What are you afraid of?

I'm nestled in our cozy den, lounging on my plush cream couch, gazing around this dear room and sweet little tree we brought into our home just yesterday...

I'm lost in dreams of wandering around, discovering more ornaments, reshaping the energy in my home, penning my thoughts, and letting my holiday dreams take flight...

And a LIZARD'S head emerges from the edge of my fireplace!! 

Honestly, my startle response fully took over my nervous system, and continues to flush in and out, as I stare into his eyes from across the room now.

I know I'm safe, yet this instinctive reaction that seizes control of my nervous system holds me captive.

So, I sit and observe.

I immerse myself in the experience.

I can't tear my eyes away from him. There he is, perched on the side of my fireplace, claiming it as his own, because I'm certainly not going to challenge him. And when he's out of sight, how will I ever find peace again? 

Isn't it fascinating how we weave these narratives in our minds? We convince ourselves that we're unsafe unless things are just so, even as the world around us teems with beauty. 

As a child, I would tiptoe around the house after everyone had gone to sleep for the night, pressing my ear next to their faces to make sure they were still breathing... to confirm they were still with us.

I used to fear Spirits and also their reminder of our mortality, the urgency to cherish each day and moment, knowing that life as we know it would change one day. 

But as I've grown and communicated with Spirits, I've come to understand that we don't cease to exist, we simply transition into another realm that coexists with this one.

We become even more vibrant, more present. We remain aware and supportive, even after we've passed.

We continue to see and hear our loved ones, guiding them like a beacon. And sometimes, we might startle them, because they're unsure of what to expect from our presence in this form. 

Your loved ones are always with you. 

This week, during the holiday... 

The following week, and the one after that, when it's just an ordinary day. 

We never truly part ways, we simply reconfigure our existence. :) Much like the rearranging I'll be doing in my home this holiday season. 

And as for my unexpected lizard guest, I'll reshape that feeling of fear, too, by sitting with it.

By acknowledging his presence, and adjusting mine. I invite you to do the same with your loved ones in Spirit.

Welcome them.

Light a candle and open yourself up to the possibility of them sitting right next to you. Then, simply feel it.

Because they are there, right by your side.

And the irony isn't lost on me... "Ghosts" don't frighten me, but lizards do.