Life is Filled With Storms

A funny thing… I was talking to my friend who lives several provinces away.  She was saying that I have not been to her house to visit since she moved several years ago.  We have seen each other, however, as we would meet up when I was in a city close to her.  I said that it was my plan to get to see her this summer.  I just did not know when.

Three and half hours later, I received a phone call that a dear friend had died.  Yes, she had lived a long life but the death still hurt.  It was a storm of emotion that clouded my evening and night. 

The next morning, I realized that I could plan going to the funeral so that I would have time to drive out to see my friend’s house.  And, I made plans accordingly.  My path was complicated but cleared.

I am filled with gratitude to the Universe for providing a balanced plan for me for the week or so ahead.

Blessings,

Judy

 

Living in Balance

 

One of the hardest things about living is that with all the good and enjoying life, every once in a while, we come face to face with death.  Death of a loved one, other family member, or friend.  For all the living that we did with them, now the time has come where life is no longer.

Most of us push back at the unfairness and bad timing that we feel when a person close to us dies.  We have to make arrangements to go to the funeral.  We may have to make travel arrangements.  We may have to leave our home which is our safe place or sanctuary.

Death seems disruptive and blows up the balance that we have been living in.  Yet Death is part of Nature.  It brings peace to those moving on.  If the person was ill and suffering before death, then Death brings some peace to the family.  

This week is about changes and with Death comes many changes.  May you all find ways to deal with the imbalance.

Blessings,

Judy

Beaver Traits

Beavers have been around for a very long time.  We see them from time to time at dusk in the Bow River.  I find them fascinating because they are caretakers of the Earth and water managers.

Beaver was sitting across the channel, on the bank, looking for some tender young trees and, keeping an eye on the dogs and on me.  Beaver has been in this channel for about four years.  She has created several good dams, and she has helped change the eco system of the channel and the river.  The channel now has young trout in it.

Beaver has some traits that humans can use.  They are:

• when you see water that is stagnant and mucky, find a way to clean it up.  You may have to get dirty to do it; it will be worth it. 
• being industrious leads you to discover new ways of doing things.  So, be busy when it is required – as when you need to fix your den, the dam, or gather food for winter.  When you are not busy, play and socialize. 
• when somebody says that “it can’t be done”, go ahead and do it anyway.  See the picture below of the world’s biggest beaver dam.

  

  

The dam is located on the southern edge of Wood Buffalo National Park in Northern Alberta, Canada Photo: BNPS 

 

 

• understand that there is a shortage of fresh water.  Beavers know how to maximize fresh water and aerate it to create a healthy environment for fish and wildlife.

Many blessings,

Judy

Understanding Patience

 

When you plant seeds in the garden, you don’t dig them up every day to see if they have sprouted yet. You simply water them and clear away the weeds; you know that the seeds will grow in time. Similarly, just do your daily practice and cultivate a kind heart. Abandon impatience and instead be content creating the causes for goodness; the results will come when they’re ready.  Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron, “Meditator’s Toolbox”

I watch people and I see their impatience.  I understand it because I was quite impatient in many things for a very long time.  I have come to understand that when I have no expectations of others, then, I have no impatience.

Many blessings,

Judy

Cougar Watches - Spirit Animal

My friends have a Cougar or Mountain Lion, living in their forest behind their house and farm yard.  You can tell when it is in the trees, watching who is coming and going, because all the horses move to the fence closest to it, and watch back.  The horses stamp their feet and neigh, and then after a while, go back to grazing.

When I was in meditation, I contemplated the Cougar and why it was watching the yard so intently.  It seems that it is watching for something that is not in the highest interests of the people and other animals.  This Cougar, so far, has not attacked the dog, chickens, horses, or cattle. Cougar seems to be well fed and unconcerned about the animals roaming about.  

Cougar, in this case, seems very guardian-like.  At night, sometimes, my friends can hear the Cougar make its coughing roar.  It is very much like a warning to stay away.  It is true that legends tell of the great cat who protects tribal villages, and warns the tribe when danger is coming.  

Perhaps this gift of service from Cougar is being reinstated with my friends.  I am looking forward to meeting Cougar out in Nature, at their place. 

Many blessings,

Judy

Myth and Religion

  

A myth is a religion in which no one any longer believes.  James Feibleman

I was contemplating the mystery of faith in my meditation, and did not reach any conclusions.  Then, I saw this quote, and it was like a telescope coming into focus for me.  The reason that we are going through such interesting times are that we are in the process of creating a new myth – Christianity At Work; Judaism at work; Muslim at work, etc. – and that while many people are done with all of these, and are ready to move on, enough people are still trying to make them real that the myth is still  being created.  The Greeks must have felt like this when the people were still hanging on to the Oracle of Delphi.

This is a time of coming to balance.  A time of righting wrongs.  It is a time when Nature asks us to believe in her and to become the caretakers of Earth.

Many Blessings,

Judy

Wonderful Things Happen

This picture comes from https://spiritualquotestoliveby.com/positive-attitude-sayings/
 

I was walking with a friend on Friday and we talked about how things happen in life.  I firmly believe that all things happen as they should - in the right time and season.  Therefore, I do not get stuck on a bad situation because it always leads to something wonderful.  And very positive.  It is when you get stuck that things go badly.

Accepting each situation that happens means going in the flow.  Try it.  When we move with the Universe in harmony then abundance and love and life happen.

Many blessings,

Judy