Dear One,
Stop your searching.
The light you long for
will be found
within.
xoS
shining
A Deva Tale (includes a damsel, a villain and a talisman)
What do you do when you realize you’ve been resisting what you’re here for?
Maybe you hide out with busy work.
Or stop writing.
Or say yes to shiny new projects that are mostly distractions from…
what you’re here for.
I get it. I feel your pain. And enough is enough.
That’s what I said to myself recently!
I said, “Self, it’s time to stop resisting. It’s time to remember your intention. It’s time to get on with owning your awesome!”
My Self quivered at this vociferous demand, challenged to find the words to share what’s been going on.
Because you know, I wanted to find the RIGHT words. Which is just another way of holding myself back and waiting for my own…wait for it…someday.
Yes, I know I’m on a mission to obliterate someday thinking from the face of the earth.
Gah. I hate outing myself.
But apparently Self needed a public bitch slap, which is why I’m about to tell this tale.
Let’s go back to the beginning, for sharing the details of how it’s been is always better than waiting for the perfect words someday.
Once upon a time there was a wildly enthusiastic woman with a passion for helping others. She did what she had to do to become skilful in her chosen profession, she launched her business with zeal, and she hustled.
She hustled because she loved her work. She fell in love with her perfect people; they lit her up with their enthusiasm and commitment to living life fully.
Then one day something changed, although she had no idea at first what it was.
Your Soul Song is Waiting
I’ll never forget the day I read the first email I received from Carol Hess, today’s spotlight. She’d just read the post I wrote after my father-in-law died and her message said, “I just read your Starbursts post. You scare the shit out of me. And that means I need to work with you.”
I sat at my desk moved to tears. Sharing the experience of my father-in-law’s sudden death was terrifying. Had I gone too far, my passion too intense? And then Carol’s email arrived.
It was confirmation that this message which had been there all along in my work was my core message, and it was suddenly so clear I could no longer ignore it. Carol would call this my Soul Story.
And that is her brilliance – calling forth your Soul Story.
The fascinating aspect of this story is that in reaching out and asking for what she needed, Carol made a difference for both of us.
Her work is empowering, but it’s not that she has power to give you. No. It’s more like she pulls back the veil so you can see your own power and claim it. Then she’s right there beside you, not just talking but walking the path.
When I think of Carol, words like authenticity, integrity and courage come to mind. And she’s funny! So damn funny, when we talk there is much laughter of the out loud and snorting kind!
On Grace
Sometimes I hear a word and question its meaning.
What is grace?
Like grace.
Kindness, mercy, goodwill, favour. . .all words that speak of grace.
But what is it really?
Is it a way of being, an attitude, an experience?
The definition most appealing to me is from William Hazlitt,
“Grace has been defined as the outward expression of the inward harmony of the soul.”
This resonates, but still gives me no real access to grace.
Then I remembered a question I first read in Conversations with God,
What would love do now?
The answer to this question gives me direct access to grace.
It helps me let go, forgive. . .move on.
It displaces everything leaving only grace.
My Sunday offering – grace in the words of others:
Anne Lamott :: “I do not understand the mystery of grace – only that it meets us where we are and does not leave us where it found us.”
Some emotions and experiences move through us like weather. Others, like grace leaves its presence.
Brennan Manning :: “To live by grace means to acknowledge my whole life story, the light side and the dark.”
The light and the dark. Resisting the dark causes suffering, while accepting it opens the door to grace.
Mary Oliver :: “You can have the other words – chance, luck, coincidence, serendipity. I’ll take grace. I don’t know what it is exactly, but I’ll take it.”
Like Mary Oliver I’m not sure what it is, but I”ll take grace too. There’s a depth and a mystery to it that appeal to my soul.
Rumi :: “Give up to grace. The ocean takes care of each wave ’til it gets to shore. You need more help than you know.”
Give up, surrender, let. it. in.
Anne Lamott again :: “Sometimes grace works like water wings when you feel you are sinking.”
Water wings for the soul; a heart pleasing vision.
And my personal favourite,
Karl Barth :: “Laughter is the closest thing to the grace of God.”
I want to know what it means for you, and leave you with the gift of these words.
What would love do?
The Search Is Over
Druids, seers, wizards, sorcerers, psychics, fortune tellers and gypsies.
I am none of those but I have a crystal ball.
Come closer and look within.
See a you that is whole and complete.
Unfettered. Untainted. Pure.
No thoughts, no stories,
A perfect blank slate.
You were born this way.
Remember?
“Stop searching here and there, the Jewels are inside you.” – Rumi
Maybe not.
Life causes you…
To forget.
To shrink.
To hide your light.
But that you, is still there.
Patient, waiting.
It knows…
You already know how to shine.
The search is over.
Go With All Your Heart
Dearest,
Life can be challenging.
Fear and anxiety show up for a visit and the urge is strong
- to give in
- stop dreaming
- settle
But listen. . .
You’ve got to keep going. You can’t give up.
Because you – of all the people I know – have a gift to offer.
A gift so remarkable, so uniquely you, it would break my heart if you stopped offering.
Every time you’ve been tempted to give up and take the easy road, you’ve followed your own light. Some days barely visible but enough to illuminate the path ahead of you.
That light can not be extinguished.
You may not know this about yourself, but you are a warrior of the light.
A torch-bearer, a fire starter, a beacon.
When you think you have nothing left to give, your greatness – radiance – shines through.
Some are blinded by it. Pay them no mind.
The world needs you to keep shining.
It’s why you’re here.
xoS
p.s. Wherever you go, go with all your heart.
Inspired by The Heart-Changing Letter Exercise.