I am asked often, “how did you get into this work?”, and of course every practitioner has a story of how their life unfolds to do what they do today.
The beginning of my spiritual path goes back to at least the very early age of elementary school. I attended a catholic school, attended mass daily, learned by nuns that to know God we must develop callouses on our knees through prayer. This all seemed to be true to me as a young being. Now, I feel very different about the ability to know God, Source, Universe, whatever the term you use for it. I know now that energy is all things, living, breathing, the earth, the animals, and the people who are in this world. We are connected by this universal energy.
There were many significant awakening points in my life. A catholic upbringing and involvement in the church was part of this awakening. It seemed I had so many questions as a young person. Why this and why that? There was a burning desire to understand why I was on earth? Why were other people here? Why did some people seem to understand a deeper meaning to life than others? My studies began after high school. Books I read were considered to others my age as books that would be assigned to them versus an interest in understanding more. I wanted to know, why am I here?
Who Am I?
This was the first question that I had to answer. Who am I? Once this was answered the answer to why I am here can be revealed.
Reflecting back to years of searching, one book that came to me provided exercises where I would look at my traits, my integrity, my beliefs, my visions, my mission. Where did this all come from? I began to see that I was a composite of my parents as well as anyone else in my life that had influence on me. I was the positive and the negative of all of this and there was work to do to become the intention (blueprint) of my spirit on this earth plane.
I have come to realize that the simpler explanation is “I am you and you are me”. We are becoming always, we do not remain stagnant, only if we choose. Energy of who we are offers in depth explanation to those who choose to remain stagnant. Please see other posts where I discuss energy and how it effects the way we live our lives. So if I am you and you are me our actions effect others and change who they are, this can be subtle or powerful. This awareness brings deeper insight to the positive or negative impact we can have on others.
A Significant Awakening
A significant awakening occurred in 1981 through the practice of meditation and the studies of Paramahansa Yogananda. Little did I know at this time it would shape the rest of my life and shine light on my mission to fulfill my blueprint. The practice of meditation with the Self-Realization Fellowship includes energy exercises to open the body, meditation at the early morning hours, and a focus on God throughout the day. My awakening occurred during deep meditation where I found myself in the most blissful state of peace, there was a thought of never returning to this earth plane. Of course, I came back from that place yet the experience has stayed with me for years. In the background at times and in other phases of life the forefront.
At twenty one years old with two small babies and a struggling marriage one is side tracked with the ability to survive. A full-time job with additional travel hours and limited resources of finance and child-care made life somewhat challenging. A great experience in life for sure.
The Next Awakening
The next awakening came at the age of 35, finances were at an all time low, my housing was gone and I was working four jobs to dig myself out to secure my family with housing. One of my jobs required driving in the very early morning hours before dawn. I was blessed with a vision of Mother Mary on the side of the road. It was in that moment that I felt an incredible sense of security in knowing that even in these hard times, we are never alone.
My experiences continue to shape my ability to be compassionate with other human beings, to understand deeply that they are doing the best they can in each moment, and that at times, lessons of life are being learned the hard way. As a healer myself, I am not exempt from these life lessons. When we find ourselves judging another, let’s reflect and see if we can find times in our own lives where life was difficult, perhaps of our own making. We are not victims in this lifetime, we are merely playing out a drama of life as it was intended to be played out.
Yet Another Awakening
The next significant awakening point in life came at 39 years of age. The point where my physical body was breaking down, my spine was giving out, as if I could not hold up the responsibility of raising two children on my own, supporting the finances of it all. This breaking down of my physical body was exactly what brought me into the path of doing healing work. Healer, heal thyself! There was work to do, my own work and to support others. I was blessed to the direction of learning Polarity Therapy at a new school that was opening in Westboro. Two people had suggested I check it out, and with resistance, I finally did.
My first evening in class I realized that the studies of Paramahansa Yogananda and the study of Polarity Therapy had so much in common. Dr. Stone, the founder of Polarity Therapy had studied the bible and traveled the world. Paramahansa had come into this world as a spiritual messenger. Both understood the significance of the human experience, energy systems, and the connection to source energy. I smiled with a deep knowing that I was exactly where I needed to be and that not only would I learn the work of polarity and help people in profound ways, I would also teach the work of polarity and support the masses.
Here I am at the age of 54 as I write this today, reflecting on choosing a life that most consider “out of the norm” in relation to making a living. I am innately an entrepreneur, there is much satisfaction to the creation of what I am building today and much gratitude that in this lifetime I am witness to a mass awakening. It was only fifteen years ago when I was learning polarity and said this work is leading edge, it is the medicine of the future. I now realize it is the medicine of today.
Dr. Stone said it would take hundreds of years for people to get the depth of this work, he would be ecstatic to see that people are getting it thirty years after his death.
Our Mentors
There are people in our lifetime who become our mentors, even through spirit. For me, Paramahansa and Dr. Stone have done this successfully. If I can carry this work on after my death what a blessing it would be. I have faith that this will happen with the number of students that I have had the opportunity to teach this work to. They will probably hear my voice in the background as I hear my mentors while I am working or in conversation with others.
Blessed Be!
Tina Brigitini, RPP
Register Polarity Practitioner
Instructor of Polarity Therapy
Tina, thank you for sharing your inspiring story! It was wonderful to read the obstacles and challenges you have over come, the moments of awakening you experienced and the great knowledge you have shared with your students, including myself. Thank you, Deb
Thank you Deb for reading my story. We all have one and hopefully in sharing mine others will reflect to how their challenges have shaped who they are. We have a choice when faced with challenges, we can find the good in why or we can fall victim to circumstance. Unfortunately, many choose the latter of the two. Thank you for sharing Deb.