Be present

"When our minds are no longer fragmented by the illusion of our separation from each other,

but healed by the truth of our oneness,

we are awakened to a new dimension of compassion.

Within the mantle of that love, there is literally nothing we cannot do.

We have remembered who God is.

We have remembered who we are. Finally, we are whole at last."

We are all one eventhough some of us don't know it. There is a spark of our creator in all of us, and we come from there. Each on our own - but connected. It is our lifes mission to enflame this spark with all our thoughts and deeds and in love. For love is the answer to all. Love be open to receive and give - let it flow from within and without - be open and receive.

Love is empowering and compassionate.

Thus,

Be in your divine presence of self

To be our divine self is the greatest gift we can be

and give to one other.

To be present to our divine being

That which is holy

Which uniquely connects us

to one another and the supreme.

So,

place my divine presence in front of all

and let it be my guide

On this path called life.

"When we start at the center of ourselves,

we discover something worthwhile extending toward the periphery of the circle.

We find again some of the joy in the now,

some of the peace in the here;

some of the love in me and thee

which go to make up

the kingdom of heaven on earth."

So, with these words I aspire

to reflect and start afresh,

to leave the past behind.

the new year of new beginnings

living within my truth.

The truth of my soul.

With love and blessings,

Poppy

Eve of Epiphany

Tomorrow on the 6th of January, the "twelve days of Christmas " come to an end. This day takes a special meaning in the Greek custom, there is a special ceremony of the blessing of the water and the vessels that ply them.

There is a service and the priest blesses water, which people then can take home. The water has special healing and protective powers associated with it. Then the priest and the congregation will go down to our river where the waters are blessed. A cross is thrown into the water and young men/teenagers dive in to retrieve it.

Were does this come from - it is said that Jesus was baptised on this day and this is where the day's association with water comes from. Plus it is the day that the three Magi came to visit Jesus bearing gifts to reveal and acknowledge him as king.

Today was the day that our Parish Priest "Father Demitrios" visits all our homes saying prayers and blessing them for the coming year.

God bless you all,

Poppy

Welcome 2009

Welcome to 2009 - what a wonderful start to the new year.

Merriment with a party to see the old year leave and the the new year come in with Family and friends.

It has been a special time for me and I have enjoyed the festive season - I wish to keep the spirit of the festive season with me for the rest of the year. The love, happiness and wonderment of the days.

Thank you to all who have been part of this - my family and friends.

We visited Mt Gambier as it was my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary. What a milestone to reach two people sharing their life and creating a family full of love, growth and learning. Together with what ever comes during the passage of time.

In the Greek Orthodox Wedding there is a part of the service where the priest places crowns on the heads of the couple. The crowns are linked together by ribbon, symbolising the joining of two souls and the couple is prepared to establish thier own kingdom as king and queen of a new family. The Koumbaro or Bestman then switches the crowns back and forth tree times, symbolising that two are now one.

After the crowning there is a reading fro the epistle and the Gospel. The reading describes the marriage of Cana at Galilee, which was blessed by Christ and where he performed his first miracle. The miracle converted water into wine, the couple is offered the wine from a single cup and they drink from this three times - this symbolises that they will share every joy and sorrow from the cup of life together.

On reflection my parents established their own kingdom and raised a family of four and there have been many good and tough times in their life. But, they have been able to overcome all t0 have had a good life together.

It is a time to reach out to those I love and for me to send my love to them with my thoughts and wishes.

For those who I cant be physically with, I send my love through the mists of mystery and essence and remember them forever in my heart.

In the new year I hope to be the best that I can be and to grow in all areas of my life - in my communication with family, friends and all who touch my life. For in the end we are answerable only to ourselves and the pact that was made before entering this life with our creator - our one.

God bless and may the angels guide you - all you have to do is be open and receptive.

Poppy