Fireside III
It is to the Village Square that the townspeople come to exchange views and thoughts on their beloved spiritual philosophy, learning from each other in kindness and wisdom. Then when their minds have been filled, they retire to the tavern on the western side of the square where they share in social discussion, learning of each other’s events and challenges, happinesses and sometimes sadnesses, too. With a mug or glass in hand, they collect in front of the great Fireplace that dominates the long wall. Benches and chairs are often filled on market day with those who have come from farther away, bringing news of events and views the local people delight in hearing.
If you are feeling disoriented by all the philosophical talk by the fountain in the Village Square, then come sit down on the bench here with us for a while just to soothe your mind and share a mug of tea or coffee. Let’s all make sure the conversation is quiet and simple, caring and thougtful, exactly the kind of talk you might have around a warm hearth, the only light filling the room coming from the fireplace.
This is the third installment in the Fireside discussion series. After we reach 900 comments, the page takes too long to load on your computer, and so we start another fresh page. To review previous discussions, we keep the old pages (Fireside I and Fireside II) which you can find under the ‘Village’ tab on the navigation bar at the top of screen under the image of the tree.
{giggling thanks to Bernard xoxoo}
a* …..no, you didnt miss any jelly baby posts – the coincidence just suddenly occurred to me as i was writing .. speaking of which Mr Jelly-fish man, i am glad the “peace of cod” has “hooked” you back in….tee hee….
more coincidences { i forget the term that Jamie used to use}…. Tex quoting “Who am I” – That’s a song i was singing yesterday/ I think its from the 1960’s
“the buildings reach up to the sky
the traffic thunders on the busy street
the pavement slips beneath my feet
i walk alone and wander, who am I”
I close my eyes and i can fly
And i forget about this worldly strife
Restricted by routine of life
but still i cant discover who am I..
I long to wake up in the morning and find everything has changed
And all the people that i meet dont wear a frown
But every day is just the same
I’m wearing raincoats in the rain
All the dreams that i believe in let me down.
Maybe it’s only just a lie
For i have something else entirely free
The love of Jesus close to me
Unfettered by the world that hurries by
To question such good fortune who am I”
P.s. I tweaked the words a little in the last verse….
a* welcome back to the south sphere…..i loved your ramble and giggled as i pictured you saying “yeah yeah Christ vision blah blah bloody blah “….. reminded me of how i told Ken to ” shut bloody up” for a while…… hee hee
I am beside a beautiful lagoon this morning. Travellers can stay as long as they like, though there are no facilities except a rubbish bin. That,and a long track to walk along are all i need. Keeping rubbish in the car attracts rodents and we dont want that {giggles}
Nina yeah it is lovely to “be still and empty your mind” – i too love that practice and boy arent you clever conjuring up Laura just like that and then you said “Next, Bev” and buggar me dead, she did appear next !!!! Methinks Ladonian ministers have mysterious powers.
Bev they make an awesome jelly babies out here – they’re the best lollies i’ve ever had – ya want me to send ya some? … for research of course…
I love that you came out to Australia. I read your earlier post where you went out west probably along the same highway i have been travelling. I havent experienced any trouble with the flies though, but then it’s not been summer. I have been having the most wonderful time of my life. I havent been able to keep everyone up to date on it because sometimes internet connections are far and few between.
I went out west as far as the bitumen would take me. I had no idea it would be so beautiful and enriching. At a point, the two-lane highway becomes a single lane and originally i hadnt thought i would be able to deal with that.
But with a growing confidence in my abilities, i set out. You have to be alert constantly for kangaroos and emus crossing the road, not just at dawn and dusk out there. Then there is all the road-kill you have to dodge. These are big animals. Then there are the 53 metre road trains. You have to get right off the road. It’s easiest to just get off and stop altogether until they pass whether coming from behind or in front.
And of course the distances are huge. So there is no rest until your destination. I found in order to stay focused i couldnt listen to either Ken or music.
If it’s been raining, the dirt edges you have to get off on are often muddy, or worse “sticky”, so you run the risk of getting bogged….and it had been raining, but luckily i never got bogged.
I am on my way back east now.
love to all the tribe xoxoxoxooxoxoxo
Love you WinWin – You are on my Bucket List of places to see…
You and Australia…
20 years ago, some guy told me there’s a little class we should go to…
Something called The Course…. they said all kinds of silly things
Like – There is no death…. I am free!
So I decided to forget all thoughts of death…
Whether or not I am quote unquote awake or not… who knows.
Wake up to the thought that there is no death.
And enjoy the piece of cod. (lol)
Love to everyone – luv and hugz!
a 547 is a keeper, and pretty much where I am. “The gift of Christ is all I seek today”. So, my brother if we are only pulled up another wrung out of a million, it matters not. We are already home, we as one with all that is near and dear to us.
On my darkest days, when I am crazy mad for no reason, still in the recesses of my mind “The gift of Christ is all I seek today” echos and the words my not be exact, but they are the music that tames the savage beast, that I am. I too thought that I needed a special teacher. I was glad you mentioned Carrie I always looked to her to cut through the bull, and of course Lu. I would like to see her write another book. Her words are arrows straight to the heart.
I can’t tell you how many times a course truism smacks me in the face and I wipe it off with my indifference. But for every time I do another finds its way to my heart, and instead of getting heavier it becomes much lighter. I don’t think we are meant to understand as much of the course as we try to. But in the effort to do so is the love and respect we show our big brother and his trusty sidekick HS and that is what moves us ever so closer to waking from the dream and into our God and his infinite mercy and Love.
I must get back to work, research some things I bought and wish to sell. I call it Poor Man Archeology
My love to all
God bless us every one
lawrence
Oh this is such a source of release and freedom and joy for me. Such a Home I find in you all
I love the illusion that we seem to be many – but really, I sense there is only One here – but it comes in exactly the flavors that I love and know so well.
Sighing from happiness, and basking in my Ministerial fantastic abilities –
Nina
love you too Texy….I’ll put the billy on {That’s what i always say when someone says they’re coming to visit – doesnt matter how far in the distance that may be or whether the implement is in fact an electic jug }….Um the billy is the tin that the swagman puts the water into to boil up over the fire for a cup of tea…
So nice to hear from you Lawrence and to hear your underlying melody……hugs to you and the twins xoxo
Nina, dear heart – you are an open book, just like your gravatar depicts, from which your love and gratitude or any other emotion is easily read xoxoxooxoxxo
Great and lovely ponderings, tribe. So sorry I don’t have time to do justice to all of them. Winnie, A, Nina, Lawrence, Bev, Tex… and HI to Laura! Smooches ‘n hugs.
Hi to all you tribe of tigers —
Wow, one week of crazy forgiveness lessons here on the home turf. I am never upset for the reason i think, so after reading about 14 pages of back whisperings, and I find I CAN see peace instead of all that c-a-r-p.
I can’t believe I missed Bernard’s and Nina’s birthdays. May the birthday magic linger upon you for at least as long as my itinerant memory takes to catch up! Zafu, I feel the white sand in my toes with each of your Alohas. a, I wanted to meet you in SF, and dash on over to lunch with Michele to have you update us on Gary’s last seminar. Pam, I save every North Dakota job article for my son, and tell him I’ll take him there (hee, hee, little hidden agenda for me!) Lawrence, you are so precious.
It is great seeing Al,and Bev, Michele and Laura, and thinking of RuthAnne, Melody, Annie . . . hee, hee.
I think I’ll jump in Anne’s bucket when she heads over to Aussie land. Winnie, you have filled my bucket with your travels to the end of the Western bitumen, dodging live and carcassed kangaroos, emus, and whatever else may lie there. Eyeball agreeing with copper colored brown snakes. Nodding with amazed acceptance with baddies and oddies on the trail, as well as ominous lights inside and outside the caravan. You sent me to wiki over and over, this time for bitumen (american=asphalt) and roadtrains (multi-trailer semis, some up to 29 trailers behind one tractor, totally illegal here in calif – I think, a max of 2 is allowed here.) I dance in gratitude that you did not get bogged, bitten, or bewitched.
Katrina, you are one hellufa wordmagician. I wanted to set the sentences in poetry-mode, but then i remembered that you used to hate poetry (.- ( that was a symbol of a new smile, not before seen by anybody.)
SO good to have you here. Thanks for the great flowers in the tavern.
Nina, you are so kind. In my mind, you live next door to me. Love and Hugs.
Oh no, I forgot KENDALL. Love you!
oh Katrina i laughed with delight at your post ! – You certainly do have a way with words. It was an adventure just reading that….. i love the way you inverted “crap” to continue the fish theme and just the way you succinctly and poetically expressed yourself. Here is a big box of peanut brittle i have been saving just for you…..
big hugs Bernard and dont work too hard xxxxxxxoxoxo
I was very disenchanted with the carp of the carpe diem lately.
In my life, and even on FaceBook! Those guys play ROUGH!
Not like here with this tribe of tiger kittehs.
Those guys are tigers and cougars for reals!
So I decided that since there is no death… and then I am either really a zombie,
or I’d better pick up my mat, and stretch forth my little withered hand.
Which is really more likely? Creation extends.
And if I’m “here” then I was somehow created! Wow. Imagine that!
So I decided to try to live a little. There’s plenty of room in the basket.
I think we should all have a down-under meeting of the minds.
PS. I am already singing Christmas Carols.
And sitting in my clean little apartment burning Holly scented candles.
Suddenly, I want it be all sparkly and bright. Go figure!
Very Monkish. In a Grotto kind of way.
But not Potato Au Grotto… that would be *wrong*!!
Love you all! Miss ya! “Wish you were here!”
Thanks, Nina (re: Judgeybug — I was actually smiling when I wrote that line in 547.. one of the deficiencies of the Internet, so hard to convey one’s presence, present state of being – even if I pepper the post with smileys liberally ! (:
anyway, no worries, Nina… judgey-bug’s volume is turned way down. most of the time (:
thanks, Lawrence, too. Winnie says it well, the melody of your writing is so sweet to my ears, nay, to my heart. I remember your line often from way back when we first became neighbours here at the Village… “it’s all smoke and mirrors till it ain’t smoke and mirrors” ! (:
WinWin, thanks for elaborating on the jelly-babies “woo-woo” (:. Minds are one indeed, a fact I’m slowly getting to “understand”.
Still a long way away though – I seem to have an instinctive resistance mentally to the “Oneness” phrase – I’ve given up hopes (which I once had (in my fool-hardy youth) of “accomplishing” enlightenment in this life-time) (:
(and if this whole thing is a dream, then there’s really nothing for me to “accomplish” really)
And finally, wordsmith extraordinaire Katrina, so glad you picked up the nugget of my being at Fisherman’s Wharf from my email response to Nina’s Minister of Ladonia email.
I kept some folks from Nina’s list on the cc: line, deliberately, (and had been wondering if I should have written back to just Nina without “burdening” the others on the email with my response). Now I’m happy I kept you on the cc: line.
I never did get to meet Michele on that trip… she lives right across the water-body from Fisherman’s Wharf (in Sausalito ?), which seemed so close and yet so far (that’s assuming my memory of where she lives is correct from other emails I’ve exchanged with her in 2009/2010).
I thought about you too in SLO – last week in California was enlivened by thinking of my Village friends there, you, Michele, Annie…and I even thought about Ken a few times, trying to find Temecula on the map and getting a mental handle on how it all fit together relative to San Fran.
Well, I’ll be there next year again – my boss lives there now (in the Valley, as they say), and I’ve learned enough of this corporate BS now to know that face-to-face meetings with him at least once a year are warranted to keep things in harmony on the work front ! (:
It’s very clear to me now that one of the reasons I keep writing at the Village is to assert to myself that I exist. And it makes me feel more compassionate to my mother, who when I talk to her on the phone, insists on telling me all the details of her day/hour as the case may be. It’s get me all impatient often… but…
She and I are not different – she too wants to assert her existence by talking aloud to me on what she did during the day. And how is that different from me writing on the Net, my thoughts and experiences, my “happiness” in knowing that Katrina acknowledged my nugget of info on that email now long since gone by…
Truly, if I can learn that my mother and I are the same, in essence, then I will have taken one step more up that proverbial ladder of forgiveness !
And Bernard, before I forget, “so long and thanks for all the fish” ! (:
Take care, dear friends.. Happy weekend to all..
a
Observing the love of the Tribal Village.
I’ve been in Observation mode for a while here at the Village;
Then I stopped observing all together.
Found it odd that I felt a relief from not posting. ( I didn’t expect that)
Lots of internal dialogue followed.
The recurring question as to why I’m in this funky space continues.
I have no idea. (another way of saying I’ve hit some resistance)
All I can do is Surrender.
I think its time for a Sabbatical.
I didn’t want to admit that.
Right mind & Wrong mind at it Big time.
I know I’ll be back to talk about it one day.
So as Richard would say …Carry on Comrades!
Ooooh i’m excited about Christmas already too Tex. Every year they bring out the 1kg “Christmas Mix” lollies. Ya have to get them as soon as they come out or you miss out. My daughter has already bought one for our family Christmas. I bought one and have already devoured half of them. Each little jelly bell or marzipan santa gives me a Christmassy thrill ! {i’ve exempted them from all official forgiveness exercises}
great post a* – i love to hear your thoughts…
I was pondering yesterday as i walked, about our Course and how it is the ultimate in taking responsibility. I love the sheer extremity of its reaches, the powerful everything or nothing component.
The responsibility of being responsible for all of our thoughts is awesome enough, but then there’s also the awareness that if we choose to hold onto grievances, that we are attacking the entire sonship, psychologically murdering everyone. Phew …talk about performance anxiety !
Yesterday i looked at how i had judged a friend as manipulative, disturbed and neurotic. I realized i have very craftily hidden all these nasty little things in his body, because i sure as hell dont have ’em. All right there may have been times in my life when i was a bit disturbed, maybe a trifle neurotic, but never manipulative!
It was very helpful to see that the distance i had put between that quality and myself, must equal the degree of depth to which i thought i had hidden that nasty little thing.
I still didnt feel a “oneness” with the person, like i usually do when i forgive, but i figured that i had done my part and now must “wait”.
When i awoke this morning, i had a fleeting feeling of a secret manipulativeness within me, and i couldnt help but smile as i thought of my friend, and how wonderful this whole process is.
“Each day that you forgive, the effects of all the world’s mistakes are melted as snow into burning fire.”
Oooooh, Winnie !!
I would have kept quiet and just gone to bed. But that last line at the end of a great post brought me chills… it’s one of my favorite lines ever.
Brought my mind to the edge of tenderness when I first read it. And am glad to see today that it still hasn’t lost its hold on me….
truly…
“Each day that I forgive, the effects of all the world’s mistakes are melted as snow into burning fire.”
love,
a
ps. Annie – so nice to feel your presence, and so glad that you found relief from not posting ! love you.
Oh Annie !
just googled “sabbatical”
and it says that’s its leave that’s granted after seven years, and {clears throat} so i dont think you qualify….sorry ’bout that…{grins}
I’ve missed you so ! but havent wanted to say anything because i dont want to put pressure on anyone at any time { ooh i am seeing now how thinking that way is thinking, but not acting, manipulatively}……
I remember when i left the Monastery, i only came back because i was told i was missed so i felt like i had a responsibility to return.
This place has not been the same without you , our beautiful beloved Annie XOXOXOOXOXOOXOXOXOXOOXOXOXOOXOXOXO
Dearest Annie, You are greatly loved. Have no worries. We are with you. Even without this village all of us are an unbroken chain of love. This village is a lovely symbol of our journey to nowhere but it is not the only one. Yet it shall remain as long as we have need of it.
I have observed about myself and seen it reflected in others that we are shifting from “learning” the Course to living the Course,putting into practice what we have spent the last couple years learning intellectually and moving more and more from head space understanding to Heart space knowing.
Gratitude and HUGS for all
oh beautifully put Pammikins !…..makes me feel all niggy wig and so huggedly beloved….. big hugs to you and everyone
Annie, I stayed away from posting for a year. In that time I missed you all, more than I thought I would, or could. It was my decision to make, and I could have changed my mind at anytime, but I didn’t.
Pam’s post is a beauty, I like this ” I have observed about myself and seen it reflected in others that we are shifting from “learning” the Course to living the Course,putting into practice what we have spent the last couple years learning intellectually and moving more and more from head space understanding to Heart space knowing.”
There is no right or wrong in our choice to do certain things, or not do them. It’s important to remember that Love is with us always, and it is fortunate for us that we have friends that are not scared to use that four letter word. (get your minds out of the gutter people) Love is the four letter word of course.
I missed you since I came back, your posting became less and less. But that seems to be true for most all of us I guess. Well, I will quit babbling, and hope to hear from you again sooner rather than latter. Life is change, and it is what it is till it isn’t. Just be gentle with your self in your day to day. And remember too, we won’t be upset if you decide to come back sooner rather than later.
Love ya kid, and wish you and yours nothing but the best always!
God bless us every one
lawrence
I think we all deserve a pat on the back simply for being here.
It is difficult enough for for we students to look at the “horrors of our specialness” on a daily basis in our regular lives but those horrors are compounded and magnified when we come here because we cant bring one of our shields of oblivion with us. As forgiveness practitioners, we know the “jig is up”. We know that everybody else knows we are riddled with specialness needs and that underneath our obvious affection for one another, all sorts of hidden hates and secret agendas might be lurking. It’s positively unnerving. Plus we dont really have much privacy.
But we are asked to be normal, and normal people seek out like-minded others for communication and comfort. “We are much more human than otherwise”.
i love you Papa Lawrence bear …
big hugs to all xoxooxoxooxoxoxo
(:
sharing thanks for all the sharings … wishing everyone would share and write and open their hearts and feel safe and happy here all the time
wishing darling annie the time and space and freedom to do whatever she wants so that it’s best for what she needs to be doing (which may of course be ‘I need do nothing’!!)
wishing anyone who has wishes that anyone would change or be different in some way to gently loosen and softly laugh that anything or anyone has any thing to do with their peace and joy and experience of gentleness on this journey
wishing that my 4 months in hawaii will extend into forever … we’ll see
have been totally focused on my mom’s situation … she’s been in hospice care for these last 3 months and is doing really well
the learning curve to living here and helping her and being by her side non stop is an amazing adventure
she was all set to not be here any longer … but she’s still here
so many days and nights felt soooo close to the last of the last days … then there was always another day
now it seems we’re getting to a place where we’re going to stay and play for awhile
none of this can be measured
am amazed how totally I just left my other life and entered this one
how simple it was to leave it all and begin something completely different
each day reveals itself …
am loving being with the ocean … swimming and walking along the surf every day … rainbows and sea turtles … watching for whales (haven’t seen one yet, maybe today!)
this is the longest I’ve ever gone not seeing my kids and grand kids … friends and all that once was part of my everyday life
am loving so many things and thoughts and sharings and kind words I get from each of you … our tribe
nina’s blog had this link to mahoneyjoe.com that has the best brightest funniest joyfilled stories and drawings … sweet
winnie and her adventures are fabulously rich and enjoyed immensely
each one contributes more than they know … I love the daily readings and look forward to a’s travels and ponderings … lawrence is wonderful … he’s fun to sit next to at the fireside!
every time tex anne joins in it livens the place up with her playful energy and fresh take on things … she’s sooo much fun
when bernard shared all that he and pat went through on their first day of joining in the marketplace … wow … all that before they even got started selling!! some adventures are like that … most of the work that goes on is in the prep realm that somehow doesn’t even count, yet it’s a huge part of the goings on
am wishing every one a happy monday … getting ready for the big full harvest moon on thursday … no matter where we are on this planet or on our journey, we all are sharing the same moon
love the quote, ‘the moon is always full’ … just is fun to see it reflecting it’s fullness so brightly when it does
wishing everyone fun and happy adventures
am so very thankful for this place and the people and the sharings and the stories and the links and the love
(and an extra hug for annie)
Aloha dearest zafu ….. whenever you appear, i swear i can hear the waves washing softly in and out freshing and refreshing us…
what an idyllic life you have…and how lucky your mum is to have you. I think of you whenever i swim { coz i bought my togs in Hawaii} and i thought of you last night, of all of us, gazing up together at that big voluptuous moon….. am so very thankful for you …. big hugs darlin to you and everyone xoxoxooxoxoxo
I just love it here!
I’ve taken to playing Christmas music and drinking hot cocoa….
Want some?
Zafu -WinWin?
I think of that moon all the time, too!
And of y’all.
Listening to Christmas music as well. I got the Andrea Bocelli CD for Christmas last year and I love his version of The Lord’s prayer with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.(It’s on YOU Tube as well)
Trying to catch up on some of your posts. Just carried along, Zafu’s wave setting the atmosphere…
Saying hello to Bev, Katrina, Zafu, Winnie, Annie (yoohoo, hi!), ‘a-man’, TexAnne (yay for Xmas!), Lawrence, Pam, Nina – thank you everyone for all your contributions!
why thank you Tex. Mmmmm hot chocolate with a hint of cinammon yummy. Puts on Mannheim Steamroller x-mas cd. goes to watch the mayor’s video
I woke up today at 4.15 am feeling wonderful. I pulled my ear plugs out and blow me down the kookaburras were laughing. As soon as I awoke I remembered that it was Armistice Day. I have been looking forward to it all week especially since this year it would be the 11/11/11
The interesting thing for me personally is that this day has always claimed me of its own accord. No matter where I am or what I am doing, something will bring my attention to the eleven oclock moment. So over the years it has become a very meaningful moment for me when I have just wanted to stop and join in with the world to honour peace. This year I have decided to rename Armistice Day Harmlessness Day, a day to commemorate the putting aside of our shabby war toys and seek instead to be truly helpful and wholly harmless…….
The instant I stopped typing that sentence, the kookaburras started laughing again !
…..This leg of my journey round Oz is rapidly coming to a close as I head back to Brisbane. I suddenly decided I want to surprise my daughter by coming back early and spending some time with here before her child is born. Next year I will head north.
Oh i have learnt so much ! My sons were right. You can go for months without needing to wash your sheets ! Who’d have thought !
Your laptop can double as a mirror. If you turn it off and open it up, it gives a fairly decent reflection if ya need to see how the blouse you’ve just tweaked looks. O’course if you wanna see how it looks with a certain skirt you need a full length mirror -in which case i’ll go to the amenities block,{ when there is one} where they have real mirrors and hope there’s a chair i can drag over to stand on and try and get some idea of how the outfit looks.
It gets a bit awkward if someone comes in .. I kinda look sheepish and laugh nervously while i get down and put the chair back….
In an emergency, if I am passing through a town that has a dress shop, I wear what I want to see, go into the shop, grab anything, ask to try it on just so I can go into the fitting room and check out what I’m wearing !
Oh i just love that you guys are so into Christmas already !
joins everyone in enjoying the delicious hot choc – thanks Texy
I’m going into our lovely garden now to sit quietly and wait til 11 am {15 minutes time} to silently remember that everyone here and everyone everywhere are just in my mind ….. that nothing happened……..
xoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Oh Winnie, so great to see you’re here in the garden and all bubblynigglywiggy. I have had a very stressfull night, and as most usual mixed the me in with all the strong energies – and then you reminded me that it was the 11/11. For the alternative world (hehe) this is such a HUGE day: now we are going to do a lot of spiritual work, place crystals at certain places and meditate together -and of course I pick all of that up: it is, when truth is told, my mind who thinks it is important and serious.
Phew. Just by recognizing this i feel better.
I will sit in the garden with you at 11:11 my dearest – just remembering that anything else than Love never happened.
Hot choc and spinach-feta-pie.
And maybe even a glass of my favorite pink champagne.
Hm. I AM already sitting in the garden with you. All.
Oh I love you all so much
Nina
Elf – elf – elf
I think that is 11-11-11 in German. Winnie, you never mentioned any pixies on your trip. Have they pledged you to silence? Are the kookaburras warm weather birds, just returning from their wintering in the East Indies?
When I woke up this morning, Bernard, I immediately thought of the reminder in your video, and saw that little ego bird trying to drop his load, and I ducked and chose a different thought of what I am grateful for, and decided to get up and change the hummingbird water, cause it is low and they look a little too happy with it. It really was a simple and fast correction.
Sipping my mocha latte, happy to have our son here for a visit, and listening to see if grandma (also in hospice in Hawaii) will pick this auspicious day to leave this silly play behind.
Sweet nothings, katrina
the full moon was sooo magical here in hawaii last night …
almost like daylight
glowingly bright … the palm trees black against the white night
some rain off and on … and a huge double rainbow in the evening
cleared just in time for a perfect sunset
mcdonald’s is playing starbucks offering up peppermint mocha’s … they are amazingly good … I tried one with mom about 2 weeks ago … since then she wants one EVERY DAY
we do them iced … the starbucks is better than the mc d version, but they both are really good and are in the christmas spirit … so I added some peppermint to the offerings of tex’s here in the fireside hang out … thanks … hope you all like the added peppermint!!
katrina … would love any thoughts you may want to share about your grandma … mom also most of the time is very ready to leave this place … am aware she’s getting better and staying mostly because I want her to and am making it very desirable for her to stay (I indulge her every whim and give her everything she wants and we have happy adventures every day … we haven’t missed a sunset … and I haven’t left her side or denied her anything for 4 months … except for my long morning walks, I am her devoted attendant)
love the early christmas decorations and hot chocolate and happy gatherings here fireside!!
I love mine with peppermint, Zafu … and also with cherry flavoring…
I know it’s a dream… but gosh… that’s good!
I love everything still – I must look pretty silly – floating on a cloud or something….
I heard a speech by Charlie Chaplin – from “The Great Dictator”
“Only the unloved (can) hate!…”
“Look up! Look up! The clouds are lifting, the sun is breaking through.”
Such imagery in my little dream. It’s all good. I guess I know I am loved!
“This is a COURSE about LOVE because it is a course about YOU.”
*skipping off merrily* *listening to Christmas music*
hugsies Katrina…. the kookaburras are here all year round, like all of our birds as far as i know……
I dont think pixies like the outback much. However i did encounter a rather cross little gnome in a cobbler shop when i was getting the curly toe removed from my pixie boots…..} always seem to be hooking things in the dang thing…… have decided to settle for a more conventional {as far as pixies go} little point like what you see in fairy tale books.
Anyhoo a little gnome came into the shop with his tall red pointy gnome hat all crushed and floppy. He asked the cobbler if he could make him a kind of a capstone out of leather to protect the point……{ dang opal mines with their very low roofs !!! While we waited he bedazzled me with a magnificent opal that fairly flowed with brilliant colour and i couldnt resist buying it from him…….
dear zafu how wonderful for your mamma to have you..
Yes Tex you got that right… you are so loved xoxoxooxoxo
Mmm just what i feel like Nina – some sweet pink champagne
Yesterday after i posted, i looked out the window to see an Armistice Day service going on. (I had stopped in a little town hoping to be able to get online.) So i went and joined them and as i stood there i felt you all with me and remembered who we all are, and felt us standing together in our garden too at the same time… Then the bloke played the bugle { on a cd player} which i found very moving { who doesnt} and then they played our stupid bloody national anthem which i’ve always loathed. It’s pathetic. There was a bloke in front of me singing nervously. I could tell he really wished others would join in so he didnt have to feel all on his own.
I never sing the stupid bloody thing – its’ pathetic – oh wait, i’ve already said that…… i knew it wasnt just that it was a dreadful song. It was a symbol of resistance and a symbol of my authority problem. Then i thought i would rather join in than keep this chunk of obstinacy. So blow me down, i joined in and the sense of oneness was worth it….
big loving hugs to all xoxoxooxxo
bring the candles and party hats and balloons and cake and turn up the music “you make me feel like dancing … you make me feel like dancing” … today is anne’s 51st birthday!! no wonder she’s glowing and skipping off merrily and making everyone happy and being all loveable and cute and stuff!!
happy birthday anne … many thanks much mahalo for all you bring and share and add to the village
am so thankful for our temecula time and that full moon night of romping around the old town with you and winnie … wish katrina and annie had stayed around to join in the fun too!!
wish everyone in the village and old monastery had been there too!! it was lots of fun
may this birthday be full of magical fun miracles (rumor has it there’s a course about that) and may you enjoy every holy encounter … maybe the naughty monkey will make you another special starbucks treat!!
wishing you a happy birthday full of love
love to you anne!!
Happy birthday to our beloved Tex !
{ presents a huge chocolate cake {lo-carb of course} with cherries on top}
I hope you get lots of pressies and if not, go out and buy whatever takes your fancy…. You deserve to have a wonderful day and happiness always
we love you Texoxoxoxooxoxox
(Showering Anne in whipped cream, putting on two antennas and and a magic machine that can find exquisite music when you point your antennas toward anything.)
CONGRATULATIONS!
Have fun! – and have some Stevia for your chocloate/cocoa, dear. Still remember your awesome and enigmatic ( for non-musicians) post in the Monastery where you found a link between minors and majors (ACCORDS, that is ) and Bible-places ( Course-places???)
something with “das fridensfurst) – ?
even my musician-daughter did not get it.
I still wonder ( love me a good enigma)
Today I witnessed Hamlet as sonic art, Anne!!! lots of spontaneous music/sounds improvised on the stage – strings which were 7 meters long! I think you would have enjoyed that. I would have loved seeing it with you.
BIG HUG baby
( I am so old you see)
Nina
Happiest Birthday Wishes for our Tex to You Anne!!!
{Watches the Elves set up a Magical Ferris Wheel with Organ Grinder Music. There are the Softest Seats and Thermos’ of Belgian Peppermint Cocoa and Tins full of Winnie’s Fruitcake in the little basket each seat has}
Anne takes the first seat and each time it reaches the top the view opens to see each and everyone of us here in the Village in their respective lands at home. We spin around till we’ve seen everyone with their families and friends we hear about here visiting them and then the Ferris wheel get’s all rainbow hued. When the wheel reaches the bottom, we find that one after the other of us has a seat within the Wheel. Jamie and Bonnie join us too and we end our Anne Birthday party with diving off the Ferris Wheel into the Ocean shores Zafu walks. We find the bamboo Gazebo, with the dance floor and all our favorite music plays. Annie pops in and we have a grand time….waking the next day with a smile on our lips back in our beds.
Bernard ~
Just finished first reading and then viewing your video. Really truly helpful!!!! You’ve provided a very important next step for me. I do like to take those first moments of awakening in the morning greet the Holy Spirit and use a phrase I think I got from Jamie about today is another day to undo the ego and ask for help to do that. This part from you, consciously observing my first projection of the day is such a practical helpful and honest choosing to observe the leaping off place into the ego’s biz as usual with whatever is the external we believe and to witness and re-direct, take that moment to see, yes I’m choosing to run this scenario of conflict form across my mind and I can watch and know that it’s really not true. I’m investing it as real and an issue but I don’t have to choose that as being real or threatening my peace.
Really nice work and fun to be with you and focus on your face and eyes and voice for the length of the video.
Also like the little window into your home and your beautiful choice of paint for your wall and your asparagus fern in it’s little pot. Is that your bed and pillow in the background behind you?
Thank you Bernard….and now I can also think of you in the am with this practice you’ve offered us! xoxox
YAYAYAY! Thanks everyone for all the warm birthday wishes!
You all are like a true and real family to me.
Love you all!
And cheers!
Extra whipped cream (it’s ok) on the hot cocoa tonight!
Yum! Better for staying warm with, my dear!
I loved my birthday today.
Thanks – everyone – for being part of it!
Ahhh, Tex Anne — Bless you on your birthday the way you bless us all year long. Imagine all us pumpkins dancing round, with kookaburras singing in the great oak branches, and toasting marshmallows for our peppermint hot chocolates.
Tex,
I didn’t forget you Luv. I couldn’t get your “B” day horoscope to come up. I kept getting 2010-2011. I will try again, but in the mean time know I was and am thinking of you and am very glad you had a wonderful birthday. You are one special lady. I still see you in your truck crusing to the tunes and ir brings a big smile to my face.
Love You, Big hugs and Happy Birthday!
lawrence
Happy birthday Tex Anne, can’t say anything that hasn’t already been said other than Happy Birthday Roses for you —}–@ , —}–@
—}–@ , —}–@
didn’t like how it cut the stem down short up there
Happy B Day Tex Anne. I love your sharp insights.
YAYAY!
Thanks, Y’all!
I actually worked all weekend, away from home.
And that’s ok.
I ate and ate and ate. You would never believe the things I got to eat.
And all on my diet. So I have nothing to repent!
Nom nom nom!
Thanks for all the birthday wishes – and many happy returns of the day!
Which takes on a whole new meaning in here!
Biggest hugs to all!
dear neighbours/fireside gathererererers (:
— here’s a note I just sent Nina in response to a lovely card she sent me. I thought it might be fun for you all to read. (Nina, hope you don’t mind my sharing it here).
——
Hi dear Nina –
Sweet message. Although I’m fairly sure that my son doesn’t consider me his world (yet/ or perhaps ever ? (: — that priviledge belongs to his mother, who takes care of him round the clock, 24 hours a day. And she would indeed love to be his world (although some day no doubt, he will find his own life partner, and then things might change (for a while (: —
Truth be told, I don’t know if I ever want to be the world for any one person, or any group of people. It’s too much responsibility (: I’d just like to be free, free of all constraints, dogma, hatred, just like the wind. Blowing everywhere and nowhere.
I do hope I have not nit-picked your card to bits… that is not my intent. Just writing for the sheer pleasure of writing to you. You see, this evening I have had a minor epiphany of sorts.
Suddenly, like light filling a dark room when the curtains are drawn apart, I felt the heavy fog (of what ? (:) lifting… it had been hanging around for several months now, and then voila…. it’s gone.
I can scarcely believe it. I’ve had a smile on my face for almost 20 minutes straight. It’s some divine grace. Because how did the moment of lightness suddenly appear. It started at first in the middle of yet another business conversation.. and the conversation wasn’t even that good.
The other guy, was a little stressed. And the subject matter was a little stressful. But I found myself getting lighter and lighter… as if none of this mattered. This, what I had worked for 11 long months, and now on the cusp of success, it didn’t matter anymore.
(Must be that self-sabotaging DNA in me (:… just kidding… (Speaking of “Just kidding”), You know I remember Gary a lot now. Gary Renard, that is. It’s kind of like the night he first expressed revelation. He just sat and enjoyed it. Too stupified to do anything else. And the evening was so pleasant for him.
Well, I can’t say that this is revelation that hit me tonight. But certainly a certain lightness, a sweetness that had been so elusive, for oh so long. (:
And I just kept smiling and am even now permanently smiling, some 20 minutes later as I write out this message to you.
It’s all a joke. This world. Really so funny and meaningless that it can’t even be expressed in words. Oh, all the times I’ve worked myself up into bits, obsessing over this thing or that…. was it really worth it ???? (:
No (:
never worth it (:
And I do hope I remember that tomorrow (:
love ya,
a
Hi everyone, just whizzing through the Village, catching everyone’s hellos and howdies and wishes for each other. L o v e – l y. Ah, thanks for creating such a nice spot to drop by and see what everyone’s doing. Bit busy again these days. We did two markets this past weekend, and normally will be doing a market every day now in some village or town or another pretty much till the end of December. But it’s only a short period, just for the Christmas rush really.
Hey Katrina, so glad that you caught that lil ego fella first thing in the morning. That’s when it’s easiest to catch him off-guard – while it thinks we’re not awake yet. But are we sleeping now – no! We’re no longer fully asleep, and so it slips by less easily.
Ah, a joyful moment sipping a peppermint mocha with Zafu and her mum watching the sunset. Delicious – many thanks.
TEX! Oh, Tex, I guess the party has come and gone. Sorry ’bout that – but the heart is really present when it sends you all my Bday wishes all the way over there. I stumbled across an empty bottle of pink champagne and put a white sock on it, just for old time’s sake!!
Winnie… (singing at the top of my bestest voice) “AUSTRALIA’S SONS, LET US REJOICE, FOR WE ARE YOUNG AND FREEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!” Joining in with the oneness – what the hell do we care if it brings us together? Of course, I would always have preferred Waltzing Mathilda as our national anthem. Or Botany Bay, or Six White Boomers, or any other song sung by Rolf Harris. Hihi. Always love your stories, sweetheart. PS Bought any fabric lately?
Michele, glad you liked the video. I look at it and see myself really rigid, so I’m going to try to find time this week to do another, and play a little more. That’s not our bedroom but the living room. I think that’s maybe a bit of couch that looks like a bed. But why not come over and I’ll show you around? And bring all the other Villagers, too? Why not? A party at the Mayor’s, wouldn’t that be FUN??!! I’ll try to show you around my humble home another time.
Hugz to everyOne, B.
Tex, I thought you still might like your horoscope, even if I am a day or two late and a dollar short!
If You Were Born Today, November 12:
You are determined and some might say stubborn. The trick for you is to channel your determination into something constructive—into a life path that suits you well. Otherwise, your tendency to become fixated can lead you down the wrong path, especially if you struggle with self-esteem issues. Your mind is strong, and you possess significant powers of attraction. You have a good eye for form and style. Emotional self-indulgence is a potential downfall for you. You know a good opportunity when you see one, and you are generally not afraid to take a risk. Famous people born today: Stephanie Powers, Tonya Harding, Neil Young, Grace Kelly, Ryan Gosling, Anne Hathaway.
Your Birthday Year Forecast:
Your birthday falls just after a Full Moon this year, suggesting a period of communication and teaching. You may be turned to for advice more frequently, and you are very willing to offer your help. This is a strong year for publicity and any other endeavors that involve spreading the word. As well, your ability to be objective–or to see the “big picture”–can be especially rewarding this year.
This is an excellent year in which to advance projects revolving around communications – writing, speaking, selling, and so forth. Your reputation may be enhanced through word of mouth. Making new contacts through learning and mental pursuits figures strongly as well.
Your mind is fertile this year, and you are able to blend practical thinking with imagination. You can talk your way into, or out of, almost anything. You can be successful in an artistic area this year. Your great imagination and ability to understand and formulate artistic ideas are big assets.
You are very likely to attract loving relationships and/or new warm social contacts into your life. Your popularity increases and efforts to smooth over challenges in partnerships are more likely to succeed. Negotiations, marriage, and business partnerships are favored this year.
At times, however, you could struggle with variable energy and motivation levels. Be aware of a tendency to be attracted to impractical ventures. You may find that is too easy to waste your time and energy, perhaps due to a lack of drive or feeling directionless. You may also experience passive-aggressiveness in others, which impacts your life in frustrating ways. Although you may enjoy an increase in your intuitive capabilities, you may also be too open to influence so that fears or delusions impact your ability to see your life clearly. This could also be a year in which you are more creative.
Mars trine Jupiter in your Solar Return chart infuses the year with enterprising spirit. This is a strong aspect for professional as well as personal opportunities. Your faith in your ability to produce and to win takes you places perhaps never imagined. The energies of this influence favor negotiations, deals, legal matters, reasonable speculation, and travel. This aspect also favors positive outcomes in competitive activities, including sports and business, for example.
You might enjoy increased influence, faith, and insight this year. The desire for more personal significance can motivate you to more ambitiously pursue personal or professional goals. The ability to sway or persuade can be enhanced. You might solve a problem that has been in existence for some time, or capitalize upon a resource that was previously hidden, and take steps towards self-improvement.
Communications, negotiations, and learning are favored in the year ahead. Your faith in your abilities increases and you are able to see the big picture. The tendency towards putting your energy into impractical ventures, however, should be watched for. If you can channel your energy and be vigilant with self-discipline, you can get a lot done.
2011 is a Number Nine year for you. Ruled by Mars. This is a year of completion and transition. It is a time when we need to let go of things that no longer serve their purpose, and hold on to things that have a future. It is a time of cleaning out dead wood, not necessarily for new beginnings. It can be a time when a burden has been taken off your shoulders, and it can be a year of giving of yourself. Advice – let go of things that are holding you back, give of yourself and express your sympathetic, compassionate side.
2012 will be a Number One year for you. Ruled by the Sun. This is a year of action. The seeds you plant now, you will reap later. Others might find you less sociable, as you are busier than ever and you focus on your activities and your needs. Still, you are outgoing and your initiative is stronger than ever. Advice – Stand alone, take action, start fresh, express independence.
Neil Young, Grace Kelly, not to shabby. Seems like a powerful horoscope. But of course, this was given for amusement purposes only, any semblence to the truth is quite accidental!
Love ya Tex
lawrence
*a*, Nina, is the Good Fairy, and she brings only smiles. As she has, we have seen the darker side of life, but light dispels darkness much as laughter fills a room. The light that shines from this good village is one of love and sharing.
That I am able to share with you, your insights and sharing, is a constant blessing. I am getting ready to list a lithograph, and the title is “What is home without a Mother”. I haven’t researched it yet but it is crca. 1910-1920, probably came out during WWI.
” all a joke. This world. Really so funny and meaningless that it can’t even be expressed in words. Oh, all the times I’ve worked myself up into bits, obsessing over this thing or that…. was it really worth it ???? (:
No (:
never worth it (:
And I do hope I remember that tomorrow (:
But remember this too!
When you’re smiling, when you’re smiling
The whole world smiles with you
When you’re laughing, when you’re laughing
The sun comes shining through
But when you’re crying, you bring on the rain
So stop that sighing, be happy again
When you’re smiling, keep on smiling
The whole world smiles with you
You do nothing alone, and I think that is simply beautiful. No one is ever alone.
lawrence
PS I will be singing the above song lyrics until I go to sleep, its a curse I tell you!
a, I am happy for you