Daily Messages from Dr. Standley

One day last week before I even made it out the front door I found myself having to make peace three times. If you have been coming to this website long enough then you know that I don't own a car, I ride a bicycle for transportation. Folks, I live an incredibly simplistic, low maintenance and green life. Seven (7) years ago when I first began my career transformation, giving up owning a car was a financial decision. I had to do what I needed to do in order to get to the place that I desired to be. Since then my priorities have changed and now not owning a car has become a green decision. How interesting that turned out to be. I'm not opposed to cars, they're just not necessary for my daily survival. I live in the City so everything is a few blocks this way or a few blocks that way. Needless to say, my carbon footprint is pretty dang low. If I need a car for a day or two, then I'll rent it. On this particular day last week it was 5 degrees, windy and bitter. Now on a bicycle, you can double that experience. I've never been too fond of the cold but several years ago I had to make peace with the cold or it would end up making my life miserable. I still have to psyche myself UP but I can geniunely say that now when I venture out in the cold on my bicycle I actually enjoy it.

As I was psyching myself up and going into 'mind over matter' mode to prepare for 5 degree bitterness I realized that I didn't have my "glamour girls". If you look at my picture on this page you can catch a little glimpse of my "glamour girls". They are the sunglasses on top of my head. They are outrageously fabulous with shimmering bling on the side and in deep passionate crimson red. I also call them my, "Who's that girl?" sunglasses. With my friends I put them on and say, "Oh no, no autographs please." (winky wink) I'm attached to my "glamour girls" for a couple of reasons. 1) They are not only glamorous, they are fantabulous. 2) The wonderful memory I have of the day I bought them in Dallas while shopping with Christine and Peg. That day all three of us bought designer "glamour girls". After buying "the girls" the day morphed into an even better shopping experience when we happened upon the 'mothership' of the chain store Tuesday Morning. If you've ever been to Tuesday Morning then you know it's an all out treasure hunt, so finding the 'mothership' was a literal, scream. It was a great day. As I searched around for "the girls" I stopped for a moment to make peace with the idea that I may have lost them. I settled into the moment and released the tension. Ahhhh . . it was okay . . they may be gone but not forgotten . . but just in case (winky wink) I called my friend David and asked if I left my "glamour girls" in his car from the night before. A bunch of us went to a Christmas party and that was the last I remember seeing "the girls". And yes, David had them. Oh life is so rewarding when you can make peace within yourself.

As I headed out the door I noticed a familiar package sitting near the door with my name on it. This past 2008 was incredibly enlightening for me on all fronts where relationships are concerned. It's been a very Good year for all relationships in my Life. Even so, in my expansive circle of friends I had a couple of friendships that had just run their course and I'm really okay with that. It's still a Good thing. I know this to be an influence of Saturn in Virgo and how it aspected my Natal Chart. It was going to happen anyway and its time had come but it was still my choice as to how I would handle it. When I saw the package I realized that something that belonged to me was quietly and lovingly being returned to me. I picked up the package, smiled and made peace with the friendship that had just run its course. It was okay. It was really okay.

Folks, we can talk about war and peace all we want but if we cannot make peace within ourselves over the simplest things in our life or with individuals along our spiritual progression path then we have no business pointing fingers at other people(s) for not doing the same. Please! Honestly, it's tough for me to listen to someone with their fist in the air over warring nations when they can't even make peace with a family member or the truly simple things in their own life. How can we expect entire nations of people to make peace with each other and if we can't do it with one single individual? When it comes to war and peace it definitely starts with you and as I always say . . .

Tell me, what is it that makes it okay to make fun of other people? I'm pretty certain that I've done it myself. Even still, I'm also certain that it's never been a huge practice of mine. I just don't swing that way. Further, when in the presence of someone who thinks ridiculing others is an acceptable or attractive behavior, I have no problem stepping in and saying, "And who are you?"

I was 27 years old and just two weeks into my first college experience. I had just started getting to know a couple of people when a few of us were standing in line in the student lounge. I was talking with the girl in front of me and the guy in back of me when suddenly the second guy behind me joined in on the conversation. It was clear that he had a speech impediment because his verbage was severely altered. The girl in front of me looked directly at this guy as she sarcastically weaved her head back and forth and mocked his sound.

I said to her, "Ya' know, it's believed through historical writings that Moses had a speech impediment."

I said, "Yeah. Moses, didn't want the responsibility that God was giving him because Moses thought he couldn't speak very well. Even so, God still wanted Moses for the job, so he had his brother Aaron speak for him. Haven't you ever seen The Ten Commandments with Charleton Heston?"

This morning I woke up with the knowledge that I astral traveled last night. Actually, it could have been closer to this morning before I woke up, I'm not sure but I do know that I was out there in the ethers experiencing my future. An astral experience, also known as astral traveling or astral projection is having an out of body experience. Astral traveling can be experienced while sleeping or deliberately through deep meditation. The majority of my astral traveling experience has been during deep meditation or yoga. It's true there is no scientific proof that astral travel is possible or any proof that God exists either, but it doesn't mean they don't exist.

If I didn't know better I would have thought this was a dream (mind) experience and not a physical 'out of body' experience. Waking up with skin as cold as ice but not really being cold is very common in astral travel. While I was 'out there' I saw my future in the most vibrant colors you could imagine. My future was in the colors and I knew what the colors meant. It was a masterpiece! Just as I was on the periphery of my future I was suddenly swept away at warp speed further into my future. I remember the moment warp speed kicked in because it was my own spirit that was calming myself. I relaxed into the speed and kept saying over and over again, "It's okay, you're okay, you're okay." I knew that I was being guided and handled by the Master Himself (God). I told myself to relax and then I was taken to where I was supposed to be.

When I arrived where I was supposed to be I was experiencing a more physical world in an astral state, but I was a bit reluctant. I was living an incredibly extravagant life. It hadn't quite registered that I could afford what I had. Still, astonishingly so and as wonderful as it felt, I found myself hesitant and surprised that it was really true. I could easily have everything I ever wanted and more, so why was I hesitating? Why was I nervous? Why did I feel the need to hoard? Then I understood. I understood that my past experiences were for a reason.

During the astral experience my mind flashed back to several years ago when I was in the midst of financial devastation. I understood that it wasn't what I was going to do with more money, it was what I was going to do without any money. Who were you then Loretta? That is what I needed to learn. Some people turn to crime, fear or worry when they have no money. Me, I continued to build this website without any money and chose to get closer to God. I chose to trust that He would have my back during the toughest financial times of my Life. It was rough for a long time but I was too busy creating this website to worry about it. I didn't pray for money or things, I prayed for guidance and wisdom to do the right thing. I went through owing 5-months in back rent, not once but several times. Imagine the late fees on that number. I went through 2-weeks of updating this website at the coffee shop because my electricity was turned off. I went through 6-weeks of my parents buying me groceries. Still, I didn't worry and I slept sound every night. I had to believe it was okay . . . I was okay. I could not allow myself to worry beyond a few minutes at a time. I listened and acted on what I heard back through my DLGs. And when my relationship ended, I realized it wasn't about who I was in a relationship, it was who I was out of a relationship. Who did I become when I was alone and faced with myself? Did I enjoy my own company? All of the hoop jumping, as challenging as it was, served me. In my astral state, the flashbacks helped me understand and I allowed myself to relax and enjoy my just reward.

When I awoke my musical DLG (Download from God) was "World" by Five for Fighting and began at the part where he sings, "What kind of world do you want. Think anything."

I remember back in the day when I was still an intern I had a really bad clinic day. It began with the receptionist sauntering back from lunch about 20 minutes late and then from there it took a left turn and went south until about 8:00 PM. My spirit was on the defensive the rest of the day. I was so angry because it severely impacted my patient schedule and I have always taken pride in being on time. I've always been on time as a child and I'm always on time as an adult. Now folks, I realize that the person who is always on time can be just as controlling as the person who is never on time, I get that. But this woman was 'paid' to be there as an employee and as a student (intern) I was 'pay-ing' to be there. She was supposed to be there for me, not me there for her. Snarling doesn't even come close to describing how angry I was with this woman. Not to mention I was a single mother doing my best to make my crammed schedule work for me and my daughter. Then this woman la-la-la's back from lunch never considering her impact on others . . okay, never considering her impact on ME.

After I finally arrived at home and did my mom/daughter thing (homework, chatting, hugging, etc.) it dawned on me that I was playing in their ballpark (the school) and playing by their rules even if others chose not to follow the rules. I was not only playing in their ballpark but I was on the 'defensive'. Now I was lunatic angry because I was paying to be there on the defensive. And how can you play 'the game' if you are always on the defensive? As an entrepreneur since I was 22 years old I've pretty much paved my own way, built my own ballpark and made my own rules but then it dawned on me. I had taken the defensive bait and now I was playing her game (the receptionist). oooh, I don't like to be 'had', even if she was completely unaware of what was going down. The energy 'had' me. Dang!

The next day at school I changed my stance. Instead of being in a defensive posture, I changed to an offensive posture. As a gal who enjoys sports of any kind I know that every sport has its own stance or posture (baseball, football, basketball, swimming, etc.) and the basic rule of any sport is the same, which is to play your own game. Swim your own lap, throw your best pitch, run your best time or hit your best ball. If you don't play your own game then you're always on the defensive reacting to the other person. If you take the bait and play the other person's game, then you have just set yourself up for a tough game. Certainly, you can still get out of a tough game but it will take some well planned out maneuvering on your part, which is also known as a strategy. And we've all been sucked into 'the game' with relationships, money, career, family, etc.

I was reminded of two very important lessons that day. 1) Play my own game and 2) When I build my own ballpark then I can make my own rules. And so I did . . . (winky wink)

My musical DLG (Download from God) this morning was "The Circle Game" by Joni Mitchell. The minute I heard the first few notes of this song play out in my head took me back to 5th grade chorus. My chorus teacher's name escapes me but she was so cool and reminded me of Carol King (hair and all). I Love Carol King and for some strange reason I think I sing just like her. Don't ask my family to confirm this or they'll laugh but I'm telling you, I sing just like Carol King . . or Roy Orbison depending on my mood or the karaoke song at the time (winky wink). My 5th grade chorus teacher was really cool and she was insanely obsessed with the musical artists that played at Woodstock, even the cancelled acts like Joni Mitchell. Just a side note of musical trivia, Joni Mitchell didn't play at Woodstock because her agent booked her on The Dick Cavette Show. Go figure.

I think we take life much too seriously, at the same time I don't think we take life seriously enough. Wow, that sounds so Gemini of me but I mean it in a very child-like way. When we forget that we are still children of God, then it's easy to lose our curiosity, adventure, wonderment and intrigue for life. Being a child of God is our true nature. Heck, here I am on this website still with a dream to one day become a stand-up comic. But I digress . . . my daughter Karmen is a nurse and a Leo (remember Leo rules children) and she works with the elderly, most of which have Dementia and Alzheimers. One day we were having a conversation about her work and I wondered how she did it as this is very demanding work. Karmen simply said, "It's a circle mom. As we get older we revert back to being a child." This caused my Gemini mind to wonder; between the time that we are a child and being elderly, why are we so willing to give up our childish, silly, curious and fun-loving ways? Why are we so willing to give up our true nature?

THE CIRCLE GAME
by Joni Mitchell

Yesterday, a child came out to wonder
Caught a dragonfly inside a jar
Fearful when the sky was full of thunder
And tearful at the falling of a star

And the seasons they go 'round and 'round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return we can only look behind
From where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game

Then, the child moved ten times 'round the seasons
Skated over ten clear frozen streams
Words like, "When you're older," must appease him
And promises of someday make his dreams

And the seasons they go 'round and 'round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return we can only look behind
From where we came,
and go round and round and round
In the circle game

Sixteen springs and sixteen summers gone now
Cartwheels turn to car wheels through the town
And they tell him, "Take your time. It won't be long now
'Til you drag your feet to slow the circles down"

So the years spin by and now the boy is twenty
Though his dreams have lost some grandeur coming true
There'll be new dreams, maybe better dreams and plenty
Before the last revolving year is through

And the seasons they go 'round and 'round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return, we can only look behind
From where we came
And go round and 'round and 'round
In the circle game
And go 'round and 'round and 'round in the circle game

There is a little game I like to play with my Life and it's called, "The Reality Strand". I've played this game with myself for as long as I could remember but I never had a name for it until I saw an episode of Joan of Arcadia. Most people would call this game, "Everything happens for a reason." In my case, I like to take everything that happens in my Life (or as much as I can) and watch how it all plays out down the line. I believe as the rules go, everything is 'supposed' to turn out Good. Now this is where 'free will' comes in. I do my part and the game begins. Whatever anyone else does is their own free will, as an action or reaction to my free will, is their own free will. I have no control over their free will but I do have control over my mine. God gives me a DLG (Download from God), which is the same as a song, an idea, thought, revelation, epiphany, suggestion, brainstorm, inspiration or motivation and I do with it whatever the heck I want. It's my free will.

For instance -- I watch the chips fall as they may when I catch a plane on time or miss that plane. If I catch the plane or miss the plane, either way it was a result of how I used my free will. In either circumstance the game begins and my presence impacts not only myself but everyone around me. Even those I don't even know. Today I had absolutely no plans to go out for lunch but I did. Every single person that I came in contact with during that time was part of that 'Reality Strand'. And then the off-shoots of my actions or presence created more reality strands through other people. Just me being present and in line ahead of someone else changed the timing of those behind me. Whatever I did or said made a difference in the reality strand and created more strands. Certainly everything happens for a reason and in the grand scheme of things I'll never know what reality strands were created as a result of me. All I know is that I need to be Good.

Even my work on this website creates reality strands that I will never be aware of unless someone tells me. Still the impact of my words whether through writing or speaking creates more reality strands. As I was thinking about the reality strands I created today, I thought of one of my favorite TV episodes of Joan of Arcadia when God told Joan about reality strands. I remember saying to myself, "That's it! I'm going to call those 'everything happens for a reason" moments "reality strands.'" Joan of Arcadia was a TV show about a teenage girl who has conversations with God. He appears to her as a child, janitor, cafeteria lady, punk rocker, electrician, old lady, street sweeper, etc. God always gives Joan something to do. She argues with Him like a teenage girl most of the time and never really understands why she is supposed to do what He asks but she does it anyway. It's trust! Below is one of those conversations with God that Joan had with Him in the park.

THE SCENE SET-UP-- Joan's brother is in a wheel chair from a bad car accident, which left him a paraplegic and now has to learn how to drive handicapped. She decides to take a harder class at school (Advanced Placement Chemistry) because God said she needed to do better, gain some pride and work harder and as a result she makes a new friend in class named Adam. Joan's dad is the Police Chief. As Joan walks through the park, a mime (God) walks up to her and silently mimics her. She doesn't yet know the mime is God until He speaks. God continues to mime Joan during their conversation.

God - People don't really hate mimes. They just say that they do. It's the opposite of opera.

Joan - God, I'm not getting it. I joined AP Chem, so what? I have to do what you want. Obviously you're God. I just don’t get it.

God - AP Chem brings Adam Rove into your home, where he tells your mother about a car in the impound. Now your brother has a car. Get it?

God - Me working through you, working through Adam, working through your mother, working through your --

Joan - Can you stop all this? It's very distracting. Thank you. [God was continuing to mime Joan and it was getting on her nerves so He stopped.]

God - What Kevin does with that car depends upon his own free will, which is another reality strand. Back on this strand your father meets Adam, which compels him to exchange pleasantries with Adam's father, who passes on his inflated impressions of your father to his counterpart at the fire department, who happens to be the brother-in-law of an Arson Investigator, who risks his job to pass information to your father so that he can arrest an arsonist.

God - Better is how it works with Me. An Infinite Good in an Infinite Universe. Trust in Me, Joan. That's all I ask.

And then God goes back to mime-ing and acts as though the wind is blowing Him away as He holds on to a light post.

Now isn't that interesting? All of that happened because God 'suggested' to Joan to do better in school and she took Him up on His suggestion. Because God gave us free will, He always 'suggests' to us what to do and never 'tells' us what to do. As for me, I don't have to know how all of these reality strands play out with you (my site visitors). I just have to trust when I listen to God, knowing if I do the right thing, then I have played my part in the game. What you choose to do as a result from reading my work is another story (reality strand).

Did I ever tell you that God and I have a karaoke song? Yep we sure do and this morning when I woke up our karaoke song was my musical DLG (Download from God). You see folks, God and I, we have a history together . . (winky wink) . . so naturally we have a song. It's our Love song, just as you may have a Love song with someone you Love. When it came through as my musical DLG I thought, "WHAT! Can't we have anything that's our own?" because I innately knew I was supposed to share it. I've hemmed and hawed all day long not wanting to write about this song but it's still playing in my head so I finally said, "Alright already! I'll share it but it's our song!" Yeah, I can be that way. I'm one of God's fiesty kids. :)

"Spirits Having Flown" by The Bee Gees is one of those tunes that I like to call Divine Synchronicity. It's the way we (God and I) synchronize in this song that brings me to tears. One line is His, one line is mine, two lines are His and two lines are mine, half a line is His and the other half of the line is mine. He of course knows His lines and I know my lines. And some lines we sing together.

Enjoy the song and the Divine Synchronicity of it all because it can be quite moving, especially if you are in a place where a little Divine Reinforcement is needed or welcomed. In the words below, I have gone through and upper-cased some letters and lower-cased others on purpose so that you can see the Divine Synchronicity. And when I picture the name of this song in my head I see it as double "s" . . S(s)pirits Having Flown where He is the Big "S" and I'm the little "s" and our S(s)pirits are flying together in Divine Synchronicity. Enjoy - the words are below.

SPIRITS HAVING FLOWN
by The Bee Gees

i never fell in Love so easily
Where the Four Winds blow i carry on
I'd like to take you where My Spirit flies
Through the empty skies we go alone
Never before having flown

Faster than lightning is this Heart of Mine
In the Face of Time i carry on
I'd like to take you where My rainbow is
Be my lover friend, we go alone
Never before having flown

[Bridge]
You'll never know what You have done for me
You've broken all those rules I live upon
And I'd like to take you to My Shangri-La
Neither here nor far away from Home
Never before having flown

[Chorus]
I AM your Hurricane, your Fire in the Sun
How long must i live in the air?
You are My paradise
My angel on the run
How long must I wait?
It's the dawn of the feeling that starts
From the moment You're there
I'd like to take you where my Spirit flies
Through the empty skies we go alone
Never before having flown

My musical DLG (Download from God) this morning was "Learning To Fly" by Pink Floyd. The last time I remember hearing this musical DLG was back in March 2007. I even wrote a Daily Message on it called, "Learning To Fly." This song is a perfect metaphor for the way I live my Life because when it comes to fear there are three things that I always say about fear.

The video (below) is simply amazing and resonates with my spirit on so many levels. You'll see a Native American working in a field whose spirit is being touched by the spirit of another Native American. The man working in the field becomes so inspired that he runs and jumps off the cliff and turns into a Golden Eagle. This song and video simply take my breath away for so many reasons including my Cherokee tribal ties, close connection with Bird Medicine and my desire to live in and through the air (wind). I am after all a Gemini (air sign).

While I laid in bed listening to this song play through my mind there was something I knew that I needed to share with you. It was at the point where David Gilmore sings the line below, "The soul intention it's learning to fly" that reminded me of my soul intention and your soul intention. If I wrote your Natal Chart then make certain that you pay very close attention to your Lunar Phase. It's a very short brief paragraph that I wrote about your soul's motivation (intention). There's no need to overstate this or overthink it because it's very simple and to the point. And when you couple your Lunar Phase and your Rising Sign, which is also your soul's motivation (intention) then this will help you get to the place that you desire to be. So play it UP! In my chart, my Lunar Phase is only two sentences and talks about sharing my experience and knowledge with the world and that's exactly what I do through my work . . . It's not only my soul's intention, it's my sole intention.

LEARNING TO FLY
by Pink Floyd

Into the distance, a ribbon of black
Stretched to the point of no turning back
A flight of fancy on a windswept field
Standing alone my senses reel
A fatal attraction is holding me fast
How, can I escape this irresistible grasp?

Can't keep my eyes from the circling sky
Tongue-tied and twisted just an earth-bound misfit, I

Ice is forming on the tips of my wings
Unheeded warnings, I thought I thought of everything
No navigator to find my way home
Unladened, empty and turned to stone

The soul intention it's learning to fly
Condition grounded but determined to try
Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies
Tongue-tied and twisted just an earth-bound misfit, I

Friction lock - set
Mixtures - rich
Propellers - fully forward
Flaps - set - 10 degrees
Engine gauges and suction - check

Mixture set to maximum percent - recheck
Flight instruments...
Altimeters - check both
(garbled word) - on
Navigation lights - on
Strobes - on
(to tower): confirm 3-8-echo ready for departure
(tower): hello again, this is now 129.4
(to tower): 129.4. its to go
(tower): you may commence your takeoff, winds over 10 knots
(to tower): 3-8-echo
Easy on the brakes. take it easy. its gonna roll this time
Just hand the power gradually, and it...

Above the planet on a wing and a prayer,
My grubby halo, a vapour trail in the empty air,
Across the clouds I see my shadow fly
Out of the corner of my watering eye
A dream unthreatened by the morning light
Could blow this soul right through the roof of the night

There's no sensation to compare with this
Suspended animation, a state of bliss
Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies
Tongue-tied and twisted just an earth-bound misfit, I

This morning I woke up hearing a medley of songs from REO Speedwagon's 1978 album, "You Can Tune A Piano But You Can't Tuna Fish." Is that the greatest album title you have ever heard? I have a fantastic REO Speedwagon story but I'll make it short and sweet. Back in the day, I had a girlfriend who had a close friendship connection with REO, so when they came to St. Louis back in '93 or '94 (something like that) we actually sat on stage behind the monster-sized speakers and watched the entire concert. After the concert, the drummer at the time (Brian Hitt) let me play his drums before the roadies packed it up and then Brian gave me his drumsticks. And Kevin Cronin (the lead singer) is the absolute nicest guy. After we left the concert and hung out with the band for a few hours, believe it or not, it was a smoke-free and alcohol-free evening. They had already given up on those things at that time. The band suddenly turned into a group of soccer looking dad's in normal clothes and polo shirts.

Hearing a medley of songs off their 1978 album, "You Can Tune A Piano But You Can't Tuna Fish" reminded me of hanging out with my brother Jerry and how much we enjoy listening to music together. Instead of calling myself an "intuitive," Jerry and I refer to me as an "in-tune-ah-tive". Being "intuneahtive" is a deliberate reference to my musical DLGs (Downloads from God). My brother Jerry has that Sagittarian higher-thinking mind so we often go way out into the ethers and float away together in big ol' thought. And don't you find it interesting how many references to God end in "ah" or sound like "ah". Even ah-men.

Now as an "intuneahtive" I take the final song, "Roll With The Changes," in the medley of songs this morning to bring direct attention to what I wrote in your Daily Horoscope today about the double Grand Square (Cross) occurring tomorrow and the need to be adaptable, flexible and changeable. As I have written to you before, when there is a reference to Love or a relationship in a song, my mind 99 percent of the time goes straight to a Loretta and God relationship. The first two paragraphs I felt like God was talking directly to me, the third paragraph I felt like I was talking directly to God and then the fourth paragraph He was speaking back to me.

Incidentally, as I often remind the Pisces natives, Pisces is THE MOST intuitive sign of the zodiac and I tell them that they should think of themselves as a Tuna Fish! If you check your Natal Chart then you will see that you have Pisces in your chart as well. Look for that innate intuition because it is there. And remember, you can tune a piano but you can't tune a fish because fish are already 'in tune' . . . just like you and all you have to do is use it and trust it.

By the way, you don't really think that I come with all of this stuff on my own do you? It's tuning in to those DLGs baby. All I'm doing is just tuning in to God.

ROLL WITH THE CHANGES
by Reo Speedwagon

[God talking to me]
As soon as you are able
Woman I am willing
To make the break that we
Are on the brink of
My cup is on the table
My Love is spilling
Waiting here for you to
Take and drink of

[God talking to me]
So if you're tired of the
Same old story
Oh turn some pages
I will be here when you are ready
To roll with the changes

[Me talking to God]
I knew it had to happen
Felt the tables turnin'
Got me through my darkest hour
I heard the thunder clappin'
Felt the desert burnin'
Until You poured on me
Like a sweet sunshower

[God talking to me]
So if you're tired of the
Same old story
Turn some pages
I will be here when you are ready
To roll with the changes
Ohhhhhhhhhhh . . . yeah!

This morning I woke up to one of my top Musical Totems for my musical DLG (Download from God) called, "Her Eyes" by Pat Monahan. Back in July 2008 I shared with you my #1 Musical Totem and this morning's musical DLG would have to be my #2 Musical Totem if not severely twin-tied-at-the-hip to #1. It's such a close call but then again, I Love all my musical DLGs.

When I say that I don't listen to songs that make me feel sad, angry or down, I really mean it. I'm not about to listen to a song that makes me feel anything less than wonderful about Life and myself. I wasn't born with a self-torture, nag or martyr chip so it's easy for me to turn anything into something that will make me feel great about me. Being optimistic and care-free is such an easier path to live than pessimism and fear. Further, being afraid is not something I could do. That's too much work for me. This morning's musical DLG reminded me just how much I enjoy living in my own skin because this song could not do a better job at describing who I am. From being a Gemini with a Capricorn Moon to thinking and driving . . . this song is a nearly perfect description of me. Oh, I'm a St. Louis Cardinal fan and not a Mets fan. I enjoy religion, believe I've lived many lives, eat organic, don't take ANY prescriptions and I am physically stronger than most people including some men due to my Mars in Leo placement. Mars in Leo is the physically stongest placement a person could have in their Natal Chart. And the word "impossible" I can't even relate to that word. Those who know me best would probably confirm that I may be a little bit manic and rarely ever panic. The manic part is being Gemini and the rarely panic part is my Capricorn Moon.

As I wrote in the Daily Message last week called, A Force To Be Reckoned With no one gives you self-esteem because that is something that you step up and claim yourself. And if you do not step up and claim your own sense of self, individualism, identity, creativity and self-expression (no matter what that might look like) then it will be easy for you to be overthrown and dictated by someone else. Not to mention it would also be easy for you to put your belief in things or people that may not be healthy for you.

I would like to see you all search for your own musical totems, writings, poems or other creative outlet that causes you to connect with your true self. I would like to know you were all popping out of your skin like beautiful butterflies and enjoying Life for what it offers instead of what you aren't getting.

Until this Thursday morning I'm over at my daughter Karmen's house on Granny duty because my son-in-law Larry is out of town so I'm pulling up the slack and carting my grandson back and forth to school. Today Karmen happens to have the day off (she's a nurse). A little while ago she was leaving to meet up with a friend to see an early matinee as I was dancing in the kitchen to the music of this song in my head. I wasn't singing or even humming to this song because it was playing as plain as day in my head. I was just listening and dancing around with my eyes closed focusing on what I was going to write when she walked by and said, "Sometimes I think you're truly crazy." I opened my eyes, smiled and winked at her, then out the door she went. She has no idea that she just quoted a line from this song.

Saturday night the most exciting thing happened. My daughter Karmen, her husband Larry and my grandson Big Tree came over for dinner. It was a fantastic day that began with me taking the day off work. I didn't even write daily horoscopes on Saturday. I spent the entire day watching movies while I cleaned and played with my new iPhone. It took a while to finally give up my Blackberry but I finally took the plunge and switched to the iPhone and I Love it!

Karmen, Larry and Big Tree arrived on time at exactly 6:00 PM and dinner was hot and ready to go. All they had to do was sit down and enjoy! Karmen knew that I had cleaned all day and how I like to hand wash the hardwood floors so she had her little family take off their shoes and leave them outside the door. It really wasn't necessary but that's what they did.

After a delicious meal (if I do say so myself) we goofed around and Big Tree showed me some of his Karate moves. Geez, I couldn't believe how many steps and maneuvers there were in one Karate move. I remember when he was too bashful to show me a simple tiger claw and now he goes through a ton of maneuvers for one Karate move. Well in the middle of this long Karate move suddenly there was this jingling noise outside the door. We all fell silent, stopped and listened and then we heard, "Ho Ho Ho". Big Tree ran to the door and opened it and Santa Claus was standing right there. No kidding! Sure as anything it was Santa Claus himself. He called us all by our first name and then he and Big Tree sat down for a conversation. Big Tree told him all of the Good things he has been doing and that he had recently been the highest seller for the entire Kindergarten in the recent fundraiser. Big Tree was laying it on thick. Then he asked me to print his Christmas list off my computer so he could give it to Santa. It was the cutest thing.

After Santa left Big Tree noticed something in and under his shoes. Big Tree had lost his favorite Madagascar beach towel several months ago and this towel was rolled up and his shoes were sitting on top of it. You should have seen all of our mouths drop open. I mean you could have heard a pin drop because we were floored! Big Tree barely noticed his shoes jammed full of candy because he was so surprised by the towel. We figured he must have really been Good since Santa must have found that towel and returned it to him. It was all so magical and it still blows my mind when I think about it. Then we remembered that December 6th is St. Nick's Feast Day and that's the day he roams the land and fills up kids shoes with candy if they have been Good and if they leave their shoes sitting outside. Gosh, it was all so freaky, so innocent and so simultaneous. I was just glad that I decided to wash my floors and they chose to take their shoes off because otherwise Santa would have passed by without knowing Big Tree was at my house.

The whole thing reminded me of when Karmen was 5-1/2 years old, the same age that Big Tree is now. It was Christmas night about 3:00 AM and there was a huge ruckus with jingling noises downstairs. Karmen ran into my room yelling, "Santa Claus is here! Santa Claus is here!" I couldn't get out of bed fast enough to catch her because she was already on her way down the stairs and actually found Santa putting presents under the tree. In fact, his big ol' butt was sticking out from under the tree when she caught him literally 'red handed'. You think she was surprised, you should have seen the look on Santa's face. When he turned and saw her standing there he became very flustered, then he did a quick recovery of wits, laughed in that jolly ol' voice and said, "Uh uh uh, ho ho ho, Merry Christmas!" I was kinda 'on the fence' about the whole Santa thing until I saw him for myself. I will never forget that night as long as I live and I doubt Karmen will either.

Folks, I don't know about you but I'm sold and I still believe in Santa! I saw him with my own two eyes AND I have witnesses. It only proves that no matter what it is in Life, believing really is seeing.

What a fantastico song to wake up to as a muscial DLG (Download from God)! This morning I woke up hearing "Free Ride" by the Edgar Winter Group guitaring through my head. I'm a huge Edgar Winter and Rick Derringer fan so hearing them play together rocks my world. I'd be one of those people camped out overnight for five days to see this duo jam in person.

Aside from enjoying the guitar in this song, I also Love the lyrics because they are so full of simplistic wisdom. Simplistic wisdom attracts my brain because I don't like to overthink anything. I don't enjoy deliberately making things harder on myself than they need to be simply because that doesn't even make sense. And I certainly don't want to wake up tomorrow feeling the same way about the same problem I had today. By the time tomorrow rolls around, I have to be doing something different than contributes to solving the problem. My grandson Big Tree and I call ourselves 'problem solvers'. I say to him, "We see a problem." Then he says, "And we solve it 'cause we're problem solvers." I'm all about the shortest distance being between two points . . point A to point B. I'm not one that has to go through all points of the alphabet before I finally realize the most obvious solution is point A to point B. I am after all a Gemini, which rules the 3rd house of the mind, simplicity and basic education.

I remember a patient of mine once told me that I reminded her of a therapist skit on Saturday Night Live where the patient would tell the therapist the problem and the therapist would say, "Then stop it!" The patient would tell the therapist another problem and the therapist would say, "Then stop that!" Over the years I have heard patients and clients over and over again say, "Well how do I change it? What do I do now?" It would be just like me to respond, "Then stop it! You choose! You decide right now! Just stop!" The big simplistic 'ah ha' to this musical DLG is that all of your answers must come from within and all you have to do is tune in to yourself. This song makes me realize that God is talking directly to me from within and He's saying, "It's simple, it's easy and it's free!" The words are below the video. Enjoy!

FREE RIDE
by The Edgar Winter Group

The mountain is high, the valley is low
And you're confused 'bout which way to go
So I flew here to give you a hand
And lead you into the promised land

So, come on and take a free ride (free ride)
Come on and take it by my side
Come on and take a free ride

All over the country, I've seen it the same
Nobody's winning, at this kind of game
We gotta do better, it's time to begin
You know all the answers
Must come from within

So, come on and take a free ride (free ride)
Come on and take it by my side
Come on and take a free ride

Yeah, yeah, yeah

[Instrumental Interlude]

Free ride

Come on and take a free ride
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Come on and take a free ride
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Come on and take a free ride
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Come on and take a free ride
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

This morning when I heard my musical DLG (Download from God) called, "Voices Carry" by Til Tuesday it immediately reminded me of one of my top three favorite music video's of all time. The other two I'll have to share at another time. I just LOVE this song and the video because it literally speaks volumes on so many levels. It's one of my favorites because it reminds me so much of myself. It's not so much what the girl in the video is going through with the man in her Life but there is a metaphor in this song that I'm certain we can all relate to.

I enjoy living my Life boldly, loudly and possibly even a little crazily. I LOVE THAT ABOUT ME . . . and no one . . . and I mean no one has the right to ask me to change who God created me to be. My freedom of speech, creativity and self-expression is part of my spiritual DNA (from God) just as yours is. No one has the right to lay claim to me or you and ask us to be someone we are not. Once a person's individualism and self-esteem has been crushed or taken from them then it is possible to be conquered by anyone. Let's expand this thought even further. In our lifetime alone we have each seen entire nations of people crippled once their self-esteem, identity and individuality were robbed.

Folks, no one gives you self-esteem, that is something that you step up and claim for yourself. And your self-expression God gave to you. Further, no one has a claim to you without your consent. I would like to think that each of you, after watching this video, stood up and reclaimed your identity and would burst out of your own skin because I'm certain . . I am flat out certain of it that YOU are a force to be reckoned with.

The video below could not be embedded so you will need to click the link under the title of the song in order to see the video. I have linked it so that my page will remain and you can just scoot it over so you can see the video and read the words at the same time.

VOICES CARRY
by Til Tuesday

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE!

I'm in the dark, I'd like to read his mind
But I'm frightened of the things I might find
Oh, there must be something he's thinking of
To tear him away-a-ay
When I tell him that I'm falling in Love
Why does he say-a-ay

Oh shush, keep it down now, voices carry
Oh shush, keep it down now, voices carry
Uh-ah

I try so hard not to get upset
Because I know all the trouble I'll get
Oh, he tells me tears are something to hide
And something to fear-eh-eh
And I try so hard to keep it inside
So no one can hear

Oh shush, keep it down now, voices carry
Oh shush, keep it down now, voices carry
Oh shush, keep it down now, voices carry
Uh-oh

Oh! He wants me, but only part of the time
He wants me, if he can keep me in line

Oh shush, keep it down now, voices carry
Oh shush, keep it down now, voices carry
Ooooh, oh shush, shut up now, voices carry
Ooooh, oh shush, keep it down now, voices carry
Ooooh, oh shush, darling, she might overhear
Oh shush - voices carry
He said shut up - he said shut up
Oh God can't you keep it down
Voices carry
Oh shush, voices carry

I wish, he would, let me talk

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