Sometimes you just need a shower

on spiritual judgement and your inner power

Last weekend I was in Arillas for a couple of days, a village situated on the west coast of Corfu. And even though I had the idea to have a weekend of no writing and working, so many things happened that I created a blog. One that I have rewritten a couple of times during the weekend, because my insights kept changing with everything that happened.

Before I went there I heard different things about this place. I knew the place had a strong spiritual energy, but the two times I was here before I couldn’t really feel it. So I was really curious to get a better perspective from my own experiences.

Can you show your spirituality by the way you dress?

When I was on my first walk to the sea, I was enjoying the beautiful views of the greenness, the seaview and the vibe I felt. But my joy disappeared when I walked across a couple of shops that sold all kinds of spiritual items. People in the streets were walking in ‘spiritual clothes’. And at that moment I couldn’t find my jam anymore. I felt lost and out of place. Thinking I was wearing the wrong clothes and not being spiritual enough. Telling myself that I didn’t belong here. That I needed to buy new clothes to fit in.

When I couldn’t find my joy at the beach either I went for a drink in a coffee shop on the ‘boulevard’. I asked for the menu, and to my surprise that didn’t show any prices. When I asked I was told that I a cup of tea would be €4 and an iced tea was €5. Even though the place looked really nice and was located at the sea (which wasn’t visible because of the parked cars that were in front of me), I thought they were overcharging and left. I went home and realised I needed a shower and some self-care, instead of trying to fit in.

The Kingdom of heaven is inside

While watching the sunset from my balcony I read the book According to Mary by Marianne Frederiksson. It is about the life of Mary Magdalene and the time she spent with Jesus. The book is about Mary’s perspective on the ideas that Jesus shared with his disciples and followers. She states that he said that the kingdom of heaven is in your heart, always, wherever you are. And as I was reading, I suddenly felt a message from my angels coming through me. So I stopped reading and wrote the message down (you’ll find it at the end of this post).

The essence of the message was that they told me I am okay, whatever I do, wherever I am. That I don’t need different clothes or spiritual workshops to become more spiritual, because I already embrace it all. It surprised me at first, but I left it for what it was and went to bed. When I woke up the next morning my body was aching for a walk. I followed the impulse and went to a little chapel on the hill, with a beautiful view over the sea. During this walk I felt that there is an energy here that doesn’t fit me.

I couldn’t really pinpoint it, so I tried to stay in my own zone. The place where I feel happy and free and completely in tune with my inner being. I didn’t want to judge my feelings or the place, but I was making comments on it to a friend and trying to explain to myself what is the difference between me and the people and place over there.

Doing or being spiritual

In Arillas you can do a lot of things that have a connection to spirituality; like yoga and meditation classes, dance and creativity workshops. But I question the idea of needing to do spiritual things in a spiritual place. For me spirituality isn’t about doing it, because spirit is with you always. Spirituality is embodying your inner being. Knowing that there is an inner voice that is your truth. This inner being is loving and kind. That isn’t judgmental and leaves room for others to live their own truth, wherever they are in their personal journey (yes so this was the lesson this weekend ;-).

It is probably not without reason that I am reading different books now that are focusing on the idea that we are spirit and we only need to listen to our inner voices. That you don’t always need a teacher or guru to tell you what to do, sometimes you just need a shower, being in nature or some good music.

Keep an open mind

The energy in Arillas is strong, that’s for sure. And in the end I had a good stay here. I went to Ecstatic Dance to let go of a lot of anger and I met a couple of really nice people. When I went to a drum session on the beach I could see what they mean with this place being a different world. I have a feeling that people who live here move more freely, they express themselves in a different way. From a distance it seemed like they raise their children in a more free way. In the end I saw that I was open to see it. That I didn’t let my judgement take the better of me, but to remain open, even if I did have my judgements at times.

I feel that something opened up in me these days. I do feel more free in my own movements and behaviour and have more trust that things will work out fine.

That’s why I say goodbye to you with a message from my angels.

Lots of love, Irene

A message from my angels

I often receive messages from my angels, my guides, my inner voice. They are so powerful and I feel they have something to say to you too. So let the words get to you and feel what you need to hear right now.