If Wishes Were Horses…

My mother’s southern family used to say:

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

Have you ever heard that saying?  Whenever I’ve said it to someone else, they have looked at me as if I’d lost my mind and always asked me to repeat it.  When I did, they’d be still stumped, wondering why in the world I chose that expression.

But for me, with a yard full of dandelions that have sprouted up seemingly overnight, are being snacked on by the birds and spreading their cheery yellow faces and wishes to the winds, it seems appropriate.

Because I’ve got wishes galore and lucky for me, I’ve got all the dandelions to wish on!

So on this rainy Wednesday, I’m sharing my wealth of wishes with you.  Please imagine yourself virtually stopping by to wish upon a dandelion with me.  I will tenderly pick you one of those white puffballs with the exposed seeds and hand it to you.  Together we can blow on it and send the seeds flying into the air onto the breeze as you make your special wish to the Universe.

Believe me, I have plenty of dandelion wishes, so come and enjoy a wish from me to you!  I have plenty to share and would love to lift your wish to the Universe in hopes that all your wishes are fulfilled!

Shine On!

xo

 

What Are You Doing With Your Free Will?

We have plenty of choices in this lifetime.  We all have the free will to choose and to change our minds and to choose again.  Perhaps on this Monday morning because I’m feeling so centered, I can seem very black and white on this issue.  But when I’m feeling centered, it’s so clear to me.  Is it clear to you?

We make excuses when our choices don’t pan out and deliver to fruition what we want.  So we blame others for what we think they made us do.  Believe me, I’ve been there too.  But the reality is that we all have free will to choose again, to change our thinking and to let go of what we believed was supposed to be, what was fair in our own heads and what we deserved.

But that’s not the way life lessons come to us all the time.  Sometimes, we have to get out of our own thinking, out of our own way and see the big picture in whatever scenario is taking place in the forefront.  And then, deal with it.

We’ve all made choices that perhaps we regret.  We make decisions in an instant that hurt us or hurt others.  But to own our own stuff takes courage to be responsible for what is and not what we believed should be.  That’s the lesson that is hardest I think for all of us to wrap our minds, our beliefs and our hearts around.

But in order to heal, it’s necessary.  To work on ourselves takes time and baby steps towards healing.  If we don’t do the work on ourselves though, we are stuck in that place of pain and nobody wants to stay there.  But oftentimes, we do for lack of knowing how to release our limiting beliefs.

Use your free will to choose again.  Choose wisely by being the observer in your life.  Treat yourself as you would your best friend and be open to possibilities that maybe you haven’t been aware of before in your life.  Wherever a door closes, there’s a window which opens.  Be courageous to look outside that window to see the big picture.

Allow God and the Universe to guide you to freedom of choice and to choosing what serves you with joy and love.  Your heartlight shines when we allow ourselves to be whom we are meant to be.  To be anyone else doesn’t serve our souls, nor our life purpose.

Don’t regret the path not taken.  Take it.  Embrace it and if it doesn’t fit, then choose again.  This is your life and nobody else’s.  Live.  Choose.  Forgive.  Let go.  Move onward and upwards!  It’s a beautiful day!  You can always choose to be happy.

That’s your free will choice.  Choose happiness.

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

Making Friends Through Blogging

I like my friends like I like my M&M candies.  (My old English teacher would have hated that sentence because for a full year he wouldn’t let us use the work like!)  Sorry, but I couldn’t help getting off task for a moment…ahem…let me begin again.

I don’t care about your candy coated color, I just care that you are sweet inside.  Oh boy, does that sound goofy when I reread it!  But it’s true.  Honestly.  That’s why I love blogging.  We meet people from all over the world and what’s the tie that binds us?  Blogging.  Being kind to others.  Taking the time to read someone else’s work / life / poetry / photography / philosophy /short stories, etc.  Blogging unites us in ways that we may not have had the chance to bond.  I’ve met hundreds of bloggers and many hold a treasured place in my heart, as real as my own soul family, even though we’ve never met in person.  With technology these days, this is not a remote possibility anymore.  It’s factual.  It’s friendship without borders.  It’s friendship through blogging and making global connections.

We share our lives through blogging and through those connections, we become friends.  Well, maybe better said virtual friends, but friends all the same.  It’s funny how some of us now talk on the phone, text and email as well as comment on each other’s blogs.  It’s a community of sorts with blogging friendships.  We’ve shared triumphs, failures and lessons learned.  We’ve shared advice, companionship and understanding.  We’ve shared good times and bad times and even been there for each other when we’re grieving through life’s hurts.  We’ve shared heartfelt hugs, prayers and love.  We’ve shared inspirational tidbits, learned new things and have grown our minds, hearts and souls by opening ourselves to others’ points of view.  How awesome is blogging when we use it universally for positivity and for connecting with others!

Your blogs entice me to learn.  You inspire me to be a better person.  Your photography makes me smile.  Your poetry makes me feel deeply.  Your camaraderie promotes peace and connections.  Your heartlights shine brilliantly and I am truly grateful!

I just want to thank you all for being exactly who you are!

The perfect M&Ms who sweeten my days!

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

 

Sunday Musings

I often wonder if those who have not learned of religion, find comfort in prayer.  Is it mankind who believes in a force outside of themselves, an ethereal being of the Universe who magically pulls the puppet strings on events or without prior external religious knowledge, do they believe that we ourselves, under our own volition and efforts, make things happen?

What do you believe?

Brought up a Catholic, I believe in prayer as a way of healing, of connecting soul to spirit and of bringing much needed energy, fortitude and possibility into my life.  I pray for others.  I pray for myself.  I pray in gratitude.  I find comfort in prayer, be it the Rosary or my own meditative affirmations.

When quietly immersed in prayer, I feel whole, complete and at peace more than at any other time.  But, I have also been known to cry out in prayer for help, a strangled beseeching to the ascended Almighty and the Universe Divine in supplication for aid, tears streaming down my cheeks as I beg forgiveness and for peace within my troubled heart.

Do you pray?

I have experienced lives exponentially changed through prayer, though mantras and affirmations, through meditation and through the most important piece –  asking for help.

On this Sunday morning, I sit here in my home writing to you.  All is quiet except for the occasional chirp and meow of one of the cats.  Peace envelopes us here.  With sunlight streaming through the windows, stillness surrounds our peaceful abode.  My children are nestled asleep, safely in their bedrooms.  I am ever grateful that they are with me today.  There is a mother’s peace when our children, no matter how old, are sweetly sleeping in their beds.  Watching their chests rhythmically rise and fall, their angelic faces void of any tension, I am grateful for how my prayers have been answered.

We raised two amazing children and even though we divorced, I am grateful for the union.  Gratitude is always part of my prayer.  Family is important and being alone is heartbreaking.  The bond I share with my children is like no other and our precious bond has only increased over the years.  It is solid.  It is full of trust, love, kindness and honesty.

My prayers have been answered.  Not necessarily the way I thought they should be, but in a beautiful way that is even better than I imagined.  Sometimes we need to let go and let God and the Universe work in tandem to deliver what we could have never thought possible when we were struggling.

I pray that yours and mine (prayers) are answered today.

Shine On!

xo

The Daily Prompt – Ascend

Planetary Healing

Good morning dearest friends.  I read another chapter from the book I shared in this post this morning and the following was channeled to me afterwards so I thought I’d share it with you.

It is written to hold sacred and pure the oneness in our world.  Too often we dismiss the light in the darkness, the stars nestled in the night sky, to instead focus upon our suffering.

Enlightenment forms upon our life path.  We may curiously begin to pick up the tidbits or carelessly trod upon them, unaware of the beauty nestled deeply with our souls.  That choice, my dear ones is free will.

I believe information is laid upon our paths when we are ready to welcome the God and Universal teachings into our lives.  We reconnect when Divine Timing and Source come to us.  We reawaken our souls’ ever-present love and shine our heartlights – filling ourselves and the world around us with love, understanding and forgiveness.

Our everpresent rays of starlight twinkle brightly in the darkness when we tap into our inherent goodness and knowledge.  We peak with clarity and assimilation with Divine Order.  We restore peace unto ourselves and others.

Prayer, meditation and stillness catalyst the necessary understanding in fulfilling our Divine Purpose. 

Oneness with our world sanctifies the holiness in our beings, washing clean the suffering we once believed was ours to endure.  Our being present in this moment of stillness shines healing energy and love throughout the Universe.

How lovely are we to be here together in this shining moment of love and tranquility!

May you have the best Monday ever!

Shine On!

xo

via Daily Prompt: Planet

 

Finding A Way To Pamper Myself

What a lovely word to start a Sunday, don’t you think?  It’s a day of rest and a perfect time to pamper yourself.  How do you pamper yourself?

I had thought about taking a nice Epsom salt bath today, but that is not to be.  You see, I started smelling what I thought was a gas leak this morning when I went to take the garbage out.  It was intermittent so I wasn’t too concerned and because there’s a decaying animal smell as well (which I thought was my garbage, but it’s been confirmed that it’s not!), my smeller was off.

After talking with a good friend this morning, I decided to call the gas company just in case..  The kind man who came out told me that I was smelling propane and not gas.  Wow!  I guess my nose was right, but not completely specific.  The man found that the propane tank for the grill was leaking and turned it off and disconnected it for me.  I don’t use the grill so I had no idea.  While he was here, I asked him to come down to the basement just to check the gas line etc.  Surprisingly, he found 3 gas leaks.  I’m ever so grateful that the Universe and God were helping me by making the propane tank leak because otherwise I would have never known that the gas in the basement was leaking.

So he turned off the gas in the house and I called the landlords who said they would get someone over.  In the meantime, no hot water for me, no cooking on the stove and no grilling, not to mention, no laundry because I have a gas dryer.  And don’t you know it, I didn’t take the clothes out of the dryer last night and now they’re wrinkled!  Can you say, UGH??!!  I dislike ironing!

So how can I pamper myself today?  I guess a warm shower is out of the question, so I think I may just take a nap.  I know the gas is turned off so there’s no danger of me not waking up.  I think I’ll pamper myself with a nice long nap and now that I can’t cook dinner, I will have to order out!  Yippee!

I always have to find the good in any situation!  That’s the blessing of being a girl who views life with a glass 1/2 full!

I hope you take some time today to pamper yourself!

Shine On!

xo

via Daily Prompt: Pamper

Universal Crumbs

Sometimes I think the Universe drops crumbs in order to help us through this lifetime.  Lately, much synchronicity has occurred in my life.  When I viewed the events as separate, there was no obvious correlation.   But when I strung them together in the path of my life in the last few days, they fit together like perfect puzzle pieces!

It’s a wonderful feeling to know that all we need to do is to be wide awake and aware of our days and nights.  To notice is to put together the puzzle pieces and watch as our lives unfold with support, positivity and love from God and the Universe.

Notice what happens all around you!  You think of someone and poof! they call you!  You go out of your routine and poof! you find out you missed an accident!  You know what I mean, don’t you?  The Universe simply drops breadcrumbs of experiences into your path to help you along the way.  It brings to mind the Law of Attraction at work!

There are many examples that illustrate the bread crumbs that we pick up to fortify ourselves along the path of our lifetimes.  For example, yesterday I had to pick up shampoo for the children, so instead of going to the grocery store, I stopped at Rite Aid.  While walking around, I saw a display for some new nail polish for Fall.  While it’s not my usual shade (I wear pink/red/wine), this one caught my eye.  It’s Essie Brand – name is As If!  Anyway, it’s a shade of blue that just made me happy, so I bought it!  As I was painting my nails last night, I watched a movie called The Last Keepers which you can watch for free with Amazon Prime (click here!)   I loved the fact that the characters’ story began in Fall with a celebration of the Autumn Solstice.  Watching the movie reminded me of a book I put down awhile ago that I was aching to pick up when I felt moved to read again and voila!  Last night before bed, I knew that I would be reading another chapter today – which I did!  Here’s the link to the book in case you are interested.

After reading the book this morning over coffee, I was thinking about a blogger friend of mine who would like the book.  Poof!  Out of the blue (pun intended), she called me and we were able to talk about it!  One thing led to another and we caught up on our lives and even had a little healing moment between us.  It was fabulous!  It even led to a mutual friend of ours getting a much needed message that helped her as well!

So what’s my point?  When I string together all the coincidences, I get a tapestry of life that leads me in the right direction.  Has this ever happened to you?

Do you want to share a few of yours?  Please do!

Shine On!

xo

 

 

via Daily Prompt: Crumb

Sharing A Meditation Experience

Do you meditate?  I am not very good at it usually, but in a group session I am better at meditating.  I don’t know why, but as you may remember from my post from Deepak, I have a tough time trusting him to mind the time!  When in a group session, I seem to be able to relax more!  Who knew?

Today, I went to a special mediation session to which one of the participants brought her dog.  Unfortunately, the dog had a hard time settling down until the last mediation which when he finally settled down, I had a beautiful vision.

I felt warm, sitting there on the floor against a back rest with pillows.  My hands folded together on my lap, I sat quietly, feeling the loving energy peacefully surrounding us in the room.

Eyes closed, I saw nothing but darkness, until I felt the top of my head open up at the crown.  I had the vision of being in one of those eggs from the movie called Cocoon.  Do you remember the eggs in the bottom of the pool?  I felt like my body was like one of those eggs and slowly, my body began to crack open as if I were being birthed, released and set free.  From the top of my crown, as the crack reached my head, a beautiful golden light emerged that was me.  My soul, my heart, my mind and my energy.

I heard the word LOVE over and over and over again, almost like a chant even though the physical room I was in was completely silent.

Love…Love…Love…Love…Love…Love…Love.

The egg which housed and was my physical body was completely cracked in half and laid open and the golden light was beaming from the entire center, filling up the room with love.  I knew it was me as the light grew bigger and bigger, filling up the room, then the building and then out into the Universe, steadily growing and glowing until I heard the bell signal that the meditation was over.

It took a few minutes for me to emerge from the beautiful meditation experience.  While in that meditation, my breathing hiccuped a few times which for me means – Hey, pay attention!  There’s something important is going on here!

It was a lovely moment for me, one that I will treasure.  Have you ever had any types of meditation experiences that you’d like to share?  Please do!  I’d love to hear them!

Shine On!

xo