featured topic ) Life After Change: How to Navigate Tough Transitions BY R I S Ё K A S M I R S K I
How do you process significant life-changing events…the death of a loved one, a dashed dream, divorce, a job loss? Do you allow yourself the time and space to acknowledge what is lost, process your emotions, and allow others to support you through the transition? Years ago, I trained corporate employees across the country in Change Management to help them adjust to rapid changes in the workplace. Inevitably, people wanted to talk about their lives outside of work and how they needed guidance to make it through turbulent times following loss. The transition process always follows a pivotal life event – either chosen or thrust upon us, that hurls us into unchartered territory with no end in sight and no predictable rules to navigate our loss. We live with uncertainty, a rollercoaster of emotions, and feelings of isolation – that we are unable to relate to the world around us. I’ve spent time with friends experiencing profound grief as
they mourn their loved ones. As an empath, I support their moving forward while honoring the grief they're experiencing. Through my corporate and life experiences, I offer guidance in the healing process when supporting ourselves and others. H – HEART: Connect with an open heart and support their journey without trying to rush their process. E – ENCOURAGE: Encourage them to share memories and emotions to help in their healing. A – ACKNOWLEDGE: Provide acknowledgment of the progress they are making through their journey. L – LOVE: Be vulnerable enough to express your love for them through words and warm embraces. Applying this healing formula can have a tremendous impact on the lives of others. Be gentle with yourself and others during life changes. a
Rise K asmirski is a mystic, founder of RightPath Careers, and Author of the award-winning book "When Paradise Speaks".
Xibalba, the Place of Fright BY L A U R A L A B R I E
When the ancient Maya people left this incarnation, most descended into Xibalba, the Place of Fright, the realm ruled by the Lords of Death. According to the Popul Vuh, the sacred book of the Maya, those who plummeted into the Underworld faced terrifying challenges like the House of Giant Deadly Bats, the House of Darkness, and the House of Knives. If one was able to overcome all of the challenges, they were elevated to Flower Mountain, the place of the gods and Paradise. However, it is said that most never reached this Maya heaven. Even today, Xibalba is an important concept in the Maya lands. There are stunning caves called cenotes all through Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The cenotes are all connected and are part of the longest underwater cave system in the world. Imagine walking down a winding wooden staircase into a subterranean cathedral adorned with stalactites and stalagmites and filled with water so clear you can hardly tell that it's
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there. You slip into the water and dive beneath the surface, and there, under the water on the back wall of the cave, you see a huge black hole. Imagine the fear you might feel. This is the gaping maw of Xibalba, the entrance to the Underworld. It is a portal to the Place of Fright. It is said that when the clouds cover the sun and the rain god Chaac sends water to the earth, the portals to the Underworld are thin, so thin that you can feel the darkness of the other side. I have been there. I felt the energy of Xibalba. In truth, it is not just the abode of the ancient Maya dead. It is still calling to souls who stand at its doorway today. a
Laura LaBrie is an author, researcher, ethnographer, and photographer. She lives on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico where she studies with the local Maya people, shamans and healers. Her mission is to learn about both the ancient and modern wisdom and magic of the Maya people and share it with you. Learn more on her blog at mayaharmony.com or contact her at connect@lauralabrie.com. She's available on WhatsApp at +52 998 341 6255