It is a glorious Monday – The grass, the plants, the flowers & trees are all so grateful to be hydrated once more.
After a glorious weekend, I welcome the drizzle & the rain again.  I love how the droplets cling to the flowers and leaves. Everything is so lush  ~ it feels so abundant.. I feel so abundant!

I don’t know where they came from, but a few years ago I noticed these gorgeous purple iris in all their glory in my garden. I had not been able to plant anything in this location for many years as the roots from the trees are so close to the surface… but somehow ~ Mother Nature found a way to surprise me, to send me a gift. I realize now what an amazing gift she brought, as whenever I see these lovely purple iris, I stop and marvel at their beauty, I notice how it feels, I take a moment, to be in the moment, to take a breath and just be… ahh that is a precious gift. Thank you Mother Nature for giving us the gift of beauty all around us, so that we will take these moments, to notice as we feel grateful.

This morning I took this photo of my lovely purple iris.. how beautiful she graces my garden, with her delicate droplets clinging to her petals… As I searched for the meaning of the purple iris, it all makes sense to me why I am so drawn to this flower… the 3 leaves representing faith, wisdom and valor and the Greek word “Iris” meaning “Rainbow” – it is said that the Greek goddess Iris, the goddess of the rainbow, a messenger on Mount Olympus, would take messages from ~the eye of Heaven~ to earth by the arc of the rainbow. The word iris also means ~eye of heaven.~ It was the name given to the goddess, this flower, and the center of your eye.   This means that each of us carries a piece of heaven with us.

This is the perfect time of year, to connect in the moments, as we embrace the beauty around us  the messages from Mother Nature are guiding us to notice, to be in the moment, to be grateful.

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.

We  all make a difference in the world.  Each and every one of us,  makes a difference by just being.

As we each begin to find balance and embrace it, even for just a moment,  all who are around us can experience the same.

As part of the collective, we create the whole.

As we can become peace, joy and balance, we influence all around us to join the experience,

without words, without action,   by just being.

I am noticing, how I am reminded that I am in control of me & I have the power to make the choices that are right for me. I felt this theme beginning this weekend, Monday night again and Tues afternoon. When the universe presents information for me 3 in a row, I know something is trying to get my attention.
How often do we get caught in our patterns of
how we “have always done it”,
how we perceive “we are supposed to do it”

Whatever “it is.”

We learn from our parents, teachers, friends, how we are expected to behave, and for those of us that want to feel as if we belong, that want to fit in, that want to do”it”right – we hang onto these patterns.

Last week during Thurs Morning Meditation class we discussed how we respond to feelings.
First we need to be Aware.
Once Aware,we can Notice what is going on.
As we Notice, we can then Respond rather than react.

Now we want to choose to do something different, not the way “it” has always been. Oy, that feels uncomfortable, doing something different. But that is ok, I am changing my relationship to how I am experiencing life, how I am relating to how it feels, making a choice how “I” want to experience life. I don’t want to forget to breathe… I need my breaths. Now, I am consciously slowing my pace to be sure I have my moments to breathe.

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.

I have been thinking a lot about gratitude and inspiration these past few weeks. What has come to mind are the people in my life as they inspired me from the very beginning. It is as if I am connecting through my roots, my foundation. I can feel my “Root Chakra“, at the base of my spine, sparkling like a Ruby Jewel. What arises into my awareness is my younger sister, as a child, as I recall her giggles, her spirit, her smile with a twinkle in her eye. She was Fearless! There was no place she would not explore, no person to whom she would not speak. Wow, I was in awe, what could it feel like to be so spontaneous, so happy go-lucky. But, there was another side to her, like thunder-she could explode and throw a quite a jarring tantrum one moment, and then, as quickly as it appeared, (once she got her message across) it would be over.
Now as I recall these expressions, with the knowledge I have gained along my journey- my sister was expressing the energy of “3” Tree! That burst of early morning springtime, a spontaneous, fearless risk-taker, with a side of “Thunder”. I, on the other hand, expressed the “Water” child, emotional, shy, & watery, becoming frozen with fear of the things I didn’t understand, or if they were just too “scary” – such as elevators, “big people”, swimming in a pool or ocean. I loved to be near the water, just was too afraid to jump in! Earning the nick-name “Sara Burnheart” or being accused of “Crying Crocodile Tears” only sent me deeper into watery emotions.

I am grateful for both experiences, my sister inspired me to want to experience being care-free spontaneous & fearless. Understanding the watery expressions I had as a child, gives me a wonderful appreciation of my ability to daydream, get lost in my thoughts and connect to my emotions. I also realize it was no wonder I enjoyed my modern dance classes in those early years of 7 & 8 , rolling around the floor as waves in the ocean or twirling around like ribbons in the wind.
I may not have expressed it to my little sister at the time, but I am so grateful that she is my inspiring little sister.

Breathe into your brilliance ~ explore the sensations around your thoughts, your inner expressions & your earliest memories of our gratitude & inspiration. 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.