Hate, Fear, Love or....DIVINE LOVE.

Hate is defined as an intense or passionate dislike usually deriving from fear, anger or a sense of injury.

Fear is defined as an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.

Love is defined as an intense feeling of deep affection.

The metaphysical definition of Love is that it is a divine attribute; it is an idea in the One Mind. God is Love and Love is God, or a quality in Being. The difference between Divine Love and human love is that Divine Love is  broad and unlimited, a universal and harmonizing power. Human love is based on personality and is selfish, lawless and fickle.

So what does this all mean?

Hatred is such a wasted emotion. Sure, I say there are certain things I "hate." This continuous rain for one thing. Of course, I am sure my friends in California would give thanks for some of it. I also hate the injustices that are rampant in our culture. Injustices that I really feel come from an underlying fear of the unknown.

Fear of the unknown. How many of us are somewhat fearful going into a dark room that we've never entered before? Will we trip over something? Is there someone lurking there? Fear of meeting new people. Will they like me? Will I like them?

Jerry Jampolsky says fear is the absence of love. I agree but I also know that it can be rather challenging to feel a deep affection for people you fear or who have committed a horrible deed against their fellow man. So what does one do?

This is where God comes in. God, Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, Muhammad. Turn to the deity who best emulates Divine Love for you and be with this Presence. Let Divine Love permeate every cell of your being. Allow Divine Love to be your driving force. This does not mean we condone acts of violence. It means we pour so much Love into the fear and hatred that seems to be defining us that it MUST evaporate into oblivion.

Today I send Love and Blessings to the people of Charleston, SC. I also send Love and Blessings to those people who hate. They hate for reasons only they know. May Divine Love challenge their beliefs and bring them to an epiphany of Love.

ALL LIVES MATTER! 

Namaste'

Mareda

Our Furry and Feathered Families

Anyone who knows me knows that I value the lives of my furry and feathered family members. Oh, what the heck, I value the lives of all God's creatures. However, dogs, cats, birds, chickens, bunnies and even those bratty squirrels mean a lot to me.

In April, two chickens joined the Eckert clan. Roxie and Ruby are quite the handful. They love to escape from the yard when they are allowed to roam out of their coop. They also love to lay their eggs under the deck. This is really not acceptable but they just don't listen no matter how much I explain this to them. So, every night for the last few nights either I go under the deck to retrieve the eggs or my daughter's boyfriend does. Such fun!



My family also includes two elderly gentlemen, my cats. Spookie and Damien are both getting up there. Damien will actually be "legal" soon. He has reached the ripe, old age of 21. And it shows. Sometimes, no one seems to be at home. There can be some trying times dealing with these two. By the way, I'm not into witchcraft. The names were chosen since they were both rescued around Halloween.


And, of course, there is Lucky Joe. My beloved lab mix who is going to be 14 this July. Such a love! He is also showing his age. The hips just don't want to do what he wants them to do. He is lovingly called Grandpa around here.

Then there are the birds I feed. The ones who somehow get into my sun room and need to be rescued. The rabbits who hop around at nightfall. And we can't forget the squirrels who love to eat bird seed and tomatoes. So far this year they have left the tomatoes alone. Maybe my threats to shoot them have made them believers. If they only knew I am so against guns and would never allow one in my home.

You may be wondering why this long discourse on my family. As well as the love I have for those furry and feathered family members, I also deeply care for those animals who are abused and tortured. I just don't understand the mentality of some people. Why would you have a pet, chain it, starve it, beat it, etc.?

I just read the latest rescue by Randy Grim of Stray Rescue of St. Louis. A dog who was chained was found hanging on a fence. Although Randy was able to rescue Gustav and get him to a vet, he didn't make it. He did receive loving care and hugs and kisses for his final few hours here on earth. Here is a link if you'd like to read about ""Gustav" and Stray Rescue: http://strayrescue.org/gustav. As far as I am concerned, Randy, his staff and all those other "angels" who work with rescue groups are as close to walking on water as anyone I know.

Yes, I know abuse is rampant all over. Spousal abuse, child abuse, so many abused. My heart cries when I think about it.

So, what can I do about it? I can spread love and kindness to everyone I meet and encounter. Especially to those who are mean and hateful. They need it the most.

Will you be a little more loving? Remember this song by the Beatles:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydfH7iuLR0I

Namaste',

Mareda

Successful sabotage.

A strange title but one that probably hits home for many of us. I know it does for me. If I am honest with myself, I see many ways that I have sabotaged my success or at least minimally delayed it. 

As many of you know, my main goal in my life at this time is to become a successful life coach. I've got the certification, the business cards, the brochures, the website, the Facebook page, etc. So why don't I have clients beating down my door? Well......

I recognize that success doesn't come overnight. Truth be told, an "overnight success" probably worked years to become just that. Success comes with commitment and dedication. I have commitment and dedication. So what is   going on?

A few weeks ago when I was bemoaning my fate to some friends, they reminded me that I am sowing the seeds for success in all that I am doing. Just as plants don't become mature overnight, neither do desires. You have to "move your feet" to see results. I've planted the seeds. However, I don't see any sprouts pushing through the soil. Why?

As much as I do not like to admit it, I see where I have been very successful in sabotaging my success or at least delaying it to a degree.  Here are a few examples.

Some months ago, my coach called and asked if I could fill in for her at a marketing event. It was at the last minute and I declined. Yes, I was scheduled to work that day but this was only for a couple of hours. I could have adjusted my work hours to fit this in. I also could have marketed my coaching business. One opportunity lost.

This blog is another good example. I created it to share my thoughts and feelings but also with the idea that it just might draw clients to me. So my last entry before this was in March. I don't have an explanation for this one. 

And then there is that "stinking thinking" also known as negative thinking. The thoughts arise that I am so busy and so tired, I wouldn't have the time or energy. Other thoughts come up that I really don't know what I'm doing. Thoughts that people don't want to or can't pay for a coach creep in. A quote from the Science of Mind Magazine for July says "If we are to experience success, we cannot afford to give any power to negative thinking or any power..."

What to do? What to do? 

STOP! Be grateful! Visualize success! Reverse all negative thoughts to the positive opposite! Be available! And trust that at the perfect time, success will push through the mental soil that has been cultivated with positive thoughts, weeded for the negative ones, and nourished with meditation and visulatization. 

I've had opportunities come to me. I chose to deny those opportunities. I have been very successful at sabotaging my success. Where do you sabotage your success? Be honest with yourself. It could be in a career, a relationship, health, weight, prosperity. 

I'm going on record right now that a successful coaching career is my #1 priority. When opporutnities arise, I shall take them and know that all else will fall into place. How about you?

Namaste,

Mareda