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

Want to learn more about what your Sedona Soul Adventure Sacred Travel to Egypt will look like? We’ve already talked about Part 1 (Days 1-4) and Part 2 (days 5-8) of the trip will look like, now here’s your look at your itinerary for days 9-12.

Still need some more encouragement as to how you can make this happen? Listen to our recent meditation!

Day 9: Tuesday, February 28
Cruising Up the Nile
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.
Nile Cruise Ship (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

Day 10: Wednesday, February 29
Temple Complexes at Edfu & Kom Ombo
What a place to celebrate Leap Year!

Today our ship docks at Edfu, home of a Ptolemaic temple dedicated to the falcon god Horus. Of all the surviving temples of ancient Egypt, the Temple of Horus is the most complete and best preserved. It is easy to sense a deep eternal presence in the Holy of Holies, as we focus inward in meditation. As our ship continues on the Nile, steaming southward toward our next port of call, we pass another timeless scene. Watching farmers with their oxen plow the fields, and women wash their laundry at the water’s edge, we slip into the timeless rhythms of this vast river of life, and grok how abundantly the Nile has nourished her children from time out of mind. Stirring from reverie we notice, as we round the bend, the Temple Complex at Kom Ombo. Dedicated to both Re-Herakhty and the crocodile god Sobek, this unusual double temple expresses the Egyptian’s understanding of the dual nature of reality. Here we, too, meditate upon the light and shadow, yin and yang of our own natures.
Nile Cruise Ship (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

Day 11: Thursday, March 1
Aswan, the Isis Temple, Unfinished Obelisk
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.
Nile Cruise Ship (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

Day 12: Friday, March 2
Abu Simbel
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..
Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Still considering joining the Sedona Soul Adventures Egypt Sacred Travel trip? Here is the second part of our series on what your experience in Egypt will look like. Get a feel for what transformations will happen in your life on days five – eight.

Day 5: Friday, February 24
Sakkara and Dahshour
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.
Sonesta St. George (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

Day 6: Saturday, February 25
Karnak and Luxor Temple by Night
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.
Sonesta St. George (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

Day 7: Sunday, February 26
Abydos and Dendara
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.
Sonesta St. George (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

Day 8: Monday, February 27
Valley of the Kings the Temple of Hatsepshut
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.
Nile Cruise Ship (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

In preparation for our sacred travel to Egypt, I encourage you to listen to this meditation and bring the energy of Egypt into your life. Take a listen, and let us know how you feel. Comment below!

Sedona Soul Adventures Egypt Meditation

Thinking about taking that next step and joining us in our Sacred Travel to Egypt? We’re going to take our next four blog posts to take you through a detailed itinerary of what you will experience on this journey. So, find out what your first four days on this sacred journey will look like.

Egypt Itinerary

Day 1: Monday, February 20
Welcome Soul Adventurers!
We meet at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York at the Egypt Air counter for international check-in. Please arrive no later than 3:00 p.m. We have a brief orientation to meet all the members of our group, and then learn an ancient meridian energy technique that virtually eliminates jet lag. We board our evening non-stop flight to Cairo, which departs at 6:30 p.m. The flight is 11 hours. Meals and movies are provided on board.

Day 2: Tuesday, February 21
Welcome to Egypt!
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.
Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel (Breakfast on plane, Snack on bus, Dinner at the hotel)

Day 3: Wednesday, February 22
Valley Temple, Sphinx, Great Pyramid
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!
Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 4: Thursday, February 23
Old Cairo and Private Tour of the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities
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.

Later comes one of the most exciting and coveted parts of our tour. We will have our own private 2 hours in the renowned Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, also known as the Cairo Museum. Established in 1835, the Museum is the official repository of most of the archeological treasures of the Egyptian government from the prehistoric era to the Greco-Roman period. It is the world’s densest concentration of ancient Egyptian artifacts and antiquities. Up close and personal, we get to examine incredible statues, mummies, jewelry and other artifacts, including the famous collection from the tomb of Tutankhamen. We’ll have a late dinner after our amazing time in the Cairo Museum.
Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Our next sacred travel to Egypt will begin Feb. 20 to March 4, 2012. We’re excited to bring a new group of people to experience the transformational and healing powers of some of the most ancient and spiritual places in the world. Watch this video below to learn more about what happens on these sacred journeys, and check out our website to learn how you can sign up for our next sacred journey to Egypt.

Sacred Travel from Debra Stangl on Vimeo.

Some spiritual teachers actually draw a distinction between a “choice” and a “decision”. Supposedly, a choice is made with one’s entire being, and a decision is made with the mind. If this is true, clearly, we need to become more adept at making choices…

What the mind tends to do is make long lists of pros and cons. Usually, by the time the list is complete, you’re no better off than when you started!

So, intuition, or “guidance” is by far the better way to go. Malcolm Gladwell, in his book “Blink”, talks about how a huge percentage of successful scientists, art experts, and business leaders – people at the top of their fields – usually know in an instant which way they will move on a particular choice. They have that faculty inherent in them. But most of us are not quite as blessed. And what’s more, we were never taught how to access our intuitive faculties. But there is hope – accessing intuition is something that can be learned.

Try this simple technique – close your eyes, and take a long, slow, deep breath. Then imagine the choice you’re considering – whether, in this case to come on a retreat to Sedona, or virtually anything you’re considering. Now imagine yourself taking concrete steps toward that choice – getting on the plane, arriving in Sedona – whatever first springs to mind. Then simply notice how you feel in your body – especially in your lower abdomen (they’re not called “gut instincts” for no reason!). If your body feels somewhat contracted or constricted, that’s most likely a “no”. If, on the other hand, there is an expansive, relaxed quality in that area, that’s a good indicator that you may want to strongly consider moving forward.

Our higher selves, or Spirit, or God, or Universal Intelligence knows better than our brains what is for our highest good.

Blessings, Debra

Sometimes we hit a point in our day, week, month, year, or even life, where life consumes us and we need to somehow find a release. Breathing exercises are one of the ways in which to reach this release and connect your mind with your body once again.

“Practicing regular, mindful breathing can be calming and energizing and can even help with stress-related health problems ranging from panic attacks to digestive disorders.”
Andrew Weil, M.D.

Here are three different breathing exercises from Dr. Weil to help relieve your stress and anxiety levels:

The Stimulating Breath (Bellows Breath)

• -Inhale/exhale through your nose at a short, even, rapid pace.
• -Aim for three in-and-out breath cycles per second. After each cycle, breathe normally.
• -Do not do breathing exercise for more than 15 seconds on first try.
• -Slowly increase your time by 5 seconds until you reach one minute.

The 4-7-8 (Relaxing Breath) Exercise

• -Exhale fully through your mouth (you will make a whoosh sound)
• -Inhale fully through your nose while counting to four in your head.
• -Hold your breath for seven seconds
• -Exhale fully through your mouth with that same whoosh sound to the count if eight.
• -Repeat this cycle three or more times.

Breath Counting

• -Count “one” in your head as you exhale
• -Inhale naturally
• -Exhale again and count “two” etc. up to “five”

Make sure to follow us on Facebook for more helpful, calming information like this. Have some other breathing exercises you want to share? Post them on Facebook or below in our comments.

We are doing a daring experimental program. Six weeks ago we asked you if you thought an At Home Soul Adventure was a good idea. So many of you said yes! Here are the details of how it will work and why you may want to participate.

In a nutshell, many people have not yet been able to schedule the time or commit to the expense for a full-on 3 day retreat here in Sedona, but they recognize  they need the experience. It’s simply not possible for them at this time.

We wanted to provide a way to help people who are struggling with:

• deep emotional pain
• feeling stuck in your job, relationship, stuck in your life, etc.
• the gut-wrenching devastation of the end of a relationship
• the core issue of not being enough
• the aching feeling that you are not living up to your full potential
• the knowing that you are supposed to be doing something important with your life, but not knowing what it is or how to start.

Here’s what we came up with: An At Home Soul Adventure!

Once per week for 9 weeks we have persuaded our top practitioners to conduct a teleconference that is based on the same types of sessions that we do as part of a Sedona Soul Adventure here in Sedona. These sessions are designed to provide everyone on the call with all with the following:

• Relief from stress
• Relief from the pain of disconnection
• Relief from the issues mentioned above that have been impeding, restricting and overwhelming you
• Clarity
• Progress
• Certainty
• The ability to better deal with your situation until you can actually come to Sedona.

The best part is, you will participate in a process that will have long lasting, and dramatic effects on your life as you know it now!

Just as in a Sedona Soul Adventure, each session will lead to the next and overall will provide a whole that will be transformational.

We’re having a FREE TELECONFERENCE on Tuesday, September 13 at 5:00 pm Pacific time where you will not only get a taste of what each of the 9 week sessions will be like, but you will actually experience some important emotional and spiritual healing during the FREE TELECONFERENCE.

Register Now

The total cost for the 9 week program is only $591, payable at only $197 per month for 3 months. We know that this is an exceptional value. It’s like receiving a session for around $65 each and on top of it, you will receive the weekly meditations that you can download and listen to over and over again, plus the ability to connect with other seekers. This is only available as one package, it is not available as individual teleconferences.

If you feel you are ready to sign up today, go ahead and Register Now for the 9 week Soul Adventure at Home.

Register here

The teleconference will be each Tuesday at 5 pm Pacific Time. So that converts to:

6:00 – 7:00 pm Mountain Time

7:00 – 8:00 pm Central time

8:00 – 9:00 pm Eastern time

Each teleconference will be one hour – powerful, thought-provoking and enriching.

What are you waiting for? Sign up today for our FREE Teleconference or sign up for the 9 week Sedona Soul Adventure at Home.

Have you looked into our programs or travel adventures and wondered if it was for you? You can give us a call 877-204-3664, and we’d love to talk to you about our services and how we can personally work with you on your spiritual journey. Here are some people who have already gone through a Sedona Soul Adventure and want to share their experiences with you.

“Sedona Soul Adventures provided exactly what I needed and wanted. I was ready to move to the next level in my life and you provided the perfect set of experiences for me with much care and attention. Thank you so much for what you organized for me. Tell Tom that my session with him is still blowing me away. I had the most amazing experiences!!! I got a very clear feeling and knowing from Spirit that Sedona isn’t finished with me yet. I know that I will be back…”

Annie Stephany
World Traveler

“I am no longer self-destructive.  I have become a self-loving, self-nurturing woman.  Happy and peaceful all because of the emotional and karmic clearing work done through Sedona Soul Adventures.  And, as an added benefit, I now have five men interested in dating me when there was no one in the picture before.  Bring it Universe!”

Lisa Anderson

My experience with SSA was very positive on many levels. From the planning stages through the last session, everyone was very professional and very experienced. It’s been a week since I left Sedona and I am feeling great. It’s like looking at the world and my life with “fresh eyes”. Thank you! The landing was a little rocky because I didn’t want to come home. Sedona feels like home. But I’m back in Michigan. It’s like there is an elephant in the room. I am changed in a good way. I feel like I broke some barriers and peeled some layers of stuff that was self sabatoging. I can’t explain it except that it feels cellular. It doesn’t make sense to me mentally. But who am I to question transformation. HA!

Carolyn Skalnek