To Thine Own Self Be True

To thine own self be true was the statement that had me off and searching for the “Self” this morning.

What are we up to when we are not true to our selves? Why would we be true to anyone else? Why are they more worthy of truth?

Wanting food for thought led me to search google using the phrase “to thine own self be true” and there I found Jade (Heather) Maze (Williams) -- #7 down on the first page (under Swami Krishnananda) – I thought what an awesome placement.

Going to her site, the first click took me to her (what I thought was poem) - later to find out - lyrics: To Thine Own Self be True (copyright 1996).

Scorpio that I am, I read all the way to the bottom of the page and found her website home page. I really like the “Jade ready to get down to business” picture. How else would you present when you are “...ready to lead the way down her musical path -- first stop, the blues, the root of her musical soul. Yes, she's singing it out to the whole world.

I went from there to the page especially created “for Newcomers” leading to her biography. There is a marvelous maturity in her work between her first release “beat of your soul” to most recent “My favorite color is blue.” Personally, I love the cuts “I Smell Trouble” and “Move On.”

The last sentence of her bio took me full circle to how I found her – “This musical diva's goal is to make the best music she possibly can and use it to inspire others to live life as fully and honestly as they can.”

Since I thought Jade had found a way to be true to herself, I thought I would send her an e-mail of congratulations. In less than five minutes, the mail was returned with that familiar: This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification. Delivery to the following recipients failed. Jade…

Well, I still have those questions to answer at the beginning of this entry. But, I suppose they can wait. I don’t intend to be true to anybody else but mySelf today. You know how it is … one day at a time.

Check out the sounds at Jades site anyway: http://www.jademaze.com

Maybe someone in Chicago will tell her we are listening.

BirthDay Alert!!!

To all who celebrate their birthday on Saturday, September 24, this is my gift to you: Welcome one and all to the "State of Joy!"

This started as a surprise for Lady Lonelle J. and grew into a worldwide celebration. Lonelle, I hope you don't mind. The gift I have for you can be shared. It's better than cake!

In 1975, Og Mandino acquired a copyright and published a little blue book that contained a secret document entitled "The God Memorandum." I gift to you the reminder of the 4th great law of happiness and success...your power of choice!

The Memorandum states: This is your birthday. This is your new date of birth. Your first life, like unto a play of the theatre, was only a rehearsal. This time the curtain is up. This time the world watches and waits to applaud. This time you will not fail.

Light your candles. Share your cake. Pour your wine. You have been reborn.
Like a butterfly from its chrysalis you will fly...fly as high as you wish, and neither the wasps nor dragonflies nor mantids of mankind shall obstruct your mission or your search for the true riches of life.

Feel my hand upon thy head.

Attend to my wisdom.

Let me share with you, again, the secret you heard at your birth and forgot.

You are the greatest miracle.
YOU ARE THE GREATEST MIRACLE IN THE WORLD!

Celebrate good times! Happy BirthDay!

Oh My Goodness!

Lately, I have met those who I would describe as wonder-full as well as those who are just full. I have a need to spread more love around the world because for years now -- long before me -- there have been those who have claimed that this too was the reason -- the purpose of their being. De lui y a besoin de tenir en arrière ceux qui se serviraient de l'intimidation. Étudiez-l'et vous verrez que l'intimidation imite l'intimité. Elle est jalouse de sa puissance.

With no further adieu, I share with you the following prayers and other good thoughts. In these days, we need to know that everywhere, someone is praying in the way that they know how -- praying for good to prevail over evil and peace to reign on the earth.


This is a prayer from Beliefnet.com (written by Mychal F. Judge, OFM )

Lord, take me where You want me to go;
Let me meet who You want me to meet;
Tell me what You want me to say, and
Keep me out of Your way.

Fr. Judge, was former chaplain to the New York City Fire Department. He was killed on September 11, 2001 in the World Trade Center disaster.

This is a Buddhist Prayer also found on Beliefnet.

May the buddhas and bodhisattvas smile upon us with compassion and continue to turn the wheel of Dharma. May all beings be free from suffering and its causes. May all beings have happiness and its causes. May we all quickly achieve liberation and samsara and may the Buddha always appear in the world as long as there is one being who is not yet free.

Some other good things to remember:

Whenever you fall, pick something up.
- Oswald Avery

There is no chance, no destiny, no fate, that can hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul.
- Ella Wheeler Wilcox

As we learn more about angels and their service, we will learn more about God. Our appetite for the spiritual life will increase and our longing for intimacy with our Creator will grow.
- Ann Spangler

Memories

How grand and green and lush and beautiful...Kenya

This is the beginning of a series of photographs taken by me while experiencing the land and the people of Kenya, East Africa. InJoy! There will be a photo journal here soon. Come visit often.

Embrace

The Encyclopaedia Britannica 2003 Ready Reference defines the word

embrace

vb em.braced ; em.brac.ing [ME, fr. MF embracer, fr. OF embracier, fr. en- + brace two arms--more at brace] vt (14c) 1a: to clasp in the arms: hug b: cherish, love 2: encircle, enclose 3 a: to take up esp. readily or gladly <~ a cause> b: to avail oneself of: welcome 4 a: to take in or include as a part, item, or element of a more inclusive whole b: to be equal or equivalent to ~vi: to participate in an embracesyn see adopt, include -- embrace.able adj -- em.brace.ment n -- em.brac.er n -- em.brac.ing.ly adv ²embrace n (1592) 1: a close encircling with the arms and pressure to the bosom esp. as a sign of affection: hug2: grip, encirclement 3: acceptance
© 2002 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

I invite you to come go with me as I attempt to discover the essence of the word "embrace." It will surely be a journey of unforgettable grace both for you and for me. Tell me about your experiences with embracing. Thank you for sharing.