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“Shine!”
AIHT Interviews Crystal Andrus

by Mary Grace McCord

In Toronto in the early 1990s, Crystal Andrus operated a chain of health clubs whose clientele included elite athletes, models and actors. Frequently interviewed in the electronic and print media, this stunning “power ranger” seemed to have it all.

Skipping along in her mother’s exquisite footsteps, Crystal met and married a dashing man. Envisioning a happily-ever-after fairy tale life—complete with perfect children, a lovely dream house, and a 24-7 partner in business and in love—she soon would realize how unhealthy and unreal our fantasies can be.

By 1995 along with the miracle of bringing two healthy, beautiful babies into the world, her post-natal body now carried almost 100 pounds of extra baggage. Obsessed and tormented by her weight, Crystal sensed something much deeper was happening.

AIHT metaphysics student Crystal Andrus

How can numbers on a scale outshine the sun and the moon, out-sing the birds, and cause a lifetime of self-love to shrivel and collapse? True, it was handy to blame the advertising media for her confusing fixation with outward appearances (even though some celebrities, on closer inspection, look too good to be real), but our bigger challenges are often inside.

“Doing the work” of peeling back many layers of pain, the young mother was shocked to realize that for most of her life it wasn’t self-love at all that inspired her climb to success and fame. Instead, it was a persistent fear that she just wasn’t enough. “The weight had come as a messenger…and I knew I wanted to raise my daughters differently.”

Crystal Andrus is a life coach, author and motivational speaker with Hay House, The Omega Institute and the international Power Within tours. Her second book, Transcendental Beauty, was released in spring 2006 to rave reviews.

“To rebalance our mind, body and spirit energies, at any age, means we reclaim our birthright. Our trillions of cells each, individually, represent a Divine idea. That’s what we ARE, a Divine Idea! This knowingness is what keeps a lilt in our voice and confidence in our mannerisms.”

Over the years her crystal-clear evolution means she’s now a different kind of transformer—universal, other-worldly; truly a star of inner light! If our main conflict is the war that rages within our own body, AIHT is pleased to help shine the bright light of wise and vibrant metaphysics students such as Crystal Andrus!

Vibrations: This inspiring book honors self-knowledge, of being self-possessed, and it’s told with the depth of “old soul” wisdom that’s still as playful as a springtime game of hopscotch! Did you envision speaking to your two preteen daughters as you wrote it?

Crystal Andrus: First, let me tell you that they are the ones who teach me, and each is so different. Madeline has already written five books of her own. Julia is a natural entertainer—dancing, acting, singing through the house all day.

The girls remind me about being grounded and focused, about gentleness and surrender. We love to pile up on the couch and have a hug-fest. We embrace the fun of having three unique temperaments—laughing, fussing. In life we all grow through differences. They bring to our home life the gift of a gracious, diplomatic ruckus.

Vibrations: Your home itself is a rare gift. Tell us about the synchronicity of finding your at-home retreat center.

Crystal Andrus: After my divorce the girls and I had started over, content to just cocoon while we created our own ‘dinner by candlelight’ cozy new life. It was a great time to assess and go with the flow, with no sense of urgency. All in good time! Until…

One day I just felt drawn to my computer; I decided to look at real estate online. The very first house I saw posted was 140 years old and I could practically feel its energy. It was a lovely restored farm house with a circular driveway and wrap-around porch, sitting on a lovely piece of property in a rural town outside Toronto.

When we drove over the next day, I knew instantly that we were home. There’s a little building next door with its original pine floors and stained glass windows, that used to be the town’s church—just the perfect energy for our healing retreat center!

Then when my grandparents came to see us after we moved, they had an emotional melt-down, right there in the driveway! This same farmhouse is where my great-great grandmother grew up. They had always talked about a ‘big white house on top of a hill’ and it was this very same house that reached out to me. I had no idea.

Vibrations: Transcendent Beauty talks about the power of gathering in the energies of past generations. Let’s give a working definition of Transcendent Beauty.

Crystal Andrus: It’s a way of being: a gentle strength and humble confidence that permeates through every pore in your body. It happens when we trust in ourselves fully and completely, in all situations, which is no small thing! It’s knowing that the Universe is friendly and kind, and that we do deserve all the wonderful miracles that are out there, just for us!

This energy is passionate, but not manic or overly intense. It’s an infinite presence and charismatic radiance, through which good things are naturally attracted to us. It’s understanding that every choice we make, moment by moment, either amplifies our light or dims our light.

For example, gossiping diminishes one’s energy at the cellular level, whereas speaking kindly about others—and ourselves—raises it. As we become acutely aware of our energy level at all times, right down to each tiny cell, we attract other positive energies and we repel negative energies.

Vibrations: Your book quotes what Einstein taught—that matter and energy are interchangeable terms; matter is the heaviest form of energy, and energy is the lightest form of matter.

Crystal Andrus: We’ve all met people whose energy appears slow and heavy, while others’ appear light and transcendent. And while we can all shift our level of resonance at any time during our life, some people are naturally graced with the ‘lightness’ of coming from a safe and loving, fearless childhood. There are many others who heave with a heavier energy because they’ve had to endure childhood abuse, neglect, or even just fear-based parentages.

I believe that most human problems—whether mental, emotional, physical or spiritual—happen when our personality and our spirit are not aligned, not in agreement. It’s our inability to resonate with the highest universal frequency, which is bliss, and thus our inability to radiate it freely within our bodies and out into the world.

And it’s all connected. We’re all connected!

So…we support our body with nutritious foods, supplements and exercise; we pray and meditate; and we do the emotional and intellectual work that silences the negative, self-limiting beliefs, that “negative” chatter in our minds. I call this Integrative Body-Mind-Soul Coaching, which brings contentment inwardly and outwardly.

When aligned energetically, your vibration rises to a higher resonance. As fear becomes obsolete, you can acknowledge your Divinity—the great I AM. Thus we transcend, flowing with a breathtaking and immensely powerful beauty. We shine!

For more information: www.crystalandrus.com