I love my early morning walks, and today I was surprised by a drizzling of rain almost as soon as I walked out the door.  I almost turned around to go back inside, and then decided,  “Rain is sweet, rain is what this earth needs, and I won’t melt!”  I kept walking and it got harder.  I saw another woman walking as well. We passed each other and  smiled. It was nice to know we were both walking in the rain and experiencing it together.  Eventually the rain slowed down and as I got to the top of one of our streets I saw the hills in the distance glowing from the sun.  Blue sky was peeking between the clouds and I thought,    “This is Life!”
We all have times when  it feels like life is raining on us, hard times happen.  And yet as we find the courage to keep going, and keep walking through the challenges, we know there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  Others will come out to support us, who may be going through similar challenges. The sun in always shinning whether we perceive the clouds or not.
Take heart.! What ever you are experiencing, breathe, and know God’s Light, Love and Blessings are there for you in the midst of it all.  Take a higher hill in consciousness and look at it from a different perspective. Everything is meant to bless you once you stop calling it bad or good.
Ponder this:
Did you ever think your challenge, may be someone else’s blessing in disguise?

Dear Friends,

The ancient sailors used to navigate by the North Star to find their way to a final destination.   I believe, we all need our own North Star to help guide our lives, and divine destination.
In the morning my routine is to thank God for the day before I get out of bed, go to my meditation chair, say prayers, meditate and read inspirational books and/or verses.  I then do some form of exercise, walking, yoga, stretching exercises and walk the labyrinth.  However there are days when I wake up, just not wanting to complete this routine.  The pull of checking my phone or starting on my computer becomes  stronger than my meditation practice.  When I succumb to those days, nothing seems to flow right. It feels like an uneasy day, and not much seems to get done.  When I overcome the “pull” and just say,  ‘I will only sit in my meditation chair for a few moments,’  this action becomes my North Star.
I know when I sit in this comfortable chair that can rock slightly, I feel at peace, I feel comforted, I feel connected to the Great Divine Energy of the Universe.   The few minutes I think I will sit there becomes longer, prayers flow, and  meditation becomes deep. I am fulfilled and guided with grace and ease for the rest of the day. All things fall into place. My attitude is serene. I accomplish more than I had planned. All works together for my good.
Love is leading my way.
What is your North Star?  Let it be your Spiritual tool first thing in the morning.  Phones and computers can wait.
Let  God  be your North Star in the morning.
***

I love Spring!  I love seeing the new buds on the trees ready to burst forth in joy.  I love hearing the birds singing and knowing new life is in the eggs in the nest.  Everything is coming alive again!  Nature is such a wonderful teacher.  Everyday can be Springtime in our hearts and lives as well.  Ask  the Divine for a new idea, a new opportunity, a fresh perspective, a spring in your step, and watch what happens.  God placed within you unlimited ideas to create a life of JOY, abundance, love and service. The NEW is ready to emerge within you.
Are you ready?  Are you willing?
CLAIM God’s Springtime of Greater Good  in your life. on a daily basis.    Watch your life bloom!

Happy Spring!

There are times in our lives when we seem to get stuck looking at life as only flowing one way – our way. Many friends and colleagues  ask me to do prayer treatments for a new idea, clarity on an issue, and/or  removal of blocks in consciousness to open up greater good and blessings.  Being close to any situation tends to bring us to “tunnel vision”  thinking and seeing. What if we looked at all situations upside down, backwards or sideways.   I believe God has ALL ways in Mind when an event happens, an issue occurs or situation arises. God sees all the possibilities, all the outcomes, all the blessings.  People who have had mystical experiences say they see “everything at once.”  In our everyday lives, we can begin to open our hearts and minds to see  everything at once.  When someone hurts you, it isn’t just them.  It may be a whole series of events and choices in their life and in yours to bring you both together at that time and place.  Instead of being hurt, be compassionate. One hurts because one  has been hurt.  Remember if you walked in his or her shoes with all the life experiences he/she has had, you would have the SAME CONSCIOUSNESS doing, saying, thinking and feeling the same way.
Ernest Holmes said “Change your thinking, change your life.” Another idea is, “Change your perception, Change the outcome!”
I like to do “circle a word” puzzles. I love to find words whether they are horizontal,, vertical, diagonal or backwards.  Sometimes I just can’t find the word until I take a break and come back to it later.  In any situation, taking a break pausing for moment, leaving the area before saying anything you wish you could take back, is a wise and beneficial idea. When you come back you will have a fresh outlook on the situation.
I also like to find small hidden pictures in a whole picture. Sometimes I just have to turn the page upside down so my eyes don’t “assume” the picture is placed in a certain way. Sometimes the pictures are in the spaces between objects.
When we look at an upsetting event, it will help to step back and look at it as something you need to know, learn, or take action on. The space in the event is the blessing. Claim the blessing, find the good, call it forth, and it will come.

Sometimes you need to look at lifefrom a different perspective.

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,  while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”
– Lao Tzu

I love to walk the labyrinth in the mornings. It is a beautiful time for peaceful contemplation and meditation.
One morning I walked it and noticed a new rock in the center I had never seen  there before.  I picked it up and saw  the word “LOVE” on it. I was so touched, and realized someone placed it there at the Renewal of Vows ceremony on Valentine’s Day.  I do not know who this person is, and I am grateful for the love within them that made the choice to place it there.
What a beautiful reminder that LOVE is the center of ALL people, places, things, nature, animals, sentient and non sentient beings.  We know GOD is the center of All and God is Love so it reasons that LOVE is at the center and there is no circumference.
• Love/God is the center of your neighbor who hasn’t spoken to you in years.
• Love/God is the center of the person in the car who cuts you off on the freeway.
• Love/God is the center of the family member who tries your patience at family reunions.
• Love/God is the center of the co-worker who takes your creative idea and uses it for his or her own.
• Love/God is the center of the person you love who has hurt you.
Love/God is ALWAYS the center, just like the heart of the artichoke.  In order to get to the heart, you have to peel away the spiky ends. It may take awhile, but the more you peel, the softer the artichoke gets and finally you will arrive at the center where the taste is supreme.
How do we get to the LOVE center of people.  By treating each one with kindness, respect,  understanding, patience, encouragement, and acceptance for who they are right now and  KNOWING the good is always within.  When we can see the good, we draw it out.  The heart is exposed and love appears.
Thank you to the person who walked the labyrinth and reminded me, LOVE is the center of All there is.
***

Saturday, February 14th  is the Day
of Love, Joy and Delight.
It is Valentines Day.

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13   

It’s More Than Saying I Love You
We give on this day candy and flowers,
But we never stop to say thank you for the many hours.
You have stood by my side and gave a smile,
As if to tell our hearts it has been worth every mile.
No need to buy a teddy bear or even a card.
It’s pretty simple and not at all hard.
Just put your arms around me and hold me tight,
And say without words that in your heart all is right.
You may say I Love You throughout the year,
But on this day you need to make sure.
The words so sweet and straight from your heart,
That your life would be lonely without my part.
So put forth the effort and take the time,
Look me in the eye and say I’m glad you’re mine.
– by Angel Watchin

Last week I was on a lovely personal retreat.  It had been raining and the mist felt like God kisses.  I was comfy, warm and loving the little house I rented for a few days on the Questhaven Ministries campus in Escondido.  I give myself this time once a year for self reflection, contemplation, meditation and prayer.  The next morning I was taking my walk on a lovely path in nature, when somehow  my mind seemed to keep returning to situations from the past.  At the same time, I kept hearing hammering up ahead and wondered where that was coming from   Sound in nature carries and it could be from any direction.  Thinking about the past, and looking ahead to discover the noise, made me totally unaware of the PRESENT.   I did not see the deep ruts in the road from all the rain we have had and OOPS I fell down hard on my right side and sprained my left ankle.  Pain and light-headedness almost engulfed me, but I put my hands around my ankle and started to pray.  Soon I was able to stand up and walk back uphill (took 35 minutes) to my little retreat house.  I did what was necessary to bring the swelling down, then stayed quiet the rest of the day and reflected on what just happened.
How many times have we heard, be here now, stay in the present, etc. I was not in the present when I needed to be, so I took a slip of consciousness which resulted in a fall to my body.  It made me “remember” how important it is to keep our minds on God, on good, on love, on peace, on harmony, on blessings right here and now!
Love and forgive your past, but don’t “tary” on it.
Love and prepare for the future,  but don’t dwell on it.
Love and be Present in the NOW always. Be aware, be alert, be AWAKE and be grateful to all the good that is yours in this moment of time.

 The Present Moment is the only moment available to us,
and it is the door to all moments.
-Thich Nhat Hanh

The picture above says it all for me this week.
Quiet, Beauty, Trust, Surrender, Peace,
Taking time to be by yourself for self reflection,and  contemplation will refresh your  body, mind and soul.  Being quiet touches the very place where God resides within you. This is the place where you can surrender what no longer serves you and be open to new ideas and, a new direction for your life.
There is a quote by Albert Einstein which I love.
“I must be willing to give up what I am
in order to become what I will be.”
January is almost over and many of us have written down our goals, our dreams, our visions, even our bucket list. Are they all really that important?  What if GOD has a greater idea for your life?!  Greater Love, Greater Blessings, Greater Good!             Wouldn’t you want that instead?
Take your lists, bless them, then let them go and say;Thank you God, for this or something even Greater. I accept the Divine Plan for my life  unfolding quickly and in peace with grace and ease. I release the strains and anxieties I create by pushing for what I think I want or should have.
I am quiet in Your beauty God. I trust, I surrender,
I am at Peace.