The Awakened Life

“Looking with a mind that’s awake reveals the shimmering pulse of life. Looking with a mind full of thoughts reveals only your thoughts.”
~Ezra Bayda~

We are all masters in the process of awakening. Even though we have the same ultimate purpose, our paths to enlightenment are unique. Once you discover what inspires you, find ways to weave it into your daily experience. Create your own mindful rituals that set the stage for greater awareness.

Consciousness seeks to express itself through you. In order to fully experience the present moment, it’s helpful to periodically set aside the mundane and choose to walk in the world with a sense of wonder.

This vision quest offers limitless nuances to explore, infinite facets of light and energy that dance in joy at the prospect of your awakening. All of life conspires to assist you on the journey.

There is nothing more important than your state of consciousness in this moment. Sometimes it’s enough to close the eyes, breathe slowly and deeply and simply go inward. Sense the vastness of possibility within you and visualize an expansion of your energy with each exhale. These little moments of restorative peace can bring you back into balance.

 

 

Recognizing the Sacred

“When we resist change, it’s called suffering. But when we can completely let go and not struggle against it, when we can embrace the groundlessness of our situation and relax into its dynamic quality, that’s called enlightenment.”
~Pema Chödrön~
Imagine having the ability to send love out to all living beings in order to facilitate a space of enlightenment and wisdom. Imagine planting seeds that have the potential to shift our collective experience in such a way that we are all transformed. Imagine waves of energy emanating from you, little sparkles of light traveling through a grid of consciousness which enfolds us all.
During your next meditative moment, consider visualizing how such an action would look and feel to you. Would the energy emanate from your hands or your heart chakra, or perhaps an expansion of your auric field? What colors would represent healing? When you imagine it, it is already in motion.
The root cause of all harm is unconsciousness. We have the opportunity and ability to emit wisdom and light into the world, creating a space in which transformation can occur. Empowerment is purposely choosing to participate in our collective experience in a way that lifts one another up.

Presence

“There is only one perpetrator of evil on the planet: human unconsciousness. That realization is true forgiveness. With forgiveness, your victim identity dissolves, and your true power emerges–the power of Presence. Instead of blaming the darkness, you bring in the light.”
~Eckhart Tolle~
Allow this moment to be the most transformative of your life.

The way to experience life fully is to bring your complete awareness to what is unfolding right now. This is the moment of transformation. Observe your thoughts and actions. Are they allowing you to be fully present with the experience or are they projected toward some future moment or desire?

When you focus your awareness on the Now, you’ll discover that you are right where you need to be. The lessons unfolding are perfect for the souls development and through complete acceptance, joy begins to expand throughout every aspect of your life. Embrace what is. You have chosen these experiences for the express purpose of accelerating your spiritual growth.

Take brief, frequent pauses often throughout the day to check your state of consciousness. 30 seconds of mindful breathing can help to align you with the present moment. Within the ebb and flow of life, you can choose to create a foundation of calmness, peace and empowerment,  the natural by-products of acceptance.

You Are Beautiful

“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
~Gandi~

Empty yourself of the things that block your light. Beyond the stories of the ego, beyond perceived mistakes and crystallized beliefs, lies the infinite, loving energy of the Divine.

Life is simply a series of opportunities to observe and release the heavy energies of limitation. Choose to observe yourself without judgment or expectation. Discard what you no longer need and embrace what brings you joy.

Awakening is a process. There are moments of breakthrough, new vision, empowerment and freedom, sometimes followed by resistance, apathy and the resurgence of old patterns. Don’t allow the ego to tell you that it’s all for naught – you are not broken or wrong. Instead, focus upon the light which shines from within, illuminating the garden of your soul, heart and spirit. You are a master in the process of awakening.

Allow joy to guide you and open your consciousness to the expansion of life. Be gentle with yourself as you grow and change. When you really love yourself, you set the stage where you can explore the vastness of peace, empowerment, growth and transformation. You are beautiful.

Your Role in the World

“It’s no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.”
~Jiddu Krishnamurti~

We are all deeply connected. This planet offers a playground of experience and it doesn’t really matter what you choose to believe. Humans tend to adopt ego-driven ideas and then fight to the death to defend them. Contrasting beliefs are a distraction that pull us into conflict with one another. The only thing that ultimately matters is your level of consciousness.

Our role, as souls seeking to awaken, is to do our own work, to rise above the minutia of the mind, free ourselves from limiting beliefs, heal our wounds (both personal and collective) and hold space for those around us so that they can do the same.

Before you speak, ask yourself if what you want to say is loving, beneficial or supportive. Always focus on what you’d like to create rather than what you perceive as wrong. Conscious adjustments in our words and thoughts can initiate transformative energy with laser-like focus.

So, simply pay attention to what you put out into the world. Are you adding to imbalance, anger and dysfunction through reactivity or can you rise above? Your willingness to take ownership of your own state of consciousness allows your light to shine like a beacon in the darkness. You are an inspiration to those who cross your path. Begin Now.

Personal Responsibility

“We are responsible for our own ignorance or, with time and openhearted enlightenment, our own wisdom.”
~Isabel Wilkerson~

The only thing over which you have any control is how you choose to respond to life. It’s important to drop all judgment and blame (which is projecting thoughts and beliefs outward) and embrace personal responsibility for whatever is unfolding in your experience. No blame should be directed inward either. Simply observe, take ownership and consciously direct the course of your own life.
When we take full responsibility for our own experience, we put ourselves in a position of empowerment. Everything has a spiritual solution and serves a specific purpose in our soul’s growth.
A new level of consciousness is waiting to be discovered. Do not tolerate – love. Do not condemn – seek to understand. The most powerful aspect of embracing the concept of Oneness is to remember that we are all on the same journey, although at differing levels of consciousness, soul age and experience.
This dance of awareness allows you to be a conscious co-creator of your own journey. Begin by fully accepting the present moment as it is. Complete each task mindfully and completely and observe how life responds to you.
 

Your Story

“There is more than enough time,
to weave strands of the ordinary
into your own holy text.
You are more than you know
less lost than you feel
and whole in your center.”
~Molly Remer~

Your story is still being written. With each step, your experiences and wisdom create a unique tale of struggle and success, sorrow and laughter, and insights born of a life well-lived. Upon review you’ll discover the necessity of each plot twist and character in the richness of your journey.

Celebrate your ingenuity. It’s powerful to observe yourself and to witness how far you’ve come. Likely, the challenges you have faced have allowed your many facets to shine and have transformed simplistic ideas into the layered, complex understanding of a sage.

Live your unique truths to the best of your ability. With humility, continue to honor everything and everyone you encounter as a teacher. Your purpose is to awaken, and all of life supports you in this endeavor.

Live consciously. You can choose to fill your life experiences with meaning and joy while perfecting your role as an ever-evolving character who is cultivating self-awareness and empowerment.

 

Simple Joy

“The mind can go in a thousand directions, but on this beautiful path, I walk in peace. With each step, the wind blows. With each step, a flower blooms.”
~Thich Nhat Hanh~
The mind will often tell us that life must fall into place before we can relax and enjoy it; however, the opposite is true. When we relax and enjoy, life falls into place. Rather than chasing a thousand solutions or achieving something of value to leave behind, we discover that the true point of power is in the present moment. Bringing conscious peace into the Now is transformative.
When you are mindful, any choices or actions taken have incredible vitality. It sounds simple because it is. Life is what it is. We can choose how to respond to whatever unfolds in our experience and utilize it as a gateway to higher consciousness. The old saying to be in the world but not of it points to this. We create our own reality, and in doing so, walk gently upon the earth.
Consider being consciously playful and accepting today. Approach each moment without expectation and immerse yourself within it. Operate from love. Observe the antics of the mind. You may discover that everything gets accomplished with greater ease and grace.

Embrace the Now

“Observe the wonders as they occur around you. Don’t claim them. Feel the artistry moving through and be silent.”
~Rumi~

The present moment is filled with countless miracles. When you truly immerse yourself within the Now, life becomes sacred. Everything is a reflection of the light of the Divine, adding to the mystery and the perfection of your experience. With each breath, you become one with life.

The mental patterns and frustrations of our humanness are nothing more than outmoded conditioning. The spiritual seeker breaks free from desire and societal imprinting and chooses to live purposely at a higher level of consciousness. This is the light that awakens the light in others.

When we seek only to learn from and love one another, something miraculous occurs… there is an effortless blending of energies that creates something entirely different. And from this new place of compassion, insight and experience a world of infinite potential opens and we can step through the doorway with an open heart.

Be Kind

“Life is a balance of holding on and letting go.”
~Rumi~
Every moment offers opportunities to be kind to yourself, to one another, animals, the planet, and future generations. When we bring the practice of compassion to the forefront of our life situation, we become integral aspects in the dance of creation.
Sometimes the ego seeks immediate gratification through reminding another of their shortfalls (as we perceive them), getting in a snarky comeback or simply expounding opinions. That sort of response feeds more negativity into a situation and is a missed opportunity to bring a higher level of consciousness to the present moment.
We are called upon to be channels for Divine energy. Release the need to blame anyone and instead, choose to accept people as they are. There are no enemies – simply souls playing various roles in our collective awakening. Those who are still asleep need your love, not your judgment.
See every experience as an opportunity to cultivate a greater understanding of your life’s purpose. Kindness is never wasted.