Equilibrium

22/08/2025

Grandmother Moon is in the house of Virgo, and she is in her new moon phase. This is a good time to commit to personal goals that express positive energies. These might include working on your health, making lists of things to accomplish and checking them off, managing some mindful meditations, or learning to keep your mind clear of clutter. We are experiencing a great potential for raised consciousness. We are filled with innovative and inventive ideas. What magic will you create for yourself

09/08/2025

I think one of the most helpless times in life is sitting at the bedside watching death slowly approach.

So often I have walked into a room when family is standing at the side of the room, watching. Watching their special person dying. They don’t know what to do, what is okay to do, not to do, what they should be doing — so they do nothing. They quietly stand and watch from afar.

Here are my suggestions:

What does your heart say you want to do? Hold your person, kiss them, get in bed with them? Do it!

This is a special life opportunity. The person who is dying a gradual death has been processing their life on many different levels since their diagnosis. They have been putting the pieces of their billion piece jigsaw puzzle of life together. It can be healing for everyone if each person present spends time alone with the person dying. Talks to them, tells them what is in their heart. Talk about the good times and the challenging times. This is the final goodbye. The person can hear, can feel your presence.

After each person has had their alone time, make telephone calls to those that want to be there but are unable. The person dying is non-responsive, but they can hear. So hold the phone to their ear and tell the person on the other end of the phone to speak from their heart and say everything they need to say.

When each person has had their opportunity to privately say goodbye, gather in the room, be at the bedside, hold their hand, and sit or lay on the bed. Do what your heart tells you to do as you keep vigil.

There is no need to have a darkened quiet room. You may wish to play their favorite music and favorite songs. As the vigil continues, share stories of relationships and look at photos and scrapbooks.

This is truly sacred time. This time can bring comfort in the years to come.

Something more...

If you want gentle guidance for every step of the dying process — what to do, what to say, and how to bring comfort — explore By Your Side: A Guide for Caring for the Dying at Home. This guidebook offers clear, compassionate instructions for families and caregivers. Order your copy here: https://bkbooks.com/products/by-your-side-a-guide-for-caring-for-the-dying-at-home

Here is a review of BY YOUR SIDE:

I ordered this book for a friend whose mom is in hospice. She feels so supported by Barbara and really appreciates the guidance she was seeking. Thank you!

Kimberly L. United States

08/08/2025

07/08/2025

HEL IN NORSE MYTHOLOGY

Hel (Old Norse) is a female being in Norse mythology who is said to preside over an underworld realm of the same name, where she receives a portion of the dead. Hel is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century. In addition, she is mentioned in poems recorded in Heimskringla and Egils saga that date from the 9th and 10th centuries, respectively. An episode in the Latin work Gesta Danorum, written in the 12th century by Saxo Grammaticus, is generally considered to refer to Hel, and Hel may appear on various Migration Period bracteates. In the Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, and Heimskringla, Hel is referred to as a daughter of Loki. In the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning, Hel is described as having been appointed by the god Odin as ruler of a realm of the same name, located in Niflheim. In the same source, her appearance is described as half blue and half flesh-coloured and further as having a gloomy, downcast appearance. The Prose Edda details that Hel rules over vast mansions with many servants in her underworld realm and plays a key role in the attempted resurrection of the god Baldr. Scholarly theories have been proposed about Hel's potential connections to figures appearing in the 11th-century Old English Gospel of Nicodemus and Old Norse Bartholomeus saga postola, that she may have been considered a goddess with potential Indo-European parallels in Bhavani, Kali, and Mahakali or that Hel may have become a being only as a late personification of the location of the same name.
Bywikii.,photo.,pinterest..

07/08/2025

NORNS

The Norns (Old Norse: norn [ˈnorn], plural: nornir [ˈnornɪr]) are a group of deities in Norse mythology responsible for shaping the course of human destinies.The Norns are often represented as three goddesses known as Urd (Urðr), Verðandi, and Skuld, who weave the threads of fate and tend to the world tree, Yggdrasill, ensuring it stays alive at the center of the cosmos.

The Three Norns

1)Urd- Represents the past and fate that's already been determined.
2)Verdandi- Represents the present and the unfolding of fate.
3)Skuld- Represents the future and the potential outcomes of current actions.

The Norns' Role

1)Shaping Destiny - The Norns are believed to weave the threads of fate, determining the course of lives for both gods and mortals.

2)Guardians of Yggdrasil - They also care for Yggdrasil, the world tree, which is said to be the center of the cosmos.

The Norns are mysterious and powerful figures in Norse mythology, symbolizing the complexities of fate and the interconnectedness of all things.
Bywikii.,photo by Pinterest

10/06/2025

01/06/2025

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

( ✍️Jalaluddin Rumi )

Translation by Coleman Barks

Art : Enkel Dika - 'Tree of Life'

05/05/2025

The snake bit the hen, and with the poison burning in her body, she sought refuge in her henhouse.

But the other hens preferred to expel her so that the poison would not spread.

The hen limped away, crying in pain. Not because of the bite, but because of the abandonment and disdain of her own family at the time when she needed them most.

And so she left... burning with fever, dragging one of her legs, vulnerable to the cold nights.

With each step, a tear fell.

The hens in the henhouse watched her go away, watching her disappear on the horizon. Some said to each other:

— Let her go... She will die far from us.

And when the hen finally vanished into the immensity of the horizon, they were all sure that she had died.

Some even looked at the sky, hoping to see vultures flying.
Time passed.

Much later, a hummingbird came to the henhouse and announced:

— Your sister is alive! She lives in a cave far away from here.

She recovered, but lost a leg from the snake bite.
She has trouble finding food and needs your help.

There was silence. Then the excuses began:

— I can't go, I'm laying eggs...

— I can't go, I'm looking for corn...

— I can't go, I have to take care of my chicks...

So, one by one, they all rejected the request. The hummingbird returned to the cave without help.

Time passed again.

Much later, the hummingbird returned, but this time with painful news:

— Your sister has passed away... She died alone in the cave... There is no one to bury her or mourn her.

At that moment, a weight fell on everyone. A deep lament filled the henhouse.

Those who were laying eggs stopped.

Those who were looking for corn left the seeds behind.

Those who were caring for chicks forgot about them for a moment.

Regret hurt more than any poison. Why didn't we go before?, they asked themselves.

And without measuring the distance or the effort, they all set off for the cave, crying and lamenting. Now they had a reason to see her, but it was too late.

When they got to the cave, they didn't find the hen... They only found a letter that said:

"In life, many times people don't cross the street to help you when you're alive, but they cross the world to bury you when you die.

And most of the tears at funerals are not from pain, but from remorse and regret."

01/05/2025

The Bloodlines of Britain: A Legacy Forged in War and Migration
🧬⚔️🇬🇧🌍

The history of Britain is a tapestry woven from many peoples—Celts, Picts, Anglo-Saxons, Norse, Normans, and Bretons—shaped by conquest, resistance, and migration.

The Celts
🌿🛡️⛰️
The first masters of the Isles, the Celts built rich traditions across Britain and Ireland. Though many were displaced, Celtic languages and DNA remain strong in Wales, Ireland, and Cornwall.

The Picts
🗡️🗿⚔️
Scotland’s painted warriors fought Roman invaders and helped form the Kingdom of Alba, leaving lasting marks in Scottish Highlands and beyond.

The Anglo-Saxons
🏰🛶📜
After Rome fell, Germanic tribes founded kingdoms across Britain, shaping English language, law, and identity—especially in the south and east.

The Norse
⚓️🐉🏹
Vikings raided and settled Britain, creating the Danelaw, founding cities like York, and blending Norse-Gaelic cultures in Scotland and Ireland.

The Normans
🦅🏹🏰
Norsemen-turned-French lords, the Normans conquered England in 1066, introducing feudalism, castle-building, and heavy Latin influence on English.

The Bretons
🐎🗡️📜
Celtic cousins from Brittany, Bretons joined the Norman invasions, carrying Arthurian legends and Celtic heritage back to British soil.

Global Impact
🌍🚢🛡️
These tribes didn’t just shape Britain—they built the foundations for global influence through law, governance, and empire.

Genetic Legacy
🧬📊🧭
Modern Britain is a braided rope of ancestries: Celtic strongholds in the west, Anglo-Saxon and Viking DNA in the east, and Norman threads in the south.

talesofvalhalla.com/collections/axes

22/04/2025

Patience visited me
And it reminded me
That good things take time to come to fruition
And grow slowly with stability

Peace visited me
And it reminded me
That I may remain calm through the storms of life
Regardless of the chaos surrounding me

Hope visited me
And it reminded me
That better times lay ahead
And it would always be there to guide and uplift me

Humility visited me
And it reminded me
That I may achieve it
Not by trying to shrink myself and make myself less
But by focusing on serving the world and uplifting those around me

Kindness visited me
And it reminded me
To be more gentle, forgiving and compassionate toward myself
And those surrounding me

Confidence visited me
And it reminded me
To not conceal or suppress my gifts and talents
In order to make others feel more comfortable
But to embrace what makes me me

Focus visited me
And it reminded me
That other people’s insecurities and judgements about me
Are not my problem
And I should redirect my attention
From others back to me

Freedom visited me
And it reminded me
That no one has control over my mindset, thoughts and wellbeing
But me

And love visited me
And it reminded me
That I need not search for it in others
As it lies within me.

-unknown
Artist unknown

16/04/2025

As the sun rises on this new day, I open my heart to all possibilities. I am exactly where I need to be on my journey, growing stronger with each challenge and more grateful with each blessing. Today, I choose to trust the process of my life blossoming. I release yesterday's doubts and embrace today's potential. My best moments are still ahead of me, and I move forward with hope, courage, and an open heart. I am worthy of all the good that is coming my way.

~ Etheric Echoes Etheric Echoes

~ Art by Sophia Love Storey Sophia Love Storey

15/04/2025

Life is like a long road, full of different turns and unexpected stops. Sometimes it’s smooth, and sometimes it’s bumpy. On this road, we have to take the good with the bad. We must learn to enjoy the happy times and also be strong during the sad times.

There will be days when you feel like smiling, and days when you feel like crying. But both are part of the journey. Don’t forget to love what you have now, and also remember the good things and people you had in the past. They are all part of your story.

Forgiveness is also important. If someone hurt you, try to forgive, not for them, but for your own peace. But don’t forget the lesson it taught you. Every mistake, every wrong turn, teaches you something valuable. Learn from it and move forward.

People will change, and that’s okay. Some will stay in your life, and some will walk away. Things will go wrong, plans will break, and dreams may fall apart. But don’t give up.

The most important thing is to keep going. Life doesn’t stop for anyone. So hold on, keep your head up, and stay strong. The ride goes on.
— The Storyteller 💖🌻🦋