Author: Angela Coulter
Staying Centered… and Getting Nature
As I’m writing this, the world finds itself in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is easy to get overwhelmed with the volume of information coming at you from all sides: the news, leaders of all kinds from every country affected, social media, and of course, friends and family. And here in the USA, we are being placed under stay-at-home orders. It’s no wonder so many people are gripped with fear and despair. Personally, I’ve gone through lots of varied emotions. Not true fear – mine is more of a cautiousness and a wait and see feeling – but I have had many days where I was really fed up with it all and some where I was feeling down. At other times, I’ve had a lot to be thankful for and even to laugh about. I want you to know it is okay to feel that way. It is okay to feel however you feel and to feel different things hour by hour, minute by minute even, especially in extraordinary times like these.
Now to shift gears a little bit. In the northern hemisphere, where I live, it is springtime. It seems hard to believe that the natural world is carrying on while we humans are hunkering down, but it is. And I, for one, am thrilled. I love seeing nature reawaken! I rejoiced when I saw my first native bees of the year using my bee house. Plants that I thought for sure hadn’t survived the winter began poking their heads out of the ground again, and I even had one of the eastern black swallowtail butterflies that overwintered with me emerge and fly off in the nice warm weather. Spring is the season of renewal, and boy we could sure use a renewal right about now!
With that in mind, I would encourage you to spend as much time as you can outdoors, or if you can’t be outdoors (we are in the midst of what we locals refer to as “the pollening” in my area where even a few minutes outside results in you being covered from head to toe with a yellow-green pollen) try to bring the outdoors in with flowers or plants. Even watching television shows about nature can help lift your spirits. Nature gives the gift of allowing you to just “be”. You don’t have to impress it or put on a happy face or worry about what you say to it or what tone of voice you use. You get to be fully you and nature accepts you as you are. Even better yet, as you become still and begin to acclimate to your outdoor surroundings, nature lets you in on its secrets. You begin to notice things you hadn’t seen before like new plant shoots or leaves that have suddenly appeared that weren’t there the day before. I’ve already been lucky this year to also see rabbits and deer that know I’m around but don’t mind my being present.
I tend to dislike writing in a journal, but I don’t mind posting on social media as much, so for me, sharing the new things I discover each day in a short post (or in multiple posts if it has been a really good nature day), is a good way to commemorate what I’ve experienced and allows me to share my findings, thoughts, and feelings with others. Many people remark on my posts directly or when I see them in person, and tell me how much they enjoyed seeing and learning about my various topics. The butterflies that I raise and release are especially popular topics. So if you feel inclined, share some of the joy you find outdoors with others and let’s see if collectively we can bring happiness to large numbers of people. Feel free to start right now by leaving a message in the comments as to your favorite nature moments. I look forward to reading them!
Colby Hall
Trinity Energy Progression Facilitator/Practitioner
A Look at Self Care
As the days grow colder (at least we are where I am, here in the United States) and we’re now smack in the middle of the end-of-year holiday season, it is important to take a step back from the hustle and bustle and make time to take care of yourself. I know, I know, you have shopping to do, presents to wrap, and holiday parties to attend. And do I think that tree is going to decorate itself? How in the world, when you already feel as though you’re running behind, and like everything could fall apart if you don’t go even faster, are you going to stop and carve out some “me time”? I understand, believe me, I do. And that is precisely why you need to do it.
I think the problem comes in our perception of self care. Typical images conjure up bubble baths, or reading a book while wrapped up in a cozy blanket by the fire. Don’t get me wrong; these are great ways to exercise self care and are very relaxing too. However, self care doesn’t need to be the stereotypical perception of relaxing or pampering to count as self care. I’d encourage you to look deeper and discover what makes you smile, warms your heart, and feeds your soul.
The things you choose for your own self care can be as small as making yourself a cup of tea that you enjoy. Or it can be something that you expect others would not think of as self care – like finally cleaning out and organizing the junk drawer – but that gives you such a sense of well-being and accomplishment that it makes you do a happy dance inside. I won’t judge you for it! In fact, I would be happy that you added to your joy and sense of self. For that is what self care is really all about: nourishing yourself in all ways, big and small.
In a season that is all about taking care of and doing things for others, it might be difficult to get in touch with what would nurture your own soul. To help get you started, I’ve listed some suggestions below. I suspect that once you start thinking about it, you will come up with many more ways to nourish yourself that feel right to you. Go for it! You are worth it!
Self Care Suggestions
- Drink a cup of tea, or other warm beverage you enjoy
- Read a book
- Walk through nature
- Feed the birds
- Do a task you’ve been putting off
- Try a new lotion or perfume
- Eat a crisp apple
- Relax by the fireplace
- Get a pedicure or massage
- Arrange flowers for your home
- Create! Paint, sew, sculpt, knit, solder metal, papier-mâché, string beads, etc.
- Draw in a coloring book
- Bake cookies
- Take a class on something you’ve wanted to learn
- Watch the sunrise or sunset
- Listen to yourself and give yourself permission to explore what makes you happy and contented
Colby Hall
Trinity Energy Progression Facilitator/Practitioner
The Itchy Wool Sweater Test… on the Spiritual Journey
Things are falling away. All things. Family, friends, connection to places and things. It’s so hard to believe sometimes, but here I am. This has at times made me feel so alone… but when I get past the habit of the reaction, freedom is all I feel! I have noticed that many of my emotional reactions are habitual and connected to specific recurrent events. They are the old self-imposed expectations under which I am still operating: the roles I cling to, the habitual ways of being and thinking am I used to. I realize that I no longer need to fall into those patterns. I can choose to do it differently. When I remember that there are no rules, that nothing has to be done “that way” again… the freedom overwhelms me! The freedom of being who we are with no boundaries! The freedom of choosing only the things that bring us to the awareness of Us! This is why so many things are falling away.
The more I become authentically Me, the more those people and things that/who don’t resonate move away. The more I become authentically Me, the more things that don’t resonate within me are shown to me. It feels like I keep bringing in more of Me, Remembering more of Me. The way I can describe what this feels like is that I can actually feel the substance of my being more powerfully and more physically. I am coming into a more full remembrance of who I am. I feel more solid. I feel more full of the awareness and power of who I am. I am adjusting to it.
This adjustment has caused what I call “the wool sweater phenomena”: When I am making choices that are not aligned with my authentic self, my life feels like a scratchy wool sweater. Not that a wool sweater isn’t warm and snuggly on a cold winter day, but when it’s worn on bare skin it can be one of the most uncomfortable pieces of clothing! I know I chose this as a reminder to pull me back to Being Me. I wanted a reminder that was gentle, easy, but persistent. Loud enough I would listen, but not so loud it would knock me over the head. This would remind me of my commitment to Authenticity. A reminder to look at what is not resonating with Me and not to fall in patterns that no longer serve. Patterns that are not going to move me in the direction of True Self. This irritable feeling of constriction and friction reminds me that I am not in my Wholeness. That I am giving my power away to a situation, to another, to a thing, to a behavior, etc. You name it. Whatever it is, it is not aligning with who I am… and the wool sweater feeling is the tap on the shoulder to pay attention and to remember to change it by aligning thought, word, and deed to Wholeness.
Although very uncomfortable, I’m grateful for my “wool sweater” reminder. I am hopeful that I do not lose sight of my commitment and that I see the distractions for what they are so I don’t choose a bigger tap on the shoulder! Staying in the awareness that we are choosing all the time, in every area of our existence is so liberating. The validation that this has brought me has also been immeasurable. Every constricting wool sweater feeling is the reminder that I am definitely not in alignment with my expansive self. It is my opportunity to exercise my Creator muscle. To observe, allow understanding and then change to be in the Truth of my Wholeness.
Whatever our chosen reminders are, they are there to lead us to our Wholeness. They are there to continually bring awareness to who we Are. The Divine Beings that we are, are not observers of our lives but the active creators of it. Whatever “wool sweater” you have chosen, remember its purpose. Remember that if you don’t like it, you can change it. You are choosing the path to your True Self. As we are getting closer, we are resonating to our true vibration and everything is aligning to that. While we don’t have full remembrance of what ultimate alignment is yet, in choice we create the space to allow Wholeness to expand.
Cathy Guido
Trinity Energy Progression Facilitator/Practitioner
Everything is a Choice
Every day, I made choices about who and what I was and how I felt and thought about who and what I was. Did I even realize I was choosing? Nine times out of ten, no I didn’t… until recently, when I chose to start noticing. I made a conscious decision to reclaim my decisions. I realized I was feasting at the banquet of their consequences, so why should I remain unconscious of making them? I saw myself hoping things would turn out like I wanted or wishing things were different. Totally giving my power of creation away to anyone or anything slightly more focused than myself. Yuck and gross!
This refocus allowed me to really see just how many decisions, creations, I made – or not – each day. I was speechless and sad at how small I saw myself that I wasn’t even willing to step up and claim my own well being through choices. Everything is a choice. EVERYTHING. I now exert MY choices on MY life. I now choose to sleep well and wake up refreshed no matter how many minutes my eyes were closed. I now choose to be dis-ease and pain free. I now choose to honor and respect all of myself. I believe that is the true nature of the phrase I Am. I choose all that I am.
I think this is the most valuable gift you can offer someone – the power of choice. I used to believe I was a progressive mother in teaching my now adult children how to manage life. But I was falling so short in teaching them how to empower themselves through their choices. It is the same for family and friends. It is empowerment through choices instead of rescues and shelter. I overheard a friend explain how yoga becomes easy when you “stack the bones.” The balance is just there. I believe the same is true with choices! Your choices become the bones… and the rest aligns with them. So see with what your choices are aligning!
“…If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice…”
-Freewill, by Rush 1980
Sarah Sieg Avignone
Trinity Energy Progression Facilitator/Practitioner
Time to (Let) Go…
This week, my family and I are moving to a new house. I’m VERY excited; LOVE the new house, and am HUGELY grateful for how this all came together!
Our house of 22 years is being torn down by the DOT to put a road through it.
Now, don’t judge the DOT… that’s what so many jump to right away. In all reality, the road they’re expanding to meet the road they’re putting in is VERY overdue; the traffic down that currently 2-lane road is a nightmare nightly, because it’s become a bottleneck in this rapidly growing area. In fact, when we bought our house 22 years ago, they were talking about this highway and road expansion then; it’s just been put on the table over and over… while we were able to play out a wonderful 22 years. We knew it was definitely coming three years ago, when they finally finished and began to implement the plan.
Our children are young adults now; my youngest is 21 and in her last year of college. So, actually… the timing was quite perfect, as my – our – needs and wants have changed dramatically.
I AM happily excited about it all! Quite honestly, my husband and I know we manifested this whole thing perfectly and with complete consciousness… but that’s a powerful blog for another day (and I WILL share THAT story)! It’s exciting to shed the past in its completion!
I know that I’m on the edge of the next huge level of transformation, and this is simply a physical reflection of that. I teach others about letting go, about opening ourselves to what’s next… and what’s now. Allowing. Though in many ways I’ve felt like I’ve been in stasis for the last three years, I’ve been hugely grateful for the time to mourn the “death” of our house, and in essence the “death” of a very, very significant part of my life. Since the beginning of this year, it’s been a (breathless) and very welcome shift into the engagement of change.
EXCEPT it’s sometimes a bit scary to the ego to jump into change in such a complete way, all at once… even though that seems to be the theme of my life!
The ego is still letting go of all I’ve built on within my experience, my identity, while this has been my domicile. I know that’s OK; I generally nourish and allow it, with love.
And I focus on gently, lovingly, and freely LETTING GO.
However, with that creation, there are some bumps in the road, as the ego tries to fight what it has held onto for so long. What I’ve been observing is the amazing amount of layers that were hidden under the surface of this connection.
Our home is the physical reflection of our personal and collective Divine embodiment. Flow issues? Plumbing comes up. Discomfort with yourself, as you are? Heating or air condition issues… I could go on.
And yet, it also reflects the love and energy of who we are.
The closer and closer this move has come to us, the more I have focused on gratitude for this house; for this haven of support and love for so many years of my life. So many who have come to this home have commented on how nourishing it is, how much love is there, how they just love being there. I have connected with the consciousness of the house seamlessly many, many times in gratitude, and all I feel is gratitude back.
I offered to take its consciousness with us, since it will no longer be embodied through the physicality of the house… and with love, it told me that it was ready to move on, with so much gratitude for all that we have shared. It has also provided me with a new sense of gratitude for my Self, for what I have chosen to embody, in a whole new level!
For the past week or so, I’ve been hearing its “voice” in my consciousness: “Time to go.” I realize it means both for me/us and for it.
This past weekend, I was mowing the lawn on my riding mower, doing what I’ve done a countless number of times, and I realized this was the last time I would be doing this at this house. As I rode along, with the sweet scents of familiarity surrounding me, an infinite number of flashes of memory began. All the thoughts, the meditations, the events that I reflected upon while mowing over the years – so many moments of uncertainty, discomfort, irritation, anger at something in my reality, as much as joy and excitement – that were worked out and flowed through doing this very basic task, and would ultimately calm me while bringing about the feeling of nourishment and support.
Along these flashes came tears; a final tidal wave of sadness, mourning… and a little fear of the unknown…. as excited as I am about it.
Yet, energetically reaching into the earth beneath me, I felt that nourishment and connection… I felt it all as me… and again, I understood, “Time to go.”
Time to let go of who, what, and where I’ve been, to become what I am to be, now.
My heart exploded with gratitude in the fullness of love that has been there, that is to be, and in recognizing that it’s time to step into the wholeness of me in a whole new way without the need of this reflection back to me anymore.
Fait accompli.
Angela Coulter
Originator, Trinity Energy Progression
D5 Creation