Easter, a Time of Resurrection

This morning while we were listening to an on-line Easter service, a little bird tapped on the windowpane in Elliot's office.  Curious, we turned around to take a look.  

To our surprise, the bush below began to stir and a female cardinal appeared on a branch.  

The visit seemed so deliberate, I looked up the symbolism:  The female cardinal joins in whistling with her mate, which is unusual among birds.  This reflects a need to listen to our own inner voice (the feminine) more closely for our health, and well-being.  Since most birds are usually quiet and camouflaged, a cardinal most always reflects a need to assert the feminine aspects of creativity, and intuition more strongly. Remember everything you do is of importance. 

Easter is a time of resurrection!  A time to expect a wonderful resurrection in areas in which you have been feeling crucified. During this tragic pandemic, it may seem that the world is a very dark, empty place, but God is ever-present.   

As Dr. Paul S. James writes: "Christ's resurrection changed Mary from a mourner into a messenger; it changed Thomas from a doubter into a believer; it changed Peter from a denier into a preacher; and it changed Paul from a persecutor into a missionary. 

For early Christians the Easter event became an Easter experience, a cleansing, life changing, transforming experience. Today nearly 2000 years later, that Easter event is still the greatest hope in a world of fear and confusion."

Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb early Sunday morning to finish preparing Jesus' body for burial. Instead of finding a body, she found a resurrected Christ. What joy!  But would the disciples believe her?



Love and joyful blessings,


Rae Karen





(Ref. Animal-Speaks by Ted Andrews)

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

For He Has Risen...

Happy Easter!


Love and blessings,


Karen

Mary Magdalene and The Red Egg

(Wikipedia: Viktor Vasnetsov, 1899)

When growing up, our family often visited my grandparents on the farm at Easter time. I have fond memories of coloring eggs in Grandma's kitchen at her big round oak table. I wanted my eggs to turn out perfectly. Carefully lowering the plain white egg into a cup of color, I couldn't wait for the miracle. Recently, I was surprised to hear about a biblical testimony concerning Mary Magdalene and the tradition of coloring Easter eggs:

Mary was a woman of wealth and great status, and after Jesus' resurrection, she used her position to gain an invitation to a banquet given by Emperor Tiberius Caesar. Upon meeting him, she held a plain white egg, exclaiming, "Christ is risen!"

Caesar laughed, saying, Christ rising from the dead was as likely as the egg in her hand turning red. But before he could finish speaking, the egg had turned bright red.

"Christ is risen, for Jesus has burst forth from the tomb," she cried and then continued to proclaim the Gospel to the emperor's guests. The miracle of the egg turned many to Christ that day.

Some eastern Orthodox Christians end their Easter service by sharing bright red eggs and declaring, "Christ is risen."

The egg symbolizes new life. Christ bursting forth from the tomb. Angels are part of the resurrection story. They are part of our story as well, as we rise in consciousness like the Christ, shedding the ego's burial shrouds, we burst forth into our true Identity, as God's holy Child.

Happy Easter!

Joyful Blessings,

Karen

Happy Easter!

What joy to find Jesus' forehead lit up with a rainbow this morning. The glass wind chime sun catcher hanging in the living room delivered a perfect message. He has risen!

Many blessings,

Karen

An Easter Bunny

I saw a baby bunny in the meditation garden at dusk this morning, but he hopped away before I could take his picture. So Easter is on its way. A glorious time of year to reflect on the resurrection energies. Nature shows it best. The yellow irises are in full bloom. The Sweet Williams made it through the harsh winter and are singing their own song.

Yesterday I moved a fake boulder in the Magdalen garden. Underneath the hollow rock, I was saddened to find daffodil shoots. They had done their best to grow, having pushed through the dirt, they reached maturity, but with no sunlight, they never bloomed. Last winter, I moved the large rock to a new spot without realizing spring bulbs were sleeping there. Although I was sorry for my lack of planning, it was a good lesson about not hiding under a bushel, but coming out in the light to reach our full potential. To blossom. Rabbit symbolizes new beginnings, fertility, and overcoming old fears. Now is the time to rise and shine.

Happy Easter in the Name of the Living Christ,

Karen

The Angel in the Garden

The evening before his crucifixion Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane. He had taken Peter, James, and John with Him to provide encouragement, but instead they fell asleep. The Son of man was all alone as he prayed, "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine be done. " (Luke 22:42) In his book, Angels, by Billy Graham, we learn that "at that crucial moment an angel came to assist Him. The Greek word for strengthening is eniskuo, which means to make strong inwardly."

May you feel the presence of your angels comforting you always.

Karen

Hippity Hoppity Easter's On Its Way

(Artwork by www.Doverpublications.com)

This morning as I sat up in bed, I saw a big brown rabbit hopping along the trail in the meditation garden. A wonderful omen that Easter is on its way. To our surprise, soon another hare appeared. An another. Three! Elliot and I watched their white cotton tails race back and forth across the tall grass, zigzagging between the field and the woods. They were so animated Elliot laughed. "The Angels must be having fun putting on quite a show with the rabbits. " It was a comical sight that brought great joy as I have a tender heart when it comes to those wascally wabbits.

The hare symbolizes new life and rebirth. Fertility. The word Easter is derived from the Saxon goddess Eostre to whom the hare was sacred. Hares sleep outdoors in something that looks remarkably like a lapwing's nest and in spring the nests are filled with eggs. The Christian version becomes the moon-determined time of Easter when the appearance of bunnies and painted eggs marks the time of the resurrection of Christ.

May the spirit of Easter shine upon you and light your days with happiness.

Many blessings,

Karen