April 1 2024 - Walk In Nature

April Fool's day – a day for playing jokes.  This blog is not about joking.  It is about waking up and realizing that we need Nature in our lives.  It is about remembering that we come from Nature – from the Earth.  Our blood flows red with iron richness and lots of mineral and gases that are part of the Earth's structure.

We need to be out in Nature to restore our calm and to remind ourselves that we must care for the plants, animals, birds, etc. because they are our cousins.  They carry the same ingredients in their bodies. 

It is sad that we want to destroy the parks and rivers and lakes to "develop" them.  And, yes, in some places, wild lands are being reclaimed so that new life can flourish in those spots.

Today, decide to be out in Nature for one hour a week.  Then slowly increase the time.  

Many blessings,

Judy

Walking In The Light

I had an interesting experience where a client asked me - “What does it mean to walk in the light?”  I wasn’t sure how to answer the question because walking in the light is an individual experience.  As always, my guides helped me out by referring me to a picture of my husband walking in the light.

I took this amazing picture of my husband when we were in Sedona quite a few years ago.  We are across the saddle from Kachina Woman.  He had climbed up an out cropping of rocks to get some better pictures.  When I looked back at him, he seemed to be covered in an explosion of light.  

You can see the rays of light come around the top of the rock and make an arc, as though a cone of light has been set over him.  There is a very bright orb in the foreground, with green reflection off of it.  If you look at the picture closely, you can see amazing hues of purple and blue against the rock.

I asked him if he could feel any energy up there.  He said that it was simply peaceful.  (For camera enthusiasts, I simply used my cell phone camera.). I think that that is the best explanation of walking in the light… it is the ability to be absolutely peaceful and calm in everything that you do.

Many blessings,

Judy

Tranquility’s Power - A Buddhist Story

There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth...

not going all the way and not starting.

Buddha

This is a Zen story about the power of calmness.  

 

A master of the tea ceremony in old Japan once accidentally slighted a soldier. He quickly apologized, but the rather impetuous soldier demanded that the matter be settled in a sword duel. The tea master, who had no experience with swords, asked the advice of a fellow Zen master who did possess such skill. As he was served by his friend, the Zen swordsman could not help but notice how the tea master performed his art with perfect concentration and tranquility. "Tomorrow," the Zen swordsman said, "when you duel the soldier, hold your weapon above your head, as if ready to strike, and face him with the same concentration and tranquility with which you perform the tea ceremony."  The next day, at the appointed time and place for the duel, the tea master followed this advice. The soldier, readying himself to strike, stared for a long time into the fully attentive but calm face of the tea master. Finally, the soldier lowered his sword, apologized for his arrogance, and left without a blow being struck. 

After you read this story, gage your reaction to it.  Does your mind tell you that this is impossible?  Why do you think that?  Does your anger flare up and get you into trouble?  Have you ever experienced the power of tranquility?  What is the gift in this story?  Why did the soldier back down?  

May you find the first seeds of tranquility here.

Many blessings,

Judy

Truisms That Made Me Think!

 

Picture of Lake Winnipeg taken from the shore at Victoria Beach in August 2023 by J Hirst

I get a Daily Motivational Message in my email every morning.  I enjoy the ideas and thoughts that pop up from time to time.  On Sunday, I was having a discussion with a friend about the purpose of life, and how some folks become so focused on what they think their purpose is that they let a lot of wonderful life pass them by.

Then, on Monday, in my DM message, the following thoughts showed up that seemingly emphasized the discussion of Sunday.

See what you think and what you feel when you read these thoughts or truisms.  They deal with balance, life choices, stress, control or not, and the need for calmness and gentleness.

• Sometimes we become so obsessed with achieving our goals that we forget to cherish our lives.

• You've beenrunning, and working so hard for years. Make the conscious choice to slow down. 

• You have to let yourself relax. 

• You are allowed to take a break. You need it. 

• Your thoughtsmay tell you that things will fall apart if you take a break or let go of trying to control everything, but deep down you know it's not true.

• What's meant to be will happen. Invite gentleness and calmness into your life.

Many blessings,

Judy

Get a Grip!

Picture of person roping a heart from http://eruke.files.wordpress.com

I had a moment of clarity this morning as I walked the trail in the park with my dog.  My mind was racing with all the things that I had to do, and I was thinking about a client.  I began to imagine her getting ill and me feeling sad.  I noticed that my emotions were going into a tailspin, and my thoughts were getting increasingly dark.  I heard a voice say, “Get a grip!”

Everything stopped!  I felt peace and calmness around me.  I realized that getting a grip was not just getting a grip on one’s emotional state, it is also about getting a grip on one’s thoughts.  It is about getting a grip on going out into the future where things may happen and are unlikely to happen the way that we imagine them.

I had let myself run away with thoughts and emotions that had no basis in the present moment.  “Get a grip” means to come back to reality, and to the present.  It means still your thoughts, and still your mind. It means, take back your power!

Our thoughts, mind, and emotions sometimes seem like they are beyond our control.  To prove the point, here is a little exercise.  Try to stop your mind from thinking.  Now, read the phrase, “The Sounds of ……”.  Try it again.  Read this phrase, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's …”.  Our minds simply want to complete the phrase.

You see, our mind, which thinks all the time, really wants to be helpful.  Unfortunately, our mind has had little discipline to keep it working on positive, happy thoughts, so it simply turns to the the wave of information that it has the most on.  Most of the information that we take in from media is unhappy news or bad news.  So, our minds and thoughts automatically generate bad news scenarios.

The bad news scenario is what happened to me this morning.  Now, when I start the bad news thoughts, I say to myself, “Get a grip!”  It works!  You can change your thoughts.

Many blessings,

Judy

Affirmations are a Gift!

The image below is from www.mysticmum.co.uk.  What a wonderful poster!

Yesterday, I watched a short movie called “THE STRANGEST SECRET”.    The key point in the movie is that by changing what you think about and how you think about anything, you can change your life.  This same thought was the theme of the movie “A KNIGHT’S TALE” starring Heath Ledger.  In fact, the theme was – You can change your stars!

Listening to Nightingale talk sent me back to a sales and marketing course that I took many years ago.  In that three day workshop, I learned ten affirmations that I still use today.  Here they are:

1. You like yourself unconditionally. You really like yourself. 
2. You always speak in positive terms about yourself and others.
3. You enjoy and appreciate everyone you meet. You like them, and they like you.
4. You always decide for yourself what is best for you, and you allow others the same right.
5. You accept complete responsibility for your life, and for your reactions to all situations.
6. You enjoy excellent health, and you are easily able to relax at any time.
7. You are always calm, confident, and self assured in your interactions with others, with groups as well as with individuals.
8. You are very creative in all areas of your life, always tapping more and more into your super conscious mind.
9. You have an excellent memory, and you easily recall names, numbers, and information.
10. You are a total winner and you are completely successful at everything that you undertake to do.

When I say them, I change the word “you” to “I”.  When I listen to them as a meditation, I keep the word “you”.  Repeating each affirmation five times solidifies the meaning in your mind.  Five is the number of “getting things done”.

I asked my guides if affirmations work.  They responded that affirmations are simply mantras.  In a recent blog, I gave this explanation of a mantra.

Mantra repetition simply means  repeating a sentence or group of words that have a phonetic significance. 

Mantra is intrinsically related to sound. Mantra is sound, and sound is reverberating in everything in this universe. When water flows, the gurgling sound it makes, is mantra. When wind blows through the trees, the  rustling sound it produces is mantra.  When we walk on the earth, our footsteps produce sound, and that too is mantra. 

Many eastern mantras are repeated 100 times at a sitting.  Imagine the change in your body, mind, and spirit if you repeated the above affirmations 100 times a day.  Why not try it? Start with five repetitions of each affirmation, and see what change happens for you.  Let me know the results.

Many blessings,

Judy

Serenity

"Serenity At The Bow River at Bankside"  

Photograph copyright Judith Hirst-Joyeux

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of my clients asked me how to find serenity. I was taken aback! Serenity, to me, is a state of being - not a destination.  I wondered if I misunderstood the concept. I looked it up.

serenity   The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | Date: 2008 

se·ren·i·ty / səˈrenitē/ • n. (pl. -ties) the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled: an oasis of serenity amidst the bustling city. ∎  (His/Your, etc., Serenity) a title given to a reigning prince or similar dignitary.  Â© The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English 2008, originally published by Oxford University Press 2008.

I realized that it is a state of being. However, it is a destination as well.  I thought about where in the world I go to find serenity. I came up with "my list of serenity sites".  These are my places of oasis of serenity.  Here they are, in no particular order.

• The spot along the Bow at Bankside
• The angel sanctuary in my back yard
• The Fairy Tree along Fish Creek
• The secluded picnic table along Fish Creek
• The bench on our deck at 9:30am when it is cool in the summer
• The top of the rock pile at Moraine Lake when others are not around
• The hidden trail along the river close to Kananaskis Lodge
• The log by the beaver lodge on Pine Island
• The flat rock saddle on Cathedral Rock

These names will not resonate with most people.  And, that is okay.  These are my spots for serenity.  Because each person has a unique idea of what serenity is, their destination will be quite different. It may be a beach, a park bench, a library, a cathedral... it doesn't matter.  

When you are in serenity, it seems easier to feel The Divine.

Wishing you moments and places of serenity.

Many Blessings,

Judy

Wisdom From Nature

                                

                                  Picture by Judy Hirst - Beaver downed trees in Fish Creek Park 2021                          

A while ago, one of my friends sent me the amazing quote below.  She knew that I was working on mindfulness and on being more attuned to Nature and the signs and messages that Nature provides.

Enjoy the wonderful ideas in this quote from Angus Williams.

      *************

Drink water from the spring where horses drink. The horse will never drink bad water. Lay your bed where the cat sleeps. Eat the fruit that has been touched by a worm. Boldly pick the mushroom on which the insects sit. Plant the tree where the mole digs. Build your house where the snake coils to warm itself. Dig your fountain where the birds hide from heat. Go to sleep and wake up at the same time with the birds – you will reap all of the days golden grains. Eat more green – you will have strong legs and a resistant heart, like the beings of the forest. Swim often and you will feel on earth like the fish in water. Look at the sky as often as possible and your thoughts will become light and clear. Be quiet a lot, speak little – and silence will come in your heart, and your spirit will be calm and full of peace.

Nature is talking to you, are you listening?

— Angus Williams

Many Blessings!

Judy

From The Angels - Keep Your Inner Peace

 

I was in a situation yesterday where I was getting so upset with a family in a grocery store.  Normally, the grocery store is a soothing place with quiet music and staff that sometimes break into song. The family - Mom, Dad, and two kids about six and eight - were very loud and argued about everything.  Both parents were obviously not in a happy frame of mind and both parents were being very vocal and demeaning to their children.  

I was about to say something, if only for my peace, when my inner guidance - my angels speaking - reminded me to stay calm and peaceful and to project the calmness and the peacefulness to the family.  I took several deep breaths in and closed my eyes and strove to find the peacefulness I normally carry around with me.  I breathed it in and out.  I projected the peacefulness to all those around me.  I focused on walking in a sunny meadow.  I concentrated on my walk in the store.

Suddenly, I realized that it was much quieter in the store.  Perhaps the family left.  However, when I rounded into the next aisle, there was the family.  They were much quieter and looked more pleasant. Whatever calmed them was a welcome relief.

I realized then, how quickly a strongly negative influence like the unhappy family, could throw those around them into a more negative space.  Rotten apples in a barrel effect, it seemed.  I also realized that we all have to work at overpowering the negative with a positive influence.

Perhaps you will have the chance today to send peace and tranquility to someone who is unhappy.

Many blessings 

Judy 

Peace and Calm

 

       Picture on Peace from a friend’s email

It is December and our thoughts turn to Christmas… staff parties, buying presents, family gatherings, and a demand on one’s time to meet all the obligations.  It is a time of stress!

A common Christmas carols says – Peace on Earth, Goodwill to man – I think it is from "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day".  The song was on the car radio.  I started thinking… peace.  For many it means no war or persecution.  For others, it means not having to deal with anything that is drama or is negative.  

I like this poster that says, and I paraphrase, peace is being calm in your heart.  That feels right.

Many blessings,

Judy