The Dawn Has Come

Happy New Year to you all.
I hope you are feeling positive even if its just a date on a calendar it does give us the opportunity to re-evaluate our choices and make new ones, to look at the past and see what we might like to change about our direction and what ways we can be more proactive in creating the life we want.

I am feeling very positive and as always being conscious of the guidance there is available for us all as I navigate the mundane of my daily tasks.
As some of you know I have been grieving the loss of my beautiful mother. Having lived in LA for the last 20 years I have had a letter from her almost every two weeks over that period of time despite my weekly phone calls! In her thoughtful way she always tucked into the envelope a poem, a photo or a clipping from the Irish newspaper that she thought I might enjoy. I miss her little love notes but fortunately I kept quite a few and have been perusing some of them and sharing them with family.
Now in the first new year she did not see I have been blessed in being busy work-wise and I feel the shift of my focus to my future and not the past. And yet her love is always with me.
Just yesterday I was putting away some printer paper and there as I rearranged the drawer I found a poem and piece of card with a quote in my mothers handwriting. Coming upon it unexpectedly was like the delight of finding a letter in my mailbox. Seeing her familiar handwriting lit up my heart.
And the quote - like a message from beyond said;
"Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come."
by Rabindranath Tagore, Indian poet
I was delighted with my first message of 2014 from my mother in Spirit.
Keep your eyes open, Spirit is talking to you and together we can make it a great 2014.

Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come.
Rabindranath Tagore
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/dawn.html#ymqbLvvb5IiKHLkm.99

Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come.
Rabindranath Tagore
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/dawn.html#ymqbLvvb5IiKHLkm.99

Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come.
Rabindranath Tagore
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/dawn.html#ymqbLvvb5IiKHLkm.99

Natural Healing

Live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find eternity in each moment. - Henry David Thoreau

I took a hike this morning for the first time in a while. I offer no excuses but wonder why when I enjoy hiking in the hills so much that I don't go more often. It was a perfect October morning, a little chilly, I needed a sweatshirt at least part of the way. I used to hike three or four times a week so walking on the gravelly earth with the scent of sage all around me brought back happy feelings of deep pleasure.

I had recently listened to a CD on developing your intuition and one of the things recommended is to be in nature and drink deep of its healing energy. We are so bombarded by energy from people all day, particularly in cities. Even buildings and places have energy that affects us in both negative and positive ways. The earth is naturally regenerating and can sooth our jangled nerves and stresses. I think we all know that, but we forget it, caught up in the fast pace of life.

My experience this morning showed me how it takes effort to really relax if you have not done so on a regular basis. I found as I walked I would get caught up in my thoughts and miss the moment. Then a scrub jay would screech and I would be brought back to my environment. I thanked the birds for reminding me to be in the present moment.

Children don't need to be reminded. I think their ability to be present is why time seems to go so slowly for them. At least that's my memory of it. A half hour car drive to the seaside seems like an eternity. "Are we there yet, are we there yet?" Now I drive a half hour and blink, I'm there! I likened my hiking experience to our life experience, if we are not present, we miss the gifts of the moment; time flies by and next thing you know, blink, its over. Is it possible to slow down and smell the roses? It's certainly worth trying. Meditation helps, awareness helps, a desire to be here now helps. Do you have any suggestions? I'd love to hear them.

Life is a great and wondrous mystery, and the only thing we know that we have for sure is what is right here right now. Don't miss it.- Leo Buscaglia

What's the rush?

Truth lies within ourselves. It takes no rise from outward things, whatever you may believe.

There is an inmost center in us all where, truth abides in fullness and to know, rather consists in opening out a way whence

the imprisoned splendour

may escape, than in effecting entry for light supposed to be without!

Not my words to begin this blog but the words of the English poet Robert Browning written in the late 1800s. No less striking today or true, I believe they are descriptive to the goal of every human being. Each of us seeks to be true to ourselves - to live authentically and fully so that we might know we have lived well.


There are times we dont feel we are doing this, maybe we feel we are so far from the visions we have for your life, dissapointments thwart us, obstacles obstruct our path, we dont make the progress we expect, there is a vague unease, something to be done, a stone to be upturned, something has to change in the outside world. I know I feel that way often. I want to achieve something great, I want to be somewhere other than I am. I imagine life is out there around the next bend if I could only get there!


This feeling is unpleasant. I dont like to feel this way. It seems to taint everything with a vague dissatisfaction. If I can turn toward it and address it; take a moment to center, this can make all the difference.


I realize I can only be where I am now. I look to what is right in front of me to do and I seem to re-enter my body, my day, the moment and a realization dawns. I may not be where I want to get to but right now I can see how far I have come and most of all how much I have to be grateful for. That shift is like a door opening to a new experience, a new perspective. Giving my full attention to my present task is sufficient. If I can do it well, whether its washing dishes, filing documents, or making phone calls, it is it's own reward.

My mother used to say, "One step and then another and soon the longest journey is done." It's the only way we can get to where we are going, whats the rush anyway? Walking has always been a great way to enjoy the scenery!