Hello everybody,

My beautiful island home has recently suffered a great tragedy. You may have heard about the fires that destroyed the whole town of Lahaina in a matter of hours on August 8th. Many people were killed or left homeless. There were also other fires, some in my area Upcountry. 

Maui is a small island (less than 200,000 population) and everyone has connections to everywhere. Lahaina is less than an hour from my house. This has really shaken us to the core. Almost everyone is walking around with PTSD and awakened pain-bodies. I’ve started doing volunteer work and helping out where I can. I was not on the island the day of the fires. I was trying to return the next day, but got stuck for an extra day in California due to flight cancellations.

I took in one friend who was evacuated from her home. She stayed with me for a week. I’ve been doing energywork on friends and, of course, on myself. In the beginning, I noticed that my ego was trying to make me feel bad  for being a survivor and feeling good. I guess this is what they call “survivor’s guilt.” I sat with my unconscious belief that I should not feel good right now, and I questioned whether that was true. I felt in my body and my energy field that this was not true. I also did energywork on myself while meditating on this belief. This helped me release the guilt, stay present, and resume my normal life, while helping out where I can.

Meanwhile, there have been many conspiracy theories going around about the origin of the fires. Many people don’t want to believe the videos that show the powerlines being blown over and sparking the fires. This is my take to on conspiracies:

We are all victims of a great conspiracy: ego-mind. That’s what tells us we have some ultimate control over Life, which we don’t. The Big Lie is that we are in control. Believing we know all the answers is a form of control.

I know that I know nothing. I mean, who knows, maybe aliens did come down and zap my beautiful island just for fun!!? In any case, the challenge now is to pick up the pieces with presence and acceptance and not live in fear. Our task is not to get sucked into the negative thoughts and emotions that are trying to take hold of us. And to have compassion for those who are suffering, while not taking it on ourselves. 

I am profoundly grateful for all I have and don’t have in this moment! This moment is perfect just the way it is. I trust in the divine unfolding of Life. I accept and surrender to what is. Life is beautiful and death and grief are a part of Life. We never know when this form with all its hopes and dreams will go up in smoke. I am aware that this realm of form is fleeting. My Being, my divine Essence, however, is always alive, always peaceful, always here, eternal.

Blessings and Aloha! 🙏🌈🤗🏝️💓

Ellen

photo source: Google