Valentine’s Day 2025

Check out the amazing ways to celebrate Valentine's Day, even if you are single, or, by yourself for Valentine's Day.  This wondeful posting was on www.Gogratitude.org. 

#1: Hug a Tree
Appreciate Nature. Go hiking. Surround yourself in
the great outdoors. Soak up the beautiful energies
of Mother Earth. She has a heartbeat. Tune into it.
Express your Love and Gratitude for all the blessings
the Earth bestows you.
Then listen. Who knows? She may have a message for you.

#2: Sit Under the Stars and Appreciate the Cosmos
We live in a vast Universe. Contemplating the Infinite
need not make us feel small.
With love in our hearts, we remember our Connection
to All-That-Is. And recognize we are THAT too, the
realization of which fills our soul with the WONDER of
the Mystery.

#3: Express Appreciation to Your Beloveds
Expand the traditional sense of Valentine's Day Love
to include all your Beloveds. Your kindred. Your soul-
mates. Your friends. Your family. Your children. Your
parents. Your animal companions.
Make it a point to consider what you most appreciate
from those closest to you. Then make sure to express it.
Face to face. Or call them up. Or email them. Or text them.
Or write them a note.

#4: Hug Your Self
Love your Self. Appreciate your Self. Feel deep compassion
for your Self. This is probably the most important thing any
of us could do on Valentine's day and every other day.
For it is only as we Love, accept and honor ourselves -
ego shadows and all - that we can truly love and uplift others. 

I love this.  I love that we need to do self care, and that we can show our appreciation to ourselves.  It is time!

Blessings,

Judy

Happy Thanksgiving Canada - October 14 2024

 

Here is a lovely prayer to use for Thanksgiving if you are looking for something new to share with family or friends.

The Canticle of the Creatures

Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord,
All praise is Yours, all glory, honor and blessings.
To you alone, Most High, do they belong;
no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.
We praise You, Lord, for all Your creatures,
especially for Brother Sun, who is the day through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor,
of You Most High, he bears your likeness.
We praise You, Lord, for Sister Moon and the stars,
in the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.
We praise You, Lord, for Brothers Wind and Air,
fair and stormy, all weather's moods,
by which You cherish all that You have made.
We praise You, Lord, for Sister Water,
so useful, humble, precious and pure.
We praise You, Lord, for Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night.
He is beautiful, playful, robust, and strong.
We praise You, Lord, for Sister Earth,
who sustains us
with her fruits, colored flowers, and herbs.
We praise You, Lord, for those who pardon,
for love of You bear sickness and trial.
Blessed are those who endure in peace,
by You Most High, they will be crowned.
We praise You, Lord, for Sister Death,
from whom no-one living can escape.
Woe to those who die in their sins!
Blessed are those that She finds doing Your Will.
No second death can do them harm.
We praise and bless You, Lord, and give You thanks,
and serve You in all humility.

Written by St. Francis of Assisi

Blessings,

Judy

Stargazing in Australia

When I read the article below, I felt a rightness about the fact that the ancestors – those in Australia or in Great Britain or in Asia, or where ever -  had a greater understanding of the stars and planets then we do now.  Our ancestors were the first stargazers, startalkers, and starwalkers.  

For me, this article is a tribute to the ancient’s way of mapping the stars.  It was part of their faith, and their belief that the stars and planets were in service to man to help man understand how to move across the land.  Stars and planets were the first compass.

This article is for you to read.

Have a wonderful day!

Judy  

ABORIGINAL STONEHENGE: STARGAZING IN ANCIENT AUSTRALIA

(5 October 2011 Last updated at 22:18 ET)   By Stephanie Hegarty  BBC World Service

An egg-shaped ring of standing stones in Australia could prove to be older than Britain's Stonehenge - and it may show that ancient Aboriginal cultures had a deep understanding of the movements of the stars.  Continue reading the main story

Moose Dreams

Moose has been walking through my dreams recently.  He did not stop to speak, simply walked through the area, stopped and looked at me, and moved on.  I wondered why he seemed so distant.

Because I could not get a good sense of the meaning of the dream, I thumbed through my dream book.  Moose, it seems, often represents the whirlwind and the dynamic evolution of the Universe.  Moose may also show change and evolution as indicated by the unpredictable and totally spontaneous way that a Moose will act.

Moose, then, is showing me, by showing up in my dreams, that there is a big change or evolution going on in all that I know, and that in my dreams, I will be able to walk farther, and touch more distant places in the stars.

I like that!

Blessings,

Judy

A New Time For Being Human

 

It is not enough to be able to drop your body
as easily as a bathrobe, take flight like the eagle,
enter the hollow hills, talk with angels, and
dance among the stars.

We must make the return.

We must live in this world and be gardens
for the dreams that want to take root in it.
~ Robert Moss, Dreaming True ~

The winter has dragged on, and on.  And, it feels like it is birthing something new for us.  It feels like we are moving from a time of density to a time of lightness, on all levels – the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.

I know that I am changing.  I can feel it in my body and my head.  I feel the expansion in my heart.  An expansion that tells me to look at the other parts of the story when I am upset at something that I judge to be an injustice or a hurt or a problem.  And, my body relaxes.  

I love this quote from Robert Moss’s work.  He says that as much as we’d like to be elsewhere, we must be here – present and contributing – to this life.  It is what we make it.

Many blessings,

Judy

Following The Stars

         

The Once and Future Stars of Andromeda 
Credit and Copyright: ESA/Herschel/ PACS/SPIRE/J.Fritz(U.Gent) / XMM-Newton/EPIC/W.Pietsch(MPE)

The Angels say that the spiral of life can be found every where on Earth, as well as out in the stars.  They say that our Ancestors could travel great distances without compasses because they could read directions in the stars, even though the paths were spiralling around the Earth.  

To our Ancestors, following the stars meant that one received clear direction about which way to travel.  And, when they could not see the stars, the people stayed put. The one constant in life, beside the Sun rising and setting and the Moon lighting up the night, was the stars, and where they appeared.  

The Angels tell us now that if we follow the stars, and look at where they were ten and then five years ago compared to where they are now, that something has shifted.  It could be that the entire Universe has shifted, or, it could be that the Earth has shifted orbit.  The stars tell us that all is going a new direction.  This is not good or bad, simply different.  That means that there are no precedents about what may happen.  Each day is brand new, ready to be opened like a big envelope full of newsy letters.  

This is a time to follow the stars.

Many 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

Owl In The Woods

This picture of an owl comes from an email so the source is unknown.

Owl is a night-time creature so we do not expect to see it during the day.  However, when Owl has pressing messages, she will fly at any time.  Owl has these messages to share.

“Owls have very good vision.  It is time to practice improving your vision.  Do not look only ahead.  Look to the sides.  Increase the flexibility of your neck and shoulders, and learn to look behind you.  What comes up behind you is as important as what is ahead.”

“Owls sit in the branches of trees and watch the ground to spot tasty morsels to eat.  This is also a good way to observe the patterns of animal  life on the ground.  Take time to get up high or to step back ten paces from your life so that you can see your daily routine objectively.  What is it that you do over and over that gives you no pleasure and no gain?  Why do you do it?  What old pattern drives this?  Think about what you can do differently.”

“Owls operate best at night and in the early morning because that is our high energy time.  Do you shun the night and the early morning?  This is the high energy time for humans too.  You feel the pull of the Sun and the pull of the stars and planets.  This is the time to gather the energy of peace.  Try changing your routine for three months to see when you feel like you have more energy and will.  Do you feel better on your current routine or getting up earlier, for example, at 5:30am?”

Blessings,

Judy 

Reach For the Stars

The following message came through in a meditation when I was searching for some answers to a work problem a couple of years ago.  I hope this helps you in your search for understanding.

Blessings,

Judy

Have you ever wanted to give up on what you were doing?  Have you felt that life was getting you down and there was no way out?  Have you felt hope-less?  If you have, then call on us, The Angels of The Universe.

When you call on us, you will be reaching for the stars.  We bring back hope, love, and warmth.  We help you lose that cold, alone feeling that so many of you have said that you experience.   We are all about being in service to you.  If you feel more comfortable calling by name, then call on Archangel Michael or Archangel Uriel to help you.  We can help you find peace and tranquility and lift you from despair.

If you are unclear about what you need to do in a situation, then call upon us.  We will tell you to do what action comes from love.  Love is the way.  Not love leads to many problems.  

We bless you.

The Angels

Feel the Silence

God is the friend of silence. See how nature... trees, flowers, grass... grows in silence. See the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence. We need silence to be able to touch souls.

Mother Teresa  

There seems to be an extreme push from the heavens, for all of us to be in silence.  Creator seems to be looking to have us experience Oneness.  Whether we do this through silent observation, prayer, or meditation, the result will be an expansion of consciousness or awareness, of all that is around us.

Try it!

Blessings,

Judy

Star Fish - Spirit Animal

 

Picture of purple starfish from www.nefsc.noaa.gov

“There are 2,000 living species of starfish that occur in all the world's oceans, including the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian as well as in the Arctic and the Southern Ocean (i.e., Antarctic) regions. Starfish occur across a broad depth range from the intertidal to abyssal depths (>6000 m).”  from Wikipedia

When Starfish began to pop up in my meditations and thoughts, I realized that I knew nothing about this fascinating creature, other than it looked “nice”.  It is hard for me to think of it as a fish or an animal because, when we see it, it seems so still.  However, Starfish, like the other animals, shows up when it has a message.

Like the “Star” card in the Tarot decks, Starfish is about vision, hope, success, healing, and creativity.  Each time we look at the stars in the sky, we wish and hope for the best possible outcome for whatever new endeavour that we have started.  Starfish, is the stars in the sky, on the Earth. (As above, so below!)  She tells us that we are on the right path; that we have the correct vision because it corresponds with the vision in the Universe; that we will have joy in the new relationships (business and others) that we are forming; and, finally, that Light illuminates our path.

Starfish is symbolic of all that is great and good with Nature.  She symbolizes the perfection of Oneness by showing us the geometric design that are five perfect little triangles, stuck together. She may look like a slice from a Merkaba, or, she may be representative of the Tree of Life.  Whatever, she is all about optimism.

When Starfish shows up, she steps before us, imitating the “Hollywood Walk of Fame” that salutes the stars of the movies.  Starfish, is gracefully saluting us, and offering her support.  How much better can life be?

Wishing you many blessings,

Judy

Affirmations are a Gift!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Many blessings,

Judy

Magic and Mystery

  Mystic Lights from the Northern Sky

This world is now in a time when we all need something to grasp on to as hope for a better way.  The media launches pictures and articles about the tragedies that occur in many countries around war, loss of civil liberties, the lack of rights that women and children do without in all countries.  Why, we wonder, do some of these senseless acts occur and why does the Universe let them occur?  When we look at the sky, the answer does seem to appear.  There is a huge configuration of stars and planets, swirling around in a senseless orbit.  Yet when examined closely by astronomers, a definite pattern is reflected in the movement of these faraway masses.  They are simply so far away that without that big eye view provided by some of the massive telescopes, no one would even see the pattern. 

As above, so below.  The Earth, too, is held in its place in this Universe by the gravitational pull of the Sun and the Moon and the push/pull of all of the other planets.  It is a pattern so intricate that for thousands of years, no one believed it! The Catholic Church outlawed belief in it.  Just because the pattern is not seen or understood does not mean the pattern does not exist!

I believe that there are huge patterns of activity that occur on Earth that have meaning in the Universe, that have meaning for the cosmology of time to come.  I believe that while we may judge daily events, and scream for justice, that more justice exists in Nature than we truly realize.  I believe that some of these patterns are evening out karmic events in the same way that big winds and rains clean the ground to leave no trace of passersby.  I believe that every day we are witness to magic and mystery that simply flies over our heads because we do not understand.

Many blessings,

Judy

Existence - from Osho

This is an extraordinary message that resonates through me when I read it.  Most people seem to feel unloved, unwanted, and tired of the struggle.  And, they simply give up.   What is the meaning of life?  It is "to be"!  To be a shining point of life on this earth because your existence makes the lives of others also have meaning.  And, if you bring enjoyment and entertainment to millions of people along the way, then your job has been well completed!

-Judy

 

       

You are not accidental. Existence needs you. Without you something will be missing in existence and nobody can replace it. That's what gives you dignity, that the whole existence will miss you. The stars and sun and moon, the trees and birds and earth - everything in the universe will feel a small place is vacant which cannot be filled by anybody except you.  
This gives you a tremendous joy, a fulfillment that you are related to existence, and existence cares for you. Once you are clean and clear, you can see tremendous love falling on you from all dimensions.

Osho God is Dead: Now Zen is the Only Living Truth Chapter 1 

Many blessings,

Judy

Reaching To The Stars

We sit in the mud... and reach for the stars.  - Ivan Turgenev

It is intriguing to me that we all yearn for the stars.  Possibly it is because we all come from the stars, from different planets and star seeds.  

Whatever your goals are today, I wish you success in reaching your Star.

Many blessings,

Judy

You Are A Child Of The Universe

                                                        Picture is from seeds4thesoul.com

 Today is a good day to change your thoughts about who you are.  The best guidance about who you are or your “operator’s manual” if you will, is a poem called “Desiderata”.   Read it over and over as a meditation.  Let it change you.

 

DESIDERATA 

- BY MAX EHRMANN, C1920

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. 

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. 

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. 

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass. 

Take kindly to the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. 

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. 

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. 

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. 

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy

The song was written by Les Crane.  He added this most beautiful chorus using the words from one of the paragraphs.

You are a child

Of the universe

No less than the trees and the stars

You have a right to be here

Desira-desiderata

Desira-desiderata

This song is a mantra that I use to switch my thinking when I am feeling sorrow, pain, sadness, guilt, anger, frustration……   The words - With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.  Be cheerful.  Strive to be happy. …..No less than the trees and the stars you have a right to be here.

I think that the words - you have a right to be here - tells us all that we have a place and a purpose here.

It is something to contemplate and meditate on.

Many blessings,

Judy

 

Do You Have A Quest?

  

The idea of questing, or of searching, goes back to ancient times.  Our Ancestors understood that some people had a need to find out new information and to find new things.  Today, when we quest, we often have a map to guide us, or perhaps GPS.

Think about how difficult it must have been to be a man or a woman (think Joan of Arc) to leave what you knew, and to follow the spiritual guidance of your soul to be in service to the Greater Good.  Picture yourself being guided by the stars and planets to go someplace that was only a name to you.

Through out time, people have travelled or quested to sacred shrines to ask for healing for themselves or for another.  People have quested to see the other side of the mountain or the other side of the ocean.  The common theme is the deep hunger to learn something new or to do something different.  Now, the quest is to take settlers to the Moon or to Mars.

Today, do you have a quest that is calling you?

Many Blessings,

Judy