Tarot Discussion - The Hanged Man

"Hanged Man card from the Waite Deck"

 

It is very difficult to tell someone what the card is trying to tell them without seeing the rest of the reading. So, let us simply work on the various meanings of the card. First, the meaning of the card varies somewhat with the deck design and purpose of the deck. In the traditional Waite deck which is a benchmark deck for describing the cards, the Hanged Man is usually an optimistic card, at least that is my view. The card is significant because it is about letting go - let your emotions go; accept what is and that all you can do is "hang" on for the ride; surrender and experience this period of time; end the struggle and accept; be open and trusting to what ever new is coming your way; give up control and be at peace with that (look at the expression on the hanged man's face. It is quite serene.) And accept the will of Great Spirit, God, the Universe or Buddha.

The Hanged Man is suspended. This has parallels in mythology when Odin, Norse God was suspended from the Tree of Life for three days and nights. In that time, one is reflecting, feeling outside of time, just being and giving up moving forward. For sure, when you are hanging, you are living in the moment and waiting for the opportunity to get off the tree. Depending on the cards surrounding this card, it is about being in such a period of change that your world turns upside down and you gain a new perspective and a new direction in your life. As above, so below. Sometimes you need to turn things around to see the truth.

The concept of death is about the "death" of an old way of being and the welcoming of a new life. It may be the death of selfishness, and the arrival of a kinder gentler person. Additionally, it may be the surrendering of old character traits and "hanging around" to pick up new ones. It takes quite a bit of fortitude to hang upside down. When Odin came off the tree, he had acquired all world knowledge and understood that Thought and Memory were external to one's needs and to one's understanding of life. If you are getting the Hanged Man in your readings, life will be changing over the next year. Enjoy the scenery!

Blessings! Judith  

Questions or comments - email judy@angelsandancestors.com

Protected by Black Tourmaline

"Black Tourmaline" photo by Judith Hirst-Joyeux 2008

I was working at the Body Mind And Spirit Expo, and when I left the building, all I could think about was finding Peace. Since the expo is a place of spirituality, I thought it was odd that I felt this way. When I looked up the meaning of the word "peace", the explanation was "a state of harmony or the absence of hostility". Now that is interesting!

This means that the expo, for me, was not a place of harmony, and that perhaps I even felt hostility at times. Given that there are 100 booths with 100 merchants trying to "sell" their services, perhaps it was the competitive spirit that seemed hostile. As I thought about it, I really don't think that is the answer. Everyone that I met was happy and genuinely glad to see the other people that were in the booths. The exhibitors had their own community within the four walls and they made me feel part of it. It was a happy feeling! And, since today is Earth Day, there was a drumming session for Earth Day that ended with a parade of music around the exhibit hall. The energy was high and fun.

As I thought about it, it seemed that the audience attending the expo must then be the source of disharmony. Each person would come in seeking their own truth or solution, and quite possibly may be unhappy if the answer was not at the expo. Some folks came in feeling unhappy or unwell, and that energy spilled over. As I reflected, I was very lucky that I had carried my black tourmaline with me since it does absorb negativity, and transmutes it.  This small crystal probably kept me from feeling the full impact of the energy around me. Black tourmaline is a very protective crystal for the body and soul.

The learning experience then, became several things. 1) A meditation or reflection on peace. 2) A gratefulness for Black Tourmaline 3) A feeling of being blessed by having the experience and awareness, and 4) a gratefulness for the return to harmony.

May your days be filled with harmony and light!

Judith  (email judy@angelsandancestors.com)

Juniper Medicine (Herb)

Juniper Berry picture from Wikipedia

A good read is Whispers From the Woods by Sandra Kynes (Lewellyn Worldwide, Woodbury, MN www.llewellyn.com). The description of one of the trees really struck a me with a moment of AHA! All over Canada, it seems that juniper bushes get planted in front of the house or behind the house or in the yard.
Kynes talks about the fact that juniper bushes were planted in front of a house as a protection against witches. She also talks about the German belief that having a juniper bush in front of your house will prevent thieves from breaking into the house and stealing all the valuables. Did you know that juniper berries could be used to make gin?
What is really striking is that in the West, we have acres of juniper, if it were all together in one lot. It is striking that because of its medicinal purposes for colds, aches, and pains among other things, that almost every home then has a little medicine cabinet outside the door. Yet we are not conscious of the properties of the plant. We do seem to be conscious that somehow juniper is beneficial for we name many things from network systems, to music to designs after the juniper bush.
The juniper tree's greatest gift is the berries.  These berries may be used to make a diuretic tea that does not seem to diminish one's electrolytes as over the counter diuretics may do.  Pick the berries when they are ripe and then place them on a cookie sheet covered with brown paper. Place the cookie sheet in a dark place - a pantry - for three days. The berries will dry. They may be stored in a cloth pouch and used, a teaspoonful at a time, in tea.  Pour boiling water over the berries, and mash a bit, and let the tea steep for three minutes.  Sweeten with honey if you find the taste too bitter.
Let us know how your medicine from juniper turns out. Let us know too, if you have any juniper recipes to share. Bright blessings!
Judith  (judy@angelsandancestors.com)

A "Noah's Ark For Endangered Species - A Cool Idea!

The Lynx could soon be roaming the Highlands under plan to make Britain a 'Noah's Ark' for endangered species (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1036133/The-Lynx-soon-roaming-Highlands-plan-turn-Britain-Noahs-Ark.html ) By David Derbyshire Last updated at 7:49 AM on 18th July 2008

If you saw the movie, "Evan Almighty" then the headline above may resonate with you. What the movie showed is what Shaman have known always - that the animals, when treated with respect, want to work with us. Yes, I know it is a movie - however, animals do behave in very human ways.

One of my friends was telling a story about a horse they were buying from a breeder/trainer in Wyoming. When they asked the trainer if the horse had any bad traits, the trainer replied, "Well, he keeps taking my hammer when I am fixing fence. I guess I should have stopped him, but it is kind of cute!" Animals do many things that we would consider "human".

Why I want to celebrate this headline and the idea, is that we humans have done a lot of damage to wildlife and we have totally eradicated many species. When someone wants to save an endangered species, I feel like Mother Earth is sighing and saying, "Finally! Someone gets it!" Of course, when the endangered species is something that hunts the sheep, chickens, cattle, or other livestock, one is a little more skeptical about how those that raise livestock will react to the news of "rescuing" a lynx.

So how is peace going to be kept on Noah's Ark? I always find it funny when the wildlife people on one hand will tell the public not to feed wild animals, and then on the other hand, encourage people to feed the birds. I am not suggesting that we feed the animals in our back yards - although some do feed deer and other creatures that way. What I am suggesting is that perhaps we need to put out "peace" offerings, far away from where the farms are, as encouragement for the animals to stay within park boundaries. Our ancestors left offerings of kills for the wild animals - the predators. And, they offered seeds to the fields and forests in return for what the humans used from these same places. The wild inhabitants did have benefit from this exchange.

Now, it seems that we want to "save" animals, and by- the-way, could they avoid eating anything of value! It seems we are schizophrenic about the animals and how they "fit" in with our world. Maybe the answer is to move all the humans off of Noah's Ark. No - that would be too costly and where would they go? How do we get the wild animals and the domestic humans to cohabitate? Perhaps the humans will lose the love of hunting for sport. Perhaps the animals will avoid domestic animals and humans. Perhaps....

I hope this program to rehab the lynx works! I hope that it benefits everyone, and that the lynx remains shy and fearful of humans. I hope that the humans are more forgiving of the animals then they have been up to now.

May the inhabitants of Britain be filled with loving kindness for the lynx.

Judith

(What do you think? Email Judith at Judy@angelsandancestors.com)

Steps To Harmony

  Did you know that the word "harmony" is really a word used to describe music where the notes that are played together provide a sound that is absolutely pleasing to the ear (depending of course on one's taste in music). The harmony also implies that either the music or the singers are in tandem with the pitch of the notes or the pitch of the voices.

When we say that we need to find balance or harmony in our life, what exactly do we mean? Most people mean that they are doing too much of one thing, and doing it too frantically. It means that they don't have time for themselves or for others they consider important in their life. Like the lyrics in Harry Chapin's song, Cat's In The Cradle - "When you comin' home dad? I don't know when, but we'll get together then son You know we'll have a good time then..." we tell others that we "don't know when" we will get together to do the things that we want to do.

Harmony then begins by knowing when we will do something. If we don't know, who will know? It is our life and we need to be responsible for it, and not leave it to others to run. If you look around, the "others" are not doing very well at running a lot of things.

Harmony is about watching where one spends their time. If you are spending two to three hours a day commuting, is it time to look at the harmony of the time spent working, the time spent traveling and the time spent eating, sleeping and with family. Could you do better? Do you need to change the job or the commute?

Harmony means that you are important! How are "you" important in your life? Or, are you just a player going through the motions. Do "you" get excited about something? Is it sports, crafts, or yard work? What do you do just for "you"?

Harmony means that the music is not discordant. Is your life discordant? Do you have many dramas, and shouting, and hostility around you? This is not harmony! Harmony is a peaceful flow that does not provide stress in one's life. When one tries to control the people and events around them, then you will have disharmony. We are not meant to be controllers. We are meant to be guides and helpers. When someone feels controlled, they will react. Without giving up your freedom to be, try to bring harmony into your life by dealing with people and situations in a suggestive manner rather than a commanding manner. See if this helps take the drama out of your life.

Those travelers who have been on the journey to become happy, healthy, peaceful, joyful, and loving (anyone on a spiritual path) will tell you that achieving harmony is a process. Find a step, work on it, and then move another step. And, don't be surprised if the steps are years apart.

Judith

(Reach Judith at judy@angelsandancestors.com.  Originally published May 16th 2007 in the Rise Higher! Blog by Angels And Ancestors.

The Crow in The Tree

  This picture of a crow is from the Wiktionary

This article was originally posted by Judith Hirst-Joyeux on May 23, 2007 on a different blog. 

This morning my dog, Magic, and I were walking along one of our many walking routes. My mind was occupied with what I should be doing for the rest of the day. Magic, meanwhile, was enjoying the present moment, following the dogs' newspapers along the ground, and saying "Hi!" to all the kids on the way to school. As I started noticing his enjoyment of the walk, I wondered where my enjoyment was. Was this a fun walk or not? I started pondering the question and pretty soon was caught up in the many aspects of enjoyment. What does enjoyment really mean? This was turning out to be a pretty heavy walk!

We were just completing mile two when we hit a boulevard with many poplar trees lining the way. As we walked, I was still caught up in the discussion of enjoyment going on in my mind. I noticed that two birds were flying around the small park off on my left. As I walked, both birds flew up over my head and then landed in a small tree slightly ahead of me, on my right. It was a very black shiny crow, and a very black and white magpie. They both sat on the same side of the tree, and the crow sat on a low branch at about my shoulder height. The magpie was one branch above him. And, the birds watched us. Magic ignored them. However, I felt their gaze. I felt that they were talking to me as they started with a series of caws and magpie song.

When I got home, I pulled out my trusty Ted Andrews, ANIMAL-SPEAK, and looked up the birds. Crow is about magic and reminding one that magic is around you at all times, and that you need to call up the magic to use it in your life. In fact, the crow is called one of the birds of creation, and that the magic of creation is calling. The crow is about being full of creative potential and looking to deliver that potential.

The magpie is a cousin to the crow. The frame of reference for magpie includes the proper use of intelligence, familiars and occult knowledge. The cycle of power for magpie is summer and winter - and we are just coming in to the summer. Magpies are considered the most intelligent of the crow family, and remind one to use their innate intelligence to solve any problems, and to look at opportunities to advance.

The combination of the two birds together is an oracle reminding me to look to my intellect and to the universe to keep moving forward. It is a reminder too, that I have creativity that needs to be released - in writing and in music and decorating.

Mahakla is the dharmapala or protector of the Dharma in Buddhism, and often comes to Earth as a Crow. The crow then, and his cousin, are wonderful bringers of knowledge and wisdom, and are the spirit guides that lead you to new ways of thinking in spirituality and in practical matters.

Spirit Animal - Meadow Vole Brings a Message

Picture from Wikipedia - "Meadow Vole"

 

I often equate my morning walk with a morning meditation since it seems that out in nature, I receive much guidance that is simply given to me because I show up!  This morning was no exception. 

The dogs and I had already hiked over a mile, and we were following a path that took us through some low woodland and meadow area in the park.  As I looked up the path ahead, I could see a small brownish/black animal running along the path.  I glanced at the dogs.  No reaction!  What was going on? Sage, our golden retriever, is very alert and is the first to spot something moving, and is very eager to catch up to it.  As we neared the small animal, I could see that it was mouse-like.  And, still there was no reaction from the dogs!  When we were almost on top of it, the small beastie crawled under some low lying long grass and flowers. 

Since I wasn't sure what it was, I looked for a picture of it when I got home.  I knew that since the dogs were unaware of it, that the animal was for me to see, and that it was to give me a message.  Now, I just needed to get the message interpreted. 

The little guy was a Vole.  It was long and chunky and seemed more black that brown and had almost no tail.  It was not in any big hurry, and as previously mentioned, finally crawled off the path when we were close to it.  The message in this seemed to be two-fold.

1.  The dogs could not see the animal, but I could.  So, the message is that you will see what you put your attention on, and the more you stand back and look, the clearer the range of details will be.  You will see the forest and the trees and the grass and all that is.

2.  The second message is about being invisible.  Sometimes we are most invisible when we are most obvious!  This means that we can be with others and yet be invisible to them so they do not feel threatened by the power or vibration an individual may carry.  As people have been channelling about the energy recently, it seems that the majority of people are feeling low energy, sickly, depressed, stuck, and many are loosing their jobs/identity.  Therefore, people react, usually with suspicion, to anyone who seems different - and doesn't feel like they do. 

Since I really did not know much about the Vole, I did some reading about it.  I was amazed to learn that it has four toes on the front feet and five toes on the back feet.  The number nine symbolizes completeness and also in some languages means both the number nine and the word "new".  (Neuf means both nine and new in French, and I believe the German language has a similar meaning for the number nine.)  So, for me, I gathered that part of my life was now complete.  It certainly feels that way.  And, I am now preparing for the next stage, or the new life.  The colour "black" is associated with magic. However, it is also often associated with the blank screen - the black screen that shows up just before the movie starts.  Black animals are often referred to as messengers for Great Spirit. Since many things have happened to me before they have happened to the main stream, this interpretation also felt correct.

I am now mentally preparing for the next big set of changes that Vole indicates will happen.  Perhaps I will be able to become invisible at will - by being able to blend in better or by consciously shifting my focus. That will be something to look forward too!

May all be well in your world, and may you experience the excitement of something new!

Judith

(judy@angelsandancestors.com)

Mysteries in Munay-Ki

"Hills and valleys" - Judith Hirst-Joyeux June 2007

This is a picture of a valley - it could be anywhere. That is the thing about geography of the land, it looks very similar in different countries, and, unless you are specifically given the location, you may not be able to identify the country.

Mother Earth is not concerned with the religious or political borders of her landscape.  She provides for everyone as best she can. 

"Creek with a Mission" - Judith Hirst-Joyeux May 2008

I have seen a creek like this one in the Rocky Mountains in Alberta and BC.  I have seen similar creeks in the prairies and down into the US.  I am sure you will find a creek like this in Europe.

The Rites of Munay-Ki emphasize that we are all very much the same - human beings, with the same issues and problems and the same hopes and dreams. 

When I confer the Rites with apprentices, I am often amazed at the visions that they have - a great gift from Great Spirit/Creator.  Some of the visions focus on the Earth, and show places like the sites in the pictures above.  Some apprentices are taken to far away times and places - they see their lineage of healers which may be medicine men/women in South America, China, Australia/New Zealand, or someplace in Europe.  Some apprentices are taken up to space in their Wisdom Keeper and Earth Keeper Rites.  Here they are show a symbol or a star complex and given information around the symbol that the apprentice will share in a time to come. 

At times, the apprentice will emerge from meeting their Harmonies, the archetypes that are placed in each of the chakras, with eyes filled with tears.  They have been given a special gift or message by Serpent, Jaguar, Hummingbird, Eagle/Condor, Huscar, Quetzalcoatl, or Pachakuti. The apprentice's eyes will have changed during that sending - the eyes become more luminous. 

Munay-Ki is about becoming a luminous being.  It is about the process of transformation - the human moving from homo sapiens to homo luminous.  The process moves us forward on our journey in an incredibly gentle and yet forceful way that makes one pay attention to everything around them.

One of the greatest mysteries is how the Universe arranges life to present each apprentice with a every day challenges around the vows.  The vows are to be pacifist rather than fighter (violence and harm to none including self), to stand in truth, to stand with integrity, to follow moderation (and avoid gluttony) in all things, and to be generous since truly we are simply caretakers.  Apprentices have shared stories about standing in a room and hearing a voice tell them "you no longer need that (chair, basket, blanket, jacket, etc.).  Take it to, and  a name or place is given, because they require it now."  When the apprentice follows the instructions, sure enough, they find that person or place truly needs the item.  The apprentice feels great as does the recipient. 

One has to believe that the Universe has a greater design than we see if such happenings work out on schedule.  Until someone totally works out the greater design, I am pleased to have a part in the unfolding mysteries of the Munay-Ki.

Judith

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;

Judith

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A World Without Butterflies!

Battle of Britain's butterflies being lost, warns Sir David Attenborough

(http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1036017/Battle-Britains-butterflies-lost-warns-Sir-David-Attenborough.html)

By David Derbyshire Last updated at 4:27 PM on 17th July 2008

I was very upset when I read this headline!  Yes, it says that the butterflies are diminishing in England, so... that should not affect North America. I believe that it is affecting us - especially in Western Canada.

I have noticed that there does not seem to be any butterflies in our yard, or out in the park, or in many places that I frequent.  Last year, we had very colourful butterflies in our yard, and in the neighbourhood.  Not only are they beautiful, the butterflies also help pollinate flowers.  The caterpillars which eventually become butterflies, eat leaves, seeds, flowers, and in some cases, aphids.  Butterflies are a part of the natural cycle of all that is.  Scientists as early as 1999 indicated that genetically modified crops were affecting the development of monarch butterflies.   (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/1999/may/20/food.gm) Too, pesticides used indiscriminately kill many butterflies and other beneficial insects.  The Wildlife Conservation of the US are looking at taking down the border fence in some areas of Texas/Mexico because the fence traps butterflies.

Butterflies are somehow magical to humans.  There are legends of butterfly people who were gloriously beautiful and related to fairies.  The Egyptians and Romans believed the butterfly was the symbol of the human soul.  People around the world build butterfly gardens and sanctuaries to preserve the beauty.  Butterfly the world over is a symbol of transformation and of ascendance.  Native cultures of North and  South America believe that butterflies are messengers of the Gods.  If one whispers their prayer to a butterfly. the butterfly would carry the prayer to Great Spirit.  If you watched "Lord Of The Rings", Gandolf used a Moth in much the same way.  He whispered his need/prayer, and the moth set off to provide the means to rescue him.

Legend also says that butterflies indicate fertile soil and abundance.  I have to say that if lack of butterflies indicate there is no abundance, then our garden this year proves that saying true.  We have a very low yield compared to last year and the proliferation of butterflies in the garden then.

I profoundly wish that butterflies do not disappear!

May your life be filled with butterflies and abundance.

Judith

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What is a Totem?

Picture from Microsoft Clipart

 

There are three aspects of animal that may be sent to guide us – the mythic (the physical aspect); the symbolic or archetype (the universal story that each animal carries to us); and finally, the energetic which is the spirit of the animal which speaks to our soul. To further set some language guidelines around the discussion of spirit animals, we need to talk about totem, power and spirit animals. Some writers and speakers use these words interchangeably. Setting some definitions around the words will help our discussion and create understanding.

When we hear the word "totem" we may tend to think of the totem pole. Well this would be a good starting point in understanding the totem animal. The totem animal usually represents a group of people such as a tribe or village or city. This animal has become a physical symbol for this group of people. Athletic groups use mascots and very often these mascots are animals. For example, the Calgary Stampeders use a horse as a symbol of the stampede. The San Jose Sharks use a shark. At each football game, the horse gallops or stampedes across the stadium whenever a touchdown occurs. At a Sharks game, the mascot is a shark.

A huge number of schools and universities and even pro teams use the bear as their mascot or symbol. The bear represents size, intimidation. It is a force to be reckoned as one thinks about the physical image of the animal. (We are talking about a large bear – grizzly, Kodiak, big black.) This then is the totem for that team. The mythic level of the bear speaks to the size, strength, wisdom and protective nature of the animal. Bears protect their young ferociously, and are very maternal. This speaks to the nurturing within the team and the way they support each other, generally on and off the field. Hibernation equates to the teams on and then off season. Each team hibernates to prepare for the next season. The bear has been worshiped as a deity for eons. Cave drawings show it as one of the oldest clan animals. All the mythologies speak of one bear god or goddess. Astrology even recognizes the bear in the sky. Therefore, energetically, the bear transfers its strength, size and loyalty to the spirit and soul of the players on the team. "We are Bears!" becomes more than a chant. It becomes an identity. The totem then, is an identity of spirit.  In fact, one meaning of totem is "Kin of".

May Spirit send you many Totems.

Judith

Sanctuary

  Photo courtesy of Roger Joyeux....... 

I have been a consultant and project manager working for others and an entrepreneur for twenty years.  In the past two years, I have learned that regardless of how far one travels (I have pretty much covered most of the US in the last two years) there is no place like home. Oh, it can seem quite glamorous to live in the luxury Hilton for a week or stay in the Radisson Tower on the waterfront in Vancouver. Most of the time though, one doesn't have the time to enjoy the amenities other than to eat, and a visit to the spa is out of bounds because of the lack of time.

My friends and I often talk about how difficult life on the road can be. The title "road warriors" is not a trite tribute to all the people that travel weekly as part of their daily job. A road warrior is constantly looking for peace especially on the plane. Some find their peace buried between two ear phones linked to an iPod. Some find it in sleep. I have been finding it more often in meditation.

The picture in this article is of a "gazing ball" or meditation ball. This delightful statue is in our yard. I find that when I am at home, our backyard is a sanctuary. To duplicate this sensation, I can sit in the plane and then meditate upon our gazing ball, our angel sanctuary retreat, and our garden. These thoughts take me to a place of stillness that allows me to be so in the present moment that I forget where I am. Being this present, for me, is living in sanctuary. Being in this place is peaceful, joyous, restoring.

I wish for each of you a moment of sanctuary. I wish for each of you a moment of joy where you can walk with the magnificent Presence and feel a peace so profound that it massages your heart chakra, and allows it to open a little more. I wish for you that moment of emotion that is gently healing. I wish for you a chance to hear the music of the spheres as the strings and flutes play in the distance but still are audible. I wish for you the magic to use in manifestation. I wish you harmony for every day of your life.

First published by Judith Hirst April 11, 2007

What Time Do You Have?

Picture from Microsoft Clipart

 

Time is fascinating because it is limited - a scarce resource - or so we think! The most common refrain one hears is "I don't have time!" This may be for work, recreation, or just plain living. When you ask someone what the time is, you will get an amazing range of answers. As Alexander Pope says - "T is with our judgments as our watches — none, Go just alike, yet each believes his own."

The world time can be found here at www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/. This is a cool place to go to see what the comparative time is in Europe or Asia. Mankind has always been fascinated with time, and archeologists believe the oldest record of keeping time are on cave walls, and were designed 20,000 years ago.

My clients always ask if I have time to see them.  Usually I do, however, it may not be in the same time slot they originally requested.  Or, sometimes a friend will call, and say, "Do you have time to talk?"  It seems that we have so little time ourselves that we expect that others will not have time for us as well.  How did that happen?  How did we come to a place where we do not have time for ourselves and for each other?  Is it because time is now equated with money? 

If that is the case, then time should be unlimited.  Money is a concept, just as time is.  Money can be minted and printed without limit. Whether it is tied to a silver or gold or some other standard really makes little difference.  Physicists are learning all the time that that "time" is not the property that we thought it was.  Physics has proven a concept called " Relativistic time dilation" which basically states that two people may see the same event, and the two people might be different distances from the event, the light will travel at the same speed for both people, even if the distance for one is greater.  The person closest to the event will observe that the event is slower than the person farther away.  (If you want to explore this further, see the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia's Physics web page at www.phys.unsw.edu.au/einsteinlight/js/text_module4.htm)

Whether time is limited or not, it seems that we all can find real time wasters.  Hate and anger and revenge are three things that people let take up much of their thoughts and their time.  Emily Dickinson sums up why one should have no time to hate....

I had no time to hate, because
by Emily Dickinson

I had no time to hate, because
The grave would hinder me,
And life was not so ample I
Could finish enmity.
Nor had I time to love, but since
Some industry must be,
The little toil of love, I thought,
Was large enough for me.

Well, I have to go!  My time is up!

Judy

Spirit Animal - Pelican

 

"Pelican flock on the Bow River"

Copyright 2008 by Judith Hirst-Joyeux

Pelicans are dedicated fishermen, and seem to have an unerring sense of where the fish are and how long they will be in that area.  When the fish have moved on, the pelican group will rise into the air in a flurry of white, and soar up the river (or down, as the case may be) looking for the next pocket of fish.

For several days now, I have been seeing the pelican on my walks or when I am driving to go shopping.  I have learned that this means Great Spirit has a message for me via the pelican.  Some days I think a phone call would be much simpler!  However, now that my attention is focused, Great Spirit knows that I will look for the guidance. 

At first, the message is not clear.  Black and white - all about mystery and magic.  Got that!  The black tips are on the wings - that is about flying into mystery and accepting the magic that appears in life.  As the pelican flies upwards, the black wing tips ground it even though it goes ever higher as depicted by the white representing the white lotus flower and the eighth chakra.  Part of the message then is to get in touch with my higher self, and sooner than later. 

The pelican has orange legs and an orange bill.  The legs are in the water which represents emotion.  The orange colour relates to the sacral chakra - the chakra of creativity and manifestation, relationships, and control.  Some of the issues that I often see connected with this chakra are about control, money, sexual issues, power, guilt and blame, and the duality of grace and joy along with fear and anger.  I remembered that black and white is also about duality.

The thought that popped up was that I needed to wade into the emotions that I have been holding in my sacral around anger at the treatment my husband received at the hands of a large corporation.  As well, I needed to loose the frustration that I was feeling around the decisions I was trying to make around my work, and the "stuck feeling" I had around writing the modules for StarWalker.  This was big!

The other part of the message was that I needed to let go of the outcome of what was going on with Roger, and I needed to let go of "controlling so tightly" what the modules would look like.  I needed to let Spirit (the white is spirit) wade in and help me.  The orange bill indicates that I (we) will receive abundance, and like the pelican, I will always know where to look for it because I have that creative ability.

When I finished translating the message, I felt pretty humble.  A phone call would not have been half as effective!

May Great Spirit fly a message your way,

Judy   

(judy@angelsandancestors.com)

Celebrating A New Family of Ducks & A Man Named Joel

My friend Rachel sent me this great story about a guy named Joel who saw a family in distress, and proceeded to rescue them!  I love birds and animals.  When I hear about someone doing something wonderful to help animals, I want to celebrate it because we humans do so many things to destroy birds and animals.  Thank you, Joel, and everyone, at Sterling Bank!

Judy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Something really amazing happened in Downtown Spokane this week and I had to share the story with you.
Some of you may know that my brother, Joel, is a loan officer at Sterling Bank. He works downtown in a second story office building, overlooking busy Riverside Avenue. Several weeks ago he watched a mother duck choose the cement awning outside his window as the uncanny place to build a nest above the sidewalk.
The mallard laid nine eggs in a nest in the corner of the planter that is perched over 10 feet in the air. She dutifully kept the eggs warm for weeks and Monday afternoon all of her nine ducklings hatched.

Joel worried all night how the mamma duck was going to get those babies safely off their perch in a busy, downtown, urban environment to take to water, which typically happens in the first 48 hours of a duck hatching. Tuesday morning, Joel came to work and watched the mother duck encourage her babies to the edge of the perch with the intent to show them how to jump off!
The mother flew down below and started quacking to her babies above. In his disbelief Joel watched as the first fuzzy newborn toddled to the edge and astonishingly leapt into thin air, crashing onto the cement below.

My brother couldn't watch how this might play out. He dashed out of his office and ran down the stairs the sidewalk where the first obedient duckling was stuporing near its mother from the near fatal fall.

Joel looked up. The second duckling was getting ready to jump! He quickly dodged under the awning while the mother duck quacked at him and the babies above. As the second one took the plunge, Joel jumped forward and caught it with his bare hands before it hit the cement. Safe and sound, he set it by the mamma and the other stunned sibling, still recovering from its painful leap.

One by one the babies continued to jump to join their anxious family below. Each time Joel hid under the awning just to reach out in the nick of time as the duckling made its free fall. The downtown sidewalk came to a standstill. Time after time, Joel was able to catch the remaining 7 and set them by their approving mother.


At this point Joel realized the duck family had only made part of its dangerous journey. They had 2 full blocks to walk across traffic, crosswalks, curbs, and pedestrians to get to the closest open water, the Spokane River The onlooking office secretaries then joined in, and hurriedly brought an empty copy paper box to collect the babies. 

They carefully corralled them, with the mother's approval, and loaded them up into the white cardboard container. Joel held the box low enough for the mom to see her brood. He then slowly navigated through the downtown streets toward the Spokane River, as the mother waddled behind

                                                                  and kept her babies in sight.          As they reached the river, the mother took over and passed him, jumping into the river and quacking loudly.
At the water's edge, the Sterling Bank office staff then tipped the box and helped shepherd the babies toward the 

                                                                 water and to their mother after their adventurous ride.

All nine darling ducklings safely made it into the water and paddled up snugly to mamma duck. Joel said the mom swam in circles, looking back toward the beaming bank workers, and proudly quacking as if to say,

                                                                 'See, we did it! Thanks for  all the help!

Thankfully, one of the secretaries had a digital camera and was able to capture most of it (except the actual mid-air catching) in a series of attached photographs. Please join me in celebrating my brother--   The Downtown Duck Hero!

Colour Boldly!

The Day God spilled the paint.......

The east side of the Carrizo plain, in the Temblor
Range, about 50 miles due west  of Bakersfield ,
California. 

This picture and the caption were in an email from a friend.  I don't know who the photographer was.  I do applaud him or her. 

What this picture makes me think of is a child happily colouring without any thought to lines, form or whether the colours go together.  The beauty of the free flowing colours will not be for everyone.  Some will want more structure to the arrangement of the colours.  Others will want to have definite breaks between the colours.  That is the problem that we have with colouring - we think it needs to be done in a certain way - between the lines and with clarity about whether the colours are realistic for the object being coloured.

It is fun to see that Great Spirit doesn't have any restrictions about how colours are placed together, or how high up the mountain the colours can go.  It just happens!  What a great reminder to all of us to get outside our comfort zone and imagine and colour with abandon.  We need to colour boldly!

Happy colouring,

Judy   (judy@angelsandancestors.com)

What is a Mirror?

"A pond of reflection in Fish Creek Provincial Park"

©2007 Judith Hirst-Joyeux

Most people will have experienced a time when someone came into their life that they just didn't like.  The categories of dislike may be - the swearing, the judgemental attitude, the victim mentality, the smugness, the "know-it-all" persona, and, the list goes on.  In discussion with others, this difficult person in your life is said to be a mirror - a mirror for you!  Why is a person a mirror and what does anyone need a mirror for?

The most common meaning of mirror is " a polished surface that forms images by reflecting light ".  We all use mirrors to check our appearances and to do our hair and/or makeup.  We check the mirror to ascertain how others will see us.  That thought brings up an interesting point.  A folk truth is a saying, "the best mirror is an old friend" which means a friend will usually give a person a faithful depiction or reflection of how others see the person in the spotlight.  However, everyone will very often tell a wee, white lie about appearances or other things, to avoid hurting the friend's feelings.  The friend quite often, does not hear the truth.

This is where the person that is "difficult to like" comes into one's life.  We cannot depend on our family and friends to give us absolute honesty because their honesty will be tainted with "I know what is best for you". So Great Spirit sends in people that reflect those things one does that are not likeable or that are selfish or even mean.  What ever behaviour causes an emotion like anger, disgust, or outrage, means that the behaviour is in one's self, and now is the time to take it off the mental shelf and look at the root cause. 

As the pond above reflects back the image of the banks and foliage around it, the people around us reflect back our behaviour.  It is not about right and wrong.  It is about seeing where our own behaviour holds us back.  It is about saying, "Ahhhh!  I see how I practice a pattern or behaviour or action or belief that does limit me, and may make others less tolerant of me."  This is a huge step in one's self development.  We have been raised in a society were it is the norm to be critical and to find fault or to find someone to blame.  To look to ourselves, to accept responsibility for our actions means that the mirror has done its work.  If the wind was blowing around us on a walk, we would look in the mirror as soon as we were inside, and we would fix whatever mess our hair was in.  We may blame the wind, but we still need to fix our hair.  If the people around us reflect something we don't like in ourselves, we can fix that too. 

May all reflections show you smiling!

Judy

(www.angelsandancestors.com)

global warming and change

This article first appeared in my blog in April of 2007.  A client and I were talking about change, and it seemed appropriate to run this article again.

Judith

Margerie Glacier in Glacier Bay, Alaska from Icss.net

I was searching for information about something, and a headline gave me pause for thought.

"Ice climbers give eyewitness accounts of global warming Last Updated: Saturday, April 7, 2007 | 8:11 PM ET"

The Associated Press The first line of the article was " Mountaineers are bringing back first-hand accounts of vanishing glaciers, melting ice routes, crumbling rock formations and flood-prone lakes where glaciers once rose." The whole combination of headline and of information makes this seem like a huge, shocking change that should scare us about the whole effect of global warming. At first thought - it does scare us. What happens when all we know is no longer there?

The second thought however, is - well if the world is perfect and everything happens with mathematical precision as the physicists have pointed out, then the event of global warming is an anticipated event, and the actions or behaviours caused by global warming are planned. If the ice and snow are being melted at the top of the mountain, and the ground is uncovered, then this "new" patch of earth is a place where new life or species can develop. That seems to me to be a very positive thing.

I understand global warming talks about the melting glaciers and icecaps and how water may rise along the coastlines. It also seems to me that the warming trend will raise temperatures and therefore more water will be required in some places. If this is the case, and if there is a movement of air, the water will evaporate and condense as rain or snow in the places it is needed. The earth seems to globally stay in balance. I wait to see what life forms begin a the top of the mountains.

I believe that in order to change something, one must first unmake it, get the design right, and then remake it. I think - regardless of the fact that humans are trying to control the earth, and control resources,- that Mother Earth is in the midst of redesign and that she just might sneak a whole new plan right past us!

Spirit Animal - Mallard Duck

"Two mallard ducks out of water"

Copyright May 2008 by Judith Hirst-Joyeux

Each day for several weeks, my dogs and I would find these two mallard ducks walking along the path ahead of us.  It seemed so odd that these animals which are normally afraid of humans and most things, for that matter, would persist in being on the path.  They very seldom flew away.  Most often, they would simply waddle down the bank into the channel of water and swim away.  One of the days, they simply did not want to move.  My dogs were so puzzled, they sat down on the path and watched them.

So, what was going on with these ducks?  I know that ducks are about emotion since they swim on and in the water, and water represents emotion.  They are very comfortable in that environment and that means they are comfortable with emotions, and may even use emotion as a form of protection.  Water is critical to the life of all on the planet, so duck is about nurturing and the feminine.

As I thought about these characteristics, none of them seemed to resonate.  Maybe the duck is just likes land!  Then a splash of images flowed through my mind.  Duck was setting an example.  It had picked a path, and nothing, even beings bigger than it was, could move it quickly off the path.  When it felt uncomfortable enough, it would then move back into the water environment. And, after a time, would come back out and keep trudging onward. 

Duck was showing me that I was very comfortable in my zone.  I was not moving much out of it, even though there were those people that wanted me to teach them knowledge that I had.  I was not moving forward as quickly as I should on my path which would help others to then learn and walk their path more quickly.  I was not nurturing students that needed teaching. 

Wow! Duck was teaching me a BIG lesson.  I was in a place of complacency.  I was not being all that I could be.  I decided to write more - my frequency of blogs has increased.  I have also reviewed my early lessons and I am beginning the re-write of the first modules in the StarWalker program. In May, I took on two new students.  When I completed these steps, duck no longer showed up on my path.

I wish you happy visits from Great Spirit!

Judith

(www.angelsandancestors.com)

 

Silhouette

"Silhouette of an oak tree in early spring 2008"

Copyright March 2008 by Judith Hirst-Joyeux

I was flipping through some pictures and I found this picture that I'd taken in the early spring.  The silhouette of the tree against the sky and the bleakness around it makes the tree seem dead.  Yet, it is very active, and as one walks the path near it, the smell of sap beginning to rise fills the air.

In my musing, I realised that each of us is similar to this tree at the moment the picture was snapped. We come into this world, and we grow and learn.  As people pass us by, they see the form or shape of us, a silhouette of what we look like against the background of a busy world.  Yet, they fail to see who we really are.  Like the poplar, our sap may be rising, but from all appearances we are not active, not productive, and not following our path.

I think about Eckhart Tolle who writes about himself sitting on a bench.  He must have been a silhouette for many people that simply walked by him.  How could they know what his potential was, and how much he would help shift the consciousness of millions of people around the world?

I remember a verse that someone once wrote in my autograph book.  It goes like this....

Don't worry if your jobs are small; Or if your rewards are few.

Remember that the mighty oak, was once a nut like you!

I think we are all much like the acorn.  We are just starting out. It will be a while before our silhouette is big enough to contemplate. When we are ready, however, we too will change lives!

May the moments of frustration in your life lessen as the days pass and you grow more content.

Judith 

(www.angelsandancestors.com)

Majorville Medicine Wheel

Majorville Medicine Wheel is located in Alberta and is an archeological preservation site.  

Pictures copyright by Judith Hirst-Joyeux May 2008

   On May 20th, 2008, I rode with my friends out to the Majorville Medicine Wheel located slightly southeast of Calgary.  To reach this sacred site, one has to have a sense of adventure and a vehicle that will not get caught on rocks or in ruts (four wheel drive is best).  This site is on a large ranch so the rancher needs to approve your request to travel to travel over his land.  As with many trips, the actual journey took on a significance that made reaching the actual site that much more satisfying.

   The rough trail through the ranch is marked with rock trail markers that will guide those that know what to watch for.  First Nations people from Western Canada and into the US have used this site for ceremony.  It is situated up on the top of a high hill in the area about two miles off the Bow River.

  Wes Lafortune wrote an article about the Wheel in Calgary's News And Entertainment Guide - May 27 2004.  The following quote comes from his article...

"Medicine wheels are kind of enigmas in Plains culture," says archaeologist Jason Harris, who has led tours to the site. "Majorville was started 5,000 years ago. We can’t be certain of what its purpose is."

In Alberta, Majorville is in a category of its own. Located on the highest hill in the area, it has a large central cairn that has been measured at nine metres across that is connected to 28 spokes that then connect to an outer circle that measures 27 metres in diameter."

When people travel to a sacred site, they need to have a purpose or reason.  The reason that we were there was different for each of us.  I felt a pull to travel there and to speak with the Ancestors that are linked with this site.  Upon reaching the Medicine Wheel, we prepared to ascend the to the top of the hill by either meditating or offering prayers and drumming.  Each sacred place has its own mysticism.  It felt like we were being allowed into a place that had been closed for a long time, much like an unused building. As we walked to the top, the energy that at first seemed dormant, began to hum.  I felt the hair on my arms rise in answer to the call of the energy. 

We spent two hours and bit with the Wheel.  Each person had their own extraordinary experiences. I was blessed with knowledge that I did not have before and a vision of what is to be.  These gifts are not mine to share now.  They are for a time to come. We left gifts within the cairn, and offerings to the ancestors.  Even though the time was short, I felt that I had completed an important quest. 

I pondered that thought as we drove home.  For each of us, even though our time on Earth be short, we have an important quest.  It is to be as much as we can be.  Everyone we meet becomes a be-ing that has a purpose on our quest. Perhaps some of us get lost on the journey and forget the quest, staying stuck in the ruts on the first track that was pointed out to us.

I wish that you may find a sacred site destination that leads you on a path that takes you out of the ruts and helps you on your quest!

Peaceful journeys,

Judy        While writing this, I was listening to "Sharing Life" by David R. Maracle (Reflections)

Visit Angels' website www.angelsandancestors.com.

Circle of Life - Nature Style!

"Poplar tree chewed off by beavers"

-Copyright May 2008 Judith Hirst-Joyeux

     The movie and stage show, "The Lion King" popularized the concept of the circle of life through the wonderful song with the words by Tim Rice put to music by Elton John.  Our ancestors understood that the events in their lives were cyclical - much like the seasons and much like the life of each plant and animal. It is because they lived the cycles of life that they celebrated them.  It is from our ancestors that we have the celebration of equinox and solstice - Spring rituals became our current Easter, summer rituals became our fairs and rodeos, fall rituals became our fall suppers and Halloween, and winter solstice is now mostly celebrated as Christmas.

      The picture above shows another type of circle of life - that of nature.  The picture is symbolic of the passage of life.  A huge storm of wind and rain ripped through the area and many trees could not withstand the powerful wind.  Branches, limbs and trees all came down.  Trees, as we learned in our grade school science, add new growth every year.  When a tree is cut down, one can clearly see the rings of growth, and tell how old the tree is.  What is noticeable on the tree trunk above is that the center is quite dark - indicating core rot.  The lines showing the tree's age are distorted by the teeth marks of the beavers.  The beavers did not bring the tree down, however, they understand the cycle of life and know that if a tree is gifted to them by the storm, the beavers must harvest it quickly.  Part of the cycle is that some animals and some plants grow through their life cycle to provide life for others.  As the rings in the tree reflect the cycles it has been through, the beaver teeth marks overlay the old circles to show this tree now becomes food and shelter as pieces of it are plastered into the lodge.

     The bigger picture here is how nature cycles and cleans that which is rotten and uses it for something useful.  The big storm cleaned out all the dead branches and those limbs and trees that were not healthy.  By taking them early, good food was provided for the beavers.  Additionally, the beavers "cleaned" the forest floor, leaving space for new grass and trees to grow.  This then, is the sweeping clean to start the new cycle. 

      Nature provides the teaching that it is a good thing to let that which is not serving you - that which is bad or rotten - be blown away, and to let that energy be used for something else.  Nature shows that allowing life to move and change, without controlling it, continues the cycle of life.

      May you find a way to let go of that which no longer serves you, and sweep clean your life to begin a new cycle of growth.

      Blessed be.......Judy  (judy@angelsandancestors.com)

Serenity

"Serenity At The Bow River at Bankside" 

Photograph copyright May 2008 Judith Hirst-Joyeux

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of my clients asked me how to find serenity. I was taken aback! Serenity, to me, is a state of being - not a destination.  I wondered if I misunderstood the concept. I looked it up.

serenity   The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | Date: 2008

se·ren·i·ty / səˈrenitē/ • n. (pl. -ties) the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled: an oasis of serenity amidst the bustling city. ∎  (His/Your, etc., Serenity) a title given to a reigning prince or similar dignitary.  © The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English 2008, originally published by Oxford University Press 2008.

I realized that it is a state of being. However, it is a destination as well.  I thought about where in the world I go to find serenity. I came up with "my list of serenity sites".  Here they are, in no particular order.

1. The spot along the Bow at Bankside
2. The angel sanctuary in my back yard
3. The Fairy Tree along Fish Creek
4. The secluded picnic table along Fish Creek
5. The porch at our friend's ranch house
6. The ledge part way up a mountain in Kauai
7. The hidden trail along the river close to Kananaskis Lodge
8. The log by the beaver lodge on Pine Island
9. The flat rock saddle on Cathedral Rock
10. The oak tree in the meadows close to Beaver Flats

These names will not resonate with most people.  And, that is okay.  These are my spots for serenity.  Because each person has a unique idea of what serenity is, their destination will be quite different. It may be a beach, a park bench, a library, a cathedral... it doesn't matter. 

When you are in serenity, it seems easier to feel The Divine.

Wishing you moments and places of serenity.

Judy

Great Spirit's Message and Canada Goose

      "Canada Goose Gander In A Tree"

          -Copyright May 2008 by Judith Hirst-Joyeux

 

The first time that I saw a Canada Goose in a tree, my reaction was, "What the ..?"  And then I saw a goose several more times in this tree and in various trees, and I began to be curious. I have been seeing geese in trees for the last five years.  First, my curiosity was around why he was behaving this way, and second, I wondered why I was continually seeing this behaviour. I finally snapped this picture.

After I took this picture, I realized a certain irony in the situation.  There are wonderful stories about goslings (baby geese) being imprinted with the first thing that they see upon hatching.  The imprint leads the gosling to regard that object/animal/person as their mother and supreme leader until the gosling is ready to fly on its own.  Now, here I was, imprinting the goose forever in my memory by actually taking a picture of it. There had to be something going on at a Spirit level.

I remember reading in a Ted Andrew's book that goose is about the call of the quest  and travel to places of legend. Perhaps goose was reminding me that my life is  a quest and that I better get moving on it.  Or, perhaps it is to be a reminder that magic is possible, as in legends - that the impossible such as a goose in a tree, does happen.  Since the goose is sitting up high, and this particular group of trees is in the middle of a grassy field, it seems that the goose is actually a "guardian or look out" for the small group of geese that were below the tree and along the stream.  There are several coyotes in the area that do use the long grass for ground cover as the coyote quests for food.

The idea of "look out" sent me on a new wave of thought.  Perhaps this is a warning to be on the look-out for those things which may creep up on you.  Or, it may be a reminder to be protective and to guard your mate and your family and friends.  Goose is often associated with writing and telling the story because our ancestors used goose quill pens as writing tools.  So, the idea of being on the look-out for a story or for workshop material also seems like part of the message.  

The message that resonated with me, however, was "responsibility".  This goose shows that one must accept responsibility in the group to help the group's survival.  Further, goose accepts that there is a role each of the group must perform, and in doing that role, one doesn't get to indulge in self serving actions (eating, drinking, resting, playing, or simply refusing to get involved but wanting others to do the work). This realization caused me to do some soul searching.  Was I stepping up to the plate?  Was I doing all that I could do to assist my group? Was I self indulgent? 

The answer, I realized, is in the perspective.  When you are higher up, and more removed from the situation, such as goose is, up in the tree, one sees the bigger picture.  One sees how the field merges into the trees and into the bank of the stream and even the stream itself.  One sees the symmetry and balance of being able to forage without worry while another guards.  If however, you are one of the geese on the ground, all you see is the detail around you.  Part of the balance then, comes from each goose taking a turn at sitting in the tree as the look-out while the others, including the previous look-out, take time to eat and rest.

In each of our lives, there are those people who are always demanding that we do more - that if we do not do more, we are "not responsible" or "not loving" or "not being part of the group".  As goose shows, one needs to be on the
"look-out" for those people in your life that will manipulate you, and will put your life out of balance.  The goose sends the message, then, of being discerning in where one goes and in the people or groups that one associates with, to guard against being out of balance.  That is a soul felt message from Great Spirit!

May you be peaceful and at ease, and may you be balanced,

Judy

To Go or Not, Gently Into That Good Night

Healthy woman's assisted suicide sets off firestorm in Germany

Healthy woman's assisted suicide sets off firestorm in Germany
Last Updated: Friday, July 4, 2008 | 10:32 AM ET The Associated Press

Picture from Microsoft Clipart

The decision by a woman in Germany to take her own life, rather than move into a nursing home is opening up a new perspective on living and dying.  Her reason for her decision was, quite simply, that she did not want to live the indignity of being cared for in a nursing home. To add context to this wish, read that she did not want to be in a place where she, who had been independent all of her life, would be in a place where she could not choose when to have her meals, or when to bathe, or when to go to bed and get up.  She did not want to be part of the system, run by corporations for profit, where she was a money producing widget.  In fairness, there are happy, caring long term care facilities.  This lady was simply not willing to wait for the roll of the dice to see how the rest of her life would play out. 

She was 79.  She was healthy and of sound mind. She wanted the world to remember her like that!  Because she was intelligent, and therefore did her due diligence around her decision, she asked her Doctor for advice.  He obliged, and actually came up with a formula for her to take to help her die peacefully, and then, filmed her death where she stated that she was making a choice, and that she was happy and comfortable with it.

Now, what makes this more interesting, is that the citizens of Germany and others around the world are shocked.  The citizens and politicians wish to pass legislation to prevent further assisted suicides. It seems quite odd that people would prevent someone from making this rational decision.  Now, if she had decided to smoke and drink herself to death, no one would interfere because those "formulas" are legal, and provide both business and government with revenue funds. And, as she degenerated from drugs and booze, look at all the money that health care would make! If she drove her car intentionally into a tree, and died, she would not make the front page. So, the emotion really is not about her death, or that she took her life.  The outrage is that someone helped her.

Another interesting thought about this controversy is - why would you insist that someone live their life in a way that they totally did not agree with? If the person chooses not to age any further, do they have the right to leave the "tribe" and therefore cease to to use resources?  As a family member or as a friend, would you rather see your loved one grow older, and perhaps face ill health, visits to doctors, lying in bed, and even Alzheimer's Disease, if the loved one did not want to?  

It is common for relatives to have a phrase "do not resuscitate" on an elderly patient's file.  The order says that rather than keep the person alive and suffering, we will let them "go gently into that good night". The family is helping the loved one die. If the loved one wishes to bypass suffering and opts for the "get out of suffering - free" card, should the government interfere with that choice using legislation? After all, life is a series of choices. We all live.  We all die.

Dylan Thomas wrote a poem commanding that people fight against death in "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night".  His poem is studied by millions of students each year.  We learn early in school and in the church that we should not take our own lives, or anyone else's life.

The matter of choosing how to live or die is a BIG question.  Perhaps the right answer is - there is no answer!

Do not go gentle into that good night

by Dylan Thomas (1914-1953)

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, 
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

                  *******

May you be filled with loving kindness,

Judy  

(Comment on this article by using the comment button below, or send a comment 

directly to Judy at judy@angelsandancestors.com)

About Karma - From the StarWalker Program

"The Journey Begins"

   Picture by Judith Hirst-Joyeux, Sept 2006

The following information is an excerpt from Module One - Clearing Karma Stage One, of the StarWalker Program.  The StarWalker Program is a creation of Angels And Ancestors. 

"In Buddhism and Hinduism, karma is directly related to a person’s deeds or emotions or attachments, and karma is therefore seen as a punishment and reward system. Since this system is fear based, the “Lords” of Karma were regarded as dark and foreboding, and people believed they dealt out punishment.

In Judaism and Christianity, a belief has been handed down that as well as our own actions and attachments moving with us, from past lives, through karma, we also get the karma of our parents and ancestors. Hence the phrase exists – “sins of the father”.

Without going into all the philosophical belief around these beliefs, what we do know is that what ever occurs in the energetic, will manifest in the physical. Shaman and healers believe that one works in four levels:

1. The physical

2. The symbolic

3. The mythic

4. The energetic.

Shaman and healers have also observed and treated energies that attach between people, or between people and the energetic. In the example of families, cords or attachments may be between parents and children, between siblings, and between the family and extended family. Cutting these attachments begins the process of clearing “things” that are dragging down your energy, and sometimes causing physical health problems.

The Angels of Karma along with many other Guides and Angels have been telling their Channels over the last twenty years that the time of Karma is ending. However, in order to move to a place of no karma, the karma that is unbalanced needs to be brought into balance. For example, a movie cannot be completed until all the scenes are edited and blended together, and the unused scenes are labelled and filed away in the vault.

This analogy may be used to loosely describe what happens in the Akashic Records. People live their lives, and some stuff does not get resolved – it is like an unedited scene in a movie.

The Akashic Records cannot assimilate the unedited scene, so someone needs to take responsibility for it, edit it and finish it, and then file it. We do this when we take on karma for what we see as our past soul lives or the past soul lives of our ancestors."

Written by Judith Hirst-Joyeux, Angels And Ancestors Copyright January 2008

For more information on the StarWalker Program, contact judy@angelsandancestors.com, or call 403-225-2016.