Some Thoughts About Karma

 

A while ago, a reader asked me to write more about karma.  Here are some quotes about karma that come from Buddhism.

I started learning and practicing Buddhism several decades ago.  And, I am still learning as there are so many nuances to the Buddhism way of life.

The online Dictionary.com defines karma as:

kar·ma

NOUN

1. (in Hinduism and Buddhism) the sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existence.

   
   

I translate this as meaning that how you manage yourself in your past lives will determine how you are treated and regarded in this lifetime.  Many think that karma is only about past evil deeds coming back to haunt them in this life.  However, past life kindnesses and closing of loops of bonds with people are also part of the clearing of karma.  More about this in a later post.

Some thoughts:

"I am the owner of my karma. 

I inherit my karma. I am born of my karma. I am related to my karma.  
I live supported by my karma. 

Whatever karma I create, whether good or evil, that I shall inherit."

The Buddha, Anguttara Nikaya V.57 - Upajjhatthana Sutta

Many blessings,

Judy 

Feverfew - A Healing Herb

 If you were out in the wild, and could not get to a doctor, would you know what plants could help you with various ailments?  Probably not!  If earthquakes or tornados or some other natural disaster cut you off from getting your regular medications, could you use a plant to substitute what you are missing?  Folks all over the world that are in places of natural disaster are facing some of these questions.  

Feverfew picture from www.migraine-facts.co.uk

 

 

 

  

 

We are so close to spring that one can almost smell it in the air!  Many folk are now planning their gardens and/or planting seeds into containers to be transplanted to the garden.  More and more folks are planting herbs not just for flavouring food, but also for use in healing.  There is an old saying that goes “For any malady that man doth know, God has caused a plant to grow!”  Essentially, for each known illness, there is a plant that holds a cure.

One plant that grows very well in North America is feverfew. It has some very specific uses.  Feverfew seems to help:

1.  headaches and migraines by reducing blood vessel spasms and by depressing the release of serotonin and prostaglandins which cause migraines.

2.  control the redness in irritated skin, due to inflammation.

3.  relieve stomach aches.

4.  treat menstrual cramping.

5.  reduce fever from colds, pneumonia, and flu.

www.plantcare.com

 

 

This sounds like a plant that we should all be growing.  I suggest that you add it to your flower bed or flower pot or garden this spring.

Remember that before you eat or drink any herb, you should check with your doctor to see if this plant is good for you and to see if it works with or against any medication that you are taking.  Some herbs counter the effects of medication so do be careful!

Many blessings,

Judy

Being Food Wise - Choosing Wisely

 Poster comes from an email from a friend  —- not sure where it originated

I grew up eating wholesome, natural food from our huge garden. Many of us grew up that way if we had parents that believed in being responsible for the food that we consumed. Gardening and weeding was a time to be with your thoughts or, to think of nothing and then it became a meditation.  Being with Nature brings balance and healing into one’s life.

Now, we are at a time in the world when we are hearing that European countries are banning GMO (genetically modified organism) seeds for grain and vegetables because of the harm that GMO may do to our bodies.  Many countries in Europe also ban some chemicals used for preservation.  And they ban some food colourings and oil additives.  

All of us need to be mindful of what we put in our mouths.  Fake, free, fast, and cheap are all adjectives that are used to sell us prepackaged food filled with preservatives.  Funny, though, the preservatives will not preserve us; rather, they break us down.

We can choose food that is healthy, healing, and wholesome.  Finding clean food and easy recipes for that food can make meal prep fun.  And the eating is even better!  Making food is time consuming, yes, so use that time as a form of meditation.  Use it for rest or for growth of your spiritual self as well as for your mental and physical growth.

Be healthy!

Many blessings,

Judy

What If You Died Tomorrow?

 

Three years ago, I was still working at my IT job.  Someone sent me the poster above.  It made me think.  What would I leave undone and be okay with, if I died?  I really did think about this.  I wondered how to balance my personal life and my business life. Like many of us, I spent a lot of time at work.  I was not in balance.  This made me think about all the things I want to do.  I made a list of things that I wanted to do.  My list wasn’t that long.  I didn’t call it my bucket list.  I called it my FUN List.  

• A cruise in Northern Europe - completed 
• Have a Vegas weekend with my sisters
• Learn to crochet - completed
• Spend time with my cousins in four different provinces - partially completed
• Walk 1000 miles in one year - completed over two years
• Walk with a wolf - completed
• Work with an elephant
• Cruise to  Alaska again
• Walk several times a week with my friends - in progress
• Go back to Stonehenge 

As you can see from the list above, I have completed some of fun things, and I still have events to complete.

Where are you in your journey to have FUN?

Many blessings,

Judy

Lightstationwisdom@gmail.com

Hawk Eyes - Spirit Animal

The Hawk flew over the car as I drove into the cove, and then landed on the top of the evergreen in the backyard.  I could hear the “kreeeyee, kreeeyee” noise.  It actually sounded like “Judy, Judy”.  So, I went to see what was up.  The Hawk was very quiet as she watched me move through the patio door.  My dog came out and stared, too.  

The intensity of her gaze made me look at her.  I felt the phrase from the movie, Avatar, come to mind.  “I see you.”  I felt like the emotions that I had been pushing down were able to rise up, and that, in that seeing, Hawk let them flow without judgement.  The intensity felt like it lasted a very  long time.  When I glanced at my watch it was only four or five minutes.  The process felt like a long meditation.

Hawk flapped twice and lifted off.  I could hear her cry, Kreeeye, Kreeeyee.  It sound like “Clearly, Clearly”.  I wondered if it meant that I was clear, or that I should now see clearly, or, even, that clearly, she had worked with me.  

Blessings.

Judy

Going Slowly

 

This year, may one of your goals be to build a garden.  It does not have to be a big garden; it can be a container garden.  This garden will be the place of peace that will ground you through the Earth Changes, through the challenges in your career or where ever you are in your life. Nature is a blessing, and, the garden brings that blessing to you gently and easily. Achieving Oneness is recognizing that we are part of the Earth, of Nature.  We can recognize ourselves in the natural world.  The garden will be part of the “how to” slow down and get in touch with one’s self.  It is a beautiful thing!

Many Blessings,

Judy

I Am Perfect! You Are Perfect!

 

 

I was reading a wonderful story about how the willow and the oak trees were comparing their different aspects to one another to figure out who was the better tree.  They were so unique that they decided that they were both perfect.

The way that I see life is that everyone is competing to show that they are the best and the most perfect, even if they harm themselves.  

I like the poster.  I am good at being me.  I am good at following my own path.  Every time I think about someone’s opinion of me, I stop the thought and think of something happy. 

Many Blessings,

Judy