Living Traditional

I send greetings

on these darkened

and shortened days

where the sun sets

without much notice

I send greetings

to those mysterious thoughts

and unyielding emotions

as they await

the invitation

to the party

I send greetings

to my season of doubt

not sure if there is really

a God or Godess

or life after death

I pray anyway

I send greetings

to who we claim to be

or who we want to be

to our desires, expectations

vulnerabilities

and passionate dreams

I send greetings

to those devastating

disappointments, the betrayals

lost loved ones

and lovers

the broken dreams

and forgotten promises

I send greetings

to the invisible

to the space between us

and those dervish little elves

their songs

their dance

their silly hats

and their wild and wooly ways

I send greetings

 

 

“This is my heart felt wish for you….may you be blessed.”

I contemplate how much time I have given to my past, the dreams of the future and the ever present moment. I have witnessed the many internal dialogues of the old tapes that keep running through my mind, the many dialogues of how I want it to be, and the chatter that lives here in the present moment, I ponder.

What I do know to be true is that healing lives in the realm of being acknowledged, and lives in the here and now. A simple thing, but how often it is neglected. We are all suspect. How often do we clammer for our needs unmet, instead of the gifts that have been given to us? How often do we judge others, including ourselves, in hope that everyone will think like me or meet my demands. Ugh! I am guilty, yet learning how to stay within my body and solidify myself within my True Nature and my Fundamental Values.

Today, I want to acknowledge each and everyone of you, the gift that you have brought to this world. May you be blessed in its homecoming and welcomed into the hearth of our community. We need each other and the gifts that all of you bring. So shall it be.

“There are many things in Life that will catch your eye, but very few that capture your heart… pursue those that capture your heart.”

How many times have I settled for less? How many times have I walked past the beauty? I ask myself, “Why am I so blind?” The true question for myself is, “What is it that catches my eye, and what is that?” A healthy response is required and I must admit I have not always responded in a healthy way. For someone or something to capture my heart is enduring, a certain knowing that I am in the right place at the right time. The challenge for me is keeping my heart open. If there is a break in the connection or something feels amiss, how do I respond in a good way?

Oh, how I recoil from those old tapes that continue to play inside my quite remarkable brain and its memory. The damage I have done not only to myself but those intimately involved with me. Thankfully, today, I have adjusted to those hair trigger memories, those god awful reactions, and see them for what they are. Today, I let them pass through me, then respond at a later time in a more coherent way…thank god for age and the gifts it can give us. Keep your heart open and walk that treacherous path of vulnerability regardless the outcome. Learn to trust your intuition and ask for what you need! At whatever cost, keep your heart open!

“May lack and struggle only serve to make you stronger; and may beauty, order, and abundance be your constant companions.”

Life has its’ twists and turns, highs and lows and moments of calm. All of our experiences are temporary and from moment to moment, history is being made and can not be undone. These moments, when Life feels as if it too much to endure or bear, are the exact moment to take a deep breath and rise to the occasion. This response is not to be used as an opportunity to attack or retaliate against some sense of wrong doing, but a moment to become that better person. A question we might ask ourselves in this moment of struggle is, “How can I use this situation to encourage a healing response and transform this energy being experienced?”

Look within, as this is the beginning point for history being made. How do I stay true to my fundamental values and respond accordingly? This is a personal and unique opportunity for each one of us. Beauty, order and abundance starts within. We can not give away anything we do not give ourselves. Seize this moment and be the manifestation your heart desires and in alignment with your True Nature. Strength is building more compassion, kindness and empathy. Within this framework of our minds and our hearts, we discover the beauty and abundance that surrounds us and respond accordingly. Everything is going to be okay! Trust and Faith are the prerequisites.

“If we keep doing what we are doing, we are going to keep getting what we are getting.”

To change has always been a challenging thing for me. When I was younger, if someone wanted to change me, I put up the iron shield and said, “Don’t try to change me, this is who I am.” Now, my defense mechanisms within me have “changed”. I have learned to appreciate someone else’s viewpoint and can take it into consideration. Hmmm… Maybe this is something I need to look at and there might be some value in it for me and my relationships.

Change is not always easy. Our attempts to create a new reality can feel monumental, maybe impossible. Pause, take a deep breath, sit in this moment of life. For myself, I take baby steps in that direction of change, as if to shift the direction of the wind that is blowing. When we desire different results, we must be open to change, as if we are saying “Yes to Life”, and what it is giving to us. If you want to fight Life, it will fight back. If you welcome Life, it will respond accordingly. Repeating old patterns that have led you to that dead end street, will give you the same results. Seeking a different outcome means changing the way you are approaching life. This includes body, mind, heart and spirit. And yes, there are no guarantees from this warranty. There is no book on how to live you Life, but we need to be attentive each day how the flow of Life is streaming through us and we have to ask ourselves, “Is this the Life I want to live?” If not, make adjustments, my friends. Welcome the change of weather patterns and those within yourself. Take baby steps, it doesn’t have to be an earthquake!

“Our chance for Life begins each morning with a smile….and ends each night with Peace.”

There is an old African saying, “As the circle begins, so shall it end.” Each day of our lives is a gift, never knowing how many more we will be given. So I have to ask myself, “How do I want to live today?” If I welcome Life, it will return the favor. If I fight Life, it will respond accordingly. Knowing this, I become aware of the fact that I do have a choice. We all carry some hurt, resentments and disappointments. The question remains, how do I carry these feelings and how are they affecting my daily life? Do we have the capacity to see beyond these wounds and open ourselves to the opportunity to see the gift in Life? Yes, I have failed many times, like you. Thank god we are human. I wake each morning and realize that I have been given another day here on Earth, as if it is borrowed time, perhaps a bonus. A time to appreciate my family, the contributions I have given to my community, the many things I have created, Nature that surrounds me, and all that I have been given. Gratitude!

As the day comes to an end, I look back and acknowledge what has happened throughout the day, the hills and the valleys, and conclude Today was a good day to live. I thank the Creator for giving me the gift of Life not knowing when it will end for me and embrace all the emotions that swirled through me.