Vibrantly Alive Women » doing things differently

Welcoming emotions – The Guest House

Shawn — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:41:30 +0000

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

~ Rumi ~

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Up the stairs

Shawn — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:56:30 +0000

Being really sick for over two weeks has actually been a blessing of sorts. Lots of down time, giving me plenty of time for reflection, prayer, writing. Being “out of it” seemed to mean being open to other than the status quo, being more open to possibility.

I’ve always been great at envisioning wonderful things, but not so hot on the follow-through. I’ve let lots of little things get in my way, but mostly I’ve let my own lack of clarity and certainty keep me weak, ineffective, doubting myself, and not taking action towards my vision.

When I last spoke with my spiritual director, I confessed to her something I wouldn’t want to share with everyone: I want it all! I want everything to change, dramatically, overnight. But, darn it! That’s not how it works! Years ago, I happened upon this quote, which I believe pretty accurately decribes what I am now getting on a much deeper level…

The vision must be followed by the venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps – we must step up the stairs. **

New perspectives (obviously) shift everything! I see this as a good omen for the new year!

** This quote has been attributed to Vance Havner and Vaclav Havel

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Becoming Kamala

Shawn — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:21:07 +0000

Over the last several years, I’ve thought of changing my name to my spiritual name, Kamala. I love the way it sounds and the way it feels inside when it’s said. When over the course of several days last week, I had what felt like incredible openings and shifts. Breakdowns and breakthroughs. And now, it feels that this is the time to become Kamala. To stand in my strength and power, given me (us) by God. I know it is time to step up in a bigger way; that the world is needing us in a way we haven’t known before. Can you feel it?

Kamala does things differently than Shawn did. I love the energy I feel within me now that I’m stepping in to the carrying of this “new” name. And I relish the idea that for the rest of my life I can be called by a name I like, that feels good to me! Life’s really too short to go by a name that we don’t care for!

These are exciting times, aren’t they? Those of us who are being stirred have some wonderful work to do! And, boy, do I fantasize it being all “easy.” We’ll see!

We have to start valuing ourselves. We have to honor the light we carry and be willing to let it shine, vibrantly.

blessings,

kamala

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Stirred after fluffing

Shawn — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 02:52:37 +0000

It’s so great to be in a place where you know you’re being stirred up and that you’ve asked for it, even if not exactly in the way it’s showing up. So, I’ve been practicing the art of heart fluffing. Feels great at the time. Really great. And then in the next few days lots of those kinds of mucky pieces hanging around in you get stirred up and become more noticeable. Cool, even if not fun! Last few days having been feeling like Paul and I need LOTS of space – being away from each other. Yuck stuff…on the other hand, this is really what’s up for healing. And by fluffing up my heart and asking that it be cleaned…well, this is answered prayer, isn’t it? Amen! (Now, this minute I’m feeling this way, when Paul’s in the other room!) Clean, clean, clean!

So, not only the fluffing has been happening, but I took a jaunt to San Francisco today for my spiritual direction session with Carol Costello. And today I had time to also see my aunt and uncle who live nearby and go past the homes that my grandmothers lived in. More stirring! Just being in San Francisco brings me back to being a little girl growing up in the early 60′s. Golden Gate Park. Larson Pool. The aquarium. 19th Avenue, Stonestown, the Emporium windows at Christmas. The fog.

The forecast for SF (in the Sacramento paper) was patchy, morning fog. I should have known better!

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A new venture

Shawn — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:51:00 +0000

Hooray, Hooray, Hooray! Words alone can’t express how excited I am about Vibrantly Alive Women. I want to feel good. Great. Fabulous, even. I’m still fairly young and basically very healthy, but I want to make sure that I stay healthy and young-at-heart, at the very least. Heck, I want to BE vibrantly alive and FEEL that way, too.

I’m starting this new venture, Vibrantly Alive Women, because that’s what I want for myself – and for every other woman who wants it, too. I just get all tingly when I think of feeling vibrant and alive…and I LOVE that feeling! I feel really expanded as I imagine a bunch of older women being vibrant and alive, and loving it! Their eyes and smiles and hearts and souls beaming with their vibrance and light. How cool would that be?

Here’s a video (from Kaiser Permanente, promoting mammograms, but still fun!) that has that “great old ladies” feel – and the song is now stuck in my mind! Enjoy!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Please come back…I feel like I’m brimming over with enthusiasm – and hope to be sharing that as all of this develops!

blessings,

Shawn

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