The Awakening

by Sonny Carroll

There comes a time in your life when you finally get it… When in the midst of all your fears and insanity you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out – ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on. And, like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears and through a mantle of wet lashes you begin to look at the world from a new perspective. This is your awakening.

You realize that it is time to stop hoping and waiting for something, or someone, to change or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next horizon. You come to terms with the fact that there aren’t always fairytale endings (or beginnings for that matter) and that any guarantee of “happily ever after” must begin with you. Then a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.

So you begin making your way through the “reality of today” rather than holding out for the “promise of tomorrow.” You realize that much of who you are, and the way you navigate through life is, in great part, a result of all the social conditioning you’ve received over the course of a lifetime. And you begin to sift through all the nonsense you were taught about:

• how you should look and how much you should weigh
• what you should wear and where you should shop
• where you should live or what type of car your should drive
• who you should sleep with and how you should behave
• who you should marry and why you should stay
• the importance of having children or what you owe your family

Slowly you begin to open up to new worlds and different points of view. And you begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really believe in. And you begin to discard the doctrines you have outgrown, or should never have practiced to begin with.

You accept the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are… and that’s OK… they are entitled to their own views and opinions. And, you come to terms with the fact that you will never be a size 5 or a “perfect 10” Or a perfect human being for that matter. So you stop trying to compete with the image inside your head or agonizing over how you compare. And you take a long look at yourself in the mirror and you make a promise to give yourself the same unconditional love and support you give so freely to others. Then a sense of confidence is born of self-approval.

And, you stop maneuvering through life merely as a “consumer” hungry for your next fix, a new dress, another pair of shoes or looks of approval and admiration from family, friends or even strangers who pass by. Then you discover that “it is truly in giving that we receive and that the joy and abundance you seek grows out of the giving. And you recognize the importance of “creating” & “contributing” rather than “obtaining” & “accumulating.”

And you give thanks for the simple things you’ve been blessed with; things that millions of people upon the face of the earth can only dream about a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed and the freedom to pursue your own dreams.

And then you begin to love and to care for yourself. You stop engaging in self-destructive behaviors including participating in dysfunctional relationships. You begin eating a balanced diet, drinking more water and exercising. And because you’ve learned that fatigue drains the spirit and creates doubt and fear, you give yourself permission to rest. And just as food is fuel for the body, laughter is fuel for the spirit and so you make it a point to create time for play.

Then you learn about love and relationships, how to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving and when to walk away. And you allow only the hands of a lover who truly loves and respects you to glorify you with his touch. You learn that people don’t always say what they mean or mean what they say, intentionally or unintentionally and that not everyone will always come through and interestingly enough, it’s not always about you. So, you stop lashing out and pointing fingers or looking to place blame for the things that were done to you or weren’t done for you. And you learn to keep your Ego in check and to acknowledge and redirect the destructive emotions it spawns; anger, jealousy and resentment.

You learn how to say I was wrong and to forgive people for their own human frailties. You learn to build bridges instead of walls and about the healing power of love as it is expressed through a kind word, a warm smile or a friendly gesture. And, at the same time, you eliminate any relationships that are hurtful or fail to uplift and edify you. You stop working so hard at smoothing things over and setting your needs aside. You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK and that it is your right to want or expect certain things. And you learn the importance of communicating your needs with confidence and grace. You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that eventually martyrs are burned at the stake. Then you learn to distinguish between guilt, and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO. You learn that you don’t know all the answers, it’s not your job to save the world and that sometimes you just need to Let Go.

Moreover, you learn to look at people as they really are and not as you would want them to be, and you are careful not to project your neediness or insecurities onto a relationship. You learn that you will not be, more beautiful, more intelligent, more lovable or important because of the man on your arm or the child that bears your name. You learn that just as people grow and change, so it is with love and relationships and that that not everyone can always love you the way you would want them to. So you stop appraising your worth by the measure of love you are given. And suddenly you realize that it’s wrong to demand that someone live their life or sacrifice their dreams just to serve your needs, ease your insecurities, or meet “your” standards and expectations. You learn that the only love worth giving and receiving is the love that is given freely without conditions or limitations. And you learn what it means to love. So you stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn that “alone” does not mean “lonely” and you begin to discover the joy of spending time “with yourself” and “on yourself.” Then you discover the greatest and most fulfilling love you will ever know. Self Love. And so, it comes to pass that through understanding your heart heals; and now all new things are possible.

Moving along, you begin to avoid Toxic people and conversations. And you stop wasting time and energy rehashing your situation with family and friends. You learn that talk doesn’t change things and that unrequited wishes can only serve to keep you trapped in the past. So, you stop lamenting over what could or should have been and you make a decision to leave the past behind. Then you begin to invest your time and energy to affect positive change. You take a personal inventory of all your strengths and weaknesses and the areas you need to improve in order to move ahead. You set your goals and map out a plan of action to see things through.

You learn that life isn’t always fair and you don’t always get what you think you deserve and you stop personalizing every loss or disappointment. You learn to accept that sometimes bad things happen to good people and that these things are not an act of God… but merely a random act of fate.

And you stop looking for guarantees because you’ve learned that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected and that whatever happens, you’ll learn to deal with it. And you learn that the only thing you must truly fear is the great robber baron of all time FEAR itself. So you learn to step right into and through your fears because to give into fear is to give away the right to live life on your terms. You learn that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophesy and you learn to go after what you want and not to squander your life living under a cloud of indecision or feelings of impending doom.

Then, YOU LEARN ABOUT MONEY… the personal power and independence it brings and the options it creates. And you recognize the necessity to create your own personal wealth. Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never ever settle for less than your heart’s desire. Then a sense of power is born of self-reliance. And you live with honor and integrity because you know that these principles are not the outdated ideals of a by-gone era but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build your life. And you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting and to stay open to every wonderful opportunity and exciting possibility. Then you hang a wind chime outside your window to remind yourself what beauty there is in Simplicity.

Finally, with courage in your heart and with God by your side you take a stand, you FAKE a deep breath and you begin to design the life you want to live as best as you can.

A word about the Power of Prayer: In some of my darkest, most painful and frightening hours, I have prayed not for the answers to my prayers or for material things but for my “God” to help me find the strength, confidence and courage to persevere; to face each day and to do what I must do.

Remember this: “You are an expression of the almighty. The spirit of God resides within you and moves through you. Open your heart, speak to that spirit and it will heal and empower you.” My “God” has never failed me.

© Sonny Carroll, 1999. All Rights Reserved.

On Sunday, my spiritual circle held a potluck at the beach to celebrate the Summer Solstice.  Before we dug in, we did a short ceremony to heal the waters.  With the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico growing daily, many groups and individuals all over the world are turning their focus to healing the waters.  I’ve gotten many emails over the past few weeks from different organizations planning events to heal the water, as well as ideas for planning your own event.

This is what we did:

I filled a bucket with water from the ocean.  I reminded everyone that just as we are all One, from the same Source, water is all One, and it all connects.  So what we do to our bucket of water resonates out to water everywhere.

I had a rock that had the word “Peace” inscribed on it, and I dropped that into the bottom of the bucket.  Dr. Masaru Emoto has proven through his photography of water crystals that words and intentions have a definite effect on water.

Water Crystal exposed to the words Love and Thanks

Then I poured in water that was collected from a similar ceremony nine years ago, water that was collected during a full moon eclipse in 1996 and 2007.  (I’m a Pisces, and the energy of water fascinates me!)  We then had everyone put their hands on the bucket (or at least direct their hands towards it), and sent healing thoughts and energy to the water.  I asked those who have had Reiki attunements to send Reiki to the water.

We repeated a tradition I have with my family.  Each day, as we leave our neighborhood, we face the ocean before turning on to the main road.  We all say, “Hello, beautiful water! Thank you! I love you!”  Our group said this together three times.  And we sang a song honoring the ocean.

The ocean is the beginning of the Earth.
The ocean is the beginning of the Earth.
All life comes from the sea.
All life comes from the sea.

When we dipped our hands in the water after singing, it was very soft.  It was salty, but there was no sting from the salt.  I pulled out a small jar of the water to carry forward for the next time I do this, and then we went to the water’s edge, singing again, and poured the newly charged water into the ocean.  I asked everyone to visualize the healing rippling out farther and farther, to touch all the waters of the world.

You don’t have to do anything as organized as this.  Blessing and thanking your tap water before you drink it is a small thing you can do every day.  Visualize the water, particularly the Gulf of Mexico, clean and pure.  And you can support the efforts of companies like Natural Solutions North America, Inc, as they work to clean up the Gulf Oil Spill.

Blessings,

Mary

As I return from 7 days in Maui with The Peaceful Woman organization, I am filled with a sense of gratitude for what visionary CEO Cher Bertrand has created. The Maui Passage is a retreat experience that opens, shapes and enhances the soul in ways that a series of healing sessions or day workshops could never attempt to match. This retreat places each participant into a concentrated healing space where experiences, nature, the land, the ancient culture and other women guide you into a state of peaceful authenticity. It is mystical and beyond words.

Read more about Betsy’s experience here…

Blessings,

Mary

PS. There’s a new meditation for you to download for free!

Imagine those deep loving friendships that only grow when you share adventures, take risks together; when you laugh so hard your sides hurt; when you support each other over uneven ground; when you share tears of grief; when you sit together with the hot volcanic stones and burn away the burdens, witnessing and holding each other; when together you walk the labyrinth of consciousness and open to new possibilities; when collectively you swim in the waves of emotion, knowing it is safe to do so, without judgement. Knowing you are loved. You are seen. And doing all this in one of the most beautiful places on the planet!

Read the rest of her description here…

Blessings,

Mary

PS. There’s a new meditation for you to download for free!

In the “theme” of just doing it, I’d like to share another book with you called “The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Creative Inner Battles” by Steven Pressfield. In his book, Pressfield discusses all the ways we resist practicing our art, and what to do about it. I squirmed as I recognized myself in many of the varieties of resistance (from procrastination to fantasies to assorted vices to plain old fear).

Check out the whole post here…

Blessings,

Mary

PS. The new meditation is written, watch for the free download available February 22nd!  In the meantime, if you haven’t listened to it yet, download Creating Sacred Space for free here…

HOW TO MAKE 2010 THE MOST MEANINGFUL YEAR OF YOUR LIFE

PERFORM THE SEVEN ESSENTIAL ACTIONS© ONCE EVERY DAY

1. Thank someone you would normally not thank.
2. Express your love in a way that is unexpected, or to someone who is not expecting it.
3. Honor yourself for something you did today that reflects the best of who you are.
4. Forgive yourself for something you did today that reflects less than the best of who you are.
5. Feel compassion for someone you would normally judge.
6. Notice or experience something as miraculous that you would normally take for granted.
7. For one full minute, stop whatever you are and be deeply grateful for the gift of this day of your life. During this minute, contemplate the fact that yesterday, approximately 154,300 people on Earth passed from this world, and that even while you are practicing this very sixty seconds of gratitude, 100 souls will leave their physical forms. Send them your prayers as they journey onward. Then, with great joy and humility, proclaim these words out loud:

“TODAY, I AM ALIVE!!”
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Copyright 2010  Barbara De Angelis  All rights reserved

www.barbaradeangelis.com

Watch the Magic New Year Movie here… and know that I wish the same for you!

Blessings,

Mary

On the way home, inspiration struck.  Or my spirit guides or higher self spoke to me, however you want to look at it.  I wrote a guided meditation specifically for her and her recurring challenges.  I wrote it, recorded it, put it to music and had it on a cd in less than 3 hours.  And it is something I have said I wanted to do: write custom guided meditations for people.

As I was looking for inspiring messages to include, I came across a site that I had to share: Words From Spirit. Well, it’s actually part of a bigger site, so feel free to look around more. I know I’m going to.  One piece in particular really spoke to me though.  So I’m sharing it in its entirety.  Thank you, Susan Williams.

The Souls Progression

When the soul is heavy it means progression is near
Hold your own council and listen to the voice within
You ask for guidance but you need it not
Be still and listen to your heart speak
Let the emotion within lead you
The soul knows its journey, let it speak
Don’t deny yourself that which you are, that which you can truly be
Let not fear or doubt veer you off course, give it thought, then dismiss it
Walk your pathway with honour and pride
There are none who should judge you, only yourself
Freedom to be who you are is not bestowed, it just is
In the truth of your being, you will find that which you are
In the freedom of your expression, you let those about you know who you are
The love of God is given to all man
Have faith and trust in who you are
Walk wisely, touch many
Do not be responsible for another, only yourself
The road will ease, the pathway widen
To know the joy, take the pain and anguish
To be who you are not, to be as another would wish you to be, cannot be,
For the soul within you shall live in torment
Find balance and peace within
Go within , grant yourself the love you give to others and return to your pathway, knowing you are on the right road
Walk forward in the knowledge that you are who you are supposed to be
A unique being, a child of Spirit
A soul whose journey shall be never ending
A light that will brighten the path of many, a beacon of God’s love
Go forward knowing you are never alone
Walk on in peace
Shine !!

© Susan Williams – 16/10/04

Blessings,

Mary

PS. Watch for more guided meditations to be available soon!

Here’s an excerpt about the online course:

Our free online course features a step-by-step guide for people learning to meditate, complete with guided meditation exercises with meditation music that you can download and play. Each free class includes a discussion on a particular spiritual topic and a guided meditation exercise. For members (membership is free) the discussion and exercise are also provided as free radio quality audio mp3 downloads – just click on the link within the classes. Each class is set up for one week, structured for you to meditate and work upon the ideas brought up in the class in your daily meditation. But you can access them all at once if you are on the move and in a hurry to download to your ipod etc.

I encourage you to visit their site, and check out the course, and come back here for more guided meditations, naturally!  I’ll be posting  some new ones soon!

Blessings,

Mary

Get your free full-length guided meditation here.

The only way you can meditate improperly is by not giving yourself the gift of meditating regularly. A very simple way to meditate is to sit or lay comfortably in a quiet location. Start by taking a long, slow, deep breath. Gently focus your attention on your breathing; if your mind wanders, just bring your attention back to your breathing.

Read the rest of the article…

Blessings,

Mary

Get your free full-length guided meditation here.