life | dymoonblog

A fine WordPress.com site

Posts tagged ‘life’

The tree

The tree is one of the most essential of traditional symbols. the oak was sacred to the Celts; the ash to the Scandinavians, the lime tree Germany, the fig tree India, etc. Trees express an selective correspondence, symbolism of the tree denotes the life of the cosmos, its consistence, growth, proliferation, generative and regenerative process. It stands for inexhaustible life. The tree with its roots in the ground and its branches reaching towards the sky, symbolizes and upward trend, which it relates to other symbolism as well.

The above picture for me reminded me so much of a passage written by Kahlil Gibran, that i went in search of it to share it with you today.

“Let there be spaces in your togetherness, And let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love: Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup. Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone, Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music. Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping. For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts. And stand together, yet not too near together: For the pillars of the temple stand apart, And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow.”
― Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

Read and take in his words today…. let it fill your meditation, find how it applies to your life/circumstances today. Respect and courtesy are reflections of how much we value others. ” Pay particular attention to the continuing development of your character, you have the Potential Energy for an enlightened insight that could change your life.” Tao.

“that which holds you back.. in fact can be helping in your growth” Q Oyashikiri

a fig tree strangling its host

pictures-Pinterest

Category:

Uncategorized

Tagged with:

lunes – Good morning everyone!!!

Are you ready for the start of another week? My wonderful friend Mollie ( co-minister at the Baptist church in a community near here), has been happily posting in a shared file we have .. I’ve been so “busy” researching and “working” away at my desk, that I see she is being busy, I get a notice that she has posted, but I don’t often get to see what she has been adding. Hmmm sound familiar. Reminds me of the expression, about being so close to the trees, that often we don’t see the forest itself. Or .. is it the other way around, we are so far in the forest we no longer see the forest,or is it the trees. OH my, maybe I’m not fully awake yet……. smiles. …. Thanks Mollie for the above saying, with the cute picture.

Today’s PL lesson is about being making time to express our true selves. To express ourselves with honesty and integrity If we ask for help, we do so with sincerity in both words and actions. The #1 Principle in PL is – I will live paying careful attention, putting Makoto (sincerity) into all I say and do.

Trust that you will receive all you need to get through today, then believe it will be the same for tomorrow. Focus on your feelings, express them honestly, there is an inner joy when we express ourselves with makoto (sincerity) The surest way to be blessed is to appreciate all the blessings in our lives, and to give thanks for them. Appreciate life, renew your connection with God/Tao every day, share your smile with others today. Your day will be blessed. … Smile….. Oyashikiri

Nederlands, over the north sea

pictures – Pinterest

Category:

Uncategorized

Tagged with:

Wat een prachtige dag! Good Sunday Morning =^_^=

Wouldn’t it be nice if our lives could be all planned out in neat little rows, That we could organize, sow and cultivate, knowing that our wants and desires would line up just the way we want them to. The above picture is lovely, it took hours of work, and many people working together to produce this “garden” of colour. Realize that all of their hard work, planning and efforts came to fruition, because they had a clear vision of what their goal was, & what they wanted to achieve The unspoken here, but the obvious, and this dear reader is what we need to remember in life.. without the input and unseen help and support of Mother Nature the outcome could have been much different. We take for granted the air we breathe, the rain that washes over and cleans our planet. Nature is a force that is a constant in our lives – sometimes we rejoice in the sunshine, – we love it and want it all the time, but without the rain our crops would fail, rivers and lakes would run dry, When you cry, you wash away the dust in your eyes, the sadness in your heart grows lighter. Appreciate all of life.

This tranquil setting is in Den Bosch,Nederlands. I invite you to spend a few minutes with me in silent meditation Take a nice easy breath in, ahhh … hold it for just a few seconds, feel it open your lungs, and now… slowly let it out… let your gaze relax, follow the ripples as they slowly meander through our view and into the beyond. See how the stillness in the water captures the images that are beyond our immediate sight….. just because we don’t see them, doesn’t mean they are not there……………………. enjoy this brand new day……………………make it count ……………..I so appreciate and love sharing these moments with you…………………..peace and prosperity be with you…..………….Oyashikiri

Category:

Uncategorized

Tagged with:

vrijdag nu… Good morning!

When we have been in upper NY State, we often will see a lone Amish buggy making its way down the side of the highway towards its destination. Cars are whizzing by, driver and horse are not oblivious to the automobiles, their noise and fumes, they simply just keep heading to where they are going appearing to be in their own space and time. I never can pass without thinking of how in many ways it would be nice to be sitting along side the driver on a dirt road with nothing but natural woodlands and meadows on either side. Instead of concrete,, the horses were making their way over well trod earth. Day dreaming and reality. What a pair. We need a daily dose of both.

Life is a balance of negatives and positives, often we find ourselves experiencing the emotions of life on one side of the coin or the other. When you turn the coin on its side, you can see that the side is slim and though you see the rim of the coin, you cannot see both side of the coin at the same time. When I found the following quote this morning, I knew it was to be shared. Is love and being in love different? Are they different states of BEING?

Look for the beauty around us, appreciate the good qualities in others. We all have our moments of “ops did I really do/say that” The ongoing challenge is to see happiness and positives in our daily lives. We have to begin with being honest with our inner self… loving who we are, and where we are in life. We are alive.. this is vrijdag, Friday… we have another day to be creative.. Life is ART. And best of all.. YOU are LOVED LOVED LOVED, we are ALL ONE in this glorious UNIVERSE… reach out and touch someone today… let your smile shine!

PL Precept 15 – ALL is a Mirror

Category:

Uncategorized

Tagged with:

True Happiness

Good Morning Everyone… It is Wednesday another day to explore…

Years back while touring on the back of a Honda Goldwing we came across a setting much like this while exploring cliffs along the Atlantic Ocean. The past owners had obviously enjoyed sitting and watching the tides coming and going. The little cabin had once heard the sounds of laughter, maybe even tears.. Today the scene is one of long forgotten memories and charm.

We don’t just happen to be who and what we are today, we developed over time. The moss in this setting didn’t just happen, it came to be over many years, inch by inch, section by section. The scene would have been ever changing. Plant life died, and new growth developed, it is the natural cycle of life. “one door closes, another door opens” In PL (Perfect Liberty) we learn the cause of unhappiness, we learn that things and people come into our lives (this includes circumstances) regardless of what we would prefer or what would be convenient for us. True happiness is not determined by something going well or not.

PL teaches us about Mishirase (Divine warnings from the Univers/God, in the form of an illness, accident, pain,suffering, misfortune. We do not see them as unlucky, rather a challenge to rethink, regroup, we are not “seeing” or “using” our skills/talents with Makoto (sincerity) we have drifted off the path. we may be overly attached to our own thoughts and are not expressing ourselves naturally. we are born with the ability to experience pain, and to know “hurt” so that we can recognize when we need to “stop” and rethink or meditate on present circumstances. An important lesson in the I Ching/Tao > the wise man knows when to retreat. If you are a follower of the I Ching – use hexagram 53 for today’s reading. Chien (Developing)
When a situation is faced, head on, with Makoto…. no matter how hard that situation is, with sincerity of purpose, with the Universe in and around you…..you will be able to find a way. There is always something to learn when we are faced with a challenge. when we deal with the challenges we are dealt in life with a positive and open minded attitude. We find happiness in positive self expression. … Oyashikiri …

photography -photos – Pinterest

Category:

Uncategorized

Tagged with:

Smile its Tuesday

With so many places in the world experiencing “weather drama”, in the UK many are dealing with rain & flooding, in the States its snow,blizzards and freezing rain & Canada is getting its share of “stormy weather” I delved into the picture files and found a highway in New Zealand with clear blue skies and sunshine. It is Tuesday a brand new day, there isn’t another car in sight at the moment, I can put the top down and enjoy the warm balmy weather. The exhilaration of being on the open road, heading into unknown territory, new discoveries, I love, love, love it. I love that moment of seeing what is around the bend. The delight in savouring the moment and then !! the joy at seeing another bend up ahead. WOW….The bend up ahead will eventually come, but….. NOW is where we are today.

Sometimes we are so intent on looking ahead, we drive by too quickly, we miss road stops along the way that hold wonders and opportunities that will enrich our lives as we travel towards our future. Look, see, feel, smell,and if you can touch.connect . It is through experimenting, trial and error that we develop and grow.Never deny love in your life. Love is a precious gift the more you love, the more it grows. The more you share, the more comes back to you. Yes, it can be scary at first, but each step forward brings you closer and closer to living a life filled with an eternal love that will embrace and hold you forever.

True love cannot be measured, bought or sold. True love is unconditional and will stand the test of time, and transcend all mortal boundaries.

I pray for each and every one of you today, may your day be blessed with an inner calm and quiet that refreshes and soothes. May your frown be replaced with a smile….. Know the warm glow of the “Divine” glows and grows within you. Blessings….Oyashikiri

photographs – Pinterest

Category:

Uncategorized

Tagged with:

PL Principle #2

Good Morning everyone.. How are you on this lovely Saturday… Each day when I wake before I start my day, I like to read the PL lesson of the day, and after prayer and reflection, let my mind wander to what my personal meditation should be. Today I found that of the 21 Principles in PL, ,my mind’s eye caught #2.. and this is where it stopped PL Principle 2 reads – I will not have complaints about others, matters, nor the weather. Rather I will always be creative and will look for short comings in my own thinking and actions.

The lesson for those of you who have not read it today, or do not have the calendar itself, is about valuing those who are nearest and dearest to us. They are so close to us, that often we forget just how wonderful and special they are to us. We may even take for granted the love and caring they bring into our lives (smiles) My life is very blessed with a caring,understanding husband who is a real partner in life, and friends that I treasure for the many wonderful memories and the genuine caring they have shown to me over the years. Some friends we seldom see, yet we visit often in our hearts, and when we meet it is if we have never been apart. I saw on FB (Facebook) the other day, that one friend had renovated her cottage this past summer. It brought memories of all the trials and challenges she faced during the first years she and her husband bought the cottage. What lovely memories. (mental note to self) Call Sue =^_^=

Not all memories are fantastic, but all of them were of value in my personal development, in my “growing pains”. It is not only our physical bodies that “age”but our mental /spiritual selves. When we remember to value and respect one another, life takes on a more positive energy. Oyashikiri

photograph- Pinterest

PL . church of Perfect Liberty (Japan)

Category:

Uncategorized

Tagged with:

Perception

In conversation with a friend, she asked me a question about feelings, and hurts, something that had been bothering her for some time.In PL fashion, I replied “life is mirror” Intelligent and thoughtful, she was quiet for some time, then she said, I have heard that before, but I don’t know that I understand“. Then I had to pause, reflect and meditate on her response. My reply had been simple to me “life is a mirror” but in fact when I thought about it. I have had years of living with this perspective, and each time the challenge crossed my path, I learned a different lesson. fortunately our relationship is such that we converse over a period of days and even weeks sometimes.. so I have had time to “chew” on this one.

When we are hurt, sad, perplexed by the “perceived” action of others, we own the reaction, we own the thoughts. No one else is feeding them to us, they are ours, and ours alone. It may take some time, but at some point in time, we realize that the choices we made were our own. What takes longer is choosing to accept and own the situation you are living. The strength and courage to remove ourselves from the cycle of hurt, vulnerability and dependency. OOOHH OUCH did I actually say that word, write it, (takes a moment to read back a few lines)… yes I did, I said dependency, not a word I liked to associate with, but over the years I’ve learned to accept that it has been a lesson I’ve had to address more than once.

Mirrors, they can be our friend or our hardest task master. Melody Beattie in one of her books, said “Go with the flow” let go of fear and your need to control. Relinquish anxiety, ” I read those words many many years ago, I’ve never forgotten them, I remember highlighting them and reading them over and over again for weeks. She talked of being present, accepting where you are and who you are. Taking ownership of your emotions, actions and thoughts. Mirrors are a tool, they will only project to you what you are “seeing” in that moment.

When we look into a mirror, the only eyes looking back into ours, belong to “ me,myself and I.” Express your appreciation for your SELF today, look in the mirror, smile and say “thank you” ..Then find someone else in your world to say thank you to, saying it out loud is empowering, and a very nice sharing of a moment. Not only will the person you are thanking feel a smile, you will too One smile at a time we build a better future!

Category:

Uncategorized

Tagged with:

makoto

One challenge that always seems to reoccur in my life, is recognizing and accepting that I am not perfect! My type AA personality often gets in my way.As I mature/age I’d say that I’m doing better, at one time I would have been a triple A. I’m working at whittling it down. =^_^=. A devoted and 100% practicing Taoist, I was overcome with a wonderful emotion of community when I first attended a PL service. (Perfect Liberty) I was very fortunate that the minister at the time I visited the church was one, Rev. Takashi Goto. I was never a church goer but over the years I had attended Christian services before and was very interested in finding out that this was nothing like I had ever experienced before.

For the first time ever, I heard and felt my beliefs and connection to God/TAO expressed in a way that spoke to me and said…”The philosophy here is mine”. I was able to have meaningful and thought provoking conversations with Rev. Goto, that expanded and nourished my connection to the Universe. The encounter dusted off some of the forgotten lessons I’d learned in the past, and swept out the dust bunnies in corners of the “room” I was residing int. He had words in Japanese that were totally unfamiliar to me, but explained, I understood. I began to revisit places in my mind that had been forgotten or neglected. My connection with God/TAO grew stronger, and continues to grow stronger each and every day. He would say ” we must put “makoto” in everything we do and say”… he reinforced something I’ve tried to do all my life (not always succeeding)… No matter how small the task, or light hearted the conversation, when we practice makoto in everything we do and say, when a challenges reappears in our lives, we will handle it with a new perspective.

PL is non denominational.

Rev. Goto is now Senior Minister with the church in NY City goto@perfectliberty.ca

Category:

Uncategorized

Tagged with:

Welcome another day!

Yesterday I found myself at the bottom of the steps in a beautiful environment, in reflecting on my post, I realized that not all steps are a welcome sight. That there are days when our thoughts and emotions are in a different place. Or should I say, in wandering through the hallways of the brain, we come across a scene perhaps like this one.

Pause for a moment. Look at the picture that the photographer of this shot captured. I’m not sure I know his/her intent, but to me it speaks volumes. Much like this one does. Again it was a toss up on which picture I would use today. Both spoke volumes to me and had me meditating on my thoughts for some time before I took to the keyboard.

Both of these pictures (for me) capture the essence of life at given moments during certain cycles we live through. When all around seems dreary,painful,lost, when our hearts are heavy, and our laughter barely a whisper, it is in such times that we have to call on our faith, know that the beauty is still there, that the sunshine is merely behind a cloud. The moment will pass, and the light of love and happiness with shine through once more. To love, to care is to allow yourself to feel vulnerable. Mother Nature is ALWAYS present. WE cannot know happiness without sadness, they go hand in hand, when you hold out your hand, you only see one side until you turn your hand over to see the palm. They are ONE.