Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance…I hope you dance.
Inspired by Lee Ann Womack’s song, Mark Sanders and Tia Sillers wrote the book I Hope You Dance. My friend Andrea gave me this little treasure in November of 2005 and wrote inside its cover, “To celebrate the day you dance again. I hope you heal quickly.”
I have always loved to dance. I find it a form of celebration. My kitchen floor often becomes the dance space on which I glide and turn as high energy songs inspire me to express my joy. I love the freedom of dancing at home, totally oblivious to style or grace, simply engaging in the bliss of the moment.
Dancing is also the balm that soothes the pain of challenging life experiences. Dancing helped me feel better as I faced heartache and feelings of failure while my marriage was dissolving. Dancing lessened my gut-wrenching pain when my daughter chose a destructive path of depression, drugs and suicide attempts. Dancing shifted my mood through those difficult times and, even now, when life feels so good, I dance. I choose to dance.
My friends are used to my dancing even when there isn’t a dance floor. I allow the rhythm to move through me; all I need is space and music. I even danced this morning at the local organic farmers’ market. I expected to pick up a few veggies and return to write when I found my neighbors Karl and Matt playing guitars and singing “Margaritaville.” What a great touch, music at a farmer’s market. So, at 10 o’clock on a Saturday morning, I stayed for several songs and every fiber of my being just had to dance! Thanks, guys.
I appreciate dancing even more since my life-altering injury on November 3, 2005. I had a crucial choice to sit it out or dance. I was instantly paralyzed from a mountain biking accident. Moments later, I stopped breathing. I had the same injury as Christopher Reeve.
I gave faith a fighting chance. I chose to dance.
My doctor, Robert E. Isaacs, Director of Spine Surgery at Duke University Medical Center, said that my injury “was pretty graphic—historically, it is one people do not survive.” And, with the severity of my spinal cord injury, my prognosis for mobility was terrible.
I created a very different outcome. I embraced the full capacity of who I believe we really are—limitless spiritual and energetic beings. My results surpassed my doctor’s expectations with what many would call two medical miracles: regaining my breath and becoming fully functioning. I am an example that miracles can occur or be created and are available to each of us more than we realize.
Five years before I broke my neck, I was guided to my passion and path of service as a holistic wellness facilitator, teacher and speaker. I give credit for my phenomenal recovery to my belief in the teachings and processes I share in this book. The time I devoted to my spiritual expansion was well spent; it provided the wisdom and inner conviction that saved my life.
At that critical juncture between life and death, I stayed in the moment, tapped into my infinite, ever-present inner wisdom and Higher Power, and held tight to my trust that everything is in divine order. The teachings and beliefs within these pages explain why I was able to create such an unexpected outcome and how I emotionally and physically “dance” through many of life’s challenges. Come dance with me. These “dance steps” helped me choose calm over chaos and helped me turn my life around. I’ll show you how I released limitations and refused to accept the status quo. I believe we are all here on a special spiritual journey to attain our highest potential.
My clients dramatically improve their life situations when they relate to them from a spiritual and energetic perspective. They learn to view their bodies, thoughts, situations—and even the universe—as subtle energy fields moldable by their minds, intentions and feelings. Stress, anger and resentment—in fact, all negative emotions—block the flow of life-enhancing energy. Our sessions balance these subtle energy fields. Emotional pain and physical symptoms go away as the healthy energy flow returns.
Life coaching, energy and sound healing sessions help clients cancel scheduled surgery; avoid exhaustive and expensive medical treatment; get off prescription medicine; release pain, depression and addiction; and feel more peace and joy in their daily lives. One client healed her cancer in five sessions. My clients were ready for the personal freedom that they wanted and deserved. They were willing to see life from a fresh perspective.
If you are already aligned with mind, body and spirit awareness, you have an opportunity to move into a deeper knowing—an owning of these teachings. If you find these results surprising, that is okay. Consider that we have learned throughout life to look for answers to health problems outside of ourselves—in surgery and medication. Calling Back Your Power offers a fresh perspective.
If you look at the world from a purely scientific view, I invite you to research the teachings of quantum physics that I discuss in chapter 3. You will find information from world-renowned researchers at prestigious universities who have uncovered evidence supporting the spiritual and energetic truths that have been practiced for millennia. Western medicine is perplexed at my remarkable results, though they are explained by and align with ancient spiritual teachings and the 80-year-old science of quantum physics.
If you come from a biblically-based background, you will recognize many of these truths. For example, “Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” (Romans 12:2); or “Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer believing, ye shall receive” (Matthew 21:22); and “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24). Some of my sharing may vary with what your religion has taught you. I invite you to pray or meditate on the principle and ask God to reveal your highest Truth.
If you believe God has failed you and you question any Higher Power, I invite you to read this book with an open mind. And while doing so, affirm that you will feel and know the Truth of your Being.
There are as many spiritual beliefs offering avenues to explore as there are names representing the one Higher Power. While reading this book, be open to pondering and then deepening your faith in this energetic Universe and in your innate power. If it’s meant to, it will happen in your own perfect timing. Nothing has to be forced. Relax and be open to the Divine working through you, for you.
In life, spiritual evolution is a given, although the amount of pain, disease and difficulty is optional. Yes, I said optional. You deserve to find the options and answers—the freedom— that is divinely yours.
I had embarked on this journey before I needed these principles for my ultimate ordeal—my biking incident. Was I perfect in my work with these principles? No. I had, and still have, plenty of life trials with which to practice these principles. But, these teachings resonate with me and I am consistent in my efforts. I learned the value of being present in the moment and of reacting from empowerment, not fear. My preparation gave me the awareness and spiritual strength I needed at the pivotal moment I stopped breathing and throughout my recovery.
Inviting You to Dance
I invite you to take the incremental steps that create your own personal dance as you journey through life. Hear the songs that are calling you to move at your right and perfect tempo. Let no one step on your toes! Practice your dance steps over and over as you move through life’s struggles, deepen your beliefs and grow your confidence. Your own positive results will multiply. Your life will transform right before your eyes.
I’m writing this book from my heart, hoping to help you know who you really are and what you came here to be. This book offers you a shift in consciousness which leads to better life experiences. It will help you “remember” more fully your essence. I offer Calling Back Your Power to you, dear reader. Spirit is using this book as a portal to higher awareness. The consciousness, energetically imbued within its pages, will quicken the dissolution of your fears, programming and limited beliefs, while awakening you to your next level of spiritual expansion.
How Did I Get Interested in the Mind, Body and Spirit Connection?
In the mid 1990s, my former husband’s job transfer moved our family from Maine to North Carolina. I brought with me the book Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom, written by Christiane Northrup, MD. She is highly recognized and respected for her holistic medical knowledge. I aligned with her teachings and over the years my respect and appreciation for this pioneer and visionary has deepened. Over the last thirty years, she has persevered with integrity in leading women to a deeper understanding of holistic medicine and their own innate wisdom.
People align to different books and teachings as they move through life. As you read this book, you may resonate with some thoughts, not others. My words may clarify feelings and ideas that you have, or at other times you may feel resistance to them. Please set aside the ones that bring up resistance and focus on what feels right to you. You align more to your spiritual essence by not judging ideas as right or wrong but rather as not being for you at this time.
I did that while reading Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom. I skipped over the chapter on the chakras. Chakras are energy centers within our bodies that receive, assimilate and express life-force energy. This seemed too out there for me so I skipped over it and enjoyed everything else that did resonate. My reaction to the concept of chakras seems rather comical to me, considering that a mere five years later I was drawn to Reiki, an ancient, Japanese healing modality that balances the chakras. Oh, the joyous path of evolving!
My introduction to Reiki in the winter of 1998 was my first exposure to metaphysics. I was nearly 40 years old and my marriage of 18 years—actually a 26-year relationship with my high school sweetheart—was dissolving. Reiki helped me awaken more to my untapped inner strength while experiencing such a dramatic life change.
I remember the day I was invited to attend a Reiki healing group. Bill Alford, a retired neighbor with whom I often road biked, asked me to join him. I knew nothing about Reiki, but I did know Bill. I wondered if this was another of his crazy ideas. Bill is young at heart and physically fit for his age. He sports a gray ponytail and is very liberal in his thinking. I lovingly refer to him as my retired hippie friend. Luckily, we were bike riding when he invited me to the Reiki class so he didn’t see me roll my eyes.
Something drew me there though and I was intrigued. Instead of eating my words, I had to unroll my eyes. Bill, his wife, Gunilla, and I still laugh over this story because today, 13 years later, I am fully engaged in my life’s calling and passionately sharing energy healing modalities and universal truths. Thanks, Bill!
I grew up Catholic, but I just couldn’t wrap my mind around God being “a man in the sky.” My greater spiritual awareness awakened in 1998.
My experience of Reiki, spiritual books and workshops led me to a new awareness of spirituality. I resonate with the truths that I am one with a Higher Power and not separate from it. I am deepening an understanding of the wonderful connection of mind, body and spirit. I am getting in touch with the fullness of who I Am. And, I am being steered along my destiny path.
You, too, are being steered along your destiny path.
I am honored to be part of your journey.
Let’s dance!