Mink Pops Out

 

This post comes from my journal from quite a few years ago.  It was a week until Christmas, and I was out in the park walking my dogs.  It was a great experience.

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There is nothing more freaky than some animal popping out of the bush at you, regardless of its size!  The other night, Magic and Merlin scared a Mink out of its nightly hunt.  And, Magic herded him so that it jumped out in front of me.  Poor Mink!  I think I scared him more than the dogs did.  He popped under a fence.  Then, he turned around and peeked out at me.  It looked like he grinned.

Mink, especially when it is white, is about remembering your spirit.  Mink tells us that we must stay connected to who we really are, and that we must disregard what other people tell us we “should” be like.  The great national pastime is trying to figure out who we are.  

When you are connected to your spirit and to Great Spirit, you know exactly what you are.

Blessings,

Judy

December 21 2025 Winter Solstice

Today is Winter Solstice and is the longest night and the shortest day.  When you consider that the daylight hours totally disappear in the Northern Hemisphere — that is, the sun does not appear above the horizon at a latitude of 66 degrees 34 North and South, you can understand why the ancestors believed that the sun might never rise again.   A ritual that started in Norse countries is to create a wreath of the evergreen branches to shape a representation of the circle of the seasons and the circle of life. The Yule tree, what we now call the Christmas tree, was erected to represent the Tree of Life, and to show the Gods that we cared and that we asked for blessings or gifts such as the renewal of the Sun rising and setting, and prosperous hunts and good weather. Our world has changed so much.  Now, with the increase of greed and envy, and the constant harming of women and children, our wish for Winter Solstice is to send loving wishes to all.   As an experiment, the next time you are doing an errand, stuck in traffic, or standing in line at the supermarket, instead of being preoccupied with where you’re going or what needs to be done, take a moment to simply send loving wishes to all those around you. Often, there is an immediate and very remarkable shift as we feel more connected and more present.

                                          - Joseph Goldstein, "Triumph of the Heart"

This is a very cool thing to do – try to send loving wishes.  I was very surprised at the response.  Since we are in a great time of shifting in human consciousness, I cannot think of a better way to be a shining example of what I would like each person to be.

Blessings,

Judy

Gifts for Christmas

 

Christmas Gift

To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.

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I was looking for a gift for one of my family members, and I saw a man berating the woman beside him.  It was either his wife or girlfriend.  I was indignant, and started towards them.  He was very loud.  I heard in my head a message that said "Stop".  

Then, more gently, I heard, "Send her love, for this will give her strength.  Send him compassion, for this will lessen his anger.  Send them both healing, for they have lost a child."

I stopped.  Tears filled my eyes.  I did the things that I heard.  The man dropped his head as he stopped shouting.  His shoulders slumped.  He said, "I am sorry."  

She hugged him.   She knew forgiveness.

Blessings,
Judy