The body… health, cleanliness, nutrition, exercise, fresh air, the use and exchange of your energy to maintain and build the vision of your life, sexuality and the exchange of life, the family and the social dynamics of living in community…getting back to basics, the simplicity of physical foundations.

All else beyond that is a question of education,  lifestyle, preferences, expectations, ambitions, social upbringing, self-measurements, creativity, the expansion of our joy and roles. Once we know who we are and have an understanding of our emotional make-up, all the above that is beyond our physical foundations, represents an advanced concept of our purpose and fulfillment. Sometimes, when the nature of what we want has not yet manifested, whether in a relationship or with our work, it is good to remember the structure of life and to breathe and be grateful for our bodies. Nurturing the body and the physical world in which we live allows us to rest in the stillness of your soul, patiently gathering strength while time aligns and enables our unfolding.

So take this time, if you are in a patient cycle in your life, to reflect upon and nurture your body. Honor, through recognition, five ways in which you nurture the structure of your life and list some of those ways here:

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Again take a moment to appreciate the life that is the physical you and breathe.

SLY

IF YOU’D LIKE TO USE THIS ARTICLE ON YOUR WEBSITE, YOU CAN! Simply include this complete statement when you post this article: “Written by DaVincisMuse.com… A Lifestyle of Creative Purpose and Worth: The Ultimate Resource for the New Renaissance Woman. Join our mailing list at www.DaVincisMuse.com.com for the vision of womanhood unfolding. As well, we promise to never sell, rent, trade, or share your e-mail with any organization. “

Merriam-Webster’s definition of integrity:

1 : firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : incorruptability

2 : an unimpaired condition : soundness

3 : the quality or state of being complete or undivided : Completeness

synonyms: honesty

Alignment of the self through our personal integrity of love and joy, even in the midst of transitions, enables us to be accountable for our own lives. In relationships, for there to be any relationship at all, integrity is paramount. And this is true for all relationships.

In relationships between a man and a woman, one’s integrity involves clear communication. Spoken expectations and understandings are important after the courtship, dating or complimentary phase of emotional connection (or if you want to be down and dirty depending on your emotion make-up and the kind of relationship you desire,  sometimes directly communicating what you both want can be more efficient). Clear communication of expectations and understandings enable the relationship to be built on a solid structure and a solid structure creates a win-win relationship.

Because people grow in self-awareness about their identity and with that may come change and separations in relationships, this does not mean that the giving, particularly in terms of the unquantifiable aspects of what the woman has given or gives, should be dismissed, not honored nor respected, especially when children are involved. In the case where respect and compassion for the life created has diminished, the question of integrity appears. Ask yourself, when a break-up has occurred or is occurring, has there been or is there honor in character and integrity through action in valuing what was or what is?  Often times, when expectations are not communicated clearly during the structuring phase of a relationship and particularly when a win-win relationship for some reason has not been or can not be established, integrity plays a key role. At this point seemingly “victims” and “villains” emerge.

And don’t let guilt or manipulation factor into integrity either yours or others instead listen for the needs that are crying to be heard and fulfilled.

Integrity is integrity. Your needs, desires, wants are important to being you, so honor them and in your relationships, honor yourself. Communication of who you are is the only way to begin a real dialogue in your relationships. And is the only way to know the worth and importance of that relationship in your life.

In today’s time of much chaos and illusion, it is best to know and be true to “thy own self”. This is the first and only step toward creating the life that is YOU, as well as renegotiate the terms of the life you have created in your relationships. If this type of discussion has not taken place, has not been understood clearly or if there has been an influence of change that misaligns the relationship when initially the terms were  mutually and consciously agreed upon by those involved, it’s time to take stock. You are accountable for your own life. Integrity is the truth serum of accountability and accountability is your guide toward self-fulfillment.

And if you hear yourself saying I know who I am, I don’t need integrity, that is like a person who laments… “I don’t need to breathe to be alive, I don’t need to love and to be loved, to feel fulfilled. ” Integrity is the air of life and makes life possible, without it you are lost in the darkness of your own making.

People create relationships based on what they need, want and desire. Motivations creating relationships can be of an emotional, physical, mental, spiritual or social nature or any combination of these. Clarifying your motivations and your needs, wants and desires in your relationships can assist in cultivating relationships of integrity.

No matter the type of relationship or its length in time, integrity in communication and through action or the lack of  it reveals one another’s truth. Each person’s truth as revealed makes possible or not the alignment of the relationship and the potential or actual fulfillment in varying degrees of each other’s needs, wants and desires. The greater the fulfillment, the greater the magnificence of joy, the greater expression of love.

Exercise

As an experiment, look at three significant relationships in your life, including at least one of your parents, and see how they express(ed) their integrity affects or has affected you.  Write down 5 examples of their integrity of lack of for each person and how it has affected you.

A.  (Name)

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What do your perceptions tell you about how you want to be treated, how to treat others and how you want to show up in the world? Sometimes, the courage to be true to yourself and in your relationships is immense.  Careful consideration of the dark, may bring the light and sometimes, “good enough” is just as good as it gets. Be gentle with yourself and with all your relationships as life sometimes can be fragile in our vulnerabilities. May your integrity be found in your love and may your love be fulfilling.

Copyright 2010 DaVincisMuse.com Stephany Yarbrough

IF YOU’D LIKE TO USE THIS ARTICLE ON YOUR WEBSITE, YOU CAN! Simply include this complete statement when you post this article: “Written by DaVincisMuse.com… A Lifestyle of Creative Purpose and Worth: The Ultimate Resource for the New Renaissance Woman. Join our mailing list at www.DaVincisMuse.com.com for the vision of womanhood unfolding. As well, we promise to never sell, rent, trade, or share your e-mail with any organization.”

The Muse looks into the darkness to find the spiritual light by making meaning and then transforms it into her strength and the dignity of her life. How is this begun? Firstly, the darkness must be found. Secondly, the darkness is replaced by light through the trans-formative powers of the mind, a conscious decision is made to own and live in your light and then, by aligning your emotions, you empower your life.

In the November Feature I had mentioned I would be introducing to you the emotional component of accepting who you are and recognizing your light. As a gift to you this holiday season, I would like to introduce you to Wendy Yellen who is an Eidetic Life Coach, specializing in Transformation Acceleration. She very much likes to work with, what she calls “Ripple Makers and Tsunami Makers, those who are really ready for their PASSION to make an Even Bigger Difference!”.

Eidetic Imagery is… “Imagery in extreme detail; a sort of projection of an image on a mental screen….Of, relating to, or marked by extraordinarily detailed and vivid recall of visual images”… your images, the images you have created and can recreate with a new found sense of self. Wendy Yellen states, “In over 25 years of searching, studying, and practicing as an international life coach and therapist, I has never found a life-changing tool that even comes close to the work done through emotional imagery”.

For me, my journey with the work of Wendy Yellen has made a difference in opening myself to emotional possibilities that I never knew existed. Through these experiences with emotional imagery, I was able to uncover and discover the truth of my emotional being. One of those experiences highlighted the relationship I have and had with my father, Glenn Yarbrough, who for me was the charismatic man who I had always admired. I found new ways of finding out information about our relationship that allowed me to honor him for his strengths and abilities while feeling and then transforming through imagery the unsupportive and blocked connection with him into a wonderful and supportive connection. This transformation had more to do with my soul “patterns” that I was able to alter in order to claim my truth as I feel it and… it felt much better.

If you would like to experience Wendy Yellen’s work and the world of emotional imagery, I would like to offer you this gift in this December Feature. During the holiday season, remember your emotional light as Wendy Yellen walks you through 7 processes that will help you EXPERIENCE your power, creativity, freedom and even… joy. As she says, “Get ready to dust off the layers of constriction that hold you back, often in ways you don’t even realize”. This Mini-Course includes: 7 unique tools, each sent to your email address in succession, to help you rediscover and reconnect to who you truly are, without the crust of your history. Simply, you don’t have to “remember” how to be, you are already there, and if you’re “trying” to be, do and have, there is a simpler, more gentle and even a fun way to accept and live in your light. This Mini-Course also includes 3 behind-the-scenes uncensored audio recordings of an international celebrity musician going from stuck to making breakthroughs while using the same tools that will be at your fingertips. Click this link to Wendy Yellen’s work and give yourself the gift of a Mini-Course in Eidetic Imagery.

Please mention The Muse or DaVincisMuse.com as sharing this gift with you. May your holidays be welcoming and supportive and the New Year bring you the beauty of your own emotional light.

Fears, what are they? We all have them. Where do they come from? Why do we have them? What is their purpose? How come some of us have them more than others? These are all questions that bring to our attention our own vulnerabilities. When we look at our fears and face the darkness and immerse ourselves in the darkness, we humble ourselves and honor the unknown. In doing so, no matter how emotionally frightening resting in the unknown is, we show to ourselves that it is our “beingness” , without the need for action, that supports us in our darkest hour.  So crucial to our “beingness”, this center that we can call home, the beginning of our truth, is our self-esteem.

Self-esteem, the fundamental source of our being, gauges our sense of self-worth (not to be confused with confidence which has more to do with how we socially express our ability in meeting challenges). Our self-esteem is paramount in helping us address our fears. Not only does a fortified sense of self provide the strength to face life’s challenges by tapping into the source to do so, it also gives us the ability to maintain our integrity when faced with choice. Knowing who you are and having a sense of worth is fundamental to honoring your truth as the gift of your life. Self-esteem and self-love can be learned. No matter where you begin and however much darkness you are in, you can find the light. That light is your own sense of worth, self-esteem and structure of your life. It is your purpose on Earth and when infused with emotion brightens the world.

The emotional component colors all your lessons and experiences. They are like internal signals reflecting options and the choices presented to you in order to guide you. The choices you make either confirm or disaffirm your growth in honoring who you know yourself to be. So it begins again with learning to know yourself. “Consciousness is like a mirror” states Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard. Let us find the mirror in understanding what it means to be a woman, our purpose and identity as differentiated from that of a man’s identity.

I was hoping to have this site set-up to offer The Passages of Womanhood by this November, however the funding has not come through to make a properly formatted presentation in the way that I would like it to be for you, so until that time, I would like to offer you exercises as I have done in the September and October Features. These exercises, as well as The Passages which will be in a formulated structure, are lanterns along the way shining the light to your own self-knowledge and to the offering of your gifts.

We are all different and our unique individual lights highlight the truth that we embody. For myself, hearing the Muse has allowed me to create a  practical structure defining the nature of womanhood. I have lived on the edge of darkness and sometimes in it to see the light of my quest and to understand mentally the nature of being woman. The more darkness the more lessons, the more potential for light and with that light comes a vision which potentially produces more light. What is light? The awakening of consciousness to the understanding and offering of one’s gifts that supports the wisdom of life. What is the wisdom of life? Honoring with integrity one’s intrinsic joy in contrast to fleeting pleasure. It all begins with knowing the self and the Inner Muse as your guide. My guide has taken me on a very long and unique journey which I look forward to sharing with you, empowering you in your own right, as well as in sharing the light of other women.

The Muse looks into the darkness to find the spiritual light by making meaning and then transforms it into her strength and the dignity of her life. How is this begun? Firstly, the darkness must be found. Secondly, the darkness is replaced by light through the trans-formative powers of the mind and then aligning the emotions through the process of experience and time.

In the December Feature I will be introducing you to the emotional component through the work of a woman who in over 25 years of searching, study, and practice as a highly respected, international life coach and therapist, has never found a life-changing tool that even comes close to the work done through “emotional imagery”. I will be posting this Feature early December so that you may receive it as a gift of the holidays and offer it to others as well.

For now, let’s take a look at some THEME in your life. Themes appear when you take notice of blockages, reoccurring experiences, not feeling fulfilled in some way, things that work well for you, questions of uncertainty, your abilities, your desires, possible “negative” experiences you have had in the past, and what fills you with joy. Make a list of 20 of the memorable experiences.

Now that you have some of those experiences in mind, write in third Person, as in “She”, a two page story that incorporates 5 of the above experiences in which you have felt most confused, in the dark or particularly emotional about in a negative way such as in being angry, hurt, sad, depressed, vengeful, pessimistic, etc.

Once you have completed the two page story, look over it and answer as best you can the following questions:

1. What is your pain?

2. What is worth fighting for in your life?

3. How is joy and success fearful to you?

4. What don’t you know?

These questions bring up areas of darkness. Have you found an on-going theme in your answers to these questions?

If you have, write that down.

1. Had it been different, what would you have liked the experience to be?

2. What knowledge would you have needed to have created that experience?

3. What do you still need to know?

4. How could you make this an empowering experience?

5. How can you separate yourself from others so to be accountable for your own life and recognize the choices that others make?

6. What can you do to nourish yourself and support your spirit in the present moment?

7. What do you love?

8. What meaning have you made from understanding your darkness?

Spiritual joy is the reward of living in your light, in the nature of your “beingness” and together women, strengthening light, can offer a lantern to the world as our spirit is that of the Muse, the trans-formative light in the world that guides all relationships.

Women as leaders of light, lead through relationships, whatever your world of relationship is and your relationships start with the relationship you have with yourself, your light, your self-esteem, your self-love.

If you would like more assistance in hearing your soul and in clarifying your themes, you can contact Lane@DavincisMuse.com on the link in the right column under the Menu or sign up for emails in the top left of the screen for nurturing an interest in a relationship we can create.

Also if anyone is interested in establishing a business relationship for funding purposes and creating a potential business vision together, please contact me as well. I have been considering the idea of a co-op venture in order to build this together as a means of supporting the lives of all of those who participate and contribute.

IF YOU’D LIKE TO USE THIS ARTICLE ON YOUR WEBSITE, YOU CAN! Simply include this complete statement when you post this article: “Written by DaVincisMuse.com… A Lifestyle of Creative Purpose and Worth: The Ultimate Resource for the New Renaissance Woman. Join our mailing list at www.DaVincisMuse.com.com for the vision of womanhood unfolding. As well, we promise to never sell, rent, trade, or share your e-mail with any organization. “

I was sitting in the doctor’s office the other day waiting for a mammogram and while I was there I began to reflect on the nature of our physical lives as women.  A couple of thoughts crossed my mind, the first having to do with the innocence of our bodies. I remember my ex-husband saying to me after our then recent divorce that had I not married him, I would have been a nun. I was not sure what that meant as we had an abundantly sexual relationship and I did not give it much thought until today. Now, I sense that we had a different understanding of physical life and its innocence. I then looked across from me and two women sat next to each, one with a very young infant. When we began talking, I found out the women were mother and daughter and the infant was only seven weeks old.  I imagined the miracle of life that the infant represented. She was quite amazing with a variety of expressions. The mother told me she also had a two and a half year old at home and she was just beginning to say “No”. Wow, I thought, the miracle of life is phenomenal and not only is the miracle of life phenomenal, so too is the learning process of how we become to know who we are.

The woman’s body is the conduit to spirit and gives birth to spirit. The respect shown for a woman’s body and the spirit that it hers is to respect life. The choices she makes about her life is the foundation of all of life. The need for mammograms, choosing whether or not to have a child, how to express our sexuality, the care of our physical appearance, the kinds of relationships we create are all representative of our physical existence as women. As women, we are the nurturers of life and so the decision becomes for ourselves: “Who, what, where, when and why do we want to nurture”? Nurturing emotionally, spiritually, as well as physically is the energy that we give to foster the growth and support of others. This energy that we give can be appreciated or devalued, either by ourselves or others.

The nature of a woman’s body is different from a man’s body and so too is the purpose. The actual scientific language of the differences are forms of current studies that can be found offering insights into those distinctions.  I look forward in the future to sharing these studies with you. Although we are all human beings, it is those distinctions in physical purpose that reveal our nature in this world.

Our emotional, spiritual, mental and social make-up are also influences that help us define who we are. How do you feel about your sexual and physical body as a woman or a man? Are you feeling vulnerable as a woman? As a man, do you want to protect a woman’s vulnerability? As a woman, do you want to protect yourself physically more then ever before? Even though today, we are immersed in changes and clear identities in gender are not readily apparent, and acceptance of others’ different types of journeys not fully welcomed, we are also in the midst of great opportunity to embrace a new consciousness for all of life. And, as life starts with woman, let’s begin there.

I’d like to hear from you, to understand your concerns and your journey as a woman.

Below is an exercise to experiment with your thoughts and feeling about being a woman in physical form.

List as many comments as you can about your physical life as a woman. You might try writing this out in a way that the form best suits you, in sentences, or groupings or through a story:

1. My body is my _______________________.

2. How I express my body reveals __________________________.

3. Emotionally, I take care of my body by ____________________.

4. I choose to be sexual with someone when ______________________.

5. I honor my body by _______________________.

6. I am most physically vulnerable when __________________________.

7. I appreciate my body by ___________________.

8. Others appreciate my body by ___________________________.

9. I recognize the innocence of my physical life by my own integrity in the decisions I have made concerning __________________________________.

10. My physical life represents ________________________  to me.

11. My best feature is _______________________.

12. Emotionally, I would like my physical body to be ________________.

13. Physically, my greatest role model is _______________________.

14. I recognize the gifts I have received from any types of physical ailments or diseases by ______________________.

15. If the choice to become a man or a woman is yours, I would be a _________.

16. I would make this choice because ________________________.

17. I physically function in the world as a woman by _________________.

18. If I could do anything, I would _______________________________.

19.The problem I have with being a woman is _______________________.

20. I am happy as a woman because _____________________________.

21. If I am confused about being a woman, it has to do with ______________.

22. My greatest challenge as a woman is ___________________________.

23. My greatest joy is as a woman who ___________________________.

24. As I give in being a woman, I receive __________________ in appreciation for being a woman.

25. I would like to be appreciated more by _________________________.

26. I am supported in being a woman by ________________________.

27. I embody my Muse Spirit when I ___________________________.

It is best to reflect and BE with your responses, the starting place is always you in identifying your physical life and for more information about our offerings, please send an e-mail to Lane@DavincisMuse.com on the link in the right column under the Menu.

IF YOU’D LIKE TO USE THIS ARTICLE ON YOUR WEBSITE, YOU CAN! Simply include this complete statement when you post this article: “Written by DaVincisMuse.com… A Lifestyle of Creative Purpose and Worth: The Ultimate Resource for the New Renaissance Woman. Join our mailing list at www.DaVincisMuse.com.com for the vision of womanhood unfolding. As well, we promise to never sell, rent, trade, or share your e-mail with any organization. “

Sometimes our spiritual growth is manifested immediately. Sometimes it takes longer for the beauty of our wisdom to mature, ripen and bear fruit. Our spiritual unfolding is like a flower opening up, each petal delicately expanding to breathe in new life and new opportunities which transform our self-understanding as well as the recognition of the nature of our purpose. Time reveals all if we are at peace with listening to the self, accepting and creating from the space of our own inner “homes”.

What is the beauty of your worth? How will it reveal itself to you? How do you discover it? As a way to begin playing and experimenting with your worth, set aside some time for yourself to complete a fun three-part exercise.

Once you have decided to set some time aside for yourself, complete PART I of the excercise and then in PART II you will be asked to complete the first section before reading and completing the second section. If you can, set aside some time now to complete the first section of PART II before moving on. You will need paper and pen, so if it is not yet by your side, I suggest you get it now.

Take the time you need and want to complete this exercise fully.

Complete both PART I AND PART II of these exercises before reading and completing PART III. If your curiosity can be patient and read PART III only after you have completed the first two parts, it would be worth your while. I wonder how many people will be able to do this??? Are you one of them? The directions are laid out simply below to follow:

PART I

The first part of this exercise is to define what time specifically you can give to yourself, what time you can give to you for nurturing yourself each week. Can you give yourself an hour this week just for you with no distractions or more? Can you make it your time? Can you make a commitment to your time? Can you give yourself time now to do this exercise? Or would another time be better? Please make this decision.

Once you have decided how much time you can give yourself, you will then need to decide what kind of space or environment you like to create in? Is it in your bedroom? Perhaps at your desk or the kitchen table? Might it be in a natural setting, like a park or a special place where you feel most comfortable? Or maybe you even have an artist’s studio? Make a decision about a space where you feel most creative.

How much time  do you give to yourself for yourself each week? Does that feel right to you? Is that enough? Do you want or need more time or space? It may be a good idea just to simply take note of that answer to yourself. How does your space feel? Is it the right space for you? Have you want to experiment with other spaces? Take note about the importance of that space to you.

Having made both of those decisions, we can move on to the first section of Part II.

PART II

Now in your space and with your time that you have given yourself, reflect and answer this question: By using an analogy, if you were a home right now, what type of “home” are you? Where is it? What is it? Is it an actual home or is it figurative, like a bird’s nest? Describe this home in writing. What are the colors? The sounds? If there are rooms, what are they for? Is there a natural component to it? Are there animals? What is the season? Are there important people to you? Is there anything else that you might want to add? Make it as creative and detailed as possible! Please write this now or come back after the writing is completed to read further.

COMPLETE THIS WRITING PORTION BEFORE READING FURTHER.

Once you have completed this writing, having given yourself the time to do this, take a day to “own” this “home”. Imagine yourself living in this home. Take it on as if it were your own. Own that home for a day and feel it. Write down how that home had felt for you that day. What did you like? What didn’t you like? What was working for you and made you happy? What was not? What would you want to change to work better? After you have owned your “home” for the day, no matter what it was or how it felt, write your feelings and thoughts down on the same sheet of paper. And write down what gifts this home has given you?

REMINDER: PART III below is best read only after you have completed PART I and PART II

Before going on to the last part of these exercises, please, with no judgments, thank yourself for coming to understand the home that you have been living in.  You may want to even bless this home and light a candle in appreciation for what this home has given you.

PART III

Now complete the same exercise as in PART II above, but this time replace the home that was an analogy for you with the home that is the analogy of who you want to be when your aspirations are fulfilled, when and as you are safe and happy and you are living who want to be and who you really are.

Create this home now. Write about this home in detail, a home where you are safe and happy, all your aspirations are fulfilled and all is right in the world, your world. What would it look like? What would be there? What is important? Colors, shapes, nature, people, things, types of rooms, designs, seasons, gardens? Emotionally, how would you like to feel? Let your imagination be your creation.

Take your time now to create your space and then forever more own the beauty of your worth.

SLY

Please contact Lane@DaVincisMuse.com for assistance and to gain greater self insights about this exercise.

IF YOU’D LIKE TO USE THIS ARTICLE ON YOUR WEBSITE, YOU CAN! Simply include this complete statement when you post this article: “Written by DaVincisMuse.com… A Lifestyle of Creative Purpose and Worth: The Ultimate Resource for the New Renaissance Woman. Join our mailing list at www.DaVincisMuse.com.com for the vision of womanhood unfolding. As well, we promise to never sell, rent, trade, or share your e-mail with any organization. “