The Road Ahead

Your journey is unique.

“The journey between what you once were and who you are now becoming is where the dance of life really takes place.”
~Barbara DeAngelis~

The challenges, difficulties and delays that we encounter allow us to discover the strength we have within ourselves. Each time we rise above the stories of the mind and take conscious, decisive action, we release a layer of doubt. Over the course of a lifetime, the successes and breakthroughs we experience create new paradigms.

When things are easy we don’t search for answers, seek assistance or take the time to examine limiting beliefs. The gifts that life brings us are often wrapped in challenging situations. Knowing this can shift how you view obstacles – they are not impediments on your journey, they are the journey. We can set the tone for our experiences by choosing to start each day with gratitude and intention, your words, thoughts and actions carry great power and momentum. Choose them wisely.

 

Unconditional Compassion

Each of us must be a light for those who are still lost in the dark.

“Saints are like trees. They do not call to anyone, neither do they send anyone away. They give shelter to whoever cares to come, be it a man, woman, child, or an animal. If you sit under a tree, it will protect you from the weather, from the scorching sun as well as the pouring rain, and it will give you flowers and fruit. Whether a human being enjoys them or a bird tastes of them matters little to the tree; its produce is there for anyone who comes and takes it.”
~Anandamayi Ma~

Even if a room has remained in the dark for thousands of years, will it not be immediately transformed by even the smallest source of light? Our role is to shine, to teach, to serve. Yes, we may need to practice mindfulness in order to maintain the balance required to be a consistent fount of compassion; however, our active participation begins with remembering that we have chosen to be here now for a specific purpose.

Like water which gently erodes rock over time, persistent acts of right action will eventually make a transformative difference in the world. Repetitive energy creates a flow that becomes easier to access the more we use it. Begin small. Plant seeds of love and light within your daily practice and nurture them well. You will eventually recognize yourself as an expression of unconditional compassion that can never be dimmed by outward circumstances.

 

Personal Evolution

Each experience is a stepping stone to the next phase of your development.

“Spiritual practice is not just sitting and meditating. Practice is looking, thinking, touching, drinking, eating and talking. Every act, every breath, and every step can be practice and can help us to become more ourselves.”
~Thich Nhat Hanh~

As we weave the threads of personal experience a unique design comes into view. Each new insight cultivates a different facet and adds sparkling nuance to the unfolding spiritual journey. As we awaken, the world around us is transformed. What may have initially been sparked by a desire for healing, understanding or peace ultimately becomes a completely different way of being. We learn to follow where life leads.

Transcendence comes through consistent practice and exploration of the many roads to enlightenment. Seek out the teachers and approaches that spark your interest while allowing yourself to evolve. You will draw in the perfect circumstances and companions to facilitate the next phase of your growth, and whether they grace your journey for a moment or for a lifetime, enjoy those who accompany you on the path of transformation. Love desires to express itself through you in beautiful ways.

Let It Go

Don’t allow distractions to blind you to the truth of who you are.

“All that is necessary to awaken to yourself as the radiant emptiness of spirit is to stop seeking something more or better or different, and to turn your attention inward to the awake silence that you are.”
~Adyashanti~

Everything is transitional. All relationships and daily circumstances play a role in our soul’s development – that’s it. The whole point of our human experiment is to experience everything there is to experience; therefore, we need to turn into what life offers and simply seek to be our best selves. As we evolve, we bring new insight to our life situations. Our responses become empowered rather than reactionary. Our love becomes all encompassing rather than limited by attachment or desire.

Know this: no matter what unfolds, and in spite of how some things may appear, there are no mistakes. Everything serves a vital purpose in your spiritual growth. There are challenges to be sure, but the turbulence will pass and peace will flow into your experience once again. The key is non-resistance. Allow what is. Rather than placing your focus on what is lost, worrying about the unknown or dwelling upon that which strikes a chord of fear within you, ask yourself what you have to offer. Sharing your love and light in creative ways allows you to access the transformative power of your unique gifts and potential… and from there, awareness, joy and miracles are possible.

Rising Above Thought

The mind is concerned only with the past and the future.
The heart lives Now.

“A life of equanimity and appreciation is lived in the immediacy of the present – not in the mind.”
~Ezra Bayda~

Prior to awakening, the mind is in control. Always comparing, seeking, distressing, planning, fixing or creating dissatisfaction with the present moment, it mercilessly controls our lives. It’s important to honor the ego as a teacher rather than see it as an enemy. It’s purpose is to maintain the illusion of separateness. This prompts our quest for Oneness.

As we move to higher levels of consciousness, we become more aware of the mechanisms of the ego. We learn to transform challenges into empowerment while cultivating the ability to see clearly. The ego must then find news ways to function, so it shifts to a more subtle but still disruptive force. You’ll know ego is engaged in some fashion whenever peace and acceptance elude you.

In moments of imbalance stop and observe your thoughts. See them objectively and then purposely move into love. Every moment is an opportunity to be still and deepen your connection to the Divine.

Everything is Love

Love shines through the contrasts in your life.

“Magic happens when you use the power of your heart and mind to create reality. Miracles happen when you allow the universe to manifest its love for you.”
~Witney Ibe~

Self love inspires a willingness to experience whatever life has to offer with an open heart. The journey will invariably lead us through every type of circumstance imaginable and the disruption and turbulence we face fosters greater compassion for one another. The challenges we encounter prompt us to change our perception, often several times over the course of a life. When we stand at the threshold of a new world, the act of walking forward brings us into more profound states of awareness.

Honor the processes of your awakening. Even though you may feel that you are fumbling your way toward ecstasy, embrace your journey knowing that it will ultimately become an inspiration. New facets of confidence and empowerment are ready to be discovered. This day, this moment, these circumstances are sacred… as are you.

Live the Moment

The light of the Divine shines through your Presence.

“Live quietly in the moment and see the beauty of all before you. The future will take care of itself.”
~Yogananda~

When you experience a state where there is no desire, no longing, nothing to achieve, bliss is possible. We are being given a rare opportunity to practice being present while finding creative ways to show love for one another.

Consider the transformative aspect of this moment. As we explore our collective consciousness it becomes apparent how deeply we are connected, and it is possible that this awareness will prompt new choices and healthy interactions as we move forward.

Celebrate the beauty that surrounds you. Whether near or far, bless those you love. Express gratitude for the blend of energies we create together as a re-imagined world comes into being. You have been called to participate in the dream of a new destiny and the grace you seek will open before you. Now is the time to free your heart and awaken to the joy of life.

New Beginnings

Your peacefulness and presence opens the world around you.

“When we let go of our battles and open our hearts to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present moment. This is the beginning and the end of spiritual practice.”
~Jack Kornfield

In the ever-shifting flow of life there is a constant movement of growth and change. We are forever in the process of endings and beginnings, expanding into new areas of understanding and recognizing the validity of what serves us best on the journey. Don’t fear the amazing potential that wishes to express itself through you. Underneath the layers of thought and belief lies an infinite source of life that patiently waits to be explored.

Periodically, it’s important to go within to take stock of your energetic balance and acknowledge how far you’ve come on the journey of awakening. Since it can be challenging to see ourselves clearly, learn how to utilize the reflection provided by the world. Should you find yourself judging, staying in the story, blaming or replaying old events in the mind, recognize that you are distracting yourself from going within. Observation creates awareness. Awareness creates movement… and movement creates the space for something new to be experienced.

Solitary Wisdom

Go within.

All that is true and all that is real will always bring you to aloneness. Love, prayer, life, death, aesthetic experiences, blissful moments – they all come when you are alone.”
~Osho~

As an awakening master, you have the ability to be more conscious than ever before about your approach to life. Utilize the tools you have cultivated thus far on your path of transformation and be ruthlessly honest, yet gentle with yourself. Everything you experience provides an opportunity for greater clarity.

Know that your journey is unique and honor that uniqueness as sacred. Something higher is moving through your heart right now and if you choose to go within, you’ll discover that all that you seek is already within you.

Your soul is deeply connected to the rhythm of the universe. Feel it. Recognize it as a powerful aspect within the ebb and flow of your life. Energy squandered on resistance is wasted; therefore, let your Presence infuse moments of solitude as well as moments of chaos with a deep knowing that you are ready to step into a new world.

 

Doors of Perception

What are you ready to see differently?

If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite.”
~William Blake~

A higher perspective is transformative. Within it we can explore vast levels of experience and potential. Through it we can brings new layers of insight and awareness into our life situations. And beyond it… the greatest adventure of the spiritual journey.

Traditionally, the sacred spiral represented the path of awakening. The lower circuits of movement are initially slow and laborious as we begin the process of facing the shadows reflected by our life experiences. With each subsequent revolution, the spiral takes us back through similar experiences, a little higher, a little more quickly. With each layer of insight an expanded wisdom emerges – ultimately revealing wholeness.

Choose to revisit old lessons or patterns with the knowledge that you are ready to explore them utilizing the next level of perception. Allow yourself the grace of receiving the message or the gift that is waiting to be discovered.