We live in a time of rationality and reason. As long as you can prove something by scientific means or a reasonable argument, then it is acceptable to society at large. We spend hours every day working out how best to manage our lives and trying to think our way out of situations and challenges.

We study subjects in extreme detail in an attempt to understand them. We research the body and the mind, in order that we can better understand who we are and why we do what we do.

What we lack in our lives is wonder, mystery and the sacred. We have no real connection to our ancestors, or their wisdom. Our society pays very little attention to anything that is beyond the realms of reason.

Take alternative medicine as an example. Much of it is not understood, but there are those that expend a lot of money and energy "proving" that it does not work. This is because there is a fear of what we do not comprehend, or cannot make money out of. However, research is now showing that 41% of the healing in a counselling session happens regardless of what is being said. Why would that be? Is it because the client is being heard and held? Can it be proved that? I am not sure that it can. Then of course, there is the paradox of the placebo- no one really understands why it helps some people to get better, but time and time again, it does.

We are experiencing huge change on the planet at this time, and one of the changes to come over the next few decades is a move from a reasonable, rational world, ruled by the mind, to one that is governed by the heart.

The heart is the control centre of our emotions and spiritual growth happens when we learn to forgive, love, and truly accept ourselves and those around us. The greatest teacher for all these lessons is relationships, both romantic and family relationships. These are the people that we let close, and they push our buttons, and in doing so, give us the gift of seeing where we are most intolerant, selfish, and angry for example.

The longest journey is the 7" journey from the head to the heart. I have watched many people struggle with the concept of living from the heart- myself included. As you get to know and accept yourself and continue to work on your issues, you begin to be able to accept yourself and thus begin the journey into the heart. All the parts of you that you reject are the parts that keep you from living in the heart.

Living from the heart means that you have a deeper understanding of yourself, and a better connection to the world around you. You appreciate that certain things are outside your knowledge base, and you accept your place in the grander scheme of things. You trust that your intuition will guide you, and decisions are made based on how you feel, not how you think, or how you think you are supposed to be.

Living from the heart requires an element of self awareness because sometimes your internal guidance will not correspond with what is expected of you by the outside world. We need to learn that our path can sometimes lead us into conflict with what we have known. The difference is that we are courageous enough to follow it, as we have learnt to trust that voice inside that guides us to do what we have signed up for in this life.

Written by Caroline Nettle.

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