During challenging times, if we hold on as the song says a beautiful diamond develops at the very center of our being that takes us forward on this journey of life. As in nature some gems are formed when rocks are pressurized and heated by earth’s movements and recombine to form new, different rocks. So, as we go through the unknown moments of life or the empty space place and hold onto the light, we become new. The Bible says in Christ (or higher power) “if any man be in Christ (devoted follower of the light), he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things become new.” With the philosopher’s stone the alchemists turned silver to gold. It may feel that we are being burned from all sides sometimes. Remember it’s darkest before the dawn.

I had the good fortune of going to my favorite place on the planet last week, Kauai. Right before I left, I got this strong feeling I should go and see the movie Inside Out 2. I so connected to the message. The story is about a girl entering her teens and going through an earth-shattering identity loss. There are a few cycles in life where we hit these identity crises that come in the form of internal and external earthquakes and our world is turned upside down. Who am I if some of the things I thought were true about me no longer apply?

These shifts come at different times for everybody, but some changes seem universally true for many of us. One shift may come around 29 where we lose our false self and come into more of our truth and another around 50 and another at 58 and then in our early 80’s when we are looking back on our lives. Some people call the 50’s the mid-life crisis years which can be viewed when men get buff and find a younger woman to recapture sexual virility, or women start down the plastic surgery addiction path.
There is no judgement cause these changes are rough. The bottom line is to hold on.

During moments of transmutation, we may hit some core low self- esteem issues. If I am not a young person anymore and if I went through the years of making money and building a career and that phase is complete, then who am I now? And maybe I had kids and made a home and connected with my community so what am I now? And maybe some of my friendships have shifted and some relationships are complete, and I’m not sure what this next phase is bringing. If I’m not that any more than do I exist? It can be terrifying and just like the girl in the Inside Out movie our emotions may be all over the place. So how can we find peace and joy during these times that will most certainly change us?

Staying on the wettest spot on the planet as my life is in a shift phase was a perfect antidote and gave me a chance to rest. I got this gut level message to hold onto my center and find as much joy in every moment that I could. When I got home, I could feel this beam of light through my spine. A bridge had been built at the very center of my being that would take me into the next chapter of my life.

These moments can be frightening but if we stay with the disciplines of healing; the gratitude lists, yearly inventories, meditation, prayer, community, doing the treats, service and finding the outside help when we need, we will be led to an enormous sense of self-love and empowerment. Love is what it
takes to give birth to the next incarnation of who we were always meant to be. And from this place in our hearts, not our egos, a brilliant life can unfold and draws to us everything that we want and need.

All we have to do is stop trying to control the unknown and let go to the power of the universe. It is simple but not easy. If you are in pain whether it’s Stage 2 recovery issues or you can’t get off a substance (food ,alcohol or drugs), we are here for you. Call 626-514-0031 and get on the Path to Freedom and remember; you are never alone.

Love and Light from the PTF.