Buddha And Being Kind

 

 The poster says, “Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.”  - Buddha

There are times when I must bite my words back.  The words that I would use may seem appropriate to me, and, unkind to the person receiving them.  We all perceive life in different ways, based on our past experience.  I was having one of those days – you know the kind – where it seemed like people were going out of their way to be unhelpful, or even mean.  When I feel that way, I know I need to take a deep breath and find the peace in my heart, and then I can kindly and peacefully speak words that help the person get over what is troubling them.  

I have learned over the years that unkindness is often played forward by the person that has been hurt by another’s unkindness.  After all the leadership and team building that has been going on in business for the last fifteen years, it is troubling to see bully behaviour in businesses, often stemming from a manager.  

Perhaps try some words of peace today at work or at a gathering of friends.  Do it as an experiment to see how things play out.

Blessings

Judy

Eagle Circles The Area

 

The Eagle landed and pulled up a mouse, and then took off over the river.  It circled around my dog and me, twice, and flew away.  In the time that it circled, it cried out several times.  I felt like it was doing a shamanic circle around us and giving us a blessing.  

That night, I dreamt.  I dreamt of being in a circle of animals.  Some were eagles and some were deer and bear, and wolves, and rabbits, and owls and geese, and skunks and otters.  It felt like many of the forest and plains animals were there.  I remember seeing a buffalo and an elk as well.  

The purpose of the circle was to get some agreements on caring for the land.  The idea was that all of the animals were family, and that as a family, they needed to care for the earth that they lived on.  Basically each animal had a circle or patch of land to care for.  I can’t tell you what the rules were, if any, because it did not seem important to me.  I can tell you that while the circle was in session, several very large eagles flew over it and around it as though they were protecting the area.

It made me think of the Ancestors who came west in wagons.  At night, to protect their families and their livestock, the pioneers would circle their wagons to protect their little area.  I feel like Eagle was telling me that it is time to circle the wagons and to protect what is mine, and to keep my family safe.  I am working on that now.

May you work to keep your family safe.

Blessings,

Judy

Do Your Own Work

 

 

The Buddha is saying, 'You are this.' He doesn’t say, 'I have something extra that I am going to give you.' Trust in yourself, trust in who you are. Sit down, breathe, be listening right now, hearing right now. Be intimate. But you have to do it for yourself. - Elihu Genmyo Smith, "No Need to Do Zazen, Therefore Must Do Zazen"

The truth of this quote has been coming up for me as I work with people in my spiritual practice.  Everyone wants the results without doing the work.  It is very difficult to become great, or even good, at anything without doing the practice to get there.  

There is a lot written in books and magazines about how much time it takes to get good and even great at a task or action.  The basic amount of time to become proficient at something is about 20 hours or 1/2 a work week.  To become a world class expert at something takes about 10,000 hours.  You do not become good or good enough at a task unless you put in the time.

I am willing to do my own work; I am not willing to do yours.

Blessings,

Judy

September 1 2025

 

The poster says:  “How do we change the world? One random act of kindness.” - Morgan Freeman as God in “Evan Almighty”.

As we move into September 2025, our country, Canada, faces many challenges as prices continue to rise for groceries and clothing - things that we consider basic for survival.  What I have been noticing are the random acts of kindness that folks in our area seem to be doing that ease the sense of strain and pressure around them. 

Acts of kindness including things like:

-mowing the neighbour’s lawn

-handing someone a dollar for a shopping cart

-dropping off food for someone who is ill

-walking a neighbour’s dog when the person has sprained an ankle

….and the list goes on.

My goal as fall settles in is to be aware and do something positive for someone each day.  

What is your goal for September?

Blessings,

Judy

Be Open

I have been listening to a family member complain of all the things that are wrong in their life.  I did not know how to approach and how to be of help.  

Then, I saw this slide, and I knew that it is not for me to deal with.  I do not even need to be a support.  I need to remind them that they can drop the load that they are carrying at any time.  What you carry is a choice!

When we let go, we let things happen in a natural way, and life is very good.

Blessings,

Judy

Run The Dishwasher Twice

 

Sometimes, when you read the news or magazines, you have an “Eureka” moment. That happened to me earlier this week when I read the headline below.  Check out the article.  Remember, over time, links can change so this link may not work forever.

Woman shares her therapist's incredibly helpful mental health hack: 'Run the dishwasher twice'

https://apple.news/AOn5CzxmSQ5OCzvIXHlSq7w

Why was this a startling moment for me?  When I read the article, I realized that so many people are living by arbitrary rules imposed on us by others.  Our conditioning to these rules makes it almost impossible for us to over throw the rules.

In this example, a lady struggling with every day tasks was overwhelmed by having to basically wash her dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.  Her therapist’s solution was easy, wash the dishes twice!

I started thinking about some of the arbitrary rules that I have shattered in my life over time.  Many of you will have the same experience.  A rule may have worked at some point but it does not work now.  Let the rule go!

Blessings,

Judy

Walking And Present Moment

 

As you walk, cultivate a sense of ease. There’s no hurry to get anywhere, no destination to reach. You’re just walking. This is a good instruction: just walk. As you walk, as you let go of the desire to get somewhere, you begin to sense the joy in simply walking, in being in the present moment. You begin to comprehend the preciousness of each step. It’s an extraordinarily precious experience to walk on this earth. - Peter Doobinin, "Awakening, Step by Step"

Sometimes, I simply need to get outside and walk.  My preference is to walk in the park (unless the mosquitoes are really bothersome) and feel the grass and the trees lift the stress from me.  My mind slows down.  I pay attention to the birds, the flowers, and the sound of the water.  Nature clears us. Nature heals us.  Use this tool and be in the present moment.

Blessings,

Judy

Hold On To Your Power

The changes are happening so fast around me that sometimes I feel like a top, spinning and bouncing off what ever gets in the way.  At the same time, I feel calm and centered.  How can there be this much contrast in change?

I asked the Angels.  They said that our lives are really like hurricanes.  The hurricane is calm at the center.  The further one is from the center, the stronger the chaos is in the hurricane.  A light bulb went off!

As long as I stay true to my purpose or my what my heart tells me is right for me, then I am calm and peaceful.  When someone tries to force you or manipulate you into doing something that you are uncomfortable with, then the pushing of the chaos happens.  Another’s will is pushing against our will.  Each of us must hold on to our own power.

For some reason, I found this discussion quite comforting. 

Blessings,

Judy

(email me at lightstationwisdom@gmail.com with thoughts or questions)

Canada Goose Talks About Teams

 

Just this week, I watched a flock of geese congregate in the water.  It looked like they were having a meeting about when to leave to go south, and a discussion about whether they needed to start practice flights.  The geese reminded me of an encounter with geese about ten years ago.  So, I went and looked up what I had written back then.  Here is what I wrote….

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As I walked along the Bow River, a very large Canada goose came out of the water and stood on the edge of the snow shelf and chatted with me.  He and his flock did not go south.  He had lots to say.

• We stay because the weather is changing.  What we know is the best place to stay, rather than going south.  People here are kind and feed us.  This life is good.
• We work as a team to make sure that the flock has food.  We observe that humans are often kinder to us, the feathered people, than to each other.  We appreciate the kindness.
• Our team work also is about keeping everyone healthy.  We fly, we walk, and we swim.  We say that you need to get more active or you will be having many problems in your joints.
• Our food is always natural, even alive, some might say when we eat raw little moving things in the water.   We observe that people need to eat more raw food.  The processed food is not healthy for you.
• We see that you are now looking at bigger homes.  See how we live?  We live close to the earth and to the water.  Not only does it sustain us, it keeps us in balance.  We are not as affected by the energy changes as the humans.  Try to walk the earth more closely.  Do not live in high rises and big houses off the ground.  Live in touch with the earth.

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Blessings,

Judy

Being a Kickass Woman

The poster says:

THE KICKASS WOMAN’S MANIFESTO FOR SPARKLICIOUS LIVING

I AM STRONG - I have walked through hell and kept walking.  I know my weaknesses.

I AM WORTHY - It took me a long time to believe that.  I’ve worked through my “Unworthiness”.

I AM BEAUTIFUL - And no one needs to convince me of that anymore.  I have dropped the illusion of not enough.

I AM (IM) PERFECT - I have imperfections but that doesn’t make me imperfect.  I am PERFECT as I am.

I AM ME - I thought that I was lost and alone, but now I realize that I was always with me.

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The last four months have been a challenging one for me.  I have had some health challenges that have slowed me down and depleted my energy.  We are enjoying time with friends and family as much as we can.

Spirit, as you know, always sends you things to put your life into perspective.  The poster in the above picture helped me to put things into something that I understood: I am the perfect person to be doing what I am doing right now.  The Universe/Creator made me strong and intelligent so that I could deal with the things that were being rained upon me.  And, I am doing what I need to do.

I know that all of mankind is at a time of making decisions about dealing with family issues and with friend relationships.  I know that many seniors will leave the planet and that we must be prepared for that.  I know too, that we will be besieged with currents of energy that play our bodies out.

With all of this, I feel quite happy to move forward into the fall.  It is a perfect time for change.

Blessings,

Judy

Finding Happiness

            

When we meditate, we relate to that unsettling, ineffable commodity: the present. We train in letting go of thoughts and feelings as they arise, and settle back into the present: that gap between two concepts—past and future—that don’t actually exist. We’re simply being, here and now. - Pamela Gayle White, "The Pursuit of Happiness"

I always find it amazing when life intersects with synchronicity or magic.  Yesterday, I was writing about happiness.  And today, my guidance is that we need to focus on happiness in order to shift.  The quote that I have noted above was in my mailbox today.  

I read this over and over and decided that what the message was, for me, said “If you are focused on the now moment, then you do not have time to think of the past and you will not have a need to feel unhappy.”  

What this also said to me was that most people are either unhappy about the past or unhappy about the future.  To stay in the present means to be mindful of what focus your thoughts take.  It is very difficult to focus on love and and happiness when someone has just yelled at you or cut you off in traffic….. or, done whatever.

Be happy,

Judy 

Love Is A Choice!

Today, let us talk about love, or not to love.  A friend of mine was telling me a story about her issue with her boyfriend – she loves him, and loves him very much.  She would love the love to be unconditional.  However, he does things or has habits that are very contradictory to her belief and values system.  The hardest thing, for her, is that when she says that an action that he does is not agreeable to her, he immediately tells her why she is wrong and how right his action is – in other words, she must totally allow him to do what is right for him, and she has no rights.  This, I tell her, is imbalance.  Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and, the balance of how to integrate both person’s needs is the beauty and challenge of relationships.  If one person is not allowed to have rights, then it is time to move on – in political terms, there is a dictatorship.  

Then, one of my friends sent me this story.  I thought that I would share it with you.  

Love and blessings,

Judy

Don't Hope... Choose!

While waiting to pick up a friend at the airport in Portland, Oregon, I had one of those life-changing experiences that you hear other people talk about -the kind that sneaks up on you unexpectedly. This one occurred a mere two feet away from me. Straining to locate my friend among the passengers deplaning through the jet way, I noticed a man coming toward me carrying two light bags. 

He stopped right next to me to greet his family. First he motioned to his youngest son (maybe six years old) as he laid down his bags. They gave each other a long, loving hug. As they separated enough to look in each other's face, I heard the father say, "It's so good to see you, son. I missed you so much!" His son smiled somewhat shyly, averted his eyes and replied softly, "Me, too, Dad!" 

Then the man stood up, gazed in the eyes of his oldest son (maybe nine or ten) and while cupping his son's face in his hands said, "You're already quite the young man. I love you very much, Zach!" They too hugged a most loving, tender hug. 

While this was happening, a baby girl (perhaps one or one-and-a-half) was squirming excitedly in her mother's arms, never once taking her little eyes off the wonderful sight of her returning father. 

The man said, "Hi, baby girl!" as he gently took the child from her mother. He quickly kissed her face all over and then held her close to his chest while rocking her from side to side. The little girl instantly relaxed and simply laid her head on his shoulder, motionless in pure contentment. 

After several moments, he handed his daughter to his oldest son and declared, "I've saved the best for last!" and proceeded to give his wife the longest, most passionate kiss I ever remember seeing. 

He gazed into her eyes for several seconds and then silently mouthed. "I love you so much!" They stared at each other's eyes, beaming big smiles at one another, while holding both hands. For an instant they reminded me of newlyweds, but I knew by the age of their kids that they couldn't possibly be. 

I puzzled about it for a moment then realized how totally engrossed I was in the wonderful display of unconditional love not more than an arm's length away from me. 

I suddenly felt uncomfortable, as if I was invading something sacred, but was amazed to hear my own voice nervously ask, "Wow! How long have you two been married?" "Been together fourteen years total, married twelve of those." he replied, without breaking his gaze from his lovely wife's face. "Well then, how long have you been away?" I asked the man finally turned and looked at me, still beaming his joyous smile."Two whole days!" 

Two days? I was stunned. By the intensity of the greeting, I had assumed he'd been gone for at least several weeks - if not months. I know my expression betrayed me, I said almost offhandedly, hoping to end my intrusion with some semblance of grace (and to get back to searching for my friend), "I hope my marriage is still that passionate after twelve years!" 

The man suddenly stopped smiling. He looked me straight in the eye, and with forcefulness that burned right into my soul, he told me something that left me a different person. He told me, "Don't hope, friend... decide!" Then he flashed me his wonderful smile again, shook my hand and said, "God bless!" With that, he and his family turned and strode away together. 

I was still watching that exceptional man and his special family walk just out of sight when my friend came up to me and asked, "What'cha looking at?" Without hesitating, and with a curious sense of certainty, I replied, "My future!" 

- Author Unknown

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Coming From the Sun

When we feel the changes of this day, know that all of the light is coming through the portal of the Sun from many stars and planets, with the guidance of the Archangels and Guardian Angels.  The Moon and Stars and Planets are now able to shift even more light, healing light, to the small planet Earth for – you guessed it – healing!  The light and the love that shines down on us is magnificent.  Creator – Great Spirit is part of us and shines this for itself as well as for us.  We get the same light as the water and trees and plants and rocks and mountains, and all the animals, fish, birds, and creepy-crawlies.  We are all connected in Love. 

Blessings,

Judy

Cougar Jumps In My Path

This post comes from my one of my journals from about five years ago.  I was making big changes in my life and found this dream experience to be confirmation that I was on the correct path for me.

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In my dream, I was walking down a logging road that wound through some open meadows where the trees had been cut down, and then meandered into forest.  As I walked through a more heavily wooded area, I heard a grunt, and a large Cougar jumped down on the path in front of me.  It seemed to ignore me, and walked ahead of me, much like one of my dogs.

I remember one of my friends sending me some information on Cougar after I had an experience with it a year ago.  Here is what she sent:

Cougar can appear without being noticed and quietly take control of a situation. Sometimes this can lead to conflict with others over territory. Those with cougar medicine have past life connections relating to power and leadership. When the cougar selects you as its student be prepared for the ride of your life. It can shred you into little pieces (dissolve karma and identity) then put you back together again with a pure heart and purpose. True leadership through gentle assertiveness is what cougar teaches those with this totem.

Perhaps this resonates for you.  If so, we are on a great journey!

Blessings,

Judy

Celebrating the Light

The Angels speak and say that it is time to move forward to the time of light.  Many of the different belief systems are writing and speaking about the changing ways that we can look at time and distance and mass.  They are constructs that we have made (that is, they are man-made), and so they  are subject to change.

There is an abundance of everything in the world because everything is energy.  We do not need to believe in scarcity.  The earth changes are showing us how much power Creator has at its finger tips.  We too, have the same power available to us.  We can use it to help Creator, and ourselves move forward.

Blessings,

Judy

When We Say Good Bye

 

Sometimes it seems that we say good-bye to a lot of people in a very short period of time.  I have felt that people are leaving quite suddenly and very quickly.

Here is what helps me keep everything in perspective.

Only For A Short While

Oh, only for so short a while you have loaned us to each other,

because we take form in your act of drawing us, 

and we take life in your painting us, and we breathe in your singing us.

But only for so short a while have you loaned us to each other.

Because even a drawing cut in obsidian fades, and the green feathers, the crown feathers,

of the Quetzal bird lose their color, and even the sounds of the waterfall die out in the dry season.

So, we too, because only for a short while have you loaned us to each other.

--Aztec Indian Prayer

The next time that you have to deal with losing someone, come back to this short prayer and be grateful for the time that you did have.

Blessings,

Judy

Wolf Memories

 

An interesting thing happens to humans when they hear a wolf howl; they respond.  Sometimes with fear and usually with an intense longing to be free.  In fact, humans like the sound of the wolf so much that the howls and yips are now incorporated in to much music.  

One of my friends believes that it is because we all have wolf memories.  He thinks that we have some wolf mixed into our genes.   His reasons are:

• Both humans and wolves are attracted to the full moon.
• According to legend, humans become more wolf-like at the full moon.
• Humans like to have wolves around, and dogs and wolf dogs are common pets.
• A wolf looks into your soul, and your soul recognizes the wolf.
• Wolves, although they live in wild places, are drawn to humans as much as humans are drawn to wolves.

What are your thoughts?

Blessings,

Judy

A Buddhist Parable On Gratitude

A while ago, I wrote a blog about being grateful called A Prayer for being Grateful.  You can read it here https://www.lightstationwisdom.com/2024/10/a-prayer-for-being-grateful.html . Gratitude is an important part of my life.  This morning, while I was going through some teachings from Buddha, I found this parable.  It is quite long, and worth the read.

I would love to hear your feedback on this parable.

Thanks and blessings,

Judy

                                     A Parable on Gratitude

Once upon a time, King Brahmadatta of Benares had a son. He grew up to be a mean and cruel he-man - the type that's always trying to prove he's tougher than everyone else. He was a bully who constantly pushed people around and picked fights. Whenever he spoke to people it was with a stream of obscenities - right out of the gutter. And he was always quick to anger - just like a hissing snake that's just been stepped on. 

People inside and outside the palace ran from him as they would from a starving man-eating demon. They avoided him as they would a speck of dirt in the eye. Behind his back everyone called him the 'Evil Prince'. In short - he was not a nice man! 

One day the prince decided to go swimming. So he went down to the river with his servants and attendants. Suddenly it became almost as dark as night. A huge storm came up. Being so rough and tough, the prince was always trying to show he wasn't scared of anything. So he yelled at his servants, "Take me into the middle of the river and bathe me. Then bring me back to shore."

Following his orders, they took him out to midstream. Then they said, "Now is our chance! Whatever we do here, the king will never find out. So let's kill the Evil Prince. Into the flood you go, good-for-nothing!" With that they threw him into the stormy raging river. 

When they returned to the bank, the others asked where the prince was. They replied, "We don't know. As the rain came up, he must have swum faster than us and gone back to Benares."

When they returned to the palace, the king asked, "Where is my son?" They said, "We don't know, your majesty. When the storm came up, we thought he went back ahead of us." King Brahmadatta collected a search party and began looking for the prince. They searched carefully, all the way to the riverside, but couldn't find him. 

What had happened was this. In the darkness and wind and rain the prince had been swept down the flooding river. Luckily he was able to grab onto a floating dead tree trunk. Frantically he held on for dear life. As he was being swept along, the tough he-man was so afraid of drowning that he cried like a terrified helpless baby! 

It just so happened that, not long before, a very rich man had died in Benares. He had buried his treasure hoard in the riverbank, along the same stretch of river. His fortune amounted to 40 million gold coins. Because of his miserly craving for riches, he was reborn as a lowly snake, slithering on his belly while still guarding his treasure. 

At a nearby spot on the riverbank another rich miser had buried a treasure of 30 million gold coins. Likewise, due to his stingy clawing after wealth, he had been reborn as a water rat. He too remained to guard his buried treasure. 

Lo and behold. when the storm came up, both the snake and the water rat were flooded out of their holes and washed into the raging river. In fear of drowning, they both happened to grab onto the same dead log carrying the frightened wailing prince. The snake climbed up on one end and the water rat on the other. 

There also happened to be a tall cotton tree growing nearby. There was a young parrot roosting in it. When the storm-flooded river rose up, the cotton tree's roots were washed away and it fell into the water. When he tried to fly away, the wind and rain swept the little parrot onto the same dead log with the snake, the water rat and the Evil Prince. 

Now there were four on the log, floating towards a bend in the river. Nearby a holy man was living humbly in a little hut. He just happened to be the Bodhisatta - the Enlightenment Being. He had been born into a rich high class family in Kasi. When he had grown up, he had given up all his wealth and position, and had come to live by himself next to the river. 

It was the middle of the night when the holy man heard the cries of panic coming from the Evil Prince. He thought, "That sounds like a frightened human being. My loving-kindness will not let me ignore him. I must save him." 

He ran down to the river and shouted. "Don't be afraid! I will save you!" Then he jumped into the rushing torrent, grabbed the log, and used his great strength to pull it to shore. 

He helped the prince step safely onto the riverbank. Noticing the snake, water rat and parrot, he took them and the man to his cozy little hut. He started up his cooking fire. Thinking of the weakness of the animals, he gently warmed them by the fire. When they were warm and dry he set them aside. Then he let the prince warm himself. The holy man brought out some fruits and nuts. Again he fed the more helpless animals first, followed by the waiting prince. 

Not surprisingly this made the Evil Prince furious! He thought, "This stupid holy man doesn't care at all for me, a great royal prince. Instead he gives higher place to these three dumb animals!" Thinking this way, he built up a vengeful hatred against the gentle Bodhisatta. 

The next day the holy man dried the deadwood log in the sun. Then he chopped it up and burned it, to cook their food and keep them warm. In a few days the four who had been rescued by that same log were strong and healthy. 

The snake came to the holy man to say good-bye. He coiled his body on the ground, arched himself up, and bowed his head respectfully. He said, "Venerable one, you have done a great thing for me! I am grateful to you, and I am not a poor snake. In a certain place I have a buried treasure of 40 million gold coins. And I will gladly give it to you - for all life is priceless! Whenever you are in need of money, just come down to the riverbank and call out. "Snake! Snake!" 

The water rat, too, came to the holy man to say good-bye. He stood up on his hind legs and bowed his head respectfully. He said, "Venerable one, you have done a great thing for me! I am grateful to you, and I am not a poor water rat. In a certain place I have a buried treasure of 30 million gold coins. And I will gladly give it to you - for all life is priceless! Whenever you are in need of money, just come down to the riverbank and call out, "Rat! Rat!" 

Such grateful generosity from a snake and a water rat! A far cry from their previous stingy human lives!
Then came the parrot to say his good-bye to the holy man. He bowed his head respectfully and said, "Venerable one, you have done a great thing for me! I am grateful to you, but I possess no silver or gold. However, I am not a poor parrot. For if you are ever in need of the finest rice, just come down to the riverbank and call out. 'Parrot! Parrot!' Then I will gather together all my relatives from all the forests of the Himalayas and we will bring you many cart loads of the most precious scented red rice. For all life is priceless!" 

Finally the Evil Prince came to the holy man. Because his mind was filled with the poison of vengeance, he thought only about killing him if he ever saw him again. However, what he said was, "Venerable one, when I become king, please come to me and I will provide you with the Four Necessities." He returned to Benares and soon became the new king. 

In a while the holy man decided to see if the gratitude of these four was for real. First he went down to the riverbank and called out, "Snake! Snake!" At the sound of the first word, the snake came out of his home under the ground. He bowed respectfully and said, "Holy one, under this very spot are buried 40 million gold coins. Dig them up and take them with you!" "Very well," said the holy man, "When I am in need I will come again." 

Taking leave of the snake, he walked along the riverbank and called out,' "Rat! Rat!" The water rat appeared and all went just as it had with the snake. 

Next, he called out, "Parrot! Parrot!" The parrot flew down from his treetop home, bowed respectfully and said, "Holy one, do you need red rice? I will summon my relatives and we will bring you the best rice in all the Himalayas." The holy man replied, "Very well, when I am in need I will come again."
Finally he set out to see the king. He walked to the royal pleasure garden and slept there overnight. In the morning, in a very humble and dignified manner, he went to collect alms food in the city of Benares. 

On that same morning the ungrateful king, seated on a magnificently adorned royal elephant, was leading a vast procession around the city. When he saw the Enlightenment Being coming from a distance he thought, "Aha! This lazy homeless bum is coming to sponge off me. Before he can brag to everyone how much he did for me, I must have him beheaded!" 

Then he said to his servants, "This worthless beggar must be coming to ask for something. Don't let the goodfor-nothing get near me. Arrest him immediately, tie his hands behind his back, and whip him at every street corner. Take him out of the city to the execution block and cut off his head. Then raise up his body on a sharpened stake and leave it for all to see. So much for lazy beggars!" 

The king's men followed his cruel orders. They tied up the blameless Great Being like a common criminal. They whipped him mercilessly at every street corner on the way to the execution block. But no matter how hard they whipped him, cutting into his flesh, he remained dignified. After each whipping he simply announced, for all to hear: "This proves the old saying is still true - 'There's more reward in pulling deadwood from a river, than in helping an ungrateful man!'" 

Some of the bystanders began to wonder why he said only this at each street corner. They said to each other, "This poor man's pain must. be caused by an ungrateful man." So they asked him, "Oh holy man, have you done some service to an ungrateful man?" 

Then he told them the whole story. And in conclusion he said, "I rescued this king from a terrible flood, and in so doing I brought this pain upon myself I did not follow the saying of the wise of old, that's why I said what I said." 

Hearing this story, the people of Benares became enraged and said to each other, 'This good man saved the king's life. But he is so cruel that he has no gratitude in him at all. How could such a king possibly benefit us? He can only be dangerous to us. Let's get him!" 

Their rage turned the citizens of Benares into a mob. They pelted the king with arrows, knives, clubs and stones. He died while still sitting on the royal elephant. Then they threw the dead body of the one-time Evil Prince into a ditch by the side of the road. 

Afterwards they made the holy man their new king. He ruled Benares well. Then one day he decided to go see his old friends. So he rode in a large procession down to the riverbank. 

He called out, "Snake! Snake!" The snake came out, offered his respect and said, "My lord, if you wish it. You are welcome to my treasure." The king ordered his servants to dig up the 40 million gold coins.

He went to the water rat's home and called out, "Rat! Rat!" He too appeared, offered his respect and said, "My lord, if you wish it, you are welcome to my treasure." This time the king's servants dug up 30 million gold coins. 

Then the king called out "Parrot! Parrot!" The parrot flew to the king, bowed respectfully and said, "If you wish, my lord, I will collect the most excellent red rice for you." But the holy man king said, "Not now my friend. When rice is needed I will request it of you. Now let us all return to the city."

After they arrived at the royal palace in Benares, the king had the 70 million gold coins put under guard in a safe place. He had a golden bowl made for the grateful snake's new home. He had a maze made of the finest crystals for the generous rat to live in. And the kind parrot moved into a golden cage, with a gate he could latch and unlatch from the inside. 

Every day the king gave rice puffs and the sweetest bee's honey on golden plates to the snake and the parrot. And on another golden plate he gave the most aromatic scented rice to the water rat.

The king became famous for his generosity to the poor. He and his three animal friends lived together in perfect harmony for many years. When they died, they were all reborn as they deserved. 

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

Black Bear Is A Teacher

Yesterday, we went to Elbow Falls to spend some time outside while it was so warm.  However, when we got there, the Falls were closed due to extreme bear activity.  We went on to another pond, and spent a couple of wonderful hours.  On our way home, a good sized black bear stopped and looked at us, and then crossed the road at a trot.

Black Bear is about being un-encumbered.  It is about the freedom to roam, and to be respected.  Black Bear is about connecting to the wildest part of who we are.

Black Bear is a teacher.  She talks about the perfect timing for things:  new projects, new creativity, new lessons about growth and spirituality.  In her wisdom, she demonstrates the power of retreat.  Most beings do not get enough sleep.  Black Bear says that bears and other creatures like her, know that it is imperative to the creative process of life to get lots of sleep, and to be at one with self.  For humans, this retreat may be for meditation, or for a silent retreat, or even for a retreat into the wilds of nature.

When we emerge from retreat, we will again appreciate the abundance of life, and the sweetness of the world.

Blessings,

Judy

Visit Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump in Alberta

 

This is the cliff at Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump - Picture comes from Wikipedia

About a week ago, my husband and I and our group were on a bus tour that went to Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump, in southern Alberta.  We had a wonderful guide… Lucas… who gave us so much information about the Blackfoot people, the Heritage site, and the buffalo hunt.  

You can read more information at the Buffalo Jump site - https://headsmashedin.ca/

Here is a brief history of the site that comes from the HeadSmashedIn site.

History of the Site

• Designated a National Historic Site - 1968
• Designated a Provincial Heritage Site - 1979
• Designated a World Heritage Site - 1981
• Official opening of the Interpretive Centre with the Duke and Duchess of York - July 23, 1987
• The architect, Robert Lablonde, received the 1990 Governor General's award for Architecture. Since opening in 1987, the Interpretive Centre has welcomed over 2.75 million visitors from around the world.

Some of the things that we learned about:

- the different societies that make the buffalo hunt happen

- how the tribes always made sure that there was food available for those that travelled behind them… they did not want anyone to go hungry

- all the ways the buffalo was used beyond providing food

- what it means to be brave - try running in front of the buffalo

Plan to be at the site for several hours as there is much to see, and there are paths for hiking below the cliffs.  There is a strong energy at the site, below the cliffs and it is worth experiencing.

Blessings,

Judy

Welcome August 2025

August 1 is traditionally the day that our Ancestors welcomed the Goddess of Harvest into their houses and onto the farms.  Harvest of fruit, corn, and even early grain started after the Goddess came in to give her blessings.

The Angels have a message for us.  They say that there are no longer the gardens and farms and orchards that there used to be.  So many people depend on others for their food.  The Angels suggest that the non-farmers offer up prayers or meditations for the farmers.  The meditation or prayer may offer that the harvest is bountiful and that all crops come off without bad weather or other obstacles.  We can ask for a blessing of abundance for all gardens and for all gardeners.

The Angels say that August is to be a time of turmoil around the world.  They say that we can make it less tumultuous by being grounded, and at peace with all that is.  They remind us that we are the creators of our own story.  Therefore, we can re-write the story at any time.  We can set the intentions that all is well where ever we live.

In fact, the Angels say that we can change destiny with some prayer.

Blessings,

Judy

How To Be Your Own Person

 

I am not in this world to live up to other people's expectations, nor do I feel that the world must live up to mine.  Fritz Perls

The wonderful message that came through this morning is “spend time each day by yourself.  If you can, find time to meditate.  It will make you happy.  It will dim all that happens around you.  Each thing that happens around you is about your reality, and the reality that other people create.  It is not real because they – and you – have made it up.  The tree does not need to create multiple realities.  Be like the tree, or other plants.  Be your self.”

The message brought tears to my eyes.  One has heard this type of message all our lives.  How do we do this?  How do we live outside the influence of others?  I posed this question.  My Angels dived in with laughter and love.  

“Let go of guilt.  Guilt is a form of manipulation.  People – parents, siblings, friends, guilt you when they want to control your behaviour.  Guilt is a form of control.  You let go of your power when you feel guilt.  To let go of guilt, go to your Spirit, and to your Soul, and to your heart, and look at what makes you happy.  If it makes you happy NOT to do something, then be happy!  If it makes others unhappy, then it is their problem, and not yours.”

This is good advice, and I will begin the practice today.  Will you?

Blessings,

Judy

Rattlesnake Visits

Rattlesnake has been winding it’s way into my meditations over the last two weeks.  Rattlesnake is a very strong Spirit Guide.  She brings many gifts to increase your power and abilities.  Not only does she blend into her surroundings, she knows how to stay silent and to be still when danger is around.  Hawks, weasels, and other snakes are just some of the predators that love to include Rattlesnake in their diet.

I asked Rattlesnake about the gifts that she brings to working with a human.  She grinned.  She said that many humans reject working with her because they are frightened of her.  She is a tough teacher and guide.  Her gifts, she said, are:

• Agility and speed.  When Rattler shares these gifts with you, you will move more quickly than you could imagine. You will have a momentary awareness seconds ahead of time, about what the adversary will do, and you can counteract with Rattler’s speed.
• Power of the hunt.  Rattlesnake is a very good hunter, and the best hunter amongst the snake-kind.  She will help you find whatever it is you are looking for, whether it is food, information, or actual objects.   
• The ability to shed.  While this seems quite tame compared to her first two gifts, Rattler’s ability to shed her skin translates to you being able to shed all the things that do not serve you, and gives you the ability to shed ill health, injury, and other harm to your person.  Shedding is a powerful gift.

I thanked Rattler for coming in to see me.  She asked that if you are interested in talking to her, that you call her into your meditation, and that you chat.  Do not be surprised if she tests you.

Blessings,

Judy