how to rise above the dark
Image by Mark Frost 


Narrated by Marie T. Russell

Watch video version on InnerSelf or on YouTube

We may all, occasionally, feel like we are living in dark times. Most of us have never lived through societal upheaval such as we are experiencing now. We may feel discouraged at the "state of the world" or at the behavior of people the world over, and even of those close to us. Or we may be downhearted at the life we are living or the situation in the world in general. 

Dark vs. Light

One of the problems we encounter when we start thinking in terms of "dark" and "light" is that we create a separation within ourselves. We classify each day, or each experience, and even each person, as "good" or "bad".

Yet, we carry within us seeds for it all. We carry the seeds for joy and sadness, for health and sickness, for love and hate. And we get to choose which seed we will water and nourish, so that it will grow. The weeds will grow but they can be removed, especially if we don't feed them with our energy. 

We must not get attached to our times of feeling down thinking they are here to stay. These experiences and moods are not who we are. They are just experiences we are having. And thus we can let them go and move on to another type of experience when we are ready to do so. 

Life always seeks equilibrium or balance. The thing to remember when faced with "dark days" is that the light will always return. Just as day returns after each night, joy returns after tribulation. 

Caught Up In Drama

The best stories and movies contain some drama and suspense. The human race loves excitement and drama, and the adrenaline rush it provides -- so much so, that we attract it and create it in our lives and relationships. Some of the drama comes from not accepting the way something or someone is. Or perhaps we are listening to others telling us how we are "supposed" to be... other than who we truly are.

When we judge and criticize someone, we are creating upset, both in ourselves and in the other. We are not centered in peace and in our soul, because we are focused on separation, on "otherness". We are "out there" tilting at windmills trying to change people by telling them how we think they should be -- which is other than what they are. The only change we can effect is inside our own self and our own life. 

We need to drop the drama, and instead look to creating the life our soul craves... one full of love and harmony. We do this by taking action to free ourselves, change our behavior, and blossom again. Once we have done that, the energy of that change will spread and reverberate all around us. 

Guilt and Shame

Guilt and shame, as well as blame and judgment, just hold us down, and they do the same to the people around us. These dark energies muffle the light of our inner being and dim the love that wants to shine forth.

We have limited our self-expression and our growth by carrying guilt and shame. Those two energies are tied to self-judgment and to the past. They have no place in the now. 

The time of guilt and shame is over. We must accept that "what's done is done", forgive ourselves, learn from our mistakes, and let go of the past. We will then be ready to move forward towards a better and brighter future. 

The Time Is Right

What do you really want? What issue is important right now? Listen to what your heart is saying. Focus on it and open yourself up to divine guidance and inner wisdom.

There is no better time than now. This is the moment, the only moment. So whatever your heart is telling you to do right now, do it! Don't wait, don't doubt. If it feels right in your heart, go for it! 

Rise up beyond your self-imposed restrictions and limitations. Seize this opportunity to rise past the doubts and fears - either yours or other people's. Seize the day and make progress on your soul path. As you do so, destiny will smile upon you. 

Awaken the Magic of Your Creativity

The voice of our creativity is the voice of our heart, the voice of our feelings, the voice of our soul. When uncensored by the mind and the inner critic, this voice will help us create the most wonderful experience of life.

For too long we have repressed our inner creativity and forsaken the path of knowing that "miracles" or "magic" are possible. Trust your creative voice. Follow its path. Play along with your life rather than take it so seriously. See what your life becomes when you let yourself dream up your future creatively.

The inner child still has its connection with that voice, the voice of innocence, of playfulness, and of joy. Let it express itself. Let it play. Let it soar. Awaken the magic of your creativity.

Follow the Path of Your Soul

It is, unfortunately, too easy for us to fall off of our path, away from our center. Distractions abound, whether in the world of media, entertainment, friends and family, and even health challenges. So many things seem to be present to take us out of our calm inner center where our soul resides.

Negative energies and forces can pull us this way and that. Yet we need to remain centered in love, in harmony, in a hopeful vision of a world to be. We must remember that "we will see it when we believe it". However, when we are bombarded with negative energy and negative predictions, it can be difficult to remain in that peaceful center of trust and belief.

We must constantly draw back our attention to love, to harmony, to the greater good. We must constantly focus on healing, for ourselves and for the world, on love, for ourselves and for the world, on the creation of a harmonious path, for ourselves and for the world.

Maintaining that vision can be a challenge when things have the appearance of "going straight to hell". We must maintain the focus on the path of the soul, which is a path that is always for the highest good.

Be Brave and Be Yourself

Each one of us is unique. We are the only person like us in the whole Universe. So when we try to be like someone else, not only are we not being true to our Self, we are not being true to our life purpose. Simply put, our life purpose is to be ourselves, 100%. Everything else will develop from that.

We are a unique piece in the puzzle of life. In a puzzle, each piece must be complete and whole. It cannot have bent corners, or portions of it removed, or made to look different than what it is. It must be there in its entirety, in its original form, in order to complete the puzzle.

And so it is with us. We must be ourselves, no matter how frightening that can be when people around us think and see life differently, or when they disagree with our vision of our life path. When we conform to someone else's picture of who we are, we die inside. We become an empty vessel, empty of our own life force just going through the motions of life.

It can be difficult to be yourself and follow your heart. It requires being brave and not caring if other people think you are wrong, or crazy, or "way out there". Many of us grew up being told we were weird, or different. We didn't feel like we fit in. This gave us two choices. Embrace our weirdness, or try to conform.

Those who try to conform to someone else's definition of who they are end up sad, depressed, and confused about their life and who they are. On the other hand, those who embrace their "weirdness" or uniqueness manifest the creative spirit of a new world and a new reality.

We must be brave and free ourselves from the fear of others' judgment and ridicule. We must discover who we truly are and decide to let that being come forth and shine.

The world is waiting for your piece of the puzzle to join the whole. In this way, we manifest the vision of heaven on earth, right here and right now.

Let yourself shine and fly!

This Article was inspired from:

Soul Helper Oracle

Soul Helper Oracle: Messages from Your Higher Self
by Christine Arana Fader (Author), Elena Dudina (Illustrator)

cover art for Soul Helper Oracle: Messages from Your Higher Self by Christine Arana Fader (Author), Elena Dudina (Illustrator)With evocative and inspiring images and profound spiritual messages, the 43 dreamlike cards of the Soul Helper Oracle help you to hear and understand messages from your higher self, the whispers of your soul’s wisdom. Each card features four companions to guide and support you on your soul’s path: a power animal, a healing stone, a plant essence, and a number with a corresponding rune. In the guidebook, Christine Arana Fader details the message of each card and the supportive qualities of each card’s companions. 

By immersing yourself in the guidance of these cards, the soul helpers will bring you clarity, divine light, and wisdom. They will immediately change something for the better, open gates for you, and lead you to happiness. Through these cards you will encounter your true feelings, be able to accept what is, find your heart’s goals, and experience wisdom, truth, peace, and bliss.

For more info and/or to order this card deck and guidebook click here.

More Inspirational Card Decks

About The Author

Marie T. Russell is the founder of InnerSelf Magazine (founded 1985). She also produced and hosted a weekly South Florida radio broadcast, Inner Power, from 1992-1995 which focused on themes such as self-esteem, personal growth, and well-being. Her articles focus on transformation and reconnecting with our own inner source of joy and creativity.

Creative Commons 3.0: This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 License. Attribute the author: Marie T. Russell, InnerSelf.com. Link back to the article: This article originally appeared on InnerSelf.com