Remembrance Day 2025

 

Today, we pause to reflect, honour, and remember. On this day, we honour the Canadians who have served and sacrificed in times of conflict and peace, as well as those who continue to serve today.  We all need to recognize that the many freedoms we are fortunate to enjoy are because of the profound contributions of Veterans and their families within our communities. Today and always, we remember. 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

Karma Takes Too Long

The poster says: “Karma takes too long.  I’d rather just beat the crap out of you now.”

I saw this poster, and thought,

“That is the problem we have today, everyone would rather fight than try to work things out.  I think that it is a product of impatience, and ego, and training.  We have learned through history that the one with the bigger stick seems to win.  So, that is what we focus on – winning.  Winning is really a form of losing when the solution only solves the problem for one person or group.  If you win, you have failed, as a leader, because not everyone is happy.  While I agree that there are some folks that you will probably never satisfy, the majority are happy and look for solutions to what keeps them from doing their job, or from living their life in peace and with ease.”

Perhaps I am wrong in my thoughts. Perhaps this poster has it right.  Perhaps we should defend ourselves, and do what is in our power to prevail over others with our own thoughts and values.  

What are your thoughts?

Blessings,

Judy

Buddha And Being Kind

 

 The poster says, “Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.”  - Buddha

There are times when I must bite my words back.  The words that I would use may seem appropriate to me, and, unkind to the person receiving them.  We all perceive life in different ways, based on our past experience.  I was having one of those days – you know the kind – where it seemed like people were going out of their way to be unhelpful, or even mean.  When I feel that way, I know I need to take a deep breath and find the peace in my heart, and then I can kindly and peacefully speak words that help the person get over what is troubling them.  

I have learned over the years that unkindness is often played forward by the person that has been hurt by another’s unkindness.  After all the leadership and team building that has been going on in business for the last fifteen years, it is troubling to see bully behaviour in businesses, often stemming from a manager.  

Perhaps try some words of peace today at work or at a gathering of friends.  Do it as an experiment to see how things play out.

Blessings

Judy

Welcome August 2025

August 1 is traditionally the day that our Ancestors welcomed the Goddess of Harvest into their houses and onto the farms.  Harvest of fruit, corn, and even early grain started after the Goddess came in to give her blessings.

The Angels have a message for us.  They say that there are no longer the gardens and farms and orchards that there used to be.  So many people depend on others for their food.  The Angels suggest that the non-farmers offer up prayers or meditations for the farmers.  The meditation or prayer may offer that the harvest is bountiful and that all crops come off without bad weather or other obstacles.  We can ask for a blessing of abundance for all gardens and for all gardeners.

The Angels say that August is to be a time of turmoil around the world.  They say that we can make it less tumultuous by being grounded, and at peace with all that is.  They remind us that we are the creators of our own story.  Therefore, we can re-write the story at any time.  We can set the intentions that all is well where ever we live.

In fact, the Angels say that we can change destiny with some prayer.

Blessings,

Judy

Dove Drops Feathers

The other morning, I stepped out of the house, through the patio door, and found some dove feathers on the mat outside the door.  I picked them up, said a thank-you, and left them on the table on the deck.  I was going to clean them when I got back from walking my dog.

When I got back, the dove feathers had blown back to the mat.  I laughed.  Dove surely wanted me to use these feathers for something.  And, when my dog and I were walking, I found a beautiful magpie feather sitting on the middle of the path. I found this quite unusual since that path is walked by over a hundred dog owners and their dogs, each day, and usually twice a day.

So, I  knew that something was special about feathers, and I knew that Dove was sending a message.

1.  Feathers are very often a sign from the Angels that they have heard your prayer, or request, and that they will do as you have prayed for the greatest and highest good.

2.  Dove is about peace and being peaceful, and being nurturing.  I am working this out in my life right now.  It seems like Dove is offering her help.

3.  While my husband and I were having breakfast on the deck that day, Dove came and sat on the peak of our house and cooed at us while we were eating.  It seems like she was saying to be gentle to ourselves and to enjoy our life.

4.  I have been contemplating making a new drum beater, and I keep seeing it with feathers at the end.  The gift of the dove feathers seems like I will be making a “Dove” drum beater.

Blessings,

Judy

Butterfly on Metamorphasis

My dog and I were walking along the top of the hill, revelling in the hot sun, shining down on us so beautifully.  The warmth was so welcome after a week of rain.   My dog was trotting along, doing his thing, and the two of us were simply feeling happy and alive.  As we walked, two butterflies came out of no where, and flew on each side of us, much like an honour guard, holding in the space of happiness.  They stayed with us until we returned to the car.

I thought a lot about the sacredness of what the butterflies did for us – to keep us in that space of happiness and contentment.  I was so grateful.  And then I thought about what the butterflies are about – metamorphosis and change.  And, I started laughing!

You see, meta in the metamorphosis, is actually written “metta”, and means “Loving Kindness”.  If I did not get the connection, Spirit is determined that I understand this concept, because when I was listening to my Buddhist lesson, the Master talked about a colleague of his, Sister Metta, who, as her name suggested, carried loving kindness with her where ever she went.  She was a purveyor of change.

I realized that the Butterflies was moving us (my dog and me) forward into a stronger alignment with loving kindness. They were fanning us with new energy.  This seems like it is a great gift at this time of change.d Butterflies’ actions made me think of this writing by Buddha, "May you be at peace.  May your heart remain open.  May you awaken to the light of your own true nature. May you be healed.  May you be a source of healing to all beings."  The Metta of the Buddha

May each of you have a very transforming week!

Much metta,

Judy

Letting Go

“You cannot understand life and its mysteries as long as you try to grasp it. Indeed, you cannot grasp it just as you cannot walk off with a river in a bucket. If you try to capture running water in a bucket, it is clear that you do not understand it and that you will always be disappointed, for in the bucket the water does not run. To "have" running water you must let go of it and let it run.”   Alan Watts from The Wisdom of Insecurity.

Over the last several months, I have been working on understanding the Buddhist concept of “attachment”, and at the same time, I have been working on understanding all the things that I am attached to. I am finding that attachment comes in many forms.  It does seem to be about being attached to things being a certain way.  If I can get to a point where I accept all things and allow them to be as they are without my ideas of how they should be, then I will be free of attachment.  I hope to get there by letting go of one attachment at a time.

As human beings we all want to be happy and free from misery.  We have learned that the key to happiness is inner peace.  The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as anger and attachment, fear and suspicion, while love and compassion, a sense of universal responsibility are the sources of peace and happiness. 
~Dalai Lama

Many Blessings,

Judy 

Lion on Love

                

One of my friends sent me this picture.  I looked at it, and thought it was great, and then deleted it.  Then, when I was “Stumbling”, I came across the picture again.  Again, I thought it was great, and hit the button to move past it.  Everything moved, and then shifted back to the picture.  Ah!  I realized that I was being given this picture for a reason.

I sat with the picture and meditated.  I used the mantra, Loving Kindness, to relax and move into that place of peace and stillness.  I was hovering in that place where thoughts come up to you, and you simply wave them away, without really seeing them.  And then a much larger, dark figure walked into my meditation silence.  He coughed to draw attention to himself.  I looked at him, and said, “Can I help you?”

The Lion moved into my consciousness, fully, and said he had some information for me.  I settled back and said that I would be glad to hear it.  He began speaking.

“We often hear in the great whispers that go around through the air, that you two leggeds do not think that we love.  Love, as we understand it, is when you totally commit to protect and to honour those charges around you; that you realize that without them, you would feel lost and perhaps incomplete.  We lions love absolutely in the nature of our kind. 

We are different than two leggeds because we do not intentionally plan treachery – to hurt or to kill – the ones we love.  WE work to protect them. 

And, so it is that we are different.  We say to you, “judge us not as dumb beasts”.”

                                    ^^^^^^^^^^^^

Blessings,

Judy

Beauty of The Earth

Along highway 93, one can pull off the road, and spend some time beside a stream or river, or small lake, and contemplate the peace.

With the peace, the beauty of the Earth shines out like a gift on one’s birthday.  Sunlight, warmth, and many elementals work with you to bring down the state of tension in your body.

Use this picture as a focal point for your meditation and see where it takes you.   Send me comments to tell me about your journey.

Blessings,

Judy

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

Winter Hare in a Dream

Picture from an email from a friend.

I had the strangest dream the other night.  I guess the dream happened because it is getting close to Christmas which is my favorite part of the year.  Here is the dream.

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

Roger and I got home from my Christmas party about midnight.  The moon was shining brightly.  And there, sitting at the end of our driveway, just like one of our dogs, waiting for us, was a very large, white hare, or rabbit, as she is often called.

We drove up and stopped because she did not move.   She looked at us, and seemed to thump her back foot.  Suddenly, we were engulfed in this very warm feeling, a feeling of peace.  I saw a picture of a Christmas from about five years ago when all of my family was together, sitting a a huge long table for twenty-two people, laughing and eating, and of course, telling stories.  The picture faded.  I saw a tall white lady, who waved her arm, and disappeared.  I knew we were being taken care of.  

Roger said, “Did you feel that? The warmth and the magic?”

I said yes… and our rabbit hopped away.  

I woke up knowing that life is good.

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

Blessings,

Judy

Good Advice In These Quotes

 

                         Picture is of the fall colours from the Banff Summit 

  

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."  -Leo F. Buscagilia

  

"Never tell a young person that anything cannot be done. God may have been waiting centuries for someone ignorant enough of the impossible to do that very thing."   -G. M. Trevelyan

I found these two quotes and felt that I needed to share them today, to remind everyone that what we feel guided to do is often what Creator needs us to do.  And, when we interfere with someone’s path because of our own limitations – saying that it can’t be done  -  we have no idea of the repercussions of our actions.

Be at peace and celebrate everything!

Many blessings,

Judy

Happy July 4th, 2024

Happy 4th of July 2024 to all the folks in the United States.

What a wonderful day to celebrate all the good things around us. 

I wish each of you a day of celebration so that you are at peace with yourself, your family, and the rest of the world.

I wish you each a time of forgiveness so that you may let go of what you are holding on to, and that you may move forward without regrets.

This is my blessing for you.

Judy

Never Give Up

Healing words from the Dali Lama:

Never Give up 
No matter what is going on 
Never Give up 
Develop the heart 
Too much energy is spent developing the mind 
instead of the heart 
Be compassionate 
Work for peace 
and I say again 
Never Give up 
No matter what is happening 
No matter what is going on around you 
Never Give up

One of the commonalities between many of the very old traditions, that is, before Christianity, is the spirit of perseverance.  What I am seeing as I meet people over the last six months is that sense of despair and of having given up.  

As I expand my sight to see what is really going on, I see that the despair is borne from the disparaging words from others – others who tell them that everything is awful, or that they’ll never get it right, or….

The picture that I see is that others around them cause the person’s sense of desperation and defeat.  Living to the words of others rather than what is in yourself is truly the way to losing your way.  

I love the words from the Dali Lama – Never Give Up, No matter what is going on around you!

Many Blessings,

Judy

Buddha’s Thoughts

At least once a week, I get an email or a phone call from a client that gives me pause to think about “why is that person acting or reacting like that?” I usually have a lot of wonderment around the question, and usually, within a day or two, I get a story or explanation for the behaviour. 

This morning I had a chat with a friend who was telling me that he/she would be fasting for the next ten days to help raise her/his vibration. And further, she/he would be avoiding all sweet things. 

I have learned that each person must do what seems right or best for him or her. However, the thought that sticks with me in all that I do is the vow of MODERATION that all those who take Munay-Ki must agree to. Moderation means that one is balanced in all things. Extreme fasting, or denying oneself, or forcing self to do things that are not for the highest good of the body temple are not in accordance with the Munay-Ki Vow. 

As I was reviewing my lesson in Buddhism, the following teaching story came up, and I received confirmation from Great Spirit that I was on the path of understanding that we need to be balanced in all things. Here is the story.

The Holy Man Who Tried To Be Too Holy (Extremism)

Once upon a time, the Enlightenment Being lived in a world where most religions were very similar. They taught that the way to remove suffering from the mind was to make the body suffer instead. As strange as it seems, most people thought that the holiest of the holy were the ones who tortured their bodies the most! Since everyone seemed to agree with this, the Bodhisatta decided to find out for himself if it was true.

He stopped living as an ordinary everyday person and became a holy man according to the custom of the times. This meant that he gave up everything, even his clothes. He went naked, with his body covered only by dust and dirt.

So he wouldn't be spoiled by the taste of good food, he forced himself to eat only filthy things - dirt, ashes, urine and cow dung.

So he could concentrate without being interrupted by anyone, he went to live in the most dangerous part of the forest. If he did see a human being, he ran away like a timid deer.

In the wintertime he spent his days under the trees and his nights out in the open. So in the daytime he was soaked by the cold water dripping from the icicles hanging from the tree branches. And at night he was covered by the falling snow. In this way, in winter, he made his body suffer the most extreme cold in both day and night.

In the summertime he spent his days out in the open and his nights under the trees. So in the daytime he was burned by the most severe rays of the sun. And at night he was blocked from the few cooling breezes of the open air. In this way, in summer, he made his body suffer the most extreme heat in both day and night.

This was how he struggled, trying to bring peace to his mind. He was so determined that he lived his entire life in this way.

Then, just as he was about to die, he saw a vision of himself reborn in a hell world. The vision struck him like lightning, and instantly he knew that all the ways he had tortured his body were completely useless! They had not brought him peace of mind. Lo and behold, as he gave up his false beliefs and held on to the truth, he died and was reborn in a heaven world!

May you find this helpful in all that you do today, and all days!

Blessings,

Judy

Buddha Talks About Attachment

The following words come from a teaching by Venerable Jagaro of the Dhammaloka Buddhist Centre in Perth.  These words were a lesson that I needed around understanding attachment, and to help clients who are attached.  May these words help you as well.

Picture from Microsoft Clip Art

 

In Buddhism we are interested in freedom the freedom of non- attachment. We carry around an immense burden of attachment to everything we consider 'me' and 'mine' , like a big heavy stone on our shoulders. When a wise person points out to us that we could throw off this burden, we regard them with suspicion. 'Throw it off? Then I wouldn't have anything left! I couldn't do that!' Thinking they will bring us happiness, we continue to lug around our personal investments and self interests this great big heavy burden! The Buddha taught that nothing is worth attaching to. Do not attach to anything: that will bring true peace and happiness. Reflect on the process of what we call suffering: what it really is how it arises. Only then can one begin to appreciate what attachment really is, what the result of attachment is, and begin to glimpse the idea and the possible results of non-attachment. 

Attachment is something we create in the mind. When we let it go, we begin to experience the silent empty mind. This still, peaceful mind can be found when sitting in meditation. Is it possible to bring it also into our daily lives? Can we live as ordinary people with this non-attachment? There is one vital factor needed if we wish to live skilfully, and that factor is mindful awareness. This factor of knowing, of being present, is essential if we wish to go beyond our continual stream of thinking, projecting, analysing and reacting. It is difficult, isn't it? Without awareness, we are locked into our stale conditioning, like a monkey with its paw stuck in the biscuit jar . All it has to do to become free is let go, but this is just what it won't do. Actually , non-attachment is not something you have to do: all you have to do is stop attaching. This is natural for the enlightened mind, and it is awareness which makes this a real possibility in our lives.

The Buddha taught a Path, gave us a method of skilful means. Meditation is the tool to help us with the process of being present, of seeing attachment and tensions arising, of knowing when to relax and let go. The practice of meditation is very highly emphasised. The more you become aware, the more you can begin to experience true peace and happiness. There is no need to have anything else, no need to achieve anything.

Many blessings,

Judy

Be Happy In Your Space.

The message that keeps coming to me, over and over, is that this is a time of “getting it together”.  This is a time to orient one’s self to what is coming, and to be at peace with all changes.  This is a time to be happy in one’s space, and to be able to retreat and to care of self.  

I hear chanting at night – coming from a far away place.  It sounds like monks chanting very old sounds.  I find the rhythm of the sounds very comforting, and, they usually lull me to sleep.  

The space that I am in tells me to slow down and not to be too demanding of myself.  It seems that message is true for others, too.  When I analyze this with the sound of the chanting, it seems that what I hear is a chant for peace.  The underlying intent is for peace for each individual, peace for humanity, and peace for the planet.  

May each of you have a peaceful time!

Many blessings,

Judy

Brotherhood and Healing

My two words for the day are “brotherhood” and “healing”.  My first thought was, “Wow, that is a far-out combination!”  Then I realized that the only way to heal is to incorporate the concept of “brotherhood” into our lives.   Brotherhood means “the belief that all people should act with warmth and equality toward one another, regardless of differences in race, creed, nationality, etc.”.  This definition comes from dictionary.reference.com.

Brotherhood is hard for most of us to incorporate into our lives because we believe that most people have one of these attributes: they should listen to us, but don’t; they aren’t as smart as us; they are worthless; they are lazy; they are losers; they are control freaks; and, they are too much trouble.  That is quite a list of judgements that we have about people. 

I realize that my big task is to look at my life and who I work with, and accept them as is, in brotherhood, so that I can speed up any self healing that I have left to do.  As well, I need to work with the people that Creator puts in my path so that I can see what lessons I need to learn.  Learning brings a great peace to our lives.  This makes me think about a slide that a friend sent me.  Here it is.  I wonder if it is also saying that we have a chance to clear Karma with that person.

I will continue to mull over this idea of Brotherhood and healing, and work to walk this talk.

Many Blessings,

Judy

Working Within the Chaos

 

Astrologers tell us that we have just entered a time of chaos, as Mercury moves into retrograde.  Although it is nice to have someone confirm that the energy is chaotic, we all are aware of the energies that move from high to low, and then across the board, pulling emotions, and causing euphoria and despair.

Our Ancestors left us stories of times of chaos, and how these times turned people angry.  These were the dark times, when people turned against one another simply for spite and to show some sort of power.  It was a time when innocents were hurt.

We are heading into a time like this again – and we have felt it coming.  We see the storms in the skies causing rain and snow in unusual amounts and in unusual places.  In other places, unusual heat and drought is occurring.  

Archangels and Ascended Masters speak for Great Spirit and tell us to find a port that we can weather out the storm.  If you need to be in the chaos, call on an Archangel or Ascended Master to help you move through it, and to protect you.

The Earth changes in the forms of earthquakes and whirlpools and large, open cracks in the earth tell us that the very base of our life is also going through changes.  

The task that we have at this time is to work within the chaos to create havens of peace.  This means a place where you feel safe and protected, and where you will allow others to come and be protected.  IT is a time to remember to work at NOT arguing with people – simply do what you must.

Many blessings,

Judy