listen, let go & trust
sometimes the hardest thing to do is nothing at all
We can’t always see the way forward, even when what we long for is clear.
The resolution of our challenges and fulfilment of our dreams might take meandering, unexpected paths. Often our journeys only make sense to us when we look back through lived experience to acknowledge the places we needed to visit in order to arrive where we are today.
Life isn’t linear. Transformation isn’t linear. But our minds love to be linear.
And our minds tend to push to get something uncomfortable out of the way as well. We assume obstacles are enemies and try to remove them before we receive them. We fill empty spaces before we feel them.
But sometimes obstacles are nudging us towards another door standing wide open, and empty spaces are fertile ground for the seeds which are deep underground to burst into roots and shoots.
A friend of mine recently shared this message with me from a wonderful astrologer we both know:
“I know it seems very, very difficult right now and very frustrating for you with all the delays. But it might be helpful for you to know that the planetary aspects in general are really challenging and difficult this month, as you can probably tell just by looking at the world situation. It’s a difficult time for many people right now, so these delays are actually working in your favour.
If you were to have your meetings at this time, things would probably not go well, because everyone is so stressed and tense. So please try to be as positive and as a patient as you can, as we all live through these very intense times. And know that you are not being punished, but are being protected for the moment.
Please do your best to keep focused on what brings you joy, and continue to have faith that things will work out in the right timing.”
I love her reframing!
What if obstacles are sometimes protectors?
And what if remembering what brings us joy is one of the ingredients which allows us to create the change we long for?
The question becomes: where are we pushing from?
Where are we pushing from?
Something I’ve been paying attention to recently is noticing where I’m pushing from. Am I acting from a genuine caring and creative intention, or is there a restless fear pacing behind my actions, which is hoping to distract me from its hidden belief that I’m not ok?
This young part of me - the one who’s so scared she might have done something wrong - is particularly triggered right now. I’ve recently shared the latest manuscript of my book with some trusted friends and teachers, and the combination of exposing something personal whilst waiting for unpredictable responses at unknown times shakes up this little inner controller! I’ve noticed a quiet urgency for something to happen; a tension looking for displacement.
So instead of more doing, I’m making more space to simply be. I’ve been consciously widening my attention beyond these small stories of self, so that this young part can remember how deeply life holds her. Rather than feeling she needs to be the one to make it all ok, she’s allowed to feel scared, knowing that this is already ok. That all of this, just as it is, is already ok.
Messages from spirit
One of the ways I’ve been widening my attention this week is by connecting with the elements. They help me reorient with something unfathomably larger than my stories of not being enough or doing enough. So I’ve been bringing Earth, Fire, Air, Water and Space into my practices, feeling them alive and visceral in my bones, muscles, organs and breath.
And I’ve also been inviting the intelligent aliveness of the elements to speak to me directly, at times. The words which come through my hand onto the page often surprise and always support me. Here’s a message from Water:
When I shared this way of practising on Sangha Live a few months ago, I was blown away by the depth of love and wisdom many of you received through your messages. I know some of you have been integrating these messages into your lives since then, and their ripples have spread far and wide.
Next week (June 2-6) I’m back at Sangha Live each morning from 7-8am UK time (with recordings available immediately if you register in advance: more info here and register here). Though the theme of the week is meeting the elements and feeling them alive and vital in the body, we’ll make a little time at the end of each meditation to receive a message from the element we have connected with as well.
You might be surprised by what you read!
From love comes the right answer
Another message that was shared with me after the last meditation touched me deeply. It came from someone who has been struggling with an important relationship in her life and asked for guidance. She received this:
Feel your love for them.
From love comes the right answer.
To me, this encapsulates the heart of my practice.
I align and enliven my body, stabilise and open my mind, widen and soften my heart - so I’m more able to embrace the immediacy of this moment with love - so that love is more available to respond to this moment.
Because from love comes the right answer.
This takes time of course. Time to listen, let go and trust. Time to lovingly embrace the places that are hurting. But it’s a sacred time whose ripples spread unimaginably wide.
It’s time I take for myself regularly, knowing how dramatically it impacts not only my own life but the lives of everyone around me as well. And though I’m so grateful to be able to do this, I also know that I’ve prioritised this possibility in my life precisely because I’ve experienced its preciousness time and time again.
Join me on retreat
If you feel called to dive deeper and wider than a class or home practice is able to offer, you are warmly welcome to join my next retreat this September/October for a week of silence, communion, yoga, meditation, nature immersion and sacred un-doing. Find out more here.
Alongside daily yoga and meditation practices, we will continue to listen, let go and trust. We’ll receive messages of support and guidance from the universe, and write messages of love to ourselves and others.
Because the more we step into love’s flow, the more gently and swiftly the river guides us to the sea.
“The river can’t always see the sea” - such a beautifully-visualised reminder of this truth. Am going to remember it ❤️