Sharing - Activating Hope Summit

 Hi everyone,

I received this email from Greg Braden and thought it was worth sharing.

“Hope is what enables us to keep going in the face of adversity.” —Jane Goodall

In the face of crisis and upheaval, division and isolation, it can be easy to overlook the power of optimism. Now more than ever, hope is desperately needed.

After almost 60 years of groundbreaking environmental conservation work, Jane Goodall is turning her attention to today’s urgent need of species conservation—namely, local people and the environment. After all, we only have one planet. So we need to act together, today.

Led by a broad roster of revolutionary minds—including Jane herself—the Activating Hope Summit sets out to infuse hope in these trying times, giving participants the vision and tools to fight for our global future together. The Activating Hope Summit brings you... Beacons of Hope Teachings & Conversations. Embrace one-hour messages of hope from a collection of diverse voices, including wellness leaders, beloved musicians, prominent activists, and more. Daily Workshops led by some of today’s top mindfulness leaders and luminaries, these daily 45-minute workshops explore how hope can be infused into all facets of everyday life—from grief to movement. Dozens of short videos from socially conscious, high-profile individuals aimed at providing bite-sized moments of hope and inspiration. >>Click Here to Register for the Activating Hope Summit!

Blessings.

Happy Halloween 2021

 

                                                       Halloween picture from 2019

In many cultures, people believe that All Hallows’ Eve is the best time to be able to talk to one’s ancestors because the veil between this third dimension and the other dimensions is at it’s weakest.  This means that the ancestor (and in some areas, other ghosts and unseen things) can be present on Earth.  

Many people in the Western World no longer believe that there is a connection to the ancestors at Halloween.  Instead, it is a time of dressing up either for a party (adults) or for trick or treating for children.  The spiritual aspect of the evening is not considered.  

Regardless of your practices, stay safe and enjoy your Halloween.

Blessings.

Spirit Animal - Deer

 

Picture from an email.

When I first moved to Calgary twenty years ago, there was an abundance of Deer in our neighbour hood in the late evening and into the night.  There were herds of twenty or so Deer in Fish Creek Park.  The many Deer could come into the residential area, up to houses and sleep on lawns.  The message that the Deer brought to the home was about gentleness and trust.  It was about knowing your neighbours and friends and relying on them to help keep one safe.  People left fallen cherries and apples on the ground for the deer to eat.  There was a comfortable sharing of space.  Now, with the increase in population and the growing use of the park, the Deer have retreated to an island which is supposed to be off-limits to humans.  The Deer come out at night and seldom stray into the residential areas.

Remember that when Deer appears to you:

• Deer is reminding you to be gentle with yourself.
• If the Deer has antlers (a buck), the message is to look for a higher purpose or a higher good.
• If the Deer is young, perhaps it is time. To start something new… a new study, a new hobby, a new phase of work.
• If several Deer appear, perhaps it is time to make time to be with friends and family and plan a group activity.

Blessings

The Easy Path

 

Picture is from a LinkedIn posting back in September.

When animals travel from place to place, the path that they use is not straight forward but winds up and down and around obstacles.  Generally, animals find the easiest path even if it is the longest.

Humans are different.  Humans tend to charge up and over or through whatever obstacle may exist.  Humans will chop and hack and cut to get through a barrier.  It may be faster and it is definitely harder work.

Yet, if the animal and the human start at the same place and have the same destination, the path of least resistance will eventually get the animal to the spot.  

Through my life, I have found that when the destination is the “right” destination, the path is usually easy. Things seemingly fall into place.  When the destination is not the best option for me, the path is seems filled with obstacles.  When I change where I am going, then I move back into the flow.

Where are you going, and which path are you taking?

Blessings

The Power of Trees

 

 

The forest in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park Sept 2021

 “Finland is officially the world’s happiest country. It is also 75 per cent forest. I believe these facts are related.”― Matt Haig

 "A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people."  ― Franklin D. Roosevelt

I have studied with many teachers and all of them sing the praises of the trees!  As the quotes above show, trees are very important to the health of Earth and therefore, very important to the humans on Earth (and all the animals, birds, insects, fish, and reptiles).  

The trees clean the air, hold the earth, provide shelter from the wind, and provide food for many birds, animals and humans.  They even provide the fuel for fire and the lumber for our homes and for other buildings.  

If you have a list of goal that you make for each year, please put on your list that you will plant at least one tree in 2022.  We need to replace our trees that are no longer to help keep the planet alive.

Blessings.

Breathing Exercise from Ted Ideas

I read a fascinating process for matching breathing to outlining your fingers to calm your mind and slow down your thoughts.  You can see it described here at Ideas.Ted.com. - https://ideas.ted.com/mind-going-a-million-miles-a-minute-slow-down-with-this-breathing-exercise/. This process helps to relieve anxiety as well as calm the mind.  

Maybe today is the day to try something new.

Blessings.

Spirit in the Tree

Picture is from a tree at Bankside in Fish Creek Provincial Park

 

“Never say there is nothing beautiful in the world anymore. There is always something to make you wonder in the shape of a tree, the trembling of a leaf.”

― Albert Schweitzer

 Many, many times have I walked past this tree and then on down to the Bow River.  I never saw an image in the tree.  Several days ago, I walked past the tree and I thought I saw a lovely, very slim lady in the image.  Today when I look at the image, I see a warrior, helmet on his head and both arms raised above shoulder height, each carrying "something".  I feel blessed to be able to look at this guardian of the park. 

Today, when you walk in Nature, look for the hidden spirits in trees and in the bushes and grass.

Blessings.

 

Sharing - Pachamama Alliance Global Community Gathering

I am sharing this information on the Pachamama Global Community Gathering because some of you may want to participate. 

I am a Jane Goodall fan and love that she will be a speaker at this event.

Global Community Gathering A Virtual Event Thursday, November 4 | 12:00 – 1:15 p.m. PDT Come home to a community of allies from around the world at the second annual Pachamama Alliance Global Community Gathering. Join us in our 25th year as we look honestly at the crises facing humanity and the planet, and explore what it’s going to take to change course. It will be an experience of unity, inspiration, creativity, and action for the future—and an opportunity to support this work. Register now to hear from Van Jones, Paul Hawken, Jane Goodall, Lynne Twist, and others at this historic event!   REGISTER NOW

Talking with Angels

 

Photo from blogspot.com - no clearer reference available

I am starting a coaching session with a person who wishes to be able to more clearly talk to the Archangels, guardian angels, or whatever angels she would like to connect with.  As you might imagine, when you are on a learning path, you can use up quite a bit of energy as you work through different scenarios to see which method(s) work best for you.

I remember learning to "talk" to the angels years and years ago.  Logic gets in the way of spiritual communication and you can constantly trip yourself up.  Fortunately, Angels are patient and help you as they can as you flounder through the learning process.  It is all worth the effort.

Blessings

Mallard Duck Visitors

 

Picture of mama and papa mallard on our deck in May through July 2021 taken from an upstairs window.

I was very blessed this summer to have two mallard ducks come and share our yard from May to into August on a daily basis.  Before the hatching season, mama and papa duck would come and sit on our deck in the evening and often come and peer through the patio doors to see what we were doing.  The loved the grass, the bird seed, and the peace in our yard.  We were surprised at how the Mallards accepted our big yellow dog (Labrador retriever) and were content to snuggle in the grass close to where he lay in the shade. 

You can read more about Mallard Duck as a spirit animal in this post I did back in 2008.. ANGELS, ANCESTORS, AND SHAMAN: Spirit Animal - Mallard Duck (angelsandancestors.blogspot.com)

Mallard as a spirit animal shows many blessings to those that they frequent.  This time, my teachings from the Mallards included:

1. Abundance comes in many forms and from unexpected places.
2. All animals and birds and aqua beings need your protection.
3. Find places and do activities that make you feel comfortable.
4. Be accepting of others even with their differences.
5. Enjoy your deck at any time of the day.

Blessings.

Water…

 

Picture of Elbow Falls from August 2021.

Water is an amazing piece of magic.  It sustains life around it because it carries oxygen and “waters” the plants and trees and birds and animals.  It makes up a great percentage of the human body.  And while it gives life, water can be so destructive as shown by floods, tidal waves, torrential rains, and pounding spring runoffs from the mountains that reshape river banks and wash out bridges.  

Water is healing.  We bathe in it, soak in hot springs, drink it, cook in it, and use it for recreation.  Water finds the path of least resistance and flows in the way that is the easiest.  Yet, if an obstacle obstructs the path, water ruthlessly eliminates the blockage.  

Water stays in the present moment for it cannot go back to a past and it has no idea of the future.

 We too, can be like water and go with the flow and follow the path of the least resistance.  We too can overcome the blocks or obstacles on our path.  

Today, pay attention to the present moment and stay in the flow.  

Blessings

Prayer/Meditation For Community

 

This picture is taken along Highway 40 on the way up to Highwood Pass in early September.

I find life amazing and I am startled when I find that time seems to have escaped me.  I have missed creating two postings on my blog much to my dismay.

This past week, for me, has been full of activities about our community...our neighbourhood community, our volunteer community, and our Fish Creek Park & dog walking community.  The days have consumed hours and been quite fun!  I feel blessed that we have these connections.

As you know, there are not any coincidences.  So when I received an email from one of the spiritual thought leaders that I follow - Nick Polizzi - I felt that his message was very supportive of being in community. You can follow Nick and his generous sharing of information at thesacredscience.com.  

In his latest email to his tribe, he talked about the Bodhisattva Prayer for Humanity.  It felt so perfect to me that I am sharing from his email both his comments and the prayer.  

It is said that His Holiness the Dalai Lama considers this text to be THE source for developing altruism in your character and the "Spirit of Awakening." It is also said that His Holiness the Dalai Lama recites this prayer every morning as part of his waking rituals. So, if you give it a try, you are in good company!

Bodhisattva Prayer for Humanity

"May I be a guard for those who need protection

A guide for those on the path

A boat, a raft, a bridge for those who wish to cross the flood

May I be a lamp in the darkness

A resting place for the weary

A healing medicine for all who are sick

A vase of plenty, a tree of miracles

And for the boundless multitudes of living beings

May I bring sustenance and awakening

Enduring like the earth and sky

Until all beings are freed from sorrow

And all are awakened."

Now, exhale and be still for a brief moment.

What speaks loudly in this prayer is that we are all in this together. We are alive thanks to our ancestors and by helping the people, plants, animals, and life in our environment, we show appreciation for existing in this world.

This prayer is perfect for using in one's daily meditation practice and being thankful for community.

Blessings

 

Happy Thanksgiving, Canada!

                                            

What a strange several years it has been with Covid changing how we approach life and how we hold our gatherings.  This year, our indoor gatherings are limited to 10 people and one other family.  I am grateful that we can have other people over to our house.  I am grateful that we can celebrate all the wonderful things that happened to our family this year.  

May your Thanksgiving Day be filled with peace, love, and joy, and of course, wonderful food!

Blessings

Creativity and Beauty

The pictures above come from a gallery in Black Diamond Alberta.

When most of see old wood on the ground, we think of firewood.  When the artist who created the sculptures above sees old wood, and in this case, petrified wood, he sees an animal or bird.  The gift of getting a vision to create “something” is a fantastic gift.  We may not all be able to see the sculpture or the painting in a setting, but we may “see” something else.  We might see a story, or a way to heal, or an invention.  Everyone has creativity and the wonder of it is that we create beauty.

Blessings.

 

Dreaming About Flooding

 This picture is from Elbow Falls in the Elbow Falls Recreation Area in Alberta Canada.  Elbow Falls was significantly changed by the flood of 2013.

Through the last several months as covid numbers have risen in Alberta, I have been dreaming about floods.  Floods that wash out a bridge.  Floods that was out chunks of a highway.  Floods that run across fields and then fill the ditches so that the water is creeping up on the road.  One might think that I was dreaming of floods because it was something I had recently been through.  No.  We have had one of the driest summers in a long while.  

I knew some of the dreams were important because I could remember them so vividly!  I felt that there was something that I was supposed to learn from the dreams.  Water, I know, represents emotion.  However, there was nothing going on in my life that would warrant that kind of emotion.  So I looked up what floods mean in a wonderful book - Letters From Home; A Guide to Symbols Awake or Dreaming by Patricia Troyer.  

The highlight of the many aspects of flooding was that floods show the destruction of the status quo and the wiping away to create something new.  Of course, this is done with a lot of damage that needs to be cleaned up and cleaning up is messy.  For me, I was seeing the resetting of our society world wide as a consequence of covid.  The emotions around decisions to mask or not, to vaccinate or not, to close or not, have permeated our culture.  There is an ongoing “flooding of emotions” that hits all of us.

One of the strangest dreams about flooding that I had was about me riding my horse (who is long gone) along the road near our farm that I grew up on (also long gone).  As I was riding, the water seemed to rise up out of the ditches on either side to slowly cross the road.  I remember saying, “Well there is another way of life gone”.  The floods have eroded the peace and the trust that we all had with each other and particularly in families where some are vaccinated and some are not.  It is a flooding of emotions that will take years to resolve.

Blessings.

Too Much Stress?

 

During the week of September 25 to October 1, I was watching the Global Energy Healing Summit.  I love that Energy Healing is now becoming accepted by the main stream western health care although there are still many who do not believe that it works.  More on that later.  The number one cause of illness and disease that all healers talked about was "stress".  They talked about how stress shows up differently for different people, how it is all around us in the energy that is in the air or work environment and home environment, and how most of us keep it shut in our bodies instead of releasing the stress.

Then today, in my email from Nick Ortner's organization (Nick Ortner is noted for his books The Tapping Solution and teachings on EFT), there was a great article - 23 Signs You May Have Too Much Stress.  The link is below.  Go ahead and read it and see how many of the signs are present in your life.

23 Signs You May Have Too Much Stress (thetappingsolution.com)

There are many ways to release stress.  EFT (Tapping) of course is one of them.  Others include walking in Nature (without your phone), swimming, jogging/running, hiking, and of course, many different energy healing modalities.  When you release stress, you are loving yourself.  A great way to release some anxiety from stress is to make a short list (3 or 4 items) of what you are grateful for.  When you express gratitude, your shoulders will shift.

Today, try one thing that might relieve stress for you.

Blessings.

Listening to the Guidance

 

One of my teachers said to our group that when we pray, we are talking to God (or the Universe or Great Spirit, or whatever you want to call the Energy that you talk to). And, when we meditate, God talks to us.  I find that my guidance comes through meditation, through Nature, through random messages from different people, or, from very specific words that seem to just show up.

However, there have been times where the Angels or Guides had to go through different people to get to me because I was not listening.  Sometimes, we get so caught up in doing that we forget to listen.

Quite a while ago, I was caught up in my own little drama of work and getting things done, and, I was not listening or meditating or really doing much spiritually.  One day I got a phone call from a lady.  She identified herself and then told me that I did not know her.  However, my Guides were not able to get through to me with a message so they asked her to deliver it.  The message was that it was time for me to pick up the book that my friend Ruth gave me about a year earlier.  I was to read the book, cover to cover, and then act on it.  The message included a notice that I really needed to start meditating for at least 15 minutes a day. 

I was stunned!  This lady could not know about my friend Ruth, or the book, and that I hadn’t read it.  I thanked the caller, went and found the book, and read it.  The reading of the book and practising what it said set me on a new path of spiritual work.  I am grateful for that day.

Blessings.

Energy Healing with Spring Forest Qigong

 

 (Picture from Trout Ponds off of Highway 40 on the way to Highwood Pass)

Last night I watched an informative video on YouTube on the Spring Forest Qigong channel with a session by Chunyi Lin on “Qigong Technique to Relieve Allergy Symptoms”.  The link is below.

https://youtu.be/0MPDmyWp1gM

The beauty of energy healing using this method that one can heal without drugs or interventions from others.  This healing is self delivered.  

Energy healing works because our physical bodies are really containers for electrical systems that run throughout the body and into the space around the body.  The common name for the energy system that gives our body light is “Qi”.  We know it as our life force.  

I will talk about our life force in future blogs.  Right now, if you suffer from allergies, you may want to check out the video.  

Blessings.