Alignment of a peacock feather
Today is 11-11-11. The eleventh month, the eleventh day, the 2011th year. At 11:11 a.m. this morning we’ll add another slew of elevens to the equation.
Besides being an auspicious and unusual date, what can today mean for us? Some folks are probably predicting dire consequences. You know, the world is going to end. Other folks are saying it’s a lucky day, filled with possibility and positive vibes. Others are mumbling, “What’s the big deal? It’s just some numbers that don’t mean anything!”
Wherever you fall in the spectrum of 11-11-11, it’s helpful to remember that a lot of folks on the planet do believe it’s an auspicious series of numbers.
So we can use that energy of belief which surrounds us to look deep inside at what our deepest heart wants to be or do–and use this day to “seed” our intent.
What is “seeding” our intent? It’s taking a few minutes–or a long time–to see what we want to accomplish and very clearly and mindfully deciding to turn toward that goal.
It can involve prayer.
It can involve journaling–writing down what we want to do, and why this has failed in the past, and what we can do to ensure our success.
This is all about alignment. Aligning internally and externally with what our deepest self (substitute the word “God” if that feels more true) wants us to be doing with our one wild & precious life.
Yesterday I closed my Facebook account, an act which feels so peaceful and freeing and right with my heart. It’s a wonder it took so long to align with what the deepest self wanted! Today, I am turning toward blogging and aligning deeper with what the heart’s energy is nudging.
There is a part of me that wants to write blogs every day. Heck, it would like twice a day, thank you kindly, at times! It could write a blog write now (pun intended) about how you can’t find barbecue sauce without high-fructose corn syrup. How we looked for a week, and all the barbecue sauces are composed of high-fructose corn syrup. Until yesterday we discovered Ken Davis’ secret recipe for Original BBQ Sauce and the main ingredients are water, tomato paste, sugar, vinegar…
As some of you know, I’ve been a fan of stream of consciousness writing for some time. Much of this blog has been written from the stream of consciousness. Just letting the fingers type away and see what they have to say. Not a lot of planning or deciding or research. Just delighting at what the Universe wants to say–or photograph–through Kathy’s fingers or camera.
Lately, however, that has not felt as fulfilling. A deeper alignment wants to happen.
Sometimes, however, it gets a little confusing because I start trying to determine what others want to read or see. I know so-and-so only wants to look at Upper Peninsula photos and news. Others just want nature shots. Others want spiritual blogs. Others want regular blogs. Others think lengthy discourses are boring. Others think I blog too much…
It has always been too easy to feel the energy of others and try to give them what they want to see or hear. This is an easy way to lose center, to lose alignment. I always have to be aware of this tendency and not fall in too deeply.
There are other ways I am not blogging being 100% true to what my deeper heart wants.
Therefore–using this 11-11-11 energy, I am going to re-align and attempt to blog only when my deeper self agrees. Not just offer stream-of-consciousness blogging. Not just blog when I am trying to meet the perceived needs of others. Not blog when I am choosing to blog for less-than-stellar reasons.
Going to listen more truly to what Life wants to say and show…
I am going to attempt to listen more deeply and try to respond more clearly and steadfastly to what my heart wants to do. This may mean less blogs. This may mean a similar number of blogs. This may mean blogs about no high-fructose corn syrup in barbecue sauce.
But what it really means is that I am going to be taking the advice of something deeper than the first thoughts that pop into the mind and spill out onto the keyboard.
Today is 11-11-11.
What weighs heavy on your heart? What wants change in your life? With what can you “seed” your intent today?
Whenever we choose what our heart wants–the exterior world reflects that one small shining decision, too.
(P.S. I am not posting many photos today. That’s one small listening. Besides, it’s time for work!)
(P.S.S. –OK, I’m gettin’ ready for work now honest–this is my 500th post! A good time to re-align, don’t you think?)
Lake Superior Spirit 
Kathy,
If I am hearing your voice, the voice that keeps taking to you, I hear it say, “Kathy write. You desire to write, you are a writer. Be that! How that presents it’s self to you you will know when you are in the midst of your desire, when the muse is dancing on your heart. Your passion is to write.
What others desire for you to write is none of your darn business, if you seek to please people, the one person who may not be pleased is you, your artist, you the writer, you the photographer…
Congratulations on your 500th blog!!
Oh yes, Jeff, I have that one voice that says exactly what you wrote! I have a million voices trying to express themselves, as do we all. The alignment and the integration seem to do with balancing the inner desires. Pleasing others at the disregard of self is NOT the way to go! I am always aware of the part of me that loves to please people, and try to keep that moderated. Sounds like you’ve kept yours moderated, too. (Thank you for the congratulations!)
Kathy, “It’s taking a few minutes–or a long time–to see what we want to accomplish and very clearly and mindfully deciding to turn toward that goal.” YES!
CONGRATULATIONS on your 500th post 🙂
Thank you so much, Laurie! It’s been, mostly, a delightful 500 posts. Blogging has been so much, hasn’t it?
Thank you Kathy! I burst into tears. I’m going off to cry now till I feel better.
Why, Elisa, I have puzzled about your tears on and off all afternoon. What did I say to make you cry, dear? Hopefully they were good tears. Blessings…
Kathy, well done for listening to yourself and following your heart. Love to you today… may you as often as you need follow your bliss.
Yes, Nicole! Let’s follow our bliss wherever it may lead, up hills and down hills, around Gaia, up Twitter, down Facebook…lol. I know you follow your bliss and can almost hear you singing in joy.
Kathy, do what feels right.
Here in Canada, November 11 at 11 am … we gather at Cenotaphs around the country to remember and honour those who fought in wars for freedom and the right to dissent.
We wear red poppies, on our left side, over our hearts in Remembrance.
That is what this day means here in Canada.
Thank you for sharing what November 11th means in Canada, Sybil. I like that your country honors both those who fought for freedom and the right to dissent. That is so cool! (In my last comment, on the last blog, I told you about our Veteran’s Day here in the USA.)
Kathy, today, I re-affirm my intent for healing and I’m open to whatever way it shows up.
Congratulations on your 500th post! Wow!
Hope you have a most excellent day!
I love the energy behind your healing intent, Marianne! I see you whole, healed and happy. Thank you for the congratulations and I also wish your day was spectacular! (OK, it didn’t have to be spectacular. Just perfect for you.)
Oh my! This post had me in such contemplation I just called my cat “Kathy” by accident! (His name is Cedric!)
You ask difficult questions, Kathy. For some I have answers, for some there are answers I cannot share with the world, for some I have no answers.
Hi Cedric–I mean, Karma. (giggle) I do ask difficult questions, don’t I? And really empathize with you about the answers you are keeping close to your heart, and those that you’re holding with “don’t know” energy.
Happy 500th Kathy… and any date which can ‘make’ us feel different about things, make us truly look at what we’re doing and want to realign our attitude is an ok date by me… Whatever you decide to post will be your thoughts and ideas and therefore a part of yourself shared to all who read it… a feeling of open honesty always shines through… and that’s why people come back, again and again… So, more of the same I say… all the best to you and yours … xPenx
It’s an OK date with me, too, Pen! I do try to share open honesty, even when it’s sometimes hard. Part of me gets embarassed sometimes, but it feels more important to share honestly. Oh, and to know when not to share, too. Blessings to you, Pen.
Amen, Kathy. The kind of alignment you refer to is an essential part of, not just good, but great writing–writing from a place deep inside that echoes and resonates with others. That’s where the truest writing happens. Blessings to you on 11-11-11–and every other day, as well.
Peace,
Kathy
Why, Kathy, your comment made me sit still and think quietly about the truth of your words. Yes. YES! To keep following that deep part of ourself where it wants to go. Not getting stuck in cul de sacs of routine and logic. Peace and blessing and gratitude to you, as well.
Well, if that had been your 511th post, it might have meant something. 😉 Now, you keep on writing blog posts and adding your photographs when appropriate. I do hope you will still consider joining in with me and other bloggers crazy requests, too.
I hear you about FB, I only use it to post my blog links these days. A lot of noise on FB. I prefer Google+ instead.
Gosh darn, Scott. You’re right. Why couldn’t I have squeezed in eleven more posts before today??? As for joining you and Karma and a few others in photo contests, we shall see. We shall consult the deeper self with an Eight Ball. If the deeper self agrees, you have a deal. LOL!
I agree that some of the best writing comes from the deep, when you have no control over what you write, it writes itself and all you do is channel the energy. Follow the dream Kathy! I hope you take us along with you!
It’s hard to articulate what my dream of depth is really about, Dawn. I am hoping it becomes clearer. And that it does not throw out the barbecue sauce along the way. lol, little joke, giggling. Up in Houghton now at a coffee shop. It’s a new one called 5th and Elm and it’s on Shelden Ave. It’s busy here this morning and fun to sit here typing and sipping.
I’m glad you’re going to continue blogging 🙂 Don’t worry about what others want to see/read, this is YOUR blog, after all, and you should blog about what YOU want to show us or tell us about.
You are so right, Michaela! I always tell myself that. Just have to convince myself, too. LOL!
Well, I admit that I’m drawn to your stream of conscious writing. It’s unique, and I think it’s your style – but we shall see where you turn now. As for pleasing others, I don’t think that ever works for long – too many of us with too many different opinions and wants. Best to go with your gut, Kathy. It hasn’t failed you yet.
Barb, heck I don’t know anything. Perhaps it’s not the stream of consciousness writing which has to turn to the left through the woods. I’m waiting to see, too. And aren’t you write (tee hee) about how many different opinions and wants there are? It befuddles me! I’m sticking with the gut. Yep. At least trying.
Curiously, Kathy, when I saw your post was about 11.11.2011 I went off to see what might have happened on 11.11.1111. Well, I don’t know about November 11th that year, but I hope nobody had as bad a time as they did that year…
Oh and it’s weird but you said in a previous post (apropos trying to decide about Facebook) that you’d been trying since the middle ages to decide… and here’s this:
The Anglo Saxon Chronicles: 1111 A.D..
What does that mean for us? I don’t know.
I think you’re wise in your decisions about Facebook and now your decision about blogging (follow your heart)… recently I decided to only post twice a week and so far it’s been helping me no end. I have time to devote to other things, more energy. It’s curious that a ‘hobby’ that one should enjoy so much can be so exhausting too.
What an interesting thought–to see what happened on 11-11-1111. You are a genius, Val! I clicked on the link and perused for a while. Interesting. Congratulations about choosing to post only twice a week and sticking to it. My problem is that half of me wants to post 2-3 times a week and the other half wants to post 16 times a week. I have been staying “off computer” for hours each day, though, and that has given more energy and time to devote to other things, too. Sounds like you are following your heart.
Such a good post to ponder, and what do I focus on? The bbq sauce!!! I think (don’t know how often you get down state) that Trader Joes bbq sauce is corn syrup free.
I am laughing right out loud, Tracy! Never mind all this philosophical stuff, let’s concentrate on that bbq sauce. wish there was a Trader Joe’s up here. I always have fun going to there–and Whole Foods–when visiting with the kids in the Cities.
PS. Annie’s Naturals is corn syrup free, dunno how you feel about what else is in it. Just over 3 bucks, though, ketchup, mustard brown sugar, garlic, smidge of blackberry organic jelly, and pepper works too!
They might have Annie’s at the co-op, Elisa, but it’s probably pricey. It’s probably near $4 up here. I’ve made homemade before, that’s a good idea. But never with organic blackberry jelly. I am drooling!
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Congratulations on your 500th blog!! The best questions have no answer, but keep us on our toes as we find our way along our path… I’m partial to stream of conscious writing, in fiction and in blog essays. Yours usually has a healthy dollop of humor, which I look forward to. Chickadee blessings to you, dear friend!
Thank you, Barbara. What a lovely thing to say! Yes, you’ve said something very wise. There may be no “answers” to this…but it’s a lively participation listening to what and where the heart and spirit is directing in the next moment. Chickadee blessings to you, too, and a bluebird blessing added in. 🙂
As usual, I’m playing catch-up on your blog but I’m going to focus on my alignment even though I missed the significance of the 11-11-11 date 😉
I think ANY time is a good time to focus on our alignment, Kath. 11-11-11 just gave us another good excuse! (I love when you play catch-up.)
Hi Kathy,
I’m finally back and catching up on my reading…I’m so happy you are feeling “right” about your decision. Listening to your deeper self is as it should be. Following that lead when blogging is as it should be also. That is what is most appealing about your writing, when you write from the heart.
On 11-11 I spent the day with my Dad and my sister. We celebrated Dad’s 74th birthday with cake, ice cream and coffee. We set everything up and served it to Dad’s neighbors at his building. It was so fun, there was much laughter and a few tears (a resident recently passed away) but hugs and love helped ease the loss. It was such a gift to see Dad interact with his friends. But at the same time there is a quiet loneliness in Dad’s eyes and I know he is just missing Mom so much. He doesn’t complain but I see it. So it is good that we get together with him as often as possible.
Congratulations on your 500th post! Wow! 🙂
Welcome home, Brenda. I feel like I’m finally connecting to where my blogging self wants to go…at least for now…but not sure if it’s going to make any sense to those who read, or even if they’ll be able to tell the difference. I love that you were able to watch your dad interact with his friends. That’s an important slice to see. Hugs…glad to see you back again!
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