Sparks in Wisdom's Fire

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Harnessing Intuitive Awareness

There is magic in the world. An undertone of possibility weaves itself through the uncertainty. We can be lost in the song’s uncertainty or we can mindfully enter the weave to listen to the tune’s message. To hear, we amplify our connection to our intuition by focusing on the whispering of our inner wisdom and turning our attention to what is real in our life.

Intuition is a subconscious collection of information that empowers us to meet our challenges, learn our lessons, and live soul purpose. It is available to us at any moment. With hyperawareness, we turn up the volume of our intuition until it rises from our subconscious into our consciousness. Then, we interpret what we hear.

So, how can we increase an awareness of our inner wisdom’s message? Through mindful practice. Being in the moment and listening with all of our senses strengthens our connection to this inner wisdom. But, listening is not enough. We must decipher what we hear and then fashion a response. Our response may be as simple as reaching out to a friend or turning left instead of right. It may be as bold as approaching a stranger or going someplace we have never been before. It probably falls somewhere in between.

Intuition does not fit into a tiny little box. It can messy and indecipherable, bold and curious, wise and daring. One thing is certain, intuition cannot be contained. It will burst force with a clamor we are forced to acknowledge. When we listen and act upon our intuition, we transform — we have only to open the eyes of our heart and ears of our soul. Is intuition important? Yes. It is simple to decipher? Probably not.

There is magic in the world. It weaves throughout each moment inviting us to rise above the angst, the suffering, the commonplace. When we dive deeply into the well of inner knowing we are inexplicably changed. The world becomes a place of limitless possibility. We need only listen to the resonance of the weave and respond.

Vanessa F. Hurst, ms, is a Mindful Coach, Neural Synchrony™ facilitator, Professional Speaker, and Author who weaves her inner wisdom into all she touches. Vanessa assists clients in navigating their life paths with intuition. Her books are A Constellation of Connections: Contemplative Relationships and Engaging Compassion Through Intent & Action. Contact Vanessa @ vanessa@intentandaction.com for keynotes, programs, and consultations.

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Tuesday, April 17, 2018

The Letting Go of Grief: Self Compassion

Snow is falling in the middle of April. The heavy snowflakes swirl to the earth leaving the ground damp with moisture. Although we may not see flakes layered on the ground, their melt remains. So, it is with our grief. While the onslaught of our grief may no longer be visible, the residue remains. We may feel anger, our body may vibrate with hurt, an emptiness may fill our being — all echoes of grief.

It is said that “time heals all wounds,” but unless we are able to address the symptoms of grief, the abscess deep in the core of our being remains. We can deny what we are thinking and feeling until we reach a crisis point — our body decides that we must lance the spiritual abscess. When our body speaks, we must attend to the physical symptoms. In order to return to wholeness, we address deeper emotional, mental, and spiritual roots of the wound.

Listening to the voice of grief, we acknowledge how our denial exacerbated the imbalance. Next, we live the suffering, the regret, the loss until we are able to release it bit by bit. We are gentle, loving, and compassionate with our reactions. We grieve what is lost. In the messiness and uncertainty of our grief released we heal.

Healing is not possible unless we befriend the grief and bless it. Through this unexpected friendship we acknowledge our grief in the big ways and small ones. The abscess is lanced and drained. The path clears. We are changed, more durable, more compassionate from this friendship.

No two journeys with grief are the same. Each of us discovers exactly how to embrace grief. In this process, we may be able to heal the wounds our self or we may need to seek the help of a professional — or a combination of both. There is no correct way to burn the residue of grief from our being. There is only your way in the moment.

In every moment of every day we experience letting goes that often result in grief. In every moment of every day, we have opportunities to acknowledge that grief healing the wounds before they fester. In the healing, we befriend grief, meet its challenge, learn its lesson, and step more firmly upon the path of purpose. Just. Like. That.

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Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Be The Change (Agent): The Intent & Action Blog

Be the change. How many times have I said that? Only slightly more than I have heard it said. Lately I have been wondering about the energy behind my pronouncement. Not so much what it means, but what propels my inner change agent. What commits me to becoming the change that I want to see in the world? And, how do I live that change?

A change agent is a wind rider, a walker between worlds, a rebel with a cause. They live in the mundane while alert to the thermals of possibility. With courage and curious daring, they jump into the current and ride it to a place of hopes and dreams realized. They blaze a trail for us to follow; a change agent isn’t afraid to step into an uncertain world. They are prepared to discover, and use, the stuff of transformation.

Because, really, isn’t transformation to a better way the change that all of us want to see? Sometimes we forget that change seldom happens with a big splash. Most of the time change begins with our small, inconsequential actions. Little by little, act by intentional act, we build the foundation of change. Our change’s ability to within stand harsh, critical conditions in the world is inevitably tested.

Through tsunami, earthquake, hurricane, flood, our change is challenged. Maybe our foundation cracks; perhaps it is washed away. We do not need to return to the beginning and start over. Instead, we seek out the parts of our change that were durable enough to withstand the storm. Change agents might despair, but they never give up. With a core of steel and a flexible mindset, they rebuild stronger, more durable.

Be the changes isn’t some trite saying. It is not for the timid. Be the change means trying just one more time. Be the change means somehow, some way you do impact the world. Be the change means recognizing the change in the world is a reflection of you.

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

I Believe: The Intent & Action Blog

I believe in my hopes and dreams, my sorrows and griefs. I believe that though the slushy grip of winter won’t let go, that spring is burrowing upward from the mud slick earth. I believe that as thunder, lightning, and winds rumble through the topsy turvy spring, that there is purpose in the low times.

I believe that sometimes bad things happen to good people. No harm, no foul. Sometimes you’ve got to experience the fall before you can rise. I believe that it is okay to get lost for a bit in the maelstrom of uncertainty. I believe that, no matter what, some how, some way, I will find the strength and courage to rise again.

I believe that good things happen to bad people because inside each of us is at least a little bad. I believe that I may never see the depth of suffering in another — or feel the depth of my suffering in the frozen tundra of my winter time. I believe that what I judge as bad may just been the malignancy of suffering unhealed.

I believe that sometimes believing isn’t enough. I believe that it is okay for the tornadic uncertainty to pick me up and give me a mad twirl. And, I believe that, in those moments, it is okay to be lost and fragile. I believe that once I am hurled to the mud slicked ground that I will find the courage and curious daring to try just one more time.

I believe that the darkness casts shadows that invite us to courageously grow from that tiny seed spark into a raging inferno of self. I believe that I cannot stand in the sun all the time or I would be crispy. I believe that I must depend upon the guidance of the glowing ember inside myself. I believe that there is a lesson in everything. I hope to get a passing grade.

I believe that the world is crazy wonder. I believe that every moment is an opportunity to balance suffering with compassion. But, mostly, I believe in me. Even when I do not have the energy to face another challenge, I believe that some how, some way, I will. This I believe.

What do you believe?

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Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Anger: Shifting from Force to Power [an Intent & Action Blog]

Anger insidiously sneaks up on us. Bam! The force of our anger results in the war cry of reaction. Lines of communication disintegrate.

Yet, at other times, we are aware of anger seeping into the cracks of our being. Drip by indignant drip it fills a soul parched by fear. In those moments of awareness, before the flashpoint of reaction, we choose not to allow the force of anger to wreak havoc on our self. Instead, we use the power of anger to respond with lovingkindness.

I spent many decades believing the fallacy that anger was bad and to be avoided at all cost. Somehow being angry was shameful. We needed to be able to ride through everything that happens without being angry. When I accepted that anger was an unavoidable emotion, the shame dissipated and my propensity to react with anger minimized. Anger became an ally in my personal transformation.

Anger is not the problem. Our avoiding naming the roots of our anger and the triggered reactions are. When we acknowledge our anger, we are better able to identify the affects of triggers. Instead of ignoring or negating our anger, we dive deeply to discover its source. We name what was triggered deep inside of us. Perhaps we find fear, feeling disrespected, or the impotence of not being a change agent. Naming the roots takes some of the sting out of our feelings.

Our anger is an early warning system. It tells us to stop, enter the silence, and be mindful of what is occurring. Anger cautions us to think before we act. When we are mindful, we can choose to be overwhelmed by the force of anger or to be propelled by the anger’s power into a place of transformation.

To use the power of your anger:

Create a habit of full body listening. (This is a way of attending to how you body, mind, spirit, and heart are bombarded by various emotions.)
Identify how you react physically, mentally, and emotionally to anger.
Name the roots of your anger to minimize the impact of its force.
Discern how you can engage the power of anger to bring about transformation.
Respond with compassion for yourself and others.

Once you get into the routine of listening to your body, identifying any triggers, and formulating responses, the time needed to short circuit the force of your anger lessens. Anger then becomes an ally on the journey of transforming to your best authentic self.

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Be the Light: Spark Change Within

Our light reflects off a shiny thing. We are so enamored by the brightness that we forsake our journey. We detour — we need to hold the shiny thing, to enjoy its brightness, to be with the newness. But, as with all shiny things, the novelty wears off soon enough. Then we find in a mad dash to the next newest, shiniest bling. Instead of continuing on a journey of purpose, we take detour after detour grabbing onto illusion after illusion.

Chasing shining things is a mindless quest to find the perfect job, perfect home, perfect relationship, perfect whatever that will chase away the ills and make our life complete. We shine our light onto the world searching for the ultimate source of peace — the answer to our life quest. We do not realize that as we shine our light out the window, what we seek is only found within us.

We spend so much time shining our light into the world and then chasing after its reflection that we forget we are the light. Within us is a spark that flares guiding us through uncertainty. When we lose sight of our internal guidance, we get mired in life’s commotion. We are unable to see what is real on our journey and what are blings of illusion. We leap here and there searching for the elusive answer to our inner turmoil. Our search takes us anywhere but inside of us.

When we remember that within the shiny thing is less bling and more an invitation for growth, we are less likely to get carried away by the allure of illusion and subsequent turmoil. We realize that we are the light and the light is us. When we are the light, the reflection of our thoughts words, and actions alleviate the bleakness of the world. Through our light, we share compassion and hope. We transform into our best self.

When we remember that we are the light, we better understand its purpose. The beacon guides us through uncertainty and turmoil. Although our light reveals our path of purpose, we do not shine unless we nurture the internal ember. As we nurture the ember, our reflections upon the world are not bling illusion traps, but are means of navigating through each challenge. With each challenge met, we become brighter transformative beacons of light in a darkened world.

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Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Snow Storm vs. Spring’s Green

Just when I thought Spring had arrived, it started to snow. Wasn’t it just yesterday that I turned my face to the sun and felt Spring’s gentle breeze soothe the burn from my cheeks? Then, out of nowhere, the snow started to fall obliterating Spring’s promise.

I chuckled without joy for life is like that. We are so close to a new beginning, a new flowering in our life, that we cannot help but be disappointed in the setback brought on by a snowstorm. At first, we might hunker down watching the huge, wet flakes coat the world. We might even venture into the snow and allow our self to be coated in the wet messiness. But, the snow obliterates the promise of Spring. And, it is difficult to get past the worry of yet another setback.

Eventually we grab our snow shovel and begin to dig our self out. We can move the snow in one of two ways: we can power through the snow totally focused on completing the task or we can mindfully, shovel by shovel, clear our path while enjoying those moments of messy snow removal.

How do you meet the challenge of an unexpected snowfall? Me? Well, at first I am overwhelmed by the storm that disrupts my careful planning. But, then, that little voice inside me suggests that what I view as a calamity is just a minor irritation. I breathe to calm and center myself. I remind myself that it is the destination not the journey that is important. Instead of seeing the snowfall as a daunting obstacle complete with a cold breeze and wet fluffy flakes, I see the glint of possibility in each unique snowflake.

This journey through the storm is not without obstacles. To navigate through the storm’s commotion we need humility, vulnerability, curious daring, and courage. Humbly, we clear our path without expectations. We are open to what debris might be hidden under the snowfall and vulnerable to the change it brings. With curious daring we uncover the path and courageously confront whatever we find. Instead of the falling snow being an obstacle it is an opportunity.

Yes, it is snowing — I vow not only to clear the path, but to enjoy the journey as I do it. I am making a snow angel, building a snow fort, and readying for a snowball fight while being aware of the spring greens poking up through winter’s last challenge….or so I hope. Our perspective is the first step toward radical transformation.

Vanessa F. Hurst, ms, is a Mindful Coach, Neural Synchrony™ facilitator, Professional Speaker, and Author who weaves her inner wisdom into all she touches. Vanessa assists clients in navigating their life paths with intuition. Her books are A Constellation of Connections: Contemplative Relationships and Engaging Compassion Through Intent & Action. Contact Vanessa @ vanessa@intentandaction.com for keynotes, programs, and consultations.

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