Oneness Ministry

Everything Is Energy

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Have you ever considered the purpose of your body? If we are energy, then why do we have a body anyway? Why not exist as balls of light or waves of sound or particles of dust? The inspiration I have received today is about the human experience and our bodies.

Yes, the body is how we experience the world. Without it we could not see, feel, taste, smell or hear. And in order for the body to work it must have fuel. The things we eat are our fuel and the body’s job is to convert one physical form (food) to another (energy for the body). Basically the body digests foods, i.e. breaks it down into parts one stage at a time and then processes or converts this to energy which our body uses to function in this world.

The human body is a sensory organ, energy converter, transportation device, and statement of the energy that makes up your being. The body is not who you are, however it is how you express who you are. How you treat your body shows your level of Love because it all comes from within the Heart center.

On this day of thanksgiving, consider the miracle of who you are! The beauty surrounds us and runs through us, as us! Let us be united in this awareness of the grand miracle, Life. Blessings to you and yours this Holiday season♥

Sequoia Elisabeth 🙂

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A Path To Change

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Transition is not only for us as humans; the entire Earth Mother is transitioning and this is connected with the Galaxy and Universe as well. The timing right now is perfect for you to step up and embrace your birth heritage. Many people have been hiding behind personas they believe serve them and for many years they have. The time has come for everyone to let go of the old paradigms of thinking, analyzing, and intellectualizing every little decision.

The time has come for everyone to live from the heart. The heart center is the home of your connection to soul. Your authentic self resides here and is asking to be heard. Many people think that wisdom is of the brain and that the most important organ of the human body is the brain. This has been the bases of life here on earth for the past 2000+ years and our Mother Earth is ready to change. We have accomplished much in the past and technology is an amazing tool. Let us use this tool to connect our hearts! As awareness grows and the shift in Mother Earth occurs we can each play our part in assisting the birth of a New Earth.

Divine Feminine energy is taking control of the situation here on earth. In order to move ahead we must each accept the responsibility to live an authentic life that stems from our Heart center. If this means living your life as a gender variant or sexually diverse being then so be it. If this means unleashing your creative side and following your dreams, now is the time. Deep within you is a well of Love and all you need do is break it open and allow it to flow. Sometimes we need help with this and I offer this quote as explanation.

People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that’s what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life.
A true soul mate is probably the most important person you’ll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave.
A soul mates purpose is to shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, make you so desperate and out of control that you have to transform your life, then introduce you to your spiritual master…
~ Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love)

So where does this spiritual master reside? Within the soul!

The next time you get into place of confusion or where you need to make a major decision get in a quite spot, sit still and allow your heart to speak to you. For more on meditation click here. Imagine a green flame burning brightly in your heart and focus on that. Relax and focus on the flame. With practice you can do this in a moment’s notice and maintain this connection all the time. I believe the urgency for all humans to learn and practice this is great and growing!

Another meditation that works well for transgender individuals is to visualize two flames, one pink and one blue. As you relax allow the images to merge into one purple flame. Feel the energy as you do this and focus on the heart, right in the middle of your chest between the breasts. This is not your physical heart but your spiritual heart and it is dead center in your body. Pay attention, it has a message of Love for you!

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Transgender Day of Remembrance

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Have you ever considered why this day of remembrance is important? How about the advocacy work that so many organizations do? Does it work and why does it work? I mean what makes advocacy work! I remember being distressed by the thought of everyone gathering around and sharing victim stories and it was almost like death was a success. And indeed it is a success for ego mind, but that is another story.

Today I would like to shine the light on why it is important to remember events of the past and to honor those who have gone before you. The obvious answer that I have heard many times, “learn from your past or you are doomed to repeat the mistakes”, falls short. The other answer that these individuals are important as human beings and kindred family is indeed one of the reasons, but to me not the most important.

The real gift here is that injustice is brought to light. Awareness is raised in the minds of all people and they see that violence is destructive and unjust. Transgender Day of Remembrance brings our community to the main stream consciousness in a cry for equal rights. It is a statement that we are people too and deserve to be treated as well any other person. The fact that often gets lost in communities is we are all humans and a part of the whole of life; it is not us against them! Let me emphasis this point. It is never about US vs. THEM in any situation. When this perspective is taken it becomes a losing proposition. One if not both parties loose. The Equal Rights movement is about equal rights for everyone. No one person is better than any other or more deserving or less deserving of common basic human needs such as personal security, love, self esteem, personal fulfillment, cultural security, and participation, plus a right to life, liberty, freedom of thought, expression and identity, and equal treatment before the law. Let us focus on the things we all desire.

In the end what makes advocacy work is the Universal Law of Attraction among other laws. What you focus on grows. Or to say that another way, the energy of attention is a funnel that sends this power where ever it is pointed. If you are focusing on the things that are wrong or broken or painful then you get more of them. However if you are focusing on what is working, how systems are supporting you and what you like about a certain person, place or thing then you will get more of that! This seems simplistic I know and there are details if you wish to know more. This works, I am a living testament to it and actually so are you!

Take advantage of this Day of Remembrance to focus on what you loved about that person who has lost or taken their life. Focus on the laws that have been passed recently which raise awareness to what is acceptable and what is not. Share your dream of the world you wish to live in! It is important to be heard, we all deserve this so listen to others and treat them the way you wish to be treated. There are no victims only volunteers, thus I honor all the beautiful people who have volunteered to be symbols of change and to shine the light on a community’s needs.

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

The Power of Place

by Sequoia Elisabeth

I challenge you to notice how your thinking and interests change as you are in different places. The power of the environment to effect change in your thoughts and behaviors is an important tool for coping in Transition.

It has long been known that who you hang out with is a reflection of who you are. This is the big reason why your parents worked so hard to get a house in a nice neighborhood with good schools and low crime rates. The question that keeps coming up for me is which came first, who you are or the environment. Does the environment reflect you or do you reflect the environment?

I believe the answer is both. Visualize the neighborhood where you live. Did it look this way before you moved here? How do you know? What has changed since you moved there? Is it to your liking or otherwise? Has your thoughts about the neighborhood changed since you moved in? I suggest that the fabric of space and the appearance of your environment are a reflection of your thoughts, so you are experiencing the same space that others experience but in your own way based on your thoughts about it.

Each place you go has its unique energy and when you experience that energy you combine with it to create your unique experience. So this is what I mean about both came first, the environment and you. You make the environment and the environment makes you! The small changes you observe when you go to a place you visited only a month ago or even a moment ago are reflections of your consciousness changing. These changes validate your thoughts and in doing so they empower the thoughts to become stronger or not depending on what you think about these changes. The environment is a reflection of you and your thoughts combined with other people’s thoughts or the ripple effect.

To better explain this ripple effect, remember that there is but one mind. There is no one else! What you experience as other people’s thoughts is only a ripple of your own thoughts. The other important thing to understand is that the conscious mind is not aware of all thoughts and in fact 90-95% of thoughts in the average person are unconscious thus supporting this effect of other people.

I hope I have not lost you. If you are still reading let me transition into the way this works to your advantage. When you know how a process works you have more control over its operation. You can visualize the process supporting you. Things happen to help you grow and experience what you need.

Often people go to the library to study or relax in a place of silence, or go to the mall for the excitement of shopping and seeing many other people. In this way you cope with your moods and feelings. You are using the power of place to shape your experience! Let’s say you are at a bar late at night and you decide to walk home. Which route you take or if you decide to take a taxi and the thoughts you are having about the trip home will reflect your thoughts and feelings. If you feel safe you will be and if you take a path that supports that safety. They work hand in hand.

I believe the key is to be aware of your feelings and thoughts at all times and this is done not only by being in touch with your heart chakra, but by your surroundings.

In Loving Awareness, Sequoia Elisabeth 🙂

All The World Is A Stage

by Sequoia Elisabeth

We all play roles in our lives all the time and this includes the one you are playing right now. It is important to clarify your roles in each situation of life so that you may more fully experience life. Even more important is to realize that you are not the roles that you play. It is easy to get caught up in role playing and believe this is who you are.

The daily social roles are the easiest to get stuck on, such as mother, daughter, grandmother, spouse, partner, friend, and caregiver. The occupational roles such as Doctor, Lawyer, Mason, or Chef are also something that many identify with and this can be both stifling and liberating depending on how you view them.

“You” is a broad term and as you grow spiritually you realize that there is a lot more to “you” than you realized. There is the individual you, the roles you play as you, the larger you that is connected through community and there is the Universal One you, which is the only “real” you there is.

Knowing this is important because if you get caught up in a role it will rule your life instead of you being in charge. It is like putting the cart before the horse. When you know who you are and come from this core place you always have a strong foundation on which to stand.

You are not this occupation or that social role but a Divine Child of the Creator and an heir to the throne. You are a humble servant of the Most High. How you serve now can take any form and will change often from moment to moment. You may be a beautiful woman, mother, spouse, daughter, and lawyer all at the same time! The trick is to allow yourself to be each fully while in that role. While on the phone with your daughter be the mother that you are fully and completely. As soon as you hang up with her you are back to being the lawyer so you give that your all. A co-worker compliments you on being beautiful and in that moment you experience gratitude and humility. The joy of the moment will stay with you but your role in the next moment will change back to being the top lawyer.

The important aspect of role playing is when you are in a role you allow Divine Spirit to flow through in that role and no other. When in another role you focus only on that role. It is in the moment living that truly empowers you to live your life to the fullest. As we all know, there is only one time and that is now.

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Gaia – Divine Mother

by Sequoia Elisabeth

If God is all there is, then that means there is only one mind the mind of God. Each and every thing, person, plant, animal, and organism is God. Oneness is the order of the day, it is the new philosophy that is changing the face of earth. Just as the realization that the Earth is not the center of the Universe, or that the world is not flat. Oneness will transform the world we live in to the Aquarian Peace that is predicted. Consider a moment that the Earth is one organism, that it is alive and functions much like all organisms. Let us see Gaia as the Divine Mother that she is.

Every creature or complex life form has many working parts. Each of these parts needs to serve its proper function for the creature to be healthy. Let’s compare with humans for a minute. Our body is made up of cells, and those cells create the structure and function of our bodies. Earth is also made up of many living parts like cells, and humans are a part of the system. This is what is called the holographic effect. Everything is made up of parts resembling the larger and the smaller whole. Each cell of our bodies contain worlds unto themselves, just as our world is echoed throughout the Universe.

Each cell in our body has a purpose or function. Skin cells hold the body in, gives us shape and form, protects the inner environment from the outside elements, and allows the body to function in very different conditions. The Bone cells provide structure and strength to the body as well as produce blood cells. Nerve cells are how we communicate. Gaia has these systems also and we are a part of that.

There are plants that act like lymph cells filtering sunlight, converting this to energy and producing oxygen while they filter the air of carbon dioxide. The animals each have a function as does every creature on earth and within. What purpose does the human have? I would like to say that we are like brain cells and provide the intelligence on earth, but I am afraid that is not the case. I would say that human’s role here is to be observers, to be aware of who and what we are. We are witnesses to the Divine Cosmic dance of life. Our bodies are vehicles for doing this and the One mind operates through us to this end. As much as we try to do things, 99.9% of that is busy work. The real service we play here are vehicles of consciousness.

Just as each cell has it purpose and function, Humans have theirs and if a cell deviates from that purpose and function they become cancerous. In order for humans to rid themselves of cancer they must first stop being a cancer! Each person on earth need ask themselves, what is my purpose here? Am I fulfilling that purpose? And if not, how can I re-align with that purpose? Consider that each person is born into a family and that family has a history of doing a certain type of work. Everything happens for a reason, so consider your place in life and allow yourself to thrive in that place. This is what being yourself is all about.

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity

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Metacognition

by Sequoia Elisabeth

The dictionary defines it as awareness and understanding one’s thinking and cognitive processes; thinking about thinking. (Dictionary.com) I have discovered that it is a valuable tool in transition. My ministry and much of the New Thought movement are based on this. The Buddhists teach a form of it as a method of enlightenment. We are going to apply it to transition as a tool for deepening the journey and enriching the experience.

As we have discussed before, transition is changing from one state of being to another. Metacognition is a great tool for use in this process. Take gender transition for example. In order to change from one state, say male to female, then one must know that they are a woman inside a man’s body. Awareness of who you are is vital to the transition and the best way to know this is to find out who you are not through a process of elimination. This requires an exploration of beings in your world and an insatiable curiosity of the surrounding environment.

I first learned of this term metacognition from my voice coach and have since had some pretty amazing realizations. Starting with my concept of who I am depends on the concept of others. It is a fascinating dynamic. I know now that I feel female and I was born male. The term transgender has been invented to describe this state of being. I am a woman in a male body. The physical transition for me is about complete, my body appears female.

When I go out in public people treat me as they would any other tall woman, with curiosity and smiles. I no longer get questions as to whether I am male or female. They see a woman and assume that truth, just as they did before when they assumed I was a man. The interesting part is that their reaction depends not only on what I look like but act and think like. Yes, my thoughts and expectations make a difference and this is to be expected. The thing that I found interesting is their thoughts and expectations make a difference too. Basically you experience what you expect from what you see. People take each other at face value. If I were instead running around in a wheelchair I would be treated as a handicap person, and I would act that way! Your appearance dictates your behavior.

As an example, I find that I act more feminine and am able to speak with a more feminine voice around people I do not know. When I am around others who know that I am transgender and born a male my voice is lower and I act less girly. The dynamic is a valuable tool in the process of transition because now we know that our behavior depends not only on a personal choice but on a larger perception. I am who I believe myself to be, as well as who others believe me to be, and this is in perfect alignment with the teachings of Oneness that I have dedicated myself to share.

“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Are You Man Or Woman?

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Do you feel like a man or like a woman? What is a certain gender supposed to feel like? How do you know? I realize that most cisgender people have not considered these questions, but for a transgender or transsexual individual it is of constant concern. Gender incongruency is something that ~98% of the population can’t even fathom. What if the concept of gender as taught in the schools the last 100 years is inaccurate?

First understand the difference between sex and gender. Sex is determined by the parts between the legs and gender is determined by the parts between the ears. At least this is the modern or current understanding by science. Consider the possibility that each person is here in this reality for a purpose and they have chosen the roles they are to live before they are even born.

What if in fact gender is determined by consciousness, the field which surrounds the body and everything in creation. What if no one is born with a gender and instead they acquire it. Much like sexual orientation must be discovered by the individual. I cannot tell my brother that he is gay or straight or if he is man or woman. These are things he must discover. Life is a discovery! And we are explorers.

The prevalent teaching about God or Great Spirit or Universal Mind or Infinite Intelligence (or whatever you choose to call this energy) is that it has no sex or gender. Eastern philosophies have known this for centuries and in the past few centuries the western philosophies are accepting that God is not a man sitting on a throne up in heaven, some people more than others. I do not have actual statistics on this, but from what I gather this concept is changing.

The idea I present here today is that God is all there is and since God is all, so are we. This means that no one has a gender or a sex in reality! Those things only exist in this reality we call life on earth. We are indeed all androgynous beings of light! You may have seen this image presented before as alien life, for instance in the movie Cocoon (1985) or in episodes of Star Trek and in multiple instances in the media. Everything is energy.

I mention the idea of androgyny here because I feel this is the truth of nature. I believe that hetero and homo sexuality are creations of the human mind or the mind of man. This goes for what makes up a man or woman, male or female also. How do you know what a man or woman feels like? You do not, anymore than anyone else does. Just because you seem to have been born male or female does not mean you know what a man or woman feels like. It is what you say it is.

In the end you feel like YOU. Accept this feeling and get comfortable with it; it is all you will ever have in this lifetime. No matter what you change on the outside, the inner core remains the same. The experience will change and this is the point of the material world anyway. Enjoy the ride and only act with authenticity in your life. Live with pride! This is your role in life and it is mine.

Sequoia Elisabeth 🙂

The Other Side of the Coin

by Sequoia Elisabeth

For every person who is suffering, there is someone who is living in Joy. For every person who is bullying others, there is someone who is Loving all who they meet. Often the bully’s are hurting as much or more than their victims. High school is a right of passage that all Americans experience. How you handle it is not only a reflection of who you are, but of how you were raised!

Puberty is a time when so many aspects of life are changing and it is when those who are gender incongruent smack head on with a wall of confusion. Not to mention figuring out sexual orientation. If you have ever looked at the questions on sites like yahoo answers the number of questioning teenagers is amazing. They are discovering sexuality and gender identity from different perspectives and finding what works best for them and this goes for all teenagers. The environment in which they are raised will have much to do with whether they feel safe to be themselves.

Are you providing an open, loving and accepting environment for your children to grow up? Do you set an example for them by treating everyone you meet as an equal? In order to create a world of equality, one must embody it first! As we do this then those who follow will do the same, it is human nature.

There can be no better role model than Jesus Christ. When you fully understand his personal teachings you will have the skills to be a role model. I recommend A Course in Miracles (ACIM), A Spiritual Sex Manual, and The Art of Spiritual Peacemaking for starters. There are literally hundreds of books and teachings that are based on these teachings. One of my favorites that applies to the discussion of bullying in our schools is posted below. The before mentioned books teach how to do what this prayer suggests. May your journey be a peaceful and prosperous one.

Christian Prayer for Peace

Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be known as the Children of God.

But I say to you that hear,

love your enemies,

do good to those who hate you,

bless those who curse you,

pray for those who abuse you.

To those who strike you on the cheek offer the other also,

and from those who take away your cloak, do not withhold your coat as well.

Give to everyone who begs from you,

and of those who take away your goods, do not ask them again.

And as you wish that others would to do you, do so to them.

If anyone needs this explained to them please contact me, I am more than happy to get into the details and meaning of this prayer. To me it is self evident what it means, however from the state of affairs worldwide many do not understand this prayer, much less read such things. May we all be Blessed in our Journey of Love!

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity

Bullying?

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Bullying is getting blamed for a string of suicides in the LGBT community. Since I am not responsible for my own life, it must be the other guy’s fault, especially those mean kids who call me names and disrespect me. Right? This is portentous ground we travel on here!

Here is a video from the “It Gets Better” project started by Dan Savage. They offer some compelling statistics and a convincing argument against bullying. Is this not a “no brainer?” Harming anyone in any way, verbally, physically, or mentally is simply wrong, not because there is a right way and a wrong way, but because what you do onto another, you have done to yourself! The Oneness concept is so important to understand in this regard.

Suicide is hard to explain because the individual committing the act is not around to explain. However, since there is but one mind, the reasons can be ascertained by simply looking at the individual’s life. Being a transgender woman who has attempted suicide I can tell you from personal experience it is not about blaming anyone. All suicide is a cry for help on some level. The reason anyone commits suicide is because they have no other options they are aware of. The key is “aware of”. Let’s give our children options! Anyone who has felt different or for some reason stands out must learn to deal with their situation.

Once again I am very familiar with this as a 6’11” transwomen! The best gifts I have received along my path have been coping skills combined with Loving support. There is often at least one person in your life that cares enough to show you that you are Loved. For me it was my Grandmother, along with others in my family who taught me that I am a worthy individual and a valuable person in this world.

Is this not what we all desire? A gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender person is no different than anyone else in this regard. We are human beings and we need to treat all members as equals! Just because someone is different is no excuse for abuse!

This Transition Blog’s main purpose is to teach coping techniques and Spiritual concepts. I am telling you now that when you have something to believe in, something larger than yourself, getting through the difficult situations that we all face is so much easier. You are never alone.

The other thing that helps get you through the rough spots is having friends; a community that supports you and loves you for YOU. I know that sometimes you feel like you cannot trust anyone, not even yourself! As the world closes in on you all goes dark, there is no way out! So Hara Kari wins… It does not have to!! There is always another choice, all ways and always!

The one thing that has helped me lately is to help others. When you help others you are helping yourself, it is an awesome principle. “It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity NEW eBook on Sex and Sexuality available now

Who’s Song Do You Dance To?

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Have you ever considered who rules your life? Do you? Or does someone else? Think about the laws which we submit ourselves to every day. Some make divine sense and are easy to accept, while others are not so easy to accept.

The thought of taking another’s life seems absurd to me as does the thought of harming anyone. When I eat anything I thank Great Spirit for providing me nourishment, whatever form it may be in. The concept of Oneness dictates that we are part of the whole so energy is simply changing forms. From plant to human, or animal to human, vice versa, etc. Life feeds on Life! When anything eats anything it is one form changing to another, and yes it is as simple as that, place no judgment on it!

What about more civil matters such as relationships? Who’s rules are you following? Society has certain dictates, as do you on a personal level. You have made certain promises to yourself, correct? What about legal rules like laws against sodomy or incest? What about marriage laws? Do you allow others to dictate to you who you can Love? Why? Have you ever jumped out of an airplane or off of a cliff? Many have and they are still here to tell about it.

The way I see it you either conform or not. If you desire to play the game of society you must play by their rules. Such as no same sex marriage, no sodomy or incest, no love unless you conform to the societal laws. If this brings you Joy and fulfills your heart then I say Awesome! If not, then I say listen to the heart! If you are following reason or listening to your thoughts you are most likely conforming to societal laws.

It is not about changing society! STOP trying to change the world around you and go within. It is about listening to your heart and ignoring society! Love, my children, comes from within you! Those who look outside them for love, go without! This goes for all situations and circumstances, although the way in which it manifests will be different for each person. The world around you is a message. Take heed! Love the loving and forgive the hate!!! Nothing in the world around you can harm you, for it is illusion. Have you ever considered why we can watch someone on TV or the movies die and not be concerned? We know it is illusion, right? So is this world! TV and movies are a message!

We basically have two choices, Love or not, and ultimately even those choices are illusion. Love is all there is, so attempting to be anything else is illusion. It is all Good! Make everything in your life OK. If you are transgender, then Love your body, if you have been abused then Love (for-give) your attacker, if you have been abandoned, then accept yourself! Just enjoy the ride! Row, Row, Row your boat 😉

I Love you Dear Ones!

Sequoia Elisabeth

Thought Power

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Have you ever considered the power your thoughts have? You may have heard of The Secret or Law of Attraction which states that like attracts like. Today’s blog is about the power of positive thinking and the safety valve that is built in.

In the movie The Secret they show an elephant sitting on the couch next to an actor who has just wished for an elephant and poof there it is. Our wishes do not manifest this quickly for a reason! You may not want everything you wish for! “Success is getting what you want. Happiness is in wanting what you get.” Dale Carnegie

The trick to this process is being aware of what you wish for! Make note of it, and when you get it, Celebrate it! Now this can be as simple as wishing for a scoop of vanilla ice cream with chocolate sprinkles. When you get it – Celebrate it! Feel the joy that comes with success, even if you went to the freezer and served it yourself (sure way of getting things). Once you get this down, move on to bigger and better things.

This techniques works on any aspect of your life, take your health for instance. You imagine that a low fat, non-dairy Yogurt is good for you and you even imagine yourself smiling and happy after eating it. Take a mental inventory here, you can remember wishing for this and when you do enjoy it, feel this success deep within your soul!

It matters not what you choose to do this with, because every thought is a prayer. Also, as stated in the A Course in Miracles, there is no order of difficulty in miracles. This means that if you see yourself happy, healthy and free of any dis-ease, then that is what you will experience, eventually, even if you have just been given a terminal prognosis with 3 months to live by your doctor. It does take time in this ego world, however for those who have moved beyond the ego like Jesus, the window of time is almost immediate. (STOP – Yes, you are like Jesus)

Think about this for a minute. How does Jesus do the things he did such as walk on water, turn water into wine, raise the dead, etc.? He wishes it so and knows in his mind that it is so. He has no doubts, he feels the Truth and it is so. I know this is how it works because I have experienced it! Not that I have walked on water or such as that, but I am working within my beliefs and making great strides!

I am healthy, happy, and whole, because this is my wish. I choose it! I have also chosen to express my feminine nature as this feels more natural to me, and it is so! There are pictures on the website below if you need proof. I also had the experience of imagining myself taking a medicine, without actually taking it, and it works!

I encourage you to experiment with this and take small steps while remaining aware and awake. Throwing away all your medicinces is not a good choice, but you can be free of them all when you take small steps. Get professional assistance if you desire, just know that anyone can do this. Notice your successes and ReJoice!!!

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Bullying Is Nothing New

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Bullying happens at all ages, but during the teenage years it is especially difficult to handle because this is too young to have developed good coping skills. So in keeping with the theme of this blog, I would like to share my perspective on bullying. When President Obama makes a public plea to the American people to put a stop to bullying, you know the issue has grown to a level that needs attention.

The recent suicides that have made the news are nothing new, although they are tragic. The reality is that teens are susceptible to suicide whether they are LBGT or not, but it is actually the elderly that have the highest rate of suicide. While it is good to look at this issue and yes all children should be able to grow up in an environment free of bullying. The core issue here is not bullying, but respect for Life itself! Our children need to be taught to respect all life and to understand that everything they do, even little “jokes” are harmful when taken the wrong way or when they are allowed to get out of hand. For every action there is an equal and opposite re-action! The simple laws of physics can be applied.

When statistics are consulted the evidence shows that the middle age (45-54) and elderly years (75+) are the most likely time for suicide per the World Health Organization in a 2005 survey. The LGBT suicide rate is reported to be 2-3 times higher than average for teens from a study reported in 1999, although to me that seems a little out of date being at least 11 years old. The point of the statistics here is to point out the issue is not new, but is just getting well deserved press and exposure. The rules have not changed and our reactions should be the same regardless of what the world throws at you. Do onto others what you would have done onto you! Children do not always think about such things, so it is up to adults to model this for them, to remind them in a loving manner that everyone has feelings and to make them accountable so the lessons stick. Compassion can be used in all means of discipline! It is important to keep the wounding to a minimum when facing these issues.

Suicide attempts are a cry for help and it is help we need to be offering, not drugs or punishment. These kids need our Love and Compassion! They need support and someone to show them there is nothing wrong with them. Being Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or Transgender is not abnormal, weird or anything of such. It is a normal biological variant in the mammalian species and other species as well. The law of probability shows that anything that is possible will eventually occur. Certain conditions occur more than others. Our differences are not to be condemned but celebrated! We are each special in our own way, this is our gift to the world! See this in another, like in the movie Avatar, “I SEE YOU”! See the value that each person possess and celebrate it, acknowledge it, accept it.

The answers always lay within, so to help another help yourself first by Loving yourself for who you are, no matter what that may be. Then you have the basis to share from. Everything you do is setting an example for someone else, so teach with your actions by accepting and loving everyone you meet just as they are! It is only as hard as you say it is. Life is Simple, easy is up to you!

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Communities in Common

by Sequoia Elisabeth

First of all allow me to apologize for leaving this blog unattended for so long. I recently relocated to a new state and a new life, so please forgive me for being occupied for this past week. Recently I read an article about communities in common and I would like to share my perspective on this topic.

The article was about Amanda Keating who works at Out & Equal and covered her perspective on what it is to be Straight in a Gay workplace. This is the opposite of the usual workplace so her perspective was reversed and in the process she gained some very valuable insights into sexual orientation. On a larger scale she realized that all of our communities are connected in ways she had not comprehended previously.

“Realizing that I was a minority, I suddenly recognized how my daily actions had enforced gender stereotypes, and therefore I deliberately altered my mannerisms. For the first time, I made the conscious decision not to put a photo of my boyfriend on my desk. I reasoned that, “I don’t need to brag about how much easier my life has been as a straight person,” when in reality I was afraid of being silently judged for not being a member of the dominant community in my workplace. I often referred to my boyfriend as “my roommate” when telling stories about my personal life and didn’t correct co-workers who joked about setting me up with people. In essence, I spent only a few months doing what LGBT employees around the world are forced to do for their entire lives: I denied my whole self at work.” (Amanda Keating, 2010)

If you want to get to know someone, walk a mile in their shoes, or put another way “see through the eyes of your opponent to know the Truth”. This wisdom is not new and in fact has been in use for many millennia. So why not apply this wisdom to the work place and allow your perspective to broaden. This is what is accomplished here. Our minds are expanded and so are our hearts for to have compassion for another person’s journey you must first understand what they are going through. It is not possible for you to fully experience their journey but you can understand their perspective. The compassion you show is a gift not only to them but yourself since we are all connected in Oneness.

“Creating a safe place for your LGBT co-workers to be out does not equate to creating a forum to discuss the taboo subject of sex. It equates to creating a safe place for your co-workers to develop closer relationships with you by including every aspect of their selves. It creates a safe place for everyone to present diverse experiences and points of view. Most importantly, being honest about one’s whole self allows one to shine and excel without fear of judgment….If anything needs to be communicated to the straight community, it is this: take a step back one day and realize how easy it is to be straight, and then start making it just as easy to be gay.” (Amanda Keating, 2010)

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Thoughts Are Things

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Have you ever taken an inventory of your life? You know, sat back and went over each event, how you feel or felt about that event and then filed it away or released it if it no longer serves you? Your mind is like a filing cabinet for your life with each memory put in a file such as fun, educational, nostalgic, scary, painful, etc. and each one has a label such as good, bad, desirable, undesirable, forbidden, brag about it. Does this really serve you? How can I know that I do this?

Look around you right now, what do you see? Is your desk cluttered, organized, dirty, clean, etc.? The items you surround yourself with are metaphorical for your thoughts. The mind actually exists in the space around our bodies, not in the brain as previously thought. How can this be? It is quite simple, just consider brain injury. How can a person function with only half a brain or with a physical brain injury? ( I have met a person with only half their brain, so I know this is possible) They can do so because the mind is not in the brain but around the brain like a field. Yes, the brain injury will distort the field, but the mind functions anyway and through the most amazing trauma. Now that you have a vision of your mind being a field that surrounds you (not just your brain, but the entire body) consider the metaphorical aspect of the objects in your life.

How you live, the level of cleanliness and order is a mirror or metaphor for the thoughts in your mind. A cluttered desk, house, car, or body reflects the state of your mind! The level of cleanliness does too. If you want to know how you are doing just look at your life. All that you see is a reflection of your thoughts! This is YOUR life, and it comes from YOUR thoughts. There is no separation from your thoughts and those thoughts become things in your life! How else could you experience your thoughts?

The beauty of this is that you have a choice about what you do with these thoughts and/or things. Cleaning is a way of removing unwanted thoughts. Organizing and filing is a method of putting your thoughts where they will serve you best. So when you are going through your car, house, garden, closet, etc., ask yourself, Is this serving me? If so, How? What do I want to do with it? It is sort of like weeding the garden, you pick out the ones you do not want and toss them away. When you clean anything, you are focusing on the object (thought) at hand and making it shiny and attractive (giving it energy). You are actually giving that object permission to exist in your life and in some cases forgiving yourself for creating it in the first place. I speak here of cleaning up after your loved ones, children, pets, spouse, or even yourself.

Whatever you focus your energy on grows. This is the Law of Attraction. The thoughts you have about anything actually take form when given enough energy! This will work in your favor if you apply it with conscious effort, but when left to the Universe your life will become cluttered with unwanted things that will actually weigh you down and create difficulties for you. The purpose behind Spring Cleaning and Fall Cleaning is just that, to clear these unwanted thoughts out of your life, to organize the ones you would like to keep and to focus on what you wish to create more of in your life.

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

What You Say Is True

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Transition Blog will be sharing some of the eBook Livin’ Large in the next few installments. Please enjoy this Journey of Love and if you are interested in more info the book is available on Unity in Gender Diversity. This book is a synopsis of this author’s metaphysical outlook and philosophy.

Why would you say something that is not true? More importantly your beliefs make it true! In order to say something the thought must come to you, if it came to you it was attracted by your beliefs and actions, which make it TRUE to you. This is a personal experience, so mind your own business (another chapter of the eBook) and observe the Truth all around you. There is your truth that most of us live by every day and then there is Ultimate Truth or God’s Truth. Just understand that they are not the same and that you can choose either at any time. It takes a little observation to realize that what you think of as Truth is really “your” truth, ego truth or man’s truth. Remember that you are the creator of your life, and as you say, so it will be, but only if it is in the highest good for all concerned.

God’s Truth or Ultimate Truth or Universal Truth or Universal Law is a choice available to you in each and every moment. As you say “yes” to Truth, your mind is open to goodness, and Truth will be self-evident. God’s Truth is eternal, constant, loving, inspiring, and beyond explanation. My point here is that your words do have power and you should use them consciously to create what you desire.

It is far too easy to fling words around and create chaos in your life and in other’s lives. Be careful what you say, because if you say that you are fat and ugly, is this really what you desire? Or if you say your partner, or anyone else is fat and ugly is this what you would desire? How does this serve you? And beware of discounting your word also (this means, saying to yourself or out loud that you are this or that which is demeaning), because then you are taking the power away from your word which makes it harder to create that which you do desire. Use positive self-talk to build up yourself and others. Use sayings like, “It is all good” or “Just gotta love ‘em” or “I love you anyway”. If you find yourself saying something less than flattering about someone, yourself included, stop and change the subject. Oh, haven’t we had Lovely weather this week!

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Oneness Reiterated

by Sequoia Elisabeth

The concept of Oneness is so important to our daily lives that I would like to revisit this concept, understanding, philosophy, life style, and/or way of being. Oneness once fully understood and integrated totally shifts your experience of life itself. It could be said that this is enlightenment, although once you understand Oneness you see that you already are enlightened. This is the beauty of Oneness!

Oneness is all inclusive and very simple in concept, but the reality in this ego world is that separation is struggling to maintain a hold on our lives. This shows up in turmoil, conflict and loneliness. The only way to move beyond the illusion of separation is to embrace it and see it for what it is; an illusion. When something comes up that you recognize as separation, simply acknowledge it, see beyond it and then just leave separation behind as a concept. Ignore it, it has no power. Instead focus on the Truth. The Truth is that we are One, unified and whole being. We are Gaia! Oneness is Unity expressed, it is ‘love thy neighbor as thy loves oneself’, it is making decisions with the consideration of seven generations to come, it is knowing we are all made of ‘Starstuff’, and it is so much more. Oneness is the realization that everyone you meet is a part of Great Spirit, Universal Intelligence, or God, just like you are, and that you have that in common with everything as well as everyone you meet. Each person is individual and connected at the same time. What you give, you give to yourself, since we are all one. What you deny for another, you deny yourself. When you heal yourself, you heal the world! You are using the same mind as Albert Einstein, or Mother Theresa. You are ONE with GOD, in a word you are GOD, expressing as the individual that you are. Each form or “thing” you see is unique onto itself. This means that no two snowflakes are the same and yet a snowflake is like all other snowflakes, but not identical. This goes for all other forms as well. This is why when you meet someone new they are unique and yet they are YOU.

The only constant in this universe is change, so embrace change and honor each form you meet. When life is lived from a place of Oneness we become aware of the bond that connects all of life.

“What is arising now is not a new belief system, a new religion, spiritual ideology, or mythology. We are coming to the end not only of mythologies but also of ideologies and belief systems. The change goes deeper than the content of your mind, deeper than your thoughts. In fact, at the heart of the new consciousness lies the transcendence of thought, a newfound ability of rising above thought, of realizing a dimension within yourself that is infinitely more vast than thought.” Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth, Page 21-22

This dimension is the Oneness I speak of. It is something that must be experienced to truly know what it is, but once that connection is made it is a part of you and cannot be lost. In fact it is constantly growing. This is so much larger than “you”! Can you feel it? After reading A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle it all became so clear to me and that feeling has continued to grow. We are witnessing our own evolution! Like the Renaissance Age of the 14th to 17th centuries this last 300 years or so could be remembered as the Age of Awakening! This age is culminating Dec 21, 2012, and is a doorway to the beginning of a new age, the age of Infinite Possibilities. This is according to Ian Xel Lungold in his Mayan 2012 Secrets Reveled. We need not rely on one person’s interpretation here however, because we know this already. As we become more aware of this dimension beyond thought it is easy to see that Ian is right on the mark! Ian speaks of the mind as a tool that we use to experience our world. This tool can shape our future or it can trap us. By simply being aware of this we are shining light on the shadows and allowing ourselves to move beyond thought.

😀 Sequoia Elisabeth

Plan On It

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Transition is not usually something that comes out of nowhere. Most often it is a calling that draws, nags, and prods till it is faced. When this compulsion is finally faced life can get very emotional and confusing. One of the tools we can use in Transition is a plan. Planning gives an overwhelming beast a tamer appearance.

Once the decision has been accepted, (I believe transitions where chosen before we are born and are a part of our destiny) the next step is to assess where you are and where you feel you need to be. In the case of gender transition, this is usually fairly simple. You may say, “I have a male body but feel I need to be in female form”. Or it may be that you desire to dress as a woman but not to be one all the time. This is where it is important to listen to your inner feelings and take action, test the waters so to speak.

Now that you are dressing as a woman and it feels right, or you are living a lifestyle that feels right, it is time to make plans to further that path. Look ahead, consider the options, talk to people who are on a similar path. Those who have paved the way can make your journey smoother. Listen to the advice and then do what feels right to you. Take all the advice and pick out the bits that fit the cogs of your life.

Sit down with a piece of paper and write down your plan. Think this thing through carefully and write each step of the journey down and include a timeline. When thoughts are put in writing they have more power and when shared with those who support you, they are further energized. (I suppose it is obvious if you share your ideas with those who criticize or ridicule you then the energy is zapped – this means you must put more energy in and may not build up enough to reach your goal). Make your goals clear and provide as much detail as you can visualize. Once you are done writing your plan out, look it over each day and focus on small successes. What have I done to move toward completing my plan? Be easy on yourself and be quick to forgive the shortfalls and praise the successes. If something does not work out the way you planned and I can assure you there will be something that does not, simply re-assess, formulate a new plan and keep on trekking. Every journey is an evolution or a process and we cannot always see the entire path, so just keeping stepping up and before you know it you will be exactly where you want to be. Then it is time to re-assess and start a new journey! Life is eternal my friends 😉

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Sex and Sexuality coming soon

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Now is the time to peek at the new eBook which will be coming out next month. I apologize for taking so long as I am sure you are anxious to see what we have to offer. We are in the final editing stage and just need to verify a source to be ready for release. For those who know me they know I like to dive deep into introspection all the while staring myself in the eyes. Sex and Sexuality uses these aspects of self to delve deep within to discover inner truth. Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation amongst other aspects are explored in an effort to deepen understanding. My own personal story is used as one example of what the transgender journey is all about. Of course how you relate to this is personal and unique to you, because we are all on individual journeys. I find that by sharing stories we can all get a deeper understanding of each other and this book will inspire you to look closer at who you really are. The significance of relationship is discovered as well as the meaning of sexuality, so I invite you to take a journey of discovery with me!

Here is a peek preview of the table of contents which will be linked on the website soon. I usually offer the table of contents free so you can get a good idea about the book.

Sex and Sexuality

One Woman’s Journey of Discovery

Introduction
Treatise to Terminology
Gender Discoveries
Sex Acts and Partners
My Gender Experience
Which Love?
Sex as communication
Hormones
The Rod and the Receptacle
SecondLife Possibilities
A Journey of Discovery

The eBook will be available on SequoiaBlessed.info next month and there will be a promotional offer to include the 12 page workbook to go along with it. My ultimate goal is to create an online learning program around Sex and Sexuality, so stay tuned. May your Journey of Discovery be a joyous one!

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth