Anytime tragedy strikes you often hear people say, “Where was GOD?” or “Why did GOD let this happen?”

As a spiritual teacher, I find it funny that many struggle to separate themselves from their idea of “GOD” and then when we need “GOD” most we blame “GOD” for not being there. Yet, GOD is and always will be everywhere.

GOD was the 27 innocents that lost their physical life and GOD was also with the shooter. GOD was in the courageous actions of the teachers who sacrificed their life to protect another; GOD was in the flow of love and support from communities around the Nation and World; GOD was the police and EMT officials that arrived on scene; GOD was the parents mourning and remembering their children; GOD was the parents who empathized with the parents that lost their children; GOD was in Obama’s Speech to the Nation; and so, my friends, a better question is WHERE WASN’T GOD?

When tragedy strikes we often look for someone or something to blame; the shooter, the gun, gun control laws, and even GOD. Yet, it’s not so much about where to put the blame, but rather where do we go from here? What actions can be taken to create a positive change and protect others ?

Children don’t expect to go to school and come under fire; yet, this isn’t the first time and won’t be the last. We need to get to the root of the problem and yes, part of that problem, may be the fact that civilians can have assault weapons. But, as I stated the other day in an Facebook Post - “We need to reach these people before they snap psychologically.”

A full psych evaluation might tell us that the person is “sane” in that moment – but, doesn’t say what might be triggers for them to snap. A parent of a murdered child, for example, may snap if confronted with a killer or if the justice system lacks the evidence to convict and results in a mistrial. Now, I’m not advocating for vigilante justice but rather stating that nearly everyone has a “breaking point”. And I believe when people reach that point and actions align they snap and can do unthinkable and even uncharacteristic things.

We have had parents kill their own children to impress another possible mate; mothers microwaving their infants; spouses hiring killers; bludgeoning someone to death; hate crimes; etc. It isn’t the tool that kills but rather the passion, perception, and mind of the person behind it.

We didn’t ban microwaves on the actions of the breakdown of a woman – did we? No. We didn’t ban wood-chippers because a man decided to dispose of his wife – did we? Nope, still being sold.

THE BEST SOLUTION IS: Reaching the mind before it suffers a psychological breakdown and getting that person all the help they need.

Personally, I believe certain things such as guns should never have come into existence; however, guns aren’t what’s killing people it is merely the vehicle that some choose to use.

So, GOD, exists in the solution as well and the solution is helping those that cry out for it. If someone says something that reveals intent – where in the past we might have ignored it – “I’ll kill ___ ” as something coming from anger, but anger is emotion and emotion is powerful enough to cause action.

So, I believe we need to not be passive and must become active in order for this outcome to change; active listeners, active lovers, active thinkers, and active in taking action. We can no longer assume the motives of another – we must report and allow psychologist and law enforcement begin to take each threat seriously.

If we want to create a better world we must take different actions.

By William Constantine

Ellen DeGeneres is a trendsetter and trendspotter – she is highly intellectual and is all about innovation and change – using her platform to spread the message. She is open-minded but also tends to stay true to her own opinions.

Ellen is constantly seeking what’s best for humankind – she is about helping others grow, connect, and breakdown stereotypes and schools of thought that no longer hold weight in her eyes.  She is all about giving openly and with love and tends to overextend herself sometimes – with the best of intentions though. Due to this giving nature – she’ll also find herself surrounded by takers those that understand her giving nature and desire to use it to their advantage. My advice, Ellen needs to realign herself with high caliber people and re-evaluate questionable relationships from time to time (every 6 months or so … would be good. lol).

With Ellen, what you see on TV is very much what you get with her – she is highly opinionated and isn’t afraid to share them. She isn’t about to be bullied into a corner or back down because you disagree – she is open but when she feels she has discovered the “correct path” she stays true to it.

Ellen has found the perfect match in Portia because they both like freedom and independence – yet, also when together enjoy the quality time re-connecting with each other. They really balance each other out well and understand each other at a very deep level of conscious understanding.

At home, Ellen is the hostess with the mostess – she is altruistic and giving and all guest feel welcome and cared for at the DeGeneres / de Rossi household.

With work she excels at everything she does and is constantly in competition with herself – she is very much a creator of new opportunities for herself and others. She has a wild ability to be able to see things for what they are and instantly find ways to improve them. She loves being creative and coming up with new ideas and avenues to reach out and give back to people.

Ellen is one of those celebrities where she realizes the importance of her fans and how much they mean to her bottom line – they are her bottom line. Everything she does she does to serve them better, enrich their lives, and uplift their lives.  She isn’t attached to her financial abundance in fact it’s just a vehicle for her to give back.

Follow Ellen on Twitter

Be sure to follow me on twitter @wmconstantine and on Facebook.

Andie MacDowell is a genuine southern bell – she enjoys the quiet simple life surrounded by nature. In fact, I’m sure that if you were to visit you would find the MacDowell residence comfortable and Andie most likely would be in a favorite area of her home or perhaps out in the garden. You’ll find that Andie enjoys inner contemplation and as an empath you’ll find she feels everything within her body (which is what makes her such a great method actress). Those that call her friend would describe her as dependable, a true friend, and a harmonizer.

Andie is the go to person for those that know her when they have issues – she is excellent in the role of peacekeeper and has calmed many storms. However, she isn’t quick to embrace change as she likes things to be dependable – yet, she is a creator of change in others.

In a relationship, Andie is fiercely loyal and one you can count on. You’ll find that she is attracted to her counterpart – someone who has an established routine. She enjoys having a good time – but, not in the sense of a die-hard partier. No, you’d probably be more likely to find her at a cocktail hour – hosted by her – rather than, at a club somewhere.

At home, Andie has created a womb-like environment surrounded by a calm and secure sense. You may find a collection of various things – books, magazines, awards, etc. If you are planning a visit to the MacDowell residence – be sure, it’s at dinner because I’m sure there is something lovely wafting through the air.

When it comes to money, Andie is a fantastic provider and giver to those in her inner circle. She loves to feel a sense of contribution and doesn’t feel the need to spend money on lavish worldly things. No instead, you’ll find that she is enhancing the comforts of home to provide a better environment for guests and those she loves.

With regards to work, she is not only dependable but chooses roles that she can relate to or connect with on some level. If she doesn’t feel she can portray that character justly – don’t be surprised if she turns down the role. You’ll also find, that she is a sound businesswoman. Follow Andie on Twitter

Be sure to follow me on twitter @wmconstantine and on Facebook.

Insights into the Afterlife

By William Constantine

Q: My boyfriend was shot in front of our apartment in October 2003. I was pregnant with our second child a boy who I named after him. We have a daughter as well who turned one in November of that year. She sometimes mentions her dad and states he talks to her. I have tried everything to contact him but with no luck. I just want to know if she really is talking to him and if he is okay now? If you do happen to contact him please let him know we all love him very much and miss him everyday. His name is Jonathan Dannemann. He would have turned 26 this month. Thank you for any information you have to share we truly appreciate all your help.  – Shawna Annotto

A: Let me first say, thank you for your honesty and courage to share such a sensitive story with not only myself but the readers of the magazine.

Now, on to your question, if a child is stating that they KNOW who they are talking with then they really are. The problem with society is they have trained us not to believe and sweep under the rug the experiences of our children when it comes to this type of occurrences. Please, don’t pass it off as an invisible friend – instead, ask her what Daddy is saying to her, what is he wearing, and any other question you feel pertinent. In other words, encourage this beautiful connection.

The innocence of a child is often what helps them continue to have this strong connection with spirit – remember it wasn’t that long ago that they were on the Otherside.

As for you, know Jonathan is still very much around you and loves you very much. While it is his physical body that you miss and all that comes with it – he hasn’t gone anywhere that he cannot be apart of your life.

Trust in that and thanks for the question.

Q: What do your think about the way hauntings are portrayed on Television? – Stephen

A: To be honest, I feel that a true haunting is rare and most of the time people are victims of their own imagination or fears; however, other times they might be victim to a confused spirit who wants nothing more than to communicate something.

Hollywood has portrayed hauntings in one particular way for years now and it’s nearly impossible to undo the damage that’s been done; yet, it isn’t impossible for people to know where Hollywood ends and the true haunting begin. It is at this point that, for many, the lines of truth and fiction become blurry.

I think in many cases of a true and legitimate haunting the truth is far scarier than anything that Hollywood could muster up.

Q: What do you think about the phenomenon of White Noise? — Stephanie

A: I can say that spirits have and do use electronics as a way of reaching the living. Personally, I think if someone is staring at a television screen filled with snow and the sound of static blaring out of the speakers, they have the ability to see or hear things simply because they want to.

As a child, I grew up “reading” a series of books called Magic Eye where you stared at various images and when your eyes blurred it would create a 3D image that could only be seen by relaxing both your vision and your mind. I think the same could be true with seeing images in snow on a television screen or listening to static.

I believe that authentic cases of white noise exist, but again are rare.

Q: Are Graveyards haunted?

A: Honestly, as a psychic medium, I find graveyards to be sanctuaries of sorts for me because there are very few spirits there; however, to answer your question, some spirits can reside in graveyards. Yet, for the most part, those visiting them – a family member, a friend, a lover, etc, bring the Spirits in a graveyard there.

Think about it this way, if you were living on the Otherside would you want to hang out on the piece of property where your “physical remains” are or would you be more interested in visiting with your loved ones?

Death seems to be the topic that most avoid, but truth is it is bound to happen at some point so you might as well understand it. Far too many people still believe that death is the final chapter to the story of life — yet, I know that nothing could be further from the truth.

In my life, I have helped scores of people across the world heal by delivering messages of love from spirit — powerful messages that leave no doubt in the clients mind who I am speaking to or what the message is.

I did a gallery reading one time and I got the validation for “tinker bell” and I was still new at doing public readings so didn’t want to deliver such an odd message. However, it kept resurfacing and I finally said, “What’s with the Tinker Bell connection?”.

Would you believe 4 people had a Tinker Bell connection ??

So, it was early on that I realized the messages weren’t for me the medium to process — no, rather, my job was simple; deliver the messages and allow the client to make the connection. I believe that many psychics — or so called psychics — in the world today, try and process and make sense of the validation. Yet, we can’t make sense of anything when we don’t know what it’s referring to.

The other day, I did a reading and the validation came through for a “tennis shoe” and so I delivered the message — turns out it was a key phrase that was supposed to be used in after death communication. I was astounded myself!

Yeah, I always find it interesting the information that comes through in a reading although most the time I don’t remember it. Yet, it’s the “odd” validations that really stand out.

Another phenomenal thing that spirits have done with me is show me the “grand tour” of a clients house — or a relatives house — and I’ll be describing the inside of the house as if I were there.

That still amazes me the detail and clarity of a house that I’ve never been in — knowing the layout and even placement of furniture or key items.

It’s no wonder my clients feel like I’m sitting across from them during a reading — psychically I am.

Let me say something to this end, a lot of people have this misconception that a “in-person reading” is somehow greater than a reading over the phone or Skype; however, this has not been my experience. In fact, the opposite is true because clients tend to be nervous or on edge when meeting me — “I hope he doesn’t pick up on that.” they think to themselves.

Many people just feel uncomfortable outside of the privacy of their own home — so, it would make sense then that a reading where they are in a comfortable place that they are relaxed. Sure, they still may be nervous about what I’ll get or if I get anything, but the moment I start talking they fall into relaxation and the validations start flowing instantly. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve been on the phone longer than a minute when the validations start flowing through.

After a reading, people comment all the time about how “healing” the process was and how it provided them much needed “closure”. They often hang up the phone with a knowing that their loved one is around and have “proof” via evidential validations.

I love my work, but more importantly, I love providing my clients the healing and closure they need most.

Recently, Joy and I, made the choice to go Vegan — we quit meat, poultry, fish, and dairy – cold turkey, one might say.

I have been around a while and learned a lot, but I have always come across people that were scared to step outside of their comfort zone — for whatever reason — mostly it was UNCERTAINTY. Yet, for as much as the comfort zone offers the illusion of protection — it also keeps you from jumping full into the experiences of life! So, many people find themselves on the proverbial “cliff” of their comfort zone and fear that if they jump off — it will end in catastrophe.

Truth is,

many know intellectually that it may not be the case; yet, they are still gripped by fear as if an evil demon gorilla was waiting to eat them for a snack.

FEAR … it truly is what happens when we are uncertain of any outcome and it may manifest as anxiety, depression, stress, and even terror. So, the boundary of our comfort zone is fear based — is it not?

The very thing you have come to depend on to protect you and keep you safe is fear based. The comfort zone really says, “Stay here, you don’t know what lays in wait out there. Stay within my boundaries — it’s safer, you won’t get hurt.”

Trust me, I know many people who have been hurt within their comfort zone or by their comfort zone. All things within are comfort zone we have either come to expect or allowed ourselves to be conditioned that the occurrences are a normal part of life.

For example, you may have a couple existing in a horrible relationship — it’s truly going nowhere — yet, nobody makes an effort to leave because it’s “comfortable”. In other words, it is what they have come to rely on even though it may not be the healthiest and certainly not the happiest experience — yet, it’s within the boundaries of their comfort zone and they fear making the change.

Another example, is someone who is fearful of the ocean — namely shark attacks — may only dip a toe or two into the salty waters of the sea; yet, shark attacks are freak occurrences and are more likely not to happen. Yet, it keeps the individual beach bound as they watch swimmers enjoying the shimmering waters they still hear, “It’s not safe out there. Those people are crazy — in fact, they are asking for it. You’re safe on the beach.”

Are you really? I mean one could argue that in the past people have been mugged or even raped on the beach. But, one denies themselves the experience because they are fearful — it’s the unknown and therefore we project our fears onto what we don’t know.

I started this blog with the fact that Joy and I went Vegan — yet, prior to it Joy had a lot of fear about giving up all the things that she had grown comfortable with and accustomed to. Even after learning how harmful the vast majority of it was she still wanted to hold onto it — it was part of her comfort zone.

We have been Vegan for nearly a month and she is happy and excited that we have made the change. Last night, we went shopping for groceries and Joy had been craving chocolate. Naturally, she was looking at all the Easter Candy; Cadbury eggs being her favorite.

I showed her an all natural chocolate candy bar and she picked it up with dreaded apprehension — examining the label. She put it in the cart, but you could tell that she would have much preferred it be a Cadbury Egg.

When we got home, put the groceries away, I was watching a video on internet marketing and eating some grapes. Joy, had the candy bar in hand, opened the wrapper and took a bite then said, “It’s way better than I thought it would be … I don’t understand why they put all the crap in food if it tastes just as good if not better naturally.”

A new experience outside of her comfort zone yielded pleasant results — in fact, the entire shift to Vegan she greeted with much of that fear and apprehension as she did the chocolate bar. Yet, the results have proven themselves to her — the food doesn’t taste as bad as she thought it would, she is full more often and for longer, increase in energy, there is a balance, and she is actually enjoying it. We have both lost weight, in fact, I’m averaging 10 lbs a week and we are eating portioned controlled meals measuring everything out — which is why I also believe that I’m losing so much. See, I went to culinary school which means that I love food — both preparing and eating it. So overeating was always a big issue there are scientific reasons that we have come to realize during our constant research and understanding — basically, what we have found is that normal processed foods leave you feeling less full so you eat more to compensate. Yet, on a plant-based-diet you are consuming the good stuff first hand and it by nature leaves you feeling full quicker and for a longer duration.

So, here are some things for you to consider;

• What is in your comfort zone that is causing more harm than good?
• What experiences have you denied yourself simply because it was blocked by the wall of fear surrounding your comfort zone?

Morning Affirmations to Create a Fantastic Day!

Affirmations are positive thought phrases that one can use in for a variety of reason. In this article, however, I’m going to be listening powerful affirmations that one can use in the morning for motivation and upliftment.

1. Today is going to be a fantastic day!
2. I am fully capable of handling any situation in a positive and effective manner.
3. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve today.
4. I know that the infinite mind and I are one therefore all things are possible.
5. Every moment is pregnant with opportunity and universal goodness may my higher mind raise my awareness so that I may see such things.

When speaking an affirmation do so with certainty and not from a position of “wishful thinking”. Be clear, but not demanding.

See the outcome of each affirmation as you state it during the course of your morning routine.

A popular question I get asked often is, “What should I put on my vision board?”

It’s kind of funny because it’s YOUR VISION – but here are some tips on must haves for a vision board.

1. Have Images that Evoke Emotion: Just having an image isn’t enough if it doesn’t trigger you to be excited or feel what it would be like to be there or have it. In other words, you want the images to cause you to react emotionally to something. Why? Emotions have high vibratory frequencies and cause the universe to respond quicker.
2. Have Phrases or Affirmations that correspond with what you are seeking to create. While looking at the vision board it would be helpful to recite these affirmations of power to help state what it is you are creating. However, the key to this is writing the affirmation from a position of already having.
3. Categorize the Board: If you have a general vision board it may be helpful if you have the board organized into categories. For example; career, romantic, travel, etc. Of course, you may want to develop an entire vision board or mind movie based on one particular topic.
4. Specifics: The clearer you are on your vision and the things you put on the board are helpful in manifesting exactly what you desire. For example, if you are manifesting your “true love” be specific as to looks, career, income, etc. The less you leave to the Universe to fill in the blanks the closer you’ll be to your dream life.
5. Creative Vision: Okay, by creative vision I mean if you desire to have a Lexus go to a local dealership and have a friend take a photo of you in the driver seat, note the smell and feel of the interior, and maybe take a couple of shots with you modeling with the car. OWN IT! Putting these images on the vision board are better and more effective than a magazine cutout of some random car. It will trigger your memory of having it – the smell, the feel, the test drive, etc. It can be done with anything else you desire to manifest

I ran a class on creating a vision board once and someone used tip 5 with creating a soulmate – it turned that he starting dating the friend he posed with.

May these tips serve you well in your creation and attraction of your ultimate vision.

The funny thing about people is that we hold on to far too much because of an innate fear of losing it. Friends are no exception to this rule; however, we can look around to our friends and see a direct reflection of ourselves; our attitude, our career, our success, our health, and even our wealth.

It is said that the top 5 friends closest to you mirror you in all these areas or at least are very similar. So often, one reflects on their life and wonders, “How has it come to this?”

It’s important to realize that the real question is “Why haven’t I arrived at the destination yet?”

The answer to this is riddled in many things, but for today we are going to talk about how friends factor in reaching where you want to be!

Friends are often the most overlooked aspect on the road to success because we don’t look at them as anything but a friend. However, I ask you, if you were to write a list of your friends and then ask, “Is this person in alignment with my overall dream / vision of my life?”

What would the answer be? In my experience, more often than not the answer is a resounding no!

At this point, people object and say, “I’m not going to abandon my friendship just because of this answer – it’s ridiculous.”

That’s a choice that only you can make; yet, let me propose something to you. It is possible to remain friends with this person even if they aren’t in alignment with the overall dream or vision – the key is to find more friends that are!

For example, if your dream is to be a successful author do you think hanging out at your friend Fred the mechanics house will help get you there? One might argue, yes, because as a writer you study people and Fred may be a great basis for a character. However, wouldn’t you agree that a creative writing club or class might be a better way to find friends with a common dream or goal?

I believe it would be!

If you are an aspiring Golfer – do you think hanging out with the swim team will get you towards that goal? Probably not, but hanging out at a Country Club would.

If you are a person who has dreamed of being on the big screen do you think it would be wise to join acting clubs and hang out with others who share that same passion?

Are you seeing the point?

The vast majority of people have friends that aren’t in alignment with their overall dream / vision; however, if you want to actually achieve your dream you’ll undoubtedly have to shift to some degree your friends around.

Many people have reached a point in a friendship where you feel like things are different – you’ve “grown apart”. But, often, what is actually happening is you are coming to the awareness that the friendship isn’t conducive to the direction you are going.

5 Tips to Selecting Friends

1. Know your dream / vision: Knowing where you want to be and what you want to be doing will help you identify the category of people to mingle with.
2. Research: Knowing your vision think about where you are most likely to run into people with a similar interest / vision. Write a list of the top 5 closest places and hang out there and make a point to introduce yourself to people you meet.
3. Note the Frequent Visitors: If you realize that Mr. Jones is constantly at the Country Club and represents the lifestyle you are in alignment with – make friends. More than likely if you are a frequent visitor you and Mr. Jones have exchanged words by this point – just make it a point to become friends with Mr. Jones. Invite him to your next BBQ or whatever.
4. Collect Data: It’s important to have certain data on your new friends – so friend them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. Keep a spreadsheet with their information; birthdays, anniversaries, address and phone number. A lot of that information may be available via Facebook. If not, continue the friendship online by interacting on their wall and noting other interests that you may have in common. Mr. Jones may be a huge wino and if you enjoy the grape as much as he does – perhaps, that is another avenue for your friendship to branch off into.
5. Use the Data: Okay, so you have made it a point to have a record of information on your friends – not in a creepy sort of way but so that you can send birthday cards, holiday cards, etc.

By utilizing these top tips on selecting friends that are in alignment with your overall dream / vision – you will see your life change just by associating with people that may already have the lifestyle you are dreaming about.

Tips for Handling a Breakup

So, you’ve made the decision that you are in a dead-end relationship – it’s over. Now you are stuck with the monstrous task of breaking it off with your lover.

You could just tell them, “It’s over,” turn, and walk out the door. Or you could send them a text; call them at work, etc.  This is 2012 isn’t it?

Before you even call to arrange the break-up know if you are willing to make it work! So, you must be honest with yourself on why you feel it’s over and if it is at all fixable – if not, make the call. If it is than see read my article on “Rekindling the Passion in Your Relationship.”

If you have determined that you are indeed breaking up, here are some tips to result in a successful break up.

Top 3 Tips to Breaking Up

• Set a time to talk: Create a time where you can sit down uninterrupted and have the conversation. It’s important to break up in person because it gives both parties closure.

• Don’t make it about you! A big mistake a person does during a break up is make it about himself or herself – instead, of the person who will be affected by the break up. You’ve already decided that it was over from your point of view – your spouse may or may not know how you feel.

• Focus on the Good of the Relationship: In a break-up, one typically focuses on what the other person did or didn’t do which resulted in the break up. However, it’s more positive if one focuses on what you’ve gained and how having this relationship with this person has helped you.

Keeping these tips in mind will help you effectively create a Stress Free break-up. It’s important that you are also prepared to discuss why you think the relationship is over and not to come across negative or judgmental.