On A Quiet Sunday Morning

It’s sunny today which automatically puts a smile on my face these days.  Although with the news being as it is, the sunny positivity amidst the unrest lately makes staying home even easier for me during the quarantine.  While I’m not one to ostrich myself and put my head in the sand instead of being aware of what’s going on, I find the negative forces overwhelming.  Are you feeling similarly?

I find that shining our heartlights is even more important these days.  Connecting with people who raise our loving vibrations is necessary to stay afloat during these uncertain times.  Reaching out helps each of us to continue to grow compassion, understanding and the light which is so needed in our world these days.

I am saddened by the news more often than not, since it seems that we are being divided in so many ways, instead of coming together as a world full of love.  Stress, fear and negativity spike often and it leaves me feeling drained more often than not, which is why I haven’t been posting as often.

I am grateful for the peace within me that radiates as the warm breeze flows outside my home.  Nature has been calling and Gaia’s love has helped to center me when trouble comes.  I’ve had many encounters lately with all different animals who share this parcel of land with me.  The three groundhogs, Clover the bunny, the hawks and birds, the heron who flies by occasionally and the chipmunks who race across the outdoor patio have brought much joy to my days with their antics.  Unfortunately, my camera is not as quick as they are, otherwise I’d share my experiences with you.  Then there are the deer and the nighttime bats who appear at dusk.  Do you ever take the time to notice all the creatures around you?

I hope my post finds you all healthy and happy and safe from the virus that is plaguing our planet.  I pray for health and peace for all of us.  I keep you all in my prayers.  Keep shining your heartlights as we need each other!

Shine On!

xo

 

 

Wishing On A Star

The Lyrids Meteor Shower, April 16-26 2020

The April Lyrids are a meteor shower lasting from April 16 to April 26 each year. The radiant is located in the constellation Lyra, near this constellation’s brightest star, Alpha Lyrae. This year, Lyrids will peak on April 21st and 22nd. We usually count a range from 5 to 20 meteors per hour, averaging around 10. Occasionally, a Lyrid meteor shower may boost up to 100 falling stars per hour!

I don’t know if you’re a star watcher like me, but this is thrilling news!  Mother Nature surely has a way to brighten the night!  It reminds me of that sweet song, When You Wish Upon A Star!

I have personally seen two falling stars (aka meteors) just in the last few nights when the sky was clear.  Our house has a perfect view of the sky, uninterrupted by pesky trees or too bright lights due to the open farmland nearby.  There is something so heavenly to me to witness a shooting star (meteor) and I do always take a moment to pray after seeing one.

Do you do that too?  Were you aware of the present meteor shower?

I hope you are all staying healthy and happy.  Please let me know how you are!  We are all doing well here and enjoying the family bonding time.

Keep shining your heartlights!

Shine On!

xo

 

 

 

We Help Each Other To Rise

It’s Sunday.  All is quiet in my home.  I’m sitting here in my family room all cuddled up with a blanket on my legs relaxing with our kitties nearby.  I love the mornings when there’s that sense of peace and tranquility in our little world.  I’m grateful that we are healthy and safe at home with plenty of food choices.  I pray that my post finds you and your families healthy and happy as well.

Under this stress of Covid-19 uncertainty, we need to find the pockets of mindfulness and of gratitude in everyday living.  I am reminded, yet again, of the gift that this is for all of us.  While you may see the situation differently (because it is extraordinary and scary), there are blessings to be found in what WE as a world are enduring.  Fear and anxiety have ramped up severely as well as discontent with how things are being handled which I understand.  But it’s also a time to realize that we can only control ourselves and not circumstances which are beyond our control.  On a restful Sunday, this leads me to increasing my faith (and washing my hands!).

The blessings of being quarantined in home with our families expands the opportunity to bond with our loved ones, to go within to learn about ourselves and to re-evaluate what we feel is important in our lives.

I have enjoyed seeing is the return to simple gratitude and connections.  The choice to help others in a ‘we are all in this together’ mentality instead of fighting one another and making it all about ourselves and not about the world in which we live and its inhabitants is increasing.  Amen!

The returning to a WE ARE ONE is emerging again and gaining a stronghold in some circles of light.  I feel that we are here by choice to help each other rise up again, to increase gratitude, love, faith and kindness in our daily living even through we are to remain at home.  With technology connecting us in different ways, we can merge together virtually from our sofas and bond with others around the globe.

Instead of allowing fear to win, we choose love.  We can increase our health mentally, physically, and emotionally by working on ourselves during this time.  There are not a lot of distractions when one is not able to leave the home.  We now have time for all the nesting required that has gotten delayed by being able to run errands.  While some may find it boring to be at home, I do not.  I can find plenty to do to fill my time as can you.  Simple pleasures of family meals and talking with friends helps.  Reading and connecting with others in healing ways helps us all.  Sharing intuitive knowledge and being mindful helps us all to rise.  We are all beacons of light when we allow our souls to shine.

Getting back to basics of relating with everyday people and those in our families is key.  Talking honestly, listening with compassion and being our true selves will grow when we choose that path.  It is a choice to view this confinement as a time of growth for our world.  A time to look within and to see ourselves and our souls as the loving, shining heartlights that we are innately.

So on this quiet Sunday, allow me to pray for us all.  Join me if you will in a quiet prayer of your own for the coming together in love of our world.  Perhaps when you wash your hands, instead of singing, you might offer gratitude and prayer for yourself and others.

Together we help each other to rise.  Shine your heartlights dear friends.  Let our love shine in this darkness to heal one another and to remember who is important.  Enjoy The Presents of Presence!

Shine On!

xo

Make A Joyful Noise

I awoke this morning hearing Psalm 100 in my mind.  It is one that my Mom taught us as little children and one that we all still say together.  Being that it’s a Sunday, I thought it would be the perfect post!

Do you know this Psalm?  I find it gives much comfort when I say it.  Perhaps that’s because it reminds me of being a little girl.  At bedtime, my Mom would sit with my sister and me, helping us to memorize this Psalm and others that she thought were important for us to learn.

Do you have any favorite prayers or Psalms that you recite or remember from childhood?  Please share!

Shine your heartlights and make a joyful noise today!

Shine On!

xo

 

 

9/11

On the eve of 9/11/19, I sit quietly on my couch in my home, but as always when this anniversary comes, my heart breaks.  As I scroll through Facebook with all of the photos from that day being repeated because it’s the anniversary, I cry.  I can’t help myself.

I cry for the losses that so many suffered.  I cry for their families.  I cry because the night before, this eve before 9/11/2001, no one knew how life would be changed so irrevocably for our nation.

The tragedy of 9/11 still haunts the hearts, minds and souls of so many of us.  Even as  the years have passed, eighteen to be exact, the anniversary of 9/11 holds a sadness that hasn’t been forgotten.

We have learned that life can change in a moment’s notice.  All that we have known can be obliterated and we have to pick up the pieces as best we can when this happens.  My prayers are with each of you who have been touched by 9/11.

We have heard the tragic stories from those who were there at Ground Zero.  Many survivors have recounted their experiences.  We have been told of the amazing courage that so many people showed.  We have seen strangers bonded in the wake of this tragedy.  In some form or another, we have all been touched by this event.

Please, tell your loved ones how you feel.  Count your blessings.  Be grateful for this peaceful moment.  Send out your heartlight energy to fill the world with love and compassion.  Tomorrow is not guaranteed to any of us.  That is why we must hold tenderly The Presents of Presence.

Tonight, as I lay my head upon my pillow, I pray for us all.

Shine On!

xo

Frankincense Part 2

For those who are spiritually minded, this post may not surprise you.  For those who aren’t that way, you may think I’ve lost my mind, but believe me, I have not.  While I won’t tell the entire story, I would like to tell you what happened the afternoon after smelling frankincense for the second morning in a row.

Towards the afternoon, I felt exhausted and suddenly, out of sorts.  While I hadn’t been feeling up to par lately, I thought I’d better take a nap.  So I laid on the couch, set the alarm for an hour’s nap and closed my eyes.  But sleep did not come.  My body began to reverberate as if all of its nerves were trembling.  I ‘heard’ that my time had come.  I assumed it was that I was dying.  While I was/am not ready to leave this earthly realm, it became clear to me through what I was hearing that I am not in control.  So I chose to surrender.  I began to pray.  My mind wandered as to how I would be able to contact my loved ones from the other side and what signs I would be able to give them if I were indeed dying.  Then I thought about how I would be found here on the couch.  I was sad, thinking that my work here was done because I feel like I have much still to do.  But I made peace with the Powers That Be and when I thought about Heaven and Eternity, I felt as if moving there would be beautiful so I completely surrendered.  I closed my eyes and gave myself up to the sleep that was enveloping me.  For in my dreams,, I have visited Heaven before and I am not afraid of returning.

Needless to say, I am still here.  I heard the alarm which woke me.  I woke up deeply rested and felt so calm and at peace.  It was as if there had been a spiritual download of some kind during my sleep that aided me.  I cannot describe all that went on, but I wanted to mention the experience to you and to remind myself that it happened.  It’s funny that the thought of dying was my first thought instead of a spiritual awakening through sleep so my mind was at rest.  Whatever the reason for the nap experience, I am deeply grateful considering that I felt changed when I awoke and that feeling of peace has enveloped me every since.

Has anything like this every happened to you?

Shine On!

xo

 

Oh May, What A Treat!

What a treat to get up every morning and greet the day ahead!  Don’t you think?  As a glass 1/2 full type of gal, I enjoy mornings and the clean slate on which to etch the day.  As I sip my morning coffee, I begin my day in quiet stillness.  It’s my favorite time of day.

Ode to May’s Treat

I hope that today brings you peace within. 

May the sun shine into your life. 

If you have clouds and rain as I do, know that it is within the darkness that the stars become brighter. 

May gratitude and peace surround you.

May your wishes be fulfilled.

May you revel in God’s love.

Open your heartlight to the Universe and allow love to flow to you, from you and within you. 

May healing encompass you. 

May peace within you germinate and grow. 

May love fill your heart to overflowing and may you extend that love to connect with all whom you meet. 

May forgiveness be yours – to be given and received. 

May mercy follow you and ignite your being. 

May grace and dignity walk beside with you. 

May you take the higher path without stumbling. 

May joy guide you on your path. 

May this day be a new beginning for each of us!

Shine On!

xo

Communal Solstice

In this photo, you can see one fire lantern has been released and is the floating orb. A red one and three others await liftoff! I’m not sure what I captured on the left (shooting star?) I wish my phone camera could have captured greater detail because it was fabulous to watch with the naked eye! ♥

I felt the darkness of the Solstice especially this year.  Perhaps due to the changes in my life or due to the healing that has been surrounding me and integrating inside of me.  I feel like it may be a communal  change of enlightenment.  Do you feel it too?

I was grateful to have been invited to a Solstice Ceremony.  What a magical experience!  The energy was fabulous as we all gathered together under the stars on the beach.  A ceremonial fire was built in a fire pit, under the stars while we were serenaded by the waves of the ocean gently lapping rhythmically to the shoreline.  Unbeknownst to us, there were others who were not in our group, but on the beach, closer to the shoreline, setting off those fire lanterns to the sky.   What an added bonus to watch as they gently lifted up and over the ocean!  It truly was beautiful.  Even the winds died down and the air was not frigid during the ceremony.

Letting go of what doesn’t serve me anymore and allowing the fire to help me to release was an amazing feeling.  Then, we each also prayed and sent out our intentions for the new year.  I had never experienced such a ceremony before and honestly I was hesitant to attend, but I am so grateful that I did!  It seems as if God and the Universe are bringing healing in all sorts of ways to me and I am ever so grateful!

As the longest night of the year, the Solstice reminded me to continue to shine our heartlights and to honor the darkness for that’s when we see the light best.  I am looking forward to celebrating Christmas Day with my children this year and even though I will attend Mass alone on Christmas Eve, (because they will be with their dad), I feel at peace for the first time in a long while.

I hope you have a lovely time of year, whatever you are planning.  May peace and love be with you always!

Shine On!

xo

 

Join Me and Salute The Veterans

The military has always been a small part of my life.  My Dad was a Navy man.  He and my Mom met at an Army/Navy game.  All three of my Mom’s brothers served as U.S. Marines and one in the Army.  Multiple cousins and extended family have served in the military as well.  I have friends who are veterans and others who are in active duty.  Now the next generation has arrived and I pray for the friends of my sons who have chosen to be a part of the military branches.  I now have ties to Air Force Rangers, Navy Seals, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.

I remember wearing a POW (Prisoner of War) bracelet as a young girl.  I asked my Dad for one as he wore one and had explained to me why he wore his.  I wanted to show my support for the man who was missing and his family.  I still have it somewhere and now that I’m older, I need to find out if he was ever found.

Today I salute all those who are a part of our military and their families.  From my heart, I thank you for your service and I don’t take lightly what you have sacrificed for all of us.  The unimaginable atrocities that you have witnessed and experienced sadden me.  I can’t begin to imagine the unfathomable knowledge that you may keep inside and yet you are still here.  I admire your unbreakable spirit and commitment.  I know that what you have gone through may have changed you in ways we civilians cannot even begin to understand.  I have witnessed how the human spirit can be broken irrevocably and my heart goes out to you.

Years ago, I attended many military functions due to invites via work.  I met so many amazing men and women who were in the military and I was always honored when they shared their stories with me.  I never forgot to thank them for their service to our country.  Their calling to be a part of the military was evident and even though I have never felt that calling, I admire their willingness to be a part of it, to proudly stand for what they believe in and to sacrifice themselves for our country’s freedom.

In my heart, mind and soul, I wish we had no need for militia and that peace would reign throughout our planet Earth.  But that doesn’t seem possible in my lifetime, nor in the lifetime of my children unless we all commit to unconditional love prevailing.  Oh what a miracle that would be, don’t you think?

Today, please take a moment to say a prayer for all of the Veterans, those in active duty and those who have lost lives and spirits.  We appreciate you and your families.  We honor your commitments and we hold you tenderly in our hearts.  May God Bless Us All.

Shine On!

xo

The Gifts In Surrendering

Sounds like a strange title for a blog post, huh?  Well, I guess it is, but a comment from this post made me feel like I wanted to write more about surrendering.

To surrender is to allow the Universe to have a hand in life.  Surrender isn’t a negative as many of us deem it when we hear the word.  Surrender is simply presence during whatever chaos surrounds us.  It’s not picking up the karma of chaos, but simply allowing it to swirl around us while we stay peaceful, centered and present.

Surrender isn’t allowing the past to whip our emotions up into a frenzy of negativity, of hurt, or of resentment.  It isn’t allowing the good of the past to be lost, but instead to hold it tenderly in a place of peace.  It isn’t allowing the loss of the good to overshadow the present good with bereftness or grief.  It is being in the present moment, truly being in the present moment with peace – no past – no future – just now.

And if that sounds hard to do, well, by golly, you’re right!  (Sorry, I needed a giggle to break the seriousness.)  Because many times it’s not easy, otherwise we’d all be doing it and be like Eckhart Tolle or the Dalai Lama without straining to stay present.

Surrender isn’t giving up or giving in or allowing others to control you.  It isn’t being a doormat or losing the battle.

Surrender is breathing in the gratitude for what we currently have at this very moment and acknowledging it.  Surrender is faith in integrity.  Faith in ourselves.  Faith in the Universe that all arrives with Divine Timing.  Surrender is letting go and letting God.  Surrender is putting the desired outcome out there and taking the baby steps that we can in order to accomplish whatever it is we want without putting restrictions, nor past or future limitations on ourselves and our situation.  It’s stillness and prayer.  It’s a loosely built plan of what we’d like ultimately, but with the caveat that somewhere close in that vicinity would be fine as well.  It’s allowing the Law of Attraction, the angels that are friends and strangers or maybe, actually angels, to help us.  It’s continuing to do our best daily, with integrity and lay our worries on the bedpost as we sleep in peaceful slumber, knowing we have done our best today and have earned a restful sleep.  Surrender is  allowing the freedom of peace to envelope our souls.  To find the peace in the current situation, no matter how bleak it seems and to remember that tomorrow is another day with a new dawn and the possibilities of miracles abound.  It’s reaching out to others when times get tough, for more often than not, they are waiting in the wings to comfort, to help and to encourage.

It’s finding The Presents of Presence, unwrapping the peace and being grateful for what is in this very moment.  It’s finding the good now.

Have you every surrendered?  What was the outcome?

Shine On!

xo