'The purpose of spirituality in a secular world is that of a moral compass that tempers the destructive emotions that so often accompany our modern materialism.' – Dalai Lama 

2019                   

Autumn’s final fireworks turn my giant maple tree scarlet beneath a steel grey sky. And then, in one grand leave-taking, it sheds all pretense of appearance. In this seemingly barren stretch of fading light and fallen leaves, a sacred invitation is now on offer: a chance to embrace the bare essentials of self and soul and recommit to our spiritual practices.

I tend to this month with the comfort of ritual and routines like yoga and long walks, simmering soups, solitude and thick books. This transformative season helps me to reconcile my yearning for control in a universe designed for constant change. The November winds batter and test my knowledge, beliefs, and expressions of spirit. I comply by grounding myself through favored self-care practices—reaffirming and preparing my soul to endure deep winter. I find that the more I tend to my inner heart and health, the better chance I have of preserving the values I hold dear—the ones vital to my well being, the ones that benefit the greater good of all that I cherish.

 It is well known that we are all spiritual beings having a human experience. We are all searching. We are all on the hunt for the answer to 'what is my life's purpose?' I'll save you the torture of tedious navel-gazing and instead help set the spiritual compass straight, so that we can get on with this fascinating journey called life. The purpose of your life is to enjoy your life. Period. And the sign of a well lived life? To love, and to be loved.

Spiritual practices add the essential emotional component that makes living closer to our wholehearted values more possible. Spiritual practice is any regular, intentional activity that establishes, develops, and nourishes a personal relationship with the Divine. It is something that helps us to feel closer to our highest good. Our highest self is our desirable state because it disassociates us from over-active egos—and thus, our disempowering fears. It is our true spirit soaring. These practices are the pathways for a journey unique to each of us—we each get to choose how we will travel. You are already on your special path, but perhaps you are ready to move the needle a bit during this season of soul-searching. I find the menu of spiritual practices to be a wonderland of intrigue, and I like dabbling in more than a few.

‘…the divine light beings are looking to connect with us in any way they possibly can…’

A quiver is a container for holding—traditionally arrows. One of my favorite expressions is 'a full quiver'. This is said in the context of ready abundance. For me, a prime example is having all manner of sporting equipment at the ready in the trunk of my car. A full quiver can be the patient pile of books on my nightstand, a collection of snacks in my backpack, or my travel plans. ‘Full quiver mode’ is as simple as a closet readied for a new season, and as complicated as all of the blessings and challenges life has to offer in my spiritual container.

I have an unquenchable curiosity about our elegant, generous universe and so I live my life with a full quiver of possibilities—trying to stay alert to it all with an open heart and a beginner's mind. I do this as a seeker of spiritual practices. It’s like enjoying a sport or hobby in terms of the choices and satisfactions derived from investing time and effort. The portals open to receiving this divine energy are countless. Because I am so fascinated by what each one has to offer, I need to be careful of quiver overload.

I have sampled a smorgasbord of channels to spirit over my many years on the path: meditation, yoga, affirmative prayer, hypnosis, chakra clearing, Reiki, massage, tarot and palm reading, tapping, the Akashic records, therapy, angel readings, channeling, journaling, mind spotting, sacred service, mindfulness and gratitude practices, forest bathing, minimalism, past life regression, healthy lifestyle choices, hypnosis, sound bowl/chanting, values, acupuncture, essential oils, psychic mediumship, visioning and affirmation, animal therapy, labyrinth walks, acupuncture, forgiveness, and my personal favorite—skinny dipping.

‘So what’s in your spiritual quiver? You might be surprised at how many spiritual rituals you already practice.’

There is a reason there are so many portals to the path—the divine light beings are looking to connect with us in any way they possibly can. I've enjoyed sampling them all, but just like trying out different kinds of sports, or preferring a Mac to a PC, some of the practices come more naturally to me and resonate at a deeper level, encouraging me to stick with particular tools. I prefer practices that gift generously right away—these portals are kind to my pocketbook, and they offer a low barrier to access, mastery, and benefits. 

So what’s in your spiritual quiver? You might be surprised at how many spiritual rituals you already practice. If you like to walk alone or hike in nature, that is walking meditation; if you like to doodle or write, that is journaling; if you volunteer, that is sacred service; if you can engage with a child or a friend for a half hour and it feels like only five minutes have passed, that is mindfulness; if you live an ethical life, that is a core-values practice; if you practice healthy choices for your body, that is honoring your instrument and a direct portal to your highest good. Through my lifelong journey of sampling I've gradually adopted the practices that inspire me and fit into my lifestyle. I figure the spiritual stuff that has stuck with me so far is what I need the most, for my highest good, right now.

Today, I feel comfortable enough in my practices to share them here. Two years ago, fear and shame would have prevented me from even considering such an intimate share. My ego would have been driving the fear bus and I would not have been on board at all. It’s my responsibility to share from my deep knowing, this truth telling is my purpose for SpiritScout. There are four practices in my quiver that I consider indispensable super arrows, and they form the cornerstones of my daily routine.

1. mediation—it's like a software upgrade every single time. Meditation doesn’t change my life, but it does change how I respond to my life.

2. being in nature—an oxygen blast that infuses every single cell of my brain and body with fresh energy and joy; a non-negotiable.

3. journaling—a daily brain dump and essential emotional detox.

4. living my core values—my constant reset button, and a free therapist.

I am now fluent enough in my rituals to bundle a few things for added value. For example, each morning I journal some serious gobbledygook, and then hopefully—if I don't allow the Internet to get in my creative way—I go on to my actual writing practice. Many mornings I will say the Akashic Records prayer and opt to create from that portal. The Akashic Records are the universal records of our soul and a fascinating place to visit—it’s like the giant metaphysical library of all time. Only benevolent energy and information for our highest good is conveyed through this light spirit. It's a meditative state, but I am conscious, and can enjoy it while doing things that require special intention or creative flow—like writing, cooking, or project planning. It's a fun channel to the flow state, and interactive with my spirit guides, who act for my benefit—like bar bouncers—against any negative energy. I can ask them questions and receive relevant information via sound, thought, knowing, visuals, and intuition. I promise to do a longer post on this topic, but in the meantime, I recommend Linda Howe's book How to Read the Akashic Records.

Another example of bundling practices: I am currently learning Reiki energy work and combining it with my forty-plus years of transcendental meditation (TM) practice and the bonus of my essential oils knowledge. I'm finding this to be a potent and exciting combination for profound rejuvenation on a daily basis.

Once a month I get bodywork done, like a massage or acupuncture. Every quarter I try something new and fun, like taking a tarot class or a workshop, reading a recommended book, or meeting up with a like-minded seeker to share connections. At the equinox, usually Spring and Winter, I book an angel reading from a gifted medium I trust implicitly. If I am in California, I see her in person; if not, we have a recorded phone session that is a jammed-packed ninety minutes of download from my unique guardian angel (we all have one!) The information conveyed is complex, personally specific guidance generated from my custom questions. It is a profound and life affirming experience. You could say that it’s the woo-woo equivalent of giant green interstate signs guiding me on my path. I listen to the recording two or three times afterward, preferably when I’m flying, and then write myself a summary to keep. The material is personal and intense, and requires all of these steps for me to digest it into useful intellectual calories.

Spiritual practices are like many things that are good for us: simple but not easy. It's simple to know what feels good, but it may not be so easy to incorporate it into our routines. We are ALL gifted with psychic abilities, spiritual gifts,and a default for kindness; it is our birthright—there is no mystery about that. The only question that remains is 'why do these gifts remain uncelebrated?'

Hurting people do hurtful things. Therefore, it is our duty as members of the human race to live as healthy, healed, and wholeheartedly as we possibly can so that we can bring the light; so that we can support the loved ones around us with our Divine spirit energy. Wellness is our natural state of being and practices are a path for this intention. The spirit of the universe recognizes us and embraces us. We are here to love and to be loved, that is our only purpose on this earth. We are living at a special moment in time when the world's consciousness is evolving at a lightning pace, more rapidly than at any time ever before. We all are charged with bringing the light—the light within each and every one of us. Karmic Bliss is connection to beauty: what we do to, and for, others is what we do to, and for, ourselves.

Access and practice: we all have the access, but are we willing to put in the practice? It is our prerogative and privilege to pursue. Growth requires a commitment: there's a good reason why theses pathways are called practices. If the ability to live well, in spite of our natural predisposition for fear is the payoff—I say 'hell yah, bring it!' I wish you joy, and magnificent discoveries on your own personal journey. You already know what you need to know, and everything you need is right around you. All that is required is an open heart and the desire to get to know your beautiful, highest self. Be brave, and pay attention—the cues, signs, and portals are everywhere.

I’d love to hear from you—feel free to send your comments to me.

November 
by Elizabeth Drew Stoddard

Much have I spoken of the faded leaf; 
Long have I listened to the wailing wind, 
And watched it ploughing through the heavy clouds,
For autumn charms my melancholy mind. 

When autumn comes, the poets sing a dirge:
The year must perish; all the flowers are dead;
The sheaves are gathered; and the mottled quail
Runs in the stubble, but the lark has fled! 

Still, autumn ushers in the Christmas cheer, 
The holly-berries and the ivy-tree:
They weave a chaplet for the Old Year’s bier,
These waiting mourners do not sing for me! 

I find sweet peace in depths of autumn woods,
Where grow the ragged ferns and roughened moss;
The naked, silent trees have taught me this—
The loss of beauty is not always loss!