I was at a routine eye exam at Costco. I wasn’t expecting anything unusual to happen, but perhaps as Dr. Joe Dispenza would say, I wasn’t really intending anything specific in that moment. For the past few weeks I had been intending health, especially for my eyes which seemed to be a bit more blurry.

Anyway, back to that moment at Costco when the doctor said, “You have a torn retina. You’ll need to go to Oahu because we do not have retina specialists on this Island. (I live on the Island of Kaua`i). Patrick my husband appeared with cake in hand for the celebration of my birthday that Sunday. I asked the doctor if I could wait until next week when we planned a get-a-way to the Waimea Cottages. “No,” he said, “You have to go now!”

That was the beginning of my journey. The hero’s journey according to Joseph Campbell has three parts: the separation, the initiation, the return. The separation from my ordinary world had begun; I had been yanked from my current reality.

I do not want to go into all the details, but I will explain the way I always look at life. When I experience distress in the world of form or conditions, I focus on the metaphysical message. I don’t tend to delve into the physicality of the experience. I believe medicine and spirituality do work in tandem, and I have nothing against doctors. I am grateful for all types of healing, but I know permanent healing can only take place when it takes place spiritually. Since, I had experienced a retina tear over ten years ago on my other eye, I know there was something to be revealed. The Law of Cause and Effect responds to us at the level of our belief. When we do not learn the lesson, the lesson will return until we have overcome it.

There is a lot about this journey that is still to be revealed. I learned the importance of making decisions and not handing myself over to the law of averages. I lifted myself up from the lowly world of conditions to the heights of beauty. I am grateful for my beautiful husband and the opportunity to travel this journey with him. He is my rock.

However, even more than that, I finally learned the lesson I thought I had learned over ten year. It is this and it is clear. I could say or sing “I can see clearly now.” I had a belief that put me stubbornly in charge and control of everything in my world. I received a download of Truth: I can let go. I am supported. I can live a life of joy, doing what I love without the horrible strain of controlling everything.

To wrap this up today, on my birthday, March 12, 2022, my initiation in this hero’s journey was my ability to surrender to this experience without condemnation but with full faith that I am fully supported and loved. This love is not just about the many angels that gathered around me, seen and unseen, but the great love and appreciation I have for myself. This is the gift that I return with from this journey.

We are all on a hero’s journey. It never ends. Our life evolves into a new journey in every moment. To identify the gifts in all our journeys is the true evolution of our soul’s journey. It is eternal.

Happy Birthday to me! I can’t think of a better way to begin my 69th year.

Love and Aloha,

Rev. Rita Andriello-Feren, Spiritual Director CSL Kaua`i, Spiritual Coach

PS: My new book is finished. It is called “What Do I Need to KNOW?” (101 thoughts that changed my life). It’s been edited and on its way to the publisher. I expect it to be complete by the summer.