Adriana Castaldi
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Light Love
The light in me, sees the light in you. She shimmers with joy, at the beauty reflected back. Diving deep into self love requires one to face the shadows that lurk in the dark. My personal self love journey has taken me from extreme confidence highs to bottom of the pits lows. I am still learning to love the parts of me for which there is no applause, hidden deep within the crevices of my soul. The parts society deems unworthy. To tell the truth, it can be quite a frightening thing to truly be aware of how vulnerable one is sometimes. Truly appreciating and living in harmony with the light requires a lifelong companionship with the shadow. Making your demons your friends, and alchemizing energy is by no means an easy feat. Mastering a consistent practice of self love and gratitude has not been easy. Not only am I battling a hostile environment at times when society is less than supportive of women's health and women in general, but my own mind and trauma's that still linger. They cling on tight, unwilling to let go. They say I'm unworthy of being on this earth and having what I deserve, amidst a sea of other unkind things. Before the day even begins, I'm already fighting two battles. I'm a huge believer that everyone I've ever met is fighting their own version of their own battles, and I know I would want kindness shown to me in the pauses between battles. The key to light work is surrendering the battle to love, and taking fear out of the drivers seat. Realizing that amidst the chaos, there is always a well of untouchable peace and calmness in unity consciousness. You are not alone. There are friends, family, strangers even, willing to help you even when things seem absolutely hopeless. There are always opportunities to grow, advance, create, and love. Focus and let attention go to the areas of solution and problem solving in your mind. In the present moment, trust that there will always be exactly what you need when you need it. Give gratitude, love, and kindness in your being everyday, making that a top priority. Sitting in the sun, soaking up the rays, reminding your body what light and heat feels like, often goes under-appreciated nowadays. Walking barefoot on the earth and connecting to the ground is something that is vital to the connection within ourselves. Taking care of ones mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional health all aid the bright light within us, and listening to high vibrational music is a great way to get back in balance with the light and love part of you. Take time to dance with your light, play music that your soul wants to hear. Enjoy the thrill and excitement that runs through you, the divine being that you are, as the notes wash over your body like wave after wave at sea. You deserve to bathe in your own light, in your own divinity. Revel in it, and relish it, for you know your limitless value. Give yourself a hug, and tell the small inner child in you that you understand they are afraid, since they were once in the position of not having their needs met, and it was terrifying. Let them know that it's ok now, you are going to take care of you now. No one knows our needs better than us, and you don't have to be afraid anymore. Give love to the child, and support the adult in you. Both need compassion and empathy.Let's giggle together, my light will say, and just dance and sing and be. Let us soak in a pool of empathy, and bask in the glory of healing laughter. The light in me wants to lead yours by the hand, down the path of curiosity and fun. Tell me, pretty light of yours, won't you shine right alongside mine, and encourage the light within everyone?
By Adriana Castaldi5 years ago in Motivation
Pandemic 2021
As a 27 year old woman living in unprecedented times and during the largest pandemic in many of our lifetimes, I wonder what a day in this life as it is now will look like years back. I recently came across a video of a young man in 1999, filming just a normal video of his everyday life of high-school. But it dawned on me that that became a time capsule, and that even if that one day seemed just like all the rest, it had its own special value because no other day would be just like that one again. In the film, it showed students talking to each-other at lockers. Go into an average high-school now a days, there's young kids on their phones and going through completely different sets of challenges such as school shootings, etc., that my generation and younger did not have to suffer through as much (yes there was Columbine, but there wasn't a Columbine in the news every other day). What am I going to look back on today, that might seem totally normal and ordinary, and find that that's changed 30, 40,50 years from now? I know many times fear can be very much associated with pain, and right now America as a whole is having a hard time looking its fear in the face, because with that will come pain. The most difficult part sometimes of letting go of fear is also letting go of the identity that one has created around said fear. The price of fear is paid by the death of a dream. Allowing fear to paralyze you and not stepping into one's full power and potential is like walking around as a living ghost. Taking the first steps to ones dream means facing the fear, feeling the anxiety, the stomach turning and unable to digest, the tears, the betrayal of ones self, the responsibilities, and weaving it all into a brilliant resilience. To dream of a future of freedom, happiness, health, and wealth, one must become completely focused and enamored with the now, no matter what. Learning to be grateful for the intense nausea and sweaty palms is easier said than done. Identifying my root cause of all of this underlying anxiety has been a journey of a lifetime thus far, and I've come to the conclusion that it is a lack of self worth/confidence/worthiness. In my mind, even if things all worked out the way they should, perfectly, would I be able to accept it all? Would I be truly worthy of accepting the life of my dreams, provided I put in the effort to assist in its existence? Even if I "don't feel ready"? It isn't easy to grow up in this human society, as we are constantly bombarded by critics, jealousy, negative energy, media telling us we aren't good enough. This has taken a serious toll on my mental health, and I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling so. The most rebellious social act one can commit right now is to join the revolution of self love. Taking responsibility when you screw up, apologizing not with words, but with actions. Doing everything in your power to return to your sovereignty. I must step into my power to respect my dreams, and I must commit to my dreams more than fear them.My greatest wish to you is to face your fears and rise above, because the world needs fearless leaders right now, chasing their dreams, to show society how it's done. My biggest dream is for my words to touch the souls of those who resonate, and let them know they are not alone and encouraged on their self love journey. To help inspire others to love themselves enough to break the patterns and mindsets that are no longer serving them, and for as many humans on this earth to start taking care of their hearts again. I know it begins with me, and setting an example. The biggest form of vulnerability I can think of is sharing my mind and my words, for words have proven through time to be eternal. There is no greater legacy I can think of to leave on this earth than that of inspiring others to love themselves enough so that it can overflow to the world again. I'll take one step toward my dream today, I hope you'll join me on your own path as well.
By Adriana Castaldi5 years ago in Humans
