Don't Quit, Keep Playing!

This wonderful story was in an email from my friend, Aleda.  Thanks for sharing this story of perseverance.

When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was missing.
Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage.

In horror, the mother saw her little
boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out

'Twinkle,Twinkle Little Star.'

At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and

whispered in the boy's ear,

'Don't quit.''Keep playing.'

Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child, and he added a running obbligato. 

Together, the old master and the young novice transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience.

The audience was  so mesmerized that they couldn't recall what else the great master played.Only the classic,

' Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.'

Perhaps that's the way it is with God.

What we can accomplish on
our own is hardly noteworthy.

We try our best, but the results aren't always graceful flowing music.  However, with the hand of the Master, our life's work can

truly be beautiful.
The next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully  You may hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear,      
'Don't quit.' 'Keep playing.'

May you feel His arms around you and know that His hands are there, helping you turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces.

Remember, God doesn't  seem to

call the equipped, rather,

He equips  the 'called.'

Life is more accurately measured by the lives you touch than by the things you acquire.

So touch someone by passing this little message along.
May God bless you and

be with you always!

And remember   ,

'Don't quit.'

'Keep playing.'

Attitude and Gratitude

 

There once was a woman who woke up one morning,
looked in the mirror,
and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.
Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today?"
So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up,
looked in the mirror
and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.
"H-M-M," she said,
"I think I'll part my hair down the middle today?"
So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up,
looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head.
"Well," she said,
"today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail."
So she did and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up,
looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head.
"YEA!" she exclaimed,
"I don't have to fix my hair today!"

Attitude is everything.

Be kinder than necessary,

for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
Live simply,

Love generously,
Care deeply,
Speak kindly.......

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...

It's about learning to dance in the rain.

This piece is from my friend Monique who knows that I love a story about seeing things in a different way!  Thanks! The pictures are ones that I took on a garden tour.  Enjoy!

Words From A Savage? Words From Chief Seattle

 

---

In 1854, the "Great White Chief" in Washington made an offer for a large area of Indian land and promised a "reservation" for the Indian people.

Chief Seattle's reply, published here in full, has been described as the most beautiful and profound statement on the environment ever made.
THE STATEMENT OF CHIEF SEATTLE
How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth of the land? The idea is strange to us.
If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them?
Every part of this earth is sacred to my people.
Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every clearing and humming insect is holy in the memory and experience of my people. The sap which courses through the trees carries the memories of the red man.
The white man's dead forget the country of their birth when they go to walk among the stars. Our dead never forget this beautiful earth, for it is the mother of the red man.
We are part of the earth, and it is part of us.
The perfumed flowers are our sisters; the deer, the horse, the giant eagle, these are our brothers.
The rocky crests, the juices in the meadows, the body heat of the pony - all belong to the same family.
So, when the Great White Chief in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land, he asks much of us. The Great Chief sends words he will reserve a place so that we can live comfortably to ourselves.
He will be our father and we will be his children. So we will consider your offer to buy our land.
But it will not be easy. For this land is sacred to us.
This shining water that moves in the streams and the rivers is not just water but the blood of our ancestors.
If we must sell you land, you must remember that it is sacred, and you must teach your children that it is sacred and that each ghostly reflection in the clear water of the lakes tells of events and memories in the life of my people.
The water's murmur is the voice of my father's father.
The rivers are our brothers, they quench our thirst. The rivers carry our canoes, and feed our children. If we sell you our land, you must remember, and teach your children, that the rivers are our brothers, and yours, and you must henceforth give the rivers the kindness you would give any brother.
We know that the white man does not understand our ways. One portion of land is the same to him as the next, for he is a stranger who comes in the night and takes from the land whatever he needs.
The Earth is not his brother, but his enemy, and when he has conquered it, he moves on.
He leaves his father's grave behind, and he does not care. He kidnaps the earth from his children, and he does not care.
His father's grave, and his children's birthright, are forgotten. He treats his mother, the earth, and his brother, the sky, as things to be bought, plundered, sold like sheep or bright beads.
His appetite will devour the earth and leave behind only a desert.
I do not know. Our ways are different from your ways.
The sight of your cities pains the eyes of the red man. But perhaps it is because the red man is a savage and does not understand.
There is no quiet place in the white man's cities. No place to hear the unfurling of leaves in spring or the rustle of an insect's wings.
But perhaps it is because I am a savage and do not understand.
The Indian prefers the soft sound of the wind darting over the face of a pond, and the smell of the wind itself, cleaned by a midday rain, or scented with the pinion pine.
The air is precious to the red man, for all things share the same breath - the beast, the tree, the man, they all share the same breath.
The white man does not seem to notice the air he breathes. Like a man dying for many days, he is numb to the stench.
But if we sell you our land, you must remember that the air is precious to us, that the air shares its spirit with all the life it supports. The wind that gave our grandfather his first breath also receives his last sigh.
And if we sell you our land, you must keep it apart and sacred, as a place where even the white man can go to taste the wind that is sweetened by the meadow's flowers.
So we will consider your offer to buy land. If we decide to accept, I will make one condition: The white man must treat the beasts of this land as his brothers.
I am a savage and I do not understand any other way.
I have seen a thousand rotting buffaloes on the prairie, left by the white man who shot them from a passing train.
I am a savage and I do not understand how the smoking iron horse can be more important than the buffalo that we kill only to stay alive.
What is a man without the beasts? If all the beasts were gone, man would die from a great loneliness of spirit.
For whatever happens to the beasts, soon happens to man. All things are connected.
You must teach your children that the ground beneath their feet is the ashes of your grandfathers. So that they will respect the land, tell your children that the earth is rich with the lives of our kin.
Teach your children what we have taught our children; that the earth is our mother.
Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. If men spit upon the ground they spit upon themselves.
This we know: The earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the earth. This we know.
All things are connected like the blood which unites one family. All things are connected.
Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web he does to himself.
Even the white man, whose God walks and talks with him as friend to friend, cannot be exempt from the common destiny.
We may be brothers after all.
We shall see.
One thing we know, which the white man may one day discover - our God is the same God.
You may think that you own Him as you wish to own our land; but you cannot. He is the God of man, and His compassion is equal for the red man and the white.
This earth is precious to Him, and to harm the earth is to heap contempt on its Creator.
The whites too shall pass, perhaps sooner than all other tribes. Contaminate your bed, and you will one night suffocate in your own waste.
But in your perishing you will shine brightly, fired by the strength of the God who brought you to this land and for some special purpose gave you dominion over this land and over the red man.
That destiny is a mystery to us, for we do not understand when the buffalo are all slaughtered, the wild horses are tamed, the secret corners of the forest heavy with scent of many men, and the view of the ripe hills blotted by talking wires.
Where is the thicket? Gone.
Where is the eagle? Gone.
The end of living and the beginning of survival.

---

Copyright 1999 by Rebecca Bell

Spirit Animals – Deer

  © S. Roger Joyeux September 2007

The first awareness that many of us have of deer is through Walt Disney’s wonderful animation film, “BAMBI”. We watched, (or have watched our children or grandchildren sit) spellbound as the story of this gentle creature unfolds. We marvel at all the lessons in the film. First we see that the deer are very gentle and seem to get along with all animals. That trait is true in real life. The next thing we notice is that we don’t always see deer! Deer has the knack of blending in to its surroundings, and keeping still, even in broad daylight. This is one of the first lessons that the fawn learns. We also see the way the mother protects the young, and how the animals alert the Deer to danger. This is also true in real life as magpies, crows, ravens, and even four legged creatures will create noise telling the Deer that a hunter or danger is near.

The very large ears assist Deer in “hearing” both the sounds in the immediate environment, and the sounds far away that are carried by the winds or breezes. The ears act like radar antennae and provide the Deer with an uncanny ability to discern what is going on in the world around them. Antlers on the bucks are believed to be receptors for information from the heavens. Many early peoples believed that the Deer was sacred to the Gods, and because it appears at dawn and dusk, was actually a messenger from the Gods. Diana, Goddess of the Hunt, held the Deer sacred and nightly killed a deer with a bow and arrow so that it might be reborn again in the morning. This then is a symbol of death and rebirth, and of transformation.

Deer graze in the early morning and evening. However, a doe with two young fawns may graze during the day time as well. The deer will be sure to be in an open place where it can see clearly all around it. The Deer readily defends its young as Roger and I witnessed this spring in Fish Creek Park. A coyote decided to hunt a fawn to feed its young. As it stalked towards the site where the fawn lay, the Doe was alerted. We watched as she bounded towards the coyote. We thought the coyote might attack her! Never get between a Mama and her Baby! That coyote had one good swipe from Mama’s hooves and he was running. We watched Deer chase the coyote for a good twenty minutes. We think it passed on fast food after that.

Those with Deer as totem or power animal are very fortunate because the gifts Deer brings are clairvoyance (seeing) and clairaudience (hearing). Deer also brings great gentleness, kindness, courage, skill at blending into the surroundings, and a strong sense of family loyalty. Deer travel in herds that may include several generations. Some of the tribes of The People in Canada and the United States believe that Deer is a guide to the Sun (Deer appears at dawn and dusk) and as such, that Deer is a part of the cycle of life. When Deer appears to you, watch to see what message it brings, and how to be gentle to yourself.

We all honor Deer at Christmas as the wonderful animals that pull Santa Claus through the sky. We know that it is Deer’s place to do this since they are favored by the Gods and have been given the ability to fly between the worlds.

-©Judith Hirst- Joyeux. Judy is a sage, seer, shaman-healer. See more on www.angelsandancestors.com

Fear of the Supernatural

"The supernatural is the natural not yet understood." Elbert Hubbard

When I saw this quotation, I was struck by how accurate it is, and that even though he is deceased ( he died during 1915), how applicable the quotation is today.  A friend of mine was in the checkout at the supermarket, and had at the top of her buggy the book, "Spirituality For Dummies". 

As my friend was unloading her shopping cart, the lady in front of her said, "You shouldn't be reading that! Anything that you can't see comes from the Devil!"

As you can imagine, my friend was quite taken aback, and was absolutely speechless!  Imagine, if all the things that you cannot see come from the Devil, then there is a long list of things that we all take for granted that we can't "see" but that we know are there.  Some of those things are God, Love, Wind, Kindness, oxygen, carbon dioxide, the sound of a symphony, anything one hears over the radio because let's face it, you can't see all those things that come through the radio. The list could go on and on.

I wondered what it would be like to live in fear of all the things that you can not see.  I could not imagine a life like that!  The beauty in the unseen compliments the visual beauty of what we see with our eyes.  And, even then, do we really see it?  We see so little of the world as it is because our perception is always being adjusted by our mind, to something that we have seen in our past.  So, do we really see what we see or do we bring forward what we saw before?  It really is a strange thing, that five people may look at the same accident, and that they all saw something similar but different. 

As for not seeing the supernatural, well, I'd like to define "supernatural" first and use the Wikipedia definition - The supernatural (Latin: super- "above" + natura "nature") pertains to entities, events or powers regarded as beyond nature, in that they cannot be explained from the laws of the natural world.  Having said that, if we "see" the entities then they do exist!  Just because one person does not see them means that their mind cannot pull up a memory of seeing that object before.  The other part of the definition - explained from the laws of the natural world- simply means that we have not yet discovered or acknowledged the laws that do govern the entities.  Scientists, researchers, astronomers, and physicists have been discovering new principles of being and planets over the last decade.  Does that mean that up to the discovery, the principles and planets were supernatural?  It does depend on one's point of view.

I would love for everyone to see all that is around them, and not fear it!  I would love to have people be able to experience something new and move to the experience with love in their hearts instead of fear.  I would love if all the people in the world would just let other people be!

Where did we go wrong? 7 Blunders

"Seven Blunders of the World"
1. Wealth without work
2. Pleasure without conscience
3. Knowledge without character
4. Commerce without morality
5. Science without humanity
6. Worship without sacrifice
7. Politics without principle
—Mahatma Gandhi

A Tale of Loving Kindness

My friend Aleda sent me this wonderful story that has been circulating by email.  I believe it is a grand story that has a lesson for everyone.  Please post your comments about the story as I would love to read them and respond to them.

Judy

 

This story has brought me incredible joy and peace.

Here is the story written by a thankful Mom!

I have no way to know who sent it, but there is a kind soul working in the dead letter office of the  US postal service. Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month.  The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey.   She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:
Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.  I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim.  I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith.

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven.  We put our return address on it.  Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven.  That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith'  in an unfamiliar hand.  Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies.' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,

Abbey arrived safely in heaven.  Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.  Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart.  Abbey loved being your dog.  Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.
Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you.

I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.

By the way, I am wherever there is love.

Love, God

Moving Into Death

 

Picture Courtesy of Barbara Hirst (c) 2006

Do not pass by my epitaph, traveler.
But having stopped, listen and learn, then go your way.
There is no boat in Hades, no ferryman Charon,
No caretaker Aiakos, no dog Cerberus.
All we who are dead below
Have become bones and ashes, but nothing else.
I have spoken to you honestly, go on, traveler,
Lest even while dead I seem loquacious to you.

-copied from a Roman Tombstone

Rising - Slowly!

This picture arrived in an email and it made me sad.  We see the sun in so many negative, destructive ways.  And yet, here it is!  Beautiful! Exciting! And full of the promise of the beginning of everything!  What a gift the sun gives to us each day.

When you see the world from a different perspective, and it looks small- one needs to realize how completely insignificant we are, and yet how absolutely necessary we all are, as well.  If we did not exist, we would not see the beauty in the world and want to share it with our village, our global village.  If we did not exist, we would not celebrate the animals and their lives.  We would not have found that one can learn from cats and dogs, and all of the wild things, that there is a present moment. 

We would not know about life flowing and ebbing, and rising slowly from the ground, up to the sky, to touch the sun.

About Anger and Releasing It

As I was sitting and pondering, my guides directed me to this wonderful story by Osho. They asked me to share it with all of you as a gift; a gift that will help you cope with anger if it should appear during the holidays.

Picture from Microsoft Clipart

“A Zen student came to Bankei and said, "Master, I have an ungovernable temper. How can I cure it?"
"Show me this temper," said Bankei, "it sounds fascinating."
"I haven't got it right now," said the student, "so I can't show it to you."
"Well then," said Bankei, "bring it to me when you have it."
"But I can't bring it just when I happen to have it," protested the student. "It arises unexpectedly, and I would surely lose it before I got it to you."
"In that case," said Bankei, "it cannot be part of your true nature. If it were, you could show it to me at any time. When you were born you did not have it--so it must have come to you from the outside. I suggest that whenever it gets into you, you beat yourself with a stick until the temper can't stand it and runs away."
Even while anger is happening, if you suddenly become conscious, it drops. Try it! Just in the middle, when you are very hot and would like to murder--suddenly become aware, and you will feel something has changed: a gear inside, you can feel the click, your inner being has relaxed.” OSHO

The following information on OSHO is adapted from biographyonline.net.

Osho was born Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh in 1931 in Central India. He died in 1990. His philosophy was a type of Monism that God was in everything. All human beings were in essence divine; it was just that there were different manifestations of that divinity. He introduced a new type of meditation that involved letting go of all attachments to the past and future and ego. If a seeker could attain a consciousness where there was "no past, no future, no attachment, no mind, no ego, no self.” Then he would attain enlightenment.

Blue Heron Brings Information

Picture provided by Microsoft ClipArt.

I had just completed a three day course in Shamanism and I had lived through the three day juice fast. I was thinking that life was pretty good! I was out in the park, walking my dog, Magic, when this very big and very tall heron walked out of the tall grass along the river. He had extremely long legs. It did not walk toward us, but angled away from us, watching us all the time. We were both silent and a little awed. I was awed because of the beauty and Magic simply because he'd never seen anything like this before. Then Heron stopped, and turned. A second Heron walked out of the grass. They looked at us, then slowly spread their wings and flew up, in different directions. They then both flew over the river. However, they flew opposite to each other, and seemed to fly across each other's path in a figure eight formation. After almost flying over us, they flew down the river and disappeared.

I have never seen anything like this! I believed that Heron was bringing me a message that tied into my Shaman weekend. When I arrived home, I contemplated what I knew about Heron. I grew up on a farm, and during the summer, a pair of great blue herons lived at our dugout (pond). We had an abundant supply of tadpoles, minnows and frogs. Their visits lasted for about ten years while I was growing up.

I knew that the long legs were about balance, and about progressing and evolving. If the legs are long, Herons can wade in deeper water. The meaning for me is that I could move forward in exploring life and Shamanism and other healing arts in great depth. The legs are also about standing on one's own without having a big support structure. If you have ever seen a Heron fish, you will notice that they stare at the water for an extended amount of time, almost like they are mesmerized by the water. This implies a connection to the Earth, and also the ability to look deeply into one's emotion (water) and contemplate without interruption. There is also a message about standing balanced in one's own emotions. This fisher bird is also a message about being able to be alone and complete tasks successfully.

Herons are solitary birds. To see two of them together is unique. Since one was smaller than the other, I believe that they were male and female. So, it seems the message is about being balanced in one's masculine and feminine energy, and that having a mate to fly with is a good thing. The Heron's S-shaped neck is a symbol of strength and innate knowing and Heron travels life on its own path. The quick strike of a hunting Heron gives guidance that one needs to act quickly when opportunity arises. The action may be quite assertive. This is a message about allowing one's power to flow and not trying to stifle it. The message is also about determining one's own road and not following or listening to what others are doing. The flight path of a looping figure eight seems to indicate that life is infinite and one has an infinite amount of tine to move through it.

Much may be learned by watching the Heron for both its actions and its inactions teach us about taking advantage of events in our lives. The Heron represents grace, agility, and quiet power. The balance it uses in its life is a reminder to all to follow balance in all things.

-©Judith Hirst-Joyeux August 2007. If you have had an experience with Heron, we'd love to hear about it, and please let us know if we may publish your story in a future newsletter. Email judy@angelsandancestors.com.

About The Great White Brotherhood

There are many books written about the Great White Brotherhood with the earliest being written about 1912. Before that time, the different groups including the Great White Brotherhood, Ashtar’s Command, Councilate of Ascended Light, and other fellowships that worked with humans were closely guarded secrets. Working with these groups was taught only in Mystery Schools, and then only by special invitation. The laws of the different countries at that time classified working with “mysteries” as “Devil’s Work”. Those involved with the Mysteries were called witches, devil worshippers or Satan’s Guild. It was a dark time! Practitioners were both persecuted and prosecuted.

Times have changed, and we are all learning that there is much on Earth and in our solar system and further out in our galaxy that we do not understand. The group, The Great White Brotherhood (GWB) teams up with individuals on Earth to provide details of cosmic information, specialized healing techniques, and concepts of use and understanding of natural laws. GWB seems to show up for people in meditation, in visions, in dreams, and even during channeling whether it is written or oral. Members of GWB include ascended masters and beings from the heavenly realms (archangels, angels, spirits, guides, ancient ones) who have dedicated their purpose to working with beings on Earth. The group is called “white” because of their great white light and the essence of goodness that they work with. Membership in GWB is not restricted by anything other than the desire to help beings on Earth move forward in evolution. GWB has teams that work within arts and entertainment, education, healing, and enlightenment. The teams transcend race, religions, and politics.

GWB has healing teams, writing teams, and enlightenment teams that will assist the person in improving or expanding the work the individual is currently doing. The GWB team that works with me is the healing team who work with humans mostly through a program called the Medical Assistance Program. (Note that the Medical Assistance Program is also part of the title of a book written by Machaelle Wright). The individual may ask to have assistance when experiencing an illness and the GWB team shows up. The “asking” may be done either through meditation or through an invocation. Each individual will receive their own specialized team. The healing process initiated by GWB is unique to each individual.

The stories of healing, of writing, and of “knowing” profound truths through association with the Great White Brotherhood have been recorded as articles and books. These teachers come when we need them and leave us changed forever.

The Message From Pigeon

Pigeons are often regarded as pests. In some cases, they are regarded as a delicacy for eating (squib). Some people revere them for their racing abilities. Most of us think of them as the birds that people feed in the parks and squares in the cities. We seldom think of them as a totem animal that may have something to teach us. If Pigeon is appearing in your life, you may be assured that he has a reason. Take into consideration that Pigeon was used by the Chinese for hundreds of years to deliver messages. Europeans adopted this technique and used pigeons to deliver messages in times of war. Pigeons have great courage and may fly 500 miles per day at speeds of 100 miles per hour for 100 miles! So what is Pigeon coming to say? Some of the messages might be:

-have courage and keep focused on the goal at hand.

-how to value the qualities of home, security, and the caring that a loved one provides. (Pigeon often appears as a totem or guide for people that have had a troubled or unsettled childhood, and who seem to have difficulty in finding a solid foundation in all areas of their lives.)

-how to know "true north" (we would call it the compass of integrity), and how to always find one's way home - to the place in their heart where they know there is truth.

-how to always know where you are and to know where "home" is.

Pigeon's big message when it first appears to you is to remind you that you must keep your sights and your actions focused on what it is that you want in life. It is reminding you to use all of your senses equally and thus stay balanced. Mostly, Pigeon says focus on where you want to be and start moving to that goal using your inner guidance so that you will always find your way, regardless of the journey.

The Size of a Puppy

Many thanks to my friend, Gail, who knew that I have a special love of dogs and puppies, and shared this story with me.

A picture of our puppy, Magic, taken at Christmas time.

This is one of the neatest stories you will ever hear. You will know precisely what this little girl is talking about at the end (you'll want to share this one with your loved ones and special friends)!

"Danielle keeps repeating it over and over again. We've been back to this animal shelter at least five times. It has been weeks now since we started all of this," the mother told the volunteer.
"What is it she keeps asking for?" the volunteer asked.
"Puppy size!" replied the mother.

"Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that's what she's looking for."
"I know...we have seen most of them," the mom said in frustration...
Just then Danielle came walking into the office.
"Well, did you find one?" asked her mom. "No, not this time,"
Danielle said with sadness in her voice. "Can we come back on the weekend?"

The two women looked at each other, shook their heads and laughed.
"You never know when we will get more dogs. Unfortunately, there's
always a supply," the volunteer said.
Danielle took her mother by the hand and headed to the door. "Don't worry, I'll find one this weekend," she said.
Over the next few days both mom and dad had long conversations with her. They both felt she was being too particular. "It's this weekend or we're not looking any more," Dad finally said in frustration.

"We don't want to hear anything more about puppy size either," Mom added.
Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday
morning. By now Danielle knew her way around, so she ran right for the section that housed the smaller dogs. Tired of the routine, mom sat in the small waiting room at the end of the first row of cages. There was an observation window so you could see the animals during times when visitors weren't permitted. Danielle walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a closer look. One by one the dogs were brought out and she held each one.
One by one she said, "Sorry, you're not the one."
It was the last cage on this last day in search of the perfect pup.
The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up the dog and held it closely. This time she took a little longer.
"Mom, that's it! I found the right puppy! He's the one! I know it!" she screamed with joy. "It's the puppy size!"

"But it's the same size as all the other puppies you held over the
last few weeks," Mom said.
"No not size... the sighs. When I held him in my arms, he sighed," she said.
"Don't you remember? When I asked you one day what love is, you told me love depends on the sighs of your heart. The more you love, the bigger the sigh!"
The two women looked at each other for a moment. Mom didn't know whether to laugh or cry. As she stooped down to hug the child, she did a little of both.
"Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and Daddy come home from work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I would find the right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms," she said.

Close your eyes for a moment and think about the love that makes you sigh. I not only find it in the arms of my loved ones, but in the caress of a sunset, the kiss of the moonlight and the gentle brush of cool air on a hot day.

They are the sighs of Goddess. Take the time to stop and listen; you will
be surprised at what you hear.

Life Lessons

Many thanks to my friend Heather who sent me this great story of life!

Life Lessons:

There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge
things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look
at a pear tree that was a great distance away.

The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in
summer, and the youngest son in the fall.
When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe
what they had seen.

The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son
said no it was covered with green buds and full of promise.
The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so
sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.
The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping
with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.

The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they
had each seen but only one season in the tree's life.

He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season,
and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come
from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up.
If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring,
the beauty of your summer, fulfillment of your fall.

 

A Cherokee Boy's Rite of Passage

Many thanks to my friend, Roxanne, for sharing this great story!

Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of passage? His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it.

He cannot cry out for help to anyone.   Once he survives the night, he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own.   The boy is naturally terrified.  He can hear all kinds of noises.  Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm. 

The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold.  It would be the only way he could become a man!   Finally, after a horrific night, the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold.  It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him.  He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm. 

We, too, are never alone.   Even when we don't know it, Great Spirit  is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us.  When trouble comes all we have to do is reach out to Him. 

I Disagree With You, However, I Do Find Your View Interesting

 
An argument is the longest distance between two points of view.
--Dan Bennett

The point of view that we have on any topic is often formed by the information that we have from research, our own experience, and from our friends and family. Therefore it should come as no surprise that there are many differing points of view.  What I find fascinating, though, is that the person who disagrees with me continues to work very hard at changing my point of view to his/her viewpoint. I wonder about this trait in humans all the time! It seems illogical to me that another would want me to absolutely recant my views in favor of their view.  I guess this is not too much different than what the Catholic Church did with Galileo in 1616.

For those of you that don't know the story, Galileo is sometimes called the father of observational astronomy because of his intense use of the telescope and because of his observations and discoveries. Galileo believed that the Sun was the center of the solar system, that Earth is a part of it, and this belief is known as heliocentrism.  His view was not popular with the Catholic Church which believed that the Earth was the center of the Universe and that all things (sun, moon, stars, planets) revolved around the Earth - a belief system called geocentrism.  As an aside, this thought gives a whole new perspective to the saying "I am the center of the Universe".  Regardless of the "proof" supporting heliocentrism that Galileo had on his side, the Catholic Church said they were right - there was more of them - and that he was wrong, and that he better change his view point. In the first wave of the Catholic righteousness in 1616, Galileo did recant.  However, his original beliefs got the better of him by 1630 and by 1633, the Catholic Inquisition had placed him under permanent house arrest for disagreeing with the Catholic Church's view.

I realize that when some one debate's their point of view with you that they are not putting you under house arrest. They are working though, extremely diligently, at removing your power from you. This, in my opinion, is like putting someone under house arrest since this remains with you for the rest of your life unless you take your power back.  When someone harps on you to make you change your mind, they are actually making a judgement about your ability to see truth, and they have decided that they will give you the truth that you will use.  There are many natural laws that this action violates including the principle of non-interference, the principle of harm none, and the true north principle of integrity. 

Parents do this with children all the time because the child is young and therefore has no experience. The parent then provides the experience based on the parent's life experience.  The parent's life experience may come from their parent - etc.  This is how values and belief systems are propagated through time.  Is this wrong? No.  It is something that is.  What we do not do a good job of in child raising is teaching children that it is okay to learn or relearn things and form their own view which may be different than the parent's view. This is very necessary when the parent's view comes out in the form of statements such as, "You are worthless!", or "You are stupid!", or "You will never amount to much!", or even "There isn't any happiness in life so get used to it!".  The list of beliefs that pour out of parents' or teachers' mouths that influence the children well into adulthood is endless. 

Ideally, as the child grows, he/she will be able to see that the words do not have value for the child, that the words that fall over them, quite often in a thoughtless or careless manner, are empty words.  The child then has the chance to move forward and create their own truth.  Another idealism is to teach the children that everyone is allowed to have their own point of view, and that in the moment that point of view is real and true until the next experience comes along that changes that view point.  The best idealism is to teach children that all views matter, and that the background behind the view may be a fascinating story that makes the view point all that more interesting.

Working With Angels And Guides

Many people have asked me what it is like to work on a daily basis with your guides and to trust what they say even when the request for action goes against what your head/logic might tell you to do. This question is a big one for people that are just learning to consciously channel, and are not sure of what they are hearing/seeing or what they should be repeating.

First, let me say, that working with Spirit is a total commitment of Faith and Belief. One needs to have faith that the guides give you information for your greatest and highest good, and for the greatest and highest good of all concerned. One also needs to have belief that what you hear and see is in fact a reality even though no one else hears or sees quite the same thing.

If you think about it, this is not so different from every day life. When I was teaching Organizational Behavior at the University of Manitoba, one of my favorite exercises to do with a class was to stage an “incident” where individual students were willing participants in an altercation between teacher and student. We all had our scripts, and the rest of the class became “eye” witnesses. After the altercation, the students who participated would storm out of the classroom. I would tell the rest of the class that I would need incident reports from them to turn in to the University Administration. When everyone was finished writing their report, I would invite the offending students back into the class and as a group, we debriefed the incident. I was always amazed at the number of different “truths” that the students observed. Perception is definitely in the “eye” or “I” of the beholder. Yes, one’s ego plays a large role in what one observes and believes. To see this concept played out, see the movie “Runaway Jury”.

However, back to the point – when you see or hear something that no one else sees and hears, are you losing your mind? Is it real? Are your guides really talking to you? And, should you tell others about the interesting and often strange things that you hear and see, especially if it concerns them? I think each individual should decide this for themselves. I believe also in the Principle of Non-interference, or, as one of my friends calls it, “The Law of Mind Your Own Business!” A wonderful fable illustrates this concept with a story about a man flailing about in a lake. Anybody passing by would see him as drowning. When a student and his Master pass by, the student becomes concerned when his Master does not take action to save the man in the lake. The Master tells the student that the man has not cried for help, so they will not interfere, otherwise he may not learn to swim. The lesson for all of us is that by interfering in someone’s life, we may interfere with a life lesson. What usually happens when a lesson is stopped, it becomes slightly harsher when it is repeated.

You do need to determine though why it is you are being given the information. If I am to pass the information on to the person, usually my guides will tell me that this is the case, and they will also give me a time frame that I need to do this in. Additionally, if someone asks what it is you see or what it is you are getting, and they give you permission to tell them, then, by all means share your information.

A good example of when I was given information that I needed to pass on happened on one of my Microsoft business trips to a client site. I was working in an office on reports when a lady that works on the Help Desk popped in with some information that I needed. I thanked her and was going to turn back to my work when my guides said, “Ask her to sit down and chat.” Even though I was quite busy, I did this. With guidance, I then asked her what was troubling her, because she did look extremely sad. Our conversation was about the fact that she’d been diagnosed with a brain tumor on the right side of her brain. She of course was troubled about the outcome. My guides asked me to tell her about what she could do to help herself, and how she needed to care for herself, and that by following certain steps, her healing would be assured. She was very receptive to the guidance and asked for more over the next several weeks.

My time at that client site was four months, and before the work was complete, she did have the operation, and opted to return to work on a part time basis. It is in these situations where I can offer comfort and guidance that I am so very grateful to the service that I am able to provide to people with the help of my guides. Remember, I did not tell her what to do, I merely gave her guidance with her permission. I had faith in my guides and I believed that the outcome would be positive.

For those of you starting out, each time we work with our guides and follow instruction for being of service to others, we follow our own reality. If you feel uncomfortable with your information, ask for signs. Our guides give us many signs. If in doubt, follow the truth in your heart. All will be well!

Flight, Fight, And Prophecy

Behaviorists tell us that for every action there is a re-action, and then the re-action becomes the action for the next re-action, and so forth. Humans are funny creatures. We are part of the natural order (nature’s order of things). However, for some reason, we believe that we are outside the rules of nature. Therefore, many
times we re-act to what we think is an attack. We interpret an action as an act of aggression. Our reason or excuse for most actions is that “this person wronged me by “doing” a certain activity or by saying certain words. How many of you have witnessed a child acting out aggression because the other child “touched” them?

While many of us will fight based on an action, many of us would just as soon flee.
We feel threatened by an action, and rather than fight to protect our position, we leave the area as soon as we can. There is truth in the saying “He who flees or runs away lives to fight another day”. Yes the expression is changed with poetic license, but the message is clear. So what is the right thing to do, fight or not?

The right answer would be to figure out what it is that you fear, and deal with that before you either strike out at the person you perceive is wronging you or flee, leaving the person bewildered by your sudden action. Our ego exists simply for our protection, and many times sets us up to fail by prohibiting us from moving forward and dealing with fear. The exception would be when a person is fighting in a war and taking orders to fight or retreat.

It is for that reason that many of us consult angel oracle cards. The more we know, the more we can move forward with a more expansive response than just fighting or running away. Taking an action and analyzing it helps one make better decisions and gives one a safe environment in which to try new responses.

Prophecy is a set of possibilities based on the current trend of actions and responses. The accuracy of the prophecy increases as people lose the fear around the unknown. For example, would your response to being jilted by lover change if you already knew that a more suitable lover was on the way, and that your life would be much happier if you move beyond the current love? Most people will respond, “Of course you’d be happier!” It follows then that the sorrow and grieving that may follow a break up will be minimized dramatically, leaving the person clear to move on to other things. How many of us have carried sorrow and grief, like a boat anchor, from an action that we perceived as a “bad” thing? If this is true for relationships, would it not also be true of career, family, life purpose, and even finding hidden talent? When will you change your fight or flight response? The angels suggest that now would be a good time. ***

Wiltshire White Horses

When life is getting hectic, I think of the recent trip I made to England. The trip was to be a seven day visit to sacred sites. Our first day out was to Stonehenge. However, on the way there and back, we saw two of the the ten or so white horses in England. I was quite excited about seeing them because it stirred something primal in me. The white horse was important. It was a sign of big or bigger things.
Coincidentally, several of the crop circles this year were right around the Wiltshire White Horse at Alton Barnes. When you walk up around it, which we did several days later, one realizes that it is just a patch of ground with white chalk as the basic medium for the creation for the white horse. There are arguments about when they were created and why they were created and who created them the first time.
I feel that there is power in the horses - perhaps contributed from the ley lines that seem to be close by. It also seems that the crop circles seem to be close to them as though acknowledging that they are important. The horse does provide a focus for me for meditation.

Breath and Water

Our body consists of water. However the formula for water is H20. That means that each breath we take moves some hydrogen into water because the oxygen makes it so! It seems then that the deep breathing many of us never do is really a good habit. Breathe in, right to your pelvis, and hold for a count of seven. Breathe out for a count of seven. You guessed it! Repeat this seven times. More oxygen makes your skin look younger and healthier. Oxygen and water make you shine!

Having Fun!

One of the many things that I am learning as I move forward in my life as a participant in Angels And Ancestors, is that I need to have more fun! If someone asks me, I will be the first to say that I need to have fun. In fact, one of the reasons that I quit my corporate job was because it was not fun any longer. So, as I have been working to change my life, one card keeps coming up as a guidance card when I ask, “What is it that I really need to know to change my life?”

That card is “Play Time”. This is in the Mermaids and Dolphins deck by Doreen Virtue. If you study the card and read the notation in the guide book that goes with the deck, you see that play time is actually a form of meditation. Play time may involve being outside in nature, or playing with your children, pet, spouse, or spending time in an activity with friends. When this keeps turning up, I know that I have been focusing too hard on something that is not serving my highest good.

In fact, even before leaving my corporate job, I was getting messages from my Angels and Guides telling me to ease up and play. “Read a book, paint a picture, or latch hook. Let your mind and body wander in peace and let them create.” I believe that not having taken a vacation for about a year (other than time to go and see my folks) was part of the reason that I was getting these messages. I was pushing to get things done. Now I am trying to slow down and enjoy each moment. When one is truly at play, time stops, and you do enter a “Zen-like” state that allows one to simply “be”.

I wish for each of you moments of fun and play, and most of all, I wish you peace and joy! If we could all learn to play, peace and joy will follow, and, before long, we will all be healthier and happier. -Blessings! Judy

Harmony and Feng Shui

"If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world." -old Chinese saying

The primary objective of feng shui is to increase the positive energy flow in all environments by improving balance, harmony, order, beauty, function, and safety.

So why is this Ying Yang ball important and why is Feng Shui important? The important thought is around "harmony" and "balance". If we look around the world, it seems that so much is out of balance and that harmony in homes, between friends, and certainly between nations is at an all time low. It also seems that Mother Earth herself is out of balance and is listing to one side. People everywhere seem to be complaining about the heavy energy or low energy that assails them from time to time. Mostly though, people just seem to be complaining. With all of that negativity, the "muck" in the atmosphere is getting thicker and weighing down all of us. We see this in the unkindness to one another expressed by bullying, road rage, suicide and domestic violence in the G-7 countries (Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United States), and in the internal and external political violence in other countries.
How do we correct this? The answer lies in the old Chinese saying - create harmony within the home and family so that they do not buy in to the concepts of scarcity and fear that are being paraded by the media everyday. In fairness to the media, the politicians do tend to feed the frenzy to protect their positions. If we all got along and all lived in peace and could decide things by consensus - we would not need politicians or lawyers. Politicians, lawyers, and controversy thrive because we have been brought up on the love of power and the belief in scarcity. Those belief systems actually begin in the home environment for many of us. We see parents compete and struggle to dominate one another, their children, and their extended family and friends. We see teachers struggle within their system to control their outcome. Many times, the control turns to a need for power which manifests into classrooms feeling like small war zones as the teachers and students battle.

Enter Feng Shui. How would things differ if we could bring balance, harmony, beauty, function, safety, and most of all a sense of order to each home and business. When people feel the harmony, their well being is transformed because they find beauty in the feeling of safety and the order of their world. Everything has its place, and there is not any place that is empty so therefore there is not scarcity. Yes, this is over simplified. However the idea is to "see" the cause and effect that may bring about change. We are all looking for that place of peace where we can experience great joy and a feeling of kinship with everyone.