Join Our Global Community

/ Lauri Ann Lumby / Leave a comment

Sanctuary: a place of refuge or safety.

Global gatherings starting May 21, 2025

Humanity is participating in and bearing witness to a powerful transition in an evolution of itself and the way it chooses to live and interact on this planet.  At first glance it may appear as if empires are collapsing. Gazing beyond the collapse we behold the new world being born. To navigate the crossroads of the old world dying and the new world birthing, we are called to be sanctuary for each other while cultivating and deepening our ability to be sanctuary for ourselves.

Sanctuary calls together and provides support for those called to be Love in a world troubled by division and hate.

Sanctuary bears witness to the destruction of fear-based institutions while being midwife to a new world seeking to be born.

Sanctuary seeks to uphold the dignity and rights of every human being, especially the most vulnerable and marginalized among us.

*If caring about the dignity, rights, and needs of others makes us “liberal” or “woke,” then so we are.

Become a Global Member

Global membership includes:

  • Live, monthly online gatherings starting May 2025
  • Access to free inspirational videos
  • Free written articles and lessons
  • Support of a global community
  • Affordable pricing

Learn more and join

The Heartbreak is Real

/ Lauri Ann Lumby / Leave a comment

I shared the other day about living in the 13th dimension and how this often feels like living in two different worlds. Today I find myself very much in the density of the 3d world (the world of duality and separation) and in that density feeling deeply and profoundly sad.

While I (and many others) have known the collapse of the empire was coming, there is nothing that can prepare us for how truly brutal and heartbreaking that collapse would be. As the stock market lost another 2200 points Friday, I found myself in a state of panic that was truly not my own. I have zero savings and no investments, so I have nothing to lose when the market crashes. I suspect it is the empath in me that is feeling this impact as millions of people watch their retirement and investment accounts disintegrate. As I know nothing really about stocks, I can’t help but wonder if this is a really big “big short,” purposefully initiated to make billionaires even richer. Or if the goal is to absolutely destroy the American economy. Either/both feel likely. Combine this with the elimination of free-trade, and even the non-empathic part of me fears that an economic depression is upon us (who am I kidding….the depression is already here). This does not bode well for the poor or middle class. It’s likely not even good for the low to middle upper class.

Economics notwithstanding, my heart is breaking over the violence being done to immigrants (legal and non-legal), transgender youth and adults, student protestors exercising their right to free speech, and all those around the planet who are suffering under wartime violence that has been in-part supported by the United States (Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Yemen, to name a few). And in what universe is it appropriate to seek the expansion of American territories by seizing other people’s lands?

Further, there are the questions of human rights – most pointedly – those (supposedly) guaranteed by our Constitution. There are proposals in place that would effectively eliminate a married woman’s right to vote (for example). Rhetoric has been thrown around about certain men wanting women to have more babies – as if this is the sole purpose of a woman. It may interest many to know that The Handmaid’s Tale was not meant to be a work of prophecy. Yet here we are.

And don’t get me started on the “Christian Right.” When (Speaker of the House) Mike Johnson speaks, I can assure you he knows NOT what he speaks. If he has read the bible, he seems to have missed the point.

Finally, there’s the burning question about the system of checks and balances that we were taught to believe would keep illegal things from happening and would protect our Constitution. Until four senators voted against Trump’s tariffs and Cory Booker completed his record-breaking 25-hour filibuster, Congress and the Supreme Court have remained silent. It makes me wonder – are they all in on it? Whatever “it” is. I’ve also been wondering at the silence of past presidents. (Thank you President Obama for finally speaking out!)

It is a sad and tragic time for the United States, and, by association, for the rest of the world. I’m grateful for my international friends who continue to offer words of support, knowing and understanding that it is truly the minority of Americans who support what is happening politically and economically, and that the majority of us want something else from our country.

Whereas the American dream has always been a kind of a lie, there are deep truths buried underneath the biases of the founding fathers. As outlined in the Constitution of the United States:

  • A government by and for the people (all people).
  • Insuring a fair and impartial legal system (for ALL).
  • Seeking after and supporting peace.
  • Promoting the well-being of all its citizens (while advocating for the well-being of all people on this planet).
  • Securing liberty and freedom for ALL.
  • And protecting the rights of its citizens as outlined in the Bill of Rights.

Whereas these statements may originally have been intended only for white landowners, for 250 years these words have been a beacon of hope and provided a vision of potential for all the United States can and could be. Many (including myself) still believe in this implied vision and in the continued expansion of this vision to include all those who find their way to our shores, and every single human being living within the boundaries of our nation today. Until the rights of all are ensured and protected, then the United States is only a shell of what it could be – and an ugly shell at that. Shame on us if we allow the very few who hold the gold to strip away the rights that so many have died defending.

I am deeply saddened by what I am witnessing as the collapse of what our nation and the dream of what could have been. I also believe (wish/hope) that the dying we are currently observing is leading to the beginning of something better. I can envision the something better – all that the Constitution promises and then some – but in the meantime, my heart is breaking over all those who will be the unwitting carnage of the empire seemingly intent on destroying itself.

Living in the Thirteenth Dimension

/ Lauri Ann Lumby / 4 Comments

Welcome to Lauri Woo Land!  This is where I share my experience with interdimensional living and the journey that allows us to “travel” from one plane of existence to another.

I typically leave these insights for those who have been teaching and speaking about ascension, starseeds, wayshowers, and dare I say aliens, long before I had the language to describe what I have seemingly always known. Since the beginning of March, and most especially the last few days, I have experienced an uptick in experiences and symptoms related to dimensional transitions that I felt I might share in case others in this community are feeling some of the same.

For the last many years, the new age and ascension communities have spoken at length about humanity’s evolution from third-dimensional beings to fifth-dimensional beings. Many have spoken of this evolution creating a split in the world – some remaining in 3d reality while others are choosing to migrate to 5d – the latter known in, and defined by, unity consciousness.

As demonstrated by the wisest among us, unity consciousness has always been available to humanity as it is our original and truest nature. Jesus and Mary Magdalene, the Buddha, Lao Tsu, Kuan Yin, and all the great Indigenous shamans and Indian gurus dwelt within unity consciousness and left behind teachings on how to access this level of consciousness ourselves.

Unity consciousness is nothing new, it has simply been forgotten or is ignored by much of humanity. Instead, human beings take the teachings of these great teachers and twist them to fit their own fear-filled agendas, preferring separation and division to the peace and love modeled by these great teachers.

Outside of unity consciousness, humanity has come to define their experience by fear and have sought power and control over others in an attempt to vanquish their fear. Instead of vanquishment, however, humanity has simply bred more fear.

Division is a choice. So too is Love. Harnessing the teachings and practices of Love modeled and left behind by these great teachers, we can transcend the fear that seems to define the human condition. The more Love we embrace, the more fear is released, and we are increasingly free to live in the heaven of unity consciousness instead of the hell of separation.

There are telltale signs that we are escaping the imprisonment of 3d (fear based) consciousness.  These are the signs I have been experiencing more frequently which suggest to me that escape velocity is approaching, allowing us, not to depart from the human experience, but to knowing a human experience in which fear no longer holds sway and in which Love becomes the Law (or rather, the Law of Love is restored).

Before I get into the signs – it is important to recognize that we are NOT leaving the human experience. Instead, we will be able to navigate human experience as objective witnesses while enjoying the fruitfulness of a Love-based world. I imagine it will be as if there are two worlds existing side by side – or rather one within the other. It’s kind of like Jesus when he spoke of the “Kingdom of God” being within us. He was able to live in the midst of the separation of the human world while maintaining composure and contentment and performing seemingly miraculous feats. (Were Jesus’ “miracles” actually miracles or the natural workings of a consciousness we have not yet attained? The yoga master Patanjali would suggest it was the latter).

For my entire life I have been applying the (original) teachings of Jesus, along with those of other spiritual masters, and I can attest to their efficacy. The healing and liberation I have experienced in my life cannot be understated. At the same time, these teachings have supported me in making peace with freedoms and liberties I have lost through trauma and chronic illness. (Those who say that ascension means the end of all sickness, etc. are wrong.)

I am a different person today than I was thirty years ago – rather, I’m more of my most authentic self. I’ve learned how to be vulnerable, to trust my intuition (gut) above all else, and to name and claim my boundaries. I’m breaking away from co-dependency, caretaking and my wound-based need to fix things. Those imbedded in the 3d world might say I’m an asshole because the rules to which they ascribe no longer apply to me. (PS  people thinking you’re an asshole is a HUGE sign that you are escaping 3d consciousness).

With that, let’s get on with the signs that you are successfully traveling away from separation consciousness toward unity consciousness and beyond.

  1. People think you are an asshole for setting boundaries (saying no to those things which are not life-giving to you).
  2. You are able to observe the conflict of the human experience without needing to react. You can observe it, perhaps feeling sad, frustrated, or disappointed in human beings, but are able to rise above it.
  3. You often find yourself misunderstood. No matter the effort or the words you use, people cannot grasp what you are trying to say – except others living from Love.
  4. You have compassion for all of humanity – even those whose actions you don’t especially like. You can look past their actions to the fear or unhealed wound that would cause them to act in non-loving ways.
  5. You have experiences of feeling invisible or of people not hearing you. You have even had experiences of the majority of human beings having zero awareness that you are even here on this plane.
  6. No matter how hard you try or what time you put in, you find yourself unable to “succeed” in 3d terms. Perhaps “real” jobs elude you. Maybe you can’t catch a financial break. You may suffer from unexplainable illnesses that make it difficult if not impossible for you to hold a “real” job.
  7. You find yourself becoming ill when engaging in the 3d world. (For example, if I read the news or fall down the rabbit hole of American politics, I feel anxious, distracted, dissociating, and sick. Too much time on social media does the same).
  8. You have lost interest in the 3d world. (this is different than depression).  For me, this disinterest is manifesting in a feeling of “being done.” I’m done trying to convince people to be Love, or that there is another way to live. I’m done warning 3d humans of what is to come. I tried. No one listened. Now they are suffering the consequences of their actions. (I am one to say, “I told you so!”)
  9. You feel detached from humanity’s choice to continue living in separation and the consequences of those choices.
  10. You feel as if you are here with and for those who want to be Love. You also feel content to let others continue to choose separation.
  11. You feel as if you are living in another world.
  12. You find yourself with a close company of “weird” friends who understand Love and also want to be Love in the world.
  13. You no longer care if others think you’re weird.
  14. You feel truly seen by those who have also chosen Love.

Living beyond 3d consciousness is not the whoo-whoo/la la that many make it out to be. It is not rainbows and unicorns. Neither is it necessarily bliss. Instead, it is the ability to be witness to the human experience with all its imperfections and tragedies and not be destroyed by it. It is the ability to hold on to Love no matter how much we are tempted to hate. It is the willingness to accept responsibility for our unhealed wounds and the actions that might still come from our own place of fear. It is the ability to show up every moment of every day to our practice, returning again and again and again to Source when the human experience of separation tries to pull us away. Living beyond 3d consciousness is loving but it is also fierce. Those still living in 3d consciousness might despise us because every minute we remain in Unity we are showing them that there is another way. They know what they would have to give up in choosing Love over fear. Few are willing to take that risk. And yet, for those called to Unity, we have no other choice. It is indeed what we are here for – to return to unity consciousness and to show humanity there is another way.

Heads in the Sand

/ Lauri Ann Lumby / 3 Comments

The plague of collective sloth.

Never in my life have I been blindly obedient to anyone or anything. Never have I given blind allegiance to an outside perceived authority. Not once have I offered someone my respect until it has been earned. In no case did I consider someone an authority simply because they said they were or because they were appointed to a so-called position of authority.

Throughout my entire life, I have used the brain I was given to reason and discern what was true and question that which felt suspect. I have always been one to question the “hows” of things, but more importantly the “whys.” For example: Why would an unconditionally loving “God” cast anyone into hell?  Why would an unconditionally loving “God” who made us have need or use of a hell? How is it that Jesus had to “die for our sins?” What kind of God murders his own son whom he loves? (These are just the religious questions!)

As you can imagine, adults (still today) either love me for demonstrating intelligence and reasoning through my questioning or despise me for pointing out the obvious lack of reasoning in some of humanity’s most cherished beliefs. I have always been like the little boy who cried, “The Emperor has no clothes,” much to the chagrin of “the emperors” among us and those who benefit from the perceived authority’s authority.

My natural ability to see through bullshit is both a gift and a curse. I would not, however, have it any other way. Having this ability has kept me (mostly) safe from those who might seek to harm and has kept me on the path of truth – both my own, and that of the bigger T Truth.

Having personal experience of the benefits of critical thinking, reasoning, and discernment, I find myself continually befuddled by those who choose none of these while allowing some outside perceived (often self-appointed) authority to think for them – telling them what to believe and how to live. I can understand this in people who were never given a chance to learn or who were never empowered in their own abilities to reason. I do not understand it is people who have been given every opportunity to cultivate critical thinking skills and choose not to use them.

It’s bad enough which it’s a stranger, your employer, your teacher, or pastor, it’s even worse when it’s someone you know personally and who you might otherwise respect were it not for their refusing to see what is right in front of their face for they have buried their head in the sand and given away their own personal power and executive functioning to a cult of manipulation and lies. When inviting an honest inquiry – seeking to understand why they believe as they do and their answer is “I support everything ____________does and says,” with no explanation, you know they’re done for. They have chosen the plague of collective sloth and from this there is no return.

I don’t get it!  Why would anyone give up their own power of critical thinking? Why would someone give their power over to another? How can someone not see the corruption or lies staring them in the face?

Because they don’t want to. It is easier to look the other way, allowing someone else to think and make decisions for you than to reason for yourself. It is easier to let someone tell you what to believe than uncover your own beliefs. Life is easier when we take the blue pill and its illusions than to step into the illusion-shattering world of the red. With the blue pill, we don’t have to think, or even act, we just do what we’re told, buying into the system built by the illusions, allowing ourselves to be sheep who would walk off the edge of a cliff if we were told to do so by our own appointed “Messiahs.” The blue pill allows us to continue to believe in the so-called “American Dream” while liberties, freedoms, safety, and protection are being hastily torn from our grasp. (If you think it’s only immigrants or transgender people who are losing freedoms, you aren’t paying attention – the freedom-robbers are coming for you next!)

Collective sloth allows us to remain within the dream of belonging to the privileged group even as the privileged group looks down their nose at us. More than anything, however, collective sloth allows us to remain in the place of blamelessness. Even when it all goes to hell, those suffering from sloth will never recognize their culpability in the collapse. Instead, they will simply say, “I was only doing what I was told.” 

Those of us who have not lived with our heads in the sand will know better. The collapse of an empire and the end of freedoms will ultimately impact all but the very few. And we will all know who is to blame – those who chose to look away, those who chose to ignore the obvious, those who supported and then defended the deceivers, and those who to this day are keeping their heads in the sand because they would rather hang on to their illusion of privilege than see that the emperor and his entire staff has no clothes.

Ground Your Light Video-cast

/ Lauri Ann Lumby / Leave a comment

A huge thank you to Lauren Kimberly Moore who invited me to participate in her “Ground Your Light” video-cast. Please enjoy this heart-felt conversation!

Learn about Lauren and her work with Sacred Living Arts:

Learn more HERE

Lauren Kimberly Moore is a Certified Spiritual Director having trained through the Spiritual Guidance Training Institute (2018-2020). Her training groomed her to be a supportive, loving and non-judgmental companion along the spiritual path for those who seek deeper meaning, purpose and understanding in life. Spiritual direction is a non-directive contemplative practice that carries one into present, intimate and holy spaces. Lauren’s aim in this work is to be a compassionate listener and to help support the creation of sacred moments in daily life.

In her deepest inner being, Lauren’s work is a ministry. She has had a lifelong calling and practice to help illuminate the Soul. Lauren feels strongly that we are here to walk alongside one another, to witness each others healing and authentic truth. As an initiated Magdalene Rose priestess, Lauren walks women through ceremonial and transformational experiences to reclaim the sacred feminine within. From this feminine energy of opening, receiving and remembrance, we return to our whole self embodying divine power, love and wisdom.

Lauren is a Registered Yoga Teacher with over 500 hours of training through Alignment Yoga (2015/2017), Holy Yoga (2017) and the Vivekananda Kendra Yoga Research Institute (2001).  Along with teaching yoga, Lauren has been facilitating mindfulness meditation courses, retreats and workshops since 2014. She enjoys using her collective skills to compassionately support the well-being of others. Lauren teaches privately, to small groups and continues to work within various school districts supporting mindfulness practices for both students and staff alike. 

Lauren is also a Wisconsin Licensed Massage Therapist (432-146). She graduated in 1996 from The Humanities for Allied Health in Pinellas Park, Florida. Specific to bodywork, she has trained in the modalities of Therapeutic Massage, Swedish Massage, Neurovascular Therapy, Thai-Veda massage, Reflexology, Reiki, and Raindrop Therapy.

Lauri Ann Lumby

Has over twenty-five years of experience as an educator, facilitator, spiritual counselor and soul-guide. She has supported hundreds through her one-on-one guidance, books, workshops, retreats, online classes and community.

Lauri is an author and a poet and has published eleven books including Authentic Freedom – Claiming a Life of Contentment and Joy, and her popular novel Song of the Beloved, the Gospel According to Mary Magdalene.

Lauri earned her master’s degree in Transpersonal Psychology from Sofia/ITP University, is a trained Spiritual Director in the Ignatian tradition and has certificates in Adult Education and Psycho-Spiritual Development. Lauri is a Reiki Master Practitioner in both the Usui and Karuna traditions and is an ordained interfaith minister. 

When Reaching Across the Divide Fails

/ Lauri Ann Lumby / Leave a comment

Regardless of the chasm that seems to separate human beings from each other, I continue to believe that we have more in common with each other than not. I have been shown this time and time again when I have reached out to those who appear to believe differently than I – whether that belief be about religion, politics, or any other things to which humans cling tightly. Granted, my reaching out is mostly toward those I already know and trust and who I believe can enter into civil discourse. (In building a bridge, I reserve the right to also keep myself safe from those who have no desire to be civil.) In the past I have shared my experiences of reaching across the divide and the positive results of doing so.  I learned new things, as did those toward whom I reached. We discovered common ground and learned that we could honor and respect each other’s differences. Friendship and love prevailed.

Sadly, yesterday I experienced something not so positive. A comment was made on one of my FB threads by someone I thought I knew well and with whom I share common blood. I was not surprised by their comment that demonstrated a dramatically different perception than my own. Because of my love and respect for this person, I did not challenge them on FB. Instead, I reached out privately in the spirit of inquiry and discovery. I simply wanted to learn. I explained I had no interest in changing their mind or confronting their views.  I simply wanted to understand why they believed that way. I used every skill I know to assure them my intentions were not violent, but were open and welcoming. Sadly, their response was no response. Crickets.

I cannot guess at their reason for not responding. All I can be is sad that they were not willing to meet with me across the perceived divide. A profound opportunity was lost in their refusal to engage. I suspect that if they had been willing to enter into a civil conversation, we would have learned that we are more alike in our beliefs than different and that we could honor and respect each other for where we differ.

There is nothing more I can do to invite conversation with this individual, but this illustrates to me the perfect example of where we find ourselves as human beings. No matter where humans reside geographically, it seems they have dug their heels in and crossed their arms over their individual beliefs and against those of others. We need look no further than the debacle of American politics or the wars over Gaza and Ukraine to see examples of human beings refusing to reach across the divide. Attached to being right, maintaining control, and acquiring perceived power and wealth, humanity stands with arms crossed and hearts closed.

Again, I find this incredibly sad. Division will never be healed or common ground established as long as our hearts are closed. While others may not be willing or able to uncross their arms for the purpose of entering into deep listening to another, I am, and I will continue to reach out when and where it’s appropriate because I am willing to learn, I know I don’t know everything, I can accept being wrong. I’m not attached to any specific belief except that defined and lived by Love and I’d rather reach across the divide than turn my back on friends and loved ones who might believe differently than I.

Christians Giving God a Bad Name

/ Lauri Ann Lumby / 2 Comments

Ugh!  Where do I even begin? I guess the best place is what is right in front of our noses as we seem to be living through some sort of apocalyptic fever dream created by a certain kind of so-called Christian. This apocalyptic fever dream is predicated on the defense of perceived white, straight- male privilege, fortified by the narcissistic belief of having been chosen by God, and enforced through illegal capture and incarceration. In this fever dream, there are those chosen by God and those who are the enemy. Those chosen are male of white, straight, European descent who claim to be Christian (and their complicit women). The enemy is everyone else.

These so-called chosen ones claim a white, male God who loves them and hates everyone else. They believe in a time of God’s choosing where they will be ushered into heaven while the remaining are cast into hell. They believe it is their duty to first impose and then enforce “God’s law” (as they understand it).  Any and every means of enforcement is allowed and even celebrated. They consider themselves to be soldiers for God and many have the arsenal to show for it. Their God is the only god, and all other expressions of God are wrong. They celebrate power and wealth and worship the prosperity gospel – believing wealth is their divine right and that if they don’t have it, “the enemy” is at fault. It is therefore their right to destroy the enemy because the enemy is keeping them from what God wills for them. It is their duty to hate those who God hates.

These people call themselves Christian. They claim to know Christ, but I’m quite certain they do not. They may know some version of Christ that they learned from their parents or pastors, but I’m fairly certain if the Love that is Christ showed up in the form of Jesus – a dark-skinned Palestinian man – they would seek to crucify him. (interesting how history unhealed repeats itself).

The very human part of me becomes enraged when I hear people who call themselves Christian preaching racism, homophobia, xenophobia, and sexism. I want to go into battle when I hear Christians justifying evil as “God’s-will.” I want to throw bibles at those who believe it is their divine mission to ignore the needs of the poor and eradicate the programs that provide for their basic needs. I want to throw stones at those who believe food, clothing, shelter, education, and healthcare are solely the right of the privileged and not rights for all. I want to tar and feather them with the words of Jesus (and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights) that say otherwise.

I want to but I won’t. While I feel insane hearing these people speak of their God and their divine rights, the compassionate part of me also understands what I can only imagine as deep, impenetrable wounds that would cause one to see right past the Love that is God and was modeled and taught by Jesus (and a whole slew of other great humans), and into the eyes of hate.

I don’t understand it. But, I wasn’t raised in a home or by a religion that taught me to hate. Sometimes, delivered by imperfect humans (we’re all imperfect), the messages caused confusion, and at times the messages were conflicting, but at the end of the day, I saw past the human imperfection to the Love that was either right in front of my eyes, or hiding beneath the surface. While divine punishment and threats of hell may have been uttered, Love always won out. I heard the Love louder than the fear and it is that which guided me to the “God” that I know today.

My “God” isn’t the old man in the sky (even though that image still persists). To me, God is Love (1 John 4:7). As Love, I can no longer imagine a hell or a devil whose job is to drag us there. God, to me, is not defined by form, but is omnipresent – PRESENT IN ALL THINGS. God is imminent and immanent. God is in us (Luke 17: 20-21) and all around us. God is everything and is Ain-Sof (the no-thing). God is the Source from which all things come forth and to which all things return. This Source is LOVE.

This is the “God” that I have come to know in being raised Catholic, thirty years of dedicated study of scripture including modern-day scripture scholars, and over sixty years of personal meditation, contemplation and prayer over the life of Jesus and his teachings. This Love/God is what has guided me on my path, initiated corrections when I veered from that path, and led me to the deep well of inner peace and contentment that can only come as one comes to know that Love.

When Christians give God a bad name, I think of this.  I think of the God that I have come to know and the hate that is impossible in the face of this Love. I find myself sad for those who think they know God when all they truly know is hate. I wish and pray that one day Love will break them open and show them the peace, joy, and wonder that this Love brings, and how in the face of this Love all fear and separation falls away. I wish for them to realize the Love they are in this Love, and the Love that is in all things. I pray for them to understand that they, and all of creation are expressions of God’s Love. I want for them to have the change of heart that this understanding brings. This change of heart will then empower them to lay down their swords and replace them with Love. Love will then compel them on the path of goodness that knows we are here, not to serve our fear-driven desires, but to be and do the work of Love in the world – healing the sick, caring for the poor, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, providing shelter for the homeless, and setting captives free, as Jesus called us to do. In doing this, they will be proof of the time-honored hymn: “They will know we are Christians by our Love.”

Letting Life Run Its Course

/ Lauri Ann Lumby / 1 Comment

As human beings, we are hard-wired for control. We seek after, grasp, and cling to control in an attempt to make ourselves feel safe. We are especially vigilant in these attempts when life places uncertainty before us.

We are living in uncertain times. We don’t have to look far to see the ways in which the collective human species is grasping after control. Neither do we have to look deep to see the ways in which we, ourselves, are equally seeking after control.

The reality is that control is an illusion and the formula that suggests control equals safety is a bold-faced lie. In fact, the opposite is true: the quicker way to peace and contentment (ie: safety) is to completely let go of control and let life run its course.

Letting go of the compulsion to grasp after control is exactly the posture I am taking at this point in both our collective as well as my own individual journey. This is a posture that demands a bit of trust/faith, but even more so, it requires diligence.

Diligence is the ability to make a commitment and stick with it. Diligence demands discipline and persistence. As an imperfect individual who at times is excruciatingly human, it is easy to fall off course – to lose my sense of commitment and become distracted by externals which attempt to trigger my fears. Self-awareness supports me in knowing when I have strayed from my committed path and lost the inner peace that comes in letting things take their course. Diligence puts me back on the path and leads me back to the peace of letting go.

Let me give you an example from my own life.  At this point in my journey, I am acutely aware of certain things coming to an end (or at the very least dramatically changing). These things provide the financial resources for my basic needs including shelter and food. Interestingly two of these things seem to be ending at exactly the same time. Together they provide for 80% of my current income. YIKES.

In the past, the imminent collapse of income would have freaked me out.  I would have been bombarding the internet with information on my programs and services, hastily applying for jobs, losing sleep over worry, and likely experiencing break-through panic. Yes, I am aware of the anxiety that threatens to shove me off course, but my response to that anxiety is to hold my ground. Life has taught me that when something leaves, it is only creating room for something better to take its place. Life has also taught me that I am being provided for – maybe not through the accumulation of wealth, but through exactly what I need IN THIS MOMENT. While life has called me to be creative, it has never really let me down. I don’t know what will be and I am not being given a glimpse. I do know that I will be ok, and even if I’m not, I will be fine. If nothing else, life has taught me resilience. (as one friend recently said, this is one word I too would like to retire!!!!!)

But, how do I know? How can I be sure? How can I let life take its course when it sometimes looks like complete and utter collapse is pending?

In a word:  PRACTICE. PRACTICE. PRACTICE.

Every moment of every single day is a practice. Are we at peace or in a state of panic or confusion? If the latter, I turn to my practice. When it’s the former, I remain in my practice. Returning again and again and again to the practices that help me maintain peace, equanimity and to meet life from a place of wisdom.

When the shit hits the fan, and I am overwhelmed with life, the world, my own unhealed wounds, I turn within and if that fails, I turn toward (that which some might call) God. Just yesterday, I was begging “God/Self” for relief. Then I asked for healing, letting go of my need to avert the inner pain I was feeling, and let Life/God take its course.

This is how it is with our world. As the world around us writhes in its death throes, seeking to trigger our fears and we are tempted to grasp after control, the only thing we can really do is let the events take their course. When not immersed in the detailed actions of the pretenders in office and the silence of the supposed balances and checks, I see a bigger picture. Something new trying to be born. As this new is coming forth, it is breaking apart the lies upon which the world has been built and showing us where there are kinks in the chain. As the new is coming forth, that which has long basked in their illusion of power and control are freaking out. Their fear of losing power is driving them to grasp, wrestle, tantrum, cling and rage. As we would do for any other toddler, let them rage. As they are not ours to protect or save, we let them tantrum. Eventually, they will either grow tired or destroy themselves. Then there will be room for the emotionally mature grown ups to step in, clear away the debris, and start the building of something new.

In the meantime, it is our job to stand back, allowing Life run it’s course.

Support through Uncertain Times

If you are struggling to maintain peace during these uncertain times, I can help. Through one-on-one mentoring, I can support you with practices that help us to reclaim peace and clear the inner wounds we carry that stand in the way of our knowing peace.

Email: lauri@lauriannlumby.com to learn more.