From Ego to Spirit: A Spiritual Awakening Inspired by Mother Nature

When I was a child, I was more in my spirit. The spirit would tell me, I can write, I can paint, I can draw, I can sing, I can dance, I can walk, I can run, I can fly. I remember telling myself there is so much I want to do if only I have time. God, there is so much to do besides going to school. I wanted to do a little bit of everything, and to my surprise, I would grab every opportunity to learn something new. Life was simple yet so beautiful. There was joy in every simple act. My mind was conditioned to be in a learning state as I was a kid. The joy came from each learning experience as my spirit was evolving, but with it came the free gift of ego.

Let me rephrase: ego was jealous of this joy and started to build its way by clinging on. As clever as the ego is, it wanted to tell me that ‘I’ am the one who is special. Spirit said I could fly, I could fly, and I could fly, but ego gradually shifted the attention from the lightness of flying to the heaviness of ‘I’. The shift was so subtle and smooth that the spirit got buried very deep.

The Spirit of God is great, and so is our spirit being His children. The spirit has a subtle expansion, and ego tries to knock it down constantly. This subtle expansion thereby goes unnoticed by our huge ego mind, leaving no space for anything. But the spirit is coming from God and is divine in nature. Its gentleness would not push the ego. So how will the ego mind come to the realization of the reality of spirit within? God is simple; ego has a free will too and unknowingly chooses self-destruction. Ego is not smart enough to know that we are all the same in spirit and hence serve as mirrors to each other. Each time the ego mind looks at another human mirror, it is looking at the ego. The ego starts to knock and punch itself without realizing it. The ego gets caught in its own web and ends up fighting with itself every time we are fighting with each other as humans. Meanwhile, the spirit, with its ageless wisdom, is very content. Ego keeps hitting ego and makes our human life hell. It takes us into this maze, and we think there is no way back. The ego wastes all the energy in fighting with itself while the spirit continues to show us various mirrors to remind us of our reality.

Spirits of beings with awareness reflect presence. Their presence shows us the mirror of our soul. We are so used to looking at the ego in the mirror that we are taken aback by what we see. We want to run away from these aware beings because they do not show us the face of the ego we are used to looking at. The presence of ego is so strong within us that anything else in the mirror looks alien to us. We do not want to enter this unknown space. We are so comfortable where we are; this is what we want to believe. This is still ego trying its last few tricks. It knows there is not enough fuel for it to continue without recharging. Recharging means taking a break, which is scary because the spirit might take its place. Ego is so scared at this point. The fear that it creates is now a mirror to its own self. We see this fear of the ego mind, and it deceives us again. We begin to fear ourselves, but we are actually looking at the ego. We do not remember our divine spirit and identify with the fear, which is nothing but the ego mind. Ego does not want us to look at our spirit in the mirror that has been ever-present there. But the spirit, with its divine qualities, is full of compassion. It has come to take us home and knows we are not ready to go yet. Ego at this time does not know that it has built its own grave. Each time we look in the human mirror, we are looking at this ego, but we don’t know that. We think we are very scared and this is the end of us. Yes, this is definitely the end—but the end of ego games. We continue to exist as spirits because spirit never dies. We die to our ego selves and are reborn into our spirit selves, but this time with the awareness of our eternal nature.

The divine matrix is just perfect. It plays an important role in our rebirth. It came to me as Mother Nature. Nature has a gift of silence. This sacred silence is so present in Mother Nature and acts as a mirror to the deep peace that resides in our souls. This silence is the gift of God that awakens the spirit in us. This peace is the gift of God that guides us to liberation. This nature is the gift of God that purifies us. This presence is the gift of God that connects us to the web of oneness. This love is the gift of God that brings us home. Thank you, Mother Nature, for bringing us back home. Thank you, God, for all the eternal gifts you lay in our beautiful journey…

Breaking the Chains of Attachment: A Path to Unconditional Love

Attachment is a state when we create boundaries around all the love we are. It gives shape and form to our love.

As we flow in the stream of attachment, we lose our identity and merge with the physical form of the beings we love. In this moment, we create time and space and feel that love is external in some form. We have this urge to hold on to and control things. Each one of us is naturally evolving, but attachment blocks this evolution by possessing. It tries to create limits to the infinite and eternal love that already exists within us. The result is that we begin to experience pain because we forget to let go and detach from the form and just be love…

In physical life, when we as women give birth to a child, we experience unconditional love as soon as we hold the child in our arms. We are overwhelmed with this motherly love, and it makes us feel so full and complete. All we experience is the feeling of immense love that constantly surrounds us.

When we look into the eyes of the child, we can feel the twinkling of the stars. When we see the smile on his face, we feel the sparkling of the sun. We are like a ‘drop’ of unconditional love for this child, as God is an ‘ocean’ of eternal love for us. We are so full of gratitude to God for letting us experience this love in the form of adoring our child, playing with our child, feeding our child, putting our child to sleep, caressing our child, and hugging our child. The ways in which we get to experience this eternal love are infinite.

We are so surrounded by love that even with the complete knowledge of the fact that we are just the guardians of this child of God, we instantly get attached to this beautiful gift. The moment we do that, we start to feel this is our creation, this is our child, this is the most precious thing on the whole entire planet. The moment we attach ourselves to this gift, we create a dust of fear that begins to layer our identity as a love being. This layer of fear is the veil that needs to be lifted to remind us of all the love that already exists beneath it.

The irony of attachment is that we start to limit our beings. We feel that love is external in the physical form of the child.

When we find love in our child, we don’t realize that God has given us a mirror in the form of this child to remind us of the love that already exists within us. He is a mirror to our inner child, to our pure selves, to our true selves, to our innocent selves, to our love selves in the form of his being. We are all children of God. But the attachment gets in the way of this limitless experience. It gives birth to fear—the fear of loss of love, the fear of pain, the fear of hurt—and we keep encircling ourselves with the dust of fear. We get so caught in fear that we don’t see the light of love…

The more we get attached to the gifts God bestows upon us, the more we get caught in the web of illusion. The more we get caught in this web of illusion, the harder it is to let go of the fears.

The more we see our true detached selves in the mirrors that God sends us, the closer we get to our reality. Every individual we encounter is an opportunity to look in the mirror of our souls. Whether we want to see the love or fear in the mirror is a choice we make every moment. We attract and grow more and more of what we see…

“Let thy not attach to that which is not, but be what is. Let thy not live in the illusion of form, but let the spirit be the form. Let thy not attach to the boundaries of space and time, but be the unconditional love that has no boundaries…”

With Love,
Vandana

Smile…

“Smile”… Smile from the heart and you will see the whole world smiling at you. Smile is love, smile is joy, smile is being. Smile is all we need to be happy. Can we imagine a world without a smile?

Look at the newborn baby and we just can’t stop smiling. Have we wondered what is it in him that makes us smile. We forget all the pain and start experiencing the joy in the moment. We connect to our own innocence when we look at the child. We remember that we are a child ourselves and we are so innocent. We do not judge a little child and in his presence we do not judge ourselves. We are connecting from our heart and are open to the experience.We just be and let the energy drive us. A mother cannot really plan her day but molds herself to the need of the moment. The smile of the child is what drives her and keeps her going though the entire journey of motherhood. All the hard work and effort put in by her get’s paid by one smile on her child’s face. So how do we forget to smile in front of God.  Smile  is all he wants to give us on this entire journey. He is our mother and our father. He has been constantly with us and trying to make us  smile. We keep asking and he keeps giving. We receive the gifts but we forget to acknowledge. We forget to show our gratitude for all our gifts. We forget to smile from our hearts.

In physical world parents continue to shower unconditional love on their kids. As we grow in age, we learn that we will always be kids for our parents. So they will continue giving no matter what and we take them for granted. Until one day, the parents leave the physical bodies and we wonder who is going to take care of us? Our physical world shatters and we close our hearts, thinking that God has not been fair to us. Actually, we are only learning  to grow with each experience. God is only reminding us the truth of our eternal nature. He is only reminding us of our reality that we have come to experience in this body. The reality of love that we are, the reality of how this love is limitless unlike this body in which we choose to experience it in, the reality that there no beginning and no end to the love we are, the reality that free will exists each moment for us to choose our experience, the reality that we can choose as many costumes to experience this infinite love, the reality that all he wishes for us is to smile, smile and smile…

“Smile, for it doesn’t cost you a penny, but brings limitless joy and happiness to the one you bestow this gift  upon”…With Love, Vandana

The Profound Beauty of Silence in Nature

“Silence”… Silence is nature’s gift to us. As we take a stroll through nature, the silence of our surroundings speaks to us in so many different ways.

We hear the soothing sounds of water flowing through the creek, the relaxing patter of raindrops falling on the ground, and the beautiful melodies of birds chirping in the skies. We even hear the pleasing cawing of crows in the trees and our own footsteps carving a path through nature’s quiet expanse. Yet, amidst all these gentle sounds, we continue to hear the profound silence that lies beneath it all.

Amazing as silence is, it profoundly penetrates our being and touches our soul. Infinite as silence is, it endlessly grows and expands the space that lies beyond the reach of our minds—a space where we all belong, where our soul resides, and a space that is nothing but our own sweet home. This is the home we are born into, the home we grow in, and the home where we evolve into our true selves. In this space, we are the peace, wisdom, love, and joy of simply being.

“Breathe into the silence of nature and be natural.”

With Love,
Vandana

Nothingness: The Beginning of Everything

Nothingness is the beginning of everything. It is the moment, the presence, the now—the truth and wisdom of who we are. The answer is simple: we are nothing, and yet we are everything. The truth is as straightforward as that, without editing.

In this moment, I am role-playing a writer, scribbling whatever wisdom is showered upon me. So, I am wisdom, and wisdom is me. It is nothing, yet it is everything.

Nothing is as simple as it can be, and everything is as vast as an ocean. What does it mean to be simple? What does it mean to be vast? It is just being who you are in the moment.

Nothing can be nothing but nothing. Everything can be nothing but everything. What is common between these two sentences? It is the state of being nothing. If only we can be nothing.

We frequently use the word “nothing” every day, but have we ever pondered its true meaning? Where did it come from? Has anybody ever felt nothing? Take a moment to pause and try to do nothing. Observe what it feels like.

Nothing is simple, funny, great, awesome, peaceful, joyful, and we can go on and on with everything it encompasses. We feel everything but nothing. Everyone can assign their own word to describe what nothing feels like. That is how vast nothing is. Nothing is as vast as everything, and yet sometimes, everything is as good as nothing. It depends on how we want to feel in that moment. Nothing can be good if we want to feel good. Nothing can be bad if we want to feel bad. It is as simple as that. We are as simple as that.

We are what we want to feel like. We are love if we want to feel love. We are joy if we want to feel joy. We are peace if we want to feel peace. We are bliss if we want to feel bliss. We are truth if we want to feel truth. We are wisdom if we want to feel wisdom. We are gratitude if we want to feel gratitude.

“Gifts as we are, there is nowhere to go. The knowing of this is nothingness.”

With Love,
Vandana

The Joy of Sharing: Embracing Our Strengths and Weaknesses

108 Sun Salutations to Sharing |Vandana Soni | Village|https://www.youtube.com/c/villagevandana

Sharing is a special gift, an opportunity to give what we have and receive what we lack. Each of us is blessed with unique strengths and has some weaknesses. Imagine if all of us were perfect with all strengths—there would be no one to share with. Mysterious are the ways of God, and unparalleled is the love He shares with us. The universe, as it exists, conveys this message of sharing to us.

We can complement each other with our gifts of sharing. The weakness within us is an opportunity to open ourselves to this beautiful act. There is always someone looking to share their strengths with you and fill the gap just where you need it. Your strengths might serve to bridge their weaknesses. Sharing with one another opens our hearts and fills us with joy. This joy of sharing envelops us in love, and the fuller we are with this love, the more we can share it with others.

So, let’s all accept ourselves entirely, with all our weaknesses, and move forward by sharing our strengths. Acceptance of ourselves as we are lifts the veil of fear and helps us become aware of this special gift of sharing.

“Beautiful as life is, surprises unfold each moment. Sharing these joys is the gift we are.”

With Love,
Vandana

Embracing the Duality of Spiritual and Material Existence

Spiritual and material existence go hand in hand, much like the two sides of a coin. Both are eternal, and thus we need to embrace this duality as it exists. As we journey through life, we might find ourselves favoring one side over the other. However, it is essential to acknowledge our dual nature and, at some point, turn to the significant other half. This balance helps us carve our way back home. The more we cling to just one aspect of our dual nature, the greater the distance we create from our ultimate destination. Every moment, we are given the free will to choose the path we want to travel.

The material world provides us with opportunities to experience life, while the spiritual world helps us understand who we truly are. Through our body, senses, and heart, we can feel each moment. And through breath, we connect to the consciousness that lies beyond all physical forms. This beautiful interlock implies that although our senses cannot perceive the spiritual realm, our consciousness innately knows it.

The mind can make the illusion of material existence appear as the only reality, entrapping many of us. We live in a state of deep sleep, unwilling to awaken to our true selves. Our hearts still beat, but we no longer listen to their rhythm. Our consciousness still breathes, but we ignore its whisper. Awareness constantly knocks on our door, yet we refuse its call. We limit our perception to the material side of the coin. While consciousness urges us to flip the coin, the illusion compels us to flee from this unknown reality. As we run from consciousness, we descend into the dark well of illusion. These moments of unawareness lead to immense pain and suffering. Overwhelmed by overflowing emotions, we overlook the awareness present in each moment, awaiting our embrace. The tighter we hold on to everything, the harder it becomes to let go. The more conditioned we are to our ways, the longer it takes to accept the inevitable change. This change is nothing but our constant reality.

Change is the only constant reality in our dual existence as spiritual and material beings. So, let’s treasure these changes as they unfold in each moment, embracing our true realities.

With Love,
Vandana

Gratitude in Every Being: A Spiritual Reflection.

Gratitude is all that is. We are so full of gratitude to God for being a tiny drop ‘we are’ in His mighty ocean ‘that is’. We are so full of gratitude to God for being a part of His eternal being ‘we are’ in His beautiful creation ‘that is’.

In doing so, we are so full of gratitude to each of the love beings ‘we co-exist with’ in the infinite forms as ‘we appear’. We are so full of gratitude for the limitless ways ‘we serve’ one another, which evolves within us the learnings of who ‘we are’, immaterial to the illusion of time and space that ‘we create’.

We are so full of gratitude for all the positivity ‘we carry’ within us that shows us the strength ‘we are’ and presents us with the choices to define our unique journey. We are so full of gratitude for all the negativity ‘we carry’ within us that reminds us of the physical and spiritual co-existence of our beings as ‘we are’ when we lose our path and guides our way back home. The home that is beyond boundaries, the home that lies within us in acceptance of ‘who we are’. The home that is so full of love, love, and love as it is.

Once again, we are so full of gratitude for being able to experience the spiritual love ‘we are’ in physical bodies it chooses to reside in.

Gratitude is all we are, for the sparks ‘we carry’ inside, which light a flame within our hearts and set ablaze the love ‘we are’.

With Love,
Vandana

“Gratitude as all that is”

Prayers…The Blossoming of Prayers and Manifestation

“Prayers”…Prayers are like the seeds, the’ knowing’ of when the seeds will sprout and bear fruits comes with the’ knowing’ of when the wishes will manifest. This knowing is the awareness, this knowing is the consciousness ,this knowing is the presence, this knowing is the opening of the hearts to limitless…..

We lay the ‘seeds in the soil’ as we carry the ‘prayers in our hearts’,
loosen up the soil, so it shall breathe,
open up the hearts, so it shall receive…..

With Love, Vandana

Explication

Prayers are like seeds. Just as a gardener knows when the seeds will sprout and bear fruit, there is a knowing—an awareness, a consciousness—of when our wishes will manifest. This knowing is the presence, the opening of our hearts to the limitless possibilities of the universe.

Planting the Seeds of Prayers

As we lay the seeds in the soil, we carry the prayers in our hearts. The act of planting is a metaphor for hope and intention. Each prayer is a seed, each intention a precursor to the beauty that is yet to unfold.

Loosen up the soil, so it shall breathe.

In gardening, we know that soil needs to be aerated for the plants to grow healthily. Similarly, our hearts must be open, ready to receive and nurture our prayers. By loosening the soil, we prepare it to embrace the seeds fully.

Opening the Heart to Receive

Open up the heart, so it shall receive.

When we pray with love and positivity, we open our hearts. This opening is crucial. Just as soil needs sunlight and water, our hearts need openness and acceptance to allow the manifestation process to unfold naturally.

The Journey from Seed to Fruit

The journey from planting a seed to harvesting its fruits is both external and internal. It requires patience, faith, and an unwavering belief in the process. Similarly, the journey from a prayer to its manifestation requires trust and an openness to the divine timing of the universe.

As we nurture our prayers and keep our hearts open, we align ourselves with the infinite possibilities that life offers. Each prayer, each intention, is a step towards the realization of our deepest desires.

“Loosen up the soil, so it shall breathe….Open up the hearts so it shall receive”

The Power of Miracles and Love: Unlocking the Heart with Faith

“Miracles”… It takes a moment for a miraculous healing to happen. Healing is simple; “Intent” is all it takes to heal, and “Faith” is all it needs to call it a Miracle. The faith is within us, existing and eternal, but we are so busy gratifying our senses that we close the doors of the heart, and faith can just not step inside.

Our eyes want to see, and we hear the calling of the eyes to witness miracles, yet we forget to open the doors of the heart to let faith in. Our tongue wants to talk, and we hear the calling of the tongue to speak that miracles happen, but we forget to open the doors of the heart to let faith in. Our ears want to hear, and we hear the calling of the ears to listen to stories of miracles, yet we forget to open the doors of the heart to let faith in. Our nose wants to smell, and we hear the calling of the nose to sense miracles, but again we forget to open the doors of the heart to let faith in. Our mind wants to believe, and we hear the calling of the mind to believe in miracles, and still, we forget to open the doors of the heart to let faith in.

So let’s all, in this present moment, open the doors of our hearts and “feel” the existing and eternal faith enter inside our beautiful hearts and experience the love within. The love we have been yearning for all this while… the love that our mind wanted to believe was external in some form, the love that is nothing but just love.

At this moment, in the now, not only does miraculous healing happen, but the senses feel this eternal love. Isn’t that what we are here for? To see with love, to hear with love, to talk with love, to believe with love, to be love.

“Love is the journey we are all here to experience.” Let’s begin by opening the doors within and experience miracles happening eternally.

With Love,
Vandana