Greetings Beautiful People,
I wanted to share a most magickal experience that has come about as a direct result of completing Rebecca's most excellent Practical Geniuses course.

Many years ago, I was married for a long time to a man who became a raging alcoholic, and who, along with his father, was very abusive. I divorced him in 1989. He is sober and in a recovery program today thank goodness-but never once contacted me to say "I'm sorry" or to see his 2 children, despite my having kept an open-door policy.
I never realized until LL29 that I was STILL harboring resentment towards him for never having contacted me or apologized and I had resentment towards other members of his family, so I followed Rebecca's suggestions on how to forgive them (I won't give away the LifeLab details for those of you that have not gotten to this yet.) Forgiving these people was most important also because they are very wealthy and politically connected. I believe that my anger and resentment towards them had a lot to do with blocking prosperity in my life, and that LL29 did indeed "open the floodgates".

After completing the LL, I felt lightened. It was truly exhilarating.

A month later, I recieved a back child-support check via the State from my ex, who until now, had never given me one dime towards supporting his 2 children. Now mind you, I still have not laid eyes on this man in almost 20 years!

On St. Patty's Day, his mother-a most gracious and genteel lady-called to say hello. Over the years, she has always made an effort to stay in touch with me and her 2 grandchildren via cards and phone calls. We (me and my oldest two children) all visited her 6 years ago, and have kept in touch.

She asked about my art, I told her how much fun I was having doing that which I love and making $$ at it, always keeping in mind "giving the impression of increase"as I learned in Wally's book. Out of nowhere, she ordered a Greek reproduction vase. I was floored, and blown away with gratitude.

Yesterday, my wonderful daughter and I paid her a visit (my daughter has not seen her grandmother in 6 years)and I delivered the vase in person. The lady was so happy with the vase-more than she ever expected-and was only too happy to pay me the $350.00 I asked for it. I would have given it to her as a gift for her kindness over the years, but she insisted on paying, so I prepared to receive and quoted her the price I would have asked a regular client and happily accepted her check. And moreover, the time spent driving with my daughter (2 hours each way)and the visit with this woman was nothing less than delightful for all of us.

This has now inspired me to do a series of Greek reproduction pieces and enter them into a gallery-WHOOHOO!

Below are the pictures. The 3 part collage is a picture of the original vase in the Metropolitan Mueum in New York City;below is my reproduction. It stands 9 inches (22 cm) tall.
The theme is a musical competition;the man on one side is the judge-on the other side is a musician playing the kithara, swaying to the melody. I thought the subject matter to be appropriate, because the family loves music and singing.


ORIGINAL WORK (3-way view, above)


MY PIECE-Obverse-Judge


MY PIECE-Reverse-Kithara Player


Detail


Detail

Hi Julia

I love your post and your art.

It never ceases to amaze me what's possible once we put the sogr principles to work.

Stay blessed and prosperous

Luv Ya!!

Victor

Looking at the picture of your art I am impressed. I will order one or two of those as soon as one of my big deals hits. Its only a matter of time.

Julia,
Sometimes, I sit at my computer and feel awe and wonder at your lessons and movement. I appreciate your spirit and energy and contribution and your beautiful art which reflects you.

Thanks. With 7 inches of snow outside on this magnificent spring day you bring warmth. Jazz

Thanks Julia for sharing!
Congratulations for all you have accomplished!
Defenitely forgiveness is a powerful tool we have, the most important of it, it's that we get free, no matter what other people does.
Keep practicing it!
Ladylau

hi julia,

your art is beautiful and i will one day order from you to put it into my magnificent home which is just waiting to be adorned with peices which are 'just right' for it. I imagine my dream home to be something magnificent you would see in rome, spain or greece. In fact, i saved your website onto my favourites some time ago for this reason.

as for the forgiveness stuff - thank you for reminding me to keep it up. i did start ot feel better but i let it slip thinking my work in this area was 'done'

as always, thank you for being a great inspiration.

maria

Julia, as an artist, I am awe struck. The pieces you have shown here are nothing less of spectacular.

As much as I hate to admit it, I'm a little envious. LOL (Not really as I enjoy my art a great deal. Some time, I'll show some of mine.)

I, too, felt exhilarated when I forgave people I had forgotten over the years. It frees up the soul to reach out to other areas we don't even realize.

Greetings Beautiful Souls,
Thanks for all the encouragement and wonderful comments-I look forward to creating pieces for those of you that would like them. Hey Maria, you'd be my first customer from Australia-COOL!

Have a fabulous day,Be Blessed (as I surely am)
Julia

Ancient Soul,
I just wanted to make a quick comment that your pottery work is absolutely stunning. Also thanks for sharing about your forgiveness lesson with your ex-husband. I had some similiar forgiveness miracles with a few people in my life too - ones that took my breath away.

Bless you,
Artistic Soulutions

These are absolutely stunning! Simply breathtaking. And what wonderful stories about the back payment child support check and the Mother In Law.

But I must admit I have an issue about forgiveness. There are several people I have forgiven in my past and it does feel good. But what if one doesn't feel that someone doesn't deserve forgiveness? After all, forgiveness is within you and the other may never know it - nor care. Especially if they are arrogant and selfrighteous egoists.

I find it easier to forgive an act, than forgive something that results from the core of someone's character.

I do have in mind a person, but I would rather learn the ability to just not care and let go rather than work on 'forgiving' this person.

Or is that too forgiving? At the moment I am looking into EFT regards the above.

Time wise, I really cannot afford to start another course, so I would appreciate your opinions.

quote:

(Originally posted by Tosca)But I must admit I have an issue about forgiveness. There are several people I have forgiven in my past and it does feel good. But what if one doesn't feel that someone doesn't deserve forgiveness? After all, forgiveness is within you and the other may never know it - nor care. Especially if they are arrogant and selfrighteous egoists.

I find it easier to forgive an act, than forgive something that results from the core of someone's character.

I do have in mind a person, but I would rather learn the ability to just not care and let go rather than work on 'forgiving' this person.

Hi Tosca,
First, thanks so much for the kudos on my work-it is greatly appreciated.

Your sentiments were EXACTLY how I felt about my ex and certain members of his family, in other words the behavior came from the core of their character.

"Not caring". i.e., feeling indifferent, is not possible unless the anger is released first-and it sounds like you're still pretty angry.

To forgive to me does NOT mean to excuse the behavior or to pretend it never happened. It is not up to us to judge who deserves forgiveness and who doesn't. NOBODY is above forgiveness, and I do mean NOBODY. In fact, I have found that the more "unworthy" I may feel that the person is of my forgiveness, the more urgently that I need to forgive that person.

The true meaning of forgiveness to me is to let go of allowing the person in question to rent space in your head for free. It doesn't matter if they ever know that you forgave them or not. But YOU'LL know, just by virtue of the fact that you'll feel free, and love and good vibes replace anger, and those good vibes keep the good stuff/prosperity coming into your life.

Hope this helps,
Julia

quote:

The true meaning of forgiveness to me is to let go of allowing the person in question to rent space in your head for free.

I really liked that...it makes sense and I will work on that, because I don't like the idea of wasted rental space! Yes, the anger is still there. He pushes a lot of buttons all day (no exaggeration) to which I am witness to. I don't speak to him and rather ignore him. It is mutual, since our last 'episode'

In way he is quite pathetic and his age has nothing to do with it. He is only just a little worse now at 93. It is difficult to look past that with his 'control-aholic' ways and no good memories to fall back on.

You've expanded on the 'forgiveness' definition and parts of that make me feel a little more comfortable.

Still in a broader sense, I don't quite feel good about 'no one is above forgiveness'...child abusers, serial killers?

What I have picked up from your valuable comments is that I simply must work on ridding myself of the anger first, work on the various meanings of what forgiveness is and the positive results from that.

And tell myself I can do it.

Thanks again