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News, Notes and
Notions
What Masks Do You Wear?
I'm writing this newsletter on the Jewish holiday of Purim,
which falls just a week or so after Mardi Gras. Most
non-Jews know nothing about this holiday, However, it's one
worth knowing about for a variety of reasons. First, it
celebrates a successful fight against oppression. (You can
read about it here.) Second, it tells the
story of a woman, Esther, who spends a good bit of her
life hiding who she really is--a Jew. When she reveals
her identity, she is able to save her people. This was
her purpose, and by initially hiding behind a
mask--pretending to be someone different--she allowed
herself to be in a position to fulfill her
destiny.
Each year when this holiday comes around I wonder about the
purpose of wearing masks in our lives. Purim, like Mardi
Gras, is celebrated with costumes and masks to remind us of
Esther's hidden identity. We all wear them. Sometimes we
hide behind them. Sometimes we put them on to give us
courage. Sometimes we don them to instill within us the
self-confidence we don't normally have.
Much like the numerous inner selves we possess--the Inner
Child, Inner Critic, Inner Parent, Inner CEO, Inner
Winner--some masks serve us and some hinder us. A mask worn
to help us feel confident when interviewing for a job or
approaching a literary agent (or talking to the king) is
helpful. A mask worn to hide our love for someone may not
be helpful.
Make a list of all the different masks you wear each day or
week. Then determine which ones help or hinder you. Commit
to throwing away the ones that don't serve you any more--or
never have. As for the ones that serve you, wear them
often. Intend tp become what those masks
represent; don't let wearing the mask be the only way you
can possess those characteristics. Let the mask be your
means to developing them.
How Meditation and Conscious Creation Work Together
Anyone who has ever taken a meditation class or tried to
meditate knows how hard it is to follow the basic instruction
to "empty your mind of all thoughts." Our minds constantly
"think," or produce thoughts. That's what they do. The best we
can do as meditators is to watch our thoughts and to release
them--to remain unattached to them.
However, we also can use the "emptying out process" and the
fact that we constantly produce new thoughts as a conscious
creation process. We can empty our mind as best we can or
even a few seconds and then place within it the thought we
want to focus upon--the thought of something we want to
create. This replicates the Divine creation process as the
the Jewish mystics, or Kabbalists, believed it occurred.
The Kabbalists say the world was created by God first
creating space for something other than God to exist. God
was everywhere and everything. So God created a void within
Itself where something else could exist. God then placed a
focused beam of light into the void and with the intention
to create something else did exactly that.
In much the same way, if you can clear your mind of
thoughts for even a few seconds you can replace the
void you create with the focused energy (light) of a
new thought. Then focus upon that thought for a moment
or two, allowing yourself to feel what it would be like
to have actually created whatever it is you are
thinking about. Imagine it created. Now let the thought
go and just dwell in the feeling.
If you want to use creative visualization and meditation
together, begin by imagining yourself as one with God.
Visualize creating a void. Then think about your soul
purpose and what you can create to fulfill that purpose or
how what you want to create can help you fulfill that
purpose. Now place your thought into the void, see it
created and feel what that would like. Experience it.
Imagine yourself sharing that creation with others in a way
that fulfills your purpose. What does that feel like?
Now you have completed a Kabbalistic conscious creation
exercise.
If you are interested in learning more about Kabbalistic
conscious creation, please take a look at my short book,
The Kabbalah of Conscious
Creation, and check my calendar for classes. I have
several introductory teleseminars coming up and a
two-part more-in-depth two-part teleseminar in April
as well.
Are You a Change Agent?
I talk to a lot of people who feel passionate about
changing the world in some way. They may want to
change it one person at a time or on a global
scale. I have a friend who wants to work on 2012
initiatives. I have another friend who feels most
fulfilled when she creates native plant sanctuaries
and another who enjoys simply helping people find
their true calling in life.
Whatever your soul purpose or mission, one of the best
ways to become a change agent involves writing about
what you know. I challenge you, therefore, to begin
reaching out to people with your words. Begin a blog.
Write an article and get it published in a traditional
publication or on line. Write a book and either
traditionally or self-publish it.
So many ways exist today to reach readers--and to touch
them in such a way that they feel changed or moved to
change or to create change. If this interests you, sit
down today and outline your blog, article or book. Then
begin writing. Search out places to submit your work.
And go for it! Don't wait.
The world is in need of change agents. Are you willing
to step up to the challenge?
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What is Pure Spirit
Creations and Who is Nina
Amir? |
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When you tap into
the part of you that was created in the Divine
Image, when you allow your energy to flow from the
place within that is part of the Spirit of the
Universe, you can create anything your heart
desires. Pure Spirit Creations helps you
consciously manifest your dreams by teaching you to
tap into your spirit, find your soul purpose, focus
your thoughts, words and feelings, take inspired
action, and develop the knowing that all is -- and
will be -- well.
To help you
create your visions, achieve your goals and
make your dreams come true, Pure Spirit
Creations offers classes, workshops, lectures,
essays, booklets, newsletters, special reports,
and books designed to help you discover your
purpose, realize your dreams, fulfill your
potential, and live in a meaning-full and
spirit-full manner. Although some of the
teachings and principles offered by Pure Spirit
Creations are Jewish in nature, they can be
used by anyone no matter their religious
background or their spiritual bent.
Nina Amir, your
Inspiration-to-Creation Coach, has spent the
last 30 years on a spiritual journey, which
took her away from her religious roots and then
back home to Judaism once again. While
searching for "something more" in her religious
and spiritual practice and in her life, Amir
studied metaphysics, New Thought, wisdom
traditions, Kabbalah, human potential
techniques, meditation, and a variety of
self-help and self-realization
methods.
Amir's work
incorporates broad metaphysical and spiritual
concepts and applies to Jews and non-Jews
alike. She concentrates her attention both
personally and professionally on infusing
traditional religious rituals with meaning and
Divine connection, on developing positive and
practical spiritual approaches to life and on
learning how to manifest goals and dreams
through conscious use of soul purpose,
thoughts, actions, feelings, and spiritual
practices. Thus, she serves as a "Jewish
spiritual life coach" or what she likes to call
a "Kabbalistic conscious creation coach." In
many ways she is a modern day "maggid," not a
storyteller in the old-fashioned sense but a
wisdom teacher inspiring people to a spiritual
path and to their true calling and their true
selves.
Amir sees
herself as an "Everywoman" whose struggles and
successes are not unlike anyone else's. She
writes and teaches from a place of knowing we
all share similar experiences and what has
worked for her likely will work for others - or
at least it will give them a starting place
from which to find what works best for them.
This is where Amir's spiritual journey meets
her work.
Amir is a
freelance journalist and non-fiction book
writing coach and author advisor, an author,
and a speaker. Also trained as a rebirther, a
Voice Dialogue facilitator and an intuitive
Tarot reader, she combines these skills with
her knowledge of Judaism, spirituality and
human potential and personal growth
techniques to help others live life fully. She
is currently in the process of becoming a life
coach as well.
Plus, Amir is
also the holiday and spirituality expert on
Conversations with Mrs.
Claus, a podcast heard in more than 90
countries and listened to by more than
130,000 people each month.
Amir writes
several blogs and two on-line columns:
As the Spirit Moves Me,
My Son Can Dance,
Write Nonfiction in
November, How to Blog a Book,
Write Nonfiction
NOW,Jewish Issues Examiner
and Self-Improvement
Examiner.
Pure Spirit
Creations
408-353-1943
namir@purespiritcreations
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