From Daydream to Passion

What is it you daydream about?

The reason it’s so important to pay attention to our daydreams is because those that are positive, uplifting and fun may hold the key to our Passion. Many of my clients tell me they don’t know what their passion in life really is, and I say “Pay attention to your daydreams!”.

Daydreams hold rich and abundant information.

If your thoughts tend to go toward something that feels good, for example planting a garden, stay with it and see where it leads you. You may wonder where you would plant a vegetable or flower garden and you begin to play with ideas of arranging a plot. You may like the idea of planting, tending and reaping the rewards of your care and attention to this garden. You might even imagine sharing the fruits of your labor and love with friends, family and neighbors! Even though you may never have planted a vegetable or flower garden before, or even think you have the space for one, you just can’t help thinking about it!

You actually may be stumbling upon a passion! If nurtured and not dismissed you may find you have a love and a talent for gardening. And there are so many ways to create space . . .

Maybe you daydream of starting your own business – what a great daydream! Jump in and investigate what it would take and how you would go about doing it. You just never know what the outcome will be. It feels amazing to move toward something you’ve only, until now, daydreamed about!

Perhaps you daydream about social justice. Do you dream about fairness, equality and compassion for all people? Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a great example of someone who had a daydream that became his Passion! He didn’t worry about what others thought of him. His dream was so powerful and important that he stepped into the role of a leader of his own personal daydream and encouraged others to follow him. He created the amazing potential for real change. His passion for his dream is one of the most inspiring of our time.

So, what is it you daydream about? Feed your daydreaming curiosity. Try doing what you dream about out and see if you like it. NO, see if you LOVE it! More often than not, you’ll find that you will.

The Joy of Daydreaming!

What IS Daydreaming exactly?

According to Webster, ‘it’s a short-term detachment from the immediate surroundings, when a person's contact with reality is blurred and partially substituted by a fantasy.’ Sounds like fun!

Fun and good for us! When the mind wanders in a 'day dream', ideas come either partially or completely formed from seemingly ‘out of the blue’, like a bolt of lightning out of a clear blue sky, or a vague half formed thought that needs time to incubate. In either case daydreams are full of information for us.

Many brilliant people credit their daydreams and imagination as the foundation of their creativity and genius. Einstein said: "When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come close to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge."

“Everything starts as somebody’s daydream.”
Larry Niven – Author

If daydreaming facilitates bursts of creative insight why don’t we consciously engage those moments more often? We have probably been discouraged from childhood and hold a belief that daydreaming is a waste of time. Well, now we know the truth! It’s actually a creative endeavor that can provide wondrous results!

Here’s how to begin . . .

1) Make space for daydreaming and allow your mind to wander.
A slow walk in nature is perfect for allowing a clearing of the mind so
that it has space to wander.
Look out a window and watch the birds or clouds or raindrops.
Cloud watching is fascinating and causes us to use our imagination to
create images out of vapor!

2) Ask the ‘What if?’ questions. Daydreaming the answers is fun and insightful.
What if money were no object where would I travel?
What if I had three wishes – what would they be?
What if I could pursue anything I wanted (and there were no barriers) what
would it be?

3) Keep a ‘Daydream Diary” to capture interesting or reoccurring daydreams,
there’s something in there for you to know. Pay attention to the signs and
symbols and explore what they mean to you.

4) Share your daydreams with trusted friends and family, they will support your
dreams becoming reality!

“The best dreams happen when you’re awake!”
Flower - Aspiring writer.

Now, let’s get to it! What are your daydreams?

Creating the Future!

Releasing the past and creating the future takes courage!

I, for one, don’t often feel courageous. However, there are little things I intend to pay more attention to so that 2013 becomes alive with more joy!

Here is my list:

1.) Challenge my beliefs about what I think I can and can’t do.

It’s so easy to let beliefs go unchallenged – this year I will not allow old beliefs to predict unwanted outcomes. The first belief I challenge is ‘I probably can’t grow my Soul Coaching ® practice in a down economy.” My new belief, “I’ll work with enthusiasm and dedication doing what I love and the practice will grow, just watch!”

2.) Release something from my life that doesn’t serve me.

I’m working to release judgment. It’s so devious and insidious, and sometimes it pops up before I even know it’s there! Not only does it not serve me it is destructive to myself and others. So, I’ll work to replace it with the quest to see the ‘face of God’ in everyone, and the ‘hand of God’ in everything. This is a quest worth being on!

3.) Really open my senses to the world around me.

For me ‘wonder and awe’ are in the little things; the laugh of my daughters and grandsons, the colors of the autumn leaves, the feel of flannel sheets on a cold night, a really good red wine! But I wonder do I miss wonders around me? I believe I can be even more open to the joy and wonder of life and I intend to capture those moments on a daily basis!

4.) Learn one new thing.

What will it be? This question is fun to contemplate! Will it be jewelry making or writing poetry or maybe quilting – I haven’t decided yet, but it will be something fun and creative!

As we continue to move into the New Year, a year with more questions than answers ~ may you know the wisdom of your Soul and the power of Spirit. Remember the wonders of creation and the direct access we have to God. I send Love and wishes for an amazing year ahead!

So, what might you do to move with courage into 2013 to make it a joyful and creative year?

Happy New Year ~ 2013!!
January ~ The Dreams to Come

Reflection & Anticipation


January is a wonderful and complex month. When I explore the origins of January, I find the meaning and symbolism to be from Roman mythology.

Janus is represented by the ‘two-headed’ or ‘two-faced’ god, one face looking back and reflecting on the past, and one face turned in anticipation toward the future.


Janus is also the god of doors and gateways; goings and comings, closings and openings, endings and beginnings. What an amazing balance of the past and the future ~ right in the present!

As I take time to reflect on the past year, I’m filled with gratitude. Not that 2012 didn’t hold disappointment and heartache, setbacks and sadness, because it did for me and countless others. But I also feel an enormous depth of gratitude because I made it through with faith and with love more often than not! It’s not been easy for me to learn that it’s ok to feel disappointment, sadness and heartache, which is of course just part of life. The feelings are not to be judged, they are to be felt and acknowledged and allowed to be until I choose to move into thoughts and feelings that bring surrender, forgiveness and peace.


I’ve also experienced much happiness and excitement, love and surprises, and continue to know that when I get out of my own way and not judge the moment as good or bad, I’m able to be grateful for the entire year and the whole of my life.


In looking forward to 2013 with anticipation ~ believing we are moving into a new ‘era’ ~ I’m feeling excitement and awe. The enormity of the future is at our fingertips and that can also be a bit scary! What will I think, believe, and do to create the best possible year of my life? Since we all have this ability to design the life we dream of, what will you think, believe and do to create the next year of your life?

A Walk Down Life's Path

Life is a strange and mysterious process.

As we grow up we have a picture in our head, a plan of what our life will be. And then life happens; sometimes in a blissful way, sometimes in a painful way and in both cases we may be taken by surprise!


When bliss catches us by surprise we have a feeling of awe – life is so very good. And when pain catches us by surprise we have a feeling of deep sorrow – life is so very hard.

The good experiences we claim as ours, and rejoice in the good fortune. Sometimes when we experience something we judge as bad we tend to place blame on ourselves, someone or something else. When things happen in my life I’m reminded of the story of the Chinese farmer.

There was a Chinese story of a farmer who used an old horse to till his fields. One day, the horse escaped into the hills and when the farmer's neighbors sympathized with the old man over his bad luck, the farmer replied, "Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows?" A week later, the horse returned with a herd of horses from the hills and this time the neighbors congratulated the farmer on his good luck. His reply was, "Good luck? Bad luck? Who knows?"

Then, when the farmer's son was attempting to tame one of the wild horses, he fell off its back and broke his leg. Everyone thought this very bad luck. Not the farmer, whose only reaction was, "Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows?"

Some weeks later, the army marched into the village and conscripted every able-bodied youth they found there. When they saw the farmer's son with his broken leg, they let him off. Now was that good luck or bad luck?
Who knows?

It is good to remember that things may not be what they seem on the surface. It would be wise to be grateful for all life’s experiences as we don’t really know where the lessons are that will bring us to Joy!

Two Daughters ~

For me poetry is a very intimate form of expressing our thoughts and feelings.

I wrote this poem several years ago and have not shared it with anyone until now. As I begin to share with you I well up with tears of love for my daughters and the joy they have given me!

Dedicated to Jade and Sunshine ~ I love you!


Two Daughters

Two daughters fill my soul.

Two daughters.
Fill my soul to overflowing with love.

Two daughters.
Fill my soul to overflowing.
With love that expands our hearts.

Two daughters.
Fill my soul to overflowing.
With love that expands our hearts, we cannot be separated no matter the distance between us.

Two daughters.
Fill my soul to overflowing.
With love that expands our hearts.
We cannot be separated no mater the distance.
Between us we are connected with a red velvet ribbon.

Two daughters,
Fill my soul to overflowing.
With love that expands our hearts.
We cannot be separated no mater the distance between us we are connected.
With a red velvet ribbon our hearts are tied together as one.

Be Still ~

I've had a quote by Dr. Wayne Dyer on my desk for several years, it says;

"When there is a problem there is not something to do ~ there is something to know".



I reflect on this quite a lot.

As a person who wants to 'do' something to 'fix' a problem, this concept has activated a huge paradigm shift for me.

So, when there is a problem how do we get to what we need to know?

Be Still.

Yes, be still. It's not as easy as it sounds but when we can slow down, and ask the Soul Question 'What does this experience (problem, issue) want me to know", we will receive the answer. It may take patience and practice, but the answer will come. It is a law of the universe!

Stillness can be achieved through meditation or even a solitary walk in nature. It's about not doing or thinking. It's about being still and listening! Be open to the answer you receive ~ as it will help you work through the experience and deepen the relationship with Your Self.

What is it that you need to know?

The Invitation

The Invitation

by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

One of the most beautiful, deep and expansive poems I've ever read, and I'd like to share it with you.


The Invitation

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain. I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it for fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own, if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, to be realistic, to remember the limitation of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul; if you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see beauty, even when it's not pretty, every day, and if you can source your own life from it's presence. I want to know if you can life with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, "Yes!"

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up, after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done to feel the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you, from the inside, when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

This poem has the ability to crack me wide open every time I read it. I want to embrace my life with more love and depth and curiosity. I’ve accepted The Invitation many times, and then I forget. Then it reappears and causes me to remember and I accept again.

This Invitation is for you as well. Will you accept and journey with me?

New Beginnings!

I love New Beginnings!

For me, each new beginning is filled with possibility!

This blog is no exception. I am beginning again after not having written for several months. I see this as another new beginning and am just as excited as if it were the very first time.

Sometimes life presents events that seemingly get in the way of what we had intended to do, and it's important to go with the flow of life, as it has much to teach us. But then, life slows down and we have an opportunity to get back to the things that bring us joy each and every time we do them. We begin again!

It's important to remember to begin again ~ and again ~ and again if necessary, as it's so easy to get comfortable with the 'flatness' or the 'sameness' of our lives and not reach for the Intention of Joy. I intend Joy to be a part of each new beginning! Otherwise, why begin?

Each new moment of each new day ~ of each new week ~ of each new month ~ WOW it's endless! And then, of course there's each new idea, or thought, or aha moment! I literally get excited when I think of the vastness of possibilities within this never-ending newness! No matter what our life has been in the past, no matter the good or bad, each moment brings the gift of a new beginning!

So, what new experience in life's journey is just waiting for you? Setting the intention to begin something new, or something we have forgotten or let go of but that makes us happy, is a wonderful way to call into our experience a more joyful life. Do you desire; more fun, better health, more time for creativity, a more fullfilling work experience, more loving relationships ~ whatever it is, know that it begins NOW, with each choice we make in each moment, we move closer to - or farther away from our dreams and desires.

No matter how grand or how tiny, each New Beginning deserves to be honored! What might you begin today? Maybe you're going to 'begin again' as I am, or maybe it will be something for the very first time. In either case ~ how exciting!!

I'd love for you to share YOUR experience of New Beginnings!

In Praise of Napping!

Dream of taking a nap?

From my experience, and those of my fellow nappers, taking a break in the middle of the day to relax and rejuvenate is one of the wisest things we can do for ourselves!

We all know the benefits of taking a "time out", but too few of us actually do it. FYI ~ taking care of others is a more joyful experience when we've also taken care of ourselves. It's simple ~ we can give more and do more when we replenish ourselves as well. When we view napping in this way, it's not a selfish act to close our eyes and drift into sleep, it's an act of service!

Feelings of prolonged physical or emotional fatigue or overwhelm due to personal or business reasons comes at a price to our health. However, taking a nap can ease those difficult feelings by the simple act of rest. In western cultures resting is sometimes viewed as being lazy - how dreadful! We've lost the 'knowing' that resting is vitally important for body and soul.

So, I'm going to share the most important reason for taking a nap.

Because you want to! Yes, that's it, that's all the reason you need. I am the Napping Queen and I give you permission! Lay down, close your eyes, breathe deeply, relax your body, imagine yourself in a very calm and restful place, and let you mind drift off into sleep. M m m m m m.....

Now doesn't that feel good?!

A Dream Come True!

I'm filled with such joy and love as I share this fantastic news with you. This past week I received an email from my publisher at Soul Wings Press, letting me know that the book I co-authored, Soul Whispers: Collective Wisdom from Soul Coaches around the World, has just been released for purchase on Amazon.com!!!

Soul Whispers has been honored as an Award-Winning Finalist for Best Anthology: Non-Fiction, in the 2010 Internation Book Awards!

This has been such an amazing experience for me as well as the other talented authors. I am forever grateful to my publisher Sohpia Fairchild's loving work on this project and the fulfillment of a vision I've held for many years.

I've long dreamed to leave something of value for my daughters to light their way when I'm no longer with them in the physical realm. I can think of no better light than wise words shared by amazing women from all around the world that have a soul connection!

Soul Whispers is a collection of writings about how to live a more joyful and authentic life. My contribution to this amazing work is on the topic of 'Synchronicity', which seems to be my constant companion! Other chapters range from 'Transitions' and 'The Bad Girl's Soul Coach' to 'Remembering Who We Are', and many other wise and wonderful contributions.

I'd be so happy if you'd check it out at Amazon.com

If you've already read Soul Whispers I'd be so happy if you'd write a review on Amazon. If you'd like a signed copy just let me know . . . . I have a few left!

Thank you for letting me share this wonderful news with you!

A Sacred Walk

A Sacred Walk is a slow meandering!

This is not an exercise walk, power walk, or even a slow jog. It's only purpose is to bring us into the moment as we take each step and simply go where those steps take us. A Sacred Walk is about using all six senses as we mindfully experience the life affirming activity of 'being'.

What do you see? Maybe a path that turns and disappears and seemingly has no end, mighty trees or tall grasses, brilliantly colored autumn leaves or the fresh budding of spring growth, clouds floating lazily in the sky or being shooed away by the wind.

What do you hear? Maybe the songs of the birds that have been sung since the beginning of time, or the playful chatter of squirrels running and chasing each other. Maybe the wind rustling in the leaves, or the crunch of dried leaves underfoot. An owl, a woodpecker - what else?

What do you smell? Can you sense the changing of the seasons in the air? Breathe in the wetness, the dryness, the freshness. Really taking in a deep breath of air can give us amazing insights as to what is close by or what might be coming our way.

What do you taste? What does a sprinkle of rain on the tip of your tongue taste like? Anything we can breathe in deeply we can almost taste - use your imagination, give it a try.

What do you feel? The cool morning breeze blowing through your hair, the warm afternoon sun shining down on you, the wetness of rain drops falling on your skin? What do the veins of a leaf feel like, the surface of a stone or the outer layer of a tree trunk?

What does your Soul, or intuition tell you about all that you experience during your Sacred Walk? Maybe to slow down and appreciate each moment before it passes, or perhaps to be more fully engaged in all of life that is such a precious gift. Ask if there is a message for you and listen for the answer. Sacred Walks are the most amazing way to tap into creativity, answers to questions, and the clearing of intrusive thoughts that seem to prevent us from moving forward in a joyful way.

On some of my Sacred Walks I have been given clear and profound messages from Spirit ~ on some of my walks I simply enjoy the intimacy with myself and nature ~ and on some walks I feel overwhelming gratitude for life. No matter the outcome, I've breathed in and enjoyed the moments of my life.

Send Blessings

The offer of a blessings is a way of sending good will to others.

There is plenty of negativity and fear all around us, and sometimes it's not easy to see that there is something we can do to help ourselves and others feel better ~ but there is!

Offer a Blessing!
Yes, it's that easy.

A blessing is the infusion of something with Divine Holiness - as in a prayer.

Blessings can be for people, places, situations, anything that would benefit from the outpouring of love. We can bless our friends and family, our enemies, the situations we find ourselves in, our planet, and our future. It can be concrete or abstract. And that's joy of it because it's all about intention and imagination!

It's as easy as this ~ Think of who or what you want to bless. Think of what attributes you want to enhance or create, imagine your purest intention for the very best outcome, and then express it in some way.

It feels amazing to give and receive blessings like;
"May you know deep and everlasting peace."
"May your heart be filled with joy."
"May your dreams be realized and celebrated."
"May you love and be loved beyond measure."
"May peace envelop our world, our nation and our communities."

The love we give, in blessing others, comes back to us as a blessing for ourselves! Remember ~ what we put out is what we get back!! Kate Nowak designed a beautiful movie entitled "May You Be Blessed", please enjoy it as a blessing from me to you!

See it at http://www.mayyoubeblessedmovie.com

Counting Our Blessings . . .

What does it mean to be blessed? For me, it's to experience the Creator's presence.

All of life is infused with the Divine. If only we recognize this we can feel the joy of life in seemingly ordinary moments. Blessings come in countless forms; big life changing events or tiny moments of wonder.

My life has been blessed beyond measure. This past week has been overflowing with Divine blessings. My third grandson was born into our family on September 21st (the International Day of Peace, how cool is that!) and his presence is a blessing to our family in countless ways. To watch him sleep is to witness real peace, to smell his newborn scent is to be filled with the fragrance of purity, to hear his cry is to know the wonder of life and to witness family and friends in awe of such a tiny creation is to see the Divine in all who hold and love him.

My daughters and grandsons are a huge Blessing in my life, but I also count the little Blessings. Here is a short list; the smell of coffee in the morning, the scent of roses (reminds me of my Mother), the taste of a vine ripened tomato, the smell of the ocean, ladybugs and butterflies, the feel of freshly laundered sheets, belly laughs, doggy nuzzles, handwritten cards and letters, star light. I could go on and on and on . . .

If, just for one day, we make a list of the Blessings we experience ~ our lives will be enriched and have a little sparkle!

Writing 'Love' Notes

Writing a note, card or letter seems to be a dying art, yet who doesn't simply love getting a hand written card or letter in the mail. How long has it been since you've received one, and more importantly how long has it been since you've written and sent one?

With the technology age solidly embedded in our everyday lives, many of us prefer to send emails or e-cards. It saves us time, we can do it at the last minute, and at least we remembered the birthday, anniversary, etc. Right?! And then we can move on to the next task at hand.

But let's pause for just a moment. How long does it really take to write a few meaningful sentences to let someone know that we love them, miss them, wish them good health, thank them, congratulate their success, welcome them into our world - our lives? It's really about letting them know they are loved. "Love" notes are for everyone. Wouldn't you like to receive a note that let you know someone was thinking about you and took a moment from their busy life to express those thoughts in their own special way. Wouldn't that feel good? And how much better to be the one bringing that joy to someone else.

Most of us only recieve bills and ads in the mail and who really wants to open those?! I bet if we each took a few moments today and wrote someone a 'Love' note, it would add joy to their day and to ours!

You don't need a fancy card or paper, just a simple handwritten note. Today's the day to let someone know how you feel. The rewards are great!

Listen to Yourself

Who or what do we listen to most of the time and on a regular basis to the exclusion of our own voice? Our family, friends, "professionals", the media? Why? We have our own absolute truth waiting to be heard if we're ready and willing to listen.

That voice inside each of us is sometimes called; Intuition, Conscience, Higher Power, Inner Voice, our Soul, even our Gut . . . whatever you call it, we all have it. And, it's there for a very good reason, to guide us on life's path. I believe it comes from our Divine Source and is there for the good of ourselves, others, the planet and all of life.

Many of us have been taught not to pay much attention to it. We've been taught well by our families, teachers, religious leaders, friends, the media. And, many of us are very good learners. We've learned to ignor, rationalize away, bury, question and ridicule those important messages from deep within us. But we intuitivily know in a deep sacred place that it speaks the truth. AND we can choose to listen!

Listen to what your body has to tell you.
Listen to what your thoughts have to tell you.
Listen to what your soul has to tell you.

Be still, ask questions and listen for the answers. Do this again and again until you 'know' your truth. If your body hurts talk to it and ask what is causing the discomfort. If your thoughts are not lifting you up, ask where the negativity is coming from. If your soul is whispering to you, what is it saying?

By ignoring or discounting these soul messages we can become ill of body, mind or spirit. We become unhappy, make decisions that don't serve our highest good, hurt ourselves or others, and feel disconnected from our own lives.

But when we LISTEN to our inner voice, which only tells us the truth, we tap into the Divine Knowledge of the universe. Wow, how awesome is that and what power it holds!!

Listening to Others

Really listening to another person with our full attention is a gift.

We all want to be heard, but what does that require of the listener? That they be present, without distraction, and fully engaged in the conversation. Looking directly and deeply at the person speaking and paying fulll attention to what they're saying isn't always easy. We are oftentimes distracted; phone calls, text messaging, thinking about what we want to say, etc.

What if - we actually listened without interuption and connected to the person speaking?! What if - we were so fully engaged that listening to what the other person was saying was the most important thing at that moment?! What if - we listened with compassion, love and friendship?! When engaged in conversation let's offer the gift of really listening and hearing what others have to say, of connecting on a deeper level, of truly paying attention. The gift we receive may be even greater; we may learn something new about ourselves as well as the other person.

It feels great to be heard!

The Joy of Giving

Give a gift to everyone you meet in the course of your day! Sound impossible? It's not. It's a lot of fun and the rewards can be amazing!

I'm not proposing that you buy and give material gifts - though on special occasions that might be a wonderful idea as well. What I'm talking about is much more spontaneous and simple. It can be the gift of a smile, a helping hand, a kind word, a hand picked flower, or a prayer. It might be a shoulder to cry on or a hug of encouragement. It might be a card, or a phone call to let someone know you're thinking of them.

In these seemingly small ways we can deeply connect with another and it may be the connection they (or we) need most at that moment.

A moment in time that really touched my heart. I was busy gardening on a Sunday morning. As I worked, my elderly neighbor Daisy (in her mid 90's) made her way across the street to chat. She told me the same story everytime I saw her, about her husband who had passed away several years before and how much he loved to work in his garden. I listened attentively even though she'd told me this story many times before, clearly it was a wonderful memory for her. After a few minutes, she said goodbye and went home. Since I was practicing 'gift giving' I wondered what in the world I could give to Daisy. I decided to cut some lily's and roses from my garden and take them to her, which I did. I rang her doorbell and when she answered the door I smiled and handed her the flowers. Her eyes just lit up, she was so happy. She said she hadn't received flowers in a very long time. She told me how beautiful they were and how good it felt to receive them. She thanked me over and over again.

That was a few years ago. Daisy has since passed away. But I'll never forget how simple it was to give her that moment of happiness. She in turn gave me a gift as well, though she may not have known it. She gave me the gift of insight and gratitude - how such a small gesture can be so meaningful to someone in need of exactly what we have to give.

So, try it this week. Give a 'gift' to everyone you come in contact with. See how it enriches the lives of the receiver and the giver.

Joy in Nature

After reading last weeks post, a fellow Soul Coach, Catriona MacGregar, asked if I would post an article that she had written. I am delighted to do so as Catriona beautifully describes her Joy in Nature. I hope you enjoy her experience as much as I did!

Joy in Nature
"Today, we miss the subtle changes in the wind, the calls of birds, the smell of the fragrant Earth beneath our feet. We leave little time for deep inner journeys or quiet walks in the woods even though who we are and what we are—the very root of our identity—is connected to the Earth. Peace, joy, and wisdom are within our reach - but are not found in the electric boxes lighting up homes and offices around the world.

It is in nature that our cup of joy fills to the brim. Joy is there in the yellow halo of a new morning sky. Joy is there in the animated movements of a gray squirrel leaping from branch to branch. Joy is there in the deep purple of a wild iris. Joy is there in the still, glasslike surface of the lake. We feel such happiness and joy in nature because we belong in nature. The Creator planted this joy seed in our heart that blooms in nature.

I recall a joyous moment, when my heart shone as brightly as the harvest moon. I was walking quietly in the early morning along a narrow trail in northern California. The trail, more fit for delicate deer hooves than human feet, wound along the southern slope of Mount Tamalpais. Yellow grasses along the trail brushed delicately against my calves as I walked. Three hundred feet below me was a small narrow valley, where the sunlight gave way to the gray-green shade below. The spring morning air felt cool on my skin and the sun was just beginning to rise over the closest ridgeline. A veil of fog was slowly lifting from the tips of the surrounding hillsides.

As I rounded the bend a few minutes later, a sight opened before me that completely shifted my consciousness. On the northern incline of the trail, in the sheltered blue-gray shade of live oak trees draped with Spanish moss, over one hundred of most exquisite wild white lilies sprang from the ground. Narrow beams of soft, golden light from the sun illuminated each delicate flower. Each flower’s six pristine white petals appeared to be communing with the sun as the light streamed softly between the upper branches of the trees. It seemed as if I had innocently come upon a mysterious gathering of angels lighting upon the Earth as flowers.

Elevated in that shimmering moment, every cell of my body filled with ecstatic grace and joy. Inhaling deeply, my lungs filled fully with the morning air still touched with the memory of the cool starry night. The sacredness of the place brought me fully into a moment of oneness with all of creation—a moment that seemed to span an eternity of time and space. I was the saintly white irises; I was the soft light of the sun; I was the powdery blue Spanish moss that hung gracefully from the branches.

When that moment had passed, I could hear with great clarity the delicate singing of the small stream below and the sweet songs of the birds. I felt lighter and immeasurably freer. Nature is the perfect portal to this sacred moments of joy. We all have the ability to become something new when we fill ourselves with the elixir of nature.

What kind of person will you be when you are filled with the warm rays of the sun, the clarity of the blue sky, or the freedom of a soaring hawk? Just go outside and lay in the grass, looking up at the trees and the sky. Take the time to walk over to the flowers to smell their fragrance; look deep inside their petals to see the subtle colors. Do not fool yourself that these acts are less important than spending tedious, long hours working. Instead, let these wild things grow inside of you, and from this, your soul will be richer than it will ever be from a thousand promotions. From this place of joy the light of your spirit can then change the world."

Catriona has been a voice for animals and wild places all her life. Catriona leads Vision Quests and Nature Quests to help people connect to nature and their own unique path in life. [Learn more at www.naturalpathfinder.com] She is the coauthor of Healing the Heart of the World: Harnessing the Power of Intention to Change Your Life and the Planet, along with Carolyn Myss, Jean Shinoda Bolen, Masaru Emoto, Fritjof Capra, Thich Nhat Hanh, et al. as well as the author of “Partnering with Nature: The Wild Path to Reconnecting with the Earth” available at Amazon.com.

Spend Time in Nature

Peaceful places in nature actually nourish the soul. How do you feel when you sit quietly by a creek, hike a trail in the forest, watch the rhythmic waves of the ocean, or walk a path in a beautiful park? These quiet moments allow us to soak up the natural calming energy of our Mother Earth. Spending time in nature each day helps to center and relax us. It's easy to get caught up in the frenzy of life, but let's not forget that it's just as easy to step outside and be awed by a full moon!

Let's remember that our soul loves the quiet reflective calm of a starry night, or watching a leaf floating in a stream. Let's also remember that the morning greets us with a glorious sunrise and birds singing the day awake and the night gives us magnificent sunsets and a moon that watches over us. Sometimes, it just about remembering to be more a part of nature and appreciate it's gifts.

I love walking and listening to the birds chirping in the trees, watching the butterflies tasting each flower and quietly saying 'Thank You' for it all! I also love the picture above which my grandson, Brady, took on one of our 'adventures' into the natural world. It reminds me of precious moments with him and soaking up the delights that nature brings us.

So, here's a challenge . . . . .
Spend some time in nature each day. Breathe in the fresh air. Get lost in watching the clouds move slowly across the sky. Say good morning to the sun and good night to the moon. Make a wish upon the first star in the night sky. Watch a frog or a cricket, a bee or a butterfly. Listen to the birds sing their favorite songs. And then, just see how it makes you feel to be more connected to the nature of the universe.