The Bridge to Spiritual Awakening and The Joy Practice

It's been over 12 years since I left religion for good. Last newsletter, I wrote about how I meditated and accessed Spirit for the first time and how deep and emotional that connection was. Today, I'm sharing my spirit guide journey with you.

Now, don't get all squirrely! If you've recently left religion or have left and you're still trying to find your footing, you're not alone. I was there too. There is no clear path, but that's the beauty of it! No rulebook, no fear, all Flow.

Back then, Gabby Bernstein was still doing her yearly Spirit Junkie course, and she spoke directly to my marrow. So excitedly, I enrolled and couldn't wait to get started. What I really liked about her offering then was that she featured different people with different aspects and paths, all leading to the Divine. I loved that I could follow my own intuitive path.

That's when I first learned about spirit guides. In simple terms, spirit guides are loving energetic beings—think of them as wise friends from the spiritual realm who are assigned to help us navigate life. They're not religious figures demanding worship, but rather compassionate guides offering support, protection, and gentle nudges toward our highest good. They communicate through feelings, intuition, signs, and sometimes direct knowing during meditation. In that first spirit guide meditation, I met Michael and Daniel. They felt strong, protective, and sure.

The thing about spirit guides is that they are always there, available at just a word or a thought. But little by little, I let that practice go.

Enter the NOW. In the past year, I've healed and grown and morphed into a version of myself the religious me would never have recognized! I've healed timelines and stepped into a real, authentic version of myself that I LOVE. And I stoke that love and authenticity by doing small things for myself every day, called my Daily Joy Practice.

SO - a few mornings ago, I again asked to again meet my guide(s) in meditation. At first, the name came through really fuzzy — Israel, Ezuil, Ezrael — until it became clear: Azrael. At the time, I had no clue who he was, but I felt him: tender yet fierce, calm yet unshakable. Later, I learned he's known as the Angel of Death (cue the absolute chills at WTF have I done and who have I called here)!

But here's what Azrael actually represents: he's not only about physical death, but about also transformation and release. He helps souls transition—whether that's leaving the physical world or, in my case, releasing old versions of myself. His name also means “Helper of the Divine”, the one who assists in letting go so new growth can emerge. And suddenly it all made sense! (And the WTF chills left lol!) I've been shedding old patterns, toxic ties, and smaller versions of myself, especially in the last few months. And each time I've thought - ‘Can I trust myself not to slip back’, I've heard that calm voice: "Choose joy. Trust yourself. Choose YOU."

And that's precisely what Azrael does. Not taking life, but steadying me as I step into more life every single day!

And here's the bridge — my Daily Joy Practice! This is where Azrael's energy of transformation meets my daily reality. Joy isn't always loud dancing (though it still can be). Lately for me, it looks like talking to my Monstera, who's birthed eight new leaves since March, or savoring a creamy iced coffee I make just for me in the afternoons, and setting a timer for 5 minute work breaks to doodle, draw, and play with watercolors! These simple rituals remind me that life keeps growing, that endings birth beginnings, and that joy is my baseline, not a bonus.

Each small act of joy is actually a tiny death — the death of the part of me that believed I didn't deserve good things, the death of rushing through life without savoring it, the death of putting everyone else first. My Daily Joy Practice becomes a way of honoring Azrael's gift: releasing what doesn't serve so I can fully embrace what does. Every time I choose joy, I'm choosing transformation. I'm choosing to let old patterns die so my most authentic self can live. And that - omg IS LIFE to me!

Azrael's presence and my joy practice say the same thing: trust the process of letting go, because what's waiting on the other side is more beautiful than you can imagine!

I love you! Thank you for being here!

Debby

Things Lighting Me Up This Week:

• Rising Appalachia!

• My HUGE Monstera’s growth and talking to her every day!

• Current Read: Heir of Storms

• Cooler weather and cruising in Bibi (my campervan)

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