Infinite Potential

“You must give everything to make your life as beautiful as the dreams that dance in your imagination.”
~Roman Payne~ 
Ultimately, spiritual awakening is about living fully present. It is the gathering of experience, the awakening of wisdom and the expression of blissfulness. Share your joy. Drink the nectar of life and allow those in your realm of influence to share in the abundance.
Only within the stories of the mind do we feel trapped, believing that our beliefs and problems are immovable objects. Everything is energy – light, ever-changing and transformative – ready to bring freedom to the awakened spirit. All transformation begins with a thought. Thought begets movement, and movement opens new channels of energy that contain infinite potential.
When challenges seem too big to handle, begin the process of transformation by changing your thoughts. Make things more manageable by remembering that all boundaries and limitations are self-imposed. Bring the light touch of awareness to those subtle changes in consciousness, choose mindful action and observe how your life situation begins to move in new directions.
Your life is a dance of discovery. You stand at the threshold of infinite possibility, the space in which life unfolds, the realm of pure potential.

Bliss

“Wherever you feel that life is growing, celebrate it, love it, welcome it, and a great transformation will happen to you. If life is revered in all its forms, you become more alive. ”
~Osho~ 
Nothing is more important than your state of consciousness in this moment – no anger or frustration, no problem, desire or regret. If this were your last moment, how would you spend it? Would you keep old antagonisms alive or want to hug those you love and appreciate one more sunset? Petty differences would become meaningless.
You can choose to put down any baggage that you carry. Once you realize that loving celebration leads to enlightenment, you’ll discover that there is no need to postpone your joy. Live as if each moment were your last because the next is not certain. Find your bliss here and now and choose to embrace it. The choice to be blissful will change your experience of life.
It is said that Zen is the acceptance of the ordinary existence with all your heart. When there is no desire for anything to be different than it is, the mundane becomes sacred. This is your moment of transformation.

The Role of Resistance

“Enlightenment is nothing more than the complete absence of resistance to what is. End of story.”
~Adyashanti~
As lessons unfold, your explorations will undoubtedly take you down new paths. Always seek the lesson, the beauty, the insight, for everything plays a role in the ongoing journey of your awakening.
As consciousness expands, the ego must learn to be more subtle. When you begin a process that is important to your development, distractions may arise. Resistance, whether internal or external, is a sign that you’re in the process of authentic change. Turn inward and face it directly knowing that the light of your consciousness is transformative.
Spiritual practice requires an openhearted acceptance of whatever unfolds in your experience. Acceptance lays a groundwork of peacefulness and empowerment that permeates all that you do. Begin with the premise that everything works toward your highest good and plays a specific role in your soul’s awakening.
Life-changing ideas are rarely heralded by a blaze of trumpets… sometimes they reside in a thought that pivots your direction. How you approach the present moment is the key – is it merely a means to an end, or are you celebrating your existence and the journey of your soul? Be led by joy.

Living With Compassion

“There are two things we must raise and evolve if we are to survive and thrive as a species; our consciousness and our compassion. For millennia these have barely shifted.”
~Rasheed Ogunlaru~
All the energy that we send out into the world returns ten-fold. Whether anyone is around to witness our acts of kindness or not, they send powerful reverberations throughout the web of our collective experience. We have the opportunity to live with compassion while consciously planting seeds of growth and awareness.
Recently, I visited the Cascades Raptor Center which specializes in the rehabilitation of birds of prey. With each bird was the story about their past, how they got hurt and information unique to their breed. It was interesting to see the list of companies that contribute to the well-being of the center and I was happy to see my go-to herbal company listed there (Mountain Rose Herbs). There are many people in the world who act quietly, whose lives are statements of compassion and this is where our work lies.
Acts of kindness, no matter how small, are a beautiful use of energy. Seek to leave the world changed for the better because of your sojourn here.

You Are A Divine Being

“May you recognize in your life the presence, power, and light of your soul. May you realize that you are never alone, that your soul in its brightness and belonging connects you intimately with the rhythm of the universe. May you have respect for your own individuality and difference. ”
~John O’Donohue~
Step back from the masses and create a reality that consistently supports your growth. The journey of awakening calls upon us to be unique in a world of conformity. We can choose to express a higher consciousness throughout the movement of our lives.
There are many paths to enlightenment. Explore those that nurture your spirit while allowing the light of love to shine through you. Be aware of how you utilize your energy. Instead of trying to get others to understand your way of being, demonstrate it.
You have chosen to be here now, in these times of upheaval and darkness, to be a source of light. Don’t go back to sleep. Open your heart to the wonder of life and love, and the Oneness of our collective experience. There is nothing more beautiful than being in the presence of one who is a conscious, living embodiment of the Divine.

Expanding Consciousness

“As we grow in our consciousness, there will be more compassion and more love, and then the barriers between people, between religions, between nations will begin to fall.”
~Ram Dass~

There is a consciousness arising within you. You have chosen to be here now, to read these words, to discover new ways of being, thinking and experiencing the essence of life.

The path of transformation is expanding consciousness as you become more aware. This beautiful energy is constant and always a part of you. It can become lost from time to time under the seemingly never-ending stream of input from the ego; however, by being fully present you can access it in any moment.

It’s one thing to look for enlightenment and peace within challenging situations; however, even greater depth can be achieved when you look to raising your frequency when things are going well… to ask “What’s next?”

You inner purpose is to awaken – nothing more. As you bring a constant spiritual approach to all that you do – looking for ways to connect with your own inner sense of joy, peace and delight – everything else will fall into place perfectly.

Your Unique Journey

“Life is about celebrating uniqueness, diversity, and then bringing it all together like the varied colors of a rainbow. Different yet connected.”
~HLBalcomb~

You bring something unique and sacred to the world of form and it can only be fully expressed when you choose to live from the heart. Each of us plays a specific role in our collective awakening and times of great change are often preceded by chaotic energy. Shake-ups are intended to break us free from old limiting patterns.

Become an active participant in life. You have a purpose and it can only be expressed through sharing your unique gifts. Rather than add confusion and drama to challenging situations, the awakening spirit seeks to live by example. When you discover your role in the tapestry of life, realize that your expression of it is a vital aspect of the world we are creating together.

Choose to align yourself energetically with harmony and balance. In a world bombarded by opinion, things deemed “newsworthy” and fear, it’s important to remember that happiness is a choice. We can demonstrate a conscious way of life in this moment. Do not wait for the rest of the world to awaken, help them to awaken.

Quiet Moments

“How many times have you noticed that it’s the little quiet moments in the midst of life that seem to give the rest extra-special meaning?”
~Fred Rogers~

Our spiritual journey is accelerated when we bring a sense of inner awareness and consciousness into whatever the present moment has to offer. Rather than only setting aside specific moments for your enlightenment, scatter them all throughout your day. View consciousness as important as breathing until it becomes second nature. These moments of deep connection align you with the miraculous beauty of life.

Beauty lies in the gaps within the movement of space and time, in the realm of infinite possibility… and there you can find the beauty of your soul.

Periodically look around you and choose to fall in love. Go inward and honor yourself and your expression of the Divine as sacred. You are the bridge between the physical world and the infinite. Seeing this clearly is enlightenment.

There are many wonders waiting to be discovered. The myriad facets of your unique expression of life sparkle by reflecting the light around you. Remember to be patient and gentle with yourself and allow the joy of the journey to be your guide.

Embody Peacefulness

“You find peace not by rearranging the circumstances of your life, but by realizing who you are at the deepest level.”
~Eckhart Tolle~
You have the ability to create peace in your experience right now. Rather than seeking it, embody it. Let peacefulness inform every aspect of your life. When walking, be at peace with the earth, the sunshine and the wind. Appreciate the birdsong, the scents that arise or the feel of your body as it moves through the world. It may sound simple, but it’s amazing how often one can can get caught in up in their thoughts or worries and bemoan the fact that they are unhappy.
When we cultivate the ability to see through the mechanisms of the mind, we discover the myriad distractions that consistently attempt to block awareness of the beauty that surrounds us. Fortunately, this is in your control. Your awareness begins the process of transformation. The expansion of consciousness brings new depth into your experience. Should you notice a tendency to complain, gossip, worry or replay challenging situations in order to create a solution, shift instead to finding peace in the present moment. Then, allow your peacefulness to be the foundation of whatever movement you deem necessary. Operating from a higher perspective ensures that you will see more clearly.

Compassionate Detachment

“What brings understanding is love. When your heart is full, then you will listen to the teacher, to the beggar, to the laughter of children, to the rainbow, and to the sorrow of man.”
~Jiddu Krishnamurti~
Spiritual practice is about residing fully where you are. When we immerse ourselves deeply within the present moment we create space within our life situations. Gratitude is the doorway into objectivity. It raises our vibration to such a degree that we can breathe life into our experiences yet remain detached from limiting perception and reactivity.
Compassionate detachment does not stop us from offering love and kindness to those with whom we interact. It allows us to share our energy in a way that is fulfilling rather than depleting and empowered instead of guilt-ridden. Conscious action is pure.
Like those who plant trees that they will never sit under, we sow seeds of loving-kindness even though we may not see the outcome. It’s enough to know that you are bringing the best version of yourself to the present moment. Be here now and allow the future to take care of itself.
Our collective consciousness creates a world where it is safe to love one another. Thank you for the light you bring to the world.