Ivy SeaZine - Vol. 7, No. 8
Let Your Light Shine

Greetings,

There certainly is a lot of 'doom-saying' these days. As Jonathan Cainer, the witty and optimistic British astrologer, says, "There is a boom for doom-and-gloom!"

We could easily collect ample evidence for doom-and-gloom -- we can work ourselves into a panic of fear and scarcity -- if we want to do that.

But is that really where we want to invest our focus and energy? Is that really where we want to invest our power? Is that what we want to see more of?

My point is this -- and it's something I've been reflecting on and living into for quite awhile now, and sometimes struggling with, too: the questions we ask and the thoughts and actions we choose are an investment of our energy and power.

As we go through our days, are we investing more in Light-and-Love or Gloom-and-Doom?

It's not an 'airy fairy' or 'woo woo' thing to contemplate, because we're talking about real thoughts, real actions, and real effects on quality of life -- our own, and that of others.

We've all heard the proverbial wisdom sayings: What we resist, persists. When you fight what you DON'T want, you actually give it power and perpetuate the same. Where your thoughts are, your experience follows. Where your heart is, there will be your treasure. And so on.

In the higher martial arts, the best strategy isn't to fight AGAINST your opponent, which is said to give the opponent more energy. Rather, the master yields, to allow the opponent's energy to flow through her and dissipate. By doing that, he gains energy while, ideally, neutralizing violence and harm.

The same is true for the things that trouble us -- and there are a lot of those things right now in this world.

We can see them, and witness them as a matter of dignity, and yet not identify with and fight against them. Rather, our seeing of them becomes reason to clarify and direct our focus and energy towards that which we are FOR -- that which we want to invest in, create, perpetuate, and see more of.

What breaks and wakes our hearts, what makes us angry, and what stirs our souls from sleep-walking offers huge clues to our purpose and potentials for joyful, healing service.

To realize this is to take your power back, from wherever it's drained off to. To lift the heavy, dark, wet blanket off the light that you are, or to put the lamp on the table so the light can benefit all who see it.

Marianne Williamson wrote, and was quoted by Nelson Mandela, that it isn't our darkness that frightens us, but our light. Our light is our Love, our power, our authentic Nature, the Divine Spark of uniqueness and authenticity that expresses as each one of us. It's our purpose to find real, joyful ways to express it in the world.

This is a precious gift, and no matter how long it's rested dormant, no matter how many layers of 'old stuff' it's been buried under, and no matter how confused or fearsome things might seem, Love-Light's power to shine is stronger than anything else.

Sometimes the 'dormant' stage has really been one of gestating and gathering strength for something that needs to be rooted, steady, and wise at the right time.

Our world is in need of healing and a new, more empowering vision, and requires every Divine Spark that can be lighted, awakened into its Divine nature, and put to service, consciously, now.

As we tap into our own inner light, that Divine Spark, so many new insights will surface, new intuitions, new creativity, new opportunities, and new ways to open up things which seem closed shut.

We ripple that light-power outward in a wave that is more healing and powerful than you know.

There are many things you can do -- little things and big things -- that add up to a big ripple effect.

What do you want to Love into being? Put your energy there.

Come as you are, and let your light shine.

This little light of mine...

Blessings, Joy and Happy Independence Day (wherever you may be!).

May you free yourself of the tyranny of all that keeps you small and hidden!

Sincerely,

Jamie Walters
Founder, Ivy Sea
Author, Big Vision, Small Business (Berrett-Koehler Publishers) & a few other things.

** Tele-Consulations, Vision and Insight Sessions, and Other Inspired Guidance

** VIP Premium Goodies and Juicy PDF Workbooks

** This Month's Gem: Local Harvest

** Inspiring Words for Your Journey [Ivy SeaZine is a "voluntary, by request" subscriber-only email zine. If you've received this issue, you subscribed at our web site or someone else has subscribed using your email address. You can subscribe or unsubscribe at any time; just follow the instructions at the end of the SeaZine.]

Tele-Consultations, Vision & Insight Sessions, and Other Inspired Guidance

Is it time to let your light shine, and express a greater authenticity?

Ivy Sea clients and readers seek us out for a compassionate and experienced ear, a vision-centered objective perspective, and an inspiring thought-and-vision partner.

It's a powerful alchemy to clarify your vision and power-up forward-momentum -- and it's an alchemy that we at Ivy Sea are very familiar with, not just from 'intellectual knowledge' but from our own real-world experience.

Visit Ivy Sea Online or send us an email -- you'll find the links and address on the web site -- to schedule a tele-consultation, an insight-session, or arrange for a more indepth consultation.

Ivy Sea Online also offers a wealth of self-study resources to help you live (and work) into your authenticity and vision.

Take a step towards greater authenticity in expressing your Light.

Explore more or email us about personal consultation options.

VIP Premium Goodies and Juicy PDF Workbooks - July Specials!

The Ivy Sea Online VIP Member 'Premium Content' Center and our PDF Resource Store offer a wealth of articles, workbooks, and guides to help you re-engage with your passion, reconnect with your vision, and catalyze your passion for a new level of skill and purpose.

You'll find our online articles, PDF workbooks, audios, and more on topics such as:

* expressing your authenticity and letting your light shine

* big-vision small business, 'Slow Business', and 'conscious' business

* marketing that's 'conscious', authentic, and integrity centered

* communication (interpersonal, organizational, leadership, inner-space)

* vision and visioning

* right-livelihood and good work

* wisdom paths and practices

* personal mastery

* authentic 'heartful' prosperity

… and more, created to help you live into your purpose and potential with skill.

Visit Ivy Sea Online now to check out the offerings.

This Month's Gem: Local Harvest - Real Farmers, Real Food, Real Community

These days, it's good to know where your food's coming from, and what's in it. Ideally, it's even better to know who grows and prepares it for market.

I came across the Local Harvest web site when looking for natural care item for my cat, and also because I have a preference for local, artisan, small-businesses and farms. Local Harvest brings that right to your desktop.

The Local Harvest web site says, "Use our website to find farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area, where you can buy produce, grass-fed meats, and many other goodies. Want to support this great web site? Shop in our catalog for things you can't find locally!"

Quotations to Inspire Your Journey

** "Grace fills empty spaces, but it can only enter where there is a void to receive it, and it is grace itself, which makes this void." ~ Simone Weil

** "It is impossible to move in two directions at the same time. As long as you fight against what you don’t want, you will make no progress toward what you desire." ~ Suzanne Zoglio

** "Live a life and let everything unfold -- Cease struggling and let go, let go. Open up and allow everything to fall into place. All you have to do is to Be. Stop trying so hard, for this can create a blockage where there need be none." ~ Eileen Caddy

** "There is a soul force in the universe, which, if we permit it, will flow through us and produce miraculous results." ~ Mahatma Gandhi

** "As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world - that is the myth of the atomic age - as in being able to remake ourselves." ~ Mahatma Gandhi

** "Faith is belief in the unseen, the quietly held conviction that even though you can't imagine how, at some time, in some place, in the right way, the thing you desire will indeed come to pass." ~ Daphne Rose Kingma

Until next time...

Let your light shine, set your Divine Spark free, and give voice to your beautiful authentic nature.

Can we help? Give us a call or send us an email. We'd be delighted to co-create and thought-partner with you.

Happy Independence Day - may you joyfully free yourself of all that keeps you small and hidden!

Wishing you very well.

Sincerely,
Jamie S. Walters
Founder & Creatrix, Ivy Sea and The Feminine Mojo Projects
Author, Big Vision, Small Business (Berrett-Koehler Publishers)