Hearty Resilience

 

Hearty Resilience

Last night and tonight, out in the yard, there was both a full moon in view and an owl. The moon will still be full tomorrow. The owl is living in a tree just behind us, and it was beautiful to watch with binoculars, but can't get a good photo with the phone camera, so the owl illustration is from The Spirit Animal Oracle by Collette Baron-Reid. Spirit often uses nature to send us messages. The owl is about the wisdom we gain from seeing clearly. The owl sees clearly even in the darkest night. Great analogy. At the times of our darkest moments, our challenges coming to grips with our darker aspects that this becomes perfectly timely. This applies to all of our challenges. Example. 24 years ago, I had a heart attack, brought on by my own lack of attention to what I was eating and drinking, and a lack of regular exercise. Being a wordsmith, I am amused by the fact that today doctors and nurses don't use that word any more. They say I had an event. And event, eh? Sounds like I had a ticket to the circus. Well it sure was a bizarre circus. Fortunately, I got a curtain call after that performance, meaning I got another chance to go again. Spirit sent me a message through one of the nurses while I was still in ICU before they could transfer me to a hospital that did heart surgery, that it was not my time to go yet. Yes, the doctors, nurses and technicians did a great job on my surgery. More importantly, I changed my habits, and as a result, have had no more events of that kind. Those who do not change their habits after such events have more events of that kind until they finish out. As exciting as that was, I have been paying attention to what I consume and exercise every day. I also have some quiet time to get grounded every day and meditate before I start seeing anyone or making any calls. As a result, I am in better shape now than I was 24 years ago. We don't have to get worse as we get older. We can get better and maintain it for a long while before we are worn out. Why would these thoughts pop up now? Because it was about this time of year when these things happened. It was also at this time of year that my father had his event, only they didn't call it an event back then, nor did they have the surgeries or medicines that they did by the time I had my event. Being conscious of making positive changes in my life is part of my daily processes. Whenever I make a mistake, I correct myself so that I do not make the same mistakes again. I always do my best for each person who calls on me, and since there is an endless variety of who is calling and what they need, there are always new twists in the business of helpng people. Perhaps you have heard the old definition of stupidity: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. See clearly. What needs to change? Since I mentioned the moon, in some traditions, this is called the Hare Moon, a reference to fertility and abundance. Last month was the Seed Moon, where we had given thought to what we want to have grow in our life this season. Since planting season is late out here, compared to back east, some of us may be later starting as well. Better late than never! What an appropriate reminder from nature, from spirit, this evening, about shining light in the dark places, and making changes so that this season is even more abundant than the last. I always love hearing from you, so if you feel like sending me a note, calling or coming to see me, please do! If any of you has any idea you would like me to include in my newsletters, I will consider all suggestions. Have a wonderful day!

Feeling Foolish?

 

Feeling Foolish?

April Fool's Day originated in times when people loved to play jokes on each other as sort of a fun way to welcome in spring, because as we have experienced, often weather fools us as we move from winter into spring. Practical jokes and mischief are played to provoke laughter and humor. It was originally a holiday dedicated to the Roman goddess Cybele, whose blessing they invoked for a fertile planting season, and Hilaria was a holiday for being cheerful and merry, from which we get the word hilarious. Games, masquerades, mocking and jokes were the spirit of the time.  Hilarity and humor are attitudes that help us keep our sanity and balance our energies in stressful times. And who among us could not use a little more lightness in our lives? Research in recent years has proven that laughter can help boost the immune system, as do music and love. That is why I frequently use humor when I am talking with you. Humor is a great way to illustrate an idea and make a memorable point. Another aspect being foolish is that often when we are trying something new or different, people might say that we are being foolish. However, it is good for us to remember that this is simply their opinion at this time. How many of you have had someone wonder if you are just being foolish because you quit your previous employment to start your own business? Or they wonder how such a silly idea could become a real business? The photo above is from one of my favorite tarot artists, Ciro Marchetti. What he did in his deck Tarot of Dreams is to make the Fool the beginning and ending cards in the majors for this deck. By bringing the Fool back into the center of the World card, he is showing us how what some might consider foolish behavior can lead to great success. Sort of another take on the old saying that great journeys begin with a single step. Some people think that the Fool is the lowest card in the deck because he is numbered 0. And some people think that he is the highest card in the deck and position it in the end position among the major cards because they feel that the Fool is the only character who knows that he does not know everything. On his life journey, he learns all the major lessons: love, justice, overcoming obstacles, kindness, mentors, teachers, birth, death, honesty, family, friends, prosperity, health. And as long as we live, as long as we are on this Fool's Journey, our whole life, we always have more lessons to learn. People used to say that a person who would leave home and venture out in the world was foolish because they might encounter dangers and unknown challenges and difficulties. Throughout history, it was common for people to spend their entire lives within 20 miles of the place where they were born. Of course, the person on the Fool's journey is one who enjoys meeting new people, seeing new places and trying new things. For this reason, many people call the major arcana cards from the tarot the story of the Fool's Journey through life because these cards contain all our important life lessons. So take the opportunity to reflect on your journey through life this April Fool's Day. What are the things you have done that you thought were foolish? And what were the things you have done that other people thought were foolish? How did these things turn out? Which ones were stupid mistakes, and which ones proved to be strokes of genius? That foolish feeling may be leading into your next big adventure. That foolish feeling may lead to setting off on a new path, expanding your life experience and your future prospects. Are you feeling foolish today? Happy April Fool's Day! I always love hearing from you, so if you feel like sending me a note, calling or coming to see me, please do! If any of you has any idea you would like me to include in my newsletters, I will consider all suggestions. Have a wonderful day!