Happy New Year... What does that mean really? Is it not just another day? It has no real solar significance, that was few weeks ago... Yet is a time to check in with ourselves, do any inventory of where we are in our lives and make resolutions to amends those areas that did not work or no longer work to create forward/upward movement, or maybe even inward/downward movement within ourselves.
It is not a time to berate ourselves for failure but a time to celebrate our success, even ones we may not count, the small unseen gifts, gestures that we have offered to our self during the past year.
Did you take time for youreslf more often or even for the first time. Did you volunteer for a cause, did you pick up trash that was someone elses, did your smile at that person who never smiles at you! I think you did ! and Good for you!!! Remeber! Be grateful!

Take a breath.... allow the new path to open, does it still seem like the same old path maybe it is? That is ok too! The path your own is fine, it is right where your suppose to be. What the breath allows us to do is to look around, see if there are other choices we can make, if so take them, if not say thank you until new ligth shines on a new choice, a new path... to take you where you wish to go... for we all going in the same direction we all just have different preceptions of those paths that take us there...

Love your Grandest vision of your Greatest Verson of Who You Are. Allow that vision to inlighten and inform you of who ane what your are being while your doing what you are doing... Being...

So is New Years Eve just another day, Is The New Years just the same path you where on before? Only you can answer that, but let me say, that we have each moment to recreate ourself anew each moment... and say Thank you...
Happy New Year
I am Love, Jeff

The Feast of the Epiphany!
Early in my recovery, I went on my first retreat, away from the world, I thought, a mens retreat, but many of the men brought the world with...
I went at this time in honor of the Feast of The Epiphany, so I could remember to go each year, I only went to this four three years these weekends I and my life where different...

See Blog The Feast of The Epiphany - The Magi arrive in Bethlehem... It is a story or a commentary on the gospel story of Matthew 2:1-12...

So I celebrate veiwing and following the star... and returning differently...

I share this story because I believe it is important. Whether it ever happen is not important, it is important because it is a moment in time...set aside to communicate a shift.
Almost 20 years ago when I first started my journey of recovery and finding myself and relationship to my Higher Power I had attended a retreat for men in Malvern Pa, at St Joesph on the Hill. I was my first foray away from my safety of the AA rooms and support system... I chose this weekend because it is a way to remember the moment, and it was a gift to myself...
So I share the below story by a friend who is a Minister...
Thank you for reading, and for Following your Star!



FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY - THE MAGI ARRIVE IN BETHLEHEM

MATTHEW 2:1-12

    "In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi (wise men) from the East came to Jerusalem, asking,' Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.'  When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah (or the Christ) was to be born.  They told him, 'In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

        'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
        Are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
        for from you shall come a ruler
        who is to shepherd (or rule) my people Israel."

    Then Herod secretly called for magi (wise men) and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.  Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, 'Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.'  When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.  On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage.  Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  And  having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road."  (NRSV)

Use your imagination today.EE

There are many details in this all too familiar story that we can most likely tell off the cuff, without reading it.

Put the paper down and try telling the story to yourself or another person.

What have you included in your telling of the story?

What details?

What have you left out?

What have you put in that is not there?

(For an interesting account of this story, see the following website which is "The Four Fold Gospels, published in 1914.  It is a chronological harmony of the Gospels and the Life of Christ.  Here is the page pertaining to the Magi story.  http://www.ccel.org/m/mcgarvey/ffg/FFG013.HTM)

Did you include the names of the three magi?  Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar.  During the middle ages, as the above article tells, their names were discovered and there is a shrine at Cologne Cathedral in Germany that can be seen to this day.

But were these really their names?
In addition, is it really necessary that we know their names.

Perhaps the most import parts of the story are that
    They traveled
    They heard
    They saw
    They came
    They worshiped
    They returned
    Different.

But, what is left out of the story?  Doesn't one wonder what was going through their minds as they stood in front of Herod?  Ponder that.

In the story, there are several times that they arrived one way, and traveled on or left another, changed persons.

Didn't seeing the star change them?
The audience with Herod must have changed their thinking?
The arrival at a most unlikely birthing room, surely got their attention.

Each time the magi encounter a different aspect of their journey, they are changed, if just a little.

I've been noticing the evening "star" these past few nights.  It "rose" several nights ago, close to the moon.  Brilliant in the early evening sky.  Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are."  A few hours later, that "star", which is actually Venus, has marched across the sky, separating itself some from the Moon, yet maintaining its intensity.  Each night that evening "star" has come and "looks down" upon us, wherever we are on planet earth.

David Giles, one of my favorite District Superintendents in the United Methodist Church used to say, "When my faith is gone.  When I am alone and lost.  The one thing that brings me back into the fold is the stars.  I look at the stars and I know, God."
What must the magi thought as they traveled, met Herod, and finally reached a destination.  One thing for sure we know.  Their arriving at the site of a birth was not the ending, but the beginning for them of new birth.

If it were not so, they would not have traveled home by another route.

What route are you traveling on your life's journey?

Look, see, and follow the star!

    MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH
    www.thepaintedbear.com
    OUR CHURCH'S MISSION IS TO CLAIM OUR BIRTHRIGHT
    GROW IN WISDOM
    SERVE IN GRATITUDE,  SHARE GOD'S LOVE

Zen Buddhist!

As I woke this morning I had a vision of a women... dressed in classic dress, flowing hair, rather still... and I ask who are you?
As I took the dogs for a walk at 6:45 am... there was the Moon blazing the sky above the trees in the direction of North... hmm... I walked in to the field and held out my arms and breath the fresh freezing air... aaahhhh... yes, moon sister I see you, what is it you would like me to know or do... first I may have to find something out about you, Moon Goddess, lead the way..
I did google Moon Goddess, but that was not all that helpful, as of yet. Now I am getting more of a Durid or Shamanic pull on this...

So I am attunted to vision and message...
any thought and guidance is gratefully accepted...

I found this useful as well, sense the Moon is in my sign today... this from Carol at
Carol Barbeau carolastro@carolbarbeau.com
http://www.carolbarbeau.com



Monday January 12, 2009

Today the moon in Leo is trying to catch up with the
Last weeks major planetary jumping around.  Balance
Is the key today and recognizing that the energy of fire
Is strong and some irritations often come with this.

Being or feeling Blocked leads to anger this last week
And GETTING FREE OF BLOCKS is the gift of this
Time.  BUT, I would wish that this happens GENTLY
AND EASILY with Harm to none for you.

Today, slow down, breathe deeply and often and
Get ready for some WILD Dreams tonight as at
10:39pm the Moon in Leo opposes Neptune in
Aquarius.  Make intentions to connect to your next
Step in dreams, ask for assistance and be ready for a wild
Night of inner voice and guides and angels directions

10;39pm the moon moves v/c or times out.  This is
Not the greatest night to be out and about after this
Time but wonderful to be snuggled in and connecting
To visions and dreams.

IF you do not remember dreams?  HOW about asking
That you awaken and GET IT THIS TIME?
-  Color today red for passion as you connect to
  Your sense of fun, adventure and romance and lets
    use, ruby or garnet for the same
-  Oil of Frankincense or myrrh to soothe out the edges..
Kiss for today is hang tight and grab that steering wheel of life,
the engine is going and we are on our way, you can drive or
someone else will TRY to take you their direction,
which do you choose for yourself?

LEAVE EARLY FOR WORK TOMORROW AM
DO NOT RUSH AND be nice…  24 hours notice::

I think the act of "seeing" something is creating beauty in itself, the act of seeing! How many times a day to we go by things in our house, in our lives and not see them, they are just there.
Now to take time to breath, look around and focus on a thing... a left out coffee mug,
socks and underwear scatterd on the floor, whos stuff is it? yours or someone you care for or love, does it make you angry or bring a smile? These are the distictions that could or would create beauty....

I am still diving deeper into who I am to be able to express those blessings...
Someone just recently ask about my experience of living in Community of 3 1/2 years. and I froze... Living was not something I wished to do or not in the way that it came about. Along with the experience of wonder and healing, are wounds deep and dark, yet light was shone around me and too me. I have received gifts beyond measure, so my task and journey is now to place them as my tools to offer blessings to the world around me therefore experienceing abundance for myself...