All It Takes Is One Small Step At A Time

One small step is progress. It is moving forward, changing the perspective, the energies and our options. We have to remember to not always get too focused on the big picture. Living that way can often cause overwhelm. It can often be discouraging. And we can lose our motivation, our connection to inspiration and our awareness of the smaller lessons and gifts along the way.

Each day we are given possibilities that can impact our soul's journey. We are given opportunities to engage with new energies. We meet new people. We have fresh moments of pause for reflection, rest and regeneration. Each day we are afforded twenty four hours to dream, to re-invent, to negotiate and to discard what is no longer needed or not the right fit. Our life unfolds, day by day, moment by moment. And yet time seems to fly by.

So many times we get caught up with the big picture, the ultimate goal, the grand scheme and by doing so we lose so much. There are moments of wonder woven into the fabric of each day. There are tremendous lessons that will save us the waste of time, energy and more. There are people who are crossing our path that are meant to inspire us, support us and celebrate us. There are gifts the Universe has planted along the way, waiting for our discovery and appreciation. But if our vision is only set on the far distant horizon, we become unaware of these special moments.

If we keep a story in our mind that there is tremendous work ahead of us, we grow weary. If all we tell ourselves of all the years of effort, tremendous lengthy strategies and required stages before we can have what we hope for, to achieve what we long for, or to reach this projected destination on our path, we lose our energetic commitment. Instead, we can chose to focus on just one small step at a time.

Each step we take is of value and can carry great intention. Each step can be celebrated and honored. Showing up in our life with this perspective keeps us engaged with the energies of the present moment; our now. We embrace the gifts that come our way, we value the lessons that will save us as we move forward and we cherish the relationships that inspire us.

Being present and appreciating the importance of every single step we take allows us to make the most of this beautiful gift of life, instead of forever focusing on the some day in the future. After all, life is meant for living, not waiting for.

Blessings, Lisa

The Sacred Ritual

As a ritualist I often will turn to my practice to bring alignment to my needs with my hopes, to highlight intention in my actions, or to shed awareness to my words. Doing so establishes an honor to my efforts and an energy to them as well.

Rituals can be found in many spiritual books and websites. My most favorite and often most effective are those though that come from my own being as they have my breath in them, my heart and passion and my longings and awareness. Some rituals have many layers to them and can be quite deep in process and ceremony, while others gain tremendous power from their simplicity.

Rituals can be done to honor seasonal intentions, life's rites of passage, healing opportunities and more. They can be done at specific times of the day, phases of the moon or during significant life stages. I think that rituals can be as unique and splendid as the person acting upon them.

For some, the word ritual creates a snag, yet we are surrounded by them in our day to day lives. Many have rituals that they perform around the holidays, for example. Take the kissing beneath the mistletoe or the breaking of a turkey's wishbone, these are rituals. Rituals can be done at life events such as the tossing of the bride's bouquet at a wedding or the showering of a mother to be at a baby shower. Rituals also can be quite sacred and based on a person's spiritual practice, such as the various rituals we perform at the time of a loved one's death.

The next time you are facing a major life event, try creating a ritual that can honor this passage. Bring to the ritual specific intentions, honor from where you have come and to where you are going on your life's path, or choose symbolism that helps embody the essence of this time for you.

Perhaps a ritual can be created to honor an intention you are setting for yourself. Where do you want to focus your energies? Are there colors that, for you, create powerful meaning about this? If so use them. Is there an action that you can do that embodies this intention that you can incorporate into your ritual?

Bringing your creative self to your ritual planning allows you to incorporate so many different things that can have great meaning to you; music, family artifacts, images, colors, flowers, crystals, food and more.

Bring your playful soul out and allow it to dance with the sacredness of your ritual. See what comes to mind, what awakens and what longs to be honored. Whether it be small and private or more festive and community based is up to you, but the sacred act of bringing ritual to your practice can create a tremendous amount of power, healing, beauty and celebration to your moment of recognition. It will most certainly create a memory making event out of it so that you can often recall the intent of the moment, the special role it played in your life and the way in which your brought your soul's energies to your spiritual practice and life event.

Blessings, Lisa

The Many Paths

There are many paths our soul can take to bring us to our calling. It is not always important how we get there, but instead how open we are to being in the flow. Going with the flow means allowing the current, the energies, the Soul's direction guide us. When we fight it and push against it we are resisting. And perhaps we then miss golden opportunities, important "chance" meetings and timely lessons.

Bringing our awareness to this flow is important to the journey. As we merge our soul's energies to those around us we feel shifts, miracles happen, doors open and possibilities expand. As we let go of our agenda and our sense of control we find a new way of being.

I have often said to a client, "There are many ways for you to get to your soul's call, you can choose "your" way, which may be the most challenging or your soul's way, which will more likely be the most graceful and meaningful." Tapping into our soul's energies often provides us with the chance to go the way of least resistance and best suited for our needs.

The many paths that our soul provide us with hold the chance to not be attached to outcome and to let go of expectations. It allows us to breathe in the essence of our soul's goal. To be awake to its nuances and to be appreciative to the wonders it is bringing to us.

To go with the flow and be open to the path of our soul takes a certain amount of trust in our wise self. It takes practice. It takes patience. For some this is the most challenging part of living a soulful life. But the signs are always there. If you feel stuck, are you in the flow? If you keep repeating certain behaviors that are not serving you well, are you in the flow? If your relationships seem to be toxic and keep going round and round, are you in the flow?

Trust the plan of your soul. Know it will bring you to the path best suited for you to follow. Let go of the false sense of control and make room for intuition, awareness and wonder. Bring your Self into alignment with the energetic flow of your soul and you will not be disappointed.

Blessings, Lisa

Do You Remember?

Do you remember who you really are? Not the labels that your family has placed upon you. Not the roles you fall into with your peers and friends. Not the person you wish you could be or weren't. Do you remember who you really are?

Let me help you. Get quiet, get still. Breathe in the memory of a time when you felt immensely connected to the space, the time, the people around you. You felt authentic. You felt whole. You felt peace, grace, joy. You felt free. You could just be. You were awake. You were vibrant. You were hungry and satisfied. You were knowing and inquisitive. You were giving and receiving.

You soul was in the forefront of the moment. You were not allowing your emotions to lead you. You were not lost in your thoughts. You were present and engaged. You knew who you were. You recognized your truth. You embraced your gifts. You used your voice. You were at ease with your silence. You moved with intention and you flowed with integrity. You remembered.

When we remember who we are we find that many things are aligning in our life. Our spiritual path is leading us to personal connections that bring wonder to our days. Our soul encourages us to practice compassion and patience. It invites us to embrace gratitude and appreciation. We explore and find miracles. We rest and find grace.

The Universe will continue to give us clues as to who we truly are. It will afford us opportunities to step fully into our authenticity. It will grant us all the possibilities of what can be. We simply need to show up, be open and remain connected. Connection to Source, to one another and to life becomes the life line to who we truly are. It provides us the the means to remember our purpose and to follow our call. Our soul's work becomes our breath throughout each moment of the day.

Blessings, Lisa