Mans inhumanity to man, animals, the planet, etc. is born of fear. Fear often masks itself as greed (the fear of not having enough), the need for power (the fear of being inconsequential), or aggression (the fear of not being loved).

Nothing has ever been healed by hatred. Moving into love opens the door to a new reality accessible through our thoughts, actions and choices. Love creates space in which transformation can occur. Whether one needs self-healing because of past unconscious behavior or choices, personal healing due to the acts of another, group healing from the acts perpetrated over the centuries to women, ethnic, sexual or spiritual groups, realize that only love allows movement.

Resentment, judgment and hatred – on any level – destroy through disconnection. Master teachers taught to love those who would harm, extend kindness to those in need, and teach through example, but always, these energetic shifts must begin within. We can only love others to the extent that we love ourselves.

Our relationship to the world around us reflects our true relationship to ourselves; and through that, our connection to the Oneness of all life. When we allow the present moment to be as it is without expectation, we begin to experience the world in all its beauty.

When you encounter conflict in any area of your life – relationships, body image, traffic jams, drama, etc. – remember that its only purpose is to alert you to the fact that you are out of alignment with your true nature.

Empowerment comes through the realization of the need to self-adjust and then taking steps to regain balance. There are many ways back to center; however, they are all deeply rooted in the silence beneath the chatter of the mind.

Peacefulness in the present moment is needed to become aware of the beauty, majesty and sacredness of life. When we become engaged in discovery, lessons present themselves everywhere we look. Our world is set up to provide constant reminders of the joy of life… a flower, a bird, a cloud.

The art of stillness connects us to love and each day I am grateful. As I watch the sun lighten the sky, I am greeted by love. As the birds awaken and sing in the stillness, I am serenaded by love. In the flow of my breath, I am connected to love.

There is great peace in discovering the Law of Detachment. In a world that’s evolving faster than ever before, old structures are dissolving. What was once considered stable is now as impermanent as shifting sand. Many are being swept along in this energy, not realizing that the intensity and transformation are leading them to golden shores of new possibility.

When we learn the art of detachment, we begin to live in the present moment without rigidly imposing our vision of how we believe things should be. To participate with detached involvement allows the opportunity to clearly see all the pathways which become available.

Allow uncertainty to be an essential ingredient of your experience and be willing to see what emerges from the chaos. When we choose to view uncertainty as the path to freedom, infinite possibilities open and we can experience the joy, adventure and mystery that life has to offer.

“Call to mind the deepest, darkest, most negative truth about yourself – and know that this ‘truth’ is a lie.”  

~Ezra Bayda~

Everyone faces their own dark night of the soul as part of the quest to awaken. These moments can create feelings of loss and confusion; however, they are a necessary aspect of transformation. The ego will often play a script that says, “If only this person knew [what I’ve seen, been through, done], they’d see me differently.” And thus, we see ourselves as separate from one another because of our perceived deficiencies.

The first step of our collective journey of spiritual awakening is always to be in harmony with one’s self. Once we accomplish that, we can begin to walk in the world with a greater sense of purpose and passion.

When we surrender to the feeling side of consciousness, the journey will be creative and full of revelation. The path of transformation involves powerful, deep experiences which ultimately lead to wisdom and understanding. These moments of awakening integrate the insights and lessons, and all facets of the personality into wholeness.

The way to bring more love into your life is to practice giving it out. Any kind act given freely, no matter how small, creates a shift in your energy field that will act as a magnet, drawing beauty to you. Love nurtures the soul from within.

Be the person of your dreams right now, in this moment. Allow your energy to be completely focused on loving where you are, making conscious choices and sending that beautiful energy outward. Everything else will fall into place.

Traditionally, we associate abundance with material wealth or physical items; however, abundance is the feeling of having more than you need. It’s not surprising that the word ‘dance’ is contained within it, for when we feel abundant, on many levels we dance through life with enthusiasm.

Enthusiasm is deeply aligned with the present moment which is the source of it’s joy and power – it needs nothing because it lacks nothing. Joy is not a result of what we do, but is an energy that flows through us into what we do. This happiness creates expansion and positive change which becomes the motivating factor behind life itself.

It’s important to absolutely enjoy whatever it is that you choose to do. Love the journey, embrace your unique way of being in the world, celebrate your gifts. It’s amazing to realize that no matter how things unfold in the physical world, abundance is a state of Oneness with the Universe and is accessible by everyone who chooses to recognize it.

Do not run from the darkness when it appears in your life. Moments of confusion, disappointment, depression or anger can become the most important aspects of your spiritual awakening. Begin your practice by bringing consciousness into your experience right now. First, walk for a few minutes while completely engaged in thought. Then, while standing still, take a few slow breaths and begin to walk consciously while deeply engaged with the world around you. Notice the difference?

The idea is to observe your level of consciousness often throughout the day. This will change the quality of your life experiences. Being aligned with the present moment, tension disappears and the subtle joy of being alive arises.

When you are deeply rooted in awareness, you’ll notice that you eat slower. There will be a new quality in your communication or your work. Life becomes a walking meditation. By extension, when challenges arise, higher consciousness will be easier to access because it is already an active aspect of your daily experience… and from there, transformation is possible.

When we walk through our life situations with the core belief that things will work out just as they should, we have greater access to self-confidence, independence, strength and courage. It’s only when we fall prey to the voice of the ego that we begin to doubt ourselves… What if I fail? What if I get hurt? What if I disappoint?

It’s important to recognize the mechanisms of the mind, and at the same time understand that its purpose is to provide illusions for us to work through on the Path of Transformation. The ego is not the enemy (that’s just another story made up by the ego in order to make itself important), it’s simply one of the aspects of the human experience.

As you increase in wisdom and self-worth and taste the freedom and expansiveness that is discovered, you’ll learn to view the ego as a teacher – nothing more, nothing less. At that point, you’ll begin to rise above illusion and walk forward in courage and truth.