Noticing Choice

It is important to acknowledge both the light and the shadow in how we live our daily lives.  Our truth is played out in the 10,000 choices we make each day.  When we notice and give ourselves credit for the times we choose alignment with our higher self, we have less need to hide from the shadow self.

Sara's personal share: While I easily acknowledge my gifts and abilities, I find they are often a source of shame:  I feel shame for not living up to my potential, not being as "good" as I "should" be, given how I have been blessed.  My "review/release" circle is filled with choices I made that "could have" been more in alignment with my Truth.  Today, I am reminded that I also need to balance my review with acknowledging the choices I make every day that ARE in alignment.

Self Reflection: Do I carry shame about my gifts, abilities, accomplishments?  If so, how has this affected my ability to align myself in truth? to Share my Truth?

Living in the Sacred Spiral of Awareness, Knowing and the Choice of Acceptance

Carolyn Shares:  I feel blessed to have some of the wise members of our moon circle community occasionally author posts.  The wisdom they share inspires and guides me-sometimes pointing out a new point of view or awareness.  When Lisa shared her mandala for March, I found myself in synchronicity with both the visual of the mandala and Lisa's thoughts.  I was touched by Sara's post on awareness and taking time for the depth and truth of knowing to sink in and the prayer she shared.

This is the poem on awareness, choice, patience and change that came through me when I saw the spiraling nature of Lisa's March mandala.

This Cycle to Know and Accept Truth

I know and accept it is a cycle of many cycles.

It has it's own purpose and teaching, one of many.

It has a rhythm and flow.

I begin with an awareness of what I know

Then awareness of accepting (or not) what I know

Then awareness of how my acceptance or non-acceptance 

FEELS in my being [body, emotions, mind and spirit]

Then another level of knowing

and awareness

and accepting (or not).

I am traversing a sacred spiral 

Coming to know

the Truth of my being and my purpose

in the ebb and flow

in the rhythm and cycle of

Knowing/Awareness/Acceptance (or not).

Self Reflection: 

Know/Aware/Accept/Aware/Know

Aware/Accept/Aware/Know/Aware

Accept/Aware/Know/Aware/Accept

Aware/Know/Aware/Accept/Aware

Know/Accept

Aware

Choosing to Thrive

Sara shares: "You cannot push the dark away, you can only transform it with light".  These are the words that came as my message in my morning contemplation of the meditation Reflecting on the Waxing Phase of February's Moon Cycle.  Then came these words "Manifesting Truth is not about correcting wrong behaviors".

As the full moon's light displaces the darkness of the first half of the cycle, I am reminded that I can make a choice in how I perceive my Now, my history and my future.  That choice makes the difference between thriving and surviving.

Neuroscience reveals that we make decisions primarily from one of two parts of the brain: The deep core of our brain is our "survival" mode. This part of the brain drives cravings and addictions, flight or fight mode and short-term pleasure seeking. In contrast, the prefrontal cortex is the part used when we consider long-range outcomes and the bigger picture. This is the part of the brain responsible for "thriving". Only one part of the brain operates at a time; we are either in "thrive" or "survive" mode.

We can fight the impulses of our "survival" mode, but we have a limited reserve to do so.  Significant and lasting change is much more likely when we switch to focusing on our values and the long term view, rather than 'correcting wrong behaviors'.  Welcoming the truth of our experience as a teacher on our long road is one way to do this.

For the waning portion of this cycle, as the dark slowly approaches, I am honoring the truth of what is (and was and will be) by choosing a perspective of the longer journey.  In this light, even the inevitable 'wrong behaviors' become my teachers, and no matter how long the night, I can see the dawn.

Self Reflection: I honor without defense. I welcome all teachers. I won't defend against Truth; I will take it as it is, without an effort to change it.
I won't rush to embrace what 'may be' Truth. I will embrace a practice of aware restraint.
I will take time to be with what Truth reveals itself.

Reflecting on the Waxing Phase of February's Moon Cycle

In this waxing phase we have brought awareness to our story (history):
Reflect on your writing from the Waxing Moon page for Honor Truth:

We ask for clarity in what has been brought forth:  Remember manifesting truth is not about correcting wrong behaviors. Manifesting Truth is building on the foundation of our birthright (the part of our being Creator created--the intention for our birth, at this time in history, in this place.

We humbly ask for, to take in, Creator's perspective--We ask what Creator (by whatever name you know this Source of All That Is) sees for our life, for Creator's perspective.

Self Reflection:  Can I accept the feast for my life that is my birthright? Can I remember that this choice is offered to me EVERYDAY?