Thoughts About Family

We are in the midst of summer vacation time.  Often, summer vacation means taking time to see family and friends.  Vacation for you is not at the top of the priority list.  The stress starts when we have to deal with family and friends who are family, and we are feeling the pressure to “do things just right”; “to have things perfect”; “to meet others expectations”; and, “to perform”.  Alas, vacation is just another form of stress for many.

The Angels have given me some thoughts around this.  Funnily enough, they come from others who have to deal with family, too.  

May your time with your family be healing and healthy, and provide you with the love and the guidance that carries you through your days with a song in your heart!  The quotes below from great authors will tell you that everyone has to deal with family/friends and their expectations.

Family quarrels have a total bitterness unmatched by others. Yet it sometimes happens that they also have a kind of tang, a pleasantness beneath the unpleasantness, based on the tacit understanding that this is not for keeps; that any limb you climb out on will still be there later for you to climb back.  
-- Mignon McLaughlin

Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible -- the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing family.  
-- Virginia Satir

I know why families were created with all their imperfections. They humanize you. They are made to make you forget yourself occasionally, so that the beautiful balance of life is not destroyed.  
-- Anais Nin 

Family life is full of major and minor crises -- the ups and downs of health, success and failure in career, marriage, and divorce -- and all kinds of characters. It is tied to places and events and histories. With all of these felt details, life etches itself into memory and personality. It's difficult to imagine anything more nourishing to the soul.  
-- Thomas Moore

 Whatever you choose to do on your summer vacation/time off, do what pleases you.

Many blessings,

Judy

 

 

Healing in Nature

 

Pictures taken by Judy Hirst in the Elbow Falls Recreation Area

Last week, we were able to head off to the mountains and spend time along the Elbow River in the Elbow Falls Recreation Area.  We had a chance to hike and climb up a small mountain that gave us the view of the river valley.

The feeling of peace, serenity, grace, and abundance filled the energy in the space that we found to have lunch.  There were so many butterflies and lots of wild flowers along the path.  Bird song filled the quiet.  And sometimes it was gophers whistling that disturbed the peace.  It all felt so good.

Being out in Nature made us both feel lighter and eased some aches.  I felt a deep healing of the stress in my shoulders.  In fact, one bird song sounded like “it doesn’t matter”.  It felt so good.

If you have a chance over the next several weeks, try to get out into a park and walk in the bush.  It will do wonders for your soul.

Many blessings,

Judy

The Garage Door Test

      Picture from Valley Garage Doors at ValleyGaragedoors.com

My husband and I watched “The Good Fight” TV show on Netflix the other night.  We were both struck by the words of wisdom from the television Mother to her daughter.  The daughter did not know whether her lover was the right partner for her, or not.  Mother said to use the “garage door test” to determine if he was the right person or not.  

The way the test works is when you are driving up to the garage and you open the door are you happy the person’s car is there and that he/she is home, or does it make you sad or irritated.  If you don’t have a garage, when you see the person’s car parked by your residence, does it make you happy or sad/annoyed.

What the Mother was really saying is that the “garage door test” is a way to discern how you feel about the other person and it can be used to determine if you love the other person.  Now remember that love is not just about couples but also applies to your friends and family.  How do you feel about them?  The garage door test or car test works.

This test is a great way to gage love in your life.  My husband and I talked about how we feel when we come home and the other person’s car is not in the garage.  Each of us feels a little sad because we were looking forward to coming home and sharing what the day or event that we were at, was like.

I don’t believe that this test is the only way to determine love.  It is an interesting way.  It makes sense.  It provides a quick evaluation of the balance of life in the relationship.  It sums up where the relationship should go.

In the world, even in the Universe, there is no sure way to determine love because love is not visible and it is so emotional.  Perhaps this is a new tool for us all to use.

Many blessings,

Judy

Hippopotamus Has Rules - Spirit Animal

 

Picture from junglephotos.com 

Hippopotamus lives a very  peaceful life.  That is because she has a set of guidelines or rules, to govern her life.  She encourages us to adapt her rules because they have kept the hippopotamus alive for sixty thousand years, and these rules have allowed her to evolve.

1. Pick your environment, and know it well.  Our environment is a gift from our cousins, the Whale family.  This allows us to be in mostly a freshwater marine environment. We are always watchful about who or what enters our territory, and we defend our area vehemently.  You, who harass us, call us vicious.  Perhaps when you invade someone else’s country, you would call their reaction vicious as well.
2. Water is necessary for life.  It is how we live.  Water protects us from predators, from sunburn, from dehydration, from fear of drowning or flooding, and from famine.  All that we need comes from water.  We share our water with other animals as long as they are not invasive.
3. We eat greens – all kinds, but mostly grass.  We have one food that is particularly good for us and we stick to it.  Too much variety in the diet leads to discomfort, which is stressful, and which causes aggressive behaviour. It may be that you need to eat less variety and more of the healthy greens like we do.
4. We band together to keep one another safe.  Yet, we do not form close attachments because there is no need.  Therefore, there is little drama in the pod.  We each do our own thing, together.  Perhaps you get too caught up on one another’s lives, which is why your life does not seem peaceful.
5. Our life is peaceful.  We have oneness in our pod.  We move together.  We have little to fight about.  Life is good.

Many Blessings,

Judy

Willingness

Helpful picture from picsdigger.com

 

 

 

My word of the day from the Angels is the word “willingness”.  Merriam-Webster dictionary online provides the meanings of willing as: 

1: inclined or favourably disposed in mind : ready <willingand eager to help>

2: prompt to act or respond <lending a willing hand>

3: done, borne, or accepted by choice or without reluctance <a willing sacrifice>

4: of or relating to the will or power of choosing 

As I meditated on the word “willingness”, I wondered why that was coming up for me.  I believe that I am very willing to be in service to the Universe.  I help others.  I teach others.  I go where I am called. 

As I thought about these things a picture began to form in my mind of several occasions in the last while where I was reluctant to answer “the call” because the call was to do several difficult things.  I did go, but very slowly.  For once, my impatience to do something was curbed.

I was beginning to see why the word was coming up in my meditation.  I have been willing, in the past, to do the difficult tasks as well as the easy tasks.  In fact, I seemed to thrive on the difficult.  So, what had caused the change for me?  I asked for clarification of my reluctance, and I saw, on the screen in my mind, that during those reluctant times, I was tired, and I had been faced with some family issues, and, I had not been doing long, strong meditations to stay feeling happy and in condition to face any challenge.

So, there is an underlying message in the word, “willingness”.  Behind the reminder that I am in service was the reminder to keep myself whole so that I can be a willing light worker.  

May you find your place and your willingness to be in service.

Many blessings,

Judy

Star Fish - Spirit Animal

 

Picture of purple starfish from www.nefsc.noaa.gov

“There are 2,000 living species of starfish that occur in all the world's oceans, including the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian as well as in the Arctic and the Southern Ocean (i.e., Antarctic) regions. Starfish occur across a broad depth range from the intertidal to abyssal depths (>6000 m).”  from Wikipedia

When Starfish began to pop up in my meditations and thoughts, I realized that I knew nothing about this fascinating creature, other than it looked “nice”.  It is hard for me to think of it as a fish or an animal because, when we see it, it seems so still.  However, Starfish, like the other animals, shows up when it has a message.

Like the “Star” card in the Tarot decks, Starfish is about vision, hope, success, healing, and creativity.  Each time we look at the stars in the sky, we wish and hope for the best possible outcome for whatever new endeavour that we have started.  Starfish, is the stars in the sky, on the Earth. (As above, so below!)  She tells us that we are on the right path; that we have the correct vision because it corresponds with the vision in the Universe; that we will have joy in the new relationships (business and others) that we are forming; and, finally, that Light illuminates our path.

Starfish is symbolic of all that is great and good with Nature.  She symbolizes the perfection of Oneness by showing us the geometric design that are five perfect little triangles, stuck together. She may look like a slice from a Merkaba, or, she may be representative of the Tree of Life.  Whatever, she is all about optimism.

When Starfish shows up, she steps before us, imitating the “Hollywood Walk of Fame” that salutes the stars of the movies.  Starfish, is gracefully saluting us, and offering her support.  How much better can life be?

Wishing you many blessings,

Judy

Archangel Uriel’s Chant

 Picture from Angel Speaks – Archangel Uriel

 When I took my Angel Therapy Training years ago, one of the Archangels that I have really come to enjoy working with is Archangel Uriel.  I love the feeling of joy and love that flows around me when I work with this angel.  Below is one of the chants that Archangel Uriel shared with me.  I hope that it helps you.

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Dearest ones of light!  I greet you!  I, Uriel, am delighted that you are all now looking at the changes taking place in a kinder, more loving light.  I give to you this chant to use to move forward with grace.

Chant for Grace

I call on the Goodness in the heavens and on the earth

To bring me to forgiveness of myself and all souls.

I call on all souls to forgive me for my actions in all my lifetimes.

I offer love and compassion to all those that I have scorned.

I offer loving kindness to all those in need.

I surrender my need to clutter my life.

I choose my actions each day, and accept the responsibility of my choices.

I now choose actions of love, health, and happiness.

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Use this chant to help shift all the thoughts that go around in your head and make you unhappy.  

Have a blessed day!

Sending many blessings,

Judy