There’s Something In the Air…

While it’s not officially Fall, this Labor Day morning air was crisp here and I’ll admit, I felt the excitement! I love all of the seasons, but there’s something about the start of the school year, the newness of a brand new clean slate (I was a teacher you know!) that fills me up with hopes, dreams and the love of learning all wrapped up in the cool air! Ahhh…September!! Welcome!

Yesterday was spent enjoying the last vestiges of summer complete with a pool-side bathing suit hang out, (getting my vitamin D time) which was lovely. The weather cooperated and it was delightful! But afterwards, I felt that summer fade and came home to change over the decorations to a more autumnal refresh. Yes, I know, it’s still summer, but I felt it coming and obeyed my instincts.

Orange pumpkins replaced the seashells, but the twinkly white lights stayed as always, incorporated into each and every season, for to me, they add magic. There’s something about twinkly white lights that fascinates me and just makes me feel so happy! A little spark of magical light in the darkness…

A friend and I took a walk yesterday reminiscing about our childhoods and how there was a distinct smell to the crisp autumnal air that is lacking these days. Do you remember it? The smell of apple cider mixed with crunchy fallen leaves that changed from green to golden brown? While I understand it’s early in the transition to the fall season, I don’t remember it being here for many years. How about you?

Soon, it will be time to get outside to put the garden to bed for winter, but in the meantime, I’m enjoying the last vestiges of the flowers. Flowers always make me happy! I hope you enjoy the week ahead and that whatever your season, this transition reminds you to enjoy The Presents of Presence. I’m so grateful for your presence here!

Shine On!

xo

September 2026 Rabbit Rabbit

If you know, you know (IYKYK) that the first of the month around here we say, rabbit-rabbit-white-rabbit-white-rabbit for luck all month long! I don’t know about you, but this summer has flown by! To think that we’re back to September already? Wow! Wow! Wow! I remember my parents talking about how time flies as you get older, but this summer? It flew by! Perhaps contrary to my own beliefs, I am getting older? Yikes!

Well, not yikes because I’m grateful I’m still here and that you’re still here with me reading. YAY! I began this blog more than 15 years ago (talk about how time flies?!) and have met so many amazing humans through the connections made by it so I’m so grateful! Thank you for being here!

It’s the start of the school year and one of my favorite times of the year! To me, even though I’m not a teacher anymore, nor a student, September is ripe for new beginnings in my mind. A clean slate to begin again, similar to a New Year’s celebratory tradition! I adore new beginnings and the possibilities that come with them in my mind, heart and soul. While really every day is a new beginning, this September feels a little different to me. I can’t quite put my finger on the reason, but it does. Does it feel that way to you too?

So cheers to the month of September in 2026! May it be filled with all the goodness life has to offer! May troubles pass you by and may your efforts reap big rewards! May you always remember that you control your emotions, you are the Captain of your own self and that we are all here together on this great big planet to connecr with kindness, love and charity. Oh and…

Shine On!

xo

Live, Laugh and Love

I don’t need to remind you (do I?) that we only have today. Loved ones aren’t guaranteed to be here tomorrow even though they may be here for decades longer. I have had a few friends recently whose loved ones have passed and their sadness is palpable. It’s in what’s left unsaid, It’s in what in hindsight we wish we would have done when the soul’s innate wisdom nudged us to reach out, to not stay quiet, to put aside differences in order to reconnect in a healthier way. The woulda, coulda, shoulda’s that haunt the living that are left behind to pick up the pieces of a life now bereft of their loved ones.

We don’t have to be right all the time. We don’t have to be less than either. Peace is key. Connections are key. Innate wisdom is powerful. So if your heart says reach out, but your mind says that the person should learn a lesson and you’re the one to teach them, go with the heart for you never quite know what is happening with your loved one that you may or may not have recognized. Lately it seems that the eclipse etc has been stirring up emotions for release, buried feelings that now arise to the surface, muddying the waters and testing our fundamental strengths. It’s not an easy time to navigate for those who are affected by this astrological cycle. It’s baffling to them. That adrfit feeling with no anchor nearby can be immensely scary.

So if you are able, help them. Listen from your heart centered soul to what’s underneath the conversations. Be mindful of how you choose to act, react and respond. Hold a hand instead of pushing them away. Life is short. I understand that patience can be shortened too, but when you take the time to be fully present to listen without judgment, without arguing, without your baggage getting in the way, you may find healing is here for you all.

Shine On!

xo

August 2026 Rabbit Rabbit

Today’s the day – rabbit-rabbit-white-rabbit-white-rabbit! Have you said it yet? Or did you need my little reminder?

I stumbled across this below from esotericcelestial on Instagram recently and wanted to share it with you because I didn’t know this story previously. Did you???

Say rabbit rabbit as the very first words out of your mouth on the first of the new month, and the folk tradition promises good fortune for the four weeks ahead.

The custom is most often traced to British folklore, first documented in the journal Notes and Queries in 1909. From Britain it crossed the Atlantic and took deep root in New England, where it has been passed down through generations. Franklin D. Roosevelt is said to have observed the practice. Sarah Jessica Parker has spoken about it openly. Quiet keepers of the tradition still text the words to their loved ones at the stroke of midnight on the first of every month.

The mythology behind the small ritual is enormous. Long before the folk saying existed, the rabbit and hare were sacred across nearly every continent — and almost always associated with the moon, with fertility, and with the renewal of time itself. In Celtic Britain, the hare was sacred to the spring goddess Eostre. In Chinese mythology, the Jade Rabbit lives on the moon. In ancient Egypt, the hare was sacred to the goddess Wenet, associated with rebirth. The new month. The new arc of time. The rabbit at the doorway.

Either way, if you knew it or if it’s new information to you like it was to me, I wish you a beautiful month ahead filled with all the best for you and yours!

Shine On!

xo

What Happens When You Cross Over?

First and foremost, I’m not on way out – at least I don’t think I am, but who knows? We’re all getting older, so it seems possible that my time is coming – albeit I’m hoping I’m here for a good long while longer!

But lately I’ve been having such interesting conversations with various people about this topic that I wanted to share with you. People tell me things unbidden at times and I find it fascinating how they share with me and how each person has a unique vision of what comes next. Some feel that when we’re dead, we’re done. There is no more. Some feel that we go onto Heaven, Hell or Purgatory. Some have shared they feel we just move into the next dimension/energetic field which is close by this one. Others have shared that life is like a classroom. Each lifetime has a set bit of lessons to be learned (or not) and we ‘graduate’ with each lifetime. Others have shared the soul aspect and how we are part of a soul family who help eachother with the lessons needed to be learned so we can move up in the ladder (for lack of a better word) of spiritual awareness. Alas, there are others who believe in reincarnation and much like the school analogy, each lifetime is the next ‘grade’ to expand our knowledge and to have various experiences in order to understand completely what is necessary.

Fascinating, isn’t it? The unifying piece that most of these amazing humans have shared is that they’re not afraid of death. Their understanding isn’t fear based. It’s acceptance for whatever lies ahead. While none are looking to go now, their peace-filled presence captivates me even though some people may see this as a morose subject. I don’t. Do you?

Death is part of life. The journey from birth to death, that hyphen that shares birth/death dates speaks volumes for each person. Do you ever wonder what the hyphen will say about you? Or how others will interprete your hyphen? Will they believe that you were a positive energy here? Or a negative one? While there’s no ending date yet, some people shared how they are striving to have a more positive spin on the hyphen while they can. Their thoughts were: It’s never too late to change!

I enjoy conversations about this topic and listening to everyone’s points of view. Because goodness knows, I don’t know the answers and I love to learn – so please feel free to share with me!

Shine On!

xo

A Mother’s Love

Hi Mom…I awoke this morning thinking of you. Even as I’m writing this, I’m more than a bit teary. Because you see, I miss you. I miss your unconditional love in my life. I miss your hugs – remember how you used to tease me because I always wanted more hugs? Well, I’ve passed that along to my children. They’re good huggers, but there’s nothing like your own Mom’s hug. A Mom who loves you no matter what…to be on the receiving end of that hug is key. So, please forgive me for being selfish, but in the vein of my sissy’s sayings, I want my Mommy today….excuse me…Our Mommy today.

You’d think that I’d act more like a grown up and not have these feelings. I mean, I’m in my late-50’s for goodness sakes. But no, not me. I want you to come visit me in my dreams please. Hugga-me. Please. Because it’s been years since God called you home, even though sometimes it feels like yesterday. Oh, how I miss your hugs!

I think the beauty is in the memories we leave behind. The legacy of love that you left in those who are still here, remembering your kindness, your love, your innate sense of being. The laughter we shared and the ice creams too! How blessed we are to have had you as our Mom! I hope that when it’s my time to join you, that my children will remember me with so much love!

Shine On!

xo

How Will You Be Remembered?

I’m feeling a bit maudlin this morning. Perhaps you’ll think it silly, but I’ve always tried to own my feelings and share them when appropriate. So, here it goes…please bear with me.

A friend texted me that two dragonflies were flying around her yesterday and unbeknownst to her, I had the same experience! Now dragonflies aren’t often seen whre I live so we chose to see it as a sign from a mutual friend of ours who passed away almost a year ago…and I think we’re right. We went on to chat about her, remembering the good times and her amazing spirit, kndness and generosity of being. I hope our friend was listening from the other side…because her passing was a surprise to all. She hadn’t been sick. She didn’t take her life. She fell asleep one night and never woke up. Her spirit though remains as we remember her.

 When I looked it up: Dragonflies are often viewed as signs from guardian angels or deceased loved ones. Two together may indicate that you have multiple guides watching over your journey, bringing you good fortune and positivity

But, it got me to thinking about when it’s time and how l will be remembered. What’s the legacy that remains when I’m no longer here? That continued with thinking about all who have already left this earthly plane and how their lives and passings left imprints on us. For the most part, I can always find the good in them, feeling gratitude for their presence in my life and the lessons they helped me to learn along the way. For to me, I believe we make ‘soul contracts’ to learn x, y, z during this lifetime and as I understand it, some souls love us so much that they agree to help us learn certain lessons even when they’re difficult. That’s a lot of love for some of the life lessons I’ve endured…but I’m grateful. Truly.

I hope that when it’s my time, that there will be those left here on Earth that will feel similarly. They’ll be able to know how much I loved them and how I tried my best to choose love over hatred. Hope over despair. Smiles and tears intertwined (because that’s how I’m built). Understanding even when you don’t quite understand. There are choices in life, crossroads, that determine how our lives unfold next. There’s not always a redo button to push when you want to go back. Sometimes, the only way through is to continue on the path until the next crossroads and the opportunity to choose again. Choices aren’t always given. At times, it is what it is and we move through as best we can. Regrets? Yes. But when we learn from these, we grow and isn’t that the point of this lifetime? To learn, to grow, to improve and to do our best with what we’ve got and to keep going to help others along the way?

Perhaps my thinking is too simplistic for you. As most of us know, it’s not so simplistic, but when we take it down to the basics, I think it can be most of the time. I don’t think I”m going anywhere for the time being, but the dragonflies brought to the surface some thoughts that I wanted to share.

Happy Blessed Friday to you!

Shine On!

xo

Jersey Girl On The 4th of July

I wish I knew the origin of this photo, but I don’t. I ‘borrowed’ it from my cousin on social media and I don’t know where he got it from either. Otherwise I’d give them credit because it isnpired me to write today. Happy 4th of July to you and yours!

I grew up in NJ and have stayed for most of my life. Living near the beach felt as normal as breathing and being on the water similarly as I’m a Pisces and we’re water-friendly. But this song made me giggle today when I heard it again after so many years. The lyrics…work perfectly for today….Saturday in the park, I think it was the 4th of July….Now let’s sing….

Shine On!

xo

Rabbit Rabbit July 2026

We’ve made it to July 1st – If you’ve spent any time here, you know what it means, right? Say it with me: rabbit-rabbit-white-rabbit-white-rabbit/ for good fortune all month long!

Wayyyy back in 1976, my family and I went to a 4th of July celebration that I always remember fondly. We went to my godfather’s house as he was having a huge celebration for our country’s birthday. It was a fun-filled day with sparklers, fireworks and lots of yummies!

Now (ahem) many years later, we are celebrating for our 250th birthday as a country. Wow Wow Wow! Need I remind us all how fast time flies? I know that for me, those years have passed by quickly and slowly all at the same time. So much has changed in 50 years…I’ve grown up for one – LOL! But our world has changed with the advances in technology, etc. Just for the mere fact that I can write a blog post and friends around the world can read it? Stunning, isn’t it? Amazing…

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you all for being here as I’ve been writing for many years and have made so many connections that are so very meaningful to me. I’ll toast to our international friendships as well because life is all about connections!

Shine On!

xo

Father’s Day, Solstice and Dad…

Today’s the Summer Solstice, combined with the holiday of Father’s Day and remembrance that 14 years ago today, my Dad passed away. Summer was always his favorite season, so somehow it felt fitting that he left us on a summer’s day. While it wasn’t Solstice that day, nor falling on Father’s Day that year, I find today to be a trio of emotions just the same.

I know that many of us aren’t ‘celebrating’ Father’s Day because we are without our dads for whatever reason. But if you’d indulge me for a bit, I want to give thanks to this perfect trine of memories wrapped up in one day. Fourteen years is a long time without Dad and it brings up the matter of age for me. A maybe not so gentle reminder that we only have a liimited number of days here on Earth and one never knows when our time is up. We think we can control it all, but in all earnestness, we cannot. Life happens and life ends, sometimes wthin a moment’s notice, and we are left handling the changes, whether we feel ready or not.

It’s funny how I’ve been thinking of him so much lately and wondering what he’d be saying with what’s going on in the world at large, not to mention my little world. I’m sure, (Oh, quite sure!), he’d have his own pertinent opinions on it all and we’d be privvy to his views whether we agreed or not. That was the type of man he was – highly opinionated and not afraid to share those thoughts. So here’s what I think he’d say now: Be yourself. Do good in this world. Free yourself from carrying painful memories. Compassion is key to a long life. See the big picture, make peace within, and allow love to shine.

Life is too short. I’ve learned that lesson myself. I don’t want to spend the end of my days in any condition other than joyful bliss and loving the peace that comes with the Presents of Presence. I wish you all a peaceful glow and the courage to shine like the sun, especially on a beautiful, radiant Summer Solstice!

Shine On!

xo