Some More About Karma

  

Rolling the memories of your life, back and forth on the big screen of your life, you will see moments when it seemed luck was on your side, and that nothing can go wrong.  Then, you see times where you were unkind and life smacks you with something grim that you have to deal with.

The Spirit Guides talk to us about Karma, the idea that what we put out to the world comes back to us, sometimes as much as ten fold or ten times.  To explain this, think about something very loving and kind that you did for not just one person, but for a group of people.  Not only did you feel a sense of rightness after the action, you also saw "rewards" from doing that particular action.  Send out – get back.  

The Spirit Guides tell us that karma has a long reach through many life times.  So, if you were a taker in a previous life time, in this life time, the Universe might reverse that action, and you will need to be constantly giving, at expense to yourself.  

There are not hard, fast rules of karma.  Today, think of all the good things that you can do for people, and begin doing them.

Many blessings,

Judy

Why Am I Sad?

 

The question rises to the heavens – Why am I so sad?  Why is it that I feel like doing nothing?  Why does sadness dog me?

The answer from Spirit:

Everything in life must be in balance.  When you have what you call “good times”, then your energy ebbs up to a height.  To be in balance, it must come down – you call this sadness.  If you stayed in the middle, without emotion, you would not feel happy or sad.   This is the way of things.

******

Remember that all things are part of life and life balances through ups and downs.  

Many Blessings,

Judy

On Being Happy - A Buddhist Story

 

 

  Picture of Buddha's first sermon - from Wikipedia

Clients come to see me for a variety of reasons.  Recently, however, clients come in and talk about how they feel, and they talk about how they are not happy.  The best teaching story about happiness that I have read comes from Buddhist teachings.  

Here is a story about happiness.

"Once I was staying with my mother in London. At the time she was the housekeeper for a very wealthy Canadian who lived in a luxury flat just off Hyde Park. They all went off for a while, and I had the flat to myself. There I was in London, living in this luxurious flat with two huge colour television sets and all the food I could possibly eat! I had enough money for whatever I wanted, lots of records, lots of everything. But I was so bored!  I told myself, "Please remember this. If you are ever tempted to think that physical comfort gives happiness, remember this." 

But then, another time I was staying in a cave, not my cave but another cave, which was very small. It was so small that you couldn't stand up in it, with a tiny box you could only just sit in, and that was the bed as well. It was full of fleas, so I was covered in flea bites. You had to go half a mile down a very steep track to bring up water. There was also almost no food at all, and it was hot. But I was in bliss. I was so happy. It was a very holy place, and the people there were wonderful. Although from a physical point of view the situation was difficult, so what! The mind was happy. I remember that whole place as being bathed in golden light. Do you see what I mean?"   from Ani Tenzin Palmo, from "Reflections on a Mountain Lake: Teachings on Practical Buddhism'

Each person reading this story will have a different take away, and that is a good thing.  What I hope that everybody understands from this story is that our happiness stems from how happy we are at the time we examine our happiness.

As the last line of the "Loving Kindness" Meditation says, "May you be happy!"

Many blessings,

Judy

Some Thoughts About Karma

 

A while ago, a reader asked me to write more about karma.  Here are some quotes about karma that come from Buddhism.

I started learning and practicing Buddhism several decades ago.  And, I am still learning as there are so many nuances to the Buddhism way of life.

The online Dictionary.com defines karma as:

kar·ma

NOUN

1. (in Hinduism and Buddhism) the sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existence.

   
   

I translate this as meaning that how you manage yourself in your past lives will determine how you are treated and regarded in this lifetime.  Many think that karma is only about past evil deeds coming back to haunt them in this life.  However, past life kindnesses and closing of loops of bonds with people are also part of the clearing of karma.  More about this in a later post.

Some thoughts:

"I am the owner of my karma. 

I inherit my karma. I am born of my karma. I am related to my karma.  
I live supported by my karma. 

Whatever karma I create, whether good or evil, that I shall inherit."

The Buddha, Anguttara Nikaya V.57 - Upajjhatthana Sutta

Many blessings,

Judy 

Feverfew - A Healing Herb

 If you were out in the wild, and could not get to a doctor, would you know what plants could help you with various ailments?  Probably not!  If earthquakes or tornados or some other natural disaster cut you off from getting your regular medications, could you use a plant to substitute what you are missing?  Folks all over the world that are in places of natural disaster are facing some of these questions.  

Feverfew picture from www.migraine-facts.co.uk

 

 

 

  

 

We are so close to spring that one can almost smell it in the air!  Many folk are now planning their gardens and/or planting seeds into containers to be transplanted to the garden.  More and more folks are planting herbs not just for flavouring food, but also for use in healing.  There is an old saying that goes “For any malady that man doth know, God has caused a plant to grow!”  Essentially, for each known illness, there is a plant that holds a cure.

One plant that grows very well in North America is feverfew. It has some very specific uses.  Feverfew seems to help:

1.  headaches and migraines by reducing blood vessel spasms and by depressing the release of serotonin and prostaglandins which cause migraines.

2.  control the redness in irritated skin, due to inflammation.

3.  relieve stomach aches.

4.  treat menstrual cramping.

5.  reduce fever from colds, pneumonia, and flu.

www.plantcare.com

 

 

This sounds like a plant that we should all be growing.  I suggest that you add it to your flower bed or flower pot or garden this spring.

Remember that before you eat or drink any herb, you should check with your doctor to see if this plant is good for you and to see if it works with or against any medication that you are taking.  Some herbs counter the effects of medication so do be careful!

Many blessings,

Judy

Being Food Wise - Choosing Wisely

 Poster comes from an email from a friend  —- not sure where it originated

I grew up eating wholesome, natural food from our huge garden. Many of us grew up that way if we had parents that believed in being responsible for the food that we consumed. Gardening and weeding was a time to be with your thoughts or, to think of nothing and then it became a meditation.  Being with Nature brings balance and healing into one’s life.

Now, we are at a time in the world when we are hearing that European countries are banning GMO (genetically modified organism) seeds for grain and vegetables because of the harm that GMO may do to our bodies.  Many countries in Europe also ban some chemicals used for preservation.  And they ban some food colourings and oil additives.  

All of us need to be mindful of what we put in our mouths.  Fake, free, fast, and cheap are all adjectives that are used to sell us prepackaged food filled with preservatives.  Funny, though, the preservatives will not preserve us; rather, they break us down.

We can choose food that is healthy, healing, and wholesome.  Finding clean food and easy recipes for that food can make meal prep fun.  And the eating is even better!  Making food is time consuming, yes, so use that time as a form of meditation.  Use it for rest or for growth of your spiritual self as well as for your mental and physical growth.

Be healthy!

Many blessings,

Judy

What If You Died Tomorrow?

 

Three years ago, I was still working at my IT job.  Someone sent me the poster above.  It made me think.  What would I leave undone and be okay with, if I died?  I really did think about this.  I wondered how to balance my personal life and my business life. Like many of us, I spent a lot of time at work.  I was not in balance.  This made me think about all the things I want to do.  I made a list of things that I wanted to do.  My list wasn’t that long.  I didn’t call it my bucket list.  I called it my FUN List.  

• A cruise in Northern Europe - completed 
• Have a Vegas weekend with my sisters
• Learn to crochet - completed
• Spend time with my cousins in four different provinces - partially completed
• Walk 1000 miles in one year - completed over two years
• Walk with a wolf - completed
• Work with an elephant
• Cruise to  Alaska again
• Walk several times a week with my friends - in progress
• Go back to Stonehenge 

As you can see from the list above, I have completed some of fun things, and I still have events to complete.

Where are you in your journey to have FUN?

Many blessings,

Judy

Lightstationwisdom@gmail.com

Hawk Eyes - Spirit Animal

The Hawk flew over the car as I drove into the cove, and then landed on the top of the evergreen in the backyard.  I could hear the “kreeeyee, kreeeyee” noise.  It actually sounded like “Judy, Judy”.  So, I went to see what was up.  The Hawk was very quiet as she watched me move through the patio door.  My dog came out and stared, too.  

The intensity of her gaze made me look at her.  I felt the phrase from the movie, Avatar, come to mind.  “I see you.”  I felt like the emotions that I had been pushing down were able to rise up, and that, in that seeing, Hawk let them flow without judgement.  The intensity felt like it lasted a very  long time.  When I glanced at my watch it was only four or five minutes.  The process felt like a long meditation.

Hawk flapped twice and lifted off.  I could hear her cry, Kreeeye, Kreeeyee.  It sound like “Clearly, Clearly”.  I wondered if it meant that I was clear, or that I should now see clearly, or, even, that clearly, she had worked with me.  

Blessings.

Judy

Going Slowly

 

This year, may one of your goals be to build a garden.  It does not have to be a big garden; it can be a container garden.  This garden will be the place of peace that will ground you through the Earth Changes, through the challenges in your career or where ever you are in your life. Nature is a blessing, and, the garden brings that blessing to you gently and easily. Achieving Oneness is recognizing that we are part of the Earth, of Nature.  We can recognize ourselves in the natural world.  The garden will be part of the “how to” slow down and get in touch with one’s self.  It is a beautiful thing!

Many Blessings,

Judy

I Am Perfect! You Are Perfect!

 

 

I was reading a wonderful story about how the willow and the oak trees were comparing their different aspects to one another to figure out who was the better tree.  They were so unique that they decided that they were both perfect.

The way that I see life is that everyone is competing to show that they are the best and the most perfect, even if they harm themselves.  

I like the poster.  I am good at being me.  I am good at following my own path.  Every time I think about someone’s opinion of me, I stop the thought and think of something happy. 

Many Blessings,

Judy

I Choose What I Become

 

I was thinking about all the different steps in my life that were part of the journey to get where I am now.  I was wondering if I was making the choices or if choices were made for me.  I was really contemplating “free will”.

 I looked up free will at http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/free+will-and found that there were two definitions.

1.    free and independent choice; voluntary decision:    You took on the responsibility of your own free will. 

2.    Philosophy. the doctrine that the conduct of human beings expresses personal choice and is not simply determined by physical or divine forces. 

 I looked at some of the things in my life that I considered to be a bad choice.  As I examined the circumstances around the choice, I concluded that I did make the choice and that it was the right choice for that set of environmental factors.  If I had not made that choice, I would have made a much bigger mistake down the road.   I decided that we have free will and with it we exercise compassion, give ourselves the ability to change dramatically, and help ourselves mature.

What do you think?

Many blessings,

Judy

Do You Work “Hard”?

All our lives, we have been taught that we need to work hard.  Hard means…not soft; solid and firm to the touch; unyielding to pressure and impenetrable or almost impenetrable… from Dictionary.com.  

We can still have focus and work steadily. We can work from home or from a cafe or even from a library unless your job or career calls for you to be hands on such as a welder or an electrician.  Even then as a welder, you want to work steadily and with focus, and with flexibility.  If you do everything hard and one way, your welds may break.

We have been taught that unless we work hard, we will not be happy.  The hard work keeps us from our families and redefines us so that we identify with our work and not with the family we were born into or the family that we raise.  We become out of balance!  We lose who we are and sacrifice self care to hard work.

We are at a time in society when the concept of work is changing.  What is your new definition of work?

Many blessings,

Judy

Are You Being Mindful?

 

I banged my knee on the corner of the bed when I was making it.  It bloody hurt, because I punctured the skin on the corner of the post.  Within fifteen minutes, I banged my head on the corner of the kitchen cupboards.  I never do that.  I couldn't figure out what happened.  The last straw was stubbing my toe on the step as I was going upstairs.  It hurt, and I never stub my toe, either.

What is going on?? I kept asking myself what was happening and what I was supposed to learn.  And then I got it!  I was not being mindful.  I was not paying attention to what I was doing.  Instead, I was allowing my mind to wander, and to distract me from the task at hand.  I am all attention, now.

Many blessings

Judy

Love and Hate

 

What a world we live in!  So beautiful because of the mountains, and oceans, forests, and so sad because of the destruction, hate and violence.  

The Angels say that hate is seed planted by the darkness when a person is at their most vulnerable.  The hate is then directed at all things.  

The only defense against hate is to use light and love in your life, and to use this to keep the hate out.  This is necessary because if hate is allowed in, like rot in an apple, hate will take over the being.

We all deserve love and light, and we are the only ones that can let it into our lives.

Many blessings.

Judy

Happy Valentine’s Day for 2023

 

  Poster from a collection of images from timesnownews.com

Valentine’s Day!  The day that we are encouraged, especially commercially, to express our feelings of love to our family, friends, and special someone.

My wish for you this Valentine’s Day is to find time to live life and find love where ever you can.  I wish that you find time to be kind, to be filled with loving kindness, and express love/compassion for someone who needs a show of kindness.  May your spirit be loving every day!

Many Blessings.

Judy

Invest in Yourself

There are lots of healing modalities available for anyone to try.  Some modalities offer classes so that you can learn to do deeper self healing.  Some modalities require practitioners to work their expertise on your body/mind. 

Regardless of the modality that you choose, spend some time exploring it.

Some of my favorite methods of healing are:

• Massage
• Meditation
• Reiki
• Reflexology
• Chanting - repeating chants

Try to find the things that make your heart sing, and follow them.

Many Blessings,

Judy

Be You!

 

The Angels talk about the way so many people imitate someone else.  Instead of trying new things that are unique, they mimic what someone else has done, or is wearing, or is experiencing.  

The Angels call this a human tragedy.  With all the millions of people on Earth, instead of doing new things, people are content with the brainwashing of the media and the celebrities who push their ideas, clothing, makeup, and endorsements on the world.

No wonder so many people fail at life.  If you want to succeed, be yourself.  Your blueprint is different than everyone else’s blueprint.  Don’t confuse the planning by imposing imitation on top of it.  When we follow our plan, and when we listen to our hear, we are in Balance.  Things move for us and around us.  Life seems to flow.

Be in the flow is my wish for you.

Blessings,

Judy

Buffalo Jumps for Freedom - Spirit Animal

 

Today, in my meditation, the word of the day that came up was “abundance”.  Quickly behind that thought was the phrase, “set me free”.  I was having a hard time putting those two thoughts together as a message, and then one of my friends sent me this picture because she knows that I have an affinity for Buffalo.

“Aaahhh!”, I said.  “This picture brings the two ideas into perfect balance and I see the harmony between them.”  

Buffalo has a message, both in its actions and by broadcasting to me. 

1. Abundance has many forms.  Buffalo was a gift to The People of the prairies.  Now The People had a larder of meat that was easily accessible to them.  Buffalo provided food, clothing, and weapons and tools (from the bones and horns").
2. When you fence in animals and people, you take away their creativity and will to “be involved”.  Cities and businesses do a good job of fencing everything in with a set of rules and things that you “have” to do.
3. Moving forward means that you often have to cross the barriers that seem to contain you.  A fence is only as high as you let it be… and you can always knock it down!

May you have much abundance.

Judy

Thoughts from a Young Colt - Spirit Animal

 

Sometimes, in that space between being absolutely asleep and wide awake, we doze.  In that dozing time, we are open to new information.  Often, a Spirit Animal will wander in to share some thoughts, some guidance, or tell a story.  The story below comes in that fuzzy, sleepy state, from a young colt that I met.

I come into this world with absolute delight!  All is new! I have the memories of those who came before me to guide me, as I discover the place around me.  I am innocent of doing any harm to anyone.  I know I am part of the herd, and that the herd takes care of me.  When I am older, I too will be in the herd that cares for all the foals.  This is the way Nature intended for Horse to move upon the Earth.  Even though someday I will run fast, and run free, I know that the survival of the herd depends on how each of us does their part.  We move from pasture to pasture to conserve the grasses and shrubs that we like, to give them a chance to regenerate.  Horses, like other animals, care for the Earth because it is our home.  The Earth, in turn, cares for us, and provides for us for food, sleeping, playing, foaling, fighting, and flourishing.  I look up and see my dam peacefully eating and keeping an eye on me at the same time.  I know that I am cared for.  I feel that warmth of affection wrap around me from other members of the herd.  While I know they will discipline me if I step out of line, they will do me no harm.  And while I am young, they will make my life as easy and safe as they can.   I am content!

Many blessings,

Judy

Peace is in the Present Moment

 

  I was lucky enough to find this poster that shows a quote from Lao Tzu speaking on peace.  I think that when we feel peace in ourselves and our surroundings, we receive a triple fold blessing.  I believe that peace keeps us young.  I mean it stops our bodies from aging.  With peace, we have time to focus our faith and to feel the calling of our spirit.  

For me, peace is:

• sitting by the fireplace with my husband, roaring fire, book in hand
• walking in the park with my dog and hearing the trees, the water, the birds, and the breeze
• sitting in our arbour under our mountain ash tree, in the summer, being surrounded by green life and all the birds and squirrels that are in the trees
• sitting in meditation and floating with the Universe
• working in my garden
• cooking and baking

What is peace to you?

Approve of Yourself

 

One of my guides over the years has been Saint Germain.  The message below is one that he gave me back in 2017 when I was struggling with all that I had to do,

Saint Germain tells us that we are very hard on ourselves.  Mostly, he says, because others are hard on us.  They criticize, want to change us, and condemn us for things that they dislike.  

Saint Germain tells us that it is time to take back our lives and to give approval to ourselves.  When we are in spirit, we can easily see how perfect we are.  This peace is filled with gratitude.  Our wellbeing comes back to us, and we move forward with confidence and with faith.

I hope that these words help you today.

Many blessings,

Judy

How Do You Deal With Storms In Your Life?

Poster is from an email from a friend.  The original source is unknown.  It is beautiful.

We all have challenges that come up in our lives from time to time.  It may be illness in the family, job or career issues, or mental health challenges, to name a few of the challenges.  Often, we are so busy living that we have no way of coping with the challenge.

There are different ways for us to deal with problems and the stress from these problems.  Sometimes it is by fighting the problem.  Sometimes it is by waiting it out.  Sometimes we choose a different path.  What makes it easier is having faith that everything will work out the way it is meant to be.

Often, it is in choosing a different path that we find that the problem was actually a blessing in disguise.  I came back from an overseas trip with malaria. And, yes, I took all my recommended drugs to prevent malaria.  However, the strain that I had was a strain not covered by the drug.  So, I was too ill too work.  The company that I was working for terminated me as soon as I got home because that way they did not have to support me with any benefits. Fortunately, I was able to find help through the Employment Insurance case worker that took on my claim.  She directed me to infectious disease control who got me on some control drugs.  As I was off work for several month, I had a chance to reflect on my career path and whether I should look at a different line of work.  Be assured that I did lots of meditation during the time I was off because I thought, like many people think, “why me?”.  I did healing meditations, and worked on chakras, and how to balance my chakras.  I did a lot of  anti stress work.

While I was off, different friends and colleagues learned that I was probably looking for a new job and I received many suggestions for new jobs and invitations to interview.  When I was finally cleared to start job hunting, I was offered a term position for six weeks.  I took the job because it was with a former client and it was fun work (for me) designing an information database.  I had to create a proposal and quite a few supporting documents as well as a project plan of the work to be done.  When the contract was completed, I was invited to a job interview with a major software company.  The interviewer wanted to see samples of my work.  With the permission of my contract employer and with major identifying names replaced with a false name, I used the documents that I designed over the six weeks.  The documents and the work experience landed me a wonderful job.  The storm - illness - led to something wonderful for me.

If a storm is affecting your life right now, I wish you peace with it. I wish you balance.  And, I wish you success in weathering the storm.

Blessings,

Judy

What is Life?

 

When we are able to see all the little things that are amazing in Nature, then we have achieved the ability to move beyond the small things in life.  We have moved beyond the pettiness.  

Nature tells us and shows us so many beautiful things and so many miracles all the time.  Mostly, though, we do not see them.  We are locked in a rut of living that we consider to be our life.  Our life is so much more, if we let it be.

Chief Crowfoot, in the quote above, teaches us to look at all the little things that otherwise go unnoticed.  Today, step back from your regular steps in your life, and look for something different.  Look for the daily, little miracles that move through this world.

Many blessings.

Judy

Meanings for Common Spiritual Terms

                                     

When I work with students (apprentices) or clients, I find that they often do not understand some of the common spiritual terms.  I am sharing what some of these terms are and how they are used.

Universal Law -  Laws that are created with the birth of the Universe... this one or others, that guide the beings in the Universe to have the ability to reach their highest evolvement for their soul.  These laws help reach higher consciousness.  The First Law is - Do No Harm.

Higher Self - This is the highest vibrational aspect of your soul that is the liaison or intermediary between you and The Universe (God, Creator, whatever your belief system is for your prayers).  One finds their higher self through meditation and looking within one's self.  Higher Self provides unfiltered truth which most people are not prepared to listen to.

Vibration - Everything is made of energy.  We know that energy is made up of moving atoms, and that the movement of the different atoms happens at different frequencies or speeds which create a vibration.  When we "feel" energy, we "feel" the vibration because it is different than the vibration within the atoms of our body.

Blessings.

Judy

You Are A Child Of The Universe

                                                        Picture is from seeds4thesoul.com

 Today is a good day to change your thoughts about who you are.  The best guidance about who you are or your “operator’s manual” if you will, is a poem called “Desiderata”.   Read it over and over as a meditation.  Let it change you.

 

DESIDERATA 

- BY MAX EHRMANN, C1920

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. 

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. 

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. 

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass. 

Take kindly to the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. 

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. 

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. 

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. 

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy

The song was written by Les Crane.  He added this most beautiful chorus using the words from one of the paragraphs.

You are a child

Of the universe

No less than the trees and the stars

You have a right to be here

Desira-desiderata

Desira-desiderata

This song is a mantra that I use to switch my thinking when I am feeling sorrow, pain, sadness, guilt, anger, frustration……   The words - With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.  Be cheerful.  Strive to be happy. …..No less than the trees and the stars you have a right to be here.

I think that the words - you have a right to be here - tells us all that we have a place and a purpose here.

It is something to contemplate and meditate on.

Many blessings,

Judy

 

Your Worth

  

                  

I saw this poster and it set me on a train of though around worth and all the times I have heard my parents or other parents say to their child, “You are worthless.” 

I wonder what event in that parent’s life created the ability for them to demean a child.  A child cannot think or act or work in the same manner as an adult.  To apply the same rules of engagement in work or life to a child as you do to an adult seems like an illogical thing to do.  Yet, many parents do this.  Teachers also do this.  I don’t know why.  It is a puzzle.

Your worth is that you are on this Earth to be a part of the constant change and evolution of the world and even the cosmos.  No one is worth-less than any other person.  Having wealth does not make you have worth other than you might be on the top 100 rich people list.  It does not make that person a better person or more worthy.

This is a very complicated subject and can be mind puzzling.  A good way to work with this is to sit in quiet meditation to see what comes up for you.

Have many blessings today,

Judy

What Are The Valuable Things in Life?

 Picture from Microsoft Clip Art

 

I came across this lovely teaching story the other day in a Buddhist online journal.  The idea of staying healthy and fit is probably the one task that resonates for me at the moment.  We are in a short time of extreme weather when colds and flu are prevalent. Our temperature (in Calgary) changes from –20C to +9C in twenty-four hours.  The shifting – which mimics ascension shifting, is hard on the human body.  I digress.  Enjoy this story! 

Once upon a time there was a rich man living in Benares, in northern India. He had a son who was intelligent, curious and eager to learn. Even though he was only seven years old, he was determined to find out what is really valuable.

One day the little boy asked his father, "What are the ways to gain the most valuable things in life?"

His father said, "Only worthy ways lead to worthwhile goals. These are the six worthy ways:

• keep yourself healthy and fit;
• be wholesome in every way;
• listen to those with more experience;
• learn from those with more knowledge;
• live according to Truth;
• act with sincerity, not just energy.

************

After I read this story several times, I believe that sincerity means both compassion and kindness, depending on the situation.  

Many blessings,

Judy

Reach me at lighthousewisdom@gmail.com

Groundhog - Spirit Animal - February 2

                                

      Groundhog’s picture from Wikipedia

 

 

 

Groundhog or woodchuck is a furry little creature sometimes called a land beaver because of its burrowing habit and its beaver like appearance.  Unlike beavers, Groundhog eats wild grasses and other vegetation, and berries and agricultural crops when available. Groundhogs also eat grubs, grasshoppers, insects, snails and other small animals.  Compared to many fur bearing animals, Groundhog has a relatively short life span of about three years. 

With this short life span, one would think that Groundhog would be a group or herd, animal.  They are however, quite solitary. If the environment is somewhat cramped, several individuals may occupy the same burrow. Groundhog burrows usually have two to five entrances, providing groundhogs their primary means of escape from predators. Burrows are particularly large, with up to 14 metres (46 ft) of tunnels buried up to 1.5 metres (5 ft) underground (from Wikipedia).

     Groundhog sentinel from Wikipedia 

Groundhog is a superb whistler, and will whistle to alert danger or to alert the others about food. It also whistles different mating calls.  Our Earth Ancestors found that by watching animals, and in particular, Groundhog, that they could get a good indication of what the weather would be like, either on a daily basis or for the next month.  

From this observation, our Ancestors began to watch for Groundhog to come out in the spring, that is, as soon as the snow began melting.  Remember, they did not have calendars and February  2  meant nothing to our Ancestors.  When the sky was clear, and the animal came out, it would sniff the air.  Groundhog could smell if another bought of snow or storm was in the air.  If so, she would run back into her burrow to sleep where it is warm for another four or five weeks.  If she came out and it was cloudy, then she could smell the warmth and the sap beginning to move up the trees, indicating that spring is here.  Groundhog depends mostly on vegetation and small insects so the weather has to be warm enough for her to feed herself.

If indeed Groundhog did indicate spring, then our Ancestors knew that it was time to start prepping for planting, if that is what they did.  If the People were not farmers, then they would make plans for one more big hunt for meat to carry the families through the spring thaws, when animals may be less available because of migration or simply poor hunting access.

Groundhog wishes you a good spring and a wonderful summer!

Many blessings,

Judy