Shine Your Light

 “Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.”  
-Matthew 5

This past weekend I attended a spiritual retreat with eight other women. It was facilitated by two, gifted, spiritual teachers. At the beginning of the weekend we met as a group and were asked to express our intention for the retreat. Participants spoke of fun and laughter, connection, spiritual community, nurturing, self-love, and more fully embodying the soul self. It was as if each one spoke a piece for the whole group. My intention was spiritual rejuvenation and re-energizing. What I received was all of that and something more.

On the first, full day of the retreat, participants received individual energy work/channeling sessions with each of the facilitators. The sessions, following one upon the other, combined to create more than the sum of their parts. My sessions catalyzed a new understanding of my inner child.

It looked like this. Throughout my personal development journey of many years, I have focused attention on healing the wounded child within. She and I have come a long way together. I love and cherish her now in a way I could not have imagined many years ago.

Yet, in all this time I forgot that other inner child, the child before the wounding. She is that spunky little one who expressed my soul openly. She felt enthusiasm for life, enjoying every day.

My nine-year-old granddaughter recently stayed overnight with us. We awoke early in the morning, 5:30 AM. Neither of us was ready to get up and she came and snuggled in bed with me. After a few minutes I asked her if she was ready to get up. She said, “Yes!” and jumped up, full of morning cheer.

I sat up, pulling the covers up around my shoulders and sleepily said, “I’m not sure I’m ready.”

She answered with deep wisdom, “If you don’t get up, you’ll miss all the fun things that are happening today!” We hadn’t planned to do anything special, but her enthusiasm made that day special for all of us.

That’s who my inner child used to be, the one who most fully expressed the joyous light and love of my soul.

For me, spiritual rejuvenation looks like getting back in touch with that part of myself and allowing her to more fully express through me. Expressing the part of me that is filled with enthusiasm for each day. That part of me is energized and connected with my inner being.

She is happy, and when she is not, she doesn’t hold back. She expresses whatever it is she is feeling. I have to go quite a way back in years to get in touch with her because she learned early to mask all that light and energy.

The question now is, how do we get in touch with that part of ourselves, the child we were before the wounds, the child who freely expressed the pure energy of our inner being? How do we remove the covering basket, reignite the flame, and allow our light to shine for all?

Because even one shining light makes a difference.

During the individual sessions I received at the retreat the subject was approached in two ways.

The first was about balancing my energy, and giving special attention to the particular areas that needed it. This felt like caring and nurture for my inner being as stuck energy was moved and my system balanced.

The second session focused upon getting in touch with my younger inner child, the one before the wounding. What came up first was the name that I was christened with, a name I haven’t used for years, Hollis. Then, activities that I particularly loved to do as a child, bike riding and expressive dancing.

Today’s Spiritual Toolbox is all about applying these ideas in your life and getting in touch with the joyous, loving being you truly are; the being whose shining light can make a difference in our world.

Photo by Randy Fath on Unsplash

Your Spiritual Toolbox

Here are several ideas for getting in touch with your joyful inner child and encouraging her to express more freely in your adult life.
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Young children are highly aware and sensitive beings. You can see their soul selves looking out through their eyes and hear them in their bubbling laughter.

Young children know what they like and don’t like. They know what feels good, what is fun and joyful, and they know what comforts and nurtures them.

Remember back to a time when you felt comforted and nurtured as a child. Perhaps you were playing in a warm, bubble bath, or getting tucked into your cozy, soft bed. Maybe you were eating your favorite snack, or getting a hug from a loving adult because you skinned your knee.

Find ways to include elements of that cared for, nurtured feeling in your adult life.

Using the examples from above, you could make warm, bubble baths a regular part of your self-care routine. You could make your bed extra cozy with a billowy, down comforter and soft, fluffy pillows. You might allow yourself your inner child’s favorite snack as a regular event. You could love and nurture yourself with your thoughts and give yourself an ‘inner hug’ whenever you skin your metaphorical knee.

Next, think about those activities that you loved to do as a young child. What felt like free expression of your inner self? What activities felt joyful and brought delight? What did you do just because it was fun and felt good?
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As a young child I loved to twirl and dance. I used to spin with arms outstretched until I was so dizzy, I fell down. Other times I’d freestyle dance because the movement just felt good. Then there was bike riding. It was a central part of my childhood, riding all around the neighborhood, exploring and adventuring.

How about you? What did you love to do as a child that would add joy and fun to your adult life?

Listen for the yearnings of the child within you. Her clear light speaks from your inner being. She’ll tell you how you can shine your light brightly so that others may be inspired to shine theirs.

Photo by Gabby Orcutt on Unsplash