Your Heart is the Super Blue Moon

 

YOUR HEART IS THE SUPER BLUE MOON

SHINE

TWINKLE

LOVE

"The moon is the reflection of your heart,

and moonlight is the twinkle of your love."

Debasish Mridha

"We all shine on,

like the moon and the stars and the sun."

John Lennon

"Your heart is the super blue moon, 

shining bright, and casting love and light 

over the world and others."

Susan J Meyerott

SHINE

TWINKLE

LOVE

Lightarted Living: In the Dog Days of Summer when Troubles Pass you By

Lightarted Living: In the Dog Days of Summer when Troubles Pass you By: In The Dog Days of Summer In the dog days of summer when troubles pass you by, lie in the grass, stare up in the sky, and see how many dogs ...

In the Dog Days of Summer when Troubles Pass you By

In The Dog Days of Summer

In the dog days of summer

when troubles pass you by,

lie in the grass,

stare up in the sky,

and see how many dogs 

you can spy.

Then close your eyes

and rest your soul

and breathe a deep sigh of relief.

Your work is done,

it's time for fun,

put your head down

and enjoy a deep restful sleep.

Day is Done

At the end of day,

when the sun goes down,

I bring my tired dogs home to rest.

I sing to them a sweet lullabye

to gently rock them asleep;

Soon they're softly snoring tiny, tiny peeps.

Oh my poor sweet tired peeps.

Happy Endings

Today's post is dedicated to Jim Sullivan and Tanga of Ubanga. 

Tanga, an old dog hard of hearing, got lost out on an outing. 

Jim and many others spent the whole day looking and calling for Tanga.

They finally found him resting in the brush under a tree. 

Everyone was very tired and very happy.

Oh my poor sweet tired peeps.

Don't you love happy endings?

Original Photos by Gayle Anderson

 

Lightarted Living: Tension is who you think you should be~Relaxation ...

Lightarted Living: Tension is who you think you should be~Relaxation ...:   'Tension is who you think you should be~Relaxation is who you are.' 

Tension is Useful

We all wage our private battle of attempting to bring together where we currently are with where we want ourselves to be. The battle creating tension isn't the issue. It's what we choose to do with it.

Tension is who you think you should be~Relaxation is who you Are

 

'Tension is who you think you should be~Relaxation is who you are.' Unknown

Tension is who you think you should be

I heard from a friend who started a new job. She woke up not wanting to go to work. Why? She was stressed out thinking about how she should be perfect already despite being only a couple of weeks into the job.

When I called to check on another friend he was in too bad a mood to talk. He was overwhelmed by a new job with enough work for two people. Being a person who likes to finish and complete jobs, he was wound up because at the end of the work day he was left feeling dissatisfied that he'd accomplished too little.

And what about you? Think back over your last week. What caused you to be tense? How did it relate to who you think you should be? 

Maybe you're: 

• Retired and think you should be doing more to enjoy it. 
• Single and think you should be married already. 
• A new working parent who thinks you should be able to balance work, parenting and 'me' time.
• Freshly graduated and think you should have a job already.

Tension is Useful

We all wage our private battle of attempting to bring together where we currently are with where we want ourselves to be. The battle creating tension isn't the issue. It's what we choose to do with it.

Too often we think tension = bad, and relaxation = good. The truth is, used properly, they're both good.

Tension will wear your body down if you fail to pay attention to it. But when you pay attention, you raise your awareness of what’s causing the discrepancy between where you are and where you want to be, thus freeing you to make conscious choices about it.

Relaxation is who you are

The woman chose to pay attention to her tension and address it. I responded to her stressed-for-success story encouraging her to relax:

"Working a new job can be intense. Give yourself time to ease into it. Show up, do your best, find a way to relax into it".

By the end of the day she wrote back:

"Odd you should say show up, do your best, find a way to relax into it. I talked with the woman who hired me about my stress and she said, 'Quit trying to do everything now. You have plenty of time. Stop stressing."

Almost the same thing happened for my friend in the foul-mood. He met with his new boss the next day who just laughed that he was trying to 'get it all done'. He told him to relax, and do his best in the job-without-end.

 

Relax into the Moment 

When you find yourself stressing about not being good enough or knowing enough as you transition into a new role, refocus your attention from focusing on the future to focusing on the present. 

Relaxation is who we are NOW IN THE MOMENT; Tension is who we are anticipating and focusing on being IN THE FUTURE.

Let go of who you think you should be (future tense) and focus on the calm of being who you are in the moment.

Calm Yourself

Use tension to nudge you on your way, then focus on specific steps you can take now to ease your way forward. 

Always start with steps to calm and relax yourself. 

• Talk to a confidant.
• Take a walk.
• Think outloud.
• Make a plan.
• Take one step.

"Imperfect, limited and vulnerable as I am, 

the sun still shines upon me, 

things do work out, 

food appears, 

rain falls and grass grows without my help."

Dharmavidya David Brazier 

Lightarted Living: I Knew You in another Life Long Long Ago

Lightarted Living: I Knew You in another Life Long Long Ago:   

Near and Far

I knew you in another life

long long ago.

We played childhood game

and ran through streets

so long long ago.

I still know you

although you are years and miles away

I hold you in my heart with fondness

and childhood memories.

I Knew You in another Life Long Long Ago

 

Near and Far

I knew you in another life

long long ago.

We played childhood game

and ran through streets

so long long ago.

I still know you

although you are years and miles away

I hold you in my heart with fondness

and childhood memories.

How long has it been?

50 years or more?

Yet the memories are still so sweet.

Such a time of innocent fun;

what a lovely time for us to meet.

And now here you are

showing up in my thoughts today,

you are both near and far away.

What would I say to you if I saw you face-to-face?

I'd say how much I enjoyed knowing you then,

and how much you still mean to me today.

Susan J Meyerott

This is my response to David Love's photo he titled "Near and Far". David is a childhood friend I've known since elementary school. He is a singer, songwriter and photographer (and much more). 

His always emotive photos stir my imagination and pull on my heart strings. Today's poem, created on David's Palette of Time, is not only directed at David, but to you that I knew in another life long long ago.

Near and Far

David Love

Lightarted Living: Stop Anticipating the Worst!

Lightarted Living: Stop Anticipating the Worst!:   

Kicking the Moon

"The moon is opposing Jupiter;

Don't get involved;

It's their problem."

James Critchfield

 

Just like the Moon opposing Jupiter, during times of transition when we're face to face with an uncertain future we're awash with competing emotions inside. 

In the emotional conflict, too often our more emphatic and fearful self kicks our calmer and more reasoned self out of our head, leaving us twitter-patted and anticipating the worst. 

To stop anticipating the worst, take James Critchfield's humorous advice. When one part of your inner universe is opposing the other, "don't get involved; it's their problem".

Stop Anticipating the Worst!

 

Kicking the Moon

"The moon is opposing Jupiter;

Don't get involved;

It's their problem."

James Critchfield

The day before I had gallbladder surgery I was like a whirling dervish, spinning faster and faster, trying to put everything in order before I was laid up. This ritual dance is a must do before any perceived interruption in the known future, including vacations. 

To stop myself from 'anticipating the worst' or fretting about what's going to happen, I did all those mindless tasks I usually avoid to prepare for the surgery and beyond--Vaccuming and dusting the house; washing all bedding and towels; shopping for food; preparing chicken soup and other 'just in case' meals; and taking my daily walk on the trail.

Just like the Moon opposing Jupiter, during times of transition when we're face to face with an uncertain future we're awash with competing emotions inside. 

In the emotional conflict, too often our more emphatic and fearful self kicks our calmer and more reasoned self out of our head, leaving us twitter-patted and anticipating the worst. 

To stop anticipating the worst, take James Critchfield's humorous advice. When one part of your inner universe is opposing the other, "don't get involved; it's their problem".

But how do you do that? You stop thinking, and move into a matter-of-fact doing mode. In other words, just actively do what you have to do to move through the current challenge while staying in the present. 

Another word for anticipation is future-tense.  To anticipate the worst you have to be future-oriented instead of present-oriented. It's our focus on the future that makes us tense.

How to Stop Anticipating the Worst

But taking action is done in the present. When you stay focused on doing instead of thinking, you use one or more of your 5 senses which can only be experienced in the moment or present. 

• See, hear, taste, touch, smell. Waken your senses.Get out of your head.
• Go for a walk. Smell the flowers. Look for birds. Feel the wind and sun.
• Cook a new meal. Focus on following the recipe. Smell the aroma. Taste the dish. 
• Draw, color, or paint. Feel the color.
• Read emotive poetry outloud. Let your inner moon smile at your inner night.

The Moon Smiles at the Night

"The Moon, 

Like a flower in heaven's bowers,

With silent delight,

Sits and smiles at the night."

William Blake

Lightarted Living: A New Moon Rising Brings Renewal

Lightarted Living: A New Moon Rising Brings Renewal:   A New Moon Rising Brings a New Me 

A new moon rising  brings me a renewed life, with new beginnings and fresh starts. Let its energy burn in me...

A New Moon Rising Brings Renewal

 

A New Moon Rising Brings a New Me

A new moon rising 

brings me a renewed life,

with new beginnings and fresh starts.

Let its energy burn bright in me~

Let me renew my energy and life spirit

as I bath in the brightness of the new moon rising.

Let me be bright, bold, and beautiful

as the sun rises and the day begins.

Let me be generous and gracious

in all aspects of my relationships.

For I am worthy of all 

The love and abundance in life

and I give and receive it freely.

I rise to life's challenges,

letting go of past hurts and resentments

to make way for the abundance

coming my way.

I choose to lead with 

my strength, resiliency and trust in life.

I open my heart 

to life's adventures and possibilities,

knowing I am worthy of all goodness the universe holds.

I freely share my strength, compassion, understanding,

and talents with the world around me.

My spirits rise with the new moon rising.

Original Photo of evening sky by Gayle Anderson

Lightarted Living: The Sound of Silence Washes Over Me

Lightarted Living: The Sound of Silence Washes Over Me:  

 

The sound of silence washes over me

As I glide through the water so effortlessly;

Letting my imagination guide my way

As I make it another great day to play.

The Sound of Silence Washes Over Me

 

The Sound of Silence Washes Over Me

Under the sea,

So many treasures I see

Lying in wait to surprise me.

The sound of silence washes over me

As I glide through the water so effortlessly.

How many water dogs can you fit in the scene?

Count them, then count them again;

Now, are you feeling serene?

Swimming like dolphins

 or perhaps like sleek baby seals,

They're so lovely,

with such happy heart appeal.

I can count on them 

To warm and relax my soul,

As I count away,

Looking for water dogs hiding 

and ready to play.

The sound of silence washes over me

As I glide through the water so effortlessly, 

looking for water dogs to keep me company.

Now relaxed and happy,

 I gather the sea spirits

To join in the fun;

Oh Boy! Oh Golly!

I'm having such fun.

Why not join in my play?

Put down your worries,

And come along and play.

Come on! Come on! 

We'll kick up a fuss.

Come with me for a day of play,

Really you must.

The sound of silence washes over me

As I glide through the water so effortlessly;

Letting my imagination guide my way

As I make it another great day to play.

Lightarted Living: Brigid: No Ordinary Cat

Lightarted Living: Brigid: No Ordinary Cat:   No Ordinary Cat When a seemingly ordinary cat came into Linda's life she soon saw into the cat's soul and saw what others did not ...

When you learn to see the extraordinary in the ordinary beings around you, you learn to transform your life into something extraordinary that opens you up to all the riches and possibilities life has to offer.

Brigid: No Ordinary Cat

 

No Ordinary Cat

When a seemingly ordinary cat came into Linda's life she soon saw into the cat's soul and saw what others did not see. 

To Linda, this was no ordinary cat. This was a Goddess who'd come to live with her. 

She chose a name befitting her: Brigid, after the fiery-haired Celtic goddess who wore a cloak of sunbeams, known as the goddess of transformation. And Brigid rewarded Linda by living up to her name.

"She was my pillow cat--my heart and soul. I lived with a Goddess who transformed my life." 

I first learned about Brigid a few years ago after she'd already passed. At that time, Linda sent me pictures and a description of her deeply loved cat.

"Did you think Brigid was an ordinary cat?, Linda asked.  "This cat--Brigid, 'the bright one' is associated with the goddess of fire and transformation. See how her coat glistens with golden flames?"

A Magnificant Cat Bringing Radiant Sunbeams of Love

Linda felt so fortunate to have Brigid come into her life. She had been chosen by this magnificent creature.

"Lucky me! Brigid the goddess of transformation making herself manifest in my livingroom!"

"All that radiance! Yet people who met Brigid dismissed her as an ordinary cat. But I saw her magnificence!"

Seeing the Extraordinary in the Ordinary

Yes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and so is your outlook on life. 

Imagine the relationship between Linda and Brigid. Once Linda saw Brigid's magnificence, their life together was filled with radiant sunbeams of love.

Words matter. Thoughts matter. Beliefs matter.

Our relationships with animals, humans and the world around us are determined by how we talk and think about them. 

Talk about the beings around you in a derogatory manner and you set yourself up for conflict and misery; talk about others in ordinary terms and you'll experience a mundane existence with them. But think about others in elevated terms and you set yourself up for radiant sunbeams of love coming your way.

When you learn to see the extraordinary in the ordinary beings around you, you learn to transform your life into something extraordinary that opens you up to all the riches and possibilities life has to offer.

Why shouldn't we all live among gods and goddesses in our lives? Why shouldn't we be gods and goddesses ourselves?

Brigid's Blessing

"Bless every heart 

that beats beneath its roof. 

Bless every hand 

that toils to bring its joy. 

Bless every foot 

that walks portals through. 

May Brigid bless the house that shelters us."

The Spirit of Brigid, The Goddess of Transformation Returns

The spirit of Brigid returned to knock on my door the other day. Lucky me!

As I sat in my art room,  a scanned image sitting on top of a pile that had been recently rearranged caught my attention. This image had been in my art room for three years waiting for me to take notice!

It wasn't until I had drawn in the two beings in the picture above that I stopped to consider what the picture was underneath. It was the picture of Brigid the cat oriented sideways. 

Brigid had slyly called to me, "It's time for my spirit to return".

"Transforming her spirit into a coat of many colors, Brigid effortlessly glides into this world to set it on fire once more."

Why not let the Spirit of Brigid transform your outlook on life? Reach for the radiant sunbeams of love that's waiting for you to simply see what is always before you: The extraordinary in the ordinary; The magnificent in the ordinary. 

Choose to elevate your outlook on life. Brigid was no ordinary cat, and this is no ordinary life.

Lightarted Living: We Carry our Burden on and on until Suddenly We La...

Lightarted Living: We Carry our Burden on and on until Suddenly We La...:   "We carry our burden on and on, until one day, suddenly we laugh and set it down upon the ground." Muriel Strode