Happy Thanksgiving Canada October 2025

This poster says:

A prayer of Thanksgiving and Praise

"The Canticle of Brother Sun" 

                 by St. Francis of Assisi

MOST HIGH, almighty God

Yours be the praise, the glory, the honor

And every blessing,

To you alone, my God, do they belong,

And no one is worthy to utter your name.

Be praised, my God, with all our creatures,

Especially Brother Sun,

To whom we owe both day and light,

For he is beautiful, radiant and of great splendor

Of you, my God, he is an emblem.

Be praised, my God, through Sister Moon

And the Stars,

You make them in the heavens, bright, precious

And beautiful.

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

Regardless of one’s faith, this poem or canticle is a beautiful example of giving thanks by praising.

If you wish to say a prayer or make comments before a meal, this is an easy prayer to use.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Blessings,

Judy

Coming From the Sun

When we feel the changes of this day, know that all of the light is coming through the portal of the Sun from many stars and planets, with the guidance of the Archangels and Guardian Angels.  The Moon and Stars and Planets are now able to shift even more light, healing light, to the small planet Earth for – you guessed it – healing!  The light and the love that shines down on us is magnificent.  Creator – Great Spirit is part of us and shines this for itself as well as for us.  We get the same light as the water and trees and plants and rocks and mountains, and all the animals, fish, birds, and creepy-crawlies.  We are all connected in Love. 

Blessings,

Judy

Parrot’s Wisdom

 

I was reading about the five parrots in a zoo that had to be separated because they were teaching one another swear words and laughing about it.  I smiled to myself because Parrot is so intelligent and can be very affectionate.  In the zoo’s case, the group of parrots acted more sentient than perhaps the zoo keepers would like.  I was thinking about parrots and the following information popped up.

Parrot

When Parrot flies into your life, you are in for a treat!  She is colourful!   Her colour is also a clue about her healing abilities.  

Yes, Parrot heals with colour.  She reminds us that we cannot survive with just one colour of light frequency – we must have a balanced palate of colour in our banquet of light.

Parrot lives in very tropical areas where the Sun is powerful, and where light splashes into the environment.  With the multitude of tropical flower colours, Parrot fits into the environment, and is camouflaged.  The question becomes, “Rather than dark colours, do you need bright colours (light and laughter) to more easily fit in your environment?”

Parrot in captivity tells everyone to find somewhere warm and sunny to visit – and she says “Take me with you!”

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See this blog link for more on parrots.

https://www.lightstationwisdom.com/2025/02/parrot-circle.html

Blessings,

Judy

Celebrating Summer Solstice June 20 2025

Tonight, we celebrate the Summer Solstice with a gathering of our friends.  We begin with a potluck supper followed by ceremony and meditation activities inviting in the light.

Summer solstice is the longest day of the year and the time of the most light.  The feeling is glorious! 

Each of us in the circle brings an energy of happiness and light that can be shared with the others in the circle, and then can be broadcast out to where ever we wish the light to go.

Part of our activity tonight will include this beautiful poem by Chandra Levy.  It begins with the words, “O Radiant sun”. The Sun pushes the light to Earth.  It is a great message for summer solstice.

A Nature Lover’s Ode

O Radiant sun

The pure light that you are, that I am

Bathe me, anoint me with the purity of your beam

I am Blessed and enlightened by our ecstatic union

Reflecting and enriching my inner realm

O playful, delicious breeze

Play me as a sacred flute

Accompanied by the strings of my delighted heart

Calling forth the Divine and harmonious notes so dear

Tantalisingly sweet, pure and clear

O creatures of creation

Delight and invite and entice me

With your myriad colours and manifestations of beauty

Sing with me that I may know your song

That we may harmonise and realise we all belong

O dearest Planet Earth

Our devoted Mother

Our precious physical home

May our frequencies align

With the sweetest and deepest of tones

May we peacefully respond, rejoice and revel

In our loving interconnection

Grateful for this life

Grateful for this love

Grateful for this resplendent reflection

By Chandra Levy

Blessings,

Judy

Welcome June 2025

Happy Duck Walking In The Rain 

June is the time of hot sun, growing, and enjoying.  Our Ancestors scheduled several celebrations that lead up to Summer Solstice, generally celebrated on June 20, 21, or 22, depending on where you are in the world.

One of the celebrations, held June 1st or 2nd, was a gratitude celebration that honoured the Goddess of Growing Things, and the Sun God for helping things grow.  The day and night was filled with fun, thanks, and love.  In fact, many couples married on this day.  And, now couples marry all through the month of June. 

Nature gets in the act because so many birds lay their eggs, and even hatch them during June because this gives the young a chance to grow to maturity before fall, and the cold, set in.  If the bird is migratory, then the young have time to prepare for the flight. 

This year, the Ancestors urge us to be more prepared for the fall and for the cold.  They say that the summer will be short, and that the cold will come early. In Calgary, we still have cold even though during the week the temperatures reached 28 degrees Celsius.  Perhaps it is time to stock up on staple goods, flashlights and batteries, or even candles and matches.  Set aside a store of water.  Being prepared is not just a Boy Scout motto.

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

Rabbit Runs Around

 

Over the last while, when I am out with my dog in the park or the neighbourhood, we see a jack rabbit, running through the grass.  Rabbit bounds around us, and my dog wants to run with Rabbit.

Rabbit shares these thoughts with us:

• Run, leap and jump!  Keeping active will help keep anxiety at bay, and you will feel good.
• Scout out your area and know where there are trouble spots.  Spread light there.   Watch out for predators however, because they will try to stop you.
• Abundance happens with movement.  If you do not move, you stagnate and so does the flow of money, chi, and all things that keep you going in the physical.
• Movement helps keep the change in perspective.  Life is constant change.  Day becomes night, and then the reverse.  It is change, but very familiar.  Keep looking to see what change is constant in your life and then expand the feeling of acceptance.
• Dance for the Goddess!  Rabbits are the chosen animal of the Goddess, Eostare.  Celebrate the feminine.
• Dance for the Ancestors.  Rabbits dance for those that have moved on.  We celebrate them.
• When the Moon is bright, dance under the Moon.  Moon energy is different from Sun energy, and gives you vision.

I thanked Rabbit for sharing her thoughts.

Many 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

Welcome October 2024

This picture looks like the parks around our area.  October comes in, and the leaves change colour.  The changes are reflected in life around us.  I have so many friends that are changing –  locations, houses, spouses, jobs, and even careers.  This year is the year of shedding the things that do not work in our lives.

I see the changes that are happening too, in the world.  I see people working to unlock the secrets that are supposed to protect us, the people, because we will panic.  When information is kept from us, it means that someone else’s ego is working overtime, saying that they as a person or as a group of people are better than the rest of us.  I am grateful to the folks who think it is time to end secrets and end corruption.  Change is good. It is hard and takes effort, but it is good.

Here is a lovely poem by Robert Frost that talks about the changes in Nature.  Enjoy.

 

October

by Robert Frost 

O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow's wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away.
Retard the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.
Slow, slow!
For the grapes' sake, if the were all,
Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,
Whose clustered fruit must else be lost--
For the grapes' sake along the all.

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

Blessings,

Judy

Swallow is a Spirit Animal

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Many blessings,

Judy

Mind at Ease - A Lesson in Buddhism

As I study Buddhism in its several faces, I am constantly in wonder at how simple the concepts are and how difficult it is to embrace the concept and put it to full practice in one’s life.

This simple story will explain what I mean.  It is called “Mind At Ease”, and talks about how we can put our heart at ease.  Does this seem contrary to the title?  Well, Buddhism is a series of koans.  A koan is a paradoxical anecdote or a riddle that has no solution; used in Zen Buddhism to show the inadequacy of logical reasoning.  This definition comes from wordnetweb.princeton.edu. So, here is the story!

                                                   

Sometimes, trying to understand a koan is like trying to catch the Sun! Picture from Microsoft Clip Art

 

 

 

Mind At Ease

It was a dark, snowy and windy night. Hui Ko, the Second Patriarch of Zen Sect in China, went to see Master Bodhidharma. 

Hui Ko asked, "Could you please teach me the supreme Buddhist Dharma?" 

The Master said, "You can't learn the Dharma from others." 

Hui Ko said, "I have trying to search for Dharma myself, but in vain. My heart is unsettled. My mind is ill-at-ease. Master, please pacify my heart for me." 

The Master replied, "Give me your heart and I'll try to calm it down for you." 

After pondering for a long time, Hui Ko said, "I have been searching for my heart, but I cannot find it." 

Bodhidharma said instantly, "Now, I have comforted your heart already." 

Hui Ko was enlightened all of a sudden. It is impossible to show the heart as its existence is only an illusion. The whole process of the creation and cessation of the heart, or the mind, is also an illusion. 

When we are void of the illusion, the 'heart' is not there at all. Without any attachment, the pure Buddha's nature is revealed. The mind is finally at ease. 

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

What do you learn from this story?  Is is something that you can share with all of us?

Many blessings,

Judy

Connecting with Meerkat

 Meerkat picture from www.irishviews.com

Is the third time the charm?  I am about to find out as I try again to connect with Meerkat to receive her message.

Meerkat pops up beside me and snuggles in.  She seems to be more comfortable with me than vice versa.  I find her quite comforting.  She sighs, and then begins to speak.

“We are so much like you humans and yet you know very little about us.  I find that rather disturbing.  We have many of your traits – politics, breeding practices, pup and elder care, and survival tactics.  We originally came up from the depths of the Earth.  We are some of the life forms that went underground when there were difficulties in the air and ground, difficulties that have re-emerged.  We have learned to burrow underground and to build safe nests deep enough to avoid having to be poisoned by the air. 

As the food above us died, we moved downward in search of food that we could eat.  We found that others had also moved downward.  We became hunter and prey.  We learned the value of cooperation.  We learned to be respectful of our resources and therefore to adjust our numbers to the food that could support us.  

We watch you now and wonder why you fight against the obvious laws of nature.  We wonder why you are destroying that which gives you life.  There is nothing that you can produce with all of your machines that is as wonderful as what She Who Feeds Us All can provide.  

We have black masks because our eyes are still sensitive to the light.  We find the blackness dulls the glare of the Sun. It seems however, that humans find our mask fearful.  We are part of the issue of fear or darkness that humans have to deal with.  We are therefore, part of your path – just as you are part of our path.  The easiest strategy to cope with fear is to meet it head on, much as we do.  We wish you well.

Blessings,

Judy

Trout Splashes Around

Picture from Wikipedia

I am fortunate because I live close to a provincial park and close to the Bow River.  The Bow is world wide known as a great place to catch trout.   The other day, I was out walking with a friend and we watched for trout in the shallows.  We did not see any.  Later, when I was doing my meditation, the following came up.

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Rainbow trout swims into your life if you are feeling over run by emotions.  Right now, with all of the Earth energy moving around and realigning, we are feeling emotional and often slightly depressed.  

Trout tells us that life is good, and it is about swimming against the current to stay alive and keep the species going.  Trout goes on to say:

• Do something that allows you to come up into the sunlight every day.  Trout catches flies.
• Jumping loosens all of the tension in your body.  This is why you often see Trout jump at the end of the day.  When tension leaves your body, sleep happens more easily.
• When you are looking for food, find a place that you can find your food (prey), easily!  Trout will sink to the mud in water that is calmer, and wait for the current to carry food to Trout.  You do not need to hunt and make food gathering hard work that burns your energy.  Look at what you can do to make this process easier.
• Highs and lows are normal in life.  Everyone is looking for balance – the balance is to allow both, and not stay in one place or the other.  Two highs balance out two lows.  The warmth balances the coolness.  We all need both.

Many blessings,

Judy

Let’s Talk About Spring Equinox 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Many blessings,

Judy

Bear Movement

In January 2024, we had abnormally high temperatures ranging from plus 4C all the way to plus 15C.  This weather has confused the animals and birds.  Here is what bear has to say.

Picture is from an email from a friend.

Great Bear comes out of his den early, and sees the ground covered with snow.  He pauses.  He says that the seasons of the Earth and the seasons of the Bear are no longer in synch.  By Bear’s calendar, it is time for him to wake up.  The agreement is that The Spirit of Mother Earth will have food available when Bear wakes up.  In the Northern Hemisphere, this is not happening.  Yes, there is some green sprigs of grass in places.  However, the insects are still buried deep in the bark and the ground.

Bear notices the movement of the Sun.  Many Moons ago, Bear could predict where the Sun would be in the sky, and could plan his route around his territory.  In his mind map of the terrain, he could mark the far boundary by the Sun’s position. Now, he cannot.  Sometimes the Sun seems to bounce around the sky.  Sometimes, it seems like there are two Suns, superimposed on one another.  Bear also feels the pull of the Sun – it has extraordinary strength.  This has caused Bear to be pulled to be outside, and not underground.

As Bear rambles, looking for food, he remembers that there was rumbling in the Earth while he slept in his cave.  The rumbling is new, like the mountain is restless.  As Bear swings his head around, he senses too, that the birds are moving, heading North, even though this seems early.  Bear grunts to himself and wonders if all the land is now in movement.

Many blessings,

Judy

February 1 2024 - Signalling The Change of Seasons

After a long span of winter with cold temperatures and lots of snow, all of us in the North look to February to signal a change in the weather.  The first really warm rays of sun hit us and we feel better for the sun on our face.

February is a time of Peacefulness when we know that the worst of the weather is most often behind us and we start looking at our seed catalogues for ideas for the garden and for the flower beds.

It is a time where it is easy to close your eyes and sink into peaceful meditation as you contemplate the beauty of Nature.  An easy mantra to use is:

            Nature surrounds me and protects me.

            Nature heals me.

            Nature supports me to be me!

Blessings.

Judy

Blue Jay Sings From The Tree Tops

                   

When we were out for our walk at Christmas, my dog and I were regaled by five Blue Jays, sitting at the tops of pine trees and nearby shrubs.  Their song sounded like “get ready, get ready, it’s here”, and it sounded like they were speaking of spring.  Or, maybe they meant that the days were now getting longer.

As we continued our walk, I could see the Sun shining through the trees, and it looked like the Sun had gotten bigger.  I remembered what I read from a mystic’s channelling – to pay attention to the Sun because it knows what it is doing.  And then I remembered that one of the legends about the Blue Jay.  The Blue Jay has its colour from flying back and forth between the Earth and the Heavens and that Creator gave it the colour, blue, to represent all the truth that it carried.

This made me think that Blue Jay was once again carrying the truth of great energies hitting the Earth, and that Blue Jay was telling all humans to prepare for the onslaught of light.

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

Dolphin Dream Visit - A Spirit Animal

Picture comes from an email so the source is not known

My dream time is always very active.  From time to time, Dolphin comes in to teach me or show me a different way to do things.  This blog is about Dolphins for all those folks that dream about Dolphin.

Dolphins have been called the “Ambassadors of the Oceans” because they are so friendly and love to play around ships, boats, and even swimmers.  They more truly should be called the Messengers Of the Oceans” because when Dolphin shows up, she comes to lead a ship through treacherous waters, or help out a sailor, or do some healing work.

When Dolphin shows up in dream time, then these may be some of the messages that she brings.

• You have had your head down, working, for a long time.  You are in danger of drowning.  It is time to come up for air, and see what the world looks like above the surface.
• The Sun penetrates only several feet into the water.  Sunlight does not go through the walls of buildings.  You know this.  Yet, you do not spend time outside.  Are you feeling poorly?  Could it be that your Vitamin D (sunshine vitamin) is low?  Check in with your Doctor and you will find that it is much lower than you think.  
• It is time for a deep dive into the world of your child hood.  Face all the emotional issues from that time before your next big family event, and you will see that your family no longer has a hold on you.  Get some help with this.  Dolphins know how to work together to raise young, hunt food, and keep the pod safe.
• Jump for joy!  Oh, you don’t feel joyful?  Isn’t it time that you discovered WHY it is that you do not feel joyful?  Spend time thinking about what makes you joyful, and what doesn’t.  Get your jump back.

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