Legacy

A Mystic's Legacy

My profile lists gifted teachers as influences on my writing and meditations.  I've realized that perhaps my greatest influence was my mom.  She was literally a teacher, formally trained in early childhood education, but also blessed with an ability to teach those who met her, valuable things about life.
My dear mother passed in January of this year.  She was...remarkable.  She is remarkable.  Her energy is present whenever I remember her and the rich words and sayings she taught me over a lifetime.  She was often called "Mystic" by her friends and eventually her own family. This was true, as mystical, magical things often happened (happen) when she is near.  The words she spoke sound to me like wind chimes on a breezy day.  Simple, natural, clear, at times surprisingly deep, but always resonant and in tune with life.  It seems she left a legacy to be shared. That's what you'll find on this page, the things she would say and stories that surround her.

Throughout my life she graced me with nuggets and pearls. Though I struggled to fully understand their meaning, in the months just before and after she passed, I felt flooded with new insight and deeper appreciation for what she'd said to me so many times before.   They are her gift that will live on--as long as we remember.  I hope you too, find peace and comfort from her words and ways.
You are beautiful and beloved.

Mom's favorite, a gift on her last earthly birthday

In loving memory of "Elizabeth the Mystic",
her shining "Little One",
Maryellen

















Note: I'll post these as I'm prompted to remember them.  She's really good at sending just the right one at the right time.  It's fun to see how the saying or story relates to any current stuff going on. Take these metaphorically, or literally, whatever is meaningful to you.  When I see them as not just passive sayings but rather as invitations to a new point of view or action, they can change everything.  Enjoy them and share them, like love.   Here we go.

Life: it's a faith walk.

Welcome Friends!

What are your "Now" feelings?

It's all right to cry.

I love you a bushel and a peck.

All is well.

You have a choice.

You know the Truth.

There is nothing you could ever do to make me stop loving you.

Focus on the Positive.

You have a gift.

(Quoting) I set before you life and death. Choose life.

It's what's inside you that matters.

Don't let 'em get their hooks in ya.

Don't go down that street.

Let go of it for tonight.

Can you talk to the person about it?  Tell them how you feel?

Take good care of you.

Stay open.

Life is a gift.

You are gift.

To our family dinner table when we squabbled; "Can't we just enjoy each other?"

Let's get Ted's. (a local, one of a kind decadent frozen custard delicacy)

What is your gut telling you?

Follow your heart.

Trust.

All of life is letting go, and letting go so you can fully embrace the next great thing on your journey. 
(Relayed to me by my father in a tiny chapel minutes before her quiet, graceful passing.)  

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September 18, 2012

A Story...

If you've read the comments section on this page, you may have noticed the mention by Tara about the wonderful experience we had while out for the evening not too long after Mom's passing.  When someone passes, many folks have told me, their spirit sticks around in the ether, close by and often making efforts to "touch base" with you.  My experience has been undeniable in this area. Here is the story of just one such occasion.  

The Shop

My friend Tara and I met another friend for dinner at a magical little open air cafe called Aroma.  We dined outside and had a thoroughly delightful time talking, eating, and making each other laugh.  It was a special, relaxed, girls' evening out.  We finished our meal, browsed through the connected shop and made our way to the street.  As we window shopped the unique boutiques along the boulevard, I stopped in front of one and mentioned, "What a great evening--hey, my mom would have really liked this shop."  The shop  window was filled with beautiful china teacups and saucers, an eclectic collection of varied antique designs.  The entire store front was delicately and permanently dressed for Christmas with ornaments and strings of beads hung just so.  I smiled and gazed at the view taking it in for a moment, when my friend took me by the shoulders and turned me round to face her. 
"What was your mother's name??" she asked intently.  "Elizabeth" I replied. "Why?"   Tara turned me back around to face the store front window and I read the shop's name.
                                                                Elizabeth's
There it was, plain as day staring back at me, complete with "snow" on the lettering. (Our family has a long-running legend that Mom's prayer was so powerful, she could make it snow... because once, she did.)   It was just too much.  I smiled wide and exclaimed without thinking, "Hi Mom!"   The feeling was overwhelming, as if she was there with us, just enjoying it too.  It was not spooky to me at all.  I felt happy and reassured, something I know in my heart my Mother wants for me now and and always.  If she can work that magic from where she is now, bring it on!  Thanks Mom.  

My Mother makes an impromptu "appearance" complete with "snow."

I'll always be so grateful to my friend Tara who opened my eyes to this cheery phenomena.  Sometimes it takes a friend to point out our miracles.  Thank you dear Tara. Namaste.