Full Flower Moon Dreamboard

FULL FLOWER MOON

1. full moon {полная луна}, 2. I love art, 3. ...art...love...art...love...art...love..., 4. Winter Peace, 5. Earth Wind Water, 6. MAGIC in B&W, 7. Magic, 8. Magic, 9. magic moment, 10. The colorful world of pencils!, 11. ~ Magic Forest, 12. Write your destiny, 13. Abbotsford House from the gardens, 14. Me Must Be Dreaming!, 15. joy, 16. tranquility, 17. Autumn Ride !, 18. Dreams of a Journey, 19. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one, 20. CXXXIX "imagine", 21. Minnie the Dreamer, 22. zero gravity, 23. Fairy Castle~Explore, 24. Dream Fairy

I'm excited to finally be participating in the Full Moon Dreamboard posts! In keeping with the name of this month's full moon, our heavenly host, Jamie Ridler, has asked us to visualize what we want to flower abundantly in our life this month.

Some time ago, in a post far away, I mentioned that I have strange and unpleasant dreams. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed one. Most nights, I'll doze in front of my laptop a few minutes here, a few minutes there and stay up until midnight or later, waking up at 5:15 a.m. During those hours in the dreamworld, I'm usually either on a quest or running from something or someone. I'm never really sure who that person is but I know they want to harm me in some way, emotionally or physically. My task in these dreams is to find a particular object or person. While most of these quests or escapes are set outdoors, houses and buildings are almost always an important prop.

Most people look forward to sinking back in their comfy beds after a long, busy day allowing Morpheus to have his way with them, but I truly prefer to encounter my dreams during the day when I have some measure of control. The soft, comfy bed is kinda nice, though.

What I want to flower abundantly this month is a practice of visualizing pleasant scenarios and locations before going to sleep in an effort to direct where my dreams will take me. I long to look forward to those hours in dreamland.

NOTE: This was posted before Jamie's Full Moon Dreamboard post and I took her question from her newsletter. In her actual post, she also asks What seeds will you plant this month?

Along with recreating my garden, I would like to sow seeds of contentment. I know there are others like me who love and and enjoy their lives and the people in it but are always thinking there's something still needed to make them truly happy. Maybe that something or someone is God, maybe it is something else.

I am NOT saying we shouldn't have wishes and dreams, long for a partner, plan a new career or work toward equality, justice and an end to hunger. I'm saying that while we are doing those things, we should appreciate where we are in our lives and discern what our purpose is at any given moment. I truly believe there is a purpose for our circumstance; that we can find something in our situation to hang on to and work with, no matter how difficult.

I have found that always looking to the future and not living in the present can be destructive. It can eat at you and breed hopelessness.

Let us wish our wishes, dream our dreams, search for hidden treasures and pray for the answers. And while we're doing that, let's also be thankful for our blessings and content in our situation knowing that it is where we are supposed to be right now. Perhaps it is where we need to be in order to get to where we're going.

P.S. I'm sorry if that sounded preachy. I just felt compelled to talk about this because it has been an issue for me for many years and I hate to think of others always feeling that churning in their gut, that frustration that what they're looking for (even if they don't know what that is) is forever just out of reach.

Many blessings to you all!

Wishcasting Wednesday

With our esteemed Wishcasting Wednesday hostess Jamie Ridler on a balance break, I still planned to write about wishes today. It just doesn't seem right not to. Then, I saw Tabby's, of *I Choose Bliss*, post about wishes and thought, "Hmm, she must feel the same way I do." I was then off to Genie's blog, Reality Insanity, and found that Jamie had given her permission to host this week's WW.

Seems to me there's something special going on here. Something I've always felt and have noticed even more so in the last few weeks as the list of participants grows longer. Wishcasting Wednesday gives us permission to wish out loud. We are given the opportunity to think about what we truly want, explore the possibilities, and sometimes find out that we don't really want what we thought. WW also nudges us to dream and support others in their dreams.

Genie's question for today is:

What do you wish to find on your doorstep?

Goodness, what possibilities! I might have to write a list for this, both selfish and non. I wish for:

1. A giant box of books that I've never read by my favorite authors and some from authors new to me.

2. Another box of paints and pencils, markers and erasers, beautiful papers and stamps and all sorts of cool art supplies.

3. An envelope with a certificate stating that some kind soul is gifting me with maid service for the next year or more.

4. Might as well ask for a gardener, too!

5. Ed McMahon with a big fat check. One for my family and one for himself since I hear he's having difficulties.

6. Family who live out of town.

7. A bunch of friends who have come to pick us up for a day of fun and serving others.

8. A beautiful box filled with the endings to the stories I started and never finished.

9. An abundance of energy and confidence, both of which I often lack.

10. A key that will open the door to cures for the world's diseases and hate, bigotry and greed.

What would be really awesome is if all of you showed up on my doorstep. I'd welcome you warmly and we'd spend a glorious day sharing stories, encouraging each other and bonding with our tribe. Just like we do now, only in person! :)

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When asked what my son would wish to find on our doorstep, he said: "All my friends! I like them for them and they like me for me."

I love that answer, Alex. People who do that are true friends.

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Thanks, Genie, for hosting this week's Wishcasting Wednesdays!

enCouragingBliss!

Beautiful Blisschick (Christine) asks us to enCourage bliss. Her initial post explaining her weekly prompt to enCourage bliss can be found here, with an update here.

This week's assignment is: Tell us what you were like when you were six. Would that little girl be happy with your life now?

Six years old, eh? I remember that as being a fairly lovely time in my life...with a few hiccups. Christine mentions having the FisherPrice record player in her post and I remember having a record player as well but I'm not sure if it was FisherPrice. I had six plastic records to go with mine that were songs from Sesame Street. "I Love Trash" was my favorite, sung by Oscar the Grouch himself! I think I still remember the words.... "I LOVE TRASH! Anything dirty or dingy or dusty...anything ragged or rotten or rusty!...." Oh yes, loved that tune! One record has Kermit the Frog singing "It's not easy being green...." which always made me feel sad.

People have told me that I used to dance all the time, especially for my father. He's said I'd dance and dance, fluttering all around, and then I'd get in such a precarious position he was sure I'd fall down but I'd manage to maneuver myself out of it and dance on. I rarely dreamed of being in the ballet but I do remember dreaming of always dancing. I loved how music could make my body move, that feeling of sparkly magic in my belly flowing out to my limbs, making them jump and sway and wriggle. I still feel that way when the right music comes on. I imagine we all do.

In my younger years, I don't believe I had a good idea of what I wanted to do with my life other than that I wanted to be creative and do something with words. My first grade teacher gave me a storybook about fanciful creatures to entertain me when I was completed with my schoolwork before most everyone else. I loved reading those stories of different worlds and faraway places. I'll admit I was a dreamer and wanted so much for myself and the world. I wanted the magic to be real.

Even back then, I was a peacekeeper. My neighborhood was filled with children and I usually had a few "best" friends. For some reason, those friends never seemed to like each other. I was told it was that they didn't want to share their time with me. That sounds very egotistical but I guess that's how it was. I just wanted everyone to get along so we could all play together. Maybe I should have turned those peacekeeping skills into some type of diplomatic career. It's true that those skills have come in handy on many an occasion.

My parents argued and didn't seem to know how to communicate with each other. Quite often, I felt like I was the adult and they were the children and I had to find a way to bring them together, help them to understand each other...and stop the arguing. That, of course, is not a child's role but it felt like mine. Hmmm, diplomat and psychologist. I'm in neither profession but it's felt like a life-long career.

We want to blame our parents for why we turned out the way we did or why we didn't do something we wanted to or should have. Their words and actions certainly affect us, mold us to some degree. I do believe, however, that we make our own choices and are ultimately responsible for who we become. Once we realize this, we can hopefully break free from any negative thought patterns and cycles we've been caught in due to whatever influence they've had over us. We can receive so many beautiful things from our parents but as they are not perfect, their faults are bound to touch us.

My parents, like their parents, were not free with praise. I'm sure they found it difficult; not because they didn't want to praise us but because it didn't flow naturally from their lips. I was always a high performer in school, labeled as high-potential, and saw the whole world before me. I could do almost anything. There was one particular incident, however, that comes to mind as being a catalyst in the direction my life took after it. (Jumping forward a bit in years...)

The eighth grade students at my school were participating in individual science projects. The top chosen projects would move on to a regional meet which in turn could go on to state. Wanting to be different, I chose a social science project and focused on abuse, child abuse specifically. I did the research, read the horrible stories, and presented a fairly decent project to the judges. I was happy to be chosen as having a top project that would move on to regionals.

Coming home that night, my mother was in the kitchen and dad was sitting in his favorite chair in the living room, watching T.V. I was not one to boast, feeling embarrassed, but I hesitantly and hopefully told my parents the news about my project and its high rating. Their actual words escape me but they were something like, "That's nice," and "Oh, that's great."

I don't know what I was expecting but I guess I hoped for a more enthusiastic response. My spirit plummeted. It wasn't that they didn't care, I just wanted them to care more. My brain took over my injured heart (or maybe it was the other way around) and I decided from that day forward, I just wasn't going to try anymore. What good would it do? It didn't get me the good feelings I so desperately longed for. (It seems like such a silly event to make such a drastic decision.)

The next few years were spent caring more about who was dating whom, and if I did this or that, would that boy like me? What did his look mean? You know, teenage girl stuff. It wasn't until my junior year that I realized I'd wasted so much time and should have been trying and giving life my all; for me, and my future, regardless of what praise or feel good vibes I received from someone else.

As I said before, my parents' actions affected me and my outlook but I can't blame them for my choice to give up. Thank goodness I came to my senses and realized my mistake. As children, we always want our parents' praise and for them to be proud of us, that's just natural. I guess this was a lesson for me on finding my own value in my actions.

Christine asked what we were like at six years old, and would that six year old us be happy with who we are today.

I might not be a dancer or international diplomat, but I shake my thang on the dance floor and in the privacy of my own home; and I still play the peacekeeper between family members, friends and at work. I've learned a few lessons over the years and I try to be a good, polite, forgiving, non-judgmental and accepting person. I enjoy encouraging others and find that I receive so much more in return.

While I think my six-year-old self would tell me to lighten up a little and find my inner child more often, I think she would be happy with the me I am today.

Thank you, Christine, for bringing me back and forward again with enCouraging Bliss!

My objective this week is to find my inner child and ask her out to play.

"Inner Child" painting by Juliette West.

Wishcasting & Wordful Wednesday

I'm so glad I started participating in Jamie Ridler's Wishcasting Wednesdays. Her prompts are so thought provoking. I always find discover a new perspective while contemplating my answer. Today's prompt is:

What do you wish to say yes to?

I wish to say yes to the promises of Spring: beginnings, growth, fresh starts, wondrous discoveries and life! Not only do I welcome warmth after a brutal winter, the beauty of green grass and budding leaves, petal blossoms and sweetly singing birds, but also the excitement of new projects at work and home.

The protective shield I've surrounded myself with is melting from the fire that's been ignited inside me. I'm ready to take risks and refuse to miss another opportunity to follow my dreams. I say yes to doing all the things I've always wanted to do but was too fearful to try. Perfectionism is overrated. I will enjoy the journey and not worry about the end result.

I say yes to the friendships I am building both in the blog world and physical world. I am hesitant to say "real" world because my blog friendships are real to me.

Oh, I could go on and on... Thank you, Jamie, for a prompt filled with so much promise!



You'll find more wishes at Starshyne Productions and Worldful Wednesday photos at Angie's 7 Clown Circus.

Wishcasting Wednesday

[For WORDFUL WEDNESDAY - Please scroll down.)

Our beautiful and inspirational Wishtress Jamie asks today:

What do you wish to change?

My dreams.

More specifically, my night dreams. I will go into this further when I finally post my first Full Moon Dreamboard but right now I'll just say that for many years, at least all of my adult years, I have not looked forward to going to sleep. My dreams are odd or disturbing, as my husband can attest to after listening to some weird stories from me, and I rarely feel rested in the morning.

I'll say more in another post but for now, I wish to have more pleasant dreams.

By Josephine Wall

Visit Wishcasting Wednesday by Jamie's Starshyne Productions for more wishes.

Wishcasting Wednesday - To the Moon and Stars

Wishtress Extraordinaire Jamie's prompt today is:


Where do you wish to go?

I wish to go:


1. To Indiana and visit my in-laws.
2. Up north to visit my sister and her family.
3. San Francisco. I spent the day there once many moons ago and would love to go back.
4. Japan. My husband, son and I will get there some day! Maybe during cherryblossom season.
5. On a grand tour of Europe.
6. To a zone where creativity flows and I'm able to produce my visions and express my thoughts.
7. Visit my dear friend Jane in Ohio.
8. Dancing with my husband.

More wishes at Wishcasting Wednesdays.