Today is not the day that Dad died

Today is the seven-year anniversary of my Father’s rebirth into spirit. Notice how much less a “charge” there is, how much less suffering there is, how much more truth and presence there is in the statement of the anniversary. Today is not the day that Dad died. That day was a long time ago, and that day, that experience, has nothing to do with this day, this experience. This day is not that day, and we do not have to try to “reincarnate” that day now. If I had not been reminded, it would not have been top in my consciousness and may have passed unobserved. That is not a suppression or avoidance of any kind. It is a simply …

Celebrate Life!

Celebrate Life! In memory of Dawn On New Year’s eve day I called a friend I had not seen in a few months, and learned she was in hospital, dealing with 4th stage cancer. Fourth stage means that the cancer has moved elsewhere, beyond it’s origin. Her liver was the largest problem; it was not doing a good job purifying the blood of toxins. The day I arrived she had enough energy to occasionally sit-up on her own , smile, and hug. But the disease had progressed fast. At 46 she looked 80, her skin was jaundiced and drooping. New Year’s eve dinner was a salad in the hospital, sitting near her, and it was one of the greatest gifts …

Funeral Rites, and Rights

Funeral Rites, and Rights As I approached the church, there was love and peace was flowing from heart, along with connection and good thoughts of my friend. Very quickly however, thoughts like “Maybe I should not be smiling so much here,” arose, and I began to contain it, and began to slip-out of the Now. Old mind began to arise as the casket was wheeled in. It was definitely a familiar feeling dredged-up from past sufferings at funerals. Yet the watching consciousness knew this was an old habit, and began to bring me back into the present, until I saw her son, and the old mind, which had been given some space to exist said “He must have had a …

Waking Joy at a Wake

Waking Joy at a Wake The wake today was an experience unlike any other.  Of course they all are; every moment is, because this moment has never happened before. Yet old mind habitual response can make things seem the same. Today, approaching the closed casket, and looking into the bright, sparking, and kind eyes in the photo of my deceased friend, for a moment joy began to arise, then I watched as it was quickly shut-down by a thought like, “yeah but you can’t feel that, that’s not her, she’s not here,” and I felt a familiar old suffering mind try to rise. The impulse was to look away and move away, however I stayed; stayed looking into those eyes …

Love, Peace, and Joy in Death

Love, Peace, and Joy in Death This morning, I received the news that someone close to me has passed away. This is the first death in my experience since The Alchemy of Love and Joy™ came to me. We first met at her son’s funeral (he is listed on my Gratitude page), and her steady presence, surprising humour, and positive outlook at the funeral impacted me; I was almost shocked to learn she was his mother. We became fast friends, taking each other out to lunches and dinners.  I considered her family. The news came via email… and my first response was a surprised “Oh,” and I waited to see what would arise next, watching for sadness and preparing to …