life

Guided

Have you had that feeling that you are being guided to do something particular for some unknown reason?

I get that feeling all the time. I never know how it will turn out until it does 🙂

So today I am sitting at my desk at work and I am drawn to get up with my camera and go outside. I walk out the front door for a moment and it didn’t feel just right so I walked toward the back of the building and just as I stepped outside .. I looked down and found this staring back at me .. waving hello!

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Instead of picking it up I just took it’s photo and whispered a little thank you.

I walk on over to a stone retaining wall and saw this dandelion standing all alone it’s it bright and beautiful glory. My thought

was… how great it is to take pleasure in ordinary things like this lone dandelion.

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I stepped back for a moment and as I looked down … here was another clover waving hello 🙂 … again I just took it’s photo and whispered my thank you.

I could hear some birds in the distance making a bunch noise. I figured it was young ones wanting to be fed. I stepped down toward the end of the wall to see what else there was to see and I looked up to find this Red-Tailed Hawk being bullied by a Mockingbird. He must have been too close to the Mockingbird’s nest.

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Uh oh .. I’ve been spotted!

Here’s the following photos that I was lucky enough to capture.

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When you follow that inner guide.. you just never know what experiences await!

Many Blessings,
Raventalker

Change Your Focus

Not every day can be lollipops and giggles… but no matter what life is throwing at you, there is beauty to be seen. The negativity in a day is in reality just a small part of our life. It will pass soon and we will look back and wonder why we stressed so much over that tiny little moment of our lives. During those moments of stress, hardship and despair it’s extremely difficult to see anything other … but if we can manage if even for a moment to change our focus … we may be able to also gain some perspective on that moment.

Seeing obstacles for what they instead of how they make us feel at that moment… feelings of dread, fear, sorrow, anger, etc dissipate more quickly and the situation becomes more manageable.

How to do this?

Stay aware. Be open to seeing every thing in life with more than one point of view. Make a conscience effort daily to integrate this way of seeing into your life. Take each moment as it comes and if possible find a way to step back from that moment that brings you such stress and anxiety to reflect on what is real and what is made up with emotions.

Many Blessings,
Raventalker

Daily Insight – YOU DESERVE IT!

Son of Earth – It’s ok to be proud of yourself for your accomplishments … the size of the endeavor doesn’t matter. It’s time to appreciate yourself and the work you have done, the miles you have walked, the storms you have weathered, the harvests that you have gathered, and the seeds that you have planted and tended.

Six of Air – Clarity – The more you understand and know yourself … the clearer your insights. Get to know your own inner truths. When the battle inside you stops, harmony and wisdom prevail. Knowing yourself gives you inner peace, security and trust.

Five of Earth – Insecurity – Stop abusing yourself! Look at yourself with love and understanding… there is no need to be so harsh with yourself. Where does this negative thinking come from? It’s not needed in your life. Thinking poorly of yourself slows your growth and holds you in a miserable loop of negativity. Stop it! Your are worth love and kindness. Treat yourself how you treat others. Stop beating yourself up. Inject positive thinking into yourself and allow yourself some happiness…. some love and kindness. YOU ARE WORTH IT!

Many Blessings,
Raventalker

What’s Waiting For You?

It’s a bright, beautiful day and there you are laying on a sunny knoll surrounded by a thick line of trees and shrubs. You find yourself in this place often. You lay there under the blue skies day dreaming of what might be just beyond the trees.

The mysteries that await you … some could be good and yet some may be bad. Will you ever know? Your mind reels with wonder. Thoughts of the love that could be waiting just on the other side or what about the adventures that could be had? Your mind then turns to what pain and sorrow one might encounter and what monsters may be lurking there. Will you ever find out?

There are so many possibilities but to know what those possibilities are you have to pick yourself up off that sunny spot on the knoll and venture out beyond what you know.

The question of the day is: Are you one of those people always dreaming but never doing or are you one of those people who take those dreams and turn them into your own reality?

The knoll is safe… it’s soft and comfortable and it’s what you know….

The world outside the knoll is another story … or even many stories …. you do not know what they are or how they will end .. you just know that they are there waiting.

So….. which dreamer are you?

Many Blessings,
Raventalker

Singing a New Tune

I was just making myself a cup of tea and as I was waiting for the water to boil I found myself humming. It’s no surprise I sing, hum and whistle a lot! What was different, was the tune that I was humming. Most of the time I find myself singing, humming or whistling the same hand full of tunes… but this morning it was a tune I had not heard myself hum before. This new tune made me think about the new year and the possibilities ahead.

I thought … “A new year… a new tune! Awesome!”

I leave you with just one thought to ponder today:

In the months to come will you be singing that same old tune you’ve always sang or will you be singing something new?

Many Blessings,
Raventalker

The ReBuild

Throughout our lives we are building. We build relationships, we build a home, we build safety, we build knowledge, we build confidence, we build routine, we build habits, etc.

When it is time for a major change to occur in one of these areas that we have spent years building .. the change can be drastic or at the very least “feel” very drastic. What has been built wasn’t constructed overnight and therefore when that change needs to happen and happen now… it is as if a wrecking ball has come from out of nowhere and knocked you right onto your bum and oh boy can it hurt!

It may feel as though what was once there is now destroyed… well duhhhh! That’s the whole point! Whatever it was that the wrecking ball tore down .. is no longer needed. Now there is room for you to rebuild with new materials, new knowledge and a new set of tools.

I won’t lie… it sure does suck whenever that wrecking ball shows up… but the rebuild will serve you so much better in the end and life will take a much brighter turn once we allow the change to happen. It’s going to happen regardless .. the more we fight it the worse it feels.

Many Blessings,
Raventalker

Another Day of Beauty

I stepped outside for a moment to take a break from work and as I stood there with the cool autumn breeze blowing, the birds chirping in unison and the sun radiating down upon my shoulders… I felt completely at peace. Nature has a way of doing that to me. I find balance and peace every time I step out into the natural world.

I stood there for some time taking in the surroundings and just allowing nature’s rhythm to soothe my mind, body and soul.

I looked down for a moment and there was this little leaf caught in the grass, blowing in the breeze. It had already turned brown… it’s colors had all faded away. It was decaying right before my eyes. Every moment, precious … it would only be with us for a matter of days now. I looked closely at this little brown leaf and I’ll tell you what I saw:

I saw every vein as a story once lived by this little leaf. My mind wandered at the things that it might have seen, the experiences it might have felt and the lifetime that it lived. Those veins once filled with nurturing juices of life, now barren. This made me think about how precious life is and how quickly one can go from a life where we are being sustained and nurtured to a place where we become part of what sustains other life so that it may grow… live and experience.

Many Blessings,

Follow the Raven:

Be sure to check out my Facebook Page for more videos, Spirit messages and even free readings!

30 Things I am Thankful For

I know the most popular thing this month is to post something each day that you are thankful for … but as you might have noticed, I don’t really follow what everyone else does. Instead of posting daily, I’m posting 30 things I am thankful for in one post so that they have their moment all month long.. instead of just a 24 hour moment ….

I am Thankful For:

My Husband
The opportunity to experience birthing my children
Monty (the wonderful snuggly dog that he is)
Wonderful in-laws
My sis, Pattie who always understands me more than anyone
Having a job that I love
Working with people I enjoy working with
The creative thoughts that always find a way to fill my head
The moments Spirit gives me so that I can find ways to help others
The art that I am lucky enough to create
The ease that words flow from my head to my fingertips
Friendship (you all know who you are)
My Camera (OMG I cannot forget my camera!)
My computer .. without it I would miss out on getting to know so many truly wonderful people
Spirit and the gifts that continue to flow my way
Being different
Feeling Loved
My Home
The Birds .. I cannot forget the birds 🙂
My Sight – to be able to see the world, nature and all the magic that surrounds us daily
My hearing – to hear the sound of my husbands voice, laughter, the song of the birds, the sound of night, the sounds of morning, what a great gift hearing is.
Growth – I look back and am truly thankful for how far I have come and look forward to the journey forward
The mountain – the journey, even when it has been hard has revealed to me strengths I am always surprised to find that are within me
Crystals – well you know how Ravens love shiny things 😉
Healing – that wonderful feeling when you are broken and think you will never recover and then one day you realize that you already have.
Magic – it makes life far more special and keeps me looking forward to each day and what it holds.
My Past – no matter how rocky it may have been it has showed me that I have the ability to weather the storm no matter the size, conditions or how long it lasts.
The Future – because I know there is one and it is just as full of magic as all the days have had before ..
Kisses – Mmmmmmmmmmm they soothe away all kinds of pain
Life – I am blessed although at times I have felt cursed.. life is worth living .. life is worth enjoying and it’s worth doing it over and over again.So, there you have it 30 things I am thankful for…. the list could go on and on and in far more detail …. but for now .. I feel this will do.
Many Blessings to one and all,
Raventalker

Magical Mondays – Hanging On Through Change

This morning I was taking a quick walk around the office building checking out the fall foliage and took the above photo. Something about it called to me. I sat here for a moment pondering what it was that pulled me into the image and suddenly I understood its message.

Today’s magic is about tapping into our inner resources. These leaves are holding on though they are going through some pretty major changes. They will continue to hold on until the last ounce of life inside them is gone. They share their beauty through all the stages of their life. They do not hide who they are and what they are going through.. every stage of their life is something to behold and until there is no life left… they hold on… tapping into every resource available to them.. they hold on.

Many Blessings for a very Magical Monday!
Raventalker

When the Universe Speaks

It’s not often in life that we get the privilege to feel the universe cheering us on… as if we are on the right track and Spirit keeps giving us that “atta boy” pat on the back to keep us trucking on in the right direction. When it does happen .. be sure to stop for a moment to make note and give thanks. Don’t let those moments just slip on by. Enjoy the moment!

This morning as I made my way into the office …. I sat down at my computer… turned it on and right away I get a really great message from a Facebook friend thanking me for making her mornings bright. I was caught off guard but it sure did bring a smile to my face as well. She was thanking me for something that I had hoped would happen when I post the things I post and when I blog about the many topics I touch upon.. but you never know if the message is really getting out… I often wonder if it really means anything to anyone. The confirmation this morning from my friend was a wonderful gift!

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In the middle of our conversation I ran out quickly to refill the bird feeder outside my office window. Just as I stepped out the back door of the office, I heard a noise, looked up and several crows were perching on top of a street lamp just across the street. I put my bird seed down and grabbed my camera to snap a couple of pics and WOW!!! A hawk flew into the frame and was buzzing the crows sitting

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on top of the light. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and couldn’t believe that I was lucky enough to be standing there with my camera in hand taking pics of it all! I am still excited with the energy that was stirred from this event!

I love those little surprises .. the crows, the hawk.. the message from a friend.

Here’s a bit of info for the Hawk and the Crow:

Hawk is the messenger, the protector and the visionaries of the Air. It holds the key to higher levels of consciousness. This totem awakens vision and inspires a creative life purpose.

Crow lives in the void and has no sense of time, therefore, it sees past, present and future simultaneously. Crow merges both light and dark, both inner and outer. They are symbols of creation and spiritual strength. Look for opportunities to create and manifest the magic of life. Crows are messengers calling to us about the creation and magic that is alive in the world today and available to us.

So what does all of this tell us?

It tells us to always be ready and willing to enjoy the moment when it comes. You never know from what direction love, kindness, happiness, surprises and magic will appear. Be ready and willing to accept it as it comes!

Many Blessings,
Raventalker

It’s Spring!

Blossoms, birds and bees
The green, green grass growing
Warm air whirling through the trees

It’s Spring!

Life sprouting right up from the ground
Daffodils, daisies and violets splashing color to and fro
While the robin fills the air with its sweet, melodic sound!

It’s Spring!

Revitalized from the ever glowing sun
Bare feet on the fresh mowed lawn
Blue skies and cloud watching … OH what fun!

It’s Spring!

A sunny day picnic for two
Baby ducks playing on the lake
A feeling all fresh and new!

It’s Spring!

A wonderland of life now buzzing through the air
The great awakening has begun
While I’m sunning on the deck without a worry or a care!

It’s Spring!

Many Blessings,
Raventalker

Daily Insight – Love

What can I say that has not been said before when it comes to love. It is that one thing we are all in search of and yet so few feel like they have found true love.

Bells, whistles, lightning and thunder are suppose to be heard when that love walks into your life… but is this true?

YES!!! Yes it is very true.

Your entire being knows when that other half of your soul stands before you. Words or actions will not be needed for the souls communicate on a level that few understand.

Magical is another word used often to describe the feeling of true love. I have to agree but also I should say that one need not expect to have that “magical” feeling every moment of every day. The magic is always there but in the chores of living day to day other things blur the magic and while it is there.. it may be unseen or felt less than other moments at times. This is ok.. this is how it should be.. for the magic is never gone… it’s just not always front and center.

Be sure and let those you love know it every day. If you want a magical love life then you have to play a part in making sure the magic is front and center.. don’t allow life’s day to day challenges blur the magic that lives within your bond.

It’s the small things that for me bring that magic back to the surface… like looking over at my husband and as he turns his focus and looks back at me and that smile of his takes form… A magic stirs inside me and I bubble over with how very much I love him. Late night cuddles and morning kisses .. sigh… Preparing meals together… the love and care that goes into every action. These are just a few of the things that normally may go without notice but for me these are the moments I look forward to.

Many Blessings,
Raventalker

Our Teachers

Quote from Eat, Pray, Love “Accept that everyone you meet in life is a teacher”.

I was thinking about this statement and for a moment and began to reflect back on various people that have come and gone in my life and what I might have learned from each of them. Even those who came and left in a moment there was something to be learned. It doesn’t matter the length of time someone is in your life, they all offer something to be learned. Here are a few examples of my own:

The beggar on the street teaches us that everything we have can be gone in a flash. Cherish what you have every moment that you have it.
Those we teach remind us of how important knowledge can be.
Children show us the wonders of the world and how imagination, wonder and magic live in every moment that we allow it to be.
Those “Happy” folks that are always smiling, always cheerful – teach us that life is what we make it.
Those unhappy people who are always negative, always gloomy, always complaining – they make us appreciate the good days. They make us glad that we are not them!
Mothers show us what unconditional love looks like.

These are just a few examples of what we can learn from others.. the list is never-ending. Today I ask that you look at the world you live in and the people in it, a little bit differently. Ask yourself what lessons can be learned and how that person has influenced your life today.

Many Blessings,
Raventalker

Daily Insight – Security

Daily Insight – Oct. 14 – Security

When we think of security .. we often lean toward thinking about home, work, and physical protection. I ask you to go deeper and really think about when you feel the most secure.

That sense of security comes from inside way before it comes from any material or physical source. Think about this for a moment longer.

I feel you have begun to understand.

Now that you know where it comes from, you’ll be able to manage your feelings more easily. Outside security means nothing if you don’t feel secure inside. No amount of fences, locks, walls or doors will matter if on the inside you are insecure.

Understanding ourselves heals us and helps us to grow.

Many Blessings,
Raventalker

Finding Your Dreams

Spirit brings me a peculiar message this morning … I’m not going to question it .. I’m just going to keep typing as the message evolves….

Finding Your Dreams

Have you lost your dreams?
Do you remember what once you dreamed?
Does it seems like a battle to let the visions flow?
Do you feel lost?
Does it feel like hope for tomorrow is gone?
Has passion left you?

Spirit tells me that you have yourself wound so tightly that you have cut off the flow of life…. everything for you now will seem like a struggle.

It is like you have allowed your worries, stress and your need to get to a good place choke the flow of life and energy from your being.

Meditation is one way to help you find a calm, relaxing place within yourself.

Spirit says you have got to let go… you have got to find some kind peace with yourself and with life in general.

The stress is killing you… the worries are drowning all hope from your life.

Hope is not truly gone.. it is there .. just as your visions are still there … but it is like you have a thick cloud bank covering them.. blocking you from seeing and from feeling their presence.

Change your current behaviors… mix things up a bit and get yourself out of some of the damaging routines that have developed over time.. never fear change.. change is necessary for us to move forward and to grow.

Take a good look at the things in your life that are no longer doing you any good and make the changes necessary. YOU are the only one who knows what these changes are …. so don’t let others tell you whats good for you … take those decisions upon yourself and trust your inner guide. You know what needs to be done even tho you may feel quite lost .. once you awaken to the knowledge that change needs to be made.. you’ll know what changes those are.

Be careful not to let fear and doubt steer you.

Many blessings,
Raventalker

The Upside of Living

I won’t pretend life is all roses and smiles… life gets crazy, hectic, hard, painful and down right insane at times… BUT … my message for you today is … The Sun is ALWAYS Shining.

Beyond the clouds… the sun is ever shining. Though we may sleep .. the sun never does.. it’s rays of light are continuous.. and when the moon takes it’s rest and the clouds part way… we are given the gift of light to brighten our way.

Take each day as it comes…. hardships are expected …. none of us are immune to that fact… but how we make it through.. how we handle ourselves through those times.. how we endure.. is completely up to us. We can give in or we can fight it out.

When times get hard and you are finding it difficult to keep going .. think about the bright days you’ve already had.. think of the blessings that have come your way .. remember the days when smiles and laughter filled your heart and know that those days will come again.

Hard times are temporary just like the weather… hang in there and keep walking forward. Brighter days are just around the corner. Focus on the positive. Let the negative slip away.

Many Blessings and great big hugs to all,
Raventalker

The Good and the Bad

Inspired by the words of a friend this morning … “Its the choices we make in the toughest of times…that show us and others who we really are….” by Bear Medicine Walker

I thought I’d take some time to elaborate on this topic for a moment.

It’s easy to be great when things are going well… but when things go bad that’s when our true colors and our true nature sings out loud.

We may not make the best choices or decisions during hard times but if we are of good intentions and a good heart, we will do the best with what we have and what we know.

Mistakes happen .. we all fall down from time to time. It’s easy to be pulled down into a slump of depression and negativity… but it’s how we pull ourselves out of it that matters most. The will and intent to want to pull yourself out of the darkness and into the light says more than words could ever do.

I want to offer just a small bit of advice at this time: Please do not judge others by their immediate actions.. instead take a longer look at the whole picture and give them time to regroup. Treat each as you would hope you would be treated in times of hardship and struggle.

If I alone were to be judged by some of my decisions and actions from the past … Ooooooo boy would I be in a world of trouble.

We each walk our own path … although it may seem similar to another .. each walk is different.. with different circumstances, experiences, knowledge or lack of and different actions and reactions. None should be compared to another.

Our life here is about learning and growing … so mistakes will be made without doubt. EVERYONE makes them .. big , small…. we all are similar in this way.

Be kind to others as you walk through your day .. you just never know what they may be going through … behind that smile maybe a broken heart, a stressed mind and a confused weary soul… so be kind and considerate with your actions always.

Many blessings for a great day!
Raventalker

Your Song

Each of us has a song inside … it resonates who we truly are. It comes from our heart and soul… bellowing out from the core of who we are inside and out.

Each song is unique to the person in which it resides.. none more important than the other.

The question of the night is: Do you know your own song?

Here are a few other questions one might ask about your song:
Can you sing it out loud?
Do you sing it proudly?
Does it ring of pride?
Does it carry a tune of sadness or joy.. maybe a mixture of the two?
Does the sound of it make others want to join in and sing it too?
Is it a pleasant melody or something quite the opposite?
Does it beat fast or slow?
Does this song bring tears or smiles… or maybe both?
Is it a healing song?

The answers only you will know… important to none other than you.

Step inside yourself for a moment and listen to your own song … allow yourself to be filled with its melody … get to know it .. get to know yourself..

Within this song are the answers you seek… the person you maybe thought was lost is still there … listen to the sounds and find yourself …. sway with the beat and dance to the tune of you and be proud of the person that is there.

Many Blessings,
Raventalker

From The Front Porch Swing