Merry Christmas 2024

Many blessings on your house upon this Christmas Day!

This is a time of peace and of fellowship and cheer.

The best that we can do, or so the Angels say

Is to love one another more compassionately this year.

We look around at all the things we have and feel

That we’ve been wronged because it doesn’t measure up

To the things that we see and have great appeal 

To the need to consume and “fill ‘er on up”,

That the media created to get us to buy.

 

We humans are more than a consumable good.

We are marvellous and beautiful and kind.

We are laughing and joking and makers of food

That we share with our friends or anyone we find

Has need of some time to refresh and to heal.

We are the ones that see others and care

Whether they are cold or need a good meal.

That kind of need isn’t so rare

Now that the world is turning upside down.

 

Merry Christmas to one and all!

Blessings,

Judy

A Dream About Aquarium Fish

This post is from a dream that I wrote up in my journal back many years ago.  I find the old dreams interesting and I look for repeating archetypes and themes in my dreams.  

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This picture comes from commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Home_aquarium.jpg  (My aquarium does not look nearly this good, nor is it this big!)

The other night, in my dreams, a big aquarium popped up, out of no where, and both my fish swam to the side of the tank and looked at me.  They then made everything go dark, and little by little, cleared the blackness so that the tank, and the water, and the scene were filled with clear light.

When I woke up, I knew that the fish wanted me to clean the tank. As I carried out the task, I thought how interesting it was that I was spending an hour cleaning out the tank, and the castle and rocks and filter.  It was very much like sifting through my emotional body, and pulling out the gunk that was sitting in there. 

Fish have been a symbol of spirituality and abundance going back to the time of cave drawings.  Fish, like us, come in a variety of colours with a huge range of dispositions.  The most beautiful are sometimes the most deadly.  Scientists agree that all life originated in the oceans/seas/rivers.  Therefore, water on our planet is like a big womb.  And, yes, we all require it to live.  We need to breath air, and assimilate the oxygen in the water.  Fish, then, are symbolic of the fruits of the womb, of motherhood.  They inspire creativity and bring good luck, as the Chinese believe.  

Water is always transforming – it evaporates, becomes mist, may fall as rain, and then returns to the Earth to rise up again as water.  Fish, then, represent change.  If they are coming into your life, perhaps they are saying, like they did to me, “It is time to clean up your act and get your house in order for the new things that are coming.”

Blessings,

Judy

Beautiful People

The following information came to me in a meditation.  I asked what was going on in the world that I should be paying attention to.  The answer is below.

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All the people are beautiful!  There is not any standard weight, height, hair colour, or skin colour that makes one person more beautiful than another to us.  As Angels, we see the perfection of your soul/higher self, and marvel at the journeys that you program for yourself for this earthly journey.

Where does the human find their definition of beauty?  More and more, we observe, the definition of beauty comes from the mass media.  Someone tells you this person is beautiful, and thus you believe it.  Yet, there are so many beautiful people in the world – all of them are beautiful – we have no understanding as to how you could limit your perception to one type or form of beauty.  We have no understanding of limiting your perception to the human form which is made of mud, and which is set to expire.  The eternal light of the soul that shines in each person is the beautiful gift.

We see more and more of you are waking up to the beauty of the natural world.  Consider, humans are part of the natural world.  Each human has a purpose that many will never know of and that is also a beauty that each body carries with them.

We ask that the next time you want to judge a person as “beautiful” or “ugly” or “plain” that you reconsider.  Look for the beauty that you have overlooked in the first glance!

Many blessings,

Judy

Sparrow Sings

Our window was open this morning, and I could hear the Sparrows singing away as they hopped around the bird feeder to gather food.  Suddenly, it got quiet.  Then the most beautiful, clear notes rang out.  I peeked out the window.  It was one Sparrow, sitting on the grass by itself, singing away while the others got food.

The sound was clear, like a flute going to unusual notes.  Sparrow seemed to be singing about taking a long journey, and how great it is to be finally at “home” again.  The song seemed to cover the ideas of having a permanent home, and the dangers of that as well as the idea of moving every six months.  

I realized what brave, small creatures that these Sparrows are.  They travel long journeys twice a year to be able to raise chicks, and to be able to survive the winter.  They are very different from us humans.

The song was about five minutes.  When it was done – it was about 5:30am – I snuggled in for another hour of sleep.

Many blessings,

Judy

Dove on Changing Patterns

I kept hearing, “Look out the window.”  At first it was a plea and then it became demanding.  I finally went to the kitchen window and looked out.  I saw the most beautiful pair of mourning doves sitting on the branch of one of our spruce trees.

They both oo’oo’d, and said that they had something to share with me about change.  Here is what they said:

• Whatever the pattern has been, such as Doves flying south for the winter, there comes a time to break the pattern.
• Patterns are often genetic in origin, and, in our case, are part of our innate design.  You can see that we have broken this pattern this year, and this will begin the change for our offspring.  
• Patterns were designed to meet a certain environment.  When the environment changes, then it is time to change the pattern.
• While others do not feel the need to change, there are always those pioneers that need to follow the new sound or drum beat.  It is often the role of the pioneers to be ridiculed or called crazy.  They are not crazy.
• Being at one with change, and breaking patterns is what is required to help one’s survival.  Live well.

Blessings,

Judy

A Healing Chant/Prayer

I am a baby boomer, as are many of my friends.  Now, when we meet, one of the first topics of conversation is “how are your parents” (or mother or father).  It seems like many of us are having the experience of loved ones and friends dying.  Often, death may seem like a blessing because the person has had an illness that debilitates and causes the family to feel helpless. 

Picture of healing lotus from qimansworld.today.com

 

 

 

Several days ago, one of my clients phoned me and said that she and some friends wanted to get together to do a healing prayer for a good friend that had cancer and was given several months to live.  She asked if I could recommend a good healing prayer.  I recommended the following chant to her.  

Traditional Buddhist Blessing and Healing Chant

Just as the soft rains fill the streams,  
pour into the rivers and join together in the oceans,  
so may the power of every moment of your goodness  
flow forth to awaken and heal all beings,  
Those here now, those gone before, those yet to come.

By the power of every moment of your goodness  
May your heart's wishes be soon fulfilled  
as completely shining as the bright full moon,  
as magically as by a wish-fulfilling gem.

By the power of every moment of your goodness  
May all dangers be averted and all disease be gone.  
May no obstacle come across your way.  
May you enjoy fulfillment and long life.

For all in whose heart dwells respect,  
who follow the wisdom and compassion of the Way,  
May your life prosper in the four blessings  
of old age, beauty, happiness and strength.

I love this chant because it is so peaceful and beautiful.  When I read it and say it, it makes me feel connected with the All.  If you decide to use this chant for someone you know, say it out loud,  either one, three, or seven times, each time that you do the chant.  There is power in the sound of the voice and power in the number of repetitions.

Many Blessings,

Judy

The Lesson From The Useless Eyebrows

Have you ever complained about something, and called it useless?  I know I have.  When I read this Buddhist teaching, I was cast into a place of asking forgiveness from all those “things” over the years which I labelled useless.  Just because I could not understand their place in the system of “things” did not give me the right to call them useless.  I felt quite humble after I finished this story, and, it stays with me. 

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The Useless Eyebrows                                                
(told by Ven. Master Hsing-Yun) 

Note:  rough drawings from Judy…

Once, a person's eyes, nose, and mouth had a meeting. First the  eyes said, "We, the eyes, are of utmost importance to the body. Everything must be seen by us to know whether it is beautiful or not, big or small, tall or short. Without eyes, walking around will be very difficult. So we, the eyes, are very important. But we have been improperly placed under the eyebrows, which are of no use. It is just not fair!" 

Next, the nose said, "I, the nose, am the most important. Only I can distinguish a good smell from a foul odor. The act of breathing is also dependent on me. If I do not let the breath pass through, everybody will die. So I am the most important. As important as I am, I have been unfairly placed beneath the useless eyebrows. I am most unhappy." 

Then the mouth said, "I am the most important part of the human body. I can speak; if not for me, there would not be any communication among people. I take in the food; if not for me, everybody would die of hunger. Such an important part as myself has been placed in the lowest part of the face. The useless eyebrows, however, have been put on the highest part of the face. This I cannot accept!" 

After the others had spoken, the eyebrows spoke slowly, "Please do not fight anymore. We, the eyebrows, are surely the most useless things; we admit defeat. We are willing to be placed below you." Having said this, the eyebrows settled down below the eyes. Unfortunately, the person no longer looked like a human being. Next, they eyebrows settled down below the nose. It was still horrible; it still did not look like a human being. Then the eyebrows settled down below the mouth. This looked even more ghastly! The eyes, nose, and mouth huddled to discuss the situation again. They concluded that it was best if the eyebrows returned to their original place on the face; it was the most appropriate spot for them. When the eyebrows returned to their original spot, the appearance was once again that of a human being. Thus, we can see that what appears to be the most useless thing can be indeed the most useful.

Many blessings,

Judy

Lost Souls

  I have often wondered about the term “lost souls” and what that means exactly.  While sitting in meditation, I asked about lost souls and was told that the world is usually in balance.  Some souls find their way quickly between this world and the next.  Others, seem to get distracted, and do not follow the path to the next world.  These are the lost souls.  A soul needs to be ready to move on.  Sometimes, they are distracted by those that are left behind.  Other times, they get distracted by other lost souls or even energies that urge them to stay and to work with them.  

The Angels talked about soul consciousness, gratitude, and the nature of souls as well as Oneness.  Much of the meaning gets lost in the translation to earthly terms.  For me, there was comfort in knowing that souls are never truly lost.  Angels and guardians are always tracking with them.  

Life is beautifully mystifying! 

Blessings, 

Judy

My First Drum

 

Picture is from the website native-drums.ca 

My first drum came to me in 2001 when I was out in Vancouver.  I was in this great shop of indigenous crafts and clothing.  The lady managing the store asked me what I was looking for and I told her that I was guided to the store to buy a drum but that I was not seeing a drum that called to me.  She said, “Aaahhh.  Wait a minute.”  

She came back about five minutes later carrying a beautiful drum.  She said, “I think this drum is for you.  It just came in this morning.  It is made by a young lady after her first moon and brings the strength of the young girl now woman and her Ancestors. She said that the first drum that a person makes is special and that she was guided to not keep it.”

I took the drum and the drum stick and gently beat the drum.  The tone was powerful but gentle and vibrated through my body.  I knew the drum was for me.  I turned the drum over and there was a little carved paddle attached to one of the support sinews.  I asked what the paddle was for.  The manager replied that it was a gift of good luck.  Again, I knew the drum was for me.  I beat out a few more notes and happily paid for the drum.

I took it back to the house we were staying at, and smudged the drum and hugged it and introduced myself.  I asked the drum for its name but it was not ready to share it with me.  During the next week, we were at several drumming sessions.  Every time I played her, my drum sounded sweeter.  And yes, eventually the drum gave me her name.

Now twenty some years later, the drum is still beautiful and still sounds sweet.  She hangs on the wall in our meditation room when I am not drumming.

Clients and students have asked me if they should buy a drum or make a drum.  I have made several drums.  Each is different.  My first drum still resonates with me the most.  I do not think it matters whether you buy a drum or make a drum as long as the drum or the drum making process speaks to you at a soul level.  I think everyone should have a drum for the resonance of the drum beat creates balance and healing like nothing else.

Many blessings,

Judy

Seeing Beauty in Flowers

I love this time of year because I get to grow flowers and to buy uncommon flowers and plant them in the garden and in pots!  I love the color.  I love that the bees come to check them out.  I love the smell of the blossoms.  I love watching them grow and change.

There is beauty in all aspects of Nature for me.  Not everyone agrees that Nature is beautiful, but they do agree that parts of it are.  I love seeing the flowers that grow in people’s yards and the flowers out in the meadows of the parks.  The colors are amazing.  

The flowers, too, bring some healing to those who see them and look at them with awe and respect.  To be a flower is a very special task.  The growing season is so short, unless the flower is a perennial, and there is no telling when your flowers will be picked or eaten.

Flowers have a message for us:

• Don’t be afraid to shine your colours.
• Stand straight to get the Sun but be flexible when the wind blows.
• Put your roots down deep so that you can be sure of your foundation.

Many Blessings,

Judy

Life Has Many Faces

Often, we thing that someone is beautiful, or we think they are homely, or we think that they talk funny.  Often, we have judgments about others that has absolutely nothing to do with the other person.  It has to do with us!  It is our ego, comparing everything outside ourselves to attempt to protect us.  The ego keeps us from learning about others and about ourselves.  

When we see someone or something, we are seeing a reflection or ourselves; our thoughts; our emotions; and our dreams or imagining.  This becomes how we see the world.  Indeed, what we are seeing are the many faces of life, and how we participate in life.  WE see OURSELVES as we see the many faces of Nature, the Ocean, the Sky, and all of the people.  

Blessings,

Judy

May 1 - Beltane

 

 

Beltane Fire picture from Edinburgh, Scotland.

 

 

Beltane is the Celtic festival celebrating the arrival of summer.  May 1 is a good day to take the cattle and sheep to summer grazing, and to lighten the load of the farmer.  May 1 signals that the towns and cities will be busier as people come out of the winter/spring hibernation.  Many of our Ancestors honoured Beltane in some way – whether Celtic or other tradition.

In Ireland/Scotland, Beltane is celebrated by all night bonfires, such as the one pictured above. There is music and dancing, and often the burning of an effigy of old man winter.  

“Another common aspect of the festival which survived up until the early 20th century in Ireland was the hanging of May Boughs on the doors and windows of houses and the erection of May Bushes in farmyards, which usually consisted either of a branch of rowan/caorthann (mountain ash) or more commonly whitethorn/sceach geal (hawthorn) which is in bloom at the time and is commonly called the 'May Bush' or just 'May' in Hiberno-English. ~~ From Wikipedia~~”

Beltane is a time of healing because in the celebration of life, all one’s troubles are placed on a shelf, to be dealt with at another time.  This is a time when Nature shows how beautiful she is, and the deer and the wolf give birth.  It is a time of oneness in a community. And often, great fun emerges as people tip back an ale or two, and shed their inhibitions. 

This is a time for newness.  It is a time to become motivated – to work on the yard, the garden; to take up an exercise program; to look up family and old friends; to do something nice for one’s self; to get out of the city, or to get out of the country; to write/paint/play music and allow the creativity.  May 1 is a doorway for loving one’s self unconditionally, and appreciating others.

May your Beltane motivate you to have fun!

Many blessings,

Judy 

Keeping a Warm, Loving Feeling

 

In many ways, Nature reflects how we are feeling.  When we feel dismal, the sky is grey and cloudy.  When we feel very emotional, rain may very well be falling outside.  When we are filled with warm, loving thoughts, then often, the sun shines and life is beautiful!

How does this work?  Well, part of it is that we all create our own reality.  And part of the occurrence is that others are often feeling the way that we do.  You might say that we all create our own reality together.

The challenge becomes how to continue to feel warm and loving when others do not feel that way.  How do we stay Buddha-like?  One of the easiest ways to stay in that space of harmony is to be in the present moment - to leave the past behind, and to not think or worry about tomorrow, or next week.   Do not listen to the "what if..." statements that start to grow in your mind.  Send them away, and continue on, thinking of the warmth and brightness and lightness.  It works!

Blessings.

Judy

Release Past Grudges and Anger

 

One of my friends read my blog from the other day, and sent me this poster about letting go of the past.  It is awesome!  

It talks about what is in the past that can anchor us from moving forward.  

We all have had grudges.  Have you let go of yours?

We all have had anger and probably still do.  How do you handle yours?

We all have things that people said that belittled us and limit us.  How do you let go of those things?

If you have trouble letting go, just take a look at Nature.  Each season is a change.  There is not any hanging on. Time is not relevant.  It is simply a cycle of letting go.  It is beautiful.

This is a good month to change!

Many blessings,

Judy

Peacefulness

 

Right now, the most beautiful place on Earth is where there is peacefulness.  This is the place that our soul yearns to go to – to find that place where there is not any ego or power or selfishness.  We each have a need to find a place of peace where we can feel safe and where we can watch the stars or the clouds in the sky.

We need to know that in the peace, we do not need to watch our back (or our front or our sides) because we are protected.  We look for that place of peace all the time.

Most often it is a place of serenity inside you.  Sometimes, it is a physical place that you can go to. 

Where is your place of peace?

Many blessings,

Judy

Email - lightstationwisdom@gmail.com

Another Loving Kindness Version

Picture taken by Judy Hirst during 2023 winter with snow deeper than usual for beginning of March.

As we wait for winter to end, sometimes, we suffer from the blahs.

I have a solution for the blahs that also qualifies under “love” and is guaranteed to make you feel fine. Anyone that has studied with me knows that I believe in the power of meditation – not only “the sit in silence and let your mind be blank” meditation; I believe in active meditation. 

Active meditation means that you need to be part of the meditation and not have the meditation “happen” to you. Over the years, I have taught variations of the “LOVING KINDNESS” meditation. I have recently learned this one and wish to share it with you. 

Say it out loud when sitting in meditation. Say it out loud as a walking meditation, even when you walk your dog. My dog loves it! Say it at night before you go to bed. 

May I be free from inner and outer harm and danger. May I be safe and protected. May I be free of mental suffering or distress. May I be happy. 

May I be free of physical pain and suffering. May I be healthy and strong. May I be able to live in this world happily, peacefully, joyfully, with ease!

This is actually the first step in the “loving kindness” meditation. However, it is a beautiful, empowering, feel good message that lets you feel fine.

Don’t give up if you do not feel a shift in the first several days. Keep trying.  This mantra works well to relax you and to help you fall asleep when sleeping seems difficult.

Many blessings 

Judy

Email - lightstationwisdom@gmail.com

Self Needs Care!

                             

                            Picture comes from an email, therefore source is not known.

I have been quite busy with healing from surgery and with some family stuff.  The Angels have been telling me that I need to make sure that as well as taking care of others and other things, that I must take care of myself.  They say that I need more rest and more fun.  I am planning some fun things!  

As always, when I need something to spur me to action, a nifty article comes my way. Here is a fantastic meditation or mantra on self care from Louise Hay.

I love my body. 
My body is perfect for me at this time. My body weight is also perfect. I am exactly where I choose to be. I am beautiful, and every day I become more attractive. This concept used to be very hard for me to accept, yet things are changing now that I am treating myself as if I were someone who was deeply loved. I’m learning to reward myself with healthy little treats and pleasures now and again. Little acts of love nurture me, doing things that I really like, such as quiet time, a walk in nature, a hot soothing bath, or anything that really gives me pleasure. I enjoy caring for myself. I believe it is okay to like myself and to be my own best friend. I know my body is filled with star light and that I sparkle and glow everywhere I go.

-----Excerpt taken from Meditations to Heal Your Life by Louise Hay

Many blessings on your journey today.

Judy