Renewal

Seasons passing

Doorways closing

Darkness falling

Life on hold

Presently waiting

Memory failing

World decaying

Out in the cold

Hope embracing

Bright awakening

New beginnings

Taking hold

Love affirming

Cycles promising

Warmth returning

Miracles unfold.

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lukeibis/4107371968/

Toronto's Distillery District

A few weeks ago, my husband had an art exhibition in one of the galleries within Toronto’s historic Distillery District. And as it was such a beautiful afternoon, I took the opportunity to snap a few photos of the area to share with you.

The Vintage Gardener: An absolutely enchanting little flower shop. 

En route to Balzac’s for a latte.

An interior shot of Balzac’s (not mine) – because I had to show you the most beautiful coffee shop I’ve ever seen.

Outside Arta Gallery where my husband occasionally shows his work.

Cobblestone streetscape.

The Fermenting Cellar: A grand place to hold any special event.

Want to know more? Check out this clip on YouTube:

Perspective

A few weeks ago, someone emailed me a portion of a speech attributed to Brian Dyson, CEO of Coca Cola. It serves as a reminder to us all of where our priorities really need to be:

“Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them – work, family, health, friends and spirit … and you’re keeping all of these in the air.

You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls – family, health, friends and spirit – are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for Balance in your life.”

While it’s certainly not revolutionary news or anything we don’t all truly know in our hearts, for me at this time it struck a chord. This is because for the past few years, I have been so focused on my career and creative endeavours, that I have given them way too much importance. The kids, of course, have always come first, but I would have to say that everything else has placed after work on my priority list – to my detriment. But that is changing.

You may have noticed that I’ve been a little scarce over the past few weeks… and that trend is going to continue for the next little while. Right now, my main focus has to be my family, my health and our general wellbeing. Everything else is really going to have to take a back seat.

But blogging is too much fun for me to just give up; I would miss you all far too much! So I will be around… just not quite so regularly as before.

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/manzar/120216635/

Autumn Revival

Cooler morning breezes

Begin to sweep away

The haze

Of summer dreams

From restless minds

Signaling

Refreshed desires

For growth

To awaken once more

In body & spirit.

Sunday 160 is a creation of Monkey Man. If you’d like to participate or check out other 160s visit him here!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dreadwear/4041943771/

The Neglected Garden

Once she flourished under their need. The more she gave, the more beautiful her life seemed. Now, what remains is a mother’s choked spirit - her love overgrown.

Sunday 160 is a creation of Monkey Man. If you’d like to participate or check out other 160s visit him here! This has also been a Magpie Tale. Interested in reading more? Click right here!

Views of Muskoka

We’re city folk, so we never “rough it” on our vacation. Nice view, eh?

But we do enjoy spending time with nature…

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

Exhibit C

And we like to hike…

Shop (An awesome little metaphysical store)…

Eat (Best Italian food North of Toronto)…

And take-in local culture
(sculpture of painter Tom Thompson)…

This is a 55 Flash Friday piece. If you’d like to participate, or read other 55’s, just visit the G-Man at http://g-man-mrknowitall.blogspot.com/ … every Friday.

Instant Chemistry

A casual glance in the right direction captures another. Magnetically connected, as time stills and heartbeats hasten. The remembrance of souls divinely united.

Sunday 160 is a creation of Monkey Man. If you’d like to participate or check out other 160s visit him here!

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zone5photos/2602797010/

Under Cover

Plainly hidden

Amidst the crowd,

Exhibiting only

What is necessary

To function,

To participate

Within

The charade.

Inner secrets

Heavily guarded

As personal treasure,

Locked away

From quizzical eyes

Longing to judge

And create

Unease.

Lost to a world

In need

Of originality,

The potential costs

Seemingly too dear.

The soul’s price

Remains, yet

Unconsidered.

This is both a Magpie Tale and a 55 Flash Fiction piece. Interested in reading others? Click here… http://magpietales.blogspot.com and here… http://g-man-mrknowitall.blogspot.com/

Laid to Rest

"Come back to bed," she whispered

Softly to the wind,

"My heart grows cool without you,

As the light between us dims.”

“Come soon, my love, remember

How I burned for your caress?

Before the flames expire

And our passion’s repossessed.”

“The time grows late,” she pleaded

Though resigned now to the chill,

She sunk beneath the covers

Where he found her cold and still.

This has been a Magpie Tale. Interested in reading others? Click here… http://magpietales.blogspot.com

Out of Balance

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the importance of living one’s life in balance. This is, of course, because I am absolutely NOT living my life in this way at the moment. And while I certainly never intended for things to get so lopsided, nevertheless, they are.

Consistently working over-time at a job that gives me much too little in return, in combination with all the responsibilities that go along with maintaining a busy family household, have left me running pretty close to empty most of the time. It’s to the point now that even things that have always brought me pleasure – like blogging and keeping in-touch with good friends - just seem like more chores I’ve committed myself to doing.

I find myself fantasizing about winning the lottery – imagining how different my life would be if only… But of course, pinning one’s future happiness on this isn’t exactly practical. And when I break my dreams down to the specifics of what I need, ultimately what emerges is the desire for a peaceful home, meaningful work, time to do what I enjoy most, and the ability to positively affect the world around me. So is having more money really key to making this happen? Or is it just an excuse for not making some tough decisions now?

I’m thinking what I actually need is a realistic plan, which begins with taking a hard look at what in my life isn’t working. Then, for those areas identified as needing redirection, I need to map out how to get from where I am now to where I really want to be.  And finally – the real key – I need to follow through and make it happen.

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/spiritual_marketplace/4715401090/

160-Celebration

It came together at sunset,

With spectators on land and sea

There were barges filled with fireworks

And a cruise ship for live TV.

KABOOM! The party started in NYC!

Sunday 160 is a creation of Monkey Man. If you’d like to participate or check-out other 160s visit him here! 

NYCool

Made for the shade!

A view from above...

and below!

Keeping the Peace

I’m off from work today… but being the typical multi-tasking mom that I am it’s not much of a holiday. My older son, Noah, is starting high school in the fall and needs a uniform. So in an effort to avoid the line-ups in August or on any given weekend, we went today – and yes, it was a good idea and he really does look sharp in his new blazer, dress shirt and khakis. On top of that, we dropped the dog off at the groomer and were planning to hit Chapters for some summer reading material and maybe, I thought, I’d even get the chance to sit down to a nice lunch with my two sweet boys before swinging back to pick up the pampered pooch on our way home… but this was not to be as the cost of my sanity just seemed like too steep a price to pay.

Instead, as I’m sure anyone with kids has also experienced at least a thousand times, this is how it actually went down: A wee bit of boredom at the uniform shop led to finding amusement in torturing one another which after what seemed like a ridiculous amount of time dangerously threatened to ignite parental fireworks.

So, after rushing out of the shop with our purchases, and then urgently breaking all speed limits in an attempt to get the monsters kids home before completely losing my cool, I saw hovering above us a white dove with outstretched wings and tail feathers. This was very odd: First, because of how it was flying and second, because we don’t often see white doves in our neck of the woods. So this has to mean something, right?

According to spiritual psychotherapist and shamanic practitioner Steven D. Farmer who has written extensively on the subject of connecting with animal spirit guides, when we encounter animals in unusual ways it may be a sign to pay attention to what that animal represents. In this case, doves signify bringing peace, harmony and love into the world. As I was far more focused on the opposite feelings at that exact moment, I’m taking this to have been both a warning of not allowing my anger to get the better of me, and also a pat on the back for generally being a good peacekeeper.

While I know I can’t absolutely control my teens’ behaviour except through threats of extreme punishment such as taking away the Xbox, I do recognize that by consistently modeling a harmonious and loving demeanor, I can have a powerful and positive impact on them... even if they don’t immediately follow suit. So little dove, thank you for your timely message, and I will continue to do my best.

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21644167@N04/3116922475/

55-Tides

Timeless tides

Washing over her -

Gently covering, then

Exposing all that is - seeming

Without consequence.

With each new wave,

Ever more of her

Façade

Is worn

Away, until

At last, the light

Shines brightly for those

With wisdom enough to see,

Naturally guiding

All who seek,

Away from

Contrary

Dreams

Anchored in

Stubborn blindness.

55 Flash Fiction Friday: Compose a story in 55 words and report back to the G-Man at http://g-man-mrknowitall.blogspot.com/ …every Friday.

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cubagallery/3914422717/

Happy Birthday, Canada!

“I am a Canadian: free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, and free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.”

John Diefenbaker

From the Canadian Bill of Rights, July 1, 1960

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bad_air/4158421164/

160: Hard Lessons

United by a cause

That impacts us all;

Tragedy reminds us

The mighty can fall.

Hope for resolution

Waning by the day;

Time to take back power

As our leaders fall away.

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrick-smith-photography/4711475459/

Sunday 160 is a creation of Monkey Man. If you’d like to participate or check out other 160s visit him here!

To date, BP has received more than 20,000 suggestions from people around the world on how to stop the leak or clean up the oil. And I just read today, that actor Kevin Costner’s company, Ocean Therapy Solutions, has developed a technology to separate water from crude oil, which BP has contracted to use over the next 60 days.

Countless volunteers are working to assist wildlife relief efforts with agencies like the Audubon Society, Alabama Coastal Foundation, Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, Mobile Bay Keeper, Save Our Seabirds, National Wildlife Federation, The Greater New Orleans Foundation, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, The United Way, The Nature Conservancy, Gulf Coast Fund, Save Our Gulf and First Response Team of America.

On Monday night, Larry King is hosting a 2-hour special “Disaster in the Gulf: How You Can Help”. It’s essentially a telethon to raise money for three of the charities doing work in the Gulf and will feature celebrities including Chelsea Handler, Sting, Tim McGraw, Kathy Griffin, Alyssa Milano, Deepak Chopra, Pete Wentz, Ted Danson, Robert Redford, Harry Connick Jr., Jenny McCarthy, Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump, Aaron Neville, Kerry Kennedy, James Carville and Mary Matalin, Anderson Cooper, Tyson Ritter, Lenny Kravitz, Ian Somerhalder, Edward James Olmos, Philippe Cousteau and more!

As world citizens, we are coming together in this crisis. But ultimately, the best way to help the Earth is as individuals, recognizing the need to take more responsibility for the daily choices we make which really do impact our planet as a whole.

Along My Morning Route

While the weather is nice, I try to get outside and walk most mornings with my dog, Kobi. Our favourite way to go is along the ravine that backs onto our city subdivision.

Some of the plantings along the path are wild, like these roses may be. 

There are a few lovely little bridges like this one which leads from the street onto a footpath. Beneath it runs a small stream where I've seen a family of mallard ducks a few times.

This little robin was singing his heart out that morning.

Canada Geese are everywhere in springtime. Several families regularly swim together in this man-made lake.

Daisies are another wild flower that have sprouted up along the path.

Near the end of our journey: a nice place to rest and take in the view.

Prayer for the Gulf

Dr. Masaru Emoto is a scientist from Japan who has researched and published the characteristics of water. Among other things, his research has revealed that water physically responds to emotions.

Many of us are predominantly angry when we consider what is happening in the Gulf. And while justified in this emotion, we may be of greater assistance to our planet and its life forms if we sincerely, powerfully and humbly pray for the most positive outcome.

Below is a prayer that Dr. Emoto himself has proposed and which many of us have already begun to use. It is our belief that if we set an intention of love and healing that is so large, so overwhelming, we truly can perform a miracle in the Gulf of Mexico.

We are not powerless. 
We are powerful. 

Our united energy, speaking this prayer daily - multiple times daily - can literally shift the balance of destruction that is happening. We don't have to know how; we just have to recognize that the power of love is greater than any other power active in the Universe today.

Please join us in this quest.

"I send the energy of love and gratitude to all the living creatures in the Gulf of Mexico and its surroundings. To the whales, dolphins, pelicans, fish, shellfish, plankton, corals, algae - I am sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I Love You."

If you are interested in learning more about Dr. Emoto and his fascinating work, please click on this link: 
http://www.masaru-emoto.net/english/e_ome_home.html

Meet Us at the Water

Thank You

Thank you

For challenging me -

Your sacrifices have afforded me the opportunity to rise above my own pettiness.

Thank you

For holding up the mirror

So that I’m better able to see those areas of my psyche in need of renovation.

Thank you

For playing along with me,

Consciously or not, in this very human game of life.

Thank you

For pushing me

Up my own evolutionary ladder to the point where I can now recognize your greatness.

Though we have been rivals more often than not on this side of the veil,

I now consider this as a result of what must be our opposite regard for one another on the Otherside.

Because of this, you have my respect and humble recognition:

That without you, I would be less.

So once again, I thank you.

Namaste

Images: http://mi9.com/c2p1g3950f1i63692/creative-fractal-art-shamans-journey-56/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21644167@N04/2909756927/

Summer

“Then followed that beautiful season… 

Summer. 

Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; 

and the landscape 
lay as if new created 

in all the freshness of childhood.”
 

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nardell/43683342/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/anniedaisybaby/3664328028/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/urban_jungle/3965613072/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lanibarbitta/2684791749/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/madcheeper/2870849392/