October 31, 2023
We have within us a power that is greater than anything we shall ever contact in the outer, a power that can overcome every obstacle in our life and set us safe, satisfied and at peace, healed and prosperous, in a new light and a new life.
~ Rev. Dr. Ernest Holmes
One of the things I love about living where I do is that Lake Michigan is only about a 20-minute walk from my house. Unless it’s pouring rain, I take that walk almost every day. If you’re wondering if I walk when it’s snowing, the answer is yes. As I write this, the first hint of winter is falling – which means the deliciously beautiful autumn we had is coming to an end. And, yes, I’ll probably go outside to delight in it after I post this.
Due to the dynamic weather patterns the Great Lakes are known to produce, the sunrises, sunsets and storms here are almost always spectacular, especially this time of year. If you saw my last blog post, you know I’m kind of a geek about weather (both atmospheric and celestial) and light (literal and metaphorical).
I’ve learned to trust the natural light around me throughout the day to tell me when changes – even the most subtle – are on their way. Recently, the golden late afternoon sun pouring through my windows caught my attention and the grey clouds to the west changed to a dark purple wall in a matter of minutes. I dropped what I was doing (checking the weather radar first, of course…) and headed to the beach see what the wind, water and sky were up to. This is what greeted me:
When I’m out shooting pictures of an incoming storm, I’ve learned to trust how the light changes so I know exactly when to head for shelter before the heaviest rains begin to fall or the winds turn the beach into a giant sandblaster – or both. When shooting a sunset, I’ve also learned that the most mind-blowing colors often happen after the sun dips below the horizon. I believe trusting the Light (aka Source, Infinite Intelligence, The Presence, God, etc.) is something humankind is always guided to do, but for me, that invitation has gotten exponentially more pressing lately. Of course, we can RSVP with “regrets,” (and we'll most likely have them...), especially if we believe that the faint flicker at the end of a seemingly endless, dark tunnel is that of an oncoming metaphorical train we feel powerless to stop. We can scream defiantly into the wind that it’s “their” fault; it’s the outer conditions of our lives, the external storms of war, poverty, greed, sexism, racism, environmental destruction etc., that we think must change in order for us to feel safe, or loved, or worthy. The thing is, that runaway train is most always of our own, fear-based and often collective making. “Well, shit, Kit. Where’s the feel-good, woo-woo stuff in that?!” I hear you. And… ...until we're willing to look at and heal the storms within by listening to and learning to trust our inherent and always-accurate inner light, we won't "fix" anything outside of us. It's so encouraging to see more and more people willing to shine more light into their shadowy inner places every day, knowing that it isnt' always easy to do. I commend and honor everyone who is doing their "work" and everyone willing to give it a go. That good old "Golden Rule" stuff still holds true, and it has to begin with how we treat and talk to ourselves. If no one has told you yet today, you are a light in this world. May you know the peace and joy of discovering and/or remembering that. As we head deeper into this period (in the Northern Hemisphere) of shorter daylight hours, I invite you to notice the light - not on your TV or smart device screen, but in nature, in yourselves and in each other. Take a walk, look into a beloved's eyes, or just look out the window and hold this sacred kind of seeing with all the gentleness and trust of a falling leaf. I love you all dearly, Kit
©2023, Kit Holmes Inc.