The Universe works in strange ways....

A couple of days ago, I chose a card from Esther and Jerry Hicks "Well-Being Cards".

The card said: I am learning that all problems resolve themselves.

The expanded version on the reverse of the card elaborated:
When you have a problem, a desire exudes forth from you,
and Source hears it
and answers immediately.

Once you remove your attention
from the problem, you then allow
the solution.

Give birth to the question
and let it go - and allow
the answer to flow.

Timely advice. And a good reminder. Especially when worrying about Hubby's health (or lack of to be more specific).

However, on that day a couple of hours after I'd pulled this card, the doorbell rang.
It was 10:00 in the morning on a week day. Who could it be?

Over the course of the past few weeks, Hubby mentioned that someone had been ringing our doorbell, usually in the afternoon, just when he was about to take his nap. It happened 3 or 4 times. He no longer has the energy to answer the door, so if I'm not home, the call of the front door bell goes unanswered.

I opened the door to a middle-aged man, who looked familiar.
"Bonjour madame, ca fait long temps!" and he continued on in french.....

Turns out he was the technician who installed new windows in our garage last summer. I'd been calling the company last fall to come back and fix a caulking problem. The caulking had separated from the window edge, leaving a couple of gaps. I was worried that cold air and water would enter the garage. Not good.
I was angry that nobody had come back to fix this problem. Yes, it was a minor problem, but I had spoken to the sales person several times, only to be reassured that somebody would be by to fix it.

Then winter arrived. Forget it - will have to wait until Spring.
I know this is just an annoying problem, but I get really angry when I feel like I'm being ignored. After all, I'd paid good money to have those windows installed. In other words, I'd done my part. Paid up in full right away. Why then can't this company do it's part and fix their error? I felt neglected. Well, next time I will just choose another company if I need any more windows installed.

So, this morning, standing on my doorstep was the man who had installed those windows (way back in August), telling me he was in the area and would now fix the gaps in the caulking.

Ha! Well, I had certainly let this problem go - over the whole winter. And in doing so, allowed the problem to resolve in its own time. Getting angry and calling the company had not worked.

And maybe two problems were resolved that morning. Was this the same man who had been ringing our doorbell?

Interesting what happens when you shift your focus.

Reading hands

"You will have a robbery," said the woman sitting across from me, holding my hand.
"Excuse me?" A robbery? What on earth?

"Do you have a dog?"
"Yes."
"Oh, that's o.k. then. Your house is protected. You don't have to worry."

Protected? That's a hoot.

Fifteen years ago now. I was living in a rented townhouse with my 3 children, all of whom were attending school. The eldest two also had part-time jobs. My youngest was still in high school. As you can imagine, there were comings and goings all day long. Our doors were never locked. One morning as I was preparing to leave the house for work, I reached out to unlock the front door, when I discovered it wasn't. Locked. Somebody had left it unlocked all night.

Being the philosophical person I am, I shrugged and went on my way. How would a potential thief know that my door, out of all the doors on the street, was not locked last night? And we did have a dog. And two cats. And do thieves walk up to the front door and turn the knob? Don't they try to sneak in the back door, or break a window?

Before my divorce, we lived in a detached house in a residential neighbourhood, not far from this townhouse. It was a nice neighbourhood, where neighbours looked out for one another. I had always felt safe. Our "open-door" policy was the same back then too.

Hubby (my first husband) would leave the house first in the mornings. Then my eldest son. Then me and lastly my younger two. They took the school bus. In those days they were bussed home for lunch. I am sure most days, our doors were left open. I was never a stickler for locking doors. We had a dog back then too. And nice neighbours. No need to worry. My mother would scold me at times, but I never listened. Nor did I have the energy to enforce "lock the door" rules.

Strange thing happened. We divorced and sold that house. A young couple moved in. Both worked. No dog. A couple of months after they'd moved in, the house was broken into. I felt bad. Our doors were always open. A thief could have walked in any time at all. But nobody did.

This nice young couple went to work every day, making sure their doors were locked. How unfortunate that somebody must have been watching. Somebody knew that house was empty all day. They must have broken in when the neighbours were away too.

Back to that woman holding my hand. I was having my palm read at a Psychic Fair. Some of what she told me back then came true. Some things did not.

I believe that you attract what you focus on.

Full New Year's Eve Moon

Once again I set out to look for the moon this evening. I wanted to see Her soon after rising, as full as possible.

Once again, I was disappointed and turned back for home. As I was turning into my front walk, I took one last look over my shoulder.

Ah ha! There she was - shining brightly and full! As if to say "see I was here all the time. You just did not see me!"

Well, I can't see through clouds, even though you can.

What message is She bringing me? This is the second time over the past few months, that I've given up - only to turn around and find Her - shining brilliantly, full of light.

Whether clear or hazy, Mother Moon will not desert us. She is always there. We just need to see her, touch her, and believe. The words Soft come to mind, but also Communication. Soft communication? What the heck is that? I guess I'll find out in the New Year.

2010 equals the number 3 in numerology. The number of Creativity.

Let's all Create a year of happiness, love, abundance and peace.

So Mote It Be.

November Light

Looking through my kitchen window this morning, I saw Father Sun trying to peek through the branches of these bare-looking trees. The morning light is soft as it filters through the trees.
It's quality is different now. There is no hurry. No rush. The Earth is preparing to rest.

I find this softness comforting.
An hour or so later, I went for a walk.
And found the moon languishing in the western sky.

How pretty she looks, soft and feminine. Not clear and bright, or luminous and powerful. Just there, as if dancing in the treetops.
The Wheel is Turning.
November is a gentle month.

Autumn's dark side...

Autumn seems to be a time for grieving. Strong, warm Summer sunlight fades as a shadowy darkness takes over.

I spent most of the night crying. Tears soaked my pillowcase. Hubby lay beside me, breathing deeply. I placed my arm on his bony hip, cuddling him close to me, as I cried a river of tears.

I was remembering our first days together. Our first months. Our first years. As the old cliche goes "we were so much in love" (and still are to this day). It was pure bliss - heaven on Earth. I was bursting with happiness on a daily basis. I felt vastly rich. Truly loved and cherished. We played, we laughed, we travelled. Life was beautiful!

I wondered (as a kaleidoscope of the last 13 years danced through my head) will he die tonight? He had been sleeping on and off most of the day. As gentle love scenes played across my memory, flowers, moon-lit nights, birthdays, beaches, dazzling sunsets, caring and sharing - will tonight be the night?

I've asked that same question time and again over the seven and a half years he's been on oxygen. Will I find his body cold beside me in the morning; his spirit flown? Will I come home to find him on the floor? Gone - while I was out somewhere I didn't need to be?

The night before my mother died, the same swirling of thoughts and memories flashed through my mind - just like this night. I remember being a small child. Mom teaching me how to tie my shoe, wash my hands, say thank-you to someone. Mom tucking me into bed with a goodnight kiss. Mom standing at the door, waving good-by as I eagerly rushed out on my way to some adventure or other. Scenes from my teens, my graduation, my wedding, the birth of my children played in my head the night before she died. I did not know she was dying.

Very early the next morning, I got The Call. I knew in the depth of my soul that she had been sending me messages as her spirit chose to leave this Earth. They were not dreams, for I was wide awake. They were energy thought-forms. My sisters also received messages that night.

Was this to be the same happening? The very same scenario?

The next morning, Hubby awoke, looking better than he had in a long time. Relief washed over me like a wave. It's not his time yet. So why was I grieving? I don't know. Perhaps I had a slushy mound of grief stored up that needed release. All summer, I'd been riding a wave of joy, as I usually do. Sunshine and flowers; my hands in the Earth. I ignored sad. I pushed aside grief. I've been grieving for 7 and a half years - ever since his diagnosis. We need to treasure our time together. Not grieve the future.

I know, I know, but when I watch his daily struggles; constant unrelenting fatigue, frequent rest stops while slowly making his way across the room, eroded memory, emaciated body, oxygen tubing snaking across the floor; and the worst of the worst, even while resting in a chair, is.. just.. trying.. to.. breathe... it's hard not to look in the face of Grief.

Geese flying over the moon

(pic compliments of the net)

Last night, after supper, I decided to go for a short walk. Our weather had been rainy and cloudy for the past couple of days, so I didn't really expect to see the moon. Waxing gibbous is where She is right now. Full splendor on October 4th - actually tomorrow!

Coming around the circle, and up a short hill (o.k. upward slope in the road), I looked up and saw a hazy, cloudy sky. There was a little patch in between the clouds that looked as if it were lit from behind by Our Mother Moon.

How pretty, I thought to myself. I guess that's as good as I'm going to get this evening. Just a haze and a bit of gentle light illuminating the soggy clouds from behind.

Continuing to stretch my legs and breathe in the fresh air, I walked on. Acorns crunched underfoot. All was dark. Streetlights are far and few between, here in the country, but lights shone from some houses as I passed by. Some people leave only one lamp burning in the window, as if to welcome passers by. Others have lights shining in every room.

Squabbling voices pierced the night air, interrupting the soft silence. Hmmm, somebody must be having a party, I thought. Strange that the noise level would reach the street. Our properties are large and unless doors and windows are open, you can't really hear anything that goes on inside the houses.

Squabbling turned into squawking and instantly I understood. Geese! Of course! Canada geese flying South for the winter! Quickly I scanned the dark skies trying hard to figure out where they were. How could I possibly see any movement in a dark night sky? Well I tried anyway and saw nothing.

The Moon however, chose this time to show off. Clouds yielded; hung back for a bit allowing Mother Moon to shine. Not brightly or clearly, but with an ethereal glow.

Waiting and watching, I stood rooted to the spot.

"Come on, geese - where are you?" I called into the darkness.

Honk! honk! honk....growing fainter now.

Oh well, time to go. Turning away, I started back home. On an impulse, I took one last look over my shoulder. And then I saw them! Two or three at first, flying one behind the other, silhouetted against the light of the almost-full Moon.

And then there were zillions! Wings flapping, long necks reaching as if to plant a goosey kiss on Mother Moon before flying away on their journey. I was in awe! Never have I seen geese flying over the moon before. Thought it was the stuff of story-books.

As the honking grew softer and more distant, I silently wished them farewell.

Have a good trip and enjoy the warm sunny Winter. See you in the Spring.

Had I not given in to that little tug at my shoulder nudging me to turn back at just the right time, I would have missed this magical moment.

I wonder what message the Universe is sending me?

Queen Mabon

The Wheel Turns. Light is fading and Queen Mabon or Maeve as she was once called, adjusts the folds in her dress, as she floats down, settling herself upon the land.

Looking around with her appraising eye, she notices with satisfaction the leaves that were once a nourishing green, are slowly changing to deep russet, vivid orange, and perfect red.

"Perfect red?"

A saucy chipmunk pops up from its burrow:

"Who said that? Perfect red? How can a colour be perfect?"

"Well then, how about blood? ruby? sanguinous?" answered Queen Mabon.
"Those adjectives are so worn out."

"All right, picture this - glowing red, friendly red, autumn red?
"That's a stretch!", retorted the naughty chipmunk.

"O.K. smarty pants, instead of sassing me, tell me this - have you started gathering acorns for winter?"

"Of course! Do you think I need you to tell me what I've been doing instinctively for years??"

And with that, he popped back down into his burrow.

With a sigh of gentle patience, Queen Maeve turned her attention back to her immediate duties. Licking her finger in the time honoured, old fashioned way, She next tested the Air.
"Hmmm, cool and a little crispy, as it should be, but warmed with just the right amount of Sun - Perfect!"

Looking around, She noted with satisfaction that Lily of the Valley had transformed right on schedule. From Maidenly, delicate, white bells in the early Spring, to robust red berries of Autumn.

(don't look too closely at this pic or you'll see that the red berries are actually cherries and not Lily of the Valley berries, but I liked this pic immediately when I saw it).

Rose also was showing her hips - red and luscious and inviting...

" Hmmm, well, I'll have to keep my eye on that one!" Maeve muttered to herself.
Queen Mabon looked around and smiled. Everything was as it should be. Animals scurried about, preparing for the cold winter months ahead. In the gardens, chives, lavender, basil, marigolds, pansies (among others) were busily sowing their seeds for next spring's crop of herbs and flowers.

She turned her face upwards, to scan the sky; looking for that last sign that the Wheel of the Year was indeed turning - that it hadn't gotten stuck in the mud, or broken a spoke along the way.

And then she heard them. Softly at first, but unmistakable.... the honking
of Canada geese, flying South to warmer lands; their distinctive V-formation marking their journey through the Sky.

And when Swirling Mists began their Work of dampening and softening the landscape, Mabon knew her work was complete. Autumn had arrived on time - to meet the Fall Equinox.

She sighed and let down her hair - all was in order...for now..... and yet her Work had only just begun, for Samhain was already tugging impatiently at her skirts...