Processing our Grief for the Earth

After a busy holiday season, I have been giving myself a bit of a break, just absorbing the beauty of the season and allowing myself rest.

I am deeply grateful that the Intuitive Guide Certificate program is almost full, with a group of lovely people joining me for the next 10 months. It has been truly amazing to hear the hopes and dreams of the brave souls who have decided to say "yes" to this journey, and to be able to support them in getting there.

And yet the cycles of life continue. Sometimes things happen to us that are totally unexpected and that throw us for a loop.

I awoke one morning last week to loud clanking sounds, and to machines plowing through the forest behind our house. When I realized what was happening, the next few days became filled with a sense of helplessness and grief due to a situation totally out of my control (a lesson in control for me, to be sure).

The machines began cutting down a number of trees on the property (40 acres of woods) next to ours, for the selective cutting of timber. This brought me an overwhelming and maddening feeling of sadness I have not felt in some time.

Every day for the past 3 years I have gone into the woods on daily walks with my dog, hugging a tree each time and sitting, meditating and doing yoga by streams.

This felling of trees (and destruction of a magical area of rocks by a stream) broke my heart. I cried for a few days about it, spending time by the area that was once the peaceful trickling waterfall, and apologizing for not doing better in saving it.

It was amazing at how much grief I felt. The aching in my heart was so intense, so visceral. It was as if someone had died.

I realized how strong a connection I had formed with the water, the trees and the space that had become one of my safe, sacred spots. It felt so painful that this destruction had happened, and that there was nothing I could do about it.

Sometimes we just can't feel better, and sometimes there is no "positive" aspect to a situation. It just sucked. 

I allowed myself to just grieve. And yet, when I saw my kids grieving as well, I tried to find the light in the situation. Maybe there would be more trails for us to ski on. Maybe this would help the forest regenerate (as there had been lots of deadfall).

When I was ready, I went out into the area that was now a clearing, placed a flower on the sacred area and said goodbye.

I paused and listened to what I felt the remaining trees wanted to share with me. They told me, “We’re still here. We are here to be of service.”

And I was reminded of the cycle of life, and how our home is made of trees, our wood stove is fueled by trees and we live here in a space where lots of trees were once cut down.

The forest reminded me that it will return. Other parts of the stream are still there, and it will recover.

While allowing myself to mourn the loss of what was, I also am doing my best to put it into perspective. I feel better now, and have a sense of acceptance of it all.

So tonight, in the Circle of Light bi-monthly meditation, I will lead us in a guided meditation on The Messages of Nature to help us really connect with the natural world in a deep way, finding hope in the grief we may have. Please join me here on Zoom or in the Souls Gathering Together Facebook group, Wednesday, January 10th from 8-8:20ish pm EST.

Below is a writing reflection that you may find helpful in processing your own negative emotions, an excerpt from my book, Tools for the Awakening Soul: A Guide to Activate Your Intuition and Uncover Your Life's Purpose.

May we allow ourselves to miss what once was, yet find hope for the possibilities of what can come. 

Releasing Heavy Feelings
 

Take a moment to reflect on any negative emotions, using the cues here to guide you. Feel free to skip or expand on any section. Elaborate on any emotions that come up. Keep going until you feel done. When you feel a release, you'll know. 
 

I feel:
 
I feel:

I feel:
 
I feel:
 

Underline some of the feelings you expressed in the previous sentences (frustrated, confused, sad, etc.). This can help to clearly see and separate from them as an "observer" of your life. Now continue.
 

I feel like:
 
I am worried about:

I am scared that: 
 

Now let's try to move onward and upward.... What lesson might there be in this experience?

Even though it's hard, how can I accept some part of my present situation?

 
I want:
 
I will:
 
I still wonder:
 
I ask for: 

 
What else is still coming up? Express it here, or continue to use the I want, I ask for, I will, I feel statements as guides:
 
 
Hopefully you now feel some release and separation from your emotions. You may want to continue clearing heavy emotions through verbal processing (talking with a trusted friend), moving your body (dancing, punching something), or doing something creative (like drawing or painting). Crying and yelling - not at someone but just in general - are incredibly effective emotional releases. And, you can do this writing reflection as many times as you like.
 
After a few days/weeks or so, you may find that you feel better and even healed through the inner work you’re doing! If not, don't give up - this is a temporary situation and it will get better. You are loved. You are supported. And you, and all of us here on Earth, are on a path to evolve. The heavy emotions are just part of learning and growing in the human experience.

New Year's Visualizations (That Seem to Work!)

Dear one who renews,

As we enter 2024 in just a few minutes (well, maybe we already have, depending on when you read this), I have a few reflections to share with you.

The last week of my December was filled with celebrations with family and then a quiet day in a seaside Maine town with my family of four for ice skating, checking out local shops and treating ourselves to a wonderful dinner.

In a recent intuitive reading I received myself (gifted from my sister), the message from my guides was to receive as I much as I give. It was a powerful reminder to consciously remind myself to stop, and rest (more yin energy versus the outward yang). 

So today, as I enter the second day of my 46th year in this body, I receive these beautiful roses from my husband, this scarf from my mother-in-law, and these earrings my son made me (in the photo above).

My intention for the upcoming year is also to rest more, to take care of myself more (in solitude, massages, walks in the woods) so that I may continue to be a vessel of light for others, especially my children.

I also took some time to set intentions today for the upcoming year. But I did more than just set intentions. After accounting for what I was proud of and what I had learned (where I could have done better). I focused on what I wanted to let go of. I visualized where the energy of any stuck, old stories or energy was held in my body. I then took some time to connect with that vibration, really feel into it, and then to release it. I replaced the old energy with a positive image, either of light or some other high vibration image (or in a few cases, a beautiful sprouting plant or a wave of color appeared).

After I released some stuff, I wrote down some ideas for how I could create a new reality in those specific situations, and also some additional dreams I had for the next year. I pictured myself doing things differently in my daily life (engaging in a new habit, having different conversations with people, etc).

The power of visualization is very, very strong!

When we take the time to imagine ourselves in a future reality, down to the details of what we are doing and saying in an average day, we are co-creating that reality and placing the vibration of it into our Akashic field of future timelines. It's a very real Divine Law. 

I recommend that you do the same, if you're so inclined.

Here's a few powerful ways to reset and recalibrate and refresh for the New Year.

• What are you proud of? What have you accomplished that can celebrate? We often focus on the negative, so re-training our brains to notice the positive comes by noticing the good!

• What have you learned? What didn't go so well that you might want to make different choices around next time?

• What do you want to release? This might be a conflict with another person, a negative habit or pattern of behavior you have fallen into. Think about something that you have been holding onto (a grudge, a story, a limiting belief). When you bring it to mind, how does it make you feel? If not so good, it’s not a vibrational match for the highest version of who you are. Let it go. It can be hard to do this… as our egos can get quite attached. You can still be safe and protected by letting this go. But what might be possible for you when you do?

• Visualize the energy of what needs to be released in your body. Where is it? What color/shape/temperature? Spend time understanding where it comes from and what its message is. Then see if some of it can be released - sucked, drained out of your body. Replace what was once there with light, or another loving image that floats in, reclaiming your energy and releasing the old.

• What do you want to create in your life this next year? This might be a new habit/behavior/way of being that is specifically the opposite of what you released, or maybe it's a larger goal/dream.

• Take time to see yourself living this way. Who are you talking to about it? What are you doing? What does it feel like? Really immerse yourself in the vision to place in firmly into the quantum realm of your Akashic Records.

You will likely notice a shifting after doing this, maybe even after a few minutes.

Wishing you each all the blessings of unconditional love for you in 2024. Thank you each for being here with me all along, for your support, love and kindness.

Happy New Year’s,

Rachel

Events in 2024:

Life Between Life Workshop: Experience Life in the Spirit Realm. Sunday, January 21, 2024 from 1- 4:30 pm EST at the Retreat at Loon Pond, in Litchfield, Maine. I am so excited to be offering a life-between-life in-person group workshop for the first time! Join me for this opportunity to visit your true Home, meet deceased loved ones, spirit guides and visit the Council in the Akashic Records to learn about soul purpose, life lessons, your current life/body selection, what you do in the spirit realm (study, travel off-planet, play, etc.) and receive deep, unconditional love. 4 spots left! 

Beginning January 25, 2024. Remove inner blocks to sharing your gifts in the Intuitive Guide Certificate Program (the Soulful Work Method). Learn intuitive coaching, guided imagery, Ego separation and how to read the Akashic Records in a powerful 10-month program. With some new updates to the curriculum and some additional one-on-one support, I am so excited for this year's group! Just 1 spot left! 

A Spirit-Guided Hypnotherapy Workshop, Thursday, February 15, 2024 from 5:30-7:30 pm EST in Freeport, Maine at Leapin Lizards. In this in-person workshop, you will experience a sampling of what hypnosis feels like, learn how hypnosis works, how basically everyone can be hypnotized and how you can even learn to hypnotize yourself to re-program negative thinking. 

Accessing the Akashic Records: Online Workshop, Wednesday February 28, 2024, 7-8:30 pm EST on Zoom video conference. Learn to read your own Akashic Records for healing and understanding of soul lessons, to view past lives and who you have the potential to become in the future.

What Does It Feel Like to Be in the Presence of God?

It's finally begun to snow here in Maine, and it's just gorgeous. When the snow falls on the land and blankets it in white, a magical feeling of peace fills the air. I was able to cross-country ski and just bask in the wonder and the beauty of it all.

I have been experiencing a new perspective around the concept of wonder and "unknowing" recently. For so long, I have approached my intuition as connecting with beings of light (angels, spirit guides, Ascended Masters). Over the years though, I have intuitively felt the messages to connect more directly with God/Creator/Source, which was a specific message I picked up on recently from Edgar Cayce (and a few years ago from the Ascended Master known as Paramahansa Yogananda).

More and more, and most importantly from my experience in a life-between-life regression, I have felt the presence of this Divine Source, a pulsating ball of light that I perceive as continuously flowing out and in at the same time. And in life-between-life regressions I've done with clients, a few have described how they connect with this Source as well. They identify it often as "light," describing a feeling of being loved, seen and known in a way that they have never felt before. 

If only we could remember how it feels to be part of the Source, to know the oneness that is innate to who we are, we could be more at peace.

I believe that the root cause of most human suffering is the pain of being separated from this Source.

Yet, part of being human is to forget all of that so we can start from scratch in each life and learn. And as pieces of this light from Source, we are here to more fully know ourselves, as the Source seeks to know itself. 

Yet to really know this oneness, we need to experience the opposite, which is separation. To understand light, we need to dive into the dark.

That is what many of us have been experiencing recently (myself including) - a feeling of darkness as we are given the opportunity to yet again examine any lingering deeply-held, old, outdated beliefs.

In the moments of quiet, when we still our minds, we find reconnection with the Source and we can clear away the shadows of old beliefs and stories of Ego. We learn to have the Ego serve our Higher Self, rather than the other way around.

Yet, when it comes to living our lives, when we want to know what's going to happen, when we try to plan and map it all out, we can get thrown off when things don't go as we intended. This is the Ego leading us down a path that may not be in alignment with our Higher Self. When we can surrender and let go of how we think things are supposed to go, and trust (there's that word - the seemingly-ever-elusive trust), we find peace. This can be exceedingly hard to do, with fears and worries that come with being human.

But little by little, we are learning. In our everyday moments, we see evidence of this all-knowing love. It is in the unknowing, in the wonder, in the curiosity, in the mystery that the magic of creation lives and that the path forward toward inner peace and healing lies.

One of the best ways to dive into this learning is to acquire more tools to support us in this process. The Intuitive Guide Certificate program (beginning January 25, 2024) is here to support you in doing just that! It is designed to help train the Ego mind to be in service to the Higher Self (rather than the other way around) so you can surrender to and be guided by Divine Light toward fulfilling your soul mission in being of service to others. You’ll learn tools to do this, and to then help others in similarly removing blocks to learn about and actually doing whatever it is that is their true life purpose(s). And you’ll learn how to create a livelihood out of all this! When we do this, as past Intuitive Guide program participants have shared, this just feels really good, bringing a sense of fulfillment, flow and contentment. 

In the meantime, enjoy the magic of the season and the beauty of nature.