Sad...again!

I really don't have much to say. I really don't know what to say. The fear and hate felt by so many in this world is beyond my comprehension. So, once again, in the words of the late John Lennon:

Imagine

My wish for today is that the people who are saddened by the latest act of hate which occurred in Orlando stand up for what is right and good. That they unite in Love and Light. Darkness cannot prevail when the Light enters. 

May Peace surround and support all those who have been affected by senseless violence. 

Peace and blessings,

Mareda

Going Home...A Tribute to Those Who Have Left This World

Today a good friend is "going home." Others have gone before him and we will all follow at some point in the future. The majority of the time, I am accepting that this is a part of the life we live. It is just a step into another experience. An experience I expect to be one of Goodness, Truth and Infinite Love.

Sometimes I find it very difficult to accept this death of a body. Some people are just larger than life. There have been a few people who I still feel walk this earth. Maybe they do just not in a body as we know it. I can think of three people who fit this category.

Digna Amano Martin 
I worked with Digna years ago when I lived in DeSoto, Missouri. She was the nurse for Dr. Andres Bonifacio. We became very close friends. Digna was challenged with lupus. Her body was ravaged by this disease. Yet I never heard one complaint from her. She was there for everyone even to the week before her passing. Someone needed her help babysitting. She was there for that baby.

Ernie Hays
Ah, what can I say about Ernie that has not already been said? First time I heard of Ernie was when my minister, Rev. Satterlee, told me this man would be the new organist at our church. Rev. Satterlee said "he plays for the Baseball Cardinals." Not a baseball fan, I couldn't figure out how a baseball player was going to be in church on Sunday mornings. I soon discovered that Ernie was an extraordinary organist. He was also one of the sweetest most giving men I have ever known. His jokes were another story but made him all the more unique.

And then there is Marvin Levin
Today is the day Marvin is officially sent home. He graced this earth for 91+ years and left a legacy that few can match. His contributions to the diabetic community changed the scene for the diabetic foot. I cannot even find words to express what Marvin meant to me. His emotional support during a very difficult time in my life was always present. His "to-do" list on a yellow legal pad made the work day a little more organized and very busy. Yes, there were days when all I could say when he appeared in my office was "Marvin!"  He would respond with "Ok, I'm leaving now." Ah, to hear those words again. Maybe I will today at his Memorial Service.

Other family members and friends who have passed are missed and still loved beyond anything I could have imagined. It is not my intent to minimize their passing. There is just something different about these three people. I am wondering if any of you reading this blog have this experience.

The following song was played at my maternal grandfather's memorial service in early 1970. It has always touched my heart at a very deep level.

Going Home by Libera

Peace and Blessings,

Mareda

Church

A few months ago, a friend asked me why I no longer went to church. For the last 30+ years, my Sunday mornings were spent at church. Attending, participating, speaking, teaching Sunday School. You name it and I did it. It was a choice I made because that was where I wanted to be. My church of choice was New Thought/metaphysical so there was no demand that I had to attend. This was where I received my infusion of spiritual energy for the coming week. I loved it.

Something happened though and I changed. No longer was I infused with the spiritual energy after attending church as I relished in the past.  I started searching for something more.

I attended various New Thought Churches and enjoyed them. I "live-streamed" Agape International Spiritual Center with Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith and must admit my psyche was lifted. I meditated on Sundays for a longer period than my usual daily morning meditations. All of this was good; however, this morning I truly discovered why the church of my choice had radically changed.

As I sat in my sunroom with the windows wide open, I listened. I listened to the birds singing their songs of praise. No one was telling them what to sing. They just sang their hearts out. I watched as they flew from one branch to another. Some were building nests for their soon-to-be families. As I moved to my deck with my trusty companion Rasha, I felt the warmth of the sun on my face and the gentle breeze moving past me. The seeds I had planted a week or so ago were sprouting. Flowers were beginning to bloom. I saw the first rose of this season blooming amidst the thorns of the bush. Life was happening in all God's glory. No one was telling any of these living things what to believe, who to love or not love. They were just going about their business. Granted this was one of those days that could only be described as a perfect spring day, but I finally got it.

I do not need a church or church atmosphere to feel the Presence of God. I do not need someone telling me what the Bible says or does not say (or any holy book for that matter). I am divinely connected to the source and when I get quiet and truly listen with my heart, I know at the deepest level possible what is Good and Godly.

So this is why I only grace the inside of a church or church service occasionally. For those of you who go to church, I truly hope it is because you are infused with the Love of God in that holy place.

Peace and blessings,

Mareda

Peace ~ Harmony ~ Laughter ~ Love

In the past when I recommend meditation as a means to relieve stress or gain more inner peace, I've come across some resistance when I suggest using a mantra. Just the term "mantra" seems to bring up feelings of fear. This baffles me but ingrained belief systems are powerful.

This morning the following image appeared in my Facebook feed. I'm sharing it with you as I feel this could be a way to connect to that spot within that is Divine. With Namaste Cafe's permission, here is the image.

Five minutes a day could change your life experience. Try it. You might just like it. And, check out Namaste Cafe Facebook page. 

Peace and blessings,

Mareda

Sometimes Everything Just Works Out

Have you ever wonder why events in your life just seem to work out? I have. There are days that everything just falls into place. No challenges, or so it seems. No unkind people, or so it seems. Why does this happen?

Today is one of those days. Yesterday was one of those days. Wow, I must be on a roll.

In retrospect I think I know why. I am going with the flow and trusting. No resistance. No worrying. Just letting it all go and choosing to focus on all that is right in my life.

I had plans this weekend. I was going to install raised beds for the garden I plan to have this summer. I had young people to help, had a plan to buy 16 forty pound bags of soil, and was on my way to Home Depot to buy a new and improved shovel. Before Friday came to a conclusion my help couldn't help and snow showers were predicted for Sunday. What?!?!?!?

I must admit I was rather frustrated about this change in plans. The thought did run through my mind that if I were a bit younger and more fit I could do this myself. I wouldn't need anyone to help. I used to do things like this all the time. However, that is no longer my reality. This body I live in requires a bit of maintenance and care it didn't require 30 years ago.

As I moved through my day, I made the decision to go with the flow. Okay, no garden this weekend. Maybe it is too early anyway. After all it isn't even April.

With that decision, the sun came out in my world and all was well. Could it be that the decisions we make color our world? I think so.

We are living in a time of unrest, anger and division in this great country of ours. It is great already no matter what some people say. Maybe, just maybe, we need to believe this. Maybe, just maybe, we need to make the choice that life is for us and not against us. Maybe, just maybe, we who believe in kindness, compassion, inclusion and love could speak out loud and clear about our beliefs. Love and Light shatter the darkness. It is the responsibility of the Lightworkers of this world to be the Love, Kindness and Compassion we think is missing. We are stronger than any force of apparent greed, hatred and anger.

My intention today is to be the Love, Light and Compassion the Divine instilled in me at the moment of my creation. What about you? Can you stop complaining about the insanity and become the positive opposite?

"Be the change you wish to see in the world."

This may not be the easiest thing to do. I will be the first to admit there is a tremendous amount of anger and hatred circling our globe. Turning off the news on TV may be an option. Staying away from the Internet and Facebook might be another. Or maybe when something negative and hateful turns up in your news feed or on the TV, you can just bless the source with Love and Light. This could just change the world.  It's worth a try.

Peace and blessings to everyone today and always.

Mareda

525,600 Minutes

There are 525,600 minutes in a year. How do you choose to spend these minutes?  In hate? In anger? In fear? or In love? I saw this You Tube video just now on Facebook and decided this was what I wanted to share on my blog.

Seasons of Love

This is only a song but it has a very important message. I love the "what ifs" in life. Love. This is what the world needs. Not more money. Not more guns. Not more things. Love toward all. 

Be the love you wish to see in the world.

By the way, this is Leap Year. You have an additional 1440 minutes to love. Sweetness.

Peace and blessings,

Mareda

A New Day, A New Year

Today is the first day of 2016. The morning greeted me with sunshine streaming into my windows. Quite a welcome relief from the seemingly never-ending rain and gloom that ended 2015 with more than a little splash. This area of the country in Missouri and Illinois is still reeling from flooding that swept away homes, closed highways and left too many people with water in their basements and homes.

When the flood of 1993 occurred, a friend told me she thought it was Mother Nature's way of cleansing the negativity that permeated our world. Maybe. Heaven knows that this world is presently saturated in a blanket of fear, hatred and anger. Between this negativity and what we are doing to our environment, I feel certain Mother Nature is downright pissed at our actions and reactions. Maybe the rain is a result of climate change or maybe a slap on the side of the head to tell us to wake up.

My childhood home was right next to a small stream. It was a place where I played for many hours with my cousin Kurt. We would catch minnows and release them. We would build towns on the banks of the stream. When the rain came this little stream was anything buy little. It overflowed and became a mighty force with which to be reckoned. I remember the fear that consumed me then. What would we do? How could we fix this?

During my marriage, my former husband and I lived in the country. We had a great deal of land and decided that our back yard needed to become a lake. The dam was constructed over many months and in one afternoon during a very heavy rain, a three acre lake was filled to overflowing. I walked around the house ringing my hands in fear. What would we do? How could we fix this?

In 1993, the might Mississippi became mightier and flooded its banks. A whole town in Illinois was wiped out. Valmeyer is now in the history books as a once flourishing small town of friendly people. My parents lived near a flood plane. They were senior citizens. What if the levee broke? How could they escape? Fear consumed me. What would we do? How could we fix this?

I share these examples because during this time of flooding I am not reacting in fear, however, I am wondering what to do and how to fix it. I have some thoughts about this.

You see, I do believe we have created these disasters at a level beyond human comprehension. God or the Universe or whatever you want to call a higher power did not do this to us in retribution for some wrong we have committed. The human population must take responsibility. Our anger and hatred creates an atmosphere that draws negative experiences to us. Our disregard for human life and the life of Planet Earth perpetuates the death of all that is good. Enough about that disasters and negativity. I have an idea or two to change this downward spiral to one that rises above and shines a light on all humanity.

In 2016, my intention is to live life fully and completely. I shall love, laugh, and be more compassionate to everyone, particularly those who need it the most. Here are some examples of what I intend to do.

 1. Smile more
 2. Laugh more
 3. Love more
 4. Meditate more
 5. Surround myself with positive and loving people
 6. Give more love to those who need it most
 7. Take things less seriously
 8. See the good in every experience
 9. Give to those in need (financially) whenever possible
10. Be gentle with myself
11. Be a steward to Mother Earth
12. Trust the Universe
and
13. Turn off the news and block negativity from my newsfeed on Facebook.

This year of 2015 was a good year. Yes, two very special fur babies were sent across the Rainbow Bridge but they were loved beyond explanation.

Lucky Joe and Spookie

are running free now. 

Happy and pain free. 

Their love remains here as does

 the essence of their beingness. 

We have a new fur baby, Rasha. 

She graces our home with love and lots of snores. 

Doesn't think much of vacuums or smudging though. 

My two jobs are now decreased to only one. It is a pleasure to work with like-minded people who laugh and treat others with respect and compassion. Although my coaching career did not take off as planned, this is a new year and I am ready to be successful and help others be successful in return.


I welcome 2016 with open arms and expect this year to be great! It has been said many times by many people to be the change you wish to see in the world. My request of you is to do just that. Turn off the anger, the hate, the animosity, the fear. Love your neighbor as yourself. If I am not mistaken, I believe that is what a great teacher and mystic professed. Seeds of hate grow hatred. Seeds of love grow love. What seeds do you want to plant this year?

It isn't easy to overcome fear and negativity. It has taken me years to get to where I am today. I have discovered methods to bring more peace into your personal world which in turn can bring about universal change.

Wouldn't it be loverly to see this world change into one of love and acceptance?

Peace and blessings,

Mareda

Please contact me if you are interested in moving beyond fear.

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