​The benefits of walking in nature are numerous. Some of these benefits include the following:
-helps improve cardiovascular health
-assists with reducing stress and anxiety
-improves well-being and uplifting one’s mood and can be especially helpful when experiencing a traumatic life circumstance like a health issue, or the transition of a loved one or a relationship issue.
-can help decrease high blood pressure
-helps bring stillness to the mind
-grounding
-can assist with opening and developing one’s senses by observing the sights and sounds of nature
-feeling more connected to Spirit which also boosts creativity

With such benefits to the body and mind, walking in nature can also assist with speeding up the healing/recovery process. Being outdoors in nature brings clarity of mind. Especially when we let go of everything that may be on our minds for a while, and become aware of and observe our surroundings in nature. From the wind’s gentle breeze, to the rustling sound of leaves and the warm sun on your back. The brilliant colorful flowers, the sweet song of a bird overhead, the soft green grass and strong-rooted trees, all with their vibrancy and aliveness is something to appreciate. Taking a nature walk helps us to see our lives and experiences from a higher perspective. It helps us connect more deeply with our inner peace, our Spirit, that reminds us that “All is Well.”

I love walking in nature on a daily basis. No matter how I am feeling before taking my walk, I always feel more uplifted and renewed during and after my nature walk. I also have found that much intuitive guidance comes during these walks. When the mind becomes still, the inspiration (in-spirit) flows. And adding Reiki to a walk in nature boosts the intuitive guidance even more, since the Reiki energy helps us to connect more deeply with the wisdom of our Spirit.

​Incorporating Reiki into a Nature Walk

Our intuition is guidance from the Higher Spirit Self. The mind has two parts/thought systems. Spirit is one and is the voice of love. Spirit knows only our divine Truth that we are perfect love and that only love is real. The other part of the mind, the ego, is illusory. The ego is not an entity nor a thing, but rather just the idea that we are separate from our Source. Its thought system is fear-based and is totally flawed as we are not separate from Source. The ego is the inner critic/false self which judges everyone and everything. Abundance, unity, and wholeness are part of Spirit’s thought system. Lack, separation, and limitation are part of the ego’s thought system.   

Since the part of the mind we choose to follow at any given moment effects how we perceive ourselves, others, and the world, listening to Spirit’s guidance (our intuition) enables us to experience and enjoy life from Spirit’s true vision of peace, love, non-judgement, harmony, and freedom.
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How do you know if specific thoughts and ideas in your mind are guidance from Spirit or the ego? When they are from Spirit, they are loving, gentle, kind, and uplifting in nature. Any guidance that Spirit offers always result in positive outcomes for our well-being and anyone else concerned. Spirit gives us solutions on how to forgive and eliminate fear and judgement, and brings us clarity. We may feel a burst of joy when we receive inspiring ideas. If the thoughts and ideas are unloving, judgemental, or condemn anyone including the self, then they are from the ego.

The guidance received from Spirit may not always necessarily be what one wants to hear at the time. If there are expectations of what it should be, to match what you think you want, this is judgement and a control mechanism of the ego. If Spirit’s guidance is then ignored, it may lead to some confusion and doubt.

If unsure if the guidance is from Spirit or the ego, you can ask for clarification from Spirit and wait awhile. Let go of thinking about it for some time and to clear the mind, trusting that Spirit will bring you the clarification in divine timing. When we spend time being in silence and the mind becomes still, the intuitive guidance comes through clearly. Also, Spirit’s guidance will most likely stay the same a few days later, but that from the ego can change, even often.

We have so many thoughts that arise in the mind each day. Each moment, we always have the choice which inner voice to listen to. When I made the choice to listen to and follow only Spirit and have stayed committed to doing so everyday, the voice of the ego became much weaker. Like a muscle that gets stronger when we exercise it, when we are dedicated to listening to and following our intuition, the stronger our communication with Spirit and it becomes our clear, dominant, guiding light. ​

"No need to hasten, no need to be quick. Just let all unfold naturally. You can rest and know you will be your best, for out of the silence emerges your True Divine Self.
Oh so bright it shines! Brilliant, dazzling, the Light leads the way. You need look no further, for the Light is within. And from the silence, the answers, solutions, and guidance comes in.

See ye as Light. There is nothing else. Simple and True, for all you do. Shine! Shine! Shine dear One! Do not be afraid to let yourself glisten. Emerge, be True. You are amazing in all you do.

Will you not recognize now, that you are the Light? Will you not accept the Magnificence of who you really are? You are so divine. So unconditionally loved. Will you not make this True for you?
​It is your Truth. LOVE. Let yourself be showered in the eternal rays of Source’s divine light. The light nurtures you, supports you, and loves you always. Now is the time, to put all aside, and embrace your Truth. Your Love. Loved you are. Love is what you are. And Love is your eternal Truth."
~Maya Bringas

Forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves and it sets us free. When we choose forgiveness, we release the past, and can enjoy living in the eternal now.

Judgement takes many forms. Blaming others or the self for one’s experiences, believing the self or others to be inadequate, guilty, or undeserving, and making comparisons, are just a few examples of judgement. Love and judgement cannot coexist. Only one of these is active at any given moment. Forgiveness is the means to the relinquishment of judgement.

When we truly forgive, we do so at the level of the mind where it is needed, since all arises from the mind. By forgiving the self, another person, or a situation, we are not indicating that a specific behavior or action is ok, but rather we see through the illusion of the world and its seeming separate identities and stories, to the love that is truly there beyond all form. The non-dualistic spiritual principles of A Course in Miracles teaches that the path to inner peace and love is through this true form of forgiveness. All are innocent, and only the love that we are, is real.

We can always, at any moment, make the choice to love, and abandon judgement. Everyone is doing the best they can based on their state of awareness about who they really are. Those who lack self-love and are unhappy deep down, can extend to others only what they feel for themselves and what they believe to be true. Forgiveness though, does not mean that one should tolerate or be subjected to the unloving nature of a situation or behavior of another.

A very helpful tool that you can use is to bring your conscious awareness outside the illusion/world and to perceive a situation as an observer looking in. This makes it easier to detach from a situation and bring your awareness to the stillness within. Like watching a movie, you observe the characters with relatively no strong attachment. Taking such a perspective when observing the stories happening in your life, results in a greater understanding and compassion for the various characters.

Spirit, our inner teacher of peace, always assists with forgiveness, we just need to ask. Our true essence is light, free, and unconditional love. Forgiveness uplifts your vibration and permanently disconnects you from suffering. Nothing on the level of form, outside of the mind, needs to be done, unless there is specific guidance from Spirit to do so. Forgiveness and commitment to the daily practice of non-judgement accelerates the undoing of the ego, which cannot survive without judgement.

Forgiveness is an act of nurturing unconditional self-love. Forgiving another is really forgiving yourself. When the painful life stories and characters are forgiven, whatever was based on divine, unconditional love, always remains. Those that were not rooted in divine love naturally fall away on their own. This creates an opening for more of that which is based on love to come into your life.

In Oneness,
Maya Bringas

~Freedom comes when you remember the magnificence of who you really are~
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~Published in the September issue of Sibyl Magazine: For the Spirit and Soul of Woman. As it is a paid subscription magazine, I also share my monthly articles for Sibyl Magazine for 2018, here on this page. To find out more about Sibyl Magazine and to read wonderful, inspirational articles on the topics of spirituality, conscious living, mind/body/spirit, for a low annual subscription fee, you can visit their website here. 

If you enjoy these empowering articles, please share them with those who may be interested in the content. Sharing is both a blessing to others and to ourselves.

In Oneness and Light,
​Maya Bringas

~Freedom comes when you remember the magnificence of who you really are~

Be sure to try the exercise at the end of the article to align with your sacred heart and true divine essence which is LOVE! I enjoy doing it daily and it is a simple and wonderful way to stay aligned to the divine love that we are throughout the day. Feel free to share your experience using the exercise in the comments section below.

If you enjoy these empowering articles, please share them with those who may be interested in the content. Sharing is both a blessing to others and to ourselves.​

Here are Ten Ways...
1. Stop all criticism of yourself. Accept and approve of yourself as the MAGNIFICENT being of love and light that you truly are. Make the decision to no longer judge yourself, but instead appreciate yourself.
2. Forgive yourself. You are doing the best you can. Let the past go and FREE yourself. When you forgive yourself, you release the suffering and choose peace for yourself.
3. Be nurturing, compassionate and gentle with yourself. Don’t scold yourself, but treat your beautiful self with kindness and care. People are often harsh on themselves and find it much easier to be loving and kind to others. Treat yourself the way you would your dearest friend or a loved one.
4. Place your hand on your heart and feel your heartbeat. Connect with your physical heart and feel its LOVE. Then tell your heart I Love You. Do this everyday. Beginning each morning doing this is a wonderful practice to send love to your beautiful sacred heart and whole being.
5. Do activities that bring you JOY! Make time daily to do things that make your heart sing. Even with a busy schedule, you can always make a little time to have fun. If you feel you just don’t have time in your daily schedule, then you really need to make time to do this! And as you do, you nurture, support, and bring joy to your inner child.
​6. Nourish your mind with supportive thoughts about yourself. Praise yourself often throughout the day. Give yourself the encouragement you need.
7. Don’t scare yourself. Sometimes people imagine the worst-case scenario of a situation arising instead of the best-case scenario. It’s safe to release your fears and trust that everything always happens for your highest good. All is well. You are a success always!
8. Nourish your body with healthy foods and beverages. Support your body with the fuel needed for it’s optimal health and well-being.
9. During meditation, visualize the divine, unconditional love that resides within your sacred heart, radiating out and filling all the cells of your body. All the cells, organs, muscles, tissues, and your whole body and mind is infused with love.
10. Give yourself a hug! Wrap your arms around yourself right now and tell yourself “I LOVE YOU!” Feel the love within your radiant heart, filling and encircling you in a beautiful cocoon of love.​​

You may download and/or print a copy of this list via this printer-friendly PDF version by clicking the button below. You can keep it handy, put it on your fridge or somewhere you will see it often as a reminder of the importance to nurture and cultivate self-love each day.