♥

It's no secret that I ♥ Paulo Coelho. ;) The inspirational word the comes through this man are awesome. He echos wisdom from eons ago (very similar to my big crush Kahlil Gibran ♥). Mr. Coelho writes obvious Truths so brilliantly it produces goosebumps, it's an Aha!- and But-Of-Course-moment all in one. :)

With that said I obviously ;) follow his blog, twitter and facebook and this morning I read last night's status update,

Love is joy.
Don't convince yourself that suffering is part of it.

!!! :D :D :D What did I just tell you?! :D Smiiiile of recognition at the notion of an obvious Truth. Beauty.

Love&Light,

Svartbäcken, part IV

Saturday continued:
After having our dinner, in silence, we gathered again at 7 to discuss the Quaker way of making decisions (i.e. Meeting for Business (I think!)) and the discussion was very interesting. Lots of questions answered... more questions beginning to grow forth and a huge interest in wanting to learn more...! :)

It was probably around 9ish when we wrapped things up again for the evening, but with thoughts racing in my head it took a while to settle and I guess I was asleep about 11ish.

Sunday:
Breakfast 8 - 9, in silence. :) Afterwards we had some time to get our things packed and room organised.

9.30ish we again gathered for Worship Sharing to round up our experience of the last few days.
What had we come to realise/gained from the Days for Learning?
What, if anything, would/could we leave behind?

My thoughts were (and still are) that I feel that I'm on the Right Path (for me!), whatever that Path might end up being... Quaker or not! :) And, I feel that I'm more...secure, in me, I will (hopefully) trust myself more from now on. I feel I've left (some of all my) Doubt behind and that I've gained Trust...

This is were we 'should' have finished for the weekend, well, after Meeting and lunch that is... :) but we were honoured with the visit of 3 more very experienced Friends so before Meeting we got to quiz them too with whatever questions we might still have unanswered...or...wanted yet another 3 points of view on! ;) :)

Meeting was...good. Words more abundant than perhaps 'usual' but it was still goosebump worthy ministry.

Then, lunch with lots of talking and a feeling of not wanting it all to end...! Yet, I started missing my little folk and it was Time to go, to head home. :) We, same group we were when we came, got into the car and headed south again just after 2 and I was Home at 8...! The journey home always feels longer doesn't it? It was not as chatty as on Friday, yet it was far from silent...more snoring ;) going on maybe but it was a gooood journey home. :)

My head, and yours too probably (!) *blushing*, is sort of spinning from trying to write it all down, reliving and remembering the awsomeness that this weekend was...! :D I feel like I might have missed essential stuff, I had a lovely walk with L.B. and really rewarding chat with J.R. and...probably lots more...!! :)

I'm going to let things chill a little, perhaps air some thoughts with my soul sister... and then I'll be back with some more reflections and photos of this beautiful, somewhat distant, place - now so very close to my heart.

Love&Light,

Happy 1st anniversary!

I want to wish Hay Quaker Blog a Very Happy 1st Anniversary with a big Thank You! :)
...for doing that thing with words that is soooo awesome...! :) The 'magic' that happens - the right words at the right time, the lifting and encouragement and hope that words can bring. Thank you, for posting things that has made me re-think and re-evaluate my own thoughts or confirm ideas that I've not yet settled into... :)

Thank you for a GREAT blog!

Love&Light,

I am a rare limited edition!

:) :) :)

A friend posted this statement on his facebookstatus the other day and I just loooove it! :D Imagine what Life would be like and how we would treat ourselves and each other if we truly realised that we are all rare limited editions... ♥

And! As you see got inspired to do a polyvore set too! :) (it's been a while!) If you feel inclined you're more than welcome to spread the word and copy the image to go along with a post. :)

Love&Light,

So, here I go...

I promise to love, honour and respect myself, so that I may be the best person I can be for those who I love and who love me in return.

By treating myself with kindness and compassion I stand as an example to others

(most importantly to my children)

of how they too can, and should, consider and treat themselves and others. We should not allow anyone, least ourselves, to put us down or dull our shine.

In the vast Universe there is only one of me

 and I am better than I hold myself to be.

From now on I will treat myself as I as well as I would want others to treat me, with love.

Love&Light,

Would you take the pledge with me...for you?

More than words...

'I'm sorry.'
'I want to be better.'
'I love you.'
'You mean everything to me.'

Wonderful words aren't they? But. What does 'I'm sorry.' mean? What does 'sorry', 'love' and 'better' mean if there isn't an action and intent behind them? What does 'love' mean if you can't feel it?

I'm of the opinion that when one says 'sorry' there should be a thought, an action, behind it too. An intention of trying to correct what went wrong, whether it was bumping into someone in the street (i.e. I'll try better to look out for other pedestrians) or hurting someones feelings (i.e. I'm going to try to be more careful with my words/actions).

A 'sorry' without that intent is just empty words, and I can't stand empty words...! An empty 'sorry' will only cause more hurt and more bumping into people. Why say 'sorry' if you have no intention of at least trying to changes the mistake(s) made...?
You have to be sorry, if you say you're sorry.

Be the words you speak.
Be the intention behind your words!

The same thing goes with 'I love you'. It must be one of the most wonderful things to say to, and hear from, friends and family...but...it too can be empty. Don't say you love me if you don't intend to act towards me with love. If you act with love, in love, then the words no longer need to be spoken. The feeling of love will be felt. The same goes with 'sorry', if you truly mean you're sorry and act like you have understood the hurt caused then sorry will be understood, felt, and the words are rendered unnecessary.

Be love.
Be sorry...

Sure, it's always nice to hear the words too! :) But! The important thing is the feeling of being loved, respected and most importantly seen.

Because I believe that is was everyone longs for, to be seen. See the people you talk to, whether it be a stranger on the street or a loved one at home. See them and make them feel the words you speak...and always, always, try to speak with love.


Talking/thinking about this made me think of this 'old' song.
Extreme - More Than Words

My One Word for 2011

As you know I was initially a bit little apprehensive about this. Mainly because I know 2011 is going to be a year of change in my life and I didn't want to 'jinx it' the "wrong" way... Change is good, necessary even, it's just that I'd like to, if I can, skip any detours that a 'wrong' word would lead me on. ;)

Not sure if I should mention the words that came to me that I didn't choose...? Well, there was a few before the 'right one' hit me. :) The first words were of the type that I was concerned about...from an emotional origin rather than one of progress and growth... (wondering if I'm making too big of a deal about this!)

The word I chose I've been 'tasting' for the better part of the week, thinking about what it means to me and what I'd like for it to bring. Its versatility really appealed to me. Its content is both emotional, physical and spiritual.
This is my word for 2011:


Light - Illuminated (aglow, bright, clear, radiant)
- Not heavy (agile, graceful, slender)
- Content (mild. moderate, modest)
- Simple, easy (effortless, smooth)
- Funny, cheery (lighthearted)
- Luminescence from sun or other source (glimmer, glow, shine)
(read more on http://www.yourdictionary.com/light )
In bold you have what the word Light means to me, what I want to focus on and what I hope it'll to bring in the coming year.

Here's for a Light(er) 2011!

Can't wait to read Cora's word...! :) My Friday arrives a bit sooner than hers and I wanted to post this before the weekend "madness" began. :)

One Word for 2011?

There's a few, perhaps a lot, of blogs (see Cora, DMG, AliE etc.) writing about using a word to shape, lead and perhaps guide you through the year.

I first read about this over at Cora's blog and my initial reaction was...divided. :) I thought it sounded like a fun, interesting and different idea instead of the usual new years resolutions (that I've never really understood or ever managed to keep! ;)). On the other hand I was a bit hesitant of/if I dared to join in too, 'cause I feel that words are so powerful. If one chooses the 'wrong' word and charges it with all ones possibilities of the coming year it might not be such a fun, interesting and positive but rather negative and...wrong... :/ or...? In just reading through Cora's post I had a handful ok-words-that-could-turn-'bad'...but...I might just be taking it too seriously too...? :)

And! :) Being a lover of words I am intrigued by this idea and also aware that choosing the word must be allowed to take some time. It is the intention you have with the word you choose that determines the outcome...positively or negatively charged... Yes? :)
Cora will give herself, and us who'll join her, a week to think about it. I'll do the same, let the idea settle and then decide if I'll join in and with what word.

Choosing the Path

Again, from Mr. Coelho.

Choosing the Path “I am willing to give up everything”, said the prince to the master. “Please accept me as your disciple.”

“How does a man choose his path?” asked the master.

“Through sacrifice,” answered the prince. “A path which demands sacrifice, is a true path.”

The master bumped into some shelves. A precious vase fell, and the prince threw himself down in order to grab hold of it. He fell badly and broke his arm, but managed to save the vase.

“What is the greater sacrifice: to watch the vase smash, or break one’s arm in order to save it?” asked the master.

“I do not know,” said the prince.

“Then how can you guide your choice for sacrifice? The true path is chosen by our ability to love it, not to suffer for it.”

To Make This Life Worth While

I LOVE words, I dream of being an artist of words but... *blushing* I'm not a big fan of poetry, I most often find it too hard and too difficult. :/ Most other type of writing is "better", easier...to the point even if it's long...! :) Poetry is, a lot of the time, a bunch of fancy words, hidden meanings and too weird to have the heart that I find in other writing...

But! :D There are of course exceptions to this preconception of mine! ;) Sometimes poetry is bursting with heart, truth and beauty that no in no other way could be shared but in the poetic form...

To Make This Life Worth While
~ George Eliot

May every soul that touches mine-
Be it the slightest contact-
Get therefrom some good;

Some little grace; one kindly thought;
One aspiration yet unfelt;

One bit of courage
For the darkening sky;

One gleam of faith
To brave the thickening ills of life;

One glimpse of brighter skies
Beyond the gathering mists-

To make this life worthwhile