How The Universe Brought Me to Berkeley Springs
By Shafiya
Am I Dreaming? Part I
It was a beautiful spring morning on Saturday April 13, 2003. Stepping into the sunshine on the patio, I lovingly admired the beautiful and promising bedding plants ready for the flower garden. Appreciating each plant, the layout of this year’s flowers began unfolding in my imagination. Little did I know at that moment, the plantings would never occur and life was to be turned upside down. A car accident was about to occur, not far from home.
After writing this first paragraph I have to pause to regain my center of peace. It’s an uneasy feeling looking those “pre-moments”, just before the accident, so squarely in the eye. Recalling the contentment and joy of that morning and things never to be done again, or at least not for many years to come, still elicits a profound feeling of loss.
As a result of the accident and the injury sustained I was unable to work and in quick order, lost everything, gaining a life of unrelenting pain. The physical agony continued unabated for nearly two years. The grief of losing that life style lasted a whole lot longer. The present was born out of that anguish. Today is bright, hopeful, filled with love and healing for me and others.
I waited years for a financial settlement from the accident. This money was to recreate and rebuild my life after its devastation. I was free to move anywhere on the planet and this provided a great deal of pleasure-full dreaming. I dreamed myself on the Fiji islands, Hawaii, Taos, Oregon, Berkeley Springs and Asheville. Dreams of building and living in a yurt and having a healing retreat center in nature where people would come for a day or a week to immerse in nature and the healing arts – Divine dreams.
Now, on to reality. The financial settlement suites filed by my attorney gave me great hope for the money to fulfill these dreams but as the mediation went on, each call from my lawyers the numbers kept falling. I enjoyed each stage of my dreams, allowing myself to be fully immersed and yet not attached. I thought I was unattached. With each phone call and monetary decrease the potential of my dreams changed. Now my dream was beginning to look like a used RV. Actually it was fun dreaming that one too.
With yet another call from my attorneys, overwhelmed and in despair, I ran outside and shouted to the sky “I am so sick and tired of feeling sorry for myself and telling my sorrowful story. No more!” “I am doing my best. It’s in God’s hands.” And I gave up.
The Universe tenderly responded. “Its OK, we are going to give you a house”. I was floored and began immediately wondering who in the world would give someone, me specifically, a house? Once again the Universe said “No, no, the Universe is giving you the house, but it will come through someone”
How the Universe gave me a house… part II
That was on a Thursday and by Tuesday, it was all but forgotten. Tuesday was a lovely day, I was teaching Reiki I to a dear friend. As we took a break outside, sipping lemonade, I shared my tale of changing dreams. Finally she looks at me and says “I want to give you my cabin in Berkeley Springs. I was going up tomorrow to put it on the market which breaks my heart. It’s a special place but I just don’t have time for it. Would you like to go see it with me?”
It was hard to take in at first. I couldn’t believe it was happening. At first I was afraid to get my hopes up, maybe she’d change her mind. How does someone just give you a house and how do I accept such an awesome gift?
The day I headed out with my friend to see the mountain cabin was auspicious and beautiful. The house was adorable! In Berkeley Springs we stopped in a store called Portals and I asked Tom the owner if he knew of anyone looking for a Reiki and EFT practitioner. He referred me to Marti Sikes at Awakening Health Center, just two doors down from his shop. Marti wasn’t in but I got her card.
Then we explored the Ice House which houses the Morgan Art Council and gorgeous works from local artisans. There I continued my networking and asked who would be interested in having a Reiki Practitioner and once again, I was referred to Marti Sikes and told she would be at her shop at 5:00 pm for her grand re-opening.
So we continued the exploration of Berkeley Springs and its springs which has a beautiful park right in town with the healing spring water running right through it. Families were picnicking while their children played in the healing springs catching crawfish, surreal, peaceful and beautiful. George Washington had made this place famous because of his strong belief of the healing properties of the springs.
I returned at 5:00 PM and there was Marti and Pam with a massage table on the sidewalk giving free reflexology and Reiki treatments. Others were giving free sessions, music was playing and I got a tarot reading saying how special my transitions here would be. I asked the woman who I knew to be Marti (from her card) if indeed she was Marti Sikes. Looking up she confirmed her identity. I explained that I was moving to Berkeley Springs and did Reiki and EFT and asked if there was space in her center for another practitioner? Without hesitation Marti says “We’ll make space.”
Believe it or not, this is just the beginning of the cascades of miracles. Continued…
Miracles Are a Normal Part of Life: Part III
So here I was the owner of a home in West Virginia outside of Berkeley Springs, a gift from the Universe, via an earthly angel. This was a good thing. On the other hand, I had no money to move and still getting those calls from the lawyers with the settlement becoming less and less. Add to that, was the “hill” that was the only access to my new home. My Passant Volkswagen took me up that hill two terrifying times and I swore I wasn’t going back until I had a four wheel drive vehicle.
So I began my search for a four wheel drive with no money in hand until a client in my healing practice offered to loan me the money. So with the help of another trusting angel, I purchased a vehicle that could handle the mother of all hills.
The transition to West, by God, Virginia was a GO! In steps another human angel, a friend and neighbor who became my moving hero, making numerous trips back and forth with his vehicle overflowing with my worldly belonging. I was deeply impressed with his ability to pack a vehicle to maximum capacity. When we discovered an electrical short in the water pump at my new abode, there was the gracious offer to loan me the money to pay for the electrical rewiring. I humbly accepted, still waiting for my settlement.
The mortal angels were all around. There was my dear and wonderful friend who loaned me the money to pay for the transfer of the deed into my name, helped me pick out a heating system, a washer/dryer and a refrigerator with another loan. Most importantly she was there by my side through all my ups and downs.
FINALLY! The settlement came! I felt like I could take a deep breath for the first time since, what seemed like, forever. With this money I quickly repaid my angels, one in particular refused to accept all the repayment and said it was a gift. If anyone can actually earn a place in heaven, the many angels from the giver of the house, the giver of the car loan, the moving hero with a loan and a dear friend who gave not only of money and but gave especially of her heart, as all the others had, in never ending abundance, certainly their place is assured in heavenly grandeur.
This is the last of a three part series but the miracles continue. All I need ever do is ask, surrender and be grateful.
Shafiya is a Reiki Master/Teacher, EFT and Healing Touch Practitioner along with Visions of Wellness (a gift from the Universe). She can be reached at (304) 258-0728 or email shafiya_eve@yahoo.com
Winter 2011
