Serenity Sunday

In Kindness

Author: Anne Marie Cline

Kindness speaks the words,

Your heart could never speak.

Your wings hold me up,

And give me strength when I am weak.

The warmth of your protection,

Brings music to my heart.

You open up the doors,

You show me where to start.

My List:

1.) My kids

2.) My pets

3.) Good friends

4.) New books

5.) Words of encouragement

6.) Iced sweet tea

7.) Sleeping in

8.) The sound of a waterfall

9.) Starry nights

10.) Evening walks

Serenity Sunday

A great way to use giving thanks to appreciate life more fully is to use gratitude to help you put things in their proper perspective. When things don’t go your way, remember that every difficulty carries within it the seeds of an equal or greater benefit. In the face of adversity ask yourself: “What’s good about this?”, “What can I learn from this?”, and “How can I benefit from this?”


Those who practice gratitude tend to be more creative, bounce back more quickly from adversity, have a stronger immune system, and have stronger social relationships than those who don’t practice gratitude. To say we feel grateful is not to say that everything in our lives is necessarily great. It just means we are aware of our blessings.


My List:


1.) My kids


2.) My pets


3.) Great friends


4.) Fresh baked bread


5.) Sunny Summer days


6.) Watching the local parade with my kids


7.) A good book


8.) Croaking frogs


9.) Morning walks


10.) Handmade gifts

Serenity Sunday

Be Thankful


Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.
It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.
GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.
~ Author Unknown ~


My List:


1.) My kids


2.) My pets


3.) New tarot decks


4.) Feather pillows


5.) Cool breezes


6.) Happy times


7.) The interwebs


8.) Iced tea


9.) Lazy Sunday mornings


10.) New friends

Serenity Sunday

Gratitude Spell


What You Will Need:
~ Green Candle
~ Patchouli Oil


Instructions:
During the waxing moon, annoint your green candle with patchouli oil. Light the candle and say the following several times to Lakshmi, Hindu goddess of wealth and beauty: "OM Mala Lakshmi, Lakshmi, Lakshmi, Namah." This chant thanks Lakshmi and opens the door for abundance to come into your life. Let candles burn themselves out safely, or repeat for consecutive days until larger candle is gone.




My List:


1.) My kids


2.) My pets


3.) Ibuprofen


4.) Herbal tea


5.) Turkey sandwiches


6.) Puffs tissue


7.) Fresh baked bread


8.) Great friends


9.) Classical music


10.) Laughter is the best medicine

Serenity Sunday

Just as “Milk does a body good,” Epsom Salt may be one of the most perfect nutrients for flowers and plants. And mid-to-late spring is the ideal time to nourish the soils and roots of your favorite foliage and flowers with this inexpensive and easy-to-use compound. According to the Epsom Salt Council, research indicates Epsom Salt can help seeds germinate; make plants grow bushier; produce more flowers; increase chlorophyll production; improve phosphorus and nitrogen uptake; and deter pests, including slugs and moles.


I have a small rose garden in front of my house and each year I treat them to 1/2 cup of epsom salts in mid spring, along with the rose food I feed them regularly. I learned of this little trick years ago when I worked at a local nursery and later as a master gardener in my area. At first I scoffed and was very skeptical but one year I figured that I would be open minded and try it, lo and behold my roses started pushing new canes from their graft and were generally hardier and more full. I promised myself that I'd be open minded from then on because sometimes...you just never know when a great tip might turn up!



My List:

1.) My children

2.) My friends

3.) My cats

4.) Learning from past mistakes

5.) My willingness to let go and let the Universe handle it

6.) Time for myself

7.) The scent of the air after a rainstorm

8.) Finding the positive in a negative situation

9.) Knowing hope is always present

10.) Seeing joy on another's face

Serenity Sunday

Gratitude Spell


Gratitude will get you everything. To make use of this kind of magic, set your altar with a suitable incense such as frankincense or myrrh, as well as a safe incense burner and a lighter. Light the incense and smell the sweet smoke, then say:


Lord and Lady, I give thanks
For Sun that warms and wind that sings.
You have given me so much,
Now I give thanks for all these things.


Spend as much time as it takes to count your blessings, and speak what you appreciate about each blessing. Thank your divine patrons as you would thank a family member for a perfect birthday gift. Ask for nothing.


My List:


1.) My kids


2.) My pets


3.) Great friends


4.) Good times


5.) Sunshine


6.) Tarot


7.) Red licorice


8.) Calculators


9.) Packages in the mail


10.) Fishing

Serenity Sunday

Before I was a Mom,I never tripped over toys

or forgot words to a lullaby.

I didn't worry whether or not

my plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations

Before I was a Mom,

I had never been puked on.

Pooped on.

Chewed on.

Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind

and my thoughts.

I slept all night

Before I was a Mom,I never held down a screaming child

so doctors could do tests.

Or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night

watching a baby sleep

Before I was a Mom,I never held a sleeping baby just because

I didn't want to put her down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces

when I couldn't stop the hurt

I never knew that something so small

could affect my life so much

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom

Before I was a Mom,I didn't know the feeling of

having my heart outside my body..

I didn't know how special it could feel

to feed a hungry baby.

I didn't know that bond

between a mother and her child.

I didn't know that something so small

could make me feel so important and happy

Before I was a Mom,

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night

every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.

I had never known the warmth,

the joy,

the love,

the heartache,

the wonderment

or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,

Before I was a Mom!

My List:

1.) My kids

2.) My pets

3.) Opinions

4.) New tarot bags

5.) Home made vegetable soup

6.) Patience

7.) Sage

8.) Funny videos

9.) BBQ's

10.) Sweet tea

Serenity Sunday

Tolerance


Tolerance refers to an attitude of openness and respect for the differences that exist among people. Although originally used to refer to ethnic and religious differences, the concepts of diversity and tolerance can also be applied to gender, people with physical and intellectual disabilities, and other differences, too.


Tolerance means respecting and learning from others, valuing differences, bridging cultural gaps, rejecting unfair stereotypes, discovering common ground, and creating new bonds. Tolerance, in many ways, is the opposite of prejudice.


Society was founded on freedom from religious persecution and on tolerance of differences in beliefs and cultural heritage. The differences (or diversity) that come from people from all over the world enrich our culture, bringing new ideas and energy.


But does tolerance mean that all behaviors have to be accepted? Of course not. Behaviors that disrespect or hurt others, like being mean or bullying, or behaviors that break social rules, like lying or stealing, should not be tolerated. Tolerance is about accepting people for who they are — not about accepting bad behavior. Tolerance also means treating others the way you would like to be treated.




My List:


1.) My kids


2.) My pets


3.) Uneventful Saturdays


4.) Comedy


5.) Tarot


6.) Scented candles


7.) Koi


8.) Ponytails


9.) Ficus trees


10.) Baseball

Serenity Sunday

Lemon Thyme

A sweetly scented, evergreen herb and a cultivated form of wild thyme. It is a popular culinary herb due to its mild citrus flavor and is often used in stuffings, with chicken dishes or added to fruit salads and jellies.

Lemon thyme has therapeutic effects as well and is popular as an alternative to standard Western allopathic medicine for a variety of problems, including anti-ageing properties, relieving muscle spasms as well as easing a tight chest and promoting relaxation.

I have a couple varieties of Thyme in my herb garden and highly advocate adding the Lemon variety to yours, it's creeping and mounding nature adds a wonderful, scented addition around water features such as a pond or just as a terrific contrast along with other herbs.

My List:

1.) My kids

2.) Great friends

3.) LOTS of laughter

4.) Frogs serenading me from our pond at night.

5.) Weeding the flower beds

6.) The scent of Hyacinths 

7.) Roses bursting with foliage

8.) My readers..you guy's are the BEST!

9.) Mowing the lawn

10.) Smudging the house in honor of Spring

Serenity Sunday

Usually every day it is my custom to grab my tarot deck and draw three cards for that day and see what they have to tell me. Tarot cards are funny things, they have a knack of telling you what you need to hear whether or not you are ready to hear them. I drew the three cards you see above Friday and I knew by the Star (my birth card) that this message was for me and I knew by the Queen of Wands (Kali) that it involved a strong female figure and some sort of renewal indicated by Aeon.

I sat at my desk pondering these cards for several minutes, just trying to figure out just what they were saying and for a long time their message eluded me so I let my attention drift over to my computer screen where I had TweetDeck running so I can keep up on all the latest Tweets. All of a sudden a Tweet appeared...it was about Mother's Day and in a flash that little light bulb in my head clicked on. I know what they're trying to tell me...and it was pretty simple too...I needed to resurrect my efforts to connect with my mother and call her on Mother's Day. 

I wasn't really sure that I wanted to hear that I needed to call my mom on Mother's Day because you see, to say that our relationship was tenuous at best would be an understatement, which is probably why I didn't connect the Queen of Wands with my mother right away. So, what did I do next? I sent a text to my middle daughter asking her if she had spoken to Grandma Ginger lately and if so, how was she doing...I learned that she had surgery quite recently and was in the hospital (I guiltily glanced at my cards feeling rather unsettled at their message) so I knew that I needed to gather the courage and give her a call.

I called my step dad to see which hospital she was at and found out that she had been released and was staying with a relative during her recuperation and he gladly gave me her cell number (my mother has a cell phone, would wonders ever cease?) I called her and surprisingly she answered almost right away. I asked how she was doing and I could tell that she wasn't immediately sure who was asking but I forged on and she realized it was me. I wished her an early Happy Mother's Day and I could tell that I had certainly caught her off guard but she cordially said thank you and I felt a little better since the conversation went well.

It felt good to hear her voice, she sounded well and strong as ever and hopefully my call gave her something to think about. I never have forgotten about her, I think of my mother often...not just on her birthday, Christmas or even on her anniversary to my step dad but usually I'm  too much of a coward to call and just let sleeping dogs lie. I really miss my mom, I wish that we had been able to have a relationship. I know she'll never read this post but Happy Mother's Day mom, I love you.

My List:

1.) My mom

2.) My kids

3.) Great Friends

4.) My Tarot cards

5.) Hand made Mother's Day gifts

6.) Memories

7.) Courage

8.) Cell phones

9.) Rice crispy treats

10.) Second Chances

Serenity Sunday

Beltane Recipes

Fried Honeycakes


These cakes were left in the garden to please Faery visitors. If you plan to leave an offering to the Faery, double the recipe to keep some for your family. They're scrumptious.


1/2 cup sweet white wine
2 tablespoons sugar
1 egg
1 cup honey
2/3 cup flour
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
Oil for frying
1/8 teaspoon salt


Beat the wine & egg in a medium bowl. Combine the flour, cinnamon, salt & sugar in a small bowl. Stir into the egg mixture. Let stand 30 minutes. Combine the honey & nutmeg in a small bowl.


Heat 1/2-inch of the oil in a frying pan until hot, but not smoking. Drop the batter into the oil 1 tablespoon at a time; fry until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Dip into the honey.


Yield: 1 1/2 Dozen.




My List


1.) My  kids


2.) My pets


3.) Fantastic friends


4.) Bagels and cream cheese


5.) Chocolate


6.) Blooming plants


7.) Text messaging


8.) Science fairs


9.) Crystals


10.) Sleeping in

Serenity Sunday

Deaf are they who do not hear me –
For my aria carries on the air with that of the mistle thrush.
My laughter’s in cool crystalline streams which wash the hills.
My whisper is found in rippling and rustling grasses.


Insensitive are they who do not feel me –
For mine are the soft fingers that brush your face
And gently tousle your hair on warming breezes.
It’s I who make the daffodils dance wildly to my tune.


Blind are they who do not see me -
Busily melting white snow on winter-worn hilltops;
Joyfully romping in the fields with the young lambs;
Stimulating new life, new growth and new hope.


Didn’t you recognize me in quiet woodlands and country lanes?
Or in ploughed fields, cottage gardens and on river banks?
Yet it is I who lengthen the days and strengthen the sun.
Think too, of me as the gentle rain falls on the good earth.


See me, hear me, feel my touch -


I AM SPRING!


My List:


1.) My kids


2.) My pets


3.) Tomato starts


4.) Raised garden beds


5.) Sunshine


6.) Azalea flowers


7.) Easter egg hunts


8.) Lava lamps


9.) Good music


10.) Terrific readers

Serenity Sunday

A Kitten's Prayer


Now I lay me down to sleep
The King-Size bed is soft and deep
I sleep right in the center groove
My human cannot hardly move!


I've trapped her legs,she's tucked in tight
And here is where I pass the night
No one disturbs me or dares intrude
Till morning comes and 'I WANT FOOD'


I sneak up slowly to begin
My nibbles on my human's chin
She wakes up quickly,I have sharp-teeth
And my claws I will unsheath


For the morning here
And it's time to play
Always seem to get my way
So thank you lord for giving me
This human person that I see
The one who hugs me and holds me tight
And sacrifices her bed at night!


written by Penny (Tibbyperry)




My List


1.) My kids


2.) My cat


3.) Great friends


4.) Rainbows


5.) Peaches and cream scented candles


6.) Great books


7.) Imagination


8.) Stop smoking patches


9.) Spring rains


10.) Fantastic readers like you!

Serenity Sunday

Candle Meditation is practiced as you would imagine by focusing on the flame of a candle. It can be done as a warm up for regular meditation, or it can be your entire meditation regimen. Candle meditation is something that you would want to practice if you would like to work on your concentration skills.


You achieve candle meditation by taking a candle, any type of candle, sit in front of it and stare at the flame. For this type of meditation, you would normally sit in the lotus position in front of the flame. You may choose to sit on a chair instead of the floor, but the candle should be eye level. Once you are seated and the candle is lit, stare at the candle flame. In staring at the candle flame, you will begin to think of everyday items; things that have to get done, schedules to be followed, and others. Eventually those thoughts will fade and you will be left with your freed mind.


When it comes to candle meditation, concentration is the key and the object that is improved upon. In staring at the candle, you allow your thought and contemplation to focus briefly on the every day concerns of your life before you return to your deliberate contemplation of the candle flame. In letting your everyday distractions go, and continuing to focus on the candle flame, your concentration becomes stronger.


My List:


1.) My kids


2.) My pets


3.) Trees in bud


4.) Garden centers


5.) Freshly cut grass


6.) Quiet time


7.) New books


8.) Destination Truth


9.) Plums


10.) Electric pencil sharpeners