Finding One's Way

We all have a purpose on this earth. Maybe this is something that you've heard before, but never truly considered. What would it mean if you actually had specific things to accomplish, orchestrated right down to the minor details? What if there are things in your life that will keep coming up for you until you deal with them? You know the things I'm talking about - uncomfortable things, challenging things, seemingly impossible things. What if you were your only obstacle to obtaining a sense of true, lasting peace? What could this mean?

This has all been coming to light for me, personally, since I picked up "Sacred Contracts" by Carolyn Myss. I have always believed that I chose this life, the scenarios, the people, the challenges. I remember as a child reviewing the romantic relationships that I would have, being clear that the first love wouldn't be the only love, and knowing that there would be a truer love awaiting me. I also remember consciously choosing to forget my "contract" in order to fully live this human life.

This message of order was brought into clearer focus still when I attended a Women's Lodge with Dianne Tharp of Ayami International. We were asked to create a life's mission statement for ourselves. By focusing on what makes me ... me, it truly brought my whole philosophy about life into clearer focus. The things that I've always held as rules for myself are very important actions and lessons, and are a huge part of what I have to offer the world. My one governing rule is very simple, and was something I first learned from my mom: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." This is how Jesus worded it ... But when researching this very simple idea, I came across a beautiful plethora of quotes from all different religions:

Buddhism: "Hurt not others with that which pains yourself."

Judaism: "Thou shalt Love thy neighbor as thyself."

Hinduism: "One should always treat others as they themselves wish to be treated."

Zoroastrianism: "Whatever is disagreeable to yourself, do not do unto others."

Confucianism: "What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others."

Christianity: "Whatsoever ye would that others should do to you, do ye even so to them."

I certainly don't know what the rest of my life holds for me, but I do have a clearer focus on the direction I'd like to lead my life in. I want to be a person who helps others to feel positive, confident and peaceful. I want to live my life in a way that spreads joy and love to the world. Here is my personal life's mission statement:

I will be a confident role model and an inspiration to others. I will strive to connect others while enjoying the magic and the goodness of my connection to the Divine. "Harmonious Spontaneity".

All we can really do is to be more conscious in the way we decide to encounter our lives. Maybe that means taking the time to really consider our reactions to people, places and situations in our lives. Maybe that means setting an intention at the dawn of each day. These are all things that make life simpler, but perhaps this is the key to living a fulfilling life. All I know is that I am taking a vow today to be more mindful of my reactions. That is something I have control over.

Marathon Training

I decided to be brave a few months ago, and I have begun training for a marathon. I am still trying to figure out why I feel this need to train for something so big. Especially today, when my muscles are tired, and I'm still fighting to get myself rehydrated .... my mouth is so dry.

Why do we willingly challenge ourselves? What is the point of such a venture? These are the kinds of questions that held me back many times from achieving wonderful things. Once upon a time, I walked away at the sign of any challenge - big or small - and now I am taking on one of those big feats, and I'm not sure why! I suppose I want to prove to myself that I can do this. There is the question of failure, always. But I am beginning to know about failure, and sometimes the best lessons are to be had from it. The only person who recognizes your failures is You. I know I am not going to be the very best at this, but I can do my very best today, and when I look back I will be proud. Proud that I saw the challenge, took it, and trained four days a week, tried to eat the right foods, tried to drink enough water, tried to get in tune with my body.

It is fascinating how much our bodies say to us, and how many times we disregard these messages. I can see how easy it is to lose touch with our physicality, by simply ignoring. It is becoming clearer every day that I need to pay attention to the signs and symptoms of my body. I cannot ignore my body's reactions to certain foods, to coffee, to sugar (groan). But I feel encouraged by this training to put only the best fuel into my body, simply because I feel better when I eat well. All such simple concepts, but so easy to ignore! Especially the sugar ... I am a baker after all ... But even in that way, I feel challenged to bake things that are low in sugar and fat, adding extra healthful ingredients to get the highest level of nourishment from all food.

I don't know what road I will be weaving through in my mind throughout this training, and that scares me a little, I admit. But I am quickly discovering that this running is forcing me to face some very basic facts about myself. At this point most of me wants to skulk away, avoiding these things: I am addicted to sweets. I don't spend time preparing healthful foods for myself, but I will do it for my kids. The idea of a challenge still freaks me out. I don't listen to my body.

But I am now facing these facts, and I cannot wait to see what kind of person emerges from these strong legs. My strong legs.

Here is a little recipe I created that is very healthy!

Stuffed Avocado Salad

Slice an avocado in half lengthwise, remove the pit. Scoop out the green goodness and dice. Toss in a bowl with cooked Quinoa, diced tomato and diced orange peppers. Drizzle with Apple Cider Vinegar & Olive Oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Combine well, and serve in the avocado shell. Happy eating!

Playing with Stones, Crystals and other Gems

Last weekend, I was strolling through the mall, without kids, and on the way to do my grocery shopping. I happened to stumble across two tables laden with beautiful stones & crystals of all shapes and varieties. After talking with the man who was presenting the stones, I told him I was going to choose something, but that I had to settle down ... I was looking with my magpie eyes and not with my heart. He knowingly withdrew his energy from me, sat down and allowed me to choose, without interfering. I am very attracted to raw stones, and I also like to wear them as pendants, so that cut down the list considerably. I was attracted to a bright turquoise stone, that I'd never seen before and a dark blue stone that only could have been Lapis Lazuli. The other stone turned out to be Amazonite. ( I will post pictures a little later).

I have been wearing the Amazonite for several days in a row now, and it is singularly the most calming stone I have ever met. On a normal day, I am relatively calm, but with two young children, my balance gets upset more than once every day. It takes a lot for me to stay level-headed, happy and at peace. But with this piece of Amazonite around my neck, I feel more calm, more relaxed and more at ease than I have in many years. I am so grateful. In "The Crystal Bible", Amazonite is described as follows: "This is an extremely soothing stone. It calms the brain and nervous system and aligns the physical body with the etheric body, maintaining optimum health. It balances the masculine and feminine energies and many aspects of the personality. It is a stone that helps you to see both sides of a problem or different points of view. At an emotional level, Amazonite soothes emotional trauma, alleviating worry and fear. It dispels negative energy and aggravation." The book does reveal more about the stone, but this will give you a rough idea ...

Stones, crystals, rocks and all other forms of minerals truly have so much to offer us. It is my belief that stones hold more than just scientific information ~ There is a wealth of spiritual information that is coming straight out of the earth upon which we tread. Stones hold the memories of our planet. It is up to you and I to ask the right questions. Here is a simple meditation you can do with your stones in order to cleanse them of negative energies and to prepare them for use:

Get into a comfortable position. Some people like to sit cross-legged with a straight back. Others may have an easier time lying down on the floor. If you choose to lie down, don't get so comfortable that you feel sleepy! Have your stone nearby, but don't hold it yet. Get yourself settled, body & mind, breathe in and out through the nose. When you feel that you have slipped into a quieter space, pick up your stone. Continue to breathe in and out, focusing at the point between your eyes on the exhale. Feel your breathing start to coincide with the pulse of the stone.

Now visualize white light surrounding the stone, penetrating it, cleansing it of all energies. When you are finished the stone's energy should feel somewhat neutral. Before you charge your crystal, it is wise to ask the stone to reveal itself to you. You may ask "what do you have to offer" or "what can I learn from you"? Wait quietly for the answer, and be prepared that it may sound like your own voice ~ because of this, it can be easy to miss the answer! Now you may charge your stone. Charging a stone is basically like programming the stone with your wishes. For me, with the Amazonite, I asked for a calming quiet energy, and to be notified when I am getting anxious. You can say "I charge this stone with _______ energy. Please guide me with your energy, and notify me when I stray from my truth".

Other ways to cleanse a stone include bathing it in the light of a full moon, passing it through the smoke of burning incense or a smudge, or washing it with cool water (check to see if it's safe for your particular stone - some stones will disintegrate when in contact with water). Enjoy!

Perspective

It has been a long time since I wrote an honest post about myself ... or at least it feels like it. During that time, I am certain that I have strayed further away from myself than perhaps ever before. But not without reason, of course. Being slightly outside of myself allowed me to check out my life objectively, and I am back to life with some new things to add.

For the first time since my eldest child was born, I have stopped wondering what I am going to do with my time once both children are in school. I feel that all the projects I've been a part of in the last few years have planted many seeds in many places. ~ Mom to Mom Support Group ~ Woman & Spirit Workshops ~ Baking By Design ~ So many opportunities yet to be presented that I can hardly wait to find out what they are. It is amazing. And the stress and the worry about having time on my hands has vanished. In all honesty, I can't wait to have some time on my hands. Time to devote to myself, to meditation, to running, to yoga, and eventually to some sort of paying work. At this point in time, I find myself wondering if I need to commit to anything at all? Who knows, maybe I will bake a few cakes one month, and do reflexology or energy work the next month. Maybe I will own a business, or maybe I will work for a corporation. Whatever happens, my number one priority will be to my children ~ being home for them when they get home from school. Having that time to connect with them before the rush of dinner and homework. There is the possibility that they would rather play with their friends, or watch television ... but I know I will get my time in with them.

For today, I am enjoying their littleness. They are great people with big personalities and contagious laughs, and they have so much they want to share with us. All my kids seem to want from me lately is my Time. And thankfully, that is something I can give to them wholeheartedly.

Working with the Goddess

Whether you are man or woman, we can all benefit from working with the Goddess ~ in any of her many forms. When you focus your gaze on the wise woman living within you, there is a connection there not found in other spiritual haunts. Connecting with Goddess is connecting to the womb ... Home ... the darkest places of the earth ... the furthest depths of your soul.

Whenever I have a question that requires the greatest truth and wisdom, I call upon the Mothers and Grandmothers, the keepers of the light, the Ones who went before. And they always have the answers to my most profound queries.

The chant above is one I use when I need to draw upon the well of woman's knowledge. It always takes me to the place I need to go. I always hear what I need to hear, even if it's something I don't want to hear. But connecting with Goddess will give you the strength to listen, follow through, and stay strong ~ through the most challenging of journeys.

Trust in her and she will offer you her strength. Blessed Be ~ Nicole

Reincarnating ~ Choosing Your Destiny

I felt guided and inspired to write about a controversial subject today. For the past little while, I have been deep in thought about reincarnation ~ something I strongly believe to be a truth. I believe that when we finish this life, we go to a place of resting until we are ready to take on a new life. I believe we choose the life that will help us to learn the lessons we need to learn. I believe that we make a conscious decision about many of the details that will mold us into the human version of our spirit selves: Parents, siblings and other carefully placed influential people. Living conditions, place of birth, and most especially our challenges. Some of those challenges may be outside influences that we have no way to control. Some might not have enough food to eat, fresh water, shelter, or clothing. A person might be abused, physically, sexually or emotionally.

It is important to honour every being's path and existence, no matter what it is, and that includes the thought that somebody may have chose to learn their lessons in a life changing way. It is not for you or I to say that someones existence is right or wrong, good or bad, just or unjust. A wise woman I met once said this while giving advice to another: "You should be thankful to this man for the lesson he taught you; You learned your lesson very well. You will not forget what he taught you, and you will not make that choice again."

While you can go through life with this belief that we all choose our experiences, it is not a reason or an excuse to turn the other cheek when you see something you do not agree with. It is important to listen to your inner guidance about who to help, and when. Does our compassion for others ebb and flow, as so many other things do in our lives? Some days it is very important to care for others, reach out with love, nurture the souls of others and to truly participate in the feminine side of life. On the other hand, it is also important to honour the times for turning in that nurture to our own souls, allowing the more masculine side to take over and allowing us to be concerned with only what is immediate.

Whatever we choose to believe is just that, a Choice. My question to you is: Where did your choices begin? Do you believe that some unknown force decides your entire destiny? Or do you believe that you chose what is happening in your life? Have you ever decided you wanted your life to be a certain way ~ and has it ever manifested?

If you could plan out your next life, what would you choose? How to approach a question like that .... How can you be better, today? What can you focus on to change into the person you long to be? Is there anything you can do to love your life, every moment of it? I would love to hear your thoughts on this post ... so please feel free to comment!

Meditation Ideas:

See the joy in the small things in your life. Every once in a while, sit down and observe what is happening in your own world. Watch the wind blowing through the trees, silently. Immerse yourself in your surroundings, notice things that you see every day, and honour them in reverence. Look at your hands and feel what they represent. Take deep breaths and relax your face ... just be in this moment. Choose to live mindfully, today.

The Prerogative to Change One's Mind

Change. The word itself makes some of us want to turn around ... and run away. Change, whether imposed or willed, is difficult for many of us. Deep in the core of our beings, we long to fulfill some destiny, but sometimes the actual steps required may be more daunting than we initially thought they would be. You must remember that you are the master of your own destiny ~ anything that you long for can most definitely happen!

The trick is, you have to allow the changes to occur. And sometimes, on rare occasion, you have to be the enforcer of the change. It is okay to turn your back on a path you are walking, even if it is just to look over your shoulder with a longing glance towards yesterday. Or to a time you felt was flowing more smoothly. It is okay to change your mind about something when it is not becoming exactly what you thought it would be. Sure, there are times when it isn't possible to quit or slow down, and you may not want to ~ those times should be honoured ~ maybe there is a lesson there. But when something is feeling complicated or difficult, or if you keep coming up against obstacles, it is okay to try something different. Perhaps there is another area of your life that needs attention ... Perhaps your energy would be better spent on something that is constantly nagging at you: Exercise, schooling, laughing, meditating, doing yoga, going for long walks ... Perhaps all that you need is a momentary break to figure out some nagging details of a recent venture. Then maybe it will be possible to continue on the path you were on, with ease, joy, and love. The flowing river of life.

Whatever decisions you make in your life will never be considered mistakes in the end. Look at your life as a meandering journey filled up with as much experience as you can pack into it. Take chances. Take breaks. Be in love with yourself. Be in love with the whole world. Try something new, and then rest if you can. Reflect on your life, daily. Be grateful for all that you have. Live your life in a balanced way ~ Make sure that you feel at peace sometimes. And above all, don't be so hard on yourself. You are the master of your own destiny.