Insight

“Allow yourself to take the risk of shattering the old patterns and limitation that have kept your energy from flowing.”
~Osho~

Living consciously is the greatest adventure that life has to offer. When you bring awareness to your life experience, anything can spark a breakthrough. Something as unexpected as a chance encounter, a vivid dream or a message from the Divine can change everything. Life can spark a breakthrough… and that insight may expand your way of thinking.

There are moments when your life-path can diverge from repetitive beliefs and behavior into a whole new area of experience. Consciously facing a dark night of the soul allows us to emerge into the light with a new level of courage and a higher perspective. Old structures disappear as we shed the weight of old beliefs.
When you reach a point of despair, resistance or darkness, it indicates that something profound is getting ready to happen. Push through, keep moving forward and reach toward the light. You may be surprised at the power that flows through your life when you are willing to create a space where a transformation can occur. The goal is to see things differently. Daylight has come.

Know Thyself

“Your own Self-Realization is the greatest service you can render the world.”
~Ramana Maharshi~

Some people seek recognition or validation. Some seek to be needed. Others base every decision upon what they believe is required of them… and all feel trapped by the expectations of others.
The awakened spirit lives in his or her own truth. Led by passion and compassion, they walk the path less traveled. If others seek to admonish them, it’s OK. When others seek to revere them, they simply turn inward. Each of us walks a unique path and it cannot be truly defined by anything other than our inner wisdom.

Rather than fighting particular aspects of your personality or appearance, cultivate acceptance and reside in the positive poles of each. Even so-called negative traits can be expressed in a healthy way when one is conscious – stubbornness becomes tenacity of spirit, impatience can be transformed into healthy, mindful action, arrogance can shift into pride of one’s accomplishments combined with humility. It’s the unique differences between us that create so much beauty. You bring a glorious and valuable energy to the collective experience of the planet and sharing your light may inspire others to do the same.

Expansion

Clarity is rooted in the deep stillness of the present moment. It lies beyond the desire to understand with the mind and brings a higher awareness of the harmony that connects us. As we awaken, we experience this clarity with greater frequency and honor it as a sacred gift.

We share a brief moment within the infinite expansion of consciousness. This world is merely the beginning of an amazing journey from separation to wholeness. A journey that ultimately takes us beyond all limitations of time and space and into the unknowable.

Understandably, the concepts of soul expansion can be challenging to understand from a human perspective. While immersed in life it’s easy to become distracted by the intensity of the world around us. This is why stillness, gratitude and mindfulness are so important – each provides an opportunity to rise above the mechanisms of the ego and into communion with the infinite, if only for a brief moment.

Be open to opportunities to celebrate. Joy is the gateway into the temple of the infinite… learn from the trees, the wind, laughter, friendship… and remember that the wisdom you seek is everywhere, waiting to be discovered in the stillness of your heart.

Eternity

“We are travelers on a cosmic journey,stardust,swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share.This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.”
~Paulo Coelho~

You are a spark of the Divine… infinite, eternal, beautiful.

With our limited human perception, it’s difficult to process the idea of eternity. Time is a construct of the mind and often it drives us to hurry through the present moment in order to get somewhere else; however, the present moment is all there is. And it is the eternal Now.
We are all participating in an exploration of separateness. The lifetimes we spend on this planet, the roles we play and the lessons we learn from one another are only the beginning of the incredible journey we share.
There is enough time. Everyone on the planet will eventually evolve through experiencing all the earth-based soul ages: Infant, Baby, Young, Mature and Old to finally discover the nature of love. Tending to your own state of consciousness will ultimately aid in the awakening of all humanity. Have compassion for yourself and for one another.

Choosing Joy

“Let us dance in the sun, wearing wild flowers in our hair…”
~susan polis schutz~

You are here to experience everything that life has to offer. It’s powerful to remember that, in every moment, you can consciously choose how you interpret your experiences. When you view the present moment through the filter of joy, you bring a higher awareness into any situation.

Life is filled with contrasts. Joy helps us to discover purpose, solutions, healing and strength in circumstances that can often be fraught with challenge. Your love is the guiding light during moments of darkness, and your willingness to walk forward will bring you once again into the realm of joy and empowerment.

Wisdom is attained through experience. Our challenges provide opportunities to strengthen aspects of our character that are ready to shine. Proceed, knowing that you are right where you need to be and that all you need to discover is waiting for your attention. Laugh at your foibles, and realize that you do not need to wait for a reason to celebrate. You can dance in the rain knowing that sunny days are ahead. And, if all else fails, lose yourself in the smile of a dog.

Rising Above Ego

“Enlightenment is the ego’s ultimate disappointment.”
~Chogyam Trungpa~

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 activated in some fashion whenever peace and acceptance elude you.

As you cultivate wisdom and taste the freedom and expansiveness that is discovered, you will begin to view the ego as a teacher – nothing more, nothing less. It then becomes easier to see through the illusion. In moments of imbalance stop and observe your thoughts. See them objectively and then consciously move into love. Every moment is an opportunity to be still and deepen your connection to the Divine.

Divine Wisdom

“The heart that seeks to awaken, to live genuinely, is more real than anything. That nameless drive calls you to be who you most truly are.”
~Ezra Bayda
~

Sometimes you are closer to your divine wisdom than you realize. On those occasions the Universe tends to send confirmation – the perfect book falls into your hands, you repeatedly hear the same message, knowledge makes itself known to you – it can be a delight to watch how the synchronicities unfold.

Our conditioning often leads us to place more faith in validation from others than in ourselves. These loving messages from the Divine are meant to strengthen your unique vision so that you can more easily follow the inner prompting of your heart. For many, this begins an incredible transformation that reverberates throughout their life experience.

You will awaken in whatever way best serves your evolution. Apparent losses and challenges are simply part of the game of awakening in which we are all engaged. Whether someone is consciously seeking awareness or not, their soul is still propelling them forward in the most appropriate way for the unfoldment of their journey. As we tend to our own awakening, this loving energy impacts everything and everyone around us.

Present Moment Acceptance

“The true task of a spiritual life is not found in faraway places or unusual states of consciousness. It is here in the present.”

~Jack Kornfield~

Small acts of kindness can change the world around us. Just as consistent drops of water will eventually transform stone, loving actions leave a lasting impact. Practice reaching out in thoughts and behavior with kindness. When you choose to see the sacredness in all beings and in every situation, you become a channel for the love, light and laughter of the Divine.

The paradox of higher consciousness is this: By giving without asking, we attract all that we need. By putting others first, we wind up ahead. When we live without fear, life responds to us in miraculous ways.

Seek to break free from the limiting belief that life “should” be a certain way and instead, choose to embody complete acceptance of life as it is. Acceptance is not predicated on liking something; however, its presence opens the possibility of clarity and empowered movement.
Your journey is your own. Each of us is ultimately responsible for our own joy and the unique way that we choose to walk through the world.

Befriend the Shadows

“It is here, in this least likely place, that we will find the key to unlock our strength, our happiness, and our ability to live out our dreams.”
~Debbie Ford~
We have been conditioned to fear the shadow side of life and of ourselves. It’s important to turn and face it; thus transforming it into a powerful aspect of spiritual awakening.

As multifaceted beings, we hold every possibility within us. What we deny within ourselves quietly runs various aspects of our lives, often sabotaging efforts regarding work, abundance, relationships and self-love.

What you react strongly to in another is a reflection of something you do not wish to face in yourself. Pay attention – this is the beauty of understanding how we help one another on the journey. It is within these unexamined, darker aspects that our true power lies.

The way to transform shadow is to shine the light of awareness upon it. From a space of love, choose to stop projecting it onto others (notice words of blame), release attachment and self-judgement, and be gentle with yourself. Healing comes through wholeness and acceptance. Sometimes you may have to traverse the dark corners of your psyche – do not reject these shadows, for they too have something to teach, and you will emerge transformed by the light of consciousness.

Be Peace

“If you understand it, the world is a great device to make you more 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~

You have chosen to follow a path of awakening in a time when many still live in darkness and confusion. More than ever before, it’s important to focus on staying balanced – even in the midst of upheaval – so that you can bring light to the world.

A peaceful heart is created by a peaceful mind. Quieting the ego is a life-long process; however, it is one that has the potential to set you free from the turbulence that plagues so many. Since your perception of the world is a reflection of your inner state of consciousness, your experiences will become more peaceful.

All that unfolds happens for you, not to you. Your life situation provides the opportunity to refine and utilize the spiritual tools you have been cultivating. It allows you to apply your inner wisdom in various scenarios until it becomes the integral aspect of your response to life.