A Course in Miracles Monk

Here kitty – Dreamy is already there by the fire!

Oh SisterAnn, that’s no fun! Here’s a pillow for your head and a blanket to keep you warm. When you’re feeling better, come out to the Grotto. nina’s lamb stew is ready and it’s delicious! And I have a new song for you. : )

Ohhhhhh I love this place! Snugs, kitty and soft music, oh my! SisterAnn, here’s a hug for you too.

I’m stroking…there you go. Easy does it. Tucking blankie…kitty purrs.

Sleeeeeppppppp

The Dreamsicle looks mighty comfy, I might have to join him. It’s so peaceful here, so wonderfully peaceful.

nina- a dreamsicle is similar to a creamsicle, they are ice cream treats on a stick. They have vanilla ice cream in the middle and an orange flavored coating/covering over that. My 8 year old son loves them. I can’t eat them, the orange flavor reminds me of St. Joseph’s children’s aspirin that was popular when I was a kid, but I digress. : )

We have a habit in our house of making up many and various nicknames for each other. For example, my 8 year old son’s name is Rowan. And so nicknames include: Rows, Row Rows, Rowie, Rowanie, Roasters, Littles, and Sweet Lovie. It’s a wonder he even answers at all with all the names we call him. And it’s the same for the rest of the family.

And so it was only natural to start on the nickname path with one of the most beloved members of the monastery, Lama Dreamsicle. : )

As for your dream and illness, wow, the parallels to my own life are sure there. I’ve found in recent years that illnesses have become a way to slow down and go inside. It’s like Jesus is saying, “You NEED some down time to process and integrate.” And so now when an illness comes, I allow. And let Him show me what I need to learn.

‘it has functioned in a way to make me adjust to others expectations by denying what is right for me, and thereby cruelly crushing myself in order to be “loved” and “included.”’

Uh, going through a process right now myself to undo that very issue. So, dear nina, neither one of us is alone. We have each other. : )

Rest well.

Nina, I fear you are the unwitting vicim of our American slang and nicknaming of our resident cat Dreamy!! Lama Dreamsicle is one such nickname, as is The Dreamster (a nickname that takes the cute and tiny-sounding name of “Dreamy”, hucks it up, makes him real big, brawny and powerful, a shortening of the name Dream-meister, a Master of dreaming.) The ‘Lama’ designation also give him a spiritual prowess label.

It’s only that we are inferring by nicknames, that our Beloved Dreamy has a powerful ’something’ that one would not see at first glance. He is not all he appears to be… and we are lovingly teasing him with these pretend-names. We are honoring him and recognizing his hidden strength and power.

Oh, I got it — like when you call me Debissimo, or Bonnie, Bonissimo. Those are nicknames you give us, using the Italian suffix -issimo which means “extremely good”. That’s what we’re doing with Dreamy – Dreamissimo, Lama Dreamsicle, The Dreamster.

Does that help?

Brava, Nina! Vi sono un ottimo insegnante di lingua!

I like Lama Dreamsicle too. After all, he IS a Zen Master. But the Dreamsicle part helps to deflate the Messiah complex he may be having. It’s too playful. : )

Dear Debbi of the Grotto: Meows it going?

While Lama Dreamsickle is my title for official functions (anything done while awake), I am Dreamy-of-the-Snuggery the rest of the time (i.e. the 20 hours I sleep every day). FYI: Dad just taught me the proper use of i.e. yesterday in case you were wondering.

Given the fact I sleep 7/8ths of every day, if anyone knows dreams it’s me. And I’ve had some good ones, BOW HOWDY!

Why, just last night I dreamt I was up a tree. I could see forever and instead of feeling afraid I felt sooo peaceful. I began to think of Dad as an equal, not just a Feeder and Kitty Litter Cleaner. Then in my dream I remembered to laugh and woke up and pounced on his sleeping head… just because I could. It was a very spiritual moment for me.

Hi Dreamy, it’s going pretty good for me, thanks for asking! I’ll bet you do sleep a lot at your tender age. Heck, I sleep a lot at MY tender age!! (55 tomorrow) Wow, that’s pretty good that you’re already learning big things like “i.e.” – that’s a difficult one. In other words, it’s ‘hard to get’. Like you play with Dad sometimes? Yeah, you got it.

Your dream is just great. Cool that you remembered to laugh. Our spiritual moments can be real motivators for us, having a real filled-up litter box and all… I’ve had a daytime dream recently (that means my eyes were open) where I thought of Jesus as my equal and not just my Feeder and Ego Litter Cleaner too. I, also, remembered to laugh, woke up and pounced on HIS head!! Wow was it fun!! – just goes to show how minds are connected, right?

Right on, Brother D!! Keep posting your dreams, I’m sure they’ll be a big blessing to everyone who snuggles in around here. They might even scratch your belly!

Oh thank you Anne! Shhht. I’m pretty sure I didn’t get caught eating pumpkin pie in the feather bed, and probly won’t with the birthday cake either. Uh. What I mean is, I’m pretty sure I didn’t DO it. Hmphfff. Cat on the keyboard again. Can’t type anything right tonight.

Birthday cake for everyone!! (But PLEASE don’t put any on the beds, couches or chairs!! I will be in SO much trouble)

Nina:Keep warm, snugly and feel better soon.

As “Nurse on Duty” I’ll guard the door.
The Birthday Girls are on their way up to give you a little “medicine”
But it looks alot like pumpkin liqueur if you ask me!
By the way, haz anybody sheen da cat? *hiccup*
:@ my bad!

SSSSSHHHHHHHH….NINA….ssshhhhhh
We will look after this. Calm down, go back to sleep. There there. It will all be OK. Somebody help me get him back to his room. OMG HE’S HEAVY.

Are you sleeping, Brother John?
Dormez-vous?
Hmm.
Would ya look at the time! *gotta go*

{Arrives with cleaning crew, all done up nicely again within a matter of minutes. Whew!! Having so much fun can be a lot of work!!}

Snuggery back to normal again, people. Please go about your dream-business as usual. Nothing to see here but a few sleeping monks, no worries. zzzzz-time. When Dreamy arrives to sleep off his ceremony, he’ll find not one thing amiss. As it should be.

(But I still like the idea of a little aphrodisiac in the candles… maybe just one? OK. Maybe not.)

Heh Heh

Dreamy? Sweet Little Lovey? How are you feeling? Are you comfortable? Can I get you a blankie, or a saucer of milk? I’ll just sit here in the chair next to you and read my 7 pages of the text for today. Just meow if you need anything.

Kiss me, I’m neutered.

Dreamy, neutered cats is the only kind I kiss!! **BIG SMOOCH** I’m yours, baby.

The Check-In counter on Neuter-Day at the vet’s office is not a good place to have an accidental faux pas come out of your mouth … the pictures this brings up for me….

I think Dreamy is going straight from the Snuggery to the Big Deal Room, right Dreamy?
It’s ok. We all do that all day! Why should you be any different as you’re convalescing?… Sweet baby kitty

Well, since Dreamy is sleeping so peacefully, and Ruth-Anne of the Pumpkins is getting all cozy next to him, I think I’ll slip out into the cloister and see what the other monklings have to say about today’s reading.

p.s. I just marvel at Dreamy’s dedication and devotion to the sport of sleep. It’s…well, it’s inspirational. It was a wise choice to appoint him as Captain of the Sleep Team.

p.p.s.- psst! Debbi, come on and sneak in here for a little nappy wappy. You must be tired from all the uh, festivities last night, not to mention an entire day filled with penance for it!

Thanks for inquiring Debbi and everyone. Dreamy hasn’t missed a beat. He was playful yesterday evening, but I kept it toned down. Gave him a little food and water at intervals and he didn’t throw up (hallelujah).

Today he was playful again, eating normally, but then had a big long sleep all afternoon (after his first full meal in 36 hours at lunchtime), and cat-napped in the evening.

So he’s healing up nicely (not licking at his stitches much), and in good spirits. Hanging a little closer to Dad than normal, which Dad likes. :)

Thank you Jamie for the link to Jung’s Red Book. I hope they will publish it!!
In my tewnties, I went for therapy to a Jungian psychologist for 5 years. i devoured Jungs “My life” – it opened myself up to contact the subconscious in the form of Jung’s world of sacred symbols and mythology – what a wonderful experience to see that “my” symbols were shared all over the world, in a slightly different form. That was a great help in perceiving myself as a part of a whole, and that “my” story maybe only was one of the billion stories that were connected.
My professors in the education in Expressive Arts therapy told us something else: that the images was not coming from us, but To us and Through us. From where?? we asked, and they smiled and said “nobody knows.”
Nobody knows = mind, of course. I see the truth of what they were saying when I am involved in the “Crazywise stories” prosess: – just sitting down, intending to be a receiver, INVITING the “crazywise,” opens the access to “it.” I find that many of the figures I receive who participates in the stories teach things that “persons” or animals never would have had access too.

Now, this illness and the process of being with it in a kind way is bringing me great gifts and insights. I discovered that the mucus-overproduction was a protection against attacks against my heart (after having asked jesus for help in being with this emphysema-like condition.) I asked to see the attack, and during two nights,boy was I answered. I got the idea to use a visualisation I got on the D.U-board: of putting all my grievances and attack-thoughts in a big box and giving them to jesus, looking at each of them and then seeing him take them. I saw the innocence and gentleness behind it all: I had really held on to all of that in order to hide from God. It made me smile: ridicuolus.
As I forgave the attacks – the mucus stopped producing. The rest of that night was free of new production.
The body is crazily exhaused, and the infection has now moved up to the sinus. But this morning there is a feeling of having the head above murky stormy waters, and I will as much as I can just sit, lay down, do nothing that I don’t want to do.
In the first “mucus-attack”-night (there were two really bad “can’t breathe-panick”-nights) I suddenly remembered that I had written a crazywise story about my condition already! And that was in fact written before this illness came for real. I had an email-session with Jamie some time ago, and was suggested to be with the childhood pain with my arts – much like I have been educated to do. That was a Jungian advise from Jamie. I made a rrrrage-filled painting with oil-pastels and divided them into three images, and invited a crazywise story to come from each of them.
I now have the pleasure to introduce the first darkcrazywise-story to the Snuggery’s visitors – may it inspire healing dreams.
Right now, my body warmth feels like below zero.And i feel very peaceful. Thank you for posting that Jung-link, dear Jamie.

(A little help: the light green frame is the window of Titanic. In the middle of it, you may spot a tiny lightgreen thingy – that is the whale.(I know.)

*

3 the wheel

There’s a green whale! – Yes! – Inside a space of black clear water. You are in fact looking into a window of Titanic. You needed to clear it from seaweed and debris and Ochyloctus ( botanical species growing in imaginal shipwrecks with high status.) There he is now. And why is he greeen? When you look more closely, you see that he is in fact not green himself – his skin is colored by a strange eerie green light coming from one of the hidden chambers of the Titanic.
Now you are really getting curious. You wiggle through the little window into the whale-space. She seems not to notice you. Suddenly your mind goes zonk – it seems you have been here for eons, and you just don’t care. Just f l o a t i n g …thank God your wife is on the outside of the hole, waiting for you – in her fetching little bathing-suit adorned with light blue glass beads on the wrist and ankles. She asks her boss to pay close attention to time, and knows they hold on to her with a silver cord of great strength.
And there she goes through the window. She finds you floating in the green space, eyes vacant, silly smile on your lips, and she yanks your cord HARD, to no avail. She prays to the Goddess of Clear Waters and Clear Minds, and she advises her to swim into the space where the source of the enchanted light is.
Now, here she is. On the floor, a box with a spout: it is spewing out the greenish light, and she starts to feel drowsy. But she knows she must not fall asleep: she clears her mind and goes for the box, peeps inside: there is a li’l ol’ man, moving a wheel by a handle around and around, fabricating the light. She takes him out of the box, holds him firmly between her begloved fingers. He screams and squirms, he is slimly and she shudders, but holds him firmly.
Now the wheel that produced the light has stopped, and the water is becoming clear. She looks at the man-worm in her hand, he looks hateful at first, and mean as hell. Then forlorn…he simply can’t keep it up any longer without that green bewitching stuff. She smiles at him and tells him she has a precious Swiss Wall Clock at home, and he can be chief of precision there, overseeing all the wheels. He lightens up: he just needs to know that he is useful for something, the dear old chap.
See- there IS hope for old farts!

Here’s a video for the Snuggery: The “Motherland” being home with our Creator.

I hope it works; enjoy

[Monk note: Only YouTube videos will work in the Cloister.]

Nina: Thank you so much for your story. I love to read all your stories and dreams, they always help me, always something pops up when I am reading them. And I love your paintings too, I like to watch them for a while because always something happens. Some kind of experience or thought I need in the moment suddenly arise. I hope you are getting well. Love, Lisi

Kendall, Lisi,Thank you for that response, it is fascinating to see how the stories affect others – that helps me see them in a new light. And heartfelt thanks for all the warm wishes for my health. This has been very helpful – I live alone, my daughter is in the stressful process of finishing a Master thesis and i will not worry her. So I have felt alone and scared a lot – and then the warm greetings have helped me see that a big part of me in fact is resting very comfortly in the Snuggery, and I even have hopes of being visited by Dreamy soon again too.
I also had another discovery: i LOVE the stories and the Place they come from – i trust that place – but as soon as they are “out there” to be read, ego goes amuck and I see how much others experience means to me – it is like i disappear into a little girl waiting to be evaluated – like I loose the trust in the quality of the stories, and think that “i” have something big to do with them.
I look at this and I watch how i DONT LIKE IT, how it is embarassing…and then i ask myself who is embarassed, and guess who that is, big surprise.
Writing this out feels really dangerous, so i guess there is child part feeling threatened. Suddenly a wave of gentleness is available: I do not have to change anything about all of this, just add a little gentleness.
Ahh. Jamie, I think this is the best advise until now for practicing ACIM for me.
Big warm hugs to all. I am going back to bed again, time for sleep.

Kendall – when you write “So.. the vulnerability and self hatred that has come up while being “sick” in the world has been quite a teacher for me. Being so called “sick” in this worldly experience has at times helped me to turn toward Jesus and peace more than anything else I have gone through so far.” — I am right there with ya Sista! I am really grateful that you shared this.

Nina, I’ve been going through asthma attacks lately, pretty hard to explain. No air, very hard to breath! So I’m right with you in your emphyesema period. They’re definitely fear related, but the fear thoughts are so slippery! It just feels like that’s life (that’s just the body), not like they’re actually a choice I’m making. I try to remember Ken’s words, that those thoughts are there as a defense against Love, that they are purposeful and I’m using them because I’m actually more scared of Something Else, something wonderful and warm. And it DOES seem like there’s something scary out there, something scarier than this constricting, no-air condition. So I try to see how crazy this all is. Yes, illness is definitely an ‘in-your-face’ I’ve-got-to-change-something-in-here opportunity. Thanks for your post. Hugs.

Nina, Bernard, Kendall, et al. – I too have been strongly affected by Monk’s call to Gentleness lately. Like Nina, sometimes Forgiveness is just another F-word, but Gentleness? – a whole ‘nother ball ‘o wax. Obviously, my ego had its own interpretation of Forgiveness and although I practiced the way I understood, I never seemed to know what it meant to do it. Til Monk’s classes.

Having gone through 5 years of self-flagellation (you 3 have described it pretty well) over two incurable illnesses, I have at last found some relief from them. After 5 years of ‘Congestive Heart Failure’, I had a echo-cardiogram this summer, and it was gone. Not my heart, silly – the heart failure!! Normal heart numbers. I went from ‘dying’ to ‘living’. Ever seen a top cardiologist in the US scratch his head? I have, and his biggest disappointment was that I never took his medicines, so he couldn’t write me up in his medical journals and make himself famous. (Poor thing, and he was so CUTE and all…) It was incurable. He didn’t even ask me what I had been doing (the Course, of course – and my DH believes in “Life” not death, as good a description as any for his belief system. – Sounds kinda Course-y to me, but don’t tell him I said that.)

So. That left me with a VERY weak body and lungs (right down the ego’s alley) after 5 years of being afraid to move around very much. Weak as a kitten, and not in a “Dreamy” way. Agoraphobic would be a good description for what I had become. So I go to see a lung Dr. to make sure everything is ok there, cause I can’t breathe too good. (Hardly at all). She says “severe emphysema”. There goes the elation over my heart getting better. Just traded it in for another incurable problem.

So, I continue to practice Forgiveness as I understand it, and along comes this “Gentleness” idea. Maybe I don’t have to beat myself up for being sick. I can know that I chose this, but I might just ask to see it through the eyes of Jesus instead of my own. Oh, the self-loathing this sick body has brought up for me … Well, maybe one or two (hundred) other things that I regret are there, too. I began to see my illness as nothing but a “Call for Love”. Nothing else happening here. I need Love. The Love I don’t allow myself.

Then Monk told a story in class of a prescription that Dr. Jesus gives each and every one of us, every time we ask, and it is a note that says “Gentleness”. He writes it up for you, then you put it in your pocket and look at it any time you want. Just that fact that you reach into your pocket says you have chosen Him.

You cannot IMAGINE the relief this idea has given me.

So. On with my story. The last week or so I have been applying this Gentleness to every self-hatred thought that I noticed coming along. I thought if Jesus doesn’t condemn me for pushing Him away, maybe I don’t have to either. What would happen if I just look at it with kindness? I mean, it’s not like I have a lot of OPTIONS, here, folks. What if I just start jumping off the guilt-train while it’s still moving slowly instead of waiting til it’s moving so fast its brakes make a high pitched screech trying to stop it? (My normal pattern.) I severely lowered the ‘bar’ on what ‘acceptable guilt feelings’ were. None. Nada. I don’t like it at all. If I notice it, it’s given a big dose of hand-in-my-pocket, note-time. Gentleness. If I can’t learn to think like Jesus towards myself, how will I ever learn to see the world that way, and wake UP?

Well, I don’t know about waking up any time soon, but I can BREATHE better. Lots better. There has been a change in the ‘feeling’ of my lungs, from hard and rubbery to soft, and guess what – GENTLE!! For those of you that need it, you will know what it means when I say “I haven’t needed my Albuterol for about a week, now.” (Albuterol opens your airways up.)

I had not wanted to post before about my illness, due to embarrassment, shame, weakness, you know, all the ego-tricks. But as I let go of the belief that I have done something VERY WRONG, this guilt is lessening. And I understand that this is all symbols for that one tragic moment (seemingly) when I chose to believe I had left Love forever. Well, apparently that’s not True. It’s right here with us. From our Monk. On a note. In my pocket. Gentleness.

Love,
Debbi

That’s touching, Debbi. I’m so glad to hear you are allowing more gentleness in. {{hug}}

When I said that in class, I looked over at Bonnie and she was crying, and I barrrely croaked out the last sentence without choking up myself. :)

More hugs,
Jamie

Nina, I’m trying what you said, and it’s working… sort of. I think I still have something else blocking. Where’s the room where we share our deepest, darkest secrets? Oh, it’s here, everywhere! So my deepest darkest secret is that I’m going to die because of some lung problem. I have no reason to think this in particular, it’s just a feeling.
(A lapse of several hours went by, then I returned to this post)
I spoke with my wife about this fear after writing the above, and we discussed your post, and lo and behold, no more asthma this afternoon, and so far this evening, no problem at all, whereas normally I would have used my puffer about 4 times lately! So far so good. And the key words floating around in my mind: Just Add Gentleness! JAG! And voilà! I’m actually pretty psyched about this, it could really be a new beginning for me.

“i know that Nina-child is only a symbol of that archetype we as ego seemed to create and believed ourselves to be.” Wonderful, really healing for me, too.

I’m not sure what you meant when you said “it is the right-minded “us” that cannot breathe”. Could you clarify?

You say “there were some people who have been treating me rather bad”. You just tell them they better watch out, or they’ll have a bunch of rowdy monks and monklings on their tails before they know it!!

In another post you mentioned that you did a workshop with ‘real nuns and monks’. I don’t get it. Aren’t we real? I mean, I’ve been anointed with pumpkin liquor, and I know everyone else has, too. Doesn’t that count?

Dear Debbi, Nina and Bernard (and all others who are struggling to find answers while illness continues to pull at us): I was so moved by the sharing of yourselves to us. My heart welled up with love for the gift of you and if I could have reached out and given you healing and taken away the fear and pain from all of you, it would have been a pleasure. How wonderful then that there has been a gift presented to us all in the form of “Gentleness”. All that you are (and think you are not) is shared by all of us—-we are God’s Son and we are love and loved. And out of all the pain and fear, that cannot be taken away from us, ever. We are love. And I love all of you. Huge hugs, DonnaD.

I posted this not long ago on my personal blog,

I Always Knew:

I have never been lost, just on a wayward journey. A temporary one, aware I am making it, but just for a time…

My thanks to each and every one of you for being one of my ‘little crumbs’ (or if you prefer, ‘little lights’ Hee Hee) that I have left along the way to finding Home again. How could I ever feel lost with you all by my side?

Jamie, Bonnie, I too was a little (lots) teary-eyed during the telling of the Gentleness Note story. i just KNEW it had great significance for me, and was listening verry carefully.

Jamie, I know that you receive lots of comments about the Love you have and extend… I can see why, so I can only add my voice to the chorus of gratitude for the Love that continues to heal me, and for the Brothers and Sisters who are willing or compelled, to share it with me. My own Truth is being reflected here in such a powerful way, I am not able to ignore it.

Although I haven’t yet accepted it as Mine, you folks here at acimmonk are making it awfully hard to deny..

Love you lots,
Debbi

P.S. And whoever the dude is that thought this whole website-thing up, oughtta get a lifetime-supply of pumpkin liqueur, if ya ask me. How ’bout it, Ruth-Anne, you think?

Myth-ster Kitty is lookin good. Dude!

Wishing all of us plenty of GFB!!!

GFB could either stand for “Gentleness For Breathing” – or, “Gentle Friar Buck”- oh, wait. They both mean the same thing. hic.

Yes. I agree. A lifetime of Pumpkin Liquer. After a small explosion this afternoon, finally, I think I have it down. Bottling as we speak. I have also concocted a pumpkin tea which contrary to how it sounds is wonderful. It tastes like Thanksgiving cookies smell. MMmmmhhhhh. Really wonderful.
Love to you ALL.

I was going to stay here for awhile.
I came here to get away from skeletons.
Rosy lips and all.
I’m going back out to the tree.
With the hollowed-out monk….
You know what I meant…..trapped monk in the hollowed-out tree….
sheesh!

I’ve been catching up on the happenings here and post#70 DonnaD said it best nothing else to add except another hug.

Got some trivia for ya. Just realized the spoonerism of my name.. DOG (Debbi of the Grotto) is Grebbo of the Dotti – GOD. Spooned even further, I now become ‘Gretti Darbo’. (I always loved her – hee hee) Oh, the fascination with my self is running rampant tonight!

If you think that’s in bad taste, wait til you hear my question. Although there is no hierarchy of questions, this one still rates well into the ’stupid’ range. (Yes, Nina, you have got me debasing myself here. Need.Help.Quick.) I prefer to think of it as a humble question.

In the Manual for Teachers, Chapter 16, How Should the Teacher Of God Spend His Day? Paragrah 5. Jesus is talking about taking quiet time, first thing in the morning, and last thing at night, to join with God each day. He says in sentence 3-5: “It is not wise to lie down for it. It is better to sit up, in whatever position you prefer. Having gone through the workbook, you must have come to some conclusions in this respect.”

–Well, my question is, I HAVE gone through the workbook, and no, I didn’t come to any conclusions about why to NOT lay down for contemplation and union with God, or prayer, or whatever you like to call it. And, I have been wondering for years!

Anybody else have any ideas? Why NOT lay down for this twice daily meditation? The only thing I come up with so far is that once when I was being grateful to God while laying in my bed, I hit the right mind and thought I had died, I was so peaceful. It was a pre-Course experience.

Please don’t make me ask in a Monk Class, I can hear Dreamy laughing his head off, being shushed by Bonnie while Lyla’s trying to catch the furry little thing to shut him up after Monk says “Here’s a question from Anonymous. She wants to remain anonymous because quite frankly, the question is stupid and has nothing at all to do with our practicing and understanding of the Course.” There would be no way to edit out the Laughing Cat. All the while Monk clears his throat loudly and says “darn that fridge.”

This is, of course NOT AT ALL how I would be treated, just messin wid ya. Trying to project my embarrassment over the question. Nevertheless – I STILL WANT TO KNOW!!

Loves,
DOG

OMG I was thinking this same thing all week long.
I SO much want to lay down and lie down.
Why the effing h*ll not?
So here I am stamping out a dancing telegram with my foot, in a perpetual tantrum I.WANT.IT.THUS.
Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, did you enjoy the play?

Anne in Tx, I suddenly “saw” you in your watch for dying people, as Hospice -worker. That helped me see the symbolic of your work. I have my greatest friend in that work, too – and even wondered if I shoudl do it – but never did.
I hope you do music still, Anne. And please tell me where I can find that music-dream of yours. I will show it to my music-major daughter and have her explain it to me.
*
Dear Dog God Gretti Garbo please continue with these spoonerisms, they are my favorite silly things to do!(The debasing is all your work THANKK YOUH – hmphfrr – myself, I place you so high you wouldn’t see yourself for all that light and laughter where i see you.)
and I love to join with God horisontally myself when i cannot sleep at night. Jesus obviously does not know of my way of sleeping – I fall asleep when i sit and meditate, but as soon as i lay down some old forgotten stuff starts telling the brain that it is dangerous to fall asleep horisontally, so I don’t sleep much at night. But join with God a lot, and as that is very relaxing, I don’t mind sleeping little.
So now Dreamy would have to laugh at both of us and he wouldn’t do that. Nix.

Hi Nina – I should have said “caught” me debasing myself. I didn’t mean you had ‘gotten’ me to do it. (Told you I couldn’t type for shxt right now…) Thank you for your kind words. Your acceptance of others is palpable, very nice.

Ruth-Anne – You too, I love to read your musings, you seem comfortable with yourself and your process (even when you DON’T feel comfortable with yourself,…etc.) I enjoy so much how you phrase things. Like when you say things like – “Well, maybe just that ONE time last year.”

Anne in TX – I don’t know, but I just think you’re one of the ‘wild and crazy guys’ you refer to, that are so necessary to me. I mean – HELLO – “Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, did you enjoy the play?” – If you could see me reading your posts sometimes, laughing til I cry or p my pajamas; then being unable to explain to DH what is so funny…

I LOVE YOU ALL,
DOG

“Into eternity where all is one (not millions) crept a tiny, mad idea of a spider…..”

Dear Anne in TX, your remark to the Trapped Monk is really helpful to me. It’s 3am here, can’t sleep for coughing. Know this cough my whole life, it uses to tear up my lungs and end with antibiotics. This night might be a turnaround: I went up from bed and watched the most sweet and loving movie: “Enchanted May”. Harsh and coldstuffy past-war englishmen melt in the italian sun. Something within me melted too – very old, very tired – and then I came to the Trapped Monk place and saw this sentence, and thought ” this cough is a mad idea too.”
Now, I feel a great calm inside, and somehow something that was underneath the cough has become visible. It seems to have waited for me for ages.

This site is enchanted to me too: what I need waits for me here, I just need to show up. I love you all so much.

Beautiful healing story, Nina. Thank you so much. Your line “It seems to have waited for me for ages” holds a cord into my heart, too. Everything Anne said – from me too, love.

I love you all too.
Harshness melts away in the warm sun of our Love.
Yes.
Indeed.

Anne in TX, reading your two last sentences started great shiver in me. This must be true for me too. See, you show me things I dont know it true before i read them. T H A N K S
The trust part is the most important to me.

I Wanna Be with you In #93 Anne in TX!!!! {Working on not working on it} Sometimes I can feel this getting stronger in me, knowing Whom I walk with, feeling the huge difference between the result of right/wrong mind choices.

What you wrote is just beautiful.

My morning prayer is:

You Who walks with me knows the way, which I know not
Yet You will never keep from me that which You would have me learn
And so I trust in You to communicate all that You know for me.

Thanks, Lisa, I love it too. It’s a paraphrase (barely) from the Course T-14.III.19.2-4.

I thought I was going to have trouble finding it, but it just popped up while flinging pages around just now. J messin’ wid me again. HeeHee. That happens to me a lot. Laughable.

Anne, I just saw this now – it opened a new room for me. Faith despite bewilderment. Yes, comforting.Thanks and hug

Was it yesterday there was this beautiful sentence in the Course…”I bless you with the Light that my Father gave me…” I did that a lot yesterday, and I also did it to dreamfigures and symbols I felt resistance toward. Very interesting to witness how my perception of them changed their form.

Lisa: That is some fantastic stuff! Man, people are on fire in here today. :)

Hi Debbi: On Saturday Dreamy tried to make a big jump and didn’t quite make it, landing twisted on his hip. He meowed in a surprised and then moaning kind of way, and just sat there for a few moments licking his back (right) leg. When he tried to stand he was favoring it and limping awkwardly.

I think he just bruised it, because two days after the fact he is again sprinting around at top speed, making quick turns and leaps. I’m now wondering if it all wasn’t just a ploy to get me to break out “the good stuff”. (His favorite wet food.)

This is post-eating-the-good-stuff, on the back of my chair. (He has taken to sleeping upside down almost all the time.)

So good to see Dreamy back on his uh, feet. It’s obvious the ‘wet food’ and TLC has done its job, he would only sleep on his back if he felt totally secure and loved… Nice going, Cat Dad! Thank you for the update… I think of Dreamy as my ‘ethernet kitty’ and enjoy seeing him healthy and happy, and ur, knocked out works too.

Damm, Anne in TX – you’re almost as cute as the Cat!!!

wouldn’t you know dreamy would be a back sleeper. i always like to give them a snuggy kiss & a snoogy buff with my face over the heart when in this position. i’m thinking wet food causes comp1ete leg extension.

thanks for all the great pics today.

Dear Monk,

Thank you for this, i really needed a hug today! I especially loved the line “where there is love, there is no effort”. Thank you thank you!

My heart aches for that – to BE in that state. All those wonderful faces/expressions…that blond little guy or girl in the beginning – they are all healing me, reminding me who I am. So utterly beautiful. I am sending it out to friends and relatives now. Bless you, dear Jamie, I wish i could hug you one time.

Thank you, Monk.. I felt loved just watching her hug others.. what a very fine example to emulate. I am sure to play this over and over, especially when I need a hug. Perfect comfort piece for our Snuggery. Now where is the damm Kleenex… I better make sure there’s plenty here.

D♡G

Some beautiful Blue for our blue lovers… very tranguil… my cousin painted this.

D♡G

Well, I just finished watching the video and (again) my heart filled up with the most intense feeling of warmth and love that it just spilled over and came out of my eyes in the form of tears. my body felt like it was shaking and pulsing with love. after a long week and a descent into darkness, this is what, at least for this moment, came out the other side. seeing Amma in action reminded me of something, I think. phew! i was not expecting that!

Thank you, sweet Debbi.I am listening to it now, the day after, 12.46pm. So soothing. I love that we european (or sick sleeping americans:-)) are in your heart.
That is such a safe place to be.

Yes. Sick. Sleeping. American.
I loved the McPhee.
And I love ya’ll.

Mmmmhhh. Good Night Moon.

It`s not just you Texas Anne… i am feeling cold and dank too and so very undeserving

for all the small monklings, I think this might soothe you. This Sissel Kyrkjebø singing with the Mormon tabernacle Choir a coupleof years ago at Christmas -- she sings about when the Light is born … the little children with light-wreaths is celebrating a Scandinavian custom: St. Lucia.
Now sleep, sweet children. You are safe and Home.

That was beautiful Nina. Really beautiful. Like your presence here.
Overflowing with gratitude and love.

I really don’t know what anything – including this is for!
I loose the Course from all I thought it was.

{Fire crackles brightly in the fireplace, pool boy smiles radiantly at each one in the room, swooning going on all over the place…}

Hi guys. Brought the fire-man. Hope you don’t mind, it’s a little chilly in here. Thought maybe both your hearts and your toes could use a little warm glow this morning. Hope it helps.

Loves,
D♡G

_trying out some HTML_
I can’t stop *swooning* actually over the command you have over this Mac stuff….
ITALICS? *sigh*

I’ll try again: Italics = left arrow, i (letter eye), right arrow. Starts the italics.
Left arrow, forward slash (/), letter eye i, right arrow. Stops the italics.
If this doesn’t work, I’m gunna f-ing email it to ya.

life is so easy when you know what you are doing!

TX: I need food too.. all this code… going to go have some eggs done in italics, bacon in bold… and maybe some html toast, but naah. Way too many calories. Skip the Jam. Computers don’t really like the jam thing…

that would have been soooo cute—*curses* foiled again!

No worries, TX, it’s just your ‘bold key’ is broke. It’ll recover. It only happens to Geeks and Nerds… welcome to that very special and wonderful html club.

“Woah” (pants out of breath, breathing heavily) Just ran over from the Grotto. You guys move fast. Hey, you’re havin’ way too much fun over here. Debb’s giving lessons? But where’re the mai tais? And the Singapore Slingers? Oh, sorry. This is the Snuggery, none of that illicit hooch over here. Just sweet old fireplaces and pillows. And a stiff Irishhh Coffee.

thank you for beautiful music and warm fire and best of all computer instructions which i will gleefully study…. well not gleefully cuz i`m still sookin….

please feel free to hit me over the head with blue book

{you`ll find me out in the courtyard in the stocks – so bring your rottenest tomatoes – yeah baby !}

lol !

The candle… thank you…

And we are..

D♡G

Thank you Jamie for sharing all this with us. It´s comforting to know we are not alone in this nightmare, and also it is comforting that step by step we are walking, little by little to the light. Thanks to you Debbi, you are always a comforter. You don´t know how your whispers help me in a lot of situations. We have here a big, big family. Hugs.

Thanks Lisi: I see it sorta like this: Ken/Jamie/Jesus/HS/The Course/Truth kicks us in the balls and hands us an ice pack. I am an ice pack.

(I just know Bernard is gunna go crazy over this one… I deserve it. Maybe I should find a better metaphor…)

Love to us all,
D♡G

Well, now I have to adjust the picture post #180 created… ;-))

Picture away, DonnaD. You are an ice pack too… We are ALL ice packs and ice-pack-ee’s… I’m pretty sure it said exactly that in yesterday’s text reading,

“You and your brother are ice packs together, after a long and meaningless journey into Hell that you undertook apart, and that led to ego-swelling. You have found your brother-icepack, and you will cool each other’s way. And from this mutual time spent in the freezer, will the Great Rays extend back into darkness and forward unto God, to soothe away the swelling and so make room for His Eternal Ice Pack, in which everything is back to normal size for eternity.”

Or something like that,
D♡G

Debbi of the Grotto …. not just a very loving comforter and wise woman but such a creative and clever wordsmith….. you are much beloved ! xoxoxoxoxoox

p.s. Although i dont see you as Ice-pacman….. you are more like the teddy i have which has a hot water bottle pouch for a tummy – warm and cuddly !

p.p.s When i saw it in the shop i thought it might be nice for my granddaughter, but on the way home, i thought “buggar that, he`s mine !”

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxox

Monk, thank you for sharing your dream and its interpretation. I am very interested in the whole spider thing. I often think of you and wonder if you have had any more close encounters on your mountain top.

Monk – you have a very good way of putting it so it doesn’t sound so crazy or “course like.”
Thank you, dear one.

Looks around forlornly – why is no one here? Where are the laugh Lazers? Whose manning the giggle guns? Don’t these guys like to play lets hunt and laugh at ego tanties? Am I being IGNORED? Wipes snot on sleeve and sniffles. Grabs blankie and sucks thumb … wanders into the BIG DEAL room.

Ohh waaay cool! Debbie with a giggle gun and ice pack to my rescue… THANK YOU. You Nina and Tex between you are really funny and I’m soooo enjoying reading the connections and wit. Got very hopeful and a bit giddy with the excitement of the possibility of finding whanau (family in Maori) here … finding this site was/is the makings of a very special relationship. ‘Bonking with boards of text” Hmmm I like that.

Leni, me too. me too. And Al, knew you would feel forlorn – simply did not find any grievances there and then, I mean the sort that really ticks you off. I’m sure they’re there – but my mind is very occupied with other stuff right now, trying to get through the night and day without too much exhaustion.

{{Gathers all Greenies, Reps, Dems, Course students and all people in general around her lovingly and tells them:
“The guilt was never in YOU, it was ALWAYS in ME”….}}

D♡G

Yay! I am liberated!
And I had a real real good day – finally.
Thank you all, everyone for saying happy birthday to me!
Here, kitty!

Foundation for Inner Peace: Found this info on the DU site. Wasn’t sure where to add it so am putting it here:

A message from the Foundation for Inner Peace
We are delighted to announce the launch of our new website:
ACIM-Archives.org

ACIM-Archives offers you original and authentic material from our
historical collection, most of which has never before been released.
Here you will find first-hand documented selections from both the
Foundation for Inner Peace and the Foundation for A Course in
Miracles’ vast collection of preserved memorabilia of the early days
of the Course.

The website features:
· articles
· archival photos from 1975-1985
· film clips
· audio recordings
· interviews and
· newspaper clippings

Also included are the complete, previously unpublished Autobiographies
of Drs. Helen Schucman and William Thetford.

We invite you to explore at ACIM-Archives.org and hope you find our
new site enjoyable, interesting and informative.

Debbi, get under the blanket quickly. Warm milk with honey and cinnamon coming up.Mayybe alittle cognac in it….there.(Flushing pillows and blanket.) Anything else? want a fire on?

Thanks, Nina… I seem to be coming down with a small case of Replying-To-B. Nothing your cognac, and other spoiling-D♡G-rotten-cures can’t handle. Thank you so much.
Down the hatch!
More cognac, pleaze. Oh. Didn’t know I was supposed to sip it. Man, that fire feels good. Nina you’re the best. {{Snuggles deep into pillow and blankets for a nice long Text-read.}} I’m a big behind again.

DonnaD: Thank you for the reference to ACIM-Archives… You’ll know where I’ll be when not in all my usual secret places.. Let me know when it’s time for dinner, K? It’s not that I have a “special relationship” with anything, it’s just that my computer and I have a mutual interest in all things genuine ACIM and sometimes we forget there’s a life outside of that… {Computer says: Hmphff. Who’s she foolin’ – she has no other life besides me.. heh heh} Thanks

D♡G

Thanks D
The laptop is almost always here with me.
I brought the Monster Energy Drink – a really really big can!
(Yes, shame on me, but it’s better than what happened the other night…still sick, I guess!)
A few glugs, then off to sleep!

Wishing you a full recovery asap TexAnne ! xoxoxoxox

I never really got better – I never really got over it.
So I will gladly accept your kind words
and make them my own. Thank you.
Good night to all of my dear ones across the globe -

♡
You know I love you all so much, right?
I never stopped.
♡
♬♪♫♩
{singing deliriously off-key like a zombie}

p.s. I`m so glad you had such a happy birthday in the grotto Tex…you deserve the very best always ! xoxoxo

That’s beautiful …thank you D! and Winnie and everyone else who cares for me.
All back at ‘cha!
Thanks for the best birthday party evah, ya’ll.

And it’s cool on the Monster – it’s an acquired taste for sure.
Peace love and caffeine withdrawals to all of us in our Happy Dream!
That fire is good on a night such as this.

PS: “There’s a Monster under the bed” now takes on new meaning!
ggrrrrr and zzzzzz

I have to go out right now to visit my little granddaughter…… hope you have a lovely evening…love to all xoxoxoox

I know someone who lives (and does other things) in a caravan.
I hear they can get rather messy. But you’d never know it – she never let anyone come in.
And if anyone tried – poof! – she went away.

There is a show starting (just for a few days, I think) that is a remake of a ’60s classic I remember watching. It’s called the Prisoner, on AMC, and it starts (at least here in Canada) on Monday. I was watching the preview of it and it appears to be a great comparison to being a prisoner of guilt. Could be interesting…

Dearest Nina, how wonderful. It is like a song. I would love to see your painting… sleep well. DD.

Beautiful Nina. What a wonderful poem.

I like Edamame. That is all.

Oh, they grow up so fast, don’t they…

nina- here’s a definition:

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Boiled green soybeans in the pod.

Edamame is a preparation of baby soybeans in the pod commonly found in Japan, China, Hawaii and Korea. The pods are boiled in water together with condiments such as salt, and served whole.

Dreamy- I’m a big fan of edamame too!

Lisa’s post wasn’t up when I replyed. Internet is weird again verrry slooow for me lately. Has been taking 3-5 min. sometimes to load something.

I had a meltdown today about a bear…maybe this bear-theme is a Monatery-collective one, now manifesting in monkling’s minds…My bear was a big iold methusalem- bear ( there’s the old M again) and he lived in a cave inside me. he has not been able to hibernate for about 25 years, being on a constant look-out for critters/something that bothers him and disturbs him and pests him – and if he falls asleep for one minute, there they are, and he goes overwhelmed and ballistic and stays awake…this is not good for a bear ( or me) – he is desperate for help. and i can’t help him. I offered to just be with him, he said he wanted HELP dammit and not a babysitter.

And then Jamie sent three bears to me…but they are only the cute little Skype bears that give you a hug – and i am sure they sleep ALLLL the winter.
Any more bears out there lately?

Nina, awesome drum. You are so multi-talented. I just marvel at you. Many hugs, DD.

Debbi, Yes, shifting from the work/power of the world, my mom and me unloading tools to put away, to real power/ purpose, study of the course. The moose = my favorite saying based on the tortise and the hare. Slow and steady wins the race. You are right calling 911 would be a form of fear but it was very controlled feeling not panick. The fear in my life has been decreasing and I’m more peaceful. And being pregnant with Cory was a catalyst for deeper spiritual learning that seems to be accelerationg at this time. Thanks for the insight and Hugs

Nina my ‘instinct’ is to head home. I just need to keep the fear impulses from throwing me off ‘course’. :) I bet your drum sounds lovely.

Thanks, Al. (I can’t see your gravatar on my computer, but I bet it’s awesome!)

Texas: Cream in your coffee is helpful only if one wants to ‘lighten up’. I need this badly. I like your comments on the metaphysical stuff alot-alot. Thanks.

Pam: Great dog… wonderful son to want a playmate for Bernard’s dog. He’s probly pretty lonely over there in France… so sweet of Cody. The gravatar looks terrific… makes me smile. Apparently it’s making Texas smile too… her new gravatar looks really happy!!

Nina: Thank you for that darling group hug!! {Nudges in closer to give Ruthie an extra big hug if she needs one today}

Warmth to DD and us all,
D♡G

Thank you both for sharing.

Shucks… thank you for the lilies. What a beautiful scent!!

Tuesday, my wife and I were packing up some books and a few pictures we sold. I have an old vinyl record player and play records when we work. We live in an old farm house that we have rented for going on nine years. It sits on a horse farm and it is home to us. We were listening to Bob Dylan Greatest hits Vol.2 from 1971. I was in Korea in 71 my wife of 30 years was all of 15. Anyway, a wine glass that was sitting along with other glasses on our china closet shattered. We both looked at each other in disbelief.

We lived in a haunted house for 8 months once, and all the kids, and we as well decided we had to move. I was just going to say this house isn’t haunted, but as I started to write this the washer went crazy, just an unbalanced load of clothes no doubt? It is going on 2:30 AM and time for bed, so I will end this. But, the song that was playing on the record player was “All Along The Watch Tower” the lyrics follow.

All Along The Watchtower

“There must be some way out of here,” said the joker to the thief,
“There’s too much confusion, I can’t get no relief.
Businessmen, they drink my wine, plowmen dig my earth,
None of them along the line know what any of it is worth.”

“No reason to get excited,” the thief, he kindly spoke,
“There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke.
But you and I, we’ve been through that, and this is not our fate,
So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late.”

All along the watchtower, princes kept the view
While all the women came and went, barefoot servants, too.

Outside in the distance a wildcat did growl,
Two riders were approaching, the wind began to howl.

Any Thoughts? Two riders, right mind, wrong mind, ego and Christ? The harmonica on that song hits some very high notes, but still, why? Now my TV in the background is having an emergency test. Hey, I know it’s not a dream, never mind it is all a dream.

Good night all and God bless.

AAAhhh the eccentric genius of Bob Dylan! I used to listen to him all the time as a teen with decreasing hearing … I’d never gotten all the lyrics though so thanks for that. Mmmwyah!

As for the paranormal phenomyna ( I guess you guys have rumbled to the fact I spell creatively!) – here’s my understanding. It’s still all in your mind. Since this Universe is a dream I have no problem with believing that a mind as powerful as mine can dream on many levels. So a parrallel Universe of goblins and faireies or ghosts and poltergiests as seemingly ‘real’as us is a possibility right? It’s still all in your mind and the same choice applies – who are you going to look at this with? Deal kindly with any fear, do what ypou need in form to feel better – and take none of it seriously. It’s just another illusion out to convince you you’ve something to get upset about. If extending kindness to the ‘óther’seems in order – do so.

It took me a while to realise that paranormal was no more or less spiritual than any other part of the dream. I have a wee gremlin that likes to turn things on and off in my office – listening to classical music seems to be a favourite. I just be ‘nice’ and don’t give it a lot of thought actually. Hope this helps. Sleep tight tonight – don’t bite ya bedbugs!

Lawrence – “If this had been an actual emergency, you would have been instructed blah blah blah….”
The tv thing happens to me all.the.time. Mostly with sirens…
Or alarm clocks! :D

Lisa, that sounds so good.. Texas and Ruthie, come on over too… how ’bout some cuddles instead of the Infirmary? Nothing like serenity to help an ego-whipped mind. Especially the kind of whippin’ I’ve asked for, insanely chosen. Hot chocolate sounds much better, and friends. Capital F Friends.

Ruth-Anne, thank you for what you said about me in the Big-Deal-Room… I love you too.
And all a’ yuhz.

D♡G

No, actually I think I will stay right here by the fire and have a little hot chocolate. Those Norwegian feather pillows are calling me.

Ruth-Anne: That is EXACTLY what I meant. I don’t even get far enough to call it a good ‘analysis’… three sentences into it — blank stare. Then the realization hits that ONE of my minds isn’t insane.. better off giving it a bow or a nice curtsey and say “take it away… it’s all yours… all I ever did was hurt myself.. have at it, HS”.

In some ways it’s comforting, at least to know and be glad that I have a split mind, which means there’s hope. My deference to it is becoming more automatic, and quicker, but I think Debbi is beginning to suspect she can’t be in charge anymore. Not because she shouldn’t, but because she CAN’T.

D♡G

‘Cause we have BIG MOUTHS, Al… now – SPILL IT – when is yours?

D♡G

Lawrence: Thank you for your thoughts… I’m not sure about the ‘quiet’ thing… could be my evil twin is making trouble again. Usually is.

I have not one single clue as to the relationship between a glass shattering and the Dylan song… I have found that Dylan’s voice is unique and almost anything can happen when he is heard.. Mostly children, and euphoria, and those two things don’t necessarily go together. Shattering glass is new to me entirely, except for one episode. One night at dinner four of us were having a really nice and laughable time at a restaurant in Downtown Seattle. While we were all giggling, a glass of water “exploded” right before our eyes. Nobody had touched it. Just pow – shattered glass and water everywhere. We had to be brought new dinner plates and a whole new table setting. And I didn’t note who was playing on the Musak. Darn. Musta been Bob.

Lots of changes happened in our lives after that ’shatter’ episode. None of them happened gradually, they came on like the sudden shattering of the glass. Can it be the harbinger of sudden changes for you? Kinda fun to think about, anyway… it could really be anything at all.

I enjoyed your ‘babbling’ as you say… it sounds like you have had plenty enough problems with your health, I wish you the very best. I wouldn’t mind at all if you kept babbling away any ol’ time you want.. I love hearing your thoughts, as many others have already expressed.

Loves to you,
Debbi

Just wondering debbi – are you up to sharing the details of your most recent ‘kick in the guts’is how I think you put it? I’m asking coz I’m sure your processing will be helpful – but only if ya want to OK?

Someone once asked if affirmations are helpful (or “course-like” *god forbid!)

“Light and joy and peace abide in me,” Lesson 93.
It states: “Your sinlessness is guaranteed by God. Over and over this must be repeated until it is accepted. It is true.”

So it became a sort of mantra for me…the part of me that still wants this to be real, and not a dream….
THAT part needs to hear it. THAT part needs to take pills. I take pills. And eat food, sleep, and do all kinds of body things.

“The Mind is already illuminated, and the body is too dense.”

Hi Al – In reference to my “illusory ego kicking my illusory ass”… I am just going through the normal ego kick-back after accepting some Love and Truth.. get scared of it and high-tail it in the other direction, fear and hate. Non-specific, fear and hate. Just an attempt to maintain status quo, nothing big. It’s just more stuff to look at with HS.

As I dig deeper into my ’stuff’, things get more murky, more hidden, more of a shock when they surface. Like Oh Gawd, I thought that hatred was better hidden than that!!! When I attempt to understand how horribly afraid I am to return to my awareness of True Spirit (who the F wants to be a lousy spirit – I wanna be a body!!) – I see my resistance and futile attempts to be what I am not in all their ugliness (or as much as I can stand, rather — this being a ‘gentle path’ n’all).

I used to think that ego would stoop at nothing in my life to make me feel miserable, to reinforce that I am a body. Now, I am starting to see that thinking I have a life here AT ALL is ego-stooping. I started to see that I am a mind, not a body, and my flash-back reaction is to throw me (hopefully) right back in to FULL body awareness. It won’t work in the end, as the attraction to Love can not be forever resisted.

Still walking,
Love,
D♡G

Does this place have room service?
Me and the Kitten want our pillows fluffed!
prrrrrrr
zzzzzz
*rain coming down, fire crackling in the fireplace, loreena mckennitt music playing*

TexAnne. Truly beautiful—like you. Thank you. DD.

dear Anne, thanks for that video. I have the book that inspired some of these blessings – “The gentle Art of Blessing” bt Pierre Pradervand. There are stories inside there that will mindboggle you – a story about a father whoa had a gang brwak into his house, I think in South Africa, and they threatened to kill his young daughters at some time during the break-in – and he blessed them silently the whole time and affirmed that they were children of God.
And things went very well.
This is a gem I love to have at my night-table.
What a great video to have in the Snuggery.

i agree … post 362 very inspirational…thank you Al… and thanks Deb and Texanne for the very heart-warming video accompanied by my favourite band – Secret Garden from Norway ! xoxoxoxo

Nina, looking for you snuggled under a coverlet somewhere here…

Dear Bernie,
don’t need it any longer
i am comforted now
safe in His arms again

Oh Nina, thank-you for fluffing up my pillows and turning down my feather bed for me. You always know the right thing to do to make me feel better. My favorite sleepy-time tea right here on the night-stand.
Mmmmhhhhhh. Yawn…..
And you KNEW i’d want the bed over your fantastic copper “ear to the Grotto”. I won’t miss anything…
mmmhhhhhhhhhh
zzzzzz zzzzzzz zzzzzzz

Dreamy- you’re like a little furnace for your daddy. What a good kitty you are. : )

I am resting close to the fireplace today and night, Feeling to be at such a difference place, having learned so much from the classroom – like little droplets all day from my friends here – jamie and jane, thanks for taking the time to explain. And all you others, I am so grateful.
And I have asked Gabrielius and Patrice if i could share Patrice’s answer to Gahb’s question on the D.U board, and they told me to go right ahead – so with great pleasure, here is Patrices for me so immensly helpful text, exactly where i was:

*

Gabrielius, some wonderful, helpful replies already. Just wanted to add few comments. One is I totally relate to your frustration “I find hard to move from judgement to non-judgement, to move to realization what I am doing, to move from judgement to awareness . . .” This is sooo common for many of us when we get caught up in the dream. And it’s common that we go in and out of judging/being resistant to forgive and then flowing with forgiveness.

Loving-kindness and mercy for our inconsistencies in this journey!!! Since you are noticing this tiredness and judgment, what if you simply invite Holy Spirit to witness it with you? Don’t resist it. Feeling tired, judgmental, resigned, whatever is not the problem in itself. It’s that you believe it to be true. See if you can observe it with a dis-identified awareness (which is similar to Holy Spirit). Like Marcy pointed to, Jesus can’t control our mind but can look upon it with our willingness to see it with Him.

“The Holy Spirit
asks of you but this; bring to Him every secret you have locked away from Him .
Open every door to Him, and bid Him enter the darkness and lighten it away. At
your request He enters gladly. He brings the light to darkness if you make the
darkness open to Him. But what you hide He cannot look upon. He sees for you,
and unless you look with Him He cannot see. The vision of Christ is not for Him
alone, but for Him with you. Bring, therefore, all your dark and secret
thoughts to Him , and look upon them with Him. He holds the light, and you the
darkness. They cannot coexist when both of You together look on them. His
judgment must prevail, and He will give it to you as you join your perception
to His” (T.14.VII.6)

When aligned with one Self, I remember this tiredness, judgment, etc. is just a dream, a story that I believe to be true but it’s really not at all. It’s simply that you believe it is a real difficulty that makes it so. This is where forgiveness naturally, effortlessly kicks in. All that’s asked is to have that little willingness admit we’re dreaming, let it go and turn it over, trust and choose strength of HS light to dissolve the dream.

*

Lyrics to Norwegian Wood by McCartney and Lennon

once had a girl, or should I say, she once had me…
She showed me her room, isn’t it good Norwegian wood?

She asked me to stay and she told me to sit anywhere,
So I looked around and I noticed there wasn’t a chair.

I sat on a rug, biding my time, drinking her wine,
We talked until two and then she said: “It’s time for bed”

She told me she worked in the morning and started to laugh.
I told her I didn’t, and crawled off to sleep in the bath

And when I awoke, I was alone, this bird had flown
So I lit a fire, isn’t it good Norwegian wood.

Knowing She Would…

Lisi: “It is not what you see that causes your pain, the cause of your pain is what you hidden”

…that is beautiful.

That’s really cool Lisi – I get so excited to see the practise paying off round here!

Lisi: What a wonderful experience you have shared with us. I am so glad you had relief from your pain, and have given us a nice little ‘bite’ of Truth to chew on when we are hurting… “It is not what you see that causes your pain, the cause of your pain is what you hidden.”

and: “maybe it´s time to just go out and play…” from Head Monk. Love you so much, Lisi =-= D♡G

Lisi … reading that was exactly like receiving the most wonderful gift all wrapped up in soft pretty paper…. thank you so much and a big loving hug from me! xoxoxoxoox

{sprinkles fairy dust over ] { blows kisses and leaves chocky} and more soft hugs xxxoxoxoxoox

Thanks Monk, Al, Lisa, Deb and Winnie for your warm whispers. This room is really a comfortable and cozy place, full of love, warmth and kindness.

DonnaD a warm blanket and a big hug for you. I always read and love all your whispers. They help me a lot and bring to my awareness a lot of my hidden issues. Love Lisi

I just listened to the music in here for the first time and it is sooooo very lovely… thank you Monk !

……

Natti Natti Nina and thanks for the loving hugs xoxoxoox

Good morning, Brother Monklings. (Stretches and squirms about). Oh, what a great, long nap I had. I vaguely heard Winnie and Nina tiptoeing around the room, sprinkling their fairy dust. I wonder if they know that when they walk ever so quietly, a tinkling sound is heard from the little bells around their ankles. Very soothing. Just after TexAnne came in (I opened one eye when I heard her but she was obviously pondering something so I left her be and opened the blanket so Dreamy could tip-toe over to say hello to her. They have obviously bonded before). I then moved over to a room I had not seen before and spent some time with Jesus (where I RANTED and he smiled). I feel much better today and want to say thank you for the kisses and chocky (Winnie) and the fairy dust (Winnie and Nina). I also want to send a big hug to Bev and Lisi for their kind words. And Debbi for the candle and all the goodies you provided (how did you know I would need the Kleenex?). After talking with Jesus, I poked my nose into some of the rooms where I could hear spirited and funny conversations be held. Everyone was in fine form. But I was feeling dozy again (it’s the fairy dust–I swear) so I curled up in the Snuggery again and slept the night away. Hugs to all.

Oops… this was supposed to go to the Suggestion Box.

DD: I only knew about the Kleenex because whenever I come here with my hurt feelings, or tiredness, or just need to lay down in total comfort and suck my thumb, I always need Kleenex. For the happy tears when I feel better. Loves and hugs, D♡G

Dearest DoG… thank you for the tender care. I had so many laughs when I was poking my head into the M ‘o Mist rooms. And it was your music of words I heard. You heal with your voice, m’ dear.

I’m feeling very snuggery tonight so thought I would visit this room. I know it is normally a room for those in need of snugging, but maybe I will come back tomorrow night for that, since my pattern seems to be peaceful and snuggy and then the next day all heck breaks loose. Tonight, though, I’ll spread some snugs. Snug, snug…snug, snug. I have to enjoy this while I can. S…..n…..u….g.

oooh thank you for the lovely snugs laura !

LtTS
True, eh?
One day, puppies and butterflies -
Next day, freaking silence of the freaking lambs……
Oh, and every now and then, let’s not forget the Rescue Kitty hiding under the bed, too afraid to come out…
Then back to puppies, and rainbows.

……Clarice?……..

Did I just heard someone say
“It puts the lotion on it’s skin…or else it gets the hose again….”
That can’t be a good sign, can it?

Morning, Tex, I’d love to respond to your 413, but I’m not awake enough yet (at 1.30 pm) to know what you’re freakin’ talking about! Duh, says he. They speak a different language in TexanTown. Have a great day, B.

After a night of sleeping dreams with so much insanity…comforting and inspiring to listen to/read lesson 188 this morning… From the lesson:

Sit quietly and close your eyes. The light within you is sufficient. It alone has power to give the gift of sight to you. Exclude the outer world, and let your thoughts fly to the peace within. They know the way. For honest thoughts, untainted by the dream of worldly things outside yourself, become the holy messengers of God Himself.

Texas asked me to post this.

Because nothing says Christmas like Helvetica….

The day before yesterday i kicked my toe and although it was the tiniest thing the pain was almost excruciating and that`s how it`s been for me these last few years.

I have become more and more fearful of pain {though i hardly get any and feel guilty for so admitting}.

However my pain threshold is now so low i am starting to catch glimpses of the room which lies just beyond.

For in the throes of the pain although i am terrified initially, i am becoming aware that it doesnt make any sense…it`s not adding up and i am starting to twig that it is just a great ego ploy.

The pain isnt real. It`s a symbol of my guilt and nothing to do with my toe.
My fear of pain is lessening its grip on me.

That night i had this vague dream :-

I am with a bunch of people who have to be isolated for a time…. Information is leaked to me that a band of people are coming to attack us especially me and that there is nothing that the authorities can do. The attackers will be using very primitive methods. I try to imagine what kind of terrible things they will do to my body.
I realize that it is my worst fear and I am strangely unbothered.

This is really cool winnie – helping me undo some dorky thinking about the ‘virtue’of high pain thresholds.

and maybe this would be a suitable Christmas-video to view in front of the fireplace. The Elf to the right is gary renard’s wife Cindy ( Arten in his books.) Wonderful face-expressions!

(Monastery reminder: When inserting a YouTube video please do not use the “Submit image” button. Simply paste the link into your whisper then add a “v” after the http. Thank you.)

Nina, thank you for the video. That’s hilarious.

TexAnne, that looks like the perfect place to have hot toddys (sp?) and good times with good friends. Just give me the directions and I’m there… love you, DD.

Thanks Mother for posting this for me.
I am going there now, to virtual goose-down-landia….
Here, Kitten!!
Time to snuggle down…in front of the fire…with all the usual accouterments….

*poof!*
great story – Al of the Sunshine!

We’re not here anylonger?????
(Al, I always knew it was You.)
My Buddhist teacher told me that. I never thought I’d be lucky enough to be spun into it.

Al, well done. I loved the story you wove with your words—that is if I read it correctly… (Sings a song of joy to Al of the Sun ♪♪♫♪♪♫♥♫♪)

oh boy ! its a beauty ! and i think i spy with my little eye a present under there for me heheheh

Here’s a Christmas song I like. Hope you all enjoy.

Gabriel’s Message

The Angel Gabriel from Heaven came
His wings as drifted snow
His eyes as flame
“All Hail!” said he, “Thou Holy Maiden Mary,”
“Most Highly Favoured Lady,”
Gloria!

“For know a Blessed Mother thou shalt be,
All generations laud and honour thee
Thy Son shall be Immanuel, by seers foretold
Most highly favoured Lady,”
Gloria!

Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head;
“To me, be as it pleaseth God,” she said.
My soul shall laud and magnify His holy Name
Most highly favoured Lady!
Gloria!

Of her Immanuel, the Christ was born,
In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn.
And everyone throughout the world forever saved,
Most highly favoured lady!
Gloria!

Winnie, what an ickky dream, so glad you could come here and find comfort in the middle of your night.{{{hugs}}}

G’night Mother….

Here Kitten
zzzzzzzzz

[[[Hugs}}} to you Nina. Doesn't really look like morning here, either.

So many things I don't want to do today, but I will, cause I have to. J's going to need a skateboard to keep up with me -- and I'm truly screwed if I lose him, cause i have no idea what i'm going to have to do. I wonder if you could fall into a lurking big do - do- do it day, and instead just sit and actually do nothing.

and now for the weather life death-report:
During a Skype Focusing session this morning I found myself within a typical Tibetan Buddhist Book of the Dead-prosess. It just started, and thank God i rememebered what that was. So, with the presence of the Love within my partner/companion I found myself being aware of a great cold coming up from my feet and into my lower body. My feet were never that cold before. So in case this really turned out to be it, I gave my companion the phonenr of my daughter, so he could call her if i died.
Well, I relaized that something in me was 79% certain that this was not it, just some kind of death-experience that earlier, in another place of the hologram, was filled with fear. At some point I completely relaxed and surrendered into it – (death by the computer, witnesses through Skype…) and then I was aware that something brown and furry melted out of my feet, grinned at me and layd down in a relaxing-at-the-beach-position. It was my resistance to the death-experience, and as it grinned to me, it was obviously clear that it was not serious and dangerous. realizing this, most of the body started to relax into the death-experience. It was interesting, when the fear went away – a strange numbness took over, but I was not this body so that was OK.
At one moment I saw the fear as a brown furry thing in my innermost bone-marrow – it was in the whole skeleton, it kept me upright. I looked at it and did ot believe in it at all. And at that moment, it just started to evaporate, it left this image of my skeleton – and I felt these great rushes/(shiverings when something not of truth is leaving the body/mind.
Now there was great light. I received it, and at once dark cloud started to come from left and right. So, no big deal – I told the clouds that I was willing to just hang out with them as long as they needed company – and in that second, I was infinitesmal ( ?) small, and I flew through the cloud who were now atoms, and the spaces between them grew bigger and bigger, and the cloud-material was plainly just illusion too – I remembered my days as stage-designer, how I loved visiting the workshops at the theatre where they produced what i had designed – making big boulders of styrofoam, for instance. It was these boulders that now surrounded me, but it was just a play.
And then i was through. No more light, no more nothing. Just No Thing. At once – maybe after one second – ego butted in and demanded that something happened here, or else I had faked it.
Yep. That took me out of it.
But I now recognize how much hullaballoo the ego starts when I am close to Love – and maybe it will be possible to just recognize it next time the drama starts again – it is just smoke and mirrors.
And thank you so much for the hugs and kisses.

just because of the belief I gave it..I must have missed it so, that one second…

And by the way, Nina, do you detect my husband’s pure Swedish genes emitting from my offspring (see gravatar)? I’m Irish, so apparently only have recessive genes. Usually the red hair skips a generation, but my granddaughter lucked out!

Nina: Your processing always amazes me with it’s intenseness and vivid effects … it’s like taking a roller coaster with you through a foreign and Daliesque landscape. The stolid earthiness of me delights in it (I love extreme fairground rides). You are my virtual extreme fairground ride!

Katrina; ( I’m now adding an Irish accent to your whisper voice!) – your 100 day ’small contribution’ is greatly appreciated. I woulda fallen off the bus long ago if it weren’t for you. Hugs of loving gratitude xoxox

Al, great story!
Nina, a warm hand on your brow… and Winnie, too.
And big hugs to all.

I think the cereal surreal storyteller just struck – do NOT say that fast with a mouthful of marshmallow … nighty nap Mother♥

giggles and tickles Tex under her turque – whateva the hell that is.

I wear one cuz Monk wore one.
I have another one I am going to change pics of, one of these days.

Just took some time to rest and found my way to a quiet mind (not a little gift). Needed a rest from ego land. Sure love reading and wandering around here. Love and blessings and lots of forgiveness.

PS-Winnie, what ever you do about your story (or anything) I love. Thanks for what you have shared and everyone else who shares.

I dream of Eggos turning to egos
What a drippy, syrupy, mish mash mess
Let go my Eggo, ditto my ego
Thanks to the Course, more is less.

egg-poem i wish I wrote, but didn’t:

The egg
has fear
of hights

*
Oh guys – listen, we have got a whole new room for this now – I will delightedly post a story there! see you M♥Love♥S

Mother S., thank you for connecting with so many of us. When I can’t be around here as much as I want to and come back and see you have commented right back to me that just means a lot. I love you too and thanks for the blankie.
I have been allowing myself to look at my dark and judgemental ego thoughts. Being gentle (usually) and help seems to be with me. Keep remembering that what comes to my awareness is ready to be healed and I want healing. Man, this is not an easy path sometimes. Hears to being in process with all of you dearest monklings.
Michele…good idea to snuggle at the snuggery! I sure enjoy getting to know you and your new pictures in your gallery were a treat to see.

And now here are some Christmas Carolers to sing “Oh Holy Night”

♪♫♩♪♫♬♪♫♩
O holy night! The stars are brightly shining.
It is the night of Our dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world In sin and error pining,
‘Til He appear’d And the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope The weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks A new and glorious morn.

One error – one correction… coming right up!
♪♫♩♪♫♬♪♫♩

Some snow for the Canadians, eh?
Be careful in the snow -- it’s lovely to look at…

Leggo my eggo….ditto my ego! Please, decision maker..choose again.. ;-)

Love and Gratitude,
m

Lyrics:

The sun’ll come out
Tomorrow
Bet your bottom dollar
That tomorrow
There’ll be sun!

Just thinkin’ about
Tomorrow
Clears away the cobwebs,
And the sorrow
‘Til there’s none!

When I’m stuck a day
That’s gray,
And lonely,
I just stick out my chin
And Grin,
And Say,
Oh!

The sun’ll come out
Tomorrow
So ya gotta hang on
‘Til tomorrow
Come what may
Tomorrow! Tomorrow!
I love ya Tomorrow!
You’re always
A day
A way!

Umm…I come to the Snuggery to feel that lovely, easy, languid, support of all the monklings, the smiles all around, closed-eyed smiles. It is a lovely place to notch down from the world…to relax and know that you are loved and to consider how very lucky it is to be able to come here.

Is it any wonder that we circle,
each folding our thoughts and ideas along the walls,
making multiple thicknesses to cushion our dear ones?

We, who do not know what love is…yet somehow we love each other.
We love the twist in words another makes.
We love bantering back and forth with each other.
We love playing, we love laughing, we love by bolstering up and
telling it like it is.

We are saying “no” to the denial of love. We are tightening
the circle.

My apple-tree does not know limitations…this is the appletree which provided all the apples for the Grotto and the Infirmary this fall. Here is stands in the night, and the street-light is caught in the middle of all those flowers.

Somehow this photo is a comment to my last post – and Laura’s.

What a poem this tree is.

The lyrics:

Lullaby

When you’re so lonely lying in bed
Night’s closed it’s eyes but you can’t rest your head
Everyone’s sleeping all through the house
You wish you could dream but forgot to somehow
Sing this lullaby to yourself
Sing this lullaby to yourself
And if you are waiting, waiting for me
Know I’ll be home soon darling I guarantee
I’ll be home Sunday just in one week
Dry up your tears if you start to weep
And sing this lullaby to yourself
Sing this lullaby to yourself
Lullaby, I’m not nearby
Sing this lullaby to yourself
Don’t you cry, no don’t you cry
Sing this lullaby to yourself
Cause when I arrive dear it won’t be that long
No it won’t seem like anytime that I’ve been gone
It ain’t the first time it won’t be the last
Won’t you remember these words to help the time pass?
So when you’re so lonely lying in bed
Night’s closed it’s eyes but you can’t rest your head
Everyone’s sleeping all through the house
You wish you could dream but forgot to somehow
Sing this lullaby to yourself
Sing this lullaby to yourself
Sing this lullaby, sing this lullaby
Sing this lullaby to yourself

Oh, Texas, I loved the song… and beautiful video… thanks and {smooches}

Laura, what a beautiful beautiful poem you have written! You capture the very heart of all of our relationships.
:::::Feeling all warm inside:::::

Nina, beautiful tree with all that snow piled high.. thank you

DonnaD: :::::small monk giggles::::: They are SO cute!!

Lisa, loved the Lullaby… such a sweet little tune.

{{Nite nite hugs all around}}

Mother – it looks like snow, doesn’t it – but this is how it flowered this summer. Just flowers, all of it.

Someone got some fake wood/logs, with the bright colours —for the fireplace?
Bring ‘em, ya’ll…
*please – no pulling the covers*
I got the hot tea. and the music is just right for a long winter’s nap.

Soothing, comforting and lovely this is…..

With Gratitude and Love..

You are wonderful, Mother….I couldn’t get all of the lyrics, now here they are! I just knew you would be different! ;-))

Love and Gratitude,
m

Giggling in the goose down,
Monklings snuggled like puffs
of dandelion fluff.
We dream of big fish.

Fish to feathers,
whirling, then gliding,
then circling each others
wishes till they come together
into a great bird to take us all Home.

Well, I complained a bit (OK a lot) about all the stuff I had to get done for the holidays. And the Christmas cards were among them. I somehow managed to get 120 of them out this year!

And as they are rolling into our house, I find myself smiling a lot to see pictures of old friends and family. It is indeed a great way to catch up with people. It’s really nice. And among the cards was one from our mailman that had this on it:

‘May Jesus Christ, Who is love and Who taught love, be the joy of your heart and the light of your world forever.’

Amen to that.

And now, I will get a pair of Monk-ee slippers,
and take the Kitten *here, Kitten*
and go to the Snuggery and hit the hay!
Tea, anyone?

Hehe, I have elk-slippers (Moose??) and a client has frog-slippers. Frog and elk are good friends now :-)
I am drinking Joi de Vivre-te ( Yogi-tea.)SOO good. AND I am reading a wonderful and useful book for all people with an ego -The Screw-tape-letters, by C.S Lewis, the Narnia-author. Mr Screwtape is a devil with a middle-rank, i would say, and he is mentoring his dear nephew, Wormwood. I laugh and learn a LOT about the intricacies and elegancies of the devils’ work with us all. The nuances is very wise to learn and look up for. VERY recommendable for both wit and humor. Yes, and truth of course.

Joy, if Dreamy is playing in the snow, I can snuggle with you. I wear a warm wooly shawl in a warm yellow,I can wrap it around us both as we sit in front of the fire-place. It si a wonderful experience for me to snuggle with Joy mmmmmmmm

where is that? here in middelsouth Norway it is only minus 15 celsius…but thank God and Jamie for the Snuggery – outside all cold

Hello Mudder… here is one of the pictures I was telling you about that I wanted to send to you. First I am going to try to post it this way and then if that doesn’t work, I will give Image Shack a go. Fingers crossed…

[Monk note: Only links to pictures themselves will work. i.e. Links to a webpage will not produce a picture.]

*pound *pound *pound*
It’s just me putting up a note (it’s hard to push a thumbtack through solid granite walls!)
Par-Tay in the Grotto
♫♪♫♫♪♫♫♪♫
Al’s Birthday is today! and/or tomorrow, depending…
I’m bringing Kiwi pie!

Boxes and Bears…..

Warm cozy fireplace – with pinion wood crackling…Holly and ivy wrapped around little candles burning…
Maybe some nice tea or hot cocoa…Fluffy, over-sized comforters….Loreena music playing…
Sounds like a Canadian log cabin, out in the wilderness, but it’s just our little ol’ Snuggery….
Here Kitten!

Dear Mother,

Wow!!! Tears are streaming from my face as I write this. Thank you! Thank you. I’ve been away and have been crazily trying to visit all the rooms of the monastery since yesterday. I missed you guys so much. What a beautiful return present from you. I am unpacking my stuff, putting on my jammie, grabbing me a hot coco, sitting by the fire, listen to stories and delight in the comfort of love that pours like honey in this place. Love you mother and all my fellow monklings. Sorry I missed Christmas with you.

Love, Leni

I don’t know when Festivus begins, or ends, so it might still be on….
Saw this today and thought of us on the bus…
A Fesitvus Yarmulke…

Check out my new Yarmulke Avatar.
It doesn’t say “festivus,” though.
Just teal-colored polka dots.

A girl needs a collection.

Lisa could have used that for her polka-dot event.

God I just can’t let those polka dots go … forgive me Lisa!

Anne/Texas ~

Before you said a word this eve, I noticed you’d changed your yarmulke yesterday. I thought what is Anne telling us with this change in her gravatar. Nice closeup shot and I do love the color Teal.

{{{Leni}}}

Lisa, that is a very sweet song.. thank you.

Thank you Mom for the hug and to Lisa for the song, so beautiful!

Dearest Ruthie, there’s a treat for you in the Tree-House. I think it is still warm. It can be shared with three others. And just MAYBE it is like the five bread and fishes-story – unending supply..just try it, dearest sister -

Yes, I love that song. : ) It’s actually only about half of the song in this video. I couldn’t find the whole song. The last verse is left out and the ending where she sings,

Breath my love,
Breath my love,
Breath in the quiet center.

It’s very soothing, eh?

I couldn’t decide on what to do, so I made some tea while I tried to decide.
I think I’m going to just crash here for a while.
Wake me up when we get to Day 222, please.

LaAnnie, I believe you are being very perceptive today. I too feel that thought although it could be just me. I was thinking about this while I was reading your whisper. Is it because I feel a little weary right now? It seems that the movement from right mind to wrong mind is so constant. I’m sure it has always been that way but now that I am more aware (which I like to believe is a good thing) it seems quite hard right now. Then I read something that says this is a loooong process and I wonder how I can keep it up. I then try to remember that it is also supposed to become more peaceful as time goes on and I have to agree—-there are moments. So I feel a softness, a vulnerability, fragile, grateful to have found this path, often scared that I will never move beyond these many moments of hatefulness, anger, fear—and sometimes peace. Like you I am EXTREMELY grateful for everyone here who whispers with such honesty and kindness. I guess the best we can do is just {{{{{♥EVERYONE♥}}}} to show our love for all. Thank you Annie for you. DD.

{{{{{♥EVERYONE♥}}}} Love it DD! My soft and cuddly tree hugging friend. You really expanded on the feeling I was sensing.

We do need to acknowledge the discipline it takes to walk this path and setting a pace is part of the strategy. Right from the beginning we are told to take it slow, Be gentle and kind. Whenever I slow down some …I find I need to slow down just a little more,I think more? But I’m already so slow! it’s gonna be ok…just a little slower, really??? super tiny voice of Holy Spirit, often I don’t hear a thing but I can sense it. Then I just say hush to my ego; sometimes she even gets a time out…(spoiled little brat). But then too I kinda feel sorry for her, that’s all she knows, and we need to make this walk together. So a new day starts and even though I can’t see any changes…part of me knows its happening and I catch myself letting out a chuckle not even caring if anyone see it. Does that ever happen to you?

BTW Has anyone seen the head Monk?

I miss your whispers Jamie. I know the classes for the new month will be posted soon but just a little kitty cartoon from Dreamy would be awesome.

{{{{{♥EVERYONE♥}}}}

Annie

I recall someone mentioning a while back that they sometimes picture Jesus walking ahead of them, leading the way. And I had to go to the mall today—–oh, Lord, the MALL. I know that is when the dogs of fear come out in full force and everyone had better beware. So I pictured Jesus walking a little ahead of me, smiling. And what do you know—-I was able to make it through the shopping process very calmly. As soon I started to hear the snapping dog, I just pictured Him. Amazing. It does work. Someday I will not need that symbol but for now, I accept it gratefully. And yes, Annie, I do catch myself chuckling when I become aware of myself in attack mode. I figure we’re all insane anyway so who’s gonna care. Hugs to you. DD.

LaAnnie and DonnaD: Thanks so much for your whispers of today. I could see myself in both of you and for me it is so helpful to see all these written by you. The experience of really be one with all of you here in the Monastery, the comfort and love I feel is the best gift I could ever ask for. A hug and lots of love, Lisi

How can something so unreal (as a blog)
bring about feelings that are so VERY real?
I ask myself this almost every day….
*sigh*

oops* about #436:
That looks like it says AL, but it says A.I. as in Artificial Intelligence.
Not to be confused with Al of the Sunshine!

Thanks again DD, Lisi, Winnie and Anne/Texas

…by the way 37 days I’m glad you counting Texas. It’s close to the symbolic 40 days so I guess I can hold out for another 3 days…

you better be laughing Monk :)

now i get what a “fatty blog is “…. { goes off to google “yarmulke”]

love to all from slow little winnie xoxoxox

The tree elves scamper among the branches,
testing by twisting and swinging, bending bows.
Anyone looking might think they are solitary
creatures, discordant, independent, dismissing.
The tree knows this is not true. It feels the
hearts of all, catches them looking over each other,
at a moment’s beat at the side of their brothers,
waiting for that time when they become a part of
the tree, who has watched from the beginning, waiting
for them just to be.

LTS

Yes, DonnaD…you are our tree and your gravatar, too. And then, there is also the tree house. I love trees, don’t you?

Hugs!

I found this funny, watch:

♥♥♥Laura TS♥♥♥ ~

Wow!!! Love your tree poem and it’s a double entrende one for me after seeing Avatar this week!!! You may have been talking our tree grotto but this works for theirs as well! Have you see it yet?

I DID!
I took it out back.
Didn’t want to wake up Dreamy!

Yeah, so were the cats!

Oh, Debbi, I am sorry to hear you are going through a sad time today. May your memories of her bring smiles as well as you remember your time together. A warm blanket, pillows and kitten for you to snuggle while in the Snuggery. My warmest hugs and all my love to you. DD.

My hand is always there for you, dearest Debbi. And my heart is filled with love for you and your sadness. {{{lovingly holds hand}}}

Thank you, Laura – I felt that great big hug!!

Thank you Michele… okay maybe some time, a story about my Mom.. Just for starters, though, she really loved Jesus. So when she died, I said “She finally going to see the One she always believed in.” Sweet-sorrow.

{{{Debbi}}} Nothing so comforting as a mothers embrace. I am sure she is behind each of our whispers and hugs. The Snuggery is the perfect place to be all day let us mother you today.

What I know for sure is you embrace the Mother archetype so perfectly; she must have been a beautiful example to follow. So grateful that we get to know a bit of your mum thru you♥

Darling Deb – MoM…
I love you so!
Hugs and Love all over the place!

Debbi, your mom sounds wonderful.

Mother, I thought of you and your mom on monday, I should have whispered. I can see you playing the piano and your mom singing and dad recording, those memories are precious. I think todays lessons called angels the reflection of Gods thoughts, and I believe memories such as these are as well. It went on to say that we were too fearful of gods love and angels, though part of the illusion, were refections of His Love to the sonship. So in that sense mom is one of the angels, and I know she would be proud of you.

God bless us every one

From earlier today… walked in on Dreamy:

Oh my, look at what a handsome cat you are, Dreamy!! Did you get the best of the bag or did it get the best of you?

Kittie-kisses xoxoxoxox
Love,
Mother

I’m feeling like curling up in a big comfy chair and just chilling out.

I’ve been looking at some of my “stuff” lately. Namely, my beliefs and attitudes during my college days. Music made a huge impact on me during that time, and I’ve been re-looking at it a lot lately. Looking at how that ache in my heart grew to enormous proportions during college and how I then tried to stuff it down and find my own way. Needless to say, it didn’t go very well until I decided to change my mind.

I came across this song that I had nearly forgotten about. I used to listen to it and this whole album A LOT.

The song is Saudade and it’s by the band Love and Rockets. I’d forgotten how great they are. Interestingly, I never knew what the name meant and didn’t care much about it, but I just recently found out that it is a Portuguese word that translates to ‘homesickness’.

Enjoy…

Just some pretty pics I took out the window of my truck, or from my apartment. Or on vacation!
The song is by Audioslave – “I Am The Highway”

Oops !! Pinky jinx!!!

Mom, your getting a lesson in alternative music tonight! Love and Rockets were pretty underground back then. I was a bit punk-rock in college and we prided ourselves on knowing the most obscure bands. Oh, we were so cool! Ha!

Saudade is their most mellow song and only instrumental (I think). There regular stuff was dark and rockin! Great guitars and great drums!

And Chris Cornell, he’s the singer for Audioslave/Soundgarden. What a great voice he has, don’t you think?

Ah yes, I love my music. : )

MoM -Thanks!
I put that video together just for practice. #476
Some of the sunset pics are very nice.
And winnie – those cats are tray*sheek, eh? ;D

Ummmm, I like that Pam. CAT. Fits our gal perfectly, me thinks.

Thanks DD.
Glad you liked it!

Ah-ha… definitely a CAT purr if I every heard one…

It works! CAT Notice that in your great video that you have an affinity for trees and sky and…birds! You are definitely CAT.

Texas, if I were you I’d go for the “CAT” thing not the TAC… tac can be extrapolated in such wicked ways… tacky, taciturn, tachycardia, tackle, taco, Tacoma, Tactical Air Command, tactless.. and tactlessness….

Whereas cat can be.. well, just a cat. And they’re pretty nice. But can be extrapolated as catabolic, cataclysmic, catacomb, catalog, catalyst, catapult, catamaran, (we’ll skip over catastrophic, it doesn’t help me make my point)…, same with catatonic.. oh well….

I’m sticking with just “Texas”…

Hi MoM, Cory wanted me to post this video from him to you ’cause you live in Seattle and Owl City has became one of his favorite music makers to listen to.

TexCan, your caring, daring side transcend all borders. It does not matter what your name is. We would still see your light. Oel ngati kameie: “I See you”. (From Avatar. My grandson taught me this. He must have meant it for you). ♥♥♥♫☼♪♥♥♥

Oh, Cory, thank you so much!!! I had no idea such a cool band (or guy) did that song about Seattle… I think now I must check out more music by Owl City. I know about Fireflies.. there’s probably more that I will love. Thanks again for posting this for me, you are a sweetheart!!

Love,
Mother

Cory says you are welcome for the video.

Mountie implies they are the one who is mounted.
MountER would be the one who mounts.
(From a Due South episode!)

“O Canada” is all I know.
That, and “Schenectady.”
But, I digress!

The sunset was beautiful last night, and I wanted to share it with you all..

TexAnneCan…

Thanks for the sunset…feels so warm and encouraging…a nice glow for chilly January
days.

Hugs!

{{LaAnnie}} You are always in my heart, my love… I’m hoping you are well and happy today,

Love,
Mother

ps…I’m not exactly sure what I even wrote!
….going back to sleep, then…..

Yes MoM -I’ve decided to give up the worrying part.
Kinda like math was for me.
I know it works out, and maybe I’ll get it, but probably I won’t.
Either way, it’s ok.
I’ll leave the metaphysics to the curious, and return to my previous “God Is Love” thing.
I was much happier then. And in #82 it says this:
“All that exists is God and the undifferentiated, eternal, changeless,
and perfect extension of His infinite being, a reality having no counterpart in the world,
nor can it be understood in this world.”

If “yes,” then so be it. If “no,” then so be it.

☼Texas☼ (Are these ’sunshines’ our new way of hugging? I like them.)

Winnie, let’s pretend the conversations about your artistic writing has moved here. I had the same feeling – want to be in the right room. Just want to happy it makes me to see things in a new way or angle – new word-constellations, the freshness of that, the thrills it gives me – I so appreciate it – it feeds me in such a healthy way. And of course it is not your ego who creates art – creation comes forth and through when we are willing to receive and not judge or fix what comes, and you so are:-)
in you own recognizable Winni’esque way
I would love to know what wonderful things happened last time you were praised and did not believe it but still…

I did a stunning re-make of The Colour Purple – can’t seem to find the file…
Maybe God Is Trying To Tell Me Something ♫♪♪♫♬

;)
the winking semi-colon!

Hugs back at ‘cha!

Run run run and you can never run away from LLLOOOOOOVVVEEEEE(grins even more wildly and stretches arms from Norway to Australia(just like that) and hugs cute little dilly Winnie –
there
{{{{{{{{Winnie}}}}}}}}
at least you are not under the bed :-)

{giggling} oh boy ! they were lovely hugs ! thank you my darling Ninies and Texie-poos…..i feel all snuggledy-huggled :)

☼WinWin☼

{going off to see how DonnaD is doing, been waiting to hear results)

I`m a good girl i am `cause i asked for hugs when i needed them, so i get an extra big bag of lollies this week ! Thanks Mother and hugs to you and everloving Michele too xoxoxo

Nina, the only one of those i have read is “The Wind in the Willows” which i adore !…..{i have seen Pippi Longstocking the movie} My favourite childhood book was called “Fifty Famous Fairy Tales” and i loved anything by Enid Blyton.
I loved Snugglepot and Cuddlepie who were always afraid of the big bad Banksia Men, but mostly for the cute little drawings and the ideas. The storyline wasnt that exciting to me.

I am so glad you posted all your favourites – thank you and big hugs for that. I am going to have a look at them….

ooooh i LOVE these pictures so much i could gobble them up !

Last night i was playing with paper doll fairies and dressing them up in their paper doll fairy dresses which someone gave me for Christmas – {alright that someone was me, tee hee} please dont tell anyone or they might think i`m really silly and i`m not, well sometimes i`m not, ok once i wasnt…..

Anyway i am going to the library tomorrow to look up your books….

and i remembered a MOST WONDERFUL book that my youngest discovered on audio and kept urging me to listen. When finally i did, i just adored it as much as he did – so beautifully written and so beautifully read – Where the Red Fern Grows.
…{did not like the movie one little bit}

I also remembered that i have a really truly favourite discovered via my children which i cannot find anywhere – even poor ole Mr Google has given up, so i am going to try with my daughter to piece the story together. It`s called – The Ugsome Thing

ahh the lilac-fairy! yes, they are really related. Beskows books as tremendously loved here in the North, she published her first one 1901(Putte in the Blueberry-wood)- and they are reprinted still.Maybe you’ll find them in Australia too! I see they have May Gibbs books in my web-book-shop – I will definelitely buy me some snugglepot. Its like reading them, I will probably get me some little-winnie-feeling mmm

This is Kittelsen too …Soria Moria it is called, Home it is…

winwin, I also love Where the Red Fern Grows. I read it to my oldest. Cried like a baby at the end. Such a story of love. Old Dan and Little Ann. What was the boy’s name?

I also like A wrinkle in Time. Have you read that? Nina, have you?

Wonderful Girls…if you are looking for sad at end but great, my fav is The Bridge to Tarabithia (hope I have this name right). Author: Katherine Patterson. It is a touching story between a young girl and boy and a love they share of the make believe.
I think they have recently made a movie of it. Just great!

Hugs! LTS

P.S haven’t readf The fern or A wrinkle. Author,please? there is a place called bookfinder where they might be found.
And the image of HOME – Soria Moria – mysteriously disappeared!!

I was so relieved to see the Image of Soria Moria back again today.
I remember another book from childhood you might have read and loved as much as me: hector malot: Without family ( in England: Nobody’s boy) it is from 1878. The boy’s name is Remi…
(and Oh my, Dickens!!! all of him! I love him more than Shakespeare…)

Wiki: (just a little bit of it)
Jerome Barberin lives with his wife in a little French town, Chavanon. He usually isn’t home, since he works in Paris as a mason. One day he finds a baby boy. The boy wears very fine clothes, so apparently his parents are rich. Barberin offers to take care of the child, hoping to get a good reward. He gives the boy to his wife, and calls him Remi.

When Remi is eight years old, Barberin comes home unexpectedly. He sees that Remi is still there and decides to lose no time getting rid of him. The next day Barberin meets a travelling artist in the local pub. His name is Signor Vitalis, and he travels through France with three dogs – Capi, Zerbino and Dolce – and a monkey, Joli-Cœur. Vitalis offers to take care of Remi and Remi leaves his childhood home, without even a chance to say goodbye to his foster mother (who would have done anything to prevent the transaction) and starts a journey of the roads of France. It turns out that Vitalis is a kind man, certainly better company than Barberin. Vitalis teaches him to play the harp and to read. Often Remi is hungry and has no roof over his head; but in the animals, especially in Capi, he gains dear friends, and in Vitalis he finds the father he lacks. Together they travel through France, and they earn a living by giving musical and stage performances. The background of this situation is a very common practice of XIX century: italian wandering music companies coming almost exclusively from the Duchy of Parma and later from Molise and Lucania, travelling and performing round the largest cities of Europe.

Oh Cordelia ! How amazing are you to know that i needed a hug !!!!

{faints}

Do you remember in “