Ceremonies | Owls and Orchids

Posts Tagged ‘Ceremonies’

2014 – A New Beginning.

Posted in Abundance, Blessings, Creativity, Gratitude, Love, Magic, Moon, Philosophy, Self Development, Uncategorized, tagged 2014, a great year, A New Beginning, celebrations, Ceremonies, Goodbye to 2013, Language of Letting Go, New Moon, New Year Eve, Setting up 2014 on December 31, 2013| 19 Comments »

Happy New Year courtesy Facebook.com

“Make New Year’s goals. Dig within, and discover what you would like to have happen in your life this year. This helps you do your part. It is an affirmation that you’re interested in fully living life in the year to come.

Goals give us direction. They put a powerful force into play on a universal, conscious, and subconscious level. Goals give our life direction.

What would you like to have happen in your life this year? What would you like to do, to accomplish? What good would you like to attract into your life? What particular areas of growth would you like to have happen to you? What blocks, or character defects, would you like to have removed?

What would you like to attain? Little things and big things? Where would you like to go? What would you like to have happen in friendship and love? What would you like to have happen in your family life?

What problems would you like to see solved? What decisions would you like to make? What would you like to happen in your career?

Write it down. Take a piece of paper, a few hours of your time, and write it all down – as an affirmation of you, your life, and your ability to choose. Then let it go.

The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write that story by setting goals.”
― Melody Beattie, The Language of Letting Go: Hazelden Meditation Series

Today, January 1st 2014, is a New Beginning for everyone.

I don’t usually go in for really long quotes but I think it’s all been said here. It encapsulated what we’ve done over the past month getting ready for the new year to arrive, getting our plan made for 2014 to be a great year and also reflecting on what we did in 2013. After all, if something worked really well you don’t toss it out just because you turned a page. A New beginning is like that.

This year is a special year. We have already had the great New Year’s Eve celebrations, which we watched from home since I can’t drink – not a single drop! Truthfully, after the past several years I’m not missing it at all. I used to feel slightly left out at parties, but it’s been so long now that I don’t miss it any longer. At least I can remember what I did the night before and I don’t have to worry about spiked drinks. In fact, the only spiking I was likely to see was if I stabbed myself with a toothpick from the fruit in my drink! A dangerous life but a New Beginning.

So this year we have followed the same pattern as the previous few which has been our own New Beginning. We have our own celebration, a releasing of the old energies and a welcoming in of the new; wishes for the coming year for both ourselves and for the world. It’s a quieter night, but there is a huge amount of peaceful gratitude when we have finished.

This year is even brighter with a New Moon falling tomorrow night. We have another ceremony planned, with the powerful energies from the heavens to boost the ceremony of tonight. If you want to talk about being on a high, well we’re certainly feeling that. Surrounded by fireworks as we concluded our ceremony earlier and in the right head space for the next ceremony, it is a beautiful feeling to begin the year.

Australia greets the New Year before anywhere else so, I’ll wish everyone else a wonderful New Year’s Eve and a great New Year’s Day. If you’re having a New Moon ceremony, I wish you as wonderful a ceremony as we have planned. Let 2014 be a year of peace, laughter, fun and harmony, and “The Messenger” will bring the beauty in.

The Messenger: from http://www.Josephine wall art.co.uk

Bright Blessings for 2014, Susan x

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Memories of Fiji

Posted in Challenges, Life, Motivation, Travel, tagged BEing present, Bula, Ceremonies, Fiji, Friendship, Motivational, special occasion, Travel and Tourism on July 16, 2013| 2 Comments »

One of the highlights of our trip to Fiji was the traditional Fijian night, food and the dancers. The enjoyment and energy they showed was almost contagious. I really don’t think either of us wanted to get up and shimmy our way round the circle of whirl and jump like dervishes! It made for great entertainment though.

I guess it goes without much explanation that the whirling and spinning was done by the men. The ladies did a lot of shimmy and shake, and those headdresses – awesome.

Although we spent much of our time working! Yes, a working trip to Fiji, where each day was spent in a conference room, we were always aware that the sun was shining outside and the staff were ready with a smile and “Bula” before and after any request.

The beautiful view from our room. As soon as the sun rose we could see the gardens and pools which led onto the beach. In spite of the work there was time for team building, games of pool volleyball, contortionist games of pass the ball through the human maze and finding messages in object form from anywhere in the resort gardens – if we could decipher the clues. One of the funniest activities had each team hanging on to their own coloured rope. Everyone had to manoeuver a large beach ball under and over chairs and tables and up and down stairs without dropping it. Dropped we had to start all over again.

Best activity of all was the jet boat ride. I’ve watched these guys from our balcony at Runaway Bay and the fellow in Fiji could teach them a lot. We zigged and zagged and spun and whirled. We whizzed backwards and forwards and stopped in a spray of water millimeters from posts, each time throwing up a fountain of water over everyone in the boat. It really was thrills a minute and lasted too short a time.

After a shower and change it was time for a refreshing cocktail and dinner…. it certainly worked up an appetite.

Be ready to take your time though, everything runs on Fiji time!

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Memory Lane

Posted in Departed loved ones, Life lessons, Love, tagged acceptance, Ceremonies, Coping Skills, Family, Father, Gratitude, gratitude, Inner-peace, knowledge, life lessons, Living from the heart, Mindfulness, National Service, Romani people, sadness, Soul Growth, unconditional love, YorksHire on January 3, 2013| 1 Comment »

image from el3mentsofwellness.com

The mind is a strange and wonderful thing, it can fill you with delight and excitement and it can also eclipse you in shadows and tears. It’s the quintessential offering between dark and light, depending on how you approach things. Memories are the living reminders of the past, where friendly apparitions walk through our minds and hearts, helping us to recall the fun, the frivolity, the serious and the sad events of our life. Our highest of highs and lowest of lows.

Yesterday, January 2nd was my time to take a ramble through the laneways of my mind, my memories, as I recalled what that day means for me and where my rambling took me. On January 2nd 1998, at 12.15am, my father William Lister passed away as I sat by his hospital bedside. His two year battle with his illness was finally over and as I held his hand, (I have to admit) I was relieved that his pain was finally over. He had crossed over to join the rest of our family who were in spirit and the next stage of his existence had begun.

It was a cruel irony that the last two years of his life were spent in a mammoth struggle to “soldier on”, typical for a man who spent his National Service in Egypt and Switzerland, in an attempt to save his family from as much distress as possible. Such is the nature of the man, and the atypical “stiff upper lip” and non complaining attitude of the Yorkshire man he was, that no-one ever heard him complain.

William Lister (Dad) 1954, shortly before his deployment to Egypt.

In life he was an irreverent rogue, filled with fun and frivolity, an irrepressible funster with an ever-present smile or cheeky grin, whom everyone loved as everyone I can recall fell under his spell. He was a genuine gentleman and everyone respected that. He was definitely someone who was in touch with his “inner child” and gloried in playing with him – especially where his children were concerned, and when they came along, his grandchildren. Everyone knew his greatest passion in his life was his wife, Patricia, (Mum), and with very little difference was the joy he had in and with his children, and later his grandchildren, he surrounded us with unconditional love. His “inner child” had plenty of opportunity to come out and play. Children simply loved him. His family was the centre of his universe and he was a truly contented man. He told me during our long wait that he had wanted for nothing more from life than he had been given.

So yesterday was spent acknowledging the sadness of loss but tempered with the knowledge of the love, the fun and games, the satisfaction he had in and for his life and the great joy he brought to so many, both in the family and to his friends outside the family. The great happiness and joy he brought to my life. At the “end of the day” we can all only ask for this much and if we have achieved it then we have served the Universe and Spirit well.

Patricia Lister (Mum) 1995

We, those left behind, always wish for more, especially more time. Yet love knows no boundaries of the flesh. As I write this I know he is here with me now. I sense his presence, I smell his scent and I know he is here as he was with me yesterday. It is a comfort and support, and what more can I ultimately ask for? His presence prompts me to remember all the good times and although it takes a long time, and there are occasions when I slip, I grieve a little and then remember the fun and happiness and go on again. Whilst the memories may be bittersweet, they are still sweet, never gone, never forgotten and ready to reach out and comfort if we need it.

In my meditation last night I blessed and gave thanks for the wonders of the silken chains of love, of family, of friends which we forge. During life and beyond they remain, ready still to love, to comfort and to teach. I am grateful for the wonderful times I had and which I can remember always.

I am grateful for the lessons I have learned, that the spirits of our loved ones still remain, that we are all spirits in a physical incarnation. There is a sense of peace in knowing this and in feeling this, so that even on my walk down “Memory Lane” I am mindful of the knowledge that he is with me still, acceptance of our souls growth through life and beyond, and that we have each chosen our life lessons even if we often have a difficult time understanding them.

William Lister (Dad) 1995

In the heat of the cemetery yesterday standing with my husband Ray at my side, a breeze blowing zephyr like through the trees, the birdsong from the nearby bush a chorus in the background to soothe us, a young hare suddenly darted out of the gardens, charging up the edge of the grass verge before bounding across the road and into the bush on the other side. To say it was a pleasant surprise would be an understatement. It most certainly lightened the sadness.

image from http://www.yourdictionary.com

I looked up the mystical meaning of seeing a hare, and considering where I saw it I think it was particularly relevant.

The Romany (Gypsies) believe a hare is a lucky omen.

Some Native Americans see hare as a messenger telling you to put fear behind you and get on with your life.

Since our ancestry is both Celtic (Irish) and Romany, I couldn’t think of a better sign from Dad that he was definately there with us.

I Love you Dad.

Old Journals ~ Lost in Helium Spheres (thetemenosjournal.wordpress.com)
I am NOT alone! (kiwicafe.com)
Gratitude – How’s that? (owlsandorchids.wordpress.com)

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A Memorable Year in Photos

Posted in Christmas, Creativity, Family, Love, Photography, Reading, Writing, tagged acceptance, Barn Owl, BEing present, Bird Watching, bird watching, Blogging, Camera, Ceremonies, Christmas, Coping Skills, Family, Friendship, friendship, full moon, Gratitude, gratitude, happiness, holidays, inner peace, Life, life, Living from the heart, Local wildlife, Love, Marriage, memories, Mindfulness, Motivational, nature, New Beginnings, new beginnings, New Year, New Year's Eve, outdoors, Photography, Soul Growth, soul growth, soul mates, special occasion, Tawny Frogmouth, unconditional love on December 30, 2012| 1 Comment »

They “year” began with New Years Eve at Ray’s parents in Moruya. A beautiful day and night set the tone for the year to come. It was a wonderful few days, seeing the sights – a finding a great little crystal shop. Needless to say I came home with bags of crystals. (We drove or it wouldn’t have been possible).

A Tawny Frogmouth let himself be known early on and has been a visitor ever since. We have at least four different owls living in the area, from a Powerful Owl, the Frogmouth and what looks like a Barn Owl, plus a very reclusive one we hear often but haven’t managed to get a good photo of yet.

Owls being my favourite birds, it was a real blessing seeing one so soon after we moved into our new home.

Presented to the guests, husband and wife

May was a brilliant month, and after months of preparation our wedding went off superbly. Here we are presented for the first time as Mr and Mrs Jamieson, can you tell how happy we were – and are. I’ve restrained myself to one photo, it’s hard to know which ones to use and there are so many!

Couldn’t pass the day up without showing off how fabulous my son and daughter looked on the day either.

One of my favourite gifts came from my husband shortly before we were to go away, a Nikon 150 camera. It is fantastic and even an amateur like me can get some marvellous shots. Most of all it made it super easy to have something to remember all the marvellous things which happened throughout the year. A few lessons and I might make a reasonable photographer!

The Little Blowhole at Kiama, dodging salt spray to get a good picture.

We had been so busy during the year that we hadn’t had a break – even after the wedding, so we spent a glorious week at Kiama, exploring the area and having a well-earned rest. The Blowholes were in fine form and we saw lots of whales passing by. Here’s the best picture we managed to get of the whales passing.

Occasionally I wished for a super zoom on my camera so I could get more photos – they really are beautiful creatures.

Humpback passing Kiama whilst we were there.

I found Nicole’s blog and became motivated to get back on track with my spiritual growth. It has been a wonderful year of rediscovery and discovery of new exciting things.

Thanks to Nicole we had a fantastic ceremony provided for the Blue Moon in August. This was taken just after the “Releasing Ceremony” and the crystals were in the bowls of water. The next night we had a “Becoming Ceremony” which finalised the entire ritual. It was an awesome feeling and really made us feel great. My blogging journey began shortly after this. Reading and writing have always been passions, now they are intertwined beautifully.

With lots of work in between we went back to Moruya to celebrate my father in law’s 80th birthday bash in October. It was a beautiful day and night – in fact they outdid the younger guests. It seems stamina comes with age! The cake was superb, it was only spoiled by the fact we couldn’t bring any home with us!

On the way home we stopped at Coffs Harbour for the night and the next day were greeted by this beautiful water dragon on the decking near the water feature. He was so tame he let us get really close. Obviously very used to all the visitors, he’s probably quite the model by now! See he even gave us a good pose for the camera.

Back home we were back hard at work but love to take a walk around the garden at the end of the day. Here the neighbours horse came over to say hello and was really friendly. My first ‘kiss’ from a horse – strangely enough it was a special moment for me and I’m blessed Ray got the photo and so filled with gratitude that the horse was so friendly.

I’d love to know the identity of this little fellow but just love his colouring.

We have lots of honey eaters visiting with the flowering trees. Some like this fellow seem totally oblivious to our presence and let us snap away merrily as he feeds. His colouring is ‘electric’!

We were graced by a family of kookaburra who came down several times a day to take a dip in our pool as the weather became hotter. They made lots of noise but it was worth it. Occasionally there would be a line up of all the different birds waiting to take a dip. It was really funny watching them take off one by one and then ruffling their feathers out as they waited their next turn.

We were surprised and pleased to find another water dragon sunning himself at home. When he was in the pool area I “chased” him around the pool – from the upstairs balcony, to get some photos of him. It was so funny seeing me trying to run around to capture a good shot. As soon as I had him in focus he would take off again after some other tidbit he’d spied.

Christmas seemed to arrive so quickly. It was a special time for us – the first one as a married couple (old-fashioned isn’t it?) and getting the decorating done together with the family coming down to celebrate Christmas Day together. We were grateful we could all be together and Ray and I felt blessed that our family could get together when so many couldn’t.

The last full moon of the year, December 2012. Even with the inclement weather we were able to get some beautiful photos of the moon through the trees and the weather remained fine for our ceremony. The meditation from Nicole was a beautiful way to complete a wonderful year.

As always we are mindful that not everyone has been as fortunate as ourselves. Like most people we have had our ups and downs. At times it felt as though the downs were holding mired in one place for far too long, but 2013 will be a wonderful year – for everyone. Throughout 2012 we have tried to remain mindful of what has been happening for us, being present at the important events was easy, how could we not. Being present when things were tough was harder, but we managed and it felt very heart centered in being able to do that. Ill health has been a drag but I’m hoping that with a new move, hopefully to a place with some space around it will give me the right atmosphere to get on top of things. Country life seems to beckon.

For myself, the unconditional love I have been so grateful to find with Ray has made this a wonderful, love filled year. Heart centered and soul centered, we have felt the growing and stretching of our soul growth throughout the good times and the hard times. We have also felt, and been awed by the presence of spirit, our loved ones who are no longer with us – in the flesh at least. It has made each special occasion that little bit more extraordinary and that is something I am incredibly grateful for.

The records for 2013 are now about to begin!

” Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. “ Ralph Waldo Emerson

HAPPY 2013 EVERYONE. Blessings and stay safe.

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Christmas is:- Love and Happiness

Posted in Christmas, Creativity, Family, tagged acceptance, animals, BEing present, Blogging, Ceremonies, Christmas, Chronic pain, community, Coping Skills, Family, Friendship, friendship, Gratitude, gratitude, happiness, holiday, home, inner peace, Life, life, Living from the heart, Love, Mindfulness, nature, New Year, pain, relationships, sadness, self acceptance, Self Development, Social Responsibility, soul growth, special occasion, unconditional love on December 22, 2012| 5 Comments »

image from comments.funmunch.com Where would we be without friendship?

“Somehow, not only for Christmas, But all the long year through, The joy that you give to others, Is the joy that comes back to you. And the more you spend in blessing, The poor and lonely and sad, The more of your heart’s possessing, Returns to you glad.” — John Greenleaf Whittier

There are so many ideas on what Christmas “should” mean to everyone. I really don’t like the idea that “should” can enter into the reason why we think, feel believe or do something. There has to be a more visceral reason behind our thoughts and actions, especially at such a time of year.

I know some people are of the belief that the ‘true spirit’ of Christmas can only belong to those who are in real need. To some extent that may be true. I feel deeply for the many who will spend their Christmas season in hospitals or care due to ill-health. I won’t categorise the level of need or ill-health since that feels shallow, to me at least.

Is the person terminally ill with cancer any less in need than someone needing a transplant or a heart valve replacement or a small child with an acute allergic reaction needing a respirator to breath? I don’t think so. Yet there are those who are suffering from any kind of mental disability for whom the very joy around Christmas adds to their depression or malaise.

image from facebook.com Happiness is….

Yet I can understand these people all too well and I am totally grateful that they have a chance to start the New Year better than they finish this one. I pray that is the case, although there is also a measure of sadness in that wish, since for them to be better someone else has to have found a worse ending. Life is like that; what is given on one hand is also taken away on the other, and who am I to judge?

The other people I think of at this time are those who don’t really fall into this group. Their ailments seem trivial in comparison and yet they can be as devastating in their own way.

The person with a chronic skin ailment who has to spend all summer hiding from the sunshine whilst the newscasters joyously tell us will be hotter and brighter than the day before. It must be demoralising for them. What about the person in chronic pain, stumbling around their home, trying desperately to get all in order for the ‘big day’ yet knowing that within a relatively few short hours they will be left alone in their pain with none the wiser. These people I also think of and wish an easier time for. These people know that there is no cure for them and cannot, even tenuously, hold onto a hope that help may be around the corner.

image from lessonsinashell.blogspot.com

Yet I have found that I can ‘gift’ to the world. In the same way I can spread gratitude around the world – by intention, then I can also spread love , happiness and friendship around the world – by intention.

I visualise a beautiful rainbow coloured sphere encircling the world, coming from my heart and covering the world. I chose rainbow colours to represent all the chakras, but also to help ‘fill up’ any chakra which was a little flat or empty. After I firmly have this vision of rainbow light covering the world I imagine it showering down on everyone in the world, bringing love, friendship and happiness. It can also cover love, friendship and understanding for the self as well as for others, and also all the animals, plants, spirits, in fact anyone or thing inhabiting out little planet.

image from facebook.com

This is my small way of giving a gift to everyone on the planet. Of course the gratitude is also there, that I have so many wonderful people to be grateful for; that I have so many creatures on this planet to spread all this to also. In my own small way I am also blessed because I can help to bring some peace and joy to everyone.

image from fineartamerica.com Puppy love at it’s best

“It is the personal thoughtfulness, the warm human awareness, the reaching out of the self to one’s fellow man that makes giving worthy of the Christmas spirit.” – Isabel Currier

May your Christmas be filled with love and laughter, peace and understanding and happiness to fill your heart the whole year through. Bless ❤

Christmas Wish! (lanternpost2012.wordpress.com)
Merry Christmas and a happy new year to everyone (annylanger.wordpress.com)
Merry Christmas 2012 (alpy.typepad.com)
Sending You A Little Christmas (theinnerwildkat.wordpress.com)

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Confet-tea and me!

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged BEing present, Ceremonies, cup of tea, French Earl Grey, Gratitude, gratitude, inner peace, Inner-peace, Mindfulness, Motivational, Tea, tea infuser on October 30, 2012| Leave a Comment »

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”
― C.S. Lewis

tea in fine china

image courtesy of en.overblog.com

There is something uniquely restorative about a good cup of tea. I’m not sure why this should be so, but it is most definitely true for me, and for many people I know. So, since I’m recuperating, I decided it would be a great idea to treat myself to a nice cup of French Earl Grey tea. I have only recently been introduced to French Earl Grey, but having been a devotee of Earl Grey for many years I was delightfully surprised to find this fragrant blend. It has a beautiful floral bouquet which is quite different from the traditional bergamot flavour, but equally as delicious.

OK, so we have established that I like my tea, especially French Earl Grey and I can wax lyrical if given half a chance. But what happens when this restorative little break goes awry? As I mentioned I’m “recuperating” so rather than make a large pot of tea I decided to use the tea leaf infuser and simply make one cup, although one is rarely enough!

tea infuser

image courtesy of compare.productwiki.com

This wonderful little gadget is spring-loaded. In fact, now that I think about it most weapons usually are! So, the tea ceremony begins, kettle boiled, cups warming nicely, the special bag of tea is carefully opened and the infuser is gripped firmly in hand. I should also mention at this point that it was the first time I had used the infuser. Under normal circumstances a pot of tea is the way to go.

Now, there are no instructions with this gizmo, mainly due to the fact that it belonged to my husband, but really, how difficult could it be? So the dry infuser was dipped into the bag to grab a suitable quantity of tea leaves. A little tight getting the infuser open in a small packet but I managed. As I lifted it from the packet I realised it was quite full, in fact over full.

It is at this point that I should have paused to think about what I was doing. I’m falling back on the fact that I am recuperating and therefore may not be thinking very clearly. I began to carefully, or so I thought, open the infuser to allow some of the leaves to fall back into the bag. As my thumb slipped on the infuser so did the bag slip in my other hand. The infuser took on a life of its own and sprang open instead of closed. Beautifully coloured tea leaves sprayed in an arc from my head to my waist and all over the cups! Spluttering tea leaves from my mouth and blinking them from my eyelashes I debated on what had gone wrong.

french earl grey tea leaves

image courtesy of theteacentre.blogspot.com

It almost smelled like rose petal confetti, with an aroma of other flowers and of course tea. It wasn’t having the restorative effect I’d had in mind either. So, I frenziedly brushed the tea from my hair, eyes and clothes, cleaned up the tea cups and kettle and started afresh, being very mindful of the spring-loaded weapon I would have to master.

It wasn’t an elegant picture I painted as I struggled to master my nemesis, the tea infuser, but I did eventually have a cup of tea. A sense of inner peace has been restored and of course, now I am sipping calmly on my cup of tea, gratitude that I am once more recuperating peacefully.

It was a hard-won battle to retain any peace or gratitude, especially as my husband had to hide his smothered chuckles at the sight of me coughing and spluttering tea leaves and bedecked like dried tea plants. Should I also be grateful that I brought some levity to his workaday activities?

Tea, shared and savoured, and laughter, what better medicine to recuperate with…. I think I’m more than grateful for that. My lesson for the day – when making tea it is always a good idea to ensure you are mindful by BEing present whilst handling contrary contraptions. Then I can be grateful for a wonderful cup of tea.

drinking tea

image courtesy of makeupcaredaily.blogspot.com

“There is something in the nature of tea that leads us into a world of quiet contemplation of life.”
― Lin Yutang, The Importance Of Living

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A Living Journal

Posted in Identity, Love, tagged Camera, Ceremonies, Friendship, full moon, Gratitude, gratitude, happiness, Journals, journals, Life, life, Love, Marriage, Photo, Self Development, special occasion on October 2, 2012| Leave a Comment »

“Sometime in your life you will go on a journey.
It will be the longest journey you have ever taken.
It is the journey to find yourself.”
Katherine Sharp Simple Abundance

magic journal

image courtesy of ancientchildren.com

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Theres no denying, the path to self discovery is full of half filled journals. Each one begun with zeal and promise and oft-times left forgotten under the press of other, more important matters. The funny thing about journals is that they aren’t a new thing. Writing in a journal has been an occupation which has been around for hundreds of years. The main difference is that they were often called diaries back then. Many a fair Victorian lady could be seen writing in her diary, her thoughts, her hopes, her dreams and it was a perfectly acceptable, indeed, it was a recommended pastime for a young lady. They even date back to Roman times and were called a ‘diurnal’.

So why have they achieved so much prominence now? My personal view is that many people have taken the route to self discovery and recognised the value of keeping a journal. It allows you to order your thoughts, identify recurring patterns of behaviour or thoughts and allows you to express those inner most desires we often don’t wish to share with anyone else. They also allow you a path to self discovery and improvement. Recently I completed a 30 day Gratitude Challenge wherein I kept a journal, (a Gratitude Journal) for thirty days. We looked at the things in our daily lives for which we were grateful. When viewed from a different perspective it is amazing to find how many things each day we can be grateful for. With the right degree of coaching (suggestions on how to look at the every day things in a different light), it is incredibly easy to find many incidental things we are grateful for, the sunny day instead of rain, the rainy day to water the garden and bring on our plants, the beautiful moon shining down on us, the help of a stranger as we struggle with our shopping, the smile from a waitress as she brings our order, the love and understanding from a husband or wife, the smile and hug from a child. The list becomes endless when you look with different eyes at the world around us.

ladybug lavendar

image courtesy of inside919.ning.com

However, we, my husband and I, have had so much fun doing the Gratitude Challenge that we decided to repeat it again. We are finding more and more things we are grateful for and we are finding ourselves happier each day as we fill in our journal. We are also happier with each other because we have more things we are grateful for about each other! A wonderful bonus! So we decided it would be even more fun to combine our journal with a personal history. We had already decided to make a travel journal, recording each outing, however big or small, one picture to act as a memory trigger and writing about the activities and what we had appreciated about them. In essence, what we were grateful for as a result of our experiences.

On thinking about what we planned we decided to get a large two ring binder, not a small one since we plan on putting lots into this, and called it a “Living Journal” because it was something we were going to continue to add to throughout our lives. It would be a record of our journey, with gratitude, throughout all the countries and places we visited and recorded in our “Living Journal.” Sounds great! It couldn’t be any old two ring binder though. We wanted to make it something special from the outset to match the intent we had for it.

So we went out and wandered through the craft areas of one of the local shops and gathered the supplies we thought would make this something extra special. We came home with styrofoam and wadding to make it nicely padded. We found two different types of material to decorate it with, plus some ‘rope binding’ to divide the segments. We also have some glitter stickers and butterflies to finish off the dressing. We made a start this evening, getting the foam glued to the folder – and melting some in the process. We learned to be grateful it wasn’t glued to the board we rested it on! We played around with the material deciding which pictures we might like in each ‘quadrant’ (there will be four sections front and back but not squared off or totally symmetrical since life isn’t boxed up so neatly), and how it would be finished off with the other adornments. I have a feeling we may decide to add to it but that’s part of the fun.

hand decorated journals
image courtesy of liesel.typepad.com

We already have a couple of small outings planned and a slightly longer holiday plus a big eightieth birthday party to attend. Dare I say it, we are almost excited to be able to start filling our journal! The wonderful thing about it is that we can simply add the pages as we like, until it is filled and then we can begin another! We can use coloured or plain paper. We can each write what we like to add to the photo memory and add anything else which was special at that time. Perhaps an entry ticket somewhere or an information leaflet. The list is only limited by our imagination and what we are grateful for.

Now I’m off to bed to dream about decorating my journal, my “Living Journal” and, since I feel I may want to decorate others now I have begun one, I’ll dream of the other also. I may take lessons in how to make them really decorative and the wonderful things about it is that we can look back on it later and have the memories as fresh as the day they happened. Lots of work and happy memories. A “Living Journal” – what a great idea Ray.

happy couple in europe
image courtesy of dexknows.com

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“The heart of marriage is memories; and if the two of you happen to have the same ones and can savor your reruns, then your marriage is a gift from the gods.”
Bill Cosby

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Blue Moons, Ceremonies and New Beginnings

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged birthday, Blue Moon, blue moon, Ceremonies, ceremonies, father and son, Father's Day, full moon, Magic, New Beginnings, new beginnings, relationships, seafood delight, special occasion on September 2, 2012| 7 Comments »

As anyone who follows these things knows, we have recently had our second full moon in August, which makes it a Blue Moon. I wish it had been blue, that would have been a sight to see, but the one I saw was just as magical as a blue one. I was thrilled and privileged to be able to take part in both a Full Moon Ceremony and a “Becoming” ceremony the next night with my husband. Now that may sound like a “Ho Hum” event, but to find a partner who not only is interested in something close to your heart but is also happy and eager to join you in participating in these ceremonies is something to be, not simply awed by, but grateful beyond measure for. So, my wonderful friend Nicole, had posted a fabulous Blue Moon Ceremony for anyone who was interested to follow. We both watched, with bated breath, each day leading up to the full moon to gauge how the weather was going to be and what we might expect on the night. In fact, the night before we saw the moon rise spectacularly only to see the sky completely clouded over a few hours later. News came that down at Byron a thunderstorm was breaking. We kept a positive outlook that any inclement weather would occur that night and on the night in question we would have perfect weather. Our prayers were answered and we had a perfect night.
Blue Moon image courtesy of surfky.com

Blue moon image courtesy of surfky.com

We had each thought carefully about the crystals we wanted to represent the people we would include in the ceremony and chose them carefully at our local crystal shop – we were totally grateful we could get exactly what felt right. There is something magical in finding precisely the right things you need and carefully bringing them home and preparing to put everything into action.

August 31st was a beautiful day and a glorious night. Not a cloud in sight and a fabulous view of the moon from where we had set up. It was even a relatively balmy evening where we were, at least comfortable enough that we didn’t need to rug up like Eskimos. Sitting there peacefully, following the instructions and meditating throughout, brought up many memories and emotions. It was quite an experience, even for someone who has been doing this for a while. It was impossible to feel jaded if you put your heart into it as we did. Afterwards it felt peaceful, almost as if we had been touched by Spirit, which we had indeed been. The Universe was watching and all was more than well with the world. Now to wit for the following night.

September 1st dawned bright and clear. Sunny skies and a cool breeze augured well for the “Becoming” ceremony that night. We had our list ready – the list of all the things we wished to release and what we would replace them with. It was also my husband’s birthday, so it was a doubly magical time and experience for both of us. For the first time in many years my husband’s son was here for his father’s birthday, and as importantly, to share, at least a part of Father’s Day with him. All wonderful signs that the Universe was with us.
Father's Day prayer

Image courtesy of relationshipslovelanguage.blogspot.com

It was a wonderful day from the beginning. A quick shopping trip to get some decent clothes for the ‘boy’ to go out to dinner in and back home to get them ready. Strange how such an everyday act can mean so much more when it hasn’t been repeated often. He wasn’t overjoyed at getting ‘tied’ into smart clothes, but such is the price one sometimes is asked to pay. If there was any irony there it was the fact that he looks very presentable when he’s dressed up in smart clothes. The girls notice him – something I’m not sure he really identifies with even though he would love to have a girlfriend. Strange how it’s always someone on the outside who can see thee things. It was the same way with the wedding, but that’s another tale altogether.

Dinner was sumptuous! The food was beyond merely delicious, it melted in your mouth and was something else to remember the occasion for. First time together for his father’s birthday, first time at a good restaurant for dinner, dressed nicely and a superb meal to honour the occasion. Scallops and bugs, prawns and fish, heavenly food indeed. To add that magical touch to the occasion, we were seated in front of the window and got the most wonderful view of the moon rising over the water! Large, round and magical, she floated through the sky in front of us for the entire meal. What better backdrop could we have asked for!

seafood meal
Feeling replete, (some of us more replete than others!) we made our way home again. No rush, the moon sailed along on our left as we travelled down the highway until we reached home. What a different night from the one before! There was a distinct bite to the air, more like a frigid gust from the south pole. A wise decision was made to change into warm clothes before completing the “Becoming” ceremony. So, more like Eskimos than before, ( now why had I thought of Eskimos the night before?), we got ourselves organised and under the clear skies and opulent view of the full moon we completed our ceremony. Time seemed to stand still and as we finished our meditation I came back to the world around me to hear a chorus of birdsong which hushed as a silent shape ghosted overhead and off into the trees. Our resident owl had passed by. Another beautiful sign that we were in sync with the world.

full moon ritual

Full moon ceremony. Image courtesy of sanctuary.net

Today is Father’s Day, a special day for fathers and their children, or in our case father and son. A beautiful and truly special way of concluding a magical couple of days. Thank you Nicole, your ceremonies were wonderful and this time, our special time, has been all the more incredible because it coincided with other special moments. We have magical memories to share and a wonderful start to our “New Beginnings”.

I feel truly Blesssed.