spirit
Nurture And Nourish Yourself With Nature
In our busy world we tend to take nature for granted. Consider for just a moment all the things flowers, plants and trees really do for humanity. They sustain life all around the world. Plants produce food and oxygen for many of the largest animals around the world, as well as for humans. Plants are also used for healing.
Unfortunately, modern humanity demands that things grow faster and produce better crops, leading us to alter plants in such a way that they might no longer be as healthy as they once were.
Just by watching the trees, one can predict the weather. We sometimes have an abundance of acorns from the oak trees here in Maine. It is said to be a sign of a snowy winter. Most acorns mature in late summer and begin falling from the trees in September or October. It’s a great time for the squirrels to collect them, and become fat and round before the winter.
In Maine the winter tends to be very long and it’s easy to become a somewhat down and sad. So, my friend and I decided earlier this year to take a ride on such a gray day to the local greenhouse that is open all winter. Plants, flowers, trees and beautiful landscapes can change one’s state of mind and put a smile on your face!
Why Do Only Some Return In Spirit?
A few weeks ago, I was sitting in my usual chair, quietly reading a book, when I felt a soft pat on my hand. It did not feel in any way threatening or frightening. I could sense from the softness of the touch sensation, as well as the physical shape that was in my peripheral vision, that this certainly was a female presence. However, I could not decipher who it was at that time.
The next day, I received a message that it had been a visitation from my sister, Theresa, whom had recently passed on. I was so moved and honored that she came to me like this. How sweet and precious that moment was for me!
This experience led me to think about others that I had known in my lifetime. Some I loved deeply, while others I did not always care for as much… despite some of them being extremely prominent in my life.
My brother, Venard, who died a tragic death from drowning at the tender age of 12, had never left any of the remaining siblings for a moment… not until much, much later on in our lives. We all felt he had given us his solemn warmth and devotion, until he felt we were ready, even as middle-aged adults, to finally continue with life on our own.
Working With Elemental Spirit Guides
There are several different classifications of spirit guides and energies that we as humans can work with to help us on our journey. Most spiritual traditions teach about the elemental energy within the four classical elements. This is found in ancient Buddhist texts, Native American spirituality, shamanic traditions, within the Judeo-Christian and other monotheistic traditions.
Working with elemental spirit guides can give us insights and strategies to promote positive changes in our lives, reveal our unconscious self-destructive patterns, and transform our subconscious mind and create a harmonious and balanced internal story. Elemental guides can also assist us when we are walking through a difficulty or life challenge, as well as intensify our ability to manifest the lives we want.
It is not difficult to connect with the elemental forces. There are many strategies that can assist in bringing these elemental forces into our everyday lives.
The Spirit Of Water
The spirit of water is associated with emotions and love. It can be used to help in assisting with emotional challenges, grief, and a better understanding and greater experience of love in our lives.
In many ancient traditions there is a parallel between water and being humble. It is said to be the humblest of all the elements, always seeking the lowest point. However, in its humble position it is also one of the strongest elements. In seeking the lowest position, it can evaporate into the air, satiate the flames of fire, and carve through the mountains of the earth.
When Spiritual Leaders Let Us Down
It is a hard lesson for some of us to learn that people are just people. We are all capable of good and evil. The difference is the choices that are made on how to handle our emotions and feelings.
When you put faith and trust in an individual and are let down, you start to second guess your decisions and lose some faith in yourself to make wise decisions. It can leave a big hole in your heart and create trust issues in the future.
It seems impossible for a person who has done remarkable good deeds to also choose to do bad things. We must realize that all people have temptations in life. Some people can avoid the albatross on their back, while others simply cannot. It takes a very strong person to walk their talk.
The same applies to ‘highly spiritual’ people, because some healers, gurus and spiritual leaders certainly have had their own cross to bear.
The Wisdom Of Forgiveness With Healthy Boundaries
We all have experienced the unease of feeling unable to forgive someone who has wronged us in some way. Sometimes it is really hard to let go of the way someone has gossiped about us, for example. It is difficult to understand why some people have the need to act the way they do, especially when these people are directly or indirectly related to us. Some families just split up and have nothing more to do with each other, because of this lack of forgiveness.
I was meditating on this one night before bed, and asked the Great Spirit to give me deeper insight and understanding on forgiveness. I had consciously made the healing decision for myself, that I will no longer share and keep space open for those who continue to do the same things to me, over and over, because it is unhealthy for me. But, I still felt the need to forgive. And I needed insight on how to do this.
Spirit Orbs Among Us
Orbs are among us. These balls of light sometimes show up in photographs and are believed to be ghostly entities, as they typically show up in cemeteries and haunted buildings. However, it has been my experience that an orb can show up anywhere, anytime…even in places one would never expect to see one.
I have been seeing orbs all my life, as far back as I can remember. Seeing orbs always gives me a feeling of loving spirit around me. It is my belief that spirit orbs are pure energy and love. They are consciousness.
Some orbs that appear in a photograph may be a speck of dust or insect. But not the ones I see. In fact, when some of those ‘speck of dust’ photos are enlarged, you can sometimes recognize a face in it. So, you may want to take another look at some of those orb photos.
Orbs often just float right by, suspended in the air. They may stop and be stationary for a few seconds, and then speed right away. Orbs come in all shapes and sizes in an array of colors. Just like people they are all unique. And what one person can see, another may not see.
The Spirit Of Trees
As I remember it, the house that I lived in for the first five years of my life was huge. Just a few weeks ago, I took a little trip the that very home. When I drove by, I saw it was for sale. I decided to park in the drive and walk around.
As I made my way to the backyard it was just the same as I remembered it – only much smaller! The trees in the back, dividing the neighbors yard and ours, are still there, as well as the porch that was built off the back of the house. The huge birch tree is also still out front and still alive and well. I looked in the windows and it all seemed pretty much as I remembered it. I have wonderful memories of that home.
I remember growing up around lot of trees and thinking how they were my friends. Trees are indeed our friends. They are a wonderful gift to this planet. Sometimes we sit under them and read a book, take a nap, climb them. And we cut them down and make paper and all kind of things with them, homes, and so forth.