Hi there 

A few nights ago I had a dream about a lioness. 

She proudly strolled through the city streets with people aimlessly walking by and almost ignoring her presence. I, on the other hand, was petrified of the wild cat and ran for safety. We have all experienced those dreams where we cannot seem to run fast enough or get away from the danger without feeling as if we are getting nowhere. I found myself cowering behind the closed doors of an abandoned shop as I watched the proud lioness make her way through the crowds and toward me. 

What a gorgeous creature she was, with her firm, muscular body and head held high. Her eyes pierced with intent as she set the compass in my direction. I watched each step as if she were walking on air and quivered at the thought of the impact one swoop of her paw could have on me. Death.

As she breathed against the glass and obscured my view, I felt the ice cold chills of fear run along my spine and flow into my veins. While she scratched her claws along the door and attempted for force it open, a little boy walked up to the fierce beast and put his small hand onto her head. Stroking her shining coat as he peered through the glass, he looked at me curiously and asked. “Why are you hiding?” 

“Because lions are dangerous and I am afraid she is going to kill me.” I cried 

“Lions are also proud, brave and show great strength. Not everything is out to hurt you ...” Before the lioness could finish her sentence, I shook myself awake and lay, petrified, in the darkness.

It was not the dream that kept me awake, but the thoughts of unfinished tasks and unknown outcomes. There I lay, curled up in my bed, wishing I could return to sleep and silence my mind from the irrationality of its fears. So, I ran from my dreams because I did not like the feeling it stirred within in and I was attempting to run from my waking hours for the very same reason. 

Days passed without the image of the lioness escaping my mind. Although she hovered in the background of my thoughts, there was not much time to pay her attention, considering the everyday obstacles and harsh realities I have had to face. When it rains, it surely pours and the more positive affirmations and courageous thoughts I have thrown at the situations, the more turmoil I seem to be finding myself in. The greater the issue, the harder I try and figure out what I am doing wrong and the more I am searching for what I need to change.

No wonder the lioness visited me in my dreams. She had an important message for me that night and if I had not been trying so hard to run from my fears I would have taken heed to what she was saying: “... Not everything is out to hurt you.” 

We have to ask ourselves why we wish for smooth sailing lives and turn to religion, spirituality, addiction or medication in the hope that the fear will subside. We meditate, pray, drink or take a pill all for the same reason: peace!

Yes, we might be suffering and riddled with burden but if we do not embrace it, we only perpetuate it. 

Stop searching for peace by trying to think, act or be different to who you intrinsically are. Stop thinking that the situations that present themselves to you are out to harm you and stop trying to figure out what you are doing wrong. 

Do not pray if you are hoping it will stop you from ever facing illness or pain. Do not meditate if you think it will increase your bank balance or find you true love because you are afraid of being broke or alone. Do not get lost in addiction if you think it will save you from facing the truth of how tough your life is. 

All our lives are tough, but that realisation should make us shout “Hallelujah”. 

When we face the obstacles in our path without doubting who we are or the choices we make, that is the only thing that will bring about any form of resolution to our current situations. No broken relationship, unsettled debt, lost job, illness or perceived failure is meant to take us from our belief in ourselves. It is all meant to make us stand up and take note of who we are and how we will thrive in the face of the realities of life.

DO NOT CHANGE!

That is the message the lioness was trying to tell me. Stop forcing change and for once in your life, stand firm in your self belief and cling to dreams and eventually you will witness change. 

Do not be angry at yourself for feeling afraid or having doubt because that will only perpetuate the fear. Do not think yourself a failure if you have not achieved what you set out to. Do not fight with yourself because of where you find yourself today Rather, ease up on yourself. It is the only way you can hear the roar of your heart and live a brave and proud existence.

Contemplate this …

Happiness is not a situation; it is a state of mind

Greg’s view on the world

The whole purpose of life is to experience the pull between ego and soul. 

I was reading through Jo’s blog post (see link below) and the responses to it and I was overwhelmed by the propensity we have to pontificate over peace, happiness, eternal love and joy … concepts that the soul is only too familiar with. So why do we seek this with such vigour when we are here to experience the pain, anxiety, fear and confusion that comes with having both the ego and the soul? They are so a part of the experience of life: these moments that we so naturally dread and wish to avoid. They give perspective and balance. Without these experiences life would be a monotone of even keel nothingness. We would move from one day to the next expecting nothing but the usual happiness and peace … fooled into believing that we should always focus on the positive and pay no attention to the other side; the side so vital to the experience of life … the side that will give you growth. 

Approaching the moments of confusion, pain and anxiety with innocence and the same enthusiasm that we have for the good times is the greatest gift we can give ourselves. Without them the journey would not be the amazing adventure it is. 

Have fun … or not. Both states are special.

Personal Development Seminar

Half price special 

Many of you have expressed your keen interest is the seminar, but have also aired your personal frustrations about the financial implications. 

R500 for a full day seminar on Saturday 22nd August 2009 (Johannesburg). 

The Universe Requests lays the foundation for any form of change you wish to bring about in your life and introduces you to the 5 fundamental steps as you manifest and awaken the life you know you can live.

For more information or to book please contact Jodene: manifest@jodene.co.za      

Blog entries

We hope you are adjusting to the change in format and encourage you to follow the links below to read the additional posts linked to this month’s newsletter. Please also use the opportunity to ask us questions or contribute to the discussions that are taking place.

Laws of Attraction: EOLV still spells love jodene.co.za/lawsofattraction/

Manifestation myths: The meditation myth 

www.jodene.co.za/manifestationmyths/

Don’t go changing 

Jodene & Greg