sitting in your own thoughts

I recently back-packed through Roma and Napoli, which was an amazing experience filled with excitement, enthusiasm, and magnificently glorious sights...!

Each time I travel, I am usually presented with a handful of similar experiences that come with back-packing through an unfamiliar country, embracing another language, meeting new people, and immersing myself as much as possible in the local culture and way-of-life. And each time I experience these circumstances, it is beautifully refreshing to acknowledge how much I have learnt and grown from my previous adventures, as I grow into the more confident and more calm traveller that I aspire to be.

These confident and calming qualities are beautiful attributes to 'carry' when travelling for - what I have found - two glowing reasons... The first being that you will find yourself jumping more easily into conversations and relationships with fellow travellers and locals, who are drawn to this energy you have created. And the second reason being that unexpected and dauntingly unfamiliar situations are approached with faith and, when possible, much love and light, creating a shining-ly positive energy around you.

... Snow filled the streets of Roma, illustrating the magical, festive picture that I had wished for, and it was perfect. Needless to say that with snow comes public transport issues, delays, and cancellations, and when it came time to board the local train from Roma to Napoli, the energy of the crowds quickly shifted from magically festive to intense, anxious, and mad.

Squeezing my way on to the train, I could feel the energy of those around me, which was quite dark and heavy. So I 'bubbled' myself (a technique I will share with you all shortly), put on my music, and looked out the window at the beautiful, snow-covered landscape. Stop-by-stop, the locals left the train until finally there was a spare seat that I made my way to and sat down in.

I had spent the last couple of hours meditating, embracing any thoughts that flowed in and out of my head, listening to beautiful music, and had my eyes locked on the foreign, Italian landscape. I was content. And so I sat in my seat and continued with my routine that had been working so well for me...

Around me, I could feel the anxiety that comes so easily with boredom and impatience and - in this day and age - leads to the incessant checking of the mobile phone, with unnecessary text-ing and making-of calls.

I would often catch the eye of those around me, who I felt were quite intrigued by how blissful and content this foreign girl was, sitting absolutely still with nothing to do but listen to music and look out the window.

And this made me think to myself how lucky I am to carry a pocket full of meditations and an imagination that I am completely comfortable to sit with and create a special space for myself; wherever, whenever.

So relax, sit with your thoughts, learn a meditation, enjoy the journey of your beautiful imagination, and leave people to wonder...

an early christmas present... x

Merry, beautiful, joyous, loving, white-light-ed, happy Christmas, gorgeous readers!

I have just sent a special Christmas thought to a beautiful friend, and you are now my last stop before I wander my way through the white, white snow, glowing from the amazingly bright moonlight, to the bus station, to make my way up to the English countryside for Christmas this year. I am not sure when I will next have the chance to spread love and light to you all before the end of December, so I have woken up extra early this morning to send a special Christmas message that - if you like - you can evolve into a little gift for yourself, too... ;-)

Recently, I have been encouraging you to remove yourself from toxic situations, and having you trust and respect yourself enough to know that you deserve this so very much. By toxic situations, I mean situations and relationships that discourage you to shine out your beautiful gifts and thoughts, and cloud your ability to shift, grow, and positively move forward and explore your Divinely-created path to greatness.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been encouraging friends to not feel obliged in any way to commit to the various social situations that we feel we're expected to show our faces to on the lead-up to Christmas and New Year's. It is so easy to fall into the trap of thinking that we owe it to someone to meet with them and share conversations, thoughts, and our energy. While on the one hand, this can be a fulfilling experience for everyone involved, on the other hand, it can feel draining and exhausting.

This is why I need you to think about you and surround yourself only with relationships and experiences that will enlighten you and nurture your growth in the beautiful human that you are. And this is why I have been receiving so much positive energy from these friends - who I have encouraged to limit them selves to beautiful experiences with beautiful people - telling me how good they felt about changing their mind from meeting for Christmas drinks and get-togethers, to spending time in their room, with lit candles, dark chocolate, inspiring music, and meditative thoughts.

Please, celebrate this gloriously festive time of year! But also make sure that you are selective and think about you. This is not a negatively selfish way-of-thought, and those who love you will respect and nurture your decision to be in your own space when need be.

... Which leads me to a Christmas gift that I have created for myself and would love to share with you, perhaps even inspiring you to do something similar in the sense of thinking about what's best for you and acting on this intuition...

In a recent post, I touched on embracing our Divinely-created journey, and that so easily we can drown ourselves in toxic situations because this journey can become intense, and our instinctive action is to escape. At the end of this Post, a beautiful reader suggested that I begin a journey of my own, which will encourage me to move through my Divine path with a clearer state-of-mind.

I love how perfect events align with one another, because she suggested that I move through some time alcohol- and, therefore, toxic-influence-free, which is something that I had just thought about doing, myself, and had also, actually, added the website for an amazing project that is encouraging this way-of-life, too; Hello Sunday Morning.

Thus, I have begun my toxic-free journey, which I am excited about, particularly after seeing the support and positive light that my beautiful friends are giving me. Already, I am needing less sleep, feel more alert, and my thoughts are mine...

The main reason behind me beginning this journey is because I know that I have some big shifts ahead of me, and I want to spend the time before, during, and after, to feel light, fresh, healthy, alert, and full of love, which is exactly what I am already feeling... x

And so, my Christmas gift to you... I have removed myself from one toxic situation in my life; a situation that will create a ripple effect for toxic situations in the future, you deserve to do the same, too. As Doreen Virtue once said,

"What‘s one thing that you’d change about your life to make it less complicated? Notice the first answer that enters your mind."

I will be having a beautifully white Christmas this year, and I want you to have one, too, so I'm sending you all radiant white light full of love and festive cheer! 

love, love, love, and light xxx

live. learn. create a lifestyle.

When I reflect on fond memories of my childhood, I am always drawn to thoughts of me, wandering through our garden, using my imagination, sharing stories and explorations with my friends... No matter how many toys or objects I had to choose from, I was at my happiest exploring our garden, getting lost amongst the trees in the park, watching plants grow - especially strawberries... - and be in my own company.

This natural drawing power that we have towards nature was painted even more clearly for me in the last class that I taught; buying each of them their own pot plant to look after and watch grow. The energy in the class was light, and positive, and filled with creative thought and fresh ideas. The class atmosphere evolved simply by having nature in the class room, which was then excelled by the children each having their own plant, nurtured by their own energy, which, in turn, reflected beautiful energy back to them.

I then began to fill the class with books about gardening, and in their free time, my class - who had developed a reputation in the school as an angry, disruptive, challenging group of children - were reading, exploring, watering, clipping, and working harmoniously, which was one of the most satisfying situations I have ever been exposed to.

Mentioning The Ringing Cedars series once again, the underlying idea that is expressed throughout the books is the importance of our connection with nature and how much we can give ourselves by, not only planting our own food and crops, but by simply being surrounded by nature itself (see YouTube clip here).

So, being a traveller and having an strong connection and appreciation for nature, I was excited when a recent conversation opened my eyes to WWOOF-ing; World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. The lovely person I spoke with about this organisation told me of their experience, volunteering on a WWOOF farm in Portugal, staying on the farm and eating their produce in exchange for his help on their farm.

He spent his mornings offering a simple yoga class to the others on the farm and spent the rest of the day either; farming, learning a sustainable way of living, and exploring Portugal. I also heard experiences of surfers from Australia, making their way around popular surf spots in the world, WWOOF-ing their way throughout. What an amazing way to travel and learn...

Travel. Nature. Growth. Sustainable living. 

Simple. Beautiful. Perfect.

see things as they really are

As mentioned on Twitter, Facebook, and any other medium that I have created to connect with as many of you as possible, I promised to share and inspire...

I have recently been blessed with conversations with creative, inspiring people, who have shared with me thoughts and ideas that resonate so beautifully with me and the frame-of-mind that is currently shaping my life. And from each of these conversations, I have grown, been inspired, and have collected resources to share with you all.

My first inspiring interaction was in Amsterdam, which has been a catalyst for my motivation after an exhausting, intense shifting process. And I shared this experience with you in my recent post, Steady Progress, wandering through nostalgic moments and music...

When we move through a shift, it can become an exhausting process, shadowing us with fatigue and feelings of sadness. The key throughout this process is for us to stay motivated, nurture ourselves with meditation, nutritional food, fresh air, and inspiration.

Needless to say, we often find ourselves caught up in toxic situations and routine, which clouds the clear state-of-mind we need to create to effectively move through this process of change and spiritual growth. I will be the first to put my hand up and admit to giving in to the escape of alcohol and any situation that will distract me from really feeling these intense feelings that are part of my journey.

Fortunately, though, the more I come into my heart and accept my thoughts and ideas, the more beautiful people come into my life, who not only understand and appreciate the ups and downs of my journey, but also share this journey with me, sharing nurturing energy with me when needed.

We still live in an influential society, and with support comes challenges; dark forces clouding and blocking our spiritual growth, usually out of uncertainty and the unknown. Which is why we may sometimes feel as though we're walking through thick mud to get to where we need to be.

I was only just sharing these thoughts with one of the most inspirational people in my life, purely due to their naturally-spiritual mentality. This person introduced me to The Ringing Cedars series, and continues to influence me to read through each book of the set. During our last conversation, they told me that Anastasia (the key character in this series) had touched on the idea that it takes us nine days, clear of external, toxic influences, to organically connect with our self, our senses, our mind, and our heart.

This then connected to a meditation I had been exposed to in another conversation just a couple of days before, which I had jotted down in my black book to share with you all; Vipassana Meditation:

" Vipassana, which means to see things as they really are, is one of India's most ancient techniques of meditation. 

There are no charges for the courses - not even to cover the cost of food and accommodation. All expenses are met by donations from people who, having completed a course and experienced the benefits of Vipassana, wish to give others the opportunity to also benefit. "

The perfect opportunity, I thought, to aide us in becoming the spiritually-connected, inspiring beings that we deserve to be... ;-)

You never create a situation that you don't have faith that you can handle, learn, and grow from... Trust yourself.

the rhythm of your heart

I recently began some journal jottings like so...

Sitting at the end of a group's table in one of the most popular spaces on Gloucester Road. I chose to - instead of riding my bike home and to bed at what seemingly could have been concluded as "the end of an evening" - buy myself a glass of wine and enjoy my own company in writing a message to you all. A message of hope, strength, and integrity.

In an earlier post I sent to you all - and I have continued to 'link' you all to through previous posts - I was inspired and amazed by a beautiful girl's quest and message to be completely content, and find joy, in being on her own.

Sitting here, on my own, writing to you all, I am feeling the energy of others who seem to be drawn to me by the simple fact that I am content in my own company, writing words of mystery into a black book; words that - assuming-ly - they could only imagine to write, feel, and act out on their own accord...

And yet my words here a so simple, straight from the heart, and if these others felt connected enough to their own heart, they, too, could write these messages of love, light, and inspiration.

These people surrounding me, like you, have a gift embedded within their very own heart to think and feel freely, yet - when we feel less highly of ourselves than we Divinely should - we feel the need to envelope our amazing thoughts and ideas, particularly when these thoughts and ideas clash with those who we chose to surround our self with.

This is O.K., though, because the person who we once were felt comforted and at ease with this energy; this energy was real and known and all said and done before. But it is perfectly normal for you to begin to feel distanced and disconnected from what once felt so familiar and sensible.

Don't be scared and don't feel intimidated if you are beginning to feel this was - you feel as though you could never express your new thoughts, ideas, and way-of-life to those who you've established your most closest relationships with. But that's fine. Everything is perfect...

Before you know it, you will begin to attract relationships with people who share and appreciate the new thoughts and this new wave-length that you are travelling (have faith in this). Please don't ever feel as though you are a bad person for feeling this way; feeling as though you have outgrown these gorgeous, amazing friends who have been there for you throughout the past events and successes in your life. You haven't outgrown, you are now just on a different journey.

 

You, I, and everyone else who loves you, know that you hold absolutely no negative intentions in your heart. You're amazing, and you must believe this. You. Are. Amazing.

Follow your heart - follow your Divinely-created path - as it will take you very far indeed...

love, love, love and light xx

dear diary...

Some recent journal jottings to share, inspire, motivate, and calm... xx

23rd November... Pink Sunset

After an exhausting week, shadowed with fatigue and feeling ungrounded, I took the time to acknowledge and appreciate my shift. My angels then rewarded me this morning with a beautiful, pink sunset.

Thank you, angels xx

25th November... Sign-Language

A beautiful, easy bike ride to the train station this morning. Mp3 on 'Shuffle', being showered with beautiful, uplifting music. Moved through my chakra meditation, my head naturally began to tilt upward and a smile gently grew across my face - "Everything is O.K.", my angels are telling me.

It was as though they were physically positioning me in a way that beautifully resembles my most favourite quote, that I always carry around with me, but seemed to have forgotten to take on-board, myself,

"When you realise how perfect everything is, you will tilt your head back an laugh at the sky." - Buddha

nostalgia

As I look forward to my future self, and am letting go and enjoying my journey, I have been blessed to have spent the weekend surrounded by nostalgic moments that have reminded me of how I felt in mid-2009, when I was first introduced to magicmaree, who opened my eyes, my heart, and my soul to the beautiful life that I am here to experience.

She shared with me stories and ideas of things to come, and I floated through my life on a complete high, blissfully excited about this amazing feeling I was carrying, knowing that I had found my true self. During this time, a beautiful friend of mine showered me with the most perfect music that I am now listening to, remembering that amazing feeling that I felt not-so-long ago, and taking it on board once again as I move through a similar phase in my life; a phase of new beginnings and steady progress...

Perhaps this may inspire you to begin your journey, too... xx

steady progress...

I am slowly being exposed to beautiful, inspiring experiences, which are steadily influencing me to grow, ground myself, and become the person I have chosen to be, spreading my love and light. I have learned, though, that while I would absolutely love to push myself, go against the grain, and simply write, write, write to you, it is not blending with the natural course of my progression.

I have just reflected back on my most recent posts, and the words that have been scattered into these posts just don't sound like me... I have created this space to inspire you and trigger happiness, creativity, and joy, and I am coming to realise that it is more important for me - and you - to take time-out and give myself space when I need to, and to only write messages to you all when I feel it is right.

Everything is perfect, and I am not going to pull these recent Posts down from Spreading Love and Light, but from now on, I am going to shower you only with beautiful, inspiring posts. And if that means that SL&L is untouched for a few weeks every now and then, then so be it. We all deserve the most purest, clean love and light to be shared and spread amongst us xx

needing some time... x

Hey there, you magical people, you...!

I wanted to touch-base with you all because I know that it has been a little while since I have placed the amount of love and light into SL&L as it deserves. The reason for this is because I am moving through a fairly large shift.

Magic Maree mentions in her most recent post about these feelings of light-headed-ness, forgetfulness, and extreme fatigue, which are showering over me at this present time. I have all of these ideas and thoughts that I am so excited to share with you all, but I am struggling to even find the motivation to work through my chakra meditations each morning.

This isn't a plea for you to feel sorry for me at all, because as I always say, these times when we're shifting may be tough - and this has been a fairly long process for me this time 'round - but it is also an exciting process and I can't wait to come out the other end having grown, feeling more spiritually-connected than before!

This is a time, though, for me to nurture myself, and while I may seem a little 'distant' from the Blog for the next week or so, you are all in my thoughts, and I am sending you lots of love and light xxx

... I hope that you continue to spread your love and light, too... ;-)

xx

follow your heart...

Not-so-long ago, I was sharing a conversation with one of my beautiful friends who I am blessed enough to have and be given the opportunity to share some amazing, inspiring conversations with. She is one of the most graceful, calm, and forgiving people I know, which - in-turn - inspires me to reflect the qualities that she radiates my way. How special...

The conversation evolved into her sharing with me how bad she felt when she was emerged into a situation where - according to the typical, built-up views of today's society - she believed that she was doing something 'wrong', which would have been perceived in a negative light.

Needless to say, it was easy for me to respond to these thoughts that she was sharing, and I thought that I would also share my advice with you all, too - in hope, someone may take this advice away, creating peace-of-mind for them self...

"You should never feel bad in these situations. You are not a malicious person, and you would never set out to purposefully hurt someone.The only reason you feel like a terrible person is because of the black-and-white belief system that has been created by society about what is right and wrong.

This system has been created because people get a sense of satisfaction when they feel as though they're doing the right thing in this world (for example - and respectfully - Christians will have a place kept for them in Heaven if they live by the word of the Lord...). And the only way we can do the right thing is if there is wrong, too, which makes things difficult for those of us who want to follow our heart, but are stopped because what we want for our self is viewed as the wrong thing to do.

And by us stopping our self just so that we can do the right thing - particularly when the intention is not to hurt anyone involved, but to - for example - feel love, make the right decision to follow our dream, or perhaps the bend the rules or curriculum that are laid down in front of us, to truly connect with those who we are working with (from my being-a-teacher point-of-view...), we begin to block that flow of love and light that once naturally flowed so beautifully out of our heart.

For as long as you balance your pattern giving and receiving in life, then you owe it to your self to completely follow your true heart's desires. You only have one shot at this life that you're now living, so never feel bad if you're living a life of excitement, exploration, love, light, and laughter."

You're amazing, lovely lady, and you continue to be an inspiration in my life. Now it's time for you to give your self a break from your judgment and move forward to the beautiful, amazing life that you truly, truly deserve.

love, love, love and light xx

enticing the senses

If I were ever asked to list the top three influences on my happiness in life, it would definitely be these three...

Food. Music. And Relationships.

This is particularly noticeable to me when I am travelling and visiting new places around the world. I will feel as though I have experienced a sound taste for a new place if I have immersed myself in conversation with the locals, shared a meal (and some drinks...), and I find it extraordinarily special when I am also exposed to the local sounds and flavours through some live music.

Needless to say, too, that when I choose to create the perfect day for myself when I am at home, it will usually lead to the search for a tasty meal and drinks, with some local live music, in a social setting filled with similar-minded people to me, where I can share thoughts, ideas, and smiles with others. After a day of such events, I would continue through my week excited, inspired, and intrigued, which I absolutely love...

So I thought that I would share with you my three latest experiences involving these three influences of mine.

Food.

 I absolutely love food, but - more importantly - I find joy in the experiences that can evolve from sitting down to a meal. Being able to find somewhere outside of home where the food is locally-sourced, traded fairly, made with love and passion, and topped with a beautiful setting, always sparks happiness within me.

By being part of a situation such as this, I see this radiant, positive energy growing around me and the people I am with, which always leads to laughter and inspiring conversations. Cushions, fairy lights, candles, and the opportunity to drop by for some live music throughout the week is always a positive, too... ;-)

I recently experienced such a situation at The Thali Cafe, just around the corner from me in Montpelier, Bristol. And from my home-area in Australia, I will always find myself making time for Luffley Cafe in Murwillumbah, especially for live music outside on a Friday evening, and The Cardamom Pod in Byron Bay for freshly-made, authentic Indian, Asian, European, and Middle Eastern recipes...

Music.

As you would know very well now - and I have mentioned throughout SL&L - I cannot go a day without music. Music entices my senses and helps me in creating the perfect energy that I would like to surround myself with at any particular time, be that motivation, inspiration, love, relaxation, or happiness.

I have always found myself drawn to World music - Latin, African, Puerto Rico, Memphis, Louisiana, Cuba, Lounge - anything with a sexy-twist and filled with amazing sounds ;-)

For easy-access to amazing sounds of World music, I'm listening to the sounds from Putumayo World Music.

A quick story, illustrating my addiction to music and the energy it creates... As the Summer warmth and hours began to creep in over Bristol, my friend and I used to spend our time wandering up and down Gloucester Road, which one of the main roads that lead out of the centre of Bristol, filled with art, music, and spiritually-enlightened others.

One evening, we wandered past this little bar-front known as 'Leftbank' and heard these beautiful, sexy sounds pushing their way out through the entrance. We followed these sounds inside, sitting down for a drink. Needless to say, the evening evolved into dancing, smiles, candles, amazing music, and beautiful energy. x

And finally...

Relationships.

This is perhaps the inspiration behind me sharing this post with you... I am part of an online community - Just For The Love Of It - which is currently a project based in Bristol and is used to share ideas, events, skills, and ask and offer for help and advice.

Only this morning, I used this community to ask if anyone knew of anywhere where I could find some local live music for my Sunday afternoon...

I am inspired by how willing the people involved in this community are to create a community fuelled by sharing skills, thoughts, ideas, love, and light just for the love of it. Something so simple, that we can all contribute to.

... I  wonder what creates happiness for you... ?
love, love, love and light to you all xxx

double-you, double-you, double-you, dot.

I have begun a list of relevant websites for you to explore...

The  initial intention was for these links to come from particular posts where I had included another website - such as lightworkers.org etc. - for you to explore. But I will now also add websites that I use, have experienced, and think that you might get something from...!

This list will include places I eat, communities I interact with, music, art, light-work, and spiritual guidance. So have an explore and be inspired xxx

material world

Lately, I seem to be 'leaving behind' or 'losing' so many of my belongings. And what's more, I have been noticing 'signs', reminding me of possessions that I have lost in the past, too...

I don't believe that I have ever really been a materialistic person, even to the point where I used to be quite careless with my belongings. I must admit, though, that there was a time when I was very aware of my appearance, particularly fashion, but my priorities have heavily evolved in the last year or so, and I am much more comfortable solely relying on my energy, ideas, and conversations to now establish new relationships and 'impressions' for those who I now choose to surround myself with.

I guess this post comes to you with two main messages - one of detaching yourself from the material world, and another that everything truly does happen for a reason.

Recently in Croatia, I was ecstatic after buying myself an amazing, amazing umbrella... ;-)   Even though I already owned an umbrella, it had begun to rust a little and had lost it's handle. It still worked perfectly, but - for some bizarre reason - I wanted a bigger and better umbrella. And, lucky me, I found one in Croatia that I purchased and created so much excitement and fuss over for the entire day afterwards.

I did acknowledge my excitement over this umbrella, and thought it to be unusual for this 'new me'. Shortly after I boarded a bus from Split to Dubrovnik, I began to feel that I was going to be taught a lesson, a lesson for how attached I had become to this umbrella, which I didn't even need in the first place. Funnily enough, as I began to grab my bags from the trunk of my hostel's land-lady's car, I realised that I had left my amazing, amazing umbrella on the bus...

Everything is perfect, I was being taught to re-assess my priorities and re-connect with my heart's true desires, and what is important to me right now. A little lesson.

Just something for you to think about...

love, love, love and light xx

face-value...

I have recently been asked to describe my journey through Croatia, and I often find myself being drawn back to one, clear revelation that developed a deep-seeded ideal that is now firmly grounded within my outlook on life... This way of thought has always been something that I choose to follow, but Croatia allowed me to see it with much more clarity and enjoyment  ;-)

For me, personally, I place Croatia on the same page as I do Spain, in terms of places that I have connected with and would like to connect with more deeply through another visit. From my experiences, Spain is a place of majestic landscapes, exploration, beautiful energy, and eccentric, exciting people. Croatia, quite similarly, is also a place of majestic landscapes, exploration, beautiful energy, and people with a more calm and grounded make-up.

Whilst I absolutely adored the exciting and romantic feel of exploring Spain, I was comforted by feeling safe and at-home throughout my journey of Croatia. The people in Spain were physically so expressive with their feelings and emotions, which allowed for a sense of familiarity to be established quite quickly in initial interactions, leading to plenty of drinks and laughs and socialising...!

On the other hand, though, I found that the people in Croatia presented themselves in a more serious fashion, responding very little to my bubbly and friendly nature that I have taught myself to display when first meeting people, hoping that this will give them a quick assessment as to the person I am. And while these attributes are a big part of the person I am, I do sometimes find myself in social situations, tired and exhausted, hoping that those who don't know me aren't thinking that I'm bored or unimpressed or uncomfortable in their presence.

However, I was quickly encouraged in Croatia to appreciate seeing the beauty within each person. I began to find this easier after each interaction I had, particularly with those who greeted me with very little smile, then ending up offering for me to taste their home-made Brandy or Schnapps, wanting to spend time talking and sharing stories.

The more connected you become to your own heart, judging on appearance becomes a much less frequent affair, and you begin to find it much easier - and gain so much more - to focus more on the energy that each person radiates. Amazing...

my croatian journey

Sailing, exploring islands off from Dubrovnik, Croatia...

Croatian Journey

The golden light warms my soul
As it dances on the ocean.
The reflection creates such a glow
To encourage thoughts of growth.

Majestic beauty is steady and firm
And leads you to a place beyond.
A place of hope and love and light,
A place where I begin to 'feel' the most.

xx

You're going to find yourself somewhere, somehow...

stumbling across inspiration

I have spent the last few days thinking to myself, "I really need to be sharing my new thoughts with Spreading Love and Light". But I have been finding it quite difficult to put into words what I have to share. As I've mentioned in my last post on Thursday, I have these ideas written in my book, but I haven't been feeling the spiritually-connected motivation and energy to put these thoughts into the words that I would like to share with you all.

Needless to say, after promising myself that I would wake up today and begin posting, posting, posting, I was blessed to speak with magicmaree over Skype, from one side of the world to another. Being the amazing, amazing woman that she is, she has left me feeling grounded, motivated, excited, strong, and full of integrity. So the timing is now perfect for me to re-connect with all of you...!

I've also been listening to Florence + The Machine lately, which is ever-so-uplifting and inspiring, leaving you feeling strong and connected to yourself. Two powerful songs for you...

Florence + The Machine | Dog Days Are Over

Florence + The Machine | Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)

rachel's story

A story of spreading love and light from Rachel..

Rachel’s Story.

I spent twelve years working in financial recruitment and finally lost my job in May 2009 having just been headhunted to move to my new employer only seven months before.

So I had no redundancy package or much to show for what I had achieved however I did have Yoga, my final pay packet and a loving partner. I went on a series of interviews pretty swiftly and came very close to getting a job that would've been great for my career. Before the last interview though (it was the fifth one, these guys were thorough) I slammed on the breaks. Did I want to sell the tiny piece of soul I had left. Most definitely not.

So I backed off. Stopped the job search and took some time to face my fear and understand what it might be like to change my path. I hadn't been on the right one for years. My partner is sent from God. He surrounded me with love and support and allowed me to explore what my future might be. It didn't take long. I loved Yoga. Had been told I should be a teacher. So one day after spending a day with a friend who owns her own studio and then meeting another teacher trained in the same discipline as me I made my decision. Three days later I had booked myself onto a teaching training course in India and three months later I was there.

I trained in the Sivananda tradition and their training programme is based on the Gurukula system where you live with the teacher. So here I was, on an ashram, with 70 others, getting up at 4.50am, cold showers, sitting crossed legged on the floor for nine hours daily, sleeping in a dorm with 24 others, chanting, meditating, doing four hours of asana (yoga posture) practice a day and I loved it. I have never been so close to true happiness. I loved the chanting the most. All of my insecurities about myself, my body, my worthiness as human being just melted away. And then came the day that I was awarded my certificate. I just stared at it. I had changed my life. It all came into focus in that one instant. My face ached from grinning. All I can tell you is that I knew I had set myself free.

So I came back to Bristol, started teaching straight away in freezing cold halls and eleven months down the line I now teach six days a week. I have just finished running my first Yoga retreat weekend with a friend. I teach kids, teenagers, runners, cyclists, in gyms, in community centers, in living rooms, in studios, in chiropractors, teachers in schools and in Buddhist centers. My conversations almost always flip back to Yoga. When I was quite young I had this feeling that I could change the world. And now I am. In my own way.

All I can say is that someone up there likes me and I just took a little time to love myself enough to do it. It was hard. I just had faith. I often find myself crying when I chant to my students at the end of my classes (hoping that they can't see) - it's because I'm so happy and amazed that I am blessed enough to live the life I do.

Yoga allows me to help people, to heal and restore them. A greater gift I have never been given.

 

 

Find out more about 'Yoga For The Soul' - Rachel's new journey - here...

serving, sharing, and dishing out

I'm back. And after an uplifting, soul-searching exploration of Croatia, I am ready to once again share some stories to encourage love and light to be spread in and around you all.

I carried my little black book around with me, awaiting inspirations and affirmations to flow through for me to write down and eventually share with you. One entry reads,

Sitting here at 'The Lanterna' on the Island of Brac, listening to Motown music over the radio. Looking out over the harbour as the sun is setting, and it's perfect, uplifting, and calming - simply amazing.

I can't wait to spiritually share my experiences with SL&L. I need to focus on service.

(And as I pulled myself the perfect Angel Card) It's true, my soul desires to joyfully serve, which will lead to me swimming in a constant stream of bliss.

So here I am, serving, sharing, and dishing out as many insights and experiences that will hopefully spark something inside each of you to either help you set down burdens, accomplish goals, and acknowledge the amazing gifts and talents that you possess.

love, love, love and light. xx

capoeira, from an outsiders view...

It is always so special when we are exposed to an experience that we may have encountered before, but due to our shifts and changes within our self, we are able to create a much more meaningful experience than we had before. This is particularly special when we can use this time to acknowledge the amazing changes that we have moved through, too...

Here is what I wrote, as I sat and watched the beautiful art of Capoeira:

Sitting here watching Capoeira and it is like nothing I have ever seen.

These people move so beautifully, whilst having to be so connected to one another. The physical connection they have is so intimate, but, most importantly - and above and beyond this physical connection - they connect through their energy.

As soon as they begin to feel unsettled or ungrounded in their interaction with one another, they seem to draw themselves either to each other, or to the closest, most-grounded form of energy near them. This 'other' form of energy seems to be 'rooted' by this spiritual, earthly music, which is inspiring and perfect.

They then physically connect, ground one another, and continue with their movements.

Simply by being here, spectating, I feel grounded and connected to my own heart, my mind, and my soul. Perfect. xx

pulling on the heart strings

I'd simply love to share with you all a beautiful, beautiful song that I've been listening to this morning. I would have heard this song before, I'm sure, but with the way that I'm feeling just now, the song really is moving into my chest, making me truly feel...

I'm feeling more love and am finding it much more easier to connect to the emotions that I left lay dormant throughout yesterday, which did ware me out... I am now acknowledging what I'm feeling, and it's perfect.

Listen to | Bon Iver: Roslyn

share your stories!

Spreading Love and Light would love to hear and share your own stories of spreading love and light...

While the intention of this Blog is to share my own stories with you all, I would absolutely love the opportunity to share some stories of others.

Tell me about the simple sign you found on the footpath, the amazing, inspiring person you just met, your day-to-day job, how perfectly plans fell into place for you, or the changes that seem to be taking place around you...

Whether it is about you or someone you know, share with us the amazing-ness we all hold within ourselves!

email me at: spreadingloveandlight@hotmail.com

love, love, love and light xx

let me paint you a picture...

Last night was an eventful, eventful evening for me, full of love, light, music, smiles, dancing, and shifts... And as the evening came to a close, I found myself laying in bed with an amazingly beautiful image, that allowed for me to fall asleep peacefully, after what could have caused a restless night's sleep...

A situation at the end of the evening left me feeling vulnerable, sad, and let down, and I thought that all my problems would be solved if I made my way to bed to sleep on it and wake up in the morning with the storm having settled. Alas, as I lay there, I was tossing and turning, feeling absolutely terrible.

Then, suddenly - as though my angels had created this for me - I saw a clear image in my mind and I had taken a step back from the situation, watching myself in this visual as a bystander...

I was jumping on a trampoline in absolute bliss (I have the most fondest childhood memories of jumping on our trampoline in the backyard), and I saw this as an image of me enjoying my night, dancing away, smiling and laughing. Then, out of nowhere, all of these bodies began to appear around the trampoline, which were bodies and faces of people who, throughout my life, have caused tension, or anger, or sadness for me.

I watched myself continue to jump contentedly on the trampoline, acknowledging those around me, but choosing to ignore them. I then watched as these people began to pick up small pots of coloured paint and throw the paint on the trampoline below my feet, ruining my experience, making everything messy and slippery...

These people were throwing any negative emotions they felt my way, and I began by feeling as though everything was ruined, so I got myself off the trampoline and stood at one end, watching these people - with smirks of  'success' painted across their faces - continue to throw paint on my trampoline, my Divine path, that I had been travelling full of love, light, joy, and bliss.

 I then looked closer, and saw this beautiful painting emerge from what began as an attempt to throw dark energy my way... And as a smile grew on my face at the beauty of this gloriously-coloured image, the people began to slowly disappear - one by one - from around the trampoline.

And I was left with my Divinely-created path, filled with more colour and creativity than ever before.

I then did a meditation to acknowledge the emotions I was previously feeling, and to ground myself. And, peacefully, I slept... x

Difficult Times | Some advice to share...

an aspiration...

Every now and then - and, consequently, more often the more connected we become to ourselves - we are blessed to cross paths with someone who is inspirational, full of love, and grounded, spreading love and light as they travel their Divinely-created path...

Earlier in the year, I visited Spain, which, hands-down, is the most amazing place I have visited yet, and I can't wait to return... One beautiful afternoon, my friend and I spent some time in a quaint, little cafe, hiding in the small streets that back away from the beach in Barcelona. We had planned to have a coffee (or in my case, a red wine...) and then spend the rest of the afternoon exploring some of the sights of Barcelona.

Needless to say, we were given an opportunity to change pre-made plans and experience something beautiful and inspiring...

The Spanish lady who owned this cafe was of similar age to us, and her energy was just so intriguing. My friend and I made our way off our plastic chairs outside on the side of the street, and inside to the bar where we were served red wine and offered olives and an amazing conversation...!

As we sat, we were in absolute awe of this girl's story - following her dreams, feeling free, and being completely true to herself and her heart's desires. And her gorgeous best-friend arrived shortly after to help her with running this cafe that she had created and succeeded in on her very own.

So there we were, four friends, sharing love and light, and finding inspiration.

There are a handful of people in this world who I aspire to be as similar to as possible, and this Spanish girl is one. Thank you, beautiful one. xx

simple.

Just curiously...

1 song - I will ride my bike from my place to Gloucester Road, Bristol

2 songs - I will move through my chakra meditations

3 songs - My coffee will be warm enough to drink

4 songs - I will ride my bike from the train station, home

5 songs - I will walk from my place to Castle Park for coffee

simple.x

here comes the sun, and it's alright

So this beautiful autumn day began with some cloud, which was perfect...

Alas, I chose to believe that the sun would eventually push it's way through (the energy just feels too amazing today...!). I made my morning coffee, and after having announced that one of my beautiful readers would be reading 'The Ringing Cedars' by the beginning of next year, I felt amazing and ready to head outside to my front courtyard to sip, think, and pull myself some angel cards...

And then imagine my delight that, after I sat down on my steps, the sun came out! Brighter and warmer than ever, full of beautiful, glorious energy. I smiled, closed my eyes, thanked my angels, and watched them smile back at me with encouragement.

Not surprisingly, and as always, today is going to be a good day. x

afterthought...

I thought to myself that I would leave you all with three posts today, but after having completed the last two, I'm thinking that that is enough to leave you with... Mill and seethe over these posts, and I would absolutely love any feedback or questions you might have.

My 'Blog' juices are overflowing, though, so be prepared for many more posts to be coming your way very soon...!

love, love, love and light xxx

(Come to think of it, this is actually three... x)

Just by the by, my favourite post for you to read or re-read, click on, and view...

How To Be Alone

learning to 'feel'.

And so as I've been encouraging you all to 'feel' your emotions as they appear, here is exactly what I mean...

Over the last couple of weeks, there have been some huge energy shifts happening on this earth. I've already asked if maybe you've been feeling more nervous, had butterflies floating through your stomach, perhaps your health has changed, or you've simply been feeling as though you can never catch up on the sleep that you may need... These are all signs that you are feeling the shift that is occurring, the rest is up to you whether you choose to embrace and acknowledge these changes in yourself, or whether you choose to move on with how things were.

Your choice is completely up to you - the timing must be perfect for us before we choose to move forward with our energy levels,  and I am going to now give you the opportunity to move through a meditation that will help you 'feel' any emotions (particularly more negative emotions such as anger, guilt, regret etc...) and use this energy to magnify and push your shift in becoming the more amazing 'you'.

First of all, acknowledge whatever emotion you are feeling - for example, 'guilt' - 'feel' this guilt and become aware of the situation surrounding it. Close your eyes and run the energy of this guilt up and down your spine, see the white light of this guilt move up and down your spine. Finally, embed this white light of emotion at the base of your skull, then push it out through your third eye chakra (between your eyes, on your forehead). See the light leave your body then send it white light of your own from your heart.

Repeat this as many times as you need before you begin to feel acceptance and innocence within yourself.

One thing I do know is that we need to stop viewing negative emotions as something bad. In fact, quite the contrary - and I was only just reminded about this from magicmaree - we should acknowledge these feelings as something exciting, because at the end of feeling these emotions, we will have shifted ourselves.

Everything is Divinely orchestrated, you amazing readers xx

much better...

It's time...! And as magicmaree says, hasn't time simply flown by lately...

You have all been on my mind, and I have continued to add blog entries and ideas to my journal. But, sadly, my journal fell on to the train tracks, and I have been busily trying to re-trace it, but I think that it may be gone forever... Like everything else that happens to me, though, I do take this as a sign because I have been moving through a huge shift in the last couple of weeks and my angels are obviously telling me that I need to leave all the energy that has been placed in that journal behind and move forward with my new frame-of-mind and energy, which is exciting... ;-)

Have you been feeling more nervous lately? More butterflies flying through your stomach in situations that this would not normally happen? Well, if this is the case, you're shifting, too! Embrace this and acknowledge and use this new frame-of-mind you're now carrying with you.

Perhaps you have a creative project that you've been thinking about of wanting to explore...? Go for it!

Oh wow. I am just so excited writing this post because I know that I'm making you think and I hope that I'm also inspiring and encouraging you to be the most amazing person that you are... And on that note, please take the time once you've finished exploring my posts to read magicmaree's latest post because I am certain that something within there will resonate with you.

Jot some ideas down to begin with. Take some time-out for you. You, you, you! You're beautiful and you're amazing, and I am so glad that I now have the time to let you know this...

I promised myself that I would send you all a few messages today, and this is the first, so sit back, relax, and start 'feeling'.... love, love, love and light to you xxxxx

a message from me to you...

A blog that began as a poem, but evolved into a message from me to you...

To experience a love within your heart that radiates immense joy. Joy for love, life, and the beauty within yourself. You are amazing and have so much to give to the world. Everyone around you is intrigued by these gifts that you carry. And yet you still feel as though you haven't fully become aware of these gifts yourself.

Trust in yourself because they are there and are ready to blossom. And while you may not feel as though your amazing-ness is showing strong enough to be acknowledged, it already is. Trust in your heart that you are well on your Divine path, travelling with so much grace and love and light. And the fact that you are simply aware of your amazing potential, and how beautiful life is, is already shifting and moving you along your path to fulfillment.

Fulfillment within your heart, fulfillment within your soul, and fulfillment in your relationships. Everything is perfect, and you have the ability to create the most perfect life for yourself. There is no right or wrong - these values have been created by society - there are only choices that you choose to make and take to create happiness for yourself.

Life is beautiful, and you are amazing, and everything is perfect. Embrace it all and see the love radiate from within your heart - you will then begin to experience curiosity from others - others who are intrigued, sometimes confused, and maybe even feel challenged or intimidated. And this intimidation may sometimes create anger and conflict, but this is needed because only cyclones can break down concrete barriers.

You will be 'shifting' these people, encouraging them to create a life for them self that they envisage to be even minutely as amazing as yours. Never move away from your path to make others feel less uncomfortable because such meetings and relationships are created for a reason. Once again, and as always, remember, everything is perfect and has been Divinely created.

Be true to yourself and the rest will follow on from there. You deserve it.

"When we realise how perfect everything is, we will tilt our head back and laugh at the sky."

- Buddha

Send out only love and light and watch prosperity blossom!

be true to yourself

I chose to begin this Blog for a few reasons, the main being that I wanted to share my thoughts and views publicly, in a non-intrusive way so that those of you who may be curious about spiritually awakening yourselves could access the information I'm sharing in an environment that is safe and familiar.

I also chose to begin this blog so that I could explore my way of life through a means that was also non-intrusive to those around me. I have only just begun to explore these thoughts, ideas, and beliefs in the last year, which means that some of those amazing people who were, and still are, so very close to me, find it a little difficult to 'be' on this same wave-length as me...

I have learned that there is a time and a place for different thoughts and ideas to be expressed. However, at the same time, I have also learned that I must continue to be true to myself and never hide or 'blur' what I think just for the sake of others. I have also learned to trust those who love me, and that they will embrace the 'new' me - particularly when they can see how happy and content I am within my heart... x

Since acknowledging this, I now feel so grounded and full of love, which encourages so much growth and 'shifting', which is simply amazing!

Be true to yourself and trust that those who love you and are worthy of your love will always embrace you and your gifts. Sending you all love and light xxx

good morning!

Waking up to sunshine flowing through my window and the beautiful sound of a blackbird singing outside my window... Today is going to be a good day :-)

Time for some inspirational music, a cup of tea, a bath, and some meditations. xx

What will I listen to? Holly Throsby...

My bath? With crystal essences...

Meditation? Moving through my chakras....

And how could you create an amazing feeling in your heart if you've already begun your day?

Click here and watch 'How To Be Alone', and watch the smile grow of your face and the love radiate from your heart...

xxx

help yourself...

My 'motivation' levels have been feeling a little low over the last couple of days - I've desperately wanted to create a post for this blog that would inspire and spread love and light to you all... And as I've had little insight or motivation to create such a thing, I had begun to feel a tad hopeless, which - if I hadn't chosen to turn things around - could have quite easily manifested into a bit of a 'lull'.

However... As I sat in the bath this afternoon, I moved myself through my chakra meditation, which I hadn't done for a couple of days. I had lost any 'time' for my meditations over the past couple of days, but as I moved through this meditation earlier today, it only took me two songs to complete the meditation (I was listening to two beautiful songs, with links attached below...), reminding me of how little time I really need to put aside for myself each day to ground myself.

And as I meditated, my angels rewarded me with messages and motivation and ideas and so much love... This also reminded me that while it's perfect and amazing to put your faith into Divine power, we, too, must also work on our spiritual growth ourselves. Hence, the title for this post, 'help yourself'. You will only be rewarded when you can be acknowledged for the amount of effort that you are prepared to put forward for yourself.

... you truly, truly deserve it...

 Iron and Wine | Such Great Heights

Zero 7 | In The Waiting Line

some questions to ponder...

Some questions, perhaps, for you to ponder...

What makes you smile?

When was the last time you thought, 'my life is perfect just now'?

What would make your life perfect?

Putting all outside factors aside, where would you like to be this time, next year?

Who is your ideal partner?

Who would you write a letter to, knowing that their heart would fill with joy seeing your letter in the mailbox?

What are you fondest memories of your childhood?

What is one thing that you could to today that you love?

Which artist or song takes you on a beautiful journey in your mind?

What's your favourite colour?

How do you spread love and light throughout the world...?

You're amazing. You deserve to smile. Have a think. Create something beautiful today... x

messages and signs, taking you on a journey

As always mentioned, I made the most of the sunshine yesterday and made my way to Castle Green Park for my delicious hazelnut latte and some time laying on the grass, watching the autumn leaves fall from the trees. My usual ritual begins by buying my coffee, finding a grassy space under the trees, taking my shoes off, placing my feet on the ground, and as I wait for my coffee to cool down a little, I simply move through my chakra mediation (which I've talked you through in one of my earlier posts).

I then pull myself some angel cards... I always make sure that I meditate first, though, because I feel as though I am then more connected to myself and therefore more connected to my angels when I ask them for any messages through the cards...

Anyhow - I have digressed - the message behind this post is to do with connecting with your inner child - that beautiful, amazing, inspirational, curious person we all grow out of as we become more immersed and affected by society and media.

A beautiful leaf fell on the ground next to me, and I felt the need to pick up this leaf and acknowledge it more intimately. It had turned red, with beautiful veins of lime green flowing out from the stem. And it took me back to when I was young and as Autumn began I would spend my time searching through the fallen leaves to find as many different colours as I possibly could, and I would then arrange the leaves in order from the most green to the most brown and sit back and admire the cycle of life through these leaves laid out on the ground...

I believe the leaf was a message from my angels (thank you, angels); a message to remind me of my love for and connection with nature. How special. Make sure you take notice - and even thank whoever it is you thank - of signs that are sent to you, particularly when they give you the opportunity to move through a journey in your mind.

And I thought I would add to this post a beautiful song that ties in nicely with this message. Sigur Ros - Hoppipolla. Make yourself smile - listen to and watch this xxx

Sigur Ros | Hoppipolla

moving through shifts...

So I've begun the week by waking up and feeling terrible... I do know, though, that I'm feeling unwell because I am moving through a shift just now.

After magicmaree had sent me her post to put up on Spreading Love and Light's Blog, I worked as quickly as possible to have her post on the Blog before I headed out for the day. However, after I had read through her post I began to feel quite agitated and left the house feeling short-tempered and angry. Later that afternoon, magicmaree asked if she could speak with me before I uploaded her post. So I made my way back home and pulled her post down.

I spoke with magicmaree about this the morning after and let her know how I felt after reading her post. Magicmaree said that it was perfect that we were able to chat about the post because the card readings and angel message had actually resonated with me and had begun to shift me...

Magicmaree and I had an amazing talk yesterday morning, and I knew that this chat would cause me to shift. When I say 'shift', I mean that my thought process changes in a direction that is spiritually deeper and more in-tune - I feel light, happy, and hold so much love in my heart sometimes during, but always after these shifts.

Which is why I now feel a little ill... I'm shifting. And as I've mentioned in one of my previous blogs, "Only cyclones can break down concrete barriers"... xx

make your own crystal essence?

After being given the first edition of The Crystal Bible from a beautiful friend for my birthday, I've been able to really get to know the different properties of various crystals and stones that I find myself being more and more drawn to by the day!

Amongst my discoveries, I have now begun to make my own crystal essences. My first crystal essence was made with rose quartz, and I have been pouring this essence in the bath with me, which allowed me to come into my heart and see only love - amazing.

I made my essence by placing the rose quartz crystal in a clear glass jar of water. I then placed the jar in a sunny place outside and let it sit there for a couple of days. I would have been able to bring the jar in after one day of sitting in the sun... I then took the rose quartz out of the jar and left the essence in the bathroom and would pour one third of it into my bath with me.

I used the essence within two weeks of having made it, but if I did want to keep it for longer, I would have preserved it with a spirit, such as vodka...

The essence radiates the same energy as the crystal itself, so choose to make an essence using a crystal that holds properties that are relevant to how you would like to feel. Enjoy xx

a friend indeed.

How lucky are we when we can call someone who is so amazing, supportive, nurturing, fun, funny, caring, and beautiful our 'friend'...

I have been thinking about this for a while now, and I simply want to use this space to acknowledge a very special girl in my life. You know who you are. And you are born to shine. You truly are. xx

a song...

I thought I'd share with you all a beautiful song that began playing for me whilst I was meditating today... This song took me to a world of beautiful thoughts full of love and changes...

The xx | Stars

something beginning with, "rain, rain..."

So it's been raining today, and whilst I am a little sad that I've missed out on heading the Castle Green for my hazelnut latte, I have had the most magical time walking into town with my umbrella, listening to 'Lady of the Sunshine' through my earphones, completing most of my 'to do' list...

Letters written to family home? Check. Letters posted? Check. Three rose quartz and three citrine crystals for the Star of David grid in my room? Check.

Now for some dark chocolate and herbal tea... ;-)

take me to that happy place...

Here I am, lying in bed on a rainy Tuesday morning in Bristol. The school year has only just begun, so I haven't been called in to work today, and the day is mine... I promised myself I would make the most of these days off work because as the weeks roll by, work will get busier and busier and I will begin to have a little less time for myself...

What excites me about today is that my small list of 'things to do' is propelled by creating a happy space for myself - in my room, in my head, my heart, and my soul.

First of all, I have promised myself that I will clear the energy in my room and create a loving, nurturing, inspiring space for myself. I've found that I haven't been sleeping very well lately and also that I haven't been feeling as inspired or balanced when I wake up in the morning, so I'm going to buy myself some dry sage and burn it in my room to clear the energy. I will place it in a small bowl and burn it similarly to incense - the smoke from the sage will clear to energy, which is a simple way to re-balance the energy in any space of yours if you feel it needs to cleansed and re-vitalised.

I will also buy myself six, small rose quartz crystals to grid my room similarly to how I gridded the bottom floor of my house with citrine and black tourmaline - by placing one rose quartz crystal at each of the six points of the Star of David. I hope that this formation will create the loving, nurturing, and inspiring space that is intended.

 

Next on my list is to make my way down to Castle Green Park in the centre of town, where I will buy the most amazingly tasty hazelnut latte from a lovely French man and his small coffee cart. I will take my latte to a small space in the park, read The Ringing Cedars series, write some inspiring and motivating thoughts, wants, and ideas in my notebook, meditate with my bare feet on the grass, pull angel cards, people watch, and write letters to my family back home.

My trips to Castle Green have currently become that happy place of mine. Where's your happy place? You know, that space where you feel most inspired, happy, safe, comfortable, and creative thoughts just come flying your way and put a smile on your face... That space where you feel most like 'you'.

I've attached a link here to an amazing website where - if needed - you might just find some beautiful inspirations to help you create that special space for yourself. Be inspired. Go here...

A place to share inspiring pictures of awesomely decorated bedrooms.

india arie. the epitome of 'love and light'...

It excites me to share with you all, another amazing musician, who has been an inspiration to me since high (secondary) school... x

The first song that drew me to India Arie was Video, which I think I found from exploring in the Internet... The lyrics that resonated with me back then were,

"... Every freckle on my face is where it's supposed to be."

This touched my heart because, like most girls moving through their secondary education, any medium to radiate some form of positive energy and encourage positive self-esteem is always welcomed with open arms. And so I began a love affair with India Arie's 'Acoustic Soul' album. Every one of the songs on that album made me feel balanced, relaxed, happy, and inspired. Back then, I remember being drawn to the lyrics of  'Video' and I simply loved the melodies of the rest of the album, dancing around my room and in front of the mirror.

After being spiritually awakened in mid-2009, I found myself coming back to India Arie once again. This time, though, the lyrics make so much more sense to me and I am now drawn to her music on a very different level than I was at secondary school. I feel a connection to India's heart and soul when I listen to her songs. So much so that when a beautiful friend of mine posted a YouTube clip of hers on my Facebook wall for my birthday, that gift was just so special and encouraged me to begin my day with a smile, not only on my face, but in my heart, too... x

Awaken you senses, be inspired, and feel the love and light from within her music...

MySpace | India Arie
 

a new facebook page... x

Facebook | Spreading Love and Light