nurturing the inner labyrinth: embracing intuitive living for our children

Hello beautiful soul.

Life's journey, much like a labyrinth, presents us with intricate paths and choices to navigate. As parents, we strive to guide our children through the labyrinth of life, offering them the tools and support they need to find their own way. Today we will explore the profound similarities between the labyrinth, an intuitive living practice, and the importance of trusting our children's inner guidance system. By embracing these principles, we can empower our children to navigate their unique paths with confidence and authenticity.

1. The Labyrinth of Childhood:

Childhood is a labyrinth of discovery, growth, and self-exploration. Just as in a physical labyrinth, children encounter twists and turns, moments of confusion, and unexpected challenges. By recognizing and acknowledging the complexity of their journey, we can foster an environment that allows their individuality and intuition to flourish. Trusting our children's innate wisdom and honoring their unique perspectives can enable them to embrace their own labyrinth and find their way to a fulfilling and authentic life.

2. Embracing Intuitive Parenting:

Intuitive living is not limited to our personal journey but extends to our parenting approach as well. Intuitive parenting involves recognizing and respecting our children's inner guidance system. By valuing their instincts, desires, and emotions, we create space for them to develop a strong sense of self. Through open communication, active listening, and a supportive environment, we can guide them towards choices and experiences that align with their authentic selves.

3. Trusting the Inner Guidance System:

Much like the labyrinth calls us to trust the path, we must also trust our children's inner guidance system. As parents, it can be challenging to resist the urge to control or protect our children from potential missteps or failure. However, by fostering an environment of trust and allowing them to make choices, even if they differ from our own, we provide opportunities for growth and self-discovery. Encouraging them to listen to their intuition and follow their passions empowers them to forge their own unique paths in life.

4. Creating a Nurturing Space:

The labyrinth offers moments of reflection and self-discovery. Similarly, we can create a nurturing space where our children can reflect on their experiences, emotions, and aspirations. By encouraging self-reflection through journaling, art, or open conversations, we enable them to deepen their self-awareness and gain insight into their desires and values. This practice cultivates a strong foundation for intuitive decision-making, helping them navigate life's labyrinth with clarity and authenticity.

5. Cultivating Empowerment and Resilience:

Just as the labyrinth holds transformative power, an intuitive living practice nurtures our children's resilience and empowers them to face life's challenges with confidence. By allowing them to make choices, learn from their experiences, and take responsibility for their actions, we instill in them a sense of empowerment and the belief in their own capabilities. Embracing their individuality and encouraging them to trust their inner wisdom equips them with the tools they need to navigate life's labyrinth, adapt to change, and embrace personal growth.

By embracing the profound connections between the labyrinth, an intuitive living practice, and trusting our children's inner guidance system, we empower them to navigate their own unique paths with confidence, authenticity, and resilience. As parents, let us create an environment that honors their individuality, fosters open communication, and encourages self-reflection. By trusting their inner wisdom and nurturing their intuition, we lay the foundation for our children to embark on a journey of self-discovery, growth, and fulfillment within the labyrinth of life.

With Love, Maria

our soul's blueprint

I heard something the other day that stopped me dead in my tracks.

It was something akin to "We don't trust our soul. We think it will lead us astray."

As I study astrology and see myself more and more in what I'm learning, I am also aware that what I want for myself is also written in the stars.

I've been wondering lately how is it possible that this astrological system can know me so well and why am I preventing myself from getting to the endpoint of what is naturally my course in life?

It's interesting that these questions and this feeling would emerge when I've been following my inner guidance system for many years now. Upon reflection, hearing these words allowed me see that there are areas in my life that I have not trusted. Where I have been in control and expectation. In particular, with this website.

These words made me wonder.... DO I REALLY TRUST MY SOUL?

Maybe my desire to study astrology is a way to calm my unknowing? A way to say,

"See. I was right. Our soul is guiding us. I just want to make sure."

The more affirmed I feel on my path via the study of astrology, the more I question what stops me from allowing some experiences to come through naturally?

And even though this question lingers in my mind, studying astrology has confirmed many things for me as well. Here are just a few of the things that I know for sure:

I believe that you never need to have an astrology chart reading or even believe in astrology to be on your path. Your path is your path. All you need to do is tune in to your inner guide and it will show you the way.

I have learned that the things that I'm drawn to naturally are the things that I'm meant to experience. So much of who I am and the ways I present in this world are innate. Learning to love myself by letting go of my history, letting go of my limiting beliefs of who I "should" be and allowing myself to be exactly as I am has brought me so much peace and joy. Maybe I just need my chart to say, "I love learning and I learn not just for myself but for others." to be okay with this part of myself, a part I actually thought meant something was wrong with me.

There's a myriad of ways I can experience something. That's my choice. If communication is in my chart then I get to choose what I want to communicate and what form brings me joy, happiness and ease. I actually wish astrology would tell me more. How nice it would be if astrology said, "You are meant to be a writer." Life, and astrology, don't work that way. Our inner guidance system points in a direction but we get to choose how we want to experience that direction. And we also get to choose whether we say yes or no.

Our soul is guiding us to achieve the highest and greatest potential for this lifetime. It is guiding us to a life full of joy, love, laughter and abundance. It is always, ALWAYS, pulling us toward our highest good. Our life experiences are meant to challenge us enough to ask the same question I'm asking myself now...

DO I REALLY TRUST MY SOUL? DO I BELIEVE IT IS GUIDING ME TO MY HIGHEST POTENTIAL AND IF SO, WHAT LIMITING BELIEF IS KEEPING ME FROM ACHIEVING THAT?

Everyone's purpose is to embody their Soul's Essence. I believe that. When we embody ours then we are living our purpose. And when we live our purpose then we become like a light in the dark. By shining our light others have permission to shine their own.

With Much Love,

Maria

easier said than done

How many times have you heard these phrases?

Just go with your gut feeling. Follow your heart. Trust your inner guidance system.

These days I find these words plastered all over the place.

But how easy is it really?

The truth is, it's not.

It's not easy when you first embark on this journey to even know what your inner guidance - also know as your gut feeling and your heart center - is telling you.

At first, finding your path is confusing because you can't tell. It's challenging to distinguish what your path is with what everyone else told you was the path to go on.

That's why my main motto is START SMALL. Pick one area of your life where you can begin to tune in, listen to and act on your inner guidance. This will allow you to practice in small, safe doses.

I believe starting with food and meals is one of the most empowering ways to begin this journey because there are so many thoughts and ideas out there on what you "should" eat and what your body "should" look like. It's hard to trust our inner guidance around food because there is so much fear surrounding it.

You don't need to start with food and your body; you can choose anything.

Here's the thing...

We start with the intention to trust our inner guide.

We slow down, tune in, listen to and ACT on it.

That action, or intention to act, will bring up fear.

That fear is inherited.

I'm going to walk you through something I'm experiencing in this moment.

I've been feeling "irritated". around snacking in this house and I'm noticing it more and more.

I feel a pull towards eating more meals and I'm not sure if it's something personal for myself or if it's something that I want for my family. It's been something on my mind and I see it's coming up to be seen and heard. In the past I would have overreacted and taken it out on the kids or a kid. I have learned to slow down and notice before I overreact. Even so, I find myself saying something in a tone of voice that is far from loving.

MY INNER GUIDE OR SOMETHING INSIDE OF ME WANTS TO GET RID OF SNACKS.

IS THIS BASED IN LOVE OR FEAR?

IF IT'S MY INNER GUIDE, IT WILL BE BASED IN LOVE.

IF IT'S FEAR, THEN IT'S AN INHERITED IDEA.

I DON'T KNOW YET.

This morning, my son, who already had breakfast, walked over to the living room, sat down and waited for the bus while munching on something. I wondered what he was eating and hadn't he just finished his breakfast? I don't say anything but notice that this is coming up.

(Now I can tell you this - I've been struggling with my weight, my body and my eating lately. So I know this is about me, not my son. )

Myy alarm goes off in my bedroom and I need to go upstairs to shut it off. As I walk up the stairs, I peak over the railing to see what he is eating. He has a stack of cookies in his hand, close to his mouth. It feels like he is hiding his cookies.

I say, "You're eating cookies?" with a higher pitched voice than usual. "Why are you eating cookies? Didn't you just eat breakfast?" So no wonder he would hide the cookies from me!!

He responds by saying he was planning to take them to school for lunch but he didn't feel like bringing another container.

I didn't respond. I went upstairs, shut my alarm and came back down.

Now I'm all in my head about how that transpired.

"Did I make him feel bad?"

"Am I trusting his inner guidance system?"

"Do we need snacks in the house?"

"Is eating cookies everyday okay?"

So now I get to pause.

I can continue to be in my head about this... analyzing, wondering, thinking and never knowing why I'm having this reaction, or I can feel into my body and emotions and find out where this is coming from

I closed my eyes, put one hand over my heart and the other over my belly and tuned in.

I could feel tears welling up in my eyes.

That is telling me there is a part of me that wants to come up to be seen and heard.

Since I decided to do this while I'm writing in the dining room, I have no privacy.

I hear someone walk down the stairs so I stop.

I decide to revisit this feeling later when I'm alone.

I drop off the other kids and come back to the house and decide to eat something.

I choose to have popcorn with my coffee and find myself mindlessly eating.

I wonder if this is me avoiding my feelings. As soon as the thought arises, I push it away.

I keep eating.

When I'm done, I decide to go upstairs and sweep the floor. While I'm in my boys' room I decide to move the furniture around. Once I'm done moving the furniture I decide to take all their clothes out of the closet and put them on my bed. There are clothes everywhere.

Then I decide to wash their sheets and bedspread and change their bedding.

(Decide is not actually what is happening, I'm moving from one activity to the next without pause.)

I whip out the vacuum and vacuum the drawers, windowsills, until the room is stripped bare and everything is in place - besides the clothes on my bed which I intended to go through with them.

I am aware that in my impulsivity, I have now created a huge mess in my room with my bed covered mile high with clothes that the boys and I have to sort through this evening.

They are not going to like this! Now I'm in a predicament of having to force them to do something that they hadn't planned or do it myself.

I'm getting tired. I finish sweeping the upstairs floor and I'm feeling better.

Everything is in place. My house is not chaotic (besides my bed).

This calms me.

So what happened? What happened when I decided to feel my feelings later but when I was alone, went crazy cleaning?

Maybe I got scared? Maybe I didn't want to feel those tears? Maybe it meant that this would push me to do something that I was scared to do?

I will never know what is going on inside me until I actually sit with my feelings and feel them fully.

I try to go back inside by closing my eyes and putting one hand over my heart and one over my belly.

Some things come up but as soon as I try to feel her feelings she quickly darts away and I lose her.

This is my inner child. She is not ready to speak to me.

I pause here with an awareness that this is just the beginning of this healing process.

Today I decided not to buy extra sweets for the house in my grocery shopping.

I decide I will only eat three meals today and see what comes up in between these meals.

I am ready to heal this part of myself and I'm grateful for the opportunity that my soul is giving me to tune in, listen to and act on my inner guidance.

Since I haven't fully felt this part of myself I don't know what I will choose to do. I may choose to keep treats and sweets in the house or I might not. Maybe I'll do a hybrid that works for me and the children.

I don't know.

I won't know until I tune in, listen to and feel what this part of myself needs me to hear.

This is it.

This is An Intuitive Living Practice in a nutshell.

Our inner guidance guides us to something.

Fear comes up.

We are present to the fear.

We choose love over fear.

With Much Love,

Maria