Tuesday, April 29, 2008

20 Tips for Being Wealthier Now Part 2



11.  Start and maintain a gratitude journal.  As the saying goes, gratitude is the attitude. Oprah keeps one of these, and she is certainly an excellent example of prosperity.  At the end of each day list five things for which you are truly thankful.  You’ll soon discover that you don’t need to have Lady O.’s mega-millions to benefit from this heart and consciousness expanding exercise. You can literally keep a diary or count your blessings each night as you drift off to sleep.

12.  Use the library.  Chances are your county has a hip online database that lists all of its library books, CDs and DVDs that you can order from the comfort and convenience of your home. You’ll just need to drop by your local branch to pick them up and of course return them on time.  But this tip can save you lots of entertainment dollars.

13.  Try this really cool abundance prayer.  In his interesting book on wealth “Secrets of the Millionaire Mind,” author T. Harv Eker writes about how issues of unworthiness often cause people to lose money or to be unable to accept it in the first place.  For those who recognize the ever plentiful nature of the Divine, he offers the following:   

Universe, if anyone has something great coming and he/she is not open to receiving it, please send it to me.  I am open and willing to receive all of your blessings. Thank You! 

14.  Make a habit of improving your financial education.  How often have you needed that periodic table from your high school chemistry class?  If you’re anything like me, not so much.  The good news is that it’s never too late to learn about the fiscal facts of life.  Empowering yourself with knowledge and information about real estate, investing, tax benefits and the psychology of wealth is one of the surest paths you can take to your economic success.  And doing so on an ongoing basis will only strengthen your confidence as well as your monetary hand. And I bet a number of those books are available at your local library!

15.  Get the good free stuff online.  Though the market is gradually moving to a pay per use model, the web is still awash in valuable freebies.  In the self-help genre this is especially true.  For instance, every Thursday you can get the skinny on the stars with Astrologer Mark Husson over at Hay House Radio, who offer a plethora of mind/body/spirit programs for free. Yes, I snuck another plug in!  And have you tuned in to any of the “A New Earth” series Oprah and author Eckhart Tolle have been presenting at her site?  I don’t board my elliptical machine without these podcasts. The entire 10-week course including a workbook are available for free.  Again, this trend won’t last forever, so take advantage of it while you can.  

16.  Energetically shield when bargain hunting at discount stores.  Some of the people who shop at these places out of necessity often carry strong negative beliefs about money. Asking ArchAngel Michael for protection from these lower vibrations or carrying a piece of amethyst to clear your energy field while shopping at these stores will prevent you from being psychically drained when visiting them.

17.  Go green. Look into the abundant array of tax incentives available for buying more energy efficient cars, appliances and homes.  You’ll feel better for doing something good for our planet and will also benefit from the added bonus of savings on your energy costs for years to come.  And though it won’t be audible to you, thousands of people like me will be applauding you for your benevolence.

18.  Write down 10 solutions to every financial “problem” you think that you have.  This is another gem from Eker’s book.  Most metaphysical schools of thought agree with the concept that what we focus on expands.  This practice will not only begin to steer you towards solutions to your current dilemmas, but more importantly it will shift your consciousness away from the negative and onto the positive and the possible.  And that is the space where creativity and inspiration can get to work.

19.  Practice love and compassion for the rich.  I’m not joking. I alluded to this last week.  If you’ve ever been less than charitable to someone in traffic for no other reason other than that person was driving a luxury car, then you have some wealth work to do on yourself.  The problem isn’t the nice car that person was driving, but your reaction to it.  Unpopular as this may be to say, you’ll never be comfortable with money or have any while you actively practice hostility toward and resentment of the rich.  So the next time you see a beautiful home, an exquisite piece of jewelry or a better set of wheels than the ones you presently have, consciously admire that item and bless the owner.  That person has just shown you that your desire is attainable.

20.  Keep an abundance prayer/affirmation in your wallet.  If you have any debt issues, try wrapping your credit card(s) in this piece of paper and practice reading it before committing to any purchases that are not part of your budget.  If you are debt free, this tool can be employed to strengthen your already good financial habits and to positively reinforce your desire and ability to create even greater wealth.



Well, thank you very much for reading one or both of these articles.  This has been a fun series to work on.  I recall Louise Hay once saying that no other subject, not even sex, triggers people like that of money.  So I hope that you’ve found some new ideas to consider and possibly a few very useful practices to begin.  If you’d like a finance reading that includes insights and tools unique to you for wealth improvement, I’m available at 12Listen.com.  

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

20 Tips for Being Wealthier Now Part 1



It’s official, on April 19th the Sun moved into Taurus. This stable Earth sign provides an excellent window through which we can take a grounded and realistic look at the subject of wealth. Almost everyone wants to be more prosperous, so I’ve assembled a list of 20 tips, that, like my readings, combines the practical with the Spiritual. Whether you’re looking for ways to stretch your dollars or ways to expand your consciousness about money, the Taurus cycle is an excellent time to explore the subject. Remember that new habits initiated while the Sun moves through this fixed sign can last for years. And as we have Saturn in fellow Earth sign Virgo and Jupiter in Capricorn this year, the potential to reap long term rewards is much higher than usual. So here are some ideas.

1. Recognize the abundance already present in your life at least once a day. This can take almost any form, a flower bush that is in full bloom, mounds of fresh produce at the grocery store or a freshly folded stack of your laundry. The point is to pause and consciously focus on these examples of plenty. You may want to make a declaration such as “The Universe is infinitely abundant” at the same time.

2. Carry cash to the grocery store. According to a recent article in Woman’s Day, on average we spend 20% more when we use a bank or credit card when shopping for food. Unless you’re earning frequent flier miles with that plastic, changing this habit pays off immediately and your wealth accumulates considerably over time. How much is 20% of your grocery bill over the course of ten years? And how could you better use that amount of money?

3. Use your computer desktop for affirmations and images of wealth. For those who spend a great deal of time in front of the device, this is a great way to remind ourselves and our mega-powerful minds of our wealth goals.

4. Make your gasoline dollars go further by only filling up in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cold and when your tank is half full instead of nearly empty. Petrol expands with heat, so the later in the day and the higher the temperature, the less gasoline you are getting for your money. Air aids the evaporation of petrol, so giving it less space in your tank will minimize evaporation, making your gasoline last longer.

5. Attend the Journey to the Stars webinar on May 1st - $10. So, this is a shameless promotion, but six planets will be in Earth signs on May 1st when noted author/astrologer/radio host Mark Husson presents his first webinar at Hay House Radio. If you don’t know why six planets being in Earth signs on that day is significant, this course will explain it to you. The larger planets of Saturn and Jupiter are also in Earth signs for several more months. If you learn a little more about astrology, you can find out how to put this powerful information to work when planning business, financial and career strategies.

6. Shop eBay. Last year a good friend recommended a $350 water purification system which I found brand new, in the box, on eBay for $210. The shampoo that costs $32 at the salon can be found on eBay for $18. Regular sellers are rated in terms of their reliability, so finding a trustworthy source is a snap. One of my best friends is married to a man whose annual salary is over one million dollars, and she swears by eBay. If the rich are doing it, it’s probably a good financial idea.

7. Live with a sense of luxury now. The notion of being wealthy is simply an idea, and one that is unique to each of us. Regularly having experiences of what you consider to be living the good life will align you more closely with your wealth vibration and the sensation of being rich. A long candlelit bath with “spa” music, time out for a leisurely cup of tea or coffee in the middle of the afternoon, or a well prepared meal served at a set dining table on your best dinnerware are but a few examples of little things you can do to feel rich now with things you already have.

8. Whenever possible. own instead of renting. The next time that you review your monthly bills, ask yourself if there is anything that you currently rent or subscribe to that would pay for itself if you purchased it instead. That water filter I mentioned is an example of an otherwise unending bill from Arrowhead Water that I eliminated completely.

9. Spend more time on the wealthy sections of town. Why not see how the other half (ok 2%) live? No you don’t have to drop $400 on a t-shirt at Barneys. Even Beverly Hills has a Gap and a Starbucks (well, officially five, but who’s counting?). Sitting awhile to sip your latte at the rich people’s Coffee Bean may also reveal areas you need to work on in terms of your abundance consciousness. If you try this, gently notice whether you admire or judge and resent the rich people you encournter. I’ll write more about this in next week’s post.




10. Come to our Journey Through the Stars After Party when our readings that normally retail for $3.49/minute will be on sale for $1.99/minute from 6:00 P.M. to midnight PST. OK, so it is another shameless plug, but a bargain is a bargain! The wealthy know a good deal when they see one and are usually wise enough to take advantage of it. At 12Listen and 12Angel.com our staff of professional advisors are simply some of the best in the intuitive business. Founder Mark Husson ran one of Denver’s most successful metaphysical bookstores for twenty years before launching our websites, and he still personally screens and approves every member of our dedicated staff. So consider allowing our psychic expertise, knowledge of planetary trends and decades of metaphysical experience assist you on your path to creating greater wealth and abundance in your life.

See you next week.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Lesson in Courage

A good friend had to postpone her plans to come visit Southern California this weekend due to the grounding of American Airlines’ flights. Fortunately for her, she had not yet begun her journey, so she was spared the extreme inconvenience experienced by thousands of passengers stranded across the country. As I wrote words that I hoped would bring her comfort, the most amazing insight came. God bless Bobby Boutris. He’s the man responsible for grounding thousands of flights, and we owe him our deepest gratitude for doing so. Because of this one man’s unwavering courage, the entire flying public is now safer. So if you’re feeling upset, like my friend was, because your plans were changed, you may want to reframe your thoughts. Bobby Boutris may have saved your life.

Last week the 56-year-old FAA employee testified before the House Transportation Committee on Capitol Hill and revealed years of unconscionable business practices by Southwest Airlines and complicit staff of the FAA. Those unscrupulous individuals literally put the lives of the flying public at risk by fudging safety records, and since 2003 Mr. Boutris, at great cost to himself and his family, has been on our side. His testimony was such a revelation in fact that the safety standards and practices of four other airlines are now under investigation, hence the flight cancellations.

In the Dallas Morning News Mr. Boutris was quoted as saying, “Anything that goes against a standard and against the law is worth fighting.“

Most of us would agree with his sentiment. But I wonder how many of us would practice our beliefs to the extent that Mr. Boutris did. Pacified with material goods and fearful of economic peril, how many of us would sacrifice so much for the common good?

In 2003 Mr. Boutris brought the muddy safety records of Southwest airlines to the attention of his supervisor, Douglas Gawadzinski. Boutris’ valid concerns were ignored. In the all too familiar scenario, it turns out that Mr. Gawadzinski had a very cozy relationship with Southwest Airlines regulatory compliance manager Paul Comeau. The solution to Boutris’ persistent concern for the public’s safety was a reassignment of his job in 2006. When the man who replaced him, Douglas Peters, sided with Boutris’ findings In 2007, the FAA used a highly suspicious excuse to relieve Boutris of his day to day responsibilities for oversight of Southwest inspections. As if all of that wasn’t intimidating enough, this year, when it was announced that Congress would grant him and fellow whistle blower Peters a hearing, the plot got really dark. Mr. Boutris received a death threat. The FBI is presently investigating that.

Last week I heard a radio interview with Mr. Boutris and could not help but notice his Greek accent. The fact that he immigrated to America, in 1975, makes his story all the more moving and remarkable to me, especially in this election year. He’s someone who left his homeland for the promise of America. Ultimately that promised was kept. Our country and the world are better for people like Mr. Boutris. In an age of skepticism and cynicism, I find him truly heroic. And personally, I consider what happened a small miracle. So the next time someone suggests that your work on a political or social issue is insignificant or meaningless, I hope you will think of Mr. Boutris, the thousands of grounded flights, an entire aviation system that has now been called into question, and the vast difference that one person can make.

And as I’m posting today, I of course want to wish the Good Friday Peace Accord and people of Ireland, North and South, a very happy 10th Anniversary. It was ten years ago today that the accord was signed by their politicians. In May it will be ten years since the public ratified it by voting for peace, a peace they now share. Don’t let anyone tell you that your vote doesn’t count.

With love,
Elizabeth