Rest and Rejuvenate

Rest and Rejuvenate

That’s what Sunday is for – a day of rest.  When was the last time you took a day to rejuvenate?  To reactivate yourself and to treat yourself with love?

We find it hard to slow down sometimes.  We push through and keep going until we’ve nothing left for ourselves.  We get mired into the woulda, coulda, shoulda’s and our minds have no time to find peace, nor our bodies to be still.

Always there is something to do, more to accomplish, responsibilities to attend to and yet, when do we take time for ourselves to simply be?  To breathe, to notice the beauty in the air around us, to take in the majesty of nature’s wonder?

Please today, even if it is only for a few precious moments, gift yourself that time.  Stand outside with your feet firmly planted on the earth, look up to the sky and be grateful for this moment in time.  Meditate for a few precious moments with gratitude in your heart.

If you can’t stand outside, then be still and go within yourself.  Find a quiet spot for a few moments and close your eyes.  Imagine you are in the midst of a beautiful rainbow of love.  Hold your heart tenderly as you gaze around in awe of the beauty you see in your mind’s eye.  Give thanks for your solemn place in this world.

Especially on Sundays, I feel the urge to rejuvenate, even if it’s only for a few stolen minutes from the business of life.  For me, it is a need which if I have to, I schedule into my day.  It is like breathing for me.  A few tender moments in which I allow my body and mind to go still.  I concentrate on my breathing and mindfully embrace the moments of silence.  I become aware of the body which houses my soul, my heart and my mind.  I encourage all of the parts of me to unite in peaceful communion with God.  Sometimes I pray.  Sometimes I just talk to God and to myself.  But always, I silently give thanks for this day, for this life, for the potential to inspire others and to be of service.  I ask for forgiveness.  I ask for help with my Divine Purpose.  I acknowledge the good that comes to me and I reframe the bad into lessons that grow my soul stronger.

How do you rest and rejuvenate?

Shine On!

xo

How To Sprinkle Priceless Moments Throughout Your Day

The Daily Post inspired me today to write, so here it goes!

I have a gift called The Presents of Presence.  You may know it and me by now, but if you don’t, here I am.  I love to sprinkle priceless moments throughout the day.  You know what I mean, don’t you?  Those quiet moments when you smile at a stranger and they smile back.  Or when you make a connection with someone else through blogging or a random conversation or even one of those long soul to soul conversations we have sometimes with the ones we love?

It’s stopping to look around and catching the Praying Mantis sitting there on the patio chair when you’re outside watering the plants.  If I hadn’t been looking around, I certainly would have missed his presence.  It’s the small reminder that when we don’t take the time to notice all that’s around us, be it in nature, in friendships, in changes in the air or in the vibrations, we miss priceless moments.  It’s in being PRESENT, mindful and still at the precise moment to enjoy a gift from God and the Universe.

Synchronicity and coincidence share special space in my life.  Countless times I have noticed a priceless moment simply because it was there, waiting for me to see it.  When we are open, we allow these priceless moments to be felt and acknowledged.  When we are gung-ho rushing through life, we may miss them.

You can be the receiver of the priceless moments or the giver.  Best of all, you can be both!  Sprinkle happiness wherever you go.  Enjoy meeting new people, sharing the road of life and sparkling by being you!  You are a gift to us all!

Shine On!

xo

What Does It Mean To See A Praying Mantis?

Yesterday, I went outside to water the impatiens as they were looking a bit droopy and as I walked by the chair on the patio, I spied this praying mantis just sitting on the top of the chair!  If you know me, you know that I get messages via Mother Nature’s animals who stop by to visit me.  I’ve written about the deer, the geese, the honeybee, the katydid, the koi, the hawk, the birds, the frog, the cats and even the pests that squatted in my rental home before I moved in!  Just use the search button if you’re interested in any of the animal encounters I’ve had!

But a praying mantis is a first for me in many years.  So of course, I had to look up the spiritual totem meaning because it’s unusual to just see one sitting on the patio chair mid-afternoon.  What I found fascinating is how his/her head turned and watched me as I walked by.  We interacted and simply watched each other with the same stillness and curiosity.  I took the following photos, trying not to scare him/her and to remember this moment.

 

Praying Mantis – The Presents of Presence

Praying Mantis looking at me directly! The Presents of Presence

 

This is where I found some interesting information!

The mantis comes to us when we need peace, quiet and calm in our lives. Usually the mantis makes an appearance when we’ve flooded our lives with so much business, activity, or chaos that we can no longer hear the still small voice within us because of the external din we’ve created.

Here’s more information!

Praying Mantis Symbolism:  To answer the call from deep within through:

Stillness:  In this way, the stillness of the Praying Mantis spirit animal is equal to the human act of receiving based on self esteem and self love.

Intention:  When you come across the Praying Mantis, it means that you are being blessed with the power to increase your intention many times over.  Intention is increased through focus.

Attainment:  Attainment is one of the significant attributes of Praying Mantis symbolism.  The most successful people in the world use this Praying Mantis power of attainment.

Fulfillment and Satisfaction:  It is in this self learning (of mindfulness and becoming aware) that the Praying Mantis signifies the “calling,” that can only be discovered from inner contemplation.

I only gave snippets from the websites, but if you’re interested, please feel free to click on the websites above as they have more information!

Have you ever had an encounter with a Praying Mantis?

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

The Ocean…

The ocean stirs the heart,

inspires the imagination

& brings eternal joy to the soul.

~ Wyland

I have always been a beach girl.  Growing up, we went to the beach daily and honestly, I love the beach no matter the season nor the weather.  There is something magical about the power of the sea which calms my tender soul and I am ever grateful for her.

Perhaps being a Pisces, it’s innate in me, that love of the sea.  Two fish swimming is the sign for Pisces which is the last of the astrological signs in the zodiac.  Creativity and passion for writing have always been dear to me, for as you know, I love to connect through writing (hence the blog!).

Summer is upon us, with the start of Memorial Day weekend here in the States.  My beloved beach will be overcrowded now with tourists and beach goers and gone will be the gentle solitude which has soothed my soul frequently.

I am reminded of the quieter times that I enjoyed my solitude at the beach.  Sky and sea met on the horizon seamlessly, blue on blue.  The warm sand beneath my toes beckoning me as the sun warmed my soul.  Scattered shells and bits of sea glass treasures polka dot the sand.  The gentle sound of waves lapping the shoreline like a lullaby just for me.  When I was immersed in the sea, she rocked me, enveloped me, like a mother with a toddler at bedtime.  Gulls flew overhead, calling to friends.  Pipers scampered at the edge where the sand and the water met, tiptoeing quickly in the surf.  At night, the moon reflected on the dark, mysterious  water full of unseen animals who swam quietly by.  Still the waves’ melodious song called to me and I answered, my heart full of peace.

There is so much peace and love at the beach when we commune with her.  Do you feel the same way?  Does the sea beckon to you too?

Shine On!

xo

Staying in the Present Moment

Whew, I don’t know about you, but sometimes it’s mighty hard to stay in the present moment.  With all of life’s busyness, I think sometimes we get caught up in the hubbub of what needs to be done today and we let being present fall by the wayside.  Does this happen to you?

I know it happens to me.

Bills, appointments, responsibilities, paperwork and all the roles I play during day to day living sometimes have me running without a break to simply stop and smell the roses.  To be in the stillness of the moment, whether alone or with someone else.  To just feel the gift of being present.

Often, we live in a whirlwind where we scurry from moment to moment without hesitation when our lives are full and then we fall into our beds at night, exhausted from life in general.  It’s hard to find a few minutes of peace to go within the stillness of our hearts.  Meditation helps if we can find the time to still our minds for a respite, but more often than not, unless we are disciplined, other responsibilities take precedence.  But meditation doesn’t have to be a formal time set exercise.  It can simply be taking five minutes to really enjoy that cup of tea or coffee and relaxing our minds.  It can be taking a quiet walk outside and listening to the birds or feeling the earth under our feet.  It can be closing our eyes and enjoying the peaceful silence.  We can think positive thoughts, speak affirmations that work for us, pray or just be grateful for this moment in time.  I find that taking 10 minutes to simply free write helps me to clear the clutter from my brain which builds up after time.  Even writing my blog allows me to be still and get into that place of peace.

What helps you to find stillness in the present moment?

Today, try to carve out a few minutes of peace for yourself.  Breathe deeply, stay in the moment, be grateful for all that is in your life and be joyful for the blessings that you enjoy.  Give yourself the gift of presence, even for a few precious moments today.  You deserve the peace and tranquility that comes with it!

Shine On!

xo

 

Christmas Spirits

Do you hear what I hear?  The quiet hum of the holiday season, over but not forgotten, hanging on through New Year’s and into the Epiphany.  Do you hear the soft twinkling of bells?  Did you feel loved ones who have passed coming to visit during the holidays?  Have you any stories to tell?  Little coincidences that make you stop and wonder if the veil between the living and the deceased was thin and you did indeed receive a sign or a visit?

There is a hush during the chaotic holiday season that when we stop and listen in the stillness of our hearts, we are gifted with the comfort of the loving presence of those who have passed before us.  Sometimes we are too absorbed in the hustle and bustle of the festivities to take notice, but the peace and unity of love are always here for us.  We simply need to be still and receive their presence.

This past week I have seen feathers in unusual places which is supposed to be a sign from our angels.  I have smelled the precise aroma of jasmine mixed with roses when I could not find its source and had no earthy reason to smell the perfumed air that surrounded me.  I have felt a loving presence holding my heart with tenderness when I cried.

You may think these are not signs, but I choose to believe that they are little tidbits of treasured connecting moments of love from above.  I would love to hear if you have felt or experienced anything special during this holiday season.  Please share with us if you have.

May love surround you and yours!

Shine On!

xo

 

Do You Have A Case of Holiday Hiraeth?

I saw this on Facebook this morning and it struck a chord in me that I felt needed to be shared with all of you.  For at the holidays especially, there are those of us may be feeling hiraeth, but never had a word for it.  For the English language, to my knowledge, does not have a word which encompasses these feelings as hiraeth does.

So what do you do about it when you are feeling this way?  How do you go on with this feeling through holiday festivities?  My own solution is to allow the feeling, to engage in it, to acknowledge the hiraeth as it comes.  To turn ourselves into jolly merrimakers is to falsely and ineptly disengage with our souls.  To be in stillness with the feeling is to be true to ourselves and to allow hiraeth to process in our lives in order for us to heal.

I’m not saying to throw a pity party for ourselves during the festivities at all.  I’m not recommending that we pout or make others uncomfortable with our sadness.  No, not at all.  I’m suggesting that we allow ourselves the gift of hiraeth in our quiet alone time so that we can find the joy when we are celebrating the holidays.  To feel hiraeth and maybe even to share it with those willing to listen in a compassionate manner is to find the peace within us when we allow our feelings space to heal.

For there is healing in allowing hiraeth.  There is much joy to be had in life especially during the holiday season.  Allow your heartlights to shine, spread the love and understanding that you innately carry within you and reach out to others with your kind heart.  Know that I am here with you.  I understand.  I acknowledge our feelings of hiraeth and I hold them tenderly in my heart.

Bless you all this holiday season.

Shine On!

xo

 

*Gratitude to MAngel for sharing on FB so that I could see this post.

There’s No Present Like The Time

~ Babul from The Second Exotic Marigold Hotel

It seems that we all have an expiration date which most of us do not know.  So to live without remembering that knowledge is to hide our heads in the sand like ostriches.  I’m not saying that we should live in fear of death, but to remember that this present moment is indeed a present. A gift that we should not waste.

Life moves quickly these days.  Many people live longer lives, but take less time for themselves.  Rushing to every event, whatever it may be, keeping busy on the computer, the smart phones etc., takes time away from being present in the present moment.  I understand we all have responsibilities, but we must carve out a few moments to simply be in the stillness of the present moment.  To reconnect with ourselves, our families, nature and all the gifts that are ours when we stop the rush in the insanity of life.  To actually take a moment to breathe, to listen to our hearts and minds, to hold hands, to reconnect with loved ones, to simply love that we are here, right here and now, wherever we may be, in whatever capacity life holds for us.

Time is a gift.  Use it wisely.  Don’t squander it on meaningless pursuits.  You can make a difference in your life and in the lives of others. You have the power within you.  Be grateful for the present and use your power for good, for you are loved.

Enjoy The Presents of Presence

Shine On!

xo

 

Sweet Summer

It’s Friday!  The weekend begins ~ just a quick note to send joy your way!  Take some time today to be kind to yourself and to enjoy the wonder of Mother Nature’s gifts.  Eat strawberries, jump in a lake or swim in the ocean, listen to the cicadas in the coolness of the evening, walk barefoot in the grass, on the beach, wherever you are!  Face the sun and let the shadows of worry fall behind you.

Be safe.  Be kind.  Be for just a little while.  Stillness renews our souls and helps us to reconnect soul and body.  Happy Summer to YOU!

Shine On!

xo