O is for OK, Okay? Healing with words. Day 15. #atozchallenge

OK (also okay |ˈōˈkā|) informal

exclamationused to express assent, agreement, or acceptance• used to introduce an utteranceadjectivesatisfactory but not exceptionally or especially good.• (of a person) in a satisfactory physical or mental state.• permissible; allowableadverbin a satisfactory manner or to a satisfactory extent.noun an authorization or approval.verb ( OK's, OK'd, OK'ing)sanction or give approval to.

O is another letter that is not represented in my deck of cards, and that is perfectly OK with me.

Okidoke, a google search of OK led me to this site, it has my three favourite explanations. Ok's origins and how it became popular are unknown and many. 

OK or Okay has it's own hand gesture, and it varies from nation to nation. There aren't too many words that can claim that victory.  I can think of one other word that's also an adverb, adjective, verb, noun, informal exclamation and a question. It's just as widely used and recognised, on a global scale, as OK - but I'm pretty sure it will potentially land you in more trouble than the two simple letters OK ever will, sometimes it's just the perfect word, other times it the human version of growling.

My three favourite origins and or reasons OK became so popular are: 

1. Au quai:  Translates to: At Quay (otherwise known as,  a dock or harbour). Pronounced O K and after months of orienteering on open oceans the dock was an OK place for sailors to be.  They were the world's first global travellers (I think), so it makes sense (to me) that they spread it from quay to quay.
2. During the 1st world war, the daily death tally was written on a board. Zero killed was 0-Killed, abbreviated to OK, which was obviously an OK day 
3. The Greek word Ola Kala which translates to 'all right'. Greeks are responsible for the origin of many words, and rumour has it that Ola Kala was shortened to OK in Australia, (Melbourne has the third largest Greek population in the world) and in Australia, if a word can be shortened, it will be.

Now there's an idea, I could do Aussie Slang for next years challenge, OK?

I do wonder if OK was just another onomatopoeia, two simple letters used to describe a popular sound, from one time or another.  In language there are always so many changes.  The most recent in texting vernacular has shortened OK to just k and OK is fast becoming Only Kidding.

Can you think of any more O onomatopoeia words?

Oh
Oh-oh

Oink 

Ouch

Ooze

Ow

It's far from from divine, but OK is just fine.

 Thanks marcandangel.com 

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Find out how I chose my theme by reading my intro blog A-Z challenge list. Words of change.  You can add more words to the list by leaving a comment - and I'll add a link to your blog to return the favour.

N is for Nothing. Healing with Words. Day 14. #atozchallenge

nothing |ˈnəθi ng |

pronounnot anything; no single thingsomething of no importance or concern

no amount; zero.

My little deck of cards has no N word, I thought about doing Now but Eckhart Tolle has the 'Power of Now' nicely covered, he uses a cat and mouse analogy to capture thoughts when you're trying to think nothing that I use often. I thought about nurture but nothing new was coming my way. 

I asked for suggestions on facebook and within seconds my sister answered Nothing. She's such a comedian, and it was perfect, what could be better than nothing to represent nothing. 

Of course, by chance, as luck would have it, I just happened to have a poem called Think Nothing. So here it is, an edited version of a poem that a my dear friend Jo-la and I once wrote together, just passing time.  

Think nothing 

108 eyes #mandala thanks open clipart

by JM and IC

We lock ourselves out
and we try to keep warm.

We argue and possess

and we continue to fall.

My heart needs to breathe

my mind get set free.

So I gather my questions

to seek an old talking tree.

I sit and think... nothing.

Then breathe a sigh of relief,

I get all of my answers 

just from one leaf.

I hug and I kiss

and give thanks to the tree,

Then he whispers the answers

Are all inside me.

Jo-la is also an artist by nature and introduced me to mandala's, hers are great. I just looked at some of mine and they are better than I remembered, but still nothing compared to hers and the other's I've seen. Do you feel like passing time in a colourful way? Here's a link for some mandala outlines, just print and start colouring, or draw your own. Kids love them, which is one of the reasons they are good for you, too. Have you ever written a poem with a friend? It might not be a masterpiece but it's something from nothing and 'nothing is endless' you know.

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Find out how I chose this theme by reading my intro. blog A-Z challenge list. Words of change.  Use the comments to add words to the list - and I'll link your suggestions back to your blog.

M is for Magic. Healing with words. Day 13 #atozchallenge

magic |ˈmajik|

noun

the power of apparently influencing the course of events by using mysterious or supernatural forces

• mysterious tricks, such as making things disappear and appear again, performed as entertainment.

• a quality that makes something seem removed from everyday life, esp. in a way that gives delight

adjective

• used in magic or working by magic; having or apparently having supernatural powers 

Dear God, Gods, Goddesses, Mother Earth, Deities, Icons, Saviours and Scientific Equation,  

Despite your troubles, I trust you are all happy and well. I have a pertinent question. Why do I have to write about Magic?  Does the Universe demand it or is it perhaps Angels whispering to my Intuition? 

I was doing so well in this #atozchallenge (I'm even learning about hash tags and how to make links), but then I hit 'M' and my Spirit lost interest. Now I feel compelled by some Super Natural Power to change the Course of the letter 'M's' Destiny and choose a word I was happy to avoid. Must you always persist with what I fight to resist?

Is the Great Void sending Divine Intervention? I still Believe Movement would be a much better M word, it's there in my deck, it has so many Meanings and thousands of Teachings.  I can be Light hearted, funny and write about the importance of healthy bowel movements. I'm quite the expert in defecation and there's no better feeling than a good release of your toxins. Isn't posting that Magic happens, just Pontification? 

Must I be the Messenger of  Foils and Fables the Fairy Tales of Wizards and Witches, or just Stories of Fathers Father being a Magician, entertaining the family with his card games and Tricks? Is it the Magic of Dream time, or Great First Nation Spirits, sharing their Wisdom, Healing and Animal Medicine, or Pagans with potions and Spells for a Trip? There's the Magic of Alchemy and what's that in the air, that surrounds a couples first kiss? Perhaps it's just Energy, both Good and Evil, is it just Morals, a Creation or a huge fascinating Mystery. 

Dear God et al, if I don't hear from any of you, before I post this for 'M' day on the 15th of April, I will patiently wait for your response or suggestions in the comments, and in the meantime I will just spread the Message that the Miracle of Magic is children always love to Imagine it's the Truth.

May the Force, to spread a little Magic, Be with You. 

From 

Me

***

Find out how I chose my theme by reading my intro blog A-Z challenge list. Words of change.  You are welcome to add more words to the list in the comments - that I'll link back to you.

L is for Laughter. Healing with words. Day 12 #atozchallenge

laughter |ˈlaftər|nounthe action or sound of laughing

"No man who has once heartily and wholly laughed can be altogether irreclaimably bad."- Carlyle, Thomas

    

Ho Ho Ho Ho Ha Ha Ha Ha Hi Hi Hi Hi Hi

I used to giggle at fingers. I giggled when you looked at me, my feet, or if I had something important to say. She's so happy they would say, always smiling and chuckling.

When I grew wiser I could begin laughing. It would start in my belly, people said you're so funny, your laughter is hearty, worth more than money, it feels like a party.

Laughter is a healer, a language we all understand, like breathing we know how to do it without any instructions. It's an emotional release that involves our whole body, some say it evolved from panting -which is sure sign that your dog is smiling and laughing.  It's uncontrollable, unconscious, social and contagious.

My favourite explanation of laughing was from my 6 year old sister, she said "Laughter is like climbing a ladder, each burst is a step that brings you closer to heaven."  Laughter for me is natures music, sometimes too loud, sometimes to dainty, some laughs fill you privately when people are joking, others burst forth, like farts when you're straining.

If you're feeling a bit down check out the laughing yoga video at the end, 'fake it till you make it' is better than not laughing at all.  If you're really depressed, watch all of them, they might make your smile.

For the child in us:

For Rockers:

For Healers:

Learn to laugh at yourself. A lot of laughter is better than a little, a little is better than none. Remember children laugh more than adults because the make time to play.

Ho Ho Ho Ha Ha Ha hi hi hi hu hu hu u u u u a  a  a aaa  heeeeeeee 

Love and laughs

Ida

***

Find out how I chose my theme by reading my intro blog A-Z challenge list. Words of change.  You are welcome to add more words to the list in the comments - and then I'll link back to you.

K is for Knowledge. A-Z word Challenge. Healing with words. Day 11

knowledge |ˈnälij|

noun1 facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education; ... true, justified belief; certain understanding, as opposed to opinion.2 awareness or familiarity gained by experience of a fact or situation

A butterfly breeder once told a story about watching his very first butterfly emerge. It took so long he thought it was stuck. He snipped both sides of the chrysalis to help free it and when the butterfly hatched but it was unable to fly, and died on landing.

In his pursuit to understand what had happened, he learnt that the struggle to get out of the cocoon is necessary to build strength in a butterflies wings. He also learned a valuable lesson and went on to write highly acclaimed self help books that changed a lot of people and he successfully bred many more beautiful butterflies.  (If you know the author or the book let me know, I can only remember the story)

With experience and knowledge we begin to understand why we do the things we do and we stop repeating the same mistakes. Knowledge makes it easier to change and grow from what we have learned.  It takes time to acquire vast knowledge and their are constant cycles. Learn from butterfly, which stage of a learning cycle are you in. Is it the larvae (birth of an idea), caterpillar (acquiring knowledge), cocoon (absorbing knowledge), or butterfly (metamorphosis) stage in your quest for knowledge?   - 

Educate yourself.  Research anything that attracts your attention, even if you don't think it will lead anywhere, it will always lead somewhere. No-one can take away what you know. The more you know the more you realise there is to learn, with learning comes growing and with growing comes... whatever it is YOU hope to achieve.

***

My thirst for knowledge led me to a woman named Ruth Howard, she wrote a magnificent poem called  GROWING by Ruth Howard in my humble opinion it is a masterpiece. She wished for it to be shared, particularly with young people. Which is why she gave me permission to share it, many years ago.  I encourage you to learn from it, use the link and share it too.

***

Find out how I chose my theme by reading my intro blog A-Z challenge list. Words of change.  You are welcome to add more words to the list in the comments - and then I'll link back to you.

J is Joy - A=Z challenge - Words of change. Day 10

joy |joi|

noun

a feeling of great pleasure and happiness

Joy and Gay had a chat the other day. Gay's been a little down, even the dictionary says he's changed a lot in the last 100 years. He feels obsolete replaced by another meaning.  He’s still a verb but everybody knows that Gay has become a noun, and really can't be used without sounding a bit old fashioned or arousing a double entendre. 

Gay's only concern, is what will become of his original description? For such a small word, he needs some big ones to describe him, gleeful, showy, carefree, brilliant and cheerful. Joy and Gay concluded, if Gay can become a noun, his ancient verb status declining, Joy could take action and adopt a new meaning.

What a joy child, sounds light hearted and playful, and every gay day is now just a Joyday. We'll still keep things simple. There's no mistaking the feeling.

***

Take some time out and have a little fun, even especially if it's silly. Play games and dance with children and friends (make friends with a DJ). Colour in, tell jokes, celebrate. Rejoice, be jovial, enjoy jubilation joy-fully.

Lots of Joy
Ida.


Find out how I chose my theme by reading A-Z challenge list. Words of change.  You are welcome to add words to the list in the comments - which I'll link back to you - the more the better. 

I is for Intuition. A-Z challenge. Healing with words. Day 9

intuition |ˌint(y)oōˈi sh ən|

noun

-the ability to understand something immediately... a thing that one knows or considers likely from instinctive feeling rather than conscious reasoning

Ida Thought:

(random string of thoughts that come from somewhere; end who knows where)

-Alexander Graham Bell must have been a very intuitive man, he invented the telephone, but I sometimes wonder if he over thought it.

He must have known we all have an ability to communicate with each other, without being in the same room.  A potential to connect with other people and find out if they are in perfect health or not.  A way to let them know, all though you can't be there with them, you are right there beside them.  He knew it didn't involve messengers with wings or on foot, no physical contact at all.

Instead of using his mind (better than any bird's wings) he trained his brain and he invented a tool, I'm curious to know if he did it just to prove he was loved.  Ring ring, "My dear Alexander, I was just thinkin' about ya."

The telephone is one of the world's best inventions. It's a great invention, commercially successful, very clever, useful, and essential. I have one, I would love a new one.  But there's one thing I treasure much more; without ever dialling my mother just knows what I'm thinking and feeling.

***

- Intuition: We all have it. Teaching someone how to use it, is like teaching a bird to fly, or a tadpole to leap. Quieten your mind, Wait for your answer, Believe. Where do you think idea's come from?

-Maintain your integrity, set your intention and follow your intuition. Not every body's knowings or feelings can be trusted, trust your own.

-Do you have a story to tell about being in the right place at the right time, or the phone ringing and knowing who it is, or a feeling that something was just right? Or perhaps, it's the all too often, "I knew I should have switched on my power, listened to my feeling, done this instead of him that...

I JUST KNEW IT..."

***

I used to worry about whether it was my fears or my intuition directing my decisions, the best way to know for sure is to stick to solutions that result in the greatest good, and try not to worry, mistakes strengthen wings too.  What is your intuition trying to tell you?

***

Jewel:

It's not hard to understand

just follow this simple plan.

Follow your heart.

Your intuition.

It will lead you in the right direction.

Ignore your mind.

Your intuition

is easy to find.

I love this song I  hope you enjoy the clip.  

Find out how I chose my theme by reading A-Z challenge list. Words of change.  You can even contribute words to the list. 

H is for Humility - Humility. A-Z blogging challenge - Words of change. Day 8

humility |(h)yoōˈmilitē|

noun

a modest or low view of one's own importance; humbleness. 

The first word I pulled from my deck of magic spirit cards was humility.  I looked it up in the dictionary. I wasn't sure how it related to my question, or my life.

The dictionary defintion didn't help.  Should I be more humble, or was I too humble? I read the little instruction sheet that came with the cards, it suggested if you need help to understand just choose another card.

I shuffled the deck and spread them out face down, closed my eyes and tried to quiet my mind.  I reached out, this time with my left hand, and chose my second card, and got humility again. Was this some kind of cosmic joke?  Strange as it sounds I did it again, this was an ongoing saga. 

I turned the deck over and organised them into alphabetical order. I discovered my deck had two humility cards. I felt honoured and cheated. I’ve always appreciated flaws, but couldn't my flaw be something more positive and simple, like balance or harmony?

My quest for understanding was ignited. First I thought about returning the deck, it was faulty could I replace them?  Instead I decided it was a gift, a reflection of me that needed exploring. 

I pulled out a Thesaurus. Was I too humble and modest or too proud, vain and overbearing?  Was I all of these things, at different times, with different people? Was it positive or negative - did humility actually have two meanings, or did I just have to learn twice as much?

I devoted a lot of time to asking people what they thought humility meant.  Most said humble, others said humiliation. I learned it could mean the opposite of glory. Should I lower my standards, or raise them higher? Am I being a servant instead of being of service?  Did I think I was better than everyone else or not honouring my own worth. Was I learning from people around me, or trying to hard to teach them a lesson? Was I being aggressive, assertive or far too submissive?

These two little cards, made me look deeper... I was all of those things, common and noble.  

My shortcomings are obvious and strengths are many, we are all equal, no more or no less.  All the positive and negative I see is just a reflection of me.  

My well used and abused deck with two doses of humiliy 

G is for Grateful - A-Z challenge - Words of change. Day 8

grateful -|ˈgrātfəl|

adjective

feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness; thankful.

Thursday:  Stressed. At the Library - A book about Reiki lying flat on the shelf. It's a new word, thing, therapy -  so I read it that night.

Friday: At the cafe - Open a newspaper to an advertisement for a Reiki course that starts this weekend. It's being run by the same lady that wrote the book. I ring the lady, she says "you're welcome, it's never to late."

Saturday:  Arrive at retreat early, immediately surrounded by animals - including a kangaroo. I am in nature. Maybe, I might relax. I hope to relax.  Initiated, dream of a lion roaring and a wolf watching.

Sunday:  Time to do yearly meditation, find a sound and choose a significant word. Lovely relaxing meditation. All I hear is birds - "shut up birds I'm trying to meditate."  

I  ask the lady "Am I doing it right? Everybody can hear the birds, we are in the bush, they are outside the window, not in my head -  "Should I've heard an AUM or a tone, something more... enlightening."

She smiles and says "You're doing just fine."

I reach into the bag and choose my word.

Grateful?

"what does that mean, should I just say thank you more often, don't I say it enough, and what sort of bird was that, how will I know if it's the right bird?"

Again she smiles "Give yourself time - you're doing just fine"

Long drive home. Sunset behind me.

Monday: – Wake up in my own bed, my room is a mess, I dread the thought of going to work. Through the noise, I hear a reminder to remember my word.  I'm grateful.... that I start work late and can lie here a bit longer...

More birds chatter and sing their songs, they never stop. From the moment I wake up, to the moment I sleep - chirping whistling chipping, clucking, tsipping, peeking, trilling, cheeping, cooing and cawing, be grateful, be grateful - Every day, week, month, year long, even at night, every single, silent, waking second of my year .

I'm grateful for concrete, I'm grateful for dust, I'm grateful for gifts and grateful for fazes, I'm so grateful for my tiny, one room apartment that has no balcony or air conditioning, because it is secure and shady.

I'm grateful Oprah taught millions of people to write a gratitude journal. I'm grateful for compliments and grateful for grateful and for all my 10 fingers that type what I think.

I'm grateful for every jerk I've been fortunate to meet, they taught me a lot about humanity and myself. I'm grateful for imagination and mind bending trips, and knowing what it means to be free. I'm grateful for fallen angels and people that can't find a job. I'm grateful for everybody, everything, and when I forget, I let birds remind me - again.

Even in moments filled with gloom, 'grateful' threw down the gauntlet to find gratitude.  It is hard to be angry at anything when you are in gratitude - Grateful taught me to be gentle, graceful, glamorous, gracious and good. It was gratifying and felt great... full. 

F is for freedom - A-Z Challenge - Words of Change. Day 6

freedom |ˈfrēdəm| 

noun

the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.

Of all the stories I thought of today, one about an old lady that lived in a dementia ward keeps coming up - so I'll try to make it work - and just for a bit of fun, I'll try and use an F word in every sentence.

Florence was a 96 year old, fine featured polite lady.  She was on no medication, not even a vitamin or pain killer - this is rare amongst the feeble. At first glance it was hard to understand why she was being admitted to the dementia ward, her body was able and she appeared mentally stable. 

She was a suffragette, worked in factories, and an award winning artist. She still appreciated great works of art, but failed to recognised them as her own. She had Alzheimer's disease and had become a danger to herself, she got lost checking her mail and nearly died in a kitchen fire. For over 30 years she refused to leave home or give into the limitations of her disease. Her fox like ability to answer questions with questions, gave her the independence she desired. Her family, with best intentions, had to fool her into submission, and just this once, they hoped it was something she would forget.

A dementia ward is a safe place, all doors are fastened. The staff to resident ratio could be better, but most are designed to feel like a home. If you've never been to a dementia ward, or are suddenly forced to live in one, it can be frightful. Adults with child like minds, that never get smarter, forget their manners and where to put faeces. Florence was very afraid. The first few days she graciously asked to go home, and every night she would wait by the door, ready to be picked up or let out. After a week she became frantic, whenever a guest came to visit, she asked, begged and pleaded "please help me escape, I want to be free"

Florence eventually found freedom in safety, by smashing the little glass window that says 'BREAK IN CASE OF EMERGENCY'.  A state of the art security system was no match for Florence.  The sirens wailed, and all the doors and gates automatically unlocked. While staff tried to find the source of the flames Florence, the fearless, escaped to find freedom.

We finally found Florence outside taking a rest and waiting for...something she couldn't remember. She agreed to come 'home' because she was freezing. We requested more staff so we could focus on her movements - but that was never going to happen. The solution was an automatic sliding door to a fenced in courtyard, which meant she (and the other residents) had access to the outside world, with out needing to ask for permission. Yes, she was trapped by her failing cognition but her legacy includes, first-place for freedom.

***

Nelson Mandela - His Royal Highness the Majesty of Freedom deserves a mention, but for Florence, it means accepting responsibility for everything that happens in your life and letting go of all of your self imposed limitations. Allowing yourself to think, feel and say what you want, instead of what is expected. Simply, give yourself freedom to be you. 

***

Is freedom 'just another word for nothing left to lose?'  Probably, but that just means we

have nothing to worry about. 

E is for Embrace - A-Z challenge - words of change. Day 5

embrace |emˈbrās|

noun

an act of accepting or supporting something willingly or enthusiastically 

When we embrace everything, we empower ourselves to enthusiastically explore, and eventually extend our extraordinary experiences, without embarrassment. - (Do I get bonus points for 10 E words in one sentence?) 

Common questions like - Is it the right job/colour/course/person for me? - require a yes or no answer.  If I chose Embrace, from my little deck of Magic Spirit Cards, it meant YES.  It might not end up feeling like the right job, or man, but embracing it meant, I should choose to do it wholeheartedly, and there are lessons in everything we choose to do, and how we choose to do them. 

If I used the deck for a general reading, and embrace presented itself, it always felt like a gift.  A virtual hug. It made me feel loved, supported and at ease. When the Captain came back into my life, after 11 years, I felt the same way.  His embrace, even before we were in the same hemisphere was enveloping, and we were 16,000 km (10,000 miles) apart.  At first, I embraced our chats on facebook and msn, because it felt safe to love and be loved by someone so far away.  My decision to be single forever was non-negotiable, a long distant love affair seemed a perfect solution. 

When he first came to visit me we immediately embraced. Our knees touched and I surrendered, yet, before he flew away, I tried to let him go - again.  Yes - we had embraced everything, but the distance between Denmark and Melbourne seemed impossible - to be together and so far apart could only be painful.  He wasn't letting me quit that easily.  He knew what he wanted and he was determined to find a way to get it.  His quest was never a question, his dedication and devotion made it so easy for me to destroy my, "non"- negotiable contract, and embrace a life together with him.

Embrace your choices, - embrace the possibility of a good life, embrace your family and friends.  Embrace your silent space within.  

A shout out to my friend Miss Bates at embrace.yourself - I'm almost 20 years older than her, she's on my anywhere/anytime list.  The moment she heard me speak she knew we could be great friends.  A kindred spirit.  We appear so different - tall/short, thin/chunky, classic/exotic beauty (depending on whose judging, the beauty is interchangeable) but our heart songs are the same.  We are both youthful and mature.  Honestly though, her lanky legs and my short stature, makes hugging a little awkward, but we embrace each other emotionally, elegantly, exquisitely endlessly with eloquence.  (only 6 in that one)

Are you looking for an answer to a closed question?  If you landed here today then the answer is Yes - Embrace it.  :)