OMG! I can’t believe how intense the last two weeks of July were! I couldn’t even write about it last week because of being in the grips of fear and truthfully.., a bit of shock! Storm Wisdom had it’s worst two weeks of sales EVER!
When I say ever… I mean even compared to the first two weeks we were open and hardly anyone even knew we existed. We were busier then! It was scary.
Of course when a cycle begins, you are not necessarily aware that something new has started. So one day where you have less than $20 in sales, you can shrug it off and assume it is some weird anomaly. After a week of questionable activity.., “shrugging it off” is a lot harder (at least for me!)
You begin to question everything. As you know, you can’t run a brick and mortar business with no sales. No sales means no payroll, no rent, no utilities, etc… You get the picture!
AND… Something similar was happening at home! It felt like our livelihood was being threatened! Yuck… I don’t even like thinking about it. And amongst all this, there was a definite pattern of bad communications. Not what was being communicated during this time, but old conversations, agreements or understandings were falling apart. What seemed clear six months ago was now a muddled mess. Once again for both Fito and me. It was a dark time.
And of course, if you consider yourself a spiritual magician and student of life, then you have to look at these blocks, challenges, ebbs or whatever, to determine what the lesson is. What wants to be revealed? What wants to be released? What has shifted? What new wants to emerge?
First and foremost, this brought up old behaviors, coping mechanisms, and responses that felt like they were long gone. Fear, anxiety and worry among them. Not that I don’t experience these anymore, it is just that I don’t bask or soak in them – usually. That is an old pattern that I thought I had released. I withdraw and become defensive and begin to think about myself in a very selfish way. How do I protect or take care of ‘me’? When these patterns begin to emerge I can also become fatalistic. Which means I seem to spend more time only seeing the worst outcomes.
All of this was happening. And yet, it was also obvious that it was not as constant or intense as it has been in the past. I would have a knee-jerk reaction and then catch myself. I would begin to observe my old behavior and then look for a new strategy to counter-balance it. Rather than worrying obsessively, I would choose to let it go. Maybe focus on deep-breathing and bringing my attention back to my physical body, instead of playing mental gymnastics. Throughout these past few weeks I have been aware of old energies… and trying to meet them with new ones. Sometimes several times an hour! Sometimes it felt futile. However, there were many times that I experienced this with great success.
And isn’t this how we know we are on the right path? We learn so much about ourselves when what we think we know or believe is challenged. If we think we have mastered the lesson and the subject is now firmly embedded in our DNA, then the Universe gives us a chance to know and embrace this. The more firm we are in our new understanding, the greater the opportunity to claim or revise it.
If I have learned anything from writing this weekly newsletter, I know that it is common that while I am going through something like this, there are others who are dealing with the same thing. It makes sense when you think of it from the perspective of Nature, with her seasons, cycles and and natural ebb and flow. Many of us are in the same rhythm. This is why I have chosen to write about this, when there is a big part of me, that would like to forget the last couple of weeks of July!!
You see, if you have been going through the ringer too; it is important to acknowledge how you have grown and changed from the last time you experienced something similar. Like me, there may have been many opportunities to revisit and respond in old ways. However, when we are able to shorten the length of time we are mired in ego, or release the grip of an unhealthy emotion, or remember to bring ourselves back to center, or see the other side of the coin; this is success!
The goal is NEVER to eliminate these emotions from our life experience. Our thoughts and emotions are part of being human. Yet the more comfortable we become in moving with, releasing or integrating constricting emotions; the more our life shifts toward what we are intending. And isn’t this what we really want anyway?
With that said… Thank God it’s August!
With Light, Love, and Laughter
Charles
Charles….I’m sitting here with a cup of tea having a restless night, and I just read your weekly post. I absolutely appreciate your fearless expression of what went on with the store and home….Your readers were so able to follow your thought patterns as you moved to an enlivened sense of awareness and enthusiasm. Thanks for your honesty and inspiration.
Sandy Trudel
Thank you Sandy. I always wonder when a situation feels so personal and challenging, whether it is really a good thing to put it out into the Universe in a public way. I realize by writing, I find my own way through my process and glean the nuggets of learning and truth. And then there is the ‘send’ button (yes/no). Your words and insight make this choice feel that much more clear.., and feel right. They mean a lot!
Misery loves company. You are not alone in “bad” business economy now. I hear it all over Scottsdale too. Personally, I’m taking this time to regroup and get ready for the upcoming good times in sales. Better days are ahead for all……Happy days will be here again soon.
I try to stay out of consensus reality… If I had followed the advise of the general population I would have never opened ANY business in 2009, but especially one that provides what many consider non-essential products and services…(although I believe spiritual exploration IS essential!). With that said… We are all operating within the same energetic field and sometimes.., this means how circumstances manifest in similar ways. So now I am riding your coat-tails to better and happy days! Thanks for always being supportive!
How recognizable, Charles! “If I have learned anything from writing this weekly newsletter, I know that it is common that while I am going through something like this, there are others who are dealing with the same thing.” Yep! And then, not to have a BUT…. my landlord, my bank, my bills, you name it! Keep our focus and keep going!!!
You’re so right Amayra… There are so many levels to these situations. Head-down, one step and then another, persistence… It is part of the journey. Glad we are sharing it!
Thank you for your continued honesty and openness about your process. We are creating the New Paradigm and this is all part of the transition. It takes courage, openness and willingness to go thru the process rather than avoid.
Thank you for inspiring others and being an open reflection !!! In loving light,Cheryl
Thank you Cheryl… I can’t tell you how much your words of encouragement mean to me. I feel very seen and acknowledged by your words. What a gift!
Dear Charles, I loved reading your newsletter as usual. What a gift for writing. I have an interesting idea for you as to another way to interpret the slow couple of weeks; no, not astrology or insinuating you have blocks. It’s nothing to do with lack or going into the past with blame, fault, guilt. It’s a theory I have worked with many clients who are building successful businesses and is one of the components of manifestation, etc., that is rarely discussed. Feedback from the universe can happen for many reasons; let me mention just three and tell you which powerful and positive one I think you might be experiencing. (1) Many times universal feedback tells us to refine one path and go another; for example, let’s say we are a seamstress making beautiful shirts and we decide we like yellow, so we work into the nights wishing we had an entourage of elves to help and the first question most people ask us is, “do you have it in blue?.” So clearly, that feedback says we are on the right track with 75% of our vision and the people who we intend to serve are telling us it would be an even better match if we had another color available. What a gift! (2) In short, a second type of feedback tells us we are on the wrong path altogether (I don’t believe that’s your message); and (3) A third type of feedback tells us we are on the right track onto something HUGE and important, and we should persist even more confidently; the obstacle we may have encountered is in the collective subconscious belief system of those we serve because we may have arrived at a juncture where a shift is about to take place because your persistence into breaking or reshaping the belief system will reach a critical mass and voila, a flood of sales and enthusiasm for your product or service will again emerge. The feedback MIGHT even be telling you, in this example, to EXPAND your business, not even think about retrenchment. You and the customers are resting in preparation for this shift. Your job at this point is to do the groundwork for this new groundswell of customers. You might need to rethink exactly how you are delivering your product. What is the major product or service the universe most demands from you? It could be the same or different than your current products of services. For example, McDonalds may have been the premier provider of fast food; yet, if they didn’t respond to customer demand for chicken, they might have passed up the window of opportunity to triple their business in the past 10 years, which they did. Anyway, call me if I can help in any way. Maybe I can talk to you and some other ideas might stimulate a new way to approach your current situation. Thanks, Darla Desautel 218-766-5523, Silva Instructor
Thank you Darla for taking the time to share your thoughts and perspective. I really appreciate it. Even listing multiple options to consider is a great reminder that no matter what we are dealing with, feeling or thinking… There are always other perspectives!
I appreciate the kind words of support!
CONGRATS!!! For the Natural Awakenings choice award of BEST SPIRITUAL CENTER!!!
Now that should make the two weeks you spoke of a little “lighter”. You’re certainly on the right path.
Hey thanks Donna… I had not heard that about the ‘Natural Choice Award’. How fun AND you’re right… It does make it a little lighter! 🙂
this is the first time I have read your newsletter. You do have a gift for writing, Charles, that keeps the reader “wanting to read more”, especially with your honest sharing. You are not alone in what is happening to you. I woke up this am and decided to wipe he slate clean of everything I thought I “should” do today and instead just see what would manifest. Reading your letter was one thing. My daughter just happened to stop by because she took the day off to cope with her situation. She needed to cry and I was here for her, and lend some ideas to help her. I got out a map and decided it might be time to go visit some hot springs and give myself a gift. The idea of a the water flowing was a reminder of the ebb and flow of life and when one door closes sometimes more than one opens! Sometimes it takes a strong wind to blow open the door though, but it will open if we just let the winds of change have their way. I will have to visit your place soon and see if we can do anything with my http://www.21daystopeace.com program. thank you again for your honest connection. Millie Bokern
Wow Millie.., thanks for taking the time to write and connect, especially since this is the first time you’ve read the newsletter/blog. It means a lot. It sounds like by following your heart and not the dreaded ‘should(s)’… You were right where you needed to be for yourself and your daughter. Glad to be connected and I look forward to your visit!
Thanks for your honesty and vulnerability, it takes courage to be open to (and admit to) the dark and fearful experiences, but without doing so, savoring the “divine light moments” is not possible. Thank you for being willing to be fully present and write eloquently about it.
Thanks Vikki. I remind myself regularly that having access to our full range of emotions is one of the ways that we know we are on the right path. When the emotions that present themselves are the heavy, dense and not so pretty ones, it is good to acknowledge them and allow them to move through. Back to a range that feels inviting and inspiring. After a couple of weeks of intense emotional upheaval… I am more inspired than ever! Inspired to minimize the amount of time I hangout with them! Thanks for the support and connection!