Tag: spiritual journey

Circle of Life

lizaaitken

It could be a circle I’m travelling,

or a long and windy trail.

In such dry and arid conditions,

or wet where I need a sail.

Pulls on every ounce of strength,

such weight I have to bare.

But then I look to the distance,

and I know I’m nearly there.

Such feats I have to contend with,

as I travel along the way.

Those burdens that I carry too,

some go but others may stay.

And what if it is a circle or two,

and I just go round and round.

Maybe that’s just the secret,

of how happiness can be found. 

~

lizalizaskysaregrey©2017

Lessons in the Dark

lizaaitken

Even the dark path can be the right way, when we learn from the mistakes we make. Some of the pathways we tread through life lead to dead ends, but in reaching them we learn something. Not all our lessons come easily, not all are taught in the light, some need us to travel through the darkness for a while.

Sometimes it doesn’t feel like the right way, sometimes we think there might have been an easier option, this indeed might be the case but not everything worthwhile comes easily. Listen to your inner voice, listen from within your heart, for only then will you find the right way. 

~ Liza

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The Tapered Path

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There was a natural taper to the path as it wound off into the distance. She was unsure if the path was right, was she going the right way or should she turn back and give up on ever finding herself. She sat for a moment, she’d come so far, given up so much, how could she possibly have chosen the wrong path. She thought about the intersection, the place the pathways crossed. There hadn’t been a sign but she had instinctively felt the path to the left was the one to take. She went back there in her mind looking at the place the paths crossed again, she was searching for clues, she was sure there would be one she had overlooked, nothing but a feeling. She thought about that feeling, felt it again, it had felt right, but now she just didn’t know anymore.

The journey was so long, much longer than she had hoped, much longer than they said and she was tired. It seemed that around every corner there was something else to trip her up, an upturned root, a hidden dip in the path or the enticing calls from the undergrowth. She wondered if the other path had been so treacherous, so unpredictable, she sort of doubted it.

She carried on, wary and tired but at the same time determined. She didn’t want to turn back, didn’t want to retrace her steps over the rough terrain. Hard as the journey had been up until now she felt somehow she was getting somewhere. Even the rest she had just taken, had been beneficial, it had given her time for reflection and introspection. although she didn’t know all the answers, didn’t know what lay ahead, she sort of felt restored and able to continue a little further.

It was around the next bend that she found the opening in the trees. Over in the distance a glistening pond, bathed in the light of the setting sun. Slowly she walked over to the pond and knelt to wash her face. Bending down, she saw herself, saw herself smiling through the glimmering ripples on the ponds surface. At this moment she knew she had been on the right path all along.

~

lizalizaskysaregrey©2017

The Journey of the Flower

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Imagine for a moment a flowers journey through life.  A journey that begins with it pushing up from deep within the hard earth, struggling to get through the darkness. The dark earth being all that it has known, but on and on it goes, because it is searching for the light. The flower hasn’t seen the light or been told about it but somewhere deep inside of its being it knows that there is light beyond the surface of the earth, it pushes on towards the light.

Breaking through the earth at last it encounters the cold, crisp air of a spring morning, moisture falling on it’s small and fragile body, pushing it down and back towards the earth. But something in the flower tells it to fight, to push on and stand up. The moisture passes along the tiny stem and sinks into the earth feeding it’s roots. Something that might have drowned the flower if it had given up, now feeds and nourishes it.

It begins to grow, slowly at first, but the draw of the light pulls it upwards, the flower now understands where the light comes from, the flower realises this light is it’s connection to all things. Looking around the flower starts to hear the music of nature, whispers, whistles and calls, the flower connects with the rhythm of the nature. Listening to what nature is saying the flower dances in the wind to confirm its understanding.

This is the stage the flower begins to understand it’s journey, it knows that it must open itself, it also knows that it’s opening will also be the beginning of its death. It understands the challenges ahead, but also understands the challenges are necessary to its growth.

The flower can feel a connection to the heart deep within the bud it still holds tightly closed. With the dawning realisation that there is a connection between the light of the sun and the heart, the flower begins to open its petals. Slowly at first, one by one each petal opens to bathe in the light of the sun.

The sun shines down on the open flower, warming and feeding the very heart of it. The flower knows it is near the journeys end but knows that it has reached its destination. Full of understanding and love the flower bows to the sun, bows down to the earth from where it came and closes at last, its journey complete.

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The Suffering of Others

lizaaitken

We are all pretty well off, we have access to the internet, a roof over our heads and usually our basic needs taken care of. I’m sorry if I’m pooling you into a group you don’t feel comfortable in but the fact that your reading this tells me you at least have this opportunity in your lives.

What about those that don’t have the same opportunities, those suffering in some way, those who live the most difficult and painful lives? I really struggle with this at times, wonder why the world is so unfair, why people suffer.

The only conclusion I can really reach is that they are suffering for me, their lives teach me something, they are the masters.

There must be a reason, if your spiritual, you’ll agree with purpose, you’ll understand the journey of the spirit. I don’t believe it is always a pleasant one, I think some people come to earth, not for the experience, not for the development of their own souls but for humanity.

I know a young woman, I’ve spoken about her before and called her Ann. Well Ann was abused from birth, she is brain damaged from the abuse she suffered from those that were supposed to care for and love her, her parents. I have worked with abused children traumatised by abuse for years and I can tell you Ann’s case file is one of the worst I have read.

Ann has epilepsy and we have been informed that she will at some point suffer sudden death because of this. Ann is in her 20’s and has not had a life, she functions as a toddler might and does not get pleasure from life. When I think about this I have to ask why and the only conclusion I can reach is to teach those around her something. I think she has probably taught us all different lessons but her life is certainly etched on my soul.

She has taught me in so many ways and will continue to do so. I’m lucky I know Ann, I’ve known her since she was 7 years old when I worked with her. My best friend fostered her and has her to this day so I’m a sort of auntie.

I’m only using Ann as an example but look out into the world and see how many people are suffering, the number is growing. If it is choice that they suffer then this must tell us we are not learning, we are allowing suffering to go on without really taking notice.

Brighton where I live has a big homeless population, everybody comments when they visit, but do those living here really notice in the same way? Interesting isn’t it how we can become oblivious to the suffering of others. Somebody throws themselves under a train and people complain because it holds up the line, I don’t get it.

If our own lessons are supposed to teach us, why don’t we take more notice and learn from the experiences of others. Because I think until we do its going to get worse out there, if they are here to teach us, something has to make us take notice.

What has it taught you, do you have any messages to share, anything that you learnt  from the suffering of other?

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The Most Precious Thing in my Life Is?

lizaaitken

I was in a workshop yesterday, I was given a piece of paper with the words ‘The most precious thing in my life is…’ I had to finish this sentence off.  It was off the cuff, I didn’t have time to think about it I just had to stand up and do it.  Well I didn’t have to but I agreed to give it a go.

The most precious thing in my life is…… knowing myself, because only through knowing my true self, can I know anyone or anything else outside of this.  If I find life through my heart, not allowing myself to be led by my mind or ego I can truly connect with life.  My connections will be meaningful, my understanding will be deeper and my view of life outside of myself will be my own, or at least from my heart.

I spoke quite a bit, rambled on maybe, but that was the gist of it.  I’m on a journey of self enquiry, I’m looking for the meaning of life, I’m discovering my purpose and this is very precious to me. There are a lot of precious things in my life, people, memories, nature, writing, but I think they are precious because I connect with them from the heart.

I’m sure our views change daily, dependent on circumstances and emotions but this was how I felt yesterday and today.

Can you answer the question, I would love to hear your views in the comments?

Nature Lessons 98

lizaaitken

The pathway of a the flower is clear, from bud, to full bloom to decay.  The flower continues to grow, moving through all these stages of her life in absolute beauty.   Does the flower already know her path, is she connected to the eternal source when she reaches up to the brightness of the sun, is her life just a small part of her journey home.  Be the flower in life, accept and relish each moment for what it is, knowing that it is all part of the eternal journey. 

~ Liza

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Waking Up

lizaaitken

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Do you ever feel that you understand something but can’t quite put it into words.  The concept is bigger than words allow, it’s just a knowing and that knowing is magnificent in itself.  I think this might be linked to what is described as a sort of spiritual awakening.  You begin to live life with a different understanding, nothing has changed on the outside but somewhere inside of you, at the core of your existence, everything is different.  You are still living the life you always have, with the same friends and family around you, although something has shifted and that something, you can’t quite put it into words.

You look at everything differently now, you see things as if through fresh eyes.  Nature has never looked so beautiful, your drawn to art of all kinds and revel in dance, poetry and philosophy.  You blend with your surroundings, they become you, and you them, you recognise oneness. You switch off the television and cancel the papers, life is now full of questions that can’t be answered by anyone else.  Space and time for your self are an important commodity, you find silence to be almost musical and necessary for your peace of mind. You make new connections, people come into your life as if by chance but you know they are meant to be, others leave in the same way.  Love becomes real for what seems like the first time and you understand the immenseness of the feeling, to love is to live.  It becomes obvious that love is the answer to all of the problems in the world as love is caring, love is a prayer and thought for someone or something and has the ability, if given the chance, to conquer all ills.

I started to see and feel life differently after a couple of very difficult years.  I went through  a period of immense trauma including a number of significant losses, that pushed me towards introspection, I needed to know who I was, I was searching for purpose.  The shift wasn’t immediate it took time but I could never now be the same person I was once.  Of course there are elements of the old me, I’m still the same but my answers are different now.  I’m softer, I give myself time and I don’t aspire to be anything other than the best me I can be, I recognise myself as a student, I’m learning and have lots to learn.  I am as what can only be described as searcher, I’m looking for answers, but on the other hand I know some of these answers are too big for me to comprehend at the present moment.

People wake up in different ways, it’s usually a big event, a near death experience, a life changing event, whatever it is usually the breaking down of all we knew and relied on, the Tower in the tarot deck explains this well.  I’m not saying I’m awake, I’m probably far from it, but I’m on the path towards it, which is a much better place than I was in.

I don’t know why I wrote this today, I think I want to hear about the experience of others.   If your reading this and reach the end without zoning out, what does it say to you, how can you relate?  I’m having a deep Sunday here in the UK, whatever your doing I hope it’s beneficial  🙂

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The Influence of Experience

lizaaitken

What influence does our experience have on how we live our lives now, what difference does this have on how we manage and function day to day? How do the wounds of the past weep into our present day?

Wounds when not treated, continue to weep and seep into our lives, we can cover then up with a plaster but they will remain open until they receive the proper care. Like wounds our feelings fester and grow until we are able to whip off the sodden plaster inspect wound  carefully and give it the time and care it needs.

If we don’t recognise and face our true feelings, those buried at the core of our being, born from experience like  pain, fear and shame, they will continue to exist and rule who we are now, how we view the world around us and how we live our lives each day. These feelings will resurface time and time again until we reach a place in which we are able to face them honestly, acknowledge them in truthfulness.

In looking at our experiences, we should do so in truth, we have to see each feeling for what it is, not cover it up, or make it into something else. Ask what is at the root of the feeling, like who abandoned me, why has this left me fearful? We need to acknowledge the parts we played in events and get in touch with the feelings or pain and sometimes deep rooted anger.

It’s not easy acknowledging mistakes, selfishness, ignorance and stupidity, but we have climbed to where we are now up a staircase of challenges littered with questions, we have made decisions that aren’t always in our best interests, or the interests of others.  It is not easy to acknowledge our mistakes but for me it’s the next step, for others it might be the helping hand they need right now.

I don’t think there are many who can say they have always walked a righteous path and if there are I question their honesty.  I question if they have in fact ever really faced themselves and embraced all of themselves for what they are and what they have been.

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