Wisdom's Door

Step Away From The Bus

2010-09-30T10:16:00.008-06:00

These are definitely trying times for this world and its inhabitants. Each generation has it's own turmoils to deal with, yet it seems that now all generations are being sucked into a vortex, a collective energy of frustration over so many things that are bombarding this planet right now. Everything seems to be coming to a head. The environment, education, economy, politics, religion, and more are all in play. There is so much drama, chaos, anger, arguments, and negative energy is swirling around every corner. Can't you feel it? We can jump aboard and take the ride, becoming swept up in the frenzy, or we can opt out, step away from the bus and choose not to ride the ride. We can choose not to get sucked into the vortex of this anger, hate, frustration, anxiety etc. We can choose to go inward and contemplate what it is in life we truly want, why are we here, what is our purpose? Is it to hate and fight one another? Which feels better hate or love? Why are we going along with divisions and the negative space that division creates? Perhaps there is a method to the madness of a few to keep the pot stirred, keep us tearing at each others throats and hating this or that person or group. Perhaps there is a reason to keep us divided so that we don't have time to think and thus don't truly see. Perhaps its all an illusion. A thought comes to mind of a bullfighter who waves a red cloth to get the bulls attention, then thrusts the pick into its heart. The bull never saw it coming because he was looking at the red cloth. I'm thinking of magicians who do a similar thing. Then I think of how people are truly duped by the smoke and mirrors of the political playground. Divide and conquer. History can only repeat itself if it is allowed to. Some use what works on the masses, because we continue to let them. Coming together for the benefit and good of all makes a lot more sense in my humble opinion. Divisions don't accomplish positive progress. If the bus isn't going in a peaceful, calming, productive direction, step away from the bus, wait for one that's going in a loving, positive direction. You'll have a much more enjoyable ride. Wishing you each a loving journey and a positive ride. Love and Light, Judi

Reaping What We Sow

2010-03-06T09:27:00.005-07:00

Whether we realize it or not, we are all planting seeds every day. These are seeds of thought, actions, deeds, and words that go in our own gardens of our individual life path. We each choose what seeds will go in our garden, glow and flourish. We can choose to spread seeds of anger, hate and resentment and that's what we will get back from such planting. Or, we could choose happiness, joy and love, and we'll get that back. We could choose to spread the seeds of gossip and watch as the gossip spreads, grows and causes hurt along the way. We can also plant seeds of forgiveness and understanding in the hopes that others will also forgive us and try to understand us better as well. We could choose to plant seeds of compassion, realizing our many blessings and considering others might be struggling right now. If we plant hate and allow it to travel and spread, our garden will both look and feel hateful. Should we choose to plant seeds of love, our garden will reflect that love. Others will feel the warmth of that loving energy. How will others view the gardens we've personally chosen to create? Will they push away, feeling negative in the space, or will they feel the warmth and welcoming positivity? Will they feel the urge to sit in our garden, talk and share with us and learn more about how we planted such a lovely space? Will they feel welcome or will they feel like running the other way? Will we cultivate great, long lasting friendships, or will we stand alone watching others be repelled by the negative energy they feel when around us and the seeds we've chosen to sow? And, if we've seen that we were planting the wrong seeds, life always gives us the option to change and begin again, planting different seeds. Each is set to wonder, how will our personal garden grow. Wishing you each a bountiful, positive garden to find comfort in. Love and Light, Judi

Removing The Thorns

2010-02-22T06:14:00.005-07:00

I had something in my eye when I woke up yesterday. I looked to see if I could flush it out, but it stuck around, causing discomfort. Finally in the afternoon it must have dislodged from it's unseen location and I felt such relief. It felt so good to be rid of it. I began to think of how our problems in life can cause us discomfort as well. There are those things that fester. It can feel so bad when standing in such a place of conflict with others, with self, emotions that grate on one's entire being. Yet, once resolve, one feels such relief. A splinter or thorn can truly bug us. It festers, poking at you until you take care of it, pay attention and work to remove it. Problems can be like that too. They will stick around and nag us, festering until we take the time to deal with them, acknowledge them, learn any lessons that were in this problem. Relief comes soon after resolution. Healing before infection sets into our being is key to this letting go. Pain and discomfort of any kind can teach us many lessons. Each instance holds another lesson and these lessons don't stop, they just keep coming so that we continue to learn. Dealing with these instances head-on can release so much, and there is always relief once we have worked our way through it. Any obstacles in the path we travel in this life are meant to teach us something. Being aware and focusing on the lesson within each obstacle will not only serve us as teacher, but will allow us to move more easily down our path. We grow in wisdom. We suffer less anxiety and stress. We 'see' and therefore don't repeat the same missteps over and over. We begin to get it, pull the thorns out and move forward with greater ease. How wonderful. Wishing you all a thorn free day. :) Love and Light, Judi

We're Never Done

2010-01-17T10:02:00.005-07:00

I was deep in my thoughts this morning planning my day. I'm not on the computer much these days. I've been drawn to cleaning my spaces here, to purging, to getting rid of some things and moving others around. Stirring up the energy in this ole house and within myself. I got to thinking of how many times I've been drawn to do this over the many years. It dawned on me that I'll never be done. Dust continues to come, messes and clutter continue to rear their heads from time to time and even though I purge, new stones, books and other items come along that I can't resist. Once organized cupboards, closets and drawers seem to have a life of their own and once again need a good looking into and arranging once again. I began to think of life and how that too is much like the house I'm paying belated attention to. I've let it go and see that I also am now drawn to purge from within and do some more inner work as well. What a great time of weeding out from within, for discovering more about 'self' and taking lessons learned to empower myself and become a wiser, more balanced me. Stirring up the energy around the house makes me feel this energy inside of 'self' as well. Ridding 'self' of what is no longer needed can indeed bring a new energy to one's spirit. I've let go of so much, yet realize there is still work to do. There is always something to work on. We truly are never done. Wishing you the power of cleansing energy. Love and Light, Judi

Shaking Things Up

2010-01-12T06:15:00.002-07:00

I began a project to clean and reorganize the books in our library. Oh my, what a project. I'm on the third day now and still not done. It's been a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. I love being surrounded by all the great authors, wonderful stories, many are old and dear friends to me. The dust has been flying and it has me thinking about how we need to dust ourselves off at times too. We can become stagnant. Going down the same path, going through the motions, so predictable, not taking risks or facing new challenges, but just remaining in place. Personal progress happens, in my humble opinion, when we step out of the box and shake things up a bit. I've had plenty of time to think while dusting off the books. I've made many discoveries as I find a great book I forgot I had and can't wait to read. It brings my attention to thinking that we often miss things when we aren't paying attention to what's right there under our nose. Cleaning the books has given me time to think about my direction and see that it is indeed time once again for me to think of what I'm doing and where I'm headed and yes, perhaps time for a new direction. Not sure what will come but in the meantime I'm enjoying thinking about the great possibilities that might await me, like great books I've yet to read, life is such a grand adventure. Wishing you each the adventures found in each new day. Love and Light, Judi

The Restful Egg

2010-01-11T07:26:00.004-07:00

I feel like a restful egg in a nest right now. Waiting for what? I'm not sure. To hatch I would assume. LOL It has been another time in my life when I seem to be in 'flux'. A slow and restful period that comes before a door opens, showing me an inviting new path. But for now it's a time to just go with the flow and wait. Practice patience until that door opens. Life is often like that. When one feels 'spent' it's time to just let one's vessel refill. I guess that's what I'm in the midst of at the moment. While waiting for this new direction, or egg to hatch, I'm just clearing out my spaces. Taking time to reflect, doing inner work, traveling down my path and looking at everything I pass. Clearing one's space gives one time to 'be' and it clears old, stale energy at the same time. It's a cleansing process. Clean the closets and cupboards. Get rid of things one no longer has a use for. Move things around to new spaces where one can better enjoy them. It gives the mind time to relax, focus on things one hasn't focused on for a while. In time I know my vessel will fill up once again and then I'll be taking whatever direction I've been drawn to and make a new and joyous map to travel. But, for now I'll just be restful until my egg hatches. Wishing each of you restful days and wondrous directions to travel. Love and Light, Judi

What A Great Time For Reflection

2009-12-21T06:54:00.005-07:00

As the year comes to an end, it's a wonderful time to look back over the last year and reflect. I think of the many blessings that came my way. So many gifts have moved me forward along my path over this past year. So many lessons learned. I'm not the person I was a year ago and I appreciate all the things that presented themselves so that I might grow as a person. I'm thinking about winter solstice and the energy one can feel at this time of year. It's all so very exciting to feel this Universal pull towards healing, love and light. What a wonderful time of year. I tend to use this time of year to prepare for the new year that's fast approaching. I straighten up, move things around, clean and get ready. :) I reflect back and also think of what I want to accomplish in this next year. It's like turning the page and moving forward toward a new adventure. Setting a tentative plan, being ever mindful to be flexible, should things move in another direction along the way, at least there is a plan. LOL Ringing out the old and welcoming the new. Taking all the lessons learned this year along to meet the many lessons of the coming year as new experiences will play out. It's all so exciting to experience each stage of life's journey. We never know what's around the corner now do we? Learning to adjust, adapt and move through it, holding tight to the magic of it all is the delicious part of the entire culmination of all the years traveled in one's lifetime. We are at the brink of a new chapter. I'll be spending the next days enjoying the Holiday Season and planning for the coming year. So, see you all in 2010. :) Wishing you all a most wonderful Holiday and New Year. Love and Light, Judi

Spinning In The Same Spot, Again And Again

2009-12-18T06:22:00.005-07:00

Have you ever felt like you just keep going around and around in the same circle or cycle on certain areas of life? When it comes to our attention that we are traveling in a cycle and it isn't productive for our progress, then it quite possibly could be time to break that cycle. Recognizing the cycle(s)that need to be broken is in itself is a huge step. Then comes the work to break that cycle, like a bad habit that no longer serves us. There are many cycles one call fall into. There is the abuse cycle, the victim cycle, the gossip cycle, the jealousy cycle and yes even the political view and religion cycles where one tries to sway another to their way of thinking and then both go around and around trying to convince the other that their position is the correct one. So many cycles that don't do a lick of good to ones life path and leave a person standing in negative energy again and again until they work to break the cycle, choosing to move on in a more positive direction. Breaking a negative cycle can leave us feeling more confident, and can be very self empowering to have made it outside the familiar cycle we were in. How refreshing. When we become sick and tired of playing the game of a cycle, we are then ready to alter our course. Like dropping a bad habit, this will take time and we will have to focus on our reactions to things that would have thrown us right into our 'cycle' and pull from our inner strength not to go there this time. Arguments tend to go round and round like this. The same pattern, the same result, that's a cycle. To get a new and different, more positive outcome one must see a new path to walk down when in these cycle situations and try a new and improved reaction to get different results. In some cycles a person needs to walk away, step out of the circle all together. vowing never to return to such a space because it's causing far to much harm to remain in that cycle. We do have the power to break cycles. It will take concentrated effort, but we gain great rewards once we've broken negative cycles that aren't serving our higher good. We're definitely worth the effort we put into breaking the cycles and stepping out of that spinning spot to move forward in a positive direction. Sending wishes that you find peace in your day. Love and Light, Judi

Shifting Gears

2009-12-17T07:17:00.004-07:00

We're all shifting gears as we drive the highway called life. There are times when we shift from drive into park so that we can sit and figure out our next step, our new destination. We also have to use reverse at times to go back and get the lessons we might have missed. If we put it in reverse and pick up all past missteps, regrets, guilt's and sorrows, put them in the trunk and drive off, in essence we're dragging a lot of dead weight, which will certainly slow our progress down. We only need pick up the lessons which are not as heavy, that's for sure. At times we've put the peddle to the metal and sped along so fast we haven't even seen the scenery. Slamming on the breaks can cause us to swerve when we're traveling at such high speeds. We could possibly crash or stall beside the road until we recover. Then, we can move forward once again. At times we rev our engine and then at other times we shift into overdrive and cruise along to save gas (energy). We can glide on cruise control for a time as we ponder any changes in our direction too. We're on our way, we're headed towards our goal(s) and at times we can slip into third gear in order to pass others on our way. One key ingredient to a smooth ride is maintenance. We truly do need to be sure we are maintaining our engine or we will begin to sputter and slow down. We need to be sure we're getting the right fuel to serve our engine well. We truly can't continue, for any length of time, at high speeds without pulling over, putting life in park and taking the time to inhale the view. Looking in the rear vies mirror we can see our progress from where we've been, how far we've come and how far we have to go to reach our planned destination. We can take great pride in our progress on this grand adventure. And so today I was thinking of how, as we drive through life, we are constantly shifting gears. Wishing each of you a very pleasant journey. Love and Light, Judi

Does The Spirit Care?

2009-12-15T07:17:00.003-07:00

Does the spirit seek to divide us? I think not. Does the spirit see our differing colors? I think not. Does the spirit refuse to embrace differing sexual orientations? I think not. Does the spirit wish for violence, abuse and war? I think not. Does the spirit recognize the cast system, seeing some humans as higher and some as lesser? I think not. When first born, we held within us the purest spirit. Intent on coming here for the experience of life upon this earth. Our spirits soon took a backseat, as early on outside forces crept in. Over time we lost spirit as these outside influences took over, shaping our belief system. We forgot our intent here. We had an intended purpose for this journey, but it just got lost in the shuffle. We succumbed to many divisive things that didn't serve us, society, or the world. We became pawns in a system meant to separate us, a system of division, mistrust, dishonesty and greed. We bought into the rat race and lost our way. The spirit patiently waited for us to acknowledge it once again and remember it is there, within each of us. When we aren't feeling well, could it be that our true essence has dulled from all we have taken in that conflicts with our spirits? When we think of the spirit within 'self' and all others on this earth, we can no longer see any of the divisions. We all chose to make this journey to strengthen our spirits. How are we using our time here? Wishing you each the warm glow of the spirit within. Love and Light, Judi

Can Things Be Blessings In Disguise?

2009-12-14T07:12:00.004-07:00

Today I was thinking about those things that are indeed blessings in disguise. Oh you know the many glitches in our journey that are set to trip us up, shake us up, and allow our thought process to explode.LOL :) These are in fact lessons set in front of us to help us to grow. Why are we needing this or that to happen and why is this happening to us? We can at times feel stretched to the max and the load can become truly heavy to carry, yet in looking back we can see these glitches as the true blessings that they were intended to be. I must say that at the time they don't seem to be such great blessings and we struggle to get through many of these seeming roadblocks. The blessing comes later I think. When we realize that this experience was for our greater good. We can then appreciate the true blessing of it as we feel our own inner growth. For each of us these instances, challenges set before us, are individual, just for us so that we might gain the knowledge we are needing for our own life journey. Others might be having very similar experiences in their lives at different times, but none has the exact same experience. Perhaps they are similar so that we might discuss them together and so that we can relate when another speaks of how they overcame a similar experience. We can also share our experience in an effort to help another through their experience. Perhaps the learning and discovery is like a cocoon which doesn't look like much and yet when the beautiful butterfly emerges and we can see the blessing that came from this cocoon. Make any sense? What do you think? Can you see the blessings that continue to come from your experiences? May you each see beyond the disguise so that you discover all your blessings. Love and Light, Judi

Do We Want To Get It?

2009-12-12T06:39:00.000-07:00

Do We Want To Get It?

2009-12-12T06:00:00.003-07:00

Are we open and ready now to get the enormous lessons the Universe has for Us? Things seem to be spinning so fast these days. Overloaded with so much to do, when does one find the time to reflect, ponder, and work towards getting the meaning of it all? Is the meaning different for each of us depending on what we individually came here to learn and experience? I was thinking about the shifts taking place and wondering if others feel them too. Did we go so fast that now we are shifting into a lower gear so that we can see this great time of change? Are we now ready to throw out all that isn't working for us, that makes us feel uncomfortable and uneasy with the fast pace and the negativity that's out there? When we say "There has to be more to life than this" do we have some inner knowing deep within that is calling to us to slow down and listen? In the hustle and bustle it can seem like life is swinging us around by the tail and we get lost in all the things we feel we must do to keep our heads above water. It can feel as if we've been swept out to sea and don't even have the strength to swim to shore. Yet, we do hold within us the power to stop all the spinning and take control, slow down and make the adjustments necessary to go in a new direction. The energy is pulling us in this new direction and all we need do is follow it. The path is slower, and filled with information that can be a wonderful guide to the true meaning of it all. We just have to want to 'get it' and it will come to us. What is truly important in life? Were we meant to simply chase our tails or is there more we just aren't seeing as we speed down the highway? I'm just sitting here wondering about this today and seem to be asking a lot of question. Wishing you all a calm and peaceful weekend. Love and Light, Judi

Do We Wonder As We Wander?

2009-12-10T06:47:00.003-07:00

I know I definitely wonder as I wander. I ponder any number of things in a days time. What do our thoughts tell us? At times are we over thinking? Sometimes I catch myself doing just that, over thinking. At other times I don't think I am. I just wonder as I wander. The world and this life have so many challenges and thinking about things from different angles often helps me form my thoughts and thus opinion on things. I don't tend to believe all that's coming at me, but will ponder and even research it to form my own individual thinking on the subject. Having a questioning mind, in my opinion, is a good thing. Of course having a quiet mind is also a great thing. To rest and let things just flow can be so relaxing and gives that ole mind a break. :) Sometimes the strangest thoughts will pop into my mind. I'll wonder why this has shown up and then look to see if there's a reason for this thoughts arrival. Wonder, wander, ponder, the mind can take us so many places and we get to sift through it all. Staying out of the negative thoughts, the swamp, the dark corners I find clears the way for the positive and brighter thoughts to have more room to roam around in there. Not wanting or needing to be dragged down into the muck, I think it's best to choose to dismiss such thoughts and move on to find the more enlightening ones. I've also found that the more your brain realizes you are doing this sifting, the less it will bring forth the negative thoughts. So, I think we can train our brain not to accept spam. :) Wishing you all wonderful thoughts as you wander. Love and Light, Judi

How Much Personal Space Do We Need?

2009-12-09T06:49:00.003-07:00

We each need, desire our own personal space. I think of it as drawing an invisible circle around with me in the middle. It is our comfort zone so to speak. When someone crosses over the line and gets too close we feel uncomfortable. For each this invisible circle is quite different. Some have a very tiny line while for others it can be quite large. Sometimes a person will get right up in another's face to talk and it feels like they are invading our space. That's our buffer zone and at times we may back up to protect this zone and feel more comfortable. I also believe we each desire a place in the house that is dubbed as our space. A place where we can go that is our own personal space, perhaps filled with objects that make us feel content. We've marked this as our territory. In my humble opinion we all need some personal space, just for us. And, recognizing this, we can also respect the space of others. If we are paying attention and see that another has stepped back, we can then realize where their imaginary circle for personal space is and honor that. And, let us not forget that this line we've drawn isn't chiseled in stone, but is flexible and can move as we change or the need for solitude or more interaction with others changes. If we are ill, we might move this line to allow another to comfort us, or we might have a project that we're working on that requires our full attention and so we need more space during this time. See, there is an ebb and flow to it. My wish for each of you is that you find comfort in the personal space you are needing. Love and Light, Judi

Do We Have A Need For Validation?

2009-12-08T07:40:00.004-07:00

Today I was wondering if humans have a need for validation and as I was thinking I realized that all things perhaps have this need. For us it does feel good to be told by others that we're doing a great job. When we've accomplished something, it's great to get that pat on the back, be recognized, seen, and appreciated for our efforts in whatever we've produced, accomplished, learned. It's like saying "They see me, they see what I've done and they like it." And, this feels good. If we enjoy this feeling of validation, perhaps others like validation too, so we could remember to give others those pats on the back to let them know we've also seen what they are accomplishing. My thoughts didn't stop there. I thought of how we compliment our animals when they are doing well. They too seem to love a little praise for their efforts. And how about plants, trees, and natural things? I am sure they too love it when we notice them. "You are growing so well, or you look so beautiful in the garden" are compliments that might cause our plants to grow even more. We've noticed them and they appreciate that. When we notice others, or animals, or plants, they feel better because we've SEEN them and validate their accomplishments. Acknowledgment, appreciation, and validation can be so uplifting for us all as we make our way in this life. Wishing you each a glorious day. Love and Light, Judi

Do We Know When It's Time To Change Direction?

2009-12-07T05:46:00.004-07:00

We can be going along and things are truly 'clicking' for us, then after a time nothing seems to work in our favor. It seems as if all we do is keep hitting brick walls. We become blocked and what was working is no longer working for us. This is the time to sit with 'self' and think about changing or adjusting our direction, in my humble opinion. We get stuck. Can't move. And, are getting the feeling that some unknown force is trying to show us that we are needing to move forward on a new path. Why do we continue down paths that no longer work for us? Is it that we find some comfort in doing things that are routine? Is change just to scary, or is it fear of the unknown. Traveling into new territory can be a challenge. Yet, sometimes we feel a need to switch gears and try something new when the old no longer works for us. Perhaps we don't have the confidence in 'self' to move to another path. Yet, the feeling of discontent can be a wonderful motivator. Our inner self is trying to gently move us towards change and we can actually feel this from within, but, perhaps we are choosing not to let go of what we're doing even though it no longer works. What a challenge. Life is a challenge. It seems to say "Okay, you've done this, how about trying something new." New territory to explore can teach us so much and help us to grow in our inner strength, confidence and self esteem. Once one has made the first few steps in this new direction, switched gears and truly try, it begins to feel good and we move on, move forward with a new found confidence as we travel this new and exciting path. Then, once again, somewhere along this leg of our journey, it might happen again that we find it's time to change direction. It's all part of life, with its many twists and turns. Wishing you all a clear and trouble free path today. Love and Light, Judi

Can Illness Be A Teacher?

2009-12-04T07:19:00.004-07:00

For me illness has been a great teacher. Illness certainly will grab your attention. Our bodies are trying to tell us something and the means of communication is illness in some form. A pain, a cold, an ache that won't go away in the neck, back, or a chronic illness, all are trying to get us to focus on something we need to learn, change, adjust etc. in some way. It's the body speaking in the only way it knows in my humble opinion. Yet so often we dismiss it's warnings and simply complain about our pain. The body knocks harder to get us to focus on the real problem. But what is the real problem? What is the body trying to tell us? For each the message is different. Perhaps one continues to have stomach problems and by simply adjusting what is eaten the problem will subside. Perhaps for another the situation is deeper than that. Working to peel back the layers of the onion, so to speak, may be required. We all hold emotions in and they can then fester, causing discomfort and thus, in time,illness. Working to release old trauma, emotional wounds,and blockages will allow the body to heal. This takes time and a lot of work. Self examination is often required to find the true bruises we continue to carry. Letting go of anger, resentment, fear, jealousy, and other negative emotions can clear the path towards wellness. With each old hurt we let go of, we free ourselves. Finding our way isn't always easy, but it is working towards wellness of body, mind and spirit and well worth the effort we invest in ourselves in my humble opinion. Wishing you all a path of wellness. Love and Light, Judi

Ever forget Who You Are?

2009-12-02T05:56:00.005-07:00

I think we have days when we might forget who we are. Like getting lost in the fog of it all, or the rush of life, I think there are times when we might forget just what a fantastic creation we each are. Life can bump and bruise us. It can push and pull us. At times it might even seem like we're an object being propelled into space, out of control or spinning in all the chaos that seems to swirl on every corner. These are the times to remind ourselves just how wonderful we truly are. We are trying, doing our best and our best is good enough. No one need strive for perfection or put undo pressure to do the 'right' thing. Slowing down to smell the roses isn't a bad idea in my humble opinion. When feeling lost in the shuffle, reminding self of how unique we are and thinking of ways to feed our spirit all the positive things that sooth us and bring us such great joy, will help to remind ourselves that we are each such fantastic creations. What do you do to remind yourself of who you are when you get lost in all the confusion? Hoping you never forget just how wonderful you are, an if you should, I hope you will remember my gentle reminder here. :) Love and Light, Judi

Who/What Pushes Your Buttons?

2009-12-01T05:55:00.003-07:00

There are those things in life that really push our buttons. We all have them. I've been working for some time now to not allow agitation surface when someone or something pushes my buttons. I'm a work in progress and still have those buttons I need to work on. :) Things continue to pop up to show us we have work to do on certain buttons so that we can move away from the agitation, frustration and conflict that these buttons cause when pushed. When I see this in myself I find the need to back away and examine what happened and then work to do better the next time and so on until that button is truly disabled and doesn't work anymore. One area I'm currently working on is political discussions with a person who is on the total other end of the spectrum from my thinking. Talk about rubbing me the wrong way. LOL But, I have to realize that I too rub them the wrong way and as much as I have a right to my opinion, so do they. And so, I continue to try to tell myself that as I work on it. One can't sway another to their way of thinking, especially when the space is too far away, like a canyon separating two lands I guess. So, what pushes your buttons and what do you do to dismantle them? Wishing you a path that is peaceful and button free. :) Love and Light, Judi

Do We Create Our Own Magic?

2009-11-29T08:04:00.006-07:00

I woke up to a winter wonderland. It snowed here last night and now everything is covered in a blanket of white and looks so crisp and beautiful. So magical. I began thinking about how we each have the ability to create magic, much like nature does. In my humble opinion, it's how we view things. How our eyes, minds and spirits look out and see the world around us. There are some days that are just so magical. Everything 'clicks' and things just seem to flow in a powerful, magical direction for us. Sometimes I wish I could bottle those days and give them as gifts to others, yet then I realize this was my magical moment and others are creating their own unique magical moments. We can't forever stay in magic or we wouldn't appreciate it when it comes along. I've had some rather dull days too. :) Those are the days I go in search of something that holds some magic for me. Magic can be held in a child or friends smile. When they look up and see you standing there and burst into a huge smile it can truly be magical. Magical moments are everywhere I think, we just have to see them and feel their great power. Where do you find your magical moments? What is magical to you? Wishing you all a magical day. Love and Light, Judi

Does The Word 'Can't' Stop You?

2009-11-27T06:42:00.002-07:00

I wonder why one little word can reek so much havoc on our dreams. That one small word can stop some mighty big dreams. I was wondering why we allow a word, a thought to stop us in our tracks like that. We truly CAN do anything we set our minds to if we just take a detour around that one word I think. We even allow others, who say "You Can't accomplish this or that" stop us. An idea pops into our heads, then we list all the ways it will fail, the difficulty of the task, the many reason why we Can't really accomplish it etc. until the fear of this failure wins and we walk away from our dreams and ideas, never knowing if we could have accomplished the realization of them or not. So, we are just left to wonder. Do you have a dream you'd like to turn into reality? Well, dig a big hole and drop all the 'can't' into it and then cover it up, walk away with all your 'can's' and realize your dreams. :) If we want something bad enough we won't let anything get in our way, not even a tiny word can defeat us. We have the power, we hold the key to our individual successes. :) Wishing you all that can do spirit. Love and Light, Judi

Happy Thanksgiving to All

2009-11-26T06:19:00.003-07:00

Got up early and am already counting my blessings on this Thanksgiving day. I truly have so much to be Thankful for. My list is quite long. I count my blessings every day for all I've learned as I travel through this life and the may bounties it offers me. I'm so very grateful for so very much that at times just thinking about it makes my heart so warm and grateful. I hold all as precious gifts and feel the wonderment of it all. Yes, I'm very thankful indeed for it all.

May each and every one of you have a warm, loving, joy filled Holiday. Love and Light, Judi

Are We Running On All Cylinders?

2009-11-25T08:28:00.003-07:00

Here I am wondering about cylinders today. Are we running on all cylinders or are we chugging around on just a few of what we originally came into this world with? Are we buzzing around in our heads and forgetting our bodies. Have we forgotten that we truly need to protect the health of this body so that we can function properly? Are we making it through our days, work, life with a healthy body, mind and spirit? Did we forget, somewhere along the line, to include consideration of keeping our bodies in optimum running order? Do we take better care of our cars than we do the engine of our own inner workings? Might we feel better if we only chose to allow healthy food to enter our systems? Are we being ever mindful of what we are feeding to our body so that our engine can run efficiently? Are we making good, healthy choices? I've been hearing more and more from people in my contact that they are feeling so tired and can't keep up with all they have to do in a days time. So many are feeling sick. I can relate as I too was so very tired and sluggish. I too became ill. Now, I have changed my focus when it comes to what I will feed 'self'. Of course I feed my spirit and nourish that, I read and think and feed my mind, and now I'm feeding my body a more healthy diet as well. It's a total package. Each part needs attention so we don't leave any area of 'self' behind. When we neglect any part of ourselves we can feel it, we are out of balance and will not function at our optimum potential. I think I'm taking 'self' in for a tuneup and I know I'm worth the effort and I know you are too. :) Wishing you each health, wellness and the wonderful feeling of being in balance. Love and Light, Judi

What Do We Accomplish By Pushing Against Things?

2009-11-24T10:09:00.003-07:00

I was thinking about how we tend to push against ourselves and others. We push against situations too. It can all become so exhausting, frustrating and truly leave us drained and tired. We expend so much energy pushing against things in life instead of going with the flow. One can feel the energy of pushing against. It feels like we're trying to shove a brick wall and expect it to move. Guess what...the wall isn't going anywhere. I was wondering exactly what we accomplish by pushing against things. It's so much easier to swim with the current and not against it. Not to say we should agree with views, situations, concepts etc. that our 'self' doesn't agree with, but I'm pondering why we continue to feel we should push against it. When a person is standing in a space that we can't fathom, or talking about their views, which we might not agree with, and we can see we definitely aren't going to change them over to our way of thinking, why continue to push? They are firmly set on their thinking just as we are set firmly with our views. The struggle begins when we try to push against them, trying to convince them of whatever. Pushing against things is truly futile. Simple surrender can bring greater peace in my humble opinion. Let them go about their lives taking their opinions and views with them. After all, you have yours and it seems to be working for you. Pushing against a locked door won't open it, yet being patient, understanding that there will come a time when the door will open, simply surrendering to that process will certainly allow you to avoid much frustration, anxiety and stress in life. Simply breathing and relaxing in the process of 'being' can feel like an enormous relief. Wishing you each a blissful day where you can simply surrender to the process. Love and Light, Judi

Isn't It Great When We Can Relate? !!!

2009-11-23T05:55:00.003-07:00

We humans can think we are the only ones who have experienced something, had certain feelings and gone through events that have thrown us off. Then, we hear another person relate a personal story that is quite similar, expressing their inner feelings about it and we realize we can relate because we've been in a similar space, with similar experiences and feelings. This realization shows us that we aren't alone. Others are going through it too. We can relate to others similar experiences. Our inner self is shouting "Yes, yes, yes, I've had that feeling and I can so relate to what you are saying about your experience." We aren't alone. Others are experiencing many similar things as they travel life's journey. Listening to another's similar experience we can hear how they traveled through it and maybe learn from their experience. Or, we can relate our experience and they can learn something from us and how we handled it. We can both discuss our experiences. The other person might realize that they aren't alone in this either. We can encourage one another. It can be a great healing/learning conversation for both parties. Listening to others life experiences, we often see 'self' in them as we view the similarities of their story to our own. We are more alike than different in so many ways and that discovery can open many doors towards understanding. Wishing you all a powerfully positive week. Love and Light, Judi

Do We Pay Attention To Wake Up Calls?

2009-11-21T06:44:00.003-07:00

I'm not thinking of the alarm clock that rings early in the morning to get us up. I'm thinking of the jolts in life that are meant to truly wake us up to pay attention, focus on something in life that perhaps we weren't paying attention to. These signs allow us to move our focus to issues we need to truly 'see' and learn from. The signs are placed before us to grab our attention so we can then begin the awareness of what is being shown to us. Wake up calls can be focus on paying attention to our health and come flying at us in the form of illness so we will see the importance of taking care of our bodies. They could also show up in the form of exhaustion to help us see that we are stressed and need to slow down. Anger can be a wonderful teacher if we try to find the source of it and work on that. Accidents can show us that we need to focus more intently on going slower, seeing what is around us and paying better attention in life. Relationship difficulties can teach us better communication and signs of stress in a relationship indicates either time to move on or time to concentrate on it to work towards improvement. It all depends on how much one's heart is invested or not as to the degree one chooses to invest. And remember one has a relationship with 'self' which is a very valuable investment to help 'self' grow and learn. There are so many more examples of the wake up calls that enter our lives, for each of us they are different, as each of us may need to learn different lessons, but there are far to many to list here, however I think you get the idea. :) So, why do seemingly bad things happen to us? I'm thinking these things are our wake up calls. Are we paying attention to what they are trying to tell us? Can we notice them for what they are? Wishing you all a relaxing and enjoy filled weekend. Love and Light, Judi

Are We Too Used To Noise?

2009-11-20T05:35:00.003-07:00

Sitting here at my desk, in the quiet of the early morning, I began to wonder if we are so used to noise that quiet disturbs us. Have our ears become accustomed to all the sounds blaring day after day? Is the quiet now foreign to us? Can we no longer tolerate sitting in silence? Traffic noise, radio and TV chatter, office buzz, it's all around us. So much chatter. When is enough enough? When do we reach our limit, our saturation point and feel the urge to seek a quiet place to sit and just 'be'? Perhaps if we turned off the volume, moved away from the noise and re-trained our ears to sit in the silence we could feel the calm of that. Can silence be disturbing because it's so foreign in day to day life? Or, is the quiet refreshing to us and would we enjoy more of that? Sounds of silence. AHA. Refreshing. I'm just sitting, in the early morning quiet enjoying the peace it brings my way. :) Wishing you spaces of silence as you travel through your day. Love and Light, Judi

When We're Dead...Are We Done?

2009-11-18T08:26:00.006-07:00

Is this all there is? Could there be more? We move through life hopefully doing the best we can to grow, learn, and find peace and joy as we evolve. First there is birth. We enter life as wonderful, innocent and pure spirits. We move through many stages in life and then the time comes for us to leave. Where do we go? Or, do we cease to exist? I think we all ponder these questions from time to time. No one has ever given us a clear answer and perhaps it depends on our individual beliefs. Personally I don't think we will roast in hell if we slip up, as we are here to make missteps and then learn from them. In my humble opinion, we are all spirits, all energy that travels in spirit form prior to life here and also after passing on. We continue in spirit form after our journey here is done. Perhaps this thinking soothes my spirit. I, like each of us, have experienced people who have passed on and I carry memories to each connection deep in my heart. Time is precious and we never know when the time is up. I have felt the presence of people I've known who have passed on and this gives me not only comfort, but also the feeling that the energy of these people still exists. Do you think death is the end, or that we do in fact carry on in an after life? We still don't have the official answer from the beyond, so we still contemplate this question and probably humans always will. Wishing you each a peaceful walk through your day. Love and Light, Judi

Has Your Train Left The Station?

2009-11-17T08:25:00.003-07:00

I was thinking this morning about each persons individual "train" and how we each are on this journey called "life". We all move towards our destination at our own pace. How do we know where we're headed let alone where that final destination will be? We adjust the route many times as we travel and keep moving forward towards our goals, our purpose. I know my train has left the station because I can look back and see growth, improvement, and yet know I have quite a distance to still travel. The train slows down when there's a lesson to be learned and at times it picks up speed when we are on straight track with no obstacles in our way. When we chug up a steep hill we have to work harder to overcome the stress and strain, and when we clip down the mountain we can feel so exhilarated, but often need to apply the breaks so we don't crash and burn. Often times when we round corners we don't know what is around the bend. We might have to shift our stance to maintain our balance. What we find around that corner could be yet another challenge, or a new shift in our direction. We might have to slow down for a while to make it. Some are just leaving the station and others are well on their way to their goals and destination, but the ride isn't over for any of us yet. Are we looking at all the natural beauty or just speeding past it? Is our train in a hurry or are we taking the time to relax and enjoy the ride? We may pull into many stations along our journey. Then, we move on when we feel the time is right. But, for each of us the ride is going to be different. We each determine when it's time to stop, slow down or speed up depending on our own inner journey and the progress we are making. I hope that as you chug along that you are enjoying the ride. Love and Light, Judi

Have We Learned To Live Without Our Dreams?

2009-11-15T07:21:00.005-07:00

I was wondering, in this fast paced life we are livingn, if we've forgotten our dreams. Did we leave them behind as we simply try to maintain in today's world? Have we learned to live without those dreams? Have we just let them go? Are we just trying to move through it all and survive from day to day? Do we even remember what those dreams were? Are we feeling a pull back to them now? Are they calling out to us and are we paying attention, or is our focus on our fast paced life so we just continue to push those dreams away? Oh I have so many questions today. If not now, when? When will we pursue those dreams? Will we just wait for them to vanish, dissipate into the atmosphere and float away? Do we kill our dreams? Do we think we aren't worthy of fulfilling those dreams? Are we afraid of failure? See, more questions. :) I think we are all worthy. We just forget that we are well worth the effort we put into ourselves. Taking the time to work towards our dreams can be very fulfilling. The closer we get, the better we will feel because we are walking towards the direction of that which will make us happy, content, satisfied and fulfilled. Dreams can become reality. We just have to invest the time and effort involved to make it so. We have to care enough about ourselves that we invest in 'self', even if that means adjusting things in our current life so that our dreams can fit into the plan. Reawakening ourselves to the dreams we've set aside is a gift we can give to ourselves. Perhaps now is the time to begin stirring up the energy of our dreams and pursue them. What was it we wanted to do? Did we want to be painters, writers, potters, firemen/women, or inventors? Reawaken what it was that you were wanting to to, be, achieve. Give it the gusto you once had and step by step you will get there. Dreams can come true if you allow them in and choose to go for it. May all your dreams come into being for you. Love and Light, Judi

Does Family Have To Be a Blood Relation?

2009-11-14T05:16:00.006-07:00

Can we be closer to a person we consider 'family' than we are to our true blood relations? At times in life can we connect with someone who seems to understand us, listen to us and be there for us, building such a close relationship that it can be much closer than those in our family I think. Certain people can feel like 'family' or even better than 'family'. What a rare gift to have such a friend(s). Can we choose our family? Can we create a family that 'works' for us and allows us to grow and thrive? Personally I was the Queen of Misunderstood among true blood relations, yet found some dear and cherished friends as I've traveled through life. It is these friends that taught me what family really means. So, my answer to this question would be a resounding NO,family doesn't have to be confined only to blood relations. Finding those that support and nourish us, encourage us, and embrace us even when they know we're skidding off our path are true treasures. Valued friends will listen to our deepest feelings as we express our innermost fears and secrets, and will hold on to them, not spreading them on to others. They will offer constructive solutions to any difficulties and perhaps point out perspectives we haven't thought of. There is a cherished trust between such friends. And, in return, we are there to listen to them as well. After all, friendship is a two way street, not a dumping zone. When such connections are made, one need honor and respect them for the true gift that has been given. These are my feelings on this question. What do you think? Of course truly we are all one big family in this human race. :) May you each feel the wonderment found in such deep friendships that truly create a sense of family. Love and Light, Judi

How Willing Are You To Take Risks?

2009-11-13T06:56:00.004-07:00

Do we tend to play it safe, afraid to stick our necks out and take a risk? Is the old adage "once bitten, twice shy" why we back away from risk? Standing in a safe spot, we might miss some golden opportunities because we are still holding on to some past experience that didn't quite work out for us. I know from my own personal experiences that I too have a tendency to back away from things that involve some type of risk, yet then remind myself that one has to try and avoid pitfalls, but still explore the great possibilities that come with any type of risk. There are risks everywhere, in relationships, financial, work related, etc. the list goes on and on. Life is an adventure and certainly does involve sticking ones neck out there once in awhile when risk presents itself in some form or other. Of course good old common sense should also be part of the mix when risk enters the door. In my humble opinion, risk is a great way to learn some valuable lessons in life. Some risks pay off and net great, positive results. On the other hand there are those risks that definitely stick out as blunders where we take the lesson and move on. What type of risks have you faced? How did you handle them? What did it teach you? Life isn't a risk free zone, that's for sure. Wishing you all a wondrous, adventurous day. Love and Light, Judi

What Floats Your Boat?

2009-11-12T08:57:00.004-07:00

What floats your boat, turn you on and gives you great excitement in life? The list of things can be quite vast. For each of us we resonate with different things on this huge list. Enjoyment for one doesn't necessarily mean all will enjoy that same thing. Let's just say bungee jumping or skydiving isn't for me, but I know there are plenty of folks that get great joy from taking these leaps in life. You know when you've hit upon the things that truly float your boat when you feel excitement to your very core and are so thrilled when you even think of this thing or things that bring you this excitement. These are the things in life that make it so enjoyable. Perhaps we've forgotten to do the things that truly turn us on from the inside out. Personally I love stones, writing and reading, all of which don't compare to the thrills of skydiving but hey that's what floats my boat. What floats yours?

Finding Our Direction

2009-11-11T09:35:00.004-07:00

There are those times in life when we seem lost and confused. Then there are the times when things really ‘click’ and we seem to be on such a positive, energetic path. When we find a direction that fits us perfectly, we can feel it all the way to our spirit. Our spirit feeds us encouragement to continue forward on this path. Our entire being feels elated and thus we know we're traveling in a good and positive direction. We can also feel when we're heading in a direction that isn't for us because it feels as if we've lost our compass and strayed from our course. Throughout life our direction will change many times. With each shift, as we grow and evolve, we will always know we’re on a productive path by how it feels within 'self'. Listening to our inner voice and trusting our spirits vibes, we can indeed find what works for us and shed what doesn't, keeping our eye on the goal of contentment, happiness and joy in everything we do. Holding on to what works for us in our individual lives, and letting go of what's holding us back, causing us to trip and sometimes even fall, is key. When it feels as if we're stuck in a rut, it might be a good time to make some adjustments in direction so that we don't stay in this stale space. Life is continuous motion and we are charting our own courses. Yet, sometimes it might serve us well to simply go sit on a bench in the park for a while. :) Love and Light, Judi

Regrets

2009-11-10T06:19:00.004-07:00

In life, looking back, we can regret things we've done. But, where does regret get us? Where does it take us? We can't go back and change things, but we can make changes as we move forward. Hanging on to regrets does nothing but pull us down. If I were to list all my regrets, not only would the list be long, but I'd be so depressed just looking at it. Learning from our missteps and moving on with the lessons learned serves us much better. I think we've all made these missteps, yet clinging to them and beating ourselves up over and over again is truly counter productive in my humble opinion. Each time we've fallen gives us that much more strength to get up and continue forward with new knowledge of what these missteps are there to teach us. Letting go of regrets takes a heavy load off of us so that we can move forward unburdened from carrying it all around. Should regret rise it's ugly head, we can think only of the lesson we got from the experience that spawned this regret and tell the mind-voice that keeps bringing it up to go away as we no longer need this reminder, we're done with it. Over time the mind will get the message and stop bringing it up. What a relief. We truly can relieve ourselves of regrets if we choose to. We can send them off much like releasing a balloon, watching it fly off into the sky. Instead of thinking of all our missteps we could embrace all our wonderful qualities and all the progress we are making as we strive to move forward, learning, growing and creating as we go. Wishing you joy in each day with no regrets. Love and Light, Judi

Joy, Even Just Saying the Word Feels So Good

2009-11-09T09:04:00.000-07:00

Joy, Even Just Saying the Word Feels So Good

2009-11-09T08:35:00.005-07:00

Finding joy and inner pleasure in what you choose to do certainly feeds the spirit. "Things are not going to bring that inner peace we are seeking. Filling the spirit with passion and joy will bring far greater success. Igniting the fire of passion from within takes one down a most rewarding path. My energy level goes way up when I'm doing something that excites me. Stands to reason that we are much more energized when we're sailing along doing what we love. Having a great idea can boost the spirit when it clicks or resonates with our true self. This 'click' is like a sign that we're on the right track. Everything feels right. There seems to be a party going on inside and our spirit is singing yes, yes, yes let's go that way as our being feels the joy. I know you can relate as you've felt this feeling too. Joy about anything simply feels so good. One wants to stand in that euphoria forever, but alas this isn't meant to be so as life does have its highs and lows and we're meant to navigate through all the different emotions as we make our ways in life. Perhaps on the lower days we experience we could just say the word JOY and feel it pump us up. There are just certain words that have such a positive ring to them that one couldn't possibly be down when placing their focus on joy, could they? Wishing you all joy filled days. Love and Light, Judi

Pogo Navigation

2009-11-07T10:09:00.004-07:00

My thoughts can certainly bounce around and land is some mighty strange places. The thought came to my mind of a pogo stick. Now why was I thinking of a pogo stick today? Perhaps it’s the ups and downs of life, or thoughts that bounce around in ones head constantly, or maybe it was the jumping from one project to the next. Jumping around trying to finish projects and get it all done. It can be so much fun at times, yet on other occasions we might fall off and become wounded by our experience. Perhaps I was thinking of balance and how easy it is to get off course and loose that balance. Could be I was thinking of all of us out there on our pogo sticks, each trying to navigate, trying to maintain balance, bumping into one another, getting in each others path, blocking individual progress as one tries to show others how it’s done. Or, bouncing around looking for our purpose, trying to focus on the horizon and what’s ahead of us. Maybe there are ruts in the road that have thrown us off and we can’t get past them. Or, how about those times when we not only loose balance, but seem to fall off the path all together? Maybe it was that I was thinking of trying to move forward, yet at times going back or from side to side as one weaves through it all. Maybe it was actually all of the above.  Be a wondrous weekend everyone. Love and Light, Judi

The Way

2009-11-06T06:16:00.004-07:00

There truly is no 'right way' or 'wrong way' to doing things. There is no 'only way'. There is no one color, nor is there only one type of flower, each finger print is different and one person’s path or journey is unlike any other person’s. It's the huge variety that stimulates creativity. If an individual says “I don’t like broccoli” then they can make a choice not to eat it, but they can't expect everyone to eliminate it from their diet and shouldn't condemn others because they choose to eat it. If one tries to outlaw the things that they don’t like they are pushing against the lives of others. They have every right to make their own choices, but shouldn't expect others to change when they push up against others wishes. Once one stops pushing against others, the true allowing of what they are wanting can begin. All will feel much freer, all can then breathe a very freeing, fresh air. Each of us is traveling through this life the best we can. We are choosing the way that feels best for us and our individual journey. Honoring and respecting each persons right to find their own way and concentrating on our own way will in fact cause us less stress and anxiety. We won't have to correct others for not doing it the right way, for their right way might be different, but it's right for them. It's not wrong just because it's not the way we've chosen. Make any sense? Wishing you all the very best way that's a great 'fit' for you and your amazing journey. Love and Light, Judi

I'm Done

2009-11-05T08:17:00.006-07:00

There are times when we are pulled to something, but then the time comes when we’re done with that craving or need. We’ve reached our own personal saturation point and it’s time to move on. When something feels 'right' and fits in our path, complimenting the direction we're headed in, then this is wonderful to incorporate and often is a great assistant in our journey. But, the time comes when we change, our needs and desires change. What once was working for us, now no longer is a good fit. That's the time to realize that the need is gone and let it go. Often replacing it with what is now working for us. The ever evolving change of things is always on the move. Realizing, as the words of the Kenny Rogers song: Know when to hold em, know when to fold em, know when to walk away and know when to run. Holding on to what no longer works often feels uncomfortable and has perhaps become a habit that now must be broken. Much like pushing away from the table when one is full, there's a feeling that "I'm done". That's when the practice of letting go comes into play. One's had their fill. Time to move on. Haven't you ever had such feelings? I think it's just part of the life process. There are times in life when we need to sit down, reassess, and make adjustments. Our missing being to travel down the road of life with a full focus on what's working in our world 'now'. I guess it's like the times one goes through their closet, getting rid of what no longer fits to make room for the new things that are a much better fit. Be a wonderful day. Love and Light, Judi

Changes In Attitude

2009-11-04T07:11:00.005-07:00

We all have chores, errands, tasks and responsibilities to handle on a daily basis and sometimes we face tasks we don’t really want to do. It can be easy to catch hold of a bad mood when we have to get something done that we truly don’t even want to start. Yet, it is our outlook that helps to drag us down. Dread of such unwelcome tasks and our attitude towards them can sour our mood and make things worse. If we were to shift our attitude it could make all the difference in our daily lives. When facing those things that are really hard for us, we could choose to lovingly support ourselves as we move through these tasks. Changing the way we look at the situation can lift our mood. In shifting our attitude we can transform what felt like a burden into a much more positive outlook. Shifting our perspective of this task and embracing it with gratitude will allow the dark mood to be replaced with a much lighter energy and our mood will shift for the better, the task will get done and we will feel a sense of pride and accomplishment for having done it. After all, we choose the attitude and therefore we can change it if it is dragging us down. Wishing you all Love and Light as you move through your day. Judi

P.S. I posted this blog this morning before I left for town to get some blood work done. I usually dread it when they draw blood. But, taking my own words to heart, I took a moment to adjust my attitude. I was the one placing dread in my thoughts, so I could choose to replace this emotion. It worked, yippee, it wasn't as bad once I removed the negative, fearful emotions. Things we fight can be so much easier on us if we step into a different mindset that's for sure. :)

Money...What Is It Good For

2009-11-03T07:19:00.003-07:00

Money seems to be in short supply for the average person these days. Each person’s situation is different, yet we are all feeling the pinch. Money. How much do we need” Everything is going up except the paycheck. How far can a dollar stretch without exploding? We have to make every penny count in these tough economic times. Money worries can cause such stress/anxiety and are certainly not good for anyone’s well being. The door to depression can open if one lets it. A person can easily get stuck, unable to move, when things get so tight one can’t even seem to breathe. There is the possibility that times like this could be very enlightening if we choose to look at them with a different perspective. During these financial challenges we’re all facing, if we were to place our focus on assessing how our money is being spent and make some adjustment, we might find ways to cut costs. This type of evaluation can be a great eye opener. Perhaps spending was out of control during those boom years. These current economic times can teach us to maintain a better control over where our hard earned money has been going. Seeing the monthly expenses all spread out in front of us allows us to see where we could make cuts in things that aren’t really necessary and make a plan to downsize wherever possible. Tightening one’s belt to the basics might not be such a bad idea. Putting any remainder, at the end of the month, into savings would help to grow that sense of financial security and lesson the stress. Going back to the days when we saved for emergencies, traded services, swapped what others might need for what we have, sold what we no longer find useful, grew our own produce if possible and took a step back to conserve, could all be so positive. Changing one’s lifestyle doesn’t have to be a negative thing. We can learn to live in a ‘less’ world with less stress and anxiety, which truly becomes a ‘more’ world. We can thrive in the knowing that we are doing our best and our best is just fine. wishing you all the richness of spirit. Love and Light, Judi

Our Song

2009-11-02T06:44:00.006-07:00

We are all singing a song. It’s a one of a kind song. It's individual. It’s our very own life song. We can feel the vibration of each cord. The rhythm changes sometimes soft and soothing at other times it really rocks and rolls. At times the tone is high and joyous and at other times we hit deep cords that resonate with our inner self as we learn something new about 'self'. I guess these could be referred to as our 'aha' moments. There can be rather dark stanzas for the times we are feeling low or depressed, yet then another joyous cord will begin and the sun will shine as we pick up the tempo and sing. Sometimes as soft as a warm, soft summer breeze, at other times held in a clap of thunder. If one pays close attention they can hear as well as feel the vibration of their song. When we meet someone we can also feel their song as we pick up the energy of how they are vibrating. How wonderful that we each have this song that we are busy creating, and we can often feel the harmony of others singing. Just thinking of the chorus of all those in the world, singing their songs on their life path, vibrating, some in unison, some out of tune with our song, but all of us vibrating with the wonders of life, experiences, and the joy of the journey. All creating our own rhythms, tones, tunes, as we each wander through the process. Incredible. Adding the vibrations of the plants and animals truly makes the blending of the energies magical. May you life song be a wonderful and joyous vibration we can all feel. Love and Light, Judi

Doing the Work

2009-10-30T07:25:00.005-06:00

If one focuses on other peoples flaws and imperfections, then they don't have to see their own. The thing with that is we're all here to improve on self and there's nothing we can do to 'fix' others. That's their path and they have to do their own inner work, if they choose, and when they are ready. We are responsible for 'self' and placing our focus towards others will delay our own journey, in my humble opinion. After all, if we do notice areas where others could be doing some work on 'self', that's their journey, not ours. Focusing on what one wants to work on for personal growth is truly a personal thing and we all reach the space where we become aware that some things need to be changed or adjusted at our own pace, in our own way. When we see we're standing in a place of drama or chaos for instance, we feel the spinning and in order to stop it we need to sit with 'self' and step away from whatever is causing us to spin in this chaos or drama. We have to find our way out of it in order to feel better. We have to do the work required, yet we can't possibly do that work for others to get them to stop their spinning. Oh we can suggest this or that or tell them that we notice they are spinning and perhaps that will bring about inner thinking on their part, but they must find their way as we in turn must find ours. Honoring everyone's right to choose the time they will step into their own awareness, and accepting that each of us works on our 'stuff' in our own time and our own personal way will help us step away from placing our focus on others and bring that focus back to our own personal journey. Wishing you each the energy of calm as you journey down your own individual path. Love and Light, Judi

Personal Growth

2009-10-29T06:25:00.005-06:00

There are those times in life that are just so sticky. So difficult to move through. Parts of 'self' that we're trying to work on. It came to me that personal growth could be likened to gum on the bottom of ones shoe. Chip some off, but can't get it all removed with just one attempt. More work needs to be done. Will one ever be able to get it all off? It’s all work in progress. Globs of crusted on gum came from the path one has walked while not paying attention to where their going. Sometimes it can truly be a sticky business to remove and let go of old habits or old problems that seem to continue to cling to us. These often stale memories, events and problems can cause a person to be thrown off balance in the ‘now’. One works to chip off this goop so that they can walk better. One can remove some of the hard encrusted gooie mess, but still some remains. They have to continue to chip away at it. Remember, we're all works in progress. Each area to work on is like another lump of gum. One can’t walk in a balanced way until all the lumps or clumps have been worked off, then the path gets much easier. And, one has to be ever mindful to focus on the direction they are intending to travel and try to avoid any new clumps that might throw one off again along the journey. I can see that I still have gum on the bottom of my shoes. It's a process of letting go. Wishing you each a pleasant journey. Love and Light, Judi

Wisdom's Door

2009-10-12T08:02:00.015-06:00

We all walk through wisdom's door many times in life. Every time we learn, we grow. Many things in life are difficult, yet we each manage to get through these difficult times and it's the difficult times that are the greatest teachers. We suffer setbacks, losses, and things that can shake us to our very core. We go through the drama, the chaos and we continue to evolve from the person we were to the person we are today. The lessons will continue to come all throughout one's life and we will each be presented with the specific pitfalls we are individually needing to move forward and learn. Each time we discover and the light of clarity goes on inside. We realize we've walked through wisdom's door. We've shifted, we've grown through the experience. And, if we don't get it the first time, similar situations will present themselves until we do get it. Then we move on until there is another lesson. Hopefully we become wiser with each of these life lessons. Life's a process, a journey and we are each moving through it in our own way, at our own pace, grabbing a hold of wisdom when we can along the way. We're wonderful works in progress. Let's embrace that. We're trying. We're getting it. At times we're standing outside of wisdom's door peeking in, and at other times we're standing at the threshold taking a step and then another inside. Each time we grow stronger, incorporating what we've learned as we continue to move forward, being ever mindful of the others who are walking through their own door. Everyone has a ticket to pass through this door, yet for each of us the ride is different. Each spirit is in need of it's own lessons. Wishing you each a positive journey. Love and Light, Judi

Standing In The Fog

2009-10-08T07:18:00.006-06:00

Warm Greetings. :) Today I'm looking out the window and can barely see. There is a thick fog, so thick I can't see the mountains or even the front gate. I thought of the times one can feel this way in life. The times one seems to be walking in a fog, where things aren't entirely clear. Well, it can feel like being in a fog and one awaits the lifting of this feeling. Maybe we need these duller moments so that when they disappear we can see the light of a situation. Maybe we need the rest from the chaos. Walking around in a fog feels strange, things feel out of whack, our balance is off. Perhaps this is a time when we are supposed to rest, or reevaluate, or simply just 'be' until the fog lifts. Perhaps we aren't supposed to see into the distance, but rather focus on what is directly in front of us. Things are not clear in the fog, and seem distorted. A cover of fog can feel comforting, like a warm blanket, but it can also cause confusion and lack of sight as the vision skews. When we seem to be standing in the fog, we can examine why, make any adjustments we feel might be necessary, and wait for this fog to lift. May each of you find your way out of the times where you seem enveloped in fog. Love and Light, Judi

Unity

2009-10-06T16:22:00.004-06:00

Uniting together, creating love and light is a wonderful and very positive way to feed our spirits. It brings such positive energy to all. Working together, in both the good times as well as the not so good times with each person giving encouragement, kindness, honor and respect to our fellow humans, animals and also the plant kingdom can feed so many spirits. Honoring the earth upon which we stand can be so nourishing and the earth gives back as it nourishes and feeds us all, expecting only honor and respect in return. Visualize us all holding hands and offering understanding and comfort to others. It lifts the heart to know that so many are reaching out to send positive energy out into the world. We are all so blessed in so many ways. Coming together in unity we become a large family, projecting this energy of positivity out into the world and that causes such loving seeds to grow. Others can feel that energy and will want to join in. It will spread. Letting go of the negative, and trading it in for the positive will cause the spirit to grow in a most wondrous way. The experience will be to precious to let go of. There is such a powerful strength in unity. Wishing you each Love and Light, Judi

The View Through A Critical Eye

2009-10-05T07:06:00.004-06:00

When one views others through a critical eye, they might be missing all the best things about that person. The view through a critical eye perhaps blurs the vision and the beauty is missed while one is looking for the weeds. When one only sees others faults and flaws without looking for a person’s best side, who is being served? Perhaps it feels so good to point out others faults so one doesn’t have to look in the mirror to see what is reflected back at them. Things might be off kilter in a persons own life, and perhaps searching for any flaws and/or faults in others takes the focus away from their own. Could that be? If the focus is totally honed in on others, then perhaps one won’t feel so insecure about ‘self’. That would mean that it all has more to do with the fault finder and not others at all wouldn’t it? Seeing everything others are doing ‘wrong’, but wrong according to a rather skewed perception, doesn’t make for very clear vision does it. “They” don’t talk the way they ‘should’, dress the way they ‘should’, think the way they ‘should’ or live their lives the way one thinks they should. When someone looks at us with that critical eye doesn’t it upset us at times? Perhaps humans pay far too much time picking at the flaws seen in others instead of recognizing and fixing our own. Maybe that’s why there is the saying “Live and let live.”  Or how about “To each their own.” Looking for the beauty in all people and accepting them as they are, warts and all, might even cause a less critical eye upon ‘self’ as one embraces all that is positive within their own being. We’re all in the same boat, trying to put one foot in front of the other to move ahead, keep our heads above water and make sense of it all.  Wishing you all Love and Light, Judi

Changes

2009-10-02T05:58:00.005-06:00

Fall is in the air. The leaves are beginning to change colors. What a beautiful time of the year. I'm thinking not only of the change in seasons, but also the many changes in life. We too have our seasons. We make many changes in life as we grow and discover. We can see what direction works for us, yet after a time will have to change directions when it no longer serves us. We develop habits, yet allow them to fall by the wayside when we discover they weren't the best choice or no longer help, but hinder our progress in life. We can allow them to fall much like the leaves on the trees. Let them drift away. We aren't the same person we were two, four, ten or twenty years ago. We continue to evolve and much like a sapling, we grow into a tree with many branches and hopefully the strength to weather any storm. We've built that strength as we grew and over time we have learned to adapt, adjust and bend in the winds that come our way. We can become deeply rooted in who we are and where we are going, developing new skills along the way. With growth comes wisdom through the many lessons we learn. We evolve, change and become who we are today. Yet, who we are today isn't who we will be in the years to come. We will continue to change, learn, grow and experience the many wonders that are life. Embrace the experience, and see the beauty of 'self' in each season. Wishing you all a most wondrous journey. Love and Light, Judi

Relationships

2009-09-30T08:25:00.008-06:00

We have relationships will all things. We are connected to much more than we may realize. Of course there are those we know and/or come into contact with, but also consider plants, stones, animals, and even inadament objects. We even have a relationship with our computers. Just think of the number of times you've talked to it when it isn't loading a page very quickly. :) We choose how each relationship will fit into our lives. We can have a relationship with a particular book that we use for reference purposes, or with many books. We relate to our beloved pets as well as our house plants. We can have a cozy relationship with our favorite chair and grow attached to a warn, warm comforter we've been throwing over our body on many chilly winter nights. These things all mean something to us and have worked their way into our lives. We tend to think of other people when we hear the word relationship, yet the word can encompass so much more. Of course relationships with others and how we relate to others is a big part of daily life. There are family members, neighbors, co-workers, social connections and love connections. There are those we barely know, unable to remember their names or perhaps where we met them, but the face is so familiar. There is the history that can span one's entire life with family members. We relate differently to each person because we are all so different. Relationships can be so many degrees of happy to sad and everything in-between. What are we wanting in each relationship and what are we allowing? Are we being pushed or pulled or accepted as we are, and are we honoring others rights to be who they are? Do we have a good and solid relationship with all things? Did we water the plants, pat the dog and stroke the cat today? Did we acknowledge them? How are we relating to the people and things around us? Can we feel the connection, importance and meaning of each relationship? Maybe I'm getting too deep here today. :) I was just thinking about how many different types of relationships surround us each day. Wishing you the wonder of your relationship with all things. Love and Light, Judi

File This

2009-09-29T07:17:00.005-06:00

Today is my second day of working on the filing in my office. I tend to let it pile up. LOL (Procrastination is a word.) :) As I was sorting through it all I thought of how much we hold on to in our minds and inner emotions. We file so much away that we could purge to make room for more positive things. Holding on to great memories is one thing, but holding on to old resentments, anger or bitterness isn't healthy at all. Working to clear this type of emotional baggage can be so uplifting. Dumping such 'files' and never reopening them can certainly lighten our load. After all, what positive purpose do such past experiences serve us now? The truth is that they don't serve us. They hold us back. Bringing them up again and again will certainly stifle our personal growth. Clearing our own 'data base' of clutter can lift a load we've been carrying for far too long. It allows space to file more positive experiences as we keep moving down the road of life. There's no sense really in continuing to go back and revisit these 'files'. Living in the Now, in the present moment and placing our focus on where we're standing right now will certainly serve us better. This is the moment we are in, this is the time we have. Making a conscious effort to make the most of the present can truly lighten our load. Taking time to purge what no longer serves you will be time well spent in my humble opinion. Wishing each of you days filled with warmth and comfort. Love and Light, Judi

Image by Mage49

Writing Our Own Script

2009-09-25T06:27:00.005-06:00

We are truly writing our own life script every day. Others enter into our scripts, events will happen, and we continue to adjust and adapt our own scripts accordingly. It is how we react to it all that turns our 'play' into what it is. We can choose to create drama or chaos, or we can bring peace into our script. We are each the main character of our individual scripts. When one asks "Why is life taking me this way or that", in actuality we are pulling ourselves this way or that as we hold the key to the direction our 'play' goes. If in fact we are allowing something to happen, we can switch to not allowing it to take place by just saying 'NO' and moving in a different direction. Perhaps if we allow life to direct us instead of us directing our life, we have lost control of our script. We might have given our control over to others, yet we can take it back. We hold the power to map out our journey and chart our course in life. At times this isn't going to be easy and in fact it might even be easier to give the reins over to another to ghost write our script. But then we loose our individual power and our confidence dwindles. We are no longer in the drivers seat, so to speak, if we allow others to manipulate our script when they have their own to write. At times this script could be a melodrama, a tragedy, a mystery, a comedy, a romance, etc. but it is always a journey and we each get to choose how our script will be written. Each day is a blank slate and we make choices as to what will be on that page. What a concept. :) Wishing you each a day of happy and joyful script writing. Love and Light, Judi

Laughter's Great Release

2009-09-24T06:56:00.004-06:00

Laughter is such a wonderful release. It just feels so incredibly good to laugh. Laughter truly feeds the spirit. In fact I believe one's spirit joins in when one is laughing. Laugh with all you've got. Laugh without holding back. Gosh it feels fantastic to laugh with friends, laugh at a funny movie or at a great comedy sketch. There are so many things that bring that pure laugh right out of us. It travels up and out. You can feel the path it takes. Laughing at someone truly doesn't bring positive feelings, yet laughing with someone is such a joyous experience. They say laughter is the best medicine and I believe this is true. How could one feel bad when laughter is in their midst? And, there is nothing better than to hear the laughing squeals of delight coming from a child. Kindly laughing at 'self' can also be therapeutic. After all we humans can do some pretty funny and goofy things at times. Instead of beating 'self' up over something, why not just laugh at it and move on? Laughter can be so healing. It's the most positive release for stresses and tension in life. Frustration is sure to melt away if one finds the humor in that which is causing the frustration and one just laughs until that frustration evaporates. Live, love, laugh and be happy. :) I wish you all the fantastic delight of feeling laughter in all your days. Love, Laughter and Light, Judi :)

Using Positive Affirmations

2009-09-22T09:15:00.003-06:00

Affirmations are positive declarations one can use in daily life to remind 'self' of the things they don't want to forget about life and themselves as they travel through it. Positive affirmations can lift and feed one's spirit. Just saying "I Am Special", can certainly lift you up. You are indeed special and the more you say it, the more all the prior negative things you've said about 'self' will disappear. If you just replace any negative thought with a more positive and powerful affirmation you will feel the difference. Saying "I am Unique". or "I can accomplish anything if I try", or "I am proud of myself", or "I am a wonderful me" can all strengthen ones view of self. We seem to have no problem saying negative things about ourselves such as "I'm such a failure", "I'm so stupid" etc. that are, in fact, so untrue and certainly pound 'self' down. Why not replace these battering words with the power of words that truly build us up? How wonderful. One can choose the affirmations that suit them. Perhaps there are areas where you know you could use a positive boost, and why not be the one to give it to yourself? Write down some affirmations that 'click' with you and your spirit. Use post-it notes if you want and put them up in key locations to help remind yourself of just how wonderful, unique and beautiful you are. Using positive affirmations can certainly boost you up to where you feel much better about yourself, and that's where each of us should strive to be. I made a CD entitled "I Am, Success With Positive Affirmations" in the hopes that those who listened to it would feel more empowered and loose the negative mind tapes, replacing them with more positive thoughts. I wish each of you the power of using positive affirmations in your daily life. Love and Light, Judi

Maintenance

2009-09-18T10:04:00.005-06:00

I noticed that it's time to do some maintenance on the water features here in the house to keep them in good running order. It got me thinking. We do maintenance on our cars to keep them running for us, and here I am ready to do the maintenance on our fountains, and with fall coming it's also time to do maintenance on the fireplace and heater too. But what about self? How often do we put ourselves last, forgetting that we too need to maintain our health, mind and spirits to keep them in balance as well? Keeping a focus on not only what we eat, but also the size of our portions will help us attain a healthy weight and healthy body. Holding to positive thoughts and shooing away the negative mind talk will ease our stress levels and anxiety. I don't think a person can hold positive thoughts and have anxiety at the same time. :) Feeding the spirit with all the things we enjoy and bringing happiness and joy into our daily lives will certainly be very uplifting to our hungry spirits. If old habits are working against a positive maintenance program, it might be time to change those habits. This takes focus and work, but is well worth the effort to make these changes for the better. Perhaps one could incorporate "pamper days" for self. Taking a day at least a couple of times a month can be very uplifting. Relaxing in a warm tub with one's favorite scented oils or a mineral bath can be very rewarding to the body, mind and spirit. Giving oneself a facial, pedicure, or treating "self" to a day at a spa can be very uplifting as well. And, this isn't just a woman's thing either. Men might be more apprehensive at first, but after taking a pamper day, I think they'll be hooked. :) Forgetting to incorporate a maintenance program for self, or putting self last could cause something to break down, just like your car would. You are very important and well with the time and the investment in your own well being. Wishing you all the rewarding experience of pampering yourselves, and a very happy, weekend. :) Love and Light, Judi

Bountiful Riches

2009-09-17T07:23:00.003-06:00

I’ve never been rich in the monetary sense, yet for me life is rich. I was thinking of all the emphasis society puts on money and its power. We are told that we’re nothing unless we succeed and that success includes monetary wealth to gain status and power in society. We forget that we are always wonderful all the time. Aren’t we each successful and aren’t we all wealthy? When we accomplish something we have succeeded and reached our goal. Many things besides money can bring riches to us. Perhaps we could adjust the way we are viewing the meaning of such words. We could redefine them within ourselves. To be rich is to be full to overflowing with the power love brings to us and the love we can give out to others. There is great inner wealth to be found in the warmth of smiles collected as we move through our days and those smiles we give so freely to others. We are rich with all that nature provides us and it’s all free. Simply sitting in a garden, near a stream or under a magnificent tree can fill us with the abundance of natural things. There's so much at our disposal that can give us such pleasure; we only have to open our eyes and our hearts to the bounty that surrounds us everyday. Many years ago I was saying “I wish I were rich”, thinking that money would make everything better. Then a lesson came to me in a thought as I realized that I was indeed rich. Listing all I had to be grateful for certainly changed my perspective. I had unconditional love to warm my heart, the comfort of good friends, loving pets, healing nature around me and greater insight as I was evolving as a person. It’s not the deposits in the bank, but the deposits in the spirit that are the best treasures one can savor. True wealth and abundance comes from within. May your life be filled with the true richness that surrounds you. Love and Light, Judi

Off Days

2009-09-16T07:17:00.005-06:00

Ever have on off day? Of course you have. We all have experienced days where nothing seems to go right. Why I just had one Monday. I was stepping back to breathe so many times Monday as everything I did or touched seemed to go wrong. LOL But, it got me to thinking about balance and how there are also the days when everything just seems to click. Each day is different. How very boring it would be if our days were the same and were always predictable. On those days when we are rather klutzy, stumble, drop things, miss our exit on the freeway, are late for work or an appointment and oh so much more, we can think that this too shall pass. It's just the day we're in. Off days allow us to see and be grateful for those other days when things go so smoothly. And, there is comfort in knowing that we all have them. We can relate to one another when we say we're having this off day, as others will say they know just what we're talking about. See, we are more alike than different. We've all been in those spaces where things just don't seem to be going as we thought they would or as we'd planned. Not all days will be smooth sailing. There are bound to be some rough waves now and again. We can ride it out knowing that it will pass. Not becoming frustrated when our day is off might take some practice. Embracing the day we're in no matter what it brings our way and learning to pull out our sense of humor at such times could be a great way to get through such days. Wishing you all many days of smooth sailing and the ability to pull out a great smile on those occasional off days. Love and Light, Judi

Creating A Comfort Zone

2009-09-15T07:18:00.006-06:00

Yesterday I was talking to a dear friend on the phone. We enjoy sharing bits about what's going on in our lives and not a conversation goes by without laughter. She asked me to describe my office area and so I began listing what I was looking at: My desk, computer, my stones, pictures, candles, books, CD's, colorful pencils, feathers, wind chime, water feature,and so much more. As I was looking at the items my spirit was getting more and more excited. I could feel it. I could feel the warmth of how this space I'd created truly did wrap its arms around me. After the call had ended, I sat here in the glow of knowing I'd created a space here that truly does feed my spirit. I began to think about how everyone could do this same thing. Gather the things you love and place them in a space just for you. It isn't the size of the space that matters. It's what that space contains that makes you feel good, warm and comfortable. It doesn't have to be an office space. It can be in the garden or patio area, your bedroom or whatever space speaks to you personally. You choose. Creating a sacred space is an individual thing. In life's busy days one might feel personal control slipping away. If you have this personal space, you have a sanctuary to turn to where you can decompress and relax. Surrounding self with the things that give the spirit comfort certainly can give off such a powerful energy of contentment. May we each find comfort in the zones we create for "self". Love and Light, Judi

Shifting Through Transitions

2009-09-14T06:13:00.004-06:00

Transition, by definition, is a passing from one condition, form, stage, activity, place, etc. to another and the period of such passing or moving through. Along life's journey we all make many shifts. We go through different stages as we learn. Often times we can feel the inner shift as we make our way through some transition in life. Personally I've gone through the 'gotta be in fashion' to a more comfortable style that now suits me. I've gone into a 'less is more' transition and the latest has been to grow our own vegetables. That inner voice seems to whisper in one's ear when it's time to shift from one's old patterns into ones that seem to fit each of us in our "Now". Things change, not just in the outer frame but also in our inner being. What felt comfortable at one time no longer seems to hold true. We read something, see something, feel something that seems to resonate with our deeper self. We think about the possibility this could bring into our lives and contemplate incorporating this into our lives. A change, a shift and a new possibility. We move to a new stage in our development. When something isn't working, or we've come to a dead end, it's a great time to take stock of the path we have been on and perhaps time to adjust some things so that the traveling will be easier and we will feel better in the steps ahead. I wish you all great ease as you shift through your own transitions. Love and Light, Judi

Embracing Change

2009-09-10T09:38:00.004-06:00

Fall is coming. The nights here are downright cold and the temperatures during the day are also descending. The sweltering heat of summer is leaving. Soon the leaves will be changing colors before they drop to the ground to decay. They'll mix with the earth to make the soil richer in spring. There is a unique beauty in each season, just as there is with each season of our lives. Nature shifts and changes and doesn't seem to fight this change. It's natural for nature to change and have the strength to endure each seasons shifts. We could take a lesson from that. In life we will encounter many changes in our life. We grow, we have struggles, we overcome them and we endure. Fighting changes only makes the road that much more difficult and often delays forward motion. Things don't ever stay the same. That would be boring and wouldn't challenge us much at all. We too have our seasons. Thinking of young children I think of spring. Everything is so new and exciting. Summer reminds me of the struggles to fit in, make it, go through droughts as we try to find ourselves. Fall is a bursting forth of color and almost seems like the time in life when we've arrived, have learned so much and grown in such unique ways. We're finally getting it and that brings us such joy. Things are filled with such beautiful colors that there is a glow from all we are accomplishing and achieving. Winter reminds me of the latter part of life. The hair is turning white and we are slowing down. We can relax and retire to a comfy chair with a great book. We enjoy the warmth of sitting by the fire simply watching the snow outside as it falls. We feel like we've traveled a long way and now we can enjoy the warm glow in our hearts for what we have made of our lives. We fall into deep appreciation for all we've been given. We can look back at all the changes we went through in the other seasons and know that they were just what we needed to get to this space where we have no regrets. How wonderful. May you embrace the positive possibilities changes bring to life throughout each season. Love and Light, Judi

In Search Of Direction

2009-09-08T11:47:00.003-06:00

Finding your path in life can truly feed your spirit. Walking on the path in life that's meant for you feels so right. Your very spirit lets you know that you're headed in the right direction. Being on a path that doesn't feel right or isn't connecting to your inner self lets you know through what you're feeling that it might be time to choose a new direction. Paths have many dips, twists and turns that we have to navigate along the way. We might need to make adjustments, watch for stones in the road, and know when to move away from what isn't working for us any longer. We all change paths many times in life. The word slump comes to mind when I think of the times I know it's time to sit down and think about the path I'm on and what I could tweak or change to go in a better direction. Choosing the path that's best for our individual journey at any given time will certainly move us forward and perhaps we will come upon another path that's similar, but seems to suit us better right now. When we're moving in a positive direction we'll know it. At times we might feel lost. Perhaps we thought we had the right direction, only to find we took a turn that threw us off. Maybe there was a feeling that something would be right for us and then after trying it a while discovered that we really didn't want to go in that direction. That's okay. We tried. We learned. We felt the need to move on and travel in a different direction. When we hit upon the course that's perfect for us we'll know it. Until then, listen to that inner voice that's there to support each of us along our way. Ask 'self' questions. "What do I want to do and how do I get there?" List the steps it will take to reach that goal. Don't give up and don't give in if some outside source tries to dissuade you. Wishing you happiness as you travel the path that feels right for you. Love and Light, Judi

Opening The Door Of Change

2009-09-07T08:13:00.003-06:00

Today I was thinking of stepping out of one's routine and how changes can stir things up and feed the spirit. I'm a creature of routine myself, yet I either step out of my routine, or something takes me out of it, and I feel a totally different energy. I've stepped out of my comfort zone, so to speak, and taken a peek at change and the opportunities it brings many times in my life. Sometimes 'self' can simple feel a need for change. There is a desire to incorporate something new into ones routine. It could be as simple as a 'sign' your inner being sees, an inner feeling that it's time for a change. Perhaps a door opens showing a different direction to take. Going through that door can bring great excitement. At other times one can feel the need for change when they realize things in their life are becoming stagnant. One could feel that it's time to stir things up a bit. It could mean changing jobs, careers, relationships, location etc. It could be the bleak feeling that negative thought isn't helping your spirit and a change to a more positive path would serve the spirit better and thus change in behavior is in need of some work. Moving through change can be most rewarding. What is change trying to teach us? What is it offering us? Is there a new space where we need to place our focus? Stepping out of routine isn't something to dread, but something to embrace. Change for betterment helps 'self' evolve and grow. Fear of change will leave one in a void, unable to move forward. Fighting change nets anxiety and stress. Yet, embracing change will certainly open new doors with great possibilities. Making a decision to opt for personal growth and working to change what isn't working in your life, replacing it with choices that move you in a more positive direction, can be very self-empowering. Wishing each of you new doors to walk through as you embrace change. Love and Light, Judi

The Beat Goes On

2009-09-04T11:45:00.003-06:00

Today I've been listening to "Earth Drum" by David & Steve Gordon. I love the sound of drums. Drumming goes directly to my very core and I often begin to dance as if the ancients are cheering me on. Whenever I'm feeling a little off, or low, I drum or listen to CD's with drum and flute. Some other great CD's are Desert Dance by R. Carlos Nakai, Wind River, by Vasquez, Spirit Dance, by Peter Buffett and The New World Ensemble, Burning Sky, by Creation, and Hearts, Hands & Hides, by a collection of artists. Drumming awakens ones spirit. The rhythm moves energy and seems to speak to a deeper part of "self". Beating a drum can't seem to help moving ones inner spirit in a way that makes it want to dance. One can feel the uplifting from deep inside as energy begins to move. Drumming also moves the stale energy in and around ones home. Energy can sit, gathering in the corners of the rooms, becoming very stagnant and stale. Beating a drum will cause that energy to wake up and move around. The rooms will feel alive with the movement of this newly awakened energy as it begins to move around again. The space will feel much better when you are standing, sitting or sleeping in it. Drumming is a wonderful natural stimulant. It's a great way to feed your spirit. Wishing you all a dancing spirit. Love and Light, Judi

Just Breathe

2009-09-03T09:25:00.004-06:00

I was thinking of a great tool for wellness this morning. Simply breathing can calm you down when facing any frustrating experience. If you are in a long line at the bank or store, just breathe and concentrate on that. In a few seconds you will feel a sense of calm replace the frustration. Of course practicing patience is great too. :) If you are stuck in traffic and it's making you late, just take a few deep breaths. Say the word "calm" to yourself and see what happens as you feel a flood of peace come over you. If you are having a hectic day at home or work, try sitting in a chair close your eyes and just sit quietly. Breathe normally. Feel the inner breath and the outer breath. Push mind chatter away gently and simply sit in a space within self of calm. It will just take a few minutes to feel a great release of the tensions of the day. If the hammer isn't hitting the nail, so to speak, in things you are trying to do/accomplish, step away for a moment and just breathe. Then, when you go back to complete your task you will be able to approach it with a calm from within self and not anger or frustration. Simply slowing down and being mindful of your breathing can be a great stress reliever. One doesn't need to learn some deep meditation practice to feel a calming and relaxing sense come over them. Just feel your breathing, feel it coming into your 'self' in a natural way, and feel it leaving in the same natural way. Wishing you all the great sense of calm of simply being mindful of your breathing. Love and Light, Judi

Making A Choice With Each New Day

2009-09-02T07:48:00.005-06:00

Good Morning to you all. I hope your day is going well. This morning I was thinking about one's perspective when they wake up and begin a new day. One person might awaken eager to greet his/her day with delight, eager to see what this new day brings their way, while another might moan and groan, not looking forward to it at all. This person might awaken each day dragging out of bed, dreading having to struggle through the day. One person might view each day as a joy, looking forward to all that comes along their daily path, yet another might want to just pull to covers up over their head and wish the day would just pass them by while they look the other way. It's all a matter of how each individual chooses to see the day. One can leap into life, or choose to let the joys of life pass them by. Who knows what could be discovered if one threw the covers back and jumped out of bed with great enthusiasm. What great joys would one miss if they didn't participate? I wrote a poem some years back that seems to fit with what I'm thinking today. I thought I'd share it with you. Wishing you glorious days. Love and Light, Judi

PERSPECTIVE

They say that it's darkest, just before dawn.
Some have faith, in others it's gone.
Some see rainbows in bright blue skies.
Others see storm clouds, the rainbows elude their eyes.
Some can stand cheering, at each new break of dawn.
Others lay sleeping, till the dawn is far gone.
Some people revel in the challenge of the coming new day.
Others sadly let each day slip away.
Some will fall and never get up.
They sadly let go of life's sweet loving cup.
There are those who will spit out the sweet nectar of life.
They will only remember the struggle, the strife.
Then, in walks the person who keeps drinking life's wine.
This is the person, who will get through it just fine.

Harmonious Balance

2009-09-01T07:48:00.004-06:00

I have been absent for a while. I've been standing in a space of illness. I've learned much as I've been making my way through this disease. Lessons come from such down times. I've been one to ask, when confronted with something, "What is the lesson (s) in this?" For me there have been many lately. Illness can indeed teach us so much. We are not alone in our struggles. We can think of those who have more to carry than we do. We can be so grateful for our dear friends that come to give us encouragement, comfort and love. We can count our many blessings as we appreciate the support and aid of others. I also have been thinking of balance and bringing harmony to spirit, body and mind. Illness is a wake up call. Illness is trying to tell us something and we would serve ourselves well to listen. Something isn't in balance. Our life energy may be low. If the body, spirit and our thoughts aren't all in harmony we would do well to work towards regaining that balance so we are once again in total harmony within ourselves. My own illness lead me to a great book "Chi, Discovering your Life Energy" by Master Waysun Liao. I truly recommend it. Our journey truly moves us towards the things we are needing to learn in this lifetime for our inner growth. Sometimes we loose focus, yet if we keep trying, I believe all is possible. We can find our own harmonious balance. Wishing you all wellness on your journey. Love and Light, Judi

When Illness Strikes

2009-08-10T18:43:00.006-06:00

Unfortunately illness can strike anyone at any time. This can leave the person in a vast void, learning about the illness they now have. Fortunately in speaking about it, many people will come forward with information, encouragement, and support. This can be such a comfort. We all flourish both giving support to others and receiving it ourselves. As the human race, in my humble opinion, this is what we should be doing for our each and all when we can. When one receives a diagnosis, their life can go spinning, yet another reaches out their hand in kindness and compassion, in friendship and with unconditional support and the spinning stops or subsides. Just knowing we're not alone is a great relief and comfort. Someone will be there, stand by us, walk beside us and help us through this part of the journey. Perhaps our focus has never been on this or that illness until we have it. We hear about others illnesses and perhaps have a basic understanding and degree of compassion. Then, it could be our turn. Just the knowing that down the road, we too could wear similar shoes might give us reason to pause and reflect on our own health, eating habits, inner wellness path, focus and inner balance, trying to prevent illness as we make our own journey. Perhaps we could hold out our hand and walk beside a friend who needs our support. Perhaps an illness has a message and one's inner strength can grow as they work their way through it. I'm thinking of the word caregivers and just saying the word gives me great comfort. Perhaps we could each be caregivers as we move through our days. Wishing you all a great sense of comfort. Love and Light, Judi

The Saturation Point

2009-08-07T07:43:00.005-06:00

Where is our individual saturation point? How do we know when enough is enough of something? There comes a point when something is just too much and we have a 'knowing' inside ourselves that we must back away. We've had enough of this or that. These are the times when we can feel shifts within self. We are pulled by a need to make adjustments, changes and go in a new direction. If we are paying clear attention to how we're feeling, we can tell when we've reached our saturation point in some area of our life journey. We all have habits, like what we eat, or what we watch on TV. We are said to be creatures of habit. Yet, when something isn't working for us any longer, when we no longer enjoy a food we've eaten for some time, or are now bored with a TV show(s)that we've watched for several seasons, then we've reached our saturation point and can back away, adjust and change. We can also get bombarded with negativity from others as well as from TV. We take it on, take it into our space day after day until we reach a point where we feel so bad that we must back away from it. This can also happen with people in our social group. There can be a person(s) we've known for some time who is always complaining, or gets angry quickly, or whatever, and the day comes when we know we have to back away from this friendship/person because we have reached a saturation point and can no longer stand in the space around this negative energy. We can't take it on any longer and the feeling is so strong that we need to disconnect and move on. It isn't healthy to push and continue to take on that which has become intolerable to your inner self. Knowing and feeling that you are at your saturation point allows you to shift and move in a much more positive direction, leaving what is no longer working behind. Wishing you each the ability to step away from what no longer feels pleasant to you. Love and Light, Judi

Image By xmrsdanifilth

Is It Just Me?

2009-08-06T06:22:00.004-06:00

No, it's not just you, or not just me. Everyone goes through many of the same or similar experiences, emotions and feeling throughout life. We might be going through something and think we're the only ones having this experience, but we're not. There are those times in life, when talking to another person, that one will realize this. The other person relates their experience and feelings and we seem stunned that they too feel this or that way. They too have had a similar experience and can relate to our experience. When we confide in a trusted friend, partner, or family member about our experiences and inner feelings, the more we realize that others have had similar events and feelings in their lives as well. We can also hear of another's story via book, media etc.,and can often relate to such stories in our own personal life. We are not the only ones on the planet that have been through this or that. We all have our hurts and sorrows as well as our joys, bliss, and exhilarating positive emotions. Perhaps one can find comfort in knowing they aren't alone and that others throughout time have experienced similar situations and feelings. When we are down, we could hold tight to the knowing that we too can get through the tough times and come out the other end of the situation wiser and stronger. Talking about it is a great help to give us understanding and also to open the door to realizing that it isn't just us, many have been there before us, not standing in the same shoes, but having stood in similar shoes. We truly are more alike than different. Being ever mindful of this will hopefully bring us all closer together. Wishing you the knowing that we are all in this together. Love and Light, Judi

Consider This

2009-08-03T11:37:00.002-06:00

I was thinking of our spirits this morning. We are the essence of spirit. When born our spirit is so pure, yet can suffer over time as we grow and experience hurts. When our focus is 'off' we become lost and overwhelmed, often standing in a space of spinning or chaos. We forget that we are all wonderful spirits, each human-being, each animal, the trees and other natural things as well. I was wondering that if we each have felt the hurts in some form or another as we travel through life, why do we not consider the hurts and trials of others. We each walk our own unique path, yes, yet when one slings arrows, or places negative energy in spaces as they go, do they not consider the other spirits that might be wounded by this? Can we not think of one another as spirits and come to this level to interact with one another, not wanting hurts and not wanting to cause other spirits hurts. Could we not walk a peaceful path, learning and growing together as a human race? Not tearing down, but instead building up. Could we not then honor the natural things on the planet and help them, not causing them wounds? Could we not reach out to the spirit of the animals and join them in a more harmonious way? With each harm we do, we harm ourselves, our spirits hurt. We can feel this deep within 'self' and it just doesn't seem right when we are walking a twisted path. Walking a peaceful path, with love, honor and respect for all things just feels so much better. Our spirits flourish in such a place. Perhaps if our focus was placed on 'spirit' in all things, there would be a positive shift both in self and in the world we live in. I'm just saying. I'm just thinking about it all today. Wishing you all peace and calm on your journey. Love and Light, Judi

Summer Rains

2009-08-01T07:04:00.004-06:00

It's been raining here almost every day lately. We need this moisture here in the high desert country of New Mexico so much. Each rain storm has it's own unique voice. Yesterday, it was a soft summer rain and reminded me of just how soothing and calming the sound of rain can be. Rain washes the trees, the plants and so many other things can take advantages of the benefits of these showers. The moisture fills our lakes and streams. It gives the thirsty soil such a great drink. Rain can truly feed the spirit with the comfort of its sound. I love a soft, steady rain. I love the beautiful rainbows that can be created. I even love the sound of distant thunder. There are CD's on the market that have been created of the sounds of rain and thunder because they offer such soothing and calming feelings. I'm not too fond of a storm with high winds that brings destruction with it's mighty force. Yet, it too is a part of the many powers of nature. Rain is such a very nourishing part of nature. It's sound is so invigorating to the spirit of all living things. Even our weeds rejoice after a hefty rain. LOL Wishing you soft, gentle summer rains that sooth your spirit. Love and Light, Judi

Poor, Poor Pitiful Me

2009-07-31T07:52:00.009-06:00

I've been going through a rough patch the past few days. I found out that the appearance of debilitating pain was due to an abscessed tooth. At the highest point of pain I wanted to rip my head off. :) Yet, with the antibiotics the pain is leaving. Whew. This experience got me thinking of the times in life that can pull us down. These times feel so bleak while standing in them. We must, at such times, remind ourselves that this too shall pass. We will get through whatever the rough time is. We will move forward and step out of it. It's difficult to do this when standing in the depths of whatever the problem is, but it will get better. We might have to give ourselves a kind push, remembering other similar times and how we got through those. I'm reminded of the saying "This too shall pass." Nothing is wonderful all the time. Nothing is awful all the time. There is an ebb and flow to life. There are the ups and downs and the somewhere in-between as well. Whatever the problem, there's a solution. In the case of an abscessed tooth it's the antibiotic. In the case of emotions it's the working through each problem, being ever mindful to be kind to 'self' and know that any pain will and can be overcome. Some things might resolve quickly, yet others might take more time and inner work. Sometimes when I seem to be standing knee deep in some type of muck I'll ask "Why Me"? Then I tell myself it just must be my turn. :) I've been known to have a pity party now and again. I limit myself to only one day for such a party so that I won't get stuck there in that 'Poor Me' space. There's that little pat on the head, encouragement and then comes the moving forward to heal. Sometimes we need to stop and remind ourselves we aren't alone. Everyone is going through the same process with their own ups and downs in life. Perhaps there is comfort in knowing we're not the only one's in the boat. Maybe this will bring us to an area of greater compassion for others. I wish you the positive resolution and release of any problems you might have. Should you feel the need for a pity party, one day limit :), I'll certainly be there in spirit to comfort and encourage you. Love and Light, Judi

Wishing Upon A Star

2009-07-28T08:49:00.006-06:00

Star gazing can truly feed your spirit. Sitting out in the darkness of night, looking up at the sky to view all the stars is a very calming way to end the day. Viewing the different phases of the moon can be a true delight, and when the full moon comes along one really gets to feel its powerful energy, and view the beauty as it lights up the evening sky. Shooting stars are another wonder to behold. Wishing on a star is fun. Throwing your deepest desires up into the vastness of the Universe is like putting your energy out there so that the Universe knows what it is you are wanting. You let the wish go, allowing it to drift up and float among the sparkling stars. Whether the wish comes true or not, it is a belief within you that it just might and you can hold tight to that thought, feeling the joy of the experience. Looking up at the vast expanse of dark sky and the twinkle of the stars is such a calming experience where all the cares of the day can drift away as the blanket of the night covers you, comforts you and feeds your spirit. I wish that all you are wishing will, at some time in your life, come true. Love and Light, Judi

Blank Canvas

2009-07-27T06:24:00.005-06:00

Happy Monday to you all. I hope you had a terrific weekend. Now here we are at the beginning of a new week. This morning I woke up thinking about the week ahead. What will it bring? What will I accomplish? It's truly a blank canvas and we each get to paint our own picture of what we will create, accomplish and achieve this week. How wonderful. We'll meet our challenges, each in our own way. We'll each have our own set of things to overcome, get done and move beyond. Perhaps you have your own to do list, if not on paper then certainly in your minds. We can certainly get it all done, step by step, without the feeling of being rushed, pushed, feeling stress or anxiety ridden. Slow and steady wins the race. :) We'll each do what we can. Each of us will be painting our own individual pictures as we move through this week. If we don't manage get it all done, well, there's always next week. Then, we get a new blank canvas. Wishing you a most joyous week ahead. Paint on your canvas and see what you create. Don't forget to feed your spirit along the way. Life is a journey. Enjoy the process. Love and Light, Judi

Lust or Love

2009-07-24T07:14:00.004-06:00

In my humble opinion, lust is like a prairie fire. It burns hot and strong, but in a short time it also burns out. It is a purely sexual attraction with a short lifespan. On the other hand, love grows over time, spreading further and so much deeper than lust ever could. Love might start slower. There is a 'pull', an attraction to the other person, yet I'm thinking that pull is two spirits drawn to one another. Friendship is at the core of this type of emotion. Communication is a large key in truly getting to know one another. Speaking from the heart level and not just the raging hormones is key to recognizing this deeper connection. There's a merging one can feel, a greater depth to the emotions in a lasting love. When lust begins to burn out, and that was all there was to the relationship, there is nothing beneath it to sustain the relationship. When a strong foundation has been built through understanding each other, sharing other interests, communicating, trusting, honoring, and respecting each other, then this pure love grows. It might be compared to a tree one plants in fertile soil. Over time the tree grows and bends in the wind of a storm. The tree has great strength and holds on. It is firmly planted and can sustain any weather. Such is the strength of friendship with a partner one deeply loves. When seeking love, it might be wise to ask "self" if it is a prairie fire or has the strength of the tree. :) Love and Light, Judi

Spread Your Wings And Fly

2009-07-23T10:02:00.007-06:00

I love butterflies and I was thinking of the similarities between them and us. Butterflies come in so many unique verities, sizes, colors, just like human beings do. Butterflies go thought many remarkable changes. We do too. Each butterfly forms a hard case around itself which makes me think of the hard cases we so often put around ourselves. It's inside the cocoon that a caterpillar transforms. Humans must turn within self to transform as well. Butterflies have their own struggles as they work to escape from their cocoon's much like we do as we struggle with the problems and constraints of life, moving through each life experience. We become free much like the butterfly does as we find a way to break through our own shells. I've never seen an unhappy butterfly. They just seem so joyful and free, flitting around taking in all that surrounds them. Perhaps they have an inner knowing that they will only be here a short time and therefore take full advantage of every moment. We humans have no idea how long we have here either and could learn to relish every moment as well. Couldn't we learn from this small creature as we travel through our days? Feed your spirit, spread your wings and fly free though each of your days. Love and Light, Judi

A Day Without Wisdom

2009-07-22T10:07:00.004-06:00

Could there be such a thing as a day without wisdom? I don't think so. We are always learning. The lessons present themselves everywhere we look. With every experience we have there are lessons to learn. There can be insight found in so many ways throughout the day. Others teach us when we hear them, observe them, and see how they mirror our own feelings and experiences. We only have to be paying attention. We only have to be asking "What is the lesson in this" when we have daily life happen to us. For some reason I was just thinking of fireflies and how they blink and light up. Perhaps we too have those moments when the light goes on and we blink as we get the lesson we were truly meant to uncover. Each day can teach us so much. Where have we placed our focus? What might we be missing? There is so much to see in our daily surroundings and all of our encounters with others. What will we make of each day? Will we look for what has come towards us to teach us something? Are we being observant? Are we watching the way we act and react to those around us? Are we seeing the true value of all things? There is such value in 'self', others, animals, plants, the sun, moon and stars. There is value everywhere. The earth provides such value. See how much there truly is to take in, to learn from and to enjoy. Wishing each of you the abundance of wisdom in the lessons that surround you each and every day. Love and Light, Judi

Awakening Spirit

2009-07-21T07:13:00.005-06:00

We tend to forget ourselves as we move through our busy days. We think there is so much to do and we race to get it all done. Yet, if we don't take the time to feed our spirits, our spirits will dwindle, and in essence disappear far into the background. Then we'll wonder why we feel so scattered, so disconnected. We just go spinning through the day, day after day, wondering what's missing. What's missing is 'self' and a connection to our very core. We are more than a body and a mind. We are spirit. Becoming disconnected from spirit leaves us feeling empty. We need to reconnect and feed that spirit to feel whole. We need to start giving more to 'self' and reconnect to our true essence before we will feel whole. Spirit is the biggest part of us. That spirit needs to be nourished. This means fitting it in to our busy schedules and giving it things to help it awaken and grow. The well might be dry, but with some focus in this area one can reawaken this core of being that has been suffering a great drought from neglect. Spirit loves all things creative and positive. Feed it that. Give it attention by going within 'self'. Spirit will guide you to the food it needs. When you create, are happy, and filled with joy that's something you feel deep within. Your spirit loves to reside in joy. Can't you feel it when you are standing in a place of happiness? Can't you feel your spirit singing then? Do more of that. If you love to paint, but gave it up because other things pushed there way in, then begin to paint again and you will feel your spirit soar. Think of those things that give you the most pleasure and do more of that. It could be writing, drawing, music and so much more. Soon you will feel your spirit come alive and you will be so glad you gave yourself the focus and attention you truly deserve. You will feel the depths of your spirit again. Find what truly feeds your spirit and do more of that. Big hugs to feed your spirit :) , Love and Light, Judi

Feeling Negative Emotions Float Away

2009-07-20T06:28:00.007-06:00

Negative emotions are so very toxic. When one holds old hurts, wounds and negative emotions in, they grate on you no matter how deep you try to bury them and push them down. There is no place deep enough within 'self' where they won't continue to fester. Whether you realize it or not, they continue their silent destruction. One way I've found to find a space of calm and allow for release of the old toxins is to lay on my back either in water or near the sound of water. I close my eyes and visualize the past hurts, wounds, illness, worries, stresses and anxieties leaving my body and washing away. You can also sit by a water fountain, or put on a CD that has the sound of water. You can visualize yourself laying in a shallow stream, feeling the cooling, soothing water flowing over you as you release all you are no longer wanting to hold on to. Close your eyes, feel the water, the calm, the serenity. Feel all the negative emotions just leave your body and wash away downstream. If you are holding on to an old hurt, you can concentrate on that, knowing you have no need to hold on to it any longer. It never served your well-being to keep it. Try visualizing this old hurt coming to the surface of 'self and see the water, in your minds eye. Allow the water to carry this hurt away. Working each time you do this meditation, to release more and more of the emotional toxins you've held inside will give you a great sense of cleansing. You are detoxifying old emotions that you have no need for. They've held you back and now you can let them go. Allow the flow of the water to carry them away and don't call them back. Doing this simple visualization meditation can bring such a sense of well-being. It can be done to rid old wounds, rid stresses after a long, difficult day, rid anxiety, worry, and any other toxic emotions. Feel all the negative emotions float away. Wishing you all the wonderful release of any emotions that hold you back and aren't in your best interest. Love and Light, Judi

Image By wildturk922

True Beauty

2009-07-16T08:32:00.006-06:00

Have you ever noticed someone who walked into the room who seemed to just radiate self confidence, happiness and joy? This person seemed so comfortable in their own skin and just seemed to glow. Like the positive pole of a magnet, they seemed to draw people towards them. I would say this person was exuding a true beauty that one finds from deep within. When we stand in a space where we have let go of ego and see our own true inner beauty as a person, then our inner beauty radiates outward. When we don't hold on to the fears our mind creates, nor listen to the voice of self doubt, we begin to feel more comfortable with our true self. People can see and 'feel' this new energy we project out into the space that is around us as we move through our days. We too can glow with a wonderful inner beauty my friends. Society tends to look at the outer shell and judge who qualifies as beautiful from this vantage point. It can hurt the spirit to be told we don't measure up in the eyes of society. We are told to use this cream or that make-up to improve our looks so others will notice us. We are told how our body shape should be, what cloths we should wear to gain acceptance, that fixing our nose or lifting our face will open new doors, and so on and so on. It's an industry. And, it seems to work because many make money from our insecurities about 'self'. The focus seems to be on the outside, when beauty comes from within. I've met people who would never qualify for the cover of Vogue, yet they are incredibly beautiful people to me. They have a great inner strength and have stood as examples to me as I've learned the true meaning of beauty. Believing in 'self' and not 'ads' is a path that will bring each of us to a space of true inner beauty in my humble opinion. I hope each of us can hold up the mirror and see our fabulous true inner beauty. Love and Light, Judi

Enjoying Praise and Encouragement

2009-07-14T07:29:00.004-06:00

Rodney, our outdoor cat, left a dead mouse at our back door. What a gift, "Thank you Rodney". He wanted to show us his great work, his hunter skills and he wished for some praise as well I'm sure. It got me thinking. Don't we all enjoy praise? It feels so good to be acknowledged for our accomplishments. If people notice what we are doing, yet say nothing, we don't know what they are thinking or feeling because there is no feedback. Yet, when they tell us they enjoy what we created, or can see our progress and growth in some area it makes us feel so good. If it makes us feel good, then we can certainly deduce that giving encouragement and praise to others will make them feel good too. Speaking it out allows the other to feel the pride of their accomplishments. From early childhood, perhaps with the first drawing we did, we certainly glowed with pride when our work was prominently displayed on the refrigerator door. :) Oh a person can always find fault with 'self' or others, yet that's perhaps looking in a direction best forgotten as one looks for the positive accomplishments of others as well as 'self'. We are each wonderful creators, have wonderful, unique qualities and are busy doing some wonderful things. Bravo for us. We all enjoy receiving praise and encouragement, that's a given, so why not give it out to others whenever the opportunity arises. Sending you each a virtual pat on the back for all your achievements as I encourage you to continue your great accomplishments. Love and Light, Judi

Image By brendagoodmum

The Impatient Mind

2009-07-13T06:41:00.005-06:00

I was at the grocery store the other day and while standing in a rather long line I observed a very impatient man. One could feel his energy as he moved from line to line, trying to find the best one, the quickest line so he could hurry and get out of the store and be on his way. He switched lines several times and I could not only see but also feel his frustration mount. Jumping from line to line, I could see he wasn't making any headway at all and was, in fact, slowing down his progress. It cause me to think, are there times in our busy day when we allow such frustration to mount not just in a store, but in traffic or at work, etc. digging a larger hole of anxiety and frustration as we try to get things done? By simply slowing down, would we not accomplish more in less time? Would we make fewer mistakes if we just set the pace in a lower gear? Would we have less anxiety and stress if we just took the time to relax and breathe? Why do we tie ourselves up in knots racing through the experiences of the day? Are the pressures truly that great, or are we putting undo pressure on 'self' when it isn't really necessary? Are we taking the time to smile or are we like this man in the store who's frown continue to grow and spread not just on his face but to all those around him? We emit energy from ourselves out into the universe. Is the energy we are putting out there harried and stressful or happy and relaxed? Food for thought. Here I am thinking out loud. :) Wishing you a patient mind and spirit as you travel through your week. Love and Light, Judi

Flying Through Life On Auto Pilot

2009-07-10T07:01:00.004-06:00

Life can click into auto pilot in a blink of an eye. We just go, move through the day using habit as our guide, not even stopping to realize we are on auto pilot. Until we disengage the automatic settings, we don't really enjoy true life experiences. And, in my humble opinion we each need to savor the experience of daily life, not merely speed through it. It's not a race after all. I mean who wants to get to the finish line quickly when it comes to living? :) Disengaging one's auto pilot allows the pace to slow down. We can take detours, make adjustments and changes when we take charge of the controls. One can see things at a slower pace. One can pay attention to the daily things going on. I remember passing a building and then wondering when it went up. I hadn't noticed it at all and then one day poof, there it was. Why hadn't I seen it? I was perhaps on auto pilot and not paying attention to my surroundings. I wasn't focused on what was around me at the moment, just on the thought of hurrying to get where I was going. Going slower, a person can see more, feel more and notice what is going on in their space in the world. Flowers are blooming, people are talking, birds are singing. Are we hearing them, seeing them, or are we zooming past it all, only seeing a blur? Are we flying through life, or are we taking the controls and going at a pace that allows for those little things we truly don't want to miss? Are we feeling the experience of the journey, or are we simply speeding past it, totally disengaged? Perhaps one needs to pull over to the side of the road or path in life from time to time and think about such things. :) Wishing you all a very engaging journey. Love and Light, Judi

Image By Razorbackace

Peaceful Mind, Peaceful Spirit

2009-07-09T06:46:00.003-06:00

The world gets better when each of us gets better. I truly believe this. When we work towards our own peacefulness from within, holding to peaceful thoughts in our minds and feed our spirits a calming peace, we have then, in my humble opinion, taken the first step towards healing this ailing world. Once we have found this great inner peace, we then project that out into the world and to all those we encounter every day. The energy feels so good and positive and others will then spread it to those they encounter. The positivity will spread and spread with no limit to how far it can go. We see so much pain and suffering in the world and it can become so overwhelming. I often ask myself, what can I do as only one to be of any help? It is truly overwhelming and I'm just one person, I can't 'fix' all of this even if I can see much needs doing. I'm sure others are as frustrated with it as I am. Yet, if we were each to change to a more peaceful 'self' would this not eventually cause change in a more peaceful direction? By doing this aren't we in fact making the world a better place simply by being better humans our self? Perhaps then we could set a peaceful example for others to follow. Our peaceful thinkers would multiply. How wonderful. We truly would be doing something that has a huge possibility to turn things around. Am I a dreamer? Unrealistic? Not sure. I just know it feels so much better to walk a path of peace in mind and spirit. I wish each of you the energy of a peaceful journey. Love and Light, Judi

Critical Voices

2009-07-08T05:54:00.009-06:00

I was thinking of those critical voices that tend to find fault. First I think we can, at times, be our own worst critics. When the voice in our heads criticizes 'self' we are then working against our own spirits. Ridding 'self' of this mental lashing and replacing it with encouraging words feels so much better and over time the critical voice might just disappear. When one is critical of others in a judgmental way it can stop a person in their tracks if they allow this critical energy to eat at them. Here is a chance to think about the damage such criticism can do to stop a person. There will always be those out there that enjoy finding fault in others. I wonder why. Perhaps choosing one's words carefully would be a better path and net more positive results. Dashing another's dreams or plans can be so very destructive to the spirit. Critics can smash the creativity in artists, musicians, writers, inventors, etc. and even the children trying to find their creative way. Building inner strength and confidence in 'self' will give one the power to deal with critics and one can view comments as mere opinions. Yet, if one hasn't found the power of such confidence in self, harsh criticism can be devastating. So, I'm thinking that being ever mindful of others feelings and choosing to encourage while planting seeds of kind advice would certainly be a gentler path. Certainly we would prefer this kinder presentation of another's view or comments. Knowing it doesn't feel very good to be criticized, maybe thinking, prior to speaking, and choosing one's words well, might save someone's spirit from being wounded by harsh, critical words. It certainly feels much better to me when I'm not being judged/criticized. Seeing a critical eye focusing in my direction used to cause such grave discomfort, and now I try to let it blow past me like the wind, and not allow it stick to my being. After all, it's just that persons opinion. I sure had to work on this. :) Wishing you all the peace that comes when critical voices have no power over you. Love and Light, Judi

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It Is What It Is

2009-07-03T07:05:00.006-06:00

Challenges will come into our lives that we have to deal with. Problems will need to be solved and difficulties will need to be resolved time and time again throughout life. Pushing against them, ignoring them with the hope they will just go away, will only prolong the weight of them in our space. Whatever it is that's presented itself to be dealt with is there, it's in your path and the sooner it is resolved the better. If left alone it will fester and grow. It will continue to tap you on the shoulder. It is what it is. There will be glitches in our days as we travel through them. Whatever is happening just 'is'. Accepting these things in life as they pop up instead of fighting against them will make the journey easier. There are going to be those times when you just can't do anything about a situation and stewing over it isn't of much use. If it's raining, it's just that, you can do nothing to change it. The sun will be out again tomorrow or the next day. How wonderful. Something to look forward to and in the meantime remember that the rain helps nourish the trees and plants. Some things just are, they just happen, and letting that just 'be' is so much easier that trying to change it or fight against it. Wishing you all stress free days. Love and Light, Judi

The Looking Glass

2009-06-29T07:12:00.003-06:00

When asking "where are the areas where I need to work on 'self'", one way is to look at others in our lives. They are mirrors reflecting back at us. In seeing them, we see ourselves in many ways. When the reflection hits us we can ask if we ourselves aren't doing the same thing. As an example, if you have a friend who isn't really listening to you, you can ask 'self' if you are really listening to them and others or if you too are hearing noise while your mind is busy thinking of the next thing you want to say. If one hears others in a gossip fest, asking if we're joining in or gossiping on our own might show us an area where we need work. Watching others we can see much about 'self'. If we don't like something in others, asking ourselves if we too don't have this very trait, brings the attention to areas we might need to work on. The mirror others hold up for us to see can present such great lessons for ourselves to see. Being totally honest with 'self' and saying "Oh, I too do this, I need to work on this area", is the first step. Then, really doing the inner work to rid one's self of this habit or behavior will move one down the path of self improvement, learning and greater growth. Others are there to show us our own faults at times. If we look with clear eyes we can see this. Wishing you loving reflections. Love and Light, Judi

Lost Souls and Souls With A Fighting Spirit

2009-06-26T09:18:00.003-06:00

After hearing of the loss of both Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson yesterday, I began to think of those who are lost souls in this world and haven't managed to find their way, as well as those souls with such a fighting spirit. So many people have endured both physical as well as emotional abuse as children, which truly does break a young spirit. Some manage to heal, and work to overcome these childhoods, while others continue to spin and spin throughout life holding to the emotional wounds and never finding a way to let go and heal. What makes one person become lost and never find their way, while another person sees the damage and works to repair their inner turmoil and work towards wellness? Why can some pull from a great inner strength while others choose to give up or stay in victim energy? We all have free will and make our own life choices. The path can be altered at any time if we choose to allow it. There is turmoil in each life of many differing kinds and one can overcome if they desire this. No one should stand in judgment of another's life and how they choose to live it. This was their journey, just like each of us is on an individual journey. Those in the public eye might just be there as examples for us to see. When encountering a lost soul, perhaps one could give help in the true depth found in genuine friendship to help the person find their way, to give a listening ear and compassion. Perhaps you've encountered a person facing grave illness who could use your comfort and encouragement as they fight their battle with illness. Perhaps if we showed great care for one another we could make a difference in someone's life. Perhaps we could choose reaching out to each other in a supportive way. Love and Light, Judi

Putting Love Into All We Do

2009-06-25T09:13:00.004-06:00

I'm ironing today. For years I dreaded this chore. Then, one day the thought hit me that what I was doing was ironing love into my husbands shirts. He says he can feel it when he is wearing the shirts. How wonderful. I thought that the daily chores that used to be thought of with dread could in fact be thought of as showing love. Shopping for food then isn't so much a chore as it is lovingly selecting the food you will feed to your family. Cooking is yet another way to put love into each meal. Working can be seen as a loving way to support the family and thus a joy to provide what the family needs to survive instead of a drudge. If all we do in daily life was done in a loving manner, using positive thoughts instead of dread and holding to a negative thought process over the chores, how much easier these chores would become. To put love into what we are doing, we discover a new found joy and sense of purpose. How much better we feel, and just think of how much better those who are receiving that love are feeling too. We can be tucking a bit of love in so many things throughout our days. Others will be able to feel it. What a great practice, putting love into all we do. Life is good, enjoy the process. Love and Light, Judi

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Contentment

2009-06-24T08:04:00.003-06:00

Finding satisfaction with what we have, not needing more than that, brings such an inner contentment and peace to life. Having no desire for more or different, but just embracing all as it is, brings a feeling of contentment to one's life. Not wanting this or that to be happy can certainly take the pressure off of 'self'. There is such a calming energy that washes over one who is standing in a space of contentment. Holding to thoughts like "if I move, then I'll be happy, or when I get a new job, then I'll be happy, or when this or that happens, then I'll be happy, etc." cause a feeling that one is dissatisfied in the 'now' and thus can't bring the feeling of contentment into their days. The need for this or that, will keep that feeling of contentment at bay, illusive, to far to reach. These thoughts we hold onto leave so many empty days where one could have chosen to just be content in the space one is in at the moment. Contentment brings with it such a wonderful feeling of calm and satisfaction. Being appreciative of what one has and not needing more and more of this or that, one walks a path of pure happiness and joy, basking in contentment each day with what is in their 'now'. Wishing you contentment in all your days. Love and Light, Judi

Hitting "Send"

2009-06-23T09:22:00.003-06:00

Sending a letter or an email while sitting in a space of anger not only sends negative energy out into cyberspace, but also can't be stopped once that send button has been pushed. Taking the time to think before hitting 'send' might just be the best of options. Choosing words to express how one feels without the anger attached will net more positive results. Who among us hasn't sent an email that we regret later? I think it happens to us all. Or, there is also the case where we can be so unfocused in our anger that we send it to the wrong person. Yikes. Taking the time to breathe and sit till we feel calmer will help us to avoid embarrassment or back peddling later. If you've ever been on the receiving end of an angry email, you know how bad it feels. Taking a moment to compose one's self first and choose words that convey how you feel without the bite of anger allows for the door of communication to remain open. Words written in haste might hold too much of a sting and if given more thought won't cause doors to close and relationships to become severed. Taking time to cool down, or to not strike back when you get an angry email yourself might cause far less pain to all in the end. Think before hitting send. :) Love and Light, Judi

Allowing Self Some Down Time

2009-06-18T06:27:00.004-06:00

Taking a day off from time to time is perfectly fine. Giving 'self' permission to just 'be', rest, relax, and unwind is actually great medicine. The body needs this time to recover from all the racing around. It isn't being lazy, it's being kind to ourselves. The body needs this rest, the mind needs these down times and the spirit needs the calming feeling too. Allowing the pressures of a hectic life to float away in this letting go and relaxation can fill up a depleted, over stressed 'self'. Consider taking these days of doing nothing, thinking of nothing, clearing the mind, as wellness days. When one sits quietly, one can then hear their inner voice. In the hectic day to day racing, this inner voice is very difficult to hear. Allowing time for this voice to speak, in the calm and quiet of a down time day, might give answers one could use to move towards a decision or idea that can't be reached in the stressful race of the day. Making the choice to take these days for down time, not just once in a while, but incorporating this truly important time into a regular schedule, can allow a new light to shine on what is of true value in life. You can decompress, give yourself permission to back away from the stresses of daily life and get in touch with a deeper part of that which brings great calm and comfort. Not giving in to the voice that beats you up with the "you should be doing this, or you should be doing that", but telling this voice to go away and letting it know you are taking this down time day for yourself gives you an new sense of control over any gilt, or feeling you should be doing something. Let us all allow ourselves some down time. Love and Light, Judi

Handing Off Energy

2009-06-16T09:44:00.004-06:00

We all give off energy. We hand it off to those around us. If our energy is low, others can feel it, and we can feel theirs. Angry, bitter, negative and toxic energy will cause others to move back, move away when they feel it, just as we move away when we feel any energy that is powerful in such a negative way. It can be an automatic reaction as our inner spirits are not liking the negative. Our spirits thrive in the positive. We are attracted to happy, joy filled, positive energy and move towards it as others move towards us when we are giving off this wonderful energy. If we are aware of the energy we are handing off to others and try not to pollute another's space with a negative energy, we will create a more calming space around us. Also, to help 'self', stepping away from any energy that pollutes our space is also a gift to 'self'. Why take on energy from others that negatively affects yourself? Have you ever walked into a room or store or building where you felt bad almost immediately? The feeling is telling you that the energy in that space is toxic in some form or another and it's best to just leave. On the other hand, I've walked into some spaces where there was such a wonderful feeling and the energy made me want to stay, just standing to soak it in. There are those that can suck your energy for their own needs, and there are others that give you so much of their positive energy just by standing near them. You just feel uplifted. Others might feel uplifted near you when you are giving off this type of energy yourself. Giving thought to the energy you are handing off, as well as the energy you are allowing to take in, will assist you in your well-being. I hope you are surrounded with the power of positive energy as you travel through your days. Wishing you Love and Light, Judi

When In Doubt

2009-06-15T09:15:00.004-06:00

When one wavers about the opinion they have with 'self' they enter the land of doubt. Self doubt is the uncertain opinion or belief in self. Confidence can shatter when doubt is let in the door. Like a dark cloud it can soon cause fear and suspicion and cause one to hesitate, not knowing what path to take. This uncertainty can cause unsettling feelings to spring up. One can freeze, not moving in any direction for fear of harm or fear of failure, thus giving up and not making the slightest attempt to at least try for something. Once doubt has it's grip firmly planted it becomes difficult to make any positive forward motion and the longer doubt is allowed to live within 'self' the more stagnant things become. When one feels doubt entering, one can choose to not allow its influence to affect inner strength and self esteem. Holding to confidence in self and pushing doubts aside will assure positive forward motion on your path. Doubt of self is not a friend but a foe. Belief in self and confidence that you can succeed in whatever you are wanting will move you down a path of pride in self and your accomplishments, because you left doubt in the dust and didn't allow it to sabotage your plans, dreams and ambitions. Wishing you a very confident, positive day. Love and Light, Judi

The View From The Outside

2009-06-10T06:57:00.003-06:00

The other day someone said something to me, about me. Their view/observation put into words made me think that there are times when we don't see ourselves as others see us. We have a certain view of ourselves from the inside looking out, yet sometimes forget that those outside are viewing us in their own way. When a person comments on what they see in us we can then listen and think about this. If a person says "your so funny", perhaps we can later explore this when we are sitting with 'self' having not realized we had such a natural sense of humor. We can embrace the thought of this side of us we hadn't paid attention to. I think we are often too harsh with 'self' and tend to see our flaws much more than others might. We concentrate on those and allow them to drag us down as we continue to beat ourselves up as not this or not that or not good enough. Yet, others might see us in a less harsh light. Then there are the times when there might be a negative comment and we also need to review those when we sit with 'self' to go over the comment or observation of this person who laid it out for us to examine. Questioning 'self' to see if this is indeed an area we could work on to improve our self. Listening to comments from outside sources can help us to see ourselves as others are seeing us. To take these comments in, in a positive manner, will help us to get a view from another's perspective. I believe this is another part of the growth process, taking the good with the not so good and thinking about this outside view point just might be useful information to consider. Wishing you a most enlightening day. Love and Light, Judi

Feeling The Comfort Of Self

2009-06-08T06:52:00.003-06:00

I was thinking of the powerful energy one gets when they feel comfortable in their own skin. It is an energy that goes out to everyone they encounter. Everyone that is near them can feel it. They don't possess any nervous tension. They are confident, yet not assertive or ego driven. They are simply comfortable in their own skin. They like themselves and have nothing to prove. They just are. How calming to be around such a person. How do we get to such a place? Embracing 'self' and standing in a place of knowing that we are fine, just the way we are. Accepting our uniqueness and letting go of the variety of guilt's we tend to carry, the anxiety, the having to be what others are wanting or expecting us to be. Knowing that we are fine, just the way we are. Liking ourselves and finding that space of just simply 'being' allows so much to just wash away. No would-a, could-a or should-a's about it. We tend to beat ourselves up for things that truly don't matter in the scheme of things. Working towards getting to know self, grow in self confidence and truly liking self will lead to feeling comfortable in our own skin. The work to get to know 'self' will indeed be the most rewarding work one can ever do. Wishing you great comfort within 'self'. Love and Light, Judi

Embracing Ingenuity

2009-06-06T06:38:00.007-06:00

We can be so clever, resourceful, original and inventive when we want to or when the need arises. We each hold this skill inside of us and sometimes forget it is there. We have the ability to create that which we need. Think of the ancients, having a need for warmth, their ingenuity helped them to find a way to create fire. Not only did it bring them the warmth they desired, but also a means to cook food. Humankind is a very inventive lot and even now we don't give ourselves credit for our own unique ability to create. If there is something we are wanting that we can't find, or can't afford, can we not think of a way to make it ourselves? Can we not pull from this ingenuity to find our way to a new job, or create our own job by thinking outside the box? One could say these are very trying times. Things are falling apart. These thoughts are a choice that one allows into their being. We can also choose to think in a more creative way and reinvent ourselves if we choose. Dust off that wonderful ingenuity and find a way to create that which we are seeking, never giving in to neigh-sayers along the way. Gathering together in community groups, pouring thoughts and ideas into a bigger well of ingenuity, could bring great change to the community, to the well being of all that reside there, or to all that reside everywhere. What a great thought. Forward progress can be so exciting when we use our ingenuity for positive purposes. Wishing you a most creative day. Love and Light, Judi

Do I Really Need This?

2009-06-04T06:06:00.003-06:00

A great question to stop and ask one's self in many situations would be 'do I really need this'? I've been going through the house, trying to organize things and weed through to find what I want to keep and what I want to get rid of. This question has come to me many times during this process. I began to think of the other instances in life when asking 'self' this question would be helpful to me. One can gather so much 'stuff' and truly over buy what is don't truly needed. Asking this question might curtail some of that over buying when at the store and save money that one could spend on what they are truly in need of. Then there is the view of the stresses, anxiety and fears we take on in daily life. Asking this question might just prompt us to step away from these toxic, truly negative experiences. This question can also be used when thinking of the food we buy and put in our bodies. Foods that work against our health could well be eliminated if we stopped to ask this simple question, 'do I really need this?' Asking this simple question might allow us to make more excellent choices, keep that which we truly need and let go of anything that is cluttering or impeding/hindering our path/journey. Wishing you all that which you are needing for a most positive journey. Love and Light, Judi