On Motherhood and Manifesting

May 12, 2013

Dear Friends,

In the United States, the second Sunday in May is Mother’s Day. That’s the day we celebrate the women in our lives who conceived us, gave birth to us, and nurtured us as we began to establish our own individual identities in the world.

As I contemplate the beauty of motherhood on this special day, I can't help but notice the similarity between motherhood and manifesting. What similarity, exactly?

Well, as I have mentioned many times before, you are an innately creative being. No matter how happy and fulfilled you are, you will always be conceiving of things you want to have, do, or be in your life. Through your words and your actions you will constantly be giving birth to your ideas—to your desires, goals, and dreams. And by giving them your love and attention, you will continually be in the process of nurturing your creations—of helping them to grow into full expression.

In other words, whether you are male or female, whether you have brought a child into this world or not, in many respects you are—at the core of your being—a mother . . . someone who is divinely designed to bring something new and beautiful into this world.

As you pay tribute to your mother (or mothers), and to all the mothers living in the world around you, I invite you to take a moment to also honor the mother that exists within you. Take a moment to celebrate that motherly part of you that is an open chamber for receiving divine ideas, and an open channel for bringing those beautiful ideas into the world, and giving them life.

Here's to the joy of motherhood! And here's to the peace that comes from knowing that the whole universe is willing to help you with that wonderful and immensely fulfilling work.

Happy Day, Mother!

Steven

© 2013 by Steven Lane Taylor
www.rowrowrow.com
Steven Lane Taylor, LLC

A Mother's Day Gift

May 13, 2012

Dear Friends,

A few years ago, I wrote a special message for Mother’s Day, which I have been reprising every May since then. The point of this annual message is to remind you about the similarities between motherhood and manifesting. What similarities, exactly? 

Well, as I often mention in these messages, you are a divinely creative being. No matter how happy and fulfilled you are, you will always be conceiving of things you want to have, do, or be in life . . . just as a mother conceives her children.  Through your words and your actions you will constantly be giving birth to your ideas . . . just as a mother gives birth to her children.  And, by giving your ideas your time, attention, and love, you will continually be nurturing your creations—of helping them to grow into full expression . . . just as a mother nurtures her children as they mature.

In other words, whether you are male or female, whether you have brought a child into this world or not, in many respects you are—at the core of your being—a mother . . . someone who is divinely designed to bring something new and beautiful into this world.  And this year, I would like to celebrate your “motherhood” by offering you a Mother’s Day gift.  It’s an Affirmation of Creativity that “wrote itself through me” in 2002. 

I trust that you will find this set of affirmative statements to be helpful, especially if you are having trouble fully accepting the idea that you are—by your very nature—divinely creative.

An Affirmation of Creativity

I am creative.

I can be nothing else.

To create is my natural state.

It is who I am as a Child of God, The Great Creator.

And thus, creativity is my inheritance,

my birthright, and my inescapable nature.

Being creative is not something I do,

but something I allow.

My job is simply to be an open channel

for the Universal Mind of The Divine

to express itself.

I keep the channel open

by eliminating the false fears of ego

that block my connection to Divine inspiration.

All that is required of me is desire and faith.

I renew my faith with memories

of all the times the Creative Mind of God

has suddenly and surprisingly

spoken to me and through me.

And I recognize that the fears of my ego mind,

although seemingly ceaseless,

are totally unfounded.

I am creative.

I can be nothing else.

And I now go about the work

of gratefully fulfilling

my creative destiny.

Steven

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© 2012 by Steven Lane Taylor

www.rowrowrow.com 
Steven Lane Taylor,LLC

Creativity and The Divine Flow

February 26, 2012

Dear Friends,

As I often mention, your intuition is the most valuable, reliable, and consistent source of divine guidance that you have in life. Your intuition is your inner Spirit speaking to you. And the very best way to enhance your ability to “hear” the voice of your Spirit is through a daily practice of meditation. Meditation quiets your mind, creating gaps between your thoughts. And it is through those gaps that the wisdom of your Spirit is able to make its way into the world.

The trouble is, many people have difficulty meditating—let alone, meditating on a daily basis. Just like a fitness regimen, meditating consistently requires a fair amount of discipline, and there are many things that can disrupt a daily meditation routine, such as illness, travel, and so on.

So, the question is this: Is there anything else that you can do to enhance your ability to be open and receptive to intuitive guidance? Yes, there is. You can nurture your innate creative nature. You may not realize it, but creativity and intuition are intimately joined, because they both spring from the same ultimate Source. That Source is the Universal Mind of the Divine, and your Spirit is an individual expression of that Mind.

In other words, just as your Spirit is your direct connection to divine guidance, it is also your connection to divine ideas—the kind of insights and inspiration we call “creative.” Anything you can do to enhance your creative abilities will, at the same time, enhance your intuitive abilities.

Although some people have no problem fully expressing their creative nature, others—for a variety of reasons—are a bit inhibited in that area. If you feel that you are in the latter group, here are eight suggestions to help you elevate your creativity.

1. Identify something that needs a creative solution in your life, and stay focused on that. Perhaps there is something creative you want to write, or something creative you want to build. Maybe you need a creative way to solve a personal problem, or a creative way to handle a business issue.

2. Thoroughly contemplate your project or problem for a while. Consider any and all options, and don’t rule out anything. But then, stop thinking about it and go do something else. For a few hours, or even a few days, take your mind off of your creative pursuit. Remember that you cannot effectively “think” your way to a truly creative solution. Your goal is to create an open mental environment, so a divinely inspired idea has some room to arise in your consciousness on its own.

3. Add a little variety to your life. Meet new people. Read new books. Try new foods. Vary your daily routine. When you are open to new things coming into your life, you will also be open to new ideas and concepts occurring to you.

4. Exercise. Because of the mind and body’s close connection, exercise not only keeps the body flexible, it also keeps the mind flexible.

5. Listen to the music that inspires you the most. Whether it’s ethereal or energetic, you have probably already identified what kind of music is more conducive to your creativity.

6. Find the best place to be creative. For all of us, there are special places that just make us “feel” creative. It might be a quiet corner in a cozy room, a bench in a garden, or a hilltop that overlooks the countryside. Where is your special place?

7. Find the best time to be creative. Some people are more open to inspiration at 4 o’clock in the morning. Not me! I am at my creative best between 7 a.m. and noon. Others I know are night owls, getting their best ideas from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. What time of day do you feel especially clear-headed?

8. If possible, go to your special place at your special time daily. In my third suggestion, I said that variety enhances creativity. And it does. But when you also have a particular time and place that is devoted exclusively to creative endeavors, your mind gets conditioned to that time and place, and a more creative mind-set is automatically “triggered.”

Please understand that the above suggestions are not meant to be a replacement for a daily practice of meditation. I still consider meditation to be the most effective way of elevating your intuitive abilities. However, short of that, nurturing your creative nature is also a very good way to open yourself up to the guidance of your Spirit. And opening yourself up to divine direction is a must, if you want to live life in the divine flow and fulfill your heart’s desires effortlessly.

Steven

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© 2012 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Steven Lane Taylor, LLC

Your Creative Spirit

October 9, 2011

Dear Friends,

Like most people in the world, I was deeply saddened by the premature passing of Steve Jobs. Not since the death of John Lennon have I felt this kind of loss. It reminded me how much I value creative expression, and how much I admire those who tap into that inner source of pure inspiration, and pursue their dreams with both passion and patience.

There are those who point out that Steve Jobs was best at improving products that already existed. Perhaps so. But the innovations he introduced went way beyond tweaks and nudges. He had a way of looking at commonplace things like phones and music players and seeing their possibilities in radically new and inventive ways.

I think Steve Jobs is a wonderful example of how creative we can be, inspiring each of us to live our lives to their fullest creative potential. What’s that you say? You’re not creative? I beg to differ. As an individual expression of what many call “The Great Creator,” you are—at the heart of your being—nothing less than a Divine Creator in your own right. Creativity is as much a part of your innate nature as love is.

You don’t have to be an author, a painter, a musician, or an inventor to express your divinely creative nature. Everything in life can be used as a creative outlet. Whether you are decorating a house, raising a family, landscaping a yard, or developing a new business, nothing satisfies the soul more than creating something new in this world that didn’t exist before.

The challenge is letting go of all those limiting thoughts about yourself—and your perceived potential—that are confining you. Remember that your combination of talents, gifts and abilities is unlike anyone else’s . . . and you have something unique to contribute to this world in a way that absolutely nobody else can. Your job is to quiet your mind long enough to hear that inner creative Spirit that speaks to you through your intuition, and blesses you with divine insights and inspiration.

To quote Steve Jobs, himself:

“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma—which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

Here’s to quieting your mind, following your heart, and becoming an open channel for divine ideas to make their way into the world. Thank you, Steve, for reminding us what that looks like.

Steven

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© 2011 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Steven Lane Taylor, LLC

The Estate of Your Spirit

August 28, 2011

Dear Friends,

One of the things that Carol and I enjoy doing in Sedona is going to estate sales. Because of the large senior population in Sedona, there is an estate sale here almost every weekend.

From a strictly practical standpoint, Carol and I save a lot of money by going to these sales. There is usually something at these sales that we really need, and more often than not, that item is either brand new or in pristine condition. We have found everything from a large patio set, to a bee-proof hummingbird feeder, to a chiminea . . . plus lots of standard—but useful—household items.

You can’t help but feel like you are “in the flow” when something you intended to buy at a retail outlet shows up at an estate sale at a fraction of the cost. But that’s not what this message is about.

Attending these sales is fun, yes, but it can also be a bittersweet experience. It is quite obvious that the owners of these estates have had to severely downsize. Some have moved into assisted living centers. Some have moved into nursing facilities. But most have left this planet altogether. Although family members have removed all of the really personal items—such as framed family photos—so much remains behind, it often feels like the former residents have just stepped outside for a quick walk around the block.

There is a popular saying that goes, “You can’t take it with you.” And the truth of that statement is glaringly apparent when you attend an estate sale. However—and this is the point I am getting to—just because you can’t take it with you, is no reason to refrain from acquiring it in the first place.

It’s true that most of us tend to accumulate too much “stuff” throughout our lives. I still remember George Carlin’s hilarious comedy routine about our “stuff.” And yes, too much “stuff” can become a burden, and it can be financially irresponsible, too. Some people, in fact, cross the line from collecting into hoarding, and that’s a very real problem. But that’s not what I mainly see when I attend these estate sales.

By and large, what is usually on display at these sales is artwork of all kinds, and exotic items acquired in far-off places. There are beautiful paintings, unique statuettes, and creatively fashioned furniture and musical instruments. There are masks from Africa, glass vases from Italy, and tapestries from China.

What I see when I look at these things is not just a bunch of “stuff.” What I see is a record of what that person’s Divine Inner Spirit experienced in its time here on Earth. What I sense is that person’s Spirit saying, “Look at all the interesting places I visited while I was here! Look at the beauty I was able to see, acquire, and enjoy on a daily basis!”

It’s easy to look at all the things that someone collects, and draw the conclusion that this person was overly materialistic. But you know what? As the popular singer/songwriter called Sting once sang, “We are Spirits in the material world!” And I, for one, believe that the material world is a source of great joy to the Spirit within.

As an individual expression of what is sometimes called, “The Great Creator,” your Spirit is in this life to create, and to appreciate creativity in all of its various forms. When I see a man who has a great love for his classic car, for example, I don’t see a man obsessed with a material object. I see the Spirit of that man appreciating a beautiful sculpture that has been formed out of metal . . . a sculpture that moves . . . and a sculpture that can take you to places on this planet you have never been to before. I see the Spirit of that man enjoying the experience of being alive and in this physical world.

So, dear friends, can you accumulate too much “stuff” in life. You bet. Can you become too attached to some of that “stuff?” Certainly. It almost goes without saying that it is very important for you to not let your possessions possess you. And it is wise to keep a close eye on that potential issue, and clear out those things that you don’t really need, or no longer appreciate. But, that said, don’t be too hard on yourself about what you choose to hold on to . . . especially if it is mostly cherished artwork or treasured souvenirs from your wonderful trip to planet Earth.

Steven

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© 2011 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Steven Lane Taylor, LLC

A Journey to the Center of the Earth

June 6, 2010

Dear Friends,

This week I have a question for you: What’s at the center of the Earth? If you give that question a little thought, you will realize that there is more than one answer.

From a strictly physical standpoint, the answer could be that there is a core of solid iron at the center of the Earth, which is surrounded by an outer core of iron that’s molten.

From a purely spiritual viewpoint, the answer could be “God”—especially if God is understood to be an all-pervading intelligent energy that exists within and throughout everything in the universe.

But neither of those answers is the one that I was looking for. I was actually talking about the word, “Earth,” and what is found at the center of that particular word.

Have you ever noticed that right smack dab in the middle of EARTH is ART? For me, that’s significant, because it helps remind me that our journey here on Earth is meant to be a creative experience.

Like I mentioned recently, we are innately creative beings. As individual expressions of what many call “The Great Creator,” we are, in fact, nothing less than Divine Creators in our own right. And Earth is the canvas upon which we express ourselves.

Earth is where we—as spiritual beings—have the opportunity to take ideas that originate in spirit, and go about the process of giving those ideas physical form. And when we go about that creative process thoughtfully—with the conscious intention to bring more beauty, harmony, love, joy, and understanding into the world—we are doing more than just manifesting something materially, we are producing works of art . . . sacred art, no less.

Whether we are writing books or building homes, painting landscapes or engineering bridges, composing songs or inventing businesses, carving sculptures or raising families, nothing satisfies our souls more than bringing something new and beautiful into the world that wasn’t there before.

To quote a short poem I wrote way back in 1977:

Art for art’s sake.
Art for the heart’s sake.
For God’s sake, art.

Here’s to the divine artist within you, me, and all of us.

Steven

© 2010 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com