The Soul of Love

“What does is matter if I am called a man?
In truth I am the very soul of love,
The entire earth is my home
And the universe my country.”
~Darshan~

Blessed are those who are slow to anger. We salute you…. these words have come to me in my dreams for the last two nights. If you are here reading them, consider the message to be for you.

Let your life be your message. How we interact with others is a testament of how far we have come on the path of transformation. To rise above reactivity is a beautiful gift that we can consistently share with the world.

The awakening spirit has discovered empowerment through detachment. Life still unfolds as it will, but we no longer get trapped within the mechanisms of the mind. With expanded perception, understanding brings peace.

Just be. Be part of the present moment. Engage with the world around you. When love is what you are, the quality of your life is reflected in everything you encounter.

You Are Loved

“Love is the bridge between you and everything.”
~Rumi~ 
We learn by experiencing contrast. A life filled with love is typically discovered by rising above fear. When you are willing to face the shadows of the soul, you will emerge changed, empowered and courageous. Your consciousness and your love awakens life’s symphony.
Everything plays a role in your journey of transformation. Each step you take is supported, loved and guided, even (especially!) in those moments when guidance and peace feel distant. The Universe celebrates the journey of your soul and when you can open your heart to receive, magic awakens in your life.

Karmic cycles and challenges are meant to open you to receive greater love and balance. Seek only to fall in love with life. It is a miracle. You are a miracle, and your light brings something new and beautiful to the world.

Kindness and Awareness

“You must understand the whole of life, not just one little part of it. That is why you must read, that is why you must look at the skies, that is why you must sing, and dance, and write poems, and suffer, and understand, for all that is life.”
~Jiddu Krishnamurti~
As awareness expands we discover the beauty within life’s tapestry. Everything is connected. Ripples of energy are constantly emanating from us, impacting everything on the planet. This is why it’s important to take consistent personal responsibility for our state of consciousness in the present moment.
Once you truly experience Oneness, you will not wish to participate in the harm of another through actions, words or thoughts. The light of your soul will embrace all living beings and your journey will become one of compassion. What we do matters, whether others ever know of it or not.
When we immerse ourselves in life with kindness and awareness, others feel safe in our presence. The journey of awakening ultimately teaches the power of acceptance and how it can dissolve the boundaries that divide us. You can transcend limitation and step into a vibrant, participatory existence of remarkable unity and bliss.

What Perception Reveals

“No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit.”
~Ansel Adams~
As we awaken, our perceptions are transformed. Consciousness expands and our vision becomes all-encompassing as we benefit from our varied experiences. It doesn’t matter what you believe or where you derive your inspiration. All that matters is your level of consciousness.
Each of us sees the world through our own unique filter. The ego then attaches to a perception, labeling it as “right” and will fight to the death to defend it. When one does not do their own work – healing emotional wounds, addressing their shadow self, accepting responsibility for their life experience – they try to get others to change in order to feel more secure.
Over time, the awakening soul creates a sacred space of balance and empowerment. This inner peace cultivates the ability to accept others unconditionally and feels no fear when faced by those who see the world differently.
Your interpretation of life reveals who you are. For those caught in the lower levels of shame, fear, hatred, pride and judgment, life is a frightening place indeed. The realm of empowerment is expressed through courage, willingness, acceptance, love and joy. Your spirit seeks to explore these beautiful levels of awareness.

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.

A New Perception

“The moment you feel joy, the moment you laugh and change your perception, you change your immunity, your body chemistry, and your whole well-being.”
~Debasish Mridha~
A few months ago my father left the planet to begin his next adventure. I had the opportunity to take my mom to Yosemite thinking that the quiet power of the mountains might assist her at the beginning of her grieving process. It was lovely to see her have moments of connection as she began the new phase of her own journey.
She purchased the jewelry above, initially referring to it as a “broken heart” necklace. Honoring her perception and experience, I gently offered another interpretation and simply said, “How beautiful. I see it as a complete heart. The love is still whole, the two sides are just in different form. Like you and dad.” Her energy simply shifted and she mentioned that she really liked how I see things.
Grief ebbs and flows. It was nice to be able to provide another point of view and, in that moment, nice to see that it was helpful. Many things are true simultaneously and we can choose how to interpret our experience. When faced with your own challenges, see how many differing interpretations you can accept. A change in perception changes everything.

The Life You Create

“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.”
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

At any given moment, infinite patterns are developing because of energy you send out into the Universe, and you are living proof of the miraculous at work. This “behind the scenes” movement of energy often takes some time to be revealed, recognized and appreciated.

When you start paying attention, you’ll discover the threads that weave the tapestry of your life. Consciously participate by going deeper into the present moment, notice what you hear, feel, smell, touch and see. Turn off the mind and simply notice what is around you. Recognize that whatever you place your attention upon becomes more prominent in your experience.
Notice coincidences. The more rare the coincidence, the stronger the message for you. Observe your life. Journal about your experiences or replay your day as you fall asleep. Watch it like a movie – no judgment, just be the witness. Your dreams may connect the dots and provide more insight.
You are a vibrant participant in the dance of existence and there is far more to life than meets the eye. Live with an open heart and create space in which transformation can occur.

Passion and Purpose

“We are all capable of living each day with a fiery passion and sense of purpose that radiates in our smile and voice.”
~Robert Cheeke~
Passion is the fire that sparks movement, experience, and ultimately, wisdom. Since our only true purpose is to awaken, why not make the journey of discovery playful – a celebration of joy?  Life will always present contrasting experiences. We can choose to approach challenges with an open heart and bring compassion into our expression of being.
The paradox of human experience calls upon us to simultaneously be sympathetic and helpful to those who are in pain while consciously keeping ourselves balanced. Reactivity brings energy to lower vibrations. We simply cannot be as effective in a state of reaction as we are when aligned with our passion, purpose and inner wisdom.
The key is to appreciate the beauty in each moment. To live deeply immersed in the Now brings a sense of joy into the daily activities of your life. Then, whatever actions you choose to take will be infused with the wholeness of your spirit. This is the process of transforming your life into an empowered dance of awakening.

Infinite Possibility

“Your life is a beautiful blank canvas. You have the choice of splashing it with the most gorgeous and spectacular colors, by doing what you love.”
~Hiral Nagda~

You are a powerful co-creator of your life’s experience. In a world filled with infinite possibility, the human condition is often one of repetition. Our purpose here is to awaken and that can only be accomplished by breaking free from patterns and dancing in the realm of the unknown.

In the midst of your daily routine, consciously and purposely sprinkle in some changes. Take a different route than you’re used to taking. Be creative with your appearance and the expression of Self you present. See if you can simply enter the flow of life without preconceived ideas or attachment and experience whatever arises with an open heart.
These little differences set expansive energy in motion. The resulting threads will begin to weave into your life’s tapestry in a way that is distinctive and unique. The willingness to try new things trains the mind to be more comfortable with the unknown.
The ego fears change, so be ready for some inner resistance. Observe it, smile and do things differently anyway.

Participation

“There is more than one road to spiritual salvation. We discover a philosophical way of living by encountering the world, culling knowledge from all available resources, and thinking reverently about life.”
~Kilroy J. Oldster~

The goal is to bring higher consciousness into your day-to-day life experiences. As you grow in awareness, you may discover that life will often provide an opportunity to see the new concepts that you have learned in motion. When you express a desire to cultivate your ability to love unconditionally, invariably  someone difficult to love will enter your life. This isn’t an obstacle, it’s a response to the awakening of your soul. Know that you already have the tools you need to navigate your life situations.

Practice allows you to strengthen your spiritual tools. The more you participate in life, the more empowered you become. Allow the give and take of energy to be your guide.

They say when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. This is because everything and everyone is your teacher. The only change is that you now have the ability to recognize the gifts that surround you. The veil that clouded your perception dissipates allowing you to see more clearly.