Muse

You can give of your time (volunteering) and your money (to nonprofits and those in need).

And you can give...forgiveness.

Forgiving is perhaps one of the hardest human tasks. If forgiving were as simple as just deciding to do it, our world would be a much different place.

 Forgiveness is not an act of mind. It is a blessing that arises from your heart. 

When you can't forgive, it's because you make forgiveness a conditional act. "I will forgive if..." or, "I will forgive when...".

Forgiveness is a gift. To yourself, to the person or people who hurt you, and to the world. 

Forgiving also is a process–it's about becoming a forgiving person.

Yes, it's complicated. Believe me. I've sat with clients who spent years bitterly chewing on their resentment. Holding on to anger and resentment only perpetuates more suffering.

I hear this over and over: "I want to forgive, I really do, I just can't seem to let go!" 

By continually focusing on the person who caused you pain, you're only going to get stuck in a state of resentment. 

Rather than focusing on others, or "trying" to let go, find the willingness to align yourself with the energy of forgiveness. 

Forgiveness, like anger or sadness, has its own unique energetic quality. When you choose to infuse your heart, mind, and body with this powerfully healing energy, you will become more forgiving.

Here's a short practice that will enable the energy of forgiveness to begin to take root:

Spend a few minutes in silence. Sit, breathe, relax.

Bring your awareness to your heart center (the center of your chest) and notice any sensations.

Using your intention, draw the energy of forgiveness into your heart center. Breathe. Allow. Absorb. Let the energy of forgiveness build.

Then imagine sending this energy from your heart center up to your head, down your spine, your arms and hands, through your torso, and down your legs into the arches of your feet. Use your breath to move the energy through your body. Really let it flow. 

When you feel complete, gently rest in your body. Notice any awareness you may have. And commit to coming back to this practice tomorrow.

As your alignment with the energy of forgiveness becomes more familiar and habitual, you just may notice yourself becoming more forgiving! 

Find your willingness to be open to healing. Practice. Be patient. And remember, this is a gift that really does keep on giving!

Happy Solstice!

Be Well,

Rebecca

You practice because a voice deep within longs for the stillness and focus that spiritual practices give you.

This voice belongs to your soul. Your soul is the eternal part of you that connects you to All That Is.

Your spiritual practice helps you come into alignment with your soul. As you practice, you will come to know the voice of your soul. If you listen, you will hear what it needs for its journey. 

Developing a committed, steady spiritual practice takes patience and discipline. It requires the willingness to let go of goals and expectations and to allow your soul's journey to unfold.

Balancing the art of allowing–while simultaneously maintaining just enough structure, intention, and attention to creating a magnificent life–is acquired through the practice of listening to the voice of your soul.

By listening deeply, and following the guidance you are given, you allow your path to unfold just as it should.

The soul's journey is not about getting somewhere–it's about the path itself and having the experiences your soul needs to grow and heal.

There is much ado these days about "manifesting" and creating your own reality through intention. Realizing that you have the ability to create–to make positive things happen in your life–is empowering and can liberate you from feeling helpless in the face of difficulty or dissatisfaction in your life.

However, it is easy for the personality to get seduced by the power of creating and lose sight of the soul's path. When you are in "manifest mode," which "you" is in charge–your soul, or your personality? 

If you listen to the voice of your soul you will create the experiences you need. This may not always be what your personality thinks it needs, especially if the experience is unpleasant. The soul is creating in order to learn, grow and heal.

Over time, the committed practice of paying attention, moment to moment, illuminates the juxtaposition of personality and soul. You begin to see that you have a choice in any given moment, to embody and express the energy of either your soul or your personality.

When you consistently choose to be and act from your soul's perspective, you are no longer paddling upstream. You are in the flow.

Here are some suggestions to help you follow your soul's path:

1. Practice. As the Nike commercial says, "Just Do It!"
2. Trust that over time you will come to discern your soul's voice from that of your personality. 
3. As part of your practice start noticing the connection between what you are doing, thinking and feeling, and what manifests in your life. Learn from your experience. 
4. Keep posing the question, "what would my soul say, want, or do right now?" Listen deeply.
5. Practicing in isolation can be hard. If you are having trouble staying with your practice, reach out for support. 
6. If your practice feels stale or stuck, don't hesitate to get some help. You may be at a point on your path when a different practice would suit you better.  

Coming into alignment with your soul doesn't mean everything will be perfect. But you will be in the flow of your soul's journey and fulfilling your soul's needs for its experience and expression in this lifetime.

Most importantly, enjoy the journey!

Wishing you all the best in 2011!

Be Well,

Rebecca

"The Path" photo image by Jennifer Hopkins ( http://jenhopkins.com/about/artwork-2/ ) with a Creative Commons license.

The root chakra, though it gets less attention than its upper counterparts, is implicated in some of the most important aspects of the development of the soul's consciousness.

The root chakra serves as the anchoring point for divine consciousness as it is stepped down from a very high, fine vibration to the dense energy of the physical body.

Consider the notion of electric power moving from the high voltage of a massive powerline to the 120 volts that run your household appliances. As power flows through the system, it is "stepped down" to a level you can use. The root chakra is the equivalent of the system's grounding rod.

The integration of higher vibration consciousness into your personal, human existence requires an active, grounded root chakra.

Enlivening the root chakra requires that you engage in the process of becoming empowered. Empowerment provides a sense of safety, which helps you to let go of fear and defensiveness.

It is much easier to be present with what is going on in the moment if you aren't worried about what is about to happen.

In order to live a determined and intentional existence, your root chakra needs to be active and capable of grounding energy. 

A well-functioning root chakra provides the foundation for spiritual transformation, and the momentum to get on your spiritual path and practice. 

The root chakra contains the energy of potential. An engaged root chakra can help you bring dreams and desires to fruition–like creating a home that feels good to you, making money, or connecting with your creative passion. 

Spiritual practices that focus exclusively on opening the upper chakras may create ecstatic states. But if you are unable to ground this high-vibration energy, you might end up feeling emotionally and physically imbalanced and uprooted. 

A high-vibration state of consciousness in and of itself is not enough to create healing and change. We are human beings living in dense, physical bodies. In order to function well in these bodies, we need to be able to stay grounded. 

A spiritual practice that gives attention to the root chakra will allow your healing path to unfold more easily and gently.

Here are some suggestions for working with the root chakra:

1. Learn how to ground your energy. This takes time and practice. For a simple grounding exercise see the Muse post Getting Grounded, Staying Grounded.
2. Spend time getting to know your root chakra. When you bring your attention to the base of your spine, what does it feel like? What thoughts or images come to mind? What does your root chakra mean to you? For more information on the subject of chakras, I recommend reading Anodea Judith's book Wheels of Life.
3. As you learn how to take root in this chakra, notice what issues arise for you. Use compassionate mindfulness to gently observe what comes up. A harsh and judgmental stance will shut your root chakra down.
4. Exercises that focus exclusively on awakening Kundalini Shakti should generally be avoided. Many people have gotten themselves into trouble by prematurely awakening this energy. If you think this may have happened, you can find helpful information through the Spiritual Emergence Network.
5. If you engage in practices that open the crown chakra–such as chanting or drumming–it is important to stay grounded, which enables you to draw the energy down into your root chakra for integration into consciousness. If you are unable to stay grounded, perhaps back off these practices until you are able to bring your energy down into the root chakra at will.

As you shift into fully inhabiting this chakra and grounding through it, your healing journey will flow more easily. You will also access deeper levels of consciousness and subsequently feel more expansive, while at the same time feeling firmly rooted in your human experience.

Growing strong roots will help you reach for the sky!

Be Well,

Rebecca

"Treetop" photo image by Jennifer Hopkins ( http://jenhopkins.com/about/artwork-2/ ) with a Creative Commons license.

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