Somewhere inside me is a knowing
Somewhere outside me is a knowing
When these two connect there is a great understanding

Walking is my time to meditate, to relax my mind and body and release some of the stress I carry. Today, as I walked, I reflected on my seeming inability to grow African violets. I’d taken leaf clippings from several plants and planted them in new pots, watered them diligently with a Miracle Gro mixture, and waited impatiently. It’s been almost two months and nothing visible is happening. Are they growing? Why is it taking so long? The questions invited in my friends Worry, Doubt, and Fear. (They’re not very good friends.)

Then I moved on to my new story idea, which is taking a long time to germinate. It doesn’t matter that I have tons of research to do. I want to write now. And, of course, I don’t know what to write, and that not knowing is irritating me. Add more worry, doubt, and fear.

So today I decided to let go of the uncertainty—the fear of uncertainty—around not knowing. I don’t know what I’m having for lunch or dinner. I don’t know who will email me today. I don’t know what I’m going to feel about the stories I’m reading for a contest. And those are okay. They’re little. But the story . . . I have a lot of attachment to that. So I started tapping (EFT) on releasing that fear of uncertainty about something that feels big. And these words came to me:

Somewhere inside me is a knowing
Somewhere outside me is a knowing
When these two connect there is a great understanding

Somewhere inside me is a knowing reminded me to take a deep breath and center in my heart. That is the place of awareness, consciousness, truth. From that place I can be anything, do anything. Somewhere outside me is a knowing reminded me that there is a greater power—God/Spirit/the Divine—that operates from pure love. And even though I may feel impatient, it has impeccable timing and things come to pass for my highest good. When these two connect there is a great understanding reminded me that when I open my heart and feel my truth, I automatically connect with Spirit, and I am in that zone of knowing. And that knowing is available to me at any time. I may be resistant to or uncertain of the outcome, but it’s there, open, just waiting for me.

When you’re feeling the pressures of everyday life, when you’re striving for something and you feel you’re just not making it, connect with your heart and remember your truth:

Somewhere inside me is a knowing
Somewhere outside me is a knowing
When these two connect there is a great understanding


 

In the beginning there was only Love and Love settled upon the Earth and held it in its stillness, until all upon the Earth breathed in and out in unison. Now we’re in the twenty-first century where we race for the cheapest places to shop, the fastest route from point A to point B, and the easiest way to get things done. Technology is no longer the playground of advanced science but the common ground for our current lifestyle of electronics, hybrid cars, fast food, and much more. We are connected via phones and computers but disconnected from each other.
 
We have forgotten the concept of universal energy, proved to a more modern world by Albert Einstein with his famous equation about relativity. But centuries before Einstein there were cultures around the world that understood the energy that permeates every living thing—Japanese (Ki), Chinese (Chi), Sanskrit (Prana), Lakota Sioux (Neyatoneyah), Hebrew (Ruach or Roohah), Tibetan (Lung), and so forth.
 
Not only does the familiar phrase “we are all energy” hold true, but that energy that flows through us, between us, among us, and around us, binds us to every other living thing. At the heart of it all is a oneness, a connectedness not just to other humans, but to plants and trees, birds, animals, insects, the oceans, even the very ground we stand on. When you go outside and sink your feet into the grass in your front yard, you send an energy signal to Mother Earth to feel your vibrations, to open a channel of connectivity, to harmonize with your energy. If, at the moment of connecting, you’re feeling happy or joyful or grateful, you bless the earth with positivity. If you’re feeling angry, anxious, or sad, then you imbue those feelings into the ground.
 
Everything we do, think, and feel becomes part of the fabric of our environment, the people around us, the community we live in, and so on. The butterfly effect, whose name was coined by meteorologist Edward Lorenz, shows how the smallest of actions—the flapping of a butterfly’s wings—can cause major upheaval in another location and time. The first precept of Buddhism states, “I undertake the training to avoid taking the life of beings.” The word being applies to all living things, not just humans. Pesky mosquitoes, rodents that carry diseases, unwanted plants and trees are all part of that edict. We’ve been conditioned to believe that it’s okay to kill or remove or get rid of these beings as part of daily life because everyone else does the same. But as we awaken, as consciousness raises, as the collective becomes more enlightened, perhaps it’s time to change our habits and embrace more loving selves.
 
North Georgian Tom Blue Wolf talks about “all our relations,” the thread of life, of energy that connects all living things. We experience this life in the early morning birdsong, the running of sap through an old growth tree, the rush of clear spring water in a stream near a garden, the majestic wonder of a deer standing in silent salute. These pieces of life ask nothing from us and exist without our doing, yet how much more significant might they be if we looked on them with more consciousness?
           
 
There’s a profound grace that comes with the attentiveness of being more conscious. Through the awareness of the breath, the simple act of noticing the inhale and exhale, we can begin to experience that deeper connection, that quiet that resounds with energy, that relation to all things. Even one moment is beneficial and carries tremendous importance. Imagine everyone, everywhere, doing the same thing, being in that space of awareness.
           
What would happen if we were all to breathe as one?

[Originally published in the Conscious Life Journal​, September 2017]

by Angela Rodriguez

A day ago I was graced by an experience that reminded me of the great joy of choice.

I went to a going away party for a co-worker of my boyfriend Damian. I opted to drive myself so Damian could stay later and enjoy himself. 

One of his co-workers, whom I was meeting for the first time, shook my hand with the cupping fashion of over and under, which to me is the best type of handshake as it forms a full circle from the heart chakra, down the arm, through the hand, up the other arm, and back to the heart chakra.

As he moved on to greet more people, I turned to Damian and said, "He's a very special guy. I like his energy." Damian smiled in agreement and said, "You can tell all that from a simple handshake?"

Hours passed and it was time to go. As I said my goodbyes, this same genuine man said, "I don't know if you've been drinking, but I saw the police setting up a DUI checkpoint on Broadway Street. To avoid it all, you should take El Camino home."

It was brisk and dark outside. I kissed Damian farewell, then swiftly continued to my car.  I talked myself into taking El Camino, even though it would add another 10-15 minutes to my commute home.

As I approached El Camino, readying myself to turn right, my eye caught the shadow of someone in the crosswalk. In my mind, this someone was definitely taking to long to cross. I let out a deep sigh, while my inside voice said, oh c'mon, hurry up already!!

The figure grew closer, and I realized it was an elderly woman with a cane and rolling basket full of groceries, who was so dutifully attempting to get across the street with all of her might.

I took another deep breath, and suddenly my breath caught in my throat. My headlights caught the front wheels of her cart and one of the wheels wedged itself in a crack in the street. The woman moved her cart to and fro, but it would not budge and almost tipped over. 

I watched her for a good 30 seconds, conflicted in helping because she appeared to almost get the cart out herself. 

Time slowed down in my internal clock and headlights started to line up in my rear view mirror. I knew I had to help her. I jumped out of my car, approached her gently, then smiled broadly at her as I asked her if she needed any assistance.

She looked at me with delight, smiled back, and said, "Oh, yes, please, it's so hard for me now that there aren't many taxis."

I lifted her cart of groceries up and out of the crack, then placed the cart on the sidewalk. I heard her gasp with surprise at my strength, which made me giggle. The headlights behind my car were now 5 car lengths deep, and the light had turned from red to green, however not a one was honking with impatience. A pleasant surprise. I walked back into the crosswalk to assist the lady to the corner. I took her elbow and guided her safely up the curb. She thanked me profusely and told me she was fine now and lived close by. 

As we quickly said our farewells, a man rolled by on a bicycle. His eyes locked with mine, and he simply said, "God bless you."

I climbed back into my car and finally made that right hand turn onto El Camino, saying to myself, "That was Jesus." The entire incident, from beginning to end, was divine flow. Gratefully I chose to listen, to allow, to serve. In the end, I was blessed with the full circle of love which all started with a handshake that wasn't so simple after all. 

With Gratitude, dear readers, listen to the gentle flow of Spirit and ride on its breath. Happy Holidays!

Angela Rodriguez, Sergeant of Police for the San Francisco Police Department, an Advanced Reiki Practitioner, and Intermediate Channel, is a guest blogger and coauthor of F.A.I.T.H. – Finding Answers in the Heart, Volume II. To order your copy of this inspirational book, click here. 

by Linda Goodman
 
Making conscious decisions and holding ourselves accountable is what makes us responsible adults, yet this need for always being in control (the ego) doesn’t allow for what may happen in our lives when bad things happen to good people.   Of course there are techniques for problem solving, but when the issues are far more complex, our overthinking may keep the noise of the mind so busy that there’s no time to receive quiet clarity.  Trusting the gut or intuition may be a new tool necessary to overcome the ego’s control and, in essence, redefine who we are.
 
On the opposite end of the spectrum, I’ve known people who seem to have always lived in a state of Trust.  It was second nature with no external work required.  Some have lived in a strong faith, but others haven’t; some were of service to humanity, others weren’t.  Perhaps they masked more than could have been noticed, but I’ve often wondered how could they trust so easily when others have been battered and bruised and are now coming to terms with relearning it?  To know self is more important than to analyze another.
 
Just as computer language is written in a basic step-by-step description, there are wisdom traditions that offer a way for each of us within our specific belief system. There is work involved in growing ourselves with the building blocks of each faith.  Here I will refer to God, or The Higher Self, etc. as LOVE, for that is what I believe is our commonality.  I think we all wish to belong and our choice of a companion on this path of trust and surrender is pure, unconditional LOVE.
 
There is sacrifice involved in complete surrender and taking the ego out of the equations.  It’s an ongoing awareness and expansion of our unique (and possibly unknown) capabilities away from our former education.  In Kabbalah, I’ve been taught three Hebrew words (Chokhmah, Binah, Daat) which translate to Wisdom, Understanding, and Knowledge.  Wisdom is the ability to receive and transmit the spark of new insight as we are able to perceive it.  Understanding is our nourishing and allowing a thought to develop and relate to other thoughts.  But the active function of internalization—connecting the mind and emotions deeply within—is Knowledge:  Daat is the soul’s connection to a subject.  In my opinion, it’s what causes me to grab my chest and say, “This resonates within my soul.”
 
As one embarks on doing any transformational work, having a community of safe people for feeling through the emotions is essential. Find like-minded professionals, a study, and/or a meditation group.  Surrendering to LOVE begins with fully knowing and trusting ourselves and surrendering to loving ourselves.  Accessing the essential core of who we are enables us to find joy in life and peace even in the most difficult times.
 
Below are some powerful messages and books of surrender and hope in moving through the darkness or uncertainty that may be a part of the journey.     

• A Course in Miracles’ Manual for Teachers has a significant outline for working on the awareness of the presence of LOVE, along with the process of forgiveness and allowing trust to return.
• 12 Step program’s The Serenity Prayer: God, grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, and Wisdom to know the difference.
• Psalms 71, 1-3, Prayer of Surrender by King David: “In Thee, O Lord, have I taken refuge; Let me never be ashamed.  Deliver me in Thy righteousness, and rescue me; Incline Thine ear upon me, and save me.  Be Thou to me a sheltering rock, whereunto I may continually resort, Which Thou has appointed to save me; For Thou art my rock and my fortress.”
• Pema Choddron’s The Places That Scare You: Point Three – Transformation of Bad Circumstances into the Path of Enlightenment.

 
In Eckhart Tolle’s words, “When you no longer perceive the world as hostile, there is no more fear, and when there is no more fear, you think, speak, and act differently.”  May your Trust and Surrender take you to the greatest place of LOVE you could have ever imagined.

​Linda Goodman, a Mediator, Reiki Master, and Consultant/Coach, is a guest blogger and coauthor of F.A.I.T.H. – Finding Answers in the Heart, Volume II. To order your copy of this inspirational book, click here.

​Poem by Azizi Blissett 

​breathe In 
breathe Out 
breathe Once 
breathe Twice 
breathe Deep 
breathe Slow 

Surrender to the rhythm 

push Once 
pull Twice 

Surrender to the rhythm 

tense In 
tense Out 

Surrender to the rhythm 

exhale 
inhale 

Surrender to the rhythm 

grip Hard 
grip Tight 

Surrender to the rhythm 

thrust Up 
thrust Down 

Surrender to the rhythm 

move In 
move Out 

press Back 
press Forward 
stand Firm 
stand Still 

Surrender to the rhythm 
open Wide 
close Shut 

Surrender to the rhythm 
Experience the rhythm 
my rhythm 
of letting go

Azizi Blissett, Law of Attraction Life Coach and Founder and Executive Director of zFusion, is a guest blogger and coauthor of F.A.I.T.H. – Finding Answers in the Heart, Volume II. To order your copy of this inspirational book, click here.

by Terry Crump

Always say yes to the present moment . . . Surrender to what is. Say ‘yes’ to life—and see how life starts suddenly to start working for you rather than against you. –Eckhart Tolle

When I reflect on this concept of surrender, a number of images and phrases come to mind. What emerges is a visualization of people standing in a place of worship, singing with fervor, “I surrender all,” or hearing the hook to a neosoul artist, “Surrender to love, ’cause love is the only way.” I even have flashes of some individual being arrested by the police, with their hands up in the “universal” signal of surrender.  These depictions, however, never connote peace or anything remotely appealing to me. Perhaps it’s because surrender is a place that’s all too familiar.  Digging deeper, I must acknowledge that the need for surrender has frequently disrupted my world, creating loss, precipitating the onslaught of tears, inciting the rise of anger, and an overwhelming desire to scream because once again a goal or dream has been shattered. Things suddenly went left.  

Here are the aspects of surrendering that personally create the most dissonance:
•   The expectation is that I must relinquish control rather than fighting against some typically undesirable outcome.  
•   I’ve constructed a picture of how things are “supposed to be” which is now a mismatch with how they are. This is not what my visualization looked like.
•   There’s a tension between assuming a defeatist stance (i.e., surrendering) versus accepting that things are unfolding in a manner that differs from my expectations.
•   I am not a quitter!
•   I’m really being driven by the fear that my needs will not be met.  Therefore, I must fight harder!
•   I’m being asked to trust and believe that there is some greater good that will come of this, and I just don’t know if I can do that.

There is a nuanced dance wherein we are effective agents of change who persist in actions to chart our own life course, but we also have wisdom in recognizing when surrender is what’s indicated.  To facilitate such recognition, we must reign in the ego, especially those notions that we are always in control.
Surrender requires great strength, though it may appear that we have succumbed to failure. 

I’ve wondered why and how the term “sweet surrender” came to exist when we more often associate this concept with a bitter taste. The term “sweet surrender” is typically used to refer to sudden, unexpected, but pleasant changes, often in the specific context of love. But can it be generalized to other areas of our lives? 

We can’t experience “sweetness” until we identify the need to relinquish control. Bitterness and resentment appear only when we insist on holding on to old ideas that no longer serve us or our reality.

​Terry Crump, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist, board certified clinical hypnotherapist, and owner of Crump Wellness Services, is a guest blogger and coauthor of F.A.I.T.H. - Finding Answers in the Heart, Volume II. To order your copy of the book, click here.

by Barbara J Hopkinson

Do our spirits really continue?

How do we trust that?

Can we surrender to that belief?
 
When my 21-year-old son Brent died suddenly in a motorcycle accident, it sent me on a multi-year journey to figure out if he was okay and if his spirit really did continue.  At that point, I had gotten away from my Catholic religion and had been working in the international corporate world for years where we were too “busy” to think or talk about such things. 

I didn’t trust any of it, but after that tragedy, I had to find out.

As parents, our #1 job is to protect our children.  I not only needed   hope that my son continued in some form, I needed to confirm his condition, his existence—in any form.  And if I found out there was nothing “after” life here, then at least I’d know.  

I did traditional things like prayer, therapy, and seeking support from family and friends, but I also journaled, learned to meditate, did several kinds of energy healing, went to spiritual development classes, read tons of books, and watched for signs, writing them down.  Two months after Brent’s death, a friend of the family gave me a book written about after-death communications in a very credible way.  Then a couple months later, one of my close friends gave me another book that opened my mid to reincarnation (which I did not then believe in). 

Around that time, I reached out to a medium through a mutual friend, something I had never done before.  I didn’t know what to expect, but was amazed at how “normal” she was and what she knew about my son, mother, and father—things my friend did not know.  I started to hope, to trust . . . but I needed more evidence.  I went to more mediums (referred to me, the best way) and received more and better evidence.

I was also blessed with friends that my son could communicate through to give me messages.  These were people I trusted and did not pay.  After one group meditation, that friend described the flowers Brent gave me for Mother’s Day the year he died, and something I’d put in his casket before closing it, which I told no one about.   She didn’t even know what it was that she was describing, but I knew immediately!  I also saw another friend channel a song from Brent in my living room!  I had a huge emotional reaction and we didn’t know where it came from.  Then she figured it out and he realized she could understand him.  Subsequently, Brent sent her many more messages for me.

One was particularly evident.  I moved into a summer place for a few weeks, where this friend had never been.  I decided to take a walk before unpacking, and on the way back, I got a text from her: “Brent said ‘Be careful going up your front steps, Mom.’”  I smiled, texted “Thanks,” and kept going.  When I got back though, I was amazed!  There was a large crack the length of the front wooden step.  If I’d put my weight on the outside edge, I’d have fallen and hurt myself.  Thank you, Brent!

There are many other signs and examples, and I have started work to chronicle the most credible ones from myself and other families I support in my next book.  I will have these, other books, and many types of resources in my nonprofit’s new web site, coming soon.

These signs bring us hope about our loved ones, and they help us to surrender to the belief that all of our spirits continue and that we can honestly trust that they do!  I hope you can SURRENDER and TRUST.

Barbara J Hopkinson, President and Executive Director of A Butterfly’s Journey nonprofit, is a guest blogger and coauthor of F.A.I.T.H. – Finding Answers in the Heart, Volume II. To order your copy of this inspirational book, click here.

by Nanette Littlestone

Following your dreams seems like an easy pursuit at first. Your imagination creates a wonderful scene, say owning a house at the beach. You feel the sand between your toes, you smell the salt air, you walk along the shore with the sun on your back. And there in the distance is the house of your dreams, open and inviting and so very perfect. Of course you can have this. You deserve it.

But just imagining what you want doesn’t mean that you get it. Creating your desires takes perseverance and determination. You don’t get time off. All those moments when life gets in the way deter you from your purpose. And if you’re off course, how will you follow your dreams?

One of my biggest challenges is being willing to trust and surrender. I grew up learning to be independent and in control. Sometimes independence and control come in handy, but many times they’re a hindrance. If the Universe is aligning people and events for your greater good and you’re trying to do things “your” way, the greater power that is can’t do its job. 

Last month divine guidance whispered another acronym to me—B.E.S.T.—and the question “Are you doing your B.E.S.T. today?” The first thing that popped into my head was a flash from the Army advertisement “Be all that you can be in the Army.” But this wasn’t about being the strongest or toughest or most willing to fight. The acronym stands for Believe, Envision, Surrender, Take action. 

Doing your B.E.S.T. is about shifting your perspective. It’s about playing all out. It’s about shining your light. 

1. Believe – believe in who you are. Right now. You’re constantly growing and changing. Support yourself in that growth and change with good friends, spiritual companions, teachers, coaches, workshops. Engage in those activities that will nurture you and empower you. The more you believe in you, the more other people will too.

2. Envision – imagine what you want. Only you know what you desire. Only you have the blueprint inside your heart and brain. Draw it, color it, write it down. See it in living Technicolor and feel it in your body. This is how you bring it to life.

3. Surrender – once you’ve brought your vision to life, it’s time to turn it over to your higher power. We humans can only go so far with our connections and skills and abilities. But the universe has unlimited resources. When you turn over your idea to your higher power, miracles happen. So surrender and know that your highest good is taking place.

4. Take action – there are so many ways people and things can come to you. Email, telephone, a chance meeting at the grocery store, an ad on TV, a jingle on the radio, a conversation with a friend. When you’ve surrendered, you’re open to receive. Now is the time to act. Follow up on the email or phone call. Contact the person you just thought of. Take the next step.

When you imagine your dreams, remember the question “Are you doing your B.E.S.T. today?” Every time you Believe, Envision, Surrender, and Take action, you’re taking one more step on the path to fulfilling your dreams.

Nanette Littlestone, author, editor, writing coach, and publisher, is a frequent blogger and visionary leader behind F.A.I.T.H. - Finding Answers in the Heart, Volumes I and II. To find out more about these books, click here.

by Suzanne Baker Hogan
 
I am a true believer that going for your dreams is the best thing you can do in your life. I speak from experience. And from that experience, I can say that going for your dreams also requires major change. What kind of change exactly? You will have to leave every comfort zone you have created that hides your fears.  

Following your dreams means leaping into unknown territory, and old methods of safety will have to go. Your human self won’t like this one bit. Most likely, it will fight you, kicking and screaming. But keep going! You are learning to let your soul take control. 

You’ll also have to stop doing things for other people. Or, more specifically, stop doing them based on how you look to other people. It is truly scary how much we put others in charge of our power. And changing this might shock everyone around you. So be it! Eventually, they will applaud your bravery.

When you harness the courage to leap for your dreams, you grow exponentially. And it helps to know that you are already extremely courageous. Consider for a moment the courage it took for you to come here and live a human life! 

There you were in your beautiful heavenly home where you felt so loved and supported. And you said, okay, I want to grow even more. I am ready to go back to that tough, rough earth school again. You knew that it would be heartbreaking. You knew that it would be frustrating beyond measure. But most of all, you knew that it would cut you off from your true, divine nature: LOVE. 

Did this stop you? No. You signed up on the spot. 

When you follow your dreams, you will summon the same deep courage it took to come here. And you will have to let your soul guide you all the way. You must trust this guidance and let it lead you, step by step. This is so much easier than getting overwhelmed by the whole picture. Be warned, things might not look anything like you thought. Not a problem! Just have faith in the process. And know that if you fully believe in yourself and your dreams coming true, the universe always delivers. 

Dream big! Leap courageously! Because you deserve to see the deepest desires of your soul materialize in your human life. You were born to find your way to total freedom and do what you really want while on this earth. So sing the song of your soul out loud! For all to easily hear. You will be amazed at how your dreams take flight. And how much you inspire others to do the same. 

Suzanne Baker Hogan, spiritual writer and author of SharetheSpiritual.com and Twin Flame Help, is a guest blogger and coauthor of F.A.I.T.H. – Finding Answers in the Heart, Volume II. To order your copy of this inspirational book, click here. 

By Corinna Murray

“If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will hold on to.” – Lao Tzu

What I wish I believed when I was young, innocent, and naïve, was that there are no mistakes, only opportunities to discover new experiences and to learn from them. As a curious baby, I came into this world knowing this truth, that there are no mistakes, exploring the world through sensation and the eyes of wonder. We all did, but most of us grew up forgetting this truth, taking on the beliefs of the world and the people we lived with. We took on their definitions and their labels of good and bad, right and wrong, worthy and unworthy, and processed these through our emotions at first, identifying with the labels by how they made us feel. How we felt about ourselves and the world we lived in then became defined by our thoughts that were shaped by this outer world. We in turn tried to control this unpredictable world around us in order to “feel good” or “better.” We often succeeded in controlling things but more often than not, we didn’t. How could we? It is simply not possible to do so consistently but we labeled it anyway, as a mistake, or even worse, failure.

For many of us it takes a lifetime of examination, or for some, a crisis, to relearn this simple truth, that there are no mistakes. Everything in nature is nature and of natural consequence. Once we let go of needing things to be different in order to feel good, we can enter the present moment, experiencing it once again through sensation and the eyes of wonder. We can take on the freshness of the experience and script a new story, open to the possibilities and with a sense of adventure. When we let go and surrender to the wisdom in uncertainty, we find freedom from our past limitations and beliefs.

Consider taking time today to explore the thoughts, feelings, and sensations connected to your experience of letting go. As you go through the day, practice the fine art of detachment and let life flow. Allow yourself to shift your approach, to perhaps take a different route on your walk or drive, or perhaps simply make the choice to be calm when you might not otherwise. Notice what it feels like when you let go.