If you’ve encountered struggle or pressure… If you’ve been wanting to raise your game, then this one is for you.

Could it be that the immense pressure is what pushes the caterpillar to break through, out of the cocoon and into a butterfly?
Indeed, the butterfly is supposed to struggle. In fact, the butterfly’s struggle to push its way through the tiny opening of the cocoon pushes the fluid out of its body and into its wings. Without the struggle, the butterfly would never, ever fly… So goes the story of the butterfly.

What is your struggle to break through?

I’ve had quite of a struggle to express myself truly. Can I be showing myself, with all my sensitivity and depth to a world that seems so threatening at times? Sharing my voice is a deep part of my purpose. It’s part of living my life to the fullest.

Who am “I” to refuse my soul’s calling…

Frankly, it is illusional to imagine that anyone might keep himself from doing so, out of fear of being rejected or for any other reason. Many times I think how important it is that people feel safe to be themselves. That, others too, find the courage to share their voice. The world is a better place with all of our gifts, hearts and minds.

The world is a better place with all of us OWNING OUR VALUE and taking our rightful place in life. Our place – it’s a given. Granted by birth. Part of the deal when we come down here.

“The kabbalists say that each one of our souls is unique, and necessary. Nobody will ever be able to do what I can do. The only thing I need to be concerned with is that my light is being revealed in this world.” Quoting Michael berg in the Spiritually Hungry Podcast.

Each person is a whole world of their own. The heart calls for it to be revealed gently, yet it is only us who can unchain our self-imposed chains. There is only one judgment that truly counts: and that is our own. The times we are in call for unconditional self-love…

Break through, dear one… We’ve been waiting for you. I have been waiting for you. And for me, too.

When it comes to sharing our voice and our gifts, there is one understanding that is more important than any other. That is what Lee Harris describes as follows:

“You are needed, and now is your time. But for those of you who only think of that sentence in terms of your service to others, we ask you to see the other side of that mirror. That sentence is also saying – you, all of you, every piece of you that needs to be soothed, nurtured, healed, brought back is needed – and now is your time. So (…) listen to that sentence again. And recognize the self-love, self healing and balance inside it.”

You may want to ask yourself: what do you need? What will hold you – while time brings more ease? While your heart finds release?
What could help you break through? What lives inside of you and wants to be revealed?

Your heart knows.

More than anything, it is time to be whole. To feel free to be all of you. To feel held to grow.
Remember… you are Loved, totally and unconditionally.

I’ll leave you with Catherine Reitman’s encouraging words to step up your game or as she calls it: to at least consider to enter the arena.
“Only you know when it’s time.”

“It’s happening!”
“It’s happening…”

It actually took me quite some time before it happened. Before I jumped. Fear, doubt, more fear. Will I jump far enough to avoid the rocks? What lies underneath the surface of the water?

But it happened. Eventually, I jumped. And all it took was a split second decision. To break through.

When it comes to life and making our dreams a reality, indecisiveness and fear are such bad counsellors. Eating away our precious time, holding us back from what we truly desire the most, yet they are necessary for growth. Sometimes, when we want to go for something, jumping is required, whether we feel ready and comfortable or not. All it takes is just one decision.

What is YOUR CLIFF? What is preventing you from jumping?

If you’re standing at the edge of a cliff, frozen, stuck, or you seemingly have nowhere to turn…
Just remember: you are actually on the verge of your best, most bright and beautiful beginning of something new. And whether your cliff is a small trial or an immeasurable challenge, overcoming it is each time suprisingly powerful.

“The darkest hour of the night comes just before dawn”, as they say. And in the words of Khalil Gibran: “one can only reach dawn by taking the path of night”.

Trust. Today, take that leap. Set an achievable goal and see what small step you can take. Open a door. Make a choice. Who knows what treasures await you?

But, please… Be gentle with yourself. Some days, dipping your toes in the water is more than enough to conquer the world.

N.B. This article has a metaphorical meaning and does not encourage nor recommend anyone in any way to literally jump off cliffs

Flying on his back, my dragon brought strength and magic to my journey. A rich adventure, and mostly, a story of learning to tame my own inner dragon, conquering my fears and wildly enjoying the flight.

Yet I could not be at peace. My inner struggle was undeniably real and it was already taking long years to heal.
Today I am quarantined, like most of us. It allows me to stand still, listen within, and be more present with myself. A key part of this journey to inner peace. As well as understanding this: there is no such thing as being happy all the time. Light and darkness coexist. At least in this world, for now. There will always be contrast, in the words of Abraham Hicks. Life happens. Waves come and go. Yin and yang. “Down the rabbit hole”. I cannot control life, but…

I can be “the captain of my soul”.

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
for my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
my head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
looms but the horror of the shade,
and yet the menace of the years
finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
how charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.

A poem by William Ernest Henley’s, written in 1875, called “invictus” – unconquerable, hanging in the bedroom of my 20-something-year-old-me, and recently discovered it was also Nelson Mandela’s favorite poem, keeping his spirit alive while in prison.

Darkness and light are part of the deal if you chose to be born here… Did we really? Did we choose? That’s what they say… Your soul jumped, eager to fulfill its life’s purpose.
Anyway…
We may walk around our whole life with visits from fear or loneliness or sadness… But we can choose to nurture ever-growing Faith and Light and Love and Gratitude to surround us in a warm embrace.

That’s how the white wolf wins. Feeding him to get stronger than ever before. That’s how we are the Captain of our Soul.

Regardless of a pandemic or a lockdown, life is a bumpy ride full of challenges. We, human beings, go through so many trials in life. Death, loss and grief, abandonment and loneliness, despair, fears, judgment, disappointment, betrayal… Each and every one has their own battles to win, their own traumas to overcome.

Just like any hardship, this time in lockdown can give rise to lots of fears, worries and restlessness. It’s not easy, but with patience, persistence, and faith, we can grow. We can start today and choose to feed our White Wolf. The more we do and persevere, the more fights he’ll win, the stronger he’ll get.

Our White Wolf will triumph. 

Birds… I can actually hear birds singing! I haven’t been awake this early in such a long time. What a bless. How much peace and quiet there is at 5 am in the morning. More deeply than ever, I understand how much pollution is affecting my life. Living in a city, on so many levels, and in the very core of my being, simply doesn’t make sense. Pollution of sounds, pollution of smells,… dozens of faces and impressions each day. One big, constant sensory overload in a “concrete jungle”.

Sometimes people told me: “but this is the real world and we need to learn to live in it”. Not really. Yes, it’s the world some of us grew up in. It’s the one many chose to build their lives in. But that doesn’t make it any more or less real than life in a village, a community that sets its own currency, living in a van while travelling or in a tree house forest community.

Let me get to the point. The real life: it’s what you make of it. Wherever you are.

For some, this may sound like the voice of a dreamer. But as a matter of fact, it is your dreams that create your reality. Every single thing that has ever been created, every single thing you see around you in the visible world, once originated from a simple idea. It stemmed from a thought, a picture, a dream someone had.
Look around you. A book on your shelf, a car with four wheels, traffic lights with three colors, a school building, bottled water, churches, computers, the internet, everything…! Some were great ideas, some less.
If everyone can do it, so can you and so can I. We are here to create wonderful things. We are here to create a better, sustainable, good life for all of us.

So keep dreaming, as big and as high as you can.

Go deep in your heart’s desire, ask her what she dreams of. Listen with all the gentleness of the world. Your heart knows, she has more intelligence than we grant her. You were born with a seed in your heart, a desire bigger than anything, calling out to be followed through.
Even if you can’t hear its voice yet… The more you listen to your heart, the more it will start whispering to you. Soon enough, it will burn with passion.
Get your brain aligned, partner up, and envision your dream. Visualize what makes you happy. Use the power of your mind to make the way forth, practically, intelligently. And bring this dream into reality. The world is waiting for more precious ideas to rise.

From a heart’s dream to reality: it’s a pregnancy. Like any seed in the ground, it needs to be watered. It needs love. And kindness. And time. Cherish and nourish the dream, ’til it’s ready to be born.

“But, Grandmother Willow, what is my path? How am I ever going to find it?”
“Your mother asked me the very same question.”
“She did? What did you tell her?”
“I told her to listen. All around you are spirits, child. They live in the earth, the water, the sky. If you listen, they will guide you.”
“I hear the wind.”
“Yes. What is it telling you?”
“I don’t understand.”
“Que que na-to-ra, you will understand. Listen with your heart, you will understand. Let it break upon you like a wave upon the sand. Listen with your heart, you will understand. “

Sometimes I feel like life is a magical experience.

The wind blowing in the trees. The stars shining bright.

I look at life through a lens of magic. As if I’m living my own Disney movie. With my senses so sharp, colors are lively, smells fill my curiosity and sounds pervade my whole being in an experience of totality…
I see animals and I feel love and awe. And want to cuddle them all.

I believe life is fully what we make of it. 100%. It is a mirror of our present state of thoughts, hearts and being.

This belief means that: life is limitless.

Anything is possible.
Sab kuch milega (Hindu)
Hakol efshari (Hebrew)

With a limitless, dreamy, highly sensitive and alternative point of view on this life and world, there is no way I can settle for less then what my heart and soul desire. There is no way I can give into conformity. Even if I’d be stubborn and wanted to, I couldn’t. Physically, emotionally, mentally and energetically, it would be unbearable for me. Trust me, I tried.

Born and raised in a city, these days I feel I cannot stay here. I believe there are much greater, qualitatively better ways of building a life together with others based on higher values and consciousness.

Don’t get me wrong. Cities are great. Full of energy, spices, options and diversity. But to a sensitive soul like me, cities are mostly full of buildings. Too many buildings, blocking my view of natural surroundings. Too much noise, polluting my senses. Too many people, running around unaware of how they affect each other.

Too much of everything.

So here’s what I’ll do next: discover other environments that resonate with what I dream of. Visit places that are wonderful examples of communities of the present and the future.

Auroville in India is one of them. I stayed there from March until June 2019 and was inspired by this international community of 3000 people. (See some of my first posts: “A peek into Auroville” and “On the power of oneness, community and belonging”). Much more to say about Auroville’s ideals, and I merely had a glimpse myself of the founders’ core intentions. But Sri Aurobindo and the Mother still inspire and intrigue me. And I’m pretty sure I’ll go back someday.

Next is Damanhur. A community and ecovillage nestled in the alpine foothills of Italy with its own constitution, art, currency, schools,…

Damanhur seems like a magical place. A place where fairies can exist…

Time is a precious thing. Maybe the most. I do not want to look back and think of having wasted my time. My grandma on my moms’ side used to have this French poem by François L’Hermite hanging in her apartment. It says it all:

«  Le temps qui, sans repos, va d’un pas si léger
Emporte avec lui toutes les belles choses
C’est pour nous avertir de le bien ménager
Et faire des bouquets dans la saison des roses. »

Two nights ago, my brother became a dad. Their new-born daughter is the sweetest, most beautiful baby girl I’ve ever seen. He told me he wants me to be very important for her. I said I’d be the coolest, wise auntie, encouraging her to make her dreams come true.

I believe I can make my Dreams come true and I want to be a living example. So what do I dream of ?

I dream of a Place where Fairies can exist…

But before that, there’s something that matters even more.

In life, first of all, it matters THAT you choose. And, second, it matters HOW you choose.

I wish someone told me this in school already…

Let me explain. It’s very basic, really. But to me, it matters every single day.
I find myself struggling with making choices. Out of fear. Out of worry. Out of… the need for perfection. What is best? What is right? What is good for my health and personal growth? What is best for this person? For this relationship? For my family?

What do I truly want?

Making choices gives us direction, gives us the ability to discover who we are, what we like, where we want to go, how we want to continue shaping our days, our weeks and our lives.

And then, essential to understand, why do I want it? Am I aware of my true intention? Does it come from the heart? Is it a practical mind-driven choice? Is it whispered to me through intuition? And can I stand behind my choice.

Nerve-wracking, really.

So I make “mistakes”. I choose for the wrong reasons. Few times I think “I shouldn’t have”. Then again, nothing every really is a mistake. Not if we get up and learn from them.
But, at other times, I refrain from choosing. I sit still by the water… And I miss out. This may be the only true mistake. To waste time. To be too afraid to jump in the water. Fear is holding me back, a lot. I want to give my heart the safety and desire to jump… The water may be cold…
So far, the best choices I made came through intuition and heart. From pure knowing. How I LOVE this when I KNOW and FEEL a burning YES in every cell of my being. How I love to have access to this place. Related to this, read my previous post Access your inner Conscious Intelligence – and change your life with Dr. Joe Dispenza and Abraham Hicks’ wisdom on this topic.
Still, sometimes, my mind sits in doubt and fear and is refraining from choosing. I wait by the water… Until Life chooses for me. Life is patient with me… And as I’m learning, I’m also learning to be patient with myself.

In life, it matters that we choose. That we shape our days and lives from the most truthful place within, instead of waiting for life to happen to us. Even in doubt or fear. Especially in doubt or fear.

My desire is to learn the HOW as well. Once I have chosen – how am I with this? This is easy for the choices that are made with full conviction. But for the tougher ones, when I am not full-heartedly behind them: am I able to be present with the situation, make the best of it, and even transform it into a great choice? Or am I filled with regret, desire to be somewhere else, blaming myself for this apparent “mistake”, and suffering my way through?
And I’m not even speaking yet about the long-term decisions. Studies, work, who you marry, to have a child, or any other long-term responsibility.

I don’t have a scientific matrix to calculate when, what and how to choose and probably never will. In the end, just keep walking, falling and getting back up. There is a vast space that can hold so much more than we can think of. Allow yourself to make mistakes. We are human. That’s part of the journey and that’s how we get to know ourselves. Understanding why I choose certain things, is helping me to come closer to who I am, and to trust this inner voice.

I’ll share one last thing. Having choices to make in the first place, means having options. Sometimes I’m unaware of it, but having options is one of the greatest things one can have. It means one is free.

Who else of the sensitive souls out there has been facing darkness for a while and feels like 2020 is bringing an intense change?
A stream of accelerated consciousness. A breath of fresh air. New insights. Inner growth.
Grab that wave, take the river downstream and, I tell you, do not stop following the current.
Do you know that sudden realization as if everything has already been planned out for you? As if the ride and all the wonderful stops have already been set up for you. Just waiting for you to step out, take the courage and claim your place in life.
It’s a matter of finding your own power back and shifting your intentions. Do you want to feel good? Do you want to grab life with both hands and live it fully? It’s a decision, moment to moment, day after day. And if you want it, nothing can stop you.

“Rise up, rise up. This our time to shine. Your soul was destined to be on this Earth at this time for these waves of ascension. You knew it was coming and you are ready for this. Keep lifting yourself higher, keep accepting and owning yourself, for that is key… Life in all its definitions brings amazing things to this world and to the next, so get living.” – From ForeverConscious