Be Bold

“We cannot succeed in life or the spiritual path by avoiding challenges and being inactive. We must play our part in life, according to our given nature, but with detachment, knowing that something greater than ourselves acts through us.”
~Alberto Villoldo~
Spiritual seekers develop three gifts that help them achieve transcendence:
Audacity
Patience
Discernment

Audacity is cultivated when we boldly move forward with the knowledge that we are conscious creators. Instead of demanding concrete answers and guarantees before we take that first step, we learn the art of boldness in the face of the unknown. Live daringly and act with inspiration, for you are an limitless, infinite spirit exploring time and space.

Patience is not simply about sitting back and waiting. It is knowing when to act and when to be still. It is taking the time to replenish your spirit or understanding that sometimes we need to allow things to unfold before jumping into reactive action. This purposeful approach to life demonstrates empowerment and maturity.

Discernment is the unemotional observation of the facts. It allows us to step back, re-frame limiting perceptions, empower and recognize the perfection in the present moment. Your purpose is to thrive, expand and awaken.

Openness

Enlightenment is a process of awakening that spans many, many lifetimes. Your current life experience is a fraction of the overall tapestry of existence that we weave.

Consider this: You will have the opportunity to be every race that this world has to offer. You will have the opportunity to embrace every religion (or no religion). You will have the opportunity to be rich, poor, healthy, diseased, understood, misunderstood, desired or shunned. The process of awakening embraces every experience as important. Each plays as integral role in the cultivation of compassion.

When you don’t understand the thought processes or actions of another, it may simply mean that you have yet to experience that type of life situation. Be patient with one another, no matter where one is in the process of awakening. Walk with a quiet stillness of understanding and compassion, realizing that we all do the best we can from where we are with what we have.

The most important thing to focus upon is your state of consciousness in the present moment. We can change the world with our love and openness while providing one another the space in which transformation can occur.

Being

“When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.”

~Paulo Coelho~
Love calls to us… the earth seeks to embrace us with her beauty, her light and nuance. Allow this divine love to inform every decision by lifting yourself up to greet it. When we slow down and pay attention, everything has something to teach. We learn patience by walking through an ancient wood. We discover joyful appreciation when witnessing the fleeting nature of wildflowers opening to receive the sun. The soaring path of a hawk can remind us to rise above in order to get a new perspective.
The mind will often attempt to distract; therefore, it’s helpful to align yourself with Presence by filling your days with tiny sparkles of peace, gratitude or meditation. Find beauty wherever you are and periodically take a moment to just be. Awareness is transformative. Each of us has an opportunity to consciously participate in our collective awakening.
Rather than seeking love or peace or enlightenment, be love. Be peace. Your unique way of being in the world will demonstrate what enlightenment looks like.

Presence

“This life is yours. Take the power to choose what you want to do and do it well. Take the power to love what you want in life and love it honestly. Take the power to walk in the forest and be a part of nature. Take the power to control your own life. No one else can do it for you. Take the power to make your life happy.”
~Susan Polis Schutz~

One of the things I love most about this planet is how many doorways we can utilize to dive deeper into the present moment. There are endless sparks of light and energy to explore and limitless ways to access the Now. This is your moment of liberation and discovery. Allow a tree to teach you about patience and stillness. Lose yourself in the artistry of the clouds as they make pictures in the sky. Listen to the multiple voices of nature and let them awaken the songs within you. Take all this energy and inspiration, blend it with your joy and your passion and then live it to the best of your ability. You have chosen to be here now, to be a light in the darkness.

 

 

Express Your Joy

“Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life – learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.”
~Robert Fulgham~

Balance isn’t something that just happens when life falls into place; rather, it is the foundation of a life that is grounded, joyful and complete. Much of the world’s angst comes from the desire to please or care for others at the expense of one’s own happiness. People struggle to satisfy perceived expectations and often put their needs on pause.

The challenges we face help us to discern what is important to create and maintain balance. How would you discover your boundaries if someone or something didn’t cross them from time to time? See those who challenge you as healing angels rather than frustrations. They are teaching you what is truly important.

The awakening spirit understands that fulfillment comes through finding their own unique way of being in the world. There is great beauty to be discovered throughout the journey inward. As you create balance by tending to the needs of body, mind and spirit, you’ll find that you have more to give those you love – more compassion, patience and kindness. Then life becomes an outward expression of your joy.

By the way… according to palmistry, the wider you hold your thumb apart from the hand, the more generous you are. You’re looking at your hand right now, aren’t you?

Stillness and Gratitude

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.”
~John Lubbock~

What happens when we immerse ourselves completely in the present moment? Everything. The world opens, healing begins and we can access the transformative joy of being. You can choose to create stillness throughout the day and intersperse Presence within the chaos. Little consciousness choices can nurture the soul in amazing ways.

Bless the frustrations that have helped you to discover the power of patience. Honor the challenges that have played their part in the formation of your character. Celebrate the friendships that bring laughter and support and love into your experience. These are the gifts that have lasting impact.

It’s enough to stop completely, close your eyes, breathe deeply three times and listen to world around you. With no words, appreciate the Now. Be present and turn your awareness inward. There you will experience the true nature of a soul in the process of awakening. Peacefulness, clarity, patience and beauty rise above the muck to welcome the sun.

Mercury Retrograde

A few times a year Mercury goes retrograde. Typically this impacts us on the physical plane by adding extra challenges around communication, contracts, travel and mechanical malfunction. Since this is a repetitive energy, it’s helpful to weave it into your consciousness work. Don’t avoid challenges; choose to face them with patience and humor.

Yesterday as I went to write, my computer just sat thinking… and thinking… and thinking. After waiting about 30 minutes for things to flow, I decided to accept what is, let go of the idea of creating my normal Wow Moment, and go back to bed. While consistency is a big part of my personal practice, my state of consciousness is more important.

It was nice to observe that the ego was nearly non-existent in that moment. I tried and the energy didn’t flow. So, I moved on to gratitude and had a lovely day.

Since Mercury Retrograde stays in play through May 14th, you may benefit from observing it’s influence in your own experience. Give yourself extra time in case you need to be flexible, communicate mindfully, laugh at life a little and journal whatever arises. Like everything else, our collective experiences provide wonderful opportunities for growth.

How to Love – The Celtic Vows of Friendship

I honor your path

I bring an unprotected heart to our meeting place

I drink from your well

I hold no cherished outcome

I will not negotiate by withholding

I am not subject to disappointment

Unconditional love has no opposite. It sees through the mechanisms of ego to the truth of the soul. When we bring patience and kindness into our relationships, we create space where transformation is possible. Love those who grace your life in such a way that they feel safe, supported and empowered.

There is great inherent beauty waiting to be discovered in every circumstance. You can experience your journey in any way that you wish. The souls only true desire is to awaken.

Humility is an expression of the advanced soul. When you can take responsibility for your own state of consciousness, when you can say “I’m sorry” and be non-reactive to others’ whims and foibles, you are awakening to a new way of being. Consider the uses of adversity. They provide varied opportunities to see love in action.

Soulmates make a lasting covenant with one another. We offer to hold space while providing guidance with patience and compassion. There is no greater gift of friendship.

Patience

Patience is more than just being willing to wait. It is choosing to remain conscious and peaceful while waiting.

Often, the spiritual approach to life is the exact opposite of what we witness as physical beings. Our society tends to rush, to place great value on how quickly things are achieved… and then we rush on to the next thing. When we slow down and really pay attention, the entire construct of time begins to change. It slows down with us.

Make patience a focused aspect of your practice today. Observe when you feel you must “kill time” with your cell phone, talking or reading or playing a game while waiting, and choose instead to be extra alert and aware. When someone is moving too slowly (figuratively or literally) for the pace you have set, consciously adjust to their pace. Become a receptive listener. When others speak, do not plan ahead what you will say when there is an opening. Listen with your whole being, pause, and then speak.

Because it goes against the grain of our human tendencies, cultivating the art of patience will not only provide valuable insight, but you will witness the varied miracles and synchronicities of life that are often missed in the rush.

Transforming Impatience

“Patience is very alert, patience is very active, patience is very expectant.”
~Osho~

Impatience is a by-product of our society, a mental construct that says there’s not enough time, I may miss out. It is created by an overactive mind and blocks all enjoyment of the present moment. Very quickly, impatience can turn into martyrdom. When someone feels thwarted, there is often a “Why me?” response.

When you notice impatience rising within you, choose instead to slow down, pay attention and bring your awareness deeply into the Now. Then, breathe, make your decision, take action and create change with a peaceful state of mind. All fear patterns can be transformed into personal power.

It’s important not to rush your spiritual development. This can cause you to pretend that you have advanced without doing the required work. The triggers still lie beneath the surface ready to disrupt your momentum.

We live in an infinite universe. Patience strengthens your capacity to relate to life from the higher levels of consciousness rather than the ego-driven desire of false personality. Practice utilizing silence and moving slowly. There is enough time. Mindful action ensures that the more patient you are, the more you will accomplish.