I have such mixed feelings today. I am happy and sad, and I keep jumping between emotions. We lost a dear friend to cancer. He seemed so robust and ALIVE last summer. Then in October 2008 he was diagnosed with cancer. At first it was a tumor in his lung, and after extensive testing it became known that he had bone cancer. Apparently it was in an advanced stage, as he suffered for several months before the grace of the Creator decided to bring him Home. I told him that he must have completed his work on this planet, and deserved a rest. He was such a good hearted man, who touched my life and many others in ways that will bring warm thoughts for a long time to come.

But oh, I will miss him so!! Grief is a stange thing. We tend to look around at our own Life, and that of our loved ones, with a different perspective. We are reminded how fragile our earthly existence truly is, and we amend that which we find unnaceptable. At least that is how I feel. I have goals and dreams, and a growing family that thrives on the Light and Love that I love to share with them. There is little or no time to spend on dark thoughts and regrets. If we make the most of each precious moment, then we have done our best. We miss our loved ones when they go, yet it is good when we know they have lived a good and full life, albeit cut short as the span of human years go in the case of my friend. He was not much older than I, and that tends to wake a person up a bit.

Love your family. Love your friends. And love the stranger you pass on the street or in the hall, or wherever you travel. We are all fellow spirits sent to this earth, by choice or otherwise, and we are not the sum of our circumstances. A smile and a hello may spell the difference in someones Life Path, and it takes so little energy to pass along some good cheer.

Treasure each moment as it unfolds and Love yourself. Remember that it is the journey that counts and not just the destination.

Teri
~

Some days I just wonder how we manage to live in a natural and healthy way. Unless we grow and produce all our own food, it is always uncertain exactly what is inside, even when claims are made as to the wholesome and natural aspect of a given product. I tend to stay away from prepared foods as often as possible, yet I am not the only member of my household who does the preparation and cooking, so I am always concerned with what my family is consuming. My shopping cart looks like a giant fruit and veggie mobile, and I love to go to markets when the season permits.

Organic foods are avidly sought after items and my cupboards are loaded with what I hope are truly natural food stores. It costs me more to eat this way, as I am very picky about what passes through my mouth, and I only use pure maple syrup on my delicious oat and grain pancakes and when we need a great natural sweetener in our recipes. We only cook with olive or grapeseed oil, and corn oil seems to last forever as we only use it upon the rarest of occasions.

Still, I always wonder at the quality and true source of the food grown. Is the soil safe and clean? Are we getting true nutrients from the food grown? Is it handled in a responsible manner so we are not given harmful germs or viruses? Why are we still getting deadly diseases such as cancer if we are following our instincts by living as naturally as possible?

I woke up today after a night full of disturbing dreams. My dreams tend to tell of things to come, as I have dreamed true dreams of events before they occur on many, many occasions, so I pay very close attention to them for this reason. I dreamt of a terrible accident involving a loved one, and it put me in a strange mood upon waking. Of course I was upset, so I performed a calming excercise to give myself a chance to consider the implications from a place less full of the panic of my waking moment. I decided to just keep my senses aware and my eyes and heart open to events, and possibly avoid a dangerous situation which may or may not occur. The world is a very unsettling place to live in, so this is how I walk forth anyhow, yet I vowed to keep extra vigilence of my surroundings and in watching out for my loved ones.

I have experienced so much loss in the past few years, and most of these losses occured through preventable causes. Cancer and health related issues have taken several family members and friends to the other side before their time, in my eyes and heart. I am very close to the age of these dear ones who have crossed, and I am blessed with excellent health. I have always striven to take good care of this body the creator has blessed me with, and try to set good examples for those I come into contact with, or those who enter my sphere of influence.

Yet what about those who cannot afford to do this? And those who are not aware of the dangers surrounding them… how can we truly know what is safe and what may be potentially toxic?

I do not wish to experience the devastating feeling of grief and loss of losing a loved one through either neglect, or blatant disregard of our fellow humans health after consuming what they think is a pure and natural product. Most people do not seem to realize that they are stocking their homes with a whole lot of poisons and cancer-causing products, from household cleaners to soaps, shampoos, lotions, scented sprays, and even make-up. The list is huge, and I am always grateful when someone points me in the right direction by informing me of dangers inherent in a certain product, either consumed or applied to my body. Cancer is so ugly and dark, and I have no wish to allow it entry into my life or that of my loving friends and family. I am not afraid to speak out in a firm, yet gentle way, when I see people walking forth in ignorance to the dangers surrounding them. That is what Love is.

I am also deeply concerned when it comes to our four-legged furry friends. We have four guinea pigs, five rats, a dog and two cats. They get the same treatment as other family members, as they are family too, and we feed them as naturally as possible as well. They get plenty of fresh fruit and veggies, and a diet which is appropriate for them. Dogs and cats have not survived through the centuries from food out of a bag, full of fillers and goddess knows what else, which may not be prepared with the care most loving animal friends may think. Our furry friends are given the best we can find and supply, and are healthy and happy for it. We do not mind the extra time it takes to ensure quality, and the efforts to prepare healthy snacks and meals are well worth it. The balance in our home brings such a good feeling, and at the end of the day I feel good about doing what I can to keep my family happy, safe and healthy.

Well then, Happy New Year! It always gives me a sense of starting upon a new Journey when the Seasons change, and when the days start to become longer. Although we are having many real Winter moments of snow mixed with rain (we usually get mostly rain here in Oregon), I feel a freshness in my Spirit and am looking forward to each new moment with a spring in my step. I have a strong feeling that this year will bring many new changes around the Earth, and some will not be so good. Yet I am ready to walk forth with courage and am up to the sometimes overwhelming challenges we will need to face, and I shall keep my faith that we can save the wild places and creatures that the creator has placed beside and around us. I wish to explore this planet, and it is my goal to travel to new and beautiful places, enjoying many new adventures.

As I look back I am reminded of how far I have come in the past year, and this serves to encourage me to set new goals. Although I am still young, I am the Matron of my family and my actions serve to create a certain positive energy which flows to all of my family members. This is a great responsibility, yet there are so many teachings yet to evolve, and in these uncertain times we need to all be aware of what is at stake on this planet as a result from our actions. We cannot sit back and let fate just take its course… it is up to each of us to put forth our intentions in a good way and follow through. My warrior spirit guides me to honour and protect those around me, and I can do no less.

Human beings tend to fall into the trap of focusing inward, which is good at times to keep our bodies and spirits in balance, yet we need to focus on the world and happenings around us in order to help create the positive changes which will help us grow and develop as human beings. We all have choices to make as our path unfolds, and sometimes it is vital to take the harder path in order to encourage others to follow suit in honoring this planet and all her gifts. There is much peril and danger unfolding for humans as well as all the living beings that inhabit this world. Keeping our eyes open and our senses aware of the changes around us may spell the difference between life and death, or circumstances which are totally unacceptable to live with.

I will, as always, keep my thoughts and actions positive. In doing so I will be doing my own small part in creating a world in which Life on this planet is worth living. I will be aware of my surroundings and that which I am called forth to do in helping to restore the Balance. There will always be the good and the bad, the Ying and the Yang, as this is what the Balance means. Yet I am hopeful in bringing back the balance on this beautiful Mother Earth, as the balance has become distorted and there is more bad than good at this time. I do not wish to see this planet as only bad to help the Balance elsewhere in the Universe, as this is home to many billions of creatures who need to survive in a good way. We can all do our part if we set our minds and hearts to this task, as honourable stewards of this planet, before it is too late and the Earth decides to take matters fully into her own actions of cleansing.

So today I wish to set forth my intentions of staying alert to the changes around me, and stepping forth on my path with a good heart. I shall honour the true friends I meet as they help to Light my Path. May we each honour the Earth and walk softly on this wondrous and Sacred gift of a planet we have been placed upon to call home for such a short time. May each moment create a new feeling of Love for our fellow beings, and let us walk forth with excitement for just being alive!

Pilamaye,

Teri
~

Join Michael Farris, founder and president of ParentalRights.org, in a free lecture series Sept. 26-27 at Trinity Law School in Santa Ana.

Dr. Farris will be addressing the legal trends which threaten parental rights, along with answers to the following questions:

~ Are parental rights procedural or substantive?

~Do we need a Parental Rights Amendment?

~ What threats are posed by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child?

~ Is homeschooling a right or an evasive privilege?

Friday’s lectures will be from 7 to 9 p.m.; Saturday’s lectures will be from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Students as well as the general public are welcome. There is no fee.

Click here to RSVP online >>

If you are going to be in the area, please feel free to join this important event.

For some reason people just love to dress up and make believe they are someone or something else. Although the origins of All Hallows Eve have a deep spiritual connection which continues strongly to this day, people just love to dress up in fantastic and imaginative costumes, either home made, or created by masters. This is all in the spirit of having fun, and possibly attempting to blend in with those who have crossed to the other side. Because we all know this is when the veil between the realms of the living and the deceased lifts, to allow our loved ones to visit the the earthly realm.

So, as the hallowed time approaches we fire up our imaginations to create fantastic costumes to suit our tastes. If we cannot come up with great home made ideas, as I love to do, then we must seek the best halloween costume stores with unique, totally cool, and realistic outfits. Personally, I prefer to be a little different, and one of my favourite memories was the year my little S dressed up as a hobo and hit the streets in search of treats and goodies. People must have felt quite sorry for the little urchin, as she collected more candy and such than any other year, and folks commented upon her sad demeanor. I was a wicked witch with a cackling laugh, so we most certainly left an impression of darkness and despair along our trail. It was such a grand adventure, and one we shall always remember fondly. Of course there was the year my dear S was a Gypsy… that was great fun, and a story for another day!

Perhaps others have not the time or resources to create their own fantastic costume, and would like to spice up their own Halloween adventure with a custume created by true Masters of Masquerade. Any time is a great time to dress up and enact our most desired fantasies, especially this time of year, as parties and masquerades rule the festive season. Truly, can we really know if this is the real world or the virtual one?

Psssst… This is a copy of a post I created over at my other blog This Virtual World, and I just wanted to share!

Today I would like to share those moments which take my breath away, as posted at my sweet new blog Lavender ‘N Chocolate. To me, Life on this earth is a total virtual experience, as I believe our Spirits truly dwell in another existence and this is just a small part of our education and what we take with us is entirely up to us…

Some days we are especially reminded of what is most important to us in this earthly Life. Seeing the headlines reporting on the deadly storms bombarding the coastlines and islands in their paths makes me want to hold my loved ones close and thank the goddess for all our blessings. Keeping our family and friends in our hearts, thoughts and deeds are the most important aspects of living. We are rich in many ways, which have nothing to do with money, clothes and fancy cars. My little S presents the greatest of challenges in parenthood, yet she brings such Joy to my heart. She can try my patience to the very limits (and I am a VERY patient person most days), yet she has a special gift of Wisdom in which mere glimpses are emerging.

She gifted me a tiny plaque for my birthday which now has a place of honor on my desk to remind me of why my little ones are so very important to me. It says…

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away”

This is true in so many ways! It amazes me to watch my family grow, and develop into fine human beings. As the matriarch of this family, I stand in a place of honor. From babyhood to adulthood, I have experienced many ups and downs, yet the good far surpasses the bad. I have raised my children without a partner, yet I feel so accomplished when I see the goodness and values I am instilling within my children and their children as well. There is no greater reward than knowing these beings will carry on all that is good inside me to future generations.

As Family and Nature represent that which is dearest to me, I chose the picture above to show clearly that which takes my breath away. To watch my little one growing into a beautiful young Lady, inside and out, takes my breath away. When my little S looks at me with her big brown eyes and says ‘I Love You Mama’, her words enter my heart and take my breath away. What more can a Lady ask for?

Here is a post I recently created on my newest blog Lavender ‘N Chocolate; thought I would share it with my Earthbeats readers as well…

August 27th marked my 46th year on this planet. How do I feel about that? Well, first of all, I like the sound of the number 46. It has a nice ring to it. Also, I do not look or feel my age, so I don’t really feel old. Although, I was a bit melancholy for part of the day. I kept thinking about my family… those who are far away, and those who have crossed over. I miss them. At this time I am always reminded of days long ago when we were all together and so very happy.

While I was sitting on my patio thinking of my loved ones, I began to cry. This is unusual for me because I am usually such a happy person. The tears just came, and my heart felt near to breaking. Then a strange thing happened. A frog jumped into my line of site and landed on my beautifully blooming begonia! It startled me out of my tears, as it just appeared from nowhere. My plant sits on my patio table, and I have never seen a frog near my house before. I stared in wonder, and decided to snap a picture or two, to share this strange phenomena. The little frog jumped into my plant and disappeared. I did not see it hop away, and could not find it when I carefully searched inside the plant. It had served it’s purpose, then went its merry way… LOL

Needless to say, after that things just got better. My son J arrived with a cake and gifts. He and my daughter had visited the mall and got me some pretty cool gifts… books, candles and totally sweet chinese style wall hangings. And chocolate of course! Sweet, delicious Northwest Truffles in three delectable flavors… Raspberry, Mocha and Mint… yummm!! J got me two new movies; Stardust and 10,000 BC. We watched Stardust and it was quite entertaining. It sure gave me a whole new perspective into Rober DeNiro’s acting abilities.. hehehe.

My faraway family called soon after my son J arrived, and filled my heart with love and happy thoughts. My spirit brightened considerably as each moment unfolded, and I feel truly blessed to have so many people that truly care. The little frog sent a positve message that I am never truly alone, and although those I love are not always near me in person, the creatures that inhabit this Earth alongside us are here to keep us company as well. I spend so much time advocating for the health of the environment and the animals in danger on this planet, that it seems only fitting that it was one of natures tiny creatures that stopped by for a brief visit and pulled me out of my funk. Just goes to show you that it is the little things that count.

Even though I do not spend a whole lot of time thinking about it, I am smart enough to take the time to prepare for an Emergency, should it strike in any form. Although one cannot imagine every scenario which may occur, we can gather some essential items in general to survive most situations. Of course, Food (in the form of MRE’s – Meals Ready to Eat – essentials for emergency preparedness) and a comprehensive kit of Medical Supplies would be at the top of the list, along with an Emergency Radio to keep us updated and informed in case of a power outage, or if we are forced to leave our homes. There are some pretty cool solar powered radios available for a decent price, and it is totally worth it.

Now, there are different levels of Emergencies. Having several packs ready to go at all times, one for each member of the family, is a great idea. We can keep these packs in a place which is easy to access on the go, in case we need to leave in a hurry, making certain everyone knows where their pack is. Practice Emergency routines once in a while to keep this in mind without creating a panic… we do not need to obsess. Keeping emergency supplies in our vehicles is also a great idea, just in case we are not home when danger strikes.

Another thing to keep in mind is our water supplies. Just in case our water becomes tainted, or we are uncertain of the purity, we should educate ourselves with Water Storage information and gather Water Filters, Purifiers and Storage Containers.

I would like to follow up on this subject in the near future with a list of supplies which may be helpful for those uncertain of what to gather. Sometimes it is not possible to gather all we may need, either because of our location or financial situation, yet common sense will show us what we need most so we can at least stand a chance of surviving if the unthinkable happens. Remember, when the Hurricane, Tornado, Earthquake or Disaster warnings go out (or hit), the time to prepare is over… like trying to buy fire insurance when the house is on fire.

I am lucky in that we have an extended family and friends who have thought about this occurance for quite some time now, and we are prepared to gather in a place of safety if at all possible. Educating ourselves in survival techniques is very important, as one never knows when an Emergency situation may occur, and it is better to be prepared so we are less likely to panic, and supplies may not be readily available. As always, I am most happy to hear ideas and suggestions which may be helpful in an Emergency situation.

After an incredible two and a half weeks of camping, we are back to our residence near the city. We have had such wonderful experiences, and just too much to give due credit in one post, so I will just summarize it as best as I can for now. My son J helped us load up and get to the land up above Goldendale. We camped in our usual spot beneath the beautiful Oak tree, to enjoy much needed afternoon shade. As the temperatures reached above 109 degrees in the shade, we were lucky to have such a sweet place to rest upon occasion. The hottest day during the Sundance brought a welcome rainstorm, with much fanfare from the Thunder Beings, the Wakiyans. If the little girls I was caring for were not so terrified of the storm, I would have been dancing in the rain. As it were, I was able to reach out with my feet from the shelter I provided for the children to get a nice soak.

The Isnati Lawanpi (girl to young woman) Ceremony was beautiful to behold. It brought tears to many eyes to see these young girls step forth with such grace into young womanhood. What a gift it is to see this Cermony celebrating such an important time in a young girls life. It is very important to honor these steps in the lives of our boys and girls. Sometimes the events in our world move us much too rapidly to truly enjoy each moment as it unfolds.

As for the Sundance, I feel doubly honored this year. First of all, I was moved to tears to see and feel the grace of our lovely little Sundance tree. She swayed so sweetly in the breeze as she carried the prayers of the people amongst her branches. Such an image of Beauty shall be held within my heart forever. The sound of the drum and the prayer songs full of Love and Hope, as sung by the people as we danced around the Tree of Life, is a memory I shall hold dear when times in the faster world threaten to bring me down.

The greatest gift I recieved during this ceremony, was brought to me through the Children. I had the honor of caring for three young girls, besides my little S, as their mothers were otherwise occupied. The other children invariably navigated towards our little circle, and one girl in particular spent much of her time with our group. Amazingly enough, I had not even a single problem arise with these little ones for companions! Such fond memories of stories, songs, and laughter are treasures of my heart which gives such Joy to think upon. I shall miss those little ones! Although I missed the mothers of these mischievious little girls, as they are my very dear friends, this was a gift and an honor I shall never forget. My little S was such a great help in those busy days as I rose before the sun, and did not rest my head until well after the sun went down.

It truly felt good to hold my family close, as we all live so far away from each other. For two weeks we were able to catch up, sharing this time with Songs, Dance, Prayers, Laughter, Tears and Feasting. Enjoying the fellowship of our Brothers, Sisters, Aunties, Uncles, Elders and Children just seems to fill me up with courage to re-enter the world that moves much faster and is filled with uncertainty and danger. For a short time we held each other close and reaffirmed our love for the Earth and all her bounties, bringing forth hope for the present and future of our children. We must move forward in a good way, honoring and respecting the Earth and all living things, until the time comes for us to gather once again when it is time to go Home.

My little S and I had an awesome Sundance, with so many memories of friends, family and walks through nature to find new magical places to sit and enjoy together. And the nights when we summed up our adventures of the day, along with silent moments of star gazing, will be held dear to our hearts forever and always.

Pilamaye,

Teri
~