Our Path

There is a beautiful gift waiting for us each day in the cupped hands of the Universe. We are given time and time again to get back on the path when we falter, lose our way or veer off. It comes sometimes in a gentle reminder in a friends words, in the kindness of a stranger or in an opportunity to give to someone. There are many paths in life, some more challenging than others. Yet we are given choices along the way to be part of the creative energies that we bring to our path. And the path can be shared at times with others; being each others teachers and mirrors.

Regardless of the lesson we are in the midst of learning, the path will wait for our soul to arrive. We come as ready as we can be and then through the various twists and turns we find our way. For some, they feel there is an end to the path, as though our personal journey is a race. But a race against what or whom? Comparison of our path to another’s is pointless as we are all uniquely blessed with our individual gifts and attributes. To think that speed has any role on one’s journey is ridiculous as life’s possibilities are timeless and the cyclical nature of the unfolding of our journey allows us many opportunities to understand and experience again and again.

Even of those times we have completely fallen off our path, it remains there waiting for our return, in whatever condition we return in. It is a constant that we can rely on. Knowing that relieves us of the unnecessary pressure we place on ourselves to be perfect, to be right, to be the best, to be the most…all we need to do is BE. Being present, showing up and bringing some intention takes us quite far on our path. Releasing the pressures of all the should's, have to's and must's, clears our path for joy and pleasure, for peace and grace.

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2013 Lisa Meade

Growing the Soul

"It's not just about keeping soul in the body. It's about growing soul, becoming more than we ever were, embodying more of the Greater, or Higher, Self. It requires the willingness to take the creator's leap and bring something new into our world. A myth we requicken brings us creative juice and serves soul. Dreaming, we find the myths we can live by, the stories that put soul at the helm of the ship in our odysseys." – Robert Moss, "Dreaming the Soul Back Home". Reading these powerful words of Robert Moss I feel my soul quicken. I love the idea of growing the soul. As a shaman I work with many who are tenderly holding their souls in need of healing. I work with those who have experienced soul loss and long to be whole and full once again. I work with those who have had trauma in their lives and have never fully recovered. Once the souls needs are tended to it awakens with a desire to be alive, full, vibrant and shining. You can see it in the twinkle of the eye, you hear it in the power of the voice, you feel it in the essence of the person, the spirit radiates with a presence and the soul reaches out and touches all that it meets with grace, compassion, beauty and verve.

Growing one’s soul is no task to take lightly. It takes commitment and focus on the moment. It means not wallowing in story or excuses. It means showing up and being present. Growing the soul takes creative energies to meet the soul’s needs. Growing the soul calls us to take notice to our dreams, to our conversations, and to our actions. Just like an athlete preparing for an event we honor what we feed our soul as every bit of nourishment counts.

The adventure of this lifetime awaits and the healed and whole soul is ready to answer the call. Is it your call to be of service? Is it your call to lead? Perhaps your soul is ready to create and share. The possibilities and potential of one’s soul is endless. The myth of our soul is grand! We can be richer, fuller and brighter than we dare to imagine! And our soul will not disappoint!

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2013 Lisa Meade

Things Will Never Change...

It seems lately that the same phrase keeps rolling off my tongue in a variety of conversations, “Things will never change unless you do things differently”. I have said it at least six times in the past three days. And each time the situations and the circumstances were different. Stop for a minute and think about it. Isn’t it the truth? When we feel stuck, the best way to get the energies flowing is to step off the beaten path and look for ways to create a new path. Staying in a place of stuck and complaining or fretting or getting angry over it….that gets us nowhere.

It takes a bit of bravery, a little courage to do this. I am not saying that it is easy. We find comfort in the familiar, even when the familiar is not really working for us. Creating a new path may take some calculated risks, it may take some asking for support, it may take some pause and reflection and NOT doing…and sometimes these are scary things for us.

To pull a new key out of our pocket and open a door that has been locked to see what we need to face on the other side is not always a choice one is happy to make. It takes hard work, it takes honesty, it takes truthfulness and it can be exhausting. But what if it is worth it? What if that is the very next step to reaching your greatness, your potential, to embracing your next lesson, or to receiving your next gift? What if?

Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is something we are not taught in life very often. We live in a very complacent society. The same old spins around and around. Living beyond the expected takes great intention and focus. It takes a healthy soul that has been tended to and cherished. It takes community that offers inspiration. All of that takes time and effort too. But, I ask myself, I ask you…if not all that, then what is left? The same old, same old. And I am up for the adventure of life. I am answering of the call of service. I cannot do it any other way, nor do I want to. Life is too short each time around. It is time to do things differently. So let this time be full!

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2013 Lisa Meade

There Is No Comparison

I have raised five beautiful children and been involved in communities with many other children and young adults where I was a mentor, role model and friend. I have always been the one to hold this conversation with the young ones: there is no comparison. It seems that many people spend a good amount of their time and days comparing themselves to others. They compare their looks, their knowledge, their beliefs, their values, their possessions, and their faults among other things. I am puzzled by this activity as I only see it as a terrible loss of time. Comparison gets you nowhere. We are all meant to be unique and have our own personal special qualities, so why would we want to compare? To see the contrast perhaps? Usually what I find in these conversations is that the comparison often leads to disappointment in self. Or worse it leads to negative judgment of the other. Not what I consider a good use of one’s time.

Instead I propose that we compare ourselves to ourselves. How have I changed since yesterday, last month, or two years ago? How have I let go what does not serve me? How have I moved on to face my challenges? How have I grown in my strengths? These are worthy comparisons. These put one’s time to good use.

In these conversations, when this point is made, if it makes its way through some of the drama of the moment, the pain that is being held on to, or the old patterns of behavior…I see a twinkle in the eye. I see a relaxation of the brow and the corners of the mouth begin to create a small smile. What a better and more powerful place to be. Our journey has many pieces that are beyond our control and we learn to trust that what is happening is happening for a reason. But how we react to the happenings is fully within our control.

I recently shared an image with a client. Emotions do not rule us, they simply flow through us. Imagine a wave rolling onto the shore. It builds momentum, just like an emotion, it increases with speed and intensity. We can brace ourselves to receive the wave, firmly standing there or use our judgment and if we feel the wave is too big to withstand we can back up a bit, move to a safer place before we get pulled under. So is the case with our emotions. We can ground ourselves firmly and prepare for them to roll in or we can step aside, retreat a bit and put distance between the emotion and ourselves to prepare our reaction. Pause and space helps. It gives us the opportunity to allow the wave of emotion to flow through us and then beyond. We can be in control and not need to spin comparisons to cling to.A comparison does not make a good life raft!

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2013 Lisa Meade