What I Learned from a Book In Pieces

You are very interesting, Internet.  I ask for feedback on what to post about, and you respond by “liking” my post — my post that is a long list of possible posts.

Alright then . . .  I guess the message is to just get posting!

We just started a book club at work.  Each month a different co-worker will choose the book (going in birth order).  I was a bit dismayed when the first book chosen was a fiction book — a fiction book riddled with swear words, potential and actualized suicides, drug & alcohol addiction, and general despair . . . no less.

I debated whether to read the book, then whether to read from the beginning, then whether to finish. . .  but I did.  I finished it.  It was on audio, and I drifted off on some parts, but I did finish.  And I probably wouldn’t read it again.  I likened it to watching the news.  It dampened my mood and darkened my view of the world. . .

HOWEVER,

Since I did indeed read it, I wanted to find the purpose of it.  Why did so many like it, and what could be learned from it?

I latched onto a few symbols/themes: truth, the Tao Te Ching, and “Hold on”.

Truth was very important to the main character James.  It came up a few times when he was having emotional, traumatic experiences, and it was a concept that centered him.  Truth in words.  Truth in actions.  Truth in relationships.  What was real was very important to him.   What is real for us?

The Tao Te Ching.  A beautiful holy work.  Though James refuses religious influence, he is swept up in the resonance he experiences with this unexpected gift from his brother.  It is another source of calm and centeredness for him.

Excerpt from the 5th verse: (from Wayne Dyer’s Living the Wisdom of the Tao):

Heaven and earth are impartial;

they see the 10,000 things as straw dogs.

The sage is like heaven and earth;

To him none are especially dear,

nor is there anyone he disfavors.

He gives and gives, without condition,

offering his treasures to everyone.

Hold onto the center.

Man was made to sit quietly and find

the truth within.

I think I may start studying this text again.  What calls to us from this text?  For me it is neutrality, humility, unconditional love.  Though the main character has done some perceivably atrocious things, he is given another chance at life.  For Spirit there is no judgement.

“When you don’t think you can, hold on.”  These are the wise words fellow addict Leonard passes on to James, words his own mentor shared with him.  This book has a lot to do with strength.  James survives because he is strong, sometimes consciously, other times unconsciously.  He “shouldn’t be alive”, and yet he is.  He survives the incredible abuse he repeatedly incurs on his own body.  He survives grueling dental surgery sans novocaine and painkillers.  And he’s a fighter.  He fights with his words.  He fights the rules.  He fights with his fists.  In the end, he fights himself. And in the end, he endures. He is a fighter; he is a survivor.  We can all benefit from this, no?  Though you don’t think you can . . .  hold on.

What is inspiring you today? Much love and many blessings. ❤

Would You Help Me?

I stopped blogging every day.  I lost motivation.  I wasn’t sure what my purpose was anymore.  I want to write something that interests others, that helps others.

Will you help me find it?

What have I written about that gives the most value?

Angels?

Trips and Travel?

Akashic-Record-Inspired Content?

Life Experiences?

Poetry and Stories?

Inspiration?

Humor?

Numerology?

Visualization/Goal-Setting?

Coaching?

Dream Interpretation?

Metaphysics?

Spirituality?

Interpretation of Holy Texts?

Reviews?

Art?

Life Hacks?

Please comment below.  Will you be my muse?

Much love and many blessings. ❤

 

 

Fall 2018 Goals

Body Goal: Teach a Zumba class.

Mind Goal: Get the gist of a Chinese conversation (written or spoken).

Spirit Goal: Give Akashic Readings and know clearly what comes from “me” and what comes from Akasha.

Financial Goal: Pay off last credit card.

Travel Goal: Walk the Kumano Kodo in Japan

Home Goal: New Home Sweet Home

Health Goal: Try a week of the “Plant Paradox Cookbook” diet

Creativity Goal: Write and illustrate a children’s book.

Much love and many blessings.<3

Starting Home, Haunted Home, Perfect Little Home

This is my home, my starting home.

This is the home, the home to be my . . . next home? . . . the HAUNTED home? The home-I-decided-against home. (What’s that in the corner??)

This is the home; the smiles-at-me home; the carpet-less, sun-porched, fenced-yarded, fire-placed, tree-in-the-backyard, full-of-character, lovely (future?) home.

Much love and many blessings. ❤

In the Works: Swishy Barn Dance Skirt

I’m pretty excited about how my foray into sewing has now merged with my newest potential hobby: barn dancing!  (Fabulous, fabulous fun.  My friend Marie was right — my mouth hurt from so much smiling!)

This morning I’d planned to make my last pair of swishy pants.  However, when unrolling and rotating the fabric to match the pattern I became dismayed to realize that things were not going to turn out quite as I’d envisioned them to be.  In fact, I was no longer sure I liked the fabric at all!  Fortunately, Maggie — my friend and teacher  — still liked it, so I gladly passed the fabric on to her, and we decided to try a new project.

I quickly latched on to the idea of making a skirt for barn dancing, since I’d enjoyed the experience so much the night before and hadn’t felt like I had quite the right dress for it. Maggie pulled out some skirt patterns from her plentiful stock, and I quickly fell for a swishy skirt pattern.  Off to the fabric store we went!

After a store stop and a quick Thai lunch break, we came back with a beige linen fabric — and bonus — were able to actually squeeze TWO skirts out of the fabric!

Part I of the process is done: 1. Ditched old fabric and pattern 2. chose new pattern 3. picked out new fabric 4. cut fabric pieces 5. discovered fabric bonus!

In a couple weeks I will share back about Part II — and hopefully have a swishy skirt to share!

Much love and many blessings! ❤

Angel Number 818

If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you may have heard me mention that my car clock is a little goofy.  Sometimes the numbers become symbols.  Sometimes they show impossible times, and sometimes the digits completely disappear.

Lately I’ve been seeing certain combinations quite a bit, most notably 818.  When I hopped in my car this morning, 818 was there again to greet me.  I chuckled and didn’t pay much attention — I’d seen the combo so often — I was starting to believe it was just a technical glitch.  But while driving in slow mo traffic on the highway, I noticed some numbers running vertically on the truck in front of me — 818.

Alright, angels, now you’ve got my attention.

JoAnn Sacred Scribes says:

Angel Number 818 may be telling you that you are nearing the end of a significant and important phase of your life. If there is some part of your life that is not flowing as you’d like, know that it will soon be healed and/or replaced with better, more suited situations and circumstances.

Angel Number 818 suggests that you to think only thoughts of abundance and prosperity. Your thoughts are manifesting very quickly at the moment and you want them to be positive rather than negative. Create a list of affirmations that affirm and reinforce your own ability and motivation to turn your dreams into reality and look to new and/or different ways to bring about and achieve your goals and aspirations. Trust that if you listen to your inner-wisdom and the guidance from the angels you are bound to succeed on many levels.

If you have been considering beginning a spiritually-based career, profession, or practice or a project or venture whereby you use your natural skills and abilities to serve and assist others, Angel Number 818 may be a prompt to pursue your ideas and take positive action in the direction of your desires. Recognize, develop and share your values, abilities, talents, gifts and passions. Now is the moment in which you are creating your future.

Very fitting explanation for me!  How about you?

Much love and many blessings. ❤

Cancer

Last night I asked the Akashic Records what to write about for this post.  This was the message:

Cancer.  

The struggle is real.

We’re with you.  We support you. We love you. 

I’m not sure who this message is for.  But, much love and many blessings to you and all. ❤