Catherine Poole

I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection.

Excellence, I can reach for; perfection is God’s business.

~ Michael J. Fox

I love the irony. I’m perceived as being really young

and yet I have the clinical condition of an old man.

~ Michael J. Fox

I have received quite a few inquiries over the past two months regarding Parkinson’s Dis-ease and what corresponding lessons are involved with such a diagnosis. As with any lesson and corresponding dis-ease state, it is important to look at what it restricts you from doing and what it pushes you into doing differently in your life.

Chronic dis-eases are rather complicated and can be regarded as karmic lessons rather than lessons brought on by you in order to “course correct” and get you on the path you set out as your life goals. Often I can look at a numerology chart and that will help me understand if there are karmic lessons involved. Sometimes those lessons are not yours to learn, sometimes you have contracted to teach and Parkinson’s can be quite a teacher.

Many are familiar with the most popular activist for Parkinson’s: Michael J. Fox and we have had the wonderful opportunity to watch how he has taken his dis-ease and used it to teach the world about integrity and optimism. He has even established a Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and not surprisingly, his foundation has become the most credible voice on research for Parkinson’s.

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a slowly progressing neurological disease of the central nervous system, with disorders in gait, posture and movement coordination. Men are more often affected than women and the onset averages around the age of 60 and I know from personal experience that it is often misdiagnosed. We did not realize my father was learning from PD until after his death. It has a high misdiagnosis rate.

Neurons do not fire properly, so the signals are not transmitted properly to allow for proper coordination of movement. So there is a conflict between what you want to do and your body actually doing it. Symptoms include slow movement, muscular rigidity, resting tremor and postural instability. Handwriting become indecipherable, facial expression may become set, the head inclined forward, words become muffled and the voice hollow, dull and increasingly feeble. It is common for those learning from Parkinson’s to fall backward.

Because of the pioneers like Michael J Fox, and let’s not forget Muhammad Ali, also diagnosed with Parkinson’s, there is more attention being brought to symptoms that are not so visible, such as sleep difficulties, mood disorders, even the loss of sense of smell, constipation, and low blood pressure as well as other challenges. What these reflect in reality is the “inner conflict” that is taking place, because all of these non-motor related are related! One interesting thing to note is that there is no standard in symptoms, one patient will manifest a set of symptoms that another will not. Of course, I look at each symptom a message, a message that cascades from one to another until we come up with an answer.

Where do the symptoms first manifest or are first noticeable? That is often the clue to what lessons are involved with a particular dis-ease. There is no definitive test for PD and there are other neurological conditions that compete with a PD diagnosis, and this is one reason why the misdiagnosis rate is so high. Doctors often look for two or more significant signs of PD before they venture a supposition, and then if one responds to PD medication they assume it is PD.

Resting tremors, usually on one side of the body combined with balance issues or rigidity are the first signs. But tremors in the hands or arms could be “Essential” or “Familial”  tremors, which my mother experiences, making it difficult to write or sometimes to eat due to the tremors.

On a metaphysical level, I look at the tremors being a significant message, and these most often occur in the hands, or at least this is where they are first noticed. So looking at what the hands represent in the body/mind connection is our first clue. Hands will tremble due to conflicting messages between your conscious mind and your subconscious mind. It is my belief that it is the conflict that creates the tremors and the imbalance. This conflict involves being unable to hold on to something or someone or letting go of something or someone. The answer of course would be in whether the issue is manifested in the left hand/side first (allowing and holding on) or the right hand/side (holding on and releasing).

This is why often the symptoms are first exhibited in the hands. Hands and arms are extension of our heart center and involve our relationships with ourself, God, and others that we love. When there is conflict due to holding back or giving up our emotions and our sensitivity and vulnerability there creates this conflict, this “push me-pull you” imbalance. Keeping fears and anxieties to oneself, can feed this conflict and create indecision or uncertainty when a situation manifests that you cannot control (“hold on to”).

Trying to remain control of everything around you can create such a conflict when you don’t share your concerns, particularly if you are in a field or profession where control is an issue. That can be due to you having little or no control but you want people to think you do, OR you are in a profession that demands control and you struggle within those constraints. Eventually you reach your limits and you overload your nervous system from the inner tension that you have hidden for so many years.

I would like to conduct my own personal study, it would be interesting to document how many individuals learning from Parkinson’s are perfectionists? They are self-critical and hold back so much of their humanness so that they communicate to the world that they are still in control of all aspects of their lives? One lesson to learn from Parkinson’s is found in my often used phrase, “the only way to gain control is to let go” and in reality you will realize that it isn’t about control, it is about managing your energy!

What is self-control? It is one thing when associated with perfection, and another thing when it is associated with making appropriate decisions about your life based on the information you have before you. Parkinson’s is allowing you to be human and to move forward in life as a human blemishes and all.

If you are learning from Parkinson’s or know someone that is learning/teaching take a moment to identify where the conflicts reside regarding how you relate to your world and those who reside in that world. Tremors and balance issues are about conflicting messages, received and sent, tremors are the inner fight you are having with yourself, and this throws you off balance. The nerves that are not transmitting properly are about energy, and thought is energy, so looking at where your thoughts are focused and what concerns you have about your place in the world can either help or hinder your recovery.

Are you in a career or a position that requires perfection? Balance? Control? Then there is a message there that you need to reevaluate where you are going, or at least how you approach  your career, your relationships, your life. Moving forward can be disturbing for some, particularly when you don’t have specific defined goals. Look at what needs to be redefined in your life, it may be that you just need to shift the way you look at your life, rather than your life in general.

Blessings to you! Enjoy the wonderful summer. Catherine

There is no such thing as an accident. When your soul chooses to leave your physical body, it will leave. Life is not an amateur circus tent where those who enter are individual, lonely performers with no script and no director-only a tumbling about, a fling through the air, and then a crash. No, that is false. As souls, you are self-determining. You decide when to be born. You create your life every minute of every day by what you choose to believe. You decide when to die. All things evolve around the total truth of love, balance, order, cause and effect. These are Divine laws.

Pat Rodegast, Emmanuel Book I You Have Chosen to Remember, p.137

Don’t drive faster than your guardian angel can fly!

–Anonymous

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I am going to talk specifically about automobile accidents this week. In a future Kick! I will address other accidents in our lives and what they represent, but so often when we say that someone had “an accident” it is a car accident that comes to mind.

Accidents are definitely something to look at in regards to your life. They definitely get our attention, immediately. Whether we are personally involved or it is with a loved one. The difference between a fender-bender and a fatality is where you are energetically…what you have contracted to teach, or to learn, and whether or not you choose to opt for an exit point. We have built in “exit points” where we can choose to leave or choose to continue under the present circumstances. I have found that many fender-benders can be exit points that we have decided not to pursue, and instead choose to continue with current conditions and work with the free will choices of all involved in our current life circumstances.

Whether it is a fender bender or a more serious incident, the first question to ask yourself is: What you were doing at the time of the accident? Were you stopped? Were you in town, suburbs, country? How fast were you going? Was it weather related? Was it due to a malfunction? Tire, brakes, steering? What does the car part represent in regards to your life and your life’s journey?

Just as I look at parts and function of those parts, in an accident it is important to look at what and how the accident happened. Where were you hit? A left impact is a message regarding resistance in allowing or accepting something or someone (female) new into your life. A right impact is a message regarding a resistance to release something or someone (male) that you no longer need in your life.

I was introduced to a woman a couple years ago on a camping trip. In our conversation she confided that she had issues regarding her relationship with her husband. She tried to shift out of the marriage but was unsure about her decision because he was a kind and generous man. He was completely unaware of her feelings; she knew it would crush him to know she was feeling this way. She did not feel she had good reason to leave, even though she was very unhappy.

In so many cases, not being happy is not a good enough reason to shift out of a marriage; we need abuse or infidelity to validate the shift. What we don’t realize is what we give the most thought will attract circumstances or individuals that reside at the same vibration or energy, matching those thoughts, reinforcing those thought patterns. This principle, often referred to as The Law of Attraction works for positive thoughts as well as negative thoughts…

She and I had an interesting conversation about commitments, obligations, and honoring self…and I really felt that she would make the decision to leave the marriage, in part because she was in such misery and spent much of our time together lamenting over her situation. It was important for her to know that if she did not make the decision one way or the other, the universe would decide based on where her thoughts and energy were directed. She listened but did not necessarily hear those words nor the experiences I presented that backed them up.

What happened next is amazing, but also a wonderful testament to how the universe reacts and communicates our wants, our thoughts, and our energy. Months later after our meeting she was taking her husband’s car into the shop because car would literally just quit, no acceleration, nothing-it would just die on the spot. At the shop they supposedly fixed the problem, she picked it up to drive it home. On the interstate (yes, INTERSTATE) the car died…immediately thinking to pull over on the right shoulder of the interstate with the glide she had left, there was a police car that had just pulled over a speeder. She did not have any juice to move up and over.

The last thing she remembered was seeing a semi in her rearview mirror, all she could think to do was lie down on the seat, close her eyes and pray. When she woke up, she was in the hospital with various injuries but most crucial was a broken neck. Lucky to be alive? No, choosing to be alive. She was given an exit point, and instead of the exit, she chose to accept the challenges and move forward.

Ready for my analysis? Hold on to your hat, it is pretty interesting and…as always, obvious after the fact.

1)             First of all, it was her husband’s car, not her own. Whose journey/life was she partaking in? Her husband’s, but not her own.

2)             HIS car issues involved it dying unexpectedly, and nobody could identify the problem…nor fix the problem. He was completely unaware of her feelings and her thoughts of leaving (stopping) the marriage. The marriage was ready to die unexpectedly.

3)             She was not only rear-ended, she was slammed from behind by a semi on the interstate with her only escape route blocked by someone STOPPED for speeding. She was so intense about wanting to get out of the relationship, but also feeling intense guilt about leaving, and there she was, in the “intense” lane of traffic, stopped with no where to turn. She was rear-ended in grand fashion. And the car was crushed, HIS car was crushed…and she had used this very term to describe what he would feel if she did leave the relationship.

Also, being rear-ended is all about being bumped, nudged, pushed, slammed, or forced into action. She was forced into action and making a decision.

4)             Broken neck: The neck is THE connector of the mind and the body. Everything passes through the neck: food, air, thoughts, blood…all is “connected” with the neck. A broken neck is being disconnected, particularly in regard to relationships because it is the direct connection between your head and your heart. If you remember, her heart was saying one thing, her head another.  A broken neck/broken bones, represent your very foundation. Broken bones and the ensuing pain are the most severe message from the universe, getting your immediate attention. There is a need to address things immediately regarding related issues with the corresponding broken bone, in her case getting reconnected with what really matters.

She finally did get connected with what mattered most. She decided to stay and work on her life, her joys, and the marriage. She realized that you can change a situation by changing the way you look at a situation. And changing the way you look at a situation is what the neck is all about! She recovered completely from her injuries and is even back to riding horses again. She seems happier and I look forward to catching up with her again this fall.

Here is another example that is not so extreme, in part because she was able to give it her attention and address the concerns early on (in what I like to call the “feather stage”). I had a conversation a few weeks ago with a young woman that had one accident after another and not a single one was her fault. She was trying to make sense out of the messages. I give her a tremendous amount of credit, many people would not see these incidents as messages. More severe accidents are what I refer to as “the elephant on your head” because you did not listen to the feathers of guidance given before.

All of her incidents were out of her control, so there was one clue to what was going on in her life…and on top of that they were all rear-end collisions, even one took place while she was parked in a parking lot. All were determined to be the other driver’s  fault, so there is another underlying theme of perhaps taking on responsibility for someone in her life that would not take on responsibility themselves?

As with the woman with the interstate collision, rear-end bumps or collisions are about being forced or shoved forward…it could be because you are hesitant or resistant to do so or it could be because you are in a situation that you feel bullied or pushed by someone or something (like a client or family situation) to make a decision. It could be the universe pushing you forward or it could be the universe revealing that you feel you are being pushed unfairly out of your comfort zone. In this young woman’s case, she was being pushed out of her comfort zone, but not necessarily in a bad way.

After talking with her she actually came to her own conclusion, which was wonderful. She was finally with a partner that did not judge or become angry and she felt that these incidents were a message, or proof, that he was understanding and non-judgmental in respect to her direction and life journey. She was not used to being respected in this manner, therefore the universe was basically responding to her doubts and bumping her into a positive change. One of the cars was his car, she waited for the anger and the judgment, because that is what she was used to…it still didn’t come. Her testing was over and she is now even more confident in her relationship.

This shift in attitude has also brought a shift in work, with a promotion and yet another shove in a positive direction. Sometimes our self-esteem will put up the blocks and create the incidents we “didn’t see coming.”  When you look back you realize you not only saw it coming, you created it to begin with. Recognize your power to create both positive and negative experiences and harness the positive.

I have talked about rear-end collisions, but side collisions also very common. Determining their messages are dependent on which side the collision takes place.

Left side is being forced to accept or allow something or someone in your life. It may also have something to do with a forceful female (and think about yourself if you are female or pack a feminine energy in the relationship).

Right side is being forced to give something or someone up and there is a resistance to do so. Again, think about yourself if you are male or pack a male energy in the relationship.

It is an impact, and you are forced to give it your attention. The other thing to consider is that you may be hit on the left, but it often shoves you to the right (forced to release something) or hit on the right and shoved to the left (forced to reevaluate something). OR! You could be like I was and put into a spin, it was a right spin by the way, so there was a need to balance out my life…and I was not hit by another vehicle, I hit a puddle while on a sharp curve. Water and ice skids are all about emotions and not being able to gain traction on an emotional level.

Accidents that involve the front of the vehicle, like my front bumper that was peeled off in my spin, are messages about your journey and your approach to moving forward. Is the hood crunched? Bumper out? Headlight(s) broken or just a front fender? Left front is about your hesitation to allow yourself to move forward, not feeling that you have the correct things in place. The right fender is about your hesitation to let go and just move forward. You don’t trust yourself to take that leap of faith.

Head on collisions more than anything stop you in your tracks immediately. They are serious and often deadly, particularly at high speeds. They can be deadly and dangerous even at lower speeds. These are often planned (contracted) exit points, and are packed with some of our most powerful human lessons pertaining to guilt, forgiveness, grief, and acceptance.

If you have experienced such a loss or know of someone that is working through these lessons I would like to recommend a dear friend, Bryn Blankinship, CMHt with the Newton Institute. She has done grief work with Life Between Lives (LBL) sessions and has one case studied featured in Michael Newton’s latest bestseller: Memories of the Afterlife. Her session involved a woman seeking understanding and peace following a tragic car crash that killed two of her three grandchildren (ages 10 and 7). It is an insightful perspective on accidents, contracts, and exit points.

Accidents involving vehicles are a common occurrence, and the statistics that are out there are staggering. My daughter just received her driver’s license. The Commonwealth of Virginia is the only state in the United States that conducts a legal ceremony IN THE COURT ROOM WITH A JUDGE to present the parents or legal guardians with the teen’s license. It is then at the discretion of the parent to award their teen the license. AND the parents are the first line of discretion with the power to revoke the license at any time, backed up by the DMV! Amazing system, an intelligent system.

It was a humbling and amazing afternoon, and it was educational, full of stories, warnings, videos, and information regarding the privileges of driving a vehicle. I invite you to look at your own life’s journey, as well as those members of your family with driving privileges. Look beyond the fender benders and mechanical issues and discern what messages you may be receiving, they may be receiving.

Course correcting extends far beyond that GPS system…be open, be aware, and always, always be safe. Blessings. Catherine

The car has become a secular sanctuary for the individual, his shrine to the self, his mobile Walden Pond.

~Edward McDonagh

A suburban mother’s role is to deliver children obstetrically once, and by car forever after.

~Peter De Vries

Hello! Even I could not have predicted the response from last week’s Kick! So, this is my continuation of last week’s entry about your vehicle being a reflection of your body, your life and your life’s journey. It is something fun yet can be a valuable tool for reflection. What you give the most thought to can attract and manifest similar energy. Your vehicle can help you course correct, or stay on course if you like the way everything is working for you.

I will continue with other parts that were not addressed last week, including what you are driving, whether it is a car, an SUV, truck, motorcycle, hybrid…old or new, expensive or used. Before I get to the type, I wanted to address some other areas of the vehicle and how they equate to your body and/or your life. Some of these are from e-mail questions and some are just my own observations over the years.

Seat belts play an integral part in our safety and security. Many don’t realize that seat belts do more than keep you from flying out of the vehicle in a crash, a seat belt can keep you behind the wheel and in control of the vehicle while experiencing even a minor incident. That being said, when there is an issue with the seat belt it should prompt you to look at your feelings of security or insecurity.

My front seat belt on the left (driver’s) side is functioning fine, but there is one little “button” missing which creates a bit of an inconvenience when searching for the end to secure into the base. It disappears under the seat because the button is designed to keep the latch at shoulder length so when you sit you just reach over and grab it, pull it across your chest and hips and secure it. Instead, I have to shift and dig to find it and pull it up and out. Sometimes I have to get out of the car to get it strait and organized, particularly if one of the kids have been driving my car. It is safe, and I don’t give it much concern, but it prompts me more than anything to say my prayer of protection.

Actually, while I am on that subject, I use that moment, when fastening my seatbelt to say my prayer and protect the vehicle and all of us inside. I wrap the vehicle in protective light, like a cocoon and imagine that we ride with a protective cushion. Having two teenage drivers, I remind them to do the same and to ask their guides and angels to be with them and protect them while driving. Seat belts are a wonderful “trigger” to remind yourself to ask for protection. Being Catholic, St. Christopher is the patron saint for travel, St. Frances of Rome is the patron saint of automobile drivers…yes we have saints for everything! She was known for having an angel light her path when she traveled, keeping her safe. Seatbelts are perfect reminders for that prayer of protection.

Gauges whether they are for gas, mileage, radio, all represent communication. What gauge can give you even more details as to what area of your life and your journey needs some attention in the communication department. I have had two vehicles in my life where the gas gauge did not work. And yes, it makes so much sense, as gas is your energy level, so how many of us ignore our bodies and our energy levels? Both times in my life I was literally running on all cylinders and just kept going and going…in college, graduate school actually and the other was working full time with two babies and a husband out of town more than he was in town.

I do love the fact that when we were in school, whether high school or college that our vehicles were very reminiscent of our personal journeys. Even those of us that didn’t have a vehicle and had to rely on someone else, parents, room mates, or older siblings to get from one place to another.

Handles and locks, represent access to either exiting the vehicle (inside handles) or access inside the vehicle (locking keys in the car or issues with the handle). Locking keys in the car is perhaps the most common occurrence. This is the number one reason I have AAA for all of us-it pays for itself every year as someone ends up locking the keys in. Not being able to get into your vehicle creates such frustration, and usually it happens when you have to be somewhere, adding to the anxiety. Often there is the feeling of needing to do something yet not being allowed to follow through.

The trunk can equate to your rear end, but unlike your rear bumper, the trunk can store all sorts of things, including a spare tire. In a sense it can relate to your lower digestive tract. What do you have in your trunk? Are you holding on to old ideas or is it clean and organized? I have seen trunks that look like something out of the show “Hoarders” and I have seen others organized and pristine. Mine is somewhere in between depending on my travels and the kid’s schedules. What is the most unique item in your trunk or the most unique item you have HAD in your trunk? Can you equate that on some level with your life’s journey?

Engine issues can be related to your heart and heart center, so it is all about relationships and flow. Engine trouble is often major trouble, and just like the heart center in our body, it is complicated and central to our life and our journey. Most cars can be nursed or coerced along when it comes to other parts, but engine trouble is crippling and expensive. Take a look at the relationships in your life, including your relationship with self and see if there is any adjusting needed.

Radiators were another question, and they represent pressure. I think of the term “blowing off steam” when I think of the radiator. It equates to the amount of stress in your life and how you are dealing with that stress can be reflected in what is going on with your radiator. Overheating would equate to high blood pressure.

One e-mail I received mentioned that not only did her radiator overheat, but her gauges never indicated a problem! Since gauges represent communication, and there wasn’t any communication causing the radiator to overheat…I would ask if there was currently a situation in her life that was creating a lot of stress and pressure and she needed to get it “off her chest” and speak her truth. Lack of communication was creating the stress in her life and it will build up until it cannot be ignored.

Oil leaks were another multiple e-mail subject…oil lubricates all moving parts within the vehicle. It is an important component with vehicle operation. In our body the joints need lubrication in order to operate fully and joints are about being flexible. When there is a leak, then the moving parts cannot flex or operate to their full potential, therefore oil leaks are about our ability (or inability) to be flexible with opposing situations.

The universal joint was another question! (I told you this brought on a lot of feedback!) This joint is about coordination and partnership and establishes a base coordinate so both wheels will point in the same direction. In the body, the universal joint relates to the hips, which are all about direction. Front would represent where or how you are creating those opportunities that will establish a direction, back universal joint would represent how you are currently taking a stand in the direction you are heading. A malfunction or disintegration with this joint could reference some tension within a partnership as to which direction is the best for all involved.

You wouldn’t really think that seats would have any significance in your journey, but they can make all the difference! Seats equate to comfort and how we adjust to life’s twists and turns. My older brother seems to have broken every seat in every car he has owned! Just on the right side though, so when you sit you are crooked and facing to the right just a bit. They also don’t adjust, and that speaks volumes!

Brakes, Brake lights, squeaky brakes, even brake fluid leaks all reflect fear about progress and moving forward. When the brakes are going or have failed then somewhere in your life there is a feeling of randomness and not being able to slow down progress or the world around you. You may have some control in regards to the steering, but actually being able to stop and evaluate your progress is of concern. Brake lights communicate to others that you are slowing down or breaking, when they are not working properly it is an indication that you do not want others to know you are being hesitant or cautious. Squeaky breaks are the opposite, they represent bringing attention to yourself, even to the point of annoyance, so you can show others you are in control of your own progress.

What type of vehicle do you drive?

What type of vehicle would you like to drive?

Right now I have my mother’s 1998 Toyota Camry. It is a solid car and gets wonderful mileage and it will soon migrate to my daughter. It is practical and paid for and has been a lifesaver for us. On the magic refrigerator however, I have a nice truck that I am manifesting. I have wanted a truck forever, but it was not practical. I moved down to Virginia and it is not only a desire on my part, but a practical choice with my lifestyle.

Trucks are about utility and getting things done, but they also represent reliability and steadfastness. The color says even more and that will be addressed at the next entry on QueenofColor.com. Motorcycles are all about freedom and vulnerability. They require balance and keen skills of observation, as one must constantly be on the defensive with other vehicles on the road. Motorcycles can be as safe or as risky as the drivers choose, offering a sense of mystery and danger to the entire experience.

Sedans are safe, reliable, dependable and oriented toward prosperity and business success. They are no longer associated with being the “family” vehicle, that category is now reserved for the SUV and the Crossover vehicles. Sedans are about comfort and luxury in the journey and often mature, successful business oriented people drive their luxury sedans.

SUV’s and the Crossover vehicles are about family, foundation, fun and overall travel. Whether it is a lengthy trip or one soccer game to the other, these are often the vehicle of choice for family and larger groups. They are versatile and can move a lot of people/children from one place to the other.

They can tackle terrain and provide an enclosed protected space for the occupants and if the windows are tinted that is communicating issues of security, safety as well as the privacy stuff.  The Crossover’s are subtler than the larger more aggressive SUV’s yet can achieve similar purpose without taking up as much personal space. There are a few out there on the road that are intimidating! And quite often, so are the owners! SUV’s communicate reliability and stability like a truck, but tend to be more oriented toward travel and transporting people rather than a utilitarian truck.

Think about what vehicles you have owned and what your journey and goals were at the time. Even if you were given or bought the first deal that came along you attracted that vehicle into your life for a reason…next week I will be addressing other questions brought up by these two entries on vehicles and explain about accidents and why they happen. Realize that there are no accidents, and next week I will explain why.

Have a beautiful and safe week! Catherine

It takes 8,460 bolts to assemble an automobile,

and one nut to scatter it all over the road.

~Author Unknown

A pedestrian is someone who thought there were a couple of gallons left in the tank.

~Author Unknown

Have you ever read a brief passage in a book that contained a thought that stuck with you long after you have finished the book? This week’s Kick! involves an interesting subject that I read several years ago from Louise Hay’s The Power Is Within You. I would love to cite the exact quote and page but I always seem to give this book to a client and it is never around when I need it! I think I have bought twenty copies of this book over the years…it is a wonderful introduction to the metaphysical way of thinking and I often use it as an “ice-breaker” with clients that are curious about metaphysics.

The section that I often give thought to explains that your vehicle, whether it is a car or a truck, even a motorcycle, is a reflection of your life.

Not too long ago, I was over at Tom’s house, and as I was leaving we both laughed because we noticed that the front left headlight was out on BOTH our vehicles. Of course, he is the first to say, “Well, what does THAT mean?” We both laughed when I said it was about not allowing ourselves to see opportunity and not asking for guidance or help seeing those opportunities. Of course, I was thinking it was more about him than it was about me. We both can be a bit stubborn when it comes to asking for help, whether from each other or other people in our lives.

It was an obvious message not to “turn a blind eye” and allow ourselves to really look at the journey ahead. Believe it or not, it makes even more sense now as I write this than it did when I was discussing (joking about) it with Tom.

I then started thinking on the way home about issues with my car that I have had over the years and compared them to what was going on in my life at the same time. I also smiled and thought about Tom and his truck and the parallels there. His situation is a bit different as his truck is a Porta-Vet and in a sense is his vet office/hospital on wheels. His vehicle really IS a reflection of his life, in fact, it is his life. His is a life in constant motion…even to the point of chaos sometimes, unless of course he gets stuck in the ice, mud, or snow which has happened on more than one occasion. Or just a few week’s ago when the 4-wheel drive would not kick in…hmmm

You can take this week’s Kick! literally or you can use it as a tool of reflection, either way I think you will find it fascinating. I equate parts of the car with parts of your body and then use that comparison to see the relevance in your life and your life’s journey.

The left side is about allowing and represents the feminine energy. The right side is about releasing and represents the male energy. Then looking at what is going on with your vehicle in regards to the left or the right side is the next step. Now, what function of the vehicle is influenced or hindered?

Headlights: In our case we look at the function of the headlight and the fact that it is on the left side. The headlights illuminate and offer easier visibility and these can equate to your own enlightenment and willingness to see and be seen. Left represents allowing this energy into our lives, if it was right it would be about releasing the energy and moving forward.

Tires represent mobility, and provide a smoother, more comfortable ride. Even more importantly, they represent alignment (BALANCE) while you are on your journey.

Doors are about accessibility, your willingness to move in and out of a situation.

Front doors are more about control, left of course is about YOU being in control because you are behind the wheel. Right is about you giving up or allowing control because you are allowing someone else to be in the driver’s seat.

As a side note, I mentioned in my entry on hearing/listening that one clue to the partner in control of a relationship (and I do NOT mean a controlling partner…I am referring to the partner that keeps things on track and generally sees that things get done) Anyway, the partner often in control will be the one that drives. AND we are more receptive to information when it is delivered on the left side of our energy field. As yet another off note…does the partner that drives most of the time also sleep on the left side of the bed? Hmmm…interesting stuff this energy medicine…

Back doors are about submission, but also about trust. Think of the “back seat drivers” and their attitude regarding trusting or not trusting? I haven’t done a study, but my “educated” guess would be that they will sit in the middle of the backseat rather than one side or the other. Why the middle? So they can intercept the energy between the two individuals seemingly in control that are sitting in the front seat.

Windows are another reflection of our lives. The windshield reflects your outlook on life and on your journey. Is it clean? Cracked? Scratched? Full of bug juice? I laugh with my windshield, it is usually cleaned when I am going on a significant journey or travels, but when I am running around doing errands and feeling scattered and overwhelmed it just reflects the same energy. The wipers can get worn down and with that is the reflection of me being worn down and just not wanting to “see” anything at the moment.

The back windshield is more about your outlook on your past, your journey. How many of you don’t bother to even clean off the back windshield? Or better yet, I see cars with all kinds of stuff just thrown back there…I wonder if they have any back issues at all? Remember my entry about your back being your garbage dump? Or what about those that have the rear defroster broken and cannot defrost their back windshield to see out? What kind of memories are they holding onto?

Side window’s are about enjoying the journey. I will give you a little insight into my life right now, my right side window is off track. Yes, and it has been for a while…The message there is to let go and enjoy the ride. I know that, I write about that, but it went off track at the same time my teenage daughter started driving. Yes…so it is a bit tough to sit back on that right side of the car and enjoy the journey when your memory jumps back a few short years to her being in a car seat in the back seat. When did that transformation take place?! There are so many complications in the process of parenting, and much of it can be documented by your vehicle…particularly when your kids start driving! You have to admit, this is pretty fun stuff to look at!

Mirrors, whether rear view or side are all about perspective and how you view people, opportunities, and situations in your life. In regards to your body, your mirrors can equate to your neck, because your neck represents your ability (or inability) to see other views beyond your own. Rear view is just that, your perspective of what is behind you, your past and what is reflected in your past. How many of you have had a vehicle where the rear view mirror has fallen off? We have had two! In part because my ex-husband would get in the car and lean, hit his head on it and eventually it just broke off. It was frustrating because nothing would keep it in place…no glue in the world could put that mirror back on! I will save that analysis for another time.

The left mirror is about allowing other perspectives into your life, but also can represent having issues with the opinion of a female…so it could be about you allowing or it could be about being criticized by a female partner, mother, sister…friend.

The right mirror is about letting go of opinions that no longer serve you and these could be related to the opinion of a male…if you have a broken right side mirror, are there any criticisms you need to release? When I was married years ago we had a Ford Explorer and the right mirror was broken twice while I was driving…and the left was broken when my ex-husband was driving. Our oldest son has the vehicle now and the right mirror is cracked again!

The interior of your vehicle is also another aspect of your life. In a sense it is whom you are on the inside, not necessarily what you let others see. Some people are funny about allowing people in their vehicle…My interior supports the fact that I have three children! And the minute I am over at Tom’s you can add two dogs to the mix! The minute I pull in they are in ready to go to the farm! (and so am I…)

Is it organized, clean? What about your dashboard? What do you have hanging from your rear view mirror? What does it represent about your past or your view of your past? Are you the type that needs to have the cords to the devices all tightly wrapped in a neat bundle (representing tight control) or do they meander around the dash of the car? (representing freedom from restriction)

Your exterior is what you allow others to see, it is how you represent yourself to the world. What scratches or dents do you have? About three years ago I was picking my son up at school and we hit a slick spot and ended up in a spin. We were going very slow anyway and when we stopped in the grass I thought, “thank goodness, we didn’t hit anything” then I started to drive and there was this tremendous thump thump…it was my front bumper. It had literally just peeled off! That was DEFINITELY a reflection of my life at the time. I had just left a marriage and was struggling to make ends meet and take care of the kids. I felt vulnerable yet knew I needed to move forward and follow my heart. Well that protective bumper was ripped right away exposing my vulnerability.

Next week I will talk further about your vehicle and your life, so if there is anything you would like me to address that you did not see here this week, shoot me an e-mail and I will be sure to address it! have a wonderful week, and safe driving.

Blessings, Catherine