My purpose is to explore and express my love of beauty and the beauty of love. Here’s some of what I’ve come up with.

Life by Design: Meditation Your Way

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"Teachings" from the Connection Collection - available on canvas and paper.

“Teachings” from the Connection Collection – available on canvas and paper.

What comes to mind when you hear the word “meditation”?  How does your body react?  Some of you may be feeling instantly more peaceful, but I’m sure others may be feeling guilty, fearful, or turned off in some other way.

The benefits are countless, however, so finding a style that is right for you is definitely worth it:

  • healthier body, mind, and spirit
  • stress reduction
  • increased happiness
  • calmer mind
  • mood stabilizing
  • pain control
  • improved learning
  • creativity
  • and more

Meditation Styles

The trick to meditation is finding the style for you.  There are many religious and non-denominational types of meditation out there to explore.  Here’s a great post describing  23 Types of Meditation.

"Namaste" from the Connection Collection - available on canvas and paper.

“Namaste” from the Connection Collection – available on canvas and paper.

 

It doesn’t have to be traditional or organized though. Some people turn washing the dishes into a meditation – I’m not there yet…  I do, however, love contemplative meditation in nature, walking meditation, and the meditative states that I achieve through painting and nature photography.

Like with yoga, this means trying a few styles out before finding the perfect fit. Then all you need to do is practice, practice, practice.

Keep reading for my bonus meditation.

Learning to Meditate

There are also many ways to learn to meditate.

These vary from intensive training retreats, weekly classes, video & audio sessions, and open community gatherings. Look online to see what’s available in your area or ideal travel destination.

Here’s something you might like.  Deepak Chopra & Oprah Winfrey are about to start one of their popular 21-Day meditation experiences, this one focusing on gratitude. You get access to an online recording every day, starting July 13th.  Click here to sign-up.

 

My Exploration into Meditation

Vipassana

I once did a 10-day silent Vipassana meditation retreat – they’re free (donations welcome), they’re all over the world, and provided exactly what I needed during a transition time in my life.

It was amazing! Well, that’s not entirely true. Day 2 and 3 were sheer hell as I experienced the workings of my mind in a way that made it clear that it was all in my mind: fear, anxiety, judgment, taking everything personally, etc. After the full realization that my experience had nothing to do with my environment or the other meditators, I felt pure, blissful freedom. Well worth it!

"Kwan-Yin" from the Connection Collection - available on canvas and paper

“Kwan-Yin” from the Connection Collection – available on canvas and paper

I continued the practice, one hour in the morning and one hour at night, for more than a year until my angels told me it was no longer serving me.

Creative Visualization

One of my favourite kinds of sit-down meditations is a guided one that opens up my inner vision and helps me connect to my body, mind, and spirit. These can be for healing, relaxation, getting in touch with inner guidance, etc.

Would you like to try one?

I asked my Higher Council for one that would help you let go of whatever no longer serves you, manifest what does, and connect to your team of Divine helpers.

The recording is 26 minutes and you can download it. Click here to sign-up. 

I channel one of these as an opening meditation whenever I do an Soul Energy Portrait Experience. It’s co-created with my client’s team of Divine Helpers and can serve them for years to come.

Painting Meditation

"Divine Union" - original and reproductions available

“Divine Union” – original and reproductions available

Yes, creativity can be a meditation, if you let go of the “how-to”s and especially the “how-not-to”s.  When I made dots on “The Law of Vibration” for 16 hours, contemplating how we’re all energy sending energy into the world, I was definitely in a meditative space.

Painting is my teacher – in self-awareness, in letting go, in unconditional love, and now in deeper universal truths through guided visualizations.

My finished paintings and photography can then act as portals to the universal energy flow and meditative states for those willing to enter.

Your Turn

What kind of meditation works for you?

How has meditation helped you?

Please share in the comments below.

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Life by Design: Walking, Walking, Keep on Walking

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forest path photograph

“One Step At A Time” from the Treedom Collection. Now available as a print on canvas or paper.

I love walking! It’s been such a huge blessing in my life – physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually and socially. 

Walking in the city connects me to humanity, to the pulse of a culture, to history, and to architecture (like in Vienna last year).

Walking in nature, my favourite, connects me to Source, to Mother Earth, to my Higher Self and to my intuition.

While walking, I can think things through and let things go. I can reach meditative, contemplative, or appreciative states much more easily than at home.

I also get great ideas when I’m walking. It’s the best time to rehearse speeches, repeat affirmations, work out lessons, receive guidance, or just breathe.

Where do you like to walk? Do you prefer walking alone or with friends?  What does walking help you with? Please share in the comments below.

The Walking Monk

Earlier this week, I participated in a series of events with Bhaktimarga Swami, the Walking Monk.  So far, he’s walked across Canada 3 times, either starting or ending here in St. John’s. He’s currently getting ready for a walk across the United States.  He does this to raise spiritual awareness – his own and that of others along the way.

photo of the walking monk

On Monday, he shared his “Tales from Trails” – stories about his insightful and often breathtaking adventures, including interesting encounters with grizzly bears and fellow humans.  Listening to him, I couldn’t help but acknowledge how much walking contributed to my own spiritual growth over the years.

On Tuesday morning, a group of us joined him for a walk around Quidi Vidi lake and through the village. Would you believe I had my hat and gloves? We are getting a few nice summer days here and there, but it’s still near freezing at times too. Still, I’d rather it be on the cool side than too hot.

That evening, we gathered again for an evening of universal truth, kirtan singing, and dancing.  I love these Sanskrit (an ancient Indic language) call and response chants – I usually sing & dance to 3 of them on my mini-trampoline in the morning to start the day off on the right foot.

The Work-At-Home Walking Challenge

For the past several decades, I always chose to live within 30-60 minutes walk from where I worked or studied. When I could, I’d make sure that nature trails or parks were on that route. Being a destination walker who dislikes crowded buses and has never owned a car, I had no problems walking 1-2 hours a day in every kind of weather to get to work, but things are different now.

As an artist and entrepreneur working from home, I’ve had to push myself out the door and even borrow the neighbours’ dogs for motivation. I know how important walks are for me, but I rarely made the time this past year.

Listening to the Walking Monk this week has reminded me of how much walking is essential to my well-being.

St. John’s not only has an amazing network of nature trails within the city (including one a few blocks away that leads to our biggest park), but is surrounded by the famous East Coast Trail that follows the coast of this gorgeous island.

It’s time to hit the trails. After a year as a happy hermit, I am committing  to walking more.

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Enter the Mandala: The Law of Correspondence

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Law-of-Correspondence-Dominique-Hurley-Enter-the-MandalaI just heard the musical theme to the Twilight Zone  as I was looking up the meaning of one of the symbols I was given for this, the 4th Enter the Mandala Project painting, the Law of Correspondence. I know that tapping into my intuitive process to generate a better understanding of the Twelve Universal Laws is tapping into the mythology of the world through Divine Oneness – but I do enjoy a good confirmation of the new normal. Here’s what happened.

The last symbol I Googled to write this post was the pinecone (that I embarrassingly kept calling an acorn in the recording. Even English teachers make mistakes when verbally translating the array of visions appearing and disappearing inside visual journeys. Trust me though – it was a pinecone).

As I was painting this central element to the Law of Correspondence, the core within, I loved its symbolism as the seed from which all things grow. I saw it as a representation of the mind. I understood that the world as we see and experience it emanates from our thoughts and feelings. I also understood that the community barn-raising spirit that I was shown inside the pinecone meant that the more we nurture and cultivate our inner world, the more our outer world will match our true essence. 

“As above, so below, as within, so without…”  Hermes Trismegistus

I also got that the light switches that appeared in my vision and that I painted on the wedding band – the union of the inner and outer world – represented our moment-by-moment choice of light or darkness – of love or fear.

Here’s where my jaw dropped. When I looked up the pinecone online, I found a website that described its symbolism and history.

“Our “Pine”al Gland, shaped like (and named after) the Pinecone, is at the geometric center of our brain and is intimately linked to our body’s perception of light. … It is considered by many to be our biological Third Eye, the “Seat of the Soul,” the “Epicenter of Enlightenment” — and its sacred symbol throughout history, in cultures around the world, has been the Pinecone.”

How cool is that! I don’t remember learning this in my Sacred Codes classes at the Vienna Academy of Visionary Art, but I’m sure the pinecone was used as an example of the perfect Fibonacci sequence in our Sacred Geometry class.

All I know is that what I learned on the website above and another on the pinecone in art & architecture affirmed my connection to the Universe, Source, and my team of Divine Helpers in the co-creation of this series.

I’m human… this was comforting!

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The Co-Creative Process

Once again, I started with a Spirit Calling Card reading to open the intuitive process. At first, it seemed to speak more about the process itself than about the Law of Correspondence.

SCC-Law-of-Correspondence

If you think about it though, it really does relate to the Law of Correspondence.  It’s asking us as a community to open to what is happening in our minds as a gateway to transformation.  There we have it – as within, so without. As above, so below.  This is as true on an individual as on a collective level.

Listen In

As usual, there was a lot of symbolism provided through this visual journey. The feeling, however, was simply matter of fact. That in itself is revealing to me – there was no judgment, just a simple mirror.  If there was celebration and growth in the inner ring, it was married with growth and building in the outer ring.  If the world was barren in the inside, it was dry and crumbling on the outside.  Just a fact – no drama.

As you listen, please remember that when I’m saying acorn, it was actually a pinecone. There are no accidents though…. an acorn would have been just as symbolic.

From the Inside Out

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Law of Correspondence Symbolism

This is how I interpreted the symbolism I received. Feel free to add your own in the comments below. This is a community effort!

The Pinecone

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Let me add to what I’ve already said in my introduction.

Whatever is growing within our inner being spirals out into the world.

Our current reality, therefore, took roots within our minds.

The Wedding Band

The gold wedding band represents the union of the inner and outer worlds.

How do you like my glorified stick people?… 🙂

I chose to represent the barn-raising spirit, the child with the reflection bowl, and the light switches on the ring instead of in the pinecone, where I originally saw them.

What kind of activity is happening within your mind today? Are you flicking that switch on or off?

The Roots


DLH_2226The roots pass beneath the wedding band, underlying the union of the inner and outer worlds.

They spread into the world like a web, extending beyond the limits of our perceived reality into the fabric of all that is – the invisible – the Universe.

As I was painting them, remembering the vision of the eyeball, they also felt like veins. These are a symbol of Life Force – the roads by which we feed ourselves and our vision.

Now, as I look at it, I sense a 2-way direction to the movement in this mandala – from the inside out, but also from the outside in. What does this mean for you?

The Trees

The Pine Trees in the Ring:

In my vision, I saw the minerals from the wedding band leaching into the world, nourishing it with its goodness. In addition to the larger roots, I chose to represent this by painting pine trees, their roots firmly planted inside the ring and their branches extend into the outer ring.

What we sow in our inner world takes root and spreads into our outer reality.

Pine trees are always fully present in the pinecone.  Similarly our full potential in this world already lies within us. By tapping into our true essence and nurturing our growth, we too can evolve as we were meant to do / be.

DLH_2223

The Tree of Life:

The tree of life often represents life, hope, truth, and healing. It’s a mystical tree, symbolic of the connection between our human and spiritual being-ness -inspiration (in spirit).

As a mandala, these paintings can be contemplated from any direction. Depending how you look at it, the fruits of this tree are hanging off the roots.  What could this mean to you?

The Pine Trees in the Corners:

These two pine trees are barely visible, outside the perceived limits of our reality.

Yet they grow and bear fruit, fed by and feeding the roots or veins that circulate through our full and mysterious existence.

I’d love to hear your interpretations on these.

The Cranes

DLH_2214Since my time living in South Korea, I’ve accepted cranes as symbols of longevity. They have a very long lifespan.

They’re also associated with a successful marriage, very appropriate here.

I wasn’t aware that cranes were also symbolic of the family tree.  This adds a further element of time to the root system of this mandala.

In terms of divinatory meaning, one website says:

“If you see a crane flying, it may be drawing your eyes to the heavens, lifting your spirits, and inspiring you to trust in the universe.”

Beautiful message!

Ordering & Receiving

Those active little people inside the pinecone were seen sending out paper airplanes into the world.  They’d written down their orders and instructions based on what was happening in the inner world. I liked the lighthearted playful energy of the mind / inner world I witnessed in this vision.

Then came the delivery trucks and construction machinery, answering to the guidance from the inner world.

We’re constantly placing orders and receiving – on a conscious and subconscious level.  That’s definitely something to think about…

The Eye

The Law of Correspondence

The entire mandala can been seen as a giant eye, but I also chose to paint an actual eyeball, looking straight up, as I saw it in my visual journey.

The eye is often seen as a window to the soul. It’s also a symbol of focus, vision, awareness, presence and intelligence.

For me, this eye is a reminder that we live in a dream, an illusion. Nothing has meaning but the meaning we give it. How we perceive the world is based on our inner reality. The eye here represents a passageway from consciousness to enlightenment.

What does it mean for you?

The Cycles

DLH_2224

Circling the extremities of our perceived world are the cycles of the natural world.

First, I was shown the tides and waves, moved by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon on the earth.

Then I was shown sunsets turning into sunrises, a continuous cycle of death and rebirth. Their colours are reflected around the 4 main elements within the mandala.

Everything is in motion. The momentum we create at our core sets the pace for what we experience here in this lifetime. Yet, with every new day, we are given another opportunity to re-create a world more aligned with that golden essence that lies within us – the one that may have been covered with the dust of time.

Your Turn

What other messages have you received as you’ve entered this Law of Correspondence mandala?

How do you dust off the cobwebs of your mind and shine your golden light into this world?

Law-of-Correspondence-Dominique-Hurley-Enter-the-Mandala

I’d love for you to share in the comments below.

Go to Mandala #3: Law of Action
Go to Mandala #5: Law of Cause and Effect
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Journey Into the Law of Action – Enter the Mandala

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The-Law-of-Action-Dominique-Hurley

This is it! The 3rd of the Enter the Mandala Project paintings – The Law of Action.

When fuelled by the fires of purpose and passion, each inspired step towards your dreams will lead you to the doors and tools you need to achieve them. 

The Law of Action is not about aimless busy-ness. It’s about the continuous process of tuning in, communicating to the Universe, staying open and receptive, and following through on guidance. It’s this kind of action that creates the necessary momentum to manifest your vision.  

So take the steps, open the doors, collect the right tools, navigate the brainstorm web, send your smoke signals to the Universe, allow, receive, and create the reality you wish to see in the world. It’s all possible through the Law of Action.

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Read on to find out more about how I tapped into the symbology for this painting.

Spirit Calling Card Message

First, I used my Spirit Calling Cards to invite my Divine Helpers into the intuitive painting process.

SCC-Law-of-Action-Dominique-Hurley

You’ll hear me chat about these cards at the beginning of the recording below.

What a great reminder that “reflecting on the fruit of our purpose”, or visualizing our desired results and focusing on the WHY we do things, is a crucial part of the Law of Action.  It’s also the initial step in changing how we see, feel, and experience the world – our truth.

It was also a reminder that action which isn’t sourced from within won’t lead to an inner or outer reality that is aligned with our true essence.

What does this mean to you? I invite you to ponder on this message and share your insights in the comments.

Listen In

These readings, especially the Divine Storytelling Times, raise my vibration to such delightful levels. This one was so much fun!  

The symbology was so rich that my mind wanted to jump ahead and start interpreting as the story was evolving.  Active listening skills apply to intuition as well… best not interrupt Source, my Guiding Spirits and Angels while they’re speaking 🙂 …. 

Although these visual journeys aren’t new to me, tapping into them as part of my painting process is! I’m so grateful I was guided to create this series – for both artistic and spiritual growth.

Go ahead, listen in (17 min).  The mini-movie description starts after the Spirit Calling Card Reading.

Reflecting on the Journey:

When I think of volcanoes, I’m reminded of what a medical intuitive once told me. She commented that my eczema (skin condition) was like a volcano. The internal pressure of not listening to my inner guidance was causing stress on the system.  If I only took care of the symptom on my hands, it would simply erupt elsewhere on my body.  I needed to recognize and honour its core message.  I needed to listen before the pressure of holding my purpose, passion, and emotions deep inside created irreparable damage.

The volcano in this reading felt like our purpose calling us upwards into the Light. It’s the creative fire that lurks beneath the surface, brewing and bubbling. It’s inspiration percolating. It’s the source of own powerful brilliance. It feeds our dreams, which then feed our actions.

In this vision, the spinning merry-go-round (think of the symbolism of that word!) sent celebratory sparks that ignited the volcano, creating a glass tower that reached upwards towards that Light, leading us to the bigger picture with every step. Both the tower and staircase were manifested from the pressures of this same inner world. By tapping within and taking each step, our actions then manifested the doorways and tools necessary to create our landscapes.

You’re advised to stay grounded while connecting to your Higher Vision. Let the smoke signals rise up from the platform of your goals. Don’t block the mouth of the volcano and don’t wait until the pressure mounts to an insupportable level. The price of ignoring our Spirit Calls can be high indeed. Eczema is but a minor reminder when I am off my path …  Luckily, I eventually listen, heeding that warning.

What are your warning signals? Are you listening?

The Layers

As with many of my intuitive paintings, this one evolved in layers. Each new one inspired the next. There was little planning involved. I simply took action, trusting that the next step would reveal itself.

1.  The Inner Fires of Creativity and Passion:

Fire and water mixed to include the earth and air elements all present in volcanoes.

2.  Guided Action – Collecting the tools:

F-Law-of-Action-wip-DominiqueHurleyDLH_2059

You may not know how all of your guided actions fit in the big picture, but trust that layer upon layer, this will reveal itself to you.

See the slideshow above to witness the evolution of these many layers.

 

3.  Momentum:

I used ground up pumice (volcanic glass) to create the raised surface of the merry-go-round/tower and the rim of the volcano.  Pumice energetically helps us rise above our challenges by giving us the insights necessary to move forward. Perfect!

I represented the  inspiration / action cycle through the brainstorm web I saw in my intuitive journey as well as in the arrows pointing inwards towards our dreams/goals.

 

4.  Allowing:

Allow Dominique! Allow!  This is the area where I’ve repeatedly been told I need to practice more.

Coming from a military family and with decades of professional education and experience in recreation and teaching, I have become very good in the left brain areas of planning and implementing. The more anxious I get, however, the more controlling I become, wanting to force things into being. Then I start spiralling into fear, losing my inner peace. That’s when I become so goal focussed that I forget to enjoy the journey. Sounds familiar?

Luckily, life has taught me that the more I trust my intuitive guidance and the power of manifesting, the more my dreams are achieved with ease and grace. This is not about sitting back and passively waiting.  It’s about doing things when moved to do so, and paying close attention to what is being called for next. One step at a time.

My six months of fundraising to go study art overseas for a year is a perfect example.  I worked intensively, but it was so strongly guided that I not only succeeded in letting go of the fear around my project, but exceeded my fundraising goals.

My time painting in Austria, Bali, and Italy is proof to me of The Law of Action. First, I sent smoke signals to the Universe about wanting to get over psychological blocks to drawing (sometimes unknowingly). This was fuelled by my passion and purpose as an artist. I then received unmistakable guidance about the Vienna Academy of Visionary Art. Once I accepted the call and affirmed my intentions, the action steps revealed themselves through messengers and inner work. I opened a lot of doors and worked with lots of tools.  Some stretched my comfort zones and some were criticized by other artists (like auctioning off all my artwork starting at the cost of materials). I went against the social norm, but that didn’t phase me because I was tapped in to something greater.  I trusted the inspired process full-heartedly and my dreams became a reality. No regrets!

Can you think of a time when this was true in your life?

Start with baby steps.  Listen and trust your intuition.  The more you do, the clearer your Spirit Calls will be and the easier it will be to create your dreams.

Your Turn

What would you like to achieve? What first step could you take today towards that dream?  Please inspire us with your stories or share your impressions of this painting and process in the discussion below.

Go to Mandala #2: Law of Vibration
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Journey Into the Law of Vibration – Enter the Mandala

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Law-of-Vibration-Dominique-Hurley

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Here it is – the second of the Enter the Mandala Project paintings – The Law of Vibration.

As an intuitive artist, journeying into the Law of Vibration has meant riding the sinuous waves of energy throughout space and time as well as skipping from one God Particle to another within all things.

What a trip!

I’ll do my best to share with you the wonders of both the creative and spiritual processes here.

The Spirit Calling Card Reading

As you know, my goal in this series is to explore and express the Twelve Universal Laws.

It’s part of my own spiritual journey, using my intuitive gifts to generate a better understanding of the concepts on a body, mind, and spirit level.

In addition to the initial interpretations I share in the audio below, this Spirit Calling Card reading affirmed that by answering the call of my Angels and Spirit Guides to create this series, I am planting seeds on all levels. By using intuition and colour as my mediums, I am evolving and opening a gateway for those interested in journeying with me.

Thanks for coming along!

SCC-Law-of-Vibration-Dominique-Hurley

Listen In

I love the visual journeys I take when I channel a Divine Storytelling Time! Whether I’m doing one to source information for myself, a painting, or as part of an intuitive reading for a client, they’re such rich sources of experience and symbology.

You get to join me on this short journey, which starts right after the Spirit Calling Card reading.

I invite you to listen as you explore the meaning of The Law of Vibration through the photos below.

The Creative Process

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Up Close

It took me about 75 hours to create this 30″ x 30″ painting.  I spent about 16 of those dot-making … a very meditative process.

As it was the last week of the Hay House Summit 2015, I also spent many of those hours listening to inspiring podcasts.  While my left brain was listening, my right brain entered the mandala, riding the waves of creativity and energy.

The Spiritual Process

It’s amazing to think (and know, and feel) that absolutely everything is pure energy vibrating at different frequencies.

I’ve long accepted this when it comes to the things we can see with the naked eye – be it people, plants, man-made objects, etc. I was paying attention in science class!

I also knew that this was true of what we can perceive with our other senses, such as sounds and smells. It even made sense that dog whistles, which we can’t hear, are vibrating at an imperceptible frequency.

I remember being fascinated, however, when I was introduced to the fact that thoughts, beliefs, and emotions are also vibrations.  Even consciousness is vibration! These aren’t only spiritual concepts, but quantum physics ones as well.

If you haven’t seen the movies “What the Bleep Do We Know!?”  and “What the Bleep: Down the Rabbit Hole” yet, I recommend them. They do a great job of explaining parts of this.

MOST INTRIGUING:

I don’t remember hearing or reading anything about it, but what has intrigued me most through this intuitive painting experience is the idea that time and history also vibrate at specific energetic frequencies. Is that why repressed emotions from this or past lifetimes get stored in our bodies and psyches? Is that where the idea of time travel came from? The fact that my visual journey through the Law of Vibration took me from cavemen to Columbus to modern times fascinates me.

The more I painted and the more I listened, the more I understood. Teal Swan, one of the Hay House speakers who was born with extrasensory perception, explained how she doesn’t see negative space like most of us do. For her, there is no empty space. Everything is vibrating in waves of energy, including the wind, the air, etc. There is no clear separation between things.

LINKS:

My experience journeying through this mandala also reaffirmed the link between the Law of Vibration and the Law of Attraction.  By vibrating at a certain frequency, through the power of our emotions, we attract what is also vibrating at that same frequency.

As Abraham (channeled by Esther Hicks) explained in a great interview by Dr. Wayne Dwyer, we have 17 seconds after having a negative thought to get off that vibration frequency. Esther herself, when she notices such thoughts, simply starts counting backwards to unhook from that frequency.  It stops her from spiralling down the chain of negative thoughts that remind her of related negative thoughts, etc.  I also like Abraham’s description of sleep as a reset button.  That’s why it’s so important to spend the first minutes upon waking on the higher frequency vibrations instead of instantly checking emails or listening to the news.  I don’t listen to the news, but I do jump onto the computer a little too quickly …

As spiritual beings here on earth to have human experiences, we are bound to vibrate at various frequencies during our lives, our chapters, our days and even our minutes. The importance of our roles as vibration managers though, is an interesting one to think about.  Are we following the leadership of our Guides and Higher Selves or are we so caught up in the details that we’re spinning on the lower frequencies – stuck until we remember to reconnect to our true essence?

I could go on, but you get the picture.  The Law of Vibration is as it is. There are many ways to understand it, including the various spiritual and metaphysical teachings I’ve been studying for years.  This was simply another way to explore and express it, helping me perceive and experience life and the world in a much more unconditionally loving way.

Law-of-Vibration-Dominique-Hurley

 

Your Turn

I’d love to hear from you. Let’s get a community discussion going.  Scroll down to leave a reply.

What does this painting or post bring to mind? to heart? 

Go to Mandala #1: The Law of Divine Oneness
Go to Mandala #3: The Law of Action
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Purchase the Collection of Original Paintings.
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Life by Design: Stop and Smell the Flowers

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tulipsDid your brain just jump in and say “that shoulda been ‘stop and smell the roses’ instead of ‘stop and smell the flowers’ “?

Well, this post is all about letting go of those shouldas, wouldas and couldas...

Plus, it just didn’t feel right to use “roses” in the title when sharing photos I took at the Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa last week.

I was there to reconnect with family and to force myself away from the computer.  I needed to get out of overdrive.

Focus is good. Driving oneself to burnout, however, isn’t.

The road signs were clear.  I was heading that way. It was time for a change of course before it was too late.

I’m sharing my story here in the hopes that it inspires you to take care of yourself as you create your Life by Design. There’s no use killing ourselves in the process.

The Mind and Body in Overdrive

When I bought my plane ticket to Ottawa, I knew it was a good thing.

The thought of slowing down before my e-commerce website was up and running, though, also had me in a bit of a panic. Earning a sustainable income as a full-time artist depends on it. But the thought of being forced to slow down for reasons out of my control appealed even less. I wasn’t interested in making myself sick.

I had been pushing myself too hard for too long.

As a full-time student in Marie Forleo’s B-School, I was learning and implementing so much.  It’s an intensive, exciting, and soulful business program!  Although one of Marie’s slogans is “there’s no behind in B-School”, I created all sorts of self-imposed pressures and deadlines. I made that worse with fears of failure and over-exaggerated concerns about the consequences.

I’m happy with the website I’m still building.  My e-shop is also coming along, but it’s not quite ready yet.

Working through my technophobic tendencies had me stretching my comfort zones daily.  I’ve had to push through fear, panic, overwhelm, perfectionism and impatience to get where I’m at.  

IMG_9051I’ve been learning as much about my beloved shadow side as I have about my gifts, technology and business. These are worthwhile exercises, but they can take their toll.

My months of 12-16 hour days in front of the computer had not only put my brain into overdrive, but my body also.  If you haven’t heard, they’re linked…

I’d wake up with subtle energy and sometimes physical tremors from the constant anxiety.  My dreams were filled with to-do lists and related fears.

Yup! I was stressed!

My body was talking to me.  I didn’t want to wait until it was screaming to listen.

It was time to stop and smell the flowers.

I grabbed Dr. Gabor Maté’s book “When the Body Says No – The Costs of Hidden Stress” off the shelf and headed to Ottawa. The book was given to me last summer, but I hadn’t made time to read it.

“What has happened is that we have lost touch with the gut feelings designed to be our warning system. The body mounts a stress response, but the mind is unaware of the threat. … (T)he salient stressors in the lives of most human beings today – at least in the industrialized world – are emotional. Just like laboratory animals unable to escape, people find themselves trapped in lifestyles and emotional patterns inimical to their health. The higher the level of economic development, it seems, the more anesthetized we have become to our emotional realities. We no longer sense what is happening in our bodies and cannot therefore act in self-preserving ways. The physiology of stress eats away at our bodies not because it has outlived its usefulness, but because we may no longer have the competence to recognize its signals.”

Luckily, I have trained myself through my intuitive and spiritual practices to be aware of what is happening in my body. I also knew of the emotional connection to dis-ease. It still took time, however, to take action on those signals.  That’s so common in our go-go-go society.

Stop and Smell the Flowers

With Ottawa in full bloom, it was hard to ignore the call to stop and smell the flowers.

When I left Newfoundland, the trees were barely budding.  Nature was slowly coming out of its necessary hibernation.

By lifting myself away from my computer and changing the scene, I was surprised to see a world in full and luscious bloom.

I got my nose out of my own little story to be with loved ones, to help, to re-connect, and to re-create.

When I returned to Newfoundland 11 days later, nature had undergone the effects of divine timing – progressing at its own natural rate. Little tufts of green had started appearing on the trees.

Trees are such great teachers – they don’t stress with self-imposed expectations and judgements. They don’t hang on to stuff from the past or worries about the future. They have no shouldas, wouldas, or couldas – no comparisons with the speed of seasons in other parts of the world. There’s just perfection in being what is.

I’m back at work full-time now, but I’ll take these body, mind, and spirit lessons to heart, so that I that I may better explore and express my love of beauty and the beauty of love. After all, that’s what being an artist is all about for me.

Your Turn

Is it time for you to stop and smell the roses? How about the tulips, or lilacs?

What are your favourite ways to decompress? Feel free to join the discussion below.

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Journey Into Divine Oneness – Enter the Mandala

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Law-of-Divine-Oneness-Dominique-Hurley

 

This is the first painting of 12 in the Enter the Mandala Project.  I’m so excited to share The Law of Divine Oneness with you!

What a journey! Here’s what I’ve learned through the co-creation of this mandala.

Sourced from Divine Energy, all that is seen and unseen comes from the field of infinite possibilities.

Together, we move as Divine Oneness in a spiralling web of interconnectedness. As to one, so to all.

Click to Buy Mandala Prints

The Intuitive Journey

Visionary artists receive their inspiration in many ways: through dreams, meditation, mind altering substances, etc. I’m one of the rare ones who’s never even tried drugs. That’s not a good or bad thing – it just is.

For this series of paintings, I decided to use my intuitive journeying process (which I call my mini-movies) to dive deeper into the Twelve Universal Laws.

As you’ll hear, I first asked Source and my team of Divine Helpers to guide me.

I then travelled through worlds of imagery to collect messages and symbols related to the Law of Divine Oneness.

Since I asked on behalf everyone, you get to play detective with me as we decipher these messages. Have fun with this. I did!

Listen In:

While listening to this 15-minute audio, take a look at the Spirit Calling Cards below and the Creative Process photos.  See if you can find how I incorporated the symbols I was given. I’m not much into realism, so some symbols are, well, symbolic.

There’s no right or wrong way of doing this. If you’d rather just close your eyes and experience the journey that way, go for it.

The Spirit Calling Card Reading

These are the Spirit Calling Cards that acted as a doorway into the intuitive visual journey.

Spirit-Calling-Card-Reading-Dominique-Hurley

The Creative Process

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Click on an image if you want to go through them larger – it shouldn’t stop the audio.

The Spiritual Process

I’m sure you’ve heard that spiritual growth isn’t always smooth.

Have you ever decided to work on an issue only to start having opportunities to do so hit you in the face?  This form of “ask and you shall receive” can be challenging for sure! But the rewards are worthwhile.

It’s no surprise, therefore, that having asked to understand the Law of Divine Oneness, I got to do so – not only through my intuitive journey and painting, but in every day life.  Immediately!

Right after a very absorbing painting session, I went to the kitchen, where my housemate presented me with a huge mirror (no, not literally). She helped me see that I was not only disconnected from her, but also from the here and now.  I was still in my head and in my painting, reflecting on the meaning of Oneness.  Wow!

After a few seconds of shock, we both recognized that we were being offered a wonderful opening for connection, unconditional love, and understanding.  I suddenly realized on a cellular level (as my entire body was vibrating) how true it is that what we do to one person affects everyone and everything everywhere.  At first, I could almost sense the shockwaves traveling around the planet. But then, because we chose to lovingly deal with the situation, I could see this having a much greater effect that reached far beyond the borders of our kitchen and even our world. I was grateful to my Divine Helpers for showing me that.

There have been quite a lot of shifts in my personal world since I started this exploration into the Law of Divine Oneness.

I’m coming out of hermit mode after a winter of diving more deeply into my Self and my art/business.  I’m feeling called to being of service at a greater level. I’m reconnecting to the infinite possibilities, to gratitude, and to people. I’m letting go of fear, of judgment, of limiting beliefs.  Great stuff!

Your Turn

I’d love to hear what this post/painting inspires in you. Please share your perspective, insights and comments in the discussion below.  Your contribution is a valuable part of this community process.

 

What will your journey through this first Universal Law open up for you?  

You are such a beautiful and important part of the Divine Oneness.

What you and I do to raise our level of consciousness will help us all.

We are all interconnected.

 

Go to Project Introduction
Go to Mandala #2: The Law of Vibration
Click to Buy Mandala Prints
Purchase the Collection of Original Paintings.
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Introducing the 12 Universal Laws – Enter the Mandala

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Transform your life from the inside out!

Become the conscious creator you were meant to be.mandala-mix

Enter the mandalas to journey deep into the 12 Universal Laws that govern our lives.  

The more you understand them, the happier you’ll be.

Come on in!

*Note: The full collection of originals is now available for purchase. Learn more here.

A Universal Spirituality

Enter the Mandala is an invitation to open up to the Divine Energy that is in everything and everyone everywhere.  It’s also an invitation to go deeper into both your Self and All That Is.

The Universal Laws go beyond religion – they govern all our lives.

Mandalas

The word “mandala” means “sacred circle” in Sanskrit. These have long been used as spiritual tools in many cultures and religions.

Mandalas help focus attention, provide guidance, and establish sacred space for meditation.  They’re a portal into the Universal Energy Flow.

This spiritual and artistic project began when I received intuitive guidance to create a series of 12 mandala paintings based on the Universal Laws.

Some of the Laws were already familiar to me by name or essence. But this was the first time I’d studied them directly with my team of Divine Helpers (Source, Guides, Angels, Higher Self, etc.).

The symbolism in these mandalas was pulled from an intuitive reading that began the process of inquiry into each Universal Law.

The Twelve Universal Laws

Many are familiar with the Law of Attraction, made popular by the movie The Secret and the channellings of Abraham Hicks.  I’ve shared stories on stage of how this law has worked in my life.  It’s truly amazing.

But it’s not the only Law. There are 12.

Click on an image to enter the mandala and its lessons – delivered in words, images, and energy.

Law of Divine Oneness

1. The Law of Divine Oneness

Law of Vibration Mandala

2. The Law of Vibration

The Law of Action mandala

3. The Law of Action

Law of Correspondence mandala

4. The Law of Correspondence

The Law of Cause and Effect mandala

5. The Law of Cause and Effect

The Law of Compensation Mandala

6. The Law of Compensation

The Law of Attraction mandala

7. The Law of Attraction

The Law of Perpetual Transmutation of Energy mandala

8. Perpetual Transmutation…

9. The Law of Relativity

9. The Law of Relativity

Law-of-Polarity-Dominique-Hurley

10. The Law of Polarity

11. The Law of Rhythm

11. The Law of Rhythm

12. The Law of Gender

12. The Law of Gender

Enter-the-Mandala-All-In-One-Dominique-HurleyOnce I was completed the 12 mandalas, I was guided to review and summarize all 12 into one final mandala.  Click here for a full view of the painting and the written summary on all 12 laws.

Want a Mandala Print? Click to Go to my Online Shop

The Inquiry Process?

The creative process into the 12 Universal Laws as you see here lasted 10 months. It included:

  • asking: intuitive guidance
  • creating: 30″x 30″ mandala paintings
  • investigating: researching the symbolism, reading & listening
  • discussing: on my blog and during live community events
  • reflecting: the learning & remembering never ends

This project is part of my own transformational journey. But it’s so much more than that.

The mandalas have become teaching tools. They’re a chance for you to:

  • connect with the energy behind the art, your Higher Self, the Laws, and each other
  • engage with the intuitive process
  • learn about the creative process
  • engage in discussion
  • participate in life-enhancing exhibitions and events

May these mandalas empower you on your journey, in whichever form you choose to bring them into your life.

The creation of the Enter the Mandala Project artwork was supported in part by the City of St. John’s.
CoSJ Logo-Black

 

Purchase the Collection of Original Paintings.
Mandala prints available in many sizes and mediums. Click to learn more
Universal Law Guided Meditations Bundle. Click to learn more

 

Go to Mandala #1: Law of Divine Oneness
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Life By Design: Embrace Your Weirdness

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Harbour-Grace-Crow-Dominique-HurleyI’m weird. The truth is, we all are.  Some of us just don’t let that weird wonderful self out to play very much.  

Alas, society has been good at training it out of us.

I remember my Discourse Analysis professor in the early 90s saying that everyone could be diagnosed with a mental disorder if secretly observed for a period of time.

Funny the things from school that stick, eh?  That stuck.  I found it strangely comforting.

Freedom To Be

Rainbow-Mist-3Ever since returning to Canada last July, I have repeatedly found myself feeling grateful to be living where I am. My friends and Guides helped me manifest the perfect housemate in a beautiful home.  It’s been such a blessing!

I’ve had several sets of housemates in the last 5 years. In most of those situations, I hadn’t felt safe or comfortable enough to fully be myself. Fear, “consideration”, divergent lifestyles and philosophies – I just kept myself quiet and small.  Like many times in my life, I chose to walk on eggshells.

Can you relate? It’s no fun!

It feels so good to be weird again!  

  • I love singing, no matter if my housemate is in earshot. Luckily, she likes it too.
  • When I write, I’m constantly reading out loud in a variety of accents and levels of dramatic flair.  It makes it more fun.
  • Making strange sound effects is one of the healthier ways I have of coping with technological overwhelm (common during this website building phase).
  • I can go days without saying much of anything, intensely focused on my projects.
  • and the list goes on.

Let the Weirdness Blossom

During my walks this week, I’ve observed little spring flowers pushing their way out from under the remaining snow and packed down grasses.  Thank goodness they made it through! They add such colour to the world.

It’s the same with us.

There is such freedom in being who we are.  It takes courage. It takes heart. It takes pushing through both real and perceived barriers to fully bloom. It takes being in the right environment.  

Is your environment conducive?

Loving the Weird

More than that.

Being authentically who we are is the only way to truly feel loved.

If people love us because of the masks we wear, than it’s not us that they’re loving.

It’s only when we are seen for who we truly are, in all our weirdness, that we can feel seen, accepted, and loved.  

Sure, not everyone will love you, or even like you.  That’s OK.  Find those who will.

It’s so important to seek the nourishing environments in which you can grow fully into who and what you are – to blossom in all your weirdness.

There is absolutely no one on this planet like you.  You are unique. You are the weird wonderful you!

It’s time to unwrap the gift.

You are the Gift.

Hibiscus-Hawaii-Dominique-Hurley

How do you express your weird wonderful you?  

Join the discussion and comment below.

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Life by Design: Self-Love

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This episode of Life by Design is told as a series of stories – not to show how far I’ve come or how far I still have to go, but as fodder for your own reflections, understanding, acceptance, and self-love.

Dominique Hurley-DLH_1036One Step At A Time:

I was heading up to my room last week, when I passed by my housemate sitting at her computer.  As my foot landed on the first step, I heard my inner critic make a comment about the way she was typing. As I moved onto the next step, I was beating myself up for being judgmental. My inner grumbles obviously had nothing to do with her. After all, nothing has meaning but the meaning you give it – and today, I can’t even remember what nonsensical meaning that was. By the time I reached the third step, I noticed how hard I was being on myself, and invited a moment of silence to simply breathe.  By the time I got to my room, I was fully conscious of the fact that I mustn’t be feeling loved if I could project that lack of love onto the world outside me. Indeed, I have come to accept that the world, or rather my perception of it, is simply a mirror of my internal state.

So I sat down, gave myself a hug, smiled, and talked to myself lovingly. I also remembered that I am unconditionally loved by Source and even by certain human beings.  🙂 I also chose to change the station, from that fear-based ego-centered inner critical voice that obviously isn’t me (but a combination of negative voices internalized throughout my life) to that of the one who was able to observe all that was happening in a calm and loving way – the Higher Self, or conscience if you prefer. I was able to transform my inner reality from a harsh non-loving one to a loving one – for self first and then others.  I’d say from beginning to end, all that happened within the space of a minute.

Loving Takes Practice:

I wish I was always that fast at switching gears.  More so, I wish I could live in a constant state of self-love, which would naturally become unconditional love for others.  I’m not there yet, and that’s OK.  With decades of conscious practice, it comes much more naturally than it used to.

Dominique Hurley-DLH_1089Denial:

There was a time when I actually denied the fact that I lacked self-love.  I remember being on the Inner Voyage Caribbean cruise in 2000 – an amazing spiritual workshop cruise with many of the leaders of the time.  When I wasn’t attending workshops or socializing, I was doing my photography homework for a correspondence courses with the New York Institute of Photography. Bliss!  Investing in this experience may not have been the most financially wise decision I’ve made in my life (according to some in my environment), but I was so glad I had listened to my Guidance.  I needed it.  I had just experienced the most stressful year of my life – one that had tested my ability to stay strong for another and function in the world despite the fears and pressures around a situation that was completely out of my control.  Once the crisis was over, I needed a break.  I needed an intensive dose of love and beauty to fill my soul and strengthen my inner resources.  It worked.

One evening, somewhere between Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, I was consulting an intuitive healer about my eczema, a skin problem that I’ve had to varying degrees since infancy. At one point, she told me that I had serious self-love issues.  I reacted, saying that I was probably the most self-loving person I knew. I defended by giving examples, such as following Guidance, and coming on this cruise.  I put up quite the self-righteous fuss – I denied it.  I chuckle now as I write this.

cruiseship deckListen Up!:

Three years later, my Guides felt it necessary to speak up – literally.   I was at a silent retreat in Nova Scotia after my ex-husband and I lovingly decided to part ways. This was one of three retreats I had planned that summer before moving to Calgary to do my Masters.  It was an informal retreat that had no schedule except for a daily meeting with a spiritual adviser and a set dinner time.

One early morning, I woke up upon hearing another resident leaving the house.  My inner critic immediately started beating myself up for not being the first one to shower, eat, and get out of the house for an early morning walk by the ocean. I know! Seriously!  It’s not much fun in that head of mine at times… can you relate? (Note: I found out last week that this is normal for those with the “Achiever” theme – see last book in previous post).

Anyhow, I was really going at it when I heard a voice, loud and clear in the room (one of three times I can remember in my life when my Guidance came through audibly). I can’t remember the exact words, but it was something like “You’re perfect as you are”.  The tears welled up, and I fell into a deep  sleep for another few hours, probably waking up last in the center.

NSPerfectionism:

It had become clear that the intuitive healer on board the Inner Voyage cruise was right – I had serious self-love issues! For one, I was a perfectionist.

“At its root, perfectionism isn’t really about a deep love of being meticulous. It’s about fear. Fear of making a mistake. Fear of disappointing others. Fear of failure. Fear of success.”    ~ Michael Law

Indeed, I was so focused on the potential judgement of others and on wanting their approval that my ego reveled in its role as my worst critic. I was only beginning to realize that “I” was the other voice – the one that could say to the ego “yes, dear, I hear you, but I choose otherwise – I choose love”.

Sure, I excelled at many things and my reputation for doing great work grew, but at what cost?

The unrealistic expectations I placed on myself became expectations I placed on others.  I was strictly goal oriented and not only forgot to enjoy the journey, but sometimes made that journey unpleasant for others.  Although I could be very loving and nurturing in roles of leadership, I wasn’t a good team player.  My expectations of peers made it impossible to be fully present and loving.

“There is no disappointment or anger in Real Love”
Dr. Greg Baer

HalifaxTuning Into the Body for Signals:

This became very clear to me when I was doing my Masters of Education in Calgary. Although my focus was English as a Second Language, I filled my roster of optional courses with offerings from the Spirituality and Leadership branch of the department. I even conducted an action research study during one of my internships that helped me become conscious of every moment I went from love to fear in the classroom – an extension of the Vipassana meditation training I had taken the summer before. While part of me was teaching the class, another part was keeping track of feelings of expansion and contraction within my body. I would take mental or written notes and then journal about it afterward.

I came to realize that I was great at doing teaching (putting together a fun, success-oriented class for students), but that every time someone asked a question (especially a grammar question), my insides would tighten.  I was afraid that I wouldn’t know the answer. More importantly, I was afraid that this distraction would take me off schedule and that they wouldn’t have the chance to experience that aha moment of learning that I had planned after presenting them with a challenge. Sure, part of it was about the fear of losing control, but mostly, it was the fear that they would leave before the moment of truly understanding and learning (which would indicate failure on my part).

There is simply no room for love when fear takes over.

Perception:

I learned a lot during those 2 years.  The greatest confirmation of that was when I received the results from my final paper / presentation on the being vs. doing of teaching: “A Lesson in Being: One Teacher’s Spiritual Journey in the MEd TESL Program”.  Three professors sat on the jury that would decide whether or not I would receive my Masters of Education.  One wrote that my work was exemplary of what all Masters students should strive for, and that if a grade could have been given, I would have received an A+. The next professor gave me great feedback and was very pleased.  The third professor, however, wrote that he had nearly failed me – something to do with self-absorption (so the equivalent of a D). The exact same paper received marks from one end of the spectrum to the other. Perfect! I smiled as I recognized that the Universe was smiling with me – I had successfully learned that others’ judgments had nothing to do with me, but with their own perceptions and criteria for success. Although passing was important for my career, the most important factor was my own journey through the whole experience and knowing that I was now not only a better teacher, but a more loving being – inside out.

Halifax 2What is Self-Love?

I have grown a lot in my practice of unconditional love through the work of Dr. Greg Baer (www.RealLove.com).  He teaches that the only way we can be unconditionally loved by others is to be seen and accepted for who we truly are – not for our masks. This is why it’s so important to be authentic with others.  It would seem natural to say, therefore, that the only way we can truly love ourselves is by seeing and accepting the truth of who we are – of being honest with ourselves – in all our vulnerability.  I’m not denying my self-love issues anymore (obviously, if you’ve been following my blog!) … Carl Jung said:

“The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely.”

When we realize, however, that we aren’t the ego – we aren’t that inner critical voice, but rather that loving observer beyond that – it’s not so terrifying at all.  As written in the Course of Miracles, “The ego is your belief. The ego is a confusion in identification”.

“You will identify with with what you think
will make you safe.
Whatever it may be,
you will believe that it is one with you.
Your safety lies in truth,
and not in lies.
Love is your safety.
Fear does not exist.
Identify with love, and you are safe.
Identify with love, and you are home.
Identify with love, and find your Self.”

This channeled text also advises:

“Seek not outside yourself.
The search implies you are not whole within.”

**

The Journey to Self-Love Continues:

My ego has been very vocal lately.  I’ve come out of my hermit mode to join a community of thousands in B-School on a challenging, yet rewarding journey.  My determination to live a life of passion and purpose is strong.  So are my fears.  Luckily, every day offers me opportunities to grow in love – with myself and others.

Divine Union-Dominique Hurley

In the Worlds of Charlie Chaplin:

“When I started loving myself”
– A poem by Charlie Chaplin written on his 70th birthday on April 16, 1959 –


When I started loving myself
I understood that I’m always and at any given opportunity
in the right place at the right time.
And I understood that all that happens is right –
from then on I could be calm.
Today I know: It’s called TRUST.

When I started to love myself I understood how much it can offend somebody
When I tried to force my desires on this person,
even though I knew the time is not right and the person was not ready for it,
and even though this person was me.
Today I know: It’s called LETTING GO

When I started loving myself
I could recognize that emotional pain and grief
are just warnings for me to not live against my own truth.
Today I know: It’s called AUTHENTICALLY BEING.

When I started loving myself
I stopped longing for another life
and could see that everything around me was a request to grow.
Today I know: It’s called MATURITY.

When I started loving myself
I stopped depriving myself of my free time
and stopped sketching further magnificent projects for the future.
Today I only do what’s fun and joy for me,
what I love and what makes my heart laugh,
in my own way and in my tempo.
Today I know: it’s called HONESTY.

When I started loving myself
I escaped from all what wasn’t healthy for me,
from dishes, people, things, situations
and from everything pulling me down and away from myself.
In the beginning I called it the “healthy egoism”,
but today I know: it’s called SELF-LOVE.

When I started loving myself
I stopped wanting to be always right
thus I’ve been less wrong.
Today I’ve recognized: it’s called HUMBLENESS.

When I started loving myself
I refused to live further in the past
and worry about my future.
Now I live only at this moment where EVERYTHING takes place,
like this I live every day and I call it CONSCIOUSNESS.

When I started loving myself
I recognized, that my thinking
can make me miserable and sick.
When I requested for my heart forces,
my mind got an important partner.
Today I call this connection HEART WISDOM.

We do not need to fear further discussions,
conflicts and problems with ourselves and others
since even stars sometimes bang on each other
and create new worlds.
Today I know: THIS IS LIFE!

 ***

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