Transformation through Travel

Hello Readers!

It’s been a little while since I have posted here but I thought it’s just the right time to begin to share a bit of the transformational experiences I have had that first led to my travel “adventures” through the past several years. Today, I thought I would begin with what this mind believes was the original starting point.

Some of you know that I went through a not-so-easy divorce experience (and who would say any breakup/divorce is easy?!)… but I had also been well-trained in Grief Recovery work by that point, so what a fantastic tool to use for my own (fresh) grief. Putting this together with this mind’s awareness about also no longer having a fun and reliable travelling partner (my husband) with me, and knowing that I really did love traveling with him, I decided to travel to locations that I had then been looking forward to seeing one day. I was not used to traveling alone, had lost a lot of money through the expenses of moving and lawyer fees through the separation/divorce time, yet I decided that I needed to overcome this concern. I did travel to my parents in Edmonton and also met a long-time dear girlfriend in Victoria, B.C (my favourite place in Canada!) where I loved reconnecting with her (friend from my University of Alberta days) as well as spending some time with a dear friend from my Naturopathic College days in Victoria after my U of A friend headed back to her husband and daughter in California.

Now, I did have some savings, and I knew I wanted some time for my emotional healing, so I booked my first long-distance international trip on my own (meeting with a group that I didn’t know, so not totally solo travel) – to Sri Lanka!. After this trip, I could sense that my grieving was not fully healed as few past thoughts, but many new griefs/losses (of a divorce that was finished) and the fact that I chose to let go of my Naturopathic Doctor’s license in Canada from an Awakening experience (more grief/loss to process), led me to my next trip Australia and Perth for more healing time. In Perth I met up with (and stayed with) a friend I only knew from online communication from a Mini Schnauzer group we were both enjoying on Facebook. Another fantastic healing time. As for Australia, I was on a cruise on my own (technically) but surrounded by many people – and I had lots of time to do my Grief Recovery “homework,” while meeting the friend in Perth – as well as her husband and son for the first time was a really beautiful connecting time.

I do meditate regularly, and did so for many years before my separation/divorce, but after that experience, boy… I had doubled my efforts and commitment to this practice. Sometimes before, and many times after my meditations, I reflect/contemplate whatever has arisen within my Conscious Awareness. This was how I was directed to visiting Bali. This time, the trip was not for healing from Grief, but to follow some sort of “Calling” from my Soul. I travelled to each place that I was “directed” to… and just listened for more Universal Guidance. I went back to Canada… was “guided” back to Bali… went back to Canada after a longer stay in Bali… and was directed back again – this time with the intention to live and work in Bali from a VISA I was sure was allowing me to do this. One month into my considerably-longer VISA to Bali, I discovered there had been some misunderstanding/miscommunication about my current trip, and that I could NOT legally work in Bali with my current VISA. Was I disappointed? You bet. Did I rush back to Canada? No. I have stayed now for months beyond that learning… because I am (happy to avoid winter in Canada??!!! hahaha) – well, funny, and there is a grain of truth in that… but in Bali… things beyond my hopes and expectations are happening. This mind/body/soul is continuing to Evolve… Consciously. More than anything, there is also an Awareness of a certain “preparation” happening, it seems to me… preparation to come back to Canada sometime (the right time), and the acceptance of what is currently happening. My daily “practice” in becoming more and more comfortable with walking into an unknown space (i.e., each new day) and remaining curious, optimistic, and playfully enjoying the ups and downs of our shared experiences on Earth. I feel both Lifted by some strength I did not know I have, and humbled by adapting as necessary to consistent changes – external and internal, easy and not-easy. I am so grateful for this current opportunity, and exactly the way my life is unfolding right now.

So now, you have a general overview of my travelling over the past several years. In my next post (likely on my Qi of Life) WordPress Blog… I will share more personal details of some of the many steps of my journey through especially this travelling experience.

I will finish this post with sharing that for the last few days, I have been surrounded (or at least my vision has been filled) with many butterflies. Most notable was a rather large one that came over to sit on my arm while I was on my computer. As I spoke with it and said hello… it climbed up to, and across my chest (the whole time I was so hoping for a picture!!). At least I was able to call out to my current Homestay Owner (Ketut) to see this too… and he did… so somehow this mind was able to get the witness it needed for this fantastic experience! Well, the next day… a similar butterfly landed on the flower I had placed just beside my computer. And then, later, one sat on the brim of my hat as I was up on the 3rd floor of this Homestay! A “new” friend perhaps, but a Spiritual Messenger for sure, for this mind to contemplate and appreciate. So I found a bit of information which some may already know about this Messenger… I am quoting below the simple aspect that this mind believes applies to me today:

“Just like in the dream state, butterfly visitors in the waking world are said to be messengers. They could signify anything from love and joy to impermanence and change. The spiritual meaning of a butterfly is about transformation, joy and rebirth. Animal communicator Kristin Houser of Fauna Speak spoke about butterflies as heralds of joy that teach us to shine brilliantly and ecstatically. Time is short and spending time evolving and spreading beauty is time well spent in this finite world. The butterfly phase of the life cycle is one of joyful celebration after such a long transformation process.” https://thecopperwolf.com

And here is a beautiful quote by Tolstoy that this mind feels resonates with me. I AM (third eye reference) seeing/feeling the butterfly/butterflies emerging from me… but these human eyes look forward to the “kaleidoscope” (the term used for a group of butterflies)… that is emerging!!

“Life is continual creation, i.e. the formation of new, higher forms. When this formation comes to a stop in our view or even goes backwards, i.e. when existing forms are destroyed, this only means a new form is taking shape, invisible to us. We see what is outside us, but we don’t see what is within us, we only feel it (if we haven’t lost our consciousness, and don’t take what is visible and external to be the whole of our life). A caterpillar sees itself shrivel up, but doesn’t see the butterfly which flies out of it.” – Leo Tolstoy

Will post again soon! May You see/feel Your own Kaleidoscope of colourful and beautiful Creation! If you already are… please do share your experience(s) with me!

Kindly,

Hanifa