My top 10 ways to connect with Spirit when the going gets tough.

For several years my family had been dealing with a very challenging set of circumstances which have definitely left a crater of a mark in our lives. Something that we had struggled with on many different levels. Over those years my only consistent recourse in dealing with this was to turn to spirit.  Now, as I approach my 3-year anniversary of learning from this issue I am finally and surprisingly at the point in my life where I can see the lesson that was attached, and honestly be grateful for it.

Was it easy? NO, I won’t lie, it was horrendous. FULL STOP. It pushed and prodded me in ways I could have never imagined, brought my fears to reality and left me in a puddle of tears more often than I wish to admit. Leaving me feeling like this was my new reality and that things would just always be this way. But with time and consistency, this problem settled into part of my normal routine, ultimately forcing me to embrace it. There was so much learning there that I could not see going on in the moment. And learn and grow I did; and everyone around me too, even the dogs didn’t go unscathed from this one.

So in celebration of this new found freedom, one that for many years I could not envision, I would like to leave you with my list of simple spiritual cooping techniques to do when times get tough. Are they going to change what you’re going through right that second? Absolutely not, but can they help start to shift you bit by bit and sometimes provide just enough breathing room to get you by, yes.

So here is my top 10 recommendations of ways to connect with spirit when you are struggling.

Prayer: The single most underrated tool in our arsenal that can bring both comfort and grace. Prayer allows you to surrender to a greater power while also increasing your life force, giving you more strength and vitality as you walk through the issues you are facing. Whether is an established prayer you are reciting or simply putting yourself in the arms of the creator, there is no wrong way to go about it. Spirit and your personal spirit crew are always there to guide you, all you have to do is ask.

Watch Nature around you: As an animist at heart, this is something that I have learned to listen to over time. Nature has the ability to tell you so much if you are just willing to listen. And maybe the answer is to just feel nature for a bit to help you disconnect from whatever else might be going on. The Spirit of the wind has the ability to cleanse you. The grounding of the earth can help clear that cloudy feeling in your mind. The mesmerizing nature of fire can leave you invigorated. Or perhaps its just closing your eyes and hearing the song the bird has to sing for you that day. By its very essence nature has a built-in destressing ability that helps us connect with spirit in profound ways.

Ritual Bathing: The act of ritual bathing has been used since ancient times and if you have spent anytime around me you’ll know I’m a big fan. But there is no denying how a great shower can shift how your feeling. Don’t worry, you don’t need a bathtub either. A simple prayer over a bucket of water that you pour over yourself, maybe you add some salt or some flower petals. There are countless recipes that can be used when doing a ritual bath. The important part is connecting with spirit and asking for a blessing through the water to help you feel better.

Trusting your gut: Sometimes there are changes that are so subtle at first no one notices. You feel something is off, or maybe an ominous feeling but you can’t put your finger on in. Those around you tell you to leave it alone that you are starting to drive yourself mad just by thinking about it, even when nothing is happening. If your gut keeps nagging, there is a reason why, don’t ignore it.

Work with your ancestors: Your ancestors know what being alive is like and they can be your greatest ally when dealing with real world challenges. Setup 2 minutes of your day just to connect with them. Doesn’t matter what time but make it something that you can actually accomplish and stick with. If its just 2 minutes before bed or while you’re on your lunch break. Just the simple act of making the effort can make a huge difference when it comes to eliciting the support of those that came before you.

Monitoring your breath: Dedicating at least 5 minutes a day to sitting and focusing on your breathing can be very effective. I am a fan of the four-fold breath, some people call this box breathing. Breathing in for a count of 4, holding it for a count of 4, exhaling for a count of 4, holding for a count of 4 and starting again. This can also be really good for falling asleep or when you feel anxious.

Screaming in your car and surrendering to spirit: This is one I particularly mastered over these last few years. Growing up I would see it in movies but never thought I would find myself in such a situation. But there is definitely a release when it happens. Sometimes when you move that energy, spirit has an opportunity to step in and help.

Admitting you don’t know and being willing to ask for help, spiritual or otherwise: Life was simply not meant to be lived alone and neither is your spiritual journey. When overwhelmed its important to recognise that both are ability to see clearly as well as sense our internal guidance can be blocked. We are too close to what’s going on and almost drowning in the what if’s. The help of an objective 3^rd party can feel like a life jacket and also an opportunity for spirit to lend you that hand you have been asking them for.

Not running away: This one is something I see a lot of spiritual people do. Escaping the harsh realities of this world can almost feel second nature as we deep dive into our oracles, crystals, and visualizations; only focusing on manifesting our desired outcome while being unable to face some of the harsh realities that life sends out way. You can’t fix something you haven’t acknowledge exists in the first place.

Be kind to yourself: Lastly but most importantly, in situations of despair many times I have been very hard on myself. As a spiritual and intuitive person, I feel like I should have known better and blame myself. Some of the difficulties we come across we are meant to go through for whatever reason and sometimes the only kindness that is available in these situations is the kindness we provide ourselves. And when we are about to be loving and kind to ourselves it is when spirit can express itself fully in us.  

Change is inevitable and not always comfortable, but if you attempt to cope with change by calling the help of spirit it can make that transition easier. May you always be blessed with grace and wisdom of spirit as you journey on your way back home.

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Carolina has been in spiritual practice to the public for over 20 years. Her spirits first began working with her in childhood. Her work as a Curandera is considered a sacred calling. She is formally education is in Social Work and her spiritual work informs her private practice. Her only goal is to use her many gifts to empower her clients so that the clearest voice they hear is the one from within.  

Her spiritual practice has worked with clients internationally. She also works with religious/spiritual leaders as a consulting medium. Her private practice includes readings, divinations, energy healing, energy clearings, herbalism, spiritual counselling, hypnosis, past life regression and prayer petitions. Service areas include but are not limited to Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Oakville, Orangeville, Caledon, Bolton, Thornhill, Richmond Hill, Markham, Scarborough, Ajax, Pickering, Milton, Dundas, Georgetown, Maple, King City, Etobicoke as well as online.

Phone: 289 910 0688 | Email: caro@curandera.ca| www.curandera.ca