Living Consciously - by Rev. Carol Carnes

Living Consciously May 1, 2009

Dear friends,

In Hawaii they call it the coconut wireless. In small towns it is barber shop news. For most of us it is the internet or CNN. Called by any name, the spread of a story is fast, and like rumors of all kinds, takes on enormous proportions. Group Think is my new name for it. It is the phenomenon of sharing a belief with many others, whether or not it is actually true. Soon there is panic or a mob or simply a wave of fear that distracts us from the real issues we need to be creatively solving.

Personally, we can live our whole lives believing something that is not true. The problem is, we act on our beliefs, which are inner promptings that cause behaviours. We also tend to want to enrol as many other people as possible in them! We want buy in and agreement and we will go to great lengths to get it. Defending beliefs is the great pastime of humanity.

Some of our erroneous beliefs are simply unexamined impressions we brought with us from childhood. It is like a juicy piece of gossip that becomes our ticket to center stage as we tell it again and again. We develop a story about ourselves and unintentionally, we live it out and prove it to be so. A good exercise is to identify those limiting beliefs we have carried with us for years; such as I am unworthy of love, or I am damaged or There is not enough of anything for everybody. Then ask ourself, Is that true? Our first response might be YES but after some honest reflection we will have to admit it is nothing but gossip and childish thinking.

Today start a new rumor about yourself. Say I am happy, healthy, wealthy and wise. It is a good start to a new belief that happens to be true. Let it spread throughout your body and mind. Soon you will be telling a new story.

Peace and Blessings,

Rev Carol Carnes www.positiveliving.org

For the love of Saskatchewan...

To My Knees

I step out into the October night
leaving the sweet, sensual fragrance
of a rural Saskatchewan coffee house,
I breathe in the crisp fall air
fresh, still and clean
My heart thankful for poets,
kindred spirits,
Bearing their souls on tender tongues
Feeling, as I might,
the desire to capture the essence
of this "Heavenly" land.
Like a diamond in the rough,
the beauty lies deep,
uncovered only by eyes
willing to look deeper,
beyond perceptions
of prairie nakedness,
beholding the beauty
of crimson skies.
Lost in the reverie
as I navigate the winding road,
I am called abruptly to awareness,
hearing the rattle of cd’s
sliding to the floor,
as I brake suddenly,
in split second timing,
allowing the graceful deer,
to bound across in safety.
The warm lights
of a country farm home,
guide me along,
and up a dark and lengthy driveway.
My arrival is greeted
with furry exuberance,
canines and felines,
and
the soft, welcoming nicker
of equines,
red, white, black and gold,
nuzzling, their sweet breath on my cheek,
anticipating their evening hay.
Looking up,
I spot the Harvest moon,
Softly encircled by downy clouds,
shimmering in the moonlight,
a sight,
that takes me to my knees
in gratitude.

- Carol Marriott -

Spring and love and all good things...

Love’s Magnificent Flower


Love, like a seed that lies snugly beneath the earth,
healthy, whole, sustained and independent
waiting
content and peacefully held in this rich
and nurturing place,
surrounded by earthly nutrients,
an inner knowing of the
magnificence that its soft shell gently covers.
As season’s change…
the long winter chill gradually retreats,
the warm spring sun begins to softly caress
the earth,
a recognition stirs deep within,
a remembering of past seasons in the sun.
Awakened and sprouting beneath the earth, its sturdy stem slowly rising,
moving steadily upwards towards the warmth and light gently calling it forth,
concurrently sprouting and planting strong and healthy roots
beneath it,
spreading and stretching,
grounding and anchoring
held securely in the fertile “Mother Earth” soil,
resembling the friends and family that support our dreams,
offering their love, care and encouragement,
recognizing in us what we may not be able to see for ourselves,
and nurturing us as we bloom and grow,
celebrating as we find our place in the beauty of life’s splendid garden…
this garden of divine and magnificent love.

- Carol Marriott -

Snowflakes

When is the last time you really looked at a Snowflake? For me it was today. I had just returned to my Jeep after picking up my mail at the post office in Humboldt, and was about to open the door when I was suddenly drawn to tiny white snowflakes on the black door handle. Maybe my unconscious mind kicked in, knowing that Melva, Editor of WHOLifE Journal is including an article in the upcoming issue about snowflakes and she had mentioned this to me, and sent some pictures from her photographer friend, Richard Walters. Maybe I experienced a true "in the moment" moment. Maybe I was blessed. I stood there captivated and gazing at my doorhandle, until I thought that people might really wonder what was up with me. What I saw in that moment was breathtaking and magical. Tiny, exquisite, perfectly beautiful, sparkling little miracles. Each one unique and different. Can you imagine? I have always heard that every snowflake that falls is different, but I have never stopped to contemplate this until today.

Wilson Bentley once wrote, "The farm folks up in this North Country dread the winter, but I was always supremely happy, from the day of the first snowfall--which usually came in November--until the last one, which sometimes came as late as May." For the "Snowflake Man," snow was a lifelong lesson in the way nature's beauty arises from a delicate balance of law and chaos, fixity and change.--Chet RaymoThe Old Farmer's Almanac-Guide to Watching the Weather.

See more about Wilson Bentley at: http://www.linda-goodman.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/002678.html

I invite you to take a few moments, in the sparkling light of a winter's afternoon, to venture outside and wonder at the beauty of snowflakes, just like Wilson Bentley did, take some photos, and share them with friends, and enjoy the article and photos about snowflakes in the January/February issue of WHOLifE Journal.

Happy winter!

Finding love at Ravenheart

I look up from my computer as a flash of white and black run by along the lilac hedge on the far side of the front lawn. It is the Ravenheart dogs, Polly and Charlie, joyfully playing a game of tug with a stick, followed closely behind by Bianca and Chris walking arm in arm. I watch for a few moments as they stop to tend to the beautiful trough of flowers they surprised me with for my birthday a few weeks ago. Watching this scene unfold fills me with love and much gratitude for all of my blessings.

Chris and Bianca arrived here in April, Bianca, a "Wwoofer" from Wwoof Canada (Willing Workers on Organic Farms http://www.wwoof.ca/canada/homecanada.html , and Chris from Good Work Canada (http://www.goodworkcanada.ca/). Bianca had come to Canada from Japan where she had spent the past 6 months teaching English and learning about Japanese culture and language and Chris arrived from his home in Germany. Both are from Germany but have travelled extensively. Chris and I had already arranged for his arrival in April when I received a call from Bianca who was staying with a friend in Saskatoon while looking for a Canadian Wwoofing experience. I had room for two people and could certainly use the help. The timing was perfect! I arranged to pick her up at the airport the same day that Chris was arriving from Germany.

It is now July and we have become like family (yes, with the sometimes challenging dynamics of community living) and beyond that, Bianca and Chris, total strangers on that evening in April, have found love at Ravenheart!

I am grateful to be a link in their journey to each other. I am grateful and so appreciative of the care, respect and loving attention they extend to the Ravenheart companion animals, and to all the wild creatures...even the owls (still not sure what kind) that screech late into the night. I am grateful for all that they contribute to Ravenheart and my vision, and for the joy that I am filled with when I see them enjoying a walk in the evening after a full days work, surrounded by a prairie sky in brilliant colours of pink, red and orange. They will stay until September and then return to Germany to build their lives together, which I am most certain will involve much more travelling adventures!

May their Highest visions be fulfilled!

In love and gratitude,
Carol

Abundance, generosity and the wonders of spring!

I sit at my desk in front of a large picture window looking out into the expanse of prairie landscape and open sky. Out of the corner of my eye I catch a glimpse of a small sparrow landing on a young reddish tree (I think it's an ornamental crab???) and suddenly I am fully in the moment, savouring the beauty of the vibrant spring colours. And oh, the many colours of green at this time of year! After a bit of rain and lots of sun, the lawn is lush and green. The trees are wearing their fresh new leaves, a colour of green that is almost irridescent. The lilac hedge a deeper green, and I could go on and on to describe every possible shade of green imaginable. The bird varieties are plentiful and I wish I could identify all of them, but just in the last few minutes I have seen Starlings, Barn Swallows (making their nests on the house and ignoring the HUGE barn!!!), Chickadees, American Goldfinch, crows, sparrows and of course, pigeons. Butterflies flit back and forth and the drone of a large bumblebee comes and goes.



Thanks to Bianca and Chris from Germany, our Wwoofers (Worldwide Opportunities On Organic Farms), many important projects have been and are being completed, much to my deep appreciation. The furry and hairy ones here at Ravenheart love all the extra attention too! Thanks also to Elizabeth, a friend who is staying here for a while. We all love that her favourite pastime is cooking! Here is a list of just a few things that they have contributed to Ravenheart.

• Beautifully groomed horses


• Clean paddocks and shelter


• Clean barn


• Beautiful garden space hand dug and planted with a variety of fruit and vegetables


• Ravenheart sign painted and installed on roadway


• Rock gardens freshly tilled and weeded


• Stairs and entrance built to barn loft


• Many, many, many repairs to this and that


• Rock fire circle completed


• Firewood stack created


• A variety of new shrubs and perennials planted


• Did I mention the abundance of delicious, nutritious, and "slow food" meals? Chris and Elizabeth are both fabulous cooks (Blessed are Bianca, Wes, Melva and I :}!)


• Round pen completed


• Large north pasture fence completed


• Piles and piles of rocks picked and stacked


• Paths and trails groomed and maintained


• the list goes on and on...the tasks too numerous to capture all here

Thank you Chris, Bianca and Elizabeth. You bring love, spirit, energy, creativity, dedication and hardwork to Ravenheart. I appreciate your willingness, encouragement, the spirit of cooperation you demonstrate to everyone who visits here, and especially the love, care and respect you give to our companion animals, the wildlife and natural environment.

I admit I have fallen in love with Saskatchewan. The vast and varied landscape beholds many exquisite gems. The open spaces provide such a sense of freedom. The people are friendly, honest, hard-working and loyal. The air is fresh and clean. Nature abounds. Lakes, trees, rolling hills, lush marshes brimming with an abundance of water fowl and other wildlife, fresh, locally grown and organic food (a 100 mile diet is easy here), arts, culture, music, holistic health and recreation are found in the smallest of villages like St. Brieux, Meacham, St. Louis, Quill Lake and many others. Melva and I just discovered a most exceptional natural retreat called Torch Valley Country Retreats (http://www.torchvalleycountryretreats.com/). Our intent was to stay two nights and move on to discover other wonders of Saskatchewan, but we couldn't leave! We stayed in Cabin #3, the newest of three custom designed, authentic and original log cabins, this one constructed from logs salvaged after a forest fire blazed through part of the 2000 acres of land a few years ago. Cozy and comfortable with many natural features and a focus on sustainable living, yet fully furnished with all the amenities for a luxurious stay. Miles of inviting moss coverered trails, gazebos along the river bank, wildflowers, fiddleheads, mushrooms, birds, wild life, deep forest, marshes, ponds, and so much more still to discover. And for wintery or rainy days, there are bookshelves lined with classic novels, local poetry, naturalists, and artists, classic videos and DVD's. We will be back Jean and George! Thank you for your hospitality and the incredible effort you are making in the conservation of Saskatchewan's natural habitat.

At 6:15pm the horses and dogs are fed. Polly and Charlie are laying in the cool of the evening shade, tired from a full day of bone chewing and roaming the land, along with keeping up to Chris and Bianca as they move from chore to chore. (They really do get to relax here as well - kinda of a working vacation).

May you be at Peace. May your Hearts remain open. May you discover the Spirit of your True Nature. May you be Healed. May you be a Source of Healing for all Beings.

Wake up...and smell the horses...

Twas a lovely spring morning
the 12th day of April
We responded to the call
of the Ravenheart stable.

I jumped in my car
a bit after seven
to head north on Highway 20
a wee bit of heaven.

The marsh at Port Hyman
was well worth a stop
to see geese and gulls
and the golden eye duck.

Also worth mention
as I was cruising along
was the beautiful sound
of the meadowlark song.

He ignored the "Danger,
High Pressure" sign
he used as a perch
along the fence line.

His golden breast
reflected such beauty
that my soul said a prayer
out of love and duty.

Thousands of snow geese,
the Canada too,
filled up the sky or rested
on field or by slough.

I arrived at the farm a little bit late
but, with open arms, Carol met me at the gate.

I was greeted inside
by Holly, Catlin and Terry;
beautiful souls
no need to be wary.

Out in the corral
the horses were grazing
ready to greet us:
Sugar, Lacey, Brownie, Raven

Sugar's charming and sweet,
Lacey and Brownie a bit shy,
Raven stood a long way off
avoiding our eye.

Back in the house
we poured out our souls;
shared with each other
some of our goals.

We were joined by an author
through the pages of her book
comparing horse and human energy
was well worth a look.

In our high-top rubber boots
we went back to the corral.
We schmucked through the muck
to rejoin our new pals.

And I would be remiss
if I didn't mention
the smell of horse manure;
but is caused us no tension.

It was part of the experience;
a natural fragrance.
Nature's way of neutralizing
our human arrogance.

It opened the way
for communication
with one of God's great beasts
we would feel deep-down elation.

I don't know about the others
but Brownie said to me
through Carol's interpretation,
Let it go and let it be.

Brownie sensed in me
a great tension in my body.
perhaps, my dear, she said
You need to stop being so haughty.

You're not fooling anyone
certainly not me.
Just be yourself - let go, let God
and then you will see...

That life can be quite easy
we've all got one purpose:
to love and revere life
in our wordly circus.

Not just people and their cultures
but meadowlarks and horses,
mosquitoes, wasps and turtles,
dandelions and marshes.

Embrace them all with love and joy
and when you're feeling pain
seek the opportunity
the Universe knows you can gain.

For it's in your darkest hour
or when you've hit abysmal bottom
that the true love seed is planted
to see you through from spring to autumn.

The seed of love like all seeds we know
patiently awaits the right time to grow.

So have patience my friends,
myself included,
though at times our life seems
so dark and excluded.

As we learn to accept
fear and doubt as fodder
for growth of our spirit
firmly joined to mother/father.

We can rise above
what came before
and thank Mom and Dad
for their love, and more.

And always remember
pain and sorrow are a boost-up
from those wasteland spaces
Aussies call the whup-whup!

Don't fear the pain
embrace it with love
know the Universe supports you
as firmly as a glove.

Phew - that was heavy -
but now my load feels lighter.
Thanks Carol for offering space & time
my way seems so much brighter!

By M. Hunter
(Horses, Spirit and Play April 2008)