Finding Balance during Changing Times
In the Northern Hemisphere we’ve begun the Autumn Season; my second favorite season highlighting nature’s profound, beautiful changes. Seeds of intention were planted at the start of the year, cultivated during the Spring. Some of us enjoyed succulent Summer Fruits, while others look forward to the Autumn Harvest.
Autumn is also a season of letting go. In the same way that trees begin to change creating an awesome array of colorful foliage that eventually falls…red, gold, orange, yellow maple and oak leaves carpeting the earth, we too must let go.
Approaching Autumn with Apprehension and/or Appreciation
“These times call for us to break free from mental and emotional bondage; make use of our finest talents to help liberate ourselves and those we serve. This is also the call of our individual and collective soul to be healed, whole and healthy.” – Harriet Tubman Wright
It’s been another challenging year for many of us. We’ve encountered unprecedented political mayhem, intensified weather catastrophes,
heart-breaking losses, heart-warming wins and more. Very few if any of us are coming through this year unscathed! We’ve resisted, endured, risked and triumphed. Yet, there is more to come…
• For what are you most proud?
• In what ways have you been victorious?
• What have you yet to complete or achieve?
Approaching the final quarter is a good time to assess how and where you’ve been.
Changing Times, Changing Perspectives, Changing Lives
Change is always happening. However, over several years, change has been deepening, accelerating and intensifying. These “shocks” to our humanity and our environment are unsettling.
As a consequence, my emotions have been cycling from rage, resignation to deep sadness. It’s been essential to feel the feelings before I could accept that the extremes of fear, violence and destruction showing up locally and globally, and what’s coming up personally are connected. These inner and outer experiences are also being revealed to be healed. Framing changing conditions in this way has allowed me to accept:
•Things get worse before they get better
•This too shall pass
“The greatest revolution in our generation is that of human beings, who by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.” – Marilyn Ferguson
Therefore, change is a matter of perspective, our beliefs and attitudes
If You’re Not Answering Your Soul’s Calling, Who Is?
In other words, are your expressing your true nature, living your divine purpose, doing what you most love? Your Soul’s Calling is what you’re born to be and do! It energizes, motivates and sustains you…and it lights you up and those with whom you interact. Your Soul’s Calling frees and fulfills you to express your deepest passion with dedication and delight!
From an early age some of you know what you’re here to do. You focus your education, develop your talents, sharpen your skills and pursue your heart’s desire. You want to become the best you and over time become a master, whether an artist, engineer, teacher, firefighter, athlete, doctor, entrepreneur or public office holder. You’re good at what you do and can honestly say, “There is nothing else I’d rather be doing.” Such is the case with the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, Steve Jobs, Louise Hay, icons like Steph Curry, Jean Houston, Chadwick Boseman, Joel Olsteen, statesman Ronald V. Dellums, author Danielle Steele, as well as the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner, Malala Yousafzai and cellist, Sheku Kanneh-Mason!
Tumultuous Times – Graceful Endings and Grateful Beginnings
We live in tumultuous times! For those who are aware of celestial phenomena, the recent Blood Moon Total Lunar Eclipse coupled with the Mercury Retrograde cycle created big shifts personally and collectively!
These formidable shifts affect us emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. I’m encouraged that deep transformation compels us to:
- Acknowledge our pain, anger and inner wounding, so that it can be surfaced and healed
- Assess who we are and what we’re doing, then re-focus our time and talents on what’s most important
- Accept those people, things and conditions that we must release, to clear negative energy and experience greater good.
Modifying Our Movement from Resistance to Revolution
For quite some time, I’ve been concerned about ‘resistance efforts’, primarily sparked by what has become daily assaults from Agent Orange 45. Even though ongoing resistance activities, such as petitions, marches and protests, have galvanized people who might not otherwise be as actively or financially involved, the results of the resistance efforts may not currently be as fruitful as desired, although mid-term election wins are encouraging. However, we may still feel restless or discouraged.
Harriet’s Mixed Bag Mid-Year Missive
I’m drafting this article on Juneteenth with a heavy heart. As you may know, Juneteenth, also known as Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day, is an American holiday that commemorates the June 19, 1865, announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. state of Texas, and more generally the emancipation of enslaved blacks throughout the former Confederacy of the southern United States. Since the 1980s and 1990s, the holiday has been more widely celebrated among African-American communities. Organizations such as the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation are working toward gaining Congressional approval to designate Juneteenth as a national day of observance.
Given what Black People in Amerikkka continue to experience; it’s clear that the ideal of freedom, justice and equality for all, is just that, an ideal. Amerikkka has yet to truthfully grapple with its legacy of slavery, a legacy maintained by systems, institutions and practices that perpetuate racism, exploitation, injustice, oppression, incarceration and more…
Are You Progressing or Procrastinating on Your Intentions, Dreams & Commitments?
My work with mature women continues to evolve from self-care to soul care; soul’s calling to social change. As a Coach, Speaker, Author, Change Agent and Metaphysician, I’m passionate about helping women live their purpose, manifest their dreams, fulfill their soul’s calling, and prosper doing what they most love.
A Healthy Mind Leads to a Healthy Life
May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. The theme for 2018 is #CureStigma. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, NAMI, one in 5 Americans is affected by mental health conditions. Stigma is toxic to their mental health because it creates an environment of shame, fear, silence that prevents many people from seeking help and treatment. However, stigma is 100% curable with compassion, empathy and understanding.
How Do You Want To Be Known and Remembered?
As many of you know, I recently celebrated my birthday. Consequently, I’ve been reflecting on my past and contemplating my future.
Ancestry
Specifically, I’m pondering my relationship with and responsibility to my ancestors. Not only do I stand on their shoulders, in truth I am my ancestors. Thus, these questions come to mind:
- How am I bringing their dreams to fruition?
- In what ways am I taking their triumphs to the next level, or transforming their shortcomings into lessons for guidance and growth?
- How can I be more of what I’ve been created to be?
- In what ways am I paying it forward?
Given where you are in your life, how would you answer these questions?