Fools Are Deaf To Wise Words

  Picture of Buddha from brandrea.files.wordpress.com

 

Sometimes it seems that people ask for advice, and, when they receive it, they get angry and ignore it.  Buddha explains this action very nicely in the following story.

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                    New Homes for the Tree Spirits 

Once upon a time, as happens to all beings, the King of the Tree Spirits died. King Sakka, ruler of the Heaven of 33, appointed a new King of the Tree Spirits. As his first official act, the new king sent out a proclamation that every tree spirit should choose a tree to live in. Likewise it was stated that every tree was to be pleased with its resident spirit.

There just so happened to be a very wise tree spirit who was the leader of a large clan. He advised his clan members not to live in freestanding trees. Instead it would be safer to live in the forest trees near him. The wise tree spirits settled down in the forest trees with their leader.

But there were also some foolish and arrogant tree spirits. They said to each other, "Why should we live in this crowd? Let us go to the villages, towns and cities inhabited by human beings. Tree spirits who live there receive the best offerings. And they are even worshipped by the superstitious people living in those places. What a life we will have!"

So they went to the villages, towns and cities, and moved into the big freestanding trees, looked after by people. Then one day a big storm came up. The wind blew strong and hard. The big heavy trees with old stiff branches did not do well in the storm. Branches fell down, trunks broke in two, and some were even uprooted. But the trees in the forest, which were intertwined with each other, were able to bend and support each other in the mighty wind. They did not break or fall!

The tree spirits in the villages, towns and cities had their tree homes destroyed. They gathered up their children and returned to the forest. They, complained to the wise leader about their misfortune in the big lonely trees in the land of men. He said, "This is what happens to arrogant ones who ignore wise advice and go off by themselves."

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Blessings,

Judy

Fox In The Forest

The following information comes from one of my journals from 2016.  It describes an experience that I had when I was out with my dogs.

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I drove up into the Kananaskis area, just south of Canmore.  There was a lot more snow than what we had around home.  From the corner of my vision, I saw a dark shape.  I pulled over and stopped the vehicle.

Fox was coming out of the trees.  She moved with purpose.  I saw the beauty of her coat.  She stopped and turned to me.  I thought she might smell the dogs.  I swear that she grinned.  She barked three, sharp barks.  And then she moved on.

The barks represented:

• trust your senses
• stick to your purpose or goal
• rely on your own cleverness – no one else has your experience in your life

Blessings,

Judy

Blue Jay On Balance

In the balance between all living things, Blue Jay has wisdom to share with mankind.  Blue Jay will lie low to see where food is and then see what she might like.  She then will go and pick up a pine cone, fly it to the stash of food, and leave it as she picks up the sunflower seeds that she is really after.  In her mind, a seed for a seed.  The quantity, size, or effort involved, do not weigh into the equation of “this for that”.

Blue Jay says that if humans were more thoughtful about ensuring that something was left for something that was taken, then the karma for humans would be quite reduced.  Since man does not understand balance, and seems to find joy in taking something for nothing, the consequences come in a larger size and last longer.  These might be forest fires where trees have been taken by a company where no exchange was made.  Or, it might be flooding where fishing without replenishment takes place.

The idea that we need to balance with Nature, when we walk out in Nature, or take from Nature, was a common theme in the lives of our Ancestors.  The last four centuries of people in the western world moved away from this.  It is time to bring the balance back.

Blessings, 

Judy

Elementals Speak - Fir, Spruce, And Pine - The Christmas Trees

 It is soon time to begin looking at Christmas trees.  The Elementals shake with frustration when their beloved trees are mistakenly identified as pine, when they should be fir, or as spruce when they should be pine.  So, the Elementals asked me to give a brief lesson in how to tell the trees apart.  And, yes, they are all EVERGREENS, remember, however, that calling a tree an evergreen is like calling you a human instead of using your name.

A Guide To Recognizing Christmas Trees

 

Look for the number of needles that come out of the same spot on a twig. If a twig bears needles in groups of two, three, or five, you can safely call it a pine.

Pine Tree Branch

If the twig carries its needles singly, it’s a good bet you’ve got a fir or a spruce. If the needle has four sides and, thus, rolls easily between your fingers, it’s a spruce.

Spruce Tree Branch

Pull off a needle, and roll it between your fingers. If it feels flat and doesn’t roll easily, it’s a fir.

Fir Tree Branches

Note:  This information on the trees comes from www.finegardening.com.  I am grateful for their informative site.

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.

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Blessings,

Judy

Elementals and Embracing Nature

One of the pictures that has been coming up in my meditations, is the image of Nature being cared for by the Elemental energies – for grass, plants, and trees; and for soil, and for water, and for environment.  Each Elemental is a specialist, and does what is needed to keep things moving forward.  This process involves creating and letting die where the change is needed. 

Some of the Elementals are frustrated because humans think that they know more than the Nature Guardians, the the humans interfere in what should be the natural progression of a species.  One of the Elementals talked about the modification of plants – GMO – and how that upsets the blueprint for the plant.

Another Elemental talked about the human need to “preserve” a plant or tree that was scheduled, by blueprint, to die off, to make way for its next adaptation.  

In life, we learn that we must let things go to get new things.  We learn that cycles are natural and that fighting them by trying to preserve what is, becomes an exercise in self defeat.  We learn not to be too attached to anything.

My response to the Elementals was that each person needs to go through a learning and growth stage.  If the people that want to do the preserving are in that stage, then, it is part of what they need to understand, and we need to let the learning unfold.

Many blessings,

Judy

Elementals Love Mossy Places

This picture is a quiet place in a small forest on the edge of a lake.  It is a magical place.  Even though the trees have been cut down long ago, the Elementals love this spot.  If you look in the upper left hand corner of the picture, you may see the shadows of what looks like two beings in the woods. 

The Elementals say that much energy is transmitted in sites like these.  They suggest that you visit a woods or forest very soon and find a spot like this to sit and to gather energy.

Blessings,

Judy

Okapi Is A Spirit Animal

 

This blog comes from my journal from years ago.  

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“These are the last surviving relatives of giraffe. These elusive animals look more like a zebra than a giraffe. They are found in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These herbivores have red-brown coat of fur. They have white stripes on their legs. These animals are diurnal and forage through the forest searching for food. These animals are highly alert and will run away when they hear a human approaching. They are so secretive that they were not not known to the world till the 1900s. ~ Wikipedia

I was wondering what I would be writing about when the funniest thought popped into my head.

“Come and join me in the garden.”

I closed my eyes, and moved into the greenery and trees.

Okapi continued to graze, and occasionally, she would look at me.  She told me that life will catch you if you let it.  

“The trick is to move away from those who wish to contain or to confine you.  Life is much better when you are free.  Freedom means different things to different beings.  Freedom is living how you wish to be and harming none.  We Okapi harm none but the grass and trees. In return, we fertilize them so they may grow strong.  

What is it that you nourish and protect?  What is it that restricts you?  Is it self imposed?  Can you be free?”

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Blessings,

Judy

Peregrine Falcon - Spirit Animal

 

Last night, just after supper, we had quite the surprise!  A large peregrine falcon flew down into the yard, and sat on the fence.  After about five minutes, he took off, and flew through the trees.

I had a very busy day, and I realized that Falcon was coming in with a message for me.  The message, however, is applicable for anyone who is making changes, and who sometimes feels like they are alone in the forest.

• Move when you need to find new territory or when the weather becomes unbearable and food is scarce.   Humans seem to think that they are rooted to one spot.  Falcon moves all over the world.
• Live along mountain ranges, with a valley below, and lots of fresh water.  You will always have food.
• When you see that you have the jump on your prey, take advantage of the element of surprise and do what you need to do.
• Do not haphazardly destroy the food supply or even your enemies.  At some point, you may need the enemy to give assistance.
• The element of air is very healing.  It carries light, and, although invisible, it can cushion you in times of falling.  Learn to work with the air.

May Falcon guide you when you need it to be there.

Blessings,

Judy

Garter Snake Tells Us to be Grounded

 

This picture is from www.reptilerange.com, and is not the snake that I saw.

I was walking in Fish Creek park and enjoying the trees and the breeze, when my dog stopped.  His ears went up and he backed up.  Before us on the path was a coiled Garter Snake.  He had not seen one before and was very wary.  Where I grew up, garter snakes were common and did a great job of keeping the mice and rat population under control.  This guy, coiled up on the path, obviously wanted to talk.  Here is the condensed version of the message.

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The Garter Snake (GS) inhabits Fish Creek park and the surrounding park areas that angle off the rivers.  It works to be invisible so that it does not frighten people, and so that Hawk or Crow does not find it, and eat it.

GS lives close to the ground, and that, it says, helps it to stay grounded and in the now moment.  GS is known for its gentleness, and for the affection and attachment it may form with some people or some animals.

GS recommends following these guidelines for grounding.

• Pick a warm spot to ground in.  Cold makes you slow down and makes grounding more difficult.
• Make sure that the spot you pick is safe.  Perhaps travel around the area that you will be using and sprinkle musk, like we do, and keep out other animals.  Or, you may  create sacred space in your own way.
• Get comfortable in your space.  Close your eyes.  Coil inward.  Let your energy drop down into the ground. 
• Plan to bask for at least fifteen minutes in the warmth and grounding.  You will feel so refreshed!

May you be grounded each day!

Blessings,

Judy

Beaver Shares Its Traits

We have several beavers in the Bow River in Fish Creek Park.  They can be very entertaining.  And, yes, they can bring down a lot of trees.  Beaver does, however, seem to be a caretaker of waterways and works to keep the area from drying out.

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Beaver was sitting across the channel, on the bank, looking for some tender young trees and, keeping an eye on my dog and on me.  Beaver has been in this channel for about four years.  She has created several good dams, and she has helped change the eco system of the channel and the river.  The channel now has young trout in it.

Beaver has some traits that humans can use.  They are:

• when you see water that is stagnant and mucky, find a way to clean it up.  You may have to get dirty to do it; it will be worth it. 
• being industrious leads you to discover new ways of doing things.  So, be busy when it is required – as when you need to fix your den, the dam, or gather food for winter.  When you are not busy, play and socialize. 
• when somebody says that “it can’t be done”, go ahead and do it anyway.  See the picture below of the world’s biggest beaver dam.

  

  

The dam is located on the southern edge of Wood Buffalo National Park in Northern Alberta, Canada Photo: BNPS 

 

• understand that there is a shortage of fresh water.  Beavers know how to maximize fresh water and aerate it to create a healthy environment for fish and wildlife.

Celebrate if beavers are in your area. 

Blessings,

Judy

Celebrating May 1 - May Day

Picture of May Pole Dancing from www.Classicalvalues.com  

 

Our Ancestors believed in the power of ritual and celebration.  The month of May is named for the Greek Goddess, Maia, seventh daughter of Atlas. In Europe, May Day is regarded as a way of celebrating the feminine, the Goddesses of Fertility, to ensure that the planting and harvesting will be successful.  The Maypole represents the male, and the ribbons represent the female. The Maypole becomes an artistic rendering of the act of copulation.  

In some countries, the people that have enough to eat and wear often leave presents tied to the trees to honour the Goddesses, and to allow the Goddesses to “see” how generous they were, thus ensuring the “reward” of a bountiful harvest.  The Goddess would then “direct” sending of the gifts to those that needed them.  

Sacred trees which are used in this honouring festival include willow, rowan (mountain ash), apple, fig, pine, and oak trees.  As the trees received gifts, the people believed the fruit of the tree multiplied so that both humans and animals would receive much harvest in the fall.

Some thoughts on May:

• the full moon is called “The Frog Moon”
• colours are hazel and pink
• flowers are lily and trefoil
• May’s creatures are magpies and doves

Enjoy May as a time of renewal!

Many 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

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 

Orbs in Our Yard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picture of orbs in Judy and Roger's back yard taken by our friend Caro, and used with permission.

Orbs are happy things!  It seems that they appear in our house and our yard when ever there is something very happy, joyful, or very spiritual going on.  I have seen pictures where the Orbs seem to be sitting and waiting for someone to come and discover what ever the Orb is sitting.  A good example was the Orbs waiting in an old barn in South America for someone to come and find the 1940's cars, mostly in new condition.  Making that discovery would indeed be a happy time!

The Orbs above appeared after a day of workshop that I was teaching.  I could hear them and feel them in the house and I knew that they would be stronger in the yard.  I said that if anyone wanted Orb pictures, now would be a good time.  I hear the orbs as a very high pitched hum or frequency disturbance.  

Our Ancestors, in Norse, Celtic, and Greek traditions, claimed that Orbs were Faery lights, or were souls who had not crossed over, or were impish spirits sent to spy on the humans.  

When Orbs appear to us, it seems that they are drawn by the light and the energy, and that they want to be part of the celebration.  They feel organic and intelligent, with a sense of goodness about them.  It seems, the ones we see, are similar to us in energy and are from a different time and space.

We were simply delighted to have all this little visitors hanging out around the deck in the trees.

May you have new light in your life.

Blessings,

Judy

Llama’s Thoughts (Spirit Animal)

Llama in Peru – picture from animals.nationalgeographic.com 

Over the past several days, Llama has popped up in pictures, in conversations, and even as shapes in the clouds and trees.  The place where Llama originated is Peru, and with the Incan culture, according to Wikipedia.  The wiki goes on to say that Llama originated forty million years ago on the plains of North America. Llama then migrated south – one thinks probably because of the cold and the ice – and prospered in South America.

Llama is a herd animal, and when others of its kind are not around, it will gravitate to people or other animals.  A common sound one hears around Llama is a hum, and it will become a loud type of braying noise if the Llama or the herd (or offspring) are threatened. 

Llama does have a message.  

We have survived for millions of years beyond humans because we go with the flow of the movement of the Earth.  We do not try to conquer or change the surroundings we are in.  Our family is important to us, so we take care of them.  We easily bond with sheep and goats and can become their protectors.  We ask why humans, who seem stronger than others, do not try to protect those that are weaker?  Surely this is what the alpha must do?  We have learned, too, that there is safety in the higher regions.  We left the plains and the lowlands and opted for a mountain existence.  Our instincts tell us that another big change or big water (flood) is coming again for the plains (of North America).  We say that you too must find higher ground to be able to survive millions of years.  You need to lead the herd to a safe place.

Since before the days of the Incas, Llama has served mankind.  This message seems to be one more service that Llama is doing.  We are grateful!

Many blessings,

Judy

What Do You Do With Your Days?

 

“Every day that we wake up is a good day. Every breath that we take is filled with hope for a better day. Every word that we speak is a chance to change what is bad into something good.”
Walter Mosley

“Every day is different, and some days are better than others, but no matter how challenging the day, I get up and live it.”
Muhammad Ali

 Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions. --Albert Einstein

We have our days generally planned out for the week.  We want to make our days matter and we want to make sure that certain tasks get done.  Since we love the mountains, we go as often as we can because the mountains inspire us, heal us, and show us animals and trees and birds in new ways.

Each of us gets to choose how we spend our time.  How are you choosing to spend your day?

Blessings,

Judy

Loved Ones Appear In A Dream

 

Picture from an email from a friend..information on the poster.

As a dreamer, I marvel at the number of times that someone that I love and that has now died, appears in a dream.  Most often, the person appears much younger than the age that they crossed from this world to the next.  They seem to be happy and participate in what ever activity that you are engaged in.

Many writings talk about deceased loved ones appearing in your dreams to give you a warning and to touch base with you.  My experience is that often a loved one or a version of the loved one, will pop in to act as temporary guide to help solve a problem or to point you towards the solution for a situation.  

I think that often we assume that only people will appear in dreams.  However, many animals that we have loved will also appear in dreams.  I find, for me, that they will often appear in dreams where I am out walking in trees or out in Nature, generally.  I think as much as showing us that they are okay, the animal is also checking on us to see if we are in balance, moving forward, and well and happy.

Many blessings,

Judy

Thunder and Rain

We are the Angels that look after the rain.  We like to announce the rain with the sound of thunder because it so much like the sound of big drums!  Rain is for washing and cleaning the air and the earth.  Animals that do not like to swim love their showers from the rain.

Rain is a way to bring oxygen and light to Earth.  The more rain, the more light, as contradictory as that sounds.  Bringing light to Earth is a matter of physics – H2O – two hydrogen and one oxygen bring down a little light.  

Rain causes people to be alone with their thoughts; to be self assessing.  This is perhaps why so many people feel that rain causes depression.  It is not the rain; it is one’s thoughts!  If your thoughts, your life, and your world are clean, then you will enjoy the rain because it brings in new life.

Rain is for crops and gardens, for flowers and trees, for meadows and for creeks, for sleeping and for meditation.  It is the moisture that keeps the sparkle in all of life. 

Enjoy the rain!

Many blessings,

Judy

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