New Year’s Eve 2021

For those of you that have asked questions about how to set your intentions for the new year, I would like to share a beautiful ritual that one of my friends sent to me several years ago. 

I do not use this at New Years, however, this ritual is certainly right for that purpose.   I do use it to set intentions for any time.  It is powerful to use this ritual with the New Moon.

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This is the initial technique - Setting Your Intentions for 2021 or any other time:

You start by asking yourself 4 questions...

1. What do I want this year in my personal life
2. What do I want this year for my financial life
3. What do I want this year for my business life
4. What do I want this year for my spiritual life

Then you write your answers. I feel into my body to identify in my heart what I am being drawn to create from the year. The MOST IMPORTANT part is to write it as if it has already happened.

As an example / template, here is an excerpt in part of what Maureen Collins (an artist) wrote for the category of business:

I am so grateful that this year became such an amazing journey of openness and discovery in my business, as it moved into the corporate world and lecture stage larger than ever before. I was able to deliver my shared vision via “What If? The Movie” through divine energy to hundreds of thousands of souls that were not only open to the information but contributed to the content collectively... AND they further delivered it to many more through word of mouth. This wisdom known to us all was a huge success with so many experiencing heart felt shifts and changes through the material offered by many like-minded souls. It became a place of safety and conversation for all who viewed it, and grew to include new audiences of those opening to the materials being offered by me and other contributors. The opportunity for the community to converse with one another about their own positive belief and pattern changes was a blessing and a joy to my heart, showing me the possibilities for all communities of the world. I loved watching and hearing the shifts and changes clients and friends and family were experiencing as they also awakened to how amazing and powerful they truly are, and reveled in the moments they shared with others in the community ...which triggered more openings and shifts and more sharing and so on. What fun... and so effortless and flowing... I felt like a kid again with all the discoveries...

You get the idea... write it as if it has already happened AND makes sure you include how you "felt" when it happened. Do this for each of the categories (there may be some overlap but the categories are designed to allow for specifics in those four areas of your life). This is a POWERFUL exercise that almost acts as plan for the year but flows through and creates a vibrational resonance with what you are desiring. You can do this over the next couple of days... I promise you it will really make a lovely impact. Then print it out post a couple of copies in places you will regularly see them to remind you what you are creating.

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Ritual:  Burn and Release from Maureen Collins…

On a sheet of paper, I write out all of the things from the current year that I've outgrown, no longer want in my life,  no longer work for me, and anything else I feel I want to shed and leave behind.  On a separate piece of paper, I write all of the things I can think of and feel that I want to grow and expand in the new year.  I then burn each paper in separate dishes or shells, making sure all pieces are turned to ashes.  Then, when cooled, I put them into separate envelopes or containers (film canister, Ziploc baggie, etc.) and mark "to shed" and "to grow" on the container.   Around 5 minutes before midnight, I start visualizing all the things on the "to shed" list, and see them slip away, see them blown away and washed away, out of my energy field, out of my life and  out of my reality.  I go out side and pour the "to shed" ashes into my hand and let the wind scatter the ashes away and release them and all they re present, as the old year fades away.

After midnight, after blessing the new year, with the second container  "to grow",  I visualize all of these goals, desires, etc. coming to fruition, to this level of reality.  I bring that envelope down to the garden, and with a stick dig a small hole, then plant these ashes in the earth, near a tree or in a special place, (for those in apartments, I encourage them to use their favorite houseplant).  The ashes are a reminder of the life cycle, the power of nature and the honoring of Mother Earth, that these seeds of hopes and dreams are nurtured into reality, in the coming year.   This is a ritual that I've shared with many people, and even had a group in Ireland do it one New Years!  You may want to try this and tweak it and do it a way that suits you.

Happy New Year and many blessings! 

Note… the information in this post was used in 2011 and again in 2018 on this blog.  This information is timeless!

The Space Between Christmas and New Year’s Day

 

                                                           Picture from Mamamia.com.au

The big day, Christmas Day, is over.  The guests have gone.  Leftover food is bagged and frozen.  The beds are stripped and in the laundry.  Tired and energy flagging, everyone wonders what day it is and whether there is something they should be doing but forgot.  Some folks are taking advantage of Boxing Day sales and going out to Nature to rebalance and reenergize.  

How do you manage your time between the two days?  The toll that Christmas takes from all of us means that we need to have lots of water and lots of green food - veggies and salads to bring our body back to balance. 

Blessings.

Merry Christmas - December 25 2021!

 

Our Christmas Tree 

Each year we put up a Christmas tree because we enjoy the process and the affirmation of the coming days of visiting and sharing food with friends and family.  

We are grateful for all of the wonderful things that have happened this year even though there have been limitations from the covid restrictions. 

We wish you and your family a Christmas that is filled with warmth, love, peace, and happiness!

Many blessings!

Christmas Tale - The Story of How Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer Came to Be

This story appeared on my blog on December 24, 2009.  Many folks loved this story so I thought it was worth repeating this year.  

The Story Behind the Story of Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer

Rudolph…from www.guy-sports.com

A man named Bob May, depressed and broken hearted, stared out his drafty apartment window into the chilling December night.  His 4-year-old daughter Barbara sat on his lap quietly sobbing.

Bobs wife, Evelyn, was dying of cancer. 

Little Barbara couldn't understand why her mommy could never come home. Barbara looked up into her dad's eyes and asked, "Why isn't Mommy just like everybody else's Mommy?" Bob's jaw tightened and his eyes welled with tears.

Her question brought waves of grief, but also of anger. It had been the story of Bob's life. Life always had to be different for Bob. Small when he was a kid, Bob was often bullied by other boys. He was too little at the time to compete in sports. He was often called names he'd rather not remember. 

From childhood, Bob was different and never seemed to fit in. Bob did complete college, married his loving wife and was grateful to get his job as a copywriter at Montgomery Ward during the Great Depression. Then he was blessed with his little  girl.

But it was all short-lived. Evelyn's bout with cancer stripped  them of all their savings and now Bob and his daughter were forced  to live in a two-room apartment in he Chicago slums. Evelyn died  just days before Christmas in 1938. Bob struggled to give hope to his child, for whom he couldn't even afford to buy a Christmas gift. But if he couldn't buy a gift, he was determined a make one - a storybook!

Bob had created a character in his own mind and told the animal's story to little Barbara to give her comfort and hope. Again and again Bob told the story, embellishing it more with each telling. 

Who was the character? What was the story all about? The story Bob May created was his own autobiography in fable form. The character he created was a misfit outcast like he was. The name of the character? A little reindeer named Rudolph, with a big shiny nose. 

Bob finished the book just in time to give it to his little girl on Christmas Day. But the story doesn't end there. The general manager of Montgomery Ward caught wind of the little storybook and offered Bob May a nominal fee to purchase the rights to print the book. Wards went on to print,_ Rudolph the  Red-Nosed Reindeer_ and distribute it to children visiting Santa Claus in their stores.

By 1946 Wards had printed and distributed more than six million copies of Rudolph. That same year, a major publisher wanted to purchase the rights from Wards to print an  updated version of the book. In an unprecedented gesture of  kindness, the CEO of Wards returned all rights back to Bob May. The book became a best seller. Many toy and marketing deals followed and Bob May, now remarried with a growing family, became wealthy from  the story he created to comfort his grieving daughter. But the story  doesn't end there either.  

Bob's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, made a song adaptation to  Rudolph. Though the song was turned down by such popular vocalists  as Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore , it was recorded by the singing  cowboy, Gene Autry. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was released  in 1949 and became a phenomenal success, selling mo re records than  any other Christmas song, with the exception of "White Christmas." 

The gift of love that Bob May created for his daughter so long ago kept on returning back to bless him again and again. And Bob May  
learned the lesson, just like his dear friend Rudolph, that being different isn't so bad. In fact, being different can be a blessing.

Many Blessings!

Karma Files - The Law of The Garbage Truck

 Garbage Truck runs over car! ---Photo from www.car-accidents.com

The following post comes from Angels and Ancestors from December 12, 2008.

  

One of my favorite sayings is "How others treat you is their karma; how you react is yours!"  by Dr. Wayne Dyer.  I have been noticing that during my Christmas shopping, some people are just plain mean to those around them - other customers, clerks, and even their own families.  I wonder what it is in them that causes so much anger.  And, like a bad apple, the anger they spew out, seems to spread if others let it.

Here is a great story that my friend Roxanne sent me about how one can deal with toxic behaviour that is directed at us.  

Enjoy!

The Law of the Garbage Truck

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy and I mean he was really friendly. So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!' This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.  The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets so 'Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't.' 

Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it.  
~Author Unknown

Have a wonderful day!

Many blessings!

Christmas Thoughts - Calm Spirit

 

                   Picture comes from a post on Angels and Ancestors from December 21 2017

This post is a reprint of the post from December 21, 2017.  Enjoy!

As we come closer to the day of Christmas, I find myself asking for calm spirit.  I feel the energies from outside me, pushing at me, causing me to feel unsettled.

I ask for calm spirit.  I wish to glide through the days with everything that I do being easily accomplished.  I wish for all that I meet to smile at me and wish me well.

I ask for calm spirit.  I ask for inspiration from the sky and the stars.  I ask for my identity to be Calm Spirit Woman so that I am at one with the flow of what happens next.

I ask for calm spirit.  I am oneness with everyone out there, with every person around me.  I see them in me.  I move to calmness. I am refreshed.

Many blessings.

Kindness to All

 

                       Image comes from Getty Images, originally in an article from Inc.com

I was shopping on Friday at my favourite grocery store.  It was nice… not crowded and people seemed genuinely cheerful.  I was surprised when a store voice over announcement said, “Remember to be kind to one another.  It makes shopping easier.”  That is so true!  After the announcement, I was so impressed whenever I met another shopper in the aisles that they said things like hello, excuse me, or shared a smile. It seemed like everyone heard the announcement and that everyone proceeded to work on it.  Even the checkout folks who are quite cheerful on a normal day, seemed to be extra polite and chatty.  

The whole incident made me think about kindness.  To be kind to all, I think, is a real challenge because some people simply are not nice and some people have done horrible things.  To be kind to animals, I think, is much easier than being kind to people because an animal does not have the same back stabbing abilities that humans exhibit after you have been nice/kind to them.  Animals are grateful for help and kindness where people will sometimes complain to others about the kindness that they received.  

To show kindness to all without reservation and with compassion shows a greatness that is not often seen today.  The act of kindness without expectations shows the value of the Buddhist mantra, “Loving Kindness” which many of us work on in our daily lives.  Sometimes it is really difficult to be kind to a street person or to someone who was nasty to us yesterday.  It may be hard to say or to be kind when you feel repulsed by someone.  

The Angels say that kindness without conditions is a great way to increase one’s abundance and to expand one’s soul.  It makes me wonder if the Angels slipped an extra line into the daily store announcements so everyone would be kind to others.

Blessings.

Spirit Animal - Bobcat Visits

 

Where we live, Bobcat comes out at all times of the day and night.  She loves to use the fences in our neighbour hood as her highway to get around barriers like dogs and people.  Our neighbour was having a morning coffee in the summer when Bobcat ran along the fence behind him.  Bobcat is one of the animals that has adapted to an urban environment and has learned to mix its need to be free and yet have contact with its human friendlies.  This is a very good example of balance in action.

Bobcat has raised several litres of kittens in “the hood”.  She is very careful about boundaries and does not go after pets because this will rile up the neighbours.  She is skillful at hunting rabbits, squirrels, mice, and loves gophers and voles.  She has a favourite place to take her hunt to eat peacefully.  In the early summer morning, she will come and sun on one of the south facing driveways.  

When Bobcat appears, she is signalling some information.  

• Carefully choose the environment that you wish to be in
• Treat others respectfully and they will treat you respectfully
• Blend in when you need to
• Teach your family to be respectful

Blessings.

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Dealing With Guilt

 

Psychologists - Freud in particular - talk about two types of guilt - persecutory and reparative. The meanings of these labels is a complex explanation.  The Google Dictionary meaning of guilt refers to two types of guilt: 1) the guilt from having committed an offence or crime, or a perceived offence, and 2) guilt used as a manipulation to make someone do something.  For example, when a parent says it you do not do this thing for me, then you do not love me!

Guilt is an emotion that we get saddled with early on in our lives.  Someone tells us that we have done something wrong or bad and we feel guilty.  The problem is that everyone heaps guilt on us but no one says - here is how you relieve the guilt.

One of the best ways to release guilt is to forgive yourself, and promise yourself that you will not repeat the situation.  You can do this before you ask someone else for forgiveness.  If the person is not noted for being forgiving, then skip them because they will simply heap more guilt on you.  

An exercise that I do to release guilt is to write out what I am feeling guilty about and why.  I add the person's or group's name if I owe them an apology.  I say a short prayer of self forgiveness and ask that the person or group forgive me.  I throw my paper into the fire in the fireplace and ask the Universe to wash me in forgiveness for that action.  I give thanks.  I let the issue/action go.

This may not work for everyone as it works for me.  I teach this process to students and the students tell me that it seems to clear a weight from them.  

Blessings.

Setting Boundaries - People In Your Life

The following post is copied from the post on August 21, 2015 called, Angels Speak - People in Your Life.  The advice is timely for the end of 2021 and into 2022.  

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Life will bring you people that you need to learn lessons with and sometimes, from them.  These are the people that have a short time span in your life.  Many of us, however, keep these people around for quite a long time.  We let guilt, or blame, or laziness, keep us from moving on.  And, we need to move on.  

Our Ancestors, The People, were not in the Nature of letting people stay in the tribe if they did not belong in the life.  We need to change out those that don’t fit, bring negativity, or try to hold us back.  We need to move.

Sometimes, it is family that is the problem.  They are more difficult to let go of.  You can, however, set boundaries and use the boundaries to distance from them.  Sometimes, you have to move.  

Who is in your life that should be gone?

Blessings.

You Are Worth Taking Self-Care Time!

 

Picture from a past blog

I often hear from clients that they do not have time for self care after they meet their obligations of work, kids, spouse, home/yard maintenance, and parent errands and time.  Lack of self care causes a build up of tiredness, energies being zapped, and resentment.  All of these things add up to stress and eventually, illness.

Self care can be meditation, massages, working out, or enjoying shopping time alone or a sporting event.  Anything that brings you joy and peace is self care.  And, it can be different for each of us.  The more that one ignores self care, the angrier the person is apt to become. 

When we engage in self care then healing happens.  It is easier to have compassion for others.  As you honour yourself - and remember, you are not being selfish - then the easier it is to be grateful in each day!

Blessings.

Welcome to December 2021

Picture origin unknown

The beginning of December is a signal in Canada that the weather is about to change to become colder and  snowier. It is a reminder that Christmas is twenty-four days away, and that the new year is just around the corner.  It is a big time of change!  In the North, people tend to hibernate when it is cold.  They stay indoors and pursue crafts or binge watch Netflix or Prime.  Some fresh-air lovers do go cross country skiing, snowshoeing and winter trekking.  The ski hills are already greeting the skiers and snowboarders. Home owners are getting their Christmas lights and yard decorations set up.  It is “lights on” all through December.  

For some, December is a time of gratitude, of remembering the year and being thankful that the year is nearly done.  It is a time for winter planting in some areas and for starting to use the summer’s canning and freezing of fruit and vegetables.  December is the best reminder that all things must be in balance because the long summer days are now short winter days.  The sun and light through the summer are balanced by the darkness of the winter.  The harmony of the cycle of the seasons is so apparent in December.

Blessings