CHAPTER 1

Devotion: The Key to Intuition

Finally, I looked into my own heart and there I saw him;he was nowhere else.

—Rumi

Everything you need to start the process of angeldecoding is within you. Each of us on this amazingplanet has been blessed with the extraordinary simply bybeing individuals. Being human makes us part of the unifiedfield of love, and being individuals is our expression of thatlove in this world.

When you first learned to read, you were introduced tothe alphabet. Getting grounded, spending a few minutesin meditation, and incorporating deep breathing into yourdaily life are the ABCs—the basic first steps—of creating asuccessful base upon which to build your skills in the processof angel decoding.

Success begins with preparation and practice. Angel decodingstarts with devotion. I encourage you to begin and end eachday by centering your breath to help establish balance and adeeper, higher vibration of your essence.

The Beginning of My Journey as SpiritualTeacher and Angel Therapist

On a crisp day back in 1999, I was in Minneapolis,Minnesota, sitting in a workshop given by Doreen Virtue,PhD. She had just guided the two hundred or so attendeesthrough a mini angel-reading session. This was the firsttime I experienced my clairvoyant abilities clearly, and itwas truly an aha moment. In an instant, I came to realizethat what I had assumed for all the preceding years—thatI was simply a good guesser—was wrong. A total strangerhad just confirmed my true spiritual abilities, and I finallyunderstood that I knew much more than the eye could see.My understanding reached beyond the physical and into thespiritual. Specifically, what I had done was use a variety ofinnate intuitive tools to give an accurate and helpful angelreading for my workshop partner. Later the same day, whenI had time to reflect on the impact of that experience, Irealized the inevitable: my life was clearly going to change.A part of me once masked was now emerging.

And so, with an open mind about what might happen nextin my life, I did what had always come naturally to me whenI needed answers and direction. I took deep, relaxing, andclearing breaths, and I said a prayer in my heart. I asked fordirection from God and the angels as I surrendered to theirguidance. The answer came to me a bit later that day.

But before I share that answer with you, I would like to takea few minutes to outline the process and the importance ofbreathing to attain a quiet mind in order to gain clarity anddirection. Each one of us can access the guidance within bysimply clearing our minds with a centering breath. Answersto baffling life questions are available to us if we are still andattentive. This method of opening ourselves to the path ofawareness is within reach at any moment and in any place ifwe just breathe.

The Sacred Key: Centered Breath andMeditation

Every human life on earth begins with breath. Have youever noticed how babies and young children breathe? Whenthey breathe in, their tummies stick out, round and full likea beautiful Buddha belly. This happens because the lungsfill to capacity and the diaphragm expands downward andout toward the abdominal area. As we get older, we beginshortening our breaths, using less of our lung capacity foreach typical breath. It is time to bring awareness to thisdeficiency and support a new practice of breathing, whichin turn will support our health, balance our emotions, andhelp us tune into the guidance within. Breathing deeply andcontinuously opens the chest and heart—and when hearts areopen, miracles occur.

What is more organic than breathing? We can live withminimal food, water, and clothing, but we cannot livemore than a few minutes without oxygen. Breath is life. Itcan increase our sense of well-being, balance our energycenters, aid in releasing toxins at the cellular level, and boostbrainpower. Imagine what you can do if you honor andutilize this gift with concentrated intention and practice.

I have found the following breathing exercise beneficial andeasy to incorporate into my schedule. It combines practicesand modalities from a variety of sources, including my ownyears of personal experience. When I relax into a centeredposition and breathe, I find that I can transcend distractingmind chatter and access higher states of consciousness. Thisis the place you want to journey to in order to more easilycommunicate with the angels.

Centered-Breath Exercise

Find a quiet space free of distractions where you cansit erect or lie flat on your back. Rest your arms andhands comfortably on your lap or, if you are lying down,alongside your body. If you are sitting in a chair, closeyour eyes, plant both feet flat on the floor, and imagineyou are firmly grounded by Mother Earth.

Take a deep breath in through your nose and slowly countto four. At the same time, quiet your mind and allowyourself to be present and clear. Then exhale throughyour mouth, letting go of any stress and filling your heartcenter with love. Release any distracting mind chatter andfocus instead on creating a sacred space within.

Continue taking these deep, cleansing breaths in throughyour nose and out through your mouth, inhaling andexhaling to the count of four. Focus on filling your lungswith life-giving oxygen while relaxing or softening theabdominal area so that you naturally extend your stomachas your diaphragm expands. This is called diaphragmaticbreathing. Remember the breathing of little children, theway each breath fills them down to their tummies. Letyour shoulders relax, let your arms and hands relax, andallow the stress to ooze out as you exhale.

Your work from this point forward is to breathe in and outsmoothly, evenly, quietly, and deeply. Inhaling throughthe nose is healthier and more cleansing because your noseis a natural air filter. If your nose is stuffy, go ahead andbreathe through your mouth as needed. Keep a steadypace of breathing as you empty your mind of intrudingthoughts for a few moments.

Imagine the energy source surrounding you, holdingyou in a perfect space: aligned, clear, focused, safe, andsupported. Be open to that place of pure intent, to thatplace of infinite attention to our divine parent. Trulyexperience your authentic self. Allow the thinking mindto step away, holding space for your pure essence.

In order to benefit from stress relief and the centering ofyour soul, you may need to incorporate a training strategythat allows your mind to go into a passive zone. Find a havenas you continue breathing peacefully. This is where youwant to go for ten minutes. It is wonderful to give yourselfpermission to tune in to a tranquil silence. This is bothhealthy and often necessary for spiritual connection.

If you have trouble moving your pesky thoughts aside, focuson your breathing or count evenly as you breathe in andout. Either method is an excellent way to redirect yourmind to peaceful solace. I have also found that resonatingon a beautiful word can offer the same benefit. Focusing ona special word or phrase, called a mantra, is more typicalof meditative practice, but it can offer similar benefits tocentered breathing. I use the word peace to support my effortsto center and find that still, quiet place.

The fresh supply of oxygen that comes with each deepbreath, as well as the calming of your body, will boost yourbrainpower and help lift your mood and level of happiness.There are multiple benefits to this practice, and they have beendemonstrated as valid and included in research conducted byDavid Eisenberg, MD, and his colleagues at Harvard MedicalSchool. They have proven that meditation can increase theactivity of natural killer cells, which destroy bacteria, fungi,parasites, and cancer cells within the body, thus supporting thebody's ability to remain healthy. Brain scans show increasedlevels of brain activity in the limbic system, the area of thebrain that supports increased abstract visualization and moredefined connections with our emotions. Increased emotionalawareness is conducive to amplified intuition.

It has been proven that children score higher on cognitivetests and show longer levels of concentration after spendinga few minutes taking deep breaths and holding their bodiesin meditative postures. As a mother, I first encourage mychildren to take the time to breathe through a problem orissue when they face a dilemma. I prefer to teach my childrenmethods of handling their problems in life with more focusand greater concentration and from a calm, peaceful, andcentered place.

It is never too late or too early to start some form of centeredbreathing or other meditative exercise. This is why regularapplication of a meditative practice can and will change yourlife. I know that it has changed mine; I give centered breatha great deal of credit for my increased level of intuition andmy success in life.

Angels Confirm My Destiny

On that day in 1999—the day I first truly recognized myspiritual gifts—I had already been using the centering-breathexercise for several years. When I used the exercise thatday, it was to clear my mind and commune more openlywith my soul. I had just completed my first successful angelreading only a few hours earlier. What I needed next wasconcentrated guidance from my angels on how to proceedwith my life, so I centered through my breath and called onmy angels and guides.

I was centering my breath, and the minutes were passingby, when I noticed that my head tingled with a peculiarsensation as I opened my heart for answers. In the followingmoments, I felt my loving angels' presence in a pronouncedmanner. Since it had already been a day of important firsts,I welcomed this renewed sensation, this expanded feeling ofawareness. I also experienced a vision—as if I was watching ashort video clip in which I saw myself teaching other peopleto spiritually see, feel, hear, and know their angels. It was asif my guides and angels had knocked on my highest energycenter—known as the Crown Chakra—and announced theirpresence and support for my efforts to move ahead on myspiritual path. In that moment, they got my attention and mygratitude—and to this day, they still have both.

Reflecting back to that day when the course of my lifeturned more intensely toward becoming a spiritual coach andteacher, I realized that I needed to move forward decisivelywith my soulful ability. I also understood that help wasavailable and that my angels and guides would work throughme to support the process. I would become a medium formessages of the divine. I would teach and support otherpeople interested in improving their abilities and expandingtheir growth on the spiritual path.

A new Maria was born that day. I let go of fear and insecurityand limited ideas of who I was, and I accepted the missionof my soul's purpose. I am teacher, guide, and spirit. I amconnected to God and to you, united in Holy Spirit, wherewe are truly in support of one another joined in unconditionallove and fellowship.

Most days, we stumble around without purpose or directionin life, yet I left that weekend workshop with a new awareness.Trusting in God and starting every day with focused breathhas taught me that I do not need every answer and thatevery day does not have to be completely outlined for me.Allowing source, spirit, angels, and guides to weave the clothahead of me is a much better choice.

Like most people, my daily schedule is busy, filled withthe responsibilities of being a mother, wife, teacher, and anactive contributor to my community. Yet when I am still andbreathing through a problem or concern, grander answerscome. The answer for the direction of my future becameevident on that day in 1999, and I knew that I had changedbecause of my experience and the new awareness of myspiritual gifts. I am ever thankful for the clarity I receivedthat day—and still receive today—from centering the mindand focusing on breath. Try it for yourself, and allow moremiracles to manifest in your future.

Follow your daily expectations and attend to yourresponsibilities, yet allow for moments of quiet, breathing,and prayer to open yourself to transformation. Patience withthis system of discovery and spiritual growth is necessary.Sometimes transitions occur very quickly, and sometimesthey seem to take years. Often, a transformation has muchto do with one's thoughts, perspectives, and frame of mind.Be patient as you take small steps in your spiritual growth.Taking time to breathe is a great start to any day, but it canbe beneficial at any other time of day as well. Paying carefulattention to this practice will help you systematically raiseyour vibration and energy—key ingredients in more easilyconnecting with your angels and guides.

Plan to set aside at least ten minutes of your time so you canfully engage in the exercise. Ideally, this exercise should bea great way to start your day. You can set your alarm ten tofifteen minutes earlier than normal, and then either sit up orlie in bed to perform the exercise. I prefer sitting up because Ihave been known to drift peacefully back to sleep if I remainlying down. If you think you will have the same problem,you can also find a good chair to sit in while you awakenyour senses. Breathe a beautiful breath and commune withserenity.

The beauty of this exercise is the ease with which you canincorporate it into your life. Sprinkle the exercise into otherparts of your day whenever you need a bit of clarity oran energy boost. You can find the time almost anywhere.However, to experience the full effectiveness and benefits,consider an environment that is mostly free of distractions.In a pinch, you can always sit in your car; facing a lovely parkor lake is a great option, but at least try to face away fromtraffic if you can. The key is to respire in a tranquil place inorder to achieve the best results.

"Your visions will become clear only when you canlook into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams;who looks inside awakes."—Carl Jung

CHAPTER 2

Know Your Angels

A miracle is never lost. It may touch many people youhave never met, and produce undreamed of changes insituations of which you are not even aware.

—A Course in Miracles

Heavenly angels always communicate through the highvibration of love. Love is the most powerful emotionon earth. The longer we are able to hold a positive thoughtand emotion, the more powerful the energy of that emotionbecomes. Love is a necessary key ingredient to successfullycommunicate with your loving angels and guides. Loveunites us to one another without qualifiers or judgment.Love opens your heart to clear interaction with your angelsand to helping other people. Tapping into the power of loveand the human capacity to love are key to connecting withyour angels and guides. When engaged in the essence andpurity of heart, miracles happen. Everyone can communicatewith angels; all you need is an open mind, a desire to learn,and a compassionate heart.

Angel-Decoding Secret Key #1

Love: express love, feel love, be loved,know love, share love, reflect love, embrace love.

Defining Angel

Before we delve deeper into the process of angel decoding, letus define the term angel to help establish clarity, meaning, andunderstanding. When we hear the word angel, each of us mayhave our own definition. Although angel means "messenger,"(Merriam-Webster) angels themselves—like the letters in ouralphabet—appear to come in many forms, each with its ownmystifying name. Typically, angels are considered celestialbeings that are nonphysical in nature. Many references toangels occur in the Bible; for example, when Jesus speaks oftwelve legions of angels in the book of Matthew. The JewishCanon—specifically the Book of Enoch—references sevenarchangels. Medieval angelology mentions nine orders ofangels. Each frame of history and nation appears to have itsown niche in the angel world. For the purposes of this book, Iwill focus specifically on several powerful archangels, guardianangels, and our departed loved ones, also referred to by manyas angels.

Guardian Angels

Each of us has been blessed with our own guardian angel. Ibelieve God shared a moment with us before birth and said,"Here is a part of me to always be with you." These guardiansthen followed us into this world, promising to guide, protect,and encourage us on our life path. They are the essence ofGod's light—a state of grace in our world—and they tagalong with us, waiting to be called upon. We are blessed withfree will—a baffling concept that allows us to choose thedirection of our life at any moment—and we often stumblethrough life, discovering what does or does not work forus and learning and growing along the way. Our guardianangels are bound by this decree, and they will not interferewith our freewill unless it is to guard us from the dangersof an untimely death. They take their job seriously, waitingpatiently until we reach out in faith and ask for help. Pray toGod, and ask your angels to help you in every area of yourlife, for they will do so with grace and gratitude.

Many people who have come to see me for individual spiritualreadings ask me who their guardian angels are. Although weare each blessed with at least one guardian, there are manyof us who have at least two or more. The number of angelsaround us at any given time is not finite and often representsa message being conveyed. I often refer to Doreen Virtue'sbook Angel Numbers 101 for extended messages regarding thespecific number of angels that present themselves around anindividual during a session.

From a metaphysical perspective, the guardians are ethericenergy—part of God's essence and love—and so being,they are egoless and do not have individual identities. Theangels always want what is best for us, holding our highestinterests at heart and supporting us with unconditional loveand tenderness. No task is too difficult for them or toosmall. They are always with us and know our true purposeand direction in life. They work to support God's will inthis world. An important aspect of God's will is the conceptof peace, harmony, love, and joy. Our guardians put forththe highest good as a measure when granting our prayerfulrequests. Our growing faith and prayers amplify our desiresand abilities to create goodwill and manifest miracles in ourlives. Therefore, pray daily and often for the greatest good.

Guardian angels do not need names, yet they will tell youwhat to call them if you ask. They want to be as closelyconnected to you as possible, and they know that we humansconnect names to one another as well as to the world aroundus. Asking for your guardian angel's name is a great starttoward communicating with your angels.