Walk the Labyrinth

Alice came to a fork in the road. "Which road do I take?" she asked.
"Where do you want to go?" responded the Cheshire cat.
"I don't know," Alice answered.
Then," said the cat, "it doesn't matter."
~~Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland~~

M friend Frances told me about a labyrinth workshop she had participated in. The thought of a labyrinth was intriguing, so I looked up some information on the internet. Lo and behold, there were a few sites explaining how to design a labyrinth. I started drawing the pattern in my notebook and found that simply drawing the pattern had a calming effect on me. So I drew more patterns page after page of the same labyrinth pattern. This was before we even owned Moonstone Path, before we had access to it's huge back-yard. I was just content with drawing labyrinths on paper.

Then, in the early spring, when the snow was gone, and I saw how huge the back-yard was, the thought of building a labyrinth came and took up residence in my mind. It would not leave. So we built a labyrinth.

We laid it out at the far end of the yard, the entrance and exit are from the West. Hubs and I built it on Victoria Day. It was warm and sunny, what a great day to spend a few hours laying out the Labyrinth. We designed it with white lines to mark where the walls are. It takes about 5 minutes to walk it.

Everyone is welcome. Wear comfortable shoes.

Definitions of Prosperity

Prosper: to be successful or fortunate, esp. in financial respects; thrive; flourish (courtesy of dictionary.com)

I felt very prosperous today. For many reasons.

1) I met my sales goal for the day (we're not talking a huge sum of money here, but I did OK today).

2) Sheilha who is a medium and channeller was at my store, Moonstone Path, to answer any questions about the workshop on Chakras she will be holding later this week. While she was there, a young couple came in and Sheilha was able to provide comfort and reassurance to the woman who is going through a VERY tough time.

3) A friend of mine who has been on the spiritual path for a long time and has come through the "darkness of the soul" many times met Sheilha and they found that they had a lot in common and so a strong friendship has developed.

4) I love it when Moonstone Path is a meeting ground for people who may not have known each other otherwise. It's a wonderful energy.

5) I am very grateful to be part of all this.

I feel very prosperous today.

About Masks

My youngest, Julie, talked me into helping her with costumes for a dance recital the studio she works at is holding. Mother, like daughter, are not into crafts, and as we pondered the intricacies of fastening a fluffy feather boa to wire and nylon angel wings (glue is not always reliable) I couldn't help but think that the many times I got out of doing parenty stuff like that with lame excuses such as a full time job, etc. are now catching up with me. Karma.

Anyway, another thing Julie was working on was a regular mask that she was painting for one of the dances she taught. She transformed a plain white mask into a mysterious shiny funky sparkly charcoal grey one. Maybe the kid's got crafting blood in her after all.

Looking at the mask got me thinking about the masks we wear (and not only the ones we wear at Hallowe'en parties). Some people wear the mask of self-confidence, and they wear it well. No-one knows how unsure of themselves and how insecure they are. Some people wear the mask of sacrifice, doing good works for community, while simultaneously giving in to their urges to control, manipulate and judge. Some people wear the mask of cheerfulness when they are feeling anything but cheerful. Some wear the mask of serenity when their insides are churning with angst and loss of life's purpose.

Do I wear a mask. Probably. There's the "retailer's mask", the "responsible adult who knows what she's doing" mask. Also the "Zen Mask", the "I love everyone without judgement mask", the "I've got it together and am eternally happy mask" and the "I know you're talking bullshit but I won't let on that I know because I don't want to offend you mask".

These are some of the masks that I want to resolve. I want those masks to become my reality. I really want to be a responsible adult who knows what she's doing. I really want to love everyone without judgement (sometimes hard to do). I want my Zen and Happy masks to be my reality.

It can be done. Detachment, non-judgement, inner peace are all achievable.

We wear masks because (I think) we assume people won't like us if they see the real thing. Granted, people won't like you if you're rude, abusive and dangerous to be around, but we carry our fear of being disliked to the extremes. Suddenly we worry about whether we said something unintentionally offensive, we worry about not fitting in, about voicing an opinion that might not be so popular. We worry so much.

I asked my angels, spirit guides, the universe for inspiration in writing this blog. As I sit here staring off into space trying to find a way to end this post, I happen to look at my quartz crystal sphere. I love the play of light going through it. Such beauty. And I bet it doesn't wear any mask at all.

Signs, signs, everywhere a sign

Clever title huh? It's from a song of my teen hood past. I think it's clever. Never mind.

Subtleties were never my forte as I was growing up. I was not an astute observer of life, I guess. My mother used to say I wouldn't notice stuff, unless it jumped up an bit me on the nose, whatever that means.

Anyway, I have become more sensitive to hidden (and not so hidden) messages coming to me. Lately, it's been the mention of Goddess. Case in point -- Maggie (my next door store owner of Earth Angels) lent me some books to read (love that woman). One of them was "Goddesses in older women".

Secondly, I had a strong compulsion to order a Goddess figurine for my store, Moonstone Path. I never had any such strong desire to order Goddess items, other than pendants a long time ago.

Thirdly, a recent customer of mine suggested a book I should read titled "Mysteries of the Dark Moon; the healing power of the dark Goddess".

Methinks that I should become acquainted with the subject of Goddesses. I think there is a lesson somewhere in there for me.