Soulbyte for Tuesday May 26, 2015

Change requires patience. A period of adjustment may be needed and experienced, a time of confusion, until new balance is achieved. A warrior knows that making changes leads to everything else in life shifting and getting into alignment too, both within and without, moods and temperaments alike.

A warrior knows that change may be a precarious process, that there may be as many steps backwards as forwards, but a warrior is intent and soon is bounding forward totally changed by the thrill of the changing process itself.

Intention alone may be the instigator of change, but soon the momentum of the energy of change and the freeing rhythm of life take over and the old is left behind, rarely thought of or desired. A warrior is then catapulting forward, without a glitch, desirous only of what is to come, enjoying new life in every moment.

Soulbyte for Monday May 25, 2015

Let no obstacles come between you and your goal. Let not regrets mar your vision. Let no new discoveries bar your way. Allow your life to unfold with your full participation rather than fear, reluctance, or avoidance. It will be what it will be, but where will you be? Participatory, openly engaged with it? Or failing to see that it is as it is for your benefit?

A warrior knows that life is a lesson-filled journey, one of ups and downs, and yet a warrior looks always for the lessons of truth in the lessons of life. A warrior knows that no matter what happens all will resolve, all will evolve, and all will change and change again. There is no end, there are only beginnings. And so a warrior is always ready to accept each day’s challenges because a warrior knows that all are necessary, that life will bring important changes and learning possibilities so that life may unfold and growth may occur.

A warrior accepts and greets all challenges as if they were long lost friends, for a warrior knows they come with only the best of intentions.

Soulbyte for Sunday May 24, 2015

In this time of turmoil, stand your ground. Remain firmly anchored in that which is true, knowing that such challenging times are agents, bringing changes that are perhaps unbidden and unexpected but profound and meaningful nonetheless. Ride through such changing times by bearing the tension and, without regret or remorse, finish unfinished business so that you may transform and move forward unencumbered and freed to take on life anew, with eagerness. Know that new life awaits all beings and that working through old issues and attachments will bring the freedom you seek.

Remain firmly grounded in your life, yet strive always toward new glories and new adventures. Go forward having left no unfinished business behind, renewed by the agents of change in your life, knowing that change is constant and change will come again. Something new and different will present itself soon enough and you will be ready to receive it because you have prepared yourself so well now during these times of turmoil and transformation.

Soulbyte in Memoriam for Saturday May 23, 2015

First, we send love and support to our young friend Joel who has begun his definitive journey in infinity. May your pure storytelling spirit find the guides you need as you embark on this next leg of your journey, gladdening all you encounter. Keep going Joel, it’s just another summer program, and we know you can do it.

It’s the true journey we are all on, the Soul’s journey. Let us take full advantage while here in human form to bring light within ourselves, and each other. And then, when it’s time, follow that light into infinity, seasoned loving warriors of the SOUL.

Lessons in a Life: Is Life Really Planned?

Not that long ago the possibilities seemed endless... - Photo by Jan Ketchel
Not that long ago the possibilities seemed endless…
– Photo by Jan Ketchel

I notice how quickly nature gets the upper hand. Before I know it, the weeds have taken over. A few weeks ago I thought I might, this year, finally have time to tackle some big areas on our property that are overgrown before the poison ivy and fast growing vines of all sorts took over, but alas! Nature, as usual, has gotten the upper hand.

I find myself dreaming numerous dreams every night, dreams growing as rapidly as weeds. Chuck reports the same.

Each morning we wake up almost reeling from the amount of nightly dream activity, grasping to remember what we can, though we both find that we have to let most of it go, too many, too quick to catch. It does seem, however, that this is prolific dream energy time and not to be missed.

Recent work on my next book has made me realize just how much nature, both nature outside of us and nature inside of us, and our dream world are in synch, setting us up for what needs to be done now and what is to come. As I reread and edit the journals I kept during my recapitulation, starting 14 years ago, I see just how much was laid out then and just how much has transpired since then.

Experiences I had a few decades ago, and even longer ago than that, as well as things that happened to me in my daily life really did lay out future possibilities. I see that very clearly now. Of course, where I was to go and what I was to do were always my choices.

Forks show up regularly... which road to take? - Photo by Jan Ketchel
Forks show up regularly… which road to take?
– Photo by Jan Ketchel

Opportunities to take a certain route, a certain path, to make a life changing decision, however, are offered to us all the time, in a myriad of ways. This too I see very clearly now, as I see just how my own nature, my own dreams, and my own experiences, as I navigated life, really did support and prepare me to be a changed being in a changed life.

We might find support in the simplest of synchronicities, or in the most profound of experiences or dreams. My dreams were always guiding me, offering advice, spelling out things that I was not sure of, offering help when I asked or needed clarity on something. I took from them what I needed and moved on. Now, however, as I reread and edit what happened to me during my recapitulation, some of those more mysterious dreams are utterly clear now. I see that in part they were premonitions of what was to come. At the time they offered useful guidance, helped me through some tough times, but now, as I look back, they make sense in a different way.

What at the time seemed fantastical has actually come to pass. What at the time I could make sense of in one way, now makes sense in a totally different way. What seemed to be supporting dreams at the time, now prove to be laying plans for a future life and a future me, neither of which I could have ever imagined, but which actually came to be.

I started keeping dream journals in my late teens. Some of them I still have, others got lost in my many moves. There were stagnant years when I did little journal keeping, though I always kept sketchbooks and in many of those I jotted down significant events and dreams too. My own nature likes a pen in hand and quiet moments of contemplation. I can truly say, based on my own experiences and all the dream keeping I have done, as well as the significantly meaningful events in my life, that there really does seem to be a plan to it all, to life. At least that’s how I’ve experienced it!

What your own life really has planned for you may be cloaked in your dreams too. The main thing is to be open to life. And if you think you don’t remember dreams or that they are neither fantastical nor mysterious, think again, because life just won’t let you get away with thinking that way. Just look at the weeds!

Not weeds! ...Sometimes it's not so clear... - Photo by Jan Ketchel
Not weeds! …Sometimes it’s not so clear…
– Photo by Jan Ketchel

Nature has its own ideas and they are sprouting up all around us all the time. We just have to tune in. So watch out what you dismiss from your everyday experiences. You might see weeds, but you might also be missing something important!

Life won’t leave you behind, just make sure you don’t leave it behind. Enjoy what comes to find you and go out and meet it. That is the biggest lesson I’ve learned; if you want something to happen, make it happen. Show up, be present, take action when appropriate, and learn from your experiences, dreaming or otherwise.

Happy Spring and Happy Dreaming!
Jan

Chuck Ketchel, LCSWR