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

Tuesday 16 July 2013

Stepping into the Deep...

"Humankind has not woven the web of life.
We are but one thread within it.
Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.
All things are bound together.
All things connect."
~Chief Seattle, 1854


I have not been here much this past week
not even to come and visit you....
But you are never far away
Sometimes you dance across my heart
or whisper in my ear
Other times
I catch a glimpse of you on the trail
strolling through ancient trees
an entourage of animals
trailing behind you
while critters perch on your shoulders
and birds nest in your hair
I've seen you walk on the tree tops
and occasionally
I gotten a glimpse of you
flying with eagle, hawk and raven
and I have marveled as you swam in Mama Ocean
moving with the current
swimming with the mermaids
No...
you are never far away.  


I have decided to take the rest of the summer
 off from this space
there are other muses that are calling
and I must answer
I will be back though my lovelies
and maybe I will drop by
now and again,
into your sacred space
and see how you are...
but don't be alarmed by my silence
don't be disheveled by the stillness
that will be this space
it is where I am called to go
into the Deep
into the solitude of creativity
and relationship
During my 30 day challenge
this message returned
again and again
guiding me to this place that is
But
I could not go without letting you know
not only where I am,
but what you mean to me...
so thank you
thank you for being here
for reading my words
for witnessing
this
my journey
thank you for your open hearts
your beautiful energy
your gorgeous souls
Each of you hold a magic that is
unique to you
I have been blessed by this magic
blessed by your gifts
blessed by your journey's.

So journey on my lovelies
and wave to me on the trail
My fire is always open for more to sit by
My pack always full for the sharing
My lantern always bright...

May this season
whether you be in winter or summer
be a blessing to your soul
food for your spirit
and light in your love
I will see you soon....

Love and Light my Lovelies 
you are beautiful
xo


"Do you thing humans were designed to live in the present or the past or the future?"
"Well, I think the most obvious answer is that we were designed to live in the present."
Relax, Mack; this is not a test, it is a conversation. You are exactly correct, by the way."
~"The Shack" by Wm Paul Young

 

Thursday 11 July 2013

Honouring Ebb and Flow in The Great Magic...a re-post

Life is a beautiful experience
a gift
full of wonder and magic
there was a time when
these words would not have been my own
I was unable to see past the darkness
that surrounded me
no longer is that so...
I believe in the ebb and flow
that Life offers
I believe that it is
  the Deep Essence of Life
you cannot have one
without the other
and when one is brave enough 
to willing embrace the darkness
the light shines even brighter
and the Deep Magic comes to life
that is The Gift
to those who venture deep...
The Ebb

In uncertainty I walk
the pushing
the pulling
taking it's toll
finding my voice
when lips have been stitched shut
not by Spirit
but by man
treated like a wound

that needs tending to
for fear of power and strength
that would come forth
slowly I cut the threads
I loosen the shackles
realizing I hold the key 
a time of darkness is here
I cannot see where this path leads
I call out
Where are you Spiritual Guides?
Where are you Lover of my Soul?
they answer...
"We are here
I AM
here
You must Trust
use that which you have been given
do not wait idly
all you need you have
within you
remember
and
believe"
And so I continue to walk
staff in hand
into a land unknown
it is barren and lonely
it would appear
nothing here grows 
I pour into it
only emptiness comes back
I lay my love down
and the cracked earth 
sucks it dry
the winds strain my roots
trying to force me down
it draws me in only to
spit me out
but I remain
warrior 

maiden
warrior mother
warrior crone
I will not be shaken
I will not be moved
I will not be afraid
*




The Flow


Within your Valley of Peace
I am held
cared for
loved
chosen


Songs fill the trees
As the Sun filters thru
Dancing leaves upon my page
as the breeze tickles the branches
Golden Light
Transparent Greens
Beauty beyond measure
A babbling brook
Life water it gives


not a care in the world
no worry

no strife
It continues
No beginning
No end
and yet 
sure of it's direction



A stillness is found
in such Valleys
the gift of peace
the gift of calm
the gift of knowing


The Deep Magic
is visible here
Felt by those
who choose to see
A Magic 
that we are all part of
A Magic deep within
each of us
That comes from the place
from which all things come


It rumbles beneath the Earth
It flies amongst the trees
It lingers in the wind
The beautiful Magic of Life
Here in the Valley
I find You 
Lover of my Soul...
Always You
*


Recently I read this quote
which sums up my thoughts beautifully...

"Life is magical, but it doesn't mean it is easy.
If life is too easy, you can't see the magic because ti is not necessary.
The magic comes when you have a brave soul
and are willing to explore deep within.
Magic is a reward for that."
~Seong Yoo Lee
(Buddhist Monk)

I re-posted this because I loved it so much
when I re-read it
it was a year ago when I first posted it
and I love seeing the movement
and growth with in myself
since then...

A blessed weekend I bid you all
my lovelies
I retreat to the land of blessings
a time with family from out of town 
enjoying the local flavours
a time of hearts songs and laughter
What do you seek this weekend lovelies?

Love and Light

Tuesday 9 July 2013

A Soul-Full Journey....Day 30

Day 30
I am at the end...wow
9:00am
TRX
10:15am
Hatha/Yin Yoga

these are my last "scheduled" classes 

I have really seen a difference in my core strength
which is something this practice focuses on
moves that were "killing" me at the beginning
are now still working me
but with much more ease and control

It is wonderful to see ones progress
and feel that sort of accomplishment...

but it does not stop here
I will continue with the TRX
and will be incorporation more of a variety
into my yoga practice.
I was speaking yesterday with a sister-friend
who did the month challenge with me
(using a different program)
about the things that came up for us,
during this period of intentional movement.
One of my intentions was to love my body better.
I can feel I moved forward in that
and yet I see I still have a ways to go.
This lack of body love was embedded in some
deep wounds of the past
and has been walking with me for far too long
yet
I have made progress
and I am so much further from where I once was
when I abused and loathed my body
so for that
today
I am deeply grateful
I will continue on this journey
cherishing my body as the temple it is
learning to loosen those things inside of me
that serve me no more
and take in the truth of the beauty and power
my body holds
This may take me for the rest of my
human life
and I am good with that
I think what is important with intention
is that we never go back
always move forward
making our way to the truth
forging our way to divine freedom
no matter how long it takes to get there
because truly
the gifts are found in the journey.
Spiritually
wow
What can I say?
Where do I start?
So many gift given
So many revelations
So many teachings past on
it is hard to know where to start
I will say this
I have realized through this Soul-Full Journey
filled with it's intentions
that there has been lingering shame within my life.
Shame of some of my choices in the past
and though I have walked through this place
time and time again
there remains a residue
and that residue has left me feeling a lingering
of entrapment
of which I was not aware.
Undoubtedly my journey with Eagle
has brought this to the forefront
allowing me to see
knowing
it was time for me to see
because
I had made that time
I had made that space
this is what intention creates
It creates time and space
for these lingering residues to bubble up
And this creating of time and space
is not embraced in our busy, instant culture
There were many times I felt challenged
I remember at one point saying to myself
"Really??? How much more "slowed down" can I be???!!!
MUH! 
lol

And so it is with intention;
challenging
yet oh so rewarding...
Not only did this time of intention bring 
the residue of shame to the forefront
but also it brought with it
a shift of perspective
driving me closer to the freedom I live/strive for.
Taking flight with Eagle meant freeing myself
from that shame of past mistakes
Mistakes made by a girl/woman who was living in lack
not understanding the abundance that is for all
to take hold of
the abundance that was hers to have and hold
Discovering that shame
challenged me to o deep within 
and be the person I was created to be
IN SPITE
of my bad choices.

 I once thought that a spiritual pilgrimage
was only for a period of time
Now I know
it is a continuum
a life time of journeying
back to Oneself.
This journey can be one of uncertainty
but
I can
I will
I do
trust
that uncertainty.

Thank you my lovelies
for bearing witness to this my journey
My hope
My prayer 
is that it has touched something in you
awakened a light deep within
so that you too will find courage
to begin or continue
your  journey back to yourself
for I love 
the company of your spirit. 

Blessings
Love and Light
xo


*There are really only two types of people,
Those you now love.
And, those you will love.*