Connections

“This we know. The earth does not belong to us, we belong to earth.

This we know. All things are connected like the blood which unites one family,

All things are connected.

Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons and daughters of earth.

We did not weave the web of life, We are merely a strand in it.

Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves…”

This poem, attributed to Chief Seattle, has been on my mind lately. Maybe it’s because of the senseless deaths in Paris and in other parts of our world. Maybe it’s because the holiday of Thanksgiving always makes me think of the generosity and betrayal of the Native Americans. When I researched Chief Seattle, I discovered there is some suspicion as to whether these were his words. But some one wrote these words, and admired Chief Seattle enough to attribute them to him. It is an important message.

 

This spider web remained surprisingly intact in my yard after heavy rains and strong winds. Something about the connected structure of the web made it strong.

Did you know that spider silk is five times as strong as steel?

 

Planting Trees

Makes the web stronger

Reducing waste

Makes the web stronger

Kind words

Make the web stronger.

Spread your arms out

Open your hands wide

Feel the healing energy from your source

As it flows to your soul

Connect to Life and all that is good.

Send love out into the world.

 

 

(The top photo is from pixabay. The bottom one is my photo of my pet spider.)

 

Let the Gratitude Flow

Making a gratitude list is a simple, yet powerful thing. I highly recommend it, and not just on Thanksgiving, though my daughter and I have enjoyed an annual Thanksgiving tradition of taking turns naming things we are thankful for. A gratitude list can lift dreariness or ease boredom. A gratitude list can go on forever, and you can repeat things you are most thankful for as often as you want to.  Just let it flow. Here are just a few of the many things I’m thankful for in no particular order:

I’m thankful for juicy sweet crunchy pomegranate seeds which I only just discovered a few years ago.

I’m thankful for my husband who collects pomegranate seeds every morning  for our oatmeal.

I’m thankful for my family: my children and my dogs, my Dad, and my Mom who is an angel now along with my sisters.

I’m thankful for friends, both near and far.

I’m thankful for seasons…for changing colors, the refreshing coolness of autumn, the crispness of winter, the warmth of spring and the summer sunsets.

I’m thankful for toilet paper. Can you imagine life without toilet paper?  No, lets not.  Let’s just be thankful.

I’m thankful for trees that give shade in the summer. And some even drop their leaves and let the warm sunshine through in the winter!

I’m thankful for music and the ability to hear music in the rain and the crickets and the wind in the trees and the many melodies of water.

I’m thankful for water and it’s abundance on this beautiful planet. Water quenches our thirst and cleanses our bodies. Water reflects the trees and sky and moon and sun. Water is life.

I’m thankful for life and the faith that our needs will be provided for……..

What are you thankful for?