Mirror Mirror On The Wall

The people we are in relationship with
are always a mirror, reflecting our own beliefs,
and simultaneously we are mirrors, reflecting their beliefs.
So… relationship is one of the most powerful tools for growth….
If we look honestly at our relationships,
we can see so much about how we have created them.

~ Shakti Gawain ~

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A Profound Quote!

“Most people can look back over the years and identify a time and place at which their lives changed significantly. Whether by accident or design, these are the moments when, because of a readiness within us and a collaboration with events occurring around us, we are forced to seriously reappraise ourselves and the conditions under which we live and to make certain choices that will affect the rest of our lives.”  – Frederick F. Flack

What a profound quote…..

People around the world are reappraising their lives.  How have we been living?  What changes can we make in our own lives to leave Mother Earth a better place for future generations?  Towns, villages, communities and cities are going through global change .  What affects one, affects all.  People are concerned for the future of their children, and grandchildren.  As well they should be. Changes are happening rapidly around the planet.  People are speaking up, exposing old corrupt systems that have not been for the highest and greatest good of the people. Grassroots movements are cropping up everywhere.  It’s like the 60’s with more focus and enlightenment. I did so love the 60’s!

Have you noticed how many people are planting their own food?  I know people all over the world are growing organic gardens, looking for cleaner water, choosing to live a more simple, peaceful life.  There is a reconnection with Nature.  She has amazing gifts to share with those who acknowledge her presence with love and respect.  The damage that has been done can be repaired, but it will take many coming together individually and collectively for the beautiful shifts we dream of.  This is a time of significant change for all of us.  It can be by design if we each step in to do our part.

There is a need to look beyond color, nationality and class.  There is a pecking order that does not serve anyone. We are all a part of life, all connected.  A creation of  the Universe….our existence depends on us.  Striving to have a better home, car, job or more money than your neighbor, when coming from a place of ego, is not neighborly!  It is ego driven identification. We are God beings in physical bodies expressing ourselves in every moment through thought, feeling and action.  We are creators who create in every single second.  Let’s be vigilant about what we are creating for ourselves and others.

Debra Oakland @ Living in Courage Online

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Trusting In Nature

Here is my friend Steve Tallamy’s monthly article (August 2010) for Living in Courage.  Thank you Steve, I love this article!

The Article I Didn’t Want You To Read!

A few months ago I started to write an article for Debra to share with you here but after rereading it on more than one occasion I didn’t think it good enough to grace her wonderful website. So I stuck it my Work In Progress folder with the intention of reworking and fishing it another time. I didn’t want you to read it as it was!

Then Debra insisted (she can be quite insistent, have you noticed?) that I read the ‘Ringing Cedars’ series of books by Vladimir Megre about ‘Anastasia’ and her dream of changing the world and mankind back into a state of purity. I won’t harp on about the books here as Debra has featured them in her newsletter this month and I have been mentioning them non-stop.

Suffice to say here that once I started to read the ‘Anastasia’ books I couldn’t put them down; there was so much to think about in each chapter that I couldn’t wait to get started on the next one. As I read each page I began to realize that the article I had written, the one I didn’t want you to read, bore an uncanny relationship to what I was reading. So bearing in mind that the following is not the finished article (excuse the terrible pun – I’m English) here is what I didn’t want you to read.

Trusting In Nature

By now you will know that I have a great love of Nature and a passion for gardening. But I am what my family and friends call a ‘lazy gardener’, to which I always reply, “I’m not lazy, I trust in Nature and what she wants to grow will grow and what she doesn’t want to grow – just won’t grow, simple.”

You see when I sow seeds or buy a new plant I don’t read all the instructions about what kind of soil it prefers, how often it should be watered and fed, when it should be sown or planted; Hey, you don’t see labels hanging off the trees and bushes in Nature do you! I don’t do any of that, I just find a vacant piece of soil and sow the seeds or plant the plant, that’s it.

What I do spend a bit of effort in doing is to find ‘heritage’ seeds and plants, the old varieties that over the years and seasons Nature has nurtured and naturally given an advanced immune system and survival instincts. These to my mind are so much more likely to mature given the growing methods I use than the artificial hybrid varieties, plus of course it helps to keep the life-line going for future generations to grow and naturally develop.

My theory is this, if you love and trust in Nature she will do all of the hard work for you, she will supply the sun the rain and the natural goodness for the plant to grow, and grow it will, if she wants it to. If she doesn’t then it won’t, trust her and don’t plant those types of plant there again, try something different and see if Nature likes that one better. The thing that annoys people the most it that despite them spending a fortune on special feeds, fertilizers and composts, spending every waking hour feeding and watering, pruning and weeding, their plants often than not fare a lot worse than mine.

Don’t get me wrong, I do water my garden from time to time and hoe up a few weeds but I don’t make it a chore. I love and trust in Nature and she responds in kind.

The End – Sort of!

Well that’s it, you’ve read it now, and if you have read any of the books in the ‘Ringing Cedars’ series you will see the connection. Love and Trust is so much better than chemicals, artificial fertilizers and man made hybrids, not only in gardening but in every other aspect of life too. The big bonus is that we already have both of those components love inside of us and they came free of charge …use them daily, they create miracles!

Why You Should Be Writing Articles and Blogging About Your Business
and Find Out How I Can Help You To Succeed at -

http://stevetallamy.com/
http://writeforyoursite.co.uk/

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Self Alignment – Are You In?

As I lay in bed with the strange sensation of vertigo, I have been contemplating life and the seeming inability for humanity as a whole, to change.  I have often talked about the garden of our consciousness.  Pulling weeds, then planting seeds of love, wisdom, peace, gratitude and grace.  All watered with unity.  As we make a conscious effort to make changes within ourselves from the inside out, shifts occur.

But what about our Higher Selves? The true perfection of who and what we are.  Imagine our Higher Self, or Presence trying to plant just ONE seed of a Universal Law inside us. One that can be nourished and grow!  Not easy to do, as we all run around busy busy, trying to survive in the “outer” world.  That one seed could deliver our true identity, or some information critical to our survival as a species, or our gift – the passion in life we came here to live.  I want that connection, don’t you?

This is two fold.  One, by taking responsibility for our own life’s garden. Two, by being receptive to a more important message from our one true source.  It’s time to take the blinders off, to get busy living our true authentic life.  Not the person the world thinks we are, or expects us to be.  Reaching inside gives us the courage to look deeper, past what is in the “outer” world.  Only by living from the inside out, will we survive on this planet.  Unity is critical at this point.  Everyone needs to come to terms with the fact that we have created quite a mess down here.  We do have the ability to re-align ourselves and this beautiful planet, back to the original state of purity/perfection of creation. Our responsibility is to our Creators, the Collective, Mother Earth and all her Kingdoms.  It is time to return to that divine place in our hearts that will heal everything, bringing us all back into alignment.  Are you in?

Debra Oakland @ Living in Courage Online

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What Is The Nature Of Things?

This post is from my wonderful friend and monthly guest writer Steve Tallamy.  I love the powerful connection Steve has to Mother Nature, as well as her beautiful gifts to life.  Steve is an excellent writer.  I highly recommend Steve if you are looking for someone to write articles for your blog or business.  Contact him at at this link – Write For Your Site.

What Is The Nature Of Things?

We often use the term, ‘it’s not in my nature’ or ‘it’s in their nature,’ but what does that really mean and what is ‘nature’?  I looked the saying up and the general consensus was that it relates to ‘the fundamental qualities of a person or thing; identity or essential character.’

So, if that’s the case to my way of thinking it means that ‘nature’ is in all of us, which begs another question.  If ‘nature’ is in all of us, why are some peoples ‘nature’ good and some peoples not so pleasant?   My theory (more of a fact than a theory) is that the not so pleasant folk have lost touch with ‘nature’ whilst the nicer ones like you and me are connected and in touch with it, but in touch with what?

Nature!  The nature that is all around us, the nature we are all connected to and a part of – True Nature. It is in us all, we just need to connect with it, cherish it and hold onto it.  That is what ‘the nature of things’ means, it’s not a thing, identity or essential character. They are all ‘ego’, totally different things to ‘nature’ altogether.

True nature is in our heart, it’s our soul, our inner-selves and that is what we have to be in touch with and be connected to.  Being in tune with the nature that is in our hearts, appreciating the simple beauty in the things around us, living in the moment we are in and truly touching, smelling, feeling and seeing it that is the true nature of us all.

Unfortunately many of us have forgotten how to do be in tune with ourselves and miss so much of what is all around us.  We try to dissect and understand too much about anything and everything; let’s face it if mankind were bumble bees we would get up every morning, look at ourselves in the mirror and panic, saying, “I’m too fat, my body’s the wrong shape, my wings are too small, I can’t possibly fly!” and go straight back to bed and worry about it until we got up and went through the same ritual the next morning.

These words from Walt Whitman and ‘Leaves of Grass’ sum up how I feel we should be approaching and connecting with the nature within us:

“I exist as I am, that is enough,

If no other in the world be aware I sit content,

And if each and all be aware I sit content.

One world is aware, and by the far the largest to me, and that is myself,

And whether I come to my own today or in ten thousand or ten million years,

I can cheerfully take it now, or with equal cheerfulness, I can wait.”

So take a leaf out of the Bumble Bee’s book of life and accept yourself, others and everything around you for what they truly are, don’t try to fathom the world out, enjoy and appreciate it and be in touch with your true nature.

Why You Should Be Writing Articles and Blogging About Your Business
and Find Out How I Can Help You To Succeed at -

http://www.stevetallamy.com

http://www.writeforyoursite.co.uk/

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Say Yes To Love

A Poem from Mark Rhoads

Say Yes to Love

Once upon a time
A child was born
Joining several billion
Brothers and sisters
Born of love, precious
Loved by the ancestors
Destined for the dance of
Everyday life.
Growing up, growing old
And the question is
Did anything really happen?
Other than love, sweet love?
Kindness, peace and joy?
Love is the only thing
Remember, that one day
You will join the ancestors
Fear not, for
Everything is conserved
Nothing is destroyed
Live your life in love
Someday a rainbow will be
Painted across the sky
A sign perhaps?
Or a reminder, to us all, to
Say yes to love.

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Tips for Love

Look in the mirror, deep into your eyes and say ” I love you ………..”  Do it with feeling and intention.

Tell your body you love it. There is intelligence in every cell of your body. Talk to, direct and love it.

Go easy on yourself – stay away from the negatives, until the positives take over.

Feed your body nutritious food, clean water and exercise in some way. The body is made to move. Walk, run, dance, work out, whatever resonates with you. It has to be something you enjoy, not dread doing. Your body will thank you. When your body feels good, you feel good. Co-Create in Love.

Never stop searching for wisdom in regards to your physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Let go of fear and doubt. They cannot coincide where love lives.

Be kind and loving to others and they will be kind and loving to you.

Make gratitude your attitude and pay it forward.

LOVE is LIGHT, so keep it FUN!! We are supposed to have fun as God in action.

Debra Oakland @ Living in Courage Online

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The Neglected Garden

My friend Steve Tallamy is a guest writer here at Living in Courage. Steve has written “The Neglected Garden” from the heart.  Steve is a nature lover who is very connected to Mother Earth, and her beautiful kingdoms. I look forward to sharing his articles once a month, which are sure to be filled with wisdom, humor and guidance.  Visit Steve at http://stevetallamy.com/

http://writeforyoursite.co.uk/

The Neglected Garden

We have all seen that piece of wasteland in our neighbourhood that the developers get their hands on to turn into luxury flats that no one in that area could possibly afford to buy.  Or we have taken over a new home where the once beautiful garden has long been neglected.  The first thing we or the developers do is to bring in the troops to dig, burn and spray to indiscriminately clear the land of everything that once grew there. Come the spring the land is barren, no colour, no scent, no shape or form.  Except if you look close enough the shoots of those deep rooted tough old thorny brambles and thistles.  These hardy plants (they are plants, not weeds) survive and will flourish again, multiplying year upon year.  Even if we build our new homes or construct new gardens on top them they will eventually push their way through in their desire to live.

These words came to me not when building a new home or giving my garden a makeover.  They came with a brand new awakening from inside of me.  For years I have been on the path of finding the real me, to make a better life for myself, a life of happiness and love with a good chunk of financial stability thrown in.  After beginning my new program of healing, things are become clearer day by day, slowly but surely, bit by bit, I am learning more and more about myself. Now,  I see my former self as that neglected garden, the troops as the many so called Guru’s I have listened to and believed; the digging, burning and spraying are all of the self-development books and videos I have read and watched.  I turned myself into the barren landscape of no colour, scent, shape or form, having stripped myself not only of the unwanted plants but the ones I needed to keep but didn’t recognize. Of course the brambles and thistles of my deep rooted fears now had plenty of room to flourish; choking me with even more self-doubt than ever before and without any shape or form to build upon, my soul became a neglected wasteland again.

The lesson we can all take from this is to look at our gardens before stripping them bare, seek out the beauty, the shapes and forms of our lives that we love and enjoy.  Do this before we clear away the brambles and thistles, nurture the roses and fruit bearing trees and come springtime there will be a balance in our garden and more harmony in our lives.  But never forget to prune and feed it from time to time or the wasteland will return stronger and more powerful than ever before.  Having a love and respect for Nature is having a love and respect for yourself, for you and Nature are one.

Steve Tallamy

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How Was The Trip? A Story On Perspective

My friend Chris Cade shared this story recently and I want to share it with you.  I do not know the author, but love the wisdom his story bestows.  It’s all perspective!

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?”

“It was great, Dad.”
“Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked.
“Oh yeah,” said the son.
“So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?”, asked the father

The son answered:

“I saw that we have one dog and they had four.
We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.
We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.
Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.
We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.
We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.
We buy our food, but they grow theirs.
We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.”
The boy’s father was speechless. Then his son added…

“Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.”

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The Light at the “End of the Tunnel” is YOU!

The light at the end of the tunnel is YOU.  Are you waiting for a person, place or thing outside of yourself to be that light?  At the end of the day, only you can fully illuminate your life.

Imagine a room is in total darkness.  You can’t move the darkness out, carry it out or shout it out.  You can open a window to let the light pour in.  Then, voila, the darkness disappears.  Many things in life cultivate in darkness.  Baby’s grow in the mothers womb, seeds are planted in the darkness of the soil. At night, you can see the stars. We sleep in the darkness behind our eyes, taking  journeys throughout the universe.  We emerge into the light from all these different states. The light brings clarity, a sense of awareness and growth.  We feel alive and refreshed. Why? Because you are the light.  It is the stuff  you are made of.  Our true nature is divine beings of love and light.

Think of the garden of your consciousness.  Love, peace, courage, joy, abundance, happiness, health, creativity, success and an abundance of all good things exist. On the other side is fear, judgment, worry, doubt, criticism, unhappiness, limitation, sickness and disappointment.  Which part of the garden of your consciousness are you going to nurture with your attention? How much light are you going to shine in your own life? The light at the “End of the Tunnel” is YOU!

Debra Oakland @ Living in Courage Online

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