spiritual awakening – Page 3 – Laughing Medicine Woman

July 16, 2014July 16, 2014

Shedding Skins–Awakening

I don’t know where to start. I’m not sure where the beginning is. We change by increments until–at some point–change changes us…and we are transformed. And transformation no longer recognizes the path of its creation. Is that what happened to me?

Shedding Skins. That’s what I thought I was doing. I thought, like a snake, I was simply outgrowing my skin…sloughing it away through different stages of my life so that new skin could emerge. As a child, I watched garden snakes lie quietly as their bodies made small, rippling motions that pushed the old skin away. I wondered if it was painful (I think it was.) And I was mesmerized by the brilliance of their new, fresh scales emerging. I watched them slither away when done, and I collected the discarded skins…I was fascinated by shedding skins! Continue reading “Shedding Skins–Awakening”

June 1, 2014

Teach By Example–Awakening

It’s a natural impulse to share what we learn. The inspired excitement of a new insight expands to connect–to reach out and teach. Like the effervescence of boiling water, new understanding bubbles and rises and pops and transforms. If we could see the energy that comes through us in the moment of a new realization, I believe we would see the shifts like steam rising from the roiling water, mingling with the steam of each other’s new awareness.

If we could see this, would it impact how we communicate? Would we be less focused on the sharing of our own wisdom and more interested in absorbing the wisdom of those around us? Would our focus shift more to experiencing the resonance between our insights and less on the wisdom of our personal insight? Continue reading “Teach By Example–Awakening”

May 1, 2014May 2, 2014

Devotion, My Favorite Emotion in Awakening

I used to say it was love. I used to say love was the end all of all emotions…which is not to say that I knew what love was. Indeed, even today I hear the word love and I struggle to grasp the full intention of its meaning. God is Love–I hear that often…and wonder: if I knew God, then would I know love? Or, if I embodied love, would I fully grasp what God is? We are always choosing between love and fear–that’s another trendy thought bandied about in spiritual circles these days. If it is really that simple, why do so many of us find the choice as challenging as climbing Mt Everest?

I tried and tried to make love my “word,” my favorite emotion…but couldn’t find my way between love as a noun, a verb, or an adverb. I asked for something I could embrace with the wholehearted action of a verb, and I got it: Continue reading “Devotion, My Favorite Emotion in Awakening”

April 17, 2014April 18, 2014

Ocean of Emotions – Awakening

I said once that my feeling body is as big as the Grand Canyon…and I want to take that back. I want to say, unequivocally, my feeling body is an endless sea. My ocean of emotion has no shores. I used to swim it with the goal in mind of respite. I thought I would eventually reach some magical shore where all my feelings gently soaked into soft, gentle sand, leaving me with an even sense of contented satisfaction. That’s the beach that called my desire and powered my unending strokes through vast seas.

For many, many years I believed I could aim myself toward that shore with the conviction of my mind and will and make it so. And I tried. But the shoreline remained out of reach. Then, another current caught me and I came to believe that, instead of attempting to will the creation of my desire, I would learn to swim the ocean of my emotions by responding to events and circumstances of life with love. Rather than looking for an end–a happily ever after–I would embody and embrace my emotion of choice. Love. Plain and simple…one vast emotion that buoyed me through the waves. An elegant and effortless solution that transformed the experience without any desire for it to end. An endless sea of love. Continue reading “Ocean of Emotions – Awakening”

March 19, 2014March 21, 2014

Still Alive and Kicking — Awake in the Awakening

My body is alive sixty one years today…well, most of it is. A few weeks ago, I discovered–through the serendipity of following the guidance I received while in Abadiania, Brazil with John of God to get a full spectrum of lab tests when I got home (see: Final Day of Trip Six)–that my thyroid was dead. That’s right. Post-mortem. Apparently, ever since the emergency surgery to repair the shattered vertebra in a horse riding accident in May, 2012, (see: Abadiania, Here I Come ) my body has done the best She could to function without a thyroid and the hormones it produces. Masked by the variables of recovery from a shattered vertebra, four fractured ribs, and two ruptured discs…the symptoms went un-noticed. Until I got the lab results and all of the dots came together in a crystal clear awareness that my body–without the support of a thyroid for almost two years–was starting to fail.

Why didn’t the entity just heal my thyroid? That’s the natural question to ask, right? It’s certainly the question I asked myself as I wondered, “Why make a direct connection with me to tell me to get to a doctor rather than just bring the thyroid back to life?” I don’t know the answer. I am called, once again, to trust the Will to Good to know–better than me–that reasoning. Continue reading “Still Alive and Kicking — Awake in the Awakening”

February 8, 2014February 9, 2014

Leading Through Resonance–Creative Leadership

We humans continually explore the concept of leadership–how to lead effectively, how to lead creatively, how to lead…period. Parents call it parenting. Managers call it managing. Politicians call it governing. Call it what you will, leadership runs through our culture and society like a necessary part of the infra-structure we call Life.

In our exploration of the leadership dynamic, we can look to nature as well. The organization of ants and bees have clearly defined roles…who defines those roles? That entity would, by definition, be the leader, right? Dogs establish hierarchies determined by who is the alpha in the pack, and that clarity is demonstrated by behaviors that mark the alpha dog as “preferred” in all circumstance–a role many leaders in the human world also claim. The interactions among horses is often about who is the leader right now…they jockey with body language for the coveted position of controlling the herd with a flick of their ears or a strategic placement of body. With horses, the leader is the one who moves everyone else without moving themselves. They lead from behind.

Whether we are leaders who forge ahead blazing a trail that others follow (because it’s easier than clearing a new trail, oftentimes) or whether we lead by strength of will and an inclination toward strong opinion, in every interaction there is a component of leading–or being led–in the relationship dynamic, I think. All of us have our own leading–and being led–style, and the operative question is: how well is it working in creating the satisfaction and fulfillment we desire? Continue reading “Leading Through Resonance–Creative Leadership”

December 21, 2013December 21, 2013

Solstice Renewal–Awakening

For many, this day goes by in a flurry of shopping lists and gift wrapping. For many, this day means nothing more than a marker for a how many days are left before the more celebrated holiday of Christmas arrives.

For me, Solstice is the main event.

Please don’t misunderstand–I honor and respect the traditions of all religions. I do my best to understand the underpinnings of their meanings and ceremonies. I do my best to open myself to the gifts of all spiritual practices… My heart, though, belongs to Solstice because–for me–I find the renewal of Spirit most evident in nature.

When I want to hear the whisper of wisdom from the Source of all life, I go into nature and listen. Continue reading “Solstice Renewal–Awakening”

December 13, 2013

Final Day of Trip Six–John of God Reflections

Sitting in Frutti’s in our familiar corner amongst now-familiar faces sipping a spicy chai latte, this is our final evening in Abadiania. The time for reflection has come. A Casa volunteer told us this morning that this past two weeks has been the busiest time EVER at Casa de Dom Inacio–thousands of people engaging the entity incorporated in Medium Joao daily. I imagine that the people who came a decade ago, or have been coming for many years, could speak eloquently about the changes within the Casa system in their time. I am only three years into this exploration; for me it is apparent that the Casa is more organized and streamlined in how the crowds are managed, and I see that the sessions last hours longer even so.

One of the first changes I noted was the intent of the Casa volunteers to keep the main meeting/waiting room quiet. “Shhhhhhhh,” they would remind the crowds when chatter created a rising hum, “Silence is prayer. Please.” I liked that. I found the silence to be a buoyant support into connection with the energies. It was in this peaceful quiet that one of the entities made direct contact with me on the first morning. (see: A Blessing Shared) A connection that transformed the experience for me. Continue reading “Final Day of Trip Six–John of God Reflections”

December 10, 2013December 10, 2013

Insights–John of God

Today is the seventh day since the spiritual surgery I experienced last Wednesday. It has been a profoundly deep week into the exploration of healing for me. For the first time in all of the spiritual surgeries I’ve undergone, I felt “post-surgical.” I was reminded of the days right after spinal surgery when my one goal was to be able to get up and walk the halls of the hospital. I was not as weak this week as I was right after the spinal surgery, but I did ask Alan to wheel me in the wheel chair often, walking for very short periods then resting when I felt my vitality deflate.

During the daily crystal bed, Dr. Augusto came available for interaction. Continue reading “Insights–John of God”

December 7, 2013

Tips to Enhance the John of God Experience

John of God, Casa Dom Ignacio, spiritual healing, diabetes — Meditation garden at the Casa

We are well into Saturday afternoon here in Abadiania, Brazil, and enjoying the quiet laughter and inspiring music at Frutti’s. Many have left town for parts unknown, and those of us gathered are relaxing into the meandering weekend rhythm. Freshly juiced carrots with ginger and guacamole for my lunch–supporting the healing currents of the Casa de Dom Inacio on all levels 😉

Of course, we began our day at the Casa to make prayers for ourselves and friends. Then, we meditated while partaking of the crystal beds. Even though John of God has a few days now to rest and rejuvenate in his personal surroundings, the entities are still very much present on the Casa de Dom Inacio grounds. The current is strong, and the vibration of healing and transformation potent amidst the vibrant nature of the garden. Continue reading “Tips to Enhance the John of God Experience”