Rising Sun Awareness

This morning, I watch the sun rise gloriously, spilling light onto the fields near my home.  After several days of relentless rain and murkiness, I am very thankful for its beautiful golden warmth.
As the sun rises, so does my awareness.....the colors of the leaves are intensified and the whole world seems brighter; refreshed by the recent rains.

Suddenly, I am filled with a rush of gratitude, for the beauty of this day, for my family, for my daily bread.  I am thankful for love, compassion and kindness; for the Light of God's Spirit. 

Today, may we all look around, open our eyes and raise our awareness of the beauty in nature and in each other.

In a quiet moment, meditate on the sun within you..

Imagine a circle of light rising, along your spine and out the top of your head.  Breathe, give thanks and spread that light to others.

 Be thankful

Replace Fear with Faith

Fear can be an insidious thing...sometimes it sneaks up on us in the wee hours of the morning or when we're driving in our car, anticipating the day ahead.  It can be like a snake that winds its way through our psyche and makes us doubt ourselves.

It may be fear of lack, fear of the future, fear of death, or fear of the violence and hatred in the world around us. For some, fear of others who are different than themselves becomes like a tight, gnarled black energy within that can lead to hateful acts.Whatever form it takes in our lives, it can be a very real presence that impacts our lives and prevents us from realizing our potential.

So what do we do with fear?  How do we free ourselves from its grip?  Conventional society tells us to medicate our fears: drugs, alcohol or prescription drugs can all temporarily numb the panic.  But it will return, if we don't address the root cause, if we are not willing to look within ourselves, examine and identify our fears and replace the energy of anxiety or panic with the energy of love, faith and hope.

Of course, this is easier said than done, but a simple meditative exercise is to use visualization:
Take a few moments to be still, to breathe deeply, to look within and identify any feelings of fear, doubt or anxiety.  Visualize these as that dark, snakelike energy and then use your breath to move them up and out.  Continue to breathe deeply and slowly, now visualizing a space in the middle of your chest, just above your heart and filling the space with the rose colored energy of love.  Imagine that energy moving out to encircle you, and then further out to encircle your loved ones. Pray for fear to be replaced with faith and love and then trust that all will be well.

Transform Tragedy into Action

In my meditation this morning, I cannot ignore yesterday's tragic mass shooting in a Pittsburgh synagogue.  People attending a joyous event in a place of worship were slaughtered simply because they were Jewish. 

There is no way to understand this level of hatred and evil; it is simply beyond comprehension. 

My heart is filled with the pain and grief of those left behind, as well as those souls who were wrenched from life on earth so suddenly.  But I know that this is not my burden to bear; so I must do what I can and then release it to God for healing and restoration.

So I ask, "What is it that I or anyone else can do?  What is my part in this?  There really are no easy answers; each of us should take whatever action we are guided to do.

We can pray for peace, always, for those left behind and for the world.  We can hold peace in our hearts and make a firm commitment to promote peace and deny hatred in all its forms, wherever we go. We can speak out if we hear someone spewing racist comments or seeming to pose a danger to others.  We can take community action, as our hearts guide us. We can teach our children to respect all human beings, regardless of their skin color, religion, country of origin or sexual orientation.We can pray that the darkness would be transformed into light, that good will overcome evil. And then we can release all to the healing balm of Spirit.

Pray for peace always

I Release My Burdens

This morning I realize that on most days, I am not aware of how many burdens I carry, or of how difficult it can be to release these to God. 

I visualize my cares and worries as a sack of rocks that I carry around and that impedes my journey along life's path.  Each day, I can add new rocks to my sack; whether it's words said in anger that cause me to feel guilty, regrets over past mistakes, or fear of the future.  I combine these with my worries about loved ones or the state of the world, the divisiveness and ugliness in politics today.... the list goes on.

I know in my heart that I need to let these things go in order to find peace, but sometimes my mind just won't let me.  It's hard not to care, when I am so intricately connected to the world around me.

As I meditate on this, it becomes clear that attachment is not the same as caring.  Caring is doing what I can and then setting the burden aside because it is not mine to bear.
It is understanding that a Higher Power is in control and that I am only a vessel for Spirit. 

When I am able to let it all go, if only for a few moments, the sack of rocks in my imagination becomes a bag of balloons that gently floats up into the realm of Divine Light.

Set down your burdens and trust in Spirit

I am a Light Being

On a typical day, I may feel like just an ordinary human being, going about my business.  I have a morning routine, responsibilities to fulfill, places to be.  But each one of us carries the spark of the divine within us, ready to be fanned into flame.  We may not even know it's there.

I'm imagining human existence and our lifetimes of experience like an extended Christmas morning for a young child. The gifts are excitedly opened one by one; some we are delighted with, others are a big disappointment.  We move from each new gift expectantly, eagerly, hoping for some sense of fulfillment, for the one gift that will make our lives complete.  Yet in our excitement, we may miss the unassuming package behind the tree, the one that's not obvious because the wrapping might be less appealing.  This gift, if accepted and opened, begins to reveal to us our inner light, which has been freely given by God.  All we have to do is say, "Yes, I would like to open my gift now, thank you".

It's all in the asking and accepting, something that can be a process.  We may accept grace and begin to reveal our light, only to lose our way as difficulties and challenges come along.  So then this is a daily exercise: opening our gift, connecting with our light, releasing cares and worries and embracing our true nature. 

I am reminded of the children's song:  "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, shine, shine...everywhere I go, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, shine shine"

Take a moment out of your busy morning to turn within, to say yes, today, 

I'm going to open my gift and let my light shine.

Become Who You Are

Every child is born into the world with an essence, a sense of being, an expression of life and consciousness that is unreserved, completely without censure. Children take delight in simply being....they have an innate sense of curiosity and a desire for learning that does not need to be taught.

Through parenting and cultural conditioning, the child develops a sense of self, an ego or thought construct about him or herself that is further reinforced by our educational system.  The joy of simply being who we are can become crushed by the roles we are expected to adopt as we move through life.  We become our labels, rather than our true selves.

Take a moment to think back to your early childhood and the influences, positive and negative that shaped you.  What experiences, expectations, guidance or criticisms molded you into the person you are today?. Is this person an authentic expression of who you are at your core?

It may be difficult to answer this question because most of us have so many layers of outside influences on our egos that we need to "peel the onion" a bit to even explore this.

Find a quiet space to breathe, center and connect with the point of stillness within.  Ask yourself who you really are...if this feels uncomfortable, it may be that you need to explore this some more.   Reflect on the natural abilities and passions that you had as a young child; what brought you joy, what brings you joy today. Feel your inner light, your innate passion, then take a step towards becoming more authentic.

 Pray for guidance, always. Be who you are

Be Alert and Watchful

I am reminded this morning that life is fleeting and that I should take care not to miss a moment.

It's easy to get caught up in the daily rush: the morning commute, the line at Starbucks, the to-do list, the demands of caring for others and fulfilling the daily tasks that have been assigned to me.

But each day there are signs and opportunities that I may miss if I'm not paying attention.  As I'm driving in my car, I may miss the beauty of fall leaves or the pedestrian on the side of the road if I am on automatic pilot.  I may miss the lonely old man at the grocery store who is praying that someone will smile and say an encouraging word to him.  I may be listening to the concerns of my child, spouse or co-worker with half an ear, not fully engaged.

Today, I am reminded to follow the signs that lead me on my path, to notice whatever is excellent or praiseworthy, to show concern for those around me, to practice kindness.

I take a moment to breathe deeply, release anxiety, anger or frustration, and notice the beauty of the day.

Be clear-minded and watchful, look around and see with the eyes of the heart...

Use Your Gifts Wisely

We may look up at the stars and feel insignificant in a universe that is so immense.  Yet the universe is as infinitesimally small as it is large...each cell is important, each particle matters.

You are so much more than a particle; You are a collection of cells that is a universe unto itself and you have a unique perspective on the world...no one else sees things exactly as you do.

We all have things in common; we are all part of the human experience and have similar thoughts, emotions and experiences, but no one else has exactly the same genetic makeup as you, no one else has exactly the same gifts to share.  No matter what your age, you can uncover depths within yourself.

Take a moment to be still, to focus on your breath and to reflect on what is unique about you, what you bring to the world, what unrealized potential you have yet to share.  If it's not clear, ask for wisdom and guidance to reveal your truth and strength to take a step on the path that is yours alone.

Find your gifts and share them

Embrace Change

I step outside and the brisk Autumn air causes me to catch my breath.  Leaves gradually change color and cascade softly to the ground.  The turn of seasons reminds me that the only certainty in life is that things will never stay the same.  Each day, my body renews itself...old cells die and are replaced by new.  Relationships end, loved ones may die, new people come into my life.  Old patterns and habits are replaced by new, better ways of doing things.

If I refuse to change, and remain stuck in an old pattern or continually churn over past regrets, I cannot grow spiritually.  Each day, I am writing the story of my life...the attitudes I hold, the choices I make, all have an impact on those around me, cascading out like ripples to the larger world.

I am reminded this day to breathe out the old, to imagine that everything stale in my life is being replaced by a new, fresh experience.  The energy of change and growth is like the color of leaves...green, gold, vibrant red and orange.  As I breathe in the new, I visualize these colors replacing gray, dark decay in the recesses of my soul.

I embrace change and am born anew each morning.

Transform Darkness into Light

Spiritual darkness is everywhere-it's hard to ignore the news, which seems to bring us stories of evil and tragedy on a daily basis. If we retreat to the shelter of our homes and families, even there we may find the darkness of depression, anger, fear, or addiction.

We can begin to transform darkness into light within the nucleus of our own hearts, expanding outward to our circle of family and friends, and further still  to the world.

Prayer is essential, as we bring our concerns for others to God.  But the real work begins as we release our worries to the Light of Spirit...letting go is the hardest part, but as we do so, we create space within our hearts and allow transformation to begin.

To practice this, imagine lifting loved ones into healing light, then breathing into your heart center, filling it with the love that you feel for them and visualizing all darkness being released to God for restoration.  If there is a situation in the world that is especially troubling to you, practice releasing this in the same way, visualizing its darkness beginning to dissipate.

We can find strength through the most difficult situations in our lives by admitting our powerlessness and releasing to the Divine.

"Namaste"-as we see the Divine in each other, we experience true peace

Be Fully Present in each Moment

 Breathe, Release, Connect to the Moment...

This may seem like simplistic advice, but it is true that most of us are not fully present at any given moment.  Our minds are chattering away, filled with worries, plans for the future, regrets about the past, or negative self-talk.  We are on our phones, checking social media, texting, or playing games...we are everywhere but fully in our bodies, experiencing the moment.

Our breath is the key to connecting us to the present.  Breath is fluid and continuous, the only autonomic nervous system function that we can consciously control, making it the ideal body-mind-spirit connector.

Try this simple exercise:  Wherever you are, at any given moment, throughout the day, simply observe your breath for a few seconds, then practice controlling its flow by breathing deeply into your abdomen and imagining a white circle of light that begins there and flows upward to a point above your head.  Bring the breath down to connect to the ground and then up again.  Look around you and observe carefully- immerse yourself in the present moment; its sights, sounds and smells, and allow no distractions to enter your mind.  Be fully present in your life.

I am Rooted and Grounded in Love

I am Rooted and Grounded in Love...

Love is my source, my sustenance.  As the roots of a tree go deep into the earth to receive nourishment and spread out to become interwoven with other living, growing things, so my spirit is rooted and grounded in the love of God.  I receive nourishment as I connect to my source and I spread this to others whose lives are interwoven with mine.

Forest Bathing is the practice of walking through deep woods for spiritual cleansing and grounding. Connecting with the energy of ancient trees that have been rooted in the earth for centuries is balancing and restoring to the soul...

"Sacred Mountain" is a Young Living essential oil blend of spruce, balsam fir, cedarwood and ylang ylang that I use often for spiritual grounding and protection.

Early Morning Inspiration

Create space for Spirit...

Release the minutia, the trivial details that clog my mind and soul, that fill my head and make it difficult to connect with God. Sometimes, these things need to be recognized, acknowledged, and written down, in order to let them go.  The details of life do have significance, but it's important to be able to put them aside, breathe and release.

No matter how busy my day, may I find time for this practice each morning.  Breathing, letting go, and reciting a simple mantra such as " peace" or "one", can be done while sitting, stretching, walking the dog, exercising, or showering.  When space is created, insights and inspiration will come.