Imagine

Imagine having a safe haven to share your most inner truths. Imagine sharing without fear of judgment, shame or blame. No ridicule or criticism would be allowed. Imagine sitting there and revealing your inner wounds, your darkest fears, your biggest flaws, your more revealing scars and having a compassionate and understanding reception, an open heart of love and a warm embrace to lean into. Imagine all the self-admission you could share and the healing that would follow. Why is this so unavailable in our society? Are we not all human? Don’t we fail, screw up, hurt others, make mistakes, crash and burn, lie, or fear at some point in our life? I doubt there is anyone of us that has not, perhaps we are striving not to, or may even not want to admit it, but let’s face it…it is there.

Some of the biggest soul wounds come from a sense of abandonment, of alone-ness, and isolation. Imagine if we were to hold one another in our ugliest of places and be comfortable in doing so, knowing that it is part of the perfect balm for the spirit and soul. Imagine if we went to a place of self-acceptance and released the shame in a healthy environment of support and focus on moving forward with lessons tucked under our belt. Imagine if we were told we were exactly who we should be and are a being of love, even when we were really messing things up and felt unlovely, imagine how our perspective would change.

The only way we can begin to create this utopia of supportive understanding is to begin with ourselves first. If we cannot be this for ourselves, it will be impossible to be this for any one else and if we try to fake it all the inauthenticity will be revealed. It must be genuine, it must be intentional, it must be unconditional and it must come from within. Begin today. There will be a moment when you can stop and begin to respond to your own inner critic, embrace your wounded self, offer compassion to your fool and hold your tender heart. Begin today with you and the change will begin for all.

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2013 Lisa Meade

Dreaming the Earth

I awoke this morning from a beautiful dream. I was alone on this earth, walking across the globe in a very timeless way. Seeing it with shamanic eyes. Seeing it with eyes of the creatures that inhabit it. Seeing it with eyes of the original people who first walked the lands. And seeing it as it was and still is in some places, but not damaged as it is now in so many places. As I walked the earth, my breath brought consciousness to its inhabitants. The creatures began to speak to me and tell me of their offerings and gifts to the earth. The plants shared with me the story of their medicine. The mountains spoke of their majesty. The waters shared of their cleanse and power. All shared with me what, who and why they are.

What messages my soul received were many. But what I did awaken with is the insight to the powerful interconnectedness between all the beings, all the components of this earth and how we are only guests. What we do is take away from the cosmic energy that they share. It is intended that we are the takers, but it is our gluttony and our irresponsibility that weakens this relationship.

While I have paid close attention to my intention as I start each of my days, today I am filled with a difference. It feels weighted. Not burdened, but weighted with a call to service, a charge of sorts. I feel that we are all to carry this charge within us. We are given this lifetime for a reason or perhaps many reasons. It is for us to discover what they are. I feel one of mine is to be of service to the interconnectedness of this earth and to remind people that we are mere guests. We do not own any of it, contrary to what man would like to believe. And as guests we should leave this place we are visiting; this earth, this beautiful venue we get to celebrate on, grow and prosper on, grieve and learn upon and share on…we should as honoring and grateful guests leave it better than when we arrived.

Blessings ~ Lisa ©COPYRIGHT 2013 Lisa Meade

A Different Perspective

We often look at stumbling blocks as lessons and gifts to learn more about ourselves. This is very true. But I also hold a different perspective about some of the blocks and walls we run into. Sometimes, and almost always with hindsight, I see these obstacles as opportunities for me to stop. They have been put before me so that I not only slow down, but that I stop, what I am doing, thinking or saying and take a look inward and around me. Sometimes I need to be pulled off my path so that I take the time to reconsider my options and the possibilities. I have a tendency to gain a momentum and movement in my actions and this does not always serve me well. These impediments will sometimes allow me to take the time to see I can shift directions.

Sometimes I just need time to reconfigure or to rest. Rest is a good thing when we are moving forward toward an objective or calling. It gives us the space to restore, to release and to remember. These are all very important aspects of being honest and honoring of your work and process.

Setbacks are not always to be looked at as a failure, but merely a hindrance. Complications sometimes happen for reasons that provide space around our process. Instead of begrudging these I am learning to embrace these opportunities. It is not always easy to remember this, but when I do, things seem to shift. My energies creatively become something new and the essence of what I am doing responds. There is a freshness that can be found in these moments if we can stay open to them.

Oh, please do not think that I am in any way saying that these times are always enjoyable or peace filled or even satisfying. But I have learned that they are often exactly what I needed at that point in my journey. Accepting this is half the battle of letting go of the disappointment that can be created. Our ego takes a back seat and our authentic self nods knowingly as we embrace the moment.

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2013 Lisa Meade

The Practice of Balance

It seems that life is more than willing to give me ongoing opportunities to keep practicing balance. Whether it be a balance of giving and receiving, a balance of rest and work, or a balance of willing and surrendering. I am given chances to ignore what does not honor the work I am doing and to cherish the moments of alignment. My times of struggle are purposefully well balanced with times of play. As I approach my 50th birthday I think about how at one time in my life I actually believed a day would come that the seeking balance would not be an everyday occurrence…silly me. It seems that the better I get at this act of balance, the more I am aware of its necessity. I see it as it comes around the corner of my day! I am ready for the challenge. I have learned that with each attempt I become stronger and more adept at the act of balance. And life, being the wise teacher that it is, keeps me on my toes with more and more ways to stretch and expand in my balancing skills.

I am proud to say I look forward to these opportunities. Hindsight always shows that they serve me well. The learning curve sometimes is larger and longer than at other times, but that is the point! Isn’t it? I no longer expect life to be easy, struggle free or even keeled. I no longer have any expectations. I have learned to live with possibilities and that is probably the best tool I now have in my tool belt to approach balance with.

Whether it feels like a stroll over a high wire or a hop, skip and a jump along a few stumbling blocks of my path, I don’t let it hinder me or turn me away. I just take a deep breath, seek my intention, find my focus and stay open to what will happen next. It is the only way I know to do it and after all these years, it is serving me well. How about you? What does your balancing act look like?

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2013 Lisa Meade