Snow Leopard Has Messages

"Their big eyes are so well adapted for low-light vision that snow leopards can hunt in near total darkness—but they can still go hungry when humans compete for their prey. Though trophy hunts for wild sheep and goats bring income to local communities, they can deplete food stocks for snow leopards."   Out of the Shadows, photo project by Steve Winter  The Winner of The Best Wild Nature Photo 2008

Snow Leopard has the colour brown, for the Earth, black for the Night and mystery and magic, and white for the Day, and connection to Great Spirit.  The reverence for Snow Leopard is displayed in the many legends around it. 

In  Nepal, in Dolpo, there are stories of great lamas frequently making trips to Tibet in the form of snow leopards, in search of rare medicinal herbs. Other folklore describes the snow leopard as a “fence” for the crops, meaning that in the absence of snow leopards livestock would be free ranging and thus would invade crop fields.

Dr. John Mock, in 2004, went to Pakistan, and investigated some of their myths.  This is one around the Snow Leopard.

Pari are female supernatural denizens of the high mountains. People in Pakistan, Afghanistan, north India and throughout Central Asia are familiar with pari. The Wakhi ethnic population in northern Pakistan, China, Tajikistan and Afghanistan have their own word for pari: mergichan. The mergichan inhabit the mergich realm, which is the realm of the mountains and high pastures. It is a pure, even sacred realm, where the supernatural mountain spirits tend their wild flocks of blue sheep and ibex. The Wakhi word for snow leopard is pes. A pes is a mergich animal found only in mergich areas. It rarely interacts with people, is hard to see, powerful, beautiful, and potentially dangerous. As such, it exemplifies many of the qualities of the mergichan, and so is an appropriate animal shape for them to assume.

If Snow Leopard comes to you, then know it brings several messages, and all of them or some of them may be for you!

1. Living high in the mountains, this animal is at one with Great Spirit and Mother Earth.  Leopard communes with the Wisdom Keepers (in Munay-Ki the mountains are Wisdom Keepers).  She reminds you to open up your intuitive abilities.
2. Snow Leopard moves invisibly and so is able to stalk her prey, as elusive as her prey is.  The message is clear – keep a very low profile as you pursue your goals to avoid drawing attention and competition to what you do.
3. Leopard is a hunter that attacks the neck from the back. As many belief systems say the soul enters and leaves through the back, it is believed that Leopard may consume souls. If Leopard comes to you, know that she is telling you that it is difficult for you to meet people face on, and to ensure your back is covered.  She also cautions about moving up on someone else’s back.  Balance in all things is required.  If you do need to defeat someone, beware of taking on their “stuff”.
4. Leopard medicine is one that requires strong bodies – and quick action.  This may lead to humans with quick, angry tempers.  Leopard cautions that the angry energy must be released. If not released, it will settle into the body causing pain in the bones and limbs…arthritis may result.

May those of you with Leopard medicine find peace.

Many blessings,

Judy

My Dream of Eagles and Horses

I dreamt that I was walking the dogs when we heard a racket to the left of us as the sun was rising.  There were five eagles sitting in one tree along the river. As we watched, the eagles lifted off the perch, one by one.  Later as we walked, we saw several horses playing in a field.  It was a wonderful dream that felt like love and freedom.  It felt like I was in harmony with the Earth and the animals.  I wanted to stay there.

When I woke up, all I could see in my mind were "eagles and horses".  Later, as I was looking for some information to send to a friend, I found a link to John Denver singing "Eagles and Horses". See the words later in this post.

I am not sure why this is important.  Perhaps it is because the eagle and the horse represent freedom - freedom of movement, of thought, of infinite possibilities.  Whatever the reason, I invite you to enjoy the two links to movies about "Eagles and Horses" and lose yourself in the mystery.

Pictures from Microsoft Clip Art...

The Song - EAGLES AND HORSES

Horses are creatures who worship the earth 
As they gallop on feet of ivory 
Constrained by the wonder of dying and birth 
The horses still run, they are free 

My body is merely the shell of my soul 
But the flesh must be given its due 
Like a pony that carries its rider back home 
Like an old friend that's tried and been true 

I had a vision of eagles and horses 
High on a ridge in a race with the wind 
Going higher and higher and faster and faster 
On eagles and horses I'm flying again 

Eagles inhabit the heavenly heights 
They know neither limit nor bound 
They're the guardian angels of darkness and light 
They see all and hear every sound 

My spirit will never be broken or caught 
For the soul is a free-flowing thing 
Like an eagle that needs neither comfort nor thought 
To rise up on glorious wings 

I had a vision of eagles and horses 
High on a ridge in a race with the wind 
Going higher and higher and faster and faster 
On eagles and horses Im flying again 

My body is merely the shell of my soul 
But the flesh must be given its due 
Like a pony that carries its master back home 
Like an old that's tried and been true 

My spirit will never be broken or caught 
For the soul is a free-flowing thing 
Like an eagle that needs neither comfort nor thought 
To rise up on glorious wings 

I had a vision of eagles and horses 
High on a ridge in a race with the wind 
Going higher and higher and faster and faster 
On eagles and horses Im flying again 

Words and music by john denver and joe henry

Many blessings,

Judy

Buddha Talks About Attachment

The following words come from a teaching by Venerable Jagaro of the Dhammaloka Buddhist Centre in Perth.  These words were a lesson that I needed around understanding attachment, and to help clients who are attached.  May these words help you as well.

Picture from Microsoft Clip Art

 

In Buddhism we are interested in freedom the freedom of non- attachment. We carry around an immense burden of attachment to everything we consider 'me' and 'mine' , like a big heavy stone on our shoulders. When a wise person points out to us that we could throw off this burden, we regard them with suspicion. 'Throw it off? Then I wouldn't have anything left! I couldn't do that!' Thinking they will bring us happiness, we continue to lug around our personal investments and self interests this great big heavy burden! The Buddha taught that nothing is worth attaching to. Do not attach to anything: that will bring true peace and happiness. Reflect on the process of what we call suffering: what it really is how it arises. Only then can one begin to appreciate what attachment really is, what the result of attachment is, and begin to glimpse the idea and the possible results of non-attachment. 

Attachment is something we create in the mind. When we let it go, we begin to experience the silent empty mind. This still, peaceful mind can be found when sitting in meditation. Is it possible to bring it also into our daily lives? Can we live as ordinary people with this non-attachment? There is one vital factor needed if we wish to live skilfully, and that factor is mindful awareness. This factor of knowing, of being present, is essential if we wish to go beyond our continual stream of thinking, projecting, analysing and reacting. It is difficult, isn't it? Without awareness, we are locked into our stale conditioning, like a monkey with its paw stuck in the biscuit jar . All it has to do to become free is let go, but this is just what it won't do. Actually , non-attachment is not something you have to do: all you have to do is stop attaching. This is natural for the enlightened mind, and it is awareness which makes this a real possibility in our lives.

The Buddha taught a Path, gave us a method of skilful means. Meditation is the tool to help us with the process of being present, of seeing attachment and tensions arising, of knowing when to relax and let go. The practice of meditation is very highly emphasised. The more you become aware, the more you can begin to experience true peace and happiness. There is no need to have anything else, no need to achieve anything.

Many blessings,

Judy

Archangel Haniel

Archangel Haniel artwork by Virginnia www.starlightangel.co.uk

 

I was sitting and wondering what the blog should be about, and I felt an energy on my left side… behind my shoulder.  I heard “write angels speak” and then I asked who? I had some difficulty hearing, and finally heard “Haniel”.  

AA Haniel is often called the Angel of the Moon.  She also helps those with strong psychic or mystical gifts. 

Her message is…

Dear ones, as the Moon changes in relationship to your home, know that it is because of the different Earth shifts, as polarity shifts and your awareness rises.  The Moon will call you more now as she speaks of the ebb and flow of life force on Earth. Your life force is anchored in water, therefore you feel the pull of the Moon just as she pulls the waves of the Ocean.  The waves are. Whether they are large ones for surfing, or gentle ones that lull the sailors to sleep, the waves never question.  They simply exist.  If you will pardon the pun, they go with the flow.  

That, dear Ones, is exactly what you all need to do.  This is a time of letting go.  Attachments will be like cement blocks holding you back.  It is in not attaching significance to the changing monetary systems and the changing economies that the change will happen swiftly.  Healing will begin even as the changes are still completing. 

Do what you need to do, and do it with grace and joy.  Provide for one another. Share what you have. Do it with love and compassion. 

Blessings,

Judy

Black Squirrel - A Spirit Animal

  Black squirrel picture from Wikipedia..

After several inches of snow last night, I expected the yard to be very quiet.  Instead, I saw a miniature snow squall erupt from the mountain ash tree.  Three black squirrels were chasing one another through the tree, around the tree, and then back up the tree.  This lasted for about five minutes, and then all three of them shook off the snow, and climbed up on the bird feeder to forage out some sunflower seeds.

Squirrel and her companions sat on the bird feeder and munched, and glanced at the house, as though wondering whether I would put out more food.  Squirrel has never been shy about letting me know when more is needed.  I then realized that Squirrel’s lesson today is about trust!  Just as she trusts that there will be food in the yard, she tells me to trust that Great Spirit will provide for me.  Just as Squirrel feels comfortable and safe in my yard, Squirrel tells me to feel safe and comfortable in Great Spirit’s yard – Mother Earth.  The message that was coming through, loud and clear, was that I was not trusting enough, and in being somewhat reluctant to trust, I was limiting myself to all the treats that might be handed to me or left out for me.

As soon as I muddled through all of those thoughts, Squirrel chattered happily to the other two squirrels and they bounded down the pole, across the yard, and up the fence to disappear to a neighbouring yard.   I realized that I had received a very great gift.  I am grateful!

 I would love to hear your squirrel story! You can send it in the comments or email me at lightstationwisdom@gmail.com.

Blessings,

Judy

A Universal Truth About Effort

Mountain Lake – Picture from Microsoft Clip Art

 

Indigenous people around the world and our Ancestors recognized the truth of the first Universal Law - Maximum efficiency with minimal effort.  Humans, now, are not that tuned in.  It seems that we struggle against all odds all the time. And, if it looks like we will not win the goal we want to achieve, then we scheme and plot and manipulate to get our results.  It is called “control”.  

Animals do not waste effort. They tend to go with the flow of life.   Cows will take a meandering path which is always the easiest road. Pioneers followed goat tracks through the mountains because it was the easiest road.  

Water will always take the easiest path. And, as it washes over stones and down gullies and rushes along the bank of a river bed, it smoothes and polishes.  The dirt and rocks offer no resistance.  As they “move” in the flow, they become less, and yet more than they are. The rock becomes rounded and shiny and pure – for that which it does not need, dissolves and flows with the water.  Dirt becomes free to move, to travel to far away places and, when it settles, offers new energy to the environment around it.  It becomes more.

And what will you do now"?  Will you flow or will you not? 

Blessings,

Judy

Let’s Talk About Spring Equinox 2024

Picture of Spring Equinox at Stonehenge is from The Telegraph (www.telegraph.co.uk)

Spring Equinox in Alberta is Tue, Mar 19, 2024, 9:06 p.m. Mountain Time

So, what is the spring equinox? According to the website - the statesman.com, the equinox marks the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, but to be more specific, it's the day the sun's rays shine onto the equator while the Earth sits with its axis tilted neither toward nor away from the sun. This causes 12 hours of sunlight almost everywhere on Earth.

My husband and I plan each year to have a celebration of the Spring Equinox because it is the beginning of spring which leads to summer.  It is an amazing time of new energy arriving on the Earth.

Our celebration usually happens a couple of days ahead of The Equinox so that our group can plan how they want to absorb the energies of the day.   We have a group meditation focusing on “something” around the Equinox, several short meditations on relevant needs such as a particular healing or seeing that is required, and we have a sharing circle at the end.  We open and close with creating sacred space and then closing sacred space.  We clean up the space we have been using and then everyone proceeds to the dining room for a sumptuous pot luck dinner.

Some years our celebration varies.  If it is a lovely day, instead of being in the house by the fireplace, we will be in the back yard around the fire pit.

However you decide to spend Spring Equinox, enjoy the celebration of the renewal of life.

Many blessings,

Judy