Everyone's Favorite Chair

                                         

    You are probably familiar with the terms, "everyday sacred" and "be here now." That is what the favorite chair is about. Many homes have a favorite chair - where the home dweller sits with a cup of coffee in the morning, to read a devotional and contemplate plans for the day. Then to sit with a cup of tea in the afternoon, to relax and focus on "being in the now." In the evening, with a glass of wine, to share our thoughts with a loved one - who wasn't so fortunate to get the favorite chair for our conversation! 

    Several years ago we replaced an old wing chair with this much more comfortable polka-dot recliner. I chose this upholstery because I was ready to add some pizazz to our old-fashioned country decor. It immediately became the favorite chair for everyone in the family and every visitor to our home. 

    Back when the chair was new, our daughter and her family lived with us for a few months while they were in transition. Our grandson, who is on the autism spectrum, was three years old at the time. He loved to sit in the polka-dot chair. When his other grandparents came to visit, his paternal grandfather sat in the recliner. Our nonverbal grandson took his grandfather by the hand and led him away from the chair. Grandpa thought that he was being taken to a place of interest, so he followed. But as soon as Grandpa had been led out of the living room our clever little boy ran back and climbed into the chair. 

    Of course we brought the favorite chair with us when we moved from New York to Wisconsin - to be closer to this clever little boy and his precious sister. I think of the chair as a sacred spot because it is so well-loved. Because Mark sits there every morning to transfer his deepest thoughts onto paper. Because I sit there to read the books that connect me to the inner world of spirit and imagination. Because it offers comfort and rest whenever we need it. 

    When you sit in your favorite chair, you can imagine people everywhere, relaxing in their chairs, too. Sometimes we can build bridges just by enjoying life's simple gifts the same way our world neighbors do.  

I would love it if my readers would post photos of their favorite chair!

Getting to Know Lesbians

 

    I had my first encounter with lesbians in 1976 when I entered the Women's Literature program at Goddard-Cambridge School for Social Change. I'm sure I had met lesbians in high school and college, but back then most lesbians were still "in the closet." I had no idea what I was getting into when I signed up to share a co-op house with five other women. Four of them were lesbian separatists, and the fifth called herself a "Woman-Identified-Woman." I'm not sure what that meant, except that she sided with the lesbians when they allied against me because my boyfriend (now husband) was defiling the house with his male energy.

    Looking back, I think it's a shame that I hadn't met any non-separatist lesbians prior to this experience. One of them thought it was acceptable to eat my food because she was contributing "good energy" to the household, and one thought it was okay to steal Mark's favorite shirts since he was infringing on her space. The whole group called me into a meeting where I was told that they would all leave the house, sticking me with the rent and utility bills, unless I left and took Mark with me. The women were all holding hands for support while I sat alone as if I were on trial. 

    My co-op mates did not want any male energy in the house, so Mark and I found our own apartment and soon afterward got married. I was puzzled by the actions of the lesbian separatists, two of whom had young sons. I wondered how they would found an all-female society without their little boys. One of them told me that men have always been self-centered and now it was their turn. 

    Many years later, in my work as a celebrant, I performed weddings and a baby naming for some lovely lesbian couples. I learned that most lesbians do not hate men and are perfectly willing to share the planet with males as long as they treat women with respect.  

    If we are to build bridges of oneness with everyone on the planet, we must learn to cooperate with one another rather than separate ourselves from those who have oppressed us. I realize now that the women I roomed with in 1976 had all been hurt by men and our patriarchal society. It didn't occur to them to seek healing and look for ways to change society without expunging half the population. I don't know where these women are now, but I hope that they have discovered that they can be their highest selves while co-existing with males - and maybe even befriending a few men. 

Why Am I Here? by guest writer, Mark VanLaeys

    I've been blessed with a number of days where the answer was not only suggested, 

but placed right in my hands.  One of the more  dramatic experiences happened 

when I was working as a relatively new ER physician assistant in Upstate NY.  

As I was charting on one patient, I heard over the hospital speakers: "CODE BLUE - 

Radiology."  As I stood up, I saw an X-Ray tech running down the hall toward us.  

Drooped over his arm was a completely lifeless two-week-old baby boy! 

I tipped his head back, but still no breath, no pulse, no heart sounds. I started 

thumb compressions as the ER doctor located a newborn-sized face mask.  With  

my hands squeezing his tiny chest, that little guy not only came back to life, but 

let out a glorious wail!  And that day I knew why I was here. 

      Some special days we're just blessed with an opportunity to make a 

tangible difference in someone's life.   First responders, teachers, scientists, 

plumbers, and even politicians* may benefit others all day long, but the best of

 them just do their fine work noiselessly, making the world a better place, and 

that's  A GREAT REASON TO BE HERE!

*Counselors, electricians, parents, laborers, waitresses, CPR instructors, etc.  - 

you get the idea. 

For My Russian Friends

     I have a lot of friends in Russia. I do not know their names or anything about them, but people from Russia continue to look at this blog, and I like to think it is because they want to build bridges of oneness with their neighbors around the world. 

    I made this arrangement to display some pieces made by Russian artisans and a book based on a Russian folktale. My granddaughter loves this story and another book that I gave her called Rechenka's Eggs. Russian culture is rich in folklore, literature, art, and dance. I have a niece who went to The Boris Shchukin Theatre Institute  in Moscow to study drama. I also have a friend whose daughter worked at Anglo-American School of St. Petersburg and brought back a Russian husband! I feel that I have many connections to Russia even though I have never been there myself. 

    I grew up hearing that the Soviet Union was an enemy of the United States. Even as a child I knew this did not mean that the Russian people were our enemy - only that our country's leaders were at odds with one another. As a young teenager I wrote a letter to the editor about the Space Race and how it would make more sense for Americans and Soviets to work together on space exploration. During the Nuclear Arms Race in the early 1980s, Mark and I worked with Peace Links and other peace organizations to end that insanity. We saved our money for a trip to the Soviet Union, hoping that we could build bridges of peace by meeting some Russian people. We signed up for a Russian class at the University of East Tennessee in the spring of 1983. We didn't get very far since we had to start by learning an entirely new alphabet!

    On September 1, 1983,  Korean Air Lines Flight 007, was shot down by a Soviet Sukhoi Su-15 interceptor on its flight from New York City to Seoul via Anchorage, Alaska. Owing to a navigational mistake made by the crew, the airliner had drifted from its original planned route and flew through Soviet prohibited airspace. All 269 passengers and crew aboard were killed, tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States soared to greater heights, and our travel plans were squelched. Mark and I took a bouquet of flowers to our travel agent and used the money we had saved to buy a piano. 

    I believe that Russia is experiencing a spiritual awakening. As more and more people open themselves to their highest light, peace and harmony will come to Russia. I am praying for you, my dear Russian friends, that you will be at peace with your neighbors, and within yourselves.  

     

Peace Prayer for Russia and Ukraine

     I have noticed that this blog has received many views from Russia in recent weeks. I like to think these views are from Russians who want to build bridges of peace and oneness with their neighbors in Ukraine. It is my belief that most Russians disagree with Putin's decision to wage war on Ukraine, and would like to see peace between their nations. This altar is for you, the Russians who are looking at my blog, and for your Ukrainian neighbors who are longing and praying for peace. 

    The blue vase of yellow flowers on the altar represents the Ukrainian flag, while the red, white, and blue candles represent the flag of Russia. 

    Hanging on the little tree is an ornament made in Russia and a necklace made by a Ukrainian artist. At the base of the tree sits an egg painted by a Ukrainian. Here is a close-up of that egg: 

     Also on the table is a set of Russian stacking dolls and a bowl given to me by a niece who attended graduate school in Moscow. The card proclaiming "Peace on Earth" was made by another niece and artist, Hannah Harvester.

    As I was arranging this peace altar I felt tears sting my eyes. I feel the pain and suffering of the Russians and Ukrainians who have been forced into a war against each other. Let there be peace between Russia and Ukraine. Let it begin today. 

Symbols of Divine White Light

 

     

    While rummaging through the Christmas decorations in our attic, deciding what to display this holiday season, the white glass angel inspired me to create an altar for the White Light of Christ consciousness, purity, and wholeness. White light contains the frequency of all the colors in the rainbow - thus its symbolism of wholeness. 

    People who report near-death experiences describe a brilliant white light that emanates unconditional love. Those who have the ability to see chakras tell us that the crown chakra, our gateway to divine love and spiritual wisdom, is white. Jesus, Mary, and the saints are pictured with halos around their heads, because their crown chakras are so brilliant. 

    I placed a white scarf on my altar table before arranging on it the white symbols. There was so little contrast between the white crystals and shells, and the white cloth, that the objects were barely noticeable. I switched the white scarf for a gray one. These symbols of divine connection are more prominent now that they are resting on a dark background. 

    Without intending to, I just demonstrated for myself why we have to experience darkness before we can appreciate the light. I know that I appreciate the coming of spring all the more after enduring a long, cold winter.  When I recover from an illness I appreciate my health more than I do when I've been well for a long time. When the leaf blowers and lawn mowers finally shut down, I enjoy the peace and quiet more than I did before the noise started. 

    What if we have to experience evil, violence, disasters and disease so that we will have a deeper desire for God's will to be done, and for heaven to come to earth? If we had never been given free will, if we had always remained connected to divine love, peace, and wholeness, we might have taken it for granted. Now that we have known evil, we can decide that we've had enough of the darkness and choose to live in the light, just as Jesus did. 

    This altar is my way of saying to the universe: I am ready to leave the darkness behind and step into the light of peace and love.