“…everyone wants to be excited by something magical and wondrous – to be reminded of how they once saw the world …”
~ John Geddes
You don’t need to figure everything out on your own. There are always signposts, gentle nudges in the right direction, a trail of breadcrumbs, a giant flashing neon sign.
Problem is, when you are stuck in your head (yes, you know what I mean) going round and round with your own lousy thoughts and worries, being steered by your anxieties and insecurities, it can be easy to miss all that guidance.
Late yesterday afternoon as I was standing in the paddock, five black cockatoos flew over my head. As they neared me they began to call. They cruised directly over me, although they had that whole expanse of sky at their disposal. Then they wheeled around at the old hoop pine, flew over my head once again for good measure, screeching at me the entire time, before alighting back in the hoop pine.
My whole body tingled, and the hairs rose on my arms. You see, that morning I’d been struggling with where to go next with my writing. I have several unfinished projects, each of which will take me in a very different direction. Which one should I run with? I just couldn’t decide…
When those black cockatoos turned up in the paddock I was flooded with knowing. Here were my black sisters, my Kimberley Aunties, flying over to comfort, reassure and remind me. Suddenly the direction I needed to take was writ clear in my mind, as well as my heart.
Today, if you’re in that place of needing some clarity – here I am, waving a big sign for you.
You have this awesome internal guidance system inside you, called your SOUL. And your soul communicates with you by intuition.
If you’re uncomfortable with the concept of a soul, then perhaps think of this energy as your own internal wisdom and most heartfelt, honest preferences.
Your soul isn’t governed by your head. Your mind is just a helpful super-computer at your soul’s disposal. You won’t get the answers you seek from your mind alone. Being stuck in your head is most often a fruitless exercise, or at least one of diminishing returns the more time we spend there.
The magic starts when our heart and mind connect and share wisdoms with one another. The heart knows, and the mind has the genius to make it happen.
Right now, if you’re feeling lost or stuck, it’s perfectly okay to ask for a sign or some kind of answer that gives you clarity – or at least a place to start. Then trust that your Soul and the Universe will use everything at their disposal to get that message to you.
For me, yesterday, it was black cockatoos.
You’ll know what it is for you. Your soul will make the message or the messenger look brighter, shinier, more obvious – this thing, whatever it is, will just stand out more. It will be meaningful for YOU.
It might be a sign on the back of a bus, a song on the radio, an article in the newspaper, a recurring image or idea. Don’t worry about what it could be – just trust that this thing will make itself known to you!
Eg: You’re thinking about returning to study, and you need to have your application in today, but is it the right thing to do? On the way to work you get stuck behind this bus…
Suddenly, you have your answer. You’re on fire. You just KNOW what you need to do!
There’s another thing I need to tell you, to help you recognise what it will be. It won’t be mind driven. Mind-driven solutions are logical, expected and rational. And quite often they leave us dragging our feet. Our heart won’t be in it. We won’t light up when we think about it. It will be an answer or solution we feel we should take, one that will be a crowd pleaser or the sensible choice. Tune in – part of you will be sitting in deep resistance to that particular idea.
If that’s how you feel, that’s not your thing…
Yesterday, as I watched my black cockatoos and thought about my wise Aunties, and as my heart knew which direction to take, I was filled with bright energy and hope. My eyes pricked with tears.
And I also knew the answer had been in me all along. It was just my mind that was objecting…
Your heart always knows what it wants. Your Soul is perfectly equipped to get that message to your conscious mind.
The whole Universe is contriving to help you live your best life.
So ask. And trust.
I have so much faith in you…
I’ll leave you with the sounds of the black cockatoos, Much Love, Nicole xx
Your writings are always so spot on with my life situations and challenges Nicole; the universe works in miraculous ways. I also have a big connection spiritually to the black cockatoos and I asked a spiritual healer the other day who and what they represent; she took some book off the shelf and looked them up and responded that they represent the grandmothers (and I seem to recall its about our fears) But regardless, they make me laugh internally when I see them and I also know at that moment that I am not alone. Hugs XXX
Thank you for your constant encouragement. It’s especially helpful when some of us are making big changes, taking big chances, trying to accept the signs we keep seeing.
Nicole, I don’t read your blog every day, but whenever I do come here, it happens to be on days where you have addressed precisely the dilemma I am facing at that moment. Today was no exception and it’s no coincidence; thank you so much for this post. Feel better. 🙂
We have green cacatoos in the parks of Amsterdam. I seek for a future different fro the past.
How amazing to see black cockatoos…free…where they should be… instead of cages . I love their wonderful free speech .
I am completely stuck at the moment …I will hopefully see the signs I need and show my gratitude in my ability to see them . Glad you are better Nicole .
Cherry x
I stumbled upon your blog about a month ago and each of your posts has made me feel a little less alone. I enjoy your stories, recipes and life lessons very much. It is comforting to know there are kindred spirits out in the world who understand you.
i really needed to hear this. thank you! xo
Awesome- we are in sync- beautifully written thank Nicole xx
Thank you so much, I hear black cockatoos a lot even when they Re not there, it’s a call that brings me strength and peace. I have asked for a sign, so simple yet somehow I needed permission to ask. Thank you again…love. Xx
“You have this awesome internal guidance system inside you, called your SOUL. And your soul communicates with you by intuition”. Thank you Nicole – so beautifully articulated. xox
Thanks Nicole. I was cleaning out things yesterday and one of the bags I had put things in had a caption “It’s your Life. Live it”. A good message for me xxx
Beautiful post, just what I needed to hear today. Thanks 🙂
I needed this today..
Hey Sister…right on…tears welling…following my souls calling…and trusting in those signs! Love U very much..so much overflowing gratitude to U…and existence for this life…X
courage => to tell the story of who you are with your whole heart (B.Brown)
you are a courageous woman, tell your unique story with joy and love
can’t go wrong can ya sista, not with dat ting!
hugs sx
As always Nicole, well said and much needed. Your Kimberley stories were fantastic and having read them as soon as you mentioned the black cockatoos I knew where you were heading. I will keep my heart and eyes open for signs. Thank you for the reminder.
There’s more to come yet, Chris, with that story of mine. I promise to write more soon. Lots of love, Nicole xx
Nicole, I am pleased to hear there will be more of your story. I looked forward to the next chapter with anticipation and hoped it wasn’t the end when you told of your meeting with the Aunts. On a different subject – Curlews seem to be popping up all around me lately – in posts, books I have read and with their mournful around my home….