Black Squirrel on Bounty

A while ago, I was driving my husband to his conference, and we saw a big, black squirrel. It was running across the road, and before it reached the other side, it stopped and looked at us intently, then hurried away, and up a tree.

Surprised by it’s actions, I thought about Squirrel, and all the various things that Squirrel is about.  I thought about the Proverb, “Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn sometimes”.  And then, I wondered why a Squirrel would be blind.  The Squirrel that crossed the road was not blind.  It seemed to see exceptionally well.  A picture of a peanut, and then a chunk of bread crossed my vision.  Squirrel was connecting to me across the ethers.  I made my husband peanut butter on seed muffins for a snack later in the morning.

Now that we were on the same frequency, Squirrel sent me a series of rapid images that may be translated as a message.  She was saying that where we live is soon going to be filled with bounty.  This is a change from the historical, dry, arid conditions that Calgary has had.  With the rain, all things are growing lush, even gardens that looked to be drowned out at one point.  Squirrel says to get ready to deal with our bounty.  Find ways to use it and share it.  Squirrels have a history of hiding what they find, concerned only for their own well being.  She tells us that the only way humanity will continue is if we learn to share because most humans do not know how to forage like the squirrels forage. 

Blessings,

Judy

You Are Of The Earth

Buddhists believe that every human contains four elements, Earth, Water, Air, and Fire.  These four elements make up our physical body, and allow us to feel the energies associated with each of them.  We will talk about those energies in a minute.  What is clear, is that these four elements can help us to stay grounded.  However, it seems that many people choose to be ungrounded, that is, they feel “spaced out”.  And rather than try to change this feeling, the individual seems to encourage the feeling.

          This great picture comes from www.meta-synthesis.com

When we feel “heavy” when we are walking or running,  or “sleepy” or “full” after a meal, then we are feeling the effects of our Earth energy.  The Earth energy is working to pull our bodies – physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual – back into the confines of our physical center.  Sometimes our bodies are not pulled back in all the way, so we feel “off center”. It is our Earth energy that allows us to taste and to touch.  When we feel solid, or stiff, or smooth, or hardness, then we are using our Earth element.

When we feel constrained and our movement seems stiff, or we seem without fluidity, then we know our Water element is blocked.  When we feel sticky and emotional and want to cry for no reason, or if we feel depressed, we are feeling Water energy.  Congestion and phlegmy coughs tell us that our Water energy is out of balance.  If we see people in need, our Water energy cries out to support them, to be in service.  It is our Water energy that allows us to see and to make assumptions or judgements around situations.

We know that when we hear things and feel the mental energy of our brain working that the Air Element is in play. Or, when we have visions, or words come to us unbidden, we may find that our Air Element is changing, and with the change, bringing us new information.  Those with a strong air element like to be entertained and to solve puzzles and quizzes.  When we are caught up in our Air element, we float on “cloud nine”.  Playing, pushing, pulling, and all movement are showing us how we use the Air element.

The Fire Element shows up as heat in our body, as passion and anger.  When somebody wrongs us, or we feel something is unfair, then we tend to “burn up” with rage or indignation.  We use the heat we carry to show love and affection, to show protection.  Healers talk about the amount of heat that is generated when they are working with a client. Attraction heats up with the Fire element.

We have all these great sensations that tell us so much about our bodies and that show us that we are in the present moment.  Then, we lose this information by getting into our mind, into our ego, and analysing the information so that the info of the present moment becomes useless. 

If you have some time today, meditate on the Nature of your body, and how the Earth changes may affect how your body feels in the Earth element.  Meditate on the Oneness, on finding peace in the present moment, and on the Ancestors, who have already experienced the circle of life.  Find a prayer that helps you relax, and that slows down your mind.  Allow yourself to be here, now, in the present.

Blessings,

Judy

Shark Swims In With A Message

Three different nights, I have dreamed of sharks.  I realized that they had a message for me, and that I needed to “dive in” and figure out what it is that Shark wants to say.

Sharks are by nature, loners.  They swim by themselves and only congregate when drawn by the smell of blood.  If Shark is in a frenzy, it will kill other sharks without consciousness.

 

 

Picture of a bull shark – the type of shark that appeared in my dreams.

 

Shark’s message covers several things.  

• Spend time alone and you will not become anxious or irritable.  Spend a lot of time with others that you have no respect for, and you will want to “bite off someone’s head”.
• Be aware that you are growing ever more sensitive to smells (Sharks smell one drop of blood in an ocean of water), and to vibrations and changes in vibrations. Sharks are able to determine where fish are by the vibration they send through the water when the fish is swimming.
• Shark is not able to float in water, and therefore shares this knowledge by telling us that we cannot float through life – we must keep moving or we will get run over, or drown. it is very simple.
• Water is often equated to the depths of emotion.  Shark can swim to great depths, and can also swim quite close to shore.  With Shark’s guidance, we can navigate the deepest, darkest emotions, and look at them dispassionately. 

May you enjoy “swimming with the sharks” in your dreams tonight.

Blessings, 

Judy

Celebrating Summer Solstice June 20 2025

Tonight, we celebrate the Summer Solstice with a gathering of our friends.  We begin with a potluck supper followed by ceremony and meditation activities inviting in the light.

Summer solstice is the longest day of the year and the time of the most light.  The feeling is glorious! 

Each of us in the circle brings an energy of happiness and light that can be shared with the others in the circle, and then can be broadcast out to where ever we wish the light to go.

Part of our activity tonight will include this beautiful poem by Chandra Levy.  It begins with the words, “O Radiant sun”. The Sun pushes the light to Earth.  It is a great message for summer solstice.

A Nature Lover’s Ode

O Radiant sun

The pure light that you are, that I am

Bathe me, anoint me with the purity of your beam

I am Blessed and enlightened by our ecstatic union

Reflecting and enriching my inner realm

O playful, delicious breeze

Play me as a sacred flute

Accompanied by the strings of my delighted heart

Calling forth the Divine and harmonious notes so dear

Tantalisingly sweet, pure and clear

O creatures of creation

Delight and invite and entice me

With your myriad colours and manifestations of beauty

Sing with me that I may know your song

That we may harmonise and realise we all belong

O dearest Planet Earth

Our devoted Mother

Our precious physical home

May our frequencies align

With the sweetest and deepest of tones

May we peacefully respond, rejoice and revel

In our loving interconnection

Grateful for this life

Grateful for this love

Grateful for this resplendent reflection

By Chandra Levy

Blessings,

Judy

The Truth of Life Is In Our Hands

I was thinking about our hands and how we use our hands in healing sessions – we use them to comfort, to support, to transmit energy, to caress, to tap, and even to hold back energy.  Our hands often act, it seems, of their own accord.  This means that they act instinctively, and that they do not act from the brain.  Think about the number of times that you have said one thing and that your hands have done another thing – a variation on the right and left hand not knowing what the other is doing.  In fact, sometimes our brain does not know what our hands are doing.

Think about the times you are happy.  You will clap your hands.  You don’t think about it, you just do it.  Or, if you are sad, or excited, or extremely moved, you may fold your hands over your heart.  If you are scared, you may protect yourself by placing your hands over your stomach or belly; or, you may wrap    your arms around your self and and pat your arms to comfort yourself.  

When someone is hurting, we instinctively put our hands on their back or their head or their shoulders and stroke the person to comfort them.  We use our hands to wave at people, and show them we are happy to see them.  We even use our hands to salute to show honour to people.  When we mean no harm, we show our hands, palm up.

Nature gave us five digits on our hands.  Five is the number for getting things done.  The thumb is almost useless by itself. However, when we use it with the four fingers, we have a tool that allows us to dig, to pick fruit and vegetables, to make meals, to bake, to build, to sew, to create, and to love.
The hands, then become interesting because they will always show us, and others, exactly what is going on in our physical and emotional body.  And, that physical and emotional feeling may be quite different than what our mental body (mind, ego) is saying.  The hands show our gratitude to Creator, and gratitude to those around us, by the service that they do for our selves and for others.  Our hands are about life. The truth of our life is in our hands. And, that is a good thing.

Blessings,

Judy

On Love

 

Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.

Mother Teresa

One of the things that makes me the happiest in life, is when people come to our house and tell me that they love the feeling in our house; that they feel sad to leave our house.   I saw this quote from Mother Theresa and I believe that many people feel this way when they leave our house.

May you find people that feel this way in your life.

Blessings,

Judy

Suffering Is Not The Enemy

 

We are constantly encouraged to reject what is unpleasant, disappointing or difficult. 'What's all this suffering? Let's be happy! Have fun!' But our suffering is not our enemy. It is only through a relationship with my pain, my sadness, that I can truly know and touch the opposite—my pleasure, my joy, and my happiness.  - Claude AnShin Thomas, “Conceptions of Happiness”

Blessings,

Judy

Human Kind

 

The picture says:   Human Kind.  Be Both.

"We’re not meant to be vehicles of destruction, but rather the very embodiment of love & light and compassion, manifest."

I recently had an experience where people were not very kind to me or to each other.  I wondered why they were like that.  Then, I met their manager.  He was not nice to any one.  When people say that influence comes from the top, “people” were very correct in this case.  

What makes someone be unkind to those around him (or her)?  Is it their home life?  Is it that they think acting mean makes them powerful?  Or, is it that they don’t like people in general?  What ever the reason, I like to think that most people are kind and that most people want to help others.

Blessings,

Judy

Ten Commandments From Bertrand Russell

 

The Poster says:

1. Do not Lie to yourself.

2. Do not lie to other people unless they are exercising tyranny.

3. When you think it is your duty to inflict pain, scrutinize your reasons closely.

4. When you desire power, examine yourself closely to see why you deserve it.

5. When you have power, use it to build up people, not to constrict them.

6. Do not attempt to live without vanity for this is impossible, but chose the right audience from which to seek admiration.

7. Do not think of yourself as a wholly contained unit.

8. Be reliable.

9. Be just.

10. Be good-natured.

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I saw this poster and realized that it is quite close to the shamanic code.  After more scrutiny, I realized that it is close to many codes, including the code of the Knights of the Round Table.  I realize that it is not exact.  However, I find it interesting that several codes are so close.  I wonder then, why so many people feel the need to be bullies or tyrants.

What are your thoughts?

Blessings,

Judy

Lion on Love

                

One of my friends sent me this picture.  I looked at it, and thought it was great, and then deleted it.  Then, when I was “Stumbling”, I came across the picture again.  Again, I thought it was great, and hit the button to move past it.  Everything moved, and then shifted back to the picture.  Ah!  I realized that I was being given this picture for a reason.

I sat with the picture and meditated.  I used the mantra, Loving Kindness, to relax and move into that place of peace and stillness.  I was hovering in that place where thoughts come up to you, and you simply wave them away, without really seeing them.  And then a much larger, dark figure walked into my meditation silence.  He coughed to draw attention to himself.  I looked at him, and said, “Can I help you?”

The Lion moved into my consciousness, fully, and said he had some information for me.  I settled back and said that I would be glad to hear it.  He began speaking.

“We often hear in the great whispers that go around through the air, that you two leggeds do not think that we love.  Love, as we understand it, is when you totally commit to protect and to honour those charges around you; that you realize that without them, you would feel lost and perhaps incomplete.  We lions love absolutely in the nature of our kind. 

We are different than two leggeds because we do not intentionally plan treachery – to hurt or to kill – the ones we love.  WE work to protect them. 

And, so it is that we are different.  We say to you, “judge us not as dumb beasts”.”

                                    ^^^^^^^^^^^^

Blessings,

Judy

Duck Says “Sink or Swim”

Often, in life, we are given situations where we must choose to either move forward and make a change, or where we choose to let life circumstances defeat us.

Several days ago, someone that I love dearly received chastising about a situation that he was involved in.  The chastisement seemed out of proportion to the seriousness of the situation.  It reminded me of the put downs that many of us received from our parents (fathers) in our early lives.  The tone of the chastisement was along the lines of “how can you be so stupid”, and “I am so much smarter than you”; put downs that we now all realize are about power and not about any constructive coaching or team building.

As I was thinking through the situation, and feeling thankful that I was no longer in that corporate situation, I saw the picture below, from Spirit, and realized that Duck had a comment for me. Duck is a spirit animal that brings many messages to humans, messages that are often ignored.

The comment was “sink or swim”!  From the moment that Duck is born, she must make her way through the grass down into the water.  She is not safe on the land from Fox, Hawk, Coyote, Snake, Racoon, Weasel, or even Cat or Dog.  When she gets in the water, she is not safe from Turtle, Fish, Eagle, or other predators.  Yet, she swims! She does not give up.  To escape those who would diminish her, she simply swims faster until the time comes when she can fly, and then she flies faster. 

Life, Duck says, is about getting on, and not getting down.  Life is about finding the flow, and staying in the current, and keeping moving.  The nature of things is about moving and change, and never giving up. Life is about loving one’s self enough to keep trying.  

And that, says Duck, is the meditation for today – sink or swim.

     Ducks from amolife.com 

Many blessings,

Judy

Nature’s Beauty

Often, we go through life looking for perfection, especially in Nature.  What we miss is the beauty of all that surrounds us because we are looking for something that is our perception, and perhaps, not the truth of Nature.

I love this short story that illustrates the beauty in Nature, and how we must accept all of Nature to be in keeping with the harmony of the Earth.

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Nature's Beauty

A priest was in charge of the garden within a famous Zen temple. He had been given the job because he loved the flowers, shrubs, and trees. Next to the temple there was another, smaller temple where there lived a very old Zen master. One day, when the priest was expecting some special guests, he took extra care in tending to the garden. He pulled the weeds, trimmed the shrubs, combed the moss, and spent a long time meticulously raking up and carefully arranging all the dry autumn leaves. As he worked, the old master watched him with interest from across the wall that separated the temples. 

When he had finished, the priest stood back to admire his work. "Isn't it beautiful," he called out to the old master. "Yes," replied the old man, "but there is something missing. Help me over this wall and I'll put it right for you." 

After hesitating, the priest lifted the old fellow over and set him down. Slowly, the master walked to the tree near the center of the garden, grabbed it by the trunk, and shook it. Leaves showered down all over the garden. "There," said the old man, "you can put me back now." 
              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Many blessings,

Judy

Sheep Says Count Your Blessings

 

Picture of sheep comes from www.animalspapper.com

Last night, I could not sleep!  I tossed and turned, and I tried all of the different mediations, breathing exercises, and mind calming techniques that I knew. (And, I know a lot!)  At 3:00pm, I finally tried counting sheep.  

I saw a path, with me sitting on the fence, counting the sheep as the sheep filed by in single file.  I was on sheep number 15, and waiting for sheep number 16 to appear.  She walked up the path, and stopped and looked at me, and began to talk.

“Why are you sitting on that fence counting sheep?  Why don’t you come and walk with us out to the pasture.  Why don’t you enjoy nature instead of simply sitting perched like a bird?  Does counting sheep really make you feel sleepy?  Don’t we all look lovely and white? We get better colours when we walk in dream time with people.  Yes, you are dreaming – you are actually in that in between state, between true awake and true sleep.”  

And she paused for a breath and started again.

“There are four hundred and forty-three sheep in this flock.  Our job is to help people fall asleep.  We all signed up for this task because it is one of great service, and by being in service, we sheep are all allowing our souls to evolve – some of us faster than the human souls, I might add.  This is a fun job. We see all sorts of people around the world that have this particular past time.  We do not often get to Africa, China, Russia or South America.  We used to be confined to Europe, and then to parts of North America.  I have been to the Alps, the Andes, the Rocky Mountains, the Appalachian Mountains, and even to the depths of the Pacific and the Atlantic to work my special brand of magic sleep!  

You humans are so funny.  Sometimes we have a good chuckle at your experiences that cause you not to sleep.  Everything has happened before, and everything will happen again.  Everything that happens to you has happened to one of us in the flock, at one  time.  What we dream time sheep have learned to do is to look at each of you humans and your experiences, and then bless you and your experience.  That blessing is actually part of the magic that we work.  When you are feeling low, we suggest that you count your blessings.  

Do you know that a blessing is anything that benefits you?  It may be food, water, a hug, finding a penny, listening to music or meeting someone incredibly gifted like all of us sheep.   If you move through the blessings, and count them, you will find that you have so many in a day, that you simply take them for granted.  It is the nature of this world to provide you with blessings.  Blessings are bestowed out of love.  Why don’t you try counting your blessings now?  Sleep child!”

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It seems to me that the dream Sheep are extraordinary, and are actually Spirit Animals assigned to work with us.

Blessings,

Judy

Welcome June 2025

Happy Duck Walking In The Rain 

June is the time of hot sun, growing, and enjoying.  Our Ancestors scheduled several celebrations that lead up to Summer Solstice, generally celebrated on June 20, 21, or 22, depending on where you are in the world.

One of the celebrations, held June 1st or 2nd, was a gratitude celebration that honoured the Goddess of Growing Things, and the Sun God for helping things grow.  The day and night was filled with fun, thanks, and love.  In fact, many couples married on this day.  And, now couples marry all through the month of June. 

Nature gets in the act because so many birds lay their eggs, and even hatch them during June because this gives the young a chance to grow to maturity before fall, and the cold, set in.  If the bird is migratory, then the young have time to prepare for the flight. 

This year, the Ancestors urge us to be more prepared for the fall and for the cold.  They say that the summer will be short, and that the cold will come early. In Calgary, we still have cold even though during the week the temperatures reached 28 degrees Celsius.  Perhaps it is time to stock up on staple goods, flashlights and batteries, or even candles and matches.  Set aside a store of water.  Being prepared is not just a Boy Scout motto.

Blessings,

Judy

Archangel Haniel’s Channel

Every so often, I will receive amazing information from an Angel or Archangel.  Here are some words of wisdom from  Archangel Haniel.

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Beloved children of Earth, I adore all that you do!  You work so earnestly to learn lessons, to live out the life plans that you wrote for this time. You get so sidetracked as you believe that all you have is this life time, and the body vessel that houses your soul.  You do feel the pull of the moon, the call of the water, the need to be free.  And, many of you push these feelings aside as you struggle in an earthly reality that has been created out of the greed of many.  The pace of your life – whether in work or in play – is stressing your body vessel, and shutting down your senses.  

At one time, humans would be caught up in their daily work, and then simply stop to enjoy the song of a bird, or the laughter of children.  People would stop to breath deeply.   Now, you each breath shallowly compared to the capacity that your lungs were set for.  Stop now, and breath deeply, down to your toes, to draw the breath down as deeply as you can.  Breath is what feeds you.  You can draw in life energy from a deep breath taken outside.  The life force of the natural world will feed you and sustain you. It seems that as you are captive in tall buildings that you forget to breath.  Perhaps, it is that you unconsciously feel your true nature, your God Spirit, imprisoned, and you would rather die that be penned up.  

The Moon calls to you many nights, to come out and walk under her because she can shine healing light upon you.  Most of you, however, recoil from this pull.  You don’t want to be “weird”.  You regard those that talk with Angels as “weird”.  These that you call “weird” are doing as their nature requires them to do.  These people are truly free because they do not feel the constraint that limits the feelings that they have.  These weird people are answering their calling that takes them outside of the business and lets them be in the moment.  These weird ones are all taken care of by Creator because they help to hold the balance between catastrophe and light.  They know how to ask us for help, and they know how to assist us when we cannot make direct contact with a being in distress.

I come to you today to ask you to take some time for healing your self and your family.  When was the last time that you sat and talked to your spouse or your children, or your parents or siblings, to find out what they were doing in their life aside from their career work?  Have you walked in the park with your child or dog, without your cell phone in your ear?  Have you taken time to skip stones in the water at a pond or river?  Invite me to create a space in your day so that you can take time for you.  Use it to meditate outside or to walk in the park or to sit in your back yard or balcony.  Feel the peace within this time.  Use it to ground.  Know that you are loved. 

It is with grace and blessing that I leave you now,

Archangel Haniel 

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Many blessings,

Judy

Red Tailed Hawk’s Guidance

Picture of red tailed hawk from Wikipedia.com 

If you have been following my blog posts, you will know that I consider Hawk to be a spirit animal that can bring many messages.  Indeed, there are many types of hawks.  Today’s post is about Red Tailed Hawk

The Red-Tailed Hawk is a member of the genus Buteo, a group of medium-sized raptors with robust bodies and broad wings. Members of this genus are known as buzzards in Europe, but hawks in North America (Wikipedia)

Today, Red Hawk sat in the trees along Parkland.  She is ever watchful – looking for mice and gophers – watching the activities in the park with a proprietary eye.  She sits so high up.  She never gets involved with the people or the animals that move through the park.  She is unlike the crows and the magpies who sit in the lowest branches of the tree and squawk at the dogs, and try to drop things on the people.  

This is Red Hawk’s Guidance:  Be the observer. Stand back from the drama, from the emotions, and from the action-reaction pattern.  Step in to take what you need and then step back.  Engaging in dialogue with those caught up in their own stories is simply about creating a bigger story. Stand back and take responsibility for your own actions; do not lay responsibility for your actions at the feet of another.  Hunting to feed one’s self is a necessity.  Hunting to spite others is an act against Oneness.  Let Great Spirit guide your steps.  Let the influences of your spirit guides take you to the places where growth occurs.

Blessings,

Judy

Archangel Michael’s Message

 Most beloveds! I AM Archangel Michael.  I joyously greet you as you move through this time of change and self realization.  So many of you are being called to look deep inside yourself to see those events in your life that you have labelled as “wrongs done to you”.  You are being called to see them in a new light – the same light or perspective that we have of you – as though you were all players on a big movie screen.  You know that when you watch a movie, only part of the action is visible at one time.  Now, you are seeing the whole picture around the event that is in question.  You see that perhaps there was no wrong intended.  You see that you took it upon yourself to create the wrong and live by that moment.  You have created a world that is false.

All of you have done this over and over in your lives.  You have created this world so that you could learn lessons that would help your spiritual growth and so that you would understand the ranges of emotion, and the depth of cleansing that the I AM presence offers to each of you upon your return to infinity.  Each soul has a chance to move to that place of unconditional love for those that seek to harm the vessel (human body).  There is no place like it (Earth).  

So, instead of looking out ward to those around you for validation of who you are, look inward.  Look past all the abuse that you have placed upon yourself, and see yourself for the pure, bright, white light that you are.  See the magnificence of your journey, even though there were those who tried to stop you and send you home early.  Know that you have been honoured by your soul group, by your angels, and by those beings that watch your journey.  Healing is something that is best done from the inside, and not from the outside.  Nature – the beasts, birds, fish, and reptiles, do not have someone come and sit over them to heal them.  They find a safe place to heal themselves, or, they perish.  In that perishing, they are then reborn to take the lesson again to understand that choice makes a difference.

So too for each of you is choice an important lesson.  Choose to  heal, or not.  Choose to love, or not.  Choose to be generous, or not.  Choose to be grateful, or not.  It is your choices, and not what others do to you that makes the difference.  Peace is found inside your heart, not outside.  Those that have peaceful hearts may be in a noisy football stadium and be at peace.  This life that you are in is a “how to expand awareness” lesson on a grand scale.  Do be grateful.  Do not close yourself to the beauty and abundance around you.  Each of you deserve the best.

                              ***********

Blessings,

Judy

Buddha on Right Action

 

Picture of Buddha from Wikipedia.com 

 

 

 

Right Action is actually one of the eight paths on the Buddhist Eightfold Path. It comes under the section of ethics. Most commonly, to Monks, it is the law of Right Conduct. Simply put – abstaining from taking the life of any living thing, abstaining from stealing, abstaining from un-chastity (refraining from improper sexual conduct), abstaining from lying (truth and integrity in all things), and abstain from intoxicants. 

Generally, all belief systems mirror the intention of right action. Therefore in spiritual practice we hear the phrase “right action” and take it as shorthand for all of the “RIGHTS” in the Eightfold Path. From pagan tradition, the phrase, “and harm to none (no one), is also about Right Action. 

Books have been written on how the Rights should be learned, implemented and incorporated into one’s personal creed. This includes judgment of others and offering unsolicited advice. More on that in another article. For now, we leave it to everyone to make up their mind about Right Action.

Blessings,

Judy

Betrayal

The poster says:  In every life….. for every love….. with every trust….. there is a risk of BETRAYAL.  -Part of the poster for the movie called “Betrayal” based on a Harold Pinter play.

So often in life, we feel betrayed or wronged because we expected someone to behave in a certain way, and then they do something that hurts us. The many meanings of the word include -disloyalty, sell-out (informal), deception, treason, treachery, trickery, duplicity, double-cross (informal), double-dealing, breach of trust, perfidy, unfaithfulness, falseness, and inconstancy (from www.thefreedictionary.com).  

The word means “be + traitor”. Generally, the traitor is someone close to you.  The BIG question is always, “Why did the other person betray me?”  The answer is, “It is all about power, and making themselves look good at the expense of others.”  Some psychologists say that betrayal is about jealousy. I believe that it is about causing pain for the other person.  Of course, the karma returns to hit the betrayer immediately.  When others see that the betrayer has betrayed once, then other people are very careful not to get to close to the betrayer because they expect him/her to betray again.

For the one that is betrayed, the question becomes, “How do I learn to love/trust again?  You do not need to learn – you already know how.  What is required is to get past the fear, and realize that the issue of feeling betrayed is real? One must honour the feeling, and then, let it go! One does not need to hang on to the feeling.

Blessings,

Judy

Teachings From A Holstein Steer

One of my memories of my childhood is a black and white Holstein steer. He was one of Dad’s feeder steers in the corral.  For some reason, Harry, which is what we called him, liked kids.  He would come over and stand beside us, bringing with him a mouthful of hay.  Or, after he’d finished at the water trough, he would come over to have his shoulders rubbed or the spot above his eyes and below his horns rubbed.  

 

Picture of a Holstein bull to approximate the size of the steer.

Dad was worried that he might hurt us because he was so big.  However, he was extremely gentle with us.  My brother and I got to the point where we would get up on his back and talk to him, and get him to walk around the corral.  The other steers just seemed to think he was the oddest thing.  They would stare at him when he was with us kids.  If we were riding Harry near them, they would snort or bellow, and move away.  At one point, my brother and three of his friends were all sitting on Harry’s back. All the boys were ten years old.  

One day, someone left the back gate unchained and when the steers rubbed against it, the gate opened.  The thirty or so steers stampeded to freedom.  They ran out into another big field, and when they saw how green the grass was, they stopped running and began to graze.  After realizing that the steers were out, Dad organized my brother and I in a chute arrangement and Dad and our dog, Flash, headed out to the field to round the steers up.  They came running in as fast as they ran out, and were prepared to run past the gate, over top of my brother and I, and head east.  Harry was running with the rest of them.  When he got to us, he slowed down and stopped with both of us kids in front of him and out of the way of the other cattle.  When the herd passed us, Harry went around us and trotted off after them.  Yes, we eventually got the steers back in several hours.  After all, they would not want to miss their evening feeding.  

What I learned from our time with Harry, through the playing with him, and his affection, are the following ideas:

• It is okay to have interests outside of your friends and family.  New interest broaden your horizons.
• Always protect your friends.
• When people gang up on you, you don’t need to get angry or be afraid; simply stand firm.
• Kindness and affection know no boundaries. Love is permanent in your heart.
• Sometimes you need to break the patterns in order to see how good routine and life, in general, are for you.
• Just because it seems you have a lot in life, it doesn’t mean that you can’t aspire to something else.
• Four legged friends are sometimes truer than two legged friends.
• Friends may pass through your life, however, the memories last a lifetime.

Blessings,

Judy

Using Blueberries For First Aid

The camping season is now opening up, although we are still getting some mixed snow and rain in Calgary.  I see my neighbours pulling out their campers and equipment, and hosing down tarps.  Most campers carry a first aid kit.  However, the best first aid kit is the great outdoors, and all the wonderful plants in Mother Nature’s garden.

Let’s talk about blueberries. They are very common place in North America, whether in the east or the west, north or south.

 

 

from www.stargrazerperennials.com

 

 

 

We humans have a trait that wants to be a follower, and to adapt what ever the newest health fad is – Noni Juice, Acai Berry, or some other wonder berry.  The thing is, BLUEBERRY is our very own wonder berry.

1.  TREATS DIARRHEA - When camping, take fresh or dried blueberries with you. Two tablespoons of dried berries will cure diarrhea.  Studies have shown that a decoction of Blueberries will sterilize cultures of colon bacillus and of Ebert's bacillus in a 24 hour period.  The latter is the Typhoid bacillus.  Dried blueberries don't weigh much and are certainly worth carrying in a backpack.  Blueberries are a natural remedy for persistent diarrhea and acute enteritis (inflammation of the small intestine) caused by a virus or bacteria.

2. TREATS HERPES II – FLU -  Extract of Blueberry (available commercially under the name of  Bilberry, the "Old English" name for Blueberry) has been found to be an antiviral in cell culture for herpes simplex virus II, influenza  and vaccinia (cowpox) virus.

3.  KILLS BACTERIA - Extracts of blueberries have also been found to kill or inhibit growth of funguses, yeasts and bacteria, including Trichomonas vaginalis (an inflammation of the vagina that can be transmitted to males-causing itching and discharge in both sexes). 

4.  ARTHRITIS - STRENGTHEN ARTERIES - Blueberries benefit all capillaries, veins and the arteries and by doing so improve the circulation to the hands, feet, brain and heart. Blueberries are used to strengthen coronary arteries and varicose veins and help in reducing arteriosclerosis and plaque deposits. 

Blueberry belongs to a family called flavonoids.Although not true vitamins, flavonoids have been given the name of Vitamin "P". The P stands for permeability and is responsible forcollagen stabilization in the body. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, consisting of veins, tendons, ligaments and cartilage. Collagen is destroyed during the inflammation of arthritis, gout, and periodontal disease as well as other conditions of inflammation involving the joints, connective tissues, bones and cartilage. Flavonoids not only aid in prevention of collagen destruction, but alsoadd to the strength of such tissue. Blueberries, because of theirhigh content of flavonoids, actually make the collagen stronger byadhesion and cross linking with the collagen. They improve circulation and feed the capillaries by altering the ability of fluids and nourishment to pass through, inhibiting free radical damage and improving the tone of the entire vascular system by strengthening all of the veins and the arteries.

5. ULCERS - Current research indicates that blueberries may be useful in the future in treatment and prevention of ulcers.  It is thought that this is due to the blueberry's empowering of the defensive barriers of the gastrointestinal mucous.

Will you pack blueberries with your gear this year?

Remember, this advice on using blueberries should not replace the advice of doctors or other medical professionals.  Check with your doctor if you are taking prescription medications to confirm that blueberries do not interfere with the drug(s).

Blessings,

Judy

Pheasant’s Wisdom

Picture of ring-necked pheasant from http://talkaboutwildlife.ca

 It was winter, and I was walking with my dog along the Bow River.  We could hear Pheasant crowing, but could not see him.  Then, as we walked down a gravel path, he jumped up on an old log and crowed at us.  My dog was frantic to chase him.  Generally, Pheasant is not that happy to show himself.  This was a treat for me.  I wondered why he would jump out that way.  I pondered his behaviour.  

Pheasant had called attention to himself by both being loud and by jumping up on the log.  He was acknowledging his truth, and telling me to acknowledge my truth.  By example, Pheasant was showing that one needs to get up and speak what they know, regardless of who is around and regardless of what they may think.  This action is one of leadership, of having credentials that speak of “walking your talk”.

Pheasants have a difficult time during the winter gathering food and sheltering from the cold.  Their diet during summer consists of insects and green plants.  In winter, their diet includes waste grain, weed seeds and fruit of such locally-growing shrubs as rose and buckbrush. By standing up so tall, Pheasant was saying that one needs to take the good with the bad, and to learn and to grow from the lessons.  When things are not going well (and we had a cold winter and lots of snow this year in Calgary), it is okay to lay low, and to be cautious.  One must act with discernment as they walk through life.  

Pheasant’s final message is about environment.  Even though we could hear him, we could not see him.  This is the message of “learn how to blend with your environment and use that environment to your advantage”.  Then, when we did see him, he was up off the ground.  He says that one must be grounded to walk in the world, however, at times, one must go up higher to see the bigger picture. 

Blessings,

Judy