Let’s update our language.

How about we stop using hyped-up war-based language. Is anyone else fed up with “the war on…” well, pretty much everything, like war on drugs, war on poverty, war on cancer, war on erectile dysfunction, war on bad breath?

I’m particularly weary of the use of the word “revolution” which is just a fancy word for war or going around in circles, which is what warring does, often with on-going revenge, retaliation and strife.

I’ve decided I’m not going to join any more “revolutions” no matter how well intentioned they may be.

We all know how important words are; they comfort or wound, help us connect or shut us down. Instead of revolutions, I propose we come together and JOIN THE REVELATION.

What’s a revelation?

1. A surprising and previously unknown fact, especially one that is made known in a dramatic way; the making known of something that was previously a secret or unknown; used to emphasize the surprising or remarkable quality of someone or something.
2. The divine or supernatural disclosure to humans of something relating to human existence or the world.
3. A pleasant, often enlightening surprise; an act of revealing to view or making known.

May you recognize and develop your creative-intuitive mind to reduce stress, drama and trauma while engaging each moment with creative clarity.

Here’s to daily Revelations,

Thought you might like some fun valentine factoids to help keep love flowing today:

1. Around 3,500 B.C., during the times of the Sumerians (they invented writing), a love poem to the goddess Inanna, known as the Queen of Heaven and Earth, was written in a clay tablet. It’s the oldest surviving love poem – can you imagine how long it took to write?

2. The oldest known Valentine was sent in 1415 A.D. by the Duke of Orleans to his French wife who was imprisoned in the Tower of London. It’s still on display in a museum in England.

3. In the Middle Ages, young men and women would draw names from a bowl to see who their valentine would be, then they would wear this name on their sleeve for a week. Today, when we show people how we feel, we’re said to “wear our heart on our sleeve.”

4. In 1913 Hallmark started making Valentine’s Cards! And, now, about 1 billion Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged every year.

5. About 3% of pets receive gifts on Valentine’s Day. Although when I was in the pet store, making sure my wonder-dog Koko didn’t run out of peanut butter flavored Gooberlicious treats, it looked like every pet in America will get a present.

6. Besides the U.S., Canada, Mexico, France, U.K. and Australia also celebrate Valentine’s Day.

7. Ah! FLOWERS! You probably can guess that February 14th is the busiest single day of the year for florists (followed by Mother’s Day).

8. And speaking of flowers, about 15% of women in the U.S. send themselves flowers for Valentine’s Day. Good for all those women who know they deserve flowers!

Although I didn’t officially send myself flowers, you can bet I have sweet, brightly colored, fragrant flowers I bought for myself and arranged with joy. They travel throughout the day: in my healing studio when I work, my kitchen when I cook, and in my bedroom at night.

So let’s remember to think about all the people, animals, plants and places we love…and also remember it’s okay to wear that love on our sleeves.

Your intuitive valentine,

Karen Lamark Wilson

You and I connect today through the Power of Ones (1-11-11).

Sacred geometry and numerology show us that the number One carries the power of initiation, inspiration and new beginnings.

I’d love you to join me in using today’s powerful energy to start our new decade with Fierce Loving. 2011 is a year of Fierce Love for Self, Others, the World and the World Behind the World.

One simple way to look at 2011 is that it is a “4″ year (2+0+1+1=4). The number four carries energy of balance and stability like a square. It also carries energy of completion, like going around the medicine wheel or listening to wisdom from the four winds, or four main directions.

How does it work to be fierce and loving at the same time? It’s a paradox to be sure but it makes perfect sense to our heart(s) when we see the balance it brings us.

First, we must be careful not to confuse Fierceness with Hostility. They are very different and distinct.

Our natural, warm, instinct for freedom, assertion and expression as well as the desire to defend our life and others is in our genes, but hostility is learned in families. Early in life we can learn how to shame, repress, ignore, ridicule, turn our back, bully, make nasty remarks, pretend, go passive, and give mixed messages through sarcasm. As scholar and poet Robert Bly says, “The instinctual heat of fierceness we possess at birth; the coldness of hostility we learn in the family.“

Fierceness has to do with an ability to show up authentically, not an ability to overpower or oppress. Very often we learned to be “good girls” and “good boys” and either became afraid of assertiveness (if being “good” worked) or we abuse aggression (if no matter what we did we were never “good” enough).

Everyone needs heat/vitality of fierceness at times. Not all heat is anger…sometimes it’s passionate LIFE.

For example:

• Friends and colleagues need fierceness to honestly and calmly tell each other their needs.
• Adolescents, moving from childhood toward adulthood, need a healthy sense of fierceness to navigate the pull of peer pressure.
• Parents need fierceness every day to navigate modern entitlement demands of their children.
• Lovers need fierceness to show up as their unique self, transforming fear of abandonment into the strength of authentic vulnerability and commitment.
• Creative people in every walk of life need fierceness to dream big and take their dream into the world.

Soon I’ll send information regarding classes, learning circles and our retreat, so keep your eye open. For today, I just want to invite you to add your energy/intention with mine for an amazing 2011 filled with fierce love.

Heart to Heart,

We would love to hear from you!

As we celebrate you into 2011.

What were some of your:

1. Positives

2. Joys

3. Growths

4. And Wins

We honor, celebrate and reflect with you from 2010 into 2011!

Heart to Heart,

Karen

NEW YEAR!

No matter what we face in life, no matter how wonderful or how tough, there is one quality, one characteristic that allows us to be authentic as we move forward: Courage.

NEW VIEW!

The Perspective Cleanse – which some of you participated in with me recently – made such a huge impact on me, too! I’ve re-shaped the structure of my business to align more authentically with where I am in my life right now.

NEW LOOK!

It’s time to bring the two beautiful wings of my work – Heart of Courage and True Intuition Academy – together for ease of access and delivery of information. My super-fab team is happily at work creating www.KarenLamarkWilson.com as a new integrated and organized home and blog site so this two-winged butterfly can soar.

NEW VITALITY!

I’m so excited to be synthesizing a lifetime of research and experience into manageable, useful learning modules for you. The Perspective Cleanse is the first course. It’s extremely affordable, at $47 for 21 days and gives you (and friends/clients/family) a taste of what’s to come. To sign up now, click here!

If you ever feel any sting, irritation or melancholy around the holiday season that fast approaches, here’s an almost magical Trick to shift your energy: Appreciation.

During our best moments, as Thanks-Giving rolls around, we’re grateful for what we have, for the people in our lives and for our capacity to be of use in the world.

During less-than-stellar moments, holidays can hurt. They might remind you of losses or maybe you feel forced to visit people you haven’t forgiven. Or maybe you’ve forgiven but it’s not wise to forget your energy boundaries.

Wanting to be mature and take the highroad, you might decide to endure a visit and, like someone told me yesterday, “just get through dinner as pleasantly as possible and leave.”

If full-on gratitude-for-everything feels like a stretch, or if you feel yourself going phony in a relationship, remember this quote from a wise fellow being:

“Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is
excellent in others belong to us as well.” ~ Anonymous

There are two levels of this trick. On an elementary or external level, pick out something “positive” about the person, focus on that and you’ll probably have a better time.

On a deeper or more intuitive level, try this:
If you find that you want to retreat during the holidays or you want to overindulge, which is another way of retreating or not being present, I encourage you to try this: Pause for Appreciation.

A sense of appreciation is always gentle and immediate. It opens you inwardly into higher quality energy. Soften your eyes/seeing and ears/hearing while you tune into the present moment effortlessly. Vibratory energy exchange automatically expands.

For example: If you’ve been dreading being with Aunt Susie who constantly finds fault with everyone, by softening your perspective you’ll actually notice/sense something to appreciate about her. Maybe she’s a momentary reflection of your own inner critic and a reminder to stop judging yourself so harshly. Maybe you pick up on her loneliness and in a flash your patience renews.

Intuitive Intelligence™ Tip:

Softening perspective means softening your body – literally.
When your shoulders, hands, jaw and eyes soften, new immediate sensory experience becomes available to you. It does NOT mean to analyze her, blame her history or make up another story about why Aunt Susie behaves as she does.

Quality energy exchange, intuition, appreciation, gratitude and great relationships are all inside jobs – we’ll never find them sitting around outside us.

• What is your holiday tip for this year?
• Do you follow your own kind of appreciation, gratitude or specific attitude ritual?

Share with us below! We’d love to hear.

Have a great Holiday week of Appreciation!

Heart to heart,
Karen

A poem for all new born children…

may we never be too far away from the wonder, miracle, and magic of Life.

Moonlit Children

Moonlit children, here anew, stars rising as you sleep
Reflect illumination of sweet promises you’ll keep.
Depth of heart will one day stir, sensing why you’ve come,
Slumbering soul awakens, transforming all to One.

Soft as duckling down, tender as youth’s tears,
Life transmits Her loving call, patient through long years,
Waiting for each one of you to open wide your eyes,
To turn around and see Her face, to finally realize,

Yes, time reconfigures, appearances rearrange,
Endless soul through matter dances, constant playful change.
So while you nap, rest easy, O children of the night,
For final dreams of unity unleash your second sight.

Then you’ll see, just like the dawn, there’s nothing to amend,
Each breath, each pulse is precious – receive Life, She’s your friend.

Heart to Heart,
Karen Lamark Wilson