A Day - Today

On the surface one day can seem quite like any other. Think of the special days in your life; a special birthday, passing an exam, a driving test, a wedding, a birth, a death. We all have such a collection in our pasts. These days stand out as they were a celebration or a milestone. But what about the ordinary day – just like today? Will you remember any part of today when you recount all the occasions and special events in your life – will today rank in there somewhere – probably not! We need the special days to create wonderful, funny and exciting memories but what happens to the memories of the ordinary days?

Every day is special, maybe not memorable but special in its own way. During our ordinary days we experience life, we encounter life's lessons, trials and tribulations These are the days that accumulate and help us to learn and live in this world. They impart to us all the knowledge we need but they are also very special because they hold hidden gems.

Just take a moment now and think what did you do today that was special; perhaps a deep breath of fresh morning air, holding a door for someone, a smile from a stranger, a gesture or thanks from someone who appreciated something you did, maybe for one moment you just took in the beauty of the world around you.

We currently spend our lives in a buzz of activity and although we need to get these things done, we can fast forward through our lives and skip these moments. When we go to bed at night our brains work hard and discard all the unimportant information we have accumulated during the day.

But we can choose to see a gem in ever day, a little something to put a sparkle in our eye; the choice is ours. We can focus on the traffic jam, broken printer or queues but instead take a moment and look around you, be present in your own life and make each and every day a special event. Try it today and see how much lighter you feel.   

Lost Afternoon

Recently, I was sat one afternoon at my computer.  My head was spinning with things to do but for some unfathomable reason I just couldn't seem to get my brain in gear.
Every time I would begin something my brain would go blank. I got up and made myself a cup of coffee hoping the break would jolt my brain back into working mode; but to no avail.
I gave up and left the work and decided to do something else instead.

However, that evening I sat down and decided to write a few lines about my absent brain but nothing, nada not even a word.

To clear my thoughts and mind I lit a candle and asked my angels to help me.

Here is the result.

Lost Afternoon

Today my brain has gone away.

Where did it go?

How could it stray?

I sit and think to no avail.

I hope this state does not prevail!

Not a memory, not a spark.

You must think it's such a lark.

To sit and let the day go by.

I wish I knew the reason why?

Not a word or phase to write.

Now my head is feeling light.

No splendiferous quotes today.

It's oh so dull, I must say!

Inner wisdom sets to flight.

Lexical, verbal words of blight.

Slowly on the minutes pass.

How long is this going to last?

Empty void of afternoon.

Full of dreary doom and gloom.

But not a word of any size,

Can I find behind my eyes.

How could my brain leave me so;

Now i'm feeling full of woe.

But I must try and find a way,

Hoping all is not astray.

There is a word of magic lore.

For my brain to restore.

But first the spell I need to cast

As the day moves forward fast.

A potion drank of caffeine true.

A strong and strange mighty brew

As the potion begins to play

All is not so dark and gray.

Bright and light are all around.

Hidden words are now unfound.

First a vowel takes to flight.

Then a noun, it's sheer delight.

Onward to a sentence break.

Eloquent letters begin to shake.

Now my brain has come home.

I hope it doesn't e'vr roam.

And leave me in a void so bare.

Sitting on my kitchen chair.

To See a World in a Grain of Sand,

I've had this phrase repeating in my brain all morning, 
'To see a world in grain of sand, and heaven in a wild flower'.
It's been driving me mad, so I sat at my computer and thank God for Google - I figured it out!

It's a beautiful poem from William Blake called Auguries of Innocence. Now I can't say with 100% accuracy that I did or did not do this poem at school many, many, many years ago but for some reason it's been jumping about in my head this morning.  I sat and read through this magnificent poem and found tender powerful words that touched and embraced my heart and soul.
I hope you find it as mesmerising as I have.
It is quite a long poem but i'm sure you will find a stanza that resonates with you.
Enjoy,
Cora x

To see a world in a grain of sand,

And heaven in a wild flower,

Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,

And eternity in an hour.

A robin redbreast in a cage,

Puts all heaven in a rage.

A dove-house fill'd with doves and pigeons,

Shudders hell throu' all its regions.

A dog starv'd at his master's gate,

Predicts the ruin of the state.

A horse misused upon the road

Calls to heaven for human blood.

Each outcry of the hunted hare

A fibre from the brain does tear.

A skylark wounded in the wing,

A cherubim does cease to sing.

The game-cock clipt and arm'd for fight

Does the rising sun affright.

Every wolf's and lion's howl

Raises from hell a human soul.

The wild deer, wand'ring here and there,

Keeps the human soul from care.

The lamb misus'd breeds public strife,

And yet forgives the butcher's knife.

The bat that flits at close of eve

Has left the brain that won't believe.

The owl that calls upon the night

Speaks the unbeliever's fright.

He who shall hurt the little wren

Shall never be belov'd by men.

He wo the ox to wrath has mov'd

Shall never be by woman lov'd.

The wanton boy that kills the fly

Shall feel the spider's enmity.

He wo torments the chafer's sprite

Weaves a bower in endless night.

The caterpillar on the leaf

Repeats to thee thy mother's grief.

Kill not the moth nor butterfly,

For the last judgement draweth nigh.

He who shall train the horse to war

Shall never pass the polar bar.

the beggar's dog and widow's cat,

Feed them and thou wilt grow fat.

The Gnat that sings his summer's song

Poison gets from slander's tongue.

The poison of the snake and newt

Is the sweat of envy's foot.

The poison of the honey bee

Is the artist's jealousy.

The prince's robes and beggar's rags

Are toadstools on the miser's bags.

A truth that's told with bad intent

Beats all the lies you can invent.

It is right it should be so;

Man was made for joy and woe;

And when this we rightly know,

Thro' the world we safely go.

Joy and woe are woven fine,

A clothing for the soul divine.

Under every grief and pine

Runs a joy with silken twine.

The babe is more than swaddling bands;
Every farmer understands.
Every tear from every eye
Becomes a babe in eternity;

This is caught by females bright,
And return'd to its own delight.
The bleat, the bark, bellow and roar,
Are waves that beat on heaven's shore.

The babe that weeps the rod beneath

Writes revenge in realms of death.
The beggar's rags, fluttering in air,
Does to rags the heaven's tear.

The soldier, arm'd with sword and gun,
Paisied strikes the summer's sun.
The poor man's farthing is worth more
Than all the gold on Afric's shore.

One mite wrung from the lab'rer's hands
Shall buy and sell the miser's lands;
Or, if protected from on high,
Does that whole nation sell and buy.

He who mocks the infant's faith

Shall be mock'd in age and death.

He who shall teach the child to doubt

The rotting grave shall ne'er get out.

He who respects the infant's faith
Triumphs over hell and death.
The child's toys and the old man's reasons
Are the fruits of the two seasons.

The questioner, who sits so sly,
Shall never know how to reply.
He who replies to words of doubt
Doth put the light of knowledge out.

The strongest poison ever known
Came from Caesar's laurel crown.
Nought can deform the human race
Like to the armour's iron brace.

When gold and gems adorn the plow,
To peaceful arts shall envy bow.
A riddle, or the cricket's cry,
Is to doubt a fit reply.

The emmet's inch and eagle's mile
Make lame philosophy to smile.
He who doubts from what he sees
Will ne'er believe, do what you please.

If the sun and moon should doubt,
They'd immediately go out.
To be in a passion you good may do,
but no good if a passion is in you.

The whore and gambler, by the state
Licensed, build that nation's fate.
The harlot's cry from street to street
Shall weave old England's winding-sheet.

The winner's shout, the loser's curse,
Dance before dead England's hearse.

Every night and every morn
Some to misery are born,
Every morn and every night
Some are born to sweet delight.

Some are born to sweet delight,
Some ar born to endless night.

We are led to believe a lie
When we see not thro' the eye,
Which was born in a night to perish in a night,
When the soul slept in beams of light.

God appears, and God is light,
To those poor souls who dwell in night;
But does a human form display
To those who dwell in realms of day.

Smile

It sounds ever so simple 'smile'.  
It's what we do when we meet people, when we're having our photo taken or when we like someone.  But what does a 'smile' mean?
In simple terms it's an outward expression of how your heart or soul resonate with a situation.  

We can all tell a false smile immediately; it's as if we can sense there is no heart or soul behind it.  
So to honestly smile and mean it we need to connect with our hearts and souls and beam brightly with the result.  

For some people a smile, even from a stranger can re-engage them with their hearts and souls.  It makes a deep connection in that fleeting second and if you have ever tried it, you will almost always get a smile in return.  

The angels taught me when I was young that the intention I held in my heart when doing anything was the genuine reason for doing it.  This intention was the true and divine purpose of my actions and would always steer me in the right direction.  So when I smile it is genuine, as I am tapping into a deep connection between my heart and soul and the resounding smile is truly heart felt and heart given.

Smile at someone today, connect with how you feel when you do it.  

If my post has resonated with you today, consider leaving a comment as to do so not only expands your learning and understand but also help others on their path and journey. 
Many thanks and blessings Cora x

Why does the snow linger so?

Sitting today with a nice warm cup of tea and watching it snowing yet again, i was guided to open my computer and write the following Poem.  Hope you enjoy it as it's very apt for the present weather we are all experiencing.  Cora x

Why does the snow linger so

blanketed all around?

Holding on its icy grip

slowly melting drip by drip.

Why does the snow linger so

frozen noses all a glow?

Children playing, days off school

running burning off their fuel.

Why does the snow linger so

where spring should now be all aglow?

We shiver and shake as chilled gusts blow

all because of spring time snow.  

Love and Strength

We are often told to open our hearts to love and to show love to others especially those who hurt and upset us. This allows us to forgive and move on, opening us up to further love and grace.

Most of the time it is easy to open your heart and shower those you love and the world in the healing glow of your love.

On the other hand there are times when this is the most difficult thing in the world to do. There are days when our loved ones hurt us, either through actions or words and these actions gnaw away at our souls. They pierce a thin membrane and wound us deeply. We are after all human and the fragility of being human can at times make us paper over aches and wounds so we can muster the strength to face another day. Therefore it doesn't take much to peel this fragile layer away and re-expose the wound.

At times like this having strength of the soul can help you to face this wound, take on its pain and see it in the light of day. You can examine why this wound hurts and why are you carrying around this hurt? Every little question you answer and expose can help you to permanently remove these hurts and wounds allowing your strength to overcome and fight on.

To love means you have to be strong, because love has many facets and dimensions, many ways it can be used against you, many ways to hurt and wound you but its greatest treasure is that it can be the answer to all your questions and be the one part of you that you take with you. It never subsides, never dies and never ever leaves you.

Have the strength to love.  

Abundances and Blessings

Many times we pray for more in our lives. When we are experiencing hard and difficult times we pray for more of what we would like in our lives. I often find myself asking for peace and quiet when there is too much going on in my life, or strength when i'm faced with difficult people, situations and events. We are only human and it is only natural to feel the need to ask for more to sustain and help us when we need it.

But how many times do we stop and actually take account of all the abundance that is already there, overflowing silently around us, filling our very souls with bounties and blessings that we are unaware of? We can all get caught up in life and forget to give thanks for all the blessings that we have.

What do we count as blessings?

I give thanks for many things, things you may not even think of as blessings – the roof over my head, the food for my meals, the warmth of my home, the life I wake to each day, but I also give thanks for the love of my family, for a peaceful family live and a peaceful home, for good neighbours, for a safe community, etc.

Make a short mental list of all the blessings and abundances in your life.

Little Angel

Little angel oh so small

sitting on my garden wall.

Bless my garden with love and grace,

abundant blessings on this place.

Little angel oh so still

sitting on my window sill.

Bless my room with love and grace

filled with light and your embrace.

Little angel I adore

sitting by my front door.

Bless my home with love and grace

showering all in this place.

Little angel at my head

sitting just beside my bed.

Bless my sleep with love and grace

always protected in this place.

Sticks and Stones

Can you remember the childhood rhyme; Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me?

Of course it was generally used as a reply to bullying etc whereby you could be harmed by physical force but not by insults.

But is this really true?

Are we not harmed by words?

Not by the words themselves they are just words, but what about the energy and force behind them?

What would 'I love you.' mean without the love behind it. Nothing!

We absorb and take on the energy of others' words. We must accept responsibility for this, we transform and take this negative energy inside us and add it to our darkness, allowing it to grow and get out of hand – but it returns at times when we least notice it – road rage, shouting at the ones we love etc.

Many use words as weapons but we must be aware of how we take these on, how they make us feel, how our day is affected by it and how they deprive us of the joy and happiness we were feeling just a moment before.

Be careful what you say – your words may wound.

More

We all classify ourselves as not one thing but many;  for example we may be a parent, a son/daughter, niece/nephew, aunt/uncle, friend, colleague, neighbour, carer, lover etc. 
If you were to take a pen and paper and list all the labels you use to describe yourself now, how long would the list be?  

But these words are just external labels if you were to continue and create a new list with labels for what you consider to be the inner true you, how long would this list be?

Now you have at least two lists of words.  But they are just words they aren't you, there is more to you than just labels.  You could add to your lists daily but they would still not even represent a fraction of who/what you are.  

We have been taught to classify and separate ourselves into measurable boxes to fit in with our social idea of where we fit in our lives and the lives of those around us.  As a child you were told 'what a beautiful little girl you were' or 'what a cheeky little chap you were' and our parents unwittingly guided us on by using comments like; 'if you work hard and do all your homework you too can be a great .....', 'If you want to be a doctor then you will need to spend your time reading lots of books and studying hard,', 'if you join the local football team you will learn great leadership and sharing skills,', 'If you want to get a good job you will have to give up your creative ideas of studying art/dance etc.'  The list is endless but i'm sure you get the idea.  

But what truly are we saying to these children?

We're telling them frankly they're not good enough.  
They are not perfect. 
They require more to fit into our society.  
They will need to work harder and accomplish more to be accepted.

Wrong message. 

When you look at a little baby just a few days or weeks old you don't use comments like, 'he'll be a great 'whatever' some day if he does his homework.'  
No you breath in and absorb their innocence and purity because as you look into those beautiful deep eyes you see the divine in all its greatest majesty looking back at you and looking into your soul.  The baby is perfect; sweet, innocent, pure and totally perfect.  

So what changes?

It's simple - we do.  
We impose our 'learned' beliefs and wants and needs onto the child and in doing so we tell them they are not enough.  

But the truth of it all is completely the opposite.  

Just like the little baby we don't change.   The same divine majesty is still within us, although we have covered it over with lots of 'rubbish' it is there gleaming strong and bright.  
We only need to remember and reconnect with it.  We don't change we just take on the 'rubbish' of life and pile it on top and thus carry it around with us all our lives, constantly telling ourselves that we are not good enough, not deserving enough, not entitled enough etc. 

We are so much more.  
More is such a small, tiny fragmented word to explain what 'IT' is, but it is beyond our greatest imagining, more intense than our wildest dreaming and more beautiful and amazing that we can comprehend.  

Remove the rubbish you have been carrying around all your life, let it go.
  
Instead reawaken your Divinity and know that you are more. 
You were created perfect and you still are perfect, totally, magically, and divinely just the way you are. 
Let Divine joy radiate in your life, spend tomorrow accessing your more.