Love With Actions

This poster says:  Let us not love with words or speech….but with actions and truth.

Well, this poster says it all!  Of course, our Ancestors have always said that actions speak louder than words.  They also say that love is the way.  Strangely, those caught up in material growth and wealth never seem to find time for love.  And, by their actions, they show us just how empty they are.  

Love fills you up!  You do not need to eat, drink, or buy to fill the craving that emptiness brings.   Finding that love is not something that you need to go on a quest to find, although I will say that quests are fun.  No, the loving is right inside you.

Today is a good day to rummage around in your body and find the love.

Blessings,

Judy

January 1 2025

This is the year that many things will change.  We are now in the future that we were told would never come.  

A time of truth is coming in to being.  Lies, cheats, bribes, wrong doing, and all kinds of untruthful and harmful ways of acting will be exposed.  Some events are already exposed. 

As we stand here, be thankful for all that we have – food, clothes, housing, and technology that allows to communicate across the world in minutes. Every time that we are grateful and give thanks for what we have, we create a positive environment that benefits everyone.

Blessings to each of you!

 

Judy

We Must Be Silent To Hear

“We must be silent before we can listen.
We must listen before we can learn.
We must learn before we can prepare.
We must prepare before we can serve.
We must serve before we can lead.”

- William Arthur Ward

Some days, I wonder about everything!  And, when I have great questions that seem too big for me to answer, I sit in meditation, and I ask Great Spirit, my Angels, my Guides, and any Ascended Masters that might want to help me out, if they will come in and speak with me.

What I have learned is that for me to hear any answers, I must be patient, and I must be very quiet and silent.  Therefore, when I saw the quote above, it resonated deeply through my heart as a great truth.  When we need to be in silence, we must close our mouths and our ego, so we can truly hear all that is around us.  We “see” more clearly when we are silent because we do not lay our critique of what is being said over the other’s words.

I acknowledge the wisdom of the relationship between learning, preparing, serving, and then leading.  This is a natural progression.  It is what Nature shows us.

Blessings,

Judy

Buddha’s Thoughts

At least once a week, I get an email or a phone call from a client that gives me pause to think about “why is that person acting or reacting like that?” I usually have a lot of wonderment around the question, and usually, within a day or two, I get a story or explanation for the behaviour. 

This morning I had a chat with a friend who was telling me that he/she would be fasting for the next ten days to help raise her/his vibration. And further, she/he would be avoiding all sweet things. 

I have learned that each person must do what seems right or best for him or her. However, the thought that sticks with me in all that I do is the vow of MODERATION that all those who take Munay-Ki must agree to. Moderation means that one is balanced in all things. Extreme fasting, or denying oneself, or forcing self to do things that are not for the highest good of the body temple are not in accordance with the Munay-Ki Vow. 

As I was reviewing my lesson in Buddhism, the following teaching story came up, and I received confirmation from Great Spirit that I was on the path of understanding that we need to be balanced in all things. Here is the story.

The Holy Man Who Tried To Be Too Holy (Extremism)

Once upon a time, the Enlightenment Being lived in a world where most religions were very similar. They taught that the way to remove suffering from the mind was to make the body suffer instead. As strange as it seems, most people thought that the holiest of the holy were the ones who tortured their bodies the most! Since everyone seemed to agree with this, the Bodhisatta decided to find out for himself if it was true.

He stopped living as an ordinary everyday person and became a holy man according to the custom of the times. This meant that he gave up everything, even his clothes. He went naked, with his body covered only by dust and dirt.

So he wouldn't be spoiled by the taste of good food, he forced himself to eat only filthy things - dirt, ashes, urine and cow dung.

So he could concentrate without being interrupted by anyone, he went to live in the most dangerous part of the forest. If he did see a human being, he ran away like a timid deer.

In the wintertime he spent his days under the trees and his nights out in the open. So in the daytime he was soaked by the cold water dripping from the icicles hanging from the tree branches. And at night he was covered by the falling snow. In this way, in winter, he made his body suffer the most extreme cold in both day and night.

In the summertime he spent his days out in the open and his nights under the trees. So in the daytime he was burned by the most severe rays of the sun. And at night he was blocked from the few cooling breezes of the open air. In this way, in summer, he made his body suffer the most extreme heat in both day and night.

This was how he struggled, trying to bring peace to his mind. He was so determined that he lived his entire life in this way.

Then, just as he was about to die, he saw a vision of himself reborn in a hell world. The vision struck him like lightning, and instantly he knew that all the ways he had tortured his body were completely useless! They had not brought him peace of mind. Lo and behold, as he gave up his false beliefs and held on to the truth, he died and was reborn in a heaven world!

May you find this helpful in all that you do today, and all days!

Blessings,

Judy

A Universal Truth About Effort

Mountain Lake – Picture from Microsoft Clip Art

 

Indigenous people around the world and our Ancestors recognized the truth of the first Universal Law - Maximum efficiency with minimal effort.  Humans, now, are not that tuned in.  It seems that we struggle against all odds all the time. And, if it looks like we will not win the goal we want to achieve, then we scheme and plot and manipulate to get our results.  It is called “control”.  

Animals do not waste effort. They tend to go with the flow of life.   Cows will take a meandering path which is always the easiest road. Pioneers followed goat tracks through the mountains because it was the easiest road.  

Water will always take the easiest path. And, as it washes over stones and down gullies and rushes along the bank of a river bed, it smoothes and polishes.  The dirt and rocks offer no resistance.  As they “move” in the flow, they become less, and yet more than they are. The rock becomes rounded and shiny and pure – for that which it does not need, dissolves and flows with the water.  Dirt becomes free to move, to travel to far away places and, when it settles, offers new energy to the environment around it.  It becomes more.

And what will you do now"?  Will you flow or will you not? 

Blessings,

Judy

Jaguar - A Spirit Animal

 

Picture of jaguar from www.animals-images.com

On Sunday, in our Solstice Celebration, several people had an encounter with a jaguar. 

Last night, as I was falling asleep, my Black Jaguar, who sits on my Sacral Chakra, popped in and asked, “Why don`t you write about jaguars as spirit animals?” So, today, I will write about jaguar.

Jaguar is sacred to indigenous people in South and Central America.  They call it “the animal that kills with a bite”`because the Jaguar kills its prey with a single bite.  Jaguar makes a loud coughing noise.  She is unable to roar.  

In Munay-Ki, Jaguar is a totem that reflects integrity, steadfastness, truth, and the ability to blend in with the day or the night.  Her skills include climbing, running steadily for hours at a slow trot, and keen night vision.  The people with this totem or spirit animal, are generally agile, loners and leaders, and very good orators.  Most Jaguar people are writers and thinkers, and do something to change the world.

Jaguar likes to live in caves, close to water, much like the hermits or isolated monks do. If she appears to you, she may be reminding you that in the Northern hemisphere, people should be moving into a hibernation or isolation stage in their life.  Winter is a time of regeneration.  This is a time to heal, to refresh the mind, and to contemplate one’s next steps.  When we don’t take this time, people get out of balance.

 

Black jaguar image from www.worldwildlife.org  

 

 

Have jaguar dreams tonight.

Many Blessings,

Judy

Truth From A Buddhist View

                                               Picture of wild lily by J Hirst in July 2023

When we had our Winter Solstice gathering, one of the things that we did was pull a card with one word on it.  That word is the thing that we will work on over 2024.  The card that I pulled was “Truth”.  Interesting to me is that stuff that I do every day is supporting that.  

In my study of all things Buddhism, I came across a little book called “The Little Book of Zen Haiku, Koans, Sayings” from Barnes and Noble, and edited by Manuela Dunn Mascetti.  Now, Koans are stories that are meant to be puzzling to help the student gain enlightenment after meditating on the story – sometimes for great lengths of time. 

The Koan that I am sitting with is called “Tipping Over A Vase”.  

Hyakujo wished to send a monk to open a new monastery.  He told hi disciples that whoever answered a question most ably would be appointed.  Placing a water vase on the ground, he asked, “Who can say what this is without calling its name?”

The Chief monk said, “No one can call it a wooden shoe.”

Isan, the cooking monk, tipped over the vase with his foot and went out.  

Hyakujo smiled and said, “The chief monk loses.” And, Isan became the master of the new monastery.

The point of the Koan is to show that truth, as symbolized by the water vase, can only be shown. The cooking monk makes this demonstration very effectively.  

One of the leadership tools that I used to teach in my Organizational Behaviour Class was “How to Refute Rumour”.  The only way was to ignore it, not comment on it, and show the employees what the truth was.  

Truth is healing! It gives us a spiritual peace.  We feel balanced and at one with all things… Nature is our friend.  Sadly, we as a civilization seem to have moved far from Truth.  Perhaps we have reached the furthest swing of the pendulum and we are now ready to start kicking over vases, politicians, corrupt CEO’s and Boards, to get at the Truth.

May you find Truth in all you do!

Many Blessings,

Judy

Ostrich - A Spirit Animal

This wonderful picture of a giraffe and an ostrich having a chat, came in a slide show in an email. I don't know who to give photo credit to, however, Bravo! for a great picture.

Ostrich walks the Mother Earth because it cannot fly. It therefore, must gather all of its wisdom from the Earth. By walking all the time, Ostrich is totally grounded even though its neck, which is about truth and spiritual truth, is very long and reaches to the Heavens to bring down Divine information, just as Giraffe does. Ostrich has very large eyes and tends to appear dreamy and unfocused, often fooling those who would steal up on it kill it for its skin and feathers. Ostrich will either flee on its incredibly long, speedy legs, or will turn and fight with death dealing kicks. The very young birds or injured birds camouflage by lying flat on the ground and burying their heads in the sand.

If Ostrich appears to you, it brings messages such as: 

-check to see if you are grounded, and if not, walk the Earth with bare feet, if possible.

-are you too dreamy with your thoughts and eyes sky ward instead of paying attention to what is around you on the Earth?

-is it time to be a little less visible? Have you been attracting those energies that do not agree with you?

-do you need to take a look at those around you to determine if they are true friends? Perhaps it is time to “kick” some of them out of your space.

-is it time to work on your clairvoyance so that you truly “see” what is really going on around you?

Ostrich feathers have long been considered a valuable possession. The feathers are used by the Egyptian Goddesses, especially the Goddess Maat, to symbolize truth and justice. If Ostrich is appearing to you now, perhaps it is time to take a look at any injustices you are feeling around you. Are you the cause or the recipient of injustice? Perhaps it is time to let truth prevail.

May you see each moment clearly!

Blessings,

Judy

Dragon is a Spirit Animal

Dragon image from fantasygalleryart.com/library. Picture by Ciruelo.

 

 

 

 

As I was wrapping Christmas presents, I watched/listened to Dragonheart, one of my all time happy movies.  So, I thought that I would talk about dragons.

What does Dragon mean to any of us?  Wikipedia has a wonderful list of general characteristics of a dragon which it draws from many cultures.  It says:

"There are many kinds of dragons in the different cultures. In general:

• A dragon is usually big and impressive 
• A dragon has: none to four legs, claws, scales and possibly spikes. Optional wings 
• A dragon perhaps looks like a snake with wings, or like lizards 
• A dragon has a tail and a long neck. 
• A dragon has a wide mouth with big and dangerous teeth 
• Sometimes they have horns and hair. 
• A dragon can fly 
• A dragon can perhaps breathe fire (or other dangerous substances). 
• A dragon has special powers. 
• A dragon could have flight sacs full of hydrogen and methane, that not only help it to fly, but also to breathe fire.  - from simple.wikipedia.org/dragon "

The article clearly states that the dragon is mythical, and yet, here are some well known characteristics, and a picture to prove the traits.  We humans have a great love affair with Dragon.

When protégées take the rites of the Munay-Ki, the Third Rite, the Harmony Rite, provides the protégée with a "serpent" in the base chakra.  The archetype of serpent may be either a dragon or a lizard or snake.  Many protégées tell of receiving a black or red or blue or multi-coloured dragon as their first archetype.

What message does Dragon bring?  Dragon is about  being in integrity, about being a healer, about walking softly on this earth.  Each of these aspects of Dragon speak to us about being able to walk and talk our truth, and healing those around us.  The "walk softly" means that we need to stop leaving our footprints of destruction of nature on this Earth.  

Ancestors tell us that Dragon was one of the original earthly guardians of all things.  When Man advanced, Dragon believed that it could retire to another realm because Man would care for the world.  Dragon had taught its knowledge to Shaman, Wise Men and Wise Women.

If Dragon appears, she is telling you to remember that YOU must care for the Earth and help restore it to health.

Many blessings,

Judy

A Lonely Crow - Spirit Animal

Picture of 
"Crow In Flight" from Wikipedia

 

We are at the time of year when all of the crows should have flown south - from Alberta - for the winter.  So, I was surprised to see one lonely crow in the park woods on my walk the other morning.  I know it was a crow because of the distinctive "caw" noise.  Thinking about the scene, I then began to wonder if I had actually seen the crow or whether it was a Spirit Crow that was there as the woods were eerily quiet.

Crow makes a wide range of noises, and it is possible to learn their language in our rather primitive human way.  Sometimes the sounds are about danger, others about gossip and where the food is, or where there are other animals that may present some fun! The shiny blackness of Crow's feathers remind us that absolute blackness is the chaos that we - the cosmos - was born out of. And, Crow represents the magic that is present during the day. (Appropriate for me in the woods.) 

What messages does Crow bring?  Messages that really need to be reflected upon.  Here are some of them.

a)   Crow likes to be very high up to observe and watch for danger.  If you see Crow, and she is cawing at you, perhaps you need to be warned of danger ahead.

b)  Crow likes to gather with other crows.  Some liken this to a Council.  Perhaps it is time to turn to your Council of Twelve for guidance.

c)  Various legends of the Gods and Goddesses tell of their use of Crows as spies because Crow has an inherent knowledge of truth.  If Crow appears, it may be that she is saying that you need to look beyond the apparent for the actual Truth.  Shaman say that you need to look for the story behind the story.  

d) Crow therefore is also about integrity.  Is there something that is challenging your truth and integrity?  Do you need to be diligent or discerning in your association with others?

As I look at my Crow experience, I realize that my  message came from Great Spirit, and that Crow was there to remind me that there is much beyond what we know, and that I need to turn more to guidance from Great Spirit, Ancestors, and my Council of Twelve.   I will be spending more time in mediation!

Blessings,

Judy

Buddha’s Advice on “Who Do You Believe?”

Last week, I had a question from a reader who wanted to know about information in a book they were reading.  The question was to ask me to confirm if the book was correct or not in what it was saying.  

This is a tough question because depending on the book, and when the book was written, the information may have been true at the time, and now in the 21st century, it may be proven false. 

When I wonder about information because something about it doesn’t ring true, I go back to the words of Buddha.  In his teaching that has become known as the “Kalama Sutta”.  The word “Kalama” refers to the people in the village in a township in India that had the question around “what is the correct teaching?”.  The word “sutta” has a complex meaning.  However, for simplicity’s sake, let’s agree that it means “rules”.  The teaching then, is “Rules for the Kalama”.  The principles are sound.  Buddha says not to take anything on face value.

Well, I won’t say anymore.  Read this and you will see how sound this advice is.  But, don’t take my word for it!  (Smile.)

Judy

  

Kalama Sutta

The people of Kalama asked the Buddha who to believe out of all the ascetics, sages, venerables, and holy ones who, like himself, passed through their town. They complained that they were confused by the many contradictions they discovered in what they heard. The Kalama Sutta is the Buddha's reply. 

• Do not believe anything on mere hearsay. 
• Do not believe in traditions merely because they are old and have been handed down for many generations and in many places. 
• Do not believe anything on account of rumors or because people talk a a great deal about it. 
• Do not believe anything because you are shown the written testimony of some ancient sage. 
• Do not believe in what you have fancied, thinking that, because it is extraordinary, it must have been inspired by a god or other wonderful being. 
• Do not believe anything merely because presumption is in its favor, or because the custom of many years inclines you to take it as true. 
• Do not believe anything merely on the authority of your teachers and priests. 
• But, whatever, after thorough investigation and reflection, you find to agree with reason and experience, as conducive to the good and benefit of one and all and of the world at large, accept only that as true, and shape your life in accordance with it. 
• The same text, said the Buddha, must be applied to his own teachings. 
• Do not accept any doctrine from reverence, but first try it as gold is tried by fire. 

                                                           ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆

Many blessings,

Judy

Remembrance Day November 11 2023

Today is Remembrance Day in Canada.  Today, I remember my great grandfather on my mother’s side, my grandfathers on both my mother’s and my father’s side, numerous great uncles, uncles, and cousins. Most of them are no longer here.  Most of them have fought several wars.  Some of them are now retired, and still doing what they can for others.

I am thankful that my Ancestors were very brave and that they had a strong sense of right, of truth, and a belief that no one man, no one country, and no one religion should rule the world.  I am thankful that they fought for what they believed in. Their actions have been a shiny example for me, of standing on one’s truth.  

I am thankful, too, for all the women in my family, who supported the men, and who acted as machinists, nurses, labourers,  and who made do with what was available.  These women taught me about necessity living. 

I am aware that the peace that I have in my life is because all of you stood for what you believed in.  Thank – you.

May all of you know that you are honoured and loved through time. 

Blessings,

Judy

A Personal Creed

 

A quiet place for reflection in Fish Creek Park - by Judy Hirst

 

When one thinks of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, one thinks of valour, and of a creed of goodness or honour.  It will not surprise you to find that "Creed" means a "set of beliefs or guiding principles" (from the merriam-webster.com online dictionary).  

History admires knights or anyone who seems to hold fast to principles of integrity and truth.  Why?  Because today, we no longer work with truth and integrity as part of our every day lives in business.  A popular sales tool is called "bait and switch".  The goal is to get the buyer interested in a mythological set of goods, and then actually sell the buyer something quite different.  Where is the integrity in that?  Corporations sell based on making money and producing revenue for shareholders. Shoddy workmanship, falsified lists of ingredients or list of parts, and mislabelled packages are all part of the "game" to improve the bottom line.  

With such examples in our every day lives, it almost seems impossible for an individual to avoid replicating the examples from the workplace.  Buddhists have the five precepts that they live by: 

• Abstain from destroying life 
• Abstain from stealing 
• Abstain from sexual misconduct 
• Abstain from lies 
• Abstain from intoxicating drinks 

These five precepts are actually their creed for their way of life - a way of life that has been around since the first day of Buddha.  Many people find these precepts difficult to understand.  

Shaman suggest that each of us create our own creed or way of life.  Therefore, when we violate our creed, we immediately "feel" the breach of trust with our self, and we react to repair the damage. 

Here are some ideas for a personal creed.  

I will be good to my body. 

I will be truthful to myself and others.

I will treat all living things with respect.

I will honour the rights of all human beings to be the individuals they are with their own Sacred Points of View.

I will embrace my faith, and I will trust the Creator's divine guidance.

I will see all experiences in my life as ways to grow with lessons to learn.

I will strive to be my personal best without comparing my path to others.   (Suggestions from DANCING THE DREAM by Jamie Sams)

Being good to your body means the right foods should be consumed!  Picture from Microsoft Clip Art....

 

 

When each of these ideas is examined, one says, "Why wouldn't I follow these beliefs?"  The interesting answer is that often, in order to work at a job each day, one cannot have many of these beliefs because the beliefs at work conflict with the beliefs of the person.  

When one sits in Meditation and asks how to resolve the incongruity of the work place and the person, Angels may answer and simply tell the person to leave their job.  To work at something that does not treat humans with respect is not healing or loving.  When we have a creed of honour, we crave the feeling of Oneness with all things -much like the Shaman of old were seen to be filled with peace and a spirit that directly linked to the Heavens.

The creed that our ancestors lived with was about being in balance, recognizing Nature/Mother Earth as the provider of all food and water and air - simply, the provider of everything.  Corporations with all of their material goods, do not provide everything that we need. Perhaps it is time for all of us to develop a creed.

What will your creed be?

Blessings,

Judy

Truth and Willingness

My challenge for the day is to meditate on the words “truth” and “willingness”.   These are really tough words to put together to come up with an “aha” moment.

Truth, of course, is always the way that the different parties understand a situation.  Truth can be altered by the emphasis put on different words in a sentence.  Truth for me is different than truth for you.  When I looked up “truth” in the dictionary, I had a difficult time determining what the “true” definition is.  

Albert Einstein said, “The ideas that have lighted my way have been kindness, beauty and truth.”

Gustav Le Bon has said, “Science has promised us truth. It has never promised us either peace or happiness.”

Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor, had this view of truth - Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.

The truth, for me, is intangible, however, it has a feeling.  It has a rightness about it.  So I guess that “willingness” then, is the determination to move through life acknowledging the feeling of truth, and following what feels right.  

I can do that.

Many Blessings,

Judy

About Bat as a Spirit Animal

"Common Bat" found throughout North America - from Wikipedia

There are many beliefs in this world about BAT.  Some people in Africa believe that the Bat is a physical manifestation of the soul - thus allowing the soul of the individual to travel at night to complete the work that the Soul has left unfinished.

North American indigenous people believe that the Bat is a trickster type spirit whose home is in the Underworld.  Bat comes to Earth to trap those with weak morals or ethics and when the individual shows their weakness, Bat takes them below ground to work out the person's sins.  Eastern cultures believe that Bat represents abundance and long life.  It seems that all of these beliefs might be true.

Since Bat represents the link between the Day and the Night because it flies only at night, it is said to be blessed by Mother Goddess of the Moon.  The colours of Bat - red, brown, black - connect it with Mother Earth and with the base chakra - representing how we walk on this Earth.  If we walk in harmony, one does not fear Bat.  Just as Bat uses sonar to find its food and discern obstacles, we can use our "hidden" connection to Mother Earth to know which of her creatures and plants and trees are around us.  If we understand that Bat is nearby, Bat does not scare us.  If we walk in power on this Earth, we do not understand the ways of animals, especially Bat, and we fear it.  We make up stories about what wrongs it does.

Bat has been appearing more and more in writings and in pictures.  For the west coast of North America, it may be the hero that is needed to fight against the pine beetle which is stripping the pine trees of their needles, and eventually killing the tree.  

Medicine Woman sees Bat as representing the Night - and with Night, astral travel, dreams, intuition, and past life scenarios.  Bat is also about seeing without one's eyes to see what is REALLY out in the world.  Bat is known for seeing TRUTH.

Bat brings messages such as:

- perhaps it is time to stop and reflect on life and make some changes.  When Bat thinks and sleeps, it does so up side down.  When the God, Odin, wanted to understand and make changes, he hung on a tree for nine days and nine nights.  So take some time to yourself.

- some say that seeing is believing.  Bat will tell you that is not true.  What truth is it that you are missing because you are looking right at it?  Close your eyes.  Be in silence and "listen" for the TRUTH as you send out your thoughts around the situation.

Many Blessings,

Judy

Making Choices

 

Over the past year, have you noticed that you seem to need to make a big choice and a bunch of little choices each week?  While it may not seem like the choice is part of your spiritual journey, most of the time it does end up supporting one of truth, health, happiness, wisdom, love, kindness, and compassion.  

For quite a few people, the Covid pandemic caused them to make a choice to withdraw from daily life - work, friends and family, and making choices/decisions on a daily basis.  For many, it was the end of relationships. Choices were made taking in to account health, happiness, and love, especially self-love.

Many people like to judge the choices that others make, labelling the choice as right or wrong, good or bad.  It is impossible to know what the best choice or right choice is for another person because we can never know exactly what is going on in another person’s life.

My suggestion is that you make a choice not to judge, but to allow.  

Many blessings,

Judy

What Are The Valuable Things in Life?

 Picture from Microsoft Clip Art

 

I came across this lovely teaching story the other day in a Buddhist online journal.  The idea of staying healthy and fit is probably the one task that resonates for me at the moment.  We are in a short time of extreme weather when colds and flu are prevalent. Our temperature (in Calgary) changes from –20C to +9C in twenty-four hours.  The shifting – which mimics ascension shifting, is hard on the human body.  I digress.  Enjoy this story! 

Once upon a time there was a rich man living in Benares, in northern India. He had a son who was intelligent, curious and eager to learn. Even though he was only seven years old, he was determined to find out what is really valuable.

One day the little boy asked his father, "What are the ways to gain the most valuable things in life?"

His father said, "Only worthy ways lead to worthwhile goals. These are the six worthy ways:

• keep yourself healthy and fit;
• be wholesome in every way;
• listen to those with more experience;
• learn from those with more knowledge;
• live according to Truth;
• act with sincerity, not just energy.

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

After I read this story several times, I believe that sincerity means both compassion and kindness, depending on the situation.  

Many blessings,

Judy

Reach me at lighthousewisdom@gmail.com