all images and stories are the property of Catherine Beerda-Basso and are not to be used without given permission...thank you

Monday 30 July 2012

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


Saturday 28 July 2012

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





Thursday 26 July 2012

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

Wednesday 25 July 2012

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

Tuesday 24 July 2012

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 23 July 2012

Monday Offering...




slow down
breath
look
listen
be

Love and Light


and if you missed it
go here

Saturday 21 July 2012

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

Wednesday 18 July 2012

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
and

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)