Fireside III

Salviac village bisIt 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.

1,011 Responses to “Fireside III”

  1. Pam says:

    I like you Lawrence have felt a day late and a dollar short,. I mean for cryin’ out loud I was surrounded by 5 ACIM students when I was in my mid-twenties (am 47 now) and was totally clueless and not interested. They even invited me to go to Roscoe with them once. I cited lack of money as to why I couldn’t go. sigh. But I figure I simply wasn’t ready at the time and now I am. I have stopped trying to figure out why now and not then, it just is what it is.

    Love all of you very very much, Pam

  2. a says:

    Lawrence, my brother – your response made me happy. Even though I pulled you away from busy work. Sorry (:

    I wish I had known you on the DU board. (I never joined – 5000 members sounded intimdating to me, and the email format never worked for me. Too many work emails fly around daily for me anyway, I love this bulletin board format much better).

    I’m sorry that you (and Pam) have had to feel like a $ short and a day late. But it is what it is, isn’t it ? better for us to own all our feelings, negative or not. I like the way your heart sings, whatever condition you find yourself in. And of course, I only wish you the best. of live. of love. of happiness. eternal joy.\\

    I wrote in that note two days ago. My heart was wide open, and I was inexplicably on a high that I couldn’t point my finger to. The best kind of high. When I don’t even know what caused it. Just happiness.

    I read your response almost immediately after you had posted it. (These days my work is more and more on the Internet. And I take frequent breaks to check into the Village) Still looking for happiness outside myself (:

    It’s so – I want to say – great ! that you don’t look for any teacher external. that you have found it in yourself. and that peace is all that you’re looking for. Me too, brother.

    (although I’m learning that my attachment to conflict is deep-rooted, and sometimes shows up at the most unexpected moment).

    As Michael Mirdad used to say/said, as long as I still cast a shadow, that conflict-attachment will still be with me. Until me is no longer me. Perfect identification with spirit. And the ego a distant dream.

    All is well. 10 days to Christmas. Merry Christmas ! (:
    love.
    a

  3. Tex ...to you says:

    Somehow or another it came up in a LowCarb forum (yikes)
    that there were/are two moons in Australia.
    I googled it – sure enough. Way back in August.
    You would think that something like that would be Big News.
    At least a curiosity. …. “And now for something completely different….
    Australia has two full moons tonight…. and now back you!….”
    When I pondered on this odd little fact, I asked my inner Guide
    (call it what you will) “What is the meaning of what I behold?”
    And I just busted out laughing!
    It is funny even now! RIGHT!!!
    Two moons. And no-one says a word.
    Except for the usual comments about it being a hoax,
    or a very close other planet, or an optical illusion, etc.

    Once in one of Ken’s seminars, everyone was discussing the origins
    of the Universe, and all the usual fontleroy. Then it came time for lunch.
    And without missing a beat, everyone said “What’s for lunch?”
    I know there are two moons, or not, and the world is an illusion,
    But hey – have you tried the buffet? It is MAH-velous, dah-ling!
    Oh look – crab cakes!

    Pass the hot cocoa, will ya?
    Love to all my People!

  4. Bernard says:

    I like this!! Yay for inner teachers! Oh, can I join the dollar short, day late club, pretty please? Where do we hang out? I’ve reserved a special place in the Tavern for us. Oh, just realized we’ve taken over the whole place, but that’s normal… Aren’t we ALL coming a little late to the party, like 16 billion years late? Pam, I heard about Ken in 1988 and felt instinctively I should go right away. So I hustled on over … 12 years later!! In fact, I just arrived in Boston in 1983 the year Ken and Gloria started the Foundation in New York. That should have been a sign right away. Did I find them? No. It took another 17 years. Of preparation. Okay, of experiencing the pain of my decisions enough to know that there just had to be another way. I’ve thought about that a lot, where I would have been if I had got into action faster. But that just doesn’t make sense. Maybe we needed all that time in between in order to know how to really hear what he is saying. If only we could listen to just one of his seminars and really, really hear it, we would be propelled forward on our journey Home. So I figure these days it’s really not a question of how many years we spend with our teacher, but the sincerity of our inner asking, our asking to know the nature of the Love that would show us the infinite silliness of the ego identity and its entire world. And that takes no time. If it takes us another ten years of (seeming) procrastination to lead up to that one day in which we ask from the bottom of our hearts, “What is Your way, my Brother? Take me there,” then that time would have been very well spent.

    So here’s to all of us who feel like we’re arriving late to the party. Let’s all come with open, forgiving hearts, glad to finally have opened the right door and enter that place of eternal peacefulness.

    So funny, Tex! Two moons?? Well, I guess why not? I mean, I think I exist as an entity separate and outside of Heaven, so I guess all sorts of other craziness is possible, too. BTW a new gravatar? I can’t work out exactly what it is… Any hints?

  5. Nina says:

    Guessing at Anne’s gravatar….something at Notre Dame? or a deer??
    -And now to something completely different ( fanfare)
    sharing my last blogpost:

    So – the technician/ cable connector to Source/ was here with his apprentice…I was reminded of the Wizard and his clumsy little apprentice in “The Sorcerer’s apprentice” /Paul Dukas – in Disney’s” Fantasia. He connected my new stove to the socket/source – and I felt like new.

    Well, not quite 🙂 – but slowly, it dawned on me that I felt different, and a loving voice inside repeated throughout the day “I am now connected to Source.”

    Yes I know I am connected to Source – always, as the Holy Son of God – and that connection is certainly not dependent on a physical cord. But symbolically, this has a big effect on me: the old “energetic cord” between us has been severed and replaced with one I choose.

    The day after, I was in observer mode from morning to bedtime. All was seen with Love. In the night, the light was present. Today, the connection to the old identity was very near, but a few Sedona questions sufficed to put me back in connection with Love again: my awareness of the old identity was able to embrace it.

    Then I read in the main paper an article about one of our black citizens – origin was from Kongo, but has lived here always. She had been assaulted on the street: a drunk woman had screamed to her husband:” Kill her! kill her!”

    She broke an arm and was badly hurt, but not dangerous.

    She told a journalist that some time before that, she worked in a flower shop, and a man had yelled invectives at her and told her she looked like somebody from the slavery-times. She came home to her young son, shocked and angry, and he reminded her of what she had told him:

    “Mammy, you told me that we have to forgive to win. Do the same, and remember that people have equal worth with different upbringing.”

    She said: “I was whole again.”

    I think this is for me a wonderful essence of forgiveness: seeing the same worth in all is the same as seeing everybody as the Son of God – and remembering the upbringing – the different scripts and experiences – as NOT who they are, but what they have to struggle with.

    In essence:

    “Different upbringing – same value.”

    Those words have helped me change my perception again and again today.

    Nina

  6. Nina says:

    “us” in the above post alludes to my father this life: who really has been a symbol for ego. Oh my.

  7. Bernard says:

    Hi everyone, I’m in the process of experimenting with some anti-spam software for the Village. Little known to our merry little tribe, every month there are over three thousand attempts for spamers to post comments here. Every day your fearless Mayor stands at the Village gates with one mission, to keep your streets and houses clean and free of virtual pollution. I’ve already tried one method, but clever little spamikins are very smart and are able to get around our first shield. So I’m going to ask you to be patient for a week or so as we experiment with this fun little math program that should block out even the hardiest spam-machines. Enjoy the little challenge as you think of all the time you are saving your Mayor from returning to the control panel of the Village (yes, there is a control panel) every day to clean up. Blessings to you all, B.

  8. Nina says:

    B L E S S I N G S mr Mayor – shoot them down with love

  9. Pam says:

    wow 3000 a month !!! I can do some math to stop that.

  10. zafu says:

    mahalo bernard … many thanks and much appreciation

    reminds me that each one of us in our own way in our own worlds are likely doing so much for the good of all that no one else knows about

    as rumi says ‘work as hard in the invisible realm as you do in the visible’

    great gratitude for the time and love and effort that goes into keeping our little village authentic and safe from spam wanderers

    am offering a merry christmas mele kalikimaka happy blessing best wishes to all …

    wishing you every happiness

    may each and every sunset find you in a peaceful place

    with joy in your heart

    may we remember to laugh

    and forget everything except the law of love

  11. Tex ...to you says:

    DUUUUUUUUDE – it’s a reindeer! Borrowed from Santa!!!!!!!
    He’s gotta go back soon for his trip around da world…

  12. Nina says:

    Duuude – that’s so not right… I am a norvidsjian, I know them animals –
    what ARE you up to. ms Anne??

  13. Tex ...to you says:

    Nina, and all….
    I am still on my little cloud floating by, playing my metaphysical harp.
    Being quite unaffected by most things that pass by. Just observing.
    But recently a very sobering thought occurred to me.
    And it was this: I sure do hope the Course is true!
    Or else I am in big trouble!
    I woke up thinking it…you know…. a stab of pain – a twinge of guilt…
    But then, my little personal guide to the universe
    Reminded me (somehow) of that other line from the Course:
    “THIS is the time for faith…” [The Healed Relationship]

    So I feel a little pull-pull. Just enough to remind me to get back
    to where I once belonged. “Go on; clouds can not stop you!”
    I guess they can’t support you, either!

    Getting some cocoa now….
    By the way, I do take song requests from up here…
    “Stairway To Heaven,” anyone?

  14. katrina says:

    All that glitters is not gold.

  15. Bernard says:

    I think Anne has been drinking waaay too much spiked cocoa. Better lay off that stuff, honey. That ain’t no reindeer, ma’am, or we’re in trouble. What kind of beasties be you breeding down there in Texas? It actually looks like my ass, I mean, my donkey. We have a donkey in the field opposite us which we call our little ass. Hihi. For those of you who don’t remember, ‘ass’ is an old word for donkey. I’m not just being facetious.

    I’ve tried to bargain with God for a stairway to heaven, like the little old lady. But I’ve been promised that even if all the shops are closed, with just a word I can get all that I came for. What is that word, what is that word? What are your suggestions?

    HI KATRINA!!

    (God, I’d be so embarressed if I don’t get my math right! Here goes – counting on my fingers, er, something plus 9 makes thirteen)

  16. Bernard says:

    Just to let you all know, my spam count is now down to an absolute ZERO!! I can’t believe it! No more dozens of spam to click on and throw away each day, it’s like the streets are automatically cleaned and the flower beds all planted and trimmed without me having to do anything. Ahh…

    (Six plus something = 7, I think I can handle that one)
    (You’ll never believe it, I got the math WRONG!! It was asking me, 6+7 = what? SHEEEESH!)

  17. Bernard says:

    Christmassy thingies…
    Also, I have to get around to putting up some garlands and wreathes around the village. Anyone like to help me?

  18. Pam says:

    So glad to here that the math works of 2+2=4 works on this level to stop the spam.

  19. Tex ...to you says:

    Yeah – really… i got that question, too.
    And I kept saying “BUT Ken says 2 + 2 = 5!!”
    *stomps foot*
    And by the way, I never got any Spam, either.
    Pity- I like the stuff! Less sodium though!

    Mr Mayor – I quit drinking the hard stuff!
    It’s not good for me or my ass – my icon, that is!
    *wink*

    I like the idea of Garland all over the place, too!
    And mistletoe…. kisses!

  20. Nina says:

    I will contribute with those garlands where angels and asses are holding hand/tail and singing carols. very touching and christmassy.
    kisses for all you cutipies
    Ninchen

  21. jean/ninjanun says:

    Dear Village,
    A Happiest Christmas and New Year to each and every Villager and Visitor. My blessings are normally silent but is the season to proclaim my thanks to the Mayor and All for your sharing. May we allow Peace to cover us all.
    Jean/Ninjanun

  22. a says:

    The Tavern has been lonely ! (:

    No one has come by since 2012 began – our last visitor being Jean/ninjanun who must be happily in Temecula by now. Hope it’s going well there, Jean – say Hi to Ken for us Villagers… (:

    So I’m kicking back here, tonight, listening to a nice radio interview with D. Patrick Miller, the first publisher of Disappearance of the Universe.

    And to whom I owe a great debt of gratitude. Without him, no DU, and without DU, nothing else of the whole chain of events and happenings that brings me to these happy moments on jan 8th, hanging out at the Tavern…. yay !

  23. Annie says:

    Oh yes my favorite place to be in the Village, let me join you a* and have a drink; “a house cab will be fine-thank you” – love the virtual bartenders, they are very generous.

    I’m thinking of reconsidering my weekly Friday night lemon drop martini drink for the new year. That rim full of sugar may not be worth the calories any more. What’s your favorite drink?

    And what’s the latest with Gary Renard? Did that third book come out yet? I don’t go to the DU boards cuz I could never follow the dialogues to confusing for me.

    So yes, I just got back from my one day trip to Temecula. Drove out in the morning and home by 11 pm…it would have been 10 pm if there wasn’t police activity on the 210 FWY. They shut down both the East and West bound freeway after a police pursuit. After a half an hour of not moving I decided to find a traffic report and get the low down on the situation. Apparently the suspect got away…which is highly unlikely when they’ve got helicopters on you…my first thought was the criminal just earned bragging rights. My next thought turned to my needs and I wondered whose decision it was to keep the pursuit going, the freeway congestion continued to build. I wasn’t aggitated, it was more a concern if I could stay awake, as 9pm is my usual bedtime.

    Anyhow, It didn’t dawn on me till this morning that maybe it was my resistance to coming home that had me caught in the pile up. Still, I think I had such a lovely day that even now
    I’m not upset for the delay. Infact, I may reconsider trying to always chase down the reason for every little thing that crosses my path. It can be such a waste of my time and energy.

    I did a picture essay of my travels with ninjanun Jean and if anyone wishes to see it feel free to let Mayor Bernard forward his copy to you.

    So another toast – Gratitude to the chain of events that has us all focused on the Sonship.
    We are definitely removing the blocks of resistance with each joyful thought.

    Cheers

  24. a says:

    Annie, my dear sister and friend !

    So nice to see you here. And what a wonderfully juicy message you have for me and us. Love it ! (:

    My favorite drink is a gin-and-tonic, (more than favorite, perhaps I should just say that it’s the first thing that comes to my mind whenever I’m asked to choose), being a creature of habit, you see (:

    but I’m much more of a social drinker, so I’ve been kind of waiting to see if anyone would show up before ordering mine… Aah, now that you’re here, makes for a perfect gin-n-t.

    This Tavern is so lovely, isn’t it ? I can see it moving from the virtual world to the real world, oh…..well make that, moving from the real world in our minds, to the illusory world of France (:

    Sometime, perhaps this decade, there will be a Tavern in a Village in France, and we’ll all be sitting there having our illusory favorite drinks, and chatting about the 10+years that we’ve all been friends this time around…(it’ll have to be in France, because that’s where our Mayor is, and he’s unlikely to move… besides, you love France too, with your recent visit, and I’ve always wanted to experience the country, and…..(:

    Will it happen before 2020 ? Let’s see… (;

    I love that you could make it to Temecula and back in a day. The last time I was there (in California I mean), I was thinking of Michele across the Bay, because we were staying at Fisherman’s Wharf, and I seemed to remember Michele saying she lived somewhere in Sausalito.

    And then each day that I was there, I was also trying to picture in which direction on the flat planet (what… the world is round ?) lay Temecula. 23 years after landing in America for the first time, and despite having spent a decade (or more) in the US, living there, I am happy to report that I still find California confusing. Actually, I guess I find all geography confusing (and that’s probably because whichever direction I happen to be looking at, I happen to think of as North…. not very smart, eh ? (;

    Gary’s book isn’t out yet. It’s been a few years already, and only his true die-hard fans (i.e me) are still waiting for it. His latest newsletter says that he’ll have the final publication date in 2012, so who knows it might be 2013 before it comes out. (Meanwhile I’ve just been reading and re-reading different parts of DU. Just 20 minutes ago, I re-read the end, the last two pages, and it had me in tears. And it was the first time that happened, even though I’ve read it several times… I think the words are going in deeper now)

    How was your experience of the Workbook last year ? I initially started it because you, Katrina, Michele were all doing it on Anne’s site, and I wanted to stay connected to you all.

    I got through to the end. the last 5 lessons were wonderful. they were all the same (: — so I didn’t have to memorize anything new (:

    Wow, I’ve been talking a lot. Bet you didn’t expect that when you asked your questions, eh ? (:

    Glad we’re drinking slowly, it’s going to be a long journey, but a fun one, hopefully, even with all the pitfalls…. (:

    Cheers !

  25. Annie says:

    Ahhh excellent read mr. a* wish I could chatty on myself right now but I can not.

    thumbs up for the Inception Tavern in France – there could be a gift shoppe off to the side

    with beautiful scarves, French fineries and maybe a collection of Wapnick and Renard

    books too. I could see Pat (the Mayors Wife) managing that. Bernard would be perfect

    behind the bar pouring the spirts and inspiring the decision maker choose again. A true life

    Cheers hang out indeed.

    A quick note to Helen and Jacalyn can you update me on your geographical location and maybe a brief note on how you all happened upon the Course?

    Peace Out

    Annie

  26. Bernard says:

    Oh, the real ACIM-Village with Tavern, Village Square and Fountain, and Forgiveness Garden are well and truly planned, and not just idle fantasies. My goal is certainly to be able to offer you all the beverage of your choice around our fireplace, or on the vine-shaded terrace. I’ve even been looking into camping grounds, which offer the flexibility of creating individual little chalets, which I would build in the most eco-friendly manner. I’m particularly into straw-bale construction right now, so I’d love the main building to be constructed like this, with clay and lime rendering. Lots of fun ideas. But the most important idea is patience. Patience, and the simple desire to share the quiet kindness this path offers us. Everything in good time. Thanks for painting the picture, Mr a and Annie. I’ll do my best to fill it in. That’s one of my heart’s dearest wishes (aside from simply remembering Where I already am). I guess the Village is just being prepared in cyber space. If ever there was a good reason to practice visualization…

  27. anon says:

    As MW once remarked,
    “A Course in Miracles is a path of radical relaxation”.

    This is particularly profound when one realizes that the opposite of relaxation is contraction.

    —- daan dehn

  28. Tex ...to you says:

    I’ve been hanging out trying to sell water balloons from the back of my Truck.
    You know…. to passers-by! But alas …. no takers!

    Mayor – a camp ground would be ideal.
    A happy place by a babbling brook. Think of the Salmon we could catch.
    Not that I would eat them…. that would be yukky.
    EveryOne knows that food comes from the store!
    *wink* That’s me winking again!

  29. Annie says:

    “A Course in Miracles is a path of radical relaxation”.

    I am one twisted sister for sure and I’m only beginning to see how funny that looks from
    the decision makers perspective. Sometimes I laugh sometimes I cry.

    It reminds me of this necklace I have which I wore only one time. It has three separate chains that cascade down. I didn’t anticipate putting it away with care and now it is so twisted that I haven’t been able to undo the knots. It wasn’t expensive $14 bucks, but the time that I have invested in trying to undo (what obviously took all of two seconds to do) is
    a perfect metaphor for so many experiences in this existence.

    I’m not ready to let it go yet. I pull out the twisted chains every now and then and give it a go. I still think I can fix the mess I made. The irony is I pull it out when I’m in a relaxed state because it requires a great patience to work on the undoing. But it always ends in frustration.

    So thank you Daan Dehn for the reminder that I am very much attracted to the contracted state. I have many things/people in place to move me from my inherit state of relaxation.

    A gentle laughter truly is the best way to get back on track to radical relaxation.

    I took a cyber journey to your blog spot and I like what you have created. I was immediately attracted to your Zinger page and of course the photograpy is spectacular.

    A warm welcome to you.

  30. Pam says:

    Hello daan dehn-anon, welcome and yes relax with a nice cup of tea (what’s your favorite?) and help yourself to a pastery from the plate. (:

  31. Bernard says:

    You should all get on over and have a look at this beautiful site which just happens to be run by one of your own Village family (like to guess who?). It’s a simple site which portrays wonderfully chosen quotes for ACIM against a backdrop of some marvelous nature scene. Very moving, inspiring.

    http://acimquotes.wordpress.com/daily-lessons/

    Also, I’m not quite sure that Mr Daan Dehn actually visited our site. It was just a certain anonymous person who quoted from this fellow’s site (not me).

    Anne, yes exactly! I had a babbling brook just in mind, although if it wants to speak clearly it’s okay with me. We have enough babbling going on in the Tavern. Hihi.

    Annie – just loved what you said about one of those chains! I can just picture it. It’s like a Zen koan – you’re not really supposed to get it! It’s in the trying that there’s this sudden realization of the hopelessness of no-answer/no-solution, and the mind-blowing freedom of suddenly discovering that it doesn’t matter! The Answer was right there all along, without needing any kind of ‘solution’. Ah, you’re so smart! That was the best $14 you’ve ever spent.

  32. Bernard says:

    How much for that whole lot of water balloons, Tex? I’m going to give them away for free in the Tavern.

  33. Bev says:

    The pictures with the lesson for the day are so beautiful at acimquotes.
    Another way to reinforce the lessons which I seem to be getting on a deeper level this time through.
    The following quote is from the second paragraph in Lesson 4 and I must have had a lot of resistance my first 2 times through the workbook because I cannot recall them at all.
    “Do not be afraid to use “good” thoughts as well as “bad.” None of them represents your real thoughts, which are being covered up by them. The “good” ones of which you are aware are but shadows of what lies beyond, and shadows make sight difficult. The “bad” ones are blocks to sight, and make seeing impossible. You do not want either.”
    I actually remember this thru my day so I’m looking at my thoughts differently these days. Happy Tuesday everyone. Luv Bev

  34. Annie says:

    I see what you are saying Bernard re: post # 727 it was a quote by daan dehn shared by a passerby. I hope anon you helped yourself to that cup of tea and pastry (:
    Pam always seems to have a little something in her pantry.

    Well that new blogsite has got TexAnne written all over it!
    Your creative juices do runneth over.
    Our friend Leni from Las Vegas was asking me about the reference a* made re: last years workbook blog site that some of us were following.
    Looks like this years bus ride offers everyone a window seat.
    So pretty.

    Thank you Anne

    Happy Tuesday Bev and good reminder that “we don’t want either”.

  35. Nina says:

    Had a last night with cramps everywhere for about 6 hours. Exhausted, and not looking forward to bed. BUT in our nearest town, which has a river running through it, i counted 44 white swans.What a sight of beauty!
    please send loving thoughts
    Nina

  36. Tex ...to you says:

    Who is Daan Dehn?
    Gotta look that one up.
    I am soooo behind the times.

    Annie — 😀 for you! ♡

    About the Lessons….
    The recent one, about Light Episodes…
    On the way to the store (to get some salmon, of course)
    I was suddenly “enveloped” by light…. in broad daylight, of course…
    But it was such an event – I never knew!
    Crying, slobbering…. all that ensued.
    Forgot the salmon… Went back 3 times over the next 2 days!
    lol

  37. a says:

    Bernard – I think you’re right. It doesn’t read to me like Mr. DD visited the site either. Should I infer that you were familiar with his site/work ? I went and checked it out. Looks pretty cool. I wonder if Al knows about him ?
    (her ?)

    Nina – hope you’re sleeping well as I write this.

    Got to get to work now ! (I feel like Lawrence, as I say that – it’s still very, very early AM where I am, and everyone is asleep, even my wife and son, two++ hours away, in a different time-zone, and even they are asleep right now !)

    Ciao. Off to chop wood.
    a

  38. Jacalyn says:

    Dearest Annie, much gratitude to you for sharing the notes from the class! It is great to have them on this site, so that we can go back and re-read them.
    I remember Daan Dehn from when he wrote articles for the newletter “Beyond Belief” many years ago (I am dating myself here). It was a great newsletter, full of wonderful articles, But it suddenly stopped being published, don’t know why. I always appreciated his writings.

  39. daan dehn says:

    Hi, folks, just happened to stumble by. My website is http://www.miracles.org.nz and there is a miracles blog attached.

  40. katrina says:

    Free waterballoons in the tavern, on my way!

    Daan Dehn — neat pics of New Zealand. I skied in a white out once on Mt. Ruapehu. But I don’t know her/him. Yet, it brought to mind a person named Don Dean. Michelle, do you know him? Owns Smiley’s in Bolinas. Kind and benevolent man who mentored my daughter thru her culinary internship. Sorry, word assocations and always reaching out to hug Michelle when I think about her neighborhood.

    I do love the lessons site you are putting up, Tex. thank you so much. the pictures remind us of the real thoughts beneath the bad ones we don’t want, and the good ones we pile on so we are ‘safe’ from the bright beaming ones that keep calling us onward. Sounds like you are being pulled in, Tex. The pics you are shown to put up will no doubt have that radiance of recognition in them. You kindness beams.

    Sweet Nina, I’m thinking you over a dream in which 44 swans walk all over you like a continuous massage, and wisp you with their feathers as they arise together in flight. You are relieved and soothed, bodilessly afloat in the ethers, and awake to be one of the great rays of the aurora borealis.

    Jacalyn, welcome in from the quiet observer stools at the Tavern. We love it when we hear stirrings from everyone. I was amazed that Atlantis is buried in the North Carolina hills. (but sort of remembering something like that from the Insight book/s.) Gives me a more ecumenical view of the Bible belt — what is deep beneath the calls for love — where we are all the same.

    Annie and Ninjanun/Jean — I am still plotting out a Temecula run!!! {{{a!!! Pam!!! Bev!!! Zafu!!! Bernard!!!}}}
    Hugs, hugs, hugs!!!

  41. Bernard says:

    I just excerpted this little gem from Daan Dehn’s site:

    “I saw a movie last night and in it one of the main characters was asked about his life and he said he was just leading a very uninteresting, lazy life. Then he said that anyone who thinks that his life is more than that is merely overdramatizing the insignificant.”

    I find that so freeing! Anyone else think so? It helps me take everything that I think oh so difficult and important so much more lightly. Just imagine! It’s all so, so much less significant than any of us thinks. Just imagine if Ken is right all along (I do believe he is!) and we are all calmly sitting in these wonderful cozy armchairs somewhere in abstract Heaven-land, playing out the video-games of our lives, getting all excited about dramas that have already been resolved long ago. Ah…

    Nina, I hope your cramps subsided and you managed to get some deep, healing slumber.

    Hey, Katrina! Hey Mr A!

    Tex, ‘struth! (That’s pure ozzie lingo) Tell us more about your light episodes. I’ve heard they’re possible, but didn’t really believe in them.

    Annie, I don’t know if anon helped himself to Pam’s pastries, but someone did. There wasn’t much left but a piece of shortbread and a hot buttered scone when I head into the Tavern last night to sit in front of the fire just before bed. But were they good!

  42. Bernard says:

    Pam brought my attention to something called the SOPA bill. It seems that this bill seeks to install legislation that that would more easily censor internet sites and activity. There are a number of vids on youtube that discuss this issue, if you are interested. But be forewarned, you’re likely to be drawn into the sense of impending doom and danger portrayed in these videos. I’m not saying that there’s no risk in the SOPA bill to the future of the internet, which would really be a shame. I’m just saying that as you look through these, try to remember that nothing can remove the peace of God from your Life. Even if internet were repressed, even if the world economy stalled and failed, God’s Love would still be perfectly accessible to everyone. A deep, deep experience of peace would still be there latent in existence, as the background to all the seeming struggle, strife and pain in life. So, with that little warning, let’s go and try to stop them from shutting down the internet!

  43. Annie says:

    Need to run and chop some wood meself…a bit chilly here in sunny cal.

    but before I go a few comments…

    Jacalyn I wish I had written those notes but those were submitted by Jean your comrade whose originally from North Carolina; that Atlantis connection runs deep.

    daan dehn awesome to hear from you!

    It was the water balloons that got your attention katrina …your opening line had me laughing.

    a* love knowing you are watching over all while we are in our other dream state.

    Did a wiki search yesterday and saw the black out protest scheduled – I felt a twinge of saddness. Thank you Bernard for the reminder that none of it affects the accessibilty to God’s perfect love.

    And lastly if I may this is for Nina and all who could use a little laughter to start their day.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUyKNMBOh8I&feature=youtu.be

  44. Michele says:

    A quick hi and bye…Nina hope you awaken feeling better…love Katrina’s dream for you and your whole post. No didn’t know Smiley’s owner. Did you know Ronnie Wilhelm who grew up in Bolinas? He has a sister named Terrie. Ronnie lived up on the mesa on a big piece of property he inherited from his Grandpa.
    Bookmarked daan dehn site and blog for a later look….Welcome.
    Have a great uninteresting day everyone. Yep love that quote and concept.
    Nice to see you at the woodpile a. ( – ;

  45. Nina says:

    bernard and everyobdy, the sleep was better. I had an amazing experience today that brought it all into a beautiful process of healing. its in my blog, if you are interested.

    About the internett – join Awaaz is my advice. a H U G E internettorganisation that works with us signing up for things we like, and protest against insane stuff. Awaaz has stopped numerous things from happening ( in the dreamworld 🙂 – like stoning people. Suddenly
    a country gets some millions names who protest to what they are doing.
    Sorry about th shortbread. Shoulda given it to the birds.
    LOVE TO ALL
    and thousand hugs for Winnikins

  46. Tex ...to you says:

    The light…. well…. *clears throat – shuffles feet*
    This is not the first time… One of the times before, it was as though there was a light above my head all the time. I don’t talk about it much, because it was after a NDE and people get all goofy about that kind of thing. There really ARE no neutral thoughts about THAT. Some people love it – some people scoff – some hate it – some have a reaction formation against it and me!
    But I digress…. back to the light.
    I was just driving… going to work. And just light was everywhere! Like the sun in the mirror kind os phenomenon. I grabbed my cell phone (blogger that I am) and took a picture of it… (as if!) and there was like a rainbow dashes everywhere. I guess stranger things have happened.
    I was just overwhelmed with this feeling of Love and being Happy and a sense that everything is all right… and it will continue to be all right!
    It was one of those things that I never saw coming!

  47. zafu says:

    oh I just love happy people!!!

    tex, I love your sharing of your light experience … love it when that happens!!!

    just now a renter was checking in to one of the condos where we live … he was to arrive yesterday, but his flight was delayed and he ended up not leaving san francisco until after midnight … and didn’t arrive until just now 7AM here at the condos … a long night for him

    after welcoming him and the aloha hug thing … I said was sorry to hear about the long airport wait and the travels … and he just beamed with sweet natural happiness … and said it’s wonderful to be here … it’s a gorgeous sunrise … and he was pure happiness and pure ease and pure natural joy … total calm

    he’s an angel … a reminder that stress is a choice … a reminder that it’s just as easy to choose happiness and peace

    may you be happy
    may you be peaceful
    may it be so

    although I have a practice to silently offer this blessing to those I encounter …
    through my encounter with this person this morning,
    I learned … better to be those emanations and expressions of peace and happiness than just offer them as silent blessings

    what joy in this day

  48. Tex ...to you says:

    Hi Daan Dehn – Love your pictures!

    Love Every Body – er uh…. Every ONE!
    *climbs back to top of tower, water balloons in hand…..*

  49. Jacalyn says:

    Nina, I’d like to read about your experience. How does one navigate to your blog?
    Tex, I appreciate you sharing about your light experience. It’s nice to know that everything really IS okay- a good reminder!
    I read some of Daan Dehn’s articles on his site- very good, clear insights.
    It is worth taking the time to check out his site. I think everyone in the village would resonate with his insights.

  50. Bernard says:

    If anyone is interested in the SOPA issue, just go to Wikipedia today. They’re on blackout, and have lots of useful information on the subject.