Harmony Hill…Where Mountains Meet Magic!

There are days…even occasions when a full week will go by that I may not venture off “The Hill”.  Interestingly, I don’t mind it… really.  Migrating to Upstate NY from Orlando, Florida, I know what a pain major traffic can be…trust me the only thing Oneonta, New York and Orlando, Florida have in common is they both start with an “O”.  Yet, often after being on “The Hill” a week or so,  I’ll  have to leave to drive into town. I catch myself, especially around Walmart [the major attraction in town!] wondering… “where did all this traffic come from? There must be at least…what, ten cars in front of me!”  Contrast comes in all shapes and sizes.

When you’re on 70 acres in a rural country setting, it kind of feels like being in your own private state park [or retreat as this case may be].  You begin to feel the peace and quiet deep in your bones.  You notice after awhile that the strangeness you couldn’t put your finger on may have been the fact that you haven’t heard one single police car or fire truck, sirens blaring down your street.  Instead, the stillness of the night gets its competition from owls hooting, peepers peeping, frogs croaking…you get the picture. Hustle & bustle is replaced with the BusiNess of Nature.  Traffic noise is replaced by the wind blowing through the trees creating a sequence of activity followed by stillness …a stillness and serenity of energy unlike any other, it’s absence noticeable and amplified when you leave it.  Contrast at its best.

“The City”….bright lights, big city. That’s what people who visit Harmony Hill from “The City” seek respite from.  Whether you’re from NYC or another big city [although The Big Apple is the mac-daddy of them all] sometimes it takes such contrast to be reminded that we basically live in a container.  I’ll use my country analogy…you are the flower and where you live is your container.  How well your flower grows depends largely on your container; how much sunlight do you get? Are you getting too little or too much water? What kind of nutrients are you getting?….and hands down … is your Human ‘flower’ happy in it’s container’s environment?

Sometimes we’re fortunate and we can pick up our container and move it from Florida to Upstate New York.  Sometimes we’re lucky just to have the opportunity to experience great contrast.  When we are, we are allowed a sneak peak at transitional contrast…the contrast between the echoes of the past and the peacefullness of now, this is the present.

It’s not where your container resides, it’s how well you take care of the container while it’s there.  It doesn’t matter if the contrasting view is seagulls or chickadees or both….human flowers turn toward contrast like plants turn toward sun…that’s why God/The Divine/The Universe/The One gives us so many chances to experience and create it.

Jana

Sitting on my deck in the morning with a cup of coffee is primo time for me.  With the rainy weather this season, these times have been rare indeed…in fact the last few days, even though the mornings were clear, I haven’t made the attempt to sit out there.  Today was different, I’m not sure why, it was just one of those days where my inner voice was loud, saying…”let’s sit outside…it’s a really nice morning.  Let’s sit outside; it really doesn’t matter what time it is.  Whatever needs to get done today will get done, we assure you, it will still get done even if you take this time to just sit outside”…And so I listened and sat outside.

My wooden deck features a comfy chair and table set and about ten feet away attached to the rail is the bird feeder.  Just beyond the feeder is a small sapling tree that the birds can use to hop back and forth as they help themselves to the food.  Watching all the different types of birds come by for their morning meal is a cherished moment…one that sometimes conflicts with my desire to sip from my coffee cup.  If I lift my cup to drink, the birds take flight.   And while they come back, it always feels like the moment has been spoiled somehow.  Was that sip of java worth the disturbance of my viewing pleasure!

But today was different.  I knew this again when I glanced up in the sapling and saw a lone brown sparrow sitting on a branch.  I’d lift my cup, the others would take flight.  This little brown bird just sat.  It was puffed up like birds do when they are defending against the cold…it wasn’t cold.  I wondered, “Do female birds look like tennis balls when they’re ready to lay eggs”…I had no idea.  The phone ringing broke my contemplation of pregnant birds and I ran inside to answer.  As I was talking, I looked out the yurt window to see that my little brown friend had hopped onto the wooden deck railing.  I could see clearly now just how puffed up it was, so poufy that I couldn’t see its feet…is there such a thing as bird obesity?  Had this visitor been to the feeder one too many times?  I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bird with a body like that.

As I’m talking on the phone, I look out and see my friend has hopped onto the deck…still just sitting there.  I knew this was not right.  The others flitted around, would get spooked and take flight…this little brown puff just sat.  I was talking with Chris and she said…”send it Reiki”.

I broke off my conversation, walked outside and crept slowly closer and closer to the sparrow.  It had its eyes closed like it was sleeping and seemed to be breathing heavily.  Finally, close enough to touch it I began to lightly stroke its head and back…the brown puff made a few attempts to peck then seemed to just relax and enjoy my touch.  I knew it was really sick.  Did it fly into a window somewhere and get dazed?  Was it a migrating bird who got exhausted on its journey?  I picked it up, wings fluttering and hopping a bit, I didn’t think anything was broken, but it definitely wasn’t well.

I gently put the bird down, went back inside to grab a small basket and a hand towel to pad inside.  I retrieved my small friend, placing it in the basket.  At first it hopped onto the edge, then back onto the deck…then it quit trying and stayed inside…I think it realized it had found a safe haven.  I continued to send the creature Reiki, not knowing what else I could do.  I put seeds in the basket thinking it might eat.  It wouldn’t.  I got an eye dropper and put water in its beak thinking it might drink.  it would not.  I sensed the bird’s distress as it started fluttering its wings to no avail as it didn’t have the strength to even keep itself upright.  My last ditch effort was only a thought of comfort.  I gently picked it up out of the basket, held it in the palm of my hand and stroked it on its little chest.  I could feel the bird’s fragile rib bones.  Then almost as quickly as a wing’s flutter, it closed its eyes and went perfectly still in my hand.  I looked at the small bird and wonderment came over me…the body was perfect in size and shape.  It no longer looked puffed and bloated.  It was beautiful and at peace.  Had he/she come to die? Was it my role within this Universe to help one of its creatures transition in peace? I don’t need to know the answers to those questions…but one thing I do know for sure…there would never have been questions at all if I had started my day and not listened to my inner voice telling me “let’s just sit outside today?”

Jana

Over the years, I’ve probably quipped this old adage a kazillion times.  Having been raised in North Florida with a brother-in-law who was a farmer, I probably heard it said equally as many by those around me growing up. I was just a little girl [ my sister was 12 years older than me] and though I remember hearing statements such as this, I never really knew what they meant by them.  At age 6 my widowed Mother and I moved into the ‘city’ and country life seemed like something very remote…how on earth could anyone live out  in the boonies where there are no malls?

Fast forward to now where I have somewhat returned to my roots.  I have forgotten the mall and chosen a life in rural Upstate NY.  As I was driving along the back country roads the other day, I was drifting in thought when it came to me that something was different about the countryside.  There was something my eye was picking up but my brain couldn’t quite make the connection as to what it was …then it hit me.  Field after field had been hayed. Where once there had been tall flowing, tasseled hay there were now beautiful clumps of timothy, alfalfa and clover strewn up and down the hillsides. It hit me like a lead balloon….they were making hay while the sun shines! I chuckled at the childhood memories that flooded back simultaneously.

Most of the East Coast and certainly our slice of Upstate Heaven has been inundated with rain this season.  Early in the season, I believe it was May, we had about a week of unusually warm weather.  Enough warmth that the farmers got in an early haying and they were all very happy and anticipatory that it was going to be a bountiful year.  This, of course, turned out to be a glimpse of something we wouldn’t see again until now…. in August at almost the end of the season.

If you’re not a farmer you’re probably like me and you don’t think much of too much rain.  Only an annoyance because we can’t get out as much, or our small gardens are stunted from too much rain, or our roads are a mess, or any number of little things that don’t really make a whole lot of difference when placed up against a bigger picture.

Farmers definitely look at it differently.  Only one haying in by August means they have been to the bank for operating money about as many times as they could go.  One haying means their livestock didn’t have the silage they needed and feed costs got deducted from an already shrinking profit margin.  One haying meant there was nothing to sell to help pay the bills and one haying meant they had to sell their cows because they couldn’t afford to feed them.  One farmer who was looking for his lost dog stopped by our place and told us the last time he took his cows to the market he had to PAY to sell them….now he was giving them away.  He wondered what he was going to do? He had been dairy farming his entire life…he didn’t know how to do anything else.

It wasn’t until I moved up here that I really became aware of the precarious lifestyle the dedicated people, like my brother-in-law, who supply the bounty we find on our grocery store shelves have chosen for themselves.  They don’t whine or feel sorry for themselves…they can’t imagine doing anything else.  I think what they would really like is the respect they deserve for being the selfless stewards of the land and lords over our dinner tables that they are.

So, the moral of this story?  THANK  A FARMER TODAY…your next meal depends on it!

Jana

Once upon awhile ago there was a soul in heaven who was happily enjoying all of his soulful friends.  Then one day the soul, whose name was Solstice, asked all of his friends to gather around.  He had an announcement.  When they were all present he told them he had made a decision.  He has chosen to have the experience of forgiveness.  Immediately there was a murmur heard from the gathering.

One spoke up “Forgiveness is an illusion.  There is only truth here.  You can’t experience forgiveness here.” “I know, replied Solstice, but it is time for me to expand my Self by exploring forgiveness.”  Another said, “Then you’ll have to go to the land of guilt, the planet earth.  They provide the most opportunity for the experience you seek.” “Yes,” said another, “I understand they do lots of judging there.  They condemn others and themselves all day long.” “Then that is where I shall go,” Solstice decided.  “Who of you will go with me?”

Many of the souls shook their heads.  They were probably remembering their experience on planet earth.  Solstice pleaded, “oh, come on guys.  I can’t do this without you.”  There was silence throughout.  Then slowly one raised her hand. “I will go with you.”  All of the souls looked at the one who was speaking.  It was Soulmate.

One soul queried, “you are willing to go to planet earth with Solstice to help him experience forgiveness?  Do you know you will have to experience fear and judgment and guilt?  Your vibrations will lower and your energy will become dense and you will not remember who you are.”

“I know”, spoke Soulmate.  “To experience forgiveness, we both will see only each other’s faults.  We will not seek to understand, but only to blame.  We will believe that guilt is real.  We will attack each other without sensitivity.” Solstice spoke, “Then surely I will forget you are Soulmate.  You would do all of this so that I might experience forgiveness?” “Of course”, replied Soulmate. “I love you.”

One of the wisest of souls stood tall.  “We will remember for you who you are.  We will be with you every moment in your exploration that you might remember the illusion of your experience and come to know that you are two gentle spirits choosing an opportunity to expand your soul.”

Solstice and Soulmate, standing together hand in hand, bowed to their friends and expanded their light to touch all present.  As they turned to leave on their journey, one voice in the distance could be heard exclaiming, “have fun!”

Chris Rosenthal

Peace

My occasional visitor
My intermittent friend
How may I beckon you
to move in?

Listen, You say
To my Inner Soul
And allow my True self
To unfold.

Then I can have it?
Is that all I do?
My being me will
Lead to You?

I am Peace, You say
And we are One
The journey is complete
That has begun.

Chris Rosenthal

Authenticity…
Is it me?
Or am I hiding
In whom I please?

Is it worth
The price I pay
Just to be
A cast of clay,

For both of us
Not to know
The essence, the wonder
The being in my Soul?

Isn’t it lamentable
That we would rather see
My many masks
In lieu of me?

Shh..I hear a Voice beckoning
Be still.  I hear
a Voice beckoning
be real, be real, be real

Chris Rosenthal

Let’s talk about non-resistance.  Actually I want to talk about resistance but I guess there must be so much resistance to talking about resistance that I automatically wrote non-resistance instead.  None-the-less, I am amazed at how much I resist….whether it’s a cold damp day when I wanted to work the garden or whether it’s a larger repair bill on the jeep than I anticipated.

You may argue that resistance is natural.  I will agree that it is human nature; it’s just that I believe we are much more than mere humans.  Or you may ask “why so important?”

Because we cannot resist one thing without resisting everything! For example: if you resist doing the work to heal a relationship with a co-worker, you will also resist receiving a promotion.  Not consciously of course.  When we value ‘resistance’ and de-value ‘allowing’ we send out the vibration of resistance to what we want as well as to what we don’t want.

Not resisting IS allowing and allowing IS receiving.  this gives me the motivation I need to loose interest in resistance and practice non-resistance in everything in my life.  I want to receive the change I want to see.

Chris

Interested in learning more about labyrinths and how this ancient archetype is being used in modern times?  Come join us May 16th for a labyrinth restoration day.

After sitting many seasons underneath the winter snow, our beautiful 44′ Chartres replica labyrinth needs some well deserved TLC…come for the day or for an hour.  Whatever time you can devote is greatly appreciated.

We’ll have a FREE picnic lunch in the meadow for volunteers who can join us.  Please R.S.V.P. so we can get a head count for drinks, food, etc.

607-278-6609 or email jana@harmonyhillretreat.com

During a meditation a few weeks ago, I was toying with ‘forgiveness’. That word has never been one of my favorites, but something that I attempt to apply to everything and everyone, not always with consistency or permanency. So I was wanting to lessen the adversarial relationship I have with ‘that’ word as I went into meditation.

And the following was what came into my awareness:
Forgiveness is non-judgment.
Non-judgment is acceptance.
Acceptance is non-resistance.
Non-resistance is allowing.
Allowing is receiving.
Receiving is God-expanded.

So, I repeated it back. You mean forgiveness begets non-judgment and non-judgment begets acceptance and acceptance begets non-resistance and non-resistance begets allowing and allowing begets receiving. [I couldn't handle the God-expanded thing yet].

I was told: NO. Forgiveness IS non-judgment. Non-judgment IS acceptance. Acceptance IS non-resistance. Non-resistance IS allowing. Allowing IS receiving. Receiving IS God-expanded.

WOW! Reeeeal…ly! I got it. Then I don’t have to focus on forgiveness. I can pick any one of its equals. Lately I am attempting not to resist anything. Like, the temperature is going to dip down in the 30′s after we’ve had such lovely warm spring-like weather for several days.

Want to try this with me? What have you been resisting?

Chris’ Corner…

Claims our limitations are self-imposed

Believes we are beings of immense creative power

Suggests we lose interest in what no longer serves us

Challenges us to find the vibrational energy of joy within us

Chris Rosenthal M.S., LMHC, NCC, CHT has over 25 years experience conducting individual, couples and family coaching sessions; psychospiritual workshops & retreats for all our relationships. She now does Life Coaching, Spiritual Mentoring, Past Life Regression, Reiki Treatments and Training.  Chris has been a student/teacher of A Course in Miracles as well as a Reiki Master since 1988.  Chris offers coaching and mentoring sessions by phone.

Chris invites you to JOYn her new blog.