Empowered To Rise: Embracing Mystery

Good morning!! :)

I was never big into crystals. I briefly got into the fleeting fashion trend in the early '90s when I was a teen growing up on Long Island. I bought one at a booth in the Walt Whitman mall. It was purple and I wore it on a silver chain around my neck, but I didn't do anything ritualistic or think it gave me special or magical powers, like warding off evil. I was pretty well-adjusted and don't think I even believed in evil, actually, except maybe when my parents demanded I clean my room and put my clothes away (my stubborn refusal of which meant I got yelled at and wasn't allowed to go to the mall).

I was also never into the supernatural or paranormal. That sort of thing scared me and I hated movies like "Poltergeist", "The Exorcist" or even "friendly" fantasy films like "The Never Ending Story", which I had to be taken home from early because I was crying. A lot. Not so friendly to me, I tell ya, and I was terrified by that huge, flying beast of a creature that looked like a cross between a buffalo, tadpole and King Charles spaniel!

I definitely didn't believe in fate or destiny. I thought we were completely self made and created our own meaning and purpose. I didn't believe in help with a capital H, just the kind that comes from our (lowercase h) human, in-the-flesh friends. I didn't consider angels, especially any of the spiritual variety, my friends. I would never have said anything to the effect of, "we are spiritual beings having a human experience."

All that changed significantly over the last ten years. I tend to shy away from writing about my experiences and interpretations because a: I haven't done too much reading into the subject and don't know what kinds of "evidence" really exists to qualify some of my new beliefs and b: I used to think if you believe in a higher power or source of energy that not only runs through us but actually participates in shaping certain events and whatnot, then any rational, pragmatic, intelligent person would think I'm a flake or an idiot and lose respect for me.

Well, I can't be worrying about that anymore! :)

Here is a synchronicity that occurred yesterday afternoon which blew me away and I swear on my four deceased grandparents' graves (rip, xo) that not one detail is embellished.

Long story short (ha) -- I haven't taken a vacation in a REALLY long time. The last time I was on a plane was January 09 to come home from Seattle. I was visiting my ex boyfriend. I had taken another trip to Seattle around Thanksgiving in 09 to see him and before that, I think I went to LA in July of 08. I don't travel much and it is entirely financial and one of my BIGGEST gripes and sources of frustration.

Yesterday, I was lamenting with one of my closest friends that I desperately want to take a vacation. We haven't talked about that in a while. I was just feeeeeling it and she told me that it's not a luxury but a necessity. That I've got to take one for my overall well-being. OK. I texted her back this weird thing that just kind of came out of me, I told her, "It is coming" and I felt it and had no reason to believe this because, well, I haven't started saving for one.

About an hour later, I get a call from my uncle's partner inviting me to see a show at Caroline's with him that night for free. It was my second free show offer of the day (the other one to see the new Green Day musical). I chose to deny both because of prior commitments. Well, I was laughing bc that doesn't happen very often either and it happened twice in a few hours! But, I went back to talking to my uncle's partner about the cruise they went on recently that left from Miami. They've been back about a week. He said the cruise was a bit of a big, hot mess that felt like Penn Station (not sure why, we were texting, but I'll ask him to clarify). I still felt it could be nice. :)

Then, I held the thought of myself on a cruise and just imagined how sweet and good it would feel to relax and do nothing but read, work out, write and enjoy the sunshine.

I left my office and went downtown on the 6 to hit up Erin's intenSati class at 19th St (AMAZING CLASS!). Within two minutes of stepping off the train, I get a phone call from a man with the company "Cruise and Land Promotions". I've never heard of this company or received a call from them before, but the reason he was calling was to offer me a free Carnival Cruise leaving from either Miami (to the Bahamas) or LA (to Mexico) for me and a guest at no cost. I would just need to cover my airfare and the $93 in taxes. NOW, this could very well be a scam and I took all the info to later look them up on line, check the Better Biz Bureau on Monday, etc., etc. But, maybe it's legit. I did fill out a form at a counter to win a cruise a few months ago and that's how they got my number.

I don't know and I will find out and may take a cruise, bring it!!! Either way, pretty interesting timing, right? I share it with you this morning not because I am 100% certain there are little angel buggers listening to my heart's desires and giving me signs and cues in the direction of their fulfillment. Or, that this necessarily means I should call Dionne Warwick and ask her to add me to her network of psychic friends. HOWEVER, I do believe that is more than coincidence. I believe I intuited something and don't know how but I did. Ultimately, I think there is something to be learned in accepting mystery and the unexplainable as part of life. I can't explain that coincidence but I believe the timing of it speaks to more than just chance.

When I reflect on how I arrived at exactly this moment, I feel in my heart that things happen for a reason and we are, at times, if not all the time (I think depending on our openness), being guided by something powerful and greater than ourselves.

So, I ask you, can you embrace mystery? Can you welcome a little of the unknown and unexplainable into your life? Do you connect to any of what I'm saying and if not, what are your beliefs about whether we are connected by something intangible and spiritual?

Also, please let me know whether you've heard of this promotions company and if they LEGIT? I'd really like to blog on a boat in the middle of the ocean, YES! :)

When you open yourself up to believing that what you desire is on the way, I believe that the Universe responds in kind. I really do! If not this opportunity, I at least feel affirmed to stay with my intention and desire for a great, beautiful vacation I can afford really soon!!!!!

Closing thought: I have desires and beautiful dreams I want to realize today! I am open to their fulfillment in mysterious and amazing ways!

With xo and a lot of gratitude,

Lindsay