She wants more,
and she knows she is deserving of it.
But honoring her truth,
isn’t always easy.

We are often told that falling in love is mostly fire and passion in the beginning, but then we must learn to live in the realities of love … IF we want more then we are being unrealistic.

We are often told to get our heads out of the clouds and face reality, to stuff our essence into boxes and dim our light … IF we want more then we are being crazy dreamers.

We are often told to be grateful for what we have, selling ourselves short and settling for an OK version of life … IF we want more then we are being ungrateful.

We are often told to compromise our needs for the good of others, loosing sight of ourselves until we die a slow and agonizing death of compromise … IF we want more then we are being selfish.

My darlings,
Understand that we all walk different paths.
Seeking different experiences,
to awaken our individual truths.

There is no right or wrong direction,
its a choice.
Of which way we choose to walk.

The woman who wants more,
and believes that she is deserving of having it.
Is the wild woman,
and she NEEDS more …

She needs a love that fans the flames of passion,
because her insatiable hungry for love,
will change your world.

She needs to have a variety of experiences,
because the magic that awakens inside of her,
will change your world.

She needs to continue to learn new knowledge,
because her thirst for life,
will change your world.

She needs to seek truth,
because connecting with the essence of who we are,
will change your world.

Knowing who she is,
and what she wants is how she determines her needs.
Understanding her needs is how she gains clarity,
and the clearer she becomes,
the more Universe responds to her desires.

But such a woman needs to walk alone at times,
as she struggles with her own heart.
Lovers may come,
but lovers will go.
Because her heart can only remain true,
to those who touch her ever expanding heart.
Only those willing to break open to love,
will hold her attention.

She may walk alone,
but she loves deeply.
So each heart break opens her up to more truths,
that are hidden in the depths of her beating heart.

For if she isn’t loved in the way she knows she deserves,
she will struggle to stay.
Because the wild woman isn’t made to settle for less than,
she will walk away.

But each time she walks away from someone she loves,
she must learn how to crawl, walk and dance all over again.
And this is how she becomes ALL she can be.
She falls, she burns and she rises from the ashes,
more open and loving than before.

The woman who wants more,
and knows she is deserving of having it,
honors her truth.
She is present,
and she thrives in love and life,
regardless of whether she lives in love or walks alone.

Let us BE such women
Let us raise such women
Let us support such women

Mindful interaction ❤

To love and to be loved,
is why I am are here.

But when it comes to love,
there are no absolutes.
For my truth differs from yours,
depending on our relationship with love.

My truth is …

I want to be someones absolute truth,
and love with a sense of abandonment.
But I have no desire of becoming someones absolute,
for to abandon ourselves in love,
is the greatest tragedy of all.

One of the hardest lessons I have learned.

I have falling into love many times over,
and suffered the break of an opening heart.
And after abandoning myself in love,
have been left alone to clean up my internal bleeding.

Now,
I am a little older and hopefully a little wiser,
and choose to love myself with complete abandonment.

My focus,
is to rise above my fears and heal my hurts.

Ironically,
the more attachments I consciously cut,
the deeper my connection to self, other, Nature and Universe becomes.
And the more love flows in and out of my heart.

Truth is,
when we begin to love ourselves,
our relationships with everyone else changes.

Seasons … Reasons … Life times

With love and understanding,
my life time relationships strengthen and deepen.

Trusting that every relationship serves a purpose,
helps me to find the reason,
which deepens my feelings of love.

Accepting the loss of a relationship,
enables me to flow,
with my own seasonal changes and life transitions.

And I continue to grow in love,
regardless of my relationship status.

Mindful interaction ❤

 

Whether you believe that peace on Earth is a realistic goal to achieve or an unattainable dream … YOU are right

Whether you believe that sacred union with your beloved is within reach or an unrealistic fantasy … YOU are right

Whether you believe magic exists as an energy flowing within and around us or is make believe … YOU are right

Whatever we BELIEVE is truth, we LIVE and experience that truth as our reality.

Ive been reflecting as my own reality begins to go through some very big changes, and thought I’d share the process as I’m experiencing it for myself. In the hope that it may offer some insight, to those of you who seek to create change in your own lives.

How do we change our reality ?

Dream it .. Imagine it .. Believe it .. Action it .. Create it .. Live it

I keep repeating this mantra because I believe it breaks down the stages we move through really well. It helps me to identify where I’m stuck and why the energy isn’t flowing. I often check in with myself and ask …

Is this my own dream I am creating ?

Can I imagine what this new reality would look and feel like ?

Do I believe in my ability to create this reality ? Do I believe I am worthy of this reality ?

What am I doing to help the dream come to life ?

Our answers then serve to guide us

If we seek to change our experience and create a different reality, then we must actively work on removing any blocks, that may be preventing the flow of energy between ourselves and Universe. Because we need this energy to help us create the change.

How do we flow with Universe ?

Well, there are those who will try and convince us that we only need to BE love and ever present, while gazing up at the stars and manifesting with the moon. While others tell us to live a more conscious life with open heart and mind, while offering limited guidance into how the actual fuck we do it.

Its not enough to just stand in the light with intentions of being forever loving. That kind of thinking only serves to avoid the truth of who we really are. Which is a beautiful combination of complex contradictions.

For our spiritual growth to be sustainable, we need to maintain a solid foundation of self. Otherwise its all just airy fairy fleeting talk, which only leads to more wounding of self and others.

Its time to get REAL !!!

By challenging and changing our thinking, ridding ourselves of any limiting beliefs. Allowing our emotions to rise and flow without restriction. Accepting our shadow self and integrating our polarities. Healing our heart hurts and overcoming our fears.

Yes, spiritual growth takes ALOT of work and its work that no one else can see, which can become very disheartening at times. Especially when you’re not yet seeing the results you want. Especially when you’re sitting in the midst of chaos. Especially when you feel and look like complete shit. Especially when you’re loosing, hurting, failing, breaking and struggling in life.

My darling, keep on pushing through because YOU are worth it, is what I often say to myself during those times.

Alas, diving into ourselves is time consuming and standing in our truth isn’t always so easy to do. Because we often avoid and deny aspects of ourselves, when its difficult to confront the truth of who we really are.

However, if we don’t actively stand in and express our truth, then it can bubble up under the surface. Causing all kinds of internal confusions and challenges, that spill over into all other areas of our lives. Causing all kinds of external conflicts and catastrophes. Until eventually change is forced upon us.

And we acknowledge the truth as it really is, which is an essential part of our journey towards self love, following our passion, living our purpose and ultimately creating the life we imagine.

Striving towards peace on Earth, soul connections, divine union with our beloved and living a life of magic requires growth. So trusting that this process has divine purpose is how I’m learning to flow with a little more ease, especially during times of uncertainty.

Because its during our uncertainties that we begin to experience our biggest resistance, which can cause more tension and conflict and hurt more than the actual growing pains themselves.

Yes, growth is painful.

As we drop the masks, knock down the walls and rip off the band aids, we find the wounds festering beneath the surface.

The healing begins …

As we observe and process our conflicting thoughts, our minds OPEN and we begin to experience more tensions and conflicts within ourselves and our relationships.

As we allow and flow with our emotions  our hearts OPEN and we begin to feel our way through the experiences.

We need to prepare ourselves for the truth that it WILL get hard, we WILL want to seek escape from ourselves, we WILL seek out love from others and we WILL want to quit

In our solitudinal bliss we WILL also experience our deepest and darkest depths of despair

This is all part of the change process and if we resist this state of being, then we remain stuck, we experience stress and we suffer, which I believe is the primary cause of dis-EASE.

So, when I begin to feel tensions, conflicts, resistance, avoidance, stuckness and stress I start checking in with myself, by asking …

What am I thinking ?

What am I feeling ?

What am I doing ?

What am I avoiding ?

What am I imagining ?

I strongly believe that its not enough to want and wish for change. We must be willing to do the work and I’m learning the importance of asking the right questions. So I ask YOU …

Are you living the life you imagine ?

or

Is life an ongoing struggle for you ?

If you want to create a different reality, then I challenge you to accept complete responsibility for your experience. I invite you to seek support and dive deeper into yourself. Explore your deepest thoughts and feelings. Connect with your inner self, others, Nature and Universe. I encourage you to stand in and express your truth, however beautiful or ugly it is. And I suggest that you fall in love with yourself.

Dare to BE the change that our world seeks

Mindful interaction ❤

As a child, I would watch and listen to the grownups as they came back and forth from the battlefield. Back then I only caught glimpses and glances of the kind of destruction that you caused. I seen people falling into the arms of loved ones weeping. I heard conversations between friends and felt tension in the air, with little understanding of who you were.

As a woman, Ive stood on the side lines and got a little closer to you. I’ve seen how you devour the minds and flesh of those you inhabit. Have watched people go to war each and every day, as they fight to overcome the grasp you have on their lives. Ive sat in silent prayer with the brave souls who refuse to let go of hope and offered comfort and support to those who accept their fate, as you take their life force from them.

As a daughter, I stand before you on the frontline, as my Father prepares to fight his battle. With a desire to better understand the enemy who stands before us. I want to know who you are. For like us, you are energy with both strength and weakness. If fear empowers you and love can heal, I wonder, is our mission to defeat you in vein ?

As a healer, I sit with you and seek to better understand your intentions, your motivations and your purpose. I cant help but wonder if our internal battle serves to unite the forces within ourselves ? We fear you, yet you are a part of who we are. It makes no sense that we provoke you, then wonder why your strength and power grows. I find myself wondering, is cancer here to serve our greater good ? What if YOU are our greatest insight into healing love ?

Mindful interaction ❤

Ambivalence ” is the state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone”

NOW is a great time to talk about this !!!

Firstly, because of my own inner conflict about choosing to follow my heart and achieve my dreams, during a time when my heart also feels pulled to stay here and support my family.

Secondly, because of the political hoo haa happening in America at the moment, that has many of us freaking the fuck out.

When CHANGE comes, it can look a lot like CHAOS

So … I thought it was a good time to dive into ambivalence

Although our mind is a beautiful complex creation, we can break it down to two parts. Our conscious mind, which is the known aspects of our psyche and our unconscious mind, which are all the hidden parts of our psyche. Most of the studies we are privileged to are based on research conducted on the measurable aspects and objective truths of our conscious mind.

But what lies deep within our unconscious mind ?

Each mind holds different information, based on the lived experiences of that individual. But those of us who believe in past lives, believe that our life force, our soul, has lived more than once. So, imagine the memories and insights into who we are that await to be discovered.

I cant recall ever hearing the word “ambivalence” before I learned about it during our psychology degree. And if I had heard the word, I had no understanding what it meant. My learning is a little like that though, until I experience something for myself, then I can lack interest and understanding.

I recall my first “conscious” experience with ambivalence being something that caused me immense discomfort. I wanted to keep studying my degree full time but it was beginning to impact negatively on my family.

I felt VERY conflicted.

Educating myself was important for ALL of our futures, but the immediate needs of my children were also important.

I thought to myself, if I knuckled down and did the hard work now, while the kids were under 16 years old, I was gaining government support, so I could afford to drop a few shifts at work. But, if I dropped out of uni, I wasn’t convinced that I would ever have the financial support to do it in the future.

What ever choice I made, I felt screwed !!!

But it soon became a case of …

Right or Wrong it was NOW or never.

But as a single mum, studying full time, working part time and striving for a social and romantic life, was having a negative impact on my ability to be a “good mum.” Yup, always have been the kinda woman who wants it ALL.

During those times of trying to DO it all, I often struggled with the basics, like sitting down to a home cooked meal as a family and my parenting wasn’t always consistent. I would often bend the rules a little, so I could finish an essay or grab some sleep. Then get upset and wonder why I was having more and more tension and conflict with my young teenagers, which was soon followed by overwhelming feelings of GUILT

Those were very tough times for us all, but we learned a lot during that experience. For me, some of those lessons are still unfolding. Because the more I failed and fucked up as a woman and a mother, the more I continue to learn and grow … the irony.

I must add, I say that about myself lovingly and with a sense of pride. Because my fuck ups and failings reflect my willingness to get out there, have a go, take risks and rise up to the challenges. Something I love and respect most about myself ❤

My understanding of ambivalence has deepened and changed somewhat since then though. I now see this inner conflict as being a compass, that supports our adaptation during change.

The truth is, ambivalence is a natural state of mind that makes its present known during times of uncertainty. When we reach a cross roads in life and are confronted with more than one option.

It implies the existence of 2 conflicting forces within us …

Right – Wrong

Love – Hate

Light – Shadow

Negative – Positive

Strength – Weakness

Its unrealistic to believe that we can have light without dark. One cannot exist with out the other. So, it makes sense that finding the balance within us is about seeking harmony between both polarities and ALL aspects of our psyche.

I think its fair to say that the majority of our internal conflicts often happen unconsciously, without our awareness. However, it certainly does influence our thoughts, emotions, behaviour and experiences. Its often difficult to see both sides clearly, when our sight is clouded by our beliefs, emotion, wants, needs and desires. Therefore, our understanding and insight into our internal conflicts, is often seen later, in reflection.

Unless we make a conscious choice to better understand this aspect of our psyche. This is why self awareness and mindfulness is so very important for those of us who strive to expand our knowledge of self.

  I now see ambivalence holding a very important purpose, which automatically reduces my sense of discomfort. It serves as a mediator of sorts. Our ambivalence increases our awareness, by diving deeper into our consciousness. It helps to open up to more possibilities, instead of being trapped in our minds with conflicted thoughts and closing our hearts to conflicting emotions. Our ambivalence helps us to open up our minds to both conflicting sides of self, which hopefully leads to a deeper and higher understanding of self and others.

To our own inner wisdom

Having this insight and understanding does not stop the internal tensions and conflicts from occurring. Neither does it lesson the mental anguish or emotional discomfort. But it does help us to better understand what is happening within our minds and hearts, which then helps us to make better choices …

One would hope so anyways 😜

Something I am learning is …

Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how much we weigh up the pros and cons, because the conflict can remain no matter how long or deeply we look at it. Sometimes, we just need to JUMP in for a closer look, because its the only way to determine what we truly want and need. And sometimes, we will make the wrong choice … and that’s OK.

Because we never lose, we either win or we LEARN

Mindful interaction ❤

Opened up my emails this morning to find the official letter, confirming the training with my new prospective employer. The flight to Perth is already booked, my flight to the UK will be booked this week and my British passport is all set to go. Its ALL happening and I’ll be completely honest with you …

I’ve been quietly freaking the fuck out.

But … why ?

I asked for this, I want this and I need this …

So … why am I feeling so overwhelmed ?

Shouldn’t I be jumping for joy ?

All things considered, its hardly surprising I’m a tad overwhelmed. My life is changing direction right in the midst of a family crisis.

Seriously shitty timing !!!

The changes happening in my outer world are most certainly the result of the inner work I’m doing. Old limiting beliefs are beginning to fade away, as my mind opens up to new possibilities and my heart opens up to more love.

“When you really believe that you are worthy of the best, that you deserve the best and that there is enough of the best for you to have plenty, there will be no need for you to hold onto what you have. Allow yourself to imagine what your life would be like if your hands and heart were to receive something better than what you’re holding onto now.”

This has been the BIGGEST and most influential change. For years Ive been telling myself to never settle for less, to expect the best because I deserve the best … and now I finally BELIEVE it.

I acknowledge, the biggest influence to NOT change my life, is my family

At first, Dads cancer diagnosis put my plans on hold, but when we received the best case scenario, I decided I needed to go ahead with my plans. Because obviously there’s never going to be a good time to do this and the reality is, my plans could be on hold for even more years to come, which would cause me even more tension and conflict.

Whether its right or wrong I want to travel the world and experience new ways of being and doing. I want to have the financial freedom to live between the UK and Australia. I want to love and to be loved passionately. I want to have wild and wonderful adventures. I want to live a life full of inspiration and creativity. I want to be an active participant in creating positive change. I want to inspire and motivate people with my writing. I want to share the magic of manifesting our wildest dreams into reality.

My heart and soul yearns for those things.

Truth is there will ALWAYS be reasons why I should stay, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that staying is the right thing for me to do.

A realization that was soon followed with a sudden sense of urgency to …

DO it NOW !!!

“Maybe you dont have to push yourself forward. Maybe you just have to stop holding yourself back.” (Iyanla Vanzant)

The deeper I dive into myself, the less I can avoid or escape the truth that still lingers in the depths of my heart …

The fear of confronting the missing parts of myself

I’m not entirely certain what that means yet ?

All I know is that Ive been pulled back to the UK for many years for a variety of different reasons, but those reasons all come back to the same thing. A part of my heart still remains in the UK.

Nothing is certain, which means ANYTHING is possible.

But after years and years of dreaming, imagining, talking and planning, my dream is becoming a reality. I finally feel ready to let go of the life I had planned and am opening up to the life that awaits me. However, the timing might be right for me, but its far from being perfect timing. Dad begins his cancer treatment soon, Mam awaits confirmation for her bladder surgery and all 3 of my children dont seem to be in any great hurry to move forward.

Arghhhh !!!!

As my new life begins to open up in front of me, apprehension increases. And no matter how much and how often my nearest and dearest reassure me that everything will be OK, I still battle with my own demons, that have conditioned me to fear the unknown.

Oh YES, I hear the voices, reminding me that I’m a fool for believing that I can have it all. But in the silence, I also hear a distant whisper, reminding me that I already have it all, and more. I only need OPEN myself up to receive it.

“Dont hold together what must fall apart. The familiar life crumbles so the new life can begin.” (Bryant McGill)

It makes perfect sense, after years of experiencing struggle, tension and conflict, that it can feel a little unnerving when things finally begin to flow, especially when the flow begins to pick up speed. As our reality begins to change, our doubts and worry begin to surface and panic can set it, which triggers off our old way of thinking. Our mind senses all those wonderful physiological changes happening in our body, relaying the message that we need to retreat back into the safety of our comfort zones.

We “think” we are experiencing anxiety …

But, WHAT IF we reprogram our minds and interrupt the message ?

What if we replaced the word anxiety with EXCITEMENT ?

Would our experience change ?

You betcha sexy cotton socks it does !!!

A simple flick of a switch in our minds can change our entire experience, alter our reality and shape our future. We can either increase or decrease the energy around creating our dreams. And it all depends on what we are thinking, how we are feeling and what we are doing

So, HOW do we achieve our BIGGEST and WILDEST dreams ?

Well, I see it like this …

First, we dare to DREAM what seems like the impossible dream. Then we allow our minds to IMAGINE what that dream would look and feel like in reality. Because the more we can see and feel our dreams happening in our waking world, the more we BELIEVE in our ability to CREATE it. But we must also take ACTION and do what it takes to bring life to our dreams.

We must be open to LIVE the dream.

And this my friends, is the hardest part of all …

because Universe will challenge us …

To release ourselves from what is, so that we can create something new. To let go of any unhealthy attachments that hold us back. To accept the sacrifices we need to make, however harsh and unfair they may seem to be. To go deeper within and work on our inner self. To take complete responsibility for our lives and to remove any blockages that may prevent the flow.

“Your dreams remain dreams until you choose to breathe life into them and make them real.”

Dream it .. Imagine it .. Believe it .. Action it .. Create it .. Live it

Mindful interaction ❤

The Inner Goddess Makeover, by Tanishka  … “a map for empowering he feminine within”

The Goddesses explored our inner Medicine Woman last month, which Tanishka connects to our Throat chakra.

According to Greek mythology Artemis (a symbol of the moon) and her twin brother Apollo (a symbol of the sun) were hatched out of the cosmic world egg. Artemis was a warrior and huntress, with a fiery temper, who lived in the mountains, where she gained higher insights. She studied and imitated the wild creatures she cohabited with, using those skills to outsmart her enemies. Unleashing the Calydon Boar when angered or upset, but no man could ever kill it. However, a young heroine bravely stood her ground until the boar got close enough to spear it through the only vulnerable spot, the eye.

This being symbolic of how men are unable to appease a woman on the war path, because only another woman can truly understand the core wound, which is the cause of the problem.

I can totally relate to how other women are mirrors that either validate our strength or reflect our shadow. And I strongly believe that the more openly we talk about this, the more we learn about ourselves, the more we understand each other and the deeper we heal.

Although Artemis was destined not to marry and be forever “a woman unto herself” dedicating her life to the service of others, she did have many lovers, both male and female and she only ever loved one man (Orion), whom she accidently shot and killed during a target challenge set by her brother.

The moral of this story is “harmonious and sustainable union with our opposite is only possible when we connect with our receptive feminine energies rather than attack the masculine principle in a spirit of competition and war” and until we resolve our own wounds then we unconsciously react and wound others.

Hmmmmmm … she ponders

YES, this was yet another insightful and challenging energy center to explore.

Tanishka explains how often a catalyst such as separation, divorce or a death can initiate our inner Artemis into action. Because during such times we can have a strong desire to reclaim our independence, reconnect with ourselves and regain a new perspective. In reflection I recall my first experience with this energy center, which was the death of my Grandfather in 2000. This was my catalyst for change, which led to my divorce, my desire for personal and professional development and my pursuit for truth. And each time my heart has broken, I’ve experienced this energy a little more deeply.

I identified how all of my heart wounds were related to loss and change, which was of no great surprise. I also acknowledged that for the most part of 10 years I’ve preferred to have casual love affairs, which I explored a little further.

When I asked myself WHY ?

Universe blessed me with a TRIGGER that helped me to identify the underlying FEAR of loosing myself in relationship. This stemmed back to my very first intimate relationship with my husband and my first heart HURT in love.

Universe soon after blessed me with an EXPERIENCE that showed me the beauty of loosing ourselves in relationship. A recent family crisis provided me with an opportunity to witness how LOVE is so much stronger than the FEAR of loss.

It still blows my mind every time Universe responds to us

The THROAT chakra …

… is our COMMUNICATION center

As the communication center, this energy is not only responsible for communicating within ourselves (mind-body-spirit), its also responsible for communicating with other people (speaking our truths & actively listening to others). So you can appreciate how important an OPEN throat chakra is to our overall lived experience.

The throat chakra is the first higher spiritual chakra, which allows us to seek knowledge beyond the limitations of time, space, cultural and family conditioning. Its where we express our thoughts and feelings from our power center (solar plexus). Its important to note that the only way we can effectively express our authentic truth is to have energy flowing freely from all previous 4 chakras (root, sacral, solar plexus and heart)

Opening and balancing our 1st (root) and 2nd (sacral) chakra helps us to acknowledge and overcome any fear that blocks our energy flow. Opening and balancing our 3rd (solar plexus) chakra helps us to tap into our personal power and increases our confidence to express ourselves. Opening and balancing our 4th (heart) chakra helps us to know what is in our hearts, which then helps to open our 5th (throat) chakra and verbalize our needs, desires and opinions with more ease and more authentic truth.

Having more insight into what and how our energy centers are influenced, its easy to understand why many people don’t do the “inner work” because its time consuming and confronting. I can also appreciate why we sometimes stay silent or say what others want to hear, especially when our truth causes tension, discomfort and conflict.

Speaking our truth demands complete honesty, but authentic expression of our thoughts and feelings is often suppressed out of fear. We fear not being accepted and we fear being judged. However, when we choose not to communicate our truth, our inner tension and outer conflict increases, leading to feelings of stress, which many believe turns into dis-ease.

Some of the LESSONS of this energy center is to …

Take full responsibility to HEAL ourselves

Embrace time alone in SOLITUDE

Identify missing pieces of our psyche (conscious/unconscious mind)

BELIEVE that we are able to fulfill our own needs

Set clear BOUNDARIES

Rely and TRUST in our own inner knowing

ALLOW others to care for us when needed

As I learn more and more about how my own energy centers function, block, open and flow, the more I understand how this supports us in flowing and creating with Universe, breathing life into our dreams and living the life we imagine. This gives me some serious goosy bump feel goods

Mindful interaction ❤

The Inner Goddess Makeover, by Tanishka … “a map for empowering he feminine within”

This month the Goddesses gathered in circle to talk about our Earth Mumma experience, which Tanishka refers to as Demeter, our ” Inner Earth Empress. ”

Its interesting how we each connect with different Goddess archetypes and why we resonate with the morals to those stories. I think its fair to say that we are all learning to better understand how our energy flow is influenced by our own thoughts and feelings about certain experiences. Tanishkas Goddess Makeover and our gatherings are proving to be a valuable tool and a great support in our own seasonal and transitional changes.

According to Greek mythology Demeter (Goddess of Harvest, Fertility and Agriculture) had a close and loving connection with her daughter Persephone. Demeter tended to the earth and taught her daughter all about the changing seasons and how to nurture those around her. At 15 yrs old, Persephone wanted to do what most teenagers want to do, spend less time with her Mother and more time exploring. One day, she wandered away from her friends and found herself in a little bit of trouble. She picked a narcissus flower, which opened up the earth for Hades (God of the Underworld).

Hades was the brother of Zeus (God of Sky and Thunder) and Zeus was the Father of Persephone, who had promised his daughter to his brother. Hades took Persephone back to the Underworld, claiming her as his wife. Demeter wild with rage by this act of betrayal, retreated into a state of dark despair, wandering the countryside for months looking for her daughter.

Crops began to die and famine would soon follow if Demeter refused to tend her duties. So Zeus bargained with his brother to return Persephone to her Mother because the survival of land, people and Gods themselves was threatened.

Although Hades agreed to release her, he offered Persephone a pomegranate seed before she left him, which stopped her from ever wanting to return back to her Mother permanently. So, she returned to her Mother only in Springtime, spending 6 months together when the flowers bloomed, which reflected her Mothers happiness. Then returning back to her husband as “Queen of the Underworld” when the first chills of Autumn came.

(artwork by Korinna Universe)

This chapter on our inner Earth Empress resonated strongly with me because its about how we transition from Maiden, Mother to Wise Woman and how we learn to accept the polarities of ourselves and life through our own seasonal changes. The moral of this story being, how we learn to embrace our child’s need to individuate from us and our need to release them so they can follow their own destiny. Our lesson as Mothers, to accept the experience of loss as being part of our ability to birth, create and nurture.

Do you hold onto your growing child and resist letting go … if so, why ?

Do you celebrate this transition and let go with ease … if so, why ?

Although many grown up children are choosing to live with their parents longer, for a variety of different reasons. Its inevitable as parents to eventually experience the “empty nest syndrome,” when our child chooses to leave the comfort and familiarity of our warm embrace. However, I feel its important to also note that a nest isn’t always empty because the child has left home. Sometimes the parent leaves the young child abandoned and other times the parent kicks the grown child out of the nest. And unfortunately some parents are confronted with the horror of loosing their child in death.

Regardless of how the nest becomes empty, we each experience the same sense of loss. Our feelings of grief will vary greatly, depending upon our own individual situation, circumstance, experience and beliefs, which influences the level of attachment and dependency we have with our child and how we then experience the loss. There is no right or wrong way to be a Mother because each Mother, child and experience is unique. As human beings we are beautiful complex creatures with so many contradictions. So, our relationships are just as wonderfully complex and are equally more challenging to understand.

(artwork by RavenMaddArtwork)

There is so much in this chapter that I could share with you because the topic and content resonates on so many levels for so many reasons. Our inner Earth Empress connects with our own personal experience and transitions from Maiden, Mother to Wise Woman, which impacts upon our experience of both Mother and Daughter. Demeter offers insight into our relationship with self, others, Nature and Universe. Our Earth Mumma experience is connected strongly to our heart center, which is also our connection to the Source of creation, which has a huge impact on our energy flow.

The heart chakra is the energy center that moves LOVE through our lives. It is responsible for how freely love flows in and out of our heart space. When our hearts are OPEN and energy is flowing freely, we create safe, warm, loving and supportive environments. And we give love, kindness and compassion to others and ourselves. A BLOCKED heart chakra is experienced when we are not flowing with our emotions. When our hearts are hurting we repress uncomfortable emotions and shut down the flow of energy. We withdraw, feel disconnected and lonely. We lack empathy and the ability to forgive others and ourselves. When our heart chakra is UNBALANCED we are co-dependent, looking outward for acceptance or fulfillment. We experience feelings of jealousy and we judge others harshly.

Tanishka talks about the rise of the Dark Mother, who often emerges when a significant event triggers her (divorce, death, rejection, failure). A very interesting concept that I resonate strongly with having been confronted with her presence more than once. She is the shadow aspects of our nurturing self, who surfaces when we dont feel valued, respected or needed. The Dark Mother retreats inwards to focus on her own inner needs. A natural gestation period of depression that prepares her for the transition from Mother to Wise Woman. In this state of being we can feel angry, resentful and bitter, which can result in passive aggressive behaviour towards those we believe are responsible for our pain and discomfort.

We can see why this aspect of ourselves has been pushed aside, hidden and considered to be socially unacceptable. We can also appreciate how those dark moods and symptoms of depression can be misunderstood. Hence why teachings such as this are so very important to validate the experience of Motherhood in its entirety. Because the more love, understanding and support we offer each other during these natural seasonal and transitional changes, the more empowered we will be as women, which will have a positive impact upon ALL of our relationships.

So … HOW do we balance our heart chakra ?

With intentions to OPEN up our hearts, to give and receive love and to heal our hurts. By flowing with our emotions and observing our thoughts. Being honest about how we truly feel because its part of the healing process.

Repressed or suppressed emotions stay in our bodies and become toxic. They distort our thinking, feed our fears, keep us stuck in our suffering, increase our risk of illness and can create dis-ease. When it comes to our emotions, it doesn’t matter if we say it, write it, talk about it, walk with it, reflect over it or create with it … What matters most is that we EXPRESS it

Accepting what is and letting go of what was allows LOVE to flow freely

Maintaining good energy flow and balance in our chakras is just as important to our health and well being, as following a nutritional diet and daily exercise. And the more I look into and learn about my  own chakras, the more I can see how my choices are impacted by these energy centers.

I pose the question …

  What do YOU do when you suffer from persistent headaches ?

We either choose to seek out a quick fix and take a panadol (OR) we make the necessary lifestyle changes that reduces the occurrence of headaches in the first place. By drinking more water, reducing caffeine, sugar and alcohol intake. Changing our diet. Reducing stress. Meditating. Improving sleep, etc.

Maintaining our energy flow is all about our choices

We can either continue to experience blocked and unbalanced energy flow (OR) we can seek out Reiki Masters to help balance our centers for us (OR) we can empower ourselves by looking inwards, digging deeper and identifying the thought, emotion or belief that blocks the energy flow.

Mindful interaction ❤

In the darkness of night I listen to the silence of yesterday … I hear you
As the rains fall and wash away the debris of today … I see you
In the winds that blow us towards the promises of tomorrow … I feel you
As the bitter sweet emotions flow through my fleshy form … I taste you

Memories that linger in the depths of our minds … haunting us
Wounds that dwell in the shadows of our hearts … hurting us

None of us are alone in our suffering
None of us are isolated from the truth

As we awaken, those around us become more and more restless
Old paradigms die hard
Patriachial systems fight for their survival

As we heal, those around us become more and more curious
Old ways of doing and being are beginning to crumble
In readiness for something new

Change is upon us
But I hold you close
Comforting you in my soft bosom
Kissing the tears as they fall
Giving you strength to fight the fear
Offering you courage to soften and open up your heart

You are not alone in your uncertainty
My energy surrounds you
Together we are one
And as one we will create something beautiful
Each of us guiding each other home
To a place of wholeness and divine union
Where love and light is cherished,
Dark and shadows are embraced
And male and female are equal

Listen … and you will hear me
Look … and you will see me
Open … and you will feel me
Savour … and you will taste me

As I save you from yourself
You save me from myself

Mindful interaction ❤

The Inner Goddess Makeover, by Tanishka … “a map for empowering he feminine within”
Last month at our Goddess book club gathering, Tanishka introduced us to our inner Athena, Goddess of Wisdom and War, governed by our Solar Plexus

Stepping into our own Personal Power

According to Greek mythology Athena was the daughter of Zeus (God of Sky and Thunder) and Sophia (Goddess of Wisdom). Zeus swallowed his pregnant wife whole because he feared that his child would be wiser than himself. Athena, determined to full fill her destiny was born from her Fathers head. This is symbolic of our need to individuate from our Dads influence and to question any thoughts that keep us confined to his world view

Athena energy is the part of us that wont shy away from a challenge

Career focused, she is driven towards achieving success and will fight for just cause and purpose. She is the part of us who listens to her head more than her heart, which often causes some tension and conflict with our Aphrodite energy, who is governed by her heart

“To become truly wise we must experience both success and failure. Because vulnerability provokes reflection and life changes”

For me, this is another chapter rich in self discovery, reinforcing some of the inner work Ive been doing for some time now. Ive already explored who has and does influence my beliefs around self worth, relationships, work and money. So acknowledging the individuation process from our Fathers influence had a profound effect on my experience

Ive learned that when my own inner masculine energy hasn’t been acknowledged or balanced, I have sought out male attention and company, instead of focusing on balancing my own energy. Ive learned that when I have done this, I have made choices and selected mates based on my inability to fulfill my own needs, which has created unhealthy attachments that have lead towards the formation of codependent relationships. This is why I have lost the sense of myself and this is how I have created experiences full of tension and conflict

Hmmmmm … she ponders

Some ugly truths confronted but a huge and very significant lesson to learn

As women, our relationship with our Father has a significant impact on how we feel about ourselves, the choice of mate we select and how we think about work and money. Lets be clear, I am in no way suggesting that our Father is responsible for any experiences we have, whether they are good or bad. I am only pointing out how his presence or lack there of, has an influence on our lives

How does our mind belong to our Dad ?

How physically/emotionally present was our Dad during childhood ?

What limiting beliefs do we have around self worth, work and money ?

What is our greatest fear of failure ?

What is our Dads life lesson ?

How have we internalized this and are trying to complete it for him ?

Although I have my own opinions, I’m looking forward to asking my Dad these questions directly and having a conversation with him about it. Fortunately my Dad thrives on anything that’s likely to spark off a good debate

I was brought up in a middle class family. My Father was and still is a hard working man who takes his responsibilities very seriously. Ive acknowledged some limiting beliefs around money that is changing how I think and feel about work. I’m learning that the only way to live a life of abundance is to believe that we are worthy of having it. This shift in perception has been the catalyst for some big changes in my life, which has and is literally opening up my world to other opportunities and possibilities

I have finally stepped into the ACTION part of one of my manifesting quotes

DREAM it .. IMAGINE it .. BELIEVE it .. ACTION it .. CREATE it .. LIVE it

According to Tanishka, our inner Goddess of Wisdom and War is governed by our Solar Plexus, which is located in the abdomen

This is the core of our personality, identity and ego

Our energy center, where we seek out a mental understanding of our emotional self and  its where we balance our mind, our heart and our instinct

This chakra influences our will power, confidence, self discipline and self esteem

This is where we literally plug in to our own sense of POWER

This is where energy is transformed into ACTION

When we are REACTIVE our solar plexus is imbalanced

When we are INACTIVE our solar plexus is blocked

When we are PROACTIVE our solar plexus is open and energy is flowing

If you want to gauge how your PERSONAL POWER is then ask yourself …

Do you choose love, light and healing ?

Do you accept that you have the power to change ?

Do you feel a sense of freedom when you make a choice ?

SELF LOVE is at the core of this and every other chakra energy

Self love, self acceptance, self awareness and self worth are the building blocks of this energy center, which helps us to meet our challenges and move forward

When our solar plexus is open and balanced we value ourselves and the work we do. We are confident in our ability to do something. We are willing to express ourselves. We know that we have the freedom to choose and we become the director of our own life

“We have the power to choose to live our purpose (or) live out the karma from past experiences” … the choice is always ours to make

The lessons of this energy is to balance our strengths and shadow traits

Some of those lessons being ….

To recognize that our self worth is dependent upon our inner sense of being

To balance productivity & reflection to succeed both personally & professionally

To mentor those younger and less skilled without fearing they will out shine us

To trust that our intuition is our own sense of power and authority

To fully appreciate our Dads gifts and flaws and own them in ourselves

To validate our emotions by expressing them, instead of rationalizing them

To use money wisely to cover our needs before our wants

To not resent the success of others, but see it as a mirror of whats possible for us