To Bless the Space Between Us - Do you see it?

(Because I didn't ... at first.)

So yesterday morning I was taking a photo of the picture of this dear young girl, 

my gentle teacher quietly reminding me to "Bless the Space Between [my sister, 

who has stepped w-a-y back from our relationship, and me]" propped up against 

the lamp right here next to my chair. Other than moving my clear little flowerpot 

shaped votive holder (reminding me to Cultivate Joy, my word for this year), 

I didn't move a thing.

Cropping my morning photo down to a square, I saw it.

Mary *is* looking out from behind "me." I love that she's a little above me, too,

so she can see both thru my eyes and also beyond me (for me).... she can see 

farther out than what I can see. Ah, yes... *She* can offer love to my sister and 

bless the space between us on the days when I simply cannot because the reality 

is sometimes the years-long space between us hurts.

And behind her is the gentle reminder, "Let Yourself Be Held", a tender piece 

I have loved (and clung to) for a very long time.

So then I pulled an angel card by cutting my deck: Close. I'm smiling again... *yes!* 

Mary, Mama Grace, and all of my aunties are indeed Close to me, gently caring for 

me, "looking out" for me (<-- so loving the double meaning of this one!), and watching 

over me - even when I don't/can't see or realize it.

Before tucking my angel cards back into their box, I happened to notice that right 

under Close was Mirror. I smiled to myself as I put the lid on my box and put it up 

so I could move into getting ready for my day.

A few moments later as I was showering, I thought, "No. Mirror does belong, too!" 

My little altar vignette is intentionally mirroring for me how to be (send love to my 

sister as best I can each day) and also what is happening (all my mamas and aunties 

are helping me). Then it brought a warm smile to remember that in a class I'm taking,

we were invited to look in an actual mirror.

So I went back and found Mirror and pulled it out.  

And the card under Mirror? 

 Root. 

Yes! That fits, too! My faith, which I've learned to practice with some grains of salt, 

has been a firm foundation for me. Plus looking tenderly into my eyes with the help 

of a mirror and speaking gentle encouragements to myself is something I've done

for decades. All of this, for me, is about returning to the basics... the Root of it all

Love

And under Root? 

 Receive.

Yes. 

♥ 

Sweet soul, it really is ok to simply allow Love to see thru me, let myself be held 

and trust that I am beloved and blessed.

It really, *really* is ok to simply Receive. Alls I hafta do is open my heart, as best 

I can in each moment, Pause and Let Love In.

Oh, and the Mother Mary oracle card I drew? 

Our Lady of Divine Presence.

Blessed be indeed.

.                 *                 .

Mother Mary Oracle - Everyday Ritual Share

Wanting to share my lovely new deck

and get to know my cards a little better, 

I posted this photo in a group I belong to.

With it being a day that ends in 8,

I was also practicing sharing 

from my abundance.

If you’d like to play along, 

take a moment to notice which of the cards draws you. 

The reveal photo is below. 

May She watch over and bless us all.

 

1. Our Lady Who Gives Peace

The affirmation that goes with her in the book is:

"The peace of the Mother fills my heart, 

as I let go into her endless genius and grace."

.     .     .

2. Our Lady of Divine Presence

The affirmation that goes with her in the book is:

"Our Lady of Divine Presence, your light lives and dwells within me. 

You are in every cell of my being and my heart opens to you

 like a flower to the golden sun. 

May your presence touch every aspect of my life, 

and all with whom I come into contact, 

like a golden wave of love, 

bathing the entire world with your consciousness."

.      .     .

3. Our Lady of the Sacred Son

The affirmation that goes with her in the book is:

"The powerful love generated 

by Mother Mary and the Christ, lives in me. 

It radiates from me in complete divine strength, 

power and protection, now and always. 

So be it."

.      .      .

For me it was between card 1 and 2 and I eventually landed on 1.

It brought a big ol' warm smile when she greeted me as I turned her over. 

Yes. She was/is exactly right for me on this day. 

Blessed be.

.           *            .

Breathe September 2017 :: Day 8 - Present

Lighting candles always helps 

to bring me back to this moment. 

May God bless and watch over 

those in Hurricane Irma's path. 

#BreatheSeptember2017

.         *          .

August Break 2017 :: Day 20 - I Love . . .

. . . summer sabbathing with my sweetie 

(and Sallie 😉) 

on our carport. 

❤️   🌻   ❤️   🌻   ❤️

#augustbreak2017

.        *          .

Blessing Basking

On my way in this morning, 

I pulled over close, 

stopped for just a minute, 

rolled my window down

 and allowed my 4 Sisters 

to love on me a little bit. 

Our weekdays together are numbered 

as our office will be moving soon. 

(No date yet)

..

Blessed be. 

🌳🌳🌳🌳

.         *             .

Follow Grace . . .

. . . with my face, 

(Just like a beautiful Sunflower does.)

🌻

.             *           .

Back to the Basics

Restin' and Abidin' 

in Grace, Mercy, Hope, and Peace. 

💕

.         *          .

A Gentle Reminder . . .

Be Here, Love

. . . 

Even when it's hard 

. . . 

And when you remember?

Return to what you know.

All will be well.

.         *          .

Time for Refreshment

Feeling nauseated since yesterday morning, I went to see my doctor this afternoon. After 

the blood work (and letting the unanticipated tears fall that were rising), I was in the 

bathroom washing my hands having just collected a urine sample. 

Both the soft spraying sound and the way the water flowed gently over my hands was an 

unexpected moment of refreshment.

Being the last appointment of the day, I knew folks were waiting on me so I almost didn't 

notice. When I did notice, I almost didn't allow myself to take a moment to stop and let 

the water soothe me and my weary spirit.

Almost. 

In a moment of Grace, I reminded myself that it would only take a minute or two.... it 

really was ok to take time to tend to myself... and I stopped and let the water caress my 

hands.

Turns out, it was one of those things that 

this water baby didn't even know she needed....

... until the invitation to quench my parched soul 

presented itself.

Blessed be. 

💦

.          *            .

Afternoon Respite

 🌻

.           *          .

Rest and Be Here

One of my sister's and her hubby is coming through town this weekend. We moved here 

almost 30 years ago and this will be her first visit here so that's exciting!

I've been doing some cleaning in the evenings this week and it is very good to sit, rest, 

and just be for a bit. 

💕

.          *          .

Soothing Sabbath Soak

.           *               .

The Journey of Present Over Perfect

Reading this afternoon and remembering

that practicing becoming

Present Over Perfect

is a journey.

Amen.

.        *        .

Sabbathing With My New Little Lovely

Isn't she beautiful?

.         *           .

Manifesting Through May :: Day 7 - To My Left . . .

I'm thinking that for my birthday I want 

an "outside Mary" 

of my very own so we've started looking at statuary. 

💙

Smiling because when I first mentioned it to hubby,

he was surprised and said 

"don't you want an "outside angel"?"

Smart guy, that one!

I thought about it for a minute and knew,

"Nope.  I want an "outside Mary."

(This time.  😉)

#manifestingthroughmay

.          *            .

Hope will Find You, Deb

So I picked up a small navy notebook that's been sitting on top of this little stack of books 

for a good while now. Having looked up what I was wondering, and not thinking too much 

about it, I put the notebook down and went on with my afternoon journaling.

Taking a pause to look around between thoughts a few moments later, I was taken by 

surprise to find just the words of comfort that I need during this time of transition and 

struggle with the unknown at work (our company was bought out the first of the year).

Smiling softly as the uncovered message felt like a secret treasure and very well-timed 

gift of Grace. Right here next to me, below my mandala that I named "Sheltered in the 

Cave of the Heart," the two books were offering me their quiet assurance: "Hope will 

find you", Deb. Just remember - "Present over Perfect" and All will be well.

.

Ah, blessed be. 

💕

.          *          .

April Love :: Day 5 - Favorite Quote

This quote from 

The Language of Letting Go 

by Melody Beattie 

is one of the first I ever memorized. 

Decades later it still soothes, quiets, and comforts. 

#aprillove2017

.           *           .

Anchors of Change

Awake in the wee hours Thursday morning,

I pulled images from a magazine that drew me.

That evening, I put them together in a collage.

(This mandala is my 98th)

I kept reading "Authors" as

"Anchors"

and that feels right.

All are pearls of wisdom when walking thru big changes

like I am both at work 

and in my family of origin.

Rest

Say yes 

(to listening well and to what feels right)

Be in the now

Believe 

Simple Beauty

⚓️️    .     💙    .     🙏🏻

.          *            .

Studying the Enneagram

Spending some quiet time 

on a chilly, damp Saturday morning 

all cozied up 

and learning about the Enneagram. 

 I had an old test and reconfirmed that I am a 2.

Then I listened to an interesting podcast

by Pace Smith.

.         *            .

A Little Lunchtime Refreshment

.         *          .