SOAR in 2018!!!

This holiday season, has been such a whirlwind...and I really enjoyed every bit of it!  It just comes and goes all too quickly.  And while I was busy on the home front making sure that every little thing was festive and bright for family and friends, I was not able to focus on anything related to the coming of a New Year...2018!  

In the past I have chosen a word that reflected my spirit at the time the New Year rolled around.  I'm not big on resolutions, but a word to guide me throughout the year has been a somewhat grounding force.  This year, a word did not present itself to me, leading me into a bit of a fog...like this old photograph I took years ago. 

I was out and about in the frigid temps of the northeast freeze on New Year's day running the dog around through the woods, and really tuning into the quiet stillness that Mother Nature provided for the day.  I was tapped into the natural sounds of the creaking trees as they blew in the high winds, for that day the Native Spirit oracle card that chose me was ANCIENT FOREST.

I was breathing in the crisp, clean and very cold air, for the Spirit of Air is what keeps us universally connected to one another.  Yet, a word never did present itself to me...that is until this very morning while looking out my windows into my woods...and it hit me!!!

SOAR

 

That is my entire purpose...to SOAR!  Each and every day, I have opportunities, and many choices.  I have many new ideas and projects on the horizon that will allow me to do just that!!!  

S pirit

O rganize

A nalyze

R ealize

And there it is...I will reach...and I will achieve...and I will fulfill all the many dreams that have not been allowed to come to fruition because of the detours and distractions that take place when I am not paying attention to my soul! 

  It's all so clear to me now...ONWARD 2018!!!

With Love and Peace and Great JOY in abundance to one and all!

 

 

  

 

 

Everything Belongs!

When you take the time and make the effort to just stop running willy nilly to and fro, you just may begin to realize that the Universe is having a conversation with you!  And that everything belongs!

Now I have passed by this barn a zillion times, always commenting on how much I love it.  And as the sun was going down on this particular journey, we pulled over just to take in the beauty.  Oh how I wish I could watercolor that sky!

As we sat there, watching the sun fade away, down over the ridge, I was completely and totally engulfed in this glorious moment capturing God's handiwork.  I couldn't even tell you how long we sat there.  I recall now, there was no talking between my husband and I, there were no words necessary.

There was also nothing else present...no lingering thoughts of where we were supposed to be, or where we had just come from, what we were doing, what we have to do next, not even noise from the cars, trucks, tractors that use this country road.  NOTHING!  AND IT WAS PERFECT!

WE JUST WERE! 

 

 COMPLETE AND TOTAL HARMONY!

And as the sun went down on this, my favorite barn setting, on our way to and fro, I smile with the knowledge that I am blessed.  And I am exactly where I belong!

 

Is it really all good?

       

I am a bookworm.  And a music lover.  Not a musician, but a lover of music.  (I leave the musicianship to our 3 very talented littles.)  As a youngster, I would race to the public library and spend my time lost in adventures.   I have my own library full of books in my home now.  OK, maybe more than I should have all over the house, but the very old vintage ones with those wonderful spines are very decorative, and they are my absolute faves.  I haven't read all of them, either.  Most of them I have acquired at used book sales, and I have posted before about the ones with that lovely script handwriting of old, claiming ownership or gifting a book to a new owner.  Yes, Old Friends for sure.  

Now as I curl up with a book, currently A Force for Good by Daniel Goleman, to try and distract me from tragic news that arrived earlier in the day, I peer at my piano and notice the old barnwood sign made by a friend that reads, "It's all good".  Yet, it really isn't.  For my heart pains for a tragic loss of a young extended family member who died much too young.  We didn't know him well, but it hurts just to know that his immediate family unit is totally numb.  

And we go on. 

Not being able to focus on any reading, I turn on the tube which doesn't get much use because there really isn't anything good on anymore, except for the cool stuff on National Geographic or the History channel.  And I click through channels only to hear more bad news.  Tragedy all over the place.  There has to be something good going on somewhere in the world in which we live.  But why don't we hear or see any of it on TV?  Has society gone so far off the rails that it must tune into such dark and negative and painful sufferings of humanity for entertainment?  How sad!

So, I call it a day, cuddle up to my wonderful husband of 29 years, close my eyes and go inward to tap into the glory of my awakened soul which keeps me in tune.

I realize that I am only one.  And I wonder sometimes if it is possible for just one person to make a difference in this life where there is so much chaos and strife among our fellow man.  I am strong. I am hopeful.  And I am determined.  So yes, I will go forward with my radiant light, in hopes that someone who is in the dark will see it, and understand that they are not alone.  Most of all, that there IS light, even in darkness.  

 

I am grateful for all that I  have.  And I urge all of you to practice compassion wherever you may go.  One simple act can make all the difference in the world to another human being.  Help me to keep humanity from destroying itself.  For then, yes, it will be ALL GOOD!

GK...REST IN PEACE!

Darkness to Light

"God wears himself out through the infinite thickness of time and space in order to reach the soul and to captivate it.  If it allows a pure and utter consent (though brief as a lightning flash) to be torn from it, then God conquers that soul.  And when it has become entirely his he abandons it.  He leaves it completely alone and it has in its turn, but gropingly, to cross the infinite thickness of time and space in search of him whom it loves.  It is thus that the soul, starting from the opposite end, makes the same journey that God made towards it.  And that is the cross."

                                 ~ Simone Weil, "Gravity and Grace"

Spirituality and the Desert Experience

When recently asked by a dear friend to participate in a book discussion, I was hesitant, because the book topic was spiritual in nature, and this is a topic that can be very personal.  Especially in regards to the practice of any type of organized religion.  And this particular community of "worshipers" I discovered, are mostly strangers to me. 

But not wanting to let my friend down, I agreed, knowing full well that with this book, Spirituality and the Desert Experience, by Charles Cummings, I would not be able to just sit idly by on the sidelines while others preached to me about what they believe it all means.  Especially from a religious standpoint.  The topic of spirituality is very near and very dear to my heart, as I have lived through a desert experience, or what I refer to as the "dark night of the soul" and have come out on the other side full of light, and much more wisdom about my own spirituality.  More importantly I realized that I had been fooling myself for a very, very long time. 

Deepak Chopra quotes,

"To make the right choices in life, you have to get in touch with your soul.  To do this, you need to experience solitude, which most people are afraid of, because in the silence you hear the truth and know the solutions."
 

And this is so true.  For when getting in touch with your soul, you are connected to the true life source that is within all of us.  Yes, we were all born with it as humans.  It is the BE-ing part of humans.  From the moment we take that first breath.  It is the part of each of us that is directly connected to God, Spirit, or whatever you choose to call your ONENESS with the almighty Creator of all things.

It is when we let the external forces of humanity define us, which society demonstrates in many ways as essential to our happiness, that darkness creeps in. We are somehow deemed unworthy, or not as good as others if we don't have this, or don't do that.  And this is exactly how we lose our way, because this plays to the ego, and the ego kicks in to demonstrate its ability to fight the true essence of our very be-ing, which is being overshadowed or buried by this negative force of energy being thrust upon us by those external forces.

We must go inward and tune into that life source that connects all things throughout the Universe. The mind babble that is incessant will dissipate if you realize that you are not what you do, or what you have.  If we can only get out of our way, inner peace will come to the surface, and you will be free.

For I am not to be defined as a wife and mother...that's just what I do along with the job that I absolutely love.  And I always express my gratitude for all of which, I, my ego self, must participate in with my human-ness in the material world on a daily basis.  No, as I go about my busy-ness of the daily routine, I have at my disposal,  my true essence, which shines bright and keeps me in tune with God.  And it is up to me to radiate this light, so that others who may not even realize that they are even in the desert, or darkness, can see my spark and tap into the same life force through me.

Seek and ye shall find, for the truth will truly set you free! 

Old Man Winter

From winter's past...

 Normally at this time of year, we'd be down by the pond watching a few kids playing hockey, or just enjoying the beauty of the still falling snow. 


After an unusually warm Christmas Day here in New York State, we've had some frigid temps, but today back to rain...again.  More rain.  I love the rain...but not in January!  So, I will sit by the fire and watch the rain, envision the snow, and delve into the "simplify" mode for 2016 and purge a few more "things" from the homestead.

Or not...perhaps I will just cuddle up with my work in progress crochet blanket that is quite large already, but just not finished.  I leave it there on the love seat with the yarns still attached to pick up and work on as I crawl beneath it.

Or not...perhaps I will just wrap myself up in it and read more from the book that I just got,  Spirituality and the Desert Experience.   A ukulele friend brought this book to my attention and asked me to join a book discussion with him and some friends.  Well after reading the General Introduction 4 times, I finally agreed to press on and dig in and grasp the full intention of its journey into the desert.  A place that I believe I have already been...

You are welcome to join me on the journey...