Listen to the Whispers of Your Soul

Do you know what your soul's whisper sounds like?

Each of us has access to that still, small voice. It speaks to us in our bodies, minds, hearts, emotions. It speaks to us through nature, animals, other people. It shows itself in synchronicities, connections, aha moments.

The soul is the substance of who we are and is constantly revealing more and more of our essence to us (or what blocks us from the experience of our essence. Our task,really our opportunity, is to listen, for the whispers, the urgings, intuitions; to pay attention to what draws us closer to aliveness to the fire in the belly.

Meditation is one way to practice listening. Yoga, Tai Chi, walking meditation, body work are others. None of these will aid us in our journey if we don't practice them, if we are not dedicated to the act of listening, deeply, to what is here, now. The soul only manifests in the now. For the soul there is no past or future. It's all here, now!

I am thrilled tobe offering a workshop on June 5,6 with my friend and colleague, Nicki Pakkala, a Body Talk practioner and agent of healing. Participants will get to explore the voices of their souls through listening to the body, through personal inquiry, meditation and with horses. The horses are here, now. They show us aspects of ourselves that we don't know are here in ways that are often subtle, yet powerful. Won't you join us for this great event? Details can be found at:
http://diamondhorsecoaching.com/services.


In the meantime....shhhhhhhh........
Your soul is whispering......can you hear it?

Horse and Soul Notes

Joy and timelessness....two aspects of my barn time. Joy- being with the horses...being with the kids...welcoming the kid in me - long ago buried and shackled to save my soul.

Timelessness - the joy of 3 hours dissolved in mucking, grooming, being with horse and human, riding the power of the moment. Soul at one with all that surrounds her. Being in the grace of being.

May we all know such moments. Life in its richest manifest. self in its at-one-ment with Self. Joy. Deep sigh....contentment.

The Doggie Dimension

It's amazing how our world and the Divine Power that animates and is it conspires to give us just what is needed.

Last March 15th was Jasper's (my pup) 2nd death anniversary. I awoke that day with the thought- I'd love to see a Brittany today. Well, you geussed it - on my way to an opera (yes, I do have a cultured bone in this body) I was about to cross a busy street when I spied, across the street, a Brittany.

I raced across the street, stopped the dog and her owner and began to tell the story of Jasper. Mollie's owner and I had a lovely conversation about life, romance, relationships gone south and the joys of our dogs. It was a lovely encounter and warmed all of our hearts. (Although Mollie seemed more interested in continuing her walk!)

Well, this week (July 29th) was Jasper's birthday. He would have been 16. I was thinking of him and the joy he brought to my life. No thoughts of seeing a Brittany. After all, how greedy can I get?

Well, this time I was blessed with 2 Brittany experiences - one on the 28th in downtown Boston directly across the street from where I was finishing a last minute phone call before going inside for my evening event. The other on a morning walk on the 29th in my neighborhood.

Both meetings were delightful encounters with these lovely dogs and their grateful owners. Both women told stories of their Brits and I shared my love of Jasper. What a gift our pets give to us! How vibrant is the doggie dimension in life and death.

If these little experiences can come at times when I am feeling a little sad and misty or when I'm content and just being, why need I doubt that all my needs are being taken care of ?

I cannot know what the Divine will reveal in the unfolding of life this day. The mystery is revealed one moment at a time...one dog at a time...one breath at a time.

Have a great day!

Shifting Sands

Have you ever stood knee deep in the ocean in a strong tidal current?
As the water rushes around your feet, pulling back into the ocean, you can feel the sand shifting beneath your toes. Sometimes you might squirm your feet deeply into the soft sand, gaining more traction. Other times you may just let go and let the sand pull away.

Our world is undergoing a major pull right now.
The foundation we thought was so sturdy, strong, forgiving, is not. We are standing on shifting ground.

What is your reaction to this time?
Are you squirming your way into a comfort zone, hoping the tide will not sweep you away? Or are you standing and not fighting the tide, going with the flow and rebalancing in the moment? Or do you just want to get out of this ocean and find another place to play?

We are all reacting at some level to where we are.

The good news is that we are all in this together. "Yippee!" you might say. The opportunities for going with the flow, rebalancing in the moment and letting go of the sands that are crumbling are presented to each of us every day.

To let go of the sands requires a deep inner rooting and being grounded in something way bigger than our minds, egos, daily habits. While these aspects of ourselves are essential to the journey- we wouldn't be here without them - as essential is the connection to Source, Inner wisdom, God, True Nature. However You experience this power.

It is here that we find our connection to one another and to that which, while constantly changing, is unshakeable.

I invite you to join me in this journey.

What is a New Year, Anyways?

A New Year...What does this really mean? 
If you believe that all we have is a moment- this moment, then does a year really exist? Does a day really exist?  A week?  Time itself?

We mark out time as a way to be in relationship to the flow of life, to create a reference point that we can anchor ourselves in, validating that yes, indeed, we live through and across the experience of life. Defining time helps create an ordered society, a common language and global human experience.  Nature has no need for calendars, she simply IS - unfolding moment to moment, nothing needed to giver her a sense of identity or reference point.  Nature is life living it's self moment to moment.

Yet as humans we have the need for self definition - who would I be if I wasn't who I think I am?  The New Year presents the opportunity to reflect, resolve and regroup.  We start off with lots of enthusiasm and intention.  Yet usually find oursleves not going to the gym because its cold out or having that extra dish of ice cream because we'll start again tomorrow.  What if tomorrow never came?  Some day it won't - for all of us.
If every day was New Year's Day how would your life be different? 

The Heart of the Matter

The body is a unique place to live; a fact I've been taking for granted.
Last Sunday I found myself having a third experience of chest pains since the Friday prior. The previous 2 bouts I was able to relax and breathe through, using deep breathing and centering techniques. This, however, was more intense and persistent.

I called my husband, an EMT, (we've been apart for a year, a heart breaking experience in itself) who immediately said, "I'll be there in 10 minutes, you're going to the ER."
Reluctantly, I agreed knowing that heart attacks are a leading cause of death in women. Plus, I had just had surgery 2 weeks prior and had been recuperating from esophageal complications resulting from the anaesthesia.

Long story short, my experience at Mt. Auburn Hospital was great. From the ER staff to the transport guys who took me to and from tests, the chaplaincy volunteers who visited me, the food service folks - to my nurse, Beth - and my PCP whom I actually saw each morning I was there - all of these folks treated me with compassion, kindness and great care.

The funniest experience was the stress tests. The Stress Lab was moving and was in the middle of 2 buildings, equipment working or not, lots of folks needing their services -in-patient, out, and the ER. These stressed out stress lab nurses and techs maintained a great sense of humor and made a stress test not too stressful! (Did you know that women often have false + results on stress tests? Hence, I needed a 2nd test to prove that the EKG changes seen were "normal". No stress there!)

By the way, my heart is "perfect."

So, the Heart of the Matter continues to beat and keep the matter of my body well oxygenated. More importantly, my heart has opened to a deeply compassionate appreciation for the work our health care providers provide. At all levels. In a very challenging environment.

Heart ache is transformed to gratitude for life and other sojourners on the path...
That's the Heart of Living, yes?

Blessings to you,
Monique

Being in Recuperation

It's not often that I'm down physically so recuperating from surgery this week has given me time to rest, do lots of nondoing and reflect on life.

What I noticed more than ever is the habitual way my mind wants to go to the negative and the empowerment that comes from saying no to that. NO!

Any one relate?

I started thinking there ought to be worms for the soul. I give my worms (See my new blog As the Worms Turn) my organic garbage and they turn it into rich fertilizing soil. Wouldn't it be cool to have a place we could put those garbagey thoughts and have soulworms turn them into rich fertilizer for life?

(Good thing I didn't take the percosets!)

Soulfully yours,
Monique