Gratitude 2019 Epiphany

Epiphany Musings 

.This blog started as a Gratitude Blog and has found its shape in a variety of ways and wonders. This year it has found wonder in a new physical location, a place where nature is more present, where family is closer and where the stars are visible at night. In the summer and fall Butterflies land in tall pines in the backyard, Blue Jays, Redheaded Woodpeckers, and little birds jostle at the feeders along the clothesline in full view of the kitchen window. Tufty, as we have come to call him, is one of the local squirrels who seems to call this yard and the large trees around it home. Tufty is a squirrel fit for a children's storybook with little white tipped ears, a bushy grey tail tipped with white and a penchant for birdseed, tossed to the ground below the feeders. Periodically a hummingbird will flit by in almost any season and we have yet to plant more pollinators to keep them a bit longer along with providing nourishment for Monarchs about to take their trip South. Learning about Monarchs has become so interesting they may develop their own blog or facebook a work in progress, but they are also a part of the wonder and gratitude or almost embodied carriers of creatures that spark gratitude. It's hard not to look at a butterfly, hummingbird or sit quietly with little birds and creatures and not exhale a moment of wonder and gratitude.

So this year there seems to be along with the goals of spending time with family and friends making meaningful community connections that support these creatures the Monarchs. They are regular visitors to this community how can we encourage individual and collaborative community involvement by building a ButterflyWaystation in the backyard and encouraging community growth of more Butterfly, milkweed, pollinator garden patches. How can we make this area a Butterfly Friendly Community? How do Butterflies help us find that moment of Gratitude, Joy, Wonder, and Beauty in our lives?

Other goals.

Connect this with life-long learning, encouraging seniors and families to get involved and use the Monarch as a symbol of activity, strength, perseverance, vigor, and Moxie. In fact Moxie the Monarch might even show up to encourage local Butterfly pathways and waystations.

Create a Meditation and Reflective Journal with places to reflect on short inspirational thoughts, perhaps some poetry, some local natural beauty and Lectio method to support the above exercise. Include Butterflies.

Find out how the new hobby of creating little sea glass angels which has been very well received as a Christmas ornament has another purpose. What if they could help fund the above.

Work on finishing courses and educational challenges but find a way back to that which brings you joy. Find ways to be intentionally inclusive with persons with disabilities in creating Butterfly Waystations. Who is doing it already? What other ages and groups who may be on the margins and would find this meaningful.

Perhaps post links to Butterfly savvy sights interwoven with Contemplative thought as the environmental arm of a contemplative way of living. Most Contemplatives have a deep affinity with nature. Herbs, gardens, farms, and little quiet locations that encourage reflection. It could be a field, it could in your yard or it could be a window planter on your apartment balcony, a walk in the woods or along a lake. Something about nature and supportive and active participation with the Creator is an important part of an ancient contemplative tradition. Think about it for a moment, breathe in breathe out, think of your favorite place. What is there, is there green, is there water, are there things of natural beauty, are there trees, is there wind or light or perhaps it a sunset or sunrise, but probably there are some natural elements. For these we are grateful. They are life itself. We rest here, we feel joy here and we find wonder, beauty, and joy. It is Gift. There is Love, There is a Blessing. We find strength for the Journey. We in many ways are like the Migrating Butterfly. A symbol of our Journey Home. This year jot down a few things that bring you joy, draw you into breathing Gratitude, and something that you love to do that has lost in the bustle and hustle of life .....think for a moment and write down-3-5things

• Things that bring me Joy

• Express Gratitude for 
• 
  
• Something I love to do 
• 
  
• Something that brings Peace 
• 
  
• Breathe Happy Place. 
• 
  
• Something from Nature    
• 
  
• An Epiphany moment ...when you visit it, it is still there. 

       Breathe and listen to the quiet. It is gentle, loving, caring, non-judgemental and relational. Find a place in your moment for Wonder. Wonder is a Holy and Sacred thing. Childlike, innocent and ageless. It is there. 

Tapestry Credit is Morris and Bursey Jones Arts and Crafts Period. ( see next post)Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898)
The Adoration of the Magi
1904
High-warp tapestry in wool and silk
H. 258; W. 377,5 cm
© Musée d'Orsay, dist. RMN-Grand Palais / Patrice Schmidt