The world turns when you make a contribution to the whole.

When you get excited about something, how often do you take a step to "forward the action, or put it on the back burner to slowly boil away?" When your intuition flashes a mental image across the screen of your mind, do you see it as significant, or do you let it go with an inner response such as, "I'm too busy." Or "Somebody should do that." Inspired action is inherently energizing for the person doing it, and seems to catalyze synchronistic responses that help fulfill the purpose.

My friend, Chicago bandleader, Steve Cooper is yet again an example of how to follow your heart, embark on a new path of possibility, and enjoy the jet stream of synchronicity. Last summer, Steve went to a book signing and lecture at Transitions, a bookstore in Chicago and was impressed by the author, John English, who wrote The Shift: An Awakening. According to Steve, the book is a novel about a third political party, which has the highest integrity, always tells the truth, makes the environment their number one concern, and is dedicated to ending self-serving politics. The book is based on current political characters and real situations and describes a positive potential future for America. Steve writes, "The story, similar to The Celestine Prophecy, is told in a spiritual context that involves telepathic messages, prophecy, shamans, and so forth. I thought the author's lecture was wonderful. At first, I wasn't that interested in reading a fiction book, but wound up buying a copy."

ACTION FOLLOWS INTUITION

A few weeks later, Steve read the book and became really excited by it. He said the thought came to him, "This book can change the consciousness of America and the world." After a week of thinking this, he felt the book needed to get more publicity. He says, "I thought that nothing will happen unless I do something. All my life, I've achieved what I wanted by taking action. All my success in the music business (and even finding my wife to marry) was because I went out and did things myself instead of waiting for someone to help. Right then and there, I decided to do something outrageous! I decided to send a letter to every bookstore in the country and bring the book to their attention. My wife and I don't make much money, but I knew I'd get it done."

Several weeks later, Steve's letter was done, and he printed a thousand copies. He ordered mailing lists of book stores in five states, and enlisted the envelope-stuffing aid of family friends. "My wife and I know a family where the father died and the mother has eight children. Six are still in the house, so we help them out from time to time. I knew those kids would love to earn some money and get a free piano lesson from me!

THE NEXT ACTION FALLS INTO PLACE

"We did 800 envelopes for starters. After we were done, on that same day, I looked up the John English's website. It turned out he was doing a radio interview in ONE HOUR! I couldn't believe the coincidence of looking at his website that day and at that time! The Internet connection kept cutting out, but, when they gave the call-in number, all the numbers came through loud and clear for just a moment. I had been thinking all week that I wanted to contact John English to tell him what I was doing. He had no idea that anybody was doing this!

"I called the station and I was the FIRST caller. I told the story of how I was so inspired by the book that I'm sending a letter to every bookstore in the country. I heard this long silence. English was totally floored and speechless! He confided that he felt the book wasn't getting much promotion, and that maybe he should give up on the project. He has done shamanic training, so he knows how the Universe helps people, but he was really surprised and touched by my taking the initiative to promote his work.

RECEIVING UNIVERSAL SUPPORT

Steve reports another coincidence that happened on the day he went to buy 800 stamps for the mailing. "The gold mining stocks I own had an explosive day. I don't make much money, but I study the stock market. I've owned gold mining stocks for almost two years, and on that done day, I made half my entire year's income! It paid for the cost of the first thousand stamps and also the next thousand I plan to buy. So the Universe is helping me out! Oh yes, another nice coincidence. While surfing the Internet, I found a company that sells a whole package of mailing lists for every bookstore and library in the country for only $75! Normally this would cost thousands of dollars. So now I've got all my labels for the whole country."

According to Steve The Shift: An Awakening started from an Amazon.com sales ranking in the 900,000's Amazon.com and recently shot up to the 60,000 range. "I thought it was a mistake," he says, "Not only a big improvement, it is a small miracle.

John English came to my local bookstore again in March for a lecture series. I got to see him in person for the first time since my phone call to the radio show. It was a wonderful "reunion." He told me the book distributors are reporting greatly increased sales. So, I'm sure my "save the world" project had some help in all this! John is a wonderfully calm and non-judgemental person. He trusts the ideas in the book will become popular in the mainstream when people are ready for it. He KNOWS it will happen - he's just not sure when. My feeling is that our present path could really change in a heartbeat. But the human race makes things so complicated!

You, too, can make a difference today. Sometimes what's required in the moment is to just take the extra step to really listen to family, friends, and colleagues. If you can manage to stay present and curious, without getting attached to the "drama" of what's going on, you may find your own creativity and fulfillment greatly increases.

Happy April,
Carol Adrienne