Spiritual Revolution Needed Or Just Get Closer To God Again?

There's a storm brewing and I don't mean like the ones on the UK weather forecast. Apologies to all those affected by natures rage at the moment, this isn't meant as a joke, rather a way of getting people's attention.

You see I've been thinking lately a lot about how commercial the world is and how much we as a race are ruled by fear. Fear is ever present and the capitalists like it that way, as I said before in a previous blog post Fear The Enemy Within , fear makes us behave how governments and corporate capitalists want us to. 

We're coming into Christmas, a time when the commercial element is mixed so strongly with fear that the true meaning and celebration of Yule has been forgotten, forever immersed in a greed fest instead. Fear that if we don't buy our children the latest toy and everything on their list; they'll think they've been naughty, or we don't love them, or their classmates will laugh, maybe they'll be jealous or feel inferior to their friends? See what we've become?

It goes on...fear that if we don't organise a huge meal with all the trimmings, someone will criticise us and we'll be hurt or this Christmas won't be as good as the last. Fear, fear, fear! I'm so sick of fear, it's time we collectively tell it to do one. To put it more politely, it's time we got back to our natural state of love and it's time we pulled together as one. 

After all, we are all one, we come from the same Source, we share a collective consciousness between us. If people in a different part of the world are suffering, we suffer too, just because we can't see them it doesn't mean that it doesn't touch us in some way. 

If we stopped all the greed and pulled together as one huge community it would solve an awful lot of problems in the world, right there and then. Fear will stop us from doing this. Who goes first? Who holds out the hand and who trusts that the hand that feeds will not be bitten?

Somewhere down the line, through the need for civilisation and progression, we have wiped out our very essence and have replaced it with a monster all of our own. How do we get back to basics; to our roots, to our unity and to our sense of communal responsibility? I don't claim to have the answers, but I do know that there is a shift in consciousness happening right now. If we don't take action to better the world collectively, it will be out of our hands and who knows what will happen next. World War Three anyone? If we continue to live in these poisoned ways we can only expect to receive poison back. 

Why don't we try to have a more peaceful Christmas? A lot of people I've spoken to lately want this. If we all pledged to help each other that day, to give our time to people in other parts of the world who are suffering, the mass collective could spark a spiritual revolution to heal the world.

I'm going to try my best this year to ignore the adverts, the shop windows and the fear. I'm going to make this how true Yule should be, by by-passing what's expected of me and appreciating how lucky I already am to have the family, friends and life that I have here in the West. What I refuse to do is forget about the people born elsewhere or less fortunate. 

I still believe it will take more to get back Home to our Spirit, where we all can experience heaven on earth, if we just learn to listen to our Inner Wisdom more and our TV less.

This blog (rant!) was sparked by this video of Russell Brand, who I confess that in the past I haven't liked very much and haven't given a chance. That was my Ego judging him and I'm sorry for that. Now I've given him a chance, he is well worth listening to. I agree 100% with what he says in this short video. See what you think.

 

  

Whatever you choose to do this year and however you choose to spend it, I hope the ridiculous build-up to Christmas and the actual day itself are everything you hope for and more. For those that can't afford to bow down to the peer pressure of spending, may you realise it is a blessing in disguise that gives you time to contemplate what it really means to you. Consider those that don't know if the water they're about to drink is going to kill them - now that's poor. 

Love and blessings to all.

Part Three: Shaktipat Initiation - A Blessing And More

Our Tuesday came and we had a lovely stroll through the beautiful Avenham Park in Preston. I did my usual and took lots of photos on the way - if you get me near water, I will always photograph the reflection of the moon or sun on the water - I love it!

One for the road! Taken at the very beautiful Avenham Park, Preston

When we got there we took a seat and I can tell you that Swami Nardanand Ji has a very special air about him. He is so radiantly peaceful and content, a real Guru. We learnt how he left his village in India as a small boy to start on a spiritual path studying esoteric arts such as yoga and meditation. Have to say that if these two things can make you even half as content as him, I thought they would be worth studying. Of course, true happiness comes from within but we all need a helping hand sometimes, right?

There was a short talk by the equally radiant, Swami Jyoti Ma. We gathered from this talk that there was an effortless way to become as content as Guruji and that he could help you to this by giving a simple blessing to you. This blessing would transfer the mindset of the Guru to you, without you having to do, well, anything...too good to be true? It was worth a try.

Our Guru, His Grace, Swami Nardanand Ji

The blessing was to be given at a meditation retreat in Preston with his Grace present. It all sounded perfect and the timing was great too as it was the bank holiday weekend and I knew my partner would come along to meditate as well.

The retreat itself was relaxed and there were lots of wonderful people there from all walks of life. We were both exhausted from stomping in a field to electronic music that weekend and we only just made it to the retreat at 8.30 am. In fact, for a moment we questioned whether to go or not, we were that tired (we're getting old now for raving in fields!). However, the blessing was better than I expected as I wasn't expecting to feel anything. As soon as I sat down after the blessing, I felt hot energy in my solar plexus (central energy vortex) and such intense bliss, I was concerned I might vomit and I didn't want to disturb everyone as they meditated.

What I didn't know then was what it had kick-started in me and what would follow, which to describe as intense simply doesn't do it justice.

To begin with Shakti (Goddess/Mother Divine) and Shiva (God/The Destroyer) start to fast-track clean your karma from all your lives and purify you. Shiva destroys anything no longer necessary in your life such as material attachments, toxic relationships etc. This process is tough - kind of like spiritual boot camp! My life has flashed before my eyes in freeze frames at super speed; emotions come and go quickly; intense memories startle me then leave just as quick; my mind thinks differently as it takes on the mind of my Guru - the world and my reality as I knew it begin to falter as I stumble through everyday activities foiled by startling realisations and a new level of consciousness that's indescribable.  

Shakti and Shiva working in harmony

I've been ill, so ill, for over three weeks with flu like symptoms, migraines and an upset tummy, as Shakti ruthlessly purifies the whole of me. My throat chakra was blocked from years of keeping the secret of my abusive relationships and my attacks from the past, thankfully, Guruji astral planed to me during meditation and unblocked it for me. My mind didn't stop as The Ego struggled to regain control as my spirit rose. I can see things I could never see before, like our one-ness, I can't just feel it now - I can see it. 

Before Shaktipat, I started to think that life mirrored what was inside us, but now I notice it all the time, all the synchronicities - they're actually becoming predictable at times.

Then there is the bliss: for those of you who have dabbled with ecstasy, it's similar to the high and the rushes from that, only amplified and more loving - it somehow has a stronger hold of you, like a giant hug from the Goddess herself. It just comes on from nowhere. I think of it as a reward from the Goddess Shakti for the hard work put in to the spiritual detox and hardcore healing you must go through.

This is only the start of the journey as a Shaktipat Initiate the cleansing (spiritualising every atom) will continue and the raising of awareness will grow. Eventually, my seven main chakras will be balanced and the ascent of the energy up the middle of my spine will begin - kundalini (Divine spiritual energy) rising. It's vital I keep in touch with my Guru and fellow Shaktipat's for this to happen as it should. Without the proper guidance problems can occur and kundalini can also spontaneously rise in those that are ready for it to happen, which can be a frightening experience for them.

Well, The Ego always likes to know that something has happened/worked via strong experiences and I think my Ego must be happy as the past few weeks have been so hard with so many ups and downs since the initiation. It can't deny that 'something' has happened.

The energy has levelled out a lot now and I feel more human again, though this is partially down to the fact that I begged Shakti to slow down, as it really was all too much with the illness, nausea and constant healing. Thank you, for slowing down, Shakti!

I'm looking forward to seeing what else Shakti brings to me and to spending more time in meditation with my fellow Shaktipat Initiates.

Our wonderful Swami's do lots of charitable work and Guruji has set up an Ashram in India for deprived children to study and follow esoteric practice also. As well as this there is a medicine camp there, support for elderly women, shelter for the homeless and a spiritual hub and help centre. If you'd like to find out more or donate you can do here http://siddhaashram.net/services.htm

Have a happy Thursday and wonderful weekend, everyone. 

Part One: The Day I Met Azrael, The Angel Of Death.

Not long after I split up with my Fiance and while I was still feeling incredibly vulnerable, it was time for me to go for my Reiki 1 training and the first part of four attunements. This was a test for how much I wanted it, as to get there I needed to drive past what would have been our wedding venue. When you state an intention to The Universe you'll often find it throws up tests along the way...I managed to drive past it, but as I watched what would have been our venue dressers for the day, drive into the venue, I didn't manage not to cry.

By the time I reached my destination of Ulverston I was struggling to hold it together. I had no idea what to expect from the day and I was decidedly unsure that I was in any state to learn anything. I needn't have worried - if you pass the test for how much you want something, The Universe usually responds with a reward to keep you going.

In I went, determined, yet clueless as to why I was so determined - why was I doing this? I could drive back home and get a 'normal' job? I was greeted by Jane, my Reiki Master Teacher (RMT), who is beyond lovely and put me straight at ease with a tale similar to my own break-up. This was when I first started to truly understand and see that life mirrors you all the time. What you see in others is actually a reflection of what's inside you - even if you don't like what you see (if that's the case, use it to teach yourself / change something).  You see, we are all one, even if we hate to admit it. 

We drew cards to help us determine how the day would go. I picked 'healing sounds', 'sacred union' and 'sorrow'. This was interesting as I learnt that my RMT uses healing sounds, I felt I would have a sacred union that day but wasn't sure who or what with...I was right! Hmm...sorrow...I guessed I was grieving my relationship and even to some extent the excitement and emotional energy spent on planning our 'Big Day'.

For the attunement part I sat on a chair and closed my eyes fully relaxed from the deep meditation I'd been in. I can't say for definite what happened next, I can only tell you it was one of the strongest experiences of my life.

The feeling of the emotion of fear came over me, not our every day earth fear, no, something else, like a force. I've never felt fear like it and I doubt I ever will again (I bloody hope not, anyway!). I didn't know what I was frightened of - it was no one thing. I wanted it to stop, but it didn't...it carried on like it was being drawn out of me. I sobbed uncontrollably on my chair - like an infant in serious trouble at school. Sorrow descended on me and I felt it ricochet through my entire being. A cold, dark shadow came over me and a great angel with jet black intricate wings stood before me. The angel snatched fear from my left hand and sorrow from my right hand. In my mind I called out for angelic assistance as Azrael felt different to the other angels I knew. Chamuel came to my right and held me, Raphael was floating by my head, Uriel was on my left-hand side and Michael was in front of me, not to protect me but to comfort me, Zadkiel was behind me with his hand on my shoulder. 

Azrael, Angel of Death

My body was shaking so bad the chair I was on was knocking the floor, but I couldn't stop that or the pain that flowed out of me like a river floating away from me forever. I saw a Goddess rise up before me she said "Sha...something". I thought there was a good chance I may have sha...something myself and I tried to regain human semblance to check. 

At the last part of the attunement I heard Jane channel a message to me "remember what it was to be free?", "open your wings and soar", at this precise moment in time I felt the whole of my spine crack and wings burst out from my back, I could even feel the draft from them and everything.

Finally, I saw a rose stem with two snakes coiling round it. The stem led up from my base chakra (lower back energy vortex) and it fired all the way up my spine to my crown chakra (top of the head energy vortex) and burst open into a violet bloom. I realised the attunement was over and I had survived. Phew! Once I'd calmed down I felt on top of the world and freed from the grief I had arrived with.

So there you have it, the day I met Azrael, Angel of Death. I'm glad he didn't wink at me as legend says this is what he does before he snatches your soul from your body when you die. He is also the angel of transformation and I believe this is why he was at my attunement.

This was the start of my many beautiful life experiences with reiki. It's been a rollercoaster and this story leads into another of my Shaktipat Initiation, which I hope to tell you about next time. 

For part two visit here Part Two: The Shakti Sign

I had another three attunements after that first one. Each brought their own gifts. I still can't believe I went back for more. Brave or crazy? You decide!

Jane is a brilliant Reiki Master Teacher and if you'd like to become her pupil or have a treatment from her (highly recommended by me) then you can contact her here:

http://www.sacredspace-reiki.co.uk/reiki-courses.php

An Introduction To The Weird And Wonderful Life Of Louise.

No matter how young or old we are in this life, at some point, something will have happened that we can’t explain, perhaps that shook us, or made us question, maybe the meaning, purpose or if there is more to life than the simplicity that first meets the eye.

I, myself, have had many of these moments. Starting from a young age, as young as I can remember, I had a sense that I had knowledge of life before this one. It’s hard to explain the way I felt, it was just as if nothing was a new experience – things that excited others were missing the joy and excited expectation from me -  some might describe this as depression, but I felt deep joy at others things and I wouldn't personally describe it as depressed. I also knew things would happen before they did, including people dying. I was a very sensitive and some would say difficult child (my mum would say that!). I picked up on others emotions and feelings, even if I had never felt the same emotion before. As a child this can be quite frightening, especially as some of the things I felt were very adult emotions. Little did I know that I would carry this fear forward into my adult years, learning coping techniques and shutting down the light that shone within me, so I could “fit in” better. Through my childhood I often stood back and watched others play as I felt overwhelmed by the reams of information I received in each situation. I also felt a close infinity with people and beings that I could see but others didn't seem to be able to, I felt protected and at peace with them and chaos when I was with other humans. As you can imagine this made friendships very hard to form and though people thought I was ‘nice’, if they were honest, they also thought I was ‘weird’, let’s face it – I was both!

Over the years it became harder to supress this and things kept happening to force the issue more and more, building like a crescendo within me. A bit like a box with things in it you don’t want others to see, but the lid doesn’t quite fit properly, so every now and again, people get a peep, so you squeeze the lid back on again, only to find it fits less and less, until you can’t keep the lid on anymore. I will write more about these experiences as I share what I now refer to as “my evidence”. The reason I call it that is because my Great Aunty, Rose Haigh, who is a Spiritualist, once told me “find your own evidence” and at the time as a young woman, I wondered what on earth she was talking about.  Over the past six months in particular, I have discovered what she was talking about, on an epic scale and this blog is to share with those interested, what that evidence is.

There are many people, including Great Aunty Rose (and she is a great aunty!), who deserve a blog post all of their own and I will write about these people later.

I accept fully that it is just my own evidence and that it will resonate with some and not at all with others. I’m totally accepting of this and I’m open to questions, debate even, although, I will say that as I’ve experienced it for myself, you will find it hard to question. The same way I wouldn’t be able to question someone else’s life experiences.

To give you a taster of some of the topics I will be covering; the blog will be about the practice of reiki and how it has profoundly changed my life for the better. I will be covering my experience of The Universe, the Laws Of Attraction, the places I have been and the realisations I have made through meditation, Shamanic Journeying and connections with Angels, Guides and Ascended Masters, my spiritual awakening and journey, the people who have inspired me, including those who have come into my life for that purpose then left again. I will also write about the spirits I have seen and the energy healing work I have done so far and plan to further. I can only promise to write from the heart and see where it leads us.

I’d love to hear everyone’s thoughts, feelings and own life experiences, so please do leave comments and any questions that you may have.

I’d like to offer up thanks to those that helped and guided me to start and write this blog. I have immense gratitude for your love and support, as always.

Thanks for reading and please come back for more.

I’d like to finish by adding that if you are my friend or even if you are an acquaintance, I know these subjects may be all too uncomfortable for some. A wise lady called Jayne Darkes once told me that announcing you are going on a spiritual journey is like a snake shedding the skin it no longer needs. It is painful but necessary to leave some of you behind in order that you can be beautiful and function again. How true. For those that can’t stay, I wish you all the love in the world for your own journey.

Lots of my photos feature pink orbs from behind the sun. I will post some more over the coming months. This signifies to me the end of one path and the search for another in my life, with the sun shining down to represent the happiness that awaits.