Black women in service organizations and violence against Black women. She is passionate about many things including community service, lipstick, baking, thrifting, knitting, and being a proud owner of a Cockapoo, Napoleon. At the intersection of being a diligent student, a fashionista, and an activist – you will find Aisha, attempting to find a balance. Be sure to read Aisha + Simone’s unique take on Life + Style and the importance of letting who you are shine through when defining your personal style.

 

SimonePic3Simone Savannah is an English instructor and contributing writer for the Project on the History of Black Writing at the University of Kansas. She is currently pursuing a PhD in English-Creative Writing and Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies. Her poetry is based on personal experiences she can’t let go—imagined or otherwise. Simone also enjoys making green smoothies, attending Bikram Yoga classes, and laughing uncontrollably. Simone is teaming with Aisha (read about her below) to bring you a unique take on Life + Style.

traci_currie[contributor]the phoenix rising collective


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INSPIRATION: What Shall I Be for Those in Front of Me?

I used to tell people, “I am an open book. Ask me anything.” HA! What a joke. Those who know me well, know that I am NOT an open book. I am a journal under lock and key. If you are fortunate to be in the ‘Traci Currie Secret Society’ you will also know that I come from an air-no-dirty-laundry sect. If you think I’m playing, talk to my parents and let’s see how much information you get out of them about who we really are. Your mind is whizzing around at this moment wondering, “Who is this woman?” Well, it’s no major secret. I am partially being silly. But it is my silliness that inspires who I enjoy being in certain arenas. The arena I choose to focus on is the artistic world. Who and what do I want to be when I am standing in front of people and am about to spit poetry or teach a class or demonstrate something artistic? the_unnecessary_woman[rabih alameddine] the phoenix rising collectiveI will respond by referring to An Unnecessary Woman written by Rabih Alameddine. I chose this example because it made me want to LET GO! BE FREE! LAUGH! Letting go of oneself lightens the load and allows inspiration to take flight from every direction. So here we go – let’s fly. I just recently finished listening to An Unnecessary Woman as an audiobook - one of the most enlightening ever! It’s about a 72-year old reclusive, divorced, book-loving fanatic who has translated 37 books in Arabic but has never published any of her translations. Aaliya, the protagonist, who is from Beirut and has lived through the Lebanese Civil War, makes it clear that she does not like people, can barely be in the presence of her own mother for long periods, and spends her time quoting philosophers – that’s of course when she is not translating books or being harassed by her neighbors she refers to as “The Witches.” I love this story! Why? Because Aaliya makes me laugh. She is sarcastic. Literally. She’s what many people would call an honest to goodness “smart ass.” It is this wit and sarcasm that makes me double over in laughter because the text is bold and so blatantly honest. She says the things I think many of us would like to say but instead keep our thoughts hidden in our minds and hearts. When she talks about her impotent ex-husband, you can’t help but laugh; when she talks about her energetic grand-niece who seems to talk at the oddest moments, you laugh even harder; when she talks about enjoying her own company because humans make her uncomfortable, you wonder about her existence and realize that she survives because she is surrounded by her first love – books. When I started this audiobook, I didn’t know what to expect. I thought she might be a recluse based on the synopsis I read, but I did not know that Alameddine’s brilliant unlayering of this woman would be so engulfing and full of humor. The most important thing for me to note is that half the inspiration is from the author. The other half is from Suzanne Toren’s narration. It is amazing what she does with her voice. For 10+ hours I sat in this imaginary classroom filled with beauty, aged wisdom, oral history, endless cynicism, and love. Unrequited love, might I add.

Rabih Alameddine

Alameddine showed me how to be free with words; and how to share one’s story with the hope that someone might be touched by an angel. Granted, consider the title An Unnecessary Woman. Aaliya is considered unnecessary. Unwanted. Expendable. Useless. But she is not. Her story is very necessary and quite important. She is the angel. Toren, the narrator, on the other hand, showed me that what one does with the content when shared orally, can make or break a story. She is a spoken word artist, in my humble opinion. She caught my eye. Or my ear. I wanted to sit in her classroom for hours and even ask questions about the protagonist’s “screaming mother” she referred to repeatedly or the endless collection of books that she spoke of so often. In other words, I wanted to inquire because she spoke in a way that drew me in. I fell in love with Aaliya! Is that possible to fall in love with a character? Of course it is! I even wondered for a moment if she would find me interesting and wish to be in my company even for one hour every other week. It can’t be “every week” – let’s not forget, she doesn’t like people, but I think she just might like ME. I was inspired by a character who talked of her disbelief in God; her disdain for most humans, including her family; and her ability to quote men and women I have never heard of but am slightly interested in researching. There may be differences between me and the character, but I was enchanted by her story, her honesty, her wit and the ability to inspire. This example made me think of the character’s choice to be both an open-and-shut book. She keeps to herself, yet she ironically shares her story. Granted, I know this is fiction, but I believe it is a story that is not far from someone’s truth. I suspect when you catch inspiration at the right time, it (inspiration, that is) opens up in whatever form bestowed, and it allows you to sit and imbibe everything it has to offer. Then, after you have been inspired, you get to decide whether or not you want to be the open book. Yes, I believe there is a right time and place for me to open myself up and give of myself freely so that I can inspire the way Alameddine, Toren, and Aaliya have inspired me. So I ask again, who do I want to be on whatever artistic stage I stand? I want to be inspirational. That’s it. What the audience does with the inspiration is their decision. ____________________________________________

About the Contributing Writers:

traci_currie_profile[photo]Traci Currie is a Communication and Visual Arts lecturer at University of Michigan-Flint, as well as a knit-crochet artist, writer, and spoken word performer. She has been a part of the art world for over 15 years as an art gallery board member; spoken word series organizer; performer, nationally and internationally; and published poet. She believes the PRC will help young women reach their highest potential. “This organization is about empowering women to take ownership of their lives, claim their identities and be the positive change they wish to see in the world they live.” Read her latest posts here.


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SELF-LOVE TIP OF THE DAY: I Let Go of the Need to be Perfect!

 

We were searching for a bit of inspiration for the Self-Love Tip of the Day and found that this definitely hit the mark! Perfectionism…LET. IT. GO. once and for all.

You are complete just as you are in this moment. Embrace it. Healthy striving is a focus on reaching attainable goals, understanding that even when you make mistakes along the way there is something to be learned from them, too. It’s a balanced motivation for self-improvement that supports wellness. “Healthy striving is self-focused: “How can I improve?” Perfectionism is other-focused: “What will they think?” -Brene Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection

Shout-out to Samantha Marie Davis (designer) for creating this awesome bag as a reminder to let go of being perfect! Interested in the bag? Check out Lipstick Affirmations.

Create the day you want, Phoenix! Be self-love in action.

 


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SELF-LOVE TIP OF THE DAY: Support Other Women. Create an Empowered Network.

affirmation_women_networking[phoenix rising collective]1

Women supporting other women, it’s alright. -Ledisi

Yes, it’s as simple as this quote. (We absolutely love it, by the way!) Women need to support one another in our commitment to being better - personally, spiritually, professionally, and emotionally, as there is strength and empowered action in numbers!

Create a positive sister circle, or as one of our contributing writers calls it, “My Goddess Squad,” who believe in what you want for your life, and also believe that there’s enough to go around. We’ve heard it before, “What’s meant for you will be for you.” In other words, if it’s yours, no one can take it away. The universe will open to give it to you in one way or another at the perfect time. And if your Goddess Squad believes this, too, there’s no room for envy, jealousy, and coveting what the next person has. So, do away with that deficit thinking by choosing more positively affirming thoughts and actions, and make one of those actions selecting a circle of women that supports your deepest dreams, goals, and desires.

In essence, keep doing the work (and only you know what that entails). Be patient. Celebrate the process. Remain open. Network with like-minded women. And lastly, support one another on your awesome paths to appointed greatness! You never know; a sister in your divine network may have (or knows someone who has) the perfect opportunity you’ve been patiently waiting to seize. “Women supporting other women, it’s alright.” In fact, it’s more than alright. It’s beautiful.

Be self-love in action. Happy Wednesday.

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