Truth (Love + Gratitude)

When we embrace TRUTH a new world opens.

exploring truth reveals an essence:

the T R U T H is LOVE + GRATITUDE

both originating in the L I G H T

get lost in the moment

+ let  t h i s  be  my prayer (living affirmation)

+ let this be

my guiding L I G H T

( r a d i a n c e )

Truth is about integrity. We must be present to percieve the TRUTH.

Let me embrace the truth within, so that i may see clearly when i remove beliefs that are based in falsities. Truth leads to freedom.

be wonderful

♡

LaToya.

Resources:

A Course in Miracles, the 4 Agreements

O U R V O Y A G E (in gratitude)

O U R  V O Y A G E (in gratitude)

what if there comes a point when you have to let an old version of yourself go?

a point when you may not be ready for it.

a point when you are called to grieve that self that is ready to move on before you acknowleged it even exisited, before you were aware it was time to part?

a point where you leave an open seat for the emerging + evolving self to arise.

a point when emotions you never knew existed rise.

a point where emotions you once held close release on their own.

T H I S must be the point when higher self has stepped in because it heard your call. 

this point must be true surrender because you as you know yourself is not in control of the process.

+ you are grateful for this voyage.

BE WONDERFUL.

♡

LaToya

~ there are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm -

~ willa cather

Artist Prayer (Revisiting Intentions)

Creativity is not and has never been sensible.

Julia Cameron

Sometimes all it takes to put something in motion is to set an intention. Prayers set intentions into motion. Intentions set creativity into motion.

So here I am revisiting a post i started a year ago when I revisited the Artist’s Way for the second time.  The first time was 3 years before this, an inspiring journey each time (no matter how far i delve into the book).

Julia Cameron’s book is about embracing our innate creativity - our inner artist. Funny I find myself here again recently writing a post on instagram about how I find uncomfort with calling myself an artist.

In the book you are prompted to write an Artist Prayer, here is what I wrote :

Dear Great Creator,

Oh, the amazing workings of the Universe. How grateful I am to explore it and access its great treasures with true love. I am open and willing to see and explore my divine light and to use it for service and connection with all  other divine beings.  I let down my guard, all my fears, and my need to be in control of outcomes, please create a map through me - work through me.  I accept and embrace my creativity,  my dharma, my inner peace, joy, wisdom and hope.  I look within for all that my ego seeks outside. Thank you for your ever present guidance and patience.  Thank you for opening my eyes and heart (more and more each day ) beyond the surface.  I accept my purpose and birthright fully and connect back to spirit, soul, and source.  Thank you for the journey. Thank you Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you.

I surrender.

Amen. Ashe. So be it.

Love,

me and my higher self

I hope to return here whenever the path feels unclear.

The photo above was taken on a walk a few weeks ago. although i am not there now, i felt so alive + joyous on this walk with my family in nature discovering + exploring new things. These are moments that remind me that

my life, my time with family, my interactions + relationships with others + my creative pursuits ARE my prayer.

It is so empowering to revisit this prayer + to be reminded of the intentions I already set. 

Lovely and so empowering to be reminded of the intentions I already set - sometimes i forget the seeds i planted...

I have been mapping my way back to myself all along.  

In Gratitude

BE WONDERFUL

♡

LaToya

Embrace : Gratitude

The THIRD part of EMBRACE is GRATITUDE.

Gratitude.

When I really allow myself to FEEL + express gratitude a warm loving sensation fills my body.

I AM AWARE.

I AM ALIVE.

My mind calms... all the chatter takes a break. it is easy to be grateful for everything when I approach the day with the mindset that I have nothing to loose. I also express my gratitude by enjoying life!

I start by being grateful for the small things.

I am grateful for my body which internal functions occur without any conscious effort.  I am grateful for clean food + water, shelter, and love in my heart.  When i can appreciate these things, then everything else is almost a bonus! Without expectations i look forward to what the day can bring!

“The key to experiencing deeper levels of happiness, fulfillment, and wellbeing is cultivating gratitude.” - 21 days of Inspiration

A few years ago I purchased a gratitude journal that prompted me to focus on gratitude everyday.  However, I put it in storage before the new year began because it was date specific. and we were setting off on an international trip. I was thinking I would get it out before we set off on our domestic travels when we returned. The book ended up in the back of the storage unit only to be found halfway into the year!

Ahhh…well. I did not really need that specific book to  list my daily experiences of gratitude, but I do think it is nice to dedicate myelf to consciously acknowledging blessings + giving thanks regularly.

When I get out of expressing some form of gratitude regularly I can see a shift in my energy. I might experience more doubt or less ease. I usually don't notice it until the worry or uneasy feelings build.

Now if I am feeling down and I am conscious of it, I know to check in on what I am grateful for. The funny thing is that when I'm feeling down I am not always eager to list my gratitudes, especially aloud. Perhaps it's my ego, but I feel resistance, like there is is a block in my energy I am not ready to release.

I eventually push through + I am so grateful for thos simple practice to bring me back to center.

I continue to use the gratitude book, sometimes daily, but I go through cycles where i may not enter anything for a few weeks or a whole month. At first i felt bad that i did not use the joyrnal for the year it was specified for, now i disregard that + I add the year on what ever date it is then enter a little note of thanks. So now on some dates i can see what i was grateful for on that date last year or a few years ago.

Really  I can use any journal or paper i have around.  But there is something quite nice+ powerful about keeping it all in on place.

Other ways I practice gratitude:

To give thanks when I wake each morning.  Before I get out of bed I lay with my eyes closed and I say in my head “thank you, thank you for my family, thank you for another day, thank you for…”  I continue to list what is on my mind.  Before I know it I am smiling + ready to face the day with a brighter attitude.

Also, as a family we say grace before our meals:  starting by giving thanks for a happy, healthy family and a beautiful day together and then we add to that as we see fit. We have started to introduce having  candle at dinner and when we are all finished we go around and say what we are grateful for about the day, what our favourite part of the day was, and we send a blessing out to someone.

Deepak Chopra suggests that there are three ways to use the power of gratitude on your life, and every one of them is giving love:

1. Be grateful for everything you have received in your life (past).

2. Be grateful for everything you are receiving in your life (present).

3. Be grateful for what you want in your life, as though you have received it (future).

Rabbi Baruch Spinoza suggests we ask ourselves three questions on a daily basis:

1. Who or what inspired me today?

2. What brought me happiness today?

3. What brought me comfort and deep peace today?

Spinoza said these questions lead to profound inner transformation.

All in all a little gratitude goes  long way.

The Essence:  Give Thanks.

Resources: Magic,  21 Days of Inspiration Booklet

LaToya

Thank you for joining me on this path of INTERIOR ALCHEMY

Embrace: Starting Where You Are

EMBRACE:

Do you ever find yourself thinking: If only I had a bigger space... If only I could afford... If only I was good with colours... If only I knew my style... If only...

We all find ourselves wanting something we do not have or wish we were better at doing something. When I start wishing for something that I do not currently have, I have found that the first step to moving forward is to embrace what I do have.

I become AWARE of what is already in my life and what I am already capable of.  I ACCEPT that I have a choice in how I react to my current circumstances and a CHOICE in how I move ahead.

I give GRATITUDE for all that I am and all that I have been blessed with in this life.

START WHERE YOU ARE

If only I knew how long we would be here...

We are a nomadic family, we dream of moving into a bus and traveling and exploring Australia. When we first found ourselves living in a Queenslander in Cairns we thought it was temporary. As a designer I love to create space, but I held back in this house because I thought we would be leaving soon, so why put in so much effort? At first I only worked on the essentials. But we ended up staying a bit longer, and a bit longer, and a bit longer. So instead of wishing for something else I decided I had to embrace this space and make it feel like home, regardless of how long we intended to stay.

So began my journey of finding space In the process of creating home it turns out I have also been finding space to embrace myself and I have been called to share more of me and my journey.

A REFLECTION:

      

I embrace

All of me. From the accolades to the "failures". From the smiles to the tears. From the joys to the frustrations. I have been greeting my "shadow side" with open arms. As I learn from my limiting beliefs I become aware and let go and find space for expansion. As I embrace my unique self without the lenses of shoulds, coulds and don'ts I am amazed at what I unearth. I embrace myself with LOVE. I embrace myself even as fear peeks over my shoulder. I embrace courage + grow CONFIDENCE.

I am aware

I embrace divine timing. I may set out a timeline in my mind, and take inspired action to achieve it, but that does not always mean my defined results will happen "on time" - on my time. But it always happens RIGHT ON TIME. So I embrace not knowing it all. I am aware of what is. I embrace the wonder and the MAGIC I have been seeking. It does not always come dressed the way I imagined. But when I change my perspective the magic has been here all along!

I accept

I now embrace the JOURNEY without an end point. I still celebrate the milestones. I see "problems" as opportunities and dreams + desires as part of my divine mission. Life is a pilgrimage and the map is recreated every moment, because I embrace CHOICE which leads to FREEDOM. I accept this as my birthright.

I give thanks

I am grateful for all that is. I am full of gratitude for my life as it is NOW. Through this I find space for ABUNDANCE. I am grateful for all the steps that have lead me here. I am grateful for what is to come. I am grateful for continued CLARITY. I am grateful to see my fears as motivation rather than roadblocks. I am grateful for all my emotions and my ability to FEEL. I am grateful for this truly amazing life here on Earth and for my Soul that reaches beyond this plane. I am grateful for INFINITE POSSIBILITIES. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

I will continue to share more of my journey with you here in future posts, see you then. To have INSPIRATION delivered directly to your inbox sign up here.

Be Wonderful

LaToya

xx