The "Light" Touch of a Damselfly

 Yesterday afternoon a rather large damselfly circled the outdoor lanterns and lit on the tip of one finial. In the bright sunshine, it was hard to see her with the camera lens.  But I watched her joyful flight as she circled the lanterns, danced away in the sunlight, only to immediately return and strike her pose on the same lantern tip. Thankfully she did her circle dance three times, giving me a chance for a photo to share,  before soaring above the rooftop.  The timing of her visit was in divine order as our conversation in the sun room was beginning to dip into the negative realm, getting caught up in world of illusions.  

I reviewed the symbolism of dragonflies once more:  Life is never what it appears.  When dragonflies appear it is time to trust in the power of Light.  Now is the time to shine. We should trust in the colorful new visions.

Love and peace,

 

Rae Karen

(ref: Animal-Wise, T. Andrews)

Enjoying a Moment's Repose: An Angel Message

 

It felt like one of those angel whispers when my son showed me his recent photo of a contemplative large hippo.  What an unusual pose, resting below the surface, hanging out with a school of happy little fish.   Hippos are big, and bold, with teeth ideal for self-defense and chewing.  Hippos represent strength, resilience, and emotional depth.  This wise one had chosen to find peace below the tide of human emotions.  To swim deep and avoid taking the bait, hook, line and sinker. 

"She opened her mouth with wisdom and in her tongue is the law of kindness."  (Prov.31:26)

May Love and peace prevail in your hearts during these chaotic times.  The best is yet to be.

Rae Karen

Photo David Livesay

So Great a Cloud of Witnesses: Angel Message

When my son sent this beautiful photo of a painting inside a famous cemetery chapel in California, synchronicity came into play.  The next day my Bible lesson had a passage that explained the artwork in Hebrews 12:1. "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."  

During times of chaos when we feel most alone, it brings comfort to remember those who have won the race are on-high, cheering us to press on, and not give up.  With patience and trust in God, we too can claim the victory in Christ Jesus.  

Keep your heart full of faith and acknowledge Him and His angels who surround, comfort, guide and protect you through life's storms.

Love and blessings,

Rae Karen

Kaleidoscope of Thoughts: An Angel Message

Recently I found my kaleidoscope tucked away in an old drawer, a long forgotten birthday gift. What joy to aim it at the lamp and watch the colorful chips shift into beautiful patterns like stained glass windows.  James Allen wrote a wonderful passage in his book, As A Man Thinketh:

The world is your kaleidoscope, 

and the varying combinations of colors 

which at every succeeding moment it presents to you 

are the exquisitely adjusted pictures of your ever moving thoughts.

 

 Now that is something to think about...

 

A beautiful metaphor illustrating the power of our personal observation, and our responsibility of sight that comes to light with it.

Questions we may ask ourselves: 

 How are my own thoughts coloring my world?  With love, or with fear?  With harmony or discord? With joy or sadness?  Am I trusting in God, or man?  Spirit, or matter?

If everything is consciousness, it's important to watch our thinking as we go about each day.  Our thoughts won't remain secret for long as they quickly turn into habits that soon develop into circumstances.  So why not expect the best is yet to be.  To walk by faith, not by sight. 

(2 Corin 5:7)

Love and peace,


Rae Karen

(photo from the web)

                     

Doves of Peace: An Angel Message

Out beyond ideas of right doing and wrong doing 

there is a field...

I will meet you there. 

RUMI

An angel message for today comes on wings of love and peace. Their watchful words take the form of beautiful white doves. May thoughts of peace and unity circle our world today and bring healing to our country, and to all nations.

Our loving thoughts and prayers make all the difference.

Love and blessings,


Rae Karen


Artwork: web

The Angel of Endurance

During these times of unprecedented chaos, I'm reminded of an angel blog I wrote in 2015 on the power of endurance:

 

"Before daybreak this morning, I went to the kitchen for water.  Reaching to turn on the little dolphin nite light, I accidentally knocked  over an empty glass on the counter.  As it crashed to the hard floor, I winced, turning my back for protection.  When I looked somehow the drinking glass was perfectly whole with not a sign of a crack.  I was impressed that it hadn't broken--it seemed unlikely--a high fall on a ceramic tile floor.  I can't explain the feeling as I stared at my favorite blue tumbler.  It did seem as though "someone" had my back, had me covered.  This experience gave me more strength --help is ever present.  When going through extreme pressure, I, too,  will not break.

Several years ago, I discovered this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson in an angel  book. 

It is in rugged crises, in unwearable endurance

and in arms which put sympathy

out of the question, that

the angel is shown.

In these challenging, changing times, we can all use a heavy dose of the power of endurance.  Endurance is a virtue that can strengthen our resolve to keep on keeping on.  Even Christ was strengthened by an angel in the garden before the soldiers came to take him away. 

   

Discouragement is always a sign that we are relying on our own power, and forgetting all the unseen angelic help just waiting for a call from us. The Angel of Endurance can enfold us with comforting wings and help us to push through any obstacle that is trying to hold back our heart's service.  Anselm Gruen, in his inspiring book, Angels of Grace, states: "In everything you complete there shines something of the completion that is in God."

So the next time you feel like giving up, know that you are not alone. Angels abound and the Angel of Endurance is by your side offering strength and courage to finish what you've started. We are so thankful for the presence of the Angels. Their loving comfort will guide us to become all that we truly are. 

Remember you are never alone. 

Love and peace,


Rae Karen

The Feast of Mary Magdalene Day!

This morning a special little bloom resembling the sweet candy lifesaver is a joyful symbol of celebration in honor of Mary Magdalene's Feast Day.  Her loving influence led me on a spiritual quest in 1995 to the little town of Rennes le Chateau in the south of France.

 

Having finally arrived at my destination, I sat on the grassy hilltop that beautiful spring afternoon and gazed down at the parceled farm land blanketed like a patchwork quilt.  In the distance, the snow-capped Pyrenees cast a lazy bluish haze in the sky. In that moment of peaceful bliss, a gentle breeze tussled my hair. With the sun warm on my face,  I felt freedom like never before.  A trail of irises had delivered me to this special place. The Holy Spirit's guidance had unfolded my steps like the petals on a beautiful flower. 

You see, for many years I'd spent my working hours tucked away from the sun in an old converted military warehouse office building that had no windows.  Now in great freedom, my eyes misted with joyful tears. Time stood still as I breathed in the beauty and peace of this place devoted to Mary Magdalene and Christ.  I felt an unmistakable stirring in my heart. A joyful rush of energy burst from my chest like a captive bird breaking free from its shell.   

 

It seemed so real that I could almost hear the wings flapping as it soared toward the mountains.  I watched hoping to see, but nothing was visible to the naked eye.  Only the sun, the wind, the mountains and a peacefulness about me. 

To my surprise, a rooster crowed...in the afternoon!  I laughed. Maybe he’s a late bloomer, like me. 

The Tower of the Magdala reminds us that Mary Magdalene came from a place of Higher Consciousness.  Jesus healed her by casting out seven demons.  We’re all like Mary Magdalene in the sense, we have to be purified.   Our personal demons are ego thoughts of fear, pride, guilt, greed, anger, hatred, separation, and sin.  The Holy Spirit teaches we are entitled to miracles, but first we need purification.  That is, cleaning up any thoughts that are not God's Thought.  This can be done with the love of the Christ within and the Holy Spirit,  if we’re willing. 

Women have shared that Mary Magdalene's energy often comes when they are struggling to find their true  voice, the feminine voice that urges to be true to their Higher Self.  Mary Magdalene's energy urges us to give up everything (all false idols) and follow the indwelling Christ.  She was there at the cross.   She was the first witness to Life’s victory over death.  Her Rabboni commissioned her to go tell the other disciples the good news.  As a woman, would they believe her?

Many years ago when I first heard the whisper, Mary Magdalene, in meditation, I didn't know much about her. That quest began a long journey for me.   Her gift was to help me find the lost part of myself…the sacred Voice of the feminine.  As that Voice within speaks, we must not be afraid anymore to follow the indwelling Christ.  The feminine can stand on her own two feet as an equal.  This is a powerful time for male and female relationships.  Also, to restore balance, it is important for men to recognize their female polarity, to loosen her, and allow the beloved feminine of God to speak.  

In remembrance and gratitude to Mary Magdalene as we celebrate her Feast Day and soar free to be.

Love and joyful blessings,

Rae Karen

 

 

 

(Art:  Mary Magdalene by Richard Stodart

Christ Fish of Light: An Angel Message

During these dark times in the history of our nation and the world, my friend sent a grateful email for a postcard I sent her in January 2020.   The message gave her hope and she was using it as a bookmark.

I had forgotten about the photo postcard but remembered how it happened.  Late morning on January 28th, 2020, I noticed the two birdbaths needed a refill.  As I went to grab the garden hose I was amazed to see the symbol of the Christ fish etched in light on our driveway.  My first thought was the image must have been made by the hose imprint, but that wasn't the case.  Puzzled, I ran to grab my camera, hoping the symbol of Christ would still be lighting the driveway. 

And it was.  Elliot and I tried to figure the logic behind it.  If the fish symbol had been formed by tree branches, a silhouette of the ichthys would have appeared, swimming with other shadowy branches.  Yet, the "Jesus Fish" was outlined in light.

After I received my friend's email this week, synchronicity was at play. The Christ fish appeared again. While running errands, Holy Spirit guided me to stop at a little free book library in our old neighborhood. I grabbed a bright yellow book, YOUCAT, and later at home, leafing through the book, what a surprise to find a notation and drawing on  the symbolism of the Christ fish:

"In the Roman catacombs we find an ancient Christian secret sign that was a profession of faith in Christ:the word ICHTHYS (=fish).  If you spell the word out, each letter serves as the beginning of the Greek words Iesous, Christos, THeou (= of God), hYios (= Son), and Soter (= Savior).  ICHTHYS ZONTON means: Fish of Life"

With all the extreme chaos in the world now, I was most thankful for the comforting reminder to keep having faith in the unseen.  The indwelling light of the Christ is alive, and never changes. The Kingdom of Heaven is within.

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."  (Heb. 11:1)

Love and peace,
Rae Karen