Prayer for Trinidad and Tobago

Yesterday I was looking through my photos and, in coming across this one, decided to post it.

One day when Tresa was here we went to the old church in Tortuga (the oldest wooden church in TT and home of the miraculous Black Virgin) to take some photos. I had been asked by a new magazine (Building TT) to write an article, with images, on the restoration of this landmark. It was a public holiday (Republic Day, 24 September) and the caretaker let us in to scout around and do what we had to do. In a small side room I noticed the prayer on a sheet of paper, lying alone on a table. In the silence and solitude it seemed extra powerful ...

Dear Heavenly Father,

We come to you today, humbly lifting up our country Trinidad and Tobago. We ask Lord that you remove that dark cloud of crime that has settled over our land. We know that with You all things are possible and trust in Your love for the restoration of peace, love and community in our country that is called by Your name. Influence our leaders and people living in the two islands so that they can find an effective solution to restore law and order. We pray that you breathe a fresh breath of Your Holy Spirit over our land and remove all ... murder, road accidents, immortality and ... Lord because we believe that You are ...

(... the ellipses represent the words I can't see in the photo)

This morning around 4:00, as I ended my meditation with the Kundalini Yoga closing prayer, I was not alone. I heard a multitude of voices and had a vision of every single person in Trinidad and Tobago, without exception, chanting the words to each other:

May the longtime Sun shine upon you
All Love surround you
And the pure Light within you guide your way on

May the longtime Sun shine upon you
All Love surround you
And the pure Light within you guide your way on
Guide your way on
Guide your way on

Art

Last night I looked up
And saw your face glowing.

The stars were connecting to draw you
For me.

Look up tonight.
I am drawn too.

*

Sunday Scribblings

The PAW Process

Englishman's Bay, Tobago (October 2008)
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(Excerpt #1): By setting an outcome we become aware of the difference between what we have and what we want. The difference is the 'problem'. When you have set an outcome and are clear about your desired state, then you can plan to make the journey from one to the other. You become proactive, you take ownership of the problem and start to move towards a solution.

(Excerpt #2):
You need to believe three things about your outcomes:

It is possible to achieve them
You are able to achieve them
You deserve to achieve them

Possibility, Ability and Worthiness are the three keys to achievement. Remember them as the PAW process.

(Excerpts from NLP Workbook - Joseph O'Connor)

Birth Day, Yoga Night, Muesli Morning

Raw muesli which T and I made for breakfast one morning.
The jar to the right contains sesame seed milk.
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When T was here we made lots of simple and delicious raw eats/drinks on a daily basis, but the raw muesli with sesame seed milk which she showed me how to make was perhaps my favourite (see above photo of our gourmet prep).

This morning I made a large batch of it for breakfast (today and tomorrow) and I'm eating some now as I blog. It contains finely diced (firm) Graham mango, coconut, pear, apple, raisins, dates, cashews, oats. Mixed all of that up then topped with the sesame seed milk, some banana slices and a thin spiral of honey. Yum.

Yesterday for my birthday, all was quiet. I mainly stayed home, went to the Post Office to collect a package (raw food book ordered by my sister Vanessa), did some groceries and went to collect my French prize (which turned out to be an invitation for me and 'up to two guests' to attend the ceremony later this month where I will collect the prize). I'm curious as to what le prix français is. A book? A CD? A DVD? A trip for two to Paris?

The only thing I felt specifically like doing to celebrate my birthday was yoga - a kriya for working on the 7 chakras and aura, followed by the ra ma da sa healing meditation. Simple and powerful. I felt that would be a good gift to give myself. So in the evening I got together with friends Cherrymoka/webgrl/Kris and Glen on C.Moka's verandah with its view of the large playing field and mountains. We lit some candles and did a short version of the chakra kriya followed by the meditation and topped off with a smoothie I had made (cucumber, avocado, apple, coconut water, flax oil, banana, ice cubes) chilled and poured into wine glasses.

A yummy end to a birthday and a yummy beginning to the day after ...

Dream Cat-cher

by
Elspeth Duncan & Tresa Yung
Herman, the cat at Lillibet's (Castara) where we spent our first few days in Tobago.

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On our day of departure from Lillibet's, Herman THE DREAM CATCHER caught a lizard which he laid in our path as a goodbye gesture. Having had lots of experience with my cat Jasper and his gifts, I immediately saw Herman's lizard as a power animal. The lizard as a power animal is about dreaming and intuition ... and I've been having some very notable dreams on this trip.

I'll now hand over to Tresa to write a few words ...

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Not only have Elspeth's dreams been vivid and telling of intuitive messages, but we've come to find a mutually inspired and inspiring purpose; suddenly, it feels as if a door has opened ... as if our "life purpose," "life dreams" and the revelation of each is now further unfolding in the subtle realms for both of us. It has truly been a unique, magical and exciting trip, each day filled with the synchronicity & divine guidance that being open brings. Now, it's time to let go of limiting beliefs and trust in faith.

Back to you, Elspeth ...

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I agree totally with everything that Tresa just said. Being here, stepping out of 'life as we know it' has revealed the many possibilities that exist in 'life as we don't know it' (yet) when we find the courage to surrender to the calling of our hearts. Here we had 'nothing to do' and 'nowhere to go'. This has nothing to do with being bored, being lazy or being uninterested in the rush of life. For us, having nothing to do created the space for anything and everything to be possible, even if just in our imaginations (for now) ... and having nowhere to go meant that we could go anywhere (if we wanted to) or stay right where we were.

One of the things that makes it possible to live in, enjoy and flourish in apparent nothingness is living by what we referred to on this trip as 'third eye time'. It is a completely different time that has nothing to do with the clocks we become accustomed to and dependent on in 'everyday life'. Some of you may already be familiar with kronos (chronological time) and Kairos (Divine Time). We did not live by Kronos time here ... and hopefully, upon returning to 'civilisation' we will not lose our awareness of Kairos.

There is a lot that is unfolding and all will be revealed in Divine third-eye time. Being here has reminded me that we are visionaries. From wherever we are, we can extend ourselves beyond that time and space to a reality that may not exist yet in our material surroundings, but is no less 'real'.

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Back to you, Tresa ...

Yes, Elspeth, I concur. This experience has made me take pause and see how I, as well as many people I know, can sometimes become so driven, attached to or focused upon our current lifestyle, purpose or status that we can no longer see the unlimited number of things possible in our lives (besides just that which we currently hold on to).

It's also been such a relief to see that creativity can come through things other than pain or suffering. This has been a very light and joyous trip and it's been filled with brainstorming potential. I know so many creative artists who think that they have to remain connected to their struggle in order to create something amazing.

I've done the same thing and I'm ready to step off of that path. When I let go of my self-created limits, anything is possible.

Raw and restful

Sunset on the beach in Castara (on our first evening there)

Dear All,

Sorry for not having blogged lately. This is a quick update. I am currently in Tobago with my friend Tresa, who has come to visit for 2 weeks - her first time in T & T. We are having a great time.

Among other things, we've been creating and eating delicious raw meals. With T being a raw vegan chef, I've been picking up some new tips, tricks and simple recipes.

Only just got internet access today at our new location (closer to 'civilisation'), so may blog again tomorrow. Hope everyone and everything is well.

Elspeth