abundance

Consecration – Day 1091

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Photo: L. Weikel

Consecration

Consecrate: verb (used with object) 1. to make or declare sacred; set apart or dedicate to the service of a deity. 2. to make (something) an object of honor or veneration; hallow. 3. to devote or dedicate to some purpose. (Dictionary.com)

As you may recall from last night’s post, while I chose the Ace of Air as my primary card, the 10 of Water was clearly a player in delivering the message. Considering that I was posing the question of “What’s next?” in the context of the impending conclusion of my 1111 Devotion and the sacred intention with which I began this process almost three years ago, I was surprised by the keyword of the 10 of Water: consecration.

Whether I ‘get’ the crux of that message tonight or in two weeks – or maybe even two years from now – what I find amazing is that the cards seem to realize the essence of my query.

The cards know that, fundamentally, this is all about making the ordinary sacred. It’s all about lighting upon an act that I might consecrate in memory of my Karl. Choosing to engage in an action which might ordinarily be viewed as routine and making it holy; making it sacred and meaningful in a way that transcends ordinary day-to-day consciousness. This is my quest.

Underneath My Ace

As I described in yesterday’s post, a few pretty salient details jumped out at me as I contemplated the illustration of the 10 of Water as depicted by the illustrator of the Witches’ Wisdom Tarot*, Danielle Barlow. There were a number of powerful symbols that had personal meaning to me and the pursuit of my spiritual path.

But again, sometimes the magic of perceiving a message being sent to us by Spirit, or even ‘just’ our own subconscious, or Higher Self, or soul is enhanced by considering all the opportunities provided us to ‘get the message.’ And that includes not only relying heavily – and primarily – on our own intuition and insight, but also availing ourselves of the nuances that lurk in the words or symbols proffered by others. For instance, the particular words and phrases used by the creator of the deck or other oracle we might be using.

10 of Water – The Witches’ Wisdom Tarot by Phyllis Curott, Illustrated by Danielle Barlow

My next step, therefore, was to consider and pay acute attention to these words:

“10 of Water – Consecration

Wisdom – Verdant, humid, and embracing, the rainforest grows. Tree and Vine, Butterfly and bright-beaked Toucan, tiny Tree Frog and fearsome, holy Jaguar peer through the leaves. Rain pours from above, pools on the ground below, seeps deep into the Earth, and rises to make everything grow. The rain is full of music – songs telling stories of this magical place that makes the world better for all of Life. The rainforest is wild and full of wonder, danger and divinity, chaos and perfection. There is Life and there is death, but there is no evil. It’s raining and everything is blessed.

Essence – Wonderment, flourishing, blessings. The rewards of feeling fully. Water of Life.

Counsel – What is the song your heart is secretly singing? What is the divine magic hiding within you? There’s no reason for self-doubts or fear. Step outside your comfort zone and into the magic of Creation. No matter how turbulent the Waters of Life may be, how hard the rain, muddy the river, or unknown the rainforest, remember, you’re made of Water, and Water makes all things grow and flourish.

Magic – Go out in the rain. Listen. What’s it saying to you? Reach out your arms and feel the Water on your skin. Stick out your tongue and drink it in. Wash your face with it. Let it bless you. Feel your heart open to all that is manifesting…”

My Interpretation

The word ‘listen’ comes up and is prominent in both cards. Abundance surrounds the question I’ve asked. Perhaps that means there are (or will be) an abundance of choices on what is the best next action for me to consecrate to my cherished son.

Again, I feel ‘patience’ is also a watchword that needs to be heeded. Yes, Spirit understands my desire to know ‘what’s next.’ But for now, my focus needs to remain on the 1111 Devotion. I must dedicate myself to successfully concluding my first Act of Power with impeccability. ‘What’s next,’ if anything, will reveal itself in perfect timing.

I will listen. And perhaps, if the stars line up just right, I’ll even open my mouth.

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(T-20)

Valuable Nuance – Day 1090

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Tonight: Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus (l-r) – Photo: L. Weikel

Valuable Nuance

I mentioned in my post last night that the card underneath my Ace of Air did seem to hold some relevance to the question I’d posed. Indeed, it probably provides some valuable nuance to my query, “What’s next?” My initial focus, of course, was on paying attention to the details of the Ace of Air, the ‘main’ card I selected. I didn’t even allow myself to look at the bottom card until later. So when I did finally glimpse the 10 of Water (from the Witches’ Wisdom Tarot*), I was surprised to see a few personally relevant details popping out right away.

I immediately noticed the Black Panther peeking out at me from the jungle foliage. The energy of Black Panther first showed up in my life (on a noticeably consistent basis) shortly after I published my book, Owl Medicine*. I kept seeing images of them in the weirdest places, including my dreams. To make a long story short (something I actually loathe – give me a good story!), it turned out that Black Panther was a harbinger of my initiation into the Q’ero tradition. Black Panther was my companion as I honored my immersion into shamanism as a calling and way of life.

10 of Water – The Witches’ Wisdom Tarot by Phyllis Curott

A New Path

Black Panther is an ally of mine, particularly with respect to certain shamanic tasks I undertake. Interestingly, Sheila (our first Boston Terrier) ‘told’ me shortly after we adopted her that she was the physical embodiment of my Black Panther. I know that probably sounds weird, but it was a palpable experience – and lasted throughout her life.

Finally, Black Panther showed up in a shamanic journey I took earlier in the day on November 12th, 2011, the day we found out Karl had died the night before. Indeed, Black Panther showed me what had happened before I even had the slightest inkling anything was wrong. (Yet another story.)

Other Details

Another detail that jumped out at me when I looked at this card, beyond the verdant abundance, was the Toucan. It just so happens that the Toucan is intimately related to a Being with whom I interact in the Lower World (Uhupacha), especially when journeying on behalf of clients (as opposed to journeying for myself).

Of course, the myriad (ten, to be exact) Frogs depicted in the card immediately brought to mind my harping on the need to clean out and make space for the next phase in my life. This theme has persistently demanded my attention.

Without even opening the book, my overall sense of the foundation of the message being brought to me was that whatever that Ace of Air is suggesting is my ‘next’ devotion or Act of Power, it may also bring an abundance of flourishing energy and magic.

And then I looked it up in the book that accompanies the deck. The keyword was not what I expected – but it couldn’t have been more perfect.

Patience Personified (or Catified)-Brutus loving Tigger – Photo: L. Weikel

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(T-21)

An Abundance of Riches – Day 964

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Rainbow Bridge – Photo: L. Weikel

An Abundance of Riches

I chose Buffalo with Raccoon underneath today. Of course, I’m referring to my ‘pick’ of a card (and its foundation or context) on my day from the Medicine Cards* deck by Jamie Sams and David Carson. The keywords for Buffalo in the Medicine Cards are prayer and abundance. And I can attest that I engaged in a form of prayer for another Being today – and later realized an abundance of riches in quite an unexpected manner and setting.

Buffalo set the tone for the day when I found myself holding space for a dear friend’s cherished pet to make its transition. The experience gave me the opportunity to demonstrate how to energetically lessen the effort it takes to separate soul from body when the time comes. The process reverently makes it just a little easier for the soul to disengage when it is ready. It does not rush the process in any way.

A Storm Approaches – Photo: L. Weikel

Rainbow Bridge

One of the expressions used by my Teachers in Quechua is the ‘rainbow bridge’ when describing where a soul goes when it leaves its body here on Earth. The soul ‘crosses the Rainbow Bridge’ in order to get to the next realm. I’ve also been taught that we have allies that assist us in making that crossing.

Without going into a great deal of detail, suffice it to say that I have a number of specific allies who help me assist others in crossing the Rainbow Bridge. The number of them has increased over the years as I’ve been called upon to act as a psychopomp – a facilitator of the crossing from this world to the next. I’ve actually established deeply trusted relationships with a handful of allies upon whom I know I can rely in this work. Most requests for assistance come when a soul becomes lost or stuck in this realm after their body dies.

As might be expected, my mind was on the Rainbow Bridge a lot this afternoon. And as might be recalled from my recent posts, but especially what I wrote last night, I was especially eager to take a walk this evening. It was hard to contain my need to simply ‘be’ in the presence of Mother Earth and her children.

An Ally on the Bridge – Photo: L. Weikel

Astonishing Reflection

I don’t think I’d walked half a mile late this afternoon (or was it early evening?) before a most ominous storm amassed on the horizon. I decided to take my (our) chances, and Spartacus didn’t offer any objections.

It crossed my mind that perhaps I’d made a grievous mistake when thunder shook the ground underneath us and rain began cascading upon us. We managed, for the most part, to thread our way from one sparse patch of rain to another, mostly enjoying the protection of a number of trees along the way.

Of course, before we even got halfway around, the Rainbow Bridge appeared before our eyes. Yes, it had been on my mind and in my mind’s eye frequently this afternoon. But here it was, before my eyes in this reality as well.

YCMTSU – LtWD – Photo: L. Weikel

An Ally Appears

As we made our way home, we stopped now and again to capture the utter beauty unfolding before us. I managed to take a couple of photos that I didn’t fully appreciate until beginning to write this post.

For instance, the appearance of an ally precisely upon the Rainbow Bridge – without a doubt checking in to give comfort and a ‘high sign’ that a successful crossing had indeed occurred.

The close-up is even more astonishing.

My life is without a doubt filled with an abundance of riches.

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(T-147)

Long Day Short Post – Day 700

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Photo: L. Weikel

Long Day Short Post

There’s nothing like having a title so succinctly tell your story that you don’t need to write a single, additional word. And here we are: long day short post.

It’s all I can do to keep my eyes open.

Not only has it been a long day capping a brilliantly emotional weekend, I’m also laboring under the additional handicap of listening to the steady patter of raindrops through the screen of our front door. It’s deeply relaxing and mesmerizing and makes it oh so hard to maintain a focus.

Wishes flowing out into the Universe – Photo: L. Weikel

Short Walk, Too

I will persist, however, until I achieve my goal. Just like today – while we may not have managed as long a walk as we usually take when we’re together, we did manage to squeeze a short one in before getting on the road.

And there they were: leading the way, embarking on a brand new path – together.

And overhead? It was as if the clouds embodied the wishes of love, hope, and joy for the future – theirs and ours – that so many of you have so kindly offered, swirling ahead of us, leading the way to the very future we are co-creating.

All I can say is that my heart is filled with gratitude for the abundance of blessings we experienced this weekend. Hope exists in all of our hearts. And Love prevails.

Newlywed Smooches – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-411)

Prickle of Hope – Day 579

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 Wild Raspberry Wineberry Bushes – Photo: L. Weikel

Prickle of Hope

Given my recollection from years past, I’d give them three weeks at the most. Although it’s possible we’ll only have to wait two-ish, if we’re lucky. One thing I know for sure: I felt a prickle of hope this evening when they caught our attention.

All of a sudden, the wild raspberry bushes lining the sides of our country roads are announcing their presence. I could feel them calling to us as we walked – it almost felt like the bushes with their burgeoning berries were like spectators at a parade, calling and waving to us as we walked past them, life energy surging through them and rippling out to us in waves.

Perfect Timing

I think I can speak for Karl when I say that one of our favorite hedonistic indulgences takes place approximately one week after our wedding anniversary every year. (Hence my ability to pinpoint with such self-assured accuracy when they’ll be bursting into perfection.)

There are few things in this life more sensually pleasing in so many ways as taking an early summer walk and coming upon a thicket of ripe wild raspberries so plump they practically jump off their delicate yellow spindles into the cup of your palm, prodded only by a simple brush of your fingertips.

It’s hard not to feel dizzy with gratitude and appreciation for Mother Earth as we pop these sweet juicy treats into our mouths, laughing and savoring their sweet magic. I always try to take just one berry at a time – at least at first – doing my utmost to do justice to this annual ritual. Of course, this doesn’t last long. Within moments, I am thanking the berries over and over as I fill my palms and drop the nuggets into my mouth by twos, threes, fours – or more.

In addition to honoring that first raspberry of the season by noticing its shape with my tongue, from the hollow cave where it was attached to the bush to its tiny plump components, I close my eyes and feel my saliva responding to what I know will be a rush of sweetness. Unless, of course, I happen to have chosen impatiently – taking a berry that didn’t just drop into my hand but might have held on to its home with just the slightest cling. Ah yes – that can make for a little bit of a pucker, when the sugar inside hasn’t quite reached its peak.

But the occasional tart one only makes the sweet ones all the more delectable.

An Entire Experience

While some of the berry bushes flash their wares in the brilliance of direct sunshine, we’re usually able to take shelter from the hot summer sun under the leaves of the many surrounding ashes, oaks, and shagbark hickories that stand watch over these patches. The air is often thick and humid when the berries are at their best. As I write these words right now, I can imagine the aroma of the grasses we sometimes trample to gain access to these prickly patches. There’s usually a backdrop of crickets humming in the heat as well – or the buzz of bees that are also happily sampling the feast.

There’s plenty for all of us, including the deer, who are our usually our greatest competitors for these tasty treats.

Sweetest In the Moment

Over the years, when we used to come upon the ripening berries, we’d indulge in stuffing a few in our mouths and then vow to bring a container the next day to harvest some for dessert. Most of the time, we’d forget to bring a container. Once or twice, though, we’d remember – and I have to confess: they never tasted as good at home. They’re ok; don’t get me wrong.

But standing in the middle of a thicket, surrounded by prickles as well as gobs and gobs of berry clusters, birds singing in the trees, bees and crickets humming and thrumming, the smell of Mother Earth filling your senses, and then stuffing your mouth with handful upon handful of blood red, juicy berries?

There’s nothing like it.

And it’s our unique ritual to celebrate the beginning of another year of life together. Considering all the peculiar challenges and circumstances all of us are facing this year, perhaps this is why the nascent berries called out to me so distinctly today. They want us to feel the prickle of hope and promise of abundance; they call us to know that Mother Earth is always with us, feeding and nurturing us. They want us to remember the profound joy to be found in the moments of simplest pleasures.

Nascent Wineberries* Wild Raspberries – Photo: L. Weikel

*See next post

(T-532)

Global Meditation – Day 508

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Photo: L. Weikel

Global Meditation

The other day I mentioned the Biodiversity Project I participate in every 1st day of the month. It’s a simple activity that uses only 10 drops of something called Essence of Perelandra and calls upon Nature to use those drops and the power of intention to come into a state of balance vis-à-vis climate change.

I want everyone to know that I do not gain a single thing by suggesting you join me in this endeavor. I don’t receive any recognition or remuneration from Perelandra. (They don’t even know I am promoting them and their products.) The only reason I encourage you to check out their website, the gardens, their operation as a whole, and how it got started is because I find it fascinating, supportive of my own health, deeply ecologically sound, and respectful of Mother Earth and Nature.

I suggested you take the five minutes to engage in the Biodiversity Project because it is something tangible that we can all do to make a difference.

Saturday, April 4th, 2020

Which leads me to another activity that you can choose to embrace: a global meditation this Saturday, April 4th. The aim of the organizers is to have 1 million people sitting quietly and focusing their attention on and “anchor in the energies of Peace, Harmony, Abundance, Freedom, Healing, and the most positive Ascension Timeline imaginable.”

Lofty, but certainly admirable, energies to be welcoming into our collective imagination and consciousness.

The organizers are requesting that we engage in this group meditation at exactly the same time around the globe, specifically, 10:45 p.m. EST for 20 minutes. As I’m typing this, it occurs to me that they almost certainly mean DST, and simply didn’t realize that by April 4th Daylight Savings Time would’ve kicked in.

There are specific instructions which you can find here. My intention, however, will be simply to focus on those qualities I listed above manifesting here on Earth for the highest good of Mother Earth and all her children, including us (humanity).

I want to be clear: I do not necessarily ascribe to some of the concepts put forth by the organizers of this event. Indeed, some of what is written seems a bit ‘out there’ and conspiratorial for my taste. As always, I suggest you use your discernment.

But the idea of getting as many people as possible to quiet their minds and focus their intentions on raising their consciousness, calling forth those qualities of Peace, Harmony, Abundance, Freedom, and Healing, feels useful, hopeful, and potentially quite powerful. Hence, I don’t think we should ‘throw the baby out with the bathwater.’

I remember when Karl and I participated in the “Harmonic Convergence,” a similar world-wide consciousness raising gathering back in 1987. The celestial event that prompted that global effort took place during the daytime here in Pennsylvania and I remember we sat outside in the sun on the towpath beside the Delaware River.

At 10:45 p.m. this Saturday evening, when Pluto and Jupiter ‘conjunct,’ I will be tucked inside my home, giving Mother Earth and all of us who live upon her 20 minutes of my own peace of mind, focus, love, and attention.

I’ll give it a chance – who knows what the power of potentially a million others with the same intention can do to effect change? It’s worth a try.

(T-603)

Lughnasa  – Day 262

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Lughnasa – Photo: janebaileybain.com

Lughnasa      

I was going to write tonight about the Festival of Lughnasa, a Celtic holiday traditionally celebrated on August 1st. Lughnasa celebrates and honors Lugh, the God of the Sun, and kicks off the season of harvest.

Lughnasa is one of the four seasonal holidays, the other three being Samhain (celebrated on November 1st), Imbolc (February 1st), and Bealtane, (May 1st).

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, today (tonight, actually, at 11:11 p.m. – a moment on the clock near and dear to my heart) was the New Moon, and I believe also a ‘Black’ ‘SuperMoon’ thereby making it particularly powerful as a result.

New Moon and Lughnasa

It is intriguing to me that that a new moon is the time of planting seeds to bring forth something new into our lives. And here we are, also celebrating harvesting, in the form of the holiday of Lughnasa.

Seems to me that this could portend that the seeds we plant at this new moon could, in fact, manifest instantly and therefore call for immediate harvest.

I’d say that ‘coincidence’ bodes well for the people who have had sessions with me over the past two days, too. This is a very powerful time right now and people having sessions with me generally want to effect major change in their lives. Thus, the seeds we plant in their newly cleansed energy bodies will thrive and manifest much more quickly than might otherwise happen (and things manifest pretty quickly on the slower days, so…).

Taking Stock

So, as I contemplate this night of the Dark Moon, I urge you all to join me in taking stock of what you are sowing. Personally, I have a lot going on right now, including major shifts to the way I’ve ‘always’ done things, as well as gauging and tempering my reaction to certain situations. I have a deep-seated yearning to respond from a place of patience and gratitude.

It’s easier sometimes than others.

At this time of total darkness, the time of the Dark Moon, I ask Lugh to come and shed a whole bunch of light on some of those situations. And I’d love to harvest the abundance that I know can come out of them.

Right now, however, I’m going to plant the seed of sleep.

May all your harvests be plentiful and free of blight.

 

(T-849)