Birthing Your Life Dream

Sample Book Chapter from Birthing Your Life Dream

You may enjoy reading this sample chapter from my inspirational book "Birthing Your Life Dream".

When writing this book, I asked God to channel the information through me. Then I got still and waited for the words to come.

Thus, each chapter came through in a non-linear manner over several months of time; sometimes in bits and pieces that eventually put themselves together.

"Birthing Your Life Dream" has served to inspire readers and workshop attendees alike to uncover and bring forth their cherished dreams with confidence.

Chapter 16:
Singing In Your Life Dream, Dancing With Your Vision
(Inspired by Martin Luther King, Jr.)

Back in the days of slavery, there existed elaborate systems of communication between the slaves: a system of song, movement, drum beat and in some cases, smoke signals.

This enabled individuals from divergent households who shared the same blood to keep in touch, even if in a rudimentary way.

Beyond this, it put forth the message that despite despicable, apparently insurmountable difficulties, we are transcendent beings who triumph over our circumstances so that requirements of our Inner Spirit could be met.

Similarly with life dreams, this very adage applies.

Consider the life dream that I had of creating a storm hunt tour company and making it a prosperous business involved with the mission of bringing clients to the face of God through the experience of spectacular thunderstorms and breath taking tornadoes.

During the early days of my dream quest, my life consisted of extremely low paying telemarketing and customer service positions in the work world. The salary barely supported my daily living requirements and any items that demanded attention such as dental work or car repairs were put on the credit card.

I sat at my desk for hours on end, clocking in and clocking out- in some cases every minute of the work day- and my back ached from incessant sitting  in uncomfortable chairs; my Spirit hungered for inspirational stimulation beyond the 95-114 calls per day.

It seemed that my creative juices languished, despair frequently knocked at my doorstep and my mind played tracks with me of self-judgment and self-negation.  It seemed that part of me was enslaved to a structure that felt untenable.

Yet, beneath it all, my life dream shimmered, crackled and glittered. My communication between myself and God consisted of admiring the weather changes, delighting to multi-hued sunrises and sunsets, and imagining the joy of a well-greased tour company with the mission of bringing awareness of celestial beauty to the world.

My first storm hunt tour was a study of awe and splendor. With a minimum of technology, a maximum of faith, joy and spirited passion, I escorted my very first client thousands of miles in a few short days at a compensation that did not meet my trip expenses.

Yet this taste of freedom was all that I needed to reinforce my hunger for more, and to diligently plan and work for it to come about.

Interestingly, as I birthed forth my life dream in greater and more expanded versions, my everyday work environment followed suit, opening new doors for me that I never dreamed possible:

My boss gave me liberal time off (without pay) to do my tours in the Springtime; supervisors invited me to show my team members news clip videos of my tour media appearances in the Company conference room during work hours and everyone gave me a rousing applause at videos' end. 

Unexpected benefits also included staff people inviting me to interrupt a workday one hour before closing time to go outside at watch a big thunderstorm on Company time (that I flexed later that evening). "Why are you in here and not outside, Mr. Levine?" they asked me as I scurried busily about, hungering to savor the increasingly black sky looming outside the windows.

One Spring morning, my supervisor approved my coming in to work 45 minutes late  so that I could stay home and watch green and purple sky give way to a potent thunderstorm that swept across my neighborhood.

I sang my dream and danced my passion. Within months of hire, I became the on-staff weather consultant who just by walking by someone, inspired deep musings from them about the likelihood of upcoming weather events or powerful weather memories from their earlier years.

These were breakthroughs in my every day employment that I once believed might exist only for a lucky few. Yet, as I stool solidly behind my life dream - I made this happen in my other life realms as well, mysteriously and wonderfully. 

My point is this: Do not judge or criticize your present circumstances or yourself for creating that circumstance, even if your present condition seems to be so distantly related to your life dream. Merely keep your focus on the goal ahead- the prospering and proliferation of your life's purpose as expressed through your life dream.

By doing so, you lift yourself out of the appearance of what may at times feel like slavery - of your soul, of your bright free spirit.

Hold true to your life dream's Birth. Give thanks for this birth daily. Know that if you dream it, therefore it must be so.

Be patient with yourself. Give yourself plenty of time. Know it will all work out with your commitment, your presence, plus God's bountiful Grace.

Nothing stops the power of a devoted heart and crystal clear mind aligned as one.
The destiny that you dream of, which uplifts you and the spirits of others - shall manifest ceaselessly. The massive tree of your inspiration has released the seed, and the seed of life representing your dream has already implanted itself into fertile soil. It shall release itself in its proper time.

Simply water and nourish the soil with your Love.

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For more information about this book, click on the "The Book.." link on the left side of the blog page.

To order books, click on the book link and follow the Pay Pal steps.

For additional information, feel free to e-mail me at: birthingyourdream@yahoo.com

The Heavens Cheered on My Birthday

"Wall cloud" or parent cloud for possible tornado developing in my intercepted storm, about 15 miles S. of Abilene, TX on March 17th, my birthday.

The wall cloud wraps up a bit more, while off to the left or west, a new wall cloud takes shape. The National Weather Service soon puts out a "tornado warning" for this storm.

Just as I prayed, the bulk of the storm system hangs back, so that on Tuesday March 18th during my return home, storms and I meet in the Ft. Worth area.  This is the lake outside our apartment, where sheets of wind whipped rain punctuated by occasional booming thunder dash across the water and visibility decreases to less than two blocks.
Descriptions for both of these days are written below. Click on these thumb prints for full photo effect.

What a birthday present, to be able to take off and go on a scouting trip for great storms and possible tornadoes.  It starts with a 2 pm departure on 3/17 bound for Abilene, Texas - a drive of about 3 1/2 hours from my residence.  To have the freedom and budget to do this is my first celestial birthday gift.

The Second Birthday Gift - a Storm to Dance With:

Not long after I get to Abilene, an isolated thunderstorm cell goes up about 30 miles South of town.  I hop on the road network in pursuit.
Enroute, I watch as the thunderclouds billow forth before me in deep grays.  Visually I note a large "rain-free base" (where air rises rapidly) covering much of this storm cell, a promising factor that could contribute to possible tornado development.

I punch through huge splattering drops of rain and perhaps soft hail to get on the other side of the storm.  Not long after I arrive to a nice parking place, the storm deepens and darkens, turning a beautiful mix of clay green and bluish charcoal. Occasional beautiful bolts of platinum lightning leap between cloud and earth, adding excitement.
I follow this storm back to the north, and soon it becomes tornado-warned. Eventually I reach the outer realms of the heavy precipitation. Thick, charcoal black clouds hang ragged and seethe about in every direction. Vague twinges of pink and green tinge some of the sky .. in short it is formidable and almost frightening - yet awesome to watch.   
This storm never produces a tornado, but the thrill of the hunt fills my entire being and nourishes my soul.

A Third Gift - Great Fireworks Show:

At 12:30 am, pounding rain on the roof of my Abilene motel awakens me from a peaceful sleep - its roar distinctly heard despite my having ear plugs in. 
Excitedly I arise to greet a great kick butt thunderstorm - another delightful soul nurturing experience.
A thick ocean of rain and wind envelops the world and sweeps almost horizontally, illumed by frequent flashes of lightning. Occasional ribbon-like bolts land nearby with adrenaline -elevating drama, and booming thunder fills the air sometimes nearly ear-splitting in intensity. Such a joy to behold! Yet another celestial birthday present.
The storm passes on in frenetic flickers and flashes of platinum light.

My Fourth Gift - A Thrilling Return Home:

The weather system causing all this excitement slows down it's eastward progression overnight, much to my prayers and delight.   Thus, not too far East of Abilene, I drive into rounds of very heavy rain showers.

My lightning bolt tracker reveals a powerful electrical storm taking shape in Central Texas, and moving north toward the Dallas-Ft.Worth area. My prayer is that I will meet the best of this storm.

The storm's outer edges arrive to the DFW area before I do, yet much more interesting weather lies in wait for my review.

Just West of downtown Ft. Worth, I note a spectacular bank of dark blue-gray overcast that looms before me, Rains, moderate and sometimes heavy have accompanied me for much of my journey back east, yet this overcast outlines the heart of the powerful storm that I wish to intercept. My biggest goal is to witness breath taking bolts of lightning; the more the better.

Before long, the rain turns cloudburst in nature; the windshield wipers can scarcely handle its intensity. However, still no lightning as my lightning tracker still shows bolts ahead of me and moving north as I go east. There is a chance that despite all the rain, I will miss the delightful electricity, and that would be a "bummer".

However as I continue my drive east I approach sky now as dark as dusk, (despite it being about noontime) the first bolt appears, eventually followed by a second. YES!!! It's here, and we indeed do meet.

The sky virtually opens up, and visibility drops to a block or so in darkness and intense rains, along with occasional white bolts. 

It's a challenge driving through the city with its highways and overpasses in traffic during the rains.  One overpass in the Ft. Worth area is especially designed to channel water into a rushing torrent that goes down the hillside and pummels the highway with churning, deep and ever-growing water. This ties up traffic for blocks, and is particularly scary to drive through. However, since everyone else is making it through the deep water, I follow behind.

However, the general slower traffic speed allows me to look around and take in the breadth and power of the storm. It's truly awesome.

After I arrive home, the storm waves continue. I can't take my eyes off the view outside the apartment for long stretches, for the intensity of the rain is almost mythical.  Occasional rounds of thunder and lightning mix in for interest and excitement. Sometimes the wind and rain encloses my entire world to appear as if I am standing at the base of the thunderhead itself.

My Fifth Celestial Birthday Present:

My wife and several friends who I remain in touch with by phone during this entire experience and share the savoring of this weather with.  What a Blessing.

A work of Art in Progress

Both your persona and life are works of art in progress.
Be gentle with yourself as you strive for perfection.
Take frequent breaks into random joy.
Remember to always love yourself and give yourself lots of room to grow.
Life is to live, not to judge.
Treat yourself like the most valuable person in the world -even if you think you are not.
Remembering these, you will triumph beyond your wildest dreams.

Many Blessings to You...
Stephen

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Feel free to click on the links describing my Birthing Your Life Dream books, workshops and private sessions.
I am available to assist you with the unfoldment of your life's mission.

Presidential Primary Excitement Firsthand

In Texas, just like with country dances so popular here, there is a "two step" process to voting in the primaries.

I have never seen such excitement and felt such an energetic buzz since the Kennedy days back in the early 1960's.

Background:

After casting my vote in the Democratic Primary during regular voting hours, I had the opportunity along with every other Texan to stay after the polls complete their regular business hours to conduct a "Caucus". There, we got to vote a second time to select delegates that will represent each of the two candidates.

The more votes each candidate gets, the more delegates they muster who will then travel to the Party Convention later in the year and pull their weight for their respective party presidential nominee.

The Scene:

About 300 people packed a small Richardson elementary school cafeteria after the polls closed.

It was quite amazing to see such a mix of faces, backgrounds, ages, etc - all showing up to make a stand and to vote legally a second time, creating emphasis for their preferred candidate.  Full length tables covered the entire cafeteria floor in order to accomodate the expected turnout. These tables filled up well before the meeting started, and many people thus stood at every corner of the room, several persons deep.

A tremendous electrical energy filled the room as we waited for the meeting. A continuous murmer and buzz of voices flowed forth along with laughter and overall enthusiasm.

This was a new experience for me.  The political scientist college -degreed part of me saw this as a wonderful civics lesson. The committed citizen who strongly believes especially in one candidate felt thrilled with the opportunity to make my vote count extra big.

With awe, I reflected on how this room perhaps looked and felt like America's old Town Hall democracies that took place during our Country's early history. In addition, it was awesome to see so many passionate, committed people.

A miracle of history is taking place before our eyes. For the first time in America, a woman is running for President, and a man who part Afro-American is also running. Either event in itself is quite a breakthrough; having both occur at the same time is truly amazing.

The room was so crowded that organizers had to re-locate one of the three precincts represented there to another room so that more people could be seated.

Finally the lines were drawn. Cheers went up from the other Precinct in the room as people there prepared to vote. In our Precinct, three lines meandered like long rivers for an eventual rendezvous with the sign-in table. Two for Obama, One for Clinton.

After a long wait that included animated conversations with eager fellow Obama supporters, I finally reached that fateful sign-in table, where my vote #2 became officially imprinted, in my own handwriting on paper for my candidate.

The sign-in volunteer agreed that the eagerness and earnest excitement present here tonight is the first seen since perhaps the Kennedy days.

What a thrill is is for me to be a living part of history in the making. The last time I felt this political thrill, was in my own neighborhood during childhood when President Kennedy drove by me in his motorcade, just several yards away. There he stood, waving at all of us cheering suburbanites of all ages, many of us waving handmade affectionate signs back at his broadly smiling face.

What I like about Obama, is that he seems to have a Vision. A Vision of drawing on all the various perspectives of his fellow Americans to piece together a hopeful, cooperative and team-built political process that includes "Main Street", who so pay the taxes and work so hard to make our Country the great country that it truly is.