Born and raised in South Africa, my family emigrated to the US when I was 15. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder my second year in college, in my 30’s it morphed into schizoaffective disorder. I have always worked in the Mental Health field and have been an advocate for my peers. My process of Enlightenment started 10 years ago after my divorce, after several months of questioning my existence, falling out with loved ones, and losing touch with reality, I simply left my phone and wallet on the kitchen counter, hitch hiked to Haight-Ashbury Park in San Francisco from Paradise CA and became homeless. I was one of the lucky ones and did not disappear into the underworld. I was picked up and put into the San Francisco Psych Unit for a month, after a life altering journey on the road and seeing a different side of life with people I’d never been exposed to before. Incredible people who were surviving against all odds and living an existence of light with nothing, in hardship and pain, lost in the gaps of the system. My next Dark Night of the Soul came 8yrs later when I became estranged from my family and my illness took over, I was consumed by psychosis and my awakening took a dark turn. The voices took over and I gave in to them. This led me to living on the streets for 7 months, in and out of psych units. I grew up sheltered in a traditional, upper-middle class family so my life on the road exposed me to some extreams hardships I could have never imagined, being victimized and attacked even. On the flip side, I saw kindness and generosity like I’ve never experienced. I saw small miracles and lost all sense of entitlement. I went through ego death after ego death, and my humility and self-confidence were gently handed to me as a testament to the road of Enlightenment on that journey. Coming home, I became a new person, one of courage and purpose, never will I be so fragile again. I have repaired all of my relationships and let go of the ones that were traumatic. My awakenings have allowed me to truly connect with my Higher Self and see myself as a person of light and love, positive and optimistic, yet realistic and down to earth, headed towards a future filled with blessings and abundance…I have a path to follow, I am on my journey. It’s been hard, wonderful, gut-wrenching and miraculous and this blog is dedicated to some small awakenings I’ve come to understand along the way. When I was lost and searching, I found the truth and light was always within me and I hope you do too.