During these fearful times of shifting sands, the challenge is to try our best to use the troubling situations we face as an opportunity to awaken from spiritual amnesia. A wake-up call to rise up higher and keep the faith. Adversity can be a gift to grow spiritually when embraced as Children of Light, and we have heavenly help to guide and comfort us, bringing gifts of courage and strength to endure the trials.
We've been friends for over six years, but lately his welcome has been low-key. Polite, but more interested in rooting up tall weeds growing by the fence. But on this day, a touch of the old Allahambra was back, clearly resounding a cry for love and some extra TLC.
Angel messages are often subtle...a little stirring, an idea comes out of the blue, but it feels right. If someone crosses your mind today and catches you by surprise, it could be an angel message. A call for love. A nudge to reach out and share a little tenderness. It makes a world of difference to both the giver and the receiver.
Love, joy, and peace,
Rae Karen
Early this morning I spotted a special delivery, an early mother's day present. What joy to find a little red beetle parked on our white car in the driveway. Ladybugs always remind me of my heavenly mother's love. And, this one had two distinctive black spots on her shiny red wings. I took a photo to share with you. Then later I forgot about our little hitchhiker when we hurried to the lake. It wasn't until we returned home, I suddenly remembered the ladybug! I'd forgotten to move her to a safe place. By a ladybug's standards, it must have been quite a trip. When I took a look, she was still holding on, having moved closer to the gas tank cap. Mom had a heavy foot, and I laughed. The hearty ladybug had traveled round-trip, home and back again, no worse for wear.
Funny cause I wasn't around when the ladybug flew away, but suddenly I was inspired to give our car a much needed bath.
Ladybug heralds a time of luck and protection in which our wishes begin to be fulfilled. Her appearance signals new happiness, worries will begin to dissipate.
Love and peace,
Rae Karen
(iris photo-from the web)
It was a sudden an unexpected flash of recognition this morning. I'd just come back from feeding the ducks when I saw an unusual sight silhouetted on the white cotton curtain. Ha! My little E.T. statue, a gift many years ago, was featured in a light show. His long finger pointed up, a message of love. Keep thoughts on high. The sands are shifting here. Earlier I heard a strong message to rule over my ego today. Don't let her out. Stay calm, no matter what. Stay rooted in the Truth.
On the windowsill by ET, I noticed a forgotten gray stone plaque that added weight to the forecast as I read:
You never know what "bird mail" will pop up on the "duck feed" each morning. The cast performing at the lake is varied; each bird plays a purposeful role in reflecting my inner landscape. The traits that need to be strengthened, or a hint on how to handle a troublesome situation.
This morning began with a rare stance of sunlit feathery wings opened wide to embrace the warmth of a new day. A flock of turkey vultures had gathered in a peaceful prayer vigil. I counted eleven in all. With such a magnificent wing span, they can effortlessly soar for hours, but this group remained earthbound. Vultures symbolize purification, death and rebirth, and new
vision. In ancient Egypt, the vulture was considered a mother symbol. So whenever I see one, I'm reminded of motherly unconditional love in the works, or the wings.
One red headed vulture flew up on an old oak and remained vigilant on a high branch watching over the lake. Turkey vultures have no real voice. They can only hiss by forcing air out of their beaks. Sometimes this can reflect a lesson for us to take action rather than just talking about taking action. Perform, don't just talk about performing. Do it.
This message was a confirmation of something that occurred yesterday where an action was needed, and a perfect opportunity opened up in which to take it.
"When a vulture appears it brings a promise that suffering of the immediate is temporary and necessary for a higher purpose was at work, even if not understood at that time."
The best is yet to be. And, we are blessed to know that we are never alone...right in the middle of wherever we may find ourselves... God has sent His angels to watch over us. We are always in good company. God company.
Love and peace,
Rae Karen
Ref: Animal-Speak, Ted Andrews
The elegance and grace of a great white egret early in the morning always reminds me of Audrey Hepburn dressed to the nines in the classic movie Breakfast at Tiffany's. This morning at the lake, the ducks were missing, the waters still and placid. A great egret waded in the shallow sun-lit ripples. A
rare picture of exquisite beauty, the patient egret waited with poise, staying focused on the catch of the day. The sun was so bright I couldn't see the LCD screen and asked for the angels to help as I blindly snapped away.
And, they delivered...
White egrets symbolize peace, serenity, and spiritual enlightenment. They serve as a reminder to embrace our true potential, and maintain our composure in difficult times, and to stand tall in the face of adversity with poise and serenity.
I was thankful for the reminder to ask our angels for help, and watch what develops. The best is yet to be.
Love and peace,
Rae Karen
Angel messages come in all guises, and some ways are more creative and memorable than others. But they all convey God is Love, and God is in the details. Recently a lonely Sandhill crane has been showing up regularly. We named him Izzy. The new family of three sandhills don't welcome his company. Sandhills are very territorial. Trumpeting loudly, the parents chase the lonesome rust-colored sandhill off the property.
Izzy is resilient, and keeps coming back when the coast is clear. He seems to show up just when I'm thinking about him. Often he strolls the perimeter of the house, head hunched down, deep in thought like a wise old sage he slowly passes by the porch as we sit at dinner, not interested in a hand-out. There's something endearing about this special crane. His unique human-like personality stands out from all the other cranes we've known in the last four years.
Izzy marches to the beat of a different drum, that was evident when I heard a steady rapping, tapping on the sun-room window. LOL! What a sight. Izzy was standing in the mulch bed, looking in the window, hungry for attention, his six-inch sharp beak pecking on the glass. His red heart-shaped cap signaled a call for love.
I went outdoors to answer the call. Hopefully, he will soon find a mate and live happily ever after.
His visit was so deliberate, I looked up the symbolism again.
Sandhill cranes are often considered noble guardians. If they appear in our life there is usually something that we should watch out for and take care of more carefully. There is usually some hidden protection around us. Or it can be a sign that we may need to be the hidden protector of someone else. Sometimes it is a warning to watch our possessions and ourselves more closely.
Have a joyful day.
Love and peace,
Rae Karen
Ref: Animal-Wise, Ted Andrews
This morning, tidying up the medicine cabinet, I found a couple of old boxes of Bandaids to consolidate into one box. Closing the lid, a surprising message appeared on the inner blue flap: "Thank you for caring for those you love." It seemed as if an angel had reached through the veil and tapped me on the shoulder. "Thank you for caring for those you love."
In his book, Angels of Grace, Anselm Gruen writes, that the word "thank" comes from "think." The Angel of Gratitude would like to teach you to look at everything with new eyes, with grateful eyes. Then you can be grateful for the new day, that you have your health and can get up and see the sunrise. You are grateful for the gifts of nature. You are aware. Gratitude makes your heart open and joyful. You are not obsessed with the things that might annoy you. You do not start the day grumbling. There are people who make their own lives difficult because they see only the negative side. And the more they see the negative side, the more their experience confirms this.
He offers good advice. If you look thankfully at your life you will accept what has happened in it. You will stop rebelling against yourself and your fate. Ask the Angel of Gratitude to teach you to be thankful for the people you live with. If we say thank you for another person we accept them unconditionally as they are. They are valuable just as they are.
Love is the medicine that cures all ills. "Thank you for caring for those you love."
Love, joy, and peace,
Rae Karen
At the lake this
morning, a man out on a boat in the water pointed towards a
lawn that had three life-size statues of deer. "One of them is
real." He shouted, and kept pointing and motioning us forward . I thought he'd been out in the sun too long or was a jokester. No live deer were in sight, but Elliot and I walked
further down the dirt road and caught a glimpse of the truth. A white tailed deer veiled by a tree branch was nibbling on a vine. What joy to see a deer for the first time at the lake. Deer have been scarce in our area since last summer so this lone gentle juvenile seemed like an angel message.
Deer symbolizes a gentle luring to new adventure. When a deer shows up, it is time
to be gentle with yourself and others. A new innocence and
freshness is about to be awakened or born. "When deer show up, there
is an opportunity to express gentle love that will open new doors to
adventure for you."
Another sign of a new innocence appeared in the afternoon on a walk around a different local lake. From a distance, I spotted so many ducklings they looked like scattered fallen leaves on the ground. Happy peeps, I counted 15! Proud mama marched her happy little flock toward the camera for a family portrait.
Love and peace,
Rae Karen
A flagrant situation has developed in our peaceful little neck of the woods. A test to hold my peace and let go of control This morning I could feel my emotions rising at the injustice, a trespass on peace. I went outdoors to get centered and stood looking out over the quiet pasture--away from the opposite view. I took inventory of all the good already in that moment and felt calmer. A lone sandhill crane strolled down the driveway, his red heart-shaped cap signaled a call for love. Coming back toward the house, I was guided to move a mother-in-law tongue planter out in the sunlight. That's when I discovered a hidden surprise nestled by the bushes.
The forgotten orchid had bloomed! My mouth dropped, my spirits lifted. A bubble of illusion burst as if I'd seen an angel. Many months ago, after a blooming season, the plant shriveled with no sign of life. Rather than pitch it, I'd tucked it away. Wow! Two big yellow blooms and several pods held a promise of more to come. The neglected plant had bloomed without any help from me. I welcomed the reminder that sometimes the best thing we can do in a seemingly hopeless situation is to let it be. Surrender. God is in control.
When the orchid photos were uploaded, I noticed something had taken a big bite out of one soft yellow petal. I could relate. No worries, the smiling orchid seemed to say, radiant as the sun.
I'm grateful for these uplifting and unexpected messages of hope delivered by the floral apostles just when needed the most. A reminder to look for the beauty in each moment, and do your best to keep on shining. Yellow is the color of faith. There is always more going on than we realize.
Love and peace,
Rae Karen
Little acts of kindness can make a big difference. Yesterday a handful of sunflower seeds tossed to a wild hungry peacock evoked a wonderful display of gratitude. His bronze and green train, made up of 200 glorious individual tail feathers, fanned out like shimmering rays of the sun. A full display of the "eyes of God". I was so close, I could feel a soft breeze as he stirred the air, proudly pivoting round in a circle before me. I'd been fanned by a peacock! A first.
Happy Earth Day! A wonderful day to celebrate all life on this planet that we share and call home. And, "watch" for ways to extend love and peace to others in little ways that make a big difference.
Love and peace,
Rae Karen
