Sparks in Wisdom's Fire: May 2022

Tuesday, May 31, 2022

You are not alone

We have gone through a rough patch. I find myself wondering how I can connect to the peace at my core despite all the uncertainty. Breathing through the chaos isn’t working as well as I like. But, there is solace in recognizing that I am not alone. I talk to people who feel frustrated and others who have just disconnected.

WAIT! This isn’t the end of the story. Those feelings of despair need not swamp us miring us in inaction. This chaos is only an interlude that invites us to discern our next steps. I am here to affirm that you are not alone. We are #inthistogether. Together we will find the way through.

Thomas Merton was right that “we have forgotten an older unity.” But, I believe we are in a time that is more than forgetting how we are connecting with each other. We have also forgotten that each of us is multidimensional. We relate to others through the four aspects of self — body, mind, spirit, heart/emotions. When these aspects align, we join with others through our authentic self.

To enter into intimate relationships, we must recognize the illusion of our aloneness. With every breath, we connect to others. Try this: Take a breath. Let it flow through your body. Exhale. Now ask yourself, who or what does that air touch? Where has it been before it entered me? When we listen, the breath tells us that we are connected to everything.

We connect to others by consciously connecting to our self:

Body— a study in the 1960s found that 7% of the meaning is derived from our interactions was based upon the words spoken. 93% of meaning is found in inflection, body language, and other nonverbal cues. Through our bodies we gain clues about how we connect to or disconnect from our self and others.

Mind — our internal monologue provides a running commentary on how we view the world. Empathy and compassion as well as judgments and defenses flow from it. When we connect mindfully with to our monologue, we listen to how we sabotage our interactions. Through this listening, we gain the power to reframe thoughts in ways that compassionately connect us with another.

Heart/Emotions — with mindfulness we notice the play of emotions throughout our body and notice how emotions trigger our internal monologue. We use this information to defuse our illusions and strengthen our connection to our authentic core. As a natural outcome, our relationships with others deepen.

Spirit — our divine spark, that which connects us to all, is what powers our experience. It grounds us into our authentic self and connects us to the authentic in creation. We recognize that how we connect to others and all of creation has the potential to grow us spiritually or stagnate us. We recognize what barriers wall us into misunderstanding and ignorance. We can choose to stay stuck or move into a more receptive way.

Through relationship we recognize that we are all one. This unity is a place where we neutralize what prevents us from living in intimate, compassionate relationships. Within this unity we are no longer limited by our fears. Instead we live from our authentic core and encourage others to live from theirs.

Van Hurst, ms, is an intuitive-coach-catalyst. As a contemplative coach, she uses mindfulness practices and intuition tools to create strategies for navigating the mundane and extraordinary. The result of time with Van? Creating a blueprint for your life through a deeper connection to your intuition and contemplative nature.

Van 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.

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

The Anchor & The Antenna

In the stillness of the night. In the quiet of the breeze, dreams slip through the subconscious of our soul making themselves known. In those dreams magic and mystery bubbles.

This isn’t the magic or the mystery of sleight of the hand. That really isn’t magic. This is the magic of manifestation and the mystery of hope. As dreams slip through our consciousness the possibility of realizing our purpose increases.

Okay, I can almost hear you say, is it that easy? Well, sometimes. In those moments when we recognize the threads of magic and mystery, we follow them to our soul purpose. In those moments it is a simple thing to twine those threads deep into our being.

At other times we have difficulty connecting to the mystery and the magic. We need help! That help begins by turning ourself into a giant antenna and grounding that antenna into the earth while connecting it to the source. The antenna hears the voice of your dreams and serves as a conduit for messages.

Here's a meditation (available on YouTube): Let’s begin. Take a couple of breaths…don’t try to shift your breathing…just notice your breath…envision a golden light surrounding you…inhale this light through your crown…follow your it throughout your body…notice the golden strand of Sacred twine with the strand of Self…as you breathe, envision the golden energy continue to weave with your strand as it flows through your head…with each breath it moves through your head…down your neck…branches out and flows across your shoulders…down both of your arms…through your wrists…out the palm of your hand and your finger tips…with your next breath, return to your neck…the energy flows down your chest, past your heart, through your solar plexus, into your lower torso…feel the energy flow as it travels down both of your legs…flowing down, down, down until it leaves your body through the soles of your feet…let your energy be drawn into the earth…as your energy sinks into the earth, it roots into the Earth…the strands of Sacred and Self twine with the Strand of Earth…feel the triad energy root you deeply into the earth…feel your connection to Earth…as you exhale, breath into the earth…share your self with Earth…as you inhale, bring Earth energy to your body…this energy forms of cord of three strands — Self, Sacred, and Earth…with each breath draw this mingled energy up your body…it enters your feet…moves up your legs…the energy streams join in your pelvis…moves up your torso…chest…through your neck…through your head…the golden light, a three strand cord, continues out your crown chakra….it reaches up to connect with the Source…feel the cord that travels from above your head to deep into the Earth…feel how this anchors you into the moment…breathe into the cord that connects you to all of creation.

Now envision that strands of the cord begin to spiral around your body. The spiral is made of copper. It begins at the top of your head connecting to the Source. It wraps around your body spiraling to the body of your feel. It terminates by burying itself into the earth. Now feel the energy of the Source, the Earth, and You amplifying your ability to sense the magic, the mystery that seeks to speak with you.

This is your antenna. Ask a question. Listen to the answer. Or, say, “Show me. I am listening.” Trust that the magic, the mystery, really whatever you need to be aware of, need to hear, need to respond to will resonate in your core.

Missed the meditation? Here it is:

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Possibility and the Simplicity of Me

There is an effervescence in the air. Kaleidoscopic possibility. It surrounds me lifting me into incredible lightness of mystery. I am free, free to live within the mystery of life. I can finally channel the spark in my soul.

Possibility is often seen as an outside opportunity that flows inward. What if we saw possibility as being something that simmers inside of us? Something that slumbers quietly in the shadows of our soul waiting to be nudged into the light of manifestation? Something that is of us that flows through us raising us to our best self?

How do we bring this possibility, be it inside or out, into the light of our being? Begin by naming the possibility.

Breathe Into Your Soul

Quiet yourself. Feel the breath flowing into your body. Let your breath flow to your core where it dances with with your flame.

Gently blow on your flame. See the spark flare. Ask to know the pathway of possibility. Even if you cannot quite hear the guiding melody of possibility, trust that you will know the call of possibility when the time is right.

Possibility catches a ride on your breath. It flows from your core to your heart. Breathe it into the expanse of your heart.

Live Possibility From Your Heart

In our head we come up with so many reasons why the possibility is, well, impossible. Never fear that barriers will prevent you from realizing your dream. The heart is wired to expand into any possibility. The not-so-possible becomes a roadmap of pathways to realization.

For the heart speaks in mystery and magic. In the twining we see the kaleidoscope of possibility. We let go of fear as we recognize not one, not two, but many ways to live within the possibility of who we are.

Possibility reminds us that life is to be lived not in a static way but in an ever changing, moment by moment path that calls us to simply be our self.

You see the possibility, now what?

Grasp Possibility

This is not the tight grip of all or nothing. No, this is holding possibility gently like water in the palm of your heart. It is seeing the flame of your soul reflect off the crystals of potential and answer the call you to be exactly who you are.

Hold it gently in the palms of your heart. Rest in the calm. Listen in the silence. Allow the possibility to expand whatever way it needs. Let the possibility become you.

As I read this, it seems ungrounded, nebulous. But, that is how possibility begins — no matter how small or impossible it seems. Breathe it into your soul. Listen to its quiet words. When you are ready, allow your heart’s desire to encompass it. Then grasp the possibility in both hands. Act! Dance into your incredible lightness of being.

Change is constant. Possibility creates an expansive path into the uncertainty that a leads to change.

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

A Gift To Be Given (That Would Be YOU!)

Each of us is endowed with unique gifts. How did we get these gifts? Well, let me tell you a story…

The Creator sat across the table from me before I was born. The Sacred said, “which gifts would you like to carry through this life?” I chose my gifts. The Creator and I agreed upon the accompanying challenges. You cannot have gift without a ribbon of challenge! They go hand-in-hand. In the embracing and sharing of my gifts, I would learn life lessons and share my real.

I was quite pleased with the gifts that I chose. I was ready to enter this life prepared to gain further enlightenment AND change the world. Of course, I was focusing more on the magic of possibility and didn’t quite remember how hard challenges could be!

I may have seriously underestimated some of my life challenges.

I’m born. As I grow through the decades, I live and learn while celebrating the successes and agonizing over the near successes. Never do I lose the desire to share who I am and my gifts with those around me. That is the key. A gift is meant to be given. I (you) can only grow by reaching out to those in my (your) circle. As we share, the circle expands and so do our gifts.

Malidoma Somé, an African shaman of the Dagara people, teaches that each of us are born with a unique gift that is meant to be shared. This is our soul or life purpose. We are responsible for giving birth to the gift.

We do not give birth in isolation. Those in our community are equally responsible for the birthing process. They create a supportive environment in which we, as individuals, flourish. The only way that we can live through our gift is to be a part of a loving, supportive community that only thrives through the sharing of each member’s gift.

Within this communal birthing is the magic of possibility. We share our gifts, community supports us, we support community, others share their gifts — a smagical sharing that transcends spiral from us, from our community, and into the world.

This spiral of love and compassion through gift giving reaches out to others offering love and acceptance. We discover that abundance does not exist solely for ourself. It exists in sharing what we have and in celebrating and sharing the gifts of our being.

What are your unique gifts? How are you sharing them? How can you share your gifts? Perhaps before sharing each gift, you whisper a prayer or blow love before giving it to another. Maybe you discover intangible ways to share love with those in your circle. Or, perhaps, just maybe, you set your intent to be the blessing, the gift, light that you agreed with the Creator to be.

Spend a few moments, as often as you can, acknowledging that conversation of so long ago. Even if you cannot remember the conversation or the nature of your gift, affirm that you are gift. Acknowledge your purpose. Affirm your willingness to be that gift to the world.

Tuesday, May 3, 2022

An Inside Job

We recognize that ultimately we can only change our self and, in doing so, become a change agent whose actions are transformative. Vanessa F Hurst

Change — one of those quotes I hear way too much is be the change you wish to see in the world by Mahatmas Gandhi. I wonder if there is another quote we can substitute for this one? Okay, I can her the wheels of outrage turning, but, seriously! You got to admit that it is an overused quote.

Now I can hear you say, what quote about change do you like, Van? To which I answer, one that doesn’t have the word change in it. To mollify those who thought I was dissing Gandhi, I’ll even reference another quote of his: my life is my message.

Much like our message, change is an inside job. Our goal isn’t to impact out there. Our message is an internal response that is reflected when we walk our talk. Think about this. It’s monumental. Our message is rooted at our core by identifying our talk.

Have you ever asked yourself: what are my beliefs and how do I live grow from my core? Or, how is my inside job reflected into the world? And, how is my life a message of change that I share with the world?

I don’t know about you, but lately with everything happening out there, I feel my circle of influence shrinking. I feel like I can’t impact change any where. I wonder if there is anything I can do to change myself much less the world. It is fatiguing to show up in a chaotic world. You know what? It seems that most people I speak with are feeling the same way.

Then I remind myself those words come from a pessimistic heart. I back up. Take a deep breath. Remind myself that I only have to make minute changes in myself. To do this, I honestly look at my message.

I begin in reflection. What is my message? How am I living into it? What am I missing the mark on? I realize that I don’t have to have all the answers. Even one is a beginning toward living my message.

Next I introspect. I look deeply at my message — discern how I am sharing myself with the world. I look at what I’d like to live into but am not quite accomplishing. Now the hard part: is what I am missing even that important? There are no right answers for these questions; only what speaks to each of us in the moment. Each of us decide how we want to experience your message.

Now comes the hard part: integrating the message you decided upon into your experience. Remember: this can be a simple action once a day. Begin simple, stay the course, and your life will be your message.

My life; my message. Not to change what’s out there but to better understand my path and make life corrections that have me living my message into the world. I bet you want the same.