“Deva” is a word I got from Hiro Boga. It comes Sanskrit and refers to energetic beings that hold the highest potential of any given “thing” – be it an object, event, place, or period of time…

I use it as a handy shorthand for talking to the essence/soul of something.

Today I’m trying to unravel my crazy resistance to the wording of our wedding ceremony. And my resistance to even talking about the wording of our wedding ceremony.

After about two hours of talking to monsters, I had unraveled enough pain to start talking to the Deva. It had this to say:

Advice from a Deva

Ummm…Deva of the Ceremony?

Yes?

What words do we use for you? What form? How do we hold what we need and invite people into it?

Hold them in your heart while you write it. Hold you in your heart too. Write it with delight and wonder and ease. Write it with welcome.

Welcome your elements! Don’t make it fancy. Don’t make it esoteric. Make it simple and joyful. If it doesn’t make you sing, don’t say it.

David already has words he wants to use. What about that?

Come back to this energy often in your conversation with him. When things get off, ask him to reconnect and ground with you.

Oh. Okay. What else?

Let it be simple. Let it come from your heart. You are held. You set the energy for this ritual months ago. You carefully chose who would be there. You have learned and are learning so much about force fields. Trust. Hold your qualities. Hold your love. Radiate you-ness.

And the words?

Let the words come. Let them come between you and David. Stay present. Stay sweet. Stay connected. Just let them come.

Anything else I should know?

Our conversation (just this part) would make a great blog post. That (might) solve another one of your problems, right?

You’re held in love. Commit to knowing that. Look for it when you forget.

Okay. Thanks.

Annoying!

I tried having this conversation earlier today but it just annoyed the heck out of me. I’m really not kidding that it took me two hours of monster talks to be able to listen. First I needed to be heard.

But once I’m calmer, talking to Devas/Essences/Future Me/Wiser Me/etc. is really useful.

…

Love love love,

Rhiannon + wee babylet

P.S. If you’re in Portland and want to get an in-person chance to do this, come to my hour and a half Shiva Nata workshop this Saturday, June 23rd. We’ll use journaling and/or art techniques to help you access the insights Shiva Nata stirs up.