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Posts tagged ‘mindfulness’

Goedenmorgen, good morning everyone

Alo 3.1_005Remember the song, Rock and Roll is here to stay, or when we were all hearing about the “British invasion”?  Of course not, some of you do, and others have no idea of what I’m talking about.  Never -the-less … both are part of “history”, contributed to the world today.  Not all that long ago, I was doing research for a virtual blog*  I write, when I came across these characters in a haunted house.  I had the opportunity to meet and talk with the builder of this particular setting and others just as much fun and creative, Being an artist myself, I am often humbled by the ability of others to recreate such fun and authentic looking scenes.  The designer, BambiTwice Nitely has given the virtual world of SL a playground for explorers that is unbelievable in the range of destinations she has provided.  i.e Medieval Fantasy, Star Wars, Aquatic-Marine and Tropical fish, the list goes on, oh and I must not forget a museum of amazing Illusions, these are just a few.  all this to say, because in our limited worlds, we often resist stepping outside the box.  Going or doing something that we have never done before, will always bring something new into our lives. Give us a new perspective.  Challenge us to revisit some of our thinking?

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How  has your day been so far, where you on the stairway through the day, are your steps leading up or coming down? Either way, you will find a new vista(s) to explore.  We should try to start each day with a renewed sense of appreciation.  Smiles through the screen at you.  Life is so full of treasures some long forgotten that need to be rediscovered and others that are brand spanking new.  Remember  LIFE IS ART 

For those of you who travel in Second Life, this is your link to the boat that will take you along the Nile to the land of the Pharaohs, Pyramids etc.  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Enchantment%20Island/190/97/23

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Where do you want to be today?   Choose to feel the range of your emotions rather than become numb or indifferent. Make your choice the one that will have you being present in all you do, to be mindful of what the day has in store  – reach out and share your mega watt smile with the world.  Trust you will be empowered.    Blessings, Oyashikiri   smilePencil

interested in the virtual blog?  visit http://virtuallunablogspot.ca/

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

a0c89d466de7ba0a00e2d4b17a3a770cWouldn’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.

nederlands,Den BoschThis 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

 

True Happiness

 

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

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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.  6b962e031064bcc784b36e788932e7e1

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.

b9f214fde9e841d32197ad8b59e184e8PL 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) china,huangshan,anhui, umbrella tree
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

Perception

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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!

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makoto

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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.

a02e1753ae4d6670f5d173129e1134fbPL is  non denominational.

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

 

one step at a time … we go forward

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Where will your path take you?  Wherever your footsteps lead, be someone who can share Joy with others.  Strive to truly understand the feelings of others.  Let go of your ego and express yourself fully.

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This hug is just for Y O U  …….. may your day be full of inner joy and contentment……    Walk with Godbear hugs

 

Love is for sharing……     Oyashikiri

remember yesterday’s picture from Japan

This is how it is done!  Just amazing what can be done when one is determined and has a goal.  Thank you Rev. Goto!!

Mindful

Being aware. involved, each day, almost every moment of our waking hours when we are mindful, we have pathways that open up and we are faced with what path we will follow.

Good Morning everyone =^_^= I have enjoyed researching how I would present this today, thank you for this opportunity and for the moment we are now sharing.

802ae102e1e78e7bba5162a4b3382da3Calm, peaceful, less journeyed, pristine, the photographer captured the silence of the moment, even though it shows that a vehicle can travel this road, it doesn’t capture that, the picture draws us in, so that if we are very quiet,we will hear the birds  and the rustle of leaves as the forest animals go about their business.It is very inviting.

bbcea7536952526366ec1d1d2c53f6d9This amazing shot was posted by visitjapan.com it is of Yuki-no-Otani snow canyon road in Japan.  The walls of snow are approximately 5 stories high.  Whew I see a car driving along there, hmmm do I want to be in it?  Actually if you really look there are many other cars so it is a well traveled road, still as beautiful as it is I might like to travel the road in a different season.

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LOL now this picture, taken in New Zealand, where it seems there are many such roads to entice the adventurous soul, is approx. 22 km of winding treacherous road with no guard rails (Skippers Canyon near Queenstown) Look at the country side, I would love to be  there, however I don’t think in that particular vehicle pulling a load.

Being mindful, means choices, participating in the decisions/challenges the Universe provides us with.  Nature gives us the landscapes/tools, God provides! What path will you take today?

The leading line of the path leads the eye directly to the maple tree.

 

11th of the month, Ancestor Day

0937d5820779f8bd829694415e8398ddWe are who we are.  No amount of cosmetic surgery, make up or fashion styles we make will change who we are, or where we came from.  What does change is the way we use the skills and  God given talents we have (understanding of life).  This is an old Japanese print that I found, and thought it was a very appropriate visual for today’s greeting.

The clever and subtle messages of the artist are wonderful.  I see so many possibilities of interpretation. He/she has captured the happiness of the cat being worked on, the little claws are  out as it kneads its contentment into the carpet.  How one feels when enjoying a wonderful relaxing massage. =^_^=  the look of face on the “giver” is focused and mindful of what it is doing.  The signer stamp of the artist is an artistic sign of the TAO.. Yin/Yang.  Male/Female, Active/Passive and this is what the picture is a balance .  Harmony of two energies.  TAO – complete ONEness in the moment.

You are here today, thanks to your ancestors.  Their actions, lives were instrumental in your being here at this very moment.  On the 11th of every month, through ceremony, we express our gratitude for the love and virtues of our ancestors and ask for their protection and guidance so we can continue to live the PL WAY. (Perfect Liberty)   Service is at 10 a.m.  today..             Life is Art       ( PL Precept #1 )

Happy Tuesday to you all………. May the sun shine its warmth on you today &, bless your night with the happy twinkling of the brilliant stars that dress the moonlit night.           Oyashikiri

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Happy Monday everyone!

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Living in the moment, being mindful means that you are living each moment with awareness, being present, addressing the moment with a clear state of mind. In “biblical” times it is told that Jesus walked on water and that in/with faith, so could his followers.  The moment they let fear/doubt take over, they sank.  It is not easy to always be clear of negative feelings, but we can learn, we can practice the ART of trusting and truly believing that the “Universe” no matter what the challenge, has a reason for where you are and what you are living at any given time.

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Begin by starting your day with a positive attitude.  PL Principle # 2  I will not have complaints about others, matters, nor the weather. Rather I will always be creative and will for shortcomings in my own thinking and actions.

If you wish to learn more about the PL 21 Principles, please ask for a consultation from your local PL minister. (Perfect Liberty)

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