The Mystery

From John O'Donohue:

It is strange to be here. The mystery never leaves you alone. Behind your image, below your words, above your thoughts, the silence of another world waits.

What do you see in this picture? What is it of?

This picture exemplifies O'Donohue's above quote. A range of emotions arise in me as I look at this: awe, wonder, curiosity, glee, calm. The more I look at it, the more the branches, and even trunks, of the trees sway as though blown by the wind. The golden streak slashing through it glows like a streak of flame through the trees. The image pulls me in and insists I stay outside and watch all at the same time. It demands focus then sways with an invisible breeze. What does it do for you?

Wetland and Heron

A year ago, walking through a farmland-turned-development near my house as dusk was approaching. As I walked in one direction, two women were walking toward me. I was watching them approach when I saw something with huge wings glide by right behind them at head height. Whatever it was landed in a marshy patch of knee-high weeds to my right. The women never even noticed it. My mind raced to name it: an eagle? a hawk? an owl? I walked forward, straining to see into the tall grasses on my right. As I came abreast of them, I saw a lanky, long-billed bird standing there: a heron.

http://www.tikalpark.com/images/pictures/bare-throated-tiger-heron.jpg

Returning from my walk, I looked up Heron as a totem and found it held balance, independence and fierce aggressiveness, and read this advice: "You know what is best for you and you should follow that path. Be aggressive when opportunities present themselves - don't let them get away from you."

Tonight, I walked that same route. I noticed they've built houses around the space where I saw Heron. My heart broke when I realized the marshy suburban wetland where Heron stood waiting for me was now a man-made grassy hillock. Achingly, I apologized for what we allowed to be done to Heron's small wetland space.

Inner Freedom

 Inner freedom and the capacity to actualize this freedom outwardly is the essence of spirituality. This freedom is not, however, a state to be achieved; it is not a goal to be attained. Rather, it is a way of being inwardly which is awakened out of its dormant state by our untying of knots that limit and distort our vision of who we are.                             ~Christina Feldman

http://www.flamingpear.com/images/disorganized.jpg

 Inner freedom ~~ one of those elusive traits or ways of being that disappears the moment we focus on it. If we think about it, if we attempt to reach it, that immediately invalidates it. Why? Ah. Well, there's the rub.... if we're truly inwardly free, we are not attached to being so. Funny thing that. Once we focus on it, we show our attachment to it and, poof!, it disappears.

I also love the thought of 'our untying of knots' internally, spirituality, thoughtfully. What are some of those knots? For me, one is my desire to please others. Not all the time. And, if one had the opportunity to ask my mother, she'd say that I was contrary and rarely cared to please others. But that's not true. I've struggled for years to resist the easier path of 'going along'. Not just to resist, but checking in with my heart, with my soul, to learn what MY path was.

What knot in your life do you need to untie?

Gaia's Garden

from Colette Baron-Reid

Wisdom of the Hidden Realms

"In Gaia's Garden, you have everything you need to make your dreams come true. ... Gaia...represents the abundance of Nature. ... This is also a sign to remind you to ... maintain an attitude of humility and gratitude as your greatest good now manifests in you."

What a fascinating card and interpretation! Things are coming to fruition. In conversation with a friend, we were chatting about the necessity to remain humble, and the consequences when we do not, when we forget to thank Creator for gifts given and others for their support and guidance.

We all have a deep connection with the abundant Goddess of the Earth!

Warrior of Light

The warrior of light has dreams.

His dreams carry him forward.

But he never makes the mistake of thinking

that the way is broad and the gate is wide.

Paulo Coelho

Warrior of the Light: a Manual

Remind me again, she said, what is a Warrior of Light?
A Warrior of Light is one who is willing to lay everything on the line for the Light.

What is the Light? she asked.
The Light is one word we use to encompass all things good: truth, freedom, community, justice, joy and love, among other wonders. None of them are possessions. All of them are far more important than anything we can hold onto physically.

Can I become a Warrior of Light?
I don't see why not. Everyone has that possibility within them. It is up to you, sweet child; it is your choice that will lead you there. That and the guidance of Spirit and all the Warriors who have come before you.

Will you guide me too?
If it is the will of Spirit, I would be honored to be one of your guides.

Ash Wednesday

With mixed emotions, I begin this blog... I've lived in many different spiritual worlds throughout this life. Ash Wednesday arises from the realm where I began....

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of what has long been my favorite season of the Catholic calendar. Those words, all are from the dust, and to the dust all return, echo through my very soul on this day. I believe in the Circle of Life. I believe that all things begin from Mother Earth and all things are eventually reclaimed by and returned to Her.

Therein lies the cause of my mixed emotions about this posting: my Catholic upbringing included honoring Mother Earth. I am drawn to both Father God who resides in the heavens and Mother Goddess whose very body is the earth. I have danced with both and find no difficulty or dishonor in that.

Being from the dust, returning to the dust reminds me of one bare truth: impermanence. It is the one day of the year when I confront my mortality and am humbled before my Creator and Creatrix. As I breathe in the ashes of memory, I breathe out the peace that settles my soul. Amen.

Pope resigning

Astounding all the buzz that's out there in the world over the announcement of Pope Benedict XVI's decision to resign at the end of February. He's a religious leader of a sect of Christianity that has, in recent years, lost more and more context in today's world. Still, he holds a position of amazing power.

He leaves behind a church that is deeply conflicted, both with itself and with the outside world.
The church is facing massive cultural and demographic changes. Its staunch positions against contraception and the ordination of women make it look out of touch in a changing world.  [http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/editorials/article/Pope-Benedict-s-act-of-wisdom-4270157.php]

That is an understatement ... it not only looks out of touch; it is out of touch. This pope, perhaps more that his predecessor, sees the writing on the wall and doesn't quite know how to cope with the change. One can only hope that the church he leads is beginning to see the necessity of change also. It's spent so much time establishing itself as an earthly power that it's forgotten that it's true charge is to spiritual. Those two things are often juxtaposed to each other rather than paired.

In just over two weeks time, there will be another conclave and another papal election. It will be the first time in 600 years that the previous pope will be alive to see that vote and change occur. I wonder what his influence would be? Who would he support to be pope after him? What direction would he council? or perhaps will he council?

What a time we inhabit!