Goldilocks and the spiritual path
“I see the way which leads between the two great lines of force.” This is the spiritual keynote for the sign of Libra. It serves as a reminder that we are called on to walk the “middle way”: Not too much effort, but not too little. Not too much attachment to the physical plane, but not absorption in the mystical. We find the balance point between happy and unhappy; excited and bored; hard work and inertia. This is part of treading the spiritual path.
As I took this up in my meditation this morning I was struck by the idea that this is kind of a “Goldilocks principle”: not too hard, not too soft; not too hot, not too cold. When we apply this sane balance to our lives, we are applying right effort. As our emotional resistance subsides, our path becomes in some ways easier. The pendulum stops swinging and we find the still point of balance where spirit unfolds.
But then because we are human something happens to take us out of our center. We have to keep learning our lessons till they are fully learned. And that’s OK! As Ronny Camareri in Moonstruck said, “We aren’t here to be perfect; the stars are perfect….” When we attain that state of “perfection”, we won’t need to be living in a body, that’s for sure. Until then, the Goldilocks principle applies.
And, hey—if I were going to be eaten by a trio of anthropomorphized bears, I’d rather it be in a comfortable bed after a satisfying meal.
Trusting Intuition: How I Followed Life’s Signs to Make a Big Decision
Introduction
I had been thinking about going to graduate school, but fear held me back. It would cost money and time I wasn’t sure I had, and as a single mom of three young kids, I already had a full plate. It had been thirteen years since I graduated from college, and though I had taken some undergraduate classes since, formal graduate education felt daunting. Trusting intuition in big decisions was how I overcame the block and am living the life I love.
Considering My Options
I had been teaching yoga and studying Reiki, and I had considered massage therapy as a career path. But another thought kept surfacing: maybe I should pursue a master’s degree in counseling and become a therapist.
I was on the mailing list for Immaculata University, a beautiful school nearby. Earlier that summer, after a yoga teacher training, I dedicated my practice to getting clarity on this grad school decision. By the end of class, I felt certain: go to grad school. I even shared this insight with my fellow students—but once home, fear returned, and I chickened out.
A Sign at the Beach
At the end of the summer, I went on a beach vacation to reflect. One morning, I sat at the water’s edge in meditation, asking for guidance. Just then, an airplane flew overhead with a banner—Immaculata University. I laughed, thinking it was a coincidence, but I took it as a sign.
I went home, went online, and registered for my class right away. That banner may have only flown once or twice that summer, but it felt like it was meant for me. My story quickly became legend at the school, and I was grateful that I finally acted on the insight I had received in meditation.
Reflection: Trusting Signs and Intuition
Ten years later, I can say with certainty that I’m glad I went to graduate school. Even if “signs” aren’t always literal, they guide us when we stay calm, centered, and mindful.
The key lesson: we are never truly alone. By trusting intuition, paying attention, and remaining centered, we can notice the signals that point us along our path.