why i pay attention to signs from the universe

i absolutely love coffee. i adore it, i crave it, i savor it.

so it wasn't that much of a surprise to me when, during my three-day solo retreat in early may, i received a sign from the universe . . . via a coffee carafe.

as i was making my first batch of caffeine that weekend, i noticed that the glass decanter was slightly askew, a bit off center.    

    it didn't line up, it was in a crooked position. turned a tad to the left of the expected or proper direction. (similar to the way i have personally felt now and again.)

i'd been reading joan anderson's a weekend to change your life. in the book, she talks about finding symbols on beach walks. reminders of your life journey and the rediscovery of yourself. shells or rocks or pieces of seaweed through which you garner meaning.

well, i wasn't at the beach. and i didn't find a piece of wonderment from the natural world. but there was something about that lopsided coffee carafe. a tangible sign that i could identify with nonetheless.

and as ideas and plans began brewing during the retreat, as i tossed some and embraced others, as they percolated in their rich freshness, i started appreciating the parallels.

the carafe wasn't perfect, but it still worked. i could still pour the coffee by angling my arm a bit. it still yielded a delicious result.

i didn't have to be perfect either. i didn't have to have a fully-formed path to my future. i just needed to keep at it, however circuitous my route. to never stop working, to continue producing results.

~~~~~~~

some may scoff or tease, but i actually do believe in signs. i always have. (you may recall this previous post of mine.)

i guess it's just my own version of religion. i'll call it intuitive awareness.

being observant enough to notice. then listening to what your gut, your soul, is trying so hard to tell you. and finally deriving wisdom and flow from the lesson being offered.

haven't i always promoted the idea that "the answers are inside you?"

it's feeling work, not head work. subtle vs. forced. deep knowing vs. superficiality.

rules abound about receiving signs from the universe: "it has to happen three times before it's a sign." "don't actively look for the signs, let them happen naturally." "set a timeframe for the sign to appear."

here is what i think. i think i already know what i need to do. i know what i would like to see happen. i intuitively know what makes sense for me.

the signs i see reinforce beliefs i just haven't vocalized yet. they give me the green light to proceed. in a direction that hasn't reached full consciousness yet.

so i can stop fretting, stop second-guessing myself. it's a way to give myself permission to go ahead. a quirky, unusual, and refreshing way.

metaphors, coincidences, analogies. moments of clarity. serendipity. whatever you call it.

when i remain unsuppressed and open to the possibilities? that is when those signs from the universe arrive.

when my world then expands before my eyes as i connect the abundant patterns? that is why i pay attention when they do.

~~~~~~~

though not immediately obvious to me at first, a slight twist of the handle straightened the carafe. it was skewed but then, with an easy adjustment, it was realigned.

when i find myself off course and floundering, i need only search for that slight modification that will reorient me. that will enable the creativity and insight to once more pour freely from the vessel.     what is your take on receiving "signs from the universe?" please share.         [maxbutton id="1"]