Merry Christmas 2013

 

“May you be blessed with love for your family, compassion to the needy, courage to stand up for yourself, unmatchable success in life and the ability to handle it. Have a blessed Christmas.”

Blessings,

Judy

Buddha Speaks - Understanding the Dynamics of Giving

 

Understanding and accepting who you really are right now is as important as the commitment to become someone more open and generous. Whatever the quality of motivation, when we intentionally reach out to others in giving, some degree of transformation occurs.  - Dale S. Wright, “The Bodhisattva’s Gift”

Walking this world is a lot of work!   There are many ways that we feel we must protect ourselves.  One way we insulate ourselves from others is to judge the other person.  For example, we see someone who needs help – food, shelter, or what ever – and we can say, “ It is not my job to help that person.  He/She should be taking better care of themselves.  They are lazy, or drunkards, or…..” 

What will you give today?

Blessings,

Judy

Angels Speak - Take Time To Reflect

 

When the world is still, Nature is showing us it is time to be still as well.  Being still gives us time to review things in our life.  When we do the review, the sensation is similar to the reflections of the snow covered trees in the still water. 

As nothing else moves, we have the opportunity to stand back and look at the things that made us happy and sad, as well as to look at our heroic and idiotic moments.  We can change!  We do not know what to change unless we have a chance to look in the mirror of life (reflection) to watch what happened, and to see why we may need to change a behavior. 

Thought for today:  Let me reflect on my day this evening, and let this reflection help me put my day in perspective.

Blessings,

Judy

Angels Speak - Solitude

Sometimes, we simply need a place to be by ourselves, in the stillness of nature, so that we may find ourselves.  Solitude is about learning to be alone with one’s self. It is our choice.

It is not about being cut off from others, by others.  Being cut off from others, by their choice, is isolation. 

Today, when you meditate, quizz yourself on all the times you felt like you needed solitude.  When you have your list of recurring instances, look at it to see when you need to schedule some solitude time. You then begin working with the flow of your life.

Angels Speak – What Weighs Us Down

 

We have all had an experience where we felt that we just could not go any further. We are worn out.  What we need to stop and figure out is “What is wearing us out?”

For a great story about overcoming what wears you out, see Leo Babauta’s blog at http://zenhabits.net/ultra/.

Blessings,

Judy

Buddha Speaks–On Meditation

 

The poster above tells a truism – that meditation helps us to let go of feelings and attachments.  And, what a nice way to do release – quietly, in solitude, to allow the emotions to drift out of your body.

Try a one minute meditation today.   Use the phrase, “I make a dent in the Universe.”  See what this phrase stirs up in you.  Repeat it over and over, and watch the images or feel the stories pass through your mind.

It is awesome!

Blessings,

Judy

Angels Speak–Children

 

When you wander through this world, you may become jaded with all that is the same.  Learn to see the magic in all that you took for granted.  Walk, hand-in-hand, with a child who can show you all the mysteries that you have over looked.

Learn to smell, to feel, to see all things in a new focus.  The colors and the textures change.  They are awakened because you now pay attention to them.  Find the grace and the peace that this brings to you.  This is the child’s way of healing you.

Blessings,

Judy

Angels Speak–Loving

 

The feeling of being loved is the most generous, all encompassing, delightful feeling that I know.  It comes from our family, our very good friends, and our pets.  It helps us get through the terrible times when we suffer grief, pain, anger, and even life threatening situations.  When people do not like you, it is the absence of love.  It does not matter for why associate with anyone that does not know how to love?

Blessings,

Judy

Angels Speak–Pay Attention

 

I often wonder how people keep relationships any more, that is personal relationships.  I love technology!  I have all the gadgets. I also adore people that have gadgets! 

I do find it uncomfortable and dis-respectful when my friends cannot have an eye to eye conversation with me.  Why do I say eye to eye or “I to I”?  Because, most of them have one or both eyes on their cell phone or tablet.  The natural rhythm of conversation has ceased to exist because we cannot carry out a length conversation.  Yet the same person will text you twenty times a day.

Why is it that users cannot put down their phone for one hour or so, to have a great conversation with another?

Blessings,

Judy

Spirit Speaks - How Do You Choose?

 

When you walk through life, each decision is a fork in the road.  We all know this at an unconscious level.  However, we all need to be mindful that each choice is like the stone hitting the water; waves ripple across the pond and move the lily pad, splash the frog on the rock, or lap over the shoreline.  Our choices always have consequences. When we accept that we must change something, we can pray to move through that change with grace and dignity.

Blessings,

Judy

Angels Speak - Aging

 

My sister told me a story about a ninety year old friend of the family that set me to laughing, today!  Annie decided ten years ago that she would always be able to lift her self up off the floor.  So, every day, she lies down on the floor, several times a day, and then gets her self back up.  Apparently, she has given her Home Care Workers different kinds of shocks when they come in and she is doing her “exercise” and lying face down on the floor.

I want to be like Annie!

Blessings,

Judy

Spirit Animals–Dogs

 

This says it all…. Dogs are amazing companions!

Blessings,

Judy

Angels Speak–Ways That You Are Blessed

 

Golfers say that everyday on the green instead of below the green, is a good day.  It seems that most people, however, do not enjoy what they have, and, it seems they are always moaning about what they do not have. 

It is easy to be disgruntled.  It takes more energy to find the things to be grateful for.  Why does it take more energy?  Because we take all the good things for granted.  We do not see the good anymore as it is washed away by our need and our greed. 

Make a change today!

Blessings,

Judy

Buddha Speaks–Peace

 

The news and the advertisements on TV and radio and the internet,  are filled with stories about people suffering from mental disorders – depression, anxiety, and dementia. 

This poster focuses on what may be causing some of these issues. Living in the present moment is one way to get past the issues. 

Blessings,

Judy

Angels Speaks - Caring

 

Reading through the news and through the online commentaries of world events, it seems that we have lost or misplaced the ability to speak kindly and compassionately to others.  It seems that unkind words are the cause of misunderstandings, the fore runners to bullying –whether people or countries – and the cause of all resentment.

The poster above is a great reminder that what you think creates the world around you, and then how you act in the world creates the treatment that you receive.

Blessings,

Judy

Spirit Speaks - Nature

 

As the winter sets in with its cold weather and snow, we tend to huddle in our homes, around the fireplace if we have one, and look outside at the blowing snow.  Now is a good time to remember that weather (whether) it is summer or fall or winter or spring, Nature is where we must go to balance and to regenerate. 

We humans do not own the Earth; we are of the Earth.  The earth’s minerals and water flows through us.  We lose the Earth connection in the cities and even in rural areas – anywhere where life is “rushing” and where daily routines create stress and anxiety. 

If you feel stress and anxiety, then now is the time to slow down.  Now is the time to step out into the snow and cold to bring down the stress level.  All is well.

Blessings,

Judy