"Peace is a sacred space within, it is the temple of our internal landscape. We are free to visit it, whenever we seek sanctuary. Underneath the chaos of everyday living, peace is patiently awaiting our discovery ... go within." ~ Jaeda DeWalt
My children hail from the "we just loud" tribe. As a creative, I agree with Aaron Powell when he says, "there's nothing worse than being violently jerked away from creativity." It is imperative I find time and space to connect with solitude and having a busy household makes it difficult to find sacred space.
Though accomplishing my daily writing goals is more about the habit of discipline than waiting for inspiration when Seshat makes a surprise appearance, I must retreat immediately to hear what she has to share.
"Your sacred space is where you can find yourself over and over again." ~ Joseph Campbell
My meditation corner has provided sacred space for my prayer and communion time with the Creator. It is where I go to be still, study, listen, and wait. Though I journal during these personal altar calls, I do not work on my writing projects there.
During the school year, my children make a steady foot path through my office study to access the computer, printer, and anything else that might suit their home work needs. This being the case, I have need for a private corner where I may receive inspiration uninterrupted. My project for the coming week is to work at setting aside a space just for this purpose.
Yet even when the availability of a physical space proves inconvenient, the Creator is ever present within me and my sacred space is wherever I am.
This truth holds fast.
Do you have a desire to create sacred space?
To where do you retreat to be still and listen before the altar of your heart?
"Sometimes the muse comes in, more often she does not. But she can never claim that she has not found me waiting in the right place." ~ Peter Prange
"People never learn anything from being told. They have to find out for themselves." ~ Paulo Coelho
My Grand Mother.
I believe I will never meet anyone smarter. Yes she was Grand, always ready with a pearl of wisdom.
In the shine of her firm, loving correction I expressed through the prism of an untested ego mind my unlimited knowledge. "Keep living," she would say, "sometimes you just have to bump your head and Grandmama will be here to pick up the pieces."
Mind you, I was a college graduate. Fortunately, my Grand Mother knew more in her 5th grade education than I could glean from any book. She had allowed her life experiences to grow her into a useful guiding spirit in the earth plane.
She returned to the Ancestors almost 20 years ago, yet she still speaks to me:
"A chain can't rattle by itself. Your heart doesn't have any brains. Tongues don't come with an eraser. Careful, God has the power to show you who He is anytime He feels like it. Sometimes you just have to keep quiet and listen. The next time somebody gives you their ass to kiss, remember that we don't kiss ass. You won't see what I'm trying to tell you until you have your own children."
"Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child." ~ Proverbs 22:15
At varying stages of life we find ourselves thinking and behaving in ways that are "foolish". My daughter is, at fourteen, an authority on all things seen and unseen. As I am still growing through my "foolishness", it is now my turn to help her navigate the waters of hers. The child inside us is still progressing through the stages of awakening.
When we are open and mindful to receiving incoming wisdom, the lessons are absorbed with minimal shock to the system. But sometimes we just have to bump our heads.
As my Grand Mother would say, "Keep living."
Who is the smartest person you have ever known?
Have you bumped your head recently?
From what episode of "foolishness" are you awakening?
"How many things have to happen to you, before something occurs to you." ~ Robert Frost
"I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order." ~ John Burroughs
For weeks, my sister was stalked by bees. I suggested she look into the significance of bees and what this phenomena might communicate.
Working full time, launching a business, and starting work on a Master's, she had begun feeling scattered and was concerned she had taken on too much at once. Enter the bumble bee, which reminds us we can accomplish the impossible. Recall that a bee's body is too heavy for its wings, though someone forgot to tell bumble bee.
At a time of deep despair in my life my tears rained like acid upon my heart and I felt I was being burned alive in my pain. My losses were profound ones. And as Earth lights who had kept me secure and grounded, providing anchorage to my existence began to transition back into stardust, the agony of my grief spiraled me into a dark night of depression to which I could see no end. My only comfort was music and meds to help me sleep.
Though I had always felt a close affinity with animals, especially horses and cats, I soon discovered I was being visited by dragonflies.
"Animals are not only beholders of great beauty, but they are also beholders of ancient wisdom." ~ Molly Friedenfeld
Native American culture says, dragonfly is the symbol of departed souls. Dragonfly draws near when we are stuck in attempts to adapt to new situations. They are a symbol of joy and rebirth coaxing us open to Light and new life. Sensing my desperate need for comfort, a dragonfly sat on my window for hours at a time and between restless bouts of weeping and dozing, I would wake to see that dragonfly was there.
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
~ Psalm 34:18
The Creator attends to the needs of His children through means both natural and supernatural. His Love is unconditional and His resources unlimited. Through the gift of the dragonfly He proved His omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent care and comfort, just as His Word promises.
Have you been privileged by recent animal visitations?
Are you open to the wisdom nature can provide?
What has nature been speaking to the circumstances in your life?
"All animals speak to those who listen. When we learn to speak with the animals they become our teachers, our friends, and our companions." ~ Ted Andrews
"If you feel lost, disappointed, hesitant or weak, return to yourself, to who you are, here and now and when you get there, you will discover yourself, like a lotus flower in full bloom, even in a muddy pond, beautiful and strong." ~ Masaru Emoto
As life in the earth plane is about each soul becoming better there is truth in the words of the late Dr. Maya Angelou who has said, "When we know better, we do better."
Padma is the Sanskrit word for lotus and the symbolism of the lotus points to the purity of consciousness and the journey of transformation from ignorance to awakening.
"Be like a lotus. Let the beauty of your heart speak. Be grateful to the mud, water, air, and the light."
~ Amit Ray
The lotus flower is a metaphor of the process of unfolding. Arising out of the unpleasant, less desirable spaces in our lives into a higher place of knowing. In the practices of yoga and meditation the lotus posture holds special significance that transcends time and religion.
In Ancient Egypt, the lotus was a symbol of the Sun, representing creation and rebirth. In Buddhist thought, the growth pattern of the lotus "signifies the progress of the soul through the waters of experience into the bright sunshine of enlightenment and as virtue develops, the blossom opens."
The Lotus Sutra speaks of the "great hidden treasure of the heart" and teaches that a heart open to change can transform every aspect of our lives. The Bible says in Proverbs 4:23, "Above all else guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."
"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way, and that your body may keep well even as your soul keeps well and prospers." ~ 3 John 1:2
Our moment to moment experience lends itself to our "unfolding" and drives us toward awakening. Just as the body by way of consistent yoga practice moves into increased mastery of the lotus posture, through meditation the inner heart can rise out of difficulty and darkness to bloom and welcome the glow of enlightenment.
Commit to the task of balanced "unfolding". Mind, body, and spirit. When we are open, we are learning. When we are learning, we are growing. When we are growing, we are becoming better.
Like the lotus flower, we can emerge from the mud awakened to the Light of love, compassionate wisdom and new life again, and yet again.
Check your posture.
What areas of your life require an awakening?
Is your heart open to the changes required in your becoming better?
Are you prospering spiritually along with every other aspect of your life?
"Push the door open, the discovery could be great that when the rain is long gone the sun might shine." ~ Edward Malatji
Join the journey and experience the joy of unfolding!
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"Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the "Beloved." Being the Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence." ~ Henri J. M. Nourven
My daughter is a self motivated, hard driven violist committed to serious study and practice. Part of her journey involves working with excellent teachers and more seasoned players. Her attempts at these ventures are not always successful. And being turned down can translate into feelings of not being good enough. Encouraging her to see each opportunity as a learning experience is challenging but is a life lesson I would have her embrace early.
"It's common to reject or punish yourself when you've been rejected by others. When you experience disappointment from the way your family or others treat you, that's the time to take special care of yourself."
~ Christina Enevoldsen
Rejection is another way the Holy Spirit redirects our energies toward new life and a transformed heart. It is often a brutal blow to the ego that bruises us sometimes in agonizing, seeming irreparable ways. We must be reminded that our Creator knows us better than we know ourselves. He has the blueprint for our lives and knows how to lead us to what is best. His no makes way for a bigger, better yes to unfold on our behalf.
The Creator knows where He can use us best as instruments of His love and healing. In addition, He knows the lessons we must learn to receive increased love and healing within. Always know that when it appears you are being rejected by someone or some circumstance in life God is seeking to bless you.
Know that His favor is always near.
Have you experienced a recent rejection?
When has favor been disguised as rejection in your life?
Are you internalizing rejection you receive from others?
"But a closed door leads to clarity. It's really an arrow. Because we cannot go through that door, we will go somewhere else. That somewhere else is your true life."
~ Tama J. Kieves
