Once again it is time for the message of this coming New Year, and the theme for 2008 through 2009 is FREEDOM. Real freedom is not the means of running around helter skelter. It means ensuring and respecting what freedom is - and that means freedom comes with compassion and responsibility. Compassion for people striving to attain freedom in their lives, in their countries. Responsibility to help people be free, to celebrate freedom, and to take steps required to remove tyranny and slavery in all forms. (Please see my links page for some web sites that help bring freedom around the world.)

As Americans (and probably those who are French), we have a national symbol of freedom: the Statue of Liberty. Lady Liberty serves as a strong, beautiful, constant reminder about what our country stands for, what should permeate through all the world. She lifts the lamp besides the golden door opening her arms as a safe haven to all who want freedom.*

Many times we (no matter where we live or who we are) forget to think about others, or think that what is happening across the planet has nothing to do with us. However, we are all connected. We are all affected by what happens somewhere. Our planet is becoming smaller and even more personal in how we able to access news and information nearly instantaneously. We are there in one way or another; even if our physical body is not there, our consciousness is. Since our consciousness can be everywhere we direct it, we can have an amazingly powerful influence on what we want to change.

This New Years' Eve Time Square is going to toss out as part of the confetti with the hopes and wishes written by us. A virtual Western Wall of prayers. Isn't this magical? People will pick up the messages and read them and the energy will be carried outward into the world. What would you put on such a message? I wrote "freedom, peace, universal consciousness".

I also received a message to share with you on how to ease the tension in the Middle Eastern and African countries. Use the image of a water kettle coming to a boil and steam is coming out of the top. See the turmoil on earth as the steam being released and evaporating into the air, doing no harm. The fire beneath the kettle is being turned off and the water is calming down leaving only a thin trail of steam that will evaporate. There is nothing more to fuel the fire for the water to boil furiously. No more steam left. All that is left is for us to enjoy a cup of tea in friendship :=)

This coming year, spirit commented that we not focus on new year resolutions (like "I have to lose weight" or "read more"). They suggested that we focus on our freedom to be what we want to BE. Not so much about what we want to have or do, but BE. We already know that we create our reality. Now we are asked to find the one or two characteristics that we would like to bring into ourselves. If we want to have more joy, for instance, we will not simply say, "I want more joy in my life," but to instead ask, "HOW can I BE more joy in my life?" How would you be with more joy, love, patience, clearer in communication, or with more light pouring out of you?

Remember: We are not just messengers, we are also the message.

Wishing all of you a brilliant 2008.

Much love, light and freedom to all,
Nora

*The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

—Emma Lazarus, 1883