My purpose is to explore and express my love of beauty and the beauty of love. Here’s some of what I’ve come up with.

Guide to the Good Award & Studio Visit

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Guide to the Good Award

What an honour to have received the 2022 Let’s Do Some Good Award for my role in co-creating last April’s Community Spirit Treasure Hunt.

This Guide to the Good award was conceived in memory of Katherine Saunders, who was the social enterprise’s Publication Specialist in 2018-2019.

The award recognizes a Guide to the Good member company that the review panel deemed best exemplifies the organization’s intent – “to build sustainable, flourishing communities through local, social and green choices, collaboration, and community-mindedness.”

When I received the inspiration for this Treasure Hunt, I reached out to Guide to the Good. Their team helped me find 11 local businesses to display 60 of my paintings. We then invited the public to get back out into the community after the pandemic to engage in person with local businesses and to play with a chance to win one of their favourite paintings.

The project was a 2-month full-time investment of my time and energy.

I knew the benefits for both myself and the community extended beyond the great feedback I received. This award confirms it.

Thank you! Receiving this award really touched my heart & soul.

The beautiful pottery award mug by DollFace Pottery will be a constant reminder of why I do what I do – Let’s do some good!

Guide to the Good Studio Visit – The Inside Scoop

The week before receiving the call that I won the award, Kim Todd and Melissa Wong of Guide to the Good came by for a studio visit & chat.

Enjoy this 6.5-minute video they created for their “Inside Scoop” series.

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Clearing Your Body Mind & Spirit

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What would self-care look like for you?

Are your body, mind or spirit speaking to you through signs & symptoms, asking for attention?

This is a period of immense change – on a global but also on a personal level.

As the world shifts, so do we. Our consciousness is ascending. Our vibration is rising. And amidst the celebration and resistance, there are growing pains.

I believe that our main job at this time is to be as aligned as we possibly can with our Higher Selves. This requires awareness and inspired action.

The more we take care of our own health, happiness and inner peace, the more we affect the health, happiness and peace on the entire planet.

“What would love do now?”

This is not only a question we need to ask in our interactions with others and the planet, but in our relationship and care for ourselves.

So I ask again, what are your body, mind & spirit asking of you? What would a loving follow-through be for you?

Let me share a bit of my recent story in case it inspires ideas for your own self-love project.

My Personal Detox Program

After a challenging summer, a few patches of eczema on my ankles had me questioning my state of mind & physical health. I thought I’d dealt well with the stress, but maybe not.

Perhaps it was a reaction to the chlorine in our local outdoor pool, which seemed particularly strong this year. But months after stopping my swims, the itch and scaling hadn’t stopped.

My acupuncturist had mentioned that my chi (energy flow) had slowed down. It was time to do even more than I already did in my preventative health routines.

I upped my body treatments – massage, acupuncture, daily skin brushing, nature walks, yoga, dancing on my mini-trampoline, even healthier eating and cutting out dairy.

When I returned from a fabulous 3-week trip to Ontario & Quebec with my father, I was kept awake with a clear message that the memory-foam pad on top of my mattress was off-gassing and toxic. I’d had that message a few times over the 8 years in my current house, but taking it away had been so uncomfortable, I’d put it back on. This time, I got rid of it and invested in a healthy natural one guaranteed not to off-gas. So often we get too comfortable with something that’s toxic for us (people, habits, products, etc.) that we don’t let go of it. No more!

I consulted a naturopath who did a Bioscan to reveal weaknesses and stressors (environmental, dietary, etc.) and prescribed homeopathic medicine to help strengthen my thyroid, liver, kidneys & gallbladder.

I gave Netflix a break for a few weeks and instead turned to more meditation & a sacred book that had been calling me back to it.

And as part of a barter arrangement with Meranda Squires, I designed a supported solo-retreat weekend at The Tree of Life last week to listen to Spirit as I traveled through both inner & outer landscapes.

First, that took me out of my routine and away from work and the Internet. I do tend to work, work, work, then watch, watch, watch in between nature walks …

And although I most often travel alone in my contemplative life, it was wonderful to have Meranda’s support when needed. I am so very grateful for my 2 Thai yoga massages, a crystal bowl sound bath, and 2 sessions of Mind Clearing in between nature walks. What an aha!! moment when she helped me identify a subconscious core belief that had been blocking my path my whole life and likely lifetimes before it.

My mini-retreat in nature quickly helped me regain trust in my Path as I continue to embrace the mystery and align with my Higher Purpose one inspired action at a time.

Plus my stay in the cozy Airbnb cabin with its wood stove and comfy bed surrounded by nature was just what I was hoping for.

This conscious personal detox and nourishment program of my body, mind, spirit, environment and whatever else is called for will continue for as long as it needs to.

I don’t have all the answers, but I’ve been given clues and resources to take care of myself so I can continue to channel Divine Love through my art & other creative offerings for you.

If I’m off track, that isn’t possible.

So if you’re at all feeling off track, please get creative and resourceful in how you too can take care of yourself. Ask your Team of Divine Helpers to show you the way and be open to acting on inspiration.

Your personal detox program will be as unique as you are.

All I hope to have done here is to highlight the importance of your contribution to the consciousness raising on the planet and to remind you that it starts with taking care of you.

Namaste sister / brother.

You are loved. I love you!

P.S. My Birthday Sale, a sharing of myself and the Divine Love that is channeled through my art is happening now until November 19th. All original paintings regularly priced between 427- $600 are now $333 – the gift of 111 x 3 (for you, me & what the art is co-created to do in the world). Choose yours here. Thank you.

 

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Mindfulness Walk Exercise

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Reconnecting to your Higher Self and Team of Divine Helpers through your intuition is made a whole lot easier when you’re aware of all your senses.

This mindfulness walk exercise will help you do that. As a bonus, time in nature does wonders for your health and happiness.

So give this a try!

It could be in your neighbourhood park, urban nature trail, or out in the wilderness.

Getting to know your inner landscape via a journey on Mother Earth’s landscapes is best done alone or with others also dedicated to the process. So if you choose to do it with friends, I encourage you to do each step respecting each other’s space. You can take time in between steps to share.

The more you practice, the more mindful and in tune you’ll become. Bring water & a snack for one of the exercises. Enjoy the process.

P.S. The video above is of a recent walk around Long Pond in St. John’s – a little eye candy to inspire you to explore neighbouring nature spots.

A. Intention Setting & Affirmation

As you arrive at your location, set an intention for your walk. What feeling would you like more of in your life?

Ask your heart, Higher Self & Team of Divine Helpers (whomever that is for you) to support you on this journey to your intention.

Then create an affirmation that carries the essence of that intention.

Use the affirmative and present tense. Include what you’re aiming for, not what you’re trying to get away from.  For example, “I am at peace.” is much better than “There is less chaos in my life”. In the latter, the Universe only hears “chaos please”. It doesn’t take negations into account.

Once you’re clear on your affirmation, activate your throat chakra by declaring it out loud with feeling. Your throat chakra is responsible for communication, self-expression, and the ability to speak your personal truth. Declaring that it’s already true on some level beyond time and space is empowering. This is a great opportunity to let go of what others think – lol!

B. Letting Go of Blocks

Pick up a stone, stick, or other gift from nature that you’ll carry with you on your walk.

Take 3 deep breaths and blow your intention and affirmation into your object.

Next, ask your Higher Self & Team of Divine Helpers to help you release everything that doesn’t serve you and to open you to what does.

Blow the first layer of blocks into your object, asking Mother Nature to help you transmute those energies. You don’t have to be conscious of what they are, but if you can name them, go ahead.

Put your stone/stick in your pocket until the end of the trail or hold it in your hand.

As you carry your chosen object, also carry all those who would benefit from your achieving this intention in your heart. For example, if you were more at peace, you may bring your family, co-workers, grocery store checkout clerks, and pets to mind and to heart.

Manifesting what we want in our lives is always improved by recognizing all others who would also benefit from that manifestation.

C. Awakening Your Senses

1. Sight

Decide in advance how long your first section of the path will be. Then, tell your Team of Divine Helpers and Higher Self, “From here to there, I’m awakening my sight”.

For this first part of the trail, focus on what you see.

Mindfully direct your gaze to what’s close-up, at medium-view and far away. Look up, look down, look all around.

Take the perspective of a squirrel, a child, and a bird.

Take your time. See like you’ve never seen before.

Allow your childlike curiosity & wonder to guide you.

2. Hearing

For the next section, focus on what you hear.

Use your inner and outer ears: pay attention to the voices in your heart & mind as well as your environment.

What do you hear nearby or in the distance?

What sounds are you contributing?

What noise in your head is interfering with your being fully present?

Notice any judgments and let things be as they are. Simply increase your awareness.

3. Feeling

As you walk your next declared section of the path, pay attention to what you feel, inside & out.

Does your environment or your emotions evoke memories?

What’s the temperature? Can you feel the elements on your skin, in your hair?

If someone is near you, close your eyes and feel their presence as they walk by.

What other body sensations can you feel? Again, close your eyes and take a full body scan.

Then pay attention to how things feel in your hands or against your body – tree branches, moss, wood railings, water, etc.

If you’re near a water current, on a bridge or next to the water, close your eyes and imagine the Water Elements energetically passing through you, carrying away yet another lawyer of the obstacles to your welcoming your intention into your life. 

When that feels complete, repeat your affirmation out loud or in your heart.

4. Smell

For this section, breathe deeply and fill your lungs with Life Force, your connection to Spirit.

Then pay attention to what you’re smelling.

Does one kind of tree smell different than another? Rub pine needles . Get down on your knees to smell the moss or wildflowers. Hold up some dirt, rocks, etc.

Keep searching for new fragrances to awaken your sense of smell until you come to a nice spot to sit.

5. Taste

Mindfully enjoy your snack with your eyes closed. Fully taste each sip & bite, awakening your sense of taste.

It’s not true that water is tasteless… can you taste it?

Also, if there is anything in your environment that is safe to taste, go ahead. There is so much in nature that is tasty and healthy. Foraging is a great hobby if you want to learn more about where you live.

6. Knowing

As you walk your next stated area, ask your heart, Higher Self & Team of Divine Helpers an open question related to your intention.

For example, “How can I experience more peace in my life?”

Then open to answers.

You may get sudden ideas. Or you may know with confidence the meaning / interpretation of something that catches your attention.

Be aware that everything you see, hear, feel, remember, smell and taste holds a clue to your answer.

For example, if a snail catches your eye, it may be a message to slow down.

If the traffic noise annoys you, it could mean “Spend less time in traffic.”, or “Embrace city noises as just another part of your environment”. You’ll know which of these interpretations feels better to you. Trust yourself.

This tool for intuitive guidance is what I call an “Intuitive Walkabout”. Learn more about it in this blog post.

D. Inspired Actions

As you spend time in your next dedicated area, reflect on the messages and clues you received.

Come up with 3 inspired actions to implement in your life.

For example, if a snail inspired you to slow down, you may choose to eliminate something from your weekly schedule.

Change can be exciting or scary. Notice any resistance to the inspired actions that percolated to the top of your awareness.

Pause and hug a tree, asking it to help you release any new doubts, resistance and negative energies through its roots. The earth will transmute these to be of service to the planet.

Then ask the branches to help you raise your vibration to help you connect to your Higher Self and Team of Divine Helpers for even further insights and courage.

Feel the welcoming embrace of this wise connected presence. Let it be your witness as you speak aloud the 3 inspired actions you’re committing to take after today’s Mindfulness Walk. Ask it and its underground network with all trees around the world to support you with your intentions from this day forth.

Then thank your tree-friend for its assistance.

E. Grounding in Gratitude

Find a spot where you’re comfortable taking your shoes off to make skin contact with nature. If the weather and environment permits, lie on the ground with as much exposed skin as appropriate. If it doesn’t, use your bare hands or cheeks.

This will help ground you in the energies of Mother Earth, something that isn’t possible through rubber soles.

As you bask in the beauty of this meditative spot, bring to heart & mind all that you are grateful for (big or small). Don’t just list them, feel them.

Now focus on aspects of your intention that are already present in your life.

Imagine that gratitude like a light infusing every cell of your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual body. Feel that energy also being nourished by your contact with nature, be it grass, sand, water or snow.

F. Gifting & Receiving

"One Step at a Time" from the Treedom CollectionWhile consciously walking your last section of your Mindful Walk Exercise, know that you’re leaving an energetic imprint with every step.

Consciously share some of the positive energy you’ve collected on this journey.

Also receive from all those who have walked before you. Only allow in what will serve your Highest Good (you can set this as an intention).

Truly feel that what you did for yourself today in self-care positively affects the whole world.

Greet those you meet along the way, smiling with your whole body. Allow your radiance to shine. You’ll see, it’s contagious.

When you come to the end, blow your affirmation once more into your object (stick, stone, etc.). Kiss it in thanks and give it back to nature.  

Know that the current or energy lines of the earth will carry your intention and inspirations around the globe.

Give thanks or close your Mindfulness Walk in whatever manner feels appropriate.

Pay attention to how the Universe responds in the next few days as you turn intuition into action and continue your mindfulness practice in your everyday life.

Namaste

P.S. Photo:  “Dreampath: One Step at a Time” – I have a 24″ x 36″ print on canvas of it for sale if you’d like it – $350 CA. Contact me if interested.

 

 

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A Portal to Source Guided Meditation

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Experience your inner landscape & guidance through this 33-minute A Portal to Source visioning meditation recorded live at A Body Mind Spirit retreat last week.

The meditations that I receive through me are co-created with Spirit to nourish your transformational journey. Visioning meditations give you both the structure and the space to connect to your own intuition.

As an intuitive hearing aid, visioning meditations are individual experiences.

Different people experience the meditation differently. And each time you listen to it, you may have a different intention and receive different Guidance based on the questions in your heart at that time.

One goal of visioning meditations is to help you let go of what doesn’t serve you and to raise your vibration so that you may more easily access your intuition.

Another goal is to help you take inspired action in your life.

Although I call them visioning meditations because they can be highly visual, everyone accesses their intuition differently.

Trust in your process. You may see, hear, feel, remember, know, smell, taste your way through the experience- all senses are channels to intuition.

So sit back (or lie down if you think you can stay awake to get the most out of process) and enjoy the meditation above.

Want a Custom Meditation?

Imagine an intuitive hearing aid co-created with Spirit just for you, based on your needs.

You can specify a theme (confidence, self-love, harmonious relationships, etc.) or let your Team of Divine Helpers communicate with mine to deliver what’s in your Highest Interest.

I will use your name throughout to add to the personalized experience.

These also make a wonderful gift.

Your investment for an individual professionally recorded meditations mixed with sacred harmonic music by Christopher Lloyd Clarke is $247 and will last you a lifetime. You can order yours here.

I also channel meditations for businesses and life coaches for their clients. Contact me if you’d like a quote.

 

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The Power of Symbolism

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Our Teams of Divine Helpers are speaking to us all the time in response to our conscious and subconscious request.

Often, this communication comes in the form of symbolism in our everyday world – what you see.

They may place something on your path, in a newspaper headline, in a movie you’re watching, and in your dreams.

When you see it, if you’re open to such communication, you’ll recognize it as a clue or an answer to a prayer.

Yes, there are universal meanings to symbols. A quick Google search can help you access these.

I also believe that you are the best to interpret the symbols you receive based on your life experience.  

Your Team knows what will speak to you.

An example I often use when teaching about intuition (free tutorial here) is breadcrumbs on the ground. This may remind you of:

    • happy times feeding the pigeons with your grandmother, or;
    • the sick feeling in your stomach you got when reading Hansel & Gretel when the birds ate the trail left by the children when their parents abandoned them in the forest. They got lost….

So you see that the same symbol can mean different things to different people. Trust that your Team is using symbols you will relate to.

That’s why, when I channel a Divine Storytelling Time intuitive reading package, I let the client decipher their symbolism-rich story on their own. You’re the very best person to figure out what something means to you.

The beauty with this empowering offering is that if you listen to your hour-long story on a week when certain issues are at the forefront of your life, certain parts of the story and symbolism will speak to you a certain way.

Two weeks later, when you’ve got a different question in your heart, the same symbol will have a different meaning. Or other parts of the story will catch your attention instead, providing Guidance on your path.

The more you work with your package over months and even years, the stronger your intuition and the clearer your decision-making will become.

Symbolic Inspiration on my Flight Home

The sky has always been a powerful symbol for me.

I’m fond of the expression that we are the sky. Thoughts and emotions are like weather passing through our sky, but we remain the clear sunny sky at our core.

Connecting with my Team when flying is something I enjoy, believing somehow that communication is easier without all the distractions and interference on the ground.

I’m sure my Catholic upbringing with stories of Heaven up in the sky has influenced that.

On my flight back to Newfoundland from Ottawa (via Halifax seen in the video), I was thrilled to get a window seat.

I’d set out to write to and pray for a loved one who is courageously moving forward on her healing journey.

As I asked for inspiration, the evolving scene outside my window kept pulling my attention.

The trip went by so quickly as I witnessed & filmed the progression of our flight through layers of clouds and finally up above into the sunlight.

I put my Team’s message of encouragement in this short video. I hope it will inspire you, no matter what kind of journey you’re on.

Remember, you are a Light, of the Light. May your radiance shine on!

Namaste

 

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Bite-sized Bliss – Take it!

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There’s a lesson in everything you live … if you look for it.

I do. And sharing these life lessons is part of how I hope to inspire.

As you read this short story below, reflect on what guidance it can offer you in your life right now.

Bite-Sized Bliss

While on solo-retreat in Witless Bay for a week in July, I knew that a necessary ingredient to nourishing my body, mind & spirit would be spending some quality time with my 2 best buddies.

Luckily, St. John’s is only a 25-minute drive away.

My hope was that Leslie & Kerri could come for a whole day’s adventure.

Leslie was available to come early and stay half a day. Kerri came a little later and had planned to stay the rest of the day until a family phone call changed her plans.

No worries.

Sometimes life offers you bite-sized bliss and not the whole cake.

Enjoy those short moments of love & beauty that fuel the soul. Focus on what you have, not what could have, would have or should have happened.

Bon Appétit

Our plan was to drive to the other side of Witless Bay (5 minutes away) to the Beaches Path trailhead.

By the time we got there, we only had 2 hours to hike before lunch.

As we started, we reminded ourselves that this was about quality, not quantity. “Success is in the journey, not the destination”.

The trail is 7 km and is told to take 2-3 hours one way (so 4-6 for me & my camera).

We had no destination. We had 2 hours to enjoy our exploration for as far as it took us. Leslie put her watch timer on for an hour so we’d know when to turn back.

As you’ll see in the video above, it was so gorgeous! So what if we didn’t have time to do more…

We definitely want to go back to do it with a car at each end. But on this day, we only had time to take a bite out of the whole trail, and enjoy all of its tastes and textures. What beauty!

So grateful for our friendship and nature’s offerings of the day, we had a healthy lunch together on the deck of my temporary home before saying goodbye.

Short and sweet!

After they left, I learned of an outdoor pool built out of the river, just 5 minutes the other way. What a nice surprise before a quiet afternoon / evening.

So even though I didn’t get a whole day with my friends as I envisioned, it all happened perfectly and as needed.

Yay!

Your turn – what would you like to experience this week? If you can’t make the full adventure happen, what bite-sized bliss can you invite in the essence of what you were envisioning?

Live in the feeling tone of what it is you want and know that in doing so, you’re inviting a lot more bites your way.

Have a blissful week, one bite at a time!

 

P.S. I’m taking time off blogging for a while. Have fun exploring my site at your leisure while I’m on holiday.

 

 

 

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How do you romance life?

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How do you romance life?

I’m not necessarily talking about romancing your partner. I’m single, so that’s not part of my external reality yet.

I’m referring to increasing what the Oxford Dictionary refers to “a quality or feeling of mystery, excitement, and remoteness from everyday life”.

While I was on a rejuvenating retreat in Witless Bay in mid-July, the island of Newfoundland was experiencing an uncharacteristic heat wave. Part of why I was so thrilled that my intuition guided me here back in 2011 is that I don’t do so well in the heat.

I knew I wouldn’t be spending the whole day out in the scorching sun, but my soul was calling me to spend a few hours romancing life in nature that afternoon. So I drove to the end of the road to find the Mickeleens Path trailhead.

You won’t find many people hiking the East Coast Trail in a long flowy skirt. It’s not what you would call practical while making your way through brambles and bushes. But that’s exactly the mood I was in.

I remembered the feeling of hiking through the deep winter snow in Ottawa with 2 layers of long skirts over my ski pants. Back then, you’d hardly ever find me wearing pants. Nowadays, I rarely wear skirts.

So on this day, I delighted in the feeling of my long skirt blowing in the breeze while standing on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean. 

I can still feel the freedom & romance of it just writing about it.

I only hiked for 1.5 hours in the creative bliss of picture & video taking – not the full trail. But it was just what I needed. And now I get to share the romance with you in the video above. Enjoy!

So how do you romance life?

Be it with your partner, others, or by yourself, how can you create opportunities for delight, mystery, excitement and a break in the routine of your every day life?

You deserve romance no matter what your relationship status is.

Enjoy!

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Act On Your Intuition – A Story

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When you think about someone, do you reach out?

Who knows?! They may need you. Or you might need them … without even knowing it.

Trusting that everything happens together for our Greatest Good means being open to the messages you receive that point you in the direction of your next inspired action. Have fun discovering why.

It might mean reaching out to someone, going somewhere, or doing something that’s a bit foreign to you.

Taking inspired action may feel weird or require courage.

You may never find out how acting on that inspiration affected the big picture. But trusting it made a difference is a fulfilling way to live.

Whether you’re being asked to give, receive, or both – we all have a role to play. Our very presence on Earth is a contribution to the whole and figuring out what that is on a daily basis is part of the adventure of being spirits in human form.

May the story below inspire you to act on your intuitive hits when you get them.

And thanks to yesterday’s 08/08 Lion’s Gate Portal energies, your ability to access your intuition is heightened. This period lasts until August 12th, accelerating your spiritual growth. Take advantage of it by creating space to Listen.

Hello Judith?

When I returned from my trip to Ireland, a friend experienced a health crisis requiring constant home care.

Becoming one of her two caregivers was a heart-opening experience that not only helped her but also provided opportunities for qualities to emerge in me that aren’t often active in my happy-hermit lifestyle.

Providing body, mind & spirit support was an honour. I was glad to do it. After all, my motto for the year is “I am open to giving and receiving love.” 

As the weeks passed, I had to learn to take more and more self-care breaks to keep my cup filled up enough to have anything left to give.

A month and a half later, during morning meditation, my friend Judith Royle of The Royle Treatment came to mind. I hadn’t seen her since a portrait session I did for her up the shore a year earlier. I remembered that she had commented on one of my Facebook posts weeks before, asking about prints of “Our Lady of Light“.

I didn’t want to come across as a pushy saleswoman, asking if she was intending on placing an order. I also didn’t think my intuitive hit had anything to do with that.

So I messaged her saying she’d come through in a meditation and was wondering if there was any way I could be of service to her.

I also told her I didn’t feel this had anything to do with the print and wasn’t sure why she was in my mind & heart, so wanting to say hi and to explore why.

I then mentioned I associate her and her beautiful location in Witless Bay with leaving town. Perhaps my soul was calling for a break from caregiving. I’d rented the Airbnb she used to have in the basement a few years back, but was aware she no longer rented it.

Judith soon replied that I’d also been in her thoughts and offered me her home for the following week while she and her brother were traveling.

My first reaction was “I couldn’t possibly leave my friend’s other caregiver full-time duty for a week”. But after talking to him, I realized he supported it full-heartedly.

A week away nourishing my body, mind & spirit in nature filled my cup. I then had more to give.

I’m glad to say my friend’s journey to wellness and peace is progressing every day. May it continue to do so with greater ease & grace.

And may all who are suffering on any level find the support they need to emerge more fully as their True Selves no matter the conditions. Love, peace, joy, health, wealth, happiness & freedom to all. 

In Gratitude

So thank you Guidance for showing me the signs. I’m so glad I reached out to Judith after she crossed my mind.

Thank you Judith for offering me your home. You’re always such a magnificent instrument in the Divine Orchestra. The video above is in gratitude for the love & beauty I experienced during my week in your Royle Roost.

Thank you to my friend for helping me emerge more fully into my loving self in my role as one of her caregivers.

Thank you to my friend’s other caregiver for making it so easy for me to say “Yes” to this timely invitation to leave town for a week.

And thank you to all caregivers of all kinds (including parents, who are superheroes!) for all that you do & give.

Remember to ask your Team of Divine Helpers for support and be open to receiving whatever it is you need to continue giving. Pay attention to the signs and act on your intuition.

When you fill your cup, you’ll be much better able to fulfill your life-supporting and life-enhancing roles. Everyone benefits.

 

 

 

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Mental Health Task Force – Communities that Care

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Although this mental health initiative is happening in Newfoundland & Labrador, the resources I’m introducing today can benefit all.

Mental Health – a key ingredient to Mind Body Spirit Wellness

 

painting "MindShift"That title seems rather obvious, don’t you think?

But until recent years, I rarely heard talk of mental health – prevention, treatment and crisis care.

I was in my twenties before I was even aware of mental health issues.

In 1992, I was living & teaching in the Czech Republic. I came home from a weekend away to find my housemate in a full-blown mental health crisis. I hadn’t known she was on medication, which she stopped when her boyfriends broke off the relationship.

I was eventually able to get medical & family help for her. Once relatives arrived and took over, however, I basically ran away, finding a new home with a teacher from my school. I was left shaken by her delusions, threats, and violent outbursts and was ill-equipped to stay friends under those circumstances.

In the decades that followed, I met and loved beautiful souls who struggled with various forms of mental illnesses & challenges. My understanding and compassion grew.

I’m no expert in the field. I’ll be up front with that.

I’m very aware of what self-care measures help me deal with stress before it gets out of hand. My art, connection through Nature, and my relationship with & trust in my intuition are key. But I’m not dealing with an illness.

Witnessing those I care about deal with the mental health system made it evident that it needed to be even more supportive and supported.

These days, there seems to be greater awareness about mental health in general and also of the power of compassionate, holistic and accessible support for those who are either suffering or want to prevent mental health issues.

That’s why I was thrilled to hear about the Mental Health Task Force (MHTF) here in Newfoundland & Labrador.

Keep reading even if you’re not in this province – the online resources may bring you peace of mind and inspiration on what avenues may be open to you in your area.

Mental Health Task Force Online Resources

“The purpose of the task force is to create and maintain a municipality-driven initiative with the primary goal of making mental health everyone’s business and ending stigma in the sector. “

In May 2022, a friend and colleague, Gary Summers (left in photo)  entered into partnership with the MHTF to develop and share audio and video resources, development of a monthly webinar, and support in developing an annual mental health summit.

The MHTF’s new webpage provides an introduction to modalities and experts in various wellness fields related to mental health.

The collection of interviews, presentations, and other resources is growing and available to all.

You can access these online via the icons under the video half-way down the MHTF webpage.

You’ll find a few of my meditations under the “Therapy” icon, and a recent presentation on intuition under “Presentations”.

More so, you may be introduced to new modalities, ideas and experts who can enrich your mental wellness or that of loved ones.

Peace & wellness be with you and with all… May it be so!

 

 

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Embracing the Fog – embracing the mystery

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Oh how thrilling to watch the thick fog roll in to the St. John’s harbour during a 3-hour spontaneous solo photo-hike up Signal Hill the day after Summer Solstice.

As I explored the ever-changing landscape, I was reminded of some important aspects of intuitive living.

Embracing the Mystery – A story about fog

1. You Do Not Need to See the Full Picture

I love to think of my Higher Self & Team of Divine Helpers as up above the planet able to see our big picture while we’re down here often oblivious to what’s around the corner.

We may not see our destination or much of the route there, but we don’t need to. All we need to see is the stretch right in front of us as we head in the right direction.

I had no intention of heading out that morning. It was bright and sunny, but my task list was at the forefront of my mind.

When I got the inner call to head to Signal Hill, little did I know I would get to witness the dramatic rolling in of a thick fog that would soon blanket downtown.

I may not ever find out the extent of the reason I was guided to go out that day, but my joy was good reason enough.

I was happy to embrace the mystery of why I was guided to walk into the fog.

2. Trust You Will Be Shown the Way, One Inspired Step at a Time

Instead of sticking to the popular routes, I felt moved to start off on the backside of the mountain along some tiny trails I’d never been on before.

At one point, I got a bit scared that the path alongside the edge of the cliffs may become dangerous. After all, no one else was around to see / hear me if I fell.

Fear started to take a hold of me, but I was able to discern that it wasn’t an intuitive warning. It was just my inner chicken.

So I comforted her by saying -“Let’s go see where it leads. If it gets too difficult, you can always turn back. OK? Deal!”

I kept going and eventually, I just stopped and got a clear “no further!”. So I turned around thinking I’d have to retrace my steps.  But just behind me going uphill was a steep but manageable trail I hadn’t seen seconds before. 

With my walking stick, it was no problem.

Halfway up, I turned around to a spectacular view of the fog sweeping the Narrows beneath me. And soon after that, I joined up to the trail I was more familiar with, exclaiming a big “I did it! Yay!!!”

The trail wasn’t totally deserted, but the man standing on the boulder above made no sign of having heard me. lol

3. Intuition is an Invitation to Grow – Stretch those Comfort Zones

Having reached a beautiful vista from above the fog, I watched as two women were walking in my direction. One was a redhead with long curls.

“Oh how she would look great in my video looking out at the invisible ocean”. Newfoundland is very Irish and so redheads are quite common, especially in tourism videos.

I can be quite shy. But I remembered how happy I was that I’d finally found the guts to ask a woman in Dublin if I could photograph her plaid boots & red suitcase – one of my favourite photos from the trip. So once again, I found the courage to ask if she’d model for me. 

It turns out she wasn’t from here but a visitor from Ontario. She was delighted by the ask and as you’ll see, did a fabulous job of slowly turning to the left looking at the fog. Yay!

Guidance is useless if you don’t act on it. I felt the urge to ask and I’m so glad I did.

4. You May Not Know Why, But Act on Inspiration

I had some lovely connections during my hike. For a while I walked alongside an Australian living in Toronto. Later, I chatted with a couple from Quebec, sharing tourist tips.

Who knows if something I said had a positive impact on the rest of their time here.

We don’t always have to know.

Sometimes we’re asked to be a messenger. Sometimes, we’re asked to open to receive messages. 

I enjoyed approaching these encounters with curiosity and my usual enthusiasm about the beauty of this place.

If I can be a blessing in someone’s day, wonderful! I’ll always be grateful for the blessing that redhead was when she said “yes!”.

5. Love It Or Hate It – Your Choice

Some people had climbed or driven up Signal Hill hoping to get its famous view of the ocean.

It may have been sunny when they left downtown, but there was no water to be seen by the time I reached the top.

I found the fog absolutely stunning. And so did many others.

But I’m sure some were disappointed. 

We always have a choice about how we react to circumstances.

Part of intuitive living is trusting that there’s a reason for everything. It’s a lot easier than believing everything is working against you.

6. Follow Your Bliss – Your Emotional Guidance System Speaks

I’d woken up that morning with the intention to catch up on my blog. I had the topic but not the usual spark to share. I knew that wasn’t serving you or me.

That’s when I felt myself called to Signal Hill.

And oh what bliss! From beginning to end (including my Ethiopian lunch), I was bursting with joy – even or especially when I felt the fear and did it anyway!

That joy is a sure sign that I was on track, even if my day wasn’t going according to plan.

A few more hours of video editing later, I had this beauty & blog to share with you.

Hope you enjoyed them both.

 

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