Hawk and Me

 

Picture from AIWC.com  - Alberta Institute For Wildlife Conservation

Our fall has been very lovely with many warm days and lots of opportunity to walk in Fish Creek Park. Generally at this time, we have snow.  That is why I was out walking with my dog when I should have been doing other things.  It was already the middle of October and I had been putting off things.

The Hawk swooped down from the tree and grabbed a mouse from the field.  It flew back up to the top of a tree to eat.  It seemed that before it finished the first meal, it was aiming its flight back to the ground to pick up another meal.

This was the fifth hawk in the last two days that was chasing down food.  Something was going on for me and Hawk was trying to help me understand the message in all the different events.  The events were all related to the work that seemed to be piling up on me – yard work, house work, and dealing with fall fruit and vegetables that were ready to be processed.

I realized that Hawk is responsible for feeding itself – no one else does that.  Sick or fit, happy or sad, Hawk must go out every day and hunt for food.  I was doing that – hunting and preparing food.  No one else will do it for me.  It is the way of Nature. 

Somehow, that realization was comforting.  I was going with the flow of Nature.  I was “seeing” like Hawk, and could see what had to be done, without emotion or stories.  I had the big picture.

May you be objective and get the big picture in your view of life.

Blessings,

Judy

Three Hornets and Me

 

                   Picture from ridmycritters.com since I do not have a picture of my hornets

In September, we were still having beautiful weather.  I had yard work to do but I sat down to work at my laptop on a project.  As I started to open Microsoft Word, a strange message came up, telling me that I had been hit by a virus and that I needed to download a virus patch.

I recognized the message as a fake, and I immediately turned off access to the internet.  I then tried to use my virus removal software.  However, clever hacker had written the virus to block any program that scanned and removed viruses, Trojans, spyware, or worms.

I was very angry at the hacker that wrote this code.  Coincidently, I was feeling upset about all the yard work that I still had to do, and, I was upset that my dishwasher was not working properly.  I was also sitting in the kitchen.  As I was thinking all these things, three Hornets flew through the open door and settled in the kitchen, at the window, close to my chair. 

The three Hornets were pretty agitated that they could see where they wanted to go – the big outdoors – through the glass, but, they could not get there.  The buzzing got louder and louder.  The Fool in me (the Fool is the first card in the Tarot) laughed and said, “Well, isn’t that Nature imitating Life!” 

I had to laugh too.

Although Hornet has a bad reputation, she is about working with the Earth, about being grounded, about being secluded, and about leaving others alone.  Nothing makes a Hornet angrier than being disturbed in its work.  Again, I laughed.  I was imitating Nature.

Common sense kicked in, and I realized that I would need to fix my laptop, and delete the virus.  I also realized that it would probably take some time. 

Since all things are perfect, I knew that I was not meant to work on the project I was going to start on my computer today. I wasn't meant to do yard work, either. I needed to settle in and fix things.

I am grateful!

Blessings,

Judy

Healing Broth Recipe

When winter arrives with its cold wind and ice and snow, many of us in the cold areas of Canada make big pots of soup and broth that can be frozen or canned, and pulled out to quickly make whatever soup is called for that day.  This easy to make healing broth is a good tonic for everyone to help keep the immune system strong.  This soup does not represent medical advice.  Readers are cautioned to seek out professional medical advice if they are feeling unwell or if they have ongoing illnesses.

HEALING BROTH

Ingredients: 4 carrots, chopped or 1 sweet potato, cubed 2 stalks of celery, roughly chopped

2 onions, sliced

1 cup parsley, finely chopped 1 cup of shiitake mushrooms,

fresh or dried (optional) 2 tomatoes, chopped (optional)

1 bulb of garlic (about 6-8 cloves), minced

1 inch of fresh ginger root

1 inch of fresh turmeric root

8 cups of water Optional: Chili peppers or red pepper flakes 

Directions: Place all the ingredients in a pot and bring to a gentle boil. Turn heat down to low and allow to simmer for about an hour. Strain and sip for a mineral rich, healing and restorative broth or leave the veggies in to enjoy as a light healing soup.

Blessings,

Judy

The Tiger Lily

Picture comes from TheMarthaBlog.com because I could not find my picture of lilies.

This post comes from my journal from about ten years ago.  Sometimes, writing something in the past calls me to write it to others.  

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The Tiger Lily always makes me think of my Grandmother who has been deceased for about fifteen years.  She loved the color of the flower, its resilience to drought and to drowning, and she loved that it stands straight up, looking at the Sun.  She would tell my brother and I, when we were five and six, that we should be like the Tiger Lily.

As I am processing big changes in my life, I decided that I would do some yard work.  I realized that my flower beds were looking bedraggled, and decided to go to check out the offerings at the nursery.  I felt like I was pulled over to the perennial section where there was a huge display of tiger lilies and other lilies.  The orange, and yellow, and pink lilies called to a part of my soul, and I went home with six pots of lilies.  

As I thought about my purchase, I realized that I felt happy and peaceful.  I felt the presence of my Grandmother like a warm hug.  Again, I could see Great Spirit’s hand in the way that I was guided out to the yard, and then to the nursery.  I felt the healing presence of great love and compassion.  I planted my lilies and I felt as though the world shifted for me.

Try planting a lily and see if it changes your feelings.

 

Blessings,

Judy

Remembrance Day 2025

 

Today, we pause to reflect, honour, and remember. On this day, we honour the Canadians who have served and sacrificed in times of conflict and peace, as well as those who continue to serve today.  We all need to recognize that the many freedoms we are fortunate to enjoy are because of the profound contributions of Veterans and their families within our communities. Today and always, we remember. Blessings, Judy

Silent Gratitude

The poster says:

Silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone.  - Gertrude Stein (from Brainyquote.com)

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Periodically, I do a post about gratitude.  Gratitude is the action that gives each of us the ability to enjoy abundance from the Universe on a regular interval.  Gratitude shows that we are aware that we cannot exist and accomplish every thing on our own.  

When a person has been of service, and the person has specifically helped you in some way, acknowledging their assistance ensures that the person will continue to help you in the future.  It shows that you are a person that it is grateful and is able to ask for help.

Many blessings,

Judy

Calm

When everything seems to be in chaos,

Find a place where it is calm. 

Here is the center of creation,

The place where you were born.

Each of you comes from a calmness

Of the Eternal Flame of life. 

It is not your nature to be angry or in upheaval.

You are Elemental.  You are healing.

Remember that most things are not about you;

Indeed, most often life is not about you at all.

Find that place where in the calmness, you can see

That life happens and does not need an explanation.

Be still.

Be calm.

 

Blessings,

Judy