Dharma in the Garden

Wishcasting

Today Jamie Ridler asks the question "What is your spirit wishing for?"

My wish is simply to believe.  In myself, in the goodness of others, that all things are possible, in a creatively fulfilling and abundant life, and most of all in my dreams.

You must love yourself before you love another. By accepting yourself and fully being what you are, your simple presence can make others happy. –unknown

I re-read that second sentence several times before I really understood what it meant. This morning, for a brief period, I really felt I was fully being what I am. A joyous, giving being, full of love and hope and happiness. I felt that joyous energy bubbling up from inside me, making my heart swell. It caught in my throat because I had to fight the urge to open my mouth and just let all my love and joy pour out. In what form I know not – laughter, song, a yell! I was sitting in my favourite café, taking time out on my way to work to enjoy a cappuccino. I had bought a cup cake for my friend to cheer her up (this café does amazing cup cakes), the sun was shining, the coffee was doing its stuff and the life felt good.

Today I am focusing on giving and receiving but more importantly on loving myself. As the quote above says, we must love ourselves first before we can love another. My creative e-course is helping me to dig deep, to reach inside, and discover (or should that be re-discover) who I really am.

I'm no expert but I know one thing. If you are filled with doubt and negativity, don’t consider yourself worthwhile or deserving of good things, if you are self-critical, angry or bitter, then it will not be possible to give lovingly to others.

It is incredibly difficult and scary to look inside yourself and see what is really there. All that dark horrible icky stuff we don’t admit to. Those traits and characteristics that we dislike so much in other people? We’ve got them too. Once you start looking, I mean really looking, shining a light in to all those dark corners, the dark stuff starts running for cover. Thing is, there’s no where to run. It’s been exposed to the light and dark stuff doesn’t like being in the light. I’ve shone the light on a lot of nasty stuff lately and it wasn’t nice to see. I wanted to put the cover back over them and pretend they weren’t there. But I had seem them and I knew I had to admit that yes I’d had those thoughts, I’d felt those feelings, I had been that awful person. But I also knew that inside me was lots of lovely stuff too - compassion, love, gratitude, passion, creativity, respect, generosity, joy, positivity, belief. An abundance of beautiful virtues, thoughts and feelings. Then I realised that if I could think and feel all that negative stuff with no real effort on my part, then surely it was just as easy to stop, reach inside and choose one of my happy traits instead.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm learning, day by day, step by step, to stop and examine all my negative thoughts and just find a better, nicer thought instead. Hey, I'm not perfect and I'm not saying it's easy. I still have times when life can threaten to overwhelm me and all seems pretty bleak. But I'm learning to accept that too, and to know that at least I now recognise these moments for what they are and that I can choose to change how I feel. In a heartbeat. How powerful is that?

Incidentally, my day just got better and better and the more positive and happy I felt about myself and my life, the more I found that nice stuff kept happening. As for journaling, I think I am becoming seriously addicted! 

Perfect Things - 20 of them!

Could have thought of a lot more but here are 20 perfect things in no particular order:

An Agatha Christie novel (any of them, it doesn't matter) and a comfy chair
The scent and taste of vanilla. Vanilla perfume is the best!
Newly cut grass - summer's here!
Laundry blowing in the breeze and the fresh air smell when you bring it indoors
Viennese Truffles - makes the first item in the list even more perfect
Life because it is perfect, in every way. I just need to remind myself and get in the flow
Gardening - it's the best therapy ever and you never stop learning
Art - my saviour, my passion, my dream
The White Sands of Morar  May they always remain so blissfully unspoiled  
Spending time with Mum, lunching, shopping and chatting - so rare but bliss! I love you Mum
Girl talk - giggling, gossiping, gassing, great fun
All the amazing people I have met through blogging - bless you all
Katharine Hepburn movies
My Alegria PG Lite Red Scribble Clogs - funky and comfy!
The Inside Out e-course because it's OK to not be perfect!
Granola with cranberries, blueberries and organic yoghurt. Yum!
My summer house and it's view of the garden
Bird song - it never fails to lift my spirits
The sound of waves breaking on the shore
The man who shares my life. Nothing would be perfect without you.

Lose the scissors!

Just completed Week 1 of my creative e-course Inside Out and about to leap into Week 2!  It's been great to just mess about with paint and other fun materials and not worry about the results on the paper. This is something I have real difficulty with so hoping to learn how to release all the angst I feel when I start a painting.  The best part has been snipping words and images from magazines and making wonderful collage.  For a little while I was taking time to cut words and pictures out with scissors but then I realised that it was actually far better to just rip and tear things out.  Essentially learning to let go and just be a child again, not caring about being neat or tidy.  Lesson of the week for me has been "lose the scissors"!



There are some parts of the e-course that are challenging for me.  Particularly the journal writing exercises. But I am finding the free form writing to be cathartic. After all the course is called Inside Out and that is just what is happening when you get your thoughts down on paper.  Some thoughts aren't so nice (lots of negativity that needs a light shone on it) but equally I am finding lots of nice stuff turning up!  I have done something similar many years ago when I tried to work my way through Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way (no fault of Julia's that I never managed to complete it). Anyway, morning pages (as they were called) threw up some pretty good stuff and I re-read them again the other day to remind myself of what was going on in my life back then.  



Loving the relaxing meditation (which I just don't do enough of) and looking forward to learning about yoga. 

So can't wait to see what's in store this week, although definitely will need to plan my life better so I can do a little something every day instead of a huge splurge of activity at the end of the week!

Other pictures from my journal of self-discovery can be found here

Attitude of Gratitude

'Count your blessings' is simple to the point of stupid—and powerful to the point of life-altering. Gratitude, that very specific feeling of thankfulness in your heart, allows you to see and absorb all you have, forgetting for a moment all you may lack. It connects your brain with your heart, and gives you the ground to be more giving, effective, loving human. Being grateful allows generosity to flow. And many believe it also makes us more receptive—as in, the more you love what you have, the more you get what you want. So herewith, a list to remind you of fundamental things to be grateful for every day—from apples to clouds to ice cream to getting enough nightly Zzz’s. 

See the list at 26 Reasons to be Grateful - The Ultimate Gratitude List from A to Z

Energise

In an effort to get this old body moving better I have ordered two of Shiva Rea's DVDs - Yoga for Beginners and Daily Energy.

I saw a few minutes of her Daily Energy workout on the Body in Balance channel last night - she has an amazing body (soooooo jealous) - and then I found my yoga mat behind the sofa bed in the spare room (it will sure do me a lot of good there!).  

So I thinking that with a little discipline and determination I could become stronger and more flexible but I want to learn yoga for my mind as well as my body.  I am not confident about going to a class right now so being able to workout in my own living room is appealing (no-one to see the saggy bits except me!)

Did do some de-cluttering of wardrobes and drawers today in the belief that clearing out the old will make way for new things to come in.  Despite the cold I opened the windows to allow fresh air and new energy to circulate.  There is a slow thaw in the garden (can now see a little of the grass!) but it's still too cold to venture outdoors or to do work in the summer house.  But I have a new Tuesday morning class starting soon at the local art gallery learning all about the collections and the role of the curator.  So lots of new and positive ventures on the horizon for mind, body and spirit.  

Wishes

I have just received a small pack of the Angels of Awakening Angelic Wishes Oracle Cards by Daisy Foss & Laraine Krantz. There are 36 cards in the pack - 12 Wishes of Life, 12 Wishes of Creation and 12 Wishes of Love.  

Asking the angels for a wish of love for myself, a wish of life for others and a wish of creation for the world, I selected three cards at random:

Wishes of Love - I sing and dance to my own tune, I make a positive influence in the world
Wishes of Life - Ensure all creatures are safe and healthy
Wishes of Creation - Help nature maintain a balance of health for our planet

These are beautifully illustrated little cards and their messages are uplifting and inspirational.

"You intended to come forth into the physical realm of contrast to define what is wanted, to connect with the Energy that creates worlds, and to flow it toward your objects of attention, not because the objects of attention are important - but because the act of flowing is essential to life."

Via Abraham Hicks 

This resonates with what I am reading in 'Angel Inspiration' by Diana Cooper.  Angels are our invisible companions constantly drawing us towards our destiny. When we relax into the powerful current which they create, our life starts to flow. Too often we put up resistance and want to go our own way but by working with our angels they will help us move around problems. We are the intermediaries through which angels channel their energy on Earth.  But they have no free will and therefore cannot help without our co-operation. We need to realise that the combination of humans and angels working together is such a powerful force that miracles can and do occur.   

This Week

So far this week I have been:

trying out texture paste and masking fluid in the studio (this wasn't a success and it wasn't just the masking fluid that was blue...); removing weeds, flower heads and a tangled mess of growth from my (non-flowering) clematis; taking photographs of the garden (see Photographic Memory); reading Soul & Spirit Magazine (great inspiration!) and loving Victoria Laurie's latest book in the Psychic Eye Mystery series; determined to keep my blog up to date; meditating when I can but not often enough; watching yoga, pilates and energetic workouts on TV mainly with my feet up (as a woman of a certain age I don't need to do too much to work up a sweat!); waiting for the arrival of The Urban Warrior's Guide to Health, Wealth, Happiness & Good Looks by the Barefoot Doctor (one of the world's leading authorities on Tao healing and meditation)

Floating down the stream of time...

I am so pleased to hear that Yvonne Innes and Olivia Harrison have been awared a Silver Gilt at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for their garden 'From Life to Life'.  This specially designed garden was inspired by the life of George Harrison - I particularly love the Indian pavilion which represents the spiritual aspect of his life.

Today's Abraham Quote

Life is supposed to be fun. You said, "I'll go forth and choose. I'll look at the data, and I'll say, yes to this, and yes to this, and yes to this, and I'll paint a picture of the things that I want, and I'll vibrate about them, because that's what I'm giving my attention to. And the Universe will respond to my vibration. And then I'll stand in a new place where a whole new batch of yeses are available, and I'll say yes to this, and yes to this, and yes to this." You did not say, "I'll go forth and struggle into joy", because from your Nonphysical Perspective you know it is vibrationally not possible. You cannot struggle to joy. Struggle and joy are not on the same channel. You joy your way to joy. You laugh your way to success. It is through your joy that good things come.

Quote courtesy of Abraham-Hicks

Letting it flow

Today's Abraham Quote

"Aren't you just thrilled that there are billions of beings of intelligence within you? Cells that each know what's best for them? And as they find what's best for them, it is ultimately what's best for you - unless you're focused upon something unwanted and using that as your excuse to block the flow. They are asking, Non-Physical is answering. Are you in the way or are you letting it flow? That's what this "Letting go and letting God" is all about. It's about relaxing and no longer hindering the communication between the individual askers. Every particle gets to individually decide. And as every particle asks, it is answered - and the Whole continues to thrive."

Thanks to Sally for telling me all about the The Teachings of Abraham and to Abraham-Hicks for the above quote.

Missed Blessings

With thanks to Manidooke for sending me the following.  As requested, I am passing the message on:

"My instructions were to send this to people that I wanted God to bless and I picked you. Won't you please pass this to people you want to be blessed.

The man whispered, "God, speak to me" and a meadowlark sang.

But, the man did not hear.

So the man yelled, "God, speak to me" and the thunder rolled across the sky.

But, the man did not listen.

The man looked around and said, "God let me see you." And a star shined brightly.

But the man did not see.

And, the man shouted, "God show me a miracle." And, a life was born.

But, the man did not notice.

So, the man cried out in despair, "Touch me God, and let me know you are here."

Whereupon, God reached down and touched the man. But, the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on.

I found this to be a great reminder that God is always around us in the little and simple things that we take for granted ... even in our electronic age.

So I would like to add one more:

The man cried, "God, I need your help!" And an e-mail arrived reaching out with good news and encouragement.

But, the man deleted it and continued crying.

Don't miss out on a blessing because it isn't packaged the way that you expect."

A Guardian Angel

A guardian angel
Flew down from above,
To teach me a lesson
About the powers of love.
She whispers to me,
Takes a hold of my hand,
There are so many things
I wish you to understand.
About the powers of love,
And all it can do,
To someone who needs
To share it with you.
A pat on the back,
A kind smile on your face,
Can make someone's life,
A much brighter place.
It doesn't take much,
To show someone you care,
To give them the love,
God gave you to share.
So please keep in mind,
All the powers you possess,
To grace someone's life,
When they're in distress.
You've been put on this earth
To bestow the powers of love,
And with those final words,
She disappeared up above.

~Author Unknown~

Saying a Prayer

"Connection with gardens, even small ones, even potted plants, can become windows to the inner life. The simple act of stopping and looking at the beauty around us can be prayer." The Sacred Garden by Patricia R Barrett

Sadly there has been little connection with the garden in the last month what with one thing or another.  This is the week the summer house should be built - I am just waiting for the phone to ring to give me an exact day.  I've been struggling for several weeks with health problems so this has curtailed quite a bit of work being done in the garden.  I did manage to cut back the japonica in preparation for the summer house but I still haven't got all the spring bulbs planted yet.  There are also major changes and upheaval at work which have seen me retreat into my shell.  In all honesty I am feeling battered and bruised not to mention rather lost and confused right now and just want to hide away from the world with all its ugliness and mess.  I pray that the arrival of the summer house will have me poking my head out from under the covers and help me connect with dharma once more.

Fire the Grid :: Be Defined

I recommend a visit to Fire the Grid.  If, like me, you are concerned about what we are doing to our wonderful planet and worried about its future then Shelley Yates provides 'The Plan' which will hopefully provide the remedy to our situation.  It requires only one hour from each of us on 07-17-07 at 11:11. Shelley's story is incredible - she is truly an inspiration.

Healing Angel

I am reading the 'Angel Bible' by Hazel Raven and have discovered several fascinating facts about Archangel Raphael.  I have always called on Raphael (and other angels) when I practice Reiki but I didn't really know why.  However, I did know his name means "God heals" and that he is the angel of healing.  Since reading the Angel Bible, I now know that Raphael is also associated with Spring (my favourite season), Wednesday (the day I was born), the zodiac sign Virgo (my birth sign) and the planet Mercury (ruler of the sign of Virgo).  It's no surprise that he also appears in my favourite book, Miss Garnet's Angel by Salley Vickers! 

Raphael grants us many gifts, including joy and creativity. He encourages self-motivation to become who we are meant to be. He is also the angel of communication (I am calling on him right now to help me convey this message!). Raphael spreads love and laughter and delights in helping people.  I am reassured that, despite being an Archangel, anyone can call on Raphael for help and we don't need to be psychic or have any special powers to do so. We just need to open our minds and our hearts.  Synchronisities are the angels' way of letting us know they are there. Thank you Raphael - I've got the message.

I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious Ambiguity. Gilda Radner

I long for the perfect ending. If a book I’m reading doesn’t have an upbeat conclusion, I feel let down, cheated somehow out of the “happy ever after” that doesn’t exist in real life but that I look for in fiction.

Perhaps it has a lot to do with the fact that I’m a perfectionist, or should I say a recovering perfectionist. I was, and still am to a certain extent, a real stickler for everything to be just right, nothing out of place, to always have the perfect ending. But you don’t half set yourself up for disappointment when you try to control and organise every aspect of your life. I learned that the hard way. Of course, life isn’t perfect. Deep down I knew that. It didn’t stop me trying though.

Today, I can accept life and all its imperfections (although not without a struggle!). I wouldn’t want it any other way. Life can have moments of desperate sadness and terrible tragedy but equally can give us moments of sheer joy and untold pleasure. We definitely do have to make the best of what life deals us. To learn from the past but not dwell in it, plan for the future but live for the moment. To look forward, not with fear or dread but with anticipation and hope.

Growing Stronger

There’s no doubt that most of us spend a lot of time dwelling on our weaknesses.  We regularly beat ourselves up about all the things we believe we are no good at.  If we could only apply the same amount of time and enthusiasm to praising our strengths!

A colleague received a mailing from the Centre for Applied Positive Psychology which is a new organisation promoting the science and practice of positive psychology.  The pack contained several cards with a word or phrase on each, and a comic representational drawing on the reverse. We decided to do a quick exercise with the cards to identify what we thought our strengths and weaknesses were. Thankfully, of the two piles of cards we chose, the one representing our strengths was bigger!  Our choices were similar.  We had both picked ‘social intelligence’, ‘perspective’ and ‘humour’ as strengths.  I had also picked ‘creativity’, ‘kindness’ and ‘spirituality’ as my strengths. Interestingly, we had both picked ‘love’ as one of our weaknesses.  Not that this means we are completely incapable of feeling or giving love.  We just felt we didn’t express it as well as we could and this was something we wanted to work on.

This was an exercise that definitely got us thinking about how little we recognise and acknowledge our strengths.  I am particularly inspired by the suggestion on each of the cards about starting a daily ‘Strength Journal’ where you record three occasions during the day where you displayed that particular strength.

Dharma Creation

In the beginning...

Dharma in the Garden is being created.  Watch this space!