Turmoil*

For when there is turmoil, I go to you.

When I gaze upon your warm, gentle waters…I see peace.

When I hear your soft rustling breezes whispering through the trees…I hear peace.

When I stand up on your resilient ground… I feel the support of peace.

Your air

Yes, your air

She fills my lungs.

Your sunlight from above raises me out of my darkness and into your warm golden arms.

To you, I walk.

I step forward.

I am overjoyed.

Loved, comforted, cradled in your bosom.

Honoring, rocking, joyful.

My soul dances
Because she knows…she is home

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365 Days*

We live 365 days in each year

Maybe it’s 365 times we are given to try to get our age right

Just one day

One day to just grow a little wiser

One day to grow just a little kinder

May we feel a little more

peace, fulfillment and love

with each passing year

     (42899)

Before My Bloom*

No mother should ever go before her child’s bloom

I am yet only a blossom 

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Great Ideas*

great ideas are feathers in the wind

we must reach out to catch them before they drift away

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Smile*

I’ll never forget the day I taught an old woman to smile. She would walk around all day with a frown. One day I asked her if she was happy and she said “Yes”

I said that I couldn’t tell.

She asked, “Why?”

“I’ve never seen you smile”

“How do you smile?”

I said to just bring your corners up. I pointed to the corners of her mouth. Well, she did! She had such a beautiful smile and every time I looked at her from that day on she would share this radiant smile.

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Can you remember a time in which you had taught someone something special no matter how small or large?  

Pot of Gold*

Each family should work together as one

Even though we may not complete the task at hand

It is the striving that is the accomplishment

The striving gets us one step closer to a perfect love

In my meditation I saw many, many souls within a rainbow which lead to me.

I was the pot of gold.

When we work together as one we become the pot of gold at the end of each rainbow

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Knighted*

Knighted by her grace the sun

Her ray has touched me

A shadow is cast over the earth

Oh heavenly body you have touched me

Oh heavenly body you have mingled with my upright existence

I am knighted

Together we cast this shadow at 7:10am 

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Gratitude Prayer*

Dear Lord

Thank you for my feet so I may walk and stand

Thank you for the earth which my feet stand upon

May my feet and the earth be strong and healthy?

Thank you for my hands so I may touch and be touched

Thank you for my nose so I may breathe this air and sustain life

Thank you for the air around me

May I help keep it clean so it may sustain all living things?

Thank you for my hands and voice so I am able to touch and speak.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the air within my body and air around this blue planet which keeps me and other living things alive

Thank you for my brain so I am able to think and make decisions… right or wrong, but may they all end up wise

Thank you most for my heart, so I may feel compassion for myself and others.and may this compassion lead me to a greater love and understanding of life.

Thank you for the flame outside, the sun which keeps me warm and helps sustain life

Thank you for the flame within which is the combination of love, compassion and responsibility that feeds my very soul

Thank you for me-- may I feel that little bit of g-d within me grow and grow

Thank you for the almighty, you, someone to watch over me and guide me and love me till eternity. Amen

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Strength*

                                original photography by Joan Sichel

There are times when the bend in growth is stronger than the straight and narrow

                          32099

Healing*

To love is to feel 

To understand is to heal

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Gratitude Prayer*

Dear Lord

Thank you for my feet so I may walk and stand

Thank you for the earth which my feet stand upon

May my feet and the earth be strong and healthy?

Thank you for my hands so I may touch and be touched

Thank you for my nose so I may breathe this air and sustain life

Thank you for the air around me

May I help keep it clean so it may sustain all living things?

Thank you for my hands and voice so I am able to touch and speak.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the air within my body and air around this blue planet which keeps me and other living things alive

Thank you for my brain so I am able to think and make decisions… right or wrong, but may they all end up wise

Thank you most for my heart, so I may feel compassion for myself and others.and may this compassion lead me to a greater love and understanding of life.

Thank you for the flame outside, the sun which keeps me warm and helps sustain life

Thank you for the flame within which is the combination of love, compassion and responsibility that feeds my very soul

Thank you for me-- may I feel that little bit of g-d within me grow and grow

Thank you for the almighty, you, someone to watch over me and guide me and love me till eternity. Amen

32799

The Calm*

Look into your own personal well to initiate the “calm”

Go to it

Drink from it

Feel it soothe

Surrender to it

Offer others a sip

Breathe

Find the calm in a situation and stand within it

Let it emanate from you

Let it revolve around you

Let others feel its flow

12601

Steps*

                                original photograph by Joan Sichel

                     

Life is a series of steps. In each moment it is my choice to take the initiative to go forward. 

                                   


                          What would be your first step in making one of your goals a reality?

21205

Let the Journey Begin

The Story of the Akita*

On my daily walks back in 1999 I’d often pass this large, powerful dog on my way to my meditation stream in Brunswick Acres, NJ. I often thought of how he tugs and tugs while barking excessively. The rope wrapped around the willow tree would not give and I could see it was securely tied to his collar, home of his gasping breath. He would tug at the rope so tightly that he could barely breathe or act sane. If only he could take two steps back, he’d breathe freely, lay comfortably, peaceful and happy.

The story of the Akita echoes through my head often, even though it is 2011.  If only we were to take two steps back and let ourselves live with freedom and contentment. Our supersonic lifestyle tugs at our neck. The rope of technology rules us. We can only think of our next step as we gasp.  Just take two steps back.  Peace is here. Listen…the barking has stopped.

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One Love*

I close my eyes even though I am at my oasis

I close my eyes even though everything is in full bloom

I close my eyes even though the weather is perfect

no jacket
no sweating
no shivering

I close my eyes even though the air is crisp and clean

Where is joy

Where is love

I open my eyes and feast upon what was once black is now lush 

 The intense greens of Scotland contrasting with my blue sky 

The wild succulent raspberries of summer  

The budding trees of early spring  

Every flower opening its eyes for the very first time 

Even the weeds 
Sing hymns of summer

A family of geese float by in the calm sunlit pond before me

I can barely tell the difference between the mother and her goslings

They have grown and are almost ready to fly off on their own 

One love

be it old

be it new 

be it in between

One love 

I am so glad I have come to visit these spring waters

A place of contemplative joy 

contemplative love 

internal peace

Aum Shanti 

Shanti Aum

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Welcome to the meditation journal

This is a place to share inspirations and journeys from your inner light. I welcome your thoughts and ideas. Let's spiritually grow together.