It’s Christmas Day, and I felt like gifting you something special from our community. Many of you may know Colin. Colin knows my love for music very well and often shares some songs with me that are probably not so well known. A couple of weeks ago, he shared some Christmas songs and a Christmas poem he wrote with me. Unfortunately, due to other priorities, Colin has not the time to make a post on his blog. But he left it up to me to share the songs and the poem if I want to.
I am happy that Jan accepted my blog for hosting her for her latest book: “Saddled Hearts”. But not only that, she even allowed me to set the closing point for her four weeks blog tour. I appreciate Jan very much as a compassionate and thoughtful woman who is not only a channel for spiritual messages but also a bottomless vessel of imagination. So, thank you for sharing this all with us, Jan.
And now, the floor is yours:
I can’t think of a better place to bring this book blog tour to a close, Erika. Thank you so much for offering to host! It’s a pleasure to be here on your beautiful blog site to talk about my latest release, Saddled Hearts.
In case you are one of my followers who kindly reblog my posts, you may notice that there is no reblog button anymore. A few weeks ago, Hugh of Hugh’s Views & News published a post about why he removed the button. Please read his post to receive the complete message. Hugh is a great supporter here on WordPress with his blogging tips.
Instead of my usual Monday post, I decided to leave this spot to Jan today for introducing her latest book Jagged Feathers. Jan and I have been following each other for quite some time. I became aware of her blog through a friend who reblogged her tarot readings each week. Meanwhile, I don’t want to miss her and her inspirations like meditations, readings, presentations of healing stones, and lots more but also because she is an incredible and lovely person. The more I feel honored to welcome her on my blog today. So grab a cup of tea, hot chocolate, or coffee. I pass the scepter to Jan. Dear sister, my blog is all yours…
A week ago, I posted a Review Request For “I’m Free” asked those of you who had read my book, to leave a review on Amazon. A big thank you to all of you who have followed my request. You are just great!
For those who haven’t had time yet, please click on the image above and you will be taken to my book page on amazon.com. I’d appreciate it very much. Every review counts!
I have had a really good year. Of course, it wasn’t always rosy, but overall I can hardly count the blessings I experienced and the many wonderful memories I made. Everyone experienced this year differently. Away from all the negative things that may be at the forefront, let’s focus on the good it has brought (maybe even just because of difficult situations). Let’s take the good into the new year and sow the seeds to reap more of those good things that happened. Jump on a train with me and carry the good vibes of what we are grateful for into 2022.
Hello friends. You know how much I love supporting the wonderful people in this blogosphere. That’s why I love sharing their inspiring words that come from interaction. As you may know, I don’t post any statements without the permission of the person who made them. So far, I have trusted that such permission also confirms that the words actually came from that person. In the past, bloggers have alerted me when that wasn’t the case. But this week, unfortunately, it did not work. It can get me in trouble, but also the person in question, if a quote is not properly acknowledged. From now on, I will also research every statement myself to be sure.
View towards the Kurfirsten and Lake Walen in the background.
After almost four years, it was yesterday again that I met a blogger friend of WordPress. Erika and I (this is not a mistake, we both are Erikas) have been following each other for about five years. After a while, we found out that we live almost around the corner from each other. So, yesterday we made it happen. It took me only 25 minutes to reach Erika Laufer of Lauferei.com in her beautiful Swiss village close to Lake Walen.
Today is the last holiday of the past Christmas season (Epiphany). Traditionally, it is the last day of the school break, and many companies over here are closed until this day due to the many holidays and weekends between Christmas Eve and January 6th. It is also the day when many remove their Christmas decorations and Christmas trees.
Saying goodbye to a year of big challenges, of overcoming old and new obstacles, of discovering the ability to adjust. Farewell to a year of quite a lot of goodbyes regarding neighbors, relatives, and friends’ relatives.
My vacation is over and since yesterday, I am back at work. As you could tell from my posts, I took a few trips. The rest of the time, I spent catching up and preparing as much as possible because I will be extremely busy in the coming 5 – 6 weeks. That is also the reason why I could only visit you rarely despite my holidays. Unfortunately, it will continue like that for the next time. There are losts of posts scheduled for this and next week. But after that please don’t be surprised if my posts appear irregularly or not at all. By mid-September, at the latest (I hope) everything will slowly return to normal.
Neha published favorite blogs around the world. I am thrilled that my blog is on their list, along with other blogs that are among my favorites. A big thank you for this honor goes to Maria of Ladysag77 who nominated me and to Neha! Hop over and take a look!
Thank you to all who followed the rules and shared your favorite blogs in this around-the-world edition of my fav blog list. I have done this since the beginning of my blogging journey and hope to continue doing it whenever I get time to highlight some of the amazing talents we have here. These bloggers have put in their creative energy to create some wonderful blogs whether in lifestyle, photography, poetry or combination of many. I will list the nominees and the nominators below, sharing their own words (some of them are my personal favs as well!) followed by a few of my favorites both old and new (in no particular order)! I wanted to showcase how connected we all are from around the globe in this journey, especially during these times where many are feeling isolated. You definitely did not disappoint in your nominations…between the nominees and…
… will rule my blog this week. There are two extremely busy weeks and weekends behind me (one of them was another school weekend), and there was no time for scheduling my usual posts. This week, I will sporadically pop-in to see how you guys are doing. Next week, I will share another #HitsByYears week.
… to all the mothers in the world, whether they are celebrating it today or not. Due to the current circumstances, many moms might celebrate without their children this year. Nevertheless, the bond between a mother and her child/children cannot be cut by a stupid virus. I am sure, later this year, a lot of events will be celebrated in combination, and it will be enjoyed and treasured even more.
What an Easter Surprise😃 Without making a big fuss about it, Sylvester published his 8th book today. As he says in his post, it is not just a new poetry book. It is rather a collection of inspirational thoughts about what a soul encounters during its journey down here. Sylvester put it in the form of quotes, texts, and poems too. Curious? Well, I certainly am! That’s why my copy has already been ordered. And what about you?
Please head over to his blog for learning more about his book, how to order, the story behind, and last but not least, to congratulate him!
“If you speak from the heart and spirit, you will touch more than the ears, you will reach the soul.” -Syl
My writing journey has taken a lot of twists and turns. I am so very thankful to be blessed with the gift to write and create with words. I published my first poetry collection eight years ago which was a journey in itself, realizing a dream come true. Since then I have published several other collections.
Now I am thankful to present my latest book Soul Waves. This marks a change in my presentation style. There are poems, thoughts, and quotes sprinkled in. As my writing journey continues I become more aware of the purpose for my writing.
Thank you to all of you here in the WordPress community that have inspired me through your blogs, interactions, the smiles and laughs shared, an all the heartfelt comments.
Most of you who follow my blogs have seen me mention a Global Meditation that is to take place on April 4th and 5th, 2020.
I can tell you in my own words how I perceive the power of thousands of humans coming together at the same time with the same intention of raising the vibration of a planet that is in crisis, but what I want to do instead is share this link as I cannot say it any better than this.
Please join in on the Global Meditation in whatever way it comfortable for you.
I will be lighting candles and incense and meditating at 9:45 PM CST on Saturday, April 4th.
We are all energy and we are all connected by an invisible thread, and together, we can banish this virus and help heal our beautiful planet! Thank you!
Just dropping in quickly with a spontaneous post. It is dedicated to our Gary of bereavedsingledad.blog. He is a big fan of Switzerland and I told him about the view I have from my house towards the mountains. (I am living in Liechtenstein which is right in between Austria and Switzerland.) Gary asked me to share some photos. Since the weather is not so good right now, I decided to dig out some winter photos I took some years ago.
No, not sit in a drinking establishment and sup a gin or three all day (though that may be quite fun!) but Publication Day.
After all this time, my book baby has finally been delivered!
Yes, Marriage Unarranged is finally out there, in the world, delivered to at least fifty Kindles this morning, and the paperback is also available too.
How am I feeling?
A bag of nerves. The feedback will hopefully start to filter in soon, and I know I love my book baby, but I really want you to love it too!
Described as Chickpea Curry Lit – Chick Lit with an Indian twist! And not just for chicks, you chap(patti)s too!
Graphic made by Kate Rock ❤
‘Chick Pea Curry’ Lit, Chick Lit with an Indian twist
A lot of you know our lovely Lynn. And those who don’t… why? Oh, perhaps because she was not very present for the past year. But you know what? She is back with the best explanation ever about her absence. Silently and humble, as she is, she was working on her cookbook.
A few weeks ago, Irene of IreneDesign2011, posted a pair of Apatite earrings which immediately attracted my attention. The color of those stones was so beautiful and in some way, I felt the energy of the stone coming right through. After asking Irene this and that about the stone regarding its effects and pondering about a fitting necklace I decided to order the earrings.
Our lovely Geoff Le Pard of TanGental is about to publish his latest strike, a sequel of his bookDead Flieswhichwill be free in Kindle for a download between October 30th and November 3rd.
I feel honored to support his new release with a guest post. So let’s let Geoff tell us how he got to write The Last Will of Sven Anderson:Read more ›
Hi, friends, when you are reading this post I am already burying my toes in Egyptian sand, hiding in the shade, reading a book (OMG, I am finally reading a book again🎉), swimming, simply enjoying the sweetness of life. Read more ›
Our friend Rob of Robert M. Goldstein invited his readers to participate. A love the idea about this challenge. We are talking nicely about others and value a lot about them but when it comes to ourselves… So, if you have a few minutes then please write down 10 beautiful things about you.
In honor of the creator of this challenge I will use the original words: Read more ›
My dear blog sister, Ritu of But I Smile Anyway, tagged me to take part in this wonderful challenge. Although, I have not even had time to go for my own regular posts this week, how could I resist a quote challenge? Most of all when invited by my sis. So thank you very much for tagging me, Ritu! Read more ›
I think every one of us is thinking about the change of the year. It has something melancholic and something hopeful and exciting at the same time. Read more ›
A few weeks ago I picked up one of Walsch’s books and began to read the first pages. After I read the short list of the 25 core messages to explain the main message (in the title) I stopped reading. It was so inspiring and I my mind started spinning. Before I am reading on I want to share the flow of pictures and thoughts of some of those core messages which immediately filled me. Most of those core messages won’t appear new since we are talking about them over and over again. We all share them with our own words. Isn’t that an amazing proof that we are fully aware of God’s message? If you would like to read the previous parts, you can check out here part 1,part 2,part 3,part 4,part 5and part 6.Read more ›
What a day!! I just saw Shreya’s email that she published the interview she kindly invited me to. Please, head over to StarWordsIndia for checking it out and commenting.
There are no words to describe how deeply Robert’s act of kindness and thoughtfulness touched me. I forward and dedicate Robert’s wonderful lines with the meaningful symbol of that beautiful rose on top to everyone… Love and Light to all 💖
For today I did not have a particular topic in mind and again I took some inspiration from my Gateway Oracle Cards.Thank you, guidance. These are the cards I picked: Read more ›
When I saw the topic I thought immediately of an older post in which I shared a poem about Letting Go. Letting Go is not only releasing something that weighed heavily and kept you from living. The process itself is a progress in your own development and growth. It means you have already grown bigger than the suffocating cocoon. That’s why you are ready to break its shell. Letting Go is a process of becoming! Read more ›
“How can a person overcome the horrible things that often happen in our world?”
This question was asked by my friend Nicodemas, ofNicodemasPlus Three. He asked the question in a comment to my postIGNORANCE – WEAPON AND SURVIVAL TOOL: FEAR. I don’t know if I met your expectations, Nicodemas, but this is what happened to be written:
Every day, many tragedies happen: accidents, diseases are diagnosed, children die, parents die, attacks destroy innocent lives, natural disasters take lives and possessions, child abuse, torture, and much more… a lot of heartbreaking happenings. And with good cause we ask, why does this need to happen or how can people be so cruel? I already wrote a lot about everything happening for a reason and that many good souls play the role of the victim and the offender in order to teach each other and the grieving people. It is important to know that in order to be able to step back and look at the whole situation from a higher perspective. Although it is not the topic today it is part of it.
Now how to deal with the tragedies in the world? We mostly cannot do a lot or even nothing when sad things happen. And this is the crucial point that makes us feel so helpless. But you know what? We can do something! Everything in this world is directed by energy. When something bad happened we can feel like paralyzed, aggressions against injustice can come up, or we feel resentments against the cause of the tragedy. But in aligning with the same energy that caused the tragedy we even strengthen something we don’t want. Thoughts of hatred and revenge cause strong feelings which have an amazingly powerful creative energy. On one hand, it is separating instead of uniting and it causes a counterforce on the other hand.
If we don’t want bad things to happen we need to go into the direction of good things, think good thoughts, act in kind ways, share compassion. When we fight terror with war it causes, even more, acts of violence and terror. We can only break that circle in incorporating the opposite energy. Energies of hatred and revenge nurture hatred and cause more revenge. What we need to create is balance. Again, I am coming to ignoring what I don’t want. We need to ignore the need to fight back and instead turn around and look into the direction where peace and compassion reigns. When sending love instead of hatred the fuel is taken out of the bad energy and the sails are set towards a different direction. The more people stop reacting to the game of terror and retaliation but instead care for the victims, pray for them, or do something good as a balancing act, I swear, we can change and heal the world.
And now here I am: “How can a person overcome the horrible things that often happen in our world?”
Share compassion
But don’t mix it up with pity. Feeling pity weakens. Feeling compassion strengthens. There is an easy way to approach compassion instead of pity:
Refuse to Judge
When you don’t judge you are focused on what can be done and not on what was done!
Ask yourself: What can I do to raise the energy?
It doesn’t matter if you cannot do something which is directly related to the current happening. You can share food, help out a neighbor, make an anonymous gift, donate clothes or money, join a charity, or simply send out love and light. Any act of kindness raises the collective energy.
We cannot change what happened but WE CAN be part of a change. This gives our lives meaning and it unites! There may always be horrible things happening caused by individuals or groups. But nevertheless, we mustn’t be discouraged but keep up the loving attitude with our eyes towards the benefit for those in need. The worse things happen the more important it is. And everyone can do that in their own little world or even in the big world. It is easier to deal with tragedies when we do something that brings balance and which shows the victims and their families that they are not alone.
We have an order to live this life the best way we can and we have to do it for ourselves as well as for everyone else. Be what you want to see and you will have the power to heal yourself and bring healing! We are on a mission!
We are connecting with each other in various ways daily. More consciously in our jobs, with family or friends, and more unconsciously in the bus, in the supermarket,… But there is something that happens beyond a visible or physical connection. There is something we feel before the first word is said, often even before the first eye contact. It is the radiation we feel about each other. That first impression. It may not give us a clear picture – because how we perceive a person says more about ourselves than about them – but it is very important for the way that encounter continues. It is like extending invisible tentacles in order to scan the other person.
Some time ago, I shared a video of the Dalai Lama on Facebook. That video felt like a perfect follow-up to my post We Need To Heal The Cause – Not The Symptoms!The Dalai Lama talked about religion and terrorism. He stated what burns in all the hearts of faithful people. It is not religion that makes terrorists. It is the fanatic idea of the power that misuses religion for terroristic acts.
Dalai Lama: Religious violence: “Once you are involved in bloodshed you are no longer a genuine practitioner of Islam”.
Last week I wrote about love as so much more than only a feeling. I was most inspired by the Charity point and my thoughts went with a particular aspect of that love that connects us and everything in a magical yet natural way. This connection has much more meaning than we might think and we often underestimate the advantage, the obligations, and the responsibility that comes with the decision of being part of this global community.
The first thing when we hear the word Love may be this most fulfilling relationship between two people, feeling butterflies, romance, holding hands, kissing, thinking about creating a life together and perhaps doing it, being there for each other no matter what, one mind, one heart, one soul… To me, this is still the highest level of love we can experience when two people are giving their all for each other. But there is so much more about love.
When I started writing this post I received a picture of a pyramid. We started at the peak with the “lovebirds” but that is not the base of what love is. There is something very very big far beneath which gives those lovebirds the necessary boost to fly. Let’s go down to the foundation in 5 more steps. For a better understanding: When I describe love in different relationships I am talking about the ideal/common way. I try to keep it short in order to not exceed your patience with reading. But I would love to write more about the different subjects if you would like me to.
Yesterday, my dear host Linda, took her mom, Phyllis of Anchors and Butterflies, and me further to the south of Louisiana where we visited the Melrose Plantation. It was another beautiful day. The weather was gorgeous and so was the company!
Hi friends! I have had an awesome time by now. Linda of Nutsrok and her husband are such wonderful, lovely, and caring people. It is awesome! Here are just a few photos from an excursion together with Linda’s mom ……. much more to come!
During a chat with a friend here on WordPress, I got reminded of one of my biggest inspirations regarding what I see as my purpose: The Saint Francis prayer
Only when reading it, something opens up within me. Like the dawning sun, there is this love rising up. This love has only one purpose: to spread love towards everybody’s heart in order to make them rise their inner sun too.
We are in a time of change. People run from dark places and try to find the light somewhere else. What we realize more and more these days is that only when we start acting from our heart – first towards ourselves and then towards everybody around us – we can end the pain, end war, and suffering. When we act from this place of love inside of us we feel a deep connection to everyone. Because love is the energy that created us, that we are, and that connects one another over the globe – regardless of any religious, cultural, racial, or political background. We are all loved and we want to feel loved. Isn’t it the most wonderful feeling to realize that someone feels deeply loved because you made that person feel loved? Because you showed that person that they are important, that they are precious, that they are beautiful, that they are perfect the way they are, just because they are as they are? Isn’t that the only technique to fill your heart with true and enduring love?
I remember back in 1984. I was 14, sitting in my classroom (bored by the subject) and pondering about life. I was thinking about what would give my life meaning, and fulfill me? And there was this thought coming up: “Make others feel good.” I don’t know where that came from. But it was there out of the blue. At the same moment, I got tears in my eyes because I felt a warmth in my chest expanding and rising up. A feeling that must have been of deep love. I remember it so clearly because it was a moment of awakening. From that moment on I tried to look deeper into my friends and other people. I wanted to understand them and through this spent encouragement and comfort.
Unfortunately, I lost that over the following years when I lost myself. But it always rose up between and for at least 6 years it is a companion wherever I walk.
It is my greatest joy to see others happy and it is my greatest fulfillment when I could make someone smile. Reading the Saint Francis Prayer again reminded me of this wonderful tool we have with us all the time. The tool that ceases sadness and suffering, that ceases anger and hatred, that ceases darkness and brings light. The tool of our origin, that divine spark within – LOVE
When we let love speak, we truly lose anything that is not love. We are dying to the old identification with us and are born into the eternal awareness of love and love itself. Love is life – eternal life.
Our recently passed Wayne Dyer introduced me to the Saint Francis Prayer. He mentioned it in some of his books. When I joined my first lecture with him, he played a song by Cecilia. She is also called The Healing Voice. I bought one of her CDs and there was also the Saint Francis Prayer recorded. The song was exclusively written for her. It is very beautiful and I want to share this song with you too.
I won’t analyze too much about the prayer itself but ask you to simply open up to those lines and see what happens within you when you let the words touch your heart.
The Prayer of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.
Vonita of Passion Through Poetryasked me to write about making decisions and the problem of indecisiveness. I am convinced that at times every one of us is in a place where we struggle with deciding which way to go, which door to close or to choose, and not knowing how it will turn out.
Today I turn to a topic given by our wonderful artist Robert Goldstein.Robert is living with Inside Dissociative Identity Disorder. What made me follow him? The way he deals with it. He is aware of his disease and he knows exactly how to handle it although it often is a big challenge. This makes him a speaker for people with the same or other mental or physical diseases. He spreads information and awareness and stands up for the social acceptance that any physical or mental limitation also is part of life and that those people too have the right to live life to the fullest. They simply live differently due to different needs.
The topic for this post was given by Keith of btg5885. I thank you very much, Keith, for dropping me your questions. It is one of my favorite topics to write about. Here are Keith’s questions:
What are the common attributes in people who connect us? And, what are the differences that make life fun and interesting and make us better than who we are by experiencing them?
The song I posted last Wednesday as my Song of the Day inspired me to this post. It made me think of the need for tolerance, acceptance, of compassion, respect, and empathy. When I prepared that post I did not expect the wonderful developments here in Europe.
Letting go is a topic in everybody’s life at times. Yesterday I was talking to a friend and I realized that during the past weeks, more and more friends are posting about letting go or about their process of letting go. There are so many different reasons or stories behind it. May it be about love, about plans we made, about disappointments, or being hurt. But in the end, we can mostly sum it up to two points:
I apologize for the short notice of the disappearance. There was some turmoil in my private life from one moment to another. The old story about letting go. I will tell you about my experience after A Big Thank You to all of you. I am so moved by how much you all cared. I had never ever expected that. Although I closed the comment section on my last post on Monday many of my wonderful friends sensed something and simply commented in the loveliest ways on a different post. Colleen, Ritu, Zee, and Michelle even stayed in touch with me via email. One year ago almost nobody knew me and today people say I was missed and they make the effort to get in touch with me in order to show me that I am loved… that was overwhelming! I am profoundly touched by so much love, compassion, and care. I don’t know how to thank you. I love you all from the deepest bottom of my heart! And believe me, I missed you all badly! My community rocks!!!
It is hard when we are in a place of frustration or desperation. When life turns into a rollercoaster ride and you don’t know anymore if you are up or down. And even if you know it changes constantly. Somehow you back off but at the same time hope that someone sees it – feels it, because you don’t want to say anything – and is just there.
My dear blog sister, Ritu of But I Smile Anyway, tagged me to take part in this wonderful challenge. Although, I have not even had time to go for my own regular posts this week, how could I resist a quote challenge? Most of all when invited by my sis. So thank you very much for tagging me, Ritu! Read more ›
Share Your Light 
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