Sophia Wisdom

Hope Takes Many Forms

2009-02-14T18:48:00.000-08:00

This is the angel, HOPE.
She currently stands in a healing garden of a small hospital in the high desert.
She was created by an artist who has had a heart's desire to help heal healthcare through beauty, wisdom, and the creation of sacred space.
Heidi Kujat, (www.heidikujat.com) is a remarkable woman who infuses her pieces with powerful energies that can radiate this to the spaces that they occupy.
Some of these spaces are people's homes. Some are in office buildings. Others are like this one, in a healing garden where patients and families can visit and experience HOPE firsthand.

When I first visited HOPE in her new space, there were special stones that someone had placed in her hand.
It was as if the individual were being asked to be 'held by hope', be 'carried by hope'.
So many these days are feeling separated from HOPE.
Through challenging life experiences, they have become disconnected from the Divine.
They may need help in remembering the ever present Spirit that is always present and always in attendance of our lives.
Our Creator does not distance from us...we allow this to happen, but we can choose again...and allow the closeness that the Creator desires.

This angel serves to remind us...to invite us to reengage HOPE.
It is so important that this be held in our hearts and that we share this with others.

May we open to HOPE.
May we radiate HOPE.
May we share our HOPE.
May we be HOPE.

Honor the Guardians

2009-01-27T21:20:00.000-08:00

The trees are the Guardians...those that are identified as the 'Standing People'.
They are those that hold space for our becoming.
They surround us with their protective arms and remind us to 'reach' for the sky.
They teach us to dive deep into the Earth with our roots so that we might be grounded and stable.
They remind us to 'stand tall'.

The Guardians are our teachers, our guides, our partners.
If we draw close to them and ask them to whisper their secrets, they will.
They share with us patience, strength, fortitude for the challenging times that are upon this Earth.
They remind us to always stay connected to the Creator and to the Earth that generously gives us our foundation.

Some Guardians stand alone in the forest, as if to define themselves separate for some deep reason or purpose.
Some stand in Circles, showing us the power of connection and community.
Some shed their leaves and remind us to release all that no longer serves us.
Others stay evergreen, and 'hold space' for others to return to their 'green' again in the Spring.

The Guardians have been with us for many many moons.
They have seen the comings and goings of the people.
They hold the Earth's sorrow, joy, wisdom, and visions for tomorrow.

Honor the Guardians...they have been holding us close to their hearts for so very long.

Creating Connection...

2009-01-18T20:55:00.000-08:00

Recently, my family took a little trip to Northern California where we visited a Monarch Butterfly Reserve.
It was breathtaking.
As you move into the grove of trees that 'house' the butterflies, you can feel their energy as they spiral around in the branches above you.
They have chosen a beautiful spot on the coast and come back there every year.
They fill the trees with a beautiful orange glow and cluster together in community.
The Park Ranger there explained to us that there are butterflies of different age groups there but their average age is about 17 days.
They create such beauty in the world in just 17 short days.

He explained that they search out milkweed plants on which they create their cocoon.
It's amazing that they choose what we would call a weed (milkweed), to create
their place of home.
They 'know' just the right amount of time to spend in creating this cocoon and just the right amount of time in staying within.
They 'know' just the perfect amount of time to wait to dry off their wings when they are coming out of the cocoon and just the perfect amount of time to wait to launch into flight.

There is so much to learn from these beautiful, wise and delicate beings.
They have developed such a sense of timing and rhythm.

They know how to create connection with others and form community.
They travel together and support each other on their journeys.
They do no harm.
They offer their wisdom to all that will take the time to engage them.
They are gentle and 'tread lightly on the Earth'.

So much wisdom...such a gift to our world.

Gifts from Mother Nature

2008-12-27T20:45:00.000-08:00

Mother Nature has many treasures that are available to us as we take
the time to learn about them.
In the ancient Celtic healing traditions, wild mint was used as an herb that was particularly effective to 'clear out bad energies' and all manner of 'ills'.
The ancients had to depend on the land to support their healing, their food, their shelter.
Because of this, they treated the Earth with great respect and admiration and held deep gratitude for Her generosity towards the support of their lives.
Wild Mint was a particular treasure because it could be used as a drink, a medicinal to be placed on wounds, and a scent to clear the air.

In the Loma Linda Hills, we are fortunate to have Wild Mint.
The other day during my morning hike, I came across a beautiful mint bush that was covered with frost from the frozen mist of the night.
Its tender leaves held the frost delicately and shared their beauty with me as I entered a narrow canyon.
The scent in the air from the mint bush was very heavy because of the lingering mist in this little canyon.
I found myself transported back in time to a dimension where these bushes represented healing and wellness.
How precious a creation.

I was reminded again of the beauty and power in the Earth.
I was reminded also of our need to remember this and not continue to disregard Mother Nature's gifts.

I offer my gratitude to the Creator for the opportunity to witness the beauty of
Winter and the Mint Bush.

Christmas Blessings

2008-12-25T13:47:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful opportunity we have each year at this time to reflect on the wonders and miracles of life on this planet Earth.
It can be a time for us to remember those that have come before us and have sacrificed so much so that we might have the life and experience that we do.
It can be a time for us to remember the 'gifts' that we have received through our ancestors that have allowed us to build out our own work in the world.
It can be a time for us to remember all that it took to get us to where we are and honor those that have helped us along the way.

It is a time to remember our Source...our Creator...the presence of the Christ on Earth...the bridge that was built so that we may have a life full of abundance, hope, and possibility.
The gift of Christ makes all things possible.
It creates the 'Way' for us to move forward in the world.
It allows for a partnership with the Divine.
It blankets us with the support needed to make the world a better place.
The Christforce is the power to reach over to the other side, knowing that a loving God is always there, patient and compassionate...open and accepting...inviting us to engage more fully in relationship.

Just as the tree drives its roots deep within the Earth, let us recommit anew to honor the Earth with every part of our being.
Just as the tree grows strong in its trunk, let us grow strong in our connection to the Divine and in our commitment to being instruments of peace, joy, love and healing.
Just as the tree extends its branches and leaves to the Sun, let us recommit to reach out in service to others and sew seeds of 'only love'.

Engaging the Other...

2008-11-02T11:55:00.000-08:00

This powerful image came from a conference entitled, Engaging the Other.
The words themselves are powerful.
They convey the power of connection with aspects outside of ourselves.
They invite us to wonder about the world that exists beyond the boundaries of our 'usual' selves.
So often, we draw our circles of experience so small...so exclusive...so narrow in focus...
But the world beyond our 'usual' experience is beckoning us to draw our circle wider and deeper than ever before.

Each new day comes with an invitation to choose to see with eyes that engage a new experience...eyes that release the old stereotypes.
Each day comes with an invitation to hear with ears that open to the suffering and the joys of others and learn from this experience while releasing all judgments.
Each new day comes with an invitation to smell the roses...to take the time to widen our experience by slowing down long enough to get the scent of a new world.
Each new day comes with an invitation to taste the sweetness and the bitterness of the delicacies that life has to offer.
And each new day comes with an invitation to touch in new ways...to engage the beauty, the wisdom, the love, the light, the courage, and the peace within the other...and to see it for the first time as a reflection of that which resides within us.

The richness of life is out there as well as in here...
It invites us to visit and get better acquainted with the other and with our own selves.

Take a Moment to Wonder....

2008-10-12T17:53:00.000-07:00

Take a moment to hold this image in your mind...
Notice the textures of the colors...the dimensions of different aspects of the image...
Notice what part of the image you find yourself most connected to...
Allow yourself to move 'into' this part of the image and 'feel' it.
What kind of experience is this creating for you?
Does it make you feel good, happy, sad, fearful.....?
What stories does it bring up? What symbols does it create?

Try moving with the image...how is it 'inviting' you to move?

Do you sense any sounds coming from this image?
What do these sounds remind you of?

All of these experiences create a pathway for your intuition, your sixth sense,
to express itself.
By allowing yourself to 'wonder' and consider something in a deeper and more meaningful way, you allow it to teach you about itself.
You create a space that allows for consideration of the unseen world.
You choose to develop a relationship with those aspects of life that require a wider and deeper view.
By deepening your experience with this image, you may find yourself looking at all images differently in the future.

So it is with our life experiences...
If we take a moment to ask a few more questions and wonder more deeply about whatever we are doing, we will find a larger wisdom than that which exists on the surface.

Just as in the Ocean, the richness of life lies beneath the sea...

Balancing polarities

2008-10-09T20:25:00.000-07:00

Within the world, there are forces...solar and lunar, masculine and feminine.
When these forces are balanced, the harmonics that result can be felt everywhere.
When these forces are out of balance, the lack of harmony can be felt everywhere.

For so many years, the solar forces, those that represent a focus on 'doing', have dominated our existence.
The natural state of 'being' associated with the lunar forces, has been in hibernation.
Our Earth, has rapidly become a land of compulsivity, always focused on 'more' and how we never have 'enough'.
We push, pull and tug to move ourselves forward, never waking up to realize that our struggle is getting us more stuck.
By quieting our minds and Spirits, we give ourselves a chance to quiet the world
around us as well...
To create a sanctuary right where we are...
To relish in 'no-thing'...
To celebrate 'no-sound'...
To make room for the still small voice of the Holy Spirit, even if for just a few moments.

Create the balance that will bring health, wellness, and vitality and abundance.
Offset the 'doing' with 'being'.
Bring yourself back into rhythm with the Heart of the Earth.

Drum Making - the Pathway of the Heart

2008-08-19T08:49:00.000-07:00

All of us who participated in the Drum Making Workshop at Grace's House sensed that what we were doing was the work of the Heart.
As we focused on each aspect of the creation of the Drum, it became clear that this was no ordinary experience....
The Hoop of the Drum represented the Circle of Life...it gave us each an opportunity to honor our own unique journey and celebrate the challenges that we faced along the way.
The animal hide that became the 'face' of the Drum represented for many, our own skins...that which we have lived in for many moons...it was the physical part of our being, that which gets pushed and pulled on this walk of life.
As we stretched it over the hoop and began to tie the edges together, we each started to 'see' how the different aspects of our lives come together to make a meaningful whole.
As the laces crossed, so did the intersection of experiences of our lives, that were all so necessary in order to create the picture of who we have become.
Tying off each piece of the lace, represented tying off different segments of our lives and created completion for a job well done.
Creating the central handle, gave us a 'handle on our lives'...a place to connect, something to hold on to...
For each person, that handle was different...for some it was family, for some it was a job that brought meaning, for others, the search was still on for that handle to grasp onto...

And the awakening of the drum...well, that was the magic...that was the connection of the life to the heart...that which provides the emotion to energize the life, to in-spire the life, to set the life free to become all that it was intended to become.

Listening to voice of the heart of the Drum for the first time was like the sound of a little baby's first cry...it is an opening up, a coming forth, a moving out into the world.
It is a declaration that 'I am'...
It is a miracle of uniqueness, of beauty, of pure joy.

It is a new beginning...a chance to start over and embrace life fully and without reservation.

Drums - the Heartbeat of the Earth

2008-08-16T16:12:00.000-07:00

Recently, we had the remarkable experience of being led in a Drum Making Ceremony.
Tony Robichaud, who was our guide, shared with our group the Native American tradition of creating your own drum and then awakening it.
We each wrote prayers or intentions on the inner hoop of the drum and then began the process of tying and lacing the drum from each of the four directions.
Tony explained that each time we beat the drum in the future, those prayers and intentions would be sent out into the Universe.

As we experienced the magic of creating such a wonderful instrument of peace and love, we each found ourselves moving inwards towards our own centers, reexamining why we are here, what lies deep within our hearts, and what we want to bring forth into the world.

We spoke in the Wisdom Circle, of our own unique gifts and how we would use the drums in the future.
We blessed our drums and then took them home to allow them to 'cure'.
We were instructed to turn them a quarter turn each day for four days, honoring the North, East, South, and West directions.
Then we were to awaken our drums which represented our 'new hearts'...we were to be gentle with this rebirth experience just as if the drum was a new baby being brought into the world.

The Drum Making experience was such a spiritual experience.
It gave us an opportunity to reconsider our journeys and give thanks for the life we have lived, the teachers that have appeared on our pathway, and the guidance that we have received.

The drums opened our hearts to a new way of being, full of openness, rhythm, balance, sound, beauty, gentleness, power and wisdom.

Freedom.....

2008-07-25T08:19:00.000-07:00

Freedom is something we so often take for granted.
It is priceless.
It is what allows us to be who we are.
It is a foundational piece of the framework of the Universe.
Everything depends on it.

What does freedom feel like?
It feels like the wind to me.
It is what carries us to places unknown.
It gives us opportunities to expand into a larger version of who we really are.
It carries seeds of who we are becoming to fertile fields ripe for planting.

What does freedom sound like?
It sounds like national anthems proclaiming freedom.
It sounds like the songs of birds at sunrise as they welcome a new day.
It sounds like the 'YES' from a graduating senior student.
It sounds like the opening as one approaches a trusted friend.
It carries with it the song of openness and possibility.

What does freedom look like?
Freedom is an ever-widening ring of consciousness.
It looks like it knows that there is always more.
It looks like wide open spaces.
It can move and freely express itself.
It is constantly recreating itself.
It is never the same twice.

Freedom can be whatever you want it to be.
That's the beauty of freedom.

Cherish it always.

Could You Give Me a Little Boost...?

2008-06-27T09:50:00.000-07:00

As we travel along life's highway, sometimes we may need a little boost.
Mentors, coaches, spiritual directors can do just that.
They can 'see', 'feel' and 'sense' what we might not be able to identify...or
they can help us sense it for ourselves.
One of the skills that they have is they 'hold space' for us.
Holding space entails just that...holding the potential of what can be in an expanded form.
It does not require them to know what specifically that might look like...
You might say they just hold the 'belief' or 'knowing' that there is something greater that has the possibility of happening.
This creates a powerful energy field that supports our own beliefs as to what is possible.
As we 'tap' into their 'beliefs', we shift our own 'belief' about all that is possible.

Sometimes, this help is like getting roadside assistance.
I remember the last time I had car trouble and called AAA.
I remember the wonderful feeling that there was someone I could call that could transform my rather unpleasant situation into one of peace.
It was amazing how quickly the AAA truck driver came...and the dispatcher called to make sure that my 'help' had arrived right away.
The gentleman was tremendous.
He knew exactly what to do.
His experience with others just like me exuded a type of confidence that was very reassuring to me.
I felt more confident just 'being' with him.
The outcome was great and it made me commit to myself that I could always know that assistance is very accessible to me.
It reminded me that there is so much help available to all of us at all times.

So the next time you are in need of a short 'tow', another opinion, more water in your radiator, just call on your guides and angels, coaches and directors and give them an opportunity to share their wisdom and give you the assistance you need.
The world is full of support for all those who will open to ask.

Your Hands Can Be Instruments of Love...

2008-06-10T08:35:00.000-07:00

What a blessing to have hands...
Through our hands, we experience the world.
We experience other people.
We experience textures, depths, dimensions, temperatures...
We form things with our hands.
We reach out with our hands.
We create with our hands.
We speak and communicate with our hands.
We tell stories about life with our hands.
We hold things.
We support.
We put together.
We break down.
We clean.
We write.
We move.
We hold still.

Our hands are instruments.
They can be instruments of chaos and destruction and hurtfulness or...
They can be instruments of healing and repair and redesign.
Every moment we choose.
Which will they be?

What a gift they are to us.
Do we truly appreciate how amazing they are?
All the different ways they can move and feel make them agents for miracles to happen.
They allow us to enliven our existence and make every experience so much richer.

When I hold the image above in my heart and let it speak to me, it tells me about the importance of our hands communicating the love in our hearts.
Our hands can 'speak' love by a gentle touch, creating connection.
Our hands can 'speak' reconciliation by a gesture of support.
Our hands can 'speak' of unity with the Divine when we hold them up in prayer and gratitude.

Hold your hands before you...look deeply at the beauty they hold...see them as if for the first time and wonder about the miracle they are...send gratitude for the gift they are in your life...promise to take good care of them for as long as they are yours to have and hold...and honor them always in being instruments of peace in the world.

How Empty is Your Cup?

2008-06-08T14:00:00.000-07:00

In order for Spirit (God) to fill your cup, it must first be emptied of all those things that are in the way of your receiving all that you desire.
In my experience, the things that tend to 'get in the way' include my ego, my sense of not having enough time, other things that take first priority...and the list goes on.
When I forget Who made me and Why I am here, I get my priorities all mixed up and wind up filling my cup with all sorts of distractions.
Then I wind up needing to spend focused energy on rearranging my priorities and finding my center.

Creating ceremony can be very helpful in releasing all that no longer serves you.
Utilizing ceremony invites in the 'sacred' and creates a larger space for Spirit to enter.
My favorite releasing ceremonies include a candle that represents my own inner light and its connection to the Divine.
Incense further shifts my energy to the sacred as I inhale purifying scents of sage or peppermint or rosemary.
I often use a cup or a special chalice that I was given many moons ago.
I use the empty cup to remind me of the emptiness that I desire as I release all that is in the way of Spirit fully entering my being.
Entering a prayerful, meditative state with an open heart and mind connects me further with my Maker.
Then, I focus on allowing the power of the Christ force to come within me and guide me into a space of full surrender.
Experiencing emptiness brings a sense of true peace and stillness.

And then when I am 'full' of 'emptiness', I can begin to remember how to receive.

How Full is Your Cup?

2008-06-07T10:03:00.000-07:00

Whenever I see an image of a cup, I am reminded of a dear friend.
She said one day, 'it isn't that my cup is half full....it isn't that my cup is half empty...the truth is I don't even have a cup...'
She was sensing that she was so 'empty' and drained that she didn't have any way to hold her own Spirit.
She tried to refill her thirsty soul by going on a silent retreat.
She found herself happy in the shower one morning and started singing.
Later that day she was reprimanded for not being 'silent' in the shower since it was a 'silent' retreat.
She tried reading spiritual books, going to spiritual services, and on and on...
She really worked hard at 'trying' to fill herself back up again.

So it is with so many of us.
We spend so much time 'doing' things to fill ourselves as if it is a job
that we must accomplish.
In my experience, what has worked best is to first create a space for receiving from Spirit.
For me, that translates into creating intention, setting aside time, choosing a place that connects me with my Creator, and creating ceremony that moves my inner Spirit into a mode of receptivity.
That most often involves music and sacred objects that remind me of why I am here and what my service is in the world.
When I create this experience, all that is left for me to 'do' is show up.
The presence of the Spirit of the Creator is so very available and accessible
by any open heart.
It is a place to rest, to receive, to remember and to renew.
Come drink from the cup that invites you to thirst no more...

Can You Sense What is Hatching Within You?

2008-06-01T08:17:00.000-07:00

Within each of us is the potential of who and what we are becoming.
It sits expectantly, awaiting our command to come forth.
It may take the form of fully mature, or it may appear to us in an egg that needs maturing.
Either way, the potential is ours to call forth.
It cannot be 'birthed' until we create the intention for its opening and we act on our intention.

The beauty of the fully mature substance that we call forth is that when it 'appears', it is often ready to 'rock and roll'.
It comes forth in a form that is almost operational.
It presents to us an idea in motion, already on its way to being.
Sometimes that takes the form of a job, a gift, a home, a project, a relationship.

The beauty of the immature egg, is in the substance that it is made of.
The substance is not yet solid.
It is asking for support and nurturance to be developed.
It comes forth as a gift to be grown and loved and cared for.
It is only with this care that it can achieve what it was originally designed for.
Sometimes the 'egg' takes the form of an idea, a concept, a form.

Whatever is resting within you, let it speak to you of its nature, its desires, its hopes and its potential.
Let it awaken within you a desire to become more of who you are here to become.

Say YES, to the joy of exploration.
Say Yes, to dancing with the mystery of the unknown.
Say Yes, to the spark that is igniting the passion of service.

There is no better time than this.
The invitation has been sent.
What thinkest thou?

Equal Distribution

2008-05-31T09:38:00.000-07:00

I have been working on my sprinklers lately to make sure that all the grass and the scrubs and the trees get adequate water as the weather gets warmer.
In the backyard, I had to replace most of the sprinkler heads that were along the back wall.
They had become clogged with debris and dirt.
Several along the edges of the grassy area had become stuck and didn't 'pop-up' like they are supposed to do.
In the front yard, I had a challenge with distribution of the coverage.
There were some areas of lawn and greenery that were covered well and there were others that were getting next to no water at all.
There were other sprinklers that had been partly 'grown over' with grass.

So, now that I completed my assessment, it was time to make a trip to the hardware store and purchase the needed replacement parts...
This was certainly not as easy as I expected.
There seemed to be way too many choices and from the standpoint of an inexperienced consumer, I was a bit challenged.
But along came a wise old soul who was about 30 years old and saw my distress.
He proceeded to ask me what my problem was and then ever so carefully, went to the appropriate bins and chose the specific part.
Wow...what relief...
But then, how was I going to install these parts that all looked the same to me.

I called in the angels that help those that are not adept at sprinkler installation and proceeded to try to act confident.
Certainly I could do this...I am a nurse and have had to handle lots of human 'plumbing' problems and this couldn't be that difficult.

Well, the short story is that I made several more trips to the hardware store and sought the counsel of the wise young man.
He was gentle with me and helped me better understand what my 'real' problems were and what I needed to fix.
One of the biggest problems was the distribution.
Once I addressed distribution and even allocation of sprinkler responsibility for watering, then things starting going much better.
It became more and more clear where each type of sprinkler should be placed for maximum benefit and I wasn't oversprinkling some areas and undersprinkling others.

After getting totally soaked oh so many times, I finally sat down and asked my angels what this experience was really all about.
It was all a life lesson about how to build equal distribution in order for the grass and the trees and the garden of life to grow.
If there isn't even distribution for work, responsibility, energy consumption, etc., then the garden will suffer.
There won't be enough for some and there will be too much for others.
And the wisdom of the wise young man spoke to me also...it said, 'it is really important to know clearly what you are trying to 'fix' before you go out to acquire the 'fixers'.

The angels of the sprinklers taught me to review my current life responsibilities and make changes where there is imbalance or unequal distribution.
I may go back to the wise young man in the hardware store to get another consult too...his deep listening to my distressed Spirit was such a gift.

Sacred Movement

2008-05-30T07:31:00.000-07:00

So much of our lives we spend stationary.
Our 'sitter' is placed carefully on a chair, and we move into an experience of relative inactivity.
We respond as little as possible to distractions in our environment, and continue trying to maintain this very important motionless position.
What do we accomplish? We manage to put our wonderful bodies into a state of disconnect because the body was made to 'move'.
It was Divinely created to be in a dynamic state of movement and shifting and lifting and lowering...
Just like what we see in Nature.
Look at the those creations that inhabit the ocean.
Because of the water element they live in, they are in constant motion.
They shift their habitats as well as they connect in with the rhythm of the tides.

Our bodies are mostly water.
They want to move.
They want to breathe deeply.
They want to explore.
They want to become renewed.
They want to experience diverse conditions.
They want to change and metamorph into other life forms.

Sacred Movement is a way of consciously connecting with Spirit through movement.
It can become a prayer, a meditation, of gratitude for the gift of life.
Sacred movement can be simply an opening of the Spirit to allow the sacred dance within to be expressed.
There are no 'rules' as to how it must be 'performed'.
The beauty of it is that it is a way of giving the body permission to move authentically and freely in any way it so desires.
It is a way of facilitating Self expression.
It is a way of facilitating healing as we move in ways that we haven't since we were children.

A dear friend of mine regularly uses sacred movement to help her create 'movement' or transitions in her life.
When she wants to take a leap of faith, she gets up on a table or chair and 'practices' taking leaps of faith.
When she wants to 'stretch' her Spirit, she does just that...she imagines herself stretching her Spirit as she stretches her body in ways that she hasn't stretched it in many moons.
She practices opening her heart by listening and free dancing to songs of the heart.
When she wants to be inspired, she pretends to be an inspired dancer performing a magnificent ballet.
When she wants to feel deep peace, she becomes the sacred movement of the ocean.
When she wants to move mountains with her work in the world, she dances a volcanic eruption like has never been experienced in the world before.

Movement and Dance are ways to open to new experiences, to create new aspects of life for ourselves and others.
By witnessing the authentic movement of another, we witness their unique style or gift of being in the world.
We honor their way of being as Spirit-filled.
We 'see' the Divine within them and help them open to more of its expression.

Sometime soon, when no one is looking, pick a favorite song, and dance your heartsong like you have never danced before.
Feel the magic...feel the wonder...surprise yourself...allow yourself to 'be' in a whole new way...and then invite another to experience this for themselves as well.

Create Your Own Community

2008-05-14T10:59:00.000-07:00

The joy in the journey can be enhanced tremendously if you choose to create a community to share it with.
This community might be a 'religious' community, a 'civic' community, a community of folk that share a common experience.
There are so many different options of what you can create.

The synergistic healing energy that is created when human beings come together is powerful.
Opportunities to help each other with all manner of challenges comes up and solutions present themselves, often before the problems show up.
What develops is a true sense of support...not just in an emotional sense, but in all manner of tangible other ways.
Last week at our Wisdom Circle, Doug brought tomato plants to share with the group. He encouraged all members of the group to begin to experience the magic of working with the Earth, and harvesting the fruit.
Many of us haven't had the courage to attempt such a feat.
But from Doug's invitation, my sense is that several new 'green thumbs' have been birthed.
Last year, Steve and Shirley brought their homegrown tomatoes to 'seed' our interest which inspired us as well.

We can help each other in our circles of community in so many ways.
We can provide opportunities to learn, to grow, to plant, to reap, to harvest, to fail, to leap, to fall, to get back up again.

Create your own community that you will love to 'play' in and 'explore' with...you will never be the same again...

Come on in the Water

2008-05-12T14:14:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we spend time on the sidelines, watching others in the 'water'.
That's just fine.
Other times, it can be great to just get 'wet'.
Getting 'wet' gives us an opportunity to experience firsthand....to learn from seeing, feeling, hearing and touching the elements of this experience.
Younger folk often find this easier than those of us that have been around for a half a century or more.
There are fewer 'battle scars' in the younger years sometimes and there are less 'tapes' in our head that tell us it's a bad idea to get 'wet'.

But consider what is being missed...living life to its fullest...

Our God experiences life through us. God has an opportunity to 'taste' all that life has to offer as we 'taste' it.
So when an opportunity 'knocks' gently or not so gently on your door, consider if your Creator would enjoy a more invested experience.
And if you were God, what would you appreciate.

Consider an offering to your Creator a wider view, a larger vision, a deeper relationship with All That Is.

and then, 'go ahead and get wet'...

Phil Arthur - Man of Courage and Heart

2008-05-11T12:31:00.000-07:00

There was nothing that Phil couldn't fix...motorcycles, cars, sprinklers...anything mechanical.
He was amazing.
Through the way he lived his life, he taught many.
His patience was magnificent.
Broken things that others would walk away from, rather quickly, Phil would take on fixing with persistence and great fortitude.

He was also a great friend to many.
When they most needed just someone to 'be' with them, there was Phil.

Phil had a deep sense of courage.
He experienced significant suffering through the physical illnesses he experienced.
He somehow found the fortitude to move through these experiences.
He had great strength.
His auto-immune diseases tried to rob him of this but he refused.
Other, mere mortals, would have given in and up a long time ago, but not Phil.

And Phil had a great sense for choosing animals that were great partners.
Omar, his current feline friend and advisor, is a magnificent animal and they shared much love and tender moments together.

Phil left this Earth this past week after a wonderfully lived life.
He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and Omar.

Here was a few word from Phil in one of his last emails:
'Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away, never to return.
So, while we have it, it's best we love it, and care for it, and fix it when it's broken, and heal it when it's sick.
This is true for marriage and old cars and motorcycles and children with bad report cards, dogs and cats with bad hips and aging parents.
We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.
Some things we keep, like a best friend that moved away or a classmate we grew up with.
There are just some things that make life important, like people we know who are special and so we keep them close.'

I am not sure if this was something that someone wrote for Phil or if he contributed to it.
But it was something that spoke to Philip's heart nonetheless...and mine as well.

The Power of Two

2008-05-09T17:27:00.000-07:00

'Two' is powerful.
The number itself represents connection, relationship, collaboration...
It also can greatly enhance 'one'.
When 'one' is perplexed regarding a challenge, 'two' can offer alternatives never considered by 'one'.
When 'one' is sensing a bit of isolation, 'two' can step in and create connection and new possibilities.
When 'one' doesn't have enough hands or feet to complete a task, 'two' can step in and provide support.

'One' is sometimes just what is needed, but the variety that 'two' provides is delightful.
When 'two' that have been at 'odds' come together, it can even be more powerful.
The individual 'one's', release their conflicts and issues of separation and resolve those things that created barriers.
'Two' can then move forward as a unit creating new opportunities and possibilities.
'Two' can become more stable than 'one'.
'Two' can sometimes move in a rhythm that is not possible for 'one' since 'two' can 'lean' on each other.
'Two' can also dance together, and can sing together in harmony.

'Two' gives you a chance to notice diversity.

It's interesting to notice the things our bodies have two of vs. one...and to wonder about why...?

Never Give Up...

2008-05-04T14:59:00.000-07:00

There are times when it just seems like it is time to 'give up' and throw in the towel.
Don't do it.
There are times when the load is pretty heavy and you would just as soon drop it.
Don't do it.
There are times when the solution seems beyond you and you would like to just let someone else figure it out for you.
Don't do it.

If you give up, you miss out on the 'BLISS' that comes from accomplishment.
If you give up, you miss out on the joy that rises up within you when you complete something that seemed impossible.
Don't rob yourself of the joy and bliss that can revitalize your life.
Don't do it.

Be like my dear son, Jonathan, who keeps tryin' no matter what.

Move

2008-04-30T15:42:00.000-07:00

Mother Nature naturally moves...She rarely stands still...
Even when She appears to be still, some aspect of Her is still moving...
Because our bodies are composed of such a high percentage of water, we are being most 'who and what' we are, when we are moving.

During the course of most of our 'work' days, we find ourselves sitting still, sitting and looking, sitting and talking, standing and talking...
And when we do move, we are often rushing around, off balance and hurrying to get somewhere else where we again will sit still or stand and talk...
It certainly doesn't seem what most human bodies would prefer if they had much say in the matter.

So how do we bring the 'dance' back?
How do we bring flow and movement back into our intense lives?
Well, we can do it right wherever we find ourselves.
My good friend, Jenny Stevning, has created a wonderful program in sacred movement/movement meditation.
She helps her students remember the need to open ourselves up to the concept of simple movements that we can do sitting in front of the computer, waiting for an elevator...
She encourages us to listen to our bodies and allow them to tell us what they need.
The next time you have a cramp or sense some discomfort in your body, ask it what it needs.
Often, what you will hear is, 'Move me for heaven's sake!!!'

Jenny leads retreats for healthcare workers helping them re-member that everyone can dance and you don't have to leave the comfort of your chair.
She recently had a group of 30 staff members of a local hospital dancing wildly by moving their feet and arms while staying seated on their chairs.
The staff were amazed at the 'joy' that they felt as they gave themselves permission to do what they used to do as a child...move with abandon...move with freedom...move with Spirit.
They expressed their sense that it also brought them more connected to the Sacred within them.
They experienced as spiritual.
It opened up places within their being that had remained 'stuck and stiff' for quite some time.
When we loosen our stiffness through dance and movement, it is often followed by the loosening of our 'stiffness' in other areas of our life.

So get out there on the 'dance floor' of your life and start moving...
Become an eagle and fly through the air...become a monkey and remember how to play...
It's way past time to give yourself permission to explore the world of movement and become the dancer that has been asleep within you for too long.

Being Beauty

2008-04-29T10:09:00.000-07:00

Mother Nature is incredible in the way that She just knows how to 'Be Beauty'.
Whether it is a feather that falls to the Earth from the wings of a Hawk, or a stone that lies gently on the Earth, She just seems to 'know' how to open to being beautiful.

Beauty is in the 'being'.
It is the light that shines forth from the Divine within.
It is the magic of the Spirit that dwells deep inside.
It is the movement of the fluid nature of the water that is so much a part of who we are.
It is the wisdom of knowing what to do, say, or be.
It is the tenderness of a gentle touch.
It is the courageous power of integrity.
It is the enduring passion of unconditional love.
It is the peace that passeth all understanding.
It is a random act of kindness.
It is a generous heart.
It is a life of service.
It is a healing hand.
It is an open mind.
It is in All That Is.

Getting Other Views

2008-04-28T10:25:00.000-07:00

From where we each are sitting, the world looks just it does...
That's because it's the world we created for ourselves.
It appears the way it does because we each have spent countless numbers of years making it just that way.
We have added our particular brand of fears, anxieties, loves, etc.
We have adjusted it when it got a bit too different from our comfort zone.
We added some color when we wanted a bit more of 'zing' to our existence.
But by in large (interesting phrase...), it is only what we have allowed it to be.

Periodically, we get 'brave' and ask for other perspectives.
These requests for opinions and observations from others often bring another view of the 'landscape'.
They give us an opportunity to 'see' from a wider plane, 'sense' from a deeper point of reference, and 'connect' to a more core purpose.
The 'other' perspective does not contain all the old tapes that we 'run' all the time about ourselves and our gifts or lack of them.
The 'other' perspective does often come with the other person's tapes, which must be taken into consideration.

So when you seek the 'other' point of view, consider who the 'other' is.
Seek out those that have a truly large view of the world in which they live.
Seek out those that have a deep sense of meaning and purpose.
Seek out those that have the ability to separate themselves from their own 'stuff'.
Seek out those that will have your 'best' in mind when they respond.
And seek out those that will share wisdom from the heart.

Trading Spaces...

2008-04-26T17:54:00.000-07:00

When you are in a place where you are beginning to sense a bit of tension between yourself and 'the other', consider trading spaces with the other person.
Sometimes, it is helpful to actually move yourself over into their 'space' and view the situation from a different point of view.
If you always just maintain your own perspective, soon you are going to become bored to death...and also you will find yourself alone in the world.
Those that have the capacity to cross over and wear the shoes of another, learn how 'big' the world is and how much there is to come to understand.

Recently, I saw two birds that were having a rather animated conversation.
Periodically in the discourse, each would raise up and increase the volume of their voice.
The took turns back and forth for some time.
Finally, one of them actually crossed the 'line' and went over to the point of view of the other.
Soon, thereafter, the other one crossed over to the other side.
They just stared at each other for a few minutes as if they were seeing a totally different landscape.
They didn't seem to recognize each other and they were speechless.
Finally, they touched beaks, looked up into the sky above them, and then flew off to a nearby tree to feast together on bugs.
Their differences dissipated when they widened their world view.

So it is with us.
Widen your view, and your enemies become your closest allies.
Widen your view and there are enough resources to feed all the hungry.
Widen your view and it becomes impossible to hold anger or frustration in your heart.

Take a moment to physically step into the 'shoes' of another.
Walk around in them for a bit until you get a truer sense of who that 'other' is.
Then look back at yourself and some of your judgments.
How many of them still hold true...?

Who Do You Like to Hang Out With?

2008-04-24T18:31:00.000-07:00

Hanging out with like-minded souls can really get your battery charged.
I recently had an opportunity to spend some time with my Spiritual Teacher and his outrageously awesome family.
Wow...I found myself re-inspired to create and re-write my life.
By periodically connecting in with people who are high creation artists of life, it gives one the opportunity to re-member that high creation is something we can all do.
Every day, we either replicate the same ole, same ole, or we clear some new ground to explore aspects of life that have been unchartered territory.
Looking at things we do every day in a new way provides a freshness to our life experience.
Driving to work can become the adventure of a lifetime
based on the way we choose to view it.
Taking a shower in the morning can be transformed into a transformative experience letting go of all that no longer serves you and opening to the gifts of abundance from the Univers.
Filling the gas tank of your car can become an opportunity to 'imagine' yourself re-fueled' for life with new vitality and lots of power for the long haul.
Pulling the weeds in your garden can become the removal of 'old habit' and practices that are taking up space in your life where you could be sowing more fruit.

Whatever you do, do it consciously.
Whenever you are a quart low, surround yourself with others who are high vitality folk who are ready and willing to share their abundance with you...
We live in a Universe rich in resources and plentiful in positive energy.
There is more than enough for all.

Color Your World

2008-04-23T09:09:00.000-07:00

Mother Nature creates in all shapes, sizes, colors and textures.
How come we don't tend to follow Her lead?
So many of our creations can take on the same ole' grey and beige appearance.
The key word here is 'same ole'...
We so often find comfort in what has worked in the past, what has served us before...
But the kind of world we currently live in demands something more.
'Same' only gets us what we have already experienced.
It gives us a chance to relive our past but not shift into a preferred future.
'Same' has its place...but 'Different/New' is what is being called for.
What would 'New' look like on you?
Would it mean a change in the way you are in the world?
Would you be more orange?
Would you be less dry and more wet?
Would you create more texture in your life?
Would you feel more and think less...or the other way around?
Trying on a new interior or exterior can be fun and can develop a major shift in your whole life experience.
You will attract different people and experiences.
If you want to attract more creative expressive experiences, then 'be' that way, because, as you know, like attracts like.
If you would like to be bolder, find a way to let the 'bold' have more space within you.
If you would like to have a larger ring of experience, begin somewhere and start spreading your wings and flying the proverbial coup.

What Signs Have You Posted?

2008-04-22T08:09:00.000-07:00

All of us, either consciously or unconsciously, post 'road signs' all over our space.
Sometimes the sign communicates 'No Trespassing'...when we really don't want any visitors within our space.
Sometimes the sign communicates 'Proceed with Caution' when we are not in the best place and would prefer to be left alone.
Sometimes the sign communicates 'Welcome' when we are open to access and connection.

'Signs' are used to communicate information about our state of being.
When we learn how to intuitively 'read' these signs, we can be more sensitive in our interactions with others.
We can better honor boundaries.
We can better respect the 'space' of others.

These 'road signs' come in all shapes and sizes.
They are also available on a larger scale.
Within the context of our lives, 'road signs' can tell us a lot about how our journey is proceeding.
We can learn how to determine progress or the lack of it.
The more aware we become of our environment, the more attuned we are to our own progress.
Our outer environment reflects that which is happening within us.
If there is clutter all around, then there is clutter all around within.
If there is chaos all around, then there is chaos all around within.
If there is peace and tranquility, then there is peace and tranquility all around within.
The 'road signs' that are available to us are abundant.
But do we want to recognize them and even more, do we want to act on them.

Often we 'sense' a sign, and 'see' a sign but choose to ignore a sign.
That just means that we will continue to 'be' right where we have been without much progress.
When we grow tired of being who we have been, then we will choose to 'sense', 'see' and 'act' on the signs that have been all around us for so long.
Action shifts the energy of what has been into what it can become.
Action transforms with movement.
Action causes us to move beyond the boundaries that we have previously set for ourselves.
It takes us beyond intention into the world of change and flux.
Flux is a good thing...it means that the world of potentiality is upon us.
It means that opportunity abounds.
It suggests that there can be more joy, more peace, more conscious redesign.

Learn to move in freedom and creation just like the Universe.
The Universe is in constant motion and says 'YES'!!
What do you say?

The Law of Group Good

2008-04-19T08:52:00.000-07:00

Mother Nature is truly incredible.
She always considers the Group Good in all actions and decisions that are made.
She has an incredible memory for what has served the Group in the past.
She always considers what will serve the Group in the future.
She lives in abundance, not scarcity.
She honors the process of life and death.
She transforms Herself daily and recreates beauty moment by moment.
She redesigns new forms of being in the world.
She is never the same today as she was yesterday.
She is a true respecter of all that has come before.
She wastes nothing.
She conserves resources.
She shares openly and generously.
She knows where She came from and Who She is here to serve.
She grows deep wide root structures to support Her.
She stretches Herself to touch the sky.
She loves diversity and thrives in it.
She celebrates Herself and all around Her equally.
She acknowledges Her chosen path.
She turns Her face to the sun who sustains Her life.
She quiets in reflection in the peacefulness of the moonlight.
She experiences the rhythms of all life forms and honors the coming and going of all
seasons of being.
She moves gently and tenderly...she moves boldly and courageously.
She finds joy in just 'BEING'.

Mother Nature...what a teacher, mentor, inspirer, supporter, guide, manager, creator, transformer and miracle worker...

Celebrate the beauty of the Earth everyday and especially on April 22, Earth Day.

The Law of Group Action

2008-04-09T16:49:00.000-07:00

About a year and a half ago, Kevin Kaiser and Sarah Ingier held an amazing Bliss Retreat in Hawaii.
The wild and wonderful human beings in the picture above, were all present for this amazing adventure.
This picture was taken at the site of an incredible Volcano Cauldron.
The power of the place was something that could be palpated.

The retreat was all about finding your BLISS...not just anyone's BLISS, but your OWN BLISS.
The group 'held space' for each member to have an experience that could transcend the 'ho-hum' and create just pure unadulterated joy.
The two that led the group, Sarah and Kevin, live in this state of BLISS much of the time.
They are familiar with what it feels like, tastes like, smells like...
And, they held an intention that they wanted to support this group in identifying and experiencing this same lovely 'space' of BLISS.

Because we were being led by those that had 'been there' before, it didn't take long until we were each initiating our own blissful experiences.
For some, it was a lifelong dream fulfilled of swimming with the dolphins.
For others, it was the peaceful experience of playing in the surf with the setting sun bouncing light off their shoulders.
For others, it was waking up to the sound of the gentle ocean breeze carressing the palm trees and inviting them into a brand new day.

As each member of the group began to move into a whole new 'space' of possibilities related to how beautiful and blissful life can be, we felt the power of positive group action.
Each of us sensed this 'aliveness' in the other.
Each of us delighted in the joy experienced by our fellow traveler.
Each of us continued creating the intention that the group would find a place of total BLISS and freedom.

...and we did...

The power of the law of group action can be one of empowerment.
It can bring those in challenging situations up to a place of hopefulness.
By the group holding intention for each member, greater miracles become possible...probable...

The phrase, 'the sum is greater than the parts' is certainly true for the law of group action.
Try it some time...create an intention with others and watch the magic happen.
What group action is trying to happen?
How can your group make the world a better place today?

Being Empty....

2008-04-05T18:09:00.000-07:00

This flower, I am told, is a wild lilly.
Some consider this a weed...
That I cannot comprehend...
One of the things that makes this beauty stand out, is its emptiness.
It holds a space within its central core that is a beautiful container.
It is 'empty' space...a place anticipating being filled...or not.

It might be filled with any number of things but the beauty of it is that is holds this space of possibility as to what may enter.

Within each of us lies a space.
A beautiful inner core where Spirit is instilled.
It makes us come alive.
We can choose to fill this space with many different things.
Each of these things has the power to alter who we are.
Each of them has the power to bring us closer or further away from what we are here to do.

Sometimes we unconsciously open this space within to things that can truly harm us.
Sometimes we get smart and open to fill with vitality and creativity and joy.
But it is always our choice.

So much of the time we don't empty out all the old aspects of ourselves.
We hold onto who we used to be because we are afraid to take the risk of starting over.
We become attached to our familiar way of being in the world.
We learn how to simply 'adapt' to our environment, rather than redesign.

Emptying our own being is just as important as emptying our closets and doing Spring cleaning.
Periodically, it is so important to create space to 'recreate' in.
The simple act of surrendering the 'old' creates just the space we need to re-form aspects of ourselves that we have outworn.

Our world is in need of new ways of 'being'.
Our world is overdue for a major healing.
Our world will heal one person at a time.

Create some space in which to heal.
Make the world a better space.

The Sacredness of Life...

2008-04-02T20:13:00.000-07:00

This beautiful moth is similar to the one that was hit by my car on my drive home from
San Diego recently.
When I noticed the beautiful moth on the front grill of the car, I felt a sense of terrible loss, grief, guilt...
I felt like a terrible human being that somehow had been a participant in harming an innocent creature.
When I was in the midst of these overpowering emotions, I noticed that the moth moved.
It's wing was very very broken...actually both wings were broken and it was not capable of flying in any way.
I approached the moth slowly and carefully and gently eased the moth away from the grill that it was trapped in.
I held it in my hand...and we formed a 'bond'.
I sent that beautiful moth a heartfelt apology for the harm I had caused it.
I so wished somehow that the situation could have been different.
What I 'heard' from the moth, was that what it wanted was to experience human compassion.
So I sat in the car with the moth in my hand for some time, sending it love and appreciation for its beauty and courage.
The moth moved occasionally and would stretch its leg...that's about the only part of the moth that was able to move...it's movement brought more tears of grief for the little life that was cut short.
I decided to carry the moth in my lap as I drove to my next destination.
It seemed to rest quietly, again moving infrequently but just enough so that I knew she was still with me.
When I arrived at my destination, I sat in the car and 'asked' her what she wanted and how I could help her 'transition' which I sensed was more imminent.
She communicated that she wanted to be allowed to rest in a warm space in the sun.
So I prepared such a space, placed her gently there, and said a blessing for her life.
I asked that her gift to the world be acknowledged and her life be honored.
When I came back to the spot where she was lying a bit later, she had passed on.
She had 'birthed' new wings that would take her on to a place 'not of this world'.
I placed her beautiful broken body in some flowers on the ground nearby and as I did this, a young girl approached.
Oh, she said, that looks like a beautiful creature.
And I showed her the beauty of this amazing little being.
She looked and smiled.
Then she spoke of her love of all the birds and butterflies and other creatures of the Earth.

The moment brought me to a remembrance of the sacredness of life...of the fragile nature of our existence...
What a gift each moment is.
And what a gift it is to share this beauty.
What a gift it is to acknowledge and honor the life that surrounds us...the life that is within us.
Why take this for granted?
Why disregard its significance?

Why not realize its incredible value...
Why not open to its mystery...
Why not explore its offerings...

2008-03-29T10:08:00.001-07:00

Sacred Work

We all sense that there is a deep hunger in the world for something more…

Something that will take us back to a greater sense of meaning and purpose.

One of the core principles that brings us back to this purpose and meaning is recognizing the sacred in all that we do.

It doesn’t matter if our work in the world is cleaning floors, doing surgery, running a business, caring for a home and family.

One is not more important than the other.

If we were to change our perspective about the sacredness of what we do, our wholeheartedness would also change.

We could release the need for labels, and other forms of identification with form.

When we view another person with a deeper sense of who they are, we are truly seeing them for the first time.

We must also embrace and cherish the opportunity to interact with others

with a servant’s heart.

The Tribe

2008-03-27T08:34:00.001-07:00

Being a part of tribe has so many advantages.
You can huddle together to gain support.
You can bring your challenges to the group to receive additional wisdom.
You can simply 'hang out' to revitalize yourself.

The tribe plays a role in society today as an extended family.
Sometimes the experiences within the family structure are quite intense.
The tribe offers a place of sanctuary and respite.

When you look at Mother Nature, She used the 'tribe' to support life.
She groups diverse populations of animals, plants, trees, to form support structures.
She sometimes coordinates their growing cycles to ensure that each of them have a terrific potential for survival and for thriving in the world.
In some instances, She inspires one species to help another.

The 'tribes' in Nature, create beauty, unity and reconciliation.
They create for us a visual of how we can experience life in a more whole way.
They demonstrate collaboration.
They demonstrate serving the greater good.
They demonstrate the celebration of the success of another.
They demonstrate reaching the potential of what is intended.

The 'tribe' is a basic structure of life, created for our good.
It is a blessing and a gift.
It is a reservoir of wisdom.
It is another form for connection to Spirit.
The tribe teaches in ways that no other 'form' does.

Who is your tribe?
What can they teach you?
What can you share?

Ripening

2008-03-26T06:15:00.001-07:00

Ripening is a process that occurs in its own time.
It doesn't happen because we 'want' it to happen.
It doesn't happen because it 'should' happen.
It happens because that's 'who' it is.
It has its own timeline for when and how.
It is no respecter of persons.

Conditions around it can affect it.
It can hurry it up...or slow it down a bit.

The best ripening seems to occur 'in its own time'.
'In its own time' means just that.
No added pressure, no added requirements....
No self-imposed comparisons with others like it.

Ripening has a sequence to it...and this sequence must be respected for the
best outcome.
The sequence follows a pattern that is included in its core make-up.
The sequence builds upon the foundational piece that proceeds it.

In order for the ripening to yield sweet fruit, Mother Nature considers everything.
She pays attention to temperature, water, earth, air...
All the factors come together in their own time.

The Ripening of our own souls follows the same process...
We unfold and mature as we are ready.
We can choose to accelerate this process or slow it down some.
We can nurture this process by opening ourselves to God/Spirit.
Surrendering the process to the Wisdom of Spirit creates the most awesome outcome.

The Portal

2008-03-16T12:06:00.001-07:00

Portals, or gateways, are places in our lives where we are extended an invitation to step into 'something else'.
This can be related to our work in the world such as medicine, nursing, housekeeping, plumbing.
This can also be related to 'who' we have been as opposed to 'who' we might become.
In the past, we might have been timid and more introspective.
The portal may represent an invitation to be extroverted and outrageous.
We may have been focused more on our own healing and now we are being given an invitation to focused more outwardly on the healing of others.
We may have been entwined in a small circle of friends and family and the portal invites us to widen our circle to include a larger world view.

The portal is an invitation.
It is not a demand.
It is not a forced pathway.
It simply asks us to consider a different way of being.
It asks us to wonder about other aspects of ourselves and our world that have not yet been travelled.
It asks us to take a journey into aspects of our being that are unrealized but are beckoning to us.

Sometimes we have such a sense of knowing about what is next that we choose to leap forward with a strong sense of surety.
Sometimes we sense that we are being asked to wonder first about what this new future holds for us and for the world and consciously choose a particular path.

Whichever the condition, the portal is a wonderful opportunity.
The opportunity is there to go beyond, to stretch further, to open wider.
It is an opportunity to know other dimensions of ourselves and others.
It is an opportunity to expand our service.

Sometimes our decision is to move through the portal and grasp this new ring of opportunity.
Sometimes we choose to stay put where we are and wait until another portal presents
itself to us.
The beauty of our existence in this world is that we can choose.
Every choice carries blessings and challenges.
We can learn in either direction.
One often results in further soul growth and the other allows us more time to ripen.

Right now, our Earth, asks us to consider strongly what is before us.
It asks us to give wider consideration to what is going on in the world around us and to the Earth Herself.
It asks us to be aware of the needs of others and the service opportunities that abound.

Wonder about what portals are before you right now.
Which door will you choose... door number 1, door number 2, or door number 3,...or....

ReBirth

2008-03-08T17:21:00.001-08:00

Easter is quickly approaching us.
Easter is a time of rebirth.
It is a time of thanksgiving.
It is a time of remembrance.

The egg, that is so much a part of the Easter celebration, reminds us of
new life coming forth.
We can begin to sense the possibilities of the potentials that are upon us.
We can sense the opportunities that have never been before, now approaching us.

The egg holds a promise.
The promise is the same for each of us and it is different.
The promise is a type of unfoldment.
It is an opening 'out' of that which has been within for some time.

It wants to be anticipated.
It wants to generate within us the excitement of where this can go.
It asks us to rev up our imagination to 'see' bigger and wider and deeper.
It teases us and suggests we risk more.
It senses that this is what we have truly wanted for some time.
And now, the time is right...the time is ripe.

How fun 'becoming' is.
How natural a process that has occurred within us so very many times.
Yet, how new it is, each time it is begun again.

What a gift to be able to wonder about how it might be different, more wild, more wooly, more in sync with who we truly are as Spirit, this time.

Be Wise...

2008-03-06T06:49:00.001-08:00

This sweet little bush is a Barbary plant.
It is currently on the endangered list.
It is indiginous to the California area but there are very few of these bushes left in the wild.
A friend who has been a real 'caretaker' of the land, planted one of these 'back' into nature.
His father had been growing smaller plants in his backyard that had been off-shoots of a larger plant that had been in the wild.
When the plants got large enough to survive on their own, he would replant them in the wild.
This little Barbary is doing quite well.
The reason is that this man regularly watches over the plant and makes sure that it gets just exactly what it needs to thrive.
There was a period of several months where he was out of commission.
He developed cancer and had to have multiple surgeries.
Several of us became concerned about the little Barbary and knew how much it meant to him that it survive and thrive.
So we decided to visit the little bush regularly and 'love it' as Phil had been.
We 'fussed' amongst ourselves as to what was the right amount of water and the right amount of pruning.
We had good intentions, but we didn't truly understand the needs of this
special bush like Phil, the caretaker, did.
Several times, we almost killed the little bush.
But, somehow it survived in spite of us.
Thank goodness, Phil recovered from his illness and has returned to tend the special bush.
Those of us who 'stood in for him' on this very important mission were reminded of the importance of wisdom.
Good intentions did go a long way.
But what would have been best is a combination of good intentions and great wisdom.
We learned that good intentions alone can destroy unknowingly.
True healing incorporates both intention and wisdom.

Hold On Lightly...

2008-03-04T11:21:00.001-08:00

It isn't really necessary to hold on to things or people with a 'vice grip'...
But we often do.
It isn't necessary to squeeze the life out of something to enjoy it.
But we often do.
It isn't necessary to wrestle something or someone to the ground in order to have a relationship with it.
But we often do.

When we look to Mother Nature and the gentle way all things and beings interrelate, there is a true beauty in the way there is respect for each other's space.
There is an acknowledgment of the sovreignty of each and all things.
There is respect for taking only what you need and leaving the rest for others to share.
There is an abundance philosophy that pervades natural life.
There is a sense that there is a bigger picture that all created things belong to...a larger story...a grander view.
Everything is seen in its relationship to everything else.
No one thing or being is more important that the other.
Respect, honor, gratitude is the basis of being.

Mother Nature speaks to us of Heaven...
Heaven is already among us...
The Heaven that She has created is what wants to be created in our work worlds, our family worlds...in all of our relational worlds.
Mother Nature is just waiting for us to 'get it'...
Hopefully, She won't have to wait much longer.

That Was a Tough Flight...

2008-03-03T09:12:00.001-08:00

Sometimes our take-offs are tough.
Sometimes our landings are tough.
Sometimes the flight itself is a bit turbulent.
That's the way life is.

Sometimes our wings get tattered.
The thought of trying to take-off again can be daunting.
The ground feels pretty good when you are a quart low.
But that's where the transformative power of Spirit comes in.
It's never too late to begin again....never....
There is always a way to 'dig' out of the current 'state of the union' and climb above the way things have become.

So, where to begin...?
First, grasp onto the power of intention.
Write yourself a whoppin' powerful intention that defines what you want to do or be or both.
Second, put some energy behind it.
Use the power of prayer and meditation to begin seeing and feeling this intention fully realized.
Third, listen carefully to how Spirit is guiding you to act and do your part in its realization.
Fourth, create visuals to remind you of your intention...
Fifth, check in regularly with your Spiritual Director or Coach to help you keep on track.
When you are in the process of major re-formation, a spiritual director/coach can make the difference between a nose dive and smooth sailing.
Sixth, live as though it is already realized. Hold nothing back.
Seventh, create a 12 month plan to ensure sustainability with the 'new you'.
What will you do each month to help you move closer and closer to your intention.
See your own metamorphosis happening right before your eyes.
Eighth, celebrate each movement, each risk taken, each hurdle overcome, no matter the size, or outward significance.

And, by the way, the butterfly in the picture above, did take off and continue its work in the world, dancing on flower-tops, sharing its beauty with the world.

Sometimes We Fly...Sometimes We Walk...

2008-02-26T08:24:00.001-08:00

There are times when it just works better if we slowly walk our Earth journey,and times when there is lots of room to fly.
Sometimes we need the Earth beneath our feet to reconnect us with who we are and what our focus should be for this moment in time.
This connection to the Earth is very powerful in the way it gives us an opportunity to reestablish and remember our foundational links.
Having the strong sense of foundation within our lives is so critical to the flying cycle.
When we sense that foundation, clearly and firmly, it creates ease when the time for flying presents.
If we don't take the time to build the foundation first, rest assured, we will be given a later opportunity (often not under the best of circumstances) to build it again.
Whether it's a house you are building, a life plan or a new career, keeping your feet on the ground and creating the 'root' structure first is essential.
This serves to support all that follows.
This creates the ability to launch when the time is right.
This helps to build stability and opportunity for later growth.
This prevents the very uncomfortable 'crash and burn' later.

So, walk when you need to, and fly when you are ready...and pay attention to the time and space in between.

The Gift of Erosion

2008-02-25T08:05:00.001-08:00

Erosion is a powerful force of nature.
It can totally transform a mound of Earth into something that does not resemble its original self/form.
Erosion can leave an area with total destruction of what had been.
It can create havoc with the stability of the way things were.
It can shift the landscape such that there are now openings where there had previously been closings.
The changes of erosion sometime come on slowly, and sometimes the changes can occur overnight.

Erosion can also create new beauty and put a new 'face' on the way things are.
Erosion can create new pathways of opportunities for crossing into unchartered territory.
It can wipe away old obstacles that formed blocks and obstructions.
It can open secret passageways deep into the core of the Earth.

Erosion can restore balance and harmony.
It can uncover truths deep within.

Sometimes, in my experience, Erosion sneaks in and accomplishes its mission without me even noticing.
Sometimes, I need major eroding change, and the shift rocks my world.
Usually, the small changes are course corrections that Spirit created in my path.
Same with the larger eruptions...
They are no less necessary.
Often those changes that I have tried to bury or ignore over the years, build up until they demand attention.
Then the opportunity comes to choose to address this needed change.
If I choose to politely decline, I bury what wants to change deeper causing a greater need for volcanic action to 'right it' later.
If I choose to accept the opportunity to 'tackle' the challenge, erosion occurs and layers of 'stuff' begins to sluff off exposing what needs to be released and surrendered.
There is no point in 'covering up' that which wants to experience the light of day.
Surrendering it totally and fully allows the Creator to remake it into beauty, wisdom, love, grace and light.

There is nothing within us that the Creator cannot transform.

Such a gift...such a miracle...such an opportunity...

Dynamic Surrender

2008-02-24T09:52:00.000-08:00

Surrender implies release, letting go, giving up, repose, cessation...
Within the Natural World, there are 'pictures' of surrender everywhere.
The difference between the way we surrender vs. Mother Nature seems to be in the element of Grace.

We often struggle, fight, resist, and avoid...
Mother Nature gracefully acknowledges the rightness of the time and space, and moves forward in full surrender.

We come up with countless reasons why we need this or that.
Mother Nature sees beyond what is there to what is trying to become...She surrenders current need.

We hang on so tightly to so much that doesn't serve us, fearful of LOSING something important.
Mother Nature holds all freely and loosely and is always ready to grant the freedom to whatever wants to move on and transform...She surrenders to transformation.

We declare ownership of this or that as if we truly POSSESS all things and others as well.
Mother Nature respects the sovreignty of all of life and accordingly holds no-thing back...She surrenders ownership.

We restrict movement of others by not believing in them or in ourselves.
Mother Nature knows better. She sees clearly the true life potential of every living thing...She surrenders to a greater vision.

We refuse to see with BIG EYES and a BIG HEART and therefore experience smallness in our lives.
Mother Nature constantly reinvents Herself, enlarges Herself and expands Herself in ever widening perspectives of all that can be...She surrenders to the mythic and the superhero.

We see difficult situations as events to avoid.
Mother Nature surrenders to what is and dynamically moves beyond limitation...She lives and breathes in dynamic surrender between repose and movement.

Because She lives in perfect communion with Her Creator, She knows when to surrender to stillness and when to surrender to creation.

She is in a constant state of surrender to the Power of the Creative Force that guides and directs all things...She knows

Who's Been Waiting on You to Blossom?

2008-02-23T10:50:00.002-08:00

As I walked the hills of Loma Linda this morning, I noticed how many butterflies, bees and other wild looking bugs were in a state of ecstasy over the blooming of so many flowers.
We have had alot more rain this year, and because of that, the hills are a beautiful lush green with bursts of yellow flowers.

I found myself reminded again of the incredible rhythm and sequencing of Mother Nature.
There is a pattern of what must come first, second and so on.
Mother Nature honors that sequence and order of things.
Each element KNOWS who it is and why it is there and what's its purpose and service is.

Also, each element depends on the one that comes before it.
It must do its part so that the life cycle can continue.
If anyone element in the cycle doesn't 'show up' and complete her assignment, the entire process can fall apart.
There is an interdependence that is in place that honors the work of all things...none more important or significant than the other.
Each, in its own place, in its own time, critical for the wellbeing of the whole.

So it is with us.
We each have a different role.
If we get distracted or choose to take our path in other directions, then there are always natural consequences that occur.
Adjustments must be made and other course corrections put in place.
The Universe is so interconnected, that it is constantly in motion.
Shifts and alternative plans are always happening due to these changing of events.

It is very important that we stay true to who we are and why we are here.
Others are counting on our 'showing up' in certain ways to support their unfolding.
As we stay true to who we are becoming and allow our own blossoming,
we can be of truer service to those that are also coming forth to blossom.

Remember who you are...
Remember why you are here...
Remember who you are here to serve...
Remember Who you belong to...
Remember to blossom...

Who

2008-02-23T10:50:00.001-08:00

Open to Compassion for Self

2008-02-18T17:40:00.001-08:00

When you experience compassion, you know it.
You don't think it as much as you feel it.
It can be so strong it is palpable.
With some individuals, you can sense it even through an email, a note, a card.
Sometimes it is the voice that communicates the compassion.
Sometimes it is the hand, the touch of compassion that you experience.
Sometimes it is the eyes...eyes of a knowing connection that speak the message of compassion.
And then again, sometimes it is an action.
All of these responses come from love.
Love that is so pure, that it wants nothing in return.
It is a gift from the giver to the heart of the other.
It carries an intention of healing and support.
It can bring the energy of recovery, of renewal, of new hope.
It can assure.
It can inspire.
It can release and create freedom.
It can allow greater space to 'be'.
It has the capacity to greatly empower and embolden.
It has the power to transform and move mountains.
It can re-create the superhero in another.

But one of the greatest acts of compassion is the compassion towards self.
Why is that so hard?
Why is that so rarely offered?
Certainly it is not because it is undeserved.
When one reviews one's life, a little compassion might have made the difference between a great struggle and an easy recovery.
Compassion creates a sacred space and sanctuary in which to self heal.
It carries the message that all is well.
Compassion reminds us of our own wholeness.
Compassion for self is part of caring for self.
It cannot be freely given unless it given to self first.

Receive the gift that awaits the hungry,
thirsty soul in need of just a little sweet compassion.

Wisdom Circle - The Whole is Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts

2008-02-16T16:28:00.000-08:00

This past Friday evening, we had our Wisdom Circle as has been our custom.
The group came together and 'checked in', sharing events and occurrences from the previous week.
Then we were asked by the leader to share something that speaks about love...
The stories shared ranged from descriptions of the unconditional love of animals to the unspoken touch of a child to a CPS worker who was caring for him.
Sharing from the heart carries with it an energy of love that has its core within the
center of our being.
Since what we are and who we are is love, when we speak together of love, this love moves out from our hearts and fills the space.
Friday evening the 'love' was palpable.
We all felt a greater love than that which resides in each of us individually.
We felt the love that is created when great space is given to it.
We felt the love that is created when love is given the 'front and center' position.
We felt the love that is created when love is held in high regard.
We felt the love that is created when love is honored.

Stories of the magical connection that love creates ignite the fire within each of us to remember its power.
These happenings remind us why we are here.
It isn't to wage wars, to build buildings, to negotiate contracts...
It isn't to amass wealth or possessions.
It really is simple.
We are here to be love in action.
We are here to reconnect with each other and our true selves in love.
We are here to give love more space.
We are here to rediscover the transformative power of love.

Wisdom Circle - Rising Above

2008-02-15T08:03:00.001-08:00

Another amazing 'gift' of a Wisdom Circle, is its ability to help the group 'rise above' the challenges of life in the 'fast lane' that we live in and experience the Sabbath or 'rest' of quiet contemplation and peace.
As our Circle begins each week, we release the tensions and frustrations of day to day life and allow ourselves to transition into a whole different space.
It is so good for the soul to have this space of calm...a space to step away and reflect and wonder and just BREATHE...

So often the pace of life takes over...we find ourselves running, flying, soaring from one appointment to another, hardly appreciating the interactions we have.
We move so quickly, the true miracle of the moment escapes us.
The Wisdom Circle reminds us of the importance of shifting our activity into in-activity.
The Circle provides a container of peace amidst the storm.

Over the last several weeks, our group has shared some very difficult life situations that they have been going through.
Some are in the process of standing alongside loved-ones that are having life-threatening surgery.
Others are making long trips to the bedsides of those that are in hospice and in the process of transition through death.
Others are making huge shifts in their work lives and are embarking on new careers.
Whatever the current life distraction, the Wisdom Circle offers repose.
It is a gift of solitude for the weary traveler and can serve to revitalize, renew, remind and recreate within us a sanctuary of serenity.
This interlude helps to rekindle our passion for why we are here and our purpose for being.

Wisdom Circle - Getting a Different Perspective

2008-02-14T07:56:00.001-08:00

Because our Wisdom Circle has been meeting together for such a long time, we have created a 'sense of family' within the group.
This has allowed the opportunity for deep sharing and openness that wasn't there when we first began.
This openness allows for great truth-telling among the members and tremendous sharing of wisdom.
The trust level is so deep, there is a willingness to open to receiving feedback about areas of our lives that may not be working as well as we would like.
It gives each individual the opportunity to get a different perspective and a different view of where we are currently standing.
This different view can provide a new look at an old challenge.
It can give us a snapshot of what is working and what is not from a new vantage point.
It can provide us with what we 'look' like from the point of view of another.

This new 'view' can truly help give us a larger sense of what is going on... what is trying to happen.
This other perspective, if shared in love, can be healing and affirming.
This other perspective, if received in love, can be healing and affirming.

Because we live in a 'relationship-oriented' world, feedback from others can give us valuable information.
It must be balanced though, with what we know to be true within ourselves.
Trusting our inner Spirit to teach us to discern, truth vs. fiction is a lifelong process.
As we grow in Spirit and in truth, we come to 'see' and 'feel' and 'sense' in ways that reflect a deeper 'knowing' of the way things really are.
It becomes easier to see, feel and sense in a deeper way, allowing the peripheral 'stuff' to float away and out of the equation.

How blessed we are to be guided by our Creator to come to know ourselves and others as Divine creations continually opening to larger 'versions' of who we are.
Thank goodness the Creator has a view that includes those aspects of ourselves that are still hidden from us.
Thank goodness the Creator covers our imperfections with Love, Forgiveness, and a huge helping of Grace.
What a wonderful world is ours...

Wisdom Circle - Microcosm for the World

2008-02-12T07:52:00.001-08:00

Within the Circle are gifts for healing the world, for learning to live in harmony with one another and with the Earth.
By taking the experiences from the Circle into the world, we give voice to those values.
We give space to the wisdom of each individual and to the beauty of each unique experience in life.
By learning to trust within the Circle, we can ‘bridge’ that trust and integrity into all our relationships.
We can heal the world.

The Wisdom Circle is a perfect place to experience the values that we wish to bring into the world.
By creating a space rich with these values, principles, and the way we wish the world to be, we develop a microcosm of what we can then bring to the rest of our existence.
When we take the time to create an environment within the Circle that is full of love, light, wonder, wisdom, joy, the experience is so rich that we can't help but be inspired to bring that same experience to others and to the world.
T

Wisdom Circle - Go For It!

2008-02-06T17:30:00.001-08:00

Consciously taking a step that departs from the 'norm' can feel like a leap of great magnitude.
It can feel like a total departure from your usual way of being in the world.
Often, it creates anticipation that may include fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of suffering, fear of loss and grief.
For a moment, that fear can be consuming.
It can well up inside oneself and get really large.
And then the moment comes when you ask yourself, 'do I really want to continue to live in this fear, or do I really want to shift into BLISS?'
As you change your 'mind', you change your reaction, and you change the reaction that bounces back to you.
You shift from deeper and deeper fear, into 'wow, this is awesome and it feels great'.

The function of a Wisdom Circle is to help each member release and surrender the 'I'm so scared' and help them move freely into the 'wow, this is wonderful'.
Each time the 'wow' is experienced, it becomes easier to get there the next time.
Each time fear is released, it becomes easier to get there the next time as well.
Soon, the cliff doesn't seem so steep and high.
Soon, the drop off doesn't even feel like a threat.
Soon, other options for a happy landing seem extremely likely and probable.
Soon, Bliss seems like a daily occurrence.
Soon, the entire group is sharing experiences of successes and joys.
Soon, the Wisdom Circle is a place to bring your ideas and your heart's desires so the group can energize them and 'hold space' for their fulfillment.
Soon, visioning a better existence is commonplace and fear has no place.
Soon, the precipice evokes the energy of opportunity and mystery and life's potentialities.
Soon, everyone is leaping...
What a world that will be...
WOW...

Wisdom Circle - Supporting Each Other on Our Paths

2008-02-04T06:50:00.000-08:00

Every person's path is so very different.
No two are the same.
One of the functions of a Wisdom Circle is to support the growth and soul development of each member.
Through the experience of being in a spiritually focused group, often a person's chosen pathway becomes more clear.
The individual may have an opportunity to 'dance' with more of who she or he is.
There is an opportunity to explore aspects of oneself that tend to get pushed into the closet in normal everyday life.
The Circle 'holds space' for our becoming...that is, our becoming more of who we already are.
The Circle serves as a container to support the opening of aspects of ourselves that lie deeper below the surface.
Sometimes it is fear that has buried these 'gems' of who we are.
Sometimes it is our 'busyness'.
Sometimes it is our confusion.
But whatever it is, the Circle is a natural place for its fuller expression.

The way a Circle can support each person's path to unfold further is by creating a space and a time for each person to present those items that are held dear to their hearts.
When an individual chooses to 'go public' with that which is on their heart, a wonderful energy is created which further supports their heart's desire in manifesting.
The Universe says, YES!!!, and synchronicities are created that support the individual's soul development.
There is an incredible response by Spirit to the creative impulse within the individual and magic happens.
Opportunities are created, jobs are identified, resources are manifested...

The Creator loves us to respond to co-create...
The Creator is ready to send an abundance of angels to support us as we move forward and take a leap of faith.
The Creator always 'makes up' for whatever shortcomings we have...there is no 'short - fall'.
We are caught up in the wings of angels as we move forward in confidence that the support of heaven is ours.

As each of us take the next step on our path and choose to move closer to who we truly are as soul, the world changes.
The world heals as we heal...slowly or quickly, depending on how we choose to respond.
Is it worth taking the risk and dancing with a bit more mystery in order to help heal the world and ourselves?
Now is a great time to embrace your own path...live the best life you can dream...

Wisdom Circle - Renewal

2008-01-30T08:35:00.000-08:00

One of the most powerful experiences in a Wisdom Circle is the experience of renewal of Spirit that is created when like-minded souls come together.
When our group first started, we had all sorts of wonderful agendas and focus areas of study.
We still do.
But what continues to be one of the most important functions of the Circle is re-newal.
When we come together, we share our stories from the week.
We share 'what has been learning us'.
We pray and meditate together and in sharing our 'energies' we help to uplift each other's energy, vitality, strength, courage and focus.
This experience in the Circle has often been the one that goes unnoticed until a member is absent.
Then we hear reports of 'wow, I missed the Circle...I noticed my energy just wasn't what it has been'...and 'I surely was more tired this week since I missed the group'.

The power of the form of the Circle shape is truly amazing in that it creates this flow of support.
Within this circular form, there are no interruptions or barriers to the natural flow of energy.
There are no corners, no angles, no dead spaces to block the movement of vitality.
The end result is that this energy moves freely around the Circle filling everyone's cup.
This experience creates a sense of renewal and refreshment and re-fueling.
Each member experiences release of those energies that no longer serve them and replacement with new energies that reenergize their entire cellular makeup.

By simply showing up to the Circle, the blessing of Spirit is made available to all.
By simply showing up, we are offered the 'cup' of life force by our Creator.
By simply showing up, we open the door to our souls and create a space for feasting at the Table of God.
By simply showing up, we acknowledge our Source.
By simply showing up, we receive and are blessed.

Wisdom Circle - Music of the Soul

2008-01-21T08:18:00.000-08:00

This past Friday night, our Wisdom Circle was led by my husband, Stephen.
He is a lover of music.
Music, for him, is a powerful force that unlocks the joy, peace, hope in his heart.
Stephen created a program that focused on the favorite song of each of the members of our Circle.
He created a CD of everyone's songs and then played them for us one by one.
Before and after each song played, the person in the group who had chosen that song, shared a story about the meaning of the song in their lives.
We were all taken back to that place in our own lives when we first heard the song, whether we were in high school, college, or at other times.
Memories came forward, and each of us healed a part of ourselves that was waiting to be released and surrendered.
For some, it was a long standing hurt or betrayal.
For others, it was a missed opportunity.
For others, it was a chance to remember a joy that was experienced to a depth
beyond measure.
Each individual was able to participate in the experience of the music and create
their own healing.
So, although, within a Circle there are individual experiences, the group as a whole heals together as well.

Music has a magic of penetrating our walls and our inner fortresses.
Music moves in places with ease whereas words in normal conversation cannot seem to access.
The river of Music has a flow to it that overtime can wear down even the largest
boulder in its path.
Where once a damn was built over many years of pain and suffering, slowly but surely, the gentle flow of music finds its way through.
It's truly amazing how this happens without any notice, any fanfare, any announcement.
Music heals the core within as it catches us unaware and unguarded.
There are things that we allow ourselves to feel through music that we shut down in other discussion or conversation.

The power of music to heal has been written about for centuries.
In Europe in the 19th century, patients were diagnosed as being 'out of tune' and were prescribed specific songs and melodies to reestablish their rhythm and health.

Here is a little excerpt from my son's research paper on Music Therapy in Behavioral Health:

Specific musical pieces or musical dances were prescribed for patients based on their
symptoms of disease. It was thought that the role of the physician and nurse was to tune the patient through the use of the healing power of the music(MacKinnon, 2007). Specific plans were created for each patient including movement and music that would help their hallucinations, or other maladies.

MacKinnon (2007) also goes on to state that there was a belief that music was inherent in our bodies. Our bodies naturally make many sounds and health is often defined by the presence or absence of these sounds. Historical techniques with music were focused on trying to reestablish the natural music and movement of the body. The diagnoses were made for insanity by listening to the sounds that the patient made as well as those sounds that the patient heard as in hallucinations. Then the music therapy treatment plan was organized in an effort to normalize these sounds.

MacKinnon (2007) describes that in the late 1800’s some of the asylums had positions for Music Directors. They were responsible for providing the music for the weekly asylum dances. The director would be assigned the responsibility of writing pieces that were suitable for the patients that were housed there at the time. Each of the mental disorders that patients had were considered to be “arrhythmias” (Mackinnon, 2007, p.18). The Director wrote music to treat the arrhythmia and reestablish the patient’s natural rhythm and internal harmony.

In Australia, the focus was a bit different. MacKinnon details the use of sacred songs and hymns that would be sung by patients individually or in groups to bring them back to harmony. It was believed that there was a direct link between the body, the soul and music. Creating spiritual harmony was thought to be part of the treatment plan for music therapy.

Horden (2000) describes the use of music in asylums in Baden, Germany in the late 19^th This was a model treatment center for psychiatric illness and it advertised that it utilized music and singing as part of its treatment plan. The belief was that the soul has a rhythmic quality and the best way to effect and treat its problems is by musical means. Both staff and patients collaborated together with music therapy in an effort to create an environment that was healthy for all. Horden (2000) also describes other accounts of music therapy use in Britain in the early 20^th century when professional musicians were brought into hospitals to play but were carefully concealed behind screens. They were trying to incorporate the healing sounds without the distraction of watching a performance.

For all of recorded history, music has been used to heal.

Many believe it heals the essence of our souls...the essence of who we truly are.

Many believe it is the language of the soul...and that's why it can be used to communicate when nothing else works.

Open to the beauty of the unique music that is you and allow the sounds and the rhythm of the universe to heal this Spirit within.

Wisdom Circle - Focus Your Attention and Intention

2008-01-18T08:45:00.001-08:00

In our Wisdom Circle, January has been the month where we create and share our intentions for the upcoming year.
As the year progresses, we have often found it helpful to re-focus our attention on our intentions in order to energize them and support their development.
By visiting our original intentions and giving them added creative energy and thought, the chances of manifestation increase significantly.
We are careful not to place a 'box' around our intentions, because that doesn't give God and the angels much space to go 'beyond' our finite imaginations and actually give us far greater gifts that we can even conceive.

Surrendering to divine timing is critical.
Wonderful things happening at the wrong time aren't really very wonderful.
Our sense of timing is limited by our world view.
But God's view encompasses things that aren't in our field of vision.
This is where trust comes into play.
Trust takes us from our own sense of urgency to a sense of the perfect timing of God.
Letting the field of possibility have time to be cleared and fertilized is critical to the 'right' answer showing up.
Trust brings us so much closer to experiencing the joy, happiness, peace and serenity that is the essence of who we are.
Trust reminds us that we 'know' who we are and that all manner of miracles are
available to us.
Trust places us in a mode of 'receptivity'...of patient 'waiting'...
Trust sidesteps the need to control and dictate.
Trust creates space for much greater good.
Trust knows no time constraints.
Trust brings sweet peace.
Trust brings more trust.

Trust.

Wisdom Circle - Focus on 'Hope'

2008-01-13T09:21:00.000-08:00

I honor my hope and I give it my best energy.
I keep my eyes on my hope and do not let it out of my sight.
I listen to my hope and respect what it teaches me.
I stand strong in my hope and trust in its possibilities.
I become one with my hope and cherish its presence.
Joyce Rupp and Macrina Weiderkehr

Within our Wisdom Circle there are many different subjects discussed and considered.
But we do find that there are often repeating themes.
One of them seems to be Hope.
In every person's life, there are challenges that appear in our paths.
These challenges are wonderful opportunities to learn and grow and from that new wisdom, share with others.
One of the things that supports us through these challenges is the power of Hope.

Hope is truly very under-rated.
It often isn't given enough credit for the power that it gives us as we take on life's challenges.
Hope carries us and it lifts us; it directs us and sustains us.
It is a power beyond ourselves and our current life situations that serves to connect us back with courage and strength.
Hope often shows up when despair has set in.
Because of the way Hope does this, She demonstrates magical qualities.
Hope comes at moments of disillusionment, confusion, distrust, and reminds us of the Spirit that guided us in the past through troubled waters.
Hope also realligns us.
She slips back inside us and reminds us of who we are and Who we belong to.
She wakes us up.
She sets us straight.
She helps us remember what we already know.
She leads us to create connections with others that will re-inspire us.
She opens doors.
She creates potential.
She surrounds us with a Spirit of possibility and innovation.

Hope is a gift we give ourselves.
Hope is also a gift we can give others.
Sometimes Hope is all there is.
Often, Hope is all that is needed.

Wisdom Circle - Unfolding Into More of Itself

2008-01-11T07:43:00.000-08:00

The flower in the picture is unfolding...it is in the process of becoming more of itself.
When it started out as a seed, it had a memory of 'who' and 'what' it was to be.
As it grew, more of the 'who' and the 'what' presented itself.
There were effects and conditions along the way that impacted the flower.
The environment, the surroundings, the sun, all added to this process.
It is a beautiful creation of nature, perfectly unique and singular in its display of color and form.

This has been the course of our Wisdom Circle.
Initially, we sensed what it was that the Circle would become...actually, what it truly was already.
The Circle was a place of exploration, sanctuary, healing, support.
As members came and left and new members emerged, the Circle took on new color, energy and form.
And the process continues.
No two Wisdom Circles are the same.
Each holds it own signature of what it is becoming.
Each serves the world in a somewhat different way.
There are learning circles, healing circles, support circles, resilience circles, circles for
peace building, dancing circles, meditation circles, sacred circles and many more.
The magic of the Circle is that it keeps on recreating itself, just like we do.
There are some things that resemble the original form, but other things have been replaced and a metamorphosis has happened.
The Wisdom Circle is a perfect metaphor for life.
It is a wonderful experience in creation, healing and the dynamic flow of change.

Wisdom Circle - Create a Pathway for Form and Flow

2008-01-09T17:39:00.001-08:00

Every year in January, our Wisdom Circle creates intentions for the Circle as we look forward to the coming year.
In addition to the creation of intentions, is the important work of crafting a schedule or calendar to create a natural flow of focus areas.
So, we make a list of desired programs for the year, check it twice, and then commence to review the year and choose the perfect time and date in which to place each individual program.
We begin by posting on this calendar, those things that we have defined at important 'repeaters' thoughout the year.
For our group these 'repeaters' have been, walking the Labyrinth as a group at least twice a year, meditating and clearing our 'energy bodies' together at least quarterly, honoring the miracles of the four seasons of winter, spring, summer and fall, honoring holy days from other religious traditions, focused study on the Spiritual Laws.
We place these items on our calendar and then proceed to get a 'sense' of what is missing as we view the year.
Do we have enough scheduled time for prayer and meditation?
Do we have time for learning about new discoveries in science and spirituality?
Have we captured enough movement and creative expression?

As we consider 'what is missing', we open to the wisdom of the group as to how to incorporate balance.
We listen to innovative ideas, radical thinking, compassionate concern in order to make sure we are considering a wide spectrum of interests.
We also want to make sure that we open to the guidance of our Creator as we create sacred space for spirituality within our Circle.

Another important concept to create over the scope of the year is spontaneity.
We have found in past years that you can actually overschedule programs and create rigidity and inflexibility as to what wants to just 'show up'.
We have learned that it is important to create space for improvisation, for newness, for wild adventures and for peace.

By taking the time at the beginning of the year to create a pathway for form and flow, we also remove the 'stress' related to creating new programs each week.
This way, everyone knows who is responsible for each program and the Circle takes on the feel of a smooth flowing river with a clear destination...but also with plenty of variety and opportunity for adventure built in.

Since we meet weekly, it also has created an opportunity for many different members to 'lead' or 'call the Circle'.
Individuals have a wonderful opportunity to share their gifts of writing, singing, sharing, and creating with others and this also adds great diversity to the Circle.
We have sensed that this diversity is a powerful strength of our Circle.
The support we demonstrate to all 'brave souls' who are willing to get up and lead a group is also a strength.

There has been enormous growth in each individual 'pilgrim' over the years as well as growth and development in the Circle as a whole.
We, as a group, have chosen to share this part of the journey together and the richness of the experience has been invaluable.
We have come to cherish the 'family' of like-minded souls that come together opening their hearts to what the Creator would teach each week through the stories that are told.

Wisdom Circle - 2008 Intention Ceremony - Take a moment to contemplate what you want to create in your future...

2008-01-04T11:09:00.002-08:00

Each year in January, our Wisdom Circle creates a space for an Intention Ceremony.
This gives each person in the group an opportunity to begin the process of active creation for the upcoming year.
Rather than have the new year 'happen to them', this supports the process of active creation.

For the weeks preceding our ceremony, each individual Circle member is asked to focus on all those things that they would like to release in anticipation of the upcoming year.
They are asked to give consideration to those practices or behaviors that contributed to their highest good and which did not.
What things do they want more of in 2008 and what is ready to be a part of the past?
By first taking the time to release and 'let go', more space is created for the 'new', the innovative and the creative to enter.

As we come together for our ceremony, we each write down those things that we wish to commit to making a part of our experience in the new year.
It may be that we will choose to focus on specific spiritual laws that inspire us such as the Law of Surrender, the Law of Peace, the Law of Honor, etc.
We might chose to focus on daily spiritual practices to bring ourselves into greater communion with the Creator.
Whatever is our individual choice for focus becomes the foundation for our intentions.
As we write our intentions, we place them in envelopes in our intention bowl and keep these in a central place in our space all year.
These intentions can be reviewed during the year to determine if we want to make course corrections or adjustments or to simply celebrate our successes.

Just as Tiger the cat is contemplating his prospects for the new year, we have an opportunity to wipe the slate clean and create a new beginning.
In every new beginning, comes an opportunity to honor the past and the teachers and experiences that have been part of our experience.
In every new beginning is an opportunity to stretch beyond our comfort zone as we plot our new course.
In every new beginning comes an opportunity to see, feel and touch in larger ways.
In every new beginning enters the possibilities of a whole new chapter in our lives, unlike any we have written before.
In every new beginning, comes the hope of seeing the face of God more clearly, more fully and in everything we experience.

In every new beginning, God is.

Wisdom Circle - Let There Be Light!

2007-12-25T10:45:00.001-08:00

Light is such an amazing element of Nature.
It's ability to dissipate darkness is so powerful and absolute.
This is true of our own Light.
Staying connected to the Divine Light is what dissipates the darkness in our lives absolutely.

This past week, our Wisdom Circle celebrated the beauty, power and the wonder of the Light.
We learned about different traditions and how they celebrate this time of year.
We remembered the Christ and the new hope that was brought into the world.

We remembered also that within Mother Nature, our days will become longer now and the nights will become shorter.
More Light will infuse the world and all of us as well.

We began our Circle this night by sitting in a darkened room, with only one candle lit in the center.
Each of us chose a colored candle and lit our individual candle from the one at the center, the Source.
We sat silently in the Circle, in gratitude for the Light in the world and within each of us.
Then we were asked to remember a loss, something that connected us with an aspect of ourselves we needed to let go.
We went around the Circle and spoke of our loss...for some it was 'loss of control', for others it was about loss of a job or loss of health.
As we finished our description of the 'loss' and its 'gift' to us in wisdom, we blew out our candles one by one and sat in the quiet of the darkness.
The darkness cradled us in her peacefulness and in her depth of acceptance.
We honored all of the experiences that were shared.

We then went around the Circle again, this time sharing a gift or a blessing that had been received.
As we spoke of the gift, we re - lit our candle.
For some, the 'gift' was found in the loss that had been shared earlier.
For others, the 'gift' was an opportunity that had been offered, a friendship, a surprise...
When we completed a 'round', we found ourselves in a lighted room.
The Spirit of gratitude filled our space as we remembered the gift of challenges, losses, blessings equally.
We remembered those experiences and people that had been our greatest teachers.
We remembered how fortunate we are to be gifted with Life and the opportunity to serve.

May we never forget that which has been so freely given to us...the gift of Love from our Creator and the invitation to full partnership in the re - creation of the world into a space of peace, light, love, wisdom and beauty.

Wisdom Circle - Teaching Each Other

2007-12-19T03:47:00.000-08:00

“Let me see the world through your eyes, hear the world as you hear it.

Let us teach each other, support each other, inspire each other, and heal each other.

Let us make visible to ourselves, and then to the world, how much we care.”

Charles Garfield

Cindy Spring

Sedonia Cahil

One of my favorite books on Wisdom Circles was written by Charles Garfield,

Cindy Spring, and Sedonna Cahil.

They have captured the heart of 'how to' create and maintain a Circle.

Their vision seems to have been to write a book that serves as a guide to anyone interested in learning how to develop a Wisdom Circle of their own.

They speak about 'teaching each other' by sharing how we each see the world, hear the world and feel the world.

It is by sharing our unique experiences that we broaden our world view.

By opening ourselves to the way others view life, work, fun, adventure, we come to a larger sense of what is possible.

We may also sense a deeper meaning to life, an alternate pathway of thinking, a new approach to dealing with challenges.

We can increase our learning from others' experiences rather than having to experience everything ourselves.

There are some real advantages to this.

Inspiring each other is another natural outgrowth of a Wisdom Circle.

It is our experience that you cannot share a Circle with other folk week after week, month after month, year after year, without finding great inspiration from other lives well lived.

When someone goes through a traumatic event and shares their story, all are blessed from the experience of sensing and learning from the events second hand.

When someone shares their joy, fear, 'leaps of faith', we can 'live it' through them.

We can capture the emotion of joy or peace or hope.

We can remember what it 'feels' like and then make the transfer into our own lives.

We have also found that the lessons we each learn within the Wisdom Circle we are able to 'bridge' into our daily lives.

We can carry forward wisdom from the Circle, and make applications to our work, to our families, to our personal spiritual journeys.

The Circle serves as a microcosm of the world.

As we learn to love more deeply within the Circle, we can love more deeply anywhere.

As we learn to live more fully within the Circle, we can live more fully anywhere.

As we learn to trust more completely within the Circle, we can trust more completely anywhere.

As we learn to surrender the total essence of who we are within the Circle, we can experience the freedom of full surrender anywhere.

Wisdom Circle - Ruffle Your Feathers and Take Flight

2007-12-17T09:10:00.000-08:00

Feathers are considered sacred in many religious traditions.
In the Native American tradition, the feather can be a gift from Spirit.
A feather can be used to clear the aura, the energy body surrounding a person.
Feathers are used in ceremony and in honoring the 'wing-ed ones' that fly in the sky.
Meditating on the inherent beauty of a feather can bring deep appreciation for the wonders of Mother Nature and also the miracle of flight.

This morning on my walk in the hills, I came upon a beautiful hawk.
I was reminded that in Native American tradition, the hawk is considered the 'messenger'.
It is recommended that when the hawk appears to you, it is a good idea to pay attention because a special message is on the way.
As I stood watching the hawk, I opened to the Creator to hear the 'message'.
I saw the hawk 'ruffle her feathers' and then leap boldly in the air and launch herself into flight.
At the same moment, I heard overhead the sound of a helicopter on the way to a nearby trauma center.
It was a 'LifeFlight' helicopter and I found myself remembering watching many of them fly overhead over the years as they brought patients to the medical center for care.

After a bit I continued walking up the trail.
I continued to remember the hawk take flight and move forward into the mystery of where she would land next.
It brought be back to remembering the initial 'launch' of our Wisdom Circle.
At the beginning, several years ago, we had a desire to create a community of 'heart-based' souls that could share their stories and support each other's spiritual growth.
We did not know exactly how to create this, or what it would eventually look like, but our hearts told us that it was time and it would become clear as we took a 'leap of faith'.
As time moved on, we had wonderful resources come to us that led us in the creation of the Wisdom Circle of Grace.
These resources came as a direct result of our hearts' desire to build this community.
The answers to our prayers came in many different forms and shapes, all rich in wisdom and grace.

But our first step was truly 'ruffling our feathers', so that we could 'spread our wings'.
By surrendering to Spirit and Divine Wisdom, all that was needed was provided to us just at the perfect moment.
Also surrendering our need to know exactly how to 'do it' and choosing to trust that we would be led and guided were the ingredients we needed to 'allow' it into creation.

The Hawk reminds us that we can 'know' that the abundance of all that we need will be provided for us at just the moment it is required.

Wisdom Circle - Take Time to Smell the Roses

2007-12-16T08:48:00.001-08:00

This phrase, 'take time to smell the roses', has been around a long time.
And for a good reason...
As our lives appear to quicken and our 'to do' lists get longer, taking time to be quiet within becomes even more critical.

In our Wisdom Circle, that is just what we do...we take time to smell the roses, lillies, petunias, honeysuckle and allow space to quiet down.
Within the Circle is created a container to experience true stillness.
It is that stillness that exists in nature so often...a quiet pond, an open meadow...
This stillness has the capacity to support our healing.
This stillness is a 'sabbath' for our souls.
This stillness holds our Spirits and cradles our hearts.
The Spirit within us craves this stillness, so why is it that we so rarely visit this space?

When our Wisdom Circle pondered that question, some of the responses centered around our need to be 'doing' all the time.
We have lists upon lists of things that must be attended to.
We have appointments and schedules and all manner of agendas to address.
These are all part of living in the third dimensional space of our world.

But when our Circle considered the true richness of the experience of stillness, we agreed that when we do 'go there', 'it is well worth the price of admission'.
Some choose to find stillness in nature; some in the quiet of their own home.
Others have come to find stillness through meditation and prayer.
Stillness is a space that God creates for us when we show up with an open heart and 'no mind'.
We leave the lists and agendas behind and we surrender ourselves fully to the Creator.
It is in full surrender and openness that we find what has been there all along, waiting for us to remember 'it'.

Each week in our Wisdom Circle, we make room for stillness to enter.
We welcome the Divine to fill our hearts and be present among us.
We make a 'date' to honor the Spirit within and take time to dance with the mystery inside.
We smell a rose and deepen our appreciation of the beauty of the Earth we have been given to care for.
We cherish the rose and the strength that it holds.
We notice how each rosebud transforms into its full potential bursting forth in color and smell.
The rose knows that after it completes its gift-giving, it will surrender itself and again reconnect with the Earth that gave it life.
So it is with us.

Let us open ourselves and offer our gifts to the world.
Let us honor the service that we are here to give.
Let us fully express who we are and Whom we are here to serve.

Wisdom Circle - Creative Expression

2007-12-15T10:57:00.001-08:00

Over the years, our Wisdom Circle has created lots of different kinds of programs.
Sometimes the focus is music, sometimes different religious traditions, sometimes spiritual laws.
But one of the things that we have committed to regularly incorporating into our Wisdom Circle is time and space for creative expression.
Most of the members of the Circle work in 'left - brained' professions and spend most of their days using logic and reason.
Much less frequently does the 'right - brain' get exercised and have an opportunity to express itself.
So our commitment has been to spend time with creative expression using the arts.
This may take the form of creating with clay, playing with playdo, coloring mandalas, making collages.

The pictures above are from a session we had using stones.
The content of our discussion was all about what gives us foundation, strength, courage, meaning, fortitude in our lives.
It was an opportunity for us to wonder about our Source.
We first chose stones that we felt connected to and 'grounded' us to the concept of 'Source'.
Stones are the great 'space holders' of the Earth.
They were a perfect element to use since we were exploring connection to the foundation of our lives.
Next, we did a guided imagery remembering those things in our lives that brought us these things or reminded us of these things.
At the conclusion of the meditation, in silence, we each began to draw an image that came to our awareness.

The drawings above represented some of the beautiful images of Source and foundation to our Circle members.
One shared that it was family that brought him a sense of foundation and wholeness.
Another had experienced the image of a spiral during the guided imagery meditation.
To her, the spiral represented the continuous, ever changing circle and spiral of life.
Another shared that the tree of life had always been a powerful image that connected the two worlds that we live in, Heaven and Earth, Above and Below.

We spent time with our images, individually and collectively.
We honored the wisdom of each member as they shared from their heart that which gave them hope, strength and support and meaning.
As each member shares their story, it becomes a blessing and a remembrance for all.
As each member acknowledged their own journey, we all were blessed by acknowledging our own journeys and the things that had carried us through.

Blessings come from simply witnessing the beauty in the story of another.
Being willing to show up, being vulnerable and sharing from the heart all came together to create a magical healing experience.

As Rainer Maria Rilke said many many years ago, 'the Circle heals'.

Wisdom Circle - Honoring the Earth

2007-12-14T08:26:00.000-08:00

One of our favorite activities in the Wisdom Circle is honoring the Earth and her cyclical changes.
What we have found is that when we come into connection with the seasons, we find greater harmony with life.

In the Fall, we focus our attention on releasing and surrendering all those things that no longer serve us.
We imagine ourselves to be a great tree, ready to shed its leaves so that it can begin again in the Spring to bring forth more beauty.
The Fall is a great time to release our own 'leaves' that no longer have a needed place within our being.
We can freely detach from these conceptual 'leaves' and let them go to make room for the miracles and newness of what is to come.

As Winter approaches, our Circle focuses on 'going within'...it is a time of reflection and hibernation of ideas and seeds of what we are becoming.
It is a time of being quiet and listening to the whispers of Spirit.

In the Spring, we celebrate new beginnings and the glory of new life and rebirth.
We often do meditations on the beauty of the flowers that surround us and remember the miracle of life in all of its forms.

In the Summer, we remember to honor the 'fruits' of our labor.
We take time to harvest the abundance of all that we have created and nurtured during the previous seasons of the year.
The summer is a time of warmth and fullness.

Mother Nature has created a Circle of seasons for us to learn from.
As we connect with this Circle of natural life, we learn to understand the importance of the ebb and flow of our energy, our work, our own lives.
We learn to quiet our Spirits long enough to open to the wisdom that the seasons have to teach us.
We open to those lessons that are learned only from communing with all aspects of the natural world that surrounds us.
Our Garden of Eden is truly our classroom and holds great opportunities to learn from simply being present with a rose, a deer, a dolphin, a hawk...
The depth of the wisdom in any one of God's creations can reflect back to us the true nature of our Creator.

But we must take the time to show up and be taught.
We must take time to open to seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling the delights of the universe.
Abundance fills our world.
It is ours to cherish and to hold dear.
Who else will?

Wisdom Circle - Everyone Holds a Different Space

2007-12-13T13:46:00.000-08:00

One of the most powerful forces in a Wisdom Circle is the energy of diversity.
The Circle members often come from many different 'walks' of life and because of this, each member brings very different life experiences.
The diversity can express itself in age, gender, profession, hobbies, gifts, personalities,
soul signatures, etc.
No two of us are carbon copies of each other...praise be!!!
The fun of this can also be seen as each member in the Wisdom Circle often comes to adopt a 'role' in the group.
Some may take on the 'role' of 'Truth Teller'.
That has certainly been one of the 'roles' of my husband, Stephen, who is in the
picture above.
When a discussion within the Circle is not connecting in with deep truth and honest feelings,
Stephen is always right there to share from his heart and speak his truth with clarity and conviction.
Others in the group have often shared how much they appreciate his 'baring of his soul' and sharing from the depths of his own pain, joy and challenges.

Others in the group take on other 'roles'.
There are those that are the ones that 'hold the space' of the 'scientists'.
These folk will press the group to look at the scientific basis of content and the reason behind the way things seem to be.
Others may take on the 'role' of the holder of 'compassionate presence'.
These individuals have an open heart and can heal simply by being present and deeply listening to the story of another.
Other members may be the 'fire starters'.
These members come up with exciting ideas of things to explore and wonder about
within the Circle.
Others hold the 'role' of those that 'ground' the Circle.
These individuals keep the group connected to original purpose, principles, practices that are the foundational elements of the Circle.
Still others may hold the function of gentle 'space holders'.
They are often quiet and soft in their energy and create a supportive structure within the Circle. Thelp everyone feel accepted, ok, and important to the whole.

Everyone who shows up in the Circle plays a unique 'role' in creating this sacred space.
No 'role' or space is more important or significant than another.
It is the beauty, wisdom, love and light that each member brings that creates the space of healing for all.

Weaving the web of wholeness is a work that requires forgiveness, letting go, reaching out, leaping forward, dancing with mystery and so much more.
Through the community of the Circle, we can experience what these mean to each of us as souls on a wonderful journey back home.

Wisdom Circle - Everyone Can Be a Leader

2007-12-12T09:48:00.000-08:00

The beauty of the Circle is that there is no defined absolute leader.
Within the Circle, everyone can be the leader. It is a shared experience.
There is a person that 'Calls the Circle' and initiates a gathering, defines the general format and content, and opens and closes the Circle.
Other than that, the Circle flows from person to person just as water flows in a river bed.
There is no need to have someone in 'control', dictating agendas, etc.
The Circle takes on its own flow and manages to ensure that all voices are heard, even the silent ones.

In our Wisdom Circle, we have a process that has developed of shared responsibility for who 'calls the Circle'.
The pictures above are of three of our members who have led our Circle many times.
One of them is a Sister that comes from a community that is committed to supporting the underserved in the Hispanic culture.
The other person in the picture is a woman who works in Organizational and Leadership Development and is committed to making more room for Spirituality in the workplace.
The other is my brother who is an Internal Medicine physician with a passion for re-creating meaning in medicine.
They have each led our Circle in sacred ceremony, expressive arts and honoring of other faith traditions.
Our Circle has been blessed to have a very diverse nature.
We have midwives, doctors, lawyers, dentists, nurses, pastors, social workers and many others.
We have Catholics, Protestants, Seventh-day Adventists, Mormons, and many others.
It is the diversity of the group that adds wisdom and dimension.
Different perspectives on where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going are shared all the time.
We learn through the experience and wisdom of each other.
Through the stories that are shared, we gain insights that make our own journeys richer.
As we share joy, pain, fear, bliss, we come to a deeper understanding of that which is of greatest importance in our Earthly travels.

It is so often easier to learn through the experience of another rather than having to experience everything in the first person.

The Wisdom Circle creates a safe container to explore, learn, experience, venture, voyage...
Whether you are 'calling the Circle' or you are 'holding space' within the Circle, you play an important role.
Sometimes just 'showing up' is all that is necessary for deep connection with the Divine.
It is through this Spiritual connection with our Creator that we come alive into a true 'knowing' of ourselves and the world we live in and love.

Wisdom Circle - Create a Space for Light to Enter

2007-12-11T15:10:00.000-08:00

The simple practice of lighting a candle can transform ordinary 'space' into 'sacred space'.
Lighting a candle can become an invitation for Spirit to enter and be present.
It is an opening created for the experience of 'sanctuary'.

In our Wisdom Circle, we regularly light candles to consciously open to the Divine Light of the Creator.
As we light each candle, we create the intention to speak from our own inner wisdom and to be instruments of this light, love and peace.
As we gaze upon the lighted candle, we are reminded of the Source of our own light.
We watch as the flame from the candle continues to burn brightly and light up the darkness.
This light also reminds us of the passion and fire that exist in our bellies to transform any space we occupy into a space of wholeness and peace.
This light is a reminder of the gift of light that is available to all that open to its power and magnificence.

The picture above shows what has happened as the candles continue burning together.
They 'melt' into a union of lightforce that continues to burn in harmony and oneness.

Light does attract more LIght.

Wisdom Circle - Take a Field Trip to a Sacred Site

2007-12-09T08:48:00.000-08:00

Sometimes our Wisdom Circle group has chosen to hold a Circle gathering at a sacred site.
A sacred site might be a place in nature, a church, a monastery, or as in the picture above, a labyrinth.
A labyrinth is an ancient symbol that is in the form of an outer circle with a meandering pathway that leads to a center.
It was used in many different cultures for meditation and prayer or pondering important questions.
By walking the path in the labyrinth, one could spend time reconsidering their own life path and opening to Divine guidance and direction.

One way to experience the labyrinth is to focus on re-leasing all those things that no longer serve you as you walk on the pathway to the center of the labyrinth.
When in the center, one would focus on re-ceiving gifts from Spirit.
And when leaving the center and walking out of the labyrinth, one would focus on re-turning the gifts that are received back into the world in service.

By sharing this experience together as a Wisdom Circle group, we had an opportunity to imagine how other diverse cultures explored ways of reconnecting with their own souls.
By wondering about what might have brought meaning to them, we had a powerful experience ourselves.
Many in our group found that by taking a question into the labyrinth, they were making an appointment with their higher selves.
It created an opening to release more deeply and receive more fully.
A space was created within that could be truly filled with Spirit.
Our own questions and answers were surrendered and we opened to the ones from Above.
We found our questions changed and therefore, the answers did also.

By holding space for each member of the Circle to have an opportunity to experience the Divine fully, we created our own sacred sanctuary.
Sacred space is wherever and whenever we open to Spirit.
It is also wherever two or three are gathered together in the name of God.
Joy is welcoming the sacred into every moment and in every space that we are in.

Wisdom Circle - So What Do You Talk About?

2007-12-08T13:40:00.000-08:00

Early in the formation of our Wisdom Circle, we decided that one of the things we wanted to focus on as a group was perennial wisdom.
We had a desire to explore the wisdom that crossed diverse spiritual and religious traditions.
We wanted to delve into an experiential study of the 'wisdom' that was 'core' to many indigenous peoples.

Lee Kaiser, my spiritual director, has created a summary of 108 of these wisdom principles.
A summary of these principles can be found on his website, www.twoworldswisdom.org.
These principles are timeless and are foundational to the universe we live in.

Our Wisdom Circle has purchased 'flags' that have these principles written on them and we have some of them hanging in the room that we meet in.
Here are some of our Circle's favorite laws:

The Law of One - Everything is part of everything else.
The Law of Love - Love unifies.
The Law of Intention - All intentions create.
The Law of Forgiveness - What you do not forgive holds you in bondage.
The Law of Abundance - Sufficient resources exist to accomplish anything you want to do.
The Law of Service - You grow only through serving others.
The Law of Surrender - To attain all you must surrender all.

We often begin by speaking the Law out loud and then passing the 'talking stick' to each Circle member.
We open a discussion as to the application of the law within each individual's life.
We may also ask questions that relate to the Law for the group to consider such as:
'Can you share a story about experiences you had with this Law over the course
of this last week?'
'How might this Law change the way you look at life?'
'Within your work - life, how might this Law improve the way things work?'

Sometimes we bring in a specific meditation that connects strongly to the Law.
For the Law of One, we brought in a meditation for the group to experience where we opened our hearts and then sent 'compassionate heart' energy to the person to our left and to the person to their left and again and again around the Circle, until the 'compassionate heart' energy returned to us...
Creating this 'experience of oneness' helped to bring greater understanding to the Law and also created an opportunity for each person to 'know' the Law from a first hand point of view.
Together we experienced Oneness within the Circle when we shared the compassion in our hearts with one another.
Creating this experience makes the Law more real.

Another week we discussed the Law of Surrender.
We created a ceremony where we each held a special stone and imagined surrendering into the stone all those things that no longer served us.
Then we each took turns releasing the stones into a large bowl of water.
This meditation again created an opportunity to have the experience of 'surrender' rather than just talking about it.
The combined discussion and experience creates a bridge to the inner knowing of what
true 'surrender' really is.

By choosing to focus on content areas such as these Wisdom Principles, a Wisdom Circle can create opportunities to explore the true nature of our universe.
They help form a bridge for building unity and openness rather than disconnection and
further differences.
They challenge us to think beyond our 'boxes' and come together in a larger way of being in the world.
They give us a pathway to discover how similar we are and yet how diverse we are as children of the same Creator.
They are a gateway to greater understanding of the beauty and wonder of the Universe.
They are a door to seeing life as it truly is rather than the world that has been built on our previous limited views.

Wisdom brings us closer together.

Ignorance separates our hearts.

Wisdom Circle - Holding Space

2007-12-07T10:20:00.001-08:00

This 'Heart - shaped' bowl is on the center table at Grace's House where our Wisdom Circle is held every Friday evening.
This bowl contains stones that were collected from beautiful places in nature all over the United States.
These stones know all about 'holding space'.
Stones have been the great 'space holders'.
They know all about holding and supporting the Earth.
They were there when history was made and hold all the stories of all that has
ever happened.
Stones are anchors, grounding forces, foundational structures that are a very necessary part of the way Mother Nature holds herself together.

In the same way that stones 'hold space' for the Earth, we 'hold space' for each other.
By believing in someone and keeping that belief alive in our hearts, we are 'holding space' for that person's 'becoming'.
We are acknowledging the soul potential that we see in another that they may not
yet see in themselves.
We are holding a picture alive of the other person in a larger more expanded form.
Teachers 'hold space' for their students.
Parents 'hold space' for their children.
Brothers hold space for their sisters.
Sisters hold space for their sisters.
And it goes on and on...

Each week in our Wisdom Circle, individuals may chose to take a stone from the Heart - bowl, and place it on the table.
This is done with the intention of the stone 'holding space' for someone that might need a bit of extra support, strength, courage...
We also create the intention that the Creator will give them exactly what is best
for their highest good.
By creating this simple ceremony, we honor the person, their life and their
work in the world.
We honor their efforts at becoming all they can be as well as their humanness.

We each have benefited tremendously over the course of our lives from having a teacher or a family member or friend 'hold space' for us.
Sometimes, this experience is the difference between us 'making it' or not.
'Holding space' for another can give them just the 'umph' that they need to
shift into a whole new place.
Our angels do this for us constantly.
Our Creator does this for us every moment.

How blessed we are that there is so much support for us to be all we can be.

Wisdom Circle - Creating Intention

2007-12-04T09:33:00.001-08:00

Another aspect of Wisdom Circle design is the process of creating intention.
In the picture above, you can see the 'bowl of intentions' created by our Wisdom Circle group.
When our Circle began, we took the time to explore possible intentions or focuses.
We considered creating intentions to exploring other religious traditions, ways to increase peace in the world, how to support environmental health issues, and many more.
After a lively discussion on the possibilities, our Circle chose to create intentions surrounding spiritual openness, community, and exploration.
These intentions were accepted by the group and have served us well over the years that we have been meeting.
They form the foundation of what we choose to consider and discuss as we continue to gather together week after week.
Anyone that wishes to bring up other options certainly can and the Circle will then consider it in the larger scope of its service in the world.

Additionally, each year our Wisdom Circle members create individual intentions for the upcoming year.
As the previous year closes out, we take time to honor our current intentions and share how they came to manifest themselves in our lives.
Then we create ceremony to support release and surrender of all the the things that no longer serve us.
As part of this ceremony, we release our 'ego' and all the things that get in the way of our full 'becoming'.
We make a conscious choice whom we will serve and how we wish to commit our lives in this service.
On the first Wisdom Circle of the new year, we all complete the documentation of our individual intentions on specially prepared cards for this purpose.
These cards are then placed in a bowl and a blessing is asked for these intentions that they may all serve the Creator and be offered in full humility, goodness and integrity.
This bowl of intentions 'holds space' for our intentions all year until we are again ready to repeat the process for another blessed new year.

This process has served our group well.
It is a reminder to us that to live a life of service to the Divine requires conscious intention and action.
We have chosen as a group, to support the intentions of each other as we journey on this Earth together.
The Circle is a powerful way to come together in community and intention.

Wisdom Circle - Creating a Sacred Center

2007-12-01T09:47:00.000-08:00

When our Wisdom Circle first began, we decided as a group that we wanted to create a
Sacred Center.
This was to be a space at the 'center' of our Circle that reminded us that when we came together, we would focus on the sacred.
This space at the 'center' was to be symbolic of the 'heart' of our Circle...a place where we hold our hopes, dreams, intentions, commitments...
It was always to be a way for us to stay grounded in the original purpose of our Circle...
to create a space for spiritual openness, community, and sharing from the heart.

We were blessed to receive a gift of an angel from our friend, Heidi Kujat.
She is an amazing bronze sculptor who creates beautiful magical angels.
The angel she gave to our Circle is called Radiance.
She is the one who is on the center table of our Circle and who reminds us about the importance of 'radiating' our light and love in service to the world.
She holds the space of deep reverence for the Divine and also for the beauty in each
individual soul.
The presence of Radiance in our Circle has served to further create a sacred space for us to experience each week as we gather together.

Having a Sacred Center within the Circle also serves as a reminder of the importance of creating a Sacred Center within ourselves.
This Center is our oneness with our Creator.
It is from this Center that we can connect with others and with the Divine.
It is from this Center that we experience true love and acceptance.
This Center is our core...it is who we truly are.
This Center is a place that must be nurtured and honored.
This place is one that we must visit often and pay attention to, if it is to grow and flourish.
This Sacred Space can, in turn, nourish us so that we can grow and flourish.

Sacred Space within is a place where we welcome the Divine...it is a place where we 'show up' to listen to the Whispers of Spirit speaking directly to us.
By consciously creating an opening for God to enter, we 'make room' for more than just the routine of daily life.
We 'make room' for a fuller life...one that is abundant with miracles and healing and hope.
We build a bridge to a life of service and joy.
We create a direct connection to hear the voice of God within.

Wisdom Circle of Grace

2007-11-25T07:51:00.000-08:00

Our Wisdom Circle, the Wisdom Circle of Grace, sometimes choses to meet outside.
We we are outside, we have enjoyed creating ceremony together as we sit within our Circle.
One of ceremonies that has been so healing to our group has been the one we did about Forgiveness.
We began the Circle just like we always do by passing the 'talking stick'.
This Native American tradition of using a stick to focus attention has really helped our group remember to 'listen' rather than debate or challenge.
The person who holds the 'stick', has the 'floor' and presents 'wisdom' from his or her own experience.
Those that do not have the 'stick' listen and open to the 'wisdom' of the one speaking.

After we have a 'round' of everyone 'checking in', we move into meditation, which for our group has become the 'listening' part of prayer.
The meditation this particular night was all about letting go all those things that we have been having difficultly forgiving within ourselves.
After the meditation, we passed the 'talking stick' again and each individual had an opportunity to speak to what was difficult or easy to release or forgive within themselves.
We learn from each other.
We experience the joy another feels when a true sense of release from the chains of un-forgiveness happens.
We experience wisdom from listening to the story of another.
We come to realize that we all share part of the same story.

After our meditation, we moved into a sacred ceremony.
We each had chosen a few pieces of wood that would represent for us, things we wanted to fully forgive within ourselves or another.
Then, one at a time, we each placed our 'wood' in the fire pit that we had created to 'transmute' our pain and suffering into the joy of full release and forgiveness.
As we sat and watched all of our 'stuff' being consumed by the fire,
it was a beautiful metaphor for the love of God and how empowering it is.

The love of God is so much bigger than we are.
The love of God is all consuming of those things that we carry that are not in our
highest good.
The love of God is so available to us.
The love of God is able to release us from all those things that weigh us down
and encumber our beings.

Time seemed to stand still as we all sat in silence and watched as the fire continued its dance.
We were all reminded of our connection to each other.
We were reminded of our humanness.
We were also reminded of the gifts of 'Spirit' that are available to us.
We remember the peace of silence, the beauty of sharing from the heart,
and the joy of forgiveness.

We closed our Circle that night with the blessing of a word we each chose to 'gift' each other with for the upcoming week...
Some of the words were 'Joy', 'Peace', 'Adventure', 'Curiosity', 'Discovery', 'Forgiveness'...
And so it is.....

How Do You Get the Ball Down the Field?

2007-11-21T10:50:00.001-08:00

We know when we are fully connected to our Source, our God, when we experience much less effort/force required and much more power/joy available to us.

The force that we must exert in order to get something accomplished is much greater when we are trying to do it on our own power vs. Divine power.

A disconnection from Source can cause us to get energy depleted and

fatigue can set in.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Divine Energy is always available to us to support our work in the world.

All that is necessary is that we do all we can ourselves and then ask God for help.

It doesn’t work to just ‘leave the driving to God’.

There is a part we must play because we are here to learn and grow and that can’t be accomplished if we are not active participants.

So how do you know when it is time to ‘power – up’?

When you find yourself physically tired, energy depleted, out of new ideas, repeating the same problems over and over again, it is time for a ‘time out’…

It’s time to reconsider what is out of balance…what is not aligned with Source.

It’s time to reconsider priorities and which goals are you moving towards or away from.

Do you have the ‘ball’ well in hand, or are you losing your grasp and about to fumble?

Is the team you are playing with going in the same direction you are?

Are your goals clear?

What is the gameplan?

Who’s callin the shots?

When was the last time you scored a touchdown?

Are you enjoying getting beaten up on the field or is it time to consider a different way to move down this field of life?

What part of the game are you enjoying?

How can you attract more of that into your life?

Where are you in your game of life?

Are you sitting on the sidelines or actively involved in getting the ball down the field?

Support the Full Potential of Each Person

2007-11-19T06:03:00.000-08:00

Any family, community or organization is made up of individuals.

By supporting the potentiation of each individual, the family, community or organization benefits tremendously.

Each individual brings to the ‘table’ special gifts and skills that are unique.

When each of these gifts are given space and support to grow and mature,

miracles happen and tremendous creation can occur.

Creating mentoring/coaching programs is key.

In some situations, mentoring is focused on changing behaviors, creating vision, or if done at a soul level, it can become pure soul potentiation.

Soul coaching supports the individual in developing a lifepath that helps them accomplish what their life purpose is.

It helps the individual realize that there is more to life than what may have been consuming them previously.

There is an opportunity to move beyond what ‘has been ‘ and connect deeply with purpose and reason for being.

An individual that comes to recognize within themselves their true purpose is a person who senses their own power for good.

This individual has connected with the Divine within them…the power to bring forth what God had in mind when they were created.

This individual has a new sense of what is important and what takes priority.

This individual knows more fully who they are as soul.

It is the responsibility of each individual to seek out a mentor…someone who can lead them closer to who they are wanting to become.

Often the mentor simply reminds them of who they already are, but have forgotten.

The mentor often redirects the individual back within themselves to find the gifts that have been there all along.

A mentor is someone who honors with integrity and commits to the development of the mentee.

Mentors see beyond what is…they can see what may come to be with love and nurturance and believing.

Move Beyond ‘The Box’

2007-11-17T09:53:00.000-08:00

‘The Box’ provides security, safety, the status quo.

‘The Box’ is where many people and organizations choose to be.

‘The Box’ is not a ‘bad’ place, it is simply one choice of where to be.

‘The Box’ does provide a place to start.

A concern might be that ‘the same Box’ is where you finish.

So, what is beyond ‘The Box’?

That’s a great first question because from there, the possibilities are endless.

Starting to imagine what ‘could be’ rather than reinventing the past,

is the beginning of a new condition, a new reality.

Imagine a better way to take care of people, to heal, to grow…

This creates an opportunity to make an entire system better.

After imagining and visioning a brighter future, comes the next step…

Developing more ‘form’ around the concepts and a plan as to how you might start moving toward your desired future.

First steps can be challenging because they often require courage and a departure from the comfort of the way life has always been.

But with persistence on the new pathway, success is certainly within reach.

It’s important to talk to others that may be partners in your new endeavor.

This creates higher energy around moving your plan forward faster.

It’s important to also talk to others who have ‘been there’…those who have taken the ‘path less traveled’ and have been able to fulfill their own dreams.

By creating connections with other dreamers and innovators many pitfalls can be avoided and many shortcuts can be realized.

Once an individual or an organization moves fully out of ‘The Box’, there is no going back.

The innovation, freedom and creativity of the new way of doing things can provide reinforcement to continue on this path.

This path of the innovator is sometimes a lonely path, but it is one filled with discovery and adventure.

It is a path that few choose, but the rewards are great.

Take the risk…Take the leap of faith and venture outside of ‘The Box’.

Move beyond the comfortable and dare to go where few have gone before.

Dare to lead the way to the future with the commitment for excellence, dignity, service, justice and hospitality.

Be all you can be and then some…

Be all your Creator intended you to be.

Fulfill your potential.

Fulfill your dream.

Reach for the stars.

Vision the Future

2007-11-16T06:15:00.000-08:00

The future holds promise.

The future is not predetermined.

It is up to us to imagine ourselves into a future full of hope, health, beauty and wisdom.

Taking the time to regularly ‘see’ into the possibilities of what could be is

critical for improving life as we know it.

The health and well being of our world depend on it.

It is incumbent upon us to not leave the future to chance…but to consciously choose better opportunities and outcomes for those that come after us.

The truth is the world doesn’t have to be the way it is.

There is no reason why we can’t change it.

The world is waiting for us to make up our minds.

Why not now?

Why not us?

2007-11-15T07:08:00.000-08:00

Reaching Out to Those We Serve

Reaching out beyond where we have been, brings with it the joy and fun of movement and adventure.

It takes us beyond our places of comfort and transports us to a new place of being.

With clear vision and foresight, we can move into a space of greater enjoyment, greater experience, greater service.

By taking a few moments on a regular basis and sitting quietly with the thought of who we are ‘servant’ to, we can come closer to why we are here on this Earth

and who we are to serve.

We all are servant to different people.

Some serve those that are ill.

Some serve those that build structures.

Some serve by creating beauty.

There are many kinds of service.

The ‘key’ to knowing, is looking often into the face of the Creator and asking the question, ‘how may I serve’ and then listening to what you hear.

The face of the Creator can be seen clearly on the face of the poor, the hungry,

the homeless, the fearful…

Opportunities abound.

The question is, ‘Do you want to know?’…and

‘What are you willing to do about it?’

So chose this day whom you will serve…and take delight in it…

2007-11-11T21:28:00.001-08:00

The Gift of Grace

I would like to introduce you to Grace...this is an angel created by Heidi Kujat.
Heidi is an amazing sculptor...she creates remarkable angels that
hold special energies such as Grace, Compassion, Dignity.
Her angels can light up a room...they can transform ordinary space into
Sacred Space because they invite the Divine to enter.
The angels help us create a connection with a power that transcends our daily human
experience and reminds us of our relationship with our Creator.

My mother's name is Grace. She left this world a few years ago.
She loved music and its power to transform.
She knew the power of Grace.
When challenges presented themselves, she used music to liberate
the Grace in her soul.
She created her own music and allowed her God to speak to her through music.
She also spoke to others through her music...especially when normal
conversation just wasn't enough to say what needed to be said.
It was easy to 'feel' Grace in the music she wrote...it was who she was...

When I remember Grace, I remember a rhythm, a musical tone, a way of being in the world.
I remember the Grace that we are all offered and given that pours down upon
us like a soft and gentle rain.
I remember Grace as a gift...not deserved, but given freely to all who open to its power.
I remember Grace's music...the music of a heart free and open to love
and its healing power.

I remember Grace's gift of peace...
I remember Grace's gift of hope...

Open to the gift of Grace...
There is certainly enough for all...

May the music of Grace become your new heartsong...

2007-11-08T18:33:00.001-08:00

Heart Wisdom Can Add Dimension
and Color to Your Thinking

I was blessed this week with the opportunity of attending the Two Worlds Wisdom Gathering organized and presented by the Kaiser Institute.
This Gathering of wonderful 'souls' was a remarkable experience.
We had an opportunity to experience our own spirituality in new ways and
dive deeper into cultures from around the world that are helping to heal the planet.
At this Wisdom Gathering, we met people that are on similar life paths and people that are on diverse pathways.
We were challenged to expand our life experiences and 'see' from a wider perspective.
We were invited to open to a greater understanding of a 'bigger' God than we had ever imagined.
Our narrow views of the universe were opened by new discoveries in science.
We had the opportunity to move, drum and breathe in ways that opened our hearts and bodies to the Divine.
What a gift to be able to share love for our Creator with like-minded souls.

At one session, we were invited to open our hearts to love and create a space for light to enter.
When our hearts were full, we were invited during this prayer/meditation,
to move this 'heart' light up into the space of our heads.
I remember imagining how our 'Heart Wisdom', when combined with our 'Thinking Mind',
has the potential of being an even more powerful tool for viewing the world
and all that is in it.

When I lifted my Heart Energy into my head, I felt a surge of sparkling light fill my head space.
I felt as if my 'mind' expanded to take in a larger view.
I sensed that I was 'seeing' with 'bigger' eyes...with eyes that were filled with the
deep sense of love in my heart.
I sensed an ability to view the world from a more fully human perspective.

This simple exercise/experience was one that reminded me of the limited view
that we often have when we forget to include the perspective of our hearts.
Our eyes can be misled by appearances, but our hearts never lie...

Why not inquire of our hearts more often as to the 'truth' in what we are experiencing?
As we consider the questions that life brings, why not make more room for
the perspective of the heart?
Why not open fully to love in the way we think, see, hear, speak?

The love and light in our hearts is always available to be incorporated into our decision-making, our planning, our visioning, our wondering.

How would our world be different if we chose to think with our hearts?

2007-11-02T08:25:00.000-07:00

Honor Diversity
Diversity Can Bring Balance
Balance Can Make Room for HIgh Level Creation

When two forces come together in a balanced system,

High Level Creation can happen.

Balance suggests that there is an ample supply of those that are thinkers, doers, helpers, designers, feelers, knowers…

If we have too many of one kind of ‘player’, we get out of balance and the ability to do great things diminishes.

But assembling a diverse group of players can be a challenge.

Often we find that we are comfortable with others that are like ourselves…we ‘connect’ more with those that have similar values, likes and dislikes…

But that’s not how we learn best.

That’s also not how to build the strongest team.

That is not the way to build a strong foundation.

When our country was first established, our forefathers discovered that

diversity has its strengths.

Within diversity there exists so many opportunities to ‘see’ things differently.

Diversity adds color.

Diversity adds the dimension of size, shape, texture and sound.

Diversity reminds us that we can celebrate differences and still honor our

‘Oneness’ and our Connectedness.

Diversity should never divide us.

Diversity should give us cause to come together even closer.

The joy in experiencing another who is so different from who we are,

is a way of exploring parts of ourselves that have yet to be explored.

It allows us to ‘see’ our bigger or freer selves in the other and reach beyond the comfort of who we have been.

Incredible innovation happens when there is balance in those coming together to create…when there is a desire to bring forward

something much greater than the sum of the parts.

Magical experiences can happen as self-centeredness is relinquished and

control is surrendered.

Magic happens when we get out of the way and

the Creator can make the Miracles begin.

2007-10-29T05:59:00.000-07:00

Healing Hands

and the Hopeful Heart

Many have said over the years that true compassion is expressed as love in action.

Love that goes beyond the ‘wondering’ and moves into the ‘doing’.

Having an open heart to give and receive love, is a place to start…for it is in opening the heart that we become aware of where compassion is needed.

When you chose to open your heart in love, energy builds within you…energy that can be felt as a ‘Radiance’ that flows freely from you to others.

Others experience this as acceptance, openness, concern, compassion.

It is often palpable because of its strength and power.

We can ‘do’ love by committing to Heal All We Touch…

By leaving any situation better than when we found it…

The Divine Feminine in each of us radiates this healing touch.

It flows like a river of love from our hearts to the heart of another…

from our hands to the hands of another…

This light and this love don’t originate with us.

They are birthed in the Creator and are gifted to us.

We, in turn, gift this love to others…

A dynamic flow is created that can sustain itself and can grow and multiply.

This love from heart to heart builds connection and unity.

It also provides a venue for deep and true reconciliation to occur.

There is little space for discord and separation in the space of genuine love and desire for peace.

So Build Bridges with your heart…

Bridges of Hope…

Bridges over troubled waters that need to be infused with peace and love.

Open to the possibilities of bridges all over the world bringing people together and creating pathways of greater understanding…

Say with St Francis… ‘let me be an instrument of peace…’’

2007-10-28T09:29:00.000-07:00

Heart to Heart

Communication at the Heart level is one of the most powerful ways to create connection.

When we want to be fully understood, it is the Heart that we call upon.

The Heart never lies.

The Heart knows only the truth.

The Heart has its own language that goes way beyond words.

The Heart is not blind because it sees with a depth that goes beyond the ‘facts’.

The Heart listens deeply and can filter out those things that have no ‘true’ value.

The Heart can guide us to a ‘better place’ if we let it.

But how often do we?

How often do we choose instead to trust only our minds?

How often do we insulate our Hearts in order to ‘see’ more clearly…only to be blinded by logic without feeling.

It is in our being fully Human…being ‘all’ of who we are, that we can come to understand and appreciate the wonders of another.

By balancing all of our abilities to ‘listen’, will we hear and then connect most completely.

We must remember the only way to honor the Divine in another is to connect through the Heart of who they truly are.

This connection that is created by opening the heart to others is powerful beyond measure.

It can end wars.

It can mend fences.

It can create space for miracles.

It can birth innovation.

It can heal.

It can bring peace.

Open to the loving embrace of the Heart.

2007-10-27T11:19:00.000-07:00

Being of One Mind, One Vision,

One Purpose

Getting everyone on the same page isn’t always easy…

With the diversity of the human race, it is sometimes a miracle that any two people can agree on anything.

Being of one mind, suggests something different though.

It suggests the ability to have our own opinions but to also have the willingness to consider the ‘other’ point of view.

And by considering the ‘other’ view, we widen our own scope of understanding and perception.

Being of one mind also speaks to the concept of surrendering to the greater good.

Sometimes it becomes necessary to ‘let go’ of some of our own ideas in order to accept what might be the best for the ‘whole’.

By relinquishing our own needs to ‘control’ or dictate an outcome, we open to greater possibilities and a more exciting solution.

We come to ‘see’ a larger version of what can happen and appreciate a greater depth in any situation.

Being of one mind is a coming together after deep listening and consideration.

It is an action of thinking and being in unison.

This can create clarity of vision and strength of focus.

It allows room for the dreams, ideals and heart’s desires of the many to be realized rather that just the one.

This creates a powerful opportunity to

Stand Together in Harmony with

Clarity of Vision and

Commitment to Purpose.

2007-10-26T08:24:00.001-07:00

Freedom to Innovate, Freedom to Explore,

Freedom to Be

Opening to the release of the new and innovative can be an exhilarating experience.

Maintaining a ‘closed hand’ only creates limitations on creativity and learning.

By releasing the need to ‘hang on too tight’, freedom to reach and go beyond where you have been is possible.

The universe is in a constant state of change, renewal and recreation. So are we.

By creating more open space, wonderful new inventions, brilliant new approaches to healing, and exciting new opportunities can be brought into being.

One of the challenges is launching such an effort. It takes energy to overcome the inertia that is often present in large quantities.

We get ourselves into ‘ruts’ of same behaviors, same routines, same responses.

What we need is fresh approaches and alternative options in order to create a miraculous future for generations that will follow.

We must follow the Native American adage that beckons us to examine our decisions and ask if they will serve seven generations in the future. If we cannot answer that positively, then we better reconsider our actions.

Commit to honor the past, accept the present, and protect the future for those that shall come after us.

2007-10-24T08:59:00.001-07:00

It's Important to Hold Hands...

In the steady climb of life, it is such a gift to have help from others.
To be supported and guided by those that 'have gone before' is truly invaluable.
That includes, spiritual teachers, angels, superheroes...
As the world intensifies and speeds up,
Holding Hands and not Letting Go becomes ever more important.

For each of us, the road we travel on has its ups and downs and side-ways.
There are times when we are 'on top of our game'
and there are times when we are not sure what game we're playin'.
But to always have at least one hand to hold, can make all the difference in the world.

There is also responsibility when you are holding the hand of another.
It is important not to hold on too tight so as to 'control' the choices of others.
Sovereignty of each soul is paramount.
It is important to allow lots of room for freedom and growth.
It is important to create a spirit of trust so that it can be known that the
hand will 'be' there when needed.
It is important that the hand never be withheld in judgment.
It is important that the hand be selfless and service-driven.
It is important that the hand be held close to the heart.
It is important that the hand be kind.

Pay attention to the Hands you are holding on to.

Pay attention to the hands you are supporting.
Are you serving them well?

It is a blessing to be able to serve...to be the healing hands of hope to others.

2007-10-23T09:15:00.000-07:00

Healing from the Heart

Healing from the Heart Center focuses on the dimension of feeling.
This healing centers on the emotional body, that part of us that 'feels'.
This is just one of the many kinds of healing such as physical, mental, spiritual...

Living in the world we do, generates many feelings, some positive and some not so...
We are constantly exposed to things and events that evoke many responses.
Our feelings get a work out daily.
Our choice is to determine what kind of feelings we will have and
how to assign them meaning.

Healing from the Heart opens one to a different response to life.
It is a response of love, understanding, kindness, connection.
The alternative is separation, blame, hurtfulness, and more pain.

By opening the heart, one makes a choice to respond from love and not fear.
By opening the heart, one choses peace, not war.
By opening the heart, one choses vulnerability, not distance.

As many wise teachers have said, 'fear separates', love connects'.
Open the door of the heart and heal all that you touch with love, respect and honor.

2007-10-21T15:59:00.001-07:00

Wisdom Whispers

Sometimes, it is only the Whisper that can carry the true message of the heart.
A Whisper carries the energy of Spirit...
It holds the power of the hidden message...
Not the one that must be boldly stated, or the one that must be loudly expressed.
It is the one that waits for its opportunity...waits for its time...waits for its moment...

It is the Whisper that we must pay attention to now.
Within the heart of the Whisper is the message of what the world needs.
Within the heart of the Whisper is voice of those who have little voice.
The Whisper carries the words of those who need our attention...those who are waiting for us to see more clearly... hear more deeply...know more fully...

The image reminds us to 'lean in closely' to what is being said lest we miss the importance and significance of what we need to hear.
So often our lives are so busy...we say, 'there is no time to listen'...
But listening to the Whispers is what we must do...before it is too late to hear...

*
Consider the following promise:

I will listen to the Voice of the Divine, Whispering Wisdom into my heart...
I will open my heart in full surrender to the message I am to hear...
Gratitude fills my being as I receive this gift of Spirit.

2007-10-20T09:15:00.001-07:00

Receiving the Gifts of Spirit

Often, our challenge as human beings, is to learn to receive.
Giving often comes naturally and without effort.
Giving may feel closer to who we are.

As we move further on our spiritual paths, we 'bump' into the importance of receiving.
We learn quickly that in order to keep giving, we must receive.
And sometimes it takes practice...and a 'remembering' of how to receive.

The remembering may take the form of consciously opening to the concept of being receptive.
Begin by imagining within yourself a vessel that will serve as the container for
that which you wish to receive.
This vessel must have the capacity to receive whatever you wish.
Next, see that which you desire flowing freely into this container, filling it up completely.
Then, take this 'gift', that which you have received, into yourself, allowing it
to become a part of who you are.

*

By opening ourselves to being receptacles of Spirit,
we can more fully become the instruments of Spirit that is our heart's desire.
By surrendering to 'receiving',
our cups will be filled beyond measure
and the promise of an endless supply of love, peace, wisdom and abundance will be ours.

It is always available...
There is always enough...
'Remembering' to receive that which is freely offered and available,
can open the doors and windows of heaven to us.

2007-10-18T08:05:00.000-07:00

Visioning the Future: the Art of Becoming

The image above speaks a thousand words...and so it is in reality...
If we can 'image' it, we can create it...it can become...
If we cannot 'image' it, it cannot become...

Wondering about a future full of hope, love and miracles creates energy potentials.
Feeling hope, love and miracles brings even more energy for its creation.
Taking action to bring hope, love and miracles into existence potentiates it even further...

Within our spheres of influence in the world, opportunities exist to create...
Create hope or despair...
Create love or hatred...
Create miracles or none...

Our choices determine how far this can reach...how much can come into existence...
When you look around you, what have you determined is needed in the world...?
So then, what do you want to create today?
What would you like to totally surround you today?
How would you like to feel today?
How many miracles would you like to manifest for yourself and others today?

*

Look again at the image above...
Imagine yourself creating a wonderful future...today...
See it as already in form...
Generate excitement and love towards it...
And take action to do your part to make it happen...

Blessings to you as you move forward in becoming more and more
of a lightworker and co-creator in the beautiful world that we have been given.

2007-10-17T08:41:00.001-07:00

Opening to the Beauty of Who You Already Are...

Deep within us lies a beautiful soul that awaits the moments of release and full expression.
Just as the butterfly waits patiently in the cocoon anticipating flight, so our souls quietly await the moment of opening to who we truly are.
Much of 'who' we are is learned from others.
Much of 'who' we are, isn't.
Much of 'who' we are is yet to become.

Giving ourselves permission and freedom to experience life more fully and deeply can create a platform to learn 'who' we truly are.
It's amazing what a little space to spread our wings will do.
Maybe we have been shy all our lives...maybe we have seen limitations everywhere...
Sometimes, by simply giving ourselves this space to wonder about a different way of being, we can create the room to shift into
more courage, more wisdom, more love, more peace.
The first step often is just to wonder about it...

When was the last time you wondered about what it would be like to spread your wings?
This is a personal invitation...

Open your heart and all of who you are to Spirit (God) and allow yourself to be
supported by the hands that Created you...

2007-10-14T17:10:00.001-07:00

Good News!: Humpty Dumpty Is Back Together Again

Most people remember the story of Humpty Dumpty's 'great fall'...
Few people realize that it wasn't the end of the story...

Even though 'all the kings horses and all the kings men couldn't put Humpty together again', the Good News was, his Creator could...
Then there was more good news: Humpty Dumpty decided to get back up on the wall and begin again.
And more good news...He is stronger than ever before!

I remember when I first heard this story.
My impression was that the story ended too early.
There was so much more for ole' Humpty to contribute.
How could that be all there was?

This is so true for us as well.
We may have a 'great fall' and may even break into a few million pieces.
But the good news is that we have a Creator that is right there ready to put the pieces back together in a more powerful way than before.
The lessons we learn from these experiences are invaluable.
And then we get back up on the wall and realize the view is more remarkable than ever.
We appreciate life more because of where we have been.
We understand better the struggles of others because of shared experience.
We are less likely to 'judge' because we have 'been there' ourselves.

As Humpty Dumpty teaches us,
Falling isn't the end of the world.
It is the beginning of a new chapter.
It is an opportunity to rewrite the script and this time make it more in line
with our soul covenant.
It is a blank piece of paper and an invitation to 'write in' a more full and
service-oriented life.

Sometimes a 'great fall' is just what we need to 'wake up' to who we are and what we are here to do and be.
Sometimes a 'great fall' is just that...it's great.

2007-10-13T19:52:00.001-07:00

The Beauty of Justice

The concept of Justice speaks to me of equality, fairness, sameness and enough for all...
Justice ensures that each individual is supported...each is loved, appreciated, guided, nurtured as they so need...
Justice ensures that all are held close to the heart ... and not some closer than others.
We all have different gifts and challenges...some greater than others...
Justice ensures that we will always have exactly what we need when we need it...
Justice protects us from discrimination, judgment, and all forms of unequal treatment...

*

Our Creator (Spirit) guides us to view all with the same heart...to open to clearly see the heart of the other and not be clouded or distracted by anything...
The Beauty of the Justice that we experience from our Maker holds nothing back...
It is fully available to us and accessible by us...

The Justice we receive, we must offer to others...
Justice is what we must 'be' in the world...

2007-10-10T10:56:00.001-07:00

Holding the Heart of Another

One of the wonders of the universe is the way we are each held by the Creator so tenderly and completely.
This love is so great it knows no limits.
For us, 'holding' the heart of another isn't always so easy.
Our love at times seems to have limits and boundaries...
We trouble ourselves with judgments that get in the way of our connection and our support.
Judgments towards others are simply reflections of our judgments towards ourselves.
By surrendering every aspect of who we are to our Creator,
We allow ourselves to be more fully who we were originally intended to be.

*

As we open to be supported fully,
we can more fully support others.
As we open our heart to be held and embraced,
So we can also hold and embrace another.

Allow yourself to 'see' and 'feel' and 'experience' this love totally.
Then offer what is in your heart in service to the world.

2007-10-08T08:01:00.001-07:00

The Egg

God has blessed me with a remarkable Spiritual Teacher named Lee Kaiser.
He is 'out of this world'.
He came back into my life when I was right in the middle of a major life transition.
Chaos filled my life, which made me more eager to 'listen' than I might have been otherwise...
His love and compassion filled me.
He spoke to me as if he knew me at a deeper level than I knew myself.
He helped me to reconnect with my Creator in a way that was deeper than I had ever felt or experienced before...
His love for his God was so selfless and his commitment to service so strong.

I spoke to him about an egg...an egg that kept appearing in my mind.
And he said, 'Sit on it'...
So I have........been sitting on it...

And what I have been learning is:

Within me is an 'egg' of possibility.
This 'egg' holds all of the potentials of what I may become.
I can choose to realize these potentials or just let them 'sit'...

I wish to be of service to my Creator.
I wish to commit my 'egg' to be used as an instrument of peace, love, light
and wisdom in the world.