And, you know, that's exactly what I got.
(postcard- zazzle)
Today, September 29th, is Michaelmas Day in honor of St. Michael, and the mighty Archangels.
Archangel Michael is considered the greatest of all angels in the
Jewish, Christian and Islamic religions. He is known as Holder of the
Keys of Heaven, Chief of the Archangels, and Angelic Prince of Israel.
He is Commander-in-Chief of the Heavenly armies, and fights for justice. St. Michael has been honored from the earliest times in many countries. 
Elliot and I got lost taking a ride to find a new thrift shop. We almost gave up, thinking, oh well, it's not meant to be. But an angel nudge prevailed. And, we found the lovely boutique tucked away behind a shopping mall. That's where I discovered a happy sea of smiling sunflowers. Facing the sun, high up on a wall, their radiant glow brightened my day for just $6.
That's the beauty of a sunflower. It constantly turns its face toward the sun, a behavior called phototropism. It faces west at sunset, and swings around to the east at sunrise to greet the morning light. Golden petals bring a heartwarming message to be on the lookout for upcoming opportunities of happiness and health. To stay focused on the light, and have faith. All is well.
I welcomed the sunflower reminder, an angel message, to be flexible like Gumby and turn my face toward the Light. The best is yet to be. We are Children of Light.
Love and peace,
Rae Karen
The community gardener maintenance lady has become a friend over the years. We usually just wave and say a few words here and there. An angel thought suggested to offer her my clay flower pots. I'm letting go in the Butterfly Garden, less maintenance. And I thought she'd put them to good use.
Yesterday morning, she showed up in her little orange pickup truck. Soon the large terracotta flower pots were packed in the back ready to be hauled away. To my surprise, she reached down in the truck bed and offered two small uprooted plants. Would you like to have these irises?
Irises...my ears perked. A God wink... When I told her irises have been a sign from God that I'm on the right path, her face lit up and she smiled, you're doing good.
Irises...
Sometimes we may find a treasured symbol in art that speaks directly to our journey from darkness into the light. It shows up just when needed without any seeking on our part. The timing is divine, and that special moment is like a wink from God. To keep on walking forward by faith.
In 1992, this painting, Beyond Moongate by George Bleich, crossed my path while visiting Viola, my childhood friend, in California. I'd been through a major life challenge and needed a pause, a reset, a change of scenery, before starting a new chapter of life.
One afternoon while we were window-shopping in Carmel, Viola discovered this beautiful iris (keyhole) painting hanging in a studio art gallery window.
Irises had been like breadcrumbs from God indicating I was on the right path when I began my spiritual journey.
Not only did the painting speak to me, but the artist had written a poem to accompany the journey.
Looking back through the years, what an amazing journey into the light. I met many of you along the way and we've journeyed a great distance together, sharing joys and sorrows on the road home.
Sometimes I look down the sun-lit path and wonder, what's waiting around the bend? The dawning of a new day lights up the path as I begin my meditation in gratitude for all the experiences that led me to where I am today.
Love and peace,
Rae Karen
In Animal Messengers Regula Meyer shares that the turkey symbolizes to give yourself unquestioningly and boundlessly. Give yourself up. Give in to life. Immerse yourself fully in your life's story. Now is not the time to set boundaries and modify the events and relationships you live through, but to let them happen. In external self-abandonment, discover internal self-development.
To give yourself means expecting things of yourself. If you want to have this life--and it wants to have you--then you should have it, all the way. The turkey tells you to give it all, embrace your light and your shadows. Don't be afraid to be authentic, to speak your truth. With this giving, don't seek affirmation or recognition, just observe how you feel when you throw yourself into life so completely. As you become more of your true self, life makes the adjustments around you. This is the lesson that comes with autumn, the season of change, of letting go.
The turkey also brings a message of thanksgiving--be thankful for who you are! Spread your wings, and do a little dance in the sunlight.
Remember you are not alone. You are in the company of your guardian angel...listen and watch for signs and wonders...when the ordinary becomes extraordinary.
Love and peace,
Rae Karen
To let go does not mean to stop caring, it means
I can’t do it for someone else.
To let go is not to cut myself off, it's the realization
I can't control another.
To let go is not to enable, but to allow learning
from natural consequences.
To let go is to admit powerlessness, which means
the outcome is not in my hands.
To let go is not to try to change or blame another,
it's to make the most of myself.
To let go is not to care for, but to care about.
To let go is not to judge, but to allow another
to be a human being.
To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the
outcomes, but to allow others to affect their own destinies.
To let go is not to be protective, it's to permit another
to face reality.
To let go is not to deny, but to accept.
To let go is not to nag, scold or argue, but instead
to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.
To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires, but
to take each day as it comes and cherish myself in it.
To let go is not to regret the past, but to grow and live.
To let go is to fear less and love more.
--Author Unknown
Every season serves a higher purpose as we shift into a new rhythm in life. Remember you are never alone. The best is yet to be.
Love and peace,
Rae Karen
While sitting in the garden this morning, a gentle breeze delivered a golden valentine from nature. I watched a leaf, shaped like a heart, gracefully flutter through the air, tumbling off a vine on the old oak tree. With a thankful heart, I held it in my hand. A gentle reminder to choose love today. To let go of the past and choose to see life through a lens of God's love.
Would you believe as I sit at my desk blogging just now... heart leaves flutter down from the tree tops, and gracefully touch the earth. I am thankful for the angelic message to stay grounded in love.
Remember you are never alone. You are in the presence of God's angels always when you abide in the Shadow of the Almighty. Today try keeping your eyes open for gentle angel messages coming to you. A reminder that God loves you now and always. Keep having faith that more is happening than you know. The best is yet to be.
Love and peace,
Rae Karen
Mama is minding her brood of eight ducklings on the banks of the overflow reservoir. Uploading the pics, what a surprise. The little ones have solid blue beaks. When the babies become adults, only a spot of bright blue remains on the tip of their beaks, like Mama.
Blue is often considered a spiritual color. And, this transformation reminded me of how often we humans lose touch with our spiritual nature as we grow up and become lured by the distractions of the material world. But, there remains a part of us untouched by the physical realm...a spark of divinity. Through prayer and meditation this spark will grow brighter, lighting the way.
I love these unusual ducks...the mornings are often filled with happy whistling songs filling the air. No raucous quacks...
A reminder from the Pinocchio movie, "Give a little whistle, and always let your conscience be your guide."
Remember you are never alone. Psalm 91 is a comforting reminder that God has sent His angels to watch over you and guard you in all your ways. Look for loving touches of their heavenly presence as you go about your day. Expect a miracle...a shift in perception. The best is yet to be.
Love and peace,
Rae Karen
Today I asked the angels to place a bubble of JOY around you to watch over you and lighten up your heavy load.
This morning began with a promise of JOY today. To be of good cheer and brighten our corner of the world. To choose to be joyful. Live to bring joy to others. Joy! Joy! Joy! To feel JOY coursing through your entire being. JOY! Let it bubble up and spill over everywhere. The JOY of the Lord is contagious. Little touches of JOY would pop up when I live it and be it....
As I wrote down the uplifting message of JOY, I could feel a welling up in my inner-being...an insurgence of fresh light energy, almost buoyant.
On an early morning walk, the whistling duck family were swimming in tandem behind mama duck. A reminder for me to get all my ducks lined up in a row. Later, uploading a joyful picture of the blue-beaked ducklings, Blogger had a program glitch so patience is needed.
I managed to keep afloat...thankful for the heads-up to choose JOY today.
Plan B went into effect--older blog photos could be added, so here goes. Funny because yesterday I searched high and low to find this beautiful white snowy peacock I took many years ago at the Fountain of Youth. Yes, we may be molting right now, but glorious peacock is a promise of victory when we keep having faith seeing things as they are yet to be.
Have a joyful day, moment to moment, with the angels by your side. And don't burst that bubble of JOY from the angels. Keep rising higher. The best is yet to be.
Love and peace,
Rae Karen
Yesterday a drive in search of wild peacocks appeared to be a lost cause. Where were they? Not one beautiful royal blue bird was out and about at the rehabilitation center. We scanned the trees hoping for a long trail of eyelet feathers cascading off an oak limb ...but nothing. Rolled down the car windows, hoping for a familiar screech...all was quiet.
Just when heading out, thinking there is a season for everything. Maybe the peacocks were a thing of the past, the angels delivered. Standing in a mulched bed by the parking lot, a large mottled white hump of headless feathers was preening.
I laughed...no wonder I missed it, I was looking for blue. I got out of the car and came closer with my camera. When that feathery white crown lifted up, LOL... there was not one, but two peacocks! Double for your trouble. A lesson to not always believe in what you see. There is more than you presently know. 
A time of spiritual transformation. A purposeful shedding of old patterns and beliefs that no longer serve you. A time to let go of the past and embrace a new chapter of life with grace.
The peacocks are molting again, shedding their beautiful feathers to make room for new growth. A promise of resurrection beauty in the spring. A season to shed the old to make way for the new. It happens every year in late summer and lasts through winter. Seeing a few peacocks stepping out without their beautiful tail feathers is a lesson. A reminder that even when we don't look our best, we can still step out in the sunshine and with grace express our authentic self, no matter what the season. Your spirit is forever changeless the eternal noon.
In closing, the white peacock encourages alignment with your highest truth and purpose. It's important to trust in the process of transformation and renewal...the best is yet to be.
How blessed are we to be in the company of God's angels as we journey through life. God is Love.
Love and peace,
Rae Karen