Earthworm is A Caretaker - Spirit Animal

Earthworms are the caretakers of our flower beds and of our garden.  As Earthworms fascinate me, I thought I would share some of the information that I found about Earthworm on Wikipedia. 

“Worms can make gurgling noises underground when disturbed as a result of the worm moving through its lubricated tunnels. They also work as biological "pistons" forcing air through the tunnels as they move. Thus earthworm activity aerates and mixes the soil, and is constructive to mineralization and nutrient uptake by vegetation. 

Investigations in the US show that fresh earthworm casts are 5 times richer in available nitrogen, 7 times richer in available phosphates and 11 times richer in available potash than the surrounding upper 6 inches (150 mm) of soil. In conditions where there is plenty of available humus, the weight of casts produced may be greater than 4.5 kg (10 lb) per worm per year, in itself an indicator of why it pays the gardener or farmer to keep worm populations high.– from Wikipedia”

Earthworm, as you can see from the Wikipedia information, is a powerful caretaker of the soil, and therefore, of all of us on the planet.  Yet, Earthworm receives little credit for all that it does.  The Earthworm, who never asks for anything in all of the legends, is now asking for your help.

• When you see a stranded Earthworm –  on pavement or a sidewalk, and if it is possible, put them back on the soil. 
• If you have no Earthworms in your flower beds or in your garden, get some.  Get them from a neighbour or from a green house. 
• Send a blessing to Earthworm for all that it does.

Many blessings,

Judy

The Patience of Water

Picture of Fish Creek flowing through the area known as Votier Flats in Fish Creek Park

Two weeks ago, I went walking with my friend in Votier Flats.  Even though it was quite warm out at 10 in the morning, the park was full of walkers, hikers, bikers, and large groups.  We spent most of our time walking along Fish Creek and when we could, going right down to the edge of the creek.  

As I watched the creek, I noticed how the water hurried along in some places and in other places, seemed to stand still.  I could see where the water worked away against a large rock, batting away at the rock as it tried to wear it down.  

I marvelled at the patience of the water, how it seemed to be happy to bat at the rock, and swirl in an eddy at a large bank, and yet be gentle along a sandy strip of beach.  People are not nearly so patient or so adaptable.  It seems that most people strike out rather than patiently finding a way to get what they need.  When we are demanding, we are out of balance with everything and we end up getting in our own way.

Many blessings,

Judy

 

Cow To the Rescue! - Spirit Animal

Picture from an email, origin not known.

Normally one thinks of a mother cow protecting her baby, her calf, and this seems pretty normal.  Cows are one of the most protective parent animals in the animal kingdom.

The other night I had a dream.  In the dream, I was running from four men who were chasing me because they believed that I had stolen money from them.  In the dream, i had stumbled across a drug deal gone bad in a rural area.  Because I happened to be the closest to the scene, the “bad guys” assumed that I was the guilty party.  They did not even ask; they just started yelling at me, firing a gun over my head, and running.  When someone does that to you, the instinct is to run and get away at all costs.

I slipped through the fence, and into a cow pasture.  I was running towards the small river about a quarter of  a mile away.  The cows did not seem to notice me.  Then the bad guys climbed through the fence.  As one, all the cows swung and looked at them.  There was this huge bellowing moooo sound, and all the cows rushed at the bad guys.  The cows stomped on them, butted them, trampled them, and basically took them out of commission.  I was so dumbfounded that I stood with my mouth open.  The cows all came over and sniffed me, and licked me to make sure that I was all right.  And, then they went back to grazing.   I went and looked at the bad guys.  They looked quite dead.  I then looked at the cows, all quiet and grazing.   I would have never guessed that there was that kind of power in cows to protect a human.  I started to grin.

I woke up sort of laughing and shaking my head.  I wondered what the dream was telling me.  Here are some of the teachings:

• Know that you are always taken care of.
• Know that help will come from unexpected places.
• All beings are related and feel your emotions.
• Protect the children

I now think of cows even more fondly than before,  I am glad I had such an uplifting dream.  May you have wonderful dreams, too!

Many blessings,

Judy

Truth and Willingness

My challenge for the day is to meditate on the words “truth” and “willingness”.   These are really tough words to put together to come up with an “aha” moment.

Truth, of course, is always the way that the different parties understand a situation.  Truth can be altered by the emphasis put on different words in a sentence.  Truth for me is different than truth for you.  When I looked up “truth” in the dictionary, I had a difficult time determining what the “true” definition is.  

Albert Einstein said, “The ideas that have lighted my way have been kindness, beauty and truth.”

Gustav Le Bon has said, “Science has promised us truth. It has never promised us either peace or happiness.”

Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor, had this view of truth - Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.

The truth, for me, is intangible, however, it has a feeling.  It has a rightness about it.  So I guess that “willingness” then, is the determination to move through life acknowledging the feeling of truth, and following what feels right.  

I can do that.

Many Blessings,

Judy

Fear of Failure

  

The Angels tell us that there is no such thing as success or failure.  They also tell us that we can have fear of both of these situations.  They suggest that the biggest fear is that of drawing attention to ourselves.  This comes from our Ancestor’s day.  

In the past, when you drew attention to your self, often, you were killed in some way – eaten by a hungry animal, killed by the enemy, or disposed of by someone who feared your power. 

The challenge that we all have is to move through our daily routines in a fashion that does not judge what we do as a success or failure.  Each action we take is a learning action, and one that helps our progress forward.  

I like this quote….  

Have a wonderful day and observe any fear that comes up.

Many blessings,

Judy

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