Living a Soul Centered Life

Recently I was challenged

to speak on 5 strategies of anything

I was passionate about

so I chose to speak on ...

5 Strategies of 

Living a Soul Centered Life

Sharing the video with you!

water massage

it was amazing to see posted
today on Facebook
a video of an infant
receiving
a water massage
incredible
a follow through on the last blog post
this video brought tears to my eyes
enjoy and
soak it in

freedom from shame - embracing the light within

one day
i had an experience
that changed
my life
I was having
a special massage
a water massage and the woman
massaging me
had strong mama hands
and I felt like a child
as she exfoliated
my skin
and the water
rushed over my body
when was the last time
someone
had washed me?
there was something
deeply nourishing
about these strong
mama hands
I surrendered to
being cleansed
to feeling
childlike
and then these words
and this epiphany happened
I thought about how we have
viewed the concept
of being cleansed
and how we sometimes
feel dirty inside
feel shame deep within
feel that at our deepest core
we are bad
this has been a theology
for the last 1000 years
called
original sin
but the Celtic tradition
and the Eastern Orthodox tradition said
no way - that's not true
but it is the tradition I knew
that at my deepest self
I am bad
And in this moment
of water massage
I tasted Divine Love
I knew a holy mother's love
How she views her child
when mud is splattered on the skin
She says
'baby, come to me.
take off those dirty clothes
strip down to your beautiful skin
I'll wash you clean again.'
It is because she knows the beauty underneath
it is with a fiery joy and wild love
that we are washed clean
and it is not about shame at all
in fact that was what I heard that day
these are the words I heard
'Cathy, I don't do shame.
I just don't do that
Wherever you are carrying shame - that's not me.
that's not how I love.'
I believe Divine Love longs to restore us to
our original beauty
our original creation
we are invited to be fully free
to live
to sing
to be radiant with the Love we have known at the
deepest level
of our souls
This is the Love I have tasted
This is the Love I have known
This is the Love that transforms, heals and redeems.
This is the Love that is here  - right here and right now.

live your truth

I found this draft of a post I wrote exactly one year ago.  It really spoke to me and so I am publishing it now.  Cathy

how do we live our truth?
I have realized I have been afraid
Afraid to speak my truth
Afraid to live my truth
learning at a young age
that uniformed thinking
is more important
than authentic humanity
But the world
is hungry
for authentic
people
Authentic individuals
are captivating
inspiring
They have overcome
this fear
the fear of being liked
to live out of a greater fear
The fear of being dishonest
to their soul
If I tell you my truth
I may no longer be in your circle
But if I tell you my truth
I set my soul free
How I speak my truth
can alienate
or build bridges
But first I must listen
what is my truth?
What is it that my soul
needs to express?
I believe that first I must accept the intrinsic value of my soul
before I will even begin to listen
And then when I listen -
to pay attention and to honour
the message of the soul
And then from listening, to act
to live
out from this place
This is living our truth
Living from our soul
Living with authenticity
Living with honesty humanity
and inviting others to do the same.

Begin Again

Begin Again

Begin

Again

Fresh

New

Light

Open

Doors

Winged

Opportunities

Fly

High  

Soar

Free

Eyes

Clear

Heart

Clean

Hands

Lifted

Ears

Listening

Spirit

Aware

Awake

Alive

Alert

Attentive

Meeting

Possibilities

Welcoming

Surprises

Awaiting

Goodness

Beauty

Surrounds

Beauty

Unfolds

Breathing

Deeply

Breathing

Fully

Breathing

Consciously

I

AM

Here

I

Embrace

What

Love

Brings

Yes

To

Goodness

Fruitfulness

Well-being

Peace

Wisdom

Provision

Protection

Fulfillment

Love

Love

Between me

And you

Love

Between me

And all

I touch

See

Know

Love

The centre

Of my

Being

Love

© 2012 Cathy AJ Hardy

this poem has now been published in the book, Spring, and at this link you can read an interview about it & order it if you like.
I first shared this poem one year ago, in January of 2012.
It feels fitting again to share this poem at the beginning of a new year and the reality we all share of constantly entering in to new beginnings whether we want to or not.  It is not always easy for me to be in the place of new beginning that I am currently in.  Perhaps it is only human to resist the discomfort that one feels in places that are new and awkward at times.  there is a sense of not knowing what tomorrow will bring, an awareness of uncertainty of the future.  Perhaps also it is an illusion that we ever really knew our future to begin with, but we like to think we have arranged our lives in such a way that we can walk into the future with confidence.  This has to be relinquished.  And beginning again each day is the true reality - embracing this moment, this hour, this day as it truly is.   Over and over again, I must open my heart and say 'yes' to what is today.  When I am able to open my heart to this present moment, I awaken to tremendous beauty that constantly surprises me. I also learn to be with the discomfort and know that the discomfort doesn't define me, but is part of my human experience. When I open my heart, I am aware of the Presence of Love that seeks to flow within and all around.  This Presence of Love is constantly flowing with creativity, new life, restoration, & possibility.  For 2013, I open my heart again to 'begin again' every day - to live with the Presence of Love.

January 1, 2013

woods of Mission BC



This photo was taken on
my walk today
in the glorious sunshine
crisp air
and inspiring presence
of the woods of Mission.

My Prayer for us all in 2013

may your bones shine with the radiance of Love

may your heart beat with the joy of knowing your intrinsic value

may your mind be filled with thoughts & intentions rooted in the Creator's love for you

may your feet carry you to where you need to be

may your eyes behold beauty

may your hands be open and receptive to all that Love longs to bring to you

may your hands offer blessing to all they touch

may you move out of Love's response rather than fear's reaction

May you be energized by Love

May your soul know grace & mercy

May your soul offer grace & mercy

May you become the reflection of Love.

copyright 2012  Cathy AJ Hardy

And here is a small poem that may inspire.....

Poetry- I Got Kin