Sparks in Wisdom's Fire: mindful

Showing posts with label mindful. Show all posts

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.

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, March 1, 2022

Moving From No Need To Yes Please!

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I am overwhelmed by the shoulda-coulda-wouldas. I look at the past, at my perceived non-action. Then, I get stuck in needing to do SOMETHING! I want to change the world for better. Yeah, that is a tall order.

A little voice rises through the chaos of my mind. It twines around my spirit leeching out the chaos until I can hear a whisper — no need. What does that mean? Do I have no need? Do I need to do nothing? What a quagmire!

Of course, my mind lasers in upon something I consider to be a great need: to find balance and peace in an increasingly uncertain world. Then I scoff: that whisper is telling me that there is no need to make the world a better place? C’mon! There is always a need to smooth the angst, heal the woundedness, make the world a better place! How can that voice say, “no need,” and have me believe it?

After this angst ridden moment, I remind myself that I don’t need to understand those words of my intuition on the first pass. Gathering silence into my spirit, I return to the message “no need.” As I settle into the phrase, I listen without judgment or attachment. Instead of searching, I allow the meaning to ribbon through my being. In the flow, I discover the meaning.

Shoulda-Coulda-Woulda

Maybe that voice is telling me not to focus so much on the past and my perceived mistakes. No need is a reminder to be here now. I only have this moment and that is where I need to live from. Being mindful is where I can make the most impact.

Breathing into the moment I listen to my intuition. I use my critical thinking. Grieve my missteps. Forgive myself. Focus on the me who is a change agent. Find joy in each act of transformation.

Called-By-Others-To-Be

We’ve all found our self in situations, in relationships, where we are called to be something that we are not. We desperately try to live in that skin that just doesn’t fit. It gets harder and harder to meet expectations of our self and others. To be the leader. The listener. To put the needs of another over ours.

Breathing into the moment, I can finally acknowledge that there really is no need. I look in the mirror no longer seeing the me that the illusions of others have created or I have created based upon perceived expectations. I stand in the reflection of my power and vow to be the best me. That is what I need.

Moving from no need to yes please!

This place of no need is where I can be unapologetically me. That is the only thing that I need to be-do. And, so do you. Be true to you. Reflect upon your thoughts, words, and actions. Let go of what is not you. Decide how to turn your shadows into opportunities. Live within your discovery.

This life is about growing into your best, most authentic self. That is hard work! It calls us to be in a state of ongoing discernment in each moment. That discernment is the power behind sloughing off the skin, recognizing and removing the illusion of need. That is the way to being exactly who you are.

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Missteps Are Risk Steps

It’s not the letting go

but the free fall

that is important

drop into your soul

feel the rush

of finally taking

the risk of being

who you are

So, I did a thing. Invited the wisdom of others into my life. A big, humbling wow to those people who shared! Throughout this year, I will share the wisdom gifted to me. So far, within the wisdom I have discovered a powerful reframe — all my missteps are risks that drew me closer to who I am.

The questions that I ask myself…and invite you to answer:

Who am I?
What parts of me make me uncomfortable?
How have I made peace with the edgier parts of me?

Those three questions are tough to answer. Since we are in constant evolution, they cannot be definitively answered. Just as we discover the answer, as we let go of who are not and become more comfortable with our self, deeper uneases break free and rise to the surface. Each time we answer these questions deeper uneases rise to our consciousness.

Answering and asking those questions again is a lifelong endeavor. We return to them over and over again. In the answers we discover deeper parts of ourself. Maybe we discover a few more queries that invite us to risk more — to unapologetically show the world who we are. And, in our sharing are found real acts of bravery.

Although I didn’t specifically ask for how people saw me — many people shared how they saw me. I was humbled and honored that some took the ultimate risk of wise honesty. I challenge you to ask others how they see you.

Some wise words:

From J, two comments: “you treat everyone the same. It doesn’t matter if the person is an authority figure, a peer, or someone who needs help. You treat everyone with compassionate respect.” Which led to her second comment: “You are unapologetically you.”

Although the words at first made me uncomfortable, what she identified are integral to who I strive to be.

From B: “That you for the gifts and challenges you offer. You are SEEN!”

The Big Risk

B identified the edgier part of me: the one who isn’t afraid to ruffle feathers, to encourage change, to bring peace to an uncertain world. She also uncovered a fear — that I am invisible. Yes, she told me, “You are SEEN!”

For me, this celebration was a big risk. Who would participate? What would they share? With those questions answered, I discovered unconditional love and compassion.

Most of the comments were wise morsels that resonated with me. Some encouraged me to risk. Each wisdom spark invited me to dig deeply into who I am and root out the stuff that isn’t who I truly am. Those shards are birthed by my woundedness. I vow to heal them so I may be a stronger, more compassionate presence in the world.

Maybe growing into the wisdom while letting go of the shards of who-i-am-in-the-moment but who-i-do-not-want-to-be is where I am called to be as I walk more deeply into my 60s…into the revelations of and living forward in wisdom.

So who are you? It doesn’t matter what your age. You are a living, breathing wisdom seeker, a risk taker. What risks do you take in each moment to share you with the world?

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 blue print 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.

Tuesday, October 5, 2021

To travel you must yield

The phrase, to travel, you must yield, jumped out at me as I read a recent Charter for Compassion email. It spoke of the way one must travel a one lane road that was open to two-way traffic. I was intrigued by this saying. Of course, a few days later, I put it into practice as I walked the labyrinth.

Five of us walked a labyrinth on Sunday morning. The labyrinth was a bit smaller than I was expecting. The path was narrow. The border between lanes was ever narrower. As I walked, I understood that saying: to travel you must yield.

Let me say that I have always been bit non-bending when I walk a labyrinth. I never deviate from the path. To step anywhere other than the walkway…well, it just wasn’t going to happen for me. But, my strict adherence to staying on the path just wasn’t possible on that early morning. I had to be flexible and communal in my walk.

I found myself stepping onto the borders and sometimes on the part of the path going in the opposite direction. Yet, I never lost site of the path that led me to the center of the labyrinth. Instead of being frustrated, I chuckled. I recognized that my walk mimicked the way I journey through life. Maybe I find myself in the weeds or get turned around, but I always return to the path better for the experience.

Have I mentioned that there is always a message waiting for me in the heart of the labyrinth? Well, the message arrived earlier on this walk. On that morning, my walking of the labyrinth let me know there was nothing wrong with my life journey. The journey of side steps and stepping back from beginning to end was perfectly okay. To travel I must yield — to myself, to others, to the sacred manifest on the journey.

While I may believe that at times I step far from my intended path, I really have not. I am just ankle deep in the weeds of challenge. Or, I find myself treading the same part of the path again. But, the weeds, the deviation to my forward moment are necessary to bring me exactly where I need to be in this moment. No matter where I am, I find the potential to breathe into the glory, the grace that life holds.

To travel you must yield for it is in the yielding that the wonder of life really happens. In the yielding, we find those moments to breathe, to look deeply into the shadows of our self, and to understand that life is lived in those moments when we walk the path that brings us home to our self.

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

Be A Troublemaker

Be a troublemaker, a risk taker, a game changer. Be courageous. Identify unevenness. Go against the flow. Transform yourself, and, in doing so, change the world.

Being a troublemaker is not for the faint of heart. Not for sleep walkers. It requires that we are awake to the moment. That we live with eyes wide open. That we willingly navigate the fog that obscures living from our core. That we courageously name the fear of what lurks in the shadows of souls — ours, others, and the collective.

Troublemaking requires letting go of any complacency, naming what has us stuck in stasis. Breathing through what stops us. Listening to our intuition. Gingerly navigating our way through illusion’s fog with the clarity of our intuition.

There are cautions to engaging in troublemaking. Sometimes we see so clearly what needs to be changed that we do not notice that others are not seeing as we do. What is clear to us is mud to them.

With personal clarity, we leap into the trouble, land exactly where we need to be only to discover that others have not, did not, leap with us. The ensuing backlash — well all I can do is shudder. We have inadvertently caused strife.

Does that mean that we stop troublemaking? Of course, not. With or without our actions, change is inevitable. Things improve or devolve. Things never stay the same. To trouble make is to identify what is not working and discern how we are called to respond to life’s uncertainties and unevenness.

We may discover upon discernment, that a gentle knock is much more effective than a battering ram when we are attempting to bring about change. But, sometimes we do need that battering ram. Troublemaking is all about figuring out what is needed in the moment and then figuring out the most appropriate way to do it.

Action through troublemaking is possible through the power of discernment. Through discernment we answer the questions: What outcome would we like to see? What are potential ramifications of our actions? How might we make trouble in ways that rouse awareness and ruffle feathers without triggering abject fear and irrational anger? While a side effect of troublemaking is the stirring of the pot of fear and anger…we don’t want to trigger a cataclysmic reaction.

I am not saying that fear is a bad thing. Fear is a part of life. Fear, when acknowledged, is a catalyst for change. Fear, when identified, sparks our courage. It invites us to step more deeply into the shadows, to figure out what is really at the foundation of what is happening. Once in the shadows, we gather the sparks of understanding and wisdom that have the potential to transform the world.

Courage asks what trouble shall I cause? Then, our inner wise one strategizes. For troublemaking without strategy, without discernment, has the potential to pitch us into a quagmire of anger and fear. Through the strategizing of discernment, we actively engage our inner troublemaker bringing about transformation in our self and change in others.

So, be a troublemaker, but be smart, name the fear, call upon your courage, understand how others are navigating the unevenness — then, discern strategies. Because, really, the world needs more troublemakers who can stir up the status quo, let go of the uncertainty, and bring balance to the world.

In the words of John Lewis, Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America. I would add only troublemaking can redeem the soul of the world.

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 scary places. The result? Creating a blue print for your life through a deeper connection to your intuition. 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.

Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Finding The Pink New Shiny Me…How ‘Bout You?

Have you ever been through a particularly rough patch in your life? I am guessing that we have all been there at one time or another. And, some of us have had longer rough patches than others. The last 8.5 years have been tough. It felt like I had a lot of false starts only to be pulled back into yet another challenge.

I got to tell you, there have been some pretty discouraging moments. But, as a master reframer, I have usually been able to find the challenge, hear the message, and take the next step on my wild, uncertain path. Although it is has been scary at times, this journey has been an incredible one.

In early May, during a particularly trying time, I found a job while surfing the web. While I would usually find reasons not to apply, I decided to shush the “Am I qualified?” whisper. I applied for it. Now five weeks later, I am posed to start a new job; a new venture.

Of course, the “Why now?” rears its head. Because I am an introspective person, I find myself wondering why now instead of at some other time earlier in this almost decade journey. If I believe that there is no such thing as a coincidence, then, “Trust that this is the right time,” is my only response.

Who really knows the answer? Maybe the remnants of the answer lies in the challenges that I have met; in the lessons that I have learned. Maybe the answer is found in understanding who I am and how I view the world. Maybe I needed to meet some challenges and really integrate this life lessons. And, maybe I am finally ready to make that giant leap back into recognizing who I am.

As I move from Target Lady to Church Lady, I have to tell you that working retail is the hardest job that I have ever had — even harder than that brief stint I had as a waitress. It is more than physically taxing. Although it is hard on your body, working retain is also emotionally trying and mentally exhausting.

Working through the fatigue, I confronted my socially constructed reality. I peeled away a lot of illusion and recognized that there was even more illusion waiting to be released. I can see the shiny, pink of my true self peeking through the battering of illusion.

There have been some great experiences of the past almost four years. I’ve met great people, learned more about social justice, and had some tough introspective moments. I’ve learned a lot about the world — and about myself. I have to tell you that I’ve come out stronger, more resilient.

And, on this other side, I am more in tune with my empathy. I am aware how it helps and hinders me from being compassion’s presence in this uncertain world. I am looking forward to moving on. Meeting new challenges and learning new lessons. But, mostly I am looking forward to being the best person I can be in each moment.

So, where are you on your big challenge? How have you moved through the long night? Have you find the other side? Let me know!

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Of Wings & Risk Aversion

I am not risk averse — much. Gingerly, a bit tense, edging out on that limb while being aware of the creaking branches. The uncertainty, the fear, washes over me until I get out there. Then I am in awe of the panoramic view of possibility.

Maybe I just sit on that limb breathing in the fresh air, taking in the newness of the view. As I acclimate to the possibilities, I key into those intuitive whispers gently caressing my being. Those inner voices — no I am not hearing things — help me navigate into the new.

In the gentle sway of the branches, I weigh action versus inertia, but mostly I just listen to my intuition. I am alert to that itch in my back that might just be the sprouting of my wings. The unfurling I feel is a gentle nudge to take flight into risk.

Risk’s companion, change, is out on that limb with me. Change doesn’t happen without a certain degree of risk. To risk is to be willing to try something new, to choose a different path, to dig deep into who we are. As we engage in risk we shine from the depth of who we are.

How do we do this?

Begin with self honesty. Courageous action seldom happens without an acknowledgement of fear. Identify your concerns, your perceived limitations, what is stopping you from sprouting wings and leaping into risk.
Be gentle with yourself. Identify your comfort zone. Then take one small step outside that space. Maybe you metaphorically cling to the tree trunk of stability while leaning out on the limb. How else can you take in the beautiful vista of your life?
Ask: what action do I view as risky? Can I take a step into that action in this moment? Then, stepping just outside your comfort zone, do it! Take action. Maybe you choose to write a letter, reach out to a stranger, apply for a job. Know that whatever you choose to do that there is no harm, no foul. There is only your decision in the moment.
After your action, re-access the risk. Go through the process again to decide your next steps. It is perfectly okay to shift, to make different decisions, as you transform.

Life is to be lived. Like a squirrel, we find stability on the ground, scurry up the trunk of a tree, and leap from limb to limb. Within each action is that itch that heralds the sprouting of your wings. And, within each moment is opportunity to unfurl your wings and leap into risk.

Website / LinkedIn Profile / Facebook / @fyrserpent

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Name It. Reframe It.

The world is a wild, wonderful, gentle, ferocious place. Yeah, it’s a place of contractions. Both external and internal. Do you feel the internal contradictions simmering? Do you feel them boiling, edging closer to the rim of your being? Maybe they slip over the edge and splash into the contradictions of the world.

When that stuff boils over, it scalds away our veneer of illusion revealing a truth that cannot be denied. I am not sure this is the truth we want or even expect. This truth sheds light on our imperfections. I know, imperfection is not a pretty word. It is one that we like to hide from.

What is an imperfection any way? Two definitions: An undesirable feature. The state of not being complete. But, what if we expanded these definitions? Instead of seeing an imperfection as undesirable what if we viewed it as part of the road map the leads us deeper into who we are? An imperfection isn’t something that makes us incomplete; no, an imperfection is a tool that leads us to our authentic self — it makes us whole.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve committed to stop running from my imperfections. There is no escaping them. I like to believe that each imperfection that I uncover serves a purpose in my life. I believe that when we name and reframe our imperfections, we live into who we are and better understand the world — people and situations. To sum it up: we become more compassionate to our self and others.

Okay, so the world is filled with contradictions. We are in this world, so we, too, are filled with contradictions. I see these contradictions as imperfections. I named it (contradictions). I reframed it (imperfections). How do we use the energy of our imperfections to shine the beauty of our soul?

Go a step further in naming/reframing.

Name your imperfection. Just name one thing that you don’t do perfect. It doesn’t matter how big or small — just name it.
Then dig into the imperfection. What are the limitations? What are the benefits? Take a sheet of paper. Draw a line down the middle. Put a + at the top of one side. Put a - at the top of the other. Set a timer for five minutes. Just write. Don’t think about it. Create a list from what comes to you. There is time for reflection later.
After the five minutes, take a look at what you wrote. Find the truth behind each limitation. Reframe the limitations into learning moments. How do the limitations help you to shift your behavior?
Acknowledge the benefits of the imperfections. Then ask: Is there another way to get these results other than reacting from the imperfections? Name how to get the results you want by reframing your reactions to responses.

The world is a scary place. I think that our imperfections are some of the scariest parts. It is what lies at the root of our so called imperfections that force our reactions. So, how can we shift from living with imperfections to thriving through imperfections? Now means not running away; taking charge. It is about being in the moment and staying in the moment no matter how difficult naming and reframing your imperfection is.

Vanessa F. Hurst, ms, is a Master Reframer. As a contemplative coach, an intuitive-coach-catalyst, she uses mindfulness practices and intuition tools to create strategies for navigating those scary places. The result? Reframing imperfections into personal transformation. 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.

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Fear Shows Us Where Hope Lives

The world is shifting, morphing into something new. I do not believe we will return to what was. I see this time as an evolution into what will be. This is a bold time of uncertainty. And, there are time I am afraid. Maybe you are, too.

One of the things that I’ve realized is that Pema Chödrön had it right — we live in places that scare us. Well, maybe you don’t, but I will own being scared by the unfolding uncertainty in this time. Does it stop me from living in this new world? Of course not.

Uncertainty is never without its companion, Hope. While there is a lot to fear, those moments are opportunities to flex our courage muscles. The fear, the uncertainty, the hope are waking us up to who we truly are. And, maybe knowing who we are is the scariest thing of all!

Collectively and individually, we are walking down a deeply rutted path of uncertainty. We don’t know where the path is leading. If I had to guess, I’d say that the world won’t ever return to normal. That probably isn’t a bad thing. We may step into some fear on this road, but within those ruts fragile stems of hope are beginning to peek out. The key is to be aware of what scares us while allowing the tendrils of hope to energize our way forward.

We need to pay attention. Name our fears. Call upon our courage. Never give up hope. Remember that when we acknowledge our fears, we are less likely to get caught in their tangles. When we act with courage, the hold that fear has on us weakens. And, hope clears the path into this new way of being.

What exactly is courage? It is not giving up, acknowledging fear, being brave enough to venture past our comfort zone into this fierce world of potential. It's looking our self in the eye and saying, “Maybe this shall not pass, but I will grow through it by being the person I know that I am.”

What is hope? Hope is anticipation, it is expectation, it is a willingness to follow our dreams into realization. When we hope, we say to our self, “Don’t give up. One more step. One more try. Just around the bend. You are not growing into. You are living into who you are.”

I go back to the book that I read about the Shambhala warrior. We can choose to be a warrior by being gentle and courageous on this quest to understand our self. Amid the fear, the uncertainty, we can choose to be the goodness that radiates hope into the world.

With hope and courage we are called to discern our role in the untamed world filled with unrealized potential. We are called to act from our contemplative heart — to choose to be anchored in our authentic nature while being a beacon of hope. We take small steps, engage in brave acts on this journey of sharing our self.

So, how do we live into who we are?

Be aware. Two tools that increase your awareness: Be aware by anchoring into the moment. Shield by creating a permeable barrier between you and the world.
Discern how you are called to show up. This means contemplatively listening to that voice within.
Act. Be okay with whatever your response is. If an action feels too big, dial it back to where your actions are just outside your comfort zone. Then act.

Fear will always be with us. If you are like me, it pops up when you least expect it. Fear isn’t bad. It is an opportunity to courageously show up as our best self. Fear shows us where hope lives when we listen.

Vanessa F. Hurst, ms, is lives in the margins…the places that share us. As a contemplative coach, an intuitive-coach-catalyst, she uses mindfulness practices and intuition tools to create strategies for navigating those scary places. The result? Personal transformation. 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.