The Illuminated Life

    W hat we are exposed to as children or adults has a vast impact on our future, especially on our beliefs and outlook. Children have limited power over what they are exposed to; daily life can offer green grass, creativity, play and laughter, but it can also offer great tragedy, fear and the unexpected. The minds pristine capacity slowly begins to fill with all that it has seen – hopefully the wisdom of joyous life experiences prevails over minor setbacks. Parents have the guiding power to limit what a child or pre-teen may be exposed to on television, computers, books and life in general. Strange how we gently ease our children into what we think is a shocking world. Caring parents give their children bite size pieces of information that is age appropriate. Parents know there are dangers for every child and try to bring them to adulthood with strength, wisdom and minimal over-exposure. The timing of exposure to new concepts may have its effects on young lives, but this...

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No one is prepared for the shock or heartache when the moment arrives. The wave of disbelief is felt throughout the entire body which quickly sends out messages of fear. Looking for the good side meets with uncertainty in the early days because you don’t have the strength to cope with problem solving. Breathing is slow and trance-like as you stare into an abyss of fog. All planning and routine have fallen as you are stuck in a place you haven’t been before. You know there is a way round these feelings, but there is no hurry to achieve. The emotional experience must be fulfilled in order for healing and growth to emerge. Swift change is a shocking and life changing event! Whether it is a death, a lucky escape, a job loss, a serious injury, an altered relationship, financial distress, or a natural disaster, it’s new territory that brings a great sense of loss. Initially it’s a flight or fight response, but responsibility brings you back to the decision making that has to take plac...

Creativity is one of humanities natural states if all is well and the body is healthy. Intricate designs and wondrous inventions are prevalent in our recorded history and way beyond that. The remains of ancient civilisations testify to the remarkable ideas that people were and still are capable of. Creative insights are of lightening speed – as if from neon rivers of energetic energy flowing in and around us. Illuminations that spring to mind can be mild to passionate and only the course of a few days will offer its true value. If it still holds its power you must decide whether to pursue it now on an unrelenting quest or save if for later which might mean its demise. Creative insights involve a place, time and date that pushes to the surface on the day you are ready to receive the information. It could have happened two years ago but it didn’t, or maybe it did but you ignored it! Life is fast, but if you don’t slow down and read the signs you’ve written yourself, trouble wil...

  If you sit and view the plants, trees, rivers, beaches, countryside, animals and people you are witnessing the ultimate grandeur of life on Planet Earth. You have been born into the perfect timing of this world – one in which you can sometimes pursue your ultimate goal, if you have progressed beyond basic survival. If you look into the night sky or have some knowledge of the solar system you will know that the surrounding planets have either died or may still be developing, but there is nothing like the life and growth that Earth gives in abundance every day.   If you walk or drive in a busy street with traffic making its hectic bustle and you have places to be and things to do – imagine what everything in your world is placed on and what your town looked life before the buildings. Earth is a planet suspended in space by the ebb and flow of other planets and the majesty of the Sun and Moon. Our planet itself is a mass of slowly shifting lands, oceans and volcanic ...

 We live in a world culture that places winning, success and fame high on the list of what is important. A lot of this is drummed into our heads in early childhood and high school/college, but after this you have to separate what you believe from what has been encoded. Life is not a competition, it may have a competitive edge from time to time, but if you live in a state of winning – that you have to be the best you will have short lived highs and long depressive lows (especially if you don’t value the journey). The age of social media brings even more pressure for those with a need to impress. This can be quite a dangerous parcel for adolescences that are developing a sense of self, but get side-tracked with who they think they should be instead of who they really are. It takes courage to proudly show the real you and strive for personal satisfaction instead of fame. Do you really have something to prove to others? Finding personal satisfaction in something you enjo...

That unique sparkle that emanates from happy people is a shimmering delight. It lets you into their world for a fleeting second even if they are little more than strangers. They might use a few words or just eye contact and a heartfelt gesture, but you know what they mean because of the positive emotions that flow. They say a simple smile can release millions of endorphins that make you feel wonderful, so keep that up (unless it’s some kind of taboo in your culture)! We are all unique, we all have something to say and we all have that magical quality that defines the glowing spirit within. So don’t be too quiet or know one will see your charming qualities and uplifting talents. It is amazing just how many emotions we express with our facial muscles alone – so lift your beautiful face to others and give them a hint of who you are. When you don’t smile and react in the normal way people can read these emotional changes quite easily, especially if they know you well (well unless ...