Healing And Changing

This poster says:

When you can tell your story and it doesn’t make you cry, you know you have healed. -from NotSalmon.com

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

March is a time of big change for us because we go into Spring after a challenging winter..    As Mother Earth changes, it is a time for us to look at change.  Maybe, this is the time for you to practice some self healing.

The world is shifting at an ever changing pace.  The fears that are surfacing and then come to pass, are fears:

• about loosing one's identity, 
• about poverty including lack of food and/or money, 
• about people having power over you
• about lack of control
• about loosing what one has
• about pain and illness
• about doing the wrong thing
• about dying

Many of these fears may be overcome by spending some time learning how to do some quick, self healing.

Note that the self healing that will be discussed over the next month does not replace medical doctor's advice, and these blogs should not be taken as medical advice.

What these blogs are intended to do is to provide some coping mechanisms for the turmoil and pains that one might feel in their daily life.

Blessings,

Judy

Buddha Says Keep The Heart Pure

 

Not to commit evil, but to practice all good, and to keep the heart pure: This is the teaching of the Buddha.

“To keep the heart pure” means to try to keep the mind uncluttered. It does not mean that we are saintly. It means that we are reasonably aware, reasonably caring, open to ourselves and to others, and not influenced by hatred, greed, or delusion. – Martine Batchelor, "The Precepts: A Special Practice Section"

I read this passage the other day, and I was struck by the simplicity of living that this bit of wisdom crafts for us.  I wonder how this teaching, now nearly 5000 years old, could be replaced by a belief in Christianity and Muslim, which seem to cause great violence to other humans. 

I wondered how these faiths only in existence for about 2000 years, could arise.   As I was sitting in meditation, the simple answer came to me – they arose because the true teachings which supported the teachings of Buddha for different geographical regions, were pushed aside because of the individual’s need for power and to support their hatred and greed.  This thought was so powerful that I nearly fell off my meditation cushion.  And, it made me sad – very sad.

May we all find that place in ourselves to be kind and carrying, and beyond the passions of hatred, and greed.  May delusion be released as we shed our ego.

Blessings,

Judy

Angels Talk of Celebration of Light

The Angels speak and say that it is time to move forward to the time of light.  Many of the different belief systems are writing and speaking about the changing ways that we can look at time and distance and mass.  They are constructs that we have made, and so they  are subject to change.

There is an abundance of everything in the world because everything is energy.  We do not need to believe in scarcity.  The earth changes are showing us how much power Creator has at its finger tips.  We too, have the same power available to us.  We can use it to help Creator, and ourselves move forward.

Blessings,

Judy

The Angels Say That We Are Temporary In This World

 

We are all products of what has come before – whether it is directly from our families, or from our tribes and villages, or even from our race.  This is evident as we look around the world at the events of war and terrorism.  The battles are not new ones; they are the same ones that have been fought for thousands of years.

I was in meditation and asked my guides why that was; why there was such animosity.  The Ancestors came in response to my question.  They showed me the pictures of injustices between two families, and the lining up of the friends and family on either side, and how anger sowed the seeds of jealousy, judgment, greed, animosity, and all the emotions that divide people.   They showed me how the parents fanned the seeds in the children, forcing the children to carry the legacy of the generations before them.  Children and their chance to explore something new, to become something different, were disregarded.  Children became the tool of the generations before them.  

The Ancestors went on to say that it did not matter because the body is temporary, and that many of the Beings could not come to stay in such dense energies and therefore, many lives were quite short.  Beings come in and get out.  The situation is perfect, and let it happen.  

These words made me feel like there was a greater plan around me.  Then a friend sent me this Invocation.  I share it with you so that you may use it and find peace. 

Invocation of Forgiveness

Today, I call on the powers of forgiveness,
the hope that heals & wipes away resentment,
I am ready to forgive & heal old wounds.
I forgive you for the past, making way for friendship &
to forgive all who have hurt me in the past, deliberately
or by accident. I am ready to forgive myself for errors
made & things I have done in the past that I regret.
Healing replaces resentment, peace replaces anger
as forgiveness grows inside me, my heart lightens.
filling me with a sense of wellbeing & acceptance,
I embrace forgiveness, the great healer of hearts.

Blessings,

Judy

My Connection to Polar Bear

                         Picture is from Wikipedia - Polar Bear in the Arctic

While writing this, I was listening to "Unto The Burning Circle" by Andreas Vollenweider

Polar Bear north of Churchill from https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/polar-bear

  In my blogs, I talk about about many topics connected to spirituality. Each topic reflects something that is going on in my life.  Therefore, I truly enjoy writing about animals since the ANIMALS are such a large part of my life. 

The Polar Bear has been receiving a lot of attention recently.  Polar Bear, however, has been a part of my life since 1972.  That is the year that I went to work with Hudson Bay Northern Stores.  The clerical work that I did was for the Northern Stores in Churchill, Lynn Lake and north in Manitoba, Northern Saskatchewan and Northern Ontario. 

In the winter, the Store Managers, Trainees, and sometimes District Managers from our office in Winnipeg travelled back and forth.  Many of the residents from the north would come and visit at my desk.  They always had great stories of encounters with polar bears, arctic wolves, arctic foxes, and whales and seals and walruses.  As they realized that I really loved to hear stories of polar bears, they began to snap pictures of the animals and send them off to me in the next batch of books to be analysed.  I began to get several pictures a month during the winter. I kept some of the pictures, however, the earlier photographic paper does yellow over time, and does not stand up to much handling.  

Pictures like this one, of a mother and cubs were common.  This picture comes from www.nwf.org.  

The point of the story is that when an animal shows up over and over in your life, especially from an early age, a Shaman says that this is one of Power Animals.  A Power Animal both shows an aspect of your self as well as showing an external source of power that is always available to you.

At the time that I was meeting Polar Bear for the first time, I did not realize the implications of the true power of this Bear.  Polar Bear is truly a specialist in the North - the colour, the ability to hunt all prey in such a camouflaged way as to be invisible, and the great speed - send a message that I did not "get" until a couple of years ago. I think that I am still learning some of it.

What Polar Bear did for me during the time that I worked at Northern Stores was create a love for all things Northern, and a great sadness that the company that I worked for was sponsoring hunters to kill the animals of the North for their fur.  I realized that I did not want to be part of that culture and within the year of starting my job, I began taking night classes at University to become something else.  

One of the messages that I received from Polar Bear, in a retrospective look at my life, was to move away from being somebody without a goal or a specific purpose.  Polar Bear was a BIG motivating factor in moving into Education and then into Accounting, and finally specializing in Accounting Software.  

The other thing that Polar Bear did was make sure that I was with the perfect mate.  When I met the guy that is now my husband, one of the things that impressed me was that he had a picture of two Polar Bears playing.  That picture hung in our bedroom for many years.  It is now in our guest room.

I wish you happiness and days of playing!

Blessings,

Judy

Black Fawn - Another Spirit Animal

 One of my friends sent me this gorgeous set of pictures of a Black Fawn and its Deer family.  It is interesting, I think, that Mother Nature, The Universe, or what ever you wish to call the Power that keeps balance, does balance off the white fawns that are being born with one that is black.

I love the way the black fawn blends into the shadows in the second picture. The shadows remind me of a conversation I was having with one of my friends – that we all need to find and recognize the darkness in ourselves; that the shadow side of ourselves is a gift that allows us to recognize actions that are not for the highest good, and therefore, gives us the freedom of choice to choose to act in a different manner than perhaps our reflexes would have prompted us to act.

 May you have the good fortune of meeting a white fawn or a black fawn, or a white deer or black deer.

To find out more about deer, check these posts:

Deer Finds You https://www.lightstationwisdom.com/2023/01/spirit-animal-deer-finds-you.html

Wood Caribou  https://www.lightstationwisdom.com/2023/10/wood-caribou.html

Streaming Life   https://www.lightstationwisdom.com/2023/01/streamlining-life.html

Elk    https://www.lightstationwisdom.com/2023/05/elk-spirit-animal.html

White Elk Speaks     https://www.lightstationwisdom.com/2023/03/white-elk-speaks-spirit-animal.html

Many blessings,

Judy

Resistance To a Trip - From the Karma Files

 

This is a case study from my files that seems a good time to share with all of you as you may be feeling resistance to a trip or a big change.

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

Years ago, when we visited the Sun Dial Medicine Wheel, I was grateful that I knew how to clear karma.  You see, I was quite resistant to going to the medicine wheel, and I did not know why.  I just knew that something dreadful would happen.

I let this emotion build and build and I talked myself out of going several times.  Finally, common sense kicked in and I realized that there must be some reason for the reluctance to go to the medicine wheel.

I sat in meditation one night, and asked why I had this issue.  I heard that I needed to clear Karma using the guidance of the Angels of Karma.  I have a great meditation for this purpose and I sat in meditation.

The first story that needed clearing was that several thousand years ago, I was a Medicine Man working with my tribe at the medicine wheel.  At the end of our ceremony, the sky went dark for three days because of an eclipse.  At that time, the Earth turned more slowly.  My tribe believed that I had stopped the Sun.  They thought that no one should have that power, and they killed me.  Coincidently, the Sun returned after they killed me, and the People believed that they had done the right thing.

There were several more stories that were similar in that I died near or because of the medicine wheel.

When I cleared the energy of imbalance around these stories, my body relaxed and I was able to travel to the wheel, and to enjoy.

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

Many Blessings,

Judy

On Being Mean

Quote is from OliviaLucieBlake.com

“The moment we begin tolerating meanness, in ourselves and others, we are using our authorial power in the service of wrongdoing. We have both the capacity and the obligation to do better.” – Martha Beck

I saw this quote today, and it rang through me.  I believe that we have all been treated meanly at times, and through that process, we have learned to be mean.  Some of us may have had parents who treated us meanly either as a means of “toughening us up”, or, because they resented us and what being a parent means.  Look at this word and how many meanings it has in this paragraph.  No wonder we are confused about how to act!

The Old English definition of “mean” is common, as in the mean or center between very poor and very rich, or very uneducated and very educated.  This explanation, for me, is fitting.  When we act “meanly”, we are acting in a selfish, unkind, malicious, cruel, spiteful way.

Well, I am sure that you have heard it all before.  I don’t MEAN anything by this post.

Blessings,

Judy

Welcome June 2024

Picture of Fairy Tree in the meadow in Fish Creek Park – from Caro and used with permission.

 

As we move into the month of June, two things always jump to my mind. One – this is the sacred time of weddings, and two – this is the time of the power of Summer Solstice. What makes June sacred is that the Goddess, Juno (Roman) also called Hera (Greek) is the sacred patron of maidens and women. It is she who blesses unions and blesses the conception of children. In fact Juno blesses all creative acts and her power is strongest in mid summer. She is profoundly feminine, and powerful. Legend has it that Juno causes the wealthy to share their wealth with poorer folks, or for good causes. All the rivers, streams, lakes and oceans are her domain in summer because of the life that is created from the water.

Summer Solstice is a time of gathering of family and tribe. It is a time to celebrate the feminine – the ability to endure and to create. It is a time of healing when we cleanse to make ourselves stronger; when we ask for blessings to prevent tragedy and to protect us and our projects and crops for another year. This is a time of abundance for the first of the harvest – lettuce, green onions, peas, beans, and herbs are now ready.

The full moon in June is called “The Mead Moon” for this is the best time for making dandelion wine and honey wine.   June’s emotions are about loyalty and bonding.  Our Ancestors also knew that June, with its unpredictable weather, is about enduring and continuing.  Healers often pick herbs at this time because the strong summer sun and moon are good vibrations for the harvesting of herbs for cleansing, strengthening, and for protection.

May your June be sunny and happy!

Blessings,

Judy

Magpie Drops In

Magpie dropped to the path ahead of us (the dogs and me), and began to chatter.  Slowly, the chattering took form in my mind.  Here are some of the thoughts.

• Spend time in the present for this is where your power comes from.  In the present, you will be open to all that is available from the Oneness.
• Magpie does not dwell on the past; we remember the lessons.  One lesson is that a man with a long stick that smokes (gun) will hurt or end us.  Remember the lessons and let go of the emotion, the scene and all the blame!
• Walk more.  Even though we fly, we walk on the ground because it does ground us.  Humans do not walk enough.
• Play more.  Magpies enjoy each other and other animals.  We play.  We see you compete, we do not see you play.

I contemplated what Magpie was saying and realized that I can do better in being in the present.  I worked to stay in the moment as I wrote this blog.  I realized that my mind is like a herd of cats, different thoughts wanting to go different places.  I had to consciously work back to the moment.  When I did that, I felt more energy.  I am grateful to Magpie.

Blessings,

Judy

About Cheating

This is a funny time in the world.  When you watch the news, most of what is broadcast talks about people cheating on others, people in power cheating those without power by taking bribes and making decisions that are not for the highest good; and about cheating in sporting events.  

I came across this story in my studies on Buddhism, and thought it was appropriate for the times.

A Man Named Wise 

Once upon a time, the Enlightenment Being was born in a merchants' family in Benares, in northern India. He was given the name Wise. When he grew up he began doing business with a man whose name just happened to be Verywise. 

It came to pass that Wise and Verywise took a caravan of 500 bullock carts into the countryside. After selling all their goods they returned to Benares with their handsome profits. 

When it came time to split their gains between them, Verywise said, "I should get twice as much profit as you." "How come?" asked Wise. "Because you are Wise and I am Verywise. It is obvious that Wise should get only half as much as Verywise." 

Then Wise asked, "Didn't we both invest equal amounts in this caravan trip? Why do you deserve twice as much profit as I?" Verywise replied, "Because of my quality of being Verywise." In this way their quarrel went on with no end in sight. 

Then Verywise thought, "I have a plan to win this argument." So he went to his father and asked him to hide inside a huge hollow tree. He said, "When my partner and I come by and ask how to share our profits, then you should say, 'Verywise deserves a double share."' 

Verywise returned to Wise and said, 'My friend, neither of us wants this quarrel. Let's go to the old sacred tree and ask the tree spirit to settle it." 

When they went to the tree Verywise said solemnly, "My lord tree spirit, we have a problem. Kindly solve it for us." Then his father, hidden inside the hollow tree, disguised his voice and asked, "What is your question?" The man's cheating son said, "My lord tree spirit, this man is Wise and I am Verywise. We have done business together. Tell us how to share the profits." Again disguising his voice, his father responded, "Wise deserves a single share and Verywise deserves a double share." 

Hearing this solution, Wise decided to find out if it really was a tree spirit speaking from inside the tree. So he threw some hay into it and set it on fire. Immediately Verywise's father grabbed onto a branch, jumped out of the flames and fell on the ground. He said in his own voice,, "Although his name is Verywise, my son is just a clever cheater. I'm lucky that the one named Wise really is so. and I've escaped only half toasted!" 

Then Wise and Verywise shared their profits equally. Eventually they both died and were reborn as they deserved.  The lesson, “A cheater may be clever but not wise.”

Blessings,

Judy

Hawk Wants You To Listen

I received a great story by email, from Andy, about his experience with Hawk.  He and I have emailed, and he has given me permission to share what he wrote.  Here is his story.

I was riding my motorcycle on a Alberta highway when I spotted a hawk flying on a collision course to me and at the last moment, it pulled up and away from me.  Ii know they have great eye sight so I know it must of seen me and heard me. Ii think the message was to pay more attention to my path be it my life path or the actual path I was ridding or both. Or, maybe there was some other meaning. I made my trip home and put the bike away and went out on my front porch. I heard a commotion happening in the trees when a small hawk type bird flew out with a small bird in its talons. Two parent robin birds were trying to attack it to let go of their young. This was quite a sight! But, I don't know the message in this.  -Andy

Since each of us is unique, and since we all have unique experiences with animals, Andy’s message will be tailored for him, and where he is in his life.

Some of the thoughts that come up are:

• Be clear of the path you are choosing.
• Beware of the items/people that you may collide with as you stay on the current path.
• Chase what you need to have in your life.
• Do not allow others the power to take away things from you that you love.

Hawk is working hard to communicate with Andy.  Watch to see how animals try to communicate with you.

Blessings,

Judy

Elephant Power

Several years ago, I was at a conference where a very fascinating lady, called an Animal Whisperer, gave a talk on how we in the audience should be treating all animals as sentient beings.  She said that each animal had a role to play on Earth, and that humans interfered with this natural talent all the time.  She then told us the story of the Elephant.  She was headed to Africa to do some workshops.  As soon as she made the arrangements, she started to dream about a large tusked elephant, in the wild, that wanted her to come and see him (in the wild).  When she got to Africa, she made arrangements with a guide to take her to the place to meet the wild elephant.  She sat on the hood of the jeep and waited.  The elephant arrived at late afternoon.  The following information comes from the wild elephant as he told the story to the Animal Whisperer.

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

Elephants were charged with keeping the rhythm steady for the beating of Mother Earth’s heart.  When the world was new, and there were lots of elephants (and whales), this was an easy task.  Now, however, the Elephant has fewer and fewer members of the tribe that can do the work that is passed down through elephant memory.  

Elephant is now looking for other ways to fulfill its commitment to Mother Earth.  Nightly, Elephant walks in Dream TIme, looking for humans that will walk with him and the others in the herd, and learn the ways of the Elephant.  Elephant is not just about being strong; it knocks down trees, and has pushed railroad cars off the railway tracks – it is about being smart and remembering.  Elephant looks for people that are compassionate and kind.  They look for people that have a strong sense of duty.  There is power in having a cause and sticking to it.  Elephant may come to you tonight, or the next night.  

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

Welcome him or her, and ask how you can help.  You will become part of Elephant Power.

Many blessings,

Judy

The Year Of The Dragon Begins February 10 2024

 

Picture is from the site - historyskills.com

In Chinese history, a calendar was created that differs from the calendar of the Western World.  Of course we call it “The Chinese Calendar”.  Each of the twelve animal cycles of the calendar relates to different animals and is associated with different year.  Dragon years include 2024, 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964, and 1952. 

The Year of The Dragon has the power to focus change on the world.  This power seeks out people that have lost or given away their power as well as people that have a strong conscience and love for the Earth and humanity.  These are the people that will use dragon power to shift and stamp out the corruption and selfishness that we are seeing on the planet today. 

There are many references that you can search for and read about the power of the dragon.  

Feel inside your body to see if dragon power is “powering” you up.

Many blessings,

Judy

 

The Spiritual Bully

When someone constantly badgers us with their ideas about what they are hearing and need to  tell us, whether they have our permission or not, I call the person a “spiritual bully”.  This means that they believe they have some divine right to tell you what ever they think about you and what you are doing, even if it is only their opinion, and typically, they get angry at you if you don’t take their advice.

One of the first laws of the universe is “harm no one (none)”.  This means that you do not violate a person’s physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual space, without permission.  To do so is to set out to intentionally harm them.  This happens so often with teachers and mentors with their students or followers.  It happens when someone feels that they are more powerful than someone else, and that power is used to force the “someone else” to take on tasks that they might not otherwise do.

Some ideas for coping with spiritual bullies are:

• Set boundaries to take back your power.   “Boundaries are not walls, they are safety markers to keep you safe.  You have a right to protect yourself when someone comes into your space uninvited.”
• Stand in your power and show your confidence by saying “no, I can’t do that right now.”  This means that you need to feel good about yourself and your abilities.  
• Make plans to avoid the bullying relationship.  You cannot change other people; however, you can change the environment.  You can choose to be in a healthy, safe environment.

Blessings,

Judy

Bear Comfort - Bear Is a Spirit Animal

  

Picture from notesfromthebartender.wordpress.com 

We give babies a teddy bear for comfort.  And, baby snuggles up to the teddy bear, and even cries if the bear is not present.  What is it that gives us comfort in this “bear” image?  Why are we not frightened, instead, of this representation of a large, fierce animal?

Well, Bear looks big and cuddly.  Bear is chubby and that says comfort and safety.  Bear hibernates through the winter so Bear is about sleeping through the tough times.  Bear eats honey so Bear is about sweetness.  Bear is a fisherman.  We all identify with the fisherman. Bear’s ears are just so darn cute!  And, Bear eats berries and grubs and roots and shoots.  All of these characteristics simply support the idea that Bear is not that scary.

When Bear comes to us as a power animal, do not be lulled into thinking that Bear is simply “of the Earth”.  The Greeks and Romans revered Bear so much that they named a constellation of stars after her. A different version of the story says that Zeus was so angry at the mother bear and her cub that he threw them up into the night sky to forever roam around the North Star.   

from www.nmm.ac.uk

So why does Bear come to us in times when we need comfort?  Well, when we need comfort, we are feeling weak or insecure.  Bear is a universal symbol of big and of power.  At our weakest, we need to be reminded that we have all the power that we require within us.  Bear, who hibernates, and who sleeps easily, reminds us to go in and reflect on what we do know and to honour our strengths.  Bear is about teaching the cub (often each of us) how to be a “big bear”.

I wish you a wonderful bear encounter.

Many Blessings,

Judy

Are You Super Glued To Certain Thoughts?

Super glue picture from http://www.fnal.gov 

Have you found that sometimes, the same thought plays over and over in your head?  Have you experienced the reliving of a memory that was painful and thought for the one thousandth time, I’d like to make that person pay?  Do you have a story that runs continuously in your mind and that you tell your friends over and over?  Welcome to the world of sticky thoughts, that is, thoughts that are glued to your mind.

The problem with these thoughts is that they create barriers to you doing a lot of other things with your brain power and with your life.  These thoughts take up your time and energy, drag you down, and create inertia.  In some, it creates a great tiredness that prevents them from doing anything to improve their life, other than to say, “Someday!”. 

If your thoughts are super glued and you cannot seem to shrug them off, then remember this – we are not thoughts!  Thoughts are not true! To achieve peace and relief from anxiety and fear, we must learn to still our thoughts. Osho has a great technique to still your thoughts – a releasing of the super glue.

Meditation – Touch Your Eyes – by OSHO

Use both your palms, put them on your eyes, and allow the palms to touch the eyeballs ― but just like a feather, with no pressure. If you press you miss the point, you miss the whole technique. Don’t press; just touch, like a feather. You will have to adjust, because in the beginning you will be pressing. Put less and less pressure until you are just touching with no pressure at all ― just your palms touch the eyeballs. Why? Because a needle can do something which a sword cannot do. If you press, the quality has changed ― you are aggressive. And the energy that is flowing through the eyes is very subtle: a small pressure and it starts fighting and a resistance is created. If you press, then the energy that is flowing through the eyes will start a resistance, a fight; a struggle will ensue. So don’t press; even a slight pressure is enough for the eye-energy to judge.  It is very subtle, it is very delicate. Don’t press ― like a feather; just your palm is touching, as if not touching. Touching as if not touching, no pressure; just a touch, a slight feeling that the palm is touching the eyeball, that’s all. What will happen? When you simply touch without any pressure, the energy starts moving within. If you press, it starts fighting with the hand, with the palm, and moves out. Just a touch and the energy starts moving within. The door is closed; simply the door is closed and the energy falls back. The moment energy falls back, you will feel a lightness coming all over your face, your head. This energy moving back makes you light.  Even if you are not entering deep meditation, this will help you physically. Any time in the day, relax on a chair ― or if you don’t have any chair, when just sitting in a train ― close your eyes, feel a relaxed being in the whole of your body, and then put both your palms on your eyes. But don't press ― that’s the very significant thing. Just touch like a feather. When you touch and don’t press, your thoughts will stop immediately. In a relaxed mind thoughts cannot move; they get frozen. They need frenzy and fever, they need tension to move. They live through tension. When the eyes are silent, relaxed, and the energy is moving backwards, thoughts will stop. You will feel a certain quality of euphoria, and that will deepen daily. Osho: Excerpted from The Book of Secrets

May you release the glue that holds your thoughts in place and may you move to another level of being!

Many blessings,

Judy

The Power of Takkakaw Falls

 Over the years, a favourite place for us to go is to a place called Takkakaw Falls.  The setting for these magnificent Falls is in Yoho National Park.  The falls are only accessible between June and October.  The road to the falls can be daunting.  The place radiates energy and cleansing and healing.  The water is icy cold, always.

Some details: Height: 1248 feet  Width: 100 feet  The Daly Glacier which feeds Takkakaw Falls is 3152 m (10,345 ft).

The pictures below were taken by S. Roger Joyeux and all copyrights remain with him, and these pictures are used with his permission.

  

 

The power of the Falls is that it pulls down light frequencies and disburses them into frequencies that may be used by humans.  This is part of the awe that one feels at the foot of the falls.  You can take a hiking trail that leads you to the bottom of the falls and there you can be splashed with the spray and the extremely cold water. 

The power of the Falls makes you feel humble and pushes ego to the side.  Some people have said that it is like sitting at the feet of God and feeling his strength.  For me, it was feeling the power of the Earth and the Universe combined into one message.  That message is to recognize our own power, and to act for the greater good.  

The falls calls to our true, high light, pure love selves. Indigenous people have gone to the Falls on vision quests.  Couples have made their vows at the Falls.  The peace that exists even with the roaring of the water in the falls and in the river, makes the place feel unearthly.  

We have like to take pictures and do some ceremony at the Falls.  We sit on the rocks just below the falls and meditate. Each visit is intense and satisfying!

Many blessings,

Judy

Nature’s Camouflage

This picture comes from an email entitled “Nature’s Camouflage” 

Spirit animals send us many messages as they cross our path.  The same animal may appear to three people at the same time, and give each of them a different message.  In this instance, a message about “blending in” is foremost.  Often, as powerful as we are, we do more good, or have a greater effect, if we simply blend in so that others do not see us and take exception to us or avoid us.  Sometimes, simply by being present in a locale, we can influence others with the energy that surrounds us.  

The other message from camouflage is that in hiding in plain sight, we are often safer than if we try to hide off the beaten track.  By hiding, we often think that we are reclusive.  What may really happen is that we do end up drawing attention to ourselves because of our “abnormal” behaviour.  Our Ancestors saw wizards and wisdom keepers (reference Munay-Ki) as specialists who could be consulted when the local Shaman did not have a solution for the problem confronting the tribe.  The wisdom keeper lived in isolation and was obligated to help when the situation seemed without solution. The very fact that the wisdom keeper lived apart and seemed hidden made them more mysterious and more sought after.

As a helpful hint, there is a cougar lying on a rock towards the bottom of the picture above.

May you find ways to hide in plain sight.

Many blessings,

Judy

What is it About Mouse?

 

Picture of Woodmouse from The Mammal Society

"Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse!" - line from the poem, " 'Twas The Night Before Christmas"

Humans have long had a love-hate relationship with tiny Mouse.  On the love side, we have Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Stuart Little, Algernon, Mighty Mouse, and Jerry from the cartoon, "Tom and Jerry".  On the hate side, we have traps, science experiments, carrying disease, and eating holes in walls and bags of food.  One of the most famous views of Mouse's place in the world comes from the series, "Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy" by Douglas Adams.  In this series, it is actually Mice that use humans for experiments in the human condition.

Why does mouse affect us so?  Why do we see pictures of people standing on chairs trying to get away from Mouse?  More than anything, people that are scared of Mouse are really scared of Mouse's power.  This tiny animal is a great example of "small package contain big power".

Mouse is fearless, very quick, and can climb pretty much anything.  Mouse also has very sharp teeth that are self sharpening, allowing her to gnaw through pretty much anything.  With her speed, ability to climb and her ability to gnaw, Mouse will challenge any obstacle and conquer.  And, don' t forget that Mouse is very intelligent. In different experiments, Mouse has proven her ability to look over the situation and to reason out a solution.

When Mouse shows up, do not be frightened!  Mouse has messages for you and will show you different ways of being.   

One - always be persistent in attaining your goals.  If you give up, you will go hungry!  

Two - walk through life in an unassuming way.  You do not threaten others and this allows you to go where you will, much like I do.   

Three - be wary of all people and all new things presented to you.  Someone is always trying to create a new Mouse trap.  Let people earn your trust.  Let them show you and others that they are "in service to others" and not selfish.  

Four - pay attention to the messages around you.  I see the the shadow of Hawk, and know that I will not be safe on my journey, so I rest.  I feel the energy of Coyote in the grass, and I know to hide and contemplate life.  I smell the rain, and I know that the Great One is providing water for me, and I must drink. 

May you find your way with Mouse's guidance.

Many blessings,

Judy