DAILY PERSONAL BLESSINGS..GIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF ....NOW

AS WE HEAD TOWARDS THE HOLIDAYS AND PARTIES, TIME TO TAKE STOCK OF WHAT YOU HAVE AND HOW TO USE IT BEST.
DAILY BLESSING/RITUALS HELP TO GROUND YOU AND FIND YOUR CENTER; KEEP YOU SAFE AND EVEN MAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF.
HERE ARE SOME IDEAS/TECHNIQUES THAT MAY HELP YOU:

Where ever you walk this week , try to become aware of your walking.
Feel your feet firmly on the pavement/ground, feel the air in your face, become conscious of your breathing.
Feel the  natural rhythm of your walking, and become aware of your surroundings...WHAT IS AHEAD OF YOU, WHO IS AROUND YOU..smile more.

any meal time even snacks. bless your food.
Take in the shape, smells and colors of the food ..be grateful you have food to eat.
Taste the food gently, feel it's texture try and enjoy every mouthful, and chew each well, and slow down.

Driving awareness..this goes beyond looking in front of you...
feel the steering wheel in your hands, your feet on the floor or pedals.
How are your shoulders and neck..stressed? relax them a bit.
Set up a running commentary/a little song out loud, of what is happening, what color are the cars around you, any pedestrians, what colors are the lights ahead?, check your mirrors, who is behind you?..don't just listen to the radio and zone out.

Hate Mondays? make a blessing-ritual where Mondays become a joy..something to look forward to... "you are one day closer to the next weekend".."it will soon be pay day", be thankful you have made it to Monday!..LIGHT SOME INCENSE IN THE CAR/BY YOUR WORK BAG ON SUNDAY NIGHT..imagining a great start to the week!

Try and give yourself the Present of NOW ...everyday, in this case it is good to GIVE & RECEIVE

HAPPY WINTER SOLSTICE..blessings/invocations..INSTRUCTIONS

The Winter Solstice celebrates the old winter festival of the death and rebirth of the sun.
In Native American tradition it falls at the beginning of the renewal time
This Blessing can be done the night before the solstice or the night of.

you will need:
Paper and pen
Candles
Smudge stick/incense
matches
large feather/fan

Start tonight at dusk...if with a group, sit in a circle
Spend some time thinking of the people who are important to you, think about family either birth or chosen.
If you are on bad terms with anyone can you find it in your heart to forgive them?
If on good terms, give thanks.
If in a group you might want to say these out loud as invocations.
Imagine that you can give a gift (not a material one but some quality..like forgiveness, compassion, inner strength & etc) to the people in the circle/your life..write it on a piece of paper, or say it out loud as you light a smudge stick or incense.
Also light the piece of paper and let the smoke bear the message to the sun as it sleeps.

As the light fades light candles saying.."
 
The sun has risen, The new year has come, the old year has passed.

Smudge yourself and everyone with you...light more incense and candles..if outside..light bonfires as thanks for the rebirth of the sun.

Go indoors and bathe in a deep salt water bath, or shower with salt (just 1 tbsp on your head..allow the water to wash it off)

Stonehenge, England this morning,Druids celebrating the re-birth of the Sun

 

GOING BACK TO THE SALT OF SANITY

Topanga State beach, Malibu, CA

Do not stifle me with the strange scent
Of low growing mountain lilies---
Do not confuse me
With the salubrious odor of honeysuckle!

I cannot separate in my mind
Sweetness from sweetness--
Mimosa from wild white violets;
Magnolia from Cape Jasmine!

I am from the north tide country,
I can understand only the scent of seaweed,
Salt marsh and scrub pine
Riding on the breath of an amorous fog!

O do not confuse me
With sweetness upon sweetness;
Let me escape safely from this gentle madness--
Let me go back to the salt of sanity
In the scent of the sea.

Sta Monica Bay,we had rain today..this being the driest year on record

DONALD JEFFREY HAYES

JUST ENOUGH..live small

Soil for the legs
Axe for the hands
Flower for the eyes
Bird for the ears
Mushroom for the nose
Smile for the mouth
Songs for the lungs
Sweat for the skin
Wind for the mind
Just Enough


NANAO SAKAKI

Power is in every Seed..EVEN THE SEED OF THOUGHT

How shall the Mighty River
reach the tiny seed?
See it rise silently
to the sun's yearning, 
sail from a winter's cloud
flake after silent flake
piling up layer upon layer
until the thaw of spring
to meet the seedling's need.

Make tender, Lord, my heart;
release through gentleness
Thine own tremendous power
hid in the snowflake's art.


ANTOINETTE ADAM

Warm up the sun..thought for the rest of the week

Far away in the depths of the mountains
Wandering here and there I carry no thought
When spring comes I watch the birds;
In summer I bathe in the running stream;
In autumn I climb the highest peaks;
During the winter I am warming up the sun
Thus I enjoy the real flavor of the seasons

SHIH TAO

GO FORWARD THIS WEEK & don't look back

LET THE REEDS PANDER TO THE WAYWARD WIND,
I AM THE MOUNTAIN RANGE
THAT DETERMINES THE COURSE OF THE WIND.

LET THE SEAWEED FLATTER THE INCONSTANT TIDE,
I AM THE MOON
THAT CONTROLS THE TIDE'S EBB AND FLOW.

LET THE MAGNET SUCCUMB TO THE UNBENDING NORTH AND SOUTH,
I AM THE GREAT EARTH
ONLY I HAVE DIRECTIONS.

HUANG GUOBIN