SUMMER WISHES

Here we are again

Basking in the heat of the season

The long cold winter and wet Spring distant memories

Nature has burst forth

  In colourful splendor

The birds, the bees and the butterflies are busy

  Bringing forth new life

Their cycles of life both infinite and finite

Take heed mortals

This is a time to grow to spread our wings, to turn

  To our Sun God with open arms and summer wishes.

 Saa Taa Naa Maa        

SUMMER

The soft warm wind

   rustling through the trees

   reminds us that the

   summer solstice has arrived.

Like celebrating a step

   into the teenage years

   free, sassy

   seeking independence

   from the demands

   of a long harsh winter

   and the birth of Spring.   

With promises of hot sunshine,

   cooling breezes, fresh water lakes,

   and lazy days,

   we awaken to a cacophony

   of early morning bird sounds,

   walkers, cyclists, children playing

    in the streets. 

We celebrate good friends,

   outdoor gatherings, beach,

   long days and late nights.

Finally.  

Give thanks for all that is today

   for too soon

   we will enter again into the

   adult cycle of responsibility.

Happy Summer Solstice!

GRACE 

This past week during my yoga class, my absolutely fabulous teacher, Ofelia, said, “Grace is not just ballerinas on their toes.  Grace is when you move with intuition, with knowing.  Grace is mindfulness.” Ofelia’s flow inspired me to put some thoughts together about grace.

While the word grace certainly conjures up visions of a physical nature with arms swaying gently as if blown by a breeze, heart turned to the sun, and head held high with an upward gaze, it also refers to the energy that surrounds us.  That positive flow with the promise of life eternal.

Becoming aware that there is a greater universe that envelopes us with its protective energy is comforting.  Feeling the gratitude that comes from joyful moments is uplifting.   Being thankful for all that is provided for us and what we are able to provide for others gives us a sense of abundance. 

Grace is letting go of a past wrong done to you.  Learning to forgive.  Grace is thoughtful and polite.  Grace is honourable.  Grace is omnificent.  Grace is the prayer said at the beginning of a meal.  Grace brings beauty and charm.  You are grace as you arrive with presence.

Each day I end my journal with the following, ‘Thank you God for my daily blessings.  I live in your Grace.’  I trust that you will honour me with good fortune, happiness and safety.  I have faith that the universe wants the very best for all, me included.

Peace Love Happiness Faith Joy!

IN APPRECIATION …

             OF THE GREAT SOULS IN MY LIFE!

I was directed this week by one of my favourite astrologers to “take inventory of the great souls in my life:  the people who I admire and respect and learn from and feel grateful for, people with high integrity and noble intentions; people who are generous with their gifts.” (Brezny, Rob, Free Will Astrology, NOW, May 7, 2021)

Well, let me start with perhaps my greatest influence, my Mom.  Today being Mother’s Day always gives me reason to think about my mother in a special way.  But I think about her every day and continue to recognize her presence daily in my life even though she left this plane 35 years ago.  My mother was a devoted caregiver extraordinaire.  She kept a beautiful home, she was a fabulous cook, and we were the best dressed kids in town.  And she was a character.  Full stop! 

My dad, brother, sister, and I along with our friends still have the greatest chuckles about my Mom’s ways.  She was as tough as she was loving, and you didn’t want to cross her for fear of her wrath.  She spoke her mind and protected us fiercely.  She was very clever, and it was hard to keep secrets from such a wiley investigator. I didn’t always get along with my Mom.  Two strong willed people are often at odds but over the years as I matured, we became best friends.  Love you forever, Mom!

My Spiritual leaders, both here and in the hereafter, have had an enormous impact on my ways of being and how I understand life.  I was raised in a traditional Christian church setting but that particular stream of thought didn’t resonate with me.  I began to search for a form of new age thinking that made sense for me.  Over 30 years ago, I came upon the science and philosophy of Spiritualism.  It felt so true.  The seven principles of Spiritualism provided me with a foundation to understand and practice my beliefs with a like-minded and a like-hearted group of people.

Teachers, mentors, supervisors, work partners and colleagues have all helped me to attain the goals that I have set for myself.  Starting my own school when I was nine years old should have given me a glimpse as to how my career might unfold, but it wasn’t until I completed Grade 10 that I knew I wanted to be a teacher.  Throughout my journey, I have been blessed by the people who believed in me and who helped to elevate my aspirations throughout a long and fulfilling career in education.  I learned that one never has to walk alone.

Thank you, Rob, for nudging me to take a walk down memory lane and to think about all of the wonderful people who have made such a significant difference in my life.  I am forever grateful to my family, friends and communities.  Love, love, love!

JOY

As I enjoyed the beautiful Pink Moon this past week, I spent considerable time thinking about the people, places, events and all things nature that bring me so much joy EVERY DAY! What is joy?  What does it feel like?  And how can we ensure that our life, even in the most difficult of times, can be touched by joy?

For me, joy is something that I intentionally choose to see and feel.  It means stopping along the path to watch a flight of swans trumpet their way across the morning sky.  My heart literally swells with awe.  Watching a mother fox round up her kits, squirrels in the park running from their trees to pick up their morning peanut treats, and dogs anticipating and engaged in play are just a few of the delights that grace my every day.

Spring is a natural harbinger of joy.  Witnessing the trees bud and the flowers bloom in colourful splendor brings such a sense of blessedness.  Mother Earth is alive and well and we have yet another day of living ahead of us.

Many of my friends are now becoming grandparents and when they and their children share the new pictures of these baby miracles, it brings a smile to my face and a tender feeling to my heart.  Visits and conversations with my son and grandson incite a great sense of love and belonging.  Dogs and cats have always been a part of my life.  My sister and I exchange crazy memes and real-life pictures and stories about these joyous creatures on a daily basis. Not to mention the two cat neighbours who share their antics with me regularly. Joy makes me smile and laugh; joy makes me feel happy.

The Hummingbird is a symbol of joy particularly in Native cultures.  It is said that “Hummingbird conjures love as no other medicine does, and that Hummingbird feathers open the heart, and without an open and loving heart, you can never taste the nectar and pure bliss of life.” (Sams & Carson, Medicine Cards, p. 213, 1988)

I challenge you to intuit how you can create more joy in your life.  Go to a place where you have never been before and open up to the infinite possibilities.

Wishing you glad tidings of JOY! 

 PEACE 

Like a lazy river flows

Like snowflakes falling

   ever so softly

Like a rainbow—the colours

   of the Chakras

   all in balance 

Energy, universal, loving,

   kind, caring, thought

Flow

Unconditional

Breathe

Deeply

Into your soul until

Peace renders you limp

   and satisfied, gratified 

Peace is the essence of

   inside

To bring you outside with

   pure pleasure, JOY

Shanti   Shanti   Shanti 

HEART AND SOUL OVER MATTER

As I was doing some research on the inner voice—that constant chatter that goes on within one’s head that guides our emotions and actions—I began to think about different kinds of inner voices.   What about those messages that come to us through our heart and soul?   How might they be different?

I have always lived by the cliché, “mind over matter”.  That strong will that drives us to explore, to learn more, to achieve, to be the best we can be.  I liken it to the image of fitting a square peg through a round hole. When I set my mind to something, it moves forward. I remember packing my car to move to California.  I needed to fit one more thing into the trunk.  It seemed impossible, but when I put my mind to it, a space magically opened and it was a perfect fit!

To me, my mind, my thinking is more of a physical activity.  It is predictable, lives in the present, can be both positive and negative, and demands great strength.  But, what about the inner voice that feels rather than thinks.  Where does that come from?

According to Dr. John Demartini, inner voice messages can come from a variety of sources, including angels, your soul or higher self, spirit guides, plant devas, and animal totems. He states that you cannot attune to this inspiring voice without living a more inspiring life with a heart filled with gratitude.  He claims that when your heart is opened wide with gratitude your inner voice becomes loud and clear.  (Demartini, Dr. John, “Listening to Your Guiding Whispers.” Learn Religions, August 27, 2020, learnreligions.com/listen-to-your-guiding-whispers-1732064.) 

I like the thought of my inner voice being intimately connected to my heart and soul.  I believe that my heart and soul, feeding my mind, can be a better driver of my inner voice.  It’s like a community working together to produce the best thoughts and actions.

Dr. Demartini has a recipe for communing with your inner guidance:

1.     Stand relaxed with your hands loosely at your side.

2.     Take a few deep breaths.  Inhale and exhale through the nose slowly.

3.     Tilt your head up 30 degrees.

4.     Turn your eyes up another 30 degrees, until you are looking forward and upward.

5.     Close your eyelids and let them become relaxed.

6.     Think about something or someone you are truly and deeply grateful for.

7.     Keep thinking and thanking until you feel your heart has truly opened up and you have even experienced a tear of inspiration.

8.     Upon attaining a grateful state, now ask your inner voice for any guiding message.  Ask, “Inner voice do you have a message for me at this moment?”

9.     When you are grateful enough and you ask for a message a message will clearly come.

10.  Write this message down.

(Demartini, Dr. John, “Listening to Your Guiding Whispers.” Learn Religions, August 27, 2020, learnreligions.com/listen-to-your-guiding-whispers-1732064.)

This is only one method to connect your heart, soul and mind.  Activities such as regular meditation, journalling, yoga, running, hiking, etc., can provide us with the opportunity to hear that wonderful inner voice and move us to our best self!

Namaste!

APRIL SHOWERS

 Tears of Joy splash to the ground

                         As Mother Earth celebrates

                         a new year

                                    of growth

                                    green

                                    rainbows

                        It’s time to wash away the blues

                           Awaken earthlings

to the smell

                                 of damp earth

                                 rain

                                 birth

                         As the trees bud into full blossoms

                           Let that be our time

   to burst forth

                                    in full colour

                                fragrant

                                    life

We are grateful for a new day

                            That signals

   a new way

                                    of being

                                    love

                                    faith

  HAPPY SPRING!

FOR THE LOVE OF GEMS

For as long as I can remember, I have been drawn to the beauty and power of gemstones. History tells us that the use of gems and crystals is an ancient practice and this practice has survived and thrived through the ages becoming more prevalent again with the onset of new and different spiritual understandings.  According to Edgar Cayce, gem vibrations were not “toys” but tools that could be used for spiritual development. (Gems and Stones, 1960, p. v)

My modern birthstone, peridot, is said to have derived from carnelian.  After doing some research about this captivating stone, my husband and I chose to use carnelian as the gem in our wedding rings.  Traditionally, it was worn to enhance passion, love and desire.  Other characteristics of this gem include bringing bold energy that is warm and joyful, stimulating and empowering.  It seems to align perfectly with my sun sign of Leo which is a bit of fire and brimstone!

I have two gems that I carry with me at all times:  my favourite rose quartz and amethyst. Of course, rose quartz is known as the stone of unconditional love.  With its calming energy it brings me a sense of inner peace and love. When the going gets tough, I rely on the sight and feel of this gem to keep me on a humbler path.  I think deeply about its properties and use them as a guide. 

Amethyst is the birthstone of two of my favourite guys:  my Dad and my Son.  For me, amethyst is a great protector.  I always carry it in my purse and if I am going into a more difficult situation, I will carry a small gem in my pocket.  It is a reminder of the strength and protection that the Divine Universe provides.  Purple gemstones relate to the 6th (third eye) and 7th (crown) chakras, visioning and spiritual awareness.

When I am feeling unsettled, I turn to my amazonite gem to soothe my anxiety.  Amazonite has been known as the Stone of Hope.  The beautiful blue-green colour of amazonite is said to resemble the sky and heavens, thereby being regarded as a beacon of hope and faith.  I keep this gem in sight as I wake each morning to help alleviate my very bad habit of reviewing my most anxious thoughts at the beginning of each day.  It also joins me for my yoga practice as a reminder to breathe deeply and let it all go.

I have an entire bowl of different gems that a good friend and spiritual colleague passed on to me a few years back.  I don’t think she realized what a perfect gift this was for me, or perhaps she did!  I enjoy picking out random gems and researching the spiritual meanings they have.  I enjoy gifting gems to my friends and family too.

I still have a lot of work ahead of my quest for self-actualization and using my special tools, the gems that I love and ponder over, keeps reminding me that life is a journey and not a destination.

COLOUR ME…

DIVINE…

As I step into the presence of the Divine Spirit or Universe, I envision a solid bright light or a shower of stars surrounding my presence followed by my favourite brilliant violet.  I feel connected and one with the universe. 

SPIRITUAL…

An indigo morning or evening sky lets me know that I am in tune with a higher being.  I don’t know how I know, but I do, and I feel confident in my knowing. 

INTUITIVE…

I hear the voice of my inner reflections and make every effort to communicate my inner emotions in a thoughtful and caring way as I float in an ocean of many shades of exquisite blue.  I want to be helpful to myself and others.

LOVE…

To love unconditionally is my goal.  I seek peace through my quest to accept life and relationships in an understanding way.  My growth presents itself in shades of green just like the coming of Spring.

CALM …

Breathe.  I love the feeling of wholeness and balance.  My golden yellow sun is shining brightly.  My wishes and desires have been acknowledged.  It requires me to trust that my feelings and being are one.

HAPPY…

One of my happy places is my tangerine orange kitchen.  Friends and family congregate here to share stories, laughter and good food.  This is such a safe place to freely share and enjoy!

ENERGIZED…

How many pairs of red shoes do I have?  While I am grounded, I am continually evolving.  I am enjoying exploring new aspects of my personality.  I have energy and ambition to spare.  I will survive!

How does colour affect you in your everyday life?  Colours can stimulate, suppress, excite, calm, and generally influence the way we think. 

As Spring approaches, we have been blessed with many beautiful rainbows lately. Viewing a rainbow is always an ‘aha’ moment.  Colours of the rainbow are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.  Many cultures consider rainbows as a message of hope sent from the spiritual realm.  They may see the rainbow as an answer to a spiritual quest, or a sign of hope and encouragement. 

These are also the colours of the chakras and the chakra colours indicate our current emotional, spiritual and physical state of being.  We can work consciously with colours to improve our happiness and well-being and to improve our state of the universe.

Rosemary Clute writes in her article, Heightened Awareness in the Classroom, “that no matter how conservative the teaching environment, we can always use colour without explaining it, as it is a silent communicator with the child’s unconscious. There was no need to talk in the classroom of chakras, for no child indicated such a need.  But the colour display was a silent message of order and purity to which the unconscious mind could respond.”  A variety of art projects in various colours provided “a vehicle for children to discover that they were drawn to different colours at different times—and so a seed was planted for the understanding of colour therapy”. (The A.R.E. Journal, Volume XVIII, May 1983, Number 3)

Love and Light, Nancy

 TURNING HOPE INTO TRUST

I had a Business Communications teacher at Ryerson University that insisted we never use the word hope in our business correspondence.  She propounded that the word hope was associated with a lack of confidence in the outcome of our communication, whether we were asking for something, sharing bad news or selling a product.  It was a weak way to anticipate what we wanted to be our end result.

I have been putting some thought towards this theory lately.  We always hope for a better tomorrow, for more love and peace, for greater quality of life for everyone, for focussed actions towards climate change.  There is no question that our hope helps to give us the faith that this will indeed happen and that does make us feel better.  But, does hope provide us with enough of a sense of control as we strive for new and better ways in life?  Does it spur us on to take the action necessary for that to happen?

Trust, on the other hand, gives me a sense that what I hope or wish for has already happened.    When I trust, I feel confident that I have already reached my desired outcome.  In order to arrive at my preferred destination, I have to have a plan in place.  When I start at the end result and look back, I can clearly define the steps I needed to take to achieve the goal.  I feel more in control of my destiny and I am less likely to let my hopes, wishes and dreams vanish into thin air. 

Just as we trust that the sun will rise and set every day, can we feel that confident about our own daily happiness and well-being?  If we merely hope this will be our state of mind, we might be disappointed.  If we trust that today will be as good or even better than yesterday, we will make the effort to ensure that is so.

This is not to suggest that what God, the Divine Spirit, the Universe of Love has in store for me may be so completely obvious or totally in my control, but I do trust that the life that was intended for me and how I interact with those best intentions will be my life’s rewards. We are so blessed!

DRAWN TO THE LIGHT

As a young child, I was petrified of the dark.  I regularly stopped into my parent’s bedroom in the middle of the night only to be told “it’s ok, you’re alright, go back to bed.”  I would creep back to my room, gripped by fear and straining my ears for the sound of dark.  I wasn’t expecting a SciFi monster to jump out of the closet, it was different.  In the dark, there was some kind of energy that I couldn’t comprehend.  I could feel it, but I couldn’t see it.

I always considered myself to be blessed with a sunny, happy personality.  That didn’t mean I didn’t have fears, deep entrenched fears. I seemed to be able to pull myself through these fearful times by finding the joys of life and living. These joys might come from reading an exciting novel where I was able to travel and live the wonderful lives of fictional characters.  I loved my animals:  a rabbit called Mugsy and my first dog love, Mickey.  My family and friends brought great joy as we shared laughter, mischief and plans for the future.  My greatest joy was to bring a little miracle to life.

Over time, I have realized that we can find joy in our daily lives and in some of the smallest ways.  Walking down the street, smiling and greeting others we meet with an open heart, stopping to pet the cats and dogs and chuckle at their antics, feeding the squirrels along a walk, watching the sun peak out from the clouds and brighten the world, and welcoming the presence of a gorgeous full moon.

I have come to be unafraid of the darkness.  For in that darkness, there is also light and well-being.  It’s a time to rest and rejuvenate.  It’s a time to trust that all is well in my world and the dawn of a new day filled with light will surely arrive. Even though as the night falls into darkness, I know that the Divine Light brings forward a Divine presence of love and protection. 

We are living through some dark times now and finding the light within those dark times helps us to be less fearful of our future.  It helps us to think clearly as we set out to bring order out of chaos.  Light has always been associated with wisdom and it is this wisdom that will bring us through our troubled times and challenges.

Laugh, love and live in the joy that the Divine intends for us—all of us! 

Namaste

Today’s Inspiration

SPECIAL MOMENTS

Recognizing our special moments daily can be such an uplifting experience.  Whether it’s hearing the birds announce the rising of the sun, the smell of delicious coffee brewing, the anticipation of the day’s events, or a laugh or hug shared with a best friend, we can all agree that a feeling of warmth and happiness washes over our being at that moment.

I find that by consciously recognizing and celebrating special moments throughout the day, I am more inclined to feel a greater sense of joy in all things that life has to offer.   When I am joyful, I feel rejuvenated.  My mind clears so that I can grasp a situation at hand and work through it in a positive way.  My body responds favourably as I tune into my well-being.

Daydreaming can be a joyful experience as we dream about wonderful events that have happened in the past, are happening in the present, or what we would like to happen in our future.  Daydreams provide us with a bit of an escape during the day when we need it the most. Daydreams can stimulate our imagination and urge us to greater creativity.

Meditation is another helpful activity.  By paying attention to our physical sensations, thoughts and emotions we are able to see them more clearly, thus giving us great control of our actions.

Exercise and other types of physical activity, whether it’s a gentle yoga or a burning, sweaty workout, provide that sense of euphoria.  Feeling good, feeling strong is one of my favourite special moments.

 As I attune my thoughts and actions daily towards consciously recognizing my special moments, I know I am in control of my own happiness and well-being.  Cherish your special moments as they will become the foundation of a peaceful, joyous existence.

Today’s Inspiration

Rituals

Self-love requires that you spend quality time with yourself.  Practicing self-love must be intentional and ongoing.  Ask yourself, “What can I do in my daily practice to be able to think and act in a caring and compassionate way that helps to build my confidence and a strong sense of self and how can I accomplish my intended outcome?”        

I have established a daily ritual over the past 30 years that has allowed me to delve deeply into my inner most thoughts and feelings about who I am and who I want to become.  Over these years I have connected with a variety of like hearted individuals and groups, purchased or been given tangible items to use as prompts, read self help books, watched self-help videos, attended conferences and workshops to learn different healing modalities, and invited mentors into my life to help guide my journey.  While these experiences have added to my repertoire, without committing to a daily practice, they would merely collect dust.

I’d like to share my daily ritual with you, just as a sample of what helps me to face each day with positive anticipation and a strong sense of self.

Journal—I call this my gratitude, prayer, and healing journal.  I intentionally use words such as gratitude, healing, faith, trust, prayer and patience.  I think about what I am grateful for on that day.  It might be the song of the birds, the sunshine, an event, etc.  I write the names of those I wish to receive healing and I pray for those I want the universe to know about who may need guidance and care. I include symbols associated with Sacred Peace Healing Energy (SPHE-RE) and my favourite Appreciative Inquiry mantra:  Positive thoughts, Positive Actions, Positive Outcomes.

Prompts—I have two sets of cards that I use each day to help direct my inner thoughts.  One set is of North American birds, each with a detailed description of the bird and the significant message they have.  My second set is from the Medicine Card collection in the spirit of the Wolf Clan that is designed to help us find our personal pathway through the medicine of animals. Prompts, like mudras, help me to focus the mind on my inner being.

Healing Modalities—Integrated Energy Therapy (IET®), Sacred Peace Healing Energy (SPHE-RE), and yogic breathing or Pranayama are prominent in my daily practice.  Each modality offers a 3- to 5-minute daily ritual that physically allows me to share my intention to the universe.

Following my morning ritual, I feel centred and ready for the day no matter what that may bring.  Should I encounter challenges along the way, I can always revisit and reflect on my morning ritual to bring me back to who I am and who I want to be. 

In order to love others and be loved, one must first experience the joys of self-love. 

Life is the work!

THE POWER OF OUR OWN WORDS

Have you ever written a letter to yourself?  And then read it some time later to discover the outcomes?  On several occasions I have been asked to write a letter to myself and it’s usually been as an exit strategy from an amazing conference or workshop.  Such a great idea!

In September 2008, I attended a wonderful conference through the Taos Institute on Social Construction: Relational Practices and Transforming Dialogues.  We were asked at the end of the session to write a letter and it would be mailed to us within about six months. 

Today, I came upon that letter again dated, September 28, 2008, and I would like to share it with you.

Dear Nancy, I have been tremendously inspired to create a healthy, wholesome world.  As a large group working together, we gained trust and excitement through sharing our stories.  I made amazing energy connections with people I had never met before.  I felt validated in my own life and I was excited for others in their quest to improve the human condition.  At times, I felt sadness, confusion, and low self esteem as I related to the wonderful lives and stories of others.  How could I ever compete?  Well, it is not about competing, it is about adding to …..  I commit to using Appreciative Inquiry in my personal life and large systems to make the world a better place:  3 months—engage with others and explore opportunities, involve students, children, young adults, feel good about my skills and stories; 6 months—be actively involved in a project that makes necessary changes and be working on it’s sustainability, continue my spiritual work.  Love and Light, Me

The power of your own words.  Wow!  Here I am 13 years later, and as I look back I am proud to place a check mark beside my commitments.  It doesn’t mean I have completed my quest, but it feels great to acknowledge that I am on the right path—my path.

I encourage you to write your own thoughtful letter to yourself.   Reflect on all of the wonderful stories you have to tell about you and write that letter with love and conviction to being your best self, moving forward.

 With love, Nancy