Aligning with Grace

Advent - A Time for Miracles (A Repost) I arise in the darkness and am drawn to meditation after a deep, and nourishing sleep... I sit in the stillness, the gentle rain, and the quiet - and give thanks for so many things... I marvel at the beauty of the last few days - sweet time spent with soul friends - and with a community of kindred souls... I am grateful for so many messages given and received... I revel in the opportunities to share with like-minded souls the blessings we have received and the incredible work God is doing in our lives... I sit and I pray - and ask to be shown the way through some situations I must navigate - buoyed by the dearest soul companion who shared her own story and encouraged me to ask every day, to be shown the way - and be willing to discover that the path was always there in front of me - waiting for my recognition... I share with a lovely friend and student - that despite whatever may be - or not be in my life - God's...

Advent - A Season of Light (A Repost) The day begins with wind and rain, and later when I go for a walk, I note that the creeks are swollen, and I can only imagine what the river looks likes. A part of me yearns to take a look, but there are tasks waiting for my attention... Advent is a season that invites light into our lives, just as we are journeying more deeply into darkness... There is a wonderful site with Advent reflections called "Following the Star," that I wrote about on this blog two years ago. And yesterday, I read the selections for the day several times... " People of faith are not unrealistic. We know the world can be a dark place. But we also know that darkness is not all. There is a reason to hope, because there is a light always shining. Watch now for the light...And have your hope renewed..." I thought of the wonderful scripture passage from Isaiah 2:9, and decades ago, when I was a Liturgical musician, I often sang a song bas...

I finished reading three books this week, and in all of them I found this essential message repeated, over and over again, in various permutations:  Love yourself first, then you can love others. Appreciate who you are. Do not put yourself down. Do not sell yourself short. The poet Rumi once wrote: "The whole Universe is inside of you. Ask all from yourself." You have everything that you need. Right now. In this moment. A dear soul reminded me of that last night. No matter how bleak, or dark things may be - there is a Light that shines within you. Why? Because you ARE Love - you are a fragment of the Universal Force that binds us all. But, you have to recognize it. And accept it first. Then you can shine that Light and Love for others. But start with yourself. Today. Tomorrow. And every day! (Photo by Veronica Martinez)

The sun rises and unveils a brilliant blue and cloudless sky... The crisp coolness of an early June morning takes my breath away,,, Two cardinals sit on my deck bistro chairs facing each other and I imagine they are chatting happily... It is as if all is well with the world, but I know that it is not... And yet, all is impregnated with the Presence of the Divine... I KNOW it - as all mystics know and feel this in their bones. Thus, I have never - and could never question or doubt what I feel is more real in my life than most things... I walk and pray and pray and walk - open to the insights and messages I receive from my guides on the Other Side of the Veil... They come every time - because I invoke their presence and ask for their guidance. In the words of Yogananda I beseech them to: "Lead me from ignorance to wisdom, From restlessness to peace, And from desire to contentment." I reflect on the state of the world, the divisiveness, the hatred and v...

Some people come into this world, and make all the difference... Some people come into your life, and leave it forever changed... Some people come into your life - and as a dear friend and songwriter once sang - leave footprints in your heart and your soul... Some people come into your life - and despite immense tragedy and suffering - manage to truly live in the light... Some people come into your life, simply to point the way... Some people come into your life and make their mark - in very quiet and unassuming ways... The gifted poet, Mary Oliver asked in her poem about summer: "Tell me, what is it that you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" I still ask myself that question, while some never get the chance to do so... Why do we come into this world? "We come into this exquisite world to experience ever more deeply our divine courage, freedom and light." ~ Hafiz Some people come into the world to shine light - and when they leave this world - go bac...