Apartment hunting in Ocala, Florida – Part 2

Here’s how everything shook out while we searched for an apartment home in a more northern inland part of Florida, including a stop in Spring Hill, and three night stay at a lovely historic BnB (within walking distance to downtown) in Ocala, Florida. If you would rather listen instead of read, play the audio:

On our way to Ocala, we toured Ariel Springs in Spring Hill. I had hoped it was closer than it looked on the map to a friend Beverly’s crystal shop (Universal Gifts).

At Ariel Springs, we loved Robin, the leasing agent who took us on the tour as she was super friendly and helpful. But as most people know, many more things go into making such decisions than how well one likes the person in this role. Unfortunately, there were more than a couple of reasons why I have to rule out this community from our list of potentials.

First, the road Ariel Springs is on (Barclay to Spring Hill Drive) runs about 12-15 miles between I-75 and State Route 19 in Spring Hill. From looking at the map I had thought we might be able to walk to shops and restaurants on either end of Barclay, but it’s too far for us. With nothing much we could walk to, either for groceries or dining. That’s pretty much the show stopper for us. It’s very car dependent, and the community tends to frown on golf carts too (which was something I had considered doing). The single story villa is nice but it would be a middle unit in a long building. Robin was the first to let me know that most apartments require a 60 day notice to them when residents are going to move out, so they won’t know what they have available until mid-June for our mid-August move.

In Ocala, we checked out any apartments that showed up on my maps app and worked our way out from our lovely AirBnB in a 5 mile radius—keeping in mind Uber or Lyft rides will cost more the farther the distance we are from wherever we want to go downtown.

We stayed in the Paris room of the AirBnB and I took lots of pictures because it really gave me the feeling of being in Paris (though I’ve never been, and my daughter has dreamed of going). I had plenty of time in the house to admire all of the furnishings our super host has saved for many years and the items he continues to collect and add, as well as “feel the Energy” of a beautiful throw quilt that was on the living room couch. Here’s a slideshow of items that fascinated me:

Since most all the apartments that we saw near downtown didn’t make us warm and fuzzy, we ended up preferring the communities 3 to 5 miles out. Each were within walking distance to grocery stores and eateries. This we can do! And the monthly rents, while more than we currently pay, are reasonable for all we will get. Also, the amenities at these communities are fantastic!

Latigo 27 (closest to downtown of the five), has a Wal-Mart right outside the entrance. I’m not a Wal-Mart shopper, but I could do it and save us about $200 a month in rent over the others we liked. This was Richard’s favorite anyway, so that’s why I am putting in position #2 on our list of potentials.

Grand Reserve Apartments was the most expensive and while the map shows a Wal-Mart Supercenter near it, the only stores I saw were a bit of a hike, like the Aldi’s store. It had the largest gym and best kitchen in the apartment, but I put it last on our favorites list because of the location and price point.

Tuscany Place and The Highlands at Heathbrook are owned by the Collier Companies and very similar in look, style, and price, but though Tuscany was higher on a hill than The Highlands and pretty, I thought it may be harder to walk, plus there wasn’t any dining or shopping close. The Highlands at Heathbrook is a very short walk to Publix (with a pharmacy) and a large diner! Score! This became my favorite when we toured the model unit and found each building only has 8 units, 4 up and 4 down. Each unit has a corner of the building! No middle units. And that’s what I didn’t like about Ariel Springs—we would have been in a middle unit.

Summary

  • #1 The Highlands at Heathbrook
  • #2 Latigo 27
  • #3 Grand Reserve Apartments

Before we left the BnB house, we checked out the bulletin board and I saw this:

I simply feel Ocala will hold a lot of mystery in store for us, and grand success too!

In case you missed part 1 of this post: https://sheilamurrey.net/2023/04/29/apartment-hunting-in-ocala-florida/

My 4th book is on Amazon!! And here’s how you can read it: Have Yourself a Wholly Vibrant Life: Reversing Asthma and Other Chronic Illness Naturally

To our better health, ease, joy, and sustainment in JOY!

Sheila “Spiral Sister” Murrey

Peace. Out.

Integrating the Spirals to ease suffering

My online Zoom video course, Integrating the Spirals is helpful now more than ever because I know people are suffering. (Let me know if you’re interested in the Integrating the Spirals course.)

As an empath I want to help ease suffering and raise hope. I want to uplift others and raise our collective vibrations and consciousness. I teach breath work and meditation so we appreciate the value of Detachment. We till our inner soil with our breath and that offers us peace and calm. Meditation is an easy way to Connect us with spirit, higher selves, Omniscience God, and receive personal guidance.

About us

My husband is an award-winning illustrator, plus he’s a seasoned guitarist, bass player, and songwriter (with over 400 original songs). You can view some of his artwork and listen to all of his songs at: http://listen4music.com

Here’s a video of us performing on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/416711742?ref=fb-share

I invite you to check out my new metaphysical book–Blue Eyes: Ethereal Messages of Connection. There are two versions (Kindle and paperback) on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3WV68KF

Fractals of Omniscience

In and beyond this magnificent Universe, Omniscience knows ALL. Omniscience is always with you because you are a fractal part of Omniscience. You are truly never alone in this ever-expanding Universe. We are each fractals of Omniscience akin to glints of sunlight on the surface of a large body of water or the rays of sunshine shining upon us.

Fractal of Omniscience. “Spiral Sister”🌀Observer & Perceiver of Energy & Wisdom from Nature. Empath|Author|Connector|Speaker|Singer.❤️🦋🌀🎼〰️🙏🔥☯️

A bit about me, your Spiral Sister

I would love to speak at your bookstore, crystal shop, acupuncture / chiropractor office, or other holistic / natural fair or festival. I support healthy lifestyle businesses. For information on ALL of my books, visit my Amazon Author page.

An Amazon bestselling author of two co-authored books: Transform Your Life Book 2 Inspirational Stories and Expert AdviceEnergy of Receiving, and author of the captivating Blue Eyes: Ethereal Messages of Connection as well as the incredibly helpful 2nd edition of Have Yourself a Wholly Vibrant Life: Reversing Asthma and Other Chronic Illness Naturally.

Be the best version of who you want to be–who your soul beckons you to be. It’s important because who you are in this world affects us ALL. We Are All Connected.

Information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose or prescribe.

Connecting…

I’m on Rumble now! https://rumble.com/v28jhyo-about-control.html

For more from me about moving to a northern inland part of Florida, with a stop in Spring Hill, a stay at a lovely history BnB while apartment hunting in Ocala, Florida, follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takeonyour

An Independent Soul on a Mission to Connect Heaven and Earth

Connecting Heaven and Earth

More and more each day, I am finding the truths embedded in the ancient Chinese wisdom that Lama Nicholas Packard shared with me recently. And that our health is directly attributed to our thoughts, beliefs, and actions.

Finding truths

If I want to be well and healthy, I must strike a balance between my true nature, which I can feel the soul-alignment of in my body when I need to make a choice about whatever is going on. Yes, I can justify and rationalize, or choose to push through obstacles, but in the end, it’s how I FEEL that must be my guide. Else, I will suffer. And I do not want to suffer.

At times, I’ve been startled and taken aback by my own reactivity to people’s actions (even those whom I admire / have admired) but also to whom, I FELT a negative reaction–so much so, that I had to break away. This has happened to me before, perhaps my whole life–but I didn’t fully understand until recently.

I am an independent person

I am such an independent person–who else would write a blog called, Take It Upon Yourself? I bet very few people. And it’s also few that I can work closely with for any long stretch of time. I yearn to feel the resonance of balance.

I am an independent soul on a mission to connect Heaven and Earth by building mutually joyful and healthy relationships. Said another way, I am here as a woman of independent nature, on a mission to connect and heal people. To do this, will require balance. If I can feel negative vibrations, then easily bring them into balance–okay. But if not, depending upon the strength of the negative vibrations, I will need to make a different choice. And I am able to do that happily with gratitude for all I have learned.

In Alignment

Assume for a moment that we’re birds of a feather. Both of us are interested in the same people, and read the same books, but if you believe in the concepts that we “can never get it wrong”, and “there is value in everything”, yet condescend or be critical of a small action (especially for something that goes against core beliefs of mine, such as of Transparency and Sharing), that is going to resonate with me as a distinct, NO. And I will move on and leave the group or partnership.

Examples of alignment

At this particular time, I work on a team with someone whom I agree and align with their knowledge and experience of nutrition, vitamins, and supplements. And while I have learned, and would love to learn more from this person, and I respect her to a point, she can’t seem to be responsible, show up to work, put in honest effort to the project, or contribute to the team. She’s just not a team player.

If I had my druthers and the autonomy to move the person to another team, I would–but I don’t. Unfortunately, if I have to work with this person, the ill feelings (that I allow the disharmony to bring), will make me sick. And I cannot give to others if I am sick. So, though it’s been three years, trust me, the end is near. (Eventually, I left, and a month later, that person was fired.)

I am a patient person, but when enough is enough–I’ll leave. It’s happened before with me, and it will happen again–until I connect with someone, or some team, where I can find and offer Balance.

Moving on

Suffering imbalance is one reason why people leave businesses, relationships, partnerships, and so on. We all must do what feels right, or suffer. I choose what feels right to me, what feels harmonious and loving. Because if I don’t, I’m fighting my true nature. And when we work with split energies, they can tear you apart.

In another example, let’s take the partnership that I accepted based on my ego of being needed and honored. One might think the partnership was a good thing, right? Yet, we mutually ended it–mostly because I allowed my ego to be offended.

Everyone has an ego, whether large or small. One with a large ego would be best served to learn how to communicate with their staff. If you’re a manager and can’t communicate properly, you should not be a manager. Period. A primary facet of Management IS communication.

Experientially learning all of this, I now realize that I will never be balanced, or feel successful in my mission to connect people, until I can find a team to work with who will allow me to bring out the best in them, for the good of the cause, and shine my eternal soul light.

Now, just what brought about all of this newfound enlightenment?

Meet Lama Nicholas Packard…

A few weeks ago, I had the profound JOY of receiving a one-on-one healing session with Lama Nicholas Packard–who has recently come to visit our conscious St Petersburg, Florida community after living in India and China for over 30 years!
I made the appointment with Lama Nicholas for holistic health career guidance, as well as some intermittent pain in the body.
I have been meditating daily since Oct. 2015, and observing my thoughts. I’ve been feeling that my current work is not in alignment with my soul’s purpose. One could also say that I’ve become disillusioned and apathetic.
I can no longer work for certain companies, and I’ve recently began expressing this fact to recruiters when they call me. I do not mince words. I do not align with companies who make, or even indirectly support companies who make products that injure people.
This stance puts me out of working for any company that creates man-made chemical products. If you are part of a company whose products harm people, do not call me. I have to draw the line in the sand.

I learned from Lama Nicholas that he believes Artificiality is killing us. And I agree. Obviously, there are natural things that can harm us also, but for us to go out of our way to develop things that harm–that’s insane.

Signs

Right from the beginning of our session, as we began talking, a little finch bird came near to me, hiding under the table next to me. Was it there to let me know it was safe to express what makes my heart sing?

Lama Nicholas first showed me my birth and life path based on a Chinese numerology system. My birthdate equals a 1, which makes me an independent type. And oh my, can I affirm this is true! Looking back over my life, I can see that as a sure pattern in me, as well as the fact that I write this blog. I don’t always need to be right, but I need to be heard!

Life path

I learned that my life path is a number 2. That means I seek Connection. And that building relationships, even so far as connecting Heaven to Earth, is my mission and purpose! Is it any wonder that I was given the message, “We Are All Connected” many years ago?

And yes, sometimes to build, one must know when to disconnect. Pruning a bush allows for more growth. So again, I am to seek balance in this quest as I move forward.

More signs

A beautifully tall, white egret walked up to us; it actually seemed to look me in the eye for a moment! The egret brought me comfort in this new experience and reminded me that I was still grounded to nature–though we were in the city, we were only a couple of blocks from the Gulf of Mexico. I also took this to mean that my meeting with Lama Nicholas would open me to even deeper knowledge of myself.

The challenge

Do you sense the dichotomy though? A strong willed independent woman, who must connect with others to build relationships and usher Heaven to Earth? Wow!!!! I will need help!
The funny thing is, I’ve never been good at asking for help!
Only since my daughter gave birth to my granddaughter, have I learned along with her–to verbally ask for “a little help, please“–as it’s just not something that seems natural to me to do!
As for the Chinese animal that my birth year aligns to, I am on the cusp of the pig, and the tiger. The negative side of the pig means that I would feel a lot of fear (which I don’t), and the tiger signifies frustration. Bingo! I am very frustrated currently. Unfortunately, 30, 40, or 50 years of frustration can lead to Cancer!
Yet, the positive side of the tiger is that I am unstoppable! Yay!

A healer

Lama Nicholas told me that I also have a master number of 11, which means I am a healer. In addition:
  • I am called to a BIG mission
  • I can use the tigers’ determination + my independent spirit to bridge communities (spiritual communities perhaps?)
  • I will joyously work to connect Heaven to Earth
  • To facilitate teamwork by cooperation and balance, not to “win” as an entrepreneur
As to why I feel so much frustration at work: I need structure and am committed to working in a dynamic team–and one person on our team is arrogantly independent and adamantly refuses to work on our team, or even show up to work during core hours!
I now realize that I seek to assist others in their own healing journey as my life’s mission. And that using my hands to write, and heal others, will be key to my purpose.

The healing

After Lama Nicholas and I finished our conversation about life mission and purpose, we moved to two chairs facing each other for the physical healing part of the session to occur. I will add here though, that I really think the healing work began in and through me days before our actual meeting.
Since I had complained of an errant pain on the left side of my body, Lama Nicholas picked up and held my left leg and foot and pressed (not pinched or squeezed) but pressed with his fingers on the side of the fourth toe. I writhed in my chair with every muscle in my body tensing! It was very painful for a few seconds, but it eased quickly. I felt lightheaded and began to breathe deeply. Lama Nicholas gave me a cup of water and talked about what had happened so my mind could grasp it.
The toes are end points of meridians. And the fourth toe is the end point of the gallbladder meridian. Now, I didn’t know that I was having any gallbladder issues, but Lama did!! Note: my grandfather died of gallbladder cancer.
Next, we moved to the little toe! It hurt too, but not as bad, though my face was wincing and I was still tensing as if struggling to get away. The little toe is the end of the kidney meridian. I feel that I don’t have to explain to you what the meridians are. If you don’t know, you can Google that.
Looking back on the experience, I was surprised that I didn’t cry, cuss, scream, or such. Just tensed up and had a strong desire to pull away. To me, this also seems indicative of how I’ve reacted to other painful events in my past. A sort of quiet inward suffering, though usually with tears. I have never been a fighter or aggressive type.

Qi

One of the biggest things Lama Nicholas taught me how to do was how to bring in and cultivate Qi in the body.
Lama showed me the proper way to hold my hands together over my belly button (Dantian) while breathing deeply through the nose–holding my inhale to a count of 3 or 5 with my belly pushing outward and into my hands. Then, exhaling and pulling my belly button in towards my spine as far as I could manage and holding the exhalation to a count of 3 or 5.
Lama told me to visualize the in breath, as if it were coming into my belly, and the exhale coming out of my hands! Eventually, I made a big circle with my hands to push the Qi down on the exhale. Just this lesson alone was amazing!
Lama worked on my left arm and showed me how working the lung meridian made my tears flow–I had no idea why I began crying as he pressed points on my arm on one side, then conversely I laughed as he pressed the heart meridian points on the other side of the arm!
Feeling fantastic after the experience is an understatement. I kept saying, “Wow, Wow, Wow” after we completed the session. Amazing!

Resonance

Though I am primarily an analytical thinker, you might like to know how I feel about this healing experience from my heart (or emotional intelligence).
Intuitively, I fully resonated with the information that came from Lama Nicholas and the numerology of why I was born into this lifetime, and why–up to this point–life has seemed to be a struggle.

Energy

Energetically, I felt motivated and driven to succeed in the living of my unique purpose to build new relationships, and strengthen the relationships with those already in my life. To move from the sidelines and out onto the playing field of life, to use a sports analogy.

Insights

New insights have come, such as the knowing that writing does fulfill my purpose, but so does art, working with clay, applying essential oils to people’s hands and feet, and so forth.

Words of my mother

My mother always called me her “miracle baby” because I was the only one that lived out of six pregnancies. I believe her now because through me, all of my mom’s six babies are on the planet. Had any of my choices, or those of my daughter been any different that might not have been so. Gratefully, all things work in harmony and order in this Universe. I see that now.

Takeaways

This healing experience affected me mentally, by charging me up and giving me a zest for life, spiritually, by connecting me to the Divine and knowing Qi connects us all, and physically, by moving stagnant energies in my body and propelling me to learn more about Qigong, perhaps even one day teach, Qigong/Tai Chi!
I now know my purpose is to connect people and bring or connect heaven to earth. I chose a big mission, before my birth, for this lifetime and with tiger’s determination, I know I can do it.
I know that I was not born to be an entrepreneur, because of my #2 life path, which means I seek balance. I need a partner who is a #2. I know how to make money, be an excellent partner, and develop enthusiastic teams, so I am ready!
My morning and nighttime routines now include Qigong. I have been doing the deep breathing before sleep each night, just as Lama suggested. I am experiencing a dramatic shift in my thinking each day and noticing that habits are changing.
Intuitively, I took a picture of myself before the healing session, and I just took one this morning. I look much happier!
 Sheila Before and After One-on-One Healing.jpg

Life changed

I know my life has dramatically been altered by meeting Lama Nicholas. I feel more energy, look and feel happier, and I am emphatically motivated to move into my life’s purpose without fear or hesitancy. And as before, I will be as water, always seeking balance–but now I understand why.
Another output from my healing session with Lama Nicholas was that I signed up to become certified at reflexology, something that a friend had suggested I try (years ago), but only now makes perfect sense to do!
Stay tuned for my next article about Qigong. You see, after taking my first two Qigong/Tai Chi classes with Grand Master Lama Nicholas, I signed up for more and believe that Qigong will become a daily practice for the rest of my life.
Be the person your Soul knows you are.
Blessings to you in ALL ways,
OM

*Consult with one of your licensed health professionals / wellness practitioner team before making any changes in your prescribed medications.

A bit about me, your Spiral Sister

Fractal of Omniscience. “Spiral Sister”Observer & Perceiver of Energy & Wisdom from Nature. Empath|Author|Connector|Speaker|Singer. ❤️🦋🌀〰️🔥🙏☯️ I would love to speak at your bookstore, crystal shop, acupuncture / chiropractor office, natural health foods store, art fair, music or yoga festival. I support healthy lifestyle businesses. 

An Amazon bestselling author of two co-authored books: “Transform Your Life Book 2 Inspirational Stories and Expert Advice,” “Energy of Receiving”, plus author of “Blue Eyes: Ethereal Messages of Connection,” and holistic health book that details how I naturally reversed asthma, “Have Yourself a Wholly Vibrant Life: Reversing Asthma and Other Chronic Illness Naturally” all available on Amazon.

Be the best version of who you want to be. It matters because… We Are All Connected.

Information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose or prescribe.

For more about me, this blog, how I create websites, why I wrote a holistic health book, and more, find me on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.