Tag: love

Panda – Forever Joy!

Panda, a Terrier/Poodle, pure energy, pure joy, pure unconditional love. Panda was with me until I left Arizona. My mom had moved to Denver, Colorado and was residing in a senior retirement apartment community.

Panda and I bonded deeply. I have never been as aware of how profoundly my dogs impacted my life as I am in my soulful remembrance of them through writing.

Panda had amazing exuberance and excitement whenever I came home. In fact, even when I would go out to empty the trash and return. Panda would be so excited she would jump up and down as though to jump into my arms.

She was a gift of life and happiness to all. Panda was a lap dog and we had sacred moments of love and communion time together. Like all dogs, chasing a ball was prime time play and we had our ball games and toy throwing moments. Panda was in my life to give me unconditional love. I was in deep judgment of feeling I was failing in my ministry. Panda was always there to evidence her joy in my being.

I do believe the angel kingdom brings us our pets. They are to serve a soul purpose for us and to teach us that tender care and regard for them and ourselves is what they are in our lives for.

Panda did have a soul playmate – just as Light and Sebastian were soul linked – so were a shiatsu dog named Chink. Chink was another niece’s dog – (I have 4 nieces). Chink was smaller than Panda but the two of them bonded in playful love and would chase each other around the house until they dropped from exhaustion.

Eternal Love

I never realized how deeply Panda loved me until I left my church in Arizona after 11 years of service. I was returning to California to spend what I thought would be a couple of weeks with a beloved soul sister, Dr. Elizabeth Marshall, and her family, till I found a new life and purpose. I had depleted all I had to give in my years of service, being there for my family, the church and congregation demands, and I had nothing left to give.

I left Panda with my sister and her husband. The adopted family I stepped into had a full house and it turned out I became a male nanny for six children. I returned to Arizona not long after I left for a brief visit. Panda went wild and was thrilled to see me. My heart ached in leaving her behind, but again – circumstances were such I could not bring her back with me. As I was about to return to California, she jumped in the back seat of the car and wouldn’t leave. It took four of us to get her out. That was heart-breaking and the regret I feel for leaving her remains.

I knew I would never have another dog where that would be a reality. That held true. I was 42 when I left Arizona and 40 years later, I wound up with joint custody of a dog named Gus.

Gus is the dog that has entered my life to let me know all my dogs have forgiven me and that I will see them again in Eternity.

Our pets cherish us and do have eternal love for giving them care and love. There’s no measure to the immensity of that love as I am so deeply remembering.

Take a deep breath – in remembrance of your pets – they will feel it wherever they are in Eternity.

Monthly Theme and Weekly Speakers.

Every month, we take the Key Principles of MYOB and put them into practice in our lives. Looking at the deeper call before us — What are we each to “Be” to bring about societal change through our soul evolution in ways that establish justice, love, and care for all – without exception. Please join us weekly on Thursdays at 7 p.m. EDT for our virtual program.

AI image generated by Copilot.

Tucsonia – A Royal Soul

Akita Image by maxxxiss from Pixabay

The next two dogs in my life I had to release to new homes because of events and circumstances. I still feel the incredible sadness in my heart for doing that.

Tucsonia came into my life just before I left California to begin my ministry. She was an Akita. “The Akita is a muscular, double-coated dog of ancient Japanese lineage famous for their dignity, courage, and loyalty. In their native land, they’re venerated as family protectors and symbols of good health, happiness, and long life.”

A beloved friend, Evelyn, knew of our collie, Light, disappearing before I was to leave for Tucson and my serving my first church as Minister. She called me to say that there were soon to be new Akita puppies being born and she wanted to gift me one. This was mid-summer, and I was due to leave in the fall for Tucson. After the initial pre-care required, I came to pick up my new companion. Akitas are highly intelligent and are extraordinarily playful. When Tucsonia would stand on her hind legs she looked like a bear cub.

Tucsonia – On Guard!

Tucsonia was sensitive to noise and would bark as a warning immediately at any sound that disturbed her. Early on in my move to Tucson, my mom, Esther, came to live with me. I had gone out one night and when I returned home, I heard Tucsonia barking. I went into the house and Tucsonia was at my mom’s bedroom door, barking and not moving from the door.

My mom had dropped something and that frightened Tucsonia and she would not let her out of the bedroom. It was frightening for my mom, but for Tucsonia she was on guard.

All my family in California moved to Tucson to be with me. My nieces got married there and soon there were great nieces and nephews in the picture.

My eldest niece had a St. Bernard named Sebastian. Tucsonia and Sebastian became best friends. We shared the same home space for a period. There were a couple of times the dogs got out of the yard, and it was a loving soul who found Tucsonia and called us and let us know, but dear Sebastian wound up in the pound and we had to go pick him up from there.

Tucsonia loved to get down on her front paws, rear and tail in the air, and that was her cue – let’s play. When my niece went out to empty trash, Tucsonia would often hide in the bushes and when she would jump out at her and chase her, and this was most assuredly a statement of “Let’s Play.”

Tucsonia always slept beside me and had her own mattress. This was a deep connection.

One thing that was extremely hard on both dogs – the extreme heat in the summertime and the ticks that would appear. Both dogs suffered in those months – even as much as we kept them indoors.

Letting Go

My niece, her husband, and two children decided to go to Colorado. We had to vacate the house we had. Moving to Colorado would offer a new life for them and the climate would be healthier for our dogs, Tucsonia and Sebastian.

My niece’s marriage was failing, and immense responsibilities were on her shoulders. In Colorado she had to find new homes for both Tucsonia and Sebastian. She did meet the new owner of Tucsonia and felt great that he lived in the mountains and took Tucsonia on walks. She did not meet Sebastian’s new owner.

The grief of releasing Tucsonia and Sebastian remains with both my niece and me. Tucsonia’s gift was the depth of her awareness and love and feeling at night, lying beside her, that she had understood me and had come to me from the angels after my dog Light decided to stay in California. See Blog on Light.

Releasing pets when circumstances seem overwhelming is extremely painful. There is one more incredible dog being that came into my life in Tucson – a Terrier/Poodle named Panda. That story to follow.

The journey of self-forgiveness for the life circumstances that I felt required letting go of beloved pets remains. My healing remembrance – I know I have their forgiveness.

Monthly Theme and Weekly Speakers.

Every month, we take the Key Principles of MYOB and put them into practice in our lives. Looking at the deeper call before us — What are we each to “Be” to bring about societal change through our soul evolution in ways that establish justice, love, and care for all – without exception. Please join us weekly on Thursdays at 7 p.m. EDT for our virtual program.

Image by maxxxiss from Pixabay

A Story of “Baby Thing”

starling

From Ernest Holmes – Science of Mind Text – “… there is that Eternal Voice forever whispering within our ear, that thing which causes the eternal quest, that thing which forever sings and sings.”

A couple of facts about starlings: “Starlings are known for their beautiful iridescent feathers, which can appear black, purple, green, or blue, depending on the angle of light.

Starlings are extremely vocal birds, and they have a wide variety of calls and songs. They are also able to mimic the sounds of other birds and even non-bird sounds, such as alarm clocks or car engines!”

That voice within Baby Thing touched my heart forever – reminding me we are all here to triumph and to sing our song that lifts the heart of all – without exception.

A Rescue

In my late twenties, my partner, David, and I rescued a starling that had fallen out of a tree. We nursed this precious being … that I named “Baby Thing” back to health and Baby Thing lived in our home. Baby Thing learned to speak and would often be saying words, not always discernable, but very engaging. Baby Thing loved Mario Lanza singing songs of Caruso, and when I would play Mario, he would sing his heart out and hit the high notes. It was Baby Thing’s way of making a JOYFUL noise unto the Lord.

Check Mario out with this YouTube audio – “Without A Song.”

I would share in the JOY of Baby Thing flying out of his cage and onto my shoulder when I came home. What an immense sense of LOVE that was.

On warm days, we often kept Baby Thing on a porch, with the cage closed. One day we came home to discover a cat had knocked over the cage and attacked Baby Thing. Baby Thing was still alive, and we immediately went to work with prayer and the most tender care. And yes … Baby Thing lived through that horror … never looking quite the same … yet still hitting those high notes with Mario Lanza.

The miracle of Baby Thing was the JOY he felt singing his song and expressing love, no matter what he had experienced.

Baby Thing reminds me that we all are to find our Voice and Song. That song is meant to be healing and honoring for all for the right to be. In this world now where we have the opportunity of such enlightenment, we are still in centuries old warring, hatreds, and the denial of freedom for all without exception to realize their inner song as Baby Thing so magnificently expressed. May we be in prayer for our planet to awaken to what we are here for – the quest that our songs of authenticity and love can be known for all. Thank you, Baby Thing, for your forever heart-print upon my soul.

A starling carried a universal message for all humanity – Let nothing prevent you from singing your song, from claiming what is yours to BE. Have the courage to rise from adversity and as your earth journey is complete, you will soar into Eternity.

Monthly Theme and Weekly Speakers.

Every month, we take the Key Principles of MYOB and put them into practice in our lives. Looking at the deeper call before us — What are we each to “Be” to bring about societal change through our soul evolution in ways that establish justice, love, and care for all – without exception. Please join us weekly on Thursdays at 7 p.m. EDT for our virtual program.

Two Mallard Ducks and a Story of Camelot

Mallard Ducks

In my years living with David, he knew how attracted I was to the duck kingdom. We got 2 magnificent mallard ducks, and I named them Lancelot and Guinevere.

We had a side yard and we created what we called their “Camelot.” We had a bathtub for their swimming and water and a slide that led up to the tub. They could waddle up the slide and jump in and they could just jump out of the tub or slide back down.

There was an indoor duck house – painted pink and grey. I adored Lancelot and Guinevere, and we would have sacred times together. Our cottage home was a delight and there was a front porch. We had a front garden and you had to step down steps into the front yard from the street.

When I would come home from work, Lance and Gwen would come running from the side yard, quacking excitedly and wait for me to sit down on the front porch and they would slide in next to me for bonding time. How can one ever forget such love and devotion? I would pet them, and both would look up at me with love in their eyes – YES – for real. We would also have play time together around the bathtub pool and of course feeding time was pure joy.

Just knowing their soul bonding with me and our play and communion times was a gift of love beyond defining.

Our moments together gave me deep insight into the love they exuded and how profoundly they loved each other. The vision of my daily homecoming and greeting by Lancelot and Guinevere is always in my heart.

There was a morning, however, that David asked me not to go outside… A racoon had gotten into the yard and Lance and Gwen were no longer in this realm.

Whenever I am around ducks, I speak to them and let them know how profoundly I adore their kingdom. I love duck pictures and anyone who visits me will be keenly aware of that.

The gift of Lancelot and Guinevere –There was such JOY experiencing their love and they are part of my soul eternity.

Monthly Theme and Weekly Speakers.

Every month, we take the Key Principles of MYOB and put them into practice in our lives. Looking at the deeper call before us — What are we each to “Be” to bring about societal change through our soul evolution in ways that establish justice, love, and care for all – without exception. Please join us weekly on Thursdays at 7 p.m. EDT for our virtual program.

Photo by Heather Paul, Flickr

A Dog Named “Pepper” – My Youth Companion

My Pets and their soul-prints upon me.

Among my most treasured childhood memories was my first dog – a black cocker spaniel named “Pepper.” I had Pepper from the time I was about 7 years old until my early twenties. I remember the joy I had with Pepper in a small red wagon I had where we would ride together down a long hill sidewalk. My images of those rides are forever. My walks, playing ball, hugging, the knowing Pepper was a part of my youth was constant evidence of pure love around me.

Pepper endured momentous changes. We moved from a beautiful yard where she had a doghouse built to match our own and great freedom. When I was 16, we moved from Colorado to California and a whole new existence began for both of us.

Pepper adapted to every change and there were 7 moves in 6 years. My mother divorced my stepfather and soon after my sister and her four daughters moved to California after she divorced her husband. Pepper was my rock – my beloved friend.
She brought love to us all. My late teens and into my mid-twenties were about being there always for my mom, sister, and nieces. Pepper made her paw print upon us all. My nieces were very annoyed, however, whenever at the dinner table one of them would ask – “Pass the pepper” and I would get Pepper and carry her to the table.
I couldn’t get away with it often, but it was such fun.

What Matters – Our Love Is Forever

The deepest paw print from Pepper, no matter how immense the changes, what mattered – we were together. Pepper was a soul companion through my youth. Her aging began to bring her great pain and struggle. I came home from work one day and my sister and mother sat me down to let me know they had taken Pepper to the veterinarian to send her to her eternal home. They felt it would be too much for me. But I would have been grateful to be the one to hold her in that transition. There were times when I knew I could have been a better Master through all those changes, yet for Pepper, it was only that I was in the picture. I will forever remember our being together in that red wagon – joyfully going down that hill. My nieces also had a red wagon that they pulled Pepper in!

Please take a moment – place your hand on your heart – and honor the Transcendental Love your pets have brought you. It is forever. Change to unconditional love.

See this illuminating article on: Unconditional Love: Is devotion to pets a cultural universal?

Monthly Theme and Weekly Speakers.

Every month, we take the Key Principles of MYOB and put them into practice in our lives. Looking at the deeper call before us — What are we each to “Be” to bring about societal change through our soul evolution in ways that establish justice, love, and care for all – without exception. Please join us weekly on Thursdays at 7 p.m. EDT for our virtual program.

Image by Josef Pichler from Pixabay

Prisoners of Our Beliefs – Or Prisms*

Photo by Merlin Lightpainting: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-shot-of-irregular-crystal-prisms-12602048/

At the core of all life is the desire to love and be loved. From our journey in the womb and our first breaths out of the womb our experience of being loved or not forms the seeds of what we experience. We are taught beliefs that can keep us prisoners of untruths or awaken us to the reality we are all here to be prisms of our beliefs – shedding light upon all.

In the womb itself we are taking in the feelings and vibrations of our environment and weighing whether it is safe to “come out.” I believe we have a soul that is literally “hovering over” the body being formed fully and that everything occurring on the outside is being felt within the womb. We are “sensing” this world long before we make entry into it. See Baby’s Developing Senses and Sleep-Wake Cycle During Pregnancy.

In our early formative months and in the crib, we feel the energy of what is around us and how we are being accepted. We are either receiving messages of tender care and love, or caution and fear. I also believe that we are aware of the eternal realm from which we came, which is a memory that is soon forgotten.

Silent Agreements Can Keep Us Bound to Untruths

There are universal “Silent Agreements” being formed as to what we are supposed to believe. We are brought into a world of pre-determined factors of what we are to be, male or female, our race, culture, faith/religion, and nation we are born into. This is how we come to believe and inherit our sense of identity. However, we also take on beliefs of separation from one another and instead of our differences defining beauty and uniqueness to learn from one another, we learn the opposite. There are those privileged and those not. In many religions we are not encouraged to question what we are taught . When we violate those unspoken rules/regulations/ we can open ourselves to great suffering and condemnation.

Key Foundation of Enlightenment for All

The key foundation of enlightenment is not taught early on. We are all here to evolve humanity where we understand there are no “others.” There is just all of us seeking to awaken to the awareness that we all have a right to be and nurture the inherent beauty within every one of us – without exception.

We create prisons of beliefs that block us from realizing the magnificent “potential” of the prism within every soul.

Open today to reimagine our world – indeed working for all – to enrich the core reality – we are here to love and be loved and learn – as in Mother Nature – wonder-full reality of diversity.

*Article Reference: Prison or Prism By Edie Weinstein, MSW, LSW

At the core of all life is the desire to love and be loved. From our journey in the womb and our first breaths out of the womb our experience of being loved or not forms the seeds of what we experience. We are taught beliefs that can keep us prisoners of untruths or awaken us to the reality we are all here to be prisms of our beliefs – shedding light upon all.

Monthly Theme and Weekly Speakers.

Every month, we take the Key Principles of MYOB and put them into practice in our lives. Looking at the deeper call before us — What are we each to “Be” to bring about societal change through our soul evolution in ways that establish justice, love, and care for all – without exception. Please join us weekly on Thursdays at 7 p.m. EDT for our virtual program.

Forgiveness of Others

The reality of the generational abuse in my family and sensing I took on inherited shame and guilt that never belonged to me impacted my life journey. The intensity behind my desire to make everything okay and better for everyone else is what I have come to realize was a mission I could never achieve. What I can achieve – perceptions of guilt and shame I can personally clear, and open to seeing things I have judged falsely. At the heart of it all – self-forgiveness and forgiveness of others.

After confronting the abuse of my nieces by my sister’s husband in her 2nd marriage, it was an immense process of accepting that she knew but chose not to act on her daughter’s behalf. What was even more disheartening – she remained with her husband.

In future years I did come to understand her choices. I realized the roots of all she did was out of fear. She stayed with her husband at great cost – losing close association with all her grandchildren, except her son’s. Her primal fear, being alone and without support.

Both my sister and brother-in-law have passed on – and in this hour I can say what I want for both is that their journey ongoing is into love and healing. My sister is forever in my heart for precious moments, joy, and laughter we shared before I knew of the abuse. That is all I ever want to carry forward in memory of her. I am enclosing a beautiful piece she wrote before she left that says what was in her heart. My sister’s name was Edie, but her favorite flower was a Daisy, and she signed this letter as “Daisy.”

“The Star”

As the darkness covers the sky, the twinkling lights of the stars begin to shine.
As I stand in awe, and look upward, those shimmering lights become brighter and brighter.

I feel I can reach out and touch those twinkling lights. Like reaching out to touch the lights of God. For each star in heaven must be other souls. For we are all lights of stars If only we would let our light shine,

As I look upward at those shimmering heavens, each in its own place, knowing that each star, each galaxy is telling its own story. My heart aches to be a shining star. Faintly shining yet becoming brighter, part of the heavenly host. And praising God, someday I too shall be very bright and shining for I was and forever shall be.

I am Daisy.

A Moment of Forgiving and Communication from My Sister

Wherever in eternity my sister is, amidst those stars, my singular prayer is that unconditional love is the sole reality. In my move to Montana, I have a new sacred space for my growth and evolution surrounded by a 360-degree view of mountains. Shortly after I moved here while in my wonderful cabin abode, I was deeply contemplating my sister. I wanted to feel her love and embrace of where I am now and that I could sense her acknowledgment of that.

I felt drawn to walk down to the stream around what I call my “Grace Land space” Daisies do not grow wild in this mountain area. As I neared the stream I beheld a single daisy – glorious and beautiful and a butterfly landed on it. I was in amazement at the wonder of this. I knew it was my sister conveying her joy in my new space and work.

Love finds a way; Love always wins, and forgiveness is essential to that reality. Daisies have taken on a more beautiful meaning than ever. I took a picture of that Daisy, and it is now in a beautiful frame in my living room. My sister’s Light is shining here.

As challenging as it may be – my releasing my unforgiveness of my sister’s choices – freed me. I honor what I did in the intervention I had to do. I also know that judgment I never let go of wounds me and creates bitterness. My two choices in life – better or bitter. See MYOB Principle #5.

Look today at where forgiveness of others can free you to move forward to being more kind and lighter.

About the image: A single daisy by a steam: A symbol of Forgiving for me! Learn about the symbolism of daisies.

Monthly Theme and Weekly Speakers.

Every month, we take the Key Principles of MYOB and put them into practice in our lives. Looking at the deeper call before us — What are we each to “Be” to bring about societal change through our soul evolution in ways that establish justice, love, and care for all – without exception. Please join us weekly on Thursdays at 7 p.m. EDT for our virtual program.

Moments

Transcendental Moments create the Remembrance within us that we are One. There is something universal that when felt and sensed impacts our lives in ways that move us to a higher awareness and value of ourselves and all around us. I share a writing of a reflection on “Moments” that I realize held within them, the opportunity of Transcendence. I honor all who have touched me with those sacred “Moments” that are in my heart and soul.

“Moments”

There are those Moments when I know I have experienced LOVE — the LOVE that will sustain me and carry me through a dark night, and the LOVE that magnifies my times of JOY.

It is the LOVE I feel as the rays of the sun burst through the clouds. It is LOVE that has come from brief exchanges, but when someone has gone out of their way to come through for me.

It is a friend’s gift of simply listening, and it is also LOVE that has enabled that friend to say what I most needed to hear, perhaps when I least wanted to hear it. It is the LOVE that I reflect upon over the years, and I realize how integral a part of my life someone has become, and how he or she has contributed to my most beautiful and profound memories.

There are those Moments when I realize this LOVE knows no time or absence and though life’s realities or events may have separated us, this person is as near as the beat of my heart, and when I bring them to mind, there is warmth and joy. It is in those Moments I acknowledge how LOVE sustains me be it family, friends, or simply a “Moment” with someone I may not meet again.

There are the Moments when I meet someone for the “first time” and deep within I know there is a reunion of a friendship of lifetimes ago. Through these “Moments” of Remembrance, I create a collage of LOVE of people, places, and events. I realize what a blessing it is to have lived the life I have, for through it I have deepened my understanding and compassion for myself and others. With grief and loss, joy, and triumph, I know LOVE is the origin of all and LOVE is my destination. However brief, however long, everyone and everything is a part of my heart’s collage,

Please take time to remember those “Moments” that can, in Truth, lift us to “Transcendence” – valuing this gift of Life.

Monthly Theme and Weekly Speakers.

Every month, we take the Key Principles of MYOB and put them into practice in our lives. Looking at the deeper call before us — What are we each to “Be” to bring about societal change through our soul evolution in ways that establish justice, love, and care for all – without exception. Please join us weekly on Thursdays at 7 p.m. EDT for our virtual program.

Grief Rooted in the Depth of Love

I want to share a personal reflection that has given me countless “moments” of recalling Transcendental Love.

The ongoing reality of our earth journey encompasses overwhelming grief and loss.

My 50+ years as a Minister in New Thought and founding in the late 80’s into the mid 90’s a non-profit HIV Support Group called “Together to Grow” (TTG) I have encompassed immense grief, personally and collectively.

I’m placing this sharing under “Transcendental Love” because at the root of our deepest grief is the reality of that love.

Deep grief never leaves us; however, it can be the way we move on to meaningful purpose to honor that love.

A TIMELESS MOMENT

I’ve had the JOY of being a founder of a spiritual retreat – now called the Big Sky Retreat in Montana, formerly Grand Teton Retreat – now in its 48th year.

During the late 80’s to mid-90’s of the AIDS epidemic, I was able to bring beloved friends from my TTG group to Wyoming and the Grand Tetons. It was miraculous that this was able to happen. We had rented a van, and we were driving through Yellowstone, laughing, and feeling the depth of our love being together. We were absorbing the wonder of the buffalo and the beauty around us. Suddenly, my soul brother and co-founder of TTG, David, began to weep uncontrollably. We were all silenced as he was in the front seat and those of us in the back put our hands upon his shoulders.

“David, what’s wrong, what’s going on?” as we sought to calm him. After he gained control he said simply, “We’re together and this is so beautiful, I’m so grateful.” I’ll never forget that moment. I said farewell to cherished friends through those years, including David. TTG dissolved after the depth of losses we experienced, and there was no way to continue.

My grief throughout that time was in seeing so many younger than myself leaving this plane and that I was still here! What I have come to know is that their love and that “Transcendental Moment” has been integral to what has carried me on throughout my life.

From Kahili Gibran on Joy and Sorrow

“Then a woman said, Speak to us of joy and sorrow.

And he answered:
“Your joy is your sorrow unmasked,
And the self-same joy from which your laughter rises, was oftentimes filled with your tears.
And how else can it be?
The deeper the sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.”

Our grief and loss do contain joy and sorrow – and the remembrance of love is what moves us on. Find good purpose in our own moving on!

Monthly Theme and Weekly Speakers.

Every month, we take the Key Principles of MYOB and put them into practice in our lives. Looking at the deeper call before us — What are we each to “Be” to bring about societal change through our soul evolution in ways that establish justice, love, and care for all – without exception. Please join us weekly on Thursdays at 7 p.m. EDT for our virtual program.

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