Two Men, A Black Truck, A Fox, A Spider and A Turtle Changed My Day

Two men and a black truck changed the course of my day and perhaps my life.

I had asked the question yesterday in regards to spiritual activism.  "Am I opposing people instead of a behavior or policy?"   Many times the very thing that lives within us is what we hold bondage within.  After the the morning, which I should share at this point consisted of two men in a black truck attempting to break into our home leaving my two teenagers shaken, we were left with feelings of anger, fear, violation, and frustration.  Our morning robbed of more than our desire to go for a hike.

Personally, I had many of the same feelings.  I also had that mother instinct of "don't mess with my kids or..." feeling that arose to the surface; in addition to, guilt for not doing a better bubble around my home having gotten a bit lax in the past month.  After conversations with the local police enforcement, visits and more phone calls, I made the decision to take our LIVES back.  To reclaim part of the day and go for our hike.
When faced with a situation such as this it is often the most difficult time to pause and reflect upon what is the appropriate action.  The statement for every action there is a reaction - this is the Universal Law of Cause and Effect.  So for the actions I take, there will be effects that will ripple.  It would be simple to justify an action while dwelling in fear and anger.

One must also look at a situation like this from another perspective.  What is my part?  I can hear the gasps now.  Every situation that I am in, I have a part.  Regardless of what the surface may be appearing as.  Whether my part is due to actions or effects of earlier actions, or simply that my part is a lesson to learn from.  It is still vital that I look at the perspective.

For me, a hike is the solution.  I "hear" the whispers in the wind easier when I walk the Earth or embark upon a fire beneath the skies.  As I went to unlock our gate in our driveway to leave, a beautiful fox was sitting at the end of the driveway.  More fox medicine as this is the second time in recent months that this fox has made an appearance in my quest for internal answers.  The immediate response was 'yes' a hike is the perfect idea in the moment.

It seemed to me that the hammock we were hiking through was more alive and vibrant in color than times past.  The greens were radiating life.  I must admit it took me a while to truly let go of the morning and begin to hear the 'whispers'.

As we hiked into the hammock, there were more than usual (at least it seemed) spiders and spider webs.  Every four or five feet was a new web to gaze at.  The web of life.  Spider medicine.  Entangled thoughts weaved together.

The river was abound in turtles this afternoon.  In one place we watched as three turtles pushed off from the log they were sunning on in unison to the river.  As we turned a corner, one of the larger turtles appeared in our path.  Normally, the animals you meet scatter at the first sounds of humans.  This one did not.  Normally, this would be an exciting opportunity to study and watch a gift unfold.  This time an abnormal amount of fear welled up  Where is this fear coming from?  This is not fear of turtle, it is something much more.  My part.  What lies within holds you bondage.  I could hear a few different teachers words.  "Stand in ALL your truths and go deeper."  

I tried to have a conversation with the turtle to simply ask it to move so that we could pass.  All I heard in return was it is time to pause.  I went deeper - hearing the truths is not always easy.  Yet, the deeper we go, the more we pause, and the more we listen, we begin to know our truths to experience them.   Turtle medicine.

By the time our hike through the hammock's of the park were done, I had the messages of what the lessons were, what the real truths were, and the medicine that could reveal even more.

Every experiment in life is an experience.  The experiment portion is how we shift perceptions before we react.  If we see things from a purely event filled with anger, frustration and fear or if we can see things from an experience with medicine, lessons, and truths.

YOU Are Beautiful ~ NYC Awesome Women Hub ~ Faith Rivera

Fire! A Dangerous Foe or Creative Life Giving Friend?

This was originally posted in 2010 - The question was posed again about the dangers of using fire in meditation, cleansing, and purifying.  Thus, I am re-posting my original post as an answer to the question is Fire foe or friend.

Recently, it was questioned whether fire energy was far too dangerous and potentially devastating to one who is not acquainted with it.  It was questioned whether an intense fire experience would actually burn the one calling it in rather than purify and assist.  It was also questioned as to whether I felt I was being responsible in putting my personal experiences with the intense transformative nature of fire.

It was made crystal clear in the pictures that my own guides have shared with me that I share more of my experiences and awareness.  In the words of Agni, Calling for fire is dangerous if you don´t like changes for the good-but why would you call then anyway? 

There are five elements that many are familiar with.  They are air, water, earth, spirit and fire.  To call in air when you don’t understand it – is that dangerous? What about the element of water?  Earth?  Spirit?  Then why is the element of fire feared so much?

Fire itself is part of the natural cycle in nature.  It is an innate cycle of clearing and cleansing whatever matter it comes in contact with.  The perception of some, based on fear, is that fire is a punishment.  We have been taught by society this misnomer that fire is somehow associated with a hellish place where those who “do bad” go.

Perception and fear are another topic for another blog post; however, it is important to understand that Fire transforms, transmutes, and transmits.

 

There are countless ways that fire is called upon, even by the religious dogmatic structures.  Think about it, in the Christian church is not ash used on Ash Wednesday?  Ash comes from the remains of fire.  There are countless ways that ash can be used for healing and transmuting pains or blocks.  A small amount of ash sprinkled upon blocks to do with family connections within can transmit the healing power of fire and release those same blocks so that the person can heal.

Fire is about holding a space as sacred space. It is about understanding the eternal flame within each of you.  This same flame has been referred to as passion, as unconditional love, and as creative flow.  It is through this fire that we can find a connection to the Divine Source of all things.  

Fire flows and fluxes, it is an animate energy.  It is alive and pulsating.  It breathes and grows.  It sparks the life within everything.  It sparks love, passion, creativity, and creation itself.  We are all connected in spirit.  We are connected through a higher spiritual self.  The veils that exist, the cloaks we hide under, do not allow us to see clearly the connection in our conscious.  When calling upon the energy of fire, that veil, those cloaks are transformed allowing each to see clearly, to hear clearly, and to feel fully.

It is difficult to hold yourself still enough to hear, see and feel.  Calling upon the power of Fire gives one an anchor for healing.  Calling upon the power of Fire is dangerous if you do not wish for healing.  Calling upon the power of Fire gives the embers within the spark to ignite the passionate love of life.  Calling upon the power of Fire is dangerous if you do not wish to love and live.  Calling upon the power of Fire allows for creation of life.  Without creation there is no life.

So I share my mantras without fear or question as to whether Fire is a foe or a living giving creative force.  I share the flames of Eternal Love with all that I meet without conditions or limitation.  I share because there is One Divine Source that has many names, many faces, and speaks many languages.  I share because it is my responsibility to do so regardless of whether others choose to perceive it as a foe that is dangerous.  For the only dangerous foe’s that I have is fear, closed minds, and contempt prior to investigation.

Lord of Fire, Agni, protect my body and soul with the flames of Eternal Love.

Lord of Fire, Agni, I pray you bless those who read this with the flames of Eternal Love.

Lord of Fire, Agni, I pray you purify and cleanse their bodies, minds, and souls and fill them with the flames of Eternal Love.

Guest Blog Post - Ellen Koronet

Guest Blog Post by Ellen Koronet of LNK Creation

Well now, well now, well now!

I felt strangely called to Owings Mills MD on Mother’s Day weekend to attend the first stop on the Awesome Women Hub Tour. My new friend Carolyn Nau described it SO well in her blog post – with no idea how to explain it to people, I too said things like, “It’s a gathering of business women, so it’s got something to do with the work I’m doing, but it’s much bigger than that… not sure how, not sure what, but I just feel like I Need to be there with a capital N.”

And it WAS much bigger than that. I came away with some new kind of energy or empowerment, trailing behind and in front of me and waving all around me like a cloud of colorful silk ribbons: the sense that each and every one of us is like the women you see in the “Fearless” video – stepping forward every minute with a big story, mostly hidden from view. And every time I connect with anyone, I have the chance to invite the essence of that story and my own into the light. And every time I do that, I’m brighter and more powerful some how, more grounded and yet much lighter-weight. That kind of power is the opposite of scary or isolating, which is how I’ve been operating for so long. In the basement, trying to live up to expectations, trying so hard to do “what I’m supposed to do.” With this new power, I can dance forward, grabbing the hands extended all around, and WOW, watch out, we are going to have us some FUN!

Then I started thinking, what if I drive up to the New York City AWH tour... Read the remaining post here . . . What oh what oh what is this "Awesome Women Hub" of which you speak?

Summer Solstice - A Message from the Elders Whispering in the Winds

The Summer Solstice 

(Artist Bruce Combs)

First, what is Summer Solstice.  The word itself is derived from a combination of Latin words which translate into “sun” and “to stand still”.  The Summer Solstice is an event that results in the longest day of year and the shortest night of the year.  Here in the northern hemisphere we celebrate this event during June; in the southern hemisphere it happens during December.

It is a time “to be”.  The elders have whispered that as many of you have undergone some great changes and shifts in your own personal energy earlier this year (and many are still adjusting to these shifts), now is the time for some rest and relaxation.  It is time to heal all the wounds that have been opened through the energetic flow which has been like riding the cascading falls.  Personally many have been in this for so long they are beginning to feel the effects of burnout.  Burn out can cause as much dis-ease and dis-harmony as the wounds themselves.  Some have been facing health crisis either with themselves or with family members, now is the time that we heal physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually to find a new tranquility and a calmer stream.

Go outside and get some fresh air.  Play.  Connect with Mother Earth and she will help relieve your stress and gain new, creative ideas.  Mother Earth has been going through her own challenging times.  This is due to the higher frequencies and lower frequencies that exist collide and begin to merge.  We have seen this with the increase of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis.  Many of you personally have been facing the most challenging times of your life as well.  This will continue throughout the next six months, which is why it is vital that you take these moments over the next weeks and pause to breath and recharge yourself.  This does not mean do nothing.  It means play, savor the break, and nurture yourself.

As Source is shifting the energetic flow, many of the old ideas and beliefs that we once held as truth no longer work.  This next six months we will see more of people having to make the choice to take personal responsibility for themselves.  Whether you are co-dependent on another or someone is co-dependent upon you, it is time for each of you to stand in your own truths and become free of dependency.  You are responsible for what you create.  This will be even more prevalent in the next six months.  You will come face to face with your own creations.  Be sure that you desire that which you are creating. 

The pause is only a brief respite in the energies that the Divine Source is gifting.  Don’t waste it – Celebrate it.  Celebrate the gifts given in the past six months.  Show your gratitude in your words and actions. 

Remember, that we all may be in different boats – the river of energy flows to the same place.  Whether you are on a yacht or clinging onto a piece of drift wood, you are all a part of the same flow.