Keep weaving the web - How seeing the bigger picture helps.

If what you wanted doesn't feel all so 'juiceyyy'... but it's exactly what you need, and you know it deep down, keep at it! It'll change, things will fall into place and it will feel right.

So just hang on in there a little longer, embody your higher self, trust, believe, be patient... recognize your resistance, perhaps even an addiction to the familiar misery.

Don't go there.

Detach, see the bigger picture, find balance, trust that everything's unfolding perfectly. Like the spider weaving its web so assuredly.

Every little thing you do has consequences.

"Spiders gifts include – creativity and weavers of fate, the balance between past and future, physical and spirit, male and female. Their bodies are shaped like the number 8 and they have 8 legs, symbolising infinite possibilities of creation. Spider weaves her web, we weave our realities. Spider reminds us that we create many of the situations in our lives. We have the power to create what happens in our lives – to us and to others. But we must realise this. The choices we make coupled with our attitude – very powerful stuff.

If the spider has caught you in its web, then look with-in and with-out to see the web you are weaving in your life. Are you content? Are things going well in your life? If things are good, Good! Think about the attitude/choices that have gotten you where you are today, creating positive situation and continue!

Sometimes we don’t have the spider’s ability to see our lives as a whole. So often we meet conflict in our lives, not sure how to integrate desires and paths, which seem to oppose one another. So if the Spider has entered your life, it is here to teach you something(s). One of these things is to attune yourself to the energy of the Weaver. You can then begin to see that many of the inner dividing walls that seem to separate aspects of your life are not as solid as they appear. You may be able to see that by looking at things differently, barriers can disappear and that your life can be viewed in a more integrated way. You may also realise that the webs you weave need not be sources of entanglement, but a network of roads to travel.

Spiders are actually very delicate, embodying the energy of gentleness, and generally aren’t aggressive unless defending their lives. Moving forward whatever the situation, with a gentle strength, is a skill that often needs to be learned by those with this power animal."

By Ina Woolcott

http://www.shamanicjourney.com/?s=spider

Committing to commitments

Squirrel Spirit Animal

By Ina Woolcott

"The idea that there are obstacles that can't be overcome is not part of Squirrel’s outlook on life, nor is giving up. Squirrel is an almighty power animal to have any time when you feel you have reached a dead-end in your life, or in a situation and ready to give up. We are shown that perseverance and the readiness to try different methods are the keys to success.

 – it can also mean being as flexible as Squirrel when it comes to allowing and starting change.

When squirrels prepare for the winter, they gather only what they require. This teaches us the importance of letting go/getting rid of unnecessary physical objects, and also negative beliefs, emotions, and memories which limit our faith in love and abundance. We need to lighten our load, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

As busy as these animals are, they always have time to play. This teaches us that there IS time for everything in life, that the balance between work, play, rest, and contemplation is essential to our overall feeling of wellbeing and harmony. We are reminded that on our journeys to fulfill our goals, it is vital to make time for play and socializing.

Ask yourself are you too active, not active enough, too afraid, or hung up on accumulating and collecting. Squirrel people can sometimes be a little erratic, trying to do many things at once. Take the time to stop, listen, and to heed your inner self.

Don’t forget to play, no matter what age you are! Don’t have too much on your plate at any one time.

Squirrels are very trusting and are one of the few (wild) animals that will eat out of a person’s hand. This symbolizes a need to let down your defenses, and to learn to trust more, remember that you will be taken care of."

I knew that the last 3 squirrels I noticed on 3 different occasions while brooding over my new circumstances meant something.

I gave my word that I'd stick with this work for one year, respectively 10 months. So now I have 9 more to go. That's not a lot.

Too many times in my life I intended to stick with major decisions that I knew were healthy for me and would yield positive results over time. But I gave up. 

I made commitments more than I care to count, e.g. never start dead-end relationships, leave spirit-sucking jobs, diminish unhealthy lifestyle - including toxic environments, soulless food, and drinks, sleepless nights partying or worrying, and the many promises to myself to never escape my emotions again... I had a few goes at it and then dropped it. In the end, I learned to listen to my intuition and thus avoid most of the above.

There wouldn't be so many 'startovers', have I just stuck with my best intentions to commit to what's good for me.  

No commitment is the same. If we intend to break it, get honest with yourself first and foremost.

When it comes to mundane commitments like giving up sugar for good, I seem to get distracted. I reduced it to natural sugar, but once or twice a month I sin, yet the Earth keeps on spinning and my weight stays stable.

A commitment not to ever drink coffee is also unsustainable, and little does depend on whether I stick to it or indulge once in a while. Most of the information out there is confusing and unfounded. I normally crave extra caffeine in the second half of my cycle. I experience estrogen drop, loss of energy, and more muscle fatigue. Even then, I'd have one cup a day and it's gotta be just the right brew not to make me jittery. Come my period, I naturally wean off of it for the next 2 weeks or so.

Regarding wine, the only commitment I must/want to make is that I won't use it as a tool to numb myself. I need to first feel the full weight of those feelings that irritate me and I must deal with them as an adult, accept my responsibility for creating certain situations, and for not managing too well. I commit to not reaching for a drink every time I desire a little thrill. I want a party, not a pity party. 

Ideas for when we want to relax: Try a little nap, have a calming tea, have an energizing tea, a tiny snack, or masturbate.

Michael Neil says: There aren't enough cookies in the world to make us feel happy and loved. Cheers to that!

My commitment to working as a carer for Teal in York, UK is still on, and it will be on until it feels true to my heart, granted that I won't trade it for anything less important. It does feel great to commit to something. Someone should hold me accountable! 

New beginnings at challenging times (York. Updated)

Today, the first little crisis struck. 

I became aware that I went from one type of isolation to another.

It's been only 22 days since my arrival, and they say that to get used to new habits and routines you need 21 days at it... Did I get used to it, can I get used to it?

I'll check-in in a week again. Frankly, I spent the first 7 days in York only observing what my new routine could be like... so to be precise, it's been only 2 weeks since the mother in charge left; then the real fun began. It's just me and - let's call her Teal, to protect my girl's identity. She is a bright college student who needs some mobility support - and heaping doses of self-discipline.

I'm not so good with self-discipline myself judging by the amount of sweets I eat, the bottle of red wine I struggle to ration per week, and the clothes lying on my bedroom floor.

There are areas where I excel. Boosting other people's self-esteem, confidence, positive body image, and gratitude to name the obvious. I've also learned to look after myself since I turned 18. I jumped straight into multiple jobs, shift work, vocational studies, paying the bills, and running all errands by myself.

Does Teal struggle with that? Not really... she doesn't have to do any of that.

So I'm wondering... what the hell am I doing here? The carer who doesn't care?

Then there's the city... the charming, little city that I see 2x a week, where they're so strict with social distancing that in a coffee shop full of tables and chairs, you can use 3. And they're all occupied by 1 person sitting at each. It sucks that I still don't have any friends here and that Bumble is so... English? All the guys I matched with seems to be super-cool about social distancing, perhaps never ever meeting face to face at all. Anyway, I was done with dating, wasn't I? I was done with stupid, inauthentic dating games... not with meeting people.

Can this cute city grow on me?

Here I am, sitting in my bedroom on a Saturday afternoon, clutching a cup of tea with oat milk, and staring at the empty street outside of my window in a rainy York, reminiscing about the good ol' times... when I felt alive, free, connected, and useful.

I'll get there. And it'll be like never before.

No more breaking hearts

I just realized that even if I break my heart again, it doesn't matter.

In fact, with this attitude, it'll probably never happen again.

At least not in the usual awful way. It'll just be what it will be - two people going their separate ways with gratitude for the lessons learned.

Or it'll be love for life the next time around.

I'm copying some updates from my last two newsletters:

Be careful what you wish for.... again.
Isn't it funny how things work out the way we least expect, yet the unexpected feels too familiar not to have been expected?
I found a new man. 
I already mentioned in one of my blog posts that I've encountered a romantic interest while back in the Czech Republic. 
It was sudden, intense, affectionate, emotional and fun, and it is finished.
Why? 
I don't believe in promises made after a very short time of knowing someone and long-distance romantic relationships are difficult - for me.
My new career offers me a lot more stability and purpose.

The lesson from this new 'heartbreak'? 
It wasn't heartbreaking at all, it was rather heart-opening.
I tasted the kind of feeling I know I deserve to have in a long-term relationship. It was the first time since 10 years ago that I felt an easy emotional connection, safety, and peace with a man. In fact, for the first time ever I felt truly heard and totally seen.
If you ask me how is it possible to create an emotional connection in a matter of days -
-> The answer is always an authentic communication.
Are you afraid of rejection? Of abandonment? Of commitment? -> Communicate all that!
By communicating, we found a way back to one another. In the end, we've established a beautifully honest intimacy. Lovers or friends - I am certain that by listening to my heart, it has led me to both a wonderful person and a wonderful job.
My last weeks in the Czech Republic couldn't have been sunnier. 
Goodbye Prague, hello York for a year!

I am done with dating.
And I'm not saying it in a bitter manner. I'm merely done with various dating games like - not replying in a timely fashion (a few hours up to a full working day can be understandable, however, a few days? You/I've been too busy to reply for a week?), having unconscious fears of abandonment running the show, or mind-fucks to get each other to bed... I am done with that. In the best way possible.