Lately, I have been thinking about the questions we can ask ourselves. Not random questions arising out of a quandry, need or doubt of the moment, but a set of questions to work with in a weekly or monthly practice. The questions will remain the same, but the answers will vary.  These questions and their changing responses will give you a very revealing image of yourself.

I recommend a practice of 7 questions.  This practice can be done alone with your journal.  It can be done with a close friend.  It can be done with your family.

By yourself…Doing it alone and writing in your journal will record your life and offer a way to discover patterns. You will be able to review your year during Inner Advent which is a huge benefit on many levels.  Your life, your choices, your self-attention take on new meaning.   

With another person…Doing it with a good friend or your life partner is a wonderful way to honor your caring for each other. You can ask each other the questions and the warmth of your relationship will encourage you to respond with more freedom and thoroughness.  You might want to do both the reflections on your own and the reflections with a friend and see how different they are.  The social process can be very enriching for the relationship. You can also use these with your coach or therapist.

With your family…Doing it with your children is a way to nurture a  self-reflection, trust, confidence, and intimacy in the purpose of sharing life and growing up. This work will transform your family life. I wish I had thought of this when my kids were young, especially after their father and I divorced.  Make it part of your family on a weekly basis…a family ritual after Sunday Brunch or Wednesday dinner.  It may be a challenge to begin, but once it lives in the family design everyone will love it.

Working with the same questions everytime is the magic of this practice.  The more you ask the questions the more they come to live in your consciousness as inspiration for a richer, deeper, wiser choices, observations, and behaviors.

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Here are the Seven Questions I recommend.

1. What conversation did I have this week that my angel or their angel took interest in and listened to?

Angels only listen to conversations that strive for truth, ring with beauty, and do no harm.  Usually these are conversations asking you, the person(s) you are conversing with or both of you to be new, free, compassionate, courageous or wise.  (This could also be a conversation you have had with yourself.)

2. What did I experience in nature or the arts that took my breath away?

This is the experience of beauty and creation. Nature and the arts are incredibly healing, ennobling, humbling, warming…all good and necessary for your soul.

3. What concern or question lived deeply in me?

Did I find any insights? Do I see something I need?  Need to ask for? Need to change? Need to celebrate?

4. What memory was recalled and understood in a new way, for the first time, or is still confusing?

This question might allow you to resolve some karma, heal some wound, smile at some kindness or ask for some help.

5. What goal did I work on?

What did I achieve? Why was it important? What new goal was set? What obstacle got in the way or was overcome?

6. What regrets do I have?

None of us are angels or saints or perfect and neither is life. One of the greatest capacities of the human soul is the moral feeling of regret. Regret instigates forgiveness, amends and change.  Regret teaches us about harm and selfishness. But regret is not about being bad, sinful or depressed. Regret brings sunlight and fresh air into to the musty dungeons of thoughts, and words, and deeds that need to be redeemed. Remember regret is different from guilt - you may feel guilt, but not regret.

7. How did I connect with my body and my other places?

Our body is our first home and the place we dwell in from conception to death.  There are other places we dwell in for various times: our home, our car, our workplace. We need to hold our places with caring and responsible reverence.  We need to be aware of them and bring thought, attention, and gratitude to them.  You will be surprised at how this question will brighten and strengthen your sense of self.

You can download a pdf of the Seven Questions here.

If you would like my guidance and my listening, email me.

Inner work is tough work and moving through the mysterious and labyrinthine pathways of your soul requires guides, tools, support, creativity, humor and perseverance. 

Books, prayers, coaching, counseling, meditation, workshops, good friends...every kind of help is needed and available.  But ultimately, only you can do the work of becoming you. 

Below are the ways I can help you with your Fall inner work of finding, knowing and becoming yourself… and making sense of it all. 

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Conversations with Me

Is this the year to answer a question, solve a mystery, survive a crisis, take a leap, imagine a future, find self-compassion, balance inner extremes, connect with a spiritual mentor and friend???  Can I support you, guide you, mentor you, celebrate you as you take on this threshold experience consciously and creatively.  I will bring a cosmic and spiritual context for understanding the challenges and realities of your life, your karma and your destiny, and make the cosmic and spiritual intimate and practical. 

Why don’t you

schedule a complimentary 20 minute conversation here

Let’s talk about what you are seeking and how I can help.  

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The Imagine Self Academy

All Imagine Self Academy courses are offered online through recorded presentations and loads of valuable materials. Some include live group conversations and Q & A with me. Everything is downloadable. 

I just want to give you a brief rundown of the major courses available in 2015. I’ve included dates and costs so you can plan and budget.  I will be sending out detailed descriptions for the courses closer to when each one will be opening registration.

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Core Imaginations

the Imagine Self Curriculum for Imagining the

Whole Core Reality of Yourself

Registration opens September 22.

...the most powerful, healing, liberating curriculum in the Imagine Self Academy.  You will want to come back to these courses many times throughout your life.

Core Imaginations is a year long, life long, curriculum that teaches you how to do self-compassionate observation and guides you to a fully alive imagination of yourself in ten core expressions: 

Click here for the description.

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Holy Imaginations & The New Festivals

I have found that the Christian Festivals (including the Marion festivals) offer extraordinary insights for individual inner work. I offer blogposts and courses inspired by the festivals. I approach these with an esoteric, non-religious, universal, 21^st Century understanding, not for belief or tradition, but for a brilliant yearly path for self-development.  The blogposts including the Inner Christmas Messages are a gift (but again, donations are so very welcome.)

The New Festivals courses are for self-study with one or 2 live Conversations with Lynn. Cost is $47 each.

Inner Lent 

5 lessons on facing the mysteries of temptation and overcoming all that challenges the well-being of your soul. The work of Inner Lent can serve your soul at any time of the year. 

Learn more about Inner Lent here.

Inner Advent

begins November 25^th 

4 lessons for recollecting, reviewing and releasing your year...preparing for Christmas and the Holy Nights 

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Wisdom Imaginations

the Imagine Self Curriculum for inner love and inner freedom

Imagining Your Inner Misfit

available now

guides you into a new relationship with the difficult parts of yourself. $27

 click here to register

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The Swan's Journey

A Yearlong Program for Women Seeking Outrageous Wholeness at the Key Turning Points in Their Lives

Info will be available soon.

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Here’s to your inner work and becoming new this Fall!

Blessings & Imaginations,

Lynn