The story of the Shines

(I wrote this quite a while ago and now I post it in remembrance of three amazing birds.)

A few years ago I recognized that I did not know any birds (this is definitely pre-Easy).  As an animal communicator I decided it was time to get a bird of some sort. I wasn’t familiar with the chat of the bird species. Having them in my home would ignite my awareness of all the birds and I could hear them daily. My first thought was a finch but after looking around I decided that canary was the way to go.

I was told about a bird show somewhere in the suburbs.  Honestly I don’t remember where I was and have never been there since, or heard of another show there either.  I think it may have been one of those magical wormholes where everything is perfect and easy.  An alternate universe, the one that shows us how simple things really are!

The day before my trip to the bird show I met my birds.  They showed up to me energetically while I was brushing my teeth.  All of sudden I saw 3 birds.  They told me they were called the Shines. It sounded like a rock band. They each told me their name; there was Starshine, Sunshine and Moonshine.  Phew, well at least I knew who I was looking for but how would I know them? I asked that they be really obvious to me as I was not familiar with birds and how they went about identifying themselves.

When I got to the show there was only one guy with a huge cage full of canaries.  He said that all he had left were females, which do not sing and are actually very quiet.  I thought that would be a benefit.  As I peeked into this cage I again ask for them to be obvious to me and the first one I see is sweet little yellow bird…that was Sunshine! Then the next flew by. She was white with brown and gray.  And she has a star over her eye. She was Starshine! So, two were ready to come home with me.  And the third, where was Moonshine?  Well, she flew by like Woodstock, half upside down and looking crazy like she was drinking moonshine!  She made me laugh and there she was, Moonshine in all her glory.

 They all came home with me and became the most interesting thing in the world to my cats and me!  We lost time watching them hop around, eat and fly.  They brought so much joy into my home and became an important part of my healings.

Over the past two years the shines have dwindled in numbers.  First Sunshine, then Starshine and today Moonshine.

 




 

 

I have to say that Moonshine was the most special of the bunch.  She was a full singing canary despite all that says the females don’ t sing.  She had her morning song, mid-afternoon song, and her strongest, the evening song. She belted out songs during reading, agreeing when things were coming clear. She laid eggs a few years ago.  She told me that they were her gifts of prosperity for me.

 




Moonshine made the move to Evanston with me and has kept my new healing space well tended.  I will miss her amazing songs but know that she is free and flying,  shining with her golden voice.  Good-bye Moonshine.  You have been such a great healing and window into the beautiful world of birds.


I recently found a lilac tree on my property and have buried her there. Her sweet song remembered through the sweet smell of lilacs.

Easy's Tree

I have a beautiful Yoshino Cherry tree in my yard. I planted it last year after my dear cockatiel friend, Easy, took her next step. I got this tree at Gethsemane, a nursery in Chicago. It was the last tree I looked at, in the sale section and had a curve to its trunk (teeny, tiny, little trunk) and was all of $20. I knew that Easy wanted that tree as much as she had an eye for beauty, she also had an eye for a bargain. But when you buy a $20 tree that seems so small I just had to hope that it would survive the winter. 
Who knew what we were in for! It has been a long, hard winter.  At one point there was a 4-foot snowdrift up to the branches of this poor baby tree. There have been 60 MPH winds, soaking and seemingly endless rain. I would look out at the tree and ask if it was okay and she would tell me how happy she was. After it all spring has arrived and today, amazingly enough, Easy’s tree is in full bloom,six months to the day after Easy’s passing.


She show me all the time that as hard as it may appear moving through challenges it can be easy. Sometimes you just have to wait for the snow to melt and wait for the rains to end. The sun in the sky is always shining down healing and loving and life-affirming light is always there. It can be obstructed by whatever we choose, but it is always there, giving and inspiring life.

It makes me so happy to know that there is a tree who was inspired by a little bird that can show me everyday what it is to be still and know. Thank you Easy and all of the nature that you inspire. You are my love.

Halos

 

 Recently in meditation the concept of halos came to me.  Who has them?  Do all religions use the symbol of a halo?  What is a halo?  I began to look at my own animals, all of which have a halo and began to see that a halo represents no separation from God…no separation between Creator and Creation.  It is an energy center that is always receiving, without doubt or question.  Always receiving the right information from the Universe.  That seems to be the journey, returning to the place where there is no longer separate from Creation/Creator/God.  

 

Fermi, my fabulous guinea pig, pointed out to me that it isn’t about doing anything.  It is about seeing and then knowing that it is done.  There is nothing to solve, just upon looking at the energy/problem/thing is a reflection that it is already taken care of.  It is like watching something float out into space.  There is nothing to do about it so you might as well enjoy the view.  Be happy in the knowing that you are watching this energy travel.  It may be traveling to you in the form of a desire that you sent out ages or seconds ago, or it may be an energy that has been an obstacle to you, a hurdle that you have needed to jump over. Truthfully there was no jumping involved.  By the time it was seen, the leap had already been made.  Now it is time to experience.  Feel the ripple move through you.  Enjoy the wave knowing that there is nothing other to do other than know that energy center is within you, and receive.
 

 If you have doubts turn to your (or any) animal and ask them to show you.  It is their passion to show us how to receive.

 

I am offering a SPECIAL 1-hour telephone reading looking at the energy of your Halo.  How do you receive communication with Divine Creator/Creation?  Are there any obstacles preventing you from receiving fully? I will help you remove any blocks or doubts about what you can have in this life.  If you have animals I will see how they are guiding you to deepen your ability to receive.  $90
Call 
773-396-0222 
or email 
alicia@healinghabitat.net 
to schedule your Halo reading today!

Today is Earth Day

In honor of Earth Day be kind to the Earth.
Be kind to the Animals.
Be kind to the Plants.
Be kind to All Living Beings of the Planet.
But most of all be kind to Yourself.
The Earth would not be here without You.
You are the Light of the World and the Earth celebrates You.
Gentle the Earth,
Gentle Yourself.
Happy Earth Day, Love and Light.

Spring is for planting

Today I dug my very first hole.  I learned a lot of things.  I learned that dirt is heavy. Holes have a lot of dirt in them.  Shovels are awkward. Do not throw your dirt too close to the hole as it will spill back in your hole as your pile of dirt grows. Gloves are extremely helpful.

I am planting a row a hedges in my new yard.  You know, the one with the shed. I am going slowly as I have all summer to plant.  But the excitement of spring and the thrill of having new greenery is infectious!

This is what is left to plant.

And this is where I am now.  It looks a little lonely.

Update: what a difference a few hours makes!
                   By 3:30 they were all planted!

So much for leaving the shrubs for a summer project!  Within a short time I had 3 planted then a good friend came over and expressed an interest in digging a hole and ta-da there were seven hedges planted!  It seemed that they had a pact.  We were all bought together and we will all be planted together.  Each one has it’s own personality and were very clear on where they wanted to be planted.  So, welcome my new yard shrub family.  I think we will be very happy together.  May we all live long and prosper!  :)

What will I dig next!

 

(original post 4/13/11)

Tilli goes for a walk

Tilli has taken to going for walks.  He hops out of his cage strolls around for 20 minutes or so and hops back in.  I am often on the phone when he hops out.  It is shocking to see a guinea pig walk across your living room!  I think it is really good for him.  He was a rescue and his back legs have always been weak.  I believe he was cage bound.  Big pig in tiny cage. No room to exercise those legs.  He has since moved into a HUGE cage and actually runs around and “popcorns” like a very happy piggy!

Tilli is the sweetest guinea pig and loves to be petted.  Not so much held, he’ll pee on you almost instantly.  But I can sit next to his cage and scratch his chin (s) for ever! Sometimes I think he is a puppy at heart.

Enjoy this little video of Tilli taking a walk.



(original post 3/31/11

Valentine meets the cats

Valentine has been busy lately getting to know his new environment.  He is an amazing eater.  Anything green and leafy he goes to town!  So, I thought he needed a little exercise.  I put him on the floor of the room he lives in and off he went.  he motored around like a speedy little tortoise with no regard for the giant furry creatures who were absolutely fascinated by him.

Five met him first and wow, I think it was love at first site!

Then Francy, she decided to take a sniff. Who is taking the attention off of her?

And finally Hazel, would like to take a taste but can’t seem to get anywhere with that shell thing!  I think they call that posture rubber-necking.

















(original post 3/3/11)