Reading Life's Map

I suddenly noticed that while I had put up pics of my trip to Ireland last year, I had no images of Australia on this blog. I have remedied that with some shots taken on my travels around this awe-inspiring continent.

I still have the map I came here with in 1987. It’s a little fragile along the folds but I still mark on it every new road I travel. I have to confess to having a great love of maps and the skill of map reading. Unlike the ubiquitous satnav (advertised here as a great present for mother’s day– cos hey what woman of child-bearing age knows how to locate a grid reference?!), a map helps us to position ourselves in the bigger picture. It allows us to see beyond the quickest route and choose a more ambient journey or perhaps get side-tracked to experience something new.

The satnav encourages unquestioning acceptance of instructions, even when it is obviously wrong, and emphasises the importance of destination rather than the journey. A map, in contrast, helps us to zoom out a little and place things in context, and life in so many ways is about context. For instance the contextual framework of any communication is imperative in order to glean meaning. Our personal story, our cultural understanding and soul history all help define the prism through which we act, react and make our choices to heal and grow. If we cannot see how we got to where we are in this moment, how can we be sure of the direction in which we are heading? If we hand over responsibility to something or someone who does not know or indeed care anything about us can we be surprised when things go wrong? Oh yeah sure we can always blame the satnav/boss/system when we find ourselves continually hitting dead-ends, going round in circles or parked precariously on a precipice, but deep down we know there was another voice we ignored. The one urging us to “Stop, get your bearings”; Slow down and read the signs”; “Proceed with Caution – there might be a better way”.

Apologies for the pile-up of driving analogies! 

Breaking Free of Old Patterns

One of the major aims of my sessions is to help the client break out of destructive patterns which are holding them back from healing and happiness. Events which keep occurring in our lives both on the micro and macro level are really the Universe saying in varying degrees of subtlety “Oi this aint working for you!”  

  We always have a choice when an event happens. We can either move closer to our soul or closer to our ego. The ego fed by the mind, fear and the hurt child says the cost of change is too great whereas the soul fed by the authentic self and our guidance argues that the cost of not changing is too great

  If we follow the soul we get a softening and releasing of the old patterns and of the negativity built up around them. The positive energy of the Universe then floods into our lives and supports us as we move forward. However if we choose to keep listening to that fearful old nag – the mind – we add to our energy system another layer of resistance, reaction and refusal to grow. This causes blockages on all levels; the energetic, physical, emotional, and also in terms of our progress in jobs, relationships and finances. It also means that we have to experience the whole cycle again!

  And whilst these events can start off as a little tap on the shoulder if we keep ignoring them the tap becomes a hammer, then a sledge hammer and sadly sometimes it takes a wrecking ball through our health or marriage or career before we choose to listen!

  So next time you notice a recurring pattern -1) STOP 2) Create the space to feel where your usual reaction comes from, what fears or old hurts trigger your response. 3) Try something different – even if it is only a tiny step - no matter how unnatural or frightening it feels at first.4) Breathe out and give yourself a pat on the back – you just spoke with your soul!