Finding Silence

A couple weeks ago I drew a card from the Denise Lin Soul Cards deck. It said Silence. The fine print said something about being calm and still no matter what was going on around you. I thought to myself "that's odd" and practically discarded it. That's how people describe me all the time. That's how I am. Never dis a card when it's trying to tell you something.

A few days later in a completely different venue with someone completely different, she used the same card deck and I got the same card.

Okay, I thought, you got my attention. I shook my head and put it aside, still not sure what it meant. Later that night when I had the time to bring it up again, I said out loud "I don't get it!" and stared at the card. Then I asked "if I'm already this way, what else is there?" and the answer came immediately.

Outward vs. inward. Yes, Lori, you are projecting calmness outwardly consistently. Certainly. Now what about what's going on inside?!

Oh. I get it.

Somewhere deep inside me a voice had risen up through all of the constant mental chatter of analyzing, contemplating, innovating, and extrapolating, and said "shut up!", "turn it off!", "give it a rest!".

If you're anything like me, you know how hard this is. Fortunately there are tools, so I'm turning to the tools. Here is a visual tool that I like. In addition, I have hired a yoga therapist who gave me specific whole body exercises that help balance a person like me, so I use those tools as well. I hope these reminders are helpful for you as well!

The next week after the Silence card appeared to me, a walking stick showed up. If you read the significance of this animal totem (yes insects definitely have messages as well as "regular" animals), it's about camouflage and being silent; not telling everyone what's going on. Waiting for the right time.

The world around me is always full of personal messages when I am open to them. I so enjoy this aspect of life. Everything is here to assist me in staying in my essence; staying true to who I am and what I want most. Everything wants to help me with being balanced and centered. All I have to do is allow it.

Embody the Goddess

"A goddess is a woman who emerges from deep within herself. She is a woman who has honestly explored her darkness and learned to celebrate her light. She is a woman who is able to fall in love with the magnificent possibilities within her. She is a woman who knows of the magic and mysterious places inside her, the sacred places that can nurture her soul and make her whole. She is a woman who radiates light. She is magnetic. She walks into a room and male and female alike feel her presence. She has power and softness at the same time. She has powerful sexual energy that’s not dependent on physical looks. She has a body that she adores and it shows by the way she comfortably lives and moves in it. She cherishes beauty, light and love. She is a mother to all children. She flows with life in effortless grace. She can heal with a look or a touch of the hand. She is fiercely sensual and fearlessly erotic and engages in sex as her way to share with another in touching the divine. She is compassion and wisdom. She is seeker of Truth and cares deeply about something bigger than herself. She is a woman who knows that her purpose in life is to reach higher and rule with love. She is woman in love with love. She knows that joy is her destiny and by embracing it and sharing it with others, wounds are healed. She is a woman who has come to know that her partner is as tender, lost, and frightened as she has been at times. She has come to understand the scars of the boy in him and knows that together, love can be the relief, the healing of their wounds. She is a woman who can accept herself as she is. She can accept another as they are. She is able to forgive her mistakes and not feel threatened by another’s even when attacked. She is a woman who can ask for help when she needs it or give help when asked. She respects boundaries, hers and another’s. She can see God in another’s eyes. She can see God in her own. She can see God in every life situation. She is woman who takes responsibility for everything she creates in her life. She is a woman who is totally supportive and giving. She is a Goddess." ~ Artist Rafael Espitia Perea

Radical Authenticity

As women who are seeking to embody our soul, our truth, and our perfect unique beauty, Sara's words are an inspiration.

This is an 18 minute video of a Sara Beak Keynote.

We

During our last circle we took turns listening to each other's recent life trials and breakthroughs. We noticed where our own personal life themes coincided with everyone else's experiences, and felt the joy and strength of being in this life thing together. In our day to day lives, if we happen to realize that we've forgotten the "we" in our reality and got lost in the "I", it's time to pick up the phone and call at least one friend to give us the reality check we need. All of us in the circle that evening noticed that we all had a similar passion invested in creating positive change and support for children. And the conversation lead us to new realization about our potential in our endeavor. The "we" of our reality is a magical cauldron of manifestation, clarity, and support. The angel cards at the end of circle were another sweet reminder of how connected we are to each other and to all that is. Truly never alone.

Authenticity = Healthy

About authentic happiness (not just trying to look happy!)...  You know those times when you smile, just to try to be nice?  Or when you see someone smiling, but you sense that they are not really happy?  Well, it turns out that those insincere smiles have the same constrictive affect on our heart as anger.  

In a study on behavior and coronary heart disease at Duke University Medical Center with male coronary patients, doctors tracked the correlation between heart action and facial expressions of emotion. Both angry expressions and some smiles restricted blood flow to the heart.  As they looked closer they realized that it was not just any smile.  They identified some smiles included muscles around the eyes, and some did not - some were not sincerely expressing enjoyment.

If you want to read more, the article is available on line.  

Credit to Jim and Jori Manske for bringing this article and topic to our attention!

Credit to http://etiquette-social-situations.knoji.com/how-to-identify-a-fake-smile/ for the image.

Claim Your Sacred Space

Image copyright 2008-2012 Lori Steed Sortino     White Sands, NM

“I am the voice for the safe, sacred space that exists, that calls your name.  Come step into this space and breathe.  Feel surrounded by acceptance and support.  Feel the space that knows who you are and holds you lovingly, gently; the space that waits patiently for you to let go.  Release into this space the tension, the worry, the doubt, and the fears; anything that appears that does not belong in your experience.  Leave it behind in this space to be transformed into energy that serves.  Become one with the reflection of you that feels authentic and true.  Now, step out in confidence on your path.” 


Inspired in a circle of men and women in Ojai, California on May 5, 2012 under a super full moon.  :-D

In our most recent circle, we all agreed that the following things were take-aways and worth sharing here!

From Emma
Be aware of NATs (Negative Automatic Thoughts) and work to eliminate them from your everyday experience.  Replace them with a desire to inquire about what's going on (inside yourself, and for others).

From Jill
For those who find themselves broken-hearted, change your language to BROKEN OPEN.  "My heart feels broken open."  See where that leads.

From Jill
For those who feel they've experienced a break-down, change your language to BREAK THROUGH.  "I've just experienced a break through."  See where that leads.

From Lori

Sometimes the journey of self discovery feels like we are peeling off layers of an onion.  When you reach the point in the journey where you ask "How many layers are there?!" and "How come I never reach the middle?!" you have reached a place of rich awareness.  When we ask questions, discovery follows.  My answer came immediately after having asked.  The image was of the green growth inside the onion and the understanding that it is a continual process our whole lives of growing from the inside and shedding off the stuff we are done with.  With that image, I realized I did not want to finish the onion.  I wanted to focus on the growth inside and gently allow the outer layers to peel off when they are ready; honoring the natural process.  Those outer layers protect the new growth and yet by continuing to let the outer ones go, we keep ourselves from becoming too heavy.  Look at your onion and check on your personal balance.