By Lori Lines Depression, anxiety, heart disease, muscle pain, are all scientifically proven symptoms of lack of forgiveness. A lack of forgiveness significantly hinders spiritual growth and the ability to enjoy life. Unforgiving people walk around numb and emotionally disconnected, with a pervasive sense of self-loathing making it impossible to be alone and they possess a profound distrust of others, making it just as challenging to be with others. There are a few more telltale signs that someone is struggling with a lack of forgiveness. First, they are often so hyper-focused on the transgression that they cannot be fully present. This tendency to live in the past leads to a lack of direction or purpose, contributing to mental, emotional, and spiritual inertia. The lack of progression often perpetuates a cycle of depression and anxiety that hinders the building of meaningful, enriching relationships. When these people find themselves in new relationships or circumstances, their view is often obscured by fear, bitterness, and distrust. This is because they have so profoundly assumed a state of victimhood that they are in a constant state of disempowerment. Constantly reliving the hurt mentally or unknowingly attracting a series of similar circumstances. What forgiveness Isn’t Before we address what forgiveness is, we must first discuss what it is not. It is best to forgive because it is healthier and more loving than harboring resentment, which misaligns us with the Divine. Forgiveness shouldn’t be done to foster reconciliation or manipulate someone into changing. Because although forgiveness can lead to reconciliation, it isn’t guaranteed. In fact, it is possible to forgive someone without ever speaking to them about it! And even if forgiveness can be the chance needed to change one’s behaviors and find redemption, some may take advantage of kindness becoming more emboldened to offend, believing they will inevitably be forgiven. Most importantly, despite forgiveness being essential to spiritual growth, it does little to serve self-actualization if it is not preceded with a healthy dose of accountability. Forgiveness does not excuse or erase the harm done. It simply means you are choosing to find peace with it. The Choice of Forgiveness Forgiveness doesn’t just happen. It is a powerful intention that liberates you from the dominion of the person or circumstance that pained you. Deciding to forgive means although the heartache may yet persist, your ties to the events that precipitated it will not. Forgiveness, no matter the circumstance, is an act of self-love and self-care. When it comes to forgiving others, you don’t do it because they deserve it. You do it because you do! You deserve to live a life free of resentment, vengeful thoughts, victimhood, and bitterness. Ultimately, choosing forgiveness means choosing wholeness, happiness, and healing. Healing Benefits of Forgiveness Physically, forgiving can lower blood pressure, strengthen the immune system, and improve heart health. It has also been found to contribute to mental health by increasing self-esteem, lessening symptoms of depression, and decreasing stress and anxiety. Spiritually, it cuts the karmic cords that hold one back from pursuing our greatest good and honoring our higher purpose. In a state of unforgiveness, one cannot align with our most authentic self and elevated consciousness. Resentment forms an anchor that keeps us tethered to base motivations, perceptions, and existence, holding us back from the heights of ascension. If you are struggling with forgiveness, it is time to break the chains to achieve true awakening! How to Forgive The first step to forgiveness is acknowledging the healing nature of forgiveness and recognizing that letting go sets you free. From that realization, you can seek acceptance. Understand, what is done is done, and no fretting over it can change past events. Accept that the only time to heal is now, not rewriting the past or getting redemption in the future. From a perspective of acceptance, you will have the perfect vantage point to see what wisdom can be gained from your pain. In life, there are no real mistakes or failures. When you come from a place not of ego but spirit, you can find illumination along your spiritual path even in your darkest moments. Empathy is a very effective way to find forgiveness. Ask yourself why that person acted in such a way, take yourself back to times when you received or needed forgiveness, or put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself, given their life experience, what you would do in their situation. Once again, it isn’t about making excuses. These reflections are meant to help you see someone’s humanity, the imperfect humanity we all share. Meditation and mindfulness are great ways to heal unforgiveness. One powerfully transformative yet simple meditation, derived from the Hawaiian practice Ho’oponopono, involves envisioning yourself or the person who hurt you, repeating and embodying the emotions of these words, “I am sorry, please forgive me, I thank you, I love you.” Through these affirmations, you can reconnect with your higher self and realign with the unconditional love of the universe. Unconditional love means infinite love. It is based not on merit but also on the understanding that as a spiritual being, you are not just loving, you are love itself! This spirit of undying, unending love unearths inherent wisdom regarding what serves your highest good and the highest good of others. You will soon discover the act of forgiveness does precisely that. In love and truth, Lori Lines
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By Lori Lines If only we treated our spiritual, emotional, and mental bodies as well as our physical bodies. When most people sprain an ankle or pull a muscle, they immediately tend to it. Why do we do that? Because we know if we don’t, the injury can seriously impact our ability to function. Emotional, mental, and spiritual wounds are much the same. When we don’t tend to these wounds, they can become aggravated – like an old injury, at seemingly random moments in our lives.... A simple disagreement with a co-worker, a perceived rejection from a partner or friend, emotions like sadness or fear elicited by a movie or a social media post. How do these triggers come to be? During dangerous, painful, ego or life-threatening experiences, the body and mind go into survival mode, shutting down certain physiological and mental states like digestion and memory while heightening others like the circulatory system and sensory awareness. Keep in mind, this doesn’t have to be as extreme as a fatal car wreck. This can be as seemingly commonplace such as a breakup or parental reprimand. When we neglect to address these traumas and painful experiences, the mind and body remain in a state of readiness, as though we are at perpetual risk of being wounded again. Due to this heightened state of awareness, experiences that are in any way similar – even to a small degree, can trigger the same feelings of fear, hurt, anger, guilt and shame that the initial event caused. Identifying Triggers & Their Root Causes The initial step of healing the wounds is to identify the triggers. Of course, each persons’ life experience is different, so everyone’s triggers are not the same. Although, there tend to be two pervasive categories of triggers, internal and external. Internal triggers involve flashbacks, memories, intense emotions, and even physical cues like muscular tension, fatigue, or heightened physicality brought on by exercise, for instance. External triggers involve environmental cues such as the people involved in the actual event or people reminiscent of them and related sights, sounds, scents, or circumstances. An essential aspect of healing is to define your specific triggers and the associated behaviors. Don’t judge; just observe. Ask yourself, what happens when you feel triggered? What are your reactions? When you can articulate what the problem is, try and discern when these behaviors started. If you have someone you trust, you can ask them when they noticed you started displaying these behaviors. Be ready to dig a bit deeper to uncover the root causes of your triggers. What are the specific circumstances that lead to these unhealthy responses? Who is usually around? What environment do they occur in? What negative beliefs do they elicit? Are there any associated flashbacks? How QHHT Can Help Sometimes with mindfulness, time, and determination, we can get a clearer picture of the root causes of our triggers. However, when the wounds are repressed, painful, or beyond our understanding, we can reach an impasse in our healing. This is when a Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique practitioner can help. Whether your wounds originated this lifetime or a previous life, QHHT allows you to explore all that has ever been imprinted on your subconscious, your essence that endures eternally. All memories and experiences that would be too difficult to recall in your conscious state can be safely explored during a session with the permission of your Higher Self. QHHT is a profoundly transformative practice, achieving healing at the deepest depths of your root trauma. Facilitated by your Higher Self and a skilled practitioner, you can gain greater awareness regarding past trauma and the physical, mental, and emotional ways it currently manifests in your life. You can also gain invaluable understanding of the wisdom extending from your suffering, whether pre-destined and chosen by your Higher Self or an unfortunate result of free will. Choosing Healing Instead of Blame One caveat of Quantum Healing is that we can only receive healing if there is an authentic desire to be healed. To foster this sincere intention, we must first take responsibility for our behavior and our growth. We must consciously accept that while the person or circumstances that wounded us may be unjust, we are solely accountable for achieving our higher purpose and the outcome of our life path. Personal power is the exercise of free will. You can reclaim your power by choosing healing, love, and forgiveness. In love and truth, Lori Lines By Lori Lines Think of the last time you selflessly gave of your time or resources. It could be helping a co-worker finish an overdue project, gifting a neighbor or friend, or taking time to plan an extra special evening for your partner. It felt good, didn’t it? When you do things for others, it boosts your self-esteem. You feel accomplished and perhaps skilled, and you reinforce your belief that you are ultimately a “good” person. Kind acts boost self-esteem, which fluctuates, at times becoming very low and others soaring very high. Self-esteem is based on personal evaluations and, for some, comparisons to others. Like the ego-self, self-esteem is often fueled by how you feel you measure up to others. So, when we give to others, we feel good, in part because we feel someone else in our shoes may not do the same. Constantly needing to reaffirm their virtue as a “good” person, some people give to a fault, neglecting their own needs and desires. People who do this often have poor boundaries and act from a place of trauma or heartache. Whether they were abandoned, betrayed, abused, or otherwise led to believe they were a “bad” person, they give to ease the ache of the wounds within them. Yet, due to the impermanent nature of self-esteem, they must give incessantly to try to keep a pervasive and painful lack of self-worth repressed. That is an important distinction to make; self-esteem is not self-worth! Self-esteem is based on doing and feeling. Self-worth is based on being. It is unwavering and untouched by your latest loss or most recent gain. This more profound personal estimation is based on your intrinsic worth as a part of the delicately interwoven universal network and the collective unconscious. When you have self-worth, you innately know you are enough based solely on the unique role only you can play in unfolding the divine plan. Keeping this divine plan in mind is essential to understand how people who incessantly take compromise their own self-worth. It feels great when people make time for you, going out of their way or taking from their resources to make your day easier or your life better. It tells you that you are a “good” person, and because you must somehow merit this behavior, you are a virtuous person. But, just like the flip side of the coin, due to the unstable nature of self-esteem, you’ll need to keep taking to maintain the sense of worthiness you gain. This ultimately damages your self-worth by negating your unique contribution to the divinely orchestrated plan. Each of us must follow our own path, gaining wisdom, building gifts, and becoming realigned with our authentic selves. When you give or take beyond measure or boundary, it damages self-worth by diverting you from your true purpose of learning, growing, and self-actualizing. The road to enlightenment necessitates dignity built on self-reliance and self-respect. This dignity will remind you of the irrefutable truth that you are inherently deserving of the hope, happiness, and unconditional love the ascension will bring and serve as a guiding light along your spiritual journey. In love and truth, Lori Lines By Lori Lines
Anger is often perceived as erratic and unpredictable when in fact, anger is a process. It can be both adaptive and maladaptive, but either way, there is a formula. It all begins with an event that trigger’s the anger, something that could be inconvenient, frustrating, hurtful, disappointing…the list goes on. We’ve all been there before. Next, there is the mental response, how the occurrence is perceived. For some, it is pretty simple, “they keep cutting me off when I am speaking, and I feel disrespected." For others, negative and at times irrational thoughts are elicited, “they cut me off because they think I am stupid,” “They don’t love me enough to hear me out.” The emotional response follows. Once again, there are two primary courses anger can take. The more objective response, “that hurt me,” “I’m annoyed,” or an emotional reaction activated by the negative thoughts. These emotions tend to be intense and out of proportion, like shame, guilt, fear, rage, panic, and depression. These intense emotions often influence both the spiritual and physical body. Leading to bodily tension and spiritual disconnection from divine purpose and universal harmony. This disconnection from the higher self and stabilizing force of the physical plane detract from the path of self-actualization and ascension. This type of fury leads to what is known as open aggression, expressing itself as screaming, accusations, blaming, harsh criticisms, and emotional manipulation. In the worst-case scenarios, it can lead to property damage or violence against the self or others. It puts those in the immediate environment at risk and can threaten the infuriated individual’s health, mental stability, career, and relationships depending on the context and extremity of the rage. Open aggression is typically what we think of when we say someone has “anger issues,” but there are those whose anger issues are rooted in not being able to express anger at all. This type of maladaptive coping falls under the umbrella term passive aggression. Passive anger can look like sulking, subtle digs at others, and shutting down. What many don’t realize is it can also look like grief and depression. Frequently, people have been punished for displaying anger, struggle with abandonment, or suffer from emotional disconnection fall into such patterns. Whether outwardly volatile or passively despairing, anger is often rooted in trauma. Going back to the negative and irrational thoughts that a triggering event can evoke, these thoughts are elicited from the inner child and wounded self. When emotional responses lead to maladaptive anger, either grief or rage, we are not reacting to the event itself. We are responding to the traumatized parts of ourselves that are triggered by the event. Disproportionate sadness masks anger, and that anger disguises trauma. As such, anger and grief persist as long as there is trauma to repress. To heal excessive ire, we must uncover, acknowledge, heal, and release the trauma that necessitates it or risk being trapped in a toxic cycle of grief and rage. But how? When we encounter an anger-triggering event, we must explore the thoughts that arise between the event and the emotional response. What is the source of the anger, what automatic thoughts are aroused, who comes to mind, what circumstances does your memory recall? The answers to these questions will help you uncover any wounds the event is dredging up and the associated trauma that needs to be released. This can easily be done through a QHHT session, when one is ready to squarely face the underlying, core trauma rather than repressing it. Does this mean you’ll never get angry again? Hopefully not! Healthy displays of anger are adaptive, empowering, relationship strengthening, and beneficial. Healthy anger is balanced, proportional to the event, and expressive. There is no screaming. Everyone involved feels heard and listens, allowing all sides to be acknowledged, no “my way or the highway” energy. All parties can be impassioned while remaining patient and, above all, non-aggressive in word and gesture. Healthy anger, in short, means you may express your irritation, frustration, hurt, or disappointment with someone or a situation without losing control or sight of the real issue at hand. Interestingly, healthy anger can often play a pivotal role in healing and releasing trauma. They say, for every minute you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness. Unhealthy anger blocks the blessings joy, presence, and love can create. On the path to self-actualization, anger is a towering gnarled tree in the middle of the road. You must remove it by the roots to ensure it never again casts a shadow on your light. In love and truth, Lori Lines By Lori Lines Think of destiny as a sightseeing tour around a city. Every major event like the birth of a child, death of a loved one, meeting with a soulmate, dark night of the soul are major attractions that can’t be missed. Imagine for a moment, there was a specific order in which you had to view the attractions, yet no definitive course you must walk. In its most foundational terms, this is what destiny is. Your free-will is the path you choose as you progress throughout all the milestones. As you may realize, the route you choose dramatically impacts your experience of the city! Your free-will is influenced by what you are thinking, feeling, and your level of spiritual maturity. This is why “wrong” turns rarely merit regret because we exercise our free-will based on who we are, what we know at any given moment, and what we anticipate as the outcome. As they say, when you know better, you do better. Unless what you know is based on falsehoods, and you are misled regarding what outcome to expect. In this way, people who lie violate free-will. When people say they will do something they know they won’t, feel something they know they don’t, or otherwise try and convince you of something they know to be untrue, liars rob you of your ability to make the best choice in the given situation by not presenting the present actualities. The pervasively harmful nature of lying is often overlooked. Of course, lying hurts the one being lied to, corrupting free-will, causing heartache, damaging trust… What is often underestimated is how destructive dishonesty is to the liar. Everyone knows lying is wrong, and yet almost everyone is guilty of it at some point in their life. Why do we do it? People lie to protect their ego, the false self who is vitalized by judgments. These judgments may be positive or negative, imposed on others or ourselves. The artificial self either elevates itself by devaluing others or devalues itself by elevating others. The trouble with ego is it chatters so loudly to mask its insecurity and fear that it drowns out the voice of spirit. Unchecked, the ego promotes habitual lying, and slowly but surely, the liar begins to believe the lie. Whether you are lied to or are lying, when you believe lies, you become disconnected from your inner truth. When you fail to use your gifts of discernment and intuition to examine the information you receive from the media, social platforms, those around you, or your ego, your inner truth becomes clouded in misinformation, and its vitality is smothered. Those who meet this fate temporarily appease the ego but ultimately lose connection to the authentic self. No longer capable of discriminating that which is aligned with their path to ascension from that which is misaligned, they lose faith and trust and become susceptible to depression, anxiety, and chronic inertia. How do you protect yourself against falling into a tangled web of lies? You must remain grounded in your truth. Foster a connection to your higher self through meditation, mindfulness, or other means of profound reflection. To build a trusting relationship with yourself, regularly “fact-check” your own intuition, world views, and schemas remaining willing to let go of all that no longer resonates or serves your highest good. This trust will empower you to cut off the sources of false information, which is integral. It’s important to highlight that a lie isn’t limited to making a false assertion in an attempt to deceive. There are passive lies created through omissions, such as purposefully leaving out information that doesn’t suit the end to someone’s means. Half-truths are similar, only giving the facts that serve the liar or the lying bodies’ interests. Then there is the tendency of disinformation that seems to be most prevalent and damaging today. In an attempt to sway public opinion, hide the truth, or gain power, disinformation is purposefully spread. While power is temporal and artificial, disinformation is deleterious because its low-vibrational energy pollutes the pool of the collective unconscious. The best way to counteract this pollution? Maintain the purity of your inner wellspring! The more diligent each of us is, our collective cup will run over with the waters of truth, purifying the pathway to our collective ascension. In Love and Truth, Lori Lines By Lori Lines Navigating your way through the daily rigors of life, it is easy to become bound to the ticking hands on the clock and the finite existence they represent. Unfortunately, the demands of modern life make taking a pause for reflection seem like a luxury many can’t seem to afford. What if you took this moment as a gift? A moment to release the shackles of chronological time and reflect on your timeless nature. You are more than your name, job, and to-do list…You are your consciousness, which is infinite. With no name other than the great “I am,” it can be challenging to conceive of, let alone define consciousness. So, let’s begin with what it isn’t. Your consciousness isn’t your anxious, fearful, angry, doubtful, or ever-chattering thoughts. It does not live in the past, or project into the future. The only time you can fully embody your consciousness is the present. Consciousness is now and exists on an infinite spectrum of “nows”. Consciousness is authentic intelligence, and yet it is not the mind, an important distinction to make. You have been conditioned your whole life to believe the mind is the seat of intelligence. However, the mind is like a computer or smartphone’s artificial intelligence. The mind’s intelligence is based on schemas and conditioning, its own type of artificial intelligence. The mind can only know what it has been taught, whereas consciousness has innate wisdom and understanding. Like a binary operating system that recognizes only 1’s and 0’s, the mind only recognizes what it can experience through the five senses. If the mind cannot see, touch, hear, taste, or smell something, it does not recognize it. The mind has been conditioned to dismiss non-experiential input, only deeming tangible experiences as factual, real, or meaningful. Of course, your mind serves a purpose, helping you navigate through life, preparing food, driving a car, reading this text. Yet, like your car, it is a tool. Just because it helps you get from one task or location to another doesn’t mean it is you. People who become overly aligned with the mind are unknowingly led by the ego. The ego, whose existence serves to protect only itself, is sustained by the chattering thoughts of the mind. When we align who we are with what we think, the ego is maintained. The comparison-loving, attention-seeking ego is misaligned with the stillness of consciousness. The ego feels a kinship with the busyness of the mind. The ceaseless prattle of the over-empowered mind swells the ego with importance. In a society where people wear busyness, no matter how superficial, like a badge, the more overthinking the mind does, the more secure the ego feels. Ego-death is instrumental in the process of spiritual growth because while the ego portrays itself as who you are, it is an impediment to connecting with your true self. Your mind’s idle chatter distracts you from confronting your pain body and shadow self, unearthing wounds and truths that allow you to ascend towards enlightenment, undermining your ego’s very existence! Consciousness, on the other hand, is secure. It lies within you and is you. Pervading every aspect of who you are, yet so much more, consciousness is self-sustained. From this life to the next, your consciousness is the only enduring part of who you are. With nothing to prove and beyond any comparison, consciousness doesn’t yearn for attention and acknowledgment like the insecure ego. Therefore, unlike ego that constantly seeks your attention, you must seek consciousness out, searching for it in a world whose chaos can drown it out and obscure it with a vast accumulation of "knowledge." Where is consciousness found? You can find it in the present moment, shining brightly through breaks in the mind’s noisiness. The more glimpses you get of consciousness, the more you will intuitively seek its peace, wisdom, and power. The source of infinite intelligence and irrefutable truth, all members of humanity must awaken to consciousness or be left behind, imprisoned by the walls of the mind that the ego so steadfastly guards. While many may feel lost and afraid when first encountering the stillness of consciousness, it is only the fleeting cries of the ego, fearful of its own demise! The ego will try to mislead you into believing that, because you are your mind, its silence belies your existence. That the end of the unceasing stream of thought is indicative of the death of your personhood. When in fact, it is the gentle stirring of your authentic self. The illuminating dawn of consciousness heralding a brand-new day and existence! In love and truth, Lori Lines By Lori Lines Growing up, our parents or primary guardians seemed larger than life. They could tackle any task, answer any question, and do no wrong. In a child’s eyes, the adults that nurse them when they are sick, help them navigate the world, and shower them with love, are perfect. As we grow out of the ages of innocence, we may start to perceive of the humanity of our guardians. Imperfect, questioning, wounded, and in need of healing. It is difficult for some when they realize that their parents are human and fall short of their ideal of what a parent should be. It is often not until we are older or parents ourselves that we can fully embrace the fallibility of our parents with grace and compassion. Though for some, this understanding is hard to find, and no matter how pure and well-meaning their parents’ intentions are, their children feel resentment, heartache, or spitefulness towards the people they once so idolized. This manner of viewing elders and caregivers from childhood is often encouraged. Viewed as respectful and considered a sound way to model qualities that children should aspire to, putting our parents on a pedestal is a dynamic that we are conditioned to accept. As we grow, we may adopt the same way of viewing all adults, superiors, and advisors. In school, we may idolize our teachers and coaches. We emulate and aspire to be like our more successful counterparts, managers, and bosses in the professional world. When we seek guidance and healing from counselors, therapists, and lightworkers, we also raise them up on a pedestal of reverence and admiration. In fact, the more spiritual an individual’s purpose or vocation, the more we tend to revert to the conditioned response of idolization. Just as we did with our parents in our youth, we encumber our spiritual teachers, healers, and mentors with high expectations based on our own idealized versions of who we think they should be. This idealized version is often a projection of who we think we should be or who we believe these lightworkers are supposed to help us become. Some believe there are benefits to viewing lightworkers and spiritual healers in this way. Often, by painting the mentor with the brush of projection, it enables us to better visualize who we wish to become. The idealized guide can serve as an inspiration, motivating transformation, because “if they can do it, so can I.” Yet, like our parents, lightworkers are fallibly human. They are their own works in progress, seeking healing from wounds and trauma and illumination along their path of enlightenment. Unfortunately, this humanity is often overlooked. Then again, who can see it when they are so high aloft the pedestals they have been placed on. Sadly, when they fall short of our projections of perfection, they are villainized. This villainization is rooted in the same resentment, heartache, and disappointment of our youth when confronted by our parents’ imperfection. Instead of being a reflection of our hopes and dreams, the lightworker becomes a projection of our unhealed wounds. As unfortunate as the whole dynamic sounds, it can serve as an opportunity for healing. When these wounds rise to the surface to be slung resentfully at our parents, healers, guides, mentors, and leaders, we can instead use them to reawaken to our divine purpose of release, renewal, and enlightenment. When these people “let us down,” it is often because they “fail” to possess qualities that we wanted to see in others or manifest within ourselves. It is essential to ask ourselves how we can be the embodiment of who we long for others to be, how can our journey of self-actualization help us grow into the people we have always needed. We are on the precipice of transformational times and ascending the matrix. It is more critical than ever that we must be who we need for ourselves. While it can be encouraging to grow with others and motivating to be inspired by others, we must learn to follow our own path, trust our own intuition, and manifest our own growth. It is time to embrace your own sovereignty! Shake free from the doubt and the fear of not having all the answers. The time is now to turn the same faithful trust you held in your parents, or the lightworkers you’ve encountered, inward. Trust yourself and the journey even if you don’t have all the answers because no one does. After all, the whole reason for your journey is to discover them! In love and truth, Lori Lines For a list of services, fees, and to schedule an appointment, click on the button below: By Lori Lines Let’s begin with an exercise. Say to yourself, I am, and then your first and last name. “I am Mary Smith,” for example. What comes to mind when you reflect on who that is? Are you reminded of your accomplishments, your obligations, material possessions, public persona? Now, say to yourself, I am and your first name. “I am Mary,” for example. What comes to mind when you reflect on who that is? Are you reminded of your hobbies, likes, and dislikes, how your friends and family perceive you? Now, say to yourself, I am, with no qualifier. What comes to mind when you reflect on who that is, absent of the assumptions of others, temporal circumstances, past experiences, and future responsibilities. A challenging concept to grasp for those who have never attempted to do so before. Those who return to this practice routinely through mindfulness or meditation find it profoundly liberating, empowering, and calming. Constructs like, I’m Mary, and I’m a realtor, married, afraid, affiliated “x” political party, or believe in “x” religion are limiting and burdensome. They suppress our inner divinity and true spiritual nature, distracting us from our higher purpose and path to awakening. Constructs hinder our ability to escape the matrix and socially determined concepts of reality that leave us blind to more high vibrational mindsets and perspectives. When we define our personhood by the organizations, religions, politics, or groups who claim to share our worldviews, we limit ourselves to the standards or qualities we believe these factions represent. There are times when we must proclaim allegiance, take vows, agree to contracts, or otherwise commit to these sects, placing further restrictions on our possibilities and opportunities for growth. Every affiliation becomes a negotiation between what parts of ourselves and our divine path we must forfeit to belong and uphold the values and world schemas of others. Interpersonal relationships are no different. When we fail to focus on the “I am” removed from extraneous constructs, we further limit ourselves and our ability to manifest our own reality built upon our values, principles, and higher calling. When we are dutiful to whatever our relational status or our relational selves say about who we are, we fall short of who the divinity of the universe believes we can aspire to be and eventually become. At its core, it is an issue of the temporal versus eternal nature of who we are. All of the utterances of who we are, our identity with friends, colleagues, spouses, families, and ourselves are primarily based on temporal likes, dislikes, experiences, and future projections. This construct-based “I am” is limited to this lifetime, this year, this moment. The great “I am,” absent of constructs, contracts, and allegiances, is eternal. It connects us to the soul we have always been and will ever be. It is our infinite existence from one life to the next and one dimension to the next. This is why when we meditate on the singular “I am,” we are free, empowered, and peaceful. When we embody this limitless spirit, we can relinquish our labels, constructs, and temporal identities without fear. A fear rooted in the belief that these limiting qualifiers make us who we are, give life meaning, and define our purpose. Those who cling to this belief think that these constructs are the glue that binds together the individual parts of our identity. What actually unifies our collective pieces into the amalgamation of who we are is our endless stream of consciousness. This stream of consciousness is the essential “I am.” It is a river fed from the current of the universal unconscious that connects us all to the bottomless ocean of the divine. In full awareness and acknowledgment of their eternal nature, we can move forward freely to heal, learn, grow, and thrive as both a vessel and conduit of love and abundance. In Love and Truth, Lori Lines By Lori Lines Four principle bodies define our personhood. The wholeness of your existence can be parsed into our physical body, mental body, emotional body, and spiritual body. The classifications are self-explanatory. The physical body governs sensory experiences, bodily needs, and desires. The mental body encompasses the cognitive processes and frameworks through which you experience your existence, such as value systems, world views, and beliefs. Comprising your emotional experiences and states is the emotional body. Finally, your higher self, inner divinity, and authentic ascended essence is the spiritual body. When we are balanced and aligned, our spiritual, mental, and emotional essence inform and are informed by each other. Our physical body is the embodiment and expression of mind, heart, and soul - an elaborate orchestration of chi. While the physical body is essential as our means of self-expression and transportation during this lifetime, of the four, it is the lowest common denominator. Imbalances can lead to systemic disruption. For some, physical needs and self-serving desires take precedence. In this case, when the mind, heart, or spirit needs healing, the drives of the temporal body block progression and growth. An illustration of this is when two people feel a strong corporeal attraction that feels so novel and strong it can be falsely attributed with karma. Granted, there are many pre-destined connections with labels such as "soul mates," "twin flames," and "karmic connections" scripted in the book of life. However, we can only discern them when spirit informs the body. When body informs spirit, we can be misled to hang on to destructive circumstances, energies, and behaviors, obstructing the intended flow of energy throughout the four bodies. This limits our mental, emotional, and spiritual growth and expansion, keeping us stuck, unable to move into the direction of our highest good. This is when it's necessary to take a moment, at this point, to reconnect to our soul purpose. We have come to this lifetime to self-actualize, achieve enlightenment, and ascend. Every experience and every relationship that has been placed on our path is meant to facilitate this practice. It may not always be clear how to navigate the situation or why a particular person or circumstance was placed on our path, yet we are still accountable for trusting the process and learning. If you are resistant or allow yourself to be distracted by physical desires, you can manifest negative karmic ramifications by blocking your soul's progression. The highly marketed and pervasive notion about the Twin Flame connection, for example, is so profound and meaningful that we must pursue it at all costs, never faltering along the journey, is an example of blocking our spiritual progression. This notion can contribute to the tendency to use fate as an excuse to resist spiritual advancement, fail to fight physical desires, and refuse to release destructive energies, people and situations that may be hurting us. While unique in many ways, the Twin Flame connection is like every other relationship in that it is meant to serve our path towards individual alignment with the higher self. When a relationship, Twin Flame, soulmate, or otherwise, fails or ceases to support our journey, we are responsible for either healing or releasing it. Divine wisdom dictates that even in our "failures" or "missteps," we can still find growth and empowerment. Revisiting the example of the Twin Flame connection, when things don't work out, instead of seeking "healing" through dogged fidelity and destructive tenacity WITH that person, we are meant to learn independence, release, and self-preservation leading to freedom and liberation. We are not intended to live co-dependently. We are designed to honor our own personhood so that we are filled with light and radiate this light out to others within our sphere. Even when we are not in relationships, independence and liberty to pursue enlightenment on our own terms are vital. While our spiritual partners can support and inspire our progression towards completion, they are not meant to complete us. As discussed in a recent article, it is crucial to show up whole to all relationships, sans our baggage, to avoid lowering our individual and mutual vibration. There are many ways people can be unavailable; emotionally, spiritually, mentally, or due to previous or current attachments. Fundamentally, whenever we stubbornly pursue a relationship that serves neither our own nor our partner's soul growth any longer than is necessary, one or more of the four bodies will be misaligned or unavailable. For a connection to fulfill your needs, both parties must be present in all four bodies. This is the only way to elevate the associated vibrations and support the delicate balance of chi that breathes life into your holistic self that sustains the four bodies it is founded upon. Keep in mind, letting go of someone we love who is emotionally unavailable may erroneously feel like a lack of fidelity or commitment, yet it is a revealing sign of dedication and loyalty to your life purpose and soul mission. Always stay true to yourself without exploiting another. In love and truth, Lori Lines To schedule an appointment click here: By Lori Lines "No, is a complete sentence," but we may write the rest of that sentence differently. Some people hear "no" as personal rejection, others as a challenge, and thankfully some view it for what it is, a boundary. Setting boundaries is a necessary part of spiritual wellness. When we set boundaries within our interpersonal dynamics, we are not only showing others how to treat us and respect us; we are reaffirming our own sense of self and self-worth. The first step of setting healthy boundaries is letting go of the guilt! Asserting your needs isn't selfish or mean-spirited. People who would have you believe it is are typically those who benefit the most from your lack of boundaries. Everyone is responsible for our own spiritual growth and self-actualization. It is Divine ordinance. When we put the wants of another before our own needs, we compromise our higher purpose. Just as we are advised when we fly to put on our own oxygen mask before assisting others, we must tend to our own healing before contributing to the healing of others. While it is never too late to set boundaries, it is never too soon either! We often set limits once we're frustrated and angry about having our unexpressed boundaries trampled on. Setting a boundary is an act of love and respect for yourself and others. Boundaries set in anger often fail to be clearly expressed or manifest the highest good. When we are frustrated and resentful, we often use our boundaries defensively, building walls instead of fences. Asserting boundaries necessitates a proactive approach. One must be clear about our boundaries, articulating them confidently. Feeling mad or sad after the fact because "they should've known better" doesn't serve anyone. Making assumptions about what the other person knows about your needs is like expecting the waiter to bring you what you want to eat before you order. By clearly expressing your needs and limitations, you are honoring yourself and empowering others to respect and love you in the most gratifying manner. If your boundaries are not respected, you must take action! Just as you would not tolerate someone walking through your front door uninvited, you don't have to put up with those who infringe on you emotionally or spiritually. When this happens, assert your boundaries again, trying your best to clarify what you are asking for. Remember, it may feel as though you are speaking another language for those who have grown accustomed to poor boundaries in childhood or relationships. They may be willing to learn but struggle with the concept. Then there are those who will be unwilling and resistant to the process. These people may simply be too wounded to want to honor you. Keep in mind some people meet their ego needs by pushing boundaries, assuaging themselves with a skewed sense of power or special status. When people repeatedly violate your boundaries, they are willing to jeopardize the relationship, and there must be consequences. Even if it means removing them from your life, you are responsible for fostering a nourishing, loving environment for yourself that promotes growth. Never forget, if someone reacts negatively to the assertion of your boundaries, it is a powerful confirmation of just how necessary those boundaries are! View boundaries as a blueprint for a strong foundation from which you can build healthy relationships and a pinnacle from which you can ascend. In love and truth, Lori Lines PS. If you would like to explore boundary issues, make an appointment with me to help navigate through your relationships by learning more about how to specifically set and invoke boundaries to bring you and your loved ones in harmony. By Lori Lines Everything is energy, the emotions this article elicits, the thoughts it invokes. Your energy is an amalgamation of all the subtle energies you are made up of. Have you ever noticed that your annoying neighbor or irritating co-worker always seems to find you when you are having a bad day? That is because universal order is based in part on like attracting like. We naturally attract the energies we manifest. Polarity is another universal law. The balance of oppositional forces is represented by light and dark, yin and yang, feminine and masculine, positive and negative. Within each of us exists light and shadow. Enlightenment is realized not in the absence of our shadows but when our light illuminates all that exists within them. Spiritual growth is not a linear, quantifiable path. Viewing energy as a spectrum, some people's energy is more burdened by their darkness (lower vibrational frequency). In contrast, other people's energy is elevated by their light (higher vibrational frequency). Every interpersonal dynamic, platonic or romantic, has its own energy. It is the sum of both parties' energy. When two people who radiate more light are paired up, we admire their connection – "two peas in a pod," "meant to be," "soulmates." When two people who generate more darkness come together, we often dissent – "misery loves company," "match made in hell." Then there are relationships when opposite energies attract and a positive vibration is entwined with a negative one – "toxic," "enabling," "codependent." Think back to when you or someone you know was in such a relationship. Do you recall watching the "positive" person becoming increasingly focused on the "negative" person's wellbeing? Did their energy fade? Did their spark diminish? That's because the person filled with light was being pulled down into the other person's darkness. It's important to remember neither party is inherently good or bad based on this dynamic. We often glorify people who are self-sacrificing as heroic, compassionate, and kind. In turn, we paint people with lower vibrations as malevolent, "energy vampires," and "toxic." It is the dynamic that is toxic. What many don't realize is this type of dynamic is damaging to both people. It's as dysfunctional to pour all your light into someone else's darkness as it is to allow another's light to chase your shadows. It deters from your higher purpose by either distracting from your growth or undermining the need for growth altogether. While it may be easier to spot imbalances in others' relationships, there are some hallmarks you can look for in your own relationships. Does the relationship leave you feeling increasingly run down? Has your own growth become stagnant? Do you find yourself reverting to unhealthy, unserving mindsets or behaviors? Do you maintain this relationship out of love and affinity or concern over how the other party will fare without you? It's never too late to become aware of these unserving dynamics and regain balance! We often feel a commitment to people based on how long they've been in our lives. "I've known her since grade school," "we have been together for 10 years". The calendar is not always a good measure for a good, balanced relationship. It's about how people show up within the relationship dynamic, whether you've known them 50 years or three months, doesn't really matter. Ask yourself, if a food you have eaten since you were a child was making you sick, would you keep eating it because you had been doing so your whole life? What if you found a new food? Whenever you ate it, you felt satiated, refreshed, and nourished. Would you disregard it because you only knew of it for a brief time? That's because what matters most is how good it made you feel. Relationships are the same. The length of the relationship is not important. What is essential is how well it nourishes both parties' spiritual bodies, serving the greater good. If you find yourself in a chronically imbalanced dynamic, it's imperative to set boundaries. Focus on boundaries that make yourself a priority again, that stymie the energy vortex you have unknowingly been sucked into, and clearly delineate where your energy ends, and theirs begins. If someone refuses to honor these energetic boundaries, you may consider cutting them loose so they can no longer serve as an anchor that prevents you from taking flight on the wings of change. It isn't a complicated relational perspective. When you break it down, the principles are founded in simple math; a negative will always diminish a positive, and the sum of two positives is always greater than the parts! In love and truth, Lori Lines By Lori Lines There is a misconception that the ego-self sits upon our shoulders, urging us toward a selfish existence that is hedonistic and instantly recognizable as shallow. We don't often equate insatiable ego needs with spirituality. Though, it can be those who speak loudest about being a "spiritual person" that are deeply compelled by the voice of the ego-self. The zealous New Age pursuit of enlightenment is not always driven by an impending ascension. It can be motivated by the desire to remain current and appear superior to the "unawakened masses." When we ask how to become enlightened and fail to ask ourselves why we should seek enlightenment, we risk going down the perfunctory path of shallow awakening. Shallow awakening or false enlightenment has several hallmarks. As mentioned, among them is a braggadocios manner of proclaiming one's spirituality. People who do this often have the deep-seated belief that their spiritual nature makes them better than others, viewing themselves as virtuous and others as debased. Another quality of those who have been led astray by false enlightenment is the tendency to spiritually bypass. They wish to manifest peace and harmony that comes from spiritual awakening, side-stepping the often painful shadow work, dark nights of the soul, the heart, humility and ego death. When the real work is avoided, the words and actions that follow rarely amount to more than an elaborate pantomime of actual enlightenment. The trend arising is the unappeasable pursuit of spiritual information mass-produced by those who have found or claim to have found enlightenment. Amassing and regurgitating other people's words and experiences without personal experience or perspective. Seeking guidance from mentors you trust should always be encouraged, but the truly enlightened never intended for you to substitute your personal journey for theirs. Their intention is to inspire, not influence, to guide, not lead. Unlike their seminars and books, enlightenment cannot be bought and sold. When one follows the "just-add-water-and-stir" brand of spirituality, it is devoid of any soulful nourishment. It's like waking up with the flu, putting on your best clothes and jewels, making yourself up, and expecting to feel better. The behaviors and words of false enlightenment satisfy the ego, bolstering a sense of worthiness and pride but abandons the higher self and the process of self-actualization altogether. This is in stark contrast to actual awakening, when many are harshly judged, friends and family may walk away, and concepts like self-worth and personhood are very fragile. At the beginning of the path to enlightenment, we have to turn a blind eye to others' opinions. Towards the end, ego death means we no longer give much thought to these opinions at all, turning our intensified awareness to our higher-self. A fragile sense of self and losing the relationships that no longer serve are just parts of the price we pay for enlightenment. The process of authentic enlightenment can be likened to the education process. Making our way through primary, middle, high school, and university, we are given lessons and assignments, cumulating in proving our mastery to progress to the next level. The Divine timing of our spiritual growth is much the same, though you could say even more painstaking! We are given lessons and assignments, but there are never easy passes. We must repeat the same lessons over and over again until we get it right. Divine timing dictates when and where the tests will be administered and if we are ready for the next chapter. As hard as it can be to surrender to Divine timing and Divine order, we must accept it as the only "administrative" body accredited to appoint our degree in enlightenment. What does true enlightenment look like? It can't be chalked up to changes in speech and behavior. This can easily be faked. True enlightenment leads to significant transformation in how we interact with the world through meaningful lifestyle changes, understanding who we truly are, and perception shifts. More importantly, this transformation speaks to the profound changes our spirit is undergoing. Through all the wounds, cracks, and scars that have been uncovered through your journey, the light of awakening will begin to shine, illuminating your truths, your values, and your intentions. The way you care for your mind, body, and spirit will become a priority, not for the sake of how you are perceived or for the sake of vanity, but as a measure of how you FEEL as you align with and navigate your world - all the while taking responsibility and accepting accountability for your choices and their outcomes. You will live a life that honors not just yourself but all you meet, uncovering a deep sense of peace, regardless of where others are on their life journey. The greatest gift and perhaps the biggest dichotomy of enlightenment is the freedom that comes from the connection you will feel with all sentient beings, the Divine, and your existence. Liberation and oneness at once? Yes! When we align ourselves with pure love, compassion, empathy, and harmony, we are unencumbered by judgment, invulnerable to the judgment of others, and unburdened by the competitive ego that thrives on comparison. Enlightenment is the freedom to be exactly who you are intended when removed from the shadows and illuminated by the dawn of awakening. In love and truth, Lori Lines To Schedule an appointment, click here: By Lori Lines In the age of keeping things that only "spark joy," organizational specialists, and decluttering hacks, most of us have embraced the concept of out with the old, in with the new. Spring is a time when we tend to give the most attention to letting go and making way for the new items and projects that interest and delight us. If only as much attention was devoted to emotional, mental, spiritual, and energetic clutter! With each day that goes by, even the most "spiritually hygienic" among us take on baggage. The criticism of a co-worker, breakups and makeups, and outdated perceptions can all weigh heavily. This is without taking into account what we have stowed in the attic; trauma, parental conflict, negative concepts of self, toxic relational patterns… Without being acknowledged, accepted, and released, these emotions, thoughts, memories, world views, and maladaptive coping strategies begin to take up space. Remember, everything is energy, so these things all possess a vibration. When unresolved, these vibrations are often burdensome, cumbersome, and cloudy. They take up spiritual space! Leaving little to no room for the positive things you want to attract and manifest. When you are unable to attract and manifest what you desire, you can develop a negative view of self. What am I doing wrong? Why am I not enough? Am I being punished? Why me? Why do good things always happen for everyone else? The truth is, when you don't get what you desire, it doesn't necessarily speak to some sort of karmic punishment or a lack of merit. It is a symptom of spiritual dis-ease, a chronic state of perceived powerlessness. When we are disempowered through our life experiences, trauma, negative perceptions, and stagnant energy, our decision-making ability is damaged. We forget our divinely ordained power to choose, manifest, and attract our wants and needs and how to open ourselves to the abundance of the universe. When you are unreceptive to universal blessings, it is often because you are resistant to the truth. What is the truth? That you are part of an infinite and divine universal system that is ultimately loving, compassionate, and abundant. This system is not based on merit. It is based on unconditional love and unwavering trust. While trust in the plentiful nature of the divine is important, it is not paramount. The most essential form of trust is in yourself and your ability to manifest and draw the blessings you need. Keep in mind, what we want is not always what we need. You may want a new job but need to learn how to stand up for yourself at your current one and stay for that long-awaited promotion. You may want a romantic partner but need some time alone for shadow work before you meet "the one". Even after heartache, find strength that you will always draw those with both the wounds and wisdom you need to heal. The universe has divine wisdom. It knows not only what you need but what your heart, absent of fear and ego, truly desires. We must awaken to the awareness that as spiritual beings with a higher purpose, we are not only cared for but empowered. This empowerment is rooted in the trust that we can have what we truly want and need by doing what we truly want and need to do. You are not a vulnerable soul waiting on the divinity of the universe to land on your doorstep. You are a bold and courageous spirit who asks for what you want and aligns yourself with the energy and actions you need to receive it! Some of the things you must release in order to gain are resistant, untrusting, fearful, lacking mindsets. They slam the door squarely in the face of the blessings that await you and leads to a life of perpetual helplessness. Trust that it is already yours because you have the strength, tenacity, and wisdom to remove all blockages between you and the life of your choosing. That is the gift of free will and divine order. Are you able to let go? To invite new blessings and abundant energy into your life, you have to do the decluttering and Spring cleaning! You need to ask yourself what thoughts, behaviors, perspectives, and relationships are misaligned with your desires, hopes, and intentions. What mindset, actions, and people no longer serve your greatest good or support your spiritual growth? Lighten your load! Let them all go and make room in your life, heart, and soul for the blessings and abundance you long for. It's natural when we engage in release work to encounter blockages. By surrendering to the process, you will find greater ease and peace. Acknowledge the areas in which you struggle to let go. Surrender to the grieving process. When we release that which no longer serves us, we must also grieve what we thought it would amount to, who we thought it would help us be, and what it was supposed to accomplish. The greatest pain comes not from what these behaviors, beliefs, and relationships were. It is derived from what they never became. Find comfort that when you need to let go, it is because these things just aren't working. There is something and someone better waiting for you. These unserving energies are standing in the doorway of opportunity, growth, and victory. It may hurt to let go, but it hurts more to hold on. There is no need to force a shallow release. Through surrender, trust, and divine timing, any obstacles to your intended abundance and blessing will fall away as long as you are willing, allowing you to rise well beyond your current circumstance and reach for all that you long to realize and receive. Have faith that it is through release and letting go that you will be made whole again! In love and truth, Lori Lines By Lori Lines "Why does this always happen to me?" "How do I always attract the wrong people?" "Why me?!" Most of us have either heard or have even said something like this at some point in our romantic lives. Our tendency is to blame bad luck or the "losers" we meet when things go south in our relationships. Just because we do it doesn't make it right! To find the love, devotion, and unity we seek in healthy relationships, we must challenge ourselves to consider our role and the underpinnings of our belief systems, that drive us, in what went wrong. In other words, we need to examine what we did, or the energy we brought to the relationship to begin with, to cause the undesirable effects. Asking yourself what role you played in the distrust, betrayal, frustration, disconnection, or ultimate breakdown of your relationship is a hard question to ask when it is framed in a way that is self-deprecating and guilt-ridden. It doesn't have to be this way. By asking yourself why you have chosen a sequence of cheaters, ignored red flags, didn't speak up when a boundary was crossed, or keep being drawn to the "work-in-progress" type, you will gain self-knowledge and empowerment, breaking these toxic cycles. It can be a hard pill to swallow, yet we manifest an undesirable reality when we lack self-awareness. By allowing unserving belief systems and world views framed by trauma and heartache to go unchecked, unhealed, and unchanged, we end up with the same adverse results. Yet, when we understand the causal role we play, we are empowered to choose a different path, assume a different perspective, and choose different actions. By engaging in shadow work, release work, and accepting appropriate accountability, we can release the past, achieve a higher perspective, overcoming our self-imposed limitations and the confines of our comfort zones. The issue with comfort zones is they are made to fit where we were, not where we are going. Remaining within our comfort zones leaves us doing the same things, with the same people or archetypes, in the same ways, limiting our spiritual growth and personal development. When we enmesh ourselves in situations or connections with a lower vibration than our own, they inevitably pull down our vibration. This drains our energy and creates stagnation. When we find connections and circumstances that match our vibration, we are uplifted, the shared energy is amplified. It's important to trust that we will find the right connections and not begin desperately seeking them. Desperation is a bullet train to disempowerment. When we convince ourselves we need a partner as a source of love, well-being or affirmation outside of who we are, we give away our power. We ignore red flags, settle for less, and sacrifice pieces of our personhood because we are so distressed over the thought of being alone. We must remember, we can be whole and happy alone. In fact, we must find inner completion and contentment before we can be part of a healthy relationship. When we cling to another for personal fulfillment, the result is neither will be fulfilled. No one other than you can validate, affirm, or complete your existence, meaning you will be unfulfilled, and so will your partner when faced with a task where success is unattainable. Accountability is crucial in this instance as well. We must assume responsibility for our personal development, happiness, and sense of completion. This is foundational to self-actualization, empowerment, and well-being, yet there are also secondary benefits. When you are at one and at peace with yourself, you will be more attractive, particularly to like-minded individuals. No more low-vibrational energy drainers! Relationships where two complete individuals who love themselves and accept accountability for their lives unsurprisingly foster more growth, happiness, devotion, and fulfillment. Because these two people are not trying to make gains from a deficit, they are building up from a solid foundation on which to grow. Too many people look at love as something to acquire, retain, and exchange, like a possession. Love is actually a state of being and a way of relating to each other and the world. As they say, love is a verb. Without action, it is merely a word. It is a series of behaviors, communicating, nurturing, supporting, connecting, trusting… Of all the things we must do to love, trusting is vital. We've all been hurt. No matter the depth, the manner, or how long it's been since it occurred, these hurts can linger. Our hearts are like bruised or broken limbs. Even after the bruises have healed, we are sometimes still defensive and protective of them. We project judgment on to those who want to be in our lives, finding fault and making them wrong in order to protect ourselves. Memories of the pain linger and as they do so, we project our own wounds onto people, until we look within and completely heal ourselves and take accountability for our own sabotage. Yet to be in love, we must move beyond the fear of being hurt and be willing to stretch out of our comfort zones. While we may not be able to forget, we must be willing to trust. As we embrace our vulnerability, the ego that rejects accountability, refuses change, and finds refuge in casting blame, is silenced. Vulnerability softens your heart, allowing love to flow inward and outward, a life-giving wellspring. Of course, there are risks in opening your heart to the potentiality of hurt and pain, but the reward of learning to first trust yourself is well worth the inner work! In love and truth, Lori Lines PS. Through hypnosis, we can explore and help with relationship issues including but not limited to: Bringing love into your life Inner Child Fear of Abandonment Co-dependency to Independence Divorce Emotional Security Forgiving Infidelity Ending A Relationship Forgetting or letting go of an Ex-Love Possessiveness Jealousy Rebuilding Trust Unrequited Love Stop Controlling Stop Cheating Insecurity To book a phone, Zoom or in-person appointment click here: By Lori Lines We all know that person who fails to take responsibility for anything that goes awry in their life. They’ll lament and shovel heaps of blame on others and when that does not work, they will have a laundry list of excuses to soften the blow. Bad things can happen to good people. Not everything that goes awry is due to someone’s fault, directly. Yet, people who play the victim have an M.O. They weigh themselves down so heavily with the mantle of victimhood that they render themselves powerless through their own negative self-talk and self-sabotage. To the awakening person, it’s common to see this behavior in others, which begs the question, “how am I at cause for the effects in my own life?” “What role, big or small, have I played in my own life situations and outcomes?” Those of us who have or still play the role of the hapless victim, unable to assume responsibility for the bad and ultimately the good that takes place in our lives, often end up experiencing a life that is akin to being tossed in the waters of a tumultuous sea. Anger, depression, frustration, anxiety, compromise the matrix of the 3rd-dimensional experience and 5th-dimensional projection. While some portray themselves as victims to manipulate and control others, most people do not intentionally burden themselves with the archetype. Victims are often born of trauma and betrayal. It is then they are taught that the world is a dangerous place, with dangerous people. After repeatedly experiencing traumatizing or hurtful situations, they begin to believe that bad things are bound to happen and keep happening, the result being a fractured individual. At its core, victimhood is a sense of disempowerment that goes unaddressed and unhealed, affecting the “victim’s” personality, worldview, and way of life. The state of perpetual victimhood is associated with the theory of learned helplessness. This is when an animal or individual is forced to face painful, hurtful, or otherwise undesirable stimuli or experiences and becomes incapable of escaping or avoiding the same situations in the future due to a learned or adopted belief their circumstance is inescapable and beyond their control. Even when solutions and opportunities become available, they are unable or unwilling to adapt to the changing events, sometimes due to fear of losing a part of their identity. Pause for a moment and ask yourself what things would look like if all of society, or at least a majority, struggled with learned helplessness. We would be in a continual state of decline, allowing ourselves, our homes, our jobs, our communities, our nations to fall into a state of disrepair because no one can be bothered to strive for better. We would cease to pursue more love, unity, advancement, growth. Vaguely familiar? There is light at the end of the tunnel for those who struggle with learned helplessness and perpetual victimhood! People with a genuinely optimistic worldview are less vulnerable to falling into the rut of perpetual victimhood. Meaning, assuming the mantle of victimhood is often a choice, and instead, we must choose to look at life with hope and faith, as opposed to fear and distrust. What most awakening souls understand is that the first step is to reposition ourselves as creators of our own lives and experiences. For better or worse, we must take accountability for the cause of the effects we encounter. When we confront circumstances beyond our control, for instance, being sideswiped by an errant driver or laid off due to company cutbacks, we must still view ourselves as possessing the wisdom, strength, and tenacity to be the cure of a changing, more positive effect. As creators of our lives, we may fear picking up the brush and palette out of dread that our creation will fall short of our expectations or the expectations of others. When we are fully responsible for the life we create, we fear a mistake or stumble could make us look foolish or lesser-than. This is the ego talking. Our higher-self knows there is no shame in failure. There are lessons and wisdom, as long as we are humble, willing to admit our role, and willing to learn. When we are receptive to the inherent wisdom in defeat, we no longer need to fear responsibility. Instead of thinking about the misstep, we begin to focus on the next opportunity to show what we have learned. Where we lose a person, an opportunity, a material asset, or a perspective that upheld our beliefs that taint our worldview, we must learn to find peace with the loss. By viewing these losses with a healthier attitude of gratitude for having even had them to begin with or for an opportunity to embrace new things, we are less likely to sink into a sea of despair and view the world as unjust and malevolent. When suitable, accepting responsibility for our defeats empowers us to generate new mental, physical, and spiritual abundance. Spiritual growth and abundance are the greatest reasons to cast off the mantle of victimhood and instead pick up the painter’s brush, the sculptors chisel, or the writer’s pen. By accepting your role as the creator and source of the outcomes you experience, you can learn how to prune and shape who you are, fostering enormous growth. Accountability is the first step of self-actualization and crucial to understanding the role we play in the universal balance of cause and effect. This understanding is key to shifting the matrix and ascending to the 5th dimension. A cause and effect most are sure to stand behind. In love and truth, Lori Lines P.S. If you have recently awakened to a pattern in your life and would like help to determine your cause for its effects, I'd love to process it out with you. Acknowledging our individual roles in life situations is 90% of the healing process. Appointments are now being scheduled in April! To book your appointment with me, click on the button below: By Lori Lines Over the last several decades, the age of technology has crept into our lives. With each decade, new advancements and discoveries have facilitated, accelerated, and, in many ways, encumbered our lives. Most people cannot say precisely when or how, but the media, technology, and artificial intelligence have become essential to daily functioning for many members of society. With that, issues with depression, anxiety, apathy, and spiritual, emotional, and mental imbalances have increased, lowering our vibrational frequency. Yet, there is hope with the 3rd to 5th-dimensional ascension when we have the opportunity to lift our vibrations to resonate with the love, light, and harmony of "New Earth," or the 5D. However, the disconnection AI and the media fosters impairs our ability to achieve actual ascension. This disconnect leads many to numb the pain of the 3rd dimension, get lost in a state of learned helplessness, and resort to counterfeit forms of ascension that only temporarily elevate. The time is now to break free from the disinformation, chaos, and despair the current fear-mongering, upheaval, and shallow experiences generate. We must empower ourselves, learn to honor our personal truths, follow our intuition, and realize and align with the harmonious vibration of the Divine that dwells within us, but how? First, we must practice self-awareness. Without judging or projecting an emotional response, start asking yourself why. Why do you get up and turn the news on before you've nourished yourself? Why do you spend your free time exposing yourself to social media and the fear-provoking posts? Why do you lose yourself in your phone or tv to avoid sitting quietly with your thoughts? By becoming aware of your motivations, what DRIVES you, you can gradually begin to change your behavior. This is how you will find the willpower to turn off the news and disconnect from social media. Allowing more time for you to connect with yourself as a spiritual being through meditation, journaling, or simply enjoying being one with nature. We ARE nature unless we succumb to the noise of AI. This is how you reencounter yourself as a being of energy and light, a spiritual being on a temporary human journey. This is not to say your body is inconsequential! Your physical vessel holds cellular memories of this life and the last. Your body is a temple to manifest the present and prepare for a more loving, aligned, divine future. It is through honoring your physical body that you realign with the heartbeat of nature. There is a vitality and strength that comes from realizing that you are one with the rambling rivers, centuries-old trees, and the ever-changing seasons. By embracing this unity, you will reawaken to the divine universal interworking and the oneness and completion it represents. Ultimately, we are meant to ascend the physical, but first, we must take a journey that celebrates our temporal vessels' preciousness and sanctity. For it is within that you will learn the divine resonance of empowerment, strength, self-assuredness, self-trust, and peace. This is the meaning of true freedom, when you are liberated enough to think for yourself, act in accordance with your personal beliefs and highest values and pursue the path of ascension. As they say, freedom is not just doing what we want. It is doing what is right. Liberate yourself! In love and truth, Lori Lines To help get back into your body, check out my Body Scan Meditation by clicking here: By Lori Lines We heard it time and again throughout 2020, and 2021 is no different, "we are living in unprecedented times." There's no telling what will flash across our newsfeed or be in bold print on the newspaper's front page from one day to the next. But, ask yourself, has there ever been? Describing the current epoch as unprecedented, uncertain, unpredictable falsely implies that there has ever been any certainty in life. Certainty is an illusion. We all have life paths, better described as a series of checkpoints, opposed to step-by-step GPS navigation, due to our own free will. Taking into account the free will of every member of humanity, it only makes sense to expect the unexpected. Given that there are no real certainties in our current reality, we have nothing to lose by letting go of the notion of precedented, predictable, certain times. In fact, a lot can be gained when we begin peering past these illusions, a construct in the matrix, and learn to surrender to the unpredictability of life, and declare freedom from responsibility for things beyond our control. This can be a frightening proposition to some, if not most, who have never considered it. The idea that there are no guarantees or concrete parameters by which reality must abide can cause panic. Yet, when we think about how much we miss out on, overlook, and how limiting the illusion of life's certainties can be, it's a fear worth challenging. By clinging to certainties, like wisps of clouds, we disempower ourselves, losing trust in our ability to manifest the circumstances we wish to live or cope under circumstances we want to avoid. We can also lose connection to the divinity of the universe and faith that no matter what we are faced with, we can learn, grow, and evolve. Clinging to the vague notion of future probabilities causes us to look past our present experiences, opportunities for development, growth, blessing, and gifts. Instead, set the intention that no matter what you face, you have the strength, intelligence, wisdom, and courage to face your circumstances head-on. Have faith that even the worst events in your life can be a chance to achieve ascension and realign with the power of Universal Love. Often, when we have faced trauma, heartache, and grief, we reach desperately to gain certitude before each new step. Our inner child warns, "the last time we were caught off guard, things went very badly," so we seek security in the illusion that the future is predictable. This is an attempt at control, a coping mechanism that may have served a purpose at one time but no longer does. This pursuit of ultimate control can feel crushing. Carrying the burden of preparing mentally, emotionally, and perhaps materially for every eventuality that may arise and holding yourself responsible when an outcome you never considered is played out, is too much for one person to bear. Have a talk with your inner child. Let them know that they are safe, cared for, and loved. Reparent the frightened child, teenager, or wounded warrior within, letting them know that while there are no guarantees in life, you are fully equipped to provide and protect them in the face of obstacles. Reassure this inner child through your heart space. Let them know surrender means they are also open to unexpected blessings, miracles, and growth. Living your life based solely on what you expect to happen is very limiting. When negative mindsets lead to negative expectations, we can end up fearful and stagnant. On the other hand, depression and apathy can be the result of positive expectations not met. Expectations create a framework, outcomes fall outside of it result in fear, frustration, and disappointment. Meaning, when something good falls outside of the schema, we often overlook it and neglect to appreciate our good fortune. Best to release expectations, when expectations arise, reframe your mindset with an affirmation like "whatever will be will be," or send an intention out into the universe that you will be open to all possibilities and welcome unpredictability as an opportunity for creativity, personal development, or celebration. Then align yourself with that thought and LIVE it. Why limit yourself to set expectations when the divine usually has something much more beneficial in mind, like a lesson or a blessing? Letting go and surrendering happens with practice. Consider engaging in some shadow-work or rootwork to confront your fears and trauma. Make a list of all the things you will have the freedom to do when your time is not spent focusing on the future and its uncertainties. Practicing mindfulness, presence, and meditation can ground your energy and keep you focused on the present. Building a trusting relationship with your higher self and the divine nature of the universe is a nurturing, healing pursuit in any circumstance. It provides assurance that you are supported, cared for, and loved, a few of the seldom certainties we can have. When the illusion of certainty is released, many come to find life is more enjoyable, and things run more smoothly. No more sleepless nights, chronic worry, or panic when faced with the unexpected. Letting go and surrendering may seem daunting, but true freedom, as they say, is not given. It is won! In Love and Truth, Lori Lines By Lori Lines
In my last full article, I mentioned how important asserting Boundaries are, especially when we are going through the Dark Night of the Soul. I also thought writing an article to expound on the importance of boundaries in our lives, in general, is warranted because this seems to be an issue many share with me as part of taking responsibility for ourselves when relationship issues come up. Having just passed the holiday season, many of us know the frustration, anxiety, and grief resulting from feeling overextended, especially when we are unable to say no. Your aunt can’t wait to receive her box of your famous fudge, the kids don’t understand, while Santa has an unlimited budget you don’t. Perhaps your partner expects you to buy the gift for their office secret Santa party, as if you already don’t have so much to do. It can all feel like too much! Of course, frustrations like these are not limited to the holiday season. Feeling stretched too thin, shouldering too many demands and responsibilities, and having your needs sidestepped can happen year-round. We often find ourselves in these situations, asking, “why do people treat me this way,” or “what gives them the right?" Often, the reality is we do! Boundaries are an essential part of self-care, self-love, and harmonious relationships. They are the limitations and restrictions we establish within our interpersonal connections, designating responsibility and defining matters of respect. We often fail to instill and uphold boundaries because we fear we will anger, frustrate or alienate others. Boundaries define expectations and agreements within your romantic relationships. For instance, some couples agree talking to exes is out of the question, while some determine socializing with single friends can compromise the connection. Just as you set physical boundaries in the closet, “your side and mine,” you can even set boundaries in the bedroom. Friends and family relationships also call for healthy boundaries. No drop-ins without notice, a refusal to have your relationship or parenting criticized, or perhaps no forced interactions with another friend or family member that triggers discomfort or trauma. You can also improve your work-life when instilling boundaries with bosses and coworkers, whether they are permanently enforced, no calls after hours, or temporary, no last-minute projects during the holidays. Remember, boundaries are a necessary, important part of interpersonal functioning and entail whatever limitations preserve our mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health that protect your wellbeing. Think about the boundaries you place on yourself. You may have a bedtime, a workout routine, work deadlines, and even limitations on your tv and social media time. They are focal to your productivity, vitality, and mental health. It happens that you may spend too long on your smartphone, skip the gym for a few days, or stay up too late. When this happens, you re-center, refocus, and re-establish your personal boundaries because, without them, your life would be rather chaotic! The same applies to your external relationships. Boundaries provide much-needed structure and balance, yet they can be overstepped, challenged, or altogether disregarded. Accountability is crucial to maintain boundaries. When a boundary is violated, it should be voiced. Left unchecked, it will be crossed time and time again, harming the relationship, your self-worth, and wellbeing. Failure to inform someone that they have crossed a boundary also robs them of the opportunity to heal, grow, and self-actualize. By acknowledging that a boundary has been crossed, you reinforce your own value system and worth, but you also give the person, who overstepped, the chance to explore themselves. What made them think this was okay? Did the boundary make them feel insecure, angry, hurt? While healthy boundaries mean you are not obligated to help them in this exploratory, they can learn a great deal about themselves and their own boundaries by being held accountable. There are times when people refuse to honor your boundaries. Keeping these people at an emotional and spiritual distance is needed. Through the act of distancing yourself, you enable them to gain a great deal of insight and growth, even if it takes time, when they are ready to take responsibility to look within themselves. People often reject boundaries because they view them as repressive and restrictive. When, in fact, they foster a completely different energy. When you set and uphold boundaries, there is freedom! Like a child who knows the limits of safe play, we are free to be more fully ourselves when we share healthy boundaries. We can be open, honest, and vulnerable without feeling guarded, resentful, or fake. Setting, respecting, and maintaining boundaries is an act of love. Boundaries promote self-love and unity. They enable you to better love yourself, teach others to better love themselves, and foster a sense of harmony and trust in your relationships. Anyone who wants to be in your life will come to embrace your boundaries because boundaries say, “I want you to love me, and I want to love you….here’s how”, what a beautiful opportunity! In love and truth, Lori Lines By Lori Lines The purpose of the first installment of our deep dive into the Dark Night was to help you understand how this spiritual transformation can lead you down into the depths of despair, worthlessness, and emotionality. (Visit my here to see Part 1, if you've not read it yet.) The Dark Night of the Soul can kick up trauma, insecurities and fears that have long been repressed, causing some to have to face the stark, often jarring, reality of their own mortality as the ego-self dies. To encapsulate my own deep Dark Night, it was an enduring period of a process relinquishing many created limiting beliefs, traumas, insecurities, wounds, behavioral and thinking patterns that no longer served where I was meant to go in life. In looking back and bringing what I've learned to the fore, it was indeed a rite of passage of sorts - A holy experience that is difficult to explain with mere words but is real nonetheless. Socially and individually, the Dark Night causes upheaval as our mental schemas and social constructs become askew, turning life into a chilling house of mirrors. Life loses its meaning, making everything seem unfamiliar and foreboding. Yet, as grim as things may look, this is a story of hope. As we suffer every night, the darkness will recede at dawn, a time of re-birth and illumination. The question is, how does one get through the Dark Night, with nary a flicker to lead the way? Knowledge is Power The best way to cope with this soul journey is to learn about the process and its purpose. Unfortunately, when I went through this journey, I had no frame of reference and I didn't know what to call it. So, luckily, you get to benefit from my experience here. :) Awareness of what it is, is as vital as why it is to endure the ego-death, loss of identity, and fear of the unknown throughout this spiritual transition. Knowing what you are going through, there is a peace and tranquility in knowing your trials and challenges can serve your greatest good and the good of society. Don't Try to Steer the River Like turbulent waters, swimming in the murky depths, during the Dark Night, can be profoundly confusing, tiring and draining. To prevent exhaustion, it is essential to swim with the current, not against it. To know when to stop and rest and to start paddling again is part of the lesson of the Dark Night. I have found many try to distract themselves and go into their addictions. Addictions can be anything from substance abuse, shopping, work, to sex or even serial dating, anything to distract the mind from the enduring discomfort with this process. If one loses a significant relationship, one may attempt to soothe the ego by fervently looking for a new person to fill the void. This can be construed as resistance to WHAT IS. Unfortunately, trying to fill the void with distractions is a trauma-based tactic that usually backfires. Acceptance, surrender and release are necessary for growth from this time period. Understand that the Dark Night of the Soul will take us down whatever paths, stir whatever memories, and rid us of whatever aspects of our identity and society need to facilitate spiritual awakening to be reborn. Grief is Tremendous, but Love is Bigger This is a grieving process. You are grieving the loss of who you were, what life was, and the meaning you assigned to things like your career, your education, and your relationships. Socially we must accept the dying away of old constructs and mores that once gave us comfort, complacency, not because they served us well, but because they were familiar. During the mourning period, treat yourself as you would a dear friend or loved one. If you need more sleep, less sleep, time alone, time with friends, more physical activity, less physical activity, as long as you are caring for yourself first with consideration, compassion, and love, honor your needs. One of the lessons I learned from my Dark Night is how much time I spent allowing friends and loved ones to complain to me or to dump their problems when I wasn't prepared to receive this type of energy. My old self would jump into "fix-it" or "healer" mode, continuously enabling the others' dysfunction, and I realized I was teaching others how to treat me and, more importantly, why I allowed it. It wasn't their fault if I was not asserting appropriate boundaries. As I began to set limits with certain people in my life (caring for myself), I felt less drained and more empowered to be who I am, without apology, all the while remaining compassionate for myself and others. Some friends showed me who they were by leaving, when they didn't get what they wanted from me, any longer, and some friends showed me who they were by sticking by me and honoring my boundaries with love and care. Boundaries with others is crucial, during the Dark Night because, although you cannot physically see it, your higher self is diligently working on your soul's accelerated healing. Believe me when I say, boundaries are an act of love, not only for yourself but for others who are not yet aware of themselves and their actions. Stay tuned for my article on Boundaries in the near future. Meditation....The Language of the Spirit This is the time to make space for the voice of Spirit and Your Higher Self, even if you designate 10 minutes every day to simply being still, observing your thoughts, sitting with your Spirit, and the wisdom of the higher consciousness. Allowing yourself to be lovingly embraced by the Universe not only provides guidance, but also serves as a comfort and solace from the turmoil you are experiencing during the Dark Night. One of the things my higher self taught me, during my Dark Night, was to begin a mindfulness meditation practice, which I did. This practice was the antidote to leading me out of my dark night, which is why I added a mindfulness meditation to strengthen awareness coaching service to my business repertoire, to help clients navigate through their Dark Night of the Soul. However, it is understood that this is not for everyone. Sometimes just talking through the process will suffice, another service I offer at the end of this article. The Cure for the Pain is in the Pain At times you may go day-to-day, hour-to-hour, and during the darkest times, moment-to-moment, but there is purpose in the pain and the social upheaval. I always tell my clients to stay the course and to allow whatever emotions and thoughts surface. Each trauma you uncover, aspect of your ego that dies, and uncomfortable reality you face takes you deeper into the dawn of awakening. Socially, this phase of storm and stress brings us closer to the all after the storm. When we are willing to go through the pain, rather than to go around it or above it, we find profound healing and we reveal deep spiritual truths. I find this is a time when one may find the pain so unbearable, they resort to spiritual bypassing. When we bypass the pain of the spiritual lesson, the lesson comes in a bigger way later. Best to face it now. The Greater the Storm, the Brighter the Rainbow During the Dark Night of the Soul, there is panic, sadness, neediness, and turmoil because so much is lost. Individually, we may lose ourselves, socially, we can lose our way altogether. Yet, in reality, we are deprived of nothing significant in these temporary losses. Because of all that is lost, so many valuable things are gained. It is here when you realize how the Universe has had your back all along, even if you couldn't feel it. From a higher perspective awakening within you, you relinquish your false sense of self. You know yourself to be a completely different person on the inside, which energetically radiates on the outside. It's like a cleansing of a deep-rooted sickness: your past perception of your true nature and your inadequate, often wrong opinion of who you think you are. As the inner conflict ceases, your spirit comes into alignment with your true self and you have been delivered of the intolerable bondage to your ego. As the sun rises on your Dark Night of the Soul, you will experience a freedom like you never have before, you will experience truth, awakening, and connection, which will radiate into the Universe. In a world where everyone who is called to realize their higher purpose through the Dark Night of the Soul achieves rebirth, society can come to know the unity, peace, and love our souls are destined for. Have faith that being committed and dedicated to healing yourself first is the most selfless gift you can give to the world. You are that powerful. In love and truth, Lori Lines If you feel you are going through a Dark Night of the Soul and want support from someone who has authentically gone through it and now can offer real compassion and insights into your process, I am offering a 6, one hour session package for $600 (a savings of $300) to help you navigate through this process of awakening. Just contact me at higherselfaccess@gmail.com for more details. Find out more about my services at higherselfaccess.com By Lori Lines "Dark Night of the Soul" sounds ominous, doesn't it? In many ways, it is, yet, like your first real heartbreak or significant failure, many believe it is a standard part of spiritual growth and development - a major growing pain as seekers on the road to higher consciousness will pass through this rite of passage, an initiation of sorts, before the seeker is admitted into a regular connection with higher consciousness. The Dark Night of the Soul is described by some as similar to mild depression or general sense of malaise. You feel lost, stuck in a rut, wistful, and sleeping and eating are disrupted. Others describe it as a soul-crushing deeply depressed state, at times so profound people may believe they are truly dying. Having gone through this journey myself, it felt deeper than a depression and most certainly, "soul-crushing." To me, it felt as if my light had been extinguished and all hope was lost. Interestingly, we can undergo similar times of storms and stress socially. During these times, life can feel bleak, the inequity and hate paints a dystopian society, and the current social structures lose their meaning. The sense of meaninglessness is a feature of the dark night. On the communal or personal level, nothing seems to make much sense, including life itself. Many things can trigger a Dark Night, a loss, a death, a disaster, an injustice, an ego-assault, and an ego-death. Socially or individually, it can come when we can no longer explain maladaptive systems and structures, dysfunctional perceptions and thought patterns, and low vibrational automatic behaviors. By profoundly examining the frameworks of life, those that govern society, and those that shape our values become so askew that they collapse. On a personal level, this collapse may cause you to lose touch with who you are. This is called ego-death. It is symptomatic of the Dark Night. As your world loses meaning, so does your place in it. You can't fit in as you had before. You know on some level the reality of higher consciousness and yearn to be more deeply in communion with this part of yourself, yet you somehow can't fit in or feel at home in the company of those who you usually relate to, let alone yourself. The ego thrives on comparison and judgment, when existing measures are no longer sustainable, the ego's voice dies away. This can lead to feeling lost. During the Dark Night, the veil is lifted, and you begin to see what an illusion your old reality was. It is here we find ourselves in a state of suspended animation with no 'new' reality to cling to. At this stage, people often feel as though they live in a void of emptiness in which nothing is real. Days, weeks, months and years can drone on and the part that's so difficult to accept is there's no finite time we can cling as to the duration of this experience. Your motivation may plummet. Work, education, success, esteem, and popularity no longer drives you. Some people experience the need to rid themselves of material possessions, relationships, and pursuits that no longer fulfill them. Initially, this cleansing may seem like just what you need. In the end, it can trigger feelings of worthlessness. Your ego may start to press you, "who are you without your things or your people?" At some point during your Dark Night, memories and old traumas may rise to the surface. From your current realm of emptiness, these flashbacks can elicit an intense emotional reaction. In fact, everything you encounter may garner a more visceral response. This results from the ego falling back, and the subconscious (higher self) taking the helm, reactivating parts of yourself that have been long denied and repressed. As your subconscious awareness rises, you may feel like you are thinking with two brains. The subconscious mind sitting back with pen and paper jotting down notes as the conscious mind darts back and forth from one fearful thought to the next. When you are aware of your thoughts, this state of higher consciousness can be unsettling, to say the least. At worst, some people believe they are losing touch with their sanity. But, in reality, one going through this process is gaining their sanity. Another symptom of the subconscious taking the lead is the ego will wave a distress signal. "I'm dying! SOS!" Many who walk their path during the Dark Night of the Soul start to become profoundly aware of their mortality. This awareness can be so stark, some even believe it is they, themselves, who are dying, not the ego. The Dark Night can be a lonely time of isolation regardless of who may be around you. During this phase you must confront the fears and insecurities that emerge from the shadows. At times people's sleep is dysregulated, causing one to sleep too much or not enough. The same can happen with food and physical activity. Similarly, when we experience a Dark Night in the social context, we can be afraid to challenge old detrimental perspectives and social mores. Our daily foundations become dysregulated, and so can the unity we extend to all members of humanity. So, why must we endure it, for some more than once, this long, dark, difficult night of suffering? Because, as with most nights, when it is complete, we awaken. Awaken into a higher state of consciousness, if we will just allow ourselves to do so. In this transformed state of consciousness, we are set free to ascend to merge with our higher self. It is important to point out that not everyone goes through the above mentioned intensity of the Dark Night of the Soul. But, if you are, understand that this is YOUR way. And, once on the other side of it, it is a rite of passage that should be honored, as you will be completely transformed. This experience of being reborn is one of greater unity, love, peace and understanding of one's self and others on a very intimate level. Yes, it is a very dark night, but the sunrise is breathtaking. Stay tuned for Part 2. The Night is What Makes the Dawn So Bright. In love and truth, Lori Lines PS: If you feel you are going through a Dark Night of the Soul and want support from someone who has authentically gone through it and now can offer real compassion and insights into your process, I am offering a 6, one hour session package for $600 (a savings of $300). Just contact me at higherselfaccess@gmail.com for more details. Find out more about my services at www.higherselfaccess.com. By Lori Lines
What an organ the brain is! All its wrinkles and folds, nuances and enigmas, powers and abilities, working in perfect alignment and synergy…until it doesn't! The brain can be separated into different lobes, functions, and systems. The primary distinction is that of the right and left brain. Sometimes referred to as brains, these two hemispheres are meant to work together, making up for what the other lacks. The left brain is responsible for logic, analytical thought, scientific and mathematical reasoning, and processing what we have been taught to believe is factual evidence. The right brain processes holistic perceptions, creativity, imagination, art, music, and insightful reasoning. When the two hemispheres are balanced, together they give us a grounded perspective in which we can function in our day to day lives yet aspire, envision, and manifest a more fulfilling, high vibrational future. Unfortunately, some people are out of balance, listening solely to their left brain. This can be referred to as literalism. Defined as "adherence to a meaning in an exact sense, or an exact representation or portrayal without idealization or inference." In simple terms, understanding and judging everything at "evidence or face value,"…but is it really evidential face value? From an early age, based on our culture, society, and family values, we are all taught what to attend to, who to trust, how to perceive information, what is "fundamentally" true, and what is "fundamentally false." This is called social conditioning. Social conditioning is how we have been taught to function and think, somewhat like a default state for an electronic device. When we rely solely on the left brain, or literalist perceptions, we limit ourselves, our consciousness, and our opportunities. We give our power away to social, religious, political constructs and people, we've idealized and over identified with, to determine what we see and how we see it. In this way, literalism is taking everything at face value or basing our perceptions on factual evidence. Instead, it conforms to what we have been socialized to believe is accurate, proven, and apparent. Spoiler Alert: Knowledge, grounded in literalism, always comes to a stop. There's nowhere else to go to expand on ideas to grow! Repressing our natural tendency to question, to think beyond what appears to be physically present, and to grow as the spiritual beings that we are, stifles our true expression. In my opinion, this has been the crux of a trickle down effect and why our generation suffers from systemic depression and that people, collectively, are suffering the Dark Night of the Soul. All that we perceive and experience is transient, except for the experiences that change our soul. The soul or spirit is the entity that exists and bridges us from one life to the next. It never dies. We explore the universal consciousness through our soul, commune with the higher consciousness, and reach the higher dimensions. Locked within the soul is a template of our life path, all that came before and will come after. Alignment with this map or template is how we self-actualize, awaken, and achieve enlightenment through connection to the universe and Spiritual consciousness. When we rely too heavily on the left brain's literalism, we tie ourselves too tightly to the physical realm's perceptions, experiences, and fleeting events. We lose touch with our higher selves, the universal unconscious, and the realm of the soul. Quickly we can become locked into the functioning of the day to day, observing the rules and regulations we have been conditioned to. A divide grows between who we are and who we are meant to be. We are not meant to follow, but to do the soul's work, honoring the template we come to this world with and the higher purpose we are destined to achieve. As the division between who we are portraying and who we are meant to be, grows, life becomes challenging. We can lose our way, lose our sense of purpose, and life can lose all meaning. When we lose our "why," by habitually conforming to what we think we KNOW, we also lose our how and when. There has never been a time where it is crucial for individuals to begin their self-actualizing, integrative process by whatever means is necessary than now. Trusting the left brain too much can lead to not trusting ourselves at all! Our intuition and inner knowing repeatedly takes a backseat to what we have been conditioned to believe is right, even if it goes against what we want or what we feel. Like any other relationship, when we lose our own trust, it is difficult to regain it. This state of feeling conflicted towards the answers "out there" and having the answers within withheld can render us powerless. This powerlessness can lead to depression, anxiety, and general apathy towards the very life we are living. If you have experienced this or are experiencing it, you understand how difficult a cycle it can be to break. Yet, nothing can change within your spirit or in your outer world until you do the spiritual work it takes to amplify and hear your inner truth again. By bypassing social conditioning and the left brain's reasoning, the Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique can access the part of yourself that can hear and feel your inner knowing again. QHHT can help you reconnect with answers that you have lost along the way regarding your everyday life and your spiritual calling. QHHT accesses the higher self and the collective unconscious through your spirit, your everlasting nature, and eternal awareness, rendering the confines of social conditioning and literalism powerless. In turn, returning your mental, spiritual and emotional balance and restoring your power! I have spoken to many of you who are afraid of the QHHT process, those of you who know, on a deeper level, that you've clung to your literalism for far too long and believe you would not be successful at this practice. My answer to this is my Mindfulness Meditation and Awareness Series of coaching sessions that can help prepare you for a QHHT session. Practicing mindfulness to strengthen awareness naturally opens up the mind to balance and trust in your inner knowing rather than just accepting evidential proof, "out there" that may or may not be true. When you can once again perceive the bigger picture, you will start to realize how "small" your physical existence truly is. Through connection to your higher self and your countless lifetimes, you can once again appreciate how infinite your options and opportunities are. You can begin to realize yourself and your exponential gifts and visualize unlimited new ways of living, and it takes trusting yourself to do so. In love and truth, Lori Lines By Lori Lines The late great Dolores Cannon used to ask her ailing clients, "are you willing to give up what is making you sick?" She would ask this question in the wake of a QHHT® hypnosis session. While this question may seem harsh to some, it's simplicity gives rise to our own empowerment as more of us awaken to our responsibility tending to our thoughts, actions and emotions that block us and make our lives...well..."sick." The majority of the people in the world are living mechanical lives based on social conditionings and false beliefs instilled in us since childhood and beyond. Our inharmonious thoughts and feelings, our desires and our compulsive behaviors create major blocks which densify our bodies and lower our vibrational frequency so that we become vulnerable to the negativity (or our created negative energy) around us. Consequently, individuals attract situations and people of similar energies based on the cosmic principle of "like attracts like." Mental blocks are nothing but dark energies stagnated in our consciousness over long periods of time. These blocks can unconsciously be held within parts of our bodies, too. When we cling to our negativity and appropriate our woes and sadness, we unwittingly trap them into our subconscious being, where they gradually crystallize into mental, physical and emotional blocks that affect us adversely at all levels. These blocks obstruct the divine flow of energy into our being and can shift us out of alignment with our Source, so that all our thoughts and emotions are tainted with pessimism. Our conscious-awareness is a sentry that guards our thoughts and feelings from straying away from the Source Light of Love and Peace. When some outside situation provokes us to anger, fear, hatred and the like, we must be aware of our emotions and our inner dialogue that expresses those emotions. It's important for us to be in control of our emotions before they overwhelm us. How to take control? Take a pause, watch your negative emotions as a passive spectator. Acknowledge each emotion that comes up, with: I am feeling "anger"...or I am feeling "fear" and so on. Observe your emotions without allowing them to ruffle your feelings. Your quiet vigilance prevents the discordant emotions to take possession of your heart, mind, even your body, and keeps them under control. Do not be tempted to resist and analyze them or reason with them, but simply be with them until they subdue and dissolve into stillness. With the power of presence we can get rid ourselves of mental/emotional blocks and choose to lead a wholesome life, free from the compulsions of our negative thoughts. It's helpful to challenge our fears that pose as obstructions to our success and well-being, and dare to break free from our comfort zone for a more enterprising life. Know that fears are illusory by nature, and appear real only as long as we give it our energy to dominate over us. Fears enfeeble the mind and cripple the spirit. Similarly, it helps to be conscious of our mental activity at any given time. It is typical of the mind to drift off to its shady haunts of dismal memories, bringing with it the dark remnants of pain and sorrow which cloud our present moment of sunshine and happiness and steep us into our own misery. Your conscious-awareness repels untoward thought, allowing only those which are in keeping with our health and well-being. When you catch yourself drifting down the bleak memory-lane, stop your thoughts right dead in their tracks and immediately replace it with that which uplifts your spirit and evokes joy in your heart. If the thought hangs on, I affirm, "I nullify this thought so that it does not enter into my subjective mind." It is helpful to engage in constructive activities that are instrumental in increasing mental cheerfulness and better concentration. Life is not meant to be taken so seriously. If we learn to laugh in the face of our trials and tribulations, we can understand that hardships are merely the lessons of life that we need to go through for our own spiritual progress. These are transient - here, one minute and gone the next. If we refuse to internalize other people's aggressive behavior towards us, we rise to the understanding it is nothing personal - it is just their way of releasing their inner turmoil and pent-up frustrations. So, go ahead and dare to laugh when ordeals compel you to cry; dare to love and forgive your enemies when they provoke you to anger and hatred; dare to be resilient when the blows of life bear down on you so that you are able to bounce back good and strong once they are through with you; dare to remain anchored in the Light of Peace when fears threaten to close in on you and jeopardize your happiness. Shadows and sunshine are a part of one's spiritual journey. You have to allow yourself to move on and enjoy the ride. Keep moving onward and upward, and look forward to new changes that bring with them surprises and opportunities. Cast burdens onto your Higher Power and live free like a child who is filled with hope and wonderment. Find joys in the simple things in life. A happy heart is a healthy heart. Afflictions and maladies can cease to exist in a body that resonates with true peace and joy. Though easier said than done, practicing presence and vigilance over our hearts and minds requires persistent effort and a sense of responsibility on our parts. It is a pre-requisite in order to gain mastery over self and to live by the power of our souls so that we become a source of attraction for Universal Peace, Abundance, Health, and Prosperity. In love and truth, Lori Lines To Schedule an appointment click here: By Lori Lines In our present-day society, we are modern people. Lately, due to governmental mandates, many of us have had time to pause and reflect, whether we wanted to or not. We realize we have become very used to being stimulated regularly. Our minds are addicted to all kinds of buzz and frenzy. Technology has only exacerbated this buzz as our minds hunger for more. When faced with the notion to be in the present moment, this may make many recoil in panic. In fact we expend a great deal of our money, our energy and our time doing our best to avoid boredom because, to some, this state of being commensurates death. Seriously! Many of us can remember using phrases like "bored to death" and "bored stiff." Consider the vast expanse of entertainment, amusements and diversions that we create and indulge in just to keep from feeling bored. And yet, the complaint of boredom still exists. I once read a story where, ages ago, there was this Zen trainee who complained to his master that he didn't enjoy meditation because he found the practice of focusing on his breath to be boring. "Oh you don't find breathing interesting, huh?" Said the Zen master. "Well, come with me." The trainee followed the master outside stopping at a stream. At the edge of the water, the master told his trainee to gaze at his reflection in the water. As soon as the student bent over to look at his reflection, the Zen master thrust his head deep into the water and forcibly held it there as the poor student struggled not to drown. "Sooo," said the Zen master, "do you still find breathing boring?" Most of us believe that our boredom is because of our outward circumstances. We think the situation we find ourselves in is simply not interesting. Those who practice presence, on the other hand, regard boredom as a product of inattention. We get bored, in other words, when we withdraw our full awareness to whatever we are experiencing at the moment. Boredom is not caused by what we perceive as not happening, it is caused by our own mind. The cure for boredom is paying complete attention with focused awareness. Rather than paying attention, though, most of us are inclined to seek out more mental and physical stimulation to keep our minds occupied with trivial matters that just take up useless space in our heads. The meditative practice of presence encourages us to let go of the craving for stimulation and simply be attentive to what is, in the present moment. To digress a moment, I recall a time when I was new at practicing presence. My, then, 8 year old daughter came to me complaining, "I'm bored!" Instead of jumping into my usual response to engage her in something entertaining, I said to her, "Many brilliant ideas and works of art were created out of boredom." Then, I left it at that. Reluctantly, she decided to pull out her art supplies and, voila!, she created a masterpiece. A work of art I will treasure for the rest of my life. When I asked her what she learned about herself when she was bored, her 8 year old self thoughtfully replied, "That I don't have to be bored when I'm bored." Indeed. When we discipline our minds, we can take something that we perceive to be boring and make it into something that's profoundly interesting. Just as a submerged head can become fascinated with the breath, boredom, itself, can become interesting if we simply observe it without judgment. When we can let go of our fear of being bored and direct our full attention to our breath, one might be amazed at what discoveries can be made. One might notice the pleasant sensation that relaxed breathing brings to our body. It may be very mild and barely perceptible, but it's there. When we can be wholly engaged with the simple pleasure of breathing, we find ourselves with a refined sense of completeness in that moment. All we need to know is the joy of the breath. In that moment, we know that simply breathing is enough and we want nothing else. The benefits of practicing presence are immeasurable. When we learn how to be in a state of presence, we develop our intuition, we get to know who we really are, and we find focus in our lives, just to name a few. I offer 1:1 sessions coaching clients on how to practice presence in their everyday lives. If this sounds like something you would like to do, just let me know and we can discuss it. In love and truth, Lori Lines For an appointment or for more information click here:
By Lori Lines Social stigmatization is a symptom of our divisive culture. In our society, people frequently face discrimination and are ostracized due to perceivable and imperceivable differences alike. This alienation is often due to factors people cannot change or are very hard to change such as race, intelligence, culture, physical ability, socioeconomic status, and gender. Stigmatization has detrimental effects. For example, the stigma that those with mental illness face can lead to isolation, inability to seek appropriate care, and an overall decline in well-being. Of course the effects one may face when they carry the burden of social stigma varies broadly. Nevertheless, the result is typically very damaging for the ostracized, damaging for judgmental individuals, and damaging for society, as the foundation for these distorted belief systems. Social stigmas result from judgment. Judging others is the lifeblood of the ego-self. The ego feels more empowered when we are critical of others. It is strengthened when we believe we are smarter, richer, more attractive, and more able-bodied than those around us. The ego is also strengthened when we perceive we are less-smart, poorer, less attractive and less able-bodied than those around us. Judging others elicits a false sense of ego-control and security. Regardless of whether we feel we are besting or not besting our neighbors, colleagues, friends, or strangers. The ego-self thrives on the misplaced belief that our worth, or lack of worth, stems from these judgments. This process can become so automatic that it goes unchecked. When we say, "I am smart," the ego may whisper, "compared to your coworkers that bungle presentations." When the ego is in control, "I am enlightened" can also be accompanied by an automatic, subconscious thought like "more than that narrow-minded person." Conversely, the ego is in control when we have the reverse thoughts, "I am NOT smart," or "I am not as good as...", or "I'm less enlightened compared to...." These judgements and ego-centric comparisons remain as long as we refuse to recognize the universal interconnectedness throughout humanity and the Divine. Yet again, the sneaky ego-self whispers more distorted realities in our ear, that we are special, or less-special, and unique only as long as we uphold our separateness from others. We are misled to believe that our magic and majesty is lost when we are one of many, a single droplet in the sea of humanity. So, we default to otherness, isolation, and loneliness from those who are stigmatized. This can be construed as a very low-vibrational state that keeps us from enlightenment. The truth is, we are all connected, and the means to achieve individual, societal, and eventually, global awakening is through unity, compassion, and love. We challenge and ultimately transcend the ego with a perspective of neutral togetherness, thereby reaching our highest potential individually and universally. To get there we must learn to forgive and just trust. Once again, this is contrary to our ego-impulses. The ego-driven view is that forgiveness and trust is weakness and vulnerability. Picture the ego as a little red imp on your shoulder, trying to convince you when you forgive, you submit, and when you trust, you expose yourself to danger. It is yet another ego defense that twists our perception to retain control. When the ego is in control, we fear surrender and avoid it at the expense of harming others and ourselves. The inability to trust and forgive keeps us tethered, limited, constricted, and even depressed, perpetually seeking new ways to appease the insecure ego. Surrender is the only release from the exhausting cycle that diminishes us and others. Yield to the universe, the Divine, and uncertainty, break free of conditioned fears, beliefs, and limitations, relinquish the ego-driven need for control, and have faith that whatever the universe has in store for you will help you grow and achieve your highest potential. In a state of surrender, there is no need for comparison or stigma. We understand that each of us has unique purposes, gifts, and paths to pursue. In that light, there is no need for distinguishing ourselves from others because we each have an individual journey to uphold. Yet, we share a collective goal of alignment with our higher-selves and enlightenment of the collective unconscious. It is because of this shared mission that we must uplift each other with love and support. As we turn down the volume of the petulant ego perched upon our shoulder, thank it for protecting us when we have needed it, and begin surrender, we become more observant of harmful behaviors, words, and perspectives. Leading us to challenging, and ultimately, overcoming distorted belief systems. As the wave of surrender begins to swell within our individual psyches, our neighborhoods, our states, and our countries, we will come to know the joy of releasing negativity to allow humanity's beauty and goodness to be reflected and celebrated in every one of us. In love and truth, Lori Lines By Lori Lines The mind can be construed as a double-edged sword. It is capable of providing us great benefit as well as great injury. Naturally, we want to cultivate our inner processes in such a way that we maximize or minds' capacity for doing good and to minimize its tendencies for causing pain and suffering. It is important, in this juncture in our evolution, to nurture our minds in a way that will bring us greater joy. The mind tends to operate in a rather haphazard way, bounding from thought to thought with little or no apparent prompting of direction. Our minds seem to have a mind of their own. It might appear that our minds are thoroughly out of our control as if we have no choice of the kinds of things that drift across our minds. Although thoughts seem to come out of the blue, they are, in fact, conditioned by previous patterns of thought. The thoughts that our mind produces now have been shaped by its history of thinking. This history can connect all the way back to previous lives we have lived as well as our current life history of thinking. Neuro-scientific research has shown that routine patterns of thought make incremental but substantial changes in the way the brain is structured and the way the mind functions. These alterations make the brain more effective at doing what it is asked to do. If we habitually think in certain ways, then our minds become more adept at these patterns of thought. Patterns of thought becomes belief. Beliefs manifest patterns of behavior and circumstances that can benefit us or injure us. Thus, as the concept of conditioning suggests, positive or wholesome thoughts create a propensity for more positive or wholesome thoughts. Fortunately, we can use this dynamic principle to our advantage. While we may not be in conscious control of each and every thought, a meditation practice can show us that we can choose which thoughts to entertain and to develop and which to observe and release. In this manner, we can influence the kinds of thoughts we are more likely to produce in the future. Knowing this, we can use our power to select and foster or relinquish thoughts that can help us to cultivate a skillful and clear mind that serves us well. I invite you to become aware and observe your thoughts as they arise, but also identify the kinds of thoughts you are having. Once identified, we can make conscious choices about how we will handle them. What can occur in a QHHT session or in a Mindfulness Coaching session is when one begins to wake up to the types of thoughts they habituate, one comes to an understanding of how these habitual thoughts have manifested problematic patterns in one's life. And, with this self-knowledge, one can begin to shift and change the trajectory of ones life altogether. In love and truth, Lori Lines |
Author Lori LinesDisclaimer: Lori is a high-level channel. The information contained on this site is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed physician. You should seek prompt medical care for any health issues and consult your doctor before using alternative medicine or making a change to your regimen. Categories
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