Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Bee Miracle at Notre Dame Cathedral - Angel Message


In keeping with the blog resurrection theme, the angels pointed out the three beehives that miraculously survived the devastating fire at the Notre Dame Cathedral.  While sadly watching the story on PBS during holy week, I was surprised to learn that 180,000 bees were living on the roof.  Why were they congregating there? I wondered.  In 1995, I had visited the historic cathedral in Paris. Notre Dame is French for "Our Lady" and refers to the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

 In 2013, the honeybees took up residence on the church roof  as part of a beekeeping initiative to assist their dwindling apis population.

I knew that bee represents accomplishing the impossible, as many years ago scientists were uncertain as to how they could fly.  With such a large body and small wings, the bee defies the laws of aerodynamics.

Honeybees are also excellent builders.  Their honeycombs are constructed in a six-sided hexagon.  A symbol of the sun and its energies. The Notre Dame beehives were located on a sacristy roof about 100-feet below the main roof that burned.

Hearing about the miracle of the honeybees brought a joyful note of  encouragement.  Dedicated firemen had worked through the night to preserve the 800-year old stone cathedral, rescuing priceless artwork and religious relics from the blaze.  It was heartwarming to watch the French people gather together in prayer and sing hymns in an evening vigil. The church alive within each heart burned brightly.

The bee is a reminder to sip the honey of life and to be productive while the sun is shining. "The bee reminds us that no matter how great the dream, there is the promise of fulfillment if we pursue it."  The elixer of life is as sweet as honey. 

Love and joyful blessings,


Rae Karen




Ref. Animal-Speak, Ted Andrews

Monday, April 22, 2019

A Red Cardinal and the Mimosa Tree: An Angel Message

Often in the early morning, I sit quietly on the porch, and gratefully soak up the little joys of a new day. Like email, you never know what may show up with a message. 

On Saturday morning, a bright red cardinal landed on the limb of the old mimosa tree.   Eight years ago, when we first moved in, I'd mistaken it for a dead stump of spindly bare sticks growing through the chain-link fence. Sweating, I worked hard to dig it up by the roots, but they were anchored deep.  Finally, I yielded, severely cutting it down to a small hard twig.

To my surprise, over the years, that twig grew back stronger, and forcibly began to take the form of a shapely ornamental tree.

So, the rare sight of a red cardinal, perched on the long arm of  the mimosa,  brought to mind a lesson on resurrection.  In the winter, the mimosa tree loses its soft green fern-like leaves. But the story isn't over.  Each spring it returns, gracing our stucco adobe with new life.

Sheepishly, I'm thankful that the forgiving tree held its ground.  Before long, it will blossom again with fragrant pink tufts tickled by the breeze.


The animated, little red cardinal's loud, joyous singing also captured the attention of  our playful kitten Hei-Hei.  Curious, he jumped up on the windowsill to admire this bright red bird in the tree. Soon he began moving his mouth, chattering a feline song. 

Encouraged, the cardinal put on a show. Flying from the tree, he landed on a purple Mexican petunia.  The tall spindly plant bounced wildly trying to support the weight of this welcomed singer.   Two large clay pots, bursting with red geraniums, made a perfect backdrop for his glowing performance.  His bright red wings flitted from the petunias to the Rose of Sharon bush, and again  the little bird enjoyed a playful bounce.

I know when a cardinal shows up, his appearance brings a message to add more color to your life.  It can also serve as a reminder that everything you do is important.  I could see that more clearly as his spontaneous appearance had brightened our morning, just by showing up, and singing his own song.
Red Cardinal - Wikimedia

Easter is a time of resurrection.  Renewal and restoration.  A time to rejoice and sing our own song.
I just learned that the mimosa's flower gets its name from the Greek word 'mimos' which means to mimic.

Love and joyful blessings,


Rae Karen


Mimosa Photo:  web

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

An Angel Message on a Teabag


Yesterday's angel blog on ingredients for success had ended by saying that love is the most important ingredient of all.  Well, that night at the dinner table, Elliot's teabag was steeping in hot water, when I noticed it had a tag with a quote.  We both usually drink Green Tea at dinner (with no tags), but he had opted for a cup of Yogi Licorice, and I stuck with the Green Tea.  Silently, he read the words on the teabag, and then laughed, shaking his head.  You aren't going to believe the synchronicity!

Curious, I read the tag quote, with eyes bulging.

The principal
 ingredient of
life is love.

He was right.   It echoed the morning blog! 

WOW.  Sometimes the angels have to knock me over the head to make sure I get it!  I laughed, feeling a touch of the thinness of the veil in that incredible moment.  It brings such joy to the mundane when LOVE is the main ingredient, and we are grateful to be in the presence of loving angels who guide and comfort us along the way.

Enjoy your day with the Angels.

Love and joyful blessings,


Rae Karen


Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Ingredients for your Success: An Angel Message



Yesterday's mail delivered a copy of a favorite old book I had recently ordered,  Writing Down the Bones, Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg. 

I woke up in the middle of the night with an ego attack...the relentless chatter kept me awake as I did my best to hold the criticism at bay.  What does my ego know anyway?  Absolutely nothing...about anything... I've found that singing quietly to myself will make her go away...eventually.

Early this morning, while still in my pajamas, curled up on the sofa,  I hungrily underlined the chapter on Baking a Cake in the book.  Goldberg explains how writing is a similar process to baking a cake.  All the ingredients need to be mixed in a bowl; alone, they are not a cake.  The writer must become one with the details, and own the emotions that add flavor to the words that are heated up in the process of creating something tasty.

 Lately, it feels like there's a fishbowl's stuck on my head, and I'm watching two gold fish swim in opposite directions.  High solar energies hitting the planet at this time, effect our electromagnetic fields.  Especially so this morning, but I did begin the writing exercises recommended in the book.

The icing was to come later. A large white tractor trailer pulled up in front of a coffee shop in town. The bold orange lettering made me laugh

...All the Ingredients for your Success.  

It was one of those perfectly timed angel zssts! 

Just the inspiration needed in the moment... And love is the most important ingredient of all.

Enjoy your day with the Angels.

Love and joyful blessings,


Rae Karen 




Saturday, April 6, 2019

The Envelope, Please: An Angel Message


Sometimes our angel experiences are entwined like a big ball of yarn, and as we pull on the string, one yank at a time, we discover that our path has been knitted with a blanket of love.  

As you already know, there are occasions when a certain something, quite ordinary, but of personal significance will show up and stir you awake in the moment. A joyful zsst brings assurance that more is happening than meets the eye.  To pay attention.  A reminder that you are in the presence of angels.    

And, these light-hearted touches are ever-present, but more readily revealed when joyfully open, in gratitude, and fully conscious of the beauty and wonder in each moment.   

Almost ten years ago, on a special birthday, a small portrait of a young girl with an envelope and a bouquet of roses showed up at a flea market on the Eastern Shore. Elliot and I had stopped on our way home from my birthday weekend at Chincoteague Island in Virginia.  A place I'd always wanted to visit ever since as a young pony-tailed girl, I had read Misty of Chincotague by Marguerite Henry. 

I loved her book about two orphaned siblings who were drawn to a wild pony on the Island.  To celebrate my birthday weekend, we had stayed at Miss Molly's Inn where the author, Marguerite Henry,  had lived while writing her famous book.  Secretly, I hoped for some of her creative writing to rub off on me. 

To my delight that weekend, I did meet up with a wild pony on the trail and gave him a friendly pat.   

So the young Victorian girl with the white envelope and roses was a great birthday keepsake.  At home, I often playfully mused,  What was inside the envelope?  What message would this young girl convey if she could ? 

A year or so later, the answer came by surprise.  While browsing the books at the Mission thrift shop in Virginia Beach, I opened a book.  There she was.  Pictured on a notecard.   I had never seen her in print anywhere before.


Curious, I gulped, and opened the card.  The handwritten note read:

"Kathryn, dear one.  You may at first wonder just why I am
 sending you this C.D. Go to Psalm 139 for your answer ... 
 With love and very tender thoughts of you.  Your other "Mom",  Mary
     
 I couldn't wait to get home and look up that Psalm.  

Psalm 139 (New International Version)

You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise'
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down.
You are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue
You, Lord, know it completely

You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens you are there
If I make my bed in the depths, you are there
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the farside of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast...

These comforting words added more meaning to the sweet angel messenger.  Almost ten years later, living in Florida, the little birthday girl portrait now hangs in the laundry room above the washing machine by our back door as we come and go.  A reminder that God goes with me wherever I may go.
Timing is everything.  Next month is another milestone birthday for me.  So last week, while on a spontaneous day trip to Mount Dora, Florida, Elliot and I were enjoying sunshine on the dock, watching the lapping waves and the seagulls when inspiration wafted in on the breeze. Stop by the thrift shop in town

 I didn't mention it to Elliot.  After all, we were there to enjoy the outdoors, not bargain hunt.  Yet, as we were leaving the dock, I heard again, Go to the thrift shop.  It's  around the corner. I had only been there once, many years ago with a friend.  Then something made me stop.  I recognized this insistent nudge as an angel message. There was some reason to go there, something I needed to see, or some person to meet. So we did.  

The Hospice Hope Thrift had many lovely things. A funny grandma mannequin, sitting in a rocking chair, was smiling as we entered one of the rooms.  Against the wall were large floral stained glass window panels, too big for our windows, but quite a bargain.  When I turned around, I was taken aback by an sweet familiar face.  The Victorian birthday girl was smiling at me, in a large beautiful matted frame, at an exceptional price.  The synchronicity was amazing.  This sweet young girl, who had greeted me on my birthday almost ten years ago, had returned, bigger and better.  Ready to celebrate another BIG birthday in May!  I loved it.


Now, she has a special place, looking over my shoulder as I write at the desk, a wonderful reminder that God is always present.  There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God. 

It turns out that her unexpected appearance goes hand in hand with the ponies of  Chincoteague. This book by Henry crossed my path in St. Augustine last week.  Again, an angel message had guided to make an impromptu stop at a little free neighborhood book drop near our hotel.  At first, I didn't see anything for me in the selections, but Whoah!

Misty's Twilight by Marguerite Henry was soon galloping homeward with us.

What little nudges are coming your way?  Trust and follow the guidance, even if you go dragging your feet, you'll be happy that you did.  

God loves you now and always.  Rest in His Love.

Joyful blessings,


Rae Karen