Monday Offering...for you, my Lion Hearts

"If ever there comes a time

when the women of the world

come together

purely and simply 

for the benefit of mankind,

it will be a force

such as the world

has never known"

~Matthew Arnold

19th Century Poet and Philosopher

Go out my lovelies

into your week

with your Lion Hearts

We make a difference in this world

Make sure the difference 

is one of Love

Love and Light

Hope...

*

Hope

I wanted to feel it

I knew it

I had had it
I needed it
*
Hope
an emotional state
which promotes the belief
in a positive outcome 
related to events and circumstances
in ones life
*says Wikipedia*


so the other day
feeling I had misplaced her
I went out looking for Hope
 to the place I knew
where answers were always found
my church of  earth and sky
water, rock, mountain and wood
the place of Creator
Mother Earth
where all answers lie
in the simplicity of the constant


Coyote met us
which was a surprise 
because it was later in the day
much later then when I normally visit
later usually means less animals around
they are shy of people
and tend to hid away during
the busyness of the day
but they were out
Coyote
Families of Geese
and the Heron sitting up top the old tree snag
I saw them
I recognized the gift 
but still...


I challenged God
I said "I would be impressed if it was an Eagle there"
cheeky as I was
a tender heart I hid behind those bold words
and this God knew


I biked on
beginning to feel refreshed
with Spirit by my side
whispering loving words in my ears
reassuring me
loving me
even in my unsettled state 
for I was flippant and dismissive


Then I saw Him
flying above me
Eagle
"Are you impressed now?"
I heard a voice say
my humility poured over my soul
"Yes,  Yes, truly I am blessed"
I notice another eagle flying higher
and a hawk flying off to my right
I soften
I release
Hope is returning


And then 
a little way down the trail
very low
over my head He flies
Eagle
to perch on a tree right in front
of me
The Love of my Soul
"Do you see me Catherine?
I am here
I am here
I am here"
yes yes I see you
"I am always with you
never shall I forsake you
never do I leave you"


We look at each other for quite some time
me through tear filled eyes
my heart open and raw
He tells me more
encourages me
listens to me
hears me
loves me


in the water
Otter swims
and plays amongst the reeds
teasing my Puppy Prince
playful joy...


and then
and then I see something 
come floating down through the air
something small and delicate
something caught upon the wind


"Is that for me?"
I ask
for I am not sure I can grasp it
"Go towards it"
says the Lover of my Soul
"Move towards it and reach out for it"
and so I do
a smile is on my tears stained face
my heart is excited with anticipation
as I reach out to catch it
and once again
in the simplest of things
I have found Hope

Where have you found Hope my lovelies?


Love and Light
*Honouring the Ebb and Flow*


the following are images taken during my
time alone

we are off to spend out final weekend

in this strange

but beautiful place

Happy Weekend my Lovelies

Trust...

Trust

in Trust

I still take action

in Trust

I understand that I am equipped

to make the right decisions

in Trust

I see God

in Trust

I know who I am

in Trust

I Love fully

in Trust

Spirit lends me Wisdom

in Trust

She opens doors

in Trust

I do not doubt myself

in Trust

I do not doubt God

in Trust

I know

She walks beside me

every step of the way

*

This has been a season for me...and continues to be so

as a mother

this has proven to be my most challenging time yet

I share with you what a sister 

took the time to send me

lighting my way

through this thick forest

she pulled 

the card of Trust for me...

it read:

Trust is having faith, hope and a positive outlook. 

Trust is believing in someone or something.  We have confidence that the right thing will come about without trying to control it or make it happen.  We trust others to do what they say they will do, and give them the space to be trustworthy.  Sometimes it is difficult to trust when life brings painful experiences.  Trust is being sure, in the depths of our being, that there is some gift or learning in everything that happens.  We move confidently with the flow of life, gathering strength from adversity.  We know we are never alone.

"Trust in the Lord and He will guide you aright.

One who has this trust need fear nothing. 

He can be in perfect peace and happiness

for he will be guided aright"

~Mahavagga 8:15:13 Hinduism

The Practice of Trust: 

I maintain my Hope

I do not nag other or try to control them

I believe there is some good in everything that happens

I allow trust to heal my fears

I am confident in my capacity for lifelong learning

I rely on Divine assistance

I am thankful for the gift of Trust

It renews my strength

What does Trust mean to you my lovelies?

Love and Light

pictures taken during my time alone

Time alone...visual stimulation

the place

my companions

 my first attempt at painting since childhood

 *all my talented painter friends please be kind*

 killer can happy hour

 the perfect roasted marshmellow

 yum

 a little dancen'

 morning coffee

 a work in progress...remember, *be kind

 mmmm....

 fireside reflections....

(more on that later)

not pictured here:

a visit from friends...

and I quote

"this place is weird"

a photography sesh

(to be seen in later post)

a fire side chat with a local

old movies

grief cleansing

laughter

love

*

Love and Light

Simple Prayers...

God

Grant me the Serenity

to accept the things I can not change

The Courage 

to change the things that I can

and

The Wisdom

to know the difference

Love and Light
my Lovelies

Monday Offering...

slow down

breath

look

listen

be

Love and Light


and if you missed it
go here

For you my Lovelies...

before I go

before I enter some time of solitude

with paper and pen

paint and canvas

connection to Divine Feminine

I had to share with you something

my dear soul-sister Rain posted

a message we all need to hear

women of today

sisters

warrioress

the brave one

my lovelies

give some time to your Divine Self 

and watch this

Love and Light to you all

*
disclaimer:
I posted this video not because of who is speaking
(prior to this video clip I had not heard of her, 
nor do I follow her work nor have I read her book)
I posted it because of what she is saying
here
in this moment
I believe these words are universal
and needed to be heard

Back to Colombia...

Jorge

(Seeds of Love and Hope International Society's president) 
and his family

left at the beginning of the week

 to go for a family visit

and to spend some time up at the centre

my heart went with them...

I think about our last day there

the broken hearts

the tears

I think about this young woman

she had been a permanent fixture in my "hair studio"

her and her beautiful daughter

she became a mother at 15

she was now 18

and living day to day on the hill side

no apparent future...

maybe a hairstylist?

*

this last day

she sought me out

to give me a gift

and with tears streaming down her cheeks

she slipped a bracelet on my wrist

it still brings tears to my eyes to think of it

I hadn't talk to her a lot

but she was there everyday

and everyday 

I greeted her with my limited spanish

and was happy to have her there...

I had no idea

how my being there had affected her

till that afternoon

when she found me in the storage room

we embraced

we shared tears

and I held her close

I felt her heart beat against mine

there were others

I came home bejewelled

trinkets

wrist bands

childhood beads

gifts I treasure

wear with pride

knowing the deep meaning of each

remembering the face of each who gave

and so

as Jorge went back

gifts from my heart went with

small tokens

to remind

that in the absence

the love remains

never

that far away

*

I leave you with these visuals

"The Face of Poverty"

and

"Where the Others Live"

sometimes my lovelies

we need to go back

to where a piece of our heart remains

Where does a piece of your heart remain?

Love and Light

(for more on my pilgrimage to Colombia go here)