Then I realized: of course, the most feminine, “yin,” and delicately scented soul incarnated in a flower would be designed this way.

She is not for everyone.

Just because she is magnificent and full of beauty does not mean everyone is granted access.

I used to beat myself up whenever it came to setting strong boundaries.

For a long time, I wasn’t even aware I lacked them.

I let everyone in, inviting them to savor my “buffet” of delightful spreads—kindness, support, and love—all offered for free. Naturally, people took whatever they could and left me empty, offering nothing in return. Why wouldn’t they take advantage of a free buffet?

When I finally understood the power of boundaries after experiencing burnout, my requests for respect were profoundly rejected. My family, clients, and friends were appalled by my new limits.

Even when I explained my exhaustion, some became aggressive or desperate, clinging to me as if I were their last resource.

So, then. life did it for me.

Through a certain sequence of events, I was forced to let them go for good. I never worked with those clients again. I began to release toxic family members and friends who couldn’t be there for me when I needed them most.

The rose itself taught me a special lesson back in 2018 during a spiritual conversation with its soul.

It was my birthday in June, and I was admiring the numerous bouquets I’d received—soft whites, pinks, and yellows.

As I took macro photos with my iPhone, I was struck by how threatening and sharp the stems were. It made me ponder: why are the boundaries and the “anger” of a delicate sensitive soul (particularly a woman) so oppressed by society?

We allow masculine men their anger, but society dislikes a woman empowered by hers.

I’m not talking about violence—though if anger is suppressed, it must come out as it is, otherwise it gets stuck in the body.

I’m talking about the power of saying “no” to those who admire you but whom you do not like, or to anyone who disrespects you simply because you don’t feel a connection.

I’m talking about a woman’s right to say “no” to men who want to pluck her like a flower but cannot take “no” for an answer.

I’m talking about the right to be authentic in a world that wants you to fit into a box of social or religious rules.

We were taught as girls that setting limits wasn’t “nice” or “elegant.”

Yet the rose does it so gracefully, quietly, and neutrally. It says “no” through its thorns.

She was designed this way by the greatest creator.

The more precious her heart is, the stingier she can be with those who don’t respect her needs.

Which is what most sensitive people forget about. They have this beautiful heart that requires strong boundaries and protection, yet they do not use their thorns.

But the rose teaches us that it is perfectly fine to do so.

Even when you are the most elegant and gracious being, stinginess is mandatory and in fact, part of who you are.

So in a nutshell, you have THE RIGHT TO SAY NO GRACEFULLY - and to trust you are valuable enough to draw boundaries. That is the rose’s lesson. No guilt, no shame—just grace and self-worth.

BECAUSE THORNS ARE A SACRED PART OF YOUR BEAUTY.

So, how can YOU use your thorns today to say “no” to what no longer serves your soul?

Use them not to attack, but to define where you end and the rest of the world begins.

Remember: the thorns don’t make the rose less beautiful; they make her MORE VALUABLE. In human terms - more respected.

By protecting your energy, you aren’t being “difficult”—you are simply ensuring that when you choose to bloom and spread your scent, you have the strength to do so fully, for the people who have earned the right to stand in your garden.

And also, how can you, as a sensitive person, allow yourself to even have anger (thorns) when you are disrespected? So many sensitives are afraid to feel their anger, because it’s so consuming.

But truth is, anger shows you when your boundaries have been trespassed and you need to protect them. Anger gives you clarity on what needs to go from your life, because you cannot tolerate it. Use it for clearing your space, not for conflicts.

All photos taken by me.

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I believe I possess this ability because of my neurodivergent brain and the way it processes abstract images.

To me, these spirits are the keepers of a different realm and finding one feels like entering a magical grove.

I have built an entire collection of photos of these spirits, which I’m sharing here in the hope that you might find them interesting or even receive a message from them, as I often do.

You’ll notice that when you look at these faces, you aren’t just seeing bark and knots; you are witnessing a being from another world, inviting you into a portal of wonders and illogical downloads. This is the ecosemiotic language - a non-verbal way nature communicates its state of being to those willing to listen.

In many traditions, these are considered autonomous beings or ancestral guardians whose expressions act as a mirror to the witness or a watchful presence for the environment.

I saw my first tree spirit more than 15 years ago (shown below). He had the most zen attitude imaginable. I was deep in depression back then, and whenever I passed by him, I felt held and understood. His serene presence reassured me that “all would be well”.

Sadly, trees grow, age, and are sometimes cut down. Even this “zen monk” spirit eventually disappeared from the park, but he lives forever in my memory as the first soul who offered me wisdom and kindness when humans could not.

Sometimes I wonder: if these creatures live in a city park, what would it be like to walk through a truly wild forest? What souls would I find there?

Anyway, how do you know when a tree spirit is speaking?

One face might be a shout of joy.

Another, a silent prayer whispered through the bark.

They do not speak in sentences, but their energy is felt.

They say: “Look closer. What you see in me is what your subconscious is trying to say to you. A reflection of what you feel but are unaware of.”

It is a co-creative relationship with the spirit world through the faces found in tree trunks.

In spiritual practice, this is also called Synchronicity. The tree provides the messages through bark, shapes and shadows, which the human heart and brain can then unlock as insights.

These messages shift over time though, because trees are living sculptures, constantly growing and transforming, just as we do.

After years of observing them, I’ve seen spirits shifting identities—sometimes into something more beautiful, other times into something hideous.

I have become a witness of their movement and a treasurer of their secrets, documenting them in my nature journal and a book I hope to publish one day.

While I prefer the joyful or zen faces, nature has also taught me that everything comes from the same divine source. Therefore, I never discard a message, regardless of how it appears, because everything has a reason for being.

Here is how they might appear to you:

• When you are heavy-hearted: You might find a face like a zen monk with eyes closed in meditation, offering a deep, ancient empathy that says, “This too shall pass” - as it happened to me.

• When you are seeking direction: An “angry” spirit might appear, telling you to look within for truth and set strong boundaries to move forward with ease.

• When you are joyful: You might find a whimsical trickster or a playful spirit to remind you of life’s small joys and your own inner child.

• When you feel like an alien in this world: Being neurodivergent is not the easiest path, but finding a kindred “alien” spirit in nature grants you the permission to be yourself. This Alien tree soul (shown below) reminded me not to trouble myself with what others think, for I am exactly as I was meant to be.

Looking back at all of my adventures in discovering and receiving messages from tree spirits, I can see now how each of them mirrored a part of me, at least at one point in time.

They were all different parts of my complex identity.

I hope you enjoyed this visual journey through my photo collection of tree spirits. I wonder what was their message for you?

You can also find a few more articles under the LESSONS FROM NATURE SERIES tag, like this one.

And if you ever see a tree spirit in your area, please do share it with me. With your permission, I might add it to my book about wisdom received from nature.

All photos were taken by me.

This article was originally published in Middle Pause Magazine on Medium

Read the uncompromising story behind its approval in this note

Here’s what I would tell my 45-year-old self if I could meet her just about when she was starting her transition journey:

Relax

This may be the most important step and yet, the hardest thing to do when you’re in the middle of a dramatic change.

But the truth is, only when you’re relaxed enough can you receive the insights coming from your intuition to guide you further.

Few of us can make the best decisions when we’re in panic mode, acting like crazy, running from one adviser (mentor, doctor, therapist) to another like a headless chicken, unable to rest and digest what is happening.

Nourish Yourself

In order to relax, your brain will need more fuel so it can function properly, think calmly, sleep well, and stay grounded in your truth.

This means that your lifestyle might have to adjust a bit to support your basic necessities. This can happen by eating the healthiest foods for you (especially by adding more protein to your diet), practicing an enjoyable form of exercise and being outdoors (like walking, Yoga, Tai Chi) that doesn’t leave you exhausted, and cultivating any form of creative outlet (to enhance the capacity of your brain to find new solutions).

These habits help you create a supportive hormonal balance during times of stress. This means that healthy Dopamine, Beta Endorphin, and Serotonin neurotransmitters will be constantly created through your self-care routine and a higher protein diet (according to Kathleen DesMaisons, a neuroscientist with decades of experience in healing stressed brains of sensitive people).

Cultivate Patience and Trust

This may sound a bit woo-woo, but in truth, LIFE hands you lemons only because it expects you to grow and change your direction.

Maybe you were on a wrong-for-you path, maybe you learned what you wanted from those around you but not from your true self, maybe you don’t know yourself at all, and now it’s time to shift your identity.

These difficult shifts usually come through a major drama happening in one or more areas of your life — a heartbreak, an illness, a job change, a move, a painful loss. The area where you need the most to grow spiritually, emotionally, and mentally may just be the area that hurts the most.

The lemons handled to you do not mean that you did something wrong, though. Most of us grow up unaware of the connection to our hearts and true selves, so there’s a lot of room for mistakes.

But you will be asked to step into a new you if you agree.

Most people try to fix themselves by coming back to the older version of who they were before the hard times started. But in fact, life is asking you to always level up, improve yourself and become someone you never were before, simply because it is a major upgrade.

I would have never thought in my forties that I would go from being an accounting bank manager to becoming an artist, to discover unconventional ways of healing through sensory processing in movement and art, or that I would be an energy healer and psychic counselor. Never in a million years.

Yet here I am, because I listened and embraced the path that was offered to me, without doubting that the process was working in my favor, and not against me.

Connect with Nature and God

One powerful way I would have suggested for my younger self to start healing is by implementing ONLY natural ways of restoration.

This is key, especially for sensitive people or neurodivergents. Our brains and bodies have less tolerance for toxic chemicals, overstimulation, medical procedures, junk food, a faster healing pace, invasive alternative therapies, and so on.

I had to learn this step through very difficult life lessons (some of them are still a journey of healing for me) because I listened to doctors and therapists who had no clue about how the sensitive brain works. So I ended up developing an autoimmune neuromuscular disease due to their treatments and methods.

It took me years of journaling and self-discovery to understand that I needed to make my own natural cosmetics, cleaning products, canned foods, painting materials, etc to help myself heal holistically. It was actually easy to release body inflammation through being in nature daily, walking barefoot, and touching living plants to ground myself with the energy of the Earth.

The other important pillar during difficult times is finding your connection to the divine, a greater power, the Universe, the light force, however you want to call it.

Everyone has a different way to connect with it. But the most important thing is to always stay glued to it, allowing it to nurture and support you, because no human can ever offer you the sublime, unconditional love (or even miraculous assistance) that God does.

For me, this happened out of the blue.

I was an atheist before the age of 45. But when the shock of the life transition and illness started to consume my mind and body, when all the doctors could not help me anymore and all of my friends were unable to support me in the way I needed, I was left completely alone, desperate. That kind of forced me to call for this higher power and put my whole being into their hands.

Fast forward to today, God is my absolute inner strength.

I say God, because I am spiritual but not religious. Whenever I have a problem, I do not go to others who are not even remotely wise enough to give me the answers I need. Instead, I go directly to God.

When I need to feel loved, I do the same. I had many betrayals in my life, and the only true, unconditional embrace I could find in someone else was never through humans, always through the Divine.

This strong connection with a higher power (if you choose to develop it) will not only give you the capacity to move forward through the storm, but also, to help you access your intuition in ways you never thought possible.

It will provide an inner knowing that is unshakeable and based on your personal truth, which always comes first before others’ advice for your situation.

It is your guiding inner compass.

Release limiting beliefs and negative emotions

While you’re grounding your brain and body, creating a strong foundation for navigating difficult times, you also need to ease any emotional, mental, and physical pain stored inside.

The aches that will start to appear during a period of struggle, are coming to the surface to be addressed, not to be numbed out, suppressed with drugs, or ignored.

It is by facing them whenever they arise that you’re able to clear your energetic field and make room for the new you to emerge. Each time you release a negative thought or emotion, you alchemize it into something magical, and you receive an insight to guide you further on your path.

I share a few tips on how to do this here and here.

Cultivate Contentment

One thing that most people who find themselves in dire straits have in common is the idea that they will follow their joy ONLY when they have a breakthrough.

Only when the healing is done, when the difficult phase is over, because at the moment you’re dealing with tremendous pain, focusing on joy feels almost impossible.

But the reality is, this is another essential pillar in your system for navigating difficult storms, and it sure can help to learn to implement it on a daily basis.

Finding joy through simple things in life, even when I was not able to move or leave the house, was mandatory for my recovery. I had to learn a new way to live and to nurture myself just as I would do with a child. It was such a hard lesson to swallow for me because I experienced burnout several times.

I thought action and pushing through were the only solutions to my problems, while rest, replenishment, being playful and frivolous through cultivating pleasure, were never the answer.

But life forced me to adjust, and I’m extremely grateful that it did.

Because while other women in their menopause years struggled with hormones, I was already on my natural healing path, practicing the powerful self-care habits that balanced me without taking drugs.

Journal everything to know yourself better

If you really want to change, learn how to listen to your inner messages and body responses to everything you do.

By keeping a daily journal, I noted what type of diet worked for my sensitive brain, what people were toxic for me, what situations needed to be avoided, and what needed to change. I was tracking everything, every food, every activity, encounter, and every mood and feeling felt afterwards, to know exactly what was happening.

By the end of each week, I’d collected important data about what was wrong and what worked. So I was ready to decide what steps I needed to take next in order to support myself.

It took me years to find solutions at times. But it was a natural process that I could never have found through a mentor or doctor, simply because this was my OWN protocol, coming from the inside out, the one that my body responded best to. So it was really worth it.

And that’s it in a nutshell.

Everything else is taken care of when you’re in the right state of mind and you stay balanced enough and open to receive guidance, solutions and sometimes even miracles on your journey.

I hope this vulnerable share serves you well.

And if you need more guidance, wisdom, or help, especially if you are a sensitive person, you can download my Free Guides.

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This article was published in Questionality Magazine on Medium

Back in 2008, I had a weekly page in one of the top three most-read newspapers in Romania, Jurnalul Național. The famous editor was a former client of mine who was so impressed with the coaching I provided that he offered me a whole column in his publication to write anything I wanted and to answer people’s questions.

I had tremendous success and for several years, I continued to write and share my wisdom with those who were interested in self improvement and healing (if you understand Romanian or can translate it into English, here’s one of my most successful articles written after my father died; you can find most of my old articles by clicking on my married name, Daniela Dumitriu).

But like so many writers who do that, I was actually a beautiful echo of other people’s wisdom.

I was sharing what I had learned from books, courses, other therapists, counselors, and so on. Yes, I was acting with integrity, meaning that I was only sharing what was deeply resonating with my own values, but … I didn’t know myself at all at the age of 44 when I started publishing. Therefore, I wasn’t actually writing using my own voice. I was using others’ voices, and I wasn’t even aware that I could have a different perspective on the subjects I was debating.

Fast forward to now, 18 years later (my first article was published in March 2008), I feel that I AM THE SOURCE. I write from my own life experiences—lessons learned through hardship and from the self-discovery of a “new me” who was completely hidden back then.

This is why, when I now read articles on subjects that are of interest to me, I am highly skeptical and I tend to question everything. Not because I have a critical nature, which I don’t, but because I used to doubt myself so much before. Now, I am relying mainly on my intuition and on doubting others when they present me with opinions that do not sound true to me.

Especially in the self-development world, so many therapists, gurus, and doctors tend to offer us advice based on what they learned from previous teachers, without filtering it through personal life challenges that were conquered as an individual. Most of these people read books and take classes and then receive a diploma (like I did), and then they go out into the world talking about these things as if they are an authority.

Which they are not.

Because in my opinion, you can only become an expert or an authority if you really went through a major storm in your life and you discovered a new way to survive the tempest, and now you are sharing it with an audience who needs to hear this in order to do the same.

Just because you are quoting others and their expertise doesn’t make you an expert—only a parrot, to be honest.

Which is what I was, too.

The success that came with it still surprises me, because after being published in this famous newspaper, I was suddenly asked to write for magazines and even asked to be on a TV show. But I realize today that this was partly because:

• I was extremely confident and sure of myself, even though I didn’t know I was wrong at times, which is a common thing for younger people.

• I never truly experienced a dramatic life transition or illness up to that point that could shake me to my core or put me right in the desperate shoes of my clients.

• People in need are always looking for easier ways to heal through following certain logical steps usually highlighted by the media—like manifestation or common alternative holistic ways—and they never really want to do the hard inner work that requires intense identity shifts.

These days, however, I can understand this paradox with much more compassion. Because I have done so much work on myself on a daily basis and I managed to survive (literally) this 18-year difficult period, my perspectives on life have really changed and become highly unconventional—at times even rebellious.

My opinions are now quite challenging and in direct conflict with the medical system, organized religion, even the concept of feminine rights, or the neurodivergence trap we were all taught to believe in (that it is a diagnosis), and so on. I could talk for weeks about how different my views are about, well … anything. Simply because I’ve been where others have not, and I’ve seen things that others cannot see, from the deathbed.

And so, it took me all this time to finally get back on track with publishing again, but at least now, I am truly writing using my own voice, coming from my own wisdom. Which, of course, may seem too intense to most people, maybe too out-of-the-box, maybe too good to be true—and that’s okay. I still am who I am, writing from my full integrity as a wise counselor, and the people who need to read my words will do so when the time is right.

Now, why was I rambling so much about this topic, you might ask?

Well, it is because I’ve just published my first submitted article to a publication on Medium, and the euphoria of being heard again is incredible, especially when I write as a soul disruptor.

18 years ago, I wrote for a million people, but in the end, I felt like an impostor. Because I truly was one. I knew it in my heart that borrowed wisdom is not lived wisdom.

Today, I write for the few who truly see me—and it feels like home. If you are waiting for “the right time” to reclaim your voice, let this be your sign. Step into your sovereignty. Embrace your sensitivity. Your true expression is waiting for you on the other side.

I hope this vulnerable sharing is serving you well.

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Behind the clouds, the sun is always shining

1. When an issue appears, instead of looking at it through negative lens, ask yourself, what is the silver lining in this situation? What is the benefit behind it?

You may not see it now, but there is always one. For example, losing a job could mean finding a new and more fulfilling career. Losing a friend because they were not supportive to you means that you are ready to attract new people who will now value your uniqueness.

In my life, I had many situations where I was forced to find this silver lining. When I had to let go of toxic people and I was left alone, I found the highest form of support in God. When I got sick and doctors/therapists couldn’t help me, I had to learn to trust my body’s intuition to guide me through and I discovered that my sensory processing disorder is actually an amazing gift that enriches my life. When I had a major heartbreak, my heart opened so much, in such painful ways, that I became psychic and I started to offer reading sessions and counseling to people.

The key here is to not panic, to stay with the pain, allow it to move through you, swim with it and not try to fight it because the issue it is here for a reason, to help you grow.

2. In times of stress and chaos, always remember that you are not the one who decides the outcome and has the ultimate power. God is. Life is. Your body. Your intuition.

Do not use your mind (ego) to control what is happening to you because sometimes you cannot, no matter what you do. Surrender and be in service of what tries to move through you, instead of being in conflict with it.

Knowing that you are not in full control of your life actually helps you relax and trust the process.

3. If you find yourself becoming angry and resentful because you are challenged by life, remind yourself that from a spiritual perspective you actually chose this path and you agreed with it. Your ego/mind may not like it, but your soul will be very proud of you if you try to do your best with what you’ve got.

Every single time I see things through my spiritual visions perspective or through the eyes of the loving God, the answer is always the same. I agreed on some level to come into this life to be on this path, in order to grow. I am free to say NO to it but when I embrace it, I can see the beauty in it just as the divine intended for me.

4. While being challenged, instead of becoming angry or depressed because you do not have what you want, think of the most important things that you still have in your life and you are able to do, like being able to see colors, to walk on your own two feet, to work with your hands, to have a good friend or a pet that melts your heart, to eat a good savoring meal. Focus on the simple things in life that are actually most important because they create your moment to moment living now. Make the best of it with what you have.

This will take away your attention from the negative side of the story shifting it into what actually works for you now.

5. When challenges arrive, patience is not a virtue, it is a surviving skill

Learn to be Zen about everything because in the biggest scheme of life, your problem is actually less significant. It is like watching things from the sky above. You can’t focus on details anymore and only the major lines and landscapes count.

Start realizing that doing things slowly, in the right timing and at your own pace, is more effective than rushing and pushing through, which could leave you exhausted and wondering why you are not good enough to accomplish your dreams.

6. Learn to see challenges as teachers

For example, after my heart opened wide, I became so loving, nurturing, so naive and forgiving, that I actually allowed others to abuse my kindness. The betrayals in my close relationships taught me to set very strong boundaries and respect myself exactly because I was pushed to my edge.

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass.

It is about learning to dance in the rain.” - Unknown

7. Learn to cope and adapt to the changes instead of worrying about the discomfort that comes with them

The thing is, only if you accept what is truly happening you can take time to reflect, decide and pivot your course in life so that you move on in the right direction.

Crying about it, being sad or angry it’s ok, but while you’re doing that make also space for choosing something different. Ask yourself questions like: what would help me move forward with ease from this point on? What do I need to let go of because it drains me and is not serving me anymore?

8. Always listen to your body, especially when you are facing challenges

Do not try to force your wishes upon her. Do not push her to move at a pace you want, doing the things you want. She is the one who decides the rhythm, not you.

In the end, your vision may most certainly come from your mind (ego) through what you learned from others and it may be in conflict with your body’s dreams for you. Instead, choose to listen and embrace what comes up. And if you don’t like it, as it happened in my case, aim to find the beauty in it, study it, find its benefit for you.

Ask yourself: what does my body need from me to feel safe, healed and nourished? Then do that as best as you can.

Because her dreams are bigger, more important and way more beautiful than your ego’s desires.

9. Prepare to become a reluctant expert in things you never expected

For example, I never wanted to learn how to heal myself, how to be still, how to be meditative or present to my pain. But I was forced into all these things by life circumstances and by the fact that I have spent lots of money on useless therapists. So I had to find a solution by myself. And because of these struggles, I developed my own counseling and healing ways, becoming an expert in sensory awareness and other unconventional tools that allowed me to help others.

Another example: I never wanted to be alone, in fact, I was terrified of loneliness. I was a social butterfly. When I lost all my so called friends and I had to cut off several members of my family, I suddenly was left all by myself. The terror of being in my own company dissipated when I found God and I started to feel the divine unconditional love that is actually impossible to find in humans. I am stronger today because I welcomed solitude as my path and I became an expert in self love exactly because I had the courage to let go of toxic people.

Allow yourself to become the teacher in your own field of expertise. It is through challenges that you grow and truly learn.

In Kintsugi Japanese tradition, broken objects are often repaired by filling the gaps with gold. The flaws become the beautiful evidence that something unique happened in that object’s history. What happened to you that made you uniquely beautiful?

10. You will get to know yourself really well through challenges

Each problem in life will force you to change in ways you never did before. Because of that, you need to transform the way you think, speak, move and feel. Your whole identity may need to shift. You may learn (like it happened to me), that who you think you were, it’s actually not the real you.

By facing your challenges with patience, acceptance, care for your soul and self love, you will start to know your true needs and what supports you well in life. This will teach you what boundaries to set in place and what truly feeds your heart.

When you know yourself, you know how to take good care of your inner child.

All of the sudden, you will not take anymore insults, disrespect or low vibrations. You want what is rightfully yours, because you deserve it. You’ve been through chaos and hell, and now you are ready to fully love yourself.

11. Learning to focus on little comforts, especially when life hits you hard

When something is really stressful, when everything feels like chaos or a constant battle, destruction and loss may seem to cloud your days and make them dark. It is exactly at these times that what you need the most is the opposite to help you receive pleasure in the middle of the pain.

A simple, clean and beautiful bed spread that awaits you in the evening, a delicious meal eaten while watching the sunset, a beautiful flowers bouquet on your desk, sipping aromatic tea in a gorgeous vintage cup, wrapping yourself in sensuous perfume scent, wearing makeup or a cute hairstyle - will brighten up your day no matter what, and they cost nothing.

Make the things that you interact with the most during your day, truly pleasurable. This will have a great positive impact on your life, even when you are moving through difficult times.

You need to nourish your soul first, if you wish to have enough energy to live through the dark days. Only when you have enough fuel for yourself, you can give enough attention to your goals and to others. You cannot achieve success through depletion, you need to feel well fed. So feed yourself first without guilt.

12. Always celebrate even the smallest victories because they are the foundation of your forward movement

You might be waiting for an enormous project to be finished first in order for you to have something to celebrate. This is what I used to think about my desired healing. When I realized that this process might take a lifetime or maybe it will never end in the way I would like it to end, I finally understood that my every day life is part of this process and I need to make it count because THIS IS MY LIFE NOW.

Did I want to let my life just move through me and not enjoy it? To only wait for the big win that may or may not happen, in order to finally celebrate a victory?

No. The answer is, I can celebrate every small victory now. If I can walk 10-15 k steps now daily in comparison with last year, it is a big achievement and I am going to be happy about it and give myself a treat. If today I can release emotions rapidly when few years ago I was in deep depression, I am surely going to be proud about it and allow myself to grow self confidence.

Every little step forward towards my dream counts. Every time I find a win, I am deeply grateful and I make sure to add it to my list of achievements. In this way, when I look back I always feel that I’m growing even though it may be a slow process.

13. Finding what feeds your soul

When everything is in turmoil around you (or inside), focusing on what you love and helps you lose track of time will take you out of the negative zone.

Do you love painting? Then find time to paint in the middle of a life crisis.

Do you love hiking or traveling? Then make sure you allow a budget for this and start planning your trips because this is where you will find your aliveness again and again.

Do not postpone living your best life for later, just because things feel hard now. Sometimes these challenges are here to teach us to put our soul desires first and pursue them no matter what. The end result of each pursuing is the fuel we receive in return. We need this to feed the life force engine that keeps us going through the dire straits.

14. When something bad happens, is usually because there is a spiritual need for change but we were not ready for it yet

Almost every single thing that happened and I didn’t like it, because it was either a mistake, a health issue, an accident or a betrayal, forced me to look deeper into my soul and face my own contribution to it, acknowledging responsibility, teaching me lessons about self worth or self love, about how to never ignore my intuition again or how to discover my true self in a way I never thought possible.

Nothing happens just because. There is a mystical order in this universe and everything happens for a reason, or for a higher purpose, or to mirror our dark areas so that we can accept them fully.

Therefore, nothing is wasted and nothing was wrong. We may think it is, but it’s not, because everything works for our highest good, to help us grow. Some of us learn this through hardships, some learn in easier ways. But no matter what, problems, issues, mishaps, are all there for us to teach us to transform pain into something beautiful.

15. The journey is actually the destination

The process of living your daily life should be a most enjoyable one no matter what you are facing, so that at the end of your life, no matter the result, you will still have many wonderful stories to tell.

16. Abundance and success have different meanings when you’re going through major life transitions and this pushes you to find what truly matters

When you face big drama in your life, abundance may mean health, or simple joys in life. Success may mean that today I had the tiniest victory in my situation and I am going to celebrate it to the max.

Everything changes context when you are facing major issues. Suddenly, the things that mattered the most to you have no meaning now. The car you paid thousands of dollars for, means nothing if you cannot drive it because you are in pain. The fur coat you were so proud of, is useless when you have nowhere to go. The friends you thought you can rely on, make your heart feel empty now because they cannot support you as you supported them. The partner you put your trust in, cheated on you and the relationship lost its meaning completely.

This is life, and the only constant in life is change. Things change, problems happen. And you can choose how to respond to what is happening to you and the meaning you give to things.

The partner that cheated on you? It’s a good thing that this happened because it helped you know your self worth and perhaps find someone who truly supports you. That person never deserved your love. The friends you thought you had but you actually never did? It’s great that they disappeared because you deserve people who support you just as much as you support them.

Abundance is everywhere, can be found in anything and success is to be defined as you want to. You are in charge of your life and what it means for you. You decide what or who deserves your attention and contributes to your soul the most.

I hope these musings served you as much as they served me when going through hard times.

Also, check my RESOURCES page for the book recommendations list I created to help you navigate difficult times, while healing and growing.

And if you didn’t subscribe to my newsletter yet, when you do that you will receive two beautiful free guides in pdf format. “How to manifest your desired feeling at a sensory level” and “How to access your intuition”.

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Source of photos - Pinterest

I always thought, like everyone else, that one has to let go in order to make room for the new things to come. That to welcome the manifestation of a new dream, we need first to release the dated beliefs. And in some aspects, this is true, indeed.

But when I asked the trees this morning, why are they so naked and bare in the winter season, why do they need to let go of all the leaves and how they are able to do this with ease, the answer was a bit different than I expected.

“The reason why we have to let go of the foliage is not because we want to make room for the new one in spring. We always know that spring will come again. We do not release in order to sprout. The real reason is that as the winter comes (which could relate to a difficult, challenging period of loss in someone’s life), the days are getting shorter, the sun is getting colder, the light is dimming and there is no warmth left to nourish the growing of the leaves.

Because of this, each tree needs to preserve their life force and stamina during the colder climate, in order to survive the harsh winters.

The real lesson here is not to let go of the leaves in order to welcome new ones, but to let them go in order to replenish, to rest, preserve, hibernate if you will, until the warmth of the sun returns again. In other words, to hold space for our life force energy to stay alive until the climate can nourish us again.

You humans, think that if you have a vision for the future, you need to let go of the past in order to receive it. But unless you come inside to replenish and reflect during the winter season, you will rush the process and you may actually manifest a vision that has no backbone, no nourishing support, because there is not enough life force in it. You wish to jump from autumn to spring, forgetting that patience and trust are needed during the winter as the right timing happens for the perfect foliage and fruits to grow.

You keep ignoring that growing a dream requires just as much waiting and faith as a child needs to grow in his mother’s womb, in order to be born.

And that when the birth happens, the mother needs time to replenish her body again.

You push the limits of the body and then you enter burnout by skipping the void that needs to happen after a period of growth. Nothing in nature is only go, go, go. There are always cycles, ups and downs, spirals, seasons, phases of birth, replenishing and rebirth.”

It made me wonder, how many times I ignored the messages of my body saying that she needs rest, nourishment, self care and warm love.

We were all taught that we need to take action all the time in order to succeed, that pausing is not needed, but nature teaches us that down time is as necessary as the growing time. That in order to grow, you need strong rooting first by nourishing yourself with tender love and care.

So what do you need this Christmas to feel fully replenished so that the creation that wants to come through you, can happen?

I asked the trees to give me some examples and this is what they said:

• Light of the sun equals divine light

Calling the divine light of your soul inside your body helps us feel connected, grounded, protected and loved during the winter season.

• Warmth of the sun equals warmth of love

What makes you feel deeply loved as you are? For me, pets, nature and divine love are the most powerful ways to feel loved just as I am.

• A cold winter equals a cold environment, perhaps a harsh job, marriage, an unsupportive community or an illness

The trees cannot unroot themselves which is why they have to recreate a warm environment inside, until the end of the winter. What helps you create a nourishing supportive sanctuary for yourself during a harsh time in your life? Where can you find a bit of light in the darkness, to replenish your life force energy? For me, healing arts are the most important way to shift my inner state, find wisdom and faith that all is well and is working in my favor.

Trees also said: “Trust life and the perfect timing. Do not skip the replenishing season because it is crucial for the new life to grow. And be open and ready to receive the unknown gift that life wants to manifest through you. Your mind cannot imagine what the universe can, for you highest potential. Let yourself be pleasantly surprised.”

How can you give yourself the gift of trusting life this Christmas, enough to be still, rest and replenish yourself so that next year new life can bloom with ease?

Also, check my RESOURCES page for the book recommendations list I created to help you navigate difficult times, while healing and growing.

And if you didn’t subscribe to my newsletter yet, when you do that you will receive two beautiful free guides in pdf format. “How to manifest your desired feeling at a sensory level” and “How to access your intuition”.

Subscribe now

On another note …

I’ve been posting daily notes on my wall to challenge you to express yourself freely with the help of movement, art and journaling questions. You can check them out here.

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I wanted so much to share what I have learned, I wanted to teach people, especially young ones, how to release their emotional burdens and shift their inner state to a higher vibration, by transforming pain into wisdom. I wanted to help others to find their own truth that was uniquely designed for them and to receive their own insights and intuitive messages to keep them moving in the right direction.

Even though in the past I had tremendous success when I wanted to share something, effortlessly becoming famous in my country and even abroad, my last attempts to spread knowledge again though, failed completely.

So I, of course, thought that my teachings are not received, or not understood. I felt defeated in my attempt to become the teacher that I wanted to be.

But something happened the other day that offered me a deeper view over what was really going on behind the scenes.

As I was coming inside my body to explore this feeling of being not welcomed as the teacher I wanted to be, I saw something different.

Moving with the energy of this state I immediately sensed that affirming this was not the real truth. I could feel it in my flesh and bones how actually my teachings are indeed received, on a deeper level, energetically.

Let me explain.

When they first meet us, people do not suddenly love or reject us because we did or not did something. They do it because they feel a certain vibration emanating through our aura and then they have a response to it, of love or rejection, mostly depending on what their own energetic design is based on, or what stage of soul growth they are in.

For example, a very patriarchal person, man or woman, who may have very linear upbringing, a logical design (perhaps a thinker in MBTI system), who may have been raised in a rigid religious mindset, may instinctively reject my aura which now is emitting strong feminine sensuality traits (that were dormant inside me few years ago).

What happens is that my energy (more somatic and right brain oriented now) is triggering the linearity and patriarchal beliefs in such people. It has less to do with what I would be doing around them and more with who I AM at my core. In this case, they sense it as a threat to their patriarchal core beliefs and upbringing.

So what this meant for me when I sensed the truth about not being able to teach others my new knowledge was that even though I may not be welcomed as I want to (changing lives through my teachings), my energy does it for me.

Even when I do not speak at all or explain what I’ve learned, my aura speaks about everything that I am experiencing. And even when I think that people reject my wisdom, they are still receiving it.

Whenever someone is around me, they are reading my writings or simply connect with me, they feel the truth I am spreading about femininity, sensuality, intuition and integrity, as I received it through my own body wisdom. They may not like it, they may feel triggered by it, they may not comprehend it, but once they are in my presence, their energy is already receiving my data and then they decide what their response is to me.

And just because they cannot handle it yet, they cannot understand it yet, or they are afraid of it, maybe hating it, it doesn’t mean that my teachings were not shared with them.

Unconsciously, they have already opened to my field.

But I get it though, how hard it must be to accept something that you cannot understand. Something you never experienced before, which is challenging all your foundational values. I get it because I was one of these people myself.

I don’t think that I could have understood what sensory movement mean, how inner knowing can be developed based on this connection to your flesh and sensations. I would have thought this is a crazy idea. And I would have never believed this to be a healing path.

One must really, really crave healing and soul growth, sometimes found in unexpected places, to be fully open to new ways. They must be desperate enough to jump in. And also, my inner design is not traditional. My brain is neurodivergent. My understanding comes through moving my body, sensing my awareness and using my right brain. All Feminine ways, not linear, not logical. There is no mind over body process, this is a body over mind one. Therefore, I get it. This is not for everyone, because not everyone is ready.

So, in the end, not all who come my way and experience my energy can stay open to it, but I am challenging them ALL, by simply being myself. And I am still contributing to raising their awareness, because in my presence, they can feel a different way to live.

Of course, I am sad that not many respond with curiosity and openness to it, but this is pretty normal, considering that I have followed one of the most unconventional paths where few dare to step on.

The more I let this truth sink in, the calmer I feel about how I am received by the world. Even when I don’t have an audience or community that is brave enough to walk along with me on this journey, I know I am stirring something in everyone I meet and this is what I came for.

I am a living example of these unconventional embodied teachings.

Anyway, I appreciate YOU for still being here, being interested in what I have to say. Please ask me anything you feel like asking, about any subject on the planet. I love offering some light on your path. You can message, email me or comment below.

This week I have a recommendation for you:

A simple tool to welcome your inner truth and guidance:

Gently come inside your body, feel yourself connecting to it, breathe slowly and ground within.

Think of something that bothers you or you would like to find a solution for. Feel it deeply on an emotional level inside you.

Then say this phrase while breathing slowly and deeply, resting in between sentences, paying attention on how it lands, to feel what are the messages that want to come up:

“There is a part of my being that already knows how to …

And this part of my being is willing now to inform the rest of me with ease, joy and grace …

My mind, body and nervous system are now slowly opening themselves to receive this precious supportive information that was sent to me with love …

Information transfer is now complete.”

Now breathe, rest in stillness and let yourself receive. Did you notice any insight coming to the surface? Or a mood shift?

Repeat the process as many times as you need to.

Also, check my RESOURCES page for the book recommendations and courses list I created to help you navigate difficult times, while healing and growing.

And if you didn’t subscribe to my newsletter yet, when you do that you will receive two beautiful free guides in pdf format. “How to manifest your desired feeling at a sensory level” and “How to access your intuition”.

Subscribe now

One of the simplest tools I use to receive messages is through nature connection.

This morning, as I was walking by the lake, I noticed the deep, dense fog surrounding it. You could barely see the other side of the park; only a few trees close to me were in full sight. Everything else was hidden.

Like a true empath, I felt drawn to enter the energy of the fog to see if there were any new messages for me on how to lift the veils that keep things hidden.

I immediately heard a voice:

“Don’t you already know that fog is created by extreme temperature differences between night and day? That sometimes, after a very cold night, when a warm morning follows, the fog appears? And that the same is true when a warmer night is followed by a very cold morning?”

“Yes, I do,” I replied.

I immediately realized the message behind it all.

Whenever there is a vast difference between temperatures (our moods and beliefs) and between night and day (the subconscious and conscious realms), fog appears. It must be so, because both states and realms need to realign to reach the same level and bring clarity.

The voice continued:

“So now, can you see that fog is actually not a bad thing? That it is purely a natural and necessary phase in the process of receiving clarity? And that when you are in a ‘fog phase,’ it actually means you have taken a step forward from the old self to the new self, and it may take some time to accommodate the change?”

This sounded perfectly true, supportive, and reassuring. Most of all, it was calming to my nervous system, which tends to freak out whenever I feel stuck.

“Could you relax a bit, knowing this from now on?” the voice asked.

Yes. It felt as if I were understood on a deeper level—safe enough to trust the process of fogginess within me.

I used to beat myself up so hard whenever I felt blocked or lacked a clear vision for the future. Just like in the photo above, I could only see the present moment and nothing else. It felt terrifying not to know with certainty what would happen next.

But this fog actually meant I was on the right path even if I couldn’t see ahead. I was changing from the old me to the new me, releasing the ego.

“And did you know that some things are meant to remain hidden because the mind, body, or soul needs time to readjust and welcome them fully? Just like in nature, we cannot hurry the growth stages of a flower. Especially for a sensitive person, you cannot force the nervous system into safety. Safety must be learned before the veils can open. It is important to know that sometimes, fog is also a protective phase, lasting until you are truly ready.”

The fog then said (oh, wait, was this actually the fog’s voice?):

“Embrace natural steps. Don’t beat yourself up. You wouldn’t do that to a child who was struggling to see, would you? It’s not about wearing glasses, either; that wouldn’t mean you actually solved the problem or achieved real clarity. It’s about accepting the phase you are in, trusting it, having patience, and sending love to yourself as you transition through difficult times. No one can heal and thrive while punishing themselves. Love and acceptance are the keys.

Now tell me, what can you do to release the limiting beliefs and negative emotions—the fog—that created this gap between your inner night and day? And can you do this in the presence of divine love?”

Yes, I can.

This is how I release blocks.

The core message was that fogginess is a normal step that simply needs acceptance to lift.

I hope this teaching served your soul today as much as it served mine.

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