Drawing on Serenity

             Our focus has most certainly been on messages of Acceptance lately.  Which moves smoothly in to Release and Letting Go.

             (And by “smoothly” I obviously mean: dragged kicking and screaming.)

             Here’s the thing about Life Lessons, they are so rarely clear, so rarely apparent to see or understand.   It’s our job to filter out the background garbage and unearth the learning opportunity.

             This can be so challenging.  And yet, once we do find it, once we do catch it in our sights….. it’s FABULOUS!  We simply need to use our tools, and make the discovery.  It’s not complicated, but it’s also not always easy.

             Here’s what I’m hearing,

Amongst the Chaos, there is Tranquility.

             We have the power to find it.  We have the strength to locate it, and hold it close.  It is our healing, our respite.  It is the balm our frazzled soul requires.

             The Universe is telling us to utilize our Quiet Moments, to MAKE the time to replenish our emptiness.  (Remember, if you can’t get out of town or even be alone, step away for just a few deep breaths.  We can all do at least that much.)

             What I noticed when we took off for the falls last week was that the recharge I received kept me going.  I could truly draw on that time, that energy, when I was feeling run-down or worn-out.  (And we were really only gone for the afternoon!)

             As I sat down to make notes on this post, I was drawn to a different set of cards (even though I had thought we’d continue with more of The Divine Feminine Oracle).  Here is our validation, here is where we can gather what we need for finding our peace.

“Chrysoprase  ~

compassion, love, fertility, truth uplifting

Chrysoprase helps open the heart centre and allows you to feel the presence of divine unconditional love.

You are entering into a fertile period which will enable you to creatively express your true nature in a loving and compassionate way.  Through this you will give birth to new ideas which reflect and align with your true essence.

All you would love to create, manifest, and achieve is now possible, provided you remain true to yourself.  Listen to what your heart is saying; be guided by your intuition and you will create the success and fulfillment you so rightly deserve.

Many wondrous experiences are in store for you.” 

Today’s Deck:

Crystal Oracle by Toni Carmine Salerno

Today’s Sharing:

is this picture I took with my phone.

Florence, Oregon. Where I spent the afternoon, becoming 57.

 

 

 

.

Actions of Worth.

             Embracing how very change-y our lives are can be a pretty big deal.  First, we have to acknowledge that it’s a THING.  Then, we have to appreciate the forward momentum (as opposed to whining and bemoaning the loss of what used to be).

             That’s what we DO though!  It truly IS our journey.  Which really can just be more challenging.  Better to suck it up, take a nice deep breath, and just go!  This is kind of where we are on our physical movement front these days.  And why we walked with Maxx last night.

             Transformative, it’s what living here in these bodies is all about.  Today the Deputy and I went for a wander, no ride, just an urban hike in our neighborhood.  It was rainy, but we were dressed for it.  HERE is our map.

             And here is something that we saw.  Right after chatting (in the street) with a new neighbor,  he’s a city cop.  And super nice.

This flower looks too perfect (and bright) to be real. But it absolutely is.

             The shape of our week may be changing, and the way I’ve been waking up is, too.  That’s what I keep wanting to share with you, but it’ll need to wait a few more days.

             What is NOT changing is the messages I’m getting when the day starts.  Here’s what I heard this afternoon:

changing attitude leads to changing circumstances.

              Which, to me, seems like a very Louise Hay sort of saying.  (Her recommendation is the basis of this new idea I’ve been test-driving.)  We all know that the more positive we are, the more positively everything goes in our day, our situation, our life as a whole.

             Continuing within our regular rotation, on our card altar, we have an equally positive definition corresponding with this lovely stone.

   

  “Chrysoprase  ~

fertility, love, compassion, truth uplifting

Chrysoprase” (pronounced as cris-uh-praise) “helps open the heart centre and allows you to feel the presence of divine unconditional love.  You are entering a fertile period that will enable you to creatively express your true nature in a loving and compassionate way.

Through this you will give birth to new ideas that reflect and align with your true essence.  All you would love to create, manifest, and achieve is now possible, provided you remain true to yourself.  Listen to what you heart is saying; be guided by your intuition and you will create the success and fulfillment you so rightly deserve.

Many wondrous experiences are in store for you.”

             This is so very much like yesterday’s Mermaid message!  When we walk in a genuine way, and allow our true self to keep us honestly tuned-in, we are able to make the most of what we came here to do.

Today’s Deck:

Crystal Oracle Cards by Toni Carmine Salerno

Today’s Sharing:

is from Karen Buys (and we send an extra special thank you to Rachel, for her amazing and generous photography skills).

Remember him?

             The stitching was completed this past summer (finally) and now the framing is done as well.  Hopefully he loves his new home.

A closer look.

                 He was not actually fun to stitch.  But when this project was done, well.  I was very pleased.  And now, seeing how nicely it turned out, I’m even MORE happy about it!

Freely Feeling.

            We are away this afternoon, and into the evening.  No idea what time we’ll be back, could be late, so I’m quickly jumping in here before we go meet J.D.  (Safer than being out and realizing that nothing posted at five to eleven and then crying all over the children.  Or, Dan’s dinner.  Whichever.)

             One of the things we’ve been discussing, what with all this Change Your Brain and Move Your Body project-ing lately, is food.  Where have I landed in the Clean, Raw, Vegan, Allen, Joel, and Judith eating spectrum?  Depends.  Am I home here in The Burrow?  At Mom’s?  Out to dinner with the kids?  Wandering the town?

             If we stay here, it’s gonna be pretty damn Clean.  Not too many processed foods left in the cupboards or freezer.  Organic (raw) veggies are most of what’s in the fridge, and (raw) fruit is the main course, along with salad, for most meals.    There’s some meat around, but only on Daniel’s plate.  All dairy has been replaced with almond, coconut, and soy options.  There are, however, still eggs in sight.  The best farmed ones we can find (and afford).

            Traveling over the hill to visit my parents we go with what’s easiest for them.  And we bring our own contributions, which will invariably be fresh fruits and vegetables with not-overly-chemical-laden dressings and dips.  Raw versions of things she’d like to try, or just a few “better” options for everyone to enjoy.  But, I do want you to know that when I’m there I ALWAYS eat her cookies.  And she has cookies on hand ALWAYS.  I’ve gotten better about limiting how many I eat though, so I count that as a plus.

            Going to a restaurant is basically my Get Out Of Dieting Free card.  I haven’t ordered beef or chicken in years, so that hasn’t changed.  Salmon is top of my list, then shrimp.  After that, I let my son figure out what I’d like.  Several times Emmy and I have split an entrée and had extra salads.  (Restaurant salads are outstandingly fun and creative.)  And we stop half way through the meal.  Have to.  Desserts are mandatory.

            Bottom line for me is that I learned so much about food and marketing (beef and dairy industries, you should be ashamed of yourselves!) and what it really means to be GOOD food.  I’m never going to be completely one thing or another, but I’ve found a perfectly nice in-between that suits me.  And that nice guy who cooks my meals. 

            (Ask anything about this topic, I know I’m forgetting some category or a bit of information that might be helpful for someone who is looking to eat better or lose weight or just get healthier.) 

             Speaking of great things assembled in our kitchen by my Beloved, the recipe that I could find for our salad dressing is as follows, it was labeled “vegan” because they recommended cold-pressed oil.  Just thought I’d mention it, in case that’s important to you.

1/4 cup raw tahini  (sesame seed paste)

1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 Tablespoon lemon juice

2 cloves garlic

2 Tablespoons water

1 Tablespoon agave nectar

3 Tablespoons olive oil

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 Tablespoon minced fresh parsley

Combine all ingredients, except parsley, in blender or food processor (remember, we used our wand mixer), adding more or less liquid as needed.  Add parsley and pulse until finely minced and well combined.  Dressing will thicken in refrigerator so add a bit more liquid as needed.

            For some reason ours has coconut milk in it, could be just because it tasted slightly bitter and we had a can on hand from some other thing we were making that night (or this is the wrong recipe entirely).  Don’t remember.  But there ya  have it. 

            Our card today is such a nice change from yesterday (more on that tomorrow, I guess it’s not REALLY as “let go” as I thought).

“Chrysoprase  ~  fertility, love, compassion, truth uplifting.

Chrysoprase helps open the heart centre and allows you to feel the presence of divine unconditional love.  You are entering a fertile period that will enable you to creatively express your true nature in a loving and compassionate way.  Through this you will give birth to new ideas that reflect and align with your true essence.

All you would love to create, manifest, and achieve is now possible, provided you remain true to yourself.  Listen to what your heart is saying; be guided by your intuition and you will create the success and fulfillment you so rightly deserve.

Many wondrous experiences are in store for you.”

            Nice, huh?  Yeah, we need to be on the look-out for more cards by this guy.  I am definitely a fan of his work.

Today’s Deck:

Crystal Oracle Cards by Toni Carmine Salerno

 On Our Way Out The Door:

look what Dan just brought me!

Lilacs!

              And my bike is fixed!