34 Comments
Oct 13Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

Beautiful post, Mary. Your word 'home' that keeps recurring touches me deeply. That is what's missing, isn't it? There's something profoundly 'not at home' in our current situation.

I woke up thinking about your comment on my miracle post that they happen more and more when you notice them. I was thinking 'watch what you wish for.' If there had been no hurricane, if you or your house had never been in danger, even if you'd had a full tank of gas, that wouldn't have been a miracle. It takes things going wrong and getting you to that point of adrenaline overload for the miracle to happen.

And maybe that keeps ramping up because the little things aren't enough to convince us to be calm and welcome the big things. That's why I'm paying fierce attention to the little ones! No big lessons needed, spirit! Ya hear me?

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This is a fascinating concept, Tereza. I wonder if it's really person-specific, as in... I've noticed in my own life that the more open I am, the more calm, the more present to every moment, the more I experience what I would consider "miracles:" synchronicities and serendipities. As chaotic as the evacuation was, I was uncharacteristically peaceful within it. I was moving swiftly, for sure, but there was no adrenaline overload here. But maybe that's how miracles work for me?!

I do understand that the lack of hurricane and its concomitant dangers would have cancelled the miracles I witnessed, so there is that... but maybe the little things are training our "miracle muscles," as it were, so that when the big things come -- and we all experience big things at some point in our lives -- we will be strong enough to handle them.

Thanks for this thought-provoking comment, Tereza, as usual!! xox

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Oct 14Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

Yes, you really refined my concept here, Mary. And it's such a tricky thing to tease out. When I look at concepts like the Law of Attraction and Prosperity Consciousness and Positive Thinking, in their simplistic forms, they lend themselves to blaming the victims. 'If you're poor, it's because you're not BELIEVING hard enough.' I've seen Course folks blaming their spouses for 'choosing' their cancer. There's something true but also nuanced there.

So are Tonika's cancer and Michael's death miracles or things that could have been averted with a different spiritual outlook? Here's how I'm thinking about it. The things that happen have to happen, because this is our dream and God can't override our will. But spirit can choreograph the dream.

Someone needed to be the example of how to do cancer right. How to respond with joy and strength and trust--but not in the twisted 'healthcare' system. Maybe in some pre-birth state, Tonika chose to be that model that will change things for thousands of people to come. I certainly couldn't think of anyone better with that trust-fall.

And maybe Michael's lifespan was set before his birth and Margaret made a choice that she would go through the loss in order to have this extraordinary person in her life, with their extraordinary relationship, for the time alloted. An act of courage and trust.

And you, living in the miracle on the daily, chose to almost-move to places now devastated, so you could convey how wrong and unnatural this is. And could have the experience of calm in the midst of evacuation and dwindling gas in the tank and the stations. You've been practicing that trust-fall for a long time.

Veronica tells me that it's the near-misses that still bring on panic, more than anything that actually happened. Things like almost losing a kid or two or three. It's like I feel I used up my share of luck. But it doesn't work that way. And I can't feel like I was blessed without feeling like God is unfair. So 'what if we'd moved to WNC?' is a near-miss that gives you compassion and insight, but being there wasn't the role you've chosen to play.

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It's such a brain-bender. Everything that you've posited seems totally plausible; I'm nodding along with you. Ah, there's nothing quite like speculating on the impossible-to-know! In the end, we all believe what serves us best and (hopefully) enjoy batting around these beliefs with one another... xox

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Oct 13Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

....my brother just moved to Sarasota last week,

he and his wife are safe, but their new house is seriously damaged.

He has little choice but to rebuild, though the insurance

companies will probably balk at so many payouts.

I still worry for the safety of the extended portion of Florida or any similar peninsula.

People are gradually staring to understand how VERY much

their own governments want them dead, though accepting this is

quite difficult; it was a hurdle for me, initially. It's nothing personal,

they might say, just to balance the books. Never forget.

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Oh jacquelyn, I'm sorry to hear about your brother and his wife. I hope he's able to rebuild without suffering too much financially.

It was a hurdle for me, too. Thanks for the comment.

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Oct 13Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

I love this, Mary. When you wrote the part about parents at an Easter Egg Hunt watching their child blow past every egg lying right out in the open, it brought back a very sweet memory for me from 50 years ago of our oldest son. Visuals help me to grasp meaning and that description really did. And as I read I kept wondering, who are "they"? But I digress, lol. Luckily for us, the universe is very patient and forgiving affording us numerous opportunities to finally read the writing on the wall. Thanks though for this reminder to pay closer attention, as Cathy Whelehan commented.

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Thanks, Rocket. Somewhere in one of my storage facilities (yes, I have multiple 🙄) I have a picture of my oldest son at 7 or 8, looking down at the ground, with an egg at eye level right next to him. It's priceless. Wished I could've included it!

Who are they? I'm curious what you think...😊

Cathy W is a soul-sister of mine from way back. She co-runs an organization called BeLovedNow that helped me so much: https://belovednow.org/

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Oct 15Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

Mary, "Who ARE "they?" " Indeed! I went back and reread your poem and off the top of my head I decided that "they" are most likely one's spiritual guides (whoever they are), our guardian angels, ancestors, one's soul, IDK. Then I did a search and found an article which said that we each have a "spiritual guidance squad". I had no idea. I only just within the last year started communicating with my soul, thanks to 'you know who', but I need to be constantly reminded to do so. Anyway, in my search I found this article right off the bat and I thought it was pretty good for starters. https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/who-is-on-your-spiritual-guidance-squad Thanks a lot for your comment above. I would have just continued to "blow past" all the other signs that were written in your poem, and only take away that one memory of my son. EEww! I can be so dense sometimes! LOL

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You are the furthest thing from dense!

Great article. Pretty much covers all the bases... xox

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Oct 13Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

Shaking their head perhaps, but ultimately having a jolly good laugh at our fumblings and bumblings as well.

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Absolutely!

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Oct 13Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

I can relate to your anxiety and feelings returning home. I lived in S Fla for 18 years. I’m now in W NC dealing with forest debris but no significant damage. Alicen Grey did a series on her experiences in Asheville. Sorry can’t find link due to wonky cell service. But she drew connections Helena as the deity Hurican. The odd sense of multi-dimensionality and necessity for some to experience this chaos. Something I can fully identify with although for my own path. I did copy this:

Huracán is a goddess of revelation.

She reveals people’s true character.

She reveals what was really important.

She reveals unresolved issues, spiritual blind spots, and so much more.

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Thanks for your comment, Mike, and I'm glad you're safe and sound.

I love Alicen Grey, and will read that post -- it got lost in my shuffle. She's ON IT, in so many ways. Best to you.

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Oct 13Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

Congratulations and remember, it's no accident.

We are creating it all. The things we like and the things we don't.

"Blowing past the Easter Eggs...", brilliant and perfect.

But we are get better at the noticing, yes? That burgeoning awareness?

Great news!

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Yes, I believe we are!

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Oct 13Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

Happy Sunday Mary and happy Home. 🙏. May we all keep

Paying attention and stay awake to the many signs, listening to the love and truth within.

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Amen to that, Cath, and thanks for the homecoming welcome ❤️

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Oct 13Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

This one hit me! As your writing often does. I just a minute or two before reading your post made a decision to follow a gut feeling or “sign” on something that was uncomfortable for me to do.

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Those are the tricky ones, no? Far easier to follow intuition and signs when they point us to actions that feel good, or that gather praise.

Glad it hit you! 😁

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Oct 13Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

Wait there is a path where I can get some praise? Sign me up, lol.

Seriously on reflection the hard part is when you know you need to do something that runs against what you believe or have been taught. Its the cognitive dissonance that creates struggle.. which raises another topic.. all the unhelpful and untrue things we have to unlearn, to dissipate the struggling.

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YES. It's tremendously challenging. At least we question our beliefs! And are aware that many of the beliefs we carry CAN be unlearned. That's a major win.

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Oct 13Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

Thank you for the blessing of your poem Mary. And continued prayers for safety and path finding and following💛☀️

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Thank you, elle. May we all find and follow our paths... xox

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Oct 13Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

Very happy for you Mary.!

I also believe that 'those who watch', and no doubt at times roll their eyes, want us to work out what it is to truly be ourselves.

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Exactly. Well said!

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Nov 20Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

I too keep "...loving and hoping I'll finally navigate this crazy world..."

Yet sometimes I wonder if the effects of waiting for the other shoe to drop this past 5 years, along with my broken heart, has caused permanent damage to my compass and gyro. Yes indeed, when my eyes and all the other bits of human senses deceive and fail me, and faith flees my grasp, 'blessed signs' do guide me from the Infinite within.

Blessings to you, Mary.

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Love the way you put it, James: "'blessed signs' do guide me from the Infinite within." That's beautiful.

Thank you; blessings in return! ❤️

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Oct 14Liked by Mary Poindexter McLaughlin

Great news, Mary. I'm happy your home came away from the recent bout of hurricanitis relatively unscathed...

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"I keep referring to

as freedom, but

might as well be home"

Loved this. Yes it may be the same thing.

Lovely, Mary. So glad all is well.

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Thanks, Kathleen. xox

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glad you an' yers are 100% a-ok an' the home came out... "swimmin'ly!" ;-)

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/33565959697831802/

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Thanks, Daisy! Oh that carrot! 😂

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Oh my goodness, I missed this somehow...and I see that you've already posted again. Where are the days/weeks/years going? I loved this so much, Mary. I listened to your recording this time - you have such a rich reading voice. :)

I laugh at myself all the time because I don't pay very good attention sometimes (often.) I feel like the signs come though, when I'm not paying attention to the things I think I should be paying attention to. This probably makes no sense. What I mean is that the signs almost always come to me when I'm not paying attention. Usually out in the woods. Ok now I'm rambling. I'm rushing to get back outside. :)

Loved the Easter egg analogy....that would have been me as a child. And still! XOXO

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