garden

Welcome Spring!

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Welcome Spring! Birds singing, rivers running from snow melts, greens surfacing, animals and humans shedding their heavy coats. Yes, it’s Spring – home to the Easter and Passover holidays!

I know that for many Christian families, Easter is a very important holiday, if for no other reason than enjoying the sight of children smiling. Children always have fun at Easter time, with all the Easter eggs, and Easter hunts, fancy dinners, and competition over who gets to sit next to grandma. And of course, there’s all that candy ostensibly brought by the Easter Bunny.

According to Time, the origins of the Easter bunny are clouded in mystery. One theory is that the symbol of the rabbit stems from pagan tradition, specifically the festival of Eostre – a goddess of fertility whose animal symbol was a bunny. Rabbits, known for their energetic breeding, have traditionally symbolized fertility.

However, according to another version broadcast by the History Channel, the Easter bunny first arrived in America in the 1700s with German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania and transported their tradition of an egg-laying hare called “Osterhase” or “Oschter Haws.” The children made nests in which this creature could lay its colored eggs. Eventually, the custom spread across the U.S. and the fabled rabbit’s Easter morning deliveries expanded to include chocolate and other types of candy and gifts, while decorated baskets replaced nests. Additionally, children often left out carrots for the bunny in case he got hungry from all his hopping.

Most importantly, Easter and Passover are times to connect or reconnect, enjoy, be still, and bask in the experience of being with loved ones. On these (and other) holidays, folks that don’t have any family or places to go are often invited to a friend’s or neighbor’s Seder (the Jewish ritual service and ceremonial dinner for the first night or first two nights of Passover) or Easter Dinner.

Like so many of us do during the emerging Spring, I stare in awe of Nature’s changes and all the emerging beauty that occurs during this time. It’s not always perfect, given some of those noisy birds, especially the woodpeckers. But it’s still fun to see squirrels and chipmunks scurrying around, the trees waiting to bud, and the grass starting to grow.

Recently, while doing a bit of Spring cleaning, I came across Rachel Carson’s Book, Silent Spring. Rachel Louise Carson was an American marine biologist, author, and conservationist whose writings are credited with advancing the global environmental movement. Clearly she was a woman who was way ahead of her time.

One matter of concern is that we need to do whatever is necessary to make sure our children and grandchildren and great grandchildren, etc. get to share in the beauties of Nature. It’s an understatement, but one that needs to be observed: it’s crucial to protect the environment. There is a Native American philosophy that we need to save the Earth for seven generations. (Now an environmental company has adopted this philosophy, see https://www.7genergy.com/stakeholders/environment.) This is not something any of us can leave for others, including the government, to do. It is something we need to do in any way we can-become an activist, donate to true and effective environmental causes, recycle, etc. – because we want the next generations to inherit clean air and water, and all of the beauty that Mother Earth provides which sustains us. Just as we protect those we love, we need to protect Mother Earth.

In my travels, I often have conversations with people who are not only concerned about the environment, but who just love to talk about the Spring which of course includes discussing Nature, gardening, taking hikes and enjoying the sun. Honestly, those conversations warm my heart.

On another note, let me offer a great BIG thanks to all of those great people who attended my recent events in Louisiana and Canada. Met some wonderful mediums as well.

Of course, I look forward to seeing so many of you during my upcoming Spring events. Some new and of course repeats: Connecticut, St. Louis, Michigan, Minneapolis, and Chicago to name a few.

So, yes, it is now Spring. Open your hearts and savor the moments.

And as always wishing you the best of holidays!

Healing Through Nature

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We are officially in Summer! The solstice was just a couple of weeks ago, on June 20th, the longest day of the year. The day when the northern pole of Earth points as close to the sun as it gets. Usually, this is the warmest time of the season, given the connection to the sun. A wonderful reason to celebrate!

And celebrate we will, with the weekend leading into the 4th of July being imminent!

All things that go with Summer – friends and families getting together, and of course remembering those loved ones with whom we have celebrated in the past but who are no longer here in the physical, but will be here in spirit – are upon us.

I’ve learned over the years that many families plan on using this time of the year to get together when other times of the year are not possible. For one thing, you can travel by car without worry of “bad” weather . . . well at least not snow!

For example, the family of a friend of mine is having a family reunion in upstate New York, where the centerpiece will be the casting of a deceased loved one’s ashes on a spot in Nature that he loved so much. While it is true that, as Jim Morrison once sang, that “Nobody here gets out alive,” it is also true that every spirit/soul does get out alive – for spirits we are, having a human experience.

Yes, it is that time of year when the weather just invites us to be outside. Speaking of which – I just came across an article about “forest bathing,” which generally speaking involves a walk in the woods to shed worldly woes, and combat stress. It’s a custom in Korea and Japan. Suffice it to say that the benefits are huge. In fact, if you can believe it, the benefits are so well established that forest bathing is covered under medical insurance in many countries (outside the U.S., where citizen health is not considered a human right).

Many of us know from experience that spending time in a forest or other forms of Nature, can not only lower stress, but also reduce pulse rate and blood pressure, which naturally improves the functioning of the nervous system, and the body overall.

One Stanford University study had participants do a memory test before and after either a Nature walk or a walk in an urban area. Those who walked in Nature improved their performance on the second memory test, while the urban walkers showed no improvement.

The same test also tended to demonstrate improved vitality after a walk in Nature. It was not the exercise so much as the actual communing with Nature.

A walk in the woods can also reduce negative thoughts. After all, how can one stroll through the woods, look at all those beautiful green trees and flowing streams, listen to birds and see the butterflies, without feeling anything but uplifted.

If you can’t make it to the country sometime soon, note this: those same studies showed that people who live in urban areas where there are parks and greenery (e.g., Central Park in Manhattan) had less mental stress and illness.

No surprise then that whenever I do conferences, the best events – in terms of actual results – are those that include a walk in Nature, and/or activities away from the city. Yes, it’s good to get away from the maddening crowd, and let the signs in Nature help us connect with loved ones on the Other Side.

Interacting with Nature also helps us connect with our DPs (dead persons) via dreams, walks, and the opening of our minds and hearts.

Simply stated, the connection with Nature is more easily facilitated during the Summer. For Summer is that time to think like kids again, put a skip in your step, and, hopefully see, feel, or sense your loved ones in spirit walking by your side.

If a departed loved one enjoyed fishing, and there is a river, lake, or pond nearby, go there! You will be reminded of those times with your DP, which will facilitate your connection to him or her in Spirit. If your DP gardened, find a garden and walk by basking in the sun, while looking at all those colors and opening your heart. There are gardens everywhere, and I mean everywhere. Yes, even in the cities where city folks have rooftop gardens, or plots in the outer boroughs (like Brooklyn or Queens).

If you live near the ocean, and don’t usually go there, a gentle shame on you! Get into it! You are missing a lot, especially at sunrise or sunset.

I promise all of you who are feeling below par that getting into Nature will make whatever is hurting deep inside or making you feel lost, get better. Simply just breathing in all that is beautiful will be of benefit. This is what is truly important, and free!

Yes free! Nature is everywhere, and everywhere is where our departed loved ones exist. If there is a cost to get to a Nature spot that beckons you, spend the bucks. It will be worth it.

Speaking of traveling (which I so often do), I’ll be in Colorado in August. I intend to take a hike in the Rocky Mountains. A Colorado mountain high! Those mountains surely beckon me.

Also looking forward to seeing all you Massachusetts folks on 13th of July, with my event with Thomas John.

In sum, don’t let the Summer pass you by. Come out of the doldrums (if that’s where you are) and just have fun. You’ll enjoy, I promise.

Honoring Mother’s Day, Spring, and the Grieving Process

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Oh my my! My favorite month has just arrived, the merry month of May! Where we find that April showers do indeed bring May flowers.

In case you missed it, I did my spring video showing off my beautiful fuschias! Here it is.

There is always so much to see in the beginning of May. Not only the fuschias but of course my other favorite, the daffodils, both yellow by the way, such a joyful color.

Yes, the season begins! To me, the beginning of May marks the real beginning of Spring, a time when many of us want to break out in song, because we feel a little lighter as the cold weather becomes a thing of the past.

However, for those who have recently experienced the loss of a loved one, even the Spring flowers blooming, and green leaves returning, may go relatively unnoticed, or have little impact. When we lose someone, everything else can become secondary, as we grieve.

Although there is no formal manual for processing grief, I can offer a few tips. First of all, the process is totally individual, and thus varies from person to person.

If you’ve lost your mom recently, Mother’s Day – this year arriving late on Sunday, May 14th – may be particularly difficult. Even if your mom passed years ago, Mother’s Day may still be a sad day for you.

But keep in mind that grief will lessen over time, especially if you’ve had a visit from, or connection with, your deceased mom (or another deceased loved one who comes to mind on Mother’s Day). After making that connection, you might even be able to smile on Mother’s Day, especially if your loved one is near.

Pay attention! A visit from your mom on the Other Side may be more likely to occur on Mother’s Day than on a routine day of the year. If the connection occurs, it will make the loss so much easier to handle because you will very well realize that death is not the end. The spiritual self, our true essence, continues after physical death, as does our eternal Love for one another which keeps the connection intact.

Again, remember that everyone is different. If you feel you want to be alone on Mother’s Day to take a walk or a hike, read a book, or go to the movies – do so! In contrast, some folks like to play bingo! Whatever works! It’s all just fine. There are no hard and fast rules.

However, being flexible might help, just in case your sad mood suddenly changes for the better – perhaps because your mom was close to you even if the visit didn’t register consciously – so you can decide at the last minute that instead of being alone, you’d rather go out to dinner or do whatever with a friend, partner, or family member who just happens to be around.

Another suggestion I’d like to offer is this: On Mother’s Day, if the opportunity presents itself, give a toast (outwardly or inwardly) to your mom or other loved one who has passed, or light a candle (not necessarily in church). The same applies if it’s their birthday, or day of passing, or some other day or holiday that was/is still special to them.

You know more than anyone else about the Love you had, and still have, for the person who has passed. Sometimes that Love is manifested through focusing on special memories of the person, like when you laughed so hard together till you cried, or still cry when you look at their picture, taken perhaps during one of those trips you went on together and will never forget.

In short, trust yourself and honor your feelings with regard to the passing of your mother, mother figure, or anyone else. Allow yourself to be any way you want to be on Mother’s Day, and/or any other day. Be sad, be happy, be thoughtful or even angry. Walk your life without judgment if you can, and know that your departed loved ones are just a thought away, smiling at you and thanking you for all the good you did for them.

Looking forward to seeing all you New Jersey, Baltimore, Rochester, and Afterlife Conference folks in Portland soon!

Cherishing the Little Things

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I know it’s officially summer when I can sit on my porch and watch the lightning bugs (a.k.a. fireflies) do their magic trick. Each and every year I am still drawn to observing these magical beings as they light up the night, and bless us with their presence. It’s a little thing, I know, but in life, I am forever reminded that it’s the little things that are the most significant.

Additionally, we should cherish the positive aspects of our lives, for at any moment life can change. Appreciating a sunrise, a sunset, a walk on the beach, or a mountain hike, or simply sharing a moment of enriched conversation with someone we care about, and who cares about us, perhaps over good food and wine, is what it’s all about. These moments should (dare I say “must?”) be treasured. This is what each day should hold for every one of us.

Each season has its own beauty and meaning to experience. As we enter the month of July, we so-called adults can’t help but want to play hooky, skip a day of work, and maybe hang out with the kids and/or be kids once again ourselves.

July is the month to simply sit outside and listen to crickets, and be amazed by the stars. Even in NYC, it’s much calmer than usual, and there are so many things to do – from visiting the Botanical Gardens, attending concerts in Central Park, dancing tango in Central Park and on the piers, or simply conversing with friends on the rooftops where there may also be city gardens!

And I think I speak for most of us when I say that after wearing coats, hats, scarves, gloves, and boots all winter, it’s so very delightful to trade in all that winter gear for flip-flops and sandals. And then to do all those things one can’t do in the winter: play softball, garden, fly a kite, take a walk along the shore or around a lake, etc. Just about anything outdoors will do. No need to be bundled up. Let your hair be free and fly with the wind. For sure, it’s time to get over the winter time blues! So kids, get out there and smell the roses!

At the Afterlife Conference this year, I met two independent film-makers who happened to live in NY. They are doing a series of documentaries on {{{drum-roll}}} the important things in our lives. The pilot film is entitled “Mortal” and they are releasing a second film called “Hope” on July 6th. If you are interested in films that are truly, truly beautiful, and that very much touch the heart, I highly recommend that you take a look at this series. I promise that you won’t be disappointed. There is a wonderful and important message for all of us to witness and absorb in each film. Those who know me are aware that I DO NOT recommend something unless I feel very strongly about it. And here I am, recommending! Why? Well, I believe that we need to support films and other forms of art that do something wonderful and positive, especially if the art can filter down and keep us in touch with the Universe, via connections to our DPs, or otherwise. It’s akin to being touched by the sun, the stars, and yes . . . back down to the lightning bugs. When we support such important work, I believe that we can truly connect with others, and thereby understand ourselves.

When you do get a chance to watch these films, I believe that you will see what I mean about “the living,” because this is what we, at this point in time, all share together. I’d love to hear how you feel about this film series. Let me know!

Enjoy your July, and cherish and love that which is important to you.

Summer: Time to Play!

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Okay kids, time to play! Dive in the pool, stroll along the shore, or take a trip to the country. Maybe enjoy a hike in the woods, or a visit to your local park. Feel the breeze! Whatever works to get back to Nature and listen to the songs of the birds. It’s time to be a kid again. July makes it easy.

As they say, all work and no play makes for a very dull person indeed! Spirit – being God, angels, spirit guides, or whomever you connect with – really loves you when you work, but really, really loves you when you play! So, I am giving you all a little nudge. Have some fun! Because summer is officially here, and it’s very important to take time to totally enjoy the sun after a long and cold winter. (But don’t forget the sunscreen, as you live it up!)

I learned a very long time ago that my work is about the living, not our beloved DPs (dead persons). We who are still here in the physical are the ones who have to figure out how to get joy out of life, despite all the challenges – and there are many, including the loss of a loved one. But believe it or not, having fun is the most wonderful way to honor our DPs. Sure, they know we miss them, but they want us to process the grief, and return to living a happy life. Remember that our DPs went through their own share of losses during their time on Earth, but from those on the Other Side, I can tell you without a doubt that they want you to know that playing is one of the most important things you can do on your journey.

My journey to the Afterlife Conference in June was as wonderful as it was last year, and I was thrilled to meet new friends and reconnect with those I’ve met before. One very special thing that happened was when people came up to me and said how they loved that I talked about my garden and the seasons in my newsletters! I totally LOVED hearing that! And it answered a question of my own: Why is it important to focus on the seasons and Nature? Answer: because the seasons and Nature are reflective of our own state of mind and being.

No doubt about it – each season has a rhyme and reason, and there is beauty in every aspect. By so observing, you learn to appreciate that the seasons have a direct relationship to how we live our lives. Trying to play even when life is difficult is what moves us emotionally from one place to another. And that, my friends, is based on our ability to love, and on opening our hearts to be loved.

Joy is the key to how we can dig deep in the well of life, and I know that July can add a touch of being a kid again. Children know how to make just about anything a game of play. Even in this day and age, take away the high technology toys and gizmos, and you’ll be surprised how kids can quickly figure out how to play in other ways. Getting the kids out in Nature is a great way to teach them, and a great way to teach yourselves. Yeah, there are many ways and places to play, my favorite of course being the garden.

Okay, kids, enough preaching! Go out and play! And Enjoy! Enjoy! Enjoy! July is waiting.

Honoring Fathers and the Gifts of Nature

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Happy June! Time of the Summer Solstice, weddings, graduations, and of course, Fathers Day!

If you haven’t noticed, the nurseries are packed with people buying all their garden needs to plant vegetables and flowers! You don’t have to be an avid gardener to appreciate this aspect of Mother Nature. A simple walk-through a garden to see, smell, and breathe in all the gifts that Mother Earth gives to us, will suffice.

Even in the cities, there are areas dedicated to gardens. The New York Botanical Garden, for example, is a designated national landmark located in the Bronx, spanning some 250 acres. The Garden offers classes for kids, and even features a famous Italian chef, Mario Batali, who has an organic vegetable garden and teaches cooking classes.

With Fathers Day coming up, maybe consider giving your father or father figure something different, like a free cooking class, or guide to organic cooking. Just a thought!

I’ve found that one of the best ways to honor someone we love who is in Spirit, is by doing something that they loved to do, while keeping them in our thoughts and heart. If your dad or other father figure is on the Other Side, consider honoring him this Fathers Day according to the role he played in life. If he was a fisherman, maybe do some family fishing as you send out your thoughts of love. If he was a baseball fan, think about going to a professional or local baseball game, or just having a catch with someone, in his honor.

If your dad is in Spirit, I’m sure he’d also love to see you bring in a vase of flowers and place them strategically near his picture, or on your window sill, or in your back yard, as you send him thoughts of love. He will hear you. This holds true even if your dad, or grandfather, or uncle, or other father figure was not so enamored with flowers during life. It’s the thought and love that count. Of course, if your father figure was a farmer, a planter of tomatoes, roses, or whatever, the connection to Nature will be even more obvious.

I had a client whose father, during life, had over a hundred tomato plants. He shared them with everyone. With those he didn’t give away, he made tomato sauce and soups! He also was very upset that the canned bottles of sauce never made it back to him! I remember him because he let me know he planted even more tomatoes than I did! His daughter and I had a huge laugh over that. I saw her many years later after our session and she remarked, “Remember me? I’m the one whose father had more tomatoes than you.”

I have no doubt that all of you who were locked up this long winter, are beginning to do all the things you love to do in this beautiful Spring that will lead us into the summertime. Take a break, you, you earned it! I’m betting that some of you will have the urge to play hooky from work or daily routines, just like when you were a kid.

I for one will be following my own advice, and taking a break, as my garden beckons with a call.

April Showers Bring May Flowers

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“Sweet April showers do bring May flowers,” as the rhyme and metaphor by Thomsa Tusser goes. For the sake of my garden, I couldn’t be happier with that truism. As my family, friends, and followers know, I am a serious gardener. But beyond its literal meaning, this simple phrase could be a metaphor for life. When we focus intently on something we want to either nourish or manifest in our lives, we “shower” attention on our selected aspect, and those precious thoughts can indeed begin to flower into reality.

“Thoughts are things,” as Edgar Cayce used to say, but we can never forget to sow those seeds in the physical, to allow those April showers to do their part and help turn seeds into flowers, plants, veggies, etc.!

It is always wonderful for me to recognize when expressions coined such a long time ago emerge as meaningful now. Often featured among many of the cultures that have handed down their words of wisdom, generation after generation, is the “Grandmother Storyteller.”

The story telling ritual has existed for centuries in native communities as sacred oral history. The image of the Grandmother Storyteller is a symbol of the times when grandmothers gathered the native children in a circle to teach and share with the youngsters, through the tribe’s own stories. The circle was a place within which to impart myths, legends, traditions, ancestral tales, and ultimately the wisdom of the people. How wonderful!

I’m sure many of you remember the stories passed down from your own grandmothers to you directly, or perhaps through your mom. A wonderful way to bestow hidden knowledge about the family history, ancestry, and environments.

Speaking of passing down family traditions and history, in Japan an ancient belief is that people are held responsible for their ancestors’ deeds and actions. In short, although Karma is significant in many other cultures, the belief here is that Karma is passed down to succeeding generations of family members. Given that we often reincarnate with the same groups of people, and at times within the same family tree, this Japanese philosophy has a ring of truth.

On pearl of wisdom I like to pass along from my own teachers is that we, while in spirit, chose our parents. Which sometimes may beg the question, “Why would I choose them?” One short answer of course is to grow spiritually. For a more detailed explanation, please see my book, Everything Happens for a Reason. There I have tried my best to pass along many of the important messages that have come to me in my work, and thus in my own way honor the tradition of Grandmother Storyteller. For you never know when your own words of wisdom will make a difference in someone’s life. It’s very tough to predict, but it’s not uncommon.

Here’s one prediction I can make will full confidence. April showers are going to bring May flowers for all the mothers, grandmothers, great grandmothers, and everyone this coming Mothers Day.

But that’s next month. Right now, let’s live in the moment and enjoy April! Spring is finally here!

Garden of Love

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Most everyone knows my love for nature and what a significant a role it plays in our lives. I often talk about how the seasons are a reflection of our lives, and quite honestly how the seasons mirror how we live our lives.

Living life as a medium, the issue of death and birth are always in the front of my thoughts and how that theme interplays in my life one way or another on a daily basis.

So while working in my garden the other day and admiring what a beautiful garden it is, I was reminded of just one of the important learning’s of life and nature by gardening Organic.

Organic Gardening is truly different from other gardens that are not organically based. One simple, yet important factor I have learned, which all Organic Gardeners know, is that plants grown from Organic seeds grow at a much slower pace than those that have had been sprayed or have added chemicals that alter the growing process to speed up growth.

Of course I am reminded of this fact when I see other gardens where the tomatoes, for instance, from non-organic seeds, now have more vegetables than my own garden.

What does this love of gardening and nature have to do with our lives connected with our loved ones or dps? Everything because Organic Gardens are like our own grieving process, you can’t speed it up. Everyone has to go through their own process in their own rhythm and time. You can’t force your healing trying to add all those chemicals to urge us and telling us to move on, get over it. You can’t force this process anymore than I can make my garden grow “faster”.

I can only nurture the garden with the best soil, feed it and water it when needed.  Nature, God/Goddess does the rest: Sun, rain, good old earth….and yes love…well I add my share of that. It is this that we all must go through, in our own time and space….a little bit like Organic Gardening.