DARKNESS and LIGHT

DARKNESS and LIGHT ~ Babs '12
Raven Spirit teaches us about duality and the magic that comes from moving through the dark times in our lives. Out of the dark, comes the light. If we do not experience challenges on our journey we would be unable to recognize and bask in the blessings that come from those dark times. 

Ravens are one of the strongest, smartest, and hardiest of the winged ones that fly among us. They endure cold, dark Arctic winters and remind us to hang on and move through the seasons and cycles of our lives, trusting that winter does not last forever. 

It's not always easy moving through the dark and challenging times in our lives, in whatever form they appear.  It seems we humans find it easier to resist accepting times of pain and hardship and feeling like life isn't fair, when it is, in fact part of life.  If we learn to embrace those times, meaning we accept them as part of our life experience, at some point we understand the reason.  We will see the blessing in disguise that comes from such a time.  The good isn't always apparent immediately, but if we trust that it is there, and will show itself eventually, we will have an easier time making sense of this life and all that appears to work against us.

When dark times fall upon us, we have an opportunity to learn forgiveness, peace and to open our hearts rather than close up more and resist life on life's terms.  Dark times often see us experiencing an outpouring of love from others who are aware of our pain.  We can oftentimes use these experiences to heal and get stronger then help others who will experience similar hardships after us.

Take Hurricane Sandy for instance (or any other 'tragedy'), we can look at the devastation and see only that, or we can help by praying or donating and watch and listen to the stories of love that come as a result of the darkness.  People have opened their hearts and homes to help others in a city where many people were walking through life numb and taking daily blessings for granted.  

If, while we are experiencing grief and sadness and chaos, we are looking for the crumbs (and I say crumbs because sometimes that's all there is) of goodness among the debris, the experience can't break our Spirits.

For me personally, and only in the past ten years after a very dark time in my own life, I've found myself getting closer to Spirit instead of further away (where I used to go).  While I don't always understand the bigger reasons right away, I trust there is a grand plan that is bigger than me and us.  I've also found that because of my dark times, I've found my heart more open than it's ever been.  I've allowed it to soften my hard edges and find myself experiencing joy on levels I'd yet to experience.  If I'd not known the dark, I'd not have recognized the light and for that I am truly grateful.  I've also come to know that I am strong enough to move through whatever is coming next.  

Winter doesn't last forever, only for a season.

Peace, Love & Duality

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