The exquisite beauty of the Irish landscape
Posted by msterilinn on Oct 6, 2008
What I find most interesting on this planet is the natural scenery. For some reason I am fascinated with the beauty I find all around me in nature. Perhaps this is why I find it so distressing to see such wanton disrespect for the natural world. When I travel through the forest and river paths I am filled with such wonder and a certain exhilaration. To think of the scope of brilliance and imagination that went into creating this earth is absolutely amazing. The science in nature is abundantly brilliant! I just wish to capture each breathtaking scene to the smallest detail. First with my eyes and my senses, then with my camera to share with others, and to remind myself at a later time of my finest moments traveling along the Earthly paths.
One of my dreams is to visit the homelands of my ancestors… Ireland. I want to visit the green Isle and really see it from the locals point of view. Tourists may visit key attractions, but I am an explorer by heart, and wish to adventure ‘off the beaten path’, so to speak. I believe I would have to actually live there for a few years to see for myself what wonders the lands hold in store for me, and to even come close to satisfying my curiosity. Ireland is a land full of mystery, as well as a rich culture and history. I know for certain that I will attain my dream of visiting the mysterious places of my ancestors in this lifetime, and I am very excited to hold this dream close to my heart.
For now, I will indulge in viewing the stunning countryside through the eyes of a friend, and brilliant photographer, Jordan Clemments. The images in this post are courtesy of Jordan from his website at Irishviews.com.
A glimpse into what takes my breath away…
Posted by msterilinn on Sep 4, 2008
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?
Thunder Wolf… Courtesy of Barbara LaBarbera
Posted by msterilinn on Aug 10, 2008
Essence of Mother Earth
~*~ Thunder Wolf ~*~
and the midnight moon is hanging low
then lightning streaks across the sky
You will hear Thunder Wolf, asti, it is I
From the mountains I come charging down
and you will hear my crashing sound
Your hearts will fill with awe and wonder
as you hear my wisdom’s mighty thunder …
My Thunder message is for all colors and creed
whether you are full blood or breed …
It’s a message of love and peace
that all hatred and prejudice should cease
As my thunder shakes the mountain tops
you will hear me … the hatred must STOP
Across the world you are killing each other
and your greed is killing our Earth Mother
Embrace the Light, come out of the shadowy dark
let mercy and kindness fill your hearts …
Learn from wolf the gift of love and loyalty
stop hate’s treachery and let this message soar free
Hate has no wisdom, vision nor power
it comes from the fearful hearts of cowards
Thunder wolf’s message is to bring you together
and know the power of Creator’s love is forever …
From Thunder Wolf, my message is clear
Learn to love and let your hearts be sincere …
For with all power or miracles ever dreamt of …
There is no power greater than the miracle of love
My message is for all countries across the land
for we are all sisters and brothers in the Tribe of Man
Let Creator’s Light guide you to peace and harmony
Walk softly in the Light and set your spirit free
*Note - Please do not copy without the express permision from the Author.
A little taste of Sunshine
Posted by msterilinn on May 19, 2008
We have experienced a very strange Spring here in Oregon. Just last week, as odd as it seems, we had some truly strong hailstorms which actually covered the ground solid and instantly soaked those caught in the freakiness of it. Luckily we were indoors when it did occur, yet could see some unfortunate folks scrambling for shelter, totally unprepared.
Well, even though it had started to warm up just enough to turn our heat completely off, it took us by suprise to pop on up to 98.5 degrees in no time at all. Usually we get some wonderfully perfect days just above or below 80 degrees this time of year and it is such a lovely time to walk through our sweet little town to the river, enjoying all the Spring blossoms. What a shock to simply wish to drive to the river and cool off. Unfortunately the river was quite swift, and higher than we have ever seen it. The instant meltoff was creating quite the flow, which made it too dangerous to do much more than stick our feet in and experience the coolness of the rivers edge. Actually I felt it was quite beautiful and exciting just to be near one of Natures wondrous life-givers, as rivers are so very special. The energy and power was simply amazing to behold!
Needless to say, we did walk a little, my daughter, grandson and I. We brought our sweet little chihuahua, Canela and walked along the river to enjoy the freshness brought on by the spring run-off. We are quite happy to prepare for a very warm Summer, and will have the air conditioner installed as soon as possible. We love to camp, swim and explore, so we are truly looking forward to our outdoor fun! Meanwhile, I thank Mother Nature for the warning and for giving us a little taste of Sunshine.
Can one truly measure Time?
Posted by msterilinn on Feb 18, 2008
You would measure time, the measureless and the immeasurable. You would adjust your conduct and even direct the course of your spirit according to hours and seasons. Yet the timeless in you is aware of life’s timelessness and knows that yesterday is but today’s memory and tomorrow is today’s dream.
That which sings and contemplates in you is still dwelling within the bounds of that first moment which scattered the stars into space.
Who among you does not feel that his power to love is boundless? And yet who does not feel that very love, though boundless, encompassed within the centre of his being and moving not from love thought to love thought, nor from love deeds to other love deeds.
Is not time even as love is? Undivided and paceless? But if in your thought you must measure time into seasons, let each season encircle all the other seasons and let today embrace the past with remembrance and the future with longing.
Enjoy that in time which has been given to you.
Thoughts about Spring and the East by my friend Storm
Posted by msterilinn on Apr 2, 2007
As written in her own words, I would like to share… Thanks Storm!!
In just a few scant days and hours, the hoop of life will turn into East, or so it is said by my people. We would have been anxiously checking the marks on the centuries old calendar rock that now sits in a farmer’s field. With excitement and yes, some dread, we wait for that one moment, that click of time, when the creation decisively turns. And when that click happens, we would sing to welcome the sun back from its journey and prepare to sing as well to the first salmon that comes up the river/stream lifeblood of the people.
Now there are just a few scant days and hours left of the time of North; the time of wisdom - the doing time when one uses the knowledge gained during the this last full turn of the circle. Are the nets ready, are the root sticks sharpened, the bark scrapers ready for the baskets and mats and capes to be made? Are we ready with all that we know to face the unknown of the new turn?
East, the time of spirit, the time of renewal, the time of newness and innocence. The time when never more clearly we see the same in a different way. Everything is right before our eyes, if we’ll just take that moment to see it. Outside my front window I see a cherry tree, and, as always, I am astonished as I see this old friend changing before my eyes. Every winter, I fear for it…with limbs so bare and brittle and seemingly lifeless. And I wonder, is this the year it won’t bloom? Is this the year it won’t be able to welcome and feed the winged that always return to it? But now I see the buds breaking from it skin and know those buds for the promise of renewal and newness. Oh, how painful it must be and oh, the struggle it goes through to meet this promise one more time.
Commercials tell us that ‘new’ is better, improved, exciting. I think ‘new’ is scary and disturbing and unsettling. New is when everything is the same, but different. New is when my comfortable, self-satisfied, knowing certainty is rocked. New is when I believe..I dream and I have no knowledge to support that belief or dream…just the surety that anything is possible because that is the way of Creation, and I am, after all, a piece of it. The faith, the hope to give me the courage to face ‘new’ until it too becomes a comfortable warm place for me to rest in.
I don’t know what I don’t know…and the promise of East is that with the willingness to see with the innocence of a trusting child, to look at the same thing in a different way, to allow myself to step out of the comfortable and into the uncertainty, I will see and hear and taste andlearn things I can’t even possibly imagine. And the older I get, the harder it gets to do so. So many winters..so much struggle to gain what little knowledge and wisdom I have…so much loss, heartache…so many questions for so few answers.
And yet, and yet…East stirs my blood and focuses my vision even further outside my window. My woman’s hands long to plunge into the dirt and plant and help my Mother in her birthing pangs. My woman’s heart speeds up to meet the nesting call…time to purify, to clean, to build for the future. And so, if I let the Creation into me..and if I let myself join into it, then East will sweep me along in the hoop and there won’t be room for fear or courage…just the living…facing the new, the different…with the comfort of what was, to face what is, to be ready for what will be.
Hoi, my relations. Just a few scant days and hours and we will be the East, one another, as part of this hoop of life.
Storm
Teachings I was given in 2006
Posted by msterilinn on Dec 18, 2006
As Winters frost covers the Earth in our part of the World,
and the year draws to an end, I am given time to contemplate
on this past years teachings.
I have learned that all the Love, Guidance and Protection
given to my children does come back around tenfold. Three of
my offspring are young adults. They sent me and my little
Sara to Disneyland in the Spring of 2006. This was a gift,
with many memories to treasure, and served to boost our
Spirits when we really needed it. To top off our happy
traveling vibes, my son took us to Lake Tahoe for my neices
Wedding… which was soooo Beautiful!! I found that we simply
can NOT let so much time pass before another family get
together! Once again I reaffirmed my vow to enjoy each
moment!!
Sara and I both learned that we can do good things to help
the people, even if these things are something new to us,
and we both found our Courage. During our Native(Lakota)
Ceremonies we were each asked to step up and participate in
roles neither of us had done before. I learned that I can
head up a Feast with a little help from my friends…LOL
Sara stepped up and handled her part in one of our
Ceremonies with such grace, and this made my heart grow ten
times bigger! I learned how wonderful it is when friends
have your back.
It was a Beautiful and sweet Summer of Ceremony, Family,
Friends, Dancing, Singing and lots of Love and laughter. I
found I can still sew, and learned how to make some lovely
ribbon dresses.. Sara looked so sweet and Beautiful! All the
children gravitated towards Sara and I (as they usually do)
and I was once again reminded what precious gifts these
little ones are. Their sweet, bright energy is so
invigorating. This gives me the courage to strive to do my
best to ensure this Earth is, and shall remain, a wonderful
and healthy place to grow.
Oh yes, I mustn’t forget my journey into the world of HTML.
I am still taking baby steps, yet I am beginning to grasp
the codes, and can actually dig in and change things around
to my own personal tastes, in creating my first website.
Anything is possible, if we just put our minds to it. I am
proud of my efforts and am happy to be steering my own ship.
Truly, I have learned much more, yet those little ones (who
taught me long ago what is most precious in my life) are
calling my attention, so I must run and play with the
children..
I will say that one of the most important things I have
learned is that our Dreams and Prayers do manifest, so be
careful what you ask for. I have known this for a long time,
yet was reminded of the POWER of our thoughts and deeds most
profoundly this year. So Dream Big and then.. Go for it!
Have a wonderful, happy and safe New Year!
Teri
~
Pssst… I almost forgot! When I got really, really sick
my kids all pitched in and made sure I was taken care of.
It showed me that I must have done something right, and
Mom was on the recieving end of that nurturing.. what a
concept!! LOL
Find out what people have learned in 2006 at Ben Yoskovitz’s
Instigator Blog where Ben has started a discussion on
“What People Have learned in 2006″.
A Great Group Project going on about Reviews and Predictions
can be found here…
ProBlogger Reviews and Predictions
