Someone Is At The Door

     

Ask, and it shall be given you;

 seek, and ye shall find;

knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 

  – The Gospel According to Saint Matthew

Last night I was browsing through some magazines:  Architectural Digest, Country Living, and Real Simple, to name just a few.    Architectural Digest is quite impressive, filled with villas and properties costing millions to purchase and decorate.  The end result of course is habitats that are so formal one could never decide where one actually sat or relaxed.  The mansions are filled with insured treasures and museum quality art.  On the other hand, Country Living displays well invested homes containing objects from flea markets, and various collectibles offering spaces of comfort.  There was a time this magazine was on my 'must have' list and I read it from cover to cover many times.  My magazine of choice now happens to be Real Simple.  It offers reminders of how to be organized, healthy foods, personal products, ways to keep in shape (assuming one is in shape) all for a very quick read.  It is where I want to be for now, Real Simple.

In  Thought for the Day by Eknath Easwaran, he talks about all the time we spend making our cottage into a House Beautiful, and all of the money we invest in our lawn care and landscaping, but never open the door to the Divine Spirit waiting there. 

Eknath Easwaran states not only are not looking inside for Divine Spirit, most of the time we truly do not believe any one is present within us.  We become so busy decorating the outside of our selves and our living spaces, we never get around to inviting our Spiritual Guest to come in.  It is an interesting thought to invite Spirit in, to welcome the Divine inside, and to make room for spiritual evolution. 

Spirit is within us at all times and also surrounding us.  If we do not recognize Divine Presence it is due to the fact we are expecting a  vision, a miracle, or a shimmering robed guest. If we would just be open to receiving God in all forms, our days would be filled with the presence of Divine Spirit.  Hear the love of God in the singing of the birds.  See the majestic beauty in the clouds floating in the sky.  Taste the sweetness of life by dipping into the imaginary world of a child.  Feel the Divine through the experience of well intentioned hugs.  Fancy words are not required to welcome Spirit in. 

When we have successfully become aware of the beauty surrounding all of our senses and pay heed to it daily, we are then well trained to turn inward and do the same.   Listen for the whispers of God.  Close our eyes and see the never ending story unravel within us.  Taste the sweetness of life and feel the Universe moving energy within, stretching through physical boundaries until we are all one. 

We need to invite our guest in as the sacred has been waiting for a long time.  Spirit has always been present;  it is our individual self who has not been fully present in the Spiritual Life.  It is time to open the door and deliberately welcome God in.

(Inspired by Eknath Easwaran's Thought for the Day)

The Small Space Between Inhale and Exhale

"Enlightenment is ego's ultimate disappointment."

Chogyam Trungpa    

The other day I heard a person telling a friend, "I drove by one of those storage places and wondered if I should rent a unit for my ego."  Of course I was extremely entertained by this and it brought laughter into my day. 

 

The eternal question is, "How can I silence my ego so I can hear Divine Spirit?"  In order to truly hear the Divine, we must silence the ego.  We can all create a system to leash this beast.  A woman who has a meditation practice told me she pulls in an extra chair next to hers when she meditates, and instructs her ego to sit in the chair until she beckons it back.  I wish it were that easy for me. 

 

My morning ritual at times looks very similar to Swiss cheese ... lots of holes.  My ego sounds like a bee buzzing in my ear.  When I wake up, ego encourages me to sleep just a little longer.  When the coffee is brewing, ego tells me I really don't need to do my stretches.  While I am exercising ego encourages me to cut short the number of stretches I do per body part.  When I am doing my morning commune with nature, ego is reminding me of all I have to do inside.  Ego tells me to for go lighting  the candle and essential oils are not needed.  On and on until I finally force my self to maturely say, "You are not the boss of me!" 

 

Marianne Williamson asks why we are angry with our body for excess weight when we are the ones who choose the food?  It is ego encouraging us to eat the forbidden fruit (in this case, ice cream) and we choose what we eat, not our body.  Her book, A COURSE IN WEIGHT LOSS displays how ego is frequently our automatic pilot. 

 

THE NEW EARTH by Eckhart Tolle is also an excellent book to bring  awareness of how to hold our selves accountable disregarding the ego.  His concept of the pain body was a revelation to me.  A pain body slumbering while I feel profound.   The pain body waking up demanding to experience more pain, and my rose colored glasses change to lenses of inferiority and smallness,  hiding my own self-worth. 

 

Take a deep breath in  and hold it.

Experience the pause.

Gently breathe out.

Experience the pause.

 

Repeat this series several times and one begins to experience the silence in which Spirit will commune.  This small pause between inhale and exhale gives us a taste of what can be ours if we would only mute our ego.  When ego no longer controls our mind, we can connect with our heart and form decisions or actions based on loving kindness for all concerned.  Just by learning to stretch a small pause into a spiritual reunion, our lives become blessed with peace and calm. 

 

 

 

Awakening to Personal Power

“Once the soul awakens, the search begins and you can never go back. From then on, you are inflamed with a special longing that will never again let you linger in the lowlands of complacency and partial fulfillment. The eternal makes you urgent. You are loath to let compromise or the threat of danger hold you back from striving toward the summit of fulfillment.”

John O'Donohue
Anam Cara:  A Book of Celtic Wisdom



It is believed by many that our souls are waking up to discover a Divine Presence within us, shifting us into a different way of embracing our world.  It is becoming apparent to many that the power once needed to govern new territories has become a weapon used to manipulate and control for an outcome of greed.  It is no longer a simple act of safety, but an act for personal gain.

The souls that are awakening are not focused on external power.  They are discovering the power within themselves.  They are discovering unique gifts and talents allowing them to be compassionate, accepting and respectful to all peoples.  They are not competitive and exclusively looking for private gain.  Everyone wants to prosper, but not at the cost of repressing others.  These awakening souls are finding God in everything and everyone, so extending harm is not their answer.

Awakening can happen over a very long period of time.  We can be aware of it and ignore it until it pesters us enough to finally respond.  When we awaken, we feel a personal power, not to be used over others, but to be used to fulfill our life's purpose.  For others, awakening can be a very potent spiritual experience. 

If we choose to be fully awakened and alter a time worn belief system, we move from being a five sensory human being into a multi-sensory being.  We recognize the presence of the physical but also the non-physical.  We begin to lose our sense of separation and feel connected to all there is.

Throughout history, there have been awakened souls, but they have been a minority escaping to monasteries or living in exclusion.  The awakened soul today realizes the need to not only discover gifts and talents, but the necessity to share the gifts and talents with others in order to help them follow their own hearts as well.

When like attracts like, kindred spirits can be a source of encouragement, receptive listening, or a way-shower.  The light we all carry within begins to beam brightly attracting other light of those who are also dedicated to honesty, respect, and calm. 

According to Gary Zukav in his book, SPIRITUAL PARTNERSHIP, the generation coming into the world today are already awakening and by the time the following generation arrives, the world will be using personal power on the basis of supporting each other with our gifts and talents rather than manipulating and controlling for personal gain.

"A pipe dream," one may think, but it is a beginning to be believed in.  Improvement must be made to delete the violence of man and his selfish thinking.  Increment by increment, we all can change if we choose to and I do so hope we all will choose. 

Morning Rituals

"We all have morning rituals

that give us the comfort of familiarity

even if our days are unknown."

Maria Alexandra Vettese

A YEAR OF MORNINGS:  3191 MILES APART     

Every one needs to create a morning ritual to set the tone of their day.  Ritual is not necessarily a religious practice, but something we do religiously.  For some, a ritual could be running, walking the dog, arriving at work before any one else to have a few minutes alone or the practice of yoga.  Ritual can be any thing we create to meet our needs, adding us a sense of sacredness to our day.  It is a time to align our body, mind and spirit, creating a sense of purpose, peace, and calm.

Rituals change from time to time, adapting to our needs.  We may have a weekend ritual or a night time ritual, as there are no set rules.  Ritual is a portion of our day set aside to honor the Divine and to respect our lovely selves.

There is a wonderful book written in 1991 by Sherry Ruth Anderson and Patricia Hopkins entitled, THE FEMININE FACE OF GOD, The Unfolding Of The Sacred In Women.  It was written during a time when the media was exclaiming, "God is dead!"  The actual truth happened to be  God was alive and well, just being worshipped in other places held sacred ... homes, woodlands, private gardens, studios, etc ... It is within this book THE FEMININE FACE OF GOD, I became impacted by the private actions of others.  I was amazed at the authentic and creative private rituals being performed by women.  At the time, the words women and ritual were never linked together. 

If we think schedules do not allow for any kind of rituals, look again.  For years as a working professional, the only time I had of the morning was to light a tea light in the bathroom while I showered and prepared for work.  I lit the candle to attract the Divine into my new day.  While brushing my teeth, I would stare into the flame feeling a connection with all of life.  As I dressed, I tried to let go of all my yesterdays and welcomed compassion and kindness into my heart.  As I blew out the candle, I would offer gratitude and thanksgiving.

Years later, I still have morning ritual, but it has been adapted to meet a different life style. 

1.  Get up earlier than needed.

2.  Start the coffee.

3.  Yoga stretches (my version) welcoming Spirit into my day and set intentions.

4.  Take coffee to porch outside to commune with the beauty and sounds of nature.

5.  Light a candle and use a drop of essential oil, and sometimes music.

6.  Read something inspiring.

7.  Put down on paper what I have seen, heard, visualized ...

8.  Blow out the candle having a thankful heart filled with an attitude of gratitude.

Depending upon the given day, my ritual can take all morning or it can be reduced to a time fitting my schedule.  Yes, there are days unfortunately when I neglect my ritual, and I am sadly aware of the disconnect, but return to it as soon as possible.

Remember, rituals can be anything bringing the sacred into our lives.  Create a ritual that best suits our time and needs.  Pray every morning while traveling to work.  Send love to specific people while climbing the steps out of the parking garage.  I had a friend who prayed for her children every morning as she turned the lock in her door while leaving for work.  A ritual can be simple or lengthy.  Whatever we create will bring blessings to our day.

Deep Breathing in Still Water

God leads me to still waters

that restore my spirit.

Psalm 23 

While in the water, we stand still so the water will remain calm.  In the still waters, we can see the sand beneath our feet more clearly.  The sand has accumulated all of our past hurts, pains, and sorrows.  When we splash around, making waves, we lose sight of what is important.  Our vision blurs and our thoughts become fragmented.

When our feet are grounded into the sand and the water is calm, we can examine what might be bothering us or what action we may need to take.  If we stand still long enough, our understanding of the situation will grow more clear and our direction will become apparent. 

Relationships will cause ripples in our water, as people try to reach out and help.  It is wise to remain standing still until the water once again calms.  By doing so, we will begin to understand our depth, feel the tide tugging at our feet, and watch the water flow. 

Breathing deeply and slowly assists us while trying to be calm when waves appear.  It will give us time to let the waters settle and maintain our line of thinking.  Breathe in imagining the cleansing water washing away the old.  Experience a pause at the end of the inhale, then breathe out all of the stress and anxiety.  Take notice of the depth of the heart and its rejuvenation.  The water and deep breathing will align our body, mind, and soul.

(Writing based on thoughts from Mark Nepo's, THE BOOK OF AWAKENING)

To Be Fully Alive

"Where you used to be,

there is a hole in the world,

which I find myself

constantly walking around

in the daytime,

and falling in at night.

I miss you like hell."

Edna St. Vincent Millay  

To be alone, may not bother us as much as feeling lonely.  We can be lonely, even when we are surrounded by people.  Although I seek exchanges with kindred spirits, I truly appreciate my alone time.  There are those times, however, when I grow restless, and nothing seems to meet my needs.  I may choose to do odd tasks or attempt projects, but there resides a loneliness within me.  I feel saturated by boredom, but cannot find a satisfying antidote.   The need to feel productive only increases my anxiety.  I find my self standing so close to this feeling of loneliness, I cannot detect what I am missing.

Eventually, I finally give up.  I quit searching for this unlabeled desire, and settle my self down to write.  It is then, at that very moment, the extreme sense of loneliness lifts.  The surge of inspiration as I write fills me with passion for my yet unwritten word.  There is an invisible cord connecting me to all things unseen and my heart feels unequaled joy.    I am lonely no more.

We are all different.   For some the remedy of passion may be found in gardening, antiquing, running, or singing.  All we have to do is discover and acknowledge what action lights our fire.  This doesn't mean we have to be masters of our work, not at all.  It simply means we find something that allows us to be fully alive connecting body, mind, and soul.

Robin's Egg Blue ... Throat Chakra

"The robin lays a distinctive powder-blue egg.  This color is a color that is often used to activate the throat center in humans.  This is a center associated with will force and creativity.  The robin egg reflects the innate ability to assert the will force to create new growth.

Ted Andrews

ANIMALS SPEAK 

While walking yesterday, I watched an array of color float by me in the shape of birds.  I seem to always see Cardinals which always remind me of my once mother-in-law who was a very impressive woman, now deceased.  I also came across a powder blue Robin's egg that had fallen to the sidewalk and cracked.  My first reaction was to feel sadly for the poor little bird who would not survive, but my second wave of thought was wondering what the egg symbolized. 

When I returned home, I immediately found my Ted Andrews book which in an invaluable dictionary for all creatures great and small.  I knew that a Robin was a symbol for spring and for new creation.  While reading, I was reminded of the song the Robin sings.  The book states we all have songs that we need to be singing.  It frees our soul, lifts our spirits, and increases personal empowerment. 

There are seven main chakras or vortexes of energy in our body, spaced up and down our spine.  The fifth chakra is the throat chakra representing our ability to speak our most inner thoughts and honor our personal wisdom.  For instance, if someone has a sore throat, he or she may ask,  "What am I not saying?"  Either in the professional or personal arena, we frequently do not speak our truth.  This causes disharmony within our body, mind, and spirit.

Currently, I am venturing out with Deciphering Dreams for others.  Dreams contain information reflecting our feelings, fears, and desires.  I have always had a broad information about dreams and have studied interpretations.  I kept dream journals for 6 to 7 years learning amazing things about my self.  So now Spirit seems to be nudging me to share this ability with others.  I am being called to use my throat chakra in new ways.  I need to speak out what I know in an attempt for others to understand themselves.  So this new creative attempt is very exciting, but also challenging. 

I am thankful for finding the little blue egg to encourage me to articulate my silence and share what I know.  Spring is here and I am called to sing my song supporting new creative efforts.

The Way Life Simply Is ...

"Be willing to be a beginner

every single morning."

Meister Eckhart

It is a beautiful morning, so I wander out to the deck with coffee cup in hand.  Sitting on my bench, I look up and see endless blue  heaven being spread across the sky.  Not one cloud is present.  The sun is still rising in the East, and the grass is thick with dew.  I watch the birds come and go, knowing my neighbor has plenty of food and corn cobs for the entire neighborhood. 

Sudden movement breaks my trance and I catch a glimpse of a hawk zeroing in on my neighbor's yard.  Birds scatter everywhere and I feel anxiety churn in my belly.  Hawks are very special to me, but I find my self looking the other way, not wanting to see what this magnificent bird has been born and bred to do.  I want to ignore the carnage and deliberately look the other way.  I want to begin this morning again, void of all disharmony.

To live more realistically during this gentle morn, I decide to face the killing behavior of the hawk, but I do not dwell on this sadness.  I continue to let my senses absorb all of the loveliness of this beautiful morning, overshadowing the darker parts of life.  We need to embrace both the pleasant and the unsavory, finding harmony when we balance the truth of the way life simply is.

We can begin each day anew, leaving behind our burdens from the day before.  Today does not have to be weighted by all of the yesterdays.  Yes, problems and responsibilities are still present, but when we look with fresh eyes and an open mind, we frequently can discover a new perspective.  When we accept (not condone) what is, and do not dwell on the negative, placing our focus on the positive we will avoid being stuck.  We can navigate through our day with less drama not feeling emotionally spent.

Angels Crying

"This has to be his fault, somehow.

I 'm going to track him down,

pluck out his angel feathers,

and stuff a pillow with them."

Lisa Desrochers

PERSONAL DEMONS  

There are times, I swear I hear angels crying near me.  I figure I have missed yet another opportunity or I have not been listening to the spiritual guidance around me.  The angels weep, dragging themselves back to the heavenly drawing board to think once again of a tactic to which  I might actually respond.  Perhaps one day I will make the angels sing.

In contemplation, I realize that mastering willpower is not the key to unlocking the purpose of my life.  It is far greater to focus on my desire to know God.  Once I am in union with Divine Spirit,  all things can happen, not through my will but through the unfolding of Divine Love.  When I can remain focused on being a vessel for Spirit, I can  release stress from my personal expectations.  When I trust and open my heart to what comes my way, I experience  growth, change and progress. 

It is often times difficult for me to place my trust and belief in my own nature.  It is imperative for me to remain aligned with God which enables me to move forward as things unfold.  By keeping my ego to a minimum and increasing my trust to the maximum, I experience not only my connection with the spiritual world, but also the importance of being  compassionate and loving on earth.

(Thoughts inspired by ANGELIC MESSENGER CARDS by Meredith L. Young-Sowers)

Flags Stirring Emotion

I swing before your eyes as a bright gleam of color,

a symbol of yourself,

the pictured suggestion of that big thing which makes this nation. 

My stars and my stripes are your dream and your labors. 

They are bright with cheer,

brilliant with courage, firm with faith,

because you have made them so out of your heart.

 For you are the makers of the flag

and it is well that you glory in the making. 

~Franklin Knight Lane

In my heart, I see each of us holding one of these flags, being proud of our country for which it brings both opportunity and challenge.  I see us be-friending the world through education, respect and honesty.  Each of us are filled with courage and faith to make our selves and our country an honorable nation. 

I continue to hold dear the soldiers who have died and I linger over  the memories of soldiers I have known.  There have been several lost in horrific battle and there are others still facing horrific battles even though returned to their home.  I am grateful and thankful for the men protecting our country as well as their families making many sacrifices during the absence of their husband, father, brother and son. 

My dreams and my labors will continue to help one by one my family, my neighbors, and my countrymen to discover a power within inspiring hope and peaceful living.  War does not beget peace.  Violence does not create peace.  Enduring life changing physical and mental injuries does not create calm in the hearts of our men and women.

God bless America ... but I have this sinking feeling that God loves all of the children no matter where they globally live.  War is not God's doing, it is mans.

Unaccountable Time

"I think I can,

I think I can,

oh my yes,

I think I can."

    THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD     

We seem to wander in a wilderness, wondering where we are to be led, and waiting for some sense of direction.  We eventually come upon a clearing with a sunburst of ideas.  We begin our quest, scaling the mountain of challenge before us.   At midpoint,  we find our selves wondering if we really are on the right path.  We try to overcome our doubts by healthy self-talk of "I think I can."  We miraculously reach the peak, but only briefly enjoy the thrill of accomplishment as we assess our ability to stay balanced on the top. 

The options are numerous.  We can back slide, only to be required to repeat our journey.  We can attempt to stay on the peak, but find our selves pushing others away as there is only room for one.  We can carefully choose a path down the other side of the mountain which seems equally as tenuous and somewhat discouraging.  The best option would be to fly!

Divine Spirit tends to nudge us to the edge and then pushes us to take a trusting leap into the depth of our life.  Trust is increased as there is no safety net beneath us.  We allow the wind to blow away our fear so we can concentrate on the brilliant stars in the sky.  The moon tends to encourage us to pick a star, any star, where we can safely rest.  Settling on the star we like best, we are allowed to dream our dream or make our wish.  In this slice of unaccountable time, we can see how to change our experiences from ordinary to extraordinary.  We feel the support of the entire Universe.

The star free falls from the sky and we gently absorb the energy and light on our spiraling ride down.  Back on our own two feet, we feel like running with joy, filled with anticipation for what is yet to come.  We hear our selves chanting, "I think I can, I think I can, oh my yes, I think I can!"

(Thoughts inspired by readings from SOULWORK by BettyClare Moffat)

Embracing the Small Things

"Not everything that counts can be counted,

and not everything that can be counted counts.

Albert Einstein

(Sign hanging in Einstein's office at Princeton) 

On any given day, in various cities, no matter what time of day, we will find  people talking on their phones.  Everyone is hurrying down the street, but captivated in their own little world.  They are so busy, in fact, they miss eye contacts, moments of synchronicity and simple smiles.

We can account for our mortgage, car payment, or  educational debt, but is it possible for us to just as easily account for things appearing and disappearing in our mind, body, and spirit.  If we live in the city, how often do we look up between the tall buildings to see the sky?  Can we even see the setting sun?  Is it necessary to go to a park in order to find a tree for shade?  When we think of listening do we only hear cars, trucks, and cabs honking horns?

I could ask the same of those living in smaller communities.  They, too, may be in such a hurry they never look up or even see the tree shading their home.  Who takes time to smell the flowers?

The art of listening or the practice of being present in the moment allows a person to embrace the small joyful things of life.  The tenderness of a young mother with her child, the kind gesture with an adult assisting and elder, and a leaf spinning from a branch are all pictures of life we do not give credit for contributing to the joy of our day.  The sound of a water sprinkler, an ocean wave, or a bird flapping its wings during flight, are easily forgotten we take record of our day.

If we are not paying attention to moments spread across our day, we miss the magic, the synchronicity, and the wonderment just waiting to catch our attention.  There are  many mysteries in every one's sight, but as our society calls for us to move at a very fast pace,   we miss the opportunities for increasing our personal beliefs. 

For many of us we travel a lonely world, but it is based on a false or inaccurate perception.  We may feel it is easier to collapse in on one's self, but the damage occurring is far greater than the risk of reaching out to our community.  We can choose to slow down and appreciate the world around us.  Allow little incidents with strangers to bring us joy or amusement.  We are not living singularly on this earth unless by choice.  If we desire a full life, then we must set our selves to that task. 

Blissful Moments

When welcoming receives everything just as it is,

love blossoms and joy abounds.

What wonder, astonishment, and delight.

Richard Miller

  YOGA NIDRA   

The sun was out today, so I could not possibly want for more.  I decided in honor of the sun's presence, I would try to stay in each moment, appreciating each ray of light.  I would embrace whatever came my way without any attachment to outcome.  I would brave the unknown.

It would be nice to report my day went smoothly filled with 'ah ha' moments, but that would be an out and out lie.  In spite of the unexpected popping up, I managed to stay present, but felt there were too many situations teaching me patience.  There were challenges in the house, so I decided to limit the testing field.  I went out into the back yard and wandered in the flowers.

Life became very simple.  While practicing deep breathing, my eyes absorbed the array of colors while my nose inhaled the fragrance of the peonies.  I touched the flowers and felt the varying textures of the petals and the leaves.  I could hear a few bees buzzing around as I lazily watched the ants crawling all about.  

Next came the rabbit trying to psych me out.  We stared each other down and I am not quite sure who broke eye contact first.  It was probably the distraction of the crazy squirrel running along the fence and jumping from branch to limb.  

The birds decided I wasn't a threat after all, and fell into the chorus of their songs.  I was amazed  as they cleaned their feathers, never losing balance at all.  I wondered why the Blue Jays had such vivid color and  had such an annoying call.

Cuddled in the outdoor chair, I maintained presence and speculated about the synchronicity of all the seasons of nature.  I closed my eyes, and allowed colorful shapeless visions flit across my mind.  I felt nothing but peace and calm. 

In these blissful moments, I was happy to be alive.  I was reminded of the beauty in the world and easily let the negativity fade.  These seemingly perfect moments allowed me to feel loved and accepted as I bravely faced the remainder of the day.

 

To Look Deeply

To know someone deeply

is like hearing the moon through the ocean ...

Mark Nepo

THE BOOK OF AWAKENING    

Relationships are the teachers of many lessons.  If we do not exchange experiences with others, we curtail our lessons and personal progress.  Friendships can bring heart break and disappointments, but they can also offer a safe haven.  We will never know unless we try.

There is nothing as comforting as looking into the eyes of another and realizing they have had the same experience.  Sometimes friends simply understand us so well that they relate to our struggle even though they have not experienced it themselves.  Our friends really do not have to have the perfect response or the best solution.  Just by being present with us and witnessing our challenge can be all we need at the moment.

We may feel we are the only ones experiencing such a challenge, but in reality, we all have challenges.  They might look differently, but they serve the same purpose.  So those who have gone before us, who have struggled up life's mountain and are successfully standing at the top, can encourage us and cheer us on;  however, we still must carve our own authentic path. 

Being understood  can be the best remedy for any situation.  To look deeply into some one's eyes and find acceptance and compassion can make all of the difference.  Words of encouragement and honest reflection help us to see the depth in other people's eyes.  We will only know this if we dare to open our hearts. 

Deciphering Dreams at the Imagine Foundation Gallery Hop

            

Deciphering Dreams

Imagine Foundation

Gallery Hop

 Jacksonville, Illinois

ARTICULATING SILENCE, DECIPHERING DREAMS, and  EXPLORING INNER LANDSCAPES, have been three areas of my expertise for quite some time.   On the evening of June 7, 2013, I participated in the Imagine Foundation's Gallery Hop in Jacksonville, Illinois offering opportunities for people to decipher their dreams.  I attended the event with Teri Freesmeyer (Intuitive, Medium and Healer extraordinaire) and a new friend Ellen (Tarot Card Intuitive).  Other vendors were artists, jewelers, and other small cottage industries like bath salts, natural soaps, and oils.  It was well attended and extremely beneficial for me to attend.

As a small child, I experienced very vivid and intense dreams.  I had a recurring dream for many years until the meaning was finally untangled much later in life.  In college, I explored dream work through psychology.  My passion for understanding dreams laced throughout my life.  I was always working with dreams of friends, neighbors, and then friends of my children.  I have studied

dreams for many years, making my first debut presentation at Open Doors for an all day workshop.  Since then I have made additional informative talks and presentations on this subject.  I find dream content to be extremely intriguing and reflective.

While attending this event for the Imagine Foundation, my desire to work with dreams grew more intensely.  It is an amazing experience to listen to a person tell their dream with anxiety or perplexity, and then through discussion watch their face become filled with peace and wonderment.  There is much to be learned by deciphering dreams, as they reflect what we repress, fear or desire.

Dreams are a visual language and we all dream every night.  Most of us just don't remember, but we do all dream.  In addition, we frequently day dream which can be vitally important as well.  By understanding these sequences, we can gain better insight into our subconscious minds.

At this time, therefore, I am offering a new addition to my services:  Deciphering Dreams.  I have created a new e-mail address (  decipheringdreams@yahoo.com  ) so people can send me their dreams for interpretation.  There is a charge for each dream, so a phone number must be included to secure payment.  Dreams remain confidential and further consultations can also be arranged. 

I welcome the opportunity to be a guest speaker for small or large gatherings.  (Fees will be determined)

I believe it was Edgar Allan Poe who said,  “All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.”  Curious?   Send me a dream e-mail:  decipheringdreams@yahoo.com .

Generations

We need to remember across generations

that there is as much to learn

as there is to teach.

Gloria Steinem

It is no longer common to be living in the same city or town as our parents, grandparents or extended families.  Many children do not have the opportunity to meet other generations except on rare occasions.  Curiosity has driven families to turn to genealogical societies to track the family's heritage. 

As young adults, we feel as though we are finally leaving our parents behind, but this is far from the truth.  We bring generational habits or behaviors unknowingly with us.  Many of the beliefs or patterns we carry are the very ones impressed upon us as children.  We may be holding fears of not having enough, unable to show affection, and patterns of secrecy.

By breaking the chain, we can stop negative influence from passing any farther.  We can replace old patterns through tolerance, love, and conscious awareness.  Eventually, the change in actions can help in  maintaining better health, higher self-esteem, and happiness.  Through honest exploration we can become aware of generational limitations, dysfunctional emotional patterns, and unrealistic values.  We must become aware of our need to change in order to successfully create a new generational pattern.

Negative family patterns may seem normal to us while we are living with our family of origin.  It is not until we get out into the world that we notice the difference between families activities and belief systems.  Changes in our society also cause us to alter traditions.  Sunday family dinners are impossible if we are living in other cities, states, or countries.  Even holidays may have to be celebrated on different dates in order to accommodate family members.  Not wearing a dress to church may be offensive to some or even attending a Saturday night Mass.

The first step in changing is giving our selves permission to do so.  We don't need to feel guilty or shameful when our life choices alter old patterns.  Each generation is a pioneer into a future and the individual generations will leave a history, both negative and positive. 

It is important to honor and respect our elders, and to maintain some family traditions.  There is much to be learned from the past, but there is much to be discovered for the future.  Life is but change and we will always find our selves moving forward if we wish not to be stagnant nor redundant. 

 (Writing prompted by DAILY OM written by Madisyn Taylor)

Apply the Information Wisely

Aim with your heart,

steer with your mind,

and know that it always works.

THE UNIVERSE

www.tut.com



There is a quote about God breaking our heart open again and again until we leave it open permanently.  At first read, I thought this was kind of harsh, but I have since learned navigation skills with matters concerning the heart.  Our focus ought not be on layers of protection, but on regulating our emotions.  We have no control over others, but we have absolute control of how we react to any given situation.

While exploring an old journal, I came across a relationship I had with someone.  During the first week of writing about this relationship, I was expressing red flags and reasons why I ought not invest more time and energy.  The weeks turned into months and at long last, there was a summary of why this relationship was not working that matched the previous writing in week one. 

We are expected to have a huge heart, but not to tolerate situations making us feel uncomfortable. It is ok to say, "No thank you," right at the beginning rather than getting all tangled up in emotional drama ending with intense hurt feelings.  Most often, our first response is right on target.  We somehow have the misguided thought of looking at a person in front of us and thinking, "hmmm...how can I make this relationship work?"  It really isn't about judgement, but it is about compatibility.  It is not our responsibility to teach another person how to best fit with us.  Nor is right for a person to desperately change his or her nature in an attempt to blend in with someone else.  We have the right to be our selves as long as we hurt no one. 

We can leave our heart open to others, but use our minds to explore directions.  We have no obligation to 'fix' any one else or to settle to make a relationship 'work'.  We must be certain of what we personally desire and remain present in each moment.  A healthy relationship provides comfort, respect, and love both ways.  It is in the giving and the receiving we will be nurtured and establish healthy boundaries and lasting bonds.

So unchain the heart.  Remove the barricades and layers of protection.  Dare to be vulnerable and realize our safety is within our wise decision making.  We always know the right answer, we just do not always apply the information wisely!

A Great Art



Stick it out: not by becoming a doormat, not by blindly obeying whatever command the other person gives you, but by resolutely refusing to hurt anyone no matter how much you have been hurt. It is a great art. Compassion comes with insight into the heart of life, as we see more clearly the unseen forces that drive a person into action. Ultimately, compassion extends to every creature.

Eknath Easwaran
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY


There just some days we leave our homes feeling the entire world is beautiful and we are happy in our body, mind and soul.  We are fully prepared to embrace our day as we feel abundantly alive and filled with love.  Then we run into a friend or a rude sales clerk and the love is knocked right out of us, leaving us with the sensation of being deflated.  Our impulsive response is usually to strike back, but we are move evolved than that aren't we?  We do not have to condone a person's inappropriate behavior, but we don't have to take it on either.

In these situations, I believe we are called just to stay in the moment.  To be a witness in this person's life as a force of compassion can be the best thing we can do.  If we call upon our intuition we can perhaps catch a glimpse of how miserable this other individual is just by observing her energy or sense of emotion.  We don't need to do that, but it helps us remain in place just for a few minutes.  It is a matter of extending the good parts of our selves, our energy, to this person in obvious need.

When we are cut off in traffic by a dangerous move from another driver, if is easy to yell, "Idiot!"
Then we can quickly realize our error and say, "Oh, sorry."  Then think of why the person was in such a hurry.  Send them good thoughts, "Please be more careful."  It is not good for our mental health to take everything so personally. 

While standing in the midst of a group of people I knew, I felt myself fading.  I didn't need to draw attention to my lovely self, but I at least would have liked to be a part of the conversation.  I offered a nugget of information, but someone talked right over me and I could feel my self shrinking.  I was beginning in minimize my presence, turning invisible when some how I remembered to just be present and to do what I know how to do.  I stood near those who had gathered and simply sent them good thoughts, "Have a really good day.  Really enjoy the spirits of each other.  Open the heart and embrace one and other."  Tons of wonderful thoughts dashed out of my mind and into the presence of others.  I felt purposeful and good, standing in my own power.

Our Unique Story

"Our reality, as I am using this term, has four components:

The Body:  How we look and how our bodies are operating.

Thinking:  How we give meaning to incoming data.

Feelings:  Our emotions.

Behavior:  What we do or don't do.

These four parts of our lives constitute our reality from our perspective."

Pia Mellody

As we experience life, it is only as we know it.  Someone else may experience the same life as our own, but have an entirely different reaction.  Our interpretation of our personal reality adds to our uniqueness. 

We are usually aware of ourselves avoiding a mirror if we have added a few pounds.  We resist buying clothes in the next size deliberately choosing to be miserable in our outgrown attire.  If our face is looking fuller or has formed some blemishes, we will then begin to focus on our hair, not the scarred face in the mirror.  We tell our selves stories about our bodies ... my family is big boned,  exercises will hurt my back, it is too cold or too hot to walk around the block, or no one in my family has ever been athletic. 

As we think these thoughts, we have a tendency to keep them to ourselves, so no one is present to challenge us.  Left on our own, our perspective can easily increase in faulty thinking.  In some extremes, we may feel conscientious in public, thinking others are judging us with their own minds.  Yes, I believe we can become rather paranoid.

As we continue to tamper with our personal reality, our feelings stem out of these judgements.  We may begin to feel 'stupid' for not controlling our weight or we may distance our selves from others for fear their remarks will further damage our feelings of low self-esteem.    Internalizing our thoughts and feelings, we may begin to feel totally overwhelmed.

False thinking about our personal reality impacts our behaviors as well.  We begin to project a different image, hiding our fears behind our newly acquired actions of protection.  We may begin to minimize what we are doing ... oh, just this once;  he didn't really care anyway;  or it is not as though it will harm anyone.  We are reluctant to face the impact we have upon others. 

Our personal reality can become quite complex when we do not keep things honest and simple.  We do not hold our selves accountable for the personal damage we are doing.  We may say "I am not hurting any one," but the person we are hurting is our self. 

It is a good idea to maintain a reality check through journaling or creating confidence with a trusted friend.  Either way, we develop a touchstone, a way to compare or track our thinking, actions, feelings and respect for body.  We need to embrace, accept and hold our selves accountable.  We can ask ourselves, "Is this really true or is this the way I am choosing to view it?"  We have the ability to skew or misinterpret others actions to support our own personal story.  "Could her coldness be a result of my careless thoughts and actions or is she just having a bad day having nothing to do with me?"

We are the authors of our unique life.  Let us endeavor to create an authentic self by remaining aware of who we choose to be.

A Leeson from the Ants

"Life is priceless

even to an ant"

Liu Xiaobo

JUNE FOURTH ELEGIES

  

Ants do not necessarily bother me, but I just as soon not have them in my house.  When we lived out in the country with four kids, we would frequently find a trail of ants headed for the melted popsicle or spilled kool-aide.  Thankfully, I have not had to battle the ant brigade for numerous years.  The other day, however, I noticed a big black carpenter's ant crawling near my computer.  Odd.  I picked it up, and carried it outside.  Then yesterday, I noticed another large black ant crawling at eye sight on the curtain behind my computer.  That is odd.  Carried this one outside, hoping it wasn't the first one I had brought outside.  So today, when another one appeared (one per day for four days) I turned to my Ted Andrew's book, ANIMAL -SPEAK, The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great & Small. 

The keynote for ant:  Industrious, Order, and Discipline.  Apparently, ants can teach us how to harness our energy to recreate our lives.  It teaches how to work well with others and for others, how to remain focused, without neglecting other important things.  Based on the colony of ants and individual ant behavior, rewards follow through personal effort.

This is a wonderful reminder for me.  I have a project I have not worked on for over a year.  My interest in this project has been rekindled, and I want to get back on track.  It is going to take organization and discipline to complete this labor of love.  Too often, I put off writing until I have a larger block of time or when I am feeling more energized.  These thoughts are simply excuses to cover the mask of fear or unworthiness.

I find no matter when I begin writing, my energy flows and my passion surges unless I throw up my personal roadblocks to prevent my needed accomplishments.  I  do not like to work under pressure, but doing what I love truly is not pressure.  My ego will play numerous tricks on me to become distracted which results in my feeling unproductive with my writing. 

The ants easily display the sense of concentrated activity, patience, and endurance with successful results at the end.  I have recently committed to a new discipline which will actually bring order to my day.  Like time management  I will end up with more free time without guilt every day. 

Oh, and the black carpenter ants ...  I have not seen any more since I realized what they symbolized.  Message received, loud and clear.

Dreams Illustrate

 

Dreams are illustrations...

from the book your soul is writing about you.

~ Marsha Norman

  

As a child, I had very vivid dreams, I would dream walk and  I had recurring dreams.  I had always been interested in the night time realm, and  I would frequently encourage others to talk about their own dreams, hoping to learn from their experiences as well.     Pajama parties or sleep overs were the perfect setting to obtain such information.

As I grew older, I read books about dreams and dream symbols.  My interest in dreams was never front and center so to speak, but it was always simmering on the back burner.  In college I achieved a double major in psychology and sociology.  While studying different aspects about psychology, more documentation regarding dreams came forward.  I deliberately set out to remember my dreams more accurately. 

While raising four children, there was very little time to explore inner landscapes, but numerous times when my own children and their friends would share their dreams.  I started helping them to understand what they could remember rather than be confused.  When I returned to my career, dreams became a back drop once again, but I did start recording my dreams.  For years, I created my personal dream journals.

As life unfolded, opportunities to speak about deciphering dreams became plentiful.  Joyful experiences of speaking in private homes or social clubs were readily available.  A friend of mine who was a therapist joined me in an endeavor to host a dream workshop.  The all day workshop was well attended and it was a very rewarding experience.  So rewarding, I have repeated this experience offering information, sharing many stories and giving examples for others to better understand dreams as well.

So in search of creating more opportunities to understand dreams, I have decided to offer my knowledge to others.  If you have a vivid childhood dream, recurring dream, or nightmare, please allow me to help you decipher your dream. 

Changing Cycles

When you feel happy, really happy,

it somehow seems that you've always been happy

and that you'll always be happy.

The same is often true when you feel sad, or lonely,

or depressed, or broke, or sick, or scared.

Something, perhaps, to remember.

THE UNIVERSE

www.tut.com 

I have my groove back on.  I am in the flow.  I can do no wrong.  Luck is looking my way.  Hooray, hooray, how long will I remain this way.  Life is ever changing and very fickle.  Happiness here one day, then gone the next.

When the sun is not out and it is raining, I automatically know that I will not be doing yard work or mowing the yard.  I have a reset button that adjusts my intentions to indoor tasks.  The opposite is true as well.  If I have plans to do indoor chores and the sun comes out, I automatically adjust my schedule by going outdoors.  It is a matter of action and perception.

Perhaps we can apply the same to our cycles with happiness and sadness.  We could pre-determine what our actions will be if it is a dreary emotional day, such as:  read a favorite book, write letters, nap, or attempt something creative and artistic.  We can acknowledge our tempered mood and adjust our environment to be less chaotic and more nurturing.  The same for happiness.  We can have predetermined tasks for good mood days, such as:  yard work, shopping for flowers, meeting a friend for coffee, walking in a park, or napping outside in nature. 

Both kinds of emotional days will then have a reward, like silence or excitement.  These intentions will help regulate our moods.  For instance, if we really like jigsaw puzzles but never take the time to work them, purchase one the next time at the store.  Tuck it away in the closet, knowing it will be a spirit lifter the next time a sad day appears.  We can build in available distractions and the hardest part is remembering to do them.

We can be more accepting of  our lovely selves when we acknowledge our position in a down cycle.  We can remember we will not always be discouraged.  By reminding our selves repeatedly that this too shall pass will help our selves to be more patient until the up cycle returns once again.

Decision Making

Whenever an answer, a solution or a creative idea is needed,

stop thinking for a moment

by focusing your attention on your inner energy field.

Become aware of the stillness.

Eckhart Tolle

Oneness With All Life 

Whenever we face a challenge, our brains usually kick in searching for resolve.  We may grow anxious during our search which immediately interferes with cognition.  We can then mix and match a few things together forming a band aid for the problem or we resource the entire problem out for someone else to solve.  

The best reaction to a challenge, is to not react at all, but to simply sit with it for a while in silence.  We hold fear and anxiety at bay as we quietly listen to wisdom or nudges we receive from within.  If a resolution does not immediately appear, then choose not to come to a decision for awhile.  Carry on with other tasks until there is time to just pause in silence once again, listening for insight.  Keep drama and unnecessary emotion at bay, while we blend our thinking with our heart to determine the best action for all involved.

Realizing some decisions need to be made immediately, there are others that can benefit from lingering thoughts.  Years ago, a friend mentioned to me that it took Jesus the Christ three days to rise from the dead.  The friend told me to give any problem three days to work itself out.  I felt this was worth trying, and I have used it numerous times throughout my life challenges.

A solution created today, may not be as good as the one made after some time has passed.  We can avoid being impulsive or  repressing our emotions as they are somewhat sitting on a back burner.  If we maintain the attitude of searching for the best calculation and not feel pressured into quick decision, we find ourselves in a very different space, thinking more clearly, after a few days have passed.  I have repeatedly found the decisions I have made after three days have been much better long term remedies for all concerned than the quick fix of three days ago.

So next time we are contemplating an appropriate answer to a problem, simply pause.  Sit with the situation in silence.  Be open to the creative options as they begin to surface. Be still allowing our energy to flow until we feel in balance with our decision.