The lady slipper first activated my heart, as most of nature does, when I was least expecting it. This was just one of many lessons I would learn, starting with how to listen for the quality of her silent wisdom. Like every other creation, the lady slipper is a unique expression of divine intelligence, which, by overcoming the challenges of its own existence over millennia, results in a highly specific essence. What began for me as a childlike path of observation and study turned into a spiritual friendship, a feeling of companionship, comfort and inspiration. Finally, I realized that what was drawing me towards the lady slipper was my own true self. Her essence filled the holes in my heart, reuniting the fragments of my soul so that I could more beautifully shine as an expression of the divine. This is, in truth, the very essence of the lady slipper, so let me now tell you our story.

I will never forget meeting this pair of lady slippers two spring seasons ago. Can you remember a moment in your life in which time seemed to stand still, to hold some significance yet to be understood? I have a mental photograph of the precise moment when, for no apparent reason, I turned my head to look up at a ridge where the lady slippers were growing. I marveled at their pink, delicate beauty in an otherwise stark landscape. I felt like a child in a fairy tale, discovering a rare treasure. I am smiling now as I look back on this moment of innocent curiosity, now that I know the lady slippers so well. They knew what was

to come! They knew I would return a full year later, and that our relationship would heal and transform me.

May 11: Sure enough, my life brought me to a difficult turning point, and I dedicated myself to walking for two hours every day in the woods in order to make space to listen. I had forgotten all about the lady slippers but they didn’t mind. They caught me by surprise a second time, resprouting in the same spot I had first seen them. Once again, I had the intuitive feeling that something sacred was happening, and I named their location Lady Slipper Rock, a place I would pass by each day, but only occasionally be called in to listen.

Last week I was feeling guided to “stay upside down" and many of you responded that you were also feeling drawn to stop, pause, empty, and wait. The new moon supported our inclination to stay in the dark, unknowing energy and the white snow around us became a useful image, reminding us to be like a blank slate.

This week’s waxing crescent moon begins to reflect more of the sun’s light with each passing day, which may bring more insights into the way our Soul is seeking to illuminate us. To help us with this gentle awakening, the Eagle appeared this morning with some beautiful wisdom.

First, the eagle was facing East, toward the rising sun, a position of reverence to the Great Sun or Son of God. The East represents new beginnings, or even just a recommitment to our daily intentions. Many spiritual traditions encourage us to face East in order to pray and this holy, or sacred energy, is what the Eagle is activating within us. As we rise out of a phase of stillness and emptiness, represented by this second phase of the moon, the Eagle is reminding us powerfully to remember who we are--our Highest Self, our God essence.

Second, as the Eagle perches on its branch, its head might be seen pointing downward toward its heart. Once we honor the God within us, we can then look to the heart to guide us. The heart is like a filter for any lower vibrations of fear, anger, or low self worth.

As we become honest about the energy within us, we can then breathe in deeply, uplifting the lower energy into the balm of the heart center. To cultivate this, try a 4 part breath or “Square breath”. The number 4 represents the heart chakra as well as the idea of a square or container, box, routine, or home for our Spirit. Allow this breath to bring you home to your Self as you inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4 and hold for 4. Practice until you feel a sense of calm and balance. (I will include a video of this pranayama exercise next week).

Finally, the Eagle leaves its perch and flies. Perhaps as we awaken we will notice the bursts of energy we receive. What we once had no motivation to do, we suddenly are excited about. Or, a new idea comes in that really lights us up. Yes, Fly! You can soar on the wind, and remember that you either already have what you need to move forward, or will be guided at the right time.

You have had experiences in life that no other person has had. You have a uniquely powerful path that you can float upon, with grace, ease and trust.

Let me know if you experience some signs of awakening, of being Illuminated!

With Great Love,
Julie

Additional Offerings to Support You: Spiritual Mentoring and Yoga Therapy with Julie please click here.

_____________________________________

You are the Snow - Video track -  1:38 minutes (click on the photo)

The nuthatch, also called the “upside down bird”, greeted me this morning, reminding me again to get out of my head and into my heart. It has been giving me this message since the New Year began. Staying “upside down” allows us to feel and question some of our oldest beliefs and patterns (stuck in our head), and decide if they are of service to love, beauty and life (the heart).

When in this space of being and “unknowing”, we are open to remembering that our destiny has already been planned out by our Soul. Failures and successes, action and inaction, darkness and light, are all instrumental on the journey. What if, in this very moment, there is nothing for us to do, decide, or strive for, other than to flow with the already chosen path.

We need only open our spiritual eyes, ears and heart. The guidance is all around us in all things created, always and in all ways, from nature to people to world events. Can we listen symbolically, for the spiritual meaning in all of life? Can we see what we are being shown so clearly? Can we hear the wisdom in the silence of our soul, and learn to follow its guidance? Can we feel the energy of the heart--playful joy and peaceful ease--that embraces and heals our collective wounds?

Most importantly, can we learn to trust this inner guidance, which expands naturally as we take small steps toward its mysterious but steadfast power?

With Great Love,
Julie

Additional Offerings to Support You: Spiritual Mentoring and Yoga Therapy with Julie please click here.

_____________________________________

Finding Your Truth in the Stillness - Video track -  3:21 minutes (click on the photo)

Many of us put faith and trust in our collective medical knowledge, especially during these pandemic times. But, how many of us put faith and trust in our collective spiritual knowledge? This is not to imply that we should not consult with our medical practitioners but, rather, not to forget to tend to our spiritual health. Yoga, as well as many spiritual traditions, recognizes that the body can not be separated from our energy, emotions, mind and spirit. When there is an imbalance in any one part of our being, it creates a weaker link in our circuitry. Our spiritual energy is actually the most subtle of all these energies--it’s unseen but powerful quality may be the greatest determiner of our health and well-being.

What is healthy spiritual energy? In Yoga it might be described as “sattvik” which implies neither good nor bad, but a quality of balance, neutrality, pure being. It is the witness perspective in the present moment. Spiritual energy is often difficult to describe. A “beyond words” state is the spiritual state! A peaceful smile. A deep and relaxed breath. A feeling of love in the heart. A feeling of contentment and gratitude for life itself in its beautiful mystery. A trust that we are part of a greater spiritual collective uplifting the planet at this very moment as we awaken the unique light we were born to shine.

In our current stressful times, it seems more challenging than ever to maintain a positive spiritual energy. In a recent conversation with a friend, while sledding with our kids, conversation continued to cycle around to themes related to the ongoing stressors related to COVID, including not being able to socialize with friends and engage in our hobbies in the same way we used to, not to mention the uncertainty of the growing division in our country. We acknowledged even as we talked, that conversations seemed to sink quickly into complaining, and that this imbalanced energy seemed to feed itself in a downward cycle.

With my daughter by my side, ready to go home, I laughed and said to my friend “Okay, we have to find a way to end this conversation on a positive note”! Though there is some value in being with one another during hard times, honest and authentic about our emotional being, it also is important to transmute that very energy into Light. We do this by allowing it to guide us in nourishing ways. I offered to my friend, “Maybe these times are teaching us to lean back, allow this pause rather than push and control, or wish things could be different. Maybe we are being invited to nourish ourselves, families and neighbors in deeper ways, and get creative about these connections. Maybe it is allowing certain aspects of our humanity to erupt, topple, reorganize and be reborn for a brighter future. Maybe we are being challenged to withhold judgment of others, to cultivate compassion and forgiveness, to continue asking ourselves who we want to be in the world.”

I find myself going all the way back to Source more frequently these days, in my meditation, in nature, and with the people before me. What I experience there is a vast and loving energy that has not only created this magnificent and beautiful world, but has created a “We” to experience it. May we feed this energy of our Spirit, alone and together, with friends and with strangers, so as to uplift and guide us in ways that will shape our future.

With Great Love,
Julie

Additional Offerings to Support You: Spiritual Mentoring and Yoga Therapy with Julie please click here.

_____________________________________

You are the Snow - Video track -  6:23 minutes (click on the photo)

Like most people, I feel uncomfortable with the dark side of humanity, because its seat is within me. It's manifestation occurs in my mind. This has become a central theme in my work with clients and yoga students this year.

I’ve noticed it in my daughter’s artwork just this week. It is as though she is absorbing and processing the energy around her in the material world, which she has always intuitively done. The current theme is darkness, and specifically, dark spirits.

She has spent several hours a day on this latest passion. Though she has no need to explain them, and oftentimes doesn't know why she has drawn them, she does rush to show them to me, as though she knows my soul will understand her soul.

As my daughter and I shine light on her dark depictions, the story unfolds. It changes. The dark spirits die, they are reborn, they commune with other dark spirits, and extinguish themselves yet again.

I accept that darkness is part of the universal order. But therein lies the prize. Dark spirits are, at best, the absence of light. They can not be sustained, but rather, point all of us back toward the light. They too are angels, only those that have turned away from the great Love and Wisdom of all that is. We can truly be grateful for their place in the Divine order.

Why does a soul turn away from Love and Wisdom? Perhaps we, as Spiritual beings living a human experience, can help one another with this question.

As Ram Dass says so beautifully, "We are all just walking each other home".

With Great Love,
Julie

Additional Offerings to Support You: Spiritual Mentoring and Yoga Therapy with Julie please click here.

_____________________________________

Finding Light in the Dark - Video track -  6:23 minutes (click on the photo)