Spiritual Books about Women's Spirituality, "Adventures of a Mainstream Metaphysical Mom,"  "Soul"utions, and "Birth Mix Patterns"  by "M.A." Michelle Payton

                     

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"M.A." Michelle Payton 
Conscious Living Communicator, Multiple Award-winning Author, Owner/Founder of The Left Side,
Birth Mix Patterns Master (utilizing Astrology, Numerology, & Birth Order), Conscious Living Mentor & Teacher, Certified Hypnotherapist,  Licensed Neuro-Linguistic Programmer, Bachelor's Communication Arts, Radio Guest throughout the United States and Canada (world-wide listening audience)

For  a mainstream metaphysical reading--See "consults, readings, workshops."  Read "Michelle's Weekly Healing Messages" for past Weekly Thoughts and Reader Q&A. 

  For Audio clips on Michelle Payton Radio Interviews

  PDF (printer friendly format) of all Michelle Payton books

Weekly Journal
Months of thoughts (below by week)

 Week of July 17, 2006--Physical versus Spiritual world needs
Week of August 21, 2006--What is family?
Week of Augusts 28, 2006--My Kindergarten Lesson
Week of September 4, 2006 --Why do people gossip?  Let's make it even clearer.  Why do women gossip?
Week of October 2, 2006--Breathing into Success
Week of October 9, 2006--How can children be so cruel?
Week of October 16, 2006--How do you manage teen-agers?
Week of November 13, 2006--Making your reality a bright one by affirming it!
Week of November 27, 2006--I swear to?
Week of December 11, 2006--My daughter's first car reminding me to be thankful for a dry roof over my head!
Week of December 18, 2006--Change your language change your life


all rights reserved by Michelle A. Payton

Week of August 21, 2006

What is family?

For the first time in this lifetime, I was not with my family on my birthday.  Or so I thought.  A five-day certification course that was very important to me was offered during my birthday this year.  If you have read any of my books you know how important this particular day is not just personally but to my overall work.  The pull to expand my consciousness was stronger than my attachment to this physical date (this time) so off I went.  I realized as I got onto the airplane that this was my family for this period of time, then waiting for my next flight connection I redefined my family yet again, when I went to the 5-day workshop I connected to yet another soul-family.  Each played roles just being, some soothing, others supporting, and even loving me.  As I framed each of these groups I found that I was more compassionate, caring, loving, helpful, and thankful for their companionship (however slight) and my consciousness went to a new level of the ALL in the physical.  When more aware, the world is my community and family.  So thinking an everyday interaction... What happens when you are standing in line to purchase something, it's a long line, you are fifth or sixth in line, the person being waited on is taking a bit longer (maybe looking for the exact change, maybe something in his purchase is missing a price tag...)...  You become keenly aware that all that are waiting are your family.  How do you view them now?  Try this exercise in the smallest of situations and see, feel, hear, small, taste, how that reframes your reality.

Week of August 28, 2006

My Kindergarten lesson

I read a book years ago "Everything I need to know I learned in Kindergarten."  It was very appropriate to my experience this week with my third child entering Kindergarten today for the first time.  We stayed with our children for the first hour of the school day.  The teacher explained the rules to us, gave us a tour of the school (well, parents followed really as the children were shown the gym, the computer lab, the music room, the lunch area...).  Most had attended some type of preschool before the big "K" and were reminded to treat others with respect, listen to the teacher, play safely during recess and gym, when in the lunchroom focus on enjoying your food, take breaks for a healthy snack, create (paint, color...), read, and learn.  It's interesting to see kids with their parents for lots of reasons--how they resemble them, their mannerisms, and attitudes.  Given that I have a 13 and soon to be 16 year old, I've been gearing up for school years for more than ten years and parental roles are major influencers for the school year, and rarely change.  Yep, I'm going to label because it helps my life run a bit smoother in-the-moment so that I don't take things personally.  It's the Kindergarten parent archetypes (you have these in kids sports, classroom coordinators, PTO... as well, and you can easily apply them to other places where there are regular gatherings of people).  There are (not ranked by any particular importance) the 1.  the chief parents who enjoy controlling the classroom activities (as far as parents can do this).  You can usually only have one of these (two if you give them completely separate responsibilities), 2.  the social parents who come to events to get to know other people and like to do coffee/tea before, after, or in-between events.  3.  the "too busy" parents who have "better" things to do than to hang out with a Kindergarten class.  4.  the quiet, shy, listener/follower parents who will help with activities when asked.  5.  the doer parents who get things done for the classroom but don't need reinforcement/recognition for their help (they do it for the cause) and some like to limit their social activities but do want to be a part of the betterment of Kindergarten.  6.  The delegation parents who write the checks and get others to do the work.  Nice to have around for good crafts/events and fund-raising events, and schools can never have too many of these.  It's an interesting mix that, when not taken personally, can keep the Kindergarten class humming along.  But my thoughts continue to drift to the daily truths--respecting..., listening..., learning..., playing..., enjoying food and healthy snacks... creating...
 

Week of September 4, 2006

Why do people gossip?  Let's make it even clearer.  Why do women gossip?

There are certain personalities that love to gossip.  And even more specifically women.  Yep, labeling again.  But come on.  Men bond.  They talk about sports, the weather, the cars, their lawns and their socializing quota is filled to the brim.  Women?  We talk about our moon cycles, menopause, child-bearing, how to tighten our (you know what's) after having babies, where our fat gathers...  And because we get so personal about ourselves (woman to woman), we then transition into getting personal about others.  It could be about outfits, how we coach our children, who shows up to school functions and why or why not, other healers' techniques, our latest classes and the other people that attended.  And then we get even more creative... can't stop ourselves sometimes really.  Our guesses on the real story as to why someone did...  Oh yeah.  You can see yourself doing it.  Even the most enlightened get caught in a "bonding" circle of people that begin talking about others (which means we are participating), or we are the participants/gossipers. 

This is a big challenge for me because I don't want to artificially bond with people at the risk of hurting other peoples' feelings.  And while I have been successful at limiting my gossip-self in many situations (not 100% mind you... I have my days for sure and have to really think before I type, talk or write), I have been a passive gossiper.  What this means to me is I listen.  I have convinced myself that the higher good this serves is to put me on alert to potential negative situations.  For instance, I have been warned about gossiping gatherings as friends know that this is not my preferred past time.  But I love people's stories and I can open myself up to listening to non-productive discussions as well.  Who is having marital problems, who has a bad reputation at the kids' schools, who said what to a kid at gym class...  

So here is what I have been doing.  When I type an email (for instance), when I get the feeling that I am saying too much about a situation I ask myself, "What will this additional information do to create a positive approach?"  What is my real goal here?  If it is to create sides to situation that I am involved in (if you agree with me then you're on my team... like misery loves company approach to life), why am I doing this?  Yes, there are times when voting is necessary and information has to be batted around.  But if my goal is to feed my ego about being smarter, right, more clever then what is the point?  So I am a spiritual being figuring out  how to live in this physical body and world with the right haircut, clothes, car, home...  And I am woman.  Hear me (functionally) bond.

 

Week of September 25, 2006

The loss of a child

A close friend of mine just lost her daughter.  Yes, we can say she's gone to a better place, she's no longer in pain, she's with you always, the physical body was no longer needed so that she can expand into other spiritual planes, it was her time to leave...  and many other spiritual positions.  But, she's still gone.  A bigger word that metaphysical folks don't really use all that much--She's dead.  She can't be physically held or kissed, called on the telephone, had at holiday dinners...  We are spiritual beings learning how to be in the physical.  This, no matter how enlightened you are, is difficult.  No parents feel like they should have to watch their children die.  We (as parents) expect to have our children inherit the Earth.  So, it's sad, it's hard to believe it's something we planned before entering a lifetime.  Forgive yourself about forgetting how important your loved ones are (as this happens regularly as we do life).  Take long looks at the people you love all the time to remember their faces, their mannerisms, their jokes (funny and not so funny), the little daily things.  Make sure they know that you love them.  Breathe them in like you do oxygen into your lungs. 

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Week of October 2, 2006

Breathing into Success

About a month ago (during the new moon) I created and finalized a major part of my work.  There were many new processes that I experienced, and many more tools available to my clients (relaxing and remembering CD, brochures, workshop material...).  I have been booked from New York to Arizona to do workshops, book signings, and individual sessions.  I continue to do radio....  About the time of the new moon I noticed I was having a difficult time catching my breath.  As the weeks went on yet more opportunities were revealed to me.  An author friend proposed a wonderful workshop concept of which we would partner and went onto say "when you and I are doing television..."  I told her that the ideas sounded great and that I would let all this information swirl around in my thoughts (and I am).  And the shallow breathing persisted.  After watching "The Secret" (a great production about manifesting your reality), I wrote my "Gratitude" list that I've suggest in my books.  I wrote it as if I already had achieved my current goals (as suggested by "The Secret").  I read this to my husband and my breathing became even more shallow, and an hour later I was hyperventilating and in the local Emergency Room.  Diagnosis:  Panic Attack.  So now I continue Breathing into my Success.

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Week of October 9, 2006

How can children be so cruel?

My third, and last child in this lifetime, started Kindergarten this year.  My oldest is in high school, and second born in middle school.  When I listen to some of the conversations of my high school daughter's friends and how cruel, and critical they are of other people, I just cringe.  Pardon my candor, but words that I loathe, Slut and Whore, are operative words in their descriptions on girls that aren't members of their cliques.  When my youngest went to Kindergarten I figured, "What could these kids fight about?  Crayons?  Paint Brushes?  What little girl to play with on the playground?"  It was picture day and my little one proudly marched into class with her hair just right, her pink shirt and shoes, and a big smile.  But when she got home she said, "Gina (made up name) told me I looked ugly in my outfit, but (another made up name) Dale said I looked nice."  Surprised I responded, "Well, she's wrong.  When she says something mean to you again you tell her your mom said that you don't have to listen to her unless she has something nice to say."  I saw a small grin come across her face and she said, "Okay."  Then she saw a few little girls across the street that were in her school and she called across to ask if they wanted to play.  One little girl said, "no."  She asked again, one of the little girls said, "no" again.  Being five and not giving up she asked one more time and the little girl said, "How many times do 'we' (speaking on behalf of the group) have to tell you no and stop calling me all the time."  This just broke my heart as I watched her run up stairs to her room in tears.  So I wonder... Is cruelty a defense mechanism?  A territorial mechanism?  A fear response?   Probably yes, yes and yes.  When do young people figure this type of strategy out?  Does it truly start at home?  I've seen some truly nice parents with really cruel children.  How does this happen?  Karma?  Past Lives showing up as soon as they are born?  My children aren't innocent.  I've corrected all three them on different occasions as a result of insensitive comments and thoughts.  My thought for today is to continue to demonstrate functional ways to defend, share territories, reach out to others, and help them release fear.  Of course, then we have to take a closer look at how to heal the adult population (and I'm not saying I'm always innocent).

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Week of October 16, 2006

How do you manage teen-agers?

Well, my oldest child lied to me about who she was hanging out and didn't come home on time.  This small incident brought matters to a head.  Years of lacking gratitude and feeling like it's okay to be disrespectful to her parents, strong boundaries were finally drawn.  A friend of hers had been feeding into this behavior over the past year as well, and resulted in constant drama.    The rest of the story...  I put a boundary in place that didn't allow her to socialize with this young woman outside of school, but she bucked this within a day.  The stories as to why boundaries were put in place don't matter.  As a parent, it's much easier to please my children and to overlook destructive patterns because (in-the-moment) the boat rocks a little easier.  But, this is a long-term move.  I am not looking forward to the short-term battle wounds, but I am her parent, not her girlfriend.  My son even said, "I'll bet you wished you never had kids."  My response was, "No, I'm glad I had every one of you.  It's just part of the experience.  I take the good with the life expanding 'bad'."  When bumping into an acquaintance at the end of the earthquake of a week, and lightly discussing our children, a person I knew for no more than five minutes (with the acquaintance) was certain that I was parenting wrong and a permanent wedge would be driven through our relationship (with the statement "...believe me, I've been through it, I know...").  Let me be honest (and completely in the ego physical) here, I didn't care what this person thought and had no issue with our short-lived, five-minute relationship coming to an abrupt end.  But a bit rattled by her forward comments, at that moment, I "remembered" that this was the way it was supposed to play out, and I let it go.  When I got home, my oldest asked if I would sit and watch a movie with her.  She laid a pillow on my lap and I rubbed her head, and braided her hair (like she was my little girl again).  She talked to me about this and that, and the next day more of the same as we went pumpkin picking with the family, delivered meals on wheels, watched another movie that night, and she was (clearly) reaching out.  The good.  After all that talking, arguing, boundary setting, I'm not sure what clicked with her.  If anyone asks me how to manage teen-agers (even when knowing their Birth Mix Pattern--Astrology, Numerology, and Birth Order), you won't hear me say, "Believe me, I've been through it, I know."  Know as much about a personality as you can, but let intuition be your guide.
 

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Week of November 13, 2006

Making your reality a bright one by affirming it!

I have made a decision to saturate my family with positive affirmations.  This is not only for them, but for me.  I have put positive affirmations on my tea brewing kettle, on the pot that I boil my water for tea, make my oatmeal...  added them to my tea cups, put them on my water bottles, put sayings on our front and back doors (that we all use) asking, "What are you thankful for?" and "Think of a happy thought"  and "I am attracting..."  These statements, questions... are posted on the kids computer, and in our master bathroom as well.  When I went around the house doing all this my husband said, "What are you up to now?" and just shook his head with a grin on his face.  My sixteen year old and her friends all giggle, and tease me but they see it and they DO IT!  I even did an exercise with one of my daughter's friends when she said that she has been really depressed for the week.  I said, "Think of a special time that makes you smile" and she started to laugh at me.  So I said, "Okay, I'll help you.  You love to run (for exercise) in the park (a specific one she told me she likes to run in).  Think about how that makes you feel as you run, the sounds, the smells, the body sensations as you run..."  She grinned and gave a big sigh.  And I manifested an awesome (past) week-end.  Everyone just looked radiant to me as I felt radiant myself.  I went to a pamper party at the local wellness center and got a healing Reiki massage, then a foot bath that detoxes the body while adding negative ions to enhance health, then received accupuncture, and a great psychic reading.  It was a beautiful night when I got home so my husband and I went for a walk (all by ourselves), and talked, admired the stars and the moon.  My oldest was in a great mood as we also hosted a pizza and movie party while I was out being pampered.  When I woke up the next day (and I slept in by the way) I had a nice breakfast, pampered myself even more when showering and getting ready for the day, and then went to the Emotto (best selling author of "Messages in the Water") lecture and took my husband.  He loved it and that pleased me even more as this brought him closer to understanding the power of thought, words, affirmations...  When went home to take our kids to a great dinner (at Cheesecake Factory...  it's a chain, but great food) and our kids were just a hoot.  My oldest girl even snorted when she laughed (we got a lot of mileage out of that).  Part of the family went to bed, and the other part watched a movie together.  Then Sunday I went to do Yin Yoga with an excellent and very wise teacher.  Ahhhhh...  Gentle, deep tissue work.  So now I have more "happy thoughts."  Gather your positive experiences, and write them down as a reminder.  Review them when you feel yourself slipping into negative territory.  We attract what we think (our in-the-moment perception is our reality).  So make your reality a bright one!    
 

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Week of November 27, 2006

I swear to?

Okay, time to jump into politics!  In 2006, the first Muslim was elected to Congress in America.  In the past (2006 and earlier), all elected officials would be sworn into office by using the "Holy Bible."  Being Muslim, this elected official has requested that he be sworn into office with his hand on the Quran.  And the crowd goes wild... well, at least the conservatives that continue to insist that America was founded on their "Christian" principles.  What America is founded on is allowing ALL to have life, liberty and pursue happiness.  Yes many American founders were Christian, but not all (ever heard of the Masons?  Check out my thoughts in my book, BIRTH MIX PATTERNS... FOR FAMILIES & OTHER GROUPS THAT MATTER for more info on founding fathers of America).  But so what if all were Christian!  We are an eclectic nation.  Built on diversity, America is a melting pot of nationalities.  The Holy Bible has been the document of choice in America by the majority to date, but it is not law to swear on this document, and many lawmakers agree.  For instance, in 2006 Georgia the courts set a new law stating that all holy texts must be taxed... came about because the "Holy Bible" was tax-free but no other holy scriptures were taxed.  It is time to support ALL people with love, honor, and respect.  In 2006, I saw a great movie with a story line demonstrating these types of discriminatory concepts ("V for Vendetta" it's a must see).  My kids watched this several times (in fact, one of my teen-age son's friends insisted we see this movie and I finally rented it), and witnessed the atrociousness of discrimination.  There are adults out there that don't get it, so much of it is up to our children.  America is not a cookie cutter nation, it is a Democracy, a circle of respect of all people.   

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Week of December 11, 2006

My daughter's first car reminding me to be thankful for a dry roof over my head!

On the day we helped purchase a car for my oldest daughter, I was giddy.  My daughter saved money since she was approximately 8 years old, not knowing what she would spend this on until she was of driving age.  She worked hard the whole summer to add to her bank account, and my husband donated another 40% to the total to get her a safe, reliable car.  It made me so happy to think that she would be able to fit in at school, have some bragging rights, and have advantages that I didn't have as a young woman, and transition into college feeling like it was her logical next step, and she is supposed to be there.  When you are poor, there are many demons, and insecurities when setting your mind to making a "class" shift--friends and family that stay behind call you a snob, kids in the "class" that you seek may not accept you, insecurities can shift to anger, and aggression pushing you farther out of that "class."  But, there are a lot of reasons why people feel they don't fit in.  I have no way of understanding the trials of the teens that want plastic surgery, BMW's, and the like because I didn't live that.  But what I do know is that all becomes really prevalent when kids hit high school and college.  My issues revolved primarily around my lifestyle, or lack thereof.  In high school, and in college, my mother could only afford a house that should have been condemned, was bug infested, and smelled of animal urine and mildew (from the leaking roof).  I became much more aware of my "situation" when entering high school.  For one year I decided to try a school with the "have's" so that I would get (what I thought was) a better education.  The entire year I felt like I was walking in a haze with the clothes that I couldn't keep up that other kids were wearing, cars they were driving, the homes they lived in, and the attitudes of many of the kids.  Two boys rode their mopeds to school (for those not aware of this term, it's like a electric, or gas scooter), and this got a lot of attention, especially as this was a sign of wealth.  One day I was waiting in the hall for school to start and they entered the door, and one said, "What is an East-end sewer rat like you doing at this school?"  Well, I got an education all right, and transferred to another school for my last two years that judged less harshly.  When I was in college I was back into the "have's" world, and didn't want anyone to see where I lived.  I was so happy when I moved into my first apartment in college to live "equally" among the student population.  And now it's the little things, like being able to help my daughter purchase her first car that gives me a thrill, sitting back and looking at our house and understanding how fortunate we are to have a dry roof (did I mention that the roof also leaked on the first car I purchased?) solid foundation, and bug-free!  Ah, it's the little things.     

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Week of December 18, 2006

Change your language change your life

I was talking with a friend that has been interested in having a baby for a couple years.  As we were casually talking she said, "I told my husband that I don't want to have a baby at our current house because..."  I stopped her and said, "Did you hear yourself?"  As her eyes slightly bulged, she looked like she was holding her breath as she pushed the words out with a deep exhale saying, "I my gosh."  The dust has been blown off the old saying "you reap what you sow," or the harvest you reap depends on the kinds of seeds you sow, when the documentary/movie "The Secret" was released.  In New Age (some now prefer the position Now Age) language the buzz phrase is the "law of attraction" that translates to the seeds (thoughts and words) you use create your reality in all aspects of life.  Our thoughts are powerful, thoughts become words, and our bodies express our thoughts (verbally and non-verbally),  As an example of words, explore Dr. Masaru Emoto's scientific work on how words change the molecular structure of water.  "Hate" shows deformed shapes, while "love" shows beautifully formed crystals (do a keyword search on his name) and look for his books about "The Messages from Water."  Do your own tests.  Say out loud (go ahead, do it!) "hate," and then say the word "love."  Say "I am trying to make money."  Then say, "I am making money."  "Trying" says that you are not there yet and never will be.  I am, I am doing, I am making... puts this all in the present and is now a seed contributing to your success.  Pay close attention to your language to understand what you are truly attracting in your life.        

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all rights reserved by Michelle A. Payton
 

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