Heaven or hell really are just a state of mind. In two days I leave for Europe where I will be teaching for six weeks. By Monday I have to have my latest manuscript finished and e mailed off to the publisher. The only problem is it isn’t done yet!

Now with all the packing, saying good byes, last minute details and finishing a book I have a wonderful opportunity. To drive myself absolutely crazy or not. The busier I get, the more I remember I need to do the greater the tendency is to run out of the moment and think about what I have to do next.

Yesterday I was driving to town and thinking a lot and rapidly getting overwhelmed. As soon as I realized what I was doing I took a deep breath and enjoyed the scenery. I miss Hawaii when I travel and if I don’t stay in the moment I won’t get to experience it for the next few days either.

Once again I was reminded what a gift my breath is! By simply breathing I was able to bring myself back into the moment and enjoy the rest of my day. My book still isn’t quite done but I can enjoy sitting here writing in my blog and when I am done I will finish the last few pages and then go into town and get a lomilomi massage. All and all a wonderful day thanks to taking a lot of deep breaths so I can enjoy the moment.

While I am traveling if technology cooperates I will try to share my journey with you. Lithuania is a beautiful country and doing a ceremony in Stonehenge at dawn is such an awesome opportunity. My wonderful web designer Zack suggested I take pictures and upload them so I will.

No matter what is happening this week I remembered heaven is always just a breath away. So breath a lot!!

With love and aloha,
Susan

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Mother Nature is so incredible. Monday I took some friends up to the top of Mauna Kea. We hiked into Lake Wai’au which is at 13,000 feet elevation. It is an incredibly magical and powerful place for me. My Aunty had suggested I go there to connect and ask for the goddesses’ help. What a gift these islands are in my life. I just downloaded the picture I took and once again the energy of the place is evident!

On the way down we felt the ground shake a little. When I got home I found lots of broken glass and terrified animals. There had been an earthquake and actually had more damage from this one than we did from the big one last fall. Then it was time to get ready for hurricane Flossie. After much ado we had some balmy breezes and some much needed rain.

Once again I was reminded about how powerful our perspective really is. Standing on top of Mauna Kea there was the slightest movement of the earth. Just a slight jiggle. At my house obviously the house rumbled and rolled. I had two Kwan Yin statues, one broke and the other one fell off an altar in a way that was quite – umm shall I say unusual or miraculous. She managed to vault over the candles, leap from the back of the altar and fall several feet away from the foot of the altar.

I am writing a book on deities, saints, angels and ascended masters so I was curious what sort of message Kwan Yin had for me. The deadline for my book has been moved up from November to September 1^st. I was pushing myself pretty hard to write, write and write some more. That night I got the message to stop and smell the flowers. Her message was a reminder for me to relax and enjoy the process.

It is so easy to get so caught up with doing that we forget to just be in the moment. No matter what is happening the only time we can fully experience it is right here and right now. When I was writing about the saints that message came through loud and clear. When I began researching them I realized I had a huge judgment about suffering and martyrdom but as I wrote about St. Agatha all that changed for me. I read her story and was appalled. She had both her breast crushed and then cut off. I thought what is spiritual or even useful about that! I meditated a bit and put her aside for the day. I asked myself how I could see the saints through the eyes of love and went about my day.

When I again began writing I realized her message was one of love and compassion. She was able to remain at peace in the midst of horrific physical torture. She really brought home the message that “life is and then we tell ourselves a story.” Her story was one of love, peace and compassion regardless of what the people were doing to her.

The saints have reminded me in a profound way that I can be happy no matter what is happening in my life. I suggested that my students do some research on the saints and find one that they can play with for a while. They are amazing men and women able to perform miracles, bio-locate, levitate and do all sorts of things. If they can so can you and I!

My next podcast is about to go live – so tune in and check it out!!!

With love and aloha,
Susan

“This stuff seems like brainwashing,” said the student.
“Your brain needs washing,” replied the teacher.
http://susangregg.com/meditation/meditation1.htm

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

I am originally from NYC. Queens to be exact. The only chickens I ever saw were all wrapped up in plastic or on a plate. For some reason I’ve always had a fascination with chicken. My relationship with chickens began almost as soon as I moved to Hawaii. When I first moved here I lived in Waikiki, one of the densest most populated areas of the islands. My first landlady was a character, she was in her 80s and was born someplace in the South. One day she brought over 12 chickens and told me if I fed them I could have their eggs.

At that point I didn’t have enough money to buy food and had been asking for assistance from the universe. I never thought it would show up in the form of fresh eggs. Many years later I moved into a place that had wild chickens. I started to feed them and they started bringing around their baby chicks. That was almost 10 years ago and I still have one of the baby chicks I rescued. Her name is Dale and I brought her over on the plane with me when I moved to the Big Island.

I now have a flock of free range chickens that lay blue eggs and help control the centipedes and coqui frogs. I’m amazed at how smart chickens can be, how observant and patient. Their chicken coop sits on a rise and is made out of guava trees and chicken wire. It is the first place the sun hits on my property. I often watch the sun rise as I feed them. The combination of the morning light and the coo-coo noises they make fills me with a deep sense of peace and the realization that we really are all one.

I watch them mindfully graze, interact with one another, scratch and look for worms. Whenever I teach a tele-class they gather around the window and watch me. I have one miracle chicken called on Anna. She was sick as a baby chick so we took her to the vet’s. She actually died when the attendant held her too tight. The vet did mouth to beak resuscitation, gently pumped on her little chest and brought her back to life. She still likes to be picked up and held. She stands in front of me, looking at me by moving her head from side to side with such intensity I often wonder what she’s thinking.

So what have my chickens taught me? By being around them, observing them, caring for them, gathering their eggs I have learned so much about myself and the nature of reality. You might say it has been a very Zen experience.

I’ve learned:

To relax and be in the moment
Enjoy the feeling of the sun on your face – (the chickens often sun themselves)
Quietly enjoy the gifts provided so generously by the universe
Each blade of grass is different and when I take the time to notice I am in the moment
Being, just being is what brings the greatest joy
Food is best savored in the moment when you are hungry
Celebrate my accomplishments with joy – (when one chicken lays an egg she will chant to let her sisters know what she has done and sometimes the whole flock joins in her celebration)
Pay attention to details and enjoy walking in the rain
Laugh and enjoy the moment (they love to cackle)
Live fully, as if each day is your last
The earth is a gracious hostess

Take time to observe nature, it can teach you a lot. I know the grounding affect of caring for a flock of chickens has given me so many gifts – many of them beyond the realm of words. Take the time to go out and watch the sunrise or the stars, walk in the rain, watch children at play or simply take time to breathe deeply. Life is to short not to enjoy every moment of it.

With love and aloha,
Susan

“This stuff seems like brainwashing,” said the student.
“Your brain needs washing,” replied the teacher.
http://susangregg.com/meditation/meditation1.htm

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!