Beep! Beep!

BeepBeep.  There's the garbage truck.  BeepBeepBeep.  Car alarm.  Beep(soft).  That's my hearing
aid telling me the battery is about to die.  DingDingDingDing.  Microwave.  ClangClang.  Door to Higher Self Bookstore opening.  Ding.  Engine light went on.  Calypso music.  Someone sent me a text.  DingDongDingDong. My grandson is outside playing with the doorbell.

Now that I have hearing aids, I am fascinated with how loud these signals seem to have gotten.  I apologize for not hearing my phone when you called prior to acquiring these wonderful devices, or not hearing you call my name in a crowd, or misunderstanding what you said to me standing just two feet away.  It's as if you were the "still, small voice" I wanted to hear but couldn't.

Wouldn't it be grand if Spirit gave me a loud Beep, Ding, Clang or Dong, when It wanted me to listen, pay attention?  BEEP - Ricki, the man of your dreams is just around the corner - turn right!  BEEPBEEP - play the lotto - today!  DING - Ricki, you must get to bed early tonight, surprises are in store for you tomorrow!

Maybe some of you do get these messages loud and clear.  I don't.  Though I am getting better at listening and paying attention to the quieter small voice, through practice.  Just because It's not loud doesn't mean I'm not receiving.  Be it intuition, a voice in my head, or a symbol, a sign, appearing at a significant time, I know I am connected.  You are, too.

Loud and clear has happened for me - twice.  You better believe I paid attention and did what the Voice told me to do.  What would have happened if I hadn't?  Don't know don't care don't dwell and don't doubt.   I trusted the loud voice, and I'm learning to trust the small one as well.

Still, I certainly would love the volume turned up a bit, wouldn't you?  Maybe get me some Spiritual Hearing Aids!  "Ask and you shall receive," from my fingertips to God's ears!  In the meantime, I shall keep on practicing, listening, and trusting.

Signs, Or Lack Thereof

The importance of signs, as well as the consequences of the lack of signs, has been joyously and painfully brought to my attention. Here is a picture of the Higher Self Bookstore just a few months ago. We could easily direct customers here by saying "look for the purple awning!"

The owners of this building decided it needed a face lift, and we were actually quite excited about it. The first thing they did was take down the purple awning. The second was to remove our address numbers. Almost immediately people were calling to find out where we had moved to, did we close? - they couldn't find us! How many looked for us, didn't call, and went on their way with their own assumptions - no idea. We grabbed markers and created temporary signs for the window, because the owners promised they would give us new signage (that was three months ago). But as you can see, we've practically disappeared. Dear Friends of the Higher Self, new and old, we are here!!!

But the numbers don't lie - sales are down a full 25%, so it has become quite obvious the importance of signs!

Personally, I have been paying closer attention to signs these days. Ever notice how you complain about the billboards blocking out the scenery, until you need a sign! Driving back to Michigan from Florida with my folks, it was time to stop for the day. We needed a suite with a couch for my Mom, and bam! - a billboard for a motel with suites! Then Dad said a Bob Evans would be good (cause Mom loves their crepes), and bam! - Bob Evans billboard, same exit as the motel with suites! Dad said something like, "now how did that happen?" I said, "we got angels, Dad!"

During a radio interview I was asked how one knows they are on the right path, pursuing the right dream? I had never considered this before, but out of my mouth came "if it just seems too hard, that's not it. If very step you take is just really, really hard, then it's not right for you somehow." It wasn't meant to put someone off their dream, just look for the signs that it just may be a little off - direction, timing, attitude, limiting beliefs, maybe it's someone else's dream for you, or a dream you think you "should" have.

There have been many challenges for me lately - the "economy", scaffolding blocking the Higher Self, lack of physical signage - but the true sign was that it was all just too hard. So, taking my own advice, I'm taking a good look at the signs, the obvious and not so obvious. Somehow I have stepped off my path and entered a...jungle! I've pulled out my true compass and I'm headed back to my path, my dream, my destiny by design. The signs were all around me, I just couldn't see them. Now I'm looking, with eyes wide open. It's all good, the journey, it's all good.

AND, the Higher Self Bookstore is still here! 328 E. Front Street, the first block that starts "one-way", a few doors before you come to the parking structure, Downtown Traverse City, between Yen Yoga and McMillan's Framing! We just look a little different. Come see!