Today is the first day of an adventure that my husband,Dave, and I are taking in 2013. We are excited about the possibilities of what this year holds for us. Yes, we have some dreams. Big dreams. But what is just as significant—sometimes more so—is the unexpected: those things that we can’t anticipate, the ‘unplanned’ that often arises when we are busy working toward something else. It’s often in the unplanned experiences of life, and how we respond to those experiences, that we find our true essence, who we really are, and what we are made of.
Courage will be needed: courage to respond to the urgings of Spirit and to begin, courage to go into the murky unknown, courage to keep on keeping on when the dark threatens to overtake us. As a friend once said, “It’s always darkest just before it gets pitch black.” Courage, and faith, that in spite of the dim light, it will all be okay.
So it is for all the big things we have planned this year, and the anxiety of the mystical unknowns, that I dedicate this first blog post of the new year. This poem by Mary Oliver says it best.
The Journey
One day you finally knew
what you had to do,and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice—
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
“Mend my life!”
each voice cried.
But you didn’t stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do—
determined to save
the only life you could save.
~ Mary Oliver
Photo courtesy of Deb
Habr. The print is a pastel by James
Reynolds (www.jamesrreynolds.net) entitled “Journey.”
Given everything that has been going on here lately it is amazing we have had time to actually plan a trip. But plan a trip we have--we’re going to California for a family wedding--and it is going to be on the train……..the California Zephyr. Yes, that is the same one that was hit by a semi truck recently. In fact, completely unaware, we booked our tickets about the same time that the accident was happening. We were stunned by loss of life and injuries reported. Never would anyone expect something like that to happen out in the middle of nowhere in broad day light.
Is there a message here? And if there is, what would it be? All kinds of answers come to mind. But how do we know which one is the truth and which one is just our fear talking?
Life is a lot like a railroad track. We are all on the track because we are alive and walking the earth. The problem comes when we can’t always see around the bend. We diligently plan, we go over the details, we work hard, we study just as hard as we work, we buy insurance, and we hope for the best. In spite of this, as poet Robert Burns has said the “best laid plans of mice and men” sometimes go askew and we figuratively hit a semi truck.
It has happened to us all at one time or another. We put forth our best effort, hoping for a good outcome. And hoping is fine. There is nothing wrong with hoping. It’s when we try to control the outcome that we run into trouble.
The outcome is out of our control. The only part we can control is the “best effort” part. Once we have given our best effort, we will have a lot more peace and serenity if we can put the outcome in God’s hands because that is where it is anyway. But letting go and letting God is much easier said than done. It takes practice, lots of practice.
This is where trust comes in. Trust that there is a Higher Power who knows the bigger picture, who is for us and not against us, who loves us more than we will ever know, who knows what is around the next curve and is always there barreling down the track with us. Once we accept that we will probably never have all the answers to life’s questions our trust in God has a greater chance to develop.
And trust can lead us to acceptance of what is, if we allow it. Once we accept the situation/event for what it is, there is a decision point: if it is something within our control then we can take action to improve it. Otherwise………. we need to let it go.
Photo courtesy of Brian Guest
We have begun the transition from living in one place to living in two places. If we were migrating geese this process would be a lot easier. It would be a matter of taking flight once the weather changed, no suitcases, no furniture, no photo albums.
As it is, however, this transition requires quite a lot from us. We will be selling our current house in order to purchase two different ones: one in Iowa and one in California. It also means we will be dividing our time between the two, a detail that can sometimes be inconvenient. All of our children and grandchildren are in Iowa. It’s for this reason that I really wish I could figure out how to be in two places at once. Maybe in the next life. Until then, there is still just one of me.
Dave and I have fallen in love with northern California. The beauty, the climate, the people, the ocean, the vineyards, the culture, the spirituality of the whole place. We personally feel called to be there. And we look forward to sharing all of it with our family and friends.
We recently had a chance to do just that when our daughter and her family flew out for my birthday. In the photo is my son-in-law with my grandson who was seeing the ocean for the first time in his young life. The water drew him like a magnet. He was determined to get his feet wet and probably the rest of his body had his dad not intervened.
Dave and I look forward to having family and friends visit us often once we get settled in our California home. We are beginning a new chapter in our lives. And did you know that there is an Irish blessing for new beginnings? There is. Written by John O’Donohue in his book To Bless the Space Between Us. It is so appropriate for us right now. Please enjoy it, with our blessing.
For a New Beginning
In out-of-the-way places of the heart,
Where your thoughts never think to wander,
This beginning has been quietly forming,
Waiting until you were ready to emerge.
For a long time it has watched your desire,
Feeling the emptiness growing inside you,
Noticing how you willed yourself on,
Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.
It watched you play with the seduction of safety
And the gray promises that sameness whispered,
Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent,
Wondered would you always live like this.
Then the delight, when your courage kindled,
And out you stepped onto new ground,
Your eyes young again with energy and dream,
A path of plenitude opening before you.
Though your destination is not yet clear
You can trust the promise of this opening;
Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning
That is at one with your life’s desire.
Awaken your spirit to adventure,
Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;
Soon you will be home in a new rhythm,
For your soul senses the world that awaits you.
Photo courtesy of Deb Habr
Yesterday we drove over to the coast for lunch and found a great little restaurant called Terrapin Creek. It’s on Eastshore Road in Bodega Bay. For movie buffs, Bodega Bay is the town where Alfred Hitchcock’s famous thriller The Birds was filmed. There are references to the movie around town and last August, Tippi Hedren, the actress that starred in the film, was signing autographs at The Tides Wharf, another restaurant there.
The town is full of art galleries, restaurants, and other shops that sell candy, surf gear and kites. Local Color Artist Gallery was one of the fine galleries that we visited, and that is how we found Terrapin Creek. It happens to be right next door.
I had a hard time choosing from the menu, because everything sounded so good. I ended up with the Mediterranean Fish Stew with fennel saffron broth, braised tomatoes and potatoes, fresh basil, and mussels. I paired it with Preston Dry Creek Sauvignon Blanc ’09. My husband ordered the Linguini Pasta with Housemade Chorizo. Both of these dishes had incredible flavor and delicious, fresh ingredients. The pasta was really cooked to perfection, like nothing we’ve ever had before.
When it was time for dessert we unfortunately decided to split the Crème Fraiche Cheesecake with Raspberry Sauce. I say unfortunately because once I tasted it, I definitely wanted one all to myself!
How can I describe this? It was similar to an ‘out of body’ experience, although I’ve never had one of those. I’ve never had food that made me feel like I was in an altered reality for a few seconds. I make cheesecake myself from time to time, but it has never tasted like this.
I’m going to go home and start cooking….
Photo courtesy of Deb Habr
This is a photo of a camellia bush taken right outside our cottage in the country here in Sebastopol. It has been blooming for over a week now. I marvel at the early spring flowers in bloom here right now. Daffodils will not be blooming in Iowa until April sometime. We are experiencing spring now in California, and later we will experience spring in Iowa. It’s my favorite season and I get two this year!
Last night I finished a class I was taking at the Center for Spiritual Living in Santa Rosa. Rev. Jeff Anderson taught the class and we had a wonderful group of spiritual seekers who really connected with each other on many levels. Although we all came from different backgrounds with different life experiences, we felt a camaraderie that was hard to explain. Frequently those of us on the spiritual path seem to recognize each other with a knowing that defies logic. It was a magical atmosphere and we all felt it from the first class.
I’m leaving California soon to return to Iowa, but all those I met will be forever in my mind and heart…….and I look forward to seeing them again when I come back.
Photo courtesy of Deb Habr
I’m writing this from California. We’ve been here a couple of weeks already and we’re getting nicely settled into the flow of things. Since we arrived, the weather keeps getting better and better and as I check the temps back in Iowa, I’m very grateful for 60 degree days.
We brought two of our four cats with us, the other two are keeping our pet sitter company. Pearlman and Machka had never taken a long road trip before so we knew it would be interesting.
They traveled in style in a pet carrier typically used by top show cats. While traveling, they had all the comforts of home: their food, their litter pan, each other and us by their side. By the fourth day on the road, they were so comfortable in the hotel room that we wondered if they actually preferred traveling to being at home.
As kittens, they were raised on classical music. Pearlman, the three year old, is especially calmed by Mozart or Bach. We got 6 classical CD’s for them to listen to, but Pearlman soon made it clear which one was his favorite. He quieted down immediately to Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, and Mozart’s Serenade No. 13. We now play it every night when he goes to bed.
This experience with Pearlman brought to mind some similar challenges we as humans often have on our spiritual journey. Being a spiritual seeker can sometimes be scary because it involves getting to know ourselves intimately. What if we discover something we don’t like? What if we uncover something horrible about ourselves? Or worse yet, what if we find out that we are pure, Divine love at our core? Wonderful beyond our wildest dreams? What do we do with that?
Fear of the unknown is real. It can be a constant companion when embarking on a journey of any kind, or when confronted with major change. Walking the path with something or someone familiar can make the trip less scary, more enjoyable and more meaningful. Cats have their classical music; children have their blankets, pacifiers, or favorite toys; adults have their spouses or partners, close friends or family members, spiritual directors, or counselors to assist along the way.
As we persist on our journey, we come to know God as our Friend, as Ernest Holmes described in his book Your Invisible Power. We learn we are never alone and never have been. This Friend is the “God within your own soul”. “The Friend within you is continuously looking after your well-being.” We are safe, we are loved, we are in constant Divine company at any point in our travels.
We can read about this but until we experience it, we won’t know it in our hearts. How has the Friend been revealed on your journey so far?
Photo courtesy of Deb Habr
Today’s post is a recipe I made recently that works well for people who have eliminated dairy products from their diet. This soup usually contains lots of milk so if you are familiar with the regular version, this might take some getting used to. The flavors in this recipe are very subtle and the soup is smooth but filling. Serve it with a “bake it yourself” baguette and some hummus from Trader Joe’s. This hits the spot on a cold night!
Healthy Potato Leek Soup (courtesy of Savvy Vegetarian)
Ingredients:
2 large leeks—tender pale green and white parts
4 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
6 Cups water and 2 veggie bouillon cubes
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
Olive oil for sautéing
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon salt (Real Salt brand)
1-2 Cups plain unsweetened rice milk
Fresh ground pepper to taste
2 Tbsp minced parsley
Directions:
1. Prep leeks, potatoes, and garlic
2. Cook potatoes in soup stock with salt and bay leaf
3. Heat olive oil in dutch oven
4. Sauté garlic and leeks until soft and turning golden
5. Add potatoes and stock to leeks and garlic
6. Cook for a few minutes more, if necessary, until potatoes are tender
7. Remove bay leaf
8. Puree with an immersion blender or in multiple batches in a jar blender
9. Add rice milk to thin to desired consistency
10 Add salt and pepper to taste, and minced parsley
11 Heat gently for a few minutes, and then serve.
Enjoy!
If you try this recipe, let me know how it goes. I’m trying out other new recipes this week so stay tuned…….
Photo courtesy of Deb Habr
Thanksgiving is a great food holiday because we get to have ALL that turkey and those easy-to-heat-up leftovers. No cooking the rest of the weekend. And it always has more flavor the next day. This is food we don’t have at any other time of the year. And it goes great with the Thanksgiving Day Parade and football.
But Thanksgiving is about much more than food or football, it’s about what we are grateful for. On the gratitude list are family members, beloved pets, loving friends, our spiritual community, our home, our work and co-workers, our neighborhood, our country, our freedom, our health, and millions of other blessings we overlook every day. Thanksgiving is a time to say a prayer of appreciation for everything.
We also need to remember those who won’t be having turkey, dressing, and pumpkin pie.
Some people may be sitting in the emergency room at the hospital, waiting for medical care following an accident.
Some people may be gathering under a bridge to stay warm.
Some people may be at the funeral home making burial arrangements for a loved one.
Some people may be wondering where their teenage child is who ran away a month ago.
Some people may be at Hospice with a loved one who has only days to live.
Some people may be home alone, without any family to celebrate with.
Some people may have just lost their home to foreclosure and they are wondering where they are going to sleep tonight.
Some people may have just lost their job which means no Christmas presents this year, among other things.
Some people may be dying of a curable illness because they don’t have health insurance.
For these and many others who won’t have a traditional holiday, we pray that God’s love will comfort them and give them hope. And thank you for that, too, God.
Photo courtesy of Herman Hernandez
Today's guest post is written by Jennifer Hoffman, spiritual intuitive, author, speaker, and teacher. Jennifer works with individuals as well as corporate clients in assisting others to understand their spiritual path and achieve their dreams. She will talk about this post in greater detail on this week's radio show on Blog Talk Radio.
Find the Monster's Weak Spot
The focus of the hero's journey is overcoming their greatest fear. There is always a defining moment where the hero must decide who will win, him or his fear. And the events leading to that challenge can be daunting-being removed from friends and family, finding themselves alone and without support, facing a life or death situation or dealing with a person or situation that is intent on their destruction. To succeed they have to be prepared for the worst and find the strength and courage to move ahead in spite of what can seem like an impossible situation.
While we're not facing the seven headed monsters that are the hero's challenges in mythology, our challenges can seem to be the worst that can happen, because at that moment they are. The situation or person we were counting on to come through for us doesn't, or we suddenly realize that what we believed about someone or something is no longer true (and maybe it never was). This is when the future we planned meets the reality of the present moment and it can feel like the worst of times.
When we can shift our focus from what is happening to the other options that are available, we can turn the worst of times into a life affirming experience. So often the worst happens because we ignore every sign that we need to make changes in our thinking, actions or beliefs. The message that gets our attention is the one that puts us face to face with the worst thing we can imagine. Instead of a small change, we have to make a big transformation. Can we see clearly through the fear and find the options that exist on the other side?
It's so much harder to think clearly when we're afraid than when we can assess our array of options without the pressure of having our back against the wall, facing the worst of our fears and the pressure to overcome them. And when the battle is over we can see that there was a path that led us to that moment and we were provided the clues we needed to know that it was coming. The worst of any situation lies in our fear of what might happen if, rather than in the situation itself. Every hero has to find the monster's weak spot and then the fight is over and they can over come it. What are your monsters and where are their weak spots? Is this truly the worst that can happen and where is your path of transformation? The answers you need, the courage to overcome and the wisdom to know what to do, are all within you because you are the hero of your journey and your role is to succeed, and you will.
Photo courtesy of Foxypar4
One of my most cherished spiritual practices is yoga.
In January, I was diagnosed with a herniated disc and I started physical therapy. One of the things that seemed to help with the pain was yoga. I didn’t need to spend an hour at it. In fact, 10 minutes was usually enough.
What did I do during those 10 minutes of yoga? The Five Tibetans, yoga exercises I discovered in a wonderful little book by Christopher Kilham. I felt stronger, more limber, had less discomfort, and had an overall sense of well being and connection to Spirit. Even my sinuses opened up.
I liked the exercises so much that I made them a permanent part of my daily practice. Now, when I miss a day, I really notice it.
For more information on these exercises, as well as the history, check out Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth, Book 2. Let me know what you think……………
Photo courtesy of myyogaonline
