Being human

We are spiritual beings in a human body. I constantly wish to be more spiritual and often chastise myself for being too "human". I would prefer to let Spirit guide me more, but my ego so often gets the better of me. But yesterday during my walk in the woods I truly marvelled at being in a human body.  The spirit guides and the angels are wonderful beings and I am grateful for their presence in my life, but I almost (well, not really, but almost almost) felt pity on them as I was experiencing the wonder of my (human) senses.

Because I am human, I can SEE. Not merely look at nature but truly see the beauty....little insects, bigger birds....the beauty of the trees, the nuances of colours and shades on rocks and stones, different species of plants and how they grow in unison. And further afield, the intricacies in a painting, the love in a mother's eyes holding her baby, the concentration on the face of children totally engrossed in an activity. Even see the opportunities to bestow compassion and help to others.

Because I am human, I can LISTEN. To birds conversing, branches swaying to the music of the breeze. Even to the stillness, that place within me where all is quiet. Then, when I get back home and hear the neighbours' loud voices, I can choose, before getting irritated and uptight about it, to be grateful for the gift of hearing as it enables me to listen to the world and to my fellow humans. To once more realize we are social beings and be grateful for the connection to and reassurance of people around me.

Because I am human, I can SMELL. What a wonderful gift breathing is! I can welcome the prana deep into my lungs and invite the smells and energies of this world to play and intertwine inside me. What wonderful memories certain fragrances invoke - freshly cut grass, delicious home-made soup, the countryside after being washed by rain - or before, the perfume of a loved one. But I can also smell urbanisation, development and people round me. Whilst all may not be pleasant smells, it reminds me of longing and belonging.

Because I am human, I can TASTE. Yes, whilst walking I can "taste" the bush, but how awesome to taste a sip of water, to taste food, taste a piece of cheesecake, taste a lover. I can experience a smorgasbord of gustatory delights, and it doesn't need to involve food.

But mostly, because I am human, I can FEEL. Physically feel the stroke of leaves and branches on my skin as I walk past, feel the soft soil under my feet, feel the cold water of the stream on my face and arms. And of course, experience the feeling of fresh linen against my skin (very grateful for that!), feel the heat and the cold of the weather through all different seasons, and really feel the body and emotion of someone when I hug them real tight and they hug me back! Which all leads me to this amazing feeling inside, that feelings which I can’t describe or wouldn't even want to as in a sense (pardon the pun!) it would diminish it.

A teacher of mine often said: "Let me lead you to that place of magnificence". Yesterday morning I have been there and it was because I am human; in a human body, but I was allowing my spirit to embrace that human-ness. My senses brought me the gift of emotions and led me to that place of magnificence.

Love and light,

Celeste x

Masks

Do you sometimes wear a mask? Do you sometimes "lie" to the world or put up a front to hide your true feelings?

I guess we all do sometimes. And it might be okay, really. Wearing a mask CAN be okay, provided we know when we're "wearing" one (how often can we fool ourselves into believing what we want to portray, even if it is a lie!). And if it is temporary; that we will acknowledge (and deal with!) our true emotions at some stage. Whenever I'm teaching but do not "feel" like it (we probably all feel like that sometimes if we're honest I guess), I have to put up a front lest I "infect" the learners negatively. It could be for whatever reason - I could have had a fall-out with my partner that morning, my dog could have died, or I could be really just having a bad hair day! But if I allow any negativity to be portrayed, chances are I will have less than optimal results teaching others. Oh, there might be empathy from others; I can share what I'm feeling or what has happened, but showing empathy towards me is not the responsibility of others, and certainly is not to be used by me as any kind of "excuse".

So...I might be “wearing" a mask temporarily. And yes, I can continue to be grateful and allow positive thoughts to replace any negative emotions, but come on, we're emotional beings and we will experience less than joyful feelings at times. When I say "negative" emotions, I'm referring to those emotions that we probably do not want to feel - anger, hurt, sadness, etc. No matter how positive we are, these emotions are par for the course. So I like to refer to being REAL, instead of being positive. And if I'm REAL, there are times when I might not feel okay, and when it will be okay to put my mask on.

Oh of course once I have this mask on, I might (and probably will) automatically be feeling better after a while. - albeit behind or because of a mask. Chances are I will naturally experience a mood shift due to the physiological effect.  But in this case that is not the purpose of my mask. Its purpose is so that, even if I may not be able to spread pure joy that day (because I am human!), at least it may prevent me from spreading negative emotions!

So, I might even consider making myself a brightly coloured, crazy paper mask. To remind myself that it IS in fact a mask when I need to "wear” it, and that I need to take it off at some point, so to speak. And for a laugh!

Love and light,

Celeste x