Composting for light

I was so excited when I got my little kitchen compost bin a few years back. It had always felt like such a waste to toss fruit and veggie scraps into the landfill. I know they help things decompose there too—but my garden wanted the gold these scraps offered.

I found compostable bags. Then, I found a compost bin that you turn to help things break down even further. I was thrilled. I emptied my kitchen bin into it each week and gave it a turn… and then the weather hit 110°F for the summer, and I avoided going outside as much as possible. My compost dried up, and instead of luscious dirt, a pile of sticks and dried scraps just sat there until fall.

But amazingly, once I started going outside again and watering it, it began the process of turning to garden gold again.

A few weeks ago, while soaking the bin, it dawned on me that I could place a bucket underneath to catch the “compost tea” that was draining out the bottom. This stuff is a power drink for my plants—even before the compost is ready! Now, a few times a week, the compost pile gets a good soaking, and my plants get their super-green compost tea. Even though it’s getting hot outside and some plants are dying off, the hardy ones are grateful. A wilted pepper plant perked up and began producing again. The tomatoes are making a valiant late-spring effort. And my herbs, which always thrive in the heat, are in hog heaven.

Nature is a great teacher. She reminds me that I can turn junk into gold.

The angel message this week reminds us that we can do the same with the “junk” of the human experience.

There are plenty of things going on in the world that I’d rather not see. I don’t watch the news, but I’m not unaware. Things are brought to my attention—often unthinkable, horrible things. There have been days I was so tired I didn’t know how I’d get through the to-do list… but then I’d hear about one of those things, and my resolve to be the light would strengthen. I’d tap right into heaven’s flow and feel rejuvenated, empowered to be more loving and kind. There’s no way I’m going to contribute to those lower vibrations. I only want to be a force of love. In my younger days, I struggled not to be prejudiced against the prejudiced. I struggled not to hate the haters. I wanted to expose every liar who crossed my path. I still have a feisty streak, but now I have no desire to add to the pain in the world.

“God, may the light of love rise up in all human hearts” is my constant prayer. “May those lost in darkness be brought into the light. May hearts be soothed, minds be healed, and souls find peace.” When I see warmongers, I pray their fear-based hatred be erased. When I see bullies, I pray their self-loathing be healed. When I see those lost in ignorance and prejudice, I pray they be guided into circumstances where they can finally see the humanity in all hearts.

And every now and then, I get good and human.

Someone stole my beloved camera a month ago. I had set it on the front seat of my car while helping take photos for a large family gathering. I saw a few younger folks near the car but didn’t realize until I got home that the camera was gone.

My first thought was a very human mix: “Raise their souls up—but let them feel guilt every time they touch it!”  I caught myself and shifted. I focused on all the beautiful and honest souls I know. Why empower the darkness? Vibrational law will reflect their lack-filled vibration back to them. It would be ridiculous for me to let that pull me into lack, too.

I wasn’t thrilled about spending a large sum of money to replace my lovely old camera, but no one could steal the beautiful memories that were on it. No one can rob me of the peaceful memory of a creek flowing in beautiful green ripples against the red rocks. No one can take away the delight of finding a harpist playing as she prepared for an outdoor wedding. No one else witnessed the gentle rain dancing on the water quite like I did or saw the gnarled tree roots that looked like pure art. They might see the photos, even my selfies—but they can’t take my experiences.

I even had my name and address in the case. It could’ve easily been returned. But the souls who took it now have a camera, memories that aren’t theirs to possess, and a vibration plagued with lack. I don’t want to add to that. May they be lifted beyond it.

I’m grateful to have found a used version of the same camera I loved. It’s only a thing.

I’m not a victim. I was vibrationally compatible with the experience, or it wouldn’t have happened. Even one of my favorite energy workers had been reminding me to be more mindful about “leaving my energy out for all to grab.” In plain English? I needed stronger energetic boundaries when off-duty. I had been leaving the door open to my own vehicle (my energy body) far too often—and it mirrored in my experience.

So be it.

Now, when I finish work, I make it clear that only spirits of light and love are allowed near me. And instead of feeling beat up by the energies that don’t like my light, I’ve been feeling the most delicious, nurturing love of the higher beings—even when I’m just sitting at the computer.

I lost a camera… but I found a clearer way of seeing what was going on around me in the non-physical. So, while it’s hard not to dignify the darkness with our attention at times, it’s far better to use it as the fertilizer for growth that it is.

Here are a few tips to help you “compost” the tough stuff:

1. Love Yourself Through Your Reaction

No one likes bad behavior—unkindness, bullies, cheaters, liars. Of course, that’s not who a soul really is at their core, but when someone shows up that way, unless you’ve practiced unconditional love for years, your first reaction probably isn’t compassion.

Be kind to yourself.

Grant yourself grace. Rant privately if you need to. Pour your heart into your journal. Cry when it comes up. Get outside support if necessary. But most of all, resolve—when you can—to reach for more.

Hug yourself. Love yourself through it. Speak sweetly to yourself.

There’s no point in stuffing your feelings, but you can absolutely find safe, healthy outlets and offer yourself gentleness through the process.

The more you can accept yourself with unconditional love—even in your messiest moments—the quicker you’ll move through them.

2. Ask Yourself, “How Can I Compost This?”

This is where it gets creative.

How can I turn someone else’s bad behavior into something good inside of me?

Can I resolve to be more loving? Can I walk away from what doesn’t work, stay silent, or emotionally disengage from drama?

Can I do something kind for someone else to feel empowered again when I’ve been made to feel powerless?

Can I choose to be the exact opposite of what I can’t stand?

Can I let this motivate me to practice or seek greater love?

As we look at the tough stuff in our lives—and in the world—we can use it as fuel to become brighter, stronger, more loving versions of ourselves.

3. Make the Vibrational Shift

There’s always something inside of us that “matches us up” with the tough stuff we experience.

Sometimes it’s subtle. For example, with all my injuries the past few years, I wasn’t doing anything blatantly out of alignment—but I was often ungrounded, not present, and letting little things throw my energy off.

Those small imbalances added up, and my alignment drifted. I also wasn’t willing to fully look at certain things happening with friends or family—so now I’m correcting my vision, too.

I get it. I own it. I compost it. And in doing so, anything can be turned into good.

So when you see something upsetting, ask:

“How can I resolve to be more loving?”

If something is “eating away at you” or “undermining your joy,” shift to a better focus before your body starts reflecting it.

If your job is draining you, shift your attention to the kind of job you’d love before you lose the current one.

We can make the vibrational shift and compost the negativity before we attract a mess. And if you have attracted a mess? Bless the mess—and focus on the rest!

The more I work with the angels, the more I see how my vibration affects everything I experience—the good, the bad, and everything in between.

As I become more mindful of my own energy, I can compost unwanted vibrations more easily. I can let the upsetting things I witness motivate me to love more deeply, care for myself more fully, and establish clearer energetic boundaries so I can feel the bliss of heaven right here on Earth.

When we water ourselves with loving-kindness and self-acceptance—and when we use the darkness as motivation to grow the light within—we become the composters of densisty on Earth. We transmute heavy human experience into frequencies of love.

In this way, we allow ourselves to be nourished… and to flourish, no matter what we witness in the world. And maybe—just maybe—we become the bearer of vibrational “compost tea” that nourishes other loving souls as well. 💚