CHRISTMAS MEMORY

                        "I am convinced no one comes to my door by accident." 

Lorrenne bubbled as she invited me into the sun porch of her home at Sunnybrook Farm.  It was March then, many years ago.  Bare trees were bending and creaking in the gray and white winter's last hurrah in Iowa.  And now it is Christmas, many years and endless miles later.  As I write, I am looking out over a snow dusted sunny morning, breathing in a Claude Monet living painting before my eyes.  Monet loved snow shadow blues, subtle oranges and violets.  I see blue-violet and red-violet superimposed with an imaginary paintbrush. 

I flash back to winters long ago in Western Pennsylvania.  I think of deep snows that blew icy talcum powder swirls and sparkled like blue and silver diamonds in the light of Christmas nights.  We had a live pine tree spreading invigorating fresh scent in our home.  We watched the large multicolored lights sparkle bright.  One year we had a tree lit with all blue lights!  My Dad and I set up the electric train.  Some of my plastic farm came out of the attic every Christmas. 

I am a little girl again playing in the attic.  "Little Iowa Farm," was complete with farmhouse, barn, and many animals.  The farm was up all year.  In winter I set down a white sheet for snow.  Summer I had a green sheet showing.  I wanted to live in Iowa because Steve Field lived in Iowa and raised prize collies.  My first collie, Lad, traced down to Steve's champion Parader Collies.  What city in Iowa would be good for my future farm?  I got in a map and zeroed in on the Cedar Rapids area. 

My imaginary farm grew and grew.  My dad helped me get enamel paint.  I repainted each plain brown, black or white animal figure with realistic coat markings, each one different.  Now I had Holstein cows with spots of black on white.  I had my favorite cow and calf!  My chosen horse had a tiny star on his coal black body.  Painted plastic collies in golds, tri-color, and blue merle danced in front of my sign:  Sunnybrook Kennels. 

Christmases passed.  Many dogs, cats, and horses raced across paper and canvas.  Meanwhile we had relocated to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  One summer day, I found myself driving down a dusty hot gravel road.  I "felt" strangely familiar here.  The farmhouse and barn came into view, the black and white Holstein cows were in the field.  The sign said (wait for it) SUNNYBROOK KENNELS!  I turned into the driveway and was greeted by a happy chorus of barking from the boarding kennel.  I felt warmth and love.  I approached the door and knocked.  Lorrenne answered.  I was taken by the fact that Lorrenne looked so much like my silver haired Collie breeder friend, *Bobbee Roos, in Washington D.C. area where we had lived.  Both women also loved to write!

I talked to Lorrenne about boarding our silver Collie, Sky, and two ornery cats, Zar and Zara.  There were farm cats a-plenty.  There were kittens in the barn.  Tony, a giant gray rangy Egyptian looking tabby cat, could knock you over with his friendliness and thunderous purr.  Lorrenne had prize Schipperke dogs, coal black "Little Captains," so eager and alert. 

Warm feelings of Sunnybrook grew like grain.  Lorrenne and I became friends.  We shared memories and spiritual dimensions of thoughts, prayers, and realities.  Sitting in Lorrenne's warm kitchen over steaming coffee and warm cookies, one day she said to me, "I have a simple faith."

Lorrenne continues:  "I know a priest who was at a spiritual retreat center.  He stopped to rest on a bench by himself.  Another man came and sat beside my friend.  When they talked, the priest was astounded that this man knew all about his life in great detail even though they had not previously met.  Later, in the group gathering, the priest's companion was not there!"

"I am convinced this teacher was an Angel!"


Seasons rotate and evolve in a cosmic dance.  Our family moved on to other locations where the winters are not as sharp and cold as Iowa was.  Silver shrouds of snow melt more quickly here.  Skies can be cloudy gray from smoke to pearl.  I have continued my path to explore spiritual directions taught to me by God's teachers, Lorrenne and Glen. 

I have my kennel/ zoo retreat center on my walls now.  Cheetahs, lions, tigers, snow leopards, zebras and wolves join the animal parade.  There is an occasional barn and a "fortress deep and mighty," Mont-Saint-Michel, along with horses and dogs.  Angels join in to grace my heart-mind.

Albert Payson Terhune, author, comes to mind.  He banged out his Sunnybank Collie stories on an old typewriter from his home in New Jersey.  "One or more collies lie sleeping at my feet as I write."  He continued, there are also, "furry ghosts that haunt my memory."  Terhune wrote so vividly, I can see photograph clear images as I read his words.  I know these Collies deeply!

Meanwhile Sunnybrook Farm also nestles warm in my memory.  The tree is trimmed and lit, presents await eager young children.  Pie is baking and coffee brews.  I can see again twilight settling in over snow banks.  I feel again the blueness in the dusk of an Iowa Christmas.  Golden light radiates from curtained windows.  I know God is Love! 

            **  "In prayer we discover what we already have," Thomas Merton


                                             

Related Posts:  
The Human Angel 
Out of Box Experience (Who were the Sunnybank Collies?)
 Encounters With Michael (The Artist meets the Archangel)
The Christmas Rose (An Angel at Christmas
 Winter Wolf


Resources:
Shirley MacLaine, author, actress, mystic The Camino and other books.  Accompany Shirley on a walking  pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella and discover yourself. 

* Mrs. George H. "Bobbee" Roos, Wickmere Collie Kennels, is author of Collie Concept for Alpine Press.  Illustrated by Dahlis Roy, the first edition won second place in Best Breed Book category in the Dog Writer's Assoc. Annual Awards 1982.

Albert Payson Terhune, (1872-1942) journalist, author, mystic.  Author of Lad A Dog, Gray Dawn, Sunnybank Home of Lad, and many other books.  

The Master of Sunnybank, by Irving Litvag  Who is "The Visitor" at Sunnybank?  "The dogs are here!"

Your Life and Love Beyond Death by David Hyatt, has a section about A.P. Terhune.  "Word renowned writer...returns after death to reassure his beloved wife Anice of his continuous adoration [and journey] from the next dimension."  George W. Fisk, Cosmic Concepts Press, Publisher, 1992.

Thomas Merton, Zen and the Birds of Appetite plus other books and writings.

Dahlis Roy:  Visionary Artist, Author, and Tai Chi Instructor


Snow Tree photo and December Sky photos by Paul, published with permission

T-I-M-E

                 "Imagination is more important than knowledge," Albert Einstein



It's About Time!
I picked up the phone, "Mom!  We want to do so many projects.  How can we?  Do you ever think about this?"

"All the time."

"Mom, I was thinking that accomplishing a project has to do with several factors:
Time-Money-Energy."

Later as my mind wandered and wondered,  felt "T-I-M-E" appear:

T--Time/Travel

I--Imagination/Intuition

M--Money/Abundance

E--Energy/Empathy


Rewinding bits of conversations and writings, I mused about T-I-M-E.

Time/Travel:  Do I have "physical" time to travel towards my goals and projects?  I need to plan ahead for my travel wish list to see people, cities, countries, mountains and oceans.  Can I add another project, adventure, event, meeting, and social networking to my smorgasbord schedule?  Can I remain centered, calm, and focused with more on my plate?  Daily Tai Chi practice helps me here, clearing my mind for yes or no to additional commitments.

Imagination/Intuition:  Rob thinks "Imagination is another dimension."  Will my new projects open my mind to a more creative, imaginative life?  *Imagine Healing is already here!  If I were free of concerns, debt, and other issues, what would I do right now?  Where would I live?  Who would accompany me?

What intuitively feels right for me?  Is there static on the line about joining the new group or meeting?  If there is, or if I need to let go of a current situation, so be it!  Then, I can move forward.  Where do I need to be right now?  At this moment, what project should I be doing at home, school, or work?  Can I be flexible enough to "Grow and Glow with the Flow" if a new spontaneous opportunity arises? 

Money/Abundance:  Are my new projects cost effective?  Can I afford that great trip or a shopping spree?  Will I get long lasting emotional and physical return for my outlay of cash? 

Beyond physical money or the acquisition of souvenirs is the emotional peace and gratification of abundance.  Climbing to a mountaintop and gazing at the sunrise even in your imagination is free of charge and recharges the spirit.  Will my "abundance" projects enhance my creative experience, energies, and friendships?  Will I feel pride of accomplishment and enjoy the satisfaction of acquiring higher skills, outreach, or purpose?

Energy/Empathy:  Do I have the physical, emotional, and spiritual energy to achieve my new goals?  How can I reach people like "me" in the energetic/etheric sense through intuition?  Imagine, and "all" is already here!


**Paul Lam, M.D., talks about empathy:
..."when you understand others, you can better achieve your goal."


It's Now or Ever!



*  http://imaginehealing.info/  Joel P. Bowman, Ph.D, and Rev. Debra Basham

**  http://www.taichiforhealthinstitute.org/  Dr. Paul Lam, a family practice physician in Sidney, Australia.  Reprinted with permission from article What is Real Tai Chi?  Dr. Lam's free online newsletter, March 2011

http://www.greggbraden.com/  Gregg Braden, author and scientist, Deep Truth, The Divine Matrix.  You Tube: Walking Between Both Worlds and Technology of Emotion, (healing in a no medicine hospital in Beijing without drugs or physical surgery).

http://www.pbs.org/  Brian Green, physicist The Elegant Universe (Welcome to the 11th Dimension), and Fabric of the Cosmos (Universe or Multiverse) books and more.

http://www.wakeupthefilm.com/ Wake Up documentary by Jonas Elrod, an "ordinary guy" suddenly begins seeing angels, colors, light, darkness, and more.  Experience Jonas' Vision Quest. 

dahlis.roy@gmail.com  purchase paintings and prints, request free E-book, Silver Butterfly, Create A Vision, Awaken Your Creative Spirit.


Angel On Time, photo by Emilie

IN THE K(NOW)

                           Inspirations of Light in the midst of Global Change:


Rapid Spontaneous Events and Creativity are increasing.

Share Information

Going Within

Keep Love Strong


The pace of modern life seems to be speeding up, streaking ever faster as we have more to accomplish than can ever be done.  We feel creative and free to try new projects while connecting and sharing with others globally via technology.  Information floods us with the click of a button.  Suddenly we find ourselves turning 180 degrees at the speed of light and, intuitively, heading in yet another direction!

How can we keep up, or should we?  Going Within for quiet meditation every day is needed soul fuel to recharge our thinking and help us maintain health and stamina.  Moving meditations such as Tai Chi, Yoga, or walking a Labyrinth, can create a quiet space and inner harmony while moving into a state of relaxation and concentration. These exercises help us resonate with frequencies of the Earth.  We absorb the vibrations to the cellular level.  Brain and Body refresh and rejuvenate.  Healing can begin at all levels.

*Mayan Wisdom Keeper, Ac Tah, calls for "Internal Happiness." These quiet positive moments keep Love's focus strong and promote world peace and unity.

A picture of a large round clock with blue painted numbers came into my imagination.  The image morphed into a "Now Clock" ("Now" written where numbers were) and then fading into a "No-Thing" clock (a multidimensional circle without numbers.)  All are "timely."



* http://www.actah2012.com/   Book by Ac Tah, The Night of the Last Katun, newsletter, labyrinth and more.  Also Facebook,Twitter and You Tube
maineedham2012@gmail.com   Maya Vibration Sound Technique.  Ac Tah has prepared Mai Needham to teach these sacred sounds. 

http://www.pbs.org/  Brian Green, Physicist, Welcome to the 11th Dimension from The Elegant Universe series and Quantum Leap from Fabric of the Cosmos Series, books and more

http://www.taichiforhealthinstitute.org/  Dr. Paul Lam, a family practice physician from Sydney, Australia creates Tai Chi for Health Programs, articles, newsletter.

http://www.shirleymaclaine.com/  books by Shirley include I'm Over All That, Sage-ing While Age-ing, The Camino (Shirley's personal pilgrimage while walking ancient paths), Going Within and Out on A Limb (two classics).

http://www.fullbooks.com/ thousands of free full text online books including Mont-Saint-Michel and Chartres by Henry Adams (a journey to sacred sites)

http://imaginehealing.info/ Healing NOW with Joel P. Bowman, Ph.D, and Rev. Debra Basham, CHTP, NLP, HTt, RMT

dahlis.roy@gmail.com  purchase paintings or prints and request free E-book, Silver Butterfly: Create A Vision, Awaken Your Creative Spirit 


Wild Orchid photo by Dahlis Roy

THANKS-GIVING!

Thanks * Abundance * Gratitude

Thanksgiving season in USA is rolling around again, entering our lives in celebration of The Great Harvest.

What is Thanksgiving?  Turkey and trimmings and family joy memories come streaming in like videos.  While writing I re-live childhood memories of helping my Mom in our tiny kitchen, I melted the butter and tore the "stuffing bread" into pieces.  We tossed it together and added the poultry seasoning.  I loved to eat it raw rather than cooked.  Actually I ate a lot of raw foods like buckwheat pancake batter, vanilla cake batter, and everyone's favorite raw chocolate chip cookie dough.

Chopping walnuts was my job.  I ate as many as I chopped!  We always made Holiday Cranberry Salad, a delicious blend of raspberry jello, chopped celery, crisp Macintosh apples, and fresh plump English walnuts.  Relatives arrived bringing food and laughs.  My golden collie, Lad, and white cat, Shadow, waited eagerly for turkey.  

What have I learned in Earth School about Giving Thanks?  Thanks-Giving:  what does "giving" mean?  When I give of myself to others how do I feel?  Joyous?  Drained?  Debra and I had a conversation.  She said, "Giving and receiving must be in balance, not too much either way.  There is harmony and action in giving and receiving."  What are motivations for giving?  Can giving be a selfish act (ego trip)?  What is unconditional giving/receiving?  

Reflecting about "Thanks-giving," I am "Giving Thanks For Giving."  "For-Giving," of course!  Why does for-giving feel like a chore?  Forgiving and freeing ourselves and others is so needed to "Let Go-Let God" and open the heart with genuine joy. 

Thank-full living inspires gratitude.  Positive unselfish intent is part of the recipe.

Unconditional giving and receiving, forgiving, letting go, feeling joy and gratitude is daily spiritual nourishment for ourselves and others.  Thanks-Giving is every day!



Related Posts:  The Great Harvest (Oct 2011), Out of Box Experience (Aug 2011), Grow Green (grow your mind, April 2011), Tonal Vision (the power of music Jan 2011) Giving Thanks Opens the Heavens (Nov 2010)      

http://imaginehealing.info/  Joel P. Bowman, Ph.D., and Rev. Debra Basham, CHTP, NLP, HTt, RMT healing is a Now event.

dahlis.roy@gmail.com  purchase paintings and prints, request free PDF E-book, Silver Butterfly, Create A Vision, awaken your creative spirit.

Grow Green, photo by Emilie

A-B-C's of TAI CHI

Tai Chi, A Quiet Space

George Eddy, a Tai Chi Instructor and Martial Artist, feels that Tai Chi learning and practice has A-B-C essentials:  Alignment, Breathing, Centering.

A-Alignment:  Standing comfortably erect and alert, shoulders relaxed and quieting the mind prepare us for Tai Chi practice.  Pretending there is a string attached to the crown of your head, and feeling the gentle lift upward awakens the body like a sunrise.  Picture yourself taller than you are.  Coming into a posture of tallness invites the mind to expand.  Taller than you are is achieved without strain in body or pushing shoulders upward.  Knees are unlocked and feet are totally relaxed and connected to the Earth.  Some gentle qigong movements can loosen the body or a warm up walk in nature's beauty boosts the spirit before practice.

B-Breathing:  In Tai Chi and Qigong forms, gentle deep breathing calms the mind and centers the body for greater enjoyment of better health and well being.  Aligned with correct posture, as you inhale, expand the Dan Tien (lower abdomen) about three finger widths below the belly button.  As you exhale, gently contract the Dan Tien.  *Yang, Zhen Duo, stated in a seminar that while learning Tai Chi, it is better for the beginner to concentrate on the movements.  The correct breathing patterns will follow.  A qualified instructor can help you.  There are also many different kinds kinds of breathing for Yoga and Martial Art routines.  My grandfather, Rev. P. J. Chilcote, used to say, "Deep breathing is the science of health!"  Walk about, sit in a chair or lie down and breathe!

C-Centering  Aligned and breathing deeply and naturally, concentrate on your Center Point.  This Dan Tien is also known as the Elixir Field.  This is a birthing place of all life and energy.  As you practice Tai Chi and Qigong, over time, your Dan Tien builds a reserve of qi ("Chee" energy), like a bank account.  My Tai Chi teacher, Jiong Gu feels, "If you have $5, spend $3 and put $2 in your Tai Chi bank account."  He means to not extend your entire energy in Tai Chi practice or practice to excess.  "All in balance."   Qigong (Chi Kung) means Energy Excellence or Energy Mastery.  Gong (Kung) Fu means "Excellence (Mastery) over Time."   Tai Chi is free of schedules or agendas of learning and experiencing.  Let it happen!

George suggests before Tai Chi practice, after alignment, breathing and concentration on center point to picture a white blackboard (dry erase board) and wipe all you have written or drawn on it clean and fresh.  Stand in relaxation with a totally clear mind to step into your Tai Chi window of practice and enjoyment of life.  Images or words may appear spontaneously on your white blackboard.  What are they? 

George adds the 3 M's of Tai Chi:  medication, meditation, martial skill.

Medication:  Tai Chi and Qigong practices (forms) are deeply involved with becoming healthier over time.  Many people including Jou, Tsung Hwa; Dr. Yang, Jwing-ming; and Paul Lam, M.D. have managed or overcome physical challenges to become whole in body, mind, and spirit.  Countless others feel benefit.  In 1997 before beginning Tai Chi practice, I could not raise my arms even to shoulder level due to chronic pain.  Today I am healthier than ever and enjoy life fully, surrounded by many Tai Chi friends, family, and pets.  Relaxing while exercising during Tai Chi practice infuses energy down to the cellular level.

Meditation:  Tai Chi can induce meditative states, When you practice with a clear mind and an open heart, the joy of peace of mind enters your world.  This sense of inner calm can radiate to all levels in your life.  During practice you may feel a dreamlike state of quiet meditation.  These peaceful states while your practice are also increasing range of motion, strength, and endurance in your body.  Mind becomes more centered, focused, and clear.  Goals are achieved.  Better balance between left and right brain functions may occur.  In my case, my left brain opened, allowing me to be able to write in an organized more analytical way.  One of my friends, a physician, had his right brain open to intuitive thinking after practicing Tai Chi forms. 

Martial Skill:  Tai Chi can also be practiced as a Martial Art.  A qualified teacher is necessary.  For a form practice student (non martial artist), awareness also increases and helps avoid accident or injury.  Better balance helped a friend of mine right herself and not fall backwards down steps while carrying groceries.  Another student became more aware in parking lots and took precautions.  Avoiding such situations is important plus following your intuition to "be there" or "not be there" as your feelings guide you.  The well-trained Martial Artist always looks for solutions to encounters without physical fighting.  Self confidence and assertiveness develops as we become grounded and clearly aware of our authentic selves and how to manage positive unselfish intent outward in our everyday lives. 

There are only extraordinary moments!  Tai Chi is our window of opportunity.


*  http://www.yangfamilytaichi.com/  History of Yang Family Style Tai Chi and much more

http://www.peacefulwarrior.com/  No Ordinary Moments, The Sacred Journey of the Peaceful Warrior, The Way of the Peaceful Warrior books and more by gymnast and author, Dan Millman.

http://www.eckharttolle.com/  The New Earth, The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.  Free online "uncourse" and more.

www.oprah.com/own  Your Own Best Life, OWN Oprah Winfrey Network, also online.

http://www.greggbraden.com/  Deep Truth by Gregg Braden, "A new world is opening before our eyes."  You Tube: The Technology of Emotion, Healing in Beijing No Medicine Hospital, "Healing is already here!"  Intent Leads Energy.

http://imaginehealing.info/  Joel P. Bowman, Ph.D, and Rev. Debra Basham, CHTP, NLP, HTt, RMT set your intention for healing "now."

dahlis.roy@gmail.com  purchase paintings and prints, inquire to receive Silver Butterfly, Create A Vision, free PDF E book via E-mail.


California Dunes photo by Rob

"Good Walking Leaves No Track Behind It," (Tao te Ching by Lao Tzu) photo by Emilie