The Centre of the Universe

A young one asked an old one how to get to the centre of the universe.
"It's an awfully big place. How do I get there? How will I know I've arrived?"
"Look inside."
"I'm not the Universe."
"Yes, you are."
"It is impossible," said the young one.
"As long as you believe that you will never find it."
This answer was not good enough. It confused the young one who was used to concrete examples, boundaries, and measures.
"Very well," said the old one. "This is what you do. Find a tree. Sit at its root and lean back against it. Close your eyes.  Follow your feelings into the tree."
The young one looked doubtful, but at least this answered offered a tangible exercise.
"And then what do I do?"
"Invite the tree into you."
"Absurd," declared the young one. "How can a tree get inside of me?"
The wise elder smiled. "Go ask the tree."

Time to Wake Up

Crescent Falls

I had big plans to sleep in this morning. I figured I was good to, say, 6:30 a.m. at least.
The Universe, however, had other plans.
The phone rang. It only rang in my mind, but it's just as insistent there as it is in real life. The Universe's call is just one ring although I suspect it happened twice this morning. The first one was part of a dream. The second one was about 20 minutes later. It left no room for doubt.
I tried to stay in bed anyway, but the best course of action when the Universe calls is to answer.
That said, I love the mornings, especially this time of year. The air is fresh and cool and sweet, the birds are singing, the light is new though muted, and there is peace in my world no matter what else is going on around me.
Perhaps the Universe wanted to remind me of this. Perhaps it's got something up its sleeve for later on.
Whatever happens, I'm awake and ready for it.
Anything similar ever happen to you?

A Miracle In Three Parts

Yesterday I signed some papers at my lawyer’s office and it was a miracle. It means my dad’s estate gets its share of his late brother Reynold’s estate without going through probate.

The Public Trustee’s office had insisted on probate. It was policy and no reasoned, logical argument offered by my lawyer held any sway. Time and cost aside, it meant that very likely a trustee would have to be appointed for my mentally ill sister as the Probate Court might not accept personal service of the notice of probate on her. That opened up all manner of possibilities including, but not restricted to, her challenging dad’s will.

We got working on the probate and I still asked the Universe for a change to the policy. I asked for matters to be settled without probate. I thanked the Universe for making it happen.
Last August the PT’s office changed its policy allowing for estates under $5,000 to be paid out without need of probate.

It was a miracle.

However, dad’s share was more than $5,000 so it wasn’t a miracle I could use, but it helped two of my cousins. I thanked the Universe for making it happen.

I filled out the forms, gave them to my lawyer to file, and kept pestering the Universe.
In the fall the PT’s office decided to pay out all the other beneficiaries. It was the second part of the miracle. I thanked the Universe for making this happen. I kept asking for the probate requirement to be removed and continued to thank the Universe for making the change.

Meanwhile, staffing issues at my lawyer’s office meant probate hadn’t been filed yet. I met with her in late November, went over the papers, and signed something. It was ready to go.

In December I learned from my lawyer than another change was underway at the PT’s office. In it, payouts under $15,000 could be made without probate. It was recommended we not file probate. That seemed logical to me.

Even though I had the letter I still asked the Universe for the policy change and thanked it for making it happen. Earlier this month the policy change was finalized. I signed an indemnity form and now dad’s estate can be paid out.

I asked for a miracle. I got three of them.

Thank you, Universe.

The Universe Smiled

Every so often the Universe kicks it up a notch and lets you know it loves you.

Friday was such a day.

I was out for an afternoon walk in the new housing development about a block over from my house. Three years ago it was a horse pasture. Now it’s well on its way to fulfilling the commitment of 60 residential units, the bulk of which are duplexes.

I thought I’d have a look. I wandered through the newest of its streets, then cut through an alley into the older section. I decided to turn up the alley as I could see an opening in a fence that offered a shortcut of my proposed route.

I’d decided to go see if the Taber corn guy was set up for sales. (Taber is an area in southern Alberta famed for its toothsome corn. It’s picked overnight and trucked to various parts of the province for sale the next day.)

As I walked along enjoying the afternoon sunshine I saw a crisp, shiny, smartly folded, hardly used $10 bill on the gravel.
It was on public property so I pocketed it.

I continued on my walk and found the corn guy was in so I went over. I had money now.
A half-dozen went for $4. Before I handed the money over I said I’d found the bill and he should check it over to make sure it was okay. It looked real to me, but I’m suspicious of found money.

He said it was okay and wasn’t I going to buy a lottery ticket with it?
“No. I thought I’d buy some corn.”
He laughed and said he thought I was getting a better deal.

So he took the $10 and gave me back a loonie (nickname of our dollar coin as it has a loon on one side) and was peeling off a $5 bill for me when he stopped. He looked at me and said, “I’m gonna make your day.”

He took back the coin, gave me my $10, and then gave me the corn for free.

It was thoughtful, kind, generous, and completely unexpected. And he was right. It did make my day.

Request Denied

It was worth a shot.

My lawyer presented an argument for waiver of probate on my dad’s will to hasten the process of getting my Uncle Reynold’s estate paid out.

It didn’t work.

Reynold died in public care. He’d been there most of his life and had accumulated government care money which is to be shared by his siblings or their offspring.

It was ready to be paid out, or so we thought, but my dad died before any cheques we sent.

The Public Trustee’s office has a hard and fast rule about probate of the estate.
Interestingly, this was a new wrinkle in the process for us. Another beneficiary died last spring, but we didn’t hear anything about this requirement until it came time for a pay out.

In fairness, a new officer from the Public Trustee’s office took over the file in the mean time. This fellow isn’t completely soured on life. I suspect that’s the biggest difference.

From the moment my lawyer applied for waiver until the request was shot down I repeated many times daily: “My lawyer’s letter worked.”

It didn’t.

I choose to believe the Universe knows better and there’s a reason for gumming up the works yet again.

So I filled out the forms and made an appointment to see my lawyer to get it done. The Public Trustee’s office has said it would help me if I wanted to file this all by my lonesome.

I don’t.

Rudimentary Gratitude

This morning I started thanking the Universe before I got out of bed. Sleepiness lends a bit of clarity to my thoughts, in an odd way, because I’m too tired to think of anything except the thought itself at its ground level.
No fancy words come to mind, no clouding the issue with explanations, just the idea in its rudimentary form.

It occurred to me that I was grateful for this clarity. The feeling associated with thankfulness gets through easier when I’m not paying any intellectual attention.

It went like this: I’m grateful for the time I have to thank the Universe before I get out of bed.

That led to: I’m grateful that I can get out of bed.

Which in turn became: I’m grateful that I have a bed.

This seemed like a very good starting point for the day.

It reminded me to not take for granted the advantages I have, nor complain too much about any perceived shortcomings in my life.

Are they really there? If I gave it much though I could whine and bellyache with the most accomplished of negativity purveyors.

I choose not to.

What Are Your Intentions Toward Yourself?

I’ve been thinking about the power of intention. I use it as part of my morning prayer cycle. I put out to the Universe what I want to get done in the day and commonly that’s exactly what happens.

Stating something has an interesting twist to it. It can make that something real or it can take away its power.
That’s the general idea behind talking about something in order to feel better. Life’s problems aren’t so quite so bad once the words are out.
It’s still intention, though. You intend to feel better by talking, so therefore, you are. You made it real. You switched the power around and put it to work for you.

This brings me to my point. What are your intentions toward yourself? What needs some power behind it?
Here are a few ideas to get you going. Feel free to use them as is or adapt them for your own needs

I intend to eat well.
I intend to exercise.
I intend to be published.
I intend to be successful.
I intend to be my own woman and live the life I want.
I intend to be happy.
I intend to stand up for myself.

Go ahead. Make a commitment to yourself and put it out to a Higher Power whether that is God, the Universe, or Fuzzy Bunny.
Make it real and watch it work.

Turning Annoyance On Its Ear

My next-door neighbors had a few people over last night and fueled their celebrations with music, alcohol, and loud talk.
A particularly loud, obnoxious voice awakened me and annoyed me enough that I couldn’t get back to sleep.

I tried meditating/self-hypnosis, but couldn’t concentrate enough to suggest that external noises didn’t bother me. I tried to focus solely on the lovely, steady rhythmic fall of the rain, but partying won out.

My annoyance simmered for quite some time. I asked the Universe to convince the neighbors to call it a night.

Nothing.

Finally it occurred to me to flip this over and tickle its tummy. If there’s something in this to be grateful for, then I want to know it.

Instead of being irked over loud noises, I thanked the Universe that I can hear.

Instead of being upset over partying, I’m happy to live in a land where people can gather and are allowed to enjoy themselves on their own property.

I’m grateful my neighbors have an active social life and can burn off steam. A quiet loner next door might ultimately be a tragedy in waiting.

I’m grateful it was raining because it kept them indoors instead out on the balcony.

The volume was fairly low as compared to some of their partying last summer. It was turned down even more by around midnight. I’m thankful they were considerate enough to do this.

Interestingly, once I expressed gratitude the partying seemed to calm. I think I even drifted off a few times before midnight and I didn’t feel anywhere near as annoyed as I had earlier.

Gratitude works in mysterious ways I’m finding. And I believe that the more difficult it is to express gratitude, then the more important it is that I do so.

Rewards

When you start choosing the loving way it starts choosing you, too. Your kindness could be returned in any way-–big or small--at any time. It may not even seem related. When you establish a pattern of treating people kindly balance comes with it.


Here’s an example. Back when I was reporting I covered Provincial Court for The Mountaineer. One morning the parking lot at the courthouse was full so I parked on the street in a two-hour parking zone. Normally there is at least one recess during the morning session so I wasn’t concerned. I’d be able to slip out and move my car.

However, that morning the session went smoothly with no need for a break. When lunchtime came I walked out into the bright noonday sun to a find a parking ticket on my windshield and a $5 bill lying in the snow beside the driver’s side front tire.

The money was exactly enough to pay the fine.

Call it coincidence if you like. Write it off as just one of those things that happens if it makes you sleep better at night.

I say it’s the Universe at work and I’m grateful.

Don’t Hogtie the Universe

It's getting on abundance cheque time again. The new moon is on the 17th, and that's the day before Chinese New Year.

Last month's post on abundance cheques raised a question (thanks Talia) about asking for a specific amount. If you do ask for specific amount, should it be the same amount every month?

The short answer is: Yes.

Ask for what you want until you get it.

The long answer is a bit different.

Don’t hogtie the Universe.

I prefer to leave the amount open. This lets our heavenly helpers give even more to us. If we are to live in abundance, as I believe we are, then we have no business putting a limit on what we receive.

If you must ask for a specific amount, then leave room at the end of your request for more.

Dr. Doreen Virtue, (http://www.angeltherapy.com/) in her book Angel Medicine, wrote about what to do if you’re not clear about what to ask for. She suggests picturing the best possible outcome for meeting your needs, then adding, “This, or something better, God” at the end of the request.

This is easily adapted for monetary requests. Use this or similar wording to let the Universe know that you are ready and willing to receive all the plenty that's due, not just the teeny bit you need at the moment. And it lets our heavenly helpers know that we understand that we deserve to live in abundance and that the bounty of the Universe is for us, too.

It’s the method I use when I ask and it’s very effective. I always get more than I need.

Are you being greedy when you do this?

No. You are acknowledging your worthiness.

If you’re more comfortable dealing with specifics, then go ahead and detail exactly how much you want. And take it further. Detail the amount, when you need it, why you need it, and what you’ll be using it for.
This method is set out by Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer in their books Creating Money, Keys To Abundance and Spiritual Growth, Being Your Higher Self.
Those methods work, too. Find out your style for petitioning the Universe and go with it. But remember this, no matter which method you use, always be careful what you ask for.

A last bit about abundance cheques.
If you don’t have a chequebook, or don’t want to use your own cheques, then make one. Get a piece of paper and a pen, or fire up the drawing program on your computer, and put in all the appropriate lines you'd find on a regular cheque.

Fill out the cheque or its facsimilie like this:

Date: Leave Blank

Pay To The Order Of: Your Full Name Here

Write "Paid In Full" in the box following the name space.

Next line: Write "Paid In Full" ------------------xx/100 Dollars

Memo: "Thank You"

Signature: "The Law Of Abundance"

Write your cheque within 24 hours of the new moon. Check http://skytonight.com/ for new moon times in your area.

Put the cheque away and forget about it.

Happy Abundance, everyone!

I first learned about abundance cheques at Spirit Lodge at
http://Spiritlodge@www.ezboard.com/