Gratitude Lightens the Shadows

The view from my little cottage in Normandy, France

How do you trust that you are in the right place at the right time?

Intellectually, I know that I am always in the right place at the right time. When I detach from the perspective of my lower mind and I take the broader perspective of Union and Self, then I can easily see that I am an extension of Source energy into form. Fine. That tells me intellectually, that all is good and that I am safe. All is good in my head. But how do I know this in my body?

Well, personally, I practice appreciating everything that’s around me. I start my day appreciating and then in the middle of the day, when I become doubtful or apprehensive, I tune in and just say “thank you, Source. Thank you, Life.” I appreciate the small things. Okay. Look, I’m living in a beautiful cottage in the French countryside. It’s totally easy to be appreciative here. But it’s this appreciation of EVERYTHING around me that got me here. When I was in Cambodia last summer, I was appreciating the mosquitoes (as I was swatting them with the electric zapper) as much as I was appreciating the sculptures at Angkor Wat. When I run out of money, I appreciate overdraft protection and the $37 charge that gets added onto my account. When I have tons of money, I appreciate the feeling of a hefty bank account and all the ease it affords me.

For me, it’s the ability to appreciate the shit as much as the shine that helps me live a life of magical manifestation. I know that I am in the right place at the right time because there are pastel chalks and a sketchbook to my left, and a bowl of bright yellow lemons on the table. There are three horses in the pasture outside. It’s cold as fuck outside and muddy and foggy. A weaker mind would find fault with that while the mind of appreciation appreciates the extra time it takes to get very well bundled before going outside to explore the lanes and alleys of la campagne.

Admittedly, it ain’t easy to appreciate stepping in dog poop in my Uggs. It wasn’t easy to appreciate the tumbling down the mountain when I was in the Pyrenees either. But after I found a puddle to clean the poop from the boot, and at the end of the tumble, when all the fear and adrenaline had dissipated and I was able to stand up and clean up my scratches, I was able to look back and say, “OUCH! That hurt, but it’s funny in hindsight!” Luckily, that’s good enough! The Universe responds quickly to genuine appreciation. The more quickly you can stop the negative momentum in the direction of complaining and negativity and fear, the more quickly you can redirect your focus to something positive and uplifting, the more powerfully the Universe can deliver you your good. And hey, it’s not cheating to redirect your mind!!! Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want you thinking that I’m all happy thoughts and daisies. I’m NOT. I believe in owning my Shadow. But I do NOT believe in being run or bullied by my Shadow. No. I am a being of LIGHT. The Shadow is an added benefit to help me be round and whole. I am creative and loving. I spend time with Shadow, but it is not the first thing I’m going to talk about anymore! 🙂

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Here I am! Eccomi qui!

Florence, Italy

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