Have You Lived Before?

Reincarnation. What do you think? Have you ever had the feeling that "Gosh, this place feels familiar!" This is so weird! I know that if I turn that corner I'm going to see an old pharmacy with a red awning and an ice cream cone painted on the window. . . Helloo!

Einstein once remarked that Reincarnation was the only thing that made any sense to him. What did he know! Who knows. But I feel the same way, and I'm not Einstein. I've sometimes met somebody who I think I ought to know, and yet I can't place that person. Or an event feels familiar. As a child I once stood there watching a carousel turn, with scores of waving kids aboard, and I suddenly thought, "I'd like to do that - but I'm scared of that red horse . . . " Because it felt as though the last time I'd ridden a carousel I'd fallen off the horse I was riding. Trouble is, when I had that feeling, I was only three and had never before been to the fairgrounds.

And then there's Deja vu? Which of course means, 'Seen before'. Perhaps you're sitting around a camp fire with a group of friends and suddenly someone says, "Wait! I've seen this exact scene before - we were all sitting around this fire and talking about this very thing!" It happens to most of us. What do you think? Think you've done this scene before? But when? It could be a past life memory - but notice the clothing. In Victorian times we wouldn't be sitting around in short shorts and tank tops. Now, would we? So what's going on? Could it be that we've had the same conversation before in a similar setting with these same people? And perhaps when we had the first conversation we were all Victorians, but we wouldn't recognize us in that scenario. So did your spirit decide to change things up to make us all more recognizable? Maybe it's the conversation with all the same people that's important - not the 'look'. Or could it be your Higher Self/Spirit/Soul jumping ahead of you and saying, "I know what we're going to say next!" Smarty. Or, a scientist might say, "Brain glitch!" I've had a couple of those. Interesting isn't it. The whole idea of Reincarnation is interesting to me.

It makes perfect sense to me, who was taught that there is a loving father, God, who made us and is looking out for us. Why would He give us only one  chance to get things right?  What parent pulls the rug out from under a child saying, " That's it! You blew it. No more chances for you!" We are much more likely to say, "Okay, so that didn't work - why don't you try it again?
I also think that if we do reincarnate, it's a choice we make. I don't believe anyone is sitting there with a cattle prod saying "Get back down there! (loser)." No way. I think that with the help and guidance of spiritual beings on the other side - Angels, Guides, trusted friends who've been down here too, we make that decision to come back or not. Because free will exists in all dimensions.
It makes perfect sense to me that if, for instance, we messed up a relationship with someone who really mattered, we'd want to come back to earth and try to make it right the next time. Hopefully that person will be generous and come back in with us.

And that's another thing. I believe that we choose the people we want to spend lifetimes with, and we pick the people who can teach us the most. If we're going to make this difficult journey, we may as well make it worthwhile by learning our lessons from the best teachers we can find. Parents, siblings, friends . . .  everyone. Ever wonder why that sister of yours is the most aggravating person you've ever met? You chose her. Either to get the relationship right this time or around, to learn from her or to teach her a thing or two! Yup! That's it! I'm going to show her! Or maybe not - You're here to get it right, remember? And if you don't, think you might have to come back and do it again?

Makes you think.

I think I've lived before. And I'll probably be back to mop up a few messes I've made. And maybe we'll be back to continue a lifelong love affair with a person, an animal or a place we're very attached to. Maybe we'll come back just to enjoy this beautiful planet one more time.

This human state is so hard to get perfectly right, isn't it? But we can give it our best shot.
So, jump in, everyone and let's see what happens this time around!

I hope it's a great day for you, and that tomorrow will be even better.

Cindy!

Stripping the Phantom of it's Mask

A Person of Beauty left our world last week and ever since Maya Angelo passed on, I've been thinking of Strong Women. Oprah and the other Great and Famous People come to mind, but I was thinking of people like you and I. Ordinary people, men and women, who rise above and beyond the bar when the situation calls for it. A well-loved friend wrote this letter last week, and I want to share it with all of you. She titled it "I can Smell the Barn!!" and addressed it to her friends. She began by thanking them for their kindness and encouragement,as she found herself quite unexpectedly, on a road that is all too familiar to too many. "This is not something you want to do alone," she said. Yesterday, I had my third round of Chemo ... One more to go and we can close the book on that giant CLEANSE portion of the treatment (for breast cancer). Am pleased to say that I passed with flying colors! Amazingly enough, I still have hair - if you've ever seen what the Phantom looks like when he removes his mask in Phantom f the Opera - you've got the picture. Not my best, but still there! I am now seen most often sporting a baseball cap or wearing my new cranial prosthesis named Gladys! The Wig. I'm doing just great. Cancer has given me a new lease on life. I'm taking time to enjoy the beauty that surrounds us and am especially taking time to think about a lot of things - the love of family; the importance of friends; those less fortunate. I believe that when it's all over and done, I'm going to say that this was one of the best things that ever happened to me. I'm sure the second half of my life will be filed with new pleasures and joys. I hope I can help other women facing this scary disease to realize that it's not the end of the world - it's really just beginning. In the meantime, just wanted to say I'm doing great ... and I trust that the lessons I'm learning will mark my path in my journey going forward. Thanks for walking it with me. Cindy. What a tribute to the Human Spirit. I've known Cindy for a long time, you met her in "By Morning's Light". She inspired me then, all through the worst journey of my life, making me laugh when I could barely smile; picking me up when I was down, moving me forward on her magic carpet of laughs, encouragement, and her zest for life. Her spirit touches everyone she meets, and now it's our turn to be strong for her. Everyone she knows, will walk this journey with her; we won't be afraid of the road ahead, and we'll all cross the finish line together, in a shower of balloons, streamers and a riot of drum-beating silly clowns! Walk on, everyone who's reading this, with the people you know who may be victims of this and other horrors. With anyone you can help, encourage and inspire. Be there for each other, because we know how close to home this scourge can hit ... And if, God forbid, this, or something like it, charges at any one of us - we'll all be there, six-shooters at the ready, On Guard! Because we're strong. Even though we don't always feel strong, even though we may feel helpless at times ... Shoulders back! Tummies in, Chins up and Forward March! It's a choice ladies and gentlemen. Sometimes the only viable choice we have. Take it and thrive. In the words of the poetess, Maya Angelo, "If you have it, give it; if you learn it teach it." Thanks for teaching the lessons you've learned, Cindy. See you at the checkered flag! Tally HO!

The Colors of the Rainbow

When I think of the Colors of the Rainbow, I think of freshly-washed skies, and crystalline air reflecting the sun, changing and casting its light in an arc of color. On Thursday afternoon, I hope you'll join me at the Westlake library at 4.00,for a colorful and entertaining presentation of "Rainbow Rising". The book was written in answer to the many questions you asked during a multitude of presentations I made across this state and others; questions you had following the publication of "By Morning's Light". In "Rainbow Rising" I've done my best to answer every one of them. One of those questions was, "How old were you when you first knew you could feel and see spirits?" Well, come with me on Thursday on a fascinating trip through the gold savanna grasses of Africa, to the crater where the old Sangoma lives; a medicine woman with "so many years in her skin that no one can count them." I met her once with Lizzie, my Zulu nanny, who introduced me to the ancient spirits of Africa. That may have been the beginning, but somehow I don't think so. You see, as a very young child, I could remember the essence of another place - the place before this place called earth. I remember it's colors, it's sounds and air that sparkled. Somehow I knew that there was so much more to me than skin and bones. You asked me, "How can Isee spirits? Where can I find them? How can I speak to them?" And then, "I don't think I can do that ..." The simple answer is, "Yes you can." We all can. So, follow my yellow brick road and I'll show you how I did it. The journey was FUN. Intriguing, fascinating - visiting another dimension always is, I imagine - and it involved getting to know people who were far more savvy than me, more fun and totally awesome in their teaching of something this amazing. This was the Metaphysical Study Group I belonged to, who my sweet husband Walter referred to playfully,as "The Spook Group." After a bout of his teasing one afternoon, I asked him how he would like to wake up in the morning, green and croaking and warty... But I'm not a sorceress. You will however meet a real witch in the book - A Good Witch, bouncy, charming, and one whose lineage contains at least one true witch. Who knew they were hereditary? You wanted to know, was I ever afraid of opening myself up to evil spirits? No. Dark Energy (read evil) cannot survive in light. Only Spirits of Light, God, his Holy Spirit, my own angels and guides, and sometimes yours,are ever invited into my circle. Do you believe in fairies? Maybe you will one day. Where was God? Where were his Angels on September 11th? Didn't you see them? What happened to Buck when the spook group practiced their levitation skills on him at a New Year's Eve party? Tune in on Thursday for the thrilling conclusion...as the Universe turns. :) Ever wondered if you may have lived before? Met a battlefield ghost from Manassas? Or another from a wagon train trying to cross the Rockies. I can't wait to see you on Thursday! It's going to be so much fun - and more than that, I look forward to hearing from you. Your stories, Your impressions, Your questions. Help me to color your world, fill it with hope and, of course, Rainbows. See you there - Thursday at the library at Westlake. And bring your friends and high spirits. Until then!

Just Waiting . . .

Have you ever had the feeling that you're just waiting for something to happen? You know deep down that there's something, right around the corner, just waiting to burst into your life, bringing changes with it. It's a feeling of anticipation, hope, mild excitement and curiosity. You're not even sure what it really is - but SOMETHING is going to happen. You can feel the energy moving into the spaces around you. Sometimes you're mildly impatient waiting for things to pop. Sometimes you're downright anxious waiting for 'something to happen'. More and more, I'm realizing the truth in the thought that Timing is Everything and, for me, patience may be the hardest lesson to learn. A friend of mine called last week mildly frustrated (which usually means anxious) that her husband's beautiful art work was taking so long to really catch hold and start selling like hot cakes. "But I just know something's going to happen soon, and when it does, it'll be big", she said. It's almost as though someone's hit a delay switch and is holding everything up. They've done everything they can. The work is unique and lovely, they've done all the promoting, it's in a gallery in Manhattan - but the Universe is still at work. Teaching. Another friend emailed me that after months of frustration with a project involving photography, after months of wondering where this was going, and even if it had hit a stone wall - something stirred - and the right people showed up, with all the know-how she was lacking, and the project began moving forward. Timing. When the pupil is ready, the teacher will come. For weeks and then months, I worried, freaked out about the publishing of the second book and all the things I didn't know. All the frustrations built up, then came a few successes when I thought, AHA! Success is just around the corner! And then got slammed down to earth again when everything went wrong. But when the timing was right, everything fell into place and the book was done. It was only then that I could look back at the whole experience and realize I'd just been coached through a powerful learning experience. What I've learned is that no matter how hard we try we can't hurry Perfect Timing. No matter what it is - whether it's something you're working on, or just a feeling that something's going to happen, it happens in it's own time. And if we try to rush it, we'll probably fall short, or maybe even flat on our faces. There are steps to be taken, small steps that we may not even be aware of at the time. Invisible forces propelling us towards a goal even though we don't know what they are or where they come from. It's part of paving the way to the next event. The way must be clear, the road signs must be in place and only then can we begin to move forward. There are universal building blocks that have to fall into place. Often involving other people and their life paths. Universal blocks that are similar to those brightly colored children's blocks with ABC's printed on them. The ABC's of teaching and learning. Funny that we call them 'blocks'. Running into road blocks. My mind is blocked. Something's blocking the course ... Not so. They seem more like delay switches to me, to give us time to smooth the way, negotiate the obstacles, work with the universe o many levels and set the wheels in motion. And when the timing is right, the brightly colored, clearly sign-posted blocks will tumble into place, almost miraculously, and everything will begin to move forward - maybe in the way you expected, and maybe not. But it is moving at last. And remember this: "Nothing is either good or bad - only thinking makes it so." That was Will Shakespeare. Another great teacher. I wish for you and me; Patience, Hope and Fun today!

Among the Ghosts of Avenel

Saturday was an interesting day in many ways. Most interesting to me was "Rainbow Rising's" first public appearance, which was as much fun as baby Prince William's first peek at the world, but much more intriguing. My new baby made its debut amid the tall oaks, magnolias and broad green lawns of Avenel which is an old antebellum home,(circa 1838)in Bedford, Virginia. Before and during the Civil War it was the hub of social gatherings, hunts, and a stopping off place for guests like General Lee on his trips around he Commonwealth. On Saturday, it was the occasion of the Seven Hills Paranormal Society's Annual Conference. And sitting there surrounded by new books, old fireplaces and tall ceilings, I wondered if the legendary ghosts of Avenel would show themselves. The tales of "The White Lady" who wanders the main hall, glimpses of her through windows when no one's there, and sightings of a young girl in a high collar, had my senses on high alert. Once, many years ago, having lunch at Avenel on a Thursday afternoon, I had been lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a woman wandering through the dining room. At first I felt her standing close to the table I shared with six other people. It felt like a flow of almost tangible energy at the back of my neck, and when I turned around, I had the distinct impression of a woman in period dress, charming, elegant and mingling with her guests. "That would be Miss Lettie," one of the caretakers of Avenel told us. How absolutely fabulous! On Saturday though, as I opened all channels and invited their spirits in for a chat, I knew it was a long shot; and although I hoped that they would come in, I wouldn't have blamed them if they'd stayed hidden for the day. The place was teeming with Ghost Busters, audio and camera equipment and tables full of wires and switches. I think if I had been one of them I would have been watching from the eaves, wondering when all these people would go home. I didn't see any sign of them. No wispy drifts of organdie, no veils, no drifts of rose water anywhere. Perhaps someone else did, but nobody I asked had seen anything either. What I did notice was that the energy in the house felt 'scattered'. Nervous almost. And it made me wonder if ghost hunters, with good intentions for all I know, disturb the unseen residents as they track them down looking for sightings. What do you think. What must the Ghosts of Avenel think about all the sophisticated machinery plugged into their home? Perhaps they're fascinated. Perhaps they're pushing buttons seeing how things work. I heard one of the hunters getting more and more frustrated trying to get his Power Point presentation to work. . . helllloooo . . . is their a ghost I the house? Happy Spring everyone :)

Resurrection, New Life, New hope - New World.

Today, I published RAINBOW RISING. The True Story of Life Before Life, Life on Earth and the Afterlife. All through the chaos of living on Earth, I have been aware that there's so much more to our human existence that we can possibly imagine, and much more to our humanity than DNA. I knew it best when I was a child; and I knew it through the growing years, through the school years and the years of raising a family. There was little time to stop and think deeply about all of this then, but throughout those years I kept catching glimpses of a time and place I knew before I was born. "It was New Year's Eve. There was a party that night and Mama's dress was covered in sequins. Some of the party hats were black and glittery with silver ribbons; some were pink and green and, red and blue, and they all sparkled with that silvery light. The glittery stuff made me yearn for something, but I didn't know what . . .It seemed to me that in that other time and place I could sometimes remember, the very air shimmered and glittered. It made a singing sound too. Sometimes even the thought of all that shiny stuff made me lonely..." How strange it is that we never really snap that bond with a timeless place we can almost never remember. The other Side. But how do you snap that bond with the spirit that is you? A spirit that was you yesterday, is you today and will be you tomorrow and forever, existing throughout time and many dimensions. Eventually, I began to think hard about 'awareness' and became acutely aware that I am an immortal being. Seriously. A being here for all time. An eternal spirit. Rainbow Rising follows in the footsteps of that Awareness, when things in the ESP department really started to POP! I hope you'll love the book. It's written for you, my friends and family and for everyone who ever wondered, "Where did we come from? (Forget the stork) what are we doing here, and where are we going?" I've taken you on a fun trip with spirits I've met over the years, to places they've lived in with me, and without me, and through the doorways my own spirit held open for me and encouraged me to explore way beyond the bonds of earth. Tomorrow, in the Christian tradition, it is Easter Day: a time of the resurrection of the spirit in all of us. A time of renewal, even as the earth renews its promise of new life and sunny days ahead. Whatever your faith may be, I wish for you a time of renewal, new hope, peace on earth, and love for one another. Oh yes! And Happy Reading! I hope this is a beautiful weekend wherever you are. In the Christian tradition, this is Easter

Spirit Horse

Dreams are interesting, aren't they? What are they ... figments of imagination picked up by vagrant winds that drift through our unconsciousness late at night or early morning? Golden moments that light unknown crevices of our brains? Projections of our thoughts? Or do they foretell and sometimes forewarn us of upcoming events? I think they may be all of the above and much more besides. Two or three nights ago I had one of those short, but very clear dreams. I appeared to be nothing more than an observer - I couldn't see myself in the dream but I knew I was there watching the scene unfold. Just the spirit me was there; taking a little trip outside of my sleeping body. The dream scene was rural and I seemed to be standing in the entranceway of a horse barn I had never seen before. I could see a shaft of light pouring through the opening, lighting the hay scraps on the earthen floor, beaming off the wood beams of a stall. And standing in front of the stall was a white horse. He was unbridled, unshod and free. Soft light, like misty early morning sunshine, surrounded the animal giving it an almost luminous quality. It's mane was long and untangled, it's tail swished the air, its head was lowered, its ears twitching. Light bathed the strong flanks. Peace filled the space around it. And then the dream was gone. I've been wondering about this dream. It didn't come from any experience I've ever had. I haven't been around that many horses in my life, and I've never seen one like this. But I'm not totally ignorant of them. Over the course of my like I've had friends who have horse farms or maybe just one or two horses, and I've enjoyed visiting them. I've stroked horses, put my cheek beside theirs and listened to them speak, maybe even rode one of them once, but never formed any particular relationship with any of them. So who was this beautiful horse in my dream? I couldn't tell if it was male or female. Maybe it was neither. My instincts tell me it was a Spirit Horse. In Native American lore they are very often healers, prophets and animals that come into our lives for some reason. A reason we can't fathom at the time. All I know is that it was magnificent, a light being filled with peace. It was totally free of constraint, unbridled, vibrantly strong and full of energy. Ready to run free ... from here to eternity. How incredibly lovely. Whoever it is, I'm glad it came into my dream.

Go Snow!

There are two ways to take this: Either 'Go Snow, snow your little heart out, Have fun!' Or: Leave! We've had enough already! The Blue Jay skidded in to land on the patio table this morning and found himself up to his ears in snow. The Sparrows can't be found, and the reason I know there are Chicadees pecking at the seed is that every so often I see a flurry of snowy and a little black cap. The Canada Geese stopped by on their way back North and they're sitting out there on a sandbar looking like ice cream cones saying, "Seriously?" This is The South y'all! What's going on? And my ghost friends have melted into the fog. Not a single see-through person to be found. We have Snow geese why not Snow Ghosts? (Okay, sorry, my brain has melted into the fog too apparently.) I wanted to pen something inspiring but inspiration has flown the coop. Even the house ghost I wrote to you about had a couple of weeks ago has left. I could tell you about the Civil War ghost I found at an old confederate hospital just outside Charlottesville who asked for a ride back to Pennsylvania. Or the W.W.2 ghost that lived in an apartment in New York City - he went down with a submarine. Strangest thing that. When he popped in I could actually feel water rising around my legs. Or there was the Scottish miner in Grand Lake Colorado - cheeky fellow. And a big husky guy who was travelling with a wagon train, taking his family out west. They were trying to get through the mountains before winter set in. Or the children dancing in an old house in Williamsburg ... So many interesting folk. And you will meet them - as soon as the print copy of Rainbow Rising is released. In the meantime, as I wait to hear from the publisher, I'm working on Book 3. Have you ever met a baby before it was born? Or listened to a child tell you where she came from? Before this earth, in that time Before. Fun! It's writing well, another non-fiction, and if you'd like to include your own experience in it, it's about young children, and also people who are leaving our earth - who see and know so much more then we do. I would love to hear it. Just email me at giniabrock@aol.com For now, our dusting of snow has turned into four inches and still snowing. I hope the sun is shining where you are. Soak up a little for me. And send our big star to Virginia.

A Spirit to Show the way

Last Thursday I visited an old lady friend who's spending her last days in an extended care facility. (The nice name for a Nursing Home, which strikes fear into the hearts of the bravest people I know.) She's very old - well into her nineties - but she still reads and gets around shakily in a walker. Her mind when she's clear is very clear. Her innate intelligence is intact, only clouded sometimes by physical old age. But there's something else going on. Now that the strong physical senses of sight, hearing, etc. are weakening, the spiritual sixth sense is able to break through, stepping forward, taking the lead, and I believe, leading her to the next place. All last week, she spoke with visitors about a beautiful,shining hospital, a lovely place with caring people and a doctor she loved. She asked me when I visited, if I would take her there. I asked her where it was and she said, "In Washington, and I want you to get me there!" Washington was her lifelong home. It's possible she's remembering a long ago hospital stay where she had a good experience. But she's painting it in out-of-this-world adjectives of beauty and love. She can't seem to find enough words to properly describe this place. I heard that while she was speaking to one of doctors, she confided to him that not only was she in this gorgeous place, but her husband, himself a doctor , was on staff there, taking care of her.(He was a doctor before he died several years ago.) So where is she? I believe she's in between planes, getting ready to transition. Is it possible that she's being guided by her spirit, being shown a place of beauty, in familiar surrounds to make her feel at home; to make her reach out to that place? I think so. People who have crossed over into that spirit world tell us that it's very similar to earth only much, much better. Is this what my old lady friend is being given glimpses of? So often we hear stories of people who are dying, suddenly breaking into smiles, reaching out, mentioning names of people who are long gone - Isn't it a lovely thought that there are people waiting for our ferry to land ... and a spirit to show the way. Believe.