What Would You Do, If You Were Not Afraid?
When was the last time you climbed a tree, loved another with all of your being, or left the comforts of your cozy life and traveled to a far away land without worrying about the consequences?
Co-Creating with the Universe
Synchronicity is the art of dancing with the earth, the stars, the wind, and the sun, all the while harmonizing in sync and manifesting marvelous creations in our lives.
You see this synchronicity when you look into the sky and witness a flock of birds flying together. There is nothing out of order, no collisions or chaos, just perfect symmetry turning, moving and gracefully gliding through the sky. A bird turns and the others in the pack move with her, completely aware of every move and surrendering into the oneness that is created by all in the group.
This oneness is rarely witnessed in the human world which is full of chaos and collisions. If we look closely, however, we will witness the desire of the earth, the universe and the rest of humanity trying to move with us and co-create our existence in a peaceful and symbiotic way.
When we create our experiences, we often fail to see how the universe is influencing the ways in which our reality manifests itself. Moving in a specific direction doesn’t always mean that we will arrive at our desired destination. Events and people in our lives don’t always fulfil our expectations. We might have a plan for ourselves but this plan may not coincide with the plans of the universe and contribute to our interconnected web in a harmonious way. If this is the case, we will often come up against a wall unless we are open to seeing the divine messages that the universe is always sending us to help guide our journey. Failure to witness these messages is a significant reason why so many that walk amongst us are terribly unhappy with their life circumstance.
Life has the ability to flow gracefully with the tides or it can be rocky and rigid, causing one’s footing to be lodged between a rock and a hard place. Whatever reality is manifesting in your life is the one that you choose. Should you choose to allow more flow into your life, it is important to understand the art of surrendering and trusting the universe to guide you.
In her book, “Excuse me, your life is waiting”, Lynn Grabhorn writes about aligning ourselves with the universe by allowing the life force energy that is flowing into us at all times to move through us and become a partner in creating our experiences. She explains that we can feel this energy when we let it in, experiencing it along with positive emotions such as elation, freedom and love. This creates an opportunity for us to strengthen our connection with the divine, as well as our intuition. When we block this energy, we close ourselves off to assistance from the divine and experience negative emotions such as resistance, anger, frustration and hate.
We are electromagnetic beings, balls of energy vibrating at different frequencies. When it comes to vibrational frequencies, like attracts like, so if we are wondering why we are constantly struggling through life, we should first ask ourselves “what kind of energy am I radiating?” We can influence our paths greatly simply by becoming aware of the energy that we are putting forth into the universe. When we have faith in the divine, we have a sense of trust and surrender to what is. We accept positive experiences as gifts, or challenging ones as opportunities for growth. Instead of demanding from the universe that our lives always be pain free and resisting the challenges that are presented to us to help us grow, we accept each experience exactly as it is. In this way, we see and embrace the beauty in everything.
This doesn’t mean that we need to completely surrender to everything that happens to us nor does it mean that we have complete control over our experience. The point is that we are co-creating our experiences with the universe at all times. Harmony in that co-creation is present when we find a balance between creating what we desire and surrendering to the divine. In this way, we move forward with what we want and trust that the universe will support us if it is the right path for us, or reroute us if it isn’t.
The key to synchronizing ourselves with the intentions of the universe is to practice allowing that life force energy in, moving through that energy, and learning how to identify when the universe has messages for us. It takes a leap of faith to trust that the universe will guide us. We are in a society that depends on proof and evidence, and it’s difficult to practice listening to our intuition or trusting in a sign or message. The more we trust that the universe is guiding us through our intuition and through those messages, the easier it will be to see them and act out of them.
I have been sharing a wonderfully symbiotic relationship with the divine for as long as I can remember. When I feel grounded and centered in my yoga and meditation practice I feel my being aligning with the universe, and together we create exciting story lines and wonderfully fulfilling experiences. When I feel that I need something, be it some words of encouragement, deeper connections with others, or a sense of community, and I ask the universe to help me create that which I’m desiring, I usually receive what I am hoping for. It doesn’t always look the way I’d hoped and it doesn’t always come in the places that I imagined, but I allow for that flexibility because I trust that I’m being guided to where I’m meant to be.
I feel that I operate in alignment with my path and when I have a strong sense that something isn’t for me (a relationship, a career path etc.), I wait for the universe to guide me to something more harmonious. I experience deep gratitude for the wisdom with which the universe has surrounded me.
Each day I surrender to the divine and try to move from that space.
Each of us has this connection with the divine. The universe is always ready and waiting to help us on our journeys. The only thing standing in the way of having our lives be exactly the way we want them to be is our own resistance. I was once told that the more we know ourselves, the fewer problems we create for ourselves in our lives. Practicing the art of knowing thyself and connecting to the divine has been one of the most challenging but fulfilling practices I have every undertaken. I suggest giving it a try.
Healing Connections
Shirley is a highly respected and loved member of our community who is celebrated for her artistic talent in glass sculpturing, personal contributions to Hamilton arts, and most importantly for her kindness and generosity. When she was immobilized and forced to slow down due to the breakage of her hip, her yoga instructor offered her these crucial words; “if you do nothing else, just breathe.”
Unbeknownst to her at that time, these words, along with the enriched yogic philosophies she was learning, would help her stay grounded through the intense pain associated with cancer treatment, and coming to terms with the possibility of death. Her doctors and her community of friends and family have witnessed her progress and are not quite sure what it is that has kept her on our earth this long, with a continued smile of strength and integrity on her face.
This past fall, Shirley decided to give away most of her belongings, including her clothes, glass sculptures, art equipment and even the money left in her estate to the community foundation. She wanted to give it all away while she is still alive to see the joy in others receiving these gifts. “Besides,” Shirley states, “It’s just stuff, and to realize that is very freeing.” The yogic philosophies of “santosha” (acceptance of what is) and “aparigraha” (to limit possessions to only that which is necessary), permeated her being and influenced her outlook in a positive way.
Through her healing journey, Shirley has taken the initiative to support others in their struggles, which has helped to bring her situation to a completely different light. She commented, “When you listen to others and what they’re experiencing, you realize that your situation is nothing compared to what they’re going through.” Focusing her attention on others allowed her to be fully engaged in the world around her; she was able to remain present, but not focused on her health.
While staying in the hospital with a broken hip, she took on the role of caregiver to those around her in of need love and support. Shirley brought them coffee and reading material from her wheelchair. Reflecting on this, she laughs and says “You haven’t lived until you’ve balanced eight cups of coffee in your lap while laughing in a wheelchair.”
When Shirley came to the yoga class at the Sky Dragon, with her hip still in the process of healing, Javad taught her how to listen to her body and understand what she should and shouldn’t do. Although tremendously difficult at times, Shirley was steadfast in her commitment to yoga and her yoga buddies. When she became incredibly ill in the fall, Shirley’s teacher and class relocated to her house to support her. She comments that the laughter helped her to get through the pain that she was experiencing at that time.
In her yoga practice, she learned to be accepting of the pain that she was experiencing as an integral part of the process, stating: “When you get through the pain, it’s just peace on the other side.” Instead of resisting it, she learned from it and embraced it as part of getting to the next phase. According to the personal codes of Raja Yoga; “Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace amid the storm.” With this peace, Shirley has been able to fully embrace and share her life in a positive space with all people.
Much can be said about the healing powers of intimacy and laughter. Everyone at some point in their lives has felt the comfort that comes with an embrace, the feeling of safety that accompanies friendship and the joy that embraces our soul in laughter. Shirley’s strong connections to those in her yoga and arts communities and beyond, have surrounded her with comforting and uplifting energy, which is essential to the healing process. Hubert H. Humphrey said: “The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love.” Remaining close with a community of supportive folks is essential to our well-being.
This closeness with community was a huge cornerstone for Stephanie Anson in remaining grounded while regaining the use of her body after a car accident in June which nearly took her life. Upon arrival to the hospital, Stephanie faced a shattered pelvis and sacrum, lacerations in her spleen, pulmonary embolisms in both lungs and intense pain because of blood filling the pleural cavity of her left lung.
She spent five weeks recovering in the hospital, and then several months of intense therapy. It was difficult to face the realization that her independence was severely compromised, as her body was unable to perform in her usual active ways. Further challenging was the inability to be in intimate proximity with anyone in her life. She was forced to remain guarded over her fragile body because of her physical wounds and lung problems.
Despite the pain that she endured through this time, she was driven by the acknowledgement that she is still here and that this was an opportunity to advance and grow, to progress forward instead of pitying herself. This drive, along with the encouragement of friends and family, allowed for a rapid progression through her healing.
Stephanie found a physio-therapist named Laura who was able to come to her house on a regular basis, along with a kinesiologist Timo who, as a team, helped her to strengthen, stabilize and retrain the muscles in her body. Once she was able to walk again, her ambition to heal never seized. She decided to explore other healing modalities which lead her to Dawn, a yoga instructor who specializes in restorative yoga, and a kung fu class at McMaster University, both of which taught Stephanie to listen to her body and be attentive to her capabilities.
Yoga brought her great fulfillment and offered her a practice that kept her grounded and balanced. Kung Fu helped her become intently aware of how to move her body, and expanded the understanding of the subtleties of her body. These practices, although complementary to her therapy, were challenging at times, which forced Stephanie to take on the mind of a child learning to walk; wobbling, falling then getting back up again, no unnecessary expectations for progress: just complete acceptance of where she was in every moment, and embracing each step.
Stephanie attributed much of her healing to closeness she shared with people in her life. Her healing was not only hers, as everyone in her community was deeply affected, and moved with her through this process. Once Stephanie was able to integrate back into community activities, the closeness to others allowed her to heal the scars left in her body and soul. She remained steadfast in her commitment to singing in a choir at Centenary United Church, and the music that she created with her friends offered her the brilliance of self expression. The energy and vibrance that she received from the people surrounding her was the essential support that she needed to stay grounded and positive throughout her healing.
To my amazement, these two exceptional women shared a great deal in common despite the differences in their healing journeys. I was humbled by the strength, integrity and uplifting nature of these women who had been through so much. I realized that despite the pain that each of them had felt, neither of them had faced a great deal of suffering. It became apparent to me that pain is inevitable, but suffering is a choice.
Both Shirley and Stephanie’s embracing of 'what is' provided them each with the serenity to accept the things they could not change. Shirley mentioned; “If you try to make it what it cannot be, it will never happen, and you will miss the opportunity to see the joy in what is.” Stephanie found a lot of meaning in her accident, seeing it is an opportunity to “realize how real life is”, and it allowed her to gain strength on so many levels.
I realized how important their deeply healing practices were, and equally important, the community that was created around them in providing support for each of them. It’s interesting to note that the word 'Yoga' comes from the root word 'Yuj', which means to unite. So similar, it seems, are the outcomes of practicing yoga and creating community. Shirley recommends yoga as a path to healing, but she says that people need to take off their hard shell and allow energy to penetrate their heart. It occurred to me that people do not die from cancer but rather from feeling unloved, lacking in that sense of community which is so essential to well-being. In Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom writes: “you don’t know how to live, until you learn how to die.” It is clear to me, through the radiant energy I witnessed in the hearts of both of these incredible women, that they embody the essence of truly living life to its absolute fullest despite the difficulties that we all face on this journey of life.
New Year’s Eve: Lost in the Darkness
On New Year's Eve we drove in circles around the city. Intersection after intersection was blocked with ambulances and police cars, surrounding the aftermath of celebration, and everywhere we looked there was a crowd of wobbly kneed men making catcalls or outright physically harassing an equally inebriated female garbed in slips of fabric designed to entice.
The temperature hovered around zero, but nobody felt the sting of the cold any more than they were currently able to feel the sting of their underlying loneliness, despair, debt, or failure. This was it, arguably the biggest party night of the year, the biggest and best celebration of new beginnings and resolutions, of the passing of time, of the survival of another year and the prospect of another. This was it, and as another fire truck whizzed by, I felt a sick knot in my stomach. Our friends and family, neighbours and coworkers, our very selves, all giving away the birthright of free will to indulge in the ultimate surrender of self control. On this knife-edge between past and future, self was vomited into the gutter leaving chaos in its place. Was anybody here really alive anymore?
Fun is truly a necessity of life. Love and celebration were always intended to be the heartbeat of culture, and so in this present age our souls rightfully long for a trill of light to push away the darkness. I wonder though, have we become so numb and unaware that we don't even know what light and darkness are anymore?
If this New Year's Eve celebration is the culmination of our culture's sense of light and enjoyment, then surely to a lesser degree the same peak is aspired to all year round. If this is it, if we think this is life and light, then day to day we will be looking for a glimpse of it, looking for a way to live our lives with as little of self as possible so as to give our souls over to the pulse and frenzy of inebriation. If this is the high point we pine for, if this is what we put our hope in, then maybe our hearts are just as drunk on lies all year round as our brains were on alcohol last night. Because inviting the darkness in to kill your self will never bring you light.
It's everywhere. Everywhere you turn, the darkness is calling you. Its lies pulsate through the air like the pounding of a drum, carefully keeping time with the rhythm of your heart so as to easily take up residence there and eventually take over. It tells you that if you let your self be devoured by sex, you will find love. If you let your self be devoured by money and the thrill of chasing it, you will find prosperity. If you let your self be devoured by vanity, you will find beauty. If you let your self be devoured by selfishness, you will find safety, and if you let your self be devoured by lies, you will find peace.
The darkness will always tell you that nothing is better for you than what you want, and that nothing is more important than what is best for you. And these lies, when believed, result in death. Maybe not death to your body, at least not yet, but certainly death to your soul. It may have been past midnight, but I could see that much in the streets of people last night.
Ignorance is bliss. That's what they say, isn't it? And bliss is also freedom. But where has it gotten us, this pattern of being ignorant of what is good and right, this absence of the light? We are losing ourselves to the darkness, being eaten alive by it, held tight in its lying claws with no knowledge of how to escape. We don't have the wisdom or the power to break the cycle on our own, to stop thinking that if we get them into bed; that if we lose this weight; that if we work hard and make a fortune; that if we stay in a substance-induced fog, things will be okay. And so we give ourselves over to it, living and breathing day in and day out as people of the lie. It's exhausting, it's depressing, it's humiliating, and we are slaves.
Over 2,000 years ago a man inarguably wiser than any of us said that he was the truth, the way, and the light, and that when we knew the truth, it would set us free. His yoke is easy, his burden is light, and he came to set the captives free. Is it any surprise that less than a week after celebrating his birth the darkness rose up to swallow us? Terrified of losing its slaves, it swooped down to plug our ears from hearing any more of this nonsense about hope and salvation, and instead replaced it with drunkenness and that age-old question: What can I do this year that will get me what I want?
Lights out. Game over. Crisis averted. The people have ended their year with 31 days to contemplate the meaning of Christmas, and begun the year with 11 months to meditate on how to lose themselves in some sly form of selfish ambition that they'll likely fail at and that either way will do nothing but eat them alive and leave them even less satisfied than they were before. They crawl out of their beds on the afternoon of January the 1st and wince; the light is too bright and hurts their aching heads. They pull the blankets over their eyes and go to sleep. God reaches out mournfully; nobody reaches back. His still small voice echoes across the land: Wake up.