Donkey’s Thoughts for You

Over the last several days, the picture of a Donkey has popped into my mind, or the word “donkey” has come up in conversation or on the radio.  Because this seems unusual, I gathered that Donkey had a message for me.   In my meditation, Donkey did come in and had some thoughts to share.

• This is a time to keep your ears open to listen for unusual sounds around you.  Often, one can hear things or hear about things before the “thing” happens.  Your ability to hear will help you move through 2025 with grace.
• Work on your endurance.  Donkeys are noted for their endurance in harsher conditions.  For you, the conditions will be changing constantly, and you will need to have some survival skills in place by the last half of the year.  Thus, you need to get fit.
• If you can’t swim, now is a good time to learn this skill.  Swimming is good exercise and allows you to get use to a different environment.  Sinking or swimming – it is all about choices.
• Keep your feet groomed.  This should be self explanatory.
• Eyes wide open is the motto for a donkey walking through strange territory.  This is a good time to start practising the skill of observation.  What looks out of place?  Why is it there?  What is the bigger picture?  Start now, and practise.
• Sleep when you can.  Short naps will help your endurance, and will give you extra physical strength.  Most beings do not get enough sleep.
• Donkeys are vegetarian.  It is the way our digestive system is set up.  Do not artificially change your diet.  Eat what is good for you and for your digestive system.  Most humans do not tolerate a wide variety of raw.  That is why you invented fire.
• Take time to commune with Creator.  It will help you remember that we are all connected.

Then, after sharing these thoughts, Donkey brayed goodbye and walked off into the desert.

Blessings,

Judy

Swallow is a Spirit Animal

 

A popular tattoo for both men and women is the image of a swallow.  Some like the stylized version which is more symbolic.  Here is a design that I like.

I began to wonder why Swallow was such a popular choice for tattoos, and why so many people say “Swallow” when you ask them to name a bird.

Some of the reasons that Swallow has such a following are:

1. Our  Norse ancestors tell the story that the Swallow flew around Jesus’ head, and sang songs to distract him from his suffering.
2. British and German ancestors say that if Swallow nests on your house, all within will have good luck.  Additionally, the house is protected from disasters such as fires, heavy wind, and hail and snow.
3. North American First Nations legends tell how Swallow tricked the Sun, and was able to steal fire from the Sun, and bring fire to The People so the people would be warm in winter.
4. Farmers believe that the time that Swallow arrives back from migration will indicate the type of year that farmers will have.  Late arrival means a short and cooler summer.  Early arrival means a long, warm summer which means a good growing season.
5. Farmers also believe that a high flying Swallow meant good weather, and Swallow flying low, close to the ground, indicated cooler, rainy weather.  (Note that because Swallow is an insect eater, it probably tells more about the behaviour of the insects and weather.)

Most gardeners love Swallow and build or buy big Swallow Houses for the Swallows to live in while they are in the north.  The benefit is that Swallow eats so many insects, including mosquitoes.

Swallow has played a role in our belief systems because of the various legends told about it.  If Swallow is hanging out around you, it is a good thing, and she will bring you blessings.

Many blessings,

Judy

Let’s Talk About Spring Equinox 2024

Picture of Spring Equinox at Stonehenge is from The Telegraph (www.telegraph.co.uk)

Spring Equinox in Alberta is Tue, Mar 19, 2024, 9:06 p.m. Mountain Time

So, what is the spring equinox? According to the website - the statesman.com, the equinox marks the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, but to be more specific, it's the day the sun's rays shine onto the equator while the Earth sits with its axis tilted neither toward nor away from the sun. This causes 12 hours of sunlight almost everywhere on Earth.

My husband and I plan each year to have a celebration of the Spring Equinox because it is the beginning of spring which leads to summer.  It is an amazing time of new energy arriving on the Earth.

Our celebration usually happens a couple of days ahead of The Equinox so that our group can plan how they want to absorb the energies of the day.   We have a group meditation focusing on “something” around the Equinox, several short meditations on relevant needs such as a particular healing or seeing that is required, and we have a sharing circle at the end.  We open and close with creating sacred space and then closing sacred space.  We clean up the space we have been using and then everyone proceeds to the dining room for a sumptuous pot luck dinner.

Some years our celebration varies.  If it is a lovely day, instead of being in the house by the fireplace, we will be in the back yard around the fire pit.

However you decide to spend Spring Equinox, enjoy the celebration of the renewal of life.

Many blessings,

Judy

Celebrating Winter Solstice On Dec 10 2023

 

Picture credit to my brother.

Some folks have asked how we celebrate Winter Solstice.  Each year it is slightly different.  This year, I was guided to have our celebration early because of the weather ahead so we scheduled for the 10th of December.  Winter Solstice is about the shortest day and the longest night.  By having our celebration on the Sunday, 11 days early, we had a bit more daylight and we started early…at 4 PM. 

We have a group - our tribe - that comes to our meditations and celebrations.  Including my husband and me, we had 17 people in front of the fire.  Yes, we have a fire to light the way and to carry away all that we throw to it.

Our steps for the evening included:

1. Smudging everyone
2. Drumming
3. Welcome and quick overview of what will be happening
4. Opening Sacred Space
5. The theme
6. Breathing exercise to support the theme
7. Meeting the guides for this evening
8. Several quick meditations
9. Sharing Circle
10. Closing Sacred Space

The experiences that folks had were amazing!  It was fun for all of us.  The evening helped to wipe out some anxiety and restore balance.  The energy was so high!  It all felt right.

Blessings,

Judy

Healing Past Hurts - It Must be Done

 I was reading a meditation today that said, “the human heart does not stay away too long from that which hurt it most.  There is return journey to anguish that few of us are released from making.” - Lillian Smith                              

The quote made me think of all the clients that I've seen who have an illness or a block that stems from an incident in childhood.  When we are children, the strongest people in our lives are our parents.  And, because they have not resolved all of their issues, they often hurt the child inadvertently, or, in some cases, purposefully.  Because our parents did not know how to resolve their issues, they are no help in resolving a child's issues.

When of the largest categories of books in a bookstore or library are self help books.  This is because of many of the unresolved issues and hurts in people today.  I have read my share of these books.  One of the common themes is that if you don't resolve these hurts then you will remain in victim hood. 

So, what is an easy way to heal past hurts? For me, the easiest way is to throw the hurt into the fire.  I am using a fire ceremony to do this because it is simple and it feels so good.  If the fire ceremony does not completely clear the hurt, then I use an affirmation.  My affirmation is “I forgive myself for believing that I ever did anything wrong”.  This affirmation is based on the idea that one’s life is perfect and that each action is perfect in the moment for whatever part of the bigger picture we each play.

May you find a way to heal all your hurt.

Many blessings,

Judy

Smoke and Wild Fires

   Photo is from three days ago from the Toronto Globe and Mail

The last several days have been incredibly smoke filled and in some places, have caused poor visibility.  I went outside to have my coffee on the deck and came back in immediately because it was too smokey.  

The smoke made me think of smudging - the smudging that you do to clear yourself (and others) before ceremony or before meditating.  It made me think that perhaps Mother Earth is smudging all of us with these big fires.  Smudging is for clearing away issues, problems, negative energy and actions. It is a form of purification. It is a very unusual time as at the moment, 87 fires are burning, and 25 are out of control, while the rest are confined.

I say a silent prayer for all the animals that people have had to leave behind as they are rushed out of danger areas.  Blessings to the firemen that are going into abandoned areas and trying to feed the pets left behind.  

Strength and compassion to all the fire fire fighters that are working in Northern Alberta and BC to fight fires.

May the rains come to tame the fires and clear the smoke.

Many blessings,

Judy