“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.