Keys to Making Decisions and Picking Choices

We all are given many choices and decisions to make each and every day. Some come easy and some not so much...

Along my path I have learned many things about making right choices and right decisions. The best advice I have ever received on this subject came from my mentor, Maestra Shiloh Sophia. Rather than fumble along, trying to explain what she has taught me, I share with you an excerpt that she shared with her tribe:

"Dear One,

I was talking with a friend today - listening and supporting. When the tears and conversation felt complete enough, I shared what I think is my most sound and powerful piece of counsel. Now let me say - this belongs to all beings and I know lots of people teach on it - so it isn't my wisdom alone, just a bit of it that I like to share. Having it available in language and clearly defined, a system, rocks. Especially if you work with women...so here goes. I am also working on a small book about this and looking for a cool name for the 'system' so it can be easily shared. Got any ideas?

ALIGNMENT SYSTEM OF MAKING IMPORTANT CHOICES A process of making sure YOU are in alignment before you jump or fly! When making ANY important personal DECISIONS or CHOICES you check with 7 things before you say no/yes. Confusion can be common amongst all of us since we can be pulled in many directions at once - and just the general state of the world.

So pick something to work with and enjoy!

FEET

YONI

TUMMY

HEART

MIND

HANDS

THROAT

So you begin... You say the 'thing' you are dealing with in language - out loud or written down so your voice is in action at the beginning and the end - it is an intention. Then you ask each of those areas yes/no. Preferably you either make contact with those things or you just hold them in your awareness but 'go there' in some way to make a connection.

You can just ask Heart what say you? Or make up the sentence any way you want but you need to 'place' the inquiry energetically into the field or 'domain' of that thing.

IF you don't get a YES in all areas then it is a NO. If it wobbles between, it's wait. Some of us are really hooked up with our inner knowing and intuition, and others of us, myself included, are so creatively emotionally charged that we may go into areas that aren't all good for us. I am a fooooooool for love and will follow my heart and disregard all the other stuff! Hence why I get the other parts of me involved :) Further, I don't always trust myself, so having a system is helpful for me. You know how people always say - trust the process? Well in my line of work - teaching art - people almost never trust the process - they may trust me - but not what is showing up in their canvas - so I say - YOU DON'T have to trust the process - just keep going.

A few more thoughts on the system: Is the order important? I think so - because the mind can have this way of impacting all the other stuff (have you noticed? lol). Let the mind answer once it has been informed by the embodied parts of you. I cannot tell you how awesome this is - and how amazing it has been when I work with young women - and if they don't get the YES - they WAIT. Sometimes the YES comes later because it isn't time. And a good NO is priceless and needed more than we use it.

Why hands? The hands hold tons of information. They are also very real visually. They say in a dream if you can look at your hands you can wake up or have access to knowing you are in a dream. So when I do the hand part I hold my hands out and look at them. Each time you do this you will find little ways of making it work for you. It is a meditation when chosen mindfully and can be quite refreshing!

Why start at the feet? Well you likely know how much information the feet hold in much of the medicine traditions throughout the world. In addition to, that I would say - that your feet are what connects you to earth and have you walk to the next thing. So it grounds you as you journey up. Finding your footing so to speak. And also in my personal cosmology - it gives back to the earth each time you connect with earth.

What's a yoni? A nice word that is easier to say than vagina or the P*y word - although I like that one very much. You can call it what you want in your own language! I like flower too. Each one has a different energy so pick what feels good to you.

In the final stage, you say the thing out loud and see how it FEELS to say yes or no - and make a declaration. I could say so much more on this and I will in the future. For now I wanted to share this with you today as you dive into 2017.

p.s. if you are a dude reading this you can substitute as needed of course - and share with women in your life.

p.p.s this is also great to do in the shower or bath or during a moving meditation."

~Artist Shiloh Sophia

The body never lies...

I encourage you to implement The System as Maestra explained it above. Let your body inform You, rather than allowing the mind to lead. Get to know your Self. Learn to trust what You are telling You and stop relying on outside influences (read: the advice of others) when decision time comes. I promise you that you won't regret going within and listening for your Self.

Do you have any experience with this method? As Maestra stated, "it isn't my wisdom alone." When Maestra shared this with me, it was familiar to me. I had heard something similar before. I most certainly have been taught to listen to my Self... So, what's your experience if you have done this or something like it before to help you reach a decision or make a choice? Let me know your thoughts in the Comments below.