SPIRIT ANIMAL–SPARROW SINGS

Several days ago, I was feeling sad because my Dad was gone, and I was feeling glad because he was now released from the body that was starting to weigh him down. As he said, "It just doesn't work right anymore!"

I went out and sat under the arbour and mountain ash tree. I relaxed my body back into the swing chair, and closed my eyes. Within minutes, I could feel something watching me and there was bird song all around. I thought the birds were eating the berries in the tree. I looked up. There were about half a dozen sparrows hopping around the tree and looking at me, like they were concerned. Yes, I do put birdseed out, however, it's not like they are dependent upon me for food.

I wondered what was up. Then they started flying past me, quite close to my face. The dogs came and sat with me, and watched the birds. Pretty soon they were swooping over the dogs. It was quite a show! They were trying to tell me something.

Sparrows are noted for eating a wide variety of insects, and will fly up around the house. This year, they have kept our garden quite free of the normal pests that eat our lettuce and spinach and tomatoes. Chairman Mao Tse-Tung learned, with disastrous consequences, what happens when one dishonours the sparrow. He calculated that a sparrow could eat almost ten pounds of rice per year, and that if he killed a million sparrows, he'd have enough rice to feed an additional 60,000 people. The Chinese people were commanded to kill as many sparrows as possible. In Shantung province, the locals killed an estimated 2.7 million sparrows. The amount of rice did not increase with the death of the sparrows. It diminished. The insects that the sparrows normally killed, ate and damaged rice well in excess of what the sparrows ate. Chairman Mao decided he'd had a bad idea and ordered the people to be friends with the sparrows so the population would return to normal.

Sparrows are noted for representing abundance - both substantial and spiritually. The Japanese have a story about a sparrow’s gifting an old woodsman with gold and silver. There is also a story about a sparrow singing to Jesus as he hung on the cross. Songs have been written about the relationship between God and the sparrow. In ancient times, sparrows were thought to carry the souls of the dead up to the Gods. Our ancestors believed it was bad luck to kill a sparrow because this stopped them (the sparrow) from fulfilling its task.

Taking all of this information into context, it seemed to me that the sparrows were telling me to cheer up. They were saying that I was well taken care of, and that Dad was also well looked after. Sparrow’s song was a reminder to stay grounded (as are the colours) and stay in the present moment. The present is full of joy and peace and wonder. Their aerial acrobatics were reinforcing that I should use the gifts of my third eye and connect with the Divine to see the perfection in everything. It is good advice!

Many blessings.

April 1 2018–This Month, Walk With Nature

April Fool's day – a day for playing jokes.  This blog is not about joking.  It is about waking up and realizing that we need Nature in our lives.  It is about remembering that we come from Nature – from the Earth.  Our blood flows red with iron richness and lots of mineral and gases that are part of the Earth's structure.

We need to be out in Nature to restore our calm and to remind ourselves that we must care for the plants, animals, birds, etc. because they are our cousins.  They carry the same ingredients in their bodies.

It is sad that we want to destroy the parks and rivers and lakes to "develop" them.  And, yes, in some places, wild lands are being reclaimed so that new life can flourish in those spots.

Today, decide to be out in Nature for one hour a week.  Then slowly increase the time. 

Many blessings.

Spirit Speaks - The Spiritual Path is Stepping Into the Unknown

The mystics in the world are writing about the opening up to spirituality that will be transforming people over the next twenty years.  Spirit tells us that this spiritual path is different for everyone. People seldom have the same experiences and processes.  Each of us is wired to experience life differently and so we each must have a unique spiritual experience.  Each day will open up new experiences for us to process and to grow with.  It will be challenging.  It will be frustrating at times.  It will help us grow into the being that will make a difference.

Many blessings.

Spirit Speaks - On Being Happy

When you ask someone if they are happy, chances are that they will respond with "not really", or "not usually", or something like that.  Spirit tells us that many people want to be happy but that they are looking for someone or something outside of themselves to make them happy. Most people do not understand that happiness has to come from a place inside you.  It is the spark that makes you see the beauty in Nature and to feel playfulness to play with your children or pets.  It is the feeling that all is well regardless of what the complainers and nay-sayers are telling you.

Being happy is the gift of not caring about the drama going on around you.

Many blessings.

Angels Speak - On Being Humble

One of the challenges of being around people today is having to deal with people who have huge egos.  Through their ego, they believe that they are right all the time, that they know everything, including all the answers, and that we, the audience are just ignorant, and must listen to them.  Truly, it gets tiring!

We see the egos at work, in stores and restaurants, and sometimes in our family and friends.  When people are so egotistical and rude, it is really difficult to wish them "loving kindness".  Yet, the lesson for us is that those with egos are the ones that need loving kindness.  We can be humble and we can help others, quietly and lovingly, without the noise.

Many blessings.

Spring Equinox March 20 2018

This spring equinox is part of the beginning of the 19-Year cycle that started with the January 31 Full Moon and Eclipse.  It is a time of karmic changes that look at Love, Relationships with Others and with The Earth, and a time to look at our spiritual gifts.

I think that this prayer is an awesome prayer to offer up on this Equinox.

Earth, Teach Me!

Earth teach me quiet ~ as the grasses are still with new light.
Earth teach me suffering ~ as old stones suffer with memory.
Earth teach me humility ~ as blossoms are humble with beginning.
Earth teach me caring ~ as mothers nurture their young.
Earth teach me courage ~ as the tree that stands alone.
Earth teach me limitation ~ as the ant that crawls on the ground.
Earth teach me freedom ~ as the eagle that soars in the sky.
Earth teach me acceptance ~ as the leaves that die each fall.
Earth teach me renewal ~ as the seed that rises in the spring.
Earth teach me to forget myself ~ as melted snow forgets its life.
Earth teach me to remember kindness ~ as dry fields weep with rain.
--Ute Prayer

Many blessings.