whispers of the universe

as i was driving home the other night, i had this amazing blog post all "written" out in my head. now, as i sit and write, the words are not surfacing quite so easily. perhaps i wasn't meant to share all the wonderous thoughts i had in that moment. perhaps all of that was simply just for me, even though it played out like a beautifully orchestrated blog post. 

it seems, like many i suppose, i come up with my best thoughts, when doing seemingly mindless tasks, like driving, walking, running, and laying thy head to rest.  (i suppose driving isn't exactly mindless, as you do need to pay attention to the road, but it feels that way.) the mind drifts and heads to places it doesn't get a chance to visit in the go-go-go of our north american busy lives. we're always doing and going, going and doing. we need to live more in the present. in the moment. love the gift of life we've been provided. see the sun through the clouds. let go and not get so caught up in the expectations and worries and fears. we need to adopt a more "pole pole" lifestyle, like the african culture. pole pole, a word learned from my sister who is living a dream in africa right now (visit her blog here) translates into "slowly" in Kiswahili.  

it's easter weekend. a time to slow down. enjoy family, friends, pets, if you're lucky maybe a good book or have fun coloring eggs...you don't need to have children to do this. cultivate your inner child. do it alone. it's okay. go ahead! i did! 

old jars work just spledid for coloring!

burst some color into your life!

okay...I wasn't totally alone.

it's looking a bit more like christmas here. with the snow ever so gently failling on my spring tulips. i'm taking the weather as the universe's way to slow us down. now, like all messages sent from the universe, not everyone listens to them. (especially us north american folk so heavily influenced by capital gains) not everyone hears them. you have to hear something in order to listen to it. in order to hear it, you must practice being present with the world around you and within you. it's all connected. so often in life we have learned to "tune things out". it's a shame really. because when we are in tune with ourselves and the world around us, that's when we do the best thinking, learning and growing. 

since my return from my retreat in seattle, washington (check it out here) i've been longing to have another weekend like that. it was such an amazing experience. i continue to learn and grow from all that it offered and continues to offer in my day-to-day life. the lessons and love it offered didn't stop on the last day of the retreat, as my new friend jasmine (check this gal out-and thanks jasmine!) dropped me off at the airport. it was only just the beginning....all "this" happened because one day, i walked down to our locally owned and operated stationary store chisolms (thank you chisolms!). as i browsed through the magazines (i have a slight addiction...one of many healthy addictions), i stumbled upon a magazine called mingle.  i was attracted to it because of the fabulous photo on the front. then, when i found out that it was magazine all about "creative ideas for unique gatherings"....i knew that was it. another addiction. mingle. what a great name. 

this was my first big message from the universe. this magazine has changed my life. now, you might think that sounds ridiculous, a magazine changing a persons life. it's the truth.  i was meant to find this magazine. it all happened at the right time. what i didn't know, at the time, was the impact this simple finding would have on my life. i didn't know that inside that magazine there was a world waiting for me. a world of wonderful like-minded people. i read it thoroughly. i cried. i read. i connected so much. i could feel something shifting. i was present. in that moment. with that magazine. it was like a whack of synapses were connecting. i could almost hear them crackle, like the hot embers in a blazing fire. my mind was excited. 

i "met" some great people in that magazine. one in particular. liz lamoreux. as i read her article on the be present retreats i knew i had come to the right place. i thought to myself-this is just what i need. right now. what are the chances this retreat lands on my march break? well, as it turned out. the chances were pretty darn good. the stars aligned. i took some time to think about it all (such a thinker). talked it over with my husband. he thought it was a fabulous idea. i didn't jump on it right away (even though i wanted to). i left it sit in my mind. weeks passed and i was still thinking about it. so, i jumped on it. well, it was more like a leap! i was excited. nervous. would i be good enough? am i really an artist?  yes. yes, i am.

and i was. and now i am. slowing down. living with an open heart.

listening to the messages the universe is cascading upon me

even when i don'twant to listen

i'm still hearing the whispers 

and gently listening

as i blissfully let life guide me

listening to its precious lessons

healing.

transforming.

like the changing season & celebration of the weekend.

rebirth.

regrowth.

listen to your heart.

are you hearing the universe?

with dedication,

femmeclectique