Insights – Melannie Thomas

Archive for the ‘Dreams’ Category

Seasonal change is upon us. Spring brings renewal. As we prepare for spring-cleaning and yard sprucing, I invite you to look into ‘spring-cleaning’ your mind and renewing your spirit at this most sacred time of year.

Take a day. Honor the gift of life in all it’s myriad forms and all it’s magical beauty.

I recently read an excellent article in Spirituality & Health by Thomas Moore in which he stated what is to me a basic spiritual truth.  It is not what you believe that reflects your spirituality, but rather, “…the way you live.”

There are many times in life that we are left feeling helpless.  Certainly the situation in Japan is one of those fateful moments.  Yet, we are not powerless.  Beyond the rescue efforts in myriad forms, there is the power of prayer.  I invite you to prayers of comfort and healing for our fellow man.

This quote  from a book I read yesterday really stuck with me and I wanted to share it with you: 

“Look to this day!  For it is life,  the very life of life… For yesterday is already a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision;  But today, well lived, makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope.”

Pussywillow  by Mama San Ra-Ab Rampa

As we stealthily move into 2011, I invite you to seize everyday however it comes to you.  Everyday presenting the opportunity to put your best foot forward.

This is my ‘Word for the Day”.   I invite you to meditate throughout the day on the various elements of/in your life.

Today I am participating in a Wellness Fair.  As I prepare for the event I am reminded that wellness really is a whole or holistic affair.  For the body to be ‘well’ the mind and spirit need to be healthy too, and vice versa.

I invite you to take a few moments today and do an inventory of your personal wellness.  Marking for change those habits/behaviors you want to  improve; creating an outline for future reference; a foundation for creating successful strategies tailored to who you are and to your lifestyle. 

Remember,  change is a process not an event.

It is that time of year when we adjust our clocks.  Spring Forward, Fall Back is a great way for me to orient myself regarding where the precious extra hour is supposed to go.

Daylight Saving Time was designed to give folks extra evening summer hours so they could have some fun after work, beneficial to retailers, but not so for farmers.  The idea of saving time got support in the early days of electric consumption.  People would have extra hours of sunlight and not have to turn on indoor lighting and in doing so stress  early delivery systems.

However, even though DST was touted and talked about for a few years, it was not until Germany enacted a plan in 1916 to save on coal consumption.  DST was adopted by the United States two years later in 1918.

My computer clock adjusted itself several days ago, but the ritual of changing the clocks  is pretty much done by hand, one-at-a-time.

I get the concept, I experience it’s effect.  But twice a year I marvel and giggle that we mortals actually think we can literally save time.  I know that in the process many of us lose sleep, and during the adjustment period we are either running early or running late.  And, to add to the confusion there is EST, MST and PST. 

I am an early-bird,  I like light in the morning.  However with ageing I am suffering ‘night-blindness’  when I drive, so I also like the later evenings.  Hmmmmm, life is indeed about compromise.

Such an incredible day.  The more I allowed yesterday to unfold, the better it got.  Beginning with coffee and crossword, both excellent and fulfilling, then onto client consultations; very uplifting. 

Entering my final preparations for the Altar & Altar Making class that I am presenting this weekend ( and again on November 20), I am feeling really good.  I love teaching and this is going to be a fabulous class.

Earlier in the morning I made a quick dash to ‘Andy’s’, the local Farm Market Stand, and scored some artichokes at an awesome price.  The afternoon was filled with another wonderful client connection; a great conversation with Mark Cummings-Rogers and preparing a dinner including those artichokes.

Squab, rice and an artichoke recipe from a beautiful Italian Vegetarian Cookbook gifted me by my dear friend Elizabeth right before her move to Mt. Shasta.  Mm-m-m-m.  So, the recipe called for a cup and a third of white wine.  H-m-m-m-m.  My sister sent me two bottles of Chardonnay made to her specs by Amity in Oregon.  I was saving one for my upcoming Birthday and one for Thanksgiving.  Oh well!

The day became a fabulous ‘unbirthday’.  As I sat down to begin my feast I looked out the window.  The apple trees were bathed in a subtle, gorgeous golden hue.  I turned off all the interior lights, marvelling at the cloak of gold that surrounded me.

With excitement welling I moved quickly outdoors.  As I faced west, the sunset swallowed me whole.  Maxfield Parrish colors splashed across the heavens, taking my breath with them.

With an Oregon-made Chardonnay in hand (that is an unqualified match for this years Sonoma County Harvest Gold winners), I toasted my Unbirthday, giving  thanks to the Creator for all my blessings.

In the wee early hour,  looking heavenward, my breath catches as I view the crisp, starry morning sky.  It is a perspective; a stunningly visual affirmation of how small I am in the greater scheme of things.

Absorbed in the starry spectacle, I wondered what the view will be from my new home.  Although still a rural location, I will be closer to city lights.  And what about the other views that have become so familiar?  I know what I am leaving; I don’t  know what I am moving toward.

I like it very much; the look and feel of my new home.   It is a sweet little place.  Perfect for me as I begin the twilight journey of my life.  But it will be different.  I will adapt to the change;  I will wonder at my new vision of the early morning sky.

It will be different.