The corporate candy and confectionary companies have disconnected us to the true meaning of our holidays. Today, sweeties around America spend boat loads of cash on Hallmark cards and fancy dinners without ever questioning where Valentine's Day actually comes from.
If you've followed me for sometime, you know I see repetitive numbers. For years, the number 214 has been a part of my daily existence. Many moons ago, a spiritual person told me that part of my mission in life is to understand various forms of love, and that I would help people in this life in love. I remember crying in my counselor's office during the dark times of my divorce telling her, "I feel like God put me through this to understand the pain and anguish of the heart and that I needed to experience divorce to understand the power of love." So today, on 2/14, I encourage everyone to "root" to the real reasons on why Valentine's Day exists. Prayer to St. Valentine:
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I had fear. Fear is real. Fear is a legit feeling one has toward something. At points on the camino, I had meltdowns as I was the only soul on the trail. At times I felt alone. This triggered my wound on the fear of being alone. At times I have no fear of being on my own. I have my own peace, but I have found that going through life with another human being is one of the most precious gifts in life.
Love will always be the most powerful force on the planet.
My camino was a cathartic purge, a trail that led me to a new chapter.
The Camino de Santiago was a lifesaver. It initiated a new chapter in my book of life. A rebirth. A coming out as Christian. I found a new love with life, myself, the planet, Christ and God.
Even if it doesn't work out like I'd hope, my soul has been called to further the spread the light from a new lens. Before the camino, I had dreams of writing a book about my experience. I've had inklings about writing another book over the last year. But this time, the title would be, "Finding Home."
I don't know how many times I cried in 2018, definitely over one hundred. But, not all tears are tears of sadness. Some tears were tears of happiness. Other tears were emotional due to being touched by God.
Although most of my Jesus Year was rough, I am thankful for everything I learned because it's led me to a better place. Like a graduation, my "diploma" from divorce has led me to be wise like a serpent, and innocent like a dove. We'll see what God and life has in store for me. Que Sera Sera.
Happy Jesus Year to you! Check out my Camino de Santiago Portuguese Way videos on Youtube!
Let's Connect!
The beautification of our soul is important, not only for our own wellbeing, but the light that shines within us guides other people on their path in life. Like the ripple effect of the ocean, pure souls or people who vibrate with so much energy are hard people to forget.
People will never forget that act of kindness, that great moment of love or the one who "saved" us.
Be beautiful inside, for your soul's sake. And be beautiful to others. Beauty is inspirational. The more beauty and light that shines from within, it will overpower the shadow that lies within you and the dark forces that rule this planet. Read more thoughts at: Why You Should Treat Your Body as a Temple.
As always, inspired by the sun,
Elizabeth
Join Mind Body Soul Food Every Sunday for some inspiration, or Sunspiration, where we analyze quotes and sweet nothings in 150 words or less. Get inspired everyday with our Instagram account, sunspiration_everyday with inspirational quotes, motivational messages & sweet nothings.
We live in a fallen world, and thanks to the rise in consumerism we've lost our way. Corporate think tanks, the media and social media in general projects this image, which makes us aspire to live a perfect life and/or has brought out the ugliness in use, which makes us aspire to nothing.
Many people have lost their way. But, many people are finding their way back to spirituality and God. Though we can argue about various forms of spirituality, just know that many people on their path to God have good intentions.
Life on planet earth should be fun. I agree with enjoying life, but not in a vain way. I do not promote promiscuity, infidelity, greed or vanity etc.
Many spiritual people learn their lessons, and somewhere along the way fall off the path and get wrapped up in the earth plane. They get lost in job titles, money, possessions and consumerism in general.
Titus 1:16
They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
There are certain necessities today such as a cell phone, computer and wifi. But our lives in America are swarming with so much crap, some who have boxes from floor to ceiling with goods.
Some people are so empty and lonely inside that they bury themselves in work or hide behind their possessions to fulfill a void.
The art and balance of life on planet earth is to respect and appreciate what you have, or what you get without losing sight of God. It's as if your feet are grounded, but your eyes continuously look upwards.
Today we are so disconnected from where our food comes from and thanks to globalism, almost every type of food is available year round rather than seasonally. And with the overuse of technology, we are further disconnected from ourselves, the truth and God.
The balance between the spiritual and the material world is gratitude. Nothing, and no one person, should be taken for granted because anything in this world is replaceable.
I believe hyperawareness and detachment are key. It's appreciating or having childlike fun with materialism, but not being attached like Ebenezer Scrooge. Whatever you accumulate can be gone or taken from you in an instant.
That beautiful, brand new car can be totaled. That new iPhone can be stolen. That amazing new house can be burnt down. Sometimes life and God teaches us the hardest lessons when we become cocky and lost. Darkness blinds us with fun and excitement and once the light shines through it teaches us the hardest of lessons.
Maya is illusion. And many people live in illusion with materialism. Common sense and logic / rational thinking is necessary to live within or under your means. The lust many people have for wealth is never ending.
Some hippie-vagabond souls live frugally because they spend their "wealth" on experience rather than material goods. Where many people fall or trip is that they are so focused on obtaining material goods whether to obtain it, or to fulfill them. As a lover of antiques, people care for these items, not only because they're old, but because they were made with quality. Quality items last and can be handed down to our future generation. On the other hand, this new age IKEA culture is disposable. Our consumption and turn over of these items are high.
The world of spiritual manifestation for abundance, I feel, messes people up more because they sit, meditate, focus on what they want and fail. The spiritual world is our spirit. The material world is our logic.
Certain common sense things are necessary to balance both worlds. We can't live a life of ignorance, racking up credit card debt and gluttony and putting our entire will in God's hands.
Hard work is necessary to achieve the impossible. This world and innovation has been built up on hard working minds, heads and hands.
In my life experience, the more I focused on God and cared less about materialism, the more abundant I became. Now my life is more abundant with experience, but each lesson has been a graduation of sorts. The more I learned and became aware of the lesson, the more life gave me.
That I believe is the "secret" to manifestation, abundance and wealth. Timing and one's soul maturity is important. Keep looking inward, and don't forget to say thanks to people as well as God.
Yesterday I had an interesting experience. I went to teach my LGBT senior yoga class at Century Ballroom in Capitol Hill. A yoga class ended prior to mine and I heard a girl speak with the instructor that she wasn't going home for Thanksgiving because she did not believe in it.
Now, many people today in the PACNW have been socially engineered by the social justice media, which some of this stuff has a point but what they don't see, recognize or believe is that the media is making them heartless monsters.
Human history has always been bloody, hard and intense. Life today is no different. It's the same story but different characters and locations. But, for one who attends a yoga class, how can you not believe in Thanksgiving? The basis of yoga spiritual theory is to become a more thankful human being.
It was the complete opposite of what I experienced where my senior participants tell me weekly how thankful they are for my class, my teachings and my spirit.
Putting history aside, it is the one day of the year where we can put life aside and give thanks to everyone and everything on this planet.
The Thanksgiving meal itself is the consumption of the earth. The plants. The animals. The grains. All of that has been sacrificed or given for your nourishment. Even the plants are alive. Everything from the earth that is consumed has breath, air or spirit that awakens our souls. This is something our ancestors understood amidst hardships.
I live in Seattle, but my hometown is in Cleveland. Several people invited me to Thanksgiving and although I can only attend one event, I am most thankful for people to even think about inviting me somewhere.
After the Camino, I walked forward in life and reached a peak level of gratitude. For some odd reason, if death chose me on the camino or say, on the flight away from the Camino, I sat there in utmost gratitude for everything that entered my life. If I died, I would've happily died.
I've traveled. I've been married. I've had amazingly good and bad times with family and friends. I've succeeded at work. I've failed at life. I've been in love several times. I've met soul mates. I've experienced unconditional love by my cats. I've been abundant. I've been poor. I've lived out of bag.
I've experienced basically everything good, bad and in between. What more do we humans want out of life?
On Tuesday I had a conversation with two men who work the desk and security at the Gates Foundation. We chatted briefly about dating. And they said women are confusing. They said if I buy flowers say yellow roses, she sometimes complains that it's not red. I said get rid of her. She's ungrateful and won't be happy.
How do people go through life not aware of the kindness or the thoughts that people do? If one cannot be thankful to receive flowers - how much does their soul need to evolve?
Give thanks on this day to everything that's entered your life, good and bad, and every molecule of nourishment that enters your mouth.
From me to you, Happy Thanksgiving.
Back to the grind. The stress. And everything associated with modern day society. The fighting. The judgement. The taking advantage of others. Life in a village sounds so lovely right now. The more I connected to spirit, Christ and God, the less I want anything to do with people, things, and dramas of this mundane world.
To say the least, assets are welcome, not liabilities. This Camino was more than a reset button. It’s the start to a new chapter in my spiritual and physical life.
And for some reason, we are all on our own path to find our way.
Interestingly enough, this has been the start to a new chapter in my life in a myriad of ways.
Reconnecting with my Christian roots, the belief in this faith system has grounded me the most out of all forms of spirituality. The ancient roots are as old as some of the grains of sand on the beach.
I have less of a desire to connect with people whose moral compass doesn’t match with mine, regardless of if they believe in God or not. Parasites, energy suckers, emotionally draining individuals – I must say goodbye and move forward into another realm of life. “Cleaning house” literally and metaphorically is an instinct that came on strong during my walk.
I’ve realized I can accept people, but I am the sole provider for my emotional wellbeing. I have the choice to let people in, and let people go. This was something my ex was excellent at. He had no problems cutting people out of his life. For me, it’s not that easy because of empathy.
But, it’s time.
Just like nature, things must die in order for the new to enter your life. Walking the Camino during fall season was so symbolic for my struggles, life and former marriage.
And throughout the journey the light continuously shined down on me.
Because I consider myself an accepting person, I accept my life, my fate and my destiny. I accept that my experience in marriage, may have been for those 6.5 years, and I may never see another in my life of being married or being a wife.
Life has no guarantees. And no one knows when their end day will be here. The Camino strengthened this form of acceptance. I don’t know my future, none of us do. That is what makes life bitter sweet. Not knowing the future is as exciting as it is worrisome.
Sometimes I wish a crystal ball would show me the future, that way the stress and worry would stop to enjoy the moment. If everything is predetermined than knowing I’d have this at X age, or get married on this date, then it’d be easier not to stress, put up with or worry about the breadcrumbs in life.
But until that (hopefully) magical moment of the future arrives, I can only attach to hope that all things will work out in divine timing. On the 11th hour on 11/11/18, I attended a mass in Seattle. Attending mass on the Camino seemed normal. It once felt odd and estranged, but now it felt “normal.” It did not weird me out, but rather I looked at mass through a new set of eyes. One that appreciates and respects this ancient spiritual faith.
The Camino brought me back into the present the moment, knowing that my actions coupled with fate can tweak my destiny. The strength, courage, wisdom, light and love accumulated on the Camino is now a part of me and will forever be with me.
Que sera sera – whatever will be will be. The future is not ours to see, que sera sera.
Discover more about my Camino journey on
my Youtube Channel.
I planned this trip in early September and with only six weeks to train, I have had no aches or pains, no blisters, a little bit of soreness at first, but now I am not even getting sore. I am "addicted" to carrying that bag, or that load on my back. Even with my bag loaded, I walk to the grocery store to add another 6-8 pounds to my bag - there is absolutely zero affect on my back or my legs.
During some walks, I feel God speak to me that this is not a physical journey, but an emotional and spiritual journey into my mind, body and soul.
Walking around Seattle in fall is stunning. Flowers still bloom while the trees change color. The foliage encourages the blossoming of the true color of my soul. As I watch the leaves fall, it is the time and a sign to let go. Let go of the things that no longer serve me.
âBut with every footstep around this city I recognize the natural death and rebirth process. While God chooses every leaf that falls off a tree, I notice figs still bloom on a tree. Part of human existence includes letting go, and rebuilding up. Our human bodies are no different than nature where we have this synergy between anabolism and catabolism.
Ever since living in Germany, I've become more fascinated with the forest. Naturally attracted to water, I've transitioned from the light and airy sun-worshipping beaches and entered the depths of my ancient soul amidst archaic trees.
The thing is, I am actually doing good and fine in my life right. Im exhausted from work, but that is okay. Once I booked this trip, I found much peace in my life. My attitude changed and my outlook on life became brighter. I processed my divorced and in the spring I was ready to move forward with my life. I am very accepting of people and their life choices and lifestyle.
âI understand that people enter our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When my ex-husband told me on October 18, 2017 that he wanted a divorce, my entire reality shifted. I just got back from a trip in Germany and for some reason during that trip I hit the upmost pivotal gratitude for that man and my marriage. I was ready for the next thing, which I thought would be to have a child. There was miscommunication on that very important topic.
As he told me this, I started saying, "No. No. No. You need to believe in me." While we both started crying, I had a psychic vision of a hand holding a rolled-up diploma in the air with graduation hats flying into the air. My intuition doesn't hear things much, but I had a voice inside my head say, "You got it. You graduated. You learned your lesson." My laptop died and for 17 days I sat in silence, realizing how intellectual and work-orientated we were, and partly my fault, didn't tap much into the emotional world. I looked in the mirror and expressed all of my faults and admitted everything I did wrong or took for granted.
Completely crushed, I knew it was me fighting against God or our soul's contract. I was on a sinking ship and I looked him in the eyes and told him that I am going to fight for him. And I did that. I wrote several novel-like letters. One 17 pages, a 33-page hand written book on our memories together, and another 7 page plea expressing how I changed.
None of it worked. I went home for Thanksgiving and cried at the lake near my parent's home. I sat on a log in the forest wanting to die. I googled every Christian prayer to save a marriage. And each time I did these things, our connection became more disconnected. He started dating someone. He cut me off social media. He cut my family off social media. He completely detached his life from any memories of 10 years together. He told me that everyday I treated him good, with kindness and respect. On some deeper subconscious, intuitive level he told me that he chose me, but I didn't choose him.
âI accepted my fate. Being the one left behind, especially blind sided can really fuck you up unless you have enough grounding and acceptance in life. It is very easy as a woman to deny a man's feelings or needs. Men are strong on the exterior, but inside sometimes I feel they are more sensitive and emotional than women. Inside every man is a little boy.
I needed to get out but I couldn't as I had to scramble to figure out my job situation. In January, I earned just under $2,000 and my rent is just under $1600. I almost impulsively moved to Chicago or Philadelphia, in hopes of starting a new life, and in the future, finding a more traditional man.
I processed, I grieved, I forgave. I realized I am just another example of a tragic love story in this world of human existence.
I needed to do something for myself, which is why the St. James has been chosen, but at the right time.
Actually, I am over my divorce, but what I am still attached to is the fear of not finding a life partner or someone who treats me well. My ex was a romantic man, and I took that for granted at times. Never again will I do that. But on the flip side, that man also took me for granted, for which I shut down emotionally. We were both selfless, selfish, loving, caring and ignorant to each other. We were both suffering in flighty Seattle after living in Germany where loyalty, honesty and integrity were a large part of their culture. The main issue was not communicating feelings in order to protect each other's emotions.
Divorce ignited all these fears in college and wounds of being absolutely shitted on and used by men. Men are logical. Most women are moral. It is very easy to take advantage of spiritually-based women who can be naive.
I've been the weekend girlfriend. I've been the friend with benefits. I've been used emotionally. I've been lied to. I've been used for the adventurous experience. Women can be horrible people too, but after conversations with my beta male friends. It's the nice people who always get shitted on - man or woman.
But through the turmoil of my confidence and soul being flushed down the toilet, I rediscovered a deeper connection to self love. My life is best operated with balance. I like how I balance the material and the spiritual world. I like how I appreciate a balance between arts, science and athletics. I like that I am straightforward. I like that I am modest, but also creative and free spirited. I like how I am a cheerleader, encouraging my partner to become the man he wants to be, balancing healthy degrees of freedom. I love myself. I love my flaws. I love my strengths.
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My 2018 has been nothing but breadcrumbs and false hopes all while getting beaten over the head by men. The lies. The emotional manipulation. The flakiness. I needed a break. I lost my marriage. I've lost my mind with the corruption of the divorce court where I believe in equality for both partners. I've lost important freelance work. I fractured my toe. I've been ghosted. I can't seem to get a full-time job in one of the most prosperous cities. I haven't even mildly dated, only meeting people naturally, to find out these guys either had girlfriends, open relationships or used me for emotional support while they get sexual pleasures from whatever dark shit they dabble in with multiple pleasures. I've always been suspicious of the tech industry and the programming that happens in these men's brains have completely destroyed their reality of what women want. Women don't want to be texted like a bar slut and they don't want be treated like a real world porn star. Even my gay Italian friend said straight men are "dumb," and don't realize women don't want to be texted this dirty stuff (in the initial stages).
Modern men today are cowards, and part of this is socially engineered. Women respect strong and honest men. They ghost as they are too afraid to hurt someone's feelings. They are too selfish to be upfront about what they are looking for and will lie and manipulate to get you into the sack, or boast about your beauty behind their girlfriend's back. They can't ask a woman out on a date as they fear rejection. That is just part of being a man. If you want to date a feminine woman you have to take the lead.
All of my friends told me to download a dating app and get laid. I felt I had healthy coping mechanisms of rediscovering myself through counseling, rock climbing and various types of yoga. Somehow my mind is stronger than my body and I can resist all forms of temptations.
Work has taken over our souls and relationships are either of convenience or whatever can fit into our work week. Many men in this city have like 4-6 side options figuring out who will be the winner. I've counseled sex addicts and they have dreams of epic sex parties or being choked during sex. I can't understand this mentality, but I do not judge it. Throughout my spiritual experience I believe darkness warps people's minds causing them to become further lost souls. I believe God sends those people to me for me to give them an ounce of light in their life.
My brain operates on purity, innocence and depth. I dream of fairy-tale-like romance like a nice dance around the Christmas tree to classical music. Or having a picnic on a nice summer's day while reading poetry from some 1922 vintage book. I also enjoy the non-refined frolics of life like drinking beer and watching sports.
I feel I have no relevance to life today. And on this walk, I want to let go of that belief. I believe there are people like me in this world. We are the minority, but through God's will, we will find each other. Whatever happens on this journey is meant for me, but it is a reset button. A button coming a year in, and although I wanted to do this 7 months ago, somehow timing always works best in life when it's meant to be.
I love cooking. I find it therapeutic and ignites a different sense of creativity. I follow alot of intuitive cooking, which means I dont necessarily "follow the rules" on exact measurements but sometimes "go with my gut" on what spices and such are needed or necessary. I've also discovered through my cooking I don't always time things but rather use my sense of smell to indicate when a pie, or baked good is near done. Whenever the kitchen become aromatic it is a sign that whatever is in the oven is ready to be checked.
Alongside cooking, I teach yoga. Today, I focus most of my teaching on moderate and slow flows, for which require ambient or down-tempo music.
At the retreat, I played various playlists using mixcloud.com, and wanted to share my favorite tracks. I not only use these in my yoga classes, but also in the kitchen to inspire yet another culinary creation.
Enjoy!
Change is inevitable, but necessary.
The human experience is no exception to change, transitions and highs and lows in life. It is utterly delusional to think that our life will follow the same path as a starry-eyed Hollywood movie; however, when analyzing these films, the main character encounters various obstacles and struggles.
Humans don't like change, but they crave and desire change. The biggest change to one's life path is through having a child. Some people accept and celebrate this change, but fight to let go or to help their mental state.
It is not easy or comfortable to walk a new path in life while leaving the old behind.
During times of transitions, this is where the learning begins.
Like a future flower budding from the ground, this is moment where consciousness shifts to say goodbye to the dark and say hello to the light. The business world talks of an inflection point, a point where the concave changes directions, either toward growth or a decline. This is a pivotal point for one to wake up and listen to their higher mind and trust and believe that taking the "high road" will lead them to change.
Change is spiritual. It is the time of becoming a better version of yourself and push through boundaries of fear that have held you back from seeking your potential.
Spiritual journeys don't have to be epic adventures around the globe. For some, it is
Sadly, many people have not had good mentors or leaders in their life, specifically in the work world. A career shift is a spiritual change. When transitioning careers, one's soul or spirit guides them to something more meaningful in life. It is not uncommon to see tech geeks up and quit their job to open a bakery or a fitness company. Something in that corporate world sucked their soul dry and they wanted to do something more meaningful in life. That is the point of TRUE LIBERATION - the moment where your life, happiness and contribution to the world means more than the people and situations that brought you down. Many people today believe that drug use and sexual experimentation is liberation. In my experience, the more people dabble in those environments, the more their soul cries for help.
So how do you unlock the power of transitions?
If you want to change your career, you may need to go back to school or sign up for a certificate program.
If you want to improve your marriage, you may need marriage counseling.
If you want to improve your health, you may need to hire a trainer or a health coach.
The answer lies inside each and every one of us, but we just have to believe and trust in ourselves, our voice and our higher mind. Change and transition strengthens our spirit. It may not be easy and during this time we may experience more inflection points or potential outcomes.
If you want to change, you have to put in the work and find tools, people or support networks that will aide you on your journey.
Are you on a spiritual journey in life? Let's Connect and check out Mind Body Soul Food's other recent blog posts.
Author
Elizabeth Rae Kovar M.A. is Author of her memoir, Finding Om and is a Fitness Trainer, Yogi, Reiki Master, Presenter and Lover of Life. To view her portfolio please visit www.elizabethkovar.com
Follow her travels at: lemontreetravel.com
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