Inspired

Blowing In The Wind

 

It’s the end of November which also means the end of the 2011 Gratitude Project…but not the end of the gratitude!  Gratitude has become so important to me this past year.  It’s taken on new meaning and changed my life in ways I could never have imagined.  I know I’ve said this before but I’m still in awe of this new awareness…of being grateful for it all, for everything.   It’s showing me where I feel peaceful, where I feel balanced, where I feel triggered and where I feel fearful…and in the awareness, there’s opportunity for change without struggle

November has been a great month and for the most part we’ve had less rain than normal (it's usually the wettest month of the year).  We had a wild storm last week with very high winds; downed trees, power outages and ferries cancelled.  We topped this all off with a broken sewer line…while company was staying with us!  It was CRAZY but we had a lot of laughs while trekking up the hill to use the washrooms at the local cafe and gas station.  Luckily we were able to fix the problem the following day and our guests could run water, shower and flush toilets by noon!    Ah, the luxury of running water and flushing toilets….not something to take for granted, but of course we do!

And I’ve been doing a lot of walking…a lot…even in the high winds and rain, I was out there walking.  It feels wonderful to be able to be so active again and both Molly and I are loving it.

I hope the month of November blew in many happy and fulfilling moments for you all, dear friends!  Tomorrow we slip into December and we all know how quickly that one slides by.

 

“Peace doesn’t require two people; it requires only one. 

It has to be you. 

The problem begins and ends there.”

Byron Katie

 

 

30 Days of Gratitude Project #26 and 52 Week Photo Project #31–Thankful

Folklore wisdom says that when the trees and shrubs are heavily laden with berries in the fall, it’s predictive of a hard, cold winter…nature’s way of providing for the birds and animals. 

I’m seeing an abundance of berries around me this year.  Hard winter or not, abundance surrounds me and I am thankful.

I hope all my American friends had a beautiful Thanksgiving weekend with friends and family.  We here in Canada celebrated our Thanksgiving holiday in October, so we are twice reminded of how much we have to be thankful and grateful for. 

And of course, each and every day is a good day for gratitude!

 

“Whatever we think about and thank about, we bring about”
Dr John Demartini

 

Transitions

Those of you who follow a non-traditional spiritual path (as I do) will no doubt know about the recent transition of Jerry Hicks.  Jerry was instrumental in bringing the wisdom and inspiration of Abraham to the world.  Who is Abraham?  Esther Hicks who channels the Abraham energy calls them "infinite intelligence" and Jerry's description was  "the purest form of love I've ever experienced."

To the hundreds of thousands around the world who came to know Abraham's love and wisdom through their Law of Attraction books, seminars, webinars and cruises, Jerry’s  questions, wonderings and quick sense of humour were always an integral part of the experience.

Esther sent out a beautiful tribute today to her husband Jerry...

 

Dear, dear Friends,

Our sweet Jerry made his transition into Nonphysical last Friday. How sweet the Vortex is feeling to him today!

Jerry said to me when we came together over 30 years ago that given the difference in our ages that it was likely “that I will cut out on you early,” to which I replied, “I don’t mind.” His joy of life and continual new discovery of purpose kept his life feeling fresh and we shared such joyous eagerness for life.

Over the years, Abraham has consistently insisted that there is no death. Again and again they have reminded us that there is only life and more life and more life. It has taken me some time to understand this, and I honestly must say I have not yet fully come to terms with it, but I do believe that in what we are calling Jerry’s death he is discovering the next logical step of life that Abraham has always been talking about. And at times I am catching a glimpse of the bigness of what Jerry is feeling and while I am still pretty mad at him for not sticking around longer to surprise and delight me in all the ways he has been doing throughout our 30 years together I accept fully that the next logical step of joyous life for Jerry was to be found in his re-emergence into Nonphysical.

Since 1985 it has been Jerry and Esther and Abraham and I believe with everything that I am that that has not changed. I know that Jerry will continue to be the third powerful point of the triad of Energy that makes up the Abraham experience and I am certain that his new vantage point will be, as it has always been, of advantage to us all

I know for sure that Jerry will help me, in time, release my own personal resistance to physical death, because I will not be able to maintain that resistance and also play easily with him. And in my desire to continue not only my Abraham experience but also my Jerry experience, I am certain he will be the catalyst to help me do what Abraham has been trying to help us all do all along. 

Once again, Jerry is out there leading the way for me. But the difference this time is that I must find the way. I am not there yet, but it is my absolute promise to myself that I will find the way, because it is the most natural thing in the world to do and because Jerry has provided for me the reason to do it. 

I am eager about what is ahead and while I cannot begin to explain or even imagine the details of how it is all going to play out, I am certain that it will be fun. 

I am such a fortunate girl, to have been able to play with Jerry and Abraham and all of you for so many wonderful years and I am so eager to continue doing more of the same for many more years to come. I feel certain right now that not only has nothing gone wrong, but things are going especially right. It will be different, for sure, but it will also be very, very good. 

I’m feeling such love for you all, and for Abraham and most of all for Jerry. And as I have said to him a thousand or more times through the years, “Well isn’t life just a kick in the pants?”

Love,

Esther

 

And when life's sweet fable ends,

Soul and body part like friends;

No quarrels, murmers, no delay

 A kiss, a sigh and so away.

 Richard Crashaw, Temperance 

 

On this 23rd day of The Gratitude Project - 30 days, I am truly grateful to Jerry for the passion, curiousity and dedication he had in bringing Abraham's loving wisdom to the world.

 

30 Days of Gratitude Project – #20 - Faraway Dreams

Faraway Dreams 

Mixed media (acrylic/paper/ink)  Kate Iredale

 

I finally finished my latest painting…as usual it sat for weeks, untouched until last week when I got so tired of looking at it I just dived in and wrapped it up.

After years of repeating this pattern, I finally figured out what it’s all about… why I start something, let it sit unfinished for weeks, if not months…and then finish it up really quickly.  It’s a very old pattern of mine that I’m (happily) changing.  For much of my life, I've started projects and then not finished them.  at. all. If I didn’t finish something, then I couldn’t be criticized.  In fact it was only today that I realized that by not finishing, I not only couldn’t be criticised by anyone else…I got to criticize myself for never finishing anything!  Oh the games we all play!  LOL

Happily, once we understand our motivation (or lack there of), we’re 90% of the way to overcoming it!

I began this canvas by overlaying it with several pages that I ripped out of an old book. I wanted abstract and I wanted simple.  The multi coloured portion on the left was done with a palette knife and much of the remaining image was done by rubbing paint on (and off) with a moist cloth.  Finally I rubbed a stain over the finished piece (and then wiped it off) to bring up the texture.

I’m grateful today on this, the 20th day of the 30 Days of Gratitude Photo Project, that I finished this painting!

 

Resistance is experienced as fear; the degree of fear equates to the strength of resistance.

Therefore the more fear we feel about a specific enterprise, the more certain we can be that that enterprise is important to us and to the growth of our soul.

That’s why we feel so much resistance. If it meant nothing to us, there’d be no resistance.

Steve Pressfield, The War of Art

 

30 Days of Gratitude Project - #18 and 52 Week Photo Project – Something Borrowed

 

This weeks theme for 52 Weeks Photo Project is “Something Borrowed”. 

 

I’ve done so much de-cluttering and letting go over the past two years, that I had a really difficult time coming up with something that I’d borrowed but then I remembered a book I found a few weeks ago…one that I'd borrowed over two years ago! 

A good friend lent it to me while I was between homes and I didn’t have a clue where it had gone until I found it sitting in my bookcase...who would have thought!  I don't think I even read it...my life was just so chaotic at the time...so I should probably read it before returning it. The title sounds very appealing!

What I do like to borrow, are “qualities”.  When I find a quality in someone that I like/admire/respect…whether it’s confidence, graciousness or a sense of fun and adventure, I often decide to “borrow” it and emulate that quality for myself.  I use the person as a mentor. If I know the person well enough, I usually tell them how much admire that quality.

I have a friend who never seems to doubt himself, never second guesses himself and never hesitates to go for what he wants.  Whenever I need to do something outside my comfort zone…ie, “putting myself out there”, I like to ask myself what he would do in this situation…then picture him doing it successfully.  It makes doing the task much easier when I borrow his confidence and “see” his positive results.  (Do you ever do this?)

I’m grateful for the many inspiring mentors I have surrounding me. The best part about this type of borrowing is that there’s nothing I have to remember to give back…except gratitude!  

...and I'm so grateful for the inspiration I receive from all of you through your words, your art, your photography, your myraid ways of being creative, your courage, your openess, your generosity and your humour!  Thank you so much.

 

“It is not so much the example of others we imitate as the reflection of ourselves in their eyes and the echo of ourselves in their words.”

Eric Hoffer

30 Days of Gratitude Project – #15 Flying High

I’ve lived on or near airports for much of my life and they must have permeated my psyche at a young age because they give me such a happy feeling.  In fact, things have come full circle and the airport that I live near now, is one that I grew up living on for many years (in old RAF WW2 barracks). 

We often walk a path that runs parralel with most of the length of the runway and my heart lifts when ever I watch a plane takes flight.  I silently say “take me with you!" as I watch it dissapear. 

I think flight represents freedom to me…freedom and exploration.  Setting off into the unknown and exploring the world is when I’ve always been happiest.  Home is important to me too…I need to know I have a home base, but my heart always lifts at the sight of a plane breaking the bonds of earth.

The odd thing about all of this is that I struggled for a period of about 15 years with a fear of flying!  I have it down now to a slight apprehension during take off but it never stopped me from flying. 

Even through the fear, I was thrilled with flight and I’m so grateful for the places I’ve been able to travel to and for the places that I’ve yet to explore.

 

30 Days of Gratitude #14 - Mapping New Paths

 

The map of my life traces pathways

that criss cross parched deserts,

ford turbulent streams and

meander lush meadows.

 

The path narrows and

slips from sight

on steep mountain ledges,

and there...over there...

it stops expectantly

at the edge of a sea

of possibilities

that swirl 'round

my feet.  

 

The map has been

ripped and folded,

lost and found and

still new pages appear

as I plant my feet firmly 

in sight of

the city of dreams.

 

Kate Iredale

 

Today I am grateful for all the opportunities for growth and joy that life gives me as I traverse and explore, the map of my life.

 

That is the exploration that awaits you!  Not mapping stars and studying nebula, but charting the unknown possibilities of existence.

Leonard Nimoy

 

I haven't had much time recently to get out with my camera but once again, the archives came to the rescue.  This photograph was taken on the beach in Mexico last winter and I layered it with a map of Paris.

30 Days of Gratitude Project - #11 - Auspicious Signs

Much is being said today about the 11:11:11…that there’s an energetic opening happening for unity conciousness in the world.  The divine masculine and the divine feminine…the ying and the yang…coming together.

This morning I was looking at all the “ones'” lined up like neat little sticks, and I was struck by the symbolism of 11:11:11:11, a time of ones, a time of oneness.

 

 

It’s a doorway, an opening, not yet a full blown accomplishment, simply a doorway that supports our choice in this direction. We each have that choice of choosing oneness and unity conciousness.     

I’m including a beautiful meditation here that I’ve been practicing recently…

 

Imagine a triangle with the base points on either side of the heart chakra and with the top of the triangle above the heart. 

At the left base point, feel the word "peace".  When that feels anchored move to the top of the heart and feel the word "love".  When the feeling of love is anchored move to the right base point and feel the word "unity" or "connectedness". 

It takes a few moments to bring these feelings up at will, but with practice it gets easier.  Keep going around the triangle of the heart, bringing up the feelings of peace, love and unity.  It’s the feelings that are important here.

This is a wonderful meditation to do when you're feeling uncentered and it only needs a few minutes (but five minutes is even better).

 

“You don't have a soul.

You are a soul.

You have a body.”

C.S. Lewis

 

(The first image is a photograph that I took at the Butchart Gardens and altered with a little photoshop magic.  The image of the door was taken in Santiago Atitlan, Guatamala.  Looking at this picture again, brought back to me the sad story of the many murders (over 300 confirmed and possibly 800 dead or missing) that took place in this small village during the country's civil unrest in the 1990's. An American priest, was shot inside this church.  ) 

 

This post is a part of the 30 Days of Gratitude Project

30 Days of Gratitude Project – #10 The Moon

Today is the November full moon of Taurus.

I live on the west coast of Canada and tonight the air here is fairly clear and chilly.  There’s a halo of light around the moon and a circular rainbow surrounding the halo.  I’m told this is caused by ice crystals in the atmosphere.

I like to lie tucked warmly in my bed and watch the moon tracking it’s way across the night sky.  Some nights it’s glow keeps me awake but I love the silvery light of the moon so I don’t really mind.  As I lie there, I often think of all the full moons I’ve seen in all the places I’ve been around the word; the full moon shining on the Seine as I sipped wine at a Left Bank restaurant, watching the full moon from the window of the plane as it followed me across the ocean on my first trip to Hawaii, a wacky, crazy full moon party on Koh Phangan in Thailand, sleeping outdoors as a teenager and watching the moon shimmering on the lake…and so, so many more.

I love you moon!

Full Moon periods (for a day or two before and after the lunation, as well as the event itself) are times of emotional fullness and power.  They are never the best times to try to control our world with the mind, and this is even less so under this Taurus/Scorpio polarity. 

So celebrate the fullness of your experience, and dance in the richness of the emotional world in which you live, no matter what it brings you.

Lynn Hayes, Astrologer

 

I'm participating in the Flickr 30 Days of Gratititude project here.

30 Days of Gratitude #9 and 52 Photographs Project Week #29 - Aqua

This photograph was taken a year ago this month…last November, in Honolulu.  It’s a small portion of the roof of the grand dame of Hawaiian hotels...the pink palace of the pacific…the Royal Hawaiian.  I have lovely memories of taking my Starbucks to this hotel and relaxing in it’s gracious lobby.  One afternoon we were even served lovely pink lemonades on a tray by a pink uniformed, white gloved waiter, when the people he brought the drinks for, had disappeared.  We felt very la-de-da, don'tcha know! 

If you’re heading to Hawaii this winter, I’d like to recommend the lobbies of both the Royal Hawaiian and the Hilton Village hotels in Honolulu, as lovely places to relax with a coffee or a cool drink, while watching the too-ing and fro-ing of many beautiful brides and their wedding parties! 

I really enjoyed our trip to Hawaii last year and hope to go back again next year.  I’ve become very sensitive to the energy of places and find Hawaii’s energy is very soft and gentle.  It must be an island thing…being surrounded by all that water and nature…as I notice it here too as soon as we drive off the ferry when we come home. 

Ahhh, Hawaii…sigh…I’m very grateful for your beauty, your breezes, your music and your lovely Aloha spirit...and I hear you calling me back.

Thank you all for visiting…I’m so glad you came to share a little Aloha with me today.

 

This pictures is doing double duty for both the 30 Days of Gratitude project and the 52 photo's project. The theme this week at 52 photographs Project is Aqua and I realized that I’d never posted this picture before, so dug it out of the archives! I used one of Flypapers, Summer Painterly textures (Dorian Grey) to intesify the colours slightly and give it that paintbrush texture.