Insights As Answers to Questions
There’s something that happens when a person meditates over a long period of time.
You start to get these “bursts” of insight at seemingly random times. They are such gifts!
It’s best to describe what happens with a couple different stories.
In June 2016, I went on one of my first meditation retreats. We were in meditation mode for those four days, committing to silence and resolving to meditate. It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life.
The meditation bell at Southern Dharma Retreat Center
Most of my life, I’ve often wondered what my purpose was, and what I’m supposed to do on this planet. I think many of us share these sentiments. That question is never far from my mind.
I arrived at the meditation center on a Wednesday and stayed until the following Sunday.
I’m not sure what morning it was, but I kept having trouble pushing thoughts of, “I need to be working on my novel” and “why did I bother to come here if I can’t unplug, anyways?” out of my mind. Along with the aforementioned, “what am I supposed to do with my life?”
I climbed to the top of a hill overlooking all the cabins at the meditation complex and had a beautiful view of the meadows and clearings nearby. I ambled over to a large rock and walked over to the edge of it. Sensing that this would be a beautiful and serene place to sit and meditate for a few minutes, I walked out, quietly sat down, and let my legs dangle over the edge of the large rock.
I took several deep breaths as I looked out, taking in the greenery and hearing the sound of a few songbirds in the gently swaying maple trees. An involuntary smile grew on my face as a sense of gratitude washed over me.
A Stroke of Insight
It was then that a statement registered on the screen of my mind. It was accompanied by a little zing. It was a sort of “demarcation” that I should pay attention to what’s next.
You spend too much time worrying about the future. The time is now. Everything is going to be all right. Accept what is and do your work.
I felt like God, or Spirit, (it matters not the name) had reached into my mind and typed a cosmic message on the screen of my subconscious.
It was a stroke of insight that I would later share on the last day of our retreat when we were allowed to speak to each other.
I instantly knew this was a gift and I still often think of this statement when I’m at a crossroads with regard to my future and what I should do with myself.
In my persistence with my meditation practice – I’m probably a little addicted to it by now – these strokes of insight have started coming more frequently.
More Insights
The other day I was questioning the decision to create yet another website (which would be this one) to hold and share my words. To be sure, I’ve created a couple of them, devoting time, energy, and in some cases, hard-earned money.
I wondered to myself if it would be worth it, and if I was really going to make a difference. (We all have these doubts. Indeed, I know this to be part of the human condition.)
I was by myself at home when another gift of insight came to me. I was folding laundry, of all things. The same feeling I just described above happened to me: there was a little zing and I felt my awareness hone in on the screen of my mind.
Message #1 came through:
Meditation is making a difference in your life. You are now developing the gift of insight.
Great! Though this information wasn’t groundbreaking, I relished in the idea that these small gifts were appearing in my consciousness more frequently. But then another message revealed itself to me:
You ARE making a difference. In the way you’re creating a mastermind group and showing others the way, you’re inspiring them.
In the way your words inspire others on your website, you’re working to change the world.
Your hard work continues to pay off. The hours of labor that you have put in since 2011 are now coming to fruition.
If you’ve ever watched that movie, “The Ten Commandments” I swear it was a little like listening to that booming God-voice about to give Moses tablets of rules to live by.
Okay, so maybe I have used a bit of hyperbole here, but still…it’s really cool what’s happening.
The two statements in Message #2 were about validation. I’ve written on various sites for a long time. It’s for the love of art and creativity and the written word. But it’s still nice to have that validation.
Alas, my mind knows that I still have an Ego to contend with. Perhaps Ego will one day lay itself to rest. In the meantime, I treasure these little blips of wisdom that shine through all the other brain chatter.
Just when I was about to finish the laundry, I sensed that my mind wasn’t done.
A third message came through.
Remember to take action. Do ONE THING every single day that move you forward with your spiritual business. If it’s writing, painting, otherwise creating or if it has to be an element of marketing to spread the word, figure out what that one thing is and ACT upon it.
Wow. It’s like my heart already knows the answers. I had the questions and I was willing to listen through the practice of daily silence.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Three powerful messages all came in the span of a few minutes. I immediately felt a sense of gratitude. I also smiled at the realization that:
[bctt tweet=”I do know the answers. If I will but just still myself enough to listen. #intuitiveandspiritual” username=”n2itvnspiritual”]
We All Have the Answers to Our Own Questions
This tells me that we all have that knowing – that sense that in our hearts we already know the answers to our questions. We just have to learn to listen.
The only way to do that is by bringing the mind to a still silence.
This is one of the gifts of meditation.
It is not something that happens overnight.
Or at least for me it hasn’t. I’ve been a fairly regular meditator since 2004.
And, well, mine is a particularly “full” head.
I’ve always had trouble just focusing on my breath: so many competing thoughts and the desire to find solutions to all my problems and issues often crowd that silent space.
But when I push through all that and invite the silence in, miracles start to happen.
Coloring and Meditation Page
As seems to be happening with the end of my posts, I have an insight coloring mandala. I also colored my drawing in, to create a mandala with which I can meditate.
I wish you many gifts of insight and finding the answers to your own questions.
You are welcome to download them. (For those of you who are already subscribers, if you enter your email address again, you won’t be a “double” subscriber. I am also looking into a workaround so you don’t always have to enter your email address to download these pages. Thanks for your patience in the meantime.)
I couldn’t agree with you more and often here I am on the go. But slowing down to stop to smell the proverbial roses does help to refocus me, as well as ground into figuring out what my next may be, as well. thanks for the reminder and more awesome closing pages, too. Happy Monday and wishing you a lovely week ahead!! xoxo <3
Janine – aww, thank you! Slowing down…ahh…yes. It’s so hard to do, especially this time of year, huh? But I’m thinking of you and how much you make me smile! I’ll bet that in the spring and summer, you have a garden full of beautiful roses! 🙂 Thank you for coming by, sweet friend! I appreciate your big heart and awesome outlook on life. 🙂 Happy Monday (almost Tuesday) to you! Sending hugs! xo
Your last point, Lil Sis, is the profound one…we do know the answers to the questions. They have always been inside of us. Hey, it only took me about sixty years to figure that one out. LOL No one can call me slow.
Big Bro – ahh, it’s so neat. I’m so enjoying this journey where things like that happen. 🙂 I’ve been at the practice for a long time – I should probably look for a teacher, hehe – but it’s cool when you get gifts like this from meditation. Ah, I’m just all happy. And, my friend, I look to you as a Wise One. Your life experiences and the way you stay consistent with your writing craft has inspired so, so many. And, yes, you have sage advice. Sending you hugs and hopes for a great week ahead. 🙂
Kudos on your meditation and insights Cynthia. I’m finally willing to listen within more than outside for answers.
Brad – ah, thank you. 🙂 You have been on an awesome journey yourself! I wish you a wonderful week ahead! That voice within…ah, so powerful, isn’t it?
My dearest friend.. The more we listen the more we receive answers.. And the quieter our minds that we put aside the more those answers come forth.. 🙂 I love those ahaaa moments when we hear the voice within..
And the two way dialogue begins.. we just need to pose those correct questions..
Thank you Cyndi for your lovely visit and wonderful energy you left upon my page.. I really appreciate you.. You are helping many.. Your mandala is beautiful, and I will share one I painted in watercolour from your amazing sharing gift of your colouring mandala book… It took me out from myself which I so needed..
Thank you for YOUR GIFT.. you gave to me.. I treasure our friendship
Love and Many Blessings to you and yours..
Have a beautiful Christmas..
Love and Blessings
Sue <3 <3 <3
Sue – oh sweet friend! Your comment is just so wonderful and so kind! When you mention about how “the answers come forth,” – yes! Those aha moments are just so powerful and help to make this journey so worth it. Though not my goal, I love the cool “side effects” that come with being still and silent. 🙂
Your awesome blog helps to fill my cup, sweet friend! I love this journey I’m on and I am just so thrilled to find and meet other folks who have a high vibration. You are a gem and a wonderful soul! I am inspired by you. 🙂
I am so elated that you liked the mandala and were able to use it for a bit of healing. I think you already know how much that makes my heart sing. I, too, treasure our friendship and wish you so many blessings and a wonderful Christmas!
Much love and blessings to you.
CSageleaf – <3 <3 <3
Thank you for that wonderful reply Cynthia.. You have made me feel special, and I am just a woman embarked upon her intuitive life mission .. At one time I thought I would write a book or teach within the spiritual realm of things in my Mediumistic days when I ran groups and meditation classes for Spiritual Awareness and Development..
Now I know if I reach but one person to brighten and enlighten their day, my mission is complete..
Thank you for it is YOU who bring me such wonderful feedback that allows me to understand I am on the right path, just blogging my thoughts..
Love and Huge Blessings to you and yours..
Sue <3 xxx
Sue – oh, you make my heart swell! But you ARE special! I’ll let you in on a little secret that’s not so secret: when I first discovered your blog, you embodied everything I hope to become: an artist, a poet, an incredible writer all the while embarking on a spiritual journey that inspires others. YES, THAT. The inspiration, the love, the good-humanness that is you. I’m so glad for the blogosphere so that it makes it easier to find Indigo Souls who would change the world. Thank you for helping to inspire me on my path. <3
You taught meditation classes!? I'm thinking about getting certified in it. 🙂
Ohhhh ok I *just* now found the comments section.
I’m so glad you felt so affirmed about your life’s work and journey, and that you’re on the right path.
I still wonder what my path is. My struggle is against timing and bureaucracy 🙁
Lizzi – haha, yeah…that comment section’s hidden waaaaay down there. LOL. But what’s cool is that the spammers can’t find it. At least not yet. *giggle* (I’ve only belatedly figured that out, but I’ll take it.)
I feel affirmed insofar as that I – like we were talking about earlier – have figured out a way to infuse my values into what I’m doing. Sure, I have a direction I want the blog to go, but even then…I guess I finally just said, “well dang, how am I gonna be of service to others?” But it’s a never-ending journey for me, I’m afraid. But that’s okay…allz I know is that it’s feelin’ good right now to be creatin’ and-a writin’. I feel like I’m finally figuring out a way to be of service to others. But dang…it’s been a long time coming. Several website starts and stops before it felt right….
But yeah…timing and bureaucracy. I don’t have an answer to that specifically. But I applaud your journey and your glittering, sparkling heart. Because you, too, are making a difference: in the way you work with the written word and your big heart! <3
Sending you hugs and sparkles. (Because I love glitter, too!) xo
Yes Meditation and Mediumship…water now under a bridge.. I was also a qualified Spiritual Healer as well.. now I send more absent healing than hands on..
And I can not thank you enough.. you just made my own head swell about 10 times bigger lol.. 🙂
Have a really wonderful Christmas Cynthia. If I post again this side of Christmas Comments Will be closed .. I have an old Christmas poem I many resurrect not made up my mind yet..
I am also going to do some clearing of my site of old not so important posts and tidy up things a little.
Have a great Christmas and a wonderful New Year.. Keep manifesting your desires by pulling in through your intention.. Remember the strongest of our thoughts Like attracts Like.. So keep them all in that positive energy that you bring to others.
Love and special HUGS..
Sue xxx
Sue – that’s fantastic! I could so just take you out for coffee and talk about your journey sometime. I would absolutely love that! And a spiritual healer, too? Can I just hug you? What a wonderful, fascinating and loving life you have led!
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, too. I would so love to see your Christmas poem. I am writing one for my Monday post. 🙂
Have a wonderful New Year, too! I will continue pulling in my intentions. Like does attract like and I’m bearing witness to that right now. I just love your energy, friend! You’re sweet, healing, positive energy.
Special hugs for you, too. xo
CC
So true that we all question our purpose.. and reading that you received gifts of insight is wonderful xx I think your site is doing amazing things to help people learn more about themselves. And great that you have new coloring pages here! I printed out the one of the Xmas baubles that came in your newsletter and will give it to a friend as part of her Christmas present <3
Christy – ah yes, the quintessential “purpose” question. 🙂 Thank you for your wonderful words. Through you and others’ comments, I am realizing that it’s all about service to others. I am so happy knowing that the coloring pages and my insights are maybe helping others. That gives me absolutely true joy. I can’t wait to hear how the Christmas baubles are received. 😀 Sending you wishes for a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year! Hugs! xo
Awwwh thank you. I’m glad you think I’m making a difference, and I’m VERY glad you feel you’ve hit on the thing which does for you. I’m certainly finding it fascinating and I love hearing your thoughts and learning about your experiences.
I suppose my ‘job’, as it were, is to make the wait worthwhile. Dangit that’s hard work though lol 🙂
Lizzi – my friend, but you ARE! YOU ARE making a difference: in the way you weave your compelling words together, in the way you smile, in the way you sparkle and glitter and shimmer, in the way you are you – it’s true! I admit now that I have created this website to complement my spiritual journey, it’s been amazing: amazing in the way that I’m connecting with people on a deeper level, amazing in terms of the creative side of me that just wants to give.
And the waiting is so hard. Waiting to find out just what it is that we’re supposed to do. I finally thought, well, dang it, I’ll never figure it out, so…lemme just do something that I know makes me happy: sharing love. 🙂 I have no idea if that’s what I’m supposed to do, but while I’m here and doing this, I am singing praises and joy for the connections to amazing souls I have met, such as yourself!
You’re an inspiration, my dear. That latter is precisely what I’m working towards as a resolution for 2017. I’m thinking my word might be ‘presence’, because I want to work on myself, where I am NOW (wherever that may be) and make sure that my demons are slain and I’m ready to do whatever it is I’m meant to do, wherever I’m ultimately meant to do it. So THANK YOU for showing me that sometimes what counts is getting on in the meantime and making the most of the waiting 🙂 <3 You're wonderful, and HOORAY to you getting this fulfillment. I love that. 🙂
Lizzi – may I say that you’re wonderful back? That you’ve taught me lots about making lemon furniture polish from lemons? (hehe, that’s a quote from Balki who used to be on Perfect Strangers.)
You’re meant for great things, dear friend. You have a growing circle of folks who admire the work you do and all the beautiful things you contribute. So glad to know you. xo