Truth is not reached in a straight line, it's approached through cycles that spiral closer to the center.

Conch in hand, listening to the sacred sound of existence, AUM, Amen. Water of life flowing in the background, white sand at my feet, wind spiraling around, hummingbirds flying around me. It's really a sweet moment. Thanks Maggie for the picture.

Since I was gifted this beautiful shell walking the Unity Church Labyrinth last week, I have realized how deep beautiful this sacred spiral really is. The spiral represents another threshold of learning, you enter into expansion, transformation as you get closer to the center or divine truth, growth that returns but not exactly the same as you become more capable of holding more truth. You take this back and enter the world with the ability to see even more. These geometric shapes have been more clear over the last year, with the vision I had of the sacred geometry of life, yoga asana shapes, flowers, spirals, deeper understanding, sacred circles, repetition of patterns.

Walking the labyrinth mirrors a three-stage spiritual pattern or Threefold Path found across traditions: Release, illumination, integration. This path goes back to it's earliest roots of medieval Christian Mysticism. St. John of the cross and others spoke about this during those times. St. John of the Cross called a deeper phase of this purification the Dark Night of the Soul. I was first introduced to this understanding freshman year of college by a medium friend of mine Becky Rosen.  Before today, I always assumed the dark night of the soul was popularized by more new age spiritual tachers like Marianne Williamson and Eckhart Tolle. Regardless they all speak the same language of a spiritual journey that spirals, deepens and grows.

✨ A line from St. John of the Cross captures it beautifully:

“In the dark night of the soul, bright flows the river of God.”

The traditional stages are:

1. Purgative Way – purification and release

2. Illuminative Way – receiving spiritual insight

3. Unitive Way – union or integration with divine presence

Different styles: Pattern/Spiral/ Path/ Labyrinth/ Golden Ratio/Fibonacci Sequence Appears Across Traditions

Interestingly, this three-stage structure appears in many spiritual paths. There are symbols and signs all around us that are repeated that we easily miss. I look at this and realize I'm probably sitting in the middle of spiritual treasure often and a little slow to pick it up, better late then never. Spiritual growth for me over the last 48 years have been abundant. I realize now that I'm in a pattern of evolution and growth more than I ever have been in my life. This is the ultimate path we all seek: What is the meaning of life?

• Buddhism – ethical practice → insight → awakening

• Yoga – purification → knowledge → liberation

• psychology – letting go → realization → integration

• Greek mythology with Theseus and the Minotaur

• Medieval European cathedrals

• Native American medicine wheel–style paths

• Modern meditation gardens

  
  

It reflects a universal transformation pattern:

Let go → See clearly → Live differently

During class Friday, Deb Orton pointed out to me that spirals are so beautiful to the human eye because of their ratio.

The Fibonacci Sequence. “Fibonacci” comes from the medieval mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci of Pisa. In mathematics this spiral is related to the Fibonacci Sequence, where each number grows from the two before it. For example, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34

Examples:

• nautilus shells

• hurricanes

• spiral galaxies

  
  

Back to the spiraled conch I'm holding that came as a gift from the labyrinth.  They are obtained as a sacred gift from the great ocean. Younger I mocked people who collected shells because I was too naive to appreciate the grand gesture and significance from nature. Now these shells and

Sand dollars have had a spiritual impact on me, as I'm sure many of you are experiencing as well. It is seen in the hands of almost all gods and goddesses, whether they were happy or going off to war.  In Buddhism the conch shell’s call is meant to awaken one from ignorance, and is a sign of victory over suffering.  In Chinese Buddhism, the conch shell signifies a prosperous journey, and in Islam it represents  hearing the divine world. Every child knows the magic of listening to the ocean the first time you place that shell against your ear. It's just awesome.

Each lesson isn't linear, it spirals, it folds and goes deeper. Growth is subtle as nature can be too, but once in awhile a big dark night of the soul no longer allows you to ignore it. I will continue to write about this in my book coming soon! Stay tuned.

Tomorrow BEACH CLEAN UP March 15th 8am followed by yoga on the beach 9am.

Vanderbilt Beach 9am-10am Classes

Sunday's Alex Restorative

Monday's & Tuesday's Sheila Gentle

Wednesday & Friday's Lo Hatha Flow

$15 Drop in or 5 for $60

No new updates on Collier County Permitting

Congrat's to Elaine for winning February Contest

More News:

Matt, my husband and I, have launched a new social media site called Better Intentions. We are inviting you to join our initial "soft launch". We are collecting emails now for our initial launch of Better Intentions, coming soon. If you could join our journey, connecting people in a respectful way and having meaningful conversations beyond you verse me mentality, please consider watiching our you tube video and signing up. Visit betterintentions.com

https://youtu.be/KjHvkVMRR2Q?si=WW3yOAg1trde0N9p

Better Intentions and Continuous Growth,

Lo Grabinski