Recently, I was shopping in a department store, gathering gifts for the holiday. In this particular store, there was a place where you could buy tasty coffee drinks.

After paying for my purchases, I got in line to order one of my favorite drinks. In front of me was a women harried with the stress of not finding her gift card, in which to purchase her drink. At this time, a woman and a man walked into the refreshment area. The man sat down and the woman walked to the counter where you could buy a fountain drink and a variety of food items.

A few moments passed and the man began to scream in frustration. The type of scream one would hear from a toddler who is frustrated. It was clear to me that this gentleman was mentally challenged and his care giver, whom I assumed to be his mother became anxious as people began to look her direction. The man, every few moments, would erupt with a scream.  Feeling the need to explain, the mother told those of us waiting, that he was learning patience and he didn't like to wait. The person working the refreshment area was alone and providing coffee drinks as well as manning the food area. She was pouring the harried women's drink, who finally did find her gift card, and I was next in line. I heard the mother tell the son, that he had to wait and that they were next in line after me. I told her, I was not in any hurry and would she like to be the next person to be helped. She thank me and said yes, that would be wonderful. She purchased a fountain drink and popcorn. The man's face lit up. He was so happy to receive a bag of popcorn. They both sat at the table quietly drinking a fountain drink and eating popcorn. 

While I waited for my drink to be made, the mother began to  talk with me and the woman standing behind me. She said he is having difficulty learning patience. The woman behind me and I looked at one another and said, "Aren't we all" I said, he is doing what most of wish we could do, show emotion. Express ourselves. Be human. I told her I have felt that way many times and I wish I could just scream. The woman behind me said she felt the same way. She wished she could be herself and not just someone who smiles and nods that everything is fine when it is not. What started out as an embarrassing moment for the mother of this man became a honest discussion about taking the mask off and getting real. A discussion about taking care of ones self and stop working at pleasing everyone else. To be honest and say what is their truth. A discussion about kindness and compassion, tolerance and truth. I shared with the them the bumper sticker I had seen earlier that morning, "Humankind, be both" and how those words touched me.

As I said good-bye to my new friends. The mother touched my arm and said thank you. I said, no, thank you for reminding me to be both. 

Miraculous moments happen when you allow yourself to see with your heart. The eyes of the heart lead you to see the beauty in every person, every situation. They are there, if you choose to look, even in the refreshment area of a department store.


In this ever changing world, it is sometimes easy to forget to take care of yourself, take off the mask and be human and be kind. I am here to support and assist you on your journey. Contact me to schedule an appointment and together we can be both.
 

Plant Spirit Wisdom

Rose (Rosa species)

"A Heart Pierced by the Thorn is an Awakened Heart.  Dare to awaken...Love."

Plant Wisdom of Rose

Roses are associated with love and romance. A bouquet of roses is an expression of love, or in some cases, a plea for forgiveness. Regardless, Rose has a depth that goes much deeper than her fragrance, her beauty and her grace. She offers an invitation for you to delve deep within your soul. Rose is a good friend to a heart that has been pierced. The pain of a love gone awry can bring about profound changes if open to the journey. It is a chance to slowly open the bud of pain into a blissful blossom of unconditional love.

When you look at a rose, you see softness and rows of beauty waiting to be opened. If forced open, the petals wither and die. If allowed, the bud opens and displays its beauty, grace and elegance for all to see.

Working with Rose offers you the opportunity to allow the bud of your soul to blossom into the beauty of your spirit. It activates your ability to love, by opening your heart and nourishing you as you heal the parts of your heart that have been pierced with the thorn of hurt and disappointment. Its soothing fragrance and soft petals invite you into her home offering you a place to rest, as you rediscover the parts of you that feel lost to love.

If you are having a hard time moving through grief, Rose is the one to call. She embraces you with compassion and eases the pain just enough for you to breathe, yet, allowing you to move through the pain gracefully.

Call upon her when your heart has been pierced by the thorns of life, and allow her sweetness to gently mend your spirit and awaken your heart to love again. 

Rose's Winter Solstice Releasing Ritual 


You will need a red rose, a piece of paper and a pen or pencil, matches and a hand held garden shovel.

Take a piece of paper and write what you want to release from your life. For example: "I release the belief that life is hard." or "I release all negative feeling around love." It can be anything you want to release.

Once you have written what you want to release on the paper, light a match and burn the paper, place the burning paper in a fire resistant container. Once the paper has burned, place the ashes in a container of your choosing. Gather the red rose, the container and the small garden shovel and go outside. Dig a small hole in the dirt and pour the ashes into the hole. Take one petal from the red rose and place it over the ashes. Cover with the dirt. Hold the red rose to your heart and say three times out loud, I release (state what you wrote on the paper you burned) into the highest expression of love. Take a deep breath in, place the red rose over the covered earth that holds the ashes, turn and walk away and don't look back. Walk fearlessly forward with your new found freedom.