Thanksgiving Spirit

I grew up in a fairly traditional family in which we gathered for thanksgiving each year, saying prayers of thanks with fingers entwined. For us, Thanksgiving was a time of gathering the tribe, of being thankful no matter what, and of celebrating the rich heritage of family recipes and ways of nourishing in our lineage. 

Friends without a home to go to have been welcome at our table. Over the years and through my travels, I have sometimes been that person without family nearby. Other thanksgivings, I have been asked to "choose" between families. I have spent some thanksgiving days zooming from house to house, trying to make it work. I have been ill on thanksgiving, and I have also been the one holding and comforting others.

I have been filled for longing for all that is not on the table. And I have, on some occasions, looked around and felt the loss of people who had died, or could not be present, or whom I had chosen not to invite for some reason or other.

It only took me about 20 years to figure out that the format for celebrating one day--and not even the traditional harvest day--just doesn't work for me. As my family has grown, shrunk, and grown in new ways, I have been forced to question what family really is, how we gather, when, and why. I have seen so many family members get stressed about not being able to make "that moment" happen on thanksgiving.

In fact, it is not about the moment, but if there is already love and community present within our family dynamic that year, then that celebratory day becomes a crowning glory of that achievement. If the bonds of communication and support are there, then that one day is most definitely joyful and memorable . . .but then it also doesn't make much difference in the family dynamic over the long term, because the gathering has already become a way of life. Thus, stressing over making "that day" happen in some preconceived way is actually counter-productive and counter-intuitive.

In the Ancient Egyptian calendar there are so many "holy days" that one could virtually celebrate something every day. I love bringing this approach to the values for our own family thanksgiving. I have been trying to think of every day this November as Thanksgiving. What a change! I have used the opportunity to look more closely at how I relate to my family, and to review my prioritization of values.

This year I am doing a very small dinner in my home, but I hope to reach out to as many family members as possible over the next few weeks to share stories, listen to madness, and keep alive the breath of our relationships. Some of my dearest ones who are very far away, or with whom I have fallen out of contact and can not reach, I will send my love through prayer.

Each day we live is holy. Each day is a holiday. Any holiday can become a stress point if we become so caught up in the pageantry that we forget the core spirit of what we are celebrating. Every family has a different set of values for what this holiday means.

I feel myself returning to the spirit of listening and connection. I feel clumsy and embarassed saying so, because I am so aware of the many ways I could be so much better at listening and connecting to my family. I try not to judge myself. I try to just observe it with my breath, and wade into the waters of healing and transformation around those themes of listening and connecting.

This Thanksgiving, I will not cook every food in the family cookbook. I will feel

very fortunate if I am able to cook one dish and share it in the spirit of deep gratitude for the many hands who have made this food before me, and the many hearts gathering to eat together. For me, this is the embodiment of listening and connection, not only to myself and my loved ones, but to the host of ancestors and the earth's bounty on which I stand. I am so thankful for these blessings.

healing & love,
Dailey

Annual Open House Coming Up ! Dec 6th

Step into the world of energy healing. Get sneak preview of and signup incentives for 2015 classes, sessions & events with Dailey, Christy Persinger, & Jennfer Webb. 

Shop enlightened children's books & crystals. Explore the debut line of Apothecary Soaps & Lotions with Trish Pettitt of Skin Addiction. 

Learn about Theraputic Massage with Stacey Murray.

Enjoy something custom at the Flower Essence Bar. 

Stay for the Raffle and a chance to win BIG! lol Happy Holidays :-)

MEDITATION THOUGHTS: WATER CATCHING

. . . The truth as to why you may be throwing away gifts the universe is sending you. If you are a lightworker, earthworker, or called to healing, this message might be particularly relevant. . .

MEDITATION THOUGHTS: WATER CATCHING

We are a lot more like plants than we think. When a plant is in the earth, it needs some unique level of water and nutrients in order to survive. It may receive water from deep in the earth, stretching roots low and thriving even in arid dry places. It may receive water from the melodious patter of heavenly rains. Either way, it needs water for fluid, supple life.

We, too, need water, and like the plants, we can learn to exist with small amounts, if consistent, though we may not blossom and thrive in the same way. Our water requirement also includes the more abstract concept of pure life force. Life force flows into us the same way water flows into plants. We need energy, and like plants, we can make energy out of physical matter, but in a toxic environment that won’t matter. Even plants need a relatively healthy energetic environment, or they will die. So we need water, and the pure life force embodied in water.

In Ancient Egypt the transmission of life force was shown on temple walls as deity sending waves of energy to people through their hands, much like water or rays of the sun comes down from the sky. Today, we can nourish ourselves with life force by taking deep care of ourselves. We can honor the needs of our spirit with real action. We also naturally nourish ourselves by simply being still and quiet on the earth.

When the earth is in severe drought, it begins to crack and split. The plants will hold on for as long as they can, but eventually they die.  It can be difficult to tell from the outside when a plant is too far gone to receive nourishing water. Some plants can come back from the brink of death.

Potted plants need more care than others because they are displaced from the earth. They will get colder, dry out faster, and struggle with illness far easier if pot-bound. Likewise, the farther we humans displace ourselves from forest, river, and the womb and belly of earth’s resources, the more care we need in making sure we are receiving what truly nourishes our whole being.

When we choose to live as a part of an artificial society, inside of boxes raised off of the earth, eating food that has been inside of metal vehicles and in low temperature storage for 9 or 10 months, we are choosing to be like the potted plants. For many of us in California, this is the lifestyle today.

Because of this, our society has created “fancy pots.” We feel comfortable. Our minds are led into a false sense of well-being, even though we have been displaced from our natural vital source (earth-based living). Just as some potted plants, we have become pot-bound and many of us would not know how to return to living directly on the land and eating from our surroundings. It doesn’t fit who we have become, and that is okay.

However, like the potted plants, our quotient of real care, of real vital force, of real nutrition, of real rest, of real oxygenation, must be very high in order to thrive. We may need even more light, or more warmth.  Most of us get less.

Furthermore, If you are a healing practitioner, an intuitive, a sage, or a mystic, the transmission and receipt of your wisdom comes through etheric channels. If you feel this work, the sharing of wisdom, to be your life work, you can not abdicate self nourishment. You must absolutely learn to take good care of your body, mind and spirit until you feel like a lush garden. Do you know why?

Have you ever tried watering a half-dead plant in a dried out pot? A half dead plant will not receive 90% of the water that gets poured upon it. When the soil of potted plants has become dry beyond reparation, it will not take water the first, second, or even third watering. It needs a flood, and lots of time in order to receive the gift.

Likewise, if you are reading this, the likelihood is that you are a potted plant (to some degree). If you have taken it as your life calling to be a voice hearer, or one who preaches spirit on behalf of your community, you will be foregoing 90% of your message if you haven’t taken care of yourself. That’s like tearing a letter in half before you read it!

Your internal and external lives are intimately entwined. They inform one another. Look at the decisions you are making on a daily basis for:
* rest
* nourishment
* physical well-being
* spiritual freedom
* emotional stability
* intellectual peace

All of these decisions are creating your metaphorical flower pot. If you are very quiet and listen within, you know what is necessary for your well-being. Can you imagine your flower pot? Are you catering to it?

Meditation Question: How are you currently keeping yourself as nourished as possible, in order to receive all of the gifts that the universe has to offer?  If you could change one thing you are doing, today, what would it be?

loving blessings,
Dailey