Compassion, “Put A Little Love In Your Heart”

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I hope this post finds everyone here on the east coast of the USA  warm, safe & dry. I know there are a few areas, where those are still awaiting their power restored, let us send a powerful intention that all who need, become safe, warm, dry & taken care of. This has been quite a dramatic week, filled with devastation, loss and grief.

I am in awe of those who have lost so much, yet remain strong with hope and determination. I spoke with a friend, who lost her home and all her possessions to the flood waters in Breezy Point, N.Y, I asked what I could do for her, what did she need? Her reply: “Send positive energy, ask everyone to continue to send positive energy.” So please, open up your hearts, and send positive energy to all our neighbors, both near and far.

Compassion-let us all have compassion – we all cope with life to the best of our abilities, if we remain grounded with compassion, that is the energy we contribute to the collective – the more compassion we deposit-the more the energy of compassion will be expanded.
Make a deposit today.

This song has been playing in my mind the past few days, how appropriate we all sing along at this time..

“Think of Your Fellow Man, Lend Him A Helping Hand,

Put A Little Love In You Heart…and the World,

Will Be A Better Place, For You, And Me ,

You Just Wait & See!!!!”  Thank You Jackie DeShannon~ Your Song Lives On!

Put A Little Love in Your Heart with Lyrics
Put A Little Love in Your Heart with Lyrics
“Breathe…
It only takes a moment to take a breath, 
It only takes a moment to become inspired“
~ Lois Kramer-Perez

I Am Water, See Me Swirl

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Discover Your True Nature: Water
We have the potential to express the 5 elements in our behavior, do you resonate with water? read on … I welcome your comments

It’s a lovely Autumn Day, even through the clouds I enjoy the vibrancy of color, as the leaves continue to turn. Today I feel the energy as gentle & graceful, allowing my imagination to flow freely, feeling very connected to the watery aspect of my nature, gazing at the trees in my backyard, dreaming I am at the ocean listening to the waves lapping against the rocks. Water is flowing, moving, meandering. This water nature loves the daydreams, reclining, staying up late into the night. A thinker, I ponder, creating all kinds of visions in my mind. The key is to move these visions from my thoughts to paper, through writing or drawing or even through words, by speaking communicating. I love my freedom, to come and go as the feeling directs me. Yes I feel deeply, filled with emotion, I sometimes get teary, but it is not sadness, just my water overflowing…

I want to dance and twirl… swirling around graceful and free, I am the water ~ I nourish the trees.

I am inspired in a way of welcoming newness, a sense of a beginning to take place as the completion of this cycle continues. A new way to sense the circle of life.

What have you noticed today?

How are you feeling the energy around you?

Are you in “your element”?
Are you going with the flow you feel?

Or are you feeling some resistance?

Embrace your feelings, glow with it and flow with it…
(yes I said “glow”)

Do you recognize an aspect of water within you?
Experience this element of water, it can help you meander & flow, blossom & grow.
Breathe into it, smile and enjoy your moments.

Today, I wish for you a day with a graceful turns and sweet swirls…

“Breathe…It only takes a moment to take a breath, It only takes a moment to become inspired“
~ Lois Kramer-Perez

Resonate With Your Words

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Words…. Sometimes we need to connect to the unspoken, the feelings that evoke words. I came across this poem by Rumi, it speaks to me today..

“Silence is like an ocean
Speech is like a river
When the ocean is searching for you
Do not walk into the language river
Instead listen to the ocean
And bring your talky business to an end
Then wait…
Soon there will come a trembling from within
A place where words are born of silence
A place where the whispers of the heart arise”
~ Rumi

We want to use our words with grace, compassion
& always speak with integrity.
What we create within will manifest around us..

Today seems like a perfect day to take a moment and engage our spirit with possibilities… what words do you resonate?
Feel the power of those words as they awaken your spirit…

“Sometimes the things we least expect bring our brightest inspiration.
Breathe…It only takes a moment to take a breath,
It only takes a moment to become inspired“
~ Lois Kramer-Perez

“Mums the Word! or is it Purple Aster?” Engage Your Senses

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I have been noticing the phrase “Mums the Word” coming into my mind, followed by ” Purple Aster.” I could see them clearly in my mind, feeling that sense of October moving in, & then clearly in front of me as they appeared in gardens & parks alike.

“Mums” or “Chrysanthemums”are a sturdy harvest flower, signifying an abundance of joy, harvest and a fruitful life. It is said that if you gift someone this flower, they will have a “life of ease.” The pom pom mums remind me of corduroy fabric, you know that plush fabric with vertical lines that form a “cord”. When wearing corduroy pants, they usually make that “swishing” sound when you walk as the fabric rubs with each step… ahhh reminds me of autumn, getting my corduroy’s in those colors of amber, wines & deep emerald greens.. ha! I can roll in the leaves and disappear!

Now, I began noticing the Purple Aster, quite the star of the autumn show, with their name “Aster” derived from the Greek “Star”are known as a talisman of love and a symbol of patience daintiness and good luck.

As I drove around today in the rain, “Good Morning Starshine” playing in my head, I knew today was the day I would find the flowers to grace my walk. The rainy autumn afternoon brought memories of steaming tomato soup with crispy grilled cheese sandwiches to mind, fortunately~ just as I was about to search out the nearest Deli for a snack ~ a neighborhood garden center appeared.
Employing the Drop & Plop Planting Method I have perfected, Beautiful Fuchsia Asters & Pink Centered Cabbages now adorn my path. Fuschia Asters & Pink Centered Cabbage

Fuchsia Aster & Pink Centered Cabbage Adorn My Path

So tell me, what you have noticed lately?
What sparks your memory sensories?
Engage your senses,
allow yourself to be inspired by all around you
take a breath

& smile.

“Sometimes the things we least expect bring our brightest inspiration,
It only takes a moment to take a breath,
It only takes a moment to become inspired”
~ Lois Kramer-Perez

lois@loiskramerperez.com

Rise Up

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The events beginning last week, leading to today have been wonderful causes to celebrate, opening our awareness to be grateful for all our bounty..

Monday Sept 17 brought us the Jewish New Year, leading to Friday Sept 21 International Day of Peace & we welcomed the Autumn Equinox as it arrived Saturday.

Today for the Jewish community the highest of holy days Yom Kippur.
Chinese Moon Festival arrives Sept 29 here  (Sept 30 in China) –

All celebrations of our harvest, together with family and friends.

 

My Friend Charlotte Chandler Stone of  

Stone Yoga in Teaneck sent this message, it touched me so, I want to share it with all of you…

“May the light of understanding guide our thoughts.

May the light of truth enrich our words.

May the light of loving kindness illumine our hearts.

May we become instruments of peace.

May we live with purpose, and help heal the world.”
Thank you Charlotte   

I feel inspired, I hear Josh Groban singing…
listen to his brilliance, connect to what inspires you to “rise up.”
Peace…

“Sometimes the things we least expect bring our brightest inspiration. 

It only takes a moment to take a breath, 

It only takes a moment to become inspired”
~ Lois Kramer-Perez 

Imagine

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Imagine ~

Allow your imagination to play..
what do you imagine in your dreams ?..
are you feeling free, peaceful, joyful…
smile into your heart as you imagine a moment of just being… breathe…
feel the sensation of your breath,
                                                                      just being,
just take a moment to imagine.

Imagine if we all imagined ~
if we all just took a moment to breathe, and feel the sensation of our breath..
if we all felt a moment of peace...
practice feeling this sensation ~

Friday Sept 21 we celebrate International Day of Peace…
Imagine how the world world will vibrate on that day..
But no need to wait to for that day to arrive, let us begin now..
We are all part of the collective ~
Each one of us, each breath, each sensation, as we imagine a moment of peace,
we can make a world of difference.

Breathe into your brilliance,
we  experience the feeling of imagine,
the feeling of being,
                   a moment of peace.

“We Must Be The Change We Wish To See In The World” ~ Gandhi

Messages From Mother Nature ~ Embrace Some Impatiens

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Are You Feeling Impatient? Embrace Some Impatiens!

Always here to guide us, Mother Nature has done it again… I have been paying close attention to what I am drawn to, whether a crystal, a song, a flower, whatever it is, I embrace it and research the meaning, the symbol. I find it is usually aligned with what I am feeling, a support to what I am needing   As we are lush in these summer days, I just love the feeling that flowers, plants and all things green bring to me. Impatiens have been calling to me..  I have some lovely impatiens that Tom brought into our garden. I love being surrounded by these lovelies, they are reminding me I have not been spending much time outside with them, I have not had  the patience to sit still!
Impatiens are the flower of “patience”!

According to the “The Original Bach Flower Remedies” “Impatiens Bach flower essence is a perfect match for its own name, as it relates to the qualities of patience and gentleness. For those who act and think quickly, and have no patience for what they see as the slowness of others. They often prefer to work alone. Teaches empathy and understanding of and patience with others. We’ve found it very fast-acting in alleviating an impatient attitude and lowering stress.”

What is your favorite flower?
How does it make you feel?
Do you find you are noticing a particular flower ?
Send me an email to  lois@loiskramerperez.com ~
I will tell you what it means.. I would love to hear from you!

Check out my article for Feng Shui in the Garden in Summer 2012 Issue of Paramus Magazine
click here http://www.paramuschamber.com/ParamusMagazine.htm & go to page 6

Connect with Mother Nature, Embrace All She Has To Offer, Listen For The Messages She Has For You ~

“Sometimes the things we least expect bring our brightest inspiration.
It only takes a moment to take a breath,
It only takes a moment to become inspired” ~ Lois Kramer-Perez

 

Is It All In My Head?

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What song plays in your head…. Do you sometimes feel like the same thing is going around & around again? How do we get fixated on one thing that distracts us from being present in the moment?

I recall when I was younger, in elementary school, Frank Sinatra had a hit song  that drove me crazy.. I couldn’t get it out of my head…”Strangers in the Night”  I hated it… it was “old people music” that my parents liked, so one day I decided to sing along with it – huh… it wasn’t  so bad after all, AND the loop of the song repeating over and over ceased ~ once I embraced it, I actually enjoyed singing along for that moment… little did I know that this was a glimpse into “Unconscious Competence” which is what happens, just because of who we are… just being…

There is a journey to arrive at this place of just being…  and it is wise to
enjoy the ride!  We move through 3 phases of consciousness to arrive at this 4th phase – Just Being..

There are many things that influence us along the way, all kinds of information that we are downloading, from conception to birth continuing along as we experience life..  By the time we grow into adulthood.. we have some pretty strong patterns that we have created…  We can become distracted by triggers that open the flood gates of emotions, if we allow ourselves to get lost in them we can feel as if we are drowning. So, we need to find a way to break this pattern, change the station.. if we start becoming aware of what is going on around us it can give us an opportunity to do a different dance, try something different, become more flexible.. go with the flow.. drain the fuel feeding that loop of information going round and round in our heads.. distracting us from being in the moment.

Thank you to my dear friend, my teacher, my family, Eric Dowsett who taught me about the concept of “Unconscious Competence” , and guides me along the journey, reminding me to enjoy the ride!

“Sometimes the things we least expect bring our brightest inspiration. 

It only takes a moment to take a breath, 

It only takes a moment to become inspired”

~ Lois Kramer-Perez

 

 

“The Way of The Shoe” ~ “When you can’t find the other shoe ~ let it go!”

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What I recently learned – again – pay attention to how my life is moving… when it is effortless, flowing all is in order….. However when it is challenging, perplexing, feels like going against the flow… let it go.. if not then be grateful for the opportunity to embrace change. Embracing the change of new patterns, letting go of all familiar ways and recalibrating to new…

This came to me in “the way of the shoe”. I was perplexed while looking for a sneaker, I had the one in the closet & couldn’t understand why it’s mate was not with it.. This led me to clean out the bedroom closet, and then the hall closet… aha! I finally found it.  A perfect pair to wear as I begin a new regime of “morning walks,” excited about the evening walk I had also planned. A new pattern for me, feels good! So I thought ~ Full of vigor I proceeded to walk with my morning partner, but 30 min into to the walk my heels began to burn, so I let me heels free & continued to walk, hmmm.. next take off a sock…. By the end of the walk –uh-oh… feet are burning.. giant blisters formed on my heels and one on the bottom of the sockless foot… ugh.. no walking tonight!  Needless to say when I got home I trashed those sneakers.

My clean out continued.. drawers, closets, storage places… The principles of Feng Shui show us that our closets, drawers, storage areas are our subconscious… when we begin to get into these spaces, we are beginning to connect to our inner self.. what lies hidden. It is not always easy to change our patterns, patterns we have developed over our lifetime or even a portion of our lives.

Awareness is key to helping us navigate along our journey. “The way of the shoe” reminded me, that when you hang on to something that needs to let go, it impedes your ability to move forward.

So, the next time you can’t find that other shoe….
………………. let it go and buy yourself a new pair to step into!

“It only takes a moment to take a breath,
It only takes a moment to become inspired,
Sometimes the things we least expect bring our brightest inspiration”
~ Lois Kramer-Perez

 

“Let Your Heart Follow the Rhythm” Thank You to “Playing for Change”!

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It is a glorious Day!

Last time I spoke of the feeling of “whoosh!”  How many of you have begun noticing the whoosh?

How awesome is it when you are connected to a feeling, to a whoosh.…
you find yourself surrounded with like feeling friends!

The church where the communion took place is Church of The Presentation in Saddle River NJ. Both times I mentioned the whoosh at the service I found I was actually speaking with part of their congregation- friends and new friends totally unrelated but connected!! Similarly -I found myself connected to friends whom were already connected unbeknownst  to me…thru the Unity Church in Teaneck,so when they had a service in Paramus, I joined them,  talk about Whoosh! I was transported!

 I am sure that sitting between 2 dear friends and witnessing another in the choir singing with her heart, added to this amazing whoosh..

So all this whoosh has brought me to music once more, the songs that play in my head… as I sing along, sometimes silent, sometimes out loud..my heart is full with one of my very favorites, I will share… by Playing for Change  musicians from around the world

(who have never met each other) collaborating, creating a “whoosh“. I feel the emotion and peace bubbling up!

Here are the beginning lyrics  ..“let your heart follow the rhythm” get yourself some good vibration!  Listen & Enjoy

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAjFnJuk1Aw

Thank you Eric Dowsett  for introducing me to them…
” Don’t Worry” – Playing for Change 

” Let’s don’t worry my brother
in this world we are all the same
we must find peace
we must find it together
is not far away from your heart
you’ve got the good vibration

let your heart follow the rhythm
when the voice give you emotion
you have fulfill peace”

http://playingforchange.com – From the award-winning documentary, “Playing For Change: Peace Through Music”, comes an incredible track written by Pierre Minetti performed by musicians around the world adding their part to the song as it traveled the globe. “Don’t Worry” is the follow up to the classic “Stand By Me” .

“It only takes a moment to take a breath..
It only takes a moment to become inspired
Sometimes the things we least expect bring the brightest inspiration”
Lois Kramer-Perez