Azure Dawn: Live, Love and Laugh.

Be your own Light

2010-10-07T14:24:00Z

Oh no...here we go again. Another lay-off...another relationship that has soured...Another argument with my teenager...Another...Another...Another....

Life can be full of enrichment, rewards, blessings, surprises, learning lessons and fulfilled desires. It can also have it's fair share of ego slashers, redundant tests, repeated disappointments and heartbreaking circumstances. It is interesting how the horrible stuff that takes place sticks out in our minds the most once another set-back takes place. We begin to play the old tapes in our minds that help propel our feelings of worthlessness.

" None of your relationships work because you are too needy."

" Your children have bratty behavior because you were not a good mom/dad when they were younger."

" You lost another job because you are not a team player."

There is a difference between self evaluation and self attack. We do have to take accountability for ourselves and the roles we play in the way our lives have panned out. We can not put on blinders, either, by totally 100% blaming someone or something else for all that ails us, however, finding that middle ground is key.

Self evaluation is trying to see how you, yourself, could have enhanced a situation, made it better or worse and a basic over-view of your behavior and thought processes as it pertains to it's direct influence over your life, hence the final results.

Self attack is when you kick yourself when you are down. It is counter-productive.

Instead of saying to yourself, " Okay, my partner and I broke up. I did not like that he'she was rarely home, did not help enough with chores etc. However, me starting arguments with them all the time most likely did not help. I should have handled this differently." - for the person that is attacking themselves, this sounds more like:

" You are a loser and an idiot. You are always running off at the mouth. So what they left the house a mess, at least you had someone that loved you! Now you have no one! Who is going to want to be with someone like you?!"

When we face difficult times, we have to be our own cheerleader, our own counselor...our own LIGHT. It is wonderful if we have friends and family that support us through these hard times, but no one knows you like you, and until YOU are ready to self evaluate and heal, what other people say may take the sting away, but the burn is still there. We have to allow healing in our hearts, minds, bodies and spirits. We have to be our own light, at the end of that tunnel. We have to encourage ourselves to do better, work harder, improve and love ourselves. Believe it or not, you truly do have more control than you sometimes realize, even when the chips are down.

God Bless!

Azure Dawn

R.E.S.P.E.C.T find out what it means to me!

2010-08-02T14:21:00Z

The other night I was out for a casual evening of dining with my husband and our young baby. It was a chain restaurant that we typically abhor however over the past few months; we noticed an abundance of individuals and families waiting patiently to receive a table at this particular restaurant. We joked, “They must have improved.” We never thought we’d actually go after past bad experiences at various locations but figured, WHAT THE HAY! That was over 7 years ago for me and almost 10 years for my husband. Surely things are different now! We decide rather spur of the moment while going over our dinner options for that evening, that we are going to give this restaurant a try. I slip on my sandals, anklet and change purses ensuring that the diaper bag is stocked with my little one’s special and needed items. One more brush of my hair, Daddy has the car keys and we are out the door. We walk in and there is standing room only. We take a quick quiet eye tour of the premises. I notice that the restaurant is not non-smoking, so we cover our little one’s face with the canopy of his car seat. We finally get a seat in the tiny booth. We had already perused the menu and ignored the fact that it was ultra amplified in the restaurant. The music was loud as well as the people.

Normally, neither of us would have been phased by this but we wanted a more relaxing dinner that night and this ambiance, or lack there of, was not providing that. Despite that, we were ready to order and things for the most part were going okay. Our waitress comes to our table. Me being an Empath, I typically have this ‘feature of my psychic remote control’ turned off during episodes of leisure. She ‘came through’ anyway. I could immediately sense that something was amiss with this young lady. Her nature was very friendly, but her spirit came through to me as quite manic. I smiled politely and listened to her and my husband did the same. When she’d leave our table after ‘awkward small talk’ we would just look at each other briefly, then continue on with whatever it was we were doing or saying. I had begun to notice that other people that had come in later were getting their food. Because I had felt this woman- our waitress’ energy, I knew it was not intentional and made it a point to not ‘stir the beehive’. She offered her apologies and soon the food was presented. She fluttered to our table manically from time to time, like a wounded moth. Sometimes, she’d have compliments galore and a big smile. Other times, she looked highly offended and off put- not with us specifically, but her energy kept shift-changing. She’d come to the table and say, “If you treat me nice, I treat you nice!” and things like, “I like lots of cheese I will give you lots of cheese!!!” after my husband kept politely waving to her to stop. With her, she felt like a broken hearted child to me that needed tending to. I then had begun to notice how she was snubbed by the other staff. I saw how they would look when she’d turn away, the faces they’d make and their general responses to her. She was not respected and I could tell already, her co-workers thought she was ‘odd’ and ‘annoying’. I could tell something was going to happen. Her energy was teetering. At one point, she stated to us, “Some people are really mean! I am sure you work with mean people?” (((Looking at me))). I smiled and said, “ Well, I work from home typically.” She then said, “ Well I am sure you get mean people on the phone!” I did not go into the fact that I am I a life coach as well as director of marketing for a small company, Instead I just said, “ Yes, from time to time I do have to speak to someone that is very angry and I unfortunately get the brunt of that.” This has happened to me in Corporate America as well as my Life Coaching. No ‘job’ is immune to this. She then went into a tirade regarding mean people vs. nice people. I just looked up at her- no longer interested in her words, but WHERE they were coming from. I made the room get silent as she continued to rattle on. I tapped into her and knew that there was a hormonal imbalance- like manic depression or bi-polar. I searched her- she was very open and my heart sank for her. Again, I knew that something else was about to happen before our visit was over. My infant son, whom I also believe is psychic and typically on his best behavior, was feeding off of her and begun to scream until he was red in the face. He is teething, so it does not take much as of late, but this was not common for him. I knew what was going on. He could ‘feel’ her too, and responded as such. My husband and I spent the majority of our time trying to keep him entertained. He was not in the typical soothing environment his parents provided- full of mild and sweet colors and scents, calm cooing, spirited but gentle playing with songs and puppets as well as the Pooh swing to relax his cares away. Mommy’s energy was mixed, Daddy was annoyed, and this ‘moth’ kept fluttering over causing him confusion. He was in the mist of a volcano.

Sure enough, we waited for an eternity to have our left overs packed up. My husband and I typically give ‘gentle nudges’ when things like this happen but he just followed my cue to NOT disturb this woman. Though we had an ancy baby and I myself was unnerved due to the energy around me, I knew that I needed to be quiet and be still. She dropped some boxes off, begun boxing and ran off again manically. She left the bill and

barked, “ Please don’t steal my pen! I can not afford to have another pen taken!” My eyes grew large at that point as my husband shot me a look of, “ How dare she!”

Now we reach explosion time…the waitress returns to our table, her eyes watering up. She says, “ You have been very nice to me. Most people aren’t nice to me!” she breaks down crying. I look down at my lemon wedge floating in the luke warm water with just one or two slithers of paper thin ice keeping it company. I know that she just needs this moment. She continues. She returns back and thanks my husband for packing up the rest of our food on her behalf. We have so many boxes that I ask very kindly for a bag. She was quite annoyed at this request, but I did not take it personally. I understood that this is a woman who has been fighting her entire life to be happy and she had no idea what was “wrong” with her nor was she being given any respect. She then returns and her make-up is ruined. It is tear streaked and she breaks down at our table. Apparently, in her disorganization and manic racing around, a customer paid in cash. She left that book with the cash and tip somewhere and when she returned, it was gone. She asked us if she had left it on our table and we of course answered no. That caused more waterworks. She thanked us again for being so nice to her and explained that one of her co-workers had stolen her money and it was not the first time it had happened. Apparently she believed that she had brought it to her cash register, set it down, mad-dashed somewhere else and upon her return, it was gone. My heart just sunk. It truly sunk for her. Here was the ‘grand finale’ her energy was telling me about. She explained that her boss basically told her it was coming out of her check. I told her that I was very sorry about what had happened and we ‘patted her back’ and soothed her by leaving a generous tip before leaving the restaurant.

I have discussed this incident because for so many of us, psychics included, we sometimes leap to conclusions. On the surface, this waitress would appear flighty, unorganized, at times rude and basically just not very good at her profession. However, underneath was a tortured soul truly trying to do the best she could. We all have really bad days sometimes. Many of us are not suffering from manic depression, bi-polar disorders etc. but we have a bad day that may cause us to ‘look’ unstable to a person that did not know us. This woman dealt with this day in day out. I am sure many of her customers felt she was simply not on top of her game, annoying and quite frankly, strange. I am so glad that I was at least this one time even though I had it ‘turned off’ able to see the trouble this woman was enduring. I have done it- we all have. We often make judgments about people and we know NOTHING about what they are going through and what brought them to that point. Very few people on the planet actually enjoy being upset. We don’t just wake up and say, “ I am going to be angry today and start crying and blubbering in front of strangers! Sounds like a great plan to me!” Therefore, the state she was in was not by her own choice. My prayer for her is that she is able to receive comfort from loving friends and family, receive some therapeutic mental health intervention as well as know that someone cares about her and thinks she is a fabulous person, DESPITE her challenges. We as readers sometimes receive calls from people with mental illnesses. Sometimes the person does not have a mental illness, but is having a VERY bad day which causes them to be temporarily unstable. We all know that these people are typically very hard to read because their energy is scattered and all over the place but every now and again, you get someone like this- who is literally spiritually BEGGING for help but has no idea where to find it. Even though she did not know it, her spirit knew I would understand- so she tapped me on my shoulder even though I was ‘closed’ for the day. This situation also reminds me that I must say my special prayers before each call that I take and to try to truly treat everyone with respect and dignity. Despite her limitations, that is really all this woman wanted- to be treated with some respect.

Be blessed everyone.

Azure Dawn

You have two minutes to fix my life. READY...SET...GO!

2010-06-13T13:21:00Z

For some reason, this topic popped into my mind yesterday afternoon. I have been blessed and very fortunate to have many clients that trust me to do the very best I can and allow me the room to do so. This is a blog about having time to work as well as what we as readers, need from our clients in order to give you the best reading we can, possible. Without further ado, let's begin.

As a professional reader who is also caring, I can understand that all of us understand that time is the one thing many of us do not have enough of. Time is also the one thing, once lost can never be returned or regained. You can get an ex-boyfriend/girlfriend back sometimes. You can stop a foreclosure under the right circumstances. You can go back to school, and get the degree you did not pursue for whatever reason 10 years ago but time will never return to you unless it is in a different life time. There are no magical potions, bellowing out green cast clouds of smoke beckoning you to drink their bitter nectar in order to receive the physical benefits of a more youthful you. I have been on both sides. I have had readings done on my behalf and have given them. I understand the needs of a client/customer and the needs of the Advisor. I understand sometimes, due to monetary issues and time constraints the need to be on and off the phone quickly. This however, is not what is usually best if you are honestly calling to receive help.

I, under the pressure in the past, would sometimes come across the phone client who had invested 2-3 minutes for a reading and is anticipating all of their questions to be answered completely in that time frame. I would be in the middle of addressing one question and then another question would come flying at me, (because they heard the 'one minute left' lady) before I was able to reveal all the aspects of the one prior. It was problematic for me as well as frustrating, and I do not allow that to happen anymore. I am not a time waster. I do not have huge pauses etc., but I do need time to 'get inside' of the issue. The client will wish to have no confusion afterward nor be left hanging and essentially, a comprehensive, informative professional reading is supposed to follow those guidelines and aid in the individual having more information than when they initially called you. However, one must consider quality over quantity. If you cram say, 5 questions into 3 minutes, unless they are quick yes/no answers to non-complicated questions like, " Do you think green looks good on a redhead? I have an interview tomorrow." , then you are putting yourself and your reader at a disadvantage. You are pressuring your Advisor to deliver quality goods under harsh working conditions. It is like handing a person one stick of butter and expecting them to make a five-tier wedding cake. There is no flour, no sugar...nothing. Advisors are not magicians. Some Advisors specialize in quick 'Yes'/'No' answers. Many times these readers work with a pendulum or it is just their style. However, the majority of clients that contact me, do not want just a one word answer so I need to be allowed to conduct the reading in the style in which I do- so that it can be of benefit to you. You will not like every Advisor's style. You will not like every Advisor's approach. However, most Advisors that you speak to, will need time to assess your question and answer it.

Let me give you an example. Let's say you, as a client, are having issues with your car. You drive it to a reputable mechanic. You saw an ad for him or her in the paper, on television, the radio etc. You have heard from a couple people/read that this particular mechanic was able to assist them with their car trouble. After you pull up with your vehicle/or the tow truck does, first, the mechanic is going to want to know your name, for you to give a brief description of what the issue is (in a keen caller's world this is the specific question you have) and will want your key. (In order to unlock and lock the car, start it up to listen to it's current condition as well as drive it into the area in which he or she will look at it.- this 'key' is you giving permission and being open to having a reading. It is you being honest, fourth-coming and a client willing to allow the reader to review your problem. It is your consent.) Once you tell the mechanic the issue, such as, " It is making an odd noise. It shakes as I drive it. I had it fixed once before (our relationship was better) but now it is doing it again. (He/She and I are on the outs again.)." You care about your car and want the car, or you would not be there to have it fixed. You have taken time out of your schedule and are about to invest money, to have this situation at the least, looked at so that you can gain a different perspective and receive answers.You...need...help.

The mechanic may ask you a few questions for clarification. This does not mean he is inept (not psychic) simply because he/she asks some questions to better understand. The mechanic may ask, " How long have you had this car? (How long have you been in love with so and so?) Was there a previous owner?" (I feel there was a very involved ex-wife/ex-husband, is this true?) etc.

The mechanic will then drive the car into the shop, pop the hood and look under neath. The mechanic has a general idea, based on your comments, and what they need to look for but that is just the tip of the iceberg. Due to their training and skill level, they are going to check in areas you did not even think about. They are going to take things apart, put it back, check on parts, know information regarding the history and reputation of that car type and model that you may not. They will discover other issues you had not even seen, or problems that may arise should you not get A,B and C fixed or even may tell you, " IT'S NOT AS BAD AS YOU THINK! A part was loose." This all begins AFTER the initial assessment. You would never just take your car to a shop and not tell the mechanic why the car is there- so do not expect to call an Advisor and simply say, " I need a reading." with no further information. Even if it is just for a tune-up, we need to know that.

This is why specific questions, honesty and integrity are essential to helping us get a 'clear line' to you. That is another blog for another time, but I needed to get that out there. So, once the mechanic looks under the hood, under neath etc. he or she will walk back out to you and tell you what they believe the issue may be. This then requires you to sit and listen so that you fully understand. If you do not understand, then you will need to ask clarifying questions. Then, the mechanic will let you know what they wish to do in order to fix your car (problem)- this is the same as our answer- only we are giving you information so that you have your own TOOLS to help fix your situation. The mechanic, with your permission, will proceed forward and afterward, you will pick up your car. Sometimes, the problem will arise again and you will need to return to the mechanic or a different issue will arise. Sometimes the mechanic diagnosed the problem incorrectly, and the problem is not taken care of. Sometimes, the client does something to the car and then does not understand why the 'repair' did not work- such as running into a tree with the car or driving down bumpy rounds as fast as they can.

This is similar to receiving advise, not following it and then being upset because the result is different. That is like going to a lawyer. The lawyer tells you, " Do not contact the company." You go home, call the owner of the company, giving them a piece of your mind and then discover your whole lawsuit has went to pot later on that same week. My whole point in sharing this is to remind clients that psychics, tarot readers, mediums etc. are people too. We DO make mistakes. We also however, need our clients to understand their role in a turn or change of events as well. This is not a one sided relationship. We have to work as a team.

So rule of thumb- do NOT rush an Advisor. Let him or her 'do their thing'. Let us do our work and you hold your end of the bargain. If you feel that you are not connecting with that person, tell them 'thank you' but you do not feel a connection and end the call. If you feel they are purposefully stalling on the phone in order to receive more funds, disconnect the call. If it is an advisor that you have received readings from before, it is important to give them the benefit of the doubt. Treat that Advisor how you'd like to be treated. Talk to them in a way that you would not mind being spoken to. If you feel that an advisor is being rude or mean with you, disconnect the call. No one, the advisor or client, should have to subject themselves to belittling, name calling, severe immaturity, angry outbursts or arguing. Now, regarding time again: Call us when you have at least more than a few minutes if your question is complicated or involving. If it is just one quick question or a quick follow up question, then there is nothing wrong with expecting the reading to be over fairly soon. It just needs to be expressed that you can not receive what you need, if you also do not invest any time or energy for in-depth/complicated/heavy questions. We as your Advisor, need to work together. I need you to have a little faith in yourself, in me and in the reading. I want you to be BETTER OFF and more informed AFTERWARD. I have a pretty good accuracy rate, but yes! I have been wrong before because I am human and by golly, it will happen again. I do put my best foot forward, as I know for a fact some other Advisors on here do as well. We really do try to help and assist our clients with our gifts and talents. Allow me to be human as we as your adviors, understand your human circumstances as well.

Blessings to All,

Azure Dawn

LET...IT...GO!

2010-06-01T00:42:00Z

There are these horrible, icky, negative, destructive, gray and murky 'tapes' we play in our minds. They more times than not, come from past experiences that were emotionally and psychologically traumatic.

Example: You look in the mirror and notice your flat, lifeless hair instead of your beautiful award winning smile or gorgeous arch in your back. You think, " Oh my God. If my hair were any drier a bird would come and lay her eggs in it. You are NEVER going to look good. No wonder no one wants you...look at your freaking hair!"

As you take a few strands and let them fall through your finger tips... These are the tapes we play. They did not come out of no where. They are not doing us one bit of good and they are from a loooong time ago- possibly from our parents, a teacher, an ex, an old boss that made our lives miserable. "That little voice" is not always one of hope, aspiration, help and guidance. Sometimes that 'little voice" is a ball of negativity that DEMANDS you listen to it and DEPENDS on you to play into it, each and every time. You are probably already doubting you can stop it...

...That is what it wants you to BELIEVE...

It is time that you start getting tough with these negative thoughts. It will take practice, but you can do it.

Example: You are in a store and drop a can of juice. It makes a huge clunking noise and rolls a bit down the aisle. It also becomes dented on one side, where it hit the floor and you've been spotted by a few people. " Oh my God I am so embarrassed. I am so damn clumsy! I know people are looking. That was so loud. What do I expect, I'm a klutz. Mom always said I had two left feet. I guess I have two left hands, too..."

- As soon as this negativity busts it way inside your mind, say inside your head or out loud if you wish say, " Shut up! I am not listening to you. I dropped a can, so what! The world did not stop spinning on it's axis because a jug of apple juice made it's way to the pickles!"

I know that this may sound impossible or even silly, but it is imperative that you understand that the continuation of 'negative tape playing' influences your life on a DAILY basis. That is 365 days a year- happening at least 365 times! More than likely, it is triple or quadruple that amount... What would happen if you replaced the old, nasty, negative tapes with new, praise worthy and soothing ones? Be your own best friend. It is imperative because it keeps you trapped in the past. It makes you torture yourself on a daily basis and it stops you from living life to the fullest each and every day. How is you telling yourself you are no good improving your life? Did your mother tell you? Did someone you loved but are no longer speaking to tell you that? LET...IT...GO!!! You are your own best friend and therefore, you have to encourage yourself to relinquish the past, the tapes and that total negative mindset.

" You are beautiful. You are important." Tell yourself, " I love you (your first name)." first thing in the morning. Stretch your limbs, take some deep breaths and smile. Look at your favorite part of your body and thank it for being so lovely. Think about a moment in your life you are most proud of and thank yourself for being so intelligent, so witty, so funny etc.

Here is a trashcan...your negative thoughts are waiting to be dumped in it.
The dump truck has been scheduled to pick them up ASAP.

" Good ridden, bad thoughts...Good morning, beautiful soul. "

Sincerely,

Azure Dawn

Your time can be altered, but only you can allow it to be stolen.

2010-05-20T13:52:00Z

So many times we are concentrating on what is not going right in our lives. We think about the job we have that we feel is demeaning or possibly even non-existent. We think about the argument we had with our significant other or the fact that there is NO current significant other. We think about how there is not enough money, not enough time, not enough of all the things we hope, wish and desire. Life is a series of steps and processes. Sometimes we are concentrating so much on the deficit or what is NOT there, we miss the growth opportunities and appreciate what IS there. We also simultaneously miss out on mini-blessings.

A perfect example is being stuck in traffic. All of us who drive and have been passengers in a car on a busy highway have experienced this at least once. The play, the movie, the dinner reservation, the ball game- whatever it is- starts in 30 minutes and there we are amongst a sea of disenchanted individuals, wrapped in metal, that are stuck in their cars as well. Car horns are blowing, swear words are being passed around generously and some 'questionable' sign language is exchanged between a guy on a motorcycle and a cab driver. Even more realistically...we may have no place to go at all besides home, but we are STILL irritated because this has altered our schedule.

None of us like to be thrown off track from our goals and calendars. However, in these opportunities, there are missed blessings. Instead of adding to the heated moments by throwing in our own car beeps etc. and the occasional " Who taught you how to drive? A deranged monkey?!" we could be in our minds, planning a wonderful in-door picnic for ourselves or thinking about the letter we want to write a friend who have not spoken to in years. We could be mapping out the letter or sketching out our grocery list- right there in the mist of the chaos. We could 'go away' to a blissful place which would serve us well.

These are prime moments to utilize time that we will never get back. Since the time is being taken away from our planned schedule, we may as well use it to the best of our ability... kind of like turning lemons into lemonade. Nothing we swear, no stomping of feet and gnashing of teeth is going to make that traffic jam go away or whatever it is, that we feel is wasting our time. It is a waste of our energy and assets to ignore the possible opportunities that can lead to more blessings.

Time is the only thing that once lost, we never get a chance to get back so choose wisely.

Be blessed.

Azure Dawn

WHAT ARE YOU RUNNING FROM?

2010-05-19T01:17:00Z

Each morning Wendy did her usual routine. She would hear her alarm clock go off- usually playing an eighties soft rock tune or the annoying zest of an overly eager D.J. announcing the 7th caller will receive free tickets to a baseball game that is almost sold out. After lying there, under the warm twenty year old quilt in her over-sized t-shirt that read, " It's Hard Being the Cat's Meow" dawning an illustration of a salmon colored long haired cat with a rhinestone collar on, winking with one jade, heavily mascaraed colored eye, she finally slid out from under the comfort and stumbled to her bathroom to begin the preparation for her day. This included a 14 minute shower, a 2 minute dry-off, Bath and Body lotion Christmas gift set rub down included... Hair dried and brushed for 6 minutes. Taking out the pre-prepared, fitted pale yellow slack suit and painstakingly sliding on her Spanx and rose dust pearls, passed down from Grandma Sue-Sue. Then she'd feed Tulip and Berserk, her dutiful and sly tabbies. She'd grab her keys and briefcase and head to Starbucks with 12 minutes to spare before walking into the front glass doors of her high stress corporate job, holding her blackberry but simultaneously eying a new i-pad from a passerby.

After 3 unnecessary meetings with 4 mini-teams, which consisted mostly of backwards and revolving door discussions regarding protocol and public relations control, a hurried lunch of chips, sugary soda and a half of a tuna sandwich which had been sitting out too long, she is able to go home but before doing so, there is a stop at the gym. This consists of 45 minutes on the elliptical, 20 minutes weight lifting and hurried yoga moves and 20 minutes doing a couple laps in the pool. Then comes the shower, the quick stop at the grocery store to purchase a frozen, high sodium bland meal with a glass of over-priced wine that is NOT a good year and the rest of the evening is Wendy, in the bed, glasses tilted, 85% sleep, with a dirty but worthy romance novel folded gingerly over her quilted lap...from Grandma Sue-Sue.

This may sound totally normal. For many of us, it is. Matter of fact, that is the whole point. This is NORMAL for MANY if not MOST of us yet it is a perfect illustration of running. Many of us are running from ourselves. Our daily lives may scream success and beauty to the unknowing eye, but it is actually a spiritual failure, over and over and over again. The truth of our lives are too painful to bare. We run by hitting the snooze button day in and day out instead of being excited about the blessing of a new day. It would be dreadful, downright impossible almost to face another day that we feel we have no control over. We use that time to convince ourselves of a promise of distraction is right around the corner. This way, we do not have to focus on healing, loving, self improvement and motivation. We can RUN to a job that works US. We can RUN to a gym without getting to the heart of the reason we are over or under eating in order to keep the yo-yo dieting from happening once again and the obsession with body image vs. true health- MBS (Mind, body and soul). We can RUN to various meetings, parties, stores etc. so that we do not have to think about anything but the grocery list at hand, the person we need to R.S.V.P to and the dress that should be on sale by now since it is currently out of season. We ARE Wendy.

Some part of us, needs to do these routines, so that we do not have to face the pain of things that have happened. The guilt we eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We can run away from the ex that hit us with his fists or emotionally abused and manipulated us. It is too painful to look at that closely and accept it, forgive ourselves and move forward. We don't want to forgive ourselves for not reporting the rape due to shame- why did we wear that skirt? We should not have went out drinking, We must have asked for it... We have not forgiven ourselves for not calling the police when we saw that man being mugged- we were scared. Afraid the criminal could see us and attack us as well. We don't want to think about how our father was never really there for us or how our mother valued her reputation and keeping up with the Jones more than our safety and well-being. It is a journey. It is a process. It is a procedure. It is life.

Stop hitting the snooze button. Stop running. Do not run from yourself. You deserve to be loved, forgiven and to forgive. Yourself is begging for a hug from YOU. To be acknowledged and accepted. To be LOVED RIGHT NOW....EXACTLY AS YOU ARE, RIGHT NOW!
Not after you lose another 20 lbs. Not after you get that promotion. Not after you get that new man or woman. You need it RIGHT NOW.

Take off the Reeboks and take your soul out on a date. I will keep the light on for you, but I won't wait up. Take as much time as you need. If you kiss on this first date, trust me, it is totally okay and long over-due.

Blessings,

Azure Dawn

Does He Really Love Me?

2010-04-13T14:47:00Z

Here is an article I found written by Bryan Burbank. I have added to it and blogged regarding these points below it. Be blessed!

When a Woman becomes seriously involved with a Man you can be certain that one of the first questions you ask yourself is does he love me. This is a very important question because if you are planning on taking this relationship to another level or perhaps you have started thinking about marriage. Here are a few things to consider while trying to figure out how he feels.

1. A Man who really loves a Woman is proud to be with her and can't wait to show her off to friends and family. If he is not taking you to places were you come in contact with those most close to him it could be time to wonder if he is right for you.

2. A man really loves you when he takes the time to be with you and to do the things you love to do. It is easy for him when you do the things he likes to do, but remember that even though he is romantic and likes to have sex with you does not mean he loves you.

3. Gifts don't always mean he loves you, just because he purchases something expensive doesn't always mean he loves you. He may just have a lot of money to spend and it is those things that are free and have deep sentimental value that show you how much he loves you.

4. When he tells you he loves you can be a clue to if he really loves you. If he says he loves you only after you say it first you may need to be suspect. If he tells you this before you get into bed to make love you may want to question his motive. Sometimes we know if a man really loves us by how he says it and were he says it., generally you will know when he is sincere.

5. Does he see a future with you because if he really loves you he will want to spend the rest of his life with you. He should be talking about having a future with you and possible be talking about marriage. If he doesn't he may be looking at your relationship as just temporary.

Okay, many of these points you would believe us to acknowledge as common sense but sometimes common sense goes out of the window when we are in love. An actual physiological change occurs with us as we fall in love, which could explain some of our mental short circuiting at times! LOL! I have always said that LOVE is an action word. To make this short and sweet: If you always have to ask or wonder if your partner or love interest loves you, then there is a problem. You should be able to have a disagreement, have time apart etc. and still not have to question this all the time. It should be understood. If you do wonder continuously or more times than not, then something is amiss.

Also, men and women speak different love languages. What a woman may see as an act or showing of love and appreciation, a man may not and vice versa. Women (not all, but more so than men due to our wiring) are more emotional and more likely to give the benefit of the doubt more often. We are also more patient (another wiring condition that is prehistoric and primitive in nature due to the rearing of children while our men were away and hunting.) Due to this patient nature, we sometimes are TOO patient. Mentally, we know something is not adding up but heart wise, we continuously extend the olive branch and another voucher of trust on pure merit alone.

Think about it- think about all the ways you show that you care for others. Most times these acts of kindness are not even something you were probably asked to do. You just did it because it felt like the right thing to do and/or you wanted to. You deserve that same consideration in return.

Be blessed and LOVED!

Azure Dawn

"By Their Fruits You Will Recognize Them."

2010-04-05T17:40:00Z

Imagine you are taking a relaxing walk through the park. It is a beautiful day. The sun is shining, barely a cloud in the sky and the air is perfumed with the recent outburst of tulips, roses and lilies.

You come across a cherry tree, yet instead of cherries, are rotten eggs. You are puzzled and walk a bit farther. You see an apple tree, but instead of crunchy, juicy apples, there are dangling worms.

" Watch you for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inside they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." - (Mt. 7:16-20)

Although the initial tree might have grown up strong and straight toward the sun, something happened along the way and the tree produced deadly, rotten fruit.- T. Snow " By their fruits you will recognize them."

People show you whom they are by what they do and do not do. A blade of grass shows you it is such, because it is green, can be cut and grow back, attracts certain animals and insects as a food source and serves as 'nature's carpet." It usually is a shade of green and needs sunlight and water. It has a distinct scent when cut. If you purchased a house and instead of grass in the front lawn, there was a pit of snakes, you would not care that the Realtor said,
" ...But there COULD be grass there. or, There USED TO BE grass there." All you would care about is that right there, right now, there are hundreds of snakes. You care about the fruits you see- not what coulda, woulda been. However, for some reason, when we are dealing with people, we either excuse their 'snakes' and try to pretend it is healthy grass or we assume their lawn is full of snakes before even seeing it. People will show you who they are by their actions. Look at their "fruit" to determine who they are.

Azure Dawn

Innocence Lost, Little Girl Lost, Grown Woman still Missing...

2010-02-24T15:04:00Z

I want to warn in advance that the topic I will be addressing today is very sensitive. It may not be the 'cup of tea' of some, but it is one that needs to be addressed and I would be doing my clients and future clients a great disservice if I did not tackle it. 2010 is the year of full spirit disclosure and healing. Now, this issue I am about to delve into has happened to an alarming 70% of the American population, if not greater and that bares the clothing of a topic that needs to be stripped and exposed so we can see how it now affects our lives and the people that we love.

As I have stated in previous blogs, I believe my forte is love and relationship readings, though I read on all matters. I give my all to my readings and to my clients because that is what is deserved. When someone calls me about a matter, more than likely, they need some insight on a situation that they have been grappling with. How many times however, do we think about what led us to our question? What I mean is, what happened to us many months or even years ago that caused us to be at the place we are now? Good or bad. The topic I am going to discuss in this blog is child molestation and rape.

Every single day, children in this country are being sexually abused by a family member, friend of the family or a stranger that is a pedophile. Every single day, some of these children confess to their mother, sometimes father, what has occurred and they are not believed. The terror and torment that these children endure from a mental, spiritual and obviously physical standpoint plays itself over and over again in their minds. After the act itself is over, they are still enduring the pain. That pain is worsened by the non-believing parents who wish to either brush it under the rug for fear of bringing some perceived shame to the family versus protecting their child, whom is the victim, or trying to protect a husband, step-father or boyfriend (sometimes wife, step-mother or girlfriend) instead. I know of many cases first hand, of a mother not wanting her boyfriend to leave the house. She wanted a man so badly, that after even being alerted to what was taking place under her own roof, she told the child that she was lying, turned a blind eye and allowed it to continue simply so she could keep her dysfunctional relationship going.

Some people never think about what happens to their daughters and sons when they grow up, after enduring this sort of horror. I can tell you what happens to them. Some are able to mask the pain. Some find coping mechanisms, sometimes those mechanisms however are illegal and/or harmful in order to deal with the pain of what they suffered as well as the betrayal and rejection from their mother/father's protection. Some of them get professional help, find forgiveness and are able to live a fairly 'normal' life but more times than not, it affects how they attract and chose a mate once they begin to date. They attract predators and they continue to be the victim. They twist love and sex, seeing them as one in the same since that is what they were taught early on. They sometimes were told, " This is how you show love." or, " Don't tell your mom. She will be jealous because I love you so much." and other sordid lines that are used to control and molest that child's mind in order to help ensure that the sick behavior can continue. I now want to tell a story that will help illustrate what I am talking about.

I was on the phone with someone awhile back. (Not a client-I keep reader/client consultations private). This person I've known for many years. I was talking to this person and I asked her if her daughter had been molested. I had a sense she had. The person I was speaking with paused for a long time, then said she did not know. She then went on to tell me that she had been told by her daughter that one of the mother's boyfriends was touching her. However, the mother/person I was speaking with, accused her of lying and told me, "You have to understand...she lies all the time." You could see from this young girl's behavior, she was only 14 at the time, that SOMETHING was wrong. She was promiscuous, running away from home, kicked out of school and crying for attention. SOMETHING had started this. It begun with a father that was in and out of jail and not there to be a good example of what a REAL man is and how fathers show love and protect their daughters and sons. It then continued on with a mother that was making poor choices and loved her relationships with bad partners more than she loved her children. She had different men in her home that she had not known for more than a week sometimes, and yet there they were, alone with her children while she was at work.

She did not know these men from Adam, and yet she entrusted them with her most precious cargo- that of children. I do not care if the little girl lied like Pinocchio, this was one of the TRUTHS and it had been ignored. Now the young lady is pregnant. The father of the baby is considered an adult, yet no charges were filed. I could care less if this was her alleged boyfriend, he is an adult having sex with a minor. To add insult to injury, he has no job and she is too young to have one. I asked the mother- who is now acting happy about being a very young grandmother, who was going to take care of this precious child? I was told with a chuckle,
" The state!" Because there was no care, no loving intervention, no show of support and that maternal kick that most of us moms have that causes us to move hell and heaven to ensure that our child is safe and okay, this young lady will more than likely, continue down this path. The path will be filled with more children, more bad choices, more drug use, more promiscuity and little does her mother seem to realize, it is helping to line and cover an emotional bed with layers of resentment towards her. The one person she had in her life was not only not dependable, she was harmful by her inaction and uncaring response. This young lady is all ready choosing and attracting predators. She is already continuing the vicious cycle of being a victim and she does not feel that she is being loved, unless she is in the victim role. Love to her, has to hurt. It has to include countless arguments, physical abuse, drug abuse, being lied to and definitely being emotionally played with. She identifies love this way. She has no idea what a healthy love relationship is, she is too young and now her views are warped due to experiences she should have never had.

As a little girl, her father would tell her he was coming to see her and he usually broke his promise. She'd wait by the window, waiting hour after hour until finally her mother pulled her away, letting her know he was not coming. So, she was initiated very early on, that you can not depend on men and later, shown that they will also harm you in other ways. She was shown that this was 'normal' and acceptable even though it hurt her. Now, she will continue to live out this pattern of behavior; as so many of us have before and after her.

Her innocence was stolen from her father and the man that molested her. Her teen years now are being filled with judiciary issues, legal matters, emotional upheaval and now an innocent baby has been brought into this horrific mess. She will be an adult who will continue to make the same errors and not care about the ramifications but I pray for divine intervention. She will be a grown woman still missing, due to the traumas of the past.

If you were sexually abused as a child, ask yourself, how has it affected you? Ask yourself if you have buried it far, far away or do you use coping mechanisms to escape the emotional pain? Ask yourself if the men/women you pick more times than not, make you feel worthless, just as the perpetrator did? We as humans, follow patterns. Once we learn a pattern, we keep trying to duplicate and repeat it until something happens, or someone brings it to our attention and we have enough strength from a spiritual and emotional stand point, to learn a NEW pattern. There IS a way out. This does NOT have to continue. You did not ask for what happened to you. You did not deserve it. You are not to blame for trying the best way you knew how, to make it through and survive. However, now, as an adult, you can not continue to be the victim. You have to empower yourself. Your life is PRECIOUS. Your life is WORTHY. Your life is IMPORTANT and I do not care that you may have been told by your mother or father or another authority figure, "You will not amount to anything!", " You are a liar! No one touched you!", "You are stupid! What an idiot!" "You are ugly!" I do not care what negative tapes were put into your head, you are NONE of those things. God made you in his image- and that means by design you were destined for greatness!!! FIND...YOURSELF! Do not continue to be 'lost' or 'missing'. STOP allowing people to treat you badly. STOP allowing yourself to be walked on. STOP allowing yourself to play those old tapes telling you what a failure you are. You have a Guardian Angel that has repeatedly picked you up in times of trouble. You have the Lord, who watches you day and night. No one is wasting their time because You are WORTH saving! But first...you have to save yourself!

Innocence Found, Little Girl Found, Grown Woman DISCOVERED!!!

God Bless,

Azure Dawn

Interview with a Vampire

2010-02-12T16:51:00Z

My name is Denise
and this
is my Interview with a Vampire

It was around 10:45 p.m. late on a spring, rainy Saturday night. I leaned out of my window, taking in the scents, allowing the drops to fall gently in my hair. I closed my eyes, inhaled and exhaled, smiled then pulled away, closing the window behind me.

The power kept going in and out, so an array of jasmine scented candles were lit, casting an eerily beautiful parade of shadows from such basic items as flower plants and ballerina figurines.

I rubbed my fingers through my damp hair and made my way into the kitchen to retrieve my luke warm cup of hot tea. Standing there, in my tiny avocado green kitchenette, I reflected over the work week. I decided to make my way into my semi-dark bedroom. Filled with burgundy and wine satins, delicious creams trimmed in gold my bed was inviting me. One large amber cinnamon scented candle burned on the mahogany nightstand and I smiled as I heard my cat Claire, purring as she slept in her gray plaid feline bed. I stood in front of my vanity mirror and took off my earrings. As I did this, I could feel a presence. I looked over my shoulder and saw nothing. A cool chill filled the room and suddenly Claire ran out of the room, hissing all the way.

"Who's there?" I asked, my heart beating so fast it felt as if it would burst out my chest.
I tried to focus my eyes in the darkness of the room, only met with silence and uncertainty.

I heard nothing. I sighed. Slumping down into my bed, I drifted into a half sleep quickly.
It was short lived. I felt my wrists being pinned down and a familiar scent filled the room. The energy was familiar and uncomfortable. It was the day before Valentine's Day and like many Valentine's Days from yester-year, I was haunted by him.

Him...was the memory of boyfriends and ex-husbands past. I reached up to embrace him but he moved away. Like so many times before, he had warned me about my inability to let him go. He reminded me that I was blocking my own blessings by holding onto a memory, to a love that was over and I had never fully allowed my heart the chance to heal. Tears filled my eyes and I buried my head into my drawn up knees. I heard his voice say,

" Interview me, so you can let me go. Ask me anything you want. It is time to move on. It is time to live your life. Let this be the last time you ever allow me to break your heart again."

I sat up in the bed, tears still streaming and gulped. I could only see his silhouette as he sat down in a chair beside my bed.

" I want to know why you really left me?" I grabbed a Kleenex and blew my nose.

" You were not what I really wanted. You tried too hard. I did not want a serious relationship. I thought I did but I did not. You tried to please me. I needed you to please yourself."

" So you stayed and sucked me dry? Why didn't you just leave me alone?!" I screamed.

" This is why you need to interview me. I sucked you dry, like a vampire. I am your loves from the past. I am the Vampire still in your life. I am still sucking you dry. While I have moved on and continue to live my life rarely having you cross my mind, you stay stuck, thinking about me and wondering if I am still thinking of you. At first it was flattering and then it was just plain sad."

" You could be so cold and you still are. I believe in love. I believe in romance. I believe in fidelity and accountability. Why couldn't you just try to love me?"

" I can't love someone that does not love themselves. You loved me more than God and yourself. Your showed me you did not care about yourself when you would keep taking me back when I'd cheat and lie. When I would treat you with ill regard, you still allowed me to stay in your life. You used to have all sorts of hobbies, then everything became about me. There was nothing wrong with loving me. The problem was you never accepted that I did not love you the same way. You made excuses for my lack of calling and coming over. You wanted to believe I still wanted you because it helped you hold on to me. Aren't you the one that told me actions speak louder than words?"

I shook my head yes. This was so painful. Every question I asked he had a matter of fact, cruel answer.

" Were you with others while you were with me?"
"...I think you already know the answer to that..." He stood up, a cigarette swirl of smoke danced around him. As he was leaving I asked,

" When will I be totally over you?"
He kept his back to me as he walked towards the door and said,
" When you believe that you deserve the very best...And understand that I am not it."
...And then he was gone.

The story you just read is fiction. It was written by me, to illustrate what so many of us do when we refuse to allow ourselves to accept the reality of a past relationship. It is being used to demonstrate the human heart that is held captive by it's owner due to an inability to accept a current situation for what it is, and move on with our lives. We all must grieve loves that have ended and we all do it in our own way. However, there are healthy ways to grieve and unhealthy ways. Healthy ways have a conclusion. Year after year, we are not still pining over the person that broke our heart. We may still think about them from time to time, but we are not losing sleep over them, imagining them still with us or feeding a fantasy. We have accepted the situation and have come to the conclusion that if this has occurred, then apparently that person was not the one for us, at least not as a long term partner. We have learned from our mistakes and we understand that that particular relationship had a season. We also have accepted that we have to move forward in order to receive the TRUE person that is supposed to be in our lives. As long as we still hold tight to our 'Old Vampires' , we will always be a slave to the past.

God bless,

Azure Dawn

The Not-So-Funny Married Valentine

2010-02-08T10:02:00Z

FEBRUARY 2010 ARTICLE:
THE NOT-SO FUNNY MARRIED VALENTINE

-article by Azure Dawn

As a reader, I have had my fair share of clients who inquire about someone they are in love with. Doing readings regarding a lover- rather it is past or present one is what I consider my forte. To me, love is the catalyst that helps us get from A to B. It is what fuels us to get up in the morning and take on our day. Not necessarily romantic love, but the love of knowing that we were created by purpose and grand, divine design. We should know and realize that our Creator has plans for us each and every day to help us achieve greatness in all aspects of our lives. Love also causes us as humans sometimes, to do things that may not be logical, healthy or wise. This is a touchy topic because many women and men have been in the type of relationships I am about to describe and if one feels judged or attacked, they are liable to not hear the message for the way it is intended so I wish to put a precursor on this discussion/blog and say that I give no apologies for my opinion and stance on this topic but I do so without judgment because we all fall short and we all have made choices that at the time appeared to be in our best interest but in fact were not. I want to also say, as I have many times, that I too am human and understand the human condition. I understand what loneliness feels like. I understand what isolation feels like. I understand the strong desire to be with someone that you feel attracted to on all levels. I get it, I understand, I embrace this truth of our flesh and spirit needing to be fed with relationships that transcend the superficial. With that said, this blog for February, the 'Valentine Month', is about dating a married person. All over this country, there are affairs going on as you read this. You yourself may be involved in one. You may be the one married and having an affair or you may be the mistress or girlfriend/boyfriend on the side. I wish to start out by stating: THE CHANCES ARE VERY SLIM OF THAT MARRIED MAN/WOMAN LEAVING THEIR SPOUSE FOR YOU.

When I have had to tell this fact to a client, I am usually met with anger and denial. So many other readers unfortunately, some, not all thank goodness, are willing to sell a bill of goods to a desperate client who wants reassurance that even though those divorce papers are not submitted, even though he/she only sees you at 3:00 P.M. or on their lunch break, even though he/she says they are only still there for the kids etc., that this person is genuinely interested in making provisions and plans to leave their mate. The fact of the matter that more times than not, they DO NOT leave their family for the other person and if they do, chances are high that there will ALWAYS be trust issues between the newly formed couple AFTER the divorce/separation takes place.

I have been on both ends. I have been the one involved with a married man and the one that was cheated on. I want to clarify that I did not know the man that I briefly dated in college was married. At the time, I was running from my psychic abilities and found a way to build a wall. I already felt very different from others and in college, I was still in the phase of wanting to be accepted and embraced by society so anything 'odd' or 'gifted' about me I would dig a hole and dump it in there. I did not want to stand out from the crowd or appear 'crazy.' Due to that unfortunately, my 'spidey' sense was not turned on and I missed some crucial signs but luckily, my mind/common sense took over and I was able to find out that this man I was dating was in fact married and had a wife and child at home. Once I confirmed it, I ceased all contact with him immediately. He did not tell me the truth even after being asked several times. I found out by doing my own investigation. This man had bought me gifts, we had been out on dates, I had shared some private information with him and there was some intimacy though thankfully it did not go beyond kissing and hugging. Even at the age of 21, I had strong feelings regarding getting involved with men that had girlfriends or wives. I was not interested in sharing a man nor was I interested in being accused of being a home wrecker. On the other end of this stick, I was also a wife that had been cheated on. I had found sexually oriented text messages etc. from various women and my ex-husband was a serial cheater so it was not just one woman to contend with, it was many and I doubt that they knew about each other. My ex was very charming and deceitful and he had an uncanny way of making a woman truly believe she was the only one he wanted. That marriage is over, thankfully and I am not bitter about it because I have healed. However I do know that any woman that was involved with him, that knew he was married (and some did) will feel the same pain they helped foster in some form or fashion because that is simply how karma works. We get back what we give out. It is the law of the universe and nothing can change or alter it.

It was a very painful experience for me and I do not think that some women and men, whom have never been married and are in adulterous affairs, understand the pain that they help create by being willfully involved with a person that is married. Thankfully, I was blessed to re-marry a man that is wonderful and faithful to me. I truly understand that sometimes people in an affair are in love. I understand that sometimes the marriage is broken, damaged and down right shattered. However, that does not give anyone the right to take advantage of this situation and enter into a relationship with that person until the divorce papers have been filed, that person (love interest) is out of the home with ex-wife/husband and has truly moved on. The problem I believe that some people that are involved in affairs that think they will end well is that relationships are very much like crops. What I mean by that is if you plant a seed, the relationship grows if it is nourished and taken care of -it flourishes. This requires work which sometimes one or both parties are not dedicated too. (This is where room is left for adultery and other destructive behaviors that shake the fabric of the marriage come into play.) Understand, that if a married person is with you, you are there by default. You have 'come through' due to a fracture/break in the marriage and nothing that is born from inflicted pain to others, tends to grow well. Anything coming in by means of a broken window is typically unwanted on some level. You were not invited in because things were going well, in other words. If you crawl through a broken window, you will get cut. You may not see the blood initially, but it is on it's way and so is the pain. Relationships (crops) planted in bad soil, never mature in the fashion that they are supposed to. The reason being is because the foundation was rocky, dry, murky etc., you never would receive a good harvest. This is another way for describing karma in some regard. The old saying, "You reap what you sow" stands to be proven here. Some women and men seem to only be attracted to married people/people in relationships. Typically this type of person has commitment issues themselves which cause them to make repeated reckless choices and you will also find that they may have been raised in a home where they did not see their parents in a healthy marriage, therefore, they have little respect for the institution of it or are simply convinced that marriages never last. They are often very selfish, self absorbed and borderline narcissistic if not full-fledged.

I also want to explain something specifically to women and gay men involved with married men. Most of my friends growing up were men and I have spoken to them extensively about this topic to gain their perspective. Ladies and Gentlemen, he will NEVER respect you fully if you cheat with him, REGARDLESS of what comes out of his mouth. This is important because we as women are more emotional than men generally, and we believe words more-so than actions and men are typically the opposite. This is why greeting cards are a billion dollar business. It is not what we as women SAW, it is what the card SAID. It is what HE SAID. We play the tape over and over in our minds, then give excuses for actions that do not quite match up to the words, because we wish to believe the words so badly.

So this Valentines Day/Month, practice a little self love and give yourself an opportunity to have a meaningful relationship with a person that is emotionally, spiritually, physically and mentally available to meet your romantic and relational needs. Make sure the seeds you plant produce good harvest. Make sure you are not the catalyst helping to destroy a family. I hear so many times, "...But he is not happy...the marriage was all ready over etc." and sometimes this is quite true so if that person was meant for you, then they will be officially single BEFORE you two begin your relationship. If they are meant for you, you can wait the general 3 months or so it takes to file for divorce, move etc. If you are in a hurry, it means you know deep down that what you are doing may not be good for you, or anyone involved for that matter. You are not only affecting a family, you are affecting and INFECTING your spirit. Do not crawl through broken windows...save that for the dying fall leaves, insects and rodents. You were made for extreme greatness. Believe that in your heart. The person for you is not someone you have to share with others.

IN 2010, WE HAVE TO KNOW BETTER, AND DO BETTER.

God Bless You.

-Azure Dawn

THE NEW YEAR, A NEW YOU!!!

2010-01-11T20:22:00Z

THE NEW YEAR, A NEW YOU!!!
START NOW...TIME IS RUNNING OUT.

-Written by Azure Dawn

So many people make new years resolutions. Over 80% of these resolutions end up not fulfilled or only half way implemented. Why is that? Is it because we do not have the heart, drive, determination or goal orientation to complete them or is it because we shoot for higher stars than are obtainable? I believe it is a culmination of these reasons but mainly because we are looking at the process of resolutions completely wrong. We set standards for ourselves such as:

1. Lose 30 lbs.
2. Pay off debt
3. Find a new love

...And we do not devise a clear cut, concise plan. We do not think out the emotional issues versus just the surface issues that caused us to overeat or not take care of ourselves. We do not evaluate the reasons why we went into debt or the void we may feel when we are single and why we are the way we are. Until we as human beings, get to the root cause of these issues, the resolutions will be short lived or never fulfilled. No one I know wants to be obese. Yet, there are obese people who are not happy. They did not wake up and say, "I enjoy not being able to go up and down the steps without being winded." or "I want to be unhealthy." There are emotional reasons behind it that have caused the situation. In some rare cases, it is a medical condition that has caused the weight gain but that is far less the common origin. This is why you see people all the time lose a significant amount of weight then one or two years later, they are back where they begun or even worse. It is because the psychological, emotional issues were not addressed that caused the situation in the first place.

If we look at money management and debt- no one I know wants to owe other people money. I have yet to meet someone who enjoys being in debt and not having enough money to take care of their basic needs due to this. There are a multitude of reasons why so many people are in debt and in these economic times, it is far more common than not. Some of the reasons why people are in debt is not self inflicted such as medical issues could have arisen that had to be paid for or a family had to live off of credit due to one or more members losing their jobs. Due to this debt, depression, anger and family fragmentation often takes place. If someone can not take care of themselves and their family, very deep issues often arise that affect that person's self esteem and self image. It sprawls out of control and if that person is having difficulty replacing the prior income with a new job/income of a comparable amount, then the situation gets even worse.

If we look at people that make a resolution to find a relationship, end a relationship or fix a current relationship, there is obviously emotional reasons behind that. Since there is another person involved, this is a resolution that needs to be thought out thoroughly. First, the person must ask themselves are they ready for a relationship: spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically and financially. You have to be healthy yourself, before you can have and attract healthy people and relationships. Secondly, you must ask yourself why you want the relationship or to end the current one and then you must make a clear plan as to how to obtain or end the current/new situation.

Instead of looking at these examples as resolutions, look at it as an idea. Do not put undue stress on yourself but do make a plan of action with step by step processes so that it is more realistic, obtainable and has more of a reward system so it is clear to you how to get from point A to B. If you have trouble with this, you can consult someone like myself, a close objective friend or family member or someone that specializes in those given fields such as: Jenny Craig or nutri-system for a weight-loss plan (I also recommend a counselor that deals with over-eating/under-eating issues), It may also help to not necessarily purchase a gym membership (most people do not use them consistently), but maybe pay month to month or find a sport or physical activity you enjoy and participate such as swimming or bike riding. Find something you really like so you are more likely to stick with it. For debt, seek a financial advisor or go to a free local seminar about managing debt. I also suggest Dave Ramsey's books regarding financial freedom. I personally believe he has one of the best plans for how to get out of debt and stay out. I DO NOT recommend most of the debt consolidation companies nor bankruptcy unless you truly have no other options and you may not know what other options you have until you consult a professional.

To find a new love, you could join a credible dating site, ask your friends if possible compatible single friends or family members of theirs' are available, or make yourself more accessible to meeting new people by joining groups or classes - example, cooking, sculpting classes or just going out more in general. This year is dedicated to enriching your life. It is not dedicated to 'more of the same'.

Do not think of it as a resolution by thinking of what you are going to STOP doing, think of the GOOD things you will START doing and some of the 'old ways' will phase themselves out on their own. Once you ADD new, meaningful experiences you will find that your goals become easier to obtain because you have changed your path simply by adding positive people and experiences into your life.

God Bless You.

-Azure Dawn

LET GO, LET IN, LET SPIRIT! Get YOURSELF together!

2007-12-26T18:13:00Z

I want to keep the high hopes and momentum going by talking with you about your plans for 2008.

I want you to think of what you want, I want you to think of ways to obtain those things and reach those goals and then I want you to be proactive and have faith. You can do this, believe in yourself. Make realistic goals and don't give up.

LETTING GO: You have to do BETTER than TRY. When it comes to your future, trying is not good enough. YOU HAVE TO DO! No one is going to DO IT for you. No one is going to give what you need, except for you, God and the universe. Let Go of harmful people, places and things. The more you LET GO of it, the more you have room to LET IN 'Goodness.' If you are filled to the brim with resentment, depression, anger, hostility and confusion then where in the WORLD is there room inside of you for LOVE, PEACE, HAPPINESS, JOY, AND CLARITY?!!! Our bodies and spiritual systems ARE NOT Capacity limitless. Our temples need special attention and care. Just like a container, we have a point where we are full. Do you know what happens to trash when you keep trying to stuff more and more trash into a garbage can? NOTHING happens to the trash, it simply spills over but that garbage bag-that container, which represents us-our temples, busts at the seams. It STINKS, because garbage is piling up. Our 'stench' is stress, drama and our issues. We have too much on our plates and we allow too many people and situations to run over us.

We don't make time for ourselves or we ONLY think about ourselves. There has to be a healthy medium. Come on now, empty that trash. LET GO of the TRASH! Stop holding on to what Susie did to you in 1983. It is OVER! Stop talking about what your husband or wife, boyfriend or girlfriend, sister or brother, did to you two years ago! Let go of that toxic relationship or move past it. If you are still with him/her, and he/she is still doing the same things, don't blame him/her, blame yourself for still being available to take the abuse. You have made a choice to continue to deal with that person. That is simply a fact. Now, I know that this may hurt but 2008 is YOUR year. The only way you are going to get what you deserve and turn yourself around is to hear the TRUTH.

STOP BLAMING OTHER PEOPLE FOR YOUR TRASH!!! You are the one that collected it. I have collected my own, you have collected your own. You saw it was 'TRASH' before you picked it up or maybe you didn't, but once 'it' started to stink, you still held on to it. We hold on to pain, the past, toxic people and relationships because we are comfortable with it. We have to become uncomfortable in order to make the transformation. What trash you may say?

...THAT REPEATIDLY CHEATING MAN OR WOMAN, THAT FRIEND THAT KEEPS STABBING YOU IN THE BACK, THAT JOB THAT YOU REFUSE TO USE TO MOTIVATE YOU TO FIND ANOTHER JOB WHEN YOU KNOW YOU HATE IT AND GOD MADE AND INTENDED YOU FOR MORE!, THAT COMPULSION TO LIE TO OTHERS, THAT JEALOUS STREEK, ALL OF IT! IT IS TRASH!!! THROW...IT....OUT!!!! THAT NASTY ATTITUDE!, THAT BITTERNESS, THAT DESIRE TO SEE OTHERS SUFFER AND STRUGGLE BECAUSE YOU MAY BE! (Misery loves company)Allowing yourself to be walked on, by others. Not having any confidence, IT IS TRASH! GET...RID...OF...IT!!!

LETTING IN: Let inside of you, the faith to believe that you CAN achieve your goals. If you want to lose 30 lbs by the summertime, not only is that do-able, you could even exceed your target weight loss. If you want to find a new relationship, start cleaning out your own spiritual closet- and watch and see what happens. You have to LET IN good things. We have to be careful about what we let into our minds, bodies and spirits.

If you listen to garbage, you will be filled with garbage: negative people (arguing, horrible gossip etc.), negative television (soap operas when our own lives are in shambles ect), negative music (music that insults women, relationships etc.), websites and negative books. I am not saying stop watching the news and listening to 'adult' music etc. There is nothing wrong with playing a video game that may have some violent elements or reading a great Stephen book. The problem comes in when that is the majority of what our lives are filled with. What I am saying is do not over-do it. We are influenced and absorb the things in our environment. Do not allow your 'diet' to be only the news, people harming other people etc. (in movies etc.)

HERE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE: Have you ever noticed that if you are on the train, bus or driving to work, if you are listening to music that is loud, has a dance beat etc. that when you get to work, you seem more amped? You feel more motivated? What about when you are in the shower or tub? You may have some smooth 70s, neosoul, jazz or classical music playing and you are about to fall asleep in there because you are so relaxed. It is because that music has not only set your mood- it has soaked itself into your Subconscious and 'programmed' you to have certain responses. If you have been arguing with someone all morning at work or home- that is your 'music' for the day and chances are very high, the rest of your day you will be angry, anxious or depressed until you turn on some new 'soul music'. You have to LET IN GOODNESS to HEAL the "bad music' you heard earlier in the day. This is why aromatherapy, yoga etc. are so popular now. Every day, living in this hustle and bustle country, we are stressed out. Our jobs, our families, our love lives, our finances are relationship with our Creator is impaired. We become impaired and spiritually handicapped and don't realize it. Then, when you add negativity from outside sources to that, you have polluted yourself.

We feel tired, not realizing that our emotional, mental, physical and spiritual bank accounts are on E. We are only running on fumes. So LET IN goodness. The more GOODNESS you let in, the better you can handle stress.

Exercise, try to eat right, do not engage in drama or damaging gossip, cut off and destroy relationships with people, places and things that are sucking your energy. This could be an addiction to drugs or a person that continuously compromises the trust of your relationship. Life is too short! I can not stress that enough. None of us are promised tomorrow. I personally, have no desire to spend my last day on earth, which could be today, Lord forbid, fighting, arguing and crying.

LETTING SPIRIT: After you open your door to LET GO, so that flow can be fluid, and you LET IN so that you can be prepared to receive new blessings, then you need to LET SPIRIT. Once you have CLEANED up yourself, you can invite SPIRIT OVER for a chat. It is like a guest. You wouldn't invite a very important guest to your home without cleaning it up first would you?

I am a very neat and tidy person for the most part- but we all HAVE something that needs to be gotten up before someone comes over, or cleaned. That is human nature but I am speaking figuratively. I am talking about your housekeeping on the INSIDE of you. Your Spirit is like the Celebrity of the universe! It is your's! It is a big deal! It's a star, you are a star! It needs red carpet treatment.Once you let that Spirit come in, then you will allow the universe to work it's magic. ASK FOR IT AND BELIEVE YOU WILL RECEIVE IT! However, you slow this process down if your place isn't clean and open for business. It is like asking someone to come in your house and help you with a project. If you have things all over the floor, counter, the laundry piled up, toys and clothes all over the place, old food laying about- how in the world will they be able to get in there, get in there real good, if they have no room to work?! And more importantly, WHY would you ask for something when there is no room for it to be placed anywhere once you receive it because you have too much clutter and mess?!

You ask for a loving relationship but are you convinced you truly deserve one? Do you know what to do with it once you receive it?Is there room in your life for one? Are you able to accept and embrace a person that truly loves you or are you just in love with the idea of it??? What do you have to offer to someone romantically? Are you DBR? (Damaged Beyond Repair)? Now I personally, believe that everyone is 'fixable' but the key point is that, not everyone wants to be fixed and we can not fix anyone but ourselves. What we can do is help eachother, if someone wants help but the fixing has to come from within that person. They have to have a desire for it. No one is perfect, we all have our shortcomings and flaws but some people are Predators. That means we have no time or room for them in our lives. They are our trash. There is no sense in holding onto trash, even if you've gotten used to it and you love it. Trash creates clutter and causes there to be no room for blessings or real love.

I am not saying that any human being is trash. We are created by the Supreme so, we can not be literally trash. What I am saying is that their soul can be contaminated and 'trashy'. If that is the case- then you are in trouble if you are dealing with them in any capacity. 'Trashy' people, soulwise, will suck your energy right out of you. I have been through what many of you have been through and then some. I am fully aware of how hard it is to let go of someone that you love dearly even though you know energy wise, they are killing and draining you. I know what it is like to stay in a situation, rather it is a job or whatever, because you don't think you have anywhere else to turn. IF YOU WERE DESIGNED FROM GREATNESS, YOU ALWAYS HAVE SOMEWHERE TO TURN, AND DON'T YOU FORGET IT! GOD DOES NOT LEAVE US HERE ALONE! You are NOT an ISLAND!

LET GO, LET IN, LET SPIRIT.

Now, in January 2008, let's GET TO WORK!

BE BLESSED,

AZURE DAWN

Can a Tiger Change His Stripes?

2007-10-03T12:34:00Z

I have conducted countless readings regarding love and relationships. I can safely say that most psychics are asked relationship questions 75% of the time when we are called for readings. Love is a billion dollar industry (dating sites, clothing shops, perfume/cologne, make-up, and hair-care) That isn't just for us- it is also so we can feel attractive about ourselves but also to our potential or current mate. Due to innate human longing to be connected with another human being, we do all sorts of things. From the beginning of our development in our mother's womb, we long to be taken care of and to feel warm and comforted. Our mother's body gives us nourishment and once we enter the world,

we are shocked by the bright lights and sounds and simply want someone to assure us that everything will be okay. We cling to mommy. We get familiar with her scent. We know her voice, we even known the exact rhythm of her heartbeat. No one can replace mommy. Dad is great, but at least for those first few weeks, months and sometimes even years, mommy is where it is at because we were inside of her body and she was the first one that ever loved us outside of God.

As we grow up and mature, we begin to see that others are capable of giving and receiving love as well. Others can supply us with a love that mommy can't, romantic puppy love. We enter our teens and sometimes because boy or girl crazy or shyly swoon over a secret crush that takes our breath away. His or her name is written in our notebook, inside our locker and we 'pretend' to be a couple with them even if we may have never spoken to them in our entire lives. Then we grow past this stage and become even more mature and start actually meeting potential mates or getting to know what was originally a 'puppy love' situation develops into a full blown love affair as time passes. We learn about love through observation, our natural emotions, and outside influences. We sift and sort this information and some of it we may not even realize is influencing us. Somewhere along the line though, we had a mental 'model' of what we wanted. We may not have given much thought to it, but we knew when we 'saw' this person or spent time with them, that they matched our prototype. It may not have even been a physical prototype; it could have been a personality one etc. The problems come in when we hold on to a prototype that was possibly created by seeing our parents in an unstable relationship/marriage and soap operas as well as cheesy romance novels. We meet various people and try to 'force' them into the cubby hole we created. Sometimes, they fit part of the way, most of the way or not at all but that is hard to tell at first in the beginning stages of a relationship because everyone has their best foot forward when you first meet them. When have you met someone and on the first date they say,

"Oh, by the way...I've never been faithful to any of the women I dated. I can not keep a job for longer than 30 days. I have a long police record that includes 17 felonies. I have a horrible temper. I am possessive and controlling and on occasion have been tempted to knock a chick's teeth down her throat if she gets mouthy. I am not very good with money, I expect to have 3 home cooked meals a day rather my future girlfriend/wife works or not and my shirts and pants ironed even if I am not working and I am a mama's boy. I'm a great catch though."

If these sort of statements were stated from the gate, most women would be gone from that table immediately! We would grab our purse, tell that person Adios and vanish never to be seen again! If people were not putting their best foot forward and not covering the truth about whom they really were, many of us would have been saved a lot of heartache in the dating world.

So now this topic is coming full circle by me jumping to the title: Can a tiger change its stripes? Technically, yes however this is not something we should put all of our stock in or bank on, for a variety of reasons. Relationships are like investments. They take monitoring and some work but they should not be labor. It should not constantly hurt to love your mate. If your mate is a very jealous person and you have prayed, talked with them, suggested counseling etc. and nothing has changed, then you need to understand that it may never change. The only things you can control in this world are your actions and thoughts as well as responses. Everything else is out of your hands! Once you realize this and understand it, you will be less stressed. We do not have control over other people's life, just as no one technically has control over ours. No one can tell you what to think and how to feel- those belong to you. Even men and women that are incarcerated have freedom of mind. Even men and women in the military that may undergo all sorts of mind games in order to see if they can break, have their own mind though they may appear to all cling to the same thoughts and have no separate identities. This simply isn't true because our dna proves it is not true and never can be. You’re very genetic make-up proves that you are incapable of being totally controlled and forced to be like someone else. It can be that way temporarily, but it can never last because nature always wins. It can never happen- a total complete change unless you really want that and train yourself to be that way. Even identical twins have differences rather an on-looker can see it or not. So with that said, if you change or shift, it will be you doing it and no one else can do it. A Tiger only changes its stripes when it decides it no longer likes the pattern.

You and whatever army will not be able to change that tiger's stripes and any temporary changes that occur under the pressure of your influence, will typically revert back over time. No one stays a changed man or woman if they made that change 100% for someone else. Those changes are temporary only to appease you. People have to change because they WANT to change. A person, who is incapable of being faithful, has to get to the root of the reason why they disrespect themselves and their relationships that way. It is something that is going on with THEM, not their partners. A person that is constantly yelling at their mate has to get to the root of why they become so angry and demonstrative, especially when they notice it never changes anything and actually sometimes makes it worse. It is an issue with THEM, not their partner. Their partner may have said or done something that helped cause the anger, but we CHOOSE our reactions. A person that refuses to support their family and uses excuses to not get a job in order to bring in some income if they are able bodied has to look internally as to why they will not do what they need to do in order to be a responsible adult. It has nothing to do with their partner; it has to come from them and for them. Therefore, you waste a lot of time and energy on people that you are trying to change, if that is your mission. You can foster desire in them to change, but they have to want it even more than YOU DO FOR THEM, for it to happen and stick!

So....don't worry about your Tiger changing his or her stripes, concentrate on changing your own life and making choices that benefit you. Change your own stripes. You didn't paint your partners stripes on them and you can not erase them. Only they can.

God Bless and Be Well

Azure Dawn is available for readings

8:30 P.M. - 10:00 P.M. EST M-F

Your not the boss of me!- Taking Control over YOUR Life.

2007-05-31T13:39:00Z

You will free yourself from the cumbersome impossibilities of needing to control the world, your friends, your mate, your children…-The Secret

When someone has the strong desire to control another person, it usually is a direct reflection of that controller’s lack of self control over aspects of their own life. This could be something as small as not able to control their time management to something (not waking up on time for work or working late into the night time and time again) or as large as unable to stop an addictive habit, like cocaine abuse that is physically and spiritually killing them. We have to accept that there are some things in this world, which we can not control. Once we start trying to push, prod, shove and make things happen unnaturally, we interfere with the natural karmic blueprint of the situation which can cause the end results to slow down or be taken off course completely. It is important to be proactive in your life, but it is also important to respect the boundaries of certain situations.

Think about the first part of the quote of this blog: “You will free yourself…”

Do you know what it feels like to be totally free? Children playing in a sprinkler in their front lawn… Laughing, soaking wet then running to the side walk as they hear the ice cream man approaching.

Freedom to many, is having their own business. Telling themselves when to rise and shine, what their benefits provider will be, when their lunch time and when they need

to ‘return’ to work and having paid vacations if they so choose. Having an ‘in house, free of charge day care’ and having home cooked meals for lunch versus a buffet from the dollar menu then rushing back to the office in a mad dash.

Freedom to most of us, is being able to have control over our own lives. We feel enslaved to our existence if things are happening that are out of our control. Sometimes when that happens, we try to cope with this by inadvertently trying to control others. A prime example is the terrible Supervisor who yells and screams at his employees and watches everything they do in typical micro management style. He doesn’t realize that he is slowing down their productivity because employees in this sort of hostile environment, have a higher turn over rate, they are often late for work or call in sick and their work performance is often lacking. Happy employees make better workers. This is just a fact but some Supervisors need to control others overrules common sense. If the employee come back from lunch in 31 minutes versus the 30 that he allows, they get written up. He asks them to keep track of everything they do for weekly reviews and he calls them into his office talking to them about a personal call that lasted 3.47 minutes. There are no incentive programs offered, no company parties or activities to foster fellowship and trust and the pay is poor.

This type of Supervisor, most likely, feels out of control in their own life. They are trying to define themselves by being able to control others when in fact, it is only a temporary remedy and keeps them further and further removed from their own happiness. Many times, people that need this sort of control in order to distract themselves from their own lack of control, gravitate towards positions where they are exclusive, work alone and have power to influence someone else. It is an unfortunate cause and effect. Each act of excessive control they exert is another step backwards towards their own personal freedom. Not being able to control yourself is a loss of personal freedom. Not being able to control how you respond to others, is another loss of personal freedom.

Doing small things, to administer control and freedom over your life are steps to a brand new, empowered you.

1. Asking for that raise that you know you deserve but have been to shy to ask for. You can be told No, but at least you asked and that lets your boss know that you are wishing to be compensated for your work and that you know that you are an asset to the company.

2. Getting your hair cut for the summer when for the past 10 years, those tresses have never seen a pair of sheers. Some people hide behind clothes, hair, and weight- anything that helps ‘cover’ their spirit up. Not everyone with long hair and that could lose a few lbs is a control freak or hiding, don’t get me wrong- but these are simply common physical disguises humans use in order to distract themselves from their center and their issues that need to be addressed.

3. Deciding that a cheeseburger and coke is not the way to get that 10 lbs off for the summer and opting for a small salad and unsweetened iced tea instead. Making yourself work out while watching your favorite TV. program. You are making choices and setting up ‘NEW’ habits. You are taking CONTROL over YOUR life.

It is YOUR life. No one is going to steer the wheel better than you and your Creator. Take control of yourself.

In each of these cases, you make sacrifices, but you reap rewards. You have empowerment now. The more you do it, the easier it becomes. You gain another slice of freedom and you have less of a need to control and dominate others.

Keep in mind, giving someone constructive criticism or disciplining your children are necessary parts of our relationships though at times unpleasant. I am not talking about the daily maintenance that is needed in our work and personal relationships. I am talking about the person, like the Supervisor example, that seems to live their life through others and get great pleasure out of rules and stipulations that have no rhyme nor reason.

Examples of losing control of self and controlling others:

1. The father or mother that forces their child to participate in a sport or school activity that the child hates, simply so that the parent can brag to others and live their ‘second childhood’ through their offspring.

2. The wife or husband who constantly nags about two crumbs on the counter, from day to night instead of addressing the TRUE reason they are upset. They will never be free as long as they concentrate on the symptoms of their distress in their marriage. It isn’t the crumbs that upsets them as much as it is the fact that they do not feel appreciated by their spouse.

3. The teenager who is a school bully and feels hated by his or her parents. Once at school they can play a new role in which they are coveted and feared. Causing fear, distress and pain is their way of gaining control. When they get home, they have no control and feel oppressed and display self loathing and low self esteem.

Take time out to take back what is yours. Freedom is a gift from our Creator. When we give in to the temptation to try to rule and dominate over others, we give up a part of our personal freedom in order to impair another’s. That is a lose-lose situation. We impair our freedom with the choices we make over the years, and even the thoughts we have. If you think something often enough, you will believe it. Free your mind and the rest will follow. Stop playing old horrible tapes in your mind of the past traumas. They are enslaving you. Stop telling yourself you will never find a decent job. Stop telling yourself no one could ever fall in love with you. Stop telling yourself that you are a failure. Stop telling yourself to stay with someone that doesn't love you because you don't deserve any better. Stop telling yourself you are not worthy.

Create NEW MENTAL tapes:

I WILL get a job. I TAKE CONTROL over this situation.

I WILL receive true love. I TAKE CONTROL over this situation.

I WILL no longer accept being abused by others. I TAKE CONTROL over this situation.

Otherwise known as affirmations, say them, be convicted and mean it.

God Bless you and may your day and week be filled with abundant blessings.

I am available for readings and prayer.

Azure Dawn