Dirty Feet

 

"I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet."

~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

Gandhi was a spiritual man full of wisdom and keen insight. What exactly does he mean here?

One of the first practices we learn on the spiritual path is to protect ourselves from the negative influences of the material world. A Hindu tenet is to live in the world but not of the world. In other words, although we have to live, work, love, and function in material society, our minds should be focused on our own spiritual growth. We protect ourselves from the influences of negative energy by wrapping ourselves in a cloak of blue or white light (or some other form of spiritual purity). We eat healthy, wholesome foods. We clear our minds of negative thoughts and accentuate the positive. We practice patience and forgiveness and push those dark feelings of hatred and anger from our hearts. We take care of our bodies in ways that honor and promote LIFE. We avoid hateful, chaotic, negative people. We surround ourselves with beauty, cleanliness, aromatic fragrances, peace, tranquility, and serenity. We remain calm in the face of danger and adversity. We strive to help others. We extend our hands in friendship and kindness. We turn off the noise, the hate, the violence, the chaos, the insanity directed at all of us by the media and loud, angry, hateful people. 

And it does not matter whether we are Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Buddhist, Wiccan, or any other spiritual affiliation. The principles remain the same. Meditation and contemplation; prayer; trusting in a higher power; opening up our minds and hearts to the positive flow of energy; cleansing our minds and hearts of negative thoughts, feelings, and influences; striving to be a constructive force in the world instead of a destructive force; projecting light and a ray of hope in a dark world - all of us have the capability to shine like the brightest star in the night sky. But it takes commitment and work and a sincere belief that we all contain a divine essence inside ourselves.

May the divine spark in you shine brightly!

Dawn Pisturino

July 16, 2022

Copyright 2022 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.

True Religiousness - Albert Einstein

 

 

True Religiousness

by

Albert Einstein

 

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom the emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand wrapped in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed. The insight into the mystery of life, coupled though it be with fear, has also given rise to religion. To know what is impenetrable to us really exists, manifesting itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty, which our dull faculties can comprehend only in their most primitive forms -- this knowledge, this feeling, is at the center of all true religiousness."

 

Despite what many people think, Einstein was NOT an atheist.





Many scientists, studying the heavens and awed by their magnificence, have found God there.

Look up and dream of the possibilities.

 

Dawn Pisturino

June 16, 2018

Copyright 2018 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.

Angel Lore

 

Angels are the guardians of hope and wonder, the keepers of magic and dreams.

 

Angels watch over you wherever you go, keeping each day perfect and promising a bright new tomorrow.

 

The motto of all angels is "it's a wonderful life."

 

Wherever there is love, an angel is flying by.

 

Angels help you carry the ball, carry a tune, carry your weight and carry on!

 

Your guardian angel knows you inside and out and loves you just the way you are.

 

Angels keep the world safe for hummingbirds and butterflies and rainbows in spring.

 

Angels keep it simple and always travel light.

 

Angels love whispering secrets and whistling in the dark.

 

Whenever you hear music, an angel is speaking to you.

 

Remember to leave space in your relationships so the angels have room to play.

 

Your guardian angel helps you find a place when you feel there's no place to go.

 

Keep a spare angel in your pocket.

 

Angels carry high-beam lights to help you through the darkest hours.

 

Whenever you feel lonely, a special angel drops in for tea.

 

Angels know that love is the only four letter word.

 

We are always "angels on call" for a friend.

 

Every time you hear a bell, another angel has earned its wings.

 

Angels are with you every step of the way and help you soar with amazing grace.

 

After all, we are angels in training; all we have to do is spread our wings and fly.

 

** Anonymous **

 

 

 

Legend of the Dream Catcher

 

 

from St. Joseph's Indian School, Chamberlain, South Dakota (Lakota Sioux Tribe)

 

"Native Americans of the Great Plains believe the air is filled with both good and bad dreams. Historically, dream catchers were hung in the tipi or lodge and on a baby's cradle board.

 

"According to legend, the good dreams pass through the center hole to the sleeping person. The bad dreams are trapped in the web, where they perish in the light of dawn."

 

Visit their website here: http://www.stjo.org

 

And pleasant dreams!

The Power of Prayer

 

"Prayer is the only means of bringing about orderliness and peace and repose in our daily acts."

This simple statement by Mahatma Gandhi reflects the experience of a man whose faith, values, and dedication to a cause transformed an entire nation.

After the horrific events of 9/11, the people of the United States turned to prayer to find comfort, unity, and meaning in the midst of tragedy.

Since the dawn of civilization, people have prayed to a higher power for health, guidance, forgiveness, gratitude, and transformation.

Prayer fulfills a natural human longing for communion with God. During times of stress, when we are feeling vulnerable and overwhelmed, prayer offers us release, reminds us of our priorities, and restores balance to our lives.

Prayer is an act of love. We pray because we care about our loved ones, our nation, and our world.

It is an act of hope. When we pray, we know we are not alone. We can face our difficulties with renewed strength and courage.

Praying confirms our faith and belief in a higher power. It reinforces our conviction that a spiritual world exists. It helps us to transcend our daily struggles and to find peace inside ourselves.

Many scientific studies have been done on the effects of prayer, but prayer cannot be quantified by science. No conclusive evidence exists to either prove or disprove the effectiveness of prayer. And this is to be expected, for prayer is a very private and individual act of worship.

Researchers have shown, however, that people who consider spiritual activities an important part of their lives tend to live longer, recover from illness more quickly, and deal more effectively with grief.

David B. Larson, MD of the International Center for the Integration of Health and Spirituality summed it up nicely when he reported, "Statistically, God is good for you."

Amen.

Dawn Pisturino, RN
May 12, 2007

Copyright 2007-2013 DawnPisturino. All Rights Reserved.

Navajo Blessing Way Prayer

In beauty may I walk.

All day long may I walk.

Through the returning seasons may I walk.

On the trail marked with pollen may I walk.

With grasshoppers about my feet may I walk.

With dew about my feet may I walk.

With beauty may I walk.

With beauty before me, may I walk.

With beauty behind me, may I walk.

With beauty above me, may I walk.

With beauty below me, may I walk.

With beauty all around me, may I walk.

In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, lively, may I walk.

In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, living again, may I walk.

It is finished in beauty.

It is finished in beauty.