If you are open minded and looking for a deeply spiritual experience then the Living Insights Center should be on the top of your list. I went for the first time a couple of weeks ago. It had been on my list for a while now and I never quite got around to it. Once there I fell in love. The L.I.C. is an all faiths temple. They have rooms set up with an altar to every main religion and lots of minority faiths. There is literally something for everyone. First thing upon walking in you will be asked to remove your shoes. So wear your nice socks *takes on a Mom’s voice and Points finger* and easy to remove shoes. The Eastern Religions are right up front and you will need to walk through their rooms to get into the Western Religions (Abrahamic) rooms. In the Judeo-Christian room there is an imposing statue of Saint Therese. Saint Therese is very active in the L.I.C. and many people have reported receiving miracles and messages from her. The spiritual energy can not be ignored, many people have had very moving experiences and many skeptics have been awed. One can drop in anytime during business hours from 12pm to 5pm and receive a full guided tour. There also many services and events throughout the month. L.I.C is a tax exempt Non Profit organization and is mostly run on donations. They do have a small gift shop and offer many spiritual one of a kind items. In short it is a wonderful place and when I am there I do not want to go home, you probably won’t either. The Living Insights Center

"Therese Martin was the last of nine children born to Louis and Zelie Martin on January 2, 1873, in Alencon, France. However, only five of these children lived to reach adulthood. Precocious and sensitive, Therese needed much attention. Her mother died when she was 4 years old. As a result, her father and sisters babied young Therese. She had a spirit that wanted everything.

At the age of 14, on Christmas Eve in 1886, Therese had a conversion that transformed her life. From then on, her powerful energy and sensitive spirit were turned toward love, instead of keeping herself happy. At 15, she entered the Carmelite convent in Lisieux to give her whole life to God. She took the religious name Sister Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face. Living a hidden, simple life of prayer, she was gifted with great intimacy with God. Through sickness and dark nights of doubt and fear, she remained faithful to God, rooted in His merciful love. After a long struggle with tuberculosis, she died on September 30, 1897, at the age of 24. Her last words were the story of her life: "My God, I love You!"

The world came to know Therese through her autobiography, "Story of a Soul". She described her life as a "little way of spiritual childhood." She lived each day with an unshakable confidence in God's love. "What matters in life," she wrote, "is not great deeds, but great love." Therese lived and taught a spirituality of attending to everyone and everything well and with love. She believed that just as a child becomes enamored with what is before her, we should also have a childlike focus and totally attentive love. Therese's spirituality is of doing the ordinary, with extraordinary love."  The above text from the Society of the Little Flower

I was sitting out on my front porch, as I have started routinely doing. Just enjoying the break in weather. The movements of my neighborhood and the cloud shapes in the sky. My way of doing a mini meditation and just communing with the life all around me.

Sometimes just sitting and being with the universe and it will begin to talk to you. You just have to sit and listen. The world around you animals and nature they all speak but it takes becoming quiet within yourself to be able to listen. For some it may take years and other may never be able to hear.

As I was just sitting observing all the motion and commotion going on around me. I heard a rustle in the Oak tree across the street. It was the sound of stems breaking and leaves falling. Technically I was really too far away to hear this sound ,about ten yards, with the cars driving past and the children playing next door. Hear it, I did and it caught my attention and as I watched this mighty oak shed a small branch of leaves like a tear falling from its face. I knew that this was meant for me.

I have discreetly been giving offerings to the nature spirits in my neighborhood for the past couple of months and now they were returning the favor. I walked over and picked up the dropped leaf and took the opportunity to pick up other previously fallen leaves and acorns. To be used for future projects.

Ruler: Sun

Type: Tree

Magickal Form: Acorn, bark, branches, trees

The Oak is connected with spells for protection and strength, fertility, money and success, and good fortune. Carry an acorn in your pocket when you go to an interview or business meeting; it will be bring you good luck. If you catch a falling Oak leaf before it hits the ground, you'll stay healthy the following year.

Carry an acorn against illnesses and pains, for immortality and youthfulness. Carrying any piece of the oak draws good luck to you (remember to ask permission and show gratitude.) The Oak trees essence helps boost energy levels and the ability to manifest our goals.

Another interesting tidbit is that the tree's roots mirror its branches and stretch as far below ground as the branches do above. A great example of "as above so below."

From Encyclopedia of Magickal Ingredients and A Modern Herbal

Oak Leaf and acorns on my altar. Full moon Mojo- Tarot cards (Moon & King of Pentacles), Citrine, Amethyst, Malachite (raw and carved panther), healing stone, Natural Quartz covered in red clay. Lucky $2 bills.

I'm a little out of Inspiration today. SO this is what Google found me. ALL HAIL GOOGLE!

Finding Inspiration

Monday’s Inspiration Sugar Skulls and Day of the Dead.

Two sets of my friends are going to be getting married this year. Which reminds me that my wedding date to Rocky is approaching. November 1st 2013. I have plenty of time to plan and with a wedding on Day of the Dead of course I will be using it as inspiration for my wedding. Sylvia Ji is one of my Favorite artists I usually have her work as my desktop or screen saver.

I have always been inspired by storms and fog. My mind takes me away to some far off place where one can get lost and transported to another realm. Where everyday is stormy and foggy and the Sun never shines. What would that place be like? Who would live there? What would happen if a young girl from our world were to travel to a place such as this?