Mass shootings: Actions we can take to make a difference…

In memoriam for those who have lost their lives to gun violence
In memoriam for those who have lost their lives to gun violence

This is a guest post by Spiritual Teacher Raphaelle Tamura

I have been very lucky to live an amazing life – not one without itʼs intense challenges of course – but one that has allowed me to dive deeply into learning to understand the human soul, one who has tried to practice tolerance, understanding, and love at every turn of my life. I make mistakes like everyone else, but feel I have been blessed in many, many ways.

This past week there was horrific news, once again, for everyone in our country (U.S.A.)

There were, tragically, two more mass shootings – one in El Paso Texas near the Mexican border where twenty-two died and scores more were hurt and another shooting in a sweet midwest town, Dayton, Ohio where nine died and so many more were injured.

Each time it happens it also brings back the trauma of having lived not too far from
one of the more distant (in time) but memorable of the schools’ shootings – April
20, 1999 – the Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado.

Although I was not there physically I lived in a town nearby. Being quite sensitive, this shooting affected me deeply on every level – emotionally, physically, psychically and spiritually. I even dreamed about some of the people who died in that incident.

For weeks after the Columbine shootings, there was a dark, dense cloud that hung over the Denver area both physically and energetically, which felt sad beyond belief.

The only light in the time following that shooting was that a Whole Life Expo by coincidence happened to be scheduled shortly after that shooting. There were speakers like author Dannion Brinkley (of “Saved by the Light”) and others who truly helped to bring the beginning of healing to that town – was I ever grateful for that.

About a week after the shooting, I went to join my husband in Los Angeles and I decided to fly instead of drive. On takeoff, as the plane lifted above the clouds, I got my first “breath of fresh air” clean and clear of all the heavy grief and worldly attention that was energetically pressing down on the Denver area. I could not believe the difference. I would never forget this tragedy that visited my home at the time.

In my posts, I pretty much like to stay away from politics or super-touchy subjects because the goal of my personal site is to help uplift people and share the joys of life with friends and family. But these two more shootings hit me deeply and I had to say something – so on August 4, 2019, I posted the following:

“To El Paso & Dayton- my most heartfelt condolences. A whole country weeps at these devastating losses.”

It was my passionate way of expressing my love and prayers to those grieving at their personal losses due to these shootings and also to those grieving because they read about it and felt the losses deeply themselves. It was a kind of “cry in the dark” so to speak, but I sent it out with love and hopes that it could inspire love & prayers from my following.

What I got instead was something surprising – an intelligent dialog where minds gathered to come up with various ideas on what we could all do to help. I made my contribution which got a lot of replies – but my reply was to the one cynical person who posted and off it went!

Others made their thoughtful comments as well. I wish to share some of that dialog because I feel it is relevant and maybe even helpful to those who have “ears to hear.” The cynic in that conversation kind of plays the “devilʼs advocate” because of his cynicism, but I wanted even his voice to be heard because his voice is the voice of many – those who think changes cannot happen – it is the voice of hopelessness that many understandably feel – and I would pray and hope that we can all, in some way, start to change this mindset so necessary changes can actually be created.

We are here to wake one another up and it is my hope to do this through whatever form I can.

After I wrote my brief post, one of my respondents, E.M. who works at a school, asks an important question, “What actions can we take to make a difference???

The first responder to that question said, “Canʼt. This horse left the barn
decades ago.”

The next response was, “You can keep working your own energy and hanging with other sensitive people. We all do our part in different ways. What we each are doing as energy workers is beneficial even as these incidents continue to occur.” This respondent is an artist and sensitive like me. She is talking to the metaphysical community who knows how to do “energy work”

The next respondent was me – since I wanted to reply to G.K.ʼs concerns…

We are never without hope and the ability to help change things, dear brother. And
that darned old horse can be caught and returned to its barn if we as a collective
go looking for it and correct its behavior and shortcomings.

Here are some things we can do

  • Love one another, spread awareness, teach and practice love at every turn of events and if active campaigning for changes in laws and policies is on your path to do, then do it – with conviction and love, not fear and hate.
  • Don’t practice or teach hate-mongering – If you practice it, you are teaching it, then it spreads like a virus.
  • Teach the truth about history, first and foremost – we learn from our past mistakes
    and can avoid, in the future, the same ones!

We can’t fight hate with hate, it’s obvious that doesn’t work. Nor can we ever give up on things. Love will one day prevail – maybe not today – but it will prevail if we are diligent to actively make that change within ourselves first, then the world, second.

an attitude of fortitude must be taken

Like the young people going to Washington, DC after the Florida school shootings – no changes were made as yet but their voices were heard by millions. Their voices touched the hard hearts of those “in charge” – the ones who were forced to hear the voices of the angels through these
young people, and so a seed was planted. Perhaps it will sprout in a surprising way. Keeping hope alive is also important.

Loving thoughtfulness is another helpful tool to practice with individuals near you who are grappling with the tragedy of it all. Or how about looking at what needs to be changed on the collective level and becoming an active part of that change? The more of us who do this, the faster the positive changes can happen. It does take time and patience but we have to know it really is possible first. It is.

My final words for this post: Since this has become an open, public “issue” maybe it is time to think about “What can I do to help?” and “What can I do to prepare myself in case I find myself
in the middle of a shooting?”

If we are awake and aware, grounded and loving, we can offer a lot, even if it is a helping hand after-the-fact, a kind word or voting for a change in legislation. Donʼt put this in the back of your mind, and whatever you do donʼt lose hope! We are now all faced with the challenge of having to be the change that we want to see, so, what are we waiting for? Letʼs do it!

©️Raphaelle Tamura 2019 All Rights Reserved

Raphaelle Tamura is a Clairvoyant, Spiritual Healer, Teacher, Author and Chief Operating Officer of Seraphim at Mt. Shasta. She runs a spiritual seminar business and co-hosts Living the Miracle Radio show with her husband Michael Tamura. Raphaelle is in the process of publishing her first book “Shantiʼs Lives: The Extraordinary Story of Animal Reincarnation.” You can find out more about Michael & Raphaelle Tamura by visiting their website.

The Power of Love to Heal Your Heart: Artist Date 64 Not Too Much

Exploring Love and the 4th chakra  is not an easy or particularly comfortable task but it is well worth the journey! I recently taught a psychic meditation workshop on that very subject and was honored not just with email of thank you but a blog post sharing the profound experience one woman had. 

My friend Lesley had never before attended one of my workshops however she has had several readings from me. I have no words to describe how honored, humbled and touched I am that she shared her experience on her blog and has graciously allowed me to share it with you. Please enjoy this guest post by Lesley Pearl.

“Artist Date: 64 Not Too Much”

chakrasystem_282_

“I do not do yoga.

As a massage therapist, I know it is kind of part of the gig.  But I can’t.

It freaks me out.  Holding poses for an extended period makes me panic.  Whether I am in a big anonymous class or in a tiny studio with just three other students and the most gentle instructor imaginable, it is always the same.  Open heart.  Teary eyes.  And a small voice crying out in the silence, “Are we done yet?  Are we done yet?”  I ignore her and…panic.  More tears.

People tell me this is good.  That it means I should do more yoga.  That I am working something out.  I ignore them and make a mental note never to discuss this topic.

Until now.  In a yoga studio.  Artist Date 64.

My friend, and clairvoyant genius, Debbie Taitel, is conducting a post-Valentine’s exploration of the 4th Chakra, the energy center of the heart.

I think I am safe because it is a meditation workshop and not yoga.  And I meditate.  I have for 12 years.

But I am wrong.  The panic is there almost immediately.  Stifling.

Debbie first mentioned the workshop to me a couple of weeks ago, during one of our clairvoyant sessions.  As I watched my heart tentatively open to hope and the possibility of love for the first time in what seemed like a very long time – for an almost bachelor, a man from my childhood, living nearly 700 miles away.(Artist Date 62)

Last week I told him I “couldn’t do it.”  (Artist Date 63) Whatever “it” was.  Seemingly falling head over heels over head for one another.  He asked how realistic it was.  I didn’t care.  I wanted to find out about us.  He said he did too.  But when I sensed his wavering, come-here-go-away, and when the excitement in my stomach turned into a knot, I said “no.”  And we somewhat sadly settled on friendship.  At least for now.

I thought that with this grand gesture of self-love and adult decision-making, my feelings would go away.  I was mistaken.

He has been dancing in my head for a good portion of the day and I am surprised.

So it is a relief when Debbie asks us to invite anyone “grounding” through us to please leave for the duration of the workshop.  I ask, but he remains.  Or I keep him near.  I am not certain.  It is the pink elephant in the room I have been told to pay no attention to.

I am embarrassed.  Ashamed.  I assume the shift is easy for him.  But I do not know this.

I am consumed by the thought that I do not want to write about this.  Especially as he regularly reads my blog.  I feel vulnerable and uncomfortable.  I want to run.  Just like in yoga.

Debbie asks us to ground ourselves and I see a climber’s rope shoot out from my 1st Chakra into the earth, its metal claws digging into clay and dirt.  Debbie saw me do this once before – during one of our sessions.  She found it clever.  A good way to shake off the too many grounding through me.

But today it feels unstable.  I want an oak tree growing out of my ass, downward into the earth.   But this is what I have.

(c) 2004. Andrew Hall, PortlandBridges.com

She asks us to create roses in our mind.  To fill them with past hurts.  Unrequited loves.  Loves we either did not or could not return.  And to destroy them.

I see the International Rose Test Garden in Portland.  My ex and I visited here one winter when he was interviewing for jobs.  The bushes are clipped.  Dead.

My eyes get teary and my nose flares.  I feel like I am on the verge of big, heaving sobs.  I see my ex husband.  My mother.  My father.  The first boy I took my clothes off with.

I see my first real boyfriend.  And J – perhaps the love of my life, me with a dick.  Mr. 700 Miles.

I feel Debbie lay a box of tissues on my thigh.  I am afraid to move.  That I will come totally unglued if I do and land on the floor, a throbbing puddle.  I feel white energy leave through my heart and it is over.

I destroy the rose, stripping it naked, petal by petal, while those around me engage in more violent scenarios – skeet shooting or blowing them up.

In the final meditation, safely shrouded in golden light, I loop my own energy over and over through my 4th Chakra, my heart.  I feel nauseated.  A wave slams into my gut and through me.  If I were standing it would knock me over.

Debbie smiles.  This is the energy I put into the universe, she explains.  The kind that makes people “run for the hills.”  I nod, as do most of those around me.  It is the love energy, meant for me, mistakenly turned out and overwhelming others.

I think about the old idea I still carry around sometimes, that I am “too much.”   It is quickly displaced by the realization that I no longer feel like running.  Not from here.  This place or this pose.

Not from this love.  Not from myself.

Not too much.”

No Lesley you are not “too much”. You thanked me for “holding space for your heart” and my reply can only be… it was an honor!~Shine Your Light Debbie

Lesley Pearl is a writer, bodyworker, and weight-loss coach living in Chicago. Her blog “The Wandering Jewess”, chronicles ‘life after marriage’ in a series of weekly solo dates. She is currently working on her first book titled “Left. Write.

©Debra Taitel 2014 All Rights Reserved

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