Summer’s beginning to wind down and a chill has come into the air in the early mornings. It’s harvest time! And the gifts of the season are abundant. As the time of daylight decreases and the darkness of the nights increases, it’s a time for us to keep our inner radiant light shining, as we move into the darker time of the year.
With St. Hildegard’s Feast Day this week, September 17th, I’m once again inspired by what courage she had to overcome her own fears and anxiety about recognizing and living her soul’s purpose in the world. Shining her radiant light into the world!
As you’re journeying down the path of your soul’s purpose in this phase of your life does fear or anxiety rise up within you? Do they become stumbling blocks to moving forward? Fear that maybe you’re inadequate or not enough? Fear that you’ll fail or that others won’t want what you have to offer? Does this cast a shadow on your shining light that stops you from moving forward on your path?
Fear is a natural part of being human, of course! But we can take charge of how we respond to our own fear. Whether we let it paralyze us or overwhelm us or whether we work to move beyond it so that we can bring what the world is waiting for us to share.
Be curious about the fear or anxiety that arises in you. Why’s it here? What’s its origin? Does it remind you of a fear that served you in the past? Is it serving you now?
After understanding this better, remember that your soul’s purpose is waiting to be shared in the world. Now’s the time to gather your courage to move beyond any fear or anxiety. To overcome your own inner dragons that may manifest particularly during this season.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” Marianne Williamson
With this impulse of courage to let our own light shine, we can bring about new and powerful ways of thinking and living in our communities that will be fruitful. And others will find their own inner strength to do the same.
I hear St. Hildegard’s words from her Second Vision in Scivias, as she shares, “And again I hear that one speaking: …For when the land is tilled with a great deal of labor, it brings forth a lot of fruitfulness. It is similar with the human race because after the fall of humanity, many virtues rose up to help…
This week let’s explore 3 virtues that we can call upon to help us with the hard work of “tilling the soil” or gathering our courage to move through fear and anxiety to shine our light in the world. In so doing, our harvested fruits can be shared, and even grow and flourish in the world as others receive and feel empowered to do the same. An abundant harvest, creating transformation in the world!
1. Compassion – as you struggle with your own anxiety and fear, take a moment to find compassion for yourself. Be gentle and kind. Offer loving kindness to yourself for who and all that you are. Then offer loving kindness to others in the world. Know that they too struggle and experience fear or anxiety. Feel compassion towards them on their paths in life.
2. Tranquility – When a surge of restlessness or anxiety or anger flows through you, search to find a place of peace and tranquility. Lean upon the help of Mother Nature who will calm us. Then do some slow, conscious breathing. As a wave of tranquility moves through, think of others who may also be in need of this. Recognize that they are also in need of tranquility at times of anxiety or anger.
3. Generosity – As obstacles arise in your path, be especially generous in love for yourself at this time – generous with compassionate understanding and kindness toward yourself. Generous in self-care and recognition of the light that longs to shine. And then extend this generosity to others – offering understanding and kindness as they work through their own obstacles.As we call upon these virtues to support us in walking the path of our soul’s purpose, our light will shine through the darkness. And an abundant harvest we’ll have! The fruits of our labor.
If you are feeling stuck in fear or uncertainty, I invite you to sign up for a free initial consultation with me!
