Tag: spirituality

Home (Memoir)

by The Unconventional Life, posted in Faith, Hope, Inspiration, Relationships, Spirituality, Uncategorized

Where do you find home when you’ve searched most of your life for belonging? I have not found home in square or rectangular structures built by men with plans. I have found home in being a cypress tree in my dreams. Tall and strong with roots anchored deep into Mother Earth and branches growing towards the bluest sky.

Go home America says if you’re black, brown or any color other than white. My body traveled to the mother land, Nigeria to be exact. I walked out of the Lagos airport and saw the same shade of black among so many people. It was as if I was sifting the darkest coffee roast with my eyes instead of my hands. I wondered how I would find the man I flew thousands of miles to marry with no hue variation in people. Panic, awe and intrigue went through me all at the same time. Panic finally said, “Crazy girl you’ve done it now! Your ass did not think about everyone being Black and your phone not working across the Atlantic. What if his ass doesn’t show up to marry you?” I then looked up from my phone to see him walking towards me smiling. I breathed a sigh of relief. I saw blackness everywhere amongst strange foods and bright, patterned fabrics. We tried to find home in each other. We tried to forget we were running from the hurt of others as we exchanged vows and rode motorcycles. I tried to wash the heat of the land off me multiple times daily but had not packed enough clothes for so many showers. Perhaps that’s why the television shows I remember about Africa had half-naked people with painted faces. I would rather have been naked with tribal face paint standing in the ocean with blue green waves crashing around me.

We lived in my American house, but like I said, I never found home in structures created by men. When he left, I found home in an esoteric pull to mystic things. I was not scared because I’ve had the gift of sight into the supernatural since I was a child. Ancestors, spirit guides and spirit animals greeted and welcomed me home to my authentic self. My mother watched this journey and remembered my baptism as a baby in the spiritualist church. I always laugh as she tells me I was aunt Helen’s child as she stood at the altar with Reverend Hester. My mother sat in the back frozen with fear as objects began to float in air during the baptism. My mom is afraid of everything and we call her chicken little. I am awaiting the right time to visit the spiritualist people. My intuition tells me I know how to do their magic. Their founder shared my birthday and loved the woods like me. Reading his biography with my aunt was eerie.

I have a favorite meditation, come home to your authentic self. I think I find home in the evolution of me. My vertebrae merge African and Native American spiritual practices in my body. I left churches for bodies of water and campfires. I know the Cherokee heart song and have been jolted once by some electric force during a shamanic journey. African shamans are initiated by lightning strikes. My shaman says, “Kathryn you have the mojo you don’t need me.” I think she’s the training wheels to my current bicycle ride.

Home is healing with emerald energy placed at heart center. It’s waking up to Mexican curls on the pillow beside me and the sound of Telemundo echoing through the house. It’s Home Depot runs on Sunday because the Mexican is the one that builds structures I never found home in. Although when I go into the basement he renovated I turn in circles thinking to myself this is now home. I wonder about us. I haven’t told him his spirit leaves his body and tells me how much he loves me. He is afraid of this love. I wonder about us, soulmates with the 222 energy circling us. I watch him in the garden through windows. Keep the faith Kat and come home to your authentic self. Whoever she may be I’m sure she’ll be strangely magnificent.

Manifesting Your Highest Destiny

by The Unconventional Life, posted in Uncategorized

Last summer I took an eight week class with my shaman to map my highest destiny line. I learned new shamanic prayers, ceremonies and journey meditations. I laid out my stones on my makeshift mesa cloth and journeyed to the upper world to see the highest destiny for this lifetime. I had already decided to go for the gusto.

I also took a screenwriting class. Memoir was full and there was that whole COVID isolation thing. I had to keep some form of human contact. I like everyone else had zoom fatigue but really enjoyed learning a new style of writing. I finished my first screenplay. The class loved it. We had some great writers in that class and I loved everyone’s scripts.

How is this connected? Writing is a huge part of my identity. If you ask me what I am that’s likely my first answer. I knew that my destiny map contained at least one writing project. I’ve had a novel on my vision board for three years. I’m still 55 pages into that project two years later. Finding time to write is really hard right now. I never imagined writing and producing a short film, but I did!

The Return To Me Poster Image

My film trailer had everyone so excited! My teacher had said find five thousand and she could help produce my movie. I set out to find grant money as an individual artist and I’m pretty certain it fell from the sky lol. I’ve only executed the law of attraction without error on a few occasions and this was one. Side note more than five thousand is needed for film making. Do you have dreams and goals? Don’t worry manifesting magic is all around you! My film premiered this September in the Afrikana Film Festival. It was recently a final selection in the S.E. Manly Short Film Showcase. Is this my life?! Yes and it’s in transition! I’m currently writing episodes for a TV series pilot we’d like to create.

https://youtu.be/qPLqEhrySA0https://youtu.be/YQGM73eu_Yw
The Return To Me Trailer

I’ve also started a reiki and candle business. I tried working for other companies but it just didn’t work out. I stopped trying to force things to fit. If you’re meant to let go just release. Likely something so much better is on its way! I love making these candles and providing energy sessions for clients. I’m completing my shamanic mesa and am so excited to embrace being a healer professionally. My hope is to generate enough revenue to give my nonprofit, STORY, general operating revenue. My products can be purchased on Etsy and reiki sessions can be booked on Schedulicity.

Reiki Candles
My reiki studio.

We all have free will. As we prepare to begin a new year I’d like to suggest you reflect on your true desires. Is your life in alignment with your highest dreams for yourself? Dream big, dream often! Set your intentions, raise your vibrations and practice gratitude. Whether you choose destiny line one or five I hope it brings you immense joy!

Page of Cups

by The Unconventional Life, posted in Uncategorized

I can’t remember the time of day two years ago he asked me if I could have kids. I looked at him and said yes and that was pretty much the decision to start trying. For me it would be starting all over again. For him it would be his first. It was important for me to give him this gift, it was a component of my highest destiny.

For two years we tried and the energy between us got so crazy in 2020 that I don’t know how we survived, but we did. My shaman cleared a lot of karmic energy from past lifetimes that was causing craziness in this lifetime. We were both tired of clearing energy and asked if the highest destiny was worth the price I was paying. I was sowing in tears hoping to reap a harvest. I held on a little longer, but the craziness continued and I let him know that there would be no baby with me until he was ready.

My sister dreamed first of her little Mexican niece. She called me so excited. “I can see her! Oh she’s so beautiful! When are y’all going to give me my baby?” “We’re trying,” I’d say. My sister is in denial about our shared spiritual gifts since my exit from the church lol. I was the next to see her in a dream. She’s quite beautiful and I became exicted and exasperated at the same time. Page of cups energy kept surfacing in my tarot readings about my relationship.

You two are going to have a child. This child is really trying to come here, she’s waiting on the right time. She’s not coming into craziness. Does she know who she chose for her parents lol? Page of cups is driving the spread….

In August I gave up the hope of having a daughter and decided travel it would be. Project Mexican baby had simply taken too long and we had chose to spoil the dog even more than he already was. I gave up a lot of things in August that had consumed me for months in worry. We both felt the shift of me being pulled in another direction, one that had my full attention. I was laughing and happy all the time from the energy of making my first short film. I had not been that way in a long time. Blunt conversations were had and the alarm sounded as I realized that perhaps I just might have had enough of trying.

You don’t realize what you have until it’s almost gone. Get it together sir, I tried to tell you I’m every woman. Soy bruja y mujer juntos. Soy especial. I’m the soul mate holding up the mirror so your reflection evolves, you do the same for me.

On the fifth day of the fifth week, my doctor called and said Ms. Thompson you’re pregnant. Five is the number of major changes coming. I was at Baker’s Crust eating a chicken sandwich and fries. “Sorry, what did you say,” I asked. “Ms. Thompson you’re pregnant.” I had drank a whole bottle of wine before as I was certain menopause had come for my ass years too early, so this news was surprising. I had been trying to think of a way to tell him no es possible ahora. Now I was calling saying we’re having a baby. His reaction was flat because he thought I was lying. I hate liars and he knows this lol. He sent his daily lunch text asking me how things were going. I asked him if he had gone crazy that day since he was clearly ignoring my big announcement. When he realized this was really happening I got the happy emoji and everyone was excited.

View of the lake during my hike

On the sixth day of the sixth week, I started spotting. Six is the number for balance. All the energy around me was out of balance and I had been going through a very stressful work event. On Tuesday night I went to the ER and turned back around when I saw how many people were waiting. I was not risking covid. The next morning I had an ultrasound and baby was there. I left the doctors and my spirit whispered life is leaving your body. I tried to be still. I promised everyone I would. I worked from the bed. The bleeding got worse daily. By 11:30 Saturday morning there was no baby and I could not reply to the daily lunch text. I didn’t want to carry the heaviness of losing his first child.

He’s been amazing. We don’t know where this new guy came from, but we like him much better. On Sunday I hiked 5.5 miles to keep from crying all day. I don’t recommend doing this. You’ll always find me by the water during stressful times. My friend dreamed of my daughter. It seems my great grandmother is trying to help her enter this realm. I will not worry any more. Today the emperor and empress joined the page of cups, it’s driving the spread.

Healing Blackness

by The Unconventional Life, posted in mental health, mindfulness, Spirituality, Uncategorized

I started my job as a reiki master at Lucid Living in December 2020. This is the only time I’ve executed the law of attraction flawlessly. I was so excited to join a black owned business focused on holistic healing.

Getting ready for company marketing shoot.

I’ve seen a diverse mix of clients, mostly women. And then one evening there was the young black man having his first reiki experience with me. His friend had made an emergency appointment for him. I asked my normal pre-session questions. What brings you in? Where do you want energy directed? What is your intention? He answered as best he could, but I had to read between the lines.

We as a black community are not taught to seek services or healing for stress, anxiety or other mental health issues. We are taught to pray. You are questioned and often berated if you seek the help of a therapist. I’m a reiki master, so just amplify that criticism to an infinite amount. Yet there is so much daily stress and trauma in our people.

I have made healing from trauma a priority in my life due to what I see at work and just wanting to end generational patterns in my own life. Being a black woman working in public housing communities full of poverty, crime and yes mental health issues for so long can feel like wearing a winter coat in a Florida summer. It’s heavy, very heavy.

A few more black men trickled into my appointments and it was such a joy to provide them with reiki. One astral traveled to his house and was quite surprised by my explanation of what happened during his session lol. I hope the Black community finds tools such as reiki, meditation, sound baths, etc. I hope the community will be less close minded about spiritual practices that have significant health benefits for stress, anxiety and depression.

I recently filed with Virgina’s SCC office and am officially The Unconventional Life. I offer in person and remote reiki appointments in addition to making reiki candles. I will soon offer shamanic healing sessions and hopefully in 2022 shamanic breathwork sessions. The energy I felt during my first breathwork session was 🤯! On of the most amazing hours yet! I am also looking forward to certifying reiki practioners and masters.. Very grateful for everyone that has been vulnerable enough to trust me as their reiki master. I love holding space for you! Follow my IG page, TheUCLife, and DM for appointments.

The Year I Needed Christmas

by The Unconventional Life, posted in Inspiration, Spirituality

As January 2021 began I felt hopeful and relieved. I think most of us did. 2020 was a year we won’t forget.

My year started with a lumpectomy last January. I had received the cancer diagnosis in late November. I drove in to my appointment blasting Beyonce. I was ushered into a room by the doctor and knew I wouldn’t be leaving the same way I came in. Cancer had not been in my life plan and I went into complete shock. I didn’t have the option of falling apart. I had to keep it together so everyone around me would do the same. So many friends were getting the same diagnosis, but cancer didn’t win we did and we chose to live life intentionally.

Then relationship problems came. Followed by more relationship problems. I don’t even know how we made it. My tarot readers were serving in therapist’s roles lol. I did so much karmic work with my shaman last year I didn’t think the karmic energy could be resolved. I was surviving the apocalypse of 2020 in a daze. I felt like I was in the worst sci-fi movie and the writer had forgotten to write the ending.

This year I needed Christmas. I couldn’t even remember the last time I had put up a Christmas tree, but I made my boyfriend pull it out the closet and put it up. I suppose everyone needed Christmas because stores had no decorations. Luckily it was prelit and I had a few bows lol. My mother just shook her head, but looking at the lights made me feel better. I didn’t whittle away at Christmas last year. I welcomed it like an old friend with open arms. I bought gifts, planned dinner and enjoyed the tree.

My 2020 Christmas tree

January 2021 is starting a little crazy. I’ve laughed at a few of the memes. Last year we were forced into reflection time. I spent so much time thinking about what I took for granted, what my dreams were and how I would hit the ground running this year in the direction of my dreams. It’s the third week of January and I’m practicing reiki and love my clients, I’m creating reiki products and I was accepted into a writing workshop by one of my favorite authors. I’ve woke up beside my soul mate every day for six months and I love him and my family more even though we still have challenges to overcome. I will continue to do the work to evolve my soul and I’m thankful to have such a caring shaman. I hope you had the time to clearly see what matters most to you. If you were slacking before what are you waiting on? Go get it!

Home

by The Unconventional Life, posted in Inspiration, Relationships, Spirituality, Uncategorized

Where do you find home when you’ve searched most of your life for belonging?  I have not found home in square or rectangular structures built by men with plans.  I have found home in being a cypress tree in my dreams.  Tall and strong with roots anchored deep into mother earth and branches growing toward the bluest sky.   

Go home America says if you’re black or brown or any color for that matter.  My body traveled to the mother land, Nigeria to be exact.  I walked out of the Lagos airport and saw the same shade of black among so many people.  It was as if I was sifting the darkest coffee roast with my eyes instead of my hands.  I wondered how I would find the man I flew thousands of miles to marry with no hue variation in people.  Panic, awe and intrigue went through me all at the same time.  Panic finally said, “Crazy girl you’ve done it now.  Your ass did not think about everyone being black and your phone not working across the Atlantic.  What if his ass doesn’t show up to marry you?”  I looked up from my phone to see him walking towards me smiling.  I breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Damn you’re crispy and I’m here now.” 

I saw blackness everywhere amongst strange foods and bright, patterned fabrics.  We tried to find home in each other.  We tried to forget we were running from the hurt of others as we took vows and rode motorcycles.  I tried to wash the heat of this land off me multiple times daily but had not packed enough clothes for so many showers.  Perhaps that is why the television shows I remember about Africa had half naked people with painted faces.  I would rather have been naked with white tribal paint on my face standing in the ocean with green waves crashing around me.  We lived in my American house, but like I said I never found home in structures created by men.   

When you left, I found home in an esoteric pull to mystic things.  I was not scared because I’ve had the gift of sight into the supernatural since I was a child.  Ancestors, spirit guides and spirit animals greeted me and welcomed me home to my true self.  My mother watches this journey and remembers my baptism as a baby in the spiritualist church.  I laugh each time she tells me I was Aunt Helen’s child as she stood at the altar with Reverend Hester.  My mother sat in the back frozen with fear as objects began to float in air during the baptism. My mom is afraid of everything and we call her Chicken Little.  I am awaiting the right time to visit the spiritualist people.  My intuition tells me I know how to do their magic.  Their founder shared my birthday and love of woods like me.  Reading his biography with my aunt was eerie. 

I have a favorite meditation, come home to your authentic self.  I think I find home in the evolution of me.  My spinal vertebrae merge African and Native American spiritual practices in my body.  I left churches for bodies of water and campfires.  I know the Cherokee heart song and have been jolted once by some electric force during a shamanic journey.  African shamans are initiated into healing work by lightning strikes.  My shaman says, “Kathryn you have the mojo you don’t need me.”  I think she is the training wheels to my current bicycle ride. 

Home is healing with emerald energy placed at heart center by crow.  It’s waking up to Mexican curls on the pillow beside me and the sound of Telemundo echoing through rooms.  It’s Home Depot runs on Sundays because the Mexican is one who builds structures I never found home in.  Although when I go into the basement he renovated, I turn in circles thinking to myself this is now home.  I wonder about us.  I haven’t told him his spirit leaves his body and tells me how much he loves me.  He is afraid of this love.  I wonder about us; soul mates with the 222 energy circling us. I watch him in the garden through windows.  Keep the faith Kat and come home to your authentic self.  Whoever she may be I’m sure she’ll be strangely magnificent.

Everything grows in his garden.

Turning A Karmic Corner

by The Unconventional Life, posted in Uncategorized

I released 10 red balloons into the night sky standing on the back patio the Mexican built for me. It only took him four hours once I conceded he really didn’t need my help lol. It was the last step in releasing an energetic pattern that kept resurfacing in my relationships. I was being guided by intuition and a vision I’d had about my relationship while in a crystal reiki session and balloons had also been in a dream.

An unraveling started on February 10th, days before my birthday. I had made a shamanic healing appointment, not knowing sadness would accompany me to Charlottesville again. I entered Rachel’s apartment and took my normal seat on her couch and welcomed the pets. She asked what we were working on that day and I began the story of the problem of loving men born on January 28th. I had no idea how I had manifested this birthday back to back, but I had issues with it.

“Rachel I need you and Jesus to fix this issue. This is the absolute last time I’m dealing with cheating. Absolute last!” She then asked me how I had approached relationships when I was younger and I scoffed. “I never wanted relationships or children as a result of childhood observations,” I said. Relationships equaled heartbreak over and over again. I of course loved the men of that time, but I wasn’t faithful to any of them. I could only shake my head at my former self.

Now my thoughts are very different. The soul mate showed up in 2017 and brought peace and happy with him. Happy like I’ve never experienced before. So Rachel and I did the spiritual work and broke a soul contract from an Egyptian past life. I had had many lifetimes of being an unfaithful partner in this contract. I saw black smoke followed by Egyptian writing leaving my hands and feet as she journeyed into the past life.

Post session. I cried so much I thought I would faint!

From there I went into a silent weekend retreat a couple of weeks later. I wanted an apology from him I wasn’t getting. I wanted answers that weren’t coming. So I sat at the river in the cold and thought. I sat on a wooden church pew and wrote poetry trying to get past everything. He was living in his ego space and I was desperately trying not to match that energy and stay in my heart space.

Reflection views from the retreat.

Things started getting better with us in March, but I’m highly intuitive with psychic gifts. I knew something wasn’t right. I had a tarot reading on April 6th and the tower was driving the spread. My reader did not want to give me more bad relationship news so she kept bringing my attention to the card opposite the tower. I had no idea the tower meant shit was about to get real and self destruct again a few hours later. Why was this happening? I took care of this in February. I did a second tarot reading and scheduled another shamanic session. Everyone was on the same frequency, I only had to survive this one more time to get to the sunshine and rainbows on the other side. I focused on the 1010 energy and broke ties with that queen of swords that was causing me to have an extremely low vibration.

Rachel and I ended my karmic pattern of oppressive relationships with men. This cycle was ending for good and a new one was beginning. She said I had came into this life to experience how I had treated women in a past life. I remembered what I had learned in October and put the energy for the new life into the earth mandala.

I did not lose sight of my highest destiny line no matter what circumstances showed up in my reality. My family and friends were over it, especially my sister. My sister also dreams the future, so she was torn between wanting her Mexican niece she had dreamed and telling me to stalk taco food trucks to find my boyfriend’s replacement. My highest destiny was written in my journal. This Mexican was top pick for this lifetime.

My grandmother came to me and said let him find his way back to you. I waited 30 days and thought this isn’t working. We’re dealing with massive ego issues. I again went into the humility of the heart space. I was met with anger of not providing the family he wants with me. I met that with compassion. I explained the natural and spiritual reasons of why his daughter was taking so long to get here. He likely doesn’t know what to believe dating me lol. I think most Mexicans are catholic. He doesn’t want to believe in shamans. I stand in front of him and say, “Soy chaman.” He just looks at me like what the hell lol. I had my last session with Rachel last week and the orcas and dolphins were our guides. We sat on the ocean with them holding our children while Rachel again journeyed into the past life to fix energy causing current problems. She said stop trying to make the baby with desperate energy and find the way back to the joy and love we had before.

I went to him on Mother’s Day and told him I was tired of fighting. He was tired too. We made up and said we’d work on us. A few days before I saw a license plate that said last try. We were able to fall back into the peace of being soul mates for a few hours. He’s still in the ego space and angry with me. I will keep meeting this anger with compassion. I know his disappointment makes him want to hurt my heart so I will feel what his does. I sincerely hope I can say we made a baby in a couple of weeks so this will be done with!

As I end thoughts on my current life experience I want to provide encouragement to myself and whoever may read this. Life is not perfect with soul mates, but if it’s worth fighting for choose your battle wisely. Also remember to fight for yourself. We can lose our identities loving someone. Rachel demanded I return to my sovereignty and stop giving my power away. Sometimes space is a good thing even when it feels like death. Lastly what is meant to be will be. I happen to be with a soul mate I’ve been with for lifetimes. So let’s all stay present, breathe and believe for miracles.

Namaste.

How Then Shall I Live

by The Unconventional Life, posted in Inspiration, mental health, mindfulness, Spirituality, Uncategorized

In the weekend’s closing ceremony we were told to reflect on the question how then shall I live. Our first guided meditation was around one door closing and another opening. Many of us lay on the floor crying. These complete strangers had become my monthly support group. A place where I was learning spiritual practices in a very diverse environment. I felt like I was flourishing into myself during the entire program.

The first meditation caught my attention. I sat on the porch of a craftsmen style house and looked over my shoulder at the closed door. I cried at the realization of losing my monthly group while at the same time feeling excited about the next phase of my journey.  I then saw myself standing on earth barefoot in front of a new door to open. The door I opened revealed an entire universe. As I realized I had no limits or boundaries, I thought it’s going to be ok.

I began our pilgrimage thinking about what was going on in my life. I laughed at the first message because I was thinking about my work. Somehow I will dream big.

I kept walking along the pilgrimage path with my group taking pictures to document my journey.

I learned of Tibetan prayer flags and loved seeing them blow in the breeze like whispers being sent to God.

In my final coaching session we discussed my most meaningful practices. They were meditation, conversations with nature, journaling and active imagination. My coach requested of me to write. I shared a poem and my conversation with water as my final offering. Writing is who I am so I assured her I would continue to share this gift. 

I’ve decided to pursue Native American spirituality. I need to get to know this part of myself. My family’s eyebrows raise higher and higher as do their concerns lol. They ask if I still believe in Jesus and I laugh and say of course! I realize though no one can dictate your spiritual path. You have to practice what is meaningful for yourself. The brave by the forest I saw during meditation awaits me.

I shall live in dreams and not fears. I shall live in love and forgiveness. I will not withhold the best parts of myself from others. I hope to give the gifts of laughter and faith. I shall continue with the practices that had meaning for me without regards as to their origin.

My flag had this simple prayer.

May I believe. May you believe. May we all believe. 

Simply prayed for anyone who has ever struggled with doubt and anxiety.

Namaste

Overcoming Fear

by The Unconventional Life, posted in Faith, Hope, Inspiration, Marriage, mental health, Relationships, Separation

I became acquainted with fear as a child observing my mother and other family members.  I observed that because they were afraid of doing most anything our family tended to have the same outcomes.  This observation greatly shaped the adult I would become.

I would acquire an extreme fear of committment.  If I could redo about two decades of relationships I would.  Bad choices left layers of pain.  As a youth, I developed the idea that marriage was evil.  I saw nothing good in it.  Marriage created siblings that meant extra responsibilities.  More work for my mother.  Arguments over adult issues and the list goes on and on.  I decided by the time I became a teen that I would never get married.  I would at most have a live in boyfriend with a backup just in case.

I carried all of these fears into my marriage and oh the devastation it caused.  I didn’t even notice what was happening.  I remember one day being in the kitchen and I just began to cry. “God why did you place these three people under my care?  I’m such a failure.  I never wanted a family and you totally rearranged my life!  Look at the mess I’ve created.”  I received the most gentle reply as I walked to the table and opened the bible.  I had never seen the scripture before, but I had to go sit down after reading Psalm 68:6.

My tears of frustration turned into tears of gratitude.  He had connected two of the most lonely people, my husband and myself, across an ocean.  My husband had said prayer for a family far away from Nigeria.  On my end I had a five-year old telling me his house was supposed to have a daddy that lived there with us.  My youngest son is a handful!  My husband found my match.com profile.  I can only laugh at how all of this happened.  You live long enough to be able to recognize divine intervention when it happens because you go around in a daze asking if what occurred really happened the way it did.

As I sat on the couch, I realized that God had blessed me with children and a husband so that I would know what unconditional love felt like and all I did was complain about it.  Months ago in a soaking worship service I had a vision of myself as a child.  I was in a pit in a white dress turning in circles.  I was searching for someone to love me, but no one ever came.  Although I was in this pit, there was the brightest light all around me and the most beautiful lawn.  God whispered to me, “You will never have to search for love like that again.”  Have you ever been totally wrecked with gratitude?  I needed so many kleenex that evening.  It was an epic day for healing a very deep hurt that I had carried for decades.  I hurt my family because I was broken and hurting.  I have sense learned you should enter into marriage a whole person.  My husband and I had no pre-marital counseling, but lots of issues that should have been discussed.

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Continue reading “Overcoming Fear” →

Sink Way Deep Down

by The Unconventional Life, posted in christianity, depression, Faith, Hope, Inspiration, Marriage, mental health, Relationships, Separation, Uncategorized

There has been such tragedies in the news over the last week. Momentum building with one story after another. Eric Garner strangled to death by choke hold. Michael Brown murdered in Ferguson. Robin Williams commits suicide because of depression. Two more black males murdered by law enforcement. People fleeing persecution in Iraq. I spent most of my week weeping for people I don’t even know.

I may never meet them, but I have prayed for them. My oldest son is 18. I tried to talk to him after the Michael Brown tragedy, but I honestly could barely find words. The picture I had seen of the mother brought my breath to a halt. Only a photograph can capture that level of agony. I carried that image in my mind for days.

image
Photo credit: Huy Mach

I’ve carried pain in my heart for months. Shifting it around, trying to lessen the load. Praying, breathing, meditating and stretching beyond my current self. There is a lot going on in my life. My marriage is still at a complete halt. I can at this moment say I’m neither married nor single. I live in question mark status. Nevertheless, I’m going to rely on the one who never changes. Jesus. He is trying to get me to be a better human through all of this. Pain causes you to grow.

 

I had decided to close my joint account last week and begin processing divorce in minuscule increments. Even that seemed to be too much. A text from my husband came at 5:45 a.m. Do not close the joint account. Translation is simple, we are not taking the first step towards divorce. I could only type ok.

I have read Proverbs 31 many times trying to figure out how to become this woman for my family. I have worked so hard on self-improvement over the last year. I’ve been waiting on my sons and husband to notice. For someone to call me blessed. My son called me crazy a few days ago. I really contemplated his one word description of me based on my past actions and it made me very sad.

I have been taking yoga classes every Sunday and Tuesday. It’s becoming something I need to do to start my week peacefully. Reflecting on all the violence stemmed from hatred in the news I placed my mat on the floor. I was praying for a scripture to focus on during the class. In front of me was a yogi that had a stone placed on her mat. I know that has to do with chakras and energy. Our instructor wanted to chant. I abstained, but I listened to the beautiful sound it made and it left me with a very good feeling. I have been dedicating my yoga practice to God healing myself and my family. So many different people and beliefs in one room and there was no hatred. Maybe some have life complications, but we all left it on the mat. I was the only brown person in the room, but I felt peace not fear.

Romans 14:9 – So let us try to do what makes peace and helps one another.

I honor each life experience. For experience teaches wisdom and we should never grow tired of learning. Every life has value. Every problem a solution. Your belief may be different from mine, but I serve a God of such an amazing love. I am going to do my very best to share this love with my family and whomever else I’m destined to encounter. I also believe we should love our planet and the animals that don’t speak human. Let your roots sink way deep down as storms will come from time to time. Like yogis you will find we have the ability to bend and not break.

I am very grateful for every person that took the time to pray for me and my family over the last year. I am thankful we are all here. I am thankful that I know God is no respector of persons. I am thankful that miracles can arise from the most horrific circumstances. I am thankful God restores the broken. Namaste.