Words from the Heart

Photos of mass grave of Captain Lathrop and his men slain in 1673 Have you ever taken a photo and found something unexpected in it?  Was what you saw something you could explain away, like dust on the lens, rain drops, humidity, smoke? Teal Gray, Tui Snider and I just had a great conversation about spirits and spirit energy on Teal Gray Worldwide ! Part of our conversation was about the two pictures above, but we also shared experiences with the unexplained and discussed two pictures that Tui had captured on two different occasions.  One thought that we shared is how easy it is to dismiss things like the photos above.  However, when "you eliminate the impossible (as Sherlock Holmes would say) whatever remains, however improbable , must be the truth?" So it is! On a serious note, I have always believed in spirit energy (ghosts).  In my life, I have had too many unexplained events not to believe. I also know that many people do not believe. I respect that....

"For Everything There Is a Season..." As I walk each morning, I have come to appreciate the beauty the Creator surrounds us in.  Watching the changes of the seasons over the past few weeks, gives new understanding of how amazing Mother Earth is.  A short time, two months to be exact, life here looked dismal.  Today, it is vibrant with growth, and birdsong.  We have so much to be grateful for in this life! The following photos show the progression of the seasons here in and around the Enchanted Cottage. April - sudden glimpses of new life Enchanted Cottage One of our many gardens Garden at the front of the house Striped pansy! Spring coming to the neighbors farm Entrance to a Neighbor's Garden   Fields Waiting for the Plow May - splashes of color everywhere   Tulips and Daffodils Brighten the Path   Path to the Fire Pit New Flower Bed in Progress Kitchen Garden Garden at the Front of the House The PGM Rhododendron in i...

Image via Wikipedia  Vermont College Quad - Site of the Council of All Beings This past week, I spent an amazing day with some of the Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers . The Grandmothers are a group of indigenous elders from around the world, who come together to teach peace, understanding among people and healing of ourselves and Mother Earth.    The trip to see them was unexpected, as I had learned only a week before of their visit to Vermont.  I traveled up to Vermont with two dear friends, who also were eager to hear and see the Grandmothers. ~~~~  As we walked across the beautiful campus of Vermont College to the site of the Sacred Fire, the sun was shining.  People from around the world were gathering around the Sacred Fire. As the fire was being lit, the wind picked up.  Clouds billowed high and dark around us.  Only the sky overhead stayed blue.   Earlier in the day, I wrote to the woman who was one of the organizers to ask ...

As we come to the end of this month of Love, I want to give thanks to our four-legged, winged, and scaly friends. It appears that humans have a need to give and receive Love. We are one of a few species that recognizes the beautiful Spirits of other species. We have pets which become for us as much family as our blood relations. This past week, our beloved Molly returned to the Creator. She lived thirteen years with Roger (the last six with me). She was our friend in ways only those who have a pet can understand. She knew when Roger was sick and would comfort him. When he was very ill with the stenosis in his neck, she would come get me. She would get miffed when we would go out together (Roger and I) and only one of us returned home. When the other finally came home, we would find Molly sitting at the door waiting for us like an perturbed parent. She would look at us, sigh and walk away as if to say sarcastically, "Nice of you to come home!" We spoiled Molly these l...

Life is full of milestones. They begin with our first breath and we meet them along Life's journey until the day we come to the ultimate milestone, one which none of us will bypass...death. As children, our parents, physicians and teachers track our milestones, noting if we meet, surpass or fail to reach them. As adults, our milestone are sporadic. They come at odd intervals, sometimes grouping together, sometimes taking years to accomplish. For instance, it took me almost thirty years to receive my Bachelor's Degree. For most people, this is something that happens, usually immediately after high school and in a four year time span. As a writer, I have met many milestones...my first professional publication, my first job as a writer, my first publication in a journal. Last week, another milestone was met, one that I have waited for over many years of writing. My book of poetry is finally a reality! Winter of the Soul is a compilation of poems written over a span of decad...