Oneness Ministry

Makeup Application

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Lipstick Beauty

BASIC COSMETIC APPLICATION GUIDE

Makeup is an important part of any woman’s wardrobe; although now-a-days it depends on how you identify and where you live as to how important it is. Since I grew up in the southern USA, it is very important to me. Just how much you wear is up to you and will depend on the occasion you are preparing to attend. For instance, my daily wear consists of moisturizing lotion, mascara and lipstick only. Sometime I add eye shadow for a bolder look and if it is a formal event I use foundation and the works.

It is important to always clean your face first and then use a good moisturizing lotion to protect your skin. Foundation can dry out the skin and cause wrinkles over time. From this point just follow the guide below, leaving out any steps you deem unnecessary.

1. CONCEALER

· Purpose: to hide dark shadows and under eye circles.

·Selection: a shade that’s slightly lighter than your skin tone.

·Application: dot in the inner corners of your eyes and gently blend out with your ring finger.

NOTE: can be applied a second time over foundation for additional coverage.

2. FOUNDATION

· Purpose: to provide a smooth base for long-lasting application, add color, even skin tone and hide imperfections.

·Selection:

a. Shade: warm undertones or cool undertones to match your skin. If you have to blend with your neck, it’s too dark!

b. Skin type: normal, oily, dry or sensitive?

·Application: Apply sparingly to forehead, nose, checks and chin using fingertips or sponge. Blend gently downward to the jawline. Never apply below jawline.

NOTE: some foundations change color after application. Wait a few minutes and check color. It should blend so well it’s almost invisible.

3. POWDER

·Purpose: to “set” makeup, reduce shine and help foundation last longer. Also helps blush apply more smoothly and evenly.

·Selection: match intensity of foundation

· Application:

a. apply after foundation and before blush.

b. as a finishing touch after completion of makeup.

Apply with a puff or loose powder brush. Dust lightly across forehead, down the nose and across the cheeks and chin concentrating on shiny parts of the face.

4. BLUSH

· Purpose: To add color and glow and accent bone structure. Adds a vertical lift to the face.

· Selection: select to match coloring and skin tone. Drier skins often do better with a cream rather than powder form.

·Application: Apply blush starting at the center of the cheek, blending up the cheekbone and diagonally out and up toward the hairline right above the ear.

NOTE: Blush and lip color should be selected from the same color family

5. EYES

Purpose: To accent the face and make you be noticed. Eyes are the most important feature on your face in terms of makeup. Using mascara alone will make a big difference.

Selection: Choose a color that matches your hair color, unless you desire a dramatic effect.

Application:

put eyebrow mascara (if needed) on first and go lightly, should blend naturally, while making the brows more noticeable.
Apply mascara next and use curler. Choose colors that accent your clothes and hair color.
Professionals at the makeup counter in dept. stores or specialty stores are good at assisting with color selection and application techniques.
Also look on youtube.com for visual instructions. The more you see it done the easier will be to develop your own style.

6. LIPS

Purpose: To accent the face and enhance your beauty. Lips are very personal so experiment to find your favorite.

Selection: Choose a color that compliments your eye color and makeup.

Application:

Use a lipliner when using traditional lipsticks and cover the entire lip with lipliner after it is applied along the edge of lips. This hides the use of lip liner when the lipstick wears off.
Lip inks or other lasting lipsticks really do not need lip liner.
Apply traditional lipstick after eating, drink, or kissing. Will need to be touched up every few hours unless a long lasting version is used. This is again personal preference. Have FUN 😉

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Gender Related Transitions

Second Year Anniversary

by Sequoia Elisabeth

It has been over two years now that we have been bringing you Transitions Blog, so to celebrate I am offering one of the first blogs I wrote. The message is timeless… What transition are you in right now? How is it going? My ministry is focused on raising the awareness of each person I meet or that visits my website. For those who are aware of the life journey so much the simpler, richer and more meaningful.

I love to sit and think about how much I adore the people in my life and how much I love a world where Love is the rule and not the exception. The older I become the deeper this realization becomes. Life is not about what you see is what you get, but rather what you believe is what you see!

We all want our illusion to match our dream and unfortunately things do not work that way in this world. It is often difficult to discover the Truth, but rest assured it does exist. In fact it is the only thing that does exist! All that we see is an illusion. I often feel like I live in a house of mirrors with this illusion being reflected in so many different ways. Part of the journey of change we are all on is to let go of the illusions and get to the Truth.

The simple awareness of your journey and acceptance of your authorship will open many doors. ACIM (A Course In Miracles) teaches that the ego is the master of illusions and when we feel distant or something is happening to create separation in our lives then the ego is at work. All that need be done is acknowledge this and laugh to yourself with a calm reserve. “Resistance is Futile”.

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

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Are You Happy?

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Are you Happy? We seek Happiness in all that we do. Our desire is to be happy at all times and this is simply not possible. You see, happiness is an emotion and it has an opposite, sadness. You are either happy or you are sad, but never both at the same time.

The emotion you are presently feeling may or may not be happy or sad, however what you can feel or experience at all times is Joy. Joy is a state of being, like Peace and Love. It exists always and in all ways, because it is your very nature! If you could strip away all that you are not, what is left is your essence – Joy, Peace, Love. God is an equivalent word because your very essence is God expressed. There are an infinite number of Divine expressions!

One of the most delicious experiences is to feel sad as you allow Joy to express. If you think you are sad and happy at the same time, in reality it is Joy that you feel. Joy and happiness are often confused so let me explain the difference. Happy is a short term, often invigorating and sometimes overwhelming feeling of elation; a high so to speak. It comes quickly and often leaves just as quickly. It feels good but is not always memorable.

Joy on the other hand is like a fountain of contentment. An experience of bliss extended over a lifetime. Joy runs deep and exists always whether you are experiencing it or not. You may be experiencing Peace or Love instead because the three are interchangeable. They are the well of your being! Awareness is what allows you to experience them. Simply choose to experience Joy and this will happen. It sometimes takes a few minutes of relaxing and allowing this essence to surface. The feeling is one of contentment, safety, and bliss. It is not dependent on what is happening around you, and this is a key difference from happiness.

It is almost impossible to feel happy during a crisis or disaster, however you can feel Joy, Peace, Love. We most often would describe this experience as Peace or calm within the storm. It is a knowing that all is well and that you are safe despite the appearances.

Experiencing Joy on a regular basis takes conscious effort; an awareness. It is like you are awakening to your inner essence and all this takes is a choice to do so. State your choice in the form of an intention, like this. I intend to be aware of Joy, Peace, or Love at all times no matter what is happening in my life. I will share these experiences as the opportunity arises. As my awareness grows so will the depth and breadth of the experience! So be it and so it is.

These experiences come from within your heart and cannot be experienced with the mind or brain. Emotions are regulated by the brain and thus are subject to the environment and to your thoughts. However, because Joy comes through the heart from the soul it is a form of connection to Higher realms and cannot be lost.

As a warm sensation fills your heart and calms your entire body with Peace, contentment envelopes your entire being. Break this connection and anxiety ensues. True bliss is a connection to your Soul!

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity Free eBooks click here

Mystery and Miracles

by Sequoia Elisabeth

What you think the cause is usually is not the cause. Life is full of mystery and we would not have it any other way. Mystery makes life fun and exciting. Consider for a minute how your life would be if you knew everything that was going to happen and when.

We will call it a flash forward. You could see all the challenges you would face in this lifetime all the way down to the detail of who is with you, how you met, and how long you have known each other. You would know when you die and how, as well as the same for everyone in your life. How would your life be different?

I am sure many of you are saying, “Kool” I would love to know everything in advance. But just think about it…. Have you ever gotten a gift that you knew what it was in advance without the other person knowing that you knew? How did you act? Was this fun?

Mystery is a gift that you have given yourself! It adds intrigue and gives you something to look forward to. It is a reason to go on with your life, because you have Hope that things will be getting better.

If you knew that life was not going to get better would you end it? Without the mystery, life is lacking a vital aspect of humanity. Knowing that you can handle whatever life offers up is a great feeling and with the added bonus of mystery it is even better.

The feeling of Joy that comes from taking a risk and experiencing the consequences are not to be underestimated. Even if you fall flat on your face, you get up and try again. No harm no foul. Say for instance that your risk leads to death. Then you have gained a valuable experience that would have otherwise been lost. (yes, it is true – Life never ends, only experiences do).

Are you ready for the next great experience coming your way? What is your attitude about it? Your expectations set the tone for the experience, even if you have done it a thousand times, no especially if you have done it a thousand times! Remember to stay open to new experiences, embrace the ones that present themselves, and look for the mystery & miracles that abide in every moment.

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

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Cooperative Business Model

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Upon further research I find that Cooperatives have been around since tribal times and really got a start in the 1700’s. They take many forms but have a few values and principles that set them apart.

“Cooperatives are based on the cooperative values of “self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, solidarity” and the seven cooperative principles:

Voluntary and Open Membership
Democratic Member Control
Member Economic Participation
Autonomy and Independence
Education, Training and Information
Cooperation among Cooperatives
Concern for Community

Cooperatives are dedicated to the values of openness, social responsibility and caring for others. Such legal entities have a range of social characteristics. Membership is open, meaning that anyone who satisfies certain non-discriminatory conditions may join. Economic benefits are distributed proportionally to each member’s level of participation in the cooperative, for instance by a dividend on sales or purchases, rather than according to capital invested. Cooperatives may be classified as worker, consumer, producer, purchasing or housing cooperatives. They are distinguished from other forms of incorporation in that profit-making or economic stability are balanced by the interests of the community.” http://www.ica.coop/coop/principles.html

“Co-operatives are enterprises that put people at the center of their business and not capital, and thus can be defined in terms of three basic interests: ownership, control, and beneficiary. In the co-operative enterprise are all three interests are vested directly in the hands of the user. In contrast, for-profit companies are designed to produce a profit for the owners (shareholders). Since the owners of a co-op are also the customers, lowered prices and extra services are acceptable instead of profits.” http://ask.metafilter.com/82330/why-a-coop-business-model

If you wish to learn more about these business models, I would start here. In the meantime, remember to focus on the heart of the issue, a better world for everyone! We all deserve to live life to the fullest and it is well within our grasps if we choose to.

Cooperative behavior is the immediate future for our society as we grow more trusting and more concerned about the welfare of all creatures on earth. Humanity is awakening! We have a vested interest to create sustainable systems and live a low impact lifestyle that supports every system on earth. A brilliant idea whose time has come!

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Competition vs Cooperation

by Sequoia Elisabeth

What if we took the profit motive out of corporations? How would life change if all businesses where “non-profit”? Each business would have to vow to share the profits equally with all employees. There would still be pay grades but with limits (to start with). No more million dollar salaries or minimum wage.

Would this change your behavior at work? How so? Please share in the comments section below. Companies like Wal-Mart are great because they have buying power and can offer products through the benefits of mass production. When these companies act responsibly it is good for everyone in the chain including the environment. Society working together in a cooperative fashion is a win-win.

Today competition drives the economy which means someone always loses. The concept of cooperative business is not new and has been used on a small scale all over the world. It is great for community and the individuals who participate in the community; however a cooperative attitude takes maturity. Not everyone is ready for this level of sharing, collaboration, and good will. This is OK, because as the number of people embracing cooperation reaches a tipping point it will spread like wildfire.

I believe we are close to the tipping point right now. Just look around and see the changes! Current competitive business models are failing on a major world wide scale that boggles the mind! If it were not for the Federal Government the major banks and automakers in the USA would be out of business. (Probably many other big businesses, too) This includes almost every other major country in the world. Consider the message of Occupy Wall Street. The time has come to put business as usual aside and start being cooperative. Forget the brainwashing you got in school, from your Government, and from your family and friends. It is time to get creative folks!

There are several models for cooperative business emerging and we will take a look at them in the next blog! We must ask ourselves, “How important is money in the working of society?” Is money really necessary? Everything you purchase is a statement of your beliefs. What are you supporting? Why?

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Coming Out Process

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Coming out is a tiered process that starts with a personal admittance. It then touches those closest to you and branches out. The depth of your personal admittance determines the effect you experience and in many ways determines the reactions others show you.

It is like an explosion with shock waves which reverberates out and back again. The energy you put out will come back to you! This is why it is so important to do your inner work or shadow work and forgive yourself to start with. (Even though there is nothing to forgive, but the illusion forgiveness is necessary.)

Coming out is usually a LGBTQ thing, however it can apply to any aspect of your life that you have denied. It is a way of getting to know yourself; a labeling process if you will. Self-identity is so important in society and will determine your success in this world. The reason is simple, as a beacon of energy your thoughts are transmitted out to the world and come back to you in your experiences. Love yourself and the world loves you back!! Hate yourself and watch out!

Are you aware of your inner feelings? Have you sat in front of a mirror and looked deep within your soul (eyes)? This is the first step in coming out! The next step is to embrace this identity and live it. Live the life you know is right for you! Share with those close to you… “I have great news…etc.”.

The next tier of coming out is to dress and act in a fashion that is authentic to your soul. Allow those close to you to see the person you truly are within. It may be like coming out all over again so be patient with them. Maintain your positive attitude and allow them space to adjust to the new you. Ask them not to jump to conclusions and offer to educate them or for them to do it themselves. This is why websites like this one exist, to educate on gender and sexual orientation. This is a soulful, spiritual journey, thus the Spiritual Learning Center is offered as well.

As the journey progresses you will get to know yourself better and so will your friends and family. It is a win-win because we are all in this together! So, coming out is a process that begins within and is shared with close friends, family, and associates (conceptual level). It then progresses to the visual and interactive level where you are living the life you desire in the fashion you choose. After a time, this will become natural and the process goes deeper and sometimes goes full circle leading back to where you started, although now this state has been processed and everyone is comfortable with it, most importantly you!

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Gender Related Spirituality Transitions

Thanks Giving

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Thank you for staying here by my side over the years! It has almost been two years since I began Transitions Blog and it seems like much longer (giggle). As we all know Transition is a process that happens over a long period of time often without us even knowing the change is occurring and then bam something big happens and we realize how far we have actually come!

Grace and Gratitude are two traits I have been developing all my life and I suspect you have also been developing these muscles maybe without even noticing! Without Gratitude life simply stops working. It is the grease that keeps the engine running. Grace is the way in which we do this.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because I feel gratitude is so important and because I feel that I am pretty good at it. The food is not bad either (grin). The Native American’s taught us several important things about this holiday and here they are.

The food you eat is a gift from Great Spirit (even if you paid for it). Life is being converted to a Higher form by us eating it and giving our grace to the animal or plant that is offering it up. We always thank the animal or plant for giving its life so that we may live. It is a thought and a feeling that becomes a habit every time you consume something. “Grace isn’t a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal. It’s a way to live.” Attributed to Jacqueline Winspear.

Thanksgiving is a daily event, not one day a year! Of course holidays are about family and friends sharing gratitude for each other as well as all their other gifts. In this busy world of diverse business and world travel many families no longer live in close proximity so the holidays are an excuse to come together. As far as gratitude and grace, well these are daily practices which we are reminded of and celebrate once a year on the third Thursday of November.

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity Free eBooks click here

ps. Remember that Thanksgiving comes before Christmas for a reason. Gratitude and Grace before Giving and Receiving!

Medically Necessary Part II

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Con’t from Nov. 21st

What this question is really speaking to is the insurance industries requirements for payment of treatment. The fact that it is treatment means it is considered a disease and that it is a social non-conformity that needs correction. Gender Dysphoria is presently in the DSM and the treatment includes GRS/SRS, FFS, etc. (as listed above). So my answer would be yes, it is medically necessary from the medical/social perspective, because society as a whole expects people to be either male or female. However from the Spiritual perspective, the answer would be no, it is not necessary because life is not being threatened by not having the surgery. Some argue that the individual will commit suicide if they do not get this surgery or the person is marginalized into a high risk group for hate crime, thus it is life threatening. I simply do not agree with this analysis. It is an excuse plain and simple. This does not mean that it is right or wrong.

Surgery is a coping mechanism, one way to cope with the perception that one’s body is incongruent with the person’s self-image or gender identity. There are other ways to cope and it is the responsibility of the patient and their therapist to explore these options. This is where things get very tricky! Perception is a personal thing and others may perceive things differently. In all manners of equality though, one has to ask if having any surgery is “medically necessary”? Just because someone dies; it is not a bad thing. Life goes on! Maybe not that individuation of life and the belief that all life is to be preserved is based in compassion. To me this is the crux of the issue, Compassion! Caring for another’s needs whether “real” or imagined takes compassion and this is why surgical intervention is necessary. Either a life has value and must be preserved or it does not and can be allowed to pass. Who makes this choice? It should be the individual’s choice and most often it is, with a few exceptions.

Life is about choice, because we are constantly choosing our path, the quality, and the extent of the experience (everything you think, say and do is a choice). The value we place on this path/experience determines what we get out of the experience, including whether surgery is medically necessary. Of course once we decide it is necessary, the medical community has to agree with us, which is done by offering lots of money, or the opportunity for caring compassion, or both. Societal views are shifting in a more compassionate direction so more and more insurance companies are covering the surgery and many more surgeons are performing it. The medical community after all is based on the compassionate care of others for the betterment of mankind. (this includes insurance companies!)

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Gender Related Transitions

Medically Necessary?

by Sequoia Elisabeth

What exactly does this mean? I posit that it is a very dangerous term being slung around, at, and by the transgender community. I ask you to consider the ramifications of using this phrase.

In the transgender/transsexual world the treatment for Gender Incongruency or Gender Dysphoria is to transition from one gender role to the other including surgically altering both primary and secondary sexual characteristics. This includes for MtoF, Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS), Breast Augmentation (Breast implants), and GRS/SRS (Genital Reassignment Surgery/Sexual Reassignment Surgery). For FtoM, the surgeries include, Breast reduction/reconstruction, Hysterectomy, Metoidioplasty with urethral lengthening, Scrotoplasty with testicular implants, and Vaginectomy. And this is list does not include all possible surgeries, for instance other cosmetic surgeries could also be included.

The question is… does the above surgery fall into the “Medically Necessary” box? And I would have to say it depends on which model of medicine you follow. It also depends on your Spiritual beliefs and understandings. The body you were given at birth is a gift, plain and simple. What you do with your gift is up to you; or your parents more realistically, at least to the age of 16 (18 in some locations).

Each person is perfect in the eyes of God! If birth defects are present it means they are meant to be there for the benefit of the individual and the people involved – family, medical professionals, friends, etc. It is an opportunity to express who you are, to learn and to grow (expand this self).

Would it be right to surgically change this body to conform to societal “norms”? Do we really have to stay within the gender binary? Is this not the point of being transgender in the first place? Meaning there is no binary and in fact it is a gender spectrum. How an individual expresses their gender and sexuality is a personal statement of either non-conformity or conformity. There are many factors involved, however ultimately this is simply a fact of individuality. There is no right or wrong!

“Medically Necessary” is a phrase used by the insurance and medical community to substantiate surgically altering the body or not. Is it really medically necessary to surgically alter the body? To whom is it necessary and for what purpose? Is being Transgender or Transsexual a life threatening medical disease? Based on past medical precedent surgery is used to correct the bodies function to maintain life. It is also used for cosmetic reasons to make the body more attractive.

Makeup Questions

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Let’s do something fun for a change! There are six questions below that I have answered and I am asking you to answer as well. You can post the answers in comments section. The question is in Hot Pink, the answer is in Neon Green. Think not only of the answer, but why that is the answer…why do you use that product or why do you use make-up in the first place? We can get to know each other, but most important you will get to know yourself.

1. What Brand of Make-up do you use and what types, like Foundation: Powders, Creams, Airbrush, Liquids, or stick on?

I use different Brands depending on the purpose, so for basic use I prefer Mary Kay and have both liquid foundation and mineral powder. For a more dramatic effect I have Mac foundation with a complete brush set, blush, concealer and cream foundation.

2. What brands, colors, & styles of eye shadows do you like? Example: Smoky, Natural, Animal, Punk, Classic, Trends 1930’s—1970’ and so on… YOU have Gothic, Drag Queens, Move stars, you get the point. (three part question)

I used to sell Mary Kay so I have lots of their product, so that is the brand. The colors accent my reddish hair and light skin tone, so I use a lot of earth tones, browns, reds, & greens. As a natural type girl I do not dress up very often, but when I do I like the Egyptian Goddess look, or Mayan/Amazon Princess.

3. Do you wear False Eyelashes? If so, what brand and types.

I do not wear falsies usually, but have when I had make overs done by a professional. So I am not sure what the brand or type was. My latest mascara is “The Falsies” by Mabelline which I like very much, especially the curved and angled brush because it lifts and separates the lashes making them fuller.

4. What brands, types, colors, of Blushes do you use? For example creams, powders etc… you get the point.

I also do not normally wear blush, but when I do it is Mac cream in a natural medium shade skin color or I simply use lipstick so it matches the color scheme I am using.

5. Lipsticks: What is your color…. Brand, or flavor?

Lipstick is by far my favorite and I used to wear it even as a boy. I no longer do boy mode, and continue to wear lipstick at all times. At the very least I have Chapstick on. My favorite brand of lipstick so far is Avon, My Lip Miracle Lipcolor. I also have Mary Kay, L’Oreal, Revlon, Maybelline, and some off brands which I chose for the unusual colors. The colors I prefer are Corals, Pinks, Purples and Lavender. I used to have light blue but that is gone. I would love to have the entire rainbow! The lips are our sensual window to the soul – feeling! Nothing more sensual than a juicy lesbian lipstick kiss! However, guys kiss pretty good too 😉

6. When was the first time you ever put on Make-up?

Around the age of 9-10 with my Mom’s makeup I dressed up. It felt good, but I was also very afraid of being caught, so I did not do this very often. Now I wear make-up, at least mascara and lipstick, every day. It is something I enjoy, because I like feeling pretty. On a deeper level I think it connects me to the women I most love, my Mom, Grandmother, and Aunts. I cannot imagine not wearing make-up!

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Gender Related Transitions

A Vision for Peace

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Today I share this vision of Peace because we each have our own vision of Peace. Not sure what your version is? Simply look around you, not at the TV or media, but around your personal space. Is it full of drama? Is there a war zone? How about illicit activities?

I know most of you reading this today live in a world of Peace, one where we are deceived by the media into believing Peace does not exist. All possible realities exist! All ways and always! And by your actions do they manifest into your life. Bring your life to consciousness and look for the good joyful Peace. Even in a war zone Peace exists. Many have been witness to this – know it within your heart!

A Vision for Peace

“We see a world where peace is everywhere, where humanity has risen up and out of our old defensive mindset; where we all see, ever-so-clearly, that every time we bought into the idea that we needed to take a defensive stance or felt we had to defend ourselves against foreign enemies, unfriendly neighbors, dangerous criminals, the local militia, or anyone who appeared to threaten us, we were actually attracting an attack upon ourselves because we were holding the thought of being attacked – a thought which will manifest as easily as any other.

By the same token, we envision a world where mankind has risen up and out of our need to be in opposition to others because we have seen, ever-so-clearly, that when we oppose another, we become just like them.

With these two thought patterns having gone by the wayside, we now see a world where we no longer support anyone or any institution that advocates aggression, destruction, or harming others in any way. Now, we envision a world where people walk the sidewalks and roads of all lands freely and openly, where we smile at one another easily, work together in cooperation, and want only for the well-being and goodwill of everyone else; where all weapons are gone and we solve our challenges by negotiating, by compromising, and by helping one another to realize our dreams in an atmosphere of peace and unbridled creativity.

It is in this environment – an environment where everyone feels completely and utterly safe – that the peace in our hearts and minds has worked its way outward into our world as well; where all people enjoy their lives because peace – true peace – is both inside and outside of us at the same time.” (http://www.visionalignmentproject.com/)

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

To Change Something…

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Remember Buckminster Fuller’s quote which says “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the old model obsolete.”

Buckminster Fuller’s quote is right on target with the teachings of Unity in Gender Diversity or vice versa… the point is not to focus on what is wrong or even on what needs to change. Focus instead on a system that does work and how best to implement it. We need more people working on shifting reality to a world based on Love!

Two main forms of love exist. One is of this world and the other is not. The ego is an aspect of our being that allows us to function in this world. All that you see in this world is a function of ego and I do not speak of the personality version that Sigmund Freud introduced. I speak as A Course in Miracles (ACIM) teaches that the ego is all that separates. Whenever you experience something separate from yourself you are experiencing ego. This explains how we can think of love as painful or something we can lose. The world is full of “love stories” that teach ego based separation with all the pain and pleasure that comes with it. In this ego based world hate is the opposite of love, however they both come from the same source. They are opposite poles of one whole, the ego. In order to experience ego separation we must have the opposite which serves the very important purpose of supplying contrast.

Humans revel in the experience of contrast, love, hate, pain, pleasure, happiness, sadness, hot, cold, and all the aspects of time and space. Turn on the television for 5 minutes and you will see the contrast I speak of. All of the sitcom and soap opera programs serve up ego separation as juicy slices of comedy, drama, and action. The ultimate act of separation is killing or death; the grand delusion of mankind! The ego mind is a master of weaving this delusion into every facet of your life. You are reminded of the “reality” of death a thousand times a day, especially if you are watching television. It has become a natural way of life here on earth, life is born and it dies. We would not have it any other way! Or would we?

To further define ego love consider the many experiences we associate with love such as happiness, sadness, emotional pain, deception, betrayal, loss, falling in love, love at first sight, and even making love. These are all ego based so this means they are illusion. I am not saying that the experience is not real because it is indeed real, just like the movies are real. We can experience all these things in the movies and we do! In fact the reason we are in this earth experience is to experience love and all the other experiences involved in this journey of discovery. So if the love and hate we are experiencing here on earth is an illusion what is the other version of love that exists?

For clarity I will capitalize this type of Love, so if you see “love” think ego and if you see “Love” think Eternal Spirit. The only true form of Love is that which some define as Agape or the Love of God. I promise this is an extremely important concept to master. Metaphor is very illustrative, so consider this. You came to earth expecting a mansion and were instead given a shack! This illusion was sold to us by an ego mind given full reign. The ego is not who you are but is in fact a tool given us to experience this world. It is not possible to be in this world without your ego, because this world is in fact your ego expressing. It is time to let go of the belief that you are your ego (or your body) for it no longer serves you.

Who are you if you are not your ego? When the ego is stripped away all that remains is Universal Intelligence, Great Spirit, God, Prime Creator, or Infinite Consciousness. Other names for God are pure Love, Joy and Peace. For our purposes here today we are only discussing Love although Joy and Peace are interchangeable with Love. God is All There Is and how we experience this is what Love is all about. God is Love, God is Joy, God is Peace, God is YOU and me and all that is! You may have heard this explanation however I offer it here because it is so profound. Each of us is a point of experience for God or you can think of each life form as an aspect of God. This prose describes what Love is and isn’t.

Love Is

Love is not exclusive, but Inclusive

Love is not painful, but the Highest JOY

Love is never lost, but exists always

Love is not changing, but constant

Love is not different, but the same at all levels

Love is not wrong, but the answer

Love is Universal!

Love exists regardless of what is happening in your life, in fact

Love exists regardless of your life

Love is something you can share, but

cannot prevent another from experiencing, only yourself

Love is the only thing you have more of when you give it away

Love is a feeling, an emotion, an experience, and so much more

Love is life itself

Love is a way of life

Love is an acceptance of all that comes your way

Love is an expression of WHO YOU ARE, who we all are

I AM THAT, I AM

The next time you wish to experience Love consider what it means. Love is unconditional and in order to experience this we must first give it away! How can you give away something you do not have? You cannot, but then Love is who you are so simply give you away. This is done by being thoughtful and considerate of others, accepting others for who they present to you, and never criticizing anyone or anything. You give of yourself by doing onto others as you would have done onto you.

As we focus on Agape, and living a life of Love the world transforms or conforms to our thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors. It is a front end load system, you must put up first for the experience to reflect back to you.

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity Free eBook “a Love Based Society” click here

Man, I Feel Like a 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 ~98% of the population can’t even fathom. Consider the possibility the concept of gender as taught in the schools 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 world 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 Source Field which surrounds the body and makes up everything in this world? What if no one has a gender until they acquire one? Much like sexual orientation it 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, Great Spirit, Universal Mind, 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 slowly the western philosophies are accepting that God is not a man sitting on a throne up in heaven. Our philosophies are merging, especially here in the USA where we are surrounded by both all the time. A new understanding is emerging and I call it Oneness. We are all One.

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 the 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 the concept of man or woman also. How do you know what a man or woman feels like? You do not know any more 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.

The core of our being is pansexual androgyny, meaning we are characterized by the potential for aesthetic attraction, romantic love and/or sexual desire for people, regardless of their gender identity or biological sex. And we are neither men nor women, but a combination of both to varying degrees across a spectrum. In some individuals this can shift back and forth as well. You will define it as is comfortable for you.

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 as this is the point of the material world. Enjoy the ride, act with authenticity, and live with pride! This is your role in life and it is mine.

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Gender Related Spirituality Transitions

The Power of Place

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Have you ever noticed how when you are in a certain place your thoughts, feelings and actions often differ from what they might be somewhere else? For instance, do you act differently at a professional baseball game than you would at your son’s t-ball game? How about at church verses at work?

Why do people act differently at a party with their peers than they would at a family gathering? Does this mean the person has multiple personalities? Or could this mean that the person is being caught in the flow of energy present in that place?

Notice how you act in certain places and with certain people. What is going on here? I believe it is the energy influence in a certain place combined with the other people there that influence your behavior. It is common to place these feelings on another person or on the place or location. Psychologists call this Projection and in the psychological sense it is “the tendency to ascribe to another person (or place or situation), feelings, thoughts, or attitudes present in oneself.” (Dictionary.com 2010) It is quite possible that the place is having an effect on you. This effect is in combination with other people, and they are being influenced by the place also. Big crowds are famous for the mass effect or group consciousness that controls large numbers of people. Riots are often under this influence.

If you walk into a large cathedral of exceptional reputation and beauty you expect peace and quiet. You would expect reverence. The expectations are different for a movie theatre or stadium. Part of the very reason you are attending those events is for the experience of that place! While this may seem obvious to some, not everyone is aware that the place is influencing your behavior and vice versa.

It does not have to be that way. Jesus taught to be in the world, and not of it. What does this mean? It means that you have a choice everywhere you go whether you allow yourself to be swept up in the experience of a place and how you act in this place. If two baseball fans get into a fight, you have the choice of getting involved or not. Even if they strike you, it is still up to you whether you strike back. Jesus tells us, “To those who strike you on the cheek, offer the other also.” This I believe is how you be in the world, but not of it. To strike back is being of it.

Be aware of where you are and embrace this feeling. Know that the place is influencing your feelings as well as other factors; such as the people there, your thoughts about the place and their thoughts about you and the place. The ultimate power is in consciousness, because it makes up not only your thoughts and their thoughts but the very place you are experiencing. Thoughts are things. The gift here is that you are experiencing yourself consciously – now the choice of what next is yours, really and truly yours!

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity Free eBooks click here

We Are One Consciousness

by Sequoia Elisabeth

Transition as we know affects each of us in our own personal ways, so today I would like to look at this a little closer and point out the similarities of Human growth. Transition is really a Universal Consciousness phenomenon. While you may have very intimate personal experiences in your life, you are not alone in these experiences!

Everything your senses sense are recorded in the Akashic records for later soul review (after life review) and these experiences are linked to the greater race consciousness and Universal consciousness as well. So thoughts and experiences can be shared. Each chakra represents a level of consciousness and you may not be aware of all 12 at this time, however there are many more things in heaven and earth….

This sounds complex and indeed it is. It is also a miraculous process as well. Take gender transition for example, modern science as told us that the brain is wired female, while the body is constructed male (or vice versa) and this is the cause behind the human experience of being Transgender. I submit that this is a gross oversimplification of a multi-dimensional phenomenon. The dysphoria runs much deeper than gender or even sex. From my experience it is something that spans many dimensional levels and not just one chakra level (gender/sex is the second chakra).

We have all been experiencing changes in life over the past few decades and in fact the entire Universe is experiencing these energetic shifts. It is a proven fact that every planet in our solar system is experiencing global warming for instance. Everyone I know is experiencing some sort of transition and some are experiencing multiple transitions! By transition I mean major change in your life. This can be change of career, moving to a new country, sex change, relationship changes, health changes, etc.

Now it is true that life here on earth is all about change, however I venture to say that these are affecting more of us than ever at one time, thus proving the inter-connection of everyone on earth. What you do effects everyone else at some level and when we work together for a certain change, like Occupy Wall Street, or World Peace. The change is even more rapid and profound. Know that by embracing your life’s purpose or calling you empower others. Just the simply act of following your dreams opens countless doors! As you say YES, it echoes throughout the land (conscious mind). We are One.

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Gender Related Spirituality Transitions

Only the Shadow Knows Too

by Sequoia Elisabeth

This two part blog on the Shadow has taken us from the obvious to the metaphysical and on to the metaphorical. The practical aspect of “Shadow work”, as it is called in psychology and self-help, is the simple examination of your personality traits which you don’t like. This is simple but not necessarily easy. It requires you to look deep into your soul and see yourself as you are! Not pleasant for most people.

The traits I speak of are things like anger, jealousy, spitefulness, vindictiveness, loathing, meanness, cruelty, apathy, etc, etc. Whatever upsets you about other people are the traits within you that are at issue. It is not very often and usually only in drastic events that you can see these shadows within yourself. Usually the ego mind projects these traits on others so you can see them better. Think of it like a movie projector. The ego projects you…out there (the movie screen called life) for you to watch and embrace.

What kind of movies do you like? What kind do you wish to avoid? This is called getting to know yourself better and it is a lifetime process so don’t worry if things change. They will, I can assure you! It is part of the growth process.

There are several ways to explore the shadow (ego mind). One is as described above, by simple observation; others include meditation and creative visualization (I am sure there are others too). The mind is a tool which is used by ego or by Spirit (higher self). As you explore this will become clearer. Remember a few important points, the ego is a part of you and it is not “bad” although it may be negative. Without it you could not interact in this world of shadows. Spirit only knows light! Ego does not exist in the Spirit realms because it has fully been integrated into the soul. Here on earth they are separate or at least that is the illusion.

Meditate on your Higher qualities, the ones you like, the ones you aspire to. As you do this the others fall away because you are not focusing on them. The shadows will appear and you are to make notice of them, visualize yourself embracing them and then releasing them. So what you are doing, and this can be done throughout your life, not just in meditation, is acknowledging the shadows and saying “I see you” “I love you” and “I release you” “You no longer serve me” then you consciously redirect your attention to traits you desire, admire, and feel attracted to.

This process sounds really beautiful and it is, but in reality it will often be ugly. It will manifest as arguments, temper tantrums, confrontations, fights, embarrassment, harassment, and the many challenges we face every day! There is nothing wrong with this and in fact to avoid these is to avoid yourself! Now there is a difference between embracing the issues as they arise and seeking punishment.

Be gentle in your explorations by listening to your inner voice. Some lessons will repeat and can get stuck in a feedback loop if you are not aware of what is going on. Examples are the man who always gets in fights, or the woman who goes from abusive relationship to abusive relationship. The key here is to be awake and aware of what is going on! This is the purpose of this Blog! By being aware of your shadows you can dissolve them and move on as we spoke about in the previous blog, moving from one attribute in the Labyrinth to the next till you reach pure light, Agape. Blessings on your Journey of Love.

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Only The Shadow Knows

by Sequoia Elisabeth

When was the last time you took a really close look at your shadow? Have you ever considered why we have shadows? There is the obvious physical reason of an object blocking the light so a dark outline of the object is projected in relation to the light source, but have you considered the metaphysical reasons or symbology that shadows represent?

The shadow represents the dark side of life, the mysterious and unknown. Humans are naturally frightened by this and for good reason. Everyone knows that creatures lurk in the dark waiting to consume you! Carnivorous animals hunt at night because pray is easy to take. …Of course this is a barbaric notion that served us many centuries ago, but in this age of enlightenment how do shadows figure in?

To understand shadows fully you need to understand your ego mind. This is the part of you that believes in separation and in order to prove its existence it is constantly showing you how bad things are, how people die and that death exists. The ego mind is your “small self” the part of you that is fearful and afraid.

While this does serve you in this dualistic world, it is not really you. The ego is a manifestation of this 3d low vibration material world. The world of illusion, fear, and separation! Halloween and Dia de la Muerta are holidays that exploit and celebrate the ego mind. It is a part of the Human ritual and a rite of passage if you will. Our journey here on Earth is to navigate the shadows and emerge the other side in the light. The shadows can lead the way if you know how to follow them.

On a more Metaphysical side of it shadow represents your negative traits; parts of your personality that you do not like and do not wish to deal with. They are aspects of you that are deeply suppressed. The shadow is still a part of you in this world just like the yin and yang; the dark and light that which makes up the whole. In order to know the light one must embrace the darkness!

To do this takes Courage, Patience, Wisdom, Certainty, Compassion, Joy, Clarity, Understanding, Depth, Generosity, Abundance and Agape. Each is a step into the darkness till pure light is achieved at Agape.

Think of a Labyrinth, where the turns are folding back on themselves and the path is dimly lit. It is the shadows that show the way, because as you follow the shadows the source light is behind the shadow. Each step takes you closer to the light. Till you reach the center to discover that you must return to the outer edge to fully be in the light. Each discovery, insight, and revelation brings more light to the path till it is unmistakable which direction to go. It then becomes an exercise in determination and persistence, putting one foot in front of the other experiencing each attribute on the path fully till the next one pops up and spurs you on.

Shadow work is so important in Spiritual development that many psychology programs are teaching it now and any self-help lesson is incomplete without it. Next time I will get more specific and practical with this two part discussion on Shadows.

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity

The Illusion of Loss

by Sequoia Elisabeth

The process of transition often leads to the illusion of loss through rejection of family members, friends, co-workers and of the former self. So what is loss? Loss is “the state of being deprived of or of being without something that one has had: the loss of old friends.” (Dictionary.com) It can also refer to the death of a loved one.

If we look further at this definition we see that it involves possession, “that one has had”. Straight from these simple words it becomes clear that this is an illusion because possessing another human being is simply not possible. You do not own your parents and they do not own you. This goes for every relationship in your life. It can even be extended to other living things such as pets or plants, although the definition becomes hazier at this point. You can own a beautiful rose bush, but if you do not love it and care for it then you will lose it. The same goes for your best friend!

Even if you do love and care, nothing is permanent so eventually it will be lost. What is really happening of course is that it is changing forms, and the energy still exists just not as it did before. When you die, your body decays and “you” move on to other experiences either beyond this world or in another form right here in this world. Often this is why we choose to have children so that our form or essence has a vehicle to continue on.

The illusion of loss can bring profound pain and feelings of despair to the individual who believes that something horrific has just happened. Fear is a gripping emotion that can consume your life if allowed to. In a way you have indeed lost something and that is a particular expression of self. We often identify with the person or object of loss and feel like a part of ourselves was lost and indeed it has been. Grieving is expected, so please do not fight this. Honor the life you identified with as if it were your own. While at the same time realize that nothing is really lost it has only changed form.

Life is always changing and evolving. When this process is embraced and honored wonderful experiences result. There is no way to find anything better till what you “have” is lost. For a child to lose a parent this signals a time for the child to step up and replace the parent as best they can, but more importantly the child has the opportunity to fully express their essence, or be themselves!

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth