In 1989, I made one of the most difficult decisions in my life ... the decision to follow my soul's calling rather than the voice of my ego that had been guiding my life up until then! After 12 years of academic pursuit at university, my soul was calling me to take a new direction and give up all I had thought would bring me happiness. I had believed since childhood that academic achievement would bring make me happy and make me feel loved by the world. My sense of self-worth was totally tied up in achievement!
As my life crumbled around me, I could no longer uphold the lie I had been sold by my ego and I was forced to delve deeper into the truth of my self. The problem was, I had no idea who I was nor what I truly wanted. All I knew was that I could no longer seek love and self-worth from my external success.
So I made the courageous decision to STOP all striving for success and to allow Life to reveal my deeper truth. I gave up my academic pursuits, my home, my relationship, my work as a Lifestyle Instructor ... and stepped into the unknown. In the darkness of having nothing and knowing nothing, a small flicker of knowing-ness grew to reveal a new vision of the future. Still unformed, the vision stayed with me for many years as a seed of possibility. It took many years to gestate as I went on my journey of self-discovery and self-healing, but throughout all of that time I never lost sight of the light within me. Even though I experienced homelessness, poverty, heartbreak, emotional abuse, physical violence, self-worth issues, painful childhood memories, doubt and fear ... I never once stopped believing in my dream that my life would unfold in glory to reveal my true inner riches so that I could share them with the world. I never let my inner light go out!
It's a long story, but in the end, I have been rewarded with what I call true success ... INNER SUCCESS! By this I mean the success of having become sovereign of my own inner kingdom. I am no longer subject to the vicissitudes of my small mind thinking, and even though fearful thoughts may pass through my mind, they are no more than passing clouds on an empty sky. I do not identify with these self-limiting thoughts ... they are not my true nature and so nothing can taint the truth of who I AM. Inner success is about being anchored in my essential being-ness, even though the sky may look stormy.
The liberation that this brings is enormous! There is no greater gift than this! And from this place, I am free to follow my dream and offer my gifts to the world without the need for approval. The sense of stability and certainty that comes from this place is reward indeed! And there are still challenges to come .. for as we grow, so we are able to climb greater heights and we are challenged to grow even more than we had imagined. To me, this is exciting! Life is full of new possibilities and, however challenging it may appear to be, I have learnt that nothing can rock my true eternal nature.
May you too have the courage to shine your light on all that you do ... may your inner light always guide you to grow and BE ALL THAT YOU ARE!
with love and blessings,
Amoda Maa Jeevan
Monday, 23 November 2009
Friday, 23 October 2009
Offering Your Gifts to the World
It takes courage to offer your gifts to the world. It takes stepping out beyond your comfort zone. It means taking a risk because success is never guaranteed .. at least in the form you think it ought to come in! Fear of failure is so often what prevents us from offering our true gifts to the world. How much easier it is to hide behind our smallness than to stand in the glaring spotlight of the world? How much easier it is to keep doing the same old familiar work and complain about being bored/trapped/uninspired/stressed/etc than to dig deep and share our authentic self without expectation of reward or praise?
And yet, when we do decide to authentically share what inspires us, what moves us, what empassions us, then something in our soul stirs and starts to smile. Inspiration is a higher form of motivation. When you're inspired, you're an inspiration to others. You can't help it .. it's contagious! Inspiration has the power to move a mountain, it has the power to touch people's hearts, it has the power to inspire someone else to be inspired.
All great acts arise from inspiration. And yet it does not matter whether what you offer the world is big or small. It does not matter whether you're a mother, an artist, a visionary or a corporate manager. What matters is whether you're offering your authenticity. It does not matter whether you touch millions or just one person. What matters is the depth of your inspiration.
Each of us has something unique to offer the world, something special that has the ability to touch someone. There is no "better" or "worse", no "higher" or "lower" : every job, every talent and every skill has its place in the world if you are offering it from the place of inspiration, authenticity, passion and joy.
And the thing is ... whatever is YOUR unique gift, when you take the plunge and declare your vision and mission to the world, then all the angels will gather round you to support you. Not always in the way you think they should! But support is there, in hidden and not hidden ways. The rewards of following your bliss and having the courage to offer your unique gifts to the world are rained upon you when you least expect it, when you've stopped demanding what you think is rightfully yours and you are simply doing what you do with arms wide open to welcome everything. Unwavering certainty in your vision and mission - and GRATITUDE - are the keys to reaping the rewards when you step out of your comfort zone to offer your gifts to the world.
Which would you rather have ... a life of unfullfilment or a life of soul nourishment? Which would you rather have ... a life of repetitive comfort or a life of exciting possibilities?
I know which one I'd rather have! I choose to be the author of my life, I choose to share my passion with the world, I choose to be inspired in all that I do. I choose to be grateful for the opportunities that come my way that allow me to offer my gifts to the world. And I choose to open my arms and welcome all the ups and downs that each hold a hidden gift when I have the wisdom to look inside the heart of every situation.
Remember ... you were born on this Earth to fulfill a divine purpose. Don't miss this opportunity to be all that you can be and to share this with the world. Don't give in to your comfort zone. Be a warrior of the heart and choose your greatness not your smallness! The world needs you to be great. Offer your magnificence and you will be magnificent! Shine your light on the world and the world will shine a light to guide your path through this earthly incarnation.
with endless love and a thousand blessings,
Amoda
And yet, when we do decide to authentically share what inspires us, what moves us, what empassions us, then something in our soul stirs and starts to smile. Inspiration is a higher form of motivation. When you're inspired, you're an inspiration to others. You can't help it .. it's contagious! Inspiration has the power to move a mountain, it has the power to touch people's hearts, it has the power to inspire someone else to be inspired.
All great acts arise from inspiration. And yet it does not matter whether what you offer the world is big or small. It does not matter whether you're a mother, an artist, a visionary or a corporate manager. What matters is whether you're offering your authenticity. It does not matter whether you touch millions or just one person. What matters is the depth of your inspiration.
Each of us has something unique to offer the world, something special that has the ability to touch someone. There is no "better" or "worse", no "higher" or "lower" : every job, every talent and every skill has its place in the world if you are offering it from the place of inspiration, authenticity, passion and joy.
And the thing is ... whatever is YOUR unique gift, when you take the plunge and declare your vision and mission to the world, then all the angels will gather round you to support you. Not always in the way you think they should! But support is there, in hidden and not hidden ways. The rewards of following your bliss and having the courage to offer your unique gifts to the world are rained upon you when you least expect it, when you've stopped demanding what you think is rightfully yours and you are simply doing what you do with arms wide open to welcome everything. Unwavering certainty in your vision and mission - and GRATITUDE - are the keys to reaping the rewards when you step out of your comfort zone to offer your gifts to the world.
Which would you rather have ... a life of unfullfilment or a life of soul nourishment? Which would you rather have ... a life of repetitive comfort or a life of exciting possibilities?
I know which one I'd rather have! I choose to be the author of my life, I choose to share my passion with the world, I choose to be inspired in all that I do. I choose to be grateful for the opportunities that come my way that allow me to offer my gifts to the world. And I choose to open my arms and welcome all the ups and downs that each hold a hidden gift when I have the wisdom to look inside the heart of every situation.
Remember ... you were born on this Earth to fulfill a divine purpose. Don't miss this opportunity to be all that you can be and to share this with the world. Don't give in to your comfort zone. Be a warrior of the heart and choose your greatness not your smallness! The world needs you to be great. Offer your magnificence and you will be magnificent! Shine your light on the world and the world will shine a light to guide your path through this earthly incarnation.
with endless love and a thousand blessings,
Amoda
Monday, 28 September 2009
Earth - a song by Kavi with the Stardoves (USA)
This really tickled me! My dear friend Shahid from India put Kavi's song "Earth" together with some photos of the Stardoves in Ashville, USA. It's all about the reawakening of the Atlantean Crystal and Lightbody Activation held in the memory of the Smokey Mountains. Bring it on, I say!
Watch it here ...
with love and blessings,
Amoda
Watch it here ...
with love and blessings,
Amoda
2 Short Movies - Love in Action and The Vision
This month I've been busy talking about 2 of my favorite topics - Love in Action and the Vision that Holds the Key to Humanity's Transformation (and Changed My Life) - so I've created 2 short movies.
Watch Love in Action here
And watch The Vision here
with love and blessings,
Amoda
Watch Love in Action here
And watch The Vision here
with love and blessings,
Amoda
A Better World Radio Interview
I was delighted to be a guest on A Better World Radio Show hosted by Mitchell Jay Rabin, this month. We had a wonderful warm and honest conversation about how I got my name, some of my personal story and how I went on a journey of transformation from the depths of darkness to the lightness of Being. Mitchell was an engaging host, bringing his wisdom as a psychotherapist and "spiritual activist" to our time together.
You can listen to the 30 minute interview here http://www.abetterworld.net/tv
We'll be continuing this conversation live in October when I fly to New York to be Mitchell's guest on A Better World TV!
with love and blessings,
Amoda
You can listen to the 30 minute interview here http://www.abetterworld.net/tv
We'll be continuing this conversation live in October when I fly to New York to be Mitchell's guest on A Better World TV!
with love and blessings,
Amoda
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
The Power Within
The most magnificent power of all is the power WITHIN you. When you stop looking outside of yourself for that which you think you need in order to feel powerful, and instead you look within to discover your TRUE POWER, then you will be truly powerful!
True power does not reside in that which can be perceived by the 5 senses, it cannot be attained by trying to gain power over the material world, it cannot be grasped at because it does not inhabit the fleeting nature of the world of phenomena. True power cannot be found through status, money, romantic love or knowledge, because all these things are subject to the ebb and flow of life, they all come and go.
True power resides in that which is not fleeting or transient, but in that which is ever-lasting and unchanging. In other words, that within which everything else comes and goes. And this is the unchanging state of your consciousness, your witness-self, your Sky-nature through which the clouds pass. It is your I AM-ness ... not I am this or I am that, not I am rich or I am poor, not I am a Muslim or I am a Christian, but simply I AM! Your I AM-ness is your Being-nature, your essential and eternal spiritual nature. It is the ONLY TRUE POWER you have, because no-one and no-thing can take this away from you! It is the jewel of your true self, that which cannot be touched, tainted or tarnished by external events, fleeting emotions or turbulent thoughts. It is your unconditional and unlimited Being-ness.
When you recognize and awaken to this power, you align your inner power to the power of the Universe and you come to know yourself as a conscious co-creator of your life. When you choose to stop being a victim of circumstance and instead choose to get anchored in the truth of your infinite nature, you become powerful because you are the author of your reality. You cannot be a victim of life .. unless you choose to be! You have the power to choose how you think and feel, and you have the power to choose what you say and do ... you are creating your reality ALL THE TIME, for better or for worse!
Now is the time to awaken and choose to co-create your world AS YOU WISH IT TO BE! Choose love not fear, choose to be an "enlightened warrior" not a passive observer of the drama of your life, choose to take action not be a victim, choose new life-affirming beliefs not the comfort-zone of your self-limitations!
We live in times of change .. and it is up to each one of us to choose be an active agent of change in our own lives and in the world around us. Outer change comes from inner transformation because the outer always reflects the inner. Real lasting change in the world comes from each of us having the courage to make the inner changes that will empower us to live and express our true brilliance. One person at a time is how we change the world. It is our responsibility to live and express our true brilliance so that we can shine a light for others to also be empowered to live and express their true brilliance. Now is the time!
May each of us be truly brilliant ... may each of us live our highest potential and shine like the star that we are for all to see!
with love and blessings.
Amoda
True power does not reside in that which can be perceived by the 5 senses, it cannot be attained by trying to gain power over the material world, it cannot be grasped at because it does not inhabit the fleeting nature of the world of phenomena. True power cannot be found through status, money, romantic love or knowledge, because all these things are subject to the ebb and flow of life, they all come and go.
True power resides in that which is not fleeting or transient, but in that which is ever-lasting and unchanging. In other words, that within which everything else comes and goes. And this is the unchanging state of your consciousness, your witness-self, your Sky-nature through which the clouds pass. It is your I AM-ness ... not I am this or I am that, not I am rich or I am poor, not I am a Muslim or I am a Christian, but simply I AM! Your I AM-ness is your Being-nature, your essential and eternal spiritual nature. It is the ONLY TRUE POWER you have, because no-one and no-thing can take this away from you! It is the jewel of your true self, that which cannot be touched, tainted or tarnished by external events, fleeting emotions or turbulent thoughts. It is your unconditional and unlimited Being-ness.
When you recognize and awaken to this power, you align your inner power to the power of the Universe and you come to know yourself as a conscious co-creator of your life. When you choose to stop being a victim of circumstance and instead choose to get anchored in the truth of your infinite nature, you become powerful because you are the author of your reality. You cannot be a victim of life .. unless you choose to be! You have the power to choose how you think and feel, and you have the power to choose what you say and do ... you are creating your reality ALL THE TIME, for better or for worse!
Now is the time to awaken and choose to co-create your world AS YOU WISH IT TO BE! Choose love not fear, choose to be an "enlightened warrior" not a passive observer of the drama of your life, choose to take action not be a victim, choose new life-affirming beliefs not the comfort-zone of your self-limitations!
We live in times of change .. and it is up to each one of us to choose be an active agent of change in our own lives and in the world around us. Outer change comes from inner transformation because the outer always reflects the inner. Real lasting change in the world comes from each of us having the courage to make the inner changes that will empower us to live and express our true brilliance. One person at a time is how we change the world. It is our responsibility to live and express our true brilliance so that we can shine a light for others to also be empowered to live and express their true brilliance. Now is the time!
May each of us be truly brilliant ... may each of us live our highest potential and shine like the star that we are for all to see!
with love and blessings.
Amoda
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
Peace Begins Within
In a world of increasing chaos, confusion, war and violence, the most important question we can ask ourselves is:
"Am I at peace with myself?"
There's no point wagging our fingers at those who appear to be the perpetrators of war, terror, crime and violence ... because real change never comes from trying to fix what's wrong on the outside. There's no point blaming those "in power" for our collective suffering ... because real change cannot happen when we are caught up in blame, judgment, hatred or feeling victimized.
Real change can only happen when we take full responsibility for how we respond to what's happening. It is up to us - as individuals - to choose a new way of responding to circumstances, to move away from the old fear-based paradigm of separation to a new love-based paradigm of oneness. Responding to the world in the same old way only creates more of the same. And unless we fundamentally change ourselves, the world cannot change ... because no amount of fighting to save the world will ultimately create a harmonious humanity if we are still divided within. How can we embrace the world if we cannot embrace ourselves?
Taking full responsibility for an inner transformation in the way we see things is the only chance we have of creating a real change in our external world and how we experience things. We live in a holographic universe, in which the microcosm always reflects the macrocosm. What we perceive outside of ourselves is a reflection of what's going on inside ourselves. WE are the ones responsible for creating the world we want to live in ... because PEACE BEGINS WITHIN.
Until we can embrace our own shadow, until we can acknowledge the darkness within ourselves, until we can love ourselves totally - warts and all - we will always project outwards what we are hiding in ourselves. Self-love is the answer to world peace. By loving ourselves, we forgive our darkness, we forgive all those parts of ourselves that we pushed down because they were deemed unacceptable by our parents, our schooling, our peers, our society. And whatever we repress - whether it be anger, sadness, jealousy, despair, or any other "unsavory" emotion - will end up lurking in the shadows of our subconscious, waiting to pounce unexpectedly. Because we cannot go on repressing an energy ... eventually it will want to burst out and see the clear light of day, The only problem is, by the time this energy gathers enough momentum to make itself seen, it has become distorted from living in the darkness for so long and ends up becoming a monster. Anger becomes murderous rage and violence, sadness becomes stuckness and disempowerment, jealousy becomes envy and manipulation, despair becomes depression and suicidal tendencies, etc. Put all this into the collective soup and you have the recipe for a world exactly as we see it today!
Loving ourselves, being kind and compassionate to those parts of ourselves that have been treated with unkindness in the past, means we start to heal and make whole. Accepting ourselves exactly as we are means we accept others exactly as they are. And this is the seed of peace in the world. A peaceful world can only arise when we are each at peace with ourselves. And when we start making peace with ourselves, we also start to make peace with all aspects of our lives.
Are we at peace with our friends and our family - or do we hold them responsible for our own pain? Are we at peace with our bodies - or do we treat our bodies as if they are just inert lumps of matter, to be used and abused? Are we at peace with our thoughts - or do we try to push them away or beat up on ourselves when we have negative thoughts? Are we at peace with our feelings - or do we try to deny those feelings that make us uncomfortable? Are we at peace with our work - or do we hate what we do and dream of retirement? Are we at peace with money - or do we see it as the root of all evil? Are we at peace with the world - or do we blame or hate the government, the scientists, the economists, etc for our current state of affairs? Are we at peace with our planet - or do we take what we can from her so that we can feather own nest regardless of the cost? Are we at peace with God - or do we fear Him lest we do wrong and do we hold Him responsible for all that we see as evil in the world?
Without asking ourselves these questions, the seeds of peace will not be sown. We need to be ruthlessly honest with ourselves and be resolute in living a peaceful life ... one step at a time. Living a life of peace means living a life of love. Every step we take in loving ourselves and loving our lives, brings us closer to our true undivided nature, our essential wholeness and holiness. Every step we take to embrace and embody our inner wholeness, brings us closer to our divinity. When we live in the recognition of our divinity, all our actions will be expressions of divinity. And divinity always wants the highest good for all. New possibilities, new outcomes, new solutions will arise when we express and create through our divinity. And the possibility of a new world begins to take shape when divinity is the foundation of our life here on Earth.
One step at a time ... in every moment ask yourself "Am I at peace with myself?" And if the answer is no, don't act hastily ... but wait and go inside to find out what it is within yourself that you are not loving. And when you have found this, take it tenderly into your heart and hold it there, just allowing it to BE, allowing it to breathe, allowing it to exist in the light of awareness. And wait .. until what was deemed to be dark or bad or wrong is now dissolved into the love that is your true nature. Only act from a place of love. Only act when you are at peace with yourself.
Real change can only happen when we take full responsibility for how we respond to what's happening. It is up to us - as individuals - to choose a new way of responding to circumstances, to move away from the old fear-based paradigm of separation to a new love-based paradigm of oneness. Responding to the world in the same old way only creates more of the same. And unless we fundamentally change ourselves, the world cannot change ... because no amount of fighting to save the world will ultimately create a harmonious humanity if we are still divided within. How can we embrace the world if we cannot embrace ourselves?
Taking full responsibility for an inner transformation in the way we see things is the only chance we have of creating a real change in our external world and how we experience things. We live in a holographic universe, in which the microcosm always reflects the macrocosm. What we perceive outside of ourselves is a reflection of what's going on inside ourselves. WE are the ones responsible for creating the world we want to live in ... because PEACE BEGINS WITHIN.
Until we can embrace our own shadow, until we can acknowledge the darkness within ourselves, until we can love ourselves totally - warts and all - we will always project outwards what we are hiding in ourselves. Self-love is the answer to world peace. By loving ourselves, we forgive our darkness, we forgive all those parts of ourselves that we pushed down because they were deemed unacceptable by our parents, our schooling, our peers, our society. And whatever we repress - whether it be anger, sadness, jealousy, despair, or any other "unsavory" emotion - will end up lurking in the shadows of our subconscious, waiting to pounce unexpectedly. Because we cannot go on repressing an energy ... eventually it will want to burst out and see the clear light of day, The only problem is, by the time this energy gathers enough momentum to make itself seen, it has become distorted from living in the darkness for so long and ends up becoming a monster. Anger becomes murderous rage and violence, sadness becomes stuckness and disempowerment, jealousy becomes envy and manipulation, despair becomes depression and suicidal tendencies, etc. Put all this into the collective soup and you have the recipe for a world exactly as we see it today!
Loving ourselves, being kind and compassionate to those parts of ourselves that have been treated with unkindness in the past, means we start to heal and make whole. Accepting ourselves exactly as we are means we accept others exactly as they are. And this is the seed of peace in the world. A peaceful world can only arise when we are each at peace with ourselves. And when we start making peace with ourselves, we also start to make peace with all aspects of our lives.
Are we at peace with our friends and our family - or do we hold them responsible for our own pain? Are we at peace with our bodies - or do we treat our bodies as if they are just inert lumps of matter, to be used and abused? Are we at peace with our thoughts - or do we try to push them away or beat up on ourselves when we have negative thoughts? Are we at peace with our feelings - or do we try to deny those feelings that make us uncomfortable? Are we at peace with our work - or do we hate what we do and dream of retirement? Are we at peace with money - or do we see it as the root of all evil? Are we at peace with the world - or do we blame or hate the government, the scientists, the economists, etc for our current state of affairs? Are we at peace with our planet - or do we take what we can from her so that we can feather own nest regardless of the cost? Are we at peace with God - or do we fear Him lest we do wrong and do we hold Him responsible for all that we see as evil in the world?
Without asking ourselves these questions, the seeds of peace will not be sown. We need to be ruthlessly honest with ourselves and be resolute in living a peaceful life ... one step at a time. Living a life of peace means living a life of love. Every step we take in loving ourselves and loving our lives, brings us closer to our true undivided nature, our essential wholeness and holiness. Every step we take to embrace and embody our inner wholeness, brings us closer to our divinity. When we live in the recognition of our divinity, all our actions will be expressions of divinity. And divinity always wants the highest good for all. New possibilities, new outcomes, new solutions will arise when we express and create through our divinity. And the possibility of a new world begins to take shape when divinity is the foundation of our life here on Earth.
One step at a time ... in every moment ask yourself "Am I at peace with myself?" And if the answer is no, don't act hastily ... but wait and go inside to find out what it is within yourself that you are not loving. And when you have found this, take it tenderly into your heart and hold it there, just allowing it to BE, allowing it to breathe, allowing it to exist in the light of awareness. And wait .. until what was deemed to be dark or bad or wrong is now dissolved into the love that is your true nature. Only act from a place of love. Only act when you are at peace with yourself.
May you live in peace, may you be at peace with yourself.
May all beings live in peace, may all beings be at peace with themselves.
May all beings live in peace, may all beings be at peace with themselves.
with Love and Blessings,
Amoda
Amoda
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