QUOTE FROM THE HEART
In each issue of Heartsong, I will open with a quote, poem or lyric, which I have found inspiring and uplifting. Today, I have chosen a quote that reminds us of the importance of listening to, and following, the wisdom of our heart.

"When you have compassion and surrender to your own heart, you are surrendering to the hidden power in your heart, God. You are surrendering to love, because God is Love, the cohesive force of the universe that connects us all. Surrender is not just a religious concept; it's a power tool for listening to the voice of your spirit and following its directions. When you surrender your head to your heart, you allow your heart to give you a wider, higher intelligence perspective. Remember the phrase, 'The real teacher is within you.' Very simply, that teacher is to be found in the common sense of your own heart."

Sara Paddison, Hidden Power of the Heart

A NOTE FROM KIM
Welcome to today's issue of Heartsong! Time is flying by quickly here in beautiful western North Carolina. Summer has showered us with her abundant blessings, (along with some much needed rain to nourish the thirsty earth and her plants and critters). I hope life is going well for you in your part of the world.

I also want to take a moment to welcome all of you new subscribers who have joined us since the last Heartsong came out! The subscription base has increased dramatically, for which I feel extremely blessed and grateful. You, the Heartsong readers, make this newsletter what it is. I'm honored that you've joined us, and as always, I welcome your suggestions and comments. Warm welcomes to everyone!

My next teleclass, Angelic Voices, is coming up on Tuesday, July 11, at 2 PM, EST. I greatly look forward to it, as we'll be talking about one of my favorite topics, which is communication with our own guardian angels. Being able to talk with my angels has transformed my life, and it can transform yours, too. Come learn effective methods to converse with these beautiful beings who love you so unconditionally. I'll be sharing my own experiences with you, and would be honored to guide and assist you in learning to talk with your angels! Come join in this angelic exploration! The class is free to join. You can register securely right on my site, at:
http://www.kimloftis.com/classes.htm

Just scroll down to the "Angelic Voices" class. I look forward to meeting you, and your angels, in class!

Well, enjoy the rest of today's issue, and a very happy fourth to those of us Americans who will be celebrating on Tuesday.

Love,
Kim

FROM THE LIGHTHOUSE, WITH LOVE
A lighthouse serves as a beacon of hope in a violent storm. A lighthouse sheds light on our worries and troubles, and brings us joy and peace. Therefore, in each Heartsong issue, I will include an article, which will help to guide you through the dark and troubled times, or lighten and brighten your heart and life in a special way. In today's Lighthouse article, we'll talk about the importance of following the gentle guidance of our heart, even in difficult circumstances.

The Wisdom of The Heart

We each are confronted with moments in our lives in which we are faced with difficult choices that need to be made. Perhaps these moments involve a change of location, a job transition, a divorce, or some other circumstance which forces us to make hard decisions that deeply affect us. Such periods often make us feel like loan trees being lashed by a violent wind. Just as a heavy wind bends a tree, we, too, waver as we struggle with the difficulty of choice. What is right and necessary for us? What will make us happy? What will benefit us in the long run? Can't we please put this awful choice off a little longer?

I was recently faced with just such a difficult choice. I was very torn, because my head was trying to remain logical and rational, and telling me that I was overreacting to a difficult situation. However, my heart was gently encouraging me in a totally different direction. I spent many restless hours contemplating the contrasting views of my head and my heart. Which was I to obey? What should I do?

As I struggled with my difficult choice, I thought about the roles of our heads and hearts within our lives. The head, the mind, is the center of rational, logical thought processes. Our head helps us in negotiating contracts, deciphering difficult reading material, and dissecting scientific theories. It is no nonsense, practical and pragmatic. It is of tremendous value in day-to-day life. Yet, the stiff logic of the mind often leaves no room for dreams, emotions and the blooming of enlightening ideas.

The heart, in contrast, centers on love and compassion, dreams, ideas and gentle intuitive guidance. It asks for comfort in times of tragedy, yet it is amazingly resilient. The heart is the realm of our own personal and unique truths. Some say that our heart is the place where the spark of God within each of us, resides to guide and teach us. The heart is never a harsh critic. In the face of adversity, it remains optimistic. And in the face of difficult choices, its voice speaks softly but firmly.

As I spent restless nights wrestling with my choice, the clamor of that logical voice in my head seemed to dim in comparison to the gentle, yet annoyingly persistent voice of my heart. As I continued to consider my choice, I slowly began to realize that my heart was leading me on the correct path for me to follow. Ironically, it would have been far easier to give into the logic of my head. Yet, through it's wise and gentle counsel, the guidance of my heart won out in the end. The choice it helped me to make was the more difficult choice, but it was also the path that led to the peace, which I was so desperately seeking.

As you struggle with the choices in your own life, I encourage you not to forget about that soft voice in your heart. It speaks with love and compassion, and it has an inordinate amount of knowledge and wisdom to share with you, should you choose to hear it. Often times, this wisdom you will learn about yourself, when listening to your heart, will surprise you. Ego does not play a part in the heart's plan, and this is one reason why listening to the heart often leads to such important truths. Give your heart its say when making decisions, and allow it to assist you in discovering more peace, abundance and fulfillment. The heart's advice is not always the smoother road, but finding the treasures that await you at the road's end, is well worth the journey.

HOPE AND HEALING
All of us need to take the time to be gentle with ourselves. Therefore, each issue of Heartsong will include tips with which you can nurture, pamper and transform all aspects of your life. Enjoy!

Hidden Gems of Wisdom

Some of the greatest gifts I have ever received, have been bestowed upon me through the words of strangers. Those unexpected complements, words of encouragement, or even gentle criticisms that we encounter in life, are often turning points at which we can more fully recognize where we are on our life's path, and where we want to be. When someone we don't know gives us a gentle reminder, a kind word or a thoughtful piece of advice, it assists us in reflecting with the objective point of view of that particular person. We may say, "Well, if he or she thought I did this well, then perhaps I really did!" Or, "If he or she thinks I can do this better, then I'm going to try." The words of others can be tools of strength, motivation and inspiration. They can lift us up and make us more than what we thought we were.

Sometimes, a kind word can be the catalyst that changes our entire lives. Before becoming a coach and spiritual healing practitioner, I was doubtful that I could ever be able to make a fulltime profession doing this wonderful work that I enjoyed so passionately. Then, a dear lady who I had only known for a few weeks at the time, who was doing the work I wanted to do, and enjoying a thriving practice fulltime, simply asked me, "Why can't you do this fulltime? What's stopping you?" Hearing these words from a virtual stranger was a breakthrough in helping me to change my attitude of skepticism to one of joy, optimism and total trust in God and in myself. This dear woman, who I barely knew, had faith in me, and her faith and encouragement helped me in realizing the true power of myself to make my dreams a glorious reality.

Share kind words with those you know, and those you don't know. It will likely brighten their days, and possibly transform their lives. And to all those reading this, I would like to say that you are special, unique, and most worthy of love and kindness. Believe in this worthiness, and this will empower you to make your own dreams come true. {!firstname}, I deeply believe in your potential, and I send you my deepest respect and love.

HOME AND HEARTH
In this section of the newsletter, I will provide tips to help you to bring your own creativity, spirituality and unique talents into your everyday life, and, more specifically, into your home.

Answers In Unexpected Places

Whether or not we happen to find ourselves in a period of Mercury retrograde, there are usually frustrating times in all of our lives when our favorite or most necessary electrical appliances simply refuse to cooperate with us. Such was the case with me earlier this week, when I was unsuccessfully attempting to install some software on my trusty HP laptop. I read extensively in order to try to figure out what I was doing wrong. I tried talking sweetly to my computer in hopes of making it cooperate more fully with me, to no avail. I then changed tactics and tried screaming at it, with similar results. Of course, by this point my frustration level, not to mention my blood pressure, was probably sky high. I managed to find a customer service email address and typed up an email replete with *s and exclamation points, I guess in an attempt to put my frustration on a more physical level for the world to see.

After this burst of "physical frustration", there was nothing I could do but wait and hope for results. Irrational behavior is a funny thing, in that it often seems to hamper one's connection with the Divine. When one is too frustrated, angry or upset, it is often less likely that we pray, reflect, or bring our problems to God/Goddess/Spirit to handle for us.

This was certainly the case in my situation. I went to sleep frustrated, without giving the situation over to the loving care of Creator. But despite this, Spirit helped me to discover a resolution to the problem, in a very humorous way.

On awakening the next morning, I immediately had the solution to the problem in my mind's grasp. I already had a copy of the necessary serial number with which to install the software, and had forgotten in my anger that I had it! Needless to say, I had a great laugh at my own expense, and thanked God for the gentle and humorous reminder that solved my computer problem!

So what is the moral of this humorous tale? In moments of anger and frustration, no matter how upset we are, it is always helpful to remember to turn our situations over to the loving hands of Spirit. When we do this, and often, as in my situation, even when we don't, God helps us in discovering answers in surprising ways and in unexpected places. By allowing God to handle our problems and giving over our anger and fear, we can find the answers we seek, and often be pleased, surprised, and tickled, as I was, in the process.

PRAYER FROM THE HEART
Each issue of Heartsong will feature a prayer, either from my own heart, one which I hold dear in my own life, or one suggested to me by others. I hope they will speak to your spirit, as well.

God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things which should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.  Living one day at a time.  Enjoying one moment at a time.  Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace.  Taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it, trusting that You will make all things right.  If I surrender to Your will, so that I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.

~ The Serenity Prayer - Reinhold Niebuhr - original version

HEARTSONG REFLECTION
Until our next issue, reflect on how much more content you would be if you were simply willing to release your worries and burdens into the tender loving care of Spirit. Also, remember to listen closely to the wisdom found within your own dear heart.

Love, Light and Blessings,
Kim

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Heartsong is a biweekly publication, and is published on the first and third Sunday of each month. All content is copyright Kim Loftis, unless otherwise indicated.
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http://www.kimloftis.com/news/news.htm 
It's quick and easy, and it's free to join.
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Feel free to pass this newsletter on to others, as long as nothing is altered and all notices are kept in tact. If you would like to reprint any individual articles from Heartsong, please email me. Thanks!
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Have any questions or comments about this issue, or about Heartsong in general? If so, please don't hesitate to email me.
Kim@KimLoftis.com 
And who knows? Your questions may inspire an article for an upcoming issue! Your questions and comments help me to make Heartsong as engaging, fun and inspiring as possible, and I thank you in advance!
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For compassionate, personalized spiritual healing and coaching services straight from my heart, please visit my website: http://www.kimloftis.com   I would be honored to serve you today!
Until the next issue of Heartsong, let your heart sing, and I send you all my love!
 

I, Kimberly Louise Loftis, am not a doctor, psychotherapist or psychiatrist. I do not give financial, legal, psychological or medical advice. I do not diagnose medical or psychological conditions, and will not prescribe medication to my clients. My services may serve as a complement to, but are in no way a substitute for, psychotherapy or medical advice. My clients are solely responsible for how they choose to use any information they gain from our sessions together.