Everywhere I look are messages – they’re ubiquitous and relentless. Some are for me, some not.
“Sign, sign Everywhere a sign Blockin’ out the scenery Breakin’ my mind Do this, don’t do that Can’t you read the sign?”
My social conditioning began before I was born. But those cultural structures that compelled a way of life felt unnatural to me. So, rebellion and cheekiness became my routine. That served me well for a long time. Then it didn’t.
Seriously. So, in order to not drown in the deep end of the pool I listened and took note. And watched for my signs.
Being inclined to figure out the messages meant or me – only me, not you; takes willingness and persistence. A healthy dose of self-awareness is essential, as is a dash of stubbornness. Not everyone is eager to inspect these deep crevices; but I’m game to take the red pill.
Deconstructing the life I was born into and creating one I want to live takes energy. It’s an evolving, repetitious, uncomfortable yet rewarding calling. Some days its full steam ahead. Others I’m running on fumes.
Looking for and trusting MY signs is important. They tell me when to leap with no obvious landing pad in sight. When to power through “the long slog between starting and mastery.” When to rest and fill my tank. How to keep going.
There is no end point on this journey. The journey is the point.
“So, I got me a pen and a paper and I made up my own little sign I said, “Thank you, Lord, for thinkin’ ’bout me. I’m alive and doin’ fine.” ―The Five Man Electrical Band; Signs
A Bald Eagle visited us last week. We got the heads up she was around, then I saw her. My husband and I spent the next hour bird watching – fascinated by the size and power of this creature.
Birds are symbolic for me. Perhaps being born into a family with the surname “Hawk” predisposed me to watch out for these beautiful animals.
Maybe the dramatic dream event featuring a flying oracle that arrived at a pivotal moment in my life is what influences my persistent sky gazing. Certainly, Richard Bach’s book Illusions kicked off a decades long habit of collecting blue feathers as a reminder of my ability to manifest my life.
What message is this Eagle here to deliver? Watching for signs from the Universe is enlightening, and personal. This particular visit happened just before the Winter Solstice, while I was meditating on my Intention for the coming year.
“An encounter with an eagle is a moving experience which has the potential to broaden one’s mind and open the heart to new experiences. Encountering an eagle is often uplifting. Eagle encounters may occur during times when we are most in need of the eagle’s fearless majesty. Eagle encounters remind us to have faith in ourselves and to choose the righteous path.”
Eagle symbolism is found in many philosophies, including Christianity, Greek Mythology and Celtic Lore. Certain Native Americans believe the eagle to represent “the upward direction. The eagle spirit is a powerful leader, a messenger between earth and the heavens, and even a sacred healer.”
The Power of Freedom; The bald eagle was chosen as an American national symbol in 1782 because of its great size, strength, and beauty. . . it has no natural enemies in North America and thus can fly anywhere it pleases.
You Are Trying To Control Everything; This bird symbolism represents the idea that you are trying to control everything in your life. While this may sound good, it may lead to da [sic] destruction of relationships with other people.
A New Chance In Life; The bald eagle is one of the most recognizable birds in America, and it’s also one of the most powerful symbols. And it’s not just because of its strength…the bald eagle represents a fresh start in life.
Showcase Your Talents; Seeing a bald eagle is a sign from the Universe that you need to start using your talents and secret powers. The animal itself is a symbol of power, freedom, and wisdom, so if you see one, it means that you have a lot of untapped potentials that can be unleashed.
Don’t Pretend; The bald eagle represents the power to be yourself and to do whatever it is you want to do, without fear. Seeing this bird also implies that you need to stop pretending and be yourself.
Don’t Neglect Your Soul; Seeing this bird means that you should not neglect your soul. The bald eagle is a symbol of the power of the spirit and its ability to soar above the material world. It also represents divine guidance and protection.
You Can Do It; Seeing a bald eagle is a positive sign and it means that you need to believe in yourself and your abilities. It represents strength, power, and freedom. It’s also considered to be a sign of good luck and prosperity.
My last bald eagle sighting was in Alaska during the 2003 Summer Solstice. This new spotting was magnificent and momentous. Recently I learned that the Raven is my spirit animal. Between discovering my new envoy and the Eagle sighting, I’m encouraged and eager for my next chapter. Being aware enough to listen to messages meant for me is a gift I give myself.
“The question is not what you look at, but what you see.” ― Henry David Thoreau
Balancing the desire to make progress with the need to rest is an acquired talent. One that calls for self-knowledge, willingness and a decision. This trifecta can be a wobbly stool. Any one of the legs go missing . . . I fall flat.
Of course, it’s helpful to know what progress means to me personally. Along with the insight that my timeline is unique. Society encourages me to set and achieve prescribed goals; many of which are drilled into my psyche from birth. Unravelling a lifelong bias from authentic desire is essential.
Pacing myself includes deference to my physical, mental and emotional health. This entails rest, quiet and leisure, not always supported in a hurried capitalistic culture.
Knowing my wants, but not my limits can mean I might push too hard. This is a recipe for accidents, exhaustion and sickness. When I don’t know myself enough to have boundaries – for myself and others, my buttons get pushed and I lose my skittles.
Knowing what I want, then being willing to do what’s required, and deciding to act every day is a recipe for growth.
We joke that “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” But this is no joke.
“There is a huge difference between wanting to change and being willing to change. Almost everyone wants to change for the better. Very few are willing to take the steps necessary to create that change.”
– John T. Child
Within the principles of recovery programs, willingness is key to healing. This may not be an overnight accomplishment. Sometimes I must do as Abraham Hicks suggests and simply “be willing to be willing to be willing.”
Lucky for me I get a new day every day – to decide to take action.
“Don’t underestimate the power of resting. It builds you back unlike anything.” ― Hiral Nagda
Happiness is not a one-time event. Living joyfully requires attention and effort; daily.
In his book No Mud, No Lotus, Buddhist Monk Thich Nhat Hanh says we must feed our happiness regularly so it can flourish. He recommends five practices to condition mind and body for a happy life: “letting go, inviting positive seeds, mindfulness, concentration, and insight.”
When sharing on the practice of “letting go” he uses a story about “Releasing Our Cows.”
Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation – January 17, 2020
Using a worksheet from Thay’s Foundation – I checked out the steps to release my cows.
“List the things you think are necessary to your well-being and happiness.
Look deeply at whether each item is bringing you happiness or actually causing you to suffer.
Consider which cow(s) you want to practice releasing.
Write down concrete ways in your day life you can practice releasing your cow(s).“
At first glance it seemed easy. Then, when I took an honest inventory of what I consider basic for my “well-being and happiness” – I was kinda thrown. This is stuff I want to keep.
Thankfully, I saw step two asked me to consider how this “stuff” aided or hindered my well-being. So, loving to eat – is good. Excess sugar and the subsequent bellyache – are bad. Clothing – a must have. Over-consumption not so much. There are nuances within my list. A meaningful look reveals the sad cows. Not being a Buddhist monk, I’ll keep the happy ones.
Thich Nhat Hanh says “Freedom is the base of our happiness. We cannot be happy if we are trapped.” Finding the courage to call out what triggers suffering helps me take the baby steps needed to change my habits.
“The secret self knows the anguish of our attachments and assures us that letting go of what we think we must have to be happy is the same as letting go of our unhappiness.”
“Reality is a projection of your thoughts or the things you habitually think about. Your entire life and everything in it is a result of your belief system coupled with your thoughts. The feelings and emotions you have cement this in your mind, and the illusion of all of this combined is what you see as your reality on a moment-to-moment and day-to-day basis.”
― Stephen Richards, How to Get Everything You Can Imagine
That person I think I am – I am that. I’m not who I wish I was or even what I’m working toward. I am exactly who I conceive myself to be today. That – Absolutely.
To BE more I must believe I AM more. My imagination will take me there, in increments. Increments so small that when my goal is reached, I stand amazed.
It means I push past the uncomfortable edges of my fear. Step outside my comfort zone and sit in the awkwardness. It happens when I stop telling myself I’m “NOT” something. When I state that “I AM” who I want to be – eventually my heart feels this truth.
Last week, the guide taking a handful of us rookies rappelling off a cliff said – “Who’s first?”
My feet started moving in his direction – like they had a mind of their own! Intriguing . . . I guess it would be me! That’s how I found myself the first of us to step off the cliff backwards.
Ivins, Utah
I AM bold. I AM gutsy. I AM adventurous. I AM that.
Each step I take toward a goal or desire – leads me where I want to be. That want I can’t shake reveals where to go. What is the next small step in that direction? Listening to my quiet self tells me. Each tweak builds my discipline muscle. Mastery doesn’t magically appear, it emerges.
If I think I can’t – I can’t. But I will when I know I can.
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” ― Lao Tzu
