I have a confession to make. I am a lot like most people. I try to live a conscious life. I try very hard to include spirituality in my daily life. I try. Seriously, I do.
But, like everyone else, sometimes the duties and obligations of life get in the way of my soul expansion. Sometimes, you have to drop everything to take care of details and the “stuff” of your life, even though you’d rather be taking ten minutes to freakin’ meditate! Or to just be. Is that too much to ask?
So, what is a spiritually-minded, consciousness-raising person to do when your actual life gets in the way of your spiritual one?
First, take a deep breath. This frenetic pace will eventually slow down enough for you to take a moment or two a day and have gratitude, read that soul-expanding article, or take a walk in nature. But first, you must breathe.
The second thing is to take back your life, even if it’s in small increments. No matter what you have to do in a day, there are still probably a few minutes before you go to sleep at night in which you can talk to the universe, even if only to tell it to ease your schedule and give you back some “you” time!
The third, and most important, thing to do is to understand the nature of consciousness. You don’t really need to have a half hour to meditate. You are a walking meditation, you are light and love in the form and shape of a human. Every breath you take is a testament to Divine. Everything you do is a reflection of Divine Soul. Every moment in time is a meditation.
What do I mean by this? I will use myself as an example. Recently, I have had to paint — top to bottom, popcorn ceilings included — a rental property. Now, this is not really how I wanted to spend my time. I have other things to do, other projects waiting, other, more life-enhancing ways to spend my time. But, since it had to be done, and I was the only one who could do it, there I was. Painting, painting, painting.
I could have angrily painted to stupid property. I could have muttered and cursed about my displeasure at having to waste my precious time on this onerous task. But I chose differently. I chose to paint with consciousness. I chose to view the time spent making a property look better as well worth my time. I reveled in how the fresh paint made the dingy ceilings look one hundred percent better. I took pride in my ability to paint like a pro, even if my back was sore and my body tired at the end of the day. Still, I chose to embrace the task with conscious awareness of the sanctity of the transformation. I chose to do this work with a light heart.
Did I succeed? Most days, yes. There were some when the under-breath grumbling wouldn’t be tamed! I am, like you, only human. But the majority of the time, I simply felt satisfaction at the obvious improvement to the property.
After a month and a half of weekends spent painting, I am finally done. Yay! Now I have time to tune in and meditate or write or just be. I have time to explore the universe as well as my own growth of spirit.
And yet…
There is consciousness and growth in doing mundane tasks. I know people who feel closer to Divine when they are weeding their garden than they ever would in a church. I know people who feel like they are cleansing their soul when they clean their house.
Every moment of every day can be a meditation of sorts. This is not a new concept. What is that old Buddhist saying? “Before enlightenment, chop wood and carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood and carry water.”
HOW you “chop wood, carry water” is the difference. If you do your daily tasks with the clear intention of being a reflection of Divine light and love, then you are living in consciousness. If you relish every moment of every day, even the boring, mundane ones, then you are expanding your soul and attaining your purpose. As much as I love Oprah, the “aha” moments, while important and fun to experience, are only part of the expansion of consciousness. The daily living of your Divine truth is just as important. More so, really, because they ground and integrate the “aha” moments so those are not fleeting experiences, but are a part of your very core self.
So, chop wood, carry water, paint ceilings, do laundry and dishes, take care of your children, pets, and house, and know that you are in your Divine space, in your right place, in your path of soul growth and expansion. It may look like housework, but it really is where you are the expression of love and light in form. Having that form makes it imperative that you support that form by going to work to make money, cook (or order!) food to keep your body functioning, and cleaning up your environment so the Health Department doesn’t condemn your abode!
It is all Divine. The person who has the time and space to meditate three hours a day is not more spiritual than you are — they simply have time to connect with Divine in a ritualized way. That doesn’t make you less in tune, or not as connected. Consciousness comes in many forms. Your way is as important and fulfilling as anyone else’s. If you feel more connected to Divine on a hike in nature, good for you! If you feel you connect with Divine better in a group setting of like-spirited people, then seek out those opportunities. If you have wonderful chats with your guides and angels while commuting through traffic, please don’t dismiss that as something “less than” other’s experiences with Divine.
It is all Divine. It is all consciousness. You choose what works best for you. If you can get more spiritual work done on a ten-minute break than most people can do at an all-day retreat, then you need to embrace and be thankful for that. If you clear your mind and lift your heart while mowing the lawn, acknowledge and accept that.
Know that you are in your Divine “groove” when it feels easy and fun. If you have to sweat and strain for spirituality, you might want to find a way that suits you better! If you have to starve or berate yourself to achieve consciousness, you might want to find an easier route. Consciousness is not something “out there” that you are trying to get to, it is something you already have within you, waiting for you to recognize, utilize, and expand it.
That’s all. Easy squeezy lemony peasy. So, paint, mow, clean, cook, walk, soar, have fun and just allow your consciousness to expand naturally and organically. It’s a choice, and the choice is yours.
In joy and love,
Barbara
Normally, I write this blog to share my thoughts and pass along wisdom that I have gleaned, usually through my own efforts at living life. I try not to make it about me, though. I want it to be about you, and how you can enhance your experience as you dance through your own life.
However, this time I want to share something personal with you. I need to tell you about my mom. You see, over the past few weeks, my sister and I have had to accept the fact that Mom needs to be in a memory care facility. Even those words give me the heebie-jeebies. But the fact is, Mom’s memory is not just faulty, it is completely non-existent. She needs twenty-four hour care and supervision. But that’s not the worst part. The worst part–to me–is that she has forgotten her story.
This was brought home to me over the past few weeks as, with each new caregiver, my sister or I have had to explain that Mom doesn’t answer to her legal name. She never has. She has always gone by a deriviative of her middle name. But no one who first meets her knows this, and she can no longer tell them. My sister and I are the only ones remaining who know why and how her nickname came to be. She does not know. She has forgotten that part of her story.
As we’ve cleaned out her assisted-living apartment, we’ve run across scrap books and many, many photographs. One scrapbook held bridal shower and wedding congratulations cards from people who are long dead and who no one in my family remembers. I found a copy of a playbill from a high school production she appeared in. I had no idea she had ever done anything on a stage — even a small school stage in Banks,Oregon. I found a journal from the early 1970’s where she is complaining about how disgusted she is with the people of her generation, how she feels they are small-minded and judgmental. Who knew? I certainly didn’t know she felt that way. And, if I hadn’t found that old journal, I would never have known, because she has forgotten that part of her story.
So, what do I want to say to you? I encourage you to live your story, fully and completely, while you can still remember it! Every day is a new chapter to the long story of you. Your likes, your dislikes, the things that make you tingle or become numb, the thoughts that let you soar or pull you down. Live it. Embrace it. Expand it. To steal a phrase from Nike, just do it.
Now, I know you’ve heard people say that they don’t want to get stuck in their story. The story most people are referring to is their “victim” story. That could be the story of their broken relationship, their current or past illness, their ignoble start in life, or plain bad luck that has occurred. And it’s true, you don’t want to get stuck in the negative, because that is not your whole story. It’s only a minor part. It’s not who you truly are.
No, who you truly are is a vast, rich landscape of experiences, each one ripe with meaning and blessed with character. Each experience is a thread in your personal tapestry, and each person is an integral, important part of the tapestry of Divine. See, I knew I could get it back to you and your Divine connection! Because your story is important. It’s as important as anyone else’s.
Does this mean you get to bore everyone with every tiny detail of your life? Facebook and Twitter aside, that would be a big “NO!” What is does mean is that you get to share what is important to you so that your story can be known.
How do you do that? Well, you can keep a journal if you are so inclined. One day your daughter may read your words and say, “I never knew that,” as I did when I read the small bit that my mother wrote. You could leave voice or video recordings, although that is hard to do when you are busy living your life.
My suggestion for living your story is to make sure you focus on what is important to you, and share that with others. I’m not suggesting quasi-interesting things like the time you almost shared a cab with Dustin Hoffman when you were visiting New York City. I’m more inclined to have you share your story by being honest about who you are and what is important to you. If you love to garden, do it with enthusiasm and share that joy with whoever might be interested. It’s part of the story of you.
If you’ve had a life-changing experience and feel you have something to offer someone going through a similar experience, share that with them if they seem receptive. It’s part of the story of you.
If you are happy when everyone else is sad or sad when everyone is telling you that you should be happy, just feel what you feel and tell everyone else to leave you to it. Your feelings are part of the story of you.
If you have a different relationship to Divine than those around you, please accept and embrace that relationship. It’s part of the story of you.
If you have a particular quirk that others find odd, unless it’s illegal, immoral, or just plain icky, accept and rejoice in your own uniqueness. We are all a reflection of Divine, quirks and all. We are all part of Divine’s story. Yes, you, me, and your annoying co-worker are all part of the stories of Divine. Yours is unique to you, as mine is to me.
As for my mother, she answers to the name Jean, because when she was little, they were going to call her Gennie from her middle name Genevieve, but either she or her younger sister (see, even I have forgotten part of her story!) couldn’t pronounce Gennie. It was pronounced Jeannie, and it stuck.
So Jean she is, even if she can’t remember.
Please live your story, your Divine story, to the fullest. Revel in it. Be grateful for it. And share it with those who wish to remember.
In joy and love,
Barbara
Time as a concept is relatively new in the big universal picture. Only in the last several thousand years has there been a concerted effort to break life down into increments of time.
Of course, there has always been the counting of time by way of seasonal changes. Winter, spring, summer, fall — even if those words weren’t used, people have joined in the rhythm of changing seasons the way all of life does. Mankind took note of the phases of the moon and the height of the sun in the sky to orient themselves to “time.” Meetings and celebrations were calibrated to various seasons, phases of the moon, and the placement of the sun in the sky. These things were easy to observe and immutable. People could count on them to be consistent and reliable.
In our recent history, we have left behind the seasonal and moon values for a more precise measurement. Calendars are adhered to, watches (does anyone wear a watch anymore?) are synchronized, and nearly every second of every day is accounted for.
This is not a call to go back to the way it was before, as though that way was somehow better. I do think we have lost some of our connection to nature when we spend all of our time indoors viewing video screens, but that is not what I’m thinking about today. After all, how can I watch NCIS if I try to calibrate it by moon phases? In this case, precision is good. I know that at 8:00 pm most Tuesday nights, I can watch Mark Harmon and the gang do their thing. Imagine the chaos if it weren’t precise? If NCIS started at 7:50 pm on Wednesday one week and at 9:00 pm on Monday another week? It would be totally frustrating, and no way to run a network!
What I’m talking about when I talk about the newness of time is not just the fact that the way we keep track of time is a newer event universally, but what it means to you individually. Because the newness of time, for me, means that every moment is new. It is a new beginning. Yes, you may still be involved in doing what you were doing in the previous moment, but this exact moment in time is brand new. Completely and utterly new. It has not occurred before, nor will it occur again.
In this exact moment, you are new. You get to be new. This isn’t just a new year. It is a new moment. Every moment of every day is new.
So, what are you supposed to do with that? Become totally flaky by trying to change what you are doing with every moment? No. You are not supposed to be the cartoon dog distracted by the squirrel! I simply want you to see the possibilities.
The possibilities for joy and fun and growth and change. The possibility of something totally unexpected and crazy-fun to occur! After all, every moment is new. Every possiblity is possible. By knowing that each moment in time is a new beginning, there are no excuses for being unhappy and stuck. There may be momentary reasons, but no excuses!
Because here is the key to enjoying the newness of time: you have to acknowledge that you are ultimately responsible for how you view each of your new moments in time. You may be having an exasperating day. You may have physical pain, disease, emotional turmoil. I’m not saying that it is your fault, or that you have to pretend to be happy when you are not. What I am saying is that in each moment of time you get to choose how you react to your circumstances.
Don’t you know people who have freakin’ everything in life, and yet choose to look at everything negatively? If you gave them a crown of gold and diamonds, they’d be bummed because there were no rubies and emeralds! Conversely, don’t you know people who have had a tough time and yet still find humor, grace, and fun in their lives? Of course you do. We all do. The only difference between those two types of people is how they choose to live in each moment. How they accept the newness in each moment of time. How they reflect the joy and love which is their universal birthright.
So, the newness of time is not a call to “fake happy!” The newness of time, to me, means that we have the power, in each moment of each day, to be new. To be fresh and shiny and sparkling with the joy of Divine flowing through us. That’s all. No convoluted meditation technique. No discipline or eating pattern or resolution to uphold.
Only the knowledge that you are master of your own time. You get to choose not only how you spend your time, but also how you view each new moment, each new breath, each new space in your timelime. You.
Yes, little ol’ you! Because you are the ultimate arbiter of your life and time. You get to choose to be new and glittery or sour and stale. It is up to you. Divine can give you guidance, but you get to choose. And know this–no matter what you choose, each moment is new. What you do with that newness of time is up to you!
In joy and love,
Barbara
Creation. It is a strong concept that requires actual movement in order to be achieved. Think about it. You can create ideas, but you do not truly create anything until you do something to make that idea to come alive. I can think about making beef stroganoff for dinner, but until I get the meat out of the freezer, chop up an onion, cook the stroganoff and some noodles, my “creation” of beef stroganoff is simply a thought form. A creation of my imagination, to be sure, but not a valid creation that can be appreciated (and eaten) by me or anyone else.
Why is creation as an action important? Because unless you are willing to do the actual tasks involved in creating something, you are simply working your brain synapses while benefitting no one. That doesn’t mean that a little wool-gathering or imaginative thought isn’t fun or relaxing. After all, who hasn’t spent a moment or two thinking about what they would do with the money if they won the lottery? It’s an escape, a distraction. And there is nothing wrong with that. But even the most ardent daydreamers know you have to buy a ticket in order to have any chance to win the lottery!
So, why create? Why put forth the effort to bring to fruition those random thoughts and ideas you may have? Why go to the trouble, especially if what you want to create only pleases yourself?
I would aver that of course it has to please you first! If others like it, be it stroganoff or a painting or a crocheted toilet paper cozy, then that’s an extra. Creation isn’t about pleasing others. It is about making yourself happy. It’s about expressing yourself in whatever way makes you happiest, as long as it is legal and (hopefully) moral! It is about being a conduit for Divine expression, because that’s where all creativity comes from. Yes, “you” may have the brilliant idea, but your ability and eagerness to take action to make your idea a reality is from Divine. It is your connection to Divine Spirit that gives you the drive, the get-up-and-go, the basic NEED to create. Because you are a reflection of and a part of Divine, everything you do from a place of grace and certainty is a gift of Divine creation, as are you!
What are you creating in your life? Because creation isn’t just about cooking or crafts or artistic endeavors. We also create our lives–by the choices we make, the people we allow into our lives, the way we live each moment. We are always creating, even if we are creating a vacuum! Even if you feel like you have no one in your life or you have no real goals or are floundering on your path, you are creating. Right now. In this moment.
You are choosing how to respond to life’s circumstances, which in turn sets you up for the next moment’s gifts. You are creating your life with every breath you take. What kind of life do you wish to create? A stressful one? A joy-filled one? An adventurous life, a more sedate, leisurely one? There is no judgment. There is only creation. Your creation. In every moment of every day. You create.
Does this mean that stuff outside of your control is your fault? Absolutely not. I know lots of people (usually when you are having a bad day!) will tell you, often snidely, that you create your own reality. And, in some respects, that is true. But, if you are sitting in your car at a red light, minding your own business, and someone fails to stop in time and crashes into the back end of your vehicle, that really is not your fault! Now, metaphysically you could ask, after “why me, God?” what that particular experience had to teach you. Are you stuck somewhere you’re not supposed to be? Are you in your own way in any respect? There is always something we can ask ourselves when life hands us a liverwurst sandwich when we wanted a BLT. So, while cosmically you may have created an incident in order to look more closely at an aspect of your life that may need a change of some sort, getting hit by another car when it is clearly not your fault is, truly, not your fault!
But, how you respond to the events in your life is where you get to be creative. You could take the car accident and turn it into a big drama, bemoaning your fate and railing at all of the crappy drivers out there, dragging everyone who can’t run fast enough into your drama-rama until even you can’t stand to listen to yourself anymore. Or you can contact your insurance company to get your car fixed, see your chiropractor to ensure you didn’t suffer a whiplash injury, and move on. It was just a little fender-bender, not Arma-freaking-geddon! How you choose to respond is your chance to create.
And the more you create peace, love, and joy in your life, the more those things will automatically flow to you. The more you are grateful for what you have, the more you will receive. The more positive, joyful moments you create, the more you will want to have. So, creativity, while often expressed in the arts, or through other beautifying, enriching ways, is also expressed in every moment of your life. Through you. Through your heart and spirit, through the love you share.
You are the embodiment of Divine creation, and as such, are the only one who can express Divine as experienced by you. You alone can create that which holds meaning for you. If others appreciate you and your Divine creations, that is wonderful. But not truly necessary!
Create the Divine life that is yours! Be that wonderful expression of Divine Love. I believe I have expressed this before, but it bears repeating. You are Divinely loved, because you are an integral part of Divine. Feel free to express yourself through your life and your creativity in any way that delights you (keeping the legal/moral caveat mentioned earlier in mind!).
You get to create the life you desire, even if you’re not yet sure what that looks like! Just by being present in each moment and creating the experience you choose in each moment, you will be the “creative director” of your own life. Which will benefit you and those around you, because your energy will be a loving reflection of Divine.
As we leave this year and head into the next, take some time to look at your life, and see what you might like to create. Feel how you would feel if you created the life you so richly deserve. Revel in your ability to take each moment and create it anew. And know that Divine Love is yours in every moment of your life.
Create — and enjoy!
In joy and love,
Barbara
A few days ago, I tried to write this blog on adaptation. However, at that time the middle finger of my left hand was in a splint due to a slicing/stitches injury, and after painstakingly typing while adapting to a wonky left hand, the stupid splint hit a wrong key somehow and the whole thing switched to HTML, and I didn’t know how to change it back into regular writing. So, my adaptation at that moment was to ditch the whole thing and try again when the splint was removed!
But that whole scenario illustrated the need for adaptation. We are always having to adapt to something; a new job, new relationship, new fall TV schedule — there’s always something. And we are inherently programmed to adapt. If not, you would still be expecting your mom to spoon mashed peas into your mouth at dinner time. We are always evolving and adapting.
And that’s good, even when it feels bad. Because there are times when we have to adapt to things we don’t like. Loss of any kind is always hard. Loss of a job, a relationship, a pet, a loved one — let’s be honest here, these things are not fun! Even if you know, in the long run, that the loss is ultimately positive, it still hurts in the moment. That job you lost cleared the way for a better one, the relationship that imploded taught you valuable lessons in what you do and don’t want in a relationship, the pet that died was in pain and needed to be let go of. The loved one who passed was ill and not enjoying life anymore.
None of this is happy or fun, and it’s not always our choice to adapt. But, adapt we do. We read the want ads, go on match.com, welcome a new pet into our home. We learn to get along without that loved one in our daily life. We adapt.
And, since this blog is called spirited thoughts, how do our spirits, our souls, play into this? What does your soul do to help you adapt?
Your soul is a piece of Divine. I believe I have used the visual of a disco ball before. God is the disco ball, but our divine souls are individual mirrors on that ball. Or, if you use the example of a crystal, we are each a different facet, a unique expression of Divine. Your soul is your own special connection to and expression of Divine. And it is key in your ability to adapt.
For instance, say you have a new job. You like your new job, but you have to learn all new names and systems and it can be overwhelming, especially in the first few weeks. But, your soul knows that this is the right job for you at this point in your life, and gives you resources to adapt. Maybe you meet someone that first day who becomes a mentor. Maybe you realize that your new job is closer to your gym so it’s easier to work out after work, thereby helping you to relieve some of that new job stress. Your soul doesn’t have to blast trumpets and sing zippity-do-dah to be making it easier to adapt to your new job. Sometimes it is just the feeling of rightness and serendipity you have around your new job that makes for an elegant adaptation.
What about relationships? We’ve all had issues around relationships! Even the good ones call for adaptation. After all, if your “child” is an adult, you no longer treat them as if they are two, ten, or fifteen. Your relationship has to adapt, or your child will avoid you! As to lost relationships, while heartwrenchingly painful, you adapt. You move on. You look at what you may have to change in yourself to avoid similar relationship patterns in the future. You clarify what qualities you desire in the people you let into your inner circle, and you tell the universe exactly what you will and will not accept in the future, while remaining open to new and better. Tough, yes. But do-able. Especially if you acknowledge your soul’s growth in the process.
Of course, that probably won’t happen instantly. Any time you are asked (coerced, forced, etc.) to adapt, you resist at first, don’t you? Most of us don’t like change, don’t want to adapt. The bigger the adaptation, the stronger the resistance. And that’s OK. You’re human. You get you whine, moan, complain, and pout! It’s expected, so allow that process to happen. Then, when you’ve had a chance to vent and you see that venting doesn’t change anything, you can let the adaptation begin!
Let me tell you a little, not-so-secret secret. The more you tune in to yourself, the more you check in with your heart (the seat of your soul), the easier and quicker the adaptation can be. The sooner you ask your heart, “what kind of job, relationship, life am I looking for?” the quicker and more fulfilling the adaptation can be. The more you work with your soul self, the less resistance you have to adaptation and change. The more you let your internal barometer guide you, the more certain you will be when you find the adaptaion that suits you.
You don’t even have to be “spiritual” to do this! You can call it trusting your gut, listening to your heart, or, as Tom Selleck in the old 1980’s TV series “Magnum PI” used to say in his voiceovers, the ”little voice in his head” was telling him something.
We all have trustworthy guts, hearts tuned in to Divine, little voices in our heads that tell us whether or not we are on the right track. We know when the adaptation we are making feels right or wrong, makes us feel better or worse. We just know.
So, whether you are making small adaptation or big ones, trust yourself. Trust your soul. Trust Divine. And know that you are in the right place at the right time doing the right thing. And, if you aren’t, you can and will adapt to another place, time, and thing. Just take that deep breath and listen to your little voice, feel what your heart or gut is trying to tell you, and know that, no matter what, you are Divinely loved.
In joy and love,
Barbara
I have been pondering differences lately. I feel that we focus far too much of our attention on what separates us from one another, and I feel that we need to shift our focus onto those things we have in common.
For example, I am a fairly liberal person, yet I have family members and acquaintances who have views not in accordance with mine. Yet, I like those people! I love my family, even when we don’t agree on politics or medicine or the proper way to dress! While we may have differing points of view, I know and accept the fact that we all are Divine beings expressing ourselves in the way that feels the most comfortable.
So, whether your politics differ, or your outlooks on life differ, you can always find common ground.
Take, for example, the woman whose parents feel she should go to doctors for checkups and medical tests far more often than she has any desire to go. She feels fine and knows intuitively that she is, indeed, fine. She could get irritated with her parents for interfering in her life, yet she knows that their concern comes from a place of love and caring. She knows that they are not trying to control her life. She knows that they worry because they love her. So she simply thanks them for their concern and assures them that she will take care of herself. She doesn’t bother debating with them to get them to accept her point of view, nor does she acquiesce to their fears in order to make them happy. She acknowledges their concerns, yet does what she knows is best for her own health and happiness.
You can be who you are and allow others to be who they are as long as you recognize the loving Divine beings that they (and you!) are.
It’s easier said than done sometimes. We all have had people in our lives who insist on trying to change our minds with their logic or, more often, the volume of their voice! People get really cranked about politics, but if you listen to the concerns behind their rhetoric, whether you agree with the conservative or liberal slant they adhere to, you will understand that a lot of their views are based on either fear or love.
We fear lots of things. We fear loss of health, loss of loved ones, loss of jobs and income, loss of life and loss of our way of life. Sometimes those fears get expanded and overblown by watching the news and buying in to the current hysteria, whatever that may be at the moment!
We also love lots of things. We love our families and our pets and our houses and our friends and sometimes our jobs. We want the people we love to be happy and healthy, to have a fair shot at a good life, to be safe and secure.
Where the differences come about is in how we see the world and the way it’s supposed to run in order for our fears to be lessened and our loved ones to be taken care of. One person sees free meals at school for lower income kids as a laudatory accomplishment, because we live in a plentiful land where no one should go hungry, especially children. Another person sees that same free meal plan as a way for lazy parents to hand over responsibility to someone else (ie, the poor taxpayer) for the care and feeding of their children.
Same free meal program, different points of view.
And it’s easy to support your own view and argue against the other, isn’t it? Because, of course, your view is the ”correct” view. The only view any sane person could have! And yet, you can see where each side has a point, even if it’s not yours, can’t you? Even if you believe that no child should go hungry, you can also see where someone might fear for their own financial health if they are expected to help feed other people’s children. Their fear is part of their viewpoint, and if they are just barely making ends meet themselves, you could see how they might resent those who they feel are getting a “free lunch.”
On the other hand, the person who feels that free school lunch is a bad idea, when faced with a hungry child, would most likely want to feed that child. That person who doesn’t want his taxes raised for yet another “hand-out program” can surely see that it benefits all of us when every child is fed.
Look at our differences through the eyes of love and tolerance, with the knowledge that another person’s view, though wildly divergent from our own, is based is either fear or love. Fear of loss, love of family, friends, country.
Does that mean you pretend to agree with someone you feel is denigrating others (or you!) through their views. Absolutely not! You don’t have to get in their face and disagree with them, but you always have the right to turn off the conversation by changing the subject or leaving the room. If someone is making a racist remark, you have the right to say, “That offends me.” You don’t have to justify your beliefs or try to change theirs. You simply refuse to pander to their thought processes when they vary so much from yours.
But please, remember that even the most hate-spewing, vitriolic person loves their family. Their dog probably adores them! While it may be hard to find the loving intent behind some of the garbage being strewn by those you disagree with, know that they, too, are Divinely loved and carry the same spark of Divine love and creation that you do.
They merely express it differently.
You get to choose what you listen to, what you agree (or disagree) with, and how you respond. Sometimes you can be so taken aback by what someone says that you just stare at them in disbelief, or stammer something inane. Then, hours later, you think about what you should have said, but it’s too late for that pithy comeback!
That’s OK. You’re not going to change someone’s viewpoint with one snappy retort. Nor are they going to change yours.
But again, realize that our differences are minor compared to our similarities. Whether liberal or conservative, religious or atheistic, naive or skeptical, we all have basic things in common. We love our families and friends and desire health and happiness for them all. We want good schools, safe neighborhoods, and limitless potential for ourselves and those we love. We want fairness and equity in the workplace and our communities.
Everyone wants those things. How we think things “should” be is where we differ.
Welcome the differences. They keep life interesting. If we all agreed about every stinkin’ thing, life would be pretty darn boring.
Allow others to have their viewpoints. Live your views with grace and compassion. Know that you are all loved and appreciated by Divine, even those you disagree with!
In joy and love,
Barbara
What is bliss? The dictionary describes bliss as great joy or happiness. It also defines it as spiritual joy, or heavenly rapture. Ooh! Heavenly rapture! Doesn’t that sound delightful?
So, what gives you that feeling of bliss? What gives you great joy or heavenly rapture? Or, to use the vernacular, what floats your boat?
I know this seems like an oxymoron, but I am quite serious about joy! Too many people have no idea of what gives them joy. You’d be surprised at how many times I’ve asked the question, “what brings you joy?” and simply receive a blank, uncomprehending look. In our society, joy is something you get later, when all of your work is done, or when you eke out half of a week for vacation. Then, you get to have joy and fun. Despite all of the beer commercials where beautiful, young people seem to be having a heck of a good time, many of you only allow your fun and joy in small increments, after you have finished all of your never-ending to-do list.
Some of you define joy by what you think others think you should be enjoying, like exercising at the gym. If you truly enjoy the exercise, that’s great! But a lot of people go to the gym or go for a run out of a sense of obligation to their health or out of fear of gaining weight, and they don’t really enjoy it. They just say they do because you’re supposed to enjoy it.
Then there are the guilt people. You know who you are! You are the ones who feel guilty about enjoying things when so many other people are suffering or aren’t happy in their own lives. Where do you think the term “guilty pleasure” comes from? If it gives you joy and is not hurting yourself or others, there is no room for guilt with your joy. The unhappy ones will be unhappy whether or not you have joy. That is their choice in the moment. That may change for them at some point, but for now, why are you feeling guilt over your God-given joy?
Yes, God given! Who do you think invented laughter and joy? Perhaps Divine Creation? The gift of bliss is a gift from Divine. Who are you to throw a gift back in the giver’s face? Who are you to be dour and unhappy when your purpose here is to reflect Divine joy and love? Who are you to decide that life sucks and everyone should be unhappy?
You, of course, always get to choose. That is the gift of this planet of free will and choice. But choosing heartache and pain over joy and laughter doesn’t make you a better person. It doesn’t make you deeper or more spiritual or any of that nonsense. It just makes you unhappy and no fun to be around.
So, what gives you joy? Where do you feel bliss? Is it in your garden, on a beach, on a boat, with friends and family? Is it the gentle bliss of vegging out with a good book or the more rowdy fun of cheering on your favorite team at your most beloved sporting event? Is it a walk in nature or a day spent watching the Nascar races?
The only “bad” bliss is one in which you are harming yourself or others. All the rest is fair game!
But here’s the thing–I want you to own it! I want you to revel in it. I want you to jump in with both feet and holler whoo-hoo!
Years ago, a friend told me about being on a particularly bumpy flight with a treacherous landing. Everyone was tense, except for one little girl who, upon landing, raised her hands in the air and yelled “wheee!” as though she’d just been on a ride at Disneyland. As everyone laughed, my friend said that the energy of the passengers shifted and the tension was lifted.
While you may not be like that little girl if your plane is bouncing through turbulence, when you are experiencing something that gives you bliss, really feel it. Notice it. Give yourself permission to do it more! Because when you are in a blissful state, the energy around you shifts and reflects that. By being happy, you encourage those around you to be happy. By reveling in your bliss, you raise your energy, which transfers to Mother Earth, making her happy.
Yes, I know there is pain and suffering in the world. Yes, I know you have your problems and challenges. But you are not your problems and challenges. You are a delightful soul who gets to have fun while you’re here experiencing your life. You are a divine spark, a light on the planet. You get to shine.
So, go find your happy. Go find your bliss. Revel in joy and heavenly rapture. Know that you are here to embrace your bliss. It’s a gift from Divine. Please do not squander your gifts from Divine through guilt or a false sense of obligation to unhappiness.
After all, in the northern hemisphere, it is summer. It’s time to play and have fun. Allow yourself to enjoy this gift of life, love, and laughter you’ve been given.
In joy and love,
Barbara
We are all beings of light. Every cell in our body, every atom from which we are made, is composed of light. Does that mean that we glow in the dark? No, it’s just that energetically, we are all light beings. Even those who choose to live in dark ways and in dark pursuits.
How can I say this so unequivocally? How do I know this to be true?
It’s because it is divinely so. We are all carrying the spark of Divine, that little internal glow that comes from being created from the source of all light and love. Whether you believe in the big bang beginning of the universe, in the biblical one, or in something in between, the upshot of it all is that we all come from that creative source, that divine beginning. We are love and light because we come from love and light.
But, what about darkness? What about those who choose to live in dark ways, doing dark deeds, despising themselves and others? What about the unavoidable bits darkness that seem to be a part of us all?
Well, what about it? Do you not have to have darkness to provide contrast to the light? And, since we are all from that divine source of creation, isn’t it possible that, along with love and light we bring a bit of darkness with us as well?
Don’t worry, I’m not accusing you of being dark or mean-spirited in any way. But let’s face it, even those of us who try to be a light on the planet have our moments of ugly thoughts, or a temporary loss of control over our words so they spring forth with less kindness than intended. We have all, no matter how well intended, have messed up, made mistakes, been more dark than light at times.
Guess what? That is completely acceptable. Nobody is perfect! If you didn’t have some darkness to contrast with the light, then you wouldn’t appreciate the light and love as much. Seriously! Think about it. Doesn’t it feel so much better to know joy and happiness after a particularly unhappy part of your life? Can you see how the contrast between dark and light makes the light that much sweeter?
Of course, I am not suggesting that all darkness is acceptable. We have agreed, as a society, that there are certain behaviors we will not abide, like hurting or stealing from others, to name a few. No, I am talking about the little glimmers of darkness that even the nicest people experience–the unkind thought, the envy or jealousy toward another, the general funk we can fall in to if we feel that the world is against us and nothing is going our way. We all have those moments of petulance and pouting. We all have our times of rancor and discord.
And that’s not only OK, it is to be embraced. Because here’s the thing about darkness and light–both are experiences that help us to decide how to live. By trial and error, over many lifetimes as well as this one, you are honing the person you desire to be, one gaff or triumph at a time. By experiencing both light and dark times, you shift your focus to fit that which feels best to you. That’s how we learn and evolve, not only individually, but as a planet.
What does that mean for you, personally? Let’s use an example. Let’s say you are a teenager, and one of your friends convinces you to shoplift an item from the store. If you’ve been taught that stealing is wrong, even if you don’t get caught, how does that act of thievery make you feel? Most people will feel crummy. There are some who might feel triumphant, who will feel as though they “got away with” something, but most of those who have a normal conscience will feel bad. They will feel as though they let themselves down.
You, as an adult, now have the choice to forgive your teenage self for that transgression, recognizing it as simply a learning experience, one that you don’t wish to repeat. Or, you can keep carrying the guilt around, dragging you down with your own personal crappiness, marring the otherwise wonderful life you have now. The choice is yours. By accepting that we sometimes do lame things, we pave the way for more light to shine through our souls, knowing that we are divine beings of light, who also have the choice on this planet to experience non-light. To have those moments we wish we could take back, but we can’t. We can only acknowledge that perhaps that wasn’t the best choice, and learn from our errors.
Those of us who are trying to be our best selves, who are hoping to bring light and love to the planet, have to realize that there are others who are choosing to have darker experiences so we don’t have to. Let’s face it, we have already been the thief or murderer in a past life somewhere, and we learned on the soul level that we don’t want to have that experience again, so in this life we have chosen to be the light bearers, the ones who show the way. Or, just try not to muck up everything! We are all trying to do the best we can.
Those who choose to live darker lives are having their dark life experience, as a lesson for themselves and others. While we might not want to hang out with them, we can acknowledge that it is their choice to be who they are choosing to be. Of course, if they get too far out of line, they may end up in jail–an experience that neither you nor I wish to have, I’m sure.
So, while we are trying to be the best person possible, understand that there will always be a small part of you that has a darker component. The trick is not to try to tamp down and disavow the darkness. The trick is to shine your light so brightly that the darkness is the merest, barely-there shadow. You won’t be able to get rid of it completely, because it, too, is part of divine creation. But, by allowing divine light to flow through you and to expand and intensify, the little bit of darkness left will be of no consequence, and certainly of no concern.
Let your light shine. You are light, you are love, with just a smidge on non-light and non-love. And that’s okay. It makes you who you are, and is part of your soul’s growth to bring forth your light despite any darkness you may be carrying. The stronger your light, the weaker the darkness. The more joy and love, the less sadness and heartbreak. Not that you will never experience the sadness or heartbreak. It will just not be who you are. You will be light and love, joy and happiness. The rest is just experience.
Be the light. Be the love. Shine your love-light as brightly as possible. That’s all you can do at any given moment, even the moments that don’t seem very fun. By being the light, you are doing what you are supposed to be doing, which is reflecting that divine light of spirit. The more you do it, the easier it becomes, until it is a true expression of who you are. Enjoy your light, while accepting the momentary bits of darkness that pop up now and then. It is all divine. It is all love. It is all you.
In joy and love,
Barbara
Have we lost our sense of wonder? Are there so many cool technical gizmos and theatrical whizbangs out there that we lose our ability to grasp the significance of the world around us? Do we not see the wonder of the universe, and of our place in it? Have we lost that child-like experience of our environment, wherein every little thing seems magical?
How many computer-enhanced movies or television shows have you seen? Probably many by now. So the physically “impossible” is shown, over and over again, to be within the realm of visual reality. It’s hard to tell what is real and what is not sometimes, isn’t it? After all, with the advances in technology that is making the science fiction of yesterday into today’s reality, what is there left to hold in the prism of wonder?
Let me take you on an expedition of wonder. Let’s start with getting up in the morning. I know, what’s so wondrous about that? Well, think about it. We take for granted that, while we are not consciously awake and aware, our bodies continue breathing. We don’t have to think about it or even be awake! All night long, we have been breathing. All night long, our bodies have been doing all of the jobs they need to do to keep us alive, able to wake up in the morning. So, merely waking up–alive–is the first wonder.
The second is our sight. When we open our eyes, we can see the world around us. Yes, some of us may have to put on glasses or pop in contacts in order to see clearly, but see we do. Ask those who have lost, or never had, their sense of sight, and let them tell you how wondrous that gift would be.
Next, for those of us in developed countries, we usually walk into a bathroom with a flushing toilet and running water. Both hot and cold. In the house! It really has only been a short time in our history where we have had that luxury. Isn’t it wondrous that what was once an extravagance only the rich could afford is now such a taken-for-granted part of our daily lives?
So, after washing up in the morning, we usually putter into the kitchen to grab some breakfast. Whether you are a hearty breakfast eater, or simply a banana-grabber or a cereal slurper, your kitchen is probably well-lit and appointed with the wondrous “basics” of sink, stove, oven, and refridgerator. We don’t consider our appliances wondrous, of course. But they are. No more fires to build, wood to chop and haul, ice to break apart in winter and store for the warmer months. And don’t even get me started on growing and slaughtering your own food. Aren’t grocery stores one of the wonders of modern life?
So, you’re up, breakfasted, and off to work. Unless you work from home, I’m assuming you have to take some sort of transportation to work. Cars. buses, trains, subways. Wondrous, wondrous, wondrous! No aching miles to walk, no horses or oxen to feed and clean up after in order to have some sort of transport. So cool.
Now, work may not be your favorite subject, but think about the fact that, in most places in the developed world, you have a myriad of choices for your work. Women, expecially, have more choices now than ever before. I’m old enough to remember the olden days when women’s choices were wife, cleaning lady, secretary, nurse, or teacher. Now, women have not always stuck to those roles, but there was a time when those were the socially-approved options. That, of course, has changed over the course of a few generations due to the resolve of many women to change that mind-set and societal given.
So, you go to work, you come home and reverse your day, not really paying attention to the many truly wondrous things around you. Computers, smart phones, latte machines. All very cool.
But what about our environment? Do you even pay attention to the world around you? Are you so busy concentrating on the next task that you miss what’s really important? The glint of sunlight on your daughter’s silky-fine hair, the crocus plants pushing out of the ground to announce spring’s arrival, the stars and planets up in the sky, the feel of wind on your face, a smile from your sweetie?
We are surrounded by wonder every day. We have simply lost the ability to recognize it. Of course, you can’t run around proclaiming to all who will listen, “I’m breathing!” or gaze in amazement at the subway car that just pulled up. You could garner some strange looks, if not commitment proceedings. But, taking a few moments every day to quietly acknowledge the simple yet wondrous things that surround you is one way to make sure you never lose your sense of wonder, your ability to see the magical gifts in your life.
I read a quote from a medical doctor who, when asked if the scientific study of medicine took all of the wonder out of the human body for him, he insisted that the more he knew, the more the whole thing amazed him. I understand exactly what he’s talking about. Because the more you delve into the mechanics and science of anything, the more there is to fascinate you, and the more you are humbled by the painstaking brilliance of the Divine presence that created everything in the universe(s). Allow yourself to get to that innocent state of wonder, where everything has the capacity to fascinate and astound.
Open your heart and mind to wonder. It truly is a wonderful life! You simply have to–like Ferris Bueller–stop and look around.
In joy and love,
Barbara
Today is Valentine’s Day, and on this day we are supposed to enthrall our loved ones with our outward manifestations of love and appreciation, and that is wonderful! To let someone know that they are loved and cherished is the most important thing we can do. And, whether you choose to say it with hearts and flowers, candy or brandy, does not matter as much as the feeling of love and respect in which these items are given.
And that is what I want to talk about today. The perpetuation of love and respect, which is truly the best gift you can give to another. Whether that person is a neighbor, a co-worker, a spouse, child, brother, sister, parent–if you can honor them with love and respect, then you’ve done your part to perpetuate love on the planet.
Why is that important? Why do you need to help with the continuation of love on the planet? Why is that your job? Can’t someone else do that? Someone who may not be as busy as you? Or who doesn’t have more important things to do?
Well, my dears, there is no more important thing to do in life than to perpetuate the feeling of love and kindness. Case in point: Years ago, I had to have surgery. Nothing life-threatening, but still a little scary. My family doctor referred me to the man he considered to be the best surgeon for the job. Great! That’s what you want when contemplating going under general anesthesia and having someone cut into your body–the most skilled surgeon available. What my family doctor didn’t tell me was that this man was the most loving, kind person I have ever met! He was warm, funny, and (appropriately) affectionate. He made me feel totally cared for and inherently valued. I had no qualms about my surgery, because I knew he truly cared.
Now, this man was a busy surgeon. He could have just walked in, clinically given me the facts of my “case” and gone on his way. But he took the time to let me know he cared about me as a human being. He practically oozed loving kindness from his pores. So, I don’t care who you are, how busy you are, or what you do for a living. Any moment of any day can be spent in the throes of love and kindness.
Do you go up and hug strangers in the street? Well, you could, but people may not take it the way you mean it! But you can certainly take a moment to tell the people in your life that you love them, or point out something specific that you like about them. You can be cordial and kind to the person at the drive-up window, the clerk in the store, the person who called the wrong number and got you! Once you start to perpetuate love, it becomes easier and easier. Almost automatic.
What if you’re not good at saying all that mushy stuff? What if it makes you feel too vulnerable and exposed to share your feelings? There are a lot of people who have trouble getting past the stutter in their throat, the fear of embarrassment, and the possiblity of rejection.
Deeds can be loving commitments, too. A smile, a gentle pat on the head or shoulder, or even a nod of acknowledgement as you walk past a stranger can be used in place of words. Taking out the garbage without being asked, getting your sweetie’s car fixed or their pants mended are gestures of love. Any action you take that is based on love for another is you, perpetuating love. And that is why you are here.
So, take a look around. Who have you told “I love you” to lately? Your spouse, your kids, your pets? Have you smiled and waved at your neighbor recently? Unless they are totally scary, you should try the old smile and wave! See what happens. Have you taken the time to connect with old friends or distant relatives? Do you know what’s happening in their lives, who they are now? Why not see?
Of course, if the neighbor swears at you and the long-lost cousin turns out to be a negative leach that you don’t want to spend any time with, that is all right. You don’t have to pretend to like people you don’t. It’s not about being falsely nice, it’s about perpetuating love on the planet. So, choose who you share your loving kindness with. If it is not appreciated, you know to move on to someone who can and will feel loved and respected.
On this Valentine’s Day, and every day, be the perpetuator of divine love on the planet. Be that oozer of kindness, the wielder of kind words and loving expression. And, remember to give that same loving consideration to yourself! You deserve it, too.
Actually, you deserve it first, because once you feel that love for yourself, it is easy to share it with others. It is easier to be that conduit, that perpetuator. (Not perpetrator–there’s a difference!)
Continue to bring forth love onto the planet. It starts with you, and continues on in the people that you choose to grace with your loving presence. Add joy to that love, and you have a powerful weapon of mass-construction! Use it to perpetuate the love that you are. And, happy Velantine’s Day!
In joy and love,
Barbara
Do you feel like you have good fortune? Do you revel in the gifts life has given you? Or, do you feel you are at the whim of fortune, both good and bad? Do you agree with the saying, “If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all?” Where are you on the “Wheel of Fortune?”
If you look at fortune as something outside of yourself, as something that happens to you, then you feel fear and powerlessness, because you feel you have no control over what befalls you. You are Luck’s plaything, never knowing when good fortune or bad will strike. It leaves you feeling a bit unsafe, doesn’t it?
If you look at fortune as something within yourself, then that feels better, doesn’t it? “I always have good parking Karma.” “Luck always shines on me.” “Things always seem to work out for the best.” Even if luck doesn’t always shine, even if you don’t always get the premium parking space, just having the belief that fortune is with you, not against you, makes it easier to deal with things when times are tougher.
There’s a great quote attributed to Mike Todd (and I hope I am getting this right!), “I’ve been broke, but I’ve never been poor.” So, even when this man’s fortunes had dwindled, he never felt as though he was poor–he was simply temporarily out of funds!
When the political and news people hyperventilate over “fiscal cliffs” and major recessions, they are perpetuating the “we are poor” myth as opposed to knowing that some people are wealthy, some are not so wealthy, and some are temporarily out of funds. And, where you are in this spectrum has very little to do with the size of your bank account or stock portfolio. Some of the richest people “talk poor” while those with more limited financial means feel absolutely flush. What’s the difference? What make the rich person feel not rich enough and the person of more modest means feel absolute contentment and abundance?
It’s your feeling regarding fortune, and how it applies to you. The person who knows they can make another million in six months doesn’t worry if they lose half of that in a bad investment. The person who knows their skills are valued and needed in any economy doesn’t worry about whether or not an economic downturn will make them lose their house. Knowing that you are your fortune, knowing that you are deserving of an abundant life and good friends and loving family, knowing that fortune shines within you, that is what gives you the confidence and truth of your fortune.
What about things outside of your control? Well, first off, you only control your part. The Universe, Divine, God, whatever word works for you, is in control of a lot of what happens. But, since this is the planet of free will, you get a choice. You get to choose how you react to the world and happenings around you. You are in charge of your beliefs and response.
What does that mean? It means that with every event that happens to you, you get to decide how you feel about it, and what you are going to do about it. So, say, you don’t get that great parking spot close to the store you need to visit. You can grumble about how unfortunate you are that you have to hoof it a bit farther than you’d like, or you can decide that a little walking wouldn’t hurt, and might be beneficial to your long-term health. If it’s raining, you can be thankful that you have an umbrella or a hood on your coat to help keep you dry. How you choose to react to any given situation is totally up to you. But, you feel more empowered, and less at the whim of fickle fortune if you choose to see the positives instead of whining about the negatives.
So, what if something truly devastating happens? The loss of a loved one, the destruction of property due to storms or wildfires, the unexpected job loss or health issue? These are tougher than parking spaces, and no one expects you to just gratefully embrace devastating loss. However, if you let these experiences define who you are and what your whole life is about, then you are allowing that bad fortune to be greater than it is. For example, years ago I lived next to a woman who told everyone who would listen that she hated the Christmas season, and never celebrated it, because her husband had died during that time. When I sympathetically asked her how long ago that was (thinking maybe it was within the past five years) she told me it had happened over twenty years ago! No wonder this woman was a fearful, bitter, angry person. She was still focusing on her suffering of twenty years past, and had been re-opening and digging at that wound every Christmas season for twenty years.
Bad luck, bad fortune, happens to most people at one time or another. Financial loss, health issues, loss of a loved one–very few people get through life unscathed by misfortune. However, if you focus on that, you become the misfortune. If you allow every little negative thing that happens to you define who you are, then you are bound to 1) attract more of that to you by your negative energy vibrating outward, and 2) begin to view everything through the negative fortune lens. Even when good things happen, you don’t trust them or don’t think you deserve them because your own personal radio is tuned to the “Life Sucks” Misfortune channel.
Take a look at how you view your experiences. Is there a way to look at them from a different perspective? Can you stop yourself from the knee-jerk negative response that you may have been brought up with, and teach yourself to allow good fortune to flow through you, to be you? Can you accept Divine good fortune with grace and gratitude, instead of turning up your nose at the delightful possibilities placed right in front of you?
Good fortune is yours if you recognize and allow it. It may take some major rethinking about things in order to feel comfortable with that truth. It’s up to you. Accept that your life is made up of moments of good fortune, perhaps punctuated now and then with not-so-good fortune. But, if you take a look at your life, you will realize that most of the moments have been, if not fantastic, at least good. That, most of the time, you are blessed.
Accept your good fortune, and know that more is coming to you–you just have to be open to the possibilities. After all, if there’s manure, there’s gotta be a pony somewhere!
In joy and love,
Barbara
I hope you are enjoying this beautiful solstice day. Even though today is the shortest day of the year, we know that tomorrow the days will begin to slowly become longer, bringing more light to us each day.
This solstice is special, in that it truly does mark the end of an era. The Mayans weren’t foretelling the end of the world, they were merely chronicling the normal passages of time. This particular time passage is about releasing fear, doubt, hate, and intolerance. We need to do this in order to be in alignment with the new energy of love and hope. Starting tomorrow, we are truly entering a time of illumination.
As I’ve probably said before, illumination is not just love and light. It is truth. Your truth and mine. More importantly, it is about acceptance of that truth. We are entering into a time of acceptance. Of accepting ourselves as we are, with all of our flaws. It’s a time of accepting others, even if we don’t agree with their politics or their lifestyle choices or with the way they plant their garden or raise their children!
This does not mean that we just shrug our shoulders when we see people in pain, folks hurting and abusing one another, and politicians messing up our lives. We certainly get to speak up and voice our own particular truth. Acceptance doesn’t mean giving up on humanity and letting the chaos created by others rule our lives.
What acceptance means is accepting who you are and accepting others as they are. But, you still get to choose who you hang out with, who you let into your “circle of trust,” who you trust to accept you as you are without trying to change you.
So, what does that have to do with hope? Many of you might be saying, “Look around at what’s happening in our country, in the world. What is there to be hopeful about?”
Here’s the deal: The beginning of this new era in human history can’t help but be hopeful because, if you’ve read Gregg Braden’s book, Fractal Time, you’d understand that we are at the beginning of a swing toward light. We’ve been fogging around in the darkness for far too long, and now we are on the trajectory toward light. Each year we see this happening in our year, as our trip around the sun takes us from long days of summer to long nights of winter. This also happens on a longer-period-of-time scale, written about by folks much smarter than I am, who study solar systems and universal movement.
Tomorrow we are, literally, at the day after the longest day, not just in our earthly year, but in our transit within the universe. We are, tomorrow, stepping into the first day of moving toward light and love, understanding and cooperation. We, as a planet, are moving toward clearer truth and deeper understanding.
Is everybody going to “get it” right away, or at all? No, this is a long journey, and each person gets to react to the new energy of light and love as they see fit. Some will push back harder and reject more strongly, the energy of love and acceptance, and that is perfectly fine. Some of you will read this and go “huh?” And that’s OK, too.
I just wanted to let you know that there is hope for humanity and our planet. Despite all of the crap you see on TV and hear from those around you, we really do get to experience positive change. And it starts now. With you. One person, one truth, one acceptance at a time.
Yay!
In joy & love,
Barbara
I apologize for the weird words at the beginning of the Blessings Blogpost, as well as the disjointedness of the paragraphs and sentences. I have now learned that I should not write in Word, then copy and paste to the blog! I hope you read it and enjoy it anyway!
Barbara
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Today I am writing to talk about blessings. Every one of us
has them. We may even recognize them! But when we get caught up in our
day-to-day lives, we forget to notice them. We might not even realize they are
blessings.
What do I mean? Well, are you in a comfortable place right
now? If it’s hot outside, are you in a cool spot? If it is cold outside, are
you someplace nice and toasty warm?
Are you hungry? Do you have enough to eat? Do you have the
funds or resources to feed yourself and your family? Do you have family? Friends? People in your
life you can count on?
Do you enjoy your job? Do you have a job, even if it isn’t
very fulfilling? Do you count it as a blessing because it keeps you in food and
shelter, or do you dismiss it because you don’t like it very
much? It can be both, you know. Do you know why?
Blessings are in the eye of the receiver. What one person
considers a blessing, another might consider a burden. Like children. Some
people view their children as the best, most precious and wonderful event that
has ever happened to them. They cherish each day with their little loved ones—even
the ones who are at the snarky stage! Yet others look at their children as this
heavy, bothersome burden that they wish someone would take off of their
shoulders. Blessings are definitely based on your own perception.
Does that mean that you can’t get frustrated with your
kids/spouse/pet now and then? Of course not. You are human! People will frustrate
you, even the cute ones. But if, overall, they feel more like a blessing than a
curse, then that tells you that they are, indeed, a blessing.
But what about the things that happen in our lives that are
not so fun? The unexpected disease, job loss, break-up? What about those? Of
course those are not considered blessings unless…
Unless they are! If these unfortunate happenings are a way
to get you to make a necessary change, if down the road you can look back and
say, “That was the best thing that ever happened to me, even though I didn’t
think so at the time” then, yes, it is a blessing.
I’m not saying you have to look at everything as though it’s
a blessing. Some things are truly awful, and there is no discernable blessing there. And that’s
OK. I just want you to be aware that you are more blessed than you may think
and more loved than you know.
The Universe, Divine, God—whatever word you are comfortable
with—truly loves you and wants you to be riding on top of an avalanche of
blessings! But you have to open your eyes to see and acknowledge them. You have
to realize you are blessed, or you may feel like that avalanche is just
shooting you down the mountain! (OK, enough of this snowy metaphor. I’m getting
cold!)
See your blessings. Feel the love of Divine within those
blessings. Be the blessing for others. And know that Divine love and blessings
are yours. Always.
In joy & love,
Barbara
11/19/12
A lot has been said over the years about gratitude, especially for the things you have and those you love. At this “giving thanks” time of year, it is imperative that we look beyond gratitude to the true feeling behind it.
What is gratitude? I believe it is love, focused. When we are grateful for our lives and our blessings and the people we love, we are basically focusing on the love part. And, even though we are told to be grateful for the things we don’t love–the illness, the loss, the parts of life that are not as fun–we are most truly grateful for the things we do love.
Therefore, gratitude is simply love, focused on specific things
We are grateful for things in our life because we, ultimately, love them. We love the people in our lives, we often love the place we live, we even love the big-screen TV or the new car. And that’s OK. It’s OK to love and appreciate your stuff. I am grateful for the comfy couch I often relax upon. I’m grateful for its coziness and warmth. Do I love my couch? Not really. But I love the way I feel when I’m snuggled onto it.
So, while you may love your family and love your life, you usually “love” your stuff because of the way it makes you feel, how it enhances your life, how it makes life easier.
I love my kitchen. It makes me feel happy. It makes cooking easier and more fun. The colors brighten my mood. But, do I literally love each drawer and cupboard, each appliance? Not really. But I am grateful for the way the various parts of my kitchen have enhanced my life. I love how it has made my life easier and more fun.
If gratitude is love, focused, what do you want to focus on? What parts of your life do you love and therefore have gratitude for?
During this time of Thanksgiving, before the Christmas hype overwhelms and the gratitude gets lost in the holiday shuffle, take a few moments and decide what you are most grateful for, and really feel the love behind that gratitude. Are you thankful for that person in your life because you truly love them, or because they make your life easier, better somehow? Do you love your car because you truly love metal and plastic, or do you love how your car makes you feel–how it enhances and eases your life?
Look behind the gratitude to the love. Focus on that love, because love is what we are truly grateful for. Love is what keeps us in the so-called game of life.
Be thankful. Be grateful. Be love personified.
And enjoy this wonderful time of Thanksgiving!
Barbara
Welcome to my very first blog. My intention with these blogs is to create a space for Spirit to speak to you. I am merely the transcriptionist! Every blog will be of the highest intent and best regard. Whether you agree with my musings or not, I hope you enjoy the experience.
Nov. 8, 2012
We are at a crossroads of life. Not the usual ones that mark passages of growth and development of our human lives, like school graduation and marriage and childbirth, retirement and passing on. No, the crossroads we are at as a planet and a people are bigger than those human experiences. This crossroads is about where we go as a people, as a planet, next. What do we stand for? What do we tolerate, or not tolerate? How are we going to resolve our issues? Are we going to continue to bully and bluster, subjugate and control? Are we going to (finally) learn the finer arts of listening and putting ourselves in the other’s place, or are we going to fall back on the old standby of taking the ball and going home if we don’t like the way the other kids are playing?
Are we going to continue the inappropriate and unfortunate way we tend to treat those we consider “less than” us? And are we going to keep handing our power over to others by letting their prattlings of fear envelop and overcome us? Where do you stand? Are you so entrenched in your beliefs that you can’t see others’ point of view? Or are your beliefs so wishy-washy that they change depending upon where you are and who you are talking to?
Have you dealt with your own issues, or do you continue to finger-point and blame everyone else for your circumstances? Are you really ready to pull up your big-girl (or boy) pants and take responsibility for your own actions, your own issues, your own beliefs?
I am asking this because we are heading toward 2013, which is the time of illumination. We are going forth into the new energy of enlightenment, and we cannot afford to be carrying around old luggage that no longer serves us, and doesn’t travel well in enlightenment and illumination.
What are you holding onto that is holding you back?
Take some time in your busy day to ask your heart to show you the type of life you desire. Feel how it feels. Revel in the peace and gratitude that comes with that life. Then, ask yourself, what is stopping me from having the life I truly desire. What in me is blocking that? If you start blaming outside sources (the economy, Obama, your parents, whatever!), then step back and look deeper. Is it really those outside sources, or is there something within you, some fear, some negative belief, that is truly the cause of your blockage?
If it is within you, either try to clear it yourself or get help from any one of the many practitioners out there who can assist you. But start today. Prepare your body/mind/spirit for the new wave of illumination energy coming onto the planet.
In joy and love,
Barbara Davies
Heartsong Publications
http://www.barbaradavies.com/ and http://www.heartsongpublications.com/
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