where the wild things are....

... right in my neighborhood - encountered these guys on my morning walk today

A Wonderful Merry Christmas to All of You

What is Christmas?  It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future.  It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.  ~Agnes M. Pahro

What do you REALLY want for Christmas?

The answer to this question will change over the years as we grow older. From all the material things that could not bring us REAL happiness, we may have finally arrived where we can clearly see what matters.

What do you really want for Christmas this year? If we are coming deep from our hearts, in thinking about giving this year, could we seek to give more grace, kindness and gentleness? Could we spread the joy that comes from being deeply rooted in a belief system/faith? How about opening our eyes and hearts to receive true beauty by being mindful in every moment, appreciating all the little things that we so often overlook? How about cultivating an attitude of gratitude?

Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as being quiet and listen and opening our hearts to allow love to enter.  SSP

May the spirit of Christmas bring you peace,
The gladness of Christmas give you hope,
The warmth of Christmas grant you love.

Love, Peace and Blessings to all of you

Giving, Being, Receiving

Most of us want more in our lives, more appreciation, more attention, more love, more money, more happiness, more time. …

The more we are willing to give the more we will receive.. But we have to begin by giving to ourselves.. Give yourself more time; give yourself more attention; give yourself more love; give yourself more of what you want from others or from your life in general. Then decide how to offer the more that you are and have to the world and you will receive even more back in return. In Reiki we learn that in order to  pass the Diving Healing Energy on to others we, ourselves must be filled up with it first, then the “overflow” will go to others as well.  SSP

"Let the waters settle
you will see stars and moon
mirrored in your Being."

-- Rumi

How are you ?

“I am fine” is what most of us say. But are we really? Is it just a polite Question/Answer game?

For the most part it seems people don’t really want an honest answer to that question. I noticed that when I first came to this country. Someone asked me how I was feeling and I started my answer only to  be interrupted. So I realized quickly to just do the polite thing and give the answer that was expected. However, each time I do ask the question and someone answers “just fine” and I ask them “are you really?” more often than not people seem surprised and happy that someone really cares and they will tell me how they feel. Most of the time things are NOT so fine.

On the other hand I was also intrigued by the q/a and the answer of “I am fine” that a lot of times when I do give that answer suddenly I DO  feel fine, even though I may have been in a grumpy mood before.

I am not saying to be “fake”, but next time someone asks you  how you are, think for a moment. And do the same when you ask someone how they are doing and maybe give them  the gift of your presence, listening and care.

Some of my closer friends have picked up on my “concept” without me even really introducing it, but they KNOW that I care and that I really want to know what they are truly feeling and so oftentimes I get an “okay”, “not so good”, or a “medium” as an answer and I know there is something they may want to share. My friends know that they can always tell me how they really feel and I feel honored by their trust. I feel equally blessed when they give me the same gift of letting me share how I truly feel.

Santa was in Germany already...

foto by Manuel Paul

Gratitude for living in Paradise...

Relaxxxxxx....

This is a beautiful slideshow of nature with great quotes......

http://www.naturesinspirationmovie.com/?cm_mmc=CheetahMail-_-FR-_-12.17.10-_-NATIMovie

Thoughts on Anger –

A friend and subscriber to my Daily Inspiration emails asked me to write about anger – here you go:

First, I think we have to analyze where the anger comes from. In many cases the source is the feeling of not being in control, which results in fear, which results in anger.
Once we can pinpoint the source we are better able to deal with it.

I find it important to be able to safely express that anger – vent; asking a good friend to just listen; by saying things out loud we can – most of the time – find the source and therefore solutions.
Personally, I rarely get angry. If you are like me anger can take you by surprise. I learned that it is important not to beat ourselves up over it. Anger is ok, we can’t always be cheery, compassionate and happy.

Anger is our “shadow side” that is as important as our “happy side” and it will pass quicker if we just acknowledge it, safely express it, deal with it, rather than suppress it. SSP

In Buddhism it is said that anger is one of the three poisons – the other two are greed and ignorance – and those are said to be the primary causes of the cycle of samsara and rebirth. Purifying ourselves of anger is essential to Buddhist practice. Even highly realized masters admit they sometimes get angry. Not getting angry is for most of us probably not a realistic goal.
Thich Nhat Hanh has a different view: “When you express your anger you think that you are getting anger out of your system, but that's not true,” he said. “When you express your anger, either verbally or with physical violence, you are feeding the seed of anger, and it becomes stronger in you.” Only understanding and compassion can neutralize anger. He suggest meditating/sitting with the heat of that anger. That too may not be possible for many of us.
Buddha said, “Conquer anger by non-anger. Conquer evil by good. Conquer miserliness by liberality. Conquer a liar by truthfulness.” (Dhammapada, v. 233)
Namaste

Dealing with strong emotions

Dealing with strong emotions

How do we deal with strong emotions such as joy and sorrow, happiness and suffering, love and hate?
Do we feel undeserving of so much joy, happiness, love? Do we fall victims when experiencing sorrow, suffering, hate, anger?

Facing those emotions and putting them into the “bigger picture”, accepting them with a gracious attitude, knowing that there is a reason
for all of them seems to be the way rather than overreacting or denial.

By staying present and centered we will find the lesson in each experience and more harmony will manifest into our lives. SSP

~ Stay in the center of the circle and let all things take their course. ~ Dalai Lama

How do we want to live our lives? From essence or from ego?

How do we want to live our lives? From essence or from ego?

To transform our lives we need to learn to operate from our essence rather than the ego.
Just by spending more time in essence and mindfulness we can learn to speak from essence rather than from ego.

How do we know the difference? The voice of Essence comes from joy, gratitude, love, happiness, peace, kindness, stillness, mindfulness.
The voice of ego comes from criticism, judgment, opinion, separateness.

We have a choice to notice these subtle feelings when we are operating from the essence which is our true self
and the more time we spend in it the more it becomes second nature for us to want to stay there.

It is not just about our own happiness but about happiness, peace, love for all. SSP
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Meet everyone and everything through stillness rather than mental noise. Eckhart Tolle

Suffering cracks open the shell of ego, and then comes a point when it has served its purpose. ... However, Being is not only beyond but also deep within every form as its innermost invisible and indestructible essence. ... Eckhart Tolle

LOVE, UNITY, ACCEPTANCE

LOVE, UNITY, ACCEPTANCE

yanni live at the taj mahal india - love is all

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu67pzugkMQ&feature=player_embedded#!

“We put medicine about which we know little, into bodies about which we know less, to cure diseases about which we know nothing at all.” — Voltaire

"The Prayer" again with Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli

...and her is "The Prayer" again with Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli
The Prayer (at the Grammys)
www.youtube.com
This is Andrea and Celine's performance of The Prayer at the 1999 Grammy Awards.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmscFwj22vg

Con te partire

Italian Romance at its best:

Con te partiro/It's time to say Good bye -

Andrea Bocelli

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcrfvP11Hbo

My most Divine, Sacred moment

My most Divine, Sacred moment was when my mother was dying from lung cancer and was bedridden at home. It was 12-23-1984. She had turned gray and was in extreme agony. I thought she had passed away and I bent close to her nose to see if I could feel her breath. She startled awake and said "I was there". She said that she had seen the most beautiful white, floaty beings. She said she had never experienced such unconditional love before and was now not afraid of dying anymore. She saw a being and she told "him" that "she wasn't ready to go yet. "I can't die so close to Christmas because of my family". She had "come back" to us when I was close to her nose. She passed away on the 27th AFTER Christmas. She was selfless and didn't want her family to suffer during each holiday season. She was my best friend and soul mate. Because of this, I am not afraid of dying, when it is my time........................I would welcome it. She made me realize that death is just another realm of our existence. She gave me unconditional love and hope and courage. (I am reposting this w the permission of a friend)

Be Here Now

Be Here Now - Treasure every moment that you have. And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time. Remember that time waits for no one. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow a mystery. Today is a gift... That's why it's called the present.

Joy is a net of love by which you catch souls" - Mother Teresa

A different Christmas Poem-

A different Christmas Poem-

very touching

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_P6yU_ymFM

SACRED MOMENTS

SACRED MOMENTS

There are moments in my life where I am so deeply connected to another being that it is hard to even describe in worldly terms. Often it happens during a Reiki treatment when on a level of higher consciousness our spirits meet and connect on a plane that is pure light, acceptance, appreciation and love. Our spirits and souls are engulfed in peace and mutual understanding; no boundaries built by our egos, no judgment or criticism. This is a feeling similar to being deeply and unconditionally in love with someone or the moment when my children were born and there is nothing but awe and the importance of the present moment, or even having the honor and being in the holy presence of someone passing away. Those are sacred moments that I deeply cherish and will forever hold in my heart. I feel blessed to have been gifted to experience those precious sacred moments.

A very special and heartfelt THANK YOU, to my children - without you I would have never experienced the sacred moment of giving birth, to my family and friends who “put up with me and all my craziness” , to those of you who gave me the opportunity to either teach or do a Reiki treatment with them and giving me the experience of deep trust, connection and healing, to the wonderful friends in my live who allow me to love and cherish them and to ALL of you who joined me on my sacred journey to live a life worth living - in peace, harmony, love, joy and abundance.

Namaste – The Divine in me honors the Divine in YOU!

If you would like to be added to my Daily Inspiration email list please email me at kindnessp2@msn.com

Awakening

Awakening –

See and feel everything whether its labeled good or bad with clear, intense awareness, an open heart, love and compassion. Notice more what you usually try to ignore. As you awaken more and more to the wealth of feeling and inner wisdom an unknown passion with feelings of love, sensuality, gratitude and joy will fill your entire being. The intensity of the experience will be a blessing beyond expectations.

THE PRAYER

THE PRAYER - celine dion / josh groban

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhxIjRO6WjI

Magnificent -

Magnificent -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv19yFIVzS8

This is my wish for you

“This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life.”

Meditation

Meditation –

When I first started meditation practice many years ago I thought that by doing it all my conditions, suffering, past hurts, would just go away and I simply would become centered and serene.
Over time I realized that sitting means to sit still WITH all of it, allowing it to be as it is, accepting it and not needing to change anything about it. NO, I don’t have to fix anything. What a relief!
By just sitting with whatever it is, being present in this very moment and with consistency, simply accepting it overtime issues dissolve, burn up, strip away.
Awareness is the answer, acceptance and sticking with our practice, turning this awareness inward. That way spaciousness is created as well as clarity, that in turn opens the door to compassion, first towards ourselves, then towards others.

Christmas gift suggestions:

Christmas gift suggestions:

To an enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity.
To a child, a good example. To yourself, respect. ~ Oren Arnold.