​Our journey through life can sometimes bring us surprises. Sometimes joyous ones.  But, sometimes challenging ones like the one we’re experiencing now with the pandemic.  
 
As the world has slowed down and it’s hard to see what will come our way in the next weeks and months, we try to calm our anxiety and accept the current circumstances the best we can. We also try to remember to take care of ourselves as well as the members of our community. What a grand opportunity to practice living in the present moment!
In this unusual time, we’re called to turn inwardly and find our inner strength, our inner power, to navigate our way forward. One step at a time.

You may ask yourself – But how do I find this inner strength?  How does it arise within me? 
An image of St. Hildegard holding her abbess staff comes to my mind.  Her strength and power from within radiate out to the world 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…” ​

We see how St. Hildegard finds her strength through connecting with the Divine within.  Great wisdom for us to consider now! 
To find our own inner power, we can first come to our center, that space that is still and quiet within the center of the whirlwind of chaos or turmoil.  
 
Take a few minutes in a quiet place during the day to find this place. Calm your body and mind.  Close your eyes and take several deep breaths.
 
Breathe in, breathe out. 
 
We often take our breath for granted. Yet it’s our source of life.  In a deep inhale, into your belly, you help your blood be nourished, fueling your whole body.  As you exhale, you let go of the waste the body does not need, detoxing your bodily systems.  
 
Now breathe normally, but try to do so slowly, bringing a pause at the end of the exhale and the end of the inhale. Try this for a few minutes. 
 
When you enter into this space of quiet and calm, you can access a greater wisdom within yourself and in the universe. You can access that great river of health, abundance, wisdom, and guidance for yourself.  The dwelling of your Higher Self.  In the present moment, not the past, not the future. This space is always within you.
There we can connect with the Source. We find our inner strength and power to carry us forward on our life’s journey.  Bringing us hope, encouragement, and power. 
As we find our own power from within, let’s not forget what a treasure it is to connect with a dear friend, even from a distance, in your journey through daily life.  Someone who supports and loves you.  Who encourages you and gives you guidance.  Someone who recognizes your greatness and lifts you up when you have anxiety or fear. Who encourages you to reach for that dream you have.
If you have someone such as this, open your heart to appreciate this person’s presence in your life during these challenging times.  Be grateful for this moment. ​

I remember one of St. Hildegard’s closest friends and confidant. While living at the St. Disibod Abbey, her friend, Volmar, was the first person to validate her visions as divine experiences. He recognized her rare spiritual gifts and became a good friend and mentor for many years in her life.
It’s clear that over the years St. Hildegard greatly valued and appreciated her dear friend, Volmar, who supported and encouraged her. She was not alone in navigating the unprecedented path for a woman to share her visions with the public. 
Let us remember today that the strength we need in these times is already within us if we just take a quiet moment to reconnect to it.  And the steps on our journey are a little easier to take when we have a close friend to call upon. Someone who supports and encourages us.  We can remember we don’t have to do it alone. 
Speaking of friends... how about encouraging a dear friend to take the Course: "Master Your Creativity" with you? Tell a friend to click here to sign up for the course!

​ 
Do you have a clear picture of what you are being called to birth into the world that’s part of your higher purpose at this time?  The reason why you’re here. 
 
Are you living a truly inspired and creative life, where you’re bringing that into reality in the world -  in the way that you dream you could? 
 
Envision how you could manifest this now. Imagine it bringing warmth and healing into the world.
 
What’s standing in your way? 
 
What often stands in our way again and again is FEAR.
 
You know how it feels to be full of fear. You’re paralyzed and can’t even take the first step towards manifesting your creative dreams.

​An opportunity will come your way and you say, “I can’t do that”… “I’m not available”... “I am not capable” or “I don’t have time for that.”
 
You feel lethargic. You hide, doing anything to not be seen.
 
Do you want to finally move out of this fear and into faith? 
 
Then, I invite you to learn a body prayer to support you in being filled with a knowing that you are part of the Divine… This knowing is called Faith.
 
In this state of faith, you will know that you’re whole and that you’re love. You’ll trust that you have everything you need to manifest the longings of your soul.

As we sing the sacred words while moving the body intentionally with the music in this body prayer, it connects us with the depth and truth of the meaning of the sacred text. This is a potent spiritual practice where you experience a sense of unity with the Divine. 
 
The sacred words of Kyrie Eleison (Creator of Life, Awaken Love Within Us) used in this body prayer will reverberate through your whole being and move you from fear into faith, knowing that you are a part of the Divine. 
 
Discover more about this body prayer here in the 3rd video of my series of 3 KEYS TO MASTER YOUR CREATIVITY.  

​The world is calling us to become truly inspired and creative beings in our communities in this time!
 
New and courageous ideas are truly needed.
 
Through birthing our creations, we become a shining and powerful healing force in the world. What in your life are you being inspired to create? 
 
Move out of the fear that is holding you back from this vision and move into faith that you are divinely inspired and your creativity is needed in this world.

Step into what it would be like if you were able to manifest your vision.  How would you feel? 
 
Picture yourself having already brought this vision into reality.  How do you feel now? 
 
I hope you can manifest that vision into the world!  I look forward to seeing it become a reality! 

​Is there something in your life that you are longing to create?  Are you wanting to finally write that book or go on that trip you’ve dreamed of your whole life? 
 
Or are you wanting to create your own vegetable garden or maybe take singing classes?  Or do you long to start your own business?
 
What is standing in your way from doing this?  Sometimes we can see only walls in our path, and we become stuck.  We think that what we want to create is unrealistic or impossible. Our fear stops us from taking action. 

No matter what it is that you’re longing to create, you can do it!  Whatever your creative dream is, I know you can make it come true. The truth is that there are as many beautiful things to create as there are people on this planet.
 
I remember the story of St. Hildegard, at age 42, when she heard a divine voice commanding her to speak and write about her experiences.  She shared what it said to her,
 
“… speak and write what you see and hear… according to the extent that you see and hear those things in the heavens above in the marvelousness of God…
Write those things not according to yourself or by the standards of another person, but according to the will of the one knowing, the one who sees and arranges all things in the secrets of His own mysteries.

​St. Hildegard didn’t want to act on this at all.  I can certainly understand.  She was frightened and anxious.  She felt insecure and inadequate. All of us feel like this from time to time. 
 
To share her visions with the world was going to be a big step. It was going against the culture and traditions of the time. Women weren’t part of the clergy in her time.  Women didn’t preach, speak publicly, or write.  Let alone on controversial topics such as visions from God. 
 
St. Hildegard had to muster her courage and hold on to her faith that it would be okay, since she was being guided by the Divine. 
 
“…. I put my hand to writing. Once I did this, a deep and profound exposition of books came over me. I received the strength …. and under that power I continued to carry out the work to the end.”  - St. Hildegard of Bingen
 
It’s time to listen to the quiet voice inside that’s nagging at you, telling you that there’s more to life.
 
It’s time to let go of any sense of limitation or fear that you’re holding on to that’s standing in the way of what you long to create.
 
As you begin to take the first steps forward in realizing your vision, you’ll discover the sweet nectar of the Divine is being birthed upon the Earth through you.  And where this divine energy flows, a powerful healing force can arise.  For yourself. And for the world.
 
You’ll have more energy and more motivation as you create a clear intention with which to move forward. Your life will transform. 

In the words of St. Hildegard:
 
 
I am the one whose praise
Echoes on high.
I adorn all the earth.
I am the breeze
That nurtures all things
Green.
I encourage blossoms to flourish with ripening fruits.
I am led by the spirit to feed
The purest streams.
I am the rain
Coming from the dew
That causes the grasses to laugh
With the joy of life.
 
I call forth tears,
Th aroma of holy work.
I am the yearning for good.
 
 
I invite you to blossom as you bring forth your gifts into the world.  Become the yearning for the good that you can bring to others. 
To support you in this work further, I invite you to try out a guided mediation that I offer for free in The 3 Keys to Master Your Creativity.  At the heart of this technique, you will give voice to your inner beauty and come to love and appreciate who you are in powerful ways. You’ll find the strength and energy to move forward with your creative dreams. You’ll know that it IS possible.
 
This meditation will give voice to your unique soul’s purpose, helping you to focus on what you are meant to create and giving you the guidance to move forward with a clear vision. Give it a try! 

​In this time of the Covid-19 virus and sheltering in place, do you find yourself going into a place of overwhelm?  Sometimes we can read or listen to all of the news reports and our mind can begin to spin into fear and anxiety.  We worry about our health, our loved ones, and our community. 
 
Or what was once a simple task of buying our food at the local grocery store or farmer’s market now requires much more preparation and energy to keep everyone safe. 

​The joy of having fun with friends and adventuring out in the world around us is no longer possible, and the need to shelter in place with the same daily routine can lack the spark of life for us. 
 
In challenging times, I often turn to the wisdom of St. Hildegard and all that I’ve learned from her over the years. Recently, I recalled how she shares about the importance of not putting so much strain on ourselves. She tells us to strive for moderation or balance in our lives. 
 
As I contemplated how to find this in my life over the years, I often felt that St. Hildegard would lead me to the realization that creativity and PLAY are important in finding our balance. 
 
When we bring play into our lives, we can release our stress. We become totally present and can let go of our worry and sorrows. We also tap into this beautiful flow within ourselves called inspiration.
 
I encourage you to take this opportunity that we have been given to be at home at this time and explore your own creativity and just PLAY. It’ll help you to move out of overwhelm and into inspiration!

​As you move into the realm of experiencing your own creativity, a vibrant flow of energy flows through your whole body. You can feel that you’re part of something greater. 
 
A Divine flow moves through you and you sense that something new needs to come to earth.  To express itself in form through you, the artist and creator in that moment. 
 
Fueled with this breath of inspiration from within, you, the artist, may begin to paint or to sing a song.  You may move in dance, write words, or use other materials to express what is bubbling up inside of you. 
 
When you enter into this space, the outer world of daily tasks and the chatter in your mind disappear.  You can set them aside for this time and your focus comes to the creative activity before you.  
 
You can feel the call from within, and you know it’s time to dive in and play. 
 
What wants to express itself through you?  What wants to come to life from your activity? 
 
As you play creatively, you lose track of what’s outside in the world – the news, daily tasks, worries, and fears.  Your thoughts of that part of the world dissolve.

​This vibrant creative force infuses your whole being. You feel fully alive.  And joyfully engaged. 
 
Your creative process may be smooth and flow easily at times.  It may be bumpy and chaotic at other times.  It may move quickly. Or slowly. 
 
You get to move through it in a way that speaks to you.  It’s not time for judgment.  Nor for thinking. 
 
This is the time for presence in the moment.  Surrendering to the process and that which moves you from within.

​And when your creative moment is done for that day, you feel pleasantly fulfilled.  You feel complete. You are grateful. And now satisfied, you rest peacefully.
 
Such creativity, when focusing on the process and not product, can help us to access a meditative state, tapping into a deeper part of ourselves.  A place of inner stillness.
 
Here we can enter a feeling of flow and freedom, a space without limits and for self discovery and expression.  An opportunity for healing. 
 
Human beings are naturally creative.  It is part of our nature. 
 
And being creative brings us back to this state – our true nature. 
 
Our true nature that brings us to a place of balance and a place of health. 

​What an unusual time we are in! Most of the country is in shelter in place. Life has become slower and quieter. Uncertainty of the future and a focus on the present is now our daily practice.
 
The roads are almost empty of cars, yet the sidewalks are filled with families walking, playing and working outside their houses. Physical distancing from our friends and family members is becoming a habit even as we still miss all of the adventures we usually have out in the world.
 
If you’re healthy and in self quarantine at this time, remember that you’re taking care of yourself, but you also caring for your community in this action.
 
While you’re at home, what’s the opportunity that’s presenting itself here?  The sparkling gem that shines through the dark soil? 
 
Now is a wonderful time to go inward and reflect on what is the deeper meaning of all we’re experiencing at this time. We have more time on our hands than usual given the slower pace that the world’s moving.

The gift of such uncluttered space and time is an opportunity to see what’s bubbling up inside as a longing. A longing that might have been silenced or hidden in the past. 
 
What have I always wanted to do in my life and haven’t yet?
 
What is my calling at this time in the world? 
 
As we connect to our higher self and deepen our connection to the spiritual world in this time, my thoughts turn to St. Hildegard who is an inspiration as she endeavored to take up her divine calling in the world even when it was quite challenging.
 
Here she speaks of her longing to be the harp and zither of love in the world. 

Longing
 
My home is in heaven,
Where I meet all your creation.
God’s love is my desire,
And to raise up the tower of longing, my wish.
 
I want to do what you ask of me, O God.
On wings of good will
I fly above the stars in heaven
To do your will.
 
Nothing else remains for me to search
Or wish for.
I long only for holiness.
 
Let me, O God, be your harp and zither of love!
 
LVM Pitra IV, 15 (X)

At this time of slowing down and isolation, what is arising within you as a longing?  Something you have always wanted to do or something that is calling to you at this current time of crisis? 
 
What are you being called to bring into the world during this time in the world? 
 
What opportunity exists for you? 
 
Envision it now. Imagine how it might bring love and healing to you and into the world.
 
Now expand that vision. Make it even better. What if there was no limit? No fear and anxiety?  No obstacle? 
 
What would your vision be then?  Imagine that. 
 
So, how can your vision begin to sprout and grow in this season of spring and renewal?  How can you make it come to life? 

Through answering the longing that lives within us to be the harp and zither of the Divine, we can become a powerful healing force in the world, a great need at this time.
 
“When you have a vision that is strong enough and powerful enough, nothing can stand in your way.” Lewis Howes
 
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Check out my FREE Healing Library for more practices that will support you in this time of crisis.