Katy Manna  

I find myself in an interesting place. Isn't life always interesting? There really never is a dull moment when I can put my ego aside and view my life as an observer.

There was a time when my circumstance would have made me crazy. I would have made it my life's mission to "make this work". What I have found is that what I try to control ends up controlling me and it was time to let go.

I find less and less the need to put my hands all over everything. Many of the things I worked and worked and worked for, ended up not being in my best interest. When I am able to surrender and release, all that I need comes to me in a way that I would not expect.

I recently found myself at a special event that I did not have to pay for. Through a series of events that I just went with, I ended up in a place I could have never gotten to on my own. The Universe was up to something. I understood that my primary job was to stay open and honest with myself.

I had all kinds of interesting stories that went on in my head- what might happen, or what this might lead too. These elaborate ideas flooded my mind for a couple of weeks. Each one thrilling and not one of them happened!

When I began to see that nothing was "adding up" I heard a voice say, "just stay open".

I needed that reminder as it seemed like chaos could get the best of me. Instead I took a deep breath and affirmed that I was showing up and staying open and honest.

In the end, I saw that I was able to move through this set of circumstances in the most peaceful way. Showing up with an open mind and an open heart and with out an agenda was the way that peace chose me.

The Universe saw to it that it put me in a position where I was almost so disoriented that I almost had no choice other than staying on my toes and open to possibility.

What happened was my life changed. My internal self shifted in a way that I never could have seen coming. I allowed myself to be guided with behavior that to some might seem irrational. I allowed myself to listen to my own inner guidance. I allowed myself to show up with a beginners mind. I allowed myself to be led by my spirit calling me and put my ego in the back seat. The gift was true empowerment.

Letting go of all the "shoulds". Letting go of the expectations. Letting go of the linear thinking are all ways of choosing peace. A peaceful heart and a peaceful mind are a great catalyst for change. We do not always need to hold on to pain for that kind of change.
Choosing peace, instead of choosing contrast, will get us further in the long run.  It is time to surrender and release all that we feel we have control over.

The only thing we can control in this world is our behavior, when we really understand that, peace has a way of walking in the through the back door and changing us forever.

www.LiveWiththeLightsOn.com

I always say to people that I am never surprised any more but I am always in awe. And once again, I find myself in a place of experiencing this. I ventured back to my spot out in nature and saw that there was another path that I had seen but not given any attention to. I decided that I would turn left and see what there was for me to discover. I had no idea that I would discover more about myself than anything else.

I saw more trees, dead and alive. I saw lot's of flowers and butterflies. I noticed that this path was more hidden, a smaller path and one whose beauty was far greater than the other.

I felt tucked away safely by this little corner of the world. As I heard the sound of water I could feel my body open up. It was as if each fiber of my being tuned in to the healing power of the water I had just stumbled upon.

I see a clearing and follow my intuition, there is a message for me, this I am sure. I approach this clearing with wonder and curiosity. The next thing I know, I am surrounded by butterflies and dragonflies. There is a large rock for me to sit and meditate on, a rock just on the edge of this body of water that had been calling me just minutes ago.

As I sit down and take a deep breath, I am amazed this has been here all along. This glorious retreat, right under my nose. That is when the message came in loud and clear.

"This has been here all along, right under your nose. YOU have been here all along, right under YOUR nose".

This beautiful little spot was symbolic of me and my life. Yes, this has been here all along. No matter how many different paths I have gone seeking to know myself better, this one gorgeous path has been sitting here waiting all along. All I needed to do was listen and I would be welcomed in this this sanctuary.

I began to understand that despite the fact that I have had a close relationship with myself, my heart has not been fully engaged. I always thought that other paths that were out of the way would take me to my destination. I never saw m self as my own sanctuary, a place where I am always welcomed with a warm hug and a place that I am loved.
My inner sanctuary, a place where I am safe.

I sit on this rock and begin to feel my heart open up in ways that it has never before. I realize how my heart has not been fully engaged in my life up until this point. Yes, I have loved and I have loved deeply. What I have not experienced is feeling nurtured by my own heart. It felt as though I was a baby at my mothers breast.

I felt how strong my heart is, and yet so sensitive, peaceful and quietly powerful.
"This has been here all along. Right under you nose."  I continued to hear this message.
I sat in awe for at least thirty minutes as I soaked in this notion that everything is a reflection  of us. I sat understanding this beautiful place was me. A concept that was not new to me, but one that had now hit a new level of understanding in my being.

I saw how some people had left trash and how that resonated with me. Despite the trash, this outdoor sanctuary held strong and beautiful with grace. It remained a place for support and beauty. I knew I would be back to clean up the trash here. The time I have spent clearing away my own internal trash, I knew it was time to honor myself and my new love.

I find that life is always symbolic. No matter how we look at it, there is a symbolism that is available to us that calls us to evolve to a higher place. Always be the observer, ask for guidance in seeing the truth, and following the intuition are all ways to evolve to our highest purpose. The Truth is always right under our nose, look no further.

There is a wooded area I recently discovered near my house. I have lived in my house for nearly 7 years and was unfamiliar with this most amazing place until now. I have been aware that "something" was there, but what it was remained a mystery to me by choice.
One morning I was guided to take a walk of discovery. I felt moved, almost called to surrender to this great mystery and allow my heart to be my guide. I put on my walking shoes and I was off.

I was immediately aware of the beauty of this once hidden place. This most gorgeous path opened up and welcomed me. I delighted in its invitation and breathed in its essence.
The birds, the squirrels all have made this their home. And it's no wonder, I wish I could do the same. The tall trees shading the path in some spots and in others leaning back to for the plants to bask in the sunlight.

I begin to notice the fallen trees and how amazing they are. What I felt from them was their ability to move on with grace. In their death, they became shelter for little creatures, they became food for others and a breeding ground for the vibrant green moss. How amazing it must be to let go so completely and deeply. What a service to provide this most beautiful place.

I noticed how the fallen trees were just as beautiful and just as much a part of the living beauty that was before my eyes. This was a cosmic masterpiece that honored a Universal cycle.

I began to think about how this relates to my life. In these trees I saw relationships I have let go of, I saw pieces of myself that no longer served me. I saw the ultimate letting go, a full surrender to the Divine.This ultimate letting go paving the way for rebirth and a place for the new to take form.

I thought about how many times I have fought and fought until I surrendered. How I have lost sight of the bigger picture. That the letting go is just as natural as the receiving. How death is just as natural as birth. Neither being an ending or a beginning. And each a miracle.

I sat and breathed in the magnificence of this gift. I thanked the Universe for blessing me with this same kind of grace in my life. I thanked the Universe for enlightening me with such a powerful metaphor. I feel blessed to recognize this same landscape within me. The baby trees whose lives have just begun. The trees that are sturdy and full of gorgeous green leaves, thriving in their existence. The trees that have fallen and have blessed the woods with the an opportunity to start fresh and in a whole new way. And for the creatures that live in the woods for their appreciation and celebration for everything being just as it is.

As I began to make my way back home I walked in total connectedness. There was no distinction between me and the physical place I was in. I felt the power of being in complete harmony with the Universe. A powerful lesson that I reflect on often. I continue to visit this place and peel away the layers even deeper. I visit in honor of this Divine connection and in honor of life itself.