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Allan and Catherine Services Offered
Author: oneplacetobe
Feeling blessed for the joyful day spent with these lovely ladies yesterday at Living Your Dharma Day Retreat held at One Place To Be. The weather was perfect! The opportunity to retreat from daily responsibilities and go on an inward journey while in nature with friends was exactly what the soul needed. Thank you to my beautiful co-host, Karen of Happy Souls and to friends, old and new, we got to share this journey with.
Connecting With Nature
I had this incredible experience the other day! I took a tea and sat in the gazebo at the back of our property. I noticed a dragonfly on the inside of the screen and wanted to assist its return to the outside. I lifted the screen and gingerly scooped my hand around it. As I was about to release it, it didn’t want to go. It held on to my hand tightly and slowly walked to the end of my finger; in no hurry to go. I noticed and thought it was cool that it was not afraid of me. I bent over and edged it onto the grass, with its reluctance. It just sat there, perhaps looking up at me.
I felt it wanted to be picked up again, so placing my finger down to it, it climbed aboard. The dragonfly sat on my finger with its head moving all around. Was I observing it or was it observing me? Its front feet touched my skin and washed its head. I was in awe by the details of this beautiful creature; its intricate movements, as well as the bonding moment we were having. I felt as if it was communicating with me on a soul level, in a language beyond words and sound. I couldn’t help but be so engrossed in the moment of connecting with such an incredible creation. I was mesmerized! Eventually, I said “Ok, I have to go now” and placed my hand to the grass and it gently flew up and landed two inches from my hand, again sitting there as an observer.
I believe part of our life’s journey is to find and maintain a balance between doing and being. We are human beings after all. Too often, in summer especially, we are torn between going here, going there, doing this, or doing that. We mostly feel scattered and easily stressed with everyday life.
It is all too easy to wake up in the morning, turn on the coffee pot or kettle, then walk to the computer, immediately jumping into what is going on with everyone one else in the world. What if we changed it up? What if we checked in to what is going on with us and the world of nature around us? What if we sat in a special place, went outside, walked around, breathed and observed the world of nature and wonder right in our own backyard or a nearby park? What if we took the time to be still and be the observer, using the precious gifts of the five senses we were given? Even if it was for five, ten or maybe thirty minutes, our day and lives would change! The sense of peace and calm that is naturally experienced will affect our overall well-being in incredible ways. Practicing this regularly will help us maintain balance in doing and being the shining souls that we are!
~ Sherry Buikema
This Moment
Relaxing in this moment I look around and see
Wavy waves rolling gently and clapping next to me
Sparkling diamonds riding waves, sun beaming through the trees
Cicada bugs are singing, wind gently rustling leaves
Being without agenda, sitting without a care
Looking, listening, feeling, so fully being here
Breathing in this moment, each breath fills up much more
Savouring sweetly, with peace encompassing core
Exhaling without effort, with no thought or concern
Being in this moment, there’s much to be discerned
~ Sherry Buikema / July 31, 2014 ~
The Bubble Festival in Wellington on July 19th was super-fun!
Accessing Our Inner Guidance
Accessing our inner guidance means connecting with that part of us that has many names – intuition, subconscious, sacred self, higher self and spirit. Choose the term that resonates most with you.
There are many ways to access our inner guidance such as through meditation, yoga and being in nature, to name a few. Mostly it starts with being quiet and still, which in today’s busy life style we rarely take time to do. When we are quiet, our inner voice can be heard.
When I was going through a very pivotal change in my life, I was feeling fearful about the choices I was making. As I was giving up my job and apartment, I was feeling a little anxious about change. Logically I knew it was the right choice, but fearful self-talk started coming up for me. Was I doing the right thing? Was this step for my highest good? It was at this time I came across a very helpful tool called the Sway Test.
The underlying understanding of this tool is our body holds the answers. It knows the truth about us and what is in our best interest. To do it, we start out by standing tall, hands hanging to side and relaxed. It is good to take a couple relaxing breaths. We can either make a statement or ask a question. So in this case I asked the question, “Is it in my highest good to move in with my sweetheart at this time?” Immediately, my body swayed forward, which means Yes! After using the sway test, my mind was set at ease immediately and I felt very calm. It was validation for me that I was doing the right thing.
If the body sways backwards, it means no. In addition, if we wobble slightly back and forth or in a little circle, it means there is not a significant difference either way, so we decide. On the slim chance we don’t respond to anything, we may be a little dehydrated. It is good to test it first by making a statement such as, “My name is _____.” Using our own name, we will sway forward. Inserting someone else’s name, we will sway backward. There may be a slight pause before you sway in response to your statement.
For me, I find this tool a quick and easy way to access answers to questions without going through agonizing mental dialogue, then making only the “logical” decision. It can be used for asking lots of questions, such as: Is it in my highest good to go to the event on Tuesday? Is it in my highest good to buy this product (whether it is food or any other item)? Is it in my highest good to move to this house? Is it in my highest good to take this job? This has proven to be a most helpful tool in many areas of life!
Looking after the needs of the body, mind and spirit reflects in our overall well-being. When we access this part of ourselves, with tools like this, we are taking all these things into consideration as we move through our lives. We are consciously making choices that are in harmony with ourselves as a whole being, which allows us to shine! 🙂
~ Sherry Buikema
One Place To Be
Releasing What No Longer Serves Us
Just before the buds were forming, I took time and really noticed the trees – seemingly bare with many shades of grey as the light reflected off them; standing tall, reaching toward the sun. As I looked more closely, I observed some dried leaves from autumn that were still clinging to some of the branches. The dried leaves were few and although one tree had five or six, another, one or two, the next had none. I pondered the thought of the old-fashioned winter we just experienced and wondered how in the world these dried, dead leaves were able to hang on.
Next, the idea of us came to my mind. How we too can hang onto things from the past that no longer serve us. They may no longer have a purpose and serve us, yet we allow them to hang on. Our dried leaves may be beliefs, stories, disempowering feelings, trapped emotions and more.
Just like the trees, when the season changes, new growth bursts forth from within us; however, unlike the trees, we are still affected by these things that hang on and refuse to be released. These things may not always be obvious to us and we may even think we let them go. Meanwhile, they are running in the background in our subconscious mind.
Like software running in our computer, they affect our performance. When our computer is not working to its full potential, we may run a scan, defrag, troubleshoot, ask for guidance, and discover helpful tips to remedy the situation. So what do we do for us? How do we uncover the things that no longer serve us and release them, so we can live more in line with our full potential?
This is the journey. This is the path we are on. Just as the things that no longer serve us were left behind year after year, the journey of releasing them, takes time. We are in the process of learning how to release them fully.
Healing the past and releasing all that no longer serves us takes time, focus and effort, but it is so worth it! As we release what no longer serves us, leaf by leaf, our soul shines ever more brightly!
~Sherry Buikema
*for other articles of self-discovery and healing visit http://shiningsoulblog.blogspot.ca/
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