Be Blessed: And Love the Skin You're In...

"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it."
~ Confucius

“The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely.”
~ Carl Jung

“I am so beautiful, sometimes people weep when they see me. And it has nothing to do with what I look like really, it is just that I gave myself the power to say that I am beautiful, and if I could do that, maybe there is hope for them too. And the great divide between the beautiful and the ugly will cease to be. Because we are all what we choose.”
~ Margaret Cho

Be Blessed: And Know You Have a Choice...

“ As you become more clear about who you really are, you'll be better able to decide what is best for you - the first time around.”
~ Oprah Winfrey

" I've realized that being happy is a choice. You never want to rub anybody the wrong way or not be fun to be around, but you have to be happy. When I get logical and I don't trust my instincts - That's when I get in trouble."
~ Angelina Jolie

“You are your choices.”
~ Seneca

In the following minutes, hours, and days that make up the week to come... what choices will you make? My wish is that you choose the path that leads you to the most wisdom, the most laughter, the most love and the most peace.

Be Blessed: And Accept Things We Can’t Control (Courtesy of the Daily Om)

"You cannot always control what goes on outside. But you can always control what goes on inside."
~ Wayne Dyer

“Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.”
~ Kahlil Gibran

“I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much.”
~ Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Things We Can’t Control
We develop grace as we learn with the guiding hand of the universe, life will unfold exactly the way it should.

The idea of trusting the universe is a popular one these days, but many of us don’t know what this really means and we often have a hard time doing it. This is partly because the story of humankind is most often presented as a story about struggle, control, and survival, instead of one of trust and collaboration with the universe. Yet, in truth, we need to adhere to both ideas in this life.

On the one hand, there is much to be said about exerting control over our environment. We created shelter to protect ourselves from the elements. We hunted for animals and invented agriculture to feed ourselves. We built social infrastructures to protect ourselves and create community. This is how we survive and grow as a civilization. However, it is also clear that there are plenty of things that we cannot control, no matter how hard we try, and we often receive support from an unseen force – a universe that provides us with what we cannot provide for ourselves.

It is a good idea to take responsibility for the things in life that we can control or create. We work so we can feed, clothe, and shelter our loved ones and ourselves. We manifest our dreams and visions in physical form with hard work and forethought. But at a certain point, when we have done all that we can, we must let go and allow the universe to take over. This requires trust. It requires a trust that runs deeper than just expecting things to turn out the way we want them to. Sometimes they will, and sometimes they won’t. We develop equanimity and grace as we learn to trust that, with the guiding hand of the universe, life will unfold exactly the way it should. We are engaged in an ongoing relationship with a universe that responds to our thoughts and actions.

Courtesy of the Daily Om

Be Blessed: (Semi) Silent Sunday 2 - Part One

" From the smallest necessity to the highest religious abstraction, from the wheel to the skyscraper, everything we are and everything we have comes from one attribute of man - the function of his reasoning mind."
~ Ayn Rand

I dedicate this (Semi) Silent Sunday to the families of those lost during 9/11.

Be Blessed: And Chill....................

"There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates people. It is a poison that disintegrates friendships and breaks up pleasant relations. It is a thorn that irritates and hurts; it is a sword that kills."
~ Buddha

"Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt”
~ William Shakespeare

“Doubt yourself and you doubt everything you see. Judge yourself and you see judges everywhere. But if you listen to the sound of your own voice, you can rise above doubt and judgment. And you can see forever.”
~ Judge Nancy Lopez

While I wish I could say that I am 100% optimistic and am always aligning my thoughts to positive vibrations... I have days lately when I feel like everything I do is wrong, that everything I say is being misconstrued and that I am the most unlikable, loathsome human being to ever walk the streets of Bed-Stuy. Of course people do not chase me around Fulton Street with pitchforks and torches, so I know I'm cool, but it's gotten to the point when I actually found myself recently saying internally, "Audrey, Chiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiillllllllllllllll!!!!!".

I had let doubts about myself give way to feeling wretched for days, and it took me realizing I need to let it go, that I started to feel better. I know the truth about who I am, and I am a damn good woman who is getting better and better every single day! What helped me get back to that groovy feeling was the following excerpt courtesy of Iyanla Vanzant. I hope that it will resonate for you as much as it did for me.

The following is an affirmation. An affirmation is a statement that embodies the truth. If there is something you want to know about yourself or your life, faithfully and reverently repeat this affirmation three times and ask yourself the question. It is best to ask questions about yourself rather than asking about another person because their truth may be none of your business. Once the affirmation is repeated and the question asked, remain still and listen for the answer. If the answer does not come right away, have faith! Sometimes the truth is more than you can handle at the moment. At the right time, in the right way, the truth will make itself known to you.

I believe in the power of truth.
I believe in the presence of truth.
Truth cannot be buried or hidden.
The truth must be revealed.
I now experience the essence of truth as it moves through me.
The Spirit of truth now envelops me.
The Spirit of truth now envelops me.
I am filled with the light of truth.
I am filled with the power of truth.
I am filled with the presence of truth.
The truth is revealed to me now.


Until today, you may not have known how to get to the truth of a pressing matter in your life. Just for today, ask the truth to reveal itself to you. Remember that what you ask for, you will receive!

Today I am devoted to knowing the truth about myself and my life!

From Until Today!
by Iyanla Vanzant

Be Blessed: And EXPECT Your Dreams To Come True!!

"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly."
~ Langston Hughes

"Trust in dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity."
~ Kahlil Gibran

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

"Whatever you can do or dream, you can begin it.
Boldness has genius, magic and poser in it.
Begin it now."
~ Goethe

Have you ever felt so confident about a situation, that you knew EXACTLY how it was going to turn out?!?! Whether the end result was positive or negative, you felt instinctively that was going to happen? The phone rings and you KNOW that it's your Mother, or your Job, or your BFF?
I am starting to really understand and recognize that the people who have made their lives a success do the same thing with everything they encounter. And it's with that self assurance, they have built lives we can only dream about.

But... if we can dream about it, why can't we EXPECT our dreams will come true? Why can't we expect to achieve all of the goals we know will benefit our lives and the lives of our family and friends? I would this amazing lecture excerpt from Abraham on how to create positive expectation, that I knew I had to share! Something that truly resonated with me was the statement, "You cannot find something you believe is lost.... you don't have vibrational access to it." Anyone who has looked for something thinking to yourself, "I'll never find it!" can definitely relate!



This week, I am going to tune my vibration to everything and anything that brings me joy & thrills me!

Be Blessed: Because You're Stronger Than You Think!!

" We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot."
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

" We acquire the strength we have overcome."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

" Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow'."
~ Mary Anne Radmacher

I consider myself to be a pretty strong woman. But I have to admit there are times where all I want to do is curl up in a little ball and rock myself for a few hours.

And I think it's okay to feel that way sometimes... we all go through trying experiences that really test the boundaries of our spiritual and emotional endurance. The objective I've discovered is to acknowledge that I'm facing an obstacle, feel all of the feelings surrounding it (fear, anger, frustration, hopelessness, etc.), learn from it, and lastly, pick myself up, dust myself off ::sings:: and start all over again...



When encountering an obstacle, remember that you may bend, but you won't break. We all possess a reserve of strength that helps us to (Like Gladys sang) keep on keepin' on. Remember that reserve is there for us when we need it and upon facing whatever obstacle placed before you... you will emerge stronger and wiser for facing it.

Be Blessed: And Know You Have a Divine Purpose

" Everything in the universe has a purpose. Indeed, the invisible intelligence that flows through everything in a purposeful fashion is also flowing through you."
~ Wayne Dyer

“ I am here for a purpose and that purpose is to grow into a mountain, not to shrink to a grain of sand. Henceforth will I apply ALL my efforts to become the highest mountain of all and I will strain my potential until it cries for mercy.”
~ Og Mandino

" As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being. "
~ Carl Jung

One movie that inspired me tremendously was M. Night Shyamalan's "Lady in the Water". Though critically panned, I found the message of the movie utterly beautiful. All of us, no matter how unimportant we may be perceived... have a divine purpose. And with that purpose sparks the potential to do great things.

This week, I wanted to share some words of wisdom from the great Iyanla Vanzant on this very topic. I hope that it will inspire you. And I would wholeheartedly recommend watching Lady in the Water too... that movie is a blessing on DVD.

THERE IS A DIVINE PURPOSE FOR MY LIVING AND MY BEING

I will gain more understanding when I realize . . .
there is a divine purpose for my living and my being.

Your Creation Is a Good Thing

* In the beginning, you were created to be good, and you still are good.
* There is nothing about you that is inherently bad.

There is a Purpose to Your Living

* Your Creator etched a purpose into your being.
* You have been born to fulfill that purpose in a way that only you can.
* You bring to life talents and gifts unlike those of any other person.

Every Experience Supports Your Purpose

* Every experience will facilitate your understanding of your purpose and will call you to use the talents and gifts you possess.
* Every person you have met has played an important role in facilitating your understanding of your purpose.
* You have been influenced by your environment to such a degree that you have lost touch with the truth of your self and your purpose.

You Must Choose to Live Your Purpose

* The guidance you need to recover your true purpose is available to you because you are worthy of having it.
* You can make the choice to fulfill your purpose at any time.
* Balancing your heart and mind is the key to bringing forth the talents and gifts you possess that will enable you to fulfill your purpose.

What You Choose for Yourself, Your Creator Will Support

* If you want to know the purpose of your life and how your experiences fit into that purpose, ask your creator. God is available, accessible and waiting for you.

From Until Today!
by Iyanla Vanzant

Be Blessed: And RELAX...

This passed week was MURDER for yours truly. As much as I could've diffused by going out and being active, my body, mind and spirit were all SCREAMING in unison for an "in bed" weekend: Hanging in bed, comfy pj's, my honey by my side and a good movie, good song, or good book to entertain me.

I used to attribute my love of "in bed" days to laziness, and would beat myself up quite a bit about it, to be honest. But truthfully, the best thing I can do for myself is to listen to what I want and need and try like heck to provide it. And the same goes for you: If you want to chill and relax in bed on the weekend, and you can ACTUALLY do it... do it, man! Put an imaginary "Do Not Disturb" sign around your life and give yourself however much chill time you can afford. But you certainly do not have to take my word for it. The following, courtesy of The Daily Om, speaks on just this subject.

Recharging Your Batteries
Getting Run Down

Our natural state of being is vibrant, happy to be alive. Yet, there can be times when we feel run down and worn out. This does not mean that we are lazy or unfit for the tasks in our lives; it means that we need to recharge our batteries and find a way of keeping them charged. Vitamins and extra rest can be very helpful in restoring our physical bodies. And if we are willing to delve deeper, we may discover that there is an underlying cause for our exhaustion.

Whenever you are feeling run down, take an honest look at how you have been thinking, feeling and acting. You will likely find a belief, behavior pattern or even a relationship that is out of alignment with who you really are. Perhaps you believe you have to be perfect at everything or you have been bending over backwards to get people to like you. Maybe you are dealing with mild depression or simply have too much on your plate right now. There may also be people or situations in your life which are draining your energy. Once you get clear on the root cause, you can weed it out and better direct your flow of energy in the future.

In time, you might notice that the reasons you feel run down have less to do with how much you are doing and more to do with the fact that in your heart, you would rather be doing something else entirely. From now on, try and listen to what your heart really wants. It may take meditation, or just a moment of silent tuning in to gain the clarity you need, but it is well worth the effort. When you know what you truly want to do, and honor that in all situations, you will find that getting run down is a thing of the past.

This week I will refuel and relax as often as I need to...

Be Blessed: And Rise Above (Courtesy of the Daily Om)

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”
~ Maya Angelou

“Thought gives rise to desire.”
~ Rig Veda

“Kites rise highest against the wind, not with it.”
- Winston Churchill

No one is always 100% happy. Even the most spiritually developed, zen-master, conscious being is most likely going to want to get gangsta in a trying moment. LOL

This week, I wanted to share a great article from The Daily Om, that speaks on raising your vibration, rising above struggle and trying moments... which is the key.

To Rise Above
Achieving A High Vibration

All matter is made up of energy, and that energy is in motion continually. Everything in the universe, from the smallest molecules to the most complex living beings, has an optimal rate of vibration to keep it healthy. We reach this high vibrational level when we are whole, healthy, and fulfilling our potential. Human beings are able to consciously control these vibrations within themselves using a variety of techniques. We know when we have reached a high vibrational state because we feel good and can sense that we are aligned with all that is. We find we are capable of healing and have good intuition and perception that are a result of our resonating closer and closer to our ideal frequencies.

Thoughts, emotions, intentions, choices, and actions contribute to our vibrational state, as do the environments we inhabit. Affirmative activities that leave us feeling joyous, appreciative, loving, and peaceful raise our vibration. Constructive, creative, and expansive thoughts do the same. When we cultivate habits that contribute to our physical health and strength, our vibration is likewise raised. Certain mantra meditations, breathing exercises, and chants are designed to increase vibration. But simply practicing gratitude and forgiveness, surrounding ourselves with loving high-vibration people, eating whole foods, and spending time in nature can also help us transcend our current vibrational limitations.

When your desire for change is strong enough, you will find yourself gravitating toward what can help you achieve and maintain a high vibrational state. A positive outlook will then become the most important tool you possess, and this outlook will sustain you when the path leading toward transformation is wide and winding. As you evolve, your vibrational frequency will also evolve, aiding you in the creation of an even higher reality. Consciously and unconsciously, you will attract auspicious circumstances and positive people that will help you continue exploring the scope of your higher self until you move beyond the earthly plane.

This week, I will rise above the drama.

Be Blessed: And Take a Moment to Meditate - Part Four

“ We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls.”
~ Mother Teresa



This week, I will quiet my mind.

Be Blessed: And Take a Moment to Meditate - Part Three

“Life is like a mirror, we get the best results when we smile at it.”
~ Anonymous

On most days, when I look at myself in the mirror, I am pleased and content with who is staring back at me. I see a woman who is growing older, and wiser and more sure of herself, and that's dope! There are those days, though, where Gollum is staring back at me (in my own head) - the most hideous thing imaginable. It's my goal to get rid of the Gollum days, between you and me.

Some of you may have your own version of Gollum days, and if by chance you're trying to dramatically lessen those days, this week's meditation is a good one. Entitled, "I Am", it serves as a affirmation of all of the beauty we have inside of us. So when Gollum is staring back at you, tell it to burn the road up with a reminder of all that you are!!!



This week, I will remember everything I am.

Be Blessed: And Take a Moment to Meditate - Part Two

"I pray to be like the ocean, with soft currents, maybe waves at times. More and more, I want the consistency rather than the highs and the lows."
~ Drew Barrymore



Nothing relaxes me more than a trip to the ocean. Laying on the warm sand, the sun shining brightly on me, the sounds of seagulls and waves crashing around me. I get drowsy just thinking about it!! LOL

Because for many of us, our trips to the beach are solely on the weekends (And let's face it... the beach on a weekend is far from tranquil), this week's guided meditation from The Meditation Society of Australia is the perfect "in the meantime" escape until you're physically burrowing your toes in the sand. Let it serve as a reminder that our lives are very much like the ocean: tranquil at times, sometime turbulent, power and expansive. Just like we are.



This week, I will listen to the ocean to relax and renew.

Be Blessed: And Take a Moment to Meditate - Part One

“Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless - like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”

~ Bruce Lee

I admit it. I do not meditate as often as I used to, when I was younger and was just exploring self-improvement. It's something that I know is tremendously beneficial, yet I do not make the time to reap the benefit. Perhaps I am not the only one who goes through that... which leads me to this week's Be Blessed. It will be the first of many meditation posts, sharing meditations I've found online and have really helped me.

It is my hope that after reading these words, you will take a moment for yourself and listen to this amazing chakra meditation.... and that in doing so, the rest of your day and the week to come will be a more peaceful one.



This week, I will take time out to be still.

Be Blessed: Conscious Creation (Courtesy of The Daily Om)

"Each morning sees some task begin, Each evening sees it close; Something attempted, something done, Has earned a night's repose.”
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“You've got to get up every morning with determination if you're going to go to bed with satisfaction.”
~ George Lorimer

"The sun is but a morning star."
~ Henry David Thoreau

I've never been much of a morning person. One of my greatest pleasures in life is to sleep until noon. Having a job makes that experience limited only to weekends and holidays, but I will take it when I can! LOL

I am learning to appreciate mornings as I am getting older, I must admit to this. I like the pleasure of quiet city streets on the few occasions I get to work to early morning shift - time spent alone with my own thoughts, or with the music playing through my headphones as I make the commute to work, before the hustle and bustle of rush hour.

I've also learned that the first few moments spent waking up can really start a beautiful day, or a miserable one... it's our choice. Here are some words of wisdom and food for thought on this subject from The Daily Om.

Conscious Creation
The First Moments Of The Day

The moment during the day when we very first open our eyes and come into consciousness is a precious opportunity. It sets the tone for all that comes after it, like the opening scene in a film or novel. At this moment, our ability to create the day is at its most powerful, and we can offer ourselves fully to the creative process by filling this moment with whatever inspires us most. It may be that we want to be more generous, or it may be that we want to be more open to beauty in our daily lives. Whatever the case, if we bring this vision into our minds at this very fertile moment, we empower it to be the guiding principle of our day.

Sometimes we wake up with a mood already seemingly in place, and it’s important to give this feeling its due. It can inform us and deepen our awareness to what’s going on inside us, as well as around us. As long as we are conscious, we can honor this feeling and also introduce our new affirmation or vision, our conscious offering to the day. We may want to decide before we go to sleep what we want to bring to the next day of our lives. It could be that we simply want to be more open to whatever comes our way. Or we may want to summon a particular quality such as confidence. Then again, we may simply call up a feeling that perfectly captures the texture we want our day to have.

We can reaffirm our vision or affirmation as we shower and eat breakfast, as well as recalling it at various times throughout the day. We can write it down and carry it with us on a little slip of paper if this helps. Simply by being aware of those first moments, we set the stage for a more conscious, enlivened experience, and we become active participants in the creation of our lives.



Today, I will start to make each morning a blessed one!

Be Blessed: (Semi) Silent Sunday - Part Five

“Plants are the young of the world, vessels of health and vigor; but they grope ever upward towards consciousness; the trees are imperfect men, and seem to bemoan their imprisonment, rooted in the ground.”

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Be Blessed: (Semi) Silent Sunday - Part Four

“The best thing one can do when it's raining is to let it rain.”
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Be Blessed: (Semi) Silent Sunday - Part Three

“See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence...we need silence to be able to touch souls.”

~ Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Be Blessed: (Semi) Silent Sunday - Part Two

“Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them and try to follow them.”

~ Louisa May Alcott

Be Blessed: (Semi) Silent Sunday - Part One

It's the very first day of May, and I always get super excited about this: the weather here in NYC gets a little warmer, and we finally embrace a more Spring-like environment.

Inspired by many many Bloggers who have incorporated Silent Sundays into their Blog postings (Most notably, Brittany from Clumps of Mascara), I thought it might be fun to incorporate such postings into Miss Moon's Musings for the month of May.

I love finding inspirational quotes and food for thought each week for my "Best Blessed" series of posts, and I wouldn't want to not do that for a month. Hence, Semi-Silent Sundays! LOL

The next few weeks in May, each Sunday will have a picture I've taken myself, accompanied with an inspirational quote. I hope you all will enjoy!



“ Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last. The spring rains will come again.”


~ Sarah Ban Breathnach