Happy Easter!

     Being a full-service blog, today's topic will be the origin of Easter.  The word Easter comes from the name of a fertility god worshipped by the old English as "Ostara" and the ancient Celts as "Eostre."  Both groups revered the rabbit for its prodigious ability to reproduce.  In fact, the Celtic Eostre was believed to change into an enormous rabbit at the full moon.  Imagine that.

     The Easter egg came from the ancient Egyptians, who equated the egg with the symbol of birth and life.  They believed that the Earth hatched from a (very, very large) egg, and would bury their nobility with eggs in the tombs.  Over time, egg worship spread throughout Europe, and the Europeans would paint or dye their eggs as a means of teaching children about the resurrection of Christ. 

     So, enjoy your Easter, whether you celebrate it for the coming of spring and new life, or for its Christian traditions.  Either way, here's to the renewal of the cycle of life. 

Revisiting an Old Friend

     The other day I found myself staring at my bookshelves, figuring out which book would take its place next to my bedside, since I had just finished another book.  I pulled out an old friend, one that I hadn't looked at for over twenty years, and put its on my bedtime reading pile.  I had forgotten the old-fashioned poetic writing, the luscious descriptions, and the cutting distinctions in its lines, but I did find a quote I thought would be appropriate here.

     From The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran:

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.
Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
 

     Isn't that beautiful?

A Couple of Twin Soul Poems

     These are from Rumi:

During the day I was singing with you.

At night we slept in the same bed.

I was not conscious day or night.

 

I thought I knew who I was,

but I was you.

 

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The minute I heard my first love story

I started looking for you,

not knowing how blind that was.

 

Lovers don't finally meet somewhere.

They are in each other all along.

 

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{translations by Coleman Barks}

Empaths as Harmonizer Souls

     In Destiny of Souls, the author Dr. Michael Newton explains that every soul has a role in the between-life.  Often, this role will play out in the incarnated life as well.  For example, souls he calls Nursery Teachers in the between-life have the duty to train and guide young souls.  In their embodied life, they may become teachers, counselors, or wise relatives.  The soul category that piqued my interest was the one Dr. Newton called Harmonizer Souls.

     In the between-life, Harmonizer Souls have the main duty of restoring disrupted energy on Earth.  In their incarnated form, they may be "statesmen, prophets, inspiration messengers, negotiators, artists, musicians and writers."  Dr. Newton adds, "they are souls who balance the energy of planetary events involving human relationships."  This could be in a public forum, or behind the scenes.  The author adds that they are not necessarily healers in the one-on-one sense, because "Harmonizers function on a larger scale in attempting to diffuse negative energy." 

     I've often thought that when I'm working well as an empath, I can sense a disharmony and then I mentally send positive light toward the people I'm watching.  For example, I was in a store not long ago and I saw a mother and daughter getting in a tense conversation with each other.  I could tell it could get very ugly rather quickly.  I took a deep breath and sent white, calming light toward them, imagining that it was like a cloud of peace that floated around their heads and gradually enveloped both of them.  The tenseness that I had originally felt eased.  They came to some agreement and left. 

     Although Dr. Newton doesn't mention empaths in his books, I'm wondering if our duty is to work as Harmonizers.  If so, will you take the challenge to bring peace to our troubled world?  Let's put our gifts to good use!

A Wonderful Book

     During one of my rare times of being able to sit and read a book in one day, I read Dorothy Gilman's Caravan. What a fabulous book!  If you enjoy something that evokes a sense of mystery, of other cultures, of atmosphere, of yearning, and of a character growing and learning at every turn, this book is for you.  It's not quite a Twin Soul book, but it's close.  I also loved the romantic story and how that ended up.  Of course, anyone who threads quotes from Marcus Aurelius and Shakespeare in her story has my vote.  Pick this up and get lost in a great story!