listen....hear....do!

SIOUX PRAYER REQUEST
A letter from Chief Arvol Looking Horse
(Present Chief and Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe of the Lakota, Dakota, Nakota Nation of the Sioux)
Gulf Coast Oil Spill - Sioux Prayer Request

****** A Great Urgency ******
To All World Religious and Spiritual Leaders

My Relatives,
Time has come to speak to the hearts of our Nations and their
Leaders. I ask you this from the bottom of my heart, to come together
from the Spirit of your Nations in prayer.

We, from the heart of Turtle Island, have a great message for the
World; we are guided to speak from all the White Animals showing
their sacred color, which have been signs for us to pray for the
sacred life of all things. As I am sending this message to you, many
Animal Nations are being threatened, those that swim, those that
crawl, those that fly, and the plant Nations, eventually all will be
affect from the oil disaster in the Gulf.

The dangers we are faced with at this time are not of spirit. The
catastrophe that has happened with the oil spill which looks like the
bleeding of Grandmother Earth, is made by human mistakes, mistakes
that we cannot afford to continue to make.

I asked, as Spiritual Leaders, that we join together, united in
prayer with the whole of our Global Communities. My concern is these
serious issues will continue to worsen, as a domino effect that our
Ancestors have warned us of in their Prophecies.

I know in my heart there are millions of people that feel our united
prayers for the sake of our Grandmother Earth are long overdue. I
believe we as Spiritual people must gather ourselves and focus our
thoughts and prayers to allow the healing of the many wounds that
have been inflicted on the Earth. As we honor the Cycle of Life, let
us call for Prayer circles globally to assist in healing Grandmother
Earth (our Unc'I Maka).

We ask for prayers that the oil spill, this bleeding, will stop. That
the winds stay calm to assist in the work. Pray for the people to be
guided in repairing this mistake, and that we may also seek to live
in harmony, as we make the choice to change the destructive path we
are on.

As we pray, we will fully understand that we are all connected. And
that what we create can have lasting effects on all life.

So let us unite spiritually, All Nations, All Faiths, One Prayer.
Along with this immediate effort, I also ask to please remember June
21st, World Peace and Prayer Day/Honoring Sacred Sites day. Whether
it is a natural site, a temple, a church, a synagogue or just your
own sacred space, let us make a prayer for all life, for good
decision making by our Nations, for our children's future and
well-being, and the generations to come.

Onipikte (that we shall live),
Chief Arvol Looking Horse
19th generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe

World Peace and Prayer Day 2010

Please visit the Blue Star Equiculture website:
http://www.equiculture.org/what-is-wppd.aspx

I just discovered this organization. Wow....

This is a lovely video and even includes a nice photo of work horses in front of Chartres Cathedral! How is that for a "labyrinth moment"? I love the quote associated with the picture, too "We have built cities and landscapes to his scale."

Peace for your Path,
Robin

Gulf sea turtles are being burned alive

Read more and please spread the word to stop this....please....
http://seaturtles.org/article.php?id=1660

http://seaturtles.org/article.php?id=1672

Please pray with us...OceanPrayer

our summer visitor

Well, I stand humbly corrected. Every since my friend arrived three summers ago, I have been referring to this brilliant creature as a baby green iguana. He/She is actually a Green Anole, I just finally confirmed this. It has taken me nearly six years of Florida living to only begin to grasp this vast tropical paradise....

Everyday, I am truly amazed by God's amazing beauty in my own backyard.

please pray with us....for the dolphins and for all Ocean Life

Join OceanPrayer on Facebook and OceanPrayer on Twitter, too.

Dolphins and Dispersant

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Thanks for your support and please help me share the peaceful spiritual tool of the labyrinth by sharing this info everywhere! Peace for your Path, Robin

The VoiceAmerica™ Talk Radio Network - The Wisdom of the Labyrinth

The VoiceAmerica™ Talk Radio Network - The Wisdom of the Labyrinth

Please visit our show's home page to catch all episodes and to subscribe. Thanks!

“An Artist’s Journey of Transformation: The Inspired Heart of Jerry Wennstrom”

“An Artist’s Journey of Transformation: The Inspired Heart of Jerry Wennstrom”

This was one of my very favorite episodes so far. Hope you'll listen!

The Inspired Heart: An Artist's Journey of Transformation by Jerry Wennstrom

Artist Jerry Wennstrom is my guest on The Wisdom of the Labyrinth today. Join us!

In this book, Wennstrom tells the extraordinary story of his daring exploration into the source of his creativity. In the late 1970s, Wennstrom was a rising star in the New York art world when he realized that he was too attached to his identity as an artist, and set out to discover the rock-bottom truth of his life. He destroyed his large body of art, gave away all of his possessions, and spent the next 10 years living in the moment, on basically nothing, surrendered to unconditional trust and the creative inspiration of his heart. Transformed, he re-emerged into the world as a more complete human being and artist with an entirely new type of art, rooted in innocence and spontaneity. Today his art pieces have taken the form of unique, interactive, life-size sculptural pieces made largely out of found objects that open up to reveal inner workings and hidden surprises. The book includes 16 color pages of his exquisite and intriguing art. Photos of art work for book and Web site are taken by Ed Severinghaus. The Inspired Heart tells of a life lived by the singular requirement of Grace - to remain fearlessly attuned to the heart. (Book description from the In The Hands of Alchemy website)

a nice read...

I was very happy to receive a copy of the children’s book, The Adventures of Kundun the Golden Cat written by Beverly Russell and Benjamin Beardwood. Though I strive not to judge a book by its cover, I could not help being captivated by illustrator, Sushiela’s, charming depiction of Kundun the Cat on the front.

 I first thought that Kundan was waving at me from the bright golden cover, but I was even more delighted to read in the book’s preface that his hand posture - known as “the Varada mudra”-  signifies an intent to invoke the invisible forces that can operate on an earthly sphere. Specifically, Kundan’s hand posture symbolizes charity, compassion and gift-giving which are clear themes of this story. With that introduction, I was hooked!

This 21^st Century fable is full of wonderful references to our human need to accept the cultural differences between nationalities in order to live harmoniously with each other. Kundan’s very name is one shared by the Dalai Lama and means “Presence.”

Born in Tibet to wealthy, royal parents, Kundan finds himself preparing to accompany them on a journey West. He will be taken to California to attend a summer camp for animals called Las Brisas. While his parents are busy on their quest to share the Eight Auspicious Symbols with other Top Cats in the West, Kundan learns just how much he has to share with his new friends on the ranch.

Like many of us facing a long trip, Kundan tries to pack all his favorite possessions. His parents encourage him to take along only what he absolutely needs. They give him an ancient, carved wooden box of his grandfather’s containing words of wisdom, a golden key and a small leather pouch. Kundan reluctantly tucks the mysterious box into his backpack along with all his extra clothes, laptop computer and music player. Kundan was not at all happy with the prospect of the  trip or the idea of attending his first sleep-away camp.

Children will love meeting Kundan’s new animal friends on the ranch and learning valuable life lessons about Giving through his many adventures with them. Grown-ups will be treated to explanations of the enrichments to daily life known as the Eight Auspicious Symbols included at the end of the book along with an index and website sources for giving away belongings. Everyone will love the engaging photos and illustrations tucked between the pages of this touching story.

Visit www.beverlyrussell.com for more info. The book is also available on Amazon (ISBN 13: 978-1-934582-20-6 or ISBN 10: 1-934582-20-4).

The Sacred Feminine Issue is now on-line!!!

We hope you love our latest edition of The Spirit of Veriditas, Voices From the Labyrinth. Creating it was a Joy!

Click HERE

Lily feet

truth....

"Bitterness is the enemy of LOVE because it makes you unforgiving and unwilling to give love unconditionally. It is the enemy of HOPE because you keep living in the past and become incapable of seeing a better future. It is the enemy of FAITH because you stop trusting in anyone but yourself."

-Erwin Raphael McManus

Thanks to Kim Engel of The Dove Coalition for this "Thought of the Day" (and to Scott for sharing it with me).

spider-web God's eye

When Lily and I turned south to walk back home, the morning sun was to our left and suddenly I became aware of tons of spider webs everywhere....it was AMAZING! This set particularly caught my eye as they reminded me of two God's eyes made so many years ago. One at vacation bible school - and one later with my own small son.

It was a very blessed morning and my heart is filled with gratitude.

Though this afternoon was met with much sadness and deep soul-searching moments, the comfort of my Sacred Morning takes me into the unknown of the evening.

God is very good. Amen.

rosary tree

I found this little black and white plastic Rosary hanging in a tree. Wow....After a bit of prayer, it felt right to take it home with me as yet another unbelievable Gift of the Spirit.

perch of the baby green iguana

Iguanas represent change which was also an important symbol for me today....

a morning with the Divine

I was walking Lily at the end of our street early this morning, when we were both startled by the flight of a giant bird from its palm tree perch right over our heads. I felt at first that it was an owl but then thought that maybe it was a red-tailed hawk as all I could catch was a quick glimpse of the bird from behind. Lily walked right up to a fallen feather which I researched on-line tonight to learn that it was, in fact, a Great Horned Owl.

This special sighting and the gift of her feather felt especially comforting when I learned that the Native American symbolism of the Great Horned Owl is that of Divine Wisdom. Since today our Veriditas Journal Team officially finished our "Sacred Feminine Issue" (online soon!), this was especially timely and delightful.

Happy Father's Day!

Peace and Light to all Dads today....

Send a lovely musical e-card to your favorite father via the Schola Ministries website by clicking this link http://www.scholaministries.org/fathersday/

Labyrinths Around the World: Building Global Neighborhoods

Labyrinths Around the World: Building Global Neighborhoods

To enjoy some of Reverend Warren Lynn's photography please visit http://www.wellfedspirit.org/

To learn more about The Global Healing Response and The Global Healing Resources created by Ellen Bintz Meuch visit www.veriditas.org

Flowers of the Earth (In honor of World Peace and Prayer Day)

I hope you enjoy this beautiful video as much as I have this morning. I found it posted by the lovely people at "World Peace and Prayer Day" on Facebook. This year marks the 15th annual World Peace and Prayer Day which is being observed by activities taking place this weekend and especially on the Summer Solstice which is Monday, June 21, 2010. Learn more on their site
http://www.equiculture.org/what-is-wppd.aspx

This quote is incredible which I found there, too:

All Nations, All Faiths, All Species, One Prayer!

"We are the watchers. We are the witnesses. We see what has gone before. We see what happens now, at this dangerous moment in human history. We see what's going to happen, what will surely happen unless we come together — we, the Peoples of all Nations — to restore peace, harmony and balance to the Earth, our Mother...

“You yourself are the one who must decide. You alone and only you — can make this crucial choice. Each of us is put here in this time and this place to personally decide the future of humankind. Know that you yourself are essential to this World. Believe that! Understand both the blessing and the burden of that. You yourself are desperately needed to save the soul of this World. Did you think you were put here for something less? In a Sacred Hoop of Life, where there is no beginning and no ending!”

Mitakuye Oyasin,
Chief Arvol Looking Horse
19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe

Peace for your Path,
Robin

all episodes available free and on-demand

Open Spaces Sacred Places: The Journey of the TKF Foundation

Open Spaces Sacred Places: The Journey of the TKF Foundation

I really enjoyed this week's episode of The Wisdom of the Labyrinth. I hope you do, too!

nice little story....

A dear friend just forwarded this to me via email. I liked it very much....

The Mayonnaise Jar

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle,
When 24 hours in a day is not enough;
remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class
and had some items in front of him.
When the class began, wordlessly,
he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar
and start to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the students if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured
it into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.
He then asked the students again
if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand
and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything
else
He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded
With an unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table
and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively
filling the empty space between the sand.
The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided,
'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.

The golf balls are the important things - God, family,
children, health, friends, and favorite passions
Things that if everything else was lost
and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the things that matter like your job, house, and car..

The sand is everything else --
The small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued,
'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff,
You will never have room for the things that are
important to you.

So...
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play with your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner.
There will always be time
to clean the house and fix the dripping tap.

'Take care of the golf balls first --
The things that really matter.
Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand
and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled.
'I'm glad you asked'.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,
there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'

Earth Day Wisdom: Labyrinths and Nature

Earth Day Wisdom: Labyrinths and Nature

Here is the link to THE WISDOM OF THE LABYRINTH episode highlighting World Oceans Day 2010. Thanks for listening and please share!

happy birthday

I love you, Mom. Rob

a miraculous sight on World Oceans Night...

In this beautiful photo, if you truly use your deepest mind's eye, you may be able to see the most incredible female Loggerhead sea turtle on her nest....

Lights on the beach - especially camera lights - are never allowed during sea turtle nesting season which runs from March to October each year here in South Florida. Turtle walk volunteers use special night vision goggles and infrared lights so as not to disrupt the sea turtles in any way. All nighttime beach walkers must dress in black, turn off their cell phones, walk very slowly and be prepared to sit in place for a very (very!) long time at a respectful distance from the sea turtle as she is nesting should they wish to observe this miraculous process. Sea turtles are protected by law as an endangered species, though the Loggerhead is thankfully listed as "severely threatened" (or at least she was before the horrific BP disaster began).

I took this "picture" well after this mother sea turtle had finished covering her nest in preparation for her crawl back to the sea. She was over 300 phenomenal pounds ancient BEAUTY and PATIENCE and WISDOM and FEMININITY and COURAGE personified. I watched her for over an incredible hour through tears and sobs of deep joy.

I felt a prompting to stretch out beside her on my own belly in the sand. I prayed and I prayed and I prayed for everything in my heart....mothers, daughters, family, friends, animals, loved ones, strangers, the earth, the ocean, birth, death, healing....Life.

Kyrie Eleison.

Peace for your Path,
Robin

Lily loves the ocean, too! Happy World Oceans Day 2010!

Hope you enjoy my pics from a great World Oceans Day (so far)! It began with a beautiful beach walk with my dear sea turtle-loving friend, Lisa, then a trip to The Loggerhead Marinelife Center of Juno Beach.

If I am really lucky, I might see a mother sea turtle nesting late tonight on the beach....I will let you know tomorrow!

Peace for your Path and Prayers for Mother Ocean,
Robin

welcome to one of my favorite places

Please visit www.marinelife.org!

it's always a great day to learn about sea turtles

Listen to my special episode entitled "Earth Day Wisdom: Labyrinths and Nature" featuring the work of The Loggerhead Marinelife Center of Juno Beach on THE WISDOM OF THE LABYRINTH. Available on-line, on-demand at your convenience. Tune in!

two great underwater photographers

Thanks for all you both do for the sea turtles, Anja and Michael!

book signing time for Michael Patrick O'Neill

Learn more about Michael's work at http://www.batfishbooks.com/

howdy, Fletch!

Mackey settles in while a "friend" looks on

Melissa monitors his first breath...

Mackey tries out his new tank

that is one pretty turtle (heavy, too)!

weighing and washing

working hard in the turtle yard....

Caela, who's your friend?

smile, beautiful!

what a cutie!

loving care awaits...

hello gorgeous!

smiling friends

welcome to World Oceans Day at the LMLC

a close-up view of mother loggerhead's tracks

lonely palm

my favorite rocks

tracks made by a nesting loggerhead sea turtle from the night before

a prayer circle found during our walk

calm seas

an OceanPrayer morning...

the awkward season by pamela c. hawkins

This is one of those amazing books that came into my hands at the perfectly appointed time. THE AWKWARD SEASON: Prayers for Lent by Pamela C. Hawkins (Upper Room Books 2009 ISBN 978-0-8358-9997-0) at first does not sound like a title one might choose for summer reading. And yet, for me, in the midst of a very "awkward season," the timing was perfect....

The book is designed to be used on any day during Lent, from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday. Each daily office is shaped around daily themes which are prompted by the psalm for the day. There are daily themes of Clearing, Longing, Waiting, Learning, Seeking, Asking, Searching, Praying, Trusting, Hoping and Believing. These themes are precisely what made it so easy for me to enjoy the book now, during the non-Lenten season.

The author writes beautifully. Her prayers are true poetry. Here is one of my favorites from the section entitled "Seeking:"

A PRAYER OF CONFESSION

From the beginning, O God,
you formed light that I might see;
sky that I might look;
earth and sea that I might seek and search.
You formed creatures of every kind -
swarming, flying, swimming, creeping -
that I, O God, might find my place with them;
that I, O God, might praise your making them.
Open my eyes,
too often closed;
clear the sleep from my heart,
too often settled;
that I may seek the blessing of your presence,
O God of my beginning, O God of my life.
Amen.

Week after week, the reader is invited to return to the repeated pattern and practice of prayer. Prayers of invocation, confession, intercession, thanksgiving and blessing remain the same and only the scripture reading changes. The author explains, "Returning to the same words of prayer anchors us in the otherwise awkward swells and currents of a culture that distracts and pushes us away from our relationship with God."

Tucked within the back flap of this beautifully crafted little book, is a marvelous, surprise gift: a finger labyrinth! The seven circuit modified Chartres-style labyrinth is a delightful enhancement to the reader's personal prayer experience. When the reader has finished reading the daily Prayer of Confession aloud or silently, he or she may choose to trace the finger labyrinth from its entrance to the center during the "Releasing" phase of the "walk." In the Center, the reader is encouraged to rest a bit before reading the Scripture Reading for the day and then instructed to remain in the sacred center of the labyrinth during the "Receiving" phase for as long as he feels led to do so while reflecting on the scripture. Finally, the third movement is a time of "Returning". The Prayers of Intercession are read first and then the reader/walker reflects on these while tracing the path of the labyrinth back to the beginning.

I sincerely look forward to reading THE AWKWARD SEASON: Prayers for Lent this spring beginning on Ash Wednesday as the author intended. Ms. Hawkins has also included a simplified six week session plan for a prayer group to follow using the book as a resource. Until that time, however, I will sincerely enjoy being refreshed and rejuvenated by this book's thought provoking, poetic prayers and its comforting finger labyrinth....

Peace for your Path,
Robin

Animals, religion, Christianity: Christians advocate for animals - chicagotribune.com

Animals, religion, Christianity: Christians advocate for animals - chicagotribune.com

The Great Oil Kill

The Great Oil Kill
 

tomorrow, June 8th, is the second annual WORLD OCEANS DAY

 Check out www.theoceanproject.org to learn more about this event! Celebrate wherever you are in the world by participating in "Wear Blue, Tell Two"! Also, join me here, on Twitter and Facebook and The Motherhood to share your own prayer for the day by posting your OceanPrayer.

my silent heron herald returns

A couple of winters ago, I wrote a little poem about a Great Blue Heron to tuck into our Christmas cards. They are always visiting the pond behind our house, yet I never tire of watching them soar in for their graceful, delicate landings. Each time I am blessed to witness one of these giant, magnificent birds in flight, I am left breathless by their Beauty.

On Sunday morning, I ventured outside to the lanai with my Bible and coffee in hand, but I was feeling a great heaviness in my soul for a number of reasons. I saw this Great Blue Heron sitting very close to our screen, and I quietly crept closer for a look. Lily, our yellow lab, was right at my side so I was fairly shocked when the Heron did not fly off but rather sat perfectly still staring sideways at us with one of its giant eyes. Lily stared back yet never barked once. The three of us stood there for several more minutes until Lily eventually became bored and returned to her perch on "her" chaise lounge to finish chewing her bone.

I remained there for several more minutes, utterly transfixed by the Heron's beauty. The sun was just beginning to reflect off the pond when suddenly there was a small yet unmistakable flash of brilliant light. The early morning sun was reflecting off the Heron's graceful neck even more brightly than it was shining off the water! It was truly lovely....

I tiptoed back to fetch my cell phone, hating to disrupt the moment but desperately wanting a picture to share with all of you. It was difficult to take it through our screening, but doing so resulted in this lovely, glowing aura around the Heron. I hope you enjoy it, too.

Peace for your Path,
Robin

late evening rainbow at sunset

We emerged from a restaurant to this lovely site tonight....

parking lot beauty

a memorial day to remember....

As a family, we were drawn to the water this weekend. We soaked in the purity of it, marveled at the mangroves, delighted in the fish that swam around our bare feet.

Never, for a moment, did we take the water for granted. Never, for an instant, did we forget the peril and suffering in our sister waters of the Gulf.

Our son said, "Now, this, this is real Florida," and he was right.

As I watched him balance almost effortlessly on a stand-up paddle board, I imagined the Intracoastal Waterway completely free of boats and jet skis and picnic people. I pictured a young Native American, our son's age, silently gliding along crystal-clear water centuries ago. For a moment, all pollution, all noise, all sorrow melted away in the sparkling sunlight. I witnessed a glimpse of our blessed earth as it was meant to be seen and cherished....

My heart spilled forth waves of gratitude, and I prayed my OceanPrayer.

beauty adrift

yellow flag of caution reminds me of the fragility of all our precious oceans