Messuring Consciousness

Picture taken from google

Eckhardt Tolle had a profound impact on my life during my awakening phase, and actually to this day since we are never quite done learning. I am talking about the beginning of the shift as my awakening began, and his words have always resonated with me. For me, consciousness was a big part of the awakening process. What I mean with consciousness is the awareness that was brought to everything and anything all of a sudden, being consciously aware of what was going on, and not just letting it pass, but also questioning and challenging the status quo. There was a knowing, enabling me to determine when the ego was getting in the way, trying to trick me, ultimately leaving me in misery, feeling broken and full of despair.

It was a matter of consciously drawing attention to the issue, becoming aware of it, and seeing most dissolve right in front of my eyes. It was letting go of the fears that held me back before, and finding the courage to stand by my decisions. Even if it went against social conventions and meant that I had to stand alone. Sure it was scary and it easier said then done, but nothing is more empowering than coming home to your true self and standing by your convictions.

Tolle reminds us that the best indicator of our level of consciousness is how we deal with life’s challenges when they show up in our life’s. Through those challenges, an already unconscious person tends to become more deeply unconscious, and a conscious person more intensely conscious. You can use a challenge to awaken you, or you can allow it to pull you into even deeper sleep. The dream of ordinary unconsciousness then turns into a nightmare.

The stages of spiritual awakening

Stage 1 – Unhappiness and emptiness

Stage 2 – Perception shifts

Stage 3 – Seeking answers and meaning

Stage 4 – Finding answers and experiencing breakthroughs

Stage 5 – Disillusionment and feeling lost

Stage 6 – Deeper inner work

Stage 7 – Integration, expansion, Joy

~Lonewolf

Finding yourself

Have you ever heard someone say that they need to find themselves or lost themselves? What happens when we feel like this and what makes us say this? It has to be some sort of misalignment with our ideals and the way we would like to experience life and the world. Does finding ourselves mean we have strayed from our beliefs, that we have lost our true self and behaved out of line? Why and what caused it?

I think we all get conditioned going through life. Conditioned on how one is to behave, and what is expected. We are introduced to the beliefs of others, their values and concepts, especially growing up, but those guidelines don’t always fit us. Still we go along, out of respect, because we don’t initially know better and because we are taught to comply. It seems incomprehensible that other opinions exist or matter, or that we should dare to disagree. Growing up is matter of respecting your parents and what is being taught, while as an adult we often face the fear of not fitting in, not being accepted. All these conditions eventually lead to a feeling of loss, having lost, feeling lost and having to find yourself again.

I found a cool theory from Emily McDowell addressing this very issue. She says that finding yourself is not really how it works. You aren’t a ten dollar bill in last winters coat pocket. You are also not lost. Your true self is right there, buried under cultural conditioning, other peoples opinions, and inaccurate conclusions you drew as a kid that became your beliefs about who you are. Finding yourself is actually returning to yourself. An unlearning, an excavation, a remembering of who you were before the world got its hand on you.

Unproductive Bliss

You know the days where everything feels as if you have to force it. When your energy is drained, where everything takes too much effort, and nothing comes together easily. I’m talking about the days your soul already knows that you need a break, it just takes you a moment before you finally agree and give in.

Sometimes, I punish myself for having unproductive days and the guilt creeps up to make me feel bad. And then I’m reminded that I’m only human and that breaks are necessary.

Don’t feel guilty for putting something on pause temporarily while you reconnect with yourself and find a balance. Remember, your mental health comes first.

Opinions

This post is for you, the empath, the one who feels so deeply and sometimes doesn’t know if your gift is a blessing or a curse. May this post help, and perhaps shed a different view onto your unique gift. May it let it sigh with gratitude and a better understanding. You are blessed.

So what about it? Opinions…we all got one and who is to say one is right over the other? I guess it comes down to…well, opinions and how YOU feel about something.

In an opinion/quote by Bill Bullard he says that the opinion is really the lowest form of human knowledge. It requires no accountability, no understanding. The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another’s world.

I applaud you if you are able to do this. Sure it’s painful sometimes and you absorb a lot of negative energy, but you can also learn to protect yourself and disconnect from that energy. Have you ever encountered someone, it seemed impossible that they could suspend their ego and how did you feel about it?

The Journey…

I say “Namaste” because I like what it means, not because I am Hindu….

A lot of people think I am a Christian because they think I talk about Christian values, but the truth is I am really talking about Human Values….

I’ve been asked if I am a Buddhist, just because I have discovered Inner peace….

A lot of my friends are Pagans and they think I am too because I say that being in Nature is my idea of going to Church….

Do you want to know what I really am? It’s very simple. I don’t need a label to define me. I am a piece of the Universe, Sentiment and Manifested and I AM AWAKE….

~Paul Enso Hillman

The better side of life

Lake Tahoe in Winter

Hate has 4 letters, so does love. Enemies has 7 letters, so does Friends. Lying has 5 letters, so does Truth. Negative has 8, so does Positive. Under has 5, so does above. Cry has 3 letters, so does Joy. Anger has 5 letters, so does Happy. Right has 5 letters, so does wrong. Hurt has 4 letters, so does Heal.

It means life is like a double edged sword….so transform every negative side into an aura of positivity. We should choose the better side of life.

Zen saying

You should sit in nature for 20 minutes a day…unless you’re busy. Then you should sit for an hour. ❤️🦋

Introducing “youniqua”

It is time to no longer keep you guessing and provide a little more info on what I’ve been up to.

Coming back from Germany last December, I was in a very bad place and shape health wise. There were many uncertainties and I have felt like fighting the fight of my life ever since. The stresses encountered while working on a relationship with Mom, her nearly passing away, and having to place her in a nursing home against her will, but it being her only chance of survival, had taken it’s toll on me. Not to mention being away from my own surroundings and means of independent tools, such as my car, my own four walls and my support systems and loved ones. For ten months my life was packed into one suitcase I was allowed to bring with me.

It was a tough road and on Christmas Eve, traveling back to the states, there was a time at the airport I didn’t know if I’d make it back. The RA had returned with a vengeance for weeks already, and it was much worse than my first bout I had years ago. Back then in 2006 I as forced to make some lifestyle changes and was lucky enough for the RA to eventually go into remission. I never forgot that time, and how much pain I was in. This time was much worse and like nothing I’ve ever experienced. I’ve always believed that stress was a huge culprit and I vowed to keep it away from me to the best of my ability. It worked for better or worse, but anything was better than that initial onset of encountering this mean, unforgiving, crippling disease.

Fast forward to the time at the airport, when all of a sudden I could hardly walk to my next connecting flight, or even get up and out of the airplane I had been in since the long flight from Frankfurt. I was unable to hold on to the seat in front of me to pull myself up and into the hallway, and it was pretty scary. I don’t need to give you a full history over the past eight month, but this time has truly shown me how strong we can be when fighting and being strong is all we have left. You’d be amazed at the reserves you’ll find and how you can conquer things unimaginable before. Things that never even came to mind before so awful in nature.

I spent much of my time with the arts and the creative process, unable to work and struggling through daily basics we normally take for granted. Getting dressed or combing my hair was a major chore. I felt so lost and vulnerable and the daily pain was robbing my positivity and the way to believe and see hope in my future. Unable to open bottles or doors at times, the pains were rooted throughout my entire body.

I’ve always enjoyed the arts, from being an avid amateur photographer trying to capture all the beauty that catches my eyes, which often lies in the simplest of things, to producing handmade goods. Doors opened and I came across various things that peaked my interest. I look back and I’ve taught myself so many new techniques over that timeframe. I truly learned a lot. I’ve completed and certified in three energy healing courses; got my Reiki Master degree and focused on numerous crafts. From acrylic paintings, to fluid art pours, to felted goods, handmade soaps, handcrafted journals, alcohol inks, wire wrap jewelry, and a few other items. I’ve shared my progress here and there with you cheering me on, which lead me to pursue higher dreams. You see I believe that everything happens for a reason and this time is all about me. To work on what fuels my passion, to shoot for the stars and hopefully turn my passion into something that can sustain me financially as well.

“Youniqua” was born, a zen place for unique art. Much thought was placed into the name and into a mission statement that represents me and what youniqua is all about. I think in today’s world you have to be unique, to differentiate yourself and offer more than just a product or convenience. There are so many choices out there, but what makes you truly unique? Why would people choose your goods over the next persons? I have a few ideas I hope to bring to the table to embrace the “youniqua” concept. One of those concepts is printed right onto my business card, called Meraki.

Meraki…,

To do something with soul, creativity, or love. To put something of yourself in your work.

All of my creations are unique, one of a kind and bare that message, meaning they were made with love, soul, and hold a piece of myself. I hope for so much more than just being able to sell these goods, and each transaction is a personal connection, a way to support each other and to bring a piece of that energy to you.

Here is to making my dreams come true and going for it. Please stay tuned for a follow up post introducing one of my staple items soon. 😉

Healing thyself

Words from the Wise Goddess via daily vibe/Facebook

Healing doesn’t happen in a week or in a month.

It is an ongoing cleansing of pain.

Transcending the thoughts of the past associated with trauma.

Connecting to the present moment and raising the vibration to joy.

It’s a daily process of knowing the importance to your mind, body and soul of just feeling better.

To grab the best feeling you can find and flow with it.