Daily Bliss Archives · Page 3 of 257

Daily Bliss – July 21

Daily Bliss

On the shores of new existence

She rises to meet the waves

That with her ever-widening wisdom

And courage

Will carry her to her next rising tide

©Ashley Castle Barnes

Waking up today, I felt a certain sense of sadness and a little bit of fear.

The book pre-launch event happened yesterday. The rush is over. The “now what?” question lingers.

It’s not a literal question; there are plenty of tasks to be done next.

It’s an energetic question.

How do I stay in the energy created by the event once I get into the next to-do?

How do I ride the waves created into the next big moment?

How do manage the inevitable lows, not giving up hope and not burning out trying to stay afloat?

Maybe I should read my own book!

Even as I write this, I know it points to the high-and-low, push-and-pull energy that is the magic and mystery of liminal space.

We are not guaranteed a smooth ride.

But if we harness the energy created by stepping off the shore into the unknown, we can use it as anchor when we feel unmoored and tossed about.

Until the next shore comes into sight.

How are you harnessing the energy of liminal space today?

Daily Bliss – July 20

Daily Bliss

The clock ticks

Her heart plays tricks

On her mind, heaving with desire

To be both pensive

And on fire

Like colorful confetti drifting down

Her heart-mind all around

©Ashley Castle Barnes

Today feels like a party. And it feels like a meditation.

It’s both at once.

The power of both-and over either-or cannot be overstated.

Almost nothing is strictly one thing or other, especially when it comes to people.

We are complex and quirky and sometimes mysterious, whether we aim to be or not.

And when we accept and embrace this about us – wow!

What an impact we can have!

To be able to sit in the messy middle place and feel all the feelings at once.

Or to feel any feelings, since for some of us feelings are not a familiar or comfortable place.

To be able to hold our own feelings, opinions, and beliefs, and also to hold space for others.

To be able to flex and grow when we need to – and to recognize when that moment is presented to us.

To be able to be both in our hearts and minds at the same time, with neither ruling but rather working together in tandem.

That is the where the magic is.

Where are you finding the magic of the messy middle today?

Daily Bliss – July 19

Daily Bliss

She sinks into her skin

Giddy with excitement

And anticipation

Tingling with each touch

As her future comes into view

A galaxy of opportunity

Within her reach

©Ashley Castle Barnes

There are times in our growth when we need to wonder and work, prepare and plan.

There are times when we can’t see the forest for the trees and nothing seems like it will ever come together in a way that makes sense.

And then there are times when it all seems to integrate and we can feel the connection of each little thing that has brought us to this place.

The future is in sight where just days or even hours before it was cloudy.

Opportunity seems to abound.

These times are fleeting. Not because they actually don’t exist but because we spend so much time in teh details that we often miss these expansive moments of clarity and calm.

In my new monthly Be the Light Mini-Retreat yesterday, we sent out healing and intentions for the highest good of beings outside our circle.

During my meditation, I was reminded that we have the responsibility to stay grounded in our humanity here on earth because that’s where the work happens.

And we also have the opportunity at any time to rise above everything and see from a bird’s eye view.

It’s not either-or, it’s both-and.

Rising above so we can see what’s needed and experience the integration of our work so far.

And settling back down into the realness of the world where we have the most impact.

How are you rising and grounding today?

Daily Bliss – July 18

Daily Bliss

And what if she allows herself

To float

To be carried by the current

And washed ashore

What if she floats

While the seeds of her creations

Bloom and flourish

While she nourishes

Her creative soul

©Ashley Castle Barnes

One thing I often have to be reminded of is that once I create and put my creation into action, there is a period of non-creating.

To allow time for nourishment of the creation and myself before moving on to the next thing.

Except my particular brain doesn’t much enjoy that. I want to be creating all the time.

What’s new? What’s next? are the constant questions.

And I could keep powering through of course. This is what I’ve done many times before.

Publish a book, have a party, forget said book exists. Start a new program, run it once, move on to create the next program.

It’s not a lack of consistency or discipline. It’s the satisfaction and motivation I get from creating something new.

The power, I’m finding, is in following my natural instincts instead of trying to be someone I’m not.

Even if that means I have to do things in an unconventional way.

I’m not going to magically change what motivates me.

But I can learn to take time to float and allow so I’m not just chasing the next new thing, but instead allowing that time to inform what’s next.

This awareness, it’s part of the liminal space that’s created when we embark on something new and dare to put it out in the world.

The waters get tumultuous and then we must float right into the next right thing.

What are you floating into today?

Daily Bliss – July 14

Daily Bliss

All is right with the world

As she writes her soul

Into being

Her destiny,

Her next steps,

Laid out before her

In black and white,

Her next life begins

With every conscious thought, action, and creation, we create our future.

Little by little, step by step.

Each one making clearer the path ahead and giving meaning to the path behind.

For me, it’s almost always writing that brings the clarity.

When I can open myself to inspiration and allow each word to pour through organically, it’s amazing what comes through.

For you, it might be something else.

Some other form of art, music, body work, speaking, teaching, coaching…whatever is your creative calling.

Whatever makes you come alive.

Because we need more leaders who have come alive to themselves.

That’s how we create a better world.

One step at a time.

What are you creating today?

Daily Bliss – July 13

Daily Bliss

Her gifts,

Forming and transforming

Into magic before her eyes

Seeing clearly for the first time

In a lifetime

A lifeline to her past, present,

And the future that holds the key

To her freedom

For both you and me

I write a poem almost every day but there’s something about when it comes together in a book that’s a different kind of magic.

There’s a special alchemy to multiple, seemingly disparate, writings coming together to make something new.

And this is books even feels different than the first two. Very different.

Maybe it’s finally a comfort level with it after all these years.

Maybe it’s that my newer writings resonate so much more with me personally, and likely with others.

I suspect it’s something more though.

This time we’re living in right now, calls for different ways of approaching old issues.

It calls for people of all stripes to step into their aliveness in ways they never have before.

To be daring and bold, compassionate and kind.

Especially to themselves.

That’s what came up for me when I was putting the book together.

Of course, what I love about poetry is that it’s unique to each reader.

What stands out to me might be different for someone else.

And then we all get what we need in the moment.

Magic.

What magic are you conjuring up in your life today?