Appreciation

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.

Celebrating Our Differences

“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.

Limitless Possibilities

“Our minds are finite, and yet even in these circumstances of finitude we are surrounded by possibilities that are infinite, and the purpose of life is to grasp as much as we can out of that infinitude.”

~Alfred North Whitehead~

As consciousness expands, limitless possibilities are presented. The exploration into the unknown becomes a vital place of ingenuity, potential and empowerment. It’s humbling to remember that no matter how far you have traveled on the path of transformation, you have barely scratched the surface of what you will discover.

Rather than immediately being reactive when presented with challenges, seek to bring new awareness into your life situation. Every circumstance can be viewed as an opportunity to discover aspects of ourselves that are ready to shine. Remember, all perceived mistakes are due to ignorance. As we awaken, we do better. This is true of everyone.

Spiritual wisdom is expressed through kindness and humility. In the face of eternity, we are merely sparks of love seeking expression. The most powerful thing that you can do is to be mindful and consistent in your day-to-day journey. There is a vibrant playground of discovery waiting to be explored. This is your moment of transformation.

What We Create

“Each of us is an artist of our days; the greater our integrity and awareness, the more original and creative our time will become.”
~John O’Donohue~

You are an artist who is constantly in the process of co-creation, weaving a unique tapestry of exquisite design. Each thought, word and action creates layers of energy that flow from you out into the world of form. Observe what you say. Do your words reflect what you wish to create? Do they support your joy and willingness to receive?

It’s a wonderful practice to set a deliberate intention, focus upon it during your morning rituals and then watch with joy as it manifests in various ways throughout your daily experience. For instance, if your intention is to be a loving reflection of the sacredness in everyone you meet, your interactions will be far different than if your mind was only focused upon the tasks that needed to be accomplished. Instead of a regular day with it’s normal ups and downs, you might experience brief but unique expressions of beauty from each person with whom you interact.

These conscious choices bring a higher level of light into our physical experience. Choose intentions that allow you to explore being the very best version of yourself. The spiritual seekers goal is to merge the sacred with the mundane.

Conscious Self-Talk

“If you celebrate your differentness, the world will, too. It believes exactly what you tell it—through the words you use to describe yourself, the actions you take to care for yourself, and the choices you make to express yourself. Tell the world you are one-of-a-kind creation who came here to experience wonder and spread joy. Expect to be accommodated.”
~Victoria Moran~

Embrace your uniqueness. Your self-talk has great power. It creates the filter through which you interpret the world, and sends out an energy that tells others how you expect to be treated.

Repeating patterns show us our deepest beliefs. It can be very challenging to see yourself clearly and others will often act as mirrors to provide insight into what you are putting out into the world. As you increase in awareness, you can consciously participate in changing your experience.

Observe your inner dialogue, listen to the phrases you tend to repeat and consider whether your words are purposeful or simply repeating an old story. Don’t fight against the old habitual patterns – what you fight, you strengthen. Begin by quietly noticing your words and allow your awareness to initiate the process of transformation. Become more conscious of how you choose to express yourself. A whole new world awaits.

The Four Virtues

When you change your thoughts, you change your life experience.

Lao tzu taught four virtues that, when practiced consistently, provide a lasting foundation of inner peace and purpose:

1) Reverence for All Life – When you live from the heart, expressing unconditional love for yourself and others, the light of consciousness will automatically flow into all that you do.

2) Natural Sincerity – When you act with integrity, you can allow life to unfold as it will without doubt, regret or worry. Act with integrity, do your best, accept what is.

3) Gentleness – Living a life of non-violence and giving up the ego’s desire to be right paves the way for authentic interactions. What would your life be like if you never argued or had inner conflict again?

4) Supportiveness – Support yourself and others with kind and uplifting words, thoughts and actions. This beautiful nurturing energy brings the most empowered and peaceful aspects of yourself into your daily interactions.

The idea is to consistently work toward higher levels of consciousness such as Willingness, Acceptance, Reason, Love, Joy, Peace and Enlightenment. Expanded frequencies have a greater impact and, utilizing them, we can hold space for others – and that is the space in which a transformation can occur.

Your State of Consciousness

Yesterday, while walking through a parking lot, a lady in an electric vehicle began to pull out without noticing my husband and me. We stopped, laughed and commented that because her car was so quiet we didn’t realize that she was getting ready to back out. So we stopped for a moment, no big deal.

Just then, another person walked up on our left and began to verbally berate the driver for being oblivious. She was fairly hostile and the driver simply stopped, took the abuse quietly, looked down uncomfortably and paused before going on her way.

This was a quick example of how differing levels of consciousness impact our lives on a daily basis. One event can be experienced in myriad ways by those involved and this seemed a demonstration of several perceptions that were all accurate at varying levels. The facts were these: a driver made a minor error and no one was harmed. The flow of energy that I observed ran the gamut from humor and patience, to outrage and abuse, to shame and embarrassment.

A very basic interpretation would be that Dave and I were vibrating at the level of Neutrality, the abuser at the level of Anger and the driver at the level of Fear. Each level creates a filter through which we interpret our experiences. The lower levels might indicate that some self-karma was briefly at work.

We all seek greater awareness. This brief moment was a good reminder that we are all human. Every experience offers an opportunity to grow and learn from one another.

 

Beyond Illusion

Step into the stillness of the present moment. As awareness expands, consciousness arises. In this space of enlightenment it becomes possible to see through the illusions of this world to the love that connects us. The healing power of the heart is absolutely needed now as we spin down the rabbit hole, mired in opinions and judgment.

Don’t give up on one another. Our collective patterns will continue to repeat until enough of us break free from the illusion to shift the energy into a new cycle of experience. The slow, often subtle changes that we go through (both personal and collective) are part of our spiritual journey.

First, work on seeing yourself with clarity and acceptance. This will improve the filters you use to interpret the world. With your depth of understanding you can demonstrate a different way of being, one that is compassionate, empowered and heart-centered.

Humankind suffers from a denial of spirit and the only thing that will create change is a shift of consciousness. As we re-discover the interconnection of all things, our choices will reflect wisdom and clarity. Honor this moment as sacred by celebrating your journey through illusion to the truth of your heart.

Your Life is Your Message

“You do not write your life with words…You write it with actions. What you think is not important. It is only important what you do.”

~Patrick Ness~

Imagine the life of your dreams and live it Now to the best of your ability. You can expand into mastery by experiencing the present moment with an open heart. Life is a tapestry that is intricately woven by your thoughts, words and actions. You are the artist. Your joy is the light. Your life is the message.

When you live authentically, happiness arises. That energy flows outward touching everything and everyone around you. The way to discern if you’re living your truth is to ask, “Am I completely at peace with myself or am I suffering?”

Every cell in your body is filled with Divine intelligence. Listen to the messages it provides and honor the processes of your awakening. All that is required is the willingness to recognize the magnificence of your being.

The purpose of being human is to awaken to who we truly are. Live fearlessly and dance in the mystery and wonder of being alive.

Protection

“If you understand it, the world is a great device to make you conscious. Your enemy is your friend, and the curses are blessings, and the misfortunes can be turned into fortunes. It depends only on one thing: if you know the key of awareness.”
~Osho
~

This planet is a playground of discovery. As we journeyed through illusion we came to believe only in what we saw and forgot that there are layers of love and protection all around us. Eventually, challenges prompted the process of self-examination. Seeking greater awareness, we drop the layers of illusion until finally, all that remains is love and joy.

It is safe for you to act from the heart and allow circumstances to unfold as they will. Navigating our way through the unknown cultivates the ability to have faith during times of indecision. We are called upon to act with courage and integrity in the present moment and trust that whatever unfolds is working toward the highest good of all involved.

Remind yourself often that all of life is conspiring on your behalf. Seek only to bring the best version of yourself to your choices and interactions. As you awaken, you’ll discover that the challenges you face seem more manageable. Reactivity will decrease and a sense of safety will be the grounding force for all that you experience.