Dear Family,

Thank you to each of you, water, sky, sun, land, trees, and light, for your gifts of 

beauty and peace.

My heart fills with joy, as I take you all in.

My heart breaks that so many of our children and their families,

so rarely take the time to be with you

 and know the gifts you give. 

Dear Rose, 

I am asking for your wisdom so that I can finally let go of my fear of death. Today is Mom Riley's birthday and together I ask that you both help me to understand and let go of that fear. 

I associate it primarily with seeing both Mom and Dad Riley taken out of the house on stretchers as a young child for Dad, and a young woman for Mom. 

Seeing my brother Billy, in Boston Children's Hospital, behind glass after open heart surgery triggered that fear as well.  Any time I get sick, or have pain, I am afraid I am going to die. 

I want to let this fear go. What do I need to do, dear Rose. Are there things I am not aware of that you can help me with?  I want to be free and truly Live every day of my life. 

Dearest Assunta,

Thank you for finally having the courage to face this pain, which you have carried for so long. 

All of the events that you named above definitely played a part in your fear.  You pushed them down for a very long time, rather than face them. You also remember seeing Sister Vincentia, your very caring principal in high school, wheeled on a stretcher at the hospital, while you were visiting some one else, and I believe, she died soon after.  You remember a friend's young son, killed in an automobile accident; a young second grade student of yours, who died the next year as a result of a young friend showing him a gun and pulling the trigger, not realizing it was loaded.  A young student's father, whom you were visiting in the hospital, who died in your presence.  

That is an awful lot of death for you to take in, and yes, I can hear you saying, but so many people also experience death with their loved ones and others in so many ways as well.  That is true, but this is about you and your response. 

From your beginning, life has been very fragile and filled with uncertainty.  Your two month stay in the hospital as premature twins, being put up for adoption when you were a year old, always wondering, until you came to understand more fully, "What you did, that your Mother did not want you?"  Your foster Brother Billy, leaving the family after many years and then returning after he found his Mother dead on the couch.  Yes..that hurts to hear..just as all those other instances, were so hard for you to bear.  You have not had a lot of solid ground to stand on and so the slightest change creates fear of loss once again..and dear one,, that is the key word  LOSS. 

It is so hard to say good bye to those we love and care about. We feel we truly have lost them. BUT..

within the last few years you have come to see that those we love and care for, who have died are not LOST.

They are with us in a whole new way..which is still hard to grasp for so many. As today is Mom Riley's Birthday, you now know...She is still with you..even though she died in 1965. 

All of those who have died are with us in a very real way.

What if you could begin to see death as a transition to something new, something good, something beautiful .. a true sense of a WELCOMING HOME, for that is truly what death is?  Our loved ones are always with us, and when it is our time, we will join them in great joy and abundant love. 

Your change in understanding won't come overnight dear one..just like the petals of my being, 

change comes gradually as you are willing to see with new eyes in a whole new way...TRUST that GOING HOME is full of peace, abundant love and joy. It is time to Choose LIFE...NOT LOSS. I hope this gives you what you needed and wanted dear one. 

Dear Rose,

I can actually say, I love this. My understanding is changing and I am so grateful to know that all of those I love who have crossed over, are still with me.  I have heard these words in different ways but today..they touch me with clarity and peace. For so long I have focused on loss and now I will focus on LIFE AND LIVING knowing that my Family of loved ones is always with me. 

Thank you so much... and Thank you Mom, for a wonderful birthday present, for me.. on your birthday. I love you.

Dear Stately and Elegant Rock..

Photo:beautifulfreepictures

Your height and depth alone amaze me! How long have you stood stately and strong?
What stories you could and can tell! What a perspective on life you have to share.
You are a reminder to me of the very process of growth and life...multi layered over time with patience, persistence and perseverance. Aged and yet new!

Your vision takes in both the heights and the depths..and seemingly from all sides with few obstacles.! You appear dauntless!  Your strength surges up my own...thank you.

With your strength however, I also realize your vulnerability...as you stand high up and fully open to all the expressions of life in our world family...wind...water...sun...soil.. in storms and calm. 

You are not immune to change...no matter how dauntless you appear.  Each and all of us are part of a whole and are both nurtured and challenged by our sisters and brothers of all sizes, strengths and capabilities.  We are shaped by all we encounter!!

Your image has called to me for a while but I made a different choice. I've needed to take more time to ponder you and to see more than the exterior.  I know little about your stone family..but I am fascinated by the numerous and distinct layers within you!

What would you say to me dear Rock..I would appreciate greatly hearing your wisdom...thank you.

Dear Assunta,

I'm glad you finally chose to see me!  I believe I have much to share with you and your human family..

You and they can get caught up in the exterior of things missing the beauty and depth of those inner layers.

Each has a story...and you will only know those stories if you take the time to let them be revealed to you in the quiet of your heart.  That is also what you have run from...taking the time for quiet and going within.

You and your human family have many layers of stories to be revealed that can enrich and bless one another and... as you are discovering...we your family members of the natural world have stories and gifts to share with you as well. So many of you have lost your desire to even take time in the natural world.

You miss the joy, beauty and wisdom that we want to share so that you can be refreshed and renewed. We miss greatly, getting to know you and the stories of your many layers.  We have much to give and receive from each other.. Our outer beauty is only the beginning...when you look deeper you will learn more.

You say you are awed by my strength and I say to you that you have within you that same strength when you stay rooted in Love and Trust.

 I can hear your words of doubt and I say..it is true..take one step at a time..let go of the past that fed your fear and BELIEVE IN THE FULLNESS OF WHO YOU ARE...stay grounded in the power of LOVE THAT IS YOU and when the storms come you will be ready! 

Your afraid you won't be but you will.  You and your human family must choose...to be rooted in the LOVE that you ARE and let go of fear!!

In  the midst of all that is serious and painful,  Mother Earth wants all her children to keep their sense of humor!  Laughter gives us the strength to take the next so called  impossible step!  So come and be with us, laugh and grow with us.. we love you and we miss you!!

Dear Stately Rock, you have blown me away!  I thank you with all my heart!  I will think of you and what you have shared when fear trys to take hold of me.  Thank you and I love you.

Dear blanket of clouds..

As you are reflected in sister water

it's like you are pointing me to the beauty and open sky directly ahead.

Clouds often remind me of a potential storm, or weather change,

yet with you, its like you are reminding me to not focus on any storm

but to keep my eyes on the beauty directly in front of me,

and you just reminded me that, directly in front of me, does not 

necessarily refer to distance but all the beauty of the present moment.

Spirit is making me very aware of how much, fear of the unknown, has been 

buried in my heart.

 I am so quick to jump to the "What ifs".  

I want to face that...AND LET IT GO!!

 I want to be aware of the fears I have to be aware of, for my own safety,

but I want to focus most, on all the potentials for good that are also right in front of me,

that fear can blind me to.

Facing our fears is not easy...but if I am not willing to "be aware of them"', 

how can I be rid of them?  

Pushing them down and ignoring them, is not the answer, because 

they are still within and stirring up pain.

Facing them is the only way out, and for too long, I have not chosen to do that.

It is time for fear to be addressed, acknowledged and LET GO!!!

I say YES...

AND

Let's move on to the awareness of the good and the beauty all around me 

in EACH MOMENT

Let's move on to claiming and remembering that I am never alone,

I have the support and care of  UNENDING AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

Let's move on, remembering, that what I FOCUS ON, is what I am bringing to myself.

Thank you dear blanket of clouds, for giving me the courage to 

look at fear, directly without denial, and for pointing me in the direction of 

of  beauty, support and unconditional love.

Yes...

What I focus on...is what I will find.

Dear Clouds

When I first saw you, I thought of your presence as a blanket of lace.

I love how you filter the beautiful blue of sky and 

sun's light through you. 

The calmness of sister water, seems to  focus our attention 

more directly on your lacy blanket.

I am struggling today dear clouds

and I appreciate so much, your lace and light, and intricate beauty.

Thank you for reminding me that clouds can bring us light.

Yesterday when I was fearful and afraid of a potential for 

something not good,

what actually came forth was an affirmation of  good health.

I have been resisting strongly the reality that my physical self needs 

assistance to get things done 

and 

that my physical limitations do not allow me to be present 

to affirm our support and solidarity with our hurting sisters and brothers.

I tell myself a thousand times of the true power of prayer

and of the reality of my "Being Present in Spirit"

yet

I think...It is not enough and I have failed.

You have shown me the power of clouds to give life and hope..

Help me to let go, To stop resisting and accept what is, 

and to TRUST  in the abundant power of LOVE

as I walk in the unknowns of my life.

What would you say to me, dear clouds??

Dear One...you truly are resisting a reality that for you is very real

and that resistance drains you as much as your physical needs.

You HAVE NO IDEA of the full strength and power

 of Prayer and your presence "In Spirit"!

Don't belittle, what you do not yet fully understand the power of.

Prayer and presence is more than ENOUGH

when done with focused intention, attention and love.

With a smile we say, to you, dear one;

 practice what you often preach. 

Take Good CARE of YOU

Attend to your needs,

emotional, mental, spiritual and physical.

And 

 live with intention, focus, joy and love.

Send out the energy of prayer and love to all in need.

Be Present in Spirit, to all in need.

In doing so...you will see

the abundant fruit of 

 Prayer and Your Presence in Spirit.

You are loved much...lighten up, you are taking things way to seriously.

Things are difficult yes, but you are not alone..and it is not all up to you.

 Keep your sense of humor active and take time for fun.

Dear Flaming Gold Sky,

Thank you for the beautiful Gift of YOU.

With all the pain in our world you give me hope, joy and peace.

Your bold expansive beauty overpowers the darkness,

above and below.

It proclaims to me,

Yes, things are changing and difficult

Yes, there is deep pain and sorrow

BUT

The Golden Light of LOVE

is stronger than all of it.

Note, every golden particle of Light!

Together...Together..Together..

We weaken, diminish and eradicate 

the power of the darkness.

Let YOUR light shine...Let YOUR light shine

and know

as many of our Sisters and Brothers have known

through the years,

Yes...We Shall Overcome

and 

Yes...We Can!!!

Si Se Puede!!!

Dear Sun, Sky, Trees and Clouds,

I love your diversity of color.

Each of you bring 

a softness, richness and depth 

to the whole.

Once again, you remind me

 that it takes all of you

to make this view complete.

The many colors, offset the deep dark.

The deep dark magnifies the many colors.

The golden sun, playfully peaks through

the clouds and tree branches.

When I look at my daily living,

Am I truly aware of the diversity

or do I allow myself to get bogged down

in the dark?

Thank you for reminding me

to see the diversity, the beauty and the color in life,
along with the dark and the light.