Welcoming in October 1 2023

I love the fall, and the feeling of peacefulness that it brings, as Mother Nature blankets up her charges and puts them to sleep.  I love walking through the dried grass with my dog and feeling the crispness of the grass and the air against my skin.

Autumn in our yard… picture by Judy Hirst

 

Just as Mother Nature cleans up the plants and the trees, and even the water and earth, we, too, need to clean up before the long winter rest.  We need to let go of old hurts, angers, resentments, and victimizations that we have hugged to our souls.  These wounds, for they are wounds, cripple us because we cannot move forward with our lives in ease.  The wounds may also cause us to become ill. The word “ill” by the way, is a word that means “attributing evil or an objectionable quality”, or, “causing suffering or distress”, or “not normal or sound <ill health>”.  One can see from Merriam-Webster’s definition that our hurts fit our ills.

I found a lovely prayer to offer up to the Goddess, who, one must remember is an aspect of Great Spirit.  It comes from Zsuzsanna Budapest, from her book, “The Grandmother of Time”.  She suggests writing out all the names of those people that you have issues with, and that you burn this list, as you say this prayer.

Dearest Goddess, 

I have come a long way this year, carrying my burdens.  I would like to take them off my shoulders and give them back to you to recycle, to bury, to compost.  Here, I offer you my resentments against friends, family, and (fill in you own needs here), and ask you to absorb them into your black universe.  Relieve me of them and allow me to walk more lightly.

    Now – Burn this list either in candle flames or in your smudging bowl.

I feel all light, happy and cleansed now.  Dearest Goddess, you are my true strength and guide.  I thank you for being accessible and answering your children’s call.  I honour you and thank you.

    Now – take the ashes and throw them into living water to let them wash away.  As you cast them off, don’t think about this anymore.

This is an amazing process!  If you are not comfortable using the term “Goddess” even though she is an aspect of Creator, then use the term “God”, or what ever you are comfortable with.  Each term is simply the aspect of Creator that resonates for us!

May all your prayers be heartfelt!

Many Blessings,

Judy

Ox as a Spirit Animal

Image of Oxen from www.afb.org/

Oxen pulled the carts and wagons that helped the pioneers cross North America from the East to the West coast.

 

 

“Dependable, calm, methodical, patient, hardworking, ambitious, conventional, steady, modest, logical, resolute, tenacious. Can be stubborn, narrow-minded, materialistic, rigid, demanding.” This is the description for OX, in the Chinese Zodiac.

Ox is actually a bull that has been neutered either because of its very gentle disposition which makes it ideal for pulling work, or because the bull is not a good breeder. The best Ox is actually one with horns because the horns help the yoke stay in place. The horns also enable Ox to defend against predators. 

Our Ancestors preferred Ox’s draft capabilities over that of a horse or mule where steadiness over speed was required. Ox is sure footed, patient, and generally gets along with anyone or any team-mate. Ox is also stronger, and not likely to injure itself because it is methodical in what it does, and does not jerk or rear against the harness or driver. Ox has also been used for riding because again it will go much longer in the day than a horse will travel.

As Ox is part of the family of cattle and bovines, it brings some of the same messages. If Ox is in your dreams, or shows up in pictures for you, then it does bring you a message. Some of these messages might be:

a) Are you pulling your weight in the world? Ox takes on huge loads and moves them, without protest. Have you been whining and complaining about your lot in life? Are you labelling yourself as a victim? Ox is here to remind you that everything is fair and for a reason. Put your back into what you do, and you will forget about being a victim.

b) Do you help others? Ox is in training for his part as a draft animal by age two to three, and usually will work for four to six years. Ox has committed his life to helping mankind move forward. If you are feeling low self worth, Ox suggests that you find someplace to volunteer. Helping others is the surest way to improve self esteem.

c) Are you working hard, and doing everything yourself? Do you feel unappreciated? Ox reminds you that most animals work better in a team. Why do you try to do it all yourself? Find a good team-mate, and split the work load. Bring your life back into balance.

Ox is a great example of being able to go with the flow in life, and not get excited or emotional.

Many blessings,

Judy

Sacred Laws of The Ancestors

   

Baker Creek in Banff National Park - Picture by Judy

 

 

From the beginning of time, all peoples around the globe have believed in Sacred Laws  - the laws of nature, not man made laws.  Sacred Laws define how the four elements - air, earth, water, fire - interact with one another.  Sacred Laws reflect how the Stone People, Plant People, Tree People, four leggeds, finned, furred and winged-ones all interact.  The Sacred Laws also prescribe how the two legged - Man - shall interact with the Earth and all that is upon it.  

The Sacred Laws are about the weaving of the energy between all things.  It is this set of Laws that allows the Australian Aborigines to communicate with one another across the outback without the use of cell phones.  The Laws have dictated that hunters will take the lives of the animals or other live things, with respect.  The Laws are about balance.  Therefore, the Nature of the Sacred Laws permeates all things as both creation and evolution.

For thousands of years, many MEN have forgotten what it is to be in balance.  False laws and rules have been made.  The laws and rules end up serving the few, using resources unnecessarily, and creating the environment of scarcity and consumerism.  The Sacred Laws are now reinforcing the need for Balance on the Earth.   Indeed, it is interesting that in most indigenous societies that our Ancestors lived in, Sacred Laws were put into context as a way of life.  The Norse created "Praiseworthy Virtues".  

What is praiseworthy?  
1. Gifting is praiseworthy.  
2. Generosity is praiseworthy.  
3. Moderation is praiseworthy.  
4. The maintaining of frith ***in all circumstances is praiseworthy.  
5. Courage is praiseworthy.  
6. The seeking of good over ill is praiseworthy.  
7. Hospitality is praiseworthy.  
8. Courtesy is praiseworthy.  
9. Tolerance is praiseworthy.  
10. The pursuit of wisdom and knowledge is praiseworthy.  
11. The defence of freedom is praiseworthy.  
12. Industriousness is praiseworthy.  
13. Vigilance is praiseworthy.  
14. The protection, nurturing and forbearing of kin is praiseworthy. 
15. Showing respect for elders is praiseworthy.  
16. Loyalty to friends and kin is praiseworthy.  
17. Keeping an oath is praiseworthy.  
18. Honouring the sanctity of marriage is praiseworthy.  
19. Refraining from mockery is praiseworthy.  
2o. Refraining from arrogance is praiseworthy.  
21. Making kin, honour and justice more important than gold is praiseworthy.  
22. Cleanliness is praiseworthy.  
23. The maintaining of one's dignity in all situations is praiseworthy.  
24. Good organization is praiseworthy.  
25. Persistence is praiseworthy.  
26. The rule of law is praiseworthy.  
27. To try ones steel against an opponent fairly is praiseworthy.  
28. Respect for the dead is praiseworthy.  
29. For a man to never strike a woman is praiseworthy.  
30. To not abuse one's power is praiseworthy.

***Frith means PEACE      Praiseworthy actions come from the Odinic Mysteries.

After reviewing this list, one feels that the Sacred Laws should be our guiding light.

May all that guides you, be Sacred!

Blessings,

Judy - Lightstationwisdom@gmail.com   If you have a thought or comment on this article, I would love to hear it.

Owl Wants To Work With Humans (Spirit Animal)

Picture of Great Horned Owl

It is not often that OWL pays continued visits.  However, over the last several weeks, a Great Horned Owl has been showing up around the neighborhood, in pictures, in dream time, and in meditation.  

The message is always the same – “I want to work with you and with others”.

OWL is regarded as a teacher and has been regarded in this way for thousands of years.  

If OWL is showing up for you now, pay attention.  Look to what is going on in your life.  

• do you need to be a night owl?
• do you need to watch behind you and around you all the time?
• do you need to move about your business more quietly, and not share what you are doing with others?
• do you need to be more solitary?

If Owl is showing up for you, feel the blessings of its love and attention.  You may learn much!

Many blessings,

Judy

A Personal Creed

 

A quiet place for reflection in Fish Creek Park - by Judy Hirst

 

When one thinks of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, one thinks of valour, and of a creed of goodness or honour.  It will not surprise you to find that "Creed" means a "set of beliefs or guiding principles" (from the merriam-webster.com online dictionary).  

History admires knights or anyone who seems to hold fast to principles of integrity and truth.  Why?  Because today, we no longer work with truth and integrity as part of our every day lives in business.  A popular sales tool is called "bait and switch".  The goal is to get the buyer interested in a mythological set of goods, and then actually sell the buyer something quite different.  Where is the integrity in that?  Corporations sell based on making money and producing revenue for shareholders. Shoddy workmanship, falsified lists of ingredients or list of parts, and mislabelled packages are all part of the "game" to improve the bottom line.  

With such examples in our every day lives, it almost seems impossible for an individual to avoid replicating the examples from the workplace.  Buddhists have the five precepts that they live by: 

• Abstain from destroying life 
• Abstain from stealing 
• Abstain from sexual misconduct 
• Abstain from lies 
• Abstain from intoxicating drinks 

These five precepts are actually their creed for their way of life - a way of life that has been around since the first day of Buddha.  Many people find these precepts difficult to understand.  

Shaman suggest that each of us create our own creed or way of life.  Therefore, when we violate our creed, we immediately "feel" the breach of trust with our self, and we react to repair the damage. 

Here are some ideas for a personal creed.  

I will be good to my body. 

I will be truthful to myself and others.

I will treat all living things with respect.

I will honour the rights of all human beings to be the individuals they are with their own Sacred Points of View.

I will embrace my faith, and I will trust the Creator's divine guidance.

I will see all experiences in my life as ways to grow with lessons to learn.

I will strive to be my personal best without comparing my path to others.   (Suggestions from DANCING THE DREAM by Jamie Sams)

Being good to your body means the right foods should be consumed!  Picture from Microsoft Clip Art....

 

 

When each of these ideas is examined, one says, "Why wouldn't I follow these beliefs?"  The interesting answer is that often, in order to work at a job each day, one cannot have many of these beliefs because the beliefs at work conflict with the beliefs of the person.  

When one sits in Meditation and asks how to resolve the incongruity of the work place and the person, Angels may answer and simply tell the person to leave their job.  To work at something that does not treat humans with respect is not healing or loving.  When we have a creed of honour, we crave the feeling of Oneness with all things -much like the Shaman of old were seen to be filled with peace and a spirit that directly linked to the Heavens.

The creed that our ancestors lived with was about being in balance, recognizing Nature/Mother Earth as the provider of all food and water and air - simply, the provider of everything.  Corporations with all of their material goods, do not provide everything that we need. Perhaps it is time for all of us to develop a creed.

What will your creed be?

Blessings,

Judy

Refinement as a Guide to The Future

When walking a path of Shamanism, it is prudent to work with the Ancestors, and check in daily for their guidance.  There are times when their guidance is not clear, so, to help you, they will direct you to a tool that they can use to communicate with you.  

In my case, today I was wondering about what I should be working on with the teachings that I am doing, and particularly, what I should be doing with the StarTalker Program.  I was guided to "The Ancestors' Path" and told to shake the dice.

 

Two dice images from "The Ancestors' Path" - the Wind and the Eagle

 

The path that these two figures represent is called "REFINEMENT".  Any refining process removes impurities.  The impurities may be in one's self, or in what one is doing, ie. teaching, in my case.

In the physical world, refining may mean constantly improving the process.  The Elder's guide that one must be careful and know when to stop refining because at some point, the refining breaks, and the process also breaks.  

If one is teaching, the Ancestors' guidance is to choose students carefully and to teach from experience and to urge students to learn from experience.  It may also be about using new methods to teach some of the lessons.  My guidance said to continue on my path and to honour the teachings that have been handed down to me.

I hear the guidance and I am grateful!

Blessings,

Judy

Giraffe Gives a “Heads Up”

Several nights ago, I had a dream where Giraffe came in to speak to me.

First, the image that I had was of me standing on a path outside a very tall fence.  I was not sure where I was.  Then as I looked around, I realized that I must be in a type of zoo or animal compound. Where in the world it was, I am not sure.  Then I heard, “Heads up!”

I knew that I needed to look up.  Standing so that their legs were almost like part of the fence, were three giraffes.  Two were quite tall, and one was shorter by several feet.  They grinned down at me.  Then one leaned over the fence and putting his face right against mine, sniffed me.  He popped his head back up, and said, “She smells okay.”  

  Giraffe picture from i.telegraph.co.uk 

I was a bit taken aback.  I think I always smell good except when I have finished a hard work-out.  His mate popped her head over, and kissed the top of my head.  I felt tingles.  I looked up and asked what I was doing here.  Madame Giraffe said, “We called you because you don’t write about us very often, and yet you love us, and send us great thoughts and blessings.  You worry about how we are making out in the wild, and what we will do when the big changes come.”

She was right – I do worry about Giraffes and Elephants, and all kinds of animals.  I did not realize that they were picking up on that energy.

Madame Giraffe went on to say that people need to pay more attention to the giraffe.  They make great guides.  They see things from quite high up, and see patterns in the way people move and the way energies move.  If Giraffe is invited in as a Spirit Animal, it will tell you when there are good energies around you and where to walk/drive to avoid negative energy patterns.  Giraffe moves without getting caught up in the drama of petty things.  Giraffe would like to see each of us avoid drama, and move more in an isolated fashion as does Giraffe.  

Giraffe’s energy is constantly cleansed by the trees where Giraffe spends much time grazing at the tree tops.  Her advice is to find a tree and sit in it, and enjoy the cleansing effect of the tree’s leaves vacuuming all the unhealthy energy from around you.  

According to Giraffe, most people have a short sightedness when it comes to seeing around them.  Giraffe asks you to try to see higher and farther, to see beyond the limits of your mortal eyes.  If you have trouble doing this, ask Giraffe for assistance. 

Giraffes says to stop trying to minimize life.  She says, “Stick your neck out once in a while.”  Life is not about being completely safe – it is about experiencing life and taking chances and growing.  

May you have great giraffe experiences!

Many blessings,

Judy