Tag Archives: #growth

Leaping Forward

Posted on by
“We keep moving forward, opening new doors and doing new things, because we’re curious, and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”
~Walt Disney~
Yesterday as I sat outside in the sunshine eating mindfully, as is my wont, the grasshopper above flew into my head. Laughing, I thanked her for getting my attention in such a distinctive manner and went inside to look up the shamanic meaning in my books. Grasshopper represents taking new and uncanny leaps forward.
From this I inferred that changes are getting ready to flow into my world and that it’s healthy for me to take leaps of faith, try new things and see where the journey takes me. Another message here is to trust my inner voice and the unique rhythms of my life. After delivering her message and gracing me with a photo, she quickly moved on.
I see the magic of life as a continuous conversation with the divine. When you pay attention, little mundane moments can become quite extraordinary. Everything we experience is a loving message from spirit … and I am grateful.

Wisdom

Posted on by
“Turn your wounds into wisdom.”
~Oprah Winfrey~

Challenges are a necessary aspect of enlightenment. They allow us to cultivate the tools of trust, patience, insight and empowerment. Don’t shy away from these moments of apparent darkness; instead, turn and shine the light of consciousness upon them.

Shamanic traditions utilize the energy and lessons of Jaguar to assist with transformation. This power animal represents sudden and intense change. When we call upon her for guidance, inspiration or assistance, she walks by our side and helps us find the strength to address adversity in such a way that we are changed by the experience. Having faced the dark night of the soul, we emerge transformed.

You can face any interaction consciously. Even those who are challenging may be bearers of wisdom, bringing messages from the Divine. Seek to examine your own shadow when confronted with unconscious behavior. Every encounter you face brings greater understanding and plays a specific role in your development.

Life will always provide the perfect circumstances to facilitate your evolution. You have the tools to navigate whatever unfolds in your experience and when you recognize these moments as opportunities, you will discover your true sacred nature.

The Power of Love

Posted on by
“While the mind sees only boundaries,
Love knows the secret way there.”
~Rumi~

Ego-driven love is filled with fear. The mind doesn’t feel fulfilled or complete so it attaches to another person and, for a time, gets a glimpse of communion. Relationships will always act as your greatest teachers. They eventually bring old wounds to the surface and then the ego says “You’re not who I thought you were!” or “You’ve changed” …and we begin to play the roles required for one another’s growth.

To experience healthy, supportive relationships, one must begin within. The amount of love we have for ourselves determines the amount of love we are willing to receive. As we mature spiritually, we no longer expect someone else to be anything different than who they are. We enter into authentic communion – accepting, supportive, fearless, empowered. The person on the receiving end of such energy feels free to grow. Together you walk the path of transformation and your love simply lights the way.

Any moment can be the catalyst of your awakening. When we can see only love, the Now becomes a doorway into a new way of being. There is nothing to fear – step into the light.

Your Unique Self

Posted on by
Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life.
~Eckhart Tolle~
This moment, whatever it contains, is the perfect opportunity for you to shine. Think of everything that had to fall in place for you to be here now and realize that you are right where you need to be. Your exploration through life has likely taken you through all the highs and lows of experience for the sole purpose of discovering who you are.
Your unique journey of awakening is a beautiful and creative expression of the Divine in human form. As we move through our experiences, new pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place. It’s empowering to honor the process as sacred.
Everything plays a role in your spiritual growth. Moment to moment, choose to bring the highest version of yourself to the circumstances of your life experience. Rather than seeking for meaning, bring meaning to the joys and challenges you encounter. This approach will always send you on a journey inward to touch the wisdom of the heart.

 

The Portal

Posted on by
“The way of the miracle-worker is to see all human behavior as one of two things: either love, or a call for love.”
~Marianne Williamson~

Love seeks expression through you. Each of us is a conduit through which Divine energy flows and our task is to create a clear pathway. Within the physical illusion our true spiritual nature becomes convoluted by childhood imprinting, beliefs, expectations and the ego-driven need to identify with the role we play rather than with the essence of the soul.

You will draw in the people, circumstances and experiences that best serve your growth. Acceptance and awareness begin the process of expansion. Your conscious interpretation and willingness to learn opens the doorway to greater insight and development. This process will continue until you are simply a consistent source of love, no matter what unfolds in your experience.

Immerse yourself deeply within the Now. Let your loving heart awaken so that you may see only the soul of the other and learn something extraordinary about life and about yourself. With compassionate detachment we can offer empathy, take right action or be a consistent source of peace. The key is simply to bring loving awareness to the present moment.

Self Discovery

Posted on by
“I have been and still am a seeker, but I have ceased to question stars and books; I have begun to listen to the teaching my blood whispers to me.”
~Hermann Hesse~

When you learn to trust the processes of your awakening, it becomes easier to experience life as an adventure. Leaving behind the need for plans and a mapped out future, we explore with the exhilarating freedom which comes from being open and vulnerable.

Discovering your inner truth comes through experience. Nothing is guaranteed, but the search helps us to grow. Allow yourself to be insecure, to face adversity and accept the challenges that the unknown has to offer.

Any limitations in your experience are self-imposed. Life is here to offer whatever is needed in order for you to explore your unlimited potential. Taking one step at a time, giving your complete attention to the Now, can bring new passion, creativity and clarity to all that you do.

Be drawn forward by a sense of wonder. There are infinite levels within you waiting to be explored.

 

Space in Togetherness

Posted on by
“But let there be spaces in your togetherness and let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love: but let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.”
~Kahlil Gibran~

Choose to bring an unprotected heart to your meeting place.

Love empowers us to discover who we are in the presence of another. As we release limiting beliefs, heal old emotional wounds and come to realize our own value, we cease seeking outside validation. Love is transformed from ego-driven neediness into healthy, supportive interactions.

Everyone in your life is in a continual process of growth and one of the greatest challenges is to drop your own expectations and attachments. Your willingness to allow those you love to learn their lessons in their own way creates space where transformation can occur.

Ram Dass once said, “We are all just walking each other home.” Whether someone graces your life for a moment or for many years, simply love them as fellow travelers. Should your paths diverge, be grateful for the aspects of the journey you have shared and all that you have learned together.

Facing Challenges

Posted on by
“The spiritual practice of relationships is about working on ourselves only, freeing ourselves from the constricting grip of our own unhappiness. It is not the other person’s job to take our unhappiness away; our discomfort is our own responsibility. Attending to our own spiritual tasks – seeing our judgments, opinions, beliefs, demands, and staying present with the fears out of which they all arise – frees others to move toward us. Then, when they no longer feel the need to defend, they become more willing to take care of their job. Thus joy in relationships becomes possible.”   
~Ezra Bayda~   

The obstacle is the path. Be aware that what you do not want to change is exactly what you need to look at the most. Have the courage to turn inward and face your shadow-self with loving, ruthless honesty. Your attention and awareness begins the process of transformation.

Bring a sense of adventure to the journey of your life and seek to find unique ways to face the hurdles you encounter. Whether found in health, relationships, finances or within your spiritual practice, you are ready for something transformative to enter your life. Your willingness to be an active participant in your own growth guarantees movement in your experience.

Be kind to yourself. There will be moments of brilliance as well as times when you may miss the mark. Empowerment calls upon each of us to take personal responsibility for our current state of consciousness so that we can engage life with an open heart. Act from the heart and allow circumstances to unfold as they will.

Facing Challenges Consciously

Posted on by
“Every challenge takes you a little deeper and awakens you again and again. Without the challenges, you probably would go to back to sleep. The challenges keep you awake.”
~Eckhart Tolle~

Think about all that you’ve learned so far on your spiritual journey – the tools of awakening tried and sometimes discarded, the basis of how you view your life, the facets of strength you have discovered as a result of facing challenges, the wisdom of surrender and acceptance, the power of gratitude.

What about those moments when gratitude seems far away? Sometimes we walk in darkness with the belief that all the tools we have cultivated have either deserted us or no longer work with the strength they once did. But something is different this time around…. we’re conscious of the fact that we are suffering. We actively apply what we’ve learned or seek new ways to address whatever challenge arises with the knowledge that we’ll find a way to grow through the process.

That’s the difference between someone who has experienced awakening and someone who has yet to access the knowledge that lies underneath the drama. The conscious approach becomes something of a dance with the Divine, a tango of immense passion filled with talent, surrender and synchronicity. Lifetime after lifetime we perfect this dance. Spiritual awakening is a process of constant practice and application.

The Uses of Adversity

Posted on by
“I’ve come to trust not that events will always unfold exactly as I want, but that I will be fine either way. The challenges we face in life are always lessons that serve our soul’s growth.”
~Marianne Williamson~
Consider the uses of adversity. Challenges refine our skills and prompt us to cultivate our strengths. We discover that life doesn’t end when things fall apart; rather, space is created to explore aspects of ourselves that are ready to shine. Even when the ego is caught up in desire and attachment, the soul understands exactly what is needed.
Trust in the unique processes of your awakening. Nothing is more important than your state of consciousness in the present moment. When you view life as an opportunity to evolve and grow, everything becomes more manageable. Ultimately, you can walk the journey as a source of grace and peace and even humor knowing that there is far more to life than meets the eye.
Life will present the perfect circumstances to assist in your spiritual awakening. This is true for each of us – singularly or collectively. Seek the lesson or the gift in any circumstance, and most assuredly, you will find it.