We are all on a journey....
We are all traveling together, even though it seems we are separate, we are all energetically intertwined. Revel in your own journey; be grateful for where you are and where you have come from. In the process of working through our own stuff we experience, learn and transform as we walk this earth. By the way, we all have "stuff" even those you perceive as "accomplished" or "already there" and life always works out well for them, well we all have our heartaches, our mean moments, as well as our bright spots and moments of empowerment, you just may not know the whole story....we are all in this together.
My conscious journey began (since we are always on a journey even if we do not realize it) after a depression where I found myself unable to do anything except sit on the couch for countless hours, withdrawn from friends and family and most of my days I cried and watched TV. Finally graduating from Northeastern University with a degree in sign language interpreting, I walked across the stage wearing my cap and gown and electricity was in the air. I should be ecstatic, ready for the next stage of my life, but I was at a loss, not knowing what I would do next. Talking out my stuff through counseling gave me perspective. Reading stacks of self-help books started my conscious healing process.
A surprise I learned through my passion of sign language...
I was and am passionate about interpreting between American Sign Language and English; the amazing feat of facilitating the two languages, assisting communication for two people is a gift. Hungry to continue my interpreting education, I attended many workshops. Each was enlightening in some way, but the Peer Mentorship Program facilitated by Wendy Watson and Laurie Shaffer touched my heart. This program focuses on creating strategies for interpreters of different backgrounds and experiences to work/interact together, respecting differences and actually using them as assets. Creating a common language for interpreters the program aims to foster clear communication in the interpreting field.
My eyes opened as I drank in the information, changing me, my world, and how I interact with others. Have you had the experience where something just touches you to the core? I learned to be accountable for my words, feelings and actions, and how I get to actually make choices rather than allow my external world to control me.
Another principal guiding this program is to see people at their highest, even though they may not be acting from this place, hold them in the light because nine times out of ten they will actually become that. When we consistently see a person only as their "negative behaviors", we actually help to continue the cycle, when in reality all of us do the best we can with the knowledge we have in the moment. This principle which I work to apply to my daily life, yes some days are more a struggle than others, showed me the power of compassion and empowerment. I don't necessarily have to condone people's actions, but I could talk about how their actions affected me. I could step back in the end with compassion, understanding that the person is doing the best job they can in this moment.
Who am I really? When the workshop turned to authenticity, the most powerful concept for me, I had to look inside... In order to be authentic, I needed to acknowledge and over time accept both of my sides, the beautiful (which I had a harder time accepting) and the stuff I was not so proud. Playing with new tools, I realized if I accepted all of who I am, the good and the not so good, not only can I find peace within me, I could inadvertently affect my relationships in a positive way. I truly began to see the world in a different light. This "interpreting workshop" was life changing for me. You never know what gifts we may find in unsuspecting places, spiritual gifts come in many forms if our eyes are open and we are receptive.
Hungry for more, I read whatever I could get my hands on Wayne Dyer, Marianne Williamson, Jerry and Esther Hicks, Louise Hay, Eckhart Tolle, Carolyn Myss and so many more, all of these magnificent teachers opening my eyes to the amazing power we have to change our lives with our thoughts and feelings: the spiritual Law of Attraction. Creating such an impact in my own life I want to share all that I practice and have learned.
Yoga has been an integral part in creating peace and courage for me to live in this world and be joyful. My living yoga reflected my practiced yoga as I slowly opened my heart and mind, freeing up space for creativity and inspiration. Many many thanks to my amazing yoga/life instructor and friend, Karendayal Foster http://www.blisslifeyoga.com/.
In May 2008 I completed my Masters degree in Leadership from Northeastern. I discovered tools to apply to my own journey as a leader. These tools have helped me to find patterns in behavior and language that I have applied to my energy and manifestation work. Again, I was surprised at the culmination when I realized that this amazing program was in fact another two and a half years on my spiritual path. Never would I have labeled myself as a leader, but I learned about my distinct value and how much I have to offer. Thanks to my amazing professors and fellow students for helping me to see me. Every class and self discovery guided me to acknowledge my self worth; allowing me to find the courage to be who I am today.
Working with the angels...
By synchronistic "chance" I met Jackie Eaton http://www.angelights.net/ and my world of working with angels as a way to receive divine guidance and healing began. At the time, I knew nothing about angels and to be honest, I was a skeptic. However, when I began to use my angel cards and time and again the cards were on the spot... well I started to pay attention. This experience opened so many doors creating amazing opportunities, I am so grateful that I met Jackie and received the gifts from attending her heart felt workshops.
I continued my angel messenger training with Karen Paolino http://www.createheaven.com/ and received my angel messenger and advanced certification. It was a six month program where I learned who the angels were, how to connect with them, provide readings and how the angels can assist me and others on our spiritual journey. All we have to do is ask. Forever reminding us, I can hear Karen saying it now, "remember we are never alone". This 6 months was also a time of deep healing. Each week we worked with specific angels to guide us through our issues, participated in exercises to help free our blocks and used the group setting for support through this process. Like an onion, we peeled away layers of stuff, dusting away the dirt to find our inner shine, allowing us to become a clear channel for divine guidance. Of course the cleansing process is never done, it is a lifetime journey.
In June 2008 I completed my Reiki Master Teacher training where I am truly grateful again to my yoga mentor and friend Karendayal for her wisdom and laughs. Now I have the opportunity to teach everyone the gift of Reiki so we can all help ourselves and others to heal. It is so simple yet powerful, my hope is that everyone will learn this amazing energy modality which takes only a few hours to learn, yet has unlimited potential.
Ultimately all these avenues and what seemed like random unrelated twists and turns have allowed me to gather knowledge, experience and tools to help me follow my heart and joy as well as show others how simple changes in their life can lead to amazing transformations. I am so grateful for these opportunities to empower others with the tools that have empowered me. I am truly grateful for all of my experiences and even though I didn't know where it was leading me, I now know it was my path.
My soul insisted I take another leap, so I closed my eyes and jumped off the cliff as I quit my full time job to follow my heart (yes even in this tumultuous economy, I know sounds crazy doesn't it? Even I wasn't so sure). Presenting workshops and consulting with folks individually allows my heart to soar. I feel fantastic knowing that someone else may benefit from my experiences. In my core I know this is where I am meant to be: no more denying the truth by thinking I am not good enough, not smart enough or whatever other excuse I had devised. The time is now, no more messing around, it is up to us to decide to live our lives rather than watch it float by, so I am now living my life.
Many amazing souls have touched me and been my teachers. I am grateful to all my family and friends, especially my wise and amazing husband, Ray DeAgrela (who by the way, encouraged me to take a leap off the cliff because he demonstrated our human resiliency by jumping off himself! He decided to leave his secure job of many years to follow his heart and become a caterer in order to feed people's souls by way of his amazing creations... here is my shameless plug for my husband... please visit http://www.raystastycreations.com)
May 2009: As if my bio could not get any longer, I want to add a blurb about my beautiful pilgrimage to India this past May. My friend Kerri asked me to sum up my India experience in one word and I struggled to come up with the one word to describe the magic I experienced. Instead I see an image. In the back of the "Love Bus" in that last week I was beginning to feel a sadness for the return home, away from this beautiful place and some amazing bonds of friendship. With one week to go I tried to stuff it down and hold it in, as I didn't want to spend the last beautiful moments crying about my return home. Two new friends who knew I was hiding the tears advised me: instead of decreasing my heart and hiding the pain, do the opposite. Expand it so large, feel and embrace the sadness then send it off. Ultimately I will be able to hold even more love in my heart rather than closing it off and only including what I can think or handle. Instead take it all in and love it all. What beautiful advice.
In my mind I see me with a beautiful greenish white glow emanating from my heart expanding so far beyond my physical body and I am smiling with my arms reaching out. Embracing all of beautiful India, the sweet people, the busy crazy, the mountains, the music and dancing, the bus rides and of course all my new friends. Every one of them has imprinted on my heart and left a mark. People thought I was crazy to hop on a plane and head to India with a bunch of folks I did not know and to my happiness it was the best trip ever. Inside I feel a rawness, a sense of urgency to just hug the world and squeeze it until it screams mercy! This experience has left me feeling there is no messing around, it is time to live and truly live from the heart: to follow my dreams, speak my mind and create my own joy and happiness because inside is where it all comes from, our inner divine. The sweet words like arrows from that beautiful Ashram we visited: reminded us we are in joy, joy is our job here, it pierced my heart deeply. My heart felt like it exploded and of course leaked out my eyes.... but I think I finally get it.
I am committed to living fully, to being fierce. Committed to talking life as it comes with meaning, purpose and of course a great laugh. I am so grateful!
Bethaney
Bethaney Long M.S.
Certified Life Coach
Inspirational Speaker
EFT/Meridian Tapping Practitioner
Reiki Master/Teacher
