Living by spiritual principles; kinship with bio family & family of choice.

I have a wonderful 91 yr old cousin in senior housing whom I’ll call. I did send a Thanksgiving card but will reach out verbally. Three adult nephews also come to mind who lost their dad, my younger bro in March. I’ll also call my cousin who’s living with cancer.

O Purple. How regal you are! Spring crocuses jumping out of a clump of snow, heralding triumph over winters long clutches. In June you stand tall as an iris, swaying just a little in the breeze. You remind me~Stand straight, posture is forever!

I’m dropping the word “wants” & re-writing to “what comes through me”~~Compassion, advocacy, kindness, listening, speaking the language of the heart. I honor & respond by getting out of the way for Spirit to work through me.

I’ve received help & assistance time & time again. One tender memory of help is from a few years ago. I was in a transitional care unit rehabbing with a knee replacement. A guy who became a dear friend brought me fresh meals which needed refrigeration. Another rehabbing resident had a fridge & offered space for my meals. I was able to share fruit & food with her, while listening to her 70+ yr journey, which got me out of myself. It was a Holy week of miracles each day.

In my childhood home, I grew up saying Grace before our evening meal. My mom led that prayer. Over the years I incorporated a Grace including thanks for the crops from Mother Earth, laborers in the field and factors, the delivery drivers and grocery staff. I’ve strayed from that practice and will return to it. I know I’m mindful when eating out to bring a portion home.

Growing in the ability to Living with a grateful heart has increased a healthy dependency & reliance of trusting Infinite God & not my finite self.

An unexpected boisterous greeting of “I’ve been looking for you!” at a potluck community meeting in January 2015, which brought a depth of joy to both our hearts and healing of childhood wounds.

I need to re-vitalize an old behavior that will make it new again—improve my going-to-bed/sleep-earlier..

Being outward focused on caring for others whittles away on my self centered & selfish mentality that continually needs monitoring & inventory.

If I rise early enough, I see the beautifully etched and painted morning frost on the grass and remaining milk weed pods. I believe the flowers, grass and monarchs will return next spring. Everything and everyone needs a season to die and be reborn.

My tool belt has many skills I’ve acquired over the years: faith, intuition, listening, prayer, empathy, humor, kindness, writing, and so many more.

Four beautiful prints by a gifted mystical artist I’ve never met were given to my spiritual director years ago. She treasured them. Elizabeth journeyed Home in January. I just received the prints this week and will hang them soon.

I was led by Sophia to SoulCollage a few years ago and really enjoy it. I also engage in character clowning/acting. Annually I’m transformed into Mother Frances Cabrini for my parish’s spaghetti dinner.

By seeking those opportunities to share my time, talent or treasury, I move into action versus staying self centered.

I consistently find that whether I’m asked to or not, engaging in the act of listening to another’s physical, emotional or spiritual pain assists in their healing. We all need another to respectfully hear us and our story.

I’ve known this lesson from year’s ago and it recently reared it’s head. An unexpected forced hug from a Dragon left me unable to say “no!” claiming my space and boundaries. It set off a wave of low grade anxiety and hyper vigilance within me that took a couple weeks to name. Once named, I’m taking action to not interface with this Dragon again..

Christine, thank you for sharing this tender story. I am in awe how the Spirit of the Universe wove you all together at this time.

Mica, I know participants usually don’t engage in further chatter here, I’ll just briefly say, there are several forms of Brigid, and St Bridget-one of Celtic origins-a Wise Healer, woman of faith and a mystic. And there’s the Christianized St Bridget (you’ll see variations of the spelling of the name), who had many of the Celtic Brigid’s traits.

Thank you Mica, here’s to support 🙏🏼for both of us! Luck of the shamrock & St Brigid ☘️☘️☘️Can’t hurt either!