by June | May 16, 2017 | Blogposts
A phrase in Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” has been on my mind lately. It’s a phrase used to describe corruption, a situation in which something is wrong. Terribly wrong.
While the country I’m thinking of is not Denmark, the phrase seems apropos of a country whose people live in fear and where the spiritual landscape of that country is being eroded, inch by inch, every single day.
Some from that country express shame and apologize to the world for the leader of their country who has been making decisions that are anything but making that country ‘great again.’ They must not let the ‘rotten state’ infiltrate their body or their mind or their soul … be that personal or corporate … one more moment.
The situation is not just rotting their country. It is rotting democracy. To ignore what is happening only gives power to rottenness and more rottenness. When rottenness becomes decay, when decay becomes putrification, when putrification becomes death, it will be too late.
Light a candle against rottenness. Speak up. Speak out. Blog. Share a blog that addresses the situation. Walk in peaceful protest. Light a candle against rottenness. Do, say something so that the rottenness will not become decay, the decay won’t become putrificiaton and death results.
Text & Photo © June Maffin
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by June | May 13, 2017 | Blogposts
Oh Owl, you are such an intriguing, fascinating and beautiful creature. I love creating handmade cards with your image. Your eyes are so focused and at times, penetrating.
When you use those eyes and look at the world around and see the Two-Legged Creatures called human beings, do you ever wonder and ask the question: “I don’t speak, I don’t judge, I don’t gossip, I don’t hate, I don’t lie, so why do Two-Legged Creatures?”
We Two-Legged Creatures are given a mouth to express feelings and opinions, ask questions and dialogue with others. And we do. But we also use that mouth to spit, literally and figuratively. Spit words of hatred, racism, judgement, sexism, lies, gossip
Your question is a good question, Owl.
I wish I had an answer.
Text & Photo © June Maffin
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by June | May 10, 2017 | Blogposts
Have you ever wondered how to make a wise decision? how to know which direction to go when faced with more than one possibility? how to discern the will of God?
You’ve reasoned. You’re sought the advice of others. You’ve prayed. You’ve looked at every angle you could possibly think of. You’re still not certain which answer is the right answer for you at this particular time, which ‘way’ is God’s way, which road will be the wise choice.
Like everyone, I’ve found myself in situations seeking wisdom, wanting to hear God’s Voice, hoping to discern wisely. Whether the situations have been simple or complex, each time I’ve learned that *listening* is the key.
The next time you are faced with a decision, give this a try.
Listen to your heart: If it soars with excitement … it’s a ‘yes.’
Listen to your body: If it is relaxed about going in one direction … it’s a ‘yes.’
Listen to your mind: If it is at peace and you are not still trying to figure it out … it’s a ‘yes.’
When all three are ‘yes’, surely the Universe/God is sending you a message
that evokes harmony: harmony of body, mind and spirit aka – wise road – right path – good decision.
Photo & Text © June Maffin
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by June | May 9, 2017 | Blogposts
The things one sees when out for a walk! Two pieces of lumber on a roof with a sign on a piece of paper attached to one of the pieces of lumber that reads “I miss being a tree.”
‘Someone’ thought this up. Then that ‘someone’ printed it out on a piece of paper. And then that ‘someone’ posted it on the lumber.
Dear “someone,”
You deserve … an A+ for creativity … an A+ for environmental awareness … and an A+ for sense of humour.
Paper and Lumber “missed” being a tree.
Is there anything you miss being? … a certain age … a certain size … in a certain relationship … something else?
Photo & Text © June Maffin
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by June | May 8, 2017 | Blogposts
So much is happening in the world and instead of
… talking … sharing concerns … giving love … receiving love … expressing love in action, word, thought
fear and feelings of helplessness permeate conversations and thoughts.
Oh, to be this kitten embraced and protected by the dog. Oh, to be this dog
taking comfort in the gentle breaths of the kitten. Ahhh … peace … love … sweet friendship. Human animals can learn so much from non-human animals.
May we be open to learning from them. May we be willing to put that learning into practice. May it be so. Amen. May it be so.
© June Maffin
(Photo source: unknown)
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by June | May 6, 2017 | Blogposts
An unexpected gift from a friend in Ottawa brought a huge smile to my face
as I opened the parcel and discovered a package of “Canada 150 Tulip” bulbs … the official tulip of Canada’s 150th anniversary.
I excitedly planted the bulbs and eagerly awaited their beautiful white bloom with red flames that would remind me of Canada’s Maple Leaf Flag and the Netherlands which gifted Canada with 100,000 tulip bulbs in 1945 as a postwar gift of gratitude for the role that Canadian soldiers had played in the liberation of the Netherlands in WW11. They would be a constant reminder of the birthplace of my DH, Hans van der Werff.
This morning, the tulip blooms began to appear on the tulips in the front yard and I was excited! I immediately took their photo and planned a daily journal of the tulips to send to my Ottawa friend so she could see how they were growing. I came home this afternoon eager to see if the tulips had opened. I don’t know if they had or had not because the plants had been cut. Who would do that? Why would they do that?
Though I try to make sense of this senseless act I realize that I cannot. And perhaps that’s what lies at the crux of much of the angst in the world. We cannot make sense out of insensitive acts that lead to confusion, suffering, broken trust. We cannot make sense out of unkind people who only look out for their needs and their wants without consideration of the consequences of their actions on others.
I wanted to react at this insensitive act. I wanted to confront the unkind person who did this. Instead, I made a cup of Crystal Tea and decided to blog about it all. I could have gone for a walk around the block – if it hadn’t started to rain and the temperature hadn’t quickly dropped. I could have headed into the tub with the book I’m reading – if it had at least been 8:00 pm and a little closer to bedtime. I could have made time to meditate or pray or …
I needed to de-stress and having ways to de-stress from the little and bigger things in life is important to our emotional well-being. We don’t have to have the same or even similar ways to de-stress each time. But it’s important that we do … “have ways”.
Text and Photos © June Maffin
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www.soulistry.com/blog
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I excitedly planted the bulbs and eagerly awaited their beautiful white bloom with red flames that would remind me of Canada’s Maple Leaf Flag and the Netherlands which gifted Canada with 100,000 tulip bulbs in 1945 as a postwar gift of gratitude for the role that Canadian soldiers had played in the liberation of the Netherlands in WW11. They would be a constant reminder of the birthplace of my DH, Hans van der Werff.