A Life Lesson from PINA & OVO

In one week I had the pleasure of seeing two rather spectacular performances that touched my heart and moved my soul. They were very different experiences, but in a weird way also had a lot in common, and both gave me a lot to think about. 

First was PINA (see trailer below).  PINA is a dance documentary in 3-D, by the wonderful German director Wim Wenders, who is best known here in the U.S. for his beautiful haunting movie WINGS OF DESIRE.  (That’s a must-see for metaphysical and spiritually minded people.) 

PINA is much more than a documentary, and for me was much more than a movie.  It’s a tribute to a brilliant German choreographer, Pina Bausch, with her dance troupe Tanztheater Wuppertal performing her beautifully staged choreography in various locations and sharing brief impressionistic memories of working with Pina. Like one of her dancers says, it’s as if she invented her own visual language.  That’s what makes her powerfully expressive dances seem almost like a new art form.  There are also snippets of tantalizing conversations with Pina herself, which left me wanting more. Being in the company of a great artist, even at the distance of sitting in a movie audience, is putting yourself in great company indeed.         

I was also lucky enough to see OVO, Cirque du Soleil’s show about the secret world of insects.  This was my first live Cirque du Soleil experience and boy oh boy, talk about pure fun and amazement.  The explosion of creativity – between the set designs and the costumes, plus the spectacular physical feats of the acrobats and trapeze artists – it’s a true feast for the eyes and absolutely awe-inspiring for the ‘inner child’.  And I wasn’t the only one - several times I heard a grown man behind me gasping in awe, shouting and clapping with abandon - just like a five year-old boy.  The whole audience was pretty much reacting the same way.  It was so cool!

Both OVO and PINA in their own different ways left me with a feeling of being wonderfully ‘full’ – that is - a genuine soul-satisfaction.  If you haven’t had that feeling in recent memory, I recommend both of these shows, or any Cirque du Soleil show… or in general, just saying ‘yes’ to any experience that can appeal to your inner sense of wonder, and could possibly provoke a feeling of awe. 

Trust your intuition and the promptings from your inner child as you explore life with an open mind to this type of experience.  It’s rejuvenating for your soul, opens your imagination and keeps you young at heart.  Even a five-minute walk through a natural setting with your eyes and heart open can get you there very quickly if you let it.  Or try strolling through any type of museum with a child - it could be about science, natural history or art and see if their curiosity and amazement rub off on you.

The way I see it, we have several choices in our overall approach to life.  It’s very possible to age without gaining wisdom, to get stuck in certain ways of thinking, being and doing – this is how to turn old and crotchety before your time.  Or we can resist the changes that come, trying to hold onto youth, which is also going to hasten a downward slide because what you resist persists.  If you believe aging is a bad thing then that will become your experience.  

Or we can remain curious, continuing to learn from our experiences throughout life, continually gaining in knowledge and wisdom, so that we can remain vibrant members in our community and have a lot to offer when we become elders.   Part of how to do this is to keep your inner child alive to the awe and wonder and magic of life.  The soul is what can keep us ageless and timeless, so if we stay connected to our own soul, life can be a marvelous journey despite the bumps and stumbling blocks in the road.  

PINA and OVO were both celebrations of the human body and what it can do.  The sheer joy of movement that we tend to give up the more time we spend in front of the computer, the TV and inside our own heads.

Pina’s dancers and the Cirque du Soleil cast are amazing examples of flexibility.  I always remember a dance teacher saying that just rolling on your spine every day helps keep your body young.  That is lying on your back, arms wrapped around your legs or holding your ankles and rolling back and forth.  It helps keep your spine flexible and guess what, a flexible body helps you keep a flexible mind.   Flexibility in the body, the mind and our emotional responses is one of the most important components of the ageless, young at heart approach to life.

Hear more life lessons from PINA & OVO and music from both on Soul Connect Radio.

Soul Swag

Recently, I have been riding on the bullet train of transformation; my Higher Self strapped me in and hit the gas before I could even catch my breath.  

I lived in an apartment that I was unhappy about for 11 years.  I stayed at a job for over 6 years that failed to inspire me and that I failed to bring inspiration to.  I prayed and asked for change on a regular basis and before I knew it, I got what I asked for.  I am no longer in that apartment and I no longer have the job. 

Although I have no regrets, this new landscape does not look quite like I imagined.  My Higher Self decided to “act as if” on my behalf.  I feel like the higher part of me is squeezing me emotionally and spiritually, trying to mine the gold within me that leads to health, emotional prosperity and joyful living.  My Higher Self has communicated to me – very clearly and in a loving way – that it will no longer allow me to drag my feet.  I know that I have an important job to do while occupying this physical body.  For a long while now, I have been denying my blessings by failing to deliver my gifts.  

Last week, I dreamt of myself in a swimming race where I was the leader.  About one-third of the way through the last lap, I just stopped and gave up.  I was in the lead, still had energy and just stopped cold turkey and failed to reach the finish line.  I see dreams as the Higher Self communicating with me and assisting me with my spiritual development.  Right now, I am unsure of exactly what this dream means.  Someone said to me that it sounded like a 'fear of success' dream. 

For now, I am just going to sit with it and allow more to be revealed to me as I am still not sure.  Right now, a part of me does feel afraid to step into the power of my soul, or as I like to call it, that swagger that comes with really trusting my instincts and intuition. 

When I trust myself, magnificent things happen.  I am challenged by the apparent conflict between what I see around me and what I know is possible.  Since I had this dream I'm more motivated to see my problems and doubts as opportunities to utilize my tools and reinforce what I know about the laws of the universe.

Creativity paired with intuition generates what I call soul swagger: knowing you're a part of the essence of everything, therefore negative judgement about yourself and others has no place.  Instead of breaking down, comparing and critiquing, you're focused on celebrating life, love and accomplishment.

I have been blessed with the ability to see things with my third eye.  I am a clairvoyant and intuitive.  I possess the natural ability and I have done the work and acquired the tools to make sure that what I read and see is based in truth.  From this day forward, I chose to embrace that and do all that I can to share these gifts to help myself and others to become more in alignment with our soul swag -the authentic and highest part of ourselves that works to deliver tangible magic. 

For the rest of the year, I will be helping Soul Medicine practitioner and my business mentor, Laurie Lamson facilitate energy clinics and follow-up group transformational healings to increase personal & collective soul swagger (more info.)

Lately, I have been inspired by one of the Queens of Soul Swag, Ms. Erykah Badu.  Talk about a Goddess radiating pure love and light.  She speaks directly to my Higher Self and my heart.  I am so grateful for her music and her energy.  Her music inspires me and reminds me how much powers lies within feminine creativity.  

Also, I would like to share with you some insight from my brother and one of my biggest supporters and role-models of ‘soul swag’, Mr. Emmanuel Dagher.  Check out one of his Energy Forecasts explaining the divine transformation that is taking place with our collective masculine and feminine energies titled: What is ‘Really’ Happening Right Now?  

Listen, read and meditate… get your soul swag on. 

Genuine Eyes

“If we can’t see things as they genuinely are it’s hard to create what we’d really like” – Dr. Jennifer Howard

Seeing things as they are can sometimes be challenging for even the most grounded. Right now I am challenged by bridging the gap between thinking positive/holding the highest vision and seeing the situation for what it truly is. 

Infinite Spirit tells me that visioning and visualizing the highest outcome can really only apply to things which are within my power.  When it comes to influencing others, it is best I look at the reality of how this person is behaving and use that as a marker for how to proceed; remembering that every living being has free will.  I can vision and have the best thoughts and intention towards another person and after that it is time to shift my focus back to where I can exercise influence – to myself and my own behavior.

On a personal level, I can change my reactions and interactions with this person.  I find that this space is one of the best places to begin the healing when dealing with a painful situation or relationship. 

First, I benefit by seeing things as they truly are and accepting them.  For example, “This situation is not working, time to move on”. 

Second, I forgive the situation and the person, moving me through the grief process. 

Third, I identify my participation and how that participation has contributed to the discord. 

Fourth, I take the responsibility by working on my hang-ups and issues, taking the time to honor myself by using my healing tools.  Whether it be reading, writing, or an appointment with an energy healer, massage therapist or counselor, to get to the bottom of my issues, it is important I take the responsibility to heal myself. 

Easier said than done, but the more I do this, this gets easier each time - I can bounce back from the trauma. 

Yes, I backslide on occasion, and the rewards are so much greater when I just forgive myself, move on and focus on the things that are within my power.  By remaining in a prayerful and gracious mindset - realizing that by being in constant communication with the Infinite Spirit I am consciously a part of my own healing and transformation – each day gets me closer to my innate creativity and closer to experiences I really like.   

Baby Genius: Mother's Teacher

Baudelaire once said that, “Genius is childhood recaptured”. 

I thought I fully understood this quote; however, after having a little one my own, I realized there was more to learn.  Babies come out genius and are born master teachers.  They teach us something new everyday about themselves and our surroundings... such as staying in the present moment and maintaining a state of resilient amusement. 

Staying in the present moment is where our power (love energy) resides. When we stay in the present moment, the past dissolves and we are unconcerned about the future, which allows us to let go of stress and needless worry.  By taking in what surrounds us, we begin to notice new and exciting perspectives on everyday objects, people and places, therefore, opening us up to receive clearer instant messages from our Higher Self, putting us more in alignment with our Divine nature. (See Laurie's article on Developing Intuition.) 

When I am on the floor playing with my daughter, totally engaged and present in what I am doing, I receive ideas and bursts of clarity which really energizes me.  This energy increases life force.  By increasing my life force, I am beginning to notice my emotional and physical body become more resilient. I mean, think about it, if we believe in the law of attraction, then we know that we attract what we focus on. 

Also, it is becoming easier for me to let go of my anger.  I may have been angry a minute ago, and now a new minute is here and I desire a different experience.  Watching my daughter learn to sit up, she would bump her head periodically (because it weighs a ton and could be mistaken for a weapon of mass destruction - she already given me a black eye!) and cry out in pain for the moment, then get distracted by one of her toys on the floor next to her and start smiling and laughing. 

Amazing. 

I am glad I got that lesson because it has made my life easier….and anything that makes life easier is genius!

(Listen to an interview with Jolé on Soul Connect Radio about her amazing healing journey from serious 'female problems' to motherhood.)

What is a Witch?

My idea of a witch was formed from The Wizard of Oz, the TV show Bewitched, Grimms’ fairytales and other stories.  These stories emphasized that a Witch was defined by how she chose to use her special powers.  The Wicked Witch of the West intimidates and enslaves others for selfish reasons, while Glenda uses her power to spread love and help Dorothy with her personal growth - more like how we think of an angel.

So to me a witch is someone with special powers with the free will on how to use them.  She might be tempted to harm others if she is self-centered, greedy or uncaring.  Or she can use it for good if she wants to contribute to the well-being of others and the planet. 

But witches still have a terrible reputation.  According to Wikipedia: Witchcraft, in various historical, anthropological, religious and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. Historically, it was widely believed that witchcraft involved the use of these powers to inflict harm upon members of a community or their property.

Witch-hunting was common and legally sanctioned in Europe for 300 years, reaching its fever pitch from around 1550-1650 - when thousands were convicted of witchcraft on flimsy evidence and mean-spirited accusations.  Given the huge numbers of alleged witches who were killed, in retrospect, this witch fever has been diagnosed as mass hysteria.  (See link below for a fascinating article on a number of these factors and some myth busting about the witch hunts themselves - as well as chilling information about witch hunts going on today).  

One factor not discussed in this article but I think still relevant - there were certain people who understood the power of plants - the calming, tonifying, healing effects of various herbs and combinations of herbs.  This must have seemed like magic at the time.  The medical establishment then (as now) treated patients a tad more aggressively.  Feel sluggish?  We’ll attach a few leeches and drain your blood.  Have a sore on your leg?  We better hurry up and cut it off.  The results were hit and miss and these doctors of medicine didn’t appreciate a mere woman getting results with her ‘magical’ concoctions.  It must be the devil’s work!

what if little girls could make magic in their own backyard?I wrote a book for girls called Witch Littles: Magic In The Garden.  A handful of people suggested I take the word ‘witch’ off the cover because some would be offended or frightened by it - even though the cover is light and playful. I was truly surprised by this  - after all, we’ve had a steady supply of entertainment featuring witches both good and bad.   Are people really scared of a children’s book?

That made me want to help reinvent the word Witch - so long associated with a negative, frightened idea about (empowered) women.  In this story, my little witches communicate with nature and discover how powerful their intentions and words are - that we have a real effect on the world around us. Because they are motivated by love, they choose to use their powers for good.

 And don’t we all have that choice?  We each have gifts and powers - and we each have the free will to choose how we use them.  Do we hide from our own power, pretending we’re helpless, feeling like a victim of life?  Do we use it to manipulate, cheat or hurt others?  Or do we use our gifts and powers to do good, to share love, offer assistance, help make the world a better place?  If so, Glenda the Good Witch could be an example of how to do this gracefully - she was there to help, without imposing her own agenda on Dorothy. 

So what’s the difference between magic and miracles?  “A miracle is an unexpected event attributed to divine intervention.”   To me, magic is using our free will and positive intentions to work with the divine - the unified field - infinite, unconditional love - whatever you call it - to bring about the positive results we desire - even if they seem impossible to achieve on our own.

Learn more about the European witch-hunts.