11/11

1111, 11:11, 11/11 or any variation thereof is a powerful portal; a spiritual concept believed to be a gateway for manifestation and spiritual alignment. When seen, I believe it to be a sign from the universe and you should use divine guidance to confirm what it means for you. Does it mean its time to define and focus on your intentions, is it a symbol of spiritual awakening, a connection to higher consciousness, or a reminder of the need to release old patterns. Seeing 11:11 is cute, but are we really being intentional with the messages being sent to us?

On this past 11/11 I had an amazing experience of Journaling, Community and Vulnerability. The event was "Soul Sister Sit Down", "Call it In"; Hosted by SoulSisterNetwork (on IG) and "Kaniquesochic" (on IG). Please follow her! To start, I was in my feels because I was traveling for work and away from my family. I love my job but the traveling just isn't my favorite. However, I wanted to use this time as a mind reset for me. Doing things that bring me joy like: reading (What was Planted Here Before I Arrived by Kawanis Ellison, getting a good smoothie, trying ethnic foods (oh, the Lebanese was so good to my soul), participating in community events and I even found a spiritual shop (and spent waaaaay to much money, lol. But that's neither here nor there.)

The call started and I was bubbling over with excitement, I could feel all the energy from the ladies and how transformative this was going to be. Kanique then asked us to take a few moments to journal, pray, breathe...whatever we needed to do to prepare ourselves. Below is my unedited entry:

"I give honor to the child in me. I give honor to all the women, all my ancestors who came before me. I am because they were. I give honor to who I was, who I am and who I will be. I call all parts of me, all the fragmented pieces back. It is my birthright to be loved, to love, to have abundance, peace and happiness. I am my ancestors wildest dreams. I release old stories, fears, and patterns. I align myself with the highest version of myself. I walk in love, kindness and respect. I attract all that my heart desires. Not only materialistic things, but life changing, mind shifting events to my experience.

Ase'"

Kanique then shared here personal story of manifestation and even her challenges with imposter syndrome; mind you the class was PACKED! So we had to give our girl her flowers! She curated a safe, inviting space that allowed the girlies to really tap in! Kanique shared an outline on "How to Manifest" for those who had not experienced manifestation at all. I did add/change based on my experience but here's the blueprint.

How to Manifest

Give Gratitude- start with gratitude always. Give thanks and appreciation for what's good in your life; the things that bring true value. These things may be tangible or intangible. Either way, get into it...feel it. Allow gratitude to evoke a physical reaction in your body.

Release Control- the need for control shows fear. Fear and faith can not coexist. Let go of the internal resistance and need to micromanage. Trust that God will provide and you do need to know the how, when or where!

Ask God Be specific. Tell God, the universe, spirit, and your ancestors for what you want.

Believe you deserve it. I found a lot of things don't happen because we don't really believe that it's even possible.

Act like it already happened (be a little delusional, lol); this is where you do your part; do the work!

Receive your blessings, and often more than what you desired!

Gratitude...YES AGAIN!

The next two questions are what shifted the space for me.

What am I afraid of?

My Answer: My children being neglected or going without, I will be "exposed", I will miss the "mark", my success will cause insecurity in those around me.

What keeps me playing small?

My Answer: I am not worthy (of good things, success); I can't handle success.

I've been asked these questions before but this time my response stung. Seeing my response on paper and in the chat was mortifying. But it was my truth, and honestly a lot of other people's truth too. I remember someone in the chat said "Wow, that's so mean". It was. I realized just how long I had been talking to myself in this way. And these things are simply not true! I felt so heavy, I cried. The lies, false beliefs and stories I've told myself are some of the things that have kept me "stuck" and "in loops".

The next day, I woke up refreshed and a little lighter. I continued reading and the next few lines jumped off the page. "Healing starts with how you talk to yourself". Its exactly what I needed to hear, because after years of believing these lies, how would I begin to change that thought process? I decided from the moment to hold myself accountable. Slow down and engage in a level of awareness that stops those lies in their tracks. That's daily affirmations, sticky notes, journaling, being on my mat....really integrating practices in my daily life.

Reading further the book read, "How you respond when aspects of you express feeling, will lay the foundations of trust or keep your inner child in hiding." Let's be honest, we feel things we're human. But how I have responded, showed my inner child, my teenage self, my young adult self and hell my self two months ago that some things I desired weren't possible, I wasn't worthy and I couldn't be trusted with me! Again, not true. The same way my brain has been trained to believe these things out of the "illusion of safety", I am beginning to rewire my brain to believe and align with my highest self and my highest desires. I love this for me.

Affirmations to Start:

I am a magnet for blessings that elevate my life.

My energy is powerful, magnetic and divine.

I attract what aligns with my purpose and peace.

I am worthy of love, softness, safety and abundance.

My past does not disqualify me.

I honor my boundaries without apologizing.

I show up as my full self in every aspect of my life.

So, I challenge you. Talk to yourself nice. I am.

Peace.