Choosing A Together Land

Blog post begins below photo.

I just read a bizarre yet not uncommon FaceBook post. A woman stated that if Europeans had not left their homes hundreds of years ago, they would still be stuck on islands. No technological advances would have been made in America. She was reacting to a post about our genocide of the Native Americans. Her words made it seem like the only way in which Europeans could advance in this life time, was by killing off thousands of people.

Scary, is that this way of thinking is still shared by many. I like to think we're beyond this, but we aren't. With the election of 45, Fascists revealing their faces in marches, speeches, protests, and public comments like hers, it is evident that such black and white thinking still exists. Being in denial of our past and present evils, allows us to stay comfy with ourselves, just the way we are.

Slavery, genocide and human torture is not bound to any country. The black and white race was a marketing tool to justify slavery. Indian tribes once held battles and captured women and used them as slaves. African Chiefs sold out their people in exchange for gifts. Greed and violence was not an invention of Europeans. It's been going on since humans came into existence.

However, we can move away from fear and ignorance, and embrace an inclusive, progressive society.

The people who had been in the Americas before Europeans arrived, had a really good hold of how the land worked. They did not exploit the environment. They took what they needed for survival. As a result, the land thrived. Europeans had a lot to learn from them.

 The European settlers had technology that made life easier. Roads, wagons, engineering skills, bridges. And eventually, my personal favorite--indoor plumbing! This knowledge makes for a more comfortable lifestyle. And, allows for humans to have more time for creative outlets.

Genocide never had to be in the picture. Buffalo could have been eaten as needed, not slaughtered. Slavery could have been a no-go with all people. There could still be thousands of Redwood trees in my neck of the woods. Had both sides been open to it, we could have learned from each other.

World, country, and village turmoil can be changed. It starts with the individual. Examine your own thoughts. In what ways are you believing that your way of doing things is superior? Could you learn something new from your neighbor? Your partner? Co-worker?

Get out of the house and learn something about a different culture. Sharing knowledge is a way to acknowledge that another person has valuable insight. That we are both important.

Start now. Never too late.

An example of how wonderfully inter-species couples can enjoy life:

Another fine, funny Scout and Ellie book:

Dolphin Divine,

Loving the Americas

How To Burst Open

Autumn leaves are rushing past my window, horizontal from the strong southerly winds. They won't drop until they hit the massive redwood trees that envelope our county. I wonder who's going to rake up the mountain of gold, orange and red leaves that will pile at the bottom of the trees? Those redwoods climb upwards of two hundred feet high. Think the leaf mountain will reach half that? Never know on blustery days.

As Fall trees let go to their leaves, so too must we let go. With a burst of last minute color, we all need to embrace cleansing. Nature knows that a yearly step into a burst of amber shades, is desirable to make way for a time of rest. Drop everything, hibernate, be ready for fresh greens.

You can let go by feng shui'ing your home, as I like to call the process.Start with your clothing. What are the outfits that no longer fit, are decades away from anything close to a fashion, or have a stain that you always try to hide by pretending it just got there? Get this: there are more clothes to buy in the world. There are more cute outfits, flattering shirts, and jeans that promote your body today. Best way to welcome in the new-comers, is to push out the old-timers closet.

Once you have conquered the closet, venture out into the home world. The dresser holds bags of potential for the thrift stores. Shelves are poised to be rid of dust-collecting knick knacks. Back corners of cupboards are breeding grounds of unused items. Feng Shui away, my friend.

Keep in mind: 

if you haven't used it in a year, 

it probably won't be needed in the next.

Next up, grab your broom. For this fun purging, you'll aim skyward. Right up in to the top of your walls. I'm talking about those cobwebs. Clearing out cobwebs=getting out entanglements. It's disgusting work, but who wants to be rolled up in sticky past issues? Move on to a wall of freed up living.

Now that your home is fresh and efficient, it's time to look down. This one is close, you are attached to it: your body. It's been a toxin enabler. The electrifying, horrid way that toxins sneak in is through stress. As we know, stress leads to unproductive thoughts such as anger, fear, and resentment. And, sickness and injury are poised to attack the toxic laden body.

You are strong. You can fight back.

Your elimination weapons? Massage, reflexology, yoga, stretching. Stay strong in your dedication to relax. This can flush out toxins. Longevity and quality of life are counting on you.

Home, body, now soul. Your soul is inherently clean, but can be difficult to access when unwanted energy has been piling up. Finding your way to it, is personal. My number one choice is through meditation. Others derive access through body blisses such as jogging, swimming, or cycling. Even absorption into cross-stitching, painting, and writing enchanting spiritual blogs counts. Anything that gets you into the zone, and out of the mind ego madness.

What makes these zone out moments work, is that you are in the moment. You have let go to past yearnings and future fears. You are present, and can receive.

Okay, here comes the one that is generally the hardest to part with: relationships. If you're in a negative relationship, one that is dragging you back down to swamps and sewer muck, drudge OUT.
An old friend wants to waste away with gossip, complaints, and negative comments? Probably time for you to loosen the strings that bound you.

If you're in a new spiritual level, you may feel discomfort in close proximity to negative thinkers. Or, they may try to pull you back to old ways of coping and connecting to others. This is not the time to sink. Rather, send love, and move on. Be open to new relationships that serve to strengthen your positive new ways.

Stay clear of guilt over releasing stanky relationships. You'll be serving as an example of how good it feels to be a better person. Spray your body clean of negativity. Soar to new heights. Plant seeds of awareness. Show others they can do the same. Your shiny new world is an example. Don't stay the muddy swamp monster. Doesn't help anyone.

Letting go opens your branches to new leaves. Bust out your golden hues, spirit them away, pause in the void, allow for green abundance. Mimic nature.

Ready to move on from your old place? 

Here's the book from the Mistress of Movers:

Moving made simple, simply click here.

Dolphin Divine,

Getting ready to clean out some webs

Solve All Problems Thru Weed Destruction

Gardening gives me time to fix life's problems. 

"A weed is a plant growing where you don't want it to be," my agricultural student friend, Lisa, informed me. I had expected to hear a definition of specific plants. Some terrifying Latin words like plantus horreeblay, wiccus plasma provoker, obnoxious beholden vista. Something that related to weeds alone. Her answer surprised me and got me to wondering.

If there are no 'bad' plants, could there also be no bad people, animals, or situation? If placed in a different place or time, a bad person could be welcome, even helpful.

Many people see Trump as a bad person. But stand back and look at the situation from a different angle. His demeaning words and actions against minorities, women, and too many people to list in one short blog post, have stirred up our country. Greed and fear have been exposed on a level that many of us did not know was so pervasive.

Now that we know the problems exist, we can work on changing our country for the better. Can't improve things when we didn't know the problems were so incredibly pervasive.

People across the nation are showing their appreciation of the bounty of our country. They are attending meet ups to call Senators and tell them what they want. Protests are everywhere. Intolerance is not being tolerated. Many politicians from the city to state are directing policies that are more in line with the desires of the people, over power and profit.

We are putting on our gardening gloves, tearing out years of deep-rooted wrong doings. The flowers of humanity that have always been there, now have a better chance at survival. Sunlight gains access to previously shaded beauties. Encouragement is given to new growths of healthy ideas.

'The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step'. The regime in D.C. has coaxed us into beginning the journey of bettering our country. I have faith that we are up to the challenge. We are that kind of amazing.

Now that I've figured out the answer to how to create world peace, I go back to my present work. The critters who get fired up by my presence scatter about. Roly-poly bugs, long gorgeous worms, varieties of spiders, trail of ants. Best of show goes to the banana slug, treasured treat of the Pacific Northwest. I assure them all that, not only will they remain safe, but I will leave soon. It's their terrain, I'm an uninvited guest.

The bug's scamperings make me laugh. They are so busy and serious with their daily tasks. Just like us people. Always up to something. I assume that's how the gods and goddesses view us. Amusing and sweet, but over worried about earthly matters.

As I tackle world peace, two soulmates play:

Romantic comedy is always a welcome read. 

Dolphin Divine,

Solver Of Everything Under The Sun

Shaking Laughter Swim Ship

Laughter happens when the unexpected happens. Is that happening for you?

You have to know what the expected is, to share laughter. The pictured quote shakes out smiles when you understand the full meaning behind 'when your ship comes in'. If this were translated to another language, and read by a non-English speaker, it could be understood as ship passenger instructions. Envision foreign exchange students diving off ports, trampling over one another, clinging to floating suitcases, swimming out to their ship to get home. Could be drownings.

It would have to be explained that it means your dream has come true, lottery has been won, hidden treasure discovered.

After that, 'swim out to meet it' is easy to follow: you probably need to work to fulfill that dream.

Another of my favorites is by the highly philosophical, Yogi Bear. 'If you come to a fork in the road, pick it up.' U.S. talkers think first of road directions. The unexpected of it being a three pronged piece of metal, is the clincher. But English as a second languagers, may think first of a fork as an eating utensil. The poetic irony would be lost.

This is how it goes with humor. If two people don't both understand what a phrase or idea means, then any humor posted onto it will be meaningless. You have to have a common ground to what the norm is. Without that, anything that pokes toward humor will have nothing to stick into.

This helps to explain why groups with similar backgrounds and world views tend to stick together. We all want to laugh and connect. What greater thing than a chuckling chat with friends? Better than wine, or even chocolate covered caramels. The three things together? Bliss extraordinaire.

It takes extra work to explain why something is funny. So, I get the hanging out with your own crowd thing. To relax and simply enjoy a good joke is an enviable state to be in. There should always be time in our lives for easy breezy lemon squeezy chortles.

But, attempting to understand the views, languages and backgrounds of other people, opens up a whole new universe of guffaw connections. You can add to your bag of memory smiles by understanding jests from another language. And, watch as your explanation of g-rated slang to a non-native speaker is suddenly understood. Yummy gummy on both sides.

'Like water for chocolate' is a Spanish saying that relates to love and passion. As an English speaker, I only know this because a Mexican explained it to me. I'm glad he did--I love that phrase. Can't you just feel the water simmering as it waits anxiously to be mixed with the cacao beans? The new thoughts of brewing love is exciting.

A German exchange student used the expression 'the person who does not value the penny, does not deserve the pound'. I understood the superficial meaning, but a few words of deeper explanation from him, really made the punch. Now I think about that each time I pick up a penny. And, of course, I had to know that the pound is an object of money in Europe, not a weight value as in the States.

Oh, and I remember the incredible confusion, and finally laughter, when a British friend asked me how my 'tricks' were. I had to explain that the American meaning is the actions taken by prostitutes to get their money. On her English side, it means 'how are things going with you?'. A tad bit of a difference. But an extremely funny one.

When we crawl out from behind our bubbles of same view, shared history friends, we widen our cracking up platform. It adds fun to the goal of world peace. Takes a bit more work, may mean getting out of our comfort zone. But worth the damned hilarious work.

Damned hilarious debut novel of mine:

Click to purchase

Read it, laugh, translate to everyone.

Dolphin Divine,

Laughing with international, jet-setting dolphins

P.S. Any persons out there living on a tropical island, wanting to learn U.S. jokes, feel free to fly me out to your warm sands. I'll supply the chocolates and show you how to appreciate chewy caramels. All in an effort to promote world peace, of course.

A Slap To The Marriage Skeptic

Anyone wondering if love still exists should have gone with me to Scrib Vineyards Saturday night. You would have seen my second cousin declaring life-time commitment to her friend, laughing companion and main squeeze. With the first married kiss, your doubts would have melted into the one-hundred degree temperature of the day.

As part of the group of cynics who hold the origins of marriage to extracting money from puppy loving, romantics, even I was convinced. They chipped away at my view of decades of gluing yourself to one person as barbaric, questionable behavior. I mean, what if the other person decides to become a Rock Star and leaves you for a Movie Star? Although, the alimony you'd get could compensate for the loss.

What stems out of this acknowledgement that an entire, dragging life could be spent loving the same person every single damned day? If one couple could do such a dramatic, all-endurance iron-couple feat such as wedded happiness, than joy is possible. Even a life time of it.

Of all the difficulties we face, human relations are among the biggest daily hurdle. At least the ones beyond a dropper full of easy talk regarding weather, movies and celebrity gossip. And if you want to spend decades with the same person, be ready to share icky stuff like what you are hiding from the outside world, how you look in the morning, pre-shower, and the ultra embarrassing health stuff you don't dare tell Mom about. It's all cranked into the marriage vows.

There are two different kinds of marriages: Wanting someone to grow old with, and wanting someone to grow with. That single word of old, is the litmus test for considering a partner in life time pledges. Neither is better than the other. But if you don't both want the same type, consider this the elephant in the room of marital bliss.

Being on the fence of marriage, I will refrain from further advice.

But even if I am not jumping onto the contract papering of love for a lifetime, I do believe that peace with a partner is something to be sought after.

Appreciate a bit of young love? Here's an adventure with paranormal teens, rebelling from an overly polite, restricted society:

Pre-teen novel for exciting summer read

Dolphin Divine,

All love is good

Abundant Toilet Bridge

 The bridge to abundance is being thankful

When I first heard that quote, I was struck with the straight forward simplicity. But the more I have meddled, meditated,and messed with it, I've discovered more depth than lurks behind the eyes of our sweet puppies.

Oodles of being thankful times are planted smack on that which you already have. And just as a magician pulls a bunny from his hat, you will pull out revelations of self abundance. A Grateful Bridge that U-turns back to your loving heart.

Double Whammie: when you're feeling joy from your list of thankfuls, the Universe wants to give you more of it.  The Universe likes you like that. It is a scout ever on patrol for treats that bring you joy. Did you know that? This doesn't just work for a select group of goodie-two-shoes, but applies to all of human kind. Yowza.

Universal math equation: Feel joy = Receive more joy

In our move to Costa Rica, many years ago, I found myself sick and homesick. No cell phones back then. E-mail use unavailable to me. No safety net to catch us should we fail at this journey. I became so sick, I can remember crawling to the bathroom toilet to vomit. On that long crawl, I knew this was not the negative space I wanted to be in. But how could I change what was going on around me?

It was hovering over the non-delightful toilet that I thought of being thankful for what I did have. No doubt, some ex-plumber spiritual guide whispered that epiphany to me. So I began the art of being thankful.

I was thankful for my boys, my breath (albeit stinky from vomit), indoor plumbing and salted Costa Rican plantain chips. Rivers, howler monkeys and jungles that reached the warm ocean water. That owl in our front yard tree who watched us when we drove in at night. Fresh fish we bought from the fisherman as they came ashore in their two-person boats. Coconuts local boys chopped down with machetes. Sand for castle making at the beach. I never became evolved enough to be thankful for the ticks, cockroaches or mosquitoes. I can only do so much in one life time.

It was also then that I coaxed our family to to saying thank you at every meal. Before bedtime, the boys and I said one thing we were thankful for from the day. A big hope of mine is that they'll remember our thanking traditions. I'll be one happy grandmother if they pass it on to their own kids.

Life got better. It filled with color once again. Being thankful became my way of climbing out of the sandpit of sadness and despair, whenever it should try and trap me again.

Back to the original quote, being thankful can also bring out your financial abundance. Train your thoughts to focus on your blessings. Kiss the stars for every cent in your piggy bank, every bill you're able to pay, the stuff that you threw down the money for within your home and on your back. Your money trail is endless. Hurl out gratitude for every purchase, past and present. It will boomerang back to you with more force than your arm could ever muster.

Abundance comes in many forms. If a joyful, peaceful life is what you long for, be thankful for what you already have.

I am thankful for the joy of having been a massage therapist. Three books from my fourteen years of experience are for sale. I am thankful for every purchase:

Massage books that brought me joy in writing them for you

Dolphin Divine,

Abundant Bridge Crosser

Ghostly Waiters

Who will be waiting for you on the other side? What ancestors are lurking about? Old friends hiding in the wings? And what about pets? Surely they have been wagging tails or swimming in circles in anticipation.

Do you think it is too soon to be dwelling on such morbid boding's? Actually, it's not. Because these are the beings who are watching over you now. They are the hovering helicopter of the spiritual world. Don't freak out and try to obtain a Restraining Order--even though they could be tracking your social e-networks. These are the Unconditional Love Doctors. Always around when you need them.

Yes, that can sound invasive. I suppose you could ask them to turn away while you shower or plop your butt on the toilet. But you're the only one who would care about that. In their state of being, judgment is not part of their psyche. They are here to help, not to call nasty names or cast stones.

Want feed back on a new love interest? Ask that Great Aunt who was the cat's meow in her day. Thinking which class to take for career betterment? Probe that old friend who knew all about job opportunities. Have a deep spiritual question? Angels are the know-it-alls.

When you ask for guidance, the answers will come. But there is much background noise around you. You want to be certain they can hear you. Be quiet. Ask so they hear you. Write in a journal, read it out loud, focus on the question. Go within for guidance.

Answers may not come as expected. Look for signs, clues, and a book smashing on your head that tells all you wanted to know.

Those loving support caregivers are not just your own personal Google fact finder. They're great stress management coaches as well. Feeling overburdened with stuff? Whip that stress from your shoulders and lay it at their feet. Someone will be right there with broom and dust pan to wipe your slate clean. Cleanse your outlook and see the world as it should be: bright, beautiful, and aiming to please.

Be sure to thank your hosts.

But let me slow down a minute and give some social faux pas guidance. Yes, ancestors are around to help you. But, they do have their own 'lives' to live. Some of my best guides have already moved on to their next life time. Take, for instance, my grandfather. I'm not sure what he is up to, but I know he has moved on. At least at one level.

In the world of spirits, we're not the know everything earthlings. We have limited knowledge of the post-body mysteries. What I do know, is that he has moved on to something new. But, at the same time, he is able to come to my side when I'm in need of his strength and wisdom. We all operate at more than one level. Parallel lives, earth bodies, other worlds, We're all over the place like a plate of over soft jello.

Don't worry about trying to figure it all out. You would be a kitten chasing your tail. Suffice to say that when the need comes for guidance, help, or comfort, those once connected to you in this world will rush to your aid.

Be respectful of their time. Don't call to ask which kind of wine is best for risotta, or which outfit will get you the dream job. Call when you are wondering where to move, if you should marry your sweet heart, how to help your sick child. It's the Big Whammie stuff that's the time to use your cell phone to clouds in heaven.

Play nice with everyone you meet. When you pass on, you want to be on good terms with your collection of known passersby. Just kidding. We all know they are in a state of Unconditional Love. No worries for making mistakes. They're loving you even when you're a jerk.

At some level, we are all loving each other. It's just that on earth, we tend to forget that.

As I don't want to be a spoiler, here's a book that may be dealing with a subject covered in this blog:

Empowering book of 3" brave girl:

Thank your spirit support group for hanging out, they love to feel appreciated.

Dolphin Divine, 

Loving my groupies