You Are A Child Of The Universe

                                                        Picture is from seeds4thesoul.com

 Today is a good day to change your thoughts about who you are.  The best guidance about who you are or your “operator’s manual” if you will, is a poem called “Desiderata”.   Read it over and over as a meditation.  Let it change you.

 

DESIDERATA 

- BY MAX EHRMANN, C1920

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. 

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. 

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. 

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass. 

Take kindly to the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. 

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. 

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. 

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. 

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy

The song was written by Les Crane.  He added this most beautiful chorus using the words from one of the paragraphs.

You are a child

Of the universe

No less than the trees and the stars

You have a right to be here

Desira-desiderata

Desira-desiderata

This song is a mantra that I use to switch my thinking when I am feeling sorrow, pain, sadness, guilt, anger, frustration……   The words - With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.  Be cheerful.  Strive to be happy. …..No less than the trees and the stars you have a right to be here.

I think that the words - you have a right to be here - tells us all that we have a place and a purpose here.

It is something to contemplate and meditate on.

Many blessings,

Judy

 

Your Worth

  

                  

I saw this poster and it set me on a train of though around worth and all the times I have heard my parents or other parents say to their child, “You are worthless.” 

I wonder what event in that parent’s life created the ability for them to demean a child.  A child cannot think or act or work in the same manner as an adult.  To apply the same rules of engagement in work or life to a child as you do to an adult seems like an illogical thing to do.  Yet, many parents do this.  Teachers also do this.  I don’t know why.  It is a puzzle.

Your worth is that you are on this Earth to be a part of the constant change and evolution of the world and even the cosmos.  No one is worth-less than any other person.  Having wealth does not make you have worth other than you might be on the top 100 rich people list.  It does not make that person a better person or more worthy.

This is a very complicated subject and can be mind puzzling.  A good way to work with this is to sit in quiet meditation to see what comes up for you.

Have many blessings today,

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

Groundhog - Spirit Animal - February 2

                                

      Groundhog’s picture from Wikipedia

 

 

 

Groundhog or woodchuck is a furry little creature sometimes called a land beaver because of its burrowing habit and its beaver like appearance.  Unlike beavers, Groundhog eats wild grasses and other vegetation, and berries and agricultural crops when available. Groundhogs also eat grubs, grasshoppers, insects, snails and other small animals.  Compared to many fur bearing animals, Groundhog has a relatively short life span of about three years. 

With this short life span, one would think that Groundhog would be a group or herd, animal.  They are however, quite solitary. If the environment is somewhat cramped, several individuals may occupy the same burrow. Groundhog burrows usually have two to five entrances, providing groundhogs their primary means of escape from predators. Burrows are particularly large, with up to 14 metres (46 ft) of tunnels buried up to 1.5 metres (5 ft) underground (from Wikipedia).

     Groundhog sentinel from Wikipedia 

Groundhog is a superb whistler, and will whistle to alert danger or to alert the others about food. It also whistles different mating calls.  Our Earth Ancestors found that by watching animals, and in particular, Groundhog, that they could get a good indication of what the weather would be like, either on a daily basis or for the next month.  

From this observation, our Ancestors began to watch for Groundhog to come out in the spring, that is, as soon as the snow began melting.  Remember, they did not have calendars and February  2  meant nothing to our Ancestors.  When the sky was clear, and the animal came out, it would sniff the air.  Groundhog could smell if another bought of snow or storm was in the air.  If so, she would run back into her burrow to sleep where it is warm for another four or five weeks.  If she came out and it was cloudy, then she could smell the warmth and the sap beginning to move up the trees, indicating that spring is here.  Groundhog depends mostly on vegetation and small insects so the weather has to be warm enough for her to feed herself.

If indeed Groundhog did indicate spring, then our Ancestors knew that it was time to start prepping for planting, if that is what they did.  If the People were not farmers, then they would make plans for one more big hunt for meat to carry the families through the spring thaws, when animals may be less available because of migration or simply poor hunting access.

Groundhog wishes you a good spring and a wonderful summer!

Many blessings,

Judy

Welcome February 2023

                                             

                               Picture by Judy Hirst and used with permission

After a long span of winter with cold temperatures and lots of snow, all of us in the North look to February to signal a change in the weather.  The first really warm rays of sun hit us and we feel better for the sun on our face.

February is a time of Peacefulness when we know that the worst of the weather is most often behind us and we start looking at our seed catalogues for ideas for the garden and for the flower beds.

It is a time where it is easy to close your eyes and sink into peaceful meditation as you contemplate the beauty of Nature.  An easy mantra to use is:

            Nature surrounds me and protects me.

            Nature heals me.

            Nature supports me to be me!

Blessings to each of you,

Judy

Be Your Original Self

              

Nature creates species of things and then lets them develop the way that they need to.  Very few things in Nature are identical.  The amount of freedom and creativity within Nature is awe inspiring.

Humans however, seem to think that they need to "copy" someone else.  They believe that to mimic is to show praise.  Instead, it shows absence of originality and creativity.  To copy is to minimalize the beauty of the self.

Today, be your original self!

Many blessings,

Judy

The Five Finger Prayer

 

                                                    Picture from Clipartkey.com

A request came in to me asking that I recommend a prayer that is easy to remember and easy to do.  I puzzled about this for a bit because, to me, prayer is a very individual practice.  However, a friend sent this to me.

A Five Finger Prayer

1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a 'sweet duty.'

2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.

3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president (or prime minister), leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.

4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger, as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.

5. And lastly comes our little finger - the smallest finger of all which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, 'The least shall be the greatest among you.' Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

Thanks to my friend Gay, who sends me lots of great stuff by email, for sending this lovely way to remember those who need us to pray for them. 

May all of you have a wonderful day!

Judy