Gratitude in the Midst of Chaos

Here we are, ready to say good bye to another year. 2020 has been…well, you fill in the blank. I invite each of you to take a few moments to join me now as we look back over the last year. Become aware of the blessings, gifts and new possibilities that have emerged this year for you and let gratitude flow.

For those still focused on the chaos and confusion, this can be challenging. Who wants to be thankful for that? Perhaps you can let go of that and shift your focus, if only for a few moments. Can you recognize, honour and be grateful for all the ways in which you’ve managed to survive if not thrive? Each of us has changed, either by choice or having choice forced upon us.

A few days ago I was playing with the difference between comfortable and familiar. Familiar refers to the times when your mind recognizes certain situations or people. You’ve been with them or in that situation before.

Comfortable means you can relax into the moment, the relationship, and enjoy it…feel some measure of security, balance and peace.

Neither of these words apply to 2020 in any measure. It was a time of change. The familiar was no longer and there were precious few places to be comfortable in all the unknown. Given the situation, we looked for ways to find our balance again. We floundered, we adapted to what the world brought to us and we emerged, time and time again. And we discovered we are resilient. We survived!

I prefer to see 2020 as the divine moving in and through us to open us to new possibilities and potentials. As we shift our focus from the information and ensuing rules that forced us to let go of the familiar and comfortable, we begin to recognize the opportunities for new choices in our life. What feels better, what brings more joy? What allows you to express yourself in a way that was not available before?

The coming of a new year is considered a time of making resolutions. We decide what changes to make in our lives and then promise ourselves to make it happen. This is a mind thing and so very often leads to frustration, disappointment and self-judgment. It is challenging to let go of familiar and comfortable people and situations because of the strong emotional attachments involved.

Now is the time to begin imagining a new way of being in the world…for yourself, your family, at work, in social situations. The divine has given us these moments of quiet to become aware of who we are. We can release the old emotions that come up when we consider making a change, finding new insights and integrating the new into our life. We can choose to change the channel we are watching, to shift our focus from what was to what is now possible. Seeds of freedom and expansion have been planted. Quiet moments of reflection unveil new ways of being in relationship, of creating income, new ways of living in love, joy, peace and harmony with all of creation. Let your love flow with the smallest of dreams… The world around us will reflect the changes happening within.

Let’s use this time of upheaval to create our new lives, our new world. Imagine being in joy, having fun, loving those around you, being in gratitude for all that is happening,  Choose to live and love fully in every moment. The ‘new normal’ can be heaven on earth, moment by moment!

[avatar size=”thumbnail”]Quan Yin – goddess of mercy and compassion[/avatar]  by Eloecea

 

 

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Header image courtesy of NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope

 

Consider being a blob for a bit…

It’s that day…winter solstice…when the dark begins to leave and there’s more light in our days. If there has ever been a time when our planet needed more light, it is now. Would you consider being a blob for a bit if it brings more light for you and the planet?

I was wondering this morning what would happen if we all choose to shine light on our old ‘darkness’, fear-based thoughts, and allowed the divine to flow into that empty space. What would happen if we choose to become aware of those thoughts that keep us separate from our divine self and others? Old judgments like good/bad; right/wrong; us/them; stupid/smart; fat/skinny; rich/poor…and the list goes on.

In my experience, the mind goes into overdrive trying to explain why that’s a bad idea. How do I make decisions? How do I know if I’m good enough? How do I know who I am if I’m not all those things? How do I choose my friends?

Years ago, the Divine Mother  invited me to ‘let go of my sharp corners and hard edges’ and I began entertaining the possibility of letting go of whatever she was talking about.  I remember lying on my bed in LA after a particularly strong session of release when I was surprised by the thought “But, but, but…I’ll be a blob”. If I don’t have those identifiers or labels for myself and others, how do I think of myself? How do I be with others without ‘sizing them up’, without attaching labels? How do I know what’s good if there’s no label?

I must admit that this thought, this fear of being a blob lingered for a long time…years. My mind was so programmed to notice separation that it had great difficulty accepting this shift. It actually fought my desire to let go of the old way of thinking. My mind likes compartments. It prefers to know what’s what, where to put things, how to view people.

My mind does NOT like the unknown. I did not like thinking of myself as this unformed blob, let alone feeling the fears attached to that thought. I had to be someone, have an identity, some defining characteristics. I needed to be able to identify the situations and the people in my life, to give them labels, so I could be safe according to my mind’s perspective.

These labels are the essence of separation…they can lead to the Great Divide we are experiencing in our world today. Labels come in many shapes and sizes. Politics, religion, race, gender, sexuality, nationality, and the list goes on. It doesn’t have to be major things. Nice smile, weird clothes, neighbour, homeless are also labels that can separate us.

The defining factor in all of this is the fear or other emotional response that underlies our mind’s need to create labels. Labels are part of human nature and can be helpful. Discernment is an important tool. However, when fear attaches to our thought and sets up a judgment like good/bad, the Divide is established. Our minds love to find boxes with labels so it can feel safe. And then our minds love to collect evidence that we are right, strengthening the emotional entanglement and widening the Divide. We point fingers when the difference becomes so great that it triggers a fear reaction. ‘They’ do/think this and it scares me. Or, if I do/think this no one will like me.

What if we choose to become aware of these dark places, these thoughts that create separation and release the fear that holds them in place? We could ask the divine within each of us to shine light on the thoughts and actions that keep us separated from our divine self, from others.

What if we actually choose to pay attention to what is brought to our awareness? The mind is quite determined to keep everything status quo, to not rock the boat. That triggers fear. What if we choose to accept what the divine shows us, release any old emotional attachments, and become a ‘blob’. And then what???

And then we focus on the divine. We choose to bring in the light for our self and others. There is no separation here…there is only insight, higher perspectives from love, compassion and freedom. We allow the divine to shine light on our darkness so that we can embody the light. We focus on how we would like to be, how we would like to experience our moments, how we would like our world to be.

Awareness <–> Emotional Release <–> Insight/Wisdom <–> Integration

As I let go of those old fear-based attachments, as I allow a period of ‘blobness’, I  slowly come into more of my divine Self. I realize that there is no need to cling tightly to a label or point fingers. I am creator of my moments. I can envision from higher perspectives and fill my life with magic and miracles. As I do this, I begin to experience the world around me as my creation, a safe place to live and love because I am becoming love.

I smiled a few days ago as I remembered that period of my life. Thankfully, it’s been a long time since I’ve felt like a blob. I’m reminded again of a lump of clay waiting to be formed into something new. It’s a gradual process…releasing the emotional attachments that hold the darkness and letting the light shine in and through us in new ways. I am forever grateful that I continue to choose to let go of my mind being in control and allow the divine to source my journey into joy.

Are you willing to be a blob for a bit…to become more love within and shine in your world?

[avatar size=”thumbnail” align=”left” /]  by Eloecea

 

 

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Header image courtesy of NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope

Is It True?

Last week, there was a bit of a shake up regarding UFO’s and the presence of extraterrestrial life here on Earth. Perhaps some of you saw the following newscast from the US (video editing is not yet in my toolbox, so just watch the first 2:11):

What do you think about this? How does it feel? What emotions come up? Is it true?

From my perspective, it’s part of a very slow rolling out of a truth that has long been hidden from the public, for the very reason stated in this news clip. The U.S. government (most governments) decided to protect its citizens from mass hysteria. That was the reason given back in the 1950’s and it continues to be the reason for keeping the secret. Yes, our leaders have known about this for over 70 years.

As the latest documentary, The Phenomenon (2020), notes, it may be time to trust humanity to make their own choices. More frequent sightings have been reported. Witness testimony from highly-placed government officials (including former Senator Harry Reid of NV) have increased. And heightened public curiosity and awareness suggest this pot is about to boil over.

https://youtu.be/onEXmLX2ZZQ

So, what do you think? How do you decide what is real and what is not? What is true for you and what is ‘fake news’ or ‘false information’ or just plain B*S*? Could it be part of a reality that you have not explored or even considered? Are you willing to shake up any sense of equilibrium you’ve managed to establish in your life during the almost constant chaos of 2020?

You might remember that I come from a very black and white, right and wrong sense of truth. There is safety there…living by a set of rules given by family, religion, education, government, and culture. A sense of belonging, of not being alone. What does it take for us to leave the old “I’m living this way because XXX told me to” and step into “I am choosing to live this way?” Why do we continue to believe our happiness comes from following rules of thought and behaviour that limit us when there is so much more available as we colour outside the lines and think outside the box?

This is all about encountering the Other…the Other person, the Other faith, the Other culture, the Other truth, the Other nation, the Other intelligent civilization.  What will open us to choose to live and love fearlessly from the divine within rather than follow old beliefs and patterns we were taught from someone else? We can choose to let go of the old that limits us and no longer serves us. Why not allow new to expand our awareness, our opportunities to experience more freedom, more joy, more everything? Are you ready for more? Are you ready to choose your truth?

[avatar size=”thumbnail” align=”left”]Quan Yin – goddess of compassion and mercy[/avatar]  by Eloecea

 

 

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Header image courtesy of NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope

 

Feeling Crazy These Days?

We’ve all been there, feeling crazy at times, like you’re losing your mind. We’re living in a world where we have more information coming in than ever before. Our human ego mind is desperately trying to figure out what’s real, what’s true, what’s best. In 2020, our experience has been compounded by the appearance of COVID-19. It’s a challenge to findImage courtesy of Pixabay - the digital artist balance in a world of competing ideologies. Everyone seems to be have really good reasons (and scientific facts) to support the way they think and act.

Psychology suggests that humans have an inner drive to hold all our attitudes and behaviour in harmony and to avoid disharmony, When disharmony, or cognitive dissonance, is present, we experience stress. Our ego mind has options when a contradictory or different piece of information comes up against what we hold as true. We can ignore the new information that is creating the dissonance. We can denigrate those who choose to believe it. This kind of response will strengthen our previous belief. Or we can open to the new, feel our way through the emotions that come up, and make a choice from a higher, divine perspective.

What if the old beliefs keep us trapped in patterns of thought and action that no longer work for us or for humanity? What if it is necessary to break down and break through these old ways of being human in order to create a new world of equality, compassion, love, respect and peace?

The beliefs that we have now are just thoughts with an emotional charge. The older and more revered the belief is, the stronger the emotional attachment. You feel even crazier, out of control, when they are challenged. The more we cling to or push away from a belief the stronger the belief becomes. This is how our mind builds our ego self.

It is not just simpler to follow what our mind already thinks is real, it has been our way of survival. We have been taught to accept guidance and instruction from those we hold as leaders in our lives. Too often, we give authority figures from our religious, political, scientific, educational, familial and other traditional belief systems the power to tell us what is true, what is real and what is not. If have learned that if we follow our leaders, we experience a sense of belonging and we feel safe.

It is not easy to let go of the past, to try something new. And yet, most of us have done exactly that in many areas of our lives. We have accepted and welcomed new science, new theologies, new ways of being in relationship as a family or member of a community. Many have found freedom and peace, redefining ourselves in a different way.

What if, just as the world around us seems to be falling apart, we must allow the same process within us? What if the experience of being crazy is integral to letting go of the ego mind as our primary operating system? As we do, our heart, our divine knowing can take its rightful place. In order to make a choice from our heart, to find divine wisdom in the chaos, we must allow the emotions to rise up. Once these are released we can find our balance again as we follow our heart’s knowing, our wisdom. Wisdom, a thought without emotional charge, is available to all of us in every moment.

Wisdom is not information. It is knowing what to do with the information that comes to us. When our human mind gets involved, trying to figure things out or to find the truth, the process is mired in past experiences which are simply emotionally charged memories. This is the source of the dissonance, the confusion, feeling crazy: old emotions are involved, usually fear-based. Wisdom allows for discernment, choosing freely what you know to be loving, kind, compassionate, peaceful.

An evolution of human consciousness is beckoning to us, inviting each of us to let go of the old and allow new, higher perspectives to come through. This is the choice we have as we experience the chaos and confusion in the external world and within ourselves. Do we want to keep living in the black and white world of right/wrong, good/bad, us/them? Is it even possible to create a world of differences without blame or separation?

Letting go of the polarity by releasing the emotional entanglements leads to balance. We can then feel our way through the information and choices presented to us and realize a higher perspective. This is the the way of Unity Consciousness.

As humans, we appreciate and even need duality or contrast, just not the extremes we are experiencing today. Contrast allows for discernment, finding our preferences or what works for us. When judgments (fear-based thoughts) are in the mix, as is prevalent these days, we are operating from old emotions. Knee-jerk reactions are the norm: blaming, pushing against the Other, and fighting for the old way of being.

As creators of our own reality, we can choose to loosen the hold of these old beliefs, attitudes and behaviours. New possibilities from higher perspectives are available when we begin to let go of the old and allow new. Divine awareness flows into and through us. We can stop the blame-games, the confusion and violence we see today by becoming aware of our own thoughts, our self talk. From this awareness of what no longer serves us, we can gain insight as we release the fear-based attachments to that thought. As we put these insights into practice, we integrate a new, higher way of being within our human ego mind and into our attitudes and behaviours.

Let me say this again: We have all made these shifts in some areas already! We have changed positions on a topic or accepted some person that, in the past, we would have judged. Perhaps it was something about you that you finally allowed as your truth. Isn’t it time that we remember we are divine beings here in human form? That we can expand this willingness to allow everyone to have their stories, their truth? It doesn’t need to change who we are or how we live our life – but it can change how we are with the Other, those who are different.

We truly can create a world of peace and harmony, of love, compassion, respect and joy. It begins within each of us. Are you willing to pay attention to those moments you blame or make others wrong for having different beliefs? What about those who hold beliefs that seem to put you in unsafe situations? Or those whose reality challenges yours? We have a choice: We can create our reality from old fear-based thinking and behaviours. Or we can let go and allow our divine self to show us ways to find balance within. Then we can model this balance in the world around us.

Please, please, pay attention to this – remember Einstein:  “We can’t solve problems if we use the same kind of thinking that created them.” Are you willing to do what is necessary to create a world you would like to live in, a world in balance? Become aware, Let go of the old, Allow the new, Become the new. I know, it sounds simple, but it takes intention and attention. It can be life- and world-changing…if you take one step and then another and then another. You will find, moment by moment, more peace, more balance, more joy in yourself and your world.

[avatar size=”thumbnail” align=”left”]Quan Yin – goddess of compassion and mercy[/avatar] by Eloecea

 

 

 

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Header image courtesy of NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope

Sticks and Stones…

I suspect we all know the old adage “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never break me” or “names will never harm me”. Wikipedia notes that it appeared in The Christian Recorder of March 1862, a publication of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and has since been used as a response to verbal bullying or abuse. It has also been widely debunked! A Psychology Today article from 2011 suggests another ending:

Lynn Greyling, Publicdomainpictures.net

“but words will cut me deeply”. I know we’ve all experienced this in some form. I wonder if you’re consciously aware of remnants of this pain that linger in your own conversations with yourself and others.

The words we use can be a powerful creative or destructive force. Awareness is always the first step in change…we learn how to speak and communicate with others at an early age. Our words reflect our environment during those years and are often buried deep in our subconscious. In Stuck Places, I begin a discussion of waking up to our language patterns and the possibilities of change in how we talk to ourselves and others. Here are some additional suggestions to assist you in shifting from old negative, destructive patterns into those that reflect who you consciously choose to be today:

Language Detox

Speak your Highest Truth. Our communications (spoken, written, thoughts) reflect what is within us. Is it Compassion, Love, authenticity, unique solutions? Or are we communicating anger, fear, doubt, shame, blame?

Your words are powerful reflections of your choice of reality. If your conscious choice is to become the experience of Unity and Harmony within and without:

Become aware of distortion, duality, separation or judgment in your words

Avoid self-deprecating language; honour yourself and others with supportive words

Notice negative language habits, and shift/flip the language in the moment (this is awful, I am stupid, women are, politics is, etc.)

Gently stop the conversation when it goes negative. Don’t speak ill of others, especially if they are not present.

Practice heart-based tools: Shift the topic, pay a compliment, offer supportive solutions rather than negative complaints.

Use the SO IT IS or AMEN. Say this after everything you speak, think, feel or do to become aware of what you are creating – or supporting.

Stop throwing blame around. Take responsibility for your world, it is a co-creation with the divine. Move out of blame and into positive thoughts and creative solutions.

Make the shift – override the old fear – focus on the truth of love, peace, harmony and open-hearted observation rather than judgment. Choose to become aware – wake up…make different choices as you co-create your reality from within. Write just one of these suggestions on a piece of paper and place it where you will see it frequently, and then begin the next step of change, feeling the emotional attachments around those words without self-judgment. Once released, the old patterns lose their hold and new insights are available with possibilities of creating your reality from a place of love, peace, joy, compassion and harmony…a place of Unity Consciousness.

Eloecea

Quan Yin – goddess of compassion

 

 

by Eloecea

 

                                   

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Header image courtesy of NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope