According to Wikipedia, Epiphany, which begins today, January 6, is “A Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ. Eastern Christians, on the other hand, commemorate the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, seen as his manifestation to the world as the Son of God.” In the literary world an epiphany is, an “A-Ha moment” – or a moment when a character has a life-changing realization that changes the course of events. Those understanding the Christian faith can connect the similarities, as accepting Christ and honoring his life and teachings is a life-changing experience.
Throughout our lives, we can probably point to numerous events, subtle or enormous (though not likely as enormous as the second coming of Christ), which have transformed us. Maybe you are on that path now. Maybe with the dawn of a new year and it’s moniker for a new, clear vision, you see your path taking you in a different direction. Veering off the well-worn, familiar path can be scary. However, if you listen to your body, it will help guide you precisely. These steps may help:
1. Stop.
2. Close your eyes.
3. Breathe in and out slowly 3 times.
4. Ask your feet to ground you and guide you on your path. Visualize what steps you need to take to change course. Once that vision is clear, even if it is just the first step you see, proceed.
5. Ask your gut to signal your inner instinct. Your gut is the center to balance your emotions so you act justly, instead of emotionally. Once you feel your decision is grounded in the first step(s) and your gut signals it is the right move, proceed.
6. Ask your heart, what are my reasons for making this decision, are they for the betterment of all involved? Likely, the answer will be yes, or else your gut would not have signaled you to move forward. Remember: You are only responsible for your feelings. If you lead with compassion as you take those first steps, all will be well.
7. Ask your mind to align to the heart, gut and feet, in order to make decisions along the path which are rational and just. Once you do, the rest will fall into place.
If you get to step 4 and your epiphany waivers or you lose focus, it may just be poor timing or could be a sign you need to clear other obstacles before proceeding on this path. Stop again and start over, should the epiphany return. If the epiphany keeps appearing, it is a signal you need to pay more attention to it. So go back through the steps, working to clear the mind and focus specifically on that epiphany, idea or A-HA you experienced. If you can follow through, do so. If not, let it go until you can. It really is that simple.
It is important to practice the pause before leaping blindly down the path. Even those with the best instincts can become misguided. If you practice the pause and it aligns with your epiphany, then you can be certain the course is right. Allow your Divine intervention and intuition help you gain a clearer vision and perspective. With the Divine shining the light on your path, perhaps today can be a baptism of sorts for you and the next leg of the journey of your life.
Amen