Walk This Way

The pilgrims walk, crawl, inch and pray their way to the sanctuary wielding faith and hope in everything sacred, holy, powerful and precious. The heartsick seek healing of mind, body and spirit. 

Answers to questions often unfold with every aching step forward as humility rises from the depths of their quest for comfort, solice and peace. Life and death and the preciousness of both cast a different unworldly light far from the burden and limitations of earth and it's vulnerable inhabitants. Our humaness exposes the delicate and miraculous nature of our existence.

Prayer for ourselves or others is transformative through uncertain times as change begins. The slightest effort to help oneself or another be strong in the middle of weakness requires uncompromising courage and resolve to improve that which calls for improvement. From a different perspective to a different approach entirely, change can occur and render something overwhelming into something managebalble. No doubt minds shift as hearts open and glimmers of light seep into the dark.

Music

What can you say about music that hasn't been said? From my point of view and from what I hear, music means so much to so many. It is taken personally as friend and a foe, a joy bringer and prompter of pain and energizer. With music an atmosphere is created, the mood is set, motivation on the ready. The emotional aspect of music brings one to tears as easily as the cheers, the quiet, calm memory to emotions of elation, excitation and exhilaration when it feels like your heart wants to jump out of your chest. Just as certain sad songs evoke sorrowful memories, longing, loneliness, the music, melody or lyrics recall the very moments of life we were living when the song came out. The stories told in song are powerful, poignant, corny and compelling as life itself. Lyrics dress-up the music to create such a compatible composition while the instruments add dimension and layers of texture to a song, throw in a great voice and magic takes place. Musical recordings are awesome gifts and a great companion through the years, an exciting place to go for quick sound bites or to take along on long road trips, to keep you company and facilitate inspiration.

Music is like a comforting blanket you wrap yourself in, you fill your head and your heart with the warmth of the sounds, the instruments and voice may be an irresistible chance encounter you hoped to get to know and remember forever. Music is like an old and new friend or member of the family, an entity, spirit, a thing that has always been there in good times and bad, the soundtrack of our own story plays on with a playlist that includes oldies, sentimental, festive, fancy, edgy, mellow and maniacal melodies. It's all there, the soulful, heart stopping, tear-jerking, dance-inducing, thought provoking, melodic, always laden with rhythm to get my attention.

I can not imagine a world without music even though there are times when my brain is on overload and does not know what to do with another note. The essence of music flows, softly or sternly bringing about overwhelming feelings, it can be too much as the sound saturates the air with a liquid type matter that makes me feel like I am drowning in it. The slightest sound of music can keep me awake or wake me up while a lullaby puts me to sleep, depending on the volume, the tune and if I am tired or not. Music is as reliable a relationship in my life as the moon, the sun and Holy Spirit. A matter of fact, emotional connection and partnership that I am happy to say; will always have a prominent place in my life.

Dear Mom

Sunday, August 28th, 2016, you would have turned 91 years of age. We gathered to celebrate your life, we laughed and cried, sang and milled about recalling your courage as a single mother and the lessons you taught us. We talked about what a great role model you have been and what a good person you will be remembered as. While we missed your physical presence I know you are at peace resting in a state of perfection with Mark by your side.

My big sister, Sophie, found this laminated prayer among Moms' belongings.

Mom wrote the names of her children around the edge. My sister, Marcie

read the prayer at Mom's burial site on August, 28th, 2016.

I miss you Mom, from a place deep in my core, from a place that is empty yet filled with love and longing. I see your smile, your frown, your beautiful face, the goofy ways you crossed your eyes to rattle my cage and snap me out of myself. I hear your voice so clearly and feel the gentle warmth of your soft hands. I believe you are with me throughout the day and in the still of the night. You are in my heart and soul. I need you to help me through life just as you did in the most subtle and spectacular ways, when you were here in your physical form.

The times you come to mind are frequent and permeates throughout the day-in day-out grind, just as before. I know you are present in more ways than I can fully comprehend. What a special place you will always have in my very being. I hope I am a good reflection of you and your great spirit, your compassion, your sense of fairness and kindness. In the good times and fiery times we loved each other through them all as the love and respect prevailed and you kept us all in tact. Your children, family and friends revere you and look up to the sold citizen you were, your sense of decency and loyalty to those you loved and cared for are still in place.

I love you so dearly Mom, the layers of life we shared, the faith you maintained throughout your life on earth proved time and again how important it is to hold on to hope, to do the right thing and get on with life peacefully. I hold on to you tightly yet tenderly and I am happy for you where you are in all of your glory with the Lord, where you prayed to be some day. I am thankful for you that we were appointed to one another and I am grateful for the hard and soft lessons I learned from you. THANK YOU MOM! I know your first birthday in Heaven was something wonderful, even more wonderful than the precious memories of you.

Sincerely yours,

Marlena

Creature Comforts

What makes a creature the way it is? It's evolutionary predecessor? The author and creator, finisher of life? What makes life the way it is? In design, form, function, anymore lovely, lovable, dangerous, repulsive or irresistible than the other? Where it is placed, in flight like the snow geese or crane, in the water, the rain, on land or in a grain of sand? In the tropics or in the high desert? Cared for, comfortable, miserable, feared or forgotten? An innocent dog is "awarded" the title of 'World's Ugliest Dog', with it's little naked head shivering, bulging eyes glisten as a bright brilliant smile frame it's dangling tongue.

The soul so simple and complicated serving as humankind's habitat, the heartland and epicenter of our existence. As nomads we sojourn lost, found, disconnected and connected to each other in time and in the places where our hearts and souls lead us. One heart, one vibration transcending nations, scary, serious, sad, silly,  inspiring situations occur. One imagines a different life, comparing, compromising, hopeful compassion is in place coexisting, codependent upon one another for matters of the mind and body.

How the spirit thrives off of a pulsating planet, people, plants, animals, dwellers of water, land and air breathing one sacred breath into the other. The preciousness of life, this moment, the past and future precious life. The humble, the haughty, the cavalier, crazy, the creative, cranky and incredible, every single speck of light, every dark corner of the world may contain earths elements, from massive elegant oceanic sea creatures to flightless birds who run into the sky like a dream then lands gracefully back on solid ground. Priceless are the treasures of this world.

It's All Good ~

There is a place where it is all good and calm, clean, healthy of mind, body and spirit, secure, safe and beautiful. It is where love and peace dwell and all is well, where blessings are itemized, the inventory vast, constant miracles abound and whispers from heaven, common. With a keen sense of appreciation for countless blessings received I wrap humble gratitude around my heart like the warm glow of fire underneath the massive hearth.

I pray we access the sacred place of peace in the midst of doubt and despair. I wish the young and old, forgotten and forsaken, the mistreated and traumatized from all walks of life in every part of the world would find the peaceful, perfect powerful place they long for. For light in dark places where suffering and fear are no longer constant companions nor reality so harsh. I pray consolation overthrows what seems hopeless and joy hastens to diminish sorrow.

It's not all good and not quite clear as to why anguish, anger, greed, hate and oppression become main languages spoken. One person lives with chronic mental, emotional or physical pain while another lavishes in the pleasures of life. If only life were fair and provided equal distribution of love, compassion, happiness, where kindness and respect are the first and last order of the day and we realize every moment in between is an opportunity to make it all good.

Something Good

The fire starts with a spark, the small light glows brightly then dims with the mundane the day in day out grind transitions into joy and excitement as glorious as the sound of a finely tuned grand piano. Another shift in time and space as the wind fans the flame with anticipation for something good a sweet stirring in a quiet heart beating with a powerful rhythm. The possibilities are spectacular in scope, the wondrous world, wild, wicked saturated in splendid beauty beyond our view yet within our reach.

We ponder life's mysteries, surprises, blindsided by bad news, overcome with grief then taken back by a story of humanity at it's finest, resilient, merciful, thoughtful with compassion for the innocent, neglected, abandoned. People and animals alike are rescued and rescue those divinely appointed in the name of mutually salvaging a broken heart, the injured and isolated spirit. The resilience of the hurt and heart sick resounds with heart stopping, joyful gratitude and humility with an appreciation for the ablity to move past the pitch blackness into a new light of a better and brighter day. ☼

Heart & Soul

To say goodbye to someone you have known forever, someone who was a permanent fixture in your life even if there were years you saw each other almost never... it is a time when one reflects on the goodness, the love, respect, admiration and stories about the life that passes on to another realm.  The transition is sad but sacred as faith indicates after life on earth the spirit thrives in a perfectly peaceful place of existence.

The connection transcends time and space as the love is not diminished but remains in tact and in a state of grace, as if the connection is strengthened with the awareness that we now have greater access to the heavenly elements, powerful, unrecognizable to the human eye but felt with the heart and soul, spiritual connections we can not even fathom yet reveal themselves to us by way of abounding quiet and not so quiet blessings.

And so we say our sad goodbyes to prima Marian Romero, good woman, salt of the earth with a big heart and generous nature, funny, sassy and a safe place for me to land when I was bouncing off the wall with youthful exuberance and mom allowed me to hang out with. We were good paleez.

Love you Marian, rest in peace.

Rules & Reg's

At what point does one disconnect? The light of the spirit shines brilliantly, flickers and fades with every step of life. Every moment determines the strength or weakness of the glow. The purveyors of peace pray the light never goes completely out. The heart thrives and shrivels as the rules change in the name of love, harmony, order, self preservation or in the name of hate, cold, reckless malevolence. What was once considered cruel, crazy, harmful behavior suddenly becomes acceptable for those whose mind has been emptied of reason and respect for life and the safety of others.

One does not always regulate owns own conscience be it by choice or other influences. The vulnerable fall prey and acquire a taste for hostility and aggression, detachment from a kinder, softer, peace-loving existence to a harsh, bitter, belligerent mentality. It is based on much exposure to malice, anger, frustration and unrest. Fear mongers attempt to choke the goodness out of life and seize the sweetness of the soul.

There is a strange and dark tolerance for disrespect. At times it feels like the whole world has gone mad. I don't remember it always being like this or are there simply more people which makes it more pronounce? Haters look for trouble, someone to disturb, instill worry, doubt and despair. As the sting and scars of disrespect become the order of the day this precious planet must feel every ache and pain. The collective pulse and heartbeat of mother earth longs for Love, Respect, Kindness and Compassion and in the end, must prevail.

Matters of The Heart ♥

Strong is the heart, as healthy are the mind, body and spirit.