“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
~L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
Come walk with me. My favorite time of the year. My favorite path to walk…
Through the woods collecting leaves, birch pieces and acorns for my altar.
My nod of deep gratitude for the season of Fall.
I hope your soul feels as nourished as mine.
XO,
Barbara
Last night I had a dream which I remembered when I awoke. It was bothering me even though my initial response was that I didn’t want to look at the dream deeper and what it perhaps may mean. But I’ve learned that our dreams can guide us in a positive way.
So I first meditated to allow myself to move into a more neutral space. I then pulled three oracle cards and journaled the insight I received. I acknowledged my fear and witnessed the part of me that can still revisit that wounding of abandonment and that can invoke certain emotions within me. I then realized the thoughts I was having about my dream weren’t rational or ‘real’ in the sense I thought they were.
I then rolled out my yoga mat as I continued to simmer in the meaning of the dream for me and what the oracle cards revealed. As I moved through my practice it was at one point I heard, “A clear mind leads to peace of mind.” In order to clear my mind, I had to be willing to look into my heart, though it felt awfully vulnerable, because what if the way I was interpreting the dream was ‘real?’
But when I let go and felt my way into my heart, I realized there wasn’t anything concrete about the dream – but rather it was a projection of an old story of my own insecurities from my past. I knew this and the cards reflected this for me also.
So on this theme, I asked for all of us, from The Wisdom of the Oracle what is the first step we need to take in order to clear our mind and find peace of mind?
The card I pulled is Between Worlds – #3
I see this card as inviting us to walk without fear between the worlds of our waking and dreaming lives. Something my sweet dog, Gidget taught me was to see life sideways – meaning that not making something so mental that it drives us crazy with suffering.
The willingness to be with our fears can help us look beyond and guide us to what needs to be acknowledged and witnessed in order that we can heal pain from our past. Instead of staying stuck in the past, if we can open to understanding it as a teaching, we can walk with more peace and clarity in our everyday lives.
It really is by moving into the heart and deeply listening that we can find our way to ease our minds and experience more peace.
The number three is about evolving in our well-being which requires looking at what needs to be healed in order that we can experience more wholeness.
When I look at the flamingo on the card I’m reminded of living a life with grace – being kind and gentle with ourselves when we lose our way and find ourselves drowning in fear – to forgive ourselves – and to move ahead slowly and trust that Spirit has our backs – which will lead us back to being in balance.
It’s hard to see, but there is also a hummingbird hovering above the flamingo, facing toward the dark side of the card. I see this as facing the dark as necessary in order to bring more joy and light into one’s life. It’s in understanding the darkness that we shed light on what needs healing and we are able to move through life with more ease.
Lastly, I picked a card from the Spirit Animal Oracle asking what animal guides us as we lean into working our way toward more peace of mind and I pulled Rhino Spirit. I see Rhino as a reminder that we are stronger and more resilient than we often realize. See the crown on the first horn of the Rhino? We have the power to transform our lives by being open to all it has to offer us. And when we feel empowered, we feel safe and experience more peace of mind.
Lastly, I turned to the guidebook and this line stood out: “We always have the choice to press ahead.”
Looking at the cards side-by-side I noticed the toughness of rhino, but also the gracefulness of flamingo as a reminder that both are necessary for moving through this one precious life.
XO,
Barbara
Oracle cards used: The Wisdom of the Oracle and Spirit Animal Oracle by Colette Baron-Reid
This is the path that leads to a small wooded area near my home. The colors are near peak here in Wisconsin and I’m savoring each and every moment.
At times, I must admit, that I feel a bit melancholy as I know fall will be on its way out soon. Because it’s my favorite season, it can feel bittersweet when it begins to descend and let go. My mom often says on cloudy days that we have to carry sunshine in our hearts. It’s the way I feel about fall – I shall carry all of it – the colors, the smells, the sounds, the feelings it evokes in me, and keep it safely tucked in my heart until it rolls around next time.
As I walked along the trails I came upon a fallen tree and stump. It’s been there for as long as I’ve been walking in the woods. Part of the tree is hollowed out from decay. It’s a spot I often see chipmunks, either scurrying through the open areas of the trunk or sunning themselves on the stump.
But today no one was home. I thought silently to myself that likely they were out gathering nuts to store in their home for the winter season. In my mind, I said, “Chippy, chippy where are you?” And just then I heard a high pitched chittering as he scooted right in front of me across the path.
I smiled. Chippy heard me and the brave little one decided to answer my call to let me know that indeed I wasn’t alone.
I feel in a good place these days understanding on a deeper level than I’ve ever felt before, that I’m never alone. It has been at times challenging to remember this. But then something as simple as a walk in nature brings me right back to remembering that all I have to do is make the first move. The universe then responds with its support and wraps itself around me making me feel home once again.
XO,
Barbara