Anatomy of the Spirit:
The Sixth Chakra: The Power of the Mind

http://www.myss.com/

I’m not sure.

I’m not sure.

3. What attitudes do you have that dis-empower you?

I’m not sure.

4. What beliefs do you to continue to accept that you know are not true?

I’m not sure.

5. Are you judgmental? If so, what situations or relationships tend to bring out that tendency in you?

p>I am more judgmental towards myself than others.

6. Do you give yourself excuses for behaving in negative ways?

NO

7. Can you recall instances in which you were confronted with a more profound level of truth than you were used to hearing and found the experience intimidating?

YES

8. What beliefs and attitudes would you like to change in yourself? Are you willing to make a commitment to making these changes?

I am still worthwhile.

9. Are you comfortable thinking about your life in impersonal terms?

YES

10. Are you frightened by the changes that might occur in your life, should you openly embrace a conscious lifestyle?

NO – I welcome and embrace such changes.

Anatomy of the Spirit:
The Fifth Chakra: The Power of Will

http://www.myss.com/

1. What is your definition of being “strong willed”?

I am strong-willed. I believe I choose my battles well, and stick to my guns when it’s an issue of integrity. For things I am passionate about, I am “mindfully stubborn”, opinionated, and steadfast in the path of my decisions.

2. Who are the people in your life that control your willpower, and why?

There are very few people in my life that have the ability to exert any control over my willpower. In the past, those I have been romantically involved or “entangled” with had the ability to control, but I have grown into the woman that I am. Today, I am a woman confident in herself – her person, talents, and most importantly worth. When someone else has this power, it is because I have given it to them.

3. Do you seek to control others? If so, who are they and why do you need to control them?

NO

4. Are you able to express yourself openly and honestly when you need to? If not, why not?

Yes, especially in the written word.

5. Are you able to sense when you are receiving guidance to act upon?

YES

6. Do you trust guidance that has no “proof” of the outcome attached to it?

YES. My guidance is directing me to pursue writing.

NONE. I trust God fully.

8. Do you pray for assistance with your personal plans, or are you able to say “I will do whatever heaven directs me to do”?

I follow heaven.

9. What makes you lose control of your own willpower?

LOVE.

10. Do you bargain with yourself in situations in which you know you need to change but you continually postpone taking action? If so, identify those situations and your reasons for not wanting to act.

I bargain with myself in terms of diet.

Anatomy of the Spirit:
The Fourth Chakra: Emotional Power

http://www.myss.com/

1. What emotional memories do you still need to heal?

I have many memories that still need healing. This is part of the reason I am writing a book.

2. What relationships in your life require healing?

Again, these relationships will be addressed in my forthcoming book.

3. Do you ever use your emotional wounds to control people or situations? If so, describe them.

I used to use my emotional wounds to attempt control, but no longer.

4. Have you ever allowed yourself to be controlled by the wounds of another person? What are your feelings about letting that happen again? What steps are you prepared to take to prevent yourself from being controlled that way again?

I’m sure this has happened in the past, but since I am very conscious and self-aware, I believe these attributes also lend themselves to be more intimately aware of others.

5. What fears to you have about becoming emotionally healthy?

NONE

6. Do you associate emotional health with no longer needing an intimate relationship?

YES

7. What is your understanding of forgiveness?

As a Course in Miracles teaches that only love is real, forgiveness is a natural extension of this love.

8. Who are the people you have yet to forgive, and what prevents you from letting go of the pain you associate with them?

NONE

9. What have you done that needs forgiving? Which people are working to forgive you?

There is so much to say here – so much to admit, process, and work through.

10. What is your understanding of a healthy, intimate relationship? Are you willing to release the use of your wounds in order to open yourself to such a relationship?

Ask me this in 5 years!

Anatomy of the Spirit:
The Third Chakra: Personal Power

http://www.myss.com/

1. Do you like yourself? If not, what don’t you like about yourself, and why? Are you actively working to change the things about yourself that you don’t like?

I love myself. I don’t LOVE my disability, but it’s part of myself now and I know that my physical limitations have assisted me in advancement in other areas.

2. Are you honest? Do you sometimes misrepresent the truth? If so, why?

I sometimes misrepresent the truth slightly to save feelings, but I rarely tell outright lies.

3. Are you critical of others? Do you need to blame others as a way of protecting yourself?

I used to be critical of others – especially when I was on an 100% raw diet, calling the food preferences of others in my vicinity with derogatory names such as “POISON.’ What I learned from such experience is that healthier dietary or lifestyle choices are PERSONAL choices, not ones that a person should be insulted into. I am no longer critical of others or their choices.

4. Are you able to admit it when you are wrong? Are you open to feedback from other people about yourself?

YES and YES. One MUST be open to feedback when growing as a Toastmaster.

5. Do you need the approval of others? If so, why?

I seek approval only from God.

6. Do you consider yourself strong or weak? Are you afraid of taking care of yourself?

I am strong and do my absolute best to take care of myself.

7. Have you ever allowed yourself to be in a relationship with someone you didn’t really love, but it seemed better than being alone?

Yes, I have. It was a cheapening and soul-draining experience.

8. Do you respect yourself? Can you decide to make changes in your lifestyle and then stick to your commitment?

YES

9. Are you afraid of responsibility? Or do you feel responsible for everything and everyone?

NO and NO

10. Are you continually wishing your life were different? If so, are you doing anything to change it, or have you resigned yourself to your situation?

YES and YES

Anatomy of the Spirit:
The Second Chakra: The Power of Relationships

http://www.myss.com/

1. How do you define creativity? Do you consider yourself a creative person? Do you follow through on your creative ideas?

I define creativity as the ability to see outside of the confines of the ‘box” when searching for solutions. I am an “ideas” person and sometimes my ideas may seem outlandish to people, but I make a point of never discounting any idea.

2. How often do you direct your creative energies into negative paths of expression? Do you exaggerate or embellish “facts” to support your point of view?

These attributes are part of my past.

3. Are you comfortable with your sexuality? If not, are you able to work toward healing your sexual imbalances? Do you use people for sexual pleasure, or have you felt used? Are you strong enough to honor your sexual boundaries?

I am comfortable with myself in every way. Use or usage are also a part of my past. Within the last 2 years I was part of the final experience in not honoring my boundaries. The price was high.

4. Do you keep your word? What is your personal code of honor? Or ethics? Do you negotiate your ethics depending upon your circumstances?

My word is my bond. I attempt to uphold it to the best of my ability. My sense of ethics are also strong.

5. Do you have an impression of God as a force that exerts justice in your life?

As a born-again Christian, I would utter a resounding “YES”.

6. Are you a controlling person? Do you engage in power plays in your relationships? Are you able to see yourself clearly in circumstances related to power and money?

I remove myself from these situations whenever possible. I see no point. Dealing with fibromyalgia and the myriad of varied symptoms is something that is simply out of the confines of my control. Therefore, control seems futile to me.

7. Does money have authority over you? Do you make compromises that violate your inner self for the sake of financial security?

Money means little to me. I require enough to survive and only slightly more to flourish passionately and richly. I save and invest what I can. It used to exist strongly in my life; making a salary years ago that was too big for my britches, and learning the hard lessons of debt and redemption from it, It no longer has any authority over me.

8. How often do survival fears dictate your choices?

Survival fears occasionally enter my peripheral, but they are usually extinguished by my trust that God and the universe will provide.

9. Are you strong enough to master your fears concerning finances and physical survival, or do they control you and your attitudes?

YES.

10. What goals do you have for yourself that you have yet to pursue? What stands in the way of your acting upon those goals?

I am pursuing all of my goals, living for each moment. Every morning is fruitful and blossoming with possibility. Life is a glorious adventure.

Anatomy of the Spirit:
The First Chakra: Tribal Power

http://www.myss.com/

1. What belief patterns did you inherit from your family?

Most of the belief patterns I inherited from my family revolve around diet: dairy is the only source of calcium, and meat is the only source of protein. Hot dogs in white buns constitute a reasonable lunch, and fluoride is NOT a poison. I thought that Taco Bell was a fancy dinner; imagine that! Religion was another inherited (taught, force fed, indoctrinated) belief pattern, but I rebelled against my Catholic upbringing fairly early.

2. Which of those belief patterns that still have authority in your thinking can you acknowledge are no longer valid?

None of the belief patterns from my childhood persist in validity.

3. What superstitions do you have? Which have more authority over you than your own reasoning abilities?

Is faith a superstition? I have become reacquainted with Christ and this relationship has authority over me in many aspects of my life. My reasoning abilities are definitely affected by my faith, but they are certainly not adversely affected by it.

4. Do you have a personal code of honor? What is it?

My personal code of honor is strong. I believe in:

• Christ
• Not wasting
• Frugal living
• Having gratitude
• Health
• Peace
• Love

5. Have you ever compromised your sense of honor? If so, have you taken steps to heal it?

It was exceptionally compromised in the past, but certain occurrences and events of my life force-healed these elements. If I could define my life in one sentence, it would be “from corruption to conversion” – a sordid tale with a tranquil ending.

6. Do you have any unfinished business with your family members? If so, list the reasons that prevent you from healing your family relationships.

My family relationships have been healed. For awhile, I was at odds with my father, but over time, I have regained his trust and respect, and we have arrived at a mutually beneficial and loving relationship.

7. List all the blessings you feel came from your family.

The greatest blessing in my life is my 93 year old grandmother. Her unwavering faith is a deep inspiration. She has persevered and prevailed; losing babies, her husband, and having to watch the passing of two of her adult children. With 18 great grand-children, she is a matriarch of strength, dedication, and prevailing love.

8. If you are now raising a family of your own, list the qualities that you would like your children to learn from you.

I am not raising biological children, but am involved in the parenting of my partner’s two young boys. Qualities I would like them to learn from me are:

• Strength in the face of adversity
• Frugality and monetary responsibility
• A love of learning
• Treating people with respect
• The dignity of human life

It is not my place to encourage religious practices or a particular faith. This is the task of parents and something they should be in agreement on.

9. What tribal traditions and rituals do you continue for yourself and your family?

We have unintentionally eliminated most traditions. In my young and wealthy days, I made a point of escaping to somewhere exotic for Easter to avoid family gatherings. Christmas is still celebrated; I believe it’s our only remaining tradition. It was always ring bologna and pickled corn for this grandmother, who sadly left us this summer past.

10. Describe the tribal characteristics within yourself that you would like to strengthen and develop.