Visits from Loved Ones in My Dreams

My parents 1946

I didn't want to wake. It seemed my dreams were far better.  I had been enjoying my visits with my loved ones that have crossed and sometimes felt more lonely upon waking. My dad and his laughter my mother and her sparkling eyes and my brother with that boyish grin. Has this ever happened to you?
Realizing that my loved ones are still around me has helped ease my pain...but it was a process. I had followed that wobbly truth that others had told me... "No, we don't have the answers, God will tell you later...maybe...after you die." How is this supposed to comfort anyone? Why would a loving creator stick a clause on the end of a death certificate?

Peace has come in knowing that the physical embodiment of my beautiful spirit is but a temporary vessel. The vessel was meant for a short duration compared to the entire journey. This is a merely a small part- and for this portion I wear blue eyes and have dirty blonde hair that will gray... eventually.

If we truly embrace that we live eternally then we should be all the more excited about our visit here at this moment. It's 2012 a time when our technology is at its best- medical science has seen enormous transitions and our life expectancies have stretched longer. This is not a time to be at war with one another, to squabble amongst ourselves over petty unimportant issues. It's a time to look around and see how each of us can make a contribution to our communities, our animals and our planet.

If you have spent days agonizing over the death of a loved one, I truly send you my deepest condolences. And I hope that some day you reach a place where you can breathe deeply knowing they are all around you. Reassurance comes in stages and the process is unique to each of us. For me I know in my heart I am loved and those that have gone on want me to know they will see me again - they are merely a thought away.

Yes it is a day by day existence and there are many stormy days ahead maybe it's time we learned to smell the rain and appreciate its cool waters. Live your life with passion. Continue to build relationships- be kinder, trod lightly on the soil and send love to all that need it. You are but one vessel among many. Living in the now and knowing you are here for this moment may help you make a difference in your world.  This is YOUR time, this is YOUR day. Make the most of it and let your loving energy shine brightly. You are not alone and your beacon of hope will call out to your loved ones who have passed and they will gather near you...you don't have to wait until death to feel their love. There are no hidden clauses. Open your eyes to the possibility that you can rise and have your dreams, you only need to wake up.

 Much of what I have learned has come through meditation. If you would like to learn how you can find your own path please read How to Begin. You can do this for FREE without the need to attend a class or buy a CD.

Smiling Through Broken Glass

I used to think that my life was nothing more than shattered dreams.  I was never able to quite win the approval of my parents. My teachers shook their heads disapprovingly as they marked my grades in red ink. And I always wished I was born into a family that was little less lean in the wallet. Being born into a pack of 8 kids you learned quickly to take whatever was offered and to be thankful. 

When I was very young I learned I had the unique talent to create art. I was fascinated to discover I could actually earn a living by doing something that came so natural. I had no formal training but it didn't stop me from trying. I even made it all the way to NY where a big company Newman Marcus wanted to purchase some of my art for their children's wear. Wow, and I was this nobody painting on children's clothing out of my garage. And then something happened that would change my life forever. My art representative stole my portfolio containing all of my original work and sold it, passing it off as her own!

It was like a meteor crashed into my world. I had been moving in a direction that seemed so perfect and BAM I was knocked flat on my back. I had a few options available to me. Take her to court and submerge myself in legal bills and a swamp of negativity, wallow in self pity and numb myself with drugs and alcohol sinking deeper into depression... or go to art school and learn how to develop the natural talent I had arrived on the planet with.

But first I would have to get my hands dirty and put in the work. Did I mention I was a single mom during this time raising an 8 and 13 year old?...um yeah. I drove 180 miles daily five days a week for two years just to earn a degree so I could say I was an "official" artist. I finished at the top of my class, too. Geez, I can still hear myself telling my classmates who thought I was an over study-er. "I didn't drive all this way to get a C!" You'd think for all of my effort someone would at least ask to see my certificate, but no, not really. All I was ever asked was show me what you can DO Lorraine.

The theft of my portfolio helped move me toward being the artist I am today... do I want to thank this woman...um no, I wouldn't exactly say that. But, I am thankful I was able to rise above the negativity and move THOUGHT into ACTION. 

We must all understand that life holds a lot of broken bits and pieces. We have storms and trials and we sometimes fall flat on our face. It is how we are able to create something from this that will enable us to love ourselves more. It will help us to feel complete, whole and beautiful.

I continue to use meditation to help me learn more about how I can move THOUGHT into ACTION and you can too. To learn how you can begin to meditate please read my book Sæ-sii Meditation: How to Find Your Bliss in 15 Minutes a Day