Hold Out Your Hand

The Simple Act of Attention

Empathy naturally leads to compassionate action. But simple inattention kills empathy, let alone compassion. So the first step in compassion is to notice the other's need. It all begins with the simple act of attention.

Daniel Goleman, “I Feel Your Brain”

When someone sees something wrong or someone who appears hurt, the common reaction is to ignore the situation or the person because people do not want to get involved.  This is the inattention that Daniel Goleman talks about.  

Our ancestors always reached out a helping hand to those around them.  It was the right thing to do.  It was the best way to survive.  That has changed to an attitude of self interest or selfishness. 

We are not surviving. 

Many blessings to you this day,

Judy

Buffalo Kin

Buffalo is unique in its shape – a massive hump over its shoulders, and a very thick skull and mane that protects the head from attack.  The hind end is not so protected.  Therefore, as a defense stance, Buffalo will gather in a circle, with their heads out and their hindquarters in.  This allows them to protect themselves and each other.  

If you doubted that we, humans, are related to buffalo, then look at the idea of Buffalo gathering in a circle.  So have humans gathered over time.  Our Ancestors held the circle sacred, as does Buffalo.  In fact, Buffalo will put the young in the center of the circle to protect them as well.

Buffalo kin show us that we need to protect our young, while at the same time training them to survive on their own.  We do not know how to do this anymore, it seems.  Buffalo comes forward now to remind us that the strength of our children is dependent on the strength that we have to teach them what is needed.  We have to do better at teaching than we have in the past.

Many blessings,

Judy

White Owl’s Thoughts - Spirit Animal

This picture is from a series of wild life pictures someone sent me in an email.  Origin not known.

A while ago, one of my clients phoned me because they had an unusual experience driving into work in the morning, down Memorial Drive.  He said that a big white owl flew across his windshield twice.  He was awestruck.  However, when he excitedly looked around at other drivers, no one else appeared to see it.  He wanted to know what the message was.  The following message came to me in a meditation.  I shared it with him, and with his permission, with you.

White Owl’s Message

“This is the time to practice wisdom.  One of the greatest gifts of wisdom is patience.  The large Earth changes are upon us, and, because they happen slowly, humans do not see the degree of change that is happening.  We animals notice that the Sun and the Moon do not seem to always be in the place that it has been in seasons gone by.  We notice that there is more water in some places and much dryness in others.  It changes our food supply and we too must change – move to new hunting grounds and find new prey.  We notice that some of our kind do not seem to be as plentiful.  We that survive will need to continue the species.  We see changes in our abilities with each new change.  We are not ones to die off; we are survivors.  

We find it easy to move.  We have no home or possessions to carry with us.  We simply set our destination, and fly to that place.  We do have favourite places that we like to be, although it does not matter much to us where we sleep.  Humans are weighted down by so many things.  Perhaps that is why humans cannot fly.  Even your clothes seem heavy.  

I, Owl, say to you that now is a good time to look at lightening your load and finding ways to make your journey easier. “

Many blessings,

Judy

White Tiger on Responsibility - Spirit Animal

White Tiger has been watching me struggle with all that I “think” that I must do and how the weight is starting to wear me down.  She came in to speak with me today.

 

“I watch you humans move through life and I marvel at your ability to involve yourselves in your cubs and in others lives.  What a waste of your abilities!  What do I mean?  When our cubs are grown, we let them go.  We teach them what they need to know for survival.  And, we trust that they will survive.  We do not go after them all the time to see that they are surviving.  If we meet, we touch noses, and move on.  

Those of you that do not have children seem to take on the care of other people’s cubs.  And, you seem to take on the responsibility for all you come in contact with.  Know that each person has their own path, and that you do no good by taking over their responsibilities.  It is not in Nature to do this action.  It is Nature’s way to let everything be.  Humans interfere all the time.  

My kind almost disappeared.  We were ready to leave, to do the next thing in our natural progression of being.  Humans have intervened to keep our kind alive.  We are chained to the Earth by what humans have done.  The pride that humans seem to have about knowing what is best all the time is one that needs to change.”

Many blessings,

Judy