Your Unique Potential

When I first read this Joseph Campbell quote, I thought about the career I chose to pursue when I was in school. I focused on that pursuit being the definition of my unique potential. I went away from the quote for awhile.... left the image sitting in a folder on my computer. When I returned to it, the words seemed somehow changed.

What truly changed was my reading of them. That very first line snags my mind with a wild image: "...never was on land or sea." As though what we seek is unique to each of us individually even if the basic job descriptions or life descriptions share the same wording.

When I consider the number of times I could have let my own uniqueness shine, I realize that I instead spent a chunk of time fading into anonymity. Why? Several reasons. One is that I am, at heart, an introvert. Being in the limelight does not come easily to me. Another is the fear of failure. In order to truly succeed at stepping into a fuller potential, there is a better than even chance of failure. Now I understand that 'failure' is simply a word with greater or lesser emotion attached to it. For me, it used to be greater. It's growing lesser with each passing season. I also was negligent of the possibility of success. What would it take? Was my dream, my desire, big enough?

An important lesson I've learned lately is that it is never too late to reach for a dream. I've been blessed with a number of course changes during my life. Currently, I'm heading for another. It's all good ~ and bringing me closer to becoming something that "never was on land or sea."

Have you reached your fullest potential? How unique do you see yourself being? Is there something more calling to you? Are you willing to head for your own course change? Where would that lead you?

Allowing the Wild Storm

Sacred Rebels Oracle by Alana Fairchild

Since it was the weekend, I decided to draw a card for the coming week. What was my focus for the coming week? What was the most important point for me to keep in my awareness? What showed up: After the Storm.

From the Guidebook:
"There is, in life and in the creative process, a need to allow for wild storms. There will be those precious moments of peace beforehand, and the release and revitalisation that follows, yet the storm in the middle is essential! ...[T]he storm wisdom offers you the gift of bringing things to a head, and clearing them away, so that the energy can be freed from a pattern that has had its day, and is ready to become something new."

I've spent a good chunk of the past year weathering the storm. There have been bright, sunny, blue-sky spots as well as dark, forbidding, sudden-squall spots. I've been blessed with friends both new and old who have ridden out the shifts and changes with me. I love that this card has shown itself at this precise moment in time. It's the blossoming force of the creative process that has provided the life-changing, mind-altering energy to keep me moving forward, ever onward.

It isn't lost on me that the creature flying in the bright creative moonlight after the storm is an Owl. Owl has guided me through dark times for many, many years. It was my high school mascot. No matter where I've traveled, Owl has insisted on being a Light Bearer and guide for me. This beautiful, moon-faced barn owl is haunting and hunting me, leading me through the darkest moments of the storm. I am grateful.

What storm is brewing in your life? or what storm has recently passed? How does your creative energy express before, during and after the storm? Do you fear the storm? or find it exciting? What's your next creative step?

Achieving a Smile

My latest Teabag Tarot.... and I'm giggling about it. Really? A smile is an achievement? Well, sometimes it is.

Sometimes happenings take me by surprise: a friend's hospitalization, a new pet at a relative's house, a pink slip in my pay envelope. Most surprises bring with them a sense of "oh, no!" which can translate into anything from fear to grief to shock. Even when the news is good ~ an engagement, an upcoming graduation, a raise ~ my first reaction is rarely a smile. To smile, to show happiness, at those moments is an accomplishment all in and of itself.

It's also difficult at times to get those corners of my mouth to turn up. When I am focused on work, I can feel my lips purse with intention. When I am doing housework or riding my bike or writing this blog, often my thoughts are flying faster than my fingers and I am not necessarily smiling either. Smiling at those moments, although happier times, also happens with reminders.

My giggling at this particular Teabag Tarot shows the strange paradox of the seriousness as well as the lightheartedness of its message. I look forward to practicing and rewarding myself with a smile as often as I can.

Do you ever feel the difficulty of smiling? How do you remind yourself to smile more often? When was the last time you caught yourself smiling and wondered why? What was the most difficult time for you to smile?

Beautiful Dreams

Sacred Rebels by Alana Fairchild

Do you know how sometimes you do something that later you can't explain why you did it? Or you can't fathom how or why it held the effect and power it did?

Less than a week ago, a package arrived. I didn't recall ordering anything so when I opened it, what was inside was a surprise. I enjoy ~ and collect ~ a variety of decks of divination cards. There was one inside that was totally new to me; one I don't recall having seen: Sacred Rebels by Alana Fairchild.

When I opened the deck, I focused on the question: What Rebel do I need to guide me today? I drew the card: Dream a Beautiful Dream.

From the Guidebook:
You are meant to dream of beauty and to create beauty, in its far more holistic and creative definition. ... [Healing] happens when we accept the existence of inner harmony in all of creation, even if it cannot be consciously observed. By expecting there to be beauty within a situation, even if it is hidden, you will be more open to seeing the healing potential, even in your challenges.

I'm in the midst of facing a challenge, however personally large or small it may be. I often think I am on my own in facing it. Then I drew this card and read this information: Seeing the hidden beauty in the situation will carry healing. My own creative expression and vision will heal the disruption of the challenge, if only I look beyond my fear, upset, pain, distress or whatever other emotion arises from the challenge.

How do these things happen? How does a deck that I didn't recall ordering arrive at the precise moment I need it? How do my hands shuffle and draw the exact card carrying the message to soothe my heart?

Do these type of events happen to you? If not a deck, perhaps a person showing up with a message or advice when you need it? To what ~ or whom ~ do you attribute this occurrence? Is it something you attract or draw to you?

What Do You Think?

I've understood the power of positive thinking for years now. Recently, I've begun practicing a new step in the positive thinking routine ~~ Reaching for the higher thought. What we think, the way our minds allow for positively or negatively charged words, creates what comes to us. It's simple and not so simple all at the same time.

Positive attracts positive. When I allow my thoughts to be bright and positive, I attract more of the same.

Negative attracts negative. When I grump and grumble and roll around in the metaphorical mud, things continue down that same road.

As I said, simple. The not so simple part is doing it continually. I practice often. I take deep breaths every time some dull thoughts rumble through, put the brakes on them and grab for a higher, brighter thought.

It goes something like this:
"This is taking too long! What's that lady doing? Why isn't the line moving? I only have two items; why isn't there an open faster lane?"
BREATH. BREATH.
"I'm glad I'm in this lane and not a longer one. I'm glad I only have two items so when I get to check out, I'll be done quickly. Look at how beautiful the sky looks! I have a good view through the window from here."
By the time I get through the check out, I'm more relaxed and smiling. The entire day looks better and all I did was refocus with intention on something positive.

What do you do to bring more positive thinking into your life? How do you change your thinking when it's heading down the negative track? How do you feel when you're positive? How do you feel when you're negative?

January's Super New Moon

January 20, 2015 ~ The first New Moon of the new year AND the first SuperMoon of 2015. Unusual as it may seem, this New Moon is one of the closest to the Earth. Even though we don't see it, we can feel the pull of its presence.

This Super New Moon is in Aquarius, the sign of new beginnings, fresh starts and expecting the unexpected.

The New Moon is always a time of letting go. However, this one demands that you look closely within to see what needs changing in order to create success and growth. Look at your challenges in a new way and be willing to embrace them, to work with them, to overcome them.

There is power in the choices you make today. Choose well. Let the Super New Moon work its magic to help you create new life and co-create it the way you want it to be. Live your creativity from the deepest part of yourself. Empower yourself ~ do what makes you feel powerful, courageous, strong. Step out of your comfort zone and be bold and innovative. Listen to your inner knowing, your intuition. Pay attention. Listen with all your attention.

New Moons carry their own power. The particular potential of this one is its position as the first of the year.

What are you ready to let go of? How is you creative energy calling to you? What is your intuition saying?

Gatekeepers of the Lips

Sometimes, when I take the time to think about it, I catch myself saying some things that are pretty ugly. Not intentionally. My mood can cause me to bark or to snap half truths. Or it can provide verbal fodder that would be better off unsaid. Occasionally, I step into gossip ~ which is never a pretty or uplifting conversation. It's human nature to speak our minds about topics, rattle off our opinions and focus on the seamier side of our mental processes.

That's why I love the proverb in the image. It reminds me that three very small queries could prevent the kind of negativity that I truly don't want to have in my life.

The first question: Is it true? It seems that would be an easy one. Something is either true or it is not. Unfortunately, my words are rarely that simple. The specific statements I make may be true, but the context, inflection and/or intention may not be. Have you ever heard, or used, the phrase: "I was only telling the truth as I saw it"? That's a subtle acknowledgement that the speaker knows the re-telling is questionable in its veracity. If that's true, keep your mouth closed. The story doesn't need to be told that badly.

The second question: Is it kind? Wow. This one really hits me in the gut. Have you ever wanted just to be snippy and unkind to make yourself feel better? Sometimes that how it goes. I've had a tough day at work, I forgot my lunch, I spilled my coffee. The list goes on. When I feel bad or insecure, all I want to do is feel better. For some odd reason, at those moments I forget about kindness.

The third question: Is it necessary? Probably over half of what I talk about with people is unnecessary. People don't need all the details of my burnt breakfast. Or how many places I searched for new batteries for my camera. If the details help comfort someone or make someone laugh, then they're worth it. It's a matter of discerning what's truly necessary to hear and what's fluff.

I think I'll post this image above my desk. If I remember to look at it, it may save some heartache and ugliness.

Do you ever say ugly things? How do you feel afterward? What do you do to mitigate the comment? What practice do you do to stop the ugliness from coming out?









































































































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