I have done a lot of letting go in my life as I've traveled down the road of self discovery. I had to let go of an entire identity as a "college educated engineer" in order to become a psychic. I had to let go of a stable job to have my spiritual career. I had to let go of a marriage and numerous relationships in my past in order to create a beautiful relationship with myself. And even now, even with all I teach, I still find more things within me that must be released.

Take two weeks ago for example. I know the stress of the fire in my neighborhood was the straw that broke the camel's back so to speak in terms of creating the physical pain I was in, however I also know enough to realize that for stress to affect me that deeply something within needed addressing as well. The angels, as always, were direct. They pointed out that I had some very hurt feelings that I was trying to ignore that had begun a month ago, and that I needed to let myself be human, rant and rave and cry in private. It was true. Life was going so well and then a month ago I learned that there was some very malicious gossip going on about a friend and I. I tried not to let it bother me, but apparently it did and as I saw first hand, again, stuffing emotions leads to nasty conditions in the body. I know this. I teach it. And at times I need to learn it all over again. Dr. Peebles, the angel that comes through my friend Summer was very kind and yet very d irect. "You're hurting my dear! Its time for Ann here to have a little bit of love and solace in her life; peace and comfort. Its time for you to say to yourself I'm sick and tired of being used, abused, distrusted and disrespected,not acknowledged, misjudged and having malcontent thrown at my face, and on and on it goes my dear. You can't just simply shrug that stuff off because you're a human being." I knew he was right.

And so, since I had plenty of down time, I prayed for God to help me release every pent up frustration or tear that I had stuffed in my body over the years. Boy oh boy, did they ever! I cried into towels, not tissues! I ranted into imaginary trash cans and asked the angels to toss the upsets! And with every emotion I let go, my stomach unknotted even further. It was quite tangible and very amazing. After being in excruciating pain for over five days, suddenly my entire body was unwinding and healing in record time! Truly the soul is in charge and when we shift our energy, things can change rather rapidly.

I still had more down time since I was pretty much confined to the couch, so I looked at my life and realized I needed to release some old habits to make room for all I wanted to achieve and share with the world. Immediately I cut back on my emails, started eating meals on time without exception, and started ignoring interruptions so I could do one thing at a time. I vowed never to stuff an emotion again! And suddenly I was feeling joy again! I was inspired again! I suddenly had energy for the projects that I never seemed to get to. I had time to sit with God and my own heart each day. I started getting completely excited about the class I'm teaching in two weeks, and started getting extremely productive in my non-client hours as well. It felt so good to be in that space again! I could hardly believe that I had been in such awful pain just a week ago. Suddenly my spirit came to life again.

It wasn't rocket science. I simply had to rid myself of some activities that were not authentically in my heart to make room for those that were. I had to rid myself of toxic emotions rather than stuffing them. I had to change a few old habits to make more room for me and my own heart in my life. These changes while obvious from the outside looking in, are not always obvious when we get stuck in the routines and ruts of our lives. I now realize I have to schedule time at least once a week, and hopefully more often, for a "spiritual inventory" to make sure I'm putting my own priorities first. And I am going to be doing a lot more letting go of what no longer serves me as I notice it in my life. It is freeing to let go of what does not work. It is hard sometimes. But I have never once seen a truly and deeply fulfilled individual who puts everyone else's needs before their own. Instead it seems that the people who serve most in the world through joy are also the ones that are m ost true to their own hearts. I want to be that! And so it will be.

Take inventory this week. See what serves you and what does not. See if you can let go of just one thing that no longer serves you - be it a belief, a habit, an old commitment to something that no longer brings you joy, a way of being that doesn't work, etc. Let go and see how much lighter and happier it makes you feel to be that much more authentic in your own life!

It has been a very exciting couple of weeks - too exciting really for my tastes. Last week on Tuesday, a client didn't show up on time. I hadn't felt like checking my phone messages the previous evening so when she was not at the door, I sat down and listened. Sure enough she had called the day before with apologies. It was too late to put anyone in the empty slot so I just listened to my heart and went out to the back yard to relax. Within minutes I started smelling smoke - the bad kind. I checked my house, checked my neighbors', and then it occurred to peek over my fence. I have a small drainage canal behind me and then another row of houses. Sure enough the house diagonally behind me had smoke coming from its back corner.

I ran for the phone and dialed 911, all the while watching the fire grow. Soon it wasn't just smoke, but large flames I saw lapping over the 6' fence. My adrenaline shot through the roof. The 911 operator took the call and as soon as I was off the phone, it occurred to me that on this very windy day, sparks might fly because the wind was blowing my direction. In my dress clothes, I hauled the hose to the far back corner of my yard and proceeded to hose down my dry trees and the neighbors as well. The flames kept growing. The fire department arrived and at long last put the fire out. It appeared there was only one burnt wall of the home involved and some of their back yard. No sparks had flown and I fell to my knees thanking God for the fact that I hadn't checked calls last night, for the cancellation, for listening to my desire to go out back and rest, and for the fact that the entire neighborhood as a result hadn't been affected by fire. It shook me to the co re to once again realize how truly powerless we are in some senses, and yet how truly powerful our souls can be.

Nevertheless, the stress of the situation registered in my body. I'm so sensitive I cannot afford to get off kilter emotionally. Within a few days the abdominal discomfort I've been experiencing turned to pain. I chalked it up to stress but when, Friday night I bloated out to the size of a pregnant woman about to give birth and found myself up all night in excruciating pain I feared the parasites from last year may have made a comeback. I knew I would not be able to work as a result and rescheduled all my clients this week. I resigned to just take the parasite cures and tough it out since there is not much else to do. However, when there was no relief three days later and I hadn't been able to sleep, eat, or lay down due to excruciating pain, I knew something else was going on. I just didn't know what. I reached out to all my amazing friend and the help came pouring in.

I was blessed to get a reading with my friend Summer Bacon who channels Dr. Peebles. Apparently, I did have a few parasites, but the real pain was being caused by a twisted valve between my large and small intestine and nothing was moving and the pressure had just been building and building.The angels, in spirit, helped me untwist the valve and gave me a whole host of instructions - both physical and spiritual to get me back to normal. Within hours I was feeling some relief and within two days I looked like more like just a swollen human again instead of a walrus.

The whole thing really brought me to my knees and made me once again think about how powerless we are in the human sense, and yet how powerful we are in terms of the spiritual. I had to give up control. I had to cancel clients not knowing how I'd make up the lost time and income. I still don't know but God always fixtures that out. I had to rely on friends who came out of the woodwork to help me. Some got me needed supplies. Many sent healing energy and all prayed like crazy. My dear friend Susan Palmer did remote healing sessions on me that were a godsend and offered the only relief I felt all day till I got untwisted. She is amazing. I felt so blessed to be surrounded by so much love.

So once again I am reminded that security does indeed rest in God. Had God not set things up so I could see the fire and call 911 it might have been horrible for the neighborhood. Had God not directed me to reach out to friends and actually ask for help, for once, I might have had a serious medical crisis on my hands... or worse. And yet all the while, in spite of these scary events, the care, the assistance, and the guidance was there. I just had to listen, reach out, and receive.

No matter what life throws you, you are cared for in so many ways, beyond anything you might realize. You might have to be humbled at times and reach out for help. You might have to trust that what looks like an inconvenience is a blessings. You might have to surrender and we are not in control so much after all. And yet, the Divine presence within us IS in control, and that is where all solutions and answers reside.

I am very happy with my life overall these days. However, I do take inventory frequently and as I looked into all areas of my life, I saw one glaring spot in which I was not feeling bliss - and that was the area of my physical well being. I'm not sick by any means, but after injuring my foot in 2004, I never really got my physical structure back in balance. From time to time I did exercises, yoga, tai chi, etc, and although I love these disciplines, I recently started to feel that I needed more personal and specific attention to get my structure back in order.

I made a clear intention to be once again get strong, flexible, and aligned in my physical body. I know all manner of teachers and healers in the physical arena that I absolutely love, but I have never had clear direction on who to turn to for this help. Furthermore I've been somewhat reluctant to commit to large blocks of time away from home because I have so much at home I want to do! Finally one morning last week, it dawned on me to simply give the problem to heaven! I prayed, "God let me know very quickly and obviously who can best at this time in my life, assist me in becoming strong, flexible, and aligned. Please make this easy, convenient, affordable, and fun. Thank you."

Within two minutes I received a new friend request on facebook and thought nothing of accepting it. I pretty much view everyone as a friend! This new gentleman wrote back immediately and asked me if I would "LIKE" his business page. Ends up he is a personal trainer ten minutes from my home who specializes in strength and stretch flexibility training! His passion is helping people recover from surgery or injury. He also knows nutrition. Really! The angels outdid themselves on this one! It was obvious, easy, convenient, affordable, and I'm sure, it will be fun. So I had my first session this week and already feel encouraged. Neither pinball machines nor angel communicators are meant to "tilt" and I have been "tilted" far too long!

I talk to many people who, like me, have made decisions in the past that still affect them today. If I had it to do all over again, given the wisdom I have today, I would NOT have attempted to jump on a sawed off tree stump half my height in my tai chi instructor's back yard after he told me I was not strong enough to do it! Seven years later I'm still paying the consequences of that decision. However, the good news is that our life begins anew with each breath we breathe. If you don't like what you created in the past you always do something about it now, be it changing your attitude, your actions, your beliefs, or behaviors. I'm no longer willing to accept the pains of my past in any way, shape, or form. Life begins now, and now, and now again! And in this new breath that I breathe, in my new life beginning right now, I'm starting to get stronger, more flexible, and once again joyously excited to be in a human body that works wonderfully well!

Once again the magic of the universe revealed itself on a beautiful day hike in the mountains. A few weeks ago Mt. Humphrey kept showing up in my visions. It is a majestic and beautiful sacred moutain in Flagstaff. For me, it carries the vibration of intense peace. This was the week the earthquake shook the east coast followed by Miss Hurricane Irene. I think the angels wanted me to just go up and "be" and put some stable ripples in the cosmic pond. At any rate, I was happy to oblige.

The day began sunny and beautiful with a few white puffy clouds (see the picture above!). My friend and I ate a lunch in utter stillness in the aspens. There were no sounds but the breeze blowing through the trees, the humming insects, and singing birds. It was absolute peace. I sat in awe of the surroundings, feeling more graced than if I were in the most majestic cathedral built by man. After a good 45 minutes of this we both got the urge to hike and visit a tree we had good naturedly dubbed "Scary Tree." Although his form is dead, he reaches high into the sky with branches that look like arms about to grab you! He makes us laugh! Scary tree has always had a spirit much like a playful old grandpa, teasing his grandkids by pretending to scare them. We always giggle when we visit.

This time, however, as we emerged from the aspens, crossed the meadow and headed to this friendly tree spirit, he was rather stern. My friend commented on it. "What's up?" I telepathically asked him. "You ladies need to get moving!" he said. "Can we visit you?" I asked. "Yes but you can't stay long and I mean it!" he replied. My word! So we went and hugged the tree, but again he told us to get going. It was all so unusual, that we finally listenend and heeded the warning. Halfway back across the meadow we turned and looked back. The beautiful white puffy cloud overhead had suddenly blown up and was turning dark and ominous. We felt electrial sensations at the top of our heads and running through out hands. Needless to say, we got moving! Thanks to the tree spirit's warning we got in the car and made it most of the way down the mountain before the skies broke loose with lightning, torrential rain, and hail! We quickly drove out from under it back into the sunshine!

So many times I have received warning signals from the universe. Years ago, I was leaving to go somewhere on a hot summer day, wearing a skirt. The sudden urge to change into pants, grab a book and a water bottle came over me. I did. The car broke down and I was prepared. "Why didn't you tell me my car was going to break down?" I asked!! "Would you have called work and said that you couldn't come becuase your car was going to break?" they asked. Never mind. I knew they were right!

So if you do listen to the little urges, or the loud voices, you can bet on being safe, protected and guided. When the earthquake hit Virginia I got an email from Dad, "I'm home. We don't know where mom is yet." I had no fear. She felt fine. I later learned she had rock and rolled with mother earth on the third story of a swaying building but got out without incident and, being mom, decided to go to the grocery store to get her blueberry muffin ingredients! It was a horrid mess so she offered to help clean up. The manger declined but appreciated her kindness and she got her ingredients. Amazing. This coming from a woman who just had a cancer biopsy (she's clean!) and is facing hip replacement surgery this year. She is in tune with her guidance and listens. I called her before the hurricane to say I felt she'd be fine. She confirmed it. "I don't feel funny," she told me. "It'll be ok." Sure enough it was. And we are praying for al l those who didn't get off so easy.

Resolve to listen to your little urges and voices. In doing so you will be guided to a much smoother existence! And if you want more of this, come join me at Dancing with Angels next month where we learn to listen to everything!

As many of you know, I often take off and drive up north on a whim, going where my spirit calls me. I rarely have a plan. More often I toss everything I might need in the car and see where I end up. These are my favorite days. One day a month or so ago, a friend went with me. We ended up swimming in the creek and relaxing until all of the sudden, the forest began to beckon me. I didn't hear voices this time. I simply felt a tug to get up and walk along a little pathway into the woods. My friend, being of like mind, was up for the adventure.

The forest is always magical to me. It teems with so much life that the energy is palpable. I feel the strength and flexibility of the trees, the exited buzz of the insects, the happy chirping of the birds, and the joyful bubbling of the creek as it bounces over the rocks. The fertile soil smells good, and in the later afternoon the sun-baked leaves give off an almost tropical smell. Just walking in this energy is like being in nature's spa! But today there was more magic in store. I stopped in front of a tree whose trunk was hollowed out and dead on one side - the result of being hit by lightning most likely many years ago. Three of the five original trunks that sprouted from this Cottonwood were still growing but the other two were long gone and the dead center of the tree was a mecca for caterpillars, spiders, and other insects who made their home in its decaying bark. I was fascinated by the universe in front of me. In spite of the fact that this wasn't a very pretty sight, I pulled out my camera. Lo and behold, the reason for stopping was revealed in the viewfinder. A huge orb with the rainbow beams of sunshine shining through it showed up. I got excited! "Look at this!" I told my friend and we marveled at what was there in front of us, invisible to the eye, but now showing up through the lens.

"Hi!" I tentatively said to the orb. I clearly heard, "You can stand in me." My friend and I took turns standing there with the orb centered around our hearts. As we did so, heat shot up and down our spines, and we received chiropractic adjustments as the energy worked through our bodies. The heart energy was HUGE and the feeling of well being that permeated us was amazing. "I am always with you," I heard ever so clearly. "Can I merge with you?" I asked the tree spirit. "By all means," she replied. "I am always with you. We are part of each other, made from the same spirit." As I asked to merge with the tree, my feet began to buzz and I felt roots of energy digging into the earth mingling with the network of roots beneath. The tree showed me in pictures how its roots were intertwined with the roots of all the trees and plants nearby, exchanging information, and what felt like comfort! The tre es were touching toes in a way! Who knew! I continued to just "be" and to feel the tree. It felt like energy started to extend from my fingers and I felt what it feels like to grow branches. About this time I was reminded I had a human body when I noticed a tickling sensation at my ankles! Caterpillars had started to climb up my legs! Real ones! These little guys were all over the tree, but none had been on me until I merged with the tree's energy! I came back into my own skin and helped the little guys off my ankles and back onto the real bark.

Even now, sitting in my office, I can shut my eyes and remember the feeling, and I am once again rooted, and branching out, remembering that the whole universe does indeed work in a beautiful spirit of cooperation.

All this magic occurred because I simply followed a few small urges - to take a walk in the woods, to stop in front of a half dead tree, and to point the camera. You never know where your little urges will lead. Sometimes the urge to stop at Starbucks is just to give yourself a treat. Sometimes it is to share a little light with the clerk or have them share a little light with you. Or maybe, you'll smile at a stranger and find your new best friend. You just never know! Trust the movement in your heart and see where it leads you this week.

We've all heard it. "Don't should on me!" And yet we "should" on ourselves all the time!! Just a few weeks ago I started a creative project that I loved but I got sucked into the need to "get it done" because I had a little "should" running that said, "Once you start on something you need to finish it asap." The joy slowly started to get sucked out of this project that I loved because it had become just one more item on the "to do" list rather than something I was doing for joy. I stopped, switched gears, and will be working on it leisurely now as it gives me pleasure.

So many "shoulds" have colored my life. I fought with my hair my entire life only to discover it is easier to allow it to dry naturally, using a blowdryer only in the winter when it is cold out! I was 'nice' to everyone instead of being truthful in my past. I said yes when I meant "no" because I didn't' want to offend anyone. I offended my soul instead! I went to college and became an electrical engineer because I knew I "should" use my good brain in some sort of brainy way. I totally ignored my love of writing and the creative arts. Those were "hobbies." I knew I had to get a "serious" career. I did. And I didn't love it at all. One more "should" went out the window as I switched to be an angel communicator.

Even when I got honest about my new career, I was riddled with "shoulds." I dressed the way I thought I "should" in such a profession. The long goddess gowns that Doreen Virtue wears look beautiful on her but absolutely ridiculous on me! I'm short and they don't match MY personality. I like sparkles. Now I dress for my inner fairie more often. For years, I acted the way I thought a spiritual instructor "should" act. Tasteful. Tame. I censored my speaking. The truth is I'm not all that! I'm rambunctious, feisty, and have a corny sense of humor in addition to the huge compassion I feel for humanity. The more I became myself, the more enjoyable my classes have been for me and my students. Over the years I have had to unlearn my shoulds and have learned to just be me. It feels so much better. And the more I am me, the more comfortable I am letting others be who they are as well, with no need to fix or change and only a desire to love .

One of my favorite series on TV is the "Food Network Star" series. I like it for two reasons. Obviously it is about food and I love food. But even more than that, the stars are stretched beyond their comfort zone as they are asked to bring their authentic selves to the forefront and to be real in front of the camera. This is not one of those "reality" shows where people parade around acting like spoiled divas, but rather a series in which people are asked to share their hearts, their stories, and their own unique point of view! I love it! Those are life skills we all need to hang on to. Who you are is who God designed you to be and there is nothing wrong with that. You are part of the big puzzle of life and we will all fit life when we start being ourselves and trying to fit others' notions of who we "should" be. Look at the word, "GURU". A real Guru's wisdom is simply telling you, "GEE YOU ARE YOU! G.U.R.U.!" How funny is that :)!

Next time you feel compelled to be anything other than who you really are in the moment, think again. You are loving. You are kind. And you can lovingly and kindly be honest with the world about who you want to be. Say what is true for you, kindly. Dress in ways that make you feel happy and good. Eat what your body is craving rather than what the books say you should. Do the things that give you joy. Life is indeed too short to try to be something other than who we are.

So many times in my life my angels have reminded me to create my life from the inside out. Looking back I realize that I only feel lack when I fail to acknowledge my abundance. If I take time to admire my flowers, or the beautiful sky or the songs of the birds, I feel rich. After all, isn't that why we all want more money... to enjoy life! Why not enjoy it now. I make the same amount I have for years and my bills have gotten more huge and yet I take better care of myself and therefore feel greater abundance. When I used to worry about money, clients would cancel last minute, bills would pile up. Now I just trust in the security of God's care and everything always works out no matter how crazy it might look.

I went through years of my life feeling lonely and sorry for myself after a string of very silly relationships in my thirties. I wanted someone to come into my life and make it all better - to make up for all the bad choices *I* had made!! Of course that didn't happen! If a guy had come up to me saying, "I've made a string of bad relationship choices and feel burnt out, abused, lonely, and a bit put out with relationships in general. Would you come date me and make it all better?" Well I'd RUN! And vibrationally, that was the type signal I was sending out! Can you imagine! If we could only see the signals we send, we'd understand why we have what we've got! Needless to say the angels worked with me on self-love, self-care and so much more and I now feel surrounded by more love and joy than I have ever had in my life, and in so many different ways that I am overflowing with gratitude. Life still has its challenges but they just don't seem daun ting anymore. The love is there. The trust is there. I know God cares.

Life does start to change from the inside out. Outer bandaids solve the problems we think we have on the surface, but the true fixes start from within. The choices to be kind to yourself start within. The choice to accept kindness and walk away from anything else start within. The choice to sit still and let God and the angels love you starts within. The choice to trust God in spite of appearances starts within. These are the choices that once made, over and over again, whether you feel like it or not, change your life. These are the true fixes and the path to true joy.

Love is available right now. Feelings of abundance are available now. Make one good choice after the next to seek out what you already have inside yourself. Love yourself even if you feel sad or pissy or scared. Its a start. Pray to feel secure. Pray for direction. But for this second, just this moment, sit still, ask yourself what you want within your power to feel or create, right now, and give that gift to yourself.