January 20, 2025 is Inauguration Day in the United States. It is also Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
It is not a co-incidence that the two are happening on the same day this year.
While it is true that what is coming is darkness, it is also true, as Martin Luther King Jr reminded us, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
Light. Love. Hope!
Light can drive out darkness! Love can drive out hate!
Let us not lose sight of the hope that is is Light and Love.
Laughter — it is SOOOO good for the body and soul. Sadly, there’s not been a lot of that these days. Politics … anger … fear … seem to have taken over.
Our soul needs regular doses of laughter!
When my Dutch-born husband, Hans, was alive, there was a lot of laughter in our home. His delightful laugh and great sense of humour still bring a smile to my face. And today, laughter bubbled out of me when I reread his response to something I posted on social media the year before he died.
I wrote: “India Foxtrot Yankee Oscar Uniform Charlie Alpha November Uniform November Delta Echo Romeo Sierra Tango Alpha November Delta Tango Hotel India Sierra, Charlie Oscar Papa Yankee Alpha November Delta Papa Alpha Sierra Tango Echo Tango Oscar Yankee Oscar Uniform Romeo Sierra Tango Alpha Tango Uniform Sierra. “
And he replied … “Alfa November Delta Whiskey Hotel Alfa Tango India Sierra Tango Hotel India Sierra Alfa Lima Lima Alfa Bravo Oscar Uniform Tango Whiskey Hotel Alfa Tango Alfa Mike India Tango Oscar Charlie Oscar Papa Yankee Alfa November Delta Papa Alfa Sierra Tango Echo.”
I laughed then. And I laughed this morning when I saw this photo and remembered our online conversation.
How I wish I had a recording of his voice – and his laugh! I can “hear” both his voice and laughter in my head and heart, but oh how wonderful it would be to have actual recordings.
So often we think of taking photos of our partner/spouse, children, parents, siblings – at various ages/stages in their lives. I treasure the photos I have. But their voices??? It never crossed my mind to record their voices.
Gratefully, I have voice recordings of my son, but recordings of the voices of my parents, siblings, Hans? Not one. And now, that they’ve all died, I can’t.
A gentle encouragement to you — if you don’t have recordings of the voice of your loved one(s) voice, get started now. Record them reading to you. Let them know what you’re doing and record a conversation.
And record their laughter. 🙂 Your soul will thank you.
Are the kids / grandkids getting mischievous? restless? can’t wait for Santa? How about having them make some Dot Mandala tags? They’re easy and fun to make – look great on gifts, the Christmas trees and as a Jewish friend told me – on her Hanukkah bush. 🙂
Here’s how …
In a nutshell … the paint: acrylic paint (the stuff from the Dollar Store) … the ‘dot’ tools: can be special dot mandala tools which can be purchased on-line OR you can use the eraser end of pencils, embossing styluses, straight pins (if you’re doing really ‘fine’ work), dowels, different-size round brushes heads, etc. In other words, look around at your home/the Dollar Store and see what different things you have that will make different sized ‘dots’.
Get some black cardstock/watercolour paper (I like working on dark navy or black, but any colour background will work). This technique also works great on rocks, CD’s and records which are best first painted (acrylic) in a solid colour and then dried before dotting the surface.
Steps: The Dot Mandalas are made from creating a circle. Then divide it into various ‘even’ sections (quarters / eighths) and into smaller circles (if you want some guidelines) all using a white erasable pencil – white charcoal pencils work great as do tailor’s marking pencils.
Put a little bit of each acrylic paint colour you’re going to use in a small paint tray or on a dish. I like the idea of just using white on black for Christmas, but did do some with colour. To begin, put a dot in the centre of your circle and add dots working outwards. Remember to refresh your paint with each dot … change dot sizes and clean your tool/pencil end between each dot. If you want to make smaller “dots” in a line, don’t refresh your paint each time. The paint does the magic on its own. 🙂
A bit of a warning <g>, this can become addictive! But, it’s a very inexpensive art form with all sorts of possibilities (design / colour / original shape / turning into a handmade card).
I’ve found making Dot Mandalas to be a gentle meditative process. Hope you do, as well.
Somewhere this moment, there is a wee one, uttering a prayer for Two-Legged creatures she sees on her travels.
“O Creator-Of-Us-All, I pray for the Two-Legged creatures who foolishly ignore the signs that are all around. Signs which, if they aren’t acted upon, will result in even more damage to the environment.
Thee-Who-Is-Truth, I pray for those Two-Legged creatures who hear truth about climate change and yet choose to ignore it.
O Holy-One-Who-Celebrates-Life, I pray for wisdom and compassion for all in the Two-Legged world so the spread of untruths will be stopped and the devastation of this planet we share with them will come to an end.
Thee-Who-Loves-All-Creatures, I pray for unconditional love to move in the hearts of the Two-Legged creatures whose hearts are cold and whose minds are focused on selfish ways.
May this prayer be heard and may the Two-Legged ones exercise wisdom, compassion and kindness to us and to one another.
This day, this night, this moment … Creator … Holy One … Hearer of Whispered Concerns … Listener of Unspoken Fears … Gentle Bearer of Grief remind the Two-Legged creatures that this earth is sacred the waters are sacred the sky is sacred the animal, plant, fish, mammal, insect kingdoms are sacred and they, Two-Legged creatures are sacred.
This day, this night, Sacred Friend Who Loves Unconditionally, remind the Two-Legged creatures of your call to them to be good stewards of the lands, the skies, the waters, each other, and themselves.
And remind them that if they don’t change their ways they will not survive and neither will I.
