“Sabbatical Comes to Completion”
Here we are at September 2011 - how did that happen?! Time is truly accelerating and we are so blessed to be alive at this auspicious time as we evolve into a greater awareness of who and what we are as individuals and a collective global community. Our joyous challenge is to stay in love and move away from fear. This is not always easy. However, the pay-off is exponentially great if we choose to practice a consistent vibration of love.
At my last writing nine months ago, I described my initial journey of going on sabbatical from my volunteer spiritual leadership endeavors. Initially, I was encouraged to take six months of rest to walk a deeper and closer walk with the Divine. Prior to the fall equinox of 2010, I was exhausted and finding my life joyless from all of the activity. I realized that I was being driven by my ego, not by my heart. As I learned what sabbatical meant for me, I realized my joyous assignment was to “be love.” Currently, I am nearing the completion of a yearlong sabbatical. So what have I learned?
The formula that has evolved is not new—it is ancient: to find that quiet place, listen and then act in accordance with the guidance that is presented.
For me, the “download” from God typically occurs in Nature or while exercising. The first ancient formula that I received:
- BE STILL. It’s important to find that place for yourself where you can let mind chatter dim and allow yourself to connect with the Divine, however that shows up for you.
- LISTEN! Quieting inner chatter and outward activity, allows an environment for you to hear and raise your awareness to the presence that is always available. Your guidance will come in whatever way makes sense for you. It may be through meditation, a song on the radio or perhaps a dream. With practice, you can begin to discern what is divine guidance and what is ego.
- ENGAGE. Lastly, is acting on the guidance you receive and taking action. I know I am in accordance with divinity when I take action, and it feels smooth and easy. If I become overly anxious or emotionally upset, I know I have lost my way and am back to being driven by ego.
Again, it is important for you to find your own cues as to who is leading…your ego or Spirit.
It has taken all of a year to mindfully practice the “formula” for me to be living a much happier life. Allowing Spirit to direct my life takes much less energy and increases the quality of my life a thousand fold!
The other ancient secret I received is: the sabbatical does not end at the 2011 fall equinox! My formula is a way of life, not a temporary journey.
Knowing this, I will continue to live the teachings of Love and the formula of 1) Be Still, 2) Listen and 3) engage in divine-right Action. It seems a bit silly to outline something that appears to be so simple. However, truly embodying it is where the most fulfillment lives. Ultimately, I believe it is the path to Freedom.
I invite you to take your own sabbatical by slowing down your life, listening to the presence and taking action in accordance with It. You can practice over any length of time that fits easily into your schedule. The practice doesn’t have to be a struggle; it does require surrendering to your heart instead of your ego.
In this cataclysmic time of change, choosing LOVE over FEAR is paramount as we shed the old and make way for a new awareness and level of consciousness.
May you know how loved and blessed you are by the presence Itself.
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This article was published in the Olympian in September 2011 for their Perspective column.
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On Sabbatical
December 2010
When the minister from my spiritual center suggested I go on sabbatical from my duties as a licensed religious science practitioner, I had no idea what that really meant. What I did know was that I was exhausted after living at my “growth edge” and serving the community for many years. After much prayer, we decided I would take a break between the fall and spring equinoxes. I cleared my schedule and embarked on my journey.
I was relieved to be learning the practice of rest. Most people gear up in the fall and begin yearlong projects after some semblance of summertime rest. I thought how strange it is that within our culture we get busy in the fall and winter even though Nature teaches us these seasons are about dying to the old and moving into stillness. Being on a shamanic path, I realized how I had the cycles backwards… I was out of sync with the natural flow of the Universe. Despite what I was conditioned to do, I absolutely knew my calling was to slow down and listen more intently to the rhythm of my own divinity; allowing my personal ministry to unfold organically. The challenge was to surrender to Spirit’s desires instead of any desire of my ego.
While breaking old patterns, I continuously thought, “There is something I should be doing” and I would gently remind myself that wasn’t true. It was fairly easy to retrain my mind initially. As time went by, I searched for ways to serve my community and still be on sabbatical. My “doing” self was cleverly trying to usurp my time of rest! I finally realized I was not on vacation. Instead, I was being called to a closer walk with God! My daily mantra became, “How does the Divine wish to manifest through me today?” So far the answer has been, “To be love.”
In the first half of my sabbatical, I have more time to be truly present with what is. I’m enjoying time with friends, unstructured time with Spirit and my new spiritual practice of being Love! I am so incredibly grateful because there is an invaluable deepening occurring within my relationship with the Divine. When one is on sabbatical, it is a moving away from the world as we know it and moving more toward what is constant…that of the Divine. How delicious it is to make room to live from a more authentically present and grounded being.
Truly, it is an exciting time to be alive! It is paramount for us to stay grounded, centered and “in love” as we move from the old paradigm into a new level of consciousness. This is not always easy, because our default is to keep busy and be “productive.” The time is now to step fully into our power and the fullness of love as we rise to our greater good.
As we move through this holiday season, I invite you to experience your own sense of sabbatical and what that means to you. It may last an hour, a day, six months or longer. 
Whatever you are called to BE, I urge you to breathe into that essence and know it is a gateway to live your highest and best life. When each of us moves into the present moment and lives from our heart “in love,” we literally heal ourselves, each other and the planet.
I wish you all the love, joy, peace and bliss of the present moment as we share our gratitude and love this holiday season.
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This article was published in the Olympian in December 2010 for their Perspective column.
