Conscious Shala

I like to write permission slips for myself when I'm doing something new or hard.

This is one of my favorite permission slips to write.

Next time you'd like to kick someone in the shins, see if you can't try this instead.

Within the landscape, 2023 has become the "Year of Integration." But there's more to the story.

My definition of integration is the process of taking the content from an experience and *understanding* how it relates to our daily lives.

The key word here is understanding. Journaling, art, coaching, and therapy are all sorts of tools for integration.

Unfortunately, far to many people sit around regaling tales of alien encounters and mother ayahuasca offering them a boon of Shamanic powers but never progress past this phase.



When I work with clients I specifically separate and add a step after Integration called Activation.

How do we take this new awareness and actually change our lives?

What agreements are you making with yourself and others to keep you accountable?

Two simple questions two help you get started:

- What is the real life correlation and implications of my psychedelic experience?

- What do I need to do - or not do - to use this new insight to improve my life and reduce suffering for myself or those in my life?

Turn the answer of the second question into an Activation plan and find someone to help you stay accountable.

Not to worry. You'll get angry again and the f-word will escape your lips. Perfection isn't required and mistakes will happen.

Do the best you can with an honest intention and things will get better. I promise!

P.S. No major changes for 90 days. Do eat less sugar. Do not quit your job and move to Costa Rica to become a currendero.

A few weeks ago I got pretty frustrated with myself because an aspect of my personality I thought I'd healed re-reared its ugly head.

I started to wonder why and realized this part had never actually been healed, I just eliminated the stimulus that was causing my discomfort.

Our brains are so frickin' smart and they keep us safe. That's what my brain was doing for me.

10 years ago I wasn't ready to work on this part. Maybe now it's time. Who am I to decide?

This is a lot like the man who leaves New York City to become enlightened by living in a cave in the Himalayas. After a month of solitude he has an experience of pure bliss and enlightenment and begins his journey home.

Walking out of La Guardia, a traveler on the sidewalk bumps the newly enlightened man's arm and he shouts, "Watch where you're going a$$hole, I'm walkin' here."

Maybe not enlightened after all, huh? Just felt like it for a month.

Wherever we go, there we are. We always take ourselves with us.

Removing ourselves from the world doesn't bring us special powers. Sri Krishna says in the Gita that one must not become a sanyasi (renunciate) to become enlightened. This is the purpose of karma yoga. So householders like you and I can do our work and still live out our dharmic and karmic lives.

I've come to accept that some of my triggers may never be fully healed. Today, I consider them features rather than bugs and try to give myself a little grace whenever I can.

Getting triggered already feels like getting punched in the face. But if I judge myself for getting punched then I'm punching myself a second time.

It's easy to forget, but I try to remember there are no mistakes. It's all happening just the way it's supposed to. I may not like it, but every day I can learn from it if I so choose.

The darkness will always rise up to meet the light and vice versa.

Go easy on yourself today. As Trevor Hall says, "You can't rush your healing."

❤️🙏❤️

The difference is actually doing the work.

You don't even have to try to change your behavior when the change happens from the inside-out.

Did you know that pigs can't look up? Sometimes I feel like a pig. 🐽 Maybe you do too?

Be it our upbringing or epigenetics, sometimes it can be really hard to look up. To take the time to really gaze into the sky and imagine the possibilities.

There's always things to worry about or things to get done and not enough time to dream? 🔮

This fall, I've made it a habit to walk in the park every morning and to very intentionally stare up into the trees.

The majority of my life was spent looking behind me, to the sides, or straight ahead. Be it regret, resentment, protection or just getting s**t done.

Because my neck wasn't trained to look up, I've learned to use my spiritual path as an incline.

You see, when you let a pig climb a mountain, they can see the sun just like a human. And sometimes, seeing the sun just once, is all the motivation we need to start changing our lives.

, , , , , and are just a few of the mountains I use to elevate my gaze.

Hmu if the analogy resonates. I'll gladly offer you one of my mountains.

Or, if you really want a kick-ass incline, there's still a few spots left for the Peru trip in November. Machu Picchu offers a pretty spectacular view of the sun.

I read this quote a few weeks ago and it's really stuck with me.

When I am unhappy or angry, I started to ask myself, "Am I really unhappy or am I just being loyal to my pain?"

Sometimes I've got a reason to be unhappy (not that having a *good* reason makes a lick of difference). Other times I think I'm just acting out old behavior because it's familiar.

My anger neural pathways is a much deeper rut than my joy pathway. And self-righteous anger is kicking my ass these days. 😬

If I can take a God pause and ask myself this question, I can start to figure out where my loyalty resides.

Give it a try and see if it works for you.

Maybye joy will be my word of the year for my next trip around the sun.