The word sacrifice is basic to almost everything of importance: care, love, religion, warfare, loyalties, patriotism, religion, gift-giving, friendship, relationships and morality are but a few descriptors. Of course, as with any word, it is subject to the personal interpretation or meaning to the one speaking and the one listening. We have all experienced drastically different perspectives when attempting to communicate with someone. We say something with a clear intention and much to our surprise the look on the face of the one we are speaking to indicates they heard something else from our words.
Let's use the Latin meaning, for sacrifice, sacrare, which means "to make sacred." If we intend to enhance a relationship, whether personal or professional, it is important to know precisely what we want to say, that is, what message do we wish to convey. If we see everything in our life as a sacred moment, we will be mindful of our words. To do this we must take time to sit in a quiet space and listen to the voice of our heart. Just as important is to know the person to whom you are speaking. What is important to them, what areas are they more sensitive, or passionate about that differ from your views? Sacred moments offer us the opportunity to view life with compassion and understanding. It begins with you. What biases and prejudices do you have? We all have them whether we want to admit it or not. And, it's okay, what harms our relationships, and eventually our self-esteem, is not being aware of those areas. The Clan Mother, Looks Far Woman, offers us the opportunity to use the month of April to spend some time to "See the truth" beyond our human experiences to what our tender souls may need. When we came into the world we were pure spirit, after many walks around the Medicine Wheel of Life, conditions taught us a different perspective of who we are and what this life is all about. Adjustments are needed to be in balance with who we truly are. This Saturday, April 16, at 2:55 p.m. is the next Full Moon. It is referred to as the Pink Moon because of the pink ground phlox and moss pink herb are among the earliest widespread flowers in spring. The Full Moon represents the divine feminine, our emotional world within. With the assistance of Looks Far Woman, we are given the opportunity to end habits, cycles and relationships that are harmful to our overall well-being. In the Christian faith, Easter represents the sacrifice made by the son of God, Jesus for the good of others. In our current world, we are witnessing the sacrifices being made with the people of Russia as they witness the destructive behaviors of other in their country, and the multitude of Ukrainian's as they watch their country and their family and friends being destroyed. Take a few moments and really consider, what can YOU do? What sacred moment can you set aside to send prayers for those living through this event in real time, and balance that prayer with words of gratitude for what you have in your life. It may seem like a sacrifice of your time; however, your sacred moment becomes a wide spread sharing of love and compassion with others, and contributes to more sacred moments all over the world. From my heart to yours, Vicky
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As we begin the week of Easter, now is a good time to examine three important aspects of this Holy week. Whatever your personal spiritual path, to many in the Western world, this is a very sacred time. This week, let us consider three words: Sacrifice, Redemption and Forgiveness. Take some time this week to really sit with your heart and discern what those three words mean. I'll share my understanding over the next couple of weeks.
In the meantime, set aside some time, if only ten minutes each day to feel in your whole being what you understand those words to mean and how they affect your life. From my heart to yours, Vicky Gracious, what a wonderful weekend we've been given. It has been a delight to get a Taste of Spring! Kids were walking around the neighborhood, bicyclers, Harley riders, and golf carts tooled around the small community around me. And, I could swear the grass is greener! For those that have large lawns to mow, I'm certain they were in their garages tuning up their lawnmowers. With all the sunshine I noticed all the fuzz bunnies that were hidden during the cloudy winter months. Spring cleaning offers me the opportunity to really notice everything in my home. It also provides an opportunity to really appreciate the things I often overlook that add warmth to my home and to my heart. As I type this, I hear my neighbor and his "band" warming up for the spring and summer seasons. It is always a sure sign of warmth when they begin serenading the neighborhood.
As we begin another walk around the Medicine Wheel called Life, consider spending a bit of time reflecting on what, you personally, would love to do this next round. We plant in the spring, tend the weeds, then in the summer begin to enjoy the growth in front of us. If we live in a neighborhood, I'm certain this time of year offers everyone the opportunity to observe the growth of the children that came during the winter months. Goodness gracious, they do grow like weeds. By mid-summer, the weeds will be visible and beckon our attention. Whether the "weeds" are in our gardens, or in our neighborhood, it is a time-lapse we can witness in real time. Let's decide this spring and summer to really pay attention to our surroundings. What bushes and trees seem to have multiplied in size? What elder is now riding in a golf cart to keep track of their neighbors; to stay connected to those that have become an "extended family" of sorts? As we notice those in our immediate surroundings, it might time to really "see" them, to appreciate where they are in their life. Whether they are young children, teenagers, adults, or elders, everyone wants to feel part of something "bigger" outside their homes. In light of what we are witnessing in Ukraine, perhaps it is time to pause and count the blessings we have living in our neighborhoods, and our country. The "Taste of Spring" offers us the opportunity to look outside ourselves and our homes and notice the richness of our lives. Consider: What riches lie in your life, and in your neighborhood? A dear friend recently shared a personal story about a deep healing that changed her heart in ways she could only imagine. As life so often offers, deep wounds can cut us to the core and leave us feeling a deep void in our hearts that leaves an emptiness in our lives.
It takes great courage to reach out to the ones we have hurt and disappointed through choices we made. It's also a daunting task to truly discern what choice is best for those we love when we feel a "call" or "nudge" to do something completely contrary to the basic beliefs we know to be true. And, yet, the often unrelenting beckoning continues to get our attention. The choice is always a personal one, and, yet, it also effects the lives of those we love. I guess that is what life is all about; carefully discerning the path ahead while considering the consequences on those we love. It is always about honoring our inner compass and having the faith to move forward. When a deep love connects people, the relationship may take a bit of a nose dive; however, a new one can be created if we are determined to keep our hearts open. With understanding, honest communications and an unrelenting belief of those relationships, healing can and will occur. That is where forgiveness becomes a Gift. If we will use our past as a reference point, we can look over our shoulder, see what we learned, then bring that wisdom into the present situation. If we drag around old wounds and the stories we told ourselves, we will stay stuck in the past and never fully live in the moment. We will always have a place in our heart that is missing something. My teacher used to say, "Use Death as an Advisor." Those words are very powerful. Consider for a moment, if there are old wounds in your life that it is time to bring out of the darkness of hurt or confusion and bring to the light of Love. There is no greater Freedom then to have the courage to say, "please forgive me," or "I forgive you." This is how we open the door to fully BE in life, rather than go through the mechanics of life. Through this powerful, courageous act, we can feel the depth of love, joy, and liberation that only forgiveness of ourselves and others can offer. It is truly a Gift to each person's heart and everyone in their lives. What a powerful way to change the world! It is there that personal freedom becomes Freedom for All! Today is Valentine's Day, and whether you have a partner or are single, it is important to set aside some special time to let those you love know how important they are to you. While we associate Valentine's Day with couples, it really is a day to let those that hold a place in your heart know how much they mean to you. And, keep in mind, it may be a furry friend!
Perhaps you absolutely love the night sky, and are fascinated with the Full Moon. You may even make it habit to do a special ceremony on each Full Moon. Well, that happens this week also. Depending on the clearness of the sky, it will be visible Tuesday night; however, it officially arrives at 11:57 in the morning on the 16th. This Full Moon is referred to as the Snow Moon since in the United States, our heaviest snowfall generally occurs in February. The Clan Mother, Weighs the Truth, is heralded in with this Full Moon. She is the fair judge of human rights, the Keeper of Equality and the Guardian of Justice. She does not judge our actions, instead teaches us the consequences of our decisions and actions will do that for us. The Wisdom Circle is this Thursday, the 17th from 6:30-8:00 p.m. and will once again, be held via Zoom. While the strongest and most effective way to get to know yourself and others is to sit across from each other and absorb the energy, the internet certainly helps us continue to gather together despite the weather and driving conditions. If you would like to attend, send me your email address at: [email protected] by Wednesday evening, and an invite to attend will arrive in your email by noon on Thursday. All of these events fill the air with Love that will help us connect with others in deep and meaningful ways. And, these connections are what feeds our heart . . . our soul, in profound ways. Perhaps this Valentine's Day the gift of chocolates and flowers can be given from someone who truly knows and loves you, who is invested in your well-being! Of course, that is your Heart! Just ask your Head to be the mastermind of the purchase and see how warm and fuzzy your Heart feels. Remember: The relationship between your Head and Heart is the most precious and important love affair you can have! Recently someone described one of their partner's strong qualities as Determination. They said their partner is clear about what they want and have the ability to stay focused on that goal. What a beautiful quality to have. Imagine if you will the strength it takes to have the for with all to not lose sight of what you truly desire and aspire to achieve. As I thought about those words, the word Dedication popped into my head. So, as I often do, I looked up the meaning of each one.
It seems Determination is defined as a: firm or fixed intention. an act of making sure of the position, size, or nature of something. An example: She set out with determination to complete the journey. Dedication is defined as: the quality of being dedicated or committed to a task or purpose. An example: "He has a strong dedication to his duties." I pondered the difference and surmised that Determination is first required to become Dedicated to whatever you Determine is to be important. Once that is clear, then one can become Dedicated to seeing it through. Both are equally important; however, until someone is clear with what and where they want their focus to be, Dedication cannot occur. Which means if you truly want to have something to hold as your purpose, you must first be clear of your intention. Semantics is an important key to communications. And that is defined as: the meaning of a word, phrase, sentence, or text. An example: "such quibbling over semantics may seem petty stuff." However, how "petty" are words when they have the ability to either heal or harm every form of relationships. To truly have a happy, healthy life, each of us must take a bit of time each day to reflect on our intention for that day, then become Dedicated to have it shows-up in our lives. Do our words match our actions? Are they smooth and round, or sharp and pointy? One of the most important qualities each of us can have is the ability to trust ourselves to "treat people the way we want to be treated." To do this, we need to look in the mirror and, honestly, ask ourselves, "Am I practicing what I preach?" "Am I living by what I espouse to be of importance?" With so much focus on "personal freedom," these two words are very necessary. If we are going to reunite as a family, community and country, we must Determine our personal intention, then become Dedicated to living it. Just a bit of "Food for thought!" Your comments are also welcomed! Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream, just as you and I do. We all have a dream of what we hope to see in our world, our communities and our families. In his speech he speaks of what his dream for the world would look like for everyone . . . his dream was inclusive. In reading through his speech, I was impressed by his words that his dream was his Hope, and, that to realize those dreams required Faith. His dream was a world where everyone was truly Free!
Faith and Hope seem to be words synonymous with religion; however, they are so much "bigger" than a religious affiliation, they are basic Truths. Which lends one to sit in the quiet spaces of his or her's heart and ask oneself, "What Truths do I believe? How do I view Faith and Hope? What does 'Freedom for All' mean to me?" Another profound writing of Dr. King's is worth sharing at this moment in our country: God give us leaders! A time like this demands strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands; Leaders whom the lust of office does not kill Leaders whom the spoils of life cannot buy; Leaders who possess opinions and a will; Leaders who have honor; leaders who will not lie; Leaders who can stand before a demagogue and damn his treacherous flatteries without winking! Tall leaders, sun crowned, who live above the fog in public duty and private thinking. Consider what all of his words mean to you, and what your thoughts, words and actions show. Dr. King "walked his talk" and what he asked of others was what he did himself. We often forget these amazing teachers that helped our country become Free. If we pay attention, we'll see there are many such amazing people who demonstrate what Faith and Hope look like, and, what and Freedom really means. Dr King was correct, true Freedom can only happen when everyone is considered and included, no one is above or below another. Here's another one of his statements that might touch a Truth within you: I sought my soul, but my soul I could not see. I sought my God, but he eluded me. I sought my brother, and I found all three. Who is your brother/sister? Who's brother/sister are you? What's your dream? I conclude with his words: "Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that! **Please note** a change to the Wisdom Circle this week. Due to the forecast for frigid temperature Thursday, the Wisdom Circle will be held via Zoom. We certainly want everyone to be safe; therefore, if you would like to check out this circle, send an email to Vicky by noon on Thursday, Jan 20. A link will be sent to all interested parties by 3:00 p.m. We will meet from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Until then, stay warm and stay safe! That's: [email protected]. Monday, January 17 at 6:48 p.m. ET, the first Full Moon of 2022 heralds in a time of change. The indigenous teaching of the Wolf is that when you see one, you have a teacher in front of you! Consider asking the sacred Wolf for any assistance you may need.
This Wolf Full Moon asks us to face our deepest feelings and fears. The power of the Wolf Moon is capable of helping us release what no longer serves us. In addition, the Wolf Moon offers us the opportunity to harness the positive lunar energy that is available. Since the Wolf is known to be a fierce protector and nurturer, it's presence will assist you as you step-up to the task in front of you. This energy is available through the end of January . . . access it as you dream your visions for 2022. The Clan Mother that heralds in with the Wolf Full moon is, "Talks with Relations." She is the "Keeper of Learning the Truth" and her color is orange, which represents the enteral Flame of Love from which all human and nonhumans are created. With both of these beautiful, powerful energies present, imagine what can be created and brought to fruition with the warmth of spring! The Wisdom Circle is this Thursday, January 20 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.. What a timely opportunity to begin a journey with other life-minded individuals who are consciously seeking new visions! This is a circle for anyone wanting to learn, share, and enrich their lives. There was a saying many years ago, "If not me, then who? If not now, then when?" Whether you are just yawning, or deeply dreaming, we welcome all to attend. The cost is your time and energy. A gifting bowl is present for those wanting to return an energy for what they have received. What is most important is listen to your heart and become familiar with its "voice!" Then "Howl"at Grandmother Moon and watch the magic unfold! The definition for Vision is: the ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom. As we sit in the cave of winter, let's consciously allow ourselves to imagine all the possibilities. It would be good to not censor any ideas or thoughts that pop in and simply write all them down as they come through. Your head will want to interject possible consequences, or logical reasons the idea is not possible, simply let it know, it needs to be silent and wait; you'll need it later. The activity in front of you is to keep writing down every idea that presents itself until there are no other ideas that come to you.
This can be a very freeing experience since our ever chattering, advising head wants to control our lives. Be kind and understand these actions are our head's way of helping us manage life. It is; however, our balanced self that needs to remind our practical mind that our creative heart has dreams as well. Our intellectual head needs to respect our emotional heart and listen with an open mind. If our dreams are to become reality, it requires a respectful, loving relationship between our head and heart. The brain in our head helps our heart beat, and the beat of our heart is required for our brain to function to its full capacity. Therefore, while in the darkness of winter's cave let's use the warmth within our heart to show appreciation for our practical mind by offering some dreams and possibilities for our head to figure out how to bring to fruition, and then, watch the Visions take shape! With the turn of the page to another year, now is a grand time to set clear intentions for what we choose to create this year. And, it is a choice! All too often we sleep walk our way through life. Perhaps the expression, "Live in the Moment," is interpreted as literally taking each breath as it comes, without thought or intention. There is much wisdom in the phrase, "Live in the moment;" however, it certainly does not mean to "fly by the seat of your pants," or whimsically accept life as it presents itself. As in all things in life, we must take responsibility for what we create, and that begins with having an intention for what you want life to "look like." What goals do you have? What are your dreams? What do you wan to see more of in your life, and in the world? If we fail to ask ourselves these questions and seriously ponder them, than what you get in life is precisely what you asked for . . . whatever it brings you. That means that if life seems tough, a disappointment, unfair and the describers go on; then that is because you lacked the courage to ask for what you want.
Ouch, that seems a bit harsh, Vicky! Well, sometimes the truth is harsh. If you haphazardly allow life to unfold, then accept that is what you called into your life . . . a haphazard series of events. To be a contributing member of society is to consider what you want from life and what you are willing to do to "get there," or see more of all around you. It means taking responsibility for what you have and what you see in the world. If there are no goals, no dreams, no effort made to contribute to a better place in life, a strong society, more fair world, then accept your inaction created your life and the world around you. Let 2022 be a year of "Goodness." Let it be a year we see things move in a direction that feeds our life with adventure, fun, and joyful experiences. While you are creating, envision the entire world being a place where all things are possible! Where all inhabitants are respected, including Earth Mother! Consider seeing your actions as contributing to your current circumstances and the state of our world. While you are, indeed, a spec on this planet, it is the culmination of those specs that make this world what it is! If you want peace, YOU have to be peaceful! Let 2022 be the year we see more victors in life, rather than victims. Let each of us take an honest look at our lives and take ownership of what we have created! No one owes us anything, We have the power to achieve whatever we can dream! Let's wake up to the Truth! We dream, We take action and We create our lives, and the world around us! Yes, We do have that much power . . . it begins Within; how are YOU using yours? The definition of Goodness is: the quality of being morally good or virtuous; a belief in the basic goodness of humankind! "I see you!" I know what you can do, we've done this before; let's do it again! Thank our ancestors for showing us what is possible! We live in the lap of luxury because of their ability to dream and achieve; because of their commitment to Goodness! Here's to an amazing 2022! |
Vicky Kelm WilliamsI find people absolutely fascinating! Archives
May 2024
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