The Spirit That Counts

But then we grew up, and we moved further and further away from such things and, sadly, from our natural, spiritual, way of being. As adults, too often we allow the expectations of others (parents, religious leaders, teachers, family, friends) to be placed upon us, along with the associated guilt, if we do not live up to them. For many, the holidays have become nothing more than pressure-filled weeks chocked full of check lists and coping mechanisms. And now, deep down, we feel that we have lost something and we don’t know what it is.

As your Uncle Bob walks toward you at the family Thanksgiving dinner, you know he wants to gloat because his candidate beat yours in the recent election. A thought flashes across your mind that he is sad and lonely. But you ignore it and rise to the political bait.

Your fiance announces he is going skiing over the holidays and he wants you to come along. Thrilled, you give him a big hug. But, quickly, you find yourself blinking back tears as you remember that you told your recently divorced mother you would be with her.

You are determined to be frugal this holiday season, but you ignore your resolution when you see a fabulous cashmere sweater on sale. When the clerk says that your credit card is maxed, still you simply make a lame excuse and pull out your checkbook.

By January each of the individuals above will probably find themselves depressed or exhausted. Yet they could have avoided some of their post-holiday blues if they had listened to their intuition. That fleeting thought, the sudden feeling of happiness or sadness, or even the maxed-out credit card, are all messages from a standard operating mechanism in all of us that whispers, “Pay attention.”

Why do we ignore our intuition when we need it the most: when we are stressed or when we need to make decisions that are not only good for us but, in the long run, good for others as well? It only becomes more difficult to believe that something beyond the ordinary, something extraordinary, exists. But it does.

Although the definition of intuition means “quick and ready insight,” I believe it is misleading to suggest that our intuition always gives us immediate apprehension of a given situation. It can, but more frequently it simply suggests that we look deeper; something isn’t right. To further complicate matters, when receiving intuitive insights through images or dreams, it is often a symbolic language that we must learn to decode.

Our Spirit, and its voice-intuition, is “real magic.”

Reconnecting with our Spirit is an ongoing process of self discovery- something that we experience. When we decide to honor and pay attention to our own inner being, placing value on the quiet voice within, we strengthen that connection.

Confucius said that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Discovering real magic starts with one small step–a willingness to be open to the possibility that the most profound truths about our selves and the nature of things, lie within reach. Our purpose is no less than a search for the divine, our journey no less than a return to Spirit. What are we waiting for?

Use your intuition to improve your relationships this holiday season:

Spirit: We nurture our spirit by having an inner life. When we put aside distractions and multi-tasking for a moment, we are able to hear the voice of our spirit, our intuition. Without thinking about anything else, we can merge with our breath, become fully present, transcend our stress and worries, and experience ourselves as being connected with an infinite source of wisdom. Life becomes easier, especially during the holidays.

You: Your intuition will not suggest that you stop giving and caring for others during the holidays, but it will suggest that you take care of yourself first. What do you need to feel centered and balanced? (Taking care of yourself does not mean spending more than you can afford, even on yourself.)

Significant Other: After honoring your inner self, this is the most important relationship that you have. Be honest in sharing your desires. Listen with your heart. Nurture each other.

Family: If you know that you feel exhausted after spending time with some individuals, take a piece of advice from my Taoist teacher and wear a red item of clothing. (She believed that red protects us from draining energy. In the least, it will remind you to let universal energy flow through you.)

Friends: Nothing depletes your energy more than the constant, “Yes, I can add one more commitment to my day.” (Forcing ourselves to be obligated to people in a way that makes us feel trapped or stressed is very bad for the relationship in the long run.) Observe your physical reactions when friends make requests. Do you sense a sinking in your stomach when asked to attend a party? When you say, “No” do you feel relief?

Money: After the holidays are over, what will you have to show for your life energy–the money you have spent? (After all, what we do for money dominates our waking hours. What is left over is what we call life.) Will your family or friends love you more? Will you be happier? If you have difficulty finding a certain item, or the credit card machine does not work, it could be a sign that another gift (perhaps a gift of your time) is more appropriate.

The World: Beyond the boundaries of our city, state or country, is an unseen but experienced, unity. By nourishing your relationship with spirit, taking time to “breathe” and “not do,” and nurturing those close to you, peace is cultivated in the present moment. Peace in the present creates peace in the future.

Remember, it’s the Spirit that counts. May you have a spiritually-fulfilling holiday season.

Winter Robinson is an American author of numerous books and Cd’s, including A Hidden Order-Uncover Your Life’s Design; Intuitions, Seeing with the Heart; and Remembering, A Gentle Reminder of Who You Are . Her most recent stress-reducing CD, Tally’s Lullaby was created with musicians Karen Garrett and Eugene Friesen as a healing gift to the Virginia Tech Community. (It is available as a free download on her site: www.winterrobinson.com.) She is a medical intuitive and a licensed therapist.

This was originally published on 12/12/12.