When Tomorrow Starts Without Me - A Poem

 When tomorrow starts without me, And I’m not there to see,

That the sun should rise, and find your eyes, All filled with tears for me.

I wish so much you wouldn’t cry, The way you did today.

While thinking of the many things, We didn't get to say.

I know how much you love me, As much as I love you.

And every time you think of me, I know you’ll miss me too.

When tomorrow starts without me, Please try to understand.

That an Angel came, and called my name, And took me by the hand.

And said my place was ready, in Heaven far above.

That I have to leave behind, all those I dearly love.

But as I turn to walk away, A tear fell from my eye.

Free Relaxation Training - YouTube Video

This video will make you drowsy so do not drive a car whilst listening to it. Make yourself comfortable, take a couple of deep breaths, close your eyes, and enter your inner world.

St Michael

The name Michael means 'who is like God' and he was originally a Chaldean deity. He is most often depicted winged with an unsheathed sword. He is God's greatest warrior and slayer of the evil dragon. He is said to be the Viceroy of Heaven and to hold its keys. He ranks as the greatest of all angels and weighs the souls of the dead and holds in his hands, the scales of justice. He is the Archangel of Repentance and of Righteousness, Mercy and Sanctification. He is chief of the ranks of Virtues and the conqueror of Satan. He is the angel of death that leads the souls of the faithful to eternal light. 

His mystery name is 'Sabbathiel' He is credited as the author of the Psalm 85 and he is also credited with preventing Abraham from slaying his son, Isaac. The fire that Moses saw in the burning bush is said to be like Michael. Sarah and her husband Abraham were entertained unaware that they were, in fact, in the company of angels, not men. 

The Farmer's Wisdom

The Chinese farmer said, "Maybe, or maybe not, we will see. Personally, I am in a 'wait and see' mode.

I refuse to be reactionary with the fear-mongering claims and projections. I shall, instead, do my own internal work, so that I can respond in the present moment as reality actually unfolds itself.

From where I sit, it's the only sane way to navigate. May all corruption and deception be exposed.

May all truth and justice prevail. May all healing and unity flourish.

Your Healer Video by Heather Kropf

This free YouTube meditation has been designed by Wendy Stokes to heal you physically, mentally and emotionally. The video is presented by US musician, Heather Kropf and is titled 'Your Healer': www.heatherkropf.com

Do not drive or operate machinery while meditating. Make sure you will not be interrupted for 20 minutes. Close your eyes. Take a couple of deep breaths and allow your breathing to return to normal. Relax and go within to your calmest internal place.... 

Valentine’s Day

How do we know that we are loved and how can we best express our love to those closest to us? Because love and loving, in all its many forms, is not taught in schools while we are growing up. We imbibe from our parents and extended family many ideas about love which might not be healthy and usually we don’t have good role models. Romantic films, books and popular songs do not help our understanding either. When two complex people come together to communicate their love for each other, there is often a mismatch. In life partnerships, one might want move to the country, the other might want to stay in the city; one might want a busy social life, the other might be more solitary; one might be very ambitious, the other laid back. How are these conflicts to be resolved? Does one partner always get their own way and the other acquiesces? Does one manipulate while the other becomes angry? Does one partner have staying power while the other is prepared to leave? Many of these questions are hard to answer but talking about needs for affection, attention, caring and thoughtful consideration and co-operation are part of a good and wholesome loving relationship. Negotiation is usually the answer, where both parties receive some of what they want whilst honouring the equality of the needs of the other person. 

Love and Loving

Our lives have changed significantly since the pandemic. Many people have lost jobs, homes, friendships, some have lost their health, others are suffering from bereavements or think their futures have radically changed. We are spending long hours at home, working or caring for family members, some are caring for and educating children, many are alone and missing social occasions. Love is even more important now than ever before!

Counsellors are frequently asked questions about love and partnerships and these are not easy to answer! We need to concentrate on giving love in order to receive it and that is usually achieved through empathy (which is being able to feel what others can feel), to laugh with them when they laugh and grieve with them when they grieve. Love gives us a wonderfully energising feeling of connection, wonder and excitement. Love boosts our confidence and has been found to be exceptionally good for our mental and physical health. Yet, it is full of difficulties because human beings are complex and we need to listen and become aware of how the other is feeling and understand and be sympathetic. 

Transactional Analysis

 

TA was developed by Eric Berne and is easy to understand. It helps us to identify feelings and behaviour by a description of the personality ego states that we move through: these are called ‘transactions’. Parent Adult and Child states are further divided into healthy and unhealthy expressions. TA explains how we set up relationships, called ‘games’. We have ‘pay-offs’ for these, which are based on early programming called ‘scripts’. ‘Strokes’ are conveyed by words, looks and touch, and positive ones give the other person a sense of joy and wellbeing. We need good ‘strokes’ to grow and be happy. We all have stroking patterns and can receive and give strokes. When we are limited or stuck in defeating ourselves in failed relationships, we can improve them through this easy identification of where we are going wrong. 

Clues to ego states:

Controlling Parent: should, must, always, ridiculous, being critical, condescending, disgusted, firm, pointing finger, frowning, angry, posture hands on hips, attitude judgemental, moralistic, authoritarian.

Nurturing Parent: good, nice, I love you, splendid. Loving, comforting, concerned. Accepting, smiling. Leaning forward, understanding, caring and giving.

The Card of Love

Today, I have chosen the Ace of Hearts because we all need to experience the feeling of new love - love that is creative and inspiring! A love that is a muse, to love deities and a love that is on a new level, a deeper, richer and more vital love. And you need to give and receive unconditional love, that is love that is fully accepting, fully engaging, fully real and open, without criticism or judgment. If we want to receive love, we must be lovable; we must show we are worthy of long lasting, sincere and love that has sweetness and beauty, that is healing and motivating. A heady excitement can occur in an existing relationship providing there is a fresh response and a will to please. 

The Dream: A purple winged heart from a vase filled to the brim with the supreme magical power of love. Love takes form within the vessel and can be poured into the cupped hand of one that is open. Never a closed fist! in the centre of the winged heart is a smaller vibrant heart that is open and receptive. This heart nurtures and overflows with caring and happiness. Unconditional love is embedded within the soft velvet petals of a deliciously fragrant rose, as roses have always been a favourite of Cupid's messengers. The universal symbolism of the heart represents the human hearts role as a beating muscle that is vital to life. Like the beginning of a love affair, everything in this dream is enhanced by love's transcendant glow. 

Saint Bernadette

The Casterot family lived in the Boly Mill in the poor town of Lourdes which lies in the foothills of the Pyrenees. When Father Casterot died, he left his wife and daughters with their home within this working flour mill. Mother Casterot was keen to marry her eldest daughter to a man who would maintain the family wealth by taking care of the mill, home and entire family - including her - and take her husband's place as head of the household. Francois Soubirous, a local mill worker was chosen to wed the eldest Casterot daughter, Bernarde. However, he refused her in favour of her younger sister, Louise, and despite the large age gap of 18 years, Mother Casterot agreed to the marriage though Bernarde had been groomed to be the matriarch of the family was slighted to be refused by this illiterate workman which lost her inheritance and power base. Bernarde owned a tavern and lived with Francois, who had rejected her, and her youngest sister, Louise, who had been chosen over her, and her mother, who had endorsed the marriage! Within an exact year, in 1843, a little girl was born, named Marie Bernarde, known as Bernardette. Within a few months of her birth, Louise burned herself so Bernadette was sent to a wet nurse in Bartres, a considerable journey from Lourdes. 

Love! A Time of Connection

Love.... 

Our lives changed significantly due to the pandemic. Many people lost jobs, homes, friendships, some lost their health, others suffered from bereavements or think their futures were radically changed. We spent long hours at home, working or caring for family members, some were caring for and educating children, many were alone and missed social occasions. 

Love is even more important now than ever before! We need to concentrate on giving love in order to receive it. This is achieved through empathy, which is being able to feel what others can feel, to laugh with them when they laugh and grieve with them when they grieve. Love gives us a wonderfully energising feeling of connection, wonder and excitement. Love boosts our confidence and it has been found to be exceptionally good for our mental and physical health. Yet, it is full of difficulties because human beings are complex and we need to listen carefully and become aware of how the other is feeling, and be understanding. 

Celebrating Love in London

 ‘Love, soft as an easy chair, love, fresh as the morning air; One love that is shared by two, I have found with you. Like a rose under the April snow, I was always certain love would grow; Love, ageless and evergreen, seldom seen by two. You and I will make each night a first, every day a beginning; Spirits rise and their dance is unrehearsed, they warm and excite us, 'cause we have the brightest love.’ ‘Evergreen’ song lyrics by Paul Williams and Barbra Streisand:

Ma’at initiation

I was watching Joan Fletcher’s The Story of Egypt, enjoying my memories of visiting there many 45 years ago. It inspired a dream of shopping in a souk and seeing a beautiful gold embroidered cape, eating in a restaurant and then realising I had lost my shopping bag. I returned to the area but had difficulty finding the place. I kept asking. Eventually a man threw this cape over the table I was sitting at. I still was asking for my shopping bag. He showed me a black one. No, mine was canvas. I woke up thinking I had lost my purse, cards and phone! 

February Oracle Card Reading

For this month, I have chosen a card from Nature-Speak Oracle by the late Ted Andrews. It is the card of Ice and Frost. It is common for us to lack energy when the weather is cold and this card shows a time of reckoning and preparing for times to come. Patience is required but within this incubation period, a great deal of inner activity is taking place. It might be a day, a week or a month, however long it takes, within time, the ice melts, movement begins again!

Next from Ancient Feminine Wisdom of Goddesses and Heroines by Kay Stevenson and Brian Clark. Her name is Eurynome and she is the powerful Aegean Goddess of Creation who arose out of Chaos. She separated the land from the sky and laid an egg from which all life arose. She heralds the birth of a new order. The serpent that surrounds her body is an omen of renewal. Something can arise from nothing and creative potential often arises from the darkness.



Next is LeGrande Circle & Sideshow Tarot by Joe Lee with the card of the Wheel of Fortune. A card of challenge! Even the most accomplished wheel acrobats must eventually stop rotating and come to balance and rest! We must use the skills we have learned to ride the ever spinning circle of fate and circumstances. Navigate the dizzy turns by enjoying the ride without expectations. Recognise our patterns! The best learning is to see our repetitive behaviour and where it is undesirable, change it for the better. Sometimes, the wheel is spinning so fast, we are unable to see where we are, and unable to make good judgments or come off the wheel when required. We are invited to slow down, assess more, avoid taking uncalculated risks!

Lastly, but not least, a practical card from Magical Messages of the Fairies by Doreen Virtue. The card insists: Get Some Exercise! This is about getting your body strengthened for the year ahead and exercise reduces stress. The fairies dance, run, jump, play and are always active. They keep themselves in good physical shape. It means they sleep well when they are finished with the day. Exercise and good sleep improve every area of life, ie relationships, career, hobbies, etc. You are invited to do physical work today, such as housework, walking, dancing, swimming, yoga, sports! 
Reading by Wendy Stokes visit: www.wendystokes.co.uk

Perfume Part Two

Smell, memory and emotion are three aspects of our life that always go together and can enhance mood and a feeling of well being. Business is becoming wise to the art form of using ambient scents to create an atmosphere of harmony and good relationships, described as 'Logo' aromas. For instance, Rolls Royce added to the interior of their vehicles what is described as the 1965 Silver Cloud, the scent of leather and wood. Woolworth created a Christmas scent in 2000 for their shops to entice customers with the scent of winter holidays. During an expedition of Oedipus in 1997, the National Theatre created the scent of human sacrifice, hardly an enjoyable but definitely a memorable experience, and visitors to the Learning Zone at the Millennium Dome were reminded of their school classrooms! Superdrug pumped the scent of chocolate into their shops and executive lounges at airports are sprayed with outdoor aromas of new mown grass, a scent used for centuries by the Santa Maria Novella brand. Hospitals develop a good reputation with the smell of disinfectant, and private hospitals use lavendar to calm and relax visitors and patients. Peppermint is useful for offices to give an emotional lift. Lloyd and TSB have a scent for their banking branches, Dorothy Perkins has a green floral fragrance for its stores, and the Julian Graves chain sells bags of nuts and dried fruit and has a scent to match their trade. Chemicals in the atmosphere are a concern to many people, especially those with allergies or illness.

The Cosmic Dancer - A Poem

Once, I ran from fear...

so fear controlled me.

Until I learned to hold fear like a newborn.

Listen to it, but not give in.

Honour it, but not worship it.

Fear could not stop me anymore.

I walked with courage into the storm.

I still have fear,

but it does not have me.

Once, I was ashamed of who I was.

I invited shame into my heart.

I let it burn.

It told me, "I am only trying

to protect your vulnerability".

What is Ahimsā?

 

Findhorn Press

I enjoyed reading a book “Healing With Past life Therapy by Lorraine Flaherty, a transformational therapist who has developed her own particular healing method, described in this book. There is a lot of meaty information, questions and answers, and many case studies, but the book also has dozens of exercises in self development, including clearing obstacles to success, clearing spirit attachments, and methods to reach your full potential. Here is one to discover your life purpose. 

Make a list of things that make you feel proud and good to be alive, eg., exams you passed; your driving test; your home; getting a job you liked; cooking a meal; winning a prize; maintaining a relationship; going on holiday, etc. Then ask yourself: Who am I? What do I like and dislike? Have I been here before and why am I here?  Was any kind of life mission decided for me? What did I daydream about when I was a child? What, who and where are my greatest loves? What am I passionate about and why? What could be my life purpose? Did I agree to perform a responsibility or duty before I was born? Where is my Soul Group? Are they with me now? Have I met a soulmate or soulmates? Who are these people? Why are they here? How can I be the best version of myself in this life? What can I do to help this planet Earth?

Your Sanctuary Meditation

With thanks to Erica Longdon for the voice-over and video creation

weight loss video

We are so often reminded about the need to watch our weight but it is surprising that just one portion too much each day can pile on more than a stone in weight each year – and every year! If we can’t get weight off during the summer, most people find the winter a more difficult time. Weight gain is exponential: the more weight we have, the less active our life, so the more weight we gain. This puts a strain on joints, increases our risk of fatty liver, heart disease and strokes, and is now said to increase our dementia risk also.

Siege Perilous

I’m sitting in The Angel public house today in Sun Street, Waltham Abbey, with Dave, my husband, and the conversation moves to the Grail. I was speaking about this creative and inspired story, the item being a grail or platter. Beginning with Chretien de Troyes, whose name means Christian (though I was reading about Bernadette of Lourdes last week who was thought to be a cagot and some believe that Chretien was also one of this despised and Untouchable community. 

Well, we can learn from fiction as much as fact, and this story is a strange fantasy. Where does it begin? It is circular and the end returns to the place where it begins many times, but we began by talking about Arthur’s Round Table, and how the knights of old, after many battles and tournaments, were despondent, exhausted and infirm. Their lands were devastated and the people struggled to survive. Around the great table, these knights solemnly erected a seat at their table. They placed a sign above the seat. This was the Siege Perilous, a seat named by Merlin for only the noblest and the holiest, upon which all their hopes depended. 

A reading from the Star Tarot

Card number 6 from the Star Tarot is titled The Lovers and here it is given a subtitle of 'The Sacred Marriage' and 'The Healing Union'.

The Lovers is a complicated and multifaceted key. The traditional ideas surrounding it deal with adolescence and sexual discovery, free will, empowerment, making choices and forging bonds. The modern approach takes these aspects and unites them with one's inner mascline and inner feminine to create a balanced personality. Internal struggles betwen dualities can create negativity that projects outwardly ie if there are polarities in the inner life then there will be conflicts in outer relationships. Love sensuality and sexuality can be very transformative if we are aware of our patterns and create a place of balance from which to relate. A loving and committed union with another person can increase one's understanding of life, creation, and renewal, bringing both partners closer to their soul self and one with the Divine. The Lover's card's gift is emotional healing from the sacred marriage within that brings a solid loving relationship into your life and into the life of your partner. 6 is the number of balance, harmony, completion, integration and transformation. These gifts are not automatic but need to be created through attention, understanding and commitment of both parties.

Relaxation Hypnosis

Witch Bottles

Witch bottles (sometimes referred to as Bellamine jars) were used in 1600s to prevent curses and bad luck, believed to come from those who practiced witchcraft. Using witchcraft to conquer witchcraft, and curses to counteract curses was common. Many of these witch bottles have been found and analysed to have originally contained urine, pins and other sharp objects, animal or human hair, nail clippings, cloth or other material, and were placed in the hearth or under the entry point to a home. 

The 3 of Cups - Dali Tarot

Understanding your own emotions. Because the card reminds us of the three graces, the three Norns (the Norse goddesses), and the three wishes of many fairytales, it leads us to the cosmic wisdom exemplified by the saying “all good things come in threes”. The blue palm trees and the blue grotto point towards bliss, enchantment, and great joy. Life will become a feast if you go beyond yourself and learn to retain your emotional independence, even in the company of others. 

This card is all about the quality of your feelings. The nudity of figures represent beauty and naturalness. Symbolically, it encourages honesty and at the same time warns of insolence (shamelessness and lack of culture). The red forms in the upper corners can be interpreted as a curtain that can be drawn across, obscuring the appreciation and gratitude required to fully know what this card reveals. On the left and right sides, two springs gush, representing the inconsistencies of emotional life. 

FREE healing meditation

With gratitude. A beautiful FREE YouTube healing meditation presented by the US musician, Heather Kropf. 15 minutes of personal enjoyment. Ensure you are not interrupted! Visit Heather Kropf's website: https://www.heatherkropf.com/

Wassailing and 12th Night

There is an ancient tradition to carry good cheer to the community at Christmastide. This is a party for friends to gather around a jug of punch, cider, mead or mulled wine.  It in some spices into the liquid. Raise your glass and drink to today! Dress up in bright colours and carry a sprig of Rosemary. 

On 12th night after Christmas Eve, take a bowl or jug filled with cider, toasted bread, any flowers you can find in the garden, and ginger and cinnamon. Sprinkle the liquid with a sprig of Rosemary on to the fruit trees saying “Here’s to thee, old fruit tree! And when thou Mayes blossom and blow, hat’s full, and cap’s full and my own pockets too. Peace and goodness be among you”. 

Boundaries

So many of the good things in life happen within our boundaries, and many of the bad things are outside our boundaries. Boundaries govern many things about our life and the quality of it. Boundaries define us. They define what is me and what is not me. A boundary shows me where I end and someone else begins, leading me to a sense of ownership. Knowing what I own and take responsibility for gives me freedom. If I know where my yard begins and ends, I’m free to do what I like with it. Taking responsibility form my life opens up many different options. However, if I do not own my life, my choices and my options become very limited. With boundaries, we keep the good in and the bad out. Our boundaries can be walls, fences, and gates that open and close. Boundary help us to correctly respond to pressure, when others manipulate, oh when we feel duty-bound.  It’s very good to allow others to see where they stand with your personal boundaries. A lack of boundaries is often due to Loving too much. A boundary invasion causes anger. We must also be aware of trespassing on other peoples boundaries.

A card for 2025

Renewal card, 20 from Angel Wisdom Tarot by Radleigh Valentine. Archangel Jeremiah is known for helping us review our situation so we can choose the path we will take next. He is the Archangels of dreams and visions. He is often called upon to re-evaluate the past and envision the future. 

Discuss your thoughts and feelings honestly with those you love. We are invited to question what next? This is a time for review and reflection. Where have you come from? Where are you now? Where do you want to be? This is your time to prepare for a bright future, the best it can be! As with any quest, we need to be able to clearly visualise where we want to go. We can’t just accidentally arrive there. We need a spiritual map of the journey. Envision your happiest and most productive future. Bring the law of attraction to its zenith of power in your life, and when you have it figured out then, and only then, take action. Until that time, peacefully develop the awareness of flashes of inspiration and original creative ideas. These epiphanies are part of our life purpose, and are meant to guide us on our way to joy. Possibilities for 2025. A job or career change. An important milestone. A call to fulfil your destiny. 

2025 The Year of 9

2025 is number 9, the most spiritual number available to us. It is a year to develop new understanding, compassion and perception. It is the number of the muses, whose creativity and intelligence reveals what is hidden and will help us realise what is new and good and pursue these. It is a year of great importance for the planet and its species, for our physical and mental health awareness, for political activism, and it will be an heavy year for all kinds of change-makers and thought-leaders.

New Year Folk Song

Here we bring new waters from the world so clear, for to worship the goddess, with this happy New Year. Sing levy dew, sing levy due, the water and wine, with seven gold wires, the bugles that shine. Sing reign of fair maid, with gems on her too, open the west door and let the old year through. Sing reign of fair maid, let her beauty show, she has great power, let the New Year blow!  Here we bring new waters from the world so clear, for to worship the goddess, with this happy New Year.