Following the Signs: Are Healers Stodgy?

A few weeks back I woke up earlier than I normally do. I also did something out of the ordinary for me when it happened that particular day.

Normally when I wake up early I stay in bed and read or simply meditate until I fall back to sleep. On this particular morning instead I got out of bed, went to the kitchen and picked up my phone. I didn’t know why I had decided to do that but something urged me in that direction. I opened the Facebook app on my phone and there it was – a post made by a Facebook friend who was having suicidal thoughts and was clearly distraught and looking for help. The reason for what I had done became clear. I was simply following the wisdom of the universe without realizing that was what I was doing. And if you’re wondering, the friend got help with his immediate needs.

When you become more in tune with yourself and your place in the universe you will notice things like this happening. The universal spirit guiding you to do things, situations unfolding in a way that lead to important events, synchronicities conspiring to put you where you need to be in order to do your work in the world.

We are all in different stages of a process of self-discovery. Part of mine has been to learn that I have always been a healer. I spent a large part of that life attempting to block out those parts of myself. Pushing people and thoughts away in many cases. Actively denying my true purpose and causing myself to suffer in the process. Feeling like an outsider and wondering where I fit in the grand scheme of things.

Only more recently have I begun to discover some of the reasons why, and begun to embrace that conversation. Honestly I still have a long way to go – but I am so grateful for what I have already found. For each of us this is a life-long journey, continually building on top of what has come before.

I recently started reading “Way of the Peaceful Warrior” by Dan Millman. It’s also a movie, which I watched a few weeks ago as it was recommended in an online workshop I was doing. The premise of the story is similar to that of anyone finding their way, finding true peace and happiness in this life. Going on a journey – we’re all on that journey. The same message I am now sharing with you. There was a reason I signed up for that workshop, as you can now see!

In the book the main character is learning from his spiritual guru, and each lesson brings him closer to his true self. I have been lucky to have many friends and guides along my journey. The guru in the book has a “business card” that states: “Specializing in Paradox, Humor and Change”, and he incorporates humor and joy into many of his lessons. This really resonated with me. I’ve had some challenge with the image of what a healer or a spiritual person is supposed to be like. I often see a serious, stodgy, often unrelatable person in my mind’s eye. But the lesson here is that they don’t need to be any of those things. They can be funny, relatable, quirky, goofy, or whatever else they want to be. The underlying message and the ultimate teaching is the same.

And in fact it is much more effective coming from someone who is being who they are to their core. Living their own truth and being themselves 100%.

So I encourage you to follow your path – the one that is uniquely yours. Pay attention to the signs coming at you from the universe. Maybe read a book that was made into a movie that was recommended in an online workshop that the universe told you to take part in.

Inhabit the Zone of Genius

Painting by Andrew MacKay

I’ve noticed a trend in messages that have been coming to me over the last couple of weeks. Little nudges coming from the universe to pay attention to certain things. And by the way, when these types of things happen to you it would be wise to really pay attention!

From a few different places I’ve been getting messages about how to live my life in a truly authentic way.

Just this morning I had another “aha” moment. In case you don’t know, I’ve been taking time away from the primary job I’ve held for many years for the past few months. It has been a time of self discovery and also of exploring what should be the focus of my life. This morning I thought that maybe the question of what I’m doing may not be the most important question, but in fact the key is how I’m doing it.

The key might just be in utilizing the underlying skills and talents that I have but that haven’t truly been harnessed yet. Specifically I’ve been searching for ways to find my voice. To have the confidence to speak up and do what I think is right, regardless of what others might think or believe.

And this, I believe is highly linked to the following two messages that have come to me recently.

The first came during a week long art workshop that I took last week lead by Jessica Serran. During one of the sessions there was mention of a book called “The Big Leap” by Gay Hendrix. In this book he discusses the concept of the “zone of genius”. I haven’t read the book (yet) but in Jessica’s words “When it all boils down, what else is there for you to do? Sure, there are things that you can do, and do quite well. There are things that you do better than most, but when it comes down to being the person you’re here to be, what else really is there for you to do?” It’s something you do all the time that is so easy and natural for you, that you often don’t even know you are doing it. It’s also the biggest gift that we can give to others.

The other way this concept was presented to me is through the book “The Alchemist” by Paolo Coelho. I’m currently re-reading this book (highly recommend it by the way) and it talks about the concept of your “personal legend” which is described as the only means by which an individual can lead a satisfying life. In fact it goes further to suggest that the only way the universe can achieve perfection is for all beings to achieve their personal legends. In other words, it’s of extreme importance to find out what yours is and start living it if you aren’t already!

So there it is! This is the stage I’m at in my discovery and it seems so important to share it with everyone. We are each here on earth for a specific purpose. Discovering that purpose and sharing that gift with the world is the most important thing that there is, for our own fulfillment and for that of all life throughout the world.