With spring on our doorstep, I feel light and free; as if I could accomplish anything! It’s also the first Monday of spring break and I have two, glorious weeks to spend with my youngest children. The endless days spread out enticingly before us. We have a long list of plans and much to do but first I wanted to start, what I hope will be a regular Monday blog post throughout this spring centered on my favourite topic; Minimalism.
Spring is the perfect time to shed our heavy coats from winter and lighten our load. Spring is a good time to open the windows, release all the stale air, and let go of whatever we have accumulated in the cold, hoarding season. Personally, speaking, I hold onto far more than I normally would, in the belief I may need it someday; especially if winter goes on and on.
I’m ready to do a major spring cleaning with some new, green, homemade cleaning products, we are letting go of our garbage service, (who needs to pay it if you are moving in the direction of a zero-waste lifestyle?) and letting go also of our cable t.v. service. Yes, we are one of those die hard families still holding onto that archaic service.
Today, my first minimalism topic is meditation. When I’m in a meditative state, I feel light and free, totally weightless, and part of the greater whole. I love that feeling! I don’t know why I don’t meditate more often, but life often gets in the way. (or rather I allow it to) I think we as humans like to suffer. We like to drag all our earthly crap with us daily; whether it be actual material stuff, or a relationship that no longer nurtures us. Perhaps, you have a few pounds on your earth suit that you would like to lose? Or it may be letting go of the fear that hounds us, when we turn into most media. Seeing images of hate, racism, misogynistic behavior, greed, I could go on and on, is not good for our well being. And yet, we tune in and let those images and words into our lives, into our homes.
Why?
After meditating, I feel more peaceful. I’m able to shift easier, as life bombards me with often tragic events occurring all over the world. After being still, I feel kinder to myself, more loving and worthy. I deserve to live my best life ever. When I meditate, I can control what is going on in my mind; in my life. It helps to balance me, keeping me in a state where I can be a gate keeper for only goodness flowing into my life.
And so, I invite you to join me today, in Deepak Chopra and Oprah’s, 21 day meditation challenge. Think of it as the first step in your minimalism journey this spring. If we can let go of just one thing that is not working for us, shedding it from our lives, then we have more energy to be more loving and kind to ourselves and those around us. In that space, we may also be able to let go of even more that isn’t working for us. Seems like a win/win to me.
It starts TODAY so sign up; it’s free. Really! Yes, totally free. I’ve done a number of their meditation challenges and this one really speaks to me, as I want to shed much from my life this spring. It’s a process in which I’m always in the state of but in my opinion, spring is the perfect time to shed what isn’t working for us any longer.
The following is an excerpt explaining further what the challenge is about:
Shedding the Weight: Mind, Body and Spirit begins March 19! Together we’ll embark on a boundless meditation journey to shed the burdens that hold us back, so we can start shining from the inside out.
You’ll learn how to:
Release heaviness and toxicity – on every level
Break free from unhealthy habits using the light of your own awareness
Discover what truly nourishes your entire being to bring newfound freshness, inspiration, and joy into your life
If you don’t see this post for a few days, they still allow you to register and you can catch up. I hope you take advantage of this opportunity as it could change your life.
Let’s move on the path of shedding worthless weight together.
Hey and before I close, I want to say Happy Birthday to my sister J!…one of my three incredible, “soul sisters.” She has taught me MUCH, on this journey we call life. J, I hope your day is FULL of love!
Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.
What does the wisdom of Gandalf, blessing today and carrot muffins have in common? Well hang in there and I will try to tie them all together. I’m sorry that I haven’t been writing more on my blog. I have been rather depressed since Christmas. Ever since everyone went back to their own lives full of wonderful experiences and interesting activities. I’ve also been sad over the state of our world.
On a personal note:
Our oldest daughter, Alyssa, (also a passionate LOTR fan…for those of you who are not, that stands for the “Lord of the Rings” which are books written by J. R.R. Tolkien) is back living and working in Victoria as a teacher and a writer. (Check out her latest post on her blog, A.R. Reynolds)
Our oldest son, Clark is working at our local Science Center and patiently waiting for law schools to knock on our door. Fingers crossed that he will be returning to school in the fall; not that I’m in any hurry for him to leave home but I know the next chapter of his life is beckoning.
Our son Mitchell, who just turned twenty two yesterday, (Happy Birthday dearest son) is in his last year of Science at the University of Victoria, and later this Spring he will graduate with his bachelor’s degree. Who knows where he will go with his Science/Psychology degree but there is a need for mental health professionals in Canada ( in the world really) right now, so I’m sure he will find this an exciting and flourishing field to continue to study, or work in.
Our third son, Harrison, who just turned 19 before Christmas, is in his first year of University and he seems to be handling a full course load of Science/business courses. I never hear from him so I know he’s staying busy with school. When I run into his friends, some who have remained in our little town to attend our local University, they tell me that from the snap chats he sends out, “he’s having a very good time away from home!”
Hmmmm…..a mom letting go moment here. I’m happy you are enjoying University life Harry.
Grace, who just turned 15, is probably the busiest of us all. While maintaining straight A’s in school, she is also working on her grade 9 piano, her grade 7 voice, she has a voice festival coming up, sings in the school choir, and plays on the school basketball team. The later came TOTALLY out of left field, when she told us back in November, that she was going to try out for the junior girl’s team. (never having played before!!!) Shockingly, she is following in her older brother Harrison’s footsteps with adept ability. During their last tournament she won, “most valuable player,”and was given a t-shirt/Gatorade as a prize. She strongly played her post position, made several baskets, including two back to back free throws and assisted numerous times. Who knew? (Goes to show we all have unknown talents and gifts)
Our son William who is eight, is no couch potato either. He plays cello, and is involved in the group string orchestra at our local music school. He is also swimming in our local swim clubs “grassroots program.” Last night he came home smiling and waving an upcoming swim meet registration form. He also enjoys being a part of the chess club at school.
Finally there are our twin daughters, Kathryn and Victoria. For six year olds, they are busy in their own right, learning to play piano and violin. Next week they have been invited to join the beginner violin group at our music school.Although we didn’t register them for another round of swimming and skating lessons, which they were doing all fall, (me smiling as that was a bit much) we have been getting them out to skate at our new and improved outdoor skating rink. I think they like it even better than lessons as they can free skate, doing whatever they want while racing their Dad and older brother Will. (Next time I’m joining them)
Kathryn
Victoria
Then there is my husband David, who doesn’t share much about his work except to say, “more projects have been pouring in,” with a grin on his face. I guess that is why he heads out the door to get to the office for 7 am each morning
David, truly my better half
So you see, everyone is busy with their own lives.
Then there is me.
I’ve kind of been floundering since the twins started grade one last September. I think I understand one aspect towards parents who choose home-schooling. It’s really a delight keeping them close and watching them learn and grow. I truly admire these families.I’ve been asked a few times lately if I home-school our children and I think I will write about our education choices in a future post and perhaps give you some links to tools and resources we use to support our children’s learning but for now suffice it to say—-
AFTER I waved goodbye to the little ones, who took the bus this morning, I decided that I HAD to break the monotony of my daily routine.
As you can see from the distant hillsides, we still have tons of snow
OR I was going to go crazy!!!
INSTEAD of coming in and cleaning up the kitchen, which was a MESS from a whirlwind morning of cooking oatmeal, making a fruit smoothie, and making lunches, (yes I should have made them last night), picking up bathroom towels and pj’s off the floor, throwing my first load of laundry in for the day, unloading last nights dishes from the dishwasher, gathering up garbage from everyone’s bedroom, and making beds; that is just a snippet glimpse into my morning routine,
I chose to feed the cat, not really a choice since he was loudly meowing that he was hungry, AND I took the chickens their breakfasts. (those chickens eat better than most people in the world, just saying) After that, I disregarded the mess and made a BIG cup of black tea, with a splash of vanilla unsweetened almond milk, took a bowl of leftover oatmeal, and headed back to bed.
I never do this!!!
Take the gentle path. ~ George Herbert~
Nope!
That has not been my path………
My oldest sister B often says to me, “be gentle on yourself.” I don’t know if she meant for me to crawl back into bed after the kids left for school but I know when she says this, she means she wants me to take life easier.
That is not in my DNA!
For some reason, the mantra I hear lingering years after my Dad died, when I was five years old is:
“Work hard!”
But…..
I think there is great wisdom in my oldest sister’s words. Thanks B! I wished I listened to them more.
But today, I’m all ears.
I am here, laptop in hand, sipping comforting tea, eating oatmeal loaded with nuts, seeds and fruit, and cuddled under my cozy comforter. Ryuuki, our Siamese cat is doing his front paw kneading routine, getting ready to curl up for a good sleep. He looks at me with his big blue eyes and says, “it’s about time you joined me in the good life.”
Ryuuki is a good teacher how to live life gently.
We should all listen to our big sisters, and our pets.
With their hateful words and actions, they draw us closer towards midnight on the doomsday clock. Thanks to these two leaders, (can they be called that???”) a panel of scientists and scholars said just yesterday that the world is as close as it has ever been to a so-called doomsday scenario. A nuclear war which will end life as we know it on earth. For some reason, I think about the Lord of the Rings trilogy set in J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth, when I read or hear any news about Trump and the Korean Dictator. At times, it’s so bizarre that it feels like a fictional nightmare. But this is really happening on our earth right now.
I try to look away but then my crystal ball shows me an image of my children. Small and sweet like the hobbits in the LOTR’s. William’s laughter is light and tinkling and his eyes shine with joy, and the little girls respond with giggles of mirth. Their images replace Trump and Kim Jong-un and the doomsday clock. I can see our children playing music together and hear the harmony flowing out of the ball and into the world.
Clark playing violin with his little sisters, Kate on the left and Tori on the right
And I wonder, how can a depressed, middle age mom, help to change the world, when I don’t even have the energy to clean the house today. How can I shift the darkness that hovers over my heart, over our planet, and threatens to invade my home? As I asked these questions of myself, I thought of the words of Gandalf.
“It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folks that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.”
And that is where my small acts of kindness and love come in….and I start to tie in the whole blessing aspect of my post.
“Bless a thing and it will bless you. Curse it and it will curse you…if you bless a situation,it has no power to hurt you, and even if it is troublesome for a time, it will gradually fade out, if you sincerely bless it.” ~Emmet Fox~
Blessing the circumstances we are living with in the world, is our pathway to changing it. Accepting the situation and WHAT IS, doesn’t mean we are complacent towards it. No! But it is the first step in the path towards moving forward and changing our circumstance.
In my own personal life, things are changing. My children are growing up and moving out into the world. They don’t need me quite as much. That’s a good thing. That means David and I are raising strong independent people. This is a blessing. Lately, I’ve been thinking about getting back into the work force but when I think about trying to balance everything again; work and home life, I cringe.
Is that the right path for me”
After seeing two career opportunities that interested me recently, both of which I’m qualified for, I shared my thoughts with my husband. He looked at me for a long time, contemplating my words and my desire to move down a new path but after what felt like a long time, he said,
“You underestimate your value in our home.”
Huh?
He further went on to say that everything I did at home, enabled everyone else to accomplish great things.
Wow!
I do that!
Really?
As I was in the kitchen pouring a second cup of steaming tea just now, I dropped the job ads in the recycling bin. I must admit January is a slow month. I need more sunshine. Also, I know my garden will be calling to me in a short while. I have great plans for expanding our vegetable garden. Adding a few more chickens to our flock and maybe planting a mini grape vineyard. Once spring comes, David and I will be working on our second rock wall above the pool and getting it planted. In the meantime, we have to finish the attic renovation before Harrison returns in late April. And then there is always the opportunity to work at my gardening gig from late April to mid June. My boss did invite me back at the end of last season.
There is a lot to bless today.
I sit up a bit straighter in bed, that dark ball slips further from my fingertips. And yet, that heaviness holds on like a tight strap around my heart, squeezing any happiness I may feel.
I know I’m not the only one feeling this way.
Judging from all the protest marches occurring in the States, and various places around the world, I’m not alone in wanting positive change in the world.
But what can I do about it?
So many questions….
And then something I heard recently on the CBC radio hits me. I wish I could remember the name of the guest speaker, but I was driving at the time and I couldn’t write his name down. He was a spiritual teacher who said, there is power in sending a different message out into the world. One most people wouldn’t think of but has tremendous power.
Loving kindness
Hmmmm.
During that CBC radio segment, seeds were planted in my heart and I know that by taking the time to be gentle on myself today, it loosened the straps of darkness holding me hostage. Although, I’m personally not in a place to send loving kindness to men who move through the world as ego, power hungry lunatics, I AM willing to send them a blessing.
A blessing of kindness.
If I really want to be about helping our planet earth, then it starts from a place of accepting these men are in power, understanding that we are on the brink of a pending apocalyptic event, and fear and hatred is not an effective emotion right now. These feelings never solved anything.
Blessing others and sending loving kindness is the answer. And if enough of us take a moment to bless our earth and all that is happening within it, and especially those who vex us, I know this is the key to the positive change I want to see in the world.
Who knew that the most effective form of protest was a blessing.
This is where I need to be right now.
My family needs me at home…even if I am in bed writing this morning.
Maybe it’s the way out of my depression too.
There is GREAT wisdom in choosing to take a gentle path in life. Maybe more of us need to cuddle up in bed with our cat or puppy by our side, sipping hot comforting tea. I’m blessed to have this option. But most of us can incorporate some kindness towards ourselves into our day.
No matter what path we are on, we need to take gentle steps. Steps that aren’t fraught with rocks, easing ourselves towards more joy, more kindness, and definitely more love.
Bless today!
And what does all of this have to do with Carrot muffins you may ask. When we bless our day and those in it, we bless what is. We accept our circumstances and in doing so there is a exhale of surrender. We let go. And with that letting go moment, trust whooshes in. You know that saying that the Universe can’t abide a void. When we let go, trust flows into our life and goodness follows it.
And like the law of attraction, when we live in a state of goodness, we attract more of it into our lives.
Goodness comes!
And THAT is where the carrot muffins come in.
My Goodness!
Because after a morning of writing, sipping tea, and generally, being kind to me, I filled my cup up. I’m able to give back. I’m able to send blessings out to the world and particularly to two men that I feel need a whopping bowlful of it for how they have been behaving. And for my family, well, when my kids come home from school this afternoon, they are going to smell warm spices wafting out of our kitchen and find a large red plate loaded with carrot muffins waiting JUST for them.
Yes, as Mother Teresa said, “I can do no great things, only small things with great love.” And so today, I can write about being sad, about blessing my situation, about blessing those who vex us, and about moving in the direction towards change with an expectation for only goodness.When we send love out, we are really loving ourselves.
Because if I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times; “We ARE, all connected!”
Please join me in a sec in my kitchen and we can make some muffins. I need to get up now, bath and get my house whipped into shape. Gee, who knew I would have so much energy after a morning in bed! While we bake let’s listen to the following YouTube video. As I was writing this post and talking about the spiritual leader I heard on CBC earlier this month, I remembered an email I got from my sister C. (I know, I’m blessed to have THREE wise and gorgeous sisters) Anyway, I guess the Universe REALLY wanted me to get this message. The link to the YouTube video she sent is a guided loving meditation from Ajahn Sona, who I met many years ago during a weekend retreat at the Birken Monastery.
No matter what your beliefs or faith, when you come from a place of love, there is great healing.
The first time I listened to Ajahn Sona’s video and sang along with him, “All I ask of you is forever to remember me, as loving you,” I cried and cried. Tears just flowed. I was thinking about my mom, my dad, about my sisters and their families. I thought about each of our children and hoped that they ALL know, that if I said nothing else to them in this lifetime, that they hear THESE words, from me. It”s such a healing message. Then as I said these words to my loved ones, I was hearing them say these words back to me.
My sister C, I heard you gently singing them to me. Thank you!!!
And get ready to sing, and cry……if you can’t see the video below, click on the hyper-link.
I know I wove in and out of various topics today in this post, but if you remember nothing more, remember my love for you and my intention to contribute to the world in a loving way. As always, I’d love to hear from you. If you are unable to comment directly on this blog, you can always send me a message on my Facebook page.
Love is where it’s at people~the rest is just filler.
And speaking of filler…..here is my carrot muffin recipe.Let’s bake!
Hope’s Homestead Carrot Muffins
Ingredients
2 eggs
1 cup of carrot/apple pulp (when I made my juice yesterday I saved the pulp but if you don’t have any pulp from left over juicing use 1 cup of applesauce instead)
1/2 cup applesauce
1/2 vegetable oil
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup vanilla unsweetened almond milk
2 cups flour (I like to use 1 cup whole wheat/1 cup white flour…using just wheat makes it heavy)
1/2 cup oatmeal
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups of grated carrots
Topping Ingredients
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 allspice
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Directions
In a medium bowl mix the 2 eggs, 1 cup of carrot/apple pulp and/or 1/2 cup applesauce, 1/2 cup oil, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 cup almond milk and 2 cups of grated carrots.
In a large bowl mix the 2 cups of flour, the 1/2 cup oatmeal, 1 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 cup of white sugar, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt and the spices. (1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1/4 tsp allspice)
Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients but only until just combined. Over mixing will create a heavy muffin….and we want light muffins with nice texture
Place into greased muffin tins…..I fill to the top as I like big muffins. This recipe makes 18 nice size muffins.
Sprinkle the topping, sugar, spices and walnuts on top of each muffin.
Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes to 20 minutes…or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool slightly and then turn onto a cookie rack to cool….but only long enough to EAT!
A couple muffins for me to go along with my tea…while I edit this post
And a plate waiting for the kids to come home
As you munch on muffins, I hope you contemplate how you can take a gentle path. And as you move through your day, say your blessings.
Blessed be my blogging family!
Until we meet again, may you be well, peaceful and happy.
Have you heard of the toys called, “Fidget Spinners?” If you are not in the kid realm, I’ll clue you in. “Fidget spinners” are small, ball-bearing devices that the user can rotate between his or her fingers. The momentum of the toy provides a pleasing sensory experience Originally the spinners were marketed as an aide for individuals with anxiety, autism or ADHD, which is basically everyone. I don’t know about you, but few people I know are free from anxiety these days.
What a GREAT marketing strategy~!
My son William, who just turned 8 years old at the end of June, desperately wanted a spinner. “ALL,” the kids at school have them he said, and besides he thought they looked so cool. I resisted buying him one for the longest time. Ever since our last BIG garage sale two years ago, when we did a mass de-clutter, and I started on a more minimalist path, I’ve been REALLY trying to be mindful of what we purchase.
Another thing that influenced me/us, was that we had walked this path with our older children. I remember the Bay blade craze and the mad scramble one Christmas for one type of Lego, Bionicle figure. I knew that it was only a matter of weeks that this toy too would start collecting dust in the corner of a closet and I would be the one to unearth it and in time, decide it’s value and where it was to go after my son stopped playing with it.
What made me cave was my son William. When his birthday drew near we had a conversation about what he wanted to do on his special day and what he would really like for a gift. He looked at me with his clear blue eyes, his blonde curls circling his sweet face and he said, “mom, whatever you get me, I will love.”
Ahhhhhhhhh!
That was it, I was going to make his dreams come true. I was going to find him a fidget spinner.
William’s face as he unwrapped his fidget spinner (and we bought him the fidget cube too) was ecstatic For the next two weeks, that red, spinning toy was always at the end of his finger. I would try to talk with him and he would be totally absorbed in the activity of flicking his finger so his spinner would move faster.
We choose experiences over a big party with friends and he wanted to go climbing walls with his sisters
Our son is always reaching new heights
After the climbing party, it was a dip in the pool,
And now for his strawberry shortbread birthday cake…Will LOVES strawberries!!!
“This was the BEST day EVER!!!” said Will at the end of his 8th birthday
One night I came into his bedroom after he had been tucked away for the night and a brilliant spinning rainbow filled light was floating in the dark. Rats, I knew we shouldn’t have bought the one with a LED light inside so not only was he obsessed during the day, the fidget spinner was keeping him from sleeping at night.
Now for some children this toy may be fine but I found it was a distraction in our home and instead of helping him focus, he seemed more scattered. and even restless, moving his body, as he spun. When we were talking to him, he would be flicking his spinner and there would be no eye contact. Also, I found he was getting annoyed more often, especially if he was directed to do something and he had to put the spinner down.
I decided to sit down and have a talk with him. He was surprised to hear that I thought the spinner had negative effects on him. Reluctantly, he agreed to take a break from it for awhile. He put it in one of the drawers in his room and agreed to spend more time playing his cello, reading, playing basketball, board games and card games with his sisters, swimming in the pool, riding bikes and his new scooter, which was the other gift we gave him for his birthday.
Shortly after that, we picked up a wonderful book at the library that we had read last winter but I never acted on it. It always surprises me how things and people are put on our path,exactly when they are needed. “Peaceful Piggy”, by Kerry Lee Mclean, is a lovely story about little pigs who find life sometimes too busy and stressful. When the little piggies starts to sit and focus on their breathing, they suddenly find they are more relaxed and feel calmer.
They are smiling.
The kids loved the book and also wanted to try the experiment suggested at the end of the book. We got a big pickle jar and filled it with water. We watched how clear and clean it was in the jar.
Looking at the clear water, I got them to think of it as their mind, during a quiet moment.
Then I had them add a bit of sand from their sandbox. Each tiny grain is one of our thoughts. Some are happy, some are sad, some are exciting, and some are dark and angry thoughts. They all effect how we feel.
Then we put a lid on the jar and shook it up and watched everything swirling around faster and faster. I told them that this was their mind in a hurry. It doesn’t look too good; muddy and cloudy. Then we let everything settle to the bottom of the jar. This is our mind during meditation.
We watched the thoughts settle to the bottom, leaving the jar, (our mind) look lighter and clearer. I told them that when we settle our thoughts during meditation, all the yucky parts of our day fall to the bottom and we can move through our days with clearer thinking and feeling lighter. Feeling lighter helps us move through our days more peacefully and we are able to flow through our challenging times and adjust to life’s changes easier.
After that exercise, we practiced meditating together. It was fun. We lit a candle and I put a soft CD on and rang a little bell. I asked the kids to focus on their breath, in and out, slowly, s l o w l y. When thoughts come to the surface I suggested the kids shift them out of the way by saying a mantra; the one I suggested is “So Hum,” which means “I am,” in Sanskrit.
At the end of the session, I had the children join together in making a wish and at the count of three, blow out the candle together. The next day after lunch they asked, “is it time to meditate?”
Since then there have been wonderful spin offs, no pun intended after talking about the fidget spinner, but when my children have a frustrating moment, or get angry about something, all I have to do is say, “So Hum,” and they stop and take a deep, slow breathe. When they slow down they are able to look at the situation and how they are reacting to it. What an amazing gift! Also, the look on William’s face AFTER his first meditation sessions, relaxed and serene was the answer I had been looking for.
Now I don’t want to bash the fidget spinner, used for short sessions, it’s fun and teaches kids about physics etc, but what I discovered was that instead of us filling our kids lives with a kaleidoscope of spinning activities, maybe just sitting and breathing is one of the best activities we can encourage them to do this summer.
Be still,
And know,
I AM.
I think teaching children that they are powerful beings, (So hum) is sustainable and that is really what this blog is about.(Helping Our Planet Earth) I want my kids to feel like they have total control over how they view their world and their choices they make on their path.
The quote I started this blog post with is, “If every eight year old is taught meditation in the world, we will eliminate violence from the world within one generation.” ~Dalai Lama~
Well I have an eight year old, AND my greatest wish FOR HIM, is that there is peace in the world.
While I want my children well educated, and to develop talents and gifts that will build their self confidence, I think the most important thing I could ever give them is a light illuminating a path to themselves. The bread crumbs to their soul is their breath. So I don’t know about you, but that fidget spinner is staying in the drawer this summer, and the kids and the kids and I am going to be still together and breathe.
The benefits of meditation for children are HUGE. And this quote from an article called, “Five Reasons Children need to meditate.” says it all. “Did you know that regular practice of meditation has several beneficial effects on our children’s emotional, mental and intellectual development? Yes, it helps children tune into themselves, sleep better and develop better social interactions.”
What is funny to me about this is, if it cost something, maybe we would put more value in it. If we had to stand in line to get it, we would desire it more and if it was hard to find, we would all want it. But, the amazing thing is it is free for all of us. It’s easy, obtainable, and something we all have access to. I don’t know about you, but I want THAT for my kids;
Peace of mind, peace in the world.
Thankfully summer is the perfect time to introduce such a practice.
Want to join us?
If you would like to listen to the “Peaceful Piggy,” story I found a Youtube video which I have linked below. If you have a little one in your life, watch it with them and ask them to sit with you for a few minutes, focus on their breath and find a mantra that works for you. .
Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and be a peaceful piggy too.
Call it synchronicity or what but have I been talking about the law of attraction lately on my blog? Well guess what? My favourite teachers, Dr. Deepak Chopra and Oprah Winfrey, are running a FREE “Energy of Attraction” meditation challenge that begins on November 3, 2014.
I just registered and wanted to share this link with you too. It may JUST be the path you have been seeking lately. If you are interested in attracting a big WISH into your life and getting into the gap, check out this group meditation program. See the highlighted link (Energy of Attraction) above.
I hope to be omming with you soon.
Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.
This evening my day 16 meditation was titled, Radiating Grace. As Deepak spoke on the definition of Grace, I was thinking how I have experienced it deeply in my life. Our daughter, aptly named Grace was one of my greatest blessings.
Our sweet girl finally came after a long time trying to have our 5th child, and after experiencing a sad miscarriage of what I thought at the time would be our last baby. She came on the wings of surrender and gratitude.
Before she was conceived though there was another. That baby I called my Soulbaby. We had finally gotten pregnant the month of the horrific 911 tragedy. Why, after trying to conceive for so long we should finally get pregnant that month. I don’t know but despite how a shadow of darkness had descended upon the earth, our Soulbaby arrived bringing light to my life.
She wasn’t with us long. Only a breath of time. When I was 10 weeks pregnant I went in for an ultrasound only to hear words that will never leave my memory, “I’m sorry, there is no heart beat.” What happened in the last few days before that ultrasound? They measured her and found that she had just passed based on her size. I chose to wait for my body to miscarry on it’s own because as sad as I was, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to her. Even though she had left her body, I wasn’t ready to let her little shell go.
And so I waited day after day for my body to realize that it didn’t have to keep sending energy to my womb but it didn’t want to say goodbye either. During that time of grief I was given a deep sense of comfort, which enveloped me like a warm blanket. As tears flowed from my heart, I was flooded with love and I knew I was experiencing grace. It was deep and powerful but light and peaceful as well.
I knew I was loved and I had been given a gift. Something I had been praying months for and it had been given but with conditions. The fact that I had even been pregnant felt enough. Sometimes we have a lifetime with our children and sometimes we are not given that but even a brief time is a lifetime. It was my Soulbaby’s lifetime. I knew she had given me a glimpse of eternity.
After two weeks, my Dr. wasn’t prepared for the pregnancy to continue even though my body wasn’t showing any signs of letting our baby leave. There was fear of infection, so I was admitted to the hospital where they induced the miscarriage with drugs.
As the first snow of the season gently drifted outside my hospital window, like angel wings falling to remind me all was well, I miscarried on November 30, 2001. It was a tough Christmas that year.
We had given our children two Siamese kittens for Christmas, and one was not thriving. I carried Samurai (our little warrior)around in my arms and fed him with a tiny baby bottle of special kitten formula. I prayed with each breath that he would start to grow but he too wasn’t meant to survive. When he was 10 weeks old, our vet who we had been working with closely, told us that he had severe digestion abnormalities and we agreed to let him go peacefully. I mourned that kitten along with our Soulbaby. Still, I had a deep sense of everything happening for a reason and beneath all the grief there was this brilliant light.
As winter was ebbing away, my sister C, who is a yoga teacher, asked if I would like to join her and her yoga class to attend a weekend retreat of meditation and yoga at a nearby forest Buddhist Monastery. Although, I had 4 other children to care for and I hardly ever left them, I asked my husband if I could attend. He had a sense this was what I needed to do so he agreed to hold down the fort.
The month of the retreat, I started meditating as I knew we would be doing seated meditation for at least 30 minutes at a stretch and I had to be in condition to sit that long. I would practice my yoga and then sit and focus on my breathing. Before settling down I would breathe slowly in and out repeating the words, ” trust and let go, trust and let go, trust and let go.”
I was planning while at the monastery, to surrender my desire for another baby. Ever since the miscarriage 4 months earlier I held onto the belief that maybe we would get pregnant again but I had to face reality. I was moving closer to 43 and our Soulbaby would be our last. I was letting go and trusting. With each meditation session I felt a greater sense of peace and pieces of joy were finding their way into my life. I saw beauty in the smallest things and I was immensely grateful for everything in my life. The time was deeply profound.
The day before I was to leave though I thought it odd that I hadn’t had my monthly menses. Since I still had a drawer full of home pregnancy tests from trying to conceive for so long, I casually took a test. I never in my wildest dreams thought it would show a positive. I just needed to know so I could prepare the appropriate products. As I was packing hygiene items, I picked up the home pregnancy stick and couldn’t believe what was showing. Two perfect pink lines.
Is there a more beautiful sign?
I went out into the garden as the March sunshine was starting to bring out the first blooms and I just sank down into deep appreciation and awe. Could I be so blessed to have conceived another baby?
All through the retreat weekend I carried a sacred secret and was over flowing with love for everything. Nothing bad could ever touch me again because I knew that even if I lost the baby I was carrying I would be okay. I just enjoyed each day I was pregnant and my mantra was a whispered, “thank you.”
Our daughter was born December 5, 2002, 1 year and 1 week after I had said goodbye to our Soulbaby. A month after I turned 43. It had been a difficult birth since she was born posterior. There was a tension and hush in the labour room and I knew from given birth 4 times before that the nurses were concerned. After the birth, our nurse told me she thought for sure I would need a C section. Most babies in posterior position aren’t born vaginally.
But she finally arrived after a long struggle, sunny side up but very blue and still.. She was whisked over to the isolette and the silence was heavy as the seconds ticked by without any sound. I prayed that I wasn’t going to loose her now after going through so much but I was just so thankful for the time we had had together. It had been the most joy filled pregnancy. After what seemed like forever, the best sound broke through the quiet of the morning. A small cry was heard.
And so, tonight’s meditation reminded me of that time and I felt like I needed to share it. Our Grace is a lovely, sweet 11 year old now and when she smiles it lights up the room. I will never forget the one that came before and I have wondered if it was her soul coming to teach me to be grateful…and then she came back again. That belief feels right and resonates with my soul. She is my Soulbaby. My Grace.
Below is the written excerpt from my evenings meditation. I hope you are following along with Deepak, Oprah and I as well. This meditation series has helped to expand my happiness this month despite the fact that I could wallow in sadness over several of my children leaving the nest. But I’m not. The really cool thing about experiencing Grace once is, it never leaves you.
Our beautiful Grace Elizabeth
Day 16 – Radiating Grace
“The quality of mercy is not strain’d . . . it is twice blest; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.”
― William Shakespeare
Grace is an important aspect of expanding our happiness, because it is through grace that we express love and blessings completely and unconditionally. We are each a source and conduit of grace.
Grace is a loving power and presence that elevates and brightens whatever the challenge or situation might be. As we mature into our authentic selves, we are more open, receptive, and expansive, and so we naturally feel the influence of more grace in our lives. It is this same expansiveness and openness that makes it easy for us to radiate that grace along to others.
Radiating grace is not about adopting an attitude of sainthood, and offering benedictions to family and friends. It happens naturally, in moments as simple as passing along, or sharing, the fullness of heart that you feel when you offer a helpful gesture or kind word. When we share grace, our happiness increases many fold. <span 1.6em;”=””>Today’s meditation facilitates this free flow of nature’s grace from your life to others.
Have you experienced a moment of Grace?
In deep gratitude it comes.
Until I see you again, may you be well, happy, grace filled and peaceful.
Last night I finally got back to my “Expanding Happiness” meditation challenge with Oprah and Deepak and guess what the theme was for where I left off? “Hope” of course. In case you are not following along with the meditation program, I thought I would share this one with you. If you are, then you will have to write to me and tell me how it resonated with you.
Hope has always been a strong element in my life. Of course if you’ve read my mini novella, “about me,” you would know that I was actually born in the little town of Hope, B.C. which I think is kind of fitting in many ways as this belief has been the running theme throughout my life.
Ever since my Dad was killed in a truck accident,when I was 5 years old and left my mom alone to care for me and my 3 older sisters, I have had something to hang onto. The belief that everything happens for a reason and things will be okay was an undergoing current in my life. Even though our family was falling apart after his death and we were financially in tough shape, my spirit kept me strong.
I believe, one of the most important lesson for us on this earth is to trust and let go. I thought for a while that this was just my journey but I see time and time again that the story may be different for my neighbour, but the lessons are the same for everyone.
Having “Hope” to hang onto was my lifeline. And that is why this meditation focus touched me deeply last night. Being hopeful, keeps us optimistic and looking on the brighter side of things keeps us happy. Being happy, attracts good things to occur in our lives and having goodness in our life brings more joy. It’s such an important element on our earthly journey.
Anyway, I wanted to share the excerpt from today’s meditation with you and “hopefully” it will touch you as it did me. If you missed the meditation, you can still allow the daily message, “hope lights my path” to flow through you today and remember that you are, “all possibilities.” If you want to take it deeper you can repeat the Sanskrit mantra as you go about your day. It is, “Shreem.” Breathe in, breathe out, with the word Shreem moving through you. You are all possibilities.
Here’s the excerpt”
This is my Hope wind chime over looking my garden
Day 6 – Feeling Hope
“The greatest joys in life are found not only in what we do and feel,
but also in our quiet hopes and labors for others.” ― Bryant McGill
Today’s meditation activates the power of hope in our hearts. Hope is a key spiritual component of our joyful self. Spiritual hope is not a feeble, anxious wish for things to be better . . . it is the active engagement of our aspiration to the almighty force of evolution. True hope ties our individuality to the cosmos, giving us the guidance and support to move toward our hopes and dreams. This expansion and fulfillment of our aspirations is an essential joy of life.
We feel happy when our love grows and our territory of influence expands, and hope is the leading edge of this expansion.
Our meditation today takes us to the source of hope, the source of our evolutionary expansion of consciousness. From this still center of being, we illuminate the light of hope in our life.
May Hope light your way.
Until I see you again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.
Today is the beginning of another meditation challenge with the Chopra Center. Have you participated in group meditation before?
I did my first meditation with Oprah and Deepak a few years ago and it was life changing. I have meditated “solo-fully” many times before however receiving a daily inspirational message and uniting with like-minded people all over the world gives me soul shivers. If you are up to expanding your happiness and joy, please join me. My favourite part is when Deepak says, “I’ll mind the time” and I have the grace to connect with my spirit.
All you have to do is register. The address is below. Oh, and the best part is it’s FREE
