The Glow of Autumn…And Of People

I was taking a walk in the encroaching dusk, enjoying the brisk air of autumn and the beauty of my surroundings when I was struck by how the leaves of the willow actually glow.  It was not a trick of light from the sun reflecting off the nearby water, it looks to be an inner radiance that is inherent in the tree itself.

Now, I have many trainings but Botany is not one of them!  So I don’t truly know what is the source of this glow, only that it is powerfully there.  And what struck me about this phenomenon, is that some people have it as well.  I’m not talking about the same yellow radiance that comes from the leaves.   This isn’t a radioactive glow-in-the-dark thing, either.  Rather, I’m referring to the inner radiance certain people have an  that others can see and feel.  And that glow attracts people to it.  We want to be around those who have it.  We want some of it ourselves.

Again, I don’t fully know the scientific reason beneath the glow, but I there seem to be certain common elements in those that have it.  I would define these elements as:

• A strong sense of self, knowing who you are, accepting it and really being comfortable with it 
•  A passion for life that is connected to one’s truth 
• A sense of inner peace and contentment
• A solid ethical inner compass
• An empathy and willingness to give freely to others

To me, this glow represents the light of the soul.  And when we are healthy and whole, that glow is strong and envelopes others in its warmth and light.

I don’t know whether I have a glow that others can see or feel or not.  I do know that I feel that inner glow in me some days more than other days.  And I plan to use that feeling to see if I can notice how I am when I feel it so I can do it more often!

Are you glowing, too?

Follow The Leader…Inside You

Are looking for a guide or a leader to follow to find the answer to your questions, big or small?  Good news…the best leader you’ll find is already inside of you.  You can call this inner guide by whatever name works for you – inner wisdom, soul consciousness, spirit, God consciousness – the name isn’t as important as recognizing and using the powerful source that will always have the perfect path for you to follow.

In Yogic and Ayurvedic philosophy, the ultimate principle or consciousness in the universe if called Purusha.  It is the spiritual force behind creation.   The entire universe is mirrored inside of each individual…the macrocosm being duplicated in the microcosm.  Therefore, this universal consciousness is reflected within each individual as well and is called the Atman or the soul.  Which means, you have a piece of pure, all knowing consciousness right inside of you!

Want to get in contact with you Atman?  Simply tune in to the frequency of your higher self.  In Yogic science meditation is the method to tap in to the frequency of the internal wisdom.  Although there are many different ways to meditate and different levels of being able to really “abide in the self,” it can be as simple as sitting in a comfortable position with your spine straight, closing your eyes, following the breath with your mind and receiving what is there for you to see and hear.  Then you just follow the leader.  Taking the information you get from inside, follow the actions you are inspired to take.  Doing this daily for just 3-5 minutes will allow you to check in each day with what you need, as your needs will change in each moment.

If this process is new to you, it may not feel easy or comfortable right away.  You may be tempted to stop or give up.  I encourage you to stick with it even if it seems like nothing is happening.  Because each time that you sit with yourself, you are creating an energetic pathway, a neurological memory.  So that the next time you go back, your body begins to know the way.  Like learning a new driving route, the first time there is a lot of looking at the map, maybe some missed turns and frustration.  But each time you drive the route it becomes more familiar until one day you do it without thinking.  It becomes routine.  So too is the path of meditation and connecting in with yourself.  Give yourself the gift of a week of regular practice and see what begins to show up.  Practice will make the process easier.