Monday 21 April 2014

Prophetic Dreams, Fears, Anxieties, Reflections - Where the wild things are.

I am about to get fairly deep in this post (yeah, I do tend to do that from time to time). This is a topic I've been contemplating for a few days, weeks, months and even years now. Do you believe in prophetic dreams? The scientific and logical side of most brains says, NO way, there is an explanation for most, even the unconscious mind can be figured out. However, the spiritual side and eons of different beliefs tends to debate and disagree. I am beginning to believe there is more to it than scientific facts.

For example, did you know Abraham Lincoln was said to have dreamt of his own body laying in a coffin two weeks before he was assassinated?

Not to mention people talk of bad omens all the time that signify death or years of bad luck, such as witnessing a bird die, mirrors breaking, owls seen during daylight, hearing knocks. The list goes on.
I can attest to a few.

When I left university and began my career in 2006 I had a free standing mirror perched up on somewhat of a shelf, occasionally I would think to myself "Someday that mirror is going to fall from there," and late 2006 it did fall. Well we all know how the superstitious would have you believe, "when a mirror breaks, you will endure SEVEN years of bad luck." From the period of 2007-2014 I did, indeed have those seven years of bad luck. I lost my brother, my father, both grandfathers, my grandmother, and two aunts. If you average that out, it's a death in the family a year. If that's not bad luck, by all means try to convince me so. I do understand that people come in and out of our lives for different reasons, and that it is all far beyond our control. At this point I have been pretty used to the idea that people come and go and learning to let go can be very challenging. Two weeks before my brother passed away I dreamt of the exact same accident he was in occurring, I didn't know all who were involved, but I knew it was someone very close to me and where it occurred, a week after that a pheasant flew into my windshield as I was driving home from work.
Those are just two things that have happened that were quite coincidental, around the same time. Were they brought on by fears and anxieties? I don't know, but I know I've been afraid of other things occurring and never had a vivid dream where it lead to something happening for real.

I have heard of many other occurrences with people and strange events which had led them to believe they were precursors to what was going to happen. To tell you the truth, I don't really remember my dreams unless they have had an underlying meaning of things to unfold. Maybe it's just me analysing the dream, or maybe these prophetic dreams are part of who I am.

I believe my loved ones who have passed only visit me when they have a message to send. Whether its that I'm not making the best choices for myself or I'm running late, I seem to have someone from my past wake me up in the dream sending the message that I've got so much more to live for, I may be late for work and/or the bell has been rung.

Lately, since my father has passed, I've had dreams with two mountain lions around the perimeter of my surroundings, not causing me harm, but watching. I had a black bat attack my hand and then fly into a house continuing to try to escape and attack me, June bug land on my shoulder and then buzz off. I'm sure you're wondering what I've been taking at night, but I haven't changed anything. I feel like these are all signs of moving past my biggest fears, trusting my intuition more and moving on, I think they may somehow represent the lurking danger of not making more positive changes in my life.

I don't know where this life leads but I do believe that stagnation and remaining where I'm at will only let my fears get the best of me. One of the biggest steps I need to take is letting go of the negativity and stop attracting more in my life. Accept the fears in my life, which sometimes riddle my mind. This past weekend I read a lot on the subject of letting go, living in the moment and focusing on the future. I woke up this morning a new soul, I am not looking back. Here is a quote on fear, and more importantly drive. Whats' it going to be?



Monday 27 January 2014

Arctic cold fronts, musical breaks, alluring skates, all thanks to the start of 2014.

Hello and welcome to the first post of 2014.

What in 2014 is worth a mention today? Perhaps the third week in this year of -20 degree Celsius weather. The dreadful cold that we have so nicely been rewarded with which makes you not want to leave your house in the morning (.. maybe that's another issue altogether...pft), regardless, it's the coldest I've ever experienced for January. This week the winds have decided to pick up, so now there is an added windchill which makes it feel like it's -35 degrees (booyah). Do I consider the cold "extreme weather" not necessarily, if there was a lot of blowing snow along with it each day, perhaps. The snow hasn't been too bad, it's really just the bitter cold. I hope January takes the cake for this "Arctic cold front," and the temperatures come up a lot for February.

That is probably the only negative thing I can say about Canada for the month of January. The other items to be mentioned have been pretty incredible.

I was able to get out for an early skate with my older brother an a friend in Barrie. It was nice to get back on the skates, I know I roller bladed in the summer, but ice skating beats that any day. There is something about every time you go for an outdoor skate you always pair it with hot cocoa on the way home or make a yummy one once you are home. Phenomenal mix, I swear.

Mid January we went to a show at the Sound Academy, Jake Bugg and Albert Hammond Jr. were playing. To be honest I had never heard of them before December, but when you're with someone who has amazing musical taste and contributes to your collection you start exploring after a while. This exploring has for sure enabled me to take in some great shows. Jake Bugg even did a cover of the great Neil Young, coincidentally enough so did Frank Turner when we went to see him in December. Both performed the songs well, I captured both on my phone because I was so happy to hear that. Jake and Frank are both English folk/indie artists, I was in love on both occasions. I really enjoyed Albert Hammond Jr. too - he sounds great even with a flu. Since the pictures do the artists no justice and my vids take so long to upload, there is neither offered here :P but here is a link to the Jake Bugg performance of Neil Youngs - My My, Hey Hey.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=843561285984&l=1694717382773353893

The weekend following we got away to Ottawa for the weekend, skated 16kms up and down the Rideau Canal, had a fantastic dinner (service wasn't the greatest), stayed at the Lord Elgin (stonethrow from the canal through the park) and woke up for another skate and brunch. It was an amazing time. I have, included some of the pictures my guy took from the day which I've edited here and there. I would do this again many times, there were so many people on the canal, it's very scenic, and for sure makes you feel Canadian. To the right is a map of the Rideau Canal Skateway.

Lord Elgin - Across the street is the Confederation Park which you walk through to get to the canal

Where we entered the canal this is right across from the National Arts Centre in Ottawa

The Laurier overpass on the Rideau Canal


The Queensway overpass on the Rideau Canal

A little hub in the Patterson Creek area - at the 2.2km mark.

One of the best shots - The Fairmont is the castle looking figure in the back :)

Along the canal - huts with Beavertails and hot chocolate - we stopped here.

Me!
 
A very handsome couple :) our photographer was having a nervous time, but he did well.
Aside from the trip to Ottawa and a few social outings here and there :) I was able to join a friend who came in town to visit for a week at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. The evening consisted of violins, woodwinds (oboe and bassoons - which are my fav) and piano. The gentleman playing Mozart on the piano was incredible, what a night. I'm looking forward to more musical outings in 2014, Toronto really has so much to offer.