Humans, and mothers especially, have a love-hate relationship with dirt. Yet, dirt grows what we eat. The minerals in it are part of us. We need it! Sometimes, the quickest way to ground absolutely is to touch the earth. Sometimes, getting down in the mud brings a relief to a time filled with stress, grief, and worry.
So, today, if you are having a difficult time with family, work, relationships with friends or lovers, go and find some dirt. it will make you feel better.
Blessings,
Judy
The wonderful thing about meditating is that it opens your mind to a wide variety of ideas, and takes you to different dimensions so that you can understand all that there is about being connected. Sometimes, however, a meditation will take me to surprising places.
Today’s meditation dropped me in the snow somewhere on a mountain side close to two Siberian Tigers. I was a bit startled. So were they! After snarling and growling, they finally stopped and shook their heads. I could see that an explanation was needed. So, I told them that by mistake, (yes, I know there are no mistakes), I seemed to have overshot my happy meditation retreat, and landed in their hunting territory. Benji, the larger tiger, basically said, “No way!” And, I replied, “Yes, way.”
To help the situation along, I asked them if they had anything that they wanted to share with me since Tigers are known to be such excellent teachers. The Tigers reflected for several minutes, and said that they would like to share about sharing. Here are their comments:
The Tigers said that they must return to their hunt. I popped back to my meditation cushion, and realized that I felt quite cold. I felt that I had a very interesting journey.
Blessings,
Judy
For those that have an affinity for tigers, here is the link to a previous post:
https://www.lightstationwisdom.com/2024/09/tiger-explains-how-to-blend.html
Two bald eagles spend the winter in Fish Creek Park where the Bow River winds south and then west. Here, the water stays open and they can fish.
For the last two weeks, Eagle has been out flying when I am out with my dog. I get various messages.
Blessings,
Judy
I am always amazed at the Spirit Animals that find their way into my meditations. They bring such wisdom and stories. We are all connected. Here is today’s lesson from the Spirit Animals.
Ant marched into my space in meditation. He said that humans have no idea, really, of what work is. He says that if daily, we walked every where we went, and travelled the miles that Ant needs to travel to provide food and stuffs for the nest, then we would work. If humans carried everything they needed at home with them on their back, then we would work at the same rate that Ant does. And, if we could hear the one Ant in the hive that was needing help, and if we paid attention, then we would be truly honourable in our work.
Ant’s words were indeed humbling.
Blessings,
Judy
On the weekend… I was shopping - groceries and running errands, and the traffic was so incredibly slow. Folks were doing 30 and 40 on the freeway and it was plus 8. I was musing and pulled out my journal from several years ago. As you have seen from past posts that I do, I sometimes pull something out of an old journal to share with you. Here is a reflection on driving the long road.
Tonight, the traffic was very slow for my 25 kilometer drive home. It took me an hour! This kind of traffic makes my tired and frustrated.
I asked why I had to endure this – a total waste of time.
The answer was – you do not have to endure. Choose not to do the drive. Or choose not to work out there. Or choose a different way home.
All the answers were about choice – we can choose the long road, or not.
************************
Blessings,
Judy
“Good people live wisely and improve customs.” is the meaning that Confucius attributes to the 53rd meaning of the I Ching or Book of Change
Picture of the 53rd cast of the I-Ching
The translation of this cast (shown below) comes from a translation by Wilhelm, both in English and French.
On the mountain, a tree: The image of DEVELOPMENT.
Thus the superior man abides in dignity and virtue,
In order to improve the mores.The tree on the mountain is visible from afar, and its development influences the landscape of the entire region. It does not shoot up like a swamp plant; its growth proceeds gradually. Thus also the work of influencing people can be only gradual. No sudden influence or awakening is of lasting effect. Progress must be quite gradual, and in order to obtain such progress in public opinion and in the mores of the people, it is necessary for the personality to acquire influence and weight. This comes about through careful and constant work on one's own moral development.
I saw this cast of the I-Ching, and immediately realized that this is actually the journey of our lives. It takes well into our adult hood before we develop the credibility to have others look to us for answers, or for leadership. The Mayans believed one was not truly a Master or a true teacher until the person reached 52 years of age.
The irony of this, is, that while many of us believe in the wisdom that comes from age, we have created “Masters” programs in our Universities and Business Schools that purport to give a twenty-two to twenty-six year old the same knowledge one has at fifty-two. Does it work? In most cases, no! The other sad fact about this hypocrisy is that the twenty-something wants to earn the same as the fifty something, and feels it is “due” to them because they have the education.
Blessings,
Judy
My two words for the day are “brotherhood” and “healing”. My first thought was, “Wow, that is a far-out combination!” Then I realized that the only way to heal is to incorporate the concept of “brotherhood” into our lives. Brotherhood means “the belief that all people should act with warmth and equality toward one another, regardless of differences in race, creed, nationality, etc.”. This definition comes from dictionary.reference.com.
Brotherhood is hard for most of us to incorporate into our lives because we believe that most people have one of these attributes: they should listen to us, but don’t; they aren’t as smart as us; they are worthless; they are lazy; they are losers; they are control freaks; and, they are too much trouble. That is quite a list of judgements that we have about people.
I realize that my big task is to look at my life and who I work with, and accept them as is, in brotherhood, so that I can speed up any self healing that I have left to do. As well, I need to work with the people that Creator puts in my path so that I can see what lessons I need to learn. Learning brings a great peace to our lives. This makes me think about a slide that a friend sent me. Here it is. I wonder if it is also saying that we have a chance to clear Karma with that person.
I will continue to mull over this idea of Brotherhood and healing, and work to walk this talk.
Many Blessings,
Judy
Image of Oxen from www.afb.org/
Oxen pulled the carts and wagons that helped the pioneers cross North America from the East to the West coast.
“Dependable, calm, methodical, patient, hardworking, ambitious, conventional, steady, modest, logical, resolute, tenacious. Can be stubborn, narrow-minded, materialistic, rigid, demanding.” This is the description for OX, in the Chinese Zodiac.
Ox is actually a bull that has been neutered either because of its very gentle disposition which makes it ideal for pulling work, or because the bull is not a good breeder. The best Ox is actually one with horns because the horns help the yoke stay in place. The horns also enable Ox to defend against predators.
Our Ancestors preferred Ox’s draft capabilities over that of a horse or mule where steadiness over speed was required. Ox is sure footed, patient, and generally gets along with anyone or any team-mate. Ox is also stronger, and not likely to injure itself because it is methodical in what it does, and does not jerk or rear against the harness or driver. Ox has also been used for riding because again it will go much longer in the day than a horse will travel.
As Ox is part of the family of cattle and bovines, it brings some of the same messages. If Ox is in your dreams, or shows up in pictures for you, then it does bring you a message. Some of these messages might be:
a) Are you pulling your weight in the world? Ox takes on huge loads and moves them, without protest. Have you been whining and complaining about your lot in life? Are you labelling yourself as a victim? Ox is here to remind you that everything is fair and for a reason. Put your back into what you do, and you will forget about being a victim.
b) Do you help others? Ox is in training for his part as a draft animal by age two to three, and usually will work for four to six years. Ox has committed his life to helping mankind move forward. If you are feeling low self worth, Ox suggests that you find someplace to volunteer. Helping others is the surest way to improve self esteem.
c) Are you working hard, and doing everything yourself? Do you feel unappreciated? Ox reminds you that most animals work better in a team. Why do you try to do it all yourself? Find a good team-mate, and split the work load. Bring your life back into balance.
Ox is a great example of being able to go with the flow in life, and not get excited or emotional.
Many blessings,
Judy
All our lives, we have been taught that we need to work hard. Hard means…not soft; solid and firm to the touch; unyielding to pressure and impenetrable or almost impenetrable… from Dictionary.com.
We can still have focus and work steadily. We can work from home or from a cafe or even from a library unless your job or career calls for you to be hands on such as a welder or an electrician. Even then as a welder, you want to work steadily and with focus, and with flexibility. If you do everything hard and one way, your welds may break.
We have been taught that unless we work hard, we will not be happy. The hard work keeps us from our families and redefines us so that we identify with our work and not with the family we were born into or the family that we raise. We become out of balance! We lose who we are and sacrifice self care to hard work.
We are at a time in society when the concept of work is changing. What is your new definition of work?
Many blessings,
Judy
