Oneness Ministry

Moving From A Competitive Mindset To A Cooperative One

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Moving from a competitive mindset to a cooperative mind is a matter of realization and desire. The human race is maturing and a big part of it is the shift in mindsets that occurs during a shift in era. We are moving into a cooperative age, the Age of Aquarius. Pisces was a competitive age and many people are still holding that mindset, however a few individuals over the years have been born with the cooperative mindset to serve as seeds to the new age! This number continues to grow.

Guilty by association is a principle UGD teaches and it works very simply. You become like those you associate with. Of course you will be attracted to those who are like you, this is another Universal Principle. By using this principle you can personally choose the shift in mindsets. All gangs have leaders, and however the leader acts so will the other members, yes? Well, not necessarily this is an example of Piscean competitive thinking. It is possible to have a cooperative group of like-minded individuals where each person participates equally and independently but with a cooperative mindset and similar goals. Their values will be the same, and the outcome will be mutually beneficial for all people not just their gang (group or organization). “If you become more self-responsible and affiliate yourself with others who are making the same choice, you will always have what you need when you need it. Always.” Harald Sandø

“A fully collaborative society is just as unthinkable in a world based on competition as competition was for an authority-based society (The time of Kings and Pharaohs).” Miki Kashtan What is your mindset? Look at your friends!

The answer to the question of how a Resource Based Economy (Cooperative mindset) will become the norm is as simple as attrition. It will be a 100^th monkey scenario and we are near reaching that point if we have not already reached it. Only a small fraction of the population needs embrace this new mindset and it will slowly spread until it reaches wildfire proportions. The Occupy movement is a good example that we are reaching the point where the 99% are operating with a cooperative mindset.

Wherever your attention goes, this is what grows. Are you concerned about being competitive in today’s market place and focused on survival or are you faithful that you will always have what you need and willing to cooperate, share, and gift this reality into being?

For more on RBE, and a Cooperative mindset, continue to follow this Transitions Blog, read the links provided above and read the eBook, “a Love Based Society” available at the website below. I very much appreciate this opportunity to share these ideas with you today and thank you for reading “Transitions Blog”.

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity Discover a Love Based Society click here

Give Up Defining Yourself

by Sequoia Elisabeth

“Give up defining yourself ~ to yourself or to others. You won’t die. You will come to life. And don’t be concerned with how others define you. When they define you, they are limiting themselves, so it’s their problem. Whenever you interact with people, don’t be there primarily as a function or a role, but as the field of Conscious Presence. You can only lose something that you have, but you cannot lose something that you are.” ~ Eckhart Tolle (A New Earth)

The Transitions Blog has been teaching this point from the very beginning and this is a good time to re-emphasize the relationship we have to identity.

“We are all on a journey to discover who we are. In the process of thinking and doing, we see who we are not. Along the way many personas emerge, and with each step you are closer to who you really are. In the end we discover that there is really only one, and that is GOD.” (Unity in Gender Diversity)

Eckhart Tolle introduces an interesting concept which I had to really think about to comprehend what it means. What I share here is open to interpretation as always. What exactly is “the field of Conscious Presence”? How does one be this?

At times we have all been connected to Source in such a way that we are aware of being aware. It is a combination of being both a separate ego and a connected soul. The feeling is one of knowing that you are not your body, or even your identity, but the consciousness that is aware that you are aware.

The reality is that God is all there is, and we are one individuation of this one infinite, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent being. Since we are made in the image of this being and the expressions are infinite it matters not what this expression is, there is no way for you to not be who you are, “you cannot lose something that you are”.

No matter how you change the exterior it is the inner core which holds the essence of who you are. Sometimes we need to test this and so this is where the need to dress up, wear costumes, and present in various ways emerges. We are simply expressing the infinite! This is not to presume that gender identity is not real, for this is a life path chosen for the express purpose of testing reality. I can assure you that the inner drive to transition is profound and unavoidable. This goes for most any and all transitions, as sure as a rock falls when dropped. The goal is to see this field of Conscious Presence that each person holds and understand that the package is simply that. Love the person inside!

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity Discover Sex and Sexuality click here

Place As A State Of Consciousness

by Sequoia Elisabeth

The power of place is in the consciousness you hold at the time. Perhaps you remember the quote, “all the world’s a stage and we are merely players” William Shakespeare, or perhaps the concept of “The Matrix” presented in the movie by the same name? When you have an experience of say the beach, it is all created in your mind!

I know this seems farfetched to some of you, but to others it will be obvious. What this comes down to is the state of consciousness you are operating with. Is Love on your mind or fear? Prosperity or lack? We are taught that if we wish to raise our consciousness we need to be in Church or some Holy place and that is simply backwards.

By being in a high state of consciousness the Church or Holy place appears. It is possible for your entire day to be Holy, whether you are in the supermarket, school, or office! The state of consciousness you hold will be your experience of that place.

To create this state simply clear your mind and intend the Highest and Best Good in, of, and around you at all times. Worry is not a choice, hurry is not a choice, Holy is the Only Choice! Deem every place you go – Holy – as this is the Ultimate reality!

The power of place then becomes the power of Holy Spirit operating in, of, and around you! Attending church is fuel to this Holy state of consciousness, as is meditation, yoga, prayer, mantras, and a myriad of other spiritual practices. Even menial labor, exercise, or other repetitive tasks can assist the mind in reaching a Holy state of consciousness.

All it really takes is a pure heart and clear intentions. Your thoughts are focused on the Highest Good for everyone, not just yourself. Your experience is centered in Joy, not only yours but everyone’s. I speak of a feeling that is centered in the heart and comes from your core, not the superficial feeling of happiness that can never last.

With practice and pure intentions the place no longer is important, because your life will be Heaven on Earth! “A loving person lives in a loving world. A hostile person lives in a hostile world. Everyone you meet is your mirror.” Ken Keyes

😀 Sequoia Elisabeth

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Why Transition?

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Recently I was asked why anyone would want to take hormones and have surgery to change their sex. They were curious about the personal benefits involved. We often hear the costs involved, such as $$$, social status, and sexual dysfunction, however what a cysgender person cannot know is the pain, dysfunction, and inner turmoil that exists for a transgender person. The very question demonstrates a lack of understanding. So let’s set the record straight by explaining a few things.

First of all, incongruency exists for a transgender person, because they live in the opposite body of which both their brain and identity have aligned. They are operating without the proper chemistry and attempting to work with the wrong tools. You can use pliers to hammer nails but it just does not work very well.

Hormones assist in the regulation of brain function. What determines Gender Identity is the effect of hormones on the fetus in the earliest stages of development. “Scientific evidence has been growing that somehow certain brain-structures in the hypothalamus (the BSTc region) determine each person’s core gender feelings and innate gender identity. These structures are “hard-wired” pre-natally in the lower brain centers and central nervous system (CNS) during the early stages of pregnancy”. (Dennis, Carina 2004)

Further, “Six years ago, the Netherlands Institute of Brain Research published the results of a study they had been conducting…. A subsequent report was published last year in the leading international journal for neurological studies, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism [85 (5): 2034-41; May, 2000]…. What the researchers found were significant differences in the brains of men and women relevant to reproductive hormones, cognition, emotions, and our body’s responses to them. The differences were both in magnitude and consistency and involve a region of the hypothalamus identified as the BSTc. Human males average about twice as many neurons within the BSTc as do females. In both males and females, transsexuals did not have the neuron number typical of their gender, but, instead, had the number typical of the sex they always believed they should be.” (Niedermayer, Grace 2004)

The relief a transgender person feels from the proper hormones is usually a euphoric experience. The beautiful thing about contra-hormone therapy (CHT) is the effects are reversible completely for about the first six months and even after years of therapy if the person decides to revert, although sterility is likely. In only a few weeks it is clear if CHT is the right choice.

Testosterone in a body wired for estrogen or vice versa will create dysphoria, agitation, and irritability. So if euphoria and a general peaceful feeling are not experienced then CHT is not the answer and other treatment is indicated. Yes, CHT is a treatment for a medical condition, gender incongruency (formally known as Gender Dsyphoria).

As in any medical condition it is best to have specific medical guidance by someone with experience in gender therapy! It is possible to treat yourself, just as anyone with any medical condition can do, however the results very drastically. Hormones are not a recreational drug! I find this almost comical that someone would think so, and yet invariably people do. If you would like to know more about hormones, their effects, what to expect, other gender and sexual info please read my eBook, Sex and Sexuality, One Woman’s Journey of Discovery.

😀 Sequoia Elisabeth

Gender Related Transitions

Discipline, a tool for better living

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Discipline is key to success in just about anything you do in life. Now there will be serendipitous successes, however in the larger picture a person must be disciplined to achieve anything of greatness. Think back through your life and notice the big successes. Did they take planning and fortitude to complete?

Building a career, a house, completing a gender transition, making a move to a different country, etc. all take discipline, because they are major undertakings. Even small tasks such as cooking dinner or washing laundry benefit from forethought and planning. We have all tried to do things without planning and ended up doing the task over and over before it was done correctly. Research pays off!

Thought, word, action is the process in any transition. First you visualize the goal or the end product and then you write down a plan and/or discuss the plan with someone you respect and trust. Once the vision has been created and the process is firm within your mind and those helping, action is the next step. It is important to believe in yourself and actually take action or it will simply be a pipe dream. Un-acted on dreams tend to morph into resentment and become destructive, so this brings us back to discipline.

Building discipline takes time and effort, but with determination and the power of intention there is nothing you cannot achieve. Martial arts are a good way to practice discipline as is any sport. Arts and crafts are also a way to build discipline. Any activity that requires repeated practice to perfect is an exercise in discipline. Little do you realize learning an instrument or foreign language is actually building a skill that serves in many ways.

When you are faced with a major transition the discipline you developed in our younger years will pay off in spades! This is the point behind 12+ years of school, years of sports, or music lessons. It all leads up to greater consciousness. This is what education is all about anyway, growth of the soul, and spiritual consciousness.

Discipline is a tool used on the path, the better your discipline the stronger the growth. So don’t get caught up in the details and the seemingly menial tasks along the way. Discipline develops over time and when used consciously it empowers you to manifest all your dreams!

😀 Sequoia Elisabeth

Transgender?

by Sequoia Elisabeth

How does one know they are transgender? The answer to this question is both easy and complex. Easy in that only the individual knows they are transgender by how they self-identify and complex in that identities often blur together.

A person can identify with many others who are important in their life. Gender is not always important, meaning they may identify with both men and woman and sometimes other beings as well, such as animals, plants, or insects. We do it all the time, it is called anthropomorphization, projecting human characteristics on to things other than human. A statue of stone can be made in a human image signifying a personality cold as stone. Or metal could be used to give the figure a fiery nature. You are not your body, but a Spiritual Being having a Human experience.

Getting back to self-identity, gender identity is usually apparent by the age of 3-6. For this reason historically the Native Americans and recently some modern families are choosing to allow their child to tell them how they identify instead of looking between the legs and then pasting them with an identity. Certain characteristics such as toys chosen, behavior in certain situations, and how the child interacts can be indicators of masculine or feminine characteristics. However just because a boy likes to play with dolls does not make him transgender.

Gender is a spectrum not a binary and in fact 80% of the population falls somewhere in the middle of the bell curve. It is rare to be totally male or completely female in gender. Just think back about your life and did you not enjoy doing things which were considered opposite of your gender?

The point of the Transgender movement that has been growing since the fifties is equality. Everyone no matter their gender, race, orientation, status, finances, appearance, mentality or any other characteristic deserves to be treated as an equal. Each person in their own way is an expression of God, Great Spirit, or Infinite Intelligence. And it is up to the individual to decide how they identify!

Doctors, Lawyers, or parents do not have the right to impose their interpretations on any other person. Now they can and will offer their expertise, but it is still up to the individual to take that information and do with it what they will. Even a child 3-6 years old can tell their parents how they feel.

The parent can then provide opportunity for the child to explore their feelings, and with love and support the child will fulfill their destiny. And for those individuals who have suppressed these feelings for decades it is never too late to give yourself permission to be yourself!! Ultimately, Love is the answer to every question.

I encourage those with doubts or questions to explore their feelings by looking deep within the heart. The only way to know for sure is to try different gender role expressions. When you arrive at a conclusion it will feel right. Of course, this is for the moment because life is filled with moments and this feeling may change, although the wiring of the brain is fixed at birth. Life is an exercise in discovery and forgiveness.

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Gender Related Transitions

Transgender and The Age of Aquarius

by Sequoia Elisabeth

This blog is about terminology, identity, and transition. The entire world is in Transition in many ways, so it is time we revisited Transgender, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation so that everyone understands the meaning of certain words and concepts that put life into perspective. First and foremost it is important to understand that gender and sex are different things and have multiple meanings.

Gender is your self-concept of who you are man, woman, transgender, androgynous or other. Each individual is born with this, but is not aware of it till the ages of 3-6. If a discrepancy is perceived then this awareness is often suppressed or denied, however this is now changing, children are coming out and telling parents who are actually respecting their concerns.

Cisgender is a term that specifically means “not-transgender”, and is used to mean genetic girl (GG) or genetic boy (GB), a person with a matching gender identity and physical sex who has never questioned their gender. Since transgender persons have a label we feel it only fair for others to have one too.

Transgender is a person appearing or attempting to be a member of the opposite sex, such as a transsexual or habitual crossdresser. This term is an umbrella term to include the entire community of individuals who cross gender boundaries on a consistent basis. For more on terminology I cover it extensively at this link.

Sexual Orientation is also hard wired at birth and does not change, although many people now days are bisexual or pansexual meaning they are open to the individual’s personality and not so concerned with physical sex. A homosexual is attracted to their same sex and will not consider being with the opposite sex, just as a heterosexual is only interested in the opposite sex. With Transgender individuals these definitions get blurry, so it is up to the individual to identify. Make no assumptions because each person is different and may change their mind from time to time, especially if they are young and exploring. The term sex can also mean physical or biological sex, amongst other things.

Mass consciousness is shifting due to the era we are entering, The Age of Aquarius. The traits of the Aquarian Age person is that of being bisexual (pansexual) and androgynous which explains much of the trans-revolution we are experiencing today! We are moving from the end of the Piscean era (money, power, and control) to the new era of Aquarian. I have spoken of this in other blogs and find that this explains much of what I have been experiencing. (A great article that explains the shift from Pisces to Aquarius is found at this link.)

Does this mean I was not to transition? Of course not! This is the purpose of these times and my life is a mirror of the greater whole just as your life is! Your path is up to you and if you have questions I am happy to assist! Please visit the website below and explore the Gender Learning Center. It goes into gender at length as well as sexual orientation and the different aspects of each of these. The eBook “Sex and Sexuality” is available free on this website and is an extensive look at gender, sex, orientation, sexuality, and more. The website below lists gender and spiritual information in several formats -video, powerpoint, written, quiz, and eBook, so you can find what works best for your learning method.

The first step in loving someone is not judging them, and seeing beyond the outer appearance. The second step is getting to know them and the third is following your heart to a deep friendship or more relationship. It is time we let go of money, power, and control and embrace love, unity, brotherhood, and integrity.

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity Discover Sex and Sexuality click here

To Thy Own Self Be True

by Sequoia Elisabeth

How does one go about this? I mean, how does one be true to thy own self? It really depends on how you view “self”. The interpretation will be slightly different for each person, so this means trillions of ways!

I will share my viewpoint and you can integrate it into yours. In the process we both will grow… how is that for divine beauty? If you have been reading my blog over the years you know that I have a Unity Consciousness point of view, meaning we are all One. God is all there is! Once I started looking it showed up everywhere and all doubt was chased away. The more I questioned the deeper my belief. I see Oneness everywhere I look these days and the most significant portion of this is I know this means all is Divine!

Yes, this means that thy own self is Divine! We are all God…Godding 😉 Simply put, we are each doing as we are guided to do as an expression of God (Universal Consciousness, Great Spirit, Allah, or whatever you like to call it). Some follow the ego mind and this gets them in all sorts of predicaments, while the others are listening to the Divine guidance of Holy Spirit. It is not hard once you know the difference to choose the Divine. The still quiet voice, the loving, caring, compassionate guidance is of Divine Spirit. If you choose to say hurtful words, take harmful action, or even entertain ill thoughts this is ego in action.

The choice is often unconscious, so I invite you to bring the Divine into consciousness! The mind is under your control and by “your” I mean the Spirits control unless it is not, which means you have not claimed this control. The ego will take control of your mind and use fear and pain to control you if you allow it, but it has no power unless you fail to claim your God given rights. In order to make your claim simply state to the Universe and with God as your witness:

I release the past, and see myself in new light, the light of God as an equal to God. If this is beyond my abilities at this time then I remain open to this possibility and ask that I be given the opportunity for this realization. I hereby withdraw all power which I have given to other people or to situations which control my experiences. I am in control of my experiences and I choose Love, Joy, and Peace! In my sexual relationship with you dearly Beloved (all relationships I have ever experienced) I hereby release and forgive you for the blame which I placed falsely upon you. I understand this was a mistake and not a sin, so I am simply correcting an error on my part. The more I practice this and make this a part of my life the deeper will I experience this Truth. Holy Spirit I ask for your help in making this so, so that I may know myself in my True form. Help me in forgiving the past and in knowing the essence of my being. I Love You!

Now that you have released ego mind, being “true to thy own self” is a no brainer!

😀 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity Free eBooks click here

Unity in Gender Diversity

Life is your Mirror

by Sequoia Elisabeth

What does your lifestyle say about you? Look around and see for yourself! Is your car cluttered with “stuff”? What about your desk, bedroom, living room, yard, or closet? Is this stuff a sense of identity for you? It is for most people and I question this. Not if it is right or wrong, that is subjective, but what purpose does identifying with works of art or advanced technological devices serve for you?

Have you ever considered why you have to have the latest computer or that cute trinket from your vacation? Everything you do, say, or think defines you. Take a step back and see this. Who are you? Really?

Your environment also defines you and tells you much about the person you are. Is your life about clutter or order, dirty or clean, scarcity or abundance? The cluttered mind is reflected in a cluttered life, dirty thoughts are reflected in a dirty life, and abundant thoughts beget an abundant life. I hope you will take a minute to look at your life and start living with intention and purpose. Make a conscious choice to be one way or the other. Clean your house because that reflects the type of person you are, not because I or anyone else says you should.

Life is a reflection of your thoughts, words, and actions. So if you wish to know yourself, just look at your friends, family, job, activities, and living space. It can be a sobering event! And it can be inspiring too. This is one of the most important principles you can learn! Once you start living on purpose, the world becomes your oyster and you are the pearl.

Living Consciously means being aware of the details, appreciating them, but not obsessing on them. It is a fine line, but one that is very rewarding! What is important to you? Who are you? What do you need to align with this? The mirror is your best friend, as is pain, the bully that kicked your ass, and the accident you had last month.

“A loving person lives in a loving world. A hostile person lives in a hostile world. Everyone you meet is your mirror.” Ken Keyes

Be the Love (insert your choice) you desire!

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Extra-Terrestrial Love

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Aliens are not strange creatures from a foreign land, but the feeling of disconnection and separation from life itself. They are an Illusion! The mind is a powerful image projector or reality creator and I have no doubt that eventually the human race will conger up Extra-Terrestrial visitors. If you search the internet and watch TV the examples are bountiful.

In the movie “Matrix”, Morpheus asks the question, “What is Real?” and then goes on to explain that it is purely a matter of perception by the mind, processed by the brain. Certain energy frequencies steer the mind in certain directions. Fear or the vibrational frequency = to fear will produce scary and destructive experiences. This is what is called separation mentality.

Love on the other hand or the vibrational frequency = to Love produces pleasant, creative, and constructive experiences. This is referred to as Unity mentality. It is important to understand that fear serves a purpose and is not all bad. The beauty of life is the Holy Spirit takes what it gets and makes the most of it. Fear can be transformed to the constructive. If you would like to know more about Love and Fear please read the free eBooks available on Unity in Gender Diversity website.

Getting back to the point, we all desire Love! In this illusion of separation from Love the mind often goes running about flinging open doors in a desperate search that leads nowhere. This is the ego mind at work. The ego leads you on a wild goose chase but will never let you attain your goal, because it is the aspect of you that really is separate from God. Ego is the illusion of separation. The Truth is God is all there is and any sense of separation from God is the devils work (ego mind). Since God makes up your very being, separation is not possible!

We are attracted to the image of extra-terrestrials because we desire to belong somewhere!! We want to be Loved, so we create something to Love. Almost all of your life is created for the purpose of Loving, being Loved, observing Love, or sharing Love. All else separates you from Love, and the ego mind is working constantly to de-rail your experience of Love. It creates false love in many forms; ETs are simply one of them.

Remember the beauty of Love is Holy Spirit corrects these misperceptions and keeps us on track as long as we stay open to the guidance. This guidance comes in a myriad of forms, movies, TV, books, advertisements, advice from a friend, etc., the important thing to keep in mind is that Love is unconditional, uplifting, and supportive. So, if this is not your experience you are off track. Try thinking of ETs as your future self. Since there really is only One, what other possibility is there?

😀 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity Free eBooks click here

Silence

by Sequoia Elisabeth

The possession of God is the silence of the heart. The thought of God is the silence of the mind. ~Mother Mary of St Austin

Chapter 6 from the eBook, Methods of Raising Our Energy, The following chapter discusses Silence as a tool for not only Spiritual Enlightenment but for daily practice. For more on this topic please check out the free eBooks found on the website listed below.

A still soul is the pathway to God, for God resides in the silence in between reality. The journey within begins with a desire to know God and is never finished. When you sit in silence and hold nothing in your mind you are opening the door to the heart. The heart is the seat of the soul thus connecting you to your higher self. The next time you have a day off do nothing at all, and I do mean nothing! This takes a lot of practice, but can lead to awesome shifts in perception of what is (Enlightenment).

Silence is the folding of the wings of the intellect to open the door of the heart. ~Catherine de Hueck Doherty

Meditation is the simple act of continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature. Many people use meditation as a method of clearing the mind and finding the nothingness we all are looking for. The mind is a tool and it is always on. Let me say it again, the mind is always on. Meditation is focusing the mind on something, or nothing and since focusing on nothing is very challenging for the beginner start with something (a flame, spot on the wall, picture, or just about anything). When using “nothing” as your focus for meditation, try imagining a white room with no furniture or anything. Mantras (an often repeated word, formula, or phrase) also work well, such as “I am Peace and Love”. It is simply a statement that you resonate with as truth. In your meditations focus on your desires in a positive way as if it is already true.

For Instance, say you desire Peace in your life, get comfortable, relax, let go, and focus on Peace. Ask yourself questions such as these. What does Peace mean? What does it feel like? Is it a place? Is it temporary or permanent? Where does it come from? You get the point, to simply dwell deeper on the subject or object of focus. It is also helpful to imagine Peace as a building and you are exploring its many levels starting with the grand front door. See it in your mind! Walking up will raise your consciousness and going into the basement will expose your fears which can be quite healing.

If another thought comes in, allow it to pass, and re-focus on the subject. At first this will happen frequently, so just relax, and let it flow. As you practice meditation it gets easier and easier, but the changes are not always apparent. Not to worry, change is constant and with focus the change is in the order of increased energy! If things appear to be going poorly that is OK too. Whether you are experiencing this truth you meditation upon is due to many factors. Some of which I discuss in my first book, Livin’ Large.

Suffice it to say that thoughts plus emotions equal feelings and let your feelings be your guide, not what you think you see. Persistence and consistency always pay off. Remember that meditation is a simple act and can last for a few seconds or hours, it can occur when you least expect it, like while cleaning, exercising, or working, or it can occur when you deliberately focus on it. Without meditation in its purest form humans would perish! So you do it already, and you can get much greater benefit by doing it on purpose. Awareness is the path to freedom.

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity Continue reading for FREE! click here

Livin’ Large For Free

by Sequoia Elisabeth

What you focus on – Grows

Where you put your attention, your energy goes. Another way to say that is an object in motion tends to stay in motion. This is basic physics and easily provable with a little time and effort. Of course, physics is nothing more than the study of physical “things”. How does this affect me? Well, everyday gravity affects you as does the laws of motion.

Since I am not a physics teacher and simply an observer of life and how things work (or don’t), what I am telling you is based more on my experience than anything else. Sure I went to college and had the usual science classes and even some math, but the point I am making here is don’t take my word for it. Be the observer and test life to see how it works! Yes, get out there and break some eggs, just be prepared to do the clean-up. When you are sitting in class wondering why in the heck you are there, remember this is Life, this is why you are here, to be the observer and understand the principles of living a happy, healthy, prosperous life. For example YOU are the object in the law stated above and the more you move in a certain direction the harder it is to change that direction and the more energy it takes to change. This means that when you have been doing the same things, thinking the same thoughts, and speaking the same way for years, it will take time and effort to change. So hang in there and stay FOCUSED on that which you desire. It may take a few tries or even a few thousand tries, but it will work. As you practice focusing on that which you desire it will get easier and easier to live the life of your dreams. You do have dreams don’t you? Oh good, then try writing them down and sharing them with those you Love.

The above paragraph is from the eBook “Livin’ Large” which is available free at this link. I invite you to explore the four eBooks offered there and to peruse the pages of prose on the website, some of it may be relevant and some may not be, but I guarantee you will learn something. Thank you for reading Transitions Blog!

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

The Art of Detachment Revisited

by Sequoia Elisabeth

The art of detachment is a Buddhist technique that also has its Christian counterpart. The technique works like this; be in the world but not of it. Jesus taught this and likely learned it from his Buddhist teachers. What this means is to fully experience life and at the same time release any attachment you have to it. It is very simple once fully understood, however getting to this point can sometimes take years or even lifetimes. I pray this blog assists you in the process.

As you are fully immersed in your life understand that everything is a reflection of who you are, this is why you are drawn to it. The partner you love so much is a reflection of who you are, but they are not you. The town you were born in, the town you grew up in, or the town you fell in love with is a reflection of who you are, but it is not where you are. Your favorite drinking cup, diamond earrings, dream car, childhood football, and all the things you are attached to for sentimental reasons are a reflection of who you are, however they are not what you are. Embracing these facts is the first step in the art of detachment.

Allowing yourself to fully love a person, place, or thing while remaining free of any attachment to it is the goal. Understand that you are both connected and separate from everything in life. Not being attached means being able to give it to someone else. It can also mean being able to walk away from it without feeling you have lost anything. Through the principle of Oneness you realize that everyone and everything is of the One, a drop from the sea of life.

If however you think of this process as a loss, the actual power from this attachment is being held onto and the effect is disempowering. So even if the person, place, or thing is long gone, until you consciously or unconsciously give it away you remained attached to it and thus disempowered. It is like having a glass that is full, there is no way to pour in more water.

When you long for something you experienced before this can be nostalgic and society teaches this is a good thing. In reality nostalgia is disempowering. Each experience is a unique gift that cannot be repeated exactly. Living in the past is not living at all. When you love the experience in the moment – laughing, appreciating, and engaging life – this is living!

Being able to move on to the next experience without missing people, places, and things of the past is the art of detachment. You can experience these things again any time you like and this is why many people will live in the same town all their life, or drink coffee, or go for walks, or because they love the experience (the feeling it brings). What you are ultimately getting is an experience of yourself!

“Detachment means rising above the status quo, without passing judgment, and watching the drama unfold without becoming physically or emotionally involved. Detachment doesn’t mean burying your head in the sand so that you need not watch the action as it unfolds; it means, being there, observing from an objective space, and remembering who you are, a spiritual being watching the drama of polarization reach its climax and fail so that a new paradigm of victory can be birthed by those of us who refuse to buy into a perpetual game of winners and losers. Detachment addresses the need of the spiritually inclined to remove oneself from the chaos while observing and learning valuable lessons about this temporary physical existence. … But remember, we are spiritual beings having a human experience and not the other way around. So we can remove ourselves from the drama when we’ve learned all we need to know about polarization and separation. When we finally realize who we really are, and how we are all equally part of the same creative manifestation, we will finally learn the fine art of detachment and the truth behind our cosmic ancestry and oneness.” (Dawn Abel, 2002)

The key is to tap into your desire and experience it fully, and once experienced you release it and move to the next. Here is a different view of Detachment that provides a deeper insight to its value and use.

“Detachment not only releases joy; it is also the secret of health. It is the best medical insurance in the world, and not only because it can keep us free from physical habits that sap our vitality. Most illness has a serious emotional element. While there is an important place for physical measures in the treatment of disease, a mind at peace, and a heart flooded with love can release healing powers that strengthen and revitalize the physical system. Strength can be regained even after years of emotional instability. In extreme cases, I believe, recovery can be brought about even from what seems a terminal illness.

Today, of course, it is widely appreciated that because of advances in medical knowledge, we can expect to live much longer than was reasonable at the beginning of the twentieth century. But we can lead lives that are not only longer but richer, more loving, and more productive. The next steps in stretching the limits of human health and longevity, I believe, will not be in biotechnology. They will come from learning to govern the way we think and feel. Detachment is a longevity skill. Freedom from compulsive emotional entanglements is the best insurance against stress. More than that, by opening a window onto a fuller, loftier view of life than that dictated by self-interest, detachment brings a sense of purpose. Without a reason for living, the human being withers and dies inside. However paradoxical it may sound, it is detachment that enables us to give ourselves wholeheartedly to worthwhile work without ever getting depressed, despondent, or burned out – right into the last days of our lives.” (The Blue Mountain Center of Meditation)

I wish I could describe the feeling of Joy that comes from detachment, but I will just say “Give it a go – put this to the test”! Completely love your partner, family, pet, job, home, etc. without being attached to any outcomes.

😀 Sequoia Elisabeth

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Gender Related Transitions

Restroom Etiquette

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Restroom etiquette touches each and every one of us, however for those in the Transgender community it is an especially touchy subject. This should be common sense and quite obvious although from the news articles and first person reports which bathroom you use is very important.

In an ideal world you simply use whichever bathroom you want, when you want, and dressed whatever way you are at the time (the way it used to be done). Depending on where you are this still actually does work. In other places not so much. The first separate toilets for men and women appeared at a ball in Paris, 1739. So the concept of gender privacy is fairly new.

We can blame our puritanical Anglo-Saxon roots for the need for privacy as it would seem that most beliefs surrounding the embarrassment and shame have been instilled by Christianity. The separation of men and women restrooms is simply an extension of these practices. In many societies around the world, men and women are not allowed to mingle, again based on religious beliefs. Since the modern toilet did not become popular till around the mid 1800’s this is when men’s and woman’s rooms became the norm and this extended well into the 1900’s depending on the location and the level of development of the community.

Everyone must use a restroom in the developed “civilized” world, so the question then becomes do you use the men’s or women’s? Unisex toilets do exist, and are growing in popularity not only for transgender use but for families needing to attend to babies and small children. Unisex toilets are meant for anyone, so use at your discretion.

The unspoken rule for transgender restroom use is simply to use the restroom appropriate to the gender in which you present. Meaning if you are dressed as a woman then you use the women’s room. Since most restrooms these days have separate stalls, this is not a problem. The bigger issue arises in dressing rooms or locker rooms since there is often no privacy there. Most transgender individuals simply avoid these situations in fear of being ridiculed, run out, or more drastically forcibly removed.

It is sad that the human race is not mature enough to respect one another no matter their physical presentation or sexual differences. If common decency etiquette is followed there would be no concern of safety or embarrassment! Part of the issue at hand is a personal one of feeling worthy to use the restroom to which you identify. The rule is to live & let live and unless the other person is in danger of harming themself or someone else leave them without judgment or persecution.

The advice I give any person including transgender/transsexual individuals is be yourself, act naturally, and life will simply flow. Problems arise when you are trying to be something you are not. The biggest challenge concerning this is for crossdressers who identify male and are dressed as a woman, or vice versa although this is much less common. It is important to be that which you present. If you are dressed as a woman, do not stand nor face the toilet to urinate. Do your business and move on. Of course for women “doing your business” means checking your makeup and hair, washing your hands, and making pleasant conversation after actually using the restroom. In the men’s room it means do your business and get out after washing your hands and combing your hair if need be.

Stop feeling guilty going to the bathroom! We are human beings and this is part of the package. Embrace the social aspects however seems best for you by what feels right, mind your own business, and all is well!

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity Discover Sex and Sexuality click here

Divine Ego

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Murder, war, disaster, scandal, political games, and gossip are indeed entertaining. They might even make for good movie material, but do you really want those things in your life? What you focus on grows…. One of the things that makes this 2012 era so amazing is the shift in consciousness and the opportunity to move beyond these ego based activities.

Spirit works at a whole different level of energy than ego does. And one of your greatest challenges is knowing the difference! Making a clear choice is sometimes difficult because you do not understand that the ego, separation mindedness, often feels very good. Think of five things you enjoy doing that bring you pleasure. For me it is TV, Movies (at a theatre), Good Food, Warm Comfortable Clothing, and Sex. Each of these can be a source of ego or Spirit depending on the energy I bring to the experience.

Knowing the difference is not really that difficult. Keep it simple! Ego is all about separation, while Spirit is about Unity. If the experience creates Unity, then it is sourced by Spirit and lifts you up. The feeling it brings is peaceful, serene, and joyful. Ego on the other hand creates separation. The feeling can be good, elating, and powerful; however, the end result brings you and those around you – down. Sort of like, “what goes up must come down.” Can you think of an example?

Take TV or Movies for instance. The whole family can gather in the evening to share in entertainment, Unity! The family can each enjoy the experience on their own level and share the Love which makes up a family, or they can force their opinions and viewpoints about the experience on the rest of the family creating separation. Or take sex as an example, the experience can be all about the pleasure and your partner is simply a means to an end or it can be a joining of souls for the mutual experience of Divine connection!

The “A Course in Miracles” and books written to explain it are a great source of wisdom concerning the concept I present here today. I highly recommend you take the course, it will tell you at the beginning that it is a required course. If you have difficulty with the course, then try some of the other books written about it, like Marianne Williamson’s “A return to Love” or Gary Renard’s “Disappearance of the Universe”. I know there are many more books as well. “A New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle is very good at explaining ego, so you may give it a read as well.

Once these concepts are internalized and expressed, life will take on new meaning and value for you. Colors will be more vivid and relationships will be more fulfilling. Miracles are a daily experience and if you are not experiencing this then maybe it is time to wake up and re-align.

😀 Sequoia Elisabeth

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What is Learning?

by Sequoia Elisabeth

What exactly is happening when you learn something? To answer this question an understanding of how energy works, what the human body is for, and what makes up knowledge is required. We cover them briefly here, so if you do not follow, please check out the materials available on the website (Link below).

I will trust that you have had basic science and physics, so you know that Energy is Everything – it is matter, it is thought, and it is the thread that holds reality together. Energy can be a wave or it can be a particle and more importantly it cannot be created nor destroyed.

The human body has one purpose – to communicate Love. Anything that is done with the body either communicates Love (Divine Love, God’s Love) or what is not Love (ego). There are many ways we communicate including the five senses, body language, and mentally (telepathy – and Yes you are).

Knowledge is an awareness of a fact, skill, or circumstance. Everything there is to know exists right now through Infinite Mind, Cosmic Consciousness, or GOD. So learning is not acquiring something you did not have before. It is becoming aware of a skill, fact or circumstance you were not aware of before. So let’s look deeper.

Since everything is energy this means that all knowledge is energy. Energy has a vibrational frequency and thus knowledge exists on different levels of vibrational frequency. You are familiar with the grades we all went through in school. As our knowledge grew, so did our vibrational frequency as we aligned with the awareness of certain facts, skills, or circumstances. For those who stay aware, this process never ends!

Malcolm Knowles’s theory of Andragogy provides principles which are the corner stone of all learning above the age of 12 and include the following; adults need to be involved in the planning and evaluation of their instruction, experience (including mistakes) provides the basis for learning activities, adults are most interested in learning subjects that have immediate relevance to their job or personal life, and adult learning is problem-centered rather than content-oriented. (http://tip.psychology.org/knowles.html)

The final and defining aspect to learning offered here today is that all Knowledge or Wisdom exists all ways and always. Learning then is an alignment with this wisdom and the allowing of it to flow through you by expressing it with your actions or speaking it with your words. This is why the idea of copyright seems so absurd to me. Knowledge is Universal! It belongs to no one and everyone. Of course there is nothing wrong with honoring the person who offers wisdom by citing the source. We know the Ultimate source is Universal Intelligence (God).

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

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Coping with Constant Change

by Sequoia Elisabeth

The only constant in the Universe is Change! It is about time you learn to cope with it, and the first step is understanding what change is and how it serves you. Unrealistic expectations are the root of disharmony. To expect anything to stay the same is resisting the very flow of life. Even rocks change!

In order to perceive change, time has to exist and a measurement must be made at two different points in time. Since the very molecules that make up matter are constantly moving,… change must occur. Change is observed by measuring these differences over time.

What most people do not understand is that the changes are not out there, but within your own mind. Each person experiences these changes differently because we each have different points of view and perspective attained over a lifetime of both direct and indirect learning. The Heisenberg principle states that the simple act of observing, changes the results because the observer becomes a part of the outcome. Once the mind has new data to consider it is then integrated into the outcome. Of course you do realize there is but One mind, right? The observer becomes the observed. The question then becomes, “how does this serve you?”

Change is good because it is a reflection of your thoughts and when you focus on your dreams and desires they are created! The catch here is if you are focused on what you do not want or are afraid of then this very focus gives this circumstance energy to manifest. The feared or undesired does not always occur though, because your thoughts are not the only ones affecting life.

The forces for good in the Universe are often more powerful than most give them credit for. It is arrogant to assume you know what is best for you or anyone else. Instead try giving your desires, wants, and needs over to a Higher Power. In effect this is allowing your Spiritual self or Oversoul to guide the way. It is best to go with the flow!

The best way to cope with change is to flow with it while looking for the good that exists everywhere in each situation. Expect things to work out in your favor and even if it does not, look for the good that exists in all things, events, or circumstances.

Expectations are like a flashlight, they focus energy on a certain person, event, or circumstance, so use this tool wisely. Knowing your desired outcome greatly increases the likelihood of a favorable result. Always expect the best, but be prepared for whatever happens knowing that goodness is there in every case.

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity Discover Sex and Sexuality click here

An Expression of Inner Self

by Sequoia Elisabeth

The essence of gender transition is an expression of inner self. A process of living authentically as the person you are. It is throwing societal dualistic expectations to the wind and being true to your soul. It could be described as a deep spiritual experience accented by physical changes. The journey is painful, loss is always involved, and the rewards are felt deep within your soul.

Gender transition is much like any transition. Take ultimate transition for instance, the above paragraph could just as easily be describing what happens at death! There is no choice about it, once you realize that your destiny is to transition it is a forgone conclusion. The choice becomes, “How will I experience the transition”.

A common statement I have heard over the last few years working at the Gender Identity Center coming from new people who are inquiring of their services. “I want to be a woman, do you provide hormones?” A clear demonstration of misunderstanding! It is not about wanting anything; it is about being who you are! It is not fixed by taking a pill or having surgery, those are treatments for symptoms that may or may not be apparent at this point.

Gender Incongruency is the present terminology for describing “an incongruence between, on the one hand, what identity one experiences and/or expresses and, on the other hand, how one is expected to live based on one’s assigned gender (usually at birth) (Meyer-Bahlburg, 2009a; Winters, 2005)”. Gender Identity is self-determined; meaning the person seeking treatment must tell the provider how they identify. There are personality tests, feedback from family and friends, and general behavior markers that give a clue as to the gender identity, but those are only guidelines. The individual must look within their heart, see the path they are already on, and then choose to walk it. Meditation is a great tool for achieving this.

Once the choice is made to walk the destined path, then treatment is appropriate! Professional guidance makes the journey much easier and more rewarding as does treatment with hormones and surgery. A person can walk this path alone and many have, but that is like crossing the Himalayas on your own, instead do your homework, make the appropriate preparations, and then with the help of a guide make the journey a fun and exciting one that leads to Shambala!

Please remember that everything we do is ultimately for the feeling it brings us. In the case of gender transition for the gender incongruent it brings relief, contentment, and joy!

😀 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity Discover Free eBooks click here

Livin Large

by Sequoia Elisabeth

This year of 2012 is the year of coming out and living large! There is no time like the present, so why not make your dreams be true right now? You think there is something to lose? Do you think living someone else’s dream, following their path, or obeying their rules will make you happy or fulfill you in any way?

I am not suggesting that you get in anyone’s business, only that you take care of your own! YES, take care of yourself. Listen to your heart (soul) and follow your own compass. The brain is logical and we have been taught to follow it’s guidance and that has gotten us to where we are now. What I suggest is to let go of logic and rational thinking, in fact let go of all thinking. Of course you cannot do this completely…unless you do.

Limits are created by you for you. They are intended to direct your path and protect you from danger. What they have become though is a walled off room with no exits. Even a maze has exits! Get out the “metaphorical” dynamite and create an exit… Listen to your heart and you will know what to do. There are no mistakes, only scenic routes and direct paths. It is your choice which path you travel.

Unity in Gender Diversity is here to help you in this Journey! The words of wisdom offered on its pages are intended to motivate, inspire, and guide you to reach for the stars! Just as this blog does. If you have not read previous blogs, please look them over and read the ones your heart guides you to read. Be not afraid, the answer lies within! Within your heart, within the pictures you see, the words you read, and the feelings you experience. “Life is simple; easy is up to you!”

Transitions Blog is packed with psychological coping techniques, spiritual principles, and metaphysical musings. If you have a specific question, please write the author and make it known. Or simply leave a comment on this blog or another one.

Unity in Gender Diversity wishes you a most Joyous New Year!

Make what you will of it ♥

😀 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity Discover Free eBooks (including “Livin’ Large”) click here