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Written by Catherine VanWetter
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Monday, 13 July 2009 01:00 |
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 I was working on my computer, when my son told me that a hummingbird had hit the sliding glass door outside my bedroom. He told me that my very eager cat, Annie, quickly retrieved it and brought it into my bedroom. Annie released the bird and when I found it, it was pressed up against one of the windows in my room. I approached it with the intention that I would cause it no harm. I slowly moved towards it and gently took it into my hands. It made a slight noise and allowed me to pick it up. I took it outside and stood for 5 minutes or so holding it in one of my hands. I noticed how it relaxed into my palm and began to breathe, as if it were catching its breath. As I held this tiny little bird I felt a rush of emotion. I had always seen them in flight or hovering as they sipped nectar from a flower. To have one so still, was indeed a gift. I was caught by the beauty and minute detail of this precious little bird. It’s back an emerald green, shimmered in the sunlight. The tiny feathers were outlined in black. Its neck had a tiny patch of crimson shaped in a diamond. Its long slim black beak was about an inch in length. It’s tiny eyes shut for a bit, and as its breath became fuller, I opened my hand and the hummingbird took flight and landed high in a tree branch.
I was left with a feeling of awe, and that I had been blessed with hummingbird medicine. Throughout my trainings, I have embraced the elements of Nature. I notice the different animals that present themselves to me throughout my day and look to the meaning of their visits. It’s interesting, that hummingbird is the spirit animal name that I was given several years ago during a sacred ritual. To have one actually land in my hand, be still, recuperate and fly into the heavens, I took as a blessing.
Hummingbird is a symbol of tireless joy and the nectar of life. It reflects the mystery of cause and affect and can teach us how to extract the nectar or juice of our life. They teach us how to heal our self and open our heart to others. When we open our heart, we become as light as a feather and life becomes rich with the essence of who we are.
The hummingbird is able to explore and embrace the past, thus creating deep healing and a sense of peace. Finding peace is the key to coming to terms with what we have endured and experienced. By consenting to this peace, we are able to fully embrace all of who we are.
As I reflect on all the changes that I am personally going through, having hummingbird visit me is a way to remind myself of all that I have to be grateful for. When I can stay in the moment and embrace my life as a perfect unfolding, regardless of the changing circumstances, I can return to joy. This brings me back to my innate birthright of living a life of peace, love and light.
Life is full of shifting and changing perceptions and attitudes. Hummingbird reminds us to embrace the joy, the sadness, and the fleeting moments of happiness. It’s as if we embrace the full catastrophe of life. This is a Greek term that defines living a life that is full of ever changing emotions and moods. It’s the ability to catch a moment of pure joy, only to collapse the next moment into one of despair. This inner knowingness and wisdom alerts us that within a second the joy we experience may very well shift into another feeling of being. How flexible are you? And how quickly can you come back to center after fully embracing the passing emotion?
With a Grateful and Very Full Heart
Catherine
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Written by Catherine VanWetter
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Wednesday, 13 May 2009 11:00 |
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It’s exciting to see how many folks are turning their passions into home-based businesses. During this time of extraordinary change, while there may be a natural occurrence of perhaps collapsing into fear and anxiety, once this has been resolved, it is the perfect time to begin to explore what brings you passion and renewed energy! What have you always wanted to do, yet because of other responsibilities or commitments you were unable to pursue?
 I had the opportunity this last weekend to have a booth at the Home Bix Expo in Eugene. There were about 25 vendors promoting their home-based businesses. It ranged from the financial advisor, to the candle lady, to the woman who showed folks how to pull memories into an organized photo scrapbook. It was wonderful to see.
I was asked to do a short presentation on my home business and how that inspired me to write and publish my first book and meditation CD, “The Soul of the Heart”. I talked about how our home is often referred to as a metaphor of ourselves. The different rooms or parts of our self that may be disorganized and cluttered to the part of our “home” that we show to the world. When we can “clean” up all parts of our metaphoric home, than we can be at peace and love every part of our precious self.
What I observed is that so many folks are coming home to their hearts and core values. They are independently creating communities and interconnecting themselves to the whole. We live in a period of exciting opportunity through the Internet super highway, and other mediums of social media.
And so I invite you, to look deep within yourself and see what gift or passion you could offer to the world and generate income from.
Here’s how to begin, write a list of all the things you love to do, and that you are good at. Start doing some research in those areas and see if perhaps you can start creating a for- fun business. Take advantage of talking with the small business center at your local college. You may be surprised at what you find and what you are able to generate. Keep me posted!
While our culture is under re-construction things may seem a bit shaky..therefore it is imperative to stay secure within your insecurities.
With a Grateful Heart,
Catherine
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Written by Catherine VanWetter
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Tuesday, 28 April 2009 10:52 |
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I have found that as I settle more into living a heart-centered life, that my surroundings become softer. People’s faces, opposing viewpoints, diversity become more gentle and relaxed. Somehow life begins to look different. Perhaps you can spend a minute, an hour, or a day of your life, leaning into your heart space, allowing the radiance of your heart to spread out into every person or situation that you come in contact with. Notice with gentleness how different your life may begin to look. Here’s how to start. Take a deep full breath and exhale deeply. Focus your attention around the area of your heart and breath in gratitude, appreciation, and love for something, someone, or a memory. Allow your heart to fill up and imagine your beautiful heart energy flowing out of your body and into the world. Notice how folks respond to you when you consciously do this. You may be very surprised with the outcome. It is truly amazing that a simple change of heart changes everything. And it is only one breath away, right underneath your nose.
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