A few years ago I realized I didn’t love myself. Here I had been doing all this “spiritual” work for so many years and suddenly I realized that the very core of it, the very essence of it, is to truly love yourself and I wasn’t doing that.
Then suddenly one day I was doing a meditation and a voice came into my head and started saying “there’s nothing wrong with you”, “there’s nothing wrong with you”. My body was vibrating and I knew that something was happening.
It wasn’t an overnight turn-around, but ever since then I have figured out how to love myself pretty much most of the time.
Here are some of the Secrets to Loving Yourself:
1) Make the decision to start loving yourself. I know that sounds simple and basic, but it’s not. Make the decision and the intention right now that no matter what, you love yourself.
2) Do a 40 day Gratitude Journal on loving yourself. If you read our newsletters, you know I’m a fan of Gratitude Journals. Make the decision that for the next 40 days you are going to get up each morning and spend just a few minutes writing down 3 things that you really, honestly like or love about yourself. And if you can add some feeling to it, all the better. Just remember to do it every day for 40 days, as this will break the old cycle.
3) Stop saying nasty things to yourself. I used to say to myself “you are so stupid”, “you are so fat”, I could go on and on. Do you do that to yourself? It’s so incredibly damaging. Stop it. Just stop it right now. When you think about it (and no matter what spiritual practice you follow, this applies), Jesus wouldn’t talk to you like that, the Buddha wouldn’t talk to you like that, your Angels and Guides wouldn’t talk to you like that, so who do you think you are to talk trash like that to yourself? You have the power to think the thoughts you want to think, just move out the negative ones and have some better ones standing by to replace them–”You’re great”, “You’re really trying hard, I like that about you”.
4) When you wake up in the morning before you get up, take few deep breaths and say “I love me” a few times. Again, even though it sounds simple, this is extraordinarily powerful.
Coming into a place of loving myself and not judging myself has had profound effects on my life. I went from size 14 to size 6 (see below). Everyone says I look younger, I feel better and I’m much kinder to the people around me. Positive energy can make an incredible difference in your life.
How do you love yourself? I’d love to hear from you.
Many Blessings,
Debra Stangl
Founder
Sedona Soul Adventures
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This morning, our Nile cruise begins, as our ship slips our Luxor moorings and heads upstream towards Aswan. After the amazing time we’ve had and all we’ve seen and done, it’s time to slow down and unwind a bit as we take an entire day to refresh and relax as we Cruise the Nile. There are so many possibilities on board. You may want to go topside and snag some rays as you sip a drink by the pool. Maybe you’ll delight in observing the ever changing scenes drifting past along the Nile; the boats, the farms, the villages and the wildlife. Maybe it’s time for some pampering with a massage. Or possibly it’s time to just sit quietly with your journal and remember and integrate the experiences of the last 8 incredible days. Whatever your choice, today is the day to recharge your batteries so that you’re ready for the next half of our trip and even more amazing adventures.
What a place to celebrate Leap Year!
Our first day in Aswan opens before us with the promise of new and exotic delights. Aswan has the welcoming, friendly feel of an oasis and indeed, the desert here is close at hand. Unlike Cairo, the air is pure and fresh and the city seems to vibrate with a clarity and intensity that reminds one of Machu Picchu or Sedona. Bright and early this morning we take a motor dinghy to the smallIsland of Philae, home of a beautiful, magical temple dedicated to Isis, the Great Mother. At the temple we perform special rites honoring the Divine Feminine and invoking Her energies and blessings. Next, we will visit the Unfinished Obelisk and get a sense of the gargantuan engineering feats of the ancient Egyptians. After lunch, we board a felucca, a traditional Nile sailboat, On the felucca ride, you are intensely aware of the tremendous beauty of the moment. The light from the western sun dancing on the sparkling blue waters of the Nile; the bright, clear blue sky; the warm gentle breeze filling the sails; lush, green palms against the desert sand; the rising joy in your heart. It has indeed been a delightful day, filled with promises made and promises kept.
Ah, the sweet sorrow of saying goodbye! Today we bid adieu to our floating home on the water, our Nile cruise ship, and the wonderful crew who have fed, feted and pampered us like Pharaonic royalty. But as with life, we let go of the good that we have known and turn our focus to the good yet to come. Now on our way to Abu Simbel, with Lake Nasser always visible on the left side, our plane takes us deep into the southern desert, almost to the Sudanese border. In the 1960′s, with the building of the Aswan High Dam, rising waters from Lake Nasser threatened to inundate archeological treasures all along the Nile in Upper Egypt. Through an unprecedented international effort, the most important temple, Abu Simbel, and some smaller sites were cut into massive blocks, moved to higher ground and reassembled. As we make our way to the temple site, approaching from the back, we see only a very plain rounded hill with pathways to either side. As we round the hill, we are nearly struck dumb by the mind-bending sight. Before us loom four colossal, 67-foot high statues (each the size of a 7-story building) of Ramses II seated on his throne, facing Lake Nasser, guarding the entrance to his temple. Smaller statues of family members are between his legs. One hundred yards away, built into another hillside, is the Temple of Nefertari, Ramses II’s favorite wife. Six colossal standing figures 33 feet high, four of Ramses II and two of Nefertari, are cut from the rock face, along with smaller figures of the royal family. What an amazing setting! We spend the rest of our time exploring these astonishing temples and then fly back to Cairo and back to the beautiful Le Meridiens Pyramids next to the Pyramids on the Giza Plateau..
This morning we take a beautiful and relaxing drive into the countryside south of the Giza Plateau to visit the pyramids at Sakkara and Dahshour. The Step Pyramid at Sakkara is considered by traditional Egyptologists to be the earliest, prototypical pyramid. It was designed for Pharaoh Djoser by the mythic figure Imhotep. Imhotep is recognized as the world’s first named architect and doctor as well as a scribe, priest, astrologer, vizier and chief minister. Next, we experience two more incredible examples of monumental pyramid building. At Dahshour, we see the newly reopened Bent and Red Pyramids. Then, after taking a leisurely lunch and possibly a few puffs on the hookah, we’re off for a visit to a carpet factory and school, seeing the incredible artistry of Egyptian hand-made carpets. This evening we fly to Luxor, home of the Valley of the Kings and Queens, for more adventures.
Today we awaken early to find that our hotel in Luxor is located directly on the Nile with a beautiful view. After breakfast we head to the Temple Complex at Karnak, one of the most amazing places in all of Egypt. Although many sections have not survived the ravages of time, no temple site in Egypt is more impressive than Karnak. It is the largest temple complex ever built by man, and represents the combined achievement of many generations of ancient builders over a span of 1400 (!) years. The Temple of Karnak is actually three main temples containing smaller enclosed temples, and several outer temples all situated on 247 acres of land. Our guidance tells us that most if not all of the people on this trip have had many Egyptian lifetimes. If you lived in Egypt, it’s highly likely that during one or more of those lifetimes you visited or lived at Karnak. For this reason, we will do a ritual to connect with, clear and integrate those Egyptian past lives in the Temple of Sehkmet which is closed to the general public, but which is made available to our group as another delicious benefit of our tour. In the afternoon, after our amazing time in Karnak, we will go to a papyrus shop where we learn ancient Egyptian paper making techniques. We’ll experience Egyptian artistry first-hand, and have a chance to purchase incredible Egyptian papyrus.Tonight, after dinner, we visit the Luxor Temple, built during the reign of Amenhotep III. For many centuries it was covered with the desert sands, so it is now one of the most perfectly preserved and beautiful temples in Egypt. That amazing beauty is highlighted and emphasized even more as we wander under the stars among the massive, dramatically lit columns, statues and obelisks.
Today we start early, as we make our way north along the Nile to the Temple of Abydos, which many consider the most sacred temple in all of Egypt. At Abydos especially, we will delve into controversial and secret versions of history that our tours are famous for. At this place, Seti I built an unusual temple dedicated to multiple gods. In this temple we get to view some very famous, anachronistic carvings of helicopters, tanks and jet planes. Pharoah Seti I’s temple was built on top of an earlier temple of very ancient, possibly Atlantean origins, called the Osirion. Located on one of the pillars of the Osirion are glyphs of the “Flower of Life.” At Abydos we will do a ceremony calling in the most ancient of our past life memories, and activating energies for healing and release. After lunch, it’s on to the Hathor Temple of Dendara. The temple complex of Dendara is dedicated to one of the most beloved of the Egyptian deities, Hathor, Goddess of Love and Beauty. In this Temple we get to examine the famous Zodiac ceiling and the painted carvings of Nut (Goddess of the Sky) swallowing the solar disc at night and birthing it again each morning. Also in this temple we get a peek into esoteric Egyptian technology. We’ll be taken to see some very unusual, hidden carvings that appear to depict a kind of electrical device powering an energy tube like light bulbs with serpent filaments. The Hathor Temple is also the first temple of ancient Egypt for which the government has begun an ambitious project of cleaning the walls and ceilings of hundreds and hundreds of years of dirt, soot and smoke. We saw the first results of this program last year and you will not believe the beautiful colors that are under the grime. Then it’s back to the hotel and after dinner, for those who wish, we will cross the street to an amazing shop that has carpets and delicate embroidery made by Coptic nuns.
This morning we awaken early, check out of our hotel and then we’re off to the West Bank of the Nile to visit the Valley of the Kings. This is the largest mortuary complex for Pharaonic royalty, including such well known names as Ramses, Tutankhamum and Hatsepshut. In recent years, the Valley of the Kings has become so crowded with tourists, but we will have the pleasure of having our own private admission to the Tomb of Ramses VI, a stunningly beautiful tomb which has been closed to the public for restoration but has been recently reopened to only a select number of visitors each day. Ramses’ tomb contains amazing hieroglyphics and scenes of the afterlife, including one of the most beautiful representations of Nut, the Goddess of the Sky. We will also have the opportunity to visit 3 other tombs and you’ll be amazed at the beautiful colors still visible after all these thousands of years. Next we’ll visit the mortuary Temple of Hatsepshut (the only female Pharaoh) and we’ll have a quick photo op at the Colossi of Memnon. Afterwards, we’ll visit an alabaster factory. Egyptian alabaster is known the world over for its incredible beauty. We’ll see how it’s made and have the opportunity to purchase some of our own treasures. We then board our beautifully luxurious Nile Cruise Ship, which will be our home for the next four nights. As the ship’s stewards transfer our luggage to our rooms, we feel the beautiful air of the Nile and truly feel that we have come home.
Finally, we’re here! We arrive in Cairo at 12:00 noon Egypt Local Time. At the airport, representatives from our local tour partners, Guardian Travel, meet us, greet us and assist us through customs and baggage claim, handling our entire luggage. No wrestling with suitcases! Then we board our motor coach and sightsee as we make our way through the hustle and bustle of the city. The weariness of the flight is quickly forgotten as we drink in the sights of downtown Cairo – the Mosque of Mohammed Ali, the City of the Dead, the Nile River and even the amazing traffic jams. Almost too quickly, we make our way to the fabulous Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel. This majestic resort hotel is beautifully set in its own landscaped gardens and offers a spectacular swimming pool complex including a health club with sauna and massage. A brief walk from Le Meridien Pyramids takes you to the Pyramids and the Sphinx on the Giza Plateau – but wait, we’re getting ahead of ourselves. We settle into our rooms, have a wonderful group dinner in the evening and get a good night’s rest so we’re ready for tomorrow.
Today is one of the most amazing days of our trip. Right after breakfast, and our group gathering, we take the quick jaunt from the hotel to the Giza Plateau. Prepare to be overwhelmed! Words cannot describe the wonder, grandeur and mystery of the Great Pyramid of Khufu as well as the magnificent adjoining pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure. Next, we take in the Solar Boat Museum, the Valley Temple and the Guardian of the Horizons, the Great Sphinx. In the Valley Temple, we experience our first sacred ceremony. Here we will set our personal and group intentions for the rest of the trip. As in all of our ceremonies, we are accompanied by our sound healer playing the didgeridoo and flutes. You will always remember these sounds as they reverberate through the halls of the Valley Temple and echoes in your heart. This is also the day we take a fun camel ride around the Giza Plateau. Finally, for those interested in high quality Egyptian oils, we’ll have a delightful time at the perfume and oil shop of the Fayed family, who distributes these amazing oils internationally. We’ll return to the luxurious Le Meridien Pyramids tired, but smelling great!
After breakfast, on our way to Old Cairo, we will stop at an amazing jewelry store which is close to our hotel. The jewelry in Egypt is incredible and even if you don’t buy anything, just seeing all the amazing work is fantastic. We will then head into Old Cairo where we will visit the Citadel, the scene of famous battles during the Crusades. We will then spend time at the incredible Mosque of Mohammed Ali, one of the most beautiful mosques in the Middle East. After lunch, we will wander the narrow streets and alleys of the Khan El Kalili Bazaar. Here, you can sip some strong Turkish coffee as you relax in one of the cafes, or maybe do some haggling with the shopkeepers for some treasures of your own.
