Make Peace the Goal for 2023

  At the beginning of a new year we often make resolutions and set our intentions to better ourselves. Many of us wish for more peace in the world as each new year begins, and that is what I'm doing with the altar that I have dedicated to peace. 

    As I placed the symbols of peace on this altar I prayed that 2023 will be the year that the Era of Peace truly begins in the world of form. The Christmas card framed in green and gold displays the word "peace" in eleven languages. This and the golden globe hanging on my little tree remind us that people all over the world long for peace. Wars are waged by powerful and egotistic leaders, but most common people desire peace with their neighbors. When the will of the people, and the will of God prevail over the will of the egotists, there will be peace. 

    Doves of peace and a paper crane hang from the little tree along with the golden globe. Paper cranes have been symbols of peace since a little girl named Sadako died of leukemia ten years after the bombing of Hiroshima where she lived. Sadako believed that she would be healed if she could fold a thousand paper cranes. She made 644 cranes before she died. Afterword her classmates continued to fold cranes until there was a total of one thousand to be buried with Sadako. 

    Cranes had always symbolized long life, good health, and good fortune, but after Sadako's story spread around the world, the paper crane became known as a symbol of peace. I folded the crane on my altar as a reminder that no child should have to suffer the horrible effects of war. 

    Finally, the lion and the lamb lying together remind us of the Book of Isaiah where it actually says: "The wolf shall dwell with the lamb . . . and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together . . . ." Whether the lion lies with the lamb or the calves is not significant. The point is that Isaiah's prophecy illustrates a future in which animals do not kill each other and there is peace in all the land. 

    Every new year ushers in the possibility that this will be the year when enemies begin to recognize the humanity in one another, when children are cherished as the miracles they are, and all of nature is honored and we begin to restore the earth to its original beauty. Let us pray that 2023 brings peace to the world. 

You might enjoy Diana Cooper's message of peace:

New Year's Eve Message 

 

The Miracle of Christmas

     During the Christmas season we are asked to believe in miracles. Believe that a virgin conceived a child by the Holy Spirit. Believe that an angel came to Joseph in a dream and told him that Mary would give birth to the Son of God. Believe that angels came to the shepherds in a field outside of Bethlehem and told them where to find the baby Jesus! And yet, if anyone claims to have seen an angel in today's world, they are scoffed at and called delusional. 

    We are told that Jesus grew up to be a great teacher and perform many miracles. He said: "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." (John 14:12) And yet, many churches condemn those who perform spiritual healings because, you never know, the healing might come from the devil rather than God.

    Jesus demonstrated that life is eternal, and yet, we are told not to try to contact our loved ones in spirit. Catholics and other Christians may pray for their departed loved ones, but in Protestant churches we are told that we should not pray for the dead, and we should not pray TO anyone other than God and Jesus. Life is eternal, and yet many Christians believe that this one brief physical life is our only opportunity for salvation. They don't seem to believe in the miracle of a loving God who desires the best for his and her children. 

    I often feel that Christians have put themselves in a little box with God and their definition of God.  If church members stray from the perimeters of that box with questions, explorations, or imagination, they risk the wrath of God. If we tear down the walls of that box, we find that God expands to fill the outer reaches of the universe and beyond. In Matthew 19:26 we read that "with God all things are possible." So yes, it is possible - and most likely - that God has created intelligent beings on trillions of planets throughout the universe. It is possible and likely that many of these beings are more  highly evolved than we are, and that they are already among us, waiting for the day when we are spiritually mature enough to meet them peacefully. 

    With God all things are possible - and yet, many who pray for God's kingdom to come to earth do not believe it will happen. Some Christians have told me that we will never know peace in this world, even though we read in Isaiah 2:4: "They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." In Luke 2:14 we learn that a heavenly host of angels said to the shepherds on that first Christmas night: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

    We sing and pray about world peace every year at Christmastime, but how many believe it can become reality? Is it an impossible pipe dream, or do we believe that with God all things are possible? Perhaps if we truly believe the miracle of Christmas - that Jesus was born to save the world - and work toward that end, we will find favor with God and the world will be saved from the violence and mayhem we have allowed to exist for far too long. 

    I believe that if we open our hearts and minds to the possibility of miracles this Christmas, and every day, we will discover there is so much more to God's universe than we ever dreamed possible. Why not try it and see what happens?

 

    

Loving All the Children

    Look at the faces on these two little boys. Can you love them without knowing who they are? Does it matter if they are naughty or well-behaved? Could they be naughty because they don't feel loved?

    The little boy on the left is Donald Trump, and the boy on the right is Vladimir Putin.  I am trying hard to love and forgive these two people. It is difficult to do, so I have decided to picture them as little boys, before they had the opportunity to create havoc in the world. Now I can pray for them and love their inner child - the part of them that was created in God's image.

    Why am I trying to love these two people? It is because I believe the world is on the cusp of the Era of Peace and we need all of humanity to be a part of this transition. Many modern-day prophets are telling us  there are now more people than ever before who are in alignment with the will of God. Using our free will to choose divine will is the way to free humanity from the fallen state we have lived in for too many millennia. 

    Of course the world is still full of rebellious souls - the ones who keep violence and mayhem in the headlines and make us think that the world will never be at peace. When we let these people fill us with fear and anger we are doing our part to delay the coming of the new golden age. They need our love and forgiveness so that they will realize they are One with every other person in the world. When a man hurts another person he also hurts himself and everyone else. The more we can love those recalcitrant souls, the closer they will come to recognizing they are part of the Divine Oneness. 

    There may be many people in your life or in the News that you fear and hate. I suggest that you try to picture them as children, when they were more loveable, and send love to those little people. 

    Jesus said: "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). To understand the importance of loving your enemies, you might want to listen to this guided meditation: Era of Peace.

    

Election Day 2022

 

    The power of fear is driving U.S. citizens to the polls this Election Day, 2022. Members of both parties fear what will happen to the country if the other side wins. Campaign rhetoric is full of negativity regarding the opposition. 

    The opposite of fear is love. Let us take love with us into the voting booth, remembering that this country was founded on the principal that all people are created equal. Yes, the exact words are "all men are created equal" - but I believe the divine intention for this country was that all of humanity is equal in the sight of God. The intention was for  this to be a nation where people from all backgrounds and cultures would be welcome, and where we would revel in our diversity. 

    Too many ego-centric people let their thirst for power control their decisions and actions, preventing us from becoming the nation we were meant to be for 246 years. But the number of us who desire a government based on oneness, divine love, and reverence for all life has grown expeditiously in recent years. The time has come for the unified efforts of heaven and earth to manifest divine government in the United States, so that we might serve as an example for the rest of the world. 

    It is difficult to believe this is our destiny when we see the ongoing efforts of those stubborn, fear-based souls who refuse to give in to Divine Will. But their efforts, full of violence, hatred, and lies, are coming to the surface now - where they can be transformed by the light of truth and the mercy of unconditional love. 

    We can be a part of the divine plan for a heart-based government, praying for all government leaders to make their decisions based on love and compassion. And we can join in this invocation for divine government shared by Patricia Cota-Robles of the Era of Peace: 

Invocation for Divine Government

What Does the Cross Mean to You?

    

     The cross has different meanings to people depending on their religious persuasion. I grew up in a Protestant church where I learned that our cross was empty, unlike the crucifix in the Catholic Church, because Jesus had risen from the dead and the cross symbolizes the risen Christ. 

    Once, a Mormon friend, told me that the cross is not displayed in the Church of Latter Day Saints, because an instrument of torture and should not be revered. I kind of feel the same way when "The Old Rugged Cross" is sung in church. How can I sing about loving the old rugged cross when it was was used to kill Jesus and MANY other people in a sadistic, horrible manner?

  Sometimes I wear a silver necklace with a Celtic cross on it. The four arms of the Celtic cross are thought to be representative of the four directions of the compass, the four elements of Fire, Earth, Air and Water, and as representation of our mind, soul, body and heart. The center ring of the Celtic Cross is said to be evocative of the Celtic symbol for infinite love.

  

    The cross was an important symbol in many pre-Christian religions and cultures. The swastika was a type of cross historically used as a symbol in Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism. It was widely popular in the early 20th century as a symbol of good luck or prosperity. Unfortunately this symbol was adopted as a symbol of Nazism in the 1920s and 30s so it has become a symbol of fascism. 

   When I see a cross I think about the metaphysical symbolism: that the horizontal bar represents our earthly life, and the vertical bar represents our connection with heaven. Heaven and Earth meet at the center of the cross which represents the inner sanctum - the still, quiet place within where we connect with the Divine Mystery. 

    When my husband went on a mission trip to Ethiopia he brought back a pair of Ethiopian cross earrings for me. Ethiopian crosses are made of elaborate latticework - each one uniquely fashioned.  The intertwined latticework represents everlasting life. I like this meaning, too. And yes, I believe that Jesus died on a cross and returned to prove to us that life is everlasting. 

Heaven and Earth Collide on Halloween

    Wow. Suddenly this fall I am seeing skeletons everywhere. Skeleton lawn decorations are all the rage here in Wisconsin and the popular twelve-foot skeletons tower over many homes. I wonder if skeletons have taken over the whole country? The world?

    In recent years I have noticed that a lot of people go all out decorating for Halloween, sometimes even more than they do for Christmas. There is something about the macabre that captures the human imagination and gives rise to all kinds of jokes and imaginary creations such as animated skeletons, vampires, and the walking dead. 

    Halloween originated with Samhain, a three-day ancient Celtic pagan festival that marked the end of summer with its bountiful harvest, and ushered in the long, cold winter. The Celts believed that during this period of time, halfway between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice, the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds was at its thinnest. This belief was carried into Christian tradition with All Souls' Day honoring the faithful departed on November 2nd, and The Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday when families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives. 

    There are a variety of ways to celebrate Halloween, the season of fall, and the thinning of the veil. I prefer pumpkins and chrysanthemums to the fake graveyards and gory mannequins favored by many of my neighbors. I also like to think that the thinning of the veil between the third dimension and the higher dimensions creates opportunities for us to connect, not only with our departed loved ones, but with the angels, spiritual guides, and all the Company of Heaven. 

    I have a vision for future Octobers, when, instead of celebrating the physical aspects of death, people will celebrate and connect with worlds beyond the veil, where higher beings dwell in peace, love, and harmony. If this is the time when the veil between this world and the next is thinnest, it must be the best time for prayer, meditation, and invocations. It is the best time to pray: "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." That prayer may mean different things to different people, but to me it means a permanent thinning of the veil, so that we on earth will live peacefully, according to God's will. 

    

Let's Agree to Protect Innocent Lives

     

    Many of us in the United States are feeling hopeless about the ongoing gun violence in our country, and the lack of will among our representatives to address the issue. I was grateful last Sunday when our pastor conducted a post-service meeting for us to express our concerns and discuss ways to promote changes in our gun control laws. 

    The group made plans to approach our legislators at the upcoming March for Our Lives, to be followed up with a petition and visit to our state capitol. I have already called and written to my representatives, but still waiting for gun rights advocates to realize that children's lives are more important than their gun rights. 

    This is a blog about building bridges, but I confess I don't know how to build bridges with people who buy more guns every time there is a mass shooting, instead of working on stronger gun safety laws. One man who attended Sunday's meeting expressed his concern that an obligatory waiting period for gun buyers meant that it would be a felony for him to sell a gun to someone tomorrow. I can't understand how his right to sell a gun right away is more important than protecting innocent lives. 

    The 18-year-old who killed 19 children in Uvalde, Texas, bought two semi-automatic weapons and 375 rounds of ammunition just days before going on his rampage. If there had been a waiting period, he might have had time to reconsider his intentions before trying to kill his grandmother and then going to the school to kill children and teachers. 

    If there had been a higher age limit for gun purchases, this troubled youth would not have had the legal ability to purchase weapons. If he had had a background check, there might have been a red flag regarding his mental instability. Perhaps he would have gotten the help he needed?

    If semi-automatic weapons were not available for purchase by private citizens, most of the mass shootings would not have happened. 

    I really don't understand why people can't build bridges of peace by agreeing on some commonsense measures to prevent tragedies like the ones in Uvalde, Parkland, Sandy Hook, Columbine, and too many others. 

    Please join me in contacting your representatives to beg for commonsense gun safety laws. To quote author Hollye Dexter:

I am begging you to VOTE in every election. Every single one.

To SPEAK UP against this sick gun culture, even when it’s uncomfortable.

To hound your Senators to pass sensible gun reform.

Put this number for Congress in your cell phone (202) 224-3121. Use it often. You will be able to reach your two Senators and your member of Congress. Tell them to pass Universal Background Checks. To ban assault weapons (we did it before, we can do it again). To pass Ethan’s Law (Safe Storage).

Thank you my dear friends. We can do this!

Mother's Day: A Day for All Humanity

     Mother's Day is celebrated in many countries around the world on the second Sunday of May. It is a day to honor our mothers and grandmothers, but I am thinking about all the ways that everyone has a nurturing spirit that should be celebrated and encouraged today - and every day.

    I believe that the Great Divine Spirit is both masculine and feminine: Father-Mother God - and that we were created in that image. If only humanity would recognize and encourage both halves of the whole, I believe there would be peace in the world. 

    The feminine spirit of humanity has been oppressed for millennia. Most men do not want to recognize the feminine, nurturing part of themselves, and women are discouraged from demonstrating their logical, strong, and adventurous side. The resulting imbalance has caused most of the discord, violence, and destruction that has plagued humanity throughout our history. 

    Masculine and feminine energies need each other to be perfectly balanced. Either one in the extreme can be detrimental. It's important to recognize both energies in ourselves so that we can look for ways to balance them. For the most part, the world needs more feminine energy. We can encourage this in ourselves by nurturing anyone or anything in need; caring for those who are sick or oppressed, taking care of children or pets, nurturing the plants and birds in our yards, and all the other ways you can think of. And don't forget to nurture yourself with healthy food and activities. 

    I found this article that nicely expresses the importance of balancing the divine feminine and the divine masculine: The Divine Feminine vs. the Divine Masculine. As the article states: Male energy is direct and projects outward with decisive, positive action; it secures, strengthens, and "has a giving nature." Female energy, on the other hand, is cyclical. It's directed inward, it nurtures and assures, and it "has a receiving nature" (via SacredLightAlchemy.com). Humanity needs both to be whole and complete.

    Humanity has existed far too long as a patriarchal culture. Many want to see a return to the matriarchal society of ancient times when the Great Goddess was worshipped. I think, rather than going back to pre-historic times, humanity must move forward to an egalitarian existence, where all are considered equal, and every aspect of the human soul is respected and loved. 

    The divine feminine and divine masculine are often depicted as Father Sun and Mother Earth. Humanity cannot exist without both parents!

    

The Mystical Month of May

 

                                               

                                                                

2022  -  THE MYSTICAL MONTH OF MAY

 
by Patricia Cota-Robles
www.eraofpeace.org
 
May 1, 2022

Significant changes have recently taken place within every person’s Earthly Bodies due to the powerful influxes of Light we have all experienced since the beginning of 2022. Our I AM Presence has assisted each of us in assimilating these changes at a cellular level. Now, we are able to safely receive the incredible waves of Light we will be blessed with throughout what the Company of Heaven refers to as “The Mystical Month of May.”

 

In the Heavenly Realms May is considered a Mystical Month because of all of the special events that occur during May. These events involve Divine Intervention, outer world Celebrations and Celestial Gifts from On High. The Company of Heaven said that this year, following the monumental influx of the Resurrection Flame we have been receiving since the opening of the Equinox Portal on March 20-21, the opportunities we will be blessed with in May will affect us, in positive ways, more profoundly than ever before.

 

May 1st is celebrated throughout the World as Saint Germain’s Ascension Day. Saint Germain is known through all Creation as the “Keeper of the Violet Flame.” Every year on May 1^st, Saint Germain directs his Legions of Violet Flame Archangels to traverse the Planet north, south, east and west blazing in, through and around every particle and wave of Life on Earth the most powerful frequencies of the Violet Flame that Humanity, the Elemental Kingdom and Mother Earth are capable of receiving.

 

This powerful Gift is usually intensified for a 24-hour period. However, this year, because of the need of the hour and the tremendous progress we have all made in our ability to assimilate higher frequencies of Light, this Sacred Fire will build in momentum with every Breath we take for the entire month of May.

 

In order to help us grasp the magnitude of just what this Gift from On High means, our Father-Mother God are reminding us that throughout the whole of Creation the Violet Flame is the most powerful tool available for Transmuting negative energy back into Light.
 

We each have the ability to be an Instrument of God during this Cosmic Moment. Saint Germain has given us an invocation that will allow us to be the Open Door for this amazing Gift of Sacred Fire. If this facet of the Divine Plan resonates in your heart of hearts, please utilize this invocation throughout the Month of May and beyond, following the Guidance of your I AM Presence.

 
Violet Flame Invocation
 

“I AM my I AM Presence and I AM One with the I AM Presence of ALL Humanity. As One Voice, One Breath, One Heartbeat, and One Energy, Vibration and Consciousness of Pure Divine Love I invoke the most intensified frequencies of the Violet Flame that Cosmic Law will allow.

 

“Beloved Saint Germain and your Legions of Violet Flame Archangels, I ask that you blaze this Violet Flame with the power and might of a thousand Suns in, through, and around every thought, feeling, word, action, memory and belief that Humanity has ever expressed in any time frame or dimension, both known and unknown, that is reflecting anything less than our Father-Mother God’s Love and the Oneness of ALL Life.

 

“Transmute this energy cause, core, effect, record and memory back into its original perfection and seal it in an invincible Forcefield of God’s Comprehensive Divine Love.

 

“I accept and know that this Activity of Light is being God Victoriously accomplished even as I Call.  And so it is! Beloved I AM, Beloved I AM, Beloved I AM That I AM.”

 
A Gift From Mother Mary
 

Another wonderful thing that occurs during the Month of May is that Mother Mary opens the doors to her Temple of the Immaculate Heart in the Inner Planes for the entire month. She lovingly invites all of Humanity to visit her in our finer bodies while we sleep at night. In order to take full advantage of this opportunity all we have to do is ask our I AM Presence to take us to Mother Mary’s Temple of the Immaculate Heart when we go to sleep and it will be done.
 

Since we are One with all Life, we have the ability to ask the I AM Presence of every person on Earth to do the same for them by simply affirming, “I AM my I AM Presence and I AM One with the I AM Presence of ALL Humanity. What I ask for myself this night, I ask for every person on Earth in perfect alignment with his or her Divine Plan and the highest good for all concerned.”
 

Then, in the timeless and spaceless 5^th-Dimensional frequencies of her Temple of Light, Mother Mary will communicate with each of us individually, and all of us collectively, to determine what assistance she might provide  that will help us to fulfill our greatest need of the hour. 

 

Mother Mary has told us that her most important responsibility is holding the Immaculate Concept for each and every one of us to ultimately fulfill our full Divine Potential as Beloved Sons and Daughters of God. Due to the progress our I AM Presence has made this year in recalibrating our Earthly Bodies into higher frequencies of 5^th-Dimensional Crystalline Solar Light, Mother Mary said she is now able to assist us in ways she could not in the past.

 

Her assistance this month will be unique for each of us individually as well as what she is able to do for us collectively to raise the mass consciousness of Humanity. Mother Mary is encouraging us to pay attention each morning to the thoughts and feelings we have upon awakening. She said it will help for us to ask our I AM Presence to bring back tangible memories of our experiences with her in her Temple of the Immaculate Heart.

 
Acknowledging the Divine Feminine
 

Another event that greatly adds to the Light of the World during the month of May is the Celebration of Mother’s Day which takes place in several countries around the World. Mother’s Day in the USA and Canada will be May 8^th this year. In Mexico Mother’s Day is always on May 10^th and in France Mother’s Day will be celebrated on May 29^th.

 

This year on every Mother’s Day celebrated throughout the World our Mother God and all of the Feminine Aspects of Deity are going to flood the Earth with the highest possible frequencies of God’s Comprehensive Divine Love. The Company of Heaven said this intensified influx of God’s Comprehensive Divine Love will enhance and greatly amplify the tangible results of the Violet Flame that is bathing the Earth for the entire month of May.

 
The Full Moon Eclipse and the Golden Buddha of Enlightenment
 

All of the events in May will enhance the blessings Humanity and the Earth will receive during another influx of Light that blesses the Earth during the Month of May. This event is the known as the Wesak Festival which takes place during the Full Moon in the Sun Cycle of Taurus. This Festival celebrates the Enlightenment of the Buddha and the unveiling of the Golden Buddha of Enlightenment now pulsating in every person’s Heart Flame. This year the Wesak Full Moon will take place on May 15^th-16^th. During that Full Moon, we will also be blessed with a powerful Lunar Eclipse.

 

Enlightenment is a level of Divine Consciousness that allows us to KNOW the true meaning of Christ Consciousness or Unity Consciousness which the masses of Humanity are beginning to realize expresses the very essence of the Oneness of our Father-Mother God. The Beings of Light have revealed that this year during the powerful Full Moon Lunar Eclipse of Wesak, we will each experience through our I AM Presence and our Body Elemental a shift of energy, vibration and consciousness that will begin revealing, in new and profound ways, the Sacred Knowledge now pulsating from the newly unveiled Golden Buddha of Enlightenment in every Heart Flame.
 

We are being told that the first way this shift will begin to reveal itself to us is through a gentler and kinder way of perceiving even the most recalcitrant of our Brothers and Sisters in the Family of Humanity. When we recognize the TRUTH of the Divinity in ALL Life, we open our hearts and minds and experience new ways of thinking and feeling that are infused with Divine Love, Oneness and Reverence for ALL Life.

 

This in turn lifts us into a higher level of Unity Consciousness which allows us to clearly perceive viable solutions for all of the maladies still surfacing around the World to be Healed and Transmuted back into Light. Then, the TRUTH becomes blatantly obvious that we are One and only through cooperation and Reverence for ALL Life will the problems of the day be solved. With this Enlightenment we will realize with great clarity that indeed, “We are the Ones we have been waiting for.”

 
God Bless You,
Patricia Cota-Robles
 
Era of Peace
PO Box 17446, Tucson, Arizona 85731-7446, Phone: 520-885-7909
Fax: 520-347-5440    www.eraofpeace.org
 

This article is copyrighted, but you have my permission to share it through any medium as long as it is offered for FREE, it is not altered, and the proper credit line is included.

 
Era of Peace is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit educational organization
 ©2022 Patricia Cota-Robles

Unlock the Door!

    I consider myself to be an Omnist, believing that most religions contain some truth, but that none contains the whole truth; the whole truth being unknowable in this physical existence. Unlike many people who claim to be "spiritual but not religious" I do like to attend church for the fellowship and stimulation. I have attended a wide variety of churches in my lifetime, including Methodist, Presbyterian, Unitarian-Universalist, and Unity. In our new Wisconsin home Mark and I have been attending the United Church of Christ which I like for its progressive theology and it's comma logo, which "invites us to believe that God speaks through other people, nature, music, art . . . the Bible, and in so many other ways."

    Today's sermon centered on the story about Jesus entering the locked room where the disciples were sequestered after his crucifixion, and about Thomas not believing they'd seen Jesus until he saw the nail marks in his hands and put his fingers in his side where the sword had pierced him. When he had done this and proclaimed, "My Lord and My God" Jesus said, "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have believed."

    Our pastor spoke about the way so many people are like Thomas, needing physical proof before they can believe something. I have always been comforted by the words, "Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have believed," because I know people who have actually seen angels, spirit guides, and even Jesus, while I have retained a strong faith in the unseen side of life without having seen any of it myself. Pastor Christie also spoke about the symbolism of the locked room, something I had not thought about before. 

    The locked room can symbolize our minds; our creativity and imagination that so many keep under lock and key because we have not seen proof that anything exists beyond the limits of our senses and the acceptable beliefs of society. Jesus is the divine messenger of Love who can enter our locked minds when we seek spiritual knowledge as did his disciples. Divine Love can then release our creativity, our imagination, and our sense of wonder. 

    With open minds we can understand that Jesus was resurrected to demonstrate that life is eternal and always has been. If life is eternal there must be an infinite universe full of beauty and wonderful experiences beyond the confines of the world we know. Everything that exists began in the imagination. So let's unlock our minds and let our imaginations go wild!

    Astronomers estimate there are about 100 thousand million stars in the Milky Way and about 200 billion trillion stars in the universe. I can't begin to imagine how many planets revolve around all those stars, and how many are hosts to intelligent life. Not to mention the possibility of other universes that might be accessible through black hole portals (Black Holes Are 'Portals to Other Universes,' According to New Quantum Results).

    I know people who say it's silly to wonder about life on other planets when we have to take care of our own Mother Earth. I very much agree that we must take better care of our world, but I also believe that we must use our imagination to create a better world, and imagining a world where everyone lives together in peace and harmony can make us realize the possibilities for humanity. What would a world at peace look like? How would its inhabitants resolve conflict? With millions of worlds, there must be some where the inhabitants exemplify a peaceful life. Perhaps they want to help us and they're just waiting for the earth to become more hospitable so they can make themselves known.

    In addition to other physical worlds, we can imagine multiple dimensions right here in our own world. I know people with clairvoyant vision who have seen some of the nature spirits and other beings who dwell on other planes. I cannot see them myself, but my imagination reminds me that these invisible ones are helping my garden to grow and are doing their best to clean up the mess that we humans are making of God's creation!

    Once we unlock the door of our imagination, there is no limit to what we can discover about our universe and the possibilities for the advancement of the human race. I recommend these few books to jumpstart your imagination: 

    On Angels' Wings by Mariana Stjerna 

    Telos: Revelations of the New Lemuria by Aurelia Louise Jones

    The Real World of Fairies: A First-Person Account by Dora van Gelder

    There are many other wonderful books by authors who are not afraid to cross the boundaries of conventional thought. Feel free to share your favorites in the comments! 

Without Politics

    

    I have avoided any discussion of politics on this blog because politics are divisive and my posts are about building bridges of oneness. Yesterday I received a letter from Donald Trump and my husband, Mark, received a letter from President Biden. Comparing the two letters caused me to think about the divisiveness of politics and how difficult it is for the people of a country to understand one another and build bridges when leaders and media are doing their best to create conflict. 

    I would like to point out some differences in the two letters and leave it to my readers to consider how we can build bridges between parties in the United States, considering the ideas that are being promoted by politicians. 

    My letter from Trump began, "Dear Patriot," whereas Mark's letter from Biden began, "Dear Mark."

    Both letter writers are requesting money to support their respective political parties. Biden says: "If we want to get more meaningful legislation passed that's going to move this country forward, we need a fully funded DNC working to hold and expand our Democratic majorities in this November's midterm elections."

    Trump writes about Biden's failed leadership and how we are "a laughingstock all over the world." He says: "We can't let this happen! The only way to stop Biden is to elect Trump Republican Majorities to the U.S. House and U.S. Senate in November."

    Biden's letter only refers to Republicans once, to point out that they are trying to make it harder for Americans to vote. He never refers to Trump, whereas Trump's letter makes numerous derogatory remarks about Biden and the Democratic party, referring to "Marxist Democrats," "their allies in the Fake News Media," Biden's "Far-Left puppet masters," and "the radical Socialists/Communists who are hell-bent on ruining our country."

    Biden is asking for an investment in the Democratic National Committee. Trump is requesting funds for "Trump Republican Majorities."

    My thought is that we cannot build bridges between the people of our own country if we listen to leaders who use propaganda and name calling to further their goals. 

    By the way, Mark and I are not sending money to either party. We prefer to support the causes and individuals whose goals we believe in.

Pray for Ukraine - Pray for Peace

 

                                        Archangel Michael is considered the patron saint

                                          and spiritual guardian of Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv.

                                                              May peace prevail.

    This morning when I woke up to the news of Russia's attacks on Ukraine, I cried tears of anguish, thinking that all hopes and prayers for peace had come to naught. After wallowing in despair for awhile, I was reminded by my online friends that now is not the time to give up hope. 

    War gives us the opportunity to pray harder than ever. It's heartening to see posts popping up from all over the world, demonstrating the solidarity of the world's people of goodwill, all praying for peace. 

    Yes, most of us were praying for peace before today. We were praying that Putin would not attack, and yet he did. Some will now say that prayer is useless. Others realize that prayer is often not answered the way we want it to be, because we cannot see the whole picture. 

    The reasons for war and many and complicated, but the end result is always the same. As someone wise once said: “War does not determine who is right — only who is left.”

    More people than ever before now recognize the futility and evil of war. I am encouraged by the many prayers for peace being lifted up all over the world. Being faced with the evil of war, as we are today, even more people are raising their voices and spirits in prayer, bringing us ever closer to the Era of Peace for which most of us long. 

    Here is one of the prayers I found today, posted by Unity: 

    In this moment of emergency for Ukraine and Russia, we call ourselves to God-consciousness. We speak the word for harmony. We speak the word for order. We recognize no person, situation, or force greater than the power of God, the source of strength, wisdom, and courage.

    And here is a prayer from Marianne Williamson: 

Dear God,
Please send miracles
to the people of Ukraine.
Send angels to minister unto them.
Bring calm and peace to their frightened hearts.
Awaken in Vladimir Putin
the truth of who we are.
Soften his heart and remind him of his soul.
Please God, may there be peace.
Amen

    There are many ways to pray for peace. Choose your way. Let us pray without ceasing until peace prevails. 

myr (Ukrainian)

mir (Russian)

pax (Latin)

This icon for peace was created by a Russian designer, Natasha Alimova. 

For the Love of Birds

 

    I don't know anyone who doesn't enjoy watching birds fly overhead or perch on their birdfeeders. Lots of people from all walks of life put out birdfeeders, nesting boxes, and birdbaths to invite these feathered friends into their yards. True, birds can be a nuisance. We all grumble about bird poop on our cars, and I'll never forget the time I started out on a walk, then had to run home and wash bird poop out of my hair. But those are small inconveniences compared to the joy of seeing goldfinches, nuthatches, and woodpeckers feeding from the seeds and suet we put out for them. 

    We can build bridges of oneness with birds, because people from every culture and background love them. Most of us recognize the ways that birds benefit us and the environment. Birds spread seeds, pollinate plants, and control pests. They reduce weeds and fertilize the soil. You can read more about the benefits of birds here: Benefits of Birds. 

    We should all be concerned about the decimation of the bird population. In North America alone, there are about 3 billion fewer birds than there were in 1970. Almost 1,500 bird species are threatened with extinction across the world. Over 100 species have gone extinct in recent centuries.

    There are numerous reasons for the decrease in bird species. One of the biggest reasons is loss of habitat. Habitat loss occurs when land is converted for agriculture, development, resource extraction, and other uses. We can create habitat for birds in our own yards by reducing our lawns and planting the native trees, shrubs, and plants that provide the berries, insects, and pollen that birds need. Bird feeders are great, but birds need other food sources.  Baby birds, especially, require insects and caterpillars for protein and nourishment. Caterpillars: It's What's for Dinner.

    If you use pesticides on your lawn or garden you may be contributing to the demise of birds. First of all, the birds need insects for their diet. And second, some of these chemicals, such as neonicotinoids are toxic to birds as well as to insects.

    Free-roaming cats are responsible for 2.4 billion bird deaths in the United States each year. Please keep your cats indoors to save the birds!

    Learn more here about how to save the birds: American Bird Conservation

    This spring I am going to plant a native serviceberry tree and some native shrubs and plants to help feed the birds. What are your plans for saving the birds?

A New Year, A New Beginning

 

    A new year has begun and people all around the world are wishing one another a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2022. Many are praying for a more peaceful year in which kindness, compassion, and generosity prevail. People are making resolutions to be a better person in the coming year. Some are greedily planning how to oppress others in order to gain more money and power for themselves. I truly believe that the majority are wishing a better life for all of humanity. As more and more people visualize a better world, the sooner it will manifest in reality. 

    

    The most beautiful and hopeful words of welcome for this new year come from the pen of poet Amanda Gorman. 

"New Day's Lyric"

May this be the day

We come together.

Mourning, we come to mend,

Withered, we come to weather,

Torn, we come to tend,

Battered, we come to better.

Tethered by this year of yearning,

We are learning

That though we weren’t ready for this,

We have been readied by it.

Steadily we vow that no matter

How we are weighed down,

We must always pave a way forward.

This hope is our door, our portal.

Even if we never get back to normal,

Someday we can venture beyond it,

To leave the known and take the first steps.

So let us not return to what was normal,

But reach toward what is next.

What was cursed, we will cure.

What was plagued, we will prove pure.

Where we tend to argue, we will try to agree,

Those fortunes we forswore, now the future we foresee,

Where we weren’t aware, we’re now awake;

Those moments we missed

Are now these moments we make,

The moments we meet,

And our hearts, once all together beaten,

Now all together beat.

Come, look up with kindness yet,

For even solace can be sourced from sorrow.

We remember, not just for the sake of yesterday,

But to take on tomorrow.

We heed this old spirit,

In a new day’s lyric,

In our hearts, we hear it:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne.

Be bold, sang Time this year,

Be bold, sang Time,

For when you honor yesterday,

Tomorrow ye will find.

Know what we’ve fought

Need not be forgot nor for none.

It defines us, binds us as one,

Come over, join this day just begun.

For wherever we come together,

We will forever overcome.