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divine intervention

  • 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.

    Divine Timing

    I don’t normally post twice in a day, but when I do, it’s because of diving…

  • 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.

    Schedule a Session

    Placeholders and Divine Intervention

    Have you ever held a time slot for an event that got cancelled? I’m guessing we…

  • It served me well, but after 10 long years, my super duper blender kicked it today. I knew it was coming- there’s been an unpleasant sound for the past several months and I’ve been keeping it together with Reiki and prayers.

    But the end was inevitable.

    Today the unpleasant sound was way worse, followed by a poof! And then smoke. Sadly, my smoothie was not yet smooth.

    But I was prepared for this and already had a plan in place. They offer certified refurbished models online with a 5 year warranty. And a trade-in offer if I mail in the old motor base.

    While chewing my not-so-smoothie, I hopped online to place my order before my next appointment. Sound hasty? Maybe, but I use this machine almost every day. It’s a big part of my healthy eating strategy.

    I popped my order in the shopping cart and entered my personal info. The “next” button that should have taken me to the payment info page was a dud. Nothing happened, even after several attempts.

    Hmmm… I always take note when things like this happen. When the well-oiled cogs of a corporation fail to take my money, I pause. And I reviewed the trade-in offer page. In order to get $100 back from returning the old machine, I had to place my order by phone. The offer would not be valid if I placed my order online. I was stopped in the nick of time from loosing a good chunk of change.

    I call this sort of mishap “Divine Intervention”.

    I could have pushed through and placed my order if I persisted, no doubt. I’m always free to reject the assistance that comes my way, after all. Sometimes I do, unaware that I’m doing things the hard way till hindsight kicks in.

    But today, I paused. And investigated. And saved myself $100!

    Not every obstacle is a blessing in disguise. But perhaps some are worth taking a moment to explore.

    So Long VitaMix

    It served me well, but after 10 long years, my super duper blender kicked it today.…

  • I talk a lot about the follow-up steps after a Reiki session; paying attention and taking inspired action. (My most recent post about this, You Don’t Need to Know How, can be found here.) Healing isn’t usually something that just occurs voila! in a treatment and then you’re all done, ✔. I suppose that might happen occasionally, but more often than not, we are given directions to the next step on the journey of recovering health and wholeness. It’s then up to us to follow through. Or not.

    The perfect circumstances in my own life have aligned to illustrate this. I’m sharing it here because I am often greeted with blank stares when I tell clients to watch for insights and synchronicities that occur in the days following their sessions. Generally these hints turn us in directions we are unlikely to have found on our own. Yet if you don’t know what to look for, it can be easy to miss them.

    Here’s my example.

    I yearn for a sense of belonging. It’s been an elusive experience in my life, partially because I’m an introvert and have some peculiar habits, a ridiculously early bedtime and a very low tolerance for superficial conversation. This is compounded by frequent callings to up and move across the country every 8 years or so. While I have occasional glimpses of belonging, most of the time I feel like a misfit. I don’t see that changing, but I would enjoy being a part of a larger community of misfits. 🙂

    A friend mentioned a teacher/author that he appreciates and so I followed her blog, bought her book, and happened to be sitting in front of my laptop when an invitation arrived from her. An online class, the description of which used different language, but essentially outlined a way to grow a sense of belonging wherever you are. Yes please! But completely beyond my budget given a recent out-of-pocket root canal and dental crown. But a 50% scholarship was offered, I applied, and was accepted. Some might call this grace. I call it Following the Yellow Brick Road.

    Wait, there’s more! During this online class, we were given an assignment to learn the history of the land we live in, as well as the native flora and fauna. Well I couldn’t tell the difference between an oak and an elm tree and all those little birds pretty much look the same to me. A search of the library’s catalog showed nothing helpful and I hadn’t yet made it to the local bookstore when I received an email from a colleague inviting me on a hike organized by the group that maintains the wooded area near my home.

    I’m not able to attend this particular hike, but when I signed up for the group’s newsletter, I was alerted that they are soon beginning the next round of volunteer training. A training that covers the history of the woods I so love to visit and the native flora and fauna there as well. Ding, ding, ding! I filled out the application, and was delighted to receive an email containing the training dates, which by some miracle (or grace or Follow the YBR magic) align with my somewhat impossible schedule.

    The next day I received another email inviting me to schedule an interview with the volunteer director on one of the next several Saturdays. Saturdays are my busiest workday. I have appointments scheduled every Saturday for the next 10 weeks. But this coming Saturday, I have nothing booked in the afternoon and therefore am able to easily make this interview. This is exactly what I mean! I never could have planned this. I’m just following the road that is emerging before my very eyes.

    I haven’t yet been accepted into this program. I might not be. I might not even want to be. I’m in a curious place of non-attachment, recognizing that if it’s meant to be, it will be. If it’s not meant to be, it has at the very least opened my eyes to the possibility of divine intervention through the unlikeliest of methods: email! All I know for sure is that I’m going to the interview and will keep following the clues as they appear, clearly showing me the way on The Yellow Brick Road.

    All I need do is pay attention and take inspired action. Period. I don’t need to see the big picture, or even know where the next turn is. Obviously this doesn’t absolve me from making plans for my next vacation or paying my bills, but when it comes to healing it’s become crystal clear to me that I’ll be shown the way. Every single step!

    Follow the Yellow Brick Road

    I talk a lot about the follow-up steps after a Reiki session; paying attention and taking…