Happy Easter

We spent the weekend with friends, it was good to laugh, share great meals, music and friendship.
Their Easter bunny seemed to take a great liking to me.  :)

Happy Easter, I pray that  for all of you, it has been a day filled with hope and joy.

Musings of Death

I woke up this morning before the sunrise.....thinking of loss, of death and how our society looks at passing of spirit from body.  It is difficult,  we love our friends and family members and I think no matter how we look at death......loss is a bitter pill to swallow.  I think about other cultures, and the death rituals that are practiced.

Religion gives comfort, mourning brings closure, and philosophy, peace......for some.  For some of us when loss takes place, there is such intense grief......there is no closure......and we are bound to  wander a wasteland filled with hopelessness for the rest of our lives.  Age plays a part in how we handle death,   usually when someone young dies, there is profound remorse for a life just started,  while someone in their 7th or 8th decade is lauded for the good long life they have lived.

The death of a child, starts a parent on a downward spiral,  a parent's death leaves an adult child feeling like an orphan, a spouse's death can break a heart forever and a friend's death leaves a void
that never is filled, a sibling's death leaves emptiness and often regret.

I think about death, and the ways that I have experienced it.......friends, parents, a sibling.......the horrific kick in the stomach you feel at first, the disbelief, the shock, the pain, the anger, the grief, and finally, the good memories, tinged with sadness.  Death is the equalizer, we will all face it at some point.......no matter what your beliefs about what happens next....one thing for certain,
we will all die......so live today, love those around you, find happiness in something every day, be grateful, make the moments count......

The Rising of the Moon

We watched an old Irish film tonight, ( 1957) based on a play "The Rising of the Moon."
It was a story about "the troubles" in the early 20's, filmed in Galway.  It was beautiful, just a short thirty minutes or so, directed by American John Ford.  There were not any famous actors, it was in black and white,  but it is based loosely on an Irish folk song that was written to inspire the fight against the Black and Tans.

The Rising of The Moon,  words by J.K. Casey, music Turlough O'Carolan

And come tell me Sean O'Farrell tell me why you hurry so
Husha buachaill hush and listen and his cheeks were all a glow
I bare orders from the captain get you ready quick and soon
For the pikes must be together by the rising of the moon

By the rising of the moon, by the rising of the moon
For the pikes must be together by the rising of the moon

And come tell me Sean O'Farrell where the gath'rin is to be
At the old spot by the river quite well known to you and me
One more word for signal token whistle out the marchin' tune
With your pike upon your shoulder by the rising of the moon

By the rising of the moon, by the rising of the moon
With your pike upon your shoulder by the rising of the moon

Out from many a mud wall cabin eyes were watching through the night
Many a manly heart was beating for the blessed warning light
Murmurs rang along the valleys to the banshees lonely croon
And a thousand pikes were flashing by the rising of the moon

By the rising of the moon, by the rising of the moon
And a thousand pikes were flashing by the rising of the moon

All along that singing river that black mass of men was seen
High above their shining weapons flew their own beloved green
Death to every foe and traitor! Whistle out the marching tune
And hurrah, me boys, for freedom, 'tis the rising of the moon

'Tis the rising of the moon, 'tis the rising of the moon

And hurrah, me boys, for freedom, 'tis the rising of the moon

Sorry, watching the film just brought the Irish out in me tonight, and the song is so hauntingly beautiful.
There is a recording of Peter, Paul and Mary singing The Rising of the Moon, you might want to take a listen sometime.

Heart Chakra

Classes today were on the heart chakra.....the link between earthly and spiritually......compassion for others and yourself.  We did heart opening asanas, we did a beating heart meditation.
I talked with the students about this time of renewal, of rebirth.......and how I thought if was fitting that they were in a rehab center during this time, renewing their lives......rebirthing themselves.

We talked about how difficult it is to renew, to rebirth.......but spring is all about renew and rebirth.....Easter is the perfect time to think about renewal and rebirth.   The color green represents the heart chakra, and green is probably the first color we think about for spring.  The color of fresh new growth springing forth to face the sun and thrive.

The sun was shinning to day, the sky was clear and bright and blue.  With a full moon this week, emotions were off the chart, but that is ok......to feel, is an important part of the renewal process.
Take a moment tonight and think about your heart, the physical one that works so hard to feed blood to your body, and the spiritual one, that not only gives love, but needs love.  Think about what you can do to rebirth your heart this week.......do you need exercise, more fresh air and sunshine, maybe you need to love yourself a little more......whatever you need, now is the time to think about your heart, about rebirth and renew.......and maybe wear a  little green to brighten up your day!

Easter Cookies

Today, Jordan, Joy, Zoe, Breeze, Daisy, and Stone came to the house to make Easter cookies.  I found an egg shaped cookie cutter the size of my hand......the cookies were LARGE.

As always, there are more decorations on the cookies, than there is actual cookie.......but the kids have a great time.
I promised them all when school is out, they can come spend the day......they were beside themselves with joy!

I made spaghetti for dinner, they ate a pot full.  They also climbed trees, chased the dogs, played ball, blew bubbles and
just ran for the fun of it.  I am exhausted.  My floor is full of sugar crystals, I have washed two table cloths.....wow, fun is hard work. 

Progress

Progress.......the fence guys came today......our fence is back!  Friday, more workers to come, more progress to be made.  It is a slow go, and yes it will be weeks before all is repaired, but to see one thing fixed is good.

This is how life is,  you can't fix everything at once, quite often there  are things you can't fix.
You fix what you can, when you can.  Those you can't fix, find the beauty and goodness in that which is broken.  Sometimes, it is a lesson of acceptance and change.

Time for the gratitude ceremony, blessings to you all.

Gratitude

Some days, I have so much to be thankful for that there are not enough words to express my gratitude.  When that happens, Rick and I do a gratitude ceremony.......flowers, a candle, a gift of money to someone who needs it, and a prayer of thanksgiving to the universe.
I light the candle, place the money by the flowers and say our prayer.

We have so much to be thankful and grateful for today,  we have a house that survived the storms,
we have a couple of friends who are beating cancer,  and we continue to get bookings for gigs, my heart is full of thankfulness.

It was so good to be back at work today, I missed my students!  and I think they missed me.
The fence guy came by, we should have our fence back by the weekend, the roof man is coming to check out the roof, and the carpenter will be by in a few days to start repairs.
They all get a mention in the prayer......and so do all of you.
Gratitude, tonight I just can't say it enough.