Soul Friends

“One of the most beautiful gifts in the world is the gift of encouragement. When someone encourages you, that person helps you over a threshold you might otherwise never have crossed on your own.”

~John O’Donohue~

When you connect with a soul friend, the recognition is immediate. A bond has formed over several lifetimes because of the many interactions you have shared and the feeling is simply one of coming home. Celebrate these beautiful souls. They offer assistance on your journey of awakening.

The roles we play have a purpose and those who grace your life need you to be exactly who you are. Be authentic, loving, open, vulnerable and trust that your higher Self has broader vision than your human perception allows you to see. There are beautiful intricacies in play. Each thread of experience leads us to greater compassion and awareness.

Our soul friends will sometimes act in a way that inspires us to break out of our comfort zone. This is where your growth accelerates. Be willing to trust that you are right where you need to be. Act with integrity, do your best, accept what is. There is far more to life than meets the eye.

Friendship

“What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined to strengthen each other?”
~George Eliot~

As we mature, love begins to transform from sexual or ego-based neediness into honoring the unique individuality of another. We learn to accept rather than attach. We find wholeness within instead of looking to someone or something else to make us feel complete. We begin to realize that those who grace our lives (whether for a moment or for a lifetime) act as mirrors, supporting us in our quest to awaken.

Picture how life would unfold if you were never disappointed by anyone’s choices or behavior. The light of acceptance would shine brilliantly through any moments of darkness of the soul. Consider that the only way to live without disappointment is to approach each moment without attachment to a particular outcome. Therefore, as you cultivate absolute acceptance as a way of relating, disappointment will disappear from your experience.

When fear departs, freedom remains. Give for the joy of giving. Live for the joy of living. Your passion will morph into compassion, transforming all of your relationships into stepping stones of higher consciousness.

Soul Friends

“Just be friendly. Rather than creating friendship, create friendliness. Let it become a quality of your being, a climate that surrounds you, so you are friendly with whomever you come in contact.”
~Osho~

Sometimes we meet others and feel an instant connection. From the moment of ‘hello’ there is a feeling of safety and warmth and this person brings something special to your life experience. These are typically reunions of two souls who have played together in many lifetimes. The ease you feel is the natural result of the many interactions and karmic agreements you two have shared.
As an older soul, you may have this feeling often. Your long history on the planet has repeatedly included many members of your soul group. This is why we must be accepting and grateful for those who grace our lives. It might be a brief re-connection or you may share the journey for a while but the feeling is one of coming home.
And when someone leaves your life, know this: you will ultimately spend far, far more time together in eternity that the few moments here in this lifetime that you spend apart. Soul friendship is the highest form of love.

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.