Reiki Circle

Facilitated by Kim Tribbitt

Reiki Program Coordinator

 Friday * November 21 * 7:00 – 9:00pm

Join our Reiki Community of familiar and new friends

Share in the Reiki energy

Practice your skills in giving

Feel the warmth of healing as you receive

Spend a peaceful evening in healing companionship

Students and Practitioners from all schools

and lineages of Reiki are welcome

Call 410-758-2579 or email lightpaths@me.com

Let us know you are coming by November 19

Love Offering Gratefully Accepted

(Picture from Ericgurdau.com)

It’s Just A Thought

“What Is It To Die

But To Stand Naked In The Wind…”

October 16, 2007

Rev. Regina Maria Cross

There is no other month more devoted to the subject of death and dying than October with its ghouls, spooky costumes and newly released scary movies. So, after the children are safely home from an evening of Trick or Treat and tucked into bed. After the blue screen fades, lights are up and popcorn filled nerves are somewhat reconnected from the horrific scenes played before your eyes. Or in the silence of real life sitting by the bedside of a loved one ready to pass over, stop just for a moment, breathe, breathe again and touch into your deepest thoughts regarding a subject so many of us would rather leave alone until the moment of its arrival.

“So Almitra spoke, saying, We would ask now of Death. And he said: You would know the secret of death. But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life?”

On October 19, 1989 I received the first diagnosis of a brain tumor. On November 16, 1989 I woke from surgery with “less than a 20% chance of making it off the table”. In an instant one of my greatest and most joyful assignments of life became learning how to die well. Dying well is more than receiving a physician’s bill of health upon death. It is in the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual consciousness of being aware, of “seeking the heart of life” from the first breath waking each morn until the last pillow sigh each night. It is in the choosing of how to live, where to live, how to treat my body, who to spend time with, who not to spend time with and how to spend that precious time we do have in this earthly experience we call life. Dying well means knowing I am living my purpose of being having birthed it through its wants, needs and desires in communication with my Higher Power as I nurture it’s fulfillment in my part of the Plan. Every day is a new day, every day is a gift (“that’s why they call it the present”), and every day may be the last day you live on earth, brain tumor or not. Live in the heart of now as now truly is the only time we have, the only time in existence, as the past is gone and the future becomes the present now. Just do it!

“The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light. If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life. For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.”

For those who are ready, (i.e. those who push themselves beyond the fear of the unknown) the mystery is unveiled. As you seek, belief becomes knowledge, knowledge through experience brings with it the inception of wisdom and love/wisdom shines the Light upon the mystery called Death. Death is only a change, a change of energy from physical to non-physical, that part of us we already are. Sometimes we just forget.  It is the flow from the small incarnate life to the eternal soul life, from the river of shorelines to the unending horizons of the sea. As Carly Simon sings, “Life is eternal, Love is immortal and Death is only a horizon.”

“In the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond; and like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring. Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.”

We will all die as we have all been born. As we live, our spirit either waits for that which will be or soars as integrated enlightenment within our soul. As grade school nears its end, we anticipate new halls, new rooms, new smells, new lockers, new friends, being the bigger in high school. As high school draws to a close our hearts beat with the excitement of moving away to the new freer life called college, its late nights, intimate group discussions with a favorite professor and stimulation of our wisdom being heard. Then as college ends we hold a momentary breath growing into adulthood, first steps into our professional career, our first apartment, yes, even our first bills and the thought of scheduling our calendar as we please. Each new chapter the seed grows within the present living. We trust the dreams as we water and nurture their existence. As the thrill of each fantasy is the beginning into the spring of new horizons and the old passes away, we are still the one, physically and spiritually, moving through the gates of change, as that is all it is, from one form to another as we mature. In each choice, we are choosing not only the living of our biography but the memory of its passing

“Your fear of death is but the trembling of the shepard when he stands before the king whose hand is to be laid upon him in honour. Is the shepard not joyful beneath his trembling, that he shall wear the mark of the king? Yet is he not more mindful of his trembling?”

In the shift of a moment even though there has been great effort moving toward its aim we fear that which we do not know. Michael Phelps trained physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually for the moment that he may joyfully take the gold, the symbolic king of his achievement thus far. Even as he trained, knew his desires, earned the gold, standing in the moment of the moment, he may have felt the inward trembling as his toes gripped the edge of the pool before his push off into the water toward the race to be won. Each leap is the last before the first, the death of what was before the birth of what is. This is the moment of transition. It is our own twinkling of truth as we prepare to wear the mark of the king. Did we do what we came here to do? Did we get the gold? Did we seek the king in the heart of life? Did we live vivaciously? On October 19, this Sunday, I celebrate the fifth anniversary of my Ordination. All of my being silently sings as I recall the breath filled moment, the joy beneath my trembling as I professed the Vows and received the Blessing in Sacrament while my life as I knew it died of the old being born anew unto “Not my will but Thy Will by done”. Death, exist in the everyday of living and with every death there is a rebirth. Through the extinction of night comes the origin of an infant day. One of those reborn days we shall stand on the edge, toes gripping, as our fearful tremble gives to the joyful sigh of passing through the gates of death. A simple exhalation of what was becomes the inhalation of mystery unveiled.

“For what is it to die, but to stand naked in the wind and melt into the sun?

And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?”

From what I have seen (as you won’t find me on one) there is an unencumbered tingle as one embarks on the roller coaster, the fast ride totally out of one’s own control. I’ve heard it is the freeness of wind upon the face, the letting go of responsibility and just the fun of it all. Well, little ole’ me can get that by sticking my head out the car window. In the flash of life facing fear we stand stronger, freer, more than who we imagined ourselves to be. Just before the coaster takes off on its ride our breath seems to have stopped its cycle in our throat yet once the ride glides into the other side destination the exhale we experience is one of total liberation. The truth of our courage is known. Courage is standing naked in the wind as we melt into the sun. There is a scene in the movie City Of Angels where the character Maggie is riding her bike, eyes closed, arms outstretched into the wind. Naked with clothes on she embraces all that is. She inhales melting into the sun. At that point I knew she was going to die. She had to. It’s the way we humans write stories. Maggie had let loose all her apprehensions and trepidations. Literally and symbolically Maggie had to die to the lesser to become the greater. Maggie’s breath ceased as her purpose, the seeking, was fulfilled. As we overcome any struggle, restless tide, be it genuine or monkey mind chatter, standing on the shoreline of reality the exhale is granted. On the other side of letting go we inhale, rise, rejoicing into our souls expanded enlightenment, the bliss, of God unencumbered. We may have taken our last breath literally or we may have created an opportunity to practice the moment by dying to the lesser of who we have been becoming the greater of our intention by again discerning that which our inner core knows about our spirit living as our most authentic self.

“Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing. And when you have reached the mountaintop, than you shall begin to climb. And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.”

No one can explain, describe or explore for you what your soul already knows through your silent song. It’s Just A Thought but as the songs go may we each “Climb Every Mountain” seeking our heart in life and when done “I hope you/we dance.” standing naked in the wind with God unencumbered.

The quoted masterful teaching “On Death”, written by the poet, philosopher, artist and mystic Kahil Gibran is from The Prophet published in 1923. Kahil Gibran shares beautiful and majestic philosophy through his book gratifyingly suitable for meditation and prayer while seeking one’s own understanding in all substance between birth and death.

 This month, on October 25 from 10am – 12:30pm, at Light Paths * Centre For the Healing Arts we are honored to present Rev. Katherine James Klemstine, Director of Spiritual Care of The Chesapeake Hospice as she shares her workshop “Spiritual Insights to Death – A Comparison of the Physical and Spiritual Dying Process”.  Please do make the time to come, listen and understand as you seek your heart in life.

 Light Paths * Centre For The Healing Arts, a Spiritual Enlightenment Centre and The Sophia School Of Wisdom, an accredited outreach center for Sancta Sophia Seminary are nestled in beautiful woodland only 3 miles from downtown Centreville. Classes are small, intimate and spiritually enriching. Know you are welcome and we are enriched by your presence. For more information call 410-758-2579 or e-mail us at lightpaths@me.com.

Just A Thought

Record Observer

When Searching For My Center Of Being, I Find Denial Works Best For Me

July 17, 2008

Rev. Regina Maria Cross

Recently I have found myself in a place of asking, “How do I find my center when all else around me seems anything but there?” I can’t help but remember a moment during the visitation hours of my father’s wake in our home when standing with friends saying the Rosary. A life long friend, Linda, whose father had passed years earlier, leaned toward my baby sister and me and whispered her words of wisdom: “I find denial works best for me.”

 This past year has been a challenging one what with Gamma Knife surgery for two brain tumors, the diagnosis of partial epilepsy, the surrender of beginning seizure medication (all that alone will throw you for a loop), spiritually guided changes in my own work for humanity, the very intense and intimate death and dying journey of one of Light Paths, Centre For the Healing Arts longest studied students, election to the Board of Directors of my family’s business (did I mention family?), our Little Asti puppy, my sweet soul companion, passing from this physical world and the daily struggle to remember to take care of myself through it all. Certainly all this and less could tend to push one out of one’s center of being as any one point in changes in health, transitions of loved ones and involvement with a business run with differing value systems could do.

 So, the question is, how does one remain centered, get back to one’s center, or possibly even realize they have a center anymore? There have been times this year I have actually thought as the neophyte I am, “Wait a minute, aren’t I suppose to be able to handle all this and more? After all, I am a graduate of Sancta Sophia Seminary, I am an Ordained Minister, I am a Reiki Master having studied and worked in the healing field for almost 30 years, and I am a certified counselor? Shouldn’t I just be all that all the time?” In the quiet I hear the answer, “You are.”

In the past my answer has been eat it up. No seriously, that was my answer. Eat it up, eat it all up and deal with it later. Well, what with the beginning of seizure medication I have already blown up like a tick and having developed love, care and respect for this Temple of God, my human body, the surrender into the arms of Little Debbie just doesn’t do it for me anymore. In fact, I have found a need of double counsel, both for co-dependency as well as resentment toward Little Debbie costly insurance co-pay. So, let’s not go there.

So, where do I go? One reservoir is the silence, meditation. I carve out a time, two, five, ten, twenty minutes daily just for myself often either with a pad and pencil or my computer on stand by as the flow of language healing through the thoughts, the tears and the flow of hope arises. Even though there have been days that for what ever imagined reason I could conjure, I did not meditate or pray, I have always, always found a quieter heart, a wiser mind and a higher spirit when I do, therefore a healthier physical body sitting and breathing than when I sat down to start.

Prayer is different than meditation. Prayer is the asking for healing, the asking for guidance and direction back to the center of being. Until recent years I had a very hard time with prayer. I was raised on memorization of prayer, although some very beautiful indeed, for the most part obligatory and needy. Even as a child, I shivered watching and listening to the blah, blah, blah of prayer being said in church as those speaking them paid little attention to their intention and more to the time of getting out. As a child I just talked. I talked to Jesus. I talked to my Guardian Angel. I talked to Mother Mary. I talked to God. I never questioned whether they heard me; I just always knew they did. In the last few years I have come to a very peaceful place somewhere between the discipline and the knowing.

Now, my joy is finding and using the very most perfect words from the mind of my heart to express the truth of my intention in my prayful request. I find it calms my beating heart, quiets my rapid breath, stills my hurting head, and allows the tears to flow into this place of comfort and possibly even the soulful memory of joy. In healing life after death of a beloved for me, it is easier (I didn’t say easy), to be in the joy of consciousness than happiness. As happiness is in the moment and that’s a real good thing, joy is, just is, always is whether we are there or not, even when life sucks, the consciousness of joy exist.

Being family raised (versus wolf) in the 1950’s and 60’s female very Roman Italian Catholic with southern and Irish motherly influences do you think it easy for me to ask for help? That very concept took years of Rebirthing. Well, now it is one of my centering maneuvers. Long ago in agreement with another we contracted each other as each other’s “Go To Person”. Your Go To Person is a most trusted friend, one you share life with, the good, the bad and the ugly, not someone you are just going to call when in need and dump upon. A Go To Person relationship is not one -way. Here’s the deal; Go To Persons have to tell you the truth even when you are crying your guts out and if the truth is already known all we do is be with each other and in that being, there is a healing. I am wholly and holy blessed in that my first Go To Person is my husband, Ken. He knows me as no one else walking this earth does, as I him. When I feel I am in need of another ear, (possibly because Kenny’s have curled inward from the sound of my dumping) maybe further validation or another opinion, shoulder to cry on, I do have another dearly loved soul sister I share my deepest and possibly most shallow self. In allowance with my Go To Persons after a good cry, a truth session, a loving hand held or voice of compassion, in this blessing, I do begin making my way back to center.

 If I need to get away giving my tears away, I go to the ocean. I stand in the midst of its shoreline and shed my tears into its waiting pool. There I find centering with every wave of healing energy as if I were the only being on earth that this massive love of God knows exist. It pays attention to only me in the moment while doing the same for thousand around the world. I find inspiration centering.

 Ya’ know all in all we all (I bet even the Pope, maybe even the Dali Lama) get off center sometimes. In fact, I’m thinking if one didn’t they would have no need of being here as they would have reached Nirvana, Heaven, the Great Beyond and would have no more need of these earthy human lessons.

One really big thing I have done for myself when off center and doing my very best (as I believe we all do no matter what it looks like in the moment) to get back is, let go of the guilt, the shame, the perfection of what I am suppose to look like for someone else.

Honey, I do cry in public now. Prior to my own forgiveness work, I would hold on to what someone else’s’ belief in my persona was. Guilt, shame, fear only exist for our own recognition that something needs our attention. Once that is acknowledged let go with a flow of tears (they cleanse the soul as well as the body), keep a tablet with you at all times just incase your very own inner wisdom shoots through with understandable language, sometimes joyfully rest in the need to be alone and always try to remember to retrain your self to be cared for by The Self.

It’s Just A Thought but doing our very best in the moment is the map quest toward the refinding of our center, our breath, the prana, which keeps us alive until we are not afraid to smile, to love, to laugh again and after this long journey in healing we find ourselves back home Self Centered, but remember in the meantime a little short term denial may be  just as centering as the long term understanding.

Light Paths – Center For the Healing Arts and The Sophia School Of Wisdom, an accredited outreach center for Sancta Sophia Seminary, are nestled amongst 32 acres of woods only 3 miles from the town of Centreville. Classes are small, intimate and spiritually enriching as all are welcome in the Light of the classroom adjoining Rev. Cross’ home. For more information call 410-758-2579 or e-mail us at lightpaths@mac.com.

What’s coming up at Light Paths:

May 30 * Reiki Circle * Friday * 7:00 – 9:00pm

Join old and new friends as we share Reiki energy with each other.

Practice your skills and receive the warmth of healing in a peaceful atmosphere.

Students and Practitioners from all schools and lineages of Reiki are welcome.

Call 410-758-3589 or email info@light-paths.org and let us know you are coming.

Love Offering Gratefully Accepted

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June 7 & 8 * Traditional Reiki First Degree * Saturday & Sunday * 10:00am – 6:00pm

Taught by Rev. Regina Maria Cross, Traditional Reiki Master-Teacher

Reiki, a form of healing touch, promotes stress reduction, emotional well-being, and balance between body, mind & spirit. “It took away my pain after brain surgery!” says Master-Teacher Regina Maria Cross, TRMT

In First Degree Reiki you will learn: The Histories of Reiki, Reiki Hand Positions, How to give Reiki to your Self, How to give Reiki to animals, plants and food, How to give a complete Reiki Treatment to others and The Five Principles of Reiki

You will receive: a Reiki First Degree Manual, Reiki Treatments through practice with fellow students, Four Reiki First Degree Attunements, Knowledge & understanding of a healing modality available to all and a nutritious lunch provided by Sugar Magnolia Café.

Advanced Registration required by June 2, 2008

Send in full $160.00 or $80.00 reservation deposit to Light Paths (balance due first day of class)

Light Paths – Centre For The Healing Arts * 110 Wilson Clark Lane, Centreville, MD 21617

Call 410-758-3589, e-mail info@light-paths.org

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August 2 & 3 * Traditional Reiki Second Degree * Saturday & Sunday * 10:00am – 6:00pm

October 11 & 12 * Traditional Reiki Third Degree * Saturday & Sunday * 10:00am – 6:00pm

It’s Just A Thought

Intuitive Development * A Lifetime of Adventure

Rev. Regina Maria Cross

We all have it, that gift of either seeing the unseen, hearing the message or just knowing from another source other than ourselves. Certainly my Mom had a “mother’s intuition” and thank God for it being she was Mother of seven very active children. It might be you took the other road home from work the other night just because “you had a hunch” later to find while watching the evening news there was a deadly accident on the road you usually take at the time you would normally be passing through. It may be “that wee little voice” told you to wait an extra day prior to flying out for spring break only to find that every plane at your connecting airport was grounded for that entire day due to weather. You know you are not crazy and you also know you keep seeing little flashes of movement quickly darting in your peripheral vision.

The study of Intuitive Development is a lifetime adventure beginning with its definition. Webster’s says Intuition is: “The direct knowledge or awareness of something without conscious attention or reasoning; knowledge that is acquired in this way.” Rev. Carol Parrish describes it this way in The New Dictionary of Spiritual Thought: “Literally inner teachings. Wisdom of the heart. Direct or spiritual perception, a subjective sense belonging to the soul. Spiritual intellect; insight provided by the intellect of the soul from the mind of Reality itself, beyond the domain of pure reason. A knowing or awareness existing at a level of mind or consciousness beyond mental reasoning or normal intellectual comprehension.” Carol explains what Webster’s attempts in reasoning mind.

Intuition is listening to the soul. Prayer and meditation are two ways to awaken your spirit enough to listen to the soul. Setting aside time daily dedicated to growing the development of our intuition is a necessary step in spiritual training. We as humans become so overwhelmed with multitasking that we cannot hear the voice of God, Inner Wisdom due to emotions, anger or pain known in the Intuitive world as scar tissue. Most of our blocks are in that place in us called The Basic Self, the Subconscious. As we clear the scar tissue through prayer, meditation, Reiki, Breathwork and other healing modalities, our Higher Mind works not from an emotional place but rather from love caring. We now have the ability and clarity with which to think with the heart and act with the mind.

We are spiritual beings having a human experience. An Intuitive is one who is sensitive to higher realities and has the ability to receive information through one or more extrasensory gifts beyond our physical world and personalities. We are six sensory spirit beings in a five sensory egoic world. Our five physical senses; audio, sight, olfactory, touch and taste have extended senses. Clairvoyance / Clear Seeing is the ability of extrasensory sight or visualization that provides an awareness with the spiritual eye without limitation of matter, time or space. Those gifted in this manner are called Clairvoyants. Clairaudience / Clear Hearing is the ability of extrasensory hearing, data perceived as sound, without limitation of matter, time or space. Clairsentience / Clear Feeling or Knowing is the ability of extrasensory spiritual feeling or sensing perceived as heightened feeling or inner awareness without limitation of matter, time or space. Those gifted are called Clairsentiences.

As stated earlier, I believe we all have it. The “it” being gifts given at birth from Spirit to remind us who we really are. Some may have shut down to them as they grew older becoming ever more busy in the “real” world. Others may have been shut down being told, “Honey, you are too old to believe that any more.” Some of us may have reentered the world as an adult remembering what we use to know as a child realizing Intuition truly is a gift from God and using it wisely, ethically and purposefully fulfills that for which we came. Read the rest of this entry »

(Beautiful drawing from SoulPaintings by Katherine Skaggs)

Prosperity Consciousness is the ability

to function effortlessly and conveniently

in the physical world, having money or not.

Thursday May 8

7pm-8:30pm

This coming month of May we will begin our studies of the First Law of Wealth * The Earning Law.

It’s a fact - we need to earn it to be a part of the system of exchange as we are part of the system that set it up.

It is absolutely OK with the Universe, God, the Absolute that you enjoy yourself AND get paid for it!

Advanced Registration required by May 6, 2008

Call Light Paths Centre For the Healing Arts at 410-758-3589 or e-mail info@light-paths.org
Love Offering Gratefully Accepted

May 10 * * Saturday 10:00am – 3:00pm

Facilitated by Janice Colvin

Janice Colvin has designed jewelry for many years.

She began working with precious metal clay (PMC) five years ago,

Today Janice creates jewelry pieces using a combination of PMC

sterling silver, crystal, pearls and glass beads.

________________________________________________________________________________

Janice Colvin has designed jewelry for many years. She began working with precious metal clay (PMC) five years ago, and today creates jewelry pieces using a combination of PMC, sterling silver, crystal, pearls and glass beads. She co-owns Sandpiper Gallery and Gifts in Grasonville (Kent Narrows, next to Fisherman’s Inn) with her daughter Kristina, who also is a jewelry designer. Janice holds PMC Certification Artisan Levels I and II, and offers classes in PMC and other jewelry making techniques at her shop and at other venues such as Anne Arundel Community College and Jonas Attic in St. Michaels. She is also an award winning quilt maker and writer.

“Silver is a mineral that is said to mirror the soul, strengthen the connection between astral and physical bodies, and enhance intuitive and psychic energies.†Silver is mystically considered to improve speech, bring eloquence. It is also purported to attract, enhance and store the energies of gemstones, as well as draw out negative energies. Silver is related to the moon, and moon energies. Physically, crystal healing lore indicates that silver has been traditionally used to aid heptatitis treatments, eliminate toxins, expel toxins through the pores, headache, rheumatic pain, nausea and gastritis, obesity, diabetes, and increase assimilation of vitamins A and E.” (crystalandjewelry.com) All from a little pendant and/or earrings!

Class fee

$90, with materials fee $55, Lunch provided by Sugar Magnolia Café’ for total of $145.

Materials fee includes tool kit and 1 package (16 grams) of PMC clay.

Other materials provided by Instructor.

Advanced Registration is required by May 4

by email (info@light-paths.org) or phone 410-758-3589

April 26 * Young Living Essential Oils and Your Healthy Life * Saturday 10:00am – 5:00pm

Facilitated by Rev. Ann Bastianelli

It has been said that for every disease, there is also a cure; Hippocrates said, “Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food”. Essential oils are the lifeblood of the plant. Records dating back to 4500BC describe the use of balsamic substances with aromatic properties for religious and medical applications and there are 188 references to them in the bible.

In their pure state, essential oils are some of the most concentrated natural extracts known, exhibiting significant and immediate antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and hormone-balancing effects. In clinical practice, they have been shown to have a profound influence on the Central Nervous System, helping to reduce or eliminate pain, release muscle tension and provide strong emotional uplift. Essential Oils are a natural, non-toxic, effective substance that can be used to clean the house, purify the air, and promote health and well-being.

Rev. Ann Bastianelli is an Interfaith Minister, a licensed Physical Therapist, and Traditional Reiki Master/ Teacher, who has spent her career integrating holistic practices with Western traditional therapy techniques. Her studies include CranioSacral therapy, Myofascial Release, Reiki, Lymph Drainage Therapy, meditation, counseling, nutrition, and essential oils. She was introduced to Essential Oils as part of her Masters program in 2004, and they have become an integral part of her practice and her life. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Holistic Wellness at Sancta Sophia Seminary.

Come…learn about Essential Oils and how you can use them to promote physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health.

Cost is $60.00
Each person will receive a sample of one of the oils presented
Lunch provided by Sugar Magnolia Cafe

Advanced Registration is required by April 20

Please send your check for $60 to us at the address below:

Light Paths – Centre For The Healing Arts * 110 Wilson Clark Lane, Centreville, MD 21617
Call 410-758-3589, e-mail: info@light-paths.org

More information to follow

March 28 *

Reiki Circle * Friday * 7:00 – 9:00pm

April 1 – May 21 *

Astrology – In The Beginning * Wednesday Evenings 7:00 – 9:00pm
An eight-week course through The Sophia School Of Wisdom

April 12 & 13 *

Traditional Reiki First Degree * Saturday & Sunday * 10:00am – 6:00pm

April 25 * Reiki Q& A * Friday * 7:00 – 9:00pm

Topic to be announced

April 26 *

Young Living Essential Oils and Your Healthy Life * Saturday 10:00am – 5:00pm

It’s Just A Thought
“Oh My God! He is so cute!”
A Tribute To Asti Spumanti Cross
9/6/1993 – 3/6/2008

I should probably be writing about Easter or the Spring Equinox or something timely as such. Instead I am honoring a great and wise citizen of our Town. A 4.5 pound tiny furry creature with a name larger than his physical body, Asti Spumanti Cross, who won all hearts within his presence and even some never within reach with total unconditional loving as his only pretense, his only teaching, his only law. What follows are stories of Asti, our Forever Puppy, and his Town’s people.

“Oh my God, he is so cute! What is his name? May I pet your dog?” These were the usual cries of joy as soon as anyone spotted this tiny Little Guy. Always the first greetings were for Asti and everyone young, old, truck driver or ballet dancer wanted to touch him as if something magical would transfer from his body to theirs and oft times it did, unconditional love. “He is the cutest thing I have ever seen”. My response use to be, “Thank You” until one day I thought, “What am I thanking you for, neither you nor I had anything to do with it. He does that all by himself. I can only agree. I think he is the cutest thing I have ever seen too.”

On our first drive into Town, Centreville Town, on a Sunday scouting for our new home, we parked, clicked the leach on Asti and got out to walk about. As we crossed over from the Court Yard to what was then Farmers National Bank a man leaning over his balcony above Mear’s Barber Shop said, “That your dog? He’s a cute thing. What kinda dog is that?’ No, Hello, How are you, Welcome to our town you cute people…No…the first recognition always went to Asti. How could it not? He was such a perfect example of God’s radiant love. That man by the way was Phil, the Barber.

Read the rest of this entry »