To be open-hearted is to be a giver but also a receiver. To give and to receive in the flow of everyday life is a means of achieving balance, a means of release, and a means of acceptance. To learn to truly be open-hearted is the goal of a warrior. A warrior is always on a path of truth, a path of respect, a path of kindness, a path of openness, a path of heart. Test your own open-heartedness a little bit more each day. Relax your body and your mind and breathe into your heart chakra with the intent of letting go of all that your mind constantly intrudes with—the doubts, fears, and tall tales of untruth—and allow the door of your heart to open a little bit more. Certainly all have the ability to do this, but do you have the nerve? Are you ready to be vulnerable and to experience others as vulnerable. For this is what will happen as you become open-hearted; you will become both a giver and a receiver of vulnerabilities and innocence. Try it and see.

Enjoyed a nice sleep in on this snowy Saturday morning! Though a little later than usual, here is today’s Soulbyte:

Be careful how you speak to yourself, how you think about yourself, how you perceive of yourself. You are not just your physical body, but far more. You inherit DNA from the beings who channel you into life, but your spirit is wholly your own. No one else has ownership of or command of it. And so, though your body may sometimes frustrate you, annoy you, and challenge you, your spirit will always guide and support you. Sometimes this guidance from spirit comes in tricky ways, for it may need to be creative to alert you and lead you along, but in the end it will always have your best interests in mind.

Your body is the costume that you wear through that life and it must be taken care of, listened to, and kept in good condition so that your inner life may flourish. If your concentration is solely on body self you will miss out on knowing the far greater spirit self, for beyond the body costume is the expanded self who knows all, is connected to all, and seeks only your accompaniment on the journey. To be in balance is to become more fully aware of the truths of body self and spirit self. Body will be fine if spirit takes over. Can you let it?

Think before you speak. And when you do finally speak, speak from your heart, letting go of all regrets and blame, so that your words are full of wisdom and grace. To be a compassionate person takes practice and mindful attention to what impact you will have. Words, especially, have impact. You may not know how another will interpret them, and so how you speak your meaning and intention must be clear and concise. Do not waste your words, simply talking to fill silence. Silence is the food of higher power, and the higher self is sustained by silence. Be reverent in moments of silence and patient as well. Let silence speak its own words of wisdom and then wait to see if you need to add anything. Let the energy of silence be your guide and mentor. Let it enter your heart and speak thoughtfully, with words of truth, wisdom, love, and compassion. In heart-centered speech will you know and experience the meaning of kindness, gentleness, and grace.

When the moon is full and bright, what do you see? When the moon is new and only darkness greets you, what do you see then? Do you notice that whether there is moonlight or darkness does not matter, the deeper issues are equally present? Are your issues clear to you yet? Or are they hidden in the darkness of self?

The mind is a tool. If used properly it can aid you on your search for clarity of self and for greater meaning in life. If unattended, left to its own devices, it may only serve to confound you. Which type of moon is your mind, full and bright, shining clearly, or hidden from sight, working behind the scenes of awareness?

To hone the mind, no matter what moon phase it is in, is to take charge of your life. To become aware is the goal of the seeker. To know the self fully is the work of a warrior.

Where do you stand today? Find your feet. They will take you places. At the other end, find your head. It will help you make the right choices as your feet take their steps through your day. Between these two extremes lies the rest of your physical body, that which you call You, that which others recognize. But you are so much more than this body. You are another being completely, for inside each of you exists the being that you have been for eternity, always was and always will be. This is the you that thinks, feels, and seeks to have meaningful experiences in life, your soul mate, who wishes only for you to be happy, productive, and aware. Get to know this eternal you. For this is the you that will guide, nurture, and teach you the ways of life on earth and the ways of the greater universe, all that is inside you and all that is outside you. Be still and listen so you can hear what is being said. Establish this greater self as your very best companion in your everyday experiences. Start today.