Good morning lovely people:

Well…..we are having a “heat wave” of sorts….35 degrees yesterday and all the way up to 52 today!! So I ventured out….ending my
self-imposed hibernation to visit with the horses yesterday morning. I have missed my walks and my visits with them…it was breathtaking to see the field filled with these beauties. There were so many of them and it made me wonder if their muscles were as happy as mine to be soaking up the warm sunshine!

It wasn’t a long walk but it rejuvenated my spirits and for a little while I forgot about my fibromyalgia pain, which has been visiting me full force as of late. I had a long overdue visit with my acupuncturist (again…I’ve been in hibernation!) on Saturday and will be going again on Tuesday….followed by a therapeutic deep tissue massage on Friday. I can be grateful even for the pain because it reminds me that I have the blessing and absolute privilege to receive these therapies….not to mention Advil and heating pads!

I took Wesley out for a romp in the fields this morning…again a very short little walk but one that was filled with gratitude. It is cloudy today but I greeted Brother Sun anyway…he’s hiding, but he is up there shining behind the blanket of grey. I heard the chirping of a tufted titmouse and spotted a Robin…surely spring is just around the corner! I am reminded of the healing power of nature. And how much I missed being among her generous gifts.

I am learning a lot about patience and hope…. and although I am happy to see this warmer weather, I am so grateful for my hygge sensibilities and intentions this winter! They have been put to good use and have brought me the joy that I often lose during this season.

~Sending you all wishes for a day filled with unknown blessings and unexpected joys.

Good morning lovely people:

I awoke this morning with a case of the grumpies over the continuing coldness…..sad and disappointed in myself that my hygge resolve had left me. But then I noticed the bright sun shining over the snowy farmland behind me…..it looked like the snow was shimmering and shining with little crystals. I saw the woodpecker at our suet feeder, and lit a candle that smelled of clover and moss. Wrapped up in a cozy blanket I did some reading and a guided meditation of “I Arise Today” from St. Patrick’s breastplate and I rediscovered the joy of a new day. I’d like to share this beautiful with all of you….with love and gratitude.

“I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.

I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me;
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me…..

I arise today
Through the mighty strength
Of the Lord of creation.”

Good morning lovely people on this snowy magical morning. As I type this I can see out my bedroom window that the snow is falling heavily but gently…no blustery wind or frigid temperatures. It is a “balmy” 32 degrees here this day. 🙂

I am grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers from this sacred community. Thank you for propping me up the last couple of days. My daughter kept in contact with me all day yesterday via texting and WhatsApp and so I give voice to my gratitude for technology. I often push back against it but have to admit to being grateful for the ability it gives me to stay in touch with loved ones.

I have a deep tissue massage scheduled for this morning and so far, despite the snow, it has not been cancelled. I am very grateful as I desperately need some relief from my fibromyalgia pain.

I am off to clean off Zed and I will remember to give thanks for him and his all-weather tires! And I will take a moment to look up to the heavens and give thanks for the the lovely falling snow.

~Blessings and grateful love to you all

Cintia…thank you for sharing your day with us. I am inspired by the fact that, despite the scary almost-collision, you remember this day with gratitude and an awareness of the blessings that were there.

And thank you so much dear Cintia for always sharing your beautiful flowers with us. You have been given a very special gift….a “green thumb” it seems and I always love seeing what is blooming in your home. What is this one called? It is so different and unique…I’ve never seen anything like this here in the U.S.

~Blessings dear friend

Oh my gosh…what a magnificent tree! I feel we are kindred spirits in this Nancy….I read your comment about feeling like you were a tree in a previous life and it made me smile. 🙂
Perhaps we were sister trees in that life!

Nancy…do you know the classic story of Daphne from Greek mythology? I leaned of her through my reading of an absolutely divine book by Thomas Moore called “Original Self”. Daphne was an “Artemis woman” who was a solitary individualist…she was said to prefer being with animals and nature than with people. One day Apollo spots her and is attracted to her beauty. He wants to possess her but she runs from him and he, now even more wildly attracted, starts chasing her through the woods. She cries out to her father (who was a shape-sifting river), and he transforms her into a tree!

Needless to say, I have since been a fan of Daphne! I journaled through this book several years ago and again recently. One of the things I wrote was: “This reflection gives me permission to be solitary. I am Daphne and it fills me with joy to know that. I find that lately I, like Daphne long to disappear at times from the human scene and I am less dependent (I hope) on others’ affection or approval.”

This was a healing statement for me as I have spent most of my life as a people pleaser. The lovely tale of Daphne helped me on my journey towards self-acceptance and individuality…..and ultimately freedom from the need for other’s approval. I am still a work in progress but have definitely adopted more of Daphne’s spirit these days!

~Blessings

Good morning cara Anna. And I say “thank you” right back to you for always encouraging me!

As for the prayers…..I am a lover of books and read from many different authors and sources. I have a little library of spiritual books in my bookcase that I could recommend to you. I particularly love the prayers that are from the Celtic tradition, like the St. Patrick’s breastplate that I shared. I am drawn to these Celtic prayers because they are reflections of God’s love expressed through his magnificent Creation. I’ve always felt closest to God through nature and the Celtic spirituality traditions and prayers really speak to me.

One book that I would recommend to you to start with is called “Listening for the Heartbeat of God” by J. Philip Newell. There are many beautiful blessings and prayers within the text of this book. I wonder if it has been translated into Italian?

I have quoted from this book before. I often remind myself on dark, cloudy, gloomy days that “there is glory in the grey” and ask God to show it to me. Since I am so affected by the weather this has been a lovely short little prayer for me! Here is more of this prayer:

“In all created things thou art there.
In every friend we have
the sunshine of thy presence is shown forth.
In every enemy that seems to cross our path,
thou art there within the cloud to challenge us to love.
Show us the glory in the grey.
Awake for us thy presence in the very storm
till all our joys are seen as thee….”

~Have a beautiful day my friend

Good morning THenry and Nancy:

Your lovely sharing has reminded me of a beautiful poem by Rumi. Here is a portion that speaks to the miracle and mystery of both rocks and trees.

“There is another world inside this one
no words can describe it.

There is living, but no fear of death;
There is Spring, but never a turn to Autumn.

There are legends and stories
coming from the walls and ceilings.
Even the rocks and trees recite poetry.”

Good morning Manda…thank you for your hug! Did you see the picture that accompanies the “Word of the Day” for today? It reminded me of you and Jack 🙂

My anxiety is indeed “more loving”…such a beautiful sentiment. I have taken to saying out loud “Welcome, old friend anxiety.” and find that this little ritual brings me peace.
My fibromyalgia is not so calm but I have a therapeutic deep tissue massage scheduled for today. Right now it is snowing heavily and I am hoping it doesn’t get cancelled. But I shall take this day as it is and embrace its surprises…and unexpected gifts.

~Sending you a hug back my friend.