Humbly fall on my knees …

Lately I have become overwhelmingly aware of how blessed I am. I may not be rolling in cash at the end of each month but I know that I have family that love me, friends who support me, food for each day, and a roof over my head.

And today as I see the ravages of Hurricane Sandy, I am grateful for the protection of my location. I have friends in the affected areas and I pray constantly for their protection and safety. The devastation will take years to recover – it is being called New Jersey’s Katrina. What a frightening thought.

Outside of our disasters we continue to hear of wars and bombings and man’s inhumanity to man all over the world. My daughter asked me today if this is the end of the world. Well no I told her but it is widespread catastrophe. We hear each day of incredible poverty and unbearable conditions. I am saddened for the conditions of our world, and I am grateful to be blessed.

I pray for direction for me to do God’s work. I write because God guides me. I paint angels and provide messages of inspiration because the Spirit (and angels) move me. I stand open to the nudging of my faith and discernment. What is next I ask. Right now, I’m considering a mission trip to Nigeria but I have no true plans or connections. I’m open to recommendations and will consider all options – humbly on my knees.

Join me and be blessed!

 

 

 

Praying …

I believe that we are spiritual beings having a physical experience. Because I believe that, I am often able to step back and look for the spiritual lessons that life is presenting me. Not always in the moment, but usually sooner rather than later.

And that is where I stand today – wondering what lesson is showing up right now. I am infinitely aware that I am hearing of so very many people around me and connected to me in some way, even if only by a once-removed relationship, who are gravely ill or dying. The pace and quantity seem to be picking up at a severe rate. So does the pace of evil in the world. I’m sure this isn’t just happening to me, but I am ever so aware.

I vow that I will not let my mind wander and conjure up scary or silly scenarios. I will not allow superstition to cloud my view. I have faith in an all loving Creator and I will look to him to calm my trepidation. And I will pray. I pray for my friends who are battling cancer, and strange afflictions. I pray for those I know who have fallen to accidents. I pray for those I know who are facing the horrors of battle and war.

And I will pray for peace – the peace that surpasses all understanding. I invite you to pray with me and be blessed!

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

~ Matthew 18:20

Generosity of Spirit

I am continually surprised by the generous spirit of people I have been coming into contact with lately. Whether it’s a helping hand, a kind word, some financial assistance, or just grace in spirit, I seem to see more of it each day. Even strangers seem to be a little more gracious lately. This is a pleasant surprise that lights up the moments of my days.

I have a couple of theories as to why this may be happening:

1) As I personally generate more lightness, tenderness, and compassion, I receive it as well. This is in line with the Bible’s teachings of giving. (“Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure– pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” Luke 6:38)

2) As times become increasingly difficult for more people, either due to medical bills, loss of jobs, increased costs, etc. we are beginning to understand the plight of others on a more personal level. That understanding is leading to an extra dose of compassion. We are judging each other less and understanding each other more. Difficulty creates a level playing field. And when seeing someone a little worse off than themselves, people are opening their hearts and hands to help.

I know, there are some people who are more bitter – but I think they were bitter anyway. Nothing changes for a dark heart except more darkness.

In these times, these “end times” as some believe, the dark becomes darker and the light becomes lighter.

I challenge us all to beam brightly and tenderly … and be blessed!

SOULS ALIVE – original poem

                                         SOULS ALIVE

Inside of you and inside me is a soul designed to create.

Born to bring to life a piece of what makes us great.

In the dark of our imagination, a flicker of light does grow.

And into the day comes the manifestation of that which makes us glow.

From the second we see it forming in the back of our mind’s eye.

The essence begins to take its shape in a way we can’t deny.

Once it blooms into a form we ought not hide it away.

Because the creation that comes from our best must be given away.

Whether it’s art, or words of wisdom, or whether our gift is love,

We can trace its origins back to source, our creator, God above.

There is no chaos or drift of fate that allows for the act of creation.

For without an artist to think it up, there is no imagination.

You and I are the final product of the great Creator’s hand.

With love, a word, and nothing more, he made us on command.

And now in his image, and with the power of his heritage within.

We must stir up our spirit, and muster our courage to have ourselves begin.

To create the world we long to have, where everyone can thrive.

Is  exactly the reason we have power within to bring our souls alive.

~ Barbara Bernard Miller

Wings Revealed – original poem

WINGS REVEALED

Out of the whisper of a prayer

The winds shift, drawing my attention.

From the lush green of the space emerges grandeur.

With grace, the mighty presence stretches

To reach his full and powerful stature.

Blinking in awe and surprise

I see that which was always hidden from my view.

Beside him, with effervescent glory stands a golden guardian.

Rushing to take action to ready the path

She moves with radiant intention.

And within a matter of moments the call is made.

Without hesitation a gathering begins to form.

With a frolic of wings and golden light

There stands a representation of spirit.

Angels keeping the space with a protective energy.

Celebrating the intention and movement of

human connection to self and others.

All are in the presence of the served.

And we are blessed.

~ Barbara Bernard Miller

Dreams and Intuition

I am a dreamer. Hmm, let me restate that – I am a prolific dreamer. I am one of those people who wakes up and often remembers in great detail what I have dreamed. Sometimes several are smooshed together and sometimes I clearly know where the line of one dream ended and another one started. I also dream in all senses, including living color. I’ve had some dreams that are so profound that I know the meaning and the context and can remember them with great detail even years later. Those dreams I don’t think of as fanciful trips of the unconscious. Those are more like memories.

Last night I had several very vivid dreams. One where I was faced with the reality that I was compelled to, with great danger and fear, attempt to save another person’s life. The last, and most vivid one was about family connections and intuition. The dream flowed from one part into another. At one point I was riding a bike home from downtown. It was dusk and I knew exactly where I was. And then, I was suddenly aware of my intuition to abandon my normal route. I took a right and then another right. I was drawn to turn into the driveway of a house I had never been to before. I stood looking at the door talking myself into the courage of knocking to find out who I was instinctively drawn to (yep, that’s something I would do in my waking state too). At that moment I heard my name and I looked over to see a cousin and her family whom I haven’t seen in years. I was standing at the stoop of her house. And in my dream I was suddenly aware of my dreaming and said to myself – this is exactly what I will blog about when I wake up. No I swear to you I am not making this up! I proceeded with the rest of the story that my unconscious mind needed me to know. I remember it so clearly.

Now I am awake and so here I am. I am writing about what I knew I would – dreaming and intuition.

Just like my dreaming, I have a strong intuition, perhaps cultivated by my boldness to follow it, which always makes it stronger. I believe that our intuition is actually our connection to spirit. Be it God, the Holy Spirit, our own spirit, our angels who guide our soul. Whatever you want to call it, it is a knowing that is outside the realm of what we “should” be able to know. That intuition doesn’t sleep and obviously is strong enough to speak to me in my dream. It is one of my most cherished characteristics, if I can call it that. What I also know is that it is different from my own “voice in my head”. It does not speak my judgments or opinion.

Inevitably my intuition pops in with new information. It doesn’t question or wonder; it declares something I don’t otherwise know or have never actually thought about. It has a physical manifestation too – I can “feel” my intuition as much as I” hear” it. Maybe hear is not the right word. It really is a new “knowing”. Sometimes it’s knowing that it is time to leave. Sometimes it’s knowing that a certain person has ill intent or a darkness of heart. Sometimes it’s knowing I will see someone out of the ordinary and then I do. Sometimes it’s knowing an innocuous piece of data that I ordinary wouldn’t notice is going to be important. Or knowing that someone far away is struggling with health, or emotions, or dying.

I’m not sure what you call it, but I am sure you have it – we all do. I’ve watched my kids when they were little and didn’t have a word for it but still they recognized it and relied on it. As adults I’m not sure if they still practice listening to it but I know they know how.

What about you? Do you dream, or hear, or know your intuition’s voice? Can you distinguish it from your own?

Be blessed!

SoulCollage® with Mar

Next weekend I get to join a dear friend of mine, Mar Feder, in an adventure of the soul. Lucky for me she is a fellow adventurer in both my physical and spiritual journeys. I met Mar through work. There was something about her energy that attracted me when we were in meetings. Over time she became my mentor and more importantly, my friend.

Mar is a certified facilitator in SoulCollage® work here in Cincinnati. While she’s not the creator of the process she is a warm and gifted facilitator. Being both a personal and professional coach, as well as a licensed counselor has given her a gift with people that not everyone has. I’ve attended a SoulCollage® session with her a couple of months back and have to admit, it has hooked me … heart, mind, and soul.

I now feel the call of the cards to create more. I will sometimes see an image and stop in my tracks, knowing that I have to clip it out for this project. I feel lighter and brighter during the process and a sense of accomplishment when a new card is complete. There’s something exciting about listening with the heart instead of with the ears. Crazy talk? Not really. Our physical senses are so limited compared to the potential our entire being is capable of in the realm of communication. True listening encompasses not just words but vibrations and feelings and energy. Taking time out to let my unconscious guide me to images that prove to be meaningful over and over again has not only been fun but enlightening. Tomorrow I’m excited to go to the next level and learn more about how to use them, not just create them.

So, if you are feeling adventurous, or just wanting to get in touch with yourself in a new and creative way, I invite you to check it out. And if you are in Cincinnati, perhaps I’ll see you next month.

God came to lunch today!

I had a most unexpected and gratifying experience today. While having a lunch meeting with a colleague the subject turned briefly to common work friends, and work decisions and ironically, to my book. I’m now growing accustomed to this happening from time to time. As usual, when he asked, I gave a short answer that it was a book chronicling a spiritual experience I had. I’m always conscious of the “line” between speaking my truth and delving into a topic that could make someone else uncomfortable in the workplace. Then we breezily moved on. That’s normal. Then we talked business – yep that’s normal too. Slowly he danced his way back into asking about how I wrote and what I wrote. He was curious. Okay, that’s normal.

Then suddenly, without a blink or a turn signal, it happened. It sounds cheesy but it was like in the movies when the lights go down around and there’s just this spotlight on two people engrossed in  meaningful conversation. There was no cafeteria. The other diners faded into the distance … and God came to lunch. I could feel it. I knew this moment was a powerful one. We had a verbal dance from one topic to another. There was no preaching. There was no religion. Just connection and wonder and questions. How do you hear God? Has he come to you in other ways? Do you get messages? Can I tell you about my wife. And I know people who feel things – like my mother who “felt” when a family member was dying 200 miles away. The conversation swirled and twirled and I sensed it was bigger than just the two of us – it was somehow complete.

This man, who I had only known a few short months, who came from a land across the sea, was sitting here now, making a deep and spiritual connection. In that moment we were kindred spirits with no hierarchy, no cultural difference, no language barrier, no time constraint – just Spirit. There was a heat, an energy and a light that emanated briefly from our table and then – fade to black. And as the moment passed and the cafeteria came back into view, I knew, on this day, with this person, the universal truth of connection had come to life.

I have been blessed … be blessed too!

!

Listen

“In the still moments of the night or the whisper of dawn – those are the times when our spirit is most open to the nudging and voice of God. Listen and be blessed!” ~ Barbara Bernard Miller

Clues to your gifts

‘Every day, every challenges and every success give you clues to your true gifts and purpose. Be blessed!” ~ Barbara Bernard Miller