Hi there

I thought it was because I am surrounded by my priceless nephews, two sets of twin boys I might add, that I have been so childlike lately.  Maybe it is because my father is battling ongoing sickness and I'm feeling more and more like I want to be daddy's little girl again. It could also be that I have just moved into my own place after living with my awesome aunt for two years, a move I didn't really want to make. 

Whatever triggered my nostalgic energy has done more damage than good and has plagued my work, self esteem and health for just over three months.  I had no clue that it had been so long, but when I realised I had called one staff meeting since the beginning of the year, had lower back pain from just after New Year's and was sleeping at my mother's house for nearly a week while my new apartment stood open and waiting for one simple coat of paint... I knew it wasn't nostalgia, but rather a bit of a crisis.

Truth be told, it was not my own realisation but the gentle coaxing of Greg and some other dear friends that opened my eyes.  There were no traces of depression, no fearful moments that occupied my mind and no signs that I was preparing myself for yet another shift in self realisation.

After the anger subsided that my friends dare question my need to stay with my mother while we worried about my father who was on a trip to Cape Town, I started to see the contrast in my personality against my recent patterns of behaviour.  I am an extremely organised and borderline obsessive person when it comes to time and structure.  I hate chaos and make sure that everything and everyone is fine tuned. I, most importantly, don't believe that anyone is not brave enough to face the obstacles that are thrown in front of them.

Then why was my house standing open, my vision board lying on the back seat of my car, my meditations not being done and my concerns lying with my mother over myself???

In forgetting how brave and wise we are, we also forget that the life journey of self discovery is ongoing and that the unconscious would know when the next big life changing moment was about to begin.  This time is always about telling yourself more truths, making some kind of change to accommodate the new realisation and then fearing the path that you will soon have to discover.  This time is most profoundly a step into the light after aimlessly wondering through the dark for far too long... this time is commonly known as THE DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL!!!

Seeing as I was stuck in childish play for my entire "dark night of the soul" time, I would like to indulge you in the experience as seen though my playful yet wise eyes.

To a kid, a favourite game has to be "hide and seek".  One stays in the light while another slips off to a dark corner to hide, in the hope of being found so the game can continue.  Let's imagine those two friends as the light and shadow, conscious and unconscious or healed and unhealed sides of your life shall we?

Once your playful friend has found a good place to hide and settles themselves down in silence, they merely wait in excited anticipation for you to peak over the couch, pull the curtain back or swing open the cupboard door.

You, on the other hand, find yourself feeling all playful in the beginning, laughing as you hopefully flip open the washing basket lid and confidently dash into the tool shed.  As time goes by your excitement turns to impatience, which then becomes frustration, building into a feeling of irritation and then finally... you just don't want to play anymore. 

That is all good and well, but your friend is still hiding in the shadows and there are two ways that they are going to emerge... either by you not giving up and remembering that it is just a game or by leaving it so long that they unhappily crawl out from under the table you have been sulking at for the last 10 minutes.

There is so much to be discovered about ourselves; our bravery, limits, uniqueness, talents, our mark we are meant to leave in the world or just how awesome our ideas really are.  Yet, instead of playing the game of life and looking for the friend within us, we wander aimlessly with a sense of frustration, an empty desire, a flighty persona or an unpainted apartment.

The dark night of the soul is a time that should stir up an uncomfortable and unfamiliar sense of the self. It should be taking you out of the comfort of who you choose to be and it most certainly should be forcing the ones who love you to finally sit you down and pose the question... "What's going on with you these days?"... and in my case... months!!!!!!

At that point you are only being reminded that you are playing a game with the undiscovered parts of the self.  Bringing that into the light is a truly wonderful life journey of discovery as you lighten up, have fun and enjoy the game of hide and seek with a beautiful part of yourself that is bursting to be found... only to run off and hide once again!

 

Personal Development Seminars, courses and lectures
Please contact me on +27 741 JODENE (563363) or email me at manifest@jodene.co.za if your are interested in any of the courses below

Evening Talk - Dark night of the soul
Once you have finished reading this newsletter you will have done something exciting and scary all at the same time... you will have reminded yourself of the game your are playing.

Greg and I will be hosting an evening on Wednesday, 7th May, where we will support you through the clear understanding of the dark night of the soul and will help you shed some light on the journey so that you don't get frustrated and give up looking for the friend hiding in the shadows.

 

One Day Seminar - Thanks to the Universe I'm all "F'ed" up
I will be running an intimate Saturday seminar in my home on Saturday 10th May from 9:30am to 4:30pm.  The cost of the day is R500 per person and includes lunch and course notes.  Payment secures your place.

Most of you who are receiving this newsletter have done the course and know its impact.  I encourage you to pass this onto someone who you feel could benefit.  Please let them contact me so that I can answer any questions they might have.

If you are still to do the course, I do hope now is the time and you find yourself ready to bring the undiscovered part of yourself into the light!!!

If you would like further information on any of the above events or would like to reserve your place, please email me or contact me on +27 741 JODENE (563363).

 

Contemplate this...
In order to seek it, you have to imagine it first.  Until then it does not exist...

 

Law of Attraction: Assistance with "Thanks to the Universe I'm all "F'ed" up
On Vision boards

My vision board is three pieces of A1 cardboard high and includes pictures of my one home overlooking the golf course and my other nestled by the seaside.  My two bulldogs are sleeping next to the pic of my husband sleeping in our 4 poster bed (advertising insurance when I found him in Cosmopolitan)... from being so exhausted after taking the kids to Disneyland while we were in the neighbourhood for my interview with Ellen DeGeneres.  Oh, and my book signing, trip to the Ice Hotel, more loving family moments and flush bank accounts.  Not overlooking my good health, a gorgeous bod and my library filled with first edition classic novels.

It hangs proudly on my office wall and can't be escaped even on the bleakest of days when I wish I could forget the world, never mind imagine a brighter one. 

I am going to be covering the concept of vision boards and its purpose and misunderstandings over the months that follow... but in the meantime... if you don't already have a vision board... start collecting pics of things you wish for.  If you do... please make sure it's in a place where you can see it... even when you stumble out of bed and try at all costs to avoid it.

 

Try this exercise for a few weeks...
Get your head around the understanding that you create your reality as you imagine it.  It does not exist until you see it in your mind's eye first.  Therefore, if you want something, all you have to do is see it... take some time for yourself and see what wishes and dreams waft through your mind... then start collecting pics or words that capture those images. 

If you have already done your vision board ... make sure everything you desire is there.  If not, continue to collect some pics that can be placed around the board or even added into those little gaps that you must have left for the strangest reason.

 

Share your story
Wow, the response from the newsletters has been such a humbling experience.  I thank you all for sharing your moments and reminding me of my place in this world...

Aaaaah, magical! What a breath of fresh air! I love the simplicity of what you have to say!

Most people, moi included, get so bogged down with the complexity of life and the thought of finding happiness is totally daunting! But YOU make it sound so easy and in fact it is! "I will not be negative and everything is attitude!" Spot On!

Thank you for showing us the "light" (which we have far too much of on the neon streets of Hong Kong!)   

Tonight, before I go to sleep I will for the first time turn off the power on my computer, in what I previously considered a measly attempt to save our planet ....

May the small but meaningful amount of energy that I save today be shed upon my dear friends back home x

With love from a festive new years eve in Hong Kong,
Kung Hei Fat Choi and wishing you a prosperous year of the Rat!
Hong Kong - February 2008

 

Greg's View on the World

The Dark Night of the Soul
When you are so far from God/Source (i.e. unconditional love) it feels really lonely and "dark". It feels like you are Jesus on the cross as you listen to yourself saying, "Oh God, oh God, why have you forsaken me?" So how do things get to that point? It is your ego and your self worth that are the culprits. They lead you down the path of lovelessness and stagnation; a place devoid of hope... and when you see the wall of the cul de sac you realise you have to walk all the way back. It is this pointlessness - this feeling of having "wasted" so much time - that brings the darkness. It brings more frustration (devoid of love for ourselves), which you manifest, making it even more difficult to turn around and start walking. And, of course, "no one understands". You are "alone", "unloved" and standing "at the end of the road"... a road you have created and chosen to walk along yourself. It is a road you needed to walk down to get back to Soul. Even in the dark night of the Soul, you are right where you are meant to be.

When the night is dark you are the light. You are everything that you have. Always.

The Dark Night is nothing to be afraid of and is very much a part of the journey of life, just as stones and speed bumps are part of a road. You shouldn't try to avoid these moments of darkness or perceived pain and frustration because they are as much an indication of your progress as they are of non-progress. These moments are what provide insight to your journey.

However, remember that you have not chosen a journey to be travelled alone - you have chosen family, friends, spouses, work colleagues ... and Jodene and I. Join us for our talk on this topic (details above) and we will help you to see the light the Dark Night is providing you - we will nudge you to take yourself over the speed bump and back onto the open road... ready for the next adventure.

 

All you have to do is ask...

Greg and I are loving the opportunity we have to share evenings and weekends with you. If there are any topics you would like us to cover please drop us a line. 

Bear in mind that we talk about it all... from making money, to fixing love lives, to understanding anything metaphysical, astrological and numerological... oh ... and Greg never minds an evening where he can let you know why your body is hiding its ailment or dis-ease.

Visualising seeing you soon...
Jodene & Greg