Fireside I
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.
We’ve had family visiting since Friday. I am so very sad to hear about Dreamy. I too loved him so much. Beautiful words, Bernard, and thank you to Michelle for letting us know. Nina, I guess I finally figured it out….or something….
Love to all,
melody
I hope you don’t mind Donna, I just put up some of your wonderful words on the home page. Many thanks. Such an inspiration.
in memory of Dreamy:
I saved many of our conversations at the Monastery. Now I am so glad i did. And I saved this one, where I asked Dreamy a question:
At last I can have this question answered from authority. Please, Dreamy, I want to know: when my Cleo was 5 weeks old she came to our house to live. The first 8-10 days there, she jumped up into my lap where i sat in the morning. Looked right into my eyes and started speaking. The sentences were exquisitely built, much variety and timbre-color, excellent pronunciation. After 10 minutes of speech and me intently listening, she jumped down and went on with the day.
BUT: i couldn’t speak Cleo-nish.
Next day it repeated itself. No cuddling posture at all – just communicating. i got the impression it was important that I understood.
So, after these ten days, she stopped. maybe she had said it all, or she had given up. Please Dreamy dearie- would you tell me what she said? (as you of course are as telepathic as you all are)?
*
dreamy whispered:
August 30th, 2009 at 10:59 am
nina,
i have to tell you… wait a sec, have to stretch and get a biscuit. oh, and nap. ok back. i have to tell you that Cleo asked me the same question about you. last night she came to me in a dream (or was it yesterday afternoon? all the sleeps sort of blend together) and said, “what is it that Nina-mom is always trying to tell me?” and i told her, “the same thing you’re always trying to tell HER.”
meowily,
dreamy
Hugs and love dear Nina…
Oh, that was lovely Nina. I’m so glad you saved that.
Bernard, I don’t mind at all. Hugs.
Oh Dearest DonnaDear i am just giving you the biggest Hug right now !
I just lost everything i`ve written after reading everyone`s posts and i cant write it again
…… I love you guys! and i`m so looking forward to being back here in your wonderful sincere and loving company xxoxoxooxox
Nina:
Really nice that you posted that conversation with Dreamy. It sent me to our days at the Monastery.
Hugs to all, Lisi
Winnie, my warmest, longest hugs back to you. You are such a treasure. Much, much love, D.
Winnie-I think we have all felt the pain of loosing a heartfelt post. I know you were sending wise words and they have performed the miracle intended (:
It takes me sometime to post, mostly because I go back and forth to reread comments to make sure that I’m actually addressing the topic at hand and I too have lost many a post doing that. I have found that copying my post prior to going back a page or traveling through Google for my crazy statistics is a wise move. Which reminds me of a joke…
Of course I can’t recall jokes that well so bare with me….
Jesus and the Devil were in a contest to see who could type the fastest along with some other computer challenges. Saint Peter is in charge to make sure its a fair competition. The clock starts and the Devil is blazing through the test. Just as the time was almost up the power goes out and the computer screens go blank…WTF (I added that cuz I am totally forgetting how the joke goes but the punch line I do recall) When the power returns and the computer screens come back on the Devil lost all his work but Jesus’ was able to retrieve it……wait for it…
because: “J e s u s S a v e s”.
The End.
New post on the Village Bulletin Board (Home page). Many thanks to “Grace” (who also saves – hehe).
Grace: it makes me think that is possibly the best name a parent could name their daughter…a wink to you Ms. Kendall (:
Delivery of Fresh Baked goodies at the Fireside may we recognise that Grace is all around us today. Love reading newly posted notes on the Village Bulletin.
p.s. Thanks for writting home page cuz I forgot where to look for posted notes… geez I should really know my way around the Village by now, it’s not that big.
It’s just right!
Good joke Annie, but best that you discovered the fresh baked goodies at the Fireside. I am enjoying an apple cinnamon muffin with my coffee while reading the Village Bulletin Board.
Thanks Bernard for posting this, and thanks Donna, I am going to adopt as well your mantra “I will fight no more forever”, I am also tired of trying that my life works for me the way “wish” .
Winnie, sorry you lost your post, I know about it. Nonetheless we felt you here very vividly.
Great day to all and lots of hugs.
“Grace” is exactly what was needed today…
Gratitude and love to all of you….
Wink, Wink Annie. I sure do love coming to the village. After what seemed a long time of not crying, I have been tearing up and crying more lately. The emotional/tears connection lately often seems connected to joy although sometimes while I’m in ego a bit too. I feel more connected to my love and gratitude for Jesus and the tears seem to come up somehow connected to this. Anyway, had these type of joy/Jesus tears when I came here and read about Grace and Annie’s comment about my daughter.
It’s funny…we named our daughter Grace and she was born six months before I started reading and became a student of the Course. Winnie also asked how my daughter Grace was doing awhile back-thanks Winnie for asking. She is a brave and bright girl and we are learning so much with her in our lives. She is nine years old now and in 4th grade. She is becoming more independant which I welcome.
Love you all!
big hugs to you dear Kendall and to your Grace …..
On the subject of favourite words { well we kinda are } i really love the word “gentility”. I first heard it in Mary Poppins when she sings of Bert the Chimney Sweep …”your sweet gentility is crystal clear” … and ever since i melt at the word…
Oh boy oh boy i was so excited this morning when i woke up at the prospect of coming here that i started chatting to you all { in my mind – settle down i`m not a complete kook} before i even got out of my bed and laughing too with delight……The funny thing is we all laughed and chatted and shared with each other so fully that now that i`m sitting in front of my perfectly working computer, i`m buggared if there`s anything left to say {twiddles thumbs}
{ goes off to make Lisi a new garland and this one will have tiny sprigs of the sweet Jasmine }
Winnie, I love to read that your Jasmine has tiny sprigs, while mine seems to have gone into the long northern winter.
Some places there is always summer
someplace there is always sun
it is so lovely to have you back
Thank you Nina dear……
yes i guess winter is on its way for you. Snowy winters must be very beautiful
Katrina and Annie i can well imagine how sweet your meeting must have been…How clever were we long long ago when we unanimously voted Annie to be our Temecula Hostess…..I`m looking forward to meeting you in March Katrina and you too Anil. How lovely that your little one is due at Christmas time.
Katrina ….you said that listening to Ken is like listening to a lullaby with the same soft refrain playing over and over. It is like that – so much sweeter to hear in person …
Bless dear little Dreamy forever…He sure was a special little puddy tat…..
Annie – i can feel how wonderful that moment was for you – just before Mark and Katrina knew you were present. It was a coming together of two worlds -your family meeting your online family with you in the observer seat….
TEXANNE – i am SO glad to find you here !
How are you today DonnaD dear heart ?
BIg hugs to Melody and Pam and Bernard and everyone.
xoxoxoox
Hi sweet Winnie! Hi Nina!
Hi Annie – Hi every “body” !!!
Hi everybody, just rushing for coffee and and muffin at the Fireplace, and what do I find? A beautiful sweet Jasmine garland that Winnie left for me. For sure I am going to wear it all day long, and keep it in my heart, forever! Imagining the smelling of sweet Jasmine as my company all day long. Thanks Winnie! xoxoxo
Great day to all, lots of hugs
{{{Kendall}}} Tears are so cleansing wether from ego or from spirit… its one of the perks of being a girl. Curious can you expand on being brave when referring to Grace?
Good morning my beloved Village Folk ! {plants a big smackaroo on Texanne`s dimple}
Oh boy i feel wonderful and i cant hide it and i just wanna romp and play!
I`m delighted to discover how much i enjoy being back here with everyone in a place where i can be free to just be me ….. I`m not really one for socializing at all. I just generally dont feel the need to..although i love people and going to the shops and interacting with others and all.
Moreover i love solitude and i have had the most glorious solitude of late. So content was i that i thought i might just slip away forever and hopefully my children wouldnt miss me.
When i came back, i found myself wanting to join with you all here, and wanting and wondering if i could express myself and wanting on a physical level to take just one day when i could go out with my family and friends here and be the one who most of the talking.
So this year i decided i wanted a special fuss on my birthday, which generally passes almost without notice. I told everybody when it was coming up. So first i was taken out to breakfast by the other 3 on the farm here. Ronny brought champagne. I`ve never had champagne for breakfast before and boy was i bubbly – they never got a bloody word in edgewise – it was great ! I wore one of my beautiful long pink fairy dresses with a matching long cape and i just felt beautiful…
Then i had morning tea with some friends and then lunch with a very old dear friend and afternoon tea with another and then dinner with of course a new change of clothes, with my eldest and youngest at a very posh restaurant. It was so posh that not only could you not understand what the hell the fancy phrases on the menu really were, but when the meals came in all their glory, they looked as if they should be hung in an art gallery, not eaten. !
I only ate tiny portions all throughout the day otherwise it would not have been fun. It was a glorious day all about me me me ! I unashamedly loved it !…oooh and i just had time to nip into a shop between sessions to buy a beautiful soft pink silk scarf covered with butterflies that i`ve been eyeing off….
I`ve decided that`s how it`s gonna be from now on so FYI my birthday is the 24th September but ya wont have to jot it down… no sirree !
It is a glorious thing to know that one is an ego and not punish oneself for it.
Yesterday i had brief wisps of sorrow appear just in the corner of my vision, so brief they were barely noticeable. Before i went to sleep, i recalled them…oh yes the same old pain of letting down my children, but not painful anymore, or were they?
I didnt feel sad, or did I ? Hmmm a slight twinge of sadness is the same as a river of grief…..What was the seeming innocuous thought…. It is too late to undo the wrongs i wreaked on my beloved children…. too late..too late.. the damage is done …oh yes there was no mistaking that pinching glimpse of unbearable grief……
.. and then though all the world`s symbols seem to shriek at me from afar that this was the truth, i softly chuckled as i clearly saw the bright and shining instant that told me otherwise and behind them glowed thousands of other tiny instants extending out into forever way further than the ego`s long line of onions.
When i peel the onion, i usually think i`m done in that particular area but time and time again, i see that i am continually mistaken and need to be constantly vigilant.
i love you guys and i hope you have a wonderful day xoxoxooxox
Kendall, I love tears, and I’m a teary kinda guy, so it’s not just reserved for girls. I love getting all teary about lessons, feeling things deeply.
Winnie, it’s so nice to have you around again. Jasmine necklaces, that sounds beautiful. But don’t you have any frangipanis you can do something with. I so miss that amazing flower.
Nina, I’d love us to get back sometime to your post from the other day, the one about mothers and daughters. The time will be right later, I’m sure.
Anil wrote me and said he has done Bombay, Honk Kong and Singapore in three days, and is heading off to another country today. He sends his love to all his Village buddies.
Winnie, thanks so much for such a review of your Birthday, and as time does not exist I felt I was with you in each and everyone of the events! We had a great birthday!! Thanks, too, for the reminder, we need to be constantly vigilant, because as Jesus says: “Don´t be afraid of the ego, but have it respect”. It is very clever.
Anne, Kendall, Michelle and Melody so good to have you here at the Village more frequently.
Lots of hugs to all,
Lisi
Oh my favorite pixie you are so bubbly even without the bubbly. It all sounds so fun. I jotted it down anyway(-;
Good morning all…. it is a lovely thing to come here in the morning and sit around the “warm hearth” – especially when there is heart in the hearth… {tickles Rufus under the chin}
My computer will not produce any sound at all as from last night, so the only music this morning is being supplied by the whip birds and somewhere in the distance i can hear a mopoke owl hooting, but the space between their calls is just as sweet.
{takes mp3 player out to annexe to rebound on trampoline} I love doing this so much that i cant take the silly grin off my face. It`s very early in the morning so i cant sing along{ coz other caravan dwellers are still sleeping} but i fairly bust to !
Bernard you are such a big softie ! {threads large white frangipani with their happy yellow centres onto an old worn-out lei….thinking the tropical scent will be sure to fill dear Bernard`s nostrils with sweetness all the day long.}
Big hugs to you our Anil. We hope you are enjoying your travels and having enough rest at the same time.
Lisi, you are an absolute treasure.- so at one with each and every one of us
aw thanks Pammikins !
Winniekins ~
Champagne for breakfast brunch and bubbling all the live long day. Lovely Report from our Trampolining Fairy. You deserve all the focus and fanfare and I love you so! {helps Winnie down from the trampoline and while having a turn sees a big lineup from our Village happily awaiting theirs}
loving nattahugs from Rykkinn to all – (takes Rufus under her arm and goes sleeping in the little house by the Big Tree – her villager’s giggling and jumping-sounds accompanying her home) ah, look – there’s the North Star
All week trying to be very vigilant about judgment No. 1. Discovered a lot of hidden, and not so nice, attitudes toward others. At the beginning guilt began to surface as an immediate response to my thoughts, but suddenly a thought arose, crystal clear: “you MUST allow yourself to see all this, not only see it, palate it, and then, and just then your will be ready to ask Jesus for help and be willing to accept the second judgement, that in reality is his not yours. Each day is more clear to me that if I want to experience love I must see my hate first in order to realize with Jesus´ help that what is not real is hate, but if I refuse to see it, in reality I am defending against love.
Bernard sorry! I think the ponder above belongs to Village Square, but the talk and the tea was so delicious here that I forgot to move to V.S.
Much love, Lisi
Wow…just read all the 10.10.10 posts
and the extensions of love and vulnerable sharing are having that butterfly effect without end. Yesterday a friend called and talked about his heart breaking open in a completely new way. I shared with him some nuggets I’d gotten from Jamie’s last two classes that were just the tickect for him and when he talked about grace as the ending note…I had him hold on while I read Bernard’s post from a Villager about it and know learn it was our DonnaD’s.
I got to lead my study group on Monday night and shared how profound Ken’s workshop on judgement is for me and how we’re all doing it together with our skype deal as the frosting. the next day I sent everyone the links for the village, the excerpt link and Jamie’s new site.
a… formerly known as Anil’s post so simple and a… like potent, the meeting of Katrina with Annie and that moment before…Pams heart being warmed by DonnaD trust and Annie’s thought of having a heart here in this earthly body with not an ounce of fear
Anne’s feeling in such good company thanks for the round on you…Lisi and Melody and Kendall and Nina and of course our Dear Bernard….Love all!!!Looking forward to meeting you Claudia and reading your post and I think there’s one other new person too.
xoxox michele
I just want to still do what Donna D said….
I am really really “vigilant” for that one thing these days….
Early early chapter 6!
Whoa, I have alot of reading to do to catch up. I had to take a few days nap after coming home from Temecula. I finally got the *first* day’s notes typed up, still 2 more to do. I sent them to Jamie if he wants to add them to his compendium of Ken class notes. So check there in a day or 2. If not, I’ll send them on to Bernard or Annie and he can post or send to anyone who wants them on email (or dispose of them if they look cockeyed and distorted!)
I stumble into the Tavern here, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, and I am surrounded by a lovely new soul, Claudia, right next to Annie, Pam, DonnaD, Lisi, Winnie, Anne, Kendall, Bernard, Anil, Michele, Nina, Kendall, Melody, Bev, Laura, Ruth-Anne, Zenbear, NinjaNun (I see some ones who are just reading, too.) Waa-hoo, so glad to see all of you here. When did Lawrence say he was coming back in the house?
The joy is reverbing off the ceiling with sweet tones of Winnie, Annie, DonnaD, Lisi, Pam, Michele once again, as well as the low resonant twangs of Anne’s sitar. I missed you being all together, and now you’re here, and Laura, and Melody, and Bev, and Kendall, too. Yippeeeee!
Looking back on the trip, Temecula had wonderful words, but meeting Annie & Mark was still the highlight.
Hi Katrina glad your home looking forward to reading the Ken notes you took.
Lawrence left on his birthday and will be back on it next year – June 16th.
Hey Bernard (or whom ever might know) Cory had a question that I don’t know the answer to but you might. I bought a package of chocolate cookies that were made in Canada so one side is in English the other in French and he notices that they use the word biscuit in French instead of cookie. Now his favorite breakfast when we go out to eat is biscuits and gravy. Can you see it coming? Cory:”Eww ick! So if I ordered biscuits and gravy in a French place they would think I was nuts for wanting a cookie covered in sauage gravy. So what do they call what we call biscuits?
Hi Pam, the first day of Ken’s notes is up on Remembered Song now.
I had to chuckle about ordering biscuits and gravy in a French place. I don’t think that is possible — well, you could order it — but I don’t think it will arrive. Like Bernard’s idea to make and sell pancakes, he could add bisquits and gravy to that menu. I think many foods have gotten into the American cuisine from a variety of sources. They are kind of like non-sweetened scones. (Despite how the French may evaluate our cuisine, remember, the Holy Spirit can use bisquits and gravy for his purposes, instead of for the ego’s purposes.)
Lisi, I tried to move your post over and couldn’t find the right command so I’m doing it manually. Great pondering, thanks.
Winnie, thanks for the sweetness that is staying with me much longer than just a day!
Michele, Grace seems to be on everyone’s mind right now. That’s a lovely thought, isn’t it? Thanks for suggesting the Village to your group.
Katrina, thanks for the notes! You’ve been busy, and deserved the long nap!
Pam, you’ll have to tell Cory that the French just don’t make US style savory biscuits. In fact, I haven’t really seen it anywhere else except in the US. For the French as well as the English a biscuit is sweet, and only the North Americans use ‘cookie’ I think. Cory, when he comes to France, will just have to make do with chocolate bread and raisin rolls like in the pictures on the Fireside gallery! Or fresh crunchy baguette with camembert or brie if he likes savory breakfasts!
Pam, glüh-wein (THANKS!!)is red wine, heatened with cinnamon, cardamon, maybe some pepper,cloves, almonds and blackcurrant syrup. Typically Christmas drink.
*
Everyone – I will attend the Skype meeting Sunday, but may silently drop out and in again – often get overwhelmed in these kind of meetings, nothing personal
Katrina, am going off to “Song” to read your notes, but wanted to say a quick hi to all….and thank YOU, Katrina for the notes! I’ve been searching for any notes from Ken’s workshop of this past weekend….finally had to give it up and ask J to just show me what I need to learn as I continue to chop wood and carry water…..without notes from Ken’s workshop!
What a wonderful Friday afternoon surprise, as this is the first chance I’ve gotten since last night to come on the computer!
Gratitude, Love and happy weekend to all!
melody
Katrina: Thanks!!! Just arriving from the Remembered Song, Your notes are great. I already printed them. I will have a feast tonight re-reading them.
Lots of hugs and love to all, Lisi
dearest katrina –
thank you, so much for sending the notes. best notes i have ever read on the Song site ever. and i think it had even more meaning for me because i could see/imagine the person behind the notes, thanks to your loving sharing of your thoughts, your life with us here.
a foggy saturday afternoon for me, and your notes parted the clouds and let some sunshine through.
love,
a
Good morning all~ Katrina, your notes from day 1 have “blown me away!” It’s like every Answer is contained in this! Thank you so much for taking the time……wow!
Love and Gratitude,
melody
Katrina, I echo my lovely brothers here in being grateful for the notes you have provided for everyone. Beautifully done! So easy to read and consume. I found this sentence particularly meaningful today: “I don’t want to give up my dirge. To do so means I would have to give up judgment and my needs being met.” Warm hugs, D.
DonnaD, Melody, Lisi, Anil, Pam, Bernard — you are warmly welcome for the notes. I got a funny little kick about being anonymous on Remembered Song, but everyone here knowing it was me. It made me feel warm and fuzzy here, like I was home. I hope Jamie is going to the November soiree, as I was bowled over at how much I just couldn’t get written down because Ken is so mesmerizing. Jamie knows him so well that I think he can jot down a little note, and expand it when he types it up. Anyway, happy that they were helpful.
hugs, k.
re. 1088 Christmas or not I’ll have a glass, maybe two. (-:
Katrina Did they video tape it? I watch a lot of the stuff they post on YouTube. Even saw Jamie and Bonnie in one when the camera panned the student audience. Sorry I don’t remember the title of the one they were in.
What you did get written down is good.
Big hugs to you dear Katrina for taking the notes…and Jamie has put lovely pics with them too xoxoxo
Pam, YES – the Golden Thread of Hope was videotaped, and I’ll be viewable in the 2nd row, often with my eyes closed. At break time a couple of the center’s lady helpers (Emy & Jennye)had to dab Ken’s forehead to keep the sweat from shining in the lights. I was smiling and Ken looked at me, grinned – rolling his eyes up. We’ll have to look for it in the future.
Winnie, it is so wonderful to see you here regularly. Jamie really has such a great eye for pictures. Love the lighthouse.
I have one last day to finish typing, but will probably wait until after our Skype session tomorrow. Jamie also has to edit my knarly notes. It makes me feel like Sophie Tolstoy is taking care of my work. However, as Cal State Univ. is asserting this week, notes are the intellectual property of the lecturer. But it’s fun carrying the word out.
Hey my friends, extra busy with ego demands and no time to read or write at my usual leasuirely pace. I quickly read thru the notes at Jamie’s site and will concur with Anil, well done Katrina. The dabbing of the forehead story is the kind of info I personally crave for. My split mind wants to blend the two worlds envision: “The Course in Miracles” delivered in an “Entertainment Tonight” style format …Well, just til I’m ready to get ‘serious’ (:
About the meeting today – my microphone has checked out, so I can not be heard – but i hope i can hear you. Done all I can with it