Service and Gratitude

One of the reasons I love doing what I do is that I feel good when a person comes to me for a healing session and they let me know that they feel better.

When they feel better, I feel better. It feels good to be of service, to know that you have helped others.

Or when a person comes to me for a reading and they light up because now they have a new way of seeing things, thought of a solution to a problem, or feel validated in their choices. I feel good about helping people get this from a session.

And I don't just mean this relative to what I do. What you do fits into the same flow of feelings. Whatever you do for work, it feels good to know that someone benefited from what you did and appreciates it.

Feeling these feelings stimulates feelings of gratitude for being able to do what you do.

If you are not doing the kind of work you like, find your way into something you do enjoy. Sometimes you may need time to plan and gather resources.

Maybe mentoring and networking to find a better path forward.

Pay attention to the yeses your gut instinct gives you. That feeling in the gut is spirit guides helping us make our best choices.

Beliefs are tied to strong feelings as well, and that is why I chose the picture above. When our beliefs get challenged, there is often a strong gut level response. Strong beliefs lead to strong feelings and those lead to strong actions.

Strong actions can include speaking out when you feel a situation needs to be addressed. Strong actions can include changing the way you do business and who you do business with. Strong actions can include your every day choices, like buying products that you need and want from providers you want to support, like local farmers or local creators.

Where our thoughts go, our energy goes. How we think has everything to do with our satisfaction in life. Example. Two people are in the same business. One thinks that it is all about making sales. The other thinks it is about helping people get something they want or need. Which one do you think gets more joy out of doing their work?

I am grateful for the opportunity to feel this gratitude from being in service to my clients. And I would like to see you be happy to be of service in your field. After all, how much better would that be if more of us were aligned in our thoughts and feelings this way, getting joy and enjoying more success because we shifted our perspective.

 

Spirit Talk

Halloween, which the Celts call Samhain, and the Mexican Day of the Dead (Dia de Los Muertos) have the same roots. This is a day where we pause to reflect on those who have passed this year who were important to us.

Part of our spiritual growth roots in the lessons we learn from those who have been important influences in our lives. When we look at why certain people were in our lives as guides, mentors, teachers, and look at who we are now, and how these formed part of our personalities.

Remembering what we learned can also trigger us into a change when we have that thought about how many more years will we have. Maybe we will live to be 100. Maybe we wont't. Either way, what do you most want to do with your time before you are gone?

What did they do with their lives? What am I doing with mine? What is the best use of my time and energy from here forward? Which of our family and close friends who have gone are still here, continuing on with us as spirit guides?

We can get guidance from them. Our gut instinct is connected to it. Who do you think is giving you the friendly elbow when you need to make a decision? A few quiet moments before we get busy, or when we are recapping our day is enough to connect us with spirit.

Notice where your thoughts are going. Notice where you energy is going. We can always change that flow of energy.

Grieving comes in waves. Each loss that we have to grieve teaches us lessons, which we all experience. It is a common occurrence that we have grieved right after the person left, and we feel settled down, then some time later, something comes up that triggers us again. And that will happen at intermittent intervals, which will vary from person to person.

Having a traditional time and ritual for remembering those who have gone who had an influence on our life helps us to process our grief.

As we grow, oour perspective on that person may change. Now that we know more, some of the things to told us or did with us will feel different at different times.

Some of our guidance is rooted in our memories from past lessons. Current guidance can be found by connecting with our spirit guides, whether we perceive them to be family members or friends who crossed over before us,m or they could be ancient ancestors coming back to help us.

If you think about it, Halloween brings with it a unique mix festive parties and creative decorations and costumes, combined with solemn thoughts and memories. But it does not all have to be sad. The old traditions have us singing their favorite songs and telling stories about them, often funny ones.

Savor the spirits of this holiday season!

 

How does it feel?

The Temperance card above from the Amber Moon Tarot, by German artist Hepie Bartkowski, is all about how we keep harmony and balance in our life, and how we feel about where we are. And that certainly fits with this season of the Harvest Moon and Autumn Equinox.

The image shows us a woman of harmony, balance, simplicity and spiritual equilibrium. October is also a time of balance shifting in terms of daylight, and the sign of Libra. She has weighed all the ideas and inputs and made a choice that she is comfortable with. We can see that peace and satisfaction in her face.

Temperance also is about finding a way to make things work. We take into consideration all the things we could do, all your options, then we choose what feels best.

A person who is very temperate in demeanor also can meditate disputes between people and get them to find agreement.

At this time in our history, we all need Temperance to get everything to work out for us. We are seeking new solutions to all kinds of things. Maybe where we will find new sources of produce from local farms, maybe new hobbies or activities or subjects we want to learn more about. Maybe we need to find new ways to make money. Maybe it is time for new friends or a new romantic relationship. Whatever it is that we need to work on, the wise person will consider all the information at hand and then choose a course of action leading to a solution.

Feeling is key in making our decisions. When we make a choice that is aligned with our intentions and goals, we feel good about it. There is always a feeling that goes along with our thoughts. Where our thoughts go, our energy goes.

Our gut instinct always gives us a feeling of yes or no. There is a clear distinction at the feeling level. Sometimes we go off on a tangent because we can't figure out why we got a yes or no feeling. Figuring things out comes later. Right now, follow your feelings. When you are on track, you have that gut feeling that affirms your choices. The feeling is your spirit guides helping you make your best choices.

When we are choosing to make changes, it is always because we feel that it is time. It is a challenge for most of us to keep our head and heart in alignment. So many times we feel torn because we really want something with our heart while our head is still thinking. And sometimes head and heart want two different things.

Pay attention to your feelings in making your choices. How do you feel about where you are now? What is your feeling about what is next?

Take a deep breath and check in with your feelings. Then take action, and see how it feels.

 

Keeping Our Balance

This month, we celebrate the Full Harvest Moon on the 26th and the Autumn Equinox on the 22nd.

As I reflect on the harvests of this year, the amount of food that we get from our garden adds some to our meals, but does not make a huge dent in the total grocery budget, but there is some satisfaction to tasting something we planted from seed and now has produced a vegetable that adds not just flavor and substance to a meal, but also the Spirit of working with nature and learning something new about plants and nurturing them every year.

We do get enough herbs to dry, including thyme, tarragon, oregano, rosemary, lemon balm, lemon grass, chives and basil to get us through the whole winter. Then there are the herbs we have dried for healing uses, including comfrey, goldenrod, rue, mugwort and lambs ear.

Most significantly we get a great deal of comfort, joy and peace of mind from spending time in the garden, and every year even though we always spend some time dealing with pests like earwigs and grasshoppers, we also have the pleasure of watching birds, bees, squirrels, garden snakes and other creatures.

We see nature demonstrating to us how different creatures work together and play together, when one bird is bringing food back to its partner and nest, or when the squirrels jump for joy when they find something to eat. There is a squirrel that loves laying on the branch of a tree to watch us, and so have the birds, like the flickers, hawks, owls, towhees, sparrows, chickadees and others.

There are also rabbits who live out front who just continue to graze without running away because they know we are not going to hurt them, and apparently, they stay out of the garden.

It is very relaxing to just sit in the garden watching the stars, moon and sky as well as the creatures and plants. We also have a fire pit and like to make a bonfire every full moon. Way better than watching TV.

Which also brings to mind the currently fight over data centers. AI is plugged into a lot of things and I don't use it much. By now, we all have to deal with robots answering phones at companies we call. But when it popped into my text messaging saying that it could answer my messages for me, I deleted that. I will answer messages myself. I also write all these newsletters myself. I will not have AI write these for me. Even though Google always uses AI for searches these days, I still research the old fashioned way, looking up the various websites it brings up, rather than trusting AI.

So we have harvested some useful things from AI, but I will not have a smart speaker in my home that will record all I do and say. That is like having a spy in your kitchen. And although I use GPS to find my way to places, sometimes it makes mistakes. So I limit my interactions with all AI. We need to use other sources beyond AI to verify important things. Having a camera send a speeding ticket is one thing. These Flock and Axon cameras are not that. We do not need cameras that record everywhere we go all the time.

I agree that the data centers are a problem and all these devices are about spying on us, and I am against creating facilities that waste millions of gallons of water a day. That is insane. Our farmers and ranchers need to water to produce our food. And we need the water for our every day living to drink, cook, and clean. It has also been reported by ranchers and farmers that these developments have negative effects on the people, plants and animals who are near them.

To balance, I like to read books that are ink on paper. Studies are now showing that students who read from books and use pen and paper have better learning and retention this way, compared to doing all on screens. And I still get a local newspaper delivered every morning so that I can get the local news and do a crossword puzzle with my coffee.

So that leads into the Fall Equinox theme as well. Keeping balance in our life between work and play is important. Some people are successful at work because they are always gone, working hard and making money, but then they have no time for nurturing their private interests and personal relationships. We all seem to be more conscious of that and are taking steps to balance.

This is also the time of year when they days become shorter, the temperatures drop and we will spend more time indoors. Time to go within. Time to read and study. Time to give serious thought to what's next. The time of year when we will spend more time indoors, just like spring and summer we have more time outdoors. Balance.

This quarter of the year contains most of our emotionally laden holidays that can be incredibly festive for some people, but sad for others. Once again, we look for the balance in our lives. Which people do we want to spend more time with? Which ones less time. We make choices for balance. Who will be with us from here forward? Where do we want to spend our time?

So as we savor the bounty of our year, let us give some thought to how we balance everything.

 

Coincidences and Connections

Earlier in my life, I noticed coincidences but did not know what to make of them. Maybe you have too.

One definition of coincidences is when two seemingly unrelated things happen at the same time.

Carl Jung coined the term synchronicity as when an internal psychological state like a dream, thought or feeling aligns with an external physical event that cannot be explained by cause and effect, yet feels deeply significant to the person experiencing it.

The photo above contains three items that fit that description.

The first item is my father's and my uncle's (his only brother) dog tags from World War 2. Dog tags are military ID necklaces that you get when you join.

The second item is a book that was my grandmother's (my father's mother).

The third item is a coffee cup showing a map of Poland at it's peak, when it was the largest country in Europe.

Here is what is so interesting about them.

My sister has been cleaning out mom's house, and she found the dog tags and asked me if I wanted them. So I said yes right away. One psychic way of getting information is called psychometry. That is when you hold an object in your hand and pick up impressions from it. Most often that is done with a piece of jewelry or another thing that a person wore or carried a lot. The method also works on other things. I have done this for others with a variety of objects, such as a sword, a doll, a piece of pottery and other things that are not jewelry. So that is what I had in mind.

When she sent the tags, she also sent the book that was grandma's. That totally surprised me because she has been gone 50 years or so, and I never thought I would see anything from her again because her house was cleaned out way back then. Poland was the country where that part of my family immigrated to the US from, and so recently I have been reading books about Polish and Slavic history, and here is a book about that. You can tell it is an old book because it cost $1.45 when it was new. Been a great many years since books have been priced like that.

Part of my curiosity was tweaked because Poland and Ukraine have been in the news for the last several years, and I have bought tarot decks from artists in Poland and Ukraine. Plus the fact that there are things we pick up when we do spirit guide meditations, and of course, often spirit guides are ancestors. Another aspect is that my mother's side of the family was much bigger and so I have more information about them than I do my father's side. There were only a few of them and all of them have been gone a long time, so I am curious about roots.

By the way, I will bring the Ukranian deck out for readings when I receive it. Presently, shipping to the US is delayed due to tariffs that need to be worked out. Yes, tariffs on a tarot deck I am buying from a Ukranian artist. Poland and Ukraine have a common ancestry and that is why Poland has taken in 2 to 2.5 million refugees from the war with Russia. And yes, Russian people are also Slavic.

The third item is a coffee cup that caught my eye in a thrift store. I shop at thrift stores regularly and I have never seen a coffee cup that said Poland on it before. Since I drink a lot of coffee and tea, I always enjoy coffee mugs with witty sayings or inspirational quotes on them. So the day after I receive the dog tags and book, here is a Poland coffee cup. Once again 3, the number of manifestation.

Coincidence? No. At this time in my life, it is a sign for me that that part of my ancestry has something to say to me.

Have you experienced similar events in your life?

Another way of understanding synchronicity is that spirit is sending us signs that connect things for us. There are reasons why these seemingly elliptical instances help us see bigger pictures about our life. And yes, sometimes it may take us a while to get clear messages.

Sometimes that is what I do for others, and these ancestors may show up during past life sessions, psychometry, or other kinds of readings.

Notice what comes your way when you are focusing on a topic. Notice what seemingly unrelated discoveries pop up when you are in a conscious and subconscious flow. These things happen when there is something on your mind.

I have seen it with clients who are focused on making a transition and something unexpected pops up to assist or confirm, something they did not plan and was unexpected.

Has this been happening to you? What have you experienced? Does this resonate with you?

 

Where is the Lion's Gate?

Yes, I now that the Lion's Gate is when, from July 28 - August 12, with a peak on August 8, when Sirius aligns with the Sun, which is in Leo, which is why it is called the Lion's Gate. This gate also provides us with a where. More on that in a second.

The planet Sirius, also known as the Dog Star, which symbolizes wisdom, growth, rebirth and a cosmic opening into a higher consciousness.

According to Malidoma Some, a shaman, healer, and author, the Dagara tribe of Africa believe that they came from Sirius. Interesting how these things pop up, isn't it? Where do we come from? Where are we going?

We are living in a time of folklore and myth being woven together with science fiction.

You have to wonder if the science fiction authors were envisioning this future or were their works laying out plans that others could follow?

What kind of future do we want?

The number 8 symbolizes infinity, abundance, personal power, heartfelt desires, authenticity and leadership. Making excellent progress on bringing your dreams to life. Or bringing life to you dreams.

What areas of your life do you want to illuminate, so that you can bring your dreams to life? The Lion's Gate is a perfect time to light that fire!

So, you see this portal is not only a when, but a where. Where are you in your plans? Where are you in your life?

The Lion says "Have the heart to go for it! If you succeed, you have the life of your dreams. And even if you fail, at least your have the satisfaction of knowing you tried."

How many times have you seen someone really working hard to achieve something or solve a problem, and others are inspired to help them? It's that heart energy that makes the connection. It is human nature for us to help each other.

Good energy draws good energy. This is a time to speak up for what you want, and draw more of that energy to you. Your focus is intense, your results are more precise.

This year, the Perseid Meteor Showers run from July 17 - August 24, and peaks on August 12 - 13.

Lots of lights to see. Do the lights bring us new energy? New ideas? New inspiration?

What is on the other side of the gate for each of us? Are you ready to put your best foot forward on the path to your goal? Call up your Lion energy and go for it!

The image above is the Strength card from the Cosmic Tarot by Norbert Losche.

 

Who cheers for Who?

One unexpected source of pleasure and good energy this summer has been watching the humorous and lighthearted exchanges between all the various groups of World Cup fans. Videos of the playful spirits of everyone, players and fans, have brought humor and good energy to public places in a big way.

Soccer was not a sport we played when I was growing up, but my kids did. I can appreciate watching a good match, and I am always amazed at that whole thing about bonking a ball with your head and all the ways of kicking a ball while not using the hands.

Since I played baseball and basketball most when I was growing up, those are still the sports I watch most. And these days, the way I see the game highlights on You Tube. Once in a while, I go to a game at the stadium.

Of course, in any sport there are questionable calls, and in soccer, the rules seem more fuzzy to me than the other sports. When two players are chasing a ball while running, and they collide, it is not always clear to me when one player commits a foul.

In sports, we have favorite teams we cheer for, but in championships it is always fascinating to see the incredible amount of energy an underdog can generate when they get father than anyone expected.

The thing to notice here is how much the energy of the fans can inspire players to greater performances because the waves of energy from one group to another changes the whole atmosphere. Who among us has not been amused by some of these events? Don't some of their antics tickle your imagination? Have you noticed a lightening of the mood in general as people banter about the World Cup? To me, it has been a bright spot in this summer.

I don't usually watch a lot of soccer, but now I have a new appreciation of it and may check on it more frequently.

As we notice the interplay of energy between groups of people, think about the ways we use that energy in our lives.

How do we feel when we cheer for other people? How we feel when other people cheer for us?

Who is cheering for who? Who are the cheerleaders in our lives? What do we really want to see happen? Cheering can give us an energy boost toward achieving our goals.

Who are you cheering for? Who is cheering for you?