| Supposedly, all the answers to life's | | | | for wounds? Perhaps we learned to put on |
| riddles are right in front of us-in our | | | | a happy face as a child because we were |
| own "backyard." I believe they reside | | | | taught to bury our pain. So we became |
| in our nature. If we could simply | | | | a jokester. Others perceived us as light |
| stop resisting who we are, we might just | | | | and playful. But maybe our true nature |
| discover the combination lock that | | | | is sensitive, deep and serious. |
| liberates our soul from its prison of | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â We |
| repression. One's nature is a quality | | | | need to explore the energetic feeling |
| of being and expression-an intrinsic | | | | accompanying what we assume is our |
| response to our existence. The | | | | nature. If the energy is forced or |
| nature of a butterfly is vitally | | | | heavy, coupled with internal emptiness, |
| different from the nature of a snake. | | | | pain or longing, then we're probably |
| Both are being true to themselves and | | | | caught in a synthetic nature created by |
| couldn't trade places if they tried. Yet | | | | our psyche's defense structure for |
| we humans attempt to homogenize | | | | emotional/spiritual survival -- |
| ourselves and swap natures as if they | | | | compensation for not feeling loved for |
| were costumes. But, more than just an | | | | who we are. All judgmental |
| outfit, our natures are built into the | | | | programming of our disposition must be |
| very fabric of our being. | | | | released in order to unearth and heal |
| Consequently, it's really painful when | | | | the wounds beneath this artificial |
| we deny our nature and attempt to live a | | | | nature. We're aligned with our essence |
| life counter to our core. | | | | when the energy is strong, focused, |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â We | | | | clear, uplifting, affirming-with just |
| often spend years trying to override our | | | | the right "click" that declares our |
| nature. We think that someone else's | | | | natural groove. Â |
| nature is more desirable and try on | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â We |
| their essence like clothing that's the | | | | each have an individually appointed |
| wrong size and style. We put ourselves | | | | Divine nature that is a playground for |
| through contortions to fit into that | | | | exploration, creativity and |
| attire because supposedly it's better | | | | augmentation. When we allow our |
| than our natural self. To walk a path | | | | nature to inform us of our path, we then |
| contrary to our nature only leads to | | | | live a life that is spiritually |
| unhappiness and struggle because we're | | | | authentic. The Universe then responds |
| out of synch with ourselves. We give | | | | in gratitude for our willingness to |
| others the power to judge our nature | | | | embrace the quality of our essence with |
| which erodes self-esteem. Â | | | | increased opportunities, ease and |
|            Our | | | | joy-filled showers of support. |
| nature is designed to be the optimum | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The |
| channel for the soul's expression in | | | | Tibetan's golden, loving, wise, playful |
| this lifetime. So it must celebrated. | | | | nature radiates in all directions as he |
| Otherwise we live a life of | | | | teaches: |
| censorship-our natural tendencies locked | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â |
| in a straightjacket that suffocates the | | | | Human nature is a composite of millions |
| psyche. We can't obliterate our | | | | of threads of light woven into an |
| fundamental nature. | | | | overall matrix. Each individual carries |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â I've | | | | one of these exquisite threads-a golden |
| had many dogs, each of them with an | | | | strand of uniqueness that must be |
| individualized nature, even though | | | | honored through full embodiment. |
| they're all the same breed. Their | | | | Everyone has a particular nature that |
| particular spark of Divinity in this | | | | is specifically endowed with a quality |
| lifetime carries its own signature, not | | | | of energy, light, love and sound to |
| generic to the breed. Similarly, | | | | represent the soul's special expression |
| siblings may come from the same family | | | | for this lifetime. Although self |
| but each have strikingly different | | | | changes throughout life's journey, this |
| "natural" responses to their | | | | unique, precious, differentiated nature |
| upbringing. We're not meant to be | | | | endures in its essential quality. |
| homogenized. It's not self-loving to | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â |
| fight one's nature. The mandates of the | | | | Humankind is working hard to prevent the |
| tribe that lump us together and override | | | | extinction of various animal species. |
| the very flavor and spice we | | | | Likewise, the Masters are dedicated to |
| individually bring to the human soup | | | | forestalling the possible extinction of |
| must be overthrown by the commitment to | | | | certain temperaments, manifest by |
| honor our individualized nature. | | | | humankind, that are integral to the |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â | | | | Divine Design. Consequently, everyone |
| It's in my nature to talk to people, | | | | has a responsibility to openheartedly |
| serve, philosophize, dig deep, theorize, | | | | embody their essential nature, strongly |
| obsess over astrology and metaphysics, | | | | establishing its place within the |
| hunger for the truth and be fascinated | | | | patchwork quilt of the human condition. |
| with the process of transformation. It's | | | | If self fights his/her nature, then it |
| also in my nature to need lots of fun | | | | starves/atrophies and is in danger of |
| time, be a homebody, play outside, be | | | | becoming extinct. Without that one |
| intense-futuristic- | | | | exquisite thread, integral to the Divine |
| sensitive-analytical, play music, crave | | | | Plan, humanity's great tapestry |
| animal companions, be a moonstruck night | | | | unravels. It's imperative to preserve |
| owl under the magic of the stars and to | | | | and strengthen self's particular |
| desire change. I've often fantasized | | | | nature. Self is the only one who can |
| about leaving my counseling work to do | | | | guarantee its continued existence. |
| something completely different, like run | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â |
| a B&B, a coffee shop, an import | | | | Perhaps the soul has painfully endured |
| business, a theater company. In attempts | | | | the starvation of many lifetimes |
| to abandon my nature, these fantasies | | | | imprisoned within an imposed false |
| have filled me with wonderment. What | | | | nature. This resulted in the loss of |
| would it be like to trade in my texture | | | | deep spiritual connection that fostered |
| for another kind of fabric-a different | | | | a blindness to the exquisite uniqueness |
| quality of life? But endeavors to | | | | of the soul's timber and its importance |
| reject my nature and follow the lure of | | | | in the orchestral symphony. Then the |
| these daydreams inevitably result in a | | | | soul's distinctive quality of sound |
| dead-end feeling-as if I had just | | | | could not be heard. |
| stepped out of my body and was trying to | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â |
| replace it for another. I end up | | | | Everything that you want from others is |
| surrendering these prospects to an | | | | an extension of your own nature. Don't |
| acceptance of who I am and what I came | | | | ask others to embody your tone. It's |
| here to do. There truly is no other | | | | impossible to really know self when you |
| course. | | | | project who you are onto others. Take |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â | | | | back the pieces of your makeup by |
| I've always admired people who get up at | | | | erasing all the external obligations |
| 6 am, are competitive in sports, | | | | about the way you're supposed to be. |
| scientific, physically handy, savvy | | | | Then quietly allow self to listen, see |
| in cities, introverted enough to spend | | | | and feel the inherent quality of energy |
| long hours alone without craving | | | | that holds your personal Stamp of |
| companionship, mellow ...all the | | | | Divinity. Follow the mystical path of |
| qualities that aren't me. Then I | | | | your uniquely individualized cast and |
| remember the importance of honoring my | | | | its tremendous impact on the overall |
| true nature-to see the way that it | | | | human composite. |
| shapes my life as a gift-not an | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sound |
| obstacle. I'm grateful for who I | | | | the Divine Chord intrinsic to self's |
| am. | | | | being. Self's essential nature rings |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Are | | | | like a bell. It cannot be negated. |
| you being true to your nature? Are other | | | | Explore all of its evolving facets. |
| characteristics of being seductive to | | | | Persist into the heart of the |
| you? Can you accept who you are- what | | | | magnificent quintessence that is self's |
| you came here to do? What qualities | | | | Soul Autograph. With full commitment, |
| naturally emanate from you? Are you | | | | create an external life that carries |
| introverted, extroverted, upbeat, | | | | this nature forth through the earthly |
| serious, a risk-taker, relaxed, | | | | world. |
| ambitious, laid-back, funny, sweet, | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â To |
| probing, active, passive, steady, | | | | unequivocally embrace one's nature leads |
| bouncy, wild, conservative, wacky, | | | | to profound inner peace. Claim it! |
| scientific, artful, boisterous, pensive, | | | | Probe its bottomless pith. Expand |
| silly, talkative? There are endless | | | | through it. Artistically portray it in |
| nuances of being that shape the human | | | | daily life. The natural path of |
| condition. Individually we reap the | | | | alignment with self's Divine Texture |
| rewards of color, form and expression | | | | magnetizes happiness, spaciousness, |
| when we employ our natural inclinations | | | | freedom from judgment, unconditional |
| to direct our soul's essence  | | | | love and the generosity of spirit that |
|            How | | | | gives everyone the permission and |
| do we discern the difference between our | | | | inspiration to bask in their exceptional |
| true nature vs. protective | | | | being. |
| characteristics acquired as compensation | | | | |