Synchronicity

Definition "the coincidental occurrence of events and especially psychic events that seem related but are not explained by conventional mechanisms of causality" *from Merriam Webster

It was a long time ago that I learned about synchronicity. In my early 20's, I was introduced to the term by the book "The Celestine Prophecy". I had certainly experienced synchronicity before I knew it had a label, but it was the first time I started to think that perhaps many of the ideas I had tuned into were experienced by others. 

In short, I started to feel less alone.

When I first started noticing these occurrences, they were happening all the time. It felt like such a powerful feeling to know that my life was being guided by something much larger than myself. I also used it as an excuse in my younger days that there were some things in my life that were destined to happen, and that truly I could make no mistakes. The naivete of a 21-year old. Sending love to my younger self .... and a little pat on the head. (which I would have hated!)

In my 30's, I have experienced fewer synchronistic events, but they have been considerably more profound. Last weekend, I experienced one of these incidents, and it's too good not to share!

I had made a coffee date with a lovely yoga teacher I met in the Summer on Tuesday, but we had to cancel... 

Unrelated, my hubby & I had been meaning to take the kids snowboarding at Harper Mountain all winter, and finally booked it on Friday as they had the day off from school. 

The first synchronicity: This lovely yoga teacher ended up being the one giving me a snowboarding lesson. It felt so great to be on a snowboard again, and I had forgotten how much I liked it.

The second synchronicity: After the lesson was over, my daughter conned me into going up the t-bar with her, threw me off balance, and we fell over. My kneecap landed on the edge of her board, and I felt a searing pain ... I hobbled over to the lodge, and planted myself on a bench to take a look at it. The little incident ended up benching me for the day ... But then I saw the lovely yoga teacher, and she was done with teaching for the day ...

Wouldn't you know it? We ended up having coffee in the lodge!

The Universe engineered all of this perfectly for us! We ended up having a fantastic conversation and visit together - and none of this would have happened if I didn't hurt myself.

I strongly believe that there are NO coincidences in life. When you begin to believe that the Universe is on your side, working for you, at all times ... the World is Your Oyster. 

(And the secret is that you are the pearl, being perfectly formed and designed for the highest good of the Universe).

How to Stay True to Who You Are

You were born to the right parents, the right siblings, in the right place at exactly the right time. There is no one like you, and never will be again. You have an entire world inside you that you can share with others - a world and a perspective that can change peoples' lives. Whether you do this consciously or unconsciously, it is happening every time you have an interaction with someone.

It is up to you to become aware of what your gifts truly are. When you move from a place of certainty in who you are, there is nothing you can't do. The trick is to take a good look at your values & beliefs, to examine the actions you take every single day - and to see if anything is out of alignment.

We hear these things all the time - so why is it that we fall off the wagon, "forget", or just let go of practices that make us happy, balanced and fulfilled? 

I received these beautiful reminders at the Tony Robbins event I attended last week. As I've been to this particular event before the entire weekend was a reminder that I am the one in charge of my own life. I decide how successful I'm going to be in everything that I do.

I, for one, am getting really tired of the EGO mind that continues to tell me I can't do things. I know that I am absolutely capable of greatness - and there are so many people out there who have things to teach me.

Here is something that I say to myself before I teach: (feel free to steal it, or to create your own!)

I open myself today to become a channel for the energy of the Universe. Please allow this energy to come through me - Please allow me to be a messenger of the Universe, and to deliver to whomever I meet today exactly what the Universe has been trying to tell them. Please help me to put my own baggage aside so that these messages can come through me with clarity & love.

Coming Soon: Yoga Your Way - Click for MORE!

Namaste & Love, Nicole

Cultivating an Inner Sanctuary

When I think of a sanctuary, I imagine a large, open space with massive stone pillars, and billowing white curtains separating the space. I imagine the intoxicating scent of lilies, jasmine & magnolia flowers. I can see still gazing pools with lily pads floating on the surface. There is a beautiful swimming pool, and a few hot tubs scattered here & there. There are tables filled with artistically arranged food, and the purest water in crystal goblets. There is soft, angelic music playing in the background. I can receive Reiki, massage, sound treatments, or any other kind of bodywork imaginable - any time I wish. 

This is my inner sanctuary.

http://energyartistjulia.bigcartel.com/

You can have one, too, if you can dream one up. 

When I teach restorative yoga, I think of each moment in the class as cultivating this inner sanctuary. What would make you feel ultimately relaxed, comforted and take care of? If I come around during the class, what is it that you need from me? A gentle adjustment, a blanket to better support you in a pose, or simply a loving hand held to your forehead? 

How can I help you take care of yourself?

My mission in these very special classes is to guide you into a loving experience - but ultimately the experience is up to you. The only thing we can truly "own" is direct experience. The tricky part is that your thoughts, emotions and sometimes past experiences, can begin to change the way you view direct experience. 

I love teaching Restorative Yoga above all other forms of yoga, because it is truly about You. You become responsible for how much you are able to relax and release into the experience. You are responsible for ensuring that you feel physically comfortable during the class. And you are also responsible for your own inner sanctuary ... Using your breath to support the poses, focusing on releasing anything that no longer serves you. 

This language can sound strange for a long time .. but when you hear your yoga teacher repeating it enough times, you begin to try putting them into practice. And suddenly one day you find yourself at ease ... with everything. 

Yoga occasionally brings us profound moments of true silence, deep inner peace, and freedom. But in order to get there, we must practice. You can practice at home - even just for 5 minutes at a time - even just 10 deep belly breaths, or 3 Uujayi breaths, or a few Cat/Cows. 

And when you come to class, your body knows what's happening, and those openings are waiting to be experienced. 

Cultivate an Inner Sanctuary every day, by giving yourself moments of space and breath. Your body will thank you. Your mind will thank you. 

Here's to Inner Peace!

Love Nicole

Nicole Aracki is a yoga teacher in Kamloops, BC, Canada. Guiding You to the Light Within.
www.nicolearacki.com 
https://www.facebook.com/nicoleatmanyoga/# 

On Teaching Yoga

Last night a friend requested that I write about a day in the life of a yoga teacher ... all the ups, and all the downs of being in this profession of mine. I am pleased and excited that B requested I write on this subject, as it is an excellent opportunity for me to reflect on this role of "Yoga Teacher". 

For so long, this was what I wanted: To teach yoga full time and to immerse myself in leading classes for others. I feel privileged and honoured to guide people into their practice, and to offer unique ways to change perspectives on the practice and on the personal journey of the self. 

It is inevitable that I, too, would receive an education as I was so busy with teaching that I suffered with stress and a feeling of "no time" for me. The busiest week I had was 13 classes in one week - and to me, this was an enormous jump from a year ago when I was teaching only 3 classes per week! 

I love teaching yoga, and what I noticed when I began to teach so many classes was that the inspiration didn't run out. I feel constantly inspired by many things - my own personal practice, the way students react to what I'm offering, and the intuitive guidance that I receive is finely tuned now. In fact, I feel more inspired the more I teach! 

But what I also noticed is that if I don't take the time to clear my energy field after teaching a class, I begin to feel very heavy and tired in my own energy and I feel the need to hole myself up at home when I'm not teaching. There have been times when I hoped that I wouldn't see anyone I knew, simply because I didn't want them to see me in this strange state. 

When my schedule went over the tipping point, I felt exhausted, and had very little energy to do the things I normally do to take care of myself, like running. I didn't have much in me for the kids or my husband either, and honestly I knew that something would have to change. It wasn't worth it to do so much of something that I love, if it wasn't causing me peace, love and joy.

When I teach yoga, I open myself up to receive messages from my Guides & Gurus (who's names I don't know, and faces I've never seen). But I also open myself up to receive messages and guidance from the students in the class as well. If I'm not careful, I find that sometimes I pick up physical ailments in my own body - almost like catching a cold. I have to be proactive in taking care of Me first so that I have a strong energetic system that can fight off the energetic clinging of others.

How do I take care of myself? I believe that everybody has a "formula" for personal success, and for me it starts with self-care:

1) Daily Meditation - I practice for 30 minutes every morning as soon as I wake up. Sometimes it's breathwork, sometimes it's simple breath-focused meditation, and sometimes gentle yoga

2) Running - I try to run every other day, except when I'm training - which leads to my next component ...

3) Goalsetting - I sit down and set goals once a month! A few past goals: *feed my family with yoga $  ... *50 km Runs ... * Working at a certain studio 

4) Time Alone in Nature - I need time to go inward, to practice ceremony, and to fill myself up again with the energy of the Earth

5) Eating whole, healthy foods. Drinking lots of water. 

I recently let go of quite a few of the classes I was teaching, and I suddenly have time to focus on my self-care routines again. It is making such a difference already. I have the time and energy to run regularly again, I am able to enjoy my kids and my man again, and I am finding the time to reflect and slow down. 

As I head off to another Tony Robbins event, I feel myself buzzing with potential .. and I am SO excited to begin sharing MORE love MORE joy MORE connection and MORE peace with you all!! I have many exciting plans coming up in 2017, and I believe that all of my dreams will come true! Stay tuned in to all that is happening with me ~ Perhaps there will be a way in which I can serve you in the future.

Merry meet, merry part and merry meet again my friends!

Love Nicole 

Symbolic First Day.

And so today is a new day. I am taking my first step in comfort into my new life, and today I ask myself: How can I Serve? What Can I Offer? What Can I Teach to Others? What Am I Meant to Learn? What Is My Purpose?

How Can I Serve?

I am setting intentions today to manifest the pivotal events in my life that were meant to be, that were put in place long before I inhabited this adult body. I am ready to embrace the gifts I was in such close contact with as a child - I was so open in those formative years, and in the last year I have often reached out to my Child-Self  (Little Nicole) to guide me and to show me what it is that I have been missing. 

Last week I had a breakthrough - I was sitting in the sun on my deck, and I closed my eyes to fully immerse myself in warmth & light. Behind my eyes I could see brilliant red - and I thought "Oh, it's just the sun making me see red, I probably can't see any other colours" ... and then all I could see was Orange ... still I wasn't convinced, and thought "Well, orange is pretty close to red, I'm just tricking myself "... and then it morphed into yellow ... and then Still in disbelief, I thought "Well, if I could see green, then I would know I'm not making this up" ... and then everything was green ... and then teal ... blue ... and finally a beautiful amethyst purple.

Now this may not seem significant, so you'll need to know the backstory ...

In my 20's, when I first truly began to revisit my spiritual self, I was playing around with all kinds of modalities and tricks to get insight into my spiritual life. Playing psychic games with friends, practicing Wicca by the book, learning the art of healing through Reiki, and learning a lot about personal Will and manifestation. I remember reading about different types of intuition. Clear seeing, feeling, hearing and knowing* ... I have always experienced Clear Feeling and Clear Knowing, and was always envious of those who had the power to actually "see" visions. I never really thought it would be possible for me to experience Clairvoyance, and so I let it go, and have always relied on my ability to Feel and to Know. This development of Clear Seeing for me is truly amazing ... and I feel that this is a gift from the Universe, a demonstration of the amazing gifts available to me if I can just trust in the destiny that I was born into.

Yesterday I committed to doing a 30 Day Challenge at the Yoga Loft, and for me (and many others), it marks a new beginning in my life. It marks an opportunity to choose my next steps wisely, confidently and mindfully. When I teach yoga, I am always learning ... but when I can be a student I am immersing myself in the internal workings of my own soul ... and of my soul's connection to the Universe. I am also connecting with the other students in the class, while being led into an experience by another teacher. 

My intentions for the next 30 days are to fully immerse myself into my new life here in Kamloops ~ To finally untangle myself from the attachments of life in Quesnel. My intention is not to untie from Quesnel, because I still love that place, and have many lifelong friends and connections there. But rather to simply allow myself to become fully present in my new town, and to start trusting that I am right where I'm supposed to be.

If these words resonate with you at all, and maybe even reflect your own life, perhaps it can serve as a reminder for you to also set some new intentions in your life.

Namaste & Love ~ Nicole 


*Read more about different types of intuition at http://foreverconscious.com/which-spiritual-gift-is-your-strongest

Leaving Home ...

I realized yesterday when I looked at the calendar that it has been a YEAR since we moved away from Quesnel. I find myself reflecting on how it felt to pack up all the things in our home, and how I didn't have any idea what I would encounter in the next days/weeks and months to come. 

And of course, had I known how crazy my life would become in the following 6 months, I might have thought about the move in a little more detail. I might not have even left the threshold of our lovely home in Q-town ...

But what fun would that have been?

I have been pushed out of my comfort zone more often than I would have liked in the last year. Driving the Coquihalla Highway through the winter 4 nights a week to get my daughter to her competitive gymnastics sessions ... living in a tiny old house in Merritt where the kids shared a cold bedroom ... in a less-than-desirable neighborhood ... where the kids went to school with underprivileged children ... and in a small town where I just couldn't find a sense of connection ... 

And also where I grew into bigger shoes simply because there was no other choice. Because I was "forced" to. 

It would have been so easy to stay comfortable in Quesnel, dreaming of a life that I likely would not have been able to attain without pushing through the discomfort. I simply must say here that I don't regret a thing. Even though some of the memories of the last year of my life are "unpleasant", I continue to remind myself that this was all By Choice. So many people go through life having things happen TO them, rather than Making Things Happen. And I don't think either way is better or worse. I simply believe now that I would rather engineer my life so that I can manifest exactly what I want!

Through all this difficulty, my husband and I manifested many things ...

* We are now living in a beautiful home that has a running trail right in the backyard
* I am now working almost full time as a yoga teacher
* We are finally taking the kids to Disneyland!
* I will be presenting a workshop at the Interior Wellness Conference
* We live in the Okanagan!

There are so many other little things that have happened, and there are too many to list here.

The point of my story is this:

Sometimes life gets hard, and things begin to happen to you that you feel (in the moment) that you cannot bear. But yet, from somewhere deep within you there is this wellspring of strength that you are able to draw from. A vast and unlimited supply of energy that nourishes you *just enough* so that you can take one more step, so that you can take in the next breath of air, so that you can live out another day in an upright position. 

When you purposefully push through the limitations you have placed on yourself, you say to the Universe - YES! YES! I can handle MORE peace, more love , more joy, more excitement and more satisfaction! 

Sometimes in life we want someone to tell us what to do in order to get to that place - but I tell you this here - YOU are the one in control, and truly are the only one who can answer these questions. Deep within your own self, you know exactly what you need to to in order to feel happy and alive ... and satisfied. 
Life is never really going to feel easy. And it's not supposed to. The point of all of it is to immerse yourself in experiences. Don't take second-hand knowledge and make decisions about how you're going to "be" in this world - 

Live your own life, and gather up your experiences ... 
Make mistakes and learn your lessons ... 
Be hard on yourself, and then forgive yourself ...

If you feel stagnant, unsatisfied or unhappy in any way - make some decisions about how you really want to feel in each day. Life is too short to constantly wait for something to happen. 

I send you Peace, Love and Joy ~ Namaste, Nicole

Cows, Abundance & Letting Go

The other day I was out running and happened upon a rather large group ... of rather large Cows. They ran across the trail, seemingly out of my way, but as I began to pass by them, they all turned toward me and started charging! It was freaky, and a bit hilarious at the same time ... I haven't run that fast in quite a while!

At first, I thought that I must have been doing something wrong in order for them to chase me like that, as I don't even eat meat! I am their friend, aren't I? I began to wonder what it could mean to have such an obvious sign placed in my path like that. These occurrences, especially when animals are bringing you a message, are never by accident. They always mean something.


I began to actually research the symbolism of the Cow. She does come to symbolize abundance, fertility and the Mother. When I remembered what the Cow means to Hindus, I realized that Abundance is actually chasing me down! What better omen than to have 20 cows charging at you? 


"In Hinduism, the cow is a symbol of wealth, strength, abundance, selfless giving and a full Earthly life." - Wikipedia


I knew I had hit on the truth of the message because of the feeling it brought me ... A sense of rising energy within me, a powerful surging of purpose and meaning. A feeling of connection and elation with a touch of bliss.


My purpose and my vision through the last few months has been to touch as many peoples' lives with love and joy as I can possibly reach. My intention has been to give more than I get. To offer the very best that I can to each person I meet. And while I'm teaching yoga - I always ask that the Universe work its' magic through me so that my students can receive the offerings/messages/guidance that the Universe is trying to convey to them. I always ask that I be a clear channel so that the energy can move through me freely, and out to the desired recipient.


The trick to this surrendering of spirit and body is that I also surrender the results to the Universe. It is the process of giving someone a gift, but they will never know it was you, and you will never know how it affected them.


I don't know for sure what kind of abundance will come my way, and I don't pretend to be able to predict the future for myself. All I know for sure is that this situation reminded me that I am connected to this Earth, I am a part of it, and I relate to all beings that thrive on it. I am not separate from those creatures, even if they scare me - even if they seem like something that could take my life. If they come to me to convey messages - how separate can they actually be from me? What kind of power draws together a group of 20 cows, and me?


I am not separate from you either, dear reader. Even if we haven't spoken in months, and even if we've never met.


What if you treated everyone you encountered today as if they were a part of you - as if they were you? How would you treat the people around you? Would you treat them any differently than you do now? Something to ponder ....


Have the most lovely day ~ Namaste, Nicole

Asking for Protection

Well, we have been in our new house for nearly two weeks now! All of us have had so much fun setting up our things, claiming favourite spots, and generally settling in. Now, the kids are in the basement because both of the bedrooms down there are absolutely huge. It just wouldn't have been fair to only let one kid have a big bedroom! I have to admit I was quite surprised at how well they were both sleeping, considering my bedroom is on the third floor, and also because my children looove to watch scary TV shows about hauntings and other shenanigans. But they were sleeping really well and seemed very pleased about their massively huge basement bedrooms, so I thought I was wrong in my first assumptions.


I guess these things take time. Last night my son came to me crying because he said he saw some tiny white lights moving really fast in his bedroom. Of course it freaked him out - no one likes unexplained, fast-moving lights! He seemed pretty terrified, and I could feel the clamminess of his fear as he clung onto my arm for dear life. His fear sent a shudder through my body as I walked both kids up the stairs to sit on the couch to talk about it. I managed to calm them both down, and my son bravely said he wanted to go look again.


We went back to his room and he carefully entered, looking all around and trembling. He requested I take the mirror off the wall (thank goodness, because it was facing a window and could possibly have been creating an entry point for entities). I started to ask him what he thought the lights might be. He thought about it and said "It could have been fairies". BAM! I was so surprised by how intuitive he was in this moment ... and I proceeded to explain that they might just be looking for somewhere new to play and his room is so much fun. But we both agreed that it wasn't acceptable for the fairies to frighten him like that, and we decided to ask them to leave. I did most of the talking, and then I told him that he should use his voice to tell them as well. We told the fairies that we could play outside with them another time.


Then I asked him if he would like me to contact someone to protect him - I suggested his Grandma (who passed over), or his guardian angel, or an Archangel - and he chose his Guardian Angel. I called upon him out loud and also asked for the guidance, protection and love of the guardians of children, of souls and also his familiars and our family totem Eagle. All along I asked him to see if he could feel the energy changing at all.


He ended up feeling much much better after this charging of the room, and the call out for protection. Sometimes I wonder if he will remember these tricks and spells that I'm teaching him ... or if he'll just think it was like telling  story and that it's not really Real.


I do, however, get the sense that he knows all this stuff anyway. He probably knows a lot more than I do ...

Reconnecting

This past weekend, I had the most wonderful time ...


A very dear friend of mine suggested (back in November) that we attend the Northwest Yoga Conference near Seattle last weekend. We went running in the Chuckanut Trail System, donuts at LaFeen's, countless cups of coffee, and finally made our way to conference. The road tripping is always a ton of fun! Good tunes, great company, and the kind of conversation where no one else could fit a word in edgewise ;o)


I feel recharged, reconnected and completely renewed in so many ways! I learned so much, and am eager (probably too eager) to try out the many things that I learned. But more than the things I can teach to others, I found that place deep within me that resides as a continual student of the Universe. I felt a deep reconnection to the grandeur of my internal landscape, and felt relieved and blissful that it does indeed still reside in me.


I definitely experienced some awakenings ... there is a perpetual feeling of resistance that we all hold in different parts of our bodies. This is why I believe yoga is so darn good for a person. Practicing yoga helps us to access the sad, forgotten and disturbed parts of ourselves - and once we acknowledge those places, they become children who were only looking for someone to hear and see them. And in turn, we become children too, returning to that place of innocence that eternally resides in us. We return to a state of pure possibility. We return to faith. We return to Atman ~*the essence (within us) that is eternal, unchanging, and indistinguishable from the essence of the universe.


Rubbing shoulders with over 700 happy yogis does a lot for a lady. There were so many sweet people there, always with a kind word, a compliment, and a helpful nature. And I can't say enough about how well organized everything was.


The teachers presenting workshops were beautiful, experienced yogis who teach from the heart and you can feel their energy no matter where you are in the room of so many bodies. It takes a skilled and accomplished teacher to make 80 people feel "seen" during a 2 hour workshop. I am inspired. I am renewed. I am healed!



*from thefreedictionary.com

The Wait is Over!!!

After a long, Challenging winter of driving the Coquihalla up to 7 times a week (often twice in a day), of living in a tiny house where the kids share a bedroom, and the cat & the dog learned how to get along. After what seemed like a never-ending wait for a job offer my husband finally received. (In order to even apply for this job, my husband had to drive over the Connector to Kelowna for a job fair in the middle of winter - multiple times.)


There were so many times in this transition that I thought we had made a terrible mistake in leaving our comfort zone, our friends, family, and a huge circle of support. I wanted to quit and just move back "home" where I would know people walking down the street, where my smiles would be returned, where I would be loved and accepted.


But every damn day, my husband and I focused on the reasons we had for making this move, for stepping out of our comfort zones, for having a huge vision for our lives. We woke up on either side of the bed, and practiced gratitude together. We sent love out to everyone we know, and then to the world, the galaxy, and the Universe. AND we focused on goals. We both have lofty ones, and I honestly didn't know that I had such desires inside of me ... But these weren't "wishes" I was focusing on, these were goals. Goals require work. Personal work on the innerscape of my psyche and taking a good look at the imprints of beliefs that were overlaying everything I believe about myself. Not all of this is pretty, and I admit, I am will be untangling these beliefs for a while longer ... 


Through all of this, I reached the threshold of what I thought was all I could bear, and I would realize that there was another hairpin corner up ahead - it just looked like the top for a moment. So I had to hang tough, to be strong and to stay focused on what I wanted. I had to be stubborn and to want this new life badly enough that I would just. keep. going. The same way I do in an Ultramarathon. You haven't had enough until your faculties are dull and your mind is fuzzy, and you're forgetting to drink water, and then you realize you only have 5 kilometres to go. Then the beast comes out. And she did come out in me.


We made a trip to our Quesnel house to grab the last few things we had inadvertently left behind (and ran out of gusto, leaving a trampoline and other things - I'm sorry new owners ...). Saying goodbye was one of the hardest things. And I'm not sure when I really felt myself letting go of my Quesnel life. On some level, I envy those blessed souls who are able to remain, because I never thought I would leave. I watched others leave, and thought "No, not me, I won't leave this amazing place". I had everything I needed, but I felt a call to my name that there was a part of my journey that would need me to step up, and step out.


I haven't taken my final bow out of Quesnel, because I have friends there, and I love the running trails. I also intend to keep teaching at Edgewood Farm during the summer, as well as co-host a retreat with Veronica again. But I can tell you that I have some Major plans for our new home in Kamloops. We move into our new home Easter weekend!!!


I will be taking bookings for visitors starting April 1st ;o)


Thank you for all your love & support along the way.

Finding Dharma

After months of waiting, the wave has finally broken! We will finally be moving to Kamloops at the end of next month!!!


These last few months have tested my patience greatly, and caused stress in my life - something that I continuously work to avoid. But all suffering is necessary and almost always leads to some conclusions.


For me, this waiting period led me to some pretty massive emotional breakthroughs. It pushed me up against the most fearful parts of myself - the parts that are terrified of rejection, need to feel a sense of security to survive, and of the lady in me who's incredibly scared to let her kids down in any way.


I was also forced to face my feelings of inadequacy, my confidence, and the driving force in my life. Which I figured out is a great desire for independence, freedom and space, in whatever I am doing.


I realized through this that the work we do on ourselves is never done, and this is something that I've heard successful people say. But I never thought I would get there in my own mind to actually see it. There is always going to be another challenge that comes up in our lives - it's how we approach it that will determine whether we look at our outcomes as successes or failures. For instance, as I come out of this dark period of winter, I look at the thoughts that I've been able to get under control, and at the formidable way that I have gone above and beyond in order to work towards my goals.


Diving into these deep-seated emotional issues is not easy work. But you're the only one who can do this work on yourself. Don't turn away from the things that frighten you, but rather go towards them with curiosity, love and acceptance. No healer, shaman or witch could perform on you the transformations that are required in order to excel in your life. You are your own Shaman. You are the guardian of your own heart. You are your own light, and when you are able to remove the stuck emotional baggage, your vision will be clear and free. It is in these moments of clarity that you will see your own personal truth, and at this pivotal point, you will have the power to live out your purpose. Your Dharma.


Sincerely and With Love,
Nicole

Receive Your Lessons Well

Do you ever feel like you're learning the same lessons over and over? It seems that there can be many aspects to those BIG life lessons that repeat themselves (just in case you missed anything the first time around).


For me, I learn over and over that things don't usually happen when you WANT them to, but rather when it's meant for you. And I have found, and am finding, that this is unequivocally true. It seems as though the Universe sometimes says to me "Now, now, Nicole, try not to rush this ...".


Oh, the wisdom of childhood - my Mom always used to tell me to hurry up! Maybe little Nicole knew what she was doing ...


Having moved to a new place and all, I was feeling some difficulties in finding a sense of belonging. It is really hard to move somewhere where you don't know a soul! And I seem to forget that people need time to get to know me and to trust me. So I get a little impatient. Come on people - I am totally amazing, super fun, nice, gentle and very accepting!


I admit, I was starting to feel pretty frustrated about many aspects of my life - living situation, town, driving, and even work! I had one day where I felt like complete sh*t ... I was down in the dumps about all of it, and beginning to wonder if we had made a mistake leaving that comfortable Comfort Zone. I even went to bed feeling pretty down on myself.


Lo and behold, the following day, I woke up and made extra time to meditate, do yoga and to just get refocused. I went for a run in the snowy hills. I played with my dog. And I slowly began to think that everything was going to work out. The day after that, the good news started to pour in - and it wasn't just one piece of good news - it was one after another after another!


The clouds seem to be parting, and the ice slowly cracking across the frozen lakes of my internal winter, and I am finding my way home through my heart. And I realize that the way home is always through the heart - the route never changed, it was just something I had forgotten. But the Universe rewarded me with this flood of good news because I made myself ready for the goodness to come. Without being in that primed state, the news might not have come to me as clearly, or have had the impact that it did.


I think it's pretty human to not quite understand the messages we receive throughout our lifetimes. It is all part of the process to be young, impulsive, and to think we can force things to happen in our lives. But our higher selves always know what's best for us, what we need at any given time, and how to frame situations so that lessons can be learned. When you receive the gift of an epiphany about your life, it is a huge high that catapults us into the next level of our being.


My wish for you is that you receive your lessons well, for the highest good of everyone, everywhere.


Namaste ~ Nicole

The Best Year Yet.

I'm reading an awful lot about making 2016 the

Best Year Ever!!

 letting go of old crap that no longer serves you, getting healthy, getting fit, sharing love, Fully participating and being present in life.

I woke up this morning and decided that I simply want to live my life from a place of love <3 If all my actions come from this Seat of Love, I know that I have done my very best! Whatever this means to you, my friends, I honour your desire to change, to improve, to harness ... and most importantly to take the first step, because everything that follows after you take this crucial step is carried forward with a kind of momentum that you don't expect.


When you live without expectation of reward and praise, you open your heart up to the possibilities of self-healing, and you finally are able to say "I DID this. I AM amazing!" I know that I repeat this theme a lot, but for me to say this out loud in this public forum, I continually reach out to the world and continue to spread love, light and possibility to those who have agreed with me, but still seem to be waiting on the sideline.


Stop pretending that you're a wallflower, darling. We are all meant to Shine, to sparkle, to become the very best version that we can be. A version that the ghosts of our old selves will be so incredibly proud of. And when you are approaching the reward of self-love, you will want your old self to grab your hand - you will want to bring this version with you. And she won't be able to ... because at that point in time, she will slowly begin to fade away ... And the transformation will be complete.


I wish you the best year yet. I wish you love. I wish you peace. I wish you joy, and celebration, and the satisfaction that comes with a consistent practice that feeds your soul.


Happy New Year!
Namaste, Nicole

Strength & Determination: It's Not What it Looks Like

~ "People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar." ~ Thich Nhat Hahn

This past weekend, I finished the Deception Pass 50 km event. Many of you know that this was not my first rodeo, but it didn't make it any easier ... read on to hear about it!

I feel so lucky to have this strong, healthy body that can carry me through so much adversity. I realize that it's not really luck, but rather it's my tenacity, my hard work, and the hushing of the naysaying voices in my mind. I kept running that day because I consciously chose to suffer - and to be okay with that. I knew deep within myself that in order to surpass what my old self might have done, I had to do what she never would have. In this case, that was to keep going, putting one foot in front of the other, repeating my mantra in my mind and trudging on. Through the mud and the rain, under and over downed trees, pushing against the strong, relentless winds of the day. I don't pretend to be a hero to anyone ... but I can tell you I sure am a hero to that little girl who never wanted to participate in sports because she knew she'd never be the fastest. For me now, as a grown woman, I see that there is so much more in giving something your all. I feel blessed to have had these insights into my own personality, and I see now what so many others saw in me. I suddenly see the big picture.


Suffering is something that we usually endure because it comes upon us in a sudden and unexpected way. But when we choose suffering willingly, we set out on a quest to uncover an answer: What is the difference between suffering and not suffering? When we are not suffering, does it instantly bestow the gift of happiness? Or can we be living a carefree life, without a worry, and still choose to suffer? Many people, when I tell them about ultrarunning, tell me I'm crazy for choosing such a sport. They tend to crack jokes about not being able to run for even a minute, or only running if something is chasing them. But this reaction tells me so much about the self worth of the person standing in front of me. This tells me that they are terrified of discomfort, of suffering, and of failure. But when you declare that you are setting a goal, small or large, it is a huge act of bravery. The actual event has very little to do with the declaration, because the first step on a journey like this is the toughest one. Once you begin conquering your training plan, you realize that al you have to do is run one day at a time. There is no good that can come of looking 3 weeks ahead in the training plan, unless you're trying to talk yourself out of doing it.


This mindset is what helped me to finish this challenging run over the weekend. I put one foot in front of the other (over 60,000 times, according to my sweet little fitbit!). I kept going when I felt like I could not, and I insisted on finishing. Any time a negative thought went through my mind, I immediately cast it out. There is no room for doubt in these kinds of situations. It sure helped that the scenery is so stunning at Deception Pass. I could spend a lot of time there, walking the beach, contemplating life, and searching for nature's treasures along the shore. For me there is an instant feeling of meditation when I am near the ocean shore, and I love nothing more than communing with the vastness of the Universe in places like these. During this run, there were definitely moments of this vastness, and I was able to draw energy from this place in my toughest moments.


There was a moment, when I was running back across the bridge, where the wind was gusting and large, cold raindrops were pelting me. I raised my arms in a V and ran across the bridge like this, like my own hero blazing a path for enlightment. I looked down into a tree and saw our family totem: a Bald Eagle. I started to laugh and smile, and just kept going. That symbol, that gift from the Universe gave me tremendous power and energy at that time. I felt so incredibly blessed to see that.


In hindsight the run feels like a flash in the pan, and perhaps that's why I kept going, because I knew that the pain & suffering were only temporary. And it was suffering that I chose. At the end of my run, I was so grateful to be finished, but I am also so incredibly filled to the brim with gratitude for where I am at. Thank you for giving me the strength to carry on when I thought I could no longer run. Thank you for such a strong mind that controls my thoughts and feelings. Thank you for a strong body that could physically carry me through such adversity. Thank you for a spirit that can sense energies and transmute them into fuel. Thank you Thank you Thank you ~ Whoever you are.

Hope and Faith

There have been times, during these last few months, when I felt like all I had to my name was my faith. I have practiced gratitude, sent out love, and visualized the things I want each and every day for the last 5 months. I did not falter on this practice, even when I was incredibly stressed out, exhausted and feeling flat. I continued, even though we have been sleeping on a mattress on the floor, even though our kids have been sharing a room, even though the cat is dying one day, and defying me the next.


I kept on going.


There is a light at the end of the tunnel ... it means I still have a little ways to go for my visualizations to become real, but it means that Hope has joined with Faith. {It's a little too soon to tell, but there is a very real possibility that our situation will be adjusted sometime in the beginning of the new year ... }


You have to keep wishing for what you want, and planning on what you'll do once it finally arrives. Sometimes things don't happen as quickly as you would like them to, but it's because the Universe always has a massive action plan that serves the highest good of all involved. Sometimes, like my accident scene story, there are many people involved. Like the woman I met from Merritt who I will be helping to facilitate "Heart Circles", the miniature show horse I gave Reiki to, the woman who got into the accident, the one hundred or so people who were delayed in getting to Kamloops. For each person who was "inconvenienced" by this accident, there was a specific reason that it happened to them. Some needed to learn patience, some were held back in order to be placed in another person's path, some needed to see what it felt like to hit black ice and not be able to stop ... and on and on the lessons go.


My point is that even with this light at the end of the tunnel, I feel completely exhausted. This period of time in my life has been one of the most challenging, and as I write that, I can strangely see that it's not even close to some of the other challenges I have faced. The only difference is the way the stress has physically manifested itself in my body. But this too, shall soon pass, and there will be a new challenge awaiting me on the horizon.


All I truly want is to make some big memories with my family, like going to Disneyland, taking them on a trip to Europe, and dipping our toes in some oceans. For myself, I want to experience the joy of delivering Yoga classes to people in the most connected and genuine way that I can. I also yearn to get my 1000 hours of teaching experience so that I can help to train other yoga teachers! I will help people who are dying with the beautiful lessons I learned from my Mom. I will nurture my marriage and always honour my husband's personal destiny by giving him the freedom to express himself. We learned a few years ago that the gift of freedom is the gift of joy.


Sometimes life can be a struggle, and you feel like you are trying to swim against the flow, and honestly this is what growth feels like. It is uncomfortable to be reborn! But in order to grow, this is what we must endure if we ever want to finally use those bigger shoes we have been saving. Thich Nhat Hahn wrote that when we live in the past, we live with the ghosts of our former selves, as we are dying every moment. We are not the same as we were from the beginning of this blog post to now. Growing takes time, and it takes longer when we have to drag around baggage from the past, and so it is best to let it go a little at a time.


How I managed to get to the place I am in now is simply a matter of hard work, dedication, practice, faith, love and lots of gratitude. Pushing out of my comfort zone was rooted in all of these practices for me, and I always had those certainties to draw from. I have more travelling to do, in so many ways, but if I continue to trust and accept the process of growing, there is absolutely no limit to what I can do.


And if I can do it my friends, You Can Too.


Namaste,
Nicole

Living With Purpose

What does it mean to live your life with purpose? It means having a secret mission that is built into you on the foundation of your beliefs. It means to work with the positive aspects of your own personality in order to both heal your own self, as well as to offer your gifts to the world around you. Giving of yourself, straight from your heart to another's heart, is the most honest, uplifting, supportive and loving way to communicate with another. And for me, it feels like my Superpower.


I do not selflessly give however. I've come to understand that I must take care of myself before I can even consider taking care of someone else. And my method of helping others is simple.

• Do unto others as you would have then do to you. The Golden Rule never gets old, and it has shaped me since I was 6 years old.

• Give Love openly. Share your warmth with others - especially with people you don't know. Your smile may be the light in their day; it might be the catalyst for change in an otherwise humdrum day. When you give love to the world, you plant a seed in them when they realize it felt good to smile and be smiled at. Who knows - maybe they will pass it on?

• See Other People. When you see others, truly look into their eyes and see the truth of who they are. When you look with honest curiosity and total acceptance you can warm another person deep down into their soul.

All of these commandments I've created for myself have helped me to look outside of myself when I'm feeling small, or sad or overwhelmed. They have helped me develop a bigger perspective of the world, and it's fabulous energy, as well as the wonderful way the world reciprocates all that you give to others.


Life, this world, these people surrounding you - whether it's an illusion or total reality, is an opportunity for growth and boundless joy. It's up to each one of us to create our existence. What are you going to choose?


Sincerely and with love,
Nicole Aracki

Truly a Mother

I had another insight/epiphany/aha moment yesterday ... My husband and I were having a deep discussion about our future and where it's taking us. (All good things, I promise!) I realized that all my life I have struggled against the very things that I am good at, one of those things was becoming a mother and wife. I'm not sure what happened, and where it happened in my timeline, but I can assure you that for as long as I can remember I resisted the idea of being a devoted mother. I resisted the idea of putting my kids needs before my own, and for years I never even entertained the idea of being a married woman, let alone a stay-at-home mom. I had planted the idea in my mind that I was going to have a career before I ever got married or had kids. (IF I ever decide to participate in these things)


What I realized so profoundly is that I have been struggling against what has become a very deep, very connected part of my Soul's identity. Caring for others is something I have always been good at, and caring for those children born of my body, is a Beautiful opportunity as they look to me for answers - which they will do until the day we die.


I have always believed that we choose our lives, our parents, our siblings, and all of the many circumstances that we will encounter in our lifetimes. I asked myself the question: Why would you resist something that you set up for yourself? It is clearly your destiny to be a Mother first in these years, and there must be a reason why. You cannot fight it anymore Nicole. This is your Destiny.


My Mom always knew that I was destined to become a mother and a wife - someone who takes care of her family with grace and ease. She always knew I would be good at it, but she didn't dare tell me her thoughts until I was married with a baby on the way. Even then, deep inside, some part of me rebuffed this notion, and rejected the role of "homemaker". But my Mom was right, it is what I am good at, and I have finally realized that I've been fighting against my own self! I have been fighting as the person I formed myself to be as a young teenager - I have been pitting this "self" against the "self" of who I have become, and maybe even the "self" I have always been! Perhaps in some way I was fighting with the dead versions of myself, the ideals formed within me as coping mechanisms for things that were happening in my life that I could not control.


I know now that it is time to let go of the ways in which I have resisted my true calling, my true self, and time to embrace the most powerful gifts I have. The powers to Love, to Heal, to Care For, to Teach, to Listen. And I will continue to do what I am so good at, but I feel an even deeper sense of purpose, and even a freedom to envelop myself and my family in the gifts and wisdom I possess.


After all, I am raising two children for the next generation, and this is extremely important work.

Precious.

I have had some moments of epiphany in my life. Yesterday, I was driving to Kamloops for the Interior Wellness Conference, and was truly enjoying the morning. It was bright and sunny, traffic was flowing smoothly, and I was belting out a Kiesza song. There was enough water on the road that it was coming off of the cars in a superfine mist, and I took comfort that the roads would not be icy, but just a little wet.
On the left hand side of the road, in the opposing traffic, there was a large yellow truck stopped, and three people walking north. As I turned my full attention back to the road in front of me, it took me a moment to comprehend that there had been an accident up ahead. A transport truck was stopped and the man was waving his arms at me to slow down. I immediately applied the brakes.


But nothing happened. I panicked, and stepped on the brakes harder. Nothing. I heard something locking up in the car, and at that point I was visualizing what would happen if I wasn't able to stop. I was saying "No, please no. Not like this. Oh god, please no ... " and then I said it "I'm not ready to go". I heard or felt a deep inner voice say "Nicole, you have to let everything go." I took my hands off the wheel, I took my foot off the brake, and I must have felt the car regain control. Then I gently applied the brakes and they took hold. I came to a fast and solid and full stop.


At that point I was able to actually see the scene in front of me. There was a dually truck on it's roof, and the attached, enclosed trailer it was towing was on it's side. I put my hazard lights on, turned off my engine and walked onto the scene. My feet were slipping on the frozen, black ice of the Coquihalla, and I realized how lucky I was to have been able to stop. As I walked over to the scene, the lady who had been driving said there was a horse in the trailer.  I asked the good Samaritan who was helping her if the horse was moving. She said she didn't know. So some men pried open the door, and the woman said the horse needed to be able to stand up, or it would have to be put down. I looked into the trailer and saw a sweet little miniature horse. I knew I had to help, so I climbed in with her and we got the horse to stand. This poor woman was in shock, and as soon as she saw that the creature was okay, she left the trailer. I had to stay. The poor little guy was in shock too, and I smoothed and petted him all over. His heart was racing and the sounds of the highway were making him feel pretty uncertain. But he seemed to calm down quickly, and when I started giving him Reiki, he immediately leaned onto me quite heavily. I gave him Reiki for quite some time, and finally decide that he would be okay, so I climbed out of the trailer. Just as I opened the door to leave, he pawed at the bar in the trailer and whinnied at me. I told him he would be okay, and I got out of the trailer.


I walked past the overturned truck, and noticed the antifreeze dripping like syrup from beneath the hood. I approached two bystanders and told them the horse was okay, and they both sighed in relief. We started chatting about the icy roads, and how we both had difficulty stopping on the slick surface. It turns out they were from Merritt, and were also heading to the conference. We talked and talked while a few other people were assisting with the scene. Pretty soon the police cars, tow truck and ambulance came, along with a highway maintenance truck and a snow plow. The scene was cleared in 20 minutes, and the highway was open once more, with more salt to melt the nasty ice.


Upon reflection all day yesterday, I realized how incredibly lucky I am to have been able to stop my vehicle. It really spooked me, and I realize that nothing happens by chance. The Universe had a master plan to pluck each person involved to learn a lesson, to have poor judgement, to fill up a water bottle and get one more hug from each family member before leaving the house. I was meant to meet that little horse, and those wonderful ladies from Merritt, and the kind police officer who said "120 km's probably isn't the right speed limit in these conditions". The woman who was involved in the accident probably had something she was meant to realize because of the accident - something that only a very big scare could make obvious enough. ( I don't know her story, and it wouldn't be fair to assume anything!)


All in all, I cannot lie, I was incredibly shaken all day as I walked through the conference and chatted with some amazingly beautiful people. I value this life so deeply and feel that this moment that I had will continue to affect me profoundly. I feel that now, more than ever, I must make the most of this life, and continue to simply share myself with the world ... from simple interactions to this blog to my work teaching yoga. It is all so precious. Life is so precious. I am precious, and You are precious. Make the most of each moment ... I know it is hard sometimes, but with practice you will get there more often, I promise you that.


The Light in Me sees the Light in You.
Sincerely, Nicole

Living in the Nicola-Thompson-Okanagan

My weekly routine here in the Nicola-Thompson-Okanagan has really taken shape. I am now teaching 6 classes a week to people in their workplaces, at a photography studio, to children and to University students. It feels good to be a presence in Kamloops, and I have to say, I really like the city!


It's interesting how the Universe makes choices for you based on your perceptions of the world around you. I always disliked Kamloops because every time I was there, I got lost, could never find what I was looking for ... and it is so freakishly dry that I would feel a little panicky. I suppose that if you hang out in any place for long enough, it will start to grow on you and change your mind. Once I figured out a few things, I was liberated to start truly seeing this city for the beauty ... people are pretty darn friendly here! It's an interesting place because it's a big town and a small city, so you still get the connectedness of a small town, but the facilities and shopping of a city. I am truly enjoying my time there, even if it means driving so much to and from Merritt. (7 times a week, but only 4 days out of 7!) It's an easy drive, I get to drive fast (120km/hr), and it's 2-3 lanes the whole way, so you don't usually get stuck behind drivers. It's 45 minutes one way. Easy with good tunes, a coffee and your sunglasses, because 9 times out of 10, you will encounter sunshine along the way somewhere.


The trail running here is great too - there are some steep, long uphills - and I figured out the hard way that Kamloops trails, just like the roads, are easy to get turned around on. (Luckily, I was rescued by a local couple, of whom the woman's brother lives in Quesnel!) Some of the trees are absolutely enormous, and I see such tenacity in these beasts, when so many other trees in the area suffer for lack of water. Perhaps those monolith trees have been around long enough to have experienced more consistent moisture .. I am certain they have stories to tell.


Oh, and it finally dawned on me why it's called Kamloops - it's because all of the roads loop around each other, and that's why it's so easy to get lost! Once you get into the flow of the city, it's really not so hard to understand .. but I wouldn't be surprised if I get lost again. Soon.


Every time I drive down towards Merritt, about 10 minutes out, there is a sign that says "Welcome to the Nicola Valley". We must have travelled to this area a few times when I was a kid, because I always remember seeing that sign and saying "Welcome to my Valley!" Yes, indeed, the Universe has a funny way of presenting things to a person. I am ever grateful for the lessons.

The Speed of My Life

Slowly ... day by day ... my new life is beginning to take shape. It seemed as though "God" had placed a pause on many aspects of my life, and pressed fast play on others. If I am continuing to go with the flow, I have realized that sometimes parts of the river get hung up on rocks, or caught in eddies and whirlpools. I think I have a lot to learn about accepting the process!


All of a sudden, this week, my day planner is starting to fill up with yoga classes! Subsequently, I feel the immediate stress of being a working Mom, but I am doing my best to take care of myself daily. Unfortunately, some days I literally don't have time! So it's chanting OM in the car, or making sure to pack myself raw veggies or a gorgeous smoothie. This morning I was able to practice yoga - and even had a 5 minute Savasana! (For any other yoga teachers out there, you'll understand how precious this was).


It is nice to feel wanted though, as I feel that I have so much to offer, and I don't enjoy being stagnant. It's not my favourite. I absolutely love to teach yoga, and it doesn't really matter who I'm teaching or where I'm teaching. If the students are receptive, well that is all I need!


Yesterday, I think my new schedule caught up to me though. I woke up in a complete fog, with my sinuses congested, and feeling cold ... because the furnace was blowing out cold air - Shriek! I had to leave earlier than usual to get my car serviced in Kamloops. So I grabbed a coffee and hopped onto the Coquihalla Highway ... heading the wrong way! Ugh. So I drove to the next exit and got going in the right direction. All went fairly well on the drive, but after I paid for the work on my car, I backed out of my parking spot - right into a wall. Thank goodness it wasn't a car or horribly worse, a person ... I'm normally such a careful driver. Clearly I was not living in the moment or I would have seen the wall!


Lesson learned. Pay attention Nicole. Be here NOW.


Perhaps it is the residual energy of that spectacular Full Moon a few days ago, combined with the thinning of the veil between the worlds as we approach Halloween. I feel that this Saturday will be an excellent time for manifesting our desires, and I fully intend to do a solitary circle on Halloween to do just that. I am hoping that I will be able to feel my Mom's presence as well.


Whatever I do today, however, I will be sure to stay present, stay focused and stay energized!!


Nicole