The First Day in This Body

So far as past error are concerned,
forget them and start afresh,
as if it was your first day in this body.

But so far as your present contacts
are concerned, be kind to them,
as if it were the last day in this body.

~Paul Branton

Of Note: Using the creative imagination by pretending "As If" is one of the most potent psychological tools available to humanity. It sounds too easy, doesn't it? But if we make a change using the "As If" technique and do it for 28 days in a row, most any habit will be changed for good.

Today's Weather Report: Even though it was unseasonably warm last week, this morning brought the first snow showers with 10 - 15 mph winds at 29 degrees. I noted all of this because Jim was running a marathon under those conditions today. The guys at our house from Chicago say it is brutal outside so the two younger men went up to Ashland to see if Jim needed a ride home. My husband is tough--his favorite runs are in the winter through the snow. He has even run at 30 below just to say he's done it. But his usual run is six miles a day--running 26 miles today without the appropriate attire may be a different story. We will know in a few hours. (Just in: a friend called from Ashland and said the winds are 35 mph, and he could hardly walk upright. He has no idea how anyone could run a marathon today. Sure glad the two young men went to get Jim.)

Simple Prescription for Changing the World

CHANGE THE STORY AND YOU CHANGE PERCEPTION.
CHANGE PERCEPTION AND YOU CHANGE THE WORLD.

~ Jean Houston

Of Note: If we wanted a prescription for changing the world, this would be it in two simple sentences. "Energy follows thought" is an ageless wisdom axiom and a fundamental universal law. But even without knowing or believing this law, the activity of "changing our minds" is something everyone has done at one time or another. It has a powerful psychological effect on the person doing the changing. What might not be readily seen is its equally powerful effect on the surrounding environment. If enough people coupled a mind change with love, then indeed the world might change overnight.

Today's Weather Report: Wow, the sun came out today, and it got warm. I caught up on all my outdoor jobs that had languished during the preceding days of overcast skies and rain. The neighbor called yesterday to report that he had seen a pack of 12 or 13 wolves pass from his yard to ours the evening before. That is real news. When we raised bison, a wolf ate one of the newborns, but that was a lone wolf. A pack of 12 might keep us indoors at night.

Where You Stand

You cannot run away from weakness;
You must sometimes fight or perish.
And if that be so, why not now,
and where you stand?

~Robert Louis Stevenson

Of Note: To stand with ourselves in the face of weakness can be a scary prospect. Because of that, often we find others to stand with who have the same weakness so ours is not so glaringly obvious. We can even get uppity that the character "pimple" is somehow a strength. That, however, may be the first sign that the weakness has gotten the better of us. What to do with some faulty attribute that has gotten very comfortable in our being? Simply ask a new higher way of being to move in and take its place. After all, Love and its transformative companion Light are always happy to set up shop when invited in.

Today's Weather Report: This was a perfect French Apply Pie making day because the cold rain made outdoor activities challenging if not impossible--at least the ones I had on my list. Two apple pies were the product of having to stay indoors in the warmth of the house. Jim ran for an hour and a half preparing for the marathon on Saturday but came in cold, drenched and fairly miserable. For a while today, the forecast for Saturday included the first snow of the season but by afternoon it had been changed to simply overcast skies. Our family from Chicago who will be fishing here will appreciate that also.

Do All the Good You Can

Do all the good you can,
by all the means you can,
in all the places you can,
to all the people you can,
as long as ever you can.

~ John Wesley

Of Note: This gives another meaning to "can do," does it not? The word can is derived from the Old English word "to know." A kind of knowing called intelligence is defined by ageless wisdom as "Love in Action." Mankind has yet to use the loving intelligence or knowing that is inherent in his divine makeup. The message above might be a formula to kick-start this transformative activity. Indeed, if practiced by enough people, it could usher in the new age.

Today's Weather Report: Not much to report that's different in this regard. It is cloudy and damp with cool temperatures like the last several days. These conditions will persist the whole week if the forecasters have it right. Jim is preparing for a marathon this weekend in Ashland, and this is perfect training weather. As a matter of fact, he said he has never run a marathon under perfect conditions, and this Saturday may be the first time. My thought: "We will see what we shall see" as my Mother always used to say.

The World is a Mountain

THIS WORLD IS A MOUNTAIN,
IN WHICH YOUR WORKS ARE
ECHOED BACK TO YOU.

~Jelaluddin Rumi

Of Note: There is no way getting away from karma, until we reach a very high level of evolution that is. The laws are the same whether for an individual, a nation or humanity as a whole. What goes around literally comes around. Many times, however, the return takes its time, and we have forgotten its origin. Evolution of consciousness brings a quicker sometimes startling response to daily habits of thought--all the better to connect cause and effect. Simple really.

Today's Weather Report: More rain with temps in the 40's all day. I can't say it ever rained hard, but hope the misting added up since we need the precipitation badly. I planted daffodil bulbs today because they arrived yesterday in the mail. The flower bed was all ready for the arrival so it went quickly. Thanks heavens because my fingers were frozen by the time I was done with the project The heated floors in the house and garage have been on a few days now, and the cats have chosen their favorite spots for the winter. Of course, the king of the cats gets the choicest location in the kitchen so he can watch the daily activities. This inspiring, iphone shot was sent to me today by Marie as she vacations out west.

Man Functioning as a Soul

When man functions as a soul, he heals.
He stimulates and vitalizes;
He transmits the spiritual forces of the universe;
And all harmful emanations and all destructive
forces find in the human kingdom a barrier.

Evil and its effects are largely dependent
upon humanity for a functioning channel.
Humanity's function is to transmit loving
force to the lower kingdom's in nature.

~ Master Djwhal Khul


Of Note: The circle symbolizes the safeguarding barrier between Humanity and the lower kingdom in nature. The Hierarchy, of which Master DK is a part, currently stands in our place in this circle of love. In the future, mankind will step up to the plate and assume its predestined position. Until then, we can thank those Brothers of Humanity for their sustaining energy.

Today's Weather Report: Rain, which started last evening, fell all day. We need it badly so bring it on. Thankfully, all the fruit was harvested yesterday as it would have been impossible today.

Mending That Within Our Reach

OURS IS NOT THE TASK OF FIXING
THE ENTIRE WORLD AT ONCE,
BUT OF STRETCHING OUT TO MEND
THE PART OF THE WORLD THAT
IS WITHIN OUR REACH.

~Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Of Note: Many get themselves in an uproar about the state of the world without realizing that the uproar may have a detrimental effect on their own immediate environment. Our emanations should smell like sweet perfume and not rotting garbage. Humanity tends more toward the latter than the former, and this makes it awfully difficult for those who want to help us. Might we wake up every day and set the intention to be as flowers, in full bloom and perfume?

Today's Weather Report: Another morning in the low 30's Fahrenheit, another day in the 60's. It was clear most of the day but the clouds are now rolling in. Today was fruit harvest day which yielded about 2 bushels of apples from one little tree and 25 or 30 pounds of grapes. Also I picked all the hops and will give them to a friend who brews beer. Next year I may construct an arbor for the grapes, but to date, an old farming implement is all that holds the vines. The two plants have gotten so large, the implement is barely visible and the vines trail on the ground where it seems the best grape clusters grow.