THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE......

 DO take time to smell the roses

Take more TIME OUT 

Take time to inhale and exhale (take deep breaths)

Be aware of your surroundings

Smile more

Slow down...rushing only get's you more stressed

Stop thinking and start expressing..speak your mind even if your voice shakes

Listen to people who can help you, rather than those who can't

When did you last see a Sun rise?

When did you last see a rainbow?

Make this year the one where you become a better friend to your SELF

You are never too old to play Hop Scotch or jump in rain puddles

 PLAY ANY TIME YOU ARE ABLE

DESIDERATA..GO PLACIDLY

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there is in silence.
As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;  and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant, they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter;
four always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be critical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment  it is as perennial as the grass.


Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the Universe, no less than the trees and the stars, you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the Universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life
keep peace with your soul.
With all it's sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful.
Strive to be happy

Max Ehrmann 1927

DO UNTO OTHERS.....

Red Dawn UK this past weekend

We seek a renewed stirring of life for the earth
We plead that what we are capable of doing is
not always what we ought to do.
We urge that all people now determine
that a wide untrammeled freedom shall remain
to testify that this generation has love for the next.
if we want to succeed in that, we might show, meanwhile,
a little more love for this one, and for each other.

Nancy Newhall

Be in Bliss....always

In safety and in Bliss
May all creatures be of a blissful heart
Whatever breathing beings there may be
Frail or firm......long or big...short or small
Seen or unseen, dwelling far or near
Existing or yet seeking to exist
May all creatures be of a blissful heart


Sutta Nipata,    143-52

A Fragment

Blue Scrub Jay, on a Jushua Tree, Mojave Desert

As a violet's gentle eye
Gazes on the azure sky,
Until it's hue grows like what it beholds;
As a grey and empty mist
Lies like solid Amethyst,
Over the western mountain it enfolds,
When the sunset sleeps
Upon it's snow.

As a strain of sweetest sound
Wraps itself the wind around,
Until the voiceless wind be music too;
As aught dark, vain and dull,
Basking in what is beautiful, 
Is full of light and love.

Percy Bysshe Shelley

Happy New Year..taken from The Chimes By Charles Dickens

Here is an excerpt of The Chimes, By Charles Dickens.
A Goblin Story of some Bells that Rang an Old Year Out & a New Year In.


"They were ready for  a  dance in half a second ( Meg and Richard at the top), and the Drum was on the very brink of leathering away with all his power; when a combination of prodigious sounds was heard outside, and a good-humoured comely woman of some fifty years of age, or thereabouts, came running in, attended by a man bearing a stone pitcher of terrific size, and closely followed by the marrow-bones and cleavers, and the bells; not The Bells, but a portable collection, on a frame.
Trotty said " It's Mrs. Chickenstalker!" And sat down, and beat his knees again.
"Married, and not tell me, Meg!" cried the good woman. "Never! I couldn't rest on the last night of the Old Year without coming to wish you joy. I couldn't have done it, Meg. Not If I had been bedridden,. So here I am; and as it's New Years Eve, and the Eve of your wedding too , my dear.
I had a little flip made, and brought it  with me".
Mrs. Chickenstalker's notion of a little flip, did honour to her character. The pitcher steamed and smoked and reeked like a volcano; and the man who had carried it, was faint.
"Mrs Tugby!" said Trotty, who had been going round and round her, in an ecstasy.
"I should say, Chickestalker--Bless your heart and soul! A Happy New Year, and many of 'em! Mrs Tugby", said Trotty when he had saluted her: "I should say, Chickenstalker--This is William Fern and Lilian".

The worthy dame, to his surprise, turned very pale and red.
"Not Lilian Fern whose mother died in Dorsetshire!" she said.
Her uncle answered "Yes", and meeting hastily, they exchanged some hurried words together; the upshot of was, that Mrs Chickenstalker  shook by both hands; saluted Trotty on his cheek again, of her own free will; and took the child to her capacious breast.
"Will Fern!" said trotty pulling on his right-hand muffler.
"Not the friend that you was hoping to find?".
"Ay!" returned Will. putting a hand on each of Trotty's shoulders. "And like to prove a'most as good a friend, if that can be, as one I found."
"oh!" said Trotty .
"Please to play up there. Will you have the goodness!.
To the music of the band, the bells the marrow-bones and cleavers, all at once; and while the Chimes were yet in lusty operation out of doors; Trotty, making meg & Richard second couple, led off Mrs. Chickestalker down the dance, and danced it in a step unknown before or since; founded on his own peculiar trot......

So may the New Year be a Happy one to You, Happy to Many more whose Happiness depends on You! So may each Year be happier than the last, and not the meanest of your brethren or sisterhood debarred their rightful share, to what our Great Creator formed them to  enjoy."

I hope your parties are full of own made "Flip" and you have dances upon dances for a Happier and Healthier 2014, just like Mrs Chickenstalker and Trotty.

Preparing the HOME for the upcoming New Year and all it's Possibilities

There's NO place like HOME!

With this in mind, NOW is the time to prepare your home for the upcoming New Year, if you want to harness all the potential of 2014, then you have to make room for it!

Now is the time to tidy up your space.
Remove anything that is not used any more, give more things to Charity resale stores or animal shelters (who need old blankets, towels & etc).
Also clear out any old worries from your mind...managing is just that, it is not losing sleep and not eating, that is not managing that is worrying, and that leads to too much stress on the system.

Be good to your self, these next few days..give your self a break.
Change you routines, don't make outlandish New Years resolutions..the easiest to follow are to want to be happier, healthier and learn from your mistakes.

Light more candles ( white preferred for New Year) in safe places, as you do so voice your intentions for the upcoming year...do not leave lit candles unattended.

Now is the best time of year to sort out all your old herbs and spices..anything not  opened and not used in 6 months...throw onto compost pile/compost bins.

  Do the same with anything stale in your pantry/fridges/shelves.
Try and remember to date mark all packages as they are purchased then you can use them wisely.
Dried beans and grains DO DRY out and become stale if kept longer than 12 months in a reg, home kitchen, as does dried pasta.

Go to any public land..parks, beaches, woodlands and scatter wild, native plant seeds for the upcoming spring (it is the intention of welcoming new growth that the universe recognizes), some seeds will take root, you are also feeding the wild birds.


Create a Wish/intention Family board:

A special notice board with all of the members of family's wishes and hopes for upcoming year then post photos/notes of accomplishments as the year progresses..this is a "spiritual growth marker, too".

Wherever possible bathe in lavender oil/soap.

When the New Year Chimes in, ring silver bells (this is where the tradition of Silver Bells at Christmas comes in).
Place more wind chimes around the house and listen to them, become aware of there tones, welcome in the New Year and it's limitless potential.

The morning of Jan 1st, wash all door steps and window sills on the outside of the home with a light mix of cold water and sea salt (1 tsp per gallon).
This is to keep bad luck and bad witches out. ( for high rise, you may use a spray bottle.).




2014 is a 7 year...Divine Intervention is afoot...so be ready for ANYTHING.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!