Spiritual Glossary
This page gives you some understanding of the ideas and concepts I draw on in my work. I draw from many different sources that I have studied and that inspire me to stay connected to practice. This is not a complete list, but is a way to get the conversation started.
Some Terminology I Use
Ritual: (of an action) arising from convention or habit.
Element: any of the five substances (fire, water, earth, mineral and nature) regarded as the fundamental constituents of the world in ancient and medieval philosophy.
Rites of Passage: When a big life change happens- getting married, graduating, moving, new job, becoming a teen, becoming a parent, going through an illness.
Dagara: may refer to the following: Dagara people, an African ethnic group.
Medicine Wheel: The Dagara Medicine Wheel. Everyone has a dominant element to one of the five elements.
ELEMENTS
Water – Flow
You use WATER in your practice to help you find your FLOW—the BALANCE between what you take in and the ability to RELEASE what no longer serves you.
Your emotions are your internal ecosystem. If you have toxic emotions (from stuffing them or not releasing them) it’s going to poison everything. What survives in a toxic environment?
Earth – Ground
You use EARTH in your practice to get the NOURISHMENT you need {SOUL food} for your HIGHER-Self-care.
Are you giving yourself enough nurturing self-care? Or are you over-giving, engaging in negative self-talk, or pleasing or enabling others—and getting depleted?
Fire – Connect
You use FIRE in your practice to IGNITE your PASSION and burn away what’s in the way of your VISION and INTUITION.
What power sources are you connected to right now, that fuel your PURPOSE? Are you connected to your SOURCE? Or are you doing all of your own spiritual heavy lifting? Are you hanging with people who are IGNITING you, or BURNING you out?
Nature – Manifest
You use NATURE in your practice to TRANSFORM whatever tries you, so you can MANIFEST what aligns you with your GIFT.
Do you want to align with your purpose but find you haven’t? Are your expectations matching your outcomes? Are you letting frustration and disappointment stop you before you start? Are you using the right tools for the job? Or are you short cutting to your results? What’s your manifesting medium?
Mineral – Excavate
You use MINERAL in your practice to UNCOVER your TRUTH and stop repeating old toxic patterns. What is the story you want to tell?
What stories from your past do you need to unearth that are creating triggers that wreak havoc on your present? Is there a pattern of behavior or a particular mindset you hold that you KNOW isn’t in your best interest?
Why We Use Ritual
Sometimes people get nervous with the word “ritual”, as if something strange is going to occur or there is dark magic involved. The thing is ritual has always resided within us. For millennia we have found ways to symbolize the meaning-making in our lives. The forms change, but the intent remains mostly the same.
We even have our daily rituals, ones that seem mundane but also bring meaning. Maybe it’s that cup of coffee you have every morning or a long walk you take. It becomes a symbol for you, perhaps a way to reflect. Part of my work is to draw on this ancient practice of ritual to help with meaning making and healing.
Get Started!
Contact Susan and set a time to meet! Or book her for your retreat event or community group. She would love to speak more with you.
Email Address
susan@livingyourgifts.com
GIVE ME A CALL
(703) 505-5152
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644 Glenneyre
Laguna Beach, CA 92651