photo from i.ehow.com

Thursday, December 31, 2009 – New Year’s Eve
“New Year's Eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe,

No breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights.”
~Hamilton Wright Mabie

Today's Affirmation
I welcome this New Year with a new attitude and new thought.
Today's Meditation
Dear God, Mother, Father, Spirit of the Universe,

Tonight I celebrate the start of a new year.
May this experience be as real for me spiritually as it is on the calendar.
This year, may I open myself fully, more than ever before

to the power of Love to transform my life and my world.
May my celebration of this newness be deep and powerful.
May the dawn bring for me a new way of seeing and being.
I open myself to the truth that in any moment everything can be new.
May I experience the power and love of peace.

photo by Kim Taylor

Look to this day
For yesterday is but a dream
And tomorrow is only a vision
But today, well lived,
Makes every yesterday a dream of happiness
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well, therefore, to this day!
~ Sanskrit Proverb

photo from ehow.com


Elder's Meditation of the Day

"What you see with your eyes shut is what counts."
~Lame Deer, LAKOTA

Another whole world opens up when we close our eyes and calm our mind. Be still and know; be still and hear; be still and see; be still and feel. Inside every person is a still, small voice. Sometimes it is necessary to close our eyes to shut down our perception in order to see. Try this occasionally when you are talking to your child or spouse, close your eyes and listen to them. Listen to the tone of their voice; listen to their excitement; listen to their pain-listen.


Great Spirit, today, let me hear only what really counts.

This Barred Owl came to visit Germantown MetroParks, he usually lives at a bird sactuary due to having its wing shot

"It is our business to go as we are impelled."
-D.H. Lawrence

this photo is from this summer after a fire ceremony, I was doing a model pose joking around

Let the world know I am as I am,
not as I think I need to be,
because sooner or later, if I am posing,
I will forget the pose, and then where am I?
~Fanny Brice

Now a bit of Fibromyalgia info. About 4 weeks ago my holistic MD, Dr. Jonas, had me try some samples of Deplin. He said it has worked for some people with Fibromyalgia. What it does is supplement the folate levels in the body and it can pass the blood brain barrier, which normal suupplements can't do. And Dr. Jonas said that low folate can cause body aches and depression. So I tried my samples and felt it did help some with my aches. I am continuing the trial with a prescription now. Deplin is labeled a medical food. I gave it a try because I trust Dr. Jonas and because how the drug works made sense to me. The website for Deplin talks about how it is a mood elevator, that can be a benefit as well. But it can help with the body aches of Fibro too. http://www.deplin.com/DeplinFacts,HowItWorks
Keep trying things, eventually something will work, DON'T GIVE UP HOPE! What I have found is that we are all so different and what works for you, may not work for me.
Sending love and peace to you all....

photo from www.feedmewp.com

"Be like the bird that, passing on her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing that she hath wings."
-Victor Hugo

photo from upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia

Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen. ~Author unknown, attributed to a 7-year-old named Bobby

Wishing you all love and peace in your life on the bright and merry Christmas day.

photo from an email-unknown photographer

Elder's Meditation of the Day

"Believing people can soar beyond ordinary life."
--Fools Crow, LAKOTA

We are created by God to be vision people. First we set the goal and then we see. If we create within ourselves a picture or vision and we hold that picture or vision in our mind, whatever we picture will show up in our reality. If we can see ourselves being educated, then schools and teachers will show up in our lives. If we picture in our mind a positive, spiritual person to be in our lives, we will attract this type of person in our relationships. How big can our dreams be?

Great Spirit, let my visions today be Your vision. Put within me a vision of the being you would have me be. Then help me to keep the vision in my mind.

This inspiration is especially for my soul sistah Hope.
Sending Christmas joy to all!

Elder's Meditation of the Day

"It's not the package and the wrapping which counts but what is inside, underneath the clothes and the skin."
--Lame Deer, LAKOTA

Our eyes and ears gather information that is fed to the mind, and we tend to form judgements, opinions, and assumptions which determine our perception. We might see someone act a certain way, then label that person forever, not at all concentrating on what is inside the person. It matters not our height, our size, our facial features, or our gender. What matters is our thoughts. Good thoughts overcome all obstacles.

Great Spirit, let my inside contain Your qualities

photographer unknown to me

Go Away

Yesterday he came to me
I shouted 'Go away'
Grace danced towards me
I shut my door.

- Jalal-ud-Din Rumi

photo from http://sites.google.com/site/sccphotoclubsite

Elder's Meditation of the Day

"He [The Great Spirit] only sketches out the path of life roughly for all the creatures on earth, shows them where to go, where to arrive, but leaves them to find their own way to get there. He wants them to act independently according to their nature, to the urges of each of them.
--Lame Deer, LAKOTA

Every person is created with purpose and with direction. This purpose and direction is written in our hearts when we are conceived. In addition, we are given access to a quiet guidance system which helps us find our purpose and our direction. We need to recognize this guidance system. It's called intuition, the quiet voice, urges, the knowing, or the feeling. Once we locate our purpose and direction, we are given skills, talents and abilities that are unique to only ourselves. We must practice daily prayer and meditation with God to find this information. To be solid and confident in ourselves, we always need to be able to answer three questions: why am I?, who am I?, and where am I going? If I can answer these three questions, I always know I'm OK!

Great Spirit, show me my path of life.

Today is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. Now the daylight will start to get longer each day. I want to send gratitude to my Windsong family for the love and energy we shared last night at the Winter Solstice fire ceremony. It was awesome! I love you all! I am grateful you are in my life.

photo from http://www.old-picture.com/indians/pictures/Indian-Pottery.jpg

Elder's Meditation of the Day

"My pottery is the handiwork of God."
--Teresita Naranjo, SANTA CLARA PUEBLO

The Great One has given every human being at least one special talent and one special gift. We need to develop and practice these gifts because they are the handiwork of God. Maybe we are artists-when people look at our work it puts joy in their hearts; maybe we are singers- when people listen to our songs, their hearts are happy; maybe we are writers of song or poetry-when people hear or read our work, it may change their lives. We need to honor ourselves and our gifts. We need to thank the Creator for our talents and our gifts."

My Creator, let me use my gifts to further Your work on the Earth.

photographer unknown to me

Elder's Meditation of the Day

"Flexible strength is better than inflexible. Let the storm flow over you, and then pop back up."
--Michael Kabotie, HOPI

Flexibility is taught by nature. You will see the trees bend in the wind. You will see that tree branches are flexible. To be rigid is to break. When we have life problems it is good for us to be flexible. Sometimes we need to flow with what is going on. If we resist, it becomes more painful. We need to be on the path of least resistance. Water flows down the mountain through the path of least resistance. Electricity flows through the path of least resistance. Power flows through the path of least resistance.

Creator, I will be flexible today because I know You are with me.

"Without risk, faith is an impossibility."
-Soren Kierkegaard

photographer unknown to me

The Cup of Your Life
The wine of divine grace is limitless:
All limits come only from the faults of the cup.
Moonlight floods the whole sky from horizon to horizon;
How much it can fill your room depends on its windows.
Grant a great dignity, my friend, to the cup of your life;
Love has designed it to hold His eternal wine.

- Jalal-ud-Din Rumi

I am home after a 2 day trip to DC to visit my oldest daughter Lindsay. We did a bunch of good work getting her organized. It was a fun mini-vaca too. Look in the photo and see the little silouette of the plane. This is in honor of me flying to DC. AirTran did a fabulous job transporting me both ways. I highly recommend Air Tran!

photo from http://2.bp.blogspot.com

Our names are labels, plainly printed on the bottled essence of our past behavior.
~Logan Pearsall Smith

photo found on photobucket.com

People are like stained-glass windows; they sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.
~Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

photo from http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Books/Pix/pictures/2008/09/25/rain460.jpg

Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby.
~Langston Hughes

photographer unknown to me

The sail of the ship of man's being is belief.
When there is a sail, the wind can carry him
To place after place of power and wonder.
No sail, all words are wind.

- Jalal-ud-Din Rumi

Elder's Meditation of the Day

"Peace... comes within the souls of men when they realize their relationship, their oneness, with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize that at the center of the Universe dwells Wakan-Tanka, and that this center is really everywhere, it is within each of us."
~ Black Elk (Hehaka Sapa) OGLALA SIOUX

If we are to know peace we must look within ourselves. In order to do this, we must learn to be still. We must quiet the mind. We must learn to meditate. Meditation helps us locate and find the center that is within ourselves. The center is where the Great One resides. When we start to look for peace, we need to realize where it is within ourselves. When we experience conflict we need to pause for a moment and ask the Power within ourselves, "How do you want me to handle this? What would you suggest I do in this situation?" By asking the High Power for help we find peace.

Creator, help me to find peace

photo from an email-unknown photographer

I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once.
~Jennifer Yane

photo from http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200502/r41148_104701.jpg

Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can.
~Danny Kaye

Dreams

photo from the Daily OM

Elder's Meditation of the Day

"Sometimes dreams are wiser then waking."
--Black Elk (Hehaka Sapa), OGLALA

The Great Spirit has many ways of communicating with the human being. He talks to us through the five senses; sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. For example, we can observe nature and see a lesson or get an answer. These five senses function primarily in the physical world. But we also have the ability to receive communication from the Unseen World. To do this we have a sixth sense. It comes in the form of dreams, imagination, intuition, inspiration, or a hunch. Along with the dream or intuitive thought there is a feeling, a knowing. We just know it's true without the need for proof. We need to pay attention to our dreams and intuition. Don't cast them off as being silly or useless. Be respectful to our dreams and feelings.

Creator, if you speak to me through dreams, let me know it in terms I can understand.

And thank you for a house full of people I love. Amen.
~Ward Elliot Hour

Elder's Meditation of the Day
"And that, I guess, is what it all boils down to; do the right thing, everything goes fine; do the wrong thing, everything's a mess."
--Robert Spott, YUROK
The Elders say every person is born with free will and every person has a specific purpose to accomplish during their lifetime. When our life is relatively free from obstacles we are walking the path of God's will. If our life is full of obstacles, we are not doing the will of God. Often, the Great Spirit guides us through a system of coincidences. We need to pay attention to coincidences. If we are aware of these, we often can recognize the path which God is showing us. We need to pray and ask Him to show us the path in terms we can understand.

Oh, Great Mystery, let me recognize the coincidences.

photo from an email-unknown photographer

"Hope for a miracle. But don't depend on one."
~Talmud

photo gotten from google images

Elder's Meditation of the Day

"Listen to the howl of our spiritual brother, the wolf, for how it goes with him, so it goes for the natural world."
~Oren R. Lyons, Spokesman, Traditional Circle of Elders

If we watch nature, we can tell a lot about what is going on in the world. The animals and the plants are great teachers. Some time ago, crops were sprayed with a poison to kill the insects. Other animals ate the insects. The small animals were eaten by the Eagles and the Wolves. We live in an interconnected system. What we do to one, we do to all. If our spiritual brothers are living in balance, chances are we humans are also living in balance.

Great Spirit, let me listen to my Earth teachers, the plants and the animals.

NATIVE BLESSING

MAY YOU HAVE THE STRENGTH OF EAGLES' WINGS,
THE FAITH AND COURAGE TO FLY TO NEW HEIGHTS,
AND THE WISDOM OF THE UNIVERSE TO CARRY YOU THERE

photo from an email, photographer unkown to me

“There is a force within that gives me life--Seek that.
In my body there lies a priceless jewel-Seek that.
Oh, wandering dervish, if you are in search of the greatest treasure,
don't look outside. Look within, and seek That."
~Jalaluddin Rumi

photo from the Daily OM

“Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence,
and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content."
~Helen Keller

photographer unknown to me

"Your real security is yourself. You know you can do it, and they can't ever take that away from you."
~ Mae West

photo is from www.joe-ks.com/archives_feb2008/CircleOfLife.jpg

Elder's Meditation of the Day
"Life, the circle, a measurement with no beginning and no end."
~ Phillip Deere, MUSKOGEE-CREEK

The circle teaches us how the Creator made things and how to live. It teaches us how we should look at creation. Life travels in a circle. In the East is the baby, to the South is the youth, in the West is the adult and in the North is the Elder. Then we return to the Earth Mother to start the cycle again. We observe what is `around us' from the center of the circle. This develops our point of view. We must be careful not to become self-centered.

Great Spirit, let me observe life from the circle's point of view.

"People say that crisis changes people and turns ordinary people into wiser or more responsible ones."

~ Wilma Mankiller, CHEROKEE

There is a saying, conflict precedes clarity. The Medicine Wheel teachings say, in order for something to change it must first go through a struggle. When a crisis enters our lives, other powers are there to help us. We will learn some lessons. Will I honor and respect the next crisis?

Great Spirit, if a crisis occurs today, let me learn the lessons of wisdom.

Leaving a Positive Footprint

Blessing Space
Physical space acts like a sponge, absorbing the radiant of all who pass through it. And, more likely than not, the spaces we move through each day have seen many people come and go. We have no way of knowing whether the energy footprints left behind by those who preceded us will invigorate us or drain us. Yet we can control the energy footprint we leave behind for others. In blessing each space we enter, we orchestrate a subtle energy shift that affects not only our own experiences in that space but also the experiences of the individuals who will enter the space after us. While we may never see the effects our blessing has had, we can take comfort in the fact that we have provided grace for those that follow after us.

When you bless a room or an entire building, you leave a powerful message of love and light for all those who will come after you. Your blessings thus have myriad effects on the environments through which you pass. Old, stagnant energy is cleared, creating a vacuum into which fresh and invigorating energy can freely flow. The space is thus rendered harmonious and nourishing, and it becomes a hub from which positive feelings are transmitted. Intent is the key component of the blessings you leave in your physical wake. If your intent involves using your own consciousness as a tool for selflessly spreading grace, your blessings will never go awry. Whether you feel more comfortable performing a solo blessing or prefer to call upon your spirit guides for assistance, visualize each space you enter becoming free of toxins, chaos, and negativity as you speak your blessing. Then imagine the resultant emptiness being replaced by pure, healing white light and loving energy. Even a quic! k mindful thought of love can bless a space.

This type of blessing is cumulative and will grow each time you bestow it. Try blessing every home, business, and office you visit for an entire week and observing the effects of your goodwill. Your affirmative energy footprint will help brighten your day as you contemplate your blessing’s future impact on your siblings in humanity and your environment.

Happy Thanksgiving

http://bbg-aura.gaia.com/photos/46/451664/large/MedicineWheel.jpg

Elder's Meditation of the Day - November 25

"People and nations who understand the Natural Law are self-governing, following the principles of love and respect that insure freedom and peace."
~ Traditional Circle of Elders, NAVAJO-HOPI Joint Use Area

The Natural Laws work hand-in-hand with the circle. Each part of a circle will look to the center and will see something different. For example, if you put an irregular shaped object in the center of a circle and you have people standing in a circle around the object, each one will describe it differently. Everyone in the circle will be right. Only by honoring and respecting everyone's input, can the truth about the object be revealed. We need to learn to honor differences.

My Creator, let me honor all differences.

I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving. I am thankful for God, all the people in my life, all the animals in my life and a cozy bungalow that is our sanctuary. I love you!

“There is a force within that gives me life--Seek that.
In my body there lies a priceless jewel-Seek that.
Oh, wandering dervish, if you are in search of the greatest treasure,
don't look outside. Look within, and seek That."
~Jalaluddin Rumi

photo from an email

"Things would go well for us if we would think positively about everything."
--Mary Hayes, CLAOQUOT
Each of our thoughts are like individual seeds. These thoughts will plant our life garden. Whatever our thoughts, they grow in our gardens. Each day we will process about 50,000 thoughts or thought seeds. Positive thoughts will produce positive results. Have you ever been aware of what you are thinking about during the day? Of the possible 50,000 thoughts in one day - if the positive thoughts were flowers and the negative thoughts were weeds - how would your garden look at the end of the day?

"It's the most precious thing...to know absolutely where you belong. There's a whole emotional wrapping-around-of-you here. You see the same rock, tree, road, clouds, sun -- you develop a nice kind of intimacy with the world around you. To be intimate is to grow, to learn...[it] is absolutely fulfilling. Intimacy, that's my magic word for why I live here."
~ Tessie Maranjo, SANTA CLARA PUEBLO

Craniosacral therapy

I chose this photo because I had tree visions of in my last Cranial Sacral session

My massage therapist and wonderful friend, Kim Elkins, has been doing Craniosacral Therapy(CST) on me a few times over the past 6 weeks. I am sharing this because it has been a very healing experience for me. After a treatment I feel like what I imagine being high feels like. I am so relaxed, balanced, free and happy. What is Craniosacral Therapy you may be asking. Here is a website that describes it pretty well.

http://massage-techniques.suite101.com/article.cfm/craniosacral_therapy_for_health

I really recommend Googling some more sites for added info. Some sites I went on do recommended CST for Fibromyalgia. If nothing else it can help with stress management. I am soooooo relaxed after CST. Life just seems easier mentally and physically.
It is hard to describe what magic is exactly going on in my body during my CST session, but what I feel is subtle movements in my body and sometimes pulsing where ever Kim's hands are. I also see visions and "movies" in my head. I think the visions are a way for my brain to process information. Like dreaming. Now this is really neat! Sometimes Kim sees the same visons I do. So we compare notes through out my session. CST is done with a very light touch, which can be good for folks with Fibro. I highly recommend giving CST a try, if you can find it in your area.
Sending love and positive healing energy...
Happy day!

To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring - it was peace.
~Milan Kundera

Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all.
~Harriet van Horne

Never be afraid to sit awhile and think.
~Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun

photographer unknown to me

One Flaw In Women

Women have strengths that amaze men...

They bear hardships and they carry burdens,

but they hold happiness, love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.

They sing when they want to cry.

They cry when they are happy

and laugh when they are nervous.

They fight for what they believe in.

They stand up to injustice.

They don't take "no" for an answer

when they believe there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have.

They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.

They love unconditionally.

They cry when their children excel

and cheer when their friends get awards.

They are happy when they hear about

a birth or a wedding.

Their hearts break when a friend dies.

They grieve at the loss of a family member,

yet they are strong when they

think there is no strength left.

They know that a hug and a kiss

can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you

to show how much they care about you.

The heart of a woman is what

makes the world keep turning.

They bring joy, hope and love.

They have compassion and ideas.

They give moral support to their

family and friends.

Women have vital things to say

and everything to give.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,

IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

A friend sent me this by email and it is so true. Even if it is just for a moment, realize how special you are.

Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.
~ John Muir

photographer unknown to me

There's no need for a piece of sculpture in a home that has a cat.
~Wesley Bates

Fall in Ohio

I don't know what to tell you about today! Leave me comments if you have any ideas!! I am doing so well I have trouble remembering back, or maybe I don't want to.
In a nutshell what I believe is keeping me functioning so well is this: weekly massage, supplements, good sleep, low caffeine, meditation, daily self-massage, a wonderful support system, believing in God and also my attitude.
I have to say life is good! Believe it can be for you too. You need to find your own path and what works for you. I am very anti-prescription drugs. As a nurse I have seen way too much poly pharmacy going on. What ends up happening too, is the patient takes one drug and then needs another drug to combat the side effects of the first drug ans so on. Plus, the damage the drugs can do to the body overtime is not good. So for me the path I chose did not include prescription drugs. I admit though the first Lyrica commercial I saw made me excited. Not because I was going to take Lyrica, but because Fibromyalgia was finally being recognized as REAL by the medical community!
I send you all positive energy and love....

a Saw Whet Owl at Germantown Metropark in Ohio

Wisdom is ofttimes nearer when we stoop than when we soar.
~ William Wordsworth

The wise old owl made me think of wisdom and here is the quote that spoke to me. This little guy, actually, gal, was caught last night in Germantown Ohio and banded for research, data was collected, she was admired by many and then released unharmed. I was amazed by how calm the owls remained during all this. Through data gathered by banding, it appears that the Saw Whet owls migrate from Canada to southern Ohio for the winter. This was an awe inspiring experience!

photo from an email

“In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you.”
~ Deepak Chopra

Today I am going to have a nonstop day until 10 pm and I got up at 5:30. I am going to know I can do it and keep that stillness inside me. I had a peaceful, recharge my batteries day yesterday, so I am all ready for today!!

A friend knows the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails.
~Donna Roberts

In Honor of Veterans Day

Photo found on 100musicalfootsteps.wordpress.com

In war, there are no unwounded soldiers. ~José Narosky

I send a big thank you to my husband on this Veterans Day for all he gave. War has shaped just about every day of his life since he was 19. Hal,you are my hero and I love you.