Sarah Jane Grace – When we celebrate the journey from one year to the next, there is always a palpable aura of pause and reflection as we catch our breaths from the ups and downs of the year we have experienced whilst contemplating the year ahead of us.
The turning of the wheel of the year is a bit like the brief flicker of a moment between the in-breath and the out-breath, that point where we are doing neither one nor the other. Although brief, it’s an opportunity to take stock and re-center.
It’s human nature to reflect as we each try to make sense of our experiences on a personal level, often wishing we had made different choices or spoken our truth. When we step back from our own personal review to look at the global stage, the chaos is even more palpable as 2022 was a year of bewilderment in so many ways.
Yet, when we consciously choose to take note of that brief pause between years, we can begin to see the knowledge and wisdom we have gained, as well as how we have evolved, both personally and collectively. Of course, many of the shifts we have experienced, although tangible and real, are also hard to substantiate as they occur deep within our hearts and souls. We may not feel that we have changed as life may be ticking along in the same old ways, but the way in which we look at life has shifted as nothing is the same as it was yesterday.
I have written before about an experience where I sat looking out of the window watching the rain gently falling through the sunlight. When I turned to look out of the other window, there was no rain. It was a surreal moment that has stayed with me as I felt I was in-between worlds; neither here nor there.
In many ways, it feels as though we have all spent almost the whole of 2022 in this space, spiraling between worlds, trying to find some solid ground to bring context and perspective. Intuitively we may sense that this is simply a part of the process of awakening, yet viscerally and intellectually, it’s much harder to come to terms with as we have stepped through a new threshold of awareness, and the words to describe this have yet to be articulated or found.
Whilst we all have moments where we feel alone and isolated in a world when others so frequently seem distracted and unaware, there is a sense of connection to a new dawn rising where the light brings us connection and integration.
The process of awakening is a journey, and it’s a journey that few seem open to as many continue to sleepwalk their way through life keeping on keeping on; they are simply too distracted with the everyday. Such a path is understandable, after all, the journey to awakening is one full of challenges, it’s a journey that takes courage, strength, and self-belief.
With so many focused on getting through each day, the journey to Self and to awakening can almost feel like an indulgence, and yet, for those of us on such a path, it feels like an inevitable, and necessary, process; a journey we can’t turn our backs on as it calls us incessantly, pulling us towards the new dawn.
Of course, whatever spiritual journey we might be walking, we all still have our lives to live and many responsibilities to bear. With every step forward, layer upon layer melts away, de-cluttering our souls, shining a light on conscious living, inspiring us to live simply, and with love.
Yet, with the currents of everyday life ebbing and flowing, we can feel as though we are a piece of driftwood being carried with these currents, slowly realising that many around us are walking different paths. It’s easy to feel alone, but it’s important to remember that there are others walking at our sides, even when we cannot see them, we can sense their presence.
It takes great courage, but there’s a need to become One with the currents and these in-between moments, in order to connect more consciously to the strength of the light within our hearts and souls. The pendulum of life will continue to swing, but when we walk more consciously, we feel less like driftwood and more in-tune with the world. Even when we do experience moments of ‘drift’, we can learn to become one with them in order to go deeper within and stop fighting or resisting the inevitability of change.
2023 looks set to be a year of continued awakening, a year for living simply, living joyfully, living spiritually, and living consciously. The more we focus on finding unity with our inner light, the more we find truth and wisdom, and the more we connect to others walking the path. In many ways, the spiritual path is a lonely one, yet it’s also enriching as it encourages us all to look beyond the four walls of our everyday lives and towards a universal sense of collectiveness and unity.
Inevitably, the world around us continues to shift and change, and the chaos seems unending, but when we live spiritually, we let go of the buzz of chaos and instead allow stillness to lead the way. Stillness is inner knowing, and it’s a place within for being, it’s not a place for doing or seeking, and it’s certainly not a place for feeling ‘less than’ because we haven’t achieved ‘perfection’ or realized certain goals.
Stillness is inner peace, it’s not chasing rainbows, but it’s becoming them. We are not finite beings, and the more we realise the infinity within, the more we grow a deeper and richer sense of connection to life. In short, we realise our divinity and our majesty. Neither are about ego, they are simply a confirmation that we are at one with ourselves, our lives, each other, our paths, and the world.
Looking back, the beliefs, conditioning and storylines that have shaped each and every one of us continue to weave their way into the nooks and crannies of life. Over the year ahead, there is a need to stay centered in order to re-shape and re-define these stories, moving away from trying to fix ourselves or feeling ‘less than’ because we’re not living the life we thought we would live, and instead focus on living a life of creativity, spirituality and new beginnings.
2023 looks set to be a year of reckoning when we consciously choose to walk a different path. It’s time to stop focusing so hard on the need to become whole or complete, realizing that we are already both. Life doesn’t have to be about seeking completion, it’s about living in love and acceptance.
Acceptance isn’t about letting go of dreams, it’s about no longer feeling broken, incomplete, or disconnected. It’s time to realize that the crosses we each bear are the source of our strength and courage as they make us strong, wise, and beautiful.
Life shouldn’t be about waiting until we feel ‘whole’ or ‘fixed’ before we choose to live wholeheartedly. It should be about embracing life, celebrating our ‘flaws’ and realizing that they are the true sources of light within. Life isn’t about living in fear, it’s about living in love. We each have the power within us to embrace our gifts and to live life with all of our nature, not just a part of it.
It’s time to stop being at odds with our uniqueness and to celebrate our gifts. The power is within each and every one of us to live our best lives, to stand in love and to feel centered and re-aligned. Yes, there is still chaos both around us, and within us, but everything looks different now as we each lift up our heads to life.
It’s as though we are all somehow more aware of the sound of the universe: that quiet and beautiful orchestra that always plays, but so often get drowned out by the busy-ness of life. Our awakening has opened us up to a new level of awareness where we feel, and sense, everything more acutely; from the planets slowly dancing around the sun, to the drift of the continents and the journey of life itself.
Everything feels different. Clarity is emerging through the mists of time, bringing each of us an opportunity to feel more alive. As a result, we can see more, hear more and sense more as everything seems more alive and more itself than ever before. The palette of colours all around us is more vibrant, and we can sense more simply because we choose to. None of this is complicated, it’s about breathing deeply into life whilst allowing life to breathe deeply into us.
I wish you a bright, joy-filled, and incredible year ahead. For now, and as always, I wish you all kinds of wonderful.
With love, Sarah
SF Source Spirit Library Jan 2023