Archive for the ‘Living by Example’ Category

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From the mountains of Italy to the streets of S. Florida

November 8, 2011

Dinner at Eco

It is hard to believe that four months have passed since I arrived at Damanhur. What they say is true, time operates on a completely different plane here. What takes months to accomplish normally, is achieved in only days. Amazing! As I look out across the vineyards of my nucleo home Eco and out into the mountains of Northern Italy, I am reflecting on the topsy-turvy path that has brought me here. I know now that had I arrived in Damanhur any sooner, I would not have been ready to live this experience. Every lesson was necessary; every moment treasured. Thank you Universe, Higher Self, Friends, Family and Guardians for guiding my path.

In Damanhur, I have found a physical spiritual toolbox for all my individual personalities:
yvette with flames
  • Daily Magick and Ritual to reawaken the divine spark in each one of us
  • A desire to research and discover personal Spiritual Tools to navigate daily life
  • Community Living that creates familial bonds which include blood-ties and friendship
  • Sustainability and Artistry in Action
  • Wide network of friendships and work models that allow me to embody the rocker, teacher, healer, artist, student, trancer, performer, technology geek, bridge-builder, etc. in ME!

A wave of apology to all the people that have reached out to me for help in the last few months. Adjusting to my new schedule has taken quite a bit of maneuvering. Being far from a big city and in the mountains, the network connection is not always up to par, which has prevented me from doing online courses and healings. Until things change, I can only offer email support, which I personally think is better. With email support, you get a weekly checkin plus the ability to ask all your questions when they come to mind. I have also started writing again, so expect more from Inspirations from Binah!

In the spirit of full immersion reconnection, I am super excited to announce that I will be returning to S. Florida the last two weeks of November. What started off as a family trip, has of course expanded into a teaching and sharing  opportunity. Ada Novak recently opened the Laya Center in Davie, Florida and has asked me to give a presentation on Living Consciously:

Self-sufficient energy

Would you like to create a self sustaining, holistic and spiritual based lifestyle?

Please, join us for an eye opening evening filled with wonderful first hand information to help create a more conscience way of life. World traveling and now resident of the incredible Damanhur, Federation of Communities – A SELF SUSTAINING COMMUNITY OF OVER 1,000. yvette will share priceless  information on several topics including:

*HOW TO CREATE A CULTURE THAT ALLOWS HARMONY WITH THE WORLD*

*USE OF TOOLS AT OUR DISPOSAL RIGHT NOW TO CREATE COMMUNITY*

*HOW TO TUNE IN TO THE NATURAL WORLD*

*RECOGNITION OF BEING ALL ONE CREATION*


Music of the PlantsAdditionally, I will be demonstrating the music of the plants via a
bio energy translator which actually allows us to hear the vibrations
from the plants and the beautiful music they make!

Because of the importance of this
information and the need for all to receive it. This will be a donation
based class. Please, be conscious of the Energy Exchange.

 
Monday, 28 November 2011
7pm to 10pm

Laya Center – A Woman’s Sanctuary

10851 REAR S.W. 42 Place
954-401-5607

Abundance sometimes takes a little while to balance, but that seems like a good problem to have. Slowly life finds a new rhythm and I am happily navigating every new challenge and discovery. It is an privilege to share all that life has shown me… I am here to serve.

Blessings of loving light!
-yvette Soler
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Gratitude – Agradecimiento – Gratitudine

October 15, 2011

Pizza birthday party for IguanaEnglish first… después español… poi italiano

There are moments in life where everything stops, giving you chance to look around and reflect on what is happening. Tonight, I had one of those moments. In the midst of chatter and laughter, I was able to freeze the scene and take a good look at my life. The consensus… I am truly blessed. Thank you Universe for presenting before me the opportunity to live a life rich with love, friendship, family and sharing. I have worked non-stop almost 10 years to become the person I am today, reading carefully the signs to ensure that I transformed that which does not serve me… and it worked! Surrounded by my nucleo family, after an afternoon filled with music, dancing, love, sharing, honesty, tears, and laughter, my heart burst wide open as I realized that I have reached a new level of personal, life success. I bow down in deep gratitude for all that are walking this path with me. From all corners of this beautiful Earth and beyond, I feel and send love and joy. Thank you, thank you, thank you…

 

 

Hay momentos en la vida cuándo todo para y tienes la oportunidad de mirar a tu alrededor y reflexionar. Esta noche, tuve uno de esos momentos. En el medio del parloteo y la risa, congelé el momento y miré claramente mi vida. El resultado … estoy verdaderamente bendecida.  Gracias Universo por darme la oportunidad de vivir una vida llena de amor, amistad, familia y la habilidad de compartir. He trabajado sin parar casi 10 años para convertirme en la persona que soy hoy, leyendo con cuidado los letreros para estar segura que transformo lo que no me sirve… ¡y ha funcionado! Rodeada de mi familia de nucleo, después de una tarde llena de música, baile, amor, compartiendo, honestidad, lagrimas y risa, mi corazón ha reventado de la realización de que he llegado a un nuevo nivelo de éxito personal en mi vida. Hago reverencia para señalar mi agradecimiento profundo por todos los que están caminando en este camino conmigo. De todas partes de esta Tierra bella y más allá, siento y envío amor y alegría. Gracias, gracias, gracias…

 

 

Ci sono momenti nella vita in cui tutto si ferma, dandovi la possibilità di guardarsi intorno e riflettere su ciò che sta accadendo. Questa sera, ho avuto uno di quei momenti. Nel mezzo di chiacchiere e risate, sono stato in grado di congeralre la scena e prendere una buona occiata alla mia vita. Il consenso … sono veramente benedetta. Grazie Universo per la presentazione davanti a me, dell’opportunità di viviere una vita ricca di amore, l’amicizia, la famiglia e la condivisione. Ho lavorato non-stop di quasi 10 anni per diventare la persona che sono oggi, leggendo con attenzione le indicazioni per assicurare che ho transformato quello che non mi servono … e ha funzionato! Con la mia famiglia nucleo intorno, dopo un pomeriggio pieno di musica, danza, amore, condivisione, onestà, lacrime e risate, il mio cuore ha scoppiato come mi sono reso conto che ho raggiunto un nuovo livello personale di successo nella mia vita. Mi inchino in segno di gratitudine profondo per tutto ciò che stanno camminando con me in questo percorso. Da ogni angolo di questa Terra bella e oltre, mi sento e invio amore e gioia. Grazie, grazie, grazie ….

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Musical Reverie

September 17, 2011

Heavy Metal Magazine

 

Unexpected bliss
in late night expression.
Bouncy glee hard to contain.
Links to the past
connect in the present.
A new level reached.
Divine sparks attracted
across a sea of darkness
finding union in the exchange.
Singing, dancing…
Full body movement
touches the heart and spirit.
I bow low to the musical masters.

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Alone does not have to be lonely

August 15, 2011
Inside looking out

Inside looking out

It feels like forever since I have taken a day to sit alone and stare out into the world without being an active participant. Funny how life cycles through different phases. There was a time when I could not stand to be alone, always looking for someone to share space with. Then I moved into a solitary period that required hours of “me” time. Now I am in a comfortable hybrid mode — flowing freely in and out of a large circle of loved ones.

I have always been an action-oriented person. I believe in doing, not just thinking about things. When I was younger, this manifested in a very judgmental way. I couldn’t understand people that just sat there talking without doing. Then again, I also couldn’t understand people that acted without thinking about the implications of what they were doing. I spent many years frustrated because no one could live up to my expectations, including myself.

One day I realized that it was not the people that were wrong, it was *me*. I saw that in my world of ACTION I was not taking any time to understand why others acted differently. As I looked around, I found people that could accept the behavior of others, even if it was not something they liked. I wanted to find this acceptance — this ability to create solutions, not just see problems — but this was going to require something I didn’t know how to do: I needed to find and accept the true ME.

Who am I? What am I? What am I here to do? Burning questions that needed to be answered, for it is only when you know yourself that you can begin to understand others. When you are confident in your own abilities, you can see how others provide complimentary skills, therefore building a better team. I had a desperate desire to learn how to be comfortable in my own skin, to sit and listen to my thoughts without judgment, to love MYSELF in order to love others.

Instead of retreating from the world, I found my individual voice in spiritual community. In my first year of Kabbalah, my goal was to learn how to love my physical self. I stepped out of my chaotic world filled with people and took extra time to be alone. Alone was not something I did often so it took some getting used to. I explored every side of my physical, emotional, mental and spiritual self. There were many things I didn’t like, but instead of getting scared or depressed, I went into the world in search of tools – spiritual tools that would help me heal and lead me toward growth.

What I discovered was that I really like being alone; I like sitting with my own thoughts. And while I have a slight tendency toward running around in mental circles, if I allow myself to be vulnerable and share with a loved one what has me stuck, I can quickly get out of it. I am still emotional, stubborn and judgmental, qualities that can easily manifest in the negative if I am not careful, but I have also found the positive beauty in each one of those. Emotional does not have to be dramatic, it can turn life into a fun musical. Stubborn gives me the strength I need to find the best solution no matter how long it takes. And as for judgment, its positive reflection is discernment – the ability to see all sides of a situation and make a decision on what is best for all involved.

Going deep into my personal silence required me to open Pandora’s vase and acknowledge all my personal daemons, and like the mythical story, I found something quite magical sitting at the bottom: HOPE. Hope that I could become the person I wanted to be. That hope manifested in the form of deep Understanding. It is through Understanding that I accept myself and others. It is through Understanding that I release the negative side of judgment and find Beauty. It is through Understand that I find the balance between community and solitary.

As I stare out my window and watch community life from my quiet room, I am confident in the knowledge that I can happily navigate all aspects of myself. Some days I sit in silence, and some days I share with the world.

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Overload! Am I allowed to ask for help?

July 7, 2011
Information Overload

Information Overload

Ahhh…. I am sitting here staring at my computer screen with a list of projects to complete and absolutely NO IDEA how to complete them. ** Deep Inhale ** Long Exhale ** Centering Myself ** OK, that was a bit of an exaggeration –I know how to complete some of the projects. But as for the bigger ones, I am lost in information overload!

Am I allowed to admit that though? I know I am human and can’t do everything, but when people are relying on me to produce results yesterday, it is hard to come back and tell them that I need more time to process before I can actually start doing. Then again, isn’t that exactly what I want in my life, to work with people that would understand that all sustainable growth is a process that takes time?

In my old life, the results were all that mattered. It was the typical world many people still live in today where what you are feeling or going through doesn’t really matter — all that matters is that you get the job done at all costs. When I walked away from that world, I released that dynamic and now only work in environments where I can be free to communicate my personal growth process alongside the tangible results of my skills.

Right now, I am working on four independent projects, each with a set of smaller projects. It is probably too much for one person to manage, but I have a slight *passion* around building things with people that have vision and find it hard to say no when asked to participate. Of the four projects, one is fairly easy and only requires time and focus for another week. I have the skills and know what I have to do, I just have to make time to execute. For another, I have stated quite clearly what I can do, but the person I am working with hasn’t given me what I need, so that gives me some extra time. For the other two, that is where the mental overload steps in.

These two projects are my life passions; these are the projects that are physical manifestations of my life purpose. One is solitary, the other in a group. The goals are other-worldly and when I reach them I will have far exceeded anything I ever thought possible in my life. Both have external people fully invested in making them successful and are looking for me to execute with precision and skill.

Are you getting a sense of where my overload feelings are coming from? It is amazing that I have finally reached a point in my life where people believe in me, but man’o'man is it intense. Not stressful in the mindless sort of way. On the contrary, I go to bed every night counting my blessings for being given these  opportunities, but there are still only so many hours in a day. And while I have shed the “fear” of disappointing others, I would like to make them proud. Add to that my superhero desire to learn a fourth language, perfect my third language, and really get to know the dozens of new people I am meeting daily… well, that leaves very little time for even sleep.

From the front row

From the front row

Both projects require *me* to come up with the game plan. There is no one that can give me a list of tasks; I must create and execute. I am working both pillars at the same time: action and integration, form and force, giving and receiving. So when I open my spiritual toolbox to find what I need, the first thing I pull out is not a physical thing at all. Yes, there are some physical tools such as flower/crystal essences, altar intention, focus rituals, etc, but the biggest tool is my professional and personal community. This is the spiritual tool I have been cultivating for the last seven years, and now is the time to use them all.

So tonight, instead of beating myself up or worrying that I am not doing enough, I am turning to the people around me and asking for help. I am calling out to friends who remind me why I am doing all this, work partners to brainstorm solutions, business partners to update expectations and non-physical guides to reveal my path. I also call out to you and ask for blessings and positive energy to fuel my work. I am connected to the collective consciousness of humanity… I am building the collective consciousness of humanity… I AM the collective consciousness. Now is the time to acknowledge that connection and allow its power to show me what I need to execute with ease, and have fun doing it.

True success is found in harmony, union and balance. Thank you for being a part of my process.


yvette Soler is the voice behind Inspirations from Binah providing practical spiritual advice on every subject. If you are looking for advice on a specific question, browse through the questions asked under Recent Advice or submit your own question. All questions are encouraged, for when you are in the thick of things, there is no such thing as a small problem.

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The message I needed came with Red Shoes

June 19, 2011

15 junio 2011 - 15 June 2011I was sitting on the metro on my way home after a night out with friends. You know those days when you realize that you are spilling your guts about the most intimate, and often times embarrassing, thought processes, monopolizing the night’s conversation? That was me on this particular night.

My friends were patient and understanding, letting me process out loud. They provided valuable insight, sharing perspective you only get from the outside. I really needed it and was incredibly grateful for their willingness to endure my rambling. After years of conscious work, I have manifested the types of friendships I dreamed of as a teenager. My friends are incredible, providing the perfect mix of support and honest reflection.

On the metro, I was sorting through my feelings and the advice I had received, looking for the final piece to complete the puzzle. I started to look around to step outside myself and read the signs the Universe always provides. Sitting across from me were three women all wearing red shoes. Three strangers each wearing something completely different and yet all wearing red shoes. It had to be a message!

I let myself drift into a trance staring at their shoes, feeling Geburah’s energy swirling around me. Strength, justice, judgment, force, discernment… what was she trying to tell me? I was obviously unbalanced, but did I have too much or too little? I opened myself up and allowed her energy to enter directly into my being. And just like that, it all became clear.

When I was an actor, I always started my character development with shoes. I knew that if I found the shoes my character wore, I could easily slip into her persona. Shoes form a base, expressing the foundational emotions. I stepped outside my body and stepped into an etheric pair of red shoes, connecting to the knowledge I had not been able to access in my waking state. The final piece was handed to me, locking into place to complete the puzzle I had been working on all night. A blessing by Elohim Gibor. When the train stopped at the next stop, I stepped out confidently, gaining strength  with each stride.

 

 

If you are looking for advice on a specific question, browse through the questions asked under Recent Advice or submit your own question. All questions are encouraged, for when you are in the thick of things, there is no such thing as a small problem.

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Can life be as glamorous as in the movies?

June 15, 2011
Getting some HOT TEA!

Getting some HOT TEA!

Sitting at a café on the beach looking out over the water JK said to me,

“Does perfection exist? Is there a place in the world that has all the good, but none of the bad? How will I make my dreams sustainable? I don’t want to live a dream for a short period of time just to be thwarted back to square one as reality strikes. I guess what it comes down to is that I am searching for sustainable freedom in the world we live in. Maybe I still want to believe life can be as glamorous as in the movies!”

There was a long period of silence between us after he finished. I was taking mental inventory, measuring my life up against the standard he had just created with his declaration. Knowing JK, I understand exactly where his comment was coming from, but did it also apply to me?

JK has fears. “Fears” is probably too strong. He doesn’t fear because he has decided that feeling is too risky in life. JK has… “blah”. At some point he decided that the chance of failure if he attempted to do something that could altar his life direction was too great so he shut down his emotional core. He is mildly successful, living an easy life filled with spurts of fun mixed with intense boredom — and that is just the way he likes it… most of the time.

JK has a steady job, a few good friends and a comfortable home. His best friends gave up on him long ago, accepting what they get. In truth, some of them secretly like JK’s attitude because it means that they will always think they are better than him. A harsh statement, but years of observation and chats with mutual friends has proved this to be true. Unfortunately for JK, this causes toxic energy that adds to the ‘blah’ and making him feel all alone.

In that prolonged silence, I left behind my thoughts of JK and compared his words to my life. “Sustainable freedom.” What a beautiful phrase. I thought about Timothy Ferriss’s book, The Four-Hour Workweek:

“…there is no need to wait and every reason not to.”

Lambrusco y foie gras con rocafort - 1 €

Lambrusco y foie gras con rocafort - 1 €

And that is when I realized that I *am* living a life as glamorous as in the movies. Almost seven years ago I left behind the corporate 9 to 5 job to follow my dreams. Since then, I have lived in various countries, worked with a list of artists and companies that continuously inspire me, taught in conferences and classrooms around the world, written a book and am about to embark on a new adventure living and working in a globally recognized eco-society. From Cirque du Soleil to Damanhur, I would say those are pretty movie worthy experiences!

Going back to JK’s comment, how is it that I am making my dreams sustainable both emotionally and physically? My lifestyle is unique and can be isolating and financially draining if not managed correctly. Is it just luck that I seem to find a way to create community and a way to sustain myself everywhere I go?

Anyone that knows me knows that there is one thing that drives me: I LOVE WHAT I DO. It is that simple. When I am passionate about something, I will work tirelessly. I take good care of myself, allowing ample downtime with friends and alone, but when I am inspired, there is no stopping. And in that sentence there lies the key: I require *constant inspiration*. So how do I find it?

Clouds over the mountains

Clouds over the mountains

Walking through the city late at night the other day with my headphones on, I noticed that without thought I was singing and dancing down the street. The same thing happens on the metro. I have also caught myself laughing out loud while reading books in public, climbing up gates to smell pretty flowers, randomly taking pictures of animals and objects, wrapping my arms around trees to exchange energy, staring out my window to admire the sky as I work, spontaneously hugging my friends… in short, inspiration lies everywhere when you allow yourself to see the beauty of the Universe.

BREATHE DEEP - Jasmine

BREATHE DEEP - Jasmine

So if I love what I do and am inspired by the world around me, then I trust that the Universe will provide me with all the messages I need to guide my life of sustainable freedom and allowing me to follow my dreams free of fear and hesitation. Every opportunity is exciting; every event a new adventure. So what if now and again I am thwarted back to what appears to be square one? I probably learned something valuable effectively making square one actually square 1.5, and I am confident that the new path will be even better than the previous.

So maybe that is what JK has really lost — his sense of wonder and inspiration? I hope he finds it. Life is much more exciting that any television show or movie when you surround yourself with people and places you love and support all the crazy things you do in the name of INSPIRATION!

 

 

If you are looking for advice on a specific question, browse through the questions asked under Recent Advice or submit your own question. All questions are encouraged, for when you are in the thick of things, there is no such thing as a small problem.

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Have you ever been touched by a Musical Angel?

June 11, 2011

When visiting the Duomo in Milan, I started to hear music and realized that sometimes you aren’t supposed to analyze anything — you are just supposed to…

Photos and video by yvette Soler
Background music by Tajmahal

 

 

If you are looking for advice on a specific question, browse through the questions asked under Recent Advice or submit your own question. All questions are encouraged, for when you are in the thick of things, there is no such thing as a small problem.

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An Energy Boost Brings you MORE

June 8, 2011

As a writer, I am constantly looking for the perfect words to express my emotions, but sometimes… they just don’t exist. The amount of beauty I have seen in the last two weeks fuels my faith that we *are* changing the world — one step at a time. I won’t deny that we are still on the uphill side of the battleground, but we are fighting hard and making a difference. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for constantly pushing yourself to be better than you were the day before! It reminds me of my favorite quote:

Our lives are the books people read.

By the way we live and the words we speak, we cannot stop setting an example.

~Anonymous

In May, Eternal Light Energy announced an international search for artwork and poetry for my upcoming book, Your Spiritual Toolbox, Guide to Practical Spirituality. Almost daily, new art and poetry came in. Each piece expressed the artist’s passion. Your Spiritual Toolbox has been a co-creation since the very beginning. Each tool was inspired by a question submitted to Inspirations from Binah, and now every poem and illustration comes directly from your creative mind. It has been an incredibly inspiring experience to read through Your Spiritual Toolbox and match spiritual tool to work of art.

Thanks to you, the manuscript is complete and is being submitted to various publishers. Please send abundant manifestation energy so that the perfect publisher sees the importance of presenting this collaborative and inspirational work to the world!


Writing Notes with Grammy

Writing Notes with Grammy, on Flickr

With the book complete, I am moving into a new level of teaching and writing. Monthly study group classes in Sacred Geometry and Kabbalah constantly have me searching for new lessons. I have been studying architecture, physiology and history to gain a greater understanding of how to best create spiritual tools to flow directed energy. Between this new-found energy and my recent trip to Damanhur, I find my sleep patterns altered to include more work in dream time in less hours. ~~ Energy Explosion! ~~

One of the marvelous consequences of this energy boost has been more sharing through Inspirations from Binah and the Practical Spirituality Fanpage on topics like:

  • Looking for love filled relationships
  • Learn how to better accept uncertainty
  • How to live an abundant life
  • Soul searching and self-love
  • Releasing in order to grow

 

Every day is an opportunity to learn something new. Share your experiences and become part of the Practical Spirituality community!

If you are looking for advice on a specific question, browse Inspirations from Binah or submit your own question. All questions are encouraged, for when you are in the thick of things, there is no such thing as a small problem.

If you would like to deepen your knowledge in a specific area, visit Eternal Light Energy and explore the Workshops and Study Groups.

If you are not sure what you are looking for and would like to have a guided, spiritual consultation, yvette is available for frank Spiritual Discussions.

 

Time for me to get back to writing, I have an article due for Presence, the online magazine by Whispers of Spirit. If you have any suggestions on the topics you would like to read about or a question for Inspirations from Binah, send me your ideas!

Let the pen, or keyboard, be your sword!

-yvette Soler

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Should you Walk a Labyrinth?

June 3, 2011

In 2008, I was sitting at an airport in some long forgotten country and decided that I really needed a book. It had to be something frivolous. I read constantly, mainly books on Kabbalah, Sacred Geometry, Astral Travel… basically anything that touches even the fringes of my spiritual world. I love learning, and with each book or article I get the chance to integrate another area of study. But sometimes, it is just too much. My brain needs downtime. And since I don’t watch TV, in those moments I look for a silly novel to occupy my mind while my spirit integrates what was recently ingested.

The Rose LabyrinthI walked into the airport bookstore looking for fantasy fiction, or even better, chick lit. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a book with roses, simple red letters and a labyrinth on the cover. Hmmm…. what is this? The Rose Labyrinth by Titania Hardie. It read:

From bestselling British author Titania Hardie comes a mystical fiction debut that takes readers on a romantic journey from Elizabethan England to modern-day London where a centuries-old secret awaits.

This could be interesting. It fit all the requirements: novel, romance and intrigue, but it also touched on my favorite subjects: labyrinths and magick. SOLD!

The Rose Labyrinth is a decadent, romantic novel with a historical twist. It features a wonderful mix of literary references from Shakespeare to the Romantic poets to Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It also has the folklore and history of Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Paganism mixed with astrology and numerology.

As is to be expected, I devoured the book in record time, captivated by its riddles and imagery. For anyone that studies the occult, much of what Hardie writes resonates. Of course, it is a fictional story line, but that does not negate the truth of the details. For someone like me, it was a wonderful read.

Fast forward 2 1/2 years, and again I found myself looking for some light reading. I pulled out The Rose Labyrinth and effortlessly became involved in the lives of Will, Lucy and Alex. This time, my personal setting was different, making my experience much more visceral. I was immediately hooked into the process of walking a Labyrinth, since this has been a recurring theme for the last few months.

During my acting days, I was cast in a play called, “Searching for Julie Wisch.” My character was a modern day Ariadne, based on the legend from Greek Mythology. At that time, I was slowly awakening to my spirituality and instantly felt a deep connection to Ariadne, her husband Dionysus and her half-brother the Minotaur in the labyrinth. Since then, these have become integral parts of my spiritual development. I have played the part of a crazed Bacchante, studied in depth the Greek legends associated with Ariadne, worshiped Dionysus and even designed a circus performance piece based on the entire tale. You could say, I feel deeply connected to Ariadne and all she embodies.

At the center lies a labyrinth – that continuous path that leads you through a maze that disorients the senses and carries the soul. After reading The Rose Labyrinth for a second time, I knew I had to walk one, but how?

I almost missed my first opportunity, since it was not what I expected. I was on a teaching trip and was colouring mandalas to work through my emotions. I choose one randomly and started to draw, thinking I would create a kaleidoscope of color. But the lines never ended, they wound around and around in one continuous stream. I stopped mid-way through and realized I had chosen the Chartres labyrinth, which takes you from the outer edge to the center in one continuous path. It was exactly what I was going through emotionally, and combined with the color chosen provided great insight.

While coloring is fun, it is not as satisfying as physically walking a labyrinth. The urge to close my eyes and walk a path was burning inside of me, but I had no idea how I would satisfy it. Should I go to Chartres in France? Are there other labyrinths open to the public? How does one go about walking a labyrinth, and what will I get out of it?

Two weeks after reading the book, I was called to the magickal world of Damanhur. Damanhur is a thriving eco-society of nearly 1,000 people, located in the foothills of the Italian Alps (not far from Torino and Milano). Damanhur is 65% self sufficient, has its own currency system, exemplifies application of the Earth Charter, and has been named by the United Nations as a model for a sustainable future. Over the past 30 years, Damanhurians hand built, in secret, a magnificent underground Temple, a tribute to all known divinities of humankind. Once revealed, The Temples of Humankind, became recognized as the Eighth Wonder of the World (http://www.thetemples.org/en). Damanhur is also a magnet for the world’s cutting edge thinkers and activists, including Julia Butterfly Hill, Ervin Laszlo, Prof. Paul Ray, Dr. Patch Adams, Dr. Masaru Emoto, Sting, Alex Grey, and other spiritual leaders.

The mythology of this reality rivals any science fiction world you might know, and is represented in the art of the community, numerous books, two graphic novels, volumes of research and a very complex and rich alternate physical reality. In addition to being called “a model for a sustainable future” by the United Nations, Damanhur is an Esoteric Community on a mission (think “Hogwarts for adults”).

As we were guided through the territory, we came upon various labyrinths. As it turns out, Damanhurians regularly use labyrinths in their meditative practice. On a sunny Saturday afternoon, I stepped into my first labyrinth and began to walk. I didn’t know what to expect, I just knew that this was what I had to do. As I held in my hand the medallion that activated my particular path, I focused on my feet and let everything else fade away. Its geometry followed an unknown course since each intersection lead to multiple avenues. My first turn took me down an unexplored path, my friends each choosing a different direction. I disappeared from site behind a structure and was able to walk with only nature and the unseen world with me. With each step, it became more clear that everything I needed in life was within me; I am a fully contained machine connected to anything and everything I would ever need in order to create my ideal world. And as I rounded the last corner and stepped out of the labyrinth, the first thing I saw was a spectacular view of the Italian countryside which screamed:

The view from a community
“AND YOU MUST MANIFEST IT OUT THERE!”

It was a loud and clear message that resonated for hours. Not only do I have everything I need, I am not supposed to keep these gifts inside of me or isolate them to a small group of people, I need to share them with the world. Message received. As I hugged the totem tree on the property to give thanks to the elementals that guided my walk, I felt my heart and mind lock into a new synch. Something was different about me, change was in the air.

The following day we returned to the main grounds to explore and commune with the nature spirits. A large, spiral labyrinth called to me, and after meditating in the square of the Open Air temple, I walked over and began my preparations. This is what I had been guided to since I first bought The Rose Labyrinth; this was going to answer questions I didn’t even know I had…

 

 

If you are looking for advice on a specific question, browse through the questions asked under Recent Advice or submit your own question. All questions are encouraged, for when you are in the thick of things, there is no such thing as a small problem.

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