For those of you who are widowed, I think you might be able to relate to the day I had today.
Monday is Valentine’s Day and as I’ve been making Valentines for others, I had a “sad is me” moment when I realized that once again, there would be no Valentine’s card from my beloved Dutch husband.
Hans was a wonderful artist and he made such wonderful cards for me. But those days are no more. So I decided to make myself a card with some tangling around a photo of him.
Here’s the photo of the Valentine I made for myself. It sits atop the fireplace Hans made and will still be there on Monday – Valentine’s Day.
His happy face puts a smile on my face each time I pass by. The “sad is me” moment passed quickly as I focused on making the card.
It never ceases to amaze me how ‘creating something’ sets the mind free from “sad is me” moments, helps refocus the body from a desire to nap, and nurtures the Spirit.
When you get one of those “sad is me” moments, consider what you can do to evoke the magic of creation. Could it be … a handmade card? … a special meal that takes time and effort to prepare … explore a new craft … plant a seed/plant/tree … carve a figure … paint a picture … photograph something/someone … write a poem/blog … let origami folding take you to another plane … start making a handmade book … knit, crochet, quilt, sew something … try neurographica art, zentangling, mixed media, embossing, handmade card making … the list is endless!
A gentle leader and humble man, Thich Nhat Hanh, died this day, January 21, 2022.
Born in 1926, he became a Buddhist monk when he was only sixteen. Working tirelessly for reconciliation between North and South Vietnam, his lifelong efforts to generate peace moved Martin Luther King Jr. to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Living in exile in France where he founded a retreat centre, Hahn became a prolific writer, renowned scholar, world leader and spiritual guide, championing a movement that weaves traditional meditative practices with nonviolent civil disobedience. His teachings revolved around … respect for life … generosity … loving communication … and cultivation of a healthy lifestyle; his Mindfulness meditation technique helped people in their desire for wholeness and inner calm for generations.
Often quoted, one of Hanh’s phrases particularly spoke to me as I was writing the ‘Soulistry – Artistry of the Soul: Creative Ways to Nurture Your Spirituality’ book. That phrase become one of the quotations in the book – a book which puts forth “Soul Questions” for readers to reflect upon and consider their purpose in life and reason for living. To learn more about the ‘Soulistry’ book and read some reviews, you are welcome to click: www.soulistry.com/books
In thanksgiving for the life of Thich Nhat Hanh and in thankfulness for his permission to use his quote in the ‘Soulistry – Artistry of the Soul’ book, I share Hanh’s words and the Soul-Questions based on his quote for your personal reflection … in your thoughts; in your journal; in discussion with a friend, spiritual guide, soul friend, religious leader,
THE WELL WITHIN Thich Nhat Hanh (“Soulistry-Artistry of the Soul”, page 11)
““The well is within us. If we dig deeply in the present moment, the water will spring forth.”
Soulistry Soul-Questions:
* What do you think the author means by “the well is within”?
* How have you dug “deeply in the present moment” in your life?
* What growth/learning/self-discoveries resulted from such reflection?
* How might you begin to “dig deeply in the present moment”?
* Are there things in your past or evident in this present time that are preventing you from looking at “the well within” you? If so, name/journal/talking them over with a counselor, spiritual director, soul friend, religious leader so that these things no longer have power over you, restricting your ongoing tapping of the well-within.
* What “water” do you hope “will spring forth” from such self-examination?
Thank you, Thich Nhat Hanh for your gentle leadership, for you faithfulness to the call you heard, and for your wisdom. May you rest in peace now for all eternity.
This morning was an “M” morning … a Magical … Mystical … Mysterious … Marvellous … Memory-Making … Morning!
As I entered the roundabout, the sight before me was so lovely that I drove all the way around the roundabout, parked in the school’s parking lot across the street, and snapped this photo to remember what had captured my attention.
And then, within minutes, the fog had lifted and the beauty of the moment was gone.
But not forever, thanks to my little camera and the availability of the school parking lot.
And thanks to the gift of memory, the photo will continue to remind me for years to come of an MMMMM.
In the midst of a pandemic, where mask-wearing, social-distancing, curtailed family and friend visits/activities are commonplace, it’s not always easy to recognize the MMMMM … magical, mystical, mysterious, marvellous, memory-making moments before and around us.
But they’re there in the fog in the twinkling and smiling eyes of another in the “may you stay safe” in the beauty of the world in the giggle of a child in the wag of a tail and the cuddle of a feline in the daffodil trying to surface in the breath of fresh air in the first step of the morning in the comfort of a steaming cup of tea in the warmth of bed in the …
Hope your morning, afternoon, evening, day for whatever reason, is (was) lovely … MMMMM Magical … Mystical … Mysterious … Marvellous … Memory-Making!
Here we are – in the middle of the Season of Advent. Advent greetings to all, whether you follow the Season or not … welcome ritual … find Light in creativity, family, friendship, respect, integrity.
As I worked on making this Advent card, I prayed that peace, hope, joy and love would permeate infill, inspire and encourage our hurting world and its inhabitants. And, I prayed for all those who follow and support the ‘Soulistry’ ministry, including this blog and the various Facebook groups under the ‘Soulistry’ umbrella – with deep gratitude.
May this Season of Advent bring an unexpected blessing to all. May we have healthy eyes to see the blessing, healthy ears to hear the blessing, healthy hands to touch the blessing, healthy legs to walk towards the blessing, and a healthy heart to recognize and receive the blessing.
If the fwiw department, here are some of those Facebook ‘Soulistry’-related groups noted above. If you’re curious, you are welcome to join any of them after answering all of the security questions. Btw, even if I know you – we are friends, neighbours, family – the security questions help confirm that FB accounts have not been compromised. Thanks for helping to keep these groups safe.
A young man was declared “Not Guilty” in a U.S. court yesterday, in spite of the fact that last year, when he was 17, he carried a rifle into a crowd, shot and injured one man and killed two others.
There are some who believe the Judge was wrong when he threw out the ‘possession of a dangerous weapon by a minor’ charge; that if the defendant had been any race other than Caucasian, he would have been found ‘Guilty’; that the defendant should not have been involved in picking names for the jury who would try his case; that the Prosecution was incompetent.
But at the end, it was up to the members of the jury. At the conclusion of the trial, they believed that the accused was “Not Guilty.” He is now free and can never be tried for this crime again.
Declared “Not Guilty.” Does ‘Not Guilty’ mean ‘Innocent’? Conversely, does ‘Innocent’ mean ‘Not Guilty’?
Two men are dead because a young man killed them with a rifle he never should have been given … let alone carried into the crowd that night … let alone used.
Anger escalates. And fear. And hatred … surfacing in social media, daily conversations darkening thoughts and words and possibly more actions.
Something has to be done so that hope can enter, fear can lighten, hatred can begin to dissipate, and the slippery slope can straighten out.
Where to begin? Surely it begins with each of us
Register our outrage? Yes. “Name” our fears? Yes. Recognize and acknowledge our own prejudices and biases? Yes
And do what we can to bring about a Spirit of Gentleness into the world around us … and not just around us … but within us.
Time will tell … if Civil charges are brought. Time will tell … if the slippery slope that the United States is on will result in civil war – or even the ending of democracy in that country. Time will tell.
And in that time, may there be moments of gentleness may we be gentle – gentle with ourselves – gentle with our children … partners … other family members … neighbours … tradespeople … store clerks … gas station attendees … medical professionals …
May a Spirit of Gentleness flow through hallways, homes, offices, classrooms, social media, governments … in me … in you … in us all.
Last night, the Aurora Borealis was expected to make an appearance in this part of the world. News told us that might even see them from our own back yard. I was excited! I’ve only seen the Northern Lights once and that was long ago in the Okanagan of British Columbia while camping. It was such an incredible experience that night! I woke my son so he could see the magnificence of the colours streaming across the sky. Last night, I waited – and waited – and waited.
But, in spite of a clear sky, no rain and news media postulating such a sighting might be possible, no Northern Lights. I even set the alarm to get up and see them!
Long ago, while doing consulting work in Alaska, my Alaska friend, Scott, took me out to a field, far away from any lights for several nights. Each night we waited and waited and waited in his truck for the Northern Lights to appear. He kept telling me they were magnificent – stunning! – and often appeared there. Nope. Not one sighting. Any night.
When I got home, there was a message from Scott … the night I left, the Northern Lights appeared and “they were incredible!” One more night – if I had just delayed my flight home one more night – but, I didn’t and have been dreaming of seeing them again one day. Last night, I came sooooo close.
While I may never see the Northern Lights in person, those nights sitting out in the Alaska field with Scott, waiting for the Northern Lights to make an appearance, and last night waiting at home, offered opportunities to pray for and think about the environment – and play.
Photos I’ve seen of the Northern Lights show them as multi-coloured, but I decided to play only with blues and purples, just for the fun of it. Some day, I hope I get to see the Northern Lights in person again, but in the meantime, I’ll continue to dabble in watercolour, enjoy Scott’s Facebook photos of the Northern Lights that regularly appear in his part of the world, and reflect on the environment and my role in keeping it healthy.
Shine on, beautiful skies above this world! May you be a reminder to all human beings of the role we play in the existence of a healthy world of clean air. And may those beautiful skies bring solace and hope where grieving, fragmentation and fear about the future of this world prevail.
To have this pop up in my Facebook newsfeed today, October 17th, of all days (it would have been our 12th wedding anniversary) well, you both said it all.
When my husband Hans died 5 1/2 years ago, a part of me died too. But knowing what the future would have been like for him (skin cancer, then colon cancer, then esophogeal cancer diagnoses) and seeing him literally waste away, be unable to eat, live in constant pain, be unable to speak and knowing it would only get worse, as difficult as it was to accept, there was a deep sense of gratitude that his suffering was over and an inexplicable awareness that finally, he was at peace and that we would be “together forever” some day.
Thank you, Rabbit and Bear and especially Canadian artist Tara Shannon who created this lovely image.
When we die …. ahhh. When each of us dies, may we go into the hearts of those who have loved us so that “we’re together, forever.”
It rained yesterday. Oh how it rained and rained and rained. We really needed it!
And this lovely rose from the garden raised its sweet head, welcomed the raindrops and smiled, blessing me with its beauty, its colour, its sweet scent.
A gentle reminder from the Universe that even in the midst of rainy/difficult times, there is beauty.
May I always look for the beauty and be given the grace to see it.
We can’t change the minds of all who are opposed to getting vaccinated or think the pandemic is a hoax, but maybe the following will give encouragement and be a reminder that love shared with one another can impact the hearts of family and friends … one at a time.
This is a true story shared by a friend. Though the actual conversation wasn’t recorded, it’s close to what transpired and the outcome actually happened.
He said “I want to come and visit. I miss my family! How about I come next weekend?”
She replied “We’d love to see you. But, you know that we are vaccinated, have an eight year old who cannot be vaccinated. Mom is 79 and we’ve decided no one comes into our home who isn’t fully vaccinated. Let us know when you’re fully vaccinated and we’ll find a date that works. We’re looking forward to seeing you again, too.”
He said “I don’t believe in that pandemic stuff. It’s just like the flu. I don’t need to get vaccinated.”
She replied “It’s your decision. We’d love to see you, but won’t until you are fully vaccinated.”
He said … after a long silence “Are you serious?”
She replied … “Yes.”
He said “I’m family. You don’t want to see me? What about Thanksgiving and Christmas and Mom’s 80th birthday?”
She replied “It’s your decision.”
He’d had a similar conversation with her husband, many times and continued to refuse to get vaccinated. This time was somehow different.
Several days later, he phoned and said “Okay. I’ve made the appointment. I’m getting my first vaccination on Monday. Let’s talk about a visit at Thanksgiving.”
And that is how it can be done. One way to change hearts and minds … one at a time.
This is going on my front door in the morning because if I were a parent or grandparent with young children … or had a loved one living with me who had a compromised immune system this is what I would want to put at my front door
And besides … I am my own ‘loved one with a compromised immune system.’
I welcome visitors on the deck, at the front door, out for a walk, but not in my home at this time unless they are fully vaccinated and even then, I’m putting a hold on that for the time being.
I don’t live in fear I live in reality. And the reality is that even being fully vaccinated, not everyone is fully protected and could be a carrier of the virus.
This virus is not only spreading, but mutating.
Trying to keep my mind off the terrible news about Afghanistan, Haiti, people dying from the heat, floods, tornadoes, fires (too close to home this night), and the overloaded hospitals due to unvaccinated people become ill with the virus, I decided to “create something.
This. And it will go on my front door in the morning after I laminate it.
And if you believe in the power of prayer, please pray for our world and in particular the people in harm’s way. If you don’t believe in the power of prayer, please send gentle, kind, loving, positive thoughts their way.
An aside: creator of the “Welc-Wait Are you vaccinated?” phrase is unknown. Please let me know if you know who came up with this clever phrase. Thank you.
