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We have arrived!  It’s 2010, and the sense of limitless possibilities, unimaginable miracles, and all-things-possible is incredibly palpable.  The air is full of excitement.  My heart races with exuberant anticipation and grateful presence.  Wow! What an amazing year this is:  the year of having, the year of increasingly expanding havingness and receptivity.

Last night, as I ate dinner with my husband, I became aware of the immense excitement and anticipation in my heart, and in the hearts of many.  Although I had a quiet New Years Eve, staying home with my baby, whose experiencing his first cold, inwardly I was full of explosive celebration energy.  It was indescribable, like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.  And I enjoyed it moment by moment.  While I was also aware that enthusiasm and joyful anticipation are not everyone’s experience as the new year begins, I celebrated that, despite the worry, resistance and dread that many feel, there is a clear and powerful sense of extreme positivity and happy knowing about the miracles to come this year.  This year brings the gift of mastery, creativity and collaboration.  It’s going to be beautiful.  It already is.

The question I’m hearing is: What are we having?  What are we receiving?  For many, the beginning of a new year comes with thoughts and questions of what the year will bring, what we’d like to create, what goals, dreams or resolutions we have, what agenda for our lives would we like to revisit or recreate.  This is the time when we reflect on the past year and envision the next.  But what is at the root of our reflection and vision?  From where are we seeing ourselves in the past and future? Are we viewing our past through an image of resentment, lack or guilt?  Are we in effort to change what we can’t accept, resisting what is so that our future is somehow better, less painful?

What if we decided to see ourselves, across all time, as innocent, whole, unlimited, and perfect just the way we are?  What if we viewed the past through a lense of forgiveness, saw only the present, and anticipated the future with outrageous joy and enthusiasm?  What if we accepted ourselves fully, gave ourselves space to Be, and simply Loved? Yippee!!  That feels fantastic!

Enthusiasm, Joy, and the Grace of Knowing that is beyond the sense of hope all come with the simple choice to forgive ourselves, Love completely, and accept fully.  When there is no aspect of ourselves, or the world, that we cannot completely give space to be and witness with full awareness, love and compassion, there is no doubt, worry or dread of what is to come.  When we can give ourselves and eachother space to be Who we are and where we are on our journey to Being Who we are in the world, there is no sense of lack, needing to change, resistance to what is, or fear of not having.  We simply know and have All.  Enthusiasm is a sign that we know God, that we are choosing to give God space to Be in our lives, and that we are willing to Be the full expression of the power, creativity and limitlessness of our Divinity.

When we have enthusiasm, we are completely open, receptive, ready and willing to have the miracles given us in each moment.  And, our enthusiasm is a contagious virus of happiness spreading to everyone we come into contact with, like slipping laughter pills into everyone’s drinks, or sneaking a reprogramming disk into everyone’s mind that says “All is Well, let’s celebrate eternity and peace!”  When we have enthusiasm, people may not know why, they may not be able to understand or relate to our extreme state of joy and peace, but they will receive a healing, like a balm of surrender, whenever they open up just enough to wonder how we could be so happy.

My enthusiasm for this New Year comes with an awareness that no matter what it brings, a happy outcome is certain.  No matter what chaos or insanity continues to lurk in the world, I can choose to forgive and have the peace, Grace and certainty of God.  As time continues to appear to exist and move faster and faster, I’m enthusiastic about this fantastic opportunity to master the art of forgiveness, the art of living in the world but not of it.  As ancient structures and systems of society continue to crumble, I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to come into genuine connection and community with others, to co-create and collaborate, to have the immense power of our creativity manifest as a new world, where sharing, peace, prosperity, abundance, play, caring, giving, compassion, nurturing, cooperation and collective awakening are present in every level of our societies: families, communities and nations.  I am enthusiastic about taking our next step in embodying/manifesting a world that reflects the essence of Truth:  Joy, Peace and Love.

May 2010 bring you beautiful miraculous surprises, experiences of You beyond what you’ve imagined possible, and the deepest peace and knowing of God than ever before.

I love to play fun, happy music and dance with my baby.  One of our favorite children’s albums to listen to during this joyful ritual has a song that is essentially a blessing of peace to all.  The loving energy of the song inspires many blissful moments for us, as the singer, Snatam Kaur, sings from a heart full of God.  She sings of how “the sun shines on everyone: it doesn’t make choices.”  And how “when we pray, we pray for everyone: we don’t make choices.”  These lines always trail in my mind, leading to other thoughts about the importance of making choices in life.

In the song, the line “we don’t make choices” refers to giving and sharing with all, and not excluding or selecting out anyone from your sharing of divine love.  When I hear that one line repeat alone in my head, though, it sounds confusing…We don’t make choices?  Of course we do! is my next thought… our lives here on earth are all about choices.   It’s a funny line really.  The words in lyrics are often chosen by how they fit rythmically, and how they flow poetically.  They are metaphorical, not necessarily literal.  I understand what is meant in this song: that love is to be given to everyone, without exception.  Her choice of words, however, can be misleading when the part of the chorus “don’t make choices” repeats in your mind after the song is over.

We all make choices, every day, every moment, but what are we really choosing?  What are our choices about?  Why do we sometimes think “I don’t have a choice,” or have difficulty choosing for fear of making the “wrong” decision?  There’s really a lot of energy on this thing we call choice!

When making any decision, or reflecting on choices made, it’s important to recognize the different levels of choosing.  In form, in the world of physicality, we seem to have a myriad of choices, a multitude of “things” to choose from.  In western culture, especially, we are bombarded by millions of options for our food, entertainment, electronic tools and toys.  There is so much to choose from!  And then, of course, there are all the decisions about direction and goals in our life–how and with whom we spend our time.  Our choices in this realm can often be complex, having many factors to consider, possible outcomes to ponder and repercussions to ruminate.  Our choices on this level can fill our mind with many “what if’s” and uncertainty if we are not also aware of the most basic and true source of our choosing.

In Spirit, there is no choice, there simply IS.  This is the level which Snatam Kaur’s children’s song was referring to.  Our only choice in regards to Spirit is to accept, or have, that which is, that which we already are, or not.  We can attempt to choose not to have Spirit, thereby making up multitudes of illusions of fear.  Our choice against Spirit does not, and cannot, change, affect or eliminate It, but it does effect our experience here in the world and the complex choices we make here.  If we make the choice that cannot be, the choice against Spirit, we are choosing for and with fear.  If we choose to accept and have Spirit, that which we are, we are choosing for and with Love.  This is a simple choice, one or the other, but the joke is that the “other”(fear) does not actually exist, and since you can’t choose what isn’t, there really isn’t a choice!  There’s just Spirit, All, Love, Wholeness, Oneness.

Ah, but back to the world of multiplicity, duality and complexity that we appear to be in…where there are so many choices and so much to discern.  How can we know what is the right decision on this level of form?  Should I take this job or do that instead?  Should I continue dating this person or see someone else?  Will I attend this event or make these other plans?  There are many important decisions in life, and yet, the most important aspect of any decision is to recognize first where you are choosing from.  The first decision is to choose from Love, from That Which Is, or from fear, from that which isn’t.  When we choose from Love, our decision will bring or extend peace, joy, well-being, harmony, freedom, healing, validation, and of course Love!  When we choose from Love, all the details–the “fine print” of our decision in the world–become clear and simple.  When we choose from Love, we have certainty and peace of mind, we have clarity and ease.  If there is doubt, guilt, shame or anxiety, it is a sure sign that we have chosen from fear.

Fortunately, we can always choose again!  Each time we notice worry, uneasiness, uncertainty, guilt, anything like this, we can go back and choose Love:  choose to have That Which Is, that which We Are.  From there we may remake or keep our decision about something in the world.  But, once we have chosen to have that decision in and from Love, we can be certain our decision in form will bring more peace to our mind, regardless of what it is.  Yay!  That’s fantastic!

Ultimately, all choice boils down to love or fear, Truth or illusions.  The way to recognize what we’ve chosen is to notice if we are at peace within ourselves or not.  If we are not, we can choose again and restore peace to our awareness by choosing Love.  In this way we can also make all of our choices here in the world, from the daily details to the major life decisions, with greater ease and certainty.  When we first choose Love, the rest follows gracefully.

“Seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and all else will be added unto you.”  The Kingdom is Love, Truth, Reality, Oneness, That Which Is.  Choose to have this, and your road  here will be clear.  May we all remember the choice for Love in all of our choices.

In celebration of the exciting and powerful eclipses we’re experiencing this month, I’ve decided to return to my blog, after hibernating for some time.  My 6 week old son, Seren, sits next to me, chirping and singing and kicking.  He’s reclining in his “calming vibrations” chair, and I’m thinking, we could all use a calming vibrations chair!   Eclipses offer us a powerful opportunity for healing.  With these eclipses, however, there is no refusing the offer; change is happening.  Deep, lasting, positive change.  And the rumblings can be felt at our very core.

For me, the healing is taking place especially on the family level.  My “home space”, both my physical home and family space, and my connection to our eternal, true Home and Christ family, is being deeply cleansed.  Old and hidden patterns of projection, blame and denial are surfacing and unveiling.  The mind is rumbling with release, as Light and Truth penetrate deeper through illusions.  Where I have withheld love from my partner, family, my Self, I am seeing the fear and pain of this withholding and returning, through forgiveness, to the wholeness of Self, Love and Unity.  Where I have fallen into complacency, apathy or neglect, this Eclipse time is serving as a jolting reminder to wake up again.  Don’t fall asleep. Remember your diligence and vigilance for Spirit!

What I like about the eclipses is that they can be experienced as a gentle influx of powerful energy.  Although many experience their intensity with difficulty and major disruption, joyous and miraculous transformation is also possible.  Our attitude and response to the healing energy represented by the eclipses makes our experience what it is.  We can respond with enthusiasm and experience happy surprises and blissful blessings.  Or we can respond with ignoring/ignorance and experience fear and stuckness.  We can respond with gratitude and experience wonderful miracles and deep Love.  Or we can respond with resistance and experience pain and frustration.  Fortunately, the choice is ours.  That’s what Free Will is all about: our power to accept what is, and choose Spirit, or reject/resist what is, and deny God.  One restores the Peace that Is to our awareness, the other separates us, in our experience, from the Joy that Is eternally.  In other words, the healing of the eclipse doesn’t have to come through in intense waves that knowck us over and fill us with anxiety.  We can sit in our own calming vibrations chair by remembering to respond with gratitude and enthusiasm, like a child receiving a great gift.

During the past year, since the eclipses of last August, my home family has grown in number from two to four.  Love has grown rapidly in my life, not only in the family that surrounds me and gives me daily opportunities to love, forgive, grow and heal, but also in my relationship with Self, with the family that we all are in Christ, in Oneness.  I am reminded during these eclipses to be more aware of my ever-present connection to All, and to see Christ in everyone.  My immediate family, those I see and relate with daily, often represent the most hidden places within that I have failed to Love.  Gratefully, I have been eclipsed!  Veils that hid the light of awareness from areas where love was withheld are opening, and Love is more fully present, between us and within us.

May you, like a child, sit in a chair of calming vibrations, like the hand of God, surrounded and filled with the Love of the Christ family.  May the fullness and Joy of Love enter each dark corner of your mind and your being, and restore your awareness and experience of the Wholeness and Peace that you are.

I received a message this morning from an old grade-school girlfriend I haven’t seen or connected with in…15 years maybe.  Wow!  As we exchanged messages, I watched hundreds of “pictures” (scenes from the past) cross my awareness.  How interesting to review all the memories from that time in my life!  It brought tears of joy to recall the fun, playful years of girlhood with my friend.

What I noticed most as I watched the memories surface was how many different dramatic changes in perception and identity I’ve been through in the past 20 years.  For those on a path of transformation, rapid and frequent shifts in how we see ourselves, “others” and the world become quite common, until one reaches the inner-most sanctum of true Identity.  When we reach the place within where all is One, where we are the Self that lives in each seemingly separate individual, we come to truly know ourSelves.  Until then, in and throughout the process of transformation and awakening, there are epochs or waves of identifying with this or that role, ability, personality trait or relationship.  We may create our identity around our job, our primary relationship, our most useful talent or ability; yet as these roles, jobs or relationships change, so does that identity we held onto.  During times of great change, many experience an “identity crisis,” and are required to really look at who they are.  If they are ready, their awareness will reveal the Truth: the unchanging Self that remains unaltered behind the veils of the identities created out of the various appearances that come and go in the world.

This is the practice of detachment, or non-attachment, that so many Eastern traditions teach.  It is not a resistance to, or an avoidance of, any of the appearances, roles or identities we take on in the world.  It is simply an awareness, throughout any roles or appearances we wear, of Who and What we truly are, and an identifying always with the eternal unchanging Self, rather than any of the transient aspects of our roles, relationships, talents and experiences.  Non-attachment allows us to Be while we are being a parent, a student, a lover, a lawyer, a teacher, a doctor, an upset person or a challenged person.  We can Be no matter what our being is experiencing.

What we come to realize as we know the Self, is that identity creates, or determines, perception.  And, likewise, perception reflects our identity: who or what we think we are.   Any identity build around the idea of a separate self results in perceptions of separateness.  In fact, perception is separateness, for there needs to be more than one in order to “perceive”: the perceiver and the perceived.  When we identify with our Identity–our True Self, the One Self that Is–we are simply Aware.  We are Awareness aware of the various perceptions or appearances that come and go in the mind filled with thoughts of “what if we could be separate?”  (Fortunately we can’t

When we perceive pain or suffering of any kind, we have identified with separateness and the cascade of beliefs (or thoughts) that follow: fear, guilt, confusion, shame, resistance, anger, etc.  When we become aware, we know that these perceptions are simply that: perceptions, appearances that come and go.  We can then give them space and allow them to be.  We can step back, so to speak, with our awareness, observe them from the space of Love: Acceptance, Forgiveness and Peace.  We then find that the appearances/perceptions shift again.  Eventually, the more space we allow, the more peace emerges in our experience, until all that remains is Love.

Jesus said:  “Identify with Love, and you are safe.  Identify with Love, and you are home.  Identify with Love, and find your Self.”

May we all seek until we find this Self.  May we all remember to identify only with Love, and thus set the world free.

“So, what do you do?”   That question is almost always the first question we are asked upon meeting someone new.   I still have trouble answering that question at times because what I do is not something that I do.   The short answer to this question is: “I’m a healer.”  I usually don’t leave the answer at that, of course, because that leaves a big fat question mark in the mind of my new acquaintance.  I can just hear them saying to themselves, “Oh, right….so, what do you do?”

A healer can do many things; It is their being, however, that makes them a healer.  And this being can be expressed in many ways.   At times, I express my healing in the form of spiritual life readings which coach, guide, awaken and inspire people to find, follow and further their spiritual path.  I help awaken people to Who they truly are, why they are here, and what they are here to do.   I support you in finding your answers, following your heart, hearing and seeing Spirit, and finding unconditional peace and joy in your life and all of its relationships.

So, what I do is part of who I am, but the healing I offer is not limited to private sessions.  Healing is a way of being, a way of seeing the world.   It is not something you do.  It is something you be, something you choose, something you are.   Fortunately for the world, there are many healers incarnated at this time.  Most likely, if you are reading this, you are a healer.

A healer is someone who is naturally compassionate, forgiving and accepting.  Someone who gives people space to be, who offers acceptance rather than judgement.  A healer is always seeking to return to wholeness:  whether they are aware of it or not, they know that what is true is whole, and their very presence helps restore that wholeness.   Healers are also amused:  they don’t take life, others or themselves too seriously.  Their light-hearted presence lifts us up and helps us let go of the stress of seriousness.  Healers are on their return trip home (ie their return to the awareness of perfect wholeness, oneness, “Heaven” or union with God), and they guide and assist us all in this internal process.

Healers are often called “old souls.”  They’ve been around the block many times, so to speak.  They’ve had the whole spectrum of human experience over many lifetimes, and are now ready to wrap things up and complete the cycle of birth and death.  For this reason, healers are also very sensitive/psychic people.  They tend to feel everyone’s emotions, hear everyone’s thoughts, and see more deeply into people than they may be comfortable with or conscious of.  If a healer is not guided or understood as a young child, their abilities and sensitivities often become confusing and challenging.   If they learn, or remember, to see their sensitivities and abilities as strengths, then they are able to guide themselves and others out of the maze of illusion, and return to their true state of wholeness.

A healer is a gift.  If you are a healer, or suspect that you are, or maybe don’t think you are but really you are :)  the world is blessed to have you here.  A healer is anyone who practices forgiveness, because they know that forgiveness is our only true purpose in this world.   When we forgive the dream, we awaken from it, and we realize that all that remains is Love.

May you always remember that healing is forgiving, and forgiving is healing.

Thank you for Being!

This week I’m dog-sitting for a delightfully enthusiastic Border Collie named Bonnie Lass.  What a lovely creature!  So full of Life and fun and play, she communicates with gentleness and peace, and really knows how to play ball!  She’s been very patient with me, too.  For a couple days I wasn’t feeling well enough to run around outside.  But, this morning, we’re back in action.

Bonnie Lass and I went for a long walk-and-play in the park early this morning.  I love morning walks, because this is often the time when I connect the deepest with Truth and stillness, and hear the inspiration that comes from that spaciousness.  As we walked, I was blessed with a sudden and wonderful Thought:  the Holy Spirit’s voice sung clearly in my mind, “You’re Being is cherished and held in the infinite Love of God.”  Aaahhh.  My whole body, mind and being relaxed deeply into the blessed presence of this Thought.  I say Thought because this was not like the meaningless thoughts that run through our mind incessantly: this was not coming from the analyzer–the little “thought machine” in our minds.  And this Thought was not experienced as a thought the mind thinks.  :)  It was felt, sensed, known by my entire Being in an everlasting moment of recognition.  And it had an effect on me similar to the mouth on cotton candy: I melted and dissolved.  My heart burst open even more, and tears of Gratitude washed my face.

As I became aware again that I was walking the dog, that I actually had a body with a leash in one hand and a ball in the other, I sang a mantra of Thank You to God, and to all the Awakened Ones.   I sang in gratitude for how perfectly cared for we are, no matter what appears to be going on in the world.   I sang in gratitude for the Voice that came through so clearly and Blessed me with Remembrance.   And as I looked over the valley, at the rolling green hills and the misty clouds and the snow-tipped mountains and the budding trees, I sang in gratitude for the Beauty that reminds us of Truth.

And now, this gratitude remains.  It will remain always, as long as I remember the Self, the Christ, the Love that we are.

My prayerful intention today is that we all remember this in every moment.  That we allow the Voice, the Holy Spirit to be heard in our minds.  That we allow the stillness to speak to us so that we always know how precious, loved, loving, safe, beautiful, whole, innocent, infinite and perfect We truly are.  May we never forget this, and may this Truth guide our every step as we awaken the dream.

Happy Equinox! What a beautiful time of year it is here in Ashland. The trees are budding, daffodils are smiling, and everything is green, green, green!

I went for a walk last night, as the sun was setting, to enjoy the beauty of spring and the moist, fragrant air. And I received an unexpected and wonderful blessing! As I walked in Lithia Park, right near the playground, I heard the lovely cooing of an owl. Hoo-hooo, Coo-hooo, hoo-hoooo, so gentle, soft and soothing. My son immediately pointed out where the owl was. Hidden in an oak tree, which grows intertwined with a redwood, the small owl sat in its perch, it’s speckled feathers blending in with the color and texture of the tree. “It’s soo cute!” I marveled.

I adored the owl. I stood mesmerized, in love. I had such awe and adoration for this exquisite little creature. I imagined the owl was staring back at me, enjoying the deep meditative silence in our loving gaze. Most likely the owl was looking far past me to the setting sun, simply singing to the coming Spring and the dusk beauty. Either way, we had a nice connection, very tangible peace.

Eventually, heart overflowing with gratitude, I said goodbye to the owl and moved on down the path. The song of the creek was more crisp and playful than ever before. I was even more aware of and in unison with the breathing of life in the forest…the leaves, birds, rocks, soil and clouds, the air itself…We were alive with bubbly, gleeful spring energy. My breath deepened as I received the life force of the spring air, and my being expanded and showered Life with exhilerating appreciation for this Joyful Presence.

The gifts of this evening continued! I meandered through the Japanese gardens, (where I love to giggle with the faeries). Then I come upon the field of Sycamore trees (8×8 to be exact!). And there, frolicking and prancing about, were over a dozen deer! Oh! How amazing! So many deer simply playing together! They dashed about, hiding behind trees, chasing one another, jumping and running back and forth. The energy was pure Play! I just wanted to hug and kiss these deer, they were so yummy! And they were not at all concerned with my “intrusion”. I walked slowly through the playful scene, bursting with joy and laughter, thrilled to be witnessing such merriment.

Sure, it is mating season ..right? So, maybe they’re out there strutting their stuff, showing off their sexy agility, attracting their buff buck. Or maybe they were simply enjoying the lusciousness of spring and the aliveness of all growing things waking up from winter slumber. Either way, they were certainly demonstrating what spring calls forth from us: an unabashed desire to get out, frolic, play, breathe, jump, dance, and celebrate Life with each other!

I smile with gratitude for the gifts of Spring and the Beauty I witnessed on that walk through the park. The Owl reminded me to sing, not for any particular reason, just to sing for the enjoyment of song, and the celebration of Life and Beauty. And the Deer, of course, reminded me to Play: express the dance of Spring in all its gleeful enthusiasm. Nature reminds us to live by allowing Life to move through our breath, voice and bodies. The aliveness of Spring calls you to Awaken…come Alive….Celebrate in Joy!!!

Yes!  I Love Valentine’s day!  It’s so important to have as many days as possible throughout the year where people give themselves more permission to be Loving and giving and laughing and sharing and playing and being silly, and just really enjoying themselves!

Yes!

So, as an aside, you might notice I now have paragraphs again.  And that it’s a really good thing huh?!  Yep, got that little technical snaffoo resolved.   Yes!

Alright, back to Happy Heart day.  It’s my favorite holiday.  Although you might hear me say that about another holiday when it comes along.  Again, any day that somehow fosters more havingness for Love and play and celebration is a Fantastic day in my book.  Let’s Love more!  Let’s have Happy Hearts every day!

I received a Happy Valentines email from my mother earlier today entitle Happy Hearts Day.  How appropriate.  So I have to credit her with that new fabulous name for today, and every day we give ourselves total permission to Be.  To be Happy, Grateful, Open and Bright in our very happy-grateful-open-bright Hearts.  Thank You Mom. And Thank You All for the Love you give and receive freely today and everyday you allow yourselves to have this ever-present Gift of the Heart.

May we all always have the Joy, Love and Giving that is our heart and our Self.

Thank You St Valentine!

Aah, it’s good to be back!  Where’d I go?  Oh, let’s just say away from computer-land for a while.  I thought about all the lovely posts I could create over the holydays and into the New Year, full of the Joy of Christ and the miracles of that sparkly time of year.  But, instead I chose to take a long break from computer-land, as I love to call it.  Yes, a whole new and seemingly endless world opens up when we surf the web.  So many possibilities!  We can make universes of social circles and inter-connecting networks of communication.  This is great fun, and truly a gift for expanding our horizons in this world!  And yet, it’s easy to dive in and forget to “come up for air”, to join with the stillness, quietness and Truth of our Being.  Balance is key.  This winter has gifted me with opportunities for more balance.  Time for “work” and time for play.  Time to go inward, and time to bring the Light from within “out” to the world.   Time to rest and time to go, go, go!  Time to speak and time to listen.    The balance I’d like to create is the right in-between space of Now.   Now is where I nurture Self while I nurture “others”, give as I receive,  listen as I am being heard, see as I am being seen.  Because in the Now, there is no space and time, there is no separation between us.  In Now, I give to the all, and so I receive.  In Now, I listen to the All, and so I am heard.  In Now, the vision of the All is given, and so I see and am seen.  And so, Now, I choose balance.  I choose again to have the Wholeness I am, from which true balance is recognized, given and received.I am so happy, so grateful, for the many reminders to choose again to have What I Am.  It’s so simple.  When I notice imbalance in my life, I choose again my wholeness, which is absolute balance, completion, fullness.  And so, when I seem to have no time for rest, or not enough time for work, or feel too tired to play with my son, or seem to be traveling too much to stay connected with friends at home…  Whatever it is that appears to be out of balance is really a Reminder, an opportunity to forgive and choose again.  Choose Wholeness, choose Now.  Choose divinity.  Choose Spirit.  Choose That Which Gives, That which is unlimited, That which IS.Yay!!!May you always recognize the gifts in any experience of “imbalance”.  May you always know it as a reminder, a gift that appears, reminding you to choose Wholeness again, and then disappears.Isn’t that great!!Try it!   ; )Namaste 

     I love Thanksgiving.  Isn’t it great to have a holiday that’s really all about giving thanks?!  While it’s certainly important to practice thankfulness every day, I’m celebrating that our culture holds space for Gratitude on this national holiday.  It really is commendable that, as a collective, we share a day focused on remembering what we’re thankful for.  

     Thanksgiving offers many opportunities, not only for gratitude, but for forgiveness, generosity and cultivating peace.  For so many of us, Thanksgiving is a time to be with our family,indeed, many travel great distances to be with their family.  And often, there is more of a sense of apprehension, resistance and discomfort at the thought of seeing and being with family members than there is enthusiasm and joyful anticipation.    What a great opportunity to notice where we hold resentment, fear, judgement or grievances of any kind.  What a fabulous time to practice forgiveness and allow a deeper healing of ourselves and our family. 

     Gratitude and Forgiveness are really very alike.  When we are grateful we are giving thanks.  We are giving the energy of thankfulness, the joy of gratitude.  Gratitude cannot be contained: it must be given in order to be had.  We must share gratitude in order to experience its joy.  And, it’s the same with forgiveness.  Notice, it is for-giving.   Forgiveness is generosity.  It is giving and honoring the peacefulness of sharing our heart, the heart. 

     Givingness comes from remebering our oneness, our not-twoness or not-separateness.  Givingness is validation of Spirit, for Spirit is whole, undivided, One.  Gratitude is the effect of choosing to validate spirit, to honor the truth of our wholeness.   And, it is the same with forgiveness.  When we forgive, we are really seeing and honoring the truth:  that we are not separate, that if I hold a grievance about anything or anyone, I am condemning myself.  Givingness says, I will give to you in order to give to myself.  I will give you appreciation and validation of your light, your beingness, your divinity. Then, gratitude celebrates the joy of our union, our wholeness.  And peace becomes our only reality.