“Nothing is, unless our thinking makes it so.”

~ William Shakespeare

I am not afraid of tomorrow, 

for I have seen yesterday 

and I love today.

~ William Allen White

Days Go By

♬

The sound of the rain 
needs no translation, 
no explanation.

~ Alan Watts

Positive Change

I’ve been encountering a lot of butterflies, hearts, and snakes recently, 

which symbolizes positive change, love, healing, and transformation. 

Nature speaks to us if we are listening...

There Is No End

Photo: Bernard Solco

There is no end.

There is no

beginning.

There is only

the passion

of life.

~ Federico Fellini

I have always regretted the shallowness of words

Compared with the depth of human hearts.

Today the two of us look at one another,

Silently, but with feelings a hundredfold.

~ Liu Yü-hsi

I'm Still Learning

So I’ve been pondering my desire to get away from it all. My yearning to live on a remote beach has reached a fever pitch. I talk about it to anyone that will listen. My sister-in-law and I send images of Kauai and New Zealand to each other in enthusiastic e-mail messages. Images of pristine beaches and breath-taking ocean views with not a living soul in sight.

Photo: Graeme Huntr

After walking the shore of a local (lake) beach recently, I was overwhelmed by the crowds and the amount of carelessly discarded garbage—plastic bags, water bottles, coffee cup lids. I wondered, would it be different anywhere else?

What I think it boils down to is resistance to the way things are. Many of us find ourselves in an environment of strip malls, dollar stores, Tim Hortons, and Starbucks. It’s a sea of ugliness. Ranting about it and loathing it is futile though and it only brings negativity to our lives and to those we interact with. We are not at peace.

Sometimes things have to get really bad before they get better. Maybe things are exactly as they need to be for us to wake up spiritually. To remember who and what we truly are. To feel without ceasing the life energy that animates and interconnects us with every living thing on this planet and beyond.

Although it’s true that we can’t get rid of our thoughts/feelings, we can observe them with compassion. Our thoughts and feelings are not who we are. They are like any other function our amazing bodies perform. Just as the lungs breathe and the heart beats, the brain thinks and we feel things according to how we interpret those thoughts. Is this reality? Or are we each creating a world in our own minds?

Perhaps for the first time in my life, my desire to see through this collective illusion is stronger than my despair over the destruction of our planet. With a hopeful heart, I seek the Truth of our existence beyond conventional reason.

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,

Life is but an empty dream!—

For the soul is dead that slumbers,

And things are not what they seem.

—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Merely looking at the world

around us is immensely different

from seeing it.

~ Frederick Franck

Celebrate Life

“Life is a celebration of awakenings, of new beginnings,

and wonderful surprises that enlighten the soul.”

~ Cielo

Mystery

Found this little treasure in our garden last night. It’s a vitamin-sized leaf capsule created by an insect. Leaves have been carefully cut and fashioned into a tiny tube. I can only assume it holds an egg. Would love to know what this is! So amazing!!

*Post Update: It’s a leafcutter bee capsule!

Live in Your Heart

click to enlarge & breathe...

Vienna Waits for You

A couple of summers ago I was obsessed with the song “Vienna.” I watched a repeat of the film 13 Going on 30 (I know, I know) and it totally stuck out on the soundtrack.

The first record I ever remember listening to as a kid was The Stranger. The album cover freaked me out a bit. I don’t know why. Maybe because I was only four or five and Billy Joel looks sad (thoughtful) and there’s this clown-like mask... I still liked listening to that record though and I’d play it over and over. 

Man, I miss the sound of the needle just as you put it on the record. I haven’t heard that scratchy sound in a really long time.  Anyway, for some reason, “Vienna” has made its way into my consciousness again. Have a listen and let me know what you think.

“Vienna” by Billy Joel, The Stranger, 1977.

Slow down you’re doing fine
You can’t be everything you want to be
Before your time
Although it’s so romantic on the borderline tonight

Too bad but it’s the life you lead
You’re so ahead of yourself
That you forgot what you need
Though you can see when you’re wrong
You know you can’t always see when you’re right

You got your passion you got your pride
But don’t you know that only fools are satisfied?
Dream on, but don’t imagine they’ll all come true
When will you realize
Vienna waits for you

(partial lyrics)

Say not, “I have found the truth,” but

rather, “I have found a truth.”

Say not, “I have found the path of the soul.”

Say rather, “I have met the soul walking

upon my path.”

For the soul walks upon all paths.

The soul walks not upon a line, neither

does it grow like a reed.

The soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of

countless petals.

~ Kahlil Gibran

Wabi-sabi

Let It Be

As I was waiting to have some blood work done in the lab today (just an annual check-up), John Lennon’s song Imagine started playing on the sound system. I’ve been pondering The Beatles in general lately. I think they were so cool. Not particularly because of the men that they were, but because of the truth that many of their songs point to.

Their music appeals to such a large audience and depending on where you are at on your journey, the songs might have very different meanings for you. John, Paul, George, and Ringo were definitely on the spiritual path. They were sharing higher truth. I can see that now. In my youth, the Beatles’ songs I loved were appreciated at a simple (material) level. Now, I appreciate them for their deeper (spiritual) truths and I am grateful for The Beatles’ astounding contribution.

Just before I left the lab, the technician shared with me that her favourite Beatles song is Let It Be. I love that song too. It can be a useful mantra in times of uncertainty. 

“Let It Be” by The Beatles, Let It Be, 1970.

And when the night is cloudy

There is still a light that shines on me

Shine until tomorrow

Let it be.

I wake up to the sound of music

Mother Mary comes to me

Speaking words of wisdom

Let it be.

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be

There will be an answer

Let it be.

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be

Whisper words of wisdom

Let it be...

(partial lyrics)