by Cynthia Bischoff | Mar 7, 2015 | Heartliving
The world abounds with symbols. Some are universal and others unique to certain cultures. Symbols are profound expressions of our intellect, emotions, and spirit. A symbol can represent deep intuitive wisdom that eludes direct expression, and symbols can be found in our dreams certainly, but also in our waking state. It is helpful to observe the symbols in your life in your waking day, allowing the universe to speak to you through its symbolic language.
Throughout the centuries, symbols in their infinite forms have enriched people’s lives. Cultures in all parts of the world have built upon a universal understanding of symbols to better understand well-being of mind, body, and spirit. Often in deep spiritual work, we are asked to identify and focus on symbols that appear in our dreams and in our waking lives. These symbols may, for example, appear in our drawings and over time become highly personalized, take on deeper levels of meaning, and come to help us express aspects of the psyche that may be difficult to put into words.
We find symbols in our daily life and in our dreams. Here are some common examples defined:
Did you know?
THE RIVER
Seen as a life-source, rivers carry potent meanings. They can represent the boundaries between life and death. In Hindu belief, rivers symbolize purification.
ICE AND SNOW
Ice symbolizes coldness, rigidity, and stillness, both in humans and in nature. Therefore, snow as a form of “softer” ice often expresses the return of life. Snow can stand for truth and individuality.
MOUNTAIN
The meeting place of heaven and earth, the mountain symbolizes eternity and our ascent on our life’s journey.
FIRE
Symbolizing passion and energy, fire can represent deep emotion, such as love, or alchemical transformation.
TREE
Wholeness, harmony, and family are reflected in the tree image.
CAVE
When a cave is found in a dream state, it may mean that this is a time of initiation, truth, wisdom, or readiness for going deeper.
DOORWAY or WINDOW
Is the door or window open or closed? Doorways and windows symbolize opportunity, opening, luck, and progress. Have you heard the phrase–“a window of opportunity” or “the door to success”?
Pay attention to the symbols that occur in your dream state and also in your daily life. Record patterns, spend some time journaling, and meditate on their significance as messengers in your life right now!
by Cynthia Bischoff | Feb 28, 2015 | Heartliving
The word “angel” is derived from the Latin “angelus” and the Greek “angelos” meaning “one going” or “one sent,” also “messenger.”
The belief that God sends a spirit to watch over every individual was common in ancient Greek philosophy. In the Middle Ages it was believed that the heavens and the stars and all of the cosmos were alive, full of angels and God. In numerous faiths, angels are mentioned.
Since the beginning of time, angels have delivered God’s messages to humankind. From a spiritual, academic standpoint, angelic messages were primarily intended to provide:
- warnings of impending danger
- instructions as to what to do in a particular situation
- information that angels are there to protect
- joyful announcements.
In metaphysics, angels are said to have great power and long to be made use of, desiring us to call on them to request assistance. So in addition to requesting assistance from the angels, how might we know signs from them?
Signs that the angels are drawing close or making contact include:
- unexpected, intuitive knowledge that comes to you
- an instant feeling of well being or love
- a fragrance in the air like a presence
- a movement of material or physical matter (something is missing and then found)
- a dream in which an important feeling or message is given.
According to some angelologists, the most angelic signature of an angel, however, is the white feather!
Want to learn more about angels, angelic energy and functions, and your guardian angel in particular? Then tune into my radio show, Heartliving with Dr. Cynthia Bischoff, March 1st, 2015 (tomorrow) at 7:00 pm EST, on radio station 1510 am WMEX Boston, or later next week on Dreamvisions 7 Radio.
by Cynthia Bischoff | Feb 21, 2015 | Heartliving
Self-esteem can be seen as the combination of how you perceive yourself and the value you place on the self you see.
You have core self-esteem which is the value you place on yourself at your core, and situational self-esteem which is the value you place on yourself determined by situational factors (work situation at the moment, weight at the moment).
Certain researchers say that core self-esteem is in place by age 4 and is determined by how your caregivers responded to you. No matter what, it is exciting to know that your core self-esteem can be improved. How?
- If you suffer from any thoughts of being a victim, expand your awareness so that you are able to decide that victim consciousness or self-blame is simply toxic now. Let it go.
- Make a nonjudgmental inventory of your talents and strengths and set goals for accepting them and continuing to improve yourself.
- Stop neglecting your own needs to take care of others. Be compassionate and loving, but not disrespecting of yourself.
- Do your very best at any given moment (it will vary depending upon what your circumstances are).
- Remember that positive self-esteem is not created by “all or none” thinking. Allow yourself to risk-take and realize that even seeming “mistakes” can help you grow!
- Let go of the cultural standards of beauty and FEEL your beauty from WITHIN. Offer that as a gift to yourself and everyone around you. People are drawn to others who feel good about themselves.
- Learn to speak about yourself with directness and honesty. Express your integrity through the harmony of what you say and do.
Above all, celebrate your risk-taking and your successes!
by Cynthia Bischoff | Feb 14, 2015 | Heartliving
Treat your heart, body, mind and spirit this Valentine’s Day by enrolling in Heartliving’s March 21st Seminar: “Healing through Body-Mind Awareness.” Seats are filling up quickly and the “Early Bird” discount ends at midnight tonight, so act fast!
This wonderful workshop promises to inform and inspire, teaching you principles related to your body-mind connection. Through lecture about important body-mind information, exercises, and tools to “Heal Your Body,” you will learn:
- Basic Ideas and Principles of Body-Mind Connection
- How Your Body Speaks Your Mind
- Eastern and Western Views on the Body-Mind and Healing
- The Body Beautiful: Parts of the Body and Their Meanings
- The Energetics of Healing & Symptoms and their Intuitive Meanings
- Research Facts about the Body and Healing
- What a Person Can Do to Heal
Healing through Mind-Body Awareness, a one day workshop taught by Dr. Cynthia Bischoff, will be held on March 21, 2015, at the Virginia Beach Resort Hotel & Conference Center, Virginia Beach, VA (on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay)!
Workshop Fee: $140.00 (Early Registration until 2/14 is $130.00– sign up now)
Program Fee includes: Course Materials and Lunch
CEU’s—Continuing Education Units—are available through Old Dominion University for this program.
Ready to give a truly heartfelt gift to yourself or your other favorite person? Register Now!
by Cynthia Bischoff | Jan 31, 2015 | Heartliving
Do you sometimes catch yourself verbalizing thoughts that are self-defeating? Do you hope desperately for something yet limit what you think you deserve, thereby dividing yourself against yourself?
Or do you find yourself able to understand that your thoughts do, in fact, create your reality, yet still feel unable to move your awareness into any conscious action to change?
It is my view that awareness is the first step toward conscious living.
One must understand the dynamics of thought and how our thoughts create our reality. So how do you move through awareness into action? A necessary second step is willingness—that is, the willingness to hold consciousness in the moment toward what you wish to have or be.
For example, I may desire a more loving relationship with my spouse. My desire may not be congruent with my thoughts. Throughout the day, I may be lamenting that I do not have a loving relationship and focusing on the lack and the desire.
So what can you do to align your thoughts with the reality that you wish to create?
- Begin to act as though you already are what and where you would like to be. Concentrate less on the behavior and more on your thoughts.
- Stop yourself from verbalizing or thinking thoughts that are self-defeating. Bring your awareness back to the present and remind yourself that you are your thoughts.
- Use the power of visualization to support your conscious thoughts.
- See yourself manifesting what you desire. If you wish to be out of debt, visualize yourself out of debt. Add an affirmation that you repeat consciously each day: “I am free of debt” OR “I draw wealth to myself.” Choose words that resonate for you and that match your positive visualization.
- Marvel at all the wealth you actually have—water, air, food, sun, clothes, shelter, friends, love, laughter. If you find yourself lamenting over what you do not have, remind yourself of two things you do have. A wonderful thing happens when you delight in how really wealthy you are—more and more of what you want and need flows to you.
- Above all, be willing to do whatever it takes to make your visualization happen.
You may find it helpful to use the Heartliving mantra: “Ask the universe for what you need. Visualize yourself receiving it. Know that you will receive it. For you are worthy.”
