A personal reflection...
As many of you know, the past year or so has brought great change to our lives, our family dynamics, our goals and opportunities...etc. In my own life, change came like a freight train with the loss of both my parents and my beloved companion, Chinook all occurring within months of each other. And of course the travel and retreat portion of my business came to a screeching halt...none of these are experiences one can plan for.
The spiritual teachings tell us that when massive change comes, expect massive new opportunities on the other side. The Universe is always balanced, always in harmony, there is always an equal exchange between flow and ebb.
It makes sense to strive for Flowing experiences, but when you find yourself in an ebb, a season of loss...in the Stillness, what can appear and feel barren, is an vast sea of bliss, comfort, grace, and even authentic Joy. It's there, and will lift you, guide you, and inspire you...whenever you are willing and ready to surrender the "pain" of the loss.
Surrendering the pain of loss, or the pain of any troublesome emotion is a leap of Faith that will graduate you into a higher realm of consciousness.
Many of us, blinded by loss, perhaps subconsciously hold onto pain. During the ebb season, we allow the pain to define us. It is quite easy to become trapped inside that belief, because the emotions entangled with the loss, bind us to the condition. It is not long before we become trapped inside a whirlpool of suffering over our own suffering.
During the winter season, I had the privilege of teaching an Intro into the Bhagavad Gita course. I have always had a favorite verse from this amazing spiritual text, but the act of preparing for and teaching the course...when I came across the verse again, life instantly became renewed:
"Whatever you do, make it an offering to Me - the food you eat, the sacrifices you make, the help you give, even your suffering." Gita 9:27
In my own practice of reading spiritual texts, I BREATHED that verse in, and instantly my eyes were opened, and my tiny broken heart was mended. In all the pain and loss, I had forgotten to include God/Universe in the experience of it.
In a single mindful breath love, grace, beauty, release, transformation came rushing in. With full awareness AND faith (a sense of expectancy) I offered the suffering to God. In that instant, I became free of the pain. Glory! Glory!
In the next breath, my consciousness instantly REMEMBERED that EVERY breath is the eternal NOW, and every promise God/the Universe has made to humanity is available for the asking. Quite a humbling experience, and certainly a freeing one.
Indeed, every breath is a promise of new life, new potentialities, new peace, new fulfillment, new joy... if you are willing to surrender the pain.
Blessed be this season of renewal, transformation, new growth, and new opportunities. Allow each mindful breath to usher in a restored sense of authentic Joy.
May such profound Joy fulfill each of you, always ~
Melinda
Melinda's Bio: Melinda has over 30 years of study and practice in religious culture, practical philosophical, metaphysical sciences and understanding for the historical “webs” of human history, which have impacted most of our modern religions and spiritual practices.
She has created a variety of alternative methods for celebrating life and seeing the “sacred” in simplicity. Her knowledge offers students and clients a unique insight into mindful inner dialogue, which in turn honors and expands one’s innate wisdom and allows for one’s perfect state of wellness to exist.
Because she is well versed in multiple facets of religious and sacred philosophy, including the Eastern philosophies of Buddhism and Vedanta, Metaphysical consciousness, and the Science of Yoga, her gentle teaching method allows one’s self knowledge to expand to deeper level, naturally.
As owner of The Buddhi Institute her goal is to teach practical methods and programs that incorporate mindfulness, along with other ancient wisdoms, for the integration of mind and spirit so a sense of complete wellness arises almost effortlessly into one’s day to day living.
Melinda's website: https://buddhiinstitute.com/
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