Seeing in the Dark
When our eyes adjust to the darkness, things become clearer.

Last week the Pope urged Catholics to consider an electronic fast until Easter; asking followers to abstain from text messaging and surfing the web through the five-week Lenten period. I have to admit - I smiled at the thought since my kid recently had almost 15,000 text messages in a month.

I struggle with the concept of lent. I've always believed that God wants us to live abundantly. But an incident which occurred the week prior to the papal call to action got me thinking, 'Maybe the Pope is onto something!'

It was Thursday evening and my son and I had just finished cleaning-up after dinner.

"I'm going downstairs," my son said.

I knew he was going to play Xbox. I headed the opposite direction to check email in my office and get ready for my evening class. While sitting at my desk, the power surged and my computer screen went black. The typical white noise from the house was gone, and the only light came from the windows. Outside, the last rays of light emanated above the mountain peaks, west of our home.

Everything was silent, peaceful and still.

The stillness was abruptly interrupted by the pounding of my son's size 11 feet, scurrying up the basement stairwell, followed by, "Mom?!? There's no electricity!"

I smiled and headed for the pantry where I found the flashlight and lighter. The house wasn't completely dark, but I knew it was only a matter of minutes before darkness would take over. I lit a candle at the kitchen table, where my son now sat and went around the house lighting a candle in each main room.

When I returned to the kitchen, I found him sitting by candlelight trying to play his Game Boy, a battery operated electronic game I hadn't seen him play in years.

I must have made an audible sigh of disapproval because he looked at me and said, "What?! There's no light. I can't read! No TV! No Xbox! No computer! What else can I do?"

"Get the Uno cards," I said.

Within five minutes, the two of us were sitting on the floor on opposite sides of a coffee table. About a dozen candles illuminated the room and my son's face was beaming as he dealt the cards. I didn't worry about when the electricity would come on. I didn't worry that the furnace wouldn't work without power... it had been a glorious Colorado day with temperatures in the 60s.

We played, we laughed, and we talked. In those moments, both of us experienced the now. We had a sabbatical from the craziness of life - no phone - no computers - no electronics. Everything was simple and life's priorities became much clearer. While that power outage initially seemed to be an inconvenience, it turned out to be a blessing. To me it was a sign - a serendipitous event, something that started as a nuisance, but ended bringing great joy and insight.

I have to admit - when the lights came back on - I was a bit disappointed.

Suddenly, although still horrified by the idea of living without electronics for more than a day, I came to a realization. Maybe living a more simple life and making do with what we have, looking for the opportunities in the midst of "darkness" isn't such a bad thing.

Downsizing, making do and making lemon-aid out of lemons is in essence what the economy is forcing us to do. And I hate to say it, but perhaps it's happening for a reason. Could it be another serendipitous event in which we can expect to find some unexpected good? Could it be the impetus we need to turn inward, to go inside ... to grow spiritually? I've heard many people say the tough times are helping them look at things in a different light.

Some of my friends who have had trouble finding full time employment have actually started reevaluating their purpose and/or pursuing their dreams; dreams which have been put off because they've been too busy working. Many are retraining or starting new businesses and pursuing new passions they now have time for. Often, much to their surprise, while they may not be making the income they once enjoyed, they're finding fulfillment in following their purpose.

Another thing I've noticed, at least for myself, I'm beginning to live within my means. For me this means more dinners at home with family and friends, less time at Starbucks, more time sitting on my patio with a hot cup of coffee watching my dog chase squirrels. Boring? Maybe ... but at the same time I'm living in the moment and realizing I don't need so much stuff.

I know of one company that says although business has been slow, they're finding new and creative ways to use the staff's time. They are reaching out to help the community. This would never have been possible if they had the workload of the past. The company president even went so far to say it has helped employee moral during difficult times.

Are you noticing a theme here? In all these scenarios, some inconvenience, strife or even tragedy led to an unexpected good. In all cases - by slowing down, by being deprived of something, people are able to live in the now, seize the moment, and are watching the good that's come of it.

Like I said, I think the Pope is on to something. Could it be that many of the distractions we thought we needed to make us happy are actually tearing us away from being fully present, appreciating all that we have, and finding new ways to fulfill our dreams?

At first, when the lights go out, the electricity goes off, we often momentarily fumble around in the darkness ... but our eyes adjust and we begin to see.

More infomation is available on Alex at http://www.alexmarcoux.com/

Raising our Consciousness

Let's take responsibility for our thoughts!

My eyes brimmed with tears as I watched the first African American being sworn into the highest ranking office in this country, perhaps the most powerful position in the world. How could anyone not be inspired by the inauguration of President Barack Obama? It is clear to me that Mr. Obama is a living example how we can accomplish anything when we believe in ourselves and set our minds to it.

President Obama certainly didn’t candy coat the state of our nation. In our lifetime, we have never faced such daunting challenges: the economy, Iraq, Afghanistan, war on terror, and healthcare, to name a few. At the conclusion of this determined man's inaugural speech, the crowd roared with excitement … change had arrived. Images of expressive, tear-streaked faces being broadcast around the world kindled a renewed sense of hope that we have reached a turning point.

Yet, President Obama admitted that he cannot turn this nation around alone. He can’t bring this country out of its darkness by himself. He needs everyone to play their part in getting our nation back on track. How fitting that his first official act as president was to “proclaim January 20, 2009, a National Day of Renewal and Reconciliation,” asking, “All Americans to serve each other to remake this county.”

I asked myself, ‘How will I serve?’

For me, the answer is clear. In order to lift ourselves out of the fire, we must raise our consciousness. Before I lose you with this woo-woo term, let me explain. When we understand how powerful we are and the impact we have on this nation and the world, we realize we must take responsibility. We must stop pointing fingers and blaming others for the turmoil of our nation. We must change our thoughts.

Quantum physics shows us that our thoughts and prayers influence everything. Thoughts are energy and when fueled with intention and purpose they create. We all have the ability to manifest everything we desire. Good or bad. Thoughts manifest miracles or traumas. They bring joy or sorrow, peace or conflict, prosperity or poverty. Remember that what we focus on will expand. So, what are you thinking about?

If you’re worried about the fallen stock market, then you’re fueling a plunging market. If you’re concerned that you won’t be able to pay for your healthcare next month, then situations will develop which will make healthcare unaffordable to you. If you’re nervous about keeping your job, chances are you’ll be filing for unemployment. If you think President Obama lacks the experience to do his job, you’re feeding fear that will prohibit him from making highest and best decisions for us. Need I go on?

How can each of us participate in raising the consciousness?

The greatest gift we can give ourselves is to turn inward, whether through the practice of meditation, prayer, visioning or visualization. There are also a few practical things we can do to change our lives for the better, and at the same time raise the collective consciousness. Consider the following practices:

Set the intention that you are going to think responsibly.

Stop focusing on how bad things are. There is something to be said about focusing on what’s right rather than what’s wrong. Consider how grand life truly is and how blessed we are. Express gratitude for what you have. When you hear how far the stock market dropped, consider in that moment how fortunate you are that you even have assets to watch.

Guard your thoughts! Guard your words! Often times we focus on what’s wrong rather than what’s right. I love how Mother Theresa responded when she was invited to an anti-war rally. “If you hold an anti-war rally, I shall not attend. But if you hold a Pro-Peace rally invite me." Be aware of simple word-choice and stop focusing on negative or “what if” scenarios. Rather than worrying about being laid off, think how grateful you are to have a job.

When you catch yourself saying or thinking something with a negative spin, follow it with, “however that is changing.” Don’t be hard on yourself. Just the fact that you are recognizing your negative thoughts or words is huge, and you are thinking responsibly by correcting yourself. If a thought crosses your mind and you find yourself wondering, ‘How is that serving me?’ Chances are it’s not.

Consider your power and send positive thoughts and energy, including prayer, to our president and all world leaders so they are guided to make decisions that are highest and best for everyone.

When you’ve experienced a hiccup in your life, expect your “unexpected good.” Know that something bigger and better is manifesting in your life. Don’t dwell on the minor setback – believe that it’s happening for a reason and trust you are being guided to something much grander. Trusting, believing in the miracle of serendipity is thinking responsibly.


It’s time that we take responsibility for our thoughts. We all have an extraordinary role to play in this world. Turn inward and recognize that part of our mission, our reason for being here, is to think responsibly and raise the consciousness so that we all can live more joyful lives.

Love & light,

Alex Marcoux

Visit Alex at her website, AlexMarcoux.com

The Power of Believing
By Alex Marcoux

In an economy where publishers are freezing acquisitions, relinquishing existing contracts and cutting imprints, as writers, we have a choice. We can hop onboard and accept it – or we can believe in ourselves, stand out and shine!

Have you been seeking publication of your manuscript the conventional way? Then you know the drill ... hard work ... hundreds of queries ... many hours researching publishers or editors.

How’s that working for you?

As you march into this glorious New Year pumped to fulfill your new resolutions, whether that’s to lose weight, exercise, or quit smoking, may I suggest another resolution?

Believe in yourself! Believe that you will be published, find that new agent or publisher, or finish the project you’ve started. The power of the mind is real, and the power of believing is limitless!

This is a true story. There was a woman who believed she would be published. She had never written before. Yet she finished her first novel, naively dropped it in the mail to New York and five days later she heard from the publisher. And not soon after, she had a contract in hand.

That is my story. I went to my first Colorado Gold Conference with an unexecuted contract wondering if I should take it. I was naïve about the publishing business and oddly, it was my ignorance that became instrumental on my quick road to publication. I never bought into the statistics about becoming a newly published author. I had never gone to a writers’ conference before, so I wasn’t privy to the dues most writers pay to become published. I wasn’t aware of the typical rollercoaster ride of hundreds of queries, years of submissions, and flashes of triumphs and pitfalls. I often wonder if I would be published today had I been more informed about the publishing world.

I am not encouraging ignorance. I am however, suggesting that when you’re faced with what seems to be a daunting goal – believe in yourself and discard other people’s stories. When you hear about how a recession will impact the publishing world, ignore it, believe in yourself and shine!

I want to share with you a formula for getting published, which I’ve titled “Believe and receive.” First, you certainly need to have a strong, well written story. Query agents and/or editors to let them know what you’re selling. Next, forget everything you’ve ever heard about the odds of getting published.

This next step is important - ask your highest spiritual ideal for your goal! Whether that ideal is God, Jesus, Buddha, Yahweh, your higher self, or the Universe, you must ask. How? Ask out loud, ask in your prayers, or ask in writing. It doesn’t matter, just authentically ask!

Then you must believe at the core of your being that you will accomplish the goal you have set. Cultivate the feeling that you have already accomplished this goal. I’m not suggesting that you go out and spend your advance. But imagine how it will feel when you’ve succeeded, and feel it! To truly believe in ourselves we surrender and trust that our desires will occur. Trust that the Universe is moving and shaking things up to accommodate your desire.

Lastly, while you may not think this relates (oh ... and how it does), think positively! Eliminate those negative thoughts. Practice the lessons of the three wise monkeys, “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil". Don’t surround yourselves with naysayers, those who doubt your ability. If you find yourself doubting, or worrying about achieving your objective, remind yourself that you are a remarkable being, believe in yourself, and affirm, “My (goal) is being drawn to me right now.”

If this is a stretch for you, consider setting small goals for yourself at first. With every little victory you will feel yourself building confidence, then it’ll become easier to believe and trust.

Next time you come across one of those horror stories about the publishing business and you find yourself thinking, ‘I have a better chance of getting struck by lightening than getting published!’ Stop! Remind yourself, ‘That isn’t my story.’

Think about what you want to accomplish in 2009, believe it and receive it!

Alex Marcoux is a novelist, she writes mystery/supernatural thrillers. She is close to completing her first nonfiction spirituality book. Alex is also a screenwriter and a short film based on her second book, Back to Salem has been produced. She’s currently working on the feature-length screenplay.

Originally published January 2009 in the Rocky Mountain Writer - Newsletter of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers

Visit Alex at her website, AlexMarcoux.com

Shine in '09


We all come into this world with a significant purpose,
with skills and talents to serve ... to shine!
Discover yours in ‘09!

The celebration of New Year’s dates back more than 4000 years to the Babylonians. Over the centuries the day has evolved into the holiday we celebrate today, a time to reflect on our past and start anew. It has become customary for us to set resolutions that help us such as losing weight, managing debt, getting fit, eating right, drinking less alcohol, quitting smoking, or reducing stress. I’m not sure about you, but it doesn’t take very long for me to get off course from these goals.

The other day as I cleaned out my fridge I contemplated the holidays and New Year’s resolutions. I tossed out the raspberry jam after seeing “used by” Aug ‘08, then out went that dressing with a “best by” Sept. ‘08. I paused, wondering what was in the Tupperware, then bravely pried one end open to reveal last month’s spaghetti sauce – now a science experiment. Out it went.

As I heaved out the old to make room for the new, I realized that some of the items I trashed I hadn’t even opened - I hadn’t even tried. What a waste! Not really sure how I made the correlation, but in that moment I wondered what talents I had wasted in ‘08. What gifts had I left untouched? What skills had expired or had passed their “best by” or “use by” date?

We have all been blessed to walk this planet in our present form for a certain period of time. While we’re here, we’re here to serve. We’re here to fulfill a destiny, for each of us it is significant. Don’t think your destiny is anything less than extraordinary! Without making your mark on this world by striving to fulfill your destiny, by shining, you will leave a void. Ask yourself what gifts you have that lie dormant waiting to be birthed? What is crying to come out that could change this world?

By not venturing out and trying new things, our undeveloped talents and skills don’t awaken, they don’t blossom. I don’t want to go through my life feeling like I’ve played it safe, never realizing my brilliant potential. I don’t want to live my life not giving it my all, and then wondering if I could have been exceptional. Instead, I want to shine.

The time is now to grow and expand, to explore new ways to live to our highest potential. There’s no room in the world today to play small. The key to searching for purpose, the key to working on fulfilling our destiny is found in joy and inspiration. When we find ourselves inspired by something, we are connecting to that energy that remembers our destiny, our purpose, our reason for being here. Explore those moments of inspiration – they are clues to your calling. Inspiration is commonly accompanied with joy. When we are doing what we are meant to do – we are joyful.


The outcome of inspiration is shining – the realization of our gifts.
The bonus is that we live joy-filled lives.


So this year on New Year’s day, when I pull out my journal and reflect on what my ‘08 resolutions were and contemplate what I want to work on in ‘09, I’m going to stretch a bit and include shine in ‘09. I’m going to seek inspiration to unleash those sleeping talents which will help me shine and serve my purpose.

In the New Year, I encourage you to question what dormant forces are crying to be explored in your life. Remember that when we don’t use our talents and shine, these untested possibilities will remain just that – untested possibilities.

Blessings to you in the New Year and Shine in ‘09!

Visit Alex at her website, AlexMarcoux.com

Thanksgiving
Increase Your Blessings with the Law of Gratitude

In a time when markets crumble and we feel the strain of a weakening economy – we have a choice. We can feed the fear that is sweeping this nation and accept that we are in a recession or depression. Or, we can express gratitude and thanksgiving for all the blessings in our lives. While we may be inclined to fall into the ‘woe is me’ option, may I suggest the alternative?

You are blessed! You are all so blessed! Rather than focusing on what you have lost – consider taking a moment and realize how truly blessed you are. Make a gratitude list right now of five things in your life you’re grateful for. For example, I’m so grateful for my family, my health, my home, my talents, my friendships - my list will go on and on – and yours will too!

If you can’t see just how blessed you are in this moment, consider that - 12 million American children go to bed hungry every night. Feel blessed yet? We should, shouldn’t we?

Have you ever noticed how much better you feel when you express gratitude? You’re more content. Being appreciative for what we have makes us realize just how blessed we are. This alone can help manifest increased blessings and abundance in our lives. The more grateful we are and more consciously appreciative of what we have, the more we will receive in return! This is the law of gratitude – one of the easiest ways of manifesting our true desires. By expressing gratitude for what we have we create the energy to manifest other reasons to be grateful.

Studies show giving thanks on a regular basis can make us healthier. Those expressing appreciation of life are generally less depressed, more willing to exercise, and live life to its fullest! When you’re feeling grateful for what you have, rather than dwelling on what you don’t, you will deal much better with the little hiccups in life, including tumbling markets. Why? When we feel gratitude, those negative feelings such as anger, despair, hatred and fear all disappear. And why is this important? Negative feelings hold us back! What we pay attention to will expand. If we worry about the economy, reasons to worry will develop in our lives.

During this Thanksgiving and holiday season, join me and express gratitude for life’s blessings, because we are blessed! With realizing this you will feel better and you will experience true joy.


Alex Marcoux


Visit Alex at her website, AlexMarcoux.com