growth
The Lotus Flower Reading
I recently attended an online psychic development workshop. In one of the tasks, we had to partner with another student and do a ‘flower reading.’ I know touching an object using psychometry works well in readings, but this is something else.
Our teacher paired us up and we didn’t know in advance with whom. We also had to intuitively pick a flower for our partner beforehand. At the beginning of the session, we had to show the other person the actual flower or a color photo of the flower we had chosen for them on our shared screens.
In preparation for this, I placed many pieces of paper, each with the name of a different flower on it, into a bag, shook it up, and drew one. Spirit guided me to select the Indian lotus flower or nelumbo nucifera.
When it was my turn to read for my classmate, I relaxed and observed the image of the lovely white lotus in front of me. The depth of information that came forth in the reading about her past, how her life was now, and what lay ahead, was truly amazing!
The reading revealed that she was going to be blossoming soon like the lotus, because she currently finds herself in a strong development stage. I later learned that she’d been through some dark times, almost giving up on herself. She had recently begun doing deep shadow work, as well as exploring her psychic development.
She is also recovering from a recent trauma and the lotus is traditionally known for being the ideal gift for someone recovering from any traumatic experience or physical injury. Many years ago, I attended a Yoga class during which the challenges of the lotus position was discussed in-depth. The teacher said that through proper breathwork and becoming more flexible, one’s body will allow you to achieve this pose.
I was only 19 years old at the time and not very supple. I saw no hope of achieving that position for quite some time. However, only a few classes later, we did a session during which a lot of emphasis was placed on our breathing. And to my amazement, I was able to easily get into the lotus position!
Turn Your Setbacks Into Inspirational Comebacks
A friend recently mentioned she was applying for a new position as a trainer in her company. She was so excited. She had applied for the same job two years ago, but with the events of the Covid-19 pandemic things didn’t work out. He mother was meanwhile diagnosed with cancer and passed away early this year.
The same position was advertised recently, and she applied again. She says she felt it was the right time for her. She has two more years of life experience now and it was also a blessing that she didn’t get the job before, as she probably would have been unable to spend much time with her mom before passing. Everything happens for a reason.
I also watched the Tokyo Olympics recently. The media reported amazing stories of athletes from all around the world who had to overcome many obstacles and setbacks in order to qualify, compete and, in some cases, win medals.
These stories reminded me that we all have ‘comebacks’ in us. The resilience of the human spirit is truly remarkable. Comebacks are so inspirational! To see someone with goals and aspirations fail or suffer disappointment, and then get a second chance to ultimately succeed, is testament to our capacity for inner strength, bravery and courage.
Much good often comes from adversity and setbacks. Life’s obstacles are often a blessing in disguise, or a doorway to greater heights, even if we don’t usually see or feel it at the time. Similar to healing from loss or grief, it takes the time it needs to reveal its true meaning or lesson. Sometimes it is simply not the right time.
Know that there is usually a greater good to every setback. Something better may be coming your way, or somehow you are being protected, shielded or re-directed for your highest good. It may not make sense at this time, but eventually it will.
Taking Time Out On Life’s Park Bench
Recently, I had the wonderful experience of meeting a mature gentleman who was sitting in the park on a bench. As I approached the bench, I noticed he was smiling and writing on a manila notepad. I sat down on the next bench to enjoy the sounds of the wind, and the birds, and the barking of a dog playing nearby with a little boy.
The gentleman introduced himself and we began talking. I asked him what he was so furiously writing about in his notepad?
“Life,” he said and smiled.
I obviously had a puzzled look on my face and he laughed. I asked what was so funny? He answered with a puzzling question.
“Well, what does the word ‘life’ mean to you?”
We then began a very pleasant philosophical conversation about metaphysics. I confided that I was in fact a psychic and we talked about energy, manifesting, meditation, and psychic phenomena.
At one point he asked me how I handle crossroads or major decisions in my life? Now it was my turn to laugh. He cocked his head and seemed curious as to my reaction.
“Well, we all deal with life changes and crossroads differently,” I said, “but since you are writing about ‘life’ on your notepad, I suspect you’re busy making a list of all the pros and cons of the dilemma or life choice you’re currently facing?”
“Yes,” he admitted. “That’s exactly what I’m doing.”
Only You Can Change Your Life
Why does it always happen to me? This is a common question I have heard many times over the past 40 years working as a psychic reader and spiritual advisor. In my experience, the real question is not ‘why’ something happens to a person. Instead, the question is, what does the person expect?
I find most people are perfectly capable of being very understanding, tolerant and patient, but there are times when all these values and best intentions instantly disappear because we demand and resist. The pain of being hurt or disappointed can sometimes turn people into a mere shadow of themselves – and this is usually the time when the ‘why me’ question comes up.
The spiritual truth is that life is hollow without constant growth and change, but things do not always go our way, because spirit sometimes has something better planned for us. Divine timing and divine intervention always aim to serve our highest good, but we too often refuse to accept these blessings in disguise.
As spiritual beings in human form we want to change things to make our lives better: jobs, trades, businesses, hobbies, lifestyles, partners, homes, locations, even countries. But we tend to be fearful of the unknown and the uncertain. So, our ego begins to interfere and we try to control everything and everyone to get what we think we want and need.
To make the most of the energies of spiritual and personal growth, expansion, and transformation, we must overcome this fear of the unknown and accept life changes, challenges, and transitions as they come. Resisting the divine intervention of what is meant to be only serves to block or derail our progress. We must get out of our own way.
I regularly experience this desperation with some of my clients, for example, when they are trying to change their partner’s wicked ways or annoying habits. They refuse to accept the truth about the other person’s behavior or personality, and then they are devastated when the relationship outcome is not what they expected.
Enlightenment Is For Everyone
The term ‘enlightened’ seems to be everywhere these days. But what does it really mean? From a spiritual or metaphysical perspective enlightenment simple means refers to our level of awareness. Enlightened people are deeply aware – of themselves, the world around them, of the realm of Spirit
In a world of increasingly empty noise and superficial values, true awareness has become a rare commodity. It’s easy to immerse ourselves in all the empty noise and meaningless materialism. It’s much more challenging to look at the things of this world with greater depth and see these things (and yourself) for what they really are.
When we begin to see more clearly and authentically we become more enlightened. We begin to see the light of truth. And when we do, we become more aware how our beliefs, choices, and actions all have consequences.
For example, you might be tempted to answer with harsh words to someone who has wronged you, or to swat a spider in the sink rather than take it outside. Each one of these actions, no matter how small, radiates outward and impacts the world around you.
Choosing peaceful or harmonious action is a vital step on the road towards enlightenment. Stop to think, before you act.
Another common thread in the fabric of enlightenment is lack of attachment. In many spiritual traditions, including Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, unhealthy attachment is seen as the root of all human suffering. This could be an attachment to material wealth and possessions, to beliefs and ideas, to people and animals, or to our memories and our ego.
Enlightened people are able to release attachments that are not serving their best interest and highest good by letting it go gracefully. If you spend less time worrying about these earthly fixations and obsessions, your spiritual inner being will naturally start to flourish. And once it does, you’ll become more aware of the signs, synchronicities, and subtle messages the Universe sends us all the time.
The Signs of Spiritual Awakening
Spiritual awakening is not just about inner peace, raised consciousness or becoming a role-model of enlightenment. It’s also a messy journey!
So, what exactly is a ‘spiritual awakening?’ Well, there isn’t one universally accepted definition, because the experience or journey is unique to each person. Also, it’s a lifelong process, and the time of awakening is just the beginning.
Essentially spiritual awakening is firstly a significant shift in one’s personal perspective, typically characterized by a recognition of observer consciousness. It is the realization that the true self or ‘I’ is the observer of your thoughts, feelings and experiences. You are not your thoughts, feelings and experiences, but merely the observer of your thoughts, feelings and experiences.
Awakening also brings a sense of expanded awareness which prompts us to examine our beliefs about ourselves and the world through a more critical lens. This usually sparks a quest for authentic truth and a thirst for deeper knowledge and understanding of ourselves and the world.
The awakened person begins to rebel against what they have been told to believe on all levels of their experience of themselves and the world. Awakening returns us to a state of newfound curiosity about our existence. We begin to explore what actually informs our existing beliefs, to determine if they serve our highest good, or not.
The awakened person also accepts their role as a conscious co-creator and takes responsibility for healing and releasing that which doesn’t serve their highest good.
In recent times more and more people all over the world are beginning to awaken. Triggers for awakening are often major life events such as marriage, divorce, pregnancy, bereavement, loss, trauma or traumatic events, major transitions, career changes, and so on. But anything can trigger a spiritual awakening. It can also simply happen due to a sense of general dissatisfaction with life and yearning for more depth, meaning and purpose.
Questions That Truly Satisfy The Self
Once upon the ages, over 5,000 years ago, the world’s great saints, sages, and spiritual scholars assembled at a place called Naimisharanya. This sacred forest was known to them as the energetic hub of the Universe, from where the benefits of their practices, sacrifices, and speech would extend to all the world’s inhabitants. Thus, they gathered here specifically with the intention of welfare for every living being.
By dint of their self-realization, these wise seers were gifted with foresight of the Age of Quarrel in which we now live. They considered that humans of this time would be short-lived and plagued by various mental, bodily, and natural disturbances. So, they contemplated what they could do to bring relief and the highest good for all in the many generations to follow.
They selected Suta Goswami as the most elevated among them, offered him a seat of esteem, and inquired from him with great respect. Because Suta Goswami was free from vice, learned in all scriptures and teachings of physical, metaphysical, and spiritual knowledge, and properly guided by the great masters, who had gone before him, the sages regarded him as most qualified to enlighten them about the Supreme Truth. Therefore, they humbly approached him with inquiries toward that end.
The sages began with six questions which they had ascertained to be of primary importance:
1. What is the absolute and ultimate good for people in general?
2. What is the essence of all scriptures and prescribed practices, by which the hearts of every living entity may be fully satisfied?