Just lovely. We have our loved ones who have passed on around us all the time. If we listen we can hear them or feel them, even sometimes see them. They do what they can to help with warnings, especially. There's way more than this one little life.
I lost my religion at four, seeing my father being buried. Didn't know it at the time. Spent my childhood hoping because when you're that small you need hope. When you're an alter boy, you can't be a hypocrite about it, so I tried hard.
One thing I have come to is that all living creatures understand life is a mystery. Do dogs dream of angels? We humanoids may be more clever, but we're still creatures hoping.
I don't know if dogs do. But I know I once lived in a house where a man died. And my cat would watch something walk through the room. Follow something down the hall. It was the most eerie feeling to watch that. Always gave me shivers
It takes courage to "not know" and yet it's the only place from which anything creative can emerge. Most people want assurance, so they find something to "believe." The amazing lawyer Gerry Spence said: "I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than closed by belief." I myself managed to extricate myself from the tentacles of the Catholic Church to tolerate not knowing and have had some extraordinary experiences that convince me that there is, indeed, a "higher power," but I don't assign gender to it or try to anthropomorphize it. Thanks for a beautifully written reminder. As for angels? For me, there's enough that's miraculous without feathered seraphim. https://patricia191.substack.com/p/f9fe1d97-0a67-4087-b0d8-0e593bfca484
I love what you have written here, and I don’t know if I can return the favor with anything I have written, but Iris DeMent has - have you heard “Let the Mystery Be?”
Relative to my experience they absolutely do. It's not wishful thinking; it's not magical thinking nor some religious belief or any kind of belief or imagining for that matter. And I can even do you one better with a simple test. Sit in meditation for a bit till u calm the fidgets. Then ask for a specific sign of their presence that you designate. It can be anything you choose and then sit back and see what happens. You don't have to fixate on it - just relax and be patient and see what happens. While a personal experience is the most important thing you might enjoy .....https://youtu.be/3r1v1SvJGCA
This is a fantastic piece. A pleasure to read from start to finish. 🪽
And as far as where I stand on the idea of angels, yes, I believe in them (although I don't necessarily believe in the idea of them as presented by pop culture or religion).
Suffice it to say, I've had quite a few experiences similar to the ones you shared in your piece. Enough that I feel sure angels exist. (And so do lots of other beings, but that's a whole other topic.)
I believe in angels. I was visited by one, 20 years ago. His name was Andy and he came to me to tell me that the baby I'd just miscarried would be taken care of in heaven.
Andy was the 9 year old son of a friend who'd passed away from complications of a cancer they thought they'd defeated.
When I was ten, I was suffering. Every joint in my body was throbbing and swollen. Each day doctors met at the end of my bed and talked about my impending death. The aspirin they gave me didn’t touch my pain.
Four in the morning I was in agony, wishing for death when I saw a small light in the corner of the ward. As I watched the light came closer and grew bigger and softer like the light shining through leaves in a forest.
Then it touched my skin and I could feel movement within the light as it cloaked me entirely. I was completely absorbed in the glow that made every hair on my arms stand up and tickled my scalp like water beading on my hair, or entering a steam room.
I’m not sure when I realized I was holding my breath and took a large gulp of air. I thought the words without hearing them.
“ I’m here, give it up when you need to.”
I knew he meant the bone crushing pain and I knew his name was Raphael. I asked my mother if she had any family that died named Raphael. She assured me she didn’t.
Another patient heard my question and after visiting hours she told me that Raphael was an archangel of healing and medicine. As I looked in her eyes I knew that she knew Raphael too.
I never felt as alone after that night. I’ve had many medical challenges in my life and I turn to Raphael in prayer. He never abandons me.
We aren’t made to stay on this earth and some people choose to add to suffering instead of alleviate it. Quite often we’re ignorant of all that exists in the universe around us.
I’ve studied and learned more about other archangels that exist in writing and art. Gabriel, Michael, Uriel, as well as Raphael. There are others including my guardian angels.
In the 11th century Rumi wrote frequently about angels and believed in Jesus, and Mohammed at the same time. Others appeal to the Living Christ and the Living Buddha today. I wish for their spirit to be with us in this world against evil.
I affirm that I need to choose serenity and pray for my higher power to allow the angels to be with me when I live through suffering. It’s the universal in life that ends with death. But, others elevate brutish ways, and destructive forces to sacrifice humanity to their will.
The consequences of all of our choices are represented in the world.
So yes there are consequences to choosing strong man tactics and killing in this world. But, I turn in appeal to the angels in short prayers.
“May the angels of the Lord be with me and help me to perceive what I need to see, and hear what I need hear. May I return home safe suffering no harm, and causing none as well.
I pray for angels to guard me, every time I drive my car.
May the peace of the angels glory be with you Linda. 🙏 Namaste.🌹
Beautiful, Linda, thank you. I agree with Hamlet: "There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy," or anyone's, for that matter. Not knowing is all we can do.
I too have wondered at time where the angels are. Certain people (strangers) at times have seemed like angels. ❤️
Omg, right? Sometimes we don't know the angels. But they know us
❤️❤️❤️
I think they are there- even as we see bad things happening-Restraining evil.
LINDA, you are a beautiful writer and this a magnificent piece. I’m right there with you.
Thank you Melinda. Funny how much we are all the same, despite our many differences, isn't it? :)
We have in common writing, and that’s a very big similarity!
The Great Mystery...
Right? Like Denise said right after you - we'll find out some day. But not today
I think we find out someday, but hopefully not today.
Right? I am in no rush to find out. lol
You can count me among the believers.
So many beautiful stories similar to the one you shared.
Too many In incidents in my own life where I have not been alone.
I agree with that -- too many incidents to count. I could write a whole book and not be done.
Just lovely. We have our loved ones who have passed on around us all the time. If we listen we can hear them or feel them, even sometimes see them. They do what they can to help with warnings, especially. There's way more than this one little life.
I love that -- there's more than this one little life. So much. :)
I lost my religion at four, seeing my father being buried. Didn't know it at the time. Spent my childhood hoping because when you're that small you need hope. When you're an alter boy, you can't be a hypocrite about it, so I tried hard.
One thing I have come to is that all living creatures understand life is a mystery. Do dogs dream of angels? We humanoids may be more clever, but we're still creatures hoping.
I don't know if dogs do. But I know I once lived in a house where a man died. And my cat would watch something walk through the room. Follow something down the hall. It was the most eerie feeling to watch that. Always gave me shivers
Beautifully written. Thank you! And yes, I'd like to believe in angels, but where are they when we desperately need them? ( a rhetorical question...)
I agree Cindy. It's so rhetorical, but that question haunts me a little bit.
It takes courage to "not know" and yet it's the only place from which anything creative can emerge. Most people want assurance, so they find something to "believe." The amazing lawyer Gerry Spence said: "I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than closed by belief." I myself managed to extricate myself from the tentacles of the Catholic Church to tolerate not knowing and have had some extraordinary experiences that convince me that there is, indeed, a "higher power," but I don't assign gender to it or try to anthropomorphize it. Thanks for a beautifully written reminder. As for angels? For me, there's enough that's miraculous without feathered seraphim. https://patricia191.substack.com/p/f9fe1d97-0a67-4087-b0d8-0e593bfca484
Patricia, I love that phrase -- I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than closed by belief. How powerful.
It’s my “sign off” on all my correspondence.
I love what you have written here, and I don’t know if I can return the favor with anything I have written, but Iris DeMent has - have you heard “Let the Mystery Be?”
I have not, Catherine. But I will google it
Relative to my experience they absolutely do. It's not wishful thinking; it's not magical thinking nor some religious belief or any kind of belief or imagining for that matter. And I can even do you one better with a simple test. Sit in meditation for a bit till u calm the fidgets. Then ask for a specific sign of their presence that you designate. It can be anything you choose and then sit back and see what happens. You don't have to fixate on it - just relax and be patient and see what happens. While a personal experience is the most important thing you might enjoy .....https://youtu.be/3r1v1SvJGCA
This is a fantastic piece. A pleasure to read from start to finish. 🪽
And as far as where I stand on the idea of angels, yes, I believe in them (although I don't necessarily believe in the idea of them as presented by pop culture or religion).
Suffice it to say, I've had quite a few experiences similar to the ones you shared in your piece. Enough that I feel sure angels exist. (And so do lots of other beings, but that's a whole other topic.)
I believe in angels. I was visited by one, 20 years ago. His name was Andy and he came to me to tell me that the baby I'd just miscarried would be taken care of in heaven.
Andy was the 9 year old son of a friend who'd passed away from complications of a cancer they thought they'd defeated.
When I was ten, I was suffering. Every joint in my body was throbbing and swollen. Each day doctors met at the end of my bed and talked about my impending death. The aspirin they gave me didn’t touch my pain.
Four in the morning I was in agony, wishing for death when I saw a small light in the corner of the ward. As I watched the light came closer and grew bigger and softer like the light shining through leaves in a forest.
Then it touched my skin and I could feel movement within the light as it cloaked me entirely. I was completely absorbed in the glow that made every hair on my arms stand up and tickled my scalp like water beading on my hair, or entering a steam room.
I’m not sure when I realized I was holding my breath and took a large gulp of air. I thought the words without hearing them.
“ I’m here, give it up when you need to.”
I knew he meant the bone crushing pain and I knew his name was Raphael. I asked my mother if she had any family that died named Raphael. She assured me she didn’t.
Another patient heard my question and after visiting hours she told me that Raphael was an archangel of healing and medicine. As I looked in her eyes I knew that she knew Raphael too.
I never felt as alone after that night. I’ve had many medical challenges in my life and I turn to Raphael in prayer. He never abandons me.
We aren’t made to stay on this earth and some people choose to add to suffering instead of alleviate it. Quite often we’re ignorant of all that exists in the universe around us.
I’ve studied and learned more about other archangels that exist in writing and art. Gabriel, Michael, Uriel, as well as Raphael. There are others including my guardian angels.
In the 11th century Rumi wrote frequently about angels and believed in Jesus, and Mohammed at the same time. Others appeal to the Living Christ and the Living Buddha today. I wish for their spirit to be with us in this world against evil.
I affirm that I need to choose serenity and pray for my higher power to allow the angels to be with me when I live through suffering. It’s the universal in life that ends with death. But, others elevate brutish ways, and destructive forces to sacrifice humanity to their will.
The consequences of all of our choices are represented in the world.
So yes there are consequences to choosing strong man tactics and killing in this world. But, I turn in appeal to the angels in short prayers.
“May the angels of the Lord be with me and help me to perceive what I need to see, and hear what I need hear. May I return home safe suffering no harm, and causing none as well.
I pray for angels to guard me, every time I drive my car.
May the peace of the angels glory be with you Linda. 🙏 Namaste.🌹
Beautiful, Linda, thank you. I agree with Hamlet: "There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy," or anyone's, for that matter. Not knowing is all we can do.
As photographers, we train ourselves to see everything. Maybe that's exactly when we miss the angels.