Years ago my higher self revealed the definition of karma as every action done apart from God. In other words, choices we make that are out of alignment with life. Each unconscious choice makes a mess that stands between us and feelings of peace and well being that are our birthright.

Karmic messes also dilute our energy and slow down the natural blessings that come when we are clear inside.

The only way to get back on track is to take right action consistently. When we act in alignment with our higher self, messes we've made are slowly cleaned up.

One thing I've observed though, is that there is always a lag time - you may have cleaned up the karma with diligent action, but the residue is still burning off. This can be a very frustrating time because you know your doing the right thing, but are not seeing the results you'd like.

What I'd like to say is keep on keepin' on. It will come. Whether it's inner peace your seeking or something external - keep taking right action knowing that the fruit of your labor is sure to be sweet.

For a while now a few of my wise friends have been encouraging me to read the book Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I've finally gotten around to reading it after waiting for my mom and sister to finish the "family copy."

Eat, Pray, Love is the author's story of healing and self-discovery. It is beautifully written and offers many blessings to readers in the form of honesty, hope and encouragement.

Elizabeth tells of a time in India when she was talking to her friend Richard about how she wished she could stop obsessing about her former boyfriend... To this, her thoughtful friend replied, "See now that's your problem. You're wishin' too much, baby. You gotta stop wearing your wishbone where your backbone oughtta be."

This is a powerful metaphor. How many times have you wished for things to be different? The image of my life force being split in two and making me fragile every time I "wish" instead of "be" has stopped me in my wishing tracks.

Perhaps wishing for life to be different makes us weak and diluted, while standing firm in what is provides the structure necessary to contain the life energy required to attract our dreams...

Yours truly is in this week's issue (10/23) of Woman's World Magazine as an energy expert! Give it a glance if you're standing in line at the grocery store - it has Oprah on the cover and is the holloween issue.

I recently re-watched the movie "What the Bleep..." Many parts of the movie are powerful, but what always sticks with me is the message about water.

Dr. Emoto from Japan studied the impact of verbal messages on water molecules. He discovered that the molecules in the water labeled, "Thank you" (pictured) look like beautiful snowflakes, while the molecules in the water labeled, "You make me sick" turned yellow and toxic looking.

The movie ties this research to self-talk, citing that our bodies are more than half water. We're challenged to reflect on the power of our thoughts to either translate into sickness or health, beauty and divine order in our bodies.

Now we have one more reason to give thanks!

Tuesday I turned 43. I've heard that every seven years we enter a new cycle and completely transform. I'm in the beginning of my 7th, 7 year cycle in 2007. Pretty powerful!

The intuitive message that I'm getting about this stage of my life is that these are the days. My whole life I've been striving... striving to get somewhere. It is clear that now is the time to enjoy what is in front of me and around me.

Perhaps no matter what your age, "These are the days." Celebrate with me. I'd love to hear what characterizes the 7 year cycle you're in right now - the special quality that marks "these days" for you. For me, it's my health, my beautiful, fun, precocious daughter, all my family and friends, and my inner peace.

There are many areas in my life that are not what I thought they would be - I don't have as much money in the bank as I'd like.. I can't seem to hit that ever elusive number on the scale... and I'm single - but still - These are the days and I plan to celebrate every one of them.