Saturday 31 December 2011

Christmas photos


I took a few photos over Christmas and thought I'd share some. We decorated the tree with crystal and gold ornaments this year. The crystal figurines (like the swan) were bought in Africa. The icicles and stars I bought here in Scotland.



 They looked wonderful with the coloured lights!

 


 Dad had the great idea of putting the TV onto a fireplace scene for this photo I took On Christmas Eve.

 'Albert' was already up in bed waiting for Santa...



Albert came to me on a day I'd been to the doctors. He was kind of lost... someone had dumped in between shampoo bottles at the supermarket and hubby said we should rescue him. So we bought him. :-) He's sitting on our bed on a gift I got from Amel - my beautiful winter fleece! I think Albert looks stunning on it, don't you? ;-)

...and a photo of Prancer. Isn't he lovely? I found him in a charity shop. He was still in the box. The candle next to him was a gift from another friend. I have great friends. :-D



The joy of having hands that don't work - everyone else has to do what you tell them. *grin* Actually... everyone was wonderful in helping. Christmas lunch was perfect. Here hubby's getting the veggies ready (glazed gammon to his left!) and dad's on wash-up duty.


Dad decorated the table too...


We open the gifts in the afternoon, after lunch.


And here I am taking a photo of... me. LOL


See you all next year! ;-)

Wednesday 28 December 2011

Doorways


I wrote a post for my Thimbles blog (scheduled for this friday) about Janus, the Roman god of doorways. He's the one who gave January its name. It got me thinking about New Year's Eve and how Janus stands in the doorway looking back and forward to protect travellers.

New Year's Eve is a doorway and we are the travellers.


A few months back a friend sent me an email about 2012. He was wondering what next year would hold for our planet, considering how weird the weather has been this year. He knew about my vision of the Earth as a person and he wondered if I'd seen/felt anything else recently.

Could I ask Earth herself what was going on and would she reply? I decided to give it a try and... I got an answer. I shared it with two friends and they wrote back to suggest that I put it on my blog. I was so busy with my hands that I forgot, but the closer I get to that January doorway the more I feel I should share what I saw. Here it is, exactly as I first wrote it down, pasted this from my email:

I managed to find some quiet time this morning to meditate and asked Earth Mother what all our weird weather means.

I was taken down into the ground. At first it was like floating-plummeting down a mine shaft, or a deep hole. I came into caves or caverns, all very dark! It was as if I had a tiny torch, so I could only get small glimpses of what was around me. I saw pictures on the walls. A flash of a face that reminded me of Tutankhamen. More "bits" that looked Egyptian, but then pictures that reminded me of paintings I've seen from ancient Crete. They looked like paintings or mosaic. The one I saw very clear was a big fish, like a tuna. Above and below were bands of design, like Cretan or Grecian geometric patterns.

I floated on into a new cavern, carved out like a giant room. There were pillars that seemed made of clay or stone. They were Cretan in design. In the corner of this cavern room was a big raised oblong hole, like the base for a bed, but molded or carved from the stone floor itself. I tried to ask about this oblong and the place, this room. When I thought 'room' I heard words, "womb", "room" and "tomb". I felt amusement from whoever said the words, because of the fact I couldn't get it clear which word was right. In a way, they all were right, because a "room" in the centre of the earth is both a "womb" and a "tomb" really.

I heard, "ATLANTIS" softly spoken, but clear. A woman's voice. I think part of what I saw/was shown were ancient ruins yet to be discoverer and yes, I think part of them was a tomb and part a temple.

I went down deeper. I saw lava at times, but it was far off, down side tunnels I wasn't travelling through. I saw white cities in the dark, but I knew they weren't here. They were little pictures, almost like bubbles or TV screens, on which I could see another world. Another Earth. These cities were all white, with high buildings and low, and above them there were orbs of white light that lit them up the same way our cities use streetlights, but these lights were floating and they seems to sparkle slightly, a bit like some fireworks.

Down deeper I saw the belly of a huge white reptile above me. Huge as in as wide as a bus and looped up into the endless darkness. There was a line of red along the belly crease and some blood dripping. I realised it had been cut. Then I was standing further back and could see that it was a huge white snake curved up into a loop - I got the word "OUROBOROS", which I know. The snake holding its tail is in every culture of the world and in most cases represents the continual cycle of Nature, Life, Seasons, etc. It can symbolise all being one, reincarnation too.

Then I saw who had cut it - it was one of the forms I see Mother Earth/Earth Mother as... the goddess Durga. In one of her hands she held up a silvery sword and I knew she had cut ouroboros. I could see the slice was very fine, but had still managed to sever the snake almost through. Only the skin on it's back was holding it together. There was no anger or fear in this cutting. Nothing 'bad' in either her or the snake. It was more like seeing a surgeon cut into a patient. I think the Earth cycles, weather cycles maybe, are being cut through, but this isn't something bad or fearful. It is necessary.

Then I saw the oceans and all the dolphin and fish were swimming in one direction. They were swimming into a huge spiralling "hole", like when the water spirals out of a bathtub, except this spiral was on its side and within the ocean!!! It was huge. A whale could easily swim into the spiral hole. I was taken with them and found myself surfacing on a coastline. The water around me was so pure and pristine in sparkled.

...and then I was back in the dark hearing "womb" and it was over.

I still have no idea what some of it means; symbols can translate many ways. All I know for certain is the Truth never scares. Our fears scare us, they are the "monster under the bed". The Truth, as Jesus said so long ago, sets you free. Trust your heart to tell you what is true.

Wombs and tombs? Birth and death? Or maybe just a doorway? Janus understood that every doorway meant the death of the old and the birth of the new. The fish and dolphin went through a kind of doorway. What lies behind the door for 2012? The unknown can seem scary, but the unknown is also exciting.

It's the way every adventure starts...

Sunday 25 December 2011

Christmas Blessing


This year I have written and decorated my blog for each Advent sunday before Christmas. It seemed fitting to carry on the "theme" and end with a Christmas blessing...

Our path has grown brighter as we lit each Advent candle,

Each candle a blessing to light our way. 

One candle in Hope... 

for hope is the light
that can break through the deepest darkness. 

Two candles for Peace... 

for Peace is the only path 
that humanity can walk together upon. 

Three candles for Joy... 

for Joy is the blessing of friendship and sharing - 
the fellowship of travellers on the road. 

Four candles in Love... 

for Love is what makes life worth living. 

These four have brought us to this day 
and to this promise... 

That the birth of a child 
will always bring hope and joy 
and that light, whether star or candle, 
can guide our way and bring us all 
to peace and love.



Saturday 24 December 2011

Thursday 22 December 2011

A Cheesy Story

...

Something funny to share. ;-)

On Monday I had to go to the doctor for a check up. I was sitting in the waiting room watching the TV. They have it set to show text, so you can read it if you can't hear it. Well... that's okay in theory. At first I couldn't figure out why the writing was sometimes really weird, next to what people were saying, then I realised the TV channel must use one of those computer programs that turns spoken words into written words.

The problem with that, as anyone who's ever tried it will tell you, is that computers don't "get" accents or changes in intonation. As a result a Dairy farm was written as a DERRY FARM, but there was worse to come. WAY worse...

I was watching a news item on Stilton cheese. Apparently, Stilton is the best selling Christmas cheese in Britain and now it's being exported worldwide too. Stilton is the top cheese for Christmas every year. I was listening to a cheese maker being interviewed and only slightly watching the text when a sentence stood out like a mystical message.

STILTON     KING OF THE JEWS.

Ehhhh? I mean, I know it's madly popular at Christmas, but isn't that taking it a bit too far????

Then I heard the cheese maker reply, "Oh yes, it's definitely the king of cheeses."

I nearly burst out laughing right there in the waiting room. I know I choked on a giggle.  When I got back home I told hubby, who grinned and said,

"So... cheese is the king of the Jews?" 

(say it fast and you'll get the pun)



  I'm still giggling....

Wednesday 21 December 2011

A Blessing for Solstice



Blessed Be the Natives,
for they hold the Roots to the Tree of Life,
and Dance our Trails upon the Earth.

Blessed Be the Speakers,
for they hold the Truth for Us All,
and Sing our Songs to the Sky.

Blessed Be the Old Ones,
for they hold the Visions of Wholeness,
and Embrace Us until we Awaken.

~ O'siyo ~

John Roman
...

Sunday 18 December 2011

Homeless Chicago Man Donates Thousands to Down-On-Her-Luck Banker




How come this doesn't make front page news? If he'd stabbed a banker to death I bet it would have! We need better journalism that remember humans need to be reminded of their strengths and successes even more than their failures.

Fourth Candle for Advent

...
I'm putting Advent candles on my blog for Christmas. :-) I've used some of the quotes from Words for Worship to put together my own Christmas Advent ideas.


4th Sunday of Advent

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined.

The path grows brighter as we await this coming Birth.

The candles blaze as brightly as the stars that guide us. 
Rejoicing together our hearts connected in Love and Light.

The candles of Hope, Peace, and Joy glow brightly.

Today, we light the candle of Love.


Thursday 15 December 2011

My Fickle Fingers


...
I'm doing a bit better with my hands, since I've been wearing wrist splints at night I can actually sleep again and now have some definite news to share at last. :-)

I went through to the big hospital in Aberdeen on Monday and had a full set of tests. I've been scanned, electrocuted (*in small doses!) and had pins stuck into me. The 'electrucution' was part of a Nerve Conduction test - layman here describing just what I watched and sort of understood. They check for the nerve responses in each finger and from several different points on the hand. By reading the electric current feedback they can tell where the nerves are blocked or damaged. It wasn't painful, more like fizzy electric shock... like this in your hand and fingers.


The result is that it is definitely not my neck or spine, which is a relief. I have severe carpel tunnel and only surgery will fix it - for both hands. So... now I wait and see what the neurologist decides on the findings. I'm due to see my new doc next week to discuss this. I also want to talk to her about the meds I'm on. I'm on three strong medications and would like to get off them if I can. There's a chance at least one of them is redundant now they know what's wrong with me.

Typing is better, but still not something I can do for long so I'll have to stop now.

My love and best festive greetings to all
xx


 
 

Sunday 11 December 2011

Third Candle for Advent

...
I'm putting Advent candles (the four Sundays before Dec 25th) on my blog for Christmas. :-) I've used some of the quotes from Words for Worship to put together my own Christmas Advent ideas.

3rd Sunday of Advent

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined.

Week by week, our hearts grows stronger as we await the coming Light.

The candles of Hope and Peace are already ablaze.

Week by week, the path grows brighter, as we await the coming Birth.

Rejoicing together we lift our hearts and voices in song. Today, we light the candle of Joy.


...

Tuesday 6 December 2011

Sparklies

...
Last weekend hubby's sister invited us out for lunch on Sunday. We met up at a local shop where we had a very nice lunch of some yummy cheese and leek soup served with home-made bread. We had a long chat through, and an even longer browse round the shop, before moving on to another nice shop where we bumped into some other family and ended up having another long chat and coffee and cake. It was a very nice afternoon. :-)

When we were leaving hubby and I went to wait outside while his sister bought some Christmas gifts. I took some photos of the window displays, they were so pretty and so sparkly! :-) You can see larger versions by clicking on them.

I love all the golds in this window...





The sun was setting (around 3:30pm this time of the year) and I could see the sunset reflections in the shop windows, and the trees of the woodland on the other side of the road. It was so pretty that I used these two photos to create my December Banner...





...

Sunday 4 December 2011

Saints and Martyrs

...
inspiration can strike at the oddest times and places. I recently wrote a poem in between making dinner. It started with the thought of someone asking a question and ended up... well, you read it and see. :-)

Saints and Martyrs

“Where were you, when the world ended,
and everything was suspended,
and the angels came?
Did they call your name?”

He held my hand and smiled,
like a child who has seen
the other side of magic.
Nothing tragic in this sharing,
his bearing was that of a man
transformed.

His grip was firm; an old man’s hand,
grained by life and turned on the wheel,
as we turned on the wheel
in spinning snow; his eyes the axis and centre
to a world I could not enter. His eyes
surprised me into surrender and I stood
and looked beyond what was safe to see.
Him and me spinning time
down.

down… the softest feathers, the lightest snow.
down… the spiral sane men fear and madmen know.

Snow, like angel wings’, enfolded us
in silence. I held his hand, he held my gaze
and I, amazed at my own composure,
unsure how to leave yet knowing I could not stay…
longing to stay, I walked away.

The sadness in my eyes, so close to tears,
were fears not for his sanity, but mine.
The likes of me condemned to be too grounded
in this well founded world to stay.
I walked away well floundered, I grieved
that meeting; that all too fleeting glimpse of
Paradise in his eyes.

copyright Michelle Frost, December 2011
...

Second Candle for Advent

.....
I'm putting Advent candles on my blog for Christmas. :-) I've used some of the quotes from Words for Worship to put together my own Christmas Advent ideas.


2nd Sunday of Advent

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined.

The light grows gradually brighter as we move through Advent together.

Seeking a straight path, we need another candle to guide our steps.

Together, we prepare the way as we strive to lead lives of goodness and kindness.

The candle of Hope already burns bright.

Today, we light the candle of Peace.


...

Saturday 3 December 2011

Good News

.....
Well, I've finally been sent to a physiotherapist (last Friday) and he's given me wrist splints to wear at night. They're like fabric casts, with metal plates in them, held on with Velcro straps. They hold my wrists from moving. It means I can't scratch my nose, or move much at night, but they are soothing the pain and I'm finally able to sleep! After five months of pain and not sleeping longer than 3 hours this is bliss. Bliss for hubby too, as most nights when my pain gets bad he ends up awake too.

The pain is less during the day as well, so I'm managing to use my hands more, which is WONDERFUL. I still have no feeling in some fingers, which makes some tasks a struggle, but at least I can sleep and type again. :-)

AND... more good news! A writing competition I entered a while back has let me know I've won through the first round. I entered my post Battle Cry, about being a Peace Warrior, and it came 10th.



Now must prepare for the second level, which is a bit scary, as the second stage is to do a video and I'm not at all sure what I'm going to do.. or able to do. My video skills are highly limited.

It doesn't matter though - it's been such great fun participating in the event that I really don't mind if my video section gets me nowhere. :-)