The Vibrant Channeled Creator

 

Painting by Vincent Van Gogh

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2022
“Dear young people, we need you. We need your creativity, your dreams and your courage, your charm and your smiles, your contagious joy and that touch of craziness that you can bring to every situation, which helps to break us out of our stale habits and ways of looking at things. As Pope, I want to tell you: the Church is with you and needs each one of you very much, so that we can be renewed, explore new paths, experiment with new languages, and become more joyful and hospitable. Never lose the courage to dream big and to live life to the full! Adopt the culture of care and spread it. Become champions of fraternity. Face life’s challenges by letting yourselves be guided by God’s faithful creativity and by good counsellors. And lastly, remember me in your prayers. I will do the same for you, carrying you in my heart.” 
Pope Francis
 

Today is the birthday of the “March King,” John Philip Sousa, born in Washington, D.C., in 1854. He began studying music when he was six, and over the course of his life he studied voice, violin, flute, piano, trombone, cornet, baritone, and alto horn, as well as composition. When he was 13, he tried to run away from home and join a circus band, prompting his father to enlist him in the United States Marine Band as an apprentice musician. He published his first composition in 1872, at the age of 18, and was conducting a Broadway orchestra — for Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore — by the time he was 21. He went back to the Marine Band in 1880, this time as its leader, a position he held for 12 years. During his tenure, he composed “Semper Fidelis,” which became the official march of the United States Marine Corps.After he retired from the Marines, he formed his own concert band; they were the first American band to go on a world tour, and they even had their own baseball team. He was a strict perfectionist: Everything they played was note perfect and was accorded the same respect, whether it was a classical piece or a pop tune. During World War I, he enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve and led their band; by this time he was a wealthy man, so he donated his naval salary to the Sailors’ and Marines’ Relief Fund.He composed many kinds of music, including suites, fantasies, humoresques, and dances; he even composed several university fight songs, operettas, and other vocal pieces. It’s his marches that he’s remembered for, though. On Christmas Day, 1896, he composed one of his best beloved marches, “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” It was named the official march of the United States by an act of Congress. In addition to his skills as a composer and conductor, he was also a fine marksman, and is enshrined in the Trapshooting Hall of Fame. His Hall of Fame biography includes the following quote: “Let me say that just about the sweetest music to me is when I call, ‘pull,’ the old gun barks, and the referee in perfect key announces, ‘dead’.” He wrote several articles about trapshooting; he also wrote a full-length autobiography and three novels.He was not a fan of the new recording industry and all its technology, and spoke adamantly against it at a Congressional hearing in 1906: “When I was a boy … in front of every house in the summer evenings, you would find young people together singing the songs of the day or old songs. Today, you hear these infernal machines going night and day. We will not have a vocal cord left. The vocal cord will be eliminated by a process of evolution, as was the tail of man when he came from the ape.”He was a hard worker, devoutly religious, and known far and wide for his personal integrity. He often said, “When you hear of Sousa retiring, you will hear of Sousa dead!” and his words were prophetic: He died suddenly of a heart attack following a rehearsal in 1932.SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2022

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2022
“Let us beware of narcissism and exhibitionism, based on vainglory, that lead even us Christians always to have the word “I” on our lips: “I have done this, I said it, I understood it”… Where there is too much “I”, there is too little God.” 
Pope Francis
 

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022
“Brothers, sisters, let us remember this: the gaze of God never stops at our past, full of errors, but looks with infinite confidence at what we can become. And if at times we feel we are people who are “short in stature”, not up to the challenges of life and far less of the Gospel, mired in problems and sins, Jesus always looks at us with love… Let us pray to Mary, whose humility the Lord looked upon, and ask her for the gift of a new outlook on ourselves and on others.” 
Pope Francis

 

The tarot card of the day is the Queen of Swords

She is a is a noble woman. in a long white dress, with her sword drawn and ready to fight for what she believes is right. She wears a crown upon her head. Her expression is fierce as if she will not be stopped.

The queen of Swords is the personification of the strength that can be realized through the utilization of the mind. In addition, her body language shows someone self-sufficient, intelligent, and independent. All the traits are essential if you wish to succeed in life.

.It’s not only women who can relate to her. Anyone not interested in conforming to the idealistic view of how they should live their lives can identify with the Queen of Swords. It’s about being truthful with yourself about the beliefs you hold.The Queen of Swords encourages you to take charge of your life and chart your course. So, design the life you want!

Never Lower Your Standards

One glance at the Queen is all it takes to recognize a determined individual. Sometimes, people give her a cold treatment because they assume she is standoffish and hard to please – but she isn’t. She just won’t settle for anything less than what she deserves. The Queen will never tolerate bad treatment from others. She will always stand up for herself. She will never allow anyone to hurt her or mistreat her. You, too, can be powerful when dealing with difficult situations. Don’t let other people tell you what to do with your life. You are allowed to do what makes you happy

.Do What You Feel Is Best for You

The Queen of Swords represents the power of intuition and psychic insight. She reminds us that we must learn to trust our instincts, even if they conflict with what others want us to believe. Her symbol is a three-pronged spear for strength, determination, and courage. In the reversed position, she signifies a denial of the inner self, which makes her an excellent card for those seeking clarity about their true desires and motivations. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you are being deceitful. Instead, it suggests that you have been trying to deny your genuine emotions.The idea of facing yourself and your true intentions scares you – but why? What do you fear most?If you feel stuck in a situation, ask yourself what you’re afraid of losing by standing up for yourself. Do you think you’ll lose friends? Or maybe you’re worried about what kind of treatment you will get when you express your wish to be happy.Whatever it is, ask yourself whether there’s any truth behind your fears. If there is no truth to it, take a step towards making changes.

You Are the Final Judge of Your Actions

The Queen of Swords advises you to avoid becoming overly reliant on others at this time. You don’t want to trust someone who might let you down, especially since you don’t know whether they could fulfill their promise. Instead, allow yourself to have peace of mind by doing everything yourself.

It is also good to remember that the Queen rarely asks permission. She has her own way of doing things. So, if you hesitate to make a move, let the Queen’s energy guide you. You may not receive positive feedback immediately, but you will eventually discover that relying on yourself is always a good decision.Betting on yourself is a powerful move. It gives you the confidence to face challenges head-on. When you act without hesitation, you gain more control over your destiny. Just like a true queen should be.The Queen of Swords signifies joy and happiness in your life. So use its energy to create something joyful and exciting. Start working on a project you’ve been putting off, or begin planning that vacation you’ve been looking for.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2022
“In life, all is never lost. Please, all is never lost, never. We can always find space for the desire to begin again, to start over, to convert. Re-convert, re-begin, re-start… God has never looked down on us – no; to humiliate us – no; – to judge us – no; on the contrary, he lowered himself to the point of washing our feet, looking at us from below and restoring our dignity to us…” 
Pope Francis

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022
“The life of Jesus and the saints tell us that the seed of peace, in order to grow and bear fruit, must first die. Peace is not achieved by conquering or defeating someone, it is never violent, it is never armed.” 
Pope Francis

All Saints Day

Haunted Houses
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
All houses wherein men have lived and died

Are haunted houses. Through the open doors

The harmless phantoms on their errands glide,

With feet that make no sound upon the floors.

We meet them at the door-way, on the stair,

Along the passages they come and go,

Impalpable impressions on the air,

A sense of something moving to and fro.

There are more guests at table than the hosts

Invited; the illuminated hall

Is thronged with quiet, inoffensive ghosts,

As silent as the pictures on the wall.

The stranger at my fireside cannot see

The forms I see, nor hear the sounds I hear;

He but perceives what is; while unto me

All that has been is visible and clear.

[…]

So from the world of spirits there descends

A bridge of light, connecting it with this,

O’er whose unsteady floor, that sways and bends,

Wander our thoughts above the dark abyss..

Haunted Houses” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Public domain.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2022“

Let us pray for the victims of the terrorist attack in Mogadishu, which killed more than a hundred people, including many children. May God convert the hearts of the violent! And let us pray to the Risen Lord also for those – especially the young – who died in Seoul, as a tragic consequence of a sudden crowd surge… Please, let us not forget martyred Ukraine in our prayer and in our heartache. Let us pray for peace, never tire of doing so!” 

Pope Francis

Ask Zacharius.

Zacharius was short and a sinner. He wanted to see Jesus as close as possible, But he was a tax collector and shunned.
Jesus loved to keep bad company. He loved different people.
So when Jesus entered his house, he gave him a radical conversion and offered money to Jesus to make up for taking money from the poor.
Jesus sought out the the lost for salvation.
If we are patient and persevere, we too will find the Holy One and know our destiny.

Fr Bonoventure Trappist monk

The Monks of St. John’s File in for Prayer
by Kilian McDonnell
In we shuffle, hooded amplitudes,
scapulared brooms, a stray earring, skin-heads
and flowing locks, blind in one eye,
hooked-nosed, handsome as a prince
(and knows it), a five-thumbed organist,
an acolyte who sings in quarter tones,
one slightly swollen keeper of the bees,
the carpenter minus a finger here and there,
our pre-senile writing deathless verse,
a stranded sailor, a Cassian scholar,
the artist suffering the visually
illiterate and indignities unnamed,
two determined liturgists. In a word,
eager purity and weary virtue.
Last of all, the Lord Abbot, early old
(shepherding the saints is like herding cats).
These chariots and steeds of Israel
make a black progress into church.
A rumble of monks bows low and offers praise
to the High God of Gods who is faithful forever.
“The Monks of St. John’s File in for Prayer” by Kilian McDonnell from Swift, Lord, You Are Not. © St. John’s University Press, 2003. Reprinted with permission.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2022
“Goodness is hidden, always, because goodness is modest and hides itself: goodness is hidden; it is silent, it requires slow and continuous excavation. Because God’s style is discreet: God likes to go unseen, with discretion, he does not impose; he is like the air we breathe – we do not see it but it allows us to live, and we realize this only when it is missing.” 
Pope Francis

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2022
“Recounting the events of our life also enables us to grasp important nuances and details, which can reveal themselves to be valuable aids, hitherto concealed. For example, a reading, a service, an encounter, at first sight considered to be of little importance, over time transmit inner peace; they transmit the joy of living and suggest further good initiatives. Stopping and acknowledging this is essential… It is a task of gathering those precious and hidden pearls that the Lord has scattered in our soil.” 
Pope Francis

Why Can’t I Be Happy Like Everyone Else?
A lack of fulfilment in life might emerge as feelings of isolation, muddled purpose, or apathy. Every person has the potential to experience emotional emptiness occasionally, so the first thing you should do is to realize that you’re not alone.


Possible triggers include sudden changes in hormone levels, unemployment, loss and so many other negative situations. Additionally, emptiness is a normal human feeling, and it can accompany any period of introspection.
Though looking back might help us mend, lingering on disappointments will only delay the advent of a better life. Make positive strides in the direction of where you want your life to go. Put your mistakes from the past behind you as you look forward to a better future.
Focus on what really matters and have faith that divine intervention will lead you to success. Self-reflection is crucial to your happiness because it helps you to pinpoint where things have not gone well for you.

How Can I Begin to Feel Again?
The time has come to just accept things as they are. Everything in your life that has happened that has upset you needs to be put in the past. There is nothing more that can be done about it. So, relax your need to constantly adjust and enhance your situation.


You probably don’t know this about yourself, but you’re just right the way you are. Yes, really! In fact, everything that is “meant to be occurring” in your world is, and your presence in the here and now allows you to experience it completely and thoroughly. Today, there is nothing specific that is expected of you other than to simply be.
You see, when you accept yourself as you are, you take the pressure off yourself. You don’t feel the need to struggle and panic anymore because you will not allow that to happen. By accepting the person you are today, you can move forward. Seriously!


If you don’t take care of yourself, it can result in feelings of worry, remorse, and sorrow, giving you that “empty” hollow feeling. And it’s possible that putting other people’s needs before your own is a priority of yours. This can cause you to put your own requirements on hold for a considerable amount of time, causing you to feel depleted.
It’s also possible that you believe that when you make other people happy, you’ll also feel happier yourself. Even if this is true, it’s worth remembering that helping other people doesn’t mean you can’t help yourself.
You, too, require nurturing and assistance. When your own needs are met, you’re often in a stronger position to provide a hand to others around you. So, focus on yourself first in life. Love yourself. Follow your own dreams so that you can better equip others to follow theirs. When you begin to love yourself, you’ll never feel emotionally empty again.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022
“Our life is the most precious “book” that is given to us, a book that unfortunately many do not read, or rather they do so too late, before dying. And yet, precisely in that book that one finds what one pointlessly seeks elsewhere. Saint Augustine, a great seeker of the truth, had understood this just by rereading his life, noting in it the silent and discreet, but incisive, steps of the presence of the Lord. At the end of this journey, he noted with wonder: “You were within, and I without, and there I did seek you; I, unlovely, rushed heedlessly among the things of beauty you made. You were with me, but I was not with you” (Confessions X, 27.38)… “Return within yourself. Read your life. Read yourself inwardly, the path you have taken. With serenity. Return within yourself”.” 
Pope Francis