When was the last time you felt part of something larger than yourself?

For many of us, that sensation happens whenever we are alone in nature… taking a walk in the woods, gazing at a magnificent sunset or sunrise, enjoying the majesty of a beautiful mountain range or sitting in a rowboat on the lake. That is perhaps the easiest way to connect in and feel the awesomeness of the Universe.

Whenever we are in the creative flow, that sense of something more occurs. Wayne Dyer felt it when writing his new book based on Lao-tzu’s classic text the Tao Te Ching. One morning, as he looked into the eyes of Lao-tzu’s picture and asked questions about the meaning of verses in his book, he wrote in his journal:

“What happens next is mind-blowing in that it simply comes. Through the ages, through the atmosphere, through my purple pen and onto the page, flows what I can only call automatic writing. I know I don’t own it. I know I can’t touch it, feel it, see it, or even name it, but the words arrive in the world... I am grateful, bewildered, astonished and overjoyed.”

This sense of something larger also happened to Caroline Myss, this month’s lead interview. She shut herself off from the outside world and became immersed in the energetic vibration of Teresa of Avila. Her experience brought forth a tremendous and valuable teaching.

Dr. Jean Houston is another person who knows what this is like. Jean’s charisma and electrifying presence fills the room whenever she lectures. She also possesses a terrific sense of humor and a wonderful billowing laugh that seems to rise right from the core of the earth, enveloping everyone in its joy and merriment. I asked her once about an experience I had that seemed to transcend anything I had ever known before. My Mom had a wonderful ear for music and could sit down at a keyboard and play almost any melody. I believe I inherited this ability from her. From the time I was a small child, I could pick up any instrument and play a familiar tune, without music or instruction.

A few years ago, I purchased a digital piano and had it in my dining room. One day, I was inspired to put on some albums and just sit down in front of the keyboard. The album that began playing was classical and as I listened, I began drifting into the music. As one of the pieces, Ave Maria, began, I found my right hand starting to pick out the melody.

Now, this wasn’t so unusual as I had done this many times before with all types of music. I would listen to the melody and the fingers of my right hand would just seem to know where to go. However, this time was different in that both hands began playing the piece. Now I’m not trained in piano and am totally unfamiliar with where the left hand goes and what it even does. Yet, here I was playing the piece, with eyes closed, swaying back and forth, moving to the emotion of the music that was coming simultaneously from both the stereo and the piano.

My friend Gerri had come over for a visit and heard the music as she approached the front door. She quietly let herself in and sat on a chair just watching and listening while my fingers seemed to have a mind of their own as they danced over the keys, playing the piece flawlessly. When it was done, I opened my eyes. Gerri was clapping and we both looked at each other in amazement at what we had just witnessed. This had never happened to me before. Gerri told me she felt like she had entered an ancient cathedral because the music permeated throughout the whole room.

So, when I related the incident to Jean Houston and asked her what she thought happened, she told me that my “inner” musician had showed up to play that piece. And, to my surprise, she told me that Jean Houston has never authored a single book. Her inner writer shows up and has written every book that has her name on it! Something larger….

I believe we all have access to that wonderful, divine, creative flow. All it takes is a sincere desire to open to the flow and to go where it takes you. That deep longing that many people feel, and that we try to fill with things and people in our physical environment, is really, I believe, our soul’s call to put us back in touch with our Source. It goes by many names… being in the flow, getting in the “zone,” communing with your Muse, inspiration, intuition, gut feeling… you get the idea.

What you call it matters not. The only thing that’s important here is that once you’ve touched it, tasted it, sensed it and felt it, you anxiously anticipate the next experience because it’s compelling, mesmerizing, intoxicating and joyous. The experience is being in touch with “something larger” than yourself, being intimately engaged with the very essence of who you really are.

Being in the flow is exhilarating. And the beautiful thing is that it’s always available and awaiting your arrival.

Are you ready?