Party of a lifetime

Burning Man recently concluded here in the US, and I wanted to share a sneak peek if you don’t know what it is. It is the party of a lifetime, filled with creativity, music, and art.

I live close to where this annual festival takes place and draws people from all over the world. It’s a place to express your own uniqueness with the opportunity to be anything and anyone you’d like to be. It’s pretend play where like minded stressed minds escape the reality of day to day life and dress in steampunk attire, various other characters, or little to no clothing outfits. You should see the lines on opening day. Probably worse than any traffic jam you ever found yourself in. Just to see the artwork would be amazing, and several pieces always get donated to the city each year once the festival concludes. The sheer size of them is amazing, and being covered in layers of fine white sandstorm dust surely presents a transportation problem.

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Chim, chimney, chim chimney, chim chim cheroo

I swear there used to be a song with these lyrics about a chimney sweeper, but I don’t remember. Today was a big day and the chimney sweeper was scheduled to come by this morning. It must have been thirty some years since I last have seen one, so naturally it was a big deal for me. I hope it wasn’t the reason as to why I couldn’t sleep and was still awake at 2AM, but you never know. I got up at 7 and tinkered around the house for awhile. Around 10AM, the door bell rang and I hit the buzzer. “Hello, chimney sweeper here” I heard the young man announce himself while entering the house. He was dressed all in black, the only thing that was slightly off, was that the top hat (somehow I thought he would wear a top hat) was replaced by a black beanie. He smiled as I said Hi back and after I immediately reached out to shake his hand. I didn’t even think about him covered in black soot, but I had to make a good first impression. It’s not every day you see a chimney sweeper and I had a little bit of an agenda, I have to admit. He came upstairs and inquired about Mom and it appeared that he missed her being here. He said that he always enjoys her company and to please tell her to get well soon. I thought that it was very sweet of him and saw it as the perfect moment to announce my agenda.

“I have an unusual request and a silly question” I said. He looked surprised but reassured me that there are no silly questions and to ask away. “Do you think that I could take a picture of you when all this is said and done. It’s kind of a big deal for me to see a chimney sweeper and Mom will be happy as well”. He smiled again, saying “of course, we will take care of it at the end”.

Further up the attic he went and although I didn’t follow to see him work, I could hear the sweeping inside the chimney just fine. All the way down in the cellar was were the two little metal doors are located for both chimneys. He unlocked one at a time and carefully loaded his little shovel full of soot, and then emptying it into a small metal bucket. And of course it was black as well. All done, we were still laughing at the adventures of this old house, and my own journey of what it’s been like with the frozen pipe etc. Good thing I can look back and laugh about the nightmare now. From camping inside the house, to the standing water which by now had recited a little bit but was still there, and how nice and cool it was down in the cellar in the summer month. I still didn’t care to be down there, I’d rather sweat and deal with the cobwebs and creepy rounded torture like, ancient space full of crawlers. All there was left to do was take a picture in full armor with tools and all. He was such a good sport about it and I swear I will print the picture out, and hang it on the chimney for him to take the next time a sweep is due.

Even more unusual and without knowing it prior, there are many tales about chimney sweepers bringing good fortune and wealth. It is also said that it will bring good luck to shake the hand of a chimney sweeper. I usually don’t shake hands as a form of greeting with a handyman or a stranger like that. Even more unusual with someone that is covered in black soot, not that I’m afraid of getting dirty. I didn’t care and my hand was extended before I even realized what happened. What exactly did happen and how did it happen? Did my conscience know about the tale of shaking the hand of a chimney sweeper? Was that what the excitement was all about, why I didn’t sleep the night before and was there some luck that was waiting to be evoked? I know the skeptics might thing this is a ridiculous thought, but something sticks her for me and I like the ring this has to it. What can say “I’m a dreamer”

Days like these

Today belongs to me and there are few things that could make it feel better than it already is. Officially the holiday stress and the annual inventory right after the beginning of the New Year has ended for me. I’m waiving it goodbye, without turning back to watch it disappear. Bye bye…I won’t miss you. I would like to say until next time, but I’m not so sure right now if there will be another and I’m leaning towards that I rather there won’t be another. Hard work with little time to do what truly matters is becoming such a waste of time to me these days and I have to do some prioritizing while there is still time. What made it even worse was that I got sick at the tail end with Vertigo that lasted a few weeks. Thank goodness it has passed for the most part and I feel that I might recover on my own without the need of physical therapy. Which is great news all in all, fingers crossed that I will continue to climb my uphill battle.After a blizzard like, scary, dark, slippery ride home from work last evening, I’m off for the next two days. It’s been storming non stop outside and Mother Nature has really pulled a few numbers since the beginning of this year. Record levels of snow have fallen already of which later turned to non stop rain, causing over 1300 homes being evacuated due to river flooding within the last two days. Today we are back to snow and over 20 feet of snow has fallen in parts of the Sierra since 2017 has made its debut. As if it wasn’t enough and it’s not over yet and predicted to last through Thursday, with 10 more feet of snow on the way today. 

I love stormy days like this when I’m tucked safely inside my castle (a Cancers home 😉) and have the day to do what I want. I went to sleep last night listening to the storm, knowing that I had nowhere to be while the wind and the rain was pounding against my window. Later on the rain was replaced by an eerie silence and the night sky was illuminated by heavy snowflakes falling from the heavens as the temperatures were dropping. 

Today there are no chores (well a tiny few must do’s), and deadlines are replaced with a little writing, painting, listening to music while lounging in my favorite onesie, watching a movie while sipping green tea and hot chocolate and maybe a bubble bath later on. Does it get any better than this? 

Everything has its time and place, but I also realize that I would be lying if I didn’t acknowledge my yearning and excitement that has me looking forward to an adventure outside. It looks like I will be doing a lot of snowshoeing this year since most of my favorite parts will be covered in a deep snowpack for quiet some time. Perhaps a perfect time to visit the ocean and soak up some sun. I can hear the annual Monterey trip calling my name and I can see myself walking the beach, picking up seashells and other treasures along the way. “Holy rocks” from one of my favorite beaches, feathers and lobster claws included are amongst some of my favorites. Yeah I’m nerdy like that and it has always been the little things, (most of them are free) that have become my biggest treasures. All accompanied by great memories and tons of pictures to hold on to those very moments. Being allowed to experience those times is what makes it priceless to me and it doesn’t matter what it is or where I go, it is the journey of getting there and all it’s little moments that make it so special and memorable. We’ll see where the wind will take me and as I also have family in Vegas in February which could be a little escape and an awesome visit to connect. 

Living on the California border has its advantages and offers a quick escape to milder climates, as well as snow free hiking. I’m not worried about not getting outside, but I am anxious for that first trip, taking that deeeep, deeeep breath of gratitude, that sigh of relief while feeling everything inside restored as the stresses melt away by allowing Mother Nature to fix it all. 

The only thing better that can top this is….to share it with special people if you can. People that understand and feel the same way without any words ever needing to be exchanged. 

They say a picture says a thousand words and I would agree. But I would like to add to it by saying….

It only takes one moment and one look, exchanged in silence that speaks louder than words and says it all. 

Feeling better….

The hot water was running over my backside, loosening my sore muscles as I stood motionless in the oversized shower that could easily accommodate two. As always, I was the only visitor and I was alone. A steamy, hot occasion due to hot water and not much else, but nevertheless covering the bathroom in a mysterious shroud, a veil of fog and dewy humidity. Standing there, head down, facing the large shower head, I closed my eyes and allowed time to stand still. I didn’t think of anything. My back was slightly arched, one leg extended straight and the other one bent at the knee, causing my hip to shift to one side. My hands, as if I was reaching to the heavens were planted just above my shoulders and found their way pressed against the tile in front of me. Fingers spread apart to grip as much heaven as possible. There I was, standing in silence with nothing more than the water splashing against my naked body, as if I was to find strength in that moment and rinse my soul anew. To take away the stresses that had entered my life while breaking me down and allowing sickness to creep it’s ugly head into my life. A few minutes went by until the water started to run cooler, calling me back to reality. It was also the moment that I allowed thoughts back into my mind and you might find this statement strange. As far as I know, most people would probably agree that their mind is always busy and that they never stop thinking about something. That the voice inside their head never subside, and that there is a presence, a disruption, a distraction which I simple refer to as the “Noise” of our lives. I envision it like the TV channel that has gone off the air, displaying a black and white screen of nothing, with a noise vibration as if you didn’t quiet tune into the station a 100%. 

I’m not sure when and how, but somehow I learned to stop and escape my own noise, to find myself in calm and peaceful surroundings while stopping time and float weightlessly. Perhaps it’s a form of meditation, of way letting go, giving up any resistance, a time that is to be enjoyed, worry free by experiencing the current moment, the “Now”. A moment that knows no worries about the future and has no regrets about the passed, it’s a time of just letting it all unfold the way it’s meant to be. I felt at ease as I was reflecting back to the end of 2016 and the beginning of a New Year. The holidays had come and gone for me without much significance. I spent them away from my family, the people I loved and sadly in the end I just wanted the hectic to be over with. Working in retail finally managed to catch up with me and despite resting as much as possible during this crazy, mad, daily shoppers attack, it wore me down and I ended up getting sick the morning of Christmas Eve. In true trooper fashion, I had almost made it to the end, almost….but 2016 had other plans and wasn’t quiet finished with me yet, or so it seemed. But still….I was at peace. 

I woke up Christmas Eve to a spinning room and it felt all too familiar. It wasn’t too long ago that I had experienced this once before. The spinning wasn’t as violent with the first time being far worse, but it was still enough to leave me lightheaded and nauseous for the remainder of the day. With a pressing headache and feeling off balance, I’m not sure how I managed to work the entire day, but I did. In the evening I got worse, slept through Christmas Day and was down for nearly five days before I regained enough cognitive skills to be able to function and go back to work. The initial spinning was worse during the first time but the recovery period was a lot faster than the second time with the symptoms only lasting for that day. The diagnosis at the doctors office was Vertigo, stemming from an inner ear problem such an infection or “Chrystal’s” being out of place. I never heard of such a thing (Chrystal’s in your ear) but quickly learned how miserable these symptoms can leave you feeling. I was sensitive to noise, people talking too loud and I can now imagine how people must feel that suffer frequently from migraines. 

This is my first post since December 23rd and please know that you all, my wordpress family have been sorely missed. I thank you for reaching out to me, for your kind words and for missing my presence. I hope that I can return to regular postings as the headaches are getting better and I fight myself back to the characteristics of my favorite animal, the bear. 

Strong, wild and free. (But most of all feeling tons better) Grrrrr…..

Spiritual awakening – Stage 5

This stage had a big calling for me and it was said to be the stage of developing your spiritual gifts. The beginning of seeking a deeper connection with the source as you continue to tap into new learnings and miracles that are unfolding right before your eyes. Even though stage 5 is your main stage at this point, it is not uncommon to experience previous learnings and stages at the same time. You are just further in the process with more things making sense and coming full circle. But more about this later which is better described in stage 6.
Typical events experienced during this stage include:
Meditating – I believe meditation comes in many different forms. Most people might envision a person sitting on the ground, legs crossed in front of them with their eyes closed. To me, meditation was everything that calmed my soul and gave me peace of mind. It was something that I found in doing the things I loved whether it was doing art, listening to music or in my voracious reading attempts. It was fuel for my soul, but the most peaceful feeling I experienced out of all, was when I was in nature and felt as if I had returned home. And while I experienced joy in all activities, it was always nature that evoked that deep breath and a deep sigh of renewal. As if I was reborn and had acquired the strength to continue in real life and reality. 
It tied in with the experience of other mindful activities that were described which could also include yoga and Qigong. 
Creating was another, including painting, writing, singing etc. This one was huge for me as well with some activities spanning over several years. The paintings started after Sparky’s death and a talent or passion for such had prior been undiscovered. So did the writing and it was just recently that I had been inspired to pursue my passion of becoming a storyteller, a healer, somebody to share their own experiences in the hopes of benefitting others. I wrote a few times before but never at the level I am doing now and this blog is still in its infant stages. 
Other example events were studying healing modalities such Reiki. Honing your intuition by doing your own angel card readings. Strengthening your relationship with your spiritual guides and wanting to heal the world. 
Big daunting tasks that might seem overwhelming and you might ask yourself “Me, little ole me….heal the world”?. How exactly am I going to do that? I sure spend some time thinking about it and I have come to the conclusion that all I can ever do, is to do my part. To find my place and hopefully inspire a few along the way. I’m one, standing against the many who are still asleep, but I’m not alone and everybody has the potential to make a difference and contribute in their own way. Asleep or awake, we each have to find our own path and together we become the many that impact our daily life’s. 
Typical emotions expressed during this stage are said to be joy and eagerness, feeling the reconnection with yourself through your higher source. Finding your purpose and what you were meant to do, wanting to share your gift with others. It was a time things began to make more sense as it left me at a better vantage point to explain the emotions and experiences that I was living through. Intuitions materialized and premonitions became true. In many ways I felt as if I had become my own healer. I was on to improving my health and to live a healthier life style. Be more aware of healing foods and strangely, here too, it was that I searched the all knowing web and felt many times as if I had read these articles before. Or maybe I was doing something already without ever reading it. Being guided as if an inner voice was steering me. It was strange and it was something I couldn’t explain at the time. And then Pinterest came to my aid once more and I came across the mentioning of being an “Old soul” and a whole new roam to explore. 

Tired….so tired.

Ughhhh….I’m tired and if I wasn’t already, I definitely feel the holiday stresses catching up. More and more I find myself just vegetating away after work in the little time that seems to be left, playing a game on the iPad to relax and just “Be”. A game that requires no concentration while drowning out all noise as I play it in silent mode. The rest is filled with reading (my main read has been mailed off to be autographed and I’m waiting patiently for its return), when I’m not writing or another creative outlet to allow my mind to dangle carefree with not a single thought in mind. I had every intention to write this morning but my mind seems to be a bit foggy as it is resting up for another day of retail madness hahaha. I find myself sliding more and more towards the majority of people asking “Is it over yet?” and it truly makes me sad. It takes away from the true meaning of a time that should be filled with magic and wonder. I’m sure many people feel like this as the stresses mount and I hope you find time to pause and do something that allows your soul to marvel. Heck, I hope I do so myself. I feel like I’m sleeping my life away right now as I try to rest enough to stay healthy and make it through another day.
Another favorite outlet is music and art for me, which I often combine. Listening to music while creating something that is one of a kind is very soothing and feeds my ever growing need to create. It actually ties into one of the stages of spiritual awakening which will be the next chapter I write.

My paintings are fed by intuition and the events that happen in my life. Therefore they often become very personal to me as they remind me and resemble a certain time of my life. 

Here is an unfinished painting I started awhile back before I first stumbled across the article about spiritual awakening. It’s a bit creepy and you can see the similarities in my painting and the picture of the article, even though I had never seen it before. The Rays coming from the head, perhaps energy fields, waking up…..I’m not sure how my mind painted something I had never seen, something I would stumble across at a later time. You can imagine my astonishment and surprise as I saw the article. It looked strangely familiar, but I couldn’t place it at first until I saw my unfinished painting sitting in the corner, resembling those same lines emitting from the person. ??????

Creepy? What do you think….? Was my mind and subconscious trying to show me something? Divine intervention perhaps? A nudge from the divine universe?

The picture from the article I read…..

My unfinished painting….notice the lines and eyes closed in both pictures as if taking in a greater meaning, awareness, a spiritual awakening of the mind.

Spiritual awakening – Stage 4

Stage 4 in my journey was “Seeking to understand” and I definitely knew something had changed within. I was on to something, I just didn’t know what. Life felt enriched in many ways and yet I couldn’t put my finger on it to explain how so. Besides, there was also confusion when hunches materialized. It felt as if I had experienced something before, and yet I knew all too well that I had never been in those situations before. My perception had shifted and I felt more aware of everything around me. I had questions, but more so I felt strangely at ease and contend with how life was progressing.Stage 4 was described as seeing magic in the mundane and I remember straightening the sales floor one evening, preparing the store for the next shopping day. Not exactly a job that required a lot of brains and it was definitively different from what I was used to while running my own store. It was a non challenging task, a part of my job that could feel downright boring and mundane. There was nothing liberating about completing this task, it was simply just work, a means to pass the time, making a living and it was lacking a feeling of accomplishment. The job got done, but it held little significance to me, even though it was a task that couldn’t be compromised and had to be completed. Something happened that particular night and I remembered the movie “Night at the museum” with Ben Stiller guarding all the treasures inside the museum. Strangely I identified with this role as if it was up to me, the closing manager, to return all the toys to their rightful spot since they had gotten lost throughout the day. And just like that there was “Magic in the mundane”. A make believe fairytale, a land far away with all the toys coming to life long after everybody was gone. Of course that wouldn’t happen in reality but magic is reality to the one who believes and sees magic all around. And if not so then it was definitely the beginning of me going crazy haha. 
Some typical event of this stage to be experienced were: 
The thirst for spiritual knowledge – I found myself spending less time on social media, especially Facebook. Pinterest continued to be my best friend, flashing new pins at me that corresponded and tied in with prior saved ones, promoting my thirsting knowledge to grow even more.
Voracious reading – was an active part in my discovery and I realized that the stages I had experienced so far where much more than a phase. It wasn’t something that I completed and had moved on from, but it was something that was here to stay and to be experienced over and over. Something to add to my repertoire that enriched my soul and was here to stay with me forever. 

New books were flooding my home in the quest to learn more, seeking to understand. They were books connected to the soul, self help, the words of others who had experienced what I was going through and even a book talking about conversations with God. It was also a time I stumbled across Buddhism and Hinduism which I related to in many ways and felt connected.
It was a time said that you might seek like minded individual to share your findings – I was still a bit reluctant to share my experiences, in part due to not fully understanding them myself. I knew that it was during this phase that it must have felt to friends and family as if I had vanished off the planet. I didn’t keep up with connections as much as I should have been, or should I had? In prior times, everybody always came before me. It wasn’t that I became selfish overnight, but I was going through something, something I couldn’t explain just yet. I was on a journey to either find myself or return back home to myself and to who I was meant to be. I had felt lost for a long time and it was time to take care of myself for once. How was I going to explain that to anybody? I knew there was no way that I could have articulated that one, nevertheless trying to share it with somebody in the hopes that they could relate and understand what I was talking about. 
It was also mentioned that you might seek physic readings or attend a workshop. Although intriguing, I never did. Yet, that was and I say “Never say never”. As of now there are no plans to do so, but if one crosses my path at the right time, I can see it to be very possible that I will indulge. 
Another event could be traveling to sacred places such as Sedona, Stonehenge or Machu Picchu. My experience with such will require a separate post as there is so much to be said. 
And last but not least was seeking your true purpose. Something that could be experienced through really any stage. It’s another big one, one that makes me wonder how you might feel about this and if you have ever wondered about your purpose here on earth? Is there something that we are meant to do, and how do we know if and when we are doing it? For me it was and continues to be something that is connected to my core, my soul, something I feel deep inside. Something that is hard to explain but what is filled with the gratitude of being allowed to make a difference, or at least trying to do so and being able to see the bigger picture through increased intuition. The effort and desire to give it my best shot. It’s something that bestows the gift of awareness, letting me take it all in without taking anything for granted and finding joy in the simple things of life. The little things that often become the big things in life. Finding magic in the mundane and the strength to pursue and change my stars as I see them fit. It’s something that gives me the patience to endure by knowing that everything is how it is meant to be, even though there are big changes ahead in my immediate future. So the statement of “Hang in there” or “Everything will be ok” is out of place here and everything is already the way it is meant to be. If it has not progressed further, it is merely because another lesson needs to be learned to make the victory even sweeter. 
Typical emotions experienced during this phase are joy and exhilaration. I didn’t know how to articulate what had changed but I was happy that it did and I marveled in the feeling of bliss. Life had just become a little easier, maybe even a bit more enjoyable and the mundane tasks weren’t all that bad after all. 

There was also said to be impatience, a feeling that was described as not being able to learn fast enough. I was hungry and I had a yearning for knowledge, that was for sure. Sometimes it caused me to dabble in multiple books at the same time, but I wouldn’t label it as impatience. 
Xoxoxo ❤️

Divine Intervention

Yesterday it came to mind that I have been on a little health kick since I started to see the “Tooth – Fairy”. It’s been over 3 weeks and I noticed an increased interest and a growing commitment to the health of my teeth and oral cavity. It started with me finally taking the first step of overcoming my fear of the dentist, which ultimately inspired additional information to stream in. This was achieved by doing little to no further research of my own and it was something that just so happened.What I mean with that, is that articles where popping up here and there, varying from extensive information to short tidbits. As my curiosity was sparked, I wondered why it was now that all of a sudden this information was pouring in? Did I noticed it because of my increased awareness, still reliving stage 3 in my “Journey of discovery“, or was I just over analyzing everything? Lately, I have been so committed to seeing the signs, hoping not to miss any clues that I was not sure either way, but it felt right to go with whatever the reason might have been. The choice that spoke to my heart was that I would rather be over aware, than to miss a sign.

Some off the information I found was talking about the health of your mouth and tongue in connection to the rest of your body. It was said that the tongue is connected to your organs, therefore making it essentially a vital contributor to your overall health. Even though I considered myself lucky and had no major problems (besides the broken tooth from eating popcorn), I couldn’t help but wonder if me dodging the dentist for so many years posed a connection to my rheumatoid arthritis. There was a possibility, a hunch I couldn’t explain or prove, but somehow believed. I might never know but found it important enough to finally have done my part, the part that was within my control. I was on my way the moment I decided to make a change and see the dentist. I felt strangely ok and at ease with it, as if I was released from all previous fear and anxiety. The health benefit realization came afterwards though and the motivating factor initially was to take advantage of my insurance benefits and to finally take care of a subject that visited me with increased frequency. With all the changes in my near future, worrying about my teeth had no place in it and I knew it.

The next piece of information I came across was a article from a fellow blogger. I had heard of “Oil pulling” before, but the information never seriously resonated with me. I might have glanced at it before or briefly heard about it, but I never gave it any further consideration. Somehow this time was different and my curiosity grew as she was explaining some of the benefits she had noticed within a week. I have to believe it was another nudge from the divine universe, steering me into the right direction and the path I needed to be on.

The benefits of oil pulling sounded amazing and it was described to detoxify and clean your mouth in a way as dish soap cleans your dishes. Literally sucking toxins out of your mouth, creating a healthy environment and helping prevent disease throughout the body. This was big for me, do what was there to loose from giving it a try?

It didn’t take much convincing to give the procedure around for centuries a try. Oil pulling is a method used in India, which was invented long before the first toothbrush was introduced in the 1930’s. I have done it four times by now and adjusted it to my specific needs. The time ranges from a 10 minute minimum to a 20 minute max. I have used coconut oil, which is described as the best and I usually use one table spoon right out of the jar. At first it feels a little like chewing up solid fat but there is really no taste to it and the secret lies in that “Less is more”. Your mouth will fill up when the substance liquidizes and mixes with your own saliva, so my advice would be that you don’t take a heaping teaspoon full of it and start with less. Once you have done it a few times, you can customize and adjust the amount as well as length of time to you and the size of your mouth / oral cavity. There is no need to squish it around hard or vigorously and a gentle motion will prevent your jaws from getting tired. One more thing to consider after your time is up, is that you spit your oil mixture into the trash to safe your plumbing and prevent pipes from getting clogged. Brush as usual afterwards.

Somehow I am convinced of all the benefits and have become a quick fan of oil pulling. I have committed to executing the procedure at least 3-4 times a week and it is something that you want to do first thing in the morning before eating or drinking anything. After the initial two times, I could almost swear that I have seen a difference in my teeth getting brighter. Although I’m an optimist, easily believing in the positive and everything good, I did wonder if I am just imagining that my teeth have become whiter because I knew it to be one of the described benefits? Would I have noticed if I didn’t read about it? I’m mainly skeptical due to the short period that I have been doing my oil pulling, (what a strange term and it should be called oil pushing, since you force the oil to squish around in your mouth vs. pulling or sucking it in and out between your teeth), so I guess I need to go a little longer to get my final proof. My teeth feel as if they are cleaner which must stem from the oil providing a coating, a certain slickness to my teeth. It’s a smooth, clean sensation that lasts from one brushing to the next. It is also said that your skin will become brighter and smoother. Brighter skin and a whiter smile are signs of a more youthful appearance and in a way it feels that besides reaping the benefits, I am also reinventing myself a bit. Not a bad thing I say with a smile of gratefulness.

I hope your curiosity is sparked and you might consider giving oil pulling a try. I would love to hear your thoughts on this and how it has made a difference for you.

Spiritual awakening – Stage 3

Stage 3 in the process of spiritual awakening is “The journey of discovery”. It was and continues to be by far one of the biggest stages for me. As I continue to write about my journey, I know will link back to is post when I write about the various examples I was lucky to experience. It would become an endless post at this point and I think you will relate to it better in shorter bits of information. It reminds me a little of the phrase that you are never done with your learning in life. It’s ongoing and new events are added as your field of awareness expands and new information streams in. You simply experience different levels of being awake as your life unfolds in front of you. Your curiosity grows and you can no longer deny or dismiss what is going on, even though you are not quiet sure of what it is you are experiencing.
Some events experienced during this stage could include synchronicities, otherwise called coincidences of a divine source that is knocking on your door. Depending on the stage of your awakening, you might dismiss these signs as mere coincidences or you become more aware of these divine nudges that can vary in intensity. They often manifest in unique ways we can’t explain but which leave us astonished and surprised. It may even be the beginning of believing in the magic of it all. It was for me and it was also the beginning of my surrender.
Synchronicities or coincidences can include:

Have you ever come across a quote at the perfect time?

Has somebody entered your life at a specific time to enrich it and fuel your purpose? You may not know it at the time and you might not understand the connection you feel for that person, but people enter your life for a reason and nothing is a coincidence or accident. It’s divine intervention at its best.

Have you ever run into somebody you know unexpected, maybe in the least unlikeliest of places?

Has somebody called you out of the blue or you reconnected with somebody after many years?
Take a moment and pause, listen to what is being said and figure out what it is you are suppose to learn.
Coincidence or divine nudges? I have read that when you experience these synchronicities, it is the inner workings of your soul showing up in your outside physical world.

Hocus – Pokus you might think, but the more you listen and believe in the events of this divine source, the more likely it is that they will multiple in your life. You see, I believe that life if trying to show us miracles at all times, but it is up to us to simply notice and even more so – act upon them.
You might also experience premonitions and hunches coming true.

Prophetic dreams and visions can be another sign where you see and hear things others don’t.
I don’t remember prophetic dreams and visions as I seldom remember my dreams, but all other signs were experienced in varying degrees. I often had hunches as if I had experienced something before, even though I never had. There was a strange sense of familiarity, and it was that very feeling that helped me remain calm, trusting the universe to guide me. I had tons of coincidences which still happen today and today I am a believer. These synchronicities tie into my previous posts called the “Journey of my warrior” and “A series of non-coincidental events” which now make perfect sense.
Emotions experienced during this stage were said to be:
Thrills and chills: An uneasy or uncomfortable feeling each time you connected with the spirit realm. I didn’t experienced this too much and I think it was due to being in a surrendering mode, a process of being guided vs, resisting what was happening. As previously mentioned it wasn’t necessarily something I understood at the time as it required “The journey of discovery”.

Isolation: Not knowing where to turn and feeling uncomfortable sharing your experiences with friends and family. I kept mainly to myself before I gained enough knowledge and understanding to share it.
It remains to be a topic that can make others uncomfortable, perhaps it comes across as foreign, something that is hard to relate to and has to be experienced and gain some insight from the outside. Timing is everything, and it is crucial with so many things in life. This was no different. Summarizing this stage I would say that you have to be ready and it can’t be forced. There is not much you can do besides being in control of your mindset. The experiences of your life shape your path of when and how you wake up, but it is you who is in control of choosing your frame of mind. Whether you chose to be a optimist or a pessimist? Whether you struggle or surrender? Whether you let life enrich you or be defined?

You decide as it is your life to live. The choice is personal and determined by your own personal path. It doesn’t have to fit others and fit in with their choices. Your life is as unique to you as you are unique amongst millions, so don’t be afraid of fitting in.

Because…..In the end, one thing is for certain and that is that nobody can live your life but YOU? ❤️

Spiritual awakening – Stage 2

The second stage was described as “A shift in perception”. The beginning of seeing things differently which would ultimately alter the perception of your life. This could include:

• Questioning the Status Quo
• Job dissatisfaction
• Relationship issues
• Longing for a soulmate
• Desire to move / change of scenery

The typical emotions felt during this stage were discomfort. A feeling that your life no longer fits you. Once again I was relating to the words somebody else had written and felt as if so, they were written exclusively for me. There was no doubt that I had begun to question the Status Quo of everything. I no longer felt my achievements to be fitting and my questions often involved something like “Is this it” and “Is this what it’s all about”. It couldn’t have been and there had to be more to life was always the outcome of those thoughts. Without a doubt something had awakened and I had questions galore. I refused to settle into something that my heart wasn’t sold on and so the The quest for more  began.

I look back to this stage as the beginning of my observation period. Not only did it ring true for me and my own behaviors, but I also found truth in the ones of which I found the majority of others conforming in. I often wondered if people were experiencing similar issues and I questioned why so many seemed to settle into going with the flow. I’m curios if this presents an easier path, but personally I see it as a path that would require me to stray from who I am. It was something I wasn’t willing to compromise any longer. I was on a journey of finding myself instead of losing myself. I had strayed for too long and a change was upon me. I know that we all have to decide for ourselves and there is no right or wrong whether you go with the flow or swim upstream. I thought of my own choice and knew that I was going against the flow and the values/beliefs that I had grown up with. They were still important, but also resembled the values and beliefs of somebody else and it was time to find my own truths. Time to polish my own individuality as the transformation had begun. I had no clue of this at the time and reiterate again that those “A-Ha” moments all happened in hindsight.

Further my job was no longer a fit. Despite the success I had achieved being a foreigner in my second home country, it also came with a huge price tag. A sacrifice I no longer was willing to pay. I needed a change of scenery. I knew that I had achieved everything I set out to do and once more it was while pursuing the values and beliefs of others which weren’t necessarily my own. The “Stuff” I had worked so hard for, was something I was still grateful for and I felt that I had put blood, sweat and tears into it, but it was also stuff that was burdening me down with responsibilities and obligations. Another first and the beginning of my realization that “Less is more”.

I won’t even talk about the relationship issues which I had questioned for quiet some time and which had spanned over a decade. Everything was contributing to this stage and my shift in perception. I was no longer willing to continue in the same fashion and accept the things I struggled with as a normal part of life. This was not going to be a permanent part, a part that was here to stay and I knew that one day I would look back at it as a phase in the transformation of becoming the best version of myself.

It was said that the typical emotions during this stage were discomfort and the feeling that your life was no longer a fit. Confusion and a lack of understanding was a normal emotion to be experienced during this stage and so it was for me. I knew something was different and I knew something had shifted. I just didn’t know what, when it happened and why it happened. Was I going through midlife crisis? The thought did cross my mind a few times but only led to more analysis and questions which is an entirely different post. I remember this stage holding little discomfort for me. Yes, there was confusion but I wasn’t resisting with what seemed to unfold in front of me. It was as if I had already surrendered to the process. I think it was an important step in my journey instead of fighting it all. Sometimes you just have to step back and let life unfold without interfering. You have to remain a “Warrior instead of becoming a Worrier” and trust that everything will be ok. This was one of those times. Somehow I managed to do this without being aware of doing anything different and special. I can only credit it to not fighting the universe that was guiding me at the time and I guess in that sense I did go with the flow.

I didn’t have all the answers, nor do I have them today. I didn’t know what was happening or how to understand it, but somehow I didn’t need to. Soon I would find the article that explained everything and which would confirm that I wasn’t going crazy just yet.

Most  of all I wasn’t alone and others knew exactly what it was that I was experiencing.

This little video reminds me of this stage…the transformation period of becoming the best version of yourself and most of all the quest in challenging the “Status Quo”. It’s a reminder that everything is possible and that you should be in no competition other than yourself. I hope you enjoy….