Butterfly on Metamorphasis

My dog and I were walking along the top of the hill, revelling in the hot sun, shining down on us so beautifully.  The warmth was so welcome after a week of rain.   My dog was trotting along, doing his thing, and the two of us were simply feeling happy and alive.  As we walked, two butterflies came out of no where, and flew on each side of us, much like an honour guard, holding in the space of happiness.  They stayed with us until we returned to the car.

I thought a lot about the sacredness of what the butterflies did for us – to keep us in that space of happiness and contentment.  I was so grateful.  And then I thought about what the butterflies are about – metamorphosis and change.  And, I started laughing!

You see, meta in the metamorphosis, is actually written “metta”, and means “Loving Kindness”.  If I did not get the connection, Spirit is determined that I understand this concept, because when I was listening to my Buddhist lesson, the Master talked about a colleague of his, Sister Metta, who, as her name suggested, carried loving kindness with her where ever she went.  She was a purveyor of change.

I realized that the Butterflies was moving us (my dog and me) forward into a stronger alignment with loving kindness. They were fanning us with new energy.  This seems like it is a great gift at this time of change.d Butterflies’ actions made me think of this writing by Buddha, "May you be at peace.  May your heart remain open.  May you awaken to the light of your own true nature. May you be healed.  May you be a source of healing to all beings."  The Metta of the Buddha

May each of you have a very transforming week!

Much metta,

Judy

Letting Go

“You cannot understand life and its mysteries as long as you try to grasp it. Indeed, you cannot grasp it just as you cannot walk off with a river in a bucket. If you try to capture running water in a bucket, it is clear that you do not understand it and that you will always be disappointed, for in the bucket the water does not run. To "have" running water you must let go of it and let it run.”   Alan Watts from The Wisdom of Insecurity.

Over the last several months, I have been working on understanding the Buddhist concept of “attachment”, and at the same time, I have been working on understanding all the things that I am attached to. I am finding that attachment comes in many forms.  It does seem to be about being attached to things being a certain way.  If I can get to a point where I accept all things and allow them to be as they are without my ideas of how they should be, then I will be free of attachment.  I hope to get there by letting go of one attachment at a time.

As human beings we all want to be happy and free from misery.  We have learned that the key to happiness is inner peace.  The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as anger and attachment, fear and suspicion, while love and compassion, a sense of universal responsibility are the sources of peace and happiness. 
~Dalai Lama

Many Blessings,

Judy 

Black Squirrel on Bounty

A while ago, I was driving my husband to his conference, and we saw a big, black squirrel. It was running across the road, and before it reached the other side, it stopped and looked at us intently, then hurried away, and up a tree.

Surprised by it’s actions, I thought about Squirrel, and all the various things that Squirrel is about.  I thought about the Proverb, “Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn sometimes”.  And then, I wondered why a Squirrel would be blind.  The Squirrel that crossed the road was not blind.  It seemed to see exceptionally well.  A picture of a peanut, and then a chunk of bread crossed my vision.  Squirrel was connecting to me across the ethers.  I made my husband peanut butter on seed muffins for a snack later in the morning.

Now that we were on the same frequency, Squirrel sent me a series of rapid images that may be translated as a message.  She was saying that where we live is soon going to be filled with bounty.  This is a change from the historical, dry, arid conditions that Calgary has had.  With the rain, all things are growing lush, even gardens that looked to be drowned out at one point.  Squirrel says to get ready to deal with our bounty.  Find ways to use it and share it.  Squirrels have a history of hiding what they find, concerned only for their own well being.  She tells us that the only way humanity will continue is if we learn to share because most humans do not know how to forage like the squirrels forage. 

Blessings,

Judy