Not for Ourselves Alone.     As the suffragettes Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton; fought for their freedom to vote and to run their own affairs- they chanted: “Not for Ourselves Alone.”

Awareness and Expanding our Consciousness- Is NOT for Ourselves alone.   Our Thoughts and Beliefs:   solidify as perceptions– that ripple into our lives and the lives of others; as patterns that drive our lives. Every fearful thought and attitude robs us of our joy and freedom.  Part of my daily practice is releasing the emotional blocks in the way of deepening my spiritual growth.  Emotional freedom benefits everyone in our lives.

One year ago I left Toledo OH- to move to Northern California.  I had lived there for 16 ½ years and was the Spiritual Leader/ Pastor of Sacred Threads Center 4 Spiritual Living;  A Science of Mind/ New Thought Community.   My plan was to stop in Chicago, spend the night at a friends home and leave the next morning.

My car broke down and I was stuck in Chicago for 3 ½ weeks and the car I had just purchased was delivered to Grass Valley on Thanksgiving.

I had to stand up for myself and what was right and do it in a way that was just, true and in alignment with Spirit.  I had to let go and release my attachment to specific outcomes. It was not at all easy for me.

Drama popped up everywhere.  I still had to stand up for Justice.  I wanted to take right actions; in alignment with my Spiritual Path.  I was watching my feelings, attitudes and observed my thoughts.  I felt completely off center.

I witnessed feelings of being in prison; I was angry, frustrated and I had many thoughts that were contractive, fearful, isolating and blaming.   I knew I had to raise my energy if I was to be sane and if I was going to deal with this in a way that would work.

I knew that Life reflects back to us whatever we put into It.  I made some quick decisions that needed more consideration. I had the car and I had the issues to deal with, like it or not.   I had to treat and move my feet and yet my feet felt like they were stuck.  I had to keep going deeper and deeper within.

What pebbles will I toss into the pond of divine consciousness to help me address the issues at hand and take care of myself.  I used every tool in my spiritual toolbox.  I used a ritual that is part of my spiritual practice to release my concerns to the Holy Spirit, to Divine Mother- the Universal Law, over and over again…. and asked for help to lift up my consciousness.

My freedom was at stake here.  It was more than the car- even though in these very tough moments it appeared like my life was falling apart.  I had my whole life in this car and my possessions and suddenly it was someplace in Chicago and I had no control over what was happening.   I now was staying at a friends house for much longer than planned.  All of my stuff; my guitar, camera, all of the books I loved and used and my clothes.  The stuff I didn’t give away before moving.  Breath…. it is only stuff!

I had to let go of the obstacles to my joy.    I was aware of the thoughts  and beliefs that were constrictive and blaming.  I was angry that I bought a car from a man and dealership I knew and trusted for a lot of money and it broke down with in 24 hrs of taking possession of it and I was on the road with my precious dog and all of the things I felt I needed to cross the country and start a new life in California.

It took inner work!  It took Radiant Faith – to keep moving myself into right alignment with the spiritual truths that I knew.  My mind struggled with the facts.  About being “right” instead of being “happy” in the midst of very challenging issues I had to deal with.

Every time I re-visited feelings of anger, betrayal, blame, shame, and a library full of woulda, coulda and shoulda’s, I had to release them over and over again.  Each one that I had to let go of, I placed on the Altar of God and harmonized my thoughts, beliefs and attitudes.  I had to sweep the basement of my inner home, where “life was happening to me” instead of through me.  I had to find a greater and more clear “will power” that was divinely based.

What I know is that there are no Hitch-hikers on the Highway to God!  We have to do the work.  But there is help, support and a whole lot of grace- amazing love filled encouragement from higher realms of being.

There is the laughter of Spirit/God– let’s laugh it.   There is a song of the Universe– let’s sing it.  There is a hymn of praise– let’s praise it.  There is a joy, a beauty, there is a deep abiding peace; let’s experience it.                   Ernest Holmes, Living Without Fear    

I used these thoughts because I want to live without the fear that was coming up for me around this situation.  It was also about my life and the lives of others who face their own versions of the difficulties I was facing.

Emotional Freedom tools:  Affirm:   I choose to be Emotionally Free

• To LOVE  –  myself and others
• To grow deeply –  in Universal wisdom truths
• To transmute any obstacle along the way

Is that true?   Right Now?   Write down whatever you might want or need to release to the Sacred Fire, and give it over to God.

• What thoughts, attitudes and mental patterns get your way?
• Do you tend to avoid being fully aware of them?
• Are you willing to release them and give over to a Higher Power –  Divine Source —  right now?

That’s what I do.  I place my concerns in a real or imaginary burning bowl to help me let go of anything that is in my way.  It’s a ritual I use all of the time.

I give it to Divine Mother and place it in the Sacred Fire, to be healed all the way to the root cause; from this life time or any other.  Heal this for myself, my ancestors and my loved ones.  I don’t want this energy any more.  Take it Divine Mother, I release it to you… forever!   Thank you, Amen.

If you were helped by this please email me and let me know.

Many Blessings,  Rev. Barb Walley

Contact me at:  sacredllifeskills@gmail.com