Happy Halloween 2025

 

                    Halloween picture from 2019

In many cultures, people believe that All Hallows’ Eve is the best time to be able to talk to one’s ancestors because the veil between this third dimension and the other dimensions is at it’s weakest.  This means that the ancestor (and in some areas, other ghosts and unseen things) can be present on Earth.  

Many people in the Western World no longer believe that there is a connection to the ancestors at Halloween.  Instead, it is a time of dressing up either for a party (adults) or for trick or treating for children.  The spiritual aspect of the evening is not considered.  

Regardless of your practices, stay safe and enjoy your Halloween.

Blessings.

Judy

Leaving A Mark

 

A friend sent me this poster that says:  Leave a mark in someone’s life, but make sure it’s not a scar.  (The writer is unknown.)

She asked me what I thought that it meant.  She comes from a background of physical abuse and has many physical scars.  I was puzzled because I thought that the meaning might be obvious.  

I asked her what she was looking for in an answer to the question.  She said that she got the reference to being scarred physically by someone or some event like a car accident etc.  She felt that there was more to the very short, profound statement.

I replied that to me, it means always deal with everyone with kindness and respect.  For example, do not trample all over a child’s dreams of being an artist if their first attempts are not what we expect.  We have no way of knowing if that child might be the world’s greatest abstract artist.  As humans, we have to learn not to be so mean to everyone.  We need to find a way to accept the differences and find a way to reduce the violence towards our families, neighbours, and countrymen/women. 

She said that she liked my explanation, and left it at that.

Blessings,

Judy

Do You Feel The Rain?

 

The poster says:  Some people feel the rain.  Others just get wet. - Bob Marley

What a profound statement!  Rain is a life giving force for it brings nutrients to the earth and makes our food grow.  It feeds the trees and plants that clean the air, removing carbon dioxide and replacing it with oxygen.  When we feel the rain, we feel the nourishment and breathe in the fresh air/oxygen.  We celebrate the rain.

Meanwhile, many see the rain as an obstruction to living their lives.  It interferes with golfing, with moving around downtown areas with ease, and it floods the rivers and surrounding areas causing havoc to traffic and construction.

When the rain happens, children are energized. Many animals are energized.  The Earth is energized.  

Next time it rains, go for a walk in the rain and enjoy it.

Blessings,

Judy

What Is The Top Of The Mountain

The poster says:  The top of one mountain is always the bottom of another.—-Marianne Williamson

Some days, you wonder whether you are doing the right thing for your life or for your family, or, if a business owner, for your business.  We all have times when we doubt ourselves and our circumstances.  

I saw this poster the other day and I puzzled about it for a while.  If you look at a physical mountain, it is often true that the top of a smaller mountain is the beginning of a larger mountain.  You can choose whether to climb the small one only or climb both and achieve the satisfaction of getting to the top of the higher mountain.  At some point in the physical world, you will run out of taller mountains.  

If you look at the every day setting of goals, smaller goals are also mountains that lead to larger mountains.  Every peak that we achieve becomes the valley for our next goal.  We have an expression, “making mountains out of mole hills”, and it applies as we grow and live and achieve.  For some of us, we still do not know what the top of the mountain is going to be or how it will look.

Blessings,

Judy

What Drives You?

 

This poster came up on LinkedIn for me.  It says:

“If you are driven by fear, anger or price, nature will force you to compete.  If you are guided by courage, awareness, tranquility and peace, nature will serve you.”

-Amit Ray

The words were profound for me.  It made me think about the people I knew or knew of, that were very competitive and those that were peaceful and yet got things done.  The words - courage, awareness, tranquility and peace, are attributes that I strive to show every day.  

What does the quote mean for you?

Blessings,

Judy

Think Thoughts That Make You Feel Good!

   

“Think thoughts that make you feel good, make choices that make you feel good, and take actions that make you feel good. Then surrender the outcome, trusting that Life will bring you what you need to grow and be happy.” 

- from You Can Create An Exceptional Life by Louise Hay and Cheryl Richardson

Sometimes, we make a decision or choice that leaves us feeling off balance or anxious, and sometimes, guilty.  The only way to avoid these feelings is to think thoughts that are happy and positive.  Those thoughts come from the heart and will always be the right thing at that moment in time.  Thoughts, choices, and actions that come from ego will most often be the cause of all of the drama that shows up in your life.

Blessings,

Judy

What Is Motion?

Picture from freeimages.com - showing male with briefcase walking and a large hand indicating that he should stop.

 

Motion carries you as you work through your purpose. Purpose is simply taking action, doing what you know you need to do without the prompting or without following other’s expectations. When you are in motion, you are searching. Although you may believe that you know the destination, along the way, it may change. So, watch for the signs that appear to you to changes directions. – Meditation #6 from Earth Wisdom Meditations by Judith Hirst 

Every time I hear the words, “if you don’t move forward, you move backwards”, I think of the times that I have been doing some task or project, and I hear the words, ‘Stop!”  I think that there are times when we must stop searching for that elusive “thing” that we are seeking – success, pleasure, closure, teaching, answers, or even love.  

The “stop” is the signal to change direction and plans.  Stopping is not failure; stopping is success!  You have now opened another door, and you set a new path for yourself.

Congratulations.

Blessings,

Judy

Parting Ways

 

Picture taken by J. Hirst on October 1 2025, early morning.

“…and so the first children of the Sun could no longer stay on a plane that was cold and sterile.  They agreed that, one by one, they would set themselves free of the planet.  In doing so, they would become eternal, and, they would be the Watchers.” – from the first tales of the Star People by Judy Hirst

We all understand about leaving.  It might be saying good-bye as you leave home to go grocery shopping.  It might be leaving a lover or a friend.  It might even be one’s death.  All of our lives, we prepare for LEAVING.  We practice on our family and friends without knowing that we rehearse our own death.  

We are miraculous beings.

Blessings,

Judy

Teaching Friendship

This is absolutely a story to forward

What the pictures show… a small adult dog walks down the sidewalk along a fence.  She stops at a gate, and waits.  A lovely black and white adult cat walks out to join the dog.  He leans against the dog as though saying hello.  Then both animals continue the walk, together, in comfortable silence.

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

Every day - at the same time - she waits for him...
He comes... and they go for a walk
Wouldn't it be great if we all had friends like this...no words needed...they just intuitively recognize the value of each other in their lives and act accordingly.

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I hope that you enjoyed this.  Sometimes, pictures do tell the story that we need to know.

 

Blessings,

Judy

Happy Thanksgiving Canada October 2025

This poster says:

A prayer of Thanksgiving and Praise

"The Canticle of Brother Sun" 

                 by St. Francis of Assisi

MOST HIGH, almighty God

Yours be the praise, the glory, the honor

And every blessing,

To you alone, my God, do they belong,

And no one is worthy to utter your name.

Be praised, my God, with all our creatures,

Especially Brother Sun,

To whom we owe both day and light,

For he is beautiful, radiant and of great splendor

Of you, my God, he is an emblem.

Be praised, my God, through Sister Moon

And the Stars,

You make them in the heavens, bright, precious

And beautiful.

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

Regardless of one’s faith, this poem or canticle is a beautiful example of giving thanks by praising.

If you wish to say a prayer or make comments before a meal, this is an easy prayer to use.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Blessings,

Judy

About Perfectionism

The poster says, “ Done is better than perfect.”

Buddhism asks us to go beyond the self, not to perfect the self.  - Dharmavidya David Brazier, "Living Buddhism" 

It is difficult to really know what perfectionism is.  We all seem to know what is not perfect.  We constantly say, “Well, it’s not perfect!”  

We are such ego driven beings – we humans think that we know what perfection is.  

The Angels tell us that each of us is perfect the way we are.  If this is true, then why do others wish to change us?

Maybe that is why more and more people live alone.  Then, they don’t have anyone constantly telling them what is wrong with them.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could say, “Here is what is right about you….”

Blessings,

Judy

You Don’t Know Until You Try

The poster says:

“It’s impossible.” Said pride.

“It’s risky.” Said experience.

“It’s pointless.” Said reason.

“Give it a try.” Whispered the heart.

********************************* 

I sometimes have the best moments when I am out walking my dog.  Today, I was contemplating whether to try something different in my life.  I have all the reasons that it won’t work.  However, my gut, or instinct, or heart, was telling me to do it anyway.

I wondered if I was being foolish.  Can we really learn a lot of new things at once just because it is our will?  The answer came back, “Yes, you can!  Thy will be done.”   For a moment, the silence was deafening.  I was not in the park.   And then slowly, the sound of rushing water came back.  I could hear the birds singing.  I saw the Sun.

I knew that I need to go ahead with this one new thing in my life.

Wish me luck!

Blessings,

Judy

Size Does Not Matter!

 The story below is a wonderful story about size.  I share it with you so that you too may enjoy the motivating story of the mouse – the little engine that could…

Thank you to my friend that sent me this great story! 

 

The extraordinary scene was captured by photography student Casey Gutteridge at the Santago Rare Leopard Project in Hertfordshire. The 19-year-old, from Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, who was photographing the leopard for a course project, was astounded By the mouse's behavior.

He said: 'I have no idea where the mouse came from - he just appeared in the enclosure after the keeper had dropped in the meat for the leopard. He didn't take any notice of the leopard, just went straight over to the meat and started feeding himself.' 
'But the leopard was pretty surprised - she bent down and sniffed the mouse and flinched a bit like she was scared. In the meantime the mouse just carried on eating like nothing had happened. 

.but even a gentle shove does not deter the little creature from getting his fill... 'It was amazing, even the keeper who had thrown the meat into the enclosure was shocked - he said he'd never seen anything like it before.' 
Project owner Jackie James added: 'It was so funny to see - Sheena batted the mouse a couple of times to try to get it away from her food.' But the determined little thing took no notice and just carried on.'

Sheena was brought in to the Santago Rare Leopard Project from a UK zoo when she was just four months old. She is one of 14 big cats in the private collection started by Jackie 's late husband Peter in 1989. The African Leopard can be found in the continent's forests, grasslands, savannas, and rainforest's.


....so the mouse continued to eat the leopard's lunch and show the leopard who was the boss. Just proves no one can push you around without your permission. 

 

Blessings,

Judy

Mountain Sheep Support

Picture of Big Horn Sheep Rams in Radium Hot Springs

Several years ago, Roger and I and the dogs spent four days in Radium Hot Springs.  We stayed in a lodge up the side of the mountain.  Everyday, when we took the dogs for their outings, we saw Mountain Sheep.  The Mountain Sheep seemed to show an unusual interest in us.  They would come down the slope towards us, baa-ing.  On one occasion, several ewes chased us down the path.  I use the word “chased” when perhaps all they were was curious.  

I began to wonder why the sheep were so in-our-face the whole time that we were in Radium.  Then I realized that they were telling me, by their actions, to be confident.  They were telling me to go forward and do what I must because, like the sheep, I could be sure footed in uneven ground.  I could be challenged, and not need to worry about falling.

On one outing, we were surrounded by rams.  They simply walked around us so that we were in the center of their ring, and then past us.  I understood that they were telling me that I could butt-heads with anyone, and be sure of victory.  They were also saying that the numbers did not matter.  And, they offered me their strength.

I realized that we were given a unique chance to interact with these wild animals because we were to learn some lessons from them.

I walk with the confidence of the Mountain Sheep, now.

Blessings,

Judy

When You Go To Sleep

When you go to sleep in the night, just imagine that you are falling into divine hands...as if existence is supporting you, that you are in its lap, falling asleep. Just visualize it and fall asleep. The one thing to carry is that you should go on imagining and let sleep come, so that the imagination enters into sleep; they are overlapping.  - Osho

 

I am hearing so many people complain that they are having trouble sleeping. Sometimes, I have been finding that getting to sleep is difficult.  I normally do not have this problem.  I found this wonderful quotation from Osho and thought that I would try this – a visualization.  Osho’s guidance, for me, is a wonderful “how to” on getting to sleep.

These days, there is much going on in the world - war in Ukraine, elections in Alberta, cyber attacks at airports, rising costs of everything. We just went through a major eclipse and equinox that will shake things up for possibly twenty years. The upheaval can cause anxiousness and sleeplessness.  There are many suggested remedies.  

Last night, Osho’s guidance helped me sleep.

Sweet dreams!

Blessings,

Judy

Welcome October 2025

 

                        Comes from an email from a friend so source is not known

October 1 signifies that in Canada, winter is just around the corner and that snow will be here very soon.    

Snow reminds us that this is a time of sleeping for most of Nature.  It reminds us to finish clearing out the flower beds and the garden, and prepare for next spring.  It is a time when many of us sign up for courses because we are also preparing ourselves for the next spring when we hope to undertake changes in our life style or in our careers.

October then, is about planning.  It is not about making hard and fast rules.  It is about thinking about the choices that you wish to make, and putting those choices in to action.

Blessings,

Judy