Angels and Villains

So many significant, moving and wonderful things are occurring in life. It is difficult to decide which would be most helpful to share and uplift. At the same time, remembering it must be kept short and sweet for folks even to have the time and energy to take it in.

A very special Lady in my life went HOME at the end of August. It felt a bit magical that I was just thinking about her strongly hours before. I even fb posted something on death with her in my mind before I heard the news. The stories of other joyful synchronicities surrounding her passing comforted and warmed my heart as it did for others close to her. Fly free Dear Angel. Thank you for your love and happiness that surrounds us......until we meet again 💜

More furbabies brightened my life that I was privileged to care for while their people traveled. They don’t warm up to everyone so I was super grateful as we got closer with each passing day…to the point they didn’t want me to leave. Notice tails a-blur in the last pic anticipating treats 😊 So blessed!

Are you the kind of person that decorates to the hilt for every holiday and special occasion? I was until I unexpectedly began my gypsea journey. If you are, Spirits of the Sea are the perfect unique trim to add to your Halloween collection. Or possibly your celebration of Dia de los Muertos. As you can see, these Ghosts of the Sea shells are each one of a kind. $2 each or 10 for a mere $10. Add a phantom presence by illuminating them from behind with tiny white lights or tea candles or display as you choose.  

While admittedly partial to Dolphins, I am not thrilled with the bad rap Sharks get. Other natural predators aren’t vilified for the way they live, so why these sea beauties? But even “villains” aren’t all evil - although it sometimes takes a master to realize such. For example, Ursula, the Sea Witch. She is self-assured and comfortable in her own skin. Although someone else played a great part in putting this hellion in her sad position, she isn’t satisfied just to stay there but takes action toward her goals. A sense of humor, outstanding voice and doing things different from the crowd also add to her admirable qualities. With Ursula in mind, we offer the Sea Witch Tiara – a thing of dark beauty.

And now, the moment you have awaited with bated breath has arrived. The Winner of the Shark Tooth Contest is (drum roll please)….Kelli Mathisen! Thank you Kelli for all your support of Gifts From the Sea and Other Treasures. We hope you enjoy your impressive fossilized shark tooth prize. Thanks also going out to everyone who participated in our contest and help us spread the word about Gifts From the Sea and Other Treasures!

Opposite of the mega sized tooth, we have a shark toothy tiny frame art. Occasionally, when trying something new, it doesn’t always turn out as planned. Since we feel this is slightly imperfect, here is your opportunity to snatch this treasure up at a sharp discount. Usually our tiny frame art singles are surprisingly only $15. Get this tiny framed tooth shark for a mere $10 plus s+h.

Thank you, dear reader, for being one of the bright angels in my life. It is an incredible journey of ups and downs made more joyful by the energy you impart. Let’s overcome the villains in our lives by noticing the angels around us including the ones we ourselves ARE!

The Only Constant Is Change

Actually, it’s Love but I’ll focus here on change from a human perspective….or maybe a little of both.

Yes, I was on Casey Key....again. Guess I still had unfinished business. Facing the Gulf in front of one of the vacation resorts lining the beach is a huge heart fashioned with love and white clam shells. Carol is the artist. She'd regularly hike up the beach a distance for more construction material (clam shells) carrying them back in a bag. These can get quite heavy. I know personally having collected many myself. (You may have even seen a few transformed into Mermaid Trinket Trays.) **
                                                  

Carol greeted me with her usual cheery, “Good Morning!” Then words came out of my mouth, “You sure get your workout lifting people up!” Her face lit up with happiness as she responded, “Thank you so much!” Thank You Spirit/God/Angels/Universe for giving me just the right human words for the situation. Often, I find myself saying things I hadn’t planned at all, sometimes even using words very uncharacteristic of me, and think immediately after, “Where the heck did that come from?!” But deep down I know.

That was the morning I got the history of how the Shell Heart began. I’d photographed its previous version last year thinking it was a big beach Valentine. Turns out it was more than that. It was a tribute to John and Carol’s son who passed on 3:16 – March 16. Now I understood the shell with the writing inside of Brian 3:16. I knew what John 3:16 usually referred to and this was a loving combination of such. This year, Carol added a shell with her and her husband’s names with their anniversary date. A couple days later, someone else added one with theirs. A few more began to dot the heart. Carol decided to put a cup in the sand filled with markers with a shell next to it encouraging, “Write a message”. And people did. Colorful and varied messages of remembrance, love, encouragement and appreciation are what the shell heart is now made of. It’s doubtful one could walk around reading all the inscriptions and not be deeply moved. I bow to Carol for the profound difference she has made to countless people with her heartfelt act of love!

My life seems to personify change. Especially the past decade. If anyone would have suggested to me 20 years ago I’d be living this gypsea journey, I’d have laughed outright. No home. No defined plan. No end in sight. As many have read in Baring My Soul and Planting a Dream, there is a place I would like to plant myself on this earth - that tropical beach home I can almost touch. It just hasn’t manifested yet so I do my best with each change to enjoy my tour of life and BE in the NOW.

“Changes are what allow your spirit to expand into a greater awareness of your true nature. Through change you witness the many forms and faces of the Divine, for every living being, every inanimate object, every blade of grass, every mountain, every animal, is simply an embodiment of the One love. As you look into the mirrors of creation, you gain a greater awareness of the true Self within. People may come and go but the Divinity that animates them can never leave you. The very love that animates all of creation is One, peering at you through countless eyes, made manifest in oceans, trees, breezes, mountains, and the smallest single-celled animals. In every thought and every breath there is only One love.

Your soul will feel great freedom if, instead of fearing change, you embrace it wholeheartedly. Trust that change is the result of your growth – individually and/or collectively. Trust that your changes, when embraced with love, ultimately lead to a more conscious and happier life.”
~ VisionsofHeaven. com

You have your own individual journey of change whether it is visible to others or not. If you’d like a boost and a little company on the way, perhaps Wellness Couching by Phone will help brighten your trip!

On theme of the sea and experiencing change, one of my dear friends, Rod Thomas, has listed this beautifully restored Island Trader 46’ Ketch Rigged Motorsailer. https://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1982/island-trader-motorsailer-46-3147170/?refSource=browse%20listing  Cruisers are a fun lot who are no strangers to change. If you are one or know anyone who might be interested in this newly restored gem, please contact Captain Rod for more details.

Thanks to cruiser friend Manuela for sharing this appropriate video recently on fb. I also recently “heard” it playing in my head one faintly lit new moon predawn morning. The stars still shown overhead as I stood in the sand, cool waves washing over my feet. You know that it’s “Time For a Cool Change”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bKwRW0l-Qk&feature=share

** Mermaid Trinket Trays are available in our  Mother Daughter etsy shop Gifts From The Sea and Other Treasures. Please swim by, browse and perhaps pick one up for you or your favorite mermaid.

As always, my heart overflows with appreciation for the ongoing support of all manner and the love that forever swirls between us! Aloha ~

My Gypsea Life

Often the word “gypsy” conjures up images of colorfully clad nomads dancing to lively music, reading futures and possibly even conning money from unsuspecting people. Some gypsies may do that but it’s just too much of a generalization for the various kinds of nomads out there today. Most people can’t fathom how I live. When someone has a house, a job, a car, a smartphone……it’s hard to compute peoples’ lives who do not. No complaint, just wanting to clarify as I’ve had many "situations" with folks due to misunderstandings regarding their expectations…in a “normal” world.

As a Gypsea (not a typo but a spelling I have adopted for obvious reasons), I don’t know how long I will be in a particular area. And, even though I may know people there, I don’t always announce myself as I am unable to meet with everyone. Sometimes people find out I’m in town, or was in town, and get offended because we didn’t get together. What they don't realize is I am busy helping wherever I am, busy figuring out what’s next in my unpredictable life, busy working on maintaining my own life-balance. If we are meant to meet in person, it will, and does, flow peacefully.

Being more technologically challenged than most, I do the best I can at staying connected. Surprising to many, I could easily be a recluse but, for now, it feels appropriate for me to keep in touch via human words.

I am generally not tethered to technology, like the masses, and email is currently my best means of communication. Unlike others on facebook (and other social media platforms), my goal is not to get my numbers of friends high just for a massive number but to have quality connections. Interestingly, I had almost 20 facebook friends who transitioned to their next life. I kept them in my friend list for years as it almost felt profane to “unfriend” them. The realization came that it was time to let go. I thought of every one of them, tenderly having a beautiful few moments of communion with each, as I removed the earthly fb link I had with them that we both no longer need. They will always remain in my heart.

Since I don’t have a smartphone, certain interactions people want me to have with them are not possible such as Instagram, snapchat, whatsapp and the like. Many earth angels have offered to provide me a smartphone – some even with service! It is my choice, at this time, not to have one thank you 😊

From a social media standpoint, facebook has been the easiest for me to connect with people although it has acquired quite a few not so helpful features. I used to get email notifications every time someone commented within the parameters I created in my settings. The messages were all spelled out in the email – meaning I could read them offline as I am not always on the internet like most. I could even compose an email offline to that person if a response was fitting which I could do a quick email send/receive if I only had brief internet access. The most challenging fb issue being that now I have to log onto Messenger to read the messages that used to be complete in my email. To add insult to injury, when I click the link from the email about a new message in Messenger, it doesn’t even show up so I have to open a complete new window anyway to read it.

Occasionally, I post to linkedin, pinterest, twitter and G+ but it is humanly impossible for me to thoughtfully keep up with any of those. Probably the main reason I post to those platforms is to share things for my friends that I think would be valuable to and appreciated by others.

A fairly new social media platform, MeWe, appears to show promise. There are no ads and they seem to respect members' privacy much more. Click here if you wish to check it out or join me there.

The concept of freely giving is something I have shared about in many of my previous blog posts – one being ALOHA Land 
Consider a new way of living - Free World One. I hope someday you'll join us. Then the world will live as ONE!!

Another giving/exchange platform I’d like to see grow is Simbi - mentioned also in past blog I AM HOME.

With any format, whether email or any social platforms, it is not predictable as to if I am in a position to respond. This could be hours, days, weeks or months depending on living conditions, time, and technology availability.

The way I see it; True Friends are a special breed. They understand life varies for infinite reasons on all sides. They are the ones that could go for months, years or even a lifetime without apparent contact. Then, when we do communicate again, we simply pick up where we left off…..

Sometimes Gypseas do sell things…especially with an ocean flair! Are you looking for a one of a kind holiday gift? Something for your favorite Mermaid/Merman? Something for yourself? You might be able to cover one or all bases at Gifts From The Sea and Other Treasures,  a Mother – Daughter (ad)venture.

Thank you all for BEing in my life. Together, with all our differences and similarities, we make this world a brighter place!!