We made it!  We made it to 2021! 
What an accomplishment to celebrate.  Congratulations! 
I picture St. Hildegard holding her abbess staff. So strong and powerful.  She radiates as she speaks, “God created me… God is also my strength… Through God, I have living spirit.  Through God I have life and movement.  Through God I learn, I find my path…” ​

Picture yourself holding a staff, strong and powerful. Take a moment and consider what created your staff in 2020? How did you find the strength and power to persevere in 2020?
Was it your spirit guides who you called upon? 
The love and support of your family and friends?
Your time spent in nature?
Or time spent in meditation? 
Something else?
Let’s offer gratitude for each and every gift that nourished us in 2020 so that we could arrive in 2021 on this beautiful planet Earth. What a treasure that we’ve been given to be able to continue our work in a new year!
Access a healing song and spiritual practice to open your heart and let your love flow, giving birth to the gifts you can give to the world through your soul’s creativity this winter. 

In this sacred story, we remember Mary, as Divine Mother, as a bridge between the spirit world and earth as she births this child. She allowed herself to open her heart to accept this path of love where she would be the vessel to deliver this divine gift that would bring light into the world. 
 
As we enter into 2021, how can we open our hearts to something new, a new creation that will be birthed in the new year ---something that maybe we can’t even imagine may be a part of our lives on earth?!
 
And what gifts that nourished us in 2020 do we want to be certain to bring with us on our journey into 2021? Let us be inspired by the gifts of the 3 Wise Men!
 

1. Maybe your gold that you carry forward from 2020 to 2021 is love that shines out into the world, upon your new creations this year, upon yourself and upon others. The most valuable and precious gift that radiates from your heart, shining like gold.
2. Your frankincense might be all that came from Mother Nature that supported your health in 2020 that you want to carry into a new year – time in nature, healthy food, the shining sun. For frankincense is a tree resin with healing properties.
3. Your myrrh might be that which sustains you through any challenges that arise – your meditation, prayers, or other spiritual practice.  For myrrh is created from a small, but mighty, and thorny tree.

 
As you head into 2021 and consider the new creations you want to birth in this year, what 3 precious gifts do you want to be certain to bring as nourishment on this journey into a new year?
 
I wish you a Happy and Joyful New Year!  May all of your dreams be birthed and nourished in the new year of 2021!

We did it!  Somehow we made it through 2020. I think many of us are totally relieved to have 2020 behind us. I know I am.
 
Although there are many pieces that we might want to leave behind in 2020, there are several things we’ve learned that’ll be helpful to carry forward into 2021.  Yes, there are! What comes to mind for me are ….

• Slowing down and staying home
• The preciousness of health and life
• The joy and rejuvenation experienced in nature
• The importance of the support of loved ones 

What about you? 

As we begin the new year and the possibility of a brand new start, what can we envision for the coming year?  What seeds have been planted amidst the challenges of 2020 that will ripen and bear fruit for the health of the world in 2021?  
 
I share with you a story by Scott Blum I stumbled across recently that may help you consider what intentions you want to set for the new year of 2021. 
 
I was fortunate to spend time with an enigmatic man named Robert during a very special period of my life. Robert taught me many things during our days together, and this time of year reminds me of one particular interaction we had.
“Now that you are becoming more aware, Robert said to me, you need to begin to set goals for yourself so you don’t lose the momentum you have built.”
 
“Like New Year’s resolutions?” I asked.
 
“That’s an interesting idea,” he smirked. “Let’s do that.”
 
By then I was used to Robert’s cryptic responses, so I knew something was up because of the way his eyes sparkled as he let out an impish laugh.
 
“Tonight’s assignment is to make two lists,” Robert continued. “The first is a list of all the New Year’s resolutions you WANT to keep, and the second is a list of all the New Year’s resolutions you WILL keep. Write the WANT List first, and when you have exhausted all of your ideas, then write the second list on another sheet of paper.”
 
That night I went home and spent several hours working on the two lists. The WANT List felt overwhelming at first, but after a while I got into writing all the things I had always wanted to do if the burdens of life hadn’t gotten in the way. 
 
After nearly an hour, the list swelled to fill the entire page and contained nearly all of my ideas of an ideal life. 

The second list was much easier, and I was able to quickly commit ten practical resolutions that I felt would be both realistic and helpful.
 
The next day, I met Robert. “Tell me about your two lists,” Robert said as the familiar smirk crept onto his face.
 
“The first list contains all the things I SHOULD do if I completely changed my life to be the person I always wanted to be. And the second list contains all the things I COULD do by accepting my current life and taking realistic steps towards the life I want to lead.”
 
“Let me see the second list,” he said.
 
I handed him the second list, and without even looking at it, he ripped the paper into tiny pieces and threw it in the nearby garbage can. His disregard for the effort I had put into the list annoyed me at first, but after I calmed down I began to think about the first list in a different light. In my heart, I knew the second list was a cop out, and the first list was the only one that really mattered.
 
“And now, the first list.” Robert bowed his head and held out both of his hands.
 
I purposefully handed him the first list and held his gaze for several seconds, waiting for him to begin reading the page. After an unusually long silence, he began to crumple the paper into a ball and once again tossed it into the can without looking at it.
​

“What did you do that for?!” I couldn’t hide my anger any longer.
 
Robert began to speak in a quiet and assured voice. “What you SHOULD or COULD do with your life no longer matters. The only thing that matters, from this day forward, is what you MUST do.”
 
He then drew a folded piece of paper from his back pocket and handed it to me. 
I opened it carefully, and found a single word floating in the middle of the white page:
 
                                                                                 LOVE
 
 As we move into the new year of 2021, I hope you are taking with you the most precious jewels that have been born from the struggles of 2020. May they shine their luminosity on your dreams for 2021, imbued with LOVE in the world! 

​When fear comes into our lives, it can overwhelm us. It can imprison us behind the bars of anxiety, making us forget who we truly are.  
 
Have you ever had an experience where fear just seems to overpower you? 
 
Where fearful thoughts and emotions wash over you like a great wave, draining you of all strength and courage?  

Fear is powerful. It can stop you from truly living life. 
 
As a great wave of fear rises, you forget your inner divine strength. You feel tremendous anxiety about the suffering you’re experiencing or what you might in the future. It can totally cripple you, making you unable to move with freedom and joy in life. 
 
You forget the love that exists in your relationships. You forget the beauty and goodness that exists in the world around you. You forget the joy and peace that exists in being in the present moment. 
 
You forget who you truly are. The True Being, the Divine Being, that you are.  
 
Access  free healing songs and discover spiritual practices to break free from fear and let your love flow. The song #9 and accompanying practice "Let Your Love Flow" is especially helpful in working through and transforming fear.

Here’s a story from the beloved author, Paulo Coelho, that inspires us to break free from our fear to find joy and peace in our life’s journey no matter what arises.  
 
A sultan decided to travel by sea with some of his favorite courtiers. They joined the ship in Dubai and sailed out into the open sea.
 
However, as soon as the ship moved away from land, one of his subjects – who had never seen the sea before, having spent most of his life in the mountains – began to be overcome with panic.
 
Sitting in the ship’s hold, he cried, shouted and refused to eat or sleep. Everyone tried to calm him down, saying that the journey wasn’t as dangerous as all that, but although he heard their words, they had no influence on his heart. The sultan did not know what to do, and the fine journey upon calm seas and under blue skies, became a torment for the passengers and crew alike

​Two days passed without anyone being able to sleep because of the man’s cries. The sultan was about to order the ship to return to port, when one of his ministers, who was known for his wisdom, came over:
 
“Your Highness, with your permission, I will be able to calm him.”
 
Without a moment’s hesitation, the sultan said that not only would he allow it, but that he should reward him if he succeeded in solving the problem.  
 
The wise man asked that the man be thrown into the sea. Right away, content because their nightmare was about to end, several crew members grabbed the man struggling in the hold and cast him into the ocean.
 
The courtier thrashed about, sank, swallowed plenty of seawater, returned to the surface, screamed louder than ever, sank again, and managed to surface once again. Just then, the minister ordered for him to be dragged back on board.
 
From then on, no one heard so much as a single complaint from the man, who spent the rest of the journey in silence, and even commented to one of the passengers that he had never seen anything so beautiful as the sky and sea touching on the horizon. The journey – which had before been a torment to all those on board the ship – became a pleasurable, peaceful experience.
 
A short time before they returned to port, the Sultan went to see the minister:
“How did you guess that, by throwing that poor man into the sea, he would calm down?”
 
“Because of my marriage,” replied the minister. “I was always terrified of losing my wife and was so jealous that I never stopped shouting and screaming like that man.
 
“One day she could take no more and left me – and I tasted the terrible experience of living without her. She only returned when I promised never again to torment her with my fears.
 
In the same way, that man had never tasted salt water, and had never known the agony of a drowning man. When he felt that, he understood only too well how marvelous it can be to feel the planks of a ship under his feet.”
 
Letting go of fear and developing a trust in our inner divine nature is not always easy!  It’s a practice of a strong and courageous heart. 
 
We come to realize that we’ll experience joy and sorrow, pleasant and unpleasant events in life. We may even feel afraid. But on this journey, we can always access the strength and courage that lives within the deepest part of our true selves and continue to move forward.
 
We discover that we truly are resilient! We are loved. We are strong. We will survive and even thrive. The power is truly yours to break free from fear and find joy and peace! 

Access a healing song and discover a spiritual practice to break free from fear and let your love flow. ​

​Here’s an excerpt from this powerful, healing song, Let Your Love Flow: 
 
Let your love flow
let the fear go
Let love lead the way
what the heart sees
is your victory
let this be your day
         in the dark times
         let your light shine
         it will see you through
         what the heart knows well
         and your courage tells
         is that you cannot fail
 
like the eagle screaming WILD
like the laughter of a happy CHILD
like the colors PEACOCKS show
show your passion.... cause you’re PRECIOUS gold
 
Like lava SHOOTING FROM THE MOUNTAINTOP

​You’ve got to push sometimes with ALL YOUR MIGHT
you got to GIVE IT YOUR ALL, YEAH!
 
the power is yours... 
to break FREE
to claim your JOY
and be at PEACE

As the winter solstice is here in the northern hemisphere, we can imagine how this time might’ve been for our ancestors in the north long ago - the moment of the longest night and the shortest daylight. There must have been uncertainty and fear that arose, waiting for the return of the warmth and light of the sun. Fear that there wouldn’t be enough food for the rest of the winter, fear that the sun might not return to bring the renewal of life in the spring.  
This longest night of winter was called in some ancient wisdom traditions the “Mother Night.”  It was believed that the Divine Mother nourished the seeds that were resting deep in the soil in the dark earth, so that they would birth new life in the spring. 
Access my healing song and spiritual practice "Let The Love Flow" to dissolve fear and let your love flow, giving birth to the gifts you can give to the world this winter.

​In the Baltic area of Northern Europe, at this time of year, the people of long ago awaited the return of Saule, Mother Sun, who cared for all of life in the world. She journeyed across the skies in her chariot pulled by horses. From a golden cup, she poured out the sun’s liquid light that had been spun of amber golden threads by her, sending warm, radiant rays to the people upon the earth. 

Now, as we approach the Winter Solstice, this darkest time of an unbelievable year of 2020, fear may arise, similar to our ancestors from long ago.  Of course, we better understand that the light and the warmth of the sun will return in the spring, but our deepest fears of living on this earth can still surface during these cold winter days. And in this pandemic time where our traditions that often hold and support us may need to change this year, they may surface even more.  
How can we take the wisdom of our ancestors of long ago and let go of our fears and open our hearts for the liquid sunlight of gold to pour in, giving us strength and warmth at this time of year? 
Our fears often stop us from opening our hearts because we truly believe that they’re real. I’ve discovered over the years that more often than not, fears are illusions.  
 
FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real. 

1. Take a moment to consider any fears that you currently have. Say it out loud in the following sentence: “My fear ____________________ is not real.” 
I worked with one of my fears this morning, and this is what I said out loud,  "My fear of my friend dying alone and in pain is not real”  
 
2. Next, I invite you to consider what things in your life give you strength. My current list has the following items on it:

• sleep
• singing
• daily walks along the mountains behind my house
• St. Hildegard
• Archangel Michael
• my daily gratitude list
• flowers
• meditation

 
3. Now, it’s time for you to get out your crayons or paints while you listen to the healing song, Let Your Love Flow, that I recorded.  Get it here. Create an image of any fear you’re holding right now. Keep in mind the things in life that give you strength. Then paint/draw the transition of this fear into courage and love!  
Let your soul move your arm and then your hand and finally the crayon/paint brush. Play, play, PLAY while you draw/paint and listen to the song! 
 
Enjoy this experience!  Here are some of the lyrics of the song for inspiration. 
 
LET YOUR LOVE FLOW
music and lyrics by David Sharp
 
The world can be a scary place
when you’re trying to live a dream
it takes courage to keep going
when you feel like you’re going against the stream
 
keep the faith... and hold on
to the power that keeps you strong
 
the walls in your way
are illusions in your path
fear keeps them standing
you decide how long they last
 
Let your love flow
let the fear go
Let love lead the way
what the heart sees
is your victory
let this be your day
         in the dark times
         let your light shine
         it will see you through
         what the heart knows well
         and your courage tells
is that you cannot fail
 
like the eagle screaming WILD
like the laughter of a happy CHILD
like the colors PEACOCKS show
show your passion.... cause you’re PRECIOUS gold
 
Like lava SHOOTING FROM THE MOUNTAINTOP
Like water FLOWING OVER A FALL
You’ve got to push sometimes with ALL YOUR MIGHT
you got to GIVE IT YOUR ALL, YEAH!
 
the power is yours... 
to break FREE
to claim your JOY
and be at PEACE

What images arose for you in your artistic work that show the transformation of your fear into courage and love? Maybe a soaring eagle or a beautiful peacock? Or maybe something else?  Whatever arose for you is perfect and a wonderful image to hold through the winter.  
 
Discover more about the spiritual community coming together (at a distance) starting December 24th for “Bring Spirit to the Holidays: 13 Sacred Nights Challenge” here. 

As the holidays approach and the year 2020 comes to a close, are you feeling sad or anxious about how to honor the holidays in our current pandemic conditions when you can’t gather with others to celebrate?  
Are you searching for how to create a meaningful experience during the holiday season in these circumstances? Are you wondering how to connect with others in a community, even from a distance? 
In this darker time in the midst of the season of winter, we naturally experience a longing to move inward and experience inner peace and deeper soul nourishment. We feel the rhythm of Mother Earth who is breathing in to nourish and renew. We too can turn inward. 
This year, I warmly invite you to join me to participate, as spiritual community, in "Bring Spirit to the Holidays" for the 13 Sacred Nights of Dec. 24th – January 6th and explore together words of wisdom from St. Hildegard that support us today.

As we join together in this sacred experience, you will ….
 

• Feel deeply nourished and have a sense of inner peace within your soul
• Gain deeper wisdom and meaning from this challenging past year of 2020
• Discover the divine messages that give you direction, hope, and purpose for your life’s journey as you imagine the year 2021 ahead
• Connect with other spiritual creatives who will join and support you on this path of discovery 

​

​Volmar, St. Hildegard’s friend, confidant, and secretary, was in her life for over 60 years! It’s clear that St. Hildegard greatly valued and appreciated her dear friend who supported and encouraged her. 
 
We see how the steps on our journey are a little easier to follow when we have someone in our community that supports and encourages us. We don’t have to do it alone! 
Join me and our spiritual community this year in Bring Spirit to the Holidays: 13 Sacred Night Challenge from Dec. 24th – January 6th and explore together the wisdom that St. Hildegard offers us today. 
​

​Starting on the 24th of December through the 6th of January, I invite you to work with one meditation inspired by St. Hildegard of Bingen per day. As you do this, you’ll also pay special attention to your dreams and write down what you remember each day. You’ll notice if there are any connections between your dreams and the questions asked in the meditations. 
 
You’ll be joining me and also others in this spiritual community who are engaging in this same practice of inner work during the Sacred Nights. You can share your experiences and listen to others share theirs in the private Facebook Group: Live Our Dreams Community.  
Through this journey of meditation and journaling during this sacred time, you’ll come away with a sense of peace and fulfillment as you digest the year that has passed. You’ll be ready to go forward into the new year with sacred guidance and momentum. 

Don’t miss this challenge. It’s only offered this time of year!

As the sunlight dims during the season of winter, we can feel the earth growing quieter and even the plants seem to be resting as snow blankets the earth. It’s a wonderful time to turn inward and kindle our own inner light!

At this darker time of the year, our soul naturally tends to draw us inward seeking the nourishment we’ll discover there. There we can find the Light of the Divine pouring into us and flowing out of our hearts to the world joyously as unbounded love. 
 
This is where our True Being can give birth to gifts for the world through our own soul’s creativity. These are the seeds that are nurtured during the season of winter, and they’ll blossom when the light of spring once again returns. 
 
Access my free healing songs and spiritual practices. The song "Let Your Love Flow" and the accompanying practice will help you let go of fear and open your heart. You will be able to let your love flow through your soul’s creativity, giving birth to the gifts you can share with the world this winter. 

The archangel Gabriel is a spirit guide for the season of winter. He is a divine messenger who guides new birth from spiritual forces into humanity. 

​During this time of Advent in the season of winter, we can remember the story of the angel Gabriel visiting Mary, an archetypal story of new birth coming into the world.
 
One evening, Mary was praying and she saw before her an angel who said, “Hail to you, Gracious One. God the Lord is with you. You are blessed by him.”
 
Mary was troubled by what the angel said, wondering what this meant. 
 
And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, because you have found favor with God. You will conceive and bear a son and you shall call him Jesus.”
 
Mary was afraid and said, “How shall that be, as I know not a man?”
 
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you. Therefore, the child who will be born will be called holy, the Son of God.  And behold!  Your cousin Elizabeth is also expecting a child, although she is old, and people say that she can no longer bear a child. For, with God, all things are possible.”
 
Mary rejoiced greatly, and said, “See here, servant of the Lord. Let it happen to me as you have said.” And the angel departed.
 
In this sacred story, we see Mary, as Divine Mother, as a bridge between the spirit world and human beings upon the earth.  Looking closer at the archetype in the story, we can also see that there’s a divine womb or vessel of darkness in which the spark of the cosmic human spirit has been kindled.
 
As Mary hears the words of the angel, she’s confused, troubled, and even afraid.  We notice that the divine messenger comforts her, “Do not be afraid.”  And even reassures her by sharing that she’s been chosen for a special and sacred task. 
 
Although this is a very unusual event in her daily life, with the loving and compassionate words of the angel, Mary lets go of her fear and uncertainty about the situation and opens to it. She accepts this sacred path that is presented to her and agrees to nurture and nourish this spark of life, this new birth, as it’s brought into the world through her.  She extends her trust in the Divine in making this choice. 

​Let us take a moment and imagine Mary in that moment in time. I’m sure she probably felt rather scared and even alone in the world.  She might have thought that she’s not strong enough to handle what may unfold in suffering or pain in the future in bearing this child in such an unusual circumstance. Of course, she could’ve chosen to turn away from this strange messenger, clinging to her fear and anxiety from this unusual visit.
 
Yet, we see how she trusts in the divine message. She lets go of her fear as she receives the warmth extended to her from the divine messenger. She accepts that it’s her divine work in the world and opens her heart to this path of love in which she will bear this divine gift that will bring light into the world. 
 
Today, in this time of Advent, we can learn from the great wisdom in Mary’s actions. We too can release our fear of the future and open our hearts to something new ---something that we can’t even imagine may be a part of our lives on earth!  We can extend our trust in the Divine to guide us, hold us, love us, as our path is revealed to us, a step at a time.  In doing so, we come one step closer to becoming our True Being.

We come to realize that our fears limit our greatness that we are meant to share with the world.  But, when we’re able to open our hearts, we can experience love that’s unbound and expansive. We experience the Divine within us and within the world. 
 
Access my healing song "Let Your Love Flow"and the accompanying spiritual practice so you, like Mary, can open your heart and let your love flow, giving birth to the gifts you can give to the world through your soul’s creativity this winter. 

​This is the week of Thanksgiving in the United States. Many of us typically make plans to be with friends and family for a delicious feast on this holiday.
 
This year of 2020 will be different though. You might be spending time at home alone or with your immediate family and only gathering with others virtually.
 
Are you feeling sad that you won’t be able to celebrate in the way you normally would?  Afraid it just won’t be a real celebration?  Are you feeling alone or lonely?
 

​Even though we can’t gather in the same traditional way that we’re used to, let’s remember to take a moment to release our fear and sadness and open our hearts to our loved ones even at a distance. 
 
We can be grateful for each and every person in our lives even when we can’t gather in person.
 
Pause for a second and think who is important in your life right now?  Someone you greatly appreciate even if you can’t physically be with that person today.
 
A friend, a relative, or a loved one. 
 
Do you remember the moment that this person came into your life?  Do you remember how your life changed as a result? 
 
What are the gifts that this person has brought to you in your life? 

Take a moment and imagine that this person never came into your life. 
 
How would your life be different today?  What would you not have or what would you long for? 
 
What a wonderful time to feel gratitude for this person in your life!  What about calling or writing a letter and telling this person how grateful you are? 
 
On this Thanksgiving week, I am grateful for each and every one of you who are in my life.  And I’d like to share a healing song that supports me and will support you too at this unusual time. It helps us to release our fear of change and dissolve our sadness.  It helps your heart open and feel love for those in your life and even those around the world.

You can access a recording of this healing song here along with a meditative activity to help you open your heart to let love flow.  May you have a blessed Thanksgiving this year in 2020! 

​It’s such a wonderful feeling when we have trust in the Divine and hope for the future. It brings light into our lives and makes us feel secure and held by a higher power. It brightens our day, making us feel lighter, happier, and peaceful.  
When you cultivate a sense of trust and hope for the future, you begin to realize how you’re a part of a greater universe. You come to know, truly know deep down inside, that you’re part of the Divine. You have faith. 

​In this state of faith, you know that you’re whole and that you’re love. You trust that you have everything you need to manifest your soul’s plan and to be an active part of creating good in the world. You know that there is good in the world. 
 
"Trust that your soul has a plan, and even if you can't see it completely, know that everything will unfold as it is meant to." — Deepak Chopra
You may experience pain and challenge and you may see this in others who are suffering too. But you come to find the meaning in these difficulties, as you and others around you learn and transform this suffering. You gain wisdom. 
You begin to have a greater sense of meaning and purpose in life and commit to moving forward on your path in life.

How do we cultivate trust in the Divine and hope for the future, especially in moments when it isn’t easy? 
 
Here are 3 ways to cultivate a sense of hope and trust that builds a strong foundation to support you in darker moments. 
 
1. Be Grateful - By focusing on what’s good in your life and being grateful for it every day, you send your energy there.  You cultivate a sense of abundance and happiness and open a doorway to the Divine Source

2. Practice Positivity – Negativity is everywhere and can negatively affect you more than you may realize.  Distance yourself from negativity. Take responsibility for your own thoughts and strive to see the good in a situation. When you have a positive outlook on life, you see obstacles as opportunities for growth and are able to experience joy for others’ good fortune.   
3. Celebrate – Take time to celebrate a moment of accomplishment and meaning in your life.  Even a small one. Maybe you finished that project that you have been working on for many weeks. Maybe a loved one was accepted into a desired course of study. Or a friend started that new business venture.  Take a moment to honor and celebrate this moment of excitement and joy, bringing light into your life.   

Take time to cultivate trust in the Divine and a sense of hope in your life today. Then in those inevitable times of darkness, you’ll be able to tap into this wellspring of strength. 
 
“Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.”
Thich Nhat Hanh


Do you struggle with cultivating trust and hope for the future? Discover how to shine the light on what you are experiencing and transform it into something that supports you. ​

​Here in Colorado, as I recently watched the snow fall gently from the sky blanketing the earth, I took in a deep breath and prayed that the much-needed moisture would support the heroic firefighters working day and night to contain the devastating wildfires that were raging across the state. 

​Many neighbors, colleagues, friends and family members experienced tremendous loss of their homes, animals, and belongings. People northwest of where I live had to evacuated so quickly to save their own lives that they did not have time to relocate livestock. They simply opened stalls and gates and released them, hoping they’d run to safety. 
An elderly couple who lived in their beloved home at Grand Lake for years, which was heaven on earth to them, refused to accept help and evacuate as the fast-moving flames approached. They soon died together in their home, a personal choice made together. 
Our hearts are heavy here in Colorado as we pray for moisture and reach out to help our neighbors if we’re able to.  

This amid the pandemic that continues to ravage our country, reaching our highest numbers of coronavirus cases since March. Many of us have had dear ones who have tested positive and even some who have become quite ill or even died.
So many aspects of our normal, day-to-day life have been uprooted whether it be work, time with family and friends, traditions and celebrations, travel, school for our children or more. 

What loss are you experiencing right now?

Discover how to shine light upon this loss and find the support you need at this time here. Access my free gift of "10 Healing Songs and Practices".

Song #7 "Shine The Light" and the accompanying practice will especially support you.

Dealing with loss, no matter what kind, isn’t easy. Even if you haven’t experienced a death of a loved one, you may experience grief. Grief arises at the death of a person, but also at the death or loss of such things as a home or relationship or job. You might grieve the life you once had. Or the loss of the plans and life you had anticipated having in the future.  

In this time of such loss and uncertainty, it’s important to take the time to process the grief we feel. Here are 4 steps to support you in beginning.

1. Allow your emotions to arise and feel what you’re feeling. So often we don’t allow our feelings to be felt. We push them down. We ignore them. We tell ourselves we shouldn’t feel that way. Then they’re bottled up inside to be released in a tidal wave later. You’ll feel better and able to move forward if you let your feelings rise and be experienced.    
“Grief is like the ocean; it comes on waves ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim.” – Vicki Harrison 
 
2. Connect with others. In the time of a pandemic and social distancing, this is more difficult to achieve but sometimes all that is needed is a connection on the phone or a videocall or even a cup of tea or walk at a distance.  
“Deep grief sometimes is almost like a specific location, a coordinate on a map of time. When you are standing in that forest of sorrow, you cannot imagine that you could ever find your way to a better place. But if someone can assure you that they themselves have stood in that same place, and now have moved on, sometimes this will bring hope.”
- Elizabeth Gilbert
 
3. Ask for divine support. I like to use this practice and you may find it supportive too. Take a deep breath, close your eyes and listen to the song, "Shine the Light".

Ask the Divine to shine a light on your grief and to give you guidance on how to move forward. When the song is finished, keep your eyes closed and sit in silence listening for any divine guidance.  

4. Find meaning in the experience. An important milestone of processing your grief is when you’re able to emerge from the grief and find meaning within the loss that occurred. It doesn’t have to be a grand, philosophical idea.  Even small moments help. That moment when you notice Mother Earth benefiting from less traffic and pollution during the pandemic. The recognition of the loving, elderly couple so determined to leave their life together on this plane on their own terms, not on someone else’s. 

Of course, there’s no right way of grieving and no direct path to moving through grief. It’ll unfold in the way it needs to for you. It’s something that lives within us and moves through us, as it has for thousands of years, truly a human experience.  
What loss are you experiencing right now? Discover how to shine light into the grief you feel and find the support you need at this time. 

Well, here we are, its presidential election in the USA. It’s a stress-inducing day for most, in the midst of other challenges- the global pandemic, racial tensions, loss of loved ones and our normal ways of daily life and more. Even the calmest of people may be feeling a little anxiety this week!
 
Although we’re not living in the conditions that our ancestors did where the fight/flight response was needed for survival on a daily basis, we can recognize that this response is wired into our nervous system. And for a good reason! It takes care of us and makes sure our families and lineage survive into the future.
 
Today, though, in times like this week when we feel that anxiety may be creeping into our lives and the fight/flight response isn’t helpful, let’s remember we have some very supportive practices to calm the body and the mind, bringing us to a place of being grounded, centered and peaceful.

In addition, here are some practices that I’d recommend to support you this week:

1. Take a deep breath
Breathe in, breathe out. We often forget to breathe! Yet it’s our source of life. Inhale deeply into your belly and help your blood be nourished. Exhale slowly through your nose and let go of the waste the body doesn’t need. At the end of the exhale, open your mouth and blow out any remaining air in your lungs until they’re empty. Breathe in deeply again through your nose and repeat. Pause regularly throughout your day to do this, supporting health and well-being in your body. 

2. Ground yourself in nature
​Going outside to be in nature will help you stay calm and grounded, supporting you to center yourself in this stressful time. The relaxation and negative ions will positively affect your brain and body, improving your mood and boosting your immune system. Take off your shoes and put your bare feet on the ground for a short time. Breathe in the fresh air. Look around at all of the beauty in natural world.

3. Remember to meditate
​Meditation is a space and time to come back to your true self. In quieting your mind and being present to the moment, you can connect to your Higher Self. Meditation is a time for creating a space that is attentive and mindful of the present moment with an openness to listening. It supports you in remembering who you are and why you are here in the world at this time. Even 5 minutes a day is helpful!

4. Surrender to the moment
​As stress and anxiety creep in, the world can seem dark and hopeless. It can be difficult to find a spark of light. Take a moment and just let go. Allow the present moment to just be. Surrender to what is. Don’t resist it. Flow with it, not against it.
 
In this moment in time, what new vision could arise? What new creation? What spark of light?
 
Warm yourself by this spark, and let it strengthen your whole being. Trust that this is divine light shining into life. Let your stress and anxiety dissolve into the warmth of flame. Let hope for the future rise from the flame.

5. Be open to the mystery
​Allow yourself to be open and curious. What if this is our darkest hour before the dawn? What may dawn in this time?  What is being transformed from the old into something new?  What spark is being kindled for the future for our children and our planet? How are we, as humanity, evolving and growing at this time? What is important and meaningful for this moment in time? Be interested. Be open. Be curious.
 
Remember now is the time to make use of the practices that support you. And may you have  grounded and calm days this week, no matter what unfolds in the world outside. 
 
Are you feeling anxious or stressed about this week? Discover how to shine the light into what you are experiencing here.