Wounds and Scars

history in her veins

at times she called it baggage,

dragging its heavy weight along.

other times she called it fuel,

using it to push her forward.

now she called it

history in her veins

and just accepted it as part of 

her life flow.

terri st cloud

www.bonesighart.com 

All of us carry wounds from our past whether they are healed or simply repressed.    We can work very hard at embracing our personal stories, but sometimes there are scars remaining.  These wounds or scars prevent our energy from appropriately flowing through our body.  The negative experiences become road blocks preventing even distribution of our energy.  

As a human being, I, too, have my share of wounds and scars.  I have diligently worked on forgiving, acceptance, embracing and shedding shame, blame, and guilt.  I truly understand how difficult and lengthy this process can be and it is not without pain.  The good news, however, is once you have completely the task of removing boulders from your journey, you will love being in the flow.

Imagine your self in a kayak, paddling away, dodging debris in the water and enduring storms and high winds.  A large branch is within reaching distance and so you grab on. You pull yourself into a small cove.  As you hang on, you relax every muscle in your body.  You align your body posture and regulate your breathing.  You may be tempted to simply give up, but a small whisper says, "Push forward!"

Eventually you learn to navigate the water.  All of your skills finally join together and you are mastering your strides. Suddenly, you catch the current and it pushes you right into its course and off you go!  You are in the flow with a sense of accomplishment, new beginnings, and no room for sorrow.  

So carry on.  Don't give up, as you are probably closer than you may think.  Keep paddling and the current will propel you where you need to go!  You can do it!

Courage, Compassion, and Integrity

 "Keep a vigil.

Stay awake in the garden.

Hold to the light.

Revere goodness and integrity and truth."

A WOMAN'S WORTH

Marianne Williamson

Inside my office, I placed three small hearts above the door.  The first was for courage, the second was for compassion, and the third was for integrity.  When a  client sat in my office, they were facing me with their backs to the door.  I was facing them giving me total vision of three inspiring  hearts.  I would frequently encourage individuals to maintain their courage, compassion and integrity.  As I was doing this, I sometimes would ask myself, "Are you listening to what you are saying?  Do you practice what you preach?"

Courage has been steadfast in my life, although there has been times when I have been too weak to use it.  Frequently I acquiesced to the demands of others.  Courage at times was an unmovable boulder, too heavy to carry and too large to walk around.  With insight and healing, I learned to carry a small stone in my pocket as a reminder of my courage being so strong, any barrier would appear to certainly be a small rock.

It has always been easy for me to have compassion and it seems to be extended to all things.  Once several years ago, I came out of my down town office to find all the the lovely trees in the courtyard had been sawed off at the base and removed to allow workers to replace sidewalks.  I was overcome with grief and sorrow for the beautiful trees that had been seemingly slaughtered.  I felt as though I were looking at a battlefield. I hold the image still.

My definition of integrity is who you are when no one is watching. Although I did not have this definition as a child, I held the sense of the word within me, helping me to get through challenging times.  When I was falsely accused or it was assumed I had committed some dastardly childish act, I would quietly hold on to the emotions inside, reminding me I was good and God knew the truth. 

So I have learned to stay awake in the garden, nodding off just here and there, but I hold on to my light, to keep it shinning brightly both for myself and for others.  I cherish goodness and honesty in the hearts of others as I carry compassion and courage with a willingness to share.  It is integrity, however,  guiding my internal spirit in all things seen and unseen.

Messed Up

                                     



“Life is painful and messed up. It gets complicated at the worst of times, and sometimes you have no idea where to go or what to do. Lots of times people just let themselves get lost, dropping into a wide open, huge abyss. But that's why we have to keep trying. We have to push through all that hurts us, work past all our memories that are haunting us. Sometimes the things that hurt us are the things that make us strongest. A life without experience, in my opinion, is no life at all. And that's why I tell everyone that, even when it hurts, never stop yourself from living.”

Alysha Speer

At times, life can be very painful and messed up when we are in the midst of a challenge.  When we are resistant and struggle against the lesson rather than learn from it, life can get pretty complicated.  We can become lost if we forget all we truly know as truth.  If we do not use our tools of faith, trust, and hope, we can wander quite a ways from our true destination. 

After awhile, we grow so tired of wallowing in the void, we begin to try once again.  We may need a mentor or therapist to help us untangle what is at the root of our problem.   The process of identifying our barriers and removing limitations is not easy by any means.  It requires consistent and heart searing work work through our issues.  The results are well worth the effort.  We survive feeling stronger and closer to our life's purpose.

It is good to remember we are not the only ones fighting a great battle.  Every one here on earth faces challenges whether they appear to be or not.  We are not all at the same stage of process.  This is why sometimes we are on top of the world smiling, noticing someone else struggling or people around us are smiling and we are the ones struggling.  We are not alone in life experience.

It is important to remain constant in our awareness, retain compassion for our selves and others, and strengthen our connection with Spirit.  To have a strong relation with the Divine does not excuse us from life's lessons.  No one is excused.  Our lessons, however, can be less painful if we respond to them immediately, honestly, and seek a new way.  We can remember: to believe in our personal abilities to move through problems; our personal relationship with God; and the joy in achieving accomplishment.

The Traveler

The spiritual path ~ is simply the journey of living our lives.

Everyone is on a spiritual path,

most people just don't know it.

Marianne Williamson

If the spiritual path were in one straight line where the traveler could have clear vision, and confidence on the path, the journey would be so much easier.  This is not the way, however.  The spiritual path bends and curves, has barriers to be overcome, detours available for free choice, stretches through rain, fog, sleet, snow, and very high winds.  Some days the sun is shining while other days darkness covers the path.  It is not easy nor was it meant to be.  The spiritual path requires patience, awareness, determination, courage and guidance from various sources.  The goal is to find all parts of the self and to become one with all there is.  All paths lead to Divine Spirit.

Although each spiritual path differs, the traveler meets a variety of teachers along the way, learning important lessons.  Some teachers stay with us for awhile and yet others seem coincidental just in passing.  Most of the journey is spent alone, discovering the traveler's purpose, strengths, gifts and talents.

Another portion of the spiritual path is designated for the traveler to not only be a student of life, but also at times the teacher.  As the teacher, experienced wisdom can be passed along to others upon the path.  It is an opportunity for the traveler to be in service to fellow travelers.

When the traveler wanders off the path, connections can be made with exceptional people who do not appear to be traveling at all.  These non-travelers do not appear to be following any sort of path and yet they are spiritually inspiring almost unknowingly.  They may not even refer to themselves as even being spiritual, but we find them to be respectful and honorable.

The spiritual path is a journey of a life time.  It is not meant to be a super speed way, as it is mostly a solitude road.  At times a section of the path may seem familiar as though it has been previously traveled, but the boulder once struggled with is now only a rock.  Tools are gathered along the way in hopes the traveler can move through troublesome areas more gracefully.  At times, it is easy to forget about the tools, and the traveler mounts the boulder again.

A traveler may also be a seeker or one who wanders.  Just because the traveler may wander, it does not mean the traveler is lost.  There are various foot paths available and although these less tread paths are not direct routes, they frequently provide needed rest or solitude or greater challenge. 

We are all travelers in one way or another and all paths lead to the Divine. 

Slaying Dragons

Courage is not just about slaying the dragon,

but about being true to yourself

and speaking your mind.

Elizabeth Bernstein

If we manage to slay the dragon, but regress back into silence, another dragon will eventually appear.  Dragons can be  symbols of fear; thus the cycle of dragons.

Courage is a part of our self we use to conquer physical, emotional or spiritual fears.  We use courage to face battles, to run calculated risks, and to stand up for our truths and values.

For some, it takes courage just to get out of bed.

The Divine is perfection and the Divine has created us in perfection; however, as part of the human experience we have strengths and weaknesses.  The lessons in this human experience entitled "life" address our weaknesses far more than our strengths.  The lessons are opportunities to strengthen our weaknesses.  Whenever we face our fears our courage  grows just a little stronger.

When we maintain a balance between our body, mind, and spirit, we are 'in the flow' feeling resilient and empowered.  When we respect our gifts and talents, and integrate our personal beliefs with our outer world, we have the courage to move forward more easily.  If we hide our personal beliefs and do not utilize our strengths, life appears to be an upward battle.   Then one day, at last, we gather our courage and break through our fears, slaying our dragons.  

Invitation

God enters by a private door into every individual.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

I throw open the door inviting spirit in, hoping to make sense of  the turmoil within.  I gaze outside and breathe the calm in,
slowing the undercurrent causing this spin. 

The churning recedes as spirit gently enters in, opening my heart for love to come in.  Too easily I forget all that I know, losing my way and forgetting to grow.

I coax my glow back into a flame and I can feel my inner fires burning strongly again.  I have so much farther to go, to plant little seeds which will sprout long after I am gone, now realizing this is the way wisdom is often passed down.

We send our prayers and ask for blessings, but too frequently forget to leave open the door for Divine Spirit to enter in.  If we extend an invitation for spirit to come and be our invited guest, our lives will be happier and filled with bliss. 

I'd Like To Dance

Listening to your heart is not simple.

Finding out who you are is not simple.

It takes a lot of hard work

to get to know who you are

and what you want.

Sue Bender

The premature arrival of spring warms my face and heart.  For the first time in a long time, I feel my inner self awaken with stirrings of new growth.  I must have been frozen in time during the winter, and I believe the ice is beginning to thaw.

Heavy coats are no longer needed for protection and by taking off my hat, my ears are hearing much more clearly.  And without the bitter cold winter winds, my eyes have a much brighter perspective. 

The sweet sounds of spring are encouraging me to accept the challenge and to master the lesson so new seeds can be planted this spring.  My face embraces the sun and its warmth heals all that needs to be forgiven ... especially my own doings.

There is freedom when I cast my shoes aside and place my bare feet on the greening grass.  Joy pumps up through me, and quite honestly ... I'd like to dance.

Daring Greatly

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be
with those timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.

Theodore Roosevelt
26th President Of The United States

Find two pieces of identically clean paper. The first piece, place untouched in a safe and clean place.

  Take the other blank piece of paper and examine it,

looking at the sheer plainness

and unmarked beauty of the fiber. 

Notice the pristine texture of the sheet. 

Now fold the paper in half, gently. 

Turn the paper around and fold it again, carefully. 

Continue to fold the paper over and over,

creasing the folds heavily. 

Carry it in your back pocket or billfold. 

Shove it in a drawer or with a stash of other papers.
Then when you have almost forgotten about it, retrieve it.

Unfold the paper and notice the creases, discoloration,

and change in the texture. 

Look very closely at all of the wrinkles and changes. 

Now compare the other piece of paper

that had been kept 'safe' and 'clean'.

Which do you find more interesting and intriguing? 

Safe and pristine or weathered and worn?

Read the words of Theodore Roosevelt again.

Waiting for the Key

The moment one definitely commits oneself,

then Providence moves too.  All sorts of things

occur to help one that would never otherwise

have occurred.  A whole stream of events issues

from the decision which no one could have

dreamed would have come their way.

~W. H. Murray

The key to opportunity, what shape does it take?  Is there only one key or many?  Either way, a risk must be taken.  Once the risk is taken, does the key unlock the door?  One never knows until the steps are taken into the unknown.

Optimists encourage a person to make their own opportunity, to not wait for someone to arrive knocking at your door.  An individual must put himself or herself 'out there' in order to set things in motion.  One must not only unlock the door, but step through it.

Norman Vincent Peale author of THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING also wrote the book POSITIVE IMAGING which was described as "The Powerful Way to Change Your Life". Basically, the concept was to vividly picture your goal,  and hold it until it became a part of your unconsciousnessness where it would release great untapped energies.  "Hope, faith, and truth seem to be the keys." 

Our self image creates how we present our self.  If we paint our self into a pretty picture, we more than likely will find our self enjoying the landscape.  It is believed by many what we send out into the world will come back to us.  If we render hatred, we will receive hatred in return.

Love, light, and energy is how I think of myself.  It is what I want to be to others.  I will be steadfast with faith, hope, and trust that the Universe will return these things to me.

Courage Is The Quiet Voice ...

"Courage doesn't always roar.

Sometimes courage is the quiet voice

at the end of the day saying,

'I will try again tomorrow.'"

Mary Ann Radmacher