I’m in one of those rather enchanted periods where everything, and I mean everything, seems synchronistic and serendipitous. Lovely, lovely, lovely!
A couple days ago I got some clear guidance that I needed to take a bit of time off, and I’m deeming this an Official Retreat, Reflection and Revisioning Extravaganza where the only assigned tasks are doing more of what brings me joy. I highly recommend it, and encourage you to create your own Sparkle Igniting Getaway. Try it – I’m sure you’ll like it!
Like so many folks I’ve been talking to lately, I’m really feeling like something significant has shifted. And I find it interesting that this “shift” appears so differently for each one of us. For some it’s showing up as significant changes in how their lives look and the things in them, like new homes or ended relationships or sudden new urges to explore something totally out of character. But I think the common theme is that each of us is really being called to simply embody who we truly are. Our True Self.
In many ways that means getting rid of what really isn’t us – those attitudes and even physical objects we’ve taken on at various points because we thought they’d make us more likeable or acceptable or wonderful, but aren’t really who we are. I think this continues to be an on-going process of refinement – sorting through what are truly our treasures and releasing what’s really dross. No doubt about it, sometimes that’s hard. But there really isn’t anything more wonderful that being able to truly own who you are, and be able to say with perfect honesty This-Is-The-Best-and-Most-Beautiful-and-True-Me-I-Can-Be-In-This-Moment. How does it get any better than that?!
It can also be a rather scary and vulnerable place for the ego-part of us who isn’t sure what this is going to mean. It’s the part of us that tries to slow us down with warnings that if we change too much we won’t be recognized. It wonders if we’ll still be safe, still be loved, still have clients who want to work with us or a job to support us.
But truthfully I think there comes a point in everyone’s life (and probably more truthfully, an increasing number of points) when you simply have to stop pretending to be anything but who you truly are. The interesting thing is that I think this is happening now on a really large collective level. We’re waking up and being asked to put aside the dream images. To put aside what isn’t us and stand in full power of what is. It’s all very exciting, don’t you think?!
I woke up the other day with an image of me that had all my parts, but they weren’t quite exactly in the right order/right place. But there was a spaciousness inside of me that allowed for moving the parts around, to put them in different spots and see if that was where they belonged or whether they needed to be tried somewhere else. I thought that was a brilliant image of what my life feels like at the moment, and why I’ve been called on my Explorative Retreat. I’m looking for where my pieces belong, and the only way to know is to find the sweet spot where I’m expressing and creating in joy. If that’s not what I’m experiencing, then I need to do some more shifting.
My guidance is always talking about the “Joy Compass” – our internal navigating system we’re meant to use to help us discern if we’re moving in the direction our Soul wants us to go. We simply need to check if what we’re doing is moving us toward joy or away from it, and do any necessary course correction. My Joy Compass is pointing me in some new directions with my work, and I’m excited to see how that unfolds.
Today’s prompt in Jamie Ridler’s Wishcrafting Wednesday is “What gifts do you wish to share?” And I had to laugh, because that’s really what all this self-exploration is all about. When we show up as who we really are, we’re really saying this is what I’m here to share. How can it be any other way?
The ever-brilliant and delightful Jo Anna Rothman of The Recieving Project, for whom I am a loyal and devoted giggle servant, is an awesome bequeather of wonderful titles. She recently dubbed me Angelic Presence of the Holy Shine. How fun and wonderful is that?! And that certainly sounds like a piece of me I want to claim more fully.
So my wish for this Wednesday is to share my gifts as a Joy Guide and a Mirror Holder so everyone can see how brilliantly and beautifully they shine.
What are you wishing for? Is there some new direction your Joy Compass is pointing you?
Deborah, I enjoyed reading this wonderful and insightful post filled with wisdom and joy. I agree that so many things are shifting for us all especially when we point our joy compass in the direction of true self-expression – particularly important if one is an artist.
Dyan
Mmm…a Sparkle Igniting Getaway. Now that sounds absolutely wonderful…and tempting. Thank you for your post. As you wish for yourself, I wish for you also.
As you wish for yourself, so do I wish for you and me. Thank you for reminding me to show up as I truly am.
Love your wish. As you wish for yourself, so I wish for you also.
As you wish for yourself, I wish for you too. Lovely post. The gift of the authentic you. so true. Jacs x
I wholeheartedly enjoyed reading your posts and could related to the changes & shifts! I absolutely love your comment of being “This-Is-The-Best-and-Most-Beautiful-and-True-Me-I-Can-Be-In-This-Moment”…perfect!!!
Mirror holder…this is an awesome gift!!
As you wish for yourself, so I wish for you!!
Enjoy your retreat time. I always say I’m going to take a weekend completely for myself, but never do it.
As you wish for yourself, so I truly wish for you also.
What a joyful and beautiful wish…… as you wish for yourself i wish for you also.
What a lovely post! I love your wish, and may grace be the one to grant that wish. Lovely! From a fellow Giggle Servant.
As you wish this for yourself, I wish this for you as well :]
What an inspirational, uplifting, thought-provoking post! Enjoy your retreat, I am on retreat today, too.