Great shamanic traditions speak of this universal truth: that we are all one. The biggest illusion is that we think we are separated but we are all cosmically linked with one another. Even in the realm of human emotions, when we harbor ill will towards a person then even that person will sense it. Humans are very perceptive creatives and just like how we feel a certain way about a person. Chances are that they too probably feel the same way about us. Energy is always radiated from person to person. Just like in the Wiccan tradition, when someone sends a curse on someone they will get back that negative energy 3 fold. The universe seems to have a divine law: hurt others and you hurt yourself, so do good unto others and good shall come to you. This karmic law must be applied in everyday scenarios. So think energetically for a second just how powerful even our intentions are.
In Michael Talbot’s book The Holographic Universe, he mentions that we should see our reality like a hologram. When we break down our atoms into their subatomic particles we will see that the distance between an electron and the nucleus is the size of a football field if the size of the electron is a football. What this means is that there is a lot of space in our atoms which means that atoms are mostly space. Since we are all comprised of atoms then we are all just mostly space! What then begins to illuminate this striking concept is that this universe is an energy field just like we are and we’re essentially projections. Not to dive too deep into quantum physics but basically our thoughts are very powerful! If we begin to see ourselves as weak, timid and afraid then we are creating a reality and sending the universe vibrations that this is who we are. Ask and you shall receive is what I say. So imagine when you are showing up for work with thoughts like “I hate my job, I’m miserable, I hate my life” then ask yourself “what am I really telling the universe?”. Basically that your life sucks and you hate it. Like attracts like so if you are in a negative thought pattern state like that then you will also attract fellow like minded people who too hate their lives. But if you are in a state of gratitude and see even your failures as opportunities for growth then you attract more optimistic people in life and lead yourself through a true path of success.
When I decided to follow my heart and become a Therapist I began to see many more things aligning for me in the most serendipitous of ways.
It was during the orientation of my Masters in Holistic Counseling Psychology program that we had to meet our cohort and spend the weekend together in the spiritual campgrounds in Petaluma. Right when I entered the place I saw a table with a face down deck of animal medicine cards. I was instructed by one of the students sitting at the station there to pick a random card from the table. So I decided to pick one and it was the Eagle. I then moved on to a beautiful meadow nearby where my cohort was doing a blessing ceremony to greet the sacred land and set intentions for our new journey. During the ceremony I looked up and saw that there were 2 eagles flying together. After the ceremony we had a meditation workshop and during my meditation I saw lo and behold another eagle which I drew afterwards. Then we had an animal medicine workshop where I once again had to pick facedown animal medicine cards and this time I decided to pick 2 cards. One was the black panther and the other was once again the eagle! As you can see there was a divine synchronicity happening with me and the eagle medicine card. It was during that very same time that I was searching for answers in my life and the eagle had appeared to reassure me that I was on the right path.
When we surrender then things seem to happen for us effortlessly.
The idea of surrender is not to give up our agency but our manipulative desire to control. It is us telling the universe that we will take a step back and allow the magic to unfold rather than forcing things to happen. It’s probably one of the most empowering things to practice.
There was this one time I was hiking in the woods with a friend. She was going through a tough time in her life so I thought that a little trek in nature would help her bring herself to center. Along our trail I was searching for a walking staff. I have this tradition where whenever I go for a hike I always have a staff with me. I kept looking and found something which seemed suitable but the wood was attached to a bigger stick. I tried to break the stick but it wouldn’t budge at all and I told my friend “it shouldn’t be this hard. It should be effortless because when we’re on the path, the universe provides abundantly and gracefully.” So then we decided to go on another trail and went back to our car to get there. As we drove there and parked our car, standing right in front of us was a beautiful staff resting in front of the fence. Me and my friend looked at each other in amazement. I remembered saying “wow, see how effortless and perfectly orchestrated that was?”. Throughout that day we were just going with the flow and surrendered our plans to the divinity of the universe.
The problem is that far too many people plan things and want to control everything to the point that it sucks out the magic. To truly feel the magic we must just surrender our control and tune into the journey itself and not the destination.
Remember the good old saying “stop and smell the roses?”. Nowadays we have far too many people who are hell bent on achieving their goals and keep achieving them right after another. The problem isn’t with achieving so much as it is with celebrating after every win. We’ve become perfectionists and over achievers. Ask the overachievers just how much fun they really have. Chances are not so much. The true magic of happiness happens when we realize that it isn’t the destination that is going to give us true happiness but actually us smelling the roses throughout our journey, every step of the way.