March Affirmation: Welcome Spring and spread your wings!

Greetings of Love and Light,

As we move into Spring, we have the opportunity to discover that we are truly butterflies, not caterpillars. In that spirit, I’m guided to share a parable that I wrote many years ago that speaks to the magical unfoldment of who we truly are. I call it “The Parable of the Caterpillar and the Butterfly.”

Have you ever considered the worldview of a caterpillar? You know, they’re those nice, furry creatures that will eventually become butterflies, God willing of course. During the spring of the year, I often find them perched on a tree limb or curled up on a sidewalk. I’d like you to imagine with me for just a few moments that we are caterpillars. What would our world be like?

As a caterpillar, I am severely limited in how I live and how I perceive my world. I cannot move very fast, very far. My vision is limited to what is directly in front of me. A bird approaching from behind will not be sensed or seen. Which brings me to the second challenge: survival. As a caterpillar, I soon discover that I have many enemies. I could be a lovely lunch for numerous creatures. And what about those unfortunate accidents like falling off a branch or being stepped on. Squish! Ouch! That’s not a very nice life, is it? It almost seems like the whole world is out to get me; to squash me and kill me. Perhaps if I could get away from it all, shut out the world with all its death and cruelty, perhaps then I could answer the question “WHY?”

So I find an hospitable corner in my little world, wrap myself in a blanket, and close myself off from life. My world is in darkness now. In my more conscious moments, I wonder if this is death, a living death. However, during this long, endless night, something is happening; not only to my world, but to me. I am changing. It is slow and almost imperceptible at first. But then it multiplies in sweeping changes; changes that I cannot begin to understand. I become restless and confused. Something is wrong. I should not be trapped in this endless night.

Then suddenly one day a corner of my blanket falls away, and I am bombarded with light once again. I struggle to release myself from the entangling folds. Soon I am freed from that bondage of darkness. I am back in the world again. It is the same world, too; the same branch of the same tree.  But something has changed. I have changed. I don’t remember having wings before, do you? I wonder what they’re used for. Flying? You’ve got to be kidding! I can’t fly! Or can I?

Remember – “We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us…The old skin has to be shed before the new one is to come.” ~Joseph Campbell

Mother of all Mysteries, in the long ago past you embraced us in the warmth of your womb. Now you call us to be reborn. Yet we carry so much baggage from the past. Surround us with your healing Presence and lift our burdens of guilt and regret. Release us from the chains of shame and blame. Cleanse our hearts and prepare us to receive your Fountain of Life. Holy Shekinah, we open the door of our sacred temple and welcome you. Come into us and birth us anew in the beauty and holiness of your Presence. We give you thanks and praise for your ever-present Love, Light and Protection that never fail us. May we always know that we are secure under the shadow of your wings. So it is.

February Affirmation: I open my heart in love and shower the world with kindness.

Greetings of Love and Light,

As we emerge from winter hibernation our world has not changed a great deal, at least not for the better. They say hope springs eternal, but it seems to be in short supply these days. So where do we go from here? How do we move forward into something better? Returning to the Voyager tarot, I find powerful energy moving us forward as we welcome new growth this springtime.

Our first card is the 10 of Wands, which infuses us with the fire of Spirit and the power of new growth. There may still be cold and snow all around us but remember that new life is hidden beneath the frozen ground. This is an ideal time to go within and connect with the potential that is waiting inside of us to burst forth. What new plans and dreams are you incubating for the Springtime? What untapped power of loving kindness can you release to our hurting world? See yourself growing beyond your limitations and becoming your highest and best Self.

As we open our heart, we find ourselves more deeply connected with our world and everyone on the planet. Our next card is the 6 of Worlds, the earth suit that grounds this energy into the earth plane. We are being called to work together for the highest good of all. This is an “all hands on deck” moment in time and each of us is needed at our fullest and most powerful potential. We need to focus our energies on what we have in common, not what separates us. Yes, we can work together and care for each other, but our energies must be focused on the love flowing from our hearts to each other and our world. No more separation!

Finally, it is imperative to have a laser focus on this goal. Our final card is the 9 of Crystals, which brings that narrow focus. Crystals is the mental suit, so this is reminding us to mind our minds, mind our thoughts. Remember our thoughts create our reality, so the more we focus on love, peace and kindness in our world and with each other, the more we can be a light in the darkness for our hurting brothers and sisters.

Remember: “In the mist of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.”
— Albert Camus

Mother/Father God, you plant seeds within us for transformation and renewal. Teach us to nurture them so that we may grow into our True Selves. Remind us to cherish this time of incubation and turn our attention within to the quietness and silence of your Presence. May we listen with our hearts so we may sprout new shoots in the springtime. So it is.

January Affirmation: I step forward into a New Year with Faith and Joy.

Greetings of Love and Light,

FLIGHT 2025, boarding now!
Welcome to Flight 2025.
We are prepared to take off into the New Year.
Please make sure your Positive Attitude and Gratitude are secured and locked in the upright position.
All self-destruct devices; greed, selfishness and resentment should be turned off at this time.
All negativity, hate and disrespect should be put away.
Should you lose your positive Attitude under pressure during this flight, reach up and pull down a prayer.
Prayers will automatically be activated by Faith. Once your Faith is activated, you can assist other passengers who are of little faith.
There will BE NO BAGGAGE allowed on this flight.
Captain “THE UNIVERSE” has cleared us for take-off.

Darlene Strickland

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Welcome to 2025 and Happy New Year! I suspect that many, if not all of us, were not expecting the landscapes of our lives to look like the reality that still faces us today. The darkness seems to be gathering ever more deeply around us. But wait ~ ever since December 21st the light has been steadily growing. That is a scientific fact. So do we focus on the light or remain mired in darkness?

I’ve returned to my tarot cards, the Voyager deck, for a look at a way forward in the New Year. Our first card is the Sage of Cups, which is all about release and renewal, particularly in our emotional body. This is an ideal time to find a quiet space to go within and feel with our heart. What emotional baggage are we carrying that needs to be left behind? What old hurts and wounds are blocking our path into the future? Take time to let your conscious awareness sense if it is time to release and let go, and then lighten your load for the journey ahead.

No, this may not be easy but our second card reminds us that we need to pack our courage for this journey. This card is the 7 of Wands and Wands is the fire suit, so this card brings in the energy of Spirit. Even if we feel tired and in despair, we are not alone. Filled with the fire of the living Spirit of Love and Light, we can move forward into the New Year with courage and hope.

Our last card is a major arcana, #8 Balance. This energy is a powerful encouragement to remain steady and centered even in the midst of the storm. Remember, the Light is growing stronger with each passing day. It may seem terribly dark around us, but the Light still shines. It is up to us to shine that Light and be the candle that illumines the way forward. Our world desperately needs our Light right now. Pray for peace, pray for wisdom and Divine Order for our government. and pray for healing for all God’s family, especially the world’s children.

God of the Past, the Present and the Future, you have told us that you are the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. Show us how to release the past and open the door to the future. Teach us to focus on the Light ahead of us, even if it is just that one little candle. Guide our steps as we walk fearlessly into your new world, and grant to us the courage to be your voice and your hands, creating love, peace and joy as we journey onward. So it is.

December Affirmation: I give thanks for all the blessings, large and small, that bring Light into the darkness.

Greetings of Love and Light,

I have a story to share with you which is quite amazing and wonderful. Over ten years ago the husband of a friend of mine had an accident which resulted in a closed head injury and a degenerating disability. The disability became worse over the years and both he and his wife (his caretaker) became weary of the stress and strain. Last month he made his transition to the Other Side. Both of them are deeply spiritual and they had chosen cremation. My friend asked to be notified when the process was to begin and as she took the phone call she realized that she had in her hand a votive candle with her husband’s favorite prayer on the holder. They had prayed this prayer together for many years and she could only believe that he had sent this to her from the Other Side since she had no idea where it came from. She lit the candle and it remained lit for the 5-6 hours necessary for the cremation process to be completed.

I found out about this gift from my friend who sent me a votive candle with the following prayer on the holder:

Know that God is LOVE and God is LIGHT.
In that Light there is no darkness.
In that Love there is no fear.
Therefore, trust always in that Love
And live always in that Light,
And fear NOT for that FEAR is
False Evidence Appearing Real!

Miracle #2 is that this prayer (except for the last phrase) was given to me some 20 years ago by Mary Magdalene when I first started consciously working with her energy. I have used it in events and workshops ever since and it brought tears to my eyes to have this evidence of a connection across the years and across the dimensions! We are like aspen trees, standing strong and growing independently on the physical plane but our roots interweave with each other to form One soul root.

In this age of conspiracy theories, which I generally cannot abide, I offer this one as an anecdote:

A SPIRITUAL CONSPIRACY
On the surface of the world right now there is
war and violence and things seem dark.
But calmly and quietly, at the same time,
something else is happening underground.
An inner revolution is taking place
and certain individuals are being called to a higher light.
It is a silent revolution.
From the inside out. From the ground up.
This is a Global operation.
A Spiritual Conspiracy.
There are sleeper cells in every nation on the planet.
You won’t see us on the T.V.
You won’t read about us in the newspaper.
You won’t hear about us on the radio.
We don’t seek any glory.
We don’t wear any uniform.
We come in all shapes and sizes, colors and styles.
Most of us work anonymously.
We are quietly working behind the scenes
in every country and culture of the world.
Cities big and small, mountains and valleys,
in farms and villages, tribes and remote islands.
You could pass by one of us on the street
and not even notice.
We go undercover.
We remain behind the scenes.
It is of no concern to us who takes the final credit
But simply that the work gets done.
Occasionally we spot each other in the street.
We give a quiet nod and continue on our way.
During the day many of us pretend we have normal jobs
But behind the false storefront at night
is where the real work takes place.
Some call us the Conscious Army.
We are slowly creating a new world
with the power of our minds and hearts.
We follow, with passion and joy.
Our orders come from the Central Spiritual Intelligence.
We are dropping soft, secret love bombs when no one is looking.
Poems ~ Hugs ~ Music ~ Photography ~ Movies ~ Kind words ~
Smiles ~ Meditation and prayer ~ Dance ~ Social activism ~ Websites
Blogs ~ Random acts of kindness…
Releasing grudges, letting go of judgments..
We each express ourselves in our own unique ways
with our own unique gifts and talents.
Be the change you want to see in the world.
That is the motto that fills our hearts.
We know it is the only way real transformation takes place.
We know that quietly and humbly we have the
power of all the oceans combined.
Our work is slow and meticulous
Like the formation of mountains.
It is not even visible at first glance
And yet with it entire tectonic plates
shall be moved in the centuries to come.
Love is the new religion of the 21st century.
You don’t have to be a highly educated person
Or have any exceptional knowledge to understand it.
It comes from the intelligence of the heart
Embedded in the timeless evolutionary pulse of all human beings.
Nobody else can do it for you.
We are now recruiting.
Perhaps you will join us
Or already have.
All are welcome
The door is open…
~ Brian Piergrossi

Mother/Father God, you gave birth to the cosmos and all of creation, and called it good. Today we look around us and struggle to perceive that good. Yet like the sun in the midst of a storm, we know your Light is always present even in the darkest of nights. Guide our steps as we walk our destined path and gather us under your wings when darkness falls. May we sleep in safety and peace and awake to a new dawn. So it is.

November Affirmation: I reach out as a “soul friend”
to those I meet in this world and on the Other Side.

Greetings of Love and Light,

These few days at the end of October and the beginning of November are a very special time when the veils between the worlds are incredibly thin. Those who have gone before us reach out to us from the Other Side and we may choose to reach out to them. In Mexico this time is celebrated as the Day of the Dead. In Christian tradition we have All Hallows Eve (or Halloween) followed by All Saints Day (November 1) and All Souls Day (November 2).

Some years ago on November 2 a dear friend of mine, Fr. Peter Posthumus, made his transition. I was blessed to know Fr. Peter for only a few short years, but in that brief time he became a mentor in my professional development and a close personal friend. He was, in the profound words of the Celtic tradition, an anam cara, a soul friend. We shared much of our spiritual journey during long profound conversations and we found we had much in common. Both of our journeys had surprising twists and unexpected challenges. Fr. Peter began his journey in the Christian Reformed Church and attended Calvin Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan. However, his student days at Calvin ended when he chose to “come out” as a gay man. He was expelled from Calvin’s ministry program and his spiritual quest began.

When I met him years later, he had found his way into the Reformed Catholic Church and he introduced me to a spirituality that I didn’t even know I was hungry for. I attended services of his small house church and felt a Presence in the liturgy. Our discussions deepened and I ultimately chose to follow his footsteps into this church structure. Unfortunately, neither of us knew that the Reformed Catholic Church that we knew was founded on lies and deceit and wrapped in a cloak of darkness. I escaped the darkness by being excommunicated as an unwanted rebel and I thank Spirit for that to this day. Fr. Peter stayed, was gifted(?) with many honors including the title of Bishop and yet I know he felt trapped. He was a man of great integrity. When he made a commitment, he kept it to the best of his ability. He would not break his vows even when the darkness was all around him. When I published my book “Light In the Darkness”, I dedicated it to him as one “who faced the darkness while he walked in the Light.”

Today my journey continues, as it does for many of us. I would like to suggest a re-interpretation of the ancient traditions of All Saints and All Souls. I encourage you to reach out to those on the Other Side who are precious to you and open to any messages they may have to teach. They may not have lived perfect lives and they won’t have a halo, but they may still be “saints” in our day for you. But don’t stop there, for there are many walking among us on the physical plane who may become, or perhaps already are, “soul friends.” In a world where speed dating and technology is the norm, seek a deeper connection. Invest in truly relating to those who hold space in your life. Holding space is not sufficient. Our souls will grow hungry and die if we do not nourish them with true, deep friendships and connections of the heart.

“For me holiness is not a state or condition,
like a special badge or suit of clothes I may wear.
It’s not like a graduate degree or certificate
that I earn through study.
It’s not even an ‘energy’ or charismatic presence.
It is certainly not spiritual celebrity hood.
Holiness instead emerges from relationship. It’s dynamic.
It’s a manifestation of what is happening
between me and another in the moment.”
David Spangler from Blessing: The Art and the Practice

O Lord of Change and Truth, we seek your Guidance in these times of great uncertainty. We seek your Truth for our families, ourselves and our world. Teach us to stand strong for your kingdom and your Purpose. Walk beside us as we hesitantly step forward through fog and darkness. Light our way and help us when we stumble. As we lift our souls to you, may we become open to your Wisdom, your Light and your Truth. The time is NOW. Show us your Way and we will follow wherever the path may take us. So it is.