The Dance of a Thousand Hands

 VISUALLY STUNNING!!!

Incredible Choreography

All of the performers featured in this video are deaf
The Story of the dance is below the video

Just as an experiment
You might keep your focus on the face of the girl in front

I recommend viewing this video full-screen

The Dance of a Thousand Hands

YouTube Direct Link: https://youtu.be/Yk5eCbMzetU

(runtime 6 minutes)

~*~

The Story Behind this Dance:

"Guanyin, the Chinese Goddess of Mercy

(aka Avalokitesvara)

Guanyin is the bodhisattva of compassion as venerated by Chinese Buddhists. The name Guanyin is short for Guanshiyin, which means "Observing the Sounds or Cries of the World". Guanyin is also revered by Chinese Taoists as an Immortal.

One Buddhist legend... presents Guanyin as vowing to never rest until she had freed all sentient beings from suffering. Despite strenuous effort, she realized that there were still many unhappy beings yet to be saved. After struggling to comprehend the needs of so many, her head split into eleven pieces. The Buddha Amitabha, upon seeing her plight, gave her eleven heads to help her hear the cries of those who are suffering. Upon hearing these cries and comprehending them, Guanyin attempted to reach out to all those who needed aid, but found that her two arms shattered into pieces. Once more, Amitabha came to her aid and appointed her a thousand arms to let her reach out to those in need." (Source)

Commercial Break

this post brought to you by Peace & Love

DALEY LIFE: Never Felt So Bronzed!

Tom makes some very funny comments in this video.

Really nice video work of his diving and workouts
Catch Tom's antics when the tanks go by
I almost missed it

I recommend FULL-SCREEN
: )

Tom Daley

Never Felt So BRONZED!

YouTube Direct Link: https://youtu.be/7t95GQ3301A

(runtime: 14 minutes)

Naturism and Spirituality

Naturism is Naturally Spiritual

For me, being Naked is the best attire for 

when I pray to God and commune with Nature

No barriers - No hiding

It is the most physically pure state of being

With it comes a pure heart, pure mind, and pure spirit

Here's one of my favorite quotes on Naturism:

"To me being naked is more than just exposing one's body. Being truly naked involves the body as well as the heart, mind, and spirit. It is a communion....becoming one with ourselves, with our fellow human beings, with all of our environment and natural world, and with the universe itself. It is a re-connection to our most basic and primitive selves from which we have managed to leave behind through our evolution and progress. It is real, it is truth, it is genuine. It can be fun, sensual, and even erotic.....but it is so much more and goes so much deeper than that. It is acceptance in its purest form, and it is the casting off of not only our clothes.....but also the fears, anxieties, attitudes, and misconceptions, etc., that we have been trained and forced to carry. Being naked involves the body, mind, heart, and spirit." 

~Unknown

Parting Shot: 052019

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Let's Jump into our new week

Splashing in JOYFUL GRATITUDE!

Sending you Peace and Love

May all go well with you

((((HUGS))))

Welcome my Friend! 051919

Welcome and Namaste, my Friend

Happy Sunday!!!

I am SOOO Grateful you are here

THANK YOU!!!

For visiting our Garden

I really appreciate your comments and E-mails

It really Energizes me

When you let me know you visit

As you know I rarely post on weekends

Because I need some time to go away

Find really cool stuff

To bring back to you 

But

I did want to make sure

We got our Gratitude Journals started off right

We are in day four of our two week experiment
In our Gratitude Journals
We write three good things that happened to us yesterday
And then write a short explanation
As to why they are personally important
The key is to FEEL the gratitude
And
Write in our journals every day

I decided to go electronic with my journal
Here's the app I am using called Journaley
It's an older app - not sure it is around anymore

I hope you will remember your Gratitude Journals today

LOOKIE LOOKIE
Here's what my back fence looks like

And the intoxicating aroma
Brings back memories of childhood
Picking the flowers, pulling out the stamens
And tasting the sweet drop of nectar
I have a very vivid memory of doing this
I was seven years old, spring semester of first grade
School would soon be out
And all us first grade kids were at recess
Hanging out near the fence
Harvesting and tasting the Honeysuckle
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh

I hope you will enjoy your visit

I wish you a most beautiful day

Peace and Love,
Phil

Meditations: 051919

The Sluggard or aka Athlete-Awakening from Sleep

by Lord Frederick Leighton

~*~

Planting Seeds of Compassion

"The mind is like a fertile field. If we contaminate it with the poisons of ignorance, desire, anger, jealousy, and pride, we will inevitably produce poisonous crops. Acting carelessly or harmfully toward others, or working for our own benefit at the expense of others, will only create limitation and suffering. Medicinal seeds—wholesome, virtuous acts of kindness, love, and compassion—will produce the fruits of peace and benefit. Actions that are both positive and negative will produce a mixture of happiness and sadness. This is the principle of karma. Karma originates in the mind. Our thoughts give rise to words and actions, and these have consequences. We cannot plant poisonous seeds and expect edible or medicinal fruit. When we begin to see the negative results of our self-centeredness, we understand why we must carefully choose which seeds to plant. Our future is in our own hands."

~Lama Shenpen Drolma, 

Change of Heart: The Bodhisattva Peace Training of Chagdud Tulku)

~*~

"22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23: gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

~Galatians 5:22-23

DANCE: Jasmine Flowers

Visually Stunning

I saw this group on America's Got Talent

But as usual the evil camera directors

Would not just show the performance

They had to pan to judges and audience

While the group was performing

Grrrrrr

:  )

So I searched and found a video of them

With a good camera director

Hurrah!

"Jasmine Flower performed by Atlanta Professional Dance Academy (known as "Jasmine Flowers" in America's Got Talent 2014) at the 2014 YAGP New York City Finals. This dance won Top 12 Award in Ensembles category. APDA Jasmine was Quarter Finalist of 2014 NBC American Got Talent show and performed at Radio City Music Hall in New York City."

Jasmine Flower

YouTube Direct Link: https://youtu.be/OAubMCrY9E4

Drug Commercial

this post brought to you by GRATITUDE

yep yep yep

I been a sayin'!

(though I don't know how they got the number 25%) 

:  )

Just for Laughs #22

Proverbs 17:22 says,

"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine"

So let's down some medicine laughing

There's a few funny gags in this video

I hope you will enjoy them

Just For Laughs Gags #22

YouTube Direct Link: https://youtu.be/mEAlZlARBrc

Parting Shot: 051919

This always makes me smile

He looks how I feel really stoned 

LOL

Have a HAPPY Day!

I hope something here

Has brightened your day!

((((HUGS))))

Welcome My Friend! 051819

Goooood Saturday to you!

Happy Saturday!!!

WOW!

Been awhile since I've posted on the weekend

It is a nice change of pace for me

I hope it is for you, as well.

The main reason for posting this weekend

Is to remind us

To write in our Daily Gratitude Journals

I've updated the instructions a bit

If you want to read them, here is the link:

Daily Gratitude Journal Instructions

I've asked that we try this for at least TWO weeks

 I do hope you will continue writing in your

DAILY GRATITUDE JOURNAL

If you haven't started

Start Today!

If you missed a day

Pick up where you left off

From what I've read

Keeping a Daily Gratitude Journal

Can be significantly  beneficial to your life

The two keys are:

REALLY FEEL THE GRATITUDE

and

WRITE EACH DAY

I mean, it's not much work

Just

Write Three Good Things that happened yesterday

And give a short explanation as to why

They were personally important to you

And Feel the Gratitude in each thing

That's it

Something so easy and simple

Yet can be significantly beneficial to our lives

I hope you will enjoy your visit

Have a SUPER DUPER SATURDAY, my Friend

Peace and Love to you,

Phil

~*~

Meditations: 051819

by Lilla Cabot Perry

Thanks to our Friend, David, for sending us this beautiful art

~*~

"There is a kindness that dwells deep down in things; it presides everywhere, often in the places we least expect. The world can be harsh and negative, but if we remain generous and patient, kindness inevitably reveals itself. Something deep in the human soul seems to depend on the presence of kindness; something instinctive in us expects it, and once we sense it we are able to trust and open ourselves."

~John O'Donohue

~*~

"There are scores of people waiting for someone just like us to come along; people who will appreciate our compassion, our encouragement, who will need our unique talents. Someone who will live a happier life merely because we took the time to share what we had to give."

~Leo Buscaglia

MUSIC: "It's Gonna Be Okay" by The PianoGuys

INSPIRING HOPE

Story behind the song: 

We've all had that phone call. That email or that message. That conversation. Bad news. We're all struggling with something – a debilitating weakness or illness. Or someone we love is barely holding on. We watch the news. We see the tweets, the Facebook posts...the YouTube comments! We hear about hate, terror, and despair. But just because what sells, what goes "viral," or what gets attention may try to drown out the good in the world, it doesn't mean that goodness is gone. Just because choruses of controversy and scandal shout louder than quiet symphonies of service, it doesn't change the fact that, inside, most of us still genuinely want happiness -- not only for ourselves, but also for our family, our friends, and our fellow human beings. 

Media can make the world look bleak. They've given themselves this job description, in part because there's a darker side on the surface of human nature that feeds on fear and cynicism. But deep down, we are beings of light. And in the end, since darkness is merely the absence of light, light will inevitably overcome dark. 

This is the essence of hope. And the essence of this song. "No matter what you've been through, no matter if you think you're falling apart, it's gonna be okay." 

Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But we believe that someday, somehow, all things will be made right. And as the Psalm says, "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." 

In the meantime, there are so many more things to hope for and to work at while we yearn for the outcome we want so badly – more gratitude for what we have, more love for those we've taken for granted, more faith in ourselves and those we hold dear, and more confidence in a Divine purpose. 

We felt like the best way to spread the message of this song was to supplement our standard classically-influenced instrumental niche with a more pop-driven tune featuring Al's superb vocal skills. 

As Oscar Hammerstein once said, "It is a modern tragedy that despair has so many spokesmen, and hope so few." Please share this song with someone you think might need it today. Thank you!" (ThePianoGuys YouTube)

~*~

The Piano Guys w/ Sir Cliff Richard

"It's Gonna Be Okay"

YouTube Direct Link: https://youtu.be/rOr38bGCZto

JOY! Jason Brown Skates to Riverdance

LET'S FEEL SOME JOY!!!!!!!!

I love scenes like this

It just brightens my day

Sharing in Moments like this
Bring Tears of Joy to my Eyes
And Fills my Heart to Overflowing
I hope you will feel it, too.

Jason Brown

from the

2014 US National Championships

skating to

Riverdance

YouTube Direct Link: https://youtu.be/J61k2XjRryM

Moment of Serenity

Just take a moment

To stare at this beautiful scene

Just Breathe and Let Everything Go

Feel the Peace and Love wash over you

Wishing you a lovely Saturday

Remember your Gratitude Journal today

I hope to see you tomorrow

((((HUGS))))

Welcome My Friend! 051719

photography by Bahman Farzad

Welcome and Namaste, my Friend

Happy PHRIDAY!!!

The Weeeeeeeeeeeeekend is here

Woo Wee

We've got some WONDERFUL Good Stuff today

A Most Wonderful Article about Gratitude
A Most Wonderful Video about Gratitude

A Most Wonderful Song about Gratitude
I actually listened to several songs
To see which song felt the best following today's video
I hope you feel it

Hmm...Wonder what today's Theme is?
:  )

YO!

Breaking News

(energetic music plays dun dun dun)

:  )

I will be posting through the weekend

I want to help us stay on task

And write in our

Gratitude Journals
(for more info on Gratitude Journals click here)

About our Gratitude Journals

I asked that we do them for a week

I'd like to add another week

From my research

It seems that two weeks makes a big difference

I do hope you will join me

So

For the next TWO weeks, 
Each Morning 
(we want these to energize our whole day)

Write down three good things that occurred the day before. 

Then write an explanation of why 

each item was personally important. 

And MOST IMPORTANTLY

Take the time to FEEL the Gratitude

For each of your three good things

The things I've found to share today

Have me on a Gratitude High

WOW! What a High!

All day Yesterday I felt better 

than I have in a long while

My energy levels were up

Even when annoying things happened

I just shrugged them off 

When we are really FEELING Gratitude deeply

We've got it ALL

I felt so much more Love

More Compassion

More Peace

WARNING!

Look out for that Gratitude

You'll be Joyfully Buzzing All Day!

: )

“When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light, for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food, and the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies with yourself." 

~ Tecumseh, Shawnee Chief

~*~

I do hope you will enjoy your visit

I wish you a most Grateful Day
And a 'Phabulous' WeeeeekEnd
I hope to see you tomorrow!

Peace and Love to you, my Friend

Phil

~*~

ART: Henri Matisse

Dance ii (1910) by Henri Matisse 

Henri Émile Benoît Matisse: 31 December 1869 – 3 November 1954) was a French artist, known for both his use of colour and his fluid and original draughtsmanship. He was a draughtsman, printmaker, and sculptor, but is known primarily as a painter.[1] Matisse is commonly regarded, along with Pablo Picasso, as one of the artists who best helped to define the revolutionary developments in the visual arts throughout the opening decades of the twentieth century, responsible for significant developments in painting and sculpture. (Wikipedia)

Gratitude Invites Connection by Tamara Newmoon

:: Gratitude Invites Connection ::

An article by Tamara Newmoon

from her website, Newmoon Speak (link)

Foreword by me: )

Tamara Newmoon's article is a most beautiful description of Gratitude. After reading it, I had to write to her and ask if I could share it with you here. She was most gracious and generous and said I could. We even chatted a little. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to make her acquaintance and explore her wonderful website. I highly recommend visiting her website - especially her blog section. All the links are below her article.

Before we begin, I'd like to take this moment to say, 

"Thank you, Tamara, 

for your generosity and kindness. 

I am very grateful to you."

~*~

:: Gratitude Invites Connection ::

"When I refer to gratitude, 

it’s less about using the words “thank you”, 

and more about feeling them. 

How do we feel thank you? " 

"We all know the importance of gratitude. In the modern mindfulness movement, there are abundant books, articles, and conversations on the importance of gratitude. But, when we look at gratitude at the level of the energy body, what do we see?   Gratitude softens us and opens us to connection. In my practice of psychic readings, there are so many people who are seeking to “see more”, to “feel more connection” with the Divine, to have “more access” to Source and the natural world. People are waking up and are really looking for where to find true connection. What I have found is that gratitude invites connection. When I refer to gratitude, it’s less about using the words “thank you”, and more about feeling them. How do we feel thank you? We feel it by softening into our hearts, by breathing and relaxing our bodies. When we surrender into a space of deep gratitude, we open ourselves to Source, we open ourselves to Earth, we open ourselves to Love. This experience of true gratitude opens our hearts and brings us into a deeper state of compassion and connection to all that is.

The world is in a state of intense turmoil, energies are clashing, and there is much on the line. We have choice. We can sink into the chaos and despair of the turmoil. Or we can rise in a state of immense gratitude and honest connection. Honor the blessings that surround us. Bow to our hardworking bodies. Kiss the earth that carries us. Regardless of our individual circumstances, we all have much to be grateful for." 

By Tamara Newmoon

Link to this article: Gratitude Invites Connetion (link) 

Link to her website: Newmoon Speak Website (link)

Link to her blog: Newmoon Speak Blog (link)

~*~

OH! One more thing

You know me and Tea

She's got some great Tea ideas, too!

"A Good Day: A Gift of Gratitude"

A MUST SEE

Please stop everything 

Turn off your phones

And Watch this Video uninterrupted 

6 minutes of PROFOUND BLISS. 

Life-changing, in its eye-opening truth.

"Watching this amazing little movie, we guarantee you will feel a bit more love in your heart, and love life a little more. If you are feeling depressed, or is finding it difficult to feel positive - which is all of us at some moments - this little movie will heal your heart just a little bit." (YouTube Description)

~*~

YouTube Comments About This Short Film

"This video made me kneel and bow to the amazing gifts I have. I'm beyond blessed to be alive and healthy, with eyes to see and ears to hear the beautiful words this man encapsulated in my heart."

"Best 5 minutes I ever spent on YouTube. Thank you!"

"What a Peaceful and Meaningful reminder to Start the day."

~*~

"A Good Day: A Gift of Gratitude" 

a short film by

Louie Schwartzberg 

narrated by

Brother David Steindl-Rast

YouTube Direct Link: https://youtu.be/4115qFsdWKQ

MUSIC: "Kind and Generous" by Natalie Merchant

Grateful Being Being Grateful

I felt this song went well to follow

Louie Schwartzberg's film, Gratitude

A lovely song expressing Gratitude

I really liked Natalie's intro to the song

"Kind and Generous" 

by

Natalie Merchant

(with intro from VH1 Live, 2005)

YouTube Direct Link: https://youtu.be/LR6PV-Irv7s

Parting Shot: 051719

Happy Dog Happy Dog Happy Dog

Sooooooooooo CUTE!

Looking at this

Gives me a Feel Good Chuckle!

I am very grateful for our pets

So much Love and Affection they Give us

Happy Day Happy Day

Happy PHRIDAY!!!

YO DAWG! REMEMBER

I will be posting over the weekend

I want to encourage us to

Keep writing in our

*****Gratitude Journal*****

So Tune in this 

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeekend

For more good stuff to brighten our day

((((HUGS))))

Welcome, Friends! 051619

Goooooood Morning, Spiritual Garden!

(Or Afternoon or Evening - Depending)

Happy Thor's Day, 

We have a PHABULOUS video from Tom Daley

That David sent to us today

I am soooo Stoked

I am also presenting an idea for us to try

That I am very excited about

I am just so GRATEFUL
FULL OF GRATITUDE

Because YOU are here with me

I do hope

That visiting here

Will Brighten Your Day

Refresh Your Spirit

And

Nourish Your Soul

Please remember

If you have anything 

Music, Quotes, Art, Videos, Ideas

anything

That has been beneficial to your life

Please send them to me to share with us here

Peace and Love to you, my Friend

G R A T I T U D E

Let's Try It!

Gratitude Journal

Let's try writing a Gratitude Journal. Research shows that it can make a very positive difference in our lives. It would be great to get a small notebook to write in or perhaps you have a good app on an electronic device that you use daily. I have two diary apps on my desktop - one called Journaley and another called iDiary. Whatever works best for you is your best choice.

Now, each day - twice a week or whatever pattern works for you, - write down Three Good Things that occurred yesterday. Then write an explanation as to why each item was personally important. It is very important to FEEL each GOOD THING you write down. Allow some time for you to really Feel the Gratitude for each Gift. The more you feel each thing, the more positive energy you will generate within yourself. This is an important key.

Writing in our Gratitude Journal should be one of the first things we do in the morning so that the positive energy from this exercise will flow with us throughout our day. Maybe we do this just as we sit up to get out of bed in the morning. We can have our journals on our night stands ready for us to journal before we even get up. If that time is not good (maybe too groggy), we might schedule doing this when we visit Our Spiritual Garden while we are drinking our morning Tea or Coffee. I think doing this exercise at or near the same time each day will make it easier for us to remember. This is the other important key.

As always and forever - Whatever works best for you is best. I will remind us each day to do this simple, beneficial exercise. 

Let's start right now. I'm excited and can't wait! Let's list and explain three good things that occurred yesterday.

me : ) go

1. I mowed the yard yesterday. It was sunny and beautiful. I shucked off my shirt and it felt so good. I'm grateful for getting a chore done while enjoying a gorgeous spring day. Made me feel sooooo good!

2. I saw a 'phabulous' video from Tom Daley that a Friend sent to me. I'm so grateful to my Friend for thinking of me and sharing with me a video that I really enjoyed. (and He knew it! : )

3. I am so grateful for my Friends. Especially those who have stayed with me on our new blog. Their continued support has meant the world to me. Hearing from them that the things I am posting are things that benefit their lives give me so much joy. I am so grateful to have Close Friends to talk to. So Grateful.

Now YOU Go! : )

Easy! Right?

Something So Simple

Yet can be richly rewarding

If we put our genuine feelings into it

Well I'm pumped for the day

Bring it ON!!!!

:  )