Descending into Ourselves

Suffering requires us to
descend into ourselves.

As there is no other way out,
we are obliged to call on the
power of soul and spirit.

When we succeed in doing
so, instead of groaning and
crying out in rebellion, we
exhale a delicate perfume.

~O. M. Aivanhov

Of Note: Suffering is such a gift from the universe. Just think, without it, we would never know the heights of joy, which is the natural state of our soul. The truism "no pain, no gain" is of ancient origin and speaks of humanity's place in the evolutionary scheme of things. When we accept pain with joy and learn whatever lesson is presented, our own movement forward speeds up commensurately. What's more, our resulting sweet-smelling emanations enhance the whole environment.

Today's Weather Report: The day started off at 30 degrees. With that sub-freezing temp, the tomato plants bit the dust sometime in the night. Before the day was through, though, it rose into the 60's--just enough to finish the last touches of paint on the Taj Mahal this season. The complete paint job will have to wait until next spring, but this gave us a good start on the project. The streptocarpus plant pictured above is blooming prolifically. This is a very strange plant in that it must be watered from the bottom like an African violet and prefers dry soil. This is actually the baby from the original plant, which I killed by watering too much and from the top. I cherish its beauty because the original was given to me for Mother's Day many years ago by my daughter.

Universal Responsibility

Today, more than ever before,
life must be characterized by a
sense of Universal responsibility,
not only nation to nation
and human to human,
but also human to
other forms of life.

~His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Of Note: Have you ever considered that water is another form of life? Ageless wisdom contends that every atom, every cell is part of the Life that is God and is therefore "alive." These live atoms are combined to create forms which under divine plan should express Beauty. Humanity is that consciousness responsible for the combinations and has in the past not fulfilled its destiny in this regard. It would appear that is changing--ever so slowly. All the current crises are pushing mankind to take its rightful place in the universal scheme.

Today's Weather Report: The first freeze of the season is scheduled for tonight. So the last couple of days have been spent bringing in all the house plants that spent the summer outside as well as harvesting the tomatoes and pumpkins. This year amazingly the pumpkin plants grew and grew and actually produced fruit. You can look back a few days in this blog and see a picture of one of the white beauties. The temperature is currently in the 40's Fahrenheit, but that will not stop us from finishing the inside walls at our hunting cabin on stilts. We call it the Taj Mahal because it so "fancy" and built with all left-over building material. Mind you, very little hunting takes place from this spot, but it makes a great lookout at the end of the lake since it stands so tall.

Continuity of Life

If there is neither transmutation
or continuity in the process of being,
then how can one explain
the life of the Universe?

~Master Morya

Of Note: The main place Humanity has gone astray is discounting the existence of Life outside of its tiny realm of perception. Thus, the visible counts, the invisible does not. Some scientific thinkers are currently in the process of ameliorating this problem, but many are enmeshed in the old way of thinking and continue to block the way. Acceptance of death and an understanding of how it fits into the whole picture of Life will constitute the ultimate evidence of change. When fear of death is no more, then we will know Humanity has passed the test.

Today's Weather Report: Today's big announcement--fall is here! It arrived late yesterday when winds swept through the area and brought a weak cold front and rain. The outside work we were doing came to a halt because painting is impossible at 40 or 50 degrees. In recognition of the change, all five cats are curled up in various piles around the house rather than cavorting outside. Aren't the pink lupines in this photo gorgeous? The deer ate all mine again this year. A tiny pink one bloomed for the first time but was gone by the next morning. Mowed to the ground. A friend finally asked why I wasn't using Liquid Fence. Didn't really know, so I tried it. For those who don't know about this product, putrefied eggs are the first ingredient. Pee-yoo. But it worked miracles--so, I will get used to the rotten smell for the glory of beautiful flowers everywhere. BTW, the horrific smell dissipates when it dries but it takes courage and determination to get it on the plants, let me tell you.

Changing the Maker and the Destination

The future is not some place we are going,
but one we are creating.
The paths are not to be found, but made.

And the activity of making them changes
both the maker and their destination.

~John Schaar

Of Note: The present we are living in right at this instant was at one point just moments ago the future and that moment is now the past. On and on it goes until the concept of TIME has little meaning. But one truth that continues to have meaning is the fact that each and every one of us is a creator. It is our divine legacy. Indeed, each atom and cell has such potential. The problems facing Humanity today result from its misuse of this divine attribute. Looking around provides a stark picture of less than spiritual values at every turn. If we are to come into full-bloom, a movement upward is in order. The good news is it appears to be happening, slowly but surely.

Today's Weather Report: Another bright and sunny day in the 70's with periods of scattered clouds. Didn't distract from the overall warmth of the day. Now it is getting cooler--every evening as the sun starts to set, the temps drop at least 10 degrees. By morning, it will probably be in the 40's. That's been the pattern over the last several weeks. Marie and her husband are going on a trip west this week. She is sure to return with many more grand photos, which will grace these pages in the days to come.

Battle with Space andTime

And love will simply have no choice
but to go into battle with space and time,
and furthermore to win.

~James Baldwin

Of Note: Many folks are gearing up to events which are supposed to take place in 2012. The date has really captured the imagination of the public, who are expectantly waiting--though for what, they do not know. During such times in the past, on-lookers have been swept away in the tide, leaving the active to survive the tumult. So what will it be? On-looker in the stands or active survivor in the battlefield?

Today's Weather Report: Yesterday the temperature rose to 73 degrees Fahrenheit. Can't say I remember such a balmy day in later September. All the final chores are getting done in preparation for the coming winter....and a few more because of the clear, warm weather. My husband is painting his hunting tree house and knows he has only a few days left before it will be too cold to continue. Last fall this time I was spray painting the new snow plow truck, but had to stop because of the cold. That job was just completed a few weeks ago and now the plow is ready to roll.

Going Far in Life

How far we go in life depends on
our being tender with the young,
compassionate with the aged,
sympathetic with the striving,
and tolerant of the weak and strong.

Because someday in our life
we will have been all of these.

~George Washington Carver

Of Note: For sure, with so many lives to choose from, we will have been all of these. However, a life that we practice these values from the very beginning is a life that we will go far indeed. Many thanks to my talented sister, Marie, for sharing this poignant photo. She has a real eye for catching the essence of a scene.

Today's Weather Report: Once again, it is sunny and eventually will be warm. At 40 degrees this morning it was far from that. On days like this, it's long pants in the morning with a sweatshirt and in the afternoon shorts and a tank top. One of these days soon, the porch plants will have to come in, but that time hasn't yet arrived. They are enjoying the last few days of freedom in the outdoors. None do as well inside over the long winter.

The Sharp Shears of Sorrow

The sharp shears of sorrow must
separate the Real from the unreal.
The lash of pain must awaken
the soul to exquisite life.
The wrenching away of the roots
of life from the soil of selfish
desire must be undergone.

And then man stands free.

~Old Commentary

Of Note: I would say this statement is right to the point. The Old Commentary is like that. Written before recorded history, it has stayed alive in other layers of reality to be read when the need arises. There has never been a need like the one presented today. One by one souls, long dormant, are awakening to Life. Why? Certainly not for that soul's advantage but rather for the salvation of humanity from its own "selfish desire." Selfish desire is fine during the early stage in a soul's evolution--but stagnation there is death. Onward and upward is the only way forward.

Today's Weather Report: Sunny, oh so sunny. The second day of fall will be warm which will allow me to get a few things done outside before company arrives for the weekend. Yesterday, the first day of fall was rainy, off and on. The leaves are changing color brilliantly this year. I had always thought the leaves changed because of the colder temperatures. Apparently, this is not so since the temps have been in the 60's and 70's Fahrenheit for weeks now. My husband commented that it must be the length of the daylight instead. During the summer it gets dark around 9:30 pm but a dim light can sometimes still be seen at 10:00 pm. Now by 8:00 pm the sun has disappeared behind the horizon.

The Freshman Class of 2027

When members of the freshman class of 2027 look back
at our future, what's likely to surprise them most?

Will they marvel that gays were once not allowed to marry--
or that they ever were?

That we waited while the planet warmed,
or that we acted to save it?

That we protected the poor,
or ignored them?

That we lived within our means,
or beyond them?

We'll make our choices one day at a time,
but our kids will judge our generation
for what we generate,
and what we leave undone.

~Nancy Gibbs
TIME magazine

Of Note: This week the United Nations is conducting a series of potentially life-shifting meetings--one at which President Obama will speak. On Monday he flew to New York to attend an important climate change summit during which he will also sit down with Middle East leaders Abbas and Netanyahu as well as the new Japanese prime minister and Russian President Medvedev. Wednesday is the day of the President's much anticipated speech to the General Assembly. On Thursday he will be the first United States President to run a summit-level meeting of the Security Council to begin the process of hammering out a new nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament agreement. To round out an already busy week, the energy-filled man will then fly to Pittsburgh for the two-day G-20 summit. The whole world is watching the President to see if he is a true leader, defined as someone that moves people to do what they need to do. Expectations for concrete action will be high.

Before the Eyes Can See

BEFORE THE EYES CAN SEE,
THEY MUST BE INCAPABLE OF TEARS.

~A TEACHER

Of Note: Meditation on this statement might prove illuminating. Most folks would think "sight" would be enhanced by tears, but alas, no. These few, simple words show the way forward.

Thanks to my sister Marie for this soothing shot taken on one of her trips earlier in the year. Marie hails from Texas and takes many trips that yield wonderful photos. Stay tuned for more as the days pass!

Bearing Fruit

That which has been sown in the past
exists and nothing can arrest or stop
those seeds from coming to fruition.

They must bear fruit in this present life
or be concealed until a more favorable soil
and more suitable condition can cause them
to germinate, unfold, grow and flower forth
in the clear light of day.

~Master Djwhal Khul

Of Note: This illuminating statement applies to an individual, race or nation. Of particular interest at the present time in relation to the planet Earth is a nation's karma. As a matter of fact, it may be the most important component in the coming shift. Because it is group conscious, our souls know or care little about our individual problems. It is good to keep in mind the words of Master DK, who once said that we are not as interesting to our souls as we think. That is humbling, is it not? On another note, this unusual white pumpkin is growing in my new pumpkin patch. Although I had tried to grow this hearty fruit many times, this is the droughty year it decided to grace the garden. Could be it is paying respects to our deceased dog, who was buried nearby in May.

A Bright Beam in Hell Itself

THE DARKEST PLACE RECEIVES THE LIGHT.
THE DAWN APPEARS ON EARTH.

THE DAYSPRING FROM ON HIGH
SHEDS ITS BRIGHT BEAM IN HELL ITSELF.

AND ALL IS LIGHT AND LIFE.

~Old Commentary

Of Note: Life in the northwoods is magical. Scenes like this greet us almost every night this month. September is usually chilly with a hint of fall in the air. This month has been a mixture of summer and early fall, with early fall in the morning and summer the rest of the day. The garden knows it's the changing of the seasons, however. The flowers are spent and going to seed, which is their turn at immortality.

Seeking the Light

Only in spheres where a
shadow veils the vision
can the spirit seek the light.

~Master Morya

Of Note: I am back after a very busy summer during which my husband has published a book after he had a health scare in April. During the interim, I have saved many great quotes and Marie has sent me a treasury of new photos. I've shot a few myself this summer, like the one above taken on the lake in front on the house last week. Every night the sky has been this peachy color much to my delight. Change has continued, of course; we could all not help but notice. The fast changing world has become a hot news topic. What is behind that change? It is a question I ask myself every day. The answers may surprise you. Stay tuned.