truth
Holding On To What Never Changes
Nature always inspires deep thoughts in me. There’s something about pausing to watch the wind rustle through the trees or to see the sun gently filter through the clouds that invites stillness and reflection.
Today, I found myself contemplating the constantly changing seasons. In the Northern Hemisphere, we are a month away from the summer solstice, and the days are becoming increasingly long and warm with golden light. The trees are lush and full, the air hums with the sound of insects, and gardens overflow with life.
Change is everywhere. It’s evident in the ripening of fruit, the intense afternoon heat, and the subtle shift in the season’s energy toward harvest.
It’s not just nature, either. Our lives are constantly evolving, too. Relationships shift, careers transition, health fluctuates, and dreams reshape themselves over time.
No matter where we turn, we hear messages such as “Change is inevitable,” and “Don’t be afraid of change.”
Yes, change is necessary. As spiritual beings, we are meant to continually grow and evolve. Change challenges us, stretches us, and teaches us.
But let’s be honest — sometimes it’s also deeply unsettling. This is especially true in times like these, when the world feels uncertain, divided, and fragile.
Embracing The Shadow Within
When I first began to intentionally and consciously walk a spiritual path, I remember doing so because it just felt so right. Every step I took toward ‘enlightenment’ in this lifetime seemed to bring more brightness into my life, and so many more blessings.
In those early days I was really rolling! I was expecting this to be an easy ride – all joy and light and love. It was wonderful.
What I hadn’t expected was the inevitable emergence of my shadow through as a result of all my spiritual work. And it was not something I was going to be comfortable with – admitting I had places of darkness within me, unloved aspects of myself, disowned pieces of my soul which had been abandoned and in such pain.
Through a series of, what seemed like, unfortunate events, I was given opportunities to face my shadow side. Challenges in relationships with friends and loved ones arose. I couldn’t understand it at first, and felt very alone and misunderstood. I was shifting the blame for this onto the people around me, instead of going inward.
Going inward, into the light, was totally okay, but going inward into the darkness was terrifying. My ego-self raised every defense to keep me from going there. Eventually, I could avoid it no longer.
My life at this point had endured tremendous change in the course of only a few years- so much so, that the entire landscape of my existence and the people in it were now different. While many of the changes were positive, the magnitude of the differences between my ‘old life’ and my ‘new life’ forced me into robust self-reflection.
They Can’t Gaslight You If You Trust Your Gut!
Gaslighting can be a very destructive aspect of a toxic relationship. It basically refers to any form of “reality twisting” or “crazy-making” that is designed to confuse or manipulate the victim.
Gaslighting is used to gain power and control in the relationship by making the victim question their reality. The phenomenon is typically found in romantic relationships, but it can occur in all kinds of social relationships, including friendships, at work, and with neighbors.
Sometimes it’s done in an obvious way, right under the victim’s nose, but more often it’s done under the radar, and you don’t always know who’s gaslighting you, or even that you’re being gaslighted.
“Gaslighting” is a psychological term derived from the 1938 stage play Gas Light and its 1940 and 1944 film adaptations. The movie is about a husband’s attempts to systematically drive his wife crazy by repeatedly dimming the gas lights in their home, only to deny that it ever happened when the wife asks him if he also noticed it. Over time, he manipulates his wife to the point where she believes she is imagining things and loses her mind.
Gaslighting is a common manipulation technique used by dictators, con artists, abusers, sociopaths, narcissists, and cult leaders. It’s done in such a way that the victim rarely realizes how much they’ve actually been brainwashed.
At first, the victim may have the idea that they’re not imagining things, but that someone else is doing this to them. They may even have an intuition about who that person is. However, the goal of gaslighting is to get victims to doubt these rational thoughts and replace them completely with the belief that there is something wrong with them, either mentally, spiritually, emotionally, or physically. The worst part, in my opinion, is that it makes you doubt your own intuition.
Finding Peace and Joy In The ‘No-thingness’
Like Neo in the movie The Matrix (1999) our minds occasionally slip into luminous moments of complete stillness and clarity — tiny mental pauses where all thinking stops just long enough for us to glimpse the truth of all existence.
In these fleeting spaces between our thoughts, it becomes clear that the comings and goings of life are just that… temporary ‘blips’ of experience that arise and pass through our awareness.
I have come to know these moments as realizations of ‘no-thingness.’
In these brief pauses, something quietly opens up within us. We notice the obvious — what has always been there — hidden behind the busy waking mind and its constant commentary. Our awareness shifts from being consumed by temporary events to seeing what’s always there: the background, the container, the eternal.
These silent mental breaks reveal something much deeper and greater than our own existence and awareness.
There’s a word for this in ancient Sanskrit: svabhāva. It means one’s true nature — the essence of who we are beneath the roles, stories, and conditioning. The term is used in many yogic and Vedantic texts to describe the innate reality or unconditioned self beyond our human ego and thoughts.
Our true authentic self is not something we become. It’s something we remember. When we glimpse the silence between thoughts, we’re not discovering something new — we’re reconnecting with our original divine self. Not the self that reacts and worries, but the self that simply is. Svabhāva is the part of us that doesn’t come and go. It’s the constant presence behind every changing moment. It is the essence of living a truly conscious life.
What You Should Know About Spiritual Awakening
We live in a world that worships results. We proudly proclaim them: “I lost twenty pounds,” or “I was voted employee of the month.”
Tangible achievements deserve recognition. But in the spiritual realm, such milestones don’t exist in the same way. The universe does not operate according to human rules. The metaphysical realms cannot be measured by physical standards.
This is why when it comes time for us to experience a spiritual awakening — also known as an epiphany, illumination or inner shift — there is no outward certificate of success. It’s not something that can be counted or checked off a list. It happens organically, quietly, often unpredictably. And when it comes, it is only the beginning.
Think of it as a small ball of snow set in motion at the top of a hill. As it rolls down, it grows larger and more powerful, accumulating mass and momentum. That’s what spiritual awakening does: it starts with a whisper and becomes a roar. The journey that follows isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it.
But what exactly is a spiritual awakening? At its core, spiritual awakening is the moment when you begin to perceive reality through a higher, expanded lens. It is a fundamental shift in consciousness — a sudden or gradual realization that there is more to life than what meets the eye.
A sudden awakening is known as “satori” in Zen Buddhism — a sudden moment of awakening or enlightenment. Satori is a flash of insight into the true nature of reality—an experience where the ego momentarily drops away, and one perceives life with profound clarity and unity.
Tarot Forecast March 2025: Ace Of Swords
This month the Ace of Swords heralds a time of clarity, breakthroughs, and decisive action.
Representing the power of the mind, truth, and the ability to cut through confusion, the Ace of Swords signals a month filled with sharp insights, important conversations, and fresh perspectives.
Expect newfound mental strength, intellectual growth, and the courage to face reality — bringing clarity to various areas of life in the coming weeks.
Visually, the Ace of Swords presents a striking image. At its center, an upright sword with a gleaming blade symbolizes intellect, reason, and the ability to pierce through uncertainty. A golden crown encircles the blade, adorned with a vine or wreath, signifying success, authority, and the rewards that come from truth and justice.
The sword emerges from a cloud, representing divine inspiration or sudden insight that dispels confusion. Surrounding it, small flame-like orbs known as yods embody divine energy, enlightenment, and guidance from a higher power.
In the background, jagged mountains reflect the challenges one may face — reminding us that while clarity is powerful, the journey to truth is often met with challenges and obstacles.
The Ace of Swords signals a fresh start in thought, ideas, and perception, urging us to embrace truth, reason, and the transformative power of the mind. In the coming weeks, embrace truth in all areas of life — honesty will set you free. Use both logic and intuition, allowing your mind to guide you while staying connected to your heart. Cut through distractions and focus on what truly matters, eliminating unnecessary mental clutter.
The Freedom To Live Your Truth
Honesty is one of those things we all know is important, but let’s face it — it’s not always the easiest option. Telling the truth often does not win you friends, make your family happy, or help you climb the corporate ladder.
But when you’re on a spiritual journey or facing a karmic reckoning — the truth is everything! It’s not just about being a better person; it’s about living in alignment with your higher self.
Being honest brings a sense of lightness, like a weight lifted from your shoulders. It frees you from the heavy burden of keeping up appearances and the stress of worrying about what others think.
On the other hand, dishonesty — whether it’s a little white lie or a big deception — creates not only tension, guilt, and physical discomfort; it’s a karmic tumor that poisons your soul, fueling a cycle of chaos and imbalance in your life.
Lies and deceit attract confusion, mistrust, and disharmony, disrupts your energy field and throws your whole being out of balance.
This is why it is said that the truth will set you free. You’ve probably heard the saying? It’s been said so many times that it may sound like a cliché, but there is deep wisdom in it. The truth allows us to live without fear, without constantly looking over our shoulder. It brings clarity and peace.
But let’s face it — truth can be scary. We often avoid it because we don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings, rock the boat, or face rejection.