Ont The Cusp of a Brave New World!

I am so excited that I am on this amazing path! My life is here...my life is now. And even though the life that is here and now is quite disorganized and chaotic, it's supposed to be that way. I can't create a new life, unless I'm willing to break down the old and rebuild out of the pieces that remain.

I am sorting and purging every single day...I've relinquished all of the burdens and responsibilities here in the community off of my calendar....I've bought the trailer that will become my tumbleweed gypsy home...and tomorrow I begin with the creation phase of this life transformation!

Tomorrow I begin building a brave new world!

I feel so incredibly blessed to have the resources and ability to be able to do this right now. And, yes, I know that my car is the vulnerable factor, but I'll deal with whatever happens along the journey...just like I've done every other time.

So, I just need to "take pause" to really feel the beauty in this moment and celebrae it! Because I'm living my dream life...right here...right now.

The Dark Hedges

http://www.amusingplanet.com/2012/02/dark-hedges-in-ireland.html

Antrim is Calling

This isn't the exact picture posted by Nancy, but it's close enough. . . .looks like this one was taken in the winter, rather than the spring. . . .but the call to find these trees remains the same.

Life isn't a linear journey, sort of like how the limbs on these trees grow in misshapen haphazard ways. And according to my google search, these trees are in Northern Ireland. . . .in Antrim. So when Nancy's girl's are grown, we are going to backpack our way through Ireland until we find them.

Clan MacDonald

The MacDonald Clan Crest
My maternal grandmother's mother was from this clan.
(Which means that I am too :)
The motto, "Per mare, per terras" means by sea and by land.
(Which explains my love of the sea :)


Summer in Nova Scotia!

I was serious when I said I can't wait any longer, and if I don't do something sooner than my five year plan, I feel like I will simply pop! So I am modifying my plan just a wee bit. June 1st will be my last day of work, and then I will spend this summer up in Nova Scotia!

I may not be able to get over to Scotland just yet, but I have got to immerse myself in gaelic and oat cakes!

The Unicorn, Heraldic Symbol of Scotland

This morning I was following my Scottish curiosities, and I found several versions of Scotland's coats of arms (one of which I posted prior to this). And I thought it was very interesting (seriously, a whole lot more than just a "bit" interesting) that Scotland's heraldic symbol is that of the unicorn!

So I followed my curiosities some more. . . .

The unicorn is the only "fabulous beast" that was not conceived out of human fears. It's fierce, yet good. . . .selfless, yet solitary. . . .and mysteriously beautiful. They are captured only by unfair means (which is, no doubt, why they are pictured in chains), and, most importantly, their single horn is said to neutralize poison!
OK, so why does all of this information amaze me?

Back in 1991, when I was first diagnosed with my colon cancer, Bernie Siegel's book "Love, Medicine, and Miracles" had a life changing impact on me and how I approach cancer. His book is about "healing with love," and I listened to the visualization meditations several times a day during the wait until surgery, then for a very long time after, and I would still listen to them if I had a CD version of them.

But one of the ways these meditations work with exceptional cancer patients is to "guide" the listener to choose some form of metaphor that does something to the cancer. Some people might choose a lion, for example, to "eat" the cancer, or another might choose a vial of poison to pour on the cancer; each person intuitively chooses the healing metaphor that works for them (and fits with their personal life philosophy and values).

Me? I chose the unicorn! I didn't want to approach my cancer as the enemy, because even though it was "cancer," it was still a part of me, a part of my very own flesh and blood. So I chose the unicorn's healing power to rub its magic horn on the cancer and transform the cancer with love and warmth into vital, healthy tissue. . . .which I believe is a significant reason why I am still alive today. . . .having now survived three different cancers!

Aye, the unicorn is a most important ally, indeed!

So I am enlivened this morning, and envigorated to find this amazing connection between my very powerful healing ally and the national symbol of Scotland! And now I am feeling this terrible and irresistable pull to drop absolutely everything, as soon as humanly possible, and get on that plane to Scotland. . . .the land of the healing unicorns!

IN DEFENS

In my defence God me defend

And bring my soul to ane good end

When I am sick and like to die

Father of Heaven have mercy on me.