April 2005
Walking a Sacred Path
Maze’s have been around for over 4000 years, and symbolize the twisted path of life and fate? Mazes are intricate geometric designs purposely meant to create a sense of bewilderment and confusion. Mazes can often cause sensitive people to suffer terrifying claustrophobia and they further refuse to have anything further to do with them. Mazes are also referred to as a Sacred Path or The True Path.
To walk a sacred path is to discover our inner sacred space and our true place within the universe, it is a puzzle that we would put ourselves into, in order to solve the mystery. The Maze has a strong physical experience for the person walking the path, it generally has a goal to be reached via many dead ends and barriers, purposely meant to lead one astray, these dead ends and barriers force one to go back and start another loop or offshoot of our journey in order to reach the end. There being only one correct solution to a Maze.
Walking the Sacred Path is said to be both therapeutic and life-changing, bringing an absolute sense of meditation and peace to the walker. It is regarded as being a healer of past sadness whilst at the same time giving that sense of release.
The Maze is so reflective of our personal lives where we start out on this great journey of life, on the way encountering all manner of challenges. Being buffeted hither and thither by the vagaries of outside influences. Being tricked into believing things that are not true. Being beguiled by what seems to be the best or easiest solution, only to find that this is not true. Having wonderful prizes dangled in front of us, only to find that they are not made of gold or that the price is too high. Having to re-trace our steps and once again forge on toward truth and our own personal goals.
We may fall sometimes but the really important issue is that we do carry on, that we try for that perfection, that we strive to reach that goal.
To those who see with loving eyes, life is beautiful.
To those who speak with tender voices, life is peaceful.
To those who help with gentle hands, life is full.
And to those who care with compassionate hearts, life is good beyond all measure.
Author Unknown
Zoned or Zonked
Somehow my life seems to consist of zones, compartments and seperatism. Almost as though I can’t multitask, (which I really can, read, watch televison, listen to the radio, hear the conversation in the next room and cook supper) on other levels.
Zones consist of work area, hobby area, love area, playtime area, children area, animal area, garden area and somehow, somewhere these zones seem to slide, merge, take on levels of urgency and importance, become distractions at certain times. Love however, for me, is always the common thread throughout all the zones, making certain decisions even more difficult at times.
Problem is juggling and being truly creative across the zones. For instance, a child needs a friend, someone to love them no matter how bad they have been, someone to play with them, even more so when they’re bored, someone to work with them and teach them, someone to feed them those tummy warming meals they love the best, tend to them and sympathise with them when they are sick, pick them up, dust them off, when they fall, listen to all their problems, no matter how trivial, give help where and when necessary. Problem is everyone wants the same attention, my boss, my friend, my neighbour, my garden, my animals… same routine in multiples of zones.
This is where the slippy-slidey focus occurs between the zones, all of a sudden one zone slides into up and another zone goes sideways, downwards, backwards and….I’m zonked! Which way is really up? How much time for family, children, friends, hobbies - does this suddenly become a lottery for my attention, or does the highest bidder win? Does this become management by crisis? Who or what comes first, how much time to allocate to each one, am I being selfish… too much time for me perhaps?
Some people seem to manage all these functions automatically, why do I always feel guilty when I spend so much time deciding which is most important for that particular moment, for that exact reason? I seem torn between love and duty sometimes and it is so hard to know what is right. I don’t ever want to compromise between these two factors but instead I seem to follow my gut instinct at the time, the one that feels exactly right. This for me does not seem less important to any of the loves in my life, rather for the benefit of the loves in my life. I believe that each and everyone that is important in my life will understand the importance of the other. Could I be wrong?
Please let me know what you think or feel!
Storm
Well we have been praying and asking for rain and boy did we get some! What a fantastic show - thunder, lightning, hail, mudslides, gale force winds and floods. We have had more rain in one night and day, than our entire monthly rainfall, for April, in past years. The rain was very welcome but spare a thought for the many people who are homeless, or have had their homes badly damaged, due to the ferocity of the storm, which hit certain areas of the Western Cape.
This storm is so similar to a tempestuous relationship, where there is intense passion, where anger is bottled up, where there is little or no communication about problems or hurts or suspicions, all resulting in a build up of negativity and anger. The more we internalise our feelings, whilst going over them again and again in our minds, the more volatile the situation tends to become. Then one day like a bolt of lightning out of the blue, all the hurt, suspicion, anger boils up and explodes like a vile rush of venom, and people are forever hurt or affected by this outburst.
All the hurt, heartache and thunderbolts could be avoided if we can only just share. Share our fears, disappointments, hurts, talk about them, get them out in the open where they no longer look so bad. Appreciate what we have, have compassion for each other, believe in each other, respect each other, celebrate each other, for none of us know just how precious our relationship is until we no longer have it.
There’s only now…
There’s only here…
Give in to love…
Or live in fear…
No other path…
No other way…
No day but today…
No day but today.
Jonathan Larson, American Playwright
Solar Eclipse
Today will be the first Solar Eclipse of 2005. It will be a rare hybrid eclipse which will be seen partially in the USA and Northern hemisphere with the full eclipse being seen in New Zealand and the South Pacific, for less than a minute in total.
For the Pope, perhaps it is a galactical farewell with a total universal blackout of one minutes silence for his final voyage on to a celestial space? May he continue to shine brightly on this earth that he has so influenced with his peacemaking efforts.
For Charles and Camilla, perhaps a second chance at happiness for them both. Today was to be their official wedding day so who knows what their future will hold, given the new circumstances.
In looking around the astrology pages it seems, that in general, this eclipse signifies new beginnings and negotiations for the future. It seems there are to be major interruptions as far as communications, the media and IT are concerned. Major interruptions in electricity resulting in blackouts. Still others predict that secrecy and deception will be the order of the day. Others are predicting earth tremors with Italy being put on alert for eruptions by Mt. Etna and Vesuvius. Apparently documents should not be signed during this period either.
But it should not be all doom and gloom as Spring is a new beginning too and brings with it all sorts of wonderful connotations. New born spring lambs so cute and cuddly. Daffodils and bluebells, new growth both in the soil as well as in the soul of our understanding. Learning new things which brings with it excitement at the challenge, excitement at the achievement and excitement at self for the accomplishment. Learning negotiation with family friends and in the world at large at the same time learning how to keep that dreaded ego at bay. So many possibilities still exist to look forward to in the future, with the maturing of all these new things.
Therefore it should be a time of looking forward, getting rid of unwanted clutter, and living for the glorious moment we are in.
Light a Virtual Candle
Wow!! I just came across the most amazing site. It has a remembrance page for the Pope where you can light a virtual candle.
You can inscribe your name on it, insert a message, your country and place of origin. This site is available in so many translated languages even Zulu!
Once you have lit your candle and left your message, your candle will stay burning for 48 hours and you can go back and check for your candle. This site has been crafted so beautifully and with such care, it is really cool.
Go here to light your virtual candle: http://www.beliefnet.com/features/pope/candle.html
Autumn Days
We are entering our autumn now and the Western Cape has a far different habitat to the rest of the country. We look forward to seeing the squirrels scurrying about at their busiest, gathering the acorns for winter. We have some wonderful huge old Oak trees in the Gardens near the centre of the city, where people usually buy some nuts from the vendors and feed these cute little creatures. We see some of the birds preparing to fly north to the warmer climates. Our days are starting to cool with most of the scorching heat now over. The sun is appearing that little later and disappearing a tad earlier. Long summer evenings now moving on to shorter more comfortable ones.
Of course, this is the busiest time for the gardener, planning and preparing for your Spring and Summer garden. Colour of course plays a big part in the entire creation and it is mostly your time and effort now that will make your garden spectacular.
Pansies and Violas with their pretty little smiling faces.
Poppies, Primulas and Petunias from single to double in any assortment of colours.
Bulbs of all kinds from Daffodils, Ranunculus, Freesias, Dutch Iris, Watsonias and Sparaxis all so intriguing from when the first spears appear above the ground until you see the full show of flowers.
Lobelia, Calendula, Cineraria and Stocks, from little fairy like sprays of flowers to the hot and showy.
Cabbage, Onions, Peas, Carrots, Turnips and Swiss Chard, the perfect collection for your steamy winter soups.
Rosemary, Thyme, Origanum, Fennel, perfect for a bouquet-garni in your soul warming stews.
All that is needed is some digging, fertilising, mulching and planting for that wonderful Spring and Winter wonderland.
Every blade of grass has its angel that bends over it and whispers, ‘Grow, grow.’
The Talmud
Sad, Sad Times
Attempting to write something for the past few days has been impossible with all the saddest of events taking place worldwide. To have written anything would have seemed so trivial and unseemly.
Firstly the sad death of Terri Schiavo which has raised such strong feelings and powerful moral issues, which in turn, have resulted in tearing apart and dividing, families, friends, legal and medical counsel, government, a country and even the world. The moral issues are ones that we have to question deep within ourselves, we have to find the answer to what we would want to do in the same circumstance. If we were the parents, the husband or the person themselves. There are no easy answers and you can find yourself swaying on the side of each party if you were in their shoes, severally and jointly. A really difficult decision on the part of every player participating in this particular drama. Thankfully, I do not have to make any such decisions…yet! I also hope never to be in a position where I would be forced to make such a decision. Terri I hope you are safe and free from suffering. May God bless you.
Secondly the illness of Prince Rainier, the ruler of the smallest principality in the world and Europes longest reigning monarch. Once married to Grace Kelly the movie star legend and mother of his children. How sad to have to say goodbye to someone who has turned this tiny little place into the most renowned playground of the rich and famous. He has worked tirelessly to attract big business thus ensuring the legacy for the Monaco monarchy to come. I pray for you and your family and hope that all will be well for you and your loved ones.
Lastly, the end of a dynasty, Pope John Paul ll a legend of a man who made a difference to millions of people in all walks of life. A man of such stature that it will be hard for anyone to live up to such high standards. He was a man of the people, for the people, spoke so many languages, did not set himself above the normal man in the street and transformed the Roman Catholic Church. He propagated peace and understanding in the world as well as social justice. He is well loved and revered both within the Catholic religion and dispersed among the many other religions. He has shown his human side by allowing the public to see he him in his weakness and illness over the past few years, clearly illustrating the human frailty. Most of all I guess we will remember him for his sense of holiness and his love of all people.
May the Lord Bless You
May the LORD bless you and keep you;
May the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
May the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.
(Numbers 6:24-26)