From a recent DailyOM:
"Spring is a time to reinvent ourselves. We can give birth to a new life for ourselves and start fresh. All a tiny seed needs to sprout is soil, sun, and rain. All we need is a willing heart. During these first days of Spring, know that you are in perfect balance and give yourself the nutrients to not only grow, but to blossom in all your glory."

Last night I lay in bed meditating before allowing myself to fall asleep. Something from my subconscious bubbled up and came to mind, but before I go in to that I want to clarify something I feel strongly about.

Moments like those remind me that we all have a higher-self, a super-consciousness if you will, the center of our infinite selves with eternal access to the Akashic Record, or the sum total of all human experience and consciousness throughout time. When we connect with our higher selves, we find we have all the answers to all of the questions we could possibly ask. It's easy to forget we have this kind of power, because we're human, live in a human world day-to-day, and have grown very accustomed to the limitations that come with physical incarnation. The time involved to develop the ear for hearing our higher selves is different for every person, as it has more to do with your willingness to hear it than any kind of inherent ability. Anyone can do it. They simply must have the need, or the will.

That said, in bed, and at peace, my subsciousness made contact with my higher self, and I found I could ask the questions at the forefront of my mind consciously. (Are you still with me?) I asked of my higher self what guidance it could offer to help me achieve my goals. Some deep breathing passed, and being as tired as I was the answers didn't take long to emerge. "Seek the joy in the process."

This made complete sense to me. But it was my question, and my answer.

My next question was how was I to deal with my own self-doubts, my own attempts to derail my success. "Focus on your joy, not on the possibility of failure. Realize the joy of success before it happens, and let it guide you through your difficulties." I translated this to mean: imagine what it would feel like to notice progress, to feel pride in yourself for your accomplishments, to avoid the habit of negativity.

My profundity of the day: listen to yourself, you have all your own answers.

"The world calls out for improvement and, more often than not, we are ready and willing to offer advice or admonishments. But each of us possesses the power to effect a positive shift in energy in ourselves and in those around us. Just as purification of the soul leads to purification of the world, change within leads to change without. Conflicts can be resolved without words. The key is changing yourself and freeing your mind. When someone or something bothers you, it helps to begin by asking yourself if you, too, possess that negative quality or if you're allowing yourself to be overly affected by it. You only have control over yourself, but your influence is farther reaching than you may realize. A positive change on your part often leads to positive change around you.

"This passive inspiration of change not only stems from your example to others. You may have changed your behavior or simply decided to adopt a change in perspective. But in doing so, you have set into motion a series of positive consequences that, bring balance. The more we grow in virtue and the more centered we become, the more we perceive virtue and centeredness and the more we project it outward. As we act in ways beneficial to ourselves and others, so do we inspire others into similar action. And, when we have achieved control over our minds and souls, we cannot be negatively affected by anything outside of ourselves. When we wish others to change, criticism and condemnation often fail. Recognizing that none of us are perfect and that we all need to change can be the best way of overcoming conflict.

"In Aikido it is said, "Change yourself first, before looking to change your opponent, and in the process, you might find that your opponent has changed himself." Actions, good thoughts, and positive energy speak louder than judgmental words and are the most powerful tools you can use when working toward a better world."

this post is the result of recent "ah hah" experiences in my life which lead me back to some of the old paths I was following, looking for answers to questions, answers only my higher self can answer.

I've been without an altar for a very long time - mostly due to space restrictions, and self-imposed limitations. I need to reconnect. I need to feel I can do so without material acquisitions. It's an altar, not a study of what I can afford.

Book and Candle. Earth Air Fire and Water. Love and Light. And a question. All the ingredients you need to go inward.

I've refound my love of historical biographies. Memoirs of a Geisha has reminded me of my love of historical Japan. At a very early age I became enamored with Japan, it's historical culture, and the Japanese language. I watched Shogun the first time it came out on television (when I was 10 or something), and every time it aired again, and took 3 years of Japanese in high school. I'm still delving into the "why's" of my fascination, but what struck me the other day was the sense of familiarity I get whenever I see pictures or read stories of older Japan. Modern Japan does little for this sense, which makes me further believe I've been to Japan, but in the past.

The people lost due to the Indian Ocean tsunamis should be revered, loved, and remembered. As a human living in this world, I feel a deep ache in my heart. But as a spiritual entity I'm enthralled by the vast numbers of eternal spirits that have gone home, and am gratified that there are that many more infinite, unlimited souls to help the survivors who are mourning their loss.

Light a candle when you can. Candle light is the only form of human-made light spiritual beings can see.