My path, my journey, these two phrases have grown in popularity and eventually became common place.  They have become overused and I sometimes get annoyed saying them, but they sum up the truth of it so well, so, I will use them repeatedly in this post. (you have been warned….)

The older we become, the further down the road of our journey we are, the more we understand.  Life is a journey, with the same end for all.  What matters is what happens in between, along the way, all the little moments.  How we live.  How we choose to walk on that path.  Who is on the path with us.  How we treat ourselves and how we treat others.

I am a contemplative person by nature, so my journey has been filled with rich spiritual experiences.  Having always been a spiritual seeker, my journey has led me to study many different faiths to varying degrees.  I am not ashamed to say, I believe in the Divine.  I believe that there is much more then what we can see, taste, touch, feel, or even imagine.  I believe in the Infinite Unknowable.  I believe It is within all things and connects all things.  There is purpose.  There are signs.  There is guidance.  We just are not always aware.

Recently, a friend told me, “You have a pure heart and a clean soul.  Give yourself to yourself.”  It really spoke to me, not because I think I am so pure of heart and clean of soul, but the “give yourself to yourself” part resonated with my spirit.  I am an empathetic person, loving and caring by nature, but have always put everyone else’s needs first.  This can come easily to women as we are generally natural nurturers.  We take care of our spouses, children, friends, family, pets, office mates, household, etc.  Often we are at the bottom of our long list.  We hold everything together.  We might be overwhelmed and burnt out, but we keep going.

“Give yourself to yourself” the words kept working their way to the surface of my thinking.  Working on my mind.  Working on my heart. Love yourself.  As a healthcare practitioner, healer, I know the importance of taking care of yourself first.  The airplane example of putting the oxygen mask on yourself first is the right thing to do on the plane and in life.  Take care of you, love yourself well and you will be able to do a better job for the people in your life.  But knowing is not always doing.  As a single mom of four teenage sons, I often come last. Part of the journey is finding balance.  Eliminating what isn’t necessary.  Keeping only what is truly important.  As I age, I want simplicity; less material possessions, more memories.

When I work, whether it is massage or Reiki, I enter into some degree of a meditative state depending on circumstance.  I reach out with my spirit to my client and listen to their body, sense their energy, and am led to the work needs to be done.  It is intuitive.  It is sacred.  It connects me to my client and to the Divine.

Recently, I was working on a client.  She is about ten years younger than me.  Quiet and conservative. Loving mom and loyal friend.  Never says anything unkind.  I have seen her numerous times over the last couple years.  She is naturally beautiful, but probably does not realize how beautiful.  During her last massage, I had the strong sense that she contains herself.  How can I express the sense?  Like her truest self is held back a bit, shackled by insecurity and fear.  I sensed the concern of what others might think.  As a Reiki practitioner, sometimes I pick up on clients subtle energies.  There was no sense of judgement, only love and an understanding of the Divine’s desire for her to emerge and arise.  Immediately, the Bible verse, “do not hide your light under a bushel” came to mind.  It was an “aha” moment.  New light was shed on that verse for me.

In that moment, I understood, do not hide your true self.  Do not make yourself small to fit into societal norms or someone else’s expectations.  Do not be quiet, find your voice.  Do not smile while depressed.  Do not let yourself be enslaved in any form.  Be free.  Be yourself.  Reveal your true self to the world.  Be free to express the wholeness of who you are.  Let your light shine.  Give yourself to yourself.  Love yourself enough to choose you.

It may sound selfish, but trust me, it is not.  Each one of us is created beautifully unique.  Each one of us is important.  Each life has purpose, even if we never know what it is.  We touch each other’s lives unknowingly in profound ways.  I deeply believe that if each person had the freedom to be fully who they are the world would be a much more beautiful place.  We would experience the fullest life.  Jesus also said that he came that we my have life and have it abundantly.  If we want to experience the abundance of life.  We must love ourselves, take an inward journey to discover who we are and then the overcome doubt and fear that keeps us contained.  We each must let our light shine.  Make the world brighter.  I think of wonder of Christmas lights shinning during the holidays.  Making the dark a beautiful and joyful place.  Each one of us can be like that.  The more lights the better.

As I progress along my path, I feel the nudge of the Divine encouraging me to empower others along the way.  I am right there next to you trying to figure it all out.  I don’t have all the answers, but what I have learned I will share.  My hope is that it helps someone along the way.

True freedom and joy are within our grasps, I believe this. I am learning it is always there.  I sometimes look in the wrong places. Like each of you, I am finding my way, walking toward freedom and love and light.

Today, ask yourself, have you hidden a part of yourself away?  Have you made yourself small?  Have you kept quiet when you wanted to speak up?  Have you given your power to someone else?  Have you hidden the light of who you are?  OR are you shinning brightly allowing the world to bask in the light of who you are?

If this message resonates with your spirit and you are feeling the need for empowerment, growth, renewal, clarity, de-stressing, or awakening.  I suggest trying Reiki or starting a practice of gratitude or meditation.  There are many modalities that can help you along your path.  I do free consultations, go to the home page and book a consult…

Namaste and Happy Holidays, Jude