(Just in case you’re wondering about the title, it’s inspired by this fabulous song by Bread from 1971)
Today, like every day, as I was having my morning surf through Facebook, my memories popped up. Facebook memories can be cringe-making, thought-provoking, bitter-sweet, happy, sad and everything in between, and when this particular photo came up, I initially felt very sad, which surprised me at first.
The post itself was a jokey one, built around one of my favourite photos at the time, and it was along the lines of I always had a glass in my hand in photos, but I didn’t have an alcohol problem, because here in Spain I can afford all the alcohol I want – no problem! You can find it here, along with the comments I made this morning. It was a bit of a lightbulb moment for me, because it brought home to me just how far I’ve come on my spiritual path since that photo was taken 13 years ago, in June 2010. The featured image was taken on June 9, 2023 – my 71st birthday – and I think you’ll agree with me that I look much younger and happier in the more recent one.
As a result of seeing this photo and comparing it to the more recent one, I was inspired to write this feature, and base it on some of my photos since then, and I was amazed to see just how much the results of the energy work I’ve done since I set out on my soul path in earnest in 2015 are visible in the photos, all of which are posed at happy events and celebrations. Only the above photo is actually date stamped, because I’ve cropped them from the others over time, and have now found out how to turn the date stamp off!
The memories are as vivid as ever though, and I love how these photos reflect my progress on my spiritual journey. It’s also good to have tangible evidence of the invisible inner energy work that’s made me into the person I am today, because it encourages me to stay aligned and present, whatever is going on around me. I hope it will also inspire you to work through your own traumas and challenges and be the happy, fulfilled person you deserve to be, whatever you may have worked through or are still dealing with. It’s the main theme of my book, The Soul Cave, and I am living proof that we can be happy again, even after navigating the worst traumas. Don’t take my word for it though – just look at the pictures!
Age doesn’t matter to me, because I believe it’s not how long you’ve been here that matters, but what you’ve done with your time and, more importantly, your energy during your brief visit to Mother Earth. And true beauty comes from within, so outward appearances are nothing to go on either. However, I do think that now, at 71, I look years younger that I did at 58. And before you ask, I don’t have a picture in the attic! What I see in my recent photos is soul radiance, and no cosmetics or concealers, no matter how effective, can achieve that. It comes from within, and it’s a true reflection of your energetic vibration.
Fast forward to 2016, and in the above photo, I am much more at peace, although it was a very traumatic time as I dealt with the challenges of my husband’s final illness and the emotional effects it had on both of us. In fact my introduction to serious spiritual practice and development began when a friend suggested I should try meditation to help me stay calm and get some rest. I took her advice and found I had a natural aptitude for talking to dead people, healing, reading cards and other forms of divination. I enrolled on a certified psychic development course here in Spain and the rest, as they say, is history!
I know we all try our best to be happy for celebration photos, and of course, the odd glass or several of vino collapso helps a lot, but although we may fool ourselves and others, our energy doesn’t lie. Look at the hunched shoulders, and there’s still a slight downward turn in the smile. But the progress is notable and, to me, remarkable.
The photo above was taken last year, almost 6 years after the previous one. And so much happened in that time, internally and externally. The situation with my husband escalated to conclusion, I took the time I needed for grieving and self-healing, which helped me open up to deeper spiritual connections. Once that began to happen, things moved along rapidly, and the changes in my energy accellerated too.
I was working on my book, doing readings, chakra clearing, healing and energy work for those who were drawn to me and generally enjoying life. Of course there were still challenges, but I was coping better because I was accepting of and grateful for everything in my life – good and bad. After all, the bad things can teach us the most valuable life lessons we’ll ever learn, and help us grow spiritually and energetically, so we should be thankful for them.
Just three months separates the above photo and the preceding one, but looking at them together, I am astonished by the change in my energy. I am fully relaxed and entirely at peace, and it isn’t just down to the wine and the rare company of my son, as we live so far apart! I can see for myself that soul radiance I mentioned earlier, and if I can see it, so can other like-minded souls, so I’m attracting the people I need most into my life. And you can do that too!
I’ve learned that one of the most valuable phrases to have in your spiritual vocabulary is ‘It is what it is.’ This short, seemingly simple phrase covers a lot of ground. When you think it or say it – and actually mean it – you send a message to the universe that you are happy, right here, right now. And because we attract what we send out, we receive more to be happy about. These magical words signal acceptance, and acceptance is the key to happiness. If we can’t change something, at some point we need to accept it, let go of it, and move on. ‘It is what it is’ can help us with that.
You don’t need photos for proof on your inner work, because you will feel lighter, happier and more at peace with yourself and the world around you as you gain deeper insights into your soul and your higher purpose. However, it can be a very useful exercise to look through your photos from time to time and assess the true state of your energy as you progress on your own spiritual path. Let me know how you get on, and please share your own thoughts in the comments. Love and blessings.
