September 2008

Many are the names of God and infinite the forms
through which He may be approached.
- Ramakrishna, 18th century Indian Sage

When we hear the word yoga most of us think of conscious movement, repetitions of downward facing dogs, sweaty palms, and deep breathing. I find it inspiring that so many in our culture are inhabiting their bodies more, and channeling the built-up stresses of a restless spirit into conscious mind-body practice. Even as a practitioner myself, I have always known that modern-day yoga is a secular by-product of a spiritual tradition that dates back centuries.

In my recent studies as an enthusiastic grad student (see announcement about AIHT!), I have been skimming the surface of my coursework. I was immediate drawn into some writings on Hinduism and the origins of yoga. Simplified, "yoga is a method of training designed to lead to integration or union." And while we are accustomed to a practice designed to unify body and mind through movement (making it more marketable and accessible to a secular world hungry for fitness and stress-relief), the origins of yoga reveal greater depth and meaning.

To simplify, four paths are available to actualize the human potential through yoga. Raja Yoga (the way through psychophysical exercise) is what many modern-day practices have been derived from. Other paths include: Karma Yoga (the way through work and action), Bhakti Yoga (the way through love and devotion), and Jnana Yoga (the way through knowledge and wisdom). The Hindu faith believes that all paths - yes, even those of other religions - lead to the same ultimate destination: integration with the Infinite (spirit by any name is one and the same). The four paths of yoga acknowledge that different human temperaments approach their relationship to the Divine uniquely. Peering more closely into yoga as a multidimensional practice has opened my eyes to what it means to be a yoga practitioner and a human.

Too often we reject the most wonderful aspects of a spiritual tradition we know little about because we have an all-or-none mentality. But what if we replaced that with an all-is-one mentality and embraced the brilliance ignited within as the truest teaching, while learning from a variety of sources?

If you feel so inspired, join me this month and expand your practice as a yogi or yogini to "embrace the many paths." Simplify the essence of each and then choose the medicine that speaks to your need in the moment. Maintain awareness of your mental and physical energy and keep movement alive through life as a meditation (raja yoga). Allow more of your actions to become thoughtful and a selfless expression of the Life moving through you (karma yoga). Express love and devotion towards the form and formlessness that Spirit takes in your life (bhakti yoga). And intuit and discern between that which is real and lasting truth and that which is the illusory and fleeting dance of the ego (jnana yoga).

Remember, what moves you at your deepest core is what matters to your life most in the moment. Claim your personal practice of growth and transformation. Stay alive and open in the now. And embrace all paths that bring you home to the Universal Divine. Take what speaks to you, and let the rest go by.

Honoring All As One,
Candice

August 2008

At the deepest level, the level of the soul, you are the author of everything that happens to you. - Deepak Chopra

Inner Authority. It is an essential component in following one's own path of brilliance. The word "authority" implies both a sense of sovereignty and, perhaps less obviously, the ability to author and/or create an outcome. Inner Authority (Mahatma Gandhi called it soul force) places the power to create back in your heart and hands. Soul Force is hard-wired to override evidence (or opinions) to its contrary. It is a knowing that, at times, defies reason. And due to its unreasonable and unworldly nature, it brings you closer to the Divine.

Through experience in working with my own internal guidance and authority, I have learned to trust it. When I resist the guidance that I receive within (usually due to fear of failure or judgment), my outer world begins to express symptoms of my soulular discomfort. If I push my limits, my body may begin to shut down or pack on the pounds. If I continue to do something that no longer inspires me, conflicts may begin to emerge or money may stop flowing freely. All in all, my life seems to be divinely orchestrated; I only need have the courage to respond to its cues.

In this month's recommended reading, Deepak Chopra lists what he calls the Three Requirements to be Happy on The Soul Level. He invites us to ask the following questions:

Do I act without effort?
Do I feel joy in what I do?
Are my actions bringing results?

He very plainly put into words the process that I have been going through over the past few months. I am delighted to report that I am taking steps to shift the order of my everyday so that I can again answer an emphatic YES! to each of the above.

Now what about you? How is your soul represented in your everyday? Your physical reality is a reflection of your soulular alignment...yes, at all times. Are you making choices that are in integrity with the truth of you, the highest expression of who you can be at this moment? If so, Grace will walk alongside you as an ally. Or it may be that you are ready to make some space for your soul's deepest truths to emerge with more ease. Choices, one at a time, are all that stand between you and the deepest level of joy and fulfillment you could ever know.

Saying Yes Now,
Candice

June 2008

It's choice...
that determines your destiny.
Jean Nidetch

As a coach, I come across people everyday who are in a season of transition. Often I sit with a client as she weighs her options in regards to the various aspects of life. Be it venturing out on a new career path, taking a relationship to the next level, or rising from a season of depression, people come looking for a container of grace in which all facets of a situation can be seen more clearly.

Through experience, I have learned the power of language as a tool for transformation. The simple act of attending to our inner dialogue has the power to change the course of our thinking...and of our lives. When teaching exercises in conscious communication (stay tuned, workbook coming soon!), I suggest we flag certain words in order to shift the flow of energy in our minds and hearts. This creates a reset function in regards to our thinking and can be the key ingredient to shift a mental construct for good.

Make Choices vs. Decisions

When I hear a client say..."I need to decide, and I'm just not sure what to do." It is then I know that choice is the medicine of the moment. To decide in a moment of ambivalence forces a false sense of finality to the present moment. I invite us to honor the now of our reality, rather than focusing on the how (which is a function of the future, taking us out of the moment). Sometimes when we feel pressure to make decisions (knowing how), rather than choices (knowing now), we inadvertantly disempower ourselves. We make assumptions about the future and add unnecessary weight to our choices - assuming we know where each will lead us over time. We bind ourselves to a way of being that may serve us in the moment, yet not necessarily long-term. And, most of all, we rob ourselves of the freedom to experience the miracle that is a change of heart.

Choices are authentic, in-the-moment, and ever-changing - as are we! To choose is to evoke the essence of self acceptance and allows room for growth. Choice is a priviledge meant to evolve us towards more responsible expressions of who we are in the world. The highest choices are those that create more peace, love, and harmony in the world around us. We can decide to change the world, but can only happen one choice at a time.

So this month, practice presence. And if and when you feel the weight of decision upon you, choose what feels right in the moment instead. Respond to the now and release the how.

Thanks to inspirational singer and songwriter, India Arie, we have the perfect anthem for this month's focus:

I Choose, by India Arie
listen to it now

May 2008


I
Have
Learned
So much from God
That I can no longer
Call
Myself
 
A Christian, a Hindu, a Muslim,
A Buddhist, a Jew.
 
The Truth has shared so much of Itself
With me
 
That I can no longer call myself
A man, a woman, an angel,
Or even pure
Soul.
 
Love has
Befriended Hafiz so completely
It has turned to ash
And freed
Me
 
Of every concept and image
My mind has ever known.
 
Hafiz, Sufi Poet

I am drawn to the writings of Sufi Masters such as Hafiz. Many of these great teachers share connection with a heartfelt spirit-led way of living that defies the conceptual mind. Sufism is a mystical tradition of ancient Islam. We can dip into its essence when working towards a global unity - touching the depth of spiritual inquiry where all the lines of this world of form blur, merging into a one religion without dogma. All paths are honored when we pierce the veil of concepts and begin to know God.
 
Nevertheless, living in the world of form means embracing life and its constructs. To continue in our evolution, we wrap words around feelings and apply labels to the paths we tread. These too can be sacred acts, when we approach them with the understanding that our feelings and pathways can be treated as reflections of how connected we are to the All of Life.
 
On the SHiNE blog I recently shared my personal evolution through labels as divine signposts - shifting my focus onto a path that more accurately reflects my passion for service. (You can read more here). In essence, for too long I was asleep at the wheel. The illusion of so-called survival mode was leading me to make unconscious choices based on what I could get. I was left empty - in more ways that one. Then, again and again, I asked for guidance - I wanted to wake up. Love befriended me, and the path of ministry and service became clearer each time I sought Its counsel. I have always known my deepest desire is to walk in the world as a minister/conduit of love itself. And my greatest gift to the world is seeing - and fostering - the inherent wholeness in everyone that I mean.
 
A client recently asked me how my current business might change as a result of shift to "ministry." Would I still be available to help her with the nuts and bolts of her business plan? I was so pleased that she asked. For my hope is that SHiNE as a collection of services can redefine ministry - expanding its definition to include anything that enlivens you to more inspired and purposeful living. So my answer was "absolutely, yes!" SHiNE Ministry includes service in the form that suits your heart's calling in the moment - be it business, livelihood, parenthood, relationship, spirit-based counseling, or movement as medicine. The primary focus at the core of all SHiNE offerings: supporting you so that you might give the best of yourself in each moment.
 
And let's re-define giving while we're at it, yes?! Harmonious giving is not self-sacrificing at its deepest level. On the contrary, it relies on an awareness that honoring the self (see last month's feature article) is the foundation for authentic generosity and abundant living through giving. When we truly know ourselves, the fear of giving dissolves. The illusions of lack, separation, loss of self, competition, and victimization fall away. Freedom is truly found in giving of ourselves - from a place of wholeness.
 
This month, I invite you to give of yourself in some unique way. Step out of bounds and experience how your brilliance shared is to honor love in all its forms - in, as, and through you.

 
We make a living by what we get.
We make a life by what we give.
 Winston Churchill

Blessings,
Candice

April 2008


Well-ordered self-love is right and natural.
St. Thomas Aquinas

In recent weeks, I have become more aware than ever that I have much to learn about self-care. It's a common paradox for those of us in paths of service. Continually we encourage others to honor personal rhythms of healing, while ignoring the lights flashing in our own hearts. It's true indeed that we teach what we need to learn. I have come to notice that, quite often, in coaching sessions I am the messenger administering the medicine to us both via intuition and unexpected verbal elixirs.

It has been said before, love is an action. It is a series of choices. And so, when it comes to shining love inward, we must compassionately observe the choices that we make repeatedly throughout the day. How often are we present to what is alive in the moment? Do we sometimes override impulses to self-nurture in order to feed perceived urgencies in our environment? It takes only awareness to rewind, and re-choose.

True Self-love is hardly a singular or selfish pursuit. In actuality, it is blatantly spiritual - an act of reverence for the energy from which you came. Honor your body as a sacred temple, your mind as fertile ground for divine awareness, and your heart as a blessed antennae steadfast in rhythmic dance with all of life.

We only appreciate our good or evil
in proportion to our self-love.
François de la Rochefoucauld

It is a worthwhile practice to meditate on the quote above. It is our relationship to self-love that guides our perceptions in life. Take any event in your life and hold it inward in your awareness. If the light of self-love is dimly lit, you may see yourself as a victim of circumstances. Lack of light may taint your view of What-Simply-Is to incorporate a poor self-image, feeding inner drama and suffering. Depressing stories are built - not upon circumstances - but upon forgetfulness of the Brilliance within.

If, however, you have access to the abundance of light inside...if you see yourself as an essential aspect of the light of goodness, suddenly the world around you looks much different. You will see that each and every response to circumstance is built upon the choice that you make in the moment. Heightened self-love results in acceptance and self-empowerment, and both are unattached to storytelling as a means to justify feeling good. Loving the light within is timeless and unconditional with practice, regardless of what happened "once upon a time."

Investing in mini-acts of self-love is the greatest gift that you can give to those around you. Over time you see that your inner light needs to be fed with awareness in order for you to give the best of you to others. So take that walk in the park in the middle of the day, feed yourself healthy perpectives, and surely it can't hurt to give yourself a hug from time-to-time. In re-igniting your bliss, you become evermore committed to passing it along:

"Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared." - Buddha

Reaching my Light to yours,
Candice

March 2008

A friend is one before whom I may think aloud.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

 
It is a rare and most precious gift. Friendship. To give it is an honor - friendship teaches us how to be present and unconditional with another like us. To receive it is an art - to allow another to peer into our hearts requires a surrendering to self-love.

Whether it's talking with clients or holding space for community in a class, I see the power of connection at work. There is no greater expression of divinity than opening our heart to another. When we offer ourselves in communion with others, it is our purity that determines the degree of reciprocity. Empathy (I see You) coupled with Honesty (You see Me) creates a brilliant synthesis that transcends the drama of any given moment.

Many of us (myself included) are sometimes afraid of true connection. Our vulnerability is our best kept secret, and so we reach out in our communications with a facade of togetherness. Or better yet, a misrepresentation of where we are in the moment. We are drained by interactions because holding ourselves hostage is exhausting. Such instances most often happen on subtle levels. Consider an interaction with a grocery store clerk where a smile is forced and - How are you?...Fine, thanks - is as routine as our form of payment. You might say, but I don't even know that person! Ah, but you know what it is to be human. You know that the desire for connection is universal. And if you take a single instance (and by the way, time stands still when eyes lock) to reach forth with authenticity, you will receive the salve of oneness - a transparency that unites and heals us from the inside out.

Consider your friendships a training ground for true connection. Authenticity, vulnerability, and generosity are potent powers that can be cultivated in a loving friendship. I am fortunate enough to be surrounded by loving and conscious friends, committed to sharing in the journey towards expressing the Highest Love.

Become your own best friend this month by welcoming the many aspects of you into your awareness. If you should feel moved to, join us on Monday evenings as we share in the journey of A New Earth. This is a rare opportunity to self-reflect through a 10-week course designed to awake us in order to know ourselves better. I am committed to holding a space where you can be you, raw and true. Bring your joys and your fears, thePortal is vast, expansive, and most potent when authenticity is present.

No matter who you are and what your challenges, I see you whole. I see your divinity, and I see your purpose. And, I consider you a friend.

My Door Is Always Open,
Candice

January 2008

Praise is literal food for feminine qualities. If you want a woman to grow in her radiance, health, happiness, love, beauty, power, and depth, praise these qualities. Praise them daily, a number of times.
- David Deida, Way of the Superior Man

I have learned much from my work as a SHiNE Agent. As a teacher, guide, and coach facilitating brilliance in others, I have come face-to-face with myself. Sometimes with joy, other times with apprehension . In 2008, I am focusing on walking the talk even more, as I work (and play) hard to unleash the latent powers that lie dormant within. I am pleased to note that, this year, I myself have a coach and mentor to assist me on my journey to a more rich and fulfilling expression of how Brilliance works through me.

Becoming the client again has reminded me of the courage that it takes to reach out for support. Through my work, I learn more and more that the desire to be acknowledged for our deepest essence is inherent and universal. Nature intended that we create a web of brilliant support around us to nourish our growth. Thus, when our pride keeps us from reaching out for connection with others, it does us a great disservice. It often leads us to the most tragic disconnection that can happen - disconnection with the divine spark within.

The majority of my students and clients are women. This month being the month of love, I feel compelled to reach out to each one of you with a brilliant reminder. You are an essential aspect of a Radiant and Powerful Energy that deserves to be praised and worshipped daily! Worshipped? By who? Well, by YOU, of course!

If you aren't sure how to gift yourself with the awareness of self-love and put it into action in your life, we can help. I invite you to attend a class or schedule a coaching session soon. I am always honored to facilitate a container for recognition, self-celebration, right action, and praise. You are a perfect and essential facet of the Divine Brilliance alive in all of us. Self-love, when understood in its purity, is far from an egoic pursuit. It is the recognition of Oneness, not separation, that activates our SHiNE. Let's work together to remind one another, yes?

In 2008, I am more committed than ever to serving you through a new program: The SHiNE Ministry. Visit my blog to tag along as I experience various spiritual communities, reporting on brilliant outlets in the Portland area. Or, join me for a class, coaching session, or New Earth SHiNE Circle in the coming weeks.

I look forward to seeing you soon.

With Love,
Candice

January 2008


There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action; and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. If you block it, it will never exist through any other medium. It will be lost.
The world will not have it.

It is not your business to determine how good it is, nor how valuable it is, nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, and to keep the channel open.
- Martha Graham

It's easy to judge your brilliance as nothing special...for you can't possibly see it clearly. Imagine asking the sun to see it's own light. What light? How can I separate from what I am enough to see it?

A friend and colleague of mine recently shared with me a practice that she did in school as a child. They called it carrying your ilac card. At the beginning of the day, each student received a card that read: I love and care for myself. As they moved through the rest of their day, they were told to tear away pieces of the card whenever they thought, said, or did something that tore away at their sense of self-love. It proved to be an insightful practice, no doubt. The best part? Each day they would receive a new, untainted card to keep whole again.

When I ponder our culture's collective approach to the new year, it seems to me that we are issued an ilac card each January 1st. As a result, resolutions are defined and courses set for new destinations. Yet, what happens when we slip a bit...when a split-second choice tears away at our resolve? Do we hang our heads in despair?...or do we approach each day with wholeness in our hearts?

This year, I invite you to commit to a year of love, nuturing, and forgiveness. Your very essence is coded to be different than those around you. Discovering a path that works for you is a journey that demands diligence and perserverence. Your goal is not too be perfect...but to purrrfect the choices you make to serve you better over time. In order to do that, you become a deliberate observer. Notice which choices tear away at you time and time again, and reclaim your personal power to SHiNE by loving yourself whole again. It's a simple path - one choice at a time. And help is only a scroll away.

Begin Again... and Again... and Again,
Candice

December 2007

Remember that not getting what you want
is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
- His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Each year at this time, I spend time in healthy self-reflection. This December, I am quite humbled by the manner in which blessings, revelations, and understanding have be revealed to me in the past year. It is the unexpected challenges (or opportunities in disguise) that I am most grateful for. It has been a practical reminder that I have a choice - to resist or force static conditions...or to allow my life to be orchestrated by something much larger than me. Something that always - and in all ways - has my greatest good in store. Don't get me wrong...I know what I want. And I take actions towards that end each day. But what about where I am right now. Is it not paving the way perfectly? Is not the present moment a gift, a desire fulfilled in some way? I respond with an emphatic YES!...even when I am unable to explain how. It's not up to me to solve such Mysteries. Only to learn to live and swim within the vast expanse of the Unknown...and to yield to the scope of a Higher Vantage Point beyond.

Looking for a sign from your brilliance?

Give right of way to your SHiNE this holiday season...

Warm Holiday Blessings,
Candice

November 2007

Gratitude is the memory of the heart.
- Jean Baptiste Massieu

I love the idea of a remniscent and grateful heart. I could reflect volumes on what the heart has led me to know in my short life. It is upon its urgings that I continually traverse the majestic mountain of my spirit's longing. And the ever-more expansive views continually take my breath away! This month, I sit in silent celebration of the imprints of self-love that gratitude has left deep within my heart.

I looked up the etymology of the word gratitude. There are many derivations listed...however, I am most struck by the root of the word as: grace, to welcome. How much of the time do we graciously welcome the remarkable conditions of our life? Do we fight with tooth and nail to change them so that we might find peace in our hearts (chasing the dragon for days, months, years at a time)? Or do we look deeply within out hearts, invite gratitude, and welcome the path that is revealing us one glorious petal at a time? I commit to choosing the latter more often. While I do understand gratitude to be an agent of creation (modern metaphysics teaches us to give thanks in advance for that which our heart desires)...I am more inclined to feel an authentic and divine buzz of appreciation when I allow my heart to remember, notice, and celebrate the many miracles of everyday magic in my current reality. It is in this space that I feel my heart SHiNE with gratitude and remembrance.

In coaching sessions and teacher trainings, I often hear myself reminding clients to reframe their perspectives. I witness that we are often cynical in our approach to our life circumstances. Yet, by consciously shifting our vantage point from one of critical perplexity and resistance to curious wonder and acceptance, we create a space for gratitude to emerge.

Invite Wonder. Embrace Gratitude.
Not for what it might bring you to do so,
but for all that your heart already possesses in the simple act of holding you close.

With Wonder-filled Gratitude,
Candice

October 2007

Autumn is a second spring
when every leaf is a flower.
- Albert Camus

September blew through me like a sudden storm. I am in awe that yet another month has passed so quickly. Yet the bloom of color outdoors is making October quite real. And my world continues to shift and blow with the autumn winds. It is a blissful ride.

This month, the message is simple. I invite you to be mindful of all that falls around you. Become intoxicated by your own sensations of this magical season. Smell how the air breathes a certain crispness. Taste the flavor of new earth freshly dampened. Take time to look up. Yes, up. The wisdom of the trees is beckoning to you from above. If you pause long enough, you will find yourself on a high of sorts, drinking in the colors of fall. And if you dare, reach out and touch nature with your dance by letting pieces of you - those you are ready to shed - rejoin the earth with the autumn leaves at your feet.

Free your warm summer heart.
May it quiver and shake to the surface
blossom in colors vast
and fall to the earth once more.

Falling on Purpose,
Candice

September 2007

You are perfectly safe as long as you are completely unconcerned about your readiness, but maintain a consistent trust in mine.
- A Course in Miracles

Living a path of brilliance is a courageous surrender to the harmonious flow of life. I experience trust as an active endeavor and a choice in each moment - the perfect balance between conscious direction of purpose and peaceful yielding to the view far above my scope.

I see the space inside me like the contours of a river bed, being shaped and transformed by the force of creativity that dares me to give it license. Fear would have me resist the unknown agendas of the currents of life; yet Love is there to embrace the shadow dancer within me - illuminating darkness with awareness. When I relax enough to allow light to pour through me with little to no resistance, I am liberated to likewise saturate the world around me...fulfilling the path and purpose of how the world is meant to be experienced through me.

'Safety' is an undeniable theme in working with clients who are daring to live their brilliance. Fear, trepidation, and the force of the unknown can sometimes drive us into something resembling madness, as we shed who we always thought we were in order to embrace a new reality that is emerging. Often fear responds to our heart's yearnings: "ah, perhaps one day, but certainly not now. I am not ready for such-and-such to change." In reality, we are quite ready for a change. It is lack of trust in something better - the greater good in store for us - that stagnates our re-creation. In essence, we presume our deepest yearnings will betray us in the end, resulting in the paradoxical paralysis of a society at war within: What my heart yearns for in its expression is what most resembles me. And it is this that cannot be trusted. Therefore, that which most resembles me is unsafe. I must become who I am not to be functional and secure.

Today, I dare you to completely sever ties to such faulty logic. Become your greatest ally. Safety is a choice based on this simple, yet profound, shift in perception. I challenge you to entertain the idea that it is safe to be you. The madness is in succumbing to fear - resisting how the currents of life are pushing from within, eager to re-create your outer world so that you might experience you in its fullness. And remember, recreation is supposed to be fun!

When change is happening, I know without a doubt that I am ready...or it simply would not be. I am safe when I choose to trust that the currents of my soul's cries are carrying me towards an ever-greater good. And that, my friends, is the best part! Our rivers all pour into the same ocean...and goodness is the only destination.

Embrace Change. You Are Ready. You Are Safe.

August 2007

Walking the talk. It is the ultimate journey. Hungry for integrity, the spiritual seeker in us reaches out for connection to resources that will nourish the very foundation of who we are. Paradoxically, we discover that the more developed and trustworthy the roots at our feet, the greater potential for wingspan above.

Integrity (integrated truths as guiding principles) is a function of witnessing ourselves and others, in each and every moment, and embracing an honest approach to all of life. It is an energetic environment where the ticking time bomb of fear is diffused through acknowledging the true nature of our intentions each emerging moment. Integrity is an ally that whispers over our shoulder in search of the truth: What is my intention? Am I walking my talk to the best of my ability? How are my actions impacting the whole of life around me? Am I acting in alignment with my core values? What is motivating my actions in this moment? And most importantly - when we feel stuck face-to-face with a truth we can't swallow - it asks: What exactly am I afraid of?... inviting us to embrace the answer as the most potent and powerful truth of the moment.

Knowing the truth is fairly useless.
Feeling it is profound.
Living it makes all the difference.

David Deida
from The Blue Truth

I love this quote by Deida. It speaks to my journey to find integrity... a slow-moving maturation to greater and greater alignment with my values and practices. I have discoverd that learning is an elementary frolic with the truth... and that embodying is the adolescent struggle to hold tight to truths that we hope to find salvation in. Yet when we master the truth as a way of being, there is no longer need to hold on to anything. Integrity becomes a way of life, an integrated and effortless way of being that embraces it all. And so, wholeness finds us... again and again and again... as we are willing to let the light of truth in. In short, living truth (how ever-changing) is the path that leads to integrity.

Riding the winds of change, I am doing my best to welcome truth in. In order to develop greater intimacy with my own integrity, I have been openly sharing my truth with you, via my blog, to get to know its resonance as a way of life. You see, I believe that truth is not at its best when it is a static adherence to values and principles. It can better be experienced as a living resonance that can be sensed... a tonal quality that speaks of integrity in the moment and says, "I am delivering the truth of who I am, right here, right now." Truth at its worst is the fragmented reflection of self-righteousness. Truth at its best is the integrated experience of self-acceptance, wholeness expressed in thought, word, and action.

I want to invite you along on this journey of self-discovery with me. Invite the illumination of the truth of you. There are a number of avenues for you to travel that are offered here in theMessenger. It is my hope that wherever you may choose to plant yourself for a season of discovery, you accept the ways in which it awakens you to wholeness. Rest into the truth of each moment so that your roots may spread deep into an earth that feeds you. Welcome each and every opportunity, and push against it to reach higher than you ever thought possible.

Rooting in Richer Soils to Soar Higher,
Candice

July 2007


This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness.
Some momentary awareness
comes as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!...

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond

- Rumi

The past month has been rich with opportunities for me. Aspects of my life have been plucked up by the root, tearing into the soils of my heart and mind. Yet my practice is gratitude. I have learned what it is to truly navigate the path that I preach. I am experiencing pain without strife... separation without judgment... and the abyss of the unknown without fear. I have been guided indeed... to bear witness to how far I have come, and to spiral ever-higher in my awareness and abilities to be present and loving.

I want to thank each one of you whom has been a witness to me - as I have shared much of my personal journey on The SHiNE Blog in hopes that my daily illuminations might shed some light on your path. Remember, you can set up RSS Feed to any blog, to stay up-to-date on postings that inspire and inform.

May your summer be filled with the brilliance that feeds you on every level. Please contact me if you feel called to SHiNE among others, or in a one-on-one coaching session.

I am pleased to announce that I will be bringing back the Sensation Matters focus group (aka: A SHiNE Circle), Thursday evenings mid-August. This is an opportunity for you to experience the power of spirit-based group coaching to activate your brilliance this fall. Hope to see you!

SHiNE On,
Candice

May 2007

Welcome to the new and improved layout of theMessenger. It is my hope that this monthly newsletter will offer you regular inspiration to live your brilliance.

After some soul searching, I have recently shifted the focus of my work to more directly reflect my passions in life. I realize that in order to do the work that I am here to do - helping others to connect to the limitless potential within - I must have the courage to walk the talk. For a very long time, I have been afraid to step into the dreams that beckon to me. I am an energy guide, a motivator, and a channel for living a life that brings fulfillment on the highest level and the deepest depths, far beyond the constant tides of desire.

It is a mature spiritual seeker that addresses the deep and subtle yearnings that supercede the unrelenting desires of the physical. Your outer world demonstrates in your daily life as a metaphor for the loud whispers and wisdoms of your heart and soul. It is my passion to bring about a world where we are interested in these subtle messages, deciphering them with wisdom, and basking in the brilliant clarity that they reveal to us. When we learn to respond to the brilliance within us, we evolve in our practice of living as our life creates us!

A brilliant existence is not only a possibility, it's a responsibility. Imagine that you have been delivered a unique medicine that simply must act through you in order to work. THIS is your SHiNE. The "i" in shine is lowercase for a reason. It is to remind you that your potential comes from something larger that exists all around you. You only need surrender your egoic dance, get out of the way, and rest in the center to find it.

theMessenger is all about delivering SHiNE directly to your inbox... now featuring inspired writings - visit my BLOG online - as well as links to various individuals who have brilliance to share with you.

Thank you, as always, for exploring theMessenger. May you discover your SHiNE through the many resources offered here, or wherever it might choose to happen upon you.

Have a BRiLLiANT day!
Candice

April 2007


For years, copying other people, I tried to know myself.
From within, I couldn’t decide what to do.
Unable to see, I heard my name being called.
Then I walked outside.
- Rumi

I am always amazed at how the longer days of Spring immediately shed new light upon all aspects of my life. It's as though the secrets that the winter spent unearthing have suddenly sprung to the surface...and I am left in wonder of the next inevitable rebirth in my personal and professional life.

For a very long time, I have invested my talents in mediums created by others. These disciplines, and their respective mentors, have taught me countless lessons for which I am endlessly grateful. And now comes the time for me to create a vehicle of my own. I have been a fitness teacher, a wellness educator, and a performer. Yet in my heart of hearts, I am a spiritual guide.

I have long dreamed of writing and leading seminars worldwide, guiding people into closer relationship with themselves and their inner calling. As The Secret has recently revealed, we all want to feel good and manifest our desires, yes. However, the essential piece that gives it all meaning is our relationship to a divine source. I want to help cultivate that...in me and in you.

So often I invite you all to SHiNE...and to live your life in fearless surrender to that which moves you. And it is time that I walk my talk with greater fervor. I am realizing that fear is no excuse for inertia. Movement must happen.

Stay tuned in the coming months as I move towards my calling...and walk alongside me. Together we can know what it is to live an inspired life...on an inspired planet. This I know for sure.

Walking Outside, 
Candice

February 2007


Signs of Love

I've just returned from San Francisco where I co-facilitated the HoopGirl Teacher Training with HoopGirl's Christabel Zamor. Ten inspiring hoopers from all walks of life, came together for three days of intensive training in the HoopGirl Workout teaching format.

Some of the most profound insights were offered by a special guest trainee with a unique gift. Meryl, a passionate young teacher who happens to be hearing impaired, reminded us all that sharing the love of flow is an expression beyond words. In fact, each hooper offered a perfect uniqueness to the program, making it apparent that the ultimate destination in learning isn't about all-the-right moves, class formats, or even technique. The one aim we all share is a heartfelt desire to shine our light freely, igniting love in those around us.

Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday. To me it is an annual reminder to reconnect the heart to what feels good. As the holiday approaches, may I remind you that love shined inward spills out boundlessly to those around you.

Treat yourself to self-seduction this Valentine's Day! Get to know passionate communion, intoxicating smiles, and sighs of surrender by falling in love with feeling good. Shower your body with valentine blisses and commit to a deeper relationship with your community by signing up for an upcoming class or special event. There are abundant opportunities to make love a priority this month.

Begin in this moment with a deep breath to simply seed the intention for self-love this month. Shift your heart to high beam, shine your light, and you are sure to see bold and brilliant signs of love everywhere you go. May your footprints act as inspirational signposts along our journey...as you leave traces of love behind you wherever you go.

Seeing Signs Everywhere, 
Candice

January 2007


Only as high as I reach can I grow,
only as far as I seek can I go,
only as deep as I look can I see,
only as much as I dream can I be.
- Karen Ravn

I always look forward to a new year. As yet another cycle spirals me onward and upward, I can sense that am on the brink of a new life. Within is a creative force that stirs me to become more with each passing moment. But how do I transmute the fear of change? I ask my breath to show me the way...an energy lubricant that relies on perfect harmony in order to thrive. In...out. Expand...contract. Act...release. Each breath teaches me how to let go. Fear becomes courage...courage becomes the power to act...and the power to act creates me anew.

The simple, yet profound, wisdom that can be found in the body both intrigues me and fills me with promise. Sensation does matter. I know this to be evident in my life, and it is the current foundation of my life's work. And thus, in 2007, I will reach higher, seek further, and look deeper. My vision relies on willing participants. Co-conspirators in passionate living and innocence reborn. Like-hearted spirits who are interested in tasting more of life's flavors, being touched from within, and becoming prolific in intertwined languages of body, mind, emotions, and spirit.

Reaching Higher,
Candice

September 2006


I will not die an unlived life.
I will not live in fear
of falling or catching fire.
I choose to inhabit my days,
to allow my living to open me,
to make me less afraid,
more accessible,
to loosen my heart
until it becomes a wing,
a torch, a promise.
I choose to risk my significance,
to live so that which came to me as a seed
goes to the next as a blossom,
and that which came to me as a blossom,
goes on as a fruit.
- Dawna Markova

One week ago, I witnessed the birth of my nephew. I was speechless and awe-struck, as my mind struggled to