Divine Discontent....Again!

Changes. I truly desire to make some major changes in my life. There is a deep feeling of discontentment surrounding me although I acknowledge all of the good in my life all of the time. Still some things are due for a change.

This weekend, four days for me, I declared I would spend them looking into the changes I desire for my life. I have books; I have websites; I have goals to write; however, have I done this. No. Instead, I cleaned out my garage with the able help of Joe, Ulya's sweetie. Ulya and I put up Christmas decorations. I actually went to the gym! And now I want to rake leaves and then put up more decorations outside. Much has been accomplished but not what I had planned. A part of me is very frustrated that I've neglected what I really wanted to accomplish but maybe it just isn't time for these major changes. (Not telling anyone what they are right now so don't ask.)

As I was drinking my second cup of coffee this morning, I decided to allow myself some slack. Not something I do very often. Maybe, just maybe, there is more mental/spiritual work to do before the concrete begins to take form on the outside. So, here is my affirmative prayer for this morning:

Mother-Father-God, it is in You that I live and move and have my being.

There is nowhere where You are not.

You are here expressing as me now and always.

My mind is an extension of Your Mind.

Wherever I am, You are. We are truly united as one in eternity.

You know of my desires even before I am aware of them.

You know in my heart of heart all that I am and all that I want to be.

Yes, there is a feeling of discontentment emanating into all that I do;

however I am choosing to see it as Divine Discontentment.

There is something I am to do to be of further help,

something to further Your Love on Planet Earth.

Right now, I release my feelings that I have failed this weekend

by choosing to clean and decorate rather than read and study.

Right now, I accept that the changes I am to make in my life are known to You

and are unfolding even as I write this prayer.

My good is unfolding as I move out of the way and allow it to do so.

It is already done in Divine Mind.

I stay awake and aware of doors that are opening for me,

for people who are coming into my life to assist in the changes I seek.

My good is here now. I let go and let God!

Thank you Mother-Father-God.

And so it is!

 

 

Ah, letting go. So easy and yet so difficult at times. Maybe a lesson for me?

 

Namaste,

 

Mareda



 

 

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Hanukkah!

Mother Nature has blessed the St. Louis area with absolutely perfect weather to greet this Thanksgiving Day and celebration of Hanukkah. This year Thanksgiving is celebrated the day after the first night of Hanukkah. This won't happen again for another 77,798 years according to many calculations. A very special time to give thanks and to rededicate our lives to being thankful....all year round.

Since last Sunday was our "official" celebration of Thanksgiving, today is a day of quiet reflection and relaxation for me. I often think about the many things I have for which to be grateful. My Ulya, our furry family of Lucky Joe, Damien and Spooky, our human family, our friends, our home, our work, our country, our world....I could go on and on. I also think about those who have been challenged to live in countries besieged by terror and poverty. And I wonder why. There are lots of metaphysical reasons I could describe in detail; however, I'm just going to say there are reasons above and beyond my human comprehension. One thought I do have is that this world as a whole focuses way too much on the negative. I've said this over and over again. There is a proliferation of violence in the movies and on TV. People tell me "but the good guys won in the end." Enough already! What one focuses on persists. Although challenging to find them, there are positive stories in the newspapers and on the Internet.

Today, I decided to put links of some GOOD things in my blog. They may make you smile or tug on your heart but all in all they are positive life experiences. Please enjoy!

Grateful: A Love Song to the World
Musicians Nimo Patel and Daniel Nahmod brought together dozens of people from around the world to create this beautiful, heart-opening melody. - See more at: http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=4460#sthash.bo2oAzqr.w3UGy5cn.dpuf

Don't Stop Believing - Thanksgiving Flash Mob
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/27/hill-family-thanksgiving_n_4350434.html

Huff Post Good News (This is a wonderful site for Good News)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/28/top-10-thankful-stories_n_4346605.html

Home for Thanksgiving (Somewhat sad but heartwarming too)
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/columns/bill-mcclellan/mcclellan-home-for-thanksgiving-and-thankful-to-be-there/article_23a56d51-1bba-5665-8633-87a5fc2624e1.html

20 Simple Reasons to Be Thankful
http://www.mindfueldaily.com/livewell/20-simple-reasons-to-be-thankful

Happy Thanksgiving and Hanukkah!

 Enjoy your turkey...

or your latkes

 

or

 

Celebrate Thanksgivukkah and have both!

 

A once in our lifetime when two faiths can celebrate thankfulness to God and

the religious freedom here in the United States that makes this possible.

 

 

Anyone having links to other Good Stuff on the web is invited to add it to the comment section of this blog. 

 

Namaste,

 

Mareda



 

Thanksgiving is upon us!

In a few days we will officially celebrate Thanksgiving. Turkeys, stuffing, sweet potatoes and more shall grace the tables of most people in the United States. Hopefully, there will be more people celebrating the bounty than not. My family is celebrating today, the Sunday before the official day, to accommodate other Thanksgiving celebrations. A good decision! Friends who share Thursday with family are now able to come.

Yesterday as I awaited the pies to bake into yummy goodness, I read an article about Americans living in other countries. The article described how ex-pats celebrate in Asia, India and other countries. Very interesting to note how sushi and rice are incorporated into the meal. A very disturbing or maybe thought provoking part came when one individual strongly indicated he is grateful to NOT celebrate a holiday that commemorates the beginning of the genocide of Native Americans. I had never really thought of this before. In fact, I usually tend to just think of Thanksgiving as a time of thanks giving.

However, I did do some research into the First Thanksgiving. I must admit history is not something that interests me.  I am challenged enough to live in the present. So I googled the beginning of Thanksgiving. Here is what I found from a National Geographic website:

The Celebration

One day that fall, four settlers were sent to hunt for food for a harvest celebration. The Wampanoag heard gunshots and alerted their leader, Massasoit, who thought the English might be preparing for war. Massasoit visited the English settlement with 90 of his men to see if the war rumor was true. Soon after their visit, the Native Americans realized that the English were only hunting for the harvest celebration. Massasoit sent some of his own men to hunt deer for the feast and for three days, the English and native men, women, and children ate together. The meal consisted of deer, corn, shellfish, and roasted meat, far from today's traditional Thanksgiving feast.

They played ball games, sang, and danced. Much of what most modern Americans eat on Thanksgiving was not available in 1621.

 Although prayers and thanks were probably offered at the 1621 harvest gathering, the first recorded religious Thanksgiving Day in Plymouth happened two years later in 1623. On this occasion, the colonists gave thanks to God for rain after a two-month drought.

This made me wonder what changed. I'm sure the history books have an explanation but I really don't care nor do I totally believe what they say. Just opinions.

Probably the culprit was what is so prevalent today....FEAR! Fear of a civilization that has different customs, different traditions, different beliefs. Fear of not enoughness. Fear when a group of people refuse to change to another's beliefs. Just my opinion but it is my fervent belief that most of what ails this world today is that same issue. We fear what isn't familiar.

This culture has advanced so much technologically but still remains the same in so many ways. What is the solution? I wish I knew. I do know one thing that has assisted me...my parents!

I think about all the things that I wish had been different in my childhood as I am sure many people do; however, my parents were accepting of so much that many of their generation were not.

During the 50's, it was quite common to have "hobos" stop by our home and ask for something to eat. My mother would graciously serve them a sandwich, some pie if it was available and a cup of coffee. People of color were always welcome in my home. There were absolutely no prejudicial remarks that I remember. My parents defended those members of what we now call the gay community. They weren't quite as accepting of different faiths but they gave it their all. As I look back, that was part of a fear of that place called "hell" that so many fear. Once again....fear.

Is fear a part of my life? Sometimes. I have found that as I read and discover more about other cultures, fear becomes a smaller and smaller part of my life. Down deep, we are all the same, all part of a Greater Presence and Power. Call it by whatever name you want.

So this Thanksgiving, I give thanks for many things.

Thank you John and Alyda for teaching me tolerance,

 

 

and a thank you to the Native Americans who celebrated with those Pilgrims long, long ago.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

and

 

Happy Hanukkah!

 

Namaste,

 

Mareda





 

It's November.....already?

It seems impossible that today is the 20th of November! When I look at my last blog entry's date of September 1st, that also seems impossible. Where did September and October go? What have I been doing with my life that this time has passed so quickly? Yes, I know it doesn't speed up or slow down but it sure seems that way.

As I look back, I've dedicated much of my time to work. I work at a job I am very grateful to have but not one I embrace with joy. I work at home readying my yard for the onslaught of fall weather and the winter cold that follows. Now working at home is a joy. My home is my sanctuary. It is a place where I can come and truly be me. A place where family is all important. However, this year the yard proved to be a lot to handle. Ornamental grass that grew and grew and grew. Talk about abundance! The grass could be compared to the negative thoughts that seemed to grow and grow and wanted to take over my consciousness much as the grass wanted to take over my yard.

Well, the grass has been cut down (thank you Joe and Ulya) and the negative thoughts have been weeded. The grass will be replaced this spring with something still to be determined. The thoughts have made way for new beginnings slowly being birthed into fruition. The new beginnings are a work in progress and shall stay in that secret place within for now. Soon, something new and wonderful will make an appearance.

There has also been some fun! The Annual Eckert Family Apple Butter gathering took place in October. Lots of good apple butter was processed with sunshine and the perfect temperature making the day just right!   Tractor rides for the kids and lots of reconnecting for the adults added to the fun.

Then Ulya and I made our first trip to the Eckert's Country Store and Farm in Belleville. To answer the question that is probably on everyone's mind, this Eckert family is not related to us. A good country dinner of fried chicken topped off another beautiful autumn day for the "Eckert Gurls."

Although I must admit, cold weather is not something I look forward to, this has been a beautiful autumn. I cannot remember when the leaves have been brighter or more colorful. It has been a glorious season of bright reds, oranges and gold. Here are a few photos of autumn in Kirkwood and Wildwood.

 

 

 

 

 

And next week we celebrate Thanksgiving! More to come.

Namaste,

Mareda