Lessons from the Desert

I've received healing and lessons from the mountains, desert, plants and animals again and again. I've shed tears of despair and danced with joy on the earth, and all was received without judgement.

When backpacking in Death Valley last year, I was visited by old, outdated, painful stories. When I say ‘visited’, I mean slapped in the face with, knocked to the ground by. You get the idea. It was painful.

There's no hiding in the desert - the desert has a way of bringing things to the surface fast. Each step was a struggle to stay present and finally I stopped walking, frustrated and emotionally exhausted, and asked for guidance. What do I do? How do I make this stop?

This is what the desert shared with me:

"Start by going inside. Quiet. Listen to the whispers of the winds - therein lies your answer and follow that. Yes - follow what comes forward and always you will be guided to that which is to come next for you - in beauty and in love. Stop the questioning of self, the questioning of others and focus on what is in front of you, what wants to come forward through you.

"Don't pay mind to those around you who may appear not to understand or care. They are having their own process, learning and exploring in their own way. Offer blessings and let them go in your heart. Don't hold on. Free them from your energy field so you may be clear. Clear in mind, heart and spirit. Learn more about love, through experience, exploration, intention, experiential research. Feel love through every cell, feel the love of mother earth in your body.

"Be true to yourself - always. This is where we begin. Be honest with yourself, letting go of ideas you have about yourself. Let it all go. Allow the canvas to be blank and listen to what wants to be painted next. Follow THAT. No hesitation - follow what is there and keep moving, but allow the space for silence so what is next can emerge. Connect with those that call to you, bless the rest. In light and with love."

And so the journey began.