No I don't talk to trees...not presently anyways. But I am becoming more aware of how good nature feels, especially now that Spring is here. There is value in listening to the chirp of birds, the rustling of leaves, the whisper of the wind. A few years ago, I would have perceived these things differently. Birds chirping? Thoroughly annoying at six in the morning. Wind whispering? Probably would not have noticed unless it was gale force, then I would have been scared and heading to the basement. Leaves rustling? ditto, and then cursed all the twigs I would then have to pick up the day after the wind storm.
A few years ago, when I was visiting my unusual family in la belle province, my cousin who is in her seventies talked about meeting Jacob...the tree. Yes, indeed, she had been for a walk in the park and had seen a tree that was so beautiful that she felt compelled to go up to it and hug it and, get this, LISTEN to it. The tree told her that it's name was Jacob, and that this was its second incarnation. It told her that it was happy, and that it loved her very much. Uh Huh. At this point, I made a couple of snap judgements like: good ole coz was definitely missing a few essential marbles, and dear God why, WHY had I been born into this family's gene pool. Hopefully, I was spared this particular tree talking gene.
Now looking back, I see my cousin differently. Where I once considered her rather eccentric, I now see that she is wise...and eccentric but in a cute way. She has always treasured trees, plants and wild animals. Chipmunks will come and eat right out of her hand. She has always communed with nature. She is one of the most peaceful people I know. Sure, when she starts talking about the spirits she sees and the trees she converses with she may come across as a bit of a nutbar, but I no longer see her that way. I think she is one of the few people who has reached a level of higher vibration/consciousness so that she is capable of hearing and seeing things that I and most people can't see or hear.
As I am getting older, I find myself taking the time to watch a squirrel as it makes its way across the top of my backyard fence. I find myself craving for a walk in Springbank park before I have to open the store for the day. In the summer, I will again sit by my small tree in the back yard and listen intently to the wind rustle its leaves. Taking the time to listen, really listen, has given me this indescribably joyous feeling and I am now addicted.
My morning glass of Metamucil is so much more fun to drink when I'm standing at the window looking at the birds and squirrels. A few years ago, I never would have thought I would appreciate birds and small furry animals to an extent beyond "Oh they're so cute!" My life would have been consumed with way more busy activities and thoughts.
Maybe my "conversing with trees" gene has yet to be activated. If it ever is, I will certainly compare notes with my cousin.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Love Always Looks Out for Us
By love I mean God, the Universe, our Creator, that loving abundant joyful energy that exists in and around every atom of this universe.
Let me explain...
After reading a lot (A LOT) of self-help books, spiritual books, inspiring books, books on social anxiety disorders (which I suspect I may have a touch of), and philosophical books, you would think that I would have a handle on how a joyful life can be lived. And a lot of the time I love my life, feel in awe of all the blessings in my life (adoring husband, lovable kids, cute and fuzzy pets, long-time friends, a job I love, a great country to live in, enjoyment of nature etc.) But there are times when the darkness of the soul descends upon me and bit by bit, day by day, I begin to see myself as defective. Luckily this doesn't happen very often,but when it does, it hurts like hell.
I begin to feel unlovable, I read rejection (usually non-existent) in every encounter I have with people outside my immediate family. I want to be left alone but I don't want to be alone with my thoughts. I question my value as a friend, wife, mother, pet owner. I become very self-absorbed with my sadness then feel really bad that I am so self-absorbed and plunge into deeper sadness. I suddenly have more faults than the devil, I lose connection with any loving feeling I could possibly have. I believe I am incapable of love, I feel rotten to the core. There's a huge lump of despair in my solar plexus.
Then I go on to question my intelligence, my credibility as a business owner, my credibility as an adult. I spend way more time in bed than is healthy, eat way much more sugar than my body should have to tolerate, and I continue to descend into this dark abyss.
At this point, my positive self-talk doesn't help, I can barely articulate it in my mind. Crystals which can be so helpful through normal angst and anxiety are no match for this. I am not uplifted even for a moment when my pendulum assures me that things will be all right. Crying on my best friend's shoulder relieves the pressure of sadness a little, but not enough. A gentle, loving husband helps keep me from totally falling apart, but just barely. Clary Sage essential oil as recommended by my friend helps to lift my mood, but just a little bit. Though I think it was after I took a whiff of Clary Sage that I felt inspired to do the following, because...
When you combine all of the above with a novena or prayer of petition to St. Jude, the Patron Saint of Lost Souls, well something happens.
In this case it was a stranger who walked into my shop. Someone who knows WAY more about healing crystals than I do, someone who can feel energies in ways that I can't. She told me she liked my website and my blog. And then she gave me a hug. A little appreciation goes a long way. I hope I can do for someone what she did for me with her kind words.
(Writer reaches for a kleenex, feeling a little weepy now).
OK I'm back. So...when the usual things are not enough to combat this darkness, try a St. Jude prayer. You say it for 9 days in a meditative frame of mind. It goes like this:
May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world, now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, please pray for me. Saint Jude, Worker of Miracles, please pray for me. Saint Jude, Helper of the Hopeless, please pray for me. Amen.
There are other longer versions of prayers to St. Jude, and you can find them by googling St. Jude. I just happen to like this one. I came across it when I was in my twenties and I've used it once before, and it helped in ways that I would have never expected and didn't appreciate till a few years later.
St. Jude helps with illness, financial problems, comforting a loved one etc. When your prayer has been answered, publish the prayer in the newspaper (that's how I first learned about it years ago), or in a blog or however way you want. Somehow that action brings it full circle, and by publishing this prayer, who knows, someone may read it and it might help them in wonderful and miraculous ways.
Thank you St. Jude, for favors granted.
Thank you stranger for your kind words
Happy Valentine's day.
Let me explain...
After reading a lot (A LOT) of self-help books, spiritual books, inspiring books, books on social anxiety disorders (which I suspect I may have a touch of), and philosophical books, you would think that I would have a handle on how a joyful life can be lived. And a lot of the time I love my life, feel in awe of all the blessings in my life (adoring husband, lovable kids, cute and fuzzy pets, long-time friends, a job I love, a great country to live in, enjoyment of nature etc.) But there are times when the darkness of the soul descends upon me and bit by bit, day by day, I begin to see myself as defective. Luckily this doesn't happen very often,but when it does, it hurts like hell.
I begin to feel unlovable, I read rejection (usually non-existent) in every encounter I have with people outside my immediate family. I want to be left alone but I don't want to be alone with my thoughts. I question my value as a friend, wife, mother, pet owner. I become very self-absorbed with my sadness then feel really bad that I am so self-absorbed and plunge into deeper sadness. I suddenly have more faults than the devil, I lose connection with any loving feeling I could possibly have. I believe I am incapable of love, I feel rotten to the core. There's a huge lump of despair in my solar plexus.
Then I go on to question my intelligence, my credibility as a business owner, my credibility as an adult. I spend way more time in bed than is healthy, eat way much more sugar than my body should have to tolerate, and I continue to descend into this dark abyss.
At this point, my positive self-talk doesn't help, I can barely articulate it in my mind. Crystals which can be so helpful through normal angst and anxiety are no match for this. I am not uplifted even for a moment when my pendulum assures me that things will be all right. Crying on my best friend's shoulder relieves the pressure of sadness a little, but not enough. A gentle, loving husband helps keep me from totally falling apart, but just barely. Clary Sage essential oil as recommended by my friend helps to lift my mood, but just a little bit. Though I think it was after I took a whiff of Clary Sage that I felt inspired to do the following, because...
When you combine all of the above with a novena or prayer of petition to St. Jude, the Patron Saint of Lost Souls, well something happens.
In this case it was a stranger who walked into my shop. Someone who knows WAY more about healing crystals than I do, someone who can feel energies in ways that I can't. She told me she liked my website and my blog. And then she gave me a hug. A little appreciation goes a long way. I hope I can do for someone what she did for me with her kind words.
(Writer reaches for a kleenex, feeling a little weepy now).
OK I'm back. So...when the usual things are not enough to combat this darkness, try a St. Jude prayer. You say it for 9 days in a meditative frame of mind. It goes like this:
May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world, now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, please pray for me. Saint Jude, Worker of Miracles, please pray for me. Saint Jude, Helper of the Hopeless, please pray for me. Amen.
There are other longer versions of prayers to St. Jude, and you can find them by googling St. Jude. I just happen to like this one. I came across it when I was in my twenties and I've used it once before, and it helped in ways that I would have never expected and didn't appreciate till a few years later.
St. Jude helps with illness, financial problems, comforting a loved one etc. When your prayer has been answered, publish the prayer in the newspaper (that's how I first learned about it years ago), or in a blog or however way you want. Somehow that action brings it full circle, and by publishing this prayer, who knows, someone may read it and it might help them in wonderful and miraculous ways.
Thank you St. Jude, for favors granted.
Thank you stranger for your kind words
Happy Valentine's day.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
The properties of the Citrine crystal
The reason I chose citrine today is that today I've been feeling rather grumpy. One of those "woe is me, my life sucks, I don't feel inspired, and I'm bored." Did you know that boredom is as bad for our health as stress. So, I'll be carrying a citrine in my pocket today and however long it takes to resume my happily fulfilled self.
Citrine is a stone of joy. It is associated with the solar plexus chakra and the crown chakra. Citrine is said to hold pure sunlight and never to absorb any negativity. As a matter of fact, you can cleanse your other stones by laying them on a citrine cluster. Citrine is also the stone of prosperity, attracting money or business (great stone to have if you're in retail).
To attract wealth place a citrine in the wealth corner of your home or business, which is the farthest back left point from your front door or from the door into an individual room. In my case, at the store it was in the furthest, darkest, most cobwebby corner of the storage room...yeeeesh. But if it helps, it was worth dealing with imaginary (or not so imaginary) spiders.
This happy yellow stone will clear any dark spots at home caused by restless spirits or negative earth energies. Keep citrine crystals in a room that seems cold or unfriendly. This protective stone drives away darkness and night fears and protects against negative people.
Physically citrine stimulates digestion, the spleen and the pancreas.
Citrine is the birthstone for November. Yellow topaz is also accepted as the November birthstone.
Citrine is a stone of joy. It is associated with the solar plexus chakra and the crown chakra. Citrine is said to hold pure sunlight and never to absorb any negativity. As a matter of fact, you can cleanse your other stones by laying them on a citrine cluster. Citrine is also the stone of prosperity, attracting money or business (great stone to have if you're in retail).
To attract wealth place a citrine in the wealth corner of your home or business, which is the farthest back left point from your front door or from the door into an individual room. In my case, at the store it was in the furthest, darkest, most cobwebby corner of the storage room...yeeeesh. But if it helps, it was worth dealing with imaginary (or not so imaginary) spiders.
This happy yellow stone will clear any dark spots at home caused by restless spirits or negative earth energies. Keep citrine crystals in a room that seems cold or unfriendly. This protective stone drives away darkness and night fears and protects against negative people.
Physically citrine stimulates digestion, the spleen and the pancreas.
Citrine is the birthstone for November. Yellow topaz is also accepted as the November birthstone.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Haiti
Unless you have been living on another planet, you are aware of the devastation occurring in Haiti. The hardship facing the residents of Port-au-Prince is unimaginable to someone living in Canada, though the media has been quite descriptive so maybe it is possible to somewhat imagine the horrendous time that these unfortunate people are going through.
My gratitude and admiration to all who have given their time and and left their comfortable homes to tend to the many victims. They are my heroes.
Like most, we have donated money to the Red Cross so that they can continue giving their much needed help.
One more thing I have done is send loving and healing thoughts and prayers to the people of Haiti. I hope that they are somehow comforted in their hour of need, I pray that each one has enough to eat and good water to drink, and I cheer every bit of good news I hear about the good works that have been going on so far.
God bless them all.
My gratitude and admiration to all who have given their time and and left their comfortable homes to tend to the many victims. They are my heroes.
Like most, we have donated money to the Red Cross so that they can continue giving their much needed help.
One more thing I have done is send loving and healing thoughts and prayers to the people of Haiti. I hope that they are somehow comforted in their hour of need, I pray that each one has enough to eat and good water to drink, and I cheer every bit of good news I hear about the good works that have been going on so far.
God bless them all.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Things I learned about hemorrhoids
1. It's not a fun condition.
2. If it's REALLY painful and bigger than a grape, don't wait a few days before going to see your doctor.
3. You won't enjoy seeing your doctor, because he will probably recommend lancing said hemmi at which point you will burst into tears of sheer terror.
4. It is not a good idea to ask your doctor if he is sure he knows what he's doing.
5. It's a bad idea to ask more than 6 times. But you will ask, you just can't help it.
6. The local anesthetic needle isn't as painful (or as big) as you feared. Try not to think about it.
7. The lancing procedure is fine because you are frozen, your anxiety level is returning to normal, the relief from relentless pain is pure bliss. You want to buy your doctor a car, you are so grateful for the relief.
8. The bliss experience is short, however, and when the freezing comes out, you guessed it, more pain. You want to be home, on the couch with your blankie and some pain killers (which may or may not work). Distracting yourself with a good movie is a must at this point.
9. You feel as if you will never see your sense of humour eveeeeer again.
10. You feel heroic. Why? I really don't know, but you feel heroic.
11. Metamucil becomes your best friend.
12. Your sense of humour returns.
13. Life goes on.
2. If it's REALLY painful and bigger than a grape, don't wait a few days before going to see your doctor.
3. You won't enjoy seeing your doctor, because he will probably recommend lancing said hemmi at which point you will burst into tears of sheer terror.
4. It is not a good idea to ask your doctor if he is sure he knows what he's doing.
5. It's a bad idea to ask more than 6 times. But you will ask, you just can't help it.
6. The local anesthetic needle isn't as painful (or as big) as you feared. Try not to think about it.
7. The lancing procedure is fine because you are frozen, your anxiety level is returning to normal, the relief from relentless pain is pure bliss. You want to buy your doctor a car, you are so grateful for the relief.
8. The bliss experience is short, however, and when the freezing comes out, you guessed it, more pain. You want to be home, on the couch with your blankie and some pain killers (which may or may not work). Distracting yourself with a good movie is a must at this point.
9. You feel as if you will never see your sense of humour eveeeeer again.
10. You feel heroic. Why? I really don't know, but you feel heroic.
11. Metamucil becomes your best friend.
12. Your sense of humour returns.
13. Life goes on.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
The Power of Prayer
Sometimes I forget to pray. I go for days, sometimes weeks without praying. Eventually, this catches up with me and I start to feel disconnected from my higher self. Or from God. Or from Spirit...whatever. I just know that something isn't right, that I am too much of my problems, my frustrations, my worries, my jealousies, my insecurities... too much of day to day. That's when, something or someone steps in and reminds me to pray.
This time it was the book Trust Your Vibes by Sonia Choquette. I was listlessly reading it, agreeing with some of it, and came upon the chapter about praying. ahhha, that just what I needed to be reminded of. Praying.
It's funny how something as simple as a heartfelt plea to make the day better can work. I don't formally pray. I just ask for God to relieve me of my current negative feelings and thoughts, because I so badly need a break. And my prayers are answered. Except for the one where I win a huge amount of money in a lottery (and I get the feeling God does know what's best for me, and apparently winning a lot of money probably wouldn't be in my best interest. I would actually like to test that theory.)
Now we can get all analytical with this and discuss whether God actually steps in and helps, or it's our subconscious responding to our desire, or it's a placebo effect with prayer being a talisman "make my day better" bingo the day is better.
I don't have the answer, all I know, is that when I resumed praying (for a better day, giving thanks for a better day, asking for guidance) my day got better. And I am more at peace.
This time it was the book Trust Your Vibes by Sonia Choquette. I was listlessly reading it, agreeing with some of it, and came upon the chapter about praying. ahhha, that just what I needed to be reminded of. Praying.
It's funny how something as simple as a heartfelt plea to make the day better can work. I don't formally pray. I just ask for God to relieve me of my current negative feelings and thoughts, because I so badly need a break. And my prayers are answered. Except for the one where I win a huge amount of money in a lottery (and I get the feeling God does know what's best for me, and apparently winning a lot of money probably wouldn't be in my best interest. I would actually like to test that theory.)
Now we can get all analytical with this and discuss whether God actually steps in and helps, or it's our subconscious responding to our desire, or it's a placebo effect with prayer being a talisman "make my day better" bingo the day is better.
I don't have the answer, all I know, is that when I resumed praying (for a better day, giving thanks for a better day, asking for guidance) my day got better. And I am more at peace.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Pentacles and Pentagrams
At Moonstone Path we sell sterling silver pentacles and pentagrams. I am embarrassed to say that I did not know the difference between and pentacle and a pentagram. Every once in a while someone would say that they heard that pentacles were evil, a symbol of devil worship. Even though I knew zilch about pentacles and pentagrams, I never sensed that they had dark energies. Pentacles are stars and circles, those two things can't be evil in my point of view.
After looking on the Internet I found some information that clears things up somewhat.
An upright pentagram is a 5 pointed star with one point aligned upwards.
An inverted pentagram is a 5 pointed star with two points aligned upwards
An upright pentacle is generally defined as an upright pentagram surrounded by a circle. The circle represents protection, and the cycle of life.
Both the pentagram and pentacle have similar meanings. In the early days of Christianity, the pentagram and pentacle was worn and used as symbol of Christ. Here's an interesting fact. The inverted pentagram (which is used by Satanists today) was actually a symbol of the divine Christ descending to earth in the flesh.
Both symbols actually were around millenniums before Christianity. These are very old symbols.
The five points of the pentagram have been known to represent the five wounds of Christ. It is also a representation of humankind, the five points corresponding to the head, two arms and two legs.
Nowadays, most people in Wiccan and Pagan circles give the pentacle and pentagram very positive meanings. The pentacle's four lower points represent the elements of the world: earth, air, fire and water. The corner of the star pointing upward symbolizes divine Spirit.
Interesting fact: The pentagram was used by the Hebrews, and was sometimes called the seal of Solomon. More specifically, the pentagram was used as the seal of the City of Jerusalem. There have been fragments of jars dating back to the 4th century BC with a seal impression of a pentagram with the Hebrew letters YRSLM (Jerusalem).
Now I know a little more about pentacles, I can understand how synchronicity worked, by me having the desire to include these wonderful pieces of jewellery as part of our stock even though I knew very little about their history and symbolism.
So if someone asks if pentacles are evil, or of the devil, the answer is a resounding NO
After looking on the Internet I found some information that clears things up somewhat.
An upright pentagram is a 5 pointed star with one point aligned upwards.
An inverted pentagram is a 5 pointed star with two points aligned upwards
An upright pentacle is generally defined as an upright pentagram surrounded by a circle. The circle represents protection, and the cycle of life.
Both the pentagram and pentacle have similar meanings. In the early days of Christianity, the pentagram and pentacle was worn and used as symbol of Christ. Here's an interesting fact. The inverted pentagram (which is used by Satanists today) was actually a symbol of the divine Christ descending to earth in the flesh.
Both symbols actually were around millenniums before Christianity. These are very old symbols.
The five points of the pentagram have been known to represent the five wounds of Christ. It is also a representation of humankind, the five points corresponding to the head, two arms and two legs.
Nowadays, most people in Wiccan and Pagan circles give the pentacle and pentagram very positive meanings. The pentacle's four lower points represent the elements of the world: earth, air, fire and water. The corner of the star pointing upward symbolizes divine Spirit.
Interesting fact: The pentagram was used by the Hebrews, and was sometimes called the seal of Solomon. More specifically, the pentagram was used as the seal of the City of Jerusalem. There have been fragments of jars dating back to the 4th century BC with a seal impression of a pentagram with the Hebrew letters YRSLM (Jerusalem).
Now I know a little more about pentacles, I can understand how synchronicity worked, by me having the desire to include these wonderful pieces of jewellery as part of our stock even though I knew very little about their history and symbolism.
So if someone asks if pentacles are evil, or of the devil, the answer is a resounding NO
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