Living in the Magic

Living in the magic
I know you might not see it
but Im living in the magic
and learning how to be it

I'm living in the magic and
letting nature lend a hand
living in the magic
knowing life is grand
I love living in the magic
I have no other plan
just living in the magic
letting spirit lend it's hand.

I AM Living in the magic

and I know you might not see it

but I AM living in the magic

and I AM learning how to be it

I'm living in the magic and

letting nature lend a hand

living in the magic

knowing life is grand

I love living in the magic

I have no other plan

just living in the magic

letting spirit lend it's hand

cc 2009 Our Enchanted Garden / Cheryl Binstock

As Ever; Finding the magic, honing our skills and trusting all is well

  I've spent several years now following and watching and, when I'm lucky, capturing the magical moments that creep into life, that is if I am out of my way and when I allow my spirit and intuition to take the lead. This is where my inspiration for Our Enchanted Garden arose. Sometimes I manage to capture little moments in a digital image or video but in our most recent enchanted garden experience we are gifted with an interesting everyday life sort of story with wonderful twists and turns.
  I lost my job just recently, only to come home and find a cheque (enough to cover about a month of lost wages) in the mail - money owed to me from an insurance settlement for an injury incurred a few years back. Phew - crazy or what? While the job loss event upsets me in many ways, seeing myself at failing in the challenge, yet I find myself repeating the words; Things Happen For a Reason - because I just know it's so true. When I did that, it's as if i  unlocked some new level in the video game of our life!
  The day previous John and I had been speaking about the Law of Attraction from the perspective of breaking old patterns of behavior and we were presented with the challenge of determining what was wrong with our truck AGAIN! and if we had ourselves a *&%+#@(* lemon of a truck or what!!!! Funny thing is I suggested to John if he doesn't force the issue and he just "Goes with the flow" he might get a pleasant surprise and find the truck will be fairly easy to fix.
  Today he confirmed it when he went out to his truck (sitting lonely at the parking lot at work.) and after locating an interesting little re-set switch was able to start the truck with no trouble! He came home with such a grin on his face, it was great and we agreed it was worth not forcing the issue of trying to repair the truck immediately and just flowing through the challenge to find a solution.
It may be we have a design flaw in this truck that may be covered by a re-call so we will be working on exploring that with Ford!
  I continue to make the intent to move forward in my passion for my best and highest good and trust that opportunity will present itself to allow me to explore and express that in some manner. My passion continues to be Celebrating Nature, the Natural World and the Human Spirit immersed within it. I enjoy finding ways to share that with any who wish to explore. How I am able to express that in conjunction with my world experience seems to be some of the latest explorations spirit has taken me through.
  So in trusting that the magic will continue to unfold as I have always been able to feel confident with. I await the dawning of another new day and more magical adventures to encourage and inspire me further. This is such a joyful and productive activity I'm beginning to wonder why I would want to "operate" in any other manner! Many of us have underlying beliefs and have been programmed through generations to believe life should be hard to prove you are worthy somehow! This is something I don't really see happening in nature and it seems to me it is as un-natural for humans as it is for a lady bug!
  In the end I am ever humbled by the opportunity I have to experience such marvels. Many miss these little magical moments - they can seem so small, often they can be short-lived, and yet they can stand out like a beacon at the same time. Ever grateful, I remain;
The caretaker,
With love, ...from the garden

A trip into the city and a ride on the Go train!

  I thought this might be of interest to people who are considering greener alternatives to travel but have little experience with mass transit and are intimidated by the prospects of venturing into the big city and trying to coordinate with buses, subways, street cars and trains. The whole experience seems daunting if not bewildering. In this story, the city I'm referring to is Toronto, Ontario and we are traveling from the Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph region. 

  I've often traveled by bus within cities, between cities and across countries, since I was quite young if I include the school buses I've ridden in! It's always seemed a practical mode of transportation to me and almost always I've felt quite safe and comfortable on my travels. On a rainy day in September John and I planned to venture to Toronto to attend a birthday party for our 5 year old grand daughter. The location of the party was near Exhibition Place, a well known landmark near the lake shore.

I learned we could hop on the Lakeshore West line of the Go train from Union Station, on Front Street downtown right to Exhibition Station, near the entrance to the grounds. This seemed a fun opportunity to hop on the Go train and experience what it's like to ride the train in Toronto. We even got to find seats on the top level of the train. From Exhibition Station we had to walk the equivalent of several blocks to arrive at Medieval Times where 12 seats were reserved for our family to cheer on the Red Knight!

This turned out to be a fun adventure for John and I and it gave me the chance to see what the trains where like. How the connections worked and if it was easy to board, etc. I have worked as a ticket agent and I've always wondered what the Go trains were like. Over the years I've  been on Via through parts of Canada, plus trains and Metros in Denver, Montreal and New York City. I'd ridden the subway in Toronto and love taking the streetcars when I have the excuse, but hadn't ever tried or needed GO to get anywhere I guess.

Our ride into Toronto was via Greyhound and was a very pleasant, uneventful ride. Traffic was good the weather was fair and we arrived at the front doors of The Royal York Hotel in downtown Toronto, right on schedule. This first stop, on Front Street is across from Union Station where we connected with our train to Exhibition. Union Station is a hustling, bustling place and it's been years since I'd been there, pre-Go years I think...I found the Go extension to the building and the construction around Union Station difficult to maneuver around. I also discovered there where lots of stairs to climb and descend. As a result I don't recommend this route to anyone with a physical limitation making walking or climbing difficult.

Our return trip was almost the opposite except that we had to make our way to the terminal at Bay Street. We decided to take our time and walk from Union Station up Bay Street to Dundas where we'd be able to catch our return Greyhound bus.  It's a great walk if you're able or have the time. There are many interesting and historic buildings along the way, bringing you right near the Eaton Centre and Nathan Philips Square, Toronto's City Hall. The ride home was rainy outside, warm and sleepy inside and John and I both agreed it was a great idea that we decided to take mass transit to make our trip stress free. It worked well for us and helped us reduce our impact on our environment at the same time.

Fall Colors, views are "Painting Perfect"

  

I've been having some fun taking some shots of the fall colors in our area. Some of them turned out looking like paintings I remember from my childhood. Gave me a good laugh! I may even try adapting some of the shots I've taken with some editing to give them texture so they look more painting like.

Fall colors are great subjects for photography they are free to view and never complain about the camera though will often disappear without much warning!

The second shot is my favorite of these two I think. I wonder if, because the water is so shiny, this may look more like a pathway than a stream. :)

Testing to see how well twitterfeed works... another app I tried became way too repetitive, I may not like this one either but will see!

Billy, our latest foster boy; Here's his page on PetFinder

Highlighted portion copied from Petfinder.com site.;

Billy Jack Russell Terrier Size: Small Age: Baby Sex: Male ID: Notes: This is Billy, he is about one year old and came to us from a shelter. Mr Billy is a happy go lucky high energy jack,  he has the sweetest face and is very nicely marked, he  does have long legs and stands about 15 1/2 inches tall at  the shoulder and is 18 lbs. He is very smart and knows sit,  shake, gives 5 with the other paw and can roll over! He is  very vocal but is learning Not to bark in the house,, he has  had no accidents and runs to the door when he needs to go  out,, he sleeps very nicely in his kennel and stays in the  kennel quietly when I put him in for quiet times. He does  need lots of exercise and would be a great dog to do fly ball  with or Jack Russell trials,, he is very fixated on toys or  balls. He loves my teenage son and seems to love kids,  but might be too rough with very young children.  He likes other dogs and wants to play all the time! This pet is up to date with routine shots. This pet is already house trained. This pet has been altered. Jack Russell Terrier Rescue Ontario (JRTRO) Toronto, ON adoptions@russellrescue.org 8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 Billy, our latest foster boy. He's been with us only a couple of weeks.Can't believe he may already get adopted. Lucky boy is sweet and deserves a great forever home. He's still just a pup and has a whole lifetime of loving to give to his people, and he'll be happy to be their puppy. Billy loves to fetch, though he doesn't deliver too well! He drops things nearby. He hasn't learned to "give" or release. Though he does understand leave it! He adores having his tummy rubbed once he's come to trust you he'll be quite loving and submissive. Billy is a very vocal fellow. Patience and gentle persistence will be needed to help him learn to bark appropriately. He communicates his desires through various barks; I have to go out, ball is stuck somewhere - help please!, Toss the ball please, let's play, hey, she stole the ball, my chew stick, my toy... oh yeah - he's such a little boy still, he does whine and yelp with a squeak!! I think once he settles down and learns how to communicate nicely with his family they'll find him to be quite a little talker in the group. He's enjoyed the safety of playing freely in a fully fenced large yard frolicking with two female dogs Mia, a 1 yr old Jack Russell Terrier and Daisy a 10 month old black Labrador pup. They run obstacle  courses and fly off the end of the deck when playing hide and seek with each other. Though sometimes Mia will get too grumpy, often the three of them will eat and drink from the same bowl. This is one special little pup. He needs lots of attention, lots of exercise and structure plus plenty of chew time. Best kenneled when alone for his own safety. Billy will often go into a kennel on his own when he wants to take a nap or a little rest or to chew his rawhide stick. Once he warms up to a person and feels he can trust them he's very cuddly and happy to curl up on a lap or beside someone on the couch to be scratched and stroked or to quietly chew his rawhide. Likes to tear things apart, stuffed toys, socks and what have you. Best toy though is a squeaky ball - will keep him thrilled for hours - though will keep you busy too. Controlling barking with spray bottle of water works very well with Billy. Used just when barking is excessive. I'm very happy with the technique.                              Hi I'm Billy!

Warm & Sunny Thoughts Flower!

Picnik'd Sun Flower, originally uploaded by Our Enchanted Garden.

It 's Thanksgiving in Canada today.

I give thanks that I have family to share it with still, even if we do it over the phone or the net... Just glad we're here, glad we can enjoy another harvest and celebrate the abundance of our world.

I'm grateful to be a witness in a changing world. Hopeful for the future and the wonders yet to be discovered!

The Omo People

This is just the coolest collection of photographs. The Omo's are very creative and expressive! A friend had marked this link elsewhere (twitter i think) and I couldn't resist passing it forward so others might see it too!

Synchronicity Slides In with Ease!

I opened this message in my e-mail after posting my last post. (follows below) Had a few similar messages from others along the same lines, none had seen my post before sending theirs... am thankful for reminders of what I can do and many like minded people who participate in such groups.


I have been a member with the Global Coherence Initiative for about a year. We often focus on specific issues in the world around us as well as general focuses like "Children of the World".
Here's a sample of one of their messages when there's a need for a focus on a specific subject or region.




Dear Cheryl,

Several natural disasters have taken place recently affecting many thousands of people.

Two powerful earthquakes, one in Samoa and the other in Indonesia have created mass devastation in these areas. Many lives have been lost and tens of thousands of people are now homeless. Roads and bridges have been destroyed hampering rescue and aid efforts.

Severe flooding from Typhoon Ketsana has crippled the Philippines and a new Super Typhoon, Parma, is bearing down on this nation and is expected to hit Saturday. Additionally, floods in Spain have created loss of life and significant challenges for many thousands of people.

We respectfully ask you as part of the GCI community to send heart-focused care through whatever methods you choose for the next few days to help ease the emotional pain, fear, insecurity and loss these people are experiencing.

Thank you for your participation,

The Global Coherence Steering Committee


GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR GCI CARE FOCUS
As the Global Shift is playing out, there are a growing number of situations that unfold continuously around the world that could benefit from focused care. This makes it difficult to choose a GCI focus that would suit everyone at any given time. With GCI members from many different countries and cultures, it’s understandable that this would influence personal feelings of what would be most appropriate for a GCI care focus.

At times when a global issue is more important to you than the GCI care focus selected, we suggest this: Spend a little time on the GCI care focus, then spend most of your time sending love and compassion to whatever situation you feel is most important. Some of you may choose to hold a vision of the planet in a state of perfection, which can help manifest how we would want it to be. The most important thing is for us all to love, accept, and respect without judgment each others expressions of care.

The techniques suggested by the GCI team won’t always feel appropriate for everyone because of our many cultural backgrounds and personal belief systems. This is very understandable. When this is an issue, we invite you to use your own heart’s choice of technique, prayer, meditation, affirmation, visualization, etc., when sending love and compassion to the planet and its inhabitants. It’s our genuine coherent love and care that make a difference, much more so than method or technique.

Our common link with each other is that we all care. By honoring our differences, we multiply the strength of connection and effectiveness in our care for the planet and each other. This is what the planetary shift is about - differences coming together in the heart to co-create a greater wholeness.
You can use the Introductory Coherence Technique or whatever method you choose that’s comfortable to you that engages your heart’s care and compassion. Visit the new Global Care Room and join in with others from around the world in this Care Focus. Click here to learn more.

Global Coherence Initiative – 14700 West Park Ave – Boulder Creek, California 95006 – 831-338-8500

Sorting out feelings of anguish

I read a piece recently by a woman who suffered through years of Chronic pain and depression with drug therapy and now deals with her situation completely drug free.

She claimed her biggest success came with learning to stop trying to be what she wasn't. If she felt depressed she would allow herself to truly feel that depression, to become it, to embrace it. She realized that otherwise she was simply in denial of her true feelings.

Pain, depression, heartache, devastation - they aren't things most people actively choose to experience, yet they can be a part of anyone's life at some point in time. As all things do, the episodes of depression or pain or suffering will pass and be replaced with all sorts of other human emotions and expressions and episodes.

I am trying to work with this, not really doing the best at it... The past few days really seemed to put my thoughts in dark, scary, painful and angry places.

My passion is to share my sense of joy in creation. To celebrate nature, the natural world and the human spirit immersed within it. To encourage others to do the same. Yet i know that today in the world as a whole it may be difficult to maintain a celebratory stance. I have such confused and mixed feelings about the devastation of the lives of so many through several powerful natural events; tsunamis, earthquakes and a typhoon.

Nature, in this story will heal and what has changed will move on in a new direction as the laws of nature see fit. People's lives and families are another matter altogether. I pray for their safety and comfort and sense of peace. I am thankful that there are many on their way to assist as best they can. I feel such unfathomable grief for all that is lost through such calamity and hope for swift healing and recovery for all.

Then there's the Roman Polanski story which I guess I've allowed to get under my skin... no need, perhaps old wounds are being poked or what have you... it just makes me wonder about the whole "other world" the Hollywood society seems to live in.
Then again, who am I, I've no right to be judgmental... I don't wish to be, i'm trying to understand something, realizing it's futile and completely unnecessary anyway... I have to laugh at myself... yup - there's an old wound there that feels it's being prodded. Something that needs working from me... okay, perhaps I can work with that and find my way back out of the dark hole!

I guess that is the point of feeling through it all. hmmm I'm sure I'm not done yet... but maybe now it won't feel so fierce! May peace and love be a pillow to the world tonight.

With love, ...from the garden. ;-)