Alana Sheeren, words + energy

On Being a Light in the Darkness, step 1

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Based on the December 21st Create Your Magical Life podcast, I’m (slowly) writing a series of posts on how to strengthen your light when it seems like the world around you is falling into darkness.

Light in the Dark

Step 1: Look for the Light

There’s a saying in new-age-law-of-attraction-speak that what we focus on grows, so we want to be aware of where we are putting our attention, steering it away from what we don’t want. There’s also a truth that ignoring or repressing our shadow – the darker side of being human – only gives it more power and allows it to wreak havoc unchecked.

Somehow we have to find the middle way.

We need to acknowledge the pain, the war, the terror, the atrocities committed against children, animals, the earth and each other, allowing our feelings about these things to pass through us. At the same time, it’s helpful to focus on finding and acknowledging all the good and the beauty in the world.

Some practical things to do:

Read inspiring news stories. Watch those videos on Facebook that make you cry because they’re full of hope and love and tenderness. Listen to TED talks or podcasts that inspire you, even if they’re about difficult topics. Look for people who are providing solutions.

One of the most disturbing books I’ve ever read was Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, because it chronicles the violence committed against women worldwide. But for each horrific topic they share the stories of people who are making a difference. As hard as I cried and raged against the cruelty, I was left with a real sense of hope because we humans are SURVIVORS.

Most of us do care, we do want to make the world a better place. Curate your social media feeds, your blog reader and news channels. Make space for hope and possibility when you log online. This doesn’t mean sticking your head in the sand and ignoring everything that’s happening in the world. It does mean that you are allowed to take care of yourself in the midst of it all.

Notice if you’re going down the rabbit hole of negativity. Pause, take a deep breath, and check in to see how it’s affecting you. Is your body clenched and tight? Your heart heavy? Are you filled with rage or despair? Breathe and feel the feelings, without spinning in the story.

You can choose to allow the anger to move you to action (write a letter or blog post, start a petition, donate money to a cause or search for a volunteer opportunity) or you can choose to turn toward something else – something lighter or more life-affirming. Something that reminds you there is hope and goodness available in even the worst of situations. Hug a child. Help a friend. Snuggle your favorite four-legged family member and immerse yourself in their unconditional love.

Look for warm smiles and kind words when you are out in the world. You might have to look hard, but love is always there. Instead of simply cringing at the homeless man sleeping under his coat, notice the way his dog is curled up against him. They might not have much but they have each other.

Practice being with the ugliness and the beauty at the same time, the despair and the hope, the disillusionment and the wonder. Your heart is big enough to hold it all.

Practice looking for and taking in the good stuff. Let it have as much weight in you as the bad does. You might need to carry a little notebook with you and take notes about what you see so you can remember it later. Go over it before you fall asleep. Hold it close.

And when you find your truest pain places, the ones that you can’t sit still with because they make you ache so deeply, know that is where your place of action lies.

I’ll talk more about that in the next post.

I’d love to know: What light have you seen lately?

Podcast catch-up: The Elements, Dolphins, Spirits & Tarot

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January has been a bumpy ride over here (more on that later). Right now I want to catch you up on what’s been happening over at the podcast, just in case you’ve missed this months’ shows.

January 11th show

The elemental new year shifts this week on February 4th. In this conversation with teacher, oracle, five elementalist and Chinese Face Reader Megan Potter, we talk about the impact the elements have on our year both personally and publicly. You’ll learn how to figure out which year you’re moving into and how best to work with its energy. Listen to this one ASAP if you haven’t already.

Listen here

January 18th show

Author and healer Belinda Farrell and I had a delightful conversation about ancient hawaiian healing methods, forgiveness, swimming with dolphins, releasing grief and her book, Find Your Friggin’ Joy. If you’re curious about Huna healing, Reconnective healing, Ho’oponopono or want to hear amazing stories about dolphin intelligence, this is the show for you.

Listen here.

January 25th show

If you’ve ever felt like you received a sign from a dead loved one but you weren’t reeaaallly sure if you were making it up, this show will have you in full body goosebumps (or happy tears). Intuitive advisor Liv Lane has seen angels and spirits since she was a little girl. She shares stories of messages sent from the other side and talks about specific ways spirits attempt to reach us. Co-author of the new book Infinite Purpose: Care Instructions for Your True Calling, she also talks about the way Spirit took the reins and how it is impacting magic-makers everywhere.

Listen here.

February 1st show

I’ll be honest and say for a long time I didn’t want anything to do with tarot cards. They felt dark and heavy and a bit scary to me. But I also know how valuable they can be as a tool for clarity in the hands of a talented reader. This week’s conversation with Theresa Reed, a.k.a. The Tarot Lady, answers all your (okay, MY) tarot questions and then some. We talk a little about astrology too. It’s a fun one. If you’re new-ish to tarot, this is for you. If you’re a seasoned reader, check out Theresa’s website, where she has a ton of offerings to help you go pro (or just get better at whatever you do!)

Listen here.

Sending you love and wishing you ease this week,
Alana

P.S. Create Your Magical Life listener numbers now place it in the top 9% of podcasts, according to statistics provided by Libsyn, the world’s largest podcast hosting company. To quote my friend Liz Lamoreux, “Holy Cats!” HUGE thanks to all of you who’ve been listening and sharing the show with your friends. I’m humbled and awed. 

Oracle Sunday: Demeter’s Blessings

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From the Goddess Knowledge Cards by Susan Eleanor Boulet Trust & Michael Babcock
From the Goddess Knowledge Cards by Susan Eleanor Boulet Trust & Michael Babcock

Demeter is the Greek Goddess of the the earth, of harvest, fertility and the cycles of life and death. Her grief over her daughter Persephone’s forced time in the underworld is responsible for seasons of lack and her joy at Persephone’s return heralds the new life and abundance of spring.

In this card, Demeter’s grief is about to end and the fullness of her body means a time of abundance, joy and hope is beginning.

Grief and hope walked hand in hand here in the United States this past week and other countries around the world. The aftershocks of the Charleston shootings. The Supreme Court ruling to expand the definition of marriage.  The apology to First Nations peoples in Canada. The terrorist attacks in France, Tunisia and Kuwait. It’s a messy time to be alive, terrifying, joyful and everything in between.

This card is here to remind us to hold on to hope, to believe that grace and goodness can walk hand in hand with grief, to stay open to possibility.

As you navigate your life this week and watch events playing out on the world stage, remember this message. Be brave enough to believe in tomorrow, to take action on your most heartfelt beliefs, and to speak your truth, with as much empathy and compassion as you can muster.

Card copyrights belong to their respective authors, artists, and publishers, and are used for example purposes. I encourage you to purchase the deck(s) that speak to you and get to know them on your own.

Mantra Monday: I am safe. I am loved.

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You are safe, you are loved.

I realize I am privileged to live where I am not in constant physical or emotional danger. This is not true for many people here at home and around the world, and I do not presume to speak to their experiences today.

For those of us whose fear stems from reliving the past and being afraid it will repeat itself, or projecting our own dire fantasies into the future, I offer these six words as an antidote.

*****

I don’t believe in fearlessness.

I do believe in trust, in courage and in the willingness to move through fear while acknowledging its presence.

Fear and I are well acquainted. When I learned it was part of my elemental nature* to be constantly dealing with fear, I heaved a sigh of relief. I thought there was something wrong with me, that fear was a place I lived so often.

I’ve done a lot to lessen my fear. I don’t watch many movies or read the crime novels I used to love so much. I stopped tuning in to anything that involves violence against women, children or animals (or really, violence of any kind). I don’t spend much time with the news.

I’ve learned that 99% of the time I am safe and so are the people I love.

I am not free of fear but I no longer feel tormented by it, and I’ve learned I can survive some of my worst fears coming true.

This week, when you notice yourself feeling afraid because of the story you’re telling yourself, take three deep breaths and repeat as many times as necessary, “I am safe. I am loved.”

Because it’s true and it’s so important to remember.

P.S. I often repeat this mantra while sitting with my daughter as she falls asleep, filling the space between us with its energy. You are safe. You are loved. You are safe. You are loved. I want her to know this truth both consciously (from the way her father and I live our lives and deal with our own fears) and deep in her bones.

P.P.S. I wrote a very similar post, using the same mantra, last June. If you’d like to read it, you can find it here. I’m chuckling that I didn’t catch it before I hit publish. At least I’m consistent (and the message is still relevant).

*I’m referring to the elemental natures of the 9 Star Ki, an ancient system of Chinese astrology based on the five elements of water, wood, fire, earth and metal.

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