​We are right in the thick of it. 

That magical time of the year when dreams come true and long held wishes solidly land and flourish.

This is the time of manifestation magic. 

In the plant world, Spring is the prime time for planting seeds. In the Fall we enjoy a bountiful harvest. There are similar cycles in the realm of inspired human creativity.

For us, Spring is a time of inspiration. It is a season of fleeting new visions and fresh inspiration. These seeds of inspiration are being planted within us by our own soul. When these Springtime impulses are recognized, embraced and nurtured, they naturally flourish and come into greater expression in the embodiment cycle that unfold in the Fall.

Most people go through these yearly creative cycles without even knowing about them, much less consciously working with them. Attuning to these natural creative cycles involves going with a flow that is much greater than what we could ever hope to muster on our own. Embracing them is a powerful way to invite more grace and ease into you life. 

We are now fully immersed in the time of embodiment and manifestation magic. It is time to harvest what we have been nurturing in recent months.

Working with these cycles is like learning to catch a wave at just the right time... and then letting the powerful force of the ocean carry you blissfully to shore. Catching the wave is way more fun than paddling all the way to shore on your own.

Catching these waves of inspiration demands that we clarify where and how we are using our creative energies, rather than letting them be diffused and scattered. 

What new vision has been calling to you in recent months? 

This new vision may be a way of being that you are cultivating inwardly. Deepening trust, anyone? Yearning to express more loving kindness in your life? More calm and clarity? Or maybe the vision has to do with creating a new home that supports you more fully, or deepening authenticity in your relationships, or expanded service in your community.

Whatever your inspiration is taking you, this is the season to name it and go for it.

Take a moment to deeply consider what you are giving birth to this fall.

My attention has been on self acceptance, vitality, and expanded service in recent months.

People around me are focussed on embodying and manifesting these qualities and experiences more fully during this year’s embodiment cycle...

Trust.

Abundance.

Love.

Creating a Podcast as a platform for expanded service.

Renovating a new home.

Better Sleep.

Once you have clarity about the nature of what you are embodying and manifesting in this year's creative cycle, focus with all your might on that inspired vision. 

Do not let yourself become distracted from this soul inspired creative work.
 
All kinds of circumstances will come along to disrupt your flow and knock you off your board. Drama and trauma in your life, and in the world can easily get in the way. You may be distracted and overwhelmed by circumstances over and over again. Elections, natural disasters, and health challenges are distracting many during this year’s season of manifestation. 

In the midst of it all, this is the most important point to remember…

Do not lose sight of the inner vision. Even if you have fallen in the water and feel like you are drowning. Do not waste the precious inspiration and soul momentum you have been nurturing (consciously or unconsciously) for months.

You always have the power to refocus on what matters most and paddle like crazy to catch the next big wave coming your way.
​
All Love,
Ariana

​In the initial stages of embodiment we are called to become more attuned to the love, wisdom, and strength of the soul, so we can more fully live and express these qualities through our whole being.

As embodiment progresses, your mind gradually clears and quiets. Self defeating thought patterns shift and emotional healing occurs. The subtle connections between heart, mind, soul, brain, and body are gradually rewired so that authentic, healthy, and appropriate responses and interactions spontaneously emerge in the moment. 

Outer circumstances have less influence on your sense of well being.
 
You feel a deep grounded presence.

The ups and downs of life gradually take on less significance.

Authentic and clear communication arises naturally through your conversations.

You shine brighter.

Clear intuitive knowing is a regular occurrence.

You feel gloriously hijacked by spontaneous waves of love coming to and through you.

There is a loss of interest in drama—yours and theirs.

Your magnetism increases and you feel truly beautiful.

Laughter and lightheartedness arise unexpectedly.

You look at the world through soft empathetic eyes.

Spontaneous miracles and unexplainable life enhancing “coincidences” occur regularly.

There is an apparent reversal of the aging process.

Expanded opportunities to share your unique gifts unexpectedly enter your sphere.

Creative surges take you into wild territory you’ve never known before.

You discover super powers you never knew you had.

Through embodiment, you find a new stability as you begin to feel solidly anchored in this fresh clear state. Even though you may still feel pushed around by circumstances from time to time, there is a newfound strength that is strong and consistent. You now have a deeper understanding of what is means to feel really centered.

In this stage, you are more fully yourself then ever before. 

You appreciate yourself for who you are, rather than dwelling on who you would like to be. The fantasy projections that you can never quite live up to begin to lose power and influence in your life. The “not enough” illusion you have danced with for so long begins to fade away.
 
The constant effort to improve yourself gloriously dies down and is replaced by feelings of equanimity. You still want to explore and evolve, but these impulses come from a completely different place than they used to. They come from a genuine desire to learn and grow, rather than a sense of not being just fine the way you are. 

This deepening self acceptance sparks strong feelings of self love, which is a powerful sign that this part of the embodiment process is unfolding in healthy ways. 

This growing self love isn’t narcissistic or egotistical. It’s more pure and clear, emerging out of a deeper recognition of who you are in your fullness. 

This is a time to celebrate yourself and all you have done to get to this shiny new place. It has not been easy. Yet it has been totally worth the struggles and egoic tug of wars; the tortured moments when you resisted surrendering to a higher way; and all the time and energy it took to stay true to your path. Especially when others scoffed at you or doubted you, and thought you were a little bit crazy. Or maybe even a whole lot crazy.

Delightfully, you come through this period with something totally unexpected. It isn’t quite the happiness you expected to feel, but something much richer and more nourishing. 

You feel content. It is a soft sure comforting feeling that all is well, and it ALWAYS has been. Even when you were rocking and rolling in trauma and drama. 

You find yourself in a more solid state, even as life presents you with a fresh load of challenges. Some that are bigger than ever. In the midst of it all, your mantra becomes, “I got this”. And you do. It isn’t always easy… but you know you will figure out how to deal with whatever comes your way. 

This is a very different state than, “Everything is going to be all right”. 

You KNOW, deep down and through and through: “Everything IS all right. Right here. Right now”. Even when life is hard and there are dark arrows coming your way.

You breathe easier because you are living and breathing as the Soul. This is your most authentic self, and all else is costuming and roll playing. And you totally know it. 

As you live and breathe as the soul, you know the real you is safe and timeless and immortal. And all the other parts are coming and going, living and changing in order to awaken their inherent soulfulness. 

There are still challenges. And really hard day when you want to give up and eat way too much ice cream and lay on the beach all day. 

Yep, the challenges are definitely still there. But somehow you know you will eventually make it through all of them, triumphant and grateful for the whole process.
 
Your wounds become scars that remind you of deep truths and life changing lessons.

All love,
Ariana

I’m sharing another blog about the post awakening experiences that are common for many people on a growth path. I’ve gotten so much positive feedback about how relevant and valuable these posts are.

Why have these posts struck a cord with so many? 

Because we continually go through cycles of awakening and embodiment, often without even realizing we are doing so. And sometime we get stuck along the way.
​
In the post awakening period, you come face to face with our own fears and vulnerability. In the face of these uncomfortable feelings, many people doubt themselves and their choices. 

After reveling in the vastness of awakening, you can suddenly feel really small and unsure of yourself. Yet the fears and feelings of vulnerability that naturally arise are a necessary part of the growth process. When this happens, please remember that everything is all right. 

Let yourself feel these fears. Let yourself be vulnerable. Give yourself permission to be authentic to whatever is emerging… because that is the way of embodiment. 

There is nothing to transcend anymore. Transcendence may have served you on the way toward awakening, but it is time to let it go. 

The agenda of the embodiment process is embracing it all. Leaning in through the rough and ragged moments, as well as the unbearably joyful and throughly nourishing ones.

The feelings that get stirred up by awakening are stirred up for a reason. They have been with you for a long time. It is now time for them to grow and evolve, or to retire and move on. One way or another, it is time for change. Sometimes these parts naturally fall away on their own, but they often need help.

Awakening stirs up all that is not in harmony with the awakened state. The bigger the awakening, the bigger the pile of stuff that rears its head.

Stuff definitely comes up, yet after awakening you have greater strength and insight to deal with these feelings, beliefs and old survival patterns in more empowering ways. Maybe you call bullshit on them. Maybe you listen to these parts and teach them new ways of being. Maybe you comfort the part of you that is scared of playing in a bigger arena, and let it know the rest of you is committed to moving forward one way or another.

There are many effective ways to grow and evolve these parts of your psyche. Learning these new strategies is the essence of the embodiment process.

Whatever approaches you use, this is the most important factor to remember in facing post awakening tension….

Do not run. Do not hide, and by all means do not shrink in the face of those fears, doubts, or confusion.
 
Stand as the Awakened One… offering a healing hand to the parts of you that simply want to stay safe. 

Stand as the Soul, offering your wisdom and radiance to the parts of you that have been hiding in the shadows.

Because after awakening, the rules of the game change. Staying safe by shrinking and hiding, controlling, competing, or manipulating no longer works. The old strategies that used to help you feel safe make you feel more vulnerable than ever after awakening. They fall flat… even if you have gotten really good at them. 

After awakening we stay safe by leaning in and fully showing up. 

You take care of yourself by growing bigger to meet the challenges of the day. You stay safe by sharpening your sword of light… until one day you realize that you have always been safe and always will be. 

You realize the part of you that has been strategizing about safety and survival FOR-EVER is becoming obsolete. It is being healed and infused with the light of the Soul.

When you stand as the Awakened Soul… you are totally safe… always. 

When you shrink as the fearful one… you will never ever ever ever feel truly safe. 

Here’s why… the fearful parts are always using outdated strategies to face current challenges. 

Imagine using a sword to fend off bullets. Definitely not an effective strategy. Even if the sword has worked in the past.

I repeat… the fearful parts always use strategies from the past. These strategies probably didn’t work very well way back when. Yet we keep trying using them again and again. We keep walking down those well worn paths over and over again, wondering why we feel so small and yucky and ineffective. 

What kind of outdated strategies are you using to feel safe?

Do you hide, rather than shine?

Do you try to dominate and control situations rather then allow life to gracefully unfold?

Does some part of you need to be really good at everything you do, rather then allow yourself to be perfectly imperfect liked every other human?

Do you sell out rather then stand for what you really believe in order to be accepted?

Have you stopped going for what is really inspiring so you don't have to risk failure?

I invite you to notice and identify at least one of your strategies this week. This is the first step in liberating yourself from their influence so you can show up and face each day with greater strength, love, and presence.

All love,
Ariana

In our most sacred moments of awakening, we feel open, expansive and connected with life in a whole new way.

In the days and weeks that follow, all of that can dramatically change. You may unexpectedly feel small and separate, alone and afraid. You suddenly see all the rough spot in yourself and your life. 

After an experience of awakening, we suddenly come face to face with the differences between what we now know to be real and true, and what we actualize and experience in our day-to-day life.

We notice these kind of differences more then ever because our capacity to see clearly has so greatly expanded. This happens whether the awakening is a grand expansion that lasts for months and totally rocks your world, or a small aha moment filled with new insight.

Brings these sometimes vastly different experiences into harmony demands embracing both the expansiveness you have touched, as well as the more human and limited parts of yourself. These internal gaps dissipate as our freshly expanded awareness is integrated into new ways of living, loving, and creating. Sometimes this happens quite gracefully and you feel like you are living in the flow like never before.

And sometimes this post awakening phase can feel like being put through a meat grinder. You may feel totally raw, tender, and vulnerable as you flounder about in unknown territory, unsure of what is coming next.

Internal tension emerges when parts of your psyche resist what you now know to be real and true. If the less evolved parts within are not integrated with the expansiveness you have touched, the inner tension grows. The old and the new perspectives come head to head inside of you. This can create an internal tug of war.

This internal tension can show up in many different forms. You may feel unsettled, anxious, or irritable. There may be a deep sense of loss as the old ways of thinking and living die off.

Once your world has been popped wide open during times of awakening, old behavior patterns are seen in a whole new way. 

Your usual reactions and behaviors may now seem small, ineffective, or childish at times. Your typical responses may suddenly seem selfish, manipulative, or domineering. Even if the tired old ways are seen as limited and obsolete after an awakening, they may still be hard to let go of. You have taken comfort in them for a very long time. These strategies often led to getting results you wanted. At the very least, the old ways of thinking, feeling and relating created a sense of safety within the smaller sphere you previously inhabited.

Even when these immature parts are seen through the new lens of awakening, not all parts of your psyche are immediately onboard with the new vision. 

In this stage of growth, consciously releasing and tenderly sending your old modes of living on their way is an essential part of bringing about integration and internal harmony. If these losses are not acknowledged and the needed tears are not shed, the sense of loss can easily turn into depression and hopelessness. When this happens, those precious moments of awakening can seem so far out of reach that you feel like you may never be able to access them again. It can feel like the thrill of winning the lottery one month, only to feel the sting of losing it all the next.

Even with times of expansive joy and profound well-being mixed in, the months after awakening can be incredibly difficult to navigate.

The inner tension after awakening can show up as an overstimulated racing mind, filled with conflicting thoughts and ideas about yourself and the world around you. One moment your thinking may be a clear aligned reflection of the expanded awareness of awakening. In the next, your mind may be filled with all kinds of wild crazy talk that runs counter to what you now know to be true. Nothing is stable in this phase, and nothing is certain.

When you are caught in this post awakening tension, you may be full of doubt and confusion. There is often a loss of direction. Somehow you used to know what you wanted and where you were headed. Yet the old desires and motivating forces that governed much of your behavior were often created and driven by a limited sense of self. Which means they were heavily influenced by survival needs, however cleverly dressed up or disguised these needs may have been.
 
What used to motivate you may now feel flat and uninspiring. Even so, these survival based driving forces may still influence major parts of your life. After awakening you are well on your way to creating a soul centric life, but you are not there yet. And you know it.

Spiritual bypassing is common at this stage. 

In spiritual bypassing, we take refuge in spiritual practices, perspectives, roles, and masks in order to avoid facing and dealing with the unresolved shadow aspects of our psyche and behavior. Who wants to clean house and take out the garbage when you have basked in the glorious light of spirit? After the mountain top experience, some seekers don’t ever want to come down to deal with the messiness of their lives and the shadows within their own psyche. These inner shadows are the parts of our psyche that have not yet been brought into harmony with our divine essence.
In spiritual bypassing, the fear based and snarky parts get denied and pushed aside. It is simply too much to endure the tension between the realization that you are a vast benevolent spiritual being at one with all creation, as well as the less evolved, fear infused aspects of your nature. In the post awakening phase you realize you are the vast universe and a small vulnerable child all at once. That is a lot to hold in one breath.

Your sense of identity can split as you feel a new sense of wonder and expansiveness, yet can no longer deny the many shadows within. 

On the way towards awakening, we often deny or avoid the shadowy parts of our nature. Or we intentionally rise above the shadows, as we strive towards the light. While those may be effective strategies when you are striving for enlightenment, they can wreak havoc in your life on the other side of an awakening. The blazing light you have touched demands that you see the shadowy parts within so you can consciously bring them into harmony with the light of spirit. Until these inner gaps are bridged, that spiritual light can seem illusive and inaccessible at times.

Integration demands that you continually accept that you are both a saint and sinner, the form and the formless, the wise and the wretched all at once. It offers a powerful opportunity to resolve any tension between these seemingly oppositional forces within so we can find acceptance for the fullness of our human nature. 

As integration progresses, we learn to bring the inner shadows into the light of love and wisdom so these parts can grow and evolve into inner strengths and trusted inner allies.

Outer life changes are also common in the post awakening phase of growth. Sometimes changes in relationships, careers, homes, and friends are liberating and productive. Letting go of these familiar life anchors can feel really good and healthy…like taking off a pair of shoes that now feels way too tight. Sometimes this kind of liberating change may be just what is needed.

Outer changes can sometimes be unconscious attempts to shake off post awakening inner tension. Sometimes this strategy is successful, and sometimes not. This approach rarely works in the long run. It can be like a bulimic purging after eating way too much. Purging doesn’t really solve the problem, but it may bring about temporary relief of inner tension. All kinds of addictive behavior can bring about short term relief from post awakening tension. This generally this doesn’t work very well because the addictive behavior doesn’t give the real comfort you are yearning for.

Living with this post awakening gap creates inner tension until the fragmented and compartmentalized parts within evolve and expand, and are more fully integrated. 

This integration process can be rapid or torturously slow. Oftentimes different parts of our psyche respond to revelation at different paces. Some parts release their limited perspective easily and are happy to go with the new agenda. The parts that dig in their heels need to be patiently taught how to grow and flow with the expanded life view that awakening revealed.

For some people the needed integration and embodiment never happens. The inner tension is simply to much to navigate. They don’t have the understanding, tools, or support to resolve the internal tension that is so common after awakening.
 
Sadly, this tension can build into a full blown psychological and spiritual crisis.

One of the reasons for the inability to gracefully integrate after awakening is the tendency to keep going back to the practices and teachings that led to awakening in the first place. They were effective, right?

Meditation got me to that point of awakening, so I should keep meditating, right?
Going on a retreat with that teacher helped open my eyes, so I should keep going back, right?

Fasting for days led me to a clear state of being, so why not keep it up?

Yet, we never know for sure what truly catalyzed our awakenings. It is often a combination of many factors that creates the perfect storm of awakening.

Some people repeat the practices of the past, while others try to chase more moments of awakening by finding new teachers, practices, potions, or mantras. They hope fresh inspiration will take them back to those clear, high moments. Wanting to revisit the bliss and clarity of mountain top experiences is totally understandable. Who doesn’t want to live in a clear expansive state all the time?

Unfortunately, constantly looking for the “high” of awakening or grasping at a sustained experience of awakening can sometimes create even more inner tension.
Once you have reached the mountain top and have been opened by the splendor of the experience, the next step is to integrate and embody what has been revealed. On the mountain top, the mental and emotional clouds part to make way for a new perspective and vision to emerge.

Embodiment is about what we do with that new vision.

It asks that we turn our attention away from awakening towards the creation of a bold new life. This is essentially an inspired creative process. It demands that we take the inspiration of the mountaintop and bring it into vibrant new forms of expression.

The first new form of expression you get to work with is yourself.

In the initial stages of embodiment you are called to recreate a more loving, connected, creative, and radiant version of yourself. This stage is about becoming more attuned to the love, wisdom and strength of your soul, so you can more fully live and express these qualities through your whole being.
​
Loving you,
Ariana

A powerful spiritual opportunity is coming up over the next several days. The upcoming full moon is considered to be the spiritual highpoint of the year by many people around the world. This week is a powerful time for deep reflection, contemplation, and inner stillness.

On the day of the full moon, as well as a few days before and after, potent energies pour forth on subtle levels. This inner light can be consciously received, embraced, and used as a catalyst for awakening, growth, creativity, and the fuller embodiment of your most heartfelt vision for yourself and the world. 

Illumination is the keynote of this full moon. The abundance of inner light present this week makes it an opportune time to be particularly open and receptive to the deepest impulses of your soul.

To make the most of this opportunity, take time to pause. Lighten your schedule if possible. Give yourself permission to do less and to simply be. Create time and space for meditation, writing, and quiet time in nature. Let yourself be carried by light and inspiration over the next week, rather than obligations and busyness.

The full moon is this Sunday, April 29th at 5:58 pm PDT. A group will be meditating here at Sweetwater Retreat at that time. I invite you to join us, and so many others around the world who will also be meditating at the time of the full moon. 
​
In the light of love,
​Ariana ​

Heartbreaking loss is one of the most painful experiences of being human. 

When you’re heartbroken, suddenly the world doesn't feel quite as safe anymore. Your trust in the goodness of life waivers. The connections you counted on become tattered and frayed, and sometimes completely severed.

Any of these experiences can be a catalyst for heartbreaking loss…

The death of a beloved spouse, friend, or parent. 

A divorce, or an unwanted breakup (again!)

The death of a pet who has been there every single day through thick and thin.

A big empty nest.

Being abandoned or betrayed by someone you counted on and trusted.

Heartbreaking loss makes you reevaluate everything you thought you knew about life and love. It can tear you apart and brings you to your knees. Over and over again. 

But only if you let it. 

As hard as heartbreak can be, surviving and learning to thrive after a heartbreaking loss can be one of the most triumphant experiences of your life.

Heartbreak demands that we face the hardest parts of being human. It calls us deep into the shadows of our core wounds. It also offers a powerful opportunity to heal and become more authentically alive and engaged in life. It can be a powerful catalyst to courageously awakening our innate love, wisdom and spiritual awareness. 

The essence of heartbreak is feeling the presence, love, and support of someone…. and then it is gone. The love is gone, and the support vanishes. The one you depended on, and maybe even cherished, isn’t there for you anymore.

When someone you love isn’t there for you in the ways they used to be, big empty spaces often fill the places in your heart once reserved for them. Sometimes those empty spaces are filled with a never-ending flood of tears. At other times the pain and anger feel like they have taken over every part of your life.

Our culture often denies heartbreak and the need to fully grieve and heal. In the midst of loss, we often quietly fall into the life diminishing habits of denial and repression.

We turn away from the pain. Or we fall so deeply into it we feel like we are drowning in a sea of despair.

We medicate. We binge. We sob until the tears run dry, or push the tears so far down everything grows cold and hard.

Yet, no matter how hard you try to “get over it and move on”, unless the wound is tended to, heartbreak lingers and it keeps right on hurting. In times of emotional heartbreak, the parts of the brain that registers physical pain are also activated.

Heartbreak hurts, deep down and all around. I know. I’ve been there. More than once.

I’ve gone to the depths of heartbreak, and eventually found my way back into the light. Stronger, wiser and happier than before.

The unexpected passing of my beloved five years ago was a catalyst for healing not only the grief about his death, but for also facing a lifetime of unresolved heartbreak and disappointment. My healing demanded that I come to terms with all the times people I loved and counted on weren’t there for me in ways large and small.

Each time I allowed myself to grieve, something seemingly miraculous, yet quite natural happened. Love and more love emerged within and all around me. As I embraced my grief, my heart continued to open and expand.

Most significant of all, instead of feeling like a victim of my beloved's death, I knew that healing this heartbreak was one of the greatest gift I have ever been given.

As I healed my own heartbreaking losses, I became acutely aware of the great cloud of collective loss that dampens many people's ability to fully and freely live and love.

Most people have multiple significant unresolved heartbreaks in their lives.

Maybe it was the breakup or divorce you never really got over. Or the death of someone significant and trusted. Or even a major life transition that felt like a loss.

Whatever the unresolved losses, we pay a great price for not embracing and healing them. Depression, addiction, and the inability to create supportive relationships are but a few of the common results of unresolved loss.

From my own experience of grieving my beloved’s death, as well as grieving a divorce that occurred many years earlier, and other lesser losses, this is what I have come to know…

The deep pool of unresolved grief that so many people carry within every single day can be transformed into an infinite source of love.

Since my time of deep grieving, I have supported many others in navigating the sacred journey of grief so they can thrive again after loss.

Through a series of energy psychology and relationship coaching sessions focussed on healing their losses, clients find acceptance, peace, and more love than ever before.

This is the kind of support and guidance I needed when I was deep in the shadows of grief and heartache, which I now give to others.

If you are interested in finding out more about how you can heal unresolved loss and heartbreak, click here to schedule a free introductory consultation.

All Love,
Ariana

P.S. Please feel free to pass this message along to a friend who is suffering from a heartbreaking loss.

Happy Summer to you, wherever you are! 
​
These early days of summer at Sweet Water Retreat have been filled with so many joyful times already. Slowing down and catching up have been front and center in my life recently. I have had cherished friends and family come to visit from far and wide. We have been basking in the long warm days and cool nights that are common in the Sierra foothills of Northern California, throughly enjoying sweet summertime activities. Sharing relaxed meals on the deck, hiking in nature, dangling feet in the cool creek, and enjoying live music in this charming small town have been deeply satisfying. Life simply doesn't get any better. 

​Our most joyful experiences often occur when we feel deeply connected with others in nourishing ways. Yet, we sometimes unconsciously stop ourselves from deeply connecting because the pain of disconnection can be intense and hard to move through gracefully.

We have all felt the sting of disconnection, in large and small ways. At some time or another, you reached out to someone and they turned away. A once cherished relationship ended or radically changed. Someone you believed in betrayed your trust. Maybe your child grew up and moved away. Or your beloved partner, parent or friend died.

And there you were feeling the pain of disconnection, longing for the warm glow of healthy intimate connection. Instead you felt empty, alone, and sore to the bone.

The unresolved pain of feeling disconnected robs us of joy and sometimes keep us from creating new connections.

Yet, disconnection isn’t inherently painful or sad. Sometimes holding on to the ideas about how life should be unfolding is more painful than the actual experience of disconnection and separation. One of the reasons disconnection can feel so bad is that we often believe in the myth of 'happily ever after'.

The myth goes something like this...

Anything good should last forever, right? And if it doesn’t, something went horribly wrong.

But, what if the myth of 'happily ever after' isn’t even remotely true?

What if the temporal nature of experience is one of the elements that makes life so good?

What if the experiences of connection and disconnection are essential parts of the natural cycles of life?
​
Connection and disconnection are like night and day. They are complimentary polarities, each with unique gifts to give. What if it is perfectly natural for one cycle of connection to end and another to gracefully begin?

We don't cry when the sun goes down, because we have faith that it will rise again. And in the meantime we get to enjoy the cool dark of night. 

Can we learn to face the pain of disconnection with calm abiding, confident that we will again experience the warmth of intimate connection?

As hard as it can be, disconnection also opens the door to creating rich and nourishing new connections. 

​​​​​​​Maybe the biggest myth of all is that disconnection even truly exists. 

When we really get that we are always connected to everyone and everything as parts of this one magnificent life, that's when the real 'happily ever after' begins.

In loving connection,​​​​​​​
Ariana

This week I’m honoring the bountiful life of my beloved, Douglas, who passed away suddenly five years ago. 

We had a deep soul connection that is rare and precious. On his birthday I scrolled through photos of our rich time together. I smiled all the way down to my toes as I remembered the nourishing and crazy beautiful times we shared. And then the waves of tears came. They were tears of remembrance for all that was, and tears of deep longing for all that might have been. They flowed even move intensely when I thought of all the life experiences he is now missing. 

As I was remembering and loving him, I suddenly felt his strong presence all around me. An intense quickening moved through my whole being that brought goose bumps and overwhelming gratitude.​

​I felt his presence, his love and support, and his deep acceptance of the turn his life had taken. 

It felt like his strong hand was on my back, holding me and reassuring me of the power of the connection we share, then and now. In that moment I was humbled by the strength of his soul and his ever-present commitment to loving. It was a moment to cherish forever.

Feeling his presence since he passed out of his body is very different from being hugged by Douglas while he was alive in his tall strong body. Yet, the essence of the connection is clearly the same.

The outer connections from body to body may be severed, yet the true connection, soul to soul, never dies.

This is true whether someone has crossed over or not. So why not take a moment right now, and send a wave of love to someone you are connected with, soul to soul. You might just make their day. 

In loving connection,
Ariana​​​​​​​

Recently, I went to the birthday party of a bright and beautiful 16 year old. Rather than having the typical sweet 16 birthday party, this free thinking young woman wanted the dozen or so people at her celebration to sit in circle and share.

After feasting and listening to music, we came together and were asked to answer a series of engaging questions. Each questions brought out delightful answers from those gathered. The more people shared, the more everyone in the group opened into deeper trust and authenticity. As time went by, eyes lit up and smiles got brighter. Fond memories, deep wisdom, and much laughter were shared that day.

It was deeply nourishing to be part of this birthday gathering. I came away feeling inspired and over the top optimistic about the future of our planet after months of grim political and ecological news being blasted from every media outlet. Being at the party felt like being rubbed down with a deep healing salve.

One of the questions asked that day was: “What do you wish someone had told you on your 16th birthday?”

At the time I said something about the importance of following your heart and soul. I still stand by that answer. Absolutely. Always.

Since that day I have pondered this question many times and have found another answer that resonates just as deeply with me.

So here goes. What I wish someone told me on my 16th birthday:


Develop the habit of turning towards connection. Connection is what matters most in life. Connect and you will be fine. 

Connection has the power to heal and soothe whatever ails you.

Deepening connection with yourself and with the people around you is the powerful catalyst that transforms us into what is most real, valuable and true.

If you lack anything, connection is the next step, and the ultimate answer.

Master connection and you master life.


Wishing you a beautifully connected holiday today.

In loving connection,
​Ariana

Have you ever felt expansive, yet grounded; connected, yet free; autonomous, yet deliciously united with the people around you?

You were touching into a state of wholehearted connection.

Why is connection so important? Research show that developing strong social connections correlates to higher self-esteem, greater empathy for others, and the development of more trusting and cooperative relationships. The bottom line it that connection generates greater social, emotional, and physical well-being.

Enhancing your capacity for connection is not simply a skill to develop, but a way of life to embrace. It is a way of life that rocks. Some of the brass rings you get when you ride the connection merry-go-round: more satisfying relationships, better health, greater affluence, and security.

Sadly, the opposite is true for those who lack social connectedness. Low levels of connection are associated with declines in physical and psychological health, and increased violence behavior. 

Really smart and well educated researchers have spend a lot of time and money verifying these claims. Studies have shown that developing greater social connections leads to lower levels of anxiety and depression, a stronger immune system, faster recovery from illness, a better brain, and even greater longevity.

Where connection lives, happiness follows.

Are you in yet? :-)

Knowing connection is really significant and deeply fulfilling is very different then being able to cultivate more of it in your life. This connected place is a sweet spot we may visit at random and sometimes unexpected times, yet all too often we don't know how to recreate it on demand. There are particular skills and capacities involved in creating deeply fulfilling and wholehearted connection. Most of us are in the process of discovering and honing those skills, so I've dedicating a series of blogs to the elements that go into that process.

There are three significant dimensions of wholehearted connection: connection with self, connection with your inner circle, and connection with your extended tribe.

Deepening connection in all three spheres creates a vast doorway to a bigger life.

Living a wholeheartedly connected life opens this door so that ever deepening connection becomes your new normal. Not just the place you visit briefly on vacation, or tip toe into from time to time, but the place where you are deeply grounded no matter where you travel or who you are with.

The most significant first step in creating wholehearted connection is getting more connected with yourself. With your body, your mind and soul; with your heart’s deepest longings, and even the fears and sorrows you have encase in tired old tragic stories and quietly tucked away.

When we stop dodging and hiding what lives authentically inside of us, life gets really interesting.

Connection quite naturally ​thrives as you discover the truer stories of who you are; the rich tales inscribed upon your soul that are waiting to be translated into the language of this time and place.

What does self connection feel like?

Being present. Body awake. Heart, soul, mind, brain, and nervous system aligned. Heart leading, and persistently beating you towards what matters most. Feeling alive and embodied as love. Your inner powers activated.

What does healthy connection with your inner circle feel like?

Safe. Safe. Safe. And did I mention safe? Love and respect. Acceptance. Authenticity. Room for vast differences, yet cut of the same cloth. Truth is the language spoken here. Warmth. Sharing it all; the burdens and the beauty.(Be sure to check out the shot below of some of my inner circle at a recent holiday brunch).

What does healthy connection to your extended tribe feel like?

One human family. Inclusive. A place for self expression. Gifting. Either no expectations, or crystal clear win/win expectation. Owning and sharing Your Superpowers. Being a loving stewart and protector of all people, the Earth, the leafy ones, and our many legged friends. Alignment with a greater power, whatever you may call it. Basking in the mystery and embracing the many facets of this complex and sometimes perplexing life.

If any of this sounds intriguing or maybe even downright compelling, you can open to a fuller experience of wholehearted connection right here, right now.

​Today I'm sharing a really simple yet powerful practice for Grounding and Presence to access greater self connection.
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Try the Practice for Grounding and Presence Here

In loving connection,
​Ariana

A powerful spiritual opportunity is opening up over the next week. The full moon in Taurus-Scorpio is considered to be the spiritual highpoint of the year by many people around the world. This week is a powerful time for deep reflection, contemplation, and inner stillness.

On the day of the full moon, as well as a few days before and after, potent energies pour forth on subtle levels. This inner light can be consciously received, embraced, and used as a catalyst for awakening, growth, creativity, and the fuller embodiment of your most heartfelt vision for yourself and the world. 

Illumination is the keynote of this full moon. The abundance of inner light present this week makes it an opportune time to be particularly open and receptive to the deepest impulses of your heart and soul.

To make the most of this opportunity, take time to pause. Lighten your schedule. Give yourself permission to do less and to simply be. Create time and space for meditation, writing, and quiet time in nature. Let yourself be carried by light and inspiration this week, rather than obligations and busyness.

It is also a great time to set aside any preconceived ideas about the way you “should” be living, and to be truly open and welcoming of the next phase of life that is unfolding for you. Where you are headed may be very different from where you have been. Notice what deeply resonates and energizes you in the coming days and weeks, and embrace it wholeheartedly.
 
The Taurus-Scorpio full moon is this Thursday, April 21st at 10:24 pm PDT (05:24 UT 4/22). I invite you to meditate at this time, joining me and others around the world who will also be meditating at the exact time of the full moon. 
​
In the light of love,
​Ariana

Hello friends,

As promised, I am sending you messages of love this holiday season. The first one I sent, 360 Degrees of Love, struck a cord with so many people. 

Today, I offer you an opportunity to be steeped in a vast love that transcends time and space and the sometimes narrow confines of how we often conceive of love. 

This video is short, intense and amazing. It left me speechless and unsettled in a way that only deep truth can do. It shouts of 360 degree love; of a love shared by two that is so big it blesses the entire universe.

If you have ever loved... watch it.

If you have ever lost someone you love... watch it.

If you have ever yearned to define or touch Spirit... watch it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcoMiGiDRjg

With bright starry love,
Ariana