January 13, 2022

When we choose freedom, we find we are not alone. We choose the freedom of deep connection within and with other realms. 

Beannacht,
Judith – judith@stonefires.com

January 12, 2022

In stillness
I drop in
And feel the flow
And movement
Of Earth energies
Of the Seven Nations

In silence
I hear the singing
Of other realms
Of the ancestors

It is
Sacred Communion

This photo is of me at one of Ireland’s sacred sites. In those mystical landscapes the invitation to sacred communion is so powerfully extended and so easily accepted. 

Beannacht,
Judith – judith@stonefires.com

January 11, 2022

Beannacht,
Judith – judith@stonefires.com

January 10, 2022

It was a one eyed one horned
flying purple people eater.

What’s interesting and perhaps disturbing is that these lyrics came instantly and easily to mind. I did have to look up the 1958 release date for this song that unbelievably made it to #1 on the Billboard pop charts. It didn’t stay on the charts long but has clearly stayed in my head for over sixty years. 

Aside from this ridiculous song about an alien coming to Earth to eat purple people, I’ve never spent much time thinking about intergalactic visitors. Oh, I absolutely believe they are real. I’ve just never been compelled to engage in UFO speculation. However, more information is surfacing from even those governmental sources that have worked for decades to keep this out of the collective awareness. 

I have a friend who is more into this than I am. She offered to lend me a book. I was curious. The book is one of three written by Dr. Ardy Sixkiller Clark of Cherokee/Choctaw heritage. With degrees in history, English, psychology, and educational leadership and a background as a teacher, university professor, junior college and university administrator, licensed therapist and psychologist, and social science researcher, ufology, as she names it, is not her primary focus. Yet because of her books people find her. And they share their stories of UFO sitings and contacts. The book I’m reading has thirty-nine of these stories.

What’s remarkable is the similarity of these accounts from people across the US and Central America. There are many consistent themes. One of them is silence and the nature of communication. Every report is that the ships, generally cited to be as large as a football field, arrive and leave in complete silence. And any reported interactions with those on the ships is also silent. Nothing is spoken, yet people report receiving very clear messages.

The communication is there, it just holds none of the audible triggers we expect. And this so resonates with communication from and within the natural world. We can spend time in nature and receive so many clear messages if we take the time to step into the required silence. To listen with senses other than our ears, to listen for messages from within and without. I also reflect on the popular term, being on the same wavelength, to describe when we have similar knowings with others. It’s all about energy. Waves or not.

Stillness and silence are the doors to perception that open for us. There is so much to receive, so much to learn, if we are willing to step across that silent threshold. 

And no. It’s doubtful that, even stepping across that silent threshold, we will get any message from the purple people eater. But then….who knows?

Beannacht,
Judith – judith@stonefires.com

January 8, 2022

A friend who taught
Me right from wrong
And weak from strong
That’s a lot to learn

Those who know me will not be surprised that I was compelled to watch To Sir With Love last night. It’s a movie that suits me right down to the ground. Compassion, redemption, music, and a happy ending. As I think I’ve mentioned here before, Pollyanna is another favorite. No music…but loads of rainbows! But I digress.

Sidney Poitier was not only an amazing actor, he was an incredible human being. The human dignity and social justice themes in that early movie were also themes in his life. As in the movie, he has shown us how to be strong of character and compassionate in community. He made the demonstration of standing for equality and justice. He inspires us to live consciously and with intention. In this moment and all moments.

Thank you, Sir.
That’s a lot to learn.

Beannacht,
Judith – judith@stonefires.com

January 7, 2022

He sees you when you’re sleeping
He knows when you’re awake
You better watch out

We interrupt this spiritual flow for a rather disturbing announcement.

Santa Claus and God are widely known for being both omnipresent and omniscient. Santa brings us presents. And while God doesn’t bring us gifts in the same way, she doesn’t try to sell us anything. There is no such ethic in the world of ever present and all seeing technology. 

A few blog posts ago, I mentioned Tony Hawk’s book Round Ireland With A Fridge. It was only a mention. A reference  by which to segue into writing about Irish linguistics. I didn’t email or message about this. I didn’t search for the book on the internet as I have it on my bookshelf. I just mentioned it here on this platform. So I was greatly surprised two days later to see an ad for the book come through my search engine news feed. WTF? 

Last month I had some car repair work done that included replacing the in-cabin air filters. There were no emails about this as my only communication with the mechanic was by phone. No texting. No web search for air filters. And then a few days later I got an email from Amazon with gift suggestions I might be interested. And, you guessed it, in-cabin air filters were at the top of the list. Again, WTF? I mean, who even buys in cabin air filters for anyone for Christmas?

Yes, like many of you, I’ve been seeing an increase in information sharing on platforms like FB. But to have this invasion be so pervasive is deeply disturbing. No. I have no solutions or ideas about what to do beyond this advice… 

You better watch out.

We now return to our regular programming. If you don’t know what that is, just ask them.

Beannacht,
Judith – judith@stonefires.com

I so appreciate and welcome your comments. I’ve just changed the settings so that you don’t have to sign in to make a comment. Should be easier. Thank you so much!!!

January 6, 2022

Yes. In fact it does.

Lord, how much cottage cheese we ate as children. We were constantly on a diet and the family narrative was that we were all overweight. I absolutely know that this and other messages of not being enough, not being good enough, were delivered from a place of wanting us to strive for perfection. It was a narrative my folks believed would serve us as we would grow into adulthood. And those messages became embedded.

As the eldest sibling, I ended up with boxes of family photos and slides. I am just now making my way through the seemingly endless number of slides that are the record of our growing up years. I was stunned to see images of us as kids. We were, in fact, not fat. This image of me from high school stopped me cold. Fat? Seriously?

As I navigate the realms of my sacred sovereignty, it’s important to recognize those voices and narratives from childhood. It’s important to discern which ones serve me and which ones don’t. It’s important to purge those that don’t, to honor the genesis of those messages and release them.

Those messages and memories that have so shaped my life. Those memories that have shaped how I see the world and myself in it. Those memories that make me look fat.

And so I am releasing those childhood messages and healing those childhood wounds. For my sovereignty, my sacred sovereignty cannot flourish with those messages running around in my head. My sacred sovereignty invites, indeed calls for, messages of being enough. Being absolutely enough.

Enough. Not supreme excellence. But enough to manifest my sacred sovereign self.

Beannacht,
Judith – judith@stonefires.com

January 5, 2022

I am a finger
pointing to the moon.
Don’t look at me;
look at the moon.

Magic wands help. Like other symbols and tools, they can be powerful affirmations for the power we hold. But they are only a reflection.

Sovereignty. Through history it’s a word that has accumulated huge baggage, laden with concepts of power over, authority, and dominance. Perhaps in response, the idea of popular sovereignty emerged, the belief that people can and should govern themselves. Still, it carries the connotation of a power struggle.

So let’s go back to a definition from the 14th century when apparently the word was first recorded, a definition that the dictionary now lists as obsolete. Supreme excellence or an example of it. It’s this definition that speaks to personal sovereignty. It’s this definition that invites us to consider our own sacred sovereignty. Of course there can be a struggle in this, but it’s about internal not external power. For me it holds the aspiration of manifesting my highest and best self as a sacred woman. Supreme excellence? Perhaps not. But living as an example would be wonderful.

Jane Brideson created an amazing deck of oracle cards. They are stunning. And the one that has most resonated for me is Sovereignty. I had mentioned to Jane that I was interested in purchasing the original if that were ever possible. She had actually planned to begin selling the originals at a gallery last summer. But with the pandemic, that didn’t happen. Then, last September when I was in Ireland and just before she and her husband, Mel, and I were meeting for lunch, she rang me to ask if I was still interested. She had decided to begin selling them individually and Sovereignty would be the first. If I would have it. I was thrilled. I thought briefly about bringing her back to MossTerra but Jane was clear she should remain in Ireland. Which is actually perfect because my sense of sacred sovereignty lives in the Irish landscapes and sacred sites. And now Sovereignty holds a place of power in the living room of HazelWood Cottage. As she should. Here is the piece along with the words Jane wrote about her.

I am
courage, power and inner strength,
flowering staff of freedom.
Your unbowed head,
your rock, your shield, your struggle.

I am
the sweet soil of independence
tilled by many hands,
the land which nourishes your roots.

I am
your tears shed for the brave,
your rainbow dreams,
your sovereign state
And your arms
which reach to the stars.

I am. Sovereignty. Sacred Sovereignty.

Beannacht,
Judith – judith@stonefires.com

January 2, 2022

Sawubona
I see you, and by seeing you,
I bring you into being.
An African Zulu greeting.

Em is five years old. Although to be precise, as it seems is important for people her age, she’s five and a half. She’s my great niece. And she is great. We don’t get to spend loads of time together but the whole family gathered on the Oregon coast for Thanksgiving. It was an amazing time and I understand she and her older brother cried on the way home because they didn’t want that time to be over. 

Then the package arrived. Now, I know I’m a very powerful spiritual woman. But I generally try to be a bit circumspect around my family unless it’s a family ceremony. For weddings and funerals my family has come to expect and even rely on my spiritual focus. But the rest of the time I intend to show up simply as the somewhat weird AJ, Auntie Judith.

Then the package arrived and with it any illusion I had of a circumspect disguise was shattered. The package, a Christmas present, was from Em. She had decided I need a magic wand, and so she made me one. She saw me.

Sawubona!

I was so delighted that I took this photo and shared it with the women in one of my spiritual circles. They loved it and five of them accepted Em’s offer to make more. I’ve sent Em photos of each of the women, photos that include symbols of an essential spiritual essence that they hold. Em has gone shopping for supplies so she can create wands that reflect the unique and individual magic these women hold. 

In this commission of magic wands, I am so grateful for the opportunity for Em to be seen. To be recognized for the talented budding artist that she is, an amazing spirit of insight and wisdom. 

In our culture we greet each other with ‘hello’. What a different world it would be if we all greeted one another with the Sawubona intention to truly see each other and welcome a genuine connection.

I see you and by seeing you I bring you into being.
Sawubona!

Beannacht,
Judith – judith@stonefires.com

January 1, 2022

I’ve never been a fan of New Years. It’s such an arbitrary celebration. The January 1st date was decided by Julius Caesar in 46 BC when he imposed a shift from the Roman calendar to his Julian calendar. Prior to this, the new year was celebrated at various points in history on December 25, March 1, March 25, and the movable date of Easter. The only thing that makes sense about the January 1st date is Caesar choosing it to honor Janus, the god of gateways and beginnings and for whom January is named.

There is nothing in this particular date that aligns with any of the Earth or Sun cycles that have been central to celebrations in so many traditions. Seems both arbitrary and meaningless from that perspective.

But now, as a date celebrated around the world, it holds the meaning we give it. And that meaning is essential. We live our lives in cyclical celebrations that mark an anniversary of events. We live our lives in cyclical celebrations of the sacred. So it makes sense that we give ourselves one day every year to contemplate the past year and set our intentions for a new one. Of course this could happen on any day of the year…but we have collectively agreed that January 1st is that day. Now that energy is embedded in the collective consciousness and anything that calls the collective to reflection and contemplation is a good thing. John O’Donohue captures this beautifully in his piece For A New Beginning.

In out-of-the-way places of the heart,
Where your thoughts never think to wander,
This beginning has been quietly forming,
Waiting until you were ready to emerge.

For a long time it has watched your desire,
Feeling the emptiness growing inside you,
Noticing how you willed yourself on,
Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.

It watched you play with the seduction of safety
And the gray promises that sameness whispered,
Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent,
Wondered would you always live like this.

Then the delight, when your courage kindled,
And out you stepped onto new ground,
Your eyes young again with energy and dream,
A path of plenitude opening before you.

Though your destination is not yet clear
You can trust the promise of this opening;
Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning
That is at one with your life’s desire.

Awaken your spirit to adventure;
Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;
Soon you will be home in a new rhythm,
For your soul senses the world that awaits you.

Indeed. There is a world that awaits us. Embracing that opening, trusting the promise of that opening is essential.

Beannacht,
Judith – judith@stonefires.com