Imprisoned by Belonging

/ Lauri Ann Lumby / Leave a comment

One of the greatest traps we experience as human beings is that of belonging. Belonging has rules. Belonging must be earned. Once earned, there is the constant threat of belonging being taken away. Belonging arises out of a self-created power structure that grooms us to seek after and maintain its approval, and when we break the rules of the power structure we are banished from that place of perceived belonging.

Conditioned belonging exists in every single aspect of our human experience – in our homes, churches, schools, workplaces, etc. The desire to belong reflects our woundedness. Groups of belonging take advantage of this woundedness by extending a promise of acceptance. But in nearly every single case, this acceptance proves to be conditional.

Belonging is a vicious trap that keeps us imprisoned in our woundedness and insecurity. The threat of belonging being taken away keeps us from being able to see the world’s truths, let alone our own. With belonging hanging over our heads, we are unable to name, claim, and live as our most authentic selves. It is for this reason, among others, that much of humanity is living a life of “quiet desperation” – unfulfilled, anxiety and shame-ridden.

Escaping the prison of belonging, is simple, yet likely the most difficult task we will ever undertake. When we know and understand our true nature as Love, we learn that the only one to which we truly belong is to ourselves. After this, no other belonging is necessary:

It takes more courage than most possess to truly see.

Seeing means losing that which

most tightly seals humanity’s prison –

Belonging.

Or rather, the threat that they

are nothing

and no one

if they don’t belong.

What is belonging if not the constant threat that

Love must be earned and

can even more easily be taken away.

All these threats keep them from seeing that the only belonging one ever needs

is belonging to themselves.

And in belonging to themselves,

they know that

they are Love.

How have you been groomed by belonging? Where did you find belonging conditional? How has the need to belong prevented you from living your most authentic truth? How are you working on remembering your true nature as Love?

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Soul School with Lauri Ann Lumby

supports you in remembering your true nature as Love through one-on-one mentoring, spiritual direction, online courses, training programs, books, and more. Start that journey of personal and spiritual mastery today!

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Fear of Honesty

/ Lauri Ann Lumby / Leave a comment

I have observed a funny behavior in human beings:

Many, if not most, seem to be afraid of honesty – their own and that of others.

As I’ve come to know myself, my comfort with honesty has grown – especially about my own feelings, vulnerabilities, and weaknesses.  With this, I’ve become more bold in speaking my truth and being transparent with who I am and the journey that got me here.  Funny thing is that many simply don’t know what to do with that level of truth telling.  Those that don’t enthusiastically receive the truths I share,  either run away in terror or project their own dishonesty onto me, making me the enemy.  It seems the adage is true – many human beings simply cannot handle the truth.

For example:

When we share our weaknesses or vulnerability there are three ways in which people react:

  • It’s completely ignored (as people slink away from the sharing that is likely triggering their own unacknowledged vulnerabilities.)
  • It is welcome, and we are thanked for speaking something they may have felt themselves.
  • Some will catastrophize our words and then reach out to ask if we’re ok or if we need help.

When we share our feelings or attempt to name and claim our needs: Again, we are met with one of three reactions:

  • Projection. The recipient turns their own shame or inability to accept difficult feelings or set boundaries on to us – thereby turning us into the enemy.
  • Gratitude. The recipient gratefully accepts our words and if appropriate apologizes and accepts responsibility for any behaviors that may have hurt us or for infringing on our boundaries.
  • Respect. The recipient honors and respects our desire to set boundaries and upholds them willingly.  

When we speak truth to power and point out societal and corporate injustice:

(issues of racism, sexism, corporate greed, white privilege, concerns about poverty, education, healthcare, homelessness, economic injustices, etc.), there are four predictable reactions:

  • Retaliation. This response most often comes from those benefitting from these injustices as they attempt to intimidate or justify their willing participation in injustices from which they benefit.
  • Explanations and excuses.  Ahhhhhhh the corporate Koolaid! (more on that later).  All the reasons and justifications people make for being part of an unjust system (I have bills to pay, they provide me with insurance, it’s a “good” company, yada yada yada).
  • Deaf Ears. This most often comes from those who are either in denial, or who are attempting to ignore the suppressed shame they feel for being part of an unjust system.
  • Agreement. Spoken loudly and clearly from those who also see the injustice and who are willing to risk rejection and condemnation by calling out and working against injustice.

I know!  I’m preaching to the choir! You get it! If you don’t get it chances are you haven’t read this far anyway!  😊  So what’s my point?  What’s the moral to the story?  Why are people so uncomfortable with honesty – whether it be personal honesty spoken or more general honesty about an unjust system?  The reason is simple:

People’s discomfort with honesty reflects their inability to be honest with themselves.

Lauri Ann Lumby

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

Learn more HERE

Lamenting a Cruel World

/ Lauri Ann Lumby / 6 Comments

A dearly beloved friend recently observed of me:

“You are a formidable and vulnerable teacher.”

I could not disagree with him and I am deeply grateful for his ability to see and articulate my truth. There is something uniquely profound about truly being seen.

Whereas I may present to many/most as a strong, independent, formidable force, my truest self is deeply vulnerable and fragile. I, like most who are truly honest with themselves, have been wounded by this world. It may appear to many, in fact many have said this of me, “You got this.” As a responsible firstborn Capricorn with a conditioned defense mechanism of independence and dogged self-sufficiency, this may be a safe assumption. Except, on many days, I DO NOT GOT THIS, neither do I want to.

At nearly 58 years old, I’m tired of having to gather up my strength, and don my cloak of resilience in order to survive this world and to find my way through the broken glass and twisted brambles of humanity’s folly.

I wasn’t made for this level of violence. Neither was I made to withstand this much light or noise.

None of us were made for this. Yet few are willing to admit it.  Instead, we make excuses (or are conditioned to) for all of humanity’s bad behaviors.

There are no excuses for humanity’s cruelty, deception, lack of integrity, greed, abusive behavior, or betrayal. As a student and teacher of human development, I can assuredly say that every single human being (excepting perhaps sociopaths and psychopaths – but even they can pretend) has both the potential and the power to be loving, compassionate, generous, gentle, and kind. In other words, cruelty is a choice. Admittedly, a choice coming forth out of what are likely deeply unhealed wounds, but a choice, nonetheless. When I know (and provide) resources to support humanity in healing their wounds, this choice becomes even more apparent.

So yes, when I see humans being cruel to each other, taking advantage of others for the sake of their own pride or greed, making excuses for or justifying their bad behaviors, stabbing others in the back, robbing or stealing from each other, I am deeply saddened. I also find myself angered because I know that cruelty is a choice and cannot comprehend why anyone would choose it.

Like I have often said, I wasn’t made for this world. The good news is I know I’m not the only one not made for this world. If you are one who regularly chooses kindness, I hope that in sharing my own vulnerability this gives you permission to do the same, and if nothing else, helps you to know you are not alone.

Copyright Lauri Ann Lumby

Grand Re-Opening Special

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To celebrate the grand re-opening of Soul School, I am offering the gift of my flagship Magdalene Priestess Training at a deep discount. For this offer, I’m rolling back time to the original 2015 pricing! Only $1400.00 for the full training, or 12 monthly payments of $120.00 each.

Enroll Now. Save over 30%.

Training starts upon enrollment!

Learn more about the Magdalene Training HERE.

Use the payment icons below to enroll:

Pay in Full $1400.00:

Enroll in the 12-month payment plan ($120.00 per month for 12 months):

Official Relaunch of Soul School!

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Since 2015 Authentic Freedom Academy and Soul School have been housed within another entity. Effective TODAY we are on our own independent platform with Ruzuku. This it the fulfillment of a dream long in the making. 

First I want to thank all of you for your patience, cooperation, and understanding as I have undertaken the arduous work of migrating all current and former students to the new platform.  Ruzuku made this work easy, and there were still things I had to do to complete the migration.  The migration is now complete and invitations have been sent out to all students who have enrolled since 2020, inviting them to the new platform and to all who have been part of either the Magdalene Priesthood or Order of Melchizedek trainings.  If you have any questions about the migration to the new platform, please email me at lauri@lauriannlumby.com.  I’m happy to help!

Second, I invite you all to check out our updated website!  Please watch the welcome video:

and then check out all of our course offerings.  A few old courses have been resurrected and several new courses have been added.

Now and always, I look forward to continuing to offer classes, and services in support of human development, toward the goal of self-actualization.  I’m grateful for your presence here and for the honor to accompany and support you in your own journey of the unfolding of your Soul!

With gratitude and love,

Lauri Ann Lumby
Soul School
http://www.lauriannlumby.com
lauri@lauriannlumby.com

Predicting a Red Wave?

/ Lauri Ann Lumby / Leave a comment

The US mid-term elections are this coming Tuesday, November 8th. Many have been predicting a “Red Wave” with Republicans securing majority in both the Congress and Senate, and taking many state Governor positions. If “Red” isn’t your political stance, how might you prepare in the event of a Red Wave?

Last Chance for 2015 Pricing

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Happy Halloween/Samhain! This is my favorite holiday as it marks the movement into my favorite time of year – the time of hygge, going inward, quiet, reflection, winter. As a special gift and as a way to support your own inward journey, I am offering my flagship Magdalene Priestess Training at a deep discount. For this offer, I’m rolling back time to the original 2015 pricing! Only $1400.00 for the full training, or 12 monthly payments of $120.00 each.

Enroll Now. Save over 30%.

Training starts January 13, 2023

Learn more about the Magdalene Training HERE.

Use the payment icons below to enroll:

Pay in Full $1400.00:

Enroll in the 12-month payment plan ($120.00 per month for 12 months):

This Week’s Videos

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It has been a productive week at Soul School as I prepare for some big bold moves. Fueling the big and the bold are this week’s video/podcast episodes. If you find these videos helpful, please share them with your friends! Let’s share the love! ❤

Soul Tending with Lauri includes:

  • Personality, Temperament, and Gifts Assessments.
  • Exploration of the Soul’s calling.
  • Uncovering and transforming the obstacles to living out that calling through a variety of mindfulness, creativity, and shamanic practices including Lauri’s trademarked Authentic Freedom™ protocol.
  • Depth work – identifying ungrieved losses, unhealed wounds, past traumas, ancestral trauma, and learning shamanic practices for transforming and releasing them.
  • Shadow work – uncovering the unintegrated and often rejected parts of self and bringing them into wholeness.
  • Ongoing support.
Learn More HERE

Illness Designating Power

/ Lauri Ann Lumby / Leave a comment

Our whole lives we’ve been told that illness means there’s something wrong with us.  What if the reverse, in fact, is true?  What if illness is a gift that designates our power? Can we take what we’ve been told and have chosen to believe and turn it on its head? What if what we’ve been calling illness (chronic illness especially) is really the body’s only way, in an upside-down world, to create the environment the Soul needs to thrive?  What if chronic illness is the body responding to abuse of the Soul?  What if when suffering chronic illness (ie: fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, Epstein-Barr, migraine, vestibular disorders, anxiety, depression, panic attacks) there’s nothing wrong with us but is our body pointing out everything that is wrong with our world? What can we learn about our Soul and our body’s true needs through the symptoms our chronic illness throws at us? What happens if instead of fighting against illness we give our bodies what they need to feel safe in an unsafe world? How might our world begin to change when we start tending to the deeper needs of our Souls? How might our super-powers begin to emerge when we start tending to the needs of our Soul as dictated by our body?

Waking the Dead

I sang skin back onto my bones like a blanket’s warm embrace.

Enfolding in acceptance all that I am.

A dream within a dream of much more than simple acceptance.

A celebration really,

where a blanket becomes a robe of the deepest blood red.

Sovereign-earned.

Invoking a blessing of holiness

where that which I formerly condemned is honored as gift.

Where pathology is given a new name signifying magic.

And where illness designates power.

Then I sang a song of amens and hallelujahs!

Copyright Lauri Ann Lumby

Grief

When we are struggling with chronic illness or other debilitating and troublesome symptoms, we are cast into a grieving process. We experience all faces of grief – denial, bargaining, anger, depression, and sorrow as we move in the direction of coming to terms with our symptoms.

For twenty-five years, Lauri Ann Lumby has supported people in all forms of grieving. If you are in need of support in grieving your diagnosis (of often lack thereof), please reach out for an appointment.

Learn more HERE

The Call of the Light-Bearer

/ Lauri Ann Lumby / Leave a comment

Yeah, I’ve grown kinda weary of titles, slogans, and all the ways we try to describe and lay claim to our unique calling in the world. Titles like lightworker, shadow worker, soul mate, twin flame, starseed, witch, sorcerer, shaman, empath, etc. etc. etc. have all grown a bit tiresome and maybe even useless as we try to describe who we are in a world where we don’t really fit. Yes, these titles help us identify who we are and who we are not. Yes, they help us to find our place of belonging. AND they can tempt us to create separation as we fight over what these words really mean and our right (or not) to call ourselves that.

All that being said, I’ve recently found myself connecting with a “title” I haven’t seen elsewhere and one that seems, better than any of the above, to describe my purpose in the world, and role of others I know who share similar gifts.

It’s an ancient title that is often misunderstood and has therefore been twisted into something that strikes terror and fear in the hearts of the indoctrinated. It is one with only benevolent intent, but which has been made malevolent by those who have sought to rule the world by fear, power, oppression, and control, and those who benefit from a world driven by fear.

The title is:  Light-Bearer

A Light-Bearer is one who is the light. We are the light that causes the shadows of the world to creep out from under the rocks and behind the veils where they are hiding so they might come forth into the light. Coming forth into the light allows that which is hidden to be seen so that it can be dealt with. Light-Bearers support the ongoing transformation of the world simply by the power of their presence. That which is hiding in shadow cannot persist in the light of the Light-Bearer.

Sounds cool, right!?  Nope. Not really.  Light-Bearers are catalysts and shit-disturbers. We upset the status quo. We reveal what is hidden – deceptions, lies, betrayals, untruths, forces of oppression and manipulation, hypocrisy, injustice, and anything else that is not anchored in Love.  We don’t even have to do or say a single thing for this unveiling to take place.  It happens simply because we are in the room or in your presence. For those with nothing to hide, our presence is a welcome gift. For those who have something to hide, we are abhorred. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been treated like “the enemy,” for absolutely no reason other than I happen to be in the room and shit started coming up from under the floorboards – and yeah, I may have helped it along by pointing out the shit!  Hey, university who shall go unnamed, you were in trouble LONG before I showed up.  I’m not the enemy here! Hey person who I dated sorry my presence tickled the door behind which you have tried to hide your true orientation. How could you love me when all the while you were loving another?

There is really no place one can hide from the presence of a Light-Bearer. Either you welcome us, or your attachment to keeping something hidden will cause you to project your own self-hatred onto us. Now that I understand this gift, I no longer take it personally when for no apparent reason someone decides to hate me. If it’s someone with whom I had a relationship, I might experience the normal faces of grief, but I get it. We have to be ready to face what we try to keep hidden, and some will never be ready.

  • Where have you encountered Light-Bearers in your life?
  • Where might you be aware of the Light-Bearer calling within yourself?

Through Soul School Essentials 1 – Igniting the Flame, you will discover new things about yourself, your gifts, and your calling. You will also learn effective tools that you can apply in your everyday life for supporting the unfolding of your Soul toward the goal of enjoying the meaningful and fulfilling live of your dreams.

Learn more HERE.