Storm Wisdom Blog

Nurturing!

Nurturing!

“Love is the water of life, nurturing heart and soul.” Rumi, 13th century poet, Islamic scholar and Sufi mystic

Nurturing has been on my mind this week more than usual. We’ve been spending time with our youngest son and his family providing as much support as possible with a 2+ year old and a newborn! It’s been amazing to have this gift of time spent with them. I’m reminded of how dependent babies and toddlers are on others. I’m also reminded that love is the key element that’s required to nourish and support our relationships and personal growth. As the days have gone by I’m reminded that we nurture in so many ways. I think of gardeners who nurture plants and nature. We nurture children, health, relationships, pets, dreams, friends, new ideas, creativity, values, curiosity, family, love, emotions, and many provide nurturing through the food and meals they provide! I’m sure that you can think of others as well.

As the gardener demonstrates over and over again plants must be nurtured consciously and with intention in order for the seeds to sprout, grow, and bloom. I’ve always loved using the image of a rosebud or any other blooming plant – happiness is watching it grow and unfold, reaching its beautiful potential. I’m reminded during this time with my son and his growing family how precious it is to watch the children evolve and grow into their own glorious person as they’re nurtured with lots of love. English singer, songwriter, and peace activist John Lennon has said that “We’ve got this gift of love, but love is like a precious plant. You can’t just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think it’s going to get on by itself. You’ve got to keep watering it. You’ve got to really look after it and nurture it.” And isn’t this true of our relationships and the many other things that we nurture?

Don’t we garden in our inner world as well? We choose what we believe, think, and value. We choose the seeds we plant and allow to grow and flourish. Is our garden designed to be lush and thriving or is it full of weeds and old beliefs that are ready to release? It’s a choice each one of us must make. In your quiet time you might ask, “Where do I want to spend my energy and what do I want to nurture? English poet and journalist Alfred Austin has said that “The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul.” How much are you feeding your soul through what you are choosing to nurture? How many of your choices are based on love? Through your nurturing will love flourish and thrive in your life? I invite you to take this week to notice all of the opportunities in your life that can be nurtured including yourself. Enjoy watching a child discover magic and wonder around them if you have the opportunity.

I’m holding space for you and sending lots of love to each one of you. Laugh, giggle, play, and have fun! Remember, NOW is all there is. Please don’t delay!

I’m available by phone or Zoom for private coaching and channeled information sessions by appointment. To schedule please go to victoriabarna.com. I’m also available for in-person sessions. Please call Storm Wisdom (602)334-1204 to schedule.

Families!

Families!

“Family is not about blood. It’s about who is willing to hold your hand when you need it the most.” HRH the Dalai Lama

As we leave the powerful energies of the last SuperMoon of 2023 we are invited to lean into more harmony and balance. How do we still manage to balance our energy while helping others and taking care of ourselves? This question is one that comes up for me when I think of family. First, I ask, “Who is my family?” I have a birth family, a co-created family with children and grandchildren, a blended family, extended family, spiritual family, and Storm Wisdom family to name a few. Of course there are adopted families as well as others that you might have.

Each one of my families represent choices I’ve made. In order for the relationships to flourish they must be nurtured. I find comfort and nourishment in different ways from each of them and I trust that I give comfort and nourishment to them as well. As you can see, these relationships that I value and cherish are not all blood relations. Yet, I can count on support from them when I ask and consider them family.

I have found that my blood relation family has presented challenges and opportunities for me to grow in ways that some of the other relationships haven’t through the years. My co-created family with a husband, children and grandchildren have taught me ways to experience love and joy that I never imagined. My other families have helped me to grow and expand my beliefs, perceptions, and skills that have helped me experience magic and explore the unknown. Family, to me as you can see, is beyond a blood connection. What does family mean to you and how do you maintain balance and harmony in your family relationships?

I’m still learning how to create healthy boundaries in my relationships. Some days are better than others. What I find is that there is still a part of me that doesn’t want to disappoint people. I’m aware and continue to reflect about this in order to be more balanced. American talk show host, actress, and author Oprah Winfrey has said that “Family should be the place where you can be your most complete self. Where you’re accepted and appreciated, seen and valued, even in moments of disagreement. It should be your soft place to fall, the place where you’re reminded that no matter what happens to you, in the face of your deepest challenges, you are loved.” I love Oprah’s view of family. I know that this view doesn’t represent what all families experience today; however, I feel it is one to value and incorporate as we choose to create and be a part of a family. To love and be loved. Love is the foundation and answer!

Another connection that I loved about the role soul plays I found in a quote similar to HRH the Dalai Lama’s by an unknown author who said that “Family is not just about blood relations, it is about the special connection we share with those who understand our soul.” Soul connections, soulmates or people who feel and understand our soul. How many of your relationships/families include these types of people and connections? How many are based on love?

In closing, I realize that families play an important role in our lives. I feel it is up to each one of us to create and determine who family is for us and what role each one plays. Right now my co-created family is front and center because my husband and I are helping out with our 2+ year old granddaughter while the birth of her baby sister just expanded our family.

I’m thinking and holding space for each of you this week. I trust that balance and harmony will come easily and that your relationships will be filled with love, ease and grace.

I’m available by phone or Zoom for private coaching and channeled information sessions by appointment. To schedule please go to victoriabarna.com. I’m also available for in-person sessions. Please call Storm Wisdom (602)334-1204 to schedule.

I Want it My Way

I Want it My Way

At the moment I am on a flight leaving several situations behind that I have been trying to control.  And I’m headed towards a couple of others that I have been trying to control too.  None of my attempts at control have been working.  In fact, they’ve been dismal failures.

The only real thing I have achieved in the midst of all this, is frustration.

But isn’t that always the case when we think we need to control anything?

The truth is I have been reminding myself (a lot!), that when I set down the need for other people, places, or things to look, feel, respond, or happen in a particular way.., they usually work out the way they should.  Things get resolved in ways that perhaps I could not imagine.

At least in hindsight, that is how it feels.

I wish I could say these are all new personal insights.  But in truth, I have traveled versions of this road before.  I have come to the same realizations before.

In the past I would take this to mean that I hadn’t “learned the lesson” and I was starting from scratch.  

These days, I just look at these repeats, as peeling off a new layer.  Of course since I am quite familiar with trying to control things, I must say to be experiencing so many situations or circumstances back-to-back like the past couple of weeks, with the number of layers I have removed, I should be naked by now! The grand reminder; Control is an illusion.

In fact, in everyone of these situations, letting them unfold naturally is actually quite elegant.

But boy.., do I want it my way!

But once again, the Universe has its own plan!  And as history repeats itself, I’m confident, it will be ideal for me too. 

Happiness!

Happiness!

“People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the United States

What does happiness mean to you? I’ve been reflecting on what it means to me this week after seeing an interview with Arthur C. Brooks who co-authored ‘Build the Life You Want’ with Oprah Winfrey. Their book addresses the art and science of getting happier! Can’t wait to read it! I’m curious how many of you focus on being happy right now. With so much distraction being available do you find time to feel and acknowledge when you’re happy? I find it’s very easy to focus on the ‘next’ thing without feeling and being in the moment when something is working for me. As I talked about what happiness means with my husband we both agreed that for us it represents satisfaction, contentment, and peace of mind. Rarely have I felt elation like a jumping up and down kind of happiness or joy; however, I’m willing to change and be more aware of how I feel and acknowledge when life is good for me.

As the energy of the Autumn Equinox begins late this Friday PDT, September 22nd, I wonder if the seeds of ideas, intentions, or plants will bring happiness to those of you that have consciously planted them. This is a time to harvest them. American motivational speaker and writer Denis Waitley has said that “Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.” Will you acknowledge the feelings of love and gratitude as your ideas and intentions materialize? Have you already reaped some of the benefits and have yet to acknowledge them? Hmm. This is a great time to do so. What if you expand how you view your harvest? For example you might ask, “How have my ideas and intentions affected others? Have they helped someone else besides me? How have they affected what I believe or my family and friends?” Remember, in our interconnectedness we can affect more than ourselves.

Are your ideas and intentions aligned with your soul? Indian lawyer and political ethicist Mahatma Gandhi has said that “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” If you aren’t in alignment then take a few deep breaths, close your eyes, and ask, “What do I need to change and am I willing to change it?” If you’re willing to make changes then take action! I believe that happiness is something we can choose. If we aren’t feeling pleasure, peace of mind, or contentment then we can choose to do something different. How do you feel about it?

Please enjoy your week and celebrations and/or rituals you might practice to celebrate the Equinox. Be aware of how you feel when life is good. Are you happy then? What does it feel like? Will you remember the feeling and be able to recall it? I’m sending you lots of love and holding space for you!

I’m available by phone or Zoom for private coaching and channeled information sessions by appointment. To schedule please go to victoriabarna.com. I’m also available for in-person sessions. Please call Storm Wisdom (602)334-1204 to schedule.