In terms of spiritual growth - realisation of the soul - success is not so much a measurement of size or number, although that can be a reflection; neither is fulfillment about reaching some kind of goal or destination. What I've found for me, is that there's what's real for me; what defines, and best reflects, who I feel I am. This is actually the hardest thing - to know the fineries of yourself in all situations. It's a case of being able to define one's boundaries accurately, by being prepared to explore all the grey areas of uncertainty.

You have to believe that you really can change the world with your consciousness. The problem in human form, is three trillion cells telling you you're physical! And that the confines of how far you can reach, rest in your body. What I notice happens, is that as you keep testing and penetrating this limitation, then your consciousness connects up with a universal flow, which if you soften your mind to follow, reveals how you're 'lending a hand' in a wider movement.

Does it often feel like you're living in two different worlds? In one, the higher, everything clicks in and makes sense, you feel the flow in your heart. But the lower frequently feels turgid, and clogged, with people thrashing around trying to secure their bit of the world. And here you are in the middle acting as a bridge. Which can sometimes make you feel like you're going crazy - but don't worry, you're not! Benevolence sees you, and the phenomenal work you're doing. Take heart, work on your skills as the eternal diplomat, bridging between realities.

Namaste

Along the path a 'quickening' will come, where the consciousness of the Higher Self becomes evident in some kind of metaphoric manifestation. It's time to integrate the sense of that in the here and now, inside oneself. Simply focus on the feeling the metaphor activates, which will then grow and become a part of you. Bit by bit the false self unwinds, through the all the choices of your life, allowing the higher consciousness to flood in. But you have to keep trusting in it, keep working with it, keep focusing on it. If it's right and aligned, it will become you.

Namaste

There will come times when you're choked up, not knowing what to do, feeling really tight and horrible inside. Don't worry, it's okay to be like that. The world outside creates from the flow of the soul, but there'll be times when the soul is not fully self-realised - not realising of the One Self. This is what causes the tightness. But don't immediately try to cure it, because this is where you need to be. It's in the tightness of the soul where realignment and self-realisation happens.

Sometimes you'll find yourself in energetic conflict with those closest to you. These can be the most demanding situations on the spiritual path. You feel close to them, but every choice you make seems to contradict their truth and vice versa. What on earth is going on? Each is finding their own sovereignty. And in that, the reflection the other is challenging you with, invites you to fine hone different aspects of your being - being firm in your truth, but more diplomatic for example. It will help to realise no one is right and no one is wrong. We will each have different perspectives.

What helped me, with regards the full emergence of soul, was letting go of the idea of 'arrival' of the soul and having to get there. There came a point when I let go of the whole idea of 'mastery'. Instead, I realised it was about being the constant student. There was no 'perfect' alignment of the soul. I accepted the constant exploration, the constant working-with, the constant fine attunement. It became okay to make mistakes. In fact mistakes became the path itself - a constant tweaking of the antenna - a constant alignment dialogue.

Conventional wisdom suggests that even if you're not feeling so good, to push on through anyway. And there will be times when this is right. On other occasions however, it will be right to stop and honour the resistance. How do you know when to apply which approach? There will be a sense of rightness for the course of action. Usually it will confront an aspect of ego, inviting you to break through, which is then backed up by synchronicity. But we must be profoundly honest with our motivations. Is there something that you're trying to get from the moment?

Even if someone clearly is wrong, it is wise to not make them wrong. Everyone has a truth that's real to them. So in disagreements, it's always good to build bridges by first honouring the other's truth, no matter how distorted. Work to build a bridge by empathising with at least some aspect of what they're saying - even and especially when they're young and not yet emotionally mature. Begin by supporting and upholding their truth. I've found it's then much more likely they'll embrace aspects of your point of view. I call it building bridges.

Namaste

There will come times when you do not know which way to turn... does the path go this way or that? Sometimes it may seem like an impossible choice to make. If this happens, you're being tested at the deepest levels of being in the moment. What's required of you right now? On this step? In this breath? Make the movement, always sure that you're being true to your authentic beingness. Bit by bit the situation is sure to shift, the clouds will dissipate and the right path reveal itself.

Namaste

You have to find the balance between commitment to a cause and efforting to make it happen. This is not an easy thing to do! Giving up commitment is not the answer; neither is doing nothing. That's just throwing the baby out with the bathwater. You have to let yourself be 'all-in' to the creative process, yet watch where your consciousness tightens around the creation too much. This is where 'blind-spots' appear - you're so focused you miss the bigger picture. Commit yes, but watch the periphery of your creations.

Peace is a paradoxical issue. Personally I find it doesn't come by aiming for it, at least no really deep true peace. It comes by being in the flow and listening to the soul - aligning with the inner movement of consciousness, knowing that you're always doing the right thing as an expression of authentic being. Then alignment with the soul carries you all the way back to the source, which is infinite peace, even, and especially, in the movement.

Namaste