“Where there is great love there are always miracles” – Willa Cather The Roman statesman and orator Cicero has been credited with a phrase familiar to South Carolinians. “Dum Spiro Spero”, which translates “while I breathe, I hope”, is the state motto. It is also the motto of numerous families, the Scottish clan McLennan, the village of St. Andrews in Scotland, and the once Kingdom of Sarawak. That three-word phrase has literally travelled the world countless times. Obviously, it has inspired many, as can be seen by its adoption by the governments and families that have created crests and seals to immortalize the thought. Emily Dickinson wrote of hope. She said, “Hope is the thing with feathers, that >>
Walking the Path of Love
“Follow the path of love, and all things are added, for God is love, and God is supply.” ~ Florence Scovel Shinn (1871 – 1940) Life is full of surprises, and keeping one’s concentration can be a challenge. And so, the timeless comfort of walking the path of love brings us back home, to our center and to the essence of our being. I remember when I was living in a noisy metropolitan area many years ago, an afternoon walk through a nearby garden brought me much peace. Spending time in Nature helps human beings to re-connect to our source of love. Several decades ago, I happened upon a paperback book by Florence Scovel Shinn, “The Game of >>
Blossoms of Peace
On the Eve of Bealtaine on the Celtic calendar, the Greening of the Mountains is in full swing. The winds of change swirl through the newly leafed forests, twirling the boughs like the petticoats of an Appalachian dancer, and raising consciousness. A sea of green for the eyes, and an awakening of the soul. The first blossoms of the Rhododendrons are here, and the flowering on the higher elevations will soon follow. Small wonder that everyone’s hearts bloom brighter at this time of year. After a long winter, now sunshine and bird songs highlight the day, and cool nights are filled with the chorus of frogs and crickets. Nature is filled with the sacred geometry of life, which >>
Spring Begins in the Blue Ridge Mountains
“Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” ~ Lady Bird Johnson The Nantahala Forest is transforming and the birds are singing and feathering their nests. My new bird feeder is swarmed from dawn to dusk with a steady stream of cardinals, junkos, towhee “teapot birds”, chickadees and more. Hearts are awakening to Mother Nature’s wardrobe change. It is only two weeks away to the Greening Up the Mountains annual festival here in Sylva, North Carolina and every day the sun shines a little longer and everyone’s happiness meters are rising with the temperatures. There is something so magical about seeing the buds on the rhododendrons, and the dogwoods beginning to flower, and hearing the creeks and waterfalls roaring from >>
Garden of the Soul – Seeds of Hope
“The garden must be prepared in the soul first or it will not flourish.” English Proverb Three quarters of an hour into our Sunday lunch, Susan paused and smiled at me. “Why don’t you come with me to England?”, she offered. The invitation took me by surprise, and as my heart opened to receive this beautiful gift, I replied happily “Why not?” Susan, a distance healer and one of my dearest friends, was leaving in four days to attend an energy healing conference outside London. We were having lunch together so she could ask me questions about travelling there since this was her first trip outside the U.S. On a spring day in Albion, my plane touched down >>
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