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Life in the Swirl

June 2, 2025 by Barb Brown

Life in the Swirl

It’s been a season of big shifts. Since Mother’s Day, life has carried me through the bittersweet closing of the church, the move into a new space, and the whirlwind of renovations and reimagining what’s next.

There are boxes still waiting, projects half-finished, and to-do lists that seem to multiply overnight. Some days feel like a swirl of dust, paint, and decisions that all need to be made at once. And yet, beneath it all, I can feel the steady rhythm of something new taking root.

Transitions are rarely tidy. They are wild, full of beginnings and endings woven together. This swirl is reminding me to pause, breathe, and trust that the path is still unfolding—one step, one brushstroke, one sacred task at a time.

The Journey That Brought Me Here

March 9, 2025 by Barb Brown

Reflecting on turning 61 and embracing life’s possibilities.

The Joy of Possibility and the Path Ahead

In my last post, A Year of Sacred Renewal, I shared the ways I’m nourishing my body, mind, and spirit as I step into my 61st year. From movement and meditation to self-care and financial expansion, I am committed to making this chapter vibrant, intentional, and deeply aligned.

But beyond the daily habits and practices, there’s a deeper thread weaving through this year—the joy of possibility.

Turning 61 feels different. Not just another birthday, but a threshold. A doorway into something new, something I may not yet fully understand but can already feel taking shape. If last year was about stepping into my crone years with wisdom and confidence, this year is about expansion—embracing the unknown with curiosity, trust, and a sense of adventure.

Looking Back: The Journey That Brought Me Here

I’ve always believed that life is a spiral. We revisit the same lessons, but each time with a little more wisdom, a little more grace.

Looking back at my journey, I see the ways I have softened, strengthened, and evolved. I see the resilience that carried me through challenges. I see the moments of deep healing, the times I let go of what no longer served me, and the times I chose to step forward with courage.

I see the transformation—not just in my career, but in my soul’s work. I’ve built businesses, created sacred spaces for healing, and guided others on their journeys. I’ve learned that true success isn’t about striving; it’s about alignment. It’s about living in a way that feels rich, meaningful, and true.

Standing at the Threshold: Where I’m Headed

At 61, I’m not interested in pushing myself toward rigid goals. Instead, I’m allowing life to unfold in a way that feels natural and nourishing. I am leaning into joy, creativity, and flow.

This year, that means:
🌿 Expanding my work in a way that lights me up—through Everyday Spirit Quest, Spiritual Alchemy, and new self-paced offerings
🌿 Deepening my connection to nature, taking more hikes, and listening to the wisdom of the earth
🌿 Prioritizing rest and play, allowing myself to move at the pace of my soul
🌿 Saying yes to what excites me and releasing what feels heavy

More than ever, I trust that the path will reveal itself as I walk it.

An Invitation for You

If life is a spiral, then each birthday—each season, each moment—is an invitation to begin again.

So I ask you:
🔹 Where are you being called to grow, explore, or soften?
🔹 What possibilities are waiting just beyond your comfort zone?
🔹 What would it look like to trust your own unfolding?

There is no final destination, no finish line. There is only the journey—the beautiful, messy, sacred journey of becoming.

So here’s to stepping into possibility. To saying yes to what makes us come alive. To trusting that at any age, in any season, life is still calling us forward.

Here’s to 61. Here’s to joy, wonder, and expansion.

The Sacred Heart: A Valentine’s Day Devotion to Loving Yourself First

February 13, 2025 by Barb Brown

heart marker print

A Sacred Journey to Discover the Love Within

As February arrives and the world turns its gaze toward heart-shaped tokens and romantic gestures, it’s easy to feel swept away by the grand myth of love—a myth that often places fulfillment in the hands of another. But in the spirit of deep spirituality, today we turn inward, to the mythopoetic journey of self-love—a love as sacred as the eternal rhythms of the cosmos.

There is an ancient tale, whispered by mystics and echoed in the pages of myth, that before we can truly love another, we must descend into the depths of our own heart. In this place of inner knowing, where shadows dance and truths are unveiled, we discover that self-love is not an indulgence—it is the foundation of everything. This is the path of the Sacred Heart.

The Journey to the Sacred Heart

Imagine yourself standing at the entrance of a labyrinth. The path winds inward, circling through the landscapes of your past, your desires, your fears, and your dreams. This labyrinth is your soul’s terrain, a place where every turn asks you to shed the masks you wear and uncover the truths hidden beneath.

With each step, you are invited to leave behind the stories that say you are not enough. Feel the weight of old doubts and judgments fall away, like leaves releasing from branches in autumn. This is not a hurried journey—it is one of devotion, of gentle unfolding.

As you reach the heart of the labyrinth, you find a still, sacred pool reflecting the glow of a soft inner light. This is your Sacred Heart—a place where you are held by the universe itself, where you remember that your worth is not determined by external validation but by the very essence of your being.

Embracing Your Inner Beloved

On this Valentine’s Day, let the love you seek be the love you offer yourself. Become your own Beloved—a presence of kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. The mythic archetype of the Inner Beloved, found in many spiritual traditions, teaches us that we contain within ourselves all the love we need.

Think of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, not only as a symbol of romantic connection but as a reminder of the love that flows through every part of life. She is the sea, ever-changing yet eternal, and she reminds us that love begins with how we tend to our own soul’s waters.

Think of Eros, not only as a god of passion but as a force of creative longing—the desire to know yourself, to dive deeply into your essence, and to emerge renewed. The myths of the gods tell us what we sometimes forget: self-love is not stagnant. It is a journey of continual discovery.

Rituals of Self-Love

Today, honor yourself with a ritual as sacred as any lover’s vow. Here are a few ways to embrace this devotion:

1. Anoint Yourself: Create a sacred space with candles, oils, or perfumes that evoke a sense of warmth and connection. Anoint your heart or wrists with oil, whispering a loving affirmation: I am worthy of love, and it begins with me.

2. Write a Love Letter to Your Soul: Sit in quiet contemplation and write a letter to yourself. Acknowledge your strengths, your resilience, and the beauty of your journey. Let the words flow like poetry, without judgment or restraint.

3. Mirror Gazing: Stand before a mirror and gaze into your own eyes. Breathe deeply and repeat: I see you. I love you. I am here for you. Let the words sink in, even if they bring tears. The soul recognizes sincerity.

4. Create a Mythopoetic Vision Board: Gather images and symbols that resonate with your heart’s deepest desires. Include mythical symbols—the phoenix for rebirth, the lotus for spiritual awakening, the moon for intuition. This is your map of self-love.

The Ripple Effect of Self-Love

When we love ourselves first, we do not diminish our capacity to love others—we expand it. Self-love is not selfish; it is the fertile soil from which all love grows. When we nurture ourselves, we create a ripple effect that touches everyone around us. The love we give to ourselves becomes a gift to the world, inspiring others to embark on their own sacred journeys.

On this Valentine’s Day, may you honor the sacred within. May you find yourself standing at the heart of your own labyrinth, where the pulse of the universe beats in time with your own. And may you remember that you are already whole—a constellation of love, shining brightly in the night sky.

Blessed be, dear traveler of the Sacred Heart. You are your own Beloved, and that is the greatest love story of all.

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