- Have you ever had a cardinal cross your path when you are thinking of a deceased loved one?
- Or heard a song on the radio when you are wrestling with a question and the song seems to have the answer?
- What about when somebody recommends a book to you and it’s the third time you have heard it suggested. You finally read the book and realize it’s offering exactly the wisdom that you need right now?!
Some people call those experiences synchronicity, God winks, intuitive hits or a confirmation from the Universe. I think of it as living in the flow.
The personal theme that I chose for myself this year is “Receiving Abundance.” By that, I don’t just mean financial abundance, although I welcome that wholeheartedly! But an abundance of love, friendship, learning, travel, connection, beauty, opportunity and more.
And, given the state of the world right now, with so much division, anxiety and fear, kindness is also something I strive to both give and receive.
A few days ago, I had a session with one of my favorite local Asheville energy healers, Alice Berg. An acupuncturist by degree, she has multiple healing modalities at her disposal, is incredibly intuitive and wise beyond her years. I always leave her office feeling renewed, refreshed, inspired, and physically healthier. (I highly recommend you go see her if you live in the area!)
On that day, unexpectedly the topic of worthiness showed up in my energy field as an issue ready for another layer of healing. Mind you, I’ve already done A LOT of intentional healing work around this issue.
As an adopted person, I have struggled with safety and worthiness my whole life. As a first-generation college student in my adoptive lineage, I have had to overcome limiting beliefs about what’s possible. As a woman descended biologically from farming families that struggled to make ends meet over multiple generations, it’s programmed into my cells to believe that grueling hard work is the only pathway forward.
Alice and I had a powerful exchange about this feeling of safety and security during my session and I left her office feeling differently than when I walked in. More trusting, more in the flow of what is possible in this next chapter of my life as I have some big changes that are coming my way. (I’ll share more about that in the future!)
I headed to Trader Joe’s to pick up a “Welcome-to-the-mountains!” gift card for a friend who is moving to Asheville from Houston. As I was walking from my car into the store, I noticed a penny on the ground. I am always one to pick up change on the ground because I feel like it’s a little nod from the Universe of the abundance available to all of us.
Before I reached the penny, another woman walking toward me wearing royal blue saw it, too, and she bent down to pick it up. I was about to exclaim “Lucky You!” to her with a big smile on my face, and instead, she reached out her hand to me and gave me the penny. Grinning broadly, she said, “This is for you!”
I was so surprised and a bit confused because no one had ever done that before. I responded “No, you should keep it!” And she flashed me a beautiful smile and said “Oh no! I was taught that when you find money on the ground, you always give it to someone else! It’s good luck!”
Delighted to receive this gift, I called “Thank you so much!” as she went on her way.
I felt like the Universe was sending me a clear sign of my value on the heels of my appointment with Alice. (Literally this occurred just five minutes after I had left her office.) I am worthy. I am valued. Abundance is all around. And more specifically, abundance is mine if I open to receive.
But also, it was a reminder of the importance of random acts of kindness. Helping strangers. Giving selflessly. Doing something nice for someone else just because.
In today’s world, we need these simple acts more than ever.
We need connection.
We need community.
We need celebrations.
We need rituals.
(As I wrote about in my 2-time award winning book, Sacred Celebrations).
This is clearly a ritual that this woman practices on a regular basis that brings her joy. Which then brought me immense joy. I came home and put the penny on my abundance altar! 😊
I think I may adopt this simple practice as my new ritual going forward.
How about you?