An 'In Character' post from Marianne Connor with an introduction from Martine Cullum
Introduction
As I begin my research on the introductory novel for what I hope will become my next series of books, I find that every question I ask, and every train of thought I follow, leads to more questions than answers.
As a 63-year-old woman, currently enjoying a reprieve from the effects of Long Covid/Chronic Fatigue and Brain Fog, I find myself asking ‘Do I have enough time left on this planet, or energy in my battery to do these questions justice?’
Fortunately, the reply that comes back to me from some inner voice or higher self, gives me an emphatic ‘Yes’ – spirituality, as the saying goes, is about the journey, not just the destination. With this in mind, who better to share their thoughts on what it means to be on a spiritual journey than our very own Marianne Connor? So, over to you Marianne…
Thanks, Martine.
Hello again dears, and a very happy new year to you all. What a wonderful way to begin the year, thinking about the very best kind of personal development; the development of our spiritual selves.
Now, let me be clear from the start, dears, this is not about religion. It goes beyond, runs through, and underpins all religion, and it is about recognising that we are all souls originating from the same source. You may not choose to use the same labels as I do, (we do love to put a label on things, don’t we?), but ultimately, as the scientists tell us, everything is made up of energy, including us.
Despite what Martine might have you believe, I am no expert on the subject, but I have followed my spiritual path to a place of happiness and contentment, and it is from that experience that I would like to share my learning with you today.
As always, please take away what resonates with you from this blog post and leave the rest for either later in your journey or for someone else. We might all come from the same source, but we are all wonderfully unique and what feels right for one may not be right for another.
So, let’s get started, dears.
Signs that your journey is beginning
Not everyone will choose to actively follow their spiritual path. It is rarely an easy journey and it is not as though you wake up one day and think ‘I’m going to book myself a flight to the spiritual realm.’ It is far more likely that it will creep up on you.
You may start to feel a general dissatisfaction with life, not the kind of dissatisfaction that comes from lack of money and belongings, or even from the lack of companionship, but the kind that comes from feeling empty, confused, or lacking in purpose. When the things you have enjoyed for years begin to feel banal and pointless and you start to feel that there must be more to life than this, you can take it as a sign that says, ‘There is more, if you choose to open yourself to it.’
Along with this feeling comes a strong urge to learn. You may start reading more, books that perhaps you have never even considered previously, like James Redfield’s The Celestine Prophecy, Rhonda Byrne’s The Secret, or Marianne Williamson’s Return to Love.
You may find that you start to spend less time with your past friends and as you become more self-aware, seek out or ‘accidentally’ make new friends who are on a similar journey. Be prepared at this stage, for old friends and family members to think you have ‘gone odd’, are maybe ‘losing your mind’, or perhaps ‘going through menopause’, (this last reasoning has been used for males as well as females). What is going on here is that you have chosen to grow, personally and spiritually, whilst they have chosen to either stand still or follow a different path. You are growing apart. This is one of those difficult times I mentioned earlier. Whether you choose to continue or to stay put matters not. If you stay put it just means you are not ready yet. It doesn’t mean you will never get there.
Waking Up
As you move through your journey, meditation and mindfulness will be two of your greatest tools, allowing you to listen to your inner self, to connect with nature and to appreciate every moment of your life.
In time, as self-awareness grows, you will gain a new understanding of the things that used to confuse you. You will learn to recognise doors that open for you rather than dwelling on those that close. In times of hardship or crisis, the silver lining is sometimes difficult to see, but when looked at through a spiritual lens it becomes easier to find. There is a bigger picture. We are all connected, and at the risk of sounding like I’ve just been watching You’ve Got Mail, (I have, by the way), there is no such thing as coincidence.
Be Brave
Along the way, obstacles will be put in your path. These can come in many forms: losses, health problems, or doubts and fears about whether you are travelling in the right direction. Treat these obstacles as opportunities to learn, (easier said than done, I know), but that is what they are; opportunities. Remember that bigger picture and know that we won’t always understand why things happen the way that they do.
As you navigate through or around these obstacles, you will find that being grateful, showing compassion (to yourself as well as to others), and maintaining a positive mindset will ease the way. It will allow you to fill your heart with peace, love and joy. You may also seek new creative outlets to express your new insights in the world.
Clarity
When your new insights shape your everyday actions, when you listen to that inner voice for guidance, when you feel with every cell in your body that you know what to do in any given situation, you will know without a doubt that you are on your spiritual path. The purpose you were searching for is clear to you. You use whatever time you have wisely, be that fifty years or five days, and you are inspired to make a positive difference in everything you do.
You may feel that you must shout out your new understanding to the world, (and if you are an ‘influencer’ or anyone in the public eye, what’s stopping you?) but here’s the thing, dears, it’s alright to whisper; those who are open to starting their own journey will hear you… when the time is right for them.
If you have read this far, and there will be many that didn’t, I wish you well on your journey. As I have already said, it is not easy, but there is nothing, in my opinion, that is more worthwhile.
Kindest Regards and Safe Travels, dears.
I'll see you at Moons & Runes
Marianne Connor
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