Medicinal Tea

Well I went to kayak on the Loxahatchee River.

I was blessed with these beautiful specimens.

I left many to continue to grow on the decaying fallen Oak Trees.

Remember these medicinal mushrooms have pores on the underside,

not gills.

Ganoderma...

Turkey Tail...

Cut into thin slices before they dry out and get too hard.

Place them in a boiling pot and boil,.. and boil,.. then simmer

for however long your feeling that groove.

The longer you boil and simmer the more potent.

Tea will be a beautiful golden brown.

Tastes like turpentine.

It's an acquired taste.

Makes your finger and toenails grow

stronger and longer,...

better to cleave with.

The River

Got my favorite kayak.
This gator is resting peacefully. I am not right now.
Hey Golden,

Found the perfect hallowed out tree,..

where we can have mushroom tea, one fine day.

Gentle Readers,

Well after spending a full day and a night with my Shadow,

I guess I have a few corrections to make.

Shadow has (in it's not so subtle way) enlightened me to

my , let me see how did she put it?,... Oh Yes, My '"Bliss Bubble,..

Light is so right,.. Pollyanna perfect side" AND has accurately stated

that level of denial shares office space with "The Liar"...

I foolishly ASSumed that the 'The Liar' was Shadows inheritance

but I wobble graciously corrected.

Apparently, 'the liar' aka 'Pollyanna' is a feature of Convenience

and that program can be borrowed and installed by Suzette

any ole time.

I was reminded ,EXPERIENTIALLY, last night that. in fact,

I DO NOT in my darkest hours ALWAYS

"feel the Golden Light as a hand on my shoulder or

a kiss on top of my head.",... Hhhhh....

"Is that good enough?"

"Fine I'll continue..."

Apparently, Shadow popped out shortly after my writing the last post

to "hold out a steady hand " to me so that I,.. sorry,..WE could walk in Truth.

Accordingly, I have been realigned and now realize that

The Golden Light and The Shadow

are NEUTRAL when I can resist coloring them

with my fanciful, dramatic ideas and stories.

In a consolatory moment Shadow agreed there is a place and time

for stories but warns the 'stories' are very powerful

and if left unchecked can be used to manipulate myself

and Humankind.

WE rightly agree,..."CUT",...I am aware that at this particular time

in the history of Humanity, it is imperative that we

examine our stories ( belief systems),

the ones we tell ourselves, the ones we tell others

and the ones we 'subscribe' to.

Note to self;

Scan for the unconscious ones as well.

Follow the feelings.

When we are elated or despondent

or numb we are NOT

in Neutral or at Peace.

Check the story, Suz.

Most important is not that we delight in stories

or resort to them but rather that we are able to recognize

when we are participating in one. Then we have a choice.

Then we can be Free.

The Golden Light

Once there was a Golden Light...

The first time I met it, I was very small.

It tickled my nose and made me sneeze.

I laughed at its playfulness.

It became my friend.

Yes, the Golden Light warmed my back

and lightened my mind.

It stood beside me through everything.

It even introduced me to my Shadow.

I remember that day of becoming aware of my Shadow.

"It is a blessed part of this Earth Walk." said the Light.

"When you look at and feel your Shadow you must shine our

Love and Compassion toward and through it.

You must be open to receiving the teaching of the Shadow.

It will show you where you are blocked and stuck.

Then and only then can you make a conscious choice

to accept the Shadows darkness,

love it especially and allow it to be,..

allow it to be..."

The Golden Light, I have come to feel,

even in my darkest hours,

as a hand on my shoulder or a kiss

on top of my head.

It steadies my spirit in turbulent seas.

It, again and again, illuminates my true path.

It points to my Shadow when I am lost and confused.

Then I remember to hold up a moment, to embrace it,

my precious little Shadow.

Ha Ha, Yeah, sometimes I have to pick it up

dust it off and take it by the hand,

consciously with me, along the sacred path of Life.

I have come to realize THIS is being 'Whole',

accepting and loving my Shadow too.

You know, lately it just keeps changing,

evolving, I guess, in its own way.

I don't see it as much these days

but I am now always ready, when it appears,

to hold out a steady hand,

so that together,

we can walk in balance,

the beauty way.

The Golden Light within, helped me to see,

one of the greatest gifts of walking in balance

is that now I am able to accept the sacred purpose

of the Shadow in others, my brothers and sisters.

Thus, I now feel and know in my Heart,

the divine alchemy

that can only be realized,

after a conscious walk

with the Shadow.

Oneness

I remember we were face to face, not long ago.

I followed my fingers as they traveled along your lips to your cheek.

They found their way down the slope of your nose and gently under your eye.

I looked intently at the flesh before me,... feeling I had become part of the texture,..

life pulsing through the tissue ,.. through the cells. I realized, being completely present,

that we were breathing the same breath and that our hearts were beating the same beat.

And my God , I no longer felt separate from you. I had the experience of Oneness...

When I remember that, I don't miss you,.. cause you are not gone.

You are right Here in my Heart,.. Body,.. and Soul,... Now and Eternally.

Good Night Love.

The Art of Making Fire

He taught us how to make fire,..

two pieces of wood rubbed together,..

falling apart into sawdust,

friction,... some heat generated.

The dust turns dark, then a tiny bit of smoke,

a sure sign something is happening.

He carefully takes the smoking sawdust coal

places it gently in the middle of soft kindling.

Then I watched him with great attention

give his own loving breath

to grow the flame.

Ambrosial Moments

" Boy,.. ? "

Why call out? There is no longer a doorway... It's closed now.
Left only to visit are murky reflections that haunt...
What's behind the eyes? It's the inner doorway i am being oriented to.
I linger in the passageway,..
the soft purrs at my cheek keeping me a bit longer.
Here on the surface, my minds reprieve...

" Go In..." What's inside beckons me once again.

I stepped through yesterday, for a moment...
I was in a line of cars, engines whining, combusting,..
colored lights,.. signals,.. agendas,... directing.
Then in a twinkling i went to a place where nothing matters.

I was in this quiet Infinite Space,... at Peace.

Then an old lady driving in front of me pulled slightly over
and stood with her Dog in the street.
I passed her carefully then looped back, concerned.
In a twinkling, she and her Dog were back in and driving away.

Maybe,.. I pondered, my moment of being the Infinite Space,
where nothing matters, .. rippled out to reach her
and her Dogs consciousness.
Perhaps for a moment they were there too,
arriving there as I left from there, to observe them...

And i thought,.. maybe we are most 'Current' when
immersed and united
in the Infinite Space, where nothing matters,..
where there is only Love.