Complicated Compliments CONUNDRUM~
You Could Have Heard A Pin Drop
As a Guidance Counsellor who loved being with the students not so much the administrative tasks, as you may deduce from the sign above I posted on my office door, my awesome team mate ‘supervisor’ Jean, smiled at me trustingly and obligingly said: ‘Great, you work with the students and develop the Grade 9 program for the school.’
That left me speechless since both she and I knew I was great at process work in the moment; not great at writing down the ‘how’ of anything I did. Jean however was and is a very loving and wise woman: she asked another counsellor, my friend to sit at the back of the room and write down what she observed as I interacted with the students. Then together as a staff we co-created a wonderful program for the grade 9’s in that school.
This particular day, we were discussing self esteem, ‘full steam ahead’ ability.
Listening to my intuition, I said to the class: “Let’s try something new. I need 3 volunteers and I am going to say something positive, negative or neutral to you. The only thing is that you will not know which one it will be. I need you to respond to me in role play.”
A young girl put up her hand. In a loud condescending tone I scolded: “You haven’t cleaned up your room or done your home work! No you are not going out!”Immediately the student began to berate me, call me names and fall predictably into the angry teenager role. I then stopped, thanked her and asked the class if they had ever seen this happen. All heads nodded in unison.
I asked for the next volunteer. Another young girl put up her hand and I spoke: “Its great weather we have today.” She agreed.
As I asked for the third volunteer, of course the whole class already knew what scenario was left. A young boy bravely stood up. I looked at him and in a warm caring voice said, “Do you ever have a nice smile”.
Silence. Profound nothingness. You could have heard a pin drop. Thirty two students ~ not a sound.
I looked around the room and said to the class, “What’s happening?”
After what seemed like a long time, someone said: “He doesn’t know what to say. We don’t hear nice things like that.”
Three more times, 3 more classes, grade 9 through grade eleven; same results consistently. It was then, with a lump in my throat, that my soul knew the depth of this teaching and the dire need to offer this tool to others. I am saddened once again, just remembering the heart felt depth of this moment and the deep trust those students had in me to be able to ‘stay with me in this process….
From my journalling I wrote back then:
this is the work of my soul and I know it so is so simple but so vital to wellness…help me god to bring this to the world in your way…show me, guide me…..thank you for bringing into my life the support for me in this work, my dear friends, my soul friend co-workers and family members who support me in this manner……As always, I am hearing Truth is so simple. Linda, go back to the simple.
In that moment I saw laid bare, the pain of the unacknowledged soul. The tender hearts of our pain filled children: the same pain that had drowned my soul as a very young child and most likely the souls of my own children at times, before I became aware. It is one of those moments when the precious gift of being a ‘teacher’ touched me to the core.
On the surface, how simple a compliment seems. Just an ordinary phrase. No big deal.
Not so~ A compliment is an open hearted act of kindness. Seemingly small, a compliment has the love force of touching another and reverberating to the essence of who we are. Validating, healing, energizing…
So what was my lesson, the nugget of gold from this profound awareness? I began to see clearly how easily many are conditioned to respond quickly in defensive anger, negativity, meanness and also how many are unable to receive the positive or the ‘good’.
How long will we choose to resist the simple truth of caring and kindness?
How can we begin to change this together?
What simple compliment, act of kindness may you offer or accept today, toward becoming the change in this world we all share?
Wisdom From The Diaphanous Web Of Life and 2012….
Are We The Web or The Weaver
Since the beginning of recordable history, whether in written, artistic or story telling form, there have been numerous references made to the ending of the world: the much prophesied date of 2012. Many accounts are shrouded in doom and disaster indicating the possible ending of us as a species and or, of the earth itself.
I personally believe as quantum physics tells us, that through our more conscious and loving choices we are collectively shaping the outcome of our future in positive ways.
Whether one chooses to name this shifting of consciousness as Ascension, Evolution, Soul Growth, or Doom and Destruction, it all rings with a similar energy. Like it or not, wherever we look, we see evidence today of disillusion of the old and slowly the emergence of the new connecting us in very creative ways to each other, our environment and to our universe.
Gift of a Micro Level Miracle for Us All
Last summer, I entered the portal of another’s sacred world; the witnessing became indelibley etched in my awareness. Later the raw prose flowed onto my page……
Late at night, sheltered upon my porch amidst a tumultuous storm, I noticed a black speck suspended in mid air between two frail cedar branches. In spite of the drenching rain, the black dot had huddled into an elliptical orb, swaying upon her web at the whim of the torrential winds: minutiae in the midst of maelstrom.
I watched in awe, believing the outcome would culminate in the destruction of her fragile, magical home. Arising early the next morning, I incredulously spied Miss Sophia Spider, now so named for the Divine Goddess she was, busily recreating her tattered habitat strand by strand, unaware of the larger reality surrounding her, from which I watched in reverent awe.
Miss Sophia Spider~
most glorious one ~
teach me to rebuild ~
to sense the strengthened tendrils,
amidst tattered remnants, waving in the wind.
Share your vision knowing,
melding that which together belongs ~
letting go of all that no longer matters or even fits.
Guide me to trust the ebb and flow
instinctively encrypted within your soul ~
sustaining first oneself and then for the greater good of all.
Attune me to simply living, living simply~
divining the essential gem,
that I too may focus ~ create and recreate my world.
Brush upon my heart,
the canvas of my life
your wisdom, colour, music to guide me in life’s dance.
In harmony with the universe ~ art of weaving that creates ~
Breathe with me your magic
leaving space ~ trusting new will take its place.
What I most treasure from Miss Sophia’s teachings is the fact that she accessed all her own answers; her resourcefulness, courage and know how were instinctively there for her.
Everything she required, including the very material with which she recreated her world, was already within her own being.~!
PROFOUND BEYOND WORDS
What today’s metaphysicians are telling us, often reads something like this:
JONATHAN CAINER ASTROLOGER ~ Sept. 14, 15th, 2009~
Dear Jonathan,
When political parties have opposing views, one may support a new idea while another rejects it. But sometimes, a way can be found for both parties to support it, albeit for different reasons. Do astrological oppositions work like that? Is there anything that Saturn and Uranus can now agree on? Erik
Dear Erik,
Saturn stands for all that’s structured, established, traditional and restricted. Uranus governs spontaneity, innovation, invention and liberty. If there’s one cause they have in common, it’s the need for people, all over the world, to consider what kind of future they want to create.
A very good question; one we can all ask ourselves.
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE DO I WANT TO CREATE ?
WHEN DO I CHOOSE TO BEGIN ?
Miss Sophia knew all her answers.
May we be as wise: after all, Miss Sophia is the Goddess of Wisdom in us all.
Blessings ….as we move into the new together
Linda
I Am The Ceo Of Letting Go
Grasping, Clutching, Breathing, Ahhh…
My Journal: the ‘raw unplugged’ … Lakeshore ~ AUG. 26th/09
“If the wind could blow my troubles away
Blow my troubles away…..”
I remember walking another beach years ago pleading, shouting these words into the raging storm flinging my arms skyward in supplication ~
Today – just whacked, wiped, trusting, living in the now ~ affirming ~moment by moment,
Knowing, conscious of, not in denial of all the lessons, challenges that are moving me forward to
creating the new all of which I can alllllmossstttt ~~~~see~~~ on the horizon.
So, I am sitting at a picnic table~
First time hungry today ~ having eaten a Tim’s bagel, broccoli soup ~ watching the wind surfers.
Am feeling stronger more connected to the world around me and am now mostly my calm observer self again. And knowing, I cannot STOP LETTING GO~ ……..letting go of stuff, things, relationships that no longer flow anymore, taking to goodwill store, garage sale-ing, gifting, recycling, repairing, restoring, refurbishing, passing it forward, giving, giving, giving, letttttting goooooooo~
Computer clearing, deleting, reorganizing, recreating, sorting, simplifying on and on and on ~ Cleaning, organizing cupboards, closets, drawers, cubbies, making space for the new~
~energy, ideas, people, love, gifts, abundance and prosperity in my mind, heart and soul, home, work, relationships
I’m the CEO of LETTING GO! Renewing, re-membering, transforming my life.
Letting go of residuals of hurt, sadness, fear, resistance, grudges, denial, confusion, disorganization,
I cant’s, don’ wannas, won’t works, of competition, of ‘better than me’s ~
The list of FEARS ~~~~ False Evidence Appearing as Real is endless~~~
Could build the Great wall of China, block by block if one chose to pile up the blocks of fear inculcated within us by all that surrounds in this world……So many blocks, damn blocks~ invisible~
Invisible ghosts in the mind ~ so powerful~ overpowering~
when we ‘BELIEVE’ THEY ARENT’ THERE…they hold even more of our POWER.
GHOSTBUSTERS~ name of the movie~
Ironically most descriptively powerful when it’s MINDBUSTING that is needed.
I AM THE CEO OF LETTING GO~ Flinging myself into the void of all possibilities….
END OF JOURNAL ENTRY…..
And then the windsurfer walks up to me and begins to tell me his story. “My wife and I came from Newfoundland 20 years ago for job interviews; I am a sail maker.
(I smile as I hear my spirit laughing…..I always know when I am in for another butt kicking into the next shift….all from good intentions, of course~! )
“I had an interview in another city and then came here. The interview went well and then my wife and I went to explore the city. We found this windy bay, full of sailboats and windsurfers and decided this was where we were meant to be. It has never been that windy since! But we have been happy here, taking weeks or months off to windsurf at the best surfing places on the continent when the work is slower. Now we have bought property in a beautiful place up north, by the Great Lakes and building our home on the water. Amazing isn’t it how spirit gets us to where we are to be, I grin and he and his wife laugh with me.
“Then I say to him: It must take a lot of strength to wind surf.
“No he responded. Actually see that young woman over there in the striped top, the one who looks like the wind will blow her over. She is one of the best surfers in the club. She knows how to sense the wind, to bend and move with the waves the motion of the bay.
She moves so beautifully across the water, with no effort.
By now, I am grinning, sassing spirit, inwardly saying…. OKAY ALREADY… You know I ‘know’ this lesson, but obviously you’re taking me through a refresher course.
I AM TO BE LIKE A WINDSURFER~ letting go of ’being strong, TRYING to make it work ~ I am to return to trusting, sensing, moving, flowing, riding the waves of life…..letting go, letting go with arms flung to the sky again,
welcoming the NEW, for the joy of the ride and highest call of my soul.
What might shift, arrive for you, if you should choose to let go~ perhaps of just one thing: the one right there ~ in your awareness?
How might that change your life?
Come join me, surfing along the waters of life~!
Curtain Calls For Another Eclipse~!
The Gifts of Insight are Worth Taking Time Out For You…
Forces will have been set in motion beyond the reckoning of the senses. Sequences of events from the corners of the world will draw gradually together, and miracles and coincidence will bring the inevitable to pass… Joseph Campbell
SOOTHING SOUND AND BEAUTY OF WATERFALLS
Astrologers call this eclipse, ‘Penumbral’: one more subtle in its effects. Whatever its nomenclature, its import if we choose, may hold electric magical energy for us. Eclipses are wake up calls from the Cosmos, to shift the direction of our lives. It has never been a more opportune time to co-create with the heavenly forces.
Dare to risk. To take time to reflect, assess and to let go of all that does not serve you and who you are becoming. Indulge yourself in:
OPEN HEARTED PLEASURES
Belly laughs
Heart talk
Fresh air laundry
Warm flannel sheets
Brewing morning coffee
Teddy bear hugs
Butterfly kisses
Early morning mists
Spilling over giggles
Baby snuggles
Wave watching
Loon calls
Star gazing
Soul sighs
Gentle
Love
on
and
on
Dare to be Self Loving, owning what is true for you.
Dare to set yourself free….
ready~~~~
JUMP~
Many blessings for an adventuresome landing~ Linda
Believing Ones Way Beyond The Fear
I Pulled my Courage up from the Depths of Somewhere…
There are times in life, when suddenly the path ahead is obscured beyond any human understanding. The challenge looming menacingly ahead, may feel like a roaring avalanche about to engulf, when one hadn’t even been aware that they had stepped onto the mountain. Choosing to trust this mysterious force is not a journey for the faint of heart. It is however, the pathway to miracles and breathing space.
The En Visioning Call of My Soul…
Having completed my Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology, I then was offered a place in the Faculty of Education to complete my teaching degree. Being in fear through most of my teens, feeling little personal power and lack of support, even censure when I had attempted to embrace life in new ways, I had not ventured into the world to follow my heart’s desire after high school. I truly began to embrace the inner challenge of the ongoing ‘lesson’ of reclaiming my authenticity throughout my marriage. At the earth age of ‘30′ mother of 4 children, sitting in the golden ( really!) chair I will always remember, I clearly heard my Higher Self say to me:
“Linda, you CAN become a teacher!”
Stunned, I began to breathe in the possiblity of reclaiming the dream I had secretly carried, since I was a tiny child. The rest of this is a story for another day……
Now Life was calling me again and and just as imperatively. This time the reverberations awakened my saddened soul and I knew that the only choice for me was to accept the honour of being offered a place at the Faculty, although having no idea ‘how’ any of this could be possible. I had just become the single parent of four children with an already large student loan, part time work as a grocery clerk left me with no idea “How” I was to pay the bills each month. Then I suddenly learned that the children and I were now living in a home that going up for sale, imminently In Yet……
Beckoned from within, in both great fear and mumbling prayer, I blindly began to trust the vision I had seen years earlier. Although I truly felt I was in a check mate position I pulled my courage up from the depth of somewhere I knew not, since this route seemed the only way I would be able to secure a teaching position to be able to care for my family.
I had forgotten that my soul knew the golden path before me.
Arising in the dark each morning, four hours before class was to begin in the city, I would travel, study and return home in the evening. When people asked me how I did this, my reply was always: “Please don’t ask me right now.” It seemed that if I spoke, my suppressed pain and exhaustion would engulf me; I needed every bit of my energy focused on the task ahead. I carried the poem Footprints folded in my wallet and simply kept keeping on.
The inevitable day came when I looked in the refrigerator and there was almost nothing eat. My insides began to cave. Shaking and silently praying, I heard my oldest daughter say: “Its okay mom, it’s been worse”.
I blessed her for her faith. There comes a level of fear that is completely numbing and perhaps this is the gift that allows one to continue moving forward into the unknown when trust is still a fledging. Arising at 5:00 a. m. the next morning, I once again headed to the university, fear pulsing the beat of my heart.
Later that day, researching in the library, the librarian noticed I was strained. I mentioned my situation and that this time I simply didn’t know how I could continue and I had no answers in my awareness, anymore. She smiled and me took down the hall, indicating the Awards Office. Go in there now, she lovingly told me and gently nudged me forward.
On automatic pilot, I entered and began to speak, tears falling as my words dripped out. I will never forget the woman who questioned and listened that day. She gently told me to take the form, to fill it in immediately and return it right away.
Then, because I had ‘believed’ my way beyond my fear and had shared with another ~ since a Miracle is simply a Change in Perception, the key to opening to a miracle began to unfold.
Having reached beyond my old belief system of “ You Have to Do it all Yourself” , three days later I had enough money for food as she handed me the cheque and my eyes once again filled with tears. She soothed my aching soul by acknowledging: “You really need this, don’t you.”
To my surprise, she also passed me another application form, repeating the instructions to complete it immediately. This went on for three months, allowing me to feed my children, to complete my year and graduate with my Bachelor of Education.
I never knew the woman’s name, but to me she was my Angel. This possibly humiliating situation brought healing and hope to me and my family, through her heart felt compassion. Allowing me to keep my dignity, she saw with eyes of love. I truly know that she was one of ways in which Divine Love carried me through that year.
Graduating with honours was merely a bonus. How the rest of the technicalities worked out, I really don’t remember. I do know for sure, however that there truly are angels on earth.
I know she was one of the many Human Angels who believed in me and carried me through that year.
Dear God/dess, thank you for every day miracles. May we remember that when we forget and tremble in fear, You have infinite resources beyond all measures. Thank you for the still small voice within that guides and supports us, through what may seem the most dire of circumstances. For this most precious gift we offer our heartfelt and humble thanks.
Might you be ready to shift one perception; to invite a miracle into your life?
And if so, which one do you choose to shift ?
Many blessings Linda
