Even though many of us find solace in being alone, being with others can be truly uplifting and healing for the soul. This past weekend I went to the Common Ground Fair in Maine (pictured here) where I offered a workshop on past life regression. It was such a lovely experience to wander through the gifts of craftspeople, musicians, chefs and even children. These people celebrating the Earth seem to genuinely care about other humans. The positivity was palpable and there was such a sense of community.
Back in our daily lives, there continues to be a massive inner transformation happening for many people. This is showing up for some as major life crises and deep changes. It’s like a huge Death card in the Tarot (Death meaning the end of a cycle, releasing the old). It can be extremely difficult to let go of familiar ways of being, of longstanding habits of how we do things – how we interact with people, how we perceive ourselves, how we make money. EVERYTHING is on the table now to be examined.
I have been going through my own internal process of ego death and transformation. I am being asked to understand that I am simply enough just because I AM.
I am being asked to surrender to the will of God, or in other words, to allow the Divine flow that is guiding my life to show me the way. It’s a fascinating and painful experience at the same time. I share a bit more about this in the video below.
It’s interesting since in the personal development/New Age world there is so much talk about the Law of Attraction and using our thoughts to create our reality. While I believe this is still true, I also think this concept has gone too far in the other direction.
My new thoughts on how our lives unfold has caused my own work and approach to evolve, to deepen in a sense.
The problem with the constant focus on the Law of Attraction is that it is endless. It can lead us into creating never-ending vision boards, beating ourselves up for “not manifesting correctly” and feeling like we are never doing/being enough. It’s ironic, no?
It’s like we are constantly focused on own self-interest and getting the universe/God to do what we want. (And this is how the ancient civilization of Atlantis fell – the people believed they were so powerful… and everything collapsed.)
So here is how devious the Ego can be in our lives. Even while trying to help us help ourselves, it is simply trying to get its needs met through us playing God.
I still do believe in the Law of Attraction/Resonance, but now I see it in a different light.
It is to be used as a tool second to the all-encompassing energy of Source. It doesn’t come first.
Nothing is more powerful that the light of Source. And to think that we believed we could create our entire realities with our own will!
We have a soul plan that we set up pre-incarnation, and this soul plan aligns with that Source/God energy. The soul plan creates energy that nudges us in certain directions. When we don’t understand why something is happening, when it’s not what our minds planned, you can almost certainly bet that it’s God energy at work, or our soul plan, if you will.
So it’s a tricky balance. There is free will and there is higher will. I believe it is still important to get a handle on our thoughts (and the beliefs beneath our thoughts), but then to let it all go.
We can actually block the goodness that our Creator wants to send us because we are trying so hard!
The personal development field can seem pretty self-centered. “What I want, what I need”… it’s very focused on ourselves.
I have found that when I am volunteering my time, helping others, or being of service in some way, is when I feel expansive, free and joyful.
On the other hand, from a Buddhist perspective, it’s important for us to fill up our own cups with light first so we then can overflow and share that light with others. But I think the self-help world has gone too far in the direction of service to self. It needs to be more in balance.
Yet, it’s not about denying ourselves either and thinking we always have to put ourselves last.
Balance. Moderation. Finding the middle way.
Let’s not beat ourselves up since we are doing our best to get it right. We are doing the best we can. We are learning, we are growing.
So if you have created a vision of your future self, that’s enough.
If you are keeping your thoughts aligned with hope, that’s enough.
If you are finding gratitude every day, that’s enough.
Keep noticing, keep praying, keep asking for guidance, surrendering your will to Light, to God, to something loving and higher than yourself.
And then notice what people say around you (since Spirit often speaks through other people – certain people at least) and what you are feeling. Meditation helps provide us the clarity to observe where we are being intuitively guided.
Still, this is not an easy time right now. For me, prayer, meditation and releasing stuck energy with exercise, breathwork and doing some targeted writing has helped me reach a new level of awareness.
Here is an exercise that might help you if you are experiencing a transition in your career, or in finding your purpose/soul gifts, an excerpt from my book, Tools for the Awakening Soul: A Guide to Activate Your Intuition and Uncover Your Life Purpose. This is a first step to moving closer to what your soul has in store for you, knowing that some clearing away of fears or doubts might be required (hypnotherapy is great for that).
Have you heard the word “ikigai?” (It’s pronounced “ee-kee-guy.”) This is a Japanese word that describes our reason for being, why we get up in the morning. Ikigai is our ultimate life purpose and mission as it applies in a practical way. It’s the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what people might pay you for, and what the world needs. When we follow our ikigai, we become aligned with our soul gifts, and are in highest service to others!
The reflection below can help you uncover your own ikigai.
Just have fun with this. Don’t over-analyze! Write the first thing that pops into your mind before any second-guessing emerges. Usually, our intuition speaks to us first in feelings, and then the Ego comes in to question that intuition. Try to enjoy the process.
What did you love to do as a child or adolescent? What were you drawn to?
What do you love to do now? What brings you joy, lights you up? What could you get lost in doing? What fills your heart with curiosity and wonder? Take a moment to really reflect on and feel this.
What are you good at? What do people often compliment you on? (You may not necessarily like doing these things, but you hear that you have a talent for them!)
What does the world need? What is lacking?
What might people pay you for?
Your ikigai is where all of these areas merge into one – how you can share your soul gifts! Take a moment to write what your responses mean to you:
Walking through the fire brings us renewal. We are shedding our skins to become the newer, highest version of ourselves. One step at a time.
With blessings to you,
Rachel
