Over the years of searching for answers, developing my spiritual practice, and learning to trust in the subtle realities of this magical universe, I have found I am usually doing one of two things: living my normal day-to-day life or tapping into my spiritual one. Of course I know I am a spiritual person living a human life but for some reason mixing the daily obligations of being a wife, mom, and active participant in society never seemed to be in alignment with the other half of my whole, my spiritual life and way of being. Either I felt in harmony with my own inner knowing and connection to spirit, or I was working to help keep all real life aspects of being human in harmony. You know, the real stuff like cooking, cleaning, paying bills, and spending time with family. Both spiritual and human aspects working to stay in balance, yet seemingly opposite ends of the spectrum. Either I was working on spiritual pursuits or I was working on being human.

Ironically, it took a global pandemic to set those two divided aspects within myself back into harmony. It was within this sacred time of self reflection that I could take a step back and review life from a different vantage point; to find harmony with both the spiritual me and the very human me. In doing so, I had to take a good hard look at my current views on life. Regrettably, I tend to see the day-to-day aspects of being human as obligations where as my spiritual pursuits represent personal freedoms and exploration.

However, in the very real moment of closing down society and living life from a more self-contained unit of cohesiveness, one could see how blessed we really are. How wonderful it is for my spirit to have a place to clean, family to spend time with, food to eat, and good health to enjoy. It became obvious in fact that I had been separating the two aspects without realizing how much the day-to-day blessings were adding to my own SOULworks. Not only that, but by rushing through life, trying to finish the next thing on my list so that I could carve out a little me time to connect with spirit, I was missing the entire spiritual experience of being human by both interacting with and fully seeing the very real and human spirits all around me. Time spent in the yard, tending to the garden, biking with family, talking with friends – it was within our time of global crisis, I became acutely aware that every aspect of my life fed my soul. Not just my individual spiritual pursuits. There were beautiful, synchronistic and spiritual expansive moments hidden within every little aspect of being human.

I am forever grateful for the change in pace and am humbled by all the day-to-day things in life that are no longer viewed as obligations, but rather very real and important aspects of my life. Consciously taking the time to enjoy the little things made me realize just how big and important they really are. We will always be both: very human and yet very much connected to all things. Keeping them separate is to deny the wonderful experiences life has to offer. Remember as you expand your own spiritual awareness to keep both feet firmly planted in this world. Review what you perceive as obligations and instead appreciate them for the beautiful bounty life has to offer. Being a consciously aware, ever present human being is what truly represents personal freedoms and exploration. Our spirit would have it no other way.

Namaste,

Lauren Heistad