Medicine Wheel

EAST is the direction of air, dawn, spring, mind, illumination and new beginnings...
WEST is the direction of water, dusk, fall, maturing, wisdom, intro-spection and courage...
SOUTH is the direction of fire, noon, summer, childhood and the spark of spirit...
NORTH is the direction of earth, winter, midnight and silence...

"The four directions have been honored in original peoples' traditions around the world for centuries. When the four directions are acknowledged with a circle of twelve stones, Native Americans refer to such an object as a medicine wheel. The term "medicine" can mean healing or spirit. Original Americans have many prophetic stories that speak of the healing of the broken wheel. We are its healers. They say that when it is healed it will become the whirling rainbow of peace, the forbringer of the fifth world."
Continue here: FireLady's Loving Spirits

Image: "Medicine Wheel of the Four Sacred Directions" by Jody Bergsma - There is more than one door.

Vision of Windwalker

Windwalker Listens
These are the words that Grandfather gave to Windwalker while on vision quest, in the Moon of Harvest, as he was sitting and listening for Grandfather's voice as the sun rose in the East, while watching from the top of the knoll in the center of the old ranch where Windwalker grew up....

"There is nothing to fear, absolutely nothing to fear."

As Windwalker continued to watch the sun rise to its highest, facing South....
"You must find a new focus, a new vision, for this is the day of life for all, a new beginning, a new paradigm, that none has seen before. It has its own problems and its own solutions."
Windwalker watched the sun through the afternoon and evening as it approached the horizon, setting behind the mountain to the West....
"You cannot go back, you must go forward. You can use the wisdom of the past as it applies to this day which I have given you. The wisdom that you have gained today from the use of past wisdom will give new wisdom to be used tomorrow."
With the setting of the sun in the West, the wind chilled and shifted from the North. Windwalker turned to face it. These are the words of Grandfather, spoken loudest of all, that all the world could hear....
"You have listened to the coyotes, the greed of the priests, the shamans, the politicians, the bankers and the merchants, instead of listening to my Voice, to Me, the ONLY ONE who always speaks the Truth. They, the coyotes, have made myths and fables and lies to frighten, to tempt and to control you."
'You must rid yourself of ALL these old untruths, for they have kept you captive, fragmented and separated from Me and from Yourselves."... -continue here-


Windwalker Speaks
We humans sometimes get so confused by the restrictive domination based 'social sciences' and 'social architects' that would attempt to control us, that we think our planet is in danger of destruction.
In a world that is run in cyclic perfection by a Creator of Infinite Wisdom, such thinking doesn't really equate. The universe would have been a giant junkpile billions of years ago if one atom could stray outside of law. Who do we think we are that we would be allowed to endanger other nearby worlds and life forms with our petty stupidity and ill directed sciences? Having choice, we humans will be allowed to wreck our own small 'universes' and civilizations, but hardly our home planet Earth. What we have is a world full of struggling souls who still think that they are their bodies and the world around them is the whole of reality. Our egos often run our thinking to the exclusion of our higher awareness and intelligence.
Shakespeare probably put the situation in perspective as well as anyone, when he pointed out that life is only a play and we are all simply playing out continual roles. Since the time we lost our 'instinct' in the allegorical 'Garden of Eden' we have been cursed with an imperfect intelligence and constant CHOICE. Through continual trial and error our higher components learn the outcome of our choices. When we destroy and take the choice from others, we suffer what the ancients called 'karma'. We get a taste of what we dished out so that we can later inwardly know what is 'right' and 'wrong'. This 'law of karma' comes automatically when the higher level 'choice' laws are broken. Karma is the one inviolate law of our Universe and Creator. Higher Level CHOICE is the exact opposite to the system of domination that has remained in place for thousands of years over Earth's people. We must learn to make Fully Responsible Higher Level Choices for the loving benefit and Freedom of Choice for All Mankind... -continue here-

*Check out this postcard and tons of other great stuff at Barefoot's World site...

Image: "The Vision Seeker" by Josephine Wall
Image: "Return of the White Eagle" by Jody Bergsma

The Way of the Eagle

The Chicken and the Eagle / The Parable of the Eagle

One day a naturalist who was passing by a farm saw in the barnyard a flock of chickens, and among them was an eagle. The naturalist inquired of the owner why it was that an eagle, the king of all birds, should be reduced to living in the barnyard with the chickens.
"Since I have given it chicken feed and trained it to be a chicken, it has never learned to fly," replied the owner. "It behaves as chickens behave, so it no longer thinks of itself as an eagle."
"Still," insisted the naturalist, "it has the heart of an eagle and can surely be taught to fly."
After talking it over, the two men agreed to find out whether this was possible. Gently, the naturalist took the eagle in his arms and said, "You belong to the sky and not to the earth. Stretch forth your wings and fly."
The eagle, however, was confused; he did not know who he was. Seeing the chickens eating their food, he jumped down to be with them again.
Undismayed, the naturalist took the eagle on the following day up on the roof of the house and urged him again, saying, "You are an eagle. Stretch forth your wings and fly." But the eagle was afraid of his unknown self and the world and jumped down once more for the chicken food.
On the third day the naturalist rose early and took the eagle out of the barnyard to a high mountain. There he held the king of the birds high above him and encouraged him again, saying, "You are an eagle. You belong to the sky as well as the earth. Stretch forth your wings now and fly."
The eagle looked back towards the barnyard and up to the sky. Still he did not fly. Then the naturalist lifted him straight towards the sun, and it happened: the eagle began to tremble; slowly he stretched his wings. At last, with a triumphant cry he soared into the heavens.
It may be that the eagle still remembers the chickens with nostalgia; it may even be that he occasionally revisits the barnyard. But as far as anyone knows, he has never returned to lead the life of a chicken. He was an eagle, though he had been kept and tamed as a chicken.
And just like the eagle, people who have learned to think of themselves as something they aren't can re-decide in favor of what they really are.

The story of the eagle in the chicken yard is our story, a story about accepting something about ourselves that is not true -- that we are chickens, unable to fly -- and living as if it were true. We think we are chickens because we have accepted a perception about ourselves that is the chicken philosophy of life. In truth, we really are eagles with the potential to soar, to be free to experience our real essence: love, joy, peace, freedom. But alas, we find ourselves in the chicken yard feeling confused and fearful, and with no sense of life, purpose or direction...

Excerpts: "The Way of the Eagle" by Jerry Fankhauser, 1986
Image: "Clarity Of Vision, Strength Of Spirit, Courage Of Heart" by Jody Bergsma
[This really makes me think of one of my favorite little books: "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" by Richard Bach, 1976]

Unconditional Love

Love without condition
I love you as you are, as you seek to find your own special way to relate to the world. I honour your choices to learn in the way you feel is right for you.
I know it is important that you are the person you want to be and not someone that I or others think you 'should' be. I realize that I cannot know what is best for you, although perhaps sometimes I think I do. I have not been where you have been, viewing life from the angle you have. I do not know what you have chosen to learn, how you have chosen to learn it, with whom or in what time period. I have not walked life looking through your eyes, so how can I know what you need.
I allow you to be in the world without a thought or word of judgement from me about the deeds you undertake. I see no error in the things you say and do. In this place where I am, I see that there are many ways to perceive and experience the different facets of our world. I allow without reservation the choices you make in each moment. I make no judgement of this, for if I would deny your right to your evolution, then I would deny that right for myself and all others.
To those who would choose a way I cannot walk, whilst I may not choose to add my power and my energy to this way, I will never deny you the gift of love that God has bestowed within me, for all creation. As I love you, so I shall be loved. As I sow, so shall I reap.
I allow you the universal right of free will to walk your own path, creating steps or to sit awhile if that is what is right for you. I will make no judgement that these steps are large or small, nor light or heavy or that they lead up or down, for this is just my viewpoint. I may see you do nothing and judge it to be unworthy and yet it may be that you bring great healing as you stand blessed by the Light of God. I cannot always see the higher picture of Divine order.
For it is the inalienable right of all life to choose their own evolution and with great love I acknowledge your right to determine your future. In humility I bow to the realization that the way I see as best for me does not have to mean it is also right for you. I know that you are led as I am, following the inner excitement to know your own path.
I know that the many races, religions, customs, nationalities and beliefs within our world, bring us great richness and allow us the benefit and teachings of such diverseness. I know we each learn in our own unique way in order to bring that love and wisdom back to the whole. I know that if there were only one way to do something, there would need only be one person.
I will not only love you if you behave in a way I think you should or believe in those things I believe in. I understand you are truly my brother and my sister, though you may have been born in a different place and believe in another God than I.
The love I feel is for all of God's world. I know that every living thing is a part of God and I feel a love deep within for every person, animal, tree and flower, every bird, insect, river and ocean and for all the creatures in all the world.
I live my life in loving service, being the best me I can, becoming wiser in the perfection of Divine truth, becoming happier in the joy of Unconditional Love.

Author: Sandy Stevenson
Image: "Millenium Tree (Tree of Peace)" by Josephine Wall - As mankind emerges from the mists of time to enter a new millennium, hope abounds that all nations will be united in friendship and love (hidden faces) encircle our fragile and incredibly complex world. The D.N.A. bracelet twines round the "helping hand" guiding the younger hand of humanity that strives to explore and learn so much more. You will find a number of famous characters that have influenced and shaped our past, present and future e.g. Darwin, Einstein, Beethoven etc. The left side symbolizes nature - while the right symbolizes technology and the future. The dove symbolizes peace and the rainbow hope. The hands either side of the tree symbolize the need for our beautiful world to be protected forever.

The New Civilization

We are here.
We are waking up now, out of the past, to dream a bigger dream.
We are friends and equals, we are diverse and unique, and we're united for something bigger than our differences.
We believe in freedom and cooperation, abundance and harmony.
We are a culture emerging, a renaissance of the essence of humanity.
We find our own guidance, and we discern our own truth.
We go in many directions, and yet we refuse to disperse.
We have many names, we speak many languages.
We are local, we are global.
We are in all regions of the world, we're everywhere in the air.
We are universe being aware of itself, we are the wave of evolution.
We are in every child's eyes, we face the unknown with wonder and excitement.
We are messengers from the future, living in the present.
We come from silence, and we speak our truth.
We cannot be quieted, because our voice is within everyone.
We have no enemies, no boundaries can hold us.
We respect the cycles and expressions of nature, because we are nature.
We don't play to win, we play to live and learn.
We act out of inspiration, love and integrity.
We explore, we discover, we feel, and we laugh.
We are building a world that works for everyone.
We endeavor to live our lives to their fullest potential.
We are independent, self-sufficient and responsible.
We relate to each other in peace, with compassion and respect, we unite in community.
We celebrate the wholeness within and around us all.
We dance to the rhythm of creation.
We weave the threads of the new times.
We are the new civilization.

Author: "Ming the Mechanic" Flemming Funch, founder of New Civilization Network
[Printed in LightShift 2000 by Ken Kalb and Always in Season by Donna Henes]
Image: crystalinks.com

Spirit of Flight

Unfold your spirit to the sky,
allow your sacred dreams to fly.
The Universe answers that you truly are
more precious than Heaven's brightest star.

Image: "Spirit of Flight" by Josephine Wall - The Spirit of Flight, the force responsible for the powers of movement of the wind and air, has gathered around her all the flying things she loves. Birds, insects, flying fish, swirling leaves, seeds of dandelions and sycamore trees, butterflies and fairies all dance around her in a grand array of wild free motion.

The Awakening

~The Moment of Clarity~

A time comes in your life when you finally get it . . . When in the midst of all your fears and insanity you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere, the voice inside your head cries out - ENOUGH!
Enough fighting and crying, or struggling to hold on. And, like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears and through a mantle of wet lashes, you begin to look at the world through new eyes.

This is your awakening...

You realize that it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change, or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next horizon. You come to terms with the fact that he is not Prince Charming and you are not Cinderella and that in the real world, there aren't always fairy tale endings (or beginnings for that matter) and that any guarantee of "happily ever after" must begin with you and in the process, a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.

You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are . . . and that's OK. (They are entitled to their own views and opinions.) And you learn the importance of loving and championing yourself and in the process; a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval.

You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you (or didn't do for you) and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected. You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say, and that not everyone will always be there for you and that it's not always about you. So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself and in the process, a sense of safety & security is born of self-reliance.

You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties and in the process, a sense of peace & contentment is born of forgiveness.

You realize that much of the way you view yourself and the world around you, is a result of all the messages and opinions that have been ingrained into your psyche. You begin to sift through all the junk you've been fed about how you should behave, how you should look and how much you should weigh, what you should wear and where you should shop and what you should drive, how and where you should live and what you should do for a living, who you should marry and what you should expect of a marriage, the importance of having and raising children or what you owe your parents. You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. You begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for.

You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with and in the process, you learn to go with your instincts.

You learn that it is truly in giving that we receive and that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix.

You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a by gone era, but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life.

You learn that you don't know everything; it's not your job to save the world and that you can't teach a pig to sing. You learn to distinguish between guilt, responsibility, and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO. You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake.

Then you learn about love, romantic love and familial love, how to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving and when to walk away. You learn not to project your needs or your feelings onto a relationship. You learn that you will not be more beautiful, more intelligent, more lovable or important because of the man on your arm or the child that bears your name.

You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes.

You learn that just as people grow and change, so it is with love; and you learn that you don't have the right to demand love on your terms, just to make you happy.

You learn that alone does not mean lonely. You look in the mirror and come to terms with the fact that you will never be a size 5 or a perfect 10 and you stop trying to compete with the image inside your head and agonizing over how you "stack up."

You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs. You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK and that it is your right, to want things and to ask for the things that you want and that sometimes it is necessary to make demands.

You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with love, kindness, sensitivity, respect, and you won't settle for less. You allow only the hands of a lover who cherishes you, to glorify you with his touch and in the process; you internalize the meaning of self-respect.

And you learn that your body really is your temple. And you begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin eating a balanced diet, drinking more water and taking more time to exercise. You learn that fatigue diminishes the spirit and can create doubt and fear. So you take more time to rest. Just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul; so you take more time to laugh and to play.

You learn that for the most part in life, you get what you believe you deserve and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different from working toward making it happen.

More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance. You also learn that no one can do it all alone and that it's OK to risk asking for help.

You learn that the only thing you must truly fear is the great robber baron of all time; FEAR itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears, because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear, is to give away the right to live life on your terms.

You learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom. You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people. On these occasions, you learn not to personalize things. You learn that God isn't punishing you or failing to answer your prayers; it's just life happening.

You learn to deal with evil in its most primal state; the ego. You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls.

You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted; things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about; a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower. Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself, by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never ever settle for less than your heart's desire. You hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind, and you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.

Finally, with courage in your heart and with God by your side you take a stand, you take a deep breath and you begin to design the life you want to live as best as you can.

Author: Iyanla Vanzant or Denise M. "Sonny" Carroll
Image: "A Light After the Storm" by Jody Bergsma

One Day at a Time

One day at a time.
Stand tall. Start fresh. Let go of guilt. Don't look back. Take an inventory. Make amends. Trust others.
Believe in yourself. Discover God's love. Appreciate your specialness. Accept your humanness. Ask for help.
Trust enough to take. Have the courage to change. Accept the unchangeable. Be patient. Keep promises.
Bury regret. Discard hate. Transcend self-doubt. Don't dwell on the past. Love each moment. Live each day.
Build a better tomorrow. Open your heart. Explore your soul. Expect the best. Let miracles happen.

Image: "One Day at a Time" by Jody Bergsma

Post Office Angel

Our dog Abbey died Aug. 23, and the day after Abbey died, my 4 year old, Meredith, was SO upset. She wanted to write a letter to God so that God would recognize Abbey in heaven. She told me what to write, and I did. Then she put 2 pictures of Abbey in the envelope. We addressed it to God in Heaven, put two stamps on it (because, as she said, it could be a long way to heaven). We put our return address on it, and I let her put it in the drop box at the post office that afternoon. She was absolutely sure that letter would get to heaven, and I wasn't about to disillusion her.
So today is Labor Day. We took the kids to the museum in Austin, and when we came home, there was a package wrapped in gold on our front porch. It was addressed to Mer. So, she took it inside and opened it. Inside was a book, When Your Pet Dies, by Mr. Rogers (Fred Rogers). On the front cover was the letter we had written to God, in its envelope (opened). On the opposite page was one of the pictures of Abbey taped on the page. On the back page was the other picture of Abbey, and this handwritten note on pink paper:

"Dear Mer, I know that you will be happy to find out that Abbey arrived safely and soundly in heaven. Having the pictures you sent to me was a big help! I recognized Abbey right away! You know, Mer, she isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me (-just like it stays in your heart-) young and running and playing. Abbey loved being your dog, you know. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep things in--so I am sending you your beautiful letter back with the pictures--so that you will have this little memory book to keep. One of my angels is taking care of this for me. I hope this little book will help. Thank you for your beautiful letter. Thank your mother for sending it. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. God blesses you every day and remember, I love you very much. By the way, I am in heaven and everywhere there is love. Signed, God, and one of his special angels (who wrote this letter after God told HER the words)."

How wonderful is that! I never knew there were angels working at the post office!

Author: Unknown
Image: images.google.com

Pearls of Wisdom

All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be,
I learned in kindergarten.

Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sandpile at Sunday School. These are the things that I learned: Share everything, Play fair, Don't hit people, Put things back where you found them, Clean up your mess, Don't take things that aren't yours, Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody, Wash your hands before you eat, Flush. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you, Live a balanced life; learn some and think some, and draw and paint and sing and dance, and play and work every day some. Take a nap every afternoon, When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together, Be aware of wonder, -continue here-

Author: Robert Fulghum
Image:

Approval Addiction

The Halo Effect

Are you the kind of person who thinks she's being good (self-sacrificing! angelic!) by cooing over things you hate and sucking up to strangers for tiny morsels of approval? Martha Beck encourages you to hang up your wings.
Causes and Consequences of Approval Prostitution — We approval whores are people who will do anything to get affirmation and acceptance from others. Approval whores like me tend to think that we're being good (saintly! angelic!) when we let others have their way with us in exchange for a hit of praise. The people in our lives are likely to reinforce our sickness, because we'll do pretty much anything to please them, and what's not to love about that?
Here's what: Being dependent on approval—so dependent that we barter away all our time, energy, and personal preferences to get it—ruins lives... -continue here-

Curbing Your Approval Addiction

Clarify Your Own Morality — In our world of commingled cultures and traditions, we may confront innumerable moral codes, all different from one another. There is simply no way to gain approval from each of these disparate sources; trying to do so will make you feel even worse. Instead, clearly define your own moral code and then stick to it whether or not others approve. Right now think of something you plan to do during this holiday that you don't want to do: host a boorish guest, send greeting cards to folks you barely know, overspend to the point of serious financial strain. Then pretend that your best friend, rather than you, is the one contemplating this action. What would you say is her moral obligation? Don't think manners; think ethics. Would it be truly immoral for your friend to invite only guests she likes, or send no greeting cards, or buy fewer presents? Take some time figuring out your real beliefs... -continue here-
Getting Approval for Getting Disapproval — One of the best ways to break your dependency on approval is to set up a situation in which the only way to get approval is to get disapproval. When I taught college-level sociology, I used to assign students to choose a social norm they thought was wrong or just plain silly, then deliberately violate it. The more disapproval they got, the higher their grade... -continue here-
Agree to Disagree — When approval whores disagree with others, we react by not reacting. Instead of voicing our real position, we smile, nod, make cheerful mumbling sounds. As a result, everyone from the John Birch Society to the Hells Angels may think we agree with them. Some of us fear that if we begin voicing disagreement, we'll lose our friends and family. If this is true for you—if these people accept you only because you agree with everything they say—they're not friends or family, they're just customers from whom you regularly obtain your favorite drug. This is a thoroughly unhealthy situation... -continue here-

Image: "Eagle Vision / Eagle Woman" by Susan Seddon Boulet

Awareness & Balance

The Game Board - The Rose and The Cross

[The term '12 Strand DNA' is a pseudoscience term used by healers and energy workers to denote that a soul
is evolving into higher frequency by activating its DNA code beyond its twin strand spiraling DNA helix.]

*** The Journey of the DNA - Anunnaki *** Thinking Outside The Box ***

*** The Court Jester and the Fleur de Lis *** Zero Point ***

*** Spiritual Warriors *** Wonderland and Magic ***

Author: Ellie Crystal
Image: crystalinks.com

"Meditation"

Meditation for the Fully Realized Woman

I am a BEAUTIFUL WOMAN, with a beauty that doesn't wash off. I earned it, unearthed it, rescued it like a jewel in the dust, picked it up and made it shine.
For years, I did not see it, though I sensed it was there. Now it dazzles and thrives.
I am healthy, capable, independent, strong yet still so fragile, floored by a sigh. My body is that of a creator—angles meeting curves, hardness drifting into soft.
I am mother, daughter, sister, lover to myself. Embraceable and brave, I extend my heart.
My body is home, my home a shrine to life, comfortable, warm and rich with treasures. Mine is the scent of hot spices caught in a breeze, mine the laughter that wings through the door. I share myself only with those who honor me as I am and protect myself, my house, and my time from invaders.
I search for my center in the midst of chaos, practice peace as wild dogs clamor in my mind. I use power for the greater good, release rage in neutral settings, with no one innocent in the line of fire.
I am learning how to persist and when to let go, am willing to feel all emotion stop their depths and exaltations, to wake up in every nerve and no longer am afraid of my life.
Both my beauty and strength transcend age, time and perhaps even this lifetime.
Each day I am new, yet more at home in myself. Moment by moment, I create my world.

Excerpt: "A Women's Book of Strength; An Empowering Guide to Total Mind/Body Fitness" by Karen Andes
Image: "The Three Graces" by Josephine Wall - Three inseparable sisters—daughters of Zeus, representing all that is noble, beautiful and pure, keep watch from above. Aglaia (brightness) symbolised by brightly coloured butterflies, Euphrosyne (joyfulness) symbolised by the joyful sound of birdsong, and Thalia (bloom) symbolised by a headdress of flowers. Above all they were goddesses, noble of grace, and a beauty which enchants. Their hair and faces shine with radiant beauty, looking down from Mount Olympus.

Creation-Balance-Evolution

*** Theories of Creation *** Balance of Power ***

Author: Ellie Crystal
Image: crystalinks.com

Old woman/young girl?

Mom and I had lots of fun with these... We couldn't see the young girl in the first picture at all until I found the third pose.
Now we both see the young girl first in all of the pictures - amazing!

Images: images.google.com

Bears, Eagles & Life

The Brightest Bear
Like many parents I like to encourage my children artistically. In my home office, there’s a cork board on the wall across from my desk where I proudly post their latest creations.
A few days ago, my daughter Emily (age 6) told me she wanted to draw me a bear to add to my collection. Previously she had traced and colored about 10 bear drawings from an original version I made for her... -continue here-

Are You a Bear or an Eagle?
Sometimes when my wife and I have conversations in public, it looks like the scene from the movie Dogma where Loki and Bartleby walk through the airport talking about their previous exploits as angels. We often look around at all the sleeping people in the world, noting that they barely register as conscious beings. They go through their lives working meaningless jobs, enduring unfulfilling relationships, and drugging themselves to avoid facing their unfaceable fears. Their conversations are nothing but trivialities in the grand scheme of things.
Whenever we meet someone new, one of the first questions that goes through our minds is, “Is this person awake yet?” The vast majority of people are still asleep, meaning that they aren’t really conscious and aware of what their lives are all about, why they’re here, or what their purpose is... -continue here-
Comments on article here: Doc Ott's Apologia Blog

Deciding What to Do With Your Life
Deciding what to do with your life isn’t remotely easy. Most people never make this decision at all. But since we all end up doing something, if we don’t make this decision consciously, then a decision will still be made, but it will be an unconscious one.
If you don’t decide how you’re going to live, then someone or something else will decide for you. Most likely you’ll yield your life to a combination of unconscious influences, including your genetic predispositions, your upbringing, your social conditioning, your environment, the other people in your life, and perhaps pure chance... -continue here-

Excerpts: "Personal Development for Smart People" by Steve Pavlina.com
Image: "In the Company of Eagles" by Jody Bergsma

There is a Season

Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) by The Byrds, 1965

To everything (turn, turn, turn) There is a season (turn, turn, turn) And a time for every purpose, under heaven.
A time to be born, a time to die A time to plant, a time to reap A time to kill, a time to heal A time to laugh, a time to weep.
To everything (turn, turn, turn) There is a season (turn, turn, turn) And a time for every purpose, under heaven.
A time to build up, a time to break down A time to dance, a time to mourn A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together.
To everything (turn, turn, turn) There is a season (turn, turn, turn) And a time for every purpose, under heaven.
A time of love, a time of hate A time of war, a time of peace A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing.
To everything (turn, turn, turn) There is a season (turn, turn, turn) And a time for every purpose, under heaven.
A time to gain, a time to lose A time to rend, a time to sew A time to love, a time to hate A time for peace, I swear its not too late.
Listen here: <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNopQq5lWqQ>
[Words adapted from "The Bible", book of Ecclesiates 3:1-8]

Image: "Don't Look Back" by Jody Bergsma - Sometimes old doors have to close... so that new ones can open.

The Dance

Moving to the Deep Rhythms of Your Life

I have sent you my invitation, the note inscribed on the palm of my hand by the fire of living. Don’t jump up and shout, “Yes, this is what I want! Let’s do it!” Just stand up quietly and dance with me.
Show me how you follow your deepest desires, spiraling down into the ache within the ache, and I will show you how I reach inward and open outward to feel the kiss of the Mystery, sweet lips on my own, every day.
Don’t tell me you want to hold the whole world in your heart. Show me how you turn away from making another wrong without abandoning yourself when you are hurt and afraid of being unloved.
Tell me a story of who you are, and see who I am in the stories I live. And together we will remember that each of us always has a choice.
Don’t tell me how wonderful things will be... some day. Show me you can risk being completely at peace, truly okay with the way things are right now in this moment, and again in the next and the next and the next...
I have heard enough warrior stories of heroic daring. Tell me how you crumble when you hit the wall, the place you cannot go beyond by the strength of your own will. What carries you to the other side of that wall, to the fragile beauty of your own humanness?
And after we have shown each other how we have set and kept the clear, healthy boundaries that help us live side by side with each other, let us risk remembering that we never stop silently loving those we once loved out loud.
Take me to the places on the earth that teach you how to dance, the places where you can risk letting the world break your heart. And I will take you to the places where the earth beneath my feet and the stars overhead make my heart whole again and again.
Show me how you take care of business without letting business determine who you are. When the children are fed but still the voices within and around us shout that soul’s desires have too high a price, let us remind each other that it is never about the money.
Show me how you offer to your people and the world the stories and the songs you want our children’s children to remember. And I will show you how I struggle not to change the world, but to love it.
Sit beside me in long moments of shared solitude, knowing both our absolute aloneness and our undeniable belonging. Dance with me in the silence and in the sound of small daily words, holding neither against me at the end of the day.
And when the sound of all the declarations of our sincerest intentions has died away on the wind, dance with me in the infinite pause before the next great inhale of the breath that is breathing us all into being, not filling the emptiness from the outside or from within.
Don’t say, “Yes!” Just take my hand and dance with me.

Author: "The Dance" by Oriah Mountain Dreamer, 2001
Image: "Minerva's Melody" by Josephine Wall - As the goddess Minerva glides gently down the eternal river of life, leaving her heavenly citadel in her wake, she sets about her task of composing beautiful music. She is accompanied by her constant companion, and confidant - the 'owl of wisdom'. Together they travel throughout the world bringing the magic of her melodies to all. Arum lilies bearing candles light their way, and illuminate the wisteria growing from her enchanted harp. Music is a universal language understood and loved by every nation on earth - what a debt we owe to Minerva.

Get Together

Let's Get Together by The Youngbloods

Love is but the song we sing, And fear's the way we die You can make the mountains ring Or make the angels cry Know the dove is on the wing And you need not know why C'mon people now, Smile on your brother Ev'rybody get together Try and love one another right now.
Some will come and some will go We shall surely pass When the one that left us here Returns for us at last We are but a moments sunlight Fading in the grass C'mon people now, Smile on your brother Ev'rybody get together Try and love one another right now.
If you hear the song I sing, You must understand You hold the key to love and fear All in your trembling hand Just one key unlocks them both It's there at your command C'mon people now, Smile on your brother Ev'rybody get together Try and love one another right now Right now Right now!
Listen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5ALKAaa-TU

Image: "Cosmic Heart" by Willow Arlenea - Behind all the layers of form there is a presence of Divine Compassion, the Cosmic Heart. One can journey into the depths of one's own heart, beneath the layers of pain, grief and desire, and connect with this universal, radiating completely loving presence. It is the underlying fabric of the universe and is always available.

The Celestine Insights

1. A Critical Mass - A new spiritual awakening is occurring in human culture, an awakening brought about by a critical mass of individuals who experience their lives as a spiritual unfolding, a journey in which we are led forward by mysterious coincidences.

2. The Longer Now - This awakening represents the creation of a new, more complete worldview, which replaces a five-hundred-year-old preoccupation with secular survival and comfort. While this technological preoccupation was an important step, our awakening to life's coincidences is opening us up to the real purpose of human life on this planet, and the real nature of our universe.

3. A Matter of Energy - We now experience that we live not in a material universe, but in a universe of dynamic energy. Everything extant is a field of sacred energy that we can sense and intuit. Moreover, we humans can project our energy by focusing our attention in the desired direction...where attention goes, energy flows...influencing other energy systems and increasing the pace of coincidences in our lives.

4. The Struggle for Power - Too often humans cut themselves off from the greater source of this energy and so feel weak and insecure. To gain energy we tend to manipulate or force others to give us attention and thus energy. When we successfully dominate others in this way, we feel more powerful, but they are left weakened and often fight back. Competition for scarce, human energy is the cause of all conflict between people.

5. The Message of the Mystics - Insecurity and violence ends when we experience an inner connection with divine energy within, a connection described by mystics of all traditions. A sense of lightness--buoyancy--along with the constant sensation of love are measures of this connection. If these measures are present, the connection is real. If not, it is only pretended.

6. Clearing the Past - The more we stay connected, the more we are acutely aware of those times when we lose connection, usually when we are under stress. In these times, we can see our own particular way of stealing energy from others. Once our manipulations are brought to personal awareness, our connection becomes more constant and we can discover our own growth path in life, and our spiritual mission--the personal way we can contribute to the world.

7. Engaging the Flow - Knowing our personal mission further enhances the flow of mysterious coincidences as we are guided toward our destinies. First we have a question; then dreams, daydreams, and intuitions lead us towards the answers, which usually are synchronistically provided by the wisdom of another human being.

8. The Interpersonal Ethic - We can increase the frequency of guiding coincidences by uplifting every person that comes into our lives. Care must be taken not to lose our inner connection in romantic relationships. Uplifting others is especially effective in groups where each member can feel energy of all the others. With children it is extremely important for their early security and growth. By seeing the beauty in every face, we lift others into their wisest self, and increase the chances of hearing a synchronistic message.

9. The Emerging Culture - As we all evolve toward the best completion of our spiritual missions, the technological means of survival will be fully automated as humans focus instead on synchronistic growth. Such growth will move humans into higher energy states, ultimately transforming our bodies into spiritual form and uniting this dimension of existence with the after-life dimension, ending the cycle of birth and death.

10. Holding the Vision - The Tenth Insight is the realization that throughout history human beings have been unconsciously struggling to implement this lived spirituality on Earth. Each of us comes here on assignment, and as we pull this understanding into consciousness, we can remember a fuller birth vision of what we wanted to accomplish with our lives. Further we can remember a common world vision of how we will all work together to create a new spiritual culture. We know that our challenge is to hold this vision with intention and prayer everyday.

11. Extending Prayer Fields - The Eleventh Insight is the precise method through which we hold the vision. For centuries, religious scriptures, poems, and philosophies have pointed to a latent power of mind within all of us that mysteriously helps to affect what occurs in the future. It has been called faith power, positive thinking, and the power of prayer. We are now taking this power seriously enough to bring a fuller knowledge of it into public awareness. We are finding that this prayer power is a field of intention, which moves out from us and can be extended and strengthened, especially when we connect with others in a common vision. This is the power through which we hold the vision of a spiritual world and build the energy in ourselves and in others to make this vision a reality.

12. Yet to be Released

Author: James Redfield - Celestine Vision & The Celestine Prophecy Movie

If Life is a Game

If Life is a Game, These are the Rules
Ten Rules for Being Human

1. You Will Receive a Body - You may love it or hate it, but it will be yours for the duration of your life on Earth. [Acceptance, Self-Esteem, Respect, Pleasure]

2. You Will be Presented with Lessons - You are enrolled in a full-time school called "life". Each day in this school you will have the opportunity to learn lessons. You may like the lessons or hate them, but you have designed them as part of your curriculum. [Openness, Choice, Fairness, Grace]

3. There Are No Mistakes, Only Lessons - Growth is the process of experimentation, a series of trials, errors, and occasional victories. The failed experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiment that work. [Compassion, Forgiveness, Ethics, Humor]

4. A Lesson is Repeated Until Learned - Lessons will be repeated to you in various forms until you have learned them. When you have learned them, you can go on to the next lesson. [Awareness, Willingness, Causality, Patience]

5. Learning Does Not End - There is no part of life that does not contain lessons. If you are alive, there are lessons to be learned. [Surrender, Commitment, Humility, Flexibility]

6. "There" is No Better Than "Here" - When your "there" has become a "here", you will simply obtain a "there" that will look better to you than your present "here". [Gratitude, Unattachment, Abundance, Peace]

7. Others are Only Mirrors of You - You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects something you love or hate about yourself. [Tolerance, Clarity, Healing, Support]

8. What You Make of Your Life is Up To You - You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. [Responsibility, Release, Courage, Power, Adventure]

9. All Your Answers Lie Inside You - All you need to do is look, listen, and trust. [Listening, Trust, Inspiration]

10. You Will Forget All of this at Birth - You can remember it if you want to, by unraveling the double helix of inner knowing. [Faith, Wisdom, Limitlessness]

Author: "If Life is a Game, These are the Rules" by Cherie Carter-Scott, Ph.D - If life is a game, what are the rules? We all know the feeling: In the game of life, why am I the only one who doesn't know how to play? But now, help is at hand, because this wonderful little book will teach you the rules so that you can conquer life's challenges and manage its unpredictable ups ands downs.
Image: "Aqueous Atlantis" by Andrew Annenberg - Aqueous Atlantis unravels the radiant depths of a lost continent, of the ancient civilization of Atlantis, whose ancestry can only be intuitively implied. The aqueous ruins are now a gathering place for the dolphins. They circle images of themselves portrayed lovingly by the Atlanteans in a mosaic floor and Swim toward the light energy emitted from a gold-capped pyramid.

Magic on the Wind

May worlds of wonder
unfold before you!
Happy Birthday

This is the card I gave Mom for her 86th birthday. She really enjoys watching the hummers at the feeder outside her kitchen window...

Image: "There's Magic on the Wind" by Jody Bergsma

Grace

Saying Grace in a Restaurant

Last week, I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good, God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all! Amen!"
Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!"
Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?" As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job, and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer." "Really?" my son asked. "Cross my heart," the man replied. Then, in a theatrical whisper, he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."
Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment, and then did something I will remember the rest of my life. He picked up his sundae and, without a word, walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul is good already."

Author: Unknown
Image: Dreamkeeper print by Jody Bergsma - Let your inner voice guide you as you would listen to the whisper of the wind. For hiding inside you is a little child waiting to waken again.

Prayer of St. Francis

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

Image: "Prayer of St. Francis" by Jody Bergsma - Make me a channel of thy peace. Where there is hatred let me sow your love. Where there is injury pardon. Where there is doubt faith. Where there is darkness light. And where there is sadness Lord let me bring joy.

Game of Earth Life

"Amazing Adventure Game of Earth Life"

RULE #1 - Don't do ANYTHING that DOES NOT bring you Love, Peace & Joy. (Even if other players do.)

RULE #2 - Do EVERYTHING that DOES bring you Love, Peace & Joy. (NOTE: You may find joy in things other players do not. Be careful not to let other players trick you into letting them decide what joy is for you.)

RULE #3 - If you are on a road that DOES NOT bring you Love, Peace & Joy - move to a road that DOES. (Remember that there are freeways, turnpikes, one way streets, dead ends, hair pin curves, roads that don't go anywhere, and some that aren't even on the map! If you can't find a road you like, you are always free to make a new one.)

RULE #4 - There are many ways to play the game of Earth Life. Your only concern is how YOU play the game. Never force your way on another player, and only give directions, or repeat the rules to other players WHEN ASKED.

NOTE: Cheaters never win in this game and are ALWAYS brought back to the beginning to start the game over. THE PLAYER WHO CAN MOVE THROUGH LIFE & FIND LOVE, PEACE & JOY IN EVERYTHING is declared THE WINNER!!!

HINT: Players who make a game out of this game usually get more creative, have more fun; and win easier than players who take this game too seriously.

Good Luck

Author: "Rule Sheet" created by Laura Lee, 1993
Image:

Angel of Peace

Let There Be Peace On Earth

Let there be peace on Earth, and let it begin with me
Let there be peace on Earth, the peace that was meant to be!
With God as our Father, brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me. Let this be the moment now.
With every breath I take, let this be my joyous vow;
To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally!
Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me.

Written by Sy & Jill (Jackson) Miller, 1955
Listen here: <http://www.blueyze.net/peaceonearth.html>

Image: "Earth Angel" by Josephine Wall - With the universe in her wings, Earth Angel gently cradles our precious world, bearing gifts of tranquillity, harmony and peace for all. In her wake she brings an abundance of beautiful flowers and creatures great and small to fill the idyllic countryside. The dove of peace and the rainbow of hope are her constant companions on her flight of creation.

The Invitation

The Invitation

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.
It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain! I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it, or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own, if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, to be realistic, to remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul; if you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see beauty even when it's not pretty, every day, and if you can source your own life from its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, "Yes!"
It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up, after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done to feed the children.
It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.
It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you, from the inside, when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

Author: "The Invitation" by Oriah Mountain Dreamer, 1999
Image: "Convergence" by Catherine Andrews - The Road being so clear in hope of Tomorrows Dreams stretches its Arm of Reaching, towards our Source of Light. To Travel the journey of Life with clear Vision, Is to arrive.

Peace * Love * Joy

Images: purplemoon.com

Gold & Silver

"He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." Malachi 3:3

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study. That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it."

Image: “Guardian of the Earth Rainbow” by Eva Sakmark-Sullivan - This image celebrates humanity taking its place in the universe as peaceful loving beings and responsible caretakers of our magnificent home, a planet we call Earth.

"Gold Wrapping Paper"
The story goes that some time ago a mother punished her five year old daughter for wasting a roll of expensive gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and she became even more upset when the child used the gold paper to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift box to her mother the next morning and then said, "This is for you, Momma." The mother was embarrassed by her earlier over reaction, but her anger flared again when she opened the box and found it was empty. She spoke to her daughter in a harsh manner. "Don't you know, young lady, when you give someone a present there's supposed to be something inside the package?" She had tears in her eyes and said, "Oh, Momma, it's not empty! I blew kisses into it until it was full." The mother was crushed. She fell on her knees and put her arms around her little girl, and she begged her forgiveness for her thoughtless anger. An accident took the life of the child only a short time later, and it is told that the mother kept that gold box by her bed for all the years of her life. Whenever she was discouraged or faced difficult problems she would open the box and take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there. In a very real sense, each of us, as human beings, have been given a golden box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, family, friends and God.

Image: “Gift of the Child’s Heart” by Eva Sakmark-Sullivan - This image celebrates the oneness and universality of the innocent love that resides in the hearts of each and every child. We are called to let our own hearts beat joyfully in oneness and love.

Gift of the Sacred Pipe

To the Great Spirit, a Prayer:
That we may touch the earth with kind and gentle hands,
that freedom will be found in this and other lands,
and joyous peace shall reign throughout the world!

Image: "Gift of the Sacred Pipe, White Buffalo Calf Woman" by Rogue Guirey Simpson - First People of America & Canada
Links: Miracle, The Sacred White Buffalo *** Miracle's Second Chance *** White Buffalo-White Buffalo Calf Woman

Desiderata

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Author: "Desiderata" by Max Ehrmann, ~1950s
Image: "Child of the Universe" by Josephine Wall - She blows us kisses across time and space, gaining everlasting goodness and energy from her crystal. Legend has it that crystals embody the power to heal and protect so it is no wonder that the child of the universe draws from the crystal before her. Beside her is a galactic jet emitting a flood of charged particles to fill her with light and life. She gently blows her magic kisses across time and space, sending peace and beauty into our world.