Drops of Clarity

 

Have you ever experienced the “drops of clarity”? Have you ever had moments, when you know, without a doubt in your heart, what action you need to take, what path is right for you, or what your next step needs to be? I call those moments “drops of clarity”. For me, these moments feel like butterflies gently landing on my heart, light as feathers. I sit there in wonder and awe, simply admiring these beautiful, colourful creatures resting on my heart. I feel humbled and honoured that they chose my heart. And then, they fly away, gracefully unveiling the path I need to follow.

It is a deep, profound knowing, a peace that comes with understanding what my next step is, what my next action needs to be. The certainty that whatever action I take, it is the absolute perfect one. I smile. I take a breath, I look around, it seems like everything moves in slow motion. I take the first step on that path, and everything seems just right, simply perfect.

I am afraid though and excited at the same time. I follow the path and realize that there is a new energy that comes with my choice, almost like a new beginning. I giggle and continue, taking one more step, then another, and before I know it, I am a long way from the trailhead. I am still unsure of what I will discover at the end of the trail, yet I still feel I’m on the right track. My heart knows, she knows better than what my mind tells me.

Have you ever paused and tried to recall these moments of clarity? It is a fun exercise to do, it is like having a conversation with your heart. The more you practice awareness around those moments, the more drops of clarity you have. I fondly recall some of mine.

My first one came to me when I was a child. I used to climb on the top terrace of an apartment building, just to look at the vista, it felt like I could breathe better from there. I also used to go to the forest with my girlfriends, to simply “be” among the trees, to listen to the silence of the woods and to admire beautiful violet spring flowers. I realize now that it was a coping mechanism for me, it helped me quiet my thoughts and  settle my heart. It helped me stop the rebellion I was feeling against the restrictive communist world I was living in at that time.

Another significant drop of clarity appeared when I decided after my first physics tutoring session that I do not want to become an engineer, like my parents wanted me to. I was to become a vet, so I broke the news to my parents and there was no coming back after that. Fearfully, they let me do what my heart was telling me, and I am every so grateful for that.

Last year, October 2024, a chain of unexpected events and changes in my life brought dark clouds over my heart and made me doubt everything I was doing: my career, my living situation, my purpose. It was simply a hard STOP in all. I felt the tiniest drop of clarity in the middle of this, telling me “You got to stop it all darling, take time off and figure it all out, talk to your heart”. But my heart was heavy and silent. Nothing out there.

Three months went by, and I started thinking that my heart will never speak with me again. I was doubting one of the very first drops of clarity that came to me: being a vet. This changed though when I went on a trip to Mexico to see the Pyramid of the Sun and participate in a very powerful workshop put together by the Ruiz Family.

On that trip I also decided to visit a shelter of over 300 dogs living freely and happily together. I have never seen anything like this in my whole life: over 300 dogs living, eating, playing together. I was speechless. All of them had been abused or abandoned at some point and this is how they ended up at the shelter. Despite their suffering, they were still happy to greet me with so much love and wagging tails.

I picked up a few dogs and I held them close to my heart. And in that moment, when I was holding one of those fur balls in my arms, my heart spoke so loudly and clearly that I could not have missed it even if I was ten thousand miles away.

The drops of clarity brought a beautifully clear, message:”Go out there and share your knowledge and love for animals with all who want to embrace it. Continue to help these animals heal, we are not to keep knowledge and experience away from others, we are here to share it. Sharing is the only way we can help each other heal, and that includes animals as well.”

I am a big believer in the healing and teaching power of animals.They taught me and gave me so much , ever since I was a child. I needed this break to realize what a true honour this is, to be able to give them back a fraction of the healing they give us. But above all, I needed this break to realize that I needed to heal myself before helping others heal.

I am ever so grateful for my drops of clarity. May you discover yours.