Serenity Sunday

Releasing....such a powerful word. Each auumn the flowers and trees release their leaves and prepare to sleep for winter, for us it is a time to release the old energies and bring in  new energy. For me this has been a time of weeding out the unnecessary parts of my life, those things that do not serve my higher good anymore. Our energy will seem to lower for a while but we are simply following mother earth's cycles and before we know it winter will be over and spring will bring fresh life and the cycles start over again....Ah, the rythym of life!



My List:

1.) My kids

2.) A safe home for my cats

3.) Positive energy

4.) Fresh starts

5.) Meditation time

6.) School days

7.) Old green leather recliner (relief on my sore back!)

8.) Great freinds

9.) A beautiful yard

10.) My Dell laptop

Just Another Pet Peeve

I usually don't have much trouble with people giving me a bad time about my spiritual beliefs but I have this neighbor who seems to delight in scoffing at what I have experienced to be real. Usually I just let it roll of my back and pay no attention to folks like this but this one seems to have crawled under my skin, I'm not really sure as to why.... it's not like I even care what he disagrees with.

I sat on my porch this afternoon and pondered this question in the glorious afternoon sun and tried to brainstorm to myself as to why this bothers me so much. My first few answers such as "Maybe it threatens him." and "This just goes to prove that ignorance is not bliss...." or "Could he possibly be giving me a bad time to get my attention?" didn't seem to make a whole lot of sense so I found myself continuing to mull this over while cooking dinner and cleaning up the dishes afterward. Then the thought occurred to me that I was giving this entirely too much thought and that was probably just what his intention was. I really think that it bothers me because somehow I feel threatened...like my beliefs can be taken from me, which I know is utterly ridiculous. Then the question that really needed to be answered was "Why would I feel that way in the first place?!"

Not too many years ago, I was wandering aimlessly, looking for something to believe in and had nearly reached the point that it was all just hogwash, smoke and mirrors like this neighbor has...then one day wicca found me...I can't really explain how that works but for the first time in my life I realized that this new concept made absolute perfect sense...it felt so right, like it had always been there...waiting for me to notice. I realize that no one can take my spirituality but I also know that to me it is worth more than any treasure of silver or gold or precious jewels and I feel protective of it. There are many out there that put the few of us in a very bad light whether it be out of ignorance or fad and it makes me angry. Please don't lump me in with those that wear it like a charade...something to use to draw attention to themselves, be true to yourself and the god and goddess...the universal spirit. It goes far beyond a spirituality...it is a way of life...a reverence for nature and creation...respect for all that is natural around you.

I hold my beliefs dear to me and somehow writing this blog just seems to reaffirm the path I have chosen to be the correct one for me. I resolve to not let those who like to dismiss me bother me...I will continue on believing and ask the universe that perhaps someday this neighbor might know the peace and wholeness that I have been blessed with.

Serenity Sunday

It seems as if during this week of bathroom remodeling, serenity has been somewhat elusive and as fragile as the gossamer wings upon a tiny faerie. Amidst the noise of sawing, nail guns and shop vac's, I really had to make it a point to to take advantage of the few brief moments of quiet that I could grab. As I was reflecting on those things that I am grateful for, I noticed that some were the same and there were a few new ones as well. It's very mysterious how we can develop a routine in our environment and the slightest hint of disruption or upheaval can throw one into total and utter chaos. Even my cats became restless and cranky, refusing to sleep in the webcam cat bed and wandering from room to room seeking out that one peaceful spot. I suppose that a bit of chaos does have some therapeutic benefits as I have become more sensitive toward the things I normally take for granted.

1.) My children

2.) Good friends

3.) My cats

4.) Sleeping in past the crack of dawn

5.) Sawdust free hallway floors

6.) Having the whole kitchen (minus a 40 lb.chop saw) to work in

7.) Cinnamon vanilla coffee creamer

8.) Actually hearing a television show

9.) Being the only one in the house during the day

10.) Taking a bath in my own tub and not the one at Bobbi and Danny's house (thank you for your super-human patience guys!)

Learning To Be Still

I've never been one to sit in one place for too long nor am I one that you might consider laid back and relaxed. I have a bad habit of pacing now and then or taking little strips of paper and rolling them and re-rolling them (yeah, I know...it's weird...) Anyhow, one activity that I have learned to apply that helps calm my jitters is meditation. It took me a long time to train myself to sit quietly and go within, I'd catch my mind wandering and have to guide it back time and again. Guided meditations are excellent ways to harness the attention span until you feel able to meditate with out the mental wandering. Many times I would have days were I felt like my little internal rubber band was wound so tight it might snap and I always chalked it up to "just my personality" but then one day it hit me, I can choose not to feel like that if I want to... I didn't have to go around so stressed out that the family pets left the room. I feel much calmer after a meditation and able to handle life's little irritations (and we all know some days can be a challenge.) I don't snap at people in the middle of the isle at the grocery store anymore (although, you have to admit, taking up the whole isle is rather rude) and the sense of peace I feel after meditation is terrific. Usually, I try to wake earlier than the household and do a morning ritual of grounding and centering which helps me get connected to mother earth and then I will follow that with another meditation that I like to use to set the pace and tone for the day. At night before I go to bed I also like to spend about a half an hour just meditating on the positive and practicing my gratitude for the blessings in my life.