Daily Guidance - February 8

I drew the first 3 Soul Call cards (on the right) and they just weren't resonating with

with me so I drew the fourth.  Now it was starting to make sense, especially when I 

starting playing with them and read them in reverse order.  

Surrender the Wrestling and Walls both in a troubled relationship and with life in 

general, dear heart.

It was also lovely to see how they were now dovetailing with the two oracle cards
I drew today.

There is a Map leading to another way... more choices than you first realized.  You
can continue to choose to bless the space between you and another and, as best you
can in each moment, quietly, calmly let the struggle go. Follow the path that leads
to where you are fed... and loved. 

Our Lady of Creative Choice will help me to find a new choice, one that leads to
enthusiasm and Joy?

Yes.

Blessed be.

.         *         .

July 14 :: Outfit of the Day 🙃

While I felt a little silly,

I didn't want to let my goddaughter down.

She's been a good sport with 

lists of photo prompts that I've found

and I want to do the same for and with her.

Ah, more good practice, yes?

Yes.

.            *            .

Remembering :: All is Well

The last couple days back at work, yesterday especially, were *rough.*  Our house is still a disaster from not fully being unpacked and I'm too weary to do anything about it right now. 

Carving out time this afternoon to reclaim the space on the table next to me, nourish myself with candlelight and take in 5 Deep Breaths (for a start). It is so good to be the company of a beloved angel and, with the help of a beautiful song, to remember that All is Well. 

❤️

.             *             .

Soothing

This afternoon I closed my office door 

so I could work in Peace and quiet 

(Dorothy, we aren't on vacation anymore). 

So grateful that as I did so, 

I remembered I could stop 

(just for a minute!), 

place my hand over my heart, 

close my eyes, 

and take in 5 Deep Breaths.  

Smiling softly because 

this is why we practice, yes?

Yes. ❤️

Note to self:  it was also helpful to listen to soft, soothing music that I have on my phone.

.              *              .

    

Slowly Transitioning Back In

5 Deep Breaths 

as I slowly transition my way back in 

after a lovely beach vacation 

with hubby.

.             *              .

Breathing thru the "Triggered" . . .

. . . and wanting, 

trying 

to remember 

to trust.

.          *          .

Watering My Soul and Basking in Enough

I said what I needed to say 

and set a boundary 

with the intention of choosing Love 

this morning. 

It wasn't perfect by any means 

but I did it!! 

Basking in Enoughness, 

I took this photo afterwards. 

(And look! No more churning belly! )

Then, 

after running a couple of errands,

I took the scenic route on my way home 

just so I could pause by this small, nearby pond. 

Ahhhhh . . . rest (and water) for my soul. 

 ❤

5 Deep Breaths in the Early Morning

Have something on my heart 

(and churning in my belly) 

so this is a very good time 

to practice 

seeing if I can create 

some space for Peace. 

The results are mixed . . . 

which is the whole point in practicing, yes?

Yes. 

❤️ 

On a side note, 

the original photo 

was so dark I could barely see myself 

so I enjoyed playing 

with Instagram's settings 

to lighten it up a bit. 

Hmmmm . . . 

Being "barely able to see myself" 

in the midst of this 

feels pretty important. 

.            *             .

Thankful Tuesday

Today I am thankful for:

1.  A few more quiet days at work before the busy billing season kicks in.

2.  Relief from strained relationships continuing to ease.

3.  Learning about the idea of notebooking in the poetry course I'm taking.

4.  New Easter Praying in Color Template - yay!

5.  And it's a spiral, meant to go out (the opposite of what I did for Lent) - yay!

6.  Easy, tasty supper of toasted cheese sandwiches and sweet potato fries.

7.  Quiet evening with no tv.

8.  Loving circle of fond memories forming around my Grandma's photo on FB.

9.  Learning that it touched my dear Daddy's heart.

10.  Our mechanic fixed my flat tire for free!  (we do love him)

11.  Being surrounded by guardian angels.

12.  Valentine's Day roses dried and still beautiful.

13.  Hubby's Love Language is Gifts 

14.  Knowing my intuition is working, even when I plow right thru.

15.  Mercy-ful remembering that I am perfectly human and can always, always try 'er again.

.           *            .

Thankful Tuesday

Today I am thankful for:

1.  Beautiful spring morning serenaded by birdsong.

2.  Quiet moments to write, listen and be.

3.  Soothing orderliness to sit in.

4.  Safe journeys for dear hubby.

5.  Wise, heart-touching, perfectly timed book, Storycatcher by Christina Baldwin.

6.  Playful day at work yesterday.

7.  Connecting to and with my dear heart in writing.

8.  Noah, deeply inspiring new contestant on Dancing With the Stars.

9.  Hope-filled sunshine filling the room and spilling on me.

10.  Soft brown leather chair.

11.  Finding the space between my breaths and the opportunity to choose love.

12.  Warm smiles Valentine's Day roses still bring.

13.  New Ferris Wheel mandala that speaks to me of healthy boundaries 

       (and the wonderful prospect of exploring this more later).

14.  Wind chime songs

15.  New-to-me blessing about peace:

       

May the peace of the tallest mountain 

and the peace of the smallest stone 

be your peace. 

May the stillness of the stars 

watch over you. 

May the everlasting music 

of the wave lull you to rest.

~ an ancient Celtic prayer

May it be so

And it is Enough.

Blessed be.

.             *            .

Angel Sunday :: Sweetheart Angel

Practicing Peace this morning

as I welcome my angels.

I am so enjoying my newest one,

Willow Tree's "Sweetheart Angel,"

a delightful Valentine's surprise 

from darlin' hubby last night.

(She's one I hadn't met yet!)

As I sit with her, I love how she 

so grace-filled-ly and peace-filled-ly

stands in her place.

She's not over-reaching

nor does she cower.

She just quietly, 

steadily,

simply

stands in her truth

and in her life.

I gratefully, tearfully 

welcome 

her gently touching example 

of how I, too, can stand

in my own life

... right now ... 

in this very moment.

And it is Enough.

(It is possible, Debbie Grace)

Help me, Mama?

Always, Baby.

Blessed Be.

.           *            .

Touchstone

I

This cheerful little heart sits on my desk at work.

Sometimes 

(like today),

when I need a reminder that

all is well,

I hold her as I work. 

 She is good, reassuring company. 

.             *             .

Epiphany 2015

(image credit)

Found this lovely image to use for our Epiphany greetings this year.

Smiling because I had thought I might be ready

to send out our holiday letter about mid-December.

But.

Besides not feeling well

and being *so* tired from work,

I have really enjoyed sending out 

an Epiphany letter instead. 

So I decided to wait.

(This will be my third year)

Moma died on Epiphany

and we all have fond memories 

of my aunt's daydream of Moma

skipping and dancing along 

behind the wise men.
(She was finally free)

So there's something special

and holy

 about connecting with her

in this particular way.

My beloved Grandma instilled a love of 

snail mail in me when I was a small child.

This connecting with loved ones

after
the rush and hurry
of the holiday preparations 

helps me connect intentionally
with her as well.

Plus I *adore* the idea 

of following a Star.

.         *         .

What I want you to know

In this round of Love Notes, our second prompt was "What I want you to know."  As with last week, a short poem poured forth.  

What I want you to know

is you don't have to go.

It's ok to say no

and nourish your soul.

Hmm, were these words more for my recipient or for me?

Boundaries continue to be a big theme for me and I'm actually feeling grateful.  It's sinking in, deeper and deeper, that just because walls aren't all that effective, that doesn't mean I don't need boundaries.  More and more, I'm seeing ways in which I give too much and it's starting to feel possible to let go of taking care of and feeling responsible for others.

Had a lovely chat with a wise one yesterday and she asked me, on a couple of occasions, "who are you responsible for?"  We were talking about work and a co-worker who I used to be close with.  I've felt bad because of the distance I've placed between us, feeling it was (yet another) a wall.  But what my friend invited me to see is that maybe it's a boundary instead and a necessary one at that.  My co-worker can be a bully and she interrupts me often.  Aside from being annoying, it pokes me in that "you and your needs are way too big" place.  It feels like she's trying to control and silence me .... because she is.

My friend reminded me that not only is my co-worker in my life for a reason (at least in part to help me to learn to set boundaries), I'm also in her life for a reason.  My allowing her to bulldoze over me, in other words not practicing boundaries with her, doesn't serve either of us.

Yesterday afternoon, when she and I had to sit together to work thru an issue she was having, I was in a calm, peaceful place.  I was also "driving" (my hands were on my computer keyboard and mouse) and when she'd want me to look in one dropdown menu while I was searching through another, I would calmly say, "just a minute" and "hold on," as I finished looking in the place where I was.

She needed my help and I was able to do it on my terms and it was so good.  I think we both left the interaction feeling good about it which feels Hope-filled for me.

Grinning because I'm not even pretending that it will always go this well when we sit together from here on out.  But it was really nice that it went so well yesterday and it's a lovely addition to my boundary track record.

I didn't have to go 

in the direction 

(on my computer screen 

or in our relationship) 

that she wanted me to. 

I could listen 

to what was in my heart, 

say no to her 

and nourish my soul

by saying 

a much bigger yes to me.

(Just as it should be,

especially since we are both adults.)

I am grateful.

.         *         .

Blessing Basking ~ Day 5

Today, after a long, tiring day at work, 

I am grateful for 

the magical soothing quality 

of twinkle lights

in the evening. 

(And very thankful, too, 

that I made the time 

to replace 

the long-dead batteries 

last night.)

.              *              .

Thankful Tuesday

Today I am thankful for:

1.  Crayon art delightfully reminding me of time with my girlies on Sunday.

2.  Silliness of little ones!  In the picture above, the girl at the top is baby sister with a bar over her so she won't fall out of bed.  The second girl is her and, at 3, she's a big girl who doesn't need a bar over her.  Next to her is, as requested, a bear with a shirt on.

3.  Deep satisfaction from both girls wanting to be and play with me.

4.  Making a point to celebrate a very dear 90-year-old's birthday.

5.  Side-stepping an odd melt-down with Grace.

6.  The bliss of quiet Tuesday mornings again.  (summer hours are now over)

7.  Surprising hubby by laying out his breakfast and lunch.

8.  Quietly standing in (and sharing) my gift of reading meaningfully aloud.

9.  Happy discovery that our new book group will fit very nicely in with where I'm at right now.

10.  Wonderful surprise of another promising bi-monthly fall gathering.

11.  Already sensing the freshness of new members in our mandala FB group.

12.  And loving that one of those voices is a friend.

13.  Spicy, autumn fall-themed oatmeal.

14.  Humming a new favorite, "Calm me, Lord," when I catch myself worrying. 

15.  Another piece of fridge art from Sunday's time with my girls.

.          *           .

Thankful Tuesday

Today I am grateful for:

1.  Responsibility and right to vote

2.  Surprise mail from a new friend

3.  End of bi-yearly reporting 

4.  Good night's rest

5.  New-to-me book, The Alchemist

6.  Feeling better each day (from an upper respiratory virus)

7.  Mandala cheering section  :)

8.  Proud realization of how far I've come in a difficult relationship

9.  Surrounded by quietly calm angel companions

10. Delicious chocolate frosty (my favorite!)

.           *            .

Thankful Tuesday

Today I am thankful for:

1.  How very much I am enjoying creating mandalas!

2.  Making them has been a welcomed, unexpected and gentle reminder of 

     how guidance really does come . . . 

     (when allowed the time, room and space)

3.  That I can go back to bed and rest on a morning I was up way too early

4.  Awareness that I still have some boundary work to do with a co-worker.  

     (If I wasn't aware, all I would be feeling is frustration and Hope-less)

5.  A new realization of one of my "tells" that I need to set a boundary.

6.  The lovely anticipation of an upcoming hangout with a friend.

7.  Updating my phone this morning and it all went just fine.

8.  Cup corner has now turned into marker, colored pencils, and compass corner.  :)

9.  Delightful discovery of the singing sister duo, Lennon and Maisy 

10. The quiet of dawn.

.          *           .

Nourish

Quiet time 

spent reading 

with a candle

and a special 50ish-year-old,

dolly-sized blanket

(not sure if it was made for me 

by Moma or Grandma)

nourish my heart

and soul.

.            *           .

Mandala Discovery - Lesson 3 - Chaos

This one didn't turn out like I first thought it might. The pink center is meant to represent my precious heart. I made that circle small intentionally but after drawing it it seemed too small (and easily overwhelmed) so I drew the slightly larger circle around it and colored it a soothing, calming blue. I like the idea of my practices (journaling, prayer and meditation) as being a protective cushion around me. (I'm resisting the temptation here to feel that I'm doing this one wrong because the buffer feels comforting to me)

I've been on a journey lately to reclaim things from my past.  Stories that always felt negative and shameful to me I want to frame in a more redemptive light. Doing my mandala in the way that feels most right to me feels like a continuation of that process.

When I first started drawing them, I didn't intend the brown to look like petals but they do and I really like that.

Rather than my feeling overtaken and absorbed by the chaos around me, I see this mandala as a powerful reminder that I can stand still in the midst of it (as best I can in any given moment) and beauty can - and will! - flow both to me and out from me.

(In later re-reading Lesson 4 on Balance, I smiled to realize I wasn't as "off-track" as I originally thought when I made this one.... just a lesson ahead.)

.           *           .