Bumble Bee Encounter

Precious First Bumble Bee

It’s the end of April and spring has arrived, finally!  As I sat outside today, in the pale morning sun, two chubby bumble bees buzzed in the lawn nearby, seeming to enjoy the nectar in the grass.

While I wasn’t able to get a shot of both of them together, here is one of them.  What I loved was that as they went about their business, I was reminded of how inspirational they truly are.  At least I think so, because aerodynamically, there aren’t equipped to fly and yet, they do!  I love how they stop and smell the roses (quite literally and yes, silly pun intended) and yet, they also are very productive.

Quite literally, a perfect combination of work and play and isn’t that what life’s all about?

Of course, if you’ve been reading here for any length of time, you know how much I love the animals that I encounter.  I always feel as if they’ve stopped by to send me a special message.  I looked up bumble bee spirit animal message and smiled.

Here’s the lovely message that spoke to me!

What a perfect way to begin the Spring, don’t you think?

Doesn’t it get your heartlight revving?

Shine On!

xo

A Full Moon And Two Animal Visitors

I woke up early this morning to be greeted by an amazing full moon blazing across the sky.  Although my photo doesn’t do it any justice, the memory emblazoned on my brain/heart is spectacular.  There is something lovely about being out here in nature without many buildings thwarting the Universe’s beautiful gifts.

I’ve been watching this moon for a few days now, sitting by my front door in the quiet evenings when all is still and the stars are twinkling.  The silence here is soothing to me and I am grateful for it.  It’s like the sound of falling snow.  I’m always entranced by the unique sensations that come with being outside with snow falling all around me.

But as I was enjoying a serene moonlit night a few days ago, I had two visitors.  Yup!  You know how I get so excited when my animal friends come to visit!  Much to my surprise, the first visitor was aviary.  I had the distinct feeling that it was a bat, however, it could have been a bird.  As I was sitting under the overhang by my front door, suddenly it swooped toward me, circled around under the eaves of the porch roof and then left.  Believe me when I tell you, I was stunned.  It was like a whoosh of energy came and went in just a few seconds.  Most definitely, the bird was making its presence known to me.  I felt like it was a sign, but for what, I don’t know.  Do any of you know?

The second visitor came along about ten minutes later as I was still searching the skies for the bird who had left, wanting but not wanting it to return because I am a bit afraid of birds as it is.  Suddenly, my little bunny Clover came hopping across the lawn.  In the darkness, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye, but I wasn’t sure what it was.  Then he hopped right onto the slab where I sat in my rocking chair.  We both kinda gasped when he skittered to a stop, suddenly each aware of each other because I think he was merrily hopping by without noticing me sitting there and I was oblivious to where he was since it was dark outside.

He stopped about a foot away from me and for a moment we both froze, looking at each other.  Then he turned and hopped back behind the chair on the other side of the porch.  He didn’t move, nor did I.  We have been friendly for months now.  He is used to my voice, so I began softly talking with him.  He angled himself so that he could watch me with one eye.  Enough light from the moon shone by that time and I could see he was resting comfortably.  You know me, I was enjoying our time together, asking him about his home under my back porch and about his life.  He didn’t answer, but he did stay.  I talked about the moon and how beautiful the night was.  After a few minutes, I told him that it was time for me to go to bed and that it was late for him too.  I thanked him for our unexpected visit and told him goodbye.  As I got up, he remained stoically in his spot.  Thank goodness as I didn’t want him to bolt into my house!  I know he probably wouldn’t have gone in anyway, but I wanted to make sure.  Having a wild rabbit in a home with two diva cats wouldn’t be prudent on my part!

I wonder what message Clover had for me that night and what message the bird/bat was delivering.  If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.  I know that some of you have knowledge that I lack, so anything that comes to you, please pass it along to me!  Thank you!  Make sure you go out to see that beautiful moon tonight too!  It’s the second full moon in March!

Shine On!

xo

Heartlight Winds Fragrance The Earth With Love

Our lives are similar but different.  Our temptations, our struggles and our knowledge all play a part in how our lives evolve.  Circumstances may be harder or easier for each individual, but we all have the same ability to overcome the obstacles and find inner peace on this life’s journey.  It takes time, patience and the will to do the inner work required to bring grace into our lives.

My wish that all find inner peace continues to grow inside me.  It’s more than wishing for our health, wealth, connections and happiness.  Inner peace evolves into something even more delicate and delightful and is a strong force in the world, much like love.  For to have access to inner peace, we no longer live in chaos, anxiety or fear.  Imagine a world of souls who have attained inner peace!  What a lovely wish fulfilled that would be!

Awareness, experience, compassion and grace mark the way to healing.  Holding unconditional love for all while embracing the truths and gifts of our being, allow us to reach across the earth with love so that we can walk with others who are hurting as a helpful  companion, a lighthouse, an equal loving being on whom they can rely during those trying times of rebirth.

Rebirth surrenders to loving ways.  Many of us shine our heartlights with enthusiasm to connect, to heal and to guide us when life feels dark.

I feel a whoosh of heartlight winds which fragrance the earth with love.

Thank you all for being YOU!

Shine On!

xo

Affected By the Moon

I know of many people who are affected by the moon and its cycles, not to mention eclipses, astrological changes and the equinoxes.  As we begin to move from 3D to 5D, there’s an increase in energetic shifts and for some of us, we are sensitive to the changes.  Are you one of them as well?

I’ve seen it in my family members who are more confused recently.  I’ve seen it in horseback riding as my trusty Ty was out of sorts when I rode him this week.  I’ve seen it with our pets as they are more on edge and needier than usual.

In chatting with friends lately, it seems that the surge of instability and sensitivity of our moods has increased lately.  A quickening in anger and frustration along with tearful grieving seem to ebb and flow into normally calm people at a moment’s notice without warning.  Not to mention those who are on either end of the spectrum emotionally.  It’s like the energy in the world is fluctuating at such dramatic heights and dips that there’s a storm brewing and we need to seek shelter and balance in our lives.  With the recent full moon, the lack of love and understanding is causing much unrest and balance is desperately needed.

So if you’re feeling lost at sea lately, you’re not alone.  But how do you anchor yourself with balance and love to be the port to help others who are tossed in the turmoil?

Meditation helps.  Calm interaction with others is necessary.  Fear intensifies the messy storm so steer clear and send out your heartlights first before engaging with others who show even the subtlest signs of being affected negatively by the energetic storms brewing now.  Rest your body, mind and soul.  Nourish them all with higher vibrations and associate yourself with those who embrace love, understanding and kindness.  Hold closely your loving soul family members.  Reach out when you’re feeling low.  Take the necessary time when you’re feeling depleted so that you can recharge your heartlight.  If you’re suffering, reach out to someone who cares and allow them to help you.  But please, do not use your suffering to make them suffer along with you.  Allow them to lift you.  Don’t drag them into the negativity.

Pray.  Listen to spiritual music.  Eat heart healthy meals.  Drink plenty of water.  Stay away from negatively charged beverages/foods such as alcohol.  You don’t need to add to what may be negatively churning up in you to be affected even more by drinking or over-eating.

Exercise.  Commune with Nature.  Read something that makes you feel good.  Watch a feel good show. Spend some quality time alone gardening or writing in your journal.  Sing music that makes you smile and uplifts your mood.  Spend time with your family and pets.  There’s nothing better than a heartfelt hug to shift your mood.  There’s also what we call fur therapy (petting your sweet pets) and absorbing their peaceful energy into your heart.

Don’t be tempted to start a fight with someone else whom you’ve been meaning to give a piece of your mind.  It won’t fare well for either of you.  Stay clear from anxiety issues.

We are riding out the fluctuations of energy changes as they open up to a myriad of possibilities in the near future.  So relax into the experience.  Steer yourself into calm waters and do your best to enjoy the ride.

Shine On!

xo

 

 

 

The Present

Today’s Daily Prompt of PRESENT was a no-brainer for me to write about because hello! it’s the name of my blog!  The Presents of Presence.

It’s been a HUGE PRESENT to write to you, to make connections with you and to get to know all of you!  I love our friendships and I feel grateful and honored to know you all!

Because if we look around, precious moments are presents and they are everywhere.  But they can be fleeting when we are not paying attention.  You know what I mean?  When you turn around and wonder, what in the world did I do yesterday?  Or how did this past week fly by?

We have a limited time on this earth dear friends.  Connections can be fleeting or lifelong.  Either way, we must take each and every special opportunity to savor them.

May you have a blessed day and continue to shine your heartlights!

Shine On!

xo

Empathic Eclipse Of The Heart

I’m struggling today.  Surely it’s due to a bunch of different occurrences, but my heart is heavy and my solar plexus is filled with sadness.  The news of the school shooting in Florida made me cry for the unbelievable news haunts me.  To have sent your children and loved ones off to school on Valentine’s Day, where they should be safe, and to have this life changing situation happen is beyond my understanding.

How can our world be so filled with destruction, ugliness and hate?

I don’t want to discuss gun control so please don’t go there.  I just am in this place of extreme sadness for the lack of peace and love in our world.  My heart aches for the losses of life.  I’m saddened to my core by the lack of love that swirls, the absence of peace and I ache for healing for all of us.  I feel the fear that events such as these increase and the extreme heartbreak that lingers.

Yet, as stories emerge of bravery, and of courage under fire, I know that there are many good-hearted people in the world who do step up in the face of danger as shown by the courageous acts that are recounted.  I hang onto the hope from hearing them.  But I’m also crushed that the heroes have fallen as they protected others.  Surely there’s a special place in Heaven for those who give up their lives in order to save someone else.

We have another eclipse today as well which certainly affects us all, especially empaths like me.  Our weather is changing too which doesn’t help so I am honoring myself and allowing these feelings to flow onto this page in order to help to heal.  Perhaps you are feeling similarly?

Dear friends, globally let’s shine our heartlights and raise the loving vibrations of our community here in the blogsphere.  Please let’s send healing thoughts with light and love into the world today.  Please let’s drive out the darkness with our heartlights.

I’m sending you all love and healing vibrations of community.  Let’s join together to send prayers and support to those victims and their families as they face the aftermath of what is becoming all too common.  Thank you for reading my post.

Shine On!

xo

Past Experiences Do Not Dictate The Outcome Of The Present One

When similar situations repeat themselves, sometimes we can go into a mind spasm.  We relive the past in the present situation, mindlessly worrying that the outcome of the present situation could be the same as the ending of the past one.  I know I’m writing generally here because frankly, the situation could be anything that you’ve endured.

But there’s that trigger, that Oh my gosh! realization that we’ve passed this way before in the past.  I tried to put it out of my reasoning mind, knowing that as before, I am doing the best I can with the resources I have.  But there’s that little worrisome thought that this time may repeat the last one’s ending.  Mindful of not wanting the same results, I pushed away the thoughts, trying to reason my way out of not manifesting the past again.  Because I don’t want what happened in the past to repeat itself.  Yet, I couldn’t shake the fear.

So I rechecked the facts, because my need for control, especially now, is fierce.  All seems well at this time which is good.  But in talking with a kind friend, I realized I was beating myself up internally for feeling as if the past could repeat itself and I was helpless to change what may be the outcome again this time.

When she parroted the situation back to me, as I listened to my own situation but in her voice (as if she were me), compassion filled my heart and I cried.  I realized that I needed to have compassion for myself and for my own feelings in this situation.  I understood that pushing off the absurdity of the situation repeating the past with the same ending wasn’t a ludicrous thought that I had to push away.  I understood that it was a natural thought process that if all lined up as it had previously (which is certainly possible), the ending could be the same.  I struggled with the thought, talking back and forth with my friend as we processed the scenario.  When we were finished talking, I realized what I already knew.  I can only do my best with my own resources and it’s in God’s hands.

I have to be content with that knowledge and find peace within me.  Because at this point, the situation is stable and not showing signs of further chaos, but the threat is real.  It’s just a question of if it’s here or not.

I think perhaps PTSD may be in varying degrees something that we endure over a lifetime when repeated similar situations occur.  Fear and past knowledge often make it difficult when we feel helpless.  So how do we overcome those aching worries?

We need to find compassion for ourselves for even going to that dark place of fear instead of tamping it down and turning away from it.  When I exposed the fear to the light with the help of my trusted friend, I cried and released some of the traumatic fear I was holding for the present situation.  With the tearful release, I was able to ground myself again in the knowledge that I am doing the best I can and only time will tell the actual results.  That gave me a small dose of peace for which I’m ever grateful.

Finding peace is precious and priceless as we endure stressful situations.  We all experience life lessons in different ways.  What I’ve found is that in being love, sending love, and wrapping us all in love, we know that love shines our heartlights into the darkness of fear based thoughts.

I’m not bringing that fear into my thoughts anymore.  I know I can flow with whatever may be on my path as long as I continue to stand in the light and not in the darkness.  Please keep shining your heartlights dear friends!  I can see them and they give me great comfort!

Shine On!

xo

The Essence of Forgiveness

A friend recently sent this video to me.  I found it really interesting so I thought I’d pass it along to you.  Have you ever heard of Matt Kahn?  Do you know anything about him?  Here’s his bio from his website.

If you have some time, take a listen to his thoughts on The Essence of Forgiveness and let me know what you think!  Keep your heartlights lit – it’s Monday!

Shine On!

xo

 

When’s Your Last Day?

Do you think that your last day here on Earth is pre-determined?

Or do you think it’s a matter of circumstances?

Would you want to pre-know your death date (or not) if you could?

I know I may be opening up a big discussion here, but it’s a topic that has come to my attention recently through a few conversations with friends and I thought I’d ask you too.  (To my knowledge, there are no imminent deaths coming to my family/friends, so it’s just a question.)

But honestly, I think it’s a sad, but important topic to cover, to share our thoughts and to expand our thinking from others’ experiences.  Life is fragile and as my blog states, we only have the present moment for sure.  Not that I don’t plan for the future, but nobody knows for sure what’s on the horizon.  I’m not being morbid here honestly.  I don’t want to add fear to anyone’s thoughts.  I guess my point is a reiteration of being grateful for the past and being grateful for the present moment at all times.  Plan for the future, but don’t put off holding your loved ones close, spending time with them and telling them in real life, whether in person, via email, or sending a card, how you feel.

Because frankly, who doesn’t love hearing that we are appreciated and loved?

So back to the topic at hand!  What do you think of when you envision your last day?  Or do you even think about it?  I think about mine.  I think cancer changed my views on life, so I have thought about it.  I believe that we may have a pre-determined last day, but I’m open to listening to your thoughts on the subject.  For me, a pre-determined last day means I’m free to live my life without measure, completely in the moment, sharing love easily and without fear, but with the knowing that we never know our last day or that of our loved ones for sure.  With that in mind, we need to be the best, most loving souls we can be today and everyday.  It helps me to consistently choose connections, love, kindness and understanding instead of the lower vibrations.  It allows me the freedom to shine my heartlight with sparkling enthusiasm.

What about you?  If you feel inclined, please share your thoughts!

Shine On!

xo

 

Practice Turning People Into Trees

When you go out into the woods and you look at the trees,

you see all these different trees. 

And some of them are bent, and some of them are straight,

and some of them are evergreens, and some of them are whatever. 

And you look at the tree and you allow it. 

You see why it is the way it is. 

You sort of understand that it didn’t get enough light, and so it turned that way. 

And you don’t get all emotional about it.  You just allow it.  You appreciate the tree.

  The minute you get near humans, you lose all that. 

And you are constantly saying, “You’re too this, or I’m too this.” 

That judging mind comes in. 

And so I practice turning people into trees. 

Which means appreciating them just the way they are. 

– Ram Dass

I love this quote that I found today and so I had to share it with you.  I think it’s such an easy way for us to all get along, isn’t it?  In this world, connection and harmony are most important, as is appreciation of all people.  It’s inherent in us to enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature, so why not enjoy the beauty of each other?  Instead of condemnation or criticism, let’s employ Ram Dass’ practice of looking at people as trees and appreciating them.  Isn’t it time we spread more light and love in this world?  I can see your heartlights sparkling dear friends!

Shine On!

xo