This has been a week of loss for me.One person I love dearly passed away and then we celebrated the life of another and committed his ashes. Although I know their spirits now soar in a beautiful space, I am sad.I miss enjoying them here with skin on! In this age of technology, knowing that I cannot pick up the phone and hear their voice is a constant reminder that they are no longer here.Feeling their absence through their loved ones leaves a profound void in this place where there energy once radiated.
When we experience loss, there are a myriad of feelings. Although the most commonly expressed appears to be sorrow through many tears, there is a joy beneath our sadness. There would not be tears without love, and the more tears and sorrow we feel, the more love was present. Beyond that, we exchange much more love as others who care reach out with comforting words or touch.We gather to share memories with others we love and have not seen in a while, and we even meet new interesting people who also cared for our loved ones while hearing aspects of their lives we didn’t know while they were alive. At the foundation of everything in our awareness for these days is a river of beautiful love.
Often when we feel sad, we’re tempted to push it aside or get busy and not feel it. It’s hard to feel sorrow, yet if we don’t it will simply become stuck energy somewhere in our bodies that make us sick later until we release it. Why not view grief as a testament to the beautiful love we have explored here and express it freely as such?
Feeling emotions is quite possibly our greatest human gift. Think about it: we do not feel unless we care. (The opposite of love is not antipathy but hate, making even hatred a face of love.)Grief is love missed. What could we possibly do that is more beautiful than feeling and expressing love? Could someone please pass me another tissue?
Earlier this week you were invited on our Facebook page to ask your Higher Self (the Soul within you thru every human incarnation) to write your lower self (you in this lifetime & body) a note about Who you really are…without your looks, achievements, career, hobbies, desires, dreams, feelings, or history. The root question was, who are you at the CORE and WHY do you believe you’re HERE? How did that go? Any surprises?
It surprised me how many of my initial responses were about my education, family, friends, dreams, lifestyle, looks, etc. Did you catch yourself doing that, too? We sure can get caught up in all the distraction and busy-ness of Earth School, can’t we? Anyway here’s my response as promised:
I am an old soul here for experiences that raise my consciousness and advance me in my Journey with the Divine.
How SIMPLE! Was that anything like what you ended up with? Amazing how all that we find so terribly important in our daily lives pales in comparison. Thankfully we are evolving through our relationships, or we wouldn’t get anything accomplished once we got down here and lost ourselves in the hustle and bustle of these complex social structures we’ve created. Isn’t it fun to get a fresh perspective on what really matters in your life?
That is what I do. I help people get a fresh perspective on situations in their lives where they keep getting stuck. If I can help you with that, please reach out. I don’t give answers, only clarity to find the best answers within. Have a great week!
Our favorite childhood stories end in “happily ever after”. We love weddings that promise love until “death do us part”. We focus on the comfort of knowing that our deepest love and joy will last…well, forever. Since I’m a romantic by nature, I was a big fan of all this too, until recently. Now I’ve come to see how living in this “forever” story actually steals our joy from right now – the only moment we truly ever have.
Exploring eastern culture, I’m learning how our desires and attachments cause us to crave more of what we enjoy and avoid anything we don’t. I see how I have written a story with each pain or loss about how I caused that by being a certain way, and how I vowed to change that aspect of myself (either my own behavior or my choices) so I could avoid that in the future. Likewise, I did the reverse with happy circumstances to create more of those. Over time, I got so lost in little and big stories I’d written and modifications I’d made that I wasn’t at all my authentic self. More ironically, I wasn’t any closer to lasting happiness and I was so wrapped up in my past lessons and future desires that I wasn’t even living in the present at all. When I looked around, I was surrounded by people doing the same thing.
It’s great to have dreams. It’s commendable to evolve into better people through the lessons of our lives. What seems a waste is to lose ourselves, our true selves, in the stories of our past and the desires of our future until we are not living the only moment that matters: right now. Finding ways to return to the present moment can help us break this cycle and appreciate what we have right now.
Meditation returns us to the present moment and helps us train our chattering minds to take a break. Slow body movement exercises or dance can bring us back to center. Nature helps us enjoy the moment in a breeze, the rustle of leaves, the glimpse of a soaring bird.
When we love those we are with right now, give thanks for all our blessings right now, savor even our own pain as a reminder that we are fully and completely alive to feel everything right now, we are living our truth. The past and the future are just our stories. Right now is the joy we were trying to create and plan for throughout our distracted past. Let’s not remain so distracted as to miss it!
The Celestine Prophecy is an entertaining and enlightening book that is even more enjoyable for those on a path of self-discovery. In the chapter called Clearing the Past, the main character is invited to view his parents and childhood in a unique way. Rather than getting hung up on what was good or bad, right or wrong, he applies a blame-free framework to discover how his life perfectly prepared him to this point for his passion. Using prompting questions from The Celestine Prophecy, An Experiential Guide I applied these principles to my own life and found it very interesting.
Many people believe, as do I, that we repeatedly reincarnate with other souls into different characters to learn various life lessons. (If you are interested, there is a great children’s book on this called The Little Soul in the Sun by Neale Donald Walsh.) In The Celestine Prophecy, the main character is invited to look closely at what each of his parents stood for by reviewing their lives, and then examine what purpose he may have come here for that he chose to be born of those parents into those circumstances. He was told, “…the real you began in a position between (your Mom’s and your Dad’s) truths…you were born there to take a higher perspective on what they stood for.”
When I looked at my own life, my first observation was the themes that dominated my childhood: sex, money, religion, education, and government. I saw how my Mom represented one extreme on these issues while my father took a generally opposite view. For example, one lived in terror that we’d run out of money while the other pursued dreams and knew we would be fine. One was spiritual but abhorred religion yet the other made sure I was able to visit every kind of religion in our area that I might choose one. I see now how POWER and CONTROL are used in every one of those themes. I recognize how the roles of bully, victim, and martyr shifted around the family depending on the topic and stance of the conversation. Other family members and friends also got involved.
The central theme was how people give power to others and take power away from them using sex, money, religion,education, and politics. I had a perfect training ground to watch this play out in childhood with family and then watch it play out much rougher in “the real world” in later years. Now as I finally go deep enough into my exploration and healing to stand outside of the drama, I see clearly that we are all born filled with a Divine power and strength untouchable by man. Even when we are victimized as small children, there is nothing anyone here can do to diminish our deepest power or break our invincible spirit. We have all that we ever need at birth, and the rest of this is just a school to teach us that. Truly, our only occupation here is to love one another and enjoy this beautiful playground rather than getting all caught up in fighting over toys or sandbox territory.
I invite you to explore your life and lineage in a similar way. I would love to hear your comments, questions, or concerns!
This week we are honored to welcome Shelly Wilson, Reiki Master, as our guest. We asked Shelly what our slogan Return to Nature and Remember Who You Are” means to her, and we truly appreciate her response which follows.
The Universe is splendid when presenting us with guidance and signs. The ability to recognize when you are receiving guidance from the Universe, your Higher Self, your angels, and your guides is a skill that is easily mastered with practice and patience. Signs are presented to us as coins, songs on the radio, overheard conversations, and pictures. When stepping outdoors to bask and revel in Mother Nature, a multitude of opportunities for signs await us in the form of birds, clouds, butterflies, and various other insects.
Guidance is sometimes subtle and comes in whispers and gentle nudges. This same guidance may become louder, more persistent and may feel like the proverbial push or shove when we do not recognize or acknowledge it. When this happens, the Universe is adamant that we receive the message. It is up to each one of us to choose to listen and to take action on this guidance. We have free will and can always choose whether or not to do so. However, it is important to recognize and acknowledge the guidance you are receiving and express gratitude for it. Understanding the how, when, why or what is irrelevant at the moment it is recognized, yet it should be acknowledged. The significance will be realized at precisely the moment it should.
I would like to share with you the story of a pivotal sign that I recognized immediately. On December 2, 2010, my day began with a short guided meditation and pulling a card for myself. This day I opted to use Doreen Virtue’s Archangel Oracle Cards. The card I pulled for myself was “Spread Your Wings!” with Archangel Ariel stating, “Do not hold back right now. The timing is perfect,and you are ready to soar!” I accepted the message, but could feel the doubt settling in to my humanness. Truthfully, I questioned my abilities and my purpose.
A few hours later, I walked down my driveway to get the mail. I clearly remember the bright cloudless blue sky. Walking back up the driveway and nearing the house, there was one cloud in the sky. I stared at it in amazement and smiled. The image from the oracle card was being presented to me “bigger than the sky.” I ran into the house grabbed my camera and snapped a few photos. I went back inside to upload it on my computer. Returning outside to view the cloud once again, it was completely gone.
Now I should mention that there are naysayers when I tell this story. They say it was the trail left by an airplane. To me, the how or what doesn’t matter. The Universe provided me with a sign. I promptly recognized this sign and expressed my gratitude for it. This cloud picture is my inspiration to continue to spread my wings and soar and to encourage others to do the same. I utilize it as my logo knowing that this message was the proverbial push I needed to get going.
I encourage you to allow yourself to recognize the signs that nature presents to you. I have many other stories about clouds, bluebirds, and butterflies presenting themselves to me. My awareness for signs is heightened and I lovingly recognize and accept these signs with gratitude.
About the Author ~ Spiritual teacher and life enhancer Shelly Wilson made the decision to quit existing and start living several years ago. She desires to make a difference in the lives of others and encourages individuals to live an authentic life. Shelly holds a BS degree in Business with a minor in Psychology and is an Usui/Karuna Reiki Master. She is a motivational speaker and hosts “Believe and Believing” and “Journey into Consciousness”, which can be found on iTunes and Blog Talk Radio. Shelly offers private intuitive readings, life enhancement sessions, Reiki healing sessions, and teaches classes.
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If you have a testimonial or insight as to how Nature has helped you discover and explore your own Divine Journey of Possibilities, we would love to hear from you as you will undoubtedly inspire us through the challenges of our own Path. Namaste. <3
Sheryl Sitts, Founder and Chief Inspirational Officer
“The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.” Epictetus
TEDx The Woodlands has been such a joy this weekend! It is such an honor to be in a room filled with people who are brilliant, open in mind and heart, and only wish to inspire one another and create positive change wherever possible.
At TEDx The Woodlands, we also watched videos from other TEDx conferences. One of those videos was too powerful not to post for you today. Even if you’ve seen it before, treat yourself and watch again.
We all owe it to ourselves to keep company with people who are just beyond our comfort zone, who challenge us to grow and expand, and who inspire us to risk living fully open and to pursue our passions. Tomorrow, next week, next year (if we are here that long), we will either be more fulfilled and amazed by our own lives and those around us or not; the determining factor will be the choices we make today.
May all your right-nows be filled with dreaming, laughing, and loving with those who inspire you.
Don Henley sang that there are no hearses with luggage racks. This is true, yet don’t we all forget, ignore, or deny this? Caught up in our own perpetual busyness, we become consumed with pursuing some modern day vision of success as defined by family, friends, the media, our community, etc. We focus on earning enough money to buy this or keep that, dressing to mimic or please whomever, being accepted by this or that crowd, or going here and there to impress heaven-only-knows-who. We smile on the outside while staying busy enough to ignore the emptiness and lack of fulfillment on the inside. We tell ourselves we’ll be happy one day on this road despite ”wrong way’ signs everywhere. Is it more tragic to never slow down enough to realize what truly fulfills us, or to know and ignore it?
We all know we can’t any of this ‘stuff” with us, and we wouldn’t need it if we could. At some point we also realize that we can’t take our parents or children or true love or family and friends with us either. (Sometimes, we recognize this most fully if/when they leave us here first.) In truth, we will not have any attachment from this world after our final breath. However, that does not mean we don’t take anything with us when we go.
We of faith believe our souls continue beyond death. That suggests our spiritual journey is the most important and only permanent aspect of this life. Discovering our own unique and Divine Purpose, that passion and gift placed deep within our heart and mind, is the only action we need concern ourselves with pursuing despite circumstances or excuses. How ironic that this requires internal rather than external busyness. Yet only when we find and fulfill this most genuine aspect of ourselves will we find our deepest joy and create the one thing we truly can take with us when we go: a Spirit both honored and fulfilled.
Today I went walking and found myself at an abandoned house I became aware of recently. I have kept this discovery quiet so I could return privately to explore and wonder at how someone could desert a place so obviously once treasured. It doesn’t take long to recognize that this intriguing place is owned by a person who had great hopes and dreams that were suddenly discarded. It is as if a year or two ago the owner simply closed the blinds and doors, walked away, and forgot.
There is too much of everything in this house. Food once meant to nourish now sits unrecognizable and waits to be removed. Signs everywhere suggest generations of diversity, hardship, determination, and love around this house. Images of raising children and having fun…framed symbols of graduations, marriages, births…broken picture frames…a wedding album torn in two…obituary clippings. This house tells a rich story of love and loss without uttering a word.
Then I found it! In the corner there was a light. When I explored further, I discovered a prism reflecting the sun’s rays from a crack in the blinds. This prism sent light shining brilliantly and symbolically upward and I took this as my sign.
You see I abandoned this house when the pain became too strong. This house is my body. I have opened the door to awareness and begun regularly bringing curiosity, love, and spiritual Light to the darkness I find inside. I will continue the diligent process of filling this house with hope, love, and Light. I will work hard to carefully examine all that I find here and consciously choose what to keep and what to discard. I am once again home in my body and will not abandon it until another Light beckons.
This is the most powerful video about reality and spirituality I have EVER seen! Please watch and share it with others. I stand corrected. We don’t have a spark of Perfect Divinity within us…we have that within every single CELL of our being…millions and millions of sparks! What a beautiful, amazing miracle we are.
Father’s Day is approaching and this gives me pause to reflect on wonderful memories and great lessons I learned from my dad. It’s hard to believe he’s been gone for 21 years. Thankfully, his memories and lessons allow the best of him to live on strongly within me.
Spread joy! My father would whistle and joke with people moments after awakening in the morning. He greeted everyone with a smile and a good word. Some people would groan when he would pop in whistling and chipper at 5:00 or 6:00 in the morning, but he was never discouraged. He spread joy everywhere he went, and everyone was always glad to see Chuck coming.
Live life fully! “If you want to try it, let’s try it.” That was his motto for life. I recall him spending $60 at a circus on one game because I was having fun and he also wanted to teach me through experience how tricky those games are designed! At work, he was a jack of all trades and master of just a couple because he felt work should be fun, too. As he became unhappy or bored, he moved on to try a new job or career. While my risk-averse mother busied herself worrying about the changes, we never lacked for anything. All the while, he enjoyed his work and his life and encouraged us to do the same.
Be positive! Expecting the best in others, the best outcomes in situations, and happiness in life may seem naive to some, but this outlook on life endeared many to him, and put a smile on his face every day. Often, people live up to our expectations of them. Expect good and quite often that’s what we get!
Relax and Play! While he definitely gave his all to work throughout the week, he relaxed and played with the same passion. A nature lover, our family regularly went fishing, crabbing, swimming in the surf, camping in the forest, or simply barbecued with friends in the back yard and played croquet. Laughter and relaxation renew us for the next thing in life.
Savor every day; it may be your last! One afternoon, my father suddenly began having strokes from a blood clot just like the one that had taken his mother from this world too young. From that moment on, he was never able to communicate again and we lost him a few short weeks later. While I’d always expected death to come when we are old and sick, he was neither. He taught me that our end comes when it comes and we had better share our love, talents, and joy in a way that prepares us accordingly.
I have a small humidifier containing a bit of my father’s discontinued pipe tobacco in a drawer in my bedroom and it loses a bit of its smell every day. On special occasions like Father’s Day, I indulge myself to open the lid and allow the fading smell to release a flood of thoughts and feelings as only smells can. Vivid memories of laughter, love, and zestful living fill me with joy. May you treasure all that is good about your father or his memory with gratitude and love. Release any negativity that may be there with Love and Light. Life is short, and as Dad knew, we all have good in us that deserves to be recognized and celebrated. Happy Father’s Day!
This has been a week of loss for me. One person I love dearly passed away and then we celebrated the life of another and committed his ashes. Although I know their spirits now soar in a beautiful space, I am sad. I miss enjoying them here with skin on! In this age of technology, knowing that I cannot pick up the phone and hear their voice is a constant reminder that they are no longer here. Feeling their absence through their loved ones leaves a profound void in this place where there energy once radiated.
