in the silence...

The rain has been falling for two days, it's so therapeutic for me.

Having spent most of my growing up years in Germany, I feel most centered and at home when it rains.  I love the sounds, smells and the feeling of the air.

I also enjoy the fact that it forces us to slow.  I have a book I want to read (I haven't started it yet, but I will), I started a project that means a great deal for my heart.  It's a gift, so I can't even show you a picture.  Starting that project gives me the permission that I find I desperately need to stop and slow down, to simply sit with Hubs and enjoy a show.  To allow the therapy of a needle and thread to still my thoughts and draw me into the beauty being created.

Yesterday was the monthly psychic fair at my favorite little shop in Maplewood.  I feel drawn to it each month, like a moth to a light.  I don't want to miss it. Something about that little shop makes me feel calm.  It instills a peace in me that I find I truly need in my life right now.

I've been trying a different reader and medium each time.  Each time has been uniquely different, and at the same time all of them have given me something to think about. I think that is what I find so freeing about my monthly trip there.  I did need to get my sage, and I forgot to pick up the candles that I wanted, but I had so much to swirling in my brain that I simply wanted time to process it.

What we did remember to buy was a small xylophone for Hubs.  While I was doing my first reading I heard someone playing with the different bowls and pipes.  It was calming and beautiful.  As I finished and turned around - there was Hubs.  Completely engrossed in the Free Tone. The sounds softly filled the shop and it truly resonated calm and peace. The music was naturally pouring out of him and his calmness evident.

I didn't think twice, I simply bought it.  I want my sweet Hubs to be with me for a very long time, our life journey is definitely together and I might be a tad greedy.  Therefore anything that can bring him that much peace is a definite must have.

He loves music and sound, I often tease him that he needs a soundtrack to his life.  Honestly, maybe he does.  Because the music he was making yesterday could definitely be a soundtrack to mine.

I had wanted to spend a bit more time in Maplewood.  The small shops bring me happiness.  I could spend hours lost in most of them, which is saying something since I hate to shop.  I really enjoy the quirkiness of those kind of places.  I want to support them in a way I am not drawn to big box stores.  Unfortunately, some of them have put a bad taste in my mouth so to speak, so I didn't choose to linger,  I went in search of other places and experiences.

Then this morning as I am surfing through my emails quickly, looking to see if there was anything I truly needed to read or if it was simply junk mail, I was assaulted by more of what had bothered me so deeply just yesterday.

I am a pretty big proponent of live and let live.  I am not going to tell you how to feel, who to love, who you should pray to, or well basically anything.  I firmly believe that each of us is on a journey in this life and none of our journey's are the same. I don't care what your political beliefs are - nor will I beat you up for them.  I am not here to judge if you are thin or heavy, eat meat or don't. I don't care about basically anything except how you treat others.

Are you a good human?  Do you treat people and animals with care and love?  Cool, you are a rock star in my book.

So I prefer to not have a daily dose of politics, hatred and assaults on anyone served up with my interactions with companies I purchase things from.  An example is a spice shop I used to love, I can't deal with the hatred spewed by the owner in the guise of peace, love and hope.  It doesn't matter to me who you vote for, what your beliefs are, etc.  What matters is that we all respect other's thoughts and beliefs, while being true to our own.  Wouldn't it be an incredibly boring and unfulfilling world if we were all the same?

I mean seriously... I am a totally odd duck.  Most people never get to know me deep enough to understand who I am and what makes me tick.  And frankly, I'm good with that.  Because bits and pieces of a person do not explain the whole.

Yet this individual spews so much hatred to push his own beliefs that he doesn't care about the people he might be hurting in the end.  He's gone so far as to say too bad if they don't think like I do they can stay away from my business.  Yet, it's all about hope, love and acceptance.  To me... those things do not describe the daily tirades that he sends out.

There are other spice shops, there are people working in them that treat everyone with value, love and acceptance.  Those are my people.  I will find them.  I have worked hard to eliminate the haters from my life.  I don't need to support them financially.

I really wish that companies would stop playing into the divisiveness that is ruining our country.  That they would stop feeding that ugly beast. Maybe that is why I find peace when I go to Mystic Valley.  It's like a judgement free zone.  My inner hippie child is able to just be one with other people that all want the same thing.

Wow, I guess I've rambled on about some serious randomness today.  The laundry is waiting and so is my project.  I want to work on it for at least an hour, but this felt pressing.  Who knows why.

I am thankful for another rainy day.  A chance to slow and connect with the world. How about you?