October – Living from the Heart

When Awareness Becomes the Way We Live

"The heart does not ask us to have all the answers. It asks us to be present enough to listen."

Dear Friend,

There comes a time in our journey when learning is no longer enough.

We can read the books.

We can attend the courses.

We can learn the practices.

We can gather knowledge and listen to the wisdom of others.

But eventually something deeper begins to ask:

How am I actually living?

This is a question I have returned to many times throughout my own journey.

It is easy to speak about compassion.

It is another thing to practise it when someone has disappointed us.

It is easy to speak about patience.

It is another thing to remain patient when life does not unfold as we hoped.

It is easy to talk about living from the heart.

It is another thing entirely to do so when we are afraid.

Perhaps this is where spiritual practice becomes real.

Not in what we say.

But in how we meet the ordinary moments of our lives.

What Does It Mean to Live from the Heart?

When I speak about living from the heart, I am not talking about allowing emotion to make every decision.

Our emotions are important, but they are not always our wisest guides.

Living from the heart, as I understand it, is something deeper.

It is bringing awareness to the way we think, speak, choose, and respond.

It is asking ourselves:

"Does this reflect the person I want to be?"

Sometimes the answer is yes.

Sometimes it is no.

And that is okay.

Awareness is not about becoming perfect.

It is about noticing.

When we notice how we respond, we create a small space between what happens and what we choose to do next.

Within that space, we have an opportunity.

We can react.

Or we can respond.

We can judge.

Or we can become curious.

We can close our hearts.

Or we can remain open while still protecting our boundaries.

That small space is where conscious living begins.

The Heart and the Mind

For much of our lives, we are encouraged to think our way through everything.

We analyse.

We plan.

We calculate.

We look for reasons and explanations.

There is great value in this.

The mind helps us make decisions and navigate the world.

But there are moments when thinking alone does not provide the answer.

We may know what makes sense logically, yet something within us feels unsettled.

Other times, we may feel something deeply but need the wisdom of the mind to understand how to act upon it.

I have come to believe that the heart and mind do not need to be in opposition.

They can work together.

The mind can offer discernment. The heart can offer compassion.

The mind can ask, "What is wise?"

The heart can ask, "What is kind?"

Together they can help us find a more balanced way of living.

Listening Beneath the Noise

The heart rarely speaks loudly.

It is easily covered by the noise of everyday life.

Emails.

Phones.

Responsibilities.

Opinions.

Expectations.

Worries about tomorrow.

Regrets about yesterday.

Sometimes we become so accustomed to the noise that we forget what quiet feels like.

This is one reason I value stillness so deeply.

When we become quiet, we begin to notice.

Perhaps we notice that we are tired.

Perhaps we recognise that a relationship needs attention.

Perhaps we realise we have been saying yes when we really wanted to say no.

Perhaps we discover that something we once wanted is no longer important to us.

Stillness does not always give us comfortable answers.

But it can give us honest ones.

My Father's Lesson

When I think about awareness, I often return to memories of my father.

For many years I watched him work as a carpenter.

He worked with wood, but what I remember most was not simply what he created.

It was how he worked.

He paid attention to detail.

He did not seem to rush the process.

A measurement mattered.

A cut mattered.

The finishing mattered.

At the time, I simply saw my father working.

Looking back now, I realise he was teaching me something much deeper.

He was showing me the value of presence.

When you are working with wood, you cannot simply be somewhere else and expect the finished piece to be right.

You have to be there.

You have to look carefully.

You have to listen.

You have to respect the material you are working with.

That lesson has stayed with me.

I see something of the same principle in Reiki.

Whether we are working with another person, creating a crystal grid, meditating, or simply listening to someone who needs to be heard, presence matters.

The quality of our attention changes the quality of our experience.

Perhaps living from the heart is also about this.

Being fully present with what is in front of us.

The Courage to Be Authentic

Living from the heart sometimes means admitting that something is no longer right for us.

It may mean changing direction.

It may mean saying no.

It may mean stepping away from an expectation that has been placed upon us.

It may even mean disappointing someone.

This can be difficult because many of us have learned to measure our worth through the approval of others.

We want to be liked.

We want to belong.

We want to be accepted.

But there is a difference between belonging and abandoning ourselves to belong.

Living from the heart asks us to remain connected to who we are while still respecting those around us.

Authenticity does not require us to be harsh.

We can speak our truth gently.

We can have boundaries without anger.

We can disagree without disrespect.

We can choose our own path without believing someone else's path is wrong.

This is a quieter form of courage.

Compassion Begins at Home

If we want to live from the heart, perhaps we need to begin with the person we spend the most time with.

Ourselves.

How do you speak to yourself when you make a mistake?

Do you immediately criticise yourself?

Do you tell yourself that you should have known better?

Do you carry old mistakes long after everyone else has forgotten them?

Imagine speaking to yourself as you would speak to a close friend.

Not excusing everything.

Not pretending mistakes do not matter.

But allowing yourself to learn without continually punishing yourself.

Compassion does not remove responsibility.

It makes responsibility possible without shame becoming the centre of the conversation.

The Heart in Everyday Life

Living from the heart does not require extraordinary experiences.

It can happen while washing dishes.

Driving to work.

Preparing a meal.

Talking with a friend.

Standing in a queue.

Walking through the garden.

The question is not:

"How spiritual is this moment?"

The question is:

"How present am I within this moment?"

When we begin to live this way, ordinary life becomes our practice.

Every person becomes an opportunity to practise patience.

Every difficulty becomes an opportunity to become aware of our response.

Every quiet moment becomes an opportunity to listen.

Reiki then becomes more than something we practise at particular times.

It becomes part of how we choose to move through life.

A Practice for October

Each morning, before beginning your day, sit quietly for a few moments.

Place your hands gently over your heart if that feels comfortable.

Take three slow breaths.

Then ask:

"What would it mean for me to live from my heart today?"

Do not search for a complicated answer.

Perhaps the answer is:

Be patient.

Listen.

Forgive.

Rest.

Speak honestly.

Be kind.

Trust.

Choose one quality. Carry it with you.

At the end of the day, ask yourself:

"Where did I live from my heart today?"

And then ask:

"Where did I lose awareness?"

Do not judge your answers.

Simply notice.

Tomorrow gives you another opportunity.

A Deeper Reflection

Perhaps living from the heart is not about always feeling peaceful.

Perhaps it is about remaining present even when we do not.

It is possible to be afraid and still act with courage.

To be hurt and still choose kindness.

To be uncertain and still take the next step.

To be angry and still choose not to cause harm.

To experience sadness and still remain open to life.

The heart does not ask us to avoid the difficult emotions.

It asks us to meet them consciously.

This is where compassion becomes important.

We do not have to love every experience.

We do not have to approve of everything that happens.

But we can learn to meet ourselves honestly within whatever life brings.

Questions for October

Take some quiet time with these questions:

What does living from my heart mean to me?

Where in my life am I allowing fear to make my decisions?

Where do I need to listen more deeply?

Where might I need stronger boundaries?

What truth have I been avoiding?

How can I practise greater compassion towards myself?

What quality would I like others to experience when they are in my presence?

Do not rush to answer.

Let the questions stay with you.

Sometimes a question can become a doorway.

A Blessing for October

May you have the courage to listen to your inner wisdom.

May you learn to recognise the difference between fear and knowing.

May your heart remain open without forgetting the wisdom of boundaries.

May you speak your truth with kindness.

May you meet yourself with compassion when you stumble.

May your presence become a quiet gift to those around you.

And may you discover that living from the heart is not a destination you reach.

It is a choice you make, moment by moment.

One breath.

One word.

One action.

One conscious response at a time.

May you walk gently.

May you listen deeply.

May you live honestly.

And may you always remember that the journey home is not about finding somewhere else to be.

It is about becoming fully present where you are.

With gratitude and every blessing,

Derek John-Thompson

Reiki Master Teacher

Starcraft Healing