Want Enlightenment?? BREATHE!!

null (via OM Times Magazine)

Winter Solstice— A Time of *Reflection*Resolution*Renewal

The Winter Solstice is the shortest day and the longest night of the year. It’s when the Northern Hemisphere is the darkest.  People around the world of different cultures and faiths gather in anticipation and rejoicing at the Sun’s return. It is a time of reflection, resolution and renewal.

I. A Time of Reflection

As we find ourselves at the close of 2011 on Winter Solstice, when the sun is at it’s lowest point, the longest night and the most profound descent into the dark, it’s a great time for us to reflect upon our own darkness...our own areas of life that lack authenticity, that no longer serve us, where we have been dimming our light. 

What is it, that we would most like to leave behind for good in 2011, so that we can boldly and courageously move unencumbered into our truth in 2012?  2012 is an important year. It is the year the world  has declared to be the year of awakening. The year when we will unite our Light for the betterment of all. 

Before we can speak of this warmth, unity and return to the Light, we must first understand and REFLECT on its opposite...separation, duality and darkness.  We must understand where we have been, to know where we want to go...and where we never want to go again.

This illumination of light and dark is happening all across the planet - showing us what's NOT working in relationships, in business, in politics, in religion, and more.

Back to my original question...What is it that you would most like to leave behind?? Sit back and simply reflect as I cover some examples (in case you’re having trouble thinking of any :))  In no way is this list comprehensive.  Just a few ideas to get you thinking.  Sometimes we become so complacent that FINE actually becomes acceptable.  Now these are going to seem negative…I don’t want to lose you here…the idea is to find that thing or things that you have truly had enough of in your life…that you finally want to release to be the person you were meant to be and always knew you could be…if only, you could just….

Are you holding on to any emotional toxicity?

     Is there someone out there, that you still have yet to forgive?  YOURSELF, perhaps?

     Who, after all of these years, are you still angry with?

     Are you still blaming someone else for all the crap in your life?

     Are you harboring jealousies, resentments, greed, sadness or insecurities?

What about your relationships?

    How many of you are in relationships that feel more like bondage than liberation and joy?

    Are you staying in relationships for your kids or financial reasons?

    Do your relationships feel more draining than fulfilling-filled with jealousy,fighting and drama?

    Are there family members you no longer speak with or harbor unresolved issues?

What about your lifestyle?

How are you treating your body? The temple that houses your Spirit and allows you to carry out your life purpose.

      Do you get the rest you deserve, at least 7-8 hrs a day?

      Are you eating live, vibrant, nutritious foods? Or are you unconscious about the food   

      you put into your body?

      DO you eat more fast, frozen, canned and processed food than you do live?

      Do you get enough movement, exercise and flexibility into your life?

      Are you dragging around extra pounds that keep you from enjoying life?

      Are you creating time to meditate, reflect, be in nature and experience silence daily?

How about your career?

       Are you in love with what you do?

       Is your job/career your passion or just a paycheck?

       Do you dread getting up in the morning because you have to go to work?

       Is your job/career in alignment with your spirit and life purpose?

       Are you making the money that you feel you deserve?

       Do you make time to learn things you’re passionate about?

How about your church/faith?

      Are you still going just to please your parents or kids?

      Do you really believe in it or is it just your social network?

      Are you there because of any guilt or fear you may incur if you didn’t go?

      Does your religion hinder you in any way from living a life that you love?

  And finally, if nothing has struck a chord with you yet, where have you been playing small?  

Where have you been not only dimming, but hiding your light or your talents all together?

Do you have some Divine gifts that you would like to develop or that you have been afraid to share?

If your answers to these questions are anything less than satisfactory to you, then when would NOW be a good time to commit to letting go, to shifting or transforming any and all of these things that no longer serve you and your Highest Self??

I encourage you in the next couple of days to really swim in some of these things that you feel have been dragging you down the most and keeping you from being your most authentic, wonderful Self. Shine the light on some of your own dark places, don’t make yourself wrong or beat yourself up for it, just ask yourself if that way of being is still serving you…if it isn’t, commit to letting it go or transmuting it in some way.

If you have been feeling that now is the time, if your shadow has been rearing its ugly head, if you have finally had it over your eyeballs with a relationship or job that drains you, one where you feel you are constantly dimming your light...if you are soo tired of playing small in your life, then congrats, you are right where you deserve to be and aligned with the dark energies present. AND... you are ready to move forward.

II. A Time of Resolution

So, how do we rid ourselves of these things we wish to let go of?  First of all, we acknowledge our 100% accountability.  We lose the victim-mentality and stop pointing the finger of blame at someone, something, some event or circumstance “out there”.

The problem is not “out-there”.  We will NEVER be able to point the finger of blame at someone else or institution, wether it be the president, wall street, the federal reserve, etc and change the world. We are accountable for the sad state of affairs in our planet, nation and individual lives.

All of that “out there” is a reflection of the duality, the disconnect and the separation within ourselves.  What is out there is also in here (point to heart)! You’ve heard the old adage, as is the microcosm, so is the macrocosm...or as above so below.  The world as we know it today, of separation and hatred between nations, peoples, cultures and religions...is a direct mirror and reflection of that energy within ourselves.

Until we have peace within, we will not have it without.

Until we have peace within our families, we will not have it with our communities.

Until there is peace within our communities there will be no peace in our nation and until we have peace in our own nation, we will never achieve world peace. 

If we are still struggling with forgiving someone or ourselves, if we are still at war with someone in our family, if we are harboring anger, jealousy and resentment of any kind, WE are contributing to the chaos and violence on the planet. These emotions are getting in the way of your greatness.

When we truly understand, how connected we all are and that our emotions and feelings have a ripple effect, not only in our own homes but in the world, maybe then we will be more conscious. Maybe then we will be more accountable. Every decision we make is a choice between a grievance and a miracle. Let 2011 be the year we leave all of our grievances behind and move into the miracle of 2012.

Decide, make a RESOLUTION, that YOU will do whatever it takes to rid yourSELF of all the negativity, emotional baggage, even physical habits that have you being less than vibrant. YOU make a difference. How you FEEL matters...how you feel effects others and the planet at large. 

 III. A Time of Renewal

The Winter Solstice represents the return to the Light, longer days, new growth and welcoming the healing powers of warmth back into our world. Mindful & heartful intentions are very powerful on this day.  We can harness this energy to contemplate what we would like to birth in ourselves, our lives and our world in the year to come.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

As the LIGHT physically begins to return to the earth and as we move forward to 2012...allow the LIGHT or your truth, your authenticity, your magnificence, return to your Soul...and SHINE BRIGHT FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE!! NOW is the time...WE are the ones we have been waiting for ♥ I SEE YOU ♥~lf