
Where there is light, you can be sure there will be dark. Life is filled with contrast, and we can choose what to focus on, however when the shadow side of life finds its place, it is often difficult to move through and shift.
Listening today to David Winston (RH(AHG), Clinical Herbalist and Ethnobotanist and practitioner of Cherokee Chinese and Western medicine traditions with over 39 years clinical practice) talk with his host David Crow on the Plant Medicine Summit (The Shift Network, March 2016) about the root constitutional causes of depression and anxiety. Winston reminds us that holistic medicine is of the view that it is more important to know the person who has the disease rather than the disease that has the person (Winston, 2016, quoting what Hippocrates is thought to have said).
This is the way of soulful practice – journeying with a client to get to know who they are, what stirs them, how they walk in the world, and what is true for them.
Recently I have been getting to know myself at a much deeper level than ever before. My soul has guided me through an experience that took me into the depths of what I refer to as the Black Hole. To be honest, while I still have one or two toes perched on the edge, fortunately, the time in the shadows has almost completely passed. I refer to this shadow side of oneself as the Wounded Heart Consciousness, where past (in this and other-life) experiences intensify present situations, and powerful energy resurfaces, threatening to tip you over the edge. However, there is always contrasting energy to this – another way, an alternative path on offer. I refer to this path as the path of True Heart Consciousness. In this state of mindfulness, one can observe what is going on, be aware of the woundedness of heart that is taking place, and pull back from that dark place, out of the shadows, making a different choice – to step into the light, into the truth of who you – we - are. (Follow this link to read the full article on the journey to reclaim your spirit and retrieve your soul with fantastic practical guidance on how to reclaim and nurture your True Heart Consciousness every day so you can be the best version of you possible, and live the life of your dreams).
As you will no doubt be aware, you have four major parts of Whole Soul Self operating at all times that will influence the choices your make, and an imbalance or blow to any or all of these aspects can take you quickly into the shadows. These parts are:
The Physical Self – the tangible aspects of existence that service your sense and experience of physical and material wellbeing – your health and wealth. This part of Whole Self calls for committed action for bountiful creation and vitality of life.
The Emotional Self – the part of self that moves you into a feeling heart-space, this aspect of Whole Soul Self is essential for how you experience life with loved ones and our communities. The soul strives for loving connection in this part of Whole Self.
The Mindful Self – this is where consciousness most easily surfaces and often is what gets most attention; a place where you converse internally and externally. And where your words, actions, intentions, and plans are dictated by your thoughts and visions. Here you seek clear and conscious communication with yourself and others.
The Spiritual Self – that part of you that is all about how you perceive yourself, your purpose, and the why’s of life and existence – your connection with the Bigger Picture. This place governs your self worth and self esteem, and usually innately seeks to ‘know’ more who you really are beneath the mask you might be wearing in order to survive and thrive, and about the meaning of life and to be confident and conscientious in creating light and joy.
When the shadow part of Self, governed by the memories closely guarded by the Wounded Heart, is triggered into play your spiritual body will often be infiltrated by illusion as your mind attempts to convince you that things are much bigger or more difficult than perhaps they are. There may seem like no way out but over the edge of that cliff that surround the Black Hole. Your body will often shut down which cause exhaustion, and your heart is right in the middle of it all. However, when the True Heart finally steps back into play, your spirit body steps into the centre and calls for authentic action and truth to guide your heart consciousness. Your spirit can travel to the past, to the future, or stay present in the moment. All parts of Whole Self Consciousness are connected and governed by the Soul, which is always in the centre of Self, but is also made up of the collective conscious of Whole Soul Self and Cosmic-universal Soul Self. At the levels of Cosmic and Universal consciousness, you are engaging the consciousness of other life times, your ancestors DNA imprinting, and the agreements and contracts of soul family members who you journey with. You are also dancing alongside of and entwined with the quest of Humanity – the universal dreaming and visions for us all and for those to come – the much Bigger Picture, too big to go into here.
Please be mindful, this is only a theory of consciousness that I have put together over almost twenty years of working with clients and myself figuring out how this all works. My work has been influenced by the wisdom of many teachers and therapeutic schools of thought, including Carl Jung, Transaction Analysis, and Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), and the principles of Huna philosophy. However, my internal guides and life experience have been my greatest teachers. My Scottish ancestors constantly remind me to watch how the seasons unfold, how the sun moves, and what unfold in nature around me. This map of consciousness guides me and my clients, and I wanted to share it with you at this time so you can consider if it serves you, or not.
When you make up your mind who you really are and you make a committed decision that you will walk authentically in the world, and know how you will do this, you are reclaiming your spirit. Your spirit gives you the fuel to navigate life’s tricky and abundant pathways. By reclaiming who you are, your worthiness, your identiy and purpose, and challenging the old way – the limiting beliefs, the ancestral imprints that hold yoru back and resist the dreams you have for your life, you finally get to be the best version of you possible, and to live the life of your dreams.
Soul retrieval allows us to become reconnected with our True Heart Consciousness. We come into this world equipped with all we need to live the way we choose. Our life is a series of vision quests that have the potential to put us on the path of love, light, vitality, bounty, and peace of mind. Setting daily, and at times dedicated over a period of time, quests will assist you to retrieve those parts of Self that have been lost on you journey – in either this or other life times.
Of course, you can also go on shamanic journeys and be assisted by experienced soulful practitioners to reclaim your True Hearted spirited self, and to retrieve lost parts of your soul in a single session. However, I recommend a regular daily practice of Self Care and Self Love toward this end. Daily attention to Affirmations and Declarations along with a Manifesto of Laws, rules, spiritual guidelines, spirit and soul archetypes, the user of symbols and spirit animals and landscapes, and commitment to daily tasks will keep you on track. Here are a few examples below around your area of physical wellbeing as to what these might look like. Perhaps you can use this as a model to discover your own examples for this and other areas of your life.
If you are looking for more guidelines please consider investing in my handbook : Vision Planning Handbook.
EXAMPLES OF DAILY MANIFESTO FOR HEALTH AND WEALTH MANIFESTATION PRACTICES
For Your Physical World:
HEALTH MANIFESTATION
Affirmation for Health: I feel healthy and in flow as I now take good care of my body and soul.
Declaration for Health: Today and everyday I nurture my body in a healthy and respectful way.
Universal and Natural Laws for Health: The Law of Energy. You are what you eat.
Rules to Manifest and Maintain Ideal Health: I will only put into my body that which I would put into a growing child whom I love.
Spiritual Guidelines to Support Optimum Health: Reiki principle – Self First – then others. The Fifth Way – Ku Ala – Be present with yourself, with space, and with time.
Soul Archetype to be Retrieved: Self Nurturing Earth Mother
Sprit Symbol: Lioness licking her Cub. A large tree shading small seedlings.
Today’s Task to Commit to Action: I will eat wholesome meals on time, and every hour move away from my computer and stretch and be grateful for my healthy body.
WEALTH MANIFESTATION
Affirmation for Wealth: I love money and love that money cares for me so well and assist to manifest my dreams.
Declaration for Wealth: I only think positive thoughts about wealth creation and count my blessings at all times.
Universal and Naturals Laws for Wealth: The Law of Attraction – what your think about your bring about; The Law of Equality - All beings are born equal in the eyes of our Creator, and have the right to fulfill and live their dreams.
Rules to Manifest and Maintain Ideal Wealth: Whenever fear creeps in around money or I find myself in poverty consciousness I will immediately refer to my affirmations and declarations and symbols and outbalance negative energy with positive energy.
Spiritual Guidelines to Support Optimum Wealth: The 7th Way of The 8 Ways (Heather Price) Kapua Wai – Trust in the flow of life and in your dreams.
Soul Archetype to be Retrieved: Bountiful Mountain Woman. Independent, empowered, free-spirited Mountain Woman standing on her mountain looking out at the lands she lovingly maintains, walks in and the people she serves.
Sprit Symbol: A cup half full of love hearts; a butterfly with heart shaped wings and a dollar sign down its centre.
Today’s Task to Commit to Action: I will complete at least five of my creative creation wealth producing and supporting tasks (writing this newsletter is one of them) in my diary by 6pm and have time to celebrate with a walk with a loved one to the ocean and give thanks for the day. I will begin a new wealth creation 8 day quest this evening and use my drum to anchor it in.
I hope that from reading this article that the key to reclaiming your True Heart Nature spirit is to live in Whole Soul consciousness - retrieving, maintaining, and supporting those parts of your that keep you strong on your path to be the person you are destined to be, and to live the life of your dreams! I wish you well on your journey into wholeness and soulfulness.
If you are looking for more guidelines for Creative Creating please consider investing in my handbook : Vision Planning Handbook. I have a great special on at present that is too good to miss out on.