Gifts of the Soul Spring 2010 by Laura Grace

Gifts of the Soul

Living the Aloha Spirit

As I write this article, I am settling back into my daily routine after having spent ten relaxing days on the exquisitely beautiful island of Maui. Even amidst the busyness—and some resistance—of returning to my regular routine, I am grateful for the spirit of “Aloha” that still lingers within me. “Aloha” means much more than a common greeting and expression of farewell. The idea of aloha is so important in Hawaii that the “Aloha Spirit” is part of State law. The statute reads in part:

“‘Aloha Spirit’ is the coordination of mind and heart within each person. It brings each person to the self. Each person must think and emote good feelings to others. In the contemplation and presence of the life force, ‘Aloha,’ the following definition may be used:

Akahai, kindness to be expressed with tenderness;
Lokahi, unity, to be expressed with harmony;
Oluolu, agreeable, to be expressed with pleasantness;
Haahaa, humility, to be expressed with modesty;
Ahonui, patience, to be expressed with perseverance.”

Notice your life; are you experiencing the spirit of Aloha?

Living the Aloha Spirit isn’t some spiritual gimmick, some airy-fairy concept; it’s a way of living life so fully, so powerfully, that you are in tune with the Divine Power that the Hawaiians call “mana.” Accessing mana is an essential aspect of the Aloha Spirit and refers to a powerful way to resolve any problem, accomplish any goal, and to achieve any state of mind that you desire.

It doesn’t require living in, or even visiting Hawaii to capture the essence of mana. There are different ways to tune into this power and one way is to bless everyone and everything that represents what you truly want. And in the Aloha Spirit, to bless something means to give recognition to a positive quality or condition with the intent that what you recognize will increase or come into manifestation. This kind of intentional blessing is effective in changing your life for three reasons:

1.    The positive focus of your mind ignites the positive, creative force of the Divine Power of the Universe.

2. It moves your own energy outward, allowing more of the Divine Power to flow through you.

3. When you bless for the benefit of others instead of directly for yourself, you tend to bypass the subconscious fears about what you want for yourself.  What is so beautiful about this process is that the blessing you do for others helps them as well as you.

Here are some of the important life-force qualities that the Hawaiian culture blesses: 

1.   Health - Bless healthy people, animals, nature, and everything that expresses abundant energy.

2.   Happiness - Bless all that is good, or the good that is in all people and all things; all the signs of happiness that you see, hear or feel in people or animals; and all potentials for happiness that you notice around you.

3.   Prosperity - Bless all the signs of prosperity in your environment, including all the money you have and what it can do as you circulate it. 

4.   Success - Bless all signs of achievement and completion and all signs of forward movement or persistence. 

5.   Inner Strength - Bless all signs of inner strength in people and animals; all signs of stability (like mountains and tall trees). 

6.   Love and Friendship - Bless all signs of caring and nurturing, compassion and support; all harmonious relationships in nature; everything that is connected to or gently touching something else; all signs of cooperation, and all signs of laughter and fun.

7.   Inner Peace - Bless all signs of quietness, calmness, tranquility, and serenity (such as quiet water or still air); all distant views (horizons, stars, the moon); all signs of beauty of sight, sound or touch; clear colors and shapes; the details of natural or made objects.

8.   Spiritual Growth - Bless all signs of growth, development and change in nature; the transitions of dawn and twilight; the movement of sun, moon, planets and stars; the flight of birds in the sky; and the movement of wind and sea.

During these emotionally, financially and spiritually challenging times, may you experience the Aloha Spirit in every area of your life.

Mahalo and Namaste.

© Copyright 2010 Laura Grace. All Rights Reserved.

Fall-2010- "The Art of Mindfulness"

Winter-2009 - "Faith-in-it As You Make It"

June-July 2004 - "Deepening Your Spiritual Practice"

April-May 2004 - "Life's Crossroads: Love-vs-Fear"

December 2003 Column - "Touching the Heart of Others"

November 2003 Column - "Knowing How to Care for Yourself"

Laura Grace is the Spiritual Leader of the Circle of Spiritual Enlightenment in Central Coast California, and a national author and speaker. Laura provides spiritual counseling and offers numerous workshops and retreats for awakening the heart and spirit. She is also the author of the books Gifts of the Soul and The Intimate Soul and a syndicated columnist for more than twenty publications. Laura is the host of the show "Relationship Wisdom" on Public Access Television. Please visit Laura at: www.LauraGrace.net.

As a spiritual counselor, Laura provides assistance in person and by phone. You may contact her for a free brochure at: laura@lauragrace.net.

Visit:
www.LauraGrace.net

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