Stephen D'Amico

01/18/2026

HAPPINESS & BEING

Happiness is real, but it’s often conditional, shaped by outer circumstances. You may recognize this in your own life. For example, a conversation you were dreading goes surprisingly well. Or you receive a text from your crush. Or you find a parking spot right by the entrance. However, when circumstances change or life presents unexpected challenges (as it often does), this happiness tends to diminish.

Such is to be expected when we treat happiness as an essential state rather than a passing state. Life becomes an endless cycle of relief and loss: feeling okay when things line up and unsettled when they don’t. This is the inevitable outcome of placing our identity in a state that cannot stay.

But abiding peace, equanimity, and joy come from a different place. Somewhere deeper and more stable. These qualities don’t depend on moods or outcomes. They arise from the simple feeling of being before anything is labelled good or bad. Being doesn’t improve when praise comes or diminish when criticism lands.

From this place, emotions are still felt fully. Elation still visits. Grief still hurts. Disappointment still (ahem) disappoints! But we can move through these emotions without being knocked out by them. Our true core remains, even while waves of emotion move through us, whether good or bad.

When we stop organizing our lives around chasing happiness and instead rest in the simplicity of being, emotions can move freely without defining us. We still enjoy cheerful moments, but we no longer need them to prove that life is fine. And as a result, a more lasting contentment begins to appear, not because life is perfect, but because nothing essential is missing, even when something hurts for a short while.

01/11/2026

STUMBLING SPIRIT INTERVIEW

I’m excited to share my latest conversation on The Stumbling Spirit podcast with the wonderful host, Fabio da Silva Fernandes. We explored the mystical and supernatural moments that have shaped my spiritual journey, along with the very human challenges I’ve encountered along the way. It’s an honest, unfiltered, and wide-ranging dialogue about awakening, resilience, and what it really means to walk the path. Have a listen, friends, and let us know what resonates.

Fabio da Silva Fernandes is an exceptional and engaging interviewer, with a rare gift for drawing out meaningful conversation. His podcast, recently featured by Amazon Music as a standout independent Canadian show, explores resilience, self-discovery, and the deep ties between personal and spiritual growth.

Season four launches on March 2nd and will center on the vital connection between compassion and resilience. Beyond the mic, Fabio is a gifted Reiki master and mindfulness coach, as well as a writer and speaker dedicated to conscious living. His show is available on Acast, Amazon, Apple, Audible, Headliner, iHeart, Spotify, YouTube, VeryParanormal, and his website thestumblingspirit.com.

https://shows.acast.com/the-stumbling-spirit/episodes/sparking-enlightenment

01/04/2026

ASCENSION

As we step into a new year, it’s a natural time to pause and reflect on what we’d like to nurture in ourselves. Beneath all the doing, fixing, and self-improving, here’s the simple truth: we’re already one with the source of everything, even if we don’t always feel it in our beings.

When we do start to remember this more consciously, something inside us lights up. Our soul quickens, our awareness expands, and we begin to rise into a fuller experience of who we are. This natural rising of consciousness is called ascension, and at its fullest expression, it leads to enlightenment: a deep, merging reunion with our higher selves that feels like coming home.

For some seekers, this awakening arrives suddenly, like a lightning bolt, permanently reshaping our experience of reality and opening into a deep sense of oneness with all of life. For most, though, it’s more like taking the scenic route, marked by small breakthroughs, quiet “aha” moments, and gentle expansions that unfold over time. Both paths are equally magical, and there’s no wrong way to get there.

In this spirit, then, 2026 offers a beautiful opportunity to make a different kind of resolution. One that’s heartfelt and meaningful. Not to become someone new or in need of fixing, but a loving commitment to remembering who you already are.

Whether you meander down the path or take the speed train matters not. Whether you’re graceful at it or gloriously imperfect, also unimportant. What really counts is simply staying engaged in the process. Curious. Committed and kind to yourself, as you persistently strive for spiritual freedom. When we do this, our lives naturally become lighter and more joyful, and that inner shift quietly ripples out into the world around us.

01/02/2026

Hi friends,

I wanted to take a moment to reconnect and share a little of what’s been unfolding for me.

Back in December, I took a short pause to tend to a recurring back issue, one I’d been putting off. So I decided it was finally time (actually, my body decided for me). It was a much-needed reminder that sometimes life simply says, “This is what’s happening now.” It is what it is. And that’s where the work begins.

I’ve been moving through a pretty full healing rhythm: physiotherapy twice a week, acupuncture, deep tissue massage, and even a few chiropractic adjustments to help things loosen and realign. It has been challenging at times and humbling at others, but I am starting to see positive results. More than anything, it’s been a practice in patience, acceptance, and trusting the process as it unfolds.

I’m happy to share that I’ll be posting again starting this Sunday, and my schedule is now open for one-on-one sessions. Our next monthly gathering is also set for Sunday, January 25, and I’d love to see you there. You can visit my website to book a session or save your spot for the gathering.

I’m also excited to let you know that I’ve been invited to lead an online meditation and teaching event with Open Circle in March. If this resonates with you, I would be thrilled to have you join us. You can learn more and RSVP through the link on my site.

As we step into this new year, my wish for you is simple: may you find a little more peace in meeting life exactly where it is. Not where you hoped it would be, not where you think it should be—but right here, just as it is.

Wishing you a happy, gentle, and hopeful New Year.

Warmly,
Stephen

11/30/2025

SYNCHRONICITIES

One of the most striking aspects of the spiritual path is the phenomenon known as synchronicity, those magical moments when it seems like the universe is winking at us, often giving us a little nudge to trust our intuition and follow our heart. It's easy to dismiss these cosmic signs as mere coincidences, but instead of brushing them off as random chance, we should pay attention to them.

For example, let's say you’re trying to decide whether to say yes or no to a particular opportunity, and at that exact moment, while looking for a parking spot, a car pulls out in front of you, and you notice the personalized license plate: GO4IT. You can confidently interpret this as a sign to take a leap of faith and seize the opportunity that lies ahead.

Another common synchronicity is when an old friend you've been thinking about calls you out of the blue right when you need them. Or you find a book lying on a bench that offers the exact advice you need to hear. Or a song suddenly comes on the radio with lyrics that perfectly speak to your situation. Or you keep seeing the same number sequence on sales receipts.

All of these synchronicities are orchestrated by our spirit guides, urging us in a certain direction. By following these signs and taking chances when presented, we alter the course of our lives for the better, bringing us closer to fulfilling our dreams and reaching our highest potential in this life.

So the next time you experience a synchronicity, take a moment to pause, reflect, and trust in the message or guidance that is being offered to you. Each synchronicity serves as a gentle reminder that we are not alone and that a benevolent force is always at work in our lives. Embrace the magic of these moments and allow them to fill your life with a sense of wonder and purpose on your journey.

𝙅𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙗𝙮 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨. 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙞𝙣𝙥𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚.

11/23/2025

BEYOND WORDS

Enlightenment is often described as “beyond words” or ineffable, meaning it’s an experience that can’t be adequately expressed or described in language, which is true. Unfortunately, this is often interpreted to mean that enlightenment can’t even be talked about because of the inherent limitation of words, which is false.

A popular adage that expresses this idea is, “The menu is not the meal.” The menu can describe the texture, the spice, the sweetness, and the tartness of apple pie, but to know what apple pie tastes like, you have to bite into a warm slice. Similarly, words can carry the flavor of truth, but to know what enlightenment is, you have to experience it.

“The map is not the territory” is another similar saying. Just as a map can never fully capture the beauty and complexity of a landscape, words can never fully encapsulate the depth and richness of enlightenment. Words are merely signposts pointing toward a boundless realm of being that can only be explored by entering it.

To get a taste of the timeless territory that transcends description, we need to shift our consciousness to a place where words are not the primary mode of knowing. We need to cultivate the inner stillness for “wordless witnessing” to emerge, which is traditionally known as opening the eye of the soul.

Since the soul is an extension of God, it is also the “gateless gateway” back to God. To say the same thing using “dogma-free” language, we can trace our awareness all the way back to before the birth of creation. We just have to rest in awareness without thinking long enough for it to take us all the way home.

Regardless of the words we use to express the essence of this eternal mystery hidden deep within us, what is universally true is that this connection enables us to perceive the world through a lens of unity, love, and understanding, which makes all the difference in the world.

𝙅𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙗𝙮 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨. 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙞𝙣𝙥𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚.

11/16/2025

REMEMBERING

Spiritual awakening is really about remembering who we already are. Whenever we drop into our true nature, we feel like we are remembering something about ourselves that, in the process of living, we have forgotten. There is a feeling that we have been here before. It is like coming home to a place we forgot we had left yet always long for deep down.

Remembering who we are is not about becoming someone new but rather about returning to the essence of who we have always been. At the same time, when we remember who we are, we begin to live authentically and in alignment with our true nature, which leads to a complete transformation in our beliefs, values, and identity. We end up embracing a completely new way of being in the world that is often unrecognizable from our past self.

Initially, those around us might resist our new way of being, but seeing the positive changes in our lives often inspires others to embark on their own journey of awakening. When we awaken our true nature, we silently broadcast a signal to others, reminding them that transformation is possible and that it is never too late to become the liberated and dynamic person they were always meant to be.

𝙅𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙗𝙮 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨. 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙞𝙣𝙥𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚.

11/09/2025

HU-MAN

I find it fascinating that the English word we use to refer to ourselves is “human” because it actually contains the highest sound we can chant. Most people think that OM is the most enlightening tone, but HU is specifically associated with opening the crown and higher chakras above it. Put simply, OM cradles our consciousness while HU raises it.

Both of these sounds are actual frequencies that we can detect with our inner ear. If we become completely still and listen closely, we can hear these sounds resonating within and all around us. If we tune into them, they connect us to our higher selves and God.

If we aren’t yet able to hear them, we can chant these enlightening tones aloud. They also align us with the same universal frequencies at the heart of creation. This simple practice serves as a gateway to spiritual awakening and enlightenment, bringing us closer to our ultimate purpose and potential.

Here’s how to chant them:

OM is three sounds. AH - OH - UM. Make each vowel sound equal in length. Start with a deep breath in. As you exhale, vocalize AH and bring your attention to the base of your spine. As you begin to vocalize OH, shift your attention to the center of your body. Finish with your attention in your head as you vocalize UM. Repeat three times.

HU is vocalized as a sonorous, high-pitched tone similar to the sound you hear during the old test pattern at the end of a television broadcast. It is made using the top of your vocal cords and the hollow space inside your nasal cavity. If performed correctly, you should sense this sound resonating within your head and all around it. Repeat three times.

The profound sense of connection generated by chanting OM and HU consecutively is truly remarkable. Give it a try right now, and please share your experiences. You can also incorporate chanting OM and HU at the beginning of your meditation routine for an enhanced experience.

𝙅𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙗𝙮 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨. 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙞𝙣𝙥𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚.

11/02/2025

10/26/2025

HUMAN BEING

What does it mean to be a human being? The terms 'human' and 'being' provide two obvious clues. We are basically one part human and the other part being. The problem arises when we identify solely with our physical or human form and forget the spiritual or formless dimension of our being. This disconnection causes us to feel separate from each other and all of life.

When we remember or rediscover our spiritual nature, we awaken a nondual view of ourselves and reality. We see that everything is interconnected and made from the same universal energy, which is actually beingness itself. Ultimately, we discover that the invisible mystery of being found within us is not only the essence of our true identity but also the very wellspring for all our experiences and the source and substance of everything in existence.

To be a human being means to not only exist physically but also to embody our spiritual core as formless beings. This completion reveals who we truly are, which turns out to be what we already are and always have been. Shining spheres of awareness brimming with the brightness of being and radiating the joyful presence of our true nature. This is the essence of enlightenment and the ultimate purpose and potential of being human.

10/19/2025

GURU DEVOTION

When most people in the West hear the word "guru," they automatically think of a cult leader filled with mindless, adoring fans. But a real guru puts you back in touch with your agency and autonomy. If a guru surrounds themselves with anything less, they're likely fake or half-baked charlatans using those people to build a following.

Working with a guru usually starts with a sense of respect and gradually deepens into a more profound connection, leading to feelings of admiration and eventually devotion. However, guru devotion is not about blind faith. It's about cultivating a positive and respectful relationship with the guru, recognizing and valuing their guidance and wisdom.

It also involves being open to their teachings and advice, even if they are challenging. This requires surrendering one's ego and trusting in the guru's guidance. Ultimately, it is a transformative relationship grounded in genuine friendship that encompasses the student-teacher dynamic, facilitating profound personal growth and spiritual transformation.

10/12/2025

SHAKTIPAT

Shaktipat, which means "transmission of energy," is an initiation in Hinduism and other spiritual traditions where a guru transmits the energy of pure being to receptive souls. This transmission is a profound and transformative experience that significantly accelerates one's spiritual awakening.

Through exposure to a guru's enlightened presence, your soul energetically attunes to your own true nature. This is why association with a guru is regarded as the most effective and fastest way to awaken. They give you a glimpse of your true nature when you are in their company and then use that experience to show you how to stay awake on your own.

Initially, the guru's physical presence is required, but later it becomes enough to keep them in your heart and call them to mind as needed. You can also access the guru's energy by gazing at their image or studying their teachings. Their enlightened presence permeates their physical form and imbues the words they write.