Some days just don’t go as planned. One thing goes awry and then another and another, eventually things snowball farther and farther from the desired destination. Soon, it all seems out of my control and nothing works the way I want it to.
Sometimes, on days like this, I’m able to relinquish my attempts to get things going my way and relax into the way they are unfolding.
On those days, I often get shown how the magic appears when I stop trying so hard and allow myself to be lead to where I’m meant to be.
Today was one of those days. I found myself hanging out with a heron by the creek, enjoying several moments of wonderment. It’s my hope that the next time everything falls apart that I’ll remember this and pivot, allowing things to fall into place in a much more delightful way than I could have arranged with my best efforts.
Here’s a bonus clip of a goose argument for anyone who scrolled down far enough.
Some days just don’t go as planned. One thing goes awry and then another and another,…
Once again, guidance has arrived for me, seemingly out of thin air. As it happens on a daily basis, there is no doubt in my mind that it isn’t a coincidence that odd things catch my attention as I’m going about my days. If you’re interested in intuition and receiving Divine Guidance, I have a story for you.
A few weeks ago, I was out for a walk in Nature, visiting the creek. I noticed a man gazing at the flowing water and (in my head) heard “What’s he looking at?” in a tone distinct from my usual voice.
This got my attention! He didn’t appear to be overly friendly, so instead of saying, “Hey mister, whatchya looking at?”, I lingered until he moved along and then I took his place at the fence.
Holy #@$%! (That was definitely my own voice.) There’s a heron standing in the creek! In the six years I’ve frequented this park, I’ve only once seen a heron here.
I was transfixed. I wanted to share this exciting news, but all the people passing by were plugged into devices or conversations, so instead, I enjoyed this visitation in quiet reverence.
I noticed how he (yes, that’s the sense I got. I have no proof, but it felt right to call him a he) stood upright, very still in the middle of the creek. Watching. Waiting. Fishing, obviously, but in a very dignified way.
Not like the ducks I see every day who look like they’re bobbing for apples or the smaller birds who dart around constantly.
No, this guy was letting the fish come to him.
“I’m gonna just stand here until my fish comes by,” seemed to be the message he was transmitting.
I eventually moved on, keeping one eye of the path, the other on the creek.
Soon I saw a big lump of … is that a duck? Very unusual. Especially as I only moments ago thought about the amusing upside-down ducks I often see here, with their heads underwater and butts in the air.
This duck was all tucked into itself, sleeping on a log. A sitting duck. That phrase describes someone who is exposed and vulnerable. And a few feet away, on that same log, a turtle. Sunning himself, as they do. This guy had stuck out his neck as if watching over the duck. Very curios indeed.
Heron, duck, turtle.
There’s a message here.
I just KNEW it.
I could do an online search for “spiritual meaning” of these animals, but I prefer to work with my own personal Lexicon.
What do they mean to me?
I’m not going to get into the whole interpretation. It’s directly related to the new moon intention I set recently and more personal than I care to share online. The process was simple, though. I spent some time with my journal brainstorming about “wait for the bounty to come to you”, “sitting duck”, “stick out your neck for a friend” and in a few minutes had a reasonably clear insight about action to take in conjunction with the seeds I planted on the new moon.
While I’m not publishing the complete message, I did want to share this as a sort of formula: being open to intuition, catching the clues, and working them out for myself.
Most importantly, I was available to receive the message unlike everyone around me who was focused on their exercise, music or screen. I was present, tuned into the environment and available to receive the message.
On my return trip, the heron lifted off and I was treated to the view of his huge wingspan, which caused me to gasp and my jaw to drop. Yet, nobody else noticed. 🤔
I later opened the Merlin app that I use to identify birdsong. I laughed to find the bird of the day is… wait for it… a heron. Coincidence or confirmation?
It’s been some time since I wrote about connecting with intuition. It’s become such a part of my daily life that I don’t much think about it. But it’s come up often in sessions with clients lately, so it was on my mind this morning.
You may be thinking, hey Pamela, you’re always talking about following the breadcrumbs, isn’t that the same as intuition? That’s fair. I often wonder this myself.
Here’s what I have to offer from my current level of understanding. The “breadcrumbs” are from an external source, call it Life, Love, God, the Universe, Spirit, guiding me. I differentiate this from my “intuition” which is the internal nudge I feel to take notice of the breadcrumbs.
Intuition is how I receive Divine Guidance. Lots of people say they want access, but they haven’t practiced being still and quiet long enough for the messages to get through. Like in the good ole days when you actually had to answer the phone while it was ringing to speak to the caller. You had to be at home, ready and able to pick up the phone. You couldn’t be on another call or in the shower or have your hands full, metaphorically or literally.
Nowadays what I see are people constantly consuming (scrolling, watching reels, plugged into podcasts or plain old digital nonsense), which does not leave any space for messages to drop in. If you can’t walk your dog around the block without staring at a screen, well, come on, how do you expect magical information to reach you?
In between smart phone addiction and living in a cave in the Himalayas, there’s a vast middle ground where we can cultivate capacity to receive. I recorded a lesson and practice on the “why and how to receive” theme and it’s available in The Toolshed. This is my latest offering where I post a practical tool for subscribers each month on a hot-topic.
You can learn to be receptive if you make time and are capable of paying attention. There are tons of ways to do this, so you needn’t visit The Toolshed if it doesn’t resonate. But you’ll likely have to do something. Burning bushes are exceedingly rare and I’ve yet to meet someone who enjoyed an intuitive connection who didn’t have a major intervention in the form of accident or illness who wasn’t devoted to some form of practice.
Sure, like Mozart, some people are naturally gifted, but most of us have to put in the time to develop our skills.
My intuition has been an invaluable resource for me. I usually feel like I’m on my path, moving in the appropriate direction and that everything will work out somehow. When I’m not, I feel like I’m being thrown about without a raft in the stormy seas.
Reiki has been the bridge that helped me get out of the perpetual thought loops and land in my body, capable of intercepting messages.
Getting into a rhythm with treatments or learning to give yourself Reiki consistently (Yes! You can easily learn how to use Reiki. Anyone can do this and I can teach you!) could be the portal you’ve been looking for to access your intuition and its priceless wisdom.
Once again, guidance has arrived for me, seemingly out of thin air. As it happens on…
I don’t normally post twice in a day, but when I do, it’s because of diving timing.
What the heck does that mean?
For starters, there’s an element of something bigger than me wanting to be shared. Something not a part of a marketing plan or an agenda my mind conjured.
Nope. There’s an inner tingle telling me this is the right thing to do.
Also, it’s a real life story of divine timing and how it unfolded in my life two days in a row.
Yesterday I arranged to meet a friend for a hike. Because we were going together, it was a different time and different place than I would have chosen if it were just me.
The trail we frequent is a loop and she deferred to me to choose the direction.
I felt a pull to go to the right.
We had a lovely chat and came up with solutions to solve most of the world’s problems, should anyone in authority care to ask.
When we got to the creek, there was a big SPLASH!
It sounded like someone fell in. It was a big enough disturbance that we stopped to look around.
There were geese nearby but they were just minding their own business and seemingly innocent of any excessive splashing.
Then I saw it. A large bird perched in a tree. With a white head.
As far as I know there’s only one kind of white-headed large bird in this area and that’s a bald eagle.
A rare and majestic sight! And we had front row seats.
We went on about our hike and that was that.
Until today.
A new client cancelled her appointment. She called this morning, all apologetic and distressed. I wasn’t concerned because I had sensed it was going to happen.
I can’t explain it, but I was waiting for that call.
And here’s the interesting part. I knew I wouldn’t be doing that session today, but I left it on my calendar. It was a placeholder. I knew that I wasn’t supposed to open that slot for another client or make lunch plans.
After we rescheduled her appointment, my day organically rearranged itself. I found myself catching up on admin tasks and enjoying a slow start rather than heading out for an early walk as I had planned.
Which put me at my usual spot on that same creek, but about two miles downstream, but a different time than usual.
Just in time to cross paths with a stranger who pointed out the large bird with the white head looking down at us from a tree.
Just in time for other people to cross my path so I could share the magic with them.
I could have been irritated by the change in my workday. I could have tried to force some kind of productivity.
Instead, I followed the breadcrumbs and was rewarded with a beautiful and unusual sight.
Of course I texted my friend to tell her I saw an eagle (the same one?) again. She replied that perhaps there was a doubly strong message for me in this synchronous rendezvous. That’s exactly something I would have said! But I hadn’t yet had that thought.
So I’m letting it simmer.
The bald eagle, as you likely know, is a symbol of America. A proud, strong, bird. A bird of prey. An endangered species.
There’s a lot to work with here, but I’m taking it as a positive omen as well as a reminder to follow my instincts.
I don’t normally post twice in a day, but when I do, it’s because of diving…
Last week I was in a neighborhood park. A few unruly dogs herded me away from my usual bench and I found a quiet spot by the little pond.
From there, I could see some shapes moving under the water. Upon closer inspection, I realized that there were several turtles swimming towards me. They were coming from all directions towards what I later learned was called the turtle bridge.
Locals had used slices of fallen trees to create a turtle- friendly habitat.
It was a joy to watch this mini-migration and I got to thinking about the spiritual message turtles share.
Slow and steady wins the race was the first thing that came to mind. This is an adage that suits me well and it’s always nice to be reminded that my natural rhythms are productive.
Then, after seeing a dozen comrades come together, climb up on the bridge and extend their necks, another thought began to brew.
Wait till you’re amongst friends before sticking your neck out. This was the behavior I witnessed and I wondered if there was something more to it.
Yes, I know it was probably a desire to soak up some warmth from the sun, but I’m wondering if there’s some metaphorical wisdom to be harvested here.
Last week I was in a neighborhood park. A few unruly dogs herded me away from…
Holistic healing emerges from a belief system that all the parts of ourselves (body, mind, emotions, energy, lifestyle, circumstances, and soul path) affect the whole. They all weave together to form a rich tapestry. The overall objective is to come into balance by respecting and honoring all the different elements and this can often take time.
As we’re all imbalanced in unique ways, our journeys are also unique. There is no one-size fits all plan or magic pill that will do the work.
It might seem overwhelming to take on such a task when few of us have had any experience or role models, let alone training, in such endeavors. It might seem like a daunting goal, but just like everything else, we begin from wherever we are with one step in the direction we wish to go.
I feel grateful that my journey began in my youth when I wasn’t too dug into any particular belief system or behavioral patterns to welcome change. Today my life is fully immersed in the holistic health realm, but it was a gradual process over many years. That’s the cool thing about habits- they are easy to build on top of one another.
For those who come to this path in their adult years, there might be more resistance to trying something new. I get it! I tend to be set in my ways a lot of the time. But if your current treatment, whatever that may be, is not providing the results you desire, I’d encourage you to try a different way. Some people choose holistic healing as a complement to conventional treatment; it’s not an either/or situation.
My suggestion is to approach your healing goal with kindness and curiosity. Instead of attacking knee pain, psoriasis, grief, procrastination or anything else with an intention of eradicating it, try an exploratory approach. See it as a misunderstood or wayward ally instead of an outright enemy.
Carve out 15 minutes from your day and set yourself up in a quiet space where you won’t be disturbed. Tell your people that you’re unavailable for this time, excepting emergencies. (Perhaps also explain what qualifies as an emergency!) Turn off your devices, or better yet remove them entirely from your space. Have a notebook or journal handy to capture any messages.
Taking this time for yourself is crucial on the healing journey. Otherwise you will just be spinning your wheels, engaged in therapies or practices that others have suggested that might be totally off the mark for you.
Get yourself as comfortable as possible. You might need to stretch or dance it out or take some deep breaths to drop out of your head and into your body. In the spirit of kindness and curiosity, ask.
What is it that this condition is trying to tell me?
What does it need to feel relief?
What do I need to learn/integrate/release in order to feel better?
Be patient. Learning to hear your inner voice takes some time if you’re new to it. Trust whatever words, sounds, colors or images come through. It’s easy to dismiss your messages thinking you’ve “just made them up”. Maybe you did, and that’s ok. But there’s a good chance it was at least influenced by your subconscious or higher self or soul. Honor that by writing it down and at the very least, considering the wisdom within.
Then, and this is important, choose just one small step that you can do today and do it. Or put it on your calendar for a time when you can do it and commit to following through.
It’s easy to get lost in the analyzing stage and never take action. It’s easy to get frozen trying to figure it all out, but I assure you, you don’t need to figure it all out now. Just take one tiny step. See how that feels. Often breadcrumbs will appear showing the following steps. And remember the elements of kindness and curiosity. They will be your best friends and wonderful travel companions along the way.
If you’d like some support for your journey, consider booking a Reiki session in Philly or a remote session wherever you are. An infusion of life-force energy can help with clarity and motivation and give you the boost of connection that helps move you forward.
Holistic healing emerges from a belief system that all the parts of ourselves (body, mind, emotions,…
Yesterday was my day to go for a hike in the woods, but I just didn’t have the energy. I was in need of rest, but I knew that I always feel better when I spend some time outside. So I decided to go for a short walk at the arboretum in my neighborhood.
I was pleased to see a few deer grazing in the meadow. You’ll have to trust me when I say that’s what the shape below in the center is as it was too far away to get a good pic.
I was strolling about with the intent of finding a sunny bench to read my book. The spot I was thinking of was overrun with dozens of 10 year-olds on some sort of field trip and seemed very unappealing.
I tried a path I’d never been down before and a hawk popped out of the bushes just a few feet in front of me and swooped up into a nearby tree. Whoa! That made me take notice. I don’t recall ever seeing one so close and at eye level before. It must have been on the ground just off the path.
Below the tree where it perched was an empty grassy area with a few patches of sunlight. I decided that the universe had chosen an unlikely messenger to suggest that I have a seat here. I decided to lay down in the grass, realizing that earthing (the act of connecting with the ground and absorbing healing energy) was a better aligned with my needs of the day than hiking.
It’s rare for me to come into contact with the earth without rubber soles in between us. I don’t have a yard and spend most of my outdoor time on sidewalks or rocky terrain, neither of which are amendable to bare feet. It was an extra special treat to breathe fresh air, bask in the sun, and feel supported by the ground.
On my way back to the car, I saw much evidence of ground hogs and one of the critters itself. At least that’s what I think the furry thing scurrying underground was! Hard to be certain from a distance. I finally did find a bench in the sun as was able to spend some quality time with a novel in the great outdoors.
I’m so glad I didn’t push myself to do my scheduled activity or abandon my nature therapy altogether. I’m even glad for the bus load of rowdy kids who steered me in a different direction so I was available to be ushered by a hawk to a different form of nature therapy.
It was a wonderful two hours and a lesson to be willing to adapt my plans to suit my needs and the resources available. And a reminder that many of the best things in life are free if we only pay attention.
Yesterday was my day to go for a hike in the woods, but I just didn’t…
Last week I had a short break in between sessions and took my book outside. I didn’t want to take the time to walk to my usual outdoor bench and instead chose the picnic table at the playground next to my office.
I gave up trying to read because of the kids making a giant ruckus on the monkey bars and was simply sitting there enjoying the sunshine when I noticed I had a visitor.
A praying mantis! Such an unusual creature. I’m pretty sure they’re alien. I mean, those eyes are just too weird. He sat there a while looking at me and then crawled over the edge, presumably under the table. Or into an another dimension. Who knows?!
After I stopped obsessing about the possibility of alien-like bugs lurking out of sight all over the place, I sensed that there was a deeper message to this encounter.
I thought about how still he (don’t ask my why, but this guy definitely seemed like a he) was. How slow and deliberate his movements. I took it as a sign to slow myself down and be more pray-full throughout my days.
I receive guidance like this all the time. From nature and unusual events and characters that cross my path. The trick is paying attention. So often we’re just rushing about going to the next place that we don’t even notice the messages that appear right in front of us.
If had just gone to my normal spot, I would have missed this guy. If I had forced my eyes on my book even though I couldn’t pay attention to the words, I would have missed it too. If I hadn’t heeded the urge to get out of the office, just for 15 minutes, I definitely would have missed all the opportunities to have any live interactions.
If you have access to Reiki, you can do a practice, or series of practices, intending to be a better receiver of beneficial messages. And most of us could probably pay better attention to the world around us, keeping our eyes and hearts open to meaningful signs from the universe. Even the really weird ones. 😉
Last week I had a short break in between sessions and took my book outside. I…
Developing access to intuition is a whole lot easier when we start with the basics. Rather than jumping in the deep end when the pressure is on, we can start in the kiddie pool and practice until we get the hang of it. Approaching intuition like any other skill that takes time to master can prevent us from unrealistic expectations.
I’ve been collecting the real-life, seemingly silly presentations of my inner voice. None of these are monumental, and that’s exactly why I was able to benefit. There was nothing much on the line, so I could relax into the practice. I track these incidents so I can build trust in the process. When I can look back at a series of messages that were indeed in my best good, I’m more able to welcome the next message that comes through, even when it doesn’t make much sense in that moment.
Intuition: Get a spoon.
Me: What? No. I’m just going to the bedroom. I won’t need a spoon in there.
Me, 20 minutes later, in the bedroom, wishing I had a spoon.
Intuition: Put the house key in your pocket.
Me: Why? I’m not going outside.
Me, 3 hours later, locked out. GAH!
Intuition: Go to the co-op now.
Me: Are you crazy? It’s senior discount day, it will be super crowded. Fine, I’ll play along, but I don’t really want to…
Me, 15 minutes later at the co-op finding everything on my list on a one-day-only sale and running in to a client who wants to schedule another session but never remembers to email me.
People want access to intuition when a big change looms, but if they haven’t developed trust already, it can be difficult to hear. It would be like showing up at the marathon without having done any training.
In addition to paying attention to the unbidden guidance, you can ask for specific answers. Start with something easy.
Me: What should I wear?
Intuition: Sneakers!
Me: Really? I was thinking I should wear the cute (but not entirely comfortable) sandals.
Me, later in the day: Oh, am I going on an unexpected three mile walk? So glad I’m wearing sneakers!
Me: What should I watch on TV?
Intuition: Let’s watch this show that a friend suggested.
Me: What? I’m not really in the mood for a documentary.
Me, an hour later: Wow that was awesome and answered my question about how to treat this annoying problem.
Once you get a few dozen of these playful episodes under your belt, you can assess if you’re ready to tackle some bigger issues. But if you haven’t yet conditioned your intuition muscles, expecting clarity on a major life decision is likely going to lead to confusion and frustration.
Today’s a great day to get started with the basics. Choose a notebook or app to track your intuitive experiences. Make note of the ideas that appear out of nowhere. Ask for guidance on everyday issues. Follow that guidance! And remember to log the results.
Developing access to intuition is a whole lot easier when we start with the basics. Rather…
Have you ever held a time slot for an event that got cancelled? I’m guessing we all have. In that process, we’ve possibly declined other conflicting invitations. When the original plan falls through, it’s natural to feel frustrated at having missed out on opportunities, some of which might be long gone.
What if, rather than ruining a potential girls’ night out, concert or Reiki circle, that canceled event was doing you a favor? What if it was just a placeholder, taking up space on your calendar so that you wouldn’t RSVP to requests that were not in your best interest? That perhaps there was something altogether different that was a better use of your time, something that you didn’t know about until later? It could be as simple as having quiet night at home to catch up on your reading or a last minute invitation for something fabulous.
This happens to me all the time when clients cancel appointments, some of which had been on my calendar for weeks. Then just moments later I learn about a class I’d love to attend or another client has an urgent situation and the now-open slot works perfectly for them.
I’ve learned to trust in divine timing and believe that the universe really is looking out for me in ways I don’t always understand. Learning how to let go of the desire to understand, btw, is a pre-requisite to living a soul-led life. Sometimes clarity arises in hindsight, but not always. I’ve learned to assume that many things are simply above my pay grade and simply follow the breadcrumbs.
This is not to say you need to tolerate consistent abrupt changes of plans that are simply bad manners from a friend or business associate. It’s true that some people are simply inconsiderate and might need a talking-to about respecting your time. I’ve had my share of this type of cancelation and have had to learn to stand up for myself in this regard.
And… sometimes, especially when your Spidey senses are tingling or magical synchronicity results, you can take note that something bigger than you arranged for an alternate experience.
The more we notice, acknowledge, and express gratitude for such interventions, the more likely they are to occur. The more we’re able to accept that we just don’t have the perspective to always know what the best thing is, the more easily we can go with the flow.
So when the maintenance crew’s truck is blocking the driveway and I’m delayed a few minutes, or the garbage truck is ahead of me and I choose to take a different route to avoid the fragrance, it’s entirely possible that I’ll benefit in unforeseen ways.
When there’s a guy sitting on my favorite bench by the creek and I walk a bit further to find the perfect log right next to the water, it’s obvious that the unexpected change worked in my favor. I don’t always have such obvious proof that this is the case, but there are so many examples that have demonstrated benevolent intervention that I’ve begun to trust that most of the time, the universe is orchestrating events on my behalf.
In case you’re in need of a tune-up or a recharge, a slot just now opened up in my schedule for tomorrow. Use the link below if you want to book yourself a much-needed Reiki session, either in-person in Philly or a remote Reiki treatment wherever you are. I suspect you also just had a cancellation that leaves you open at just the right time.
Luminous Heart Reiki & Massage 