Category: Spiritual & Metaphysical

Focus On The Source

Leave a comment

” What’s on your mind is probably on God’s Mind too.” ~Nadirah A. Shakir~

I was having a conversation with my father the other day. I asked him why it seems like just when things are going great there seems to be one obstacle after another. He smiled so calmly and said, “Iblis (the devil) promised Allah (God) that he would come for the righteous doers from every direction. You are righteous doer, and Iblis is after you.” He shrugged his shoulders and proceeded to pit his dates. Okay, I’m thinking. So what am I to do? Before I could ask the question my father had already responded. Keep your mind focused on Allah (God) and the vision that he placed in your heart. Your focus on him, with continued forward motion will eradicate the ill will of Iblis (the devil). So I move forward, hoping that what I am doing is right.

 

I thought about what my father said. Although our spiritual beliefs may differ, I focused on the essence of his advice, and what I know to be true. The truth is, there is only one mind, and when our minds become fragmented and divided that is when Iblis—the devil—shayton—erroneous thoughts and beliefs have their power. Okay, so how do our minds become fragmented?  Our minds become fragmented when we take our focus off of God as the source of our supply and start depending on channels—people—places—and “opportunities” as the way to come up when we have already been risen to begin with! We fall down when we forget who and what the source is, and that we have unlimited assess to God at all times.

Taking our focus off God, and putting our faith in people, places, and “come up opportunities” is where we trip ourselves up, falling down, and hitting our heads so hard until if feels shattered. We become scattered and frustrated, because our mental energy is all over the place…invested in the wrong things. The remedy for this is simple, but it is not easy (because there is so much BS vying for our mental energy at any given moment)—FOCUS ON GOD as the source of your supply and stay steady in THAT mental vibration. The things, people, places, and “comeups” that you require to do what you have to do in this world will be there, and they will be evident to you if your mind is focused on God. And, because your mind is not divided Iblis (the devil—shayton—erroneous thoughts and beliefs) will not be able to enter. After all the devil is a mind divided against itself, and if it (whatever IT is) is on your mind then it’s probably on God’s mind too, so God will work it out for you to do what you need to do.

I AM one with my Father God. My mind is his mind. My thoughts are aligned. I think right. Blessed Be.

Stop Running From Shadows

Leave a comment

 

Yesterday on my run I noticed my shadow. I always notice my shadow when I run, but yesterday it came with a special message. That message was that you can’t outrun your shadows. No matter how fast you run, you can’t out run them. So, you might as well stand in harmony with them. Standing in harmony with shadows means accepting those parts of yourself that you would rather keep hidden.
shadow
As I watched my shadow move to the left and the right of me, to the front and then behind me, there came another message. Your shadows are harmonious. They are obedient too. They move how you move. They do what you do. They do not come to embarrass you or put you under. Instead they come to shed light on where you just might be in life at any given moment. Our darkness is our light. It gives us insight, into the deeper aspects of self. For our emotional health, mental sanity, and even our spiritual development it would be wise to pay attention to our shadows so that we can gain a greater awareness of self. So ask yourself, what am I trying to hide. Ask yourself, what would I like to keep a secret. And while I do respect privacy, I understand how keeping secrets can function as piracy—stealing away precious hours, days, weeks, months, and even years of the treasure of life, toiling to keep secrets buried. Nothing stays buried forever. It either rises up to hunt you, or emerges as energy around you. Stop running from shadows, and find a way to stand in harmony with them. Breathe deep, and ask your shadows to work with you…to prosper you.

I AM harmonious. I stand in harmony with my shadows, and I AM prospered. Blessed Be.

 

Surrendering To Openness

Leave a comment

 

Coming into this year I had no resolutions. That’s pretty different for me, because I’m a goal oriented person. I decided not to have any resolutions this year because I want to experience something completely different—miraculous even! I want to experience joy! I want to experience a free flow, of abundant everlasting joy and peace! (I accept this in my experience right now. Thank you God.) And because I accept this joy and free flow of abundance in my experience I realize that I have to move out of my own way—surrender my will (ego) to the will of the Divine. I have to let go of what I believe to be true about myself. I have to let go of what people know or think they know about me. I have to dis-associate myself from the opinions that people have of me—the opinions I like, and also the ones that I can care less about. As I surrender my will to the will of the Divine my past experiences, accomplishments, relationships, and even my dreams go right into the flow, that is surrender, and I allow myself to become open to the newness of life—a new life.

Reflecting on previous years I can appreciate how setting goals, being regimented, planning, and even “master-minding” for a particular outcome have all been helpful in my personal growth and development. Looking back I can count the accomplishments; but what if there is more? What if there was more that I could have been open to had I remained open instead of having tunnel vision? Our fixation on our dream keeps us lean of everything else that may be available to us. So this year I still have a vision but I am open to more than one way to bring it into fruition.

Where There Is Happiness Healing Energy Flows

Leave a comment

 

I was in Starbucks last night doing what I love and I ran into an old friend—a trainer who started his career as a trainer with me around the same time. We traveled together to set up PT markets all across the country. We worked out together, we ate healthy together. We ate bad together…blah, blah, blah. Anyway, the last time I saw him he had started this new job where he was a manager for another training company. He talked about his salary, how much he would be making, the opportunity for growth—moving up the ladder, blah, blah, blah. But when I looked in his eyes back then, it was as if I was looking through him. He was empty. That was the last time I saw him. I ran into him last night after about 7 years of him and I being ghost to each other, and he looked so good! He was glowing! He had lost about 50 pounds or so. I was used to his “body-builder” frame. Last night he looked…healthy! His skin was clear, his eyes were shinning and his smile was radiant. He excused himself from the meeting he was having to give me the warmest embrace. He even felt full of life! “So what’s been up?!” “How you been?!” We were both in the same field—health and fitness with a bit more experience and more credentials. He had a job he loved and it showed on his face! I saw it in his eyes! He looked so different I insisted that he explain where this glow was coming from. My long time friend had overcome leukemia! With a combination of eastern and western medicinal treatments he had overcome a terminal illness and he stood before me a healthy, vibrant, NEW man! He told me that he had started juicing, and even though he still lifts weights he does more cardio—something I tried to get him to do years ago. He said that he wasn’t with the “big-time” company anymore, but that he was working with Native American Indians on their sacred compound as their trainer! He said that he couldn’t be in a better place, and it showed. It really did. When I asked him how did get through such a process. He told me that he simply focused on the things that made him happy! I get it. I hope you do to.

Clean Out Your Closet

Leave a comment

CLEAN OUT YOUR CLOSET

by Nadirah A. Shakir

When is the last time you cleaned out your closet? Recently, I did. In addition to the fact that most of my clothes were getting a bit baggy, I just wanted to release everything that I no longer used. Most things went easily into the give-away bag. But there were some things that were challenging to part with: my sky blue Nikes with the holes near the pinky toes. I used those for my early morning forgiveness walks in 2010. Then there was my turquoise dress that my dad brought me from Cuba. I gave my first massage in that, but it was now ripping under the armpits. And the little black dress that was a gift from an ex-boyfriend…so many memories!

I was surprised at the range of emotions that surfaced during the seemingly simple activity of cleaning out my closet. I cried. I laughed. I tried to justify keeping the worn-out items. However, when something no longer serves the purpose for which it is intended, or when it is not conducive to the energy you want to attract into your life, let it go! Something better will come.

When it comes to releasing excess weight or any other undesirable condition, we have to be very conscious of what we are holding in consciousness. We have to ask ourselves who haven’t we forgiven; what we need to forgive ourselves for; and what error thoughts are on repeat in our minds, keeping us stuck in a vicious cycle of self-sabotage. We have to let it all go—no matter how familiar it may be, and no matter how good it may look to the outside world. Today, choose to make space for something new and beautiful in your life!

 

What To Do When Your God No Longer Serves You?

1 Comment

God's light shining through

“If the God you serve no longer serves you, simply change Gods!” ~Nadirah Aqueelah Shakir~

I had an interesting conversation with some friends regarding God as an “idea.” The conversation took many turns as people tried to explain God. The conversation became even more complex as they described their beliefs and doubts about God. What I heard as I listened was, more than negating God, people were dissatisfied with how God was showing up in their lives. I empathized with them, because I have also experienced internal conflict regarding my relationship to God.

For most of us the conflict stems from our childhood religious belief and teachings, and our internal knowing. As spiritual human beings we have an innate knowing that God is more than we have learned It to be. When we experience God for our selves and it does not look, sound or feel like anything we were taught as children this can cause internal conflict to escalate. But wait! Before we sentence our caregivers, let us remember that they impart to us what their caregivers impart to them, and they were doing the best that they could with the knowledge that they were working with at the time.

However, let us go back to the original question, which is, what do you do when your God no longer serves. There are a couple of things you can do. You can continue to serve the God that doesn’t serves you, and continue to be angry and upset about coming up short. You can forfeit faith and God altogether and wing it in the world as best you can alone, or you can employ another God altogether. Personally I’ve done all three; but what I’ve discovered is that I work best and get my best work done when I have support—loving support—powerful support—healthy support—and wise SUPPORT.So my God, the God that serves me, and the God that I serve, are all of those things–Divine Love—Divine Power—Divine Strength—Divine Wisdom, and Divine Substance.

In every religion people find ways to connect with a God, or concept/idea of God that serves them, and they do this by calling God by that name, and then mentally and emotionally opening and connecting to that power/energy. In Islam there are 99 attributes of God. The Hindus have over 300 names/deities for God. Jesus felt a Father-energy from God, and called upon him as such. Ancient Egyptians take into consideration the feminine aspect of God as well as the masculine, and it goes on and on and on. The reason why it goes on and on is because God goes on and on, and we are expressions of that on-going PROcess. (More on this in a later blog)

In essence, changing Gods has more to do with changing your perception, and that starts with your mind which is connected to Divine Mind, i.e. God. You can’t change Gods, because God is unchanging. You can however, work with your perception (thoughts, feelings, and beliefs) about It.

Our perception of God dictates our entire experience in life. Here’s an example: A person who believes that God is a God of vengeance and jealousy will more than likely be fearful, and experience lots of “hateration”—envy. A person who believes that God is powerful and supreme will more than likely have confidence in his/her actions. A person that believes that God is omnipresent will more than likely be able to experience God where ever he/she goes. A person who believes in a God that favors and rewards meekness and humility will probably feel more comfortable in the background. A person who understands God as love will likely have a loving demeanor, and a person who believes that God is rich will probably be wealthy.

How do you know if you should change your perception of God? You will know if you need to consider changing your perception of God by asking yourself the following questions:
1. Am I happy?
2. Do I like where I am in life right now?
3. Is God my friend? Why or why not?
4. Does my God support me? How?
5. Does my God like me? Why or why not?
6. Do I like my God? Why or why not? What do I like or dislike about my God?

Ask yourself these questions, and answer them honestly. Try not to think to hard about the answers. Just write down what comes up and try to detach from inner judgment. For more on God in perception, and God as energy visit http://bookstore.iuniverse.com/Products/SKU-000141255/Before-You-Work-Out-Exercise.aspx, and purchase my memoir. You can find ideas regarding the feminine and masculine aspect of God in pages 4-7. Blessings!

God is as close to you as your very own breath, and It wants nothing for you but the absolute best.
Wishing you a wonderful working relationship with The Most High, Nadirah A. Shakir

The Spiritual & Physical Gift of Your Running Pace

Leave a comment

I love running. It’s my favorite exercise. I started running when I was 16, and 170 plus pounds. If I had to go anywhere within a 10 mile radius, and I knew I could carry the things that I purchased home, I’d foot it. I found running to be some what of a “moving meditation.” It was just me talking to me, me thinking, me praying, me focusing on my breath, and me focusing on each and every step. I wasn’t fast when I first started running. I wouldn’t even call myself fast today, unless I intentionally sprint. In fact when I started my running regimen I had to work through all types of complications. If it wasn’t the wrong sneakers, it was the extra weight aggravating my joints. If it wasn’t my joints it was the scraps of my sports bra bruising my chest and shoulders because of the friction. I didn’t stop running though. I continued, and made adjustments along the way, because I had a goal. Some days I would walk instead of run. Sometimes I would walk and run. I’d trot; and on those really good days I would run like the wind.

A running regimen is reminiscent of the ebb and flow of life. We have really, really, good days. We have okay days. We have those days when all we can do is put one foot in front of the other, and on some days we may feel the need to take several breaks in between, and it may seem like we didn’t cover any ground at all. Progress is always being made just as long as we continue to move forward. I lost 40 plus pounds on a running regimen alone…and a healthy diet of course. Once I lost the weight my running pace became faster, and easier. My sports bras no longer bruise me, my joints feel fine, and my breathing is almost like song. It’s strong and steady. Praise God! Today I can afford to be flexible regarding my running pace because I know what works for me and my body. I know that 60 minutes running at my personal pace will burn 700 plus calories and I’ll maintain my weight. However, if I want to change my weight or the shape of my body I know I need to step on the gas!

If we can think of life as running regimen or a marathon then we can comprehend that although there may be other runners next to us on the treadmill, or on the street, the marathon of life is really about us. It’s about how far we can go. It’s about how many steps we can take toward our goal. It’s about finding the right fit (shoes AND sports bra) that is comfortable for us. It’s about knowing that when we decide that we want anything on our personal journery, i.e. our marathon, all we have to do is change our pace or change our path—speed it up—slow it down—keep going left—or bust a right. It’s your journey, so perfect your stride while you run the race, and stay focused on your personal pace.

As always, every runner should take time to care for themselves, and experienced runners know this!Nurture your inner spirit My memoir Before You Work Out, Exercise might help, http://bookstore.iuniverse.com/Products/SKU-000141255/Before-You-Work-Out-Exercise.aspx. Care for your physical body as well. Do you foam roll? Every runner should! For more on foam rolling follow this link:https://nadibody.wordpress.com/2013/11/16/the-benefits-of-foam-rolling/! Blessings!

Wishing you Strength with your pace and Clarity on your path, Nadirah A. Shakir

More Than A Rose…More Than A Prayer

Leave a comment

1488246_10202797823050871_1390642080_n

I don’t believe that any prayer goes unanswered.  I believed that our prayers are recycled back into the Divine Mind of the universe and delivered back to us as something greater and more in alignment than what we originally prayed or hoped for.

Everything is connected to the Source—Divine Mind—God, or whatever you wish to call it. Simply put, we are all a part of the Universe; and our plans and prayers are not the only plans or prayers on God’s table. Our prayers and plans are just an ingredient—a spice—-a nutrient—an appetizer—to the heavenly feast God is preparing for the entire Universe!

Our thoughts and our dreams are important, because they contribute to the energy of the race consciousness. Our thoughts, dreams, and prayers are circulating and creating every single thing that we see and experience in the world today—the good and the negative.

I was reminded of my belief last night as I started clearing and purifying my space. As I began clearing my prayer table I grabbed the dead roses that were upon them, with the intention to throw them in the trash. As I caught a glimpse of myself walking to the trash can with the roses in the mirror I had to pause. Then I walked up to the mirror with the roses in my hand. I held the dead roses up to my face and move closer to the mirror. The roses were still absolutely beautiful.

I examined them more closely. The stems were erect. The leaves were withered. The pedals were crisp, some were still soft; but what they all had in common was that they appeared to be bowing. Their bowing appearance was a state of surrender, humility, and acceptance to me. Another amazing thing that they all had in common was that the flower—their pedals still smelled so sweet. The soul of the roses lives on!

Then Spirit told me not to throw the roses in the trash can. Instead I should give them back to the earth for purification. So that’s what I did. It made perfect since, especially because the roses were a living thing. Mystics believe roses to be symbolic of the human soul. I could not throw them away! When an animal dies it goes back into the Earth. When a human being dies we put them in the ground or sprinkle their ashes over the sea. It’s all about recycling energy.

I look forward to the spiritual return of that energy! I am knowing it will be sweet as the fragrance of my roses! Dream, pray, think positive and plan. Just remember when things don’t go YOUR way, they are really going the way they should for the greater good.

Wishing you all the good the Universe has in store for you. Stay open. Even in your planning.

For more insights on Universal Connectedness you can read my memoir Before You Work Out, Exercise http://bookstore.iuniverse.com/Products/SKU-000141255/Before-You-Work-Out-Exercise.aspx. Blessings!

Allow The Light of God to Shine Through You

2 Comments

Allow The Light of God to Shine Through You

We are all perfect expressions of God. We have been put here on the planet to carry out specific assignments at specific times. We are endowed with gifts, talents, physical attributes, strengths, and interests; and we shine like the light that God is when we are in that natural flow of expression.

What does that mean? This means that we do not allow our ego to block Gods flow. When we allow ourselves to BE who we are, we are allowing God to express through us. In other words we are dimming Gods’ light when we are stuck in self-denial, self judgment, and dis-belief in ourselves.

Have you ever saw a person who looked dull and/or lack luster? Perhaps this persons’ energy was low, or turbulent in some way. This stagnation can be linked to inner conflict about how this person wants to show up in life i.e., express his/herself.

We’ve all been there. There has been a point in our lives when we are doing one thing but desiring to do another. We may be stuck at a job that we do not like. We may be stuck in a relationship that we wish to dissolve. We may even have issues with our finances or our health. These are all temporary issues that can be remedied as soon as we make the conscious decision to ALLOW God’s light to shine through us.

How do we do this? The first thing we must do is simply stop fighting what is. In other words we should surrender. We must be willing to let go of the life we know, stop caring about what others think about us, and become willing to live our truth. We must be willing to release jobs, friends, family, titles, and possessions. The second thing we must do is listen. We must seek out the counsel of the Holy Spirit and listen. You can hear the Holy Spirit best in the silence. I suggest you set apart some quiet time for meditation, and journaling. I like to couple these two—meditation, and journaling because I like to write down what I am hearing during meditation. After you listen you have to obey. Obeying what you hear can be difficult because more than likely it will be something that you are apprehensive about. It could be that it is something that you’ve done before and the results were deplorable, and now Spirit is leading you to do it again. Remember you are different now, and also take into consideration that there is something called Divine-Time, and Divine-Order.

Allowing Gods’ light to shine through you is in essence a personal commitment that you make to live authentically. Shining does not mean that we become rich and famous, although there is a possibility; essentially shining means that we have a healthy glow or a vibrant aura around us as a result of allowing God to express Itself through us without judgment. We are channels. God is the light that wants to shine through you.

Just be you, and the light will come bursting through!

Blessings, Nadirah A. Shakir

Light Therapy & Healing

1 Comment

Ancient healers used light therapy to heal the body of sickness and disease. Modern healing practitioners such as myself still use this very easy and affective method of healing as well. I like to think of white light as the pure energy of the Holy Spirit. When I am using light to create balance in my own body, I often start with white light. This can be done by simply meditating on white light or you can use a candle to help you stay focused, as some may find it difficult to capture an image of white light mentally in the beginning. Breathing deeply, while mentally focusing on the white light will immediately bring calm to your body and your spirit. You can use the white light of your mind to wash your body internally and externally by simply choosing an area of concern with in your body and mentally placing the light there. Hold the white light in the area of concern and breathe. As you inhale imagine that you are pulling the “growth, discomfort, pain, irritation, etc. out of your body. As you exhale imagine that you are breathing new, healing energy into the area of concern. You may also find it helpful to invoke a higher spiritual power of your choice such as Goddess, Christ, Allah, Buddha or whomever you feel positively spiritually connected to. Allow your self to be fully present for the experience. This mean finding a quiet and comfortable place where you will not be interrupted for about 10 minutes. After you are done with the meditational-healing, wrap your self in the healing white light mentally, and embrace it throughout your day affirming all is well.

Below is a simple affirmation of healing that you can use daily from Nadirah A. Shakir to you. Be blessed.

“The healing light of Pure Spirit resides in me. It circulates throughout my entire body easily and effortlessly. It dissolves all blocks, growths, and discomfort. I express that purity and power right now. Thank you Pure Spirit.”