Through the Veil into Your Truth

Slip into the veil. The between place where the magic of transformation occurs. Slip into the veil where dreams are made real. Slip into the veil where you find your truth.

Many spiritual traditions speak of this in-between place. In the liminal, our awareness shifts. We see, we experience the world differently. Things are brighter, more poignant. That more is our intuition. When we listen intently with all of our senses, we hear the voice of our intuition guiding us to our truth.

To seek this in-between place is to commit to change. To believe in magic. To live in mystery. To let go. To free fall into the moment trusting that the answers that you seek are within reach. Did I mention one little thing? Oh, yeah, you have to have the courage to take those running steps that end in a leap into the unknown. 

Once you take that leap and slip through the thin opening, I believe you will find a certain familiarity — a trust that while you may not be home — you are exactly where you need to be. Enter the veil enough and you will discover the home of your heart.

Maybe you are wondering what you will find when you slip through that thin slot. Entering the veil, you begin the journey to the center of your being. At the core you become one with the flickering spark that connects you to those liminal spaces.

I began my journeying into the veil accidentally through meditation. Breathing into the rhythm of my being, I visualized my breath flowing through my being. Traveling on the breath’s flow, I found my sacred spark. What is this spark? A place of multiple portals, a connector to this moment and to liminal spaces beyond. The spark is home to my truth. A place where I embrace who I am.  But, I am getting ahead of myself.

I rested in the spark. Took a look around. Asked it to light the way of the next steps. This way into the liminal works best if you have a question. Then I continued to breath into the spark to the rhythm of my inhale and exhale. And, I listen to the whispered message.

Sometimes I would be invited through the veil to explore. Other times my being was soothed by the iridescence in the spark. No matter where I found myself in the liminal, I returned feeling peacefully energized. And, upon each return, I saw the world differently. I realized in those moments I did not go through the veil, the veil went through me. 

Let’s return to the spark and the invitation of the liminal. I heard the voice of the liminal with all my senses. I entered it. Allowed it to enter me. Listened to the message. Deciphered it. Then holding my knowing gently, I returned better for the experience. 

The veil, the liminal space, a place of transformation. Do you have the hope, the trust, the courage to make the round trip journey? To discover your truth and bring it back? When you do, you, and the world, will be made better because of it. 

 

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.

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Navigating through the Transition Time: Imperfect in an Uncertain World

As the world slowly settles into this new normal, have you asked yourself about the impact on yourself of this transition time? How is your body, mind, spirit, and heart (emotions) managing all the uncertainty? Maybe things have shifted so subtly that you haven’t notices or perhaps there have been symptoms and signs you can no longer ignore. 

No matter what, this transition time has left a mark on each of us. They may manifest in our body, our mind, our heart (emotions), or our spirit. The symptoms and signs present themselves uniquely in each of us. What have you noticed? 

Mentally: Has your Ladder of Inference got a workout? (The Ladder of Inference is how our beliefs power our assumptions and judgments. The result is our responses and reactions.) Mine has. I have noticed more and more how my beliefs inform my judgments and assumptions and the ways that they manifest in my actions. I have had some uncomfortable but enlightening conversations with myself. My beliefs have shifted as I open myself to the views and beliefs of others.

Emotionally: During this time of transition what is your emotional state? Mine seems to have been scattered to the four corners of my being. This uncertainty is hard on the emotional life. For with uncertainty comes fears. Identify the fears is necessary to release paralysis. Reframing is vital to navigating the uncertainty. To reframe: Find the good, the beneficial, in any situation. Doing this gives each of us the power to try anew again and again and again until the fear no longer paralyzes us.

Spiritually: How do we make sense of what is happening? So much raw emotions is percolating and often boils over. I wonder how we can find our way into a world where the Golden Rule is the only response. To create a world that is governed by the Golden Rule, we return to our self. Internal transformation is the only birther of external change. This is a time for us to live from our beliefs — share our core message and invite others to share theirs. 

Physically: If we have ignored the messages from our first three aspects, they converge and speak from the physical. It is difficult to ignore the mental, emotional, and spiritual murmurs that become physical shouts. There is a lot of heavy weight in this world that targets the physical. That realization came when little aches became big, and I admitted that I was not handling the uncertainty as well as I thought. 

I dialogued with the first three aspects to identify what was happening. Only when I had this open, honest conversation with myself, could I consciously and intentionally name the fears and reframe where I am. This gave me the power to navigate through this time of transition. I didn’t have to know where I was going; I needed to be aware of what was unsettling me along the path and be open to the next step.

We are holistic beings. Our body, mind, spirit, and heart speak to us in every moment. They alert us to the potential of imbalance. By living with awareness, we acknowledge the little and big ways that we are impacted. Each aspect empowers us to minimize anything detrimental and accentuate the best in each of us. Because #inthistogether begins by keeping one’s self together. 

 Vanessa F. Hurst, ms, is an Intuitive, Coach, Catalyst, who uses mindfulness practices and intuition tools to create strategies for personal and relationship transformation. She is a professional speaker & author who weaves inner wisdom into all she touches. Her books are available @ www.wildefyrpress.com. Contact Vanessa  (vanessa@intentandaction.com) for life coaching, intuitive consultations, keynotes, and programs.

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Twitter: @fyrserpent / ©2020

A Pilgrimage of the Heart

The heart yearns and the soul listens. The  response is a pilgrimage to a place where the song of your spirit sings with unfettered joy. With a yearning heart, a listening soul, and a joyful spirit, I undertook such a pilgrimage on my birthday.

Into the sunrise, I drove the almost three hours to the Great Serpent Mound, the largest earthen effigy in the world. My  eager anticipation, mimicked the lightening of the sky lightened and the sun peaking over the horizon. I wondered if the Serpent Mound of memory would be as wonderful as reality.

Of course, Siri decided to direct me down a different path. But, what is a pilgrimage unless it is tinged with the unknown and unexpected? As I turned onto Tranquility Pike, I chuckled. Did I ever need tranquility! The road was scarcely bigger than a path and had so many twists and turns. It felt like I was riding the serpent to the mound! 

Once I arrived, I breathed in the beauty of the place. After weeks of hot weather, I was graced with a fall day. I walked the mounded, practiced Tai Chi, and journaled, but mostly I let its serenity permeate my bones. I felt a resolute connection to the land and the mystery that pulsed from it. My jagged edges were soothed. I connected to my sacred spark and my spark connected to that of the Mound.

Was the pilgrimage a magic balm that made everything right in my world? No. The pilgrimage allowed me to touch upon the sacred created by an unknown community from the past. The energy of the snake twined around me and rooted deeply into my heart igniting the sacred spark within. 

That is the true nature of a pilgrimage. We travel outside of ourself not expecting a miracle, but as a means of paying homage to the divine spark within. This spark connects us to not only the the sacred but to all of creation. The pilgrimage is less a panacea for what ails us and more a gentle reminder that within  us is the capacity to live our sacred purpose in the many ways we are invited. 

Vanessa F. Hurst, ms, is an Intuitive Coach, who uses mindfulness practices and intuition tools to create strategies for personal and relationship transformation. She is a professional speaker & author who weaves inner wisdom into all she touches. Her books are available @ www.wildefyrpress.com. Contact Vanessa  (vanessa@intentandaction.com) for life coaching, keynotes, programs, and intuitive consultations.

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Twitter: @fyrserpent / ©2019

Life's Little Road Blocks

Sometimes on the road to the future we happen  upon a barrier. We come upon a wall that prevents us from reaching a milestone. Instead of being discouraged when that happens, how about peering through the slats of the fence to see the possibilities just beyond the barrier? Look at the barrier as a way station — a place to regroup, take a breath, mindfully engage our spirit as a powerful means of reframing the situation.

For within each barrier is the ability to reframe through discernment. This thoughtful process is one of reflection and introspection. During discernment, we

• are present to the situation by noticing without judgment or defense what we are feeling. We name our experience using all of our senses.
• recognize that there is no shame in our reactions to the barrier and no blame for the barrier’s appearance.
• We welcome the barrier as a time of respite, of regrouping, and of recreating our path.

Through discernment we move through the initial phases of the reframe. Next, we notice what is happening and what we have control over. We name what is outside our sphere of influence. Naming both of these empowers us to create a new perspective. We move from feelings of hopelessness to filling with potential and possibility. 

Think about this — is there something that you really wanted — a job, a car, a relationship, a home, or something else — that you were prevented from obtaining? The barrier that appeared stopped you from gaining the future that you had planned. In the reframe, perhaps you find another path that leads to another goal that is more satisfying or more in alignment with your sol purpose. 

For example: a friend of mine did not get a job he wanted. In retrospect, he said it was a great thing. He started a nonprofit more in alignment with his soul purpose. He, and the nonprofit, have thrived. This would not have happened if he had devoted his time and energy to the mission of the first organization. 

Barriers are not bad; they are not good. They challenge us to look at our lives and discover what is important; what we really need. And, in that discovery lies the power of our soul purpose.

Vanessa F. Hurst, ms, is an Intuitive Coach, who uses mindfulness practices and intuition tools to create strategies for personal and relationship transformation. She is a professional speaker & author who weaves inner wisdom into all she touches. Her books are available @ www.wildefyrpress.com. Contact Vanessa  (vanessa@intentandaction.com) for life coaching, keynotes, programs, and intuitive consultations.

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Twitter: @fyrserpent / ©2019

Being in the Moment for that Moment

Close your eyes. Breath. Feel the flow move into  your lungs and through your body. Each gust of breath moves you deeper into your self. Maybe you feel a letting go, a relaxation. Perhaps you are energized. Or, maybe you are nonattached to the breath’s flow. However you experience your breath, when you are aware of it, you are in the moment for that moment. 

Being in the moment for that moment is our life quest. Sometimes we do it better than other times. We’ve all had those days when we set our intent to be our best authentic self. Instead of showing up that way, we get triggered by the littlest and biggest things. Cast out of the moment, we despair that we will ever find our way home.

Then there are the other days when being nonattached to the world around us is effortless. We are in the flow of our breath and connect to the world with our compassionate response. We can hear our inner wisdom as it wafts up on the exhale and dives deeply with each inhale. We see the hooks that reach out to snag us and deftly avoid their piercing. 

How can we live the latter instead of the former? By developing a contemplative practice. When we spend even 90 seconds in a mindful activity, we retrain our body, mind, emotions, and spirit to crave a connection to our inner wisdom. And, in strengthening this connection, we not only become more intuitive, but we live in ways that transform more than our self — we plant seeds of change in others and the world. 

How can you develop a contemplative practice? Start where you are! Even if you feel you cannot devote 30 minutes at one time, perhaps you can schedule 30 total minutes over the course of the day. Suggestions:

• 5-15 minutes in the morning powers your intent for the day and calms your spirit for the day
• 5-10 minutes midday reconnects you to the calm
• 5-15 minutes in the evening quiets the tumult of the day and prepares you for relaxed sleep. 

What does a contemplative practice look like? My practice includes:

• In the morning I lay quietly and breathe into the day as I wait for my alarm to sound. As an alternative, I might also journal to begin the day.
• Midday I may go for a brief walk, focus on my breathing, or do some simple Tai Chi or Qi Gong.
• In the evening, I may journal, walk, sit quietly as I decompress.

There are no rules as to what you do during this time. What matters is connecting to your core and seeding peace. In time, even in the most tumultuous circumstances, you will find your way back home.   

Vanessa F. Hurst, ms, is a Intuitive Coach, who uses mindfulness practices and intuition tools to create strategies for transformation. She is a professional speaker & author who weaves inner wisdom into all she touches. Her books are available @ www.wildefyrpress.com. Contact Vanessa  (vanessa@intentandaction.com) for life coaching, keynotes, programs, and intuitive consultations.

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Twitter: @fyrserpent / ©2019

Compassion Speaks: The Practical Contemplative

Contemplative and practical are two  words that don’t quite seem to fit together. A contemplative spends time in solitude praying, right? Well, not always. The contemplative brings that quiet reflection into whatever she* is doing. so, you may be in the presence of a contemplative and not even realize it. 

A practical contemplative reflects her relationship with the sacred in her thoughts, words, and actions. While her contemplative spirit may not always be reflected in her words and actions, she is aware of how thoughts, emotions, and patterns trip her up. Instead of being mired in deep despair when she falls into traps of reaction, she retreats into reflection and introspection determined to learn; and, in doing so, shifts from reactionary into response. 

Compassion speaks through the practical contemplative. For although she has cultivated a reflective/introspective way of being; like all of us, she sometimes flips out of the moment into the real where anything can happen and usually does. The practical contemplative knows that this falling out of the moment is inevitable. She is pragmatic about her less than stellar, reactive moments. To her, they signs to stop and regroup. They are learning moments.

In those falling from moments, and when she returns to mindful moments, she submerses herself in self compassion. This balm not so much heals her imperfections but gives her the courage to blow upon the embers of her being relighting the spark of her authenticity.

There are two compassionate aspects to being a practical contemplative. One stems from he compassionate realization that she is imperfect. She perceives her imperfections not as failures but as vehicles for transformation. The second aspect reflects in her ability to share compassion in its many forms with others. The practical contemplative is strong enough to hear the wisdom voice of compassion and act upon it. 

Practical. Contemplative. Two words that when combined invite us to be our best self as we sail through the world of uncertainties on our boat of imperfections. Join me on the sea!

*Please note: practical contemplatives can be any gender — I am just using feminine pronouns! 

Vanessa F. Hurst, ms, is a Intuitive Coach, who uses mindfulness practices and intuition tools to create strategies for transformation. She is a professional speaker & author who weaves inner wisdom into all she touches. Her books are available @ www.wildefyrpress.com. Contact Vanessa  (vanessa@intentandaction.com) for life coaching, keynotes, programs, and intuitive consultations.

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Twitter: @fyrserpent / ©2019

Compassion: Power to Truth

Sometimes truth beats so strongly deep in our soul that, even if it defies logic, we believe it. This truth is so compelling that we cannot ignore it; we must compassionately act upon it.

Have you ever felt a truth so fierce that you knew it was accurate but had no way to prove it? What did you do?

It takes courage to act upon a truth so fierce that it dares us to navigate the waters of uncertainty and curiously hold strong to the power of truth regardless of what others would say. Power to truth requires that we stay the course while not harming or hurting others. Power to truth asks that our responses resonate from our authentic self. 

Have you ever wondered why truth is so difficult for some to accept? Why some, maybe even you and me at times, fight against it? Perhaps you remember a time when you, or someone else, loudly proclaimed that the truth was a lie and a lie was the truth. A google search turns up many articles of why we are more likely to believe a lie over the truth. 

Have you ever wondered why someone is vilified for speaking a truth that exposes a lie? If you ask me, I’d say that it is about herd mentality. This following along with the crowd is based upon the fear of being ostracized. We would no longer belong if we saw through the illusion of the lie and acted upon the truth hidden within.

There are lies so powerful that the collective is unwilling to disturb the status quo by confronting them. We can point to the big lies — those at a national or international level where leaders twist their words into whatever is the alternative version of the truth in that moment but, in reality, is a lie no matter what moment. I suggest that we go deeper into our every day lives to discover the lies embedded within our lived experience. We uncover those lies by practicing compassion as we live power to our truth. 

We have all experience those little lies. Here are two examples:

• A situation at work that everyone sees, but no one in management is willing to acknowledge or address. When it is brought to attention of leadership and a resolution is requested, the issue’s existence is denied or the truth sayer is gaslighted.
• Problems in a relationship that speak to incompatibility are recognized. When attempting to speak truth to the concerns, barriers to resolution are erected. Again, lies prevail and the truth sayer is gaslighted. 

When either of these situation occur, or something else, we have two choices. We can deny what we know is true or we can live in the power of our truth. While ignoring the lie is in the short term easier, it allows the lie to fester. Unchecked, it grows into an unmanageable monster. The latter choice is a much more difficult one. With that choice, we respond from our authentic core not only believing the truth but also having trust and confidence in our self. The energy behind the lie dissipates.

Within each truth is the voice of our intuition. When we accept the power of truth, we open our self to the many ways that intuition serves as our life navigator. As the intuitive messages we receive are verified — because they will be — we know clearly, that we are not mad in an uncertain world. No, we fully feel the power of truth and know that when we believe it, truth’s power manifests in ways that matter. We act upon truth, and our authentic self manifests in ways that matter. 

Wishing you the power of your truth! 

Vanessa F. Hurst, ms, is a Intuitive Coach, who uses mindfulness practices and intuition tools to create strategies for transformation. She is a professional speaker & author who weaves inner wisdom into all she touches. Her books are available @ www.wildefyrpress.com. Contact Vanessa  (vanessa@intentandaction.com) for life coaching, keynotes, programs, and intuitive consultations.

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Twitter: @fyrserpent / ©2019