This is the Journal entry for today for the Living a Sacred Life Class.

The pain body, parasite and ego (the fear-based part of the ego), is part of what is created in the life form (body) in the material world. It is an identity and a powerful energy that is created and reinforced by the others in your world who are also living from the fear-based perspective. When you believe that the world is dangerous, you will be afraid. And this fear creates an energy body within you that is powerful.

Fear is the true culprit and it is moving beyond fear that is needed to heal this fear-based being. This is the first step in awakening and stepping into soul consciousness. We all feel the pull of the pain body. It is the sense of fear that has no story, until you give it one. You believe that there must be a story and then you begin to look at all the problems and things that aren’t going how you want them, and justify this feeling, this existence.

The learning now is to know that you can choose. It is to know that there is another perspective and another aspect of consciousness that you can step into and heal the pain body. This is not obliterating the ego – the part of you that is needed to operate on earth. But it is taking control from the ego and giving it to the soul.
This process begins when you are so tired of being in pain that you will do anything, including die to be free. But what you need to die to is the past. You need to die to the fear and beliefs that support the fear.

So, it is a two part healing. One part is to release the energy of the pain body by truly facing it – without any stories until you realize that is it not the truth. The next part is to face every belief you have that is negative, fearful, and painful then re-frame and transmute them into the truth of love and possibility.

This is the process of awakening. This is what is needed to move to the next level. This work is done within meditation and intentional connection with Me. And it is miraculous.
Trust this.
Love, God.

I had the privilege to provide the special music for Unity of Boulder. I shared the video of Goldie, the Baby Golden Eagle that grew up in Meadow Park in Lyons, CO last summer. This service is wonderful and Syntysche Groverland Lierman delivered a powerful message. At the end I played the song Now. Thanks for listening.

Here is the podcast for the Journaling Class.  The Journey to the Soul Workbook is the suggested Reading.

There Are No Secrets
By Diane Dandeneau, December 15, 2011

God does not keep secrets.  People do.

I find myself taken aback when I hear people use the term “secret” to describe their teaching or gift.  It seems to prey on the fears that there must be something that I want, that I need to know, that is being kept from me.  Wanting what I don’t have, leads to me wanting what you have.

I see this used to sell books, workshops, and movies.  Many of the marketing gurus are teaching that using this compelling idea is the way to “sell” expert or spiritual programs.

But, there are no secrets.  There are only distortions.  And this is the opportunity for people to step into their own truth to discern what is authentic and true.

I have been lured into wanting to learn what the “secret” is.  But what I find over and over again is that it is something I already know or maybe a new way of seeing something.  Sometimes the teachings are powerful and inspiring, and other times they are hollow and sensationalized and are just used to sell their product or service.  But mostly, I feel conned and disappointed that the author – teacher – producer felt compelled to use the ploy that they know some secret that they are letting me in on.

I am inviting those who want to live a conscious life, to step into their integrity and say it like it is.  We aren’t sharing any secrets.  You may be sharing your learning, perspective, new understanding, or message.  But, please stop playing the same unconscious game that is being played in the insane world.  They are better at it anyway (check out any car commercial).  The truth is, secrets can be fun for humans to play with, but God does not keep secrets.

What I am offering in my work are the gifts I have been given as I remember who I am and who we are.   On the deepest level, you know it all.  I am just helping you to remember.

Blessings,

Diane Dandeneau

Where is Your Focus:  Inside or Outside?
By Diane Dandeneau
December 11, 2011

I find it interesting that I am seeing similar patterns in the people I am currently associating with in my work and life.  Most of the people I am close to are working with or have some sense of spirituality in their life.  Many people are aware of the Law of Attraction and the benefit of meditation.  Many people understand the mind/body/spirit connection.  But what I am seeing is continuing patterns of using spirituality as the means to get what is wanted on the physical plain – thus using the inside to keep the focus on the outside.

I can see the cycles in my life being mirrored in others.  As things in my life would not be going so well, I would go within, connect to source, find the clarity, power and vision, then focus on the outer physical world and create great things.  I would be happy and feel good.  I would then get too busy to continue to connect, so over time, the visions get stale and things stop working so well.  Each time I would do this, the pain and disillusionment of the fall would be greater and the external conditions would get worse.  My faith in spirituality would dim as I felt it had failed me.

But, the disillusionment is the gift of awakening, and the continued focus on the external being the barometer for my happiness was the failure.  There was a time that I finally got the fact that the internal connection and my relationship with the divine was the point of everything.  And once this was the focus, the external became a reflection of that.  Even when things did not appear to me to be going well, I knew that I had to trust and focus on my part in everything.  I am now able to stay in a place of peace with what is, as I listen and do what I am called to do.  And ultimately, the divine unfolding of what is for the greatest good is revealed.

Levels of Consciousness
Journals with God, 12/9/2011 by Diane Dandeneau

You all have many levels of consciousness, and your awareness of them continues to grow and evolve.  The first part of this teaching provides the knowledge that these levels exist.  When you are born, you are connected to your soul level of consciousness, but you are not able to integrate it into your mind, since that part of you is just beginning to form.  As you become more immersed into earth consciousness, you are taught not to remember and integrate your soul wisdom; so it fades.

This has been normal and part of the complete plan of evolution on the planet.  Some children, who are starting to remember, are leaders in the next phase of evolution.  Currently, it is people who are feeling the pain of disconnection and don’t know what it is who are awakening to the desire to connect and live from the soul level. As you first remember that there are levels, you begin to recognize them.

The lowest levels are 100% earth-based physical awareness.  A person on this level lives as the victim of circumstances with the predominant energies being fear-based.  Emotions and a sense of well-being are completely conditional on external forces, where the individual holds very little personal power.  This is a very common place for most of society, and the education system teaches people how to function in this level.

The next level is the dominator/judge level.  This is the place where awareness of personal power is attained.  The person has a desire to move out of the victim level and moves into being the dominator and judge, where there is the added energy of resistance and anger.  The underlying motivation is still fear.  Mastery on the earth plane may be achieved by some, which reduces the pain as external comforts and goals are attained.

A truly peaceful state is not possible, however, since it still is a disconnected state of being.  These lower levels are also where religions fill the false role of providing spiritual fulfillment.  There is a feeling that the person is doing what is right, but it is still an external pursuit.  It is about moral structure instead of true spiritual experience.

The next level is disillusionment.  It is the place of knowing that the first and second levels don’t provide true happiness, fulfillment and peace, but you aren’t yet consciously connected to your soul.  This is the place for facing all the stories, beliefs, and structures of society built on level one and two and the place of final realization that there is another choice.  In fact, this is the place where you become aware that you can’t go back.  This is the first awakening.

At this point, you step into the level of seeker/finder.  You begin to experience your body’s energy in a different way.  You are starting to disengage mentally from the dramas of your life and are becoming more aware of what is true for you.  You begin to feel an inner peace without any external reference.  You are now connecting to your soul consciousness on deeper levels.  You can see the different levels of consciousness and can choose where you want to be.  You more easily connect to Source through your soul and are now beginning to create at this level.

The final level is that of the soul-realized being. When you reach this point, you live here all the time.  True mastery at this level is rare, but when you hold the intent to live here with complete compassion for yourself, the beauty expressed in your life is divine.  It is here where complete surrender to Source and soul is lived every day and where all the attitudes of the victim, dominator and judge are transmuted to love, joy and peace.  Compassion is a way of being, and everyone in this place of consciousness is a healer.

Each of these levels has many facets of “work” to forgive, release and accept.  The final phase requires dying to your old self in order to re-emerge as your new self.  This step is taken at the appropriate time and requires an external shift in this process.  Then it will be up to you to bring your new world back to the old world in order to transform the old world.  This is how it is done.  This is how heaven is brought to earth.

Sweater – MP3  Demo

Capo on 7^th Fret Am, C G (Bridge F, Am G Am)

I have a sweater that keeps me warm
It’s soft to the touch and beautifully adorned
With sacred symbols first carved in the stone
Reminding me I’m not alone.

Made by a woman from high in the Andes
In the tradition of her mother before
Spinning the yarn from the family Alpacas
While her children play on the floor

I have a sweater that keeps me warm
It’s soft to the touch and beautifully adorned
With sacred symbols first carved in the stone
Reminding me that I am not alone.

Bought in a shop down in La Paz
Just after I was almost kidnapped
The shopkeeper said I was lucky to survive
I know I’m grateful to be alive

I have a sweater that keeps me warm
It’s soft to the touch and beautifully adorned
With sacred symbols first carved in the stone
Reminding me that I am not alone.

Bridge
I feel the love in her hands
Wrapped in the gift from the land
The Andes live in my dreams
As I feel the sacred me

I have a sweater that keeps me warm
It’s soft to the touch and beautifully adorned
With sacred symbols first carved in the stone
Reminding me that we are not alone.

Engineered Versus Natural – the GM Food Question

By Diane Dandeneau

This opinion is in response to the articles by Steve Wratten and Kayann Short in the Lyons Recorder on the question of GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) foods.  I highly respect both of them as they share their views from their experience and perspectives and their belief that they are for the highest good.  As I share my perspective and beliefs, I am not going to site any scientific studies, as they are not necessary, and in fact distract from what I want us to consider.

On October 18^th, the Town of Lyons had a workshop with John Todd Ecological Designs on “ecological” wastewater treatment plants.  The purpose of this presentation was to introduce this concept to the town to consider as an option to implement into our wastewater treatment system over just using traditional industrial treatment processes.  I mention this here as I was reminded that this system relies on biodiversity to operate.  This design utilizes beautiful natural ecological systems such as plants and living organisms that use waste as food, and then recycles it into safe clean water and many resources for re-use.  The bottom line is it uses natural systems to work.

I hold a deep-felt belief that GMO’s are not the direction that we want to go in for our food system.  I believe this because no matter what, it can not be proven safe or not – as it is impossible to completely understand what will happen once this technology is out into the world, but more so that it is not a natural system.  The earth has naturally evolved in a way that uses biodiversity to support life.  Humans have focused on reducing to biodiversity in our food production causing problems that we are now trying to remedy with GMO’s instead of looking at the source cause and using our greatest resources.

We must use solutions that work with nature instead of battle with it.

When I bring up this concept, what I usually hear from those in the industrial food camp is that this is unrealistic. I agree that it is not an easy problem to solve – as we have created a monster. But, the question really is a larger one.  Do we continue down the path of short-term growth and profit being the focus? Or do we focus on quality of life, humane practices, and the long-term health of the system that we live in?

I hold the perspective and belief that if we are to survive as a species, we must reconnect with our deeper wisdom, and re-partner with nature and the biodiversity that has created us in the first place.  We are playing roulette as we tamper with our food system and are truly risking life on earth.

I believe that if more people could see the imperativeness of this perspective (look beyond profit) and we paid our brilliant scientist and engineers (like Steve Wratten) to focus on understanding how we can partner with nature versus focusing on how we can re-engineer it, we can solve our problems in a truly sustainable manner.

I have recently done a string of incredibly powerful channeled readings with the Messengers of Peace for some women in Austin Texas.  I did the first one for a woman who happened to hear me playing my music at the open mic at the Stone Cup in Lyons as they were passing through town.  She said she was touched by my song for Goldie, and picked up my brochure.  She called me a week later and we scheduled the session for over the phone.

The reading I did for her from the Messengers of Peace reached a new level of healing and transformation for her (and me).  As with most of my readings, I knew nothing about her other than her wanting some guidance on career.  The message that come through me had nothing to do with career (though eluded that everything would fall into place once this other issue was resolved) and totally about healing some family relationships.  When I read her the message, she was a bit surprised yet felt it was very true for her.  We then went into the next part of the session which is a guided meditation and coaching intro.

What happened next was very exciting and profound.  I felt the Messengers of Peace telling me that we were going to do some energy healing.  I was guided to take her into a process of forgiveness with the family member present in our meditation.  My client felt a physical energy shift and a profound release of a life-long anger and resistance.  Both were released from the bondage of their unresolved issues.

A day later I received a call to do a reading from the other woman who heard me in Lyons, who heard that her friend had a good experience with me.  Amazingly (probably only to me), the exact same thing happened.  I have since done 2 more readings from referrals from these women with one more next scheduled next week.  Each one being unique, yet as profound as the last.  The Messengers of Peace are now bringing a level of healing that is not just in their message, but through our session on an energetic level.  As I am doing this, I realize that this is an incredible gift that I have been given to help people make rapid profound shifts toward healing and awakening.

If you are struggling in any area of your life, please consider doing a session with me and the Messengers of Peace. It has been my prayer to serve and this is the greatest service that I believe I can bring.

Blessings,

Diane

I recently met John Dillan and Vivian Nesbit through showing up at a spiritual center in Albuquerque and asking someone (who happened to be Vivian) for directions to the fellowship hall.   We began to talk and I found out that they are songwriters and authors and do a radio show called Art of the Song.  We had a lovely connection, and I gave them my CD and John gave me his book.

I was very excited to meet them as they are truly inspiring and helping people to express and share their creativity – whether through music or any other means.  John’s book is called The 20 – 20 Creativity Solution. I LOVE his book!  He does a beautiful job of sharing his experience and science around creativity.  He talks about creativity being the culmination of inspiration, analysis and action.  He also talks about what I have been teaching about creativity being the integration of mind, body and spirit.

I was reminded by his book that to be creative is to have the ability to tap into our intuition, express what is coming out, edit and refine it, and then share it in form.  That being creative is the ability to follow through with a process.

Many people have commented that I am so creative and though I don’t feel that I am any more creative than anyone else, I realize that it is the process that I have mastered.   I also hear from people who say they do parts of the process, but not all of them and are wondering why they aren’t being successful in bringing creative expression to the world.   Some of them don’t know how to do all the parts and some don’t want to do all the parts.  The first step is understanding what the parts are and then deciding if you want to do what is needed to bring your creativity to the world.

As John writes about the 3 parts of Creativity, he says:

Creativity is a three-phase process that occurs at the intersection of inspiration, action and analysis.  The phases can occur in any order or simultaneously.

1. Inspiration is the generation of new ideas, a right-brain process.
2. Action involves taking the idea and bringing it into physical form.
3. Analysis is the left-brain phase of editing, refining, and changing the original idea.

This has made me think about my creative process and looking at the parts.

1. Intention: Create time and space for connection.  Meditate and connect to Source and my heart, where my creative impulse lives – open to the mystery and receive the inspiration (this is first and part of every step).
2. Preparation:  Buy the materials, instruments, tools, go to the studio, or travel for source material and more inspiration.
3. Action: Write, record, photograph, paint, play…
4. Evaluate and analyze:  With discernment and self love, review, edit, repaint, retouch, enhance.  Ask what is being called for in the world and take the inspiration, song, painting, or program idea and put it in a form that can be shared.
5. Share.  I am adding this as an additional step because I know many artist, musicians, authors, teachers, (OK, just about everyone fits in here), who have gifts in their closet and haven’t truly shared them.  Whether they are inspirations that have never come to form, or piles of paintings or finished songs that have not been displayed or sung.  This is the final step in the process.  And then it begins again.   Once you share your gifts, you might find that it requires more creative time, more analysis, and then more action to be more helpful or refined.  But unless you share it, you will never know.

If you want to live a more creative life, I can help you.  I find I am coaching people in all areas and love to share how to master the process with you.  I have created a new call called Living a Creative Life.  You can learn more here: https://dianedandeneau.com/coaching/living-a-creative-life-teleclass/

I heard this story on NPR http://www.npr.org/2011/08/29/139641794/where-generations-of-soldiers-healed-and-moved-on about Walter Read Hospital and it inspired me to write in my journal. In a few short hours, it turned into this song:

Why? By Diane Dandeneau

He once was six foot three, now he’s five foot two
Someone put a landmine in the path of his boots
His life has changed forever, as he waits for stumps to heal
The good news is they have for him new feet made of steel

One of the lucky ones, he has a life to live
Wants to raise a family, would like to coach some kids
The interviewer asks him, can’t that dream still come true?
He hesitates… saying yes… not sounding very sure

Chorus
He’s a hero to his county
A hero to his wife
But no-one asks the question…
Why?

I listen to this story on NPR
Wondering why the real question’s left on the floor?
In this crazy world there must be another way
To deal with the insanity, than playing these deadly games

Chorus

For it is the economy that really matters now
The more it grows the more we need to protect what is ours
We should all be grateful to those we sacrifice
Their lives and limbs to protect our privileged, cushy lives

Bridge
Can we hear him crying late in the night
And feel the pain that’s shattering all of our lives?

Chorus

I just got an email about a group called Strategies for Sustainability Working Group that is working to document and share sustainability ideas across the Colorado Front Range. I skimmed through their Powerpoint looking at their objectives and the number one thing on their list was:

Don’t reinvent the wheel.

This really struck me in a different way today. Now, I have been working in business and on sustainability issues for many years and have worked on making programs that could be scaled. There is a great cost and time savings when you can build something once and use it many times. McDonalds has made billions on this concept – but the product is not what I could call exceptional (or healthy). But what struck me today and what I have been realizing is that we have traded time and money savings for creativity, invention and quality. I have seen over and over where the money for sustainability projects has gone into top-down government run programs, but they aren’t really inspiring the public and have not been very successful. I have also been involved in local community inspired initiatives and seen amazing things happen.

What I would like to see is for the leadership to set some objectives – energy or carbon savings goals, then provide the resources to the local communities who need to meet those goals. Then ask them to create what would work in their community. I think it is vital to share with each other what others are doing, as knowledge is power. But, I believe that inspiring and supporting creativity is the answer. People want to solve problems and be part of the solutions for their own lives. We can’t keep doing things the way we have been doing them. So please, reinvent the wheel!

I have finally put all the pieces together from my documentation of “Goldie”, the golden eaglet that grew up in Meadow Park last year. The music is from my new CD: What Would You Do if You Knew You Were God?. The Filming is from my April 16th CD Release Concert and Art Show and from Meadow Park. Photos from many wonderful photographers. Please leave your comments!

Artist: Diane Dandeneau
Album: What Would You Do If You Knew You Were God?
Review by Bobby Jo Valentine, Award Winning Singer/Songwriter and Music Reviewer

Diane Dandeneau approaches music with a purpose in her debut album “What Would You Do if You Knew You Were God.”  Mixing folk-styled standards with positive uplifting messages, Diane has put together a collection of songs filled with honesty, charm, and depth.  The guitar parts are solid, the percussion is creative and bright, and the lyrics have moments of both sweetness and depth. For listeners looking for a pleasant listen and uplifting lyrics, Diane’s new album serves them up a musical meal that will delight and enchant.

Diane displays some wonderful wisdom and great vocal harmonies in “One Heart of Man,” a story about the unified spirituality of the human race.  I’ve gone to the ends of the earth/In search of who I am/and what I found were a million mirrors/to the one heart of man.  All of the lyrics are solid, the observations are honest, and Diane’s pure and honest vocals tell the listener that this is a song that Diane hasn’t just written; it is a story that she has experienced.  Pleasant, well arranged, and powerful, “One Heart of Man” is one of the highlights of the album.

“12 String Guitar” is a sweet, catchy story-song about being in love with music and the tendency that life has to take people away from doing what they love.  Diane tells the story of coming back to music after a long hiatus, and realizing that it was what she wanted to do with her life, and proves it with a wonderful rolling Irish rhythm, and another great song.  A profound question is asked in “What Would You Do If You Knew You Were God,” an interesting moral tale wrapped in a medieval rhythm and more positive messages about life and its mysteries.  The dance with the darkness allures and appears to be the way of the world and its fears.  When you shine the light on the truth, you realize that it’s all a ruse.

The album flows smoothly through the different stories, and maintains a good quality and a pleasant sound throughout.  “Don’t Be Afraid of Love” is a beautiful, haunting lullaby about not running away from love.  There are some wonderful instrument pieces here, with a mandolin plucking away in the background, and a haunting, deep bass sound in the distance.  “She Played Her Guitar” is a quirky, fun biography about the life of a singer/songwriter and the difficulty of getting noticed in a world where the gap between famous and unknown is often large and uncrossable.  She plays her guitar for the dogs/now that the cat is dead and gone/they usually sleep right through the songs/while the neighbor dog sings along.  The song ends with a confident and uplifting invitation to play despite the number of people who may or may not hear you.

All the tracks are pleasant, but a few more stick out as memorable and noteworthy.  Diane shows some great songwriting skill in “Quilts,” a wonderful and haunting piece of poetry about the simple beauties and struggles of a typical family’s life.  “Quilts” has a great introduction, with a guitar being finger-picked and soft cymbal accents bringing the listener into a story of local gossips gathered around in a sewing circle.  Diane observes each patch and sewing project, their details giving clues to what’s actually going on in the clothing-wearer’s lives.  Beautiful, soft, and emotionally profound, “Quilts” is easily the best track on the album.  “The Bond That’s Called Love” is another haunting and uplifting tune, with an Irish guitar rhythm and Diane’s lyrics taking the listener through a tale of love that goes deeper than a contract or approval form.  Addressing issues of sexual discrimination gently, but firmly, Diane speaks with strength and conviction.

Diane has accomplished a great feat in this album; She teaches principles and spiritual lessons without wandering into territory too familiar, or using lyrics that the listener has already heard before.  Focused, gentle, pleasant, and genuine, “What Would You Do If You Knew You Were God” will be sure to attract new fans to the inspiring work of Diane Dandeneau.

Review by Bobby Jo Valentine
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)