You Are

Have you ever reflected upon the question, “Who Am I?” I mean, really sat with the question? Dug deep — past your roles, past the illusions you cast, past the illusions others cast upon you? If so, what did you discover at the core?

I have taken a deep dive into this question. More than once. I am sure that I will do it again and again and again. The questioning is part of a lifelong journey of self-discovery. What have I discovered? I am dynamic and evolving — as more of who I am is revealed, I know that there is more to uncover. 

Maybe what I have discovered will nudge you deeper into self-exploration. I believe that within each of us is a child of light, a dancer in the dark, a traveler through the veil, a harvester of wisdom, and spark of transformation. Maybe you will see these aspects of yourself, too.

A child of light

Within each of us is a spark that shines so bright that it cannot, will not, be extinguished by suffering. Sure, when we suffer, our light dims. But, when we acknowledge suffering, we awaken the spark of compassion within. Awareness of suffering is the first step in sharing compassion. 

Find your way through suffering by breathing deeply. Feel the suffering. Surround suffering with your breath. Allow your breath to flow to the ember glowing at your soul. Blow upon the ember. With a whoosh your spark ignites. Through your exhale, compassion flows from your being incinerating suffering — yours and others.

A dancer in the dark

Life is lived in moments of light and in moments of dark. To shy away from the shadows means we live by half measure. To live fully is to enter the dark. Stepping into the shadows takes courage. With each courageous step into the shadows, we develop our rhythm. Soon we are dancing in the dark.

This is the dance of eyes wide open. The dark cannot scare us when we know what gifts it offers. With awareness engaged, we find the root of a challenge, discover a gem of wisdom. Aware, we act upon our discoveries. The dark is no longer a desolate place for our sacred spark burns brightly illuminating the treasures within.  

 

A traveler through the veil

Dark. Light. In between. The veil invites us into the between where everything appears clearer. We notice what catches us, what we shove away. We choose to not to be caught in tangles, we are objective about what is happening. 

This traveling through the veil requires nonattachment. This doesn’t mean that we live in the gray of our life. If anything, when we are nonattached, we feel more strongly. We are aware of how we are impacted by our triggers. We choose how we respond. Traveling within the veil gives us choice.

A harvester of wisdom

No matter where we find yourself on this journey to our self, there is wisdom to be had. At the end of Zen and the Birds of Appetite, Thomas Merton tells us, “It would be good if we would open our eyes and see.” When we see with our entire body — all of our senses — we open our self to wisdom. We become wiser. 

Wisdom floats just out of our reach, is wedged in the crevices of our being, whispers in the wind of our soul. Wisdom is present in every moment of every day. To be a harvester of wisdom is to open our heart, our mind, our soul. Within those openings spring forth the wisdom we harvest.

A spark of transformation

At our core is a spark of divinity. A glowing ember that connects us not only to the sacred but also to everyone, every creature — all of creation. The light is no longer separate. We are aware that we are the light as we bask in the light, we share our light, we reflect the lights around us. The dark is no longer a scary place. Within it, is the stuff to kindle our ember. 

Within our spark, dark and light twine to create who we are. It powers our journey through the veil. Within the veil we see with everything we are. We harvest the wisdom that calls to us both within and without. Within the wonder in the world, we gather wisdom seeds to our core. In the gathering we transform.

How are you a child of light? A dancer in the dark? A traveler through the veil? A harvester of wisdom? A spark of transformation? How is your life uniquely, unequivocally, daringly you?

 

Vanessa F. Hurst, ms, is an intuitive-coach-catalyst. As a contemplative coach, she uses mindfulness practices and intuition tools to create strategies for navigating those places may scare us or bring us joy. The result of time with Van? Creating a blueprint for your life through a deeper connection to your intuition and contemplative nature. She is a professional speaker & author who weaves inner wisdom into all she touches. Her books are available @ www.wildefyrpress.com. Her most recent book, As Natural As Breathing: Being Intuitive, is available on Amazon. Contact Vanessa for life coaching, intuitive consultations, keynotes, and programs.

Website / LinkedIn Profile / Facebook / Twitter: @fyrserpent / ©2021 

A child of light

A dancer in the dark

A traveler through the veil

A harvester of wisdom

A spark of transformation

uniquely, unequivocally, daringly you