In order for me to learn the art of manifestation, I had to lose almost everything in Africa. This lesson I wish to convey to you now, is that true manifestation cannot begin without the deep knowledge of what we have, how blessed we are, and how grateful we must remain, in order to ascend on our particular path.

I had to return to Africa to visit my friends, my father who is still enterred in a very dangerous country, and to find the secrets to all my questions on empathy, and manifestation. This message was conveyed to me in a very powerful, and terrifying way, but I survived it.

About a month before I left I had a dream that I was going to be gutted ( my belly was slit open ), on the shorelines of Mozambique ( a country I was going to be visiting ) and that I was crying in my hospital gown. I knew then that a tragic change was coming, but the plane was booked, and the trip had been planned and paid for. I also had to see my father, who I had not seen in years, and so I boarded the plane to Johannesburg.

Upon my second evening in Johannesburg, some professional burglars from our reputable moving company entered our home by drugging us – they sprayed a drug into our home via keyholes and drainpipes, and in our sleep, while the dogs and my father and I were unconscious we were robbed. I awoke traumatized knowing full well that these men would have been armed, and that my life had been spared, purely by my being asleep.

 Our computers and tech equipment and some money was stolen. I then had to gather myself together and enter into another third world country within days of that event to meet an old love, to finish off something, which should have been ended 15 years ago.

This person had changed, and the stress and the horrors we witnessed on our voyage caused such tension we had to part. So much of my vacation was spent trying to survive a country ravaged by civil war, being financially ripped off, consuming possibly infected foods, encountering bandits, poor road conditions, corrupt police and border officials and terrible drivers.

 In particular being in a border line up for 10 hours in 35 degree heat reminded me to my core as to how lucky I am to be on this continent, with my passport, my health care, my job and my education. I do not have HIV, I do not have TB. I was not carrying a baby on my back without water for us, and I had enough money to get through every twist and turn. But seeing the suffering these people go through was alarming and a huge awakening to my soul, that I am indeed, karmically blessed.

Once I reached my destination and rested up for a few days, I managed to leave the country via plane, as the road conditions were too poor to return on, and barely did so, as the airport officials were looking for any way to detain us. Every tourist in turn just wanted to get home – one young man abandoned his pride and joy – his jeep, and just left it in Mozambique, he had been so scarred by his experiences.

Fortunately I had many other positive experiences with these lovely Mozambiquans, an industrious, hard working and grateful people, who understood suffering and joy and helped me along the way. It seemed the more I recognized how lucky I was, the more I was being protected. All the way through my voyage I felt protection, and there was only one moment when I was truly afraid – but then it vanished as  I had the strongest sense that I was going to make it home.

I made it home! I  re-entered the home that had been violated, and then promptly went off in search of reconciliation with the Africa of my childhood ( as I had been brought up there ) and went onto Botswana. There I made many friends, helped and was helped by many people, and encountered true gratitude.

From the Botswanans who really know they can live off what the earth provides them, to the refugees from Zimbabwe and other African countries, all the spirits I met were those of strength, character and gratitude. I cannot think of one person who was deeply dissatisfied with life, as they loved life, merely because they had survived so much, and appreciated how much of a richer person it had made them.

 Imagine this. Botswana is the strength and backbone of the African economy now – and it has the potential to lead Africa into a new century. But the official numbers for HIV are
at 60% - meaning that it’s more leaning to 80% - and higher. This nation is dying. Yet still, there was laughter everywhere, and people were gathering their food from the trees, and loving each other, and accepting and helping me, and trying to start their own Safari businesses in earnest, because they saw POSSIBILITIES in loss.

I made it back to Canada. I lost more than my personal computer and money – all my personal information was stolen and misused ( something that can happen to any of you if your computer is stolen ) and I feel I went through complete catharsis. Though it was very traumatic, I can assure you I am a happier person. :)

I feel this is because I am truly living in gratitude now. Because in every situation I was in, I had enough, was provided with enough shadow from the heat, enough water to get through the day, enough nuts and raw foodstuffs to nourish me, and enough stories and friendship to help my spirit. So what if I had the misadventure of a lifetime? I am alive and I am truly living in gratitude.

So many of us, myself included, are dissatisfied with the lives we live. Through the media, and consumerism, we are told we are not enough. That to be ‘enough’ we have to have more. And more. And more. And that if we don’t we are societal failures, and non entities, in a world becoming increasingly isolated from spirit.

But sometimes, it takes losing it all, to appreciate everything you still have, and how much sweeter things taste when things return to normal. Now I can take on any problem, any challenge, or any failure as a blessing for better change to come, and I can truly manifest the best for myself out of true gratitude – and out of joy for living.

It always takes suffering, to become grateful. Without gratitude in life, there is no meaning. Without gratitude, we cannot truly manifest our purpose. So please take from this story  a reminder that we in the north are truly blessed in what we have, and that we should not squander our resources or deny ourselves joy, because we believe we are less than we actually are. Even those people in Africa I spoke to, live in peace with their own fate, as they are masters of survival, and walk proudly on this earth because of it.

Live in Gratitude my friends – and be in peace…..

Sincerely

Carmen Miro Copyright 2008