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