Hi All,

Happy Winter Solstice! Can you believe it? Autumn is upon us here in the Northern Hemisphere, and I'm celebrating the start of pumpkin season. That said, today's recipe is a soup that tastes like pot pie, which is equally yummy! Check it out below.

And, oh yes, the newsletter! Today the angels came up with a beautiful metaphor from photography on how we can point our camera and choose our lens to get the best from life. I'll share how that worked so well for me when my Ann-volcano nearly went off after seeing an interview that rubbed my fur the wrong way :) As always, tips are included!

Have a blessed & beautiful week, and if you're inclined to join us in Phoenix on October 12th (in 3 weeks!) for Living in the Flow of Grace, of course, I'd love to see you :)

Lots of love,
♥ Ann

by Ann Albers in Northern AZ

My dear friends, we love you so very much,

It would be easy to look at some of the things going on in your world and become discouraged, but take a step back and ask yourself, "What am I looking at most often," and "How am I perceiving what I see?" These questions will dictate your life experience.

You can't necessarily change external reality, but you can change what you look at, how you look at it, and how you interpret the experience. You can look at life and your world from many different angles. You can filter your experience through many different perspectives. Like a photographer selecting the proper scene and the most desirable lens, you can become the curator of your life experience. 

A good photographer who sees a less-than-desirable scene through their viewfinder would change one of two things. They would point their camera at a different scene or change the lens through which they look.

One photographer can capture the gloom of a cloudy day, while others will take advantage of the clouds to capture the contrasting beauty of a tree or the mystery of hills shrouded in mist.  

Just like that photographer who can't change the day's weather or move a cell phone tower out of an otherwise beautifully natural scene, you can't always change a situation or a person. Sometimes, you work with people who are real characters. Sometimes, you live with an angry spouse. Sometimes, your news is bombarding you with unpleasant situations. However, you can always "point your camera" elsewhere. You can always change the lens through which you look.

"Pointing your camera" elsewhere is a metaphor for choosing something different to observe. On a cloud day, you can focus on your cozy home. When your spouse is grumpy, you can focus on the reasons why you love them to begin with. When the news bombards you with unpleasantness, you can "point your camera" at better news and kind people.

Your lens, metaphorically speaking, is how you choose to view a situation when you look at it. It is how you choose to "filter" the reality that you see in front of you.  If you look at someone doing something unthinkable, feel hatred, and can't find a better lens, "point your camera" elsewhere!" If you can look at this same person through the lens of your soul, you can say a prayer, emanate some compassion, or choose to look at something good about this individual. If you can't do these things, then "point the camera" elsewhere.

You will have a much greater quality of life if you learn to change the lens through which you look at life or "point the camera" elsewhere.  Your soul always looks through the lens of love and compassion. Sometimes, you can see through this lens, and other times, it feels too difficult to align with that view.  It is OK. 

When you look at anything through the lens of love, compassion, or appreciation, you will feel better,  emanate a higher vibration, and attract better. When you "point your camera" at something you like, you will also feel better,  emanate a higher vibration, and attract better. Either choice will bring you a better life and improvements in any situation you face.

In this fashion, dear ones, you create your own reality. A photographer creates their own reality in the same manner, looking at life, choosing the scene, and choosing the lens. You don't change external reality by trying to change it, but sometimes, you can influence external reality by choosing a better scene or a better lens. Your view of another's goodness can help them choose better behaviors. Your confidence in another's ability can help them find more of their own confidence. Your focus on what is good in the world or even what could be an improvement will give energy to those better situations.

You can't change a difficult person, but you can look at kind people or change the way you view this difficult individual. You can't bring someone back who has transitioned, but you can look through the lens of eternity and reach for the connection you so dearly desire. You can't change your finances immediately, but can count your blessings. You can't change the politicians or governments all at once, but you can have a beautiful influence in your own sphere of influence.

Dear ones, become the curators of your own life experience. Earth offers more contrast and variety than any other system in the created universe. You came here knowing this. You came here for the variety. You came here understanding that you would "point your camera" at those things you wanted to activate in your own personal reality and that you could "choose a lens" that would help you see and attract more beauty, love, grace, and kindness in your own life.  You need not let the world point your camera and choose your lens. This is your life and your experience to create.

God Bless You! We love you so very much.
-- The Angels

Hi Everyone,

I love the angels' analogy of photography in their article today. I started sharing photos of nature years ago when I realized the amount of beauty all around me. A walk in the woods while talking or thinking about challenges is just a walk, but a walk spent looking for beauty is a magical, enchanted journey of life, moving through life and appreciating life. My quest for good things to photograph years ago has helped me search for good things in all aspects of life, and life keeps presenting more.

I've been sharing the story of converting my business structure to an LLC. The legal stuff was handled in record time. However, the bookkeeping, converting thousands of teeny tiny charges to the new cards and banking, is a lot of work. So, I'm "pointing my camera" and "choosing my lenses" carefully in order to stay in a higher vibe.

When I'm up to my eyeballs in checking numbers on spreadsheets to make sure they all balance, I remember how good it will feel in the future to have everything in a new level of order. Changing the "lens" through which I look at this helps me return to work with renewed vigor and purpose. When I can't find that good feeling, I take a breather, get a good cup of tea, wander in the yard, and just "point the camera" elsewhere for a bit till I'm ready to get back to my tasks and actually enjoy them.

Likewise, I saw an interview with the former head of a huge corporation the other day and was horrified to hear this man say that he left because the company was promoting more work-life balance. He made it clear that he believed this was ridiculous and that you never "win" or "beat the competition" by doing so. He proceeded to talk about the work "ethic" needed to "win." I nearly went into a fit of disgust. I was ranting in my own mind.  What type of "ethic" kills people to make money? What kind of person wants to turn human beings into robots to build robots so robots can make you more money that you won't even give a rip about on your deathbed if you have not loved? What kind of "win" is it if you lose your soul along the way? He wants to turn people into sheeple. My mind was like a runaway train, and it felt terrible. My vibration plummeted.

Thank God, I have practiced feeling good often enough that it was unacceptable to feel so bad. I caught myself and "changed the lens." I asked God to show me this man through the lens of love. I saw a little boy whose parents' version of success was being smart and materially savvy.  I saw his concern about being seen as someone who wanted to make a difference. I saw his beliefs around money being tied to human worth. And I felt compassion. Nothing had changed. I disagree with his perspective so vehemently that I could write a whole book on the subject, but that train of thought—that lens—does not make me feel good. That lens doesn't contribute to a kinder energy in the human race. The lens of love and compassion does.

And then, before my mind went back to its old habits, I "pointed the camera" elsewhere. I looked at all the amazing people I know who care about their souls and the souls of others. I looked at the fact that this old-school notion of success being tied to dollars is slowly but surely being replaced in the younger generations by a more humane definition of success as having what you want and being happy. I looked at the amazing companies that now care about their workers as human beings.  And I felt wonderful again.

It is so easy to get sucked into "pointing your camera" at things you don't want to see. The world offers us a lot to look at!  It is easy to look through the "lenses" we've practiced looking through.  In things both great and small, however, we can improve our lives by looking elsewhere or perceiving differently.

Here are a few ways you can shift your focus in life for a better experience of it.

1.  Practice using different lenses

Some of you have heard this. I have a class where I have people look at challenges in their lives in three different ways. First, they tell the story the usual way (often negative). Next, they tell it with a neutral lens (just the facts). Finally, they share the story through an empowered "God's eye) lens by putting a more positive spin on it, including what they're learning, how it will help them in the future, etc. 

It is amazing to feel the energy in the room go from dense to pure joy as people simply change the lens.

You can play with this in your own life. When something unpleasant happens, and you know you're looking through a negative lens, see if you can view it through a more neutral one by sticking only to the facts. Then, see if you can't find an even better lens. By challenging ourselves to do this, we practice and become stronger at seeing through our "God's eye" lens!

2. Practice "Pointing the camera"

Play, as I did years ago in the woods, by challenging yourself to find pleasing things to observe. While waiting in line at the post office, see if you can find a kind soul or a pretty stamp on the wall. While dealing with someone who is intolerable, look in their eyes and challenge yourself to find some light of Divinity there. Or, look around the room and see if you can find something more pleasing. That failing, think of a thought that makes you feel better than this person's behavior or conversation!  

The more we practice "pointing the camera" at something more pleasing, be it a thing in the external world or a thought inside of our own minds, the better we get at raising our vibe easily.

3. Choose the lens of love when you can

I always ask God and the angels, "How do you see this?" Whether I lose my keys or see someone saying something that strikes me as incredibly unkind or ridiculous, I know that God, my soul, and the angels have a better view of it than I do. I sometimes ask them, "How do you see me right now?" when I'm not at my highest. When I sit quietly and wait for the answer, the love that pours through is amazing. The kindness through which the Divine and the angels look at life is mind-blowingly beautiful. Their compassion is unequaled. Like parents who can always see the good in the child underneath any behavior, they can see the love we or others are reaching for.

Years ago, an energetically powerful person became jealous of my friendship with a man. Unfortunately, this person played with darker energies and sent me all manner of nonsense. I was newer at this and didn't understand that my fears allowed the mischief. When the angels finally told me about this individual's childhood abuse, I suddenly found myself in tears of compassion. I began to pray for them. I was no longer afraid. The dark energy could no longer reach me, and it all stopped.  I've had several such things over the years, and in each case, when I ask to see through the "God's eye" lens, the compassion completely prevents the lower vibes from getting in.  If you ask for this kind of help, you will receive it.

We can't change the world. There's a lot of anger going around as people resist the inevitable growth and evolution of the human race. There's a lot of fear as people give their power to other human beings instead of God. There's a lot of concern about the future, the economy, etc., But these fears have existed for centuries. These upsets will come and go.  What remains constant, as the angels say, is our power to curate the human life experience, "pointing our camera" (mind) and choosing our lens (perception) to have a better or even joyous experience of life.

Have a blessed week,
Love,
Ann

PS - If you want to come and play with us in Phoenix on Oct 12th I'm teaching how I simply and easily get in my flow, return to my flow, and enjoy a wonderful flow of life. It is always a great time with the angels and wonderful music of Robin Miller. Check it out below :)

I love a good pot pie, and I love a good soup! This recipe combines the best of them both with a gluten-free dairy-free option. If you can have flour and milk, feel free to use those too. Yummy.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp butter (or dairy-free alternative)
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 medium carrots, sliced
• 2 celery stalks, sliced
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• 1/2 tsp dried sage (optional)
  
  
• 3 tbsp gluten-free all-purpose flour (or cornstarch for a thicker soup)
• 4 cups gluten-free chicken broth
  
  
• 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or cubed (you can use leftovers, rotisserie chicken, or cook chicken breasts)
• 1 1/2 cups frozen peas
• 1 cup frozen or fresh corn (optional)
• 1 medium potato, peeled and diced
  
  
• 1 1/2 cups the milk of your choice (dairy, unsweetened almond or oat milk or other milk of your choice. I haven't tried it but I'm sure coconut milk would add a nice touch)
  
  
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish

Instructions:

1. Heat the butter and olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onions, garlic, carrots, and celery. Cook about 5-7 minutes until the veggies start to soften and the onion becomes translucent.

2. Stir in the dried thyme, parsley, and sage (if using). Let the herbs cook for 1 minute until fragrant.

3. If you're using flour, sprinkle the gluten-free or regular flour over the sautéed veggies. Stir well, allowing the flour to coat the vegetables. Cook for 1-2 minutes to eliminate the raw flour taste.
   
   If you're using cornstarch, mix it with a few tablespoons of cold water or broth till it becomes smooth. Then, slowly stir it into the soup after you add the broth (next step). It will add some thickness after the soup simmers a few minutes.
   
   
4. Gradually pour in the chicken broth, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Add the diced potato to the pot. Bring the soup to a simmer, and cook for about 10-12 minutes until the potatoes are tender.
   
   
5. Stir in the shredded chicken, frozen peas, and corn if you're using it. Let it cook for an additional 5 minutes, just until everything is heated through.
   
   
6. Pour in the milk of choice and stir untilit is combined well. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Let the soup simmer for another 5 minutes to so the flavors come together.
   
   
7. Once the soup is creamy, adjust any seasonings to your taste, and serve it in your favorite soup bowls. Garnish with fresh parsley.