One of the things that makes me the happiest in life, is when people come to our house and tell me that they love the feeling in our house; that they feel sad to leave our house. I saw this quote from Mother Theresa and I believe that many people feel this way when they leave our house.
May you find people that feel this way in your life.
Blessings,
Judy
The picture says: Human Kind. Be Both.
"We’re not meant to be vehicles of destruction, but rather the very embodiment of love & light and compassion, manifest."
I recently had an experience where people were not very kind to me or to each other. I wondered why they were like that. Then, I met their manager. He was not nice to any one. When people say that influence comes from the top, “people” were very correct in this case.
What makes someone be unkind to those around him (or her)? Is it their home life? Is it that they think acting mean makes them powerful? Or, is it that they don’t like people in general? What ever the reason, I like to think that most people are kind and that most people want to help others.
Blessings,
Judy
Often, in life, we are given situations where we must choose to either move forward and make a change, or where we choose to let life circumstances defeat us.
Several days ago, someone that I love dearly received chastising about a situation that he was involved in. The chastisement seemed out of proportion to the seriousness of the situation. It reminded me of the put downs that many of us received from our parents (fathers) in our early lives. The tone of the chastisement was along the lines of “how can you be so stupid”, and “I am so much smarter than you”; put downs that we now all realize are about power and not about any constructive coaching or team building.
As I was thinking through the situation, and feeling thankful that I was no longer in that corporate situation, I saw the picture below, from Spirit, and realized that Duck had a comment for me. Duck is a spirit animal that brings many messages to humans, messages that are often ignored.
The comment was “sink or swim”! From the moment that Duck is born, she must make her way through the grass down into the water. She is not safe on the land from Fox, Hawk, Coyote, Snake, Racoon, Weasel, or even Cat or Dog. When she gets in the water, she is not safe from Turtle, Fish, Eagle, or other predators. Yet, she swims! She does not give up. To escape those who would diminish her, she simply swims faster until the time comes when she can fly, and then she flies faster.
Life, Duck says, is about getting on, and not getting down. Life is about finding the flow, and staying in the current, and keeping moving. The nature of things is about moving and change, and never giving up. Life is about loving one’s self enough to keep trying.
And that, says Duck, is the meditation for today – sink or swim.
Ducks from amolife.com
Many blessings,
Judy
Picture of Buddha from Wikipedia.com
Right Action is actually one of the eight paths on the Buddhist Eightfold Path. It comes under the section of ethics. Most commonly, to Monks, it is the law of Right Conduct. Simply put – abstaining from taking the life of any living thing, abstaining from stealing, abstaining from un-chastity (refraining from improper sexual conduct), abstaining from lying (truth and integrity in all things), and abstain from intoxicants.
Generally, all belief systems mirror the intention of right action. Therefore in spiritual practice we hear the phrase “right action” and take it as shorthand for all of the “RIGHTS” in the Eightfold Path. From pagan tradition, the phrase, “and harm to none (no one), is also about Right Action.
Books have been written on how the Rights should be learned, implemented and incorporated into one’s personal creed. This includes judgment of others and offering unsolicited advice. More on that in another article. For now, we leave it to everyone to make up their mind about Right Action.
Blessings,
Judy
One of my memories of my childhood is a black and white Holstein steer. He was one of Dad’s feeder steers in the corral. For some reason, Harry, which is what we called him, liked kids. He would come over and stand beside us, bringing with him a mouthful of hay. Or, after he’d finished at the water trough, he would come over to have his shoulders rubbed or the spot above his eyes and below his horns rubbed.
Picture of a Holstein bull to approximate the size of the steer.
Dad was worried that he might hurt us because he was so big. However, he was extremely gentle with us. My brother and I got to the point where we would get up on his back and talk to him, and get him to walk around the corral. The other steers just seemed to think he was the oddest thing. They would stare at him when he was with us kids. If we were riding Harry near them, they would snort or bellow, and move away. At one point, my brother and three of his friends were all sitting on Harry’s back. All the boys were ten years old.
One day, someone left the back gate unchained and when the steers rubbed against it, the gate opened. The thirty or so steers stampeded to freedom. They ran out into another big field, and when they saw how green the grass was, they stopped running and began to graze. After realizing that the steers were out, Dad organized my brother and I in a chute arrangement and Dad and our dog, Flash, headed out to the field to round the steers up. They came running in as fast as they ran out, and were prepared to run past the gate, over top of my brother and I, and head east. Harry was running with the rest of them. When he got to us, he slowed down and stopped with both of us kids in front of him and out of the way of the other cattle. When the herd passed us, Harry went around us and trotted off after them. Yes, we eventually got the steers back in several hours. After all, they would not want to miss their evening feeding.
What I learned from our time with Harry, through the playing with him, and his affection, are the following ideas:
A while ago, I watched the beautiful Oscar winning movie, “My Octopus Teacher”. It was a documentary but had everything in it - relationships, fear, overcoming obstacles, and sacrifice.
Picture of Octopus from Wikipedia
The Octopus has received a lot of attention over the last several decades. The Beatles made the Octopus a legendary figure in their song “Octopus’s Garden”. We often refer to our family as “the octopus that we can never escape”. A new expression via Drew Barrymore is “I wish I were an octopus so I could hug ten people at a time!” Octopus is part of our speech and our culture.
Octopus is given its name, in part from its eight legs or tentacles. As eight is the number of infinity, Octopus has a connection to the heavens and to Great Spirit, even though Octopus lives at the bottom of the ocean. Their home is a small cave, or pile of rocks that it can fit into, along the sea floor. Here Octopus hides and waits for prey. What makes this animal so unusual is that it has no bones in its body, so it is able to squeeze into small spaces. One can say that Octopus is the ultimate example of flexibility.
When Octopus is spread out, its tentacles are like the spokes in a wheel, or like an eight point star. It represents nothing and everything. The suction cups on their tentacles allow Octopus to grab on to and to hold tightly. As Octopus has a short life span of one to five years, it seems that these suction cups may represent getting a hold on life.
What is your relationship to Octopus?
Blessings,
Judy
These pictures came from a friend who thought these pictures were from Canmore, Alberta. It is not every day that one gets an elk in their front yard! As I looked at the pictures, I realized that these elk were supporting a theme amongst the animals that I commented upon in other blogs. That theme is that the animals are no longer keeping their distance from man – they are coming into the man space, and making themselves comfortable. Many believe that Elk are majestic. I call them spirit animals.
Our Ancestors believed that when the animals started acting atypical that great changes were upon them. Generally, the changes were physical ones such as earthquakes, deviant weather, or both. The animals would move out of the wilderness to be near to people and to have a sense of calmness. As protectors of mankind, they also want to be near people to give them a warning if something big is going to happen.
Elk says, “Humankind puts order to their world – the trimmed lawns, the sculpted trees, and the abundance of flowers. This is a contrast to the wildness of the forest that we live in. We wonder why the grass is cut when so many of us need to eat much grass to keep our life force flowing. We are grateful, too, that we no longer need to offer ourselves for food, as we did many lifetimes ago. The Shaman would call to us to let us know that The People were hungry. We responded. Now, it is time for you to feed us. This is the circle of life!
Blessings,
Judy
Picture of Buddha from brandrea.files.wordpress.com
Sometimes it seems that people ask for advice, and, when they receive it, they get angry and ignore it. Buddha explains this action very nicely in the following story.
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New Homes for the Tree Spirits
Once upon a time, as happens to all beings, the King of the Tree Spirits died. King Sakka, ruler of the Heaven of 33, appointed a new King of the Tree Spirits. As his first official act, the new king sent out a proclamation that every tree spirit should choose a tree to live in. Likewise it was stated that every tree was to be pleased with its resident spirit.
There just so happened to be a very wise tree spirit who was the leader of a large clan. He advised his clan members not to live in freestanding trees. Instead it would be safer to live in the forest trees near him. The wise tree spirits settled down in the forest trees with their leader.
But there were also some foolish and arrogant tree spirits. They said to each other, "Why should we live in this crowd? Let us go to the villages, towns and cities inhabited by human beings. Tree spirits who live there receive the best offerings. And they are even worshipped by the superstitious people living in those places. What a life we will have!"
So they went to the villages, towns and cities, and moved into the big freestanding trees, looked after by people. Then one day a big storm came up. The wind blew strong and hard. The big heavy trees with old stiff branches did not do well in the storm. Branches fell down, trunks broke in two, and some were even uprooted. But the trees in the forest, which were intertwined with each other, were able to bend and support each other in the mighty wind. They did not break or fall!
The tree spirits in the villages, towns and cities had their tree homes destroyed. They gathered up their children and returned to the forest. They, complained to the wise leader about their misfortune in the big lonely trees in the land of men. He said, "This is what happens to arrogant ones who ignore wise advice and go off by themselves."
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Blessings,
Judy
This meditation focus comes from the book that I wrote, “Earth Wisdom Meditations: Contemplations For People Who Love The Earth”.
I was sitting on the bench by the Bow River looking into the water. A tree beside the river dropped a leaf into the water to my left. I watched it float down past me. I was just watching this leaf, and thinking, and I heard the words. I wrote them down, and, eventually, they became a meditation for me that I use when I get stuck in my daily life. Saying the words slowly and quietly, over and over, help me focus.
If you try this meditation, please let me know if it works for you.
Blessings,
Judy
You can see more about this book here.
" | Your thoughts run around like a wild horse and your feelings jump about like a monkey in the forest. When the monkey and horse step back and reflect upon themselves, freedom from all discrimination is realized naturally. "--Dogen, "Instructions for the Tenzo" |
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Have you ever had an encounter with someone, and then walked away and had all these wild thoughts running through your head? Thoughts like:-“I would like that person to have a taste of what they dish out”; or “I would like to banish them to the Arctic!”; or, “I wish all their friends, if he has any, would turn away from him!”
These are thoughts that are wild and free and may be drawing from your past life memories. They may even be associated with a past life with this person. The thoughts do not make you a bad person. They are human. When thoughts like these come your way, bless them and thank them for the creative vision of what could happen, and then allow them to leave.
What makes our character is the way that we handle our thoughts, emotions, and impulses. When we can let them go, then we are moving on the path of blissfulness.
Blessings,
Judy
The poster says: Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious Human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others. I am not going to get angry or thin badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can. - Dalai Lama
“Every morning, recite this.” ~ Dalai Lama
The time before the full moon is usually difficult for most people. The MOON pulls at you. It brings out your dark side. Yes, every month, Grandmother Moon reminds you that you are shades of dark and light. This is the perfection of each of us.
Blessings,
Judy
When people talk about meditation and how peaceful and quiet it is, I think of some of my meditations where animals pop in, and while I may be peaceful, the time is not quiet. For example, Crow came in to the meditation last night. Crow caws constantly. Even as he talks, he caws. It is his nature. And, Crow is loud. He does, however, have some interesting things to say about life, about humans, and about other animals. Check out his ideas.
I was just getting into the conversation when Crow had to fly off. Somebody was really upset about some of the shiny things that Crow had taken today.
Blessings,
Judy
The poster says: Sometimes all it takes is a SMILE to make everything better!
-by Lendl Ian Servillon
How can one smile such sweet smiles,
When one is so saddened by sorrows for miles,
How can I smile the same smiles,
When life brings me nothing but tears,
I wondered for so long,
What reason you had to smile that long,
To keep smiling though troubles come,
And still remain sweet and silently overcome,
It's such a mystery to me,
Your smiles from heaven with glee,
I adore and yet envy thee,
But I'd rather you smile those at me,
I feel happy when I see you smile,
Even if I'm sad and lonely,
Your smiles bring me somewhere,
I don't even know where,
But it was you,
You gave me the reason to smile,
To smile with no reason,
To smile for a smile,
I guess life is just like that,
We need not a reason to smile,
For a smile is the reason itself,
To rejoice and open-heartedly give thanks,
I learned to smile because of you,
Because your smiles bring me joy when blue,
It proves how well and powerful,
A simple sweet smile can become so beautiful,
Smile for the sake of a smile,
Smile for the sake of happiness,
Smile for the sake of life,
Smile because of hope left in life,
Smile my friends,
Smile for me my Love,
Smile those same sweet smiles,
Smile so the world can be a peaceful dove...
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Dear friends,
Smiling is the best medicine.
Blessings,
Judy
Sometime this week, you will be given a chance to do something different, something you would not ordinarily do. It might be the rekindling of a great love, or the opportunity to work in a different career and still use the skills that you have accumulated over the years. Or, it might be the chance to move to a different city, province, or country. The Gopher’s guidance is…”Go for it!” Nothing happens unless you make a choice to change your life. Gopher knows that no matter how far you “dig” to try and change your life, much of life happens by being in the right place at the right time. Some call this coincidence. In Science, a coincidence is when two rays of light strike a surface at the same place at the same point of time. Sounds like the Universe sending light, doesn’t it? Moreover, Science refers to this event as non-casual. In other words, there are not any events that lead up to it.
So, if you see a Gopher, or several Gophers, or, if you see a lightening strike, know that the Universe is giving you some warning that something unusual is about to happen. It is up to you to choose to accept the gift, or not.
Blessings,
Judy
The poster reads:
Surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones that don’t. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is part of life, getting back up is living.
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Sometimes life just seems like chapters. Some good, some bad, but all come together to create the story of our lives. – Unknown
Today, find something to laugh at.
Today, find time to share a laugh.
Then, find someone to enjoy a laugh with.
Find a way to flow with life.
It is good for your heart.
Blessings,
Judy
The following information comes from one of my journals from 2016. It describes an experience that I had when I was out with my dogs.
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I drove up into the Kananaskis area, just south of Canmore. There was a lot more snow than what we had around home. From the corner of my vision, I saw a dark shape. I pulled over and stopped the vehicle.
Fox was coming out of the trees. She moved with purpose. I saw the beauty of her coat. She stopped and turned to me. I thought she might smell the dogs. I swear that she grinned. She barked three, sharp barks. And then she moved on.
The barks represented:
Blessings,
Judy
The poster reads:
For everything you have missed, you have gained something else; And for everything you gain, you lose something else. It is about your outlook towards life. You can either regret or rejoice.
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Everything that we do is about balance. You choose the pace of the balance in your life. No one else can choose the balance for you. Choose wisely!
Blessings,
Judy
I have many card decks. Periodically, I pull a card for the day, or the week, or even for the month. I pulled the card for today, Osho card #5, Clinging To the Past, for January 2025.
Below is the explanation for the card. May you find some information int the explanation that helps you with something that you are facing.
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The Osho Card for today
These tenses--past, present and future--are not the tenses of time; they are tenses of the mind. That which is no longer before the mind becomes the past. That which is before the mind is the present. And that which is going to be before the mind is the future. Past is that which is no longer before you. Future is that which is not yet before you. And present is that which is before you and is slipping out of your sight. Soon it will be past.... If you don't cling to the past...because clinging to the past is absolute stupidity. …..
The figure pictured in this card is so preoccupied with clutching her box of memories that she has turned her back on the sparkling champagne glass of blessings available here and now. Her nostalgia for the past really makes her a 'blockhead', and a beggar besides, as we can see from her patched and ragged clothes. She needn't be a beggar, of course--but she is not available to taste the pleasures that offer themselves in the present. It's time to face up to the fact that the past is gone, and any effort to repeat it is a sure way to stay stuck in old blueprints that you would have already outgrown if you hadn't been so busy clinging to what you have already been through. Take a deep breath, put the box down, tie it up in a pretty ribbon if you must, and bid it a fond and reverent farewell. Life is passing you by, and you're in danger of becoming an old fossil before your time!
--Osho The Great Zen Master Ta Hui Chapter 10
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Blessings,
Judy
Mink, a spirit animal, says that water is very important to all of us. Creator has made us all – all animals – mostly water to remind us that we are all fluid – that is our spirit, our energy, is able to move with the flow. There is no reason not to move fluidly, whether we dance, sing, run or walk. We are meant to flow on the easiest path.
Mink observes that especially in winter, humans do not flow. Mink thinks this is because that humans do not move close enough to water. Instead, they sit in buildings and other dry places. Even drinking lots of water does not ease the burden of loss of fluidity.
Minks like to live near water and are seldom found far from riverbanks, lakes and marshes. Even when roaming, they tend to follow streams and ditches. Sometimes they leave the water altogether for a few hundred metres. This is the example that humans should follow.
Blessings,
Judy
The Poster says: Responsibility — No single drop of water thinks it is responsible for the flood. —Author Unknown
In this time, we all have work that we must do. Creator is urging everyone to now take responsibility for their own lives.
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