Remembering Who We Are

By Elaine Hoem

Elaine Hoem

Dear One:

Natalie graciously suggested that I write a column for Mystic Living Today. We became acquainted last month in a most wonderful interview for Mystic Living Today. In this interview, I talked about my book, Everyday Soul Dances – A Guide to Soulful Living in the Midst of Uncertain Times. This column is what follows.

Remembering Who We Are is a term I have used since I first wrote an article to help people move beyond their anxieties after 9-11. I realized then that we can live from a place of contraction and fear based upon outer events or find that still center within and practice living from a realm of greater love, grace, peace, and a sense of rightness for the paths that we are on.

This column will expand on these two very diverse ways. We need such information, perhaps more than ever, since our world seems more violent, out of control, and filled with stress during these times. How can we possibly manage to live a contented life when we are faced with so many problems and challenges daily? When we look only through the eyes of such challenges, it is difficult to find our way home to our most precious inner Self that is filled with light and loving ways.

Yet, when we stop to remember, we know that there is so much more to our stories – the stories of how we love, the wonderful things we accomplish, our greatness, our potential, and our endless creativity to form lives that are vibrant and filled with meaning, goodness, and living from our sacred sanctuaries within.

Each month, I will explore different facets of Everyday Soul Dances – or the ways in which we can move from lesser states of malaise, fear, and numbness into the glorious possibilities we all contain when we access our spirituality. After all, dear One, we are here in this life as spiritual beings to have our spirituality enlivened while living our ordinary lives. Each time we expand into this awareness and live from our spiritual center, we bring a richness, a vitality, a comfort, and ever-deepening love into all we do, no matter how simple or profound.

Each month in this column, I will suggest a simple practice that brings forth sacred ways. Then I will ask you to remember such a practice as often as possible as you live out the days of this next month. Please pay attention to any shifts that you notice in your feelings, your ways with others, and within yourself as you participate in each practice. I will end each column with a simple affirmation/meditation to ground each exercise in all the possibilities that exist within you and within your sacred heart.

The practice this month comes from a Facebook post by Terry Hershey. The word is Meraki (may-rah-kee). This is a Greek word and practice that means “doing something with love and pure soul. It is leaving a piece of yourself in your creative work”. When we remember to do and say anything with love and pure soul, we transform that piece of work or the way we approach any relationship, and that is what we are all about as spiritual beings. Imagine practicing Meraki while cleaning the kitchen or soothing a loved one. What happens? We soften and glisten and enter sacred space. This invites the others to do so as well. This all shifts into a more holy space or encounter. Each time we live this practice of Meraki we are doing one of our Everyday Soul Dances.

At first, it might be challenging to remember, but do so, little by little and then observe what follows. You might want to add a sticky note with the work Meraki to your bathroom mirror, kitchen cabinet, or computer as a prompt. At the end of each day, contemplate how it all went and whether you would like to do anything different to have a greater effect.

For 30 days, practice Meraki.

MEDITATE ON MERAKI

Now breathe deeply and slowly from your belly and imagine that you are releasing any and everything that is not serving you in this moment. Remember to allow your mind to release down and out into the earth as well. Do this several times until you experience a deepening, a relaxation, and a centering within. Then imagine living your day with this sacred practice in place, in all situations. In your mind, see yourself living Meraki as you talk to a loved one, as you answer a difficult phone call, as you soothe a needy child, as you weed the garden. Experience Love and pure Soul in each experience, a deep giving of yourself over and over until the end of your day.

AFFIRMATIONS:

I am total love and pure soul.

While I hold the state of Meraki, I soften into the highest of my beautiful heart.

While I hold the state of Meraki, I am pure love.

While I hold the state of Meraki, I am pure peace.

While I hold the state of Meraki, I contribute to the goodness, peace, and healing of my world.

As I practice Meraki daily for this next month, all my ways become total love and pure soul.

Please continue to add your own personal affirmations.

If you have soulful stories and/or awakenings with this practice and would like to share them as your Everyday Soul Dance, please email me at everydaysouldances@gmail.com

Namaste.

Here is the link to our show from a month ago:

https://www.blogtalkradio.com/starzcast/2023/03/22/natalie-talks-with-author-psychotherapist-elaine-hoem

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