“Whereever you go, Whatever you do, May the Angels watch over you.” Between the completion of my masters degree thesis and taking final exams, I spent three months living in a bucolic Irish hamlet just outside of Dublin. In the mornings, the soft bleating of sheep in the pastures next to my house awakened me. And at night, depending on the weather, I would open the upstairs bedroom window and gaze at the planetarium of stars twinkling above and all around me. Recovering from a vigorous bout of bronchitis, this time spent in this idyllic countryside was my therapy. For exercise I walked the undulating green grass oval at Punchestown Race Course, passing by a circle of standing >>
Finding Sanctuary – A Journey of Self Discovery
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” ~ Marcel Proust Serendipity was in full swing. After signing up for a writing course newsletter, a message arrived with an intriguing house sitting offer. Would I be available to look after a 15th century chateau in the heart of the French countryside for a month, or longer? My reply was swift and affirmative, and within a few weeks I was landing in London and on the Eurostar for Paris. By having always viewed travel as exciting and enlightening, Spirit opened doors for me. A soul receptive to new growth is blessed with all kinds of adventure to help in its progression. >>
Return to the Sacred
There is a great awakening taking place on our planet Earth, and it is focused within each one of us. There is a growing recognition among humans that realizes that we are all connected – humans, animals, plants, Earth. This recognition is what some are calling The Shift, referring to the shift in consciousness that is caused by humans waking up spiritually and realizing we cannot continue to live the way we are without causing an end to our planet and to everyone who lives on Earth. Returning to the native knowledge inherent in indigenous cultures is helping to reconnect to our basic instincts – how to live in a way that supports ourselves and our planet in >>
New Beginnings
Winter is here in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina. Several snowfalls have come and gone and it feels like another one is on the way in the next few days. Time has passed so quickly it seems like only yesterday it was the beginning of Fall. I’m learning the different ways that snow appears, and the most wondrous thing I have noticed was during a snowfall a few days ago. The morning sun reflected tiny electric colored drops in emerald green and fuschia. One had to look very closely or these miniature jewels might have been missed. Like tiny fairy lights dotted across the white landscape. It is a time of reflection and introspection for >>
Confections of Snow
Just over a week ago the Blue Ridge Mountains were suddenly and wondrously blanketed with snow, and this part of western North Carolina just outside Sylva saw over nine inches fall in a day. Some of our neighbors on the eastern side of Jackson County received two feet of snowflakes. The amount of snow befuddled the weatherman, and has been the talk of the town and the main headline in this week’s local news. Due to the cold temperatures, snow still remains in many areas. For over 24 hours the fine snow fell and created a winter wonderland of peace here on Brushy Fork Mountain. Mother Nature put on her finest gown of shimmering white and glowed with >>