Oneness Ministry

We are One

A Cashless Society

What is it that you really desire, the money or the rewards afforded by money?  Is it the gratification you get from quality food, enjoyable entertainment, engaging creative efforts and the simply joy of living?  The bottom line here is that money is the middle man and does not need to exist.  It was created as a limitation by people who desired power and operates on a system of inequality.  Isn’t it time we grew up and realized the true pleasures in life?

A certain level of maturity is demanded by a cashless society, and there is no reason we cannot attain this level right now.  2011 can be the year we gave up money!  A year we claimed our true freedom and forgave all debts.  Wiped the slate clean and started over.  What do we need to release to make this a reality?

A few fundamental systems in our present society need to go.  Anything that is ego based such as religion, politics, government, and any organization would need to be disbanded.   The reason for this is that every organization is self serving, be it a church, hospital, bank or municipality.  I am not promoting an every man for himself society, far from it.  I am instead promoting a society that is woven together by its very existence; a society that operates on Love, kindness and good will. 

The result of a disbanding of this magnitude would be like taking a bag of magnets and emptying it out on a table of iron shavings.  Each magnet would create a hub of shavings around it.  This is the form for our new society.  Each hub would freely exchange materials between them and would operate at a level of conscious maturity where each part was aware of the others and flowed in an intelligent manner for the benefit of all.  Such a force exists right now, it is called Universal Consciousness and flows through every person, animal and thing in existence.   Some call this force God, however it really does not matter what you call it, only that you realize it is here and it makes up your being!

Fear is beside the point at this stage of the game.  Look around you!  It is happening as you read this….  We are making the shift!  Does this mean that you run out and cash in all your savings?  No.  It means that you wake up and tune in to what is happening around you and prepare for it.  This is where Maturity comes in.  Your actions must be from Love, because if they come from fear the result will be most unpleasant.  Destruction of the old systems can be efficient, methodical and intentional or they can be haphazard, disorganized and unconscious.  We have seen the effect of the latter many times in our evolution.  How about trying this the other way!?!

There is a new movie out that goes into this subject at length and does a great job of explaining why this is happening now and offers a solution that is very feasible with the technology and level of advancement we have right now!   Take a few hours (2:41:21) out of your busy schedule to check it out and share with all those you Love (hopefully everyone).  Zeitgeist: Moving Forward – The Official 2011 release, (well over a million views already)   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z9WVZddH9w

This is the Official Online (Youtube) Release of “Zeitgeist: Moving Forward” by Peter Joseph. [30 subtitles ADDED!]

On Jan. 15th, 2011, “Zeitgeist: Moving Forward” was released theatrically to sold out crowds in 60 countries; 31 languages; 295 cities and 341 Venues. It has been noted as the largest non-profit independent film release in history.

This is a non-commercial work and is available online for free viewing and no restrictions apply to uploading/download/posting/linking – as long as no money is exchanged.

A Free DVD Torrent of the full 2 hr and 42 min film in 30 languages is also made available through the main website [below], with instructions on how one can download and burn the movie to DVD themselves. His other films are also freely available in this format.

Website:
http://www.zeitgeistmovingforward.com
http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com

Release Map:
http://zeitgeistmovingforward.com/zmap

$5 DVD:
http://zeitgeistmovingforward.com/dvd

Movement:
http://www.thezeitgeistmovement.com

Category:

Education

 

      🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

 

      Unity in Gender Diversity    

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The Art Of Detachment

Transition is often a long drawn out process that occurs over years, although it can seem like it happens quickly.  When you are aware of the nuances you can see that some aspects of transition take a lifetime.  Allowing the process to evolve and progress with conscious thought enhances and speeds things along. 

The art of detachment is a Buddhist technique and also has its Christian counterpart.  Please do not get caught up here in labels though.  I offer these names in hopes of relating with you.  It is up to you how you use this technique.  All I can tell you is that it has helped me immensely. 

The technique works like this; be in the world but not of it.  Jesus taught this and likely learned it from the Buddhist teachers he had.  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 not becoming attached 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.  Giving this drop (person, place or thing) away is empowering both to you, the receiver and whatever is being given.  

If however you think of this process as a loss, the actual power 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.  When you long for something you experienced before this can be nostalgic which society teaches as a good thing.  In reality nostalgia is disempowering.  Each experience is unique and a gift that cannot be repeated.  Living in the past is not living at all. 

When you love the experience in the now, 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 anything you love.  This is why certain things keep coming into your life; they are a reflection of who you are in that moment.  You do things because you love the experience (the feeling you get).  What you are getting is an experience of yourself! 

Just understand that each moment is unique and you can change your mind.  If for some reason you decide you do not love coffee then you can choose something else, tea for instance.  But you must replace it with something because if you don’t a feeling of emptiness seeps in and it can often be hard to figure out what that feeling is all about.   The third option is to remain detached and receptive.  Open to all the gifts life has to offer.  Fully experience that which is offered and when you are done move on without attachment.  Of course you will still respect and love the people, places and things you left, but without attachment.  I think of it this way, use it as long as you need it and then pass it along to someone else to enjoy.  Can you imagine the world we would live in if no one was attached and we could freely pass from one experience to the next in full Joy and expression of our true nature?  Love is the way…

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity     Discover Sex and Sexuality click here

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A Minister Is

A minister is a person who is acting as the agent or instrument of another to administer or apply a service, care or aid, as in attending to the wants or necessities that contribute to the comfort and happiness of everyone. Now this is the dictionary definition and I would like to look at this from a spiritual perspective and how it affects each of us. 

We all play roles in our lives all the time and this includes the one you are playing right now as you read this. It is important to clarify roles in each situation of your life so that you may more fully experience life. Even more important is to realize that you are not the roles that you play. It is easy to get caught up in your roles and indentify with them. The daily social roles are the easiest to get stuck on, such as mother, daughter, grandmother, spouse, partner, friend, and caregiver. The occupational roles are also something that many identify with and this can be just as stifling. “You” is a broad term and as you grow spiritually you will realize that there is a lot more to “you” than you realized. There is the individual you, the roles you play as you, the larger you that is connected through community and there is the Universal One you, which is the only “real” you there is. 

Minister is a role, but it is also a lot more than that, because there is a lot more to “you”.   It is a title you can use to describe your daily activities. Each and every person is a “minister” to their own life! This means that everyone ministers every day. Now think about this and review the definition offered at the top of this article. How does this apply to your daily life? You don’t have to be religious to be a minister. Don’t forget that it is a root word for administer, so I am suggesting here that it is each and every persons’ responsibility to minister consciously each day! Awaken to your inner being and allow your Loving soul to lead you.  Since many people have no idea how to minister, use these suggestions below.

This is what it means to be a minister;

  • To see the good in every person you meet. As much as God is in and of everything, so too is God expressing thru each person you meet. They are God extended and there is nothing a person can do, say or think that will change this. 
  • Remember that we are always teaching. Our very actions set an example to others as to what and how to think, speak and act. Do unto others as you would have done unto you, because they will!
  • To comfort those who come to us in need without seeing them as needy. Our function is to be in the world, but not of it. Acknowledge what is presented without accepting it as so. Be the observer and judge not, acting with Love and never re-acting.
  • To be the Peace. As a minister of your life the amount and quality of peace you experience is up to you. The amount of drama does not matter because peace exists always and all ways. To the extent we center ourselves in Peace by meditating (formally or not), by not re-acting to situations, and by focusing on the Peace that is present, we are the Peace!
  • Share your Joy with the world by shining your inner light on everyone you meet. Notice when you are happy and be grateful. Happiness is something that comes to us from within and is not dependant on outer circumstances, unless you make it so. Meaning that it is an inner choice to be happy. Be aware of your feelings and allow them to flow. If you are sad, that is fine, just relax, it will pass soon, all discomforts are temporary. Being a person of Peace and Joy is what ministry is all about!

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity     Discover Sex and Sexuality click here

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Gender Transition

What is the purpose of gender transition?  A feeling of dysphoria is controlling your life, you feel uncomfortable in your body and out of place in your gender role.  You feel compelled to live your life in the opposite gender and to do so fully, gender transition is necessary.  There is a question of degree also.  Do you feel like the other gender all the time or only occasionally?  Will you be happy crossdressing and being in those gender roles part time?  Not such an easy question to answer for many. 

From my experience it is an evolution that begins early in your life when you first realize that you feel feminine more than masculine and have a male body, or vice versa.  Like I said there are degrees and social constructs for you to step into.  Will you be happy as a feminine man or masculine woman?  What clothing are you most comfortable wearing, men’s or women’s or maybe both or even a mixture?  Which gender role feels right?

Gender Identity is an internal function of your brain that is hardwired from birth and your journey here on earth is to discover who you are!  Regardless of the physical body you were given at birth, this is about being harmonious in your body as the person you are naturally.  Think about this for a minute, “Naturally“.  What feels natural to you?  What feels like second nature or instinctual for you?  Forget that you have a body at all.  Close your eyes and feel the Truth. 

The gender transition journey involves living in harmony as who you are naturally.  The mirror will often betray your self-image, so do not get distracted by what you see.  The goal is to feel comfortable and happy with who you are being.  If you can love the person in the mirror then you are doing great!  As this is the ultimate goal.  Transition is not about conforming to society’s expectations.  Or what you perceive as society’s expectations.  In fact this may be about your misconception of society’s expectations!

What are expectations and where do they come from?  Expectations are behavior patterns that you accept as given per the circumstances.  They come from your own mind and were passed on by those who raised you.  You could say that they are learned, but I think it is more systemic than that.  We are each like a cog in a clock, we fit in and do our part in the larger functioning of the clock.  It could be argued that certain parts are not necessary, but that is a limited view.  I prefer to say that each part is necessary or it would not be here, we just do not know the function or understand its purpose.  Transgender often falls in this category.

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The Face Of Christ

Many people mostly as a result of fundamentalists religious teaching have come to accept the face of Jesus as The Christ.  His actual name is Jeshua Ben Joseph.  Please allow me to share a different perspective on this story.  I am not saying that what you know is wrong, only that you may not have the full meaning of Jesus Christ has he relates to your life. 

Jeshua Ben Joseph was the human person you read about in the bible and other story’s that we attribute to Jesus Christ.  He lived his life and died just like the rest of us do.  He felt pain, sorrow, happiness and joy.  His Soul Mate and Twin Flame’s name is Mary Magdalene.  What this means is that they both orchestrated the heavenly occurrences and miracles that we have come to admire and aspire to.  They were cut from the same flame, meaning they both had equal but opposite resonate energies vibrating at the same frequency.  This is very rare and we experience it but once in all our lifetimes, usually the last one.  By last I mean last incarnation on earth.

The point of this message is that Jesus Christ is not a person but a metaphor for who you are.  Think of it as a title that one attains in life.  In metaphysics Jesus means “I Am” and Christ means Centered or the “Anointed One”.  So Joshua Ben Joseph is the physical man who conducted the miracles we all know about.  Think about that now, he is no different than any other man and since Mary Magdalene is his Twin Flame she could also do these things, we just did not hear about it because the bible was created by a male dominated society.  And this was his purpose in life, just as Mary’s purpose was to support him and make sure he was able to complete his mission.  Let’s not get off track here however.  We are each endowed with the same powers they had and in fact have more evolved physical bodies.  We use the exact same mind that he did!  Because there is but one mind, the mind of God, anything else is illusion. 

So now let’s relate this to our physical bodies.   One of the main messages of this ministry (Unity in Gender Diversity) is that we are not our bodies, we are Spiritual Beings having a human experience and have thus created ourselves with our personal understanding of what it means to be human.  We have an individual identity through which we relate to others in our world.  The central identifying feature is our face.  The face has been a symbol for who we are since before the time of Jesus, which explains people’s fixation on the face of Christ.  Everywhere you look there is one basic image of what Jesus looks like, long brown hair, light brown skin, some with beard and mustache, and all with the same nose, eyes, and chin.  There are variations but this can be attributed to a reflection of cultural differences, which is precisely the point I want to make here.  Jesus Christ is not a man who lived 2000 years ago, but a symbol for mankind!  Jeshua was the man and Jesus Christ the Title he attained. We are each on a journey to discover Jesus Christ as a consciousness or state of being. 

The face is your ego identity and what Jeshua did 2011 years ago was grow beyond any ego attachment.  Thus he was able to live beyond the body, which is the only “real” existence.  It is important to understand that to live in this world you must have an ego.  This is an ego world we live in and the goal is to grow beyond the need for an ego.  The ego is not bad or anything like that, it simply is. 

I feel that the transgender journey is realizing that both male and female are human expressions.  To fully express human is to express both.  To express Transgender is to express both in one lifetime.  Not everyone is on this journey, but those who are need to experience the physical change to fully express them self and more importantly to realize who they truly are!  The Christ. 

There are many paths to God, so accept who you are and walk the path with courage and faith!  The face of Christ is your face!

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

“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.” (Quote from UGD website)

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Sadness Is Natural

Many people avoid feeling sad or think that it is wrong or somehow not good to feel sad.  Get this idea out of your head right now.  Without sad you cannot have happy.  The two go hand in hand, meaning one cannot exists without the other. 

When a loss is experienced the natural reaction is sadness.  This goes for any transition, be it a loss, a graduation, moving away, divorce, breaking up, etc.  Allow yourself to feel sad.  It is OK and in fact if you do not allow your feelings to express these emotions become blocked just like trees in a river.  Over time a pond develops or an area of excess emotion which throws the whole system off.  Outlets develop and they do help to relieve the pressure, however they are not complete balance.  Imagine a stream flowing into a pond and a small outlet draining the excess to one side or the other.  Until the blockage is removed that area will not function at full capacity. 

All this because you where afraid of a little pain that comes with feeling sad, or maybe you were avoiding the stigma that comes with sadness.  You don’t want anyone to feel sorry for you.  This too is natural.  It is natural to feel compassion for your fellow man/woman.  To deny them this opportunity is again blocking the flow. 

It is not sympathy that is desired, but empathy.  Sympathy is joining someone at their level, sort of like buying into their drama, this only adds to the situation and does nothing to help remedy it.  Empathy comes from an honest feeling of compassion for the person, not the situation.  Instead of feeding into the drama you are sending Loving energy to the person so they may lift themselves out of the drama.  We all have drama so please do not shy away from feeling the emotions associated with it, no matter what side of the equation you find yourself on. 

One last note on Sadness, being sad is the opposite of happiness so we are either one or the other and can vacillate back and forth fairly quickly.  Do not associate happy with Joy.  It is possible to feel Joy while you are sad or happy.  Joy is a space that always exists just as Peace and Love exists always and in all ways.  These feelings are the presence of God that makes you who you are.  In other words, Joy, Peace and Love are the essence of your being and exist always.  Sadness and Happiness are temporary, so use this knowledge to your benefit.  If you are feeling sad, then allow that feeling to flow through you and it will be gone rather quickly.  Happiness is a choice which you can make at any time.  With practice choosing to be happy in every situation is certainly achievable. 

When a big event comes into your life like the loss of a parent or child, destruction of your home or loss of a job, allow yourself to feel sad, it is the natural thing to do!

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity     Discover Sex and Sexuality click here

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Integration Is Key

Imagine the front of a train falling apart literally and the back of the train is reassembled shiny and new.  This is precisely the world we are living in today!  As our world falls apart we are instantly recreating it all in one swift motion.  This is not happening without warning though and the more fore thought we put into this creation the happier we will be with the results.

Integration is the organization of constituent elements into a coordinated, harmonious whole.  It is not like this era has come as a big surprise.  It has been predicted by many civilizations for thousands of years.  And now we are in the midst of a transformation!  As each element comes apart it is coordinated back into a harmonious whole.  The end result is different and so much better than what existed before. 

The difficult part is this is happening on a fundamental level all the way down to sub-atomic particles, it affects every aspect of our lives including our physical bodies, social systems, thought processes, and the matrix within which we live.  The shifts are occurring right in front of our eyes, so we have the choice to be upset or go with the flow.  Frankly, I see no reason to be upset because the change is all for the better, so row, row, row your boat and let’s get on with this.

The integration of which I speak is the process of accepting that things are changing and to focus on just how you desire that to occur.  Not for your personal gain, but for societies advancement.  As society grows so will you and each person on earth will benefit from the transformation currently underway.  You are providing energy toward this evolution, unless you are resisting in which case you will be destroyed in the process.  Remember the train that is falling apart.  This is you and there is no way to put it back together the same way it was.  Accept this and visualize your ideal world.  Give your fuel to a positive dynamic for change.  This is what John Lennon did when he wrote the song Imagine

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity     Discover Sex and Sexuality click here

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Genital Reassignment Surgery

As I said in my earlier blog posts, doing your research concerning transition and SRS/GRS is very important.  I can help with this process since I have done quite a bit myself.  Please check out this page in my Gender Learning Center (Click here). 

SRS/GRS is not as complicated as one would think.  The procedure has been done now for over 50 years and lately the surgeons are getting very good at it.  Some of the issues to be concerned with are logistics, cost and convenience.  The skill of the surgeon is a very hot topic and while this is important, it is not as big an issue as it would seem.  Depending on where the surgery is done, most countries have strict standards doctors must abide by, especially since surgery and medical care has become a commodity that brings in big money.   Thailand and India are emerging as world leaders in this market so they definitely deserve a close look and your consideration when it comes to choosing your surgeon and location.   The price you pay is many hours in a plane traveling across the world to save a few thousand dollars.  When you can barely sit down, being in an airplane for 20+ hours is not appealing.  Of course there are options to cope with this such as meds and cushions. 

The USA has several very good surgeons now doing SRS/GRS, so look closely at the local options.  Most gender therapists will know who they are as do the gender support groups.   I will not list them here because I would leave some out and that is not my purpose here.  The informational sites I list on my website do include several surgeons material, however I chose them on the basis of information provided, not on how good the surgeon is. 

Logistics includes things like travel, housing, post care, assistance during recovery, preparations before surgery, documentation (passport, proper ID, surgery letters from your therapist), and medical records.  Each surgeon will have requirements for you to meet, and they give ample advanced notice in most cases, however it is prudent to research this, so you are prepared.  Call it peace of mind. 

Cost is an issue that we all are acutely aware of.  Many options exist however it is recommended that you get references from the surgeon you choose and make sure the location has the resources to provide safe and effect treatment in the event of an unexpected emergency.   The costs include, travel, housing, food, surgeon fees, hospital fees, operating room fees, anesthesia fees, and medicines.  Most surgeons have package deals so make sure exactly what you are getting and what will be extra.  The recovery time is at least two weeks and many take as much as six weeks, so another cost is time off of work. 

Convenience is the last concern when choosing a surgeon and location.  It is not to be under estimated. From the many post op transsexuals I have talked with, being able to travel a short distance to the surgery center and home again is a real plus.  The horror stories of being on a plane for hours and hours is something to consider carefully.  Take into consideration your age, possible side trips, who will be with you, and your travel experience.  Those who are seasoned travelers will be more inclined to go far to save a little money.  I also hear that sightseeing in places like Thailand can make it all worthwhile.  Don’t rule out locations such as Europe, Mexico, Caribbean, India, or Canada.  Of course I moved to the San Francisco bay area because there are at least three surgeons here that I can choose from and I will not have to travel at all. 

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity     Discover Sex and Sexuality click here

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SRS/GRS Treatment Planning

Where does SRS/GRS fit into the treatment plan for Gender Incongruity(GI)/Gender Identity Disorder(GID)?  The terms GRS (Genital Reassignment Surgery) and GI (Gender Incongruity) will be used from here on to make this flow easier.  The diagnosis has been made and you are now in therapy, so what next?

The answer to this question is really up to you and your therapist or physician.  There are no rules here so I recommend doing your research and getting to know the options as well as getting to know yourself a little better. Your therapist should be helpful in guiding you in the decision of whether you need GRS and where to place it in your treatment plan.  It is not their decision to make though, it is yours.  Please understand that you are responsible for finding your way to relief.  The professionals are there to help and provide guidance.

The next step is to decide if you have enough funding to get the surgery soon or will it be years before you can afford it?  If you have money or the resources to get it, then you have several options.  Even if you don’t have the money now, you have options.  Here they are.  Get an orchiectomy right at the beginning (if you are FtoM – hysterectomy) so you do not have to take hormone blockers.  For FtoM it just makes the testosterone that much more effective.  Any cosmetic surgeries desired can be done later in the transition as is convenient.  After fully transitioning and living in the chosen gender and knowing you are happy, get the full GRS.  This option makes the most sense to me, however most doctors are uneasy with this choice, probably because they are not the ones with discomfort. (Reproduction desires need to be addressed also, since this option sterilizes)

The next option is to get hormone treatment and electrolysis done and after going full time as your chosen gender, have GRS done and leave cosmetic surgery to last.  The reasoning here is financial and basically goes in order of importance and cost.  This seems to be the most popular option chosen, for obvious reasons.  Start where you are and take a new step each day toward your ideal. 

Those with lots of money sometimes get carried away with the surgeries and do all kinds of physical alteration without fully embracing the changes emotionally.  From my experience this is a difficult path and somewhat backwards.  Gender transition is an emotional process and the surgery is meant to assist in the assimilation into society.  Where the surgery is very important, so is taking the time to learn what it means to be a woman when you were raised as a man, or vice versa.  Jumping in with the surgery can lead to disaster when you have changed your appearance and not your self concept. 

When I first started my journey one of the questions I asked my therapist is where does GRS fit into my treatment? (I already knew I wanted it, and most of us do)  He told me it does not matter if you get it early or later, the important part is to break down the false persona you created to fit into society and allow your natural self to emerge.  The surgery will re-enforce your feelings and make it easier for you, but does not really matter to a person who will never see between your legs!  GRS is for your own satisfaction in knowing your body reflects your self image.   

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity     Discover Sex and Sexuality click here

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Is SRS Really Necessary?

This is first in a series of blogs on Sex Change Surgery, so the obvious question “Is SRS/GRS Really Necessary?”  Right from the start I will concede this is a loaded question; however, it is a question I have asked myself many times.  The answer is as individual as the person considering it.  The answer should NOT be undertaken alone and should be a consensus by medical professionals trained in gender issues and the transsexual individual.  The bottom line is no one can tell you what your gender is!  Gender is self determined, however the treatment for Gender Incongruity or Gender Dysphoria as it used to be called is a complex issue that requires guidance.  I am not saying it could not be done alone, only that is much easier and more rewarding when support is provided by caring professionals, friends, and family.

With this being said, it would be foolish to jump to a conclusion when something as drastic as SRS (Sex Reassignment Surgery) or as some prefer, GRS (Genital Reassignment Surgery) is considered.  The question of other conditions being present such as mental illness, birth defects, medical conditions etc. needs to be ruled out before surgery is implemented.  Just as a doctor considering a liver transplant will make sure the patient does not have any other severe conditions which may hamper recovery from the surgery; it is only prudent to take an informed approach.  Thus we have the WPATH Standards of Care which recommend a thorough medical work up, Psychotherapy evaluation, CHT (Contra Hormone Therapy), and living at least a year in the chosen gender to avoid the possibility of erroneous Gender Incongruity diagnosis. 

The treatment for Gender Incongruity (GI) or GID (Gender Identity Disorder, as it used to be called) is the surgical adjustment of the genitals to conform to the gender identity of the individual.  Counseling and/or psychotherapy is part of both the diagnosis and the treatment.  Dealing with an issue this large should not be undertaken alone.  At the very least a person with gender questions should see a professional that specializes in the treatment of gender disorders.  There are resources online that will help to identify those professionals, please see this link (take your time and read carefully). 

Getting back to the issue of “is it necessary” I offer another link to a blog that considers this issue nicely.  Having been on this journey for a long time, I will share my personal experience on this question after having talked to many pre and post op transsexuals.  I only know of a few cases of post op transsexuals who were not happy with the surgery.  Three of those were media hyped cases of individuals who were mislead by society.  Personally I have known only one person (a pre-op transgender) that transitioned with hormones for 10 yrs and then decided to de-transition and live in their former role. 

On the other side of the coin I have met dozens of post op transsexuals who tell me it was the best decision they ever made.  They lead happy productive lives just as they did before they transitioned.  The variation in the success of SRS/GRS is as varied as the individuals undergoing the procedure, however it is my firm belief that if this option was not the best choice then there would not be so many surgeons doing the procedure today and it would not be considered medically necessary as it is by the AMA, IRS and some Insurance Companies today (see above links).  It is true that not many Insurance companies will cover SRS/GRS, but their numbers are growing as is the mainstream medical communities support for this treatment of Gender Incongruency. 

Choosing to undergo SRS/GRS is not something anyone should take lightly, however it is a viable option nowadays that offers excellent results of both form and function!  It is time the rest of the medical community step up and see that Gender Incongruity is a serious issue that has viable treatment options with excellent results.

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity     Discover Sex and Sexuality click here

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Finding Peace

As a Spiritual Peacemaker it is my calling to help others find the Peace within and in so doing create Peace within me.  One of the best ways I have found to reach this space of Peace is meditation.  Many people find meditation difficult and this is because you do not fully understand what meditation is. 

First of all let us consider what Peace is.  Without dragging out the dictionary, think of Peace as the Spirit within you and all things.  It is a still, calm, quiet, serene place but can also be active, forceful, and dynamic.  Peace is quite simply the force of Great Spirit, Universal Consciousness or God.  We find it calming and comforting because this is our home, our natural state.  Finding Peace then would be like finding yourself!  

The wee hours of the morning are easiest to reach this space.  Why?  Because the rest of the ego world is sleeping and so the airwaves are calmer and with less disturbance.  Many people will rise at 4 or 5 am to do their daily meditation and while this does make the process easier it is certainly not required.  I would say if you are just starting the practice of daily meditation, creating the habit of rising early and doing the meditation in the private space of your room can be a great way to center yourself before the day begins.

Start by getting comfortable, but not so comfortable that you are prone to fall asleep.  It is of course ok to fall asleep, this is simply not the brain wave pattern we are shooting for.  This space is just above the sleep realm.  Relaxed and calm, but not out of it.  Focus on a central point and relax.  Breathe slowly and feel your breathe move in and out of your body.  Move your stomach and not so much your diaphragm.  The Buddhists call this belly breathing.  The seat of your soul is located in the middle of your belly just above the navel.   And the doorway into the soul is through the heart located just above the belly near the xyphoid in the center of your chest.  Focus your attention to these locations and feel the sensations.  Imagine Light beaming from within you and radiating out in all directions.  As you relax into this feeling, Peace reveals itself. 

Peace is always present as this is your essence.  If you feel anxious, nervous, painful, fidgety, or distressed this is the ego and the message is false.  The mind is in control here and the purpose of meditation is to release this control and fall back on your essence.  Thinking is not necessary and should be avoided.  A busy mind can be released with intention and practice.  Focus on observation and feeling the space within.  After a while you will be able to simply move into a place of peace at any time, with a simple intention.  If at first you are only in this place for a second, you have still found it and you should congratulate yourself.   Use this tool often and in any situation, it will serve you well.  May your New Year be filled with Joy, Love and Peace!  namaste’

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity     Discover Sex and Sexuality click here

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Coping With Change

The only constant in the Universe is Change!  It is about time you learn to cope with it!  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.  The Heisenberg principle states that the simple act of observing, changes the results because the observer becomes a part of the outcome.  The mind has new data to consider which is then integrated into the outcome.   Of course you do realize that there is but One mind, right?   The observer becomes the observed.  So 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 that something will occur, this very act gives that circumstance energy to manifest.  It 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.  If you got on a boat and you did not move when the boat took off, you would soon be in the water.  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 every situation.  Expect things to work out in your favor and if it does not, look for the good.  Expectations are like a flashlight.  They focus energy on a certain event or circumstance, so use this 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

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A Changing World

“What the end date does mean however is that on October 28, 2011 the shifts between energies will come to an end and it is thus no wonder that many intuitively sense that the year that follow upon this, 2012, is very special. The processes that have been driving cosmic evolution until now will no longer be operating and after some time for things to settle the human beings will be left to create evolution themselves. What this means is in my view that the end date is not just another shift. Instead it constitutes the end of the shifts that have been caused by alternations in the quantum states of the Tree of Life up until that point, exemplified by the above mentioned quantum shift that led to the decline of the economy as the fifth night began. Such a vision of a new Garden of Eden (albeit on a higher level) obviously lacks any rational basis among those advocating that we look upon the Mayan calendar as based on mechanical astronomical cycles, where a new cycle will then begin. To understand the liberation of mankind and a future return to the Garden of Eden however simply mandates quantized time. This illustrates an important principle, namely that even if the evidence-based Mayan calendar is not difficult to understand, it is not trivial. It is not something that you can thoughtlessly put in your old box of thinking. The Mayan calendar is fundamentally different from all other calendar and how and why that is is something that needs to be deeply honored and respected.” (Calleman 2009)  For the full article please click on the link here.

What does all this mean for you?  Quite simply it means that any limitations that existed before are being lifted and it really is up to you now.  I really feel like we have a lot of miracles to look forward to.  The door has been opened to infinite possibilities. 

Beware the temptation to fall back on old habits and routines that do not serve you.  I feel myself being drawn in two directions now, so I must always make decisions on which way I will go.  Moving back and forth is a lot of work for no gain, so to avoid the fate of Sisyphus stay focused on your dreams and ask “how does this action serve my Highest and Best Good?”

Our physical bodies are changing due to the galactic alignments and forces far beyond this world.  The changes are the future for mankind and are a wonderful leap up the evolutionary spiral.   The specifics of these changes are not completely clear to me now as I hear several reports.  Let me summarize these changes in one major difference, Light.  The human body is becoming more attuned to the light which is raising our overall vibrational frequency and making us feel strange at times.  If you are having periods of dizziness, sore throat, transient pains, and flashes from your past or other lives this is part of this shift.  You may feel other effects as well, so be careful what you “blame” for how you feel.  Better to just acknowledge it and if you need symptom relief then get that help, but do not think that you are sick or that anything is wrong, it is not. 

It will not quite be like the Hulk or Spiderman as our bodies change, however we will be gaining new abilities and increasing the ease of others.  Some of the changes to be aware of is telepathy, precognition, visions or apparitions, increased sensitivity to other energies, and periods of intense inner peace.  If you are unaware of what inner peace feels like you may misinterpret this to be something it is not.  Do not resist as this could make life more painful.  You are a child seeing fireworks for the first time, enjoy!

There is much about these changes on the internet recently and justifiably so.  Many are confused by the shifts in energy they are feeling and if they are not in tune with how the body works or how energy fields work then it can get overwhelming.  Do your research for the simple reason to ease your mind.  Otherwise there is not much you can do besides embracing the changes and making the best use of them.  Some will feel these changes more than others and sooner than others, but eventually we will all shift frequencies.  One of the sources of information on this shift can be found by clicking here. (New Body Electrics ~ Beacons of Light ~ Jan 2011)

If you would like more info on this please write to me and ask a specific question, I am happy to assist.  Blessings on your Journey of Love ♥♥♥

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity     Discover Sex and Sexuality click here

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Christmas Silence

The truest gift of Christmas is the opportunity to enjoy The Spirit within the Silence.  Connection with Source energy is something we all instinctually know how to do.  It is not something you can teach, so this message is a reminder and tribute to this fantastic experience that comes but once a year, unless you claim it every day.

Thinking back over my last 48 Christmas’s one experience stands out above all the rest.  Please join me here as we revisit this moment of deep unabiding Joy.  The traditions of Christmas are many and one in particular touches my heart each year, the Christmas tree.  It is a symbol of reverence to all life and has always played the center piece at Christmas throughout my life.  No matter where I am or what the circumstances are, I manage to get a few minutes alone with the Christmas tree.  

The Christmas tree symbolizes eternal life its evergreen nature and green color.  The triangle shape denotes the Holy Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  The tree points up and has a star at the top to denote the Highest Power.  We wrap the tree in light too symbolizing the Light that fills each of us and connects us to Heaven.  The gifts we place underneath are acts of charity and love.  The ornaments we place on the tree provide our individual or ego touch, an expression of personality!   

As a child I would lie on the living room carpet under the tree before the gifts were added and marvel at the lights and simply feel the energy flowing through this gateway to Heaven.  As I ponder this experience, the smell of the pine scent takes me back to a simpler time when people were still living in nature.  The lights of the tree are magical and colorful each representing a color of the rainbow and the diversity on earth.  It is a reminder that we are all of One Light.    

The best part of the whole experience is doing this early in the morning when everyone else is asleep and the silence is pervasive.  This is when the Spirit within the Silence is easiest to hear.  It is a feeling more than a sound of course.  How does one hear silence?  Lying there looking up, taking in the beauty, and listening…

Amid this season of hustle and bustle, please remember to connect with this Silence as it is indeed the reason for the season!

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity     Discover Sex and Sexuality click here

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Tis the Season to Be Jolly

Christmas is not the only reason to be jolly this year.  We just experienced a Lunar Eclipse, Solstice convergence last night that was last seen 372 years ago and will not occur again for 84 years.  It is possible that some will see this occurrence again; however the significance of this particular eclipse is compounded by several factors!

We all know that heavenly bodies shift energies here on earth in a cosmic dance called the Universe.  The energies surrounding this event are ones of change, release of old thought patterns and karmas.  Energies are being reflected now with greater intensity than we have ever felt, so many people are reacting to this change in different ways.  Notice how you feel right now and know this is an opportunity to take a leap forward on your journey of Spiritual Growth.  Stay positive so this is the energy that is magnified, if you allow yourself to be frustrated, angered or depressed this is the energy that will be magnified.  I know that many of my friends have been struggling through depression lately and understandably so.  These are life altering changes we are experiencing.  Stay Positive and know it gets better!  The energies today after the eclipse are much more positive than I was feeling before.  But it does not end here.

The next big Spiritual event we can look forward to is 1-1-11 (No I did not forget Christmas, see blog Dec 12th).  This is New Years day and it symbolizes Oneness.  Since I am not an astrologer I do not know the planet influences here, but I do know that numerologically speaking this is a time of opportunity and hope.  It is a time to celebrate Oneness!  The interdependence with all life and all beings rules this day.  Know that you are one with all people, all animals, all plants, all minerals, and even the very earth which is vibrant life, we call her Gaia.  We are One.  Through this realization we are all empowered 😉

“Four partial solar and two total lunar eclipses take place in 2011. This 4:2 combination of solar and lunar eclipses in a single year is rather rare with only six cases during the 21st Century (2011, 2029, 2047, 2065, 2076 and 2094). The first and last eclipses always occur in January and December.” (NASA 2010)

January 4, 2010 will be our first solar eclipse of 2011 and only 14 days after the lunar eclipse last night.  These are indeed dynamic times!  In the summer we have three solar eclipses in a 30 day period, every two weeks!  So the shifts occurring will continue to be dynamic throughout the year, again with changes coming Oct. 28th with the end of the Mayan Calendar.  I interpret this to be the end of this cycle of consciousness which has lasted ~25,000 years and begins a new cycle.  Many souls will choose to leave earth at this time or near to it.    

Many are looking at this time as a Spiritual graduation ceremony, and it certainly could be that for many people.  Graduations are joyous times and when you focus on Joy and the good that is present in your life, you get more of it.  Blessings on your journey of Love 😉

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity     Discover Sex and Sexuality click here

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Ultimate Power

In continuation of the previous blog post, “The ultimate power is in consciousness, because it makes up not only your thoughts and their thoughts but the very place you are experiencing!” What exactly is consciousness?  How can consciousness make the place I am experiencing? 

First of all it is important to understand what I mean by consciousness.  I mean the One Source of all intelligence that operates in us, through us and around us.  Many call this force God, and there are many names for it.  I am sure you have your favorite.  The term Prime Creator works for me. 

Consciousness: 1630s, “internal knowledge,” from conscious-ness. Meaning “state of being aware” is from 1746. (Dictionary.com 2010)

So what is it that you are aware of?  Consciousness itself?  Maybe so or maybe it is whatever you focus your attention on.  If you are looking out the window, what you see is a construction of the mind and the state of consciousness you are in.  If your consciousness is elevated you may see something beautiful like a rainbow or children playing joyously.  If however you are in a state of depressed consciousness then what you see (even though this is the same window) is very different.  It will often be the same ol’, same ol’. 

Does that beautiful scene really exist or is it a reflection of your state of consciousness?  If it existed it would be constant and unchanging, but instead is it constantly changing and if you go away and return to that same window it is likely to look different.  Not because the reality has changed, but because your consciousness has changed.  Time figures into this equation by adding a variable. By looking out the window you impart your energy onto what you see and this energy builds over time.  After you are gone, it dissipates so when you return the scene is very different depending on your state of consciousness. 

This concept can be tested quite easily, just be aware!  Try this experiment.  Choose a convenient window and look out.  Remember what you saw and take a few notes, pay attention to detail.  Were animals, birds, insects, flowers or colors present?   Write that down.  Now, find a quiet place away from that window.  You cannot see out that window.  Relax and meditate however you like.  Choose a method that makes you feel better, and if you do not meditate find something that “raises your spirit”.  Note how you feel and pay close attention to detail.  Now in this heightened state of awareness look out the window and notice if things are different. 

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

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Power of Place

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 differences on the other person, (psychologists call this projection, and people can project on places too).  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. 

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 are other factors, such are 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!    

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity     Discover Sex and Sexuality click here

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Christ Mas

This is the time of year when we are reminded of Christ consciousness and its relationship to our lives.  The very word itself is an indication of what this season is all about.  Christ in metaphysical terms means centered or anointed one.  The word “mas” in Spanish means “more”.   So thus we have it in simple terms.  This season is about getting more centered or literally, centered more. 

The word “anoint” means to dedicate to the service of God, or in other words, to make sacred and whole.  The ceremony (Christmas morning/Christmas eve) is a way of connecting to Spirit and setting intentions.  It is an acknowledgment of Oneness with God. The symbology is important this season because when you share gifts it is a way of saying to the recipient, “you are sacred to me”.  On Christmas morning you are anointing those you love with gifts.  The actual item is far less important than the Loving intention (Christ consciousness) that goes into the gift.  It is the gift in the gift! 

When thought of in this manner the Spirit of Christ Mas is brought to life!  This year when you are sitting around the tree and sharing gifts, share also the Christ Consciousness.  In short, move outside yourself (ego mind) and connect with the One (God) which is present in each person in your life.   

This is how Santa delivers millions of presents in one night!  Through Christ Consciousness the Spirit works through us all!! May you be Blessed this season 😉

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity     Discover Sex and Sexuality click here

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Loving Perspectives

Everything you say is a prayer, so accept this as my prayer.  I am not my body; I am a Spiritual Being having a human experience.  However my body appears, I created it to fully experience the results.  This means if I am bullied, abused, laughed at, murdered or admired, loved, desired, feigned over, I chose this experience at a level of awareness beyond this world.  Please allow me this experience! 

Why I chose this experience is not important.  What is important is that I embrace the experience accepting it fully.  I am listening to the still small voice within my heart for guidance.  The loud and often obnoxious voice in my head is ignored, in a polite fashion if possible. 

Faith need not be blind.  By listening to the feelings in the heart you are guided to your highest expression.  While faith cannot be touched or seen, it can be felt and experienced in ways that if pursued reveal themselves along the path. 

Since I am not my body, I do not die.  The body will fall away and in energetic terms change form.  The identity of that body will die and others will mourn the loss of this physical form.  The Spirit within that body moves on to other experiences.  Those in the physical realm will not be able to discern this Spirit from others.  Like a drop of water that rejoins the Ocean the Spirit remains alive and continues to flow.

Universal Consciousness knows not good or bad and never judges the physical world.  These constructions are created in the illusion of control.  Nothing is good or bad, it simple is.  How you experience it just is, unless you place a good or bad label upon it.  Placing judgment in this fashion is not good or bad, but serves you in some way.  Let it be.  (In the Oneness philosophy, “Judge not lest ye be judged” means there is only one to do the judgment!) 

Events always happen for a reason, although that reason is not always apparent.  Perceiving the reason is often helpful in accepting the event just the way it transpired.  However it is not required to understand the reason.  This is where faith comes in. 

This body is my vehicle for experience in the world.  I use it to communicate Love.  I give Love by sharing my body with others, by observing other’s Loving acts, and by sharing thoughts through writing, speaking and action.  

Any circumstance in my life is to these ends.  The specific events are meaningless, it is the Love communicated that gives life meaning.  My accomplishments are measured in the amount of Love I communicate.  I cannot fail, because I feel this Love as it circulates through this world as my blood flows through my body!  Oneness is so much more profound than most give it credit for.  I am the Love I seek.  I am that, I am. 

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

Unity in Gender Diversity     Discover Sex and Sexuality click here

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Sex Acts and Partners

 The following is a section of chapter five in Sex and Sexuality.  Life begins in relationship with Mother and quickly you are thrust into a world of relationships.  Mom, Dad, Sister, Brother, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and every other person in your life, including the doctor who brought you into the world have a relationship with you.  Even the people you pass on the street are a potential interaction and thus a relationship.  You don’t even have to know them for an interaction to occur.  So in reality you have some sort of relationship with everyone and everything on earth and beyond, although often a distant relationship.   Once the probabilities are considered you quickly realize that relationships are what life is all about. 

Take this investigation of relationships to the pinnacle, and it becomes clear that all relationships are with God.  How so?  Simply in the fact that God is All There Is!  Even you are God expressing, so you are always and all ways in a relationship with God.  How you experience this relationship is up to you by the actions you choose to take and the events you choose to participate in.  When you stop and think about this it could be the most profound understanding in your life.  I Am God, you are God, and we are all expressing God! 

The food you eat, the clothes you wear, and the homes you live in are all a part of this Divine Relationship.  The beauty of the whole system is humbling.  Just take a minute, sit back and appreciate every little thing in your life.  Each part of the whole feeds another part and thus the whole is sustained this is why it is called the cycle of life.

As human beings we have relationships with each other that take many forms and serve many functions.  Close personal relationships are often the most profound because they are so intimate.  Who we love and who we allow to love us is an integral aspect of the human life experience.  When we enter puberty our bodies begin to mature and hormones start surging through us. Relationships thus begin to take on a whole new aspect!  No longer are we mainly concerned with family and friends.  Romance becomes the most important relationship in life. 

How you interact with others is an expression of who you feel yourself to be.  Since every relationship is with God, this divine relationship can take on many different faces.  It is up to you to decide how you choose to express yourself, who you partner with, and who you have sex with. 

My intention here is to help you more fully appreciate your life and live it to the fullest.  For now just know that when you make love to your partner, God is connecting to God! 

Our bodies are a learning tool and we use them to communicate with others.  We see, touch, hear, taste and smell with our bodies all of which are forms of communication.  A hand shake, a hug and kiss on the cheek are messages of love with increasing levels of intimacy.  Touching is one of the most pervasive forms of communication we have in our society.  Who are you Loving today?

🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth

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