Today's Nature Story

About six weeks ago, I began hearing a hawk crying from our woods in the morning and in the afternoon when I walked our dogs. Not every day and not every morning or every afternoon. Sometimes the calls of crows and/or blue jays accompanied the hawk cries.

We have had a red tail hawk’s nest in our woods for over 12 years. The nest is not occupied every spring. This year clearly it is occupied. But I decided not to go look for the nest. It’s in the midst of underbrush – tics and mosquitoes. The only way I could have gone in “safely” was for me to wear long sleeves, long pants and a hat with netting. Just wasn’t going to happen in the heat of July.

However the more often I heard that cry, the more certain I became that it was a young hawk crying. I expected at first that the mother would show up with food for the baby and then it would go silent.

When the crying went on and became more frequent I worried – it clearly was distressed - where in the world is the mother?

One morning about three weeks ago, my stepson and I were standing on our driveway and the hawk flew by crying all the while. It was a young, perfectly-shaped and perfectly-feathered red tail hawk – so young it didn’t have its red tail yet.

Every day we saw it flying – unsteadily at first in the wind – landing in various trees around our property. It was still crying a lot and being harassed by blue jays or crows. Now we were certain that its mother had left (probably been killed). Had she had a chance to teach it to hunt? Would it starve?

I began to talk to it: “You need to learn to fly, to hunt, to find friends and to migrate. You can do it.” I sent those messages out to it every time I saw it.

The flying became steadier. It stayed on our property but was moving around: once on our driveway tree, once in a tree in the back field. Its home base continued to be its nest.

Then on August 10 my husband saw it with another hawk. But that other hawk was mature; it was catching a thermal in the air and as “our” hawk cried, the other hawk circled in the thermal air and gradually was several thousand feet high and then soared out of sight. Our young hawk stayed behind.

Again on August 12 another hawk rose circling into the thermal leaving the youngster behind crying.

Finally, on August 14 while I was working at Unity, my husband and stepson watched our baby hawk, alone, figure out a thermal on its own. It circled into the air, higher and higher until it was thousands of feet high, a speck, and then it soared away.

Would it come back or was it on its way? A couple days later it returned to its home but is not as distressed. It’s too soon to migrate but I now know, when it is time, it has the skills to stay alive, to rise into the sky and soar with its fellow red tail hawks, to migrate south for the winter and ultimately to find its own mate.

Isn't nature grand!

~ JEAN

P.S. Sadly I am not a good enough photographer to get photos of "our" hawk. These are stock photos of red tail hawks but give you the idea of what we are seeing at home. 

Feeling Good - Part II

A few posts ago, I described an aspect of the Law of Mind Action that has to do with feeling good.  According to this teaching, we are most in alignment with Source when we are feeling good and least in alignment when we are feeling anxious, worried, angry or fearful.   I also shared in that post that I’ve been noticing, now that I’m paying closer attention to my feelings, that I worry a lot more than I realized – especially during the summer.  Summer is the perfect time for me to play with the idea of feeling good.  Since I'm not a huge fan of the endless days of summer, I have ample opportunity to notice my negative feelings and practice changing them to something positive.  I’ve been using a bunch of different strategies for working with my feelings over the past several weeks: 

Gratitude - Have you ever noticed that gratitude has a certain, special feeling “tone?”  I am beginning to understand why cultivating a sense of gratitude is often taught as a practice associated with the Law of Mind Action.  The feeling tone of gratitude puts us in alignment with the energy of Spirit.  In the past, I have made daily lists of things I am grateful for, but I have discovered that making lists is very much a thinking exercise for me and doesn’t put me in touch with the feeling of true gratitude.  Recently, when working with shifting my feelings, I sometimes use this exercise from the Q-Effect workshop to connect me with a feeling of gratitude:

Quick Coherence Technique:  Shift out of the head, and focus on the area of the heart for at least 10 seconds.  Imagine breathing from the heart.  Breathe in for a count of five, and breathe out for a count of five.  Recall and try to re-experience a positive time or feeling.  Try not to just visualize it but to feel it fully.  Bask in that positive feeling for a few moments.

Observer Self – In his book The Untethered Soul, author Michael Singer offers a fantastic description of the Ego as the unruly “roommate” inside of our heads.  When attempting to shift away from negative (Ego-centered) thoughts and feelings toward positive (Spirit-centered) thoughts and feelings, he recommends that we practice getting in touch with the observer self, which is capable of watching the antics of the crazy “roommate” without engaging in them.  I’m comforted by the thought that there is a wise presence underlying all of my ego drama and that I can get in touch with that presence in a heartbeat simply by shifting into the role of the observer self.  I’ve been using this practice frequently as a way of diffusing negative emotions.  Amazingly, my observer self is never agitated, irritated, or fearful!  My observer self is always calm, peaceful, and content.  I aspire to live more consistently from the perspective of my observer self.

What Would I Love? - One of the ways that I unconsciously perpetuate feelings of anxiety and worry is by constantly engaging in household chores and busy-ness.  I have the hamster-on-the-wheel mode down to a science!  Now that I understand that my feelings are my compass, I also see that the litmus test for whether or not an activity is in alignment with my true purpose is whether or not I'm enjoying myself while doing it.  Recently, I've been paying closer attention to how I'm feeling when I'm engaged in my regular day-to-day activities.  If I notice that I'm becoming anxious or developing feelings of stress, I stop what I'm doing and ask myself, "What would I love to do right now?"  If it's possible for me to shift to an activity that I enjoy, I do.  This has a positive impact on my emotions and allows me to return to a space of alignment where I can make heart-centered decisions about what needs to be done next.

None of the above strategies for working with feelings is intended to suggest that avoiding or repressing negative emotions is a healthy thing to do in all situations.  In general, I'm of the mindset that we must be willing to experience our emotions in order to move through them.  But oftentimes, I've noticed that I'm experiencing negative emotions for no good reason at all - it's almost as if my default mode is "worry," something I've carried with me from childhood.  These strategies are helpful in shifting my focus at those times.  Not surprisingly, my days are more fulfilling when I choose thoughts and activities that make me feel good.

~REBECCA

 

My Work Blesses Me

Reading the Daily Word is one of my spiritual practices each day. The title of this post is the affirmation for a recent word: “Employment.”

My first thought is of my work at Unity. I love working at Unity. It’s where my heart is, where my spiritual path is progressing and where many of my friends are. It’s also where I get to write my blog posts, prepare the quarterly highlights (including giving me practice at taking pictures that fit into the highlights), fill in applications for raffle permits, brainstorm with Rebecca about what we can do for Unity and serve in any and every other way I can.

In the text, it includes: “I bless my coworkers …” I could not have a better and more compatible coworker than Rebecca. Our styles and personalities are quite different and yet we hold the high watch for each other and support each other during challenges, both at work and at home.

Our mandavilla loves this summer!

When I read: “whether my work is at home or outside the home, volunteer or paid …” my mind goes to the work I do around our house: I am the recycle queen wrapping cardboard, junk mail, magazines and newspapers and emptying the plastic and glass to the can outside. I take our dogs to the groomer, the vet and on various walks (my husband walks them too.) My husband is our cook and I make our salads. I water and care for our indoor and outdoor plants, pruning and replenishing soil, talking to and loving each of them. (By the way, my tomatoes are doing great and they are yummy.)

As a member of the Finance Committee of the Friends of the Hunterdon County Library, I just attended our first committee meeting last week. Believe it or not, I look forward to getting FOHCL onto a budget and facilitating the communication between the Friends and the Library staff regarding money allocations.

I deliver lunches on the third Monday of each month for Meals on Wheels of Hunterdon County. That involves driving almost 40 miles delivering meals to seven “recipients.” Part of my responsibility is to see and interact with each person – an “assurance check for well being.” Most of the time I just wish each person a great day. However I’ve talked soccer with one, dogs with one and plants with another.

I am retired, except for my paid work at Unity. I love all that I do – I love my busy days and I love my unbusy days just as much.

 “Whatever my calling may be, my work is a blessing to me. I appreciate and celebrate it.”

~ JEAN

Visions (Plural) and Many Thanks

Can anyone relate to this? When I was a kid I thought I would become an adult - that it was a destination I would arrive at. Then I figured out that being an adult is about behavior and thinking. Now I know that I will be learning and growing every day of my life - which certainly keeps life interesting.

I had the same type of misconception of what a vision for my life would look like. I have been waiting for one HUGE vision for the rest of my life - wondering what it would be and trying not to be impatient while I waited. However that concept actually made me nervous. Would God's vision for me make me have to change everything in my life. Would I have to move? What major changes would I have to make to live that vision? 

Thanks to many Sunday messages and various Daily Words over the last few months, I realized that I could relax. The vision will come and I don't have to stress over when it will come and what it will be. Notice I'm writing "it." When I relaxed about seeing or getting a vision for my life, that is, getting "it" - one of the understandings I got was that "it" was actually going to be "them." I will be getting more than one vision for my life. My life is a rich mixture of activities. It makes sense that my visions will be a rich mixture too.

I've already written about my vision for my dad's letters in a previous post. Three years ago I had a vision about working at Unity. I asked Audrey to keep me in mind when or if the Unity Board was thinking about adding staff. I was hired almost immediately and I have been working happily at Unity ever since. I'm open to whatever the next vision will be.

Can't see the trees for the forest.

Last Saturday's Daily Word was Vision. "In my mind's eye, I visualize overcoming a difficult situation and feel relief. I see a goal being reached and feel a sense of joy. I envision positive results and feel as if they have already manifested." That clearly, at least to me, shows that I will (and many of us will) have many visions. The scripture: The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. - Psalm 146:8 made me think of the phrase: can't see the forest for the trees but I think the backwards version fits better.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Changing the subject to Unity's 25th Anniversary Dinner. I wrote about "Golden Keying" the dinner in a previous post too. When I let go of it, people appeared in the days ahead who made a difference in how that dinner went. First and foremost, Kathie Shannon came to Unity on Thursday afternoon and we setup the room so we knew for sure we had enough places for the 39 people signed up. We talked tablecloths and menu both then and on Friday on the phone too.

I was too focused on "me." I was out of my element. I'm not a dinner planner. I appreciated very much the blessing on Saturday at the dinner. I was so flustered I didn't quickly acknowledge all the other people who helped make that evening such a success.

Now I will do that. I'm so very grateful. Thank you Unity Board of Trustees members: Dan Cavanaugh (who also donated the tossed salad), Pat Frain and Ann Anderson along with Patricia Springwell who served the dinner; and Karen Carroll who was our wine bar server and seller of 50/50 raffle tickets. Some were in black and white though Ann gets special mention as she was in cream and navy. Patricia and Jean McBride helped set the tables with cloths and utensils. Thank you to Sarah Doyle and Judy Naturale for their home made desserts so we had both regular and gluten-free choices.

Dave Stoker (left) with Singer/Songwriter Greg Tamblyn

Thank you Rev T for opening us with a blessing. Thank you to Katherine Ballantyne and Butch Sorge who hosted Greg Tamblyn in their home and who provided the flower arrangements for the tables. Thank you to Dave Stoker who cleared the stage and managed the sound check with Greg. Thanks to Bob and Kerry who came to dinner and concert and stayed to breakdown the room and set it back up for the Sunday service. It showed the camaraderie of our Unity family that a fair number of you stayed so the breakdown and setup were done in record time. Thank you for Dave Moran who couldn't join us Saturday night but did some of the sanctuary setup and kitchen cleanup on Sunday morning.

Table centerpiece

Thank you to Peg of Flying Avocado, our kitchen renter, for her tasty dinner and her help setting out the buffet. Thank you to my dear co-worker Rebecca Stoker, who listened to me and supported me and who ended the evening taking the tablecloths and napkins home to wash. Thank you, Greg Tamblyn, for a fun and funny evening.

Someone told me that he was so glad that we had planned an event for us all to be together in a relaxed atmosphere especially after we have been doing so much serious and necessary transition work. So my final thank you is to all of you who came to the dinner and talked and laughed and celebrated together. (We missed the rest of you.) As our core values statement says: We are a welcoming, empowering, loving, inspiring spiritual community.

~ JEAN

George (The Lake)

A few weeks back, I posted something about using my family’s plan to go camping in upstate New York as a way of practicing the idea that in order to fulfill a vision, you need to behave as if you are coming from that vision, rather than trying to go to it.  The gist of this practice is that you act as if your vision has already been fulfilled, rather than acting as if you are trying to reach for something you currently lack.  Severe thunderstorms were threatening to cancel our trip, and so I got a wonderful opportunity to move forward with my plans, despite my fear and doubt, by continually asking myself the question “If I believed this trip were possible, what would I do today?”  

I wasn’t certain how things were going to work out, but I continued to prepare for the trip, and sure enough a few days before we were scheduled to leave, a simple idea popped into my head.   I started the wheels in motion, and with little effort my husband and I were able to shift our work schedules slightly to allow us to arrive at the campground after the storms had passed.  So we had a terrific visit to a brand new place - the kids had fun fishing and swimming and roasting marshmallows, and Dave and I got our much-needed break from the hectic pace of our regular routine.  

Here are some photos of our trip to Lake George.  I’m so very thankful for all of the great things I’m learning this year.  


 ~REBECCA

Summer - Part 2

If you remember my first post on Summer, you know I have trouble appreciating this, my fourth favorite season. I decided one day several weeks ago that I would look for at least one thing to love about summer each day. Yesterday it was 90 degrees and I was hot and sticky pretty much all day.

Keeping in mind Unity's third principle: the law of mind action - thoughts held in mind create my reality - I began to look around for what I love and I saw the fabulous sunflowers I've been growing from seeds for the first time this summer.

The blobs in the middle of the flower are bumble bees.

Then I paid attention to our flower pots in bloom - every one of those blooms grew from seeds we planted two months ago. Our front door is a happy spot as I come and go from home - doing errands, walking the dogs, going to work.

This picture was taken on June 22 as the seeds sprout.

Now

Across the walk from the sunflowers are flowering bushes that attract butterflies and bees of all types. The bushes (I forget their name) positively hum with activity. I was so happy with this photograph on my digital camera that I made it my desktop picture on my computer at home.

* * * * * * * * *

Nature is one of my great loves. Yesterday I chose to see the beauty of summer in the face of my physical uncomfortableness (is this a word?).

This morning when I stepped outside to walk our dogs, all the heat and humidity was gone and the day had dawned cool, breezy and sunny.  I agree with a friend who said: I can handle it (summer).

~ JEAN

Feeling Good

I’m immersing myself in the study of the Law of Mind Action this year, and each week it seems I’m learning something new or understanding something old on a deeper level.  My blog posts are helping to give me clarity around the concepts I’m attempting to digest.  This week’s concept revolves around the idea of using emotions and feeling good as a gauge for determining whether or not we are on the right track and as a means of getting into the flow of abundance.

Several well-known spiritual authors and teachers suggest that our emotions can act as a sort of an internal barometer to give us feedback about what we are creating and how well we are aligned with our true nature.  Abraham-Hicks, a team comprised of author Esther Hicks and her non-physical spiritual guides, focus heavily on the importance of feeling good in the practice of getting into alignment with Source.  According to Abraham, Source is always with us – seeing what we see, feeling what we feel, experiencing what we experience – and Source views everything that happens to us as good.  When we take the same stance – that everything that happens is good, despite appearance – and therefore we FEEL good no matter what – we are in alignment with Source.  When we feel frustrated, resentful, anxious, or angry about what is happening, we are out of alignment.  Notice that this is not a THINKING exercise.  True alignment comes only when our thoughts AND our feelings are in harmony with Source.

If you’re anything like me, you probably find it easy to feel good when things are going well and more challenging to feel good when things are, well, challenging.  Abraham suggests practicing feeling good using imaginary circumstances as a way of preparing to feel good during real-life situations.  For example, you can imagine that you’re eating a rich, smooth, delicious square of chocolate and create the good feeling you generally have around that experience.  Or you can imagine getting a wonderful, healing massage and conjure up the good feeling associated with that.  This exercise can be helpful in turning your focus away from a disturbance and getting back into the flow of Spirit (where you can address the disturbance from a Spirit-centered perspective).  

In paying more attention to how I’m feeling over the last few days, I’ve noticed that my default feeling seems to be worry and anxiety.  I could be doing something completely non-stressful, like relaxing on the sofa reading a book or playing with the world’s cutest puppy, and still there’s a subtle, underlying feeling of worry.  So I’ve been trying to catch myself each time I notice I’m feeling anxious, remind myself that all is well, and consciously change my feeling to something that feels good.  Surprisingly, it’s not that difficult to change to a good feeling.  It’s just that I have 1,000 opportunities a day to do it! 

Speaking of feelings, I’ve reached a point in my experiment where I’m starting to feel a little overwhelmed with all of the new concepts I’m attempting to assimilate – law of pure potentiality, law of detachment, law of feeling good.  In the interest of keeping things fresh and exciting, it seems I've inundated myself as I am often wont to do.  There’s a lot of information swirling around in my head, and I’ll need to take some time to organize it and figure out ways to incorporate it into my daily routine.  Thank God I can recognize the feeling of being overwhelmed.  Thank God I don’t have to stay in this feeling now that I've noticed it.  Thank God for the thinking faculty that will allow me to sift through what I’ve learned and put it into a format I can use.  All is well.  All is well.  I think I'll take some time to imagine I'm eating some chocolate now . . .

~REBECCA