Celebrating the True Energy of Time

Time, an elusive enigma. Always in control of even the very breath that escapes from our soul.

Time a constant in our lives, emerging as the flow and continuum of our existence. We have all become dependent upon this miraculous power, aligning our lives against its directing. The watch on wrists, a constant reminder through furtive and regular glances that we have allowed ourselves to become accountable to the tenuous grasp and control that this elusive element reigns over us.

Clocks perch precariously in positions or where we have no choice but to adhere to their domineering presence – rule our day. Like production lines we regulate our lives around them. Invisible infrastructures, constantly framing our days within the dimensions of the tick, tock, tick, tock. We condemn our lives often by the rule of the clock, our mis-perceived idea of what we think time really is, which is not the rule of time because time offers us a freeness of spirit and presence which we do not often recognise. Time is a liberator. Paradoxically, it is free in the space of a limitless forever. Yet we have chained this freedom time offers, wrapping it up amongst rush, hurry, deadlines, urgency. Clocks and watches, mobile phones dictate to us, never allowing us to enjoy this very moment.

Everywhere we go, like rats in a cage, we are confronted by the glaring reality that traps us into conformity. Believing we need to march against the constant strike of the year, month, week, day, hour, second. Believing we need to march against the constant and unrepentant movement of time.

Yet if we chose to we could ignore the dilemmas and impositions we allow our mental restriction on time to do to us. We could choose to liberate our minds, our spirits and souls. We could choose to allow the gentler hands of time to guide us subtly, joyously, contentedly through life, enabling us to enjoy and appreciate the scenery of life along the way. Allowing us to never miss even the smallest of moments which makes life worth existing for. Those moments which are often lost as we race against the hands of the clock. We could allow the caress of experience to add to our awareness and finally enlightenment as we become more aware of the beauty that surrounds us which would then help us to experience our spiritual journey even more.

Therefore, as with anything in life, it is about choice. We can allow the rigid hands of technology, a prodigy of time itself to rule our world or we can experience the beauty and wonder and sense of freedom within our souls, to ride upon the crest of time itself, which is eternal.

Are you ready to enjoy more of the essence of life? Take a day off from your watch, the clock, the demands of your mobile. Try and take time off from the daily rigmarole and experience the freedom that you will allow time to offer you. And in this process, experience a whole new and wonderful world of being in the present, in the moment.

TRUTH

What is truth?
the understanding for which can only be found
within our very soul

What resonates within you
within your inner peace
that is if you have any peace at all?

For truth can only be gained
And felt through the psyche

Borne through life’s copious journeying
A cacophony of experiences
Sometimes seen as good
Sometimes seen as bad
Yet all part of life’s role play
Staged sometimes with splendid effect
Other-times, with more subtle and gentle presence
Sometimes joyful, often times etched in pain
Yet these are all emblems which make up your truth

Experiences which hone and shape the person
You are
Experiences which sometimes have laid your soul bare
And exposed, raw to pain, anger, negativity’s soldiers
Other times, experiences which have had you
Dancing on the wings of an eagle, freely
Gliding on the wings of love’s finest abundance
Therefore your truth can only come from within
The source of who you truly are

Therefore, embrace the whole of you
Lovingly get to know the whole of you
Face your soul in that mirror which exposes all
And faithfully deal with what you see
Looking humbly back at you
And you will manifest
Your truth

All rights reserved© Esther Austin 15th April 2009

MY VOLUNTEER VISIT TO THE CAMEROON, THE CHALLENGES, THE SUCCESSES - FEBRUARY 2009

Well ladies and gents

Before I proceed, often times we see experiences which challenge us as negatives, falling in the self-pity trap of “why me?” Yet, looking back at those experiences you must understand that they are there to serve us for a purpose, for the greater good. Generally that purpose is for us to learn something about ourselves and the part we played in that scenario.

There were a sequence of events prior to me going to the Cameroon and whilst in the Cameroon which truly tested my resolve.
resolve.

Prior to leaving for the Cameroon in February 2009, I had to attend several meetings with the African Foundation Stone to go through preliminaries. On both occasions I got lost and turned up an hour late for my appointments. On another occasion, I had to cancel my meeting at the last minute. Then on the day of departure my plane was delayed for two hours. When I finally got on the plane, I sat next to an elderly woman. At this point in time, I had a book and my MP3 in my hand. For the next 20 minutes this women was gesticulating in French. She then called an air-hostess over who tried to calm the woman down. People around were now getting agitated as this woman continued her tirade. I was totally oblivious to what was going on because the conversation was being conducted in French. Then a lady behind me tapped me and told me to swap seats with a gentleman by her side explaining that the woman was complaining about my MP3. I was confused as I had not turned on the MP3, but this woman was certain that I would be playing loud music, so I moved. But what a blessing, as the woman I moved next to was a French Cameroonian who ran a women’s organisation in France. We were able to laugh and converse, rather limited, but converse none-the-less in French and have made a wonderful connection with each other.

The next incident to occur was when I touched down in the Cameroon, I was helped by a porter to take my luggage outside the airport building. I had expected to see a placard with my name on it, but there was none and I had no way of identifying the person who was to pick me up. I then spent the next hour or two at the airport, walking around looking for my host organisation. I tried several times to call the hotel - no answer. After asking my spirit for guidance, I decided to get a taxi to the hotel. The porter said he knew someone and summoned a taxi for me. I got into a taxi with two strange men, in a strange country. As I entered the taxi my practical side briefly said, do you know what you are doing. Yet my spiritual side told me “you are protected, you are safe.”

Half an hour later I arrived at the hotel only to be told that there was no booking for me and that the hotel did not have any spare rooms. I then spent the next 40 minutes trying to make contact with the various numbers I had - no answer. Meanwhile, the porter was harassing me for money, which he had greatly inflated and also the offer that he knew somewhere where I could stay for the night. At this moment in time I had been quite calm, but now I had started to stress a little. My spirit was now telling me to call Mr.P Archer, who always tracks me when I travel and makes contact to make sure I arrive safely. I was able to make a phone call to him, telling him where I was and apparently he had made contact with the host who had been looking for me at the airport but she did not know what I looked like and did not have a placard. By the time I finished the call, the rest of the volunteers and host organisation had turned up at the hotel. Apparently there had been a mix up regarding the bookings.

That night, though, we all went out to dinner and had a fabulous meal of fish and plantain, eating with our hands and relaxing. The next morning I was told I would be picked up at 9am. I sat for the next 4 hours waiting. In between that time, I was chewing on some nuts from Holland and Barratt and all of a sudden my back tooth cracked. By this time, I quietly smiled to myself and asked my spirit what was the learning for me from all these experiences. I was able to spend those 4 hours reflecting, meditating and praying on all that had happened. I then decided to read a book I had been given about Reiki and the amazing thing was that everything I had experienced, was confirmed in that book.

The organisation I was due to work with were not available for me as the Director had a seminar to attend all that week, therefore I requested to visit other women’s organisations and then had the opportunity to form a wonderful bond and friendship with many of the young men on the street, especially a young man called Diesel. I was able to walk the streets of Douala and get grassroots experience of how they live their lives. I was able to visit where they sleep and also interview many of them about their dreams, hopes and aspirations. I ventured into territory that would be considered dangerous for a woman, but I always prayed beforehand and knew in my heart I was safe, but I had come to the Cameroon for a purpose and at all costs was going to fulfil that.

A series of further events took place over the next week which had myself and Lorna saying “there is a greater purpose from all of this.” When I was asked by the Reverend Lorna Beckford, on my last day who too was a volunteer at the time, what was I able to take away from all my experiences and challenges? I told her, the challenges that had been placed before me had been put there to test my resolve to the limit and I did this dignified, calmly, silent and strong. Yet I could only accomplish this state through the meditation and prayer I had been doing.

To-date though I have accomplished so much from that trip. I was touched by the hospitality and positive attitude of the Cameroonians, even those on the street still have hope. When I compare this attitude to what I see over here in the UK, we certainly have many lessons to learn. I will be going back to the Cameroon shortly to work with the men on the street, with the Reverend Lorna Beckford, the experiences I had out there in February can be fed back into my workshops and talks to great effect. I also learned much about myself. Yet most of all what I found really profound is that the Cameroonians have this sense of purpose, drive. They are entrepreneurs, always with hope in their hearts and for even though who do not have much in the material sense, what they have is priceless because they value life and they value friendships and have a sense of unity and pride.

This serves for us as lessons for all of us to be grateful for what we have. Those I worked with had nothing, often times just the shirts on their backs, yet they had a smile and spoke of hope and had dreams and aspirations for their future. Young men who sometimes only had one piece of bread to eat during the day. Whilst many people aspire for the latest piece of technology, the latest designer purchase, the most expensive purchase - do these things really define who you are?

Remember: Wealth is not only money and material things, wealth is your health, your relationships, your values, everything that makes you happy inside. But wealth defines who you truly are on a soul level. If everything were to be stripped away from you right now – would your car define who you are or could the strength of your soul still remain standing, strong and dignified?

You will be able to hear recorded interviews from the trip on: http://www.qarmabroadcast.co.uk

My Constant Journey of Being

“To travel is to free the mind, will and spirit empowering you to experience freedom of expression and thought which then liberates the soul” Esther Austin

My visit to the Cameroon as a volunteer, Sunday 22nd February to Sunday 1st March 2009, has empowered me on many different levels. Touching down on Sunday evening, I sensed a calmness, a unity a warmth from the land and the people within. As the days have progressed this warmth and sense of contentment obviously resonates from the energy of this people, even amidst poverty. Poverty, abject poverty and yet the spirit of entrepreneurship prevailed everywhere. The reality for many was that if they did not find some way, any way to make some money, they would not be able to eat, their children would not be able to go to school. I spent time on the streets with street children, whose stories, I will shortly be sharing with you, so watch this space. I also recorded several interviews which will be on Qarma Broadcast, very soon.

Therefore, I have observed and asked the question what has caused this shift to take place in me once again. A learning, a growing, an understanding? What has caused a depth of reflection to take place that has once again awakened within me the need to “be” and “do” now more than ever before. The burdening drive to just get up and go to follow my divine purpose in reaching out, inspiring and empowering with the messages that I need to deliver.

The anticipated urge to lunge into the unknown, or should I say to lunge gracefully into just “doing” what I am already doing, settled in the knowledge that all is well and that the time for whatever I am about, is now. Recognising that the only time we all have is in the here and now. Dreaming about the future, may never manifest itself, yet to be able to dream, anyway is a most wonderful thing. Yet here I am, in the here and now and God has created the space for me to do what is necessary at this time and place, so therefore the only thing really stopping me from accessing this and doing is any perceptions I have of limitation. The urge to start life afresh and anew, someplace else is very potent and strong. The urge to re-evaluate who I now am, or rather the realisation and awareness of knowing that I have changed/transformed once again is a wonderful place to be, because in this moment of learning, I transform my world and that which is around me.

I feel a strength of knowing inside of me, more serene, quieter yet stronger, now. This whole sense of “knowing” what is happening around me before it happens, knowing what someone will say before they open their mouth, understanding a sequence of events before the outcome has been deciphered, having a sense of linking with destiny so that when anything happens, it has already happened. Prior to this trip I dipped in and out of this place of “knowing” often, yet this week I have been living in this level and space of constant higher consciousness and awareness. Yet to be in this place and space, I chose to look at certain aspects of myself that needed to be trimmed and honed more. Aspects of me which I had to tidy up, put back in place, in order to allow me to be fully present, authentically and honesty. Therefore, the more I open myself up to the spirit of authenticity, the more I cleanse and detox, the more I allow myself to be constantly guided and led by God and all universal elements, the more I fall into the true me allows me therefore to experience life and its wonderful abundance more and more.

So, as always, I urge you not to be afraid to look into the mirror and face truth. It may prove to be painful, if only for a short while. You may certainly not like what you see staring back at you. Yet the reality of who we are is that we have many dimensions and facets, all part of who we are in totality and all which should be acknowledged. When you can define yourself as being truly you, when you can stand and say powerfully that “I AM”, when you allow yourself to fall into God’s hands (or into the universal flow or your higher source, whoever you believe in) when you allow this to happen and allow this source to guide you – you can only walk into the abundance that life has in store for you.

And on that note, I must leave you with “I AM, THAT I AM”

So therefore…….Bon Voyage, as you journey through life