Musings on Money, Jobs, Career

Navigating Change, Shifting Perspectives, Exploring Freedom, Maintaining Balance

What’s the relationship between money, a job, and a career? The simple answer is that a job or career is work that provides development of skills, opportunities for growth, a platform for collaboration, income, security, and fulfillment. Oversimplification by collapsing the three into one association where we perceive our job to equal our career which equals our source of money can birth the belief that we must stay in a certain job to make money. The below video paints a valid picture:

Digging deeper, let’s break down job, career, and money to examine how these aspects relate but are different. For each area I associate the following descriptions, associations, implications, and keywords:

General

Job: work, money, teamwork, connection, interaction, collaboration, choice, freedom, knowledge, experience, opportunity, leadership, charisma, power, empowerment

Career: mastery, longevity, experience, wisdom, knowledge, fulfillment, satisfaction, completion, full cycle, growth, building, evolution, promotion, transformation, power, empowerment, leadership

Money: currency, flow, in and out, exchange, energy, abundance, resources, freedom, experience, security, sharing, ability to help others, leverage, power

Specific for me:

Job: sales, marketing, business development, community building, event management, event planning, consulting

Career: health, wellness, empowerment, pole

Money: navigate with intuition, plentiful, ebb and flow, resourceful

What are your personal associations with each word: job, career, and money? Try listing them out.

Jobs for me have followed this general trajectory: beginning - excitement, stimulation, eagerness to learn, middle - savviness, groove, mastery of work, end - feeling of completion and fulfillment.

At the junction of a complete role and a new role, feelings of stagnation arise especially if the transition between the two positions is long and slow. Currently, I am in one of those cycles with Saturn and Pluto in second house Capricorn and Uranus in fifth house Taurus.

With time and space to reflect and plan, I analyzed the following:

Prior Method: Relying primarily on feeling and intuition to navigate, flowing to where I felt called with the mantra spend more, make more and if you have choice A and B, get both. The underlying energy was one of expansion and abundance.

Recognizing the need to change: Within the past year, it became apparent that my prior means and navigational methods called for an update.

New Method: One that encompasses the old but also adds structure, mechanics, slow, steady building and growth with the actions of budgeting, resourcefulness, and a keen sense of discernment where the answer is not always yes and more, but sometimes no.

Weaving elements of the prior method with new additions creates a balance between intuitive expansion and logical structure, a formula that reaps long term benefits.

Helpful realizations related to money:

When we equate a job with one source of income, we can feel stuck and tethered to that role. If we open to receiving money from seen and unseen places, realizing and recognizing that a job does not need to be our only source of income, we can embody expansion and liberation.

Self-Experimentation Highlights and Recognition:

Upon entering the workforce after college, I equated job with money and stability. However, within months of my first job, I desired freedom of time and money, and in my early 20s Tim Ferriss’ 4-Hour Work Week book inspired me to work as little as possible and have financial freedom to do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. This attitude prompted me to work with smaller and smaller companies until I eventually had the courage to go freelance and experience the four hour work week style.

However, what I realized is that without purpose, intention, and societal contribution, no matter how much money you make or how many beautiful places you visit, the exact same feeling of entrapment that arises when you are in a specific role for too long also occurs when you have unlimited freedom and lack of direction. This stuck, lost sense stems from lack of purpose despite how much or little money you have.

I believe the answers for foundational balance lie in maintaining multiple streams of financial income, experiencing collaboration, teamwork, structure, and purpose in work and mastering skills, expanding, and evolving in your career. In this light, here are my refined goals:

Job: growth and development of new skills, challenges to maximize potential, interaction with people, connecting community, collaboration and working with others, planning and organizing, space for expansion

Career: health, wellness, environment, human empowerment, fulfillment on all levels

Money: steady flow, abundance to spare and share, residual income, multiple sources

What are your visions for your job, career, and monetary income?

🎉 Celebrating 10 Years of Pole 🎉

Importance of Foundation, Roots, and Fundamentals in Pole, Balancing Innovation with Tradition

Pole Show LA ‘15 Reef Routine via Alloy Images

In honor of my 10-year Poleversary, here is a post on the importance of roots and solid foundation in pole dance. For background on how I got started and my pole path read ‘My Pole Dance Journey’ then return to this article.

In 2001 at age 16, I took my first pole class with Kristina at S Factor but have been involved in the industry consistently since October 2008. One of the original BeSpun Girls, I instructed at BeSpun from ‘09-’16 along with a number of other studios in LA including The Choreography House, The Vertitude, and Metamorphosis.

My roles in the pole industry include: student since ‘08, teacher since ‘09, private events performer since ‘09, XPERT instructor since ‘11, XPERT Master Trainer since ‘12, X-POLE US Marketing Director (‘11-’14), Girl Next Door Principle Cast Member (‘10-’13), Kelly Maglia’s Vertical Theater performer (‘10-’11), Pole Show LA performer (‘10-’16), Pole Presenter at fitness expos TheFitExpo and SCW Mania since ‘12, Co-Founder & Event Producer of professional pole league PCS (Pole Championship Series) (‘12-present), Pole Fitness Co-Chair of world’s largest international Sports Festival by Arnold Schwarzenegger since ‘14, and Co-Creator of POLE-GA (‘18).

Upon starting pole, twisted grip handspring was the most difficult move. There were fewer than a dozen true pole stars and Lil’ Mynx was still in the mix. PoleFit did not yet exist, and there was only one major pole competition in the US.

With pole’s growing popularity and the arrival of smart phones and social media, pole content is everywhere. Students come to class asking to learn X or Y from Instagram. In the early days we relied on the unique skills and talent of each instructor and trained face-to-face. Online pole lessons were sparse and many of the earliest inspirations came from YouTube sensations such as Tara Karina, Karol Helms, and Leigh Ann. Similar to how consumers drive the market, student requests can influence and shape class direction.

The number of pole studios, gyms offering pole, home pole sales, students, teachers, online pole lessons, competitions, shows, and teacher trainings is growing exponentially. However, one element that seems to be diminishing is strong foundation, pole fundamentals, building blocks, and layers of moves. There are hundreds of beginner and intermediate techniques many of which are skipped due to an interest in fancier tricks. Students come to class asking to learn the spatchcock but cannot yet perform an inside leg hang.

I don’t want to deter excitement for learning certain tricks but do argue that mastery of fundamentals is key to longevity, depth, well-roundedness, grace, smooth transitions, quality of form, injury prevention, and more. Mastery of basics and the ability to add layers upon moves enables polers to learn anything and to build a vast library over time.

Here are some tips to ensure a balanced and enriching pole experience:

Teachers

1. Be strict with form such as pointed toes and extension

2. Encourage new elements learned in class to be performed in freestyle

3. Provide level options for all moves

4. Encourage mastery of techniques before moving on with sloppy form

5. Incorporate strength and flexibility training in classes

6. Teach moves equally on both sides

Students

1. Master the basics and layer moves

2. Have patience

3. Balance training and repetition with proper rest

4. Train both sides evenly

5. Listen to the instructor

Studios

1. Create curriculum and enrollment based programs. The longer execution curve of pole makes a series more conducive to learning.

2. Educate students on dos and don’ts (post a list of suggestions at studio)

3. Offer class levels and other types of modalities for cross training

Pole’s multi-faceted nature gives rise to a myriad of styles, for it is a combination of dance, acrobatics, gymnastics, aerial, stylized movement, fitness, and more. Styles and tricks will vary but safe and effective techniques through mastery of fundamentals should be priority with any style. Quality of form and movement is not only more visually appealing, but also healthier! The body feels good moving efficiently and freely. As pole evolves, balancing innovation with tradition is key.

If you want to chat further on the topic, let’s connect at my pole page.

A Deeper Look at Manifestation + An Epiphany

Creation only happens in the present moment. That which was created has passed. That which has not been created does not exist.

Fun exercise: Test this concept next time you enter a raffle or lottery. Exactly as the winning numbers or name is being drawn, intensely focus your mind on winning and repeat your numbers in your head. Notice your victories. This tiny trick has more power than simply saying, “I hope I win that raffle or lottery.”

Preface

Honoring and accepting one’s journey and that of others is essential. Everyone’s method toward discovering truth, connection, and unity is unique. No way is better than the next. We cannot compare or judge. My intentions are not to say one method is right. I share only from personal experience.

Overview

In this post, we take a deeper look at manifestation, conscious creation, and surrender exploring their meanings, nature, methods, and processes.

Manifestation Defined

Manifestation applies to expression, production, and creation. The type of manifestation I want to focus on takes place in the world of form and matter, where from a spark, we create in the earthly realm. Inspiration through the energy of a flash enters the human vessel and is expressed across multiple planes - in the mental plane through words and sound, in the emotional plane through movement (energy in motion), and in the physical plane through tangible product. Energy becomes denser (slower moving and in a sense “hardened”) when we manifest from spark to physical object. The sequence of events may go something like this: inspiration becomes thought, then word, then action, then outcome.

Humans as Manifestors

As humans, we are manifestors and can master the art of manifestation. Some naturally manifest without training while others learn how to enhance their abilities. Even the naturally inclined manifestor can sharpen or refine his or her ability to manifest. We all have this power.

Manifestation Tools

Various tools and practices are used in the manifestation process. These include but are not limited to chants, prayer, visualizations, rituals, affirmations, intention setting, crystal work, candle work, spoken word, mind focus, breath work, and movement of light. In addition to tools and actions used to direct energy, subtle body work includes healing, clearing, opening, and creating space through which energy can flow. Manifestation is a balance between action and non-action, between moving into alignment and leaving space for results.

Next Steps

First, we experiment with tools and then recognize the ability to create. Once knowledge and trust ensue, refinement follows. Fine tuning methods increase specificity, efficiency, and outcome. The overall intention of any manifestation work is to align with divine will, highest self, and produce an outcome for the greatest good of all.

Manifestation Mindfulness

Not all manifestation is aligned with the greatest good of all such as the systems and infrastructure in our current world. Much of what exists today was created by ego-driven human will - the desire for money, power, authority, or “problem” solving. Not all were creating from a conscious place of awareness, divine will, alignment with highest self, and for the greatest good of all.

More and more humans, however, are waking up and creating from a place of consideration for the environment and others. Ultimately the source from which humans create varies. The spark of inspiration can be manyfold - reaction to a prior event, the effect of strong emotion, ego driven will, or soul cravings. We attempt to create as consciously as we can, but again the outcomes depend on our level of awareness and knowledge of truth.

Personal Story: An Epiphany

Earlier this year, I had an epiphany, which led me to take a deeper look at manifestation. What came to my attention was that the majority of manifestation work I had been practicing revolved around physical outcomes. Examples included a home, a job, a lover, money, resources, a car, friends, communities, travel, adventures, experiences, people, activities, roles, and more things.

I then began focusing less on things and more on states of being or conditions such as peace, calmness, contentment, happiness, love, and so on.

As more desired outcomes came to fruition, the process became smoother, less of a production, and more second nature. Depending on my wishes, I intended segments by days, weeks, months, years, and so on.

However, a common pattern existed. After achieving one goal and then the next, there was always the need for more. Something was incomplete. Happiness and contentment were present, but I could not pinpoint the missing piece.

After asking for insight into what this void could be, the answer was wholeness but what did that mean?

Turning Point

After traveling throughout the UK in majestic, pure nature, I arrived home and would sit in open eyed meditation before a white wall. Months prior I had experienced greater detachment from physical objects and scenarios. As my gaze extended further and further into the white abyss, meaning dwindled. Soon nothing was meaningful. I was a little scared - “is this depression?” I thought. “Am I going crazy?” “How can I start to care about things?”

I then began asking myself, “what do you desire? What do you want to manifest and create?” Nothing. No hints. No response. Nada… Days, weeks went by. I didn’t feel like manifesting or creating anything. What a shock! I mean seven planets retrograde but still, nothing??

Then one day, in front of the white wall, so far out, so detached, a clear and booming message came through. That message was: In nothingness stands God. An overwhelming sense of tingling and love filled my body. Love and light poured into that missing sliver. I felt whole!

A few hints preceded this turning point. Months prior, while in the Akashic records, I asked, “what’s my purpose?” The response was: “to build the kingdom of heaven on Earth.” My eyes opened. Isn’t that biblical, I thought? I then began getting more and more language from the bible and looked into it further. Though I do not consider myself a particular religion and pull from many traditions, most recently biblical lexicon has come through.

Surrendering to God’s Will

After the desire to manifest ceased, and the white wall days integrated, I arrived at a new method of creation that is still forming and developing.

After this epiphany, of course the whole world didn’t change. Challenges and friction still exist. However, my perception of value and my approach toward creation shifted. Rather than starting from the question, “what can I manifest?” I surrender by opening to the will of the Creator, ask for the call, and wait. “Where am I called to show up?” Openness and non-action initiate the process. Then divine guidance prompts action.

Prior I thought that I was creating in alignment with Source and for the greatest good. However, even if we hold this belief, there are elements hidden in the human subconscious and unconscious that influence outcomes. Only full surrender to God’s will removes bias from the human conscious, subconscious, and unconscious realms. Surrender is space and listening for the call to create, to speak, and to act.

Faith and Trust

Surrender may cause the will to question or uprise, particularly the ego facet (the survivor, the separatist, the special one). Without the creation of forms that provide our subtle bodies with comfort and ease, a new element is required - faith. Faith and trust are by no means blind, for you know that you are on track. It’s just that this path is dark and unlit. Sometimes the work is to let go, to get off track from the path you were on.

The other day my car accidentally went on “TRAC OFF” mode, and I was like, “WTH is that?” After reflecting, the message was that more surrender is needed. Let go to find the right path.

How then do we navigate?

New Method of Creation

As I said before, the approach of surrender is new for me, and the method is still in development.

Step 1 - Explore

Explore your deepest soul level desires. Ask, “what does my soul want?”

Exercise: Close your eyes. Ask yourself, “what do I want right now?” What comes to mind? When I did this, what came to mind was a new home and a new job. Close your eyes again. This time ask, “what is my soul’s deepest desire?” Notice what comes to mind. Is it the same or different? When I asked the latter question, what came to mind was, I want a deep connection with a romantic partner. Quite unexpected! This desire was resting beneath the surface. What are your deepest desires? Go deeper, beyond stuff!

Step 2 - Decide

After exploration, determine what your soul wants.

Step 3 - Ask

Ask God with your full focus and heart for these desires.

Step 4 - Align

As we know, alignment is dynamic and requires constant adjustment. Once you are in alignment, you must articulate and stay aligned. Ask for guidance on how to align. Alignment comes in many forms.

Step 5 - Surrender

After you have asked for your desires, wait, and follow guidance. Outcomes may be instant, take time, or come in another form.

Conclusion

In sum, my prior method of manifestation kept me comfortable and happy. I had all the “stuff,” went to all the places, felt the good feels, had amazing relationships, happiness, excitement, adventure, and so on. However, with all of this, there was the tiniest sliver missing.

After returning from Scotland and connecting more closely with the Creator, that void is filled. Merging with the creator is wholeness! Other states felt and seemed close, but there was always a subtle lack.

This realization led me away from manifestation as I knew it to the discovery of a new method, one that entails complete surrender to God’s will, listening, and then acting.

Currently I am in the phase of exploring deepest desires, which are more abstract than before. Some include: 1. a closer connection with God and Self. 2. a beautiful, working world 3. deep, meaningful connections with all beings 4. freedom and space to clearly and abundantly create 5. infinite love, space, bliss, beauty, and harmony

I believe this method leaves space for divine outcomes that are unimaginable with human will alone!

Ethics for Healers and Readers

We all grow up learning manners, following rules, and receiving a certain degree of education from parents, mentors, older siblings, friends or institutions. Upbringing, experiences, mass consciousness, systems, companies, and people shape values while structure and laws define, control, and organize societies. In general, every society has a standard of ethics, morals, manners, and codes present from the macro to micro levels.

Throughout life we meet people with similar or different values and belief systems. In a clash of values, mild to intense friction occurs which triggers our emotions and thoughts. A period of contemplation and reflection ensue. With patience, we may have the aha moment - I was triggered because this situation challenged my value of X, Y, or Z.

What is acceptable and expected in one culture may be the exact opposite in another. Acceptance of the soul or consciousness beneath its set of values is the goal, which sounds simple but is not so easy. Practicing release of expectation, full love and acceptance of that which challenges your core is a whole separate topic but we can start by opening up to the will of the Creator.

In the realms of healing, reading, and energy work, there are almost no written standards followed by healers statewide, nationwide, or worldwide. Some formal education and trusted schools such as 22 Teachings exist in the realm of alternative healing, reading, and metaphysics, but many practitioners are self-taught and have mentors.

Similar to how innovative paradigms (music streaming and cryptocurrency, for example) are followed by a new set of ethics, rules, and regulating bodies, the field of energy work may need some standards as well. When practices exist in underground settings, unique one on one encounters occur, and there is not always a need for specific codes of conduct or regulating bodies. However, as healing continues to become more accessible and accepted by the mainstream with booking platforms such as Oh Holisticism, appropriate standards must follow.

Will these regulating bodies look like the Constitution or state medical boards? No, because we are in a new paradigm and era. Also, healing is an art, which cannot be restricted to a set of laws. I don’t know exactly what these standards will look like but definitely sense the need for something. Depending on the type of energy work, techniques are rooted in different systems and may come in many forms. In ancient yogic tradition for example codes of behavior were spoken and written in scripture: non-stealing, non-harming, non-hoarding, and more.

When people recount stories such as “a reader told me my boyfriend is going to cheat on me,” “a healer needs $350 to remove a spell,” “I felt emotionally violated by a shaman out in the woods during a plant medicine ceremony,” “this drunk girl tried to do Reiki on me at a restaurant,” etc., I think of a few things: 1. the experience was a learning lesson for the subject 2. the situation was karmic for the subject 3. researching and receiving trusted referrals is key, and finally 4. how can situations like these be regulated more effectively?

Everyone has free will to choose whatever facilitators he or she desires, but I think there could be a few more credibility checkpoints and resources for those seeking practitioners. One solution is trusted sources like Oh Holisticism. New World Native also has a useful system of reviews, referrals, insurance checks, and more.

With technology and the wide ranging availability of information and materials, a greater need for discernment rests on the individual. Public figures may have a “verified” badge on Facebook or Instagram, but ultimately one must assess and verify sources with their own research. Choice is in the individual.

Returning to the topic of energy healing and alternative wellness offerings, I believe an “ethical” healer works directly through and via the Creator embodying a vessel and channel for divine light and messages. If there is a certain amount of interference from the healer’s individual will, emotional, mental, energetic “stuff,” programs or complexes (the martyr, the fixer, the know it all), etc., the work may not be aligned with the subject’s greatest good. Nonetheless, the experience will have value and be a learning lesson, and more knowledge leads us to greater clarity and wisdom.

Here are some rules and ethos I follow:

• Optimally prepare and keep yourself as clean, clear, and charged as possible.

• Dissolve and move your will out of the way to let divine will radiate forth and flow.

• Leave out the questioning mind. Here is an example of how that mind may talk during a reading: “Should I really say this? Maybe the person shouldn’t know. Should I say this? Maybe the person should know. How much or little detail should I give?”

• Speak directly with the Creator for what to say or do. There is a flow, ease, and non-resistance with this method. You KNOW, you don’t need to think about it.

• Always ask permission to work on someone and wait until a person approaches you for help. In some cases, you are divinely guided to reach out to help, but the question of “may I help you?’ should precede any involvement. I believe this is particularly important for the astral realm. Do not step into someone’s field without permission.

• Observe, discern, and practice the best you know how.

• Stick to methods that work but always be open to innovation and updates in your technique.

• Educate yourself with schooling and teachers after researching which ones would be best for your growth and development.

• Receive relevant and trusted certificates whenever possible.

• The Golden Rule: One blanket rule, that encompasses all, is to surrender and follow divine will. You will be completely guided and led on what to do and say.***

***This last rule is all we need, but the rules above it are practical in getting to this golden rule!

Also the question is, what standards will arise that keep the realm balanced? Or, are none needed and do we let the field grow and take shape organically learning lessons along the way? I think there is a happy medium.

What healing or reading protocol do you follow? What do you think about the topic of healer ethics?

Understanding the Realms of Cause and Effect

With Sunday's new moon approaching, we will clean, clear, set intentions and plant seeds for that which we wish to create and grow.  Since we cannot force seeds to grow, the way in which we nurture and care for them is key - proper elements, nutrients, attention, and space.

In setting intentions we often focus in the realm of effect - the outcomes, experiences, or conditions that we desire: clarity, wisdom, focus, health, presence, abundance, love, meaningful relationships, new X, Y, or Z in the physical plane.

Though we intend for outcomes, the way we support our intentions is by spending time and working in the realm of cause.  Practices, that which we think, say, and act, comprise this world.

Let's use yoga as an example.  Through the practice of specific restraints and habits, asana, the seats or foundations of postures, movement, and pranayama, breath control, our life force moves more freely through the subtle bodies and our senses strengthen - the ability to see, hear, feel, and know.  As a result of practice, we gain power to focus, meditate, and experience bliss.

We do not practice focus, meditation, and bliss.  Instead, we practice the habits, postures, and breathing techniques to prepare the body for these states.  We may practice sitting for long periods of time, but this is not necessarily meditation.  Meditation is the effect of practice over time.  The ability to focus and create with mental focus is another effect that comes with practice.

Aspects that fall in the realm of cause include moving the body, sitting in stillness, breathing, focusing on a single object or point in space, conducting rituals, facilitating healing, engaging and connecting with people, clearly communicating, writing and reading affirmations aloud, pausing between the occurrence of an external event and the response, consciously leaving space by not filling openness with words or action.

Effects come after days, weeks, months, years, decades, or lifetimes of practice.   Practicing in the realm of cause supports intentions and creations.  Effects happen with practice.

Ultimately that which we practice in the realm of cause assists to clear and remove blockages from the subtle bodies - physical, mental, emotional, and energetic.  In time our wills soften, we are left in greater stillness, peace, and openness - conditions where we hear, feel, see, know and more fully and deeply connect with God.

Once reached, states which first existed in the world of effect - peace, clarity, abundance, focus, health, joy, bliss - then become the new realm of cause.  Effects from attainment of these states are for us to discover...and the evolution continues...