Fear

“I will show you fear in a handful of dust.”
~T.S. Eliot~
Fear creates a fight or flight mechanism in the mind. The ego takes over, and creates a story that repeats until it is believed. At this point the personality has lived with the script for so long that it becomes a perceived reality that blocks any real joy from arising.
While it may seem that many today are lost in fear or angry reactivity, there is a balancing conscious awareness that is also coming into being. Many spiritual seekers who have cultivated the tools to rise above are bringing a new perception into focus by being living examples of peace, compassion and awareness.
Krishnamurti once said, “Do you want to know what my secret is? I don’t mind what happens.” This seemingly simplistic view of peace calls upon us to recognize that fear is a self-made condition. Our resistance, reactivity and righteous anger add energy into the illusion, keeping it alive. Choose to recognize everything and everyone in your life as a teacher. Imagine the freedom that comes from seeing all circumstances as an opportunity to love. And remember – love and fear cannot coexist in the same space.

The Light of Consciousness

“Today give birth to the beauty within.
Bring forth your song, your art and your light.
Surround yourself with the essence of it all and radiate it out into the world.”
~Jodi Livon~

All conflict arises because those involved identify with the ego rather than their own infinite true nature. As awakening souls, it is our responsibility to see beyond the roles that people play, their stories of the past, judgment and hatred. Love is an amazing healer.

Human nature loves to define itself through the drama of a situation. Spiritual nature seeks to find the gift within all situations. When we begin every interaction with the knowledge that all things work to our highest good, we create a space where we can choose to look at our life situations from a higher vantage point.

When you can calmly turn and face your challenges with an open heart (in spite of the clamoring voice of ego), your loving intention will shine the light of consciousness. Answers may be obvious or subtle, but you will have the ability to sort through myriad possibilities in order to select the one that best facilitates your growth.

You are absolutely capable of handling whatever the present moment has to offer… and beauty awaits.

A World of Wonder

“The most beautiful thing that we can experience is the mysterious.”
~Albert Einstein~
Choose to live in a world filled with wonder. Life has tremendous meaning if you look at it as a game and don’t take it too seriously. Bring a childlike innocence and simple joy to all that unfolds in your experience and you will learn many, many things.
Everything and everyone is your teacher. There are never-ending lessons to explore and nuances to discover – each designed in love with the evolution of your consciousness in mind. The more awareness you bring to your journey, the more value you will get from the process.
The playful soul fears nothing. He or she can live authentically and simply accept what unfolds. After a lifetime of dreams, challenges, losses, disappointments, successes and transitions, choosing to be childlike and innocent while trusting the processes of awakening is a form of inner mastery. Only then can you become a living flame of awareness.
Set an intention to look past the illusions created by the mind – the seriousness, judgments and opinions – and allow the love, light and laughter of the Universe to express itself through you.

Acceptance and Friendship

“A friend is one to whom one may pour out the contents of one’s heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that gentle hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away.”
~Dinah Maria Craik~
Over many lifetimes we cultivate intimate relationships that have seen all the highs and lows that life has to offer. Those with whom we have the most history seem to bring out the greatest compassion within us. No matter what time or distance separates us, the love remains. The ancient term for these soul friends is Anam Cara.
Our sense of worthiness determines our willingness to receive the gifts that these friendships have to offer. Cultivate healthy soul connections by first being comfortable in your own solitude. Take the time to create balance and peace in  your experience until you are at ease within the mystery of awakening. Then your friendships will be playgrounds of enlightenment, discovery and adventure.
Each of us walks the journey of transformation, sometimes in solitary splendor, sometimes with companions… but always homeward bound.  Faust once said, “Linger awhile, for you are so beautiful.” Celebrate life by being fully present with those you love.

Belief

“Being spiritual has nothing to do with what you believe and everything to do with your state of consciousness.”
~Eckhart Tolle~
There are nearly eight billion souls currently on the planet. No matter what you choose to believe, it is likely that you will find many who agree with you. As we evolve, this becomes a subtle manifestation of the ego. Beliefs become more deeply solidified and adhered to until a “us versus them” mentality arises.
When we seek to codify the Divine, we limit it with our words. It’s important to remember that descriptors, beliefs, research and rules are all merely pointers and should be utilized only to spark an awakening. Learn what you will in whatever way speaks to your heart and then bring a deep Presence into all that you do.
Expanding consciousness is a byproduct of your own journey. Next lifetime you may approach your evolution in a different manner so you can cultivate a deeper understanding of the various ways to awaken. For now, live in alignment with your true nature and let your life be your message.
No matter what you choose to believe, seek to infuse it with the higher levels of consciousness: love, joy, peace, enlightenment.

Guardians of Light

Aaron Rose “Love is a deep empathy with the other’s “Beingness.”
You recognize yourself, your essence, in the other.
And so you can no longer inflict suffering on the other”
~Eckhart Tolle~

Love rains down upon you from all dimensions. From the first conscious breath of a day filled with limitless possibility, to the embrace of twilight and everything in between, if you seek to find love you will find it. That’s the power of being awakened. We discover the joy of choosing how we wish to approach each moment and understand that life reflects it back to us.

No matter where you are on the journey, recognize that you are a master in the process of awakening. When it seems like challenge after challenge is being presented, walk courageously forward knowing that it is merely a pattern making itself known because it’s ready to be released.

You can create the life of your dreams and it begins now. Live it this moment. Forgive those who challenge you and make the choice to see them instead as healing angels who are helping you cultivate your most precious qualities.

Take some time today to listen and observe. Open yourself to the energy which is beyond the sound and you’ll discover the sacredness in which all things manifest. See the beauty, the transition, the stillness or the lesson which is being presented.

Right Action

“The practice of Right Action is a practice of faith, a faith that says what we do matters. We matter. And whether we’re refilling the coffee pot at work or speaking in front of a crowd of thousands, we have the power to change the world one small act at a time.”

~Alex Kakuyo~
Awareness ensures that your responses to life are empowered rather than reactive. Once the ego is no longer in control, mindfulness will bring higher consciousness into any situation. From that space of awareness, the action (or inaction) that is for the highest good of all involved will make itself known. Then you can act with integrity, do your best and accept what is.
When right action is in motion, it drops completely from your consciousness. There is no need to replay it, take credit for it, wonder if your choice was ‘right’ or worry about how things will unfold. This is the Divine working through you without ego-driven interference.
Cultivate mastery by approaching daily experiences such as driving, interactions with your children, the energy you bring to your work or your self-dialogue with calm awareness. The peace of Presence is always there. Honor the present moment as sacred by experiencing it fully. Right action will surely follow.

Be the Light

“I would like my life to be a statement of love and compassion – and where it isn’t, that is where my work lies.”   
~Ram Dass~
No matter where you are, you can choose to be the light of that place. We cannot control events that occur around us; however, we can consciously choose how we respond to them. Let your life be your message.You can plant seeds of powerful change in the world by holding space. First, you must focus on your own state of consciousness. Take the time to create a sense of gratitude, grace, peace and balance so that you are at ease in the present moment. Your very presence will teach others that alternative perceptions and responses are available.
Old souls see life differently, and that’s the way it is meant to be. Choose too, to be at ease with those who are still at lower levels of consciousness. We all walk the same path of awakening, each at our own rate of spiritual development.
Walk forward knowing that you are exactly where you need to be. You bring something beautiful to the world and your path is sacred.

Going Inward

“The inward journey is about finding your own fullness, something that no one else can take away.”
~Deepak Chopra~
Awakening occurs as we release the need for outward validation and become deeply aligned with our authentic, true nature. The journey inward is a powerful one. Within it, we discover the courage to face our shadows – both personal and collective – only to emerge completely transformed by the experience.
Going inward in a perfect description of one who is fully present within the Now. The deepness of the present moment is unfathomable. Beneath the layers of desire and interpretation is pure Presence, a joy that sparkles as we recognize and embrace the sacredness that is both within and without.
Your conscious awareness brings a unique nuance of peacefulness and beauty to the planet. Imagine how our experience of the world would change if each of us could recognize the love that connects us. Begin within. Let your wounds be the place where the light enters you. Use the challenges of the past as stepping stones through the dark. Ultimately, you will discover that you carry the light of love within you and the light will guide you home.

Conscious Surrender

“We are at our most powerful the moment we no longer need to be powerful.”
~Eric Micha’el Leventhal~
The awakening spirit becomes empowered through surrender. Rather than trying to force life to meet our perception of perfection, we seek to see the perfection in life as it is. As human beings, our view is narrow – typically focused on ego-driven desire and based upon our immediate life experience. We cannot see the threads of life as they are woven together to create the tapestry of creation. The hand of the Divine is always at work in ways that we cannot imagine with our limited perception.
And yet, often there is an aspect to our belief system that prompts us to attempt to control, plan for every contingency or need assurance prior to taking action. Spiritual mastery involves conscious surrender to what is. As you cultivate worthiness and self-esteem, it becomes less important to be seen as right. Inner humility guides us, love becomes the expression of our joy and what you need to know will make itself known at the perfect time. Trust the processes of your awakening.