Soul Knowledge

While I was recently home visiting, a dear friend and I took a walk in Pamperin Park. As we strolled along, going deeper and deeper into the woods, we came upon a beautiful patch of Lily of the Valley which covered the forest floor. Delicate and fragrant, they are one of my favorite flowers! How strange, I thought, to find them deep in the forest; I never knew they grew in the wild. In fact, I had been kind of pining the realization that the people who purchased our home built a large workshop right over the top of my beautiful Lilies!

The logical part of my mind looks upon the discovery of the Lilies as just coincidence. But a higher, wiser part of my being sees them as a gift. "Coincidences" are a very spiritual occurrence. They bring phenomena together that aren't statistically likely to occur.

Once we begin to understand this concept we can explore other possibilities that are beyond the realm of our five senses. Psychology, for example, has sought to heal what ails us by studying our thoughts and feelings and behaviors ~ in other words, our perceptions according to our five senses. However, did you know that "psychology" means soul knowledge?

Perhaps we are finally evolving to the point where we realize that when we (yes you and I) are in pain ~ feeling hurt, anger, rejection, guilt, remorse ~ it is our spirit that is hurting, sometimes even to the point of being shattered. Our mission then is to understand and heal our spirit.

Just like the lilies in the forest were brought to my attention for a purpose, so too does every thing in life come to us for a purpose... that is to heal our souls. You see, when Em and I were walking in the forest, we were talking about healing from childhood abuse. What more meaningful sign of purity and cleansing of the soul could there be than those Lilies?

So my dear friends, realize that all around you many experiences exist that aid in the healing of your soul, bringing you to enlightenment. While some come in a beautiful form, others may be something we don't really welcome.

Marie's transforming experience began with a phone call: her sister in California was in a coma - the result of a pedestrian accident. I have great admiration for Marie. She could have turned her back on her sister. After all, her sister had turned her back on the entire family, living out West and losing the battle with the demons of alcoholism. However, Marie made it her mission to assist her sister whose mind, body and soul were shattered as she lay alone and destitute in a coma.

"And the rest of the story" isn't so much the healing experience of the sister, but what it brought Marie. Her transformation is clearly visible. She has an exiting new career that came about as a result of her choice to reach out to a destitute soul. I could hardly believe the difference in her energy; Marie sparkles with life! And as she said, she feels totally alive for the first time in her entire 40+ years!

Who could of known that such an unwelcome phone call would result in such a miraculous, life-transforming experience? The Universal Energy of Love brings us exactly what we need. We just don't always recognize it for the gift that it is. But once we do, we are transformed immeasurably, moving easily beyond the details of the experience.

So if you are in the middle of an experience that is less than desirable, ask God and your Higher Self for understanding. It makes it so much easier than muddling around in pain, taking it personally. Who knows what miracle might be in store for you?

Until next time,
Blessings and love to you and those you love~
Dr. DyAnn

A special thank you to all the people of the Green Bay area who shared your stories, your energy and your soul nourishing love on my recent visit !

A Lion's Tale

Whether as a child being read to at bedtime, or an adult caught up in a popular novel, stories are entertaining. Not only that, we can learn so much from a story. Because of the way in which our brain takes in information, a story often times will convey a message in a much more powerful manner than pages and pages of information might do. It is our subconscious mind which transforms the story; it connects it to our own memory all the way back to when our soul first came into existence, as well as to our dreams, imagination and the power of symbolism. This is where "art" and "science" truly connect.

That being said, today I want to share a story with you. I came upon it by way of a favorite author of mine, Emory Michael in his book The Alchemy of Sacred Living.

The story takes place in ancient Egypt two thousand years ago, with our hero Androcles. Being a slave, Androcles wants his freedom above all else. "Late one starry night he makes a daring getaway, hiding out in fields, swamps and forests as he travels toward unknown western lands. Closely followed by bounty hunters, he takes refuge in a dismal cave. To his horror, he finds out that the cave is the dwelling of a ferocious lion, who confronts Androcles in the fading evening light. Instead of devouring Androcles, the lion holds out its massive paw, in which is embedded a painful thorn. Trembling with fear, Androcles removes the thorn and the beast gratefully licks the fortunate youth in the friendliest lion fashion.

The lion and the boy spend several weeks together before the soldiers stumble upon Androcles in a field. They take him back to Egypt where he is eventually returned to his master, Casca. As punishment, Casca sells Androcles to Roman slave traders and after months of hardship he is taken to Rome. His fate is sealed when he is selected to be fodder for lions as a spectacle in the Coliseum. On the fateful day, guards lead Androcles into the arena and leave him to die in front of the bloodthirsty crowd. A gate is flung open and a lion rushes toward Androcles. To the crowd's astonishment , the beast stops dead in its tracks, then rolls and plays at Androcles' feet. The trembling youth recognizes the very lion from whose paw he had removed the painful thorn. The Romans are moved by the spectacle and Androcles is given his freedom. He receives the lion as a gift from the emperor himself, and the lion and the lad live out their days as honored residents of Rome. "



Keeping in mind that our subconscious learns from stories and metaphors, you can allow your own mind to take from the story just what you might need at this time in your life. Add to this the uncanny way in which we often receive just the right "message" right when we need it in our own life story. Here are a few suggestions.

The hero desires freedom above all else. He risks everything for his heart's desire. What is it that you desire in your life? Do you need to recommit to it? Are you dedicated enough and making the sacrifices that may be necessary? Remember that even one small daily sacrifice keeps you on the road to commitment for your own dreams coming true.

The kindness of our story's hero is repaid by the lion. We could all use a little more kindness in our life right? Remember though that it all started with the boy being kind to the lion - as opposed to running in the other direction!

The lion was hurting and in pain.... what did he do? He asked for help!

I especially enjoy the lesson in this tale whereby there is a cumulative effect of goodness as it rippled outward. In the same way that a pebble tossed into a pond causes the water to ripple outward in ever widening circles, so too does the energy of our individual acts ripple outward. Remember that the next time someone at work or home gives you a hard time and you are tempted to "pass it along."

I think a more subtle message in this tale has to do with the companionship that is shared by the boy and the lion. As human beings we tend to stay within the "safety" of those circumstances and people that are familiar to us. We quite accidentally put up walls that way; but who is to say whether we are walling others out, our our own self in?

Until next time ~
May you enjoy creating and living the story of your own life,
Dr. DyAnn