Building Bridges . . . with Snow!

                                                            View from my window 2/13/21.
   

    Winter is my least favorite season. I miss the days when I could run out the door without having to stop and put on a coat and hat, boots, scarf and gloves. Winter is the longest season of the year here in Wisconsin, just like it was in New York where I spent the major portion of my life. I don't like shoveling snow, slipping on ice, tracking snow and salt into the house - not to mention cabin fever which is worse than ever during the coronavirus pandemic!

    Hating winter as much as I do, I have to work hard to find enjoyment during the months of January, February, and March. (December is full of holiday celebrations, and winter is just beginning, so that one is easy.) I do a lot of reading, baking, and knitting. I have gone cross-country skiing with Mark a couple of times, but the temperature has been in the single digits and below zero with the wind chill factor this month, so I'm just hibernating in the house unless I have to go to the store. I walk my granddaughter to pre-school three times a week - a five-minute walk for which we are bundled up from head to toe.

    This morning Mark and I watched the snow fall on the scene pictured above while we ate breakfast together in our sunroom. We are grateful to have each other during this time of isolation. As we gazed out the window at our white neighborhood, we talked about the coming spring and how much we have to look forward to: our 44th anniversary, the flowers that will bloom for the first time in this yard, the fact that we and many others will have had our Covid vaccines, and the world will be coming back to life in more ways than one. 

    Meanwhile, the weather forecast predicts another week of sub-freezing temperatures and snow. Snow unites the neighborhood, as one yard blends into the next one. A blanket of white hides boundaries and reminds us that we are all one humanity. Snow muffles noise, creating a feeling of peace and quiet. 

    Diana Cooper (https://dianacooper.com/) who works with the angelic realms, tells us that Archangel Gabriel is always present where there is snow, purifying the land and bringing joy and hope. Diana goes on to say in her February newsletter: "Hope is the message for the Spring.  Hunker down for the rest of the winter but hold onto your vision that the new golden world will begin to show itself soon.  Remember this every time you see a glimmer of sunshine peep through the clouds.  Use this time of restriction to concentrate on what brings you soul satisfaction and happiness."

    This morning it brought me soul satisfaction and happiness to share waffles and raspberries with Mark, while watching the snow fall and listening to Andrea Boccelli sing this song of hope called "I Believe." 

I Believe Lyrics

One day I'll hear
The laugh of children
In a world where war has been banned

One day I'll see
Men of all colors
Sharing worlds of love and devotion

Stand up and feel
The Holy Spirit
Find the power of your faith

Open you heart
To those who need you
In the name of love and devotion

Yes I believe

I believe in the people
Of all nations
To join and care
For love

I believe in a world
Where light will guide us
And giving our love
We'll make heaven on earth

I believe in a world
Where light will guide us
And giving our love
We'll make heaven on earth

Building Bridges with Gardens

     

Garden and Photo by Casey Palmisano

       Is there a person in the world who doesn't enjoy the beauty of a garden? Even those who don't enjoy the work of gardening themselves can appreciate the results of the gardener's efforts. People of every nationality, political or religious persuasion, count themselves among the gardeners of the world, and even more people enjoy the fruits of the gardeners' labors. Gardening, and sharing one's garden with others, can be a wonderful way to build bridges of oneness!

       This spring many people found themselves stuck at home, thanks to Covid 19, and so many decided to use their time to beautify their property by building decks and pergolas, and planting new gardens. I have been admiring gardens all over the world, thanks to Facebook pages like "View from my Window" and "Garden Design and Ideas." And since my husband and I just moved to Wisconsin, where we have been busy creating new hardscape (Mark) and landscape (me), I have joined several Facebook pages specifically meant for Wisconsin gardeners.  

       I spent thirty years creating and tending flower beds at our home in Oneonta, New York, which I really missed this spring when nothing bloomed in our new yard except for the little blue scilla that popped up under all of the trees. Once the scilla died out it was up to me to figure out what I could plant in the hard, clay soil near the five black walnut trees which exude juglone, a natural herbicide that kills certain plants, including columbine which is one of my favorite spring flowers. 

      While learning to garden in Wisconsin, I began to learn about the value of native plants. I had known about the importance of milkweed for the survival of the monarch butterfly, but otherwise I had no idea that many bees, butterflies, birds, and other pollinators depend on native plants for their survival! While I had been disappointed that so few flowers existed in our new yard, I am excited about this opportunity to start from scratch with a different type of garden that will benefit the environment. 

       When people are excited about new ideas, they want to share what they're learning with others. I like to tell other gardeners about the value of native plants, but that doesn't mean I don't understand and appreciate why their gardens are full of what I would call "old favorites." I have discovered that some of the other Facebook gardeners are already gardening with native plants or are keen to learn about them, while others think I am judging them because their gardens are full of flowers that originate from other countries. My New York garden was brimming with these plants, from bleeding hearts and hosta, to astilbe, iris, peonies, and many more. I think the only natives in my New York garden were Black-eyed Susans and Butterfly Weed. I really had no idea there was any difference. So how could I judge anyone whose gardens are full of the same flowers I used to grow and still love?

       It's interesting, and a little bit sad, how easy it is for a group of like-minded people to split into factions of "us" and "them." I really hope that the gardeners of the world will continue to admire the beauty of one another's efforts while remaining open-minded about new ways of doing things. Maybe I will put a bridge in my garden to remind visitors that we can build bridges of oneness one garden at a time.

       

Now Is the Time

       As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread around the world, we tend to focus a lot of our time and attention on the people we hold responsible for its rapid growth. I share the feelings of anger and frustration with those who don't take social distancing seriously, those who refuse to believe that people can spread the virus even if they don't have symptoms, and the government leaders who have not acted preemptively to slow the spread of this virus. But I realize that when I focus on these negative thoughts, I lower my soul frequency to a level below the vibration of love and light that we must radiate if we want to eradicate this virus. 

       If you don't know what I mean by the term "soul frequency," just think about how heavy you feel when you are depressed, sick, or grieving. What does your energy feel like when you're angry?  And don't you feel buoyant and light when you listen to beautiful music, read inspirational literature, engage in creative activities, spend time in nature, or cuddle a beloved child? That is when you are raising your frequency to the level of Christ Consciousness/the fifth dimension/heaven on earth (whatever your belief). That is when you are letting your light shine as Jesus bade us to do. 

       This pandemic is a time of initiation for the whole world. Whenever we pass successfully through a difficult or challenging time of life it is a spiritual initiation that takes us to a level of higher frequency. It is very rare for the whole world to go through an initiation at the same time. (If it has ever happened before, I don't know when. Even the Spanish Flu and the world wars did not include every country that has been affected by Covid-19.) This initiation is imperative now because the earth and all life on it were in crisis before the pandemic came - and this may be our last chance to heed the call for unity. 

     In recent decades the world has been plagued with wars, famine, mass shootings, human trafficking, abuse and torture, and every kind of discord imaginable. We have seen an increase in floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, and wildfires. Disasters have always given rise to compassionate and heroic acts. Catastrophes unite people. But feelings of love for those outside of our own little circle tend to fade once the disaster has subsided. We have yet to learn how to raise our frequency and maintain it at the level necessary to bring heaven to earth - or perhaps I should say, to raise earth heavenward!

       When enough people focus on love, joy, beauty and light, the frequency of the world will rise above that of the coronavirus and it will disappear. As we keep our focus on love and unity instead of that which divides us, the human family will begin to co-exist harmoniously. 
I write this as a reminder to myself as well as for others. Every day I struggle to focus on what is good and beautiful. I am bombarded by reminders of everything that's wrong with our world. I hate the big trucks that lumber past my house, but I know they are delivering food and other necessities, so now as each one goes by I send love and light to the driver and thank him for his service.

       I hope that all of you will help me to spread love and positive news on the internet which goes out to so many people in the world. This is the opportunity of many lifetimes to bring about a lasting Era of Peace. 

Building Bridges with Corona

     

Balcony concert in Italy.

       This is a strange time to be in the world. When has there ever been another time when all of humanity had to practice social distancing for the survival of the race? Like so many of you, I am feeling the separation from the friends and family that I would normally see in person. I grieve for the thousands of people who are sick or mourning the loss of loved ones who have died of this virus. I weep for the healthcare workers who are overwhelmed by the enormity of their task. And yet, I also see the world community uniting spiritually during this time of physical separation. I see many ways in which the coronavirus is building bridges of oneness.

       People from all over the world are joining in prayer and meditation, creating positive energy and light for the healing of our planet, and offering suggestions for healthy ways to spend time alone at home. We have heard people singing together from their balconies in Italy and Spain; we have read poetry by those who have been inspired by the enormity of this experience; we have witnessed the selfless actions of those who continue to offer essential services, and those who sew masks or provide necessities to those who don't have them. My sister is posting online yoga classes and many others are live streaming programs of all kinds for adults and children. Our hearts are growing because of the need of the hour. We are reaching out to one another across borders and oceans, to seek solace, offer support, and share advice. 

       The coronavirus is helping us to recognize our oneness. May we learn this lesson now so that in the future it won't take a pandemic to wake us up to the truth of our interconnectedness.

       I'd like to share some of the poetry and images that give us hope during this cataclysmic time. If you have others to share, please post them under comments!

Poem by Donna Ashworth: 

History will remember when the world stopped,

And the flights stayed on the ground,

And the cars parked in the street,

And the trains didn’t run.

History will remember when the schools closed,

And the children stayed indoors,

And the medical staff walked towards the fire,

And they didn’t run.

History will remember when the people sang,

On their balconies, in isolation,

But so very much together,

In courage and song.

History will remember when the people fought

For their old and their weak,

Protected the vulnerable

by doing nothing at all.

History will remember when the virus left,

And the houses opened,

And the people came out,

And hugged and kissed,

And started again.

Pandemic

What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath—
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now,
on trying to make the world
different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.

And when your body has become still,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another’s hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.

Promise this world your love–
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live.

–Lynn Ungar 3/11/20

And this one by my brother:

Pandemic

Steve Harvester

Pardon me, my unknown friend,
For offering you this wine
Across our social distance.

It is bold, as we must be,
With hints of coffee, cherry,
Chocolate, plum, and leather.

Let us drink in together
Both the wine, and the sunlight,
As it turns brown grass to gold;
Hear the peepers spring to life.

“Pandemic” hints of “panic”;
Also “pandemonium.”
But here, now, across our space
I take your virtual hand.
Together, we raise glasses.
One leaf trembles on the pond
Then becomes perfectly still.

Balcony concerts in Italy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBByYjjvNzs

Europeans Under Lockdown Are Singing Together and Giving Their Health Care Workers Citywide Ovations: https://slate.com/culture/2020/03/coronavirus-quarantine-singalong-ovation-applause-italy-spain-bella-ciao-volare-nessun-dorma-verbena.html

From Patricia Cota-Robles at the Era of Peace: https://eraofpeace.org/blogs/news/a-positive-opportunity-involving-caronavirus

       

       Blessings to all of my friends around the world. Stay safe, stay well, stay home - but send your love and light around the world to keep those bridges strong!

Envisioning a Peaceful World

In August of 2011 I posted the following essay. I am reposting it now because I have started a Facebook group for people to share ideas about the New Peaceful World we want to create together. I do hope that readers of this blog will join and contribute to this group called Envisioning a Peaceful World: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1289483777899446/

All things begin in the imagination. “You’ve got to have a dream to have a dream come true” go the lyrics of one old song from the musical “South Pacific.” The only way to create a new and better world for the future is to imagine it NOW.

John Lennon promoted this idea with his famous song: “Imagine.” Some people assume Lennon was promoting a Godless world because he imagined a life without heaven or religions. His words, “Imagine all the people living for today” imply that we would live in peace and harmony with one another, our hearts full of love and compassion RIGHT NOW,  instead of basing our actions on the requirements of a future heaven and the threat of a future hell. (Even Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is among us - now - not up above the sky!) And there would be no religion, because so many wars have been fought over religious differences!

In the new world, as I imagine it, people would have faith in the divine spirit that connects us all. We would honor and respect the differences between people. We would love and honor every part of Creation, recognizing the connection and oneness of everything. This would not be a Godless world – it would be a God-full world!

In the world I imagine there will be an abundance of delicious and natural food available for every single person. Perhaps we’ll just go out and pick fruit straight from the trees and vegetables from the community gardens that will flourish in every village and town. We won’t need money because each person will freely give of his or her talents and abilities, and one will not be deemed more valuable than another. Unlike this world where entertainers are valued above everyone else, musicians and actors will perform for the love of their art and their audiences. There will be no violence in any kind of entertainment – in fact, no violence in the world. The very idea will be considered barbaric and antiquated. Better yet, we won’t even remember that violence ever existed!

I love Lennon’s line: “You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.” I’m a dreamer, too! Are you? I would love it if readers would add to my imaginings. Please comment: What do you imagine for the new world? Let your imagination go wild – with beauty, color, joy, and peace!

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

Manifesting with Unicorns

       Last night I watched a quirky movie on Netflix called "Unicorn Store." It was pretty silly, but I did agree with the premise - that unicorns are real! I have been learning about unicorns from Diana Cooper, who has met them and tells us: "Unicorns are seventh dimensional creatures, ascended horses who are fully of the angelic hierarchy. They have the same frequency as archangels and are returning now for the first time since the fall of Atlantis to shine wonder and enlightenment on us. They offer healing through their horns of light and are looking for those who have a vision to help others beside themselves. Then they will work with you to give you the strength and courage, dignity and purity to fulfil your purpose."

       Yesterday I received the unicorn oracle cards that I had ordered, mainly to share with my three-year-old granddaughter, who loves unicorns. But I am going to enjoy them myself until Clara comes to visit! I like the way the instruction book offers a "Layout for World Service." I am always seeking ways to be of service to the world, mainly through prayer and meditation, because I am an introvert. I drew cards for this layout last night and this morning, and both times I drew the "MANIFESTATION" card. This card tells me to focus on a vision beyond myself and my unicorn will help me. 

       I have been visualizing millions of unicorns going around the world, to touch all human hearts with their horns of healing light - so that all selfish thoughts and desires will give way to divine will, and light and love and power will restore the divine plan on earth. 

       The manifestation card says: "When you have a dream to help people or situations the unicorns will give you the strength, courage, and dignity to bring your vision to fruition. The affirmation is "I will do something to help others today." I decided that I would write this blog post to share with others what I am learning about unicorns and the way they can help us to bring about a world where love, peace, and joy abound in every life. 

Out of Tragedy Springs New Life

       The fiery destruction of France's Notre Dame Cathedral last night was met by reactions of horror and sorrow around the globe. Sometimes it is a tragedy like this that builds bridges between people of different faiths and cultures. Even those of us who are not Catholic recognize the beauty, the history, and the spiritual significance of this great cathedral, now standing in partial ruin. Offers of financial assistance for the rebuilding of the cathedral have already come from around the world, coming to hundreds of millions of dollars. Notre Dame will rise from the ashes, like the magical phoenix of legend. 

       This blog has been inactive for several months, but yesterday I noticed there were 115 views from France. The French, as well as many others, are seeking spiritual solace at this time of tragedy. It was heartwarming to see the crowds singing hymns and praying as they watched their beloved cathedral burn. I think their prayers were answered, because the facade, the twin bell towers, and much of the cathedral's interior, as well as artifacts and works of art, remain unharmed. No one died in the fire and only one out of the 400 firefighters was injured. 

       Many have noted the significance of this fire occurring during Holy Week. Just as Jesus Christ's physical body was destroyed at the end of this week, so the physical embodiment of "Our Lady of Paris" suffered the ravages of fire last night. Jesus demonstrated that the death of our physical body is not the end of our eternal life. The destruction of a cathedral does not damage the divine spirit the cathedral symbolizes. In fact, the spirit is made stronger when it overcomes tragedy and begins anew. 

       Perhaps the fire at Notre Dame Cathedral, a Christian icon, is a transformative fire that will lead to a spiritual renewal in which the Church will become more inclusive of all God's children. Signs of fire in Biblical Scripture signify God's holy presence, power, and glory, as well as the purification and cleansing action of the Holy Spirit. But fire is present in other spiritual pathways, and in many traditions it is a living presence which provides guidance and comfort. Divine flames can transmute negative energies into the positive energies of love and joy.

       It took a massive amount of water to squelch the Notre Dame fire, which brought to my mind the fire-and-water dragons that are a powerful force for movement and change. Fire and water together create steam, and steam-cleaning is extremely thorough. There are many aspects of the Catholic Church, and the Christian Church at large, that need to be deep cleaned. Let us pray that this deep-cleaning will be the catalyst for something new and wonderful. 

       This additional message comes from https://eraofpeace.org:

The Burning of Notre Dame

On April 15, 2019, billions of people around the world watched in horror as the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France burned out of control. The shock of this heart-rending event forced open the hearts of the masses of Humanity in ways that allowed the Divine Feminine to expand her Presence within every Heart Flame. This triggered a healing process that has been unfolding for over 850 years.
 
The most tragic result of our fall from Grace is that aeons ago we closed our Heart Chakra while trying to avoid the painful effects of our distorted human miscreations. This catapulted us into the abyss of separation and duality. We lost awareness of our Mother God, who is the Holy Spirit. We became oblivious of her Divine Love which is intended to perpetuate within us the knowing that we are One with ALL Life.  We also lost knowledge of the Divine Feminine.
 
We began believing that as Sons and Daughters of God we had just one single masculine parent, a Father God. Since that fateful time, Humanity has been functioning with a fragmented patriarchal consciousness.  Through this distorted consciousness we have grossly abused our Father God’s Divine Will and Masculine Power. For aeons of time, our fragmented and fear-based fallen ego has suppressed and oppressed our Mother God’s Transfiguring Divine Love. Our ego has blocked the awareness of the Oneness of ALL Life and the Divine Feminine. Nowhere has that abuse of power been more evident than in the hierarchy and teaching of the various organized world religions.
 
In the year 1163, through the unified efforts of Heaven and Earth, a plan was set into motion to create an outer-world symbol that would be dedicated to our Mother God and the return of the Divine Feminine. The goal was for the Cathedral of Notre Dameto be built in the heart Paris with such an exquisite demonstration of art and architecture that people from all over the world would be drawn to her with wonder and awe regardless of their religious affiliations.
 
Notre Dame means Our Lady. The spiritual symbol of France is the Fleur-de-lis, which represents the Immortal Victorious Threefold Flame pulsating in every person’s heart. This symbol reflects the Holy Trinity, our Father God’s Power, our Mother God’s Love and the Son and Daughter of God’s Enlightenment.
 
For 856 years our Mother God and various Aspects of the Divine Feminine have blessed the hearts and minds of people with the Sacred Breath of the Holy Spirit as they entered the Cathedral of Notre Dame. This Gift has gently softened hearts and helped prepare the masses of Humanity for this Cosmic Moment.
 
The Cathedral of Notre Dame has been under attack and rebuilt several times during the past centuries. These attacks were based in the patriarchal consciousness of Humanity’s fallen egos, which were striving to block the return of the Divine Feminine. In every instance these attacks failed and the radiance of our Mother God’s Love and the blessing of the Holy Spirit’s Sacred Breath became stronger.
 
Our Father-Mother God and the Company of Heaven want us to know in the deepest recesses of our hearts that the events that unfolded for “Our Lady of Paris” during Holy Week in 2019 were not an attack. This purging fire was very different from the things she experienced in the past.
 
There has been a valiant effort to refurbish the Cathedral of Notre Dame for a while now, but the Company of Heaven revealed that the purification that is needed to permanently burst the oppressive bonds of the abusive patriarchal hierarchy of organized religions has to be much more dramatic.
 
There has to be a changing of the guard. The “old guard” has to be removed and transformed back into its original perfection which reflects the Divine Masculine. Then the full expression of our Mother God’s Love, the Divine Feminine, will be able to reclaim her rightful place in the hearts of Humanity and the Cathedral of Notre Dame.
 
During the week before the fire that consumed much of the Cathedral of Notre Dame, twelve huge statues representing the Twelve Apostles were removed. These masculine representations of power and authority were considered “the Guardians” by the French people. The twelve statues have been taken to a special place where they are being refurbished and transformed. 
 
As the purging fire blazed through the structure of Notre Dame on April 15^th, the people of France gathered in front of the cathedral. They knelt in prayer, sang songs, cried and in deep reverence they held the sacred space for Notre Dame’s unfolding Divine Plan in the full embrace of our Mother God’s Divine Love.
 
At the same time, billions of people around the world supported them and joined them in consciousness through televised broadcasts and social media connections. This collective Cup of Consciousness created the Open Door through which our Mother God and the Feminine Aspects of Deity throughout Infinity, God Victoriously purged and cleansed the physical, etheric, mental and emotional strata of Mother Earth from the masculine abuse of power that has oppressed and suppressed the Divine Feminine since Humanity’s fall from Grace. For several days thereafter thousands of people marched in the streets and reverently held vigils in front of “Our Lady of Paris.”
 
Now through the unified efforts of Heaven and Earth the Cathedral of Notre Dame will be Resurrected and Transfigured.