Compassionate Encouragement

             This past week was . . . . . tumultuous.  There have been some pretty towering highs, and a few crushing lows.   Both personally and in the news.

             As we’ve previously discussed, I have chosen to keep myself safe by “curating the feed” of what I’m exposed to.  External negativity is simply not healthy.

             In fact, that’s exactly what the Universe wants to remind us.   Protecting ourselves is vital to our wellbeing.  While at the same time staying informed and knowledgeable.  We need to consider how those outside influences are going to affect us, on all levels.

             Our priority must be to respond

gently.

             As with lovingkindness, this recommendation is about allowing ourselves the gentle gift of care.  It is enormously better for us when we make a point of avoiding harshness, avoiding the clamor of ignorance and hatred.  Yes, this can be difficult, but it must be done (or, at least attempted) if we are to stay safe, sane, and able to help.

             While we also must recognize our power (we are stronger than we realize), it is vital to surround ourselves with the comforts which sooth and cleanse, heal and repair.

             When we dig around in our toolbox, let us find those items which bring us the most joy, the gentlest compassion, the largest dose of solace.

             In a loud and ugly world, our task is to share joy, bring healing, and show the strength a gentle gesture embodies.

 

Personal Note:

photo credit needed, I can’t find the original, nor can I recall where I got this image.  This was the one I was directed to use, so I’m hoping I can figure out where it came from.

 

 

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Living, Being

             There are certain types of people in our world who plan, who set goals, who save for a rainy day, who prepare for disasters.  And then, there is my mother.  And me.

             We visited with her this afternoon, extending her birthday celebration farther into the week, just how she likes it.  She is now 78, a cancer survivor, a woman who had three children, but one died.  She is irreverent, and she can be irrational.

             What she has never been, is cruel.  Nor has she ever really thought through much of anything.  She lives in the moment.  She has a strong faith.  She believes that there is already a Divine order to the world, and we must merely float along with it.

             As we chatted and ate her favorite meal (a large To Go order of Americanized Chinese food), we spoke of life, and of how it is all about

the experience.

             Which reminded me of the thousand sorrows and thousand joys in the Buddhist belief system.  We have charted this particular life to learn our lessons and help all who need assistance.  We are here to live, to feel, and to grow.

              One of our best reminders, is that we’re human beings, not human doings.  When we “be” and observe, enjoy and breathe, we are gaining the knowledge required to move forward.  We are gathering the tools, the energy, the power which will help us the most.

             When we remember that our feelings are as transitory as this body we’re wearing, we are better able to let go of trying to control them.  We are emotional, that’s our gauge.  If we experience sorrow the same as we do joy, then our heart is filled and our soul is in balance.

             Very often we over complicate shit which is better left simple.  Every exchange with my parents is a gift, I know this, and I appreciate it/never take it for granted.

             Earlier this week I learned of an on-line friend’s death.  We weren’t close, but she was (according to family and loved ones) a beautiful and caring person.  Finding out, months later, didn’t lesson my sorrow.  Instead, it brought up sadness from my own losses.

             Grief is strange.  But it’s part of our experience.  As I sat with this heaviness inside of me, I allowed it to wrap around my soul, to permeate my spirit.  I cried.  I released.  And after, I brought in happy memories.  I was immobile and yet I was in the process.

              Tomorrow or the next day or the one after that I will pass through this again, but it will be less intense.  When that happens, I will remind myself of being, of experiencing, of living.

A great example of being in the moment.

 

 

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Languorous Locomotion.

             Remember the last time Mercury went retrograde and we turned to Sarah for guidance?  Well, she’s on the job again.  And her level-headed “making sense of chaos” manner brings even more wonderfulness to our doorstep.

             Like this passage:

“The time of Mercury retrograde is always a time of truth, even when communications seem disrupted and misunderstandings are rife, because misunderstandings themselves are part of the truth of being human.  When Mercury is retrograde we’re given a chance to address them and correct the course of events, rather than sweeping them under the carpet, ready to trip us up another day…… ”

             When we strive to live in Truth, and with lovingkindness, we take that “next step” into being our best possible self.  Approaching any astrological event with this attitude can only make good sense.

             In my ADDITIONAL HELPFUL REMINDERS sidebar over   <—–   there, you can see how very many backwards planets we’ve got spinning right now.  Should we be worried?  Nope.  We should be positive and hopeful, just like always.

             When I woke up this afternoon (not quite as early as I’ve been aiming for, but not bad either), my message was a bit slow to arrive.  Then it just made me laugh.

And now, back to me;

in caring for others we might neglect ourselves, but must not.  

Self-Care is our key to walking this path with Joy.

            So far?  Truth and Joy.  Gotcha.  All combined, our regular rotation draw, the astrological conditions, and this message, well.  What an intriguing dispatch from the Universe!

“Slowing Down  ~  Knight of Rainbows  ~  Mastery of the Physical  (r)

Meditation is a kind of medicine …..

The Knight of Rainbows is a reminder that, just like the tortoise  we carry our home with us wherever we go.  There is no need to hurry, no need to seek shelter elsewhere.  Even as we move into the depths of the emotional waters, we can remain self-contained and free from attachments.

It is a time when you are ready to let go of any expectations you have had about yourself or other people, and to take responsibility for any illusions you might have been carrying.  There is no need to do anything but rest in the fullness of who you are right now.  If desires and hopes and dreams are fading away, so much the better.

Their disappearance is making space for a new quality of stillness and acceptance of what is, and you are able to welcome this development in a way you have never been able to before.  Savor this quality of slowing down, of coming to rest, and recognizing that you are already at home.”

             And the Contrary version?  Yeah, where it says “… you are ready to let go …” in the middle there?  Right.  We aren’t.  We’d LIKE to, but we simply ain’t there yet.

             This doesn’t mean that the Knight’s message is invalid, it just tells us that we have to approach this situation with more honesty, and more diligence.  We might be holding back, and retaining a wee bit of that old mind-set.

             This (multiple planet) retrograde phase is the PERFECT time to figure it out, though.  So, whew!

Today’s Deck:

Osho Zen Tarot

Today’s Mileage:

was up to the pool and back, in cloudy warm weather, 3.869 miles, 23 minutes 41 seconds, at 9.7 MPH average speed.

Tonight’s Kitchen Adventure:

is in the process of happening right now.  Go HERE to see the (super short) clip.  I’ll get you a picture when the Deputy comes home for lunch, and keep you posted.