Family

Challenge #31
Connection to one another is one of the most important feelings we as humans have. Having a family connection is profound for many but not always perfection. We may come from a large family and feel very disconnected. We may come from a small family and long for a larger one, desiring a larger connection. I challenge you to find a family connection today and if you cannot, then seek out someone that can share that feeling of kinship for you, and tell them that you appreciate them and feel this way about them. Give them gratitude and let them know that you are there for them as well. Take today and make it a day of family connection.

Clear the Clutter

Challenge #30
How many times have you tripped over the same box in the middle of the room, how long have you said you were going to clean out the garage, while continuing to let items pile up? How long have you been in your mind trying to organize thoughts of doing things but drift off into into the ozone instead? Systematization isn't for everyone, yet we all have our own way of organizing our things, our thoughts, our lives, so that we seemingly know where everything is. I challenge you to clear out what you don't and can't use anymore, that isn't useful to you in your lives. Our lives don't have to be picture perfect or run like a super charged computer but organization can be useful to us all. And, the act of clearing the clutter can leave us more time and room for other and newer things in our lives. Notice the positive feelings that come from dong so...

Cartography

Challenge #29
Do you know where you are going? Do you want to know where you are going? You can control your destiny and where you want to be. With the dawn of the new moon, I challenge you to become the map-maker of your life. Chart a plan to where you want to go, in any aspect of your life. Whether it be in career, love relationships, your life path, health, prosperity. Chart your map and then figure out what will bring you closer to that destination the quickest way for all concerned. Notice how much more in charge of your life you will begin to feel...

Wish

Challenge #28
How many countless dehydrated dandelions went by through the ages, being hand picked and blown on in an effort to make a wish come true? Or coins thrown into a wishing well? How long have you been blowing out birthday cake candles? How many times have you looked up at the nite time sky and gazed at a single star in seemingly endless darkness to bestow your wish upon, or waited to see a falling star to make that wish? When we make a wish, we tend to very often make a physical declarative action to complete the thought of what we want, whether by tradition or belief. Have your wishes come true? I challenge you to make a wish today to yourself especially as we prepare for the new moon. Create this wish for something to happen this year, feel yourself in the wish if it concerns you. Make is big, beautiful and bold if you need to. Make it sacred, consecrate it with the blowing out of a candle, or a fluffy dried out flower, catching a falling star, or finding a wishing well. Keep it to yourself. Write down when your wish comes true...and....smile....

Music

Challenge #27
We all have a tune inside of us, children and adults, even babies. Whether its a song that brings memories of being inside the womb, our younger years or significant times in our adult years, music resonates within us. Our 7 main chakras, or energy centers that run throughout our bodies systems each are aligned with a specific musical note to bring balance and harmony within that specific area. The benefits of music are profound within all of us. Studies show that music as therapy can affect brainwave activity as well as breathing and heart rates in more positive ways in children and adults. And, music is alot of fun, whether creating it, listening to it or dancing to it! I challenge you to find the music in your life today that brings you joy and indulge in it. Notice how much better you begin to feel....

Laughter

Challenge #26
Everyone can choose to laugh, or break out in spontaneous laughter. All humans and even some animals can laugh. It's free, it's effective and it is therapeutic. Studies have shown so far that laughing's benefits can include deep relaxation, an increase in pain tolerance and immunity as well as be the remedy for many other ailments. Feel good hormones are thought to be released from the trigger of laughter muscles throughout our bodies sending a signal to the brain. I challenge you to laugh at least once throughout your day. That headache may go away naturally without having to take pain relievers, you may begin to feel more relaxed sooner, you may find yourself telling jokes more. Allow yourself the fun to laugh at yourself or find the humour in something once a day and notice the changes you will begin to feel....

Goddess

Challenge #25
There are literally thousands of goddesses in mythology throughout the world that represent female deities, or immortal beings, thought of as holy, divine or sacred. They are associated with motherhood, earth, prosperity, abundance, fertility, relationships, virtue, love and a myriad of other areas.
I challenge you to see yourself as a goddess and give your goddess a name, create your own goddess entity from within to emerge to the outer you! Respect the goddess within and notice how others will begin to respect you too...

Purify

Challenge #24
Purification is to clear of contamination, foreign elements or impurities. We seek it in many areas that affect us, our water, our metals, our food, our thoughts. Cleansing with water and herbs have become a popular way of clearing our internal systems, going on fasts, bowel and intestinal cleanses. Cleansing and clearing with smoke and fire, or "smudging" with herbs have been revived as a way to purify the air and rid of lingering negative spiritual energies hanging around. Retreats of various sorts have become a popular way of getting away from society and gathering with like minds to cleanse and rejuvenate our thinking, diet and focus. I challenge you to purify at least one element of your life, and then work on another one, one by one, until you feel you are clearing yourself. Notice how lighter and more focused you will start to become....

Silence

Challenge #23
Funny how when we think of silence, we think the image of the forefinger in front of our mouths as to hush or quiet ourselves as we were shown by older people when we were little, a little scolding going along with that possibly. We all need to be able to have a few moments of silence within our daily lives to help calm us down and give us a few moments to clear our our thoughts. I challenge you to honor yourself and grant yourself a few moments of silence, pure undisturbed silence. Pay attention to where your mind goes, do you begin to start thinking again? Close your eyes, take a deep breath. How long can you take it? Do you begin to get restless immediately or do you enjoy it? Notice your awareness of your breath, the sounds around you, the way your body feels. What images come to you when you close your eyes? Silence is good for us....

Lioness

Happy Birthday Leos around the world!!
Challenge #22
Astrologically speaking, Leos are friendly, warm-hearted and extroverted, with a talent for leadership, a tendency toward self-indulgence and a high level of generosity. Those born under the sign of Leo posses a powerful, regal nature. Leo is a masculine sign, but the Lion also possesses and reflects the fiery charge between masculine and feminine that is built through opposing energy–like yin and yang–to create or give birth to something new and protect it. Understanding the necessity of the balance and integration of these energies is key in recognizing the traits of the sign. I challenge you to discover the lioness or lion in you and roar with mighty passion once you have created what you love!! Never let that passion die down....

Breathe

CURRENT MOON

moon phase info

Challenge #21

"Sometimes...all I need is the Air that I breathe..." lyrics from the Hollies

Breathing feeds our brains, as we need the oxygen. The brain is the body's single largest consumer of oxygen. Although the brain represents only about 2% of the body's weight, it utilizes about 20% of the body's oxygen. This is precisely why the brain starts to lose its effectiveness very quickly the moment our oxygen intake goes down – we start to feel sleepy, lazy and un-alert. This is also the main reason we feel sleepy after big meals, as our digestive system uses up a larger amount of oxygen to digest the food that we have eaten. A way to increase the oxygen flow to your brain temporarily but quickly to improve brain performance and become smarter and more alert is to take in deep breaths. This helps to relax you and increases the oxygen intake. People tend to breathe very lightly and it’s good to practice breathing deeply through your nose and exhaling through the mouth. I also advise people to hold the breath for a few seconds then release slowly on the exhale. It’s good to do this before any activity that brings on anxiety such as an exam, or before you start on any activity that requires good use of your brain. I challenge you to begin breathing deeply and paying attention to your breath. You will not only begin to feel more energized, more alert and motivated, but also calmer and more peaceful. Notice how you begin to react after you start breathing deeply....

Alchemy

Challenge #20

The immense global popularity of Harry Potter has seemingly brought out the alchemist in all of us, or at least the enjoyment in the thought that wizardry can be real. The ability to concoct and mix potions, carry wands and stones, use spells, transmute objects and transform time and bodies, that is. All not leading to gold or silver perhaps but rather a sense of honor and self. A birthright among the mortal, so to speak. I challenge you to have some fun, explore and find the alchemist in you. Become the transformer of your soul, your self, your legend. Dive into spell books to find magic elixirs, design and make your wand, get a beautiful crystal, create or find your special symbols that help to define you. Stitch the pouch bag to carry your tools, write out the words that resonate with transformation for you, combine all to create the magic recipe for you. See yourself as immortal. Shed the fear of what others may think of you or that the belief of transformational magic isn't real. Discover the wizard that you are and share in the joy of creating your own magical symbols....

Courage

Challenge #19

"I'm not funny. What I am is brave." ~Lucille Ball

On this day in 1984 Geraldine Ferraro won the Democratic Vice Presidential nomination. One year later in 1985 Christa McAuliffe was chosen as the 1st school teacher to fly with a group of astronauts in the space shuttle Challenger. Two bold landmarks of history for strong women in our country. When you have a dream goal that manifests into reality, courage can only help to sustain you through it. I challenge you to be courageous in whatever you decide to achieve and trust that dreams can come true. Be brave about your choices. Don't back down amidst all the little voices that may be going on in your head to not forge ahead, do not let your fears or others fears for you hold you back. Also, a day to honor these women who exemplified courage in their lives. Embody courage in your life and notice how secure about yourself you will begin to feel....

Listen

Challenge #18

We all probably remember the childhood game of "telephone" made with 2 paper cups, preferably waxed to hold the sound better or tin cans, and string knotted on the ends to create a "telephone line". One spoke while the other listened. If it were done at a party or as a game, one would start a story and see if the story remained the same by the time it got to the last person. More often than not it would end up a very different story altogether, resulting in laughter or frustration. The meaning or translation became transposed into another's interpretation and kept on going. I challenge you to listen. If you do nothing else today, just listen. And then repeat what someone told you back to them to see if you completely understood what they said to you. If you do not understand, have them repeat it to you and then tell you in different ways until you do, and recognize the very point of realization of understanding for yourself. Very often we think that we really do understand the other person, but more times than not, we actually do not. Communication issues are among the top reasons why we do not get along as humans, especially in relationships and it all begins by listening. Learn effective listening and notice how much easier your relationships can be....

Ace of Hearts

Challenge #17

In card games Aces are represented by being a single mark or spot on the card and either have the highest or lowest score. They can win or lose. Holding all Aces usually is a winning set. In life being considered an Ace of anything is typically considered being in a winning position or expert at something. Hearts represent love and emotions. The central most inner part of something furthest from the outside. The most important part, or core of something. In life we tend to protect our emotions, our heart by not wanting to get hurt. We can only learn from our mistakes, that is how we grow. I challenge you to become a winner of the heart, win at something that you love or win someone you love. Allow your shyness to melt away, let any indecisions become firm, release the pain or fear of getting hurt, recognize that you deserve all that you love. If you don't try, then you can't succeed. Become the Ace of your emotions. Watch how you will begin to attract the same....

Style

Challenge #16

Are you stylish? Do you think you have style? Where and how does it show up in your life? In what you wear, your work, your hobbies? Do you stand out in a distinctive way among others? Do people compliment you for being stylish? Or, do you limit your thinking in that being stylish is for artists only? Do you wish that you could be stylish without someone telling you what to wear or say that would be clever? I Challenge you to develope your own sense of style. Have FUN with it! Be bold, be different, strive today to stand apart from the norm. Wear something that states who you really are, write in a new way that expresses uniqueness, compose with an open heart, craft with a new eye that shows the authentic you!! Begin to explore creative ways of expressing yourself in your thoughts first, your thoughts will manifest outwardly into the way you do things, the way you write, appear, speak and what you craft. Remember,thoughts become things. Discover your stylish self and notice how you feel.....

Fortitude

CURRENT MOON

moon phase info

Challenge #15

"CarMaGeddon" LA's version of the highway to hell this weekend. A coin toss on whether or not the impending freeway construction will have an epic impact on locals and travellers during this weekend has just as good a measure of predictability as anything. Even if you are not in the LA area, take stock of the major obstacles in your life and having the strength to overcome them. I challenge you to use fortitude to overcome any obstacle in your life. Draw upon your inner courage,firm will and spirit to get through it. Step by step...

Revolution

Challenge #14

Happy Bastille Day to those in France celebrating the French Revolution!! July is a glorious month in certain countries of what has come to be a time of celebration, freedom, independence and revolution. It is also a journey marker for having made it through half the year. A time to perhaps make a choice to look at the first half and see if you are really satisfied with your life or are ready to begin making changes. I challenge you to do your own personal turn about from long standing oppressive structures, or power that you may be struggling to free yourself from. Be it beliefs, people, jobs. See yourself as an independent nation ready to transform in an epic way. Make history as time is now counting down towards the end of the year....

Transparency

Challenge #13

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi.

The clearer we are to ourselves, the clearer we are to others and the world in all that we do.

I challenge you to clearly set your intentions to others and the universe through transparency of your actions, speech and emotions. Once you realize that you have nothing to hide, use examples to start teaching to your children and others. Begin to live in transparency and notice how skeletons in the closet eventually turn to dust anyway as our focus and intention dissolves the importance of what once was....

The white dove of....

CURRENT MOON

moon phase info

Challenge #12 Tues July 12, 2011

A white dove is usually considered a symbol of peace and love or as a messenger. I consider it a symbol of grace and beauty, as well as freedom. Other interpretations are that it represents life, hope, fulfillment, femininity. A flock of them are a sign of unity, strength, and are sometimes released at marriages and religious ceremonies. I challenge you to find the white dove today in your life and how it relates to you, create your own interpretation...

Perserverance

Challenge #11, Mon July 11, 2011
When carving out our desires and setting an intention doesn't happen quickly enough for us, sometimes we just just don't have the faith or belief that things will come through as we want them to. When you have this belief pop into your mind, creating anxiety, doubt or depression, stop the thought/s and redirect them into understanding that perseverance is persistence of a belief. An unyielding, determined, tenacious path to that which we want despite any obstacles. I challenge you to persevere in anything that you are setting out to achieve. Realize that when you put your desires out to the universe, results don't usually occur overnight, timing is essential for the alignment to be right. so persevere in your desires until you begin to see results. Think of the planted seed that needs to grow with water, earth and air in order to pop the surface of the dirt in order to be realized in our eyes.

Challenge #9 Sat, July 9, 2011
Feeling victorious over the smallest of obstacles is a wonderful awareness that creates a chemical change in our brains and bodies and radiates outwards through our energy systems. Having a feeling of winning in anything makes our outlook inside and out towards everything much better, more positive and certainly helps us to look forward to more "wins" everyday. I challenge you to find a victory or win today. Once you recognize it, give thanks for it and jot the specifics down in your journal. Notice how you will be begin to look forward to finding at least one in your day and how much more positive you will feel...

Challenge #10 Sun, July 10, 2011
Sundays are traditionally the day of rest, prayer, time with family, and reflection. Allowing the time to be by yourself for just 30 minutes daily uninterrupted can be a wonderful way to go in a little deeper and reflect upon how you view yourself and perhaps consider how others perceive you. Consider what immediately begins to come into your mind's eye or consciousness when you do take time. Do you feel as though you may be missing out on life, are you just getting by with the mechanics of the day to day actions you need to go through. Do you feel stuck in any way? Are you expressing yourself clearly to reflect what your mind and emotions might want to verbalize to others? Are there changes that you would like to make for yourself? Are there goals to start setting? I challenge you to take 15-30 undisrupted minutes, anytime during this day to observe and reflect upon what starts to take shape in your mind, and focus on what you want to do about it....

My book of Challenges for 365 days

CURRENT MOON

moon phase info

You can also visit me at www.sunniboswell.com
Transformation begins on the inside, not by trying to change others or your environment...
That is why I am creating a "Series of Challenges" for you to last  365 days.

My Series of 365 challenges for you Fri July 1, 2011
by Sunni Boswell
With the dawn of the new moon moving us into the second half of this year, I decided to become more proactive in my life and in the lives of others, should they want me to and that includes you, yes you. So I begin with the passing of time, we are all guilty at one period or another of simply not knowing where the time has gone, let alone, what we were feeling during that time. Let's start with Challenge #1:
Challenge #1
When time has a way of creeping up on us, ask yourself, were you aware of the passing and what is it that you were able or not able to feel? What is your brain telling you? What are your emotions telling you? What is your body telling you? What messages are you getting? I challenge you to begin to start becoming aware of your feelings, your emotions and whether or not or where they may be relating to your body. Is it your belly, your shoulders, your legs, your chest, your heart? Are you getting headaches, unexpected twitches, skin rashes, eczema, arms? Begin to become aware of the mind body connection and let me show you how to bring in the spiritual aspect and understand how all three are interconnected and without the allowing of that connection, we become blocked on many levels. But it all begins with awareness and our breath...

Challenge #2 Sat. July 2, 2011
Thank you for coming to us. Whatever drives you to seek out our help, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you personally. And, when consulting a psychic practitioner, understand that if you feel as though you are not connecting with them immediately or within a few moments, it is not the fault of the psychic, but rather could be blockage from you. We need to be open in order to be receptive. Now, that doesn't mean that you need to walk into a session with your thoughts on your sleeves, so to speak, but rather, to be open to understanding that the psychic is picking up on you but that it may not be something that you think relates to you at that time of your consciousness. Even if you may think that you know yourself so much that if a psychic isn't able to pick up on it, try not to pre-judge and think they are not connecting to you. We pick up all sorts of energies from you, good or bad and some coming from the people around you in this life and in other lives. We can't help it sometimes, that is how energy reading is. And keep in mind that if you are blocking yourself by being skeptical, negative or feel as though you know more that what the practitioner is telling you, then perhaps your should stop to take a look at yourself and start looking into learning how to receive messages and guidance for yourself and not taking up other people's time just so you can prove them wrong when after all, you did seek out their advice. So, if you are out there and trying out various practitioners and not able to find what you are looking for,
I challenge you to be kind to your practitioner and understand that most of us really do work from the highest of integrity in addressing the messages and your concerns at that time. And, to begin looking into ways of receiving information. One way is to call on me...

Challenge #3 Sun July 3, 2011
In order to move on with our lives, at whatever point we are in them, we need to begin to look at what blocks us from moving forward. One quick way is through forgiving. Forgiveness is the key to truly love of others. When we can bestow unconditional love to others, regardless of the hurts and the anger, we open up a pathway to clearly move forward with our lives and theirs. So many of my clients who come to me, and those who are yet to come to me can learn so much from the simple word - "forgiveness". There have been many times in my life that I have learned to do this and you can too. It seems too difficult sometimes to be able to forgive others for things that our friends, family and co-workers have done to us, and even the things that we have done to ourselves and others. Anger, fear, shame, blame and guilt drive us into not being able to forgive. Try to let go of those emotions and see yourself as strong and steady, grounded like a tree and just allow those remarks and emotions to simply slide and drip off you like water gliding down and into the earth back into the universe to be recycled into fresh energy. Why waste that glorious energy of yours by being so reactive to your emotions and others at the time.
I challenge you to become proactive and see yourself as a beautiful tree allowing the watery beads of emotions and reactions to simply roll off you and into the earth to recycle out. Notice how much better you begin to feel....

Challenge #4 Mon July 4th, 2011
Happy 4th of July everyone! If you celebrate the day of Independence for the US, may it be a joyous and meaningful day to you, whatever the meanings may hold for yourself, that is.... time with family, friends, gathering for parties, barbeques, outings for watching fireworks and recreation. Let's take a closer look at independence though and how it pertains to you on a more personal level. Is there a nudge within you telling you be more independent from others, family and co-workers, grown children, spouses, parents and you don't know how to go about it? Are you able to voice and express yourself from your inner circle of influence, or do you just go along with what everyone else wants, not wanting to make waves or changes and keep everyone happy for your own acceptance? Or, on the other hand, are you so independent that maybe it concerns you that you do not go along with others when you think you should? Do you get criticized for not agreeing with others and doing the same as they do? Just how independent are you?
I challenge you to create an independence meter for yourself and figure out just how free and independent you are in comparison to others and ask yourself if you really are able to live out your own choices and trust in yourself enough to know that you have the right answers within you to make the right choices. So start today by asserting your own personal independence in a positive way and see how you will begin to feel stronger....

Challenge #5 Tues July 5th, 2011
The day after a major holiday filled with celebration and hoopla can sometimes be a let-down.  We have built up so much expectation and energy in anticipation and eagerness awaiting the time and experience. Some may have spent time, emotional and physical energy and money planning to travel by car or air,  and then planning the festivities, shopping for decorations, and food, making the food and drinks,  preparing a good time for all. The day after can feel like we were sucker punched overnight or woke up with a bad hangover, so tired and beat, and then  for this year unfortunately , have to face the rest of the week getting back into the routine as though nothing happened.  So I challenge you to  be good to yourself today and this evening by taking it easy all day long. Drive around without being in your usual rush. Order dinner in or let your partner do the cooking and the clean up, watch the kids and put everyone to bed.  Allow yourself to pamper you with a long luxurious bubble soak, with candles and wine if that is your choice. Allow yourself an opportunity to relax and rejuvenate yourself. Try to make a point to journal about the past weekend and reflect on what was important for you and if you achieved it or not.  Notice how you feel about the turnout of the events, what would you do differently next year, and how you will go about beginning to set an intention for your desires of the outcome....

Challenge #6 Wed July 6, 2011

Since we just celebrated the nation's declaration of Independence from Britain, and the challenge of looking at your own personal freedom to make your own choices, let's take time today to look further at the notion of freedom from  opinions and beliefs that may no longer serve you in other areas of your life, such as in the topics of race, religion, cultures, politics, viewpoints, practices, etc. Take a look at "tolerance" in your life and in the lives of those you immediately affect through your own viewpoints and beliefs, such as your partner, your children and of course yourself.
The dictionary defines the word tolerance as:
1. a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one's own; freedom from bigotry.
2. a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions and practices that differ from one's own.
3. interest in and concern for ideas, opinions, practices, etc., foreign to one's own; a liberal, undogmatic viewpoint.Just how tolerant are you?
Have you been raised to not be accepting of others because of  certain beliefs or fears? How far has tolerance taken you in understanding others or yourself in social situations. Do you take for granted that others are unconditionally tolerant of you? How are your children being taught to learn tolerance? There is a fabulous museum in Los Angeles called the "Museum of Tolerance" that has a multitude of multi-sensory exhibits that explore various social in-tolerances of others throughout history. www.museumoftolerance.com. They offer public tours and volunteer opportunities.
I Challenge you to take a look at how you perceive tolerance and what you are doing to exercise the meaning in your life. Try writing down the things that you are not tolerant of and why and what you can do to allow yourself to be more accepting. And if you live in the LA area or are visitng, take the time to go and experience intolerance in a multi-media way, see how you feel, what comes to your mind and your emotions....

Challenge #7 Thurs July 7, 2011
Love is a deep and vast word in both meaning and feelings.  Just what does love mean to you? How do you express your love to others and to yourself.  Do you feel you yearn for it and never seem to find true love? Are you in love right now? Maybe love has a higher meaning for you in that you love all things and others and they love you in return? Are there only certain people you allow yourself to love, on an intimate level? Do you feel that love can only hurt and disappoint? Do you allow yourself to be loved? What is it that you love, things? People?
I challenge you to define love for yourself. The more that you have a clearer notion of what it means for you, the clearer you will be about how to attract and maintain it. Understand that self-love is the key to the door of beginning to have true love....

Challenge #8 Fri July 8, 2011

Survival and sustenance in this world is absolute. If you are not already involved with an organization or effort in the green field for the preservation and growth of our planetary survival, I challenge you to get involved now! Do an online search, look in your local newspapers, visit your local libraries or community bulletin boards for involvement opportunities and start pitching in to do your part. Rome of course wasn't built in a day and it can take one person to make a difference in the outcome. Try www.togethergreen.org and www.nature.org/volunteer. Make me and Erin Brockovich proud baby!!

We are all yin and yang within our lifetimes, it is realizing and recognizing when the subtleties change within us so that we can achieve the balance we so need in our daily lives.
"Our hearts are our brains for our emotions"....Sunni's quote for the day
Clearing allows us to be able to assess what is really within us...