Crystal Tapestry

JoAnne Dodgson
excerpt from Walking the Spiral Path: Awakening Power and Passion

As the orange glowing sun rose up over the horizon, a hint of magic filled the

air. A chattering flock of ravens surfed wildly on the winds, landing high in the trees

and soaring to the ground to hold council among the frozen cornstalks in the field

beside our house. I wondered what they were up to, besides calling me out to play.

I ventured into the woods, delighted by the beauty of the vibrant green forest dusted

with sparkling white snow, all embraced by the brilliant blue sky. Our spirited dog,

Jasmine, romped through the underbrush, sticking her nose deep into animal tracks

imprinted in the snow to determine just who had been by and how long ago and if

there still was a chance of catching up.

When I stopped beside a creek to breath in the deep woody silence, I noticed

the thread of a spider’s web swaying slightly in the breeze. Hanging in a graceful arc

between the branches of a cedar tree, the delicate fiber was lined with snowflakes.

Each individual snowflake was clearly visible, such intricate starry crystals of all

different sizes and shapes gathered along a shimmering thread.

Enchanted by this discovery, I looked around with heightened awareness and more discerning eyes to find the woods filled with snowy spider webs. There were sparkling threads strung from broad cedar branches to the tips of the neighboring pines. There were glittering fibers dangling around the spindly bushes beside the icy creek. There were ornate strings of tiny snowflakes stretching all the way across the path

I walked along,crystalline fibers reaching out and connecting tree to tree to tree to tree. The glittering tapestry of snowflakes woven in the woods was a vivid reminder

of the extraordinary web of life, that vast array of diverse life on the planet, the

countless unique and intricate beings all connected yet distinct. Balance and harmony

thrive in the connectedness of the web, in the honoring and understanding of the

relationship among all beings, in the fertile knowing that we all are joined in the circle

of life.

Boundless potentials come alive when we explore with awakened awareness

the worlds within us and all around, leaving behind the well-ingrained habits that

cloud our vision, bury our passions, disguise our gifts, and shape us into something

other than who and what we really are.

There’s such beauty in sharing our unique distinctive songs as we dance with the

grand web of life, each of us embodying particular forms, energies, and rhythms,

bringing into the world our unique purposes, passions and gifts. The tapestry of our

lives is colored with freedom when we are guided by our own creativity and knowing.

There’s magic in weaving the webs of our lives with shimmering fibers like those

among the trees, reaching out with curiosity, unconditional love and compassion,

connecting heart to heart to heart to heart.

20 Tips for Building Self-Esteem & Joyful Living!

1. Set an intention. Before you get out of bed, decide what kind of day you want to have. Write it down. Suggestion: Today is the best day ever! When you get up, act accordingly.

2. Be true to yourself. Live your life doing what feels right to you, not what someone else thinks you should do. It’s ok to listen to advice, but in the end, make the decision that feels best for you. Being a people pleaser is a very frustrating way to live. Get in the habit of pleasing yourself. You are responsible for your own happiness. Your feelings are important.

3. Change your mental diet. Read uplifting books. Listen to uplifting tapes and CDs and attend uplifting workshops. What you focus on expands. What you put your attention on becomes more real. Don’t focus on negativity. Stop watching the news. Avoid whiners and complainers. Walk away.

4. Be aware of what your monkey mind, the voice in your head, is saying. If it isn’t positive, note it isn’t serving you, and return your focus to what you are wanting. This may take a bit of practice. Remember to be kind to yourself as you are gaining awareness and strengthening your will.

5. Stop comparing yourself to others. You are not supposed to be like anyone else. You are you. You are the only one who can be you. You are a unique expression of God. Revel in it!

6. Create an uplifting environment for yourself. This can be joyful colors, uplifting music, nature photos, plants, uplifting posters, open windows… you decide. Wear clothes that you feel good in.

7. Celebrate your successes. Even the small ones. When you celebrate, you are telling the universe “I am loving this. Please give me more!” Yay!

8. Be grateful. You have much to be grateful for. Before you go to bed each night, write down ten things you are grateful for that day and why. This is an important step. Gratitude alone can turn things around for you. What are you grateful for right now?

9. Create a list of accomplishments and review it often. We tend to get overwhelmed looking at what’s left to be done and forget to give ourselves credit for how far we’ve already come.

10. Don’t take yourself, or life, too seriously. Lighten up. Dare to have fun. “Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly” ~ G.K Chesterton

11. Learn something new. Become an expert. Get curious and learn all there is to learn about what interests you. Learning is growing, and it feels good.

12. Do things that stretch your comfort zone. Anytime you feel fear, as long as it isn't life threatening, is an opportunity to grow! "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." ~Anais Nin

13. Do something nice for yourself. You deserve it! Maybe a massage, a bath or nap. The key here is to really enjoy it. Feeling guilty defeats the purpose.

14. Do something nice for someone else. Volunteer. Being of service, without expectation of reward, feels really good.

15. Spend time regularly doing things you find joyful.What make your heart sing? Do more of it! Remember being happy is not a selfish act. Your joy is a gift to the world! When you feel joyful, your joy is contagious.

16. Do something physical. Clean out a closet. Get out of the house. Go for a walk. Do some gardening. Visit the nature preserve. Exercise. Fly a kite. Ride a bike.

17. Spend time with supportive, uplifting people. We do exist!

18. Create positive affirmations about yourself. Post them about your home. Say them often and out loud.

19. Remind yourself often you are a miraculous, sacred, perfect expression of God. Amazing, incredible you are worthy and loved always, without having to do a thing.

20. Spend some time just being. This is much easier in Nature. Go camping. Take a walk. Climb a tree. Sit by a stream. Put up a hammock and climb in. In reconnecting with the Earth and Nature, we slow down and have time for some inner reflection. Priorities become clearer. God is more easily recognized here.

 Monday, September 08, 2008

She walks down by the river, smells the sweet spring breeze
Barefoot with the grass beneath her feet, walking gently, walking slow.
Feel each blade touch her and whisper to her melodies
She feels the life and she is free.
As a dragonfly, beautiful colors with the world on it's wings.
As the pebble washed by the water and rough edges smoothed with time.
See her stand now, at the river's edge.
See her spirit lift and soar.
She is free now , she feels the life and she is free.
She stands ankle deep in crystal waters with cool liquid; fresh.
Like a spring of purity, to wash the old, and replace the new.
Letting it calm her, letting it soothe.
Ahh the water, drowning doubts.
Feel the sun, feel the wind, feel the energies abound.
See her spirit awake for she knows love.
Could it be any other way now....
Not even if the heavens were falling down.
She breathes in the sun and lets it warm her heart.
It becomes the fire burning inside her; the creation of herself.
Her legs will not carry her; but only where her spirit calls.
She becomes the dragonfly, letting go of that which holds her bound to
this
heavy burden of life.
She feels the life, she feels the love and she is free.
Spirit dance now, as we celebrate her birth.
It has been many moons from when we last knew her.
And she is here. feet plant deep in her people soil.
Drawing from the strength of her people the wisdom which is hers.
Red Earth Red sister.
Spirits sing; one more sister has found her way back to herself.
See her kneel now and embrace the Earth Mother.
Spirit planted in fertile soil will not wither and will not die.
Listen as she grows.
She is the life now, she is the love, she is the Earth Mother and she
is
free.
Hear the voices of her children.
She is free
Mitakuye Oyasin Waynonaha