DIVING INTO THE CAVE OF YOUR HEART – TRANSITION FROM WINTER INTO SPRING WITH INSPIRATION
Notice all of the changes taking place in nature as the weather warms and every day becomes longer. There is a palpable sense of renewal of life. Plants are literally breaking free from the earth and stretching toward the sun. Flowers are blooming. There is a vitality that you can even smell in the spring winds.
The invitation in this season of growth is to align with the powerful forces of nature both outside and within. All of the seeds of intention that you have planted in the fall and cultivated in the winter can now begin to emerge into manifestation. This is the time to make shifts in ways of being and doing that harness harness these powerful creative energies.
The word for transformation in Sanskrit is “parynama”. “Pary” means to encircle one’s heart. “Nama” means to make an offering. Together, the word suggests that an authentic transformation is made by deeply looking into the cave of your heart and then making sweet offerings from what you discover.
This is the time to unveil your contemplations and reflections. Let your deepest and most cherished desires bear fruit as you dig deep inside the wellspring of your heart and express who you are into the world. When you align so deeply with who you are, whatever you do or say will feel like you are offering your highest. When you act from the highest, you will not only feel the delight of such a connection but others will be uplifted in your presence and get a hit of their own Divine light.
If you have been waiting for the right time to launch some important project, venture, business, or other offering, this is a great opportunity. This is a wonderful season to harness the creative energies of nature and skillfully ride the waves of change to affirm your life and make a beautiful offering to the world.
Make sure that as you make your offering that it is in fact aligned with your heart. The transformation may not always be comfortable as change make take you out of your comfort zone. However, when you remember your intention, it will give you renewed energy and inspiration to hold to that vision. In the process, you awaken to a new understanding of yourself and your relationship to the world. It is not just in your mind, but the transformation will affect your heart. By aligning with your depths, you will feel the delight of spirit as the very play of consciousness. As the Divine has taken every form, including you, the invitation is that you shift your form to feel a closer relationship to the Divine. As you shift in relationship with the Divine in this way, you will feel Divine!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
WINTER INTO SPRING, CAT-WISE
WINTER INTO SPRING, CAT-WISE
The transition from fall to winter to spring is an annual cycle for the cat and the cat-owning household with typically consistent year-to-year behaviors that mark the passage of time.
As fall turns to winter, many of our indoor/outdoor cat friends choose to make the indoors by the fire a new place to hang out. It is amazing how many hours they can sleep, and I often wonder what they dream about. Even those cats that are strictly indoor cats mark the passage of winter in a more quiet repose. And now, as the days grow longer, we’ll begin to see a stirring, maybe sitting on the window sill, more often than watching the bird feeder or squirrels, and for the more hardy, checking the open door to see if today would be a good day to venture forth.
What as cat owners should we be conscious of with regard to care and health during this transition? Here are a few things that I think about. Most of our outdoor cats have been hunting and maybe have had some fleas during the summer and fall. As the hunting season ends for a few months, November or December would have been a good time to get that last dose of worming medication, administered to allow them to pass the winter without the burden of tapeworms, round worms and hookworms. Of course, if your cat has not been on a flea preventive medication, confirming that he or she doesn’t bring unwanted houseguests is a great idea. You can check your cat by using a “flea comb,” running your fingers from the tail base to the shoulders looking through the hair as you go. If your cat is accommodating, look carefully at the belly where fleas like to congregate. I recommend using a flea/tick preventive into December to increase the chances of having a flea free winter.
If you share your life with one of the more hardy cats who likes to spend the time outdoors all winter, it is important to be sure that she or he has a place to get out of the wind and cold. Many cats grow really robust coats and tolerate the winter well with a little extra food, but frozen ear tips are not uncommon in cats who lack a good place to “hunker down” on a windy day. Have you ever seen and wondered about a cat you’ve met with squared off ears? This is usually evidence of a previous frostbite where the tips of the ears have actually died and fallen off.
What about the woodstove of which your cat is so fond? Hopefully is he or she likes to use it as a perch during the summer, you made the transition to wood heat without any burned footpads. It’s good to be careful as we get into spring. If the stove is out during the day and then on at night, some cats make a leap that they might have wished they hadn’t made!
With the first signs of spring just around the corner, those cats with cabin fever will be stirring from the fire, climbing into the windows and heading outdoors. It’s a good idea to be up to date on the weather forecasts so no one stays out too long on a cold day. If your cats can’t be counted on to obey a curfew, its important to get them in for the night. It’s kind of like hardening your seedlings in the spring. Before long, the indoor-only group will be sitting at the window watching those birds and butterflies that I suspect they were dreaming about, and the outdoors group will be chasing them, in addition to mice, chipmunks and voles.
So, while you enjoy the lengthening days and the change of the seasons, and while you marvel at the return of spring life outdoors, it is good to notice the change in patterns and behaviors that we can recognize in our domesticated friends.
The transition from fall to winter to spring is an annual cycle for the cat and the cat-owning household with typically consistent year-to-year behaviors that mark the passage of time.
As fall turns to winter, many of our indoor/outdoor cat friends choose to make the indoors by the fire a new place to hang out. It is amazing how many hours they can sleep, and I often wonder what they dream about. Even those cats that are strictly indoor cats mark the passage of winter in a more quiet repose. And now, as the days grow longer, we’ll begin to see a stirring, maybe sitting on the window sill, more often than watching the bird feeder or squirrels, and for the more hardy, checking the open door to see if today would be a good day to venture forth.
What as cat owners should we be conscious of with regard to care and health during this transition? Here are a few things that I think about. Most of our outdoor cats have been hunting and maybe have had some fleas during the summer and fall. As the hunting season ends for a few months, November or December would have been a good time to get that last dose of worming medication, administered to allow them to pass the winter without the burden of tapeworms, round worms and hookworms. Of course, if your cat has not been on a flea preventive medication, confirming that he or she doesn’t bring unwanted houseguests is a great idea. You can check your cat by using a “flea comb,” running your fingers from the tail base to the shoulders looking through the hair as you go. If your cat is accommodating, look carefully at the belly where fleas like to congregate. I recommend using a flea/tick preventive into December to increase the chances of having a flea free winter.
If you share your life with one of the more hardy cats who likes to spend the time outdoors all winter, it is important to be sure that she or he has a place to get out of the wind and cold. Many cats grow really robust coats and tolerate the winter well with a little extra food, but frozen ear tips are not uncommon in cats who lack a good place to “hunker down” on a windy day. Have you ever seen and wondered about a cat you’ve met with squared off ears? This is usually evidence of a previous frostbite where the tips of the ears have actually died and fallen off.
What about the woodstove of which your cat is so fond? Hopefully is he or she likes to use it as a perch during the summer, you made the transition to wood heat without any burned footpads. It’s good to be careful as we get into spring. If the stove is out during the day and then on at night, some cats make a leap that they might have wished they hadn’t made!
With the first signs of spring just around the corner, those cats with cabin fever will be stirring from the fire, climbing into the windows and heading outdoors. It’s a good idea to be up to date on the weather forecasts so no one stays out too long on a cold day. If your cats can’t be counted on to obey a curfew, its important to get them in for the night. It’s kind of like hardening your seedlings in the spring. Before long, the indoor-only group will be sitting at the window watching those birds and butterflies that I suspect they were dreaming about, and the outdoors group will be chasing them, in addition to mice, chipmunks and voles.
So, while you enjoy the lengthening days and the change of the seasons, and while you marvel at the return of spring life outdoors, it is good to notice the change in patterns and behaviors that we can recognize in our domesticated friends.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Legends of St. Valentine's Day
LEGENDS OF ST. VALENTINE’S DAY
There are various popular and interesting legends of St. Valentine’s Day. Some legends trace the origin of Valentine’s Day to pagan times while others link it one or more Saints of early Christian Church. Yet another point of view on the origin of St. Valentine’s Day links it to the beginning of birds mating season. Popularity of the festival is perhaps due to the combined effect of all these legends along with the notion that spring is the time for love.
Some famous legends of Valentine’s day are:
Feast of Lupercalia
Saint Valentine of Rome – I
Saint Valentine of Rome II
Birds Mating Time
Feast of Lupercalia
Several historians trace the origin of Valentine’s Day to pagan times in ancient Roman Empire. In those times, people organized a holiday on February to honor Juno – the mythological Queen of Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also regard Juno as the Goddess of Women and Marriage. From the following day – February 15 started the Fertility Festival called the Feast of Lupercalia. This feast was organized to protect humans from wolves and to honor the Roman Gods of Agriculture – Lupercus and Faunus besides the founders of Rome – Romulus and Remus. During the Feast of Lupercalia, members of Lupercali – an order of the Roman priest used to gather in a sacred cave where Romulus and Remus were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. Following the tradition, the priest would sacrifice a goat for fertility and a dog for purification. Boys would slice the goats hide into strips, dipped them in sacrificial blood and move about the streets gently slapping women and fields with the animal hide. Womenfolk gladly received a slap, as they believed that the practice would make them more fertile. Later, during the Feast of Lupercalia, all the young women in the city would place a chit of their name in a big urn. Bachelors in the city would each then take a chit out of the urn and became paired for the girl whose name was on the chit for the rest of the year. Quite often, the paired couple would fall in love and marry.
Later, when Christianity spread through Rome, the practice of finding mate through ‘lottery’ was deemed un-Christian and outlawed. Around 498 AD, Pope Gelasius is said to have declared Feburary 14 Valentine’s Day. Some writers link Valentine’s Day with Feast of Lupercalia because of similar date and connection with fertility.
Legends of St. Valentine
Early Christian church indicates the presence of at least two saints named Valentine. Some scholars however, says that there were as many as seven saints credited with the name of Saint Valentine or Valentinus all of whom lived in the Third Century and apparently died on the same day. Given here are some of the most popular of all legends of Saint Valentine:
Saint Valentine of Rome – I
According to one of the very popular legend, Valentine was a priest in Rome who lived during the reign of Emperor Claudius II. Under his regime, Claudius is said to have engaged Rome into se veral bloody battles. To strengthen his army, the Emperor continuously needed to recruit soldiers. However, Claudius found that not many soldiers were keen to join the army because of attachment with their wives and families. In order to sever the bond of attachment, Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. Valentine – a romantic at heart priest, defied this callous decree of Claudius by secretly arranging marriages of young men and women. When Valentine’s defiance was discovered by the Emperor, he was brutally beaten up and put to death on February 14, about 270 AD.
For his martyrdom and dedication for the cause Valentine was named a Saint after his death. My Middle Ages, Saint Valentine became popular as the patron saint of love and lovers in England and France to the extent that Pope Gelasius declared February 14 as Valentine’s Day on 498 AD and put an end to pagan celebrations. Thus, Saint Valentine’s martyrdom became an occasion to celebrate love.
Saint Valentine of Rome –II
Another famous legend on Saint Valentine states Valentine was an early Christian in Rome who was very popular amongst children. But during the time when Valentine lived, Roman regime was not on favour of Christianity and it even persecuted Christians to make Rome free of the followers of Christianity. In spite of this strict law, Valentine continued to practice his faith and refused to worship Roman Gods. This enraged Emperor Claudius II and he put Valentine in prison.
Valentine is said to have spent a year in rigorous imprisonment during which he was missed a lot by children. They began to toss loving notes and flowers between the bars of his cell window. To an extent, this legend may explain the tradition of exchanging notes and flowers on St. Valentine’s Day.
Some scholars believe that during his stay in prison Valentine made friends with jailer’s blind daughter who at times brought to him notes and flowers from children. Whenever possible, Valentine also replied to the notes. Days before his execution, Valentine prayed for the jailer’s daughter and she regained her sight. Before his death, Valentine is also said to have written a farewell note for the jailer’s daughter and signed it, “From Your Valentine”. This expression is popular even till date.
Some scholars believe that Valentine was killed because he tried to help Christians escape from the Roman prison as they were being tortured and beaten. Yet another scholars say Emperor Claudius II was impressed by Valentine’s kindness and good behavior. He even stated that Valentine could be freed if he agreed to worship Roman Gods. Valentine not just refused he even tried to convert Emperor to Christianity. This made Claudius very angry and he ordered his execution. Valentine was beheaded on February 14.
Birds Mating Time
During the Middle Ages, people in England and France held a popular belief that birds started to look for a mate from February 14. This popular notion further strengthened the idea that Valentine’s Festival that falls in the middle of February should be celebrated as the day of love and romance. The concept soon gained ground amongst the lovers and they began to celebrate the day by exchanging love notes and simple gifts like flowers.
There are various popular and interesting legends of St. Valentine’s Day. Some legends trace the origin of Valentine’s Day to pagan times while others link it one or more Saints of early Christian Church. Yet another point of view on the origin of St. Valentine’s Day links it to the beginning of birds mating season. Popularity of the festival is perhaps due to the combined effect of all these legends along with the notion that spring is the time for love.
Some famous legends of Valentine’s day are:
Feast of Lupercalia
Saint Valentine of Rome – I
Saint Valentine of Rome II
Birds Mating Time
Feast of Lupercalia
Several historians trace the origin of Valentine’s Day to pagan times in ancient Roman Empire. In those times, people organized a holiday on February to honor Juno – the mythological Queen of Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also regard Juno as the Goddess of Women and Marriage. From the following day – February 15 started the Fertility Festival called the Feast of Lupercalia. This feast was organized to protect humans from wolves and to honor the Roman Gods of Agriculture – Lupercus and Faunus besides the founders of Rome – Romulus and Remus. During the Feast of Lupercalia, members of Lupercali – an order of the Roman priest used to gather in a sacred cave where Romulus and Remus were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. Following the tradition, the priest would sacrifice a goat for fertility and a dog for purification. Boys would slice the goats hide into strips, dipped them in sacrificial blood and move about the streets gently slapping women and fields with the animal hide. Womenfolk gladly received a slap, as they believed that the practice would make them more fertile. Later, during the Feast of Lupercalia, all the young women in the city would place a chit of their name in a big urn. Bachelors in the city would each then take a chit out of the urn and became paired for the girl whose name was on the chit for the rest of the year. Quite often, the paired couple would fall in love and marry.
Later, when Christianity spread through Rome, the practice of finding mate through ‘lottery’ was deemed un-Christian and outlawed. Around 498 AD, Pope Gelasius is said to have declared Feburary 14 Valentine’s Day. Some writers link Valentine’s Day with Feast of Lupercalia because of similar date and connection with fertility.
Legends of St. Valentine
Early Christian church indicates the presence of at least two saints named Valentine. Some scholars however, says that there were as many as seven saints credited with the name of Saint Valentine or Valentinus all of whom lived in the Third Century and apparently died on the same day. Given here are some of the most popular of all legends of Saint Valentine:
Saint Valentine of Rome – I
According to one of the very popular legend, Valentine was a priest in Rome who lived during the reign of Emperor Claudius II. Under his regime, Claudius is said to have engaged Rome into se veral bloody battles. To strengthen his army, the Emperor continuously needed to recruit soldiers. However, Claudius found that not many soldiers were keen to join the army because of attachment with their wives and families. In order to sever the bond of attachment, Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. Valentine – a romantic at heart priest, defied this callous decree of Claudius by secretly arranging marriages of young men and women. When Valentine’s defiance was discovered by the Emperor, he was brutally beaten up and put to death on February 14, about 270 AD.
For his martyrdom and dedication for the cause Valentine was named a Saint after his death. My Middle Ages, Saint Valentine became popular as the patron saint of love and lovers in England and France to the extent that Pope Gelasius declared February 14 as Valentine’s Day on 498 AD and put an end to pagan celebrations. Thus, Saint Valentine’s martyrdom became an occasion to celebrate love.
Saint Valentine of Rome –II
Another famous legend on Saint Valentine states Valentine was an early Christian in Rome who was very popular amongst children. But during the time when Valentine lived, Roman regime was not on favour of Christianity and it even persecuted Christians to make Rome free of the followers of Christianity. In spite of this strict law, Valentine continued to practice his faith and refused to worship Roman Gods. This enraged Emperor Claudius II and he put Valentine in prison.
Valentine is said to have spent a year in rigorous imprisonment during which he was missed a lot by children. They began to toss loving notes and flowers between the bars of his cell window. To an extent, this legend may explain the tradition of exchanging notes and flowers on St. Valentine’s Day.
Some scholars believe that during his stay in prison Valentine made friends with jailer’s blind daughter who at times brought to him notes and flowers from children. Whenever possible, Valentine also replied to the notes. Days before his execution, Valentine prayed for the jailer’s daughter and she regained her sight. Before his death, Valentine is also said to have written a farewell note for the jailer’s daughter and signed it, “From Your Valentine”. This expression is popular even till date.
Some scholars believe that Valentine was killed because he tried to help Christians escape from the Roman prison as they were being tortured and beaten. Yet another scholars say Emperor Claudius II was impressed by Valentine’s kindness and good behavior. He even stated that Valentine could be freed if he agreed to worship Roman Gods. Valentine not just refused he even tried to convert Emperor to Christianity. This made Claudius very angry and he ordered his execution. Valentine was beheaded on February 14.
Birds Mating Time
During the Middle Ages, people in England and France held a popular belief that birds started to look for a mate from February 14. This popular notion further strengthened the idea that Valentine’s Festival that falls in the middle of February should be celebrated as the day of love and romance. The concept soon gained ground amongst the lovers and they began to celebrate the day by exchanging love notes and simple gifts like flowers.
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