A Story of Empowerment

As CBS News corespondent Steve Hartman once said, "Everybody has a story." Each story is as unique as the individual. Some stories have mysterious twists and turns to the plot while some have tragedy, romance or wonder. They all have one thing in common. Nobody has to be defined by their story.

In the shamanic practice story is a powerful tool. The shaman, often referred to as the Master Storyteller, will work with a client to help them see that while the events and relationships that have occurred within their story are undeniable and very real, the amount of power we give to them is always within our control.

So many times this depends upon our perspective, our willingness to let go what is no longer or has never served us and to embrace any gifts or lessons that have come our way from the unfolding story and its energies. We can use these events and relationships to propel us forward, to grow and expand and learn more about ourselves, or we can use them to keep us stuck and in a victim role. Authoring our story and choosing what to emphasize, to serve as fodder to our life's journey and to what we want to call our truth is where the power lies.

When we reflect on our life story we can find the places that serve as traps for us. Think back to your past, note the memories that come up, feel the emotions that are attached to them, pay attention to the energy of your body, and note how your soul feels? Your body, mind and soul can help you to discern if your story is empowering for you or not. Anger, guilt, blame, sadness, fear and bitterness will weigh us down and our story is not serving us as an effective tool. But if we find in these reflections peace, fondness, honoring of life lessons and trust of the future then we know we have done the work to move forward in a healthy relationship with our story.

How do we step away from the negative emotions and energies of our life story? There are many answers to that question, but the first step that will lead in the right direction is learning how to create a new version of the story. We have the ability to choose how we will continue to react to what others have done to us or what they have not given us. We have the choice of whether to stay stuck festering about a life event that was not fair, tragic or life changing or not. We can look to these places for insight and lessons, learn to walk away with this and apply it to our current moment and take it along with us. All the while, we then leave behind all the negative energies, the wounded ego, the guilt or shame that does not encourage our soul's growth.

Learning to find a life story that is empowering, supportive and has possibilities give us a chance to step out of our past and be fully alive in the moment. It gives us the ability to be open to all the options and opportunities that life will offer. It affords us to embrace the energies of forgiveness. When we become engaged in the role of author of our life story, we no longer leave it up to others belief, actions or energies to dictate what our future holds. Instead we are in charge and we can bring all our creative energies and dreams to the story of today.

Blessings, Lisa

Evolving

As with many spiritual practitioners, the shaman understands that one has to put more than just intention into one's evolution. It seems for most people the desire to expand to grow, and to move forward is a natural one. Transformation is sometimes born from dreams and hopes, often from pain and struggle and our soul beckons us onward.

As a shaman I see the unfolding of the transformation. The longing and desire to respond to the soul's call, the inspiration and influence of the guides, the coming together of the energies that surround and support us all taking part in the formation of the "medicine" necessary for the next step along the path. The seeds are planted, but the nurturing needs to take place for the growth to occur.

Bringing all this together, whether through ritual, practice and ceremony, and applying it with intention the manifestation begins. Intention is of the mind. We need to do more than just think about how we want things to be different in our life. Action is directed by the energies and the guides. When we engage this action with our intention then the shifts begin to occur. These changes are not always what we anticipated. They are sometimes quite challenging, especially as we break out of our comfort zone. Often times they are questioned by those around us, as we approach our day to day relationships and tasks from a different perspective. But they are necessary.

Evolving into our most Soul Self needs the combination of the two factors; thought and action. We all know how thinking about a new cleaner way of eating does not make it happen. We need to make healthier food choices, change our cooking methods, or perhaps alter the quantities that we eat. Just thinking about it, talking about it and wanting it or intending it...does not make it happen. The evolution is not complete. So it is with our soul work.

Whatever we are seeking to change, to grow, to release or to embrace of our self on a spiritual level requires us to listen closely to the direction of our soul. That intuitive voice that challenges you, that inspiring thought that tugs at you, those dreams that you have where you see your new self doing or being what you are hoping for...all these are thought activators and change making moments for you to adopt.

Shamanism brings together the beauty of the possibilities of evolving to our soul. It supports the bridge between intention and evolution by bringing together the thoughts with the energies, the inspiration with the guides and the dreams to the reality.

Blessings, Lisa

Timing is Everything

The saying goes, "Timing is everything." And nothing could be more accurate than when it comes to the fulfillment of our purpose, the coming home to ourselves or the alignment of our soul's call with our life's service.

Our calendars and timetables keep us on a schedule. But this schedule often has little to do with our spiritual timing. Sadly, we often use these man-made  record keepers, calculators and scales of time to measure and compare something that is timeless; our soul work. We expend tremendous energies and create impressive plans to ensure that we will move from task A to task B so that we feel the seeming progress will bring us that much closer to our most authentic self.

But as we all know, life brings with it delays, obstacles, successes and energies that may be supportive or not as we move from one path to another journeying to respond to our soul's call. Each of these hold potential lessons and gifts that we may embrace to help aid us along the way.

The truth of the matter is we are not in control of the time it will take for us to find our Truest Self. We each fulfill our purpose when the time is right. The Universe is at play here, Source is supporting, Spirit is guiding and Ego sometimes gets frustrated in the course of events. Trusting that the "plans" that are laid out for us are exactly as they should be and that they are necessary for the expansion and growth of our soul helps us move through these transitions with grace.

Sometimes we grow uneasy with our progress, we get focused on what we believe should be happening, should be moving or is not unfolding and then we lose our trust in the energies that are at work. Judging our personal progress is truly a waste of time. Comparing ourselves to others, a waste of energy.

Instead, find the peace and joy to be found in just Being. Instead, embrace the power found in the moment of Now. Instead, trust the sacred fact that Divine timing is at play and that is everything that we can trust in and grow in, delight and celebrate in.

Blessings, Lisa

Don't Look Away

The sun shining against the recent fallen snow is blinding. As I scan the landscape, I need to squint. When I close my eyes, brilliant orbs of light dance behind my eyelids; reminders of the brightness that I have just witnessed. The flash of a sunbeam passing through an icicle catches my eye. I cannot look away.

The brilliance of the sun dancing over the microscopic ice crystal snowflakes that one by one have magically fallen from the sky above to land softly at my feet and pile inch upon inch astounds me. Something so delicate and small creating such grand splendor. I cannot look away.

Winter's light is so unlike that of summer. There is no haze to distort. There are few clouds in the blue sky above to blanket the ground below. There is tremendous stillness as the trees have shed their leaves and all that remains are skeleton arms reaching up to the birds to invite them to rest. I cannot look away.

Few shadows form in the sun of winter. There is a rawness to the exposure. There is a relief in the openness and an awareness in the exposure. My soul has stepped out into this light to be seen. My soul has entered into the rays of light to be illuminated and healed. The stark brightness is blinding. And I cannot look away.

Do you see yourself differently in your season of winter? Do you find that your light shines and radiates in ways that are less shrouded? Do you allow your vulnerability to be exposed instead of seeking cover from the possible burning rays? Don't look away. Find how your soul stands in the light of your winter. Learn how she shines. Learn how she dances. Learn how she feels to be so exposed to the element of your winter. Don't look away.

Blessings, Lisa