Monday, December 29, 2014

Shhhhhhh...

I was so busy and crazy-hectic this last week that I lost a significant amount of sleep and missed church three times.  Walking around exhausted and still trying to accomplish 1400 tasks in two hours, I actually told poor Russ to "stop talking" so that I could concentrate on the million things racing through my brain as I frantically bustled around trying to get it all done.  The "To Do" list was running like a high speed video in my mind, which seemed to be operating at full capacity, and I absolutely could not take in even one more thought.

With several people I know battling health issues, and the new year just ahead, I am reminded to sit still, quiet myself and just listen.  I need to slow down.  I need to stop talking.  I need to shhhhhhh...

Louise Hay's calendar for today

My first blog of 2014 was on January 1st, almost one year ago.  It was titled "Burning the Bowl" and was about a wonderful ceremony that Russell and I had attended, in which you release the old and make way for the new as part of the ritual.


I do not remember the thing that I wished to let go of, which I wrote on the piece of paper and burned in the bowl (apparently, it worked).  I do remember the short essay that I received, meant as a message for the year to come.  It was printed on a small, rolled up piece of paper and tied with a ribbon.  I picked it, at random, from a basket that was passed around.  My little scroll was all about being more independent.  That sentiment did ring true for me and I referenced that essay many times over the course of the year.  

This week I will make time to sit quietly and reflect on the past year.  I'll listen to my heart and to my soul's message about the year to come, and try to make it back to that annual ceremony.

I love this shirt!

I wish us all a time of grateful reflection as we look back and appreciate all of the Blessings and lessons of the last year.  I hope that we all find the quiet moments that we need in order to listen to our heart's calling for the year to come.  May we have the ability to listen to our selves and follow our intuition with faith.  May we step confidently toward the goals of our life's journey and toward our own happiness in the new year.

I will end the last blog of 2014 with the same picture and sentiment that ended the first blog of 2014.


Thank you for a wonderful year.  Here's to a Blessed continued journey.

Namaste,
T
Thanks to the team of editors and proofreaders 
 who have checked and improved this blog throughout the year:

Cathy T.
Russell G.
Carole G.
Jeffrey G.

Monday, December 22, 2014

Yes There IS...

"For those who believe, no proof is necessary.  
For those who don't believe, no proof is possible."
- Stuart Chase

As for me?  I believe.

This week, I am reminded of the Truth - that all things are possible, that magic exists, and that we can.  "We can" what?  We can - anything.


The following is from The New York Sun, 1897.  I've always loved this Christmas editorial:

"WE TAKE PLEASURE IN ANSWERING THUS PROMINENTLY THE
communication below, expressing at the same time our great
gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the
friends of The Sun:

        Dear Editor - 

        I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there
        is no Santa Claus. Papa says, "If you see it in The
        Sun, it's so." Please tell me the truth, is there a
        Santa Claus?

        Virginia O'Hanlon
         115 West Ninety Fifth Street

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected
by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except
they see. They think that nothing can be which is not
comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia,
whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great
universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as
compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by
the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and
knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as 
love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they
abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas!
how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It
would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be
no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable
this existence.

We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The 
external light with which childhood fills the world would be
extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in
fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the
chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you
did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove?
Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no
Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that
neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies
dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they
are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders
there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise
inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not
the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the
strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith,
poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and
picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it real? Ah,
Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! He lives and lives forever. A
thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years
from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood."

- "Is There a Santa Claus?" reprinted from the September 21, 
1897, number of The New York Sun.


This year, I was moved by the writing of a nine year old little girl, Basya Fogelman, who read her winning essay aloud at the National Menorah Lighting in Washington, DC.  I was also inspired and encouraged by Rabbi Levi Shemtov's comments, which immediately followed:


“Chanukah means different things to different people.  To little kids, Chanukah means presents.  To adults, Chanukah means spending time with family.  To me, Chanukah means going up.  You might ask, What does that mean? The second night of Chanukah is symbolic of elevation or going up because every night you add more light by lighting another candle.  So too does a Jew by doing this important mitzvah.  This mitzvah will lead to more.  As our sages say, One good deed leads to another.  We should try to do more good deeds every day.  It’s important to me to add more light in honor of my grandmother who passed away on the second night of Chanukah many years ago.  My favorite way to add light is to visit old and sick people and light the menorah and sing Chanukah songs with them.  When I do this, I know I am not only elevating myself but my grandmother’s soul too.”  - Basya Fogelman

In your homes or via the live broadcast, know that you can light a candle too.  Even if you’re not celebrating Chanukah, go warm up somebody’s life.  Go do another good deed.  Go make the world brighter than it would be without you and in that way, you’re celebrating Chanukah too.  Obviously, in the Jewish community we light menorahs, but spreading light, good, and warmth in the world is a universal opportunity and message.  - Rabbi Levi Shemtov




While the children are teaching us, here is another good find from Sesame Street, about Kwanzaa.  I fondly remember learning all about Kwanzaa when my (then five year old) little sister came home from school and excitedly shared her entire lesson on the holiday with the whole family.


More on Kwanzaa from The History Channel:


Click here for direct link to the above video on History.com (instead of YouTube)

Just as millions celebrate Irish culture on St. Patty's Day 
and Mexican culture on Cinco de Mayo, 
Kwanzaa has grown to fulfill Dr. Karenga's vision.  
The vision that people of all stripes celebrate the 
African culture and spirit.
- History.com

This holiday season, I'll keep in mind what the children have taught me.  I will be warmed by the purity of love in their hearts and by the magic and spirit of family that fills the air.  I will be reminded:

Life is simple.  Choose Love.  Choose Joy.  Follow the Magic.  Follow the Light.  
Be Love.  Be Joy.  Be Magic.  Be Light.

May we all have a joyous holiday season.  May we love and appreciate each other for our uniqueness, for the variations and different traditions within our brotherhood and for the common bond which connects and unites all of us. 

Happy Holidays!

Namaste, 
T

Monday, December 15, 2014

Peace Flowing Like a River


There was much debate this past week about whether or not to vacation, but eventually the decision was made and the opportunity was seized.

"We can never make peace in the outer world 
until we make peace with ourselves."
- Dalai Lama

"Never be in a hurry; 
do everything quietly and in a calm spirit.  
Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, 
even if your whole world seems upset."
- Saint Francis de Sales

"Each one has to find his peace from within.  
And peace to be real must be 
unaffected by outside circumstances."
- Mahatma Gandhi

I hope that even in the midst of all the holiday chaos and with all the stresses of the world, each one of us finds a way to carve out just a little time for self replenishment and peace of spirit.


Namaste,
T

Monday, December 8, 2014

Simple Choice

After the crazy, chaotic whirlwind that was last week, I slow down, smile and remember...


I'll never know exactly where I'm going, but I know it will be wonderful!

Namaste!

T

Monday, December 1, 2014

United



The perfect end to an extremely busy week came on Sunday.

I attended the wedding of a wonderful friend and his partner.  The spirit of Love that filled the air was simply incredible.  All who were present felt Blessed to witness the couple's declaration of a most genuine and precious Love.  It warmed our hearts, brought tears to our eyes and sent our Spirits leaping for joy.  The magic and beauty that we felt defies description by mere words.  It seemed we all witnessed a bit of Heaven - the way things are supposed to be.  We laughed, cried and drank it all in as if our parched souls had finally found an oasis.  By sharing their Love with us, that couple had actually fed our souls.

As they stood before us, baring their hearts to each other, someone in the intimate crowd gathered there in the couple's living room said, "I love love."  The woman standing next to me was compelled to introduce herself to me, and I to her.  We all came together under that umbrella of Love.  There were family members, friends, and complete strangers gathered in a feeling of unity.  Isn't that what love is all about?

As I was eventually saying my goodbyes, along with so many lovely people, we spoke of a sense we had, of a "cloud of Love" surrounding us.  We bid the couple hold on to that cloud and always refer back to it in times of challenge.  I vowed to myself to hang on to it and carry it with me as I ventured back out into the world beyond the comfort of their enchanted home that evening.

With so much going on in the world at this very moment, I will carry the remembrance of that Love this week.  I will seek out that which unifies people and accept it as truth.  I will dismiss that which seeks to divide us.

I believe we are one family.

Namaste,
T
"Don't let them deceive us
Orchestrating our defeat
Pushing us to ruin
We fight our brother in the street
Just because he wears a different face
What a disgrace
I believe that we're all family
And together we can find all that we need..."
-Tanya Diona 
"Family Reunion" lyrics
P.S.
As if Angels have just sent me confirmation of these sentiments, I just viewed these two posts (which I will post, in sequence, after posting this blog):



As I write this, peaceful protesters unite and line the streets across the country...