Unexpected surprises

Sometimes unexpected surprises come to us in the simplest of ways such as this dish. What’s the big deal some might ask and perhaps it was just that moment that mattered for me trying to create a healthy meal for myself. Divine intervention or mere coincidence, I suppose it will always come down to the way we view things. And then….even worth blogging about…well that’s a whole other level yet.

This dish came about one evening when it was already very hot in the humble abode due to the days heat. Not wanting to cook and add to the heat, I was going through my perishables that needed to be processed anyways. A half of onion, a half of a yellow pepper, some fresh mushrooms and a little broccoli and it seemed as if it was the perfect combination and solution for the day. I enjoyed sautéing it in a little butter and watch the vibrant colors come to life even more so. And did I mention already that it was very tasty and healthy on top of it.

Well the moral of the story goes that it doesn’t take much to surprise and make me happy these days. I dwell in a simple space with little material things and it’s just fine. I have a storage unit full of stuff but honestly I haven’t missed much of anything besides my crafting stuff. Little meals like that make my day and thanks to them and much more, I am happy to report that I have lost ten pounds since the middle of June. Not too shabby I’d say.

The law of attraction

I’ve briefly mentioned it before but here is the low down and how the story goes. It was only a few weeks before we sold our house, with hardly any time left before we had to vacate, that I started to run errands to the grocery store to buy food and other necessities for the new humble abode. It would be different for sure in this new place for on my me and the Cinnamon Girl.

On three different occasion my total purchase at the register ended up being $111. I’ve noticed the second time, but the third time it happened really got my attention and I knew there was a message waiting for me.

I remember being distraught the first time I shopped by myself, for me, not for us, not for a common home. I walked through the aisles like a zombie, in my own world, suppressing the tears and all the hurt I felt inside from all the newness I had to adjust to. Surely it was by choice and yet it was in those moments that reality caught up saying “this is it, it’s really happening.” And then a message appeared.

After the third magical checkout and a total of $111 yet again my attention was on full alert and I had to look up the meaning of the number 111. Here is what I found.

The meaning of the number 111 is that you are manifesting what you’ve been focusing your attention on. Whether your past thoughts, feelings and actions were positive or negative, you’ve put yourself in a place to attract things (people and places) that match your energetic vibration. This is the law of attraction.

The universe was speaking to me and as little and subtle as the message was it was also very powerful and big for me. It was a nudge to keep going, to confirm that everything would be ok and that I was on track. The message was delivered and the number 111 had served its purpose. It didn’t show up again but the next shopping experience brought the number 112 as the new total for my purchase. Needless to say it got my attention from the very beginning since I wondering already if 111 was going to make a comeback. Instead a message arrived with 112.

Midlife and the Universe

Artist ~ Sourcing

Signs and messages always find us at the perfect timing, when we need answers, when we search for something, feel stuck, or have more inner work that needs to be done. Here is to all of us dreamers, the ones on a journey of finding self love, acceptance and being life long learners, leaning on each other and sharing our light. Long time, a fan of Brenè Brown, here is a little something to share that speaks to me.

I think midlife is when the Universe gently places her hands upon your shoulders, pulls you close, and whispers in your ear. I’m not screwing around. It’s time. All of this pretending and performing – these coping mechanisms that you’ve developed to protect yourself from feeling inadequate and getting hurt – have to go.

Your armor is preventing you from growing into your gifts. I understand that you need these protections when you were small. I understand that you believe your armor could help secure all of the things you needed to feel worthy of love and belonging, but you’re still searching and you’re more lost than ever.

Time is growing short. There are unexplored adventure ahead of you. You can’t live the rest of your life worried about what other people think. You were born worthy of love and belonging. Courage and daring are coursing through you. You were made to live and love with your whole heart. It’s time to show up and be seen.

Triggers

Triggers…we all have them. Have you noticed them, can you identify them? Do you know what triggers you? Triggers include a wide variety of scenarios, some self inflicted and caused by the way we react to things, others caused by people, circumstances and life itself. I have learned that either case, it dates back to a situation, to something we experienced, something or someone that caused us pain. These wounds often date back to our childhood, teenagers or young adults. If not acknowledged, dealt with and healed, it becomes unresolved trauma and pain we carry within, often for many years, sometimes throughout our life. We don’t really realize it until we are faced with a situation or a scenario that repeats and touches on this old wound.

These triggers and wounds leave us feeling vulnerable, attacked, criticized, belittled, weak, even angry, sad, and hurt. I’m sure there are many more we could add to this list and it depends on the severity of the situation and how we felt as we acquired the trauma so many years ago. It sure isn’t fun. We might get quiet, close up, try to reinforce that wall of protection that we placed around the trauma deep inside of us. We hoped to tuck it away so far, so deep inside, into the darkest corner, never to see it again, but here it is, emerging anew, reminding us of the pain we’ve felt so long ago when we first acquired the wound. No matter how much care we placed in hiding it, soon or later something will happen and we become triggered. The pattern repeats, leaving us vulnerable, and not in charge or control of when the next occurrence arrives. Unless we do the work to heal those wounds.

Every trigger is an opportunity to do so. To dig deep and go back to the root of when and how the wound got created. It provides the opportunity to develop emotional intelligence and to set boundaries. Rather than fearing this dynamic energetic interaction, consider it an opportunity to practice and grow more proficient. You are much more capable than you think and all it takes is that first all deciding step.

The Guest House

For many years I have struggled with how hard it is to plan for anything. When you have chronic pain, no two days are alike and you never know how your day is going to be until you wake up in the morning. Sometimes you’re blessed and it’s easier to manage, other times it takes a longer start to get going, and yet other times you can’t seem to get going period. Just recently I posted about the Pain body and how it reached havoc in my days for some time now. From there one of my followers shared “The Guest House” from Jalaluddin Rumi with me and it was divine timing as I had never heard it. Thank you John. I related with it so much, and it mirrored my own journey of trying to Embrace the rain as well as the pain. Rumi reminds us to acknowledge whoever shows up in the morning and to be grateful, for everything has meaning and a place. Yep, even when it hurts like hell and when it doesn’t make sense like so often. You may also take comfort in knowing that God’s and the Universe’s soldiers, it’s healers and light workers will always carry heavier burdens. Simply because they can handle them although it doesn’t seem fair. Still someone needs to share the light and bring those messages to others to inspire and help. This is exactly what I’m trying to do today and thank you to John who has shared it with me, I now share The Guest House with you.

The Guest House by Rumi

This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!! Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of it’s furniture, still treat each guest honorable. He may be clearing you out for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.,

~Rumi

Mudrās

Starting the week on the right track, I want to revisit some of my soul searching activities and aha moments of how to improve my health. I was in a world of pain and in search of another invention.

I knew that I had it in me to be on the rebound once more, despite of not drinking enough water, of letting kundalini Yoga fall to the wayside due to space, not practicing Reiki frequently and a non meditation schedule over the past two months. I was convinced that the body is a great healer, very powerful, with the ability to heal itself and ourselves. I still believe that our minds are very potent and that our thoughts impact us, good and bad. Now was the perfect time to prove this theory once more and I needed to get off of these steroids and NSAID’s.

I had long heard about Mudrās. Sometimes a full body pose, sometimes done with hands and fingers. I don’t know why I never learned more about it, but the time had come and these magical poses fell into my lap again as if saying “let’s take another look, this might help you.”

In my research it was confirmed that the body is more powerful than we think. Every inch of our hands have energetic connections with different organs and parts of the body. It is said that when specific hand gestures are maintained, electromagnetic signals are sent to the corresponding body part, which ignites a powerful healing process and various benefits. These hand gestures and poses are known as Mudrās and are worth to be explored. Giving it a try and combining it with Reiki or mediation seems like a perfect combination for me to try. Fingers crossed.

A Birthday – come and gone

Birthday Week has come and gone and overall this year has been a lot kinder to my heart. Somehow I took to heart your good advice and wishes for me to enjoy my special day, knowing that Mom would want me to, while cheering me on from above. There were moments of silence, of remembrance, of reminiscing, of missing her and wishing that I could call and hear her voice one more time. Thank goodness for the other recorded bits on the phone, still a far cry from the real thing. Yet I’m grateful to have those, although I am playing them less and less, not because I’ve forgotten and the need is no longer here, but perhaps until I reach the point where they don’t feel like daggers and inflict pain and self torture. I’m not sure if that day will come when I can listen to them and just smile.

It was a quiet day, peaceful, with many reaching out to wish me a happy birthday. I guess even a few “how old are you, are you single, I’d date you proposals” came through as well. I suppose I should feel flattered about them at my age lol. But instead I felt more surprised how direct and not beating around the bush at all these approaches have become. Just saying…and I suppose it’s the new face of social media. It has become a dating platform.

The day started with a surprise FaceTime call from my cousin in Germany. Despite a fuzzy picture and the connection cutting out, it was wonderful to see each other and to say Hi. Even more special since we were both smiling face to face after her telling me how important it was to her to reach me. It was a priority for her and it made my day. Breakfast waffles with fruit and Greek yogurt followed to start the day. Add a little drive in the country, ending up at a peaceful lake/reservoir, spread out under a large blanket after a short hike with Cinnamon, and the day was perfect. Even the weather Gods meant well and spared me the heat with more comfortable, a few degrees less temperatures. Needless to say it felt good and I enjoyed the little break. Besides a few pesky critters and something always seems to bite me. Blame my rare sweet blood type for it and this is why happens when you are too sweet, ha.

On the horizon was cleverly visible the big large plum of one of the two wildfires near me. So close to me, so far I have been lucky that the fires moved away from me vs towards me. Thank the winds for it and may it stay this way.

Driving over the large Dam wall we spotted that water was being released and it looked so powerful and like something you just don’t see every day. Cinnamon wasn’t tired anyways and up for another short walk, so we strolled down to the base of the wall where I captured this panorama picture. You’d think the walls would break any minute under the pressure of this powerful water release. It made the water look like white foam, shooting way up and down the River. I got pretty close and felt the misting. Had I not had Cinnamon with me, I would have stayed longer, maybe even ventured closer, but I was afraid of her falling in on the slippery rock. Either way this release was kind of symbolic for me, releasing the pressures of the past days, the fear of birthday week, and some other things I’ve been working on. The night concluded with a simple yet very tasty dinner, a bottle of Mike’s hard lemonade and just letting the day come to a peaceful ending. Not too bad at all and I know a foundation was laid to hopefully build on in upcoming years.

Full Buck/Stag Moon

The full Buck/Stag moon will appear in the night sky on July 23rd and be visible for three days. It’s been awhile since I wrote about the powerful moon energy and as things settle in for me and this moon is all about healing, I’m of course all over it. We all need healing on some sort of level and mine is multi dimensional. So let’s take a closer look to see what we can expect.

Hindus, Buddhists and Jains call it the Guru Moon because it’s marked as a time to clear off the mind and learn from the Guru or spiritual mentor. It’s a time for individual exploration and connecting deeper with your inner self. It is perfect for reflection and reconnection with our bodies and minds which can help us gain a clear perspective on an important matter.

Those born in late Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn might feel the moon deeper that other zodiac signs. Ahhhh…no wonder, and as a fellow Cancer I suppose this means “count me in.”

The full moon brings the opportunity to spend time outdoors and truly connect with nature in this blissful season. Find somewhere quiet, feel free to go barefoot to ground and connect to the earth.

The full moon is personal to each individual and sometimes it will be there to highlight our wins and manifestations will come to fruition. At other times it is there to shine that spotlight on what needs to be she’s in order to make room for the new. And let’s not forget to utilize this energy to release what no longer serves us.

To reap the fruits of the full moon, you can spend time meditating, journaling, or doing any other form of self care. Personally I hope to add drumming for the first time in months. Happy full moon everyone, let the magic begin.

A little visitor from heaven

It was Mom’s Birthday just the other day and as mentioned before that special day has changed a lot for me since her passing two years ago. Over the past two years it has turned into a time that brings up memories, but mostly the pain of her not being here anymore. It’s a day when her loss is just a little more apparent, and it cut’s just a little deeper than usually. A day that would cast a lingering cloud over my own birthday just one day after hers, and I found it hard to enjoy my own special day. I think it was in the days ahead that I prepared myself to feel this heartache all over again. I came to expect it, that it would unfold like it had in recent years. But this year was different and I had a little helper to distract me, my Cinnamon Girl. And then an unexpected visitor showed up and Mom came to play with her.

If you don’t know the story, it was only days after Mom passed that a dragonfly landed and sat on my hand in a serene park setting. Already believing in the signs of animal spirits I looked up the meaning and it was said that dragonflies assist our dearly departed on their flight to heaven. I was lost, hurt and sad, feeling the waves of Grief as I was working through my loss. I instantly knew that it was Mom, it was a sign from her to let me know that she was ok and at peace. I will never forget this powerful moment and it has stayed with me as a special occurrence and message from Mom.

We were out on a walk when a dragonfly, beautiful in black and white, a dancer between two worlds, between light and darkness came to visit us. Mom always had a special heart for animals, especially for dogs. Cinnamon was off leash, running through the meadows, head up into the sky, playing and chasing after something I couldn’t make out at first. I was too fixed on watching her enjoying herself, but then I saw it and it was a dragonfly. Again I knew right away that it was Mom and I smiled. She had come for her birthday to send another sign that she was ok. To lift my sorrows and sad feelings, and turn them into a joyful game of chase and dance. It couldn’t have been a better moment and I felt like I had received a great gift. And so did Mom by playing with my Cinnamon Girl. Fly high and happy Birthday Mom. Thank you for stopping by.

Mineral deficiencies

Once again I had reached a point of dissecting all the reasons as to why I was in so much pain. I acknowledged each and every part of it, questioning everything. I did a lot of soul searching and boy did I learn a lot. On an emotional and physical level.

Seeing what’s different, it came to mind that I haven’t taken my vitamins in over a month. Could it be that it played a role in what was going on? Even if a minor one? Was I withholding important fuel and nutrients my body needed, especially now during this most powerful fight of my life. I decided to start my regimen again and I’m curious to see what happens. What could it possibly hurt!!! It’s only one thing that I’m touching on here, at least for the moment until other posts are written, but here are some other things on the radar that I’m watching and hope to implement for further improvement.

Once again I am watching my water intake and as always it needs to be up’ed.

I am drinking more of the tart cherry juice that has helped me with inflammation before. Drinking it regularly is the key here and not just here and there when I remember.

I am drinking green tea mixed with chamomile tea and coffee has taken the backseat to once a week.

Check out this additional list and see if you can spot anything useful for yourself. It includes sure tell signs of mineral deficiencies.

ZINC weak immunity, allergies, thinning hair, acne or rashes, infections, diarrhea

CALCIUM brittle hair, dry skin, high blood pressure, tooth decay, tingling in fingers, chronic itching, lethargy

MAGNESIUM sleeping difficulties, muscle spasm/pain, anxiety/depression, infertility/PMS, headache, fatigue

POTASSIUM abdominal bloating, cramps, heart palpitations, nausea/vomiting, ringing in ears, feeling dizzy, constipation

IODINE low body temperature, weakness/fatigue, swollen/sore tongue, cold hands/feet, pale skin, weak nails

SELENIUM slow metabolism, slow wound healing, memory problems, hair loss/dry hair, infertility, low immune system