A conversation on our way to a produce market

Greetings!

We drove to a produce market the other day.  It was about half an hour away.  I was happy that the road work was finally finished after so many months.  I said to my husband: "It feels good driving on the repaved road!"  He said: "Don't you remember how it was when we had to drive through miles of traffic cones and barrels?"  I smiled and did not say anything.  He continued: "Do you remember how bumpy the road was, and the noises too as we drove on this road?"  I turned to look at him. Gently, I said: "Right now, the road is smooth and nice.  I feel good seeing the newly paved road. That is all that matters.  Why would I want to remember how it was as you said?" Hearing that, he said: "Oh..... that's true."

After a pause, he suddenly seemed to realize a truth.  "It is the same with life, isn't it? It is important for us to let go, because it wouldn't do us any good if we dwell on the unpleasant things that happened in the past," he said.  "Well said!" I said with a big smile.

Like my husband, we all have our moments of awakening or realization now and then. We realize a truth or a correct way of living a merrier, more peaceful life.  In other words, we may also say that, at that moment, we realize our wrong view of life.  We understand what is holding us back from living a happier life.  However, most of us fail to put what we have learned into practice consistently.  Eventually, we go back to our old way of thinking and living.  Some of us dwell on our pain, hurt, guilt, shame, sadness, and sorrow.  We hold onto them as if they are part of us.  But, they are not!   It is indeed important for us to let go of these unwholesome feelings so that we can live in peace.  

I have to admit that there are times I dwell on 'the cones, barrels, noises and how bumpy it was' on this path we called life too.  If it happens again, I know I will remember our conversation that day.  I will tell myself to stop

because it wouldn't do us any good to dwell on the unpleasant things that happened in the past.

Have a nice day!

Many blessings,
Q of D

P.S. It is also true that without experiencing 'how bumpy it was', we would not feel 'how good' the newly paved road is.  However, we should not dwell on the feeling how bad or bumpy it had been.

Sometimes a mistake is but part of the divine plan

Greetings!

In my post We are all divine instruments from time to time, I shared with you a story about a friend who acted as an instrument, but she had no idea she was.  She spoke up a few times asking questions that did not really concern her, but they were of significance to me.  I believed this happened all the time except most of us were not aware we were messengers or divine instruments.

Recently, a man had a heart attack while lining up to vote on election day.  He was saved by a registered nurse who happened to line up right behind him.  The nurse had originally planned to go to the voting center much later that day.  However, 'something' pulled him to go and cast his vote in the morning instead.

Here is a story that shows even a 'mistake' is part of the divine plan.

One day, I decided to pick an angel card out of a deck before I went to a circle.  "Ah, it is Archangel Michael.  Oh, it means All Is Well."  I looked at the card for a while.  I put the card close to my heart to take in the meaning of the card.  (I did not pick an angel card on a daily basis as some of my friends did.  I only drew a card or some cards once in a while when I wanted to.)

At the circle, a friend looked preoccupied as if something was troubling her.  She was not a regular of the circle.  She only came a few times before.  At one point, she started asking us what we knew about Archangel Michael.  My friends at the circle told her Archangel Michael protected us; when he was around, sometimes we saw the color blue flashed in front of us.  Some told her their experiences with Archangel Michael.  It was always wonderful to sit among my friends listening to their talks and stories.  However, the friend still looked sad.  I recalled she used to look confident and cheerful when she came.  For a minute, I looked at her.  I wondered what was wrong.

Suddenly, I remembered the card I drew before I came.  I said: "This morning I drew a card from my angel deck.  I happen to draw the Archangel Michael card.  It means All Is Well."  Immediately, the friend broke down and cried.  When she calmed down, she told us she went to see a doctor that morning.  She learned she had a serious health problem.  When she heard the words All Is Well, she felt a great relief.  She knew that everything was going to be alright.  She thanked me and hugged me.

When I was home, I thought of what had happened.  Mentally, I thanked the angels.  I took the deck of angel cards out, and looked for the Archangel Michael card.  To my uttermost surprise, the word Protection was on the bottom of Archangel Michael's card and not All Is Well!  However, I clearly remembered the card meant All Is Well before I went to the circle.  I looked through the deck.  I found an All Is Well card under another Archangel.  How could I have made such a mistake?  I wondered.

                                 Then I realized a mistake was not a mistake
                                 when the outcome was in perfect divine order.

Months later, the friend came again.  She was well and happy.

                                             ~       ~       ~       ~       ~       ~

As I have mentioned, we are all divine instruments from time to time.  Sometimes we realize that we are.  At other times, we may not be aware that we are the instruments in the divine plans.

Peace,
Q of D

In memory of my friend's wonderful white cat

Greetings!

We visit a relative this morning.  His family has a 2 year-old German Shepherd who often gets very excited when people come to their house.  He welcomes us by eagerly licking our hands and faces.  Our relative asks him to stay by the door.  For a short while, he obeys.  However, he cannot stay away from us because he loves people.  Our relative says the dog is normally very good with commands except when they have guests.  My husband scratches the dog's under chin and areas around the side of his head.  He seems to enjoy it very much.  Later he comes to me.  I pat his back.  He lies down by my feet until we have to go an hour later.  What a good dog!

Now let me share with you a story.

I mentioned in my other post that I was with the small church's healing prayer circle for about 3 years.  We met on Tuesdays.  Some people left their requests for prayers at the chapel, and some sent their requests by Email. 

One morning during the service, I suddenly felt a light tap on my left palm.  Since we did pray for the smooth transition of those who were about to move on as well as those who had moved on recently, I had experienced a couple of times that my hand was touched by a hand of a spirit.  The energy of our circle was good, and there was nothing to fear.  I assumed it was the spirit's way of telling us that she or he had moved on, and 'thanks for the prayer'.  However, it did not feel like a hand at all that day.  It was something similar to the size of the tip of a finger, yet it was definitely not the tip of a finger!  (You may find my description confusing.  That was how I felt that Tuesday.)  The gentle tapping went on for quite a while. The energy was loving and peaceful.  I looked at the time.  It was around noon.

A few days later, on Friday, a friend who lived in the state I used to live called me. She said she just came back from a vacation.  We had not talked to each other for a long time.  As we tried to catch up on what happened in our lives, she told me that her cat who was almost 19* years old had moved on.  ( *The cat might be older than 19.  A few years back, she had talked about her cat during the Thursday circle.  Her cat had disappeared for two years.  Miraculously, though old and weak, the cat managed to come back to her house.  At the time, she had mentioned the age of the cat.) 

In 2007 while I was the on site healer on Wednesdays, my friend had brought her cat in twice for me to work on.  It was a male cat with medium long white fur.  He was quite a cat, and acted like an old soul.  He walked slowly because of age, but he walked with dignity.  (That was how I felt).

He was the first pet I worked on.  I was glad healing energy came through to work on him for quite a while.  When my friend wanted to leave, the cat refused to.  He walked back to the room where the healing session was held.  So my friend and I talked some more.  After a long time, the cat walked to the door and signaled it was time to go.  My friend held him in her arms.  When I said 'bye', he raised his head and looked at me attentively.  My friend said: "Oh, that is his way of saying thank you."

When my friend and I met again, she told me what happened to the cat after the healing session.  She observed the cat slept blissfully at night which she had never seen before.  The next day, my friend took a walk in her neighborhood.  She was surprised the cat got out of the garage to walk with her as he had when he was young.  Some neighbors actually asked if she had a new cat because he looked well and different.

Some weeks later, my friend brought the cat in again.  (By then, I did not charge money for healing sessions.)  Before I began the session, the child in me suddenly thought it might be I should ask the cat's permission just as I asked people. So I said: "Cat, would you like to receive healing energy?  If you do, please wag your tail once." Immediately, he wagged his tail once.  Both my friend and I watched in amazement.  I said the same words again.  My friend said: "I know my cat.  He won't wag his tail again for he already said 'yes'."  She was right.  The cat did not wag his tail again.  So I began the session by placing my hand above him.  Right away, the cat fell into a blissful sleep.  He was still sleeping when the session was over.  My friend and I left him alone.  We got out of the room to continue our talk.

I normally asked the recipient not to tell me anything before the healing session.  After the session, I asked my friend why I was guided to work on one of the cat's ears again and again.  My friend said the cat had lost his hearing for some time.  He used to look up at her when she called his name, but he could not hear anymore.  She had prayed for healing of his hearing.

Over the phone, my friend and I talked about what a wonderful cat he was.  Suddenly the light tapping on my palm on Tuesday came to my mind.  I asked my friend about the day the cat moved on.  My friend said the cat passed away while she was on vacation.  She knew he was not well before she left.  She asked her daughter to come over to her house to take care of him while she was away.  Her daughter told her the cat passed away on Tuesday around noon!

On the day of the second healing session, the cat, after waking up from his blissful sleep, went to lie on the windowsill beside a basket of crystals.  Basking in the sun, he was like a beautiful ball of white light resting on the brown wooden windowsill.

My friend and I only talked on the phone once or twice a year since I moved.  It was no coincidence she called me that Friday.  She was at peace with the cat's passing because he had lived to an old age.  She called him her baby.  However, when I met them, the cat was more like a 'dignified grandpa' to my friend - he gave her love, comfort, and peace.

Dogs and cats are man's best friends.  Their loving presence comforts and heals many hearts.

To the Cat, thank you for the experience.

Love and Peace,
Q of D

Truthfulness

Greetings!

It has been raining all day.  I think of the people who lost their homes, and those who still have no power in where they live because of Hurricane Sandy.  It must be very difficult for them.  May there be plenty of help come their way soon.

Today I think of a friend who practices a good virtue on a daily basis - speak only good, positive words whenever we open our mouth.  She observes the good in others with her heart.  Then she relates what she sees at the right time.  She does not use fancy words.  She makes simple comments such as "oh, you look good in blue" and  "you look radiant today".  However, her words are genuine.  People often smile joyfully in response to what she says.  She also listens to others attentively.  Her uplifting presence is like the gentle breeze on a hot summer day.

I have also known a few brothers and sisters who do not talk much.  They put love into action.  They lend a hand when help is needed. They follow the guidance of their hearts, and do lots of good.  They seldom talk about what they have done for they never expect anything in return.  They conduct themselves with integrity, and look at others with love and compassion.  Their presence is like the warm, loving sunshine on a cold winter day.

What makes them so special is the truthfulness in their being.

Some people try very hard to be good too.  They are always in agreement with what others say, and never voice a different of opinion even if they have one.  They never want to offend anybody.  When they see something is wrong, they don't want to speak up.  When they feel someone is deceitful or may cause harm to others, they suppress how they feel because 'it is wrong to judge'.  Pleasing or flattering words easily come out of their mouths to whosoever they meet.  However, what they say do not have the same effect as the words of the sister.

There is power in the words from our heart.  Admonishment from the point of love can change lives too.  Cultivate truthfulness, and don't do or say anything just to make 'us' look good.  Loving kindness is not a show, and it must come from within.

The rain has just stopped.  To my friends and those who share with us their light, thank you.  At this very moment, my husband who is watching the TV and facing the window says: "Hey, the sun is out!"  It is nice to see the sunshine even for just a brief moment.  

Many blessings,
Q of D 

The Fury of Hurricane Sandy

Greetings!

I call some of my relatives who live in New York, and I am glad that they are alright. There has been no power outage in where they live. However, millions of people still live in the dark, and many have no home to return to.  The destruction in many states along the east coast was devastating.  It will be a long road to recovery for states such as New Jersey and New York.  Let us hold all of them in our prayers.

It was heart warming to see so many people came together in the middle of the night helping patients of one hospital which lost its power moved to other hospitals.  Unlike what happened in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, the government had done a great job.  It showed how important was the leadership in the government either of a nation or a state.  For all the people who risk their own safety to help the people in need, for examples the national guards, soldiers, air force, policemen, firefighters, and red cross workers, thank you!

Time and time again, the force of nature makes us realize the impermanence and the uncertainty of life.  It teaches us not to take things for granted.  However, we should not live in fear.  I remember a true story I read about some years back.  A woman stored her whole basement with food, water, and all the necessities because of her fear for the end of time.  She had shown some of her friends her basement, and talked about how prepared she was.  However, she never got to use any of what she stored. She died of an illness at an early age.  So don't live in fear.  Instead, live each day fully with love, vigor, and appreciation.

Are you tired of some of the ridiculous political ads on the TV?  I am.

While states such as New York and New Jersey on the east coast were going through possibly the disaster of the century, there on the TV screen were the non-stop political ads.  I understood it was close to the election day, and all the ads were prearranged or programmed to go on the air.  However,  most of us wanted to know if the people were safe or what went on during the Fury of Hurricane Sandy.  Politics was the least thing on our mind.  Many of the political ads were ridiculous and senseless!  Some politicians looked like irresponsible kids throwing dirt at one another.  I wish we had a respectable non-profit fact-finding group which would not be influenced by any political party to oversee the lies and smears, and pointed them out to the general public.  In doing so, the candidates or political groups might have to be held more responsible for the political ads.  Consequently, instead of smears, candidates would focus more on coming up with good ideas and productive policies that would benefit the nation, its people, and the world on the whole.

Our life on earth may be impermanent, but love is.  In time of despair, may hope shine through.  In time of suffering, gratitude carries us through.  To those who lost their loved ones and/or homes during the hurricane, we send our love.  You are not alone. We are with you.

Love and blessings,
Q of D