Holy Week

This week is holy week for Christians everywhere.
I grew up with the dark and wonderful rituals of the run up to the death of Christ and his ressurection. I have vivid memories of lighted candle and a darkened church on Holy Thursday as we renounced the devil.
Today I no longer observe these rituals but somehow I feel the need to mark the week because I know it means so much to so many and especially my ancestors.

I like to think of the week as Wholly Week. What can I do to feel more whole and complete and balanced? Wholeness can be of the physical body, mind or spirit, and certainly a balance of all.
Where are you out of balance? Are you getting enough sleep? Are you being proactive in your relationship with the world? Speaking up might bring me to wholeness. Being quiet may complete and balance my being. We each must listen to our own truth to become whole.

I have decided to give up chocolate, sweets and coffee for the week because my body can do with a break and I need to get a health quota of sleep.

The gospels that we honor this week are only a part of the message of Jesus. As you may know I have been exploring the gospels that did not get included in the Bible, such as the Gospel of Mary, Gospel of Thomas, and Gospel of Judas. These speak of the truth that lies within and our individual connection with the Divine. All you need is already within you. What do you need to give yourself to feel that connection and wholeness?

Scarlet for Me, Scarlet for you

"Something has a hold of my heart," were the words that came to me last night as I doodled with this painting. I googled it and found the words from this Gene Pitney song (you can hear it at the link below) I was very excited with the connection as the words were so fitting with the emerging theme of the image, changing the greys, changing the blues...When something has a hold of your heart or attention, it can change your vision of your entire world. The song can refer to falling in love and how our perceptions alter and everything looks more alive, vibrant and intense. It can also refer to passion for anything. When we are caught in the throws of love, passion or enthusiasm for anything our world changes color.

If you were to let something get a hold of your heart, what would it be?
Can you give it greater reign? Can you give yourself to it so thoroughly, you let it change you?

Life can be more vibrant when we give our hearts permission to lead us. Loosen the "shoulds" for a while and see what ensues. I recall a lady being asked why she thought her grandmother lived so healthily and well to the grand age of 113? She said, often her grandmother would choose what she wanted to do verses what she felt needed to be done! Sounds good to me and I can see how we might be less stressed if we followed this advice. I'm going to give it a try!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMQc8HthUFE&feature=related

Something's gotten hold of my heart
Keeping my soul and my senses apart
Something's invaded my night
Painting my sleep with a colour so bright
Changing the grey, changing the blue
Scarlet for me, scarlet for you

Goals

“Our passions are the winds that propel our vessel. Our reason is the pilot that steers her. Without winds the vessel would not move and without a pilot she would be lost.” Proverb



They say goal setters have a better chance of success and understandably so. Especially if the goal is chosen with the heart and supported by the mind. I know for myself I have set goals I did not achieve because my heart was not in it. It was something I thought up out of reasoning alone and tried to achieve out of sheer force of will. Trust me that doesn't work.

The will has to be the servant of the heart, supporting its choices. The heart is the guide and the compass. It tells us what makes us happy, what excites us, what we are passionate about. The mind can choose what step will take us where we want to go. The mind can talk to us when we get disheartened and remind us to reconnect with our inner guidance. Using the analogy in the quote above - the pilot can steer the boat so as to catch the wind in its sails once again.



So as you set your course toward your goals know there are no doldrums if you ask your heart to become engaged. Know that passion and persistence are a powerful combination and success is the joy found in the journey. Bon Voyage! I look forward to seeing you on the high seas!


“If a man does not know what port he is steering for, no wind is favorable to him”
Seneca, Roman philosopher, mid-1st century AD