Anam Cara (Soul Friend)

Posted on by

“The one you love, your anam cara, your soul friend, is the truest mirror to reflect your soul. The honesty and clarity of true friendship also brings out the real contour of your spirit. It is beautiful to have such a presence in your life.”
~John O’Donohue~

Our purpose is to learn how to give and receive love. That can only be discovered through the removal of any barriers against love that we have built. As we cultivate independence and self-confidence, we can interact with one another without fear. This freedom allows us to discover who we are in the presence of another.

Most of us have a group of 30-40 souls with whom we incarnate throughout our multiple lifetimes. This soul group works together in various forms, utilizing lessons, drama and unwavering support to help one another evolve. Over time, these beautiful souls demonstrate a seasoned love and steadfastness that can lift us to new heights – even in the midst of our challenges.

Give space to those you love. When your souls meet, consciously bring a gentle recognition to the beauty of the depth of love you have for one another. Your interactions will ultimately awaken a sense of safety, authenticity and support.

Appreciation

Posted on by

Your first thoughts and actions upon awakening dictate how the energy of the day will be experienced. When you consciously choose appreciation and gratitude, you open to receive the love that flows upon you from all dimensions.
Longing is another form of suffering. Rooted in some undetermined future, it robs us of the ability to experience the vibrancy and potential of the present moment. The enlightened spirit takes full responsibility for their own state of consciousness. Seek to adjust your inner dialogue whenever necessary and observe how you choose to respond to the present moment. This simple movement of awareness is transformative.
Human intimacy, and all the emotional aspects it contains, provides the richness of spiritual life. Many seek to rise above the mundane as an aspect of their spiritual journey; however, the repudiation of worldly interaction can sometimes become the ego’s way of grabbing hold through denial or judgment. Anyone can be zen while meditating on a mountaintop. The spiritual master brings that sense of peace into each and every relationship.

Be willing to be vulnerable as you participate in the experiences of your life. Conscious choices are always available when you remember that every situation is an active, integral part of your awakening. The present moment brings what the present moment brings. Live it. Release the word “should” from your vocabulary, it indicates expectation rather than acceptance.

The Divine Practice

Posted on by

“Until we have seen someone’s darkness, we don’t really know who they are. Until we have forgiven someone’s darkness, we don’t really know what love is.”
~Marianne Williamson~

Hatred and love cannot coexist in the same space; they are at opposite ends of the energetic spectrum. Yet here we are, collectively watching hatred unfold in it’s various forms – sometimes subtle, sometimes egregious. The Divine Practice is using hatred when it arises within you, and purposely choosing to see through the ego-driven behavior to the unlimited potential that resides within.

When you create healing in your life, you’ll see it reflected in the world around you. Many years ago, a particular woman in politics used to trigger me a great deal. She was reflecting unhealed aspects of myself (judgment, opinion, righteous anger and the need to be right). Noticing this, I honored her as a teacher and immediately utilized those emotions as part of my Divine Practice.

  • Observe, see what elicits a repetitive or reactive response from you
  • Take ownership – “I’m reactive right now because I, too, have that tendency.”
  • Utilize your tools – affirmations, meditation, gratitude, listening to the ego and then doing the opposite are great places to begin.
  • Force yourself to face the darkness within you. This can be done by purposely watching the person if they are not part of your personal life. Little by little your awareness lessens the trigger response (in my case it turned into humor) and you can be more in control of the energy you put out into the world.

Now when I see this lady, I smile to myself and honor her role in helping me to heal something that hid from my conscious awareness. Behind the veil of enlightenment, there is only love.

Challenges Expand Consciousness

Posted on by

“When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not yet ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back. A week is more than enough time for us to decide whether or not to accept our destiny.”
~Paulo Coelho~

The soul seek to expand into new areas of awareness and the challenges we face, both personal and collective, play a powerful role in our development. Your attention begins the process of transformation. Bring a gentle self-awareness to the patterns that repeat and purposely seek to change your approach. When you break free of habitual responses, something new begins to emerge.

The tools that you have cultivated along the way become stronger when you have the opportunity to consciously utilize them. Rather than resist the tidal flow of energy, seek to flow with it and face any challenges that arise when they are still small.  See the field of life as a place to observe wisdom in action. Your higher self is guiding you throughout the process of awakening.

Celebrating Our Differences

Posted on by

“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in our philosophy.”

~William Shakespeare~

We have much to learn from one another. While it may feel more comfortable to reinforce beliefs with like-minded people, we achieve far greater strength through understanding various points of view. This calls upon us to cultivate humility and wonder as we boldly engage with life. There is always something new to discover.

Ultimately, understanding leads to greater compassion and acceptance. As we learn to celebrate our differences, we expand our perception and integrate the new. You are a unique, ever-evolving expression of the Divine, seeking to awaken.

Over the course of a life we are impacted by many sources and experiences. As the energies blend, they delicately permeate the whole and something new emerges. The synergy is greater than its parts.

Begin within. When you step into the fullness of who you are you will feel safer while exploring the unknown. Honor each path as sacred. Be a source of Presence and learn what you will. The gift of greater consciousness awaits when you live with an open heart. Contrast leads to discovery. Humility leads to wisdom. Laughter leads to love.

The Message of Your Heart

Posted on by

“There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.”  

~Marianne Williamson~

Your light is transformative. Tempered in the fires of awakening, your facets are ready to shine. Understand that you bring something beautiful  to our collective experience and that you can inspire awakening in those with whom you interact.

At the beginning of ones awakening, it can be challenging to be consistent. We learn through experience and contrast, eventually releasing the things we have outgrown. After years of practice, we discover aspects of ourselves that are deep and meaningful and recognize that nothing is more important than living that truth out loud.

Small conscious actions create a momentum filled with powerful intent. Doing less, more gets accomplished. When you enjoy the journey, miracles seems to flow toward you. There are many ways to celebrate your existence – but all true happiness comes from within.

So, begin by discovering and celebrating your unique journey. Let your life be your message and become an agent of change. Each of us, by living our truth, plays an active role in the collective awakening of which we are all a part.

Trust Love

Posted on by

The infinite love of the Divine surrounds us at all times. Although, there are certainly moments when it is easy to feel separate, bewildered or overwhelmed, there it waits, patiently honoring the process of discovery until we are ready to access it once again.

When the light of consciousness shifts your perception, it allows you to recognize the guidance and support that is available, see your infinite potential and trust yourself enough to step into the flow of life. A shift in perception can create powerful changes in your life. Awareness calls upon us to consistently focus upon the blessings that surround us. This purposeful act of gratitude and willingness opens the door to new experience.

We learn by experiencing contrast. A life filled with love is typically discovered and nurtured by rising above our fears. Your willingness to face the shadows of the soul, ensures that you will emerge changed, empowered and courageous.
When you choose to live from the heart, amazing things begin to happen. Love life as it is and see it as an adventure, exploring and experiencing with innocence and excitement. With each challenge you have the opportunity to learn something new about yourself. These facets bring new sparkle and dimension to the journey.

Perfection in the Imperfection

Posted on by
“To become a great teacher, one must become a teaching.”
~Gabrielle Roth~
In the midst of chaos and confusion, all is well. When things fall apart, there is an opportunity to release expectation and focus on doing our best in the present moment. Cultivate the art of being at ease during unexpected circumstances.
Can you see it? Can you look at a seed and see it’s perfection, it’s potential? Encased in a protective shell until it’s ready to sprout, the seed carries the potential of growth – not only of the one sprouting, but of the many, many plants that will evolve from it.
The spiritual seeker can bring this same light to those with whom they interact. Is the person in front of you a seed full of potential, a flower in bloom or decline or ready to nurture the energy of the future? All aspects are natural and part of the perfection of the process of growth.
Choose to find the perfection in the imperfection. See the value of everything and how it may serve our unfolding journey. When we honor all things as sacred, we tend to experience greater peace, compassion and acceptance. What a wonderful place to reside.

Be Authentic

Posted on by

“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.”
~Carl Gustav Jung~

Drop all pretense. Rather than trying to please or seek outside validation, simply bring the best version of yourself to this moment.

The dance of awakening opens new dimensions of life. In them, we are born anew and begin to leave behind the limitations, demands, criticism, doubt and worry of earthbound experience. We taste the gifts of freedom and limitless potential in our exploration and learn to bring this expanded perspective into our life situations.
One of the most important aspects of awakening is self-love. Transcend your own experience by choosing to interpret the perceived flaws of old programming as brilliant facets you can explore this lifetime. The Divine seeks only to express itself through you; therefore, do not hold yourself back out of fear. There has never been, nor will there ever be, someone with your unique way of being in the world.
In your authenticity, you shine like a beacon in the darkness. When you deeply love and accept yourself, it becomes easier to love others just the way they are. Teaching by example, we can demonstrate a new type of experience, one founded in joy.

A Rose By Any Other Name

Posted on by

“Witches call it spells. Christians call it prayer. Spiritualists call it manifestation. Atheists call it the placebo effect. Scientists call it quantum physics. Everyone’s arguing over its name. No is denying its existence.”

~Kim Dunn~

All over the world various cultures have interpreted the same energy in myriad ways. This aspect of discovery and playfulness centered around how to define the infinite; however, over time our collective ego got ever more attached to being right and thus these interpretations often came to divide us.

It’s empowering to honor every pathway as sacred. All have value at differing levels of consciousness and often overlap. Paradoxical as it may seem, we can nurture the seeds of Oneness through understanding how others experience the world.

Old souls tend to study various belief systems and adopt whatever pieces spark awareness and joy. This combination of ideas creates a unique approach for each soul and we eventually drop all labels and the need to be validated or seen as right. It really doesn’t matter what you believe. All that matters is your level of consciousness and the energy you bring into your experience. Approach the journey with humility, mindfulness and compassion. There is always something new to discover.