In the spirit of Valentines Day, I wish everyone who follows me a terrific day filled with love. Whether you are celebrating with a special person or celebrating on your own, take time to appreciate all you have and do something that you love today.
Teeteringontheedge & sending high Love vibrations tribe,
Jacqueline
The New Year stands before us as a blank page. It is up to each of us, individually, as well as collectively, to create this moment in time. With eyes wide open we reflect what has worked for us in the past and what has not.
Settle your soul and recognize the window of opportunity you have been given. Release all that does not work, let it go, it has no hold on your soul now. Realize there is now a void that needs filling. Fill it and allow the overflow of what your heart really wants, what really brings you joy and happiness, what you desire for yourself and others and where you want this year to lead you!
Dream a new dream. Some of us are already creating vison boards, some are dealing with unexpected events & triggers, while others just don’t know where this past year went. We are all different but we all have the same needs and desires to be loved and accepted.
This year let us be the light and be the love we forgot to be last year!
Namaste Tribe.
Jacqueline
Do you create a New Years Resolutions list each year in the hopes of changing the things that don’t resonate anymore? I’m here to say hold on! 2023 can be your quantum leap.
Creating a place of authenticity means investing in yourself. Reconnecting to your abilities, responsibilities and believing in yourself starts with answering the following questions created by Kerry k.
Question #1 “Where am I neglecting myself?”
Often the answer to this question is not obvious. By sitting and connecting to your feelings, and I don’t mean analyzing yourself, just allow your feelings to rise as you ask this question. When did your over investment in others over take your priority to yourself? You can not give to others what you yourself do not have within. Others will create priority for their own needs if you allow them. Yes, I know we all have people who depend upon us but there has to be a balance. When you start to question where others put you on their priority list, you begin to awaken from the dream. Others can not give to you anything you have not given to yourself. When we ask others to give you quality time, to focus on your relationship or pay attention to your needs, you lose sight of who really comes first. YOU come first, so prioritize yourself.
Question #2 “Am I learning to validate what I cannot see?”
So many of us have been gas lighted by our family, friends or acquaintances who are mostly trying to compete with us. Many of us having non validating conversations, superficial relationships with me-centered beings. Their truths being thrown at us to be absorbed as our own. Holding your truth and validating your own feelings and experiences should never be compromised. Use your discernment and intuition and allow your heart to lead you. You will never be led astray.
Question #3 “Can you be true to yourself?”
In the traditional sense boundaries can be limiting and inhibiting, sometimes placing a wall between you and those in your life. Although using a higher version of self-honor with integrity, you can create healthy boundaries. Behaviors seen in others that you do not like, often gets you to thinking “am I not honoring myself?” Make your life about you’re own behavior. By self-honoring, your issuing a decree that says you will be treated by a better, expanded standard. By having this attitude and taking personal responsibility for yourself, this will create a huge catalyst for personal growth.
Question #4 “Have I practiced saying NO to others?”
Saying NO is a standard not a boundary. You can not do more for others then you do for yourself. When you say no to others do so with a higher frequency of love. Say it in a way that does not shut them off or shut them out. Do so without bias, prejudice or alienating them. Say No without shutting yourself down! Say I need, promised, scheduled etc….. right now, and can not be available, do this, or take care of that…… for you. Growing up means letting your YES be YES and your NO be NO.
Question #5 “Can you say YES to yourself?”
This is a technique that requires receptivity and connection to self. You can only say yes to yourself first before expecting others to say yes to you. Invest in yourself so you can give to others in the world. Today that might look like healing, recovery, silence, and time to sit & read. Tomorrow it might be an interlude with abundance. Your needs are not stationary they require an action and being in a mind set of receptivity. Your needs require a connection to yourself and an agreement to invest in YOU. It’s ok now to ask yourself what the hell are my needs?
Question #6 “Am I able to recognize the difference between Love and Self-compromise?”
The words love and self compromise are different and have different meanings but in relationships they look the same. Most of the time you don’t see self-compromise until you feel rotten, bitter, miserable, depleted and fatigued. When you realize that your energy has been sucked out of you and the only people standing around looking back at you are your loved ones. Addressing this question requires you to look back and see where you self-compromised yourself in the past. Did you see it coming then? Follow the pattern forward. Do you see it now? Self -Love needs to come before Love because it is the foundation or pillar of who you are. Your being has to be filled with love in order for you to share it with others. Then it is your responsibility, not others, for filling your cup up and over flowing. Self love is an action you perform to invest in your own life!
Question #7 “Who am I sacrificing myself for?”
Lastly, this is where we meet the martyr within. Who in your life are you giving away your free time, love and energy to? Did they specifically ask you to do all those things for them? Did your self sacrifice serve them, uplift them or benefit them? I’m here to let you in on a dirty little truth we rarely talk about. “No one benefits from self sacrifice”. You do not benefit nor do others; in fact, you are depriving them of their own self growth. Balance is needed here, if not, you will become bitter, resentful, and fatigued emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. You staying small serves no one!
It’s time for you to validate yourself and get into a commitment with yourself. When you self monitor you become;
The highest version of you and you serve the most people
The wisest version of you and you have the greatest wisdom to give
The most loving version of you and you can love the most people
The most abundant version of you and you can give the most!
Start 2023 with openness and a commitment to yourself so that the path ahead of you is paved with great intentions for living your best life!
Happy New Years Tribe
Namaste,
Jacqueline
Today I am alone and comfortable with the quiet. I clean and pick up my house, wrap a few presents and make myself another coffee. The mug is warm and the contents enticing. I grab my mug and head to the window. It is a dark grey day in the North. A slight dusting of snow fills the forest floor and mountainside’s. Peace and quiet over come me and I am one with myself and the world.
Suddenly, I notice ducks popping their heads up from under the lake and this surprises me. I think I have some bread to share with them. I grab three pieces, don my boots and head outside. It is mild with no breeze, another welcomed surprise. Teetering at the water’s edge, I rip shreds of bread and throw them at the ducks. They swim away in fear and I laugh.
How many times have others tried to help us and we mis understood their actions or walked away really not knowing how to accept a favor or kindness itself? Think about this today as I send you love & light and all the bread you need.
Peace,
Jacqueline
A REMINDER
Leading a balanced life means finding a way to enjoy your hobbies, family life, work and your inner spiritual needs. This is a never-ending process that requires you to re-assess your values, priorities, and personal growth. Often times it means learning from your mistakes and learning how to flow with a new mindset.
Finding balance involves your Internal vs External needs, knowing the difference between them and addressing each of them separately.
External Balance refers to:
Work:
Friendships:
Internal Balance refers to:
Mind
Health
Emotions
Creating balance in life is knowing what is important to you and what is not. Creating a well-balanced life is crucial for your health, happiness and well being so that you can live your best life!
By Jacqueline Denis
The greatest moral challenge of our time is our flawed conception of morality. The way we think and talk about morality stifles our ability to engage in views other than our own, making managing diversity and disagreement harder. It also locks us into thinking patterns that produce more suffering and unrest than they solve.
Right/wrong, male/female, life/death issues are subjective. it is down to each of us to figure out the correct interpretation of these issues.
Morality is a cultural tool that we humans set up to live and work together in social situations. Interests may vary but we all want to provide for ourselves and loved ones, avoid suffering and hardship and pursue pleasurable and fulfilling experiences.
Morality should be created with the premise, what is good for me , should be good for everyone and vice versa. Morality should be less about proving your view and more about tolerance and negotiation of all people, communities and cultures. It should be less dogmatic and more adaptable. Morality should answer questions and solve problems.
While we are teetering on the edge of our greatest moral challenges, we should envelop patience. Patience will allow us to see the lessons in our own life stories and teach us how to behave in the world. Patience will also align us with our authentic, honest and truthful self; which will in turn direct us forward to the process and justice of morality.
These are chaotic times and it is critical to listen to your heart and trust your inner guidance. Your light is needed in the world!
Motives drive our intentions and so it is only logical that the two are fused by design. It’s great to have goals, dreams or aspirations to move us forward on our journey but it is more powerful and important to know the “Why”. The “Why” brings clarity and is the key to fulfillment. The “Why” is our thread to our subconscious, the root to going within. Why do we think this way? act this way? desire this or need that? These questions bring us closer to knowing who we really are and they become the basis to the values and morals we set up as our individuality.
Now is a great time for introspection. When you ask yourself, why am I feeling like this? saying that? or being triggered by something or someone else? the answers may be surprising and self healing as to what they tell you about yourself.
Developing clear motives will help you define your path and life experiences. Knowing when and why to think, feel and act will be like a magnet for miracles to happen. Clearly defined motives driving your intentions is the Law of Attraction that will create the potential for growth in your life.
In the end life is all about being loved. A deeper understanding of your needs could be your next miracle. The “Why” is the buried treasure within you and it’s time to do a little digging. The “Why” will bring you closer to the happiness you seek!
In Unity while uncovering deep truths,
Jacqueline
Today my writing prompt said “What do you want to be when you get older & why?”
Well, I’m pushing the 60 + age group and I’m still wondering about who I want to be when I get older. That should tell you something about who I am. I believe we are living in a constant state of learning. The key is to stay open and flexible to all life brings towards you, after all there are teachable moments in those times. Who I want to be is a greater, wiser, lovelier, kinder person. I want to be the face of wisdom, the rock of Gibraltar, the mother of compassion. All I have to figure out is when will I recognize that I am old. What is the age or time that speaks STOP your old now! Will it be when my body gives out, when the ambulance is called or when my children no longer come to see me? I really don’t know, but until that time I will continue on my hero’s journey of self discovery and pick the flowers, turn over the rocks, bath in the Lake and close my eyes so my ears can hear the waterfall. I will remember to write again on my 140th birthday and let you know how I made out.
Sincerely,
Jacqueline
Hello fellow writers and poetry readers, I am in the process of writing my second book of poems about living in Northern Ontario Canada. I would love any suggestions of poetry books, from Northern Canada, that have inspired you.
Keep your nails clipped, your ink stocked and your heart open!
Write On! Love Jacqueline
X soul expression writing on Facebook
Birds have always been my totem, my sign from the spirit world. I resonate with others who feel this calling too. Birders, wonderful people connected to nature.
While in nature, I love seeing the variety of feathered friends as I walk a trail, kayak on my lake or sit in my yard.
After moving to Northern Ontario Canada from Southern Canada, I noticed the absence of birds. I was used to seeing many different species of migrating birds during spring and fall. Now living in the North, I feel a loss. I was under the assumption birds lived everywhere, that they adapted to survive the most extreme, remote and barren lands. What I have since learned is that most bird rich regions are those zones that cover the tropical and equatorial areas of the world. The more North you go the less birds. Speaking of bird free zones, I learned if breeding species alone is counted, Vatican City has the fewest according to Stephen Moss’s book the Birder’s Companion. Does this surprize me? Not sure.
My sense of loss led me to consult the many bird books I have shelved as I began to notice new species landing in glee in my front yard. Varieties committed to the forest and northern seasons. Some returning, some escaping. Species like, Snow geese, eagles, loons, barrow’s golden eye, pine grosbeaks, common redpolls, and pine siskins. I know, you birder’s are going to say, “they are not new” but they are to me a beginner birder. Unfortunately, my Cardinals are not here. My cardinals who used to bring me news regarding my spiritual journey, reminding me to stay the course and keep co-creating my future. Cardinals who mostly reminded me of the present “Now” moment and its importance to me.
How do I call the Cardinal? I have called the cardinal mine, my bird, my tether to the universe. That silvery unseen cord that vibrates from heaven and I receiving wisdom, guidance and messages from beyond, through the heart of the delicate Cardinalidae.
The Cardinal was my angelic surprise as a blast of colour is seen when they whistle in spring establishing territory. They were abundant where I used to live but they are not here and my loneliness increases. Apparently, there is a line drawn that the cardinals cannot pass. A northern boundary where none shall pass. Where are the brave ones? The birds who like myself, break all boundaries and create what is wanted! I have been patiently waiting while seeking their presence.
I love how nature; animals, birds and trees respond to spirit moving through them, and how they reach out to connect with humanity. Even their presence is a message. On many hikes I often felt the presence of spirit while walking through the forest and took pictures of trees. One day I will publish a book on these pictures and the messages I received. Other times animals would appear, like the fox that stood outside my kitchen window and demanded my attention. Although it has always been the birds that kept wise council with me. The Raven/Crows have called me since childhood. Did you know the Raven is the first bird mentioned in the Bible. In the 8th chapter of the book of Genesis “and he (Noah)sent forth a raven, which went to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth” There are between 25-40 different kinds of birds mentioned in the bible.
We often don’t recognize the importance of connecting to nature for our survival, both mentally and physically. Nature is here to support humanity. I am just learning this lesson on my spiritual journey.
It is summer now and I still dedicate time to call the cardinals. I watch the woodland edge of the forest that surrounds my property. I know the undergrowth, thickets and berry bushes will attract them. I will plant sunflowers to entice them, after all the sapsuckers have already drilled their holes so the cardinal’s elixir awaits.
For now, I send out thoughts and prayers thanking and welcoming all birds. My hearts desire is to speak to those, in spirit, who have been a part of my journey. I wait for the cardinals in this new nest of mine because to see them is to feel my loved ones have followed me here too. That they are resting in my nest. I sit and watch through windowpane as the sun sparkles off the lake and the blue sky is reflected back at me. Energizing as the gentle breeze crests and falls and spirit moves through me.
TEETERING ON THE EDGE 