exhale.....

I did not know what to title this post

so I started it as I physically did...

with an exhale.

an exhale of release and contentment

an exhale indicating

that work has been happening

within

and without

The image above represents how I have been feeling

these days

some-what naked, raw and vulnerable

and yet

all with in the comfort of

Love, Familiarity, and Beauty.

This month in SouLodge

we have been journeying with Owl...

whom I hold dear

because of this story

For me Owl is a reflection of my Self

She has vision in the dark.

She consumes only what she needs,

from the rodents and night crawlers

she feasts on,

and expels what she does not.

She is a Shadow Stalker

a Keeper of the Night

Silent in her Wisdom

(still working on this one)

Knowing the importance of Going Within

to those dark places of our psyche

to set ourselves free...

So this months Soul-Work has been revealing

and hard.

Facing those thing with in myself

that are not so pretty~

the rodents of my soul...

so to speak.

Not facing them in with shame

but facing them in love and acceptance

realizing what they have to teach me

and also challenging me to let go

of the addictions

the obsessions

the distractions

that keep me from my soul purpose.

Moving me towards the freedom to express

my soul truth

my heart words

my Self.

I have watched myself consume my fears

and spit out the pellets

of what I no longer wish to carry

Bringing up those "pellets" stung 

as they scrapped up my throat...

they even cause sadness.

"All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another." ~Anatole France

And at the same time

they gave Freedom and Hope.

My wings have hardened my lovelies

and I am ready to fly

I know this only happens

by going deep

there is no other way

but to trust in Spirit fully

and go where one is called...

not forced

but called gently

by the exhale

of

The One

*

I am also remembering...

when this lovely family stopped by 

on their way home to New Zealand, 

from China, last year.

What a special time it was...

ironically

our visit ended with this

I can still here Mark (and the kids)

laughing in the back

when the owl pooped lol

good times...

*

one last thing today

my lovelies

We had our Seeds of Love and Hope 6th annual

Fundraising Banquet last Friday

and we raised

(drum roll please)

over $100,000.00 for our centre

on Nativity Hill

in Medellin, Colombia.

AWESOME!

I plan to be going again in March

this time with my 18 year old niece : )

another grand adventure I am sure.

*

Well that is where things are at

my lovelies.

This Life is a Beautiful Mystery

Today

as with everyday

 I am grateful

for all that it offers me.

Love and Light

ps Happy Thanksgiving to all my American Lovelies

Wordless Wednesday...

"I was meant to be

a warrior..."

Love and Light

Lest We Forget...

Today in Canada is Remembrance Day

A Day when we remember all those who have given

life, limb and mind to protect the notion of Freedom.

Though I do not believe in the politics war

I honour ALL who serve

and all who believe in fighting for their rights

and the rights of others.

I grieve with all those

whose loved ones never came home

will not come home.

I grieve the pain of those who do.

The horrors they now live with

The shredded hearts they house

The empty souls they have become

*

No one wins in war.

Only those who sit "above" us common folk

investing and conspiring

to further their kindgom

and their wealth

To those

who would sacrifice others

for the "greater good"

I say

with righteous anger in my voice

"God be with your Souls..."

and in the stillness

of my heart

and the fullness of my soul

as tears stream down my face

I wisper the words

of my teacher Jesus:

"Forgive them...

for they know not what they do"

Love and Light

I am She...

I am She

the one who lives out loud

the one who lives for stillness

I am She

the one who pours out

the one who wants to be poured into

I am She

Fierce Maiden of the Night

not afraid of the darkness

for I know the treasures lie there

within the folds of the things that scare me

I am a tear

an exhale

a shout

a whisper

I am complicated

easy

simple

confusing

I am loud

soft

gentle

rough

I am

the sun

the moon

I wear the stars in my hair

and I dance with the mermaids in the sea

Wolf is my elder guide and companion

Grandmother Bear nurtures and comforts me

Eagle gives me strength and knowing

while Panther

stalks the shadows

reminding me of who I am

winking at me in the dark

and when I look at my face

I see Owl and Her Sacred Wisdom

I see what can't be seen

I know death

and am not afraid...

There has been but one thing

that scares me

not

to

be

heard

 

This has been my biggest fear

one I no longer will carry

along with so many things

I have dropped along the wayside

to be naked

and unafraid

I am She

naked

exposed

unsure

willing

I am She

Walker of the Woods

Servant to the Mountains

Keeper of the Night Lantern

Dancer of the Sea

I am She

*

Who are you my lovelies?

Love and Light

inspired by my soul-friend and sister of the wood

Cathy AJ Hardy

and her divinely beautiful/heart touching/soul igniting new CD

I am She 

*

Animal Medicine Calender found here

Music Monday...

Learning to Be All that is within me:

elating

frightening

over flowing

lonely

blessed

breaking down

building up

heart breaking

heart bursting

nothing 

eveything

painful

healing...

This past weekend I hosted my first art show

of my intuitive photography

You lovelies get to preview a lot of my captures here

 But this was my "coming out" night.

I could not ask for anything better.

On so many levels

it was perfect.

*

I felt it took Courage

to put myself out there like that.

As much as there is some truth to that,

 looking back I can see

I made it way more a "deal"

then need be....

But

 I had to break through

my own walls

to find that out.

*

(this is a captured image of a very unique world class surfer checking out his next surf... thats courage)

Courage

Courage to move past

your conditioning

Courage to step out 

and Be

Courage to Break Free

from the mold not made for you

Courage to Speak

when ears are closed

Courage to remain still

in the eye of the storm

Courage to raise a lantern

in dark times

Courage to give when there

is nothing left

Courage to love

and be loved

Courage to take a stand

when others don't

Courage to love yourself

unconditionally

Courage to Live Free

~Catherine Beerda-Basso

This week my lovelies

Live in Courage

and find out

you did not need it as much as you thought.

xo

Love and Light  

 *check out my 2014 Animal Medicine Calendar here*