[Posted 6:30 PM EST - Thursday evening, 1/31/2008]
Click my picture and listen www.drstandleylive.com
Visit me at www.myspace.com/mentator

MAN-MADE MAPS VS.
GOD-MADE MAPS

Click my picture and listen www.drstandleylive.com
Visit me at www.myspace.com/mentator

Send to a friend

Osiyo or 'Siyo

So my brother Sam (Gemini) comes over a little while ago and gives me a brand spankin' NEW! six person raft. Out of the clear blue he has this raft for me because he knows I'm an outdoor junkie. I just Love getting outdoors-dirty. This is an awesome raft complete with oars and a place for a trolling motor. I'm just jazzed out of my mind about this raft. He opens the box and starts pulling out all the pieces (the pump, the oars, the raft) and spreads the raft all over the floor and then says, "Well, there it is. I gotta go, see ya' later." We just laughed because he was going back to work and left me to put this heavy duty, heavy weighted, sooper-dooper raft back in the box exactly the way it came out. Well we thought it was funny because ya' see folks, both Sam and I are the type of people who would put Christmas lights back in the box exactly they way they came out. He left as quickly as he showed up. Who was that masked man? This has nothing to do with the Daily Message today, I just wanted to share how generous, goofey and Gemini he is and in just a few short months he will become a grandpa for the first time. And he's the only person I know who's head (the circumference) is bigger than mine. Hmmmmm . . Gemini does rule the brain. (winky wink)

Folks, when you read your daily horoscope, use that information to your advantage. For instance, when the Moon is in Scorpio, as it is today, you will always be able to see me ram-jam on this website. Or I might write about getting organized or how a sloppy and slovenly work ethic drives me up a wall. This is because 'today' in the Gemini Daily Horoscope the Scorpio Moon is in Gemini's 6th house of daily routine, work ethic, health, hygiene and organization. So when the Scorpio Moon moves through that house, I take advantage of that extra boost of energy. After all, Scorpio is naturally ruled by Pluto which is the higher octave of Mars (aggression). Now imagine how powerful and aggressive that Scorpio Moon is especially when channeled properly. If channeled improperly I might choose to become cranky over everyone else's disorganization thereby becoming disorganized myself by not focusing on my own stuff.

Interesting enough the personal trainer I met on Sunday at the small gathering e-mailed me today to follow-up on her becoming my trainer. Remember this 6th house also rules daily regimen, health, fitness and hygiene, so of course during the Scorpio Moon she would most likely contact me when my "health and fitness house" is the focus. Folks, when it is the Truth it shows up everywhere. Oh wow . . and look! Scorpio is a water sign and a huge raft shows up today in what would be my idea of 'fitness' by enjoying and participating in the great outdoors.

When you read your daily horoscope, don't just read it and go about your business. Work it baby work it! You might notice that I have already re-organized the daily horoscope page and prepared for February. I'm ahead by five days already on the set-up. Well this is the influence of the Scorpio Moon on me in my 'daily regimen' which is writing daily horoscopes. The last thing I wanted to do last night was sleep. Actually I never want to sleep and I usually just keep going until I just tip over. I also worked fast and furious on that other HUGE project that I have going on. Even though the Moon is Void of Course in Scorpio today, I responded to over 600 e-mails this morning and I'm finally caught up. What I'm trying to say is that I play UP the Moon when it rolls through a particular house. So tomorrow the Moon will be in Scorpio for a third straight day only the Moon will be void of course in Scorpio all day until it reaches Sagittarius at 5:08 PM EST. Even through the void moon we can all still channel our energy positively, especially when we are aware of the void moon ahead of time. If you are aware, then the void of course moon shouldn't even phase you.

In closing, I do follow world/current affairs and political events quite closely. For your FYI, John Edwards bows out of the presidential race today. Hmmmmm . . did you know his Sun is in his 12th house of the hidden realm, just like mine? It's people like John Edwards and myself who shine from behind the scenes . . not out in front. You don't need to see me in person and you really don't need to see him in person. His presidential bid was never going to materialize. And Rudy Giuliani needs to write books, do his speaking engagements and smile. (winky wink)

I have started updating the Spiritual Progression Path again. I apologize for the loss of organization but I'm back on track now.

If you haven't gotten off your 'Rumpelstiltskin' and listened to my online radio show what the heck are you waiting for? Click and listen. Read the last daily message titled, January Gentle Reminders. Don't forget to read your daily Spiritual Progression Path.

Denadagohvyu ['Until we meet again' in Cherokee]

A bazillion blessings~ Dr. Loretta Standley

[ back to top ]

[Posted 5:30 PM EST - Tuesday afternoon, 1/29/2008]
Click my picture and listen www.drstandleylive.com
Visit me at www.myspace.com/mentator

Send to a friend

Osiyo or 'Siyo

It's that time again for a few gentle reminders since there are so many new visitors coming to the site since last month. This website is becoming more popular every day [in record numbers] and it is now ranked 126,907 in the entire world out of between 75-80 million 'active' domain names world-wide. It's just crazy cool.

1) Over the next 22 days (until February 18) while Mercury is Retrograde, not everything is going to be Mercury Retrogrades fault because there are plenty of other planetary influences doing their thing. Check your weekly horoscope to see all the action. It looks like I finally figured out a way to keep up on those weekly horoscopes huh? Now see, if you just be patient with me while I figure out how to handle this whale of a site, then I'll figure out a way that makes it fun for me and enlightening for you. Remember - I gotta have fun or I won't play. (winky wink)

2) All TYS e-Course students who ordered the TYS e-Course Session 1 after November 30th, 2007 - please e-mail me at tys-ecourse@drstandley.com for your updated version. It will be up to you to e-mail me in order to get your updated Session 1 version. This new version is actually 3 pages longer so if I were you, I'd e-mail me to get it.

3) Also with the TYS e-Course, anyone who ordered this should have had a conversation with me before they began the program. I write this into the e-mail when I send you the first session. Folks, I won't chase you down because this is something you need to do on your own. I'm the easiest person on the planet to contact, so let's go!

4) Those of you who have ordered a Transits and Progressions Report should have also had a conversation with me when I emailed the report to you. Folks, I happen to be a bit Type-A (North Node Virgo) and I enjoy having a conversation with you to help you learn how to use this report to your advantage. I want you to understand it. Again, I will not chase you down for this conversation, as it is up to you to call. I write that into your email. A Transits and Progressions Report is actually your personal horoscope for nearly every single hour during the time period you ordered. This report is tailored to your birth date whereas the daily horoscopes I write are written for an entire population of people. Your horoscope does not get more exact than it does when you read your Transits and Progressions Report.

5) I have been working on something BIG FOLKS -- BIG! -- actually HUGE! So during Mercury Retrograde I will be wrapping it up with a pretty bow. If I get it complete before then I'll let you know. It's just more and more of you getting to know you better. It's always about you, isn't it. (winky wink)

If you haven't gotten off your 'Rumpelstiltskin' and listened to my online radio show what the heck are you waiting for? Click and listen. Read the last daily message titled, R.S.V.P. - répondez, s'il vous plaît. Don't forget to read your daily Spiritual Progression Path.

Denadagohvyu ['Until we meet again' in Cherokee]

A bazillion blessings~ Dr. Loretta Standley

[ back to top ]

[Posted 6:30 PM EST - Monday evening, 1/28/2008]
Click my picture and listen www.drstandleylive.com
Visit me at www.myspace.com/mentator

Send to a friend

Osiyo or 'Siyo

R.S.V.P. stands for the French phrase, "répondez, s'il vous plaît," which means "please reply." Even if a person doesn't know what R.S.V.P. means as a phrase, they still know what it means in its shortened version. When someone sends you an invitation they are asking whether you will accept or decline the invitation. R.S.V.P. is pretty simple because all it requires is a response. Yes or No? When someone is trying to figure out how much food and beverage to serve then a response of "maybe" or "I'll try" just doesn't cut it. Not to mention, it's just common courtesy to respond. I mean, it's an INVITATION! Actually folks, I just find it incredibly rude and self-important when a person does not even respond to an invite. Again, a simple yes or no will do. The party will go on without you but the one who sent the invitation would still like to know if you can come because they would probably Love to have you.

I learned a lot about showing up to invites from my friend John (Julie's husband) who passed 2-1/2 years ago. When John was invited to something, by golly that man showed up. He always made an appearance no matter what. That man never passed up an invitation. He felt if someone was nice enough to include him, he was going, especially if it was some form of celebration. John had so many invitations that his opportunities in other areas of his Life were increased 10-fold simply because he had connected with so many people. I could sit and listen for hours as Julie re-lives all of his crazy adventures.

Yesterday I was at a small and I mean very small gathering that twelve people were invited to. Two of the twelve people said they could not make it, four of the twelve including myself said they would make it and the other six people never even bothered to respond. Further, one of four people who said they would make it, didn't show up. I was really blown away that six of the twelve did not even take the time to respond. Interestingly enough, we were given four ways to respond and the other six couldn't even do that. I just found it rude and self-involved because no one is that busy that they can't even respond to an R.S.V.P. Certainly something could have come up with the one who said he would come and didn't. That's understandable because Life happens, except for the fact that we saw this other person who responded to the R.S.V.P. walk right past us. That was weird.

The other thing is that the twelve of us invited don't really know each that well, and most of us didn't really know each other at all, so it was a perfect opportunity to connect. Besides there might have been an opportunity that would manifest down the road as a result of the connection. After all, something has to get the ball rolling. That's what John would have done, but then again John would have accepted the invitation simply on the basis that he was invited. One of the three us who did show up happened to be a personal trainer, which I lit up when I found that out and I became anxious to chat with her about training me a couple of times a week since I'm basically on my 'Rumpelstiltskin' for hours at a time. I'm an outdoors gal, so the winter months really cramp by style. Going into February I'm literally starving for motion beyond my bike, my gazelle and my morning yoga.

Folks, take the time to respond when you are invited to something. It would be hard for me to believe that an invitation is "just" an invitation and unimportant. Invitations are opportunities, you can accept them or decline them but at least respond to them. I've been accused of thinking too deep about things that are not supposed to be deep. In my world folks, it's all deep thinking or higher thinking because everything means something to me. So let's go even deeper and really stretch this thing. How many times have you sent out invitations and didn't receive the response you desired? Everyone enjoys a generous response from their invitations so this would be a perfect time to recognize the Universal Law of Reciprocity or (the Law of Attraction) in your Life. If you don't respond to others invitations, what kind of response do you receive from your invitations? Now I challenge you to stretch this invitation even further but now, apply it to God.

If you haven't gotten off your 'Rumpelstiltskin' and listened to my online radio show what the heck are you waiting for? Click and listen. Read the last daily message titled, The Transformation Game. Don't forget to read your daily Spiritual Progression Path.

Denadagohvyu ['Until we meet again' in Cherokee]

A bazillion blessings~ Dr. Loretta Standley

[ back to top ]

[Posted 10:25 AM EST - Friday morning, 1/25/2008]
Click my picture and listen www.drstandleylive.com
Visit me at www.myspace.com/mentator

Send to a friend

Osiyo or 'Siyo

I woke up this morning with a strong desire to share with you my favorite game. It's called, "The Transformation Game by Innerlinks" and it's actually a board game. This Game can be found in many bookstores or metaphysical bookstores. I was first introduced to this Game by my friends Cindy (Aries) and Linda (Pisces). I will NEVER forget the first time I played this Game because it was the first time someone called me on my stuff in such a Loving, honest and spiritually motivated setting. It was nuttin' but Love among friends just trying to figure out their Life. "H" (Virgo) and I have played this Game a bajillion times.

The Game is played with at least two players but preferably four. It's just makes for more insight when you have more players. I prefer to play with people that I know well like "H" even though I have gotten upset with her when she nailed me with an insight or awareness. (winky wink "H") The Game begins with each player choosing an individual "Playing Focus," which you hold in your mind's eye and then choose a certain number of cards from each of the decks and put these cards into your "Personal Unconscious" envelope while you are still holding your "Playing Focus" in your mind's eye. You won't know what cards you chose until you draw on them from your "Personal Unconscious" envelope and then they will give you profound awareness and insight regarding your focus as you play The Game. And get this, you also have a "Personality Marker" to move around the board, which is a small crystal or you may choose to use your favorite stone or gem.

The Game has several decks of small cards with the Game board. The decks include the Life Angel Deck, Life Angels, Life Insights, Life Setbacks and Universal Feedback. There is also an Intuitive Flash Coin and tiny "pain" cards with a teardrop on them. It also has four Life Path scorecards that you will use (physical, emotional, mental and spiritual). First you are "born" onto the Physical Level. As you move along your Life Path on the game board, you will experience insights, awarenesses, setbacks and even some pain as you begin to fill up your Physical Level scorecard. Oh yeah folks, this is a powerful Game and very transforming if you are serious about it. Once you have mastered the Physical Level and completed your scorecard, then you can move on to the Emotional Level, then on to the Mental Level and then finally on to the Spiritual Level. So if you have health or weight issues as your "Playing Focus", then you will gain insight as to what this focus is all about. The same goes if bad relationships or financial problems is your "Playing Focus". What you hold for your "Playing Focus" will be reflected along your Life Path on the Game board.

As you move along through each level (physical, emotional, mental and spiritual) you are concurrently emptying cards from your "Personal Unconscious" envelope. These cards are the ones you choose from each deck that you put into this envelope when you held your "Playing Focus" at the start of the Game. Only when you reach the point where you are free of pain and have cleared all of the cards from your "Personal Unconscious" envelope and have completed all four Levels (scorecards) is your personal Game complete.

If you haven't gotten off your 'Rumpelstiltskin' and listened to my online radio show what the heck are you waiting for? Click and listen. Read the last daily message titled, Wherever You Go, There You Are. Don't forget to read your daily Spiritual Progression Path.

Denadagohvyu ['Until we meet again' in Cherokee]

A bazillion blessings~ Dr. Loretta Standley

[ back to top ]

[Posted 2:00 PM EST - Thursday afternoon, 1/24/2008]
Click my picture and listen www.drstandleylive.com
Visit me at www.myspace.com/mentator

Send to a friend

Osiyo or 'Siyo

Folks, I'm having a very Virgo day! As you may have noticed when I write your Daily Horoscope I use the Moon as the reference point, as most astrologers would. This is because the Moon changes every 2 to 2-1/2 days and the Moon rules our emotions, which directly impacts our day to day horoscope. The Moon is why our mood changes so quickly; therefore, in a sense we are all somewhat moody. It's just that some lunar influences will have a more profound effect on what that mood looks like.

As you are growing in your astrological knowledge, I cannot stress how important it is for you to study yourself and your own Natal Chart before you attempt to decipher someone else's chart. Today barely began and there I was being all Virgo-ish with the Virgo Moon. As usual, since I know myself best, I will use myself as an example.

Keep in mind that my North Node is in Virgo, which makes me very Virgo. Remember, your North Node is where you cannot fail . . so work it baby, work it! Become your North Node. Woooo Hooooo! So when the Moon is in Virgo, I become more Virgo (even though I am really a Gemini). Interestingly enough, the first two people I hear from today were my friend Christine (Aquarius with a North Node Capricorn) and "H" aka Henrietta (Virgo with a North Node Aquarius).

Look how the three of us intertwined this morning. Christine (Aquarius) first sends me a mathematical e-mail this morning because we both dig on equations, numbers and mathematical mind trips. Christine has a degree in mathematics and I have a degree in physics. Then I talk to "H" on the phone and we have a hilarious conversation that involves me harping on an issue about a lightbulb out in the hallway. (It's an electrical issue). Folks, I could not stop whining about the burned out lightbulb to "H" (a Virgo) under the Virgo Moon. We laughed and laughed at how I just kept going on and on. I even said, "Oh my gosh, I can't shut up. I can't stop whining about it." Seriously folks, I just kept complaining and here I am even mentioning it in a Daily Message. That Virgo Moon can be a nag, nag, nag!

After I hung up the phone with "H" I decided to watch a movie. I often watch movies while I am sitting here typing the Daily Message or writing horoscopes. It's a Gemini duality thing. It took me all of about three seconds before I realized that I had put in the VCR one of my favorite movies of all time, "Good Will Hunting," which stars Matthew Damon, Ben Affleck and Robin Williams. It's a story about a mathematical genius (Matthew Damon's character) who is trying to find his way in Life. I just Love that movie and the genius math is just out of this world. Anything out of this world is Aquarius (winky wink). And then we bring into the equation my Jupiter in Aquarius . . . my Saturn in Capricorn . . my Moon in Capricorn . . the fact that I am a Chiropractor . . I have three degrees in the sciences (physics, biology and human biology) . . I always say that I am a woman of science . . one of my other favorite movies is, "Back to the Future" . . I have an inventive mind and hope to win a Nobel Prize in Physics one day (no kidding). I don't know how I'll do that but its something I want to do. And then there is that dang lightbulb out in the hallway. It's driving me crazy and it looks like I'm going to have to just do it myself!

The book that I highly recommend for finding rulerships, which was recommended to me by my astrologer is, "The Rulership Book by Rex E. Bills". Study your charts even harder folks when the Moon rolls through your Sun Sign, your North Node or your Rising Sign and you will see yourself all over the place. Gosh we are so US! And remember -- "When it's the Truth, it shows up everywhere."

If you haven't gotten off your 'Rumpelstiltskin' and listened to my online radio show what the heck are you waiting for? Click and listen. Read the last daily message titled, Ideas and Changes. Don't forget to read your daily Spiritual Progression Path.

Denadagohvyu ['Until we meet again' in Cherokee]

A bazillion blessings~ Dr. Loretta Standley

[ back to top ]

[Posted 1:30 PM EST - Wednesday afternoon, 1/23/2008]
Click my picture and listen www.drstandleylive.com
Visit me at www.myspace.com/mentator

Send to a friend

Osiyo or 'Siyo

Folks, I want you to know how grateful I am when you give me input or ideas regarding this website, or when you alert me to typo's, broken links or something you don't quite understand. Granted I have worked very hard building this website remaining true to my vision and spontaneously adjusting to change when change was asked of me. When one of you feed me a really great idea, then I jump all over it and take advantage of the momentum when the idea hits you.

There are so many ideas on this site that came from my visitors you would be amazed. The Angels, Saints and Novena's under the Guidance Button were all the idea of one visitor (Teri from MO). She e-mailed me with the idea and I instantly knew she was right. For 24 hours I ram-jammed on those three topics and basically had it all created within that 24 hours. Just last week another visitor (LeeAnn from NC) e-mailed me with the idea to make it "easy" to e-mail friends specific pages on my site. In less than 12 hours I had it up and ready to go. When it's a great idea folks, I can't not make it happen. It has to happen. I will work on your idea until it is UP and running. Even the idea to archive my Daily Messages was the idea of another visitor (a U.S. Marine stationed in Iraq). Then there is the Laboratory Tests button that grew tentacles from what I had originally created due to the idea of another visitor.

And then there are the horoscope ideas. Folks, your daily horoscopes page is set up exactly from the ideas that you send to me. When it's a great idea, I have to make it happen. You wanted a Void of Course Moon Calendar, so I created it in less than 24 hours. You wanted a calendar of Major Planetary Events for 2008, so I created it in less than 24 hours. Another visitor (Jennifer from Phoenix) asked to have the specific date of when the planets change under the monthly horoscope. So I went a step further and even posted the exact minute that the planet will move. I had that complete within the same hour of her e-mailing me. The weekly horoscope is finally developing into something pretty cool because of the idea of another visitor (Kenneth in the UK). There are quite a few other ideas that I like such as providing a horoscope based on the slowest moving planets Neptune, Uranus and Pluto. These three planets spend several years in a sign which is why they are called "generational" planets because they affect an entire generation of people at the same time. Pluto is preparing to move this week out of Sagittarius where it stayed for 13-1/2 years and into Capricorn from January 25, 2008 - March 23, 2023. For the record, Pluto is the planet of transformation. So yes, this was a great idea and I will be writing a horoscope for you involving these three incredibly slow moving generational planets. ooopsie daisy! I'd better getting moving pretty quick because Pluto makes its move on January 24th!

I realize there are sections on this site that have been a severe challenge for me and the Native American Animal Medicine section has been one of them. There are several issues that I have been dealing with in finishing this section. It's not as cut and dry as you may think. This particular section actually takes a lot of my time on a daily basis because it involves answering e-mails when a person see's a particular animal cross their path or listening to their animal stories over the phone . . it's just taking up a lot of time. I also get a fair share of dream interpretation questions simply because I really dig on dream interpretation. It's getting to be too much and something has to be settled in order to make this happen in a way that doesn't drive me crazy or worse . . take away my fun and enjoyment. Remember -- I HAVE TO HAVE FUN! I suppose it is necessary for me to say that when I create something on this site, it cannot end up costing me more time on a daily basis than I can handle. So how wonderful for me that God placed my personal Angel Facilitator, Gary Frese in my path to help me decipher what I am being called to do with this section. I know that I am suppose to do this . . I'm a North Node Virgo for Pete's Sake and Virgo rules "animals" . . . but I've had some confusion in how to do it all. Now I know what my Angels have been trying to get me to see all along. So if you can just be patient a little while longer, this whole Native American Animal Medicine riddle will finally be solved.

In the meantime, go ahead and keep feeding me your ideas. Believe me, if it's a really great idea then I won't be able to stop until that idea is UP for everyone to see, use and enjoy. By the way folks, this website is now ranked 128,690 out of 156 million domain names of which about 75 million of them are operating and fully functioning websites. For those of you who may not know, a domain name is the name of the website. So if you type in the domain name www.drstandley.com or www.mentator.com, they will both take you to this site. Or www.drstandleylive.com will take you to my other site. Not to mention I own about 25 different domain names that I have yet to do something with them so they are not functioning sites. They are just domain names waiting to be born into a full blown website. So you see, 128,690 out of approximately 75 million is a kickin' and rockin' site. THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing, caring and daring to help make this site what it was . . what it is . . and what it will be in the near future.

If you haven't gotten off your 'Rumpelstiltskin' and listened to my online radio show what the heck are you waiting for? Click and listen. Read the last daily message titled, What About The Homeless? Don't forget to read your daily Spiritual Progression Path.

Denadagohvyu ['Until we meet again' in Cherokee]

A bazillion blessings~ Dr. Loretta Standley

[ back to top ]

[Posted 2:40 PM EST - Tuesday afternoon, 1/22/2008]
Click my picture and listen www.drstandleylive.com
Visit me at www.myspace.com/mentator

Send to a friend

Osiyo or 'Siyo

Living in the heart of the City I probably come across more homeless people than the average person who may not live in the City. There are probably more homeless people in big cities or larger towns simply because there are more shelters or more places to take shelter. Not to mention, there are more people on average to give to them. When I first moved to the City it was a real challenge for me to decide who to give to and who not to give to. After all, those of us who are Christians were taught through scripture to give to anyone who asks. Well what does that mean?

I grew up with very young parents. By the time both my parents were 24 years old they already had five of their six children. Now for any couple who is 24 years old even in today's society that would have to be a stretch to feed and clothe that many children. I can't imagine what that must have 'felt' like because I only had one child. Even so, we were some of the best dressed kids because my mom made all of our clothing. Mom rarely used a pattern. Instead, mom would spread newspaper over the living room floor, then we would lay on it and she would cut out her own pattern in a design she had created in her mind. My mom was a fantabulous clothing designer. My sisters and I wore some pretty rockin' clothes in the 60's. Once we had grown out of our clothes my mom would pile the clothes into the trunk of the car and then pile all of us kids in the car and off we would go deep into the outskirts of town.

I remember pulling up to some houses in rural Missouri where there were no windows or curtains. Just an old, really small unpainted wooden house where a lot of people lived. I also remember as much as maybe 10 children running out of the house to see what we had. I don't ever remember seeing parents come out of the house . . just children. Somehow I knew, that my mom knew, there were parents in there. The children would each grab a trash bag stuffed with clothes and drag it across the yard and into the house. Not much was said by my mom or us kids. We just did it and never really talked about it. As the years passed and the first five kids had flown the nest, my parents always seemed to know someone who needed groceries. So then it became my mom and my little brother (Jerry, the sixth child) who delivered bags of groceries to those in need. They would just show up and then POOF, they would leave.

There's no doubt, I do see more homeless people living in the City than I did living outside of the City. That's just a fact but my question mark remains the same. What does give to anyone who asks mean? Does it mean do what I can, give them what I have or just give them anything? I have lived in the City for nearly six years now and I tend to run into the same homeless people over and over again, which has caused me to pose another question, "Am I helping these people or not because their Life is still the same?" It doesn't look like I'm helping the situation because they are in the same place they were six years ago. So do I get ticked off and stop giving?

As I was going into the grocery store the other day a homeless man asked me if I could help him. This is the same homeless man who the week before I had pedaled down a couple of blocks on my bicycle to buy him McDonalds. I told him that I would not give him money but I would buy him food. He gave me his order so I pedaled off and got him some food. I have absolutely no problem buying anyone who is hungry some food, a hat, a scarf or a pair of shoes. I can do that, especially when they are standing outside with nearly blue fingertips. So here I was confronted by the same man who didn't recognize me from a week earlier. He's also a permanent fixture outside of Walgreens and the grocery store. I heard a quick DLG (Download from God) that said, "Ask him what he needs." I thought well that's an interesting question. So I said, "What do you need?" He said, "I need bus fare." You see folks, the response, "I need bus fare" adds up when you get bus fare from several people and it buys a bottle of booze. So my thought process says if I give him money then that is not helping him and it will enable him to stay in the same place. I just won't contribute to someone's demise, at least not consciously. I said, "I won't give you money. If you want food, I will go in and buy you some food." He said, "No that's okay. Thank you and God bless."

You see folks, I did learn my lesson about giving money to the homeless when one day I gave a homeless man twenty dollars. I had just come out of the Rectory (where the priests live) after chatting it up with the Bishop and Monsignor regarding a fund-raiser at church. As many of you know, even during fund-raisers you still have to 'work' for the money. I was feeling pretty spiritually motivated at that point so handing over twenty dollars didn't phase me. The very next night I saw the same man in one of St. Louis' more popular night Life restaurants that hosts various small concerts. (The same place I was the other night with the girls.) The disguised homeless man from the day before was on a date! Now, do I stop giving to others because of this man or do I wisen up and figure out another way to give without being "taken" by a hard-luck story.

Folks, sometimes I don't know what to do as much as the next person. I realize now that give to anyone who asks could mean give in a way that might be helpful to them even if they don't know it. It could mean money, hope, a place to stay, food, awareness, clothing, time, direction or advice? Maybe I don't do enough, maybe I do too much . . I don't know because I'm doing my best to wrap my brain around all of this poor people stuff. So who do I help? Further, is what I'm doing helping or hurting? Do I just give from my heart and detach myself from the outcome and leave it to God to teach the lesson? I don't know! Surely there is a lesson in this for me too? I can guarantee you this, one thing I won't do is take the easy way out and throw money at them and then hope they will just disappear from my sight or fade away from the planet. If I take that approach . . then who am I?

If you haven't gotten off your 'Rumpelstiltskin' and listened to my online radio show what the heck are you waiting for? Click and listen. Read the last daily message titled, The Poor in Spirit. Don't forget to read your daily Spiritual Progression Path.

Denadagohvyu ['Until we meet again' in Cherokee]

A bazillion blessings~ Dr. Loretta Standley

[ back to top ]

[Posted 12:30 PM EST - Monday afternoon, 1/21/2008]
Click my picture and listen www.drstandleylive.com
Visit me at www.myspace.com/mentator

Send to a friend

Osiyo or 'Siyo

Christine, Peg and I had tried to see James McMurtry play in concert one other time when we were in Dallas visiting Peg (Libra) but we ended up missing the concert in Ft. Worth due to our own silliness and wacky timing. (Remember - Peg was transferred to Dallas for two years with her job.) Peg had several reasons to come back to St. Louis this past weekend and hearing James McMurtry sing, "Choctaw Bingo" was one of them. So this last Friday night was a girl's night out with Peg and her daughter Meg (Taurus), Christine and her daughter Rachel (Sagittarius) and myself. My daughter Karmen (Leo) was working.

The next day Christine (Aquarius) and I had planned to take my grandson Big Tree to see his first eagle siting but Karmen called after the concert and said that Big Tree had a fever and would not be able to go see the eagles. That was okay, there will be other opportunities. Seconds after I hung up the phone Peg said, "Go with me to Columbia to see David tomorrow." So Christine and I quickly switched gears and said, "Okay!" It was an easy decision; go see the eagles or go see David. Peg's 19 year old nephew David has been battling a very rare form of cancer and had just had a miraculous healing coupled with surgery. Columbia is two hours away from St. Louis and sits right smack dab in the middle of the state. So we made plans to drive to Columbia Saturday morning along with Peg's mom Sis (David's grandmother). If you visit the prayer list page on this site, you have probably noticed that I keep a recurring prayer request going for David and his family. We had a wonderful visit with David and Joan (his mom who is also Peg's sister). Further, it could not have been more crystal clear at that moment how important it is to visit the sick or the poor in spirit. While visiting with David and Joan the positive impact of the visit was obvious.

Later than evening back in St. Louis over mexican food and margarita's Christine and I were talking about her experience with visitors when she was battling cancer. Ya' see folks, Christine is a breast cancer survivor. Yes, she is the same friend whose house recently burned down back in September. Yes, she is the same woman who raised four children on her own. And yes, she is the same woman who runs a family owned steel manufacturing business. Yep! Same woman. I didn't know Christine at the time she was in the fight of her Life. I hadn't come along until years later and I've known Christine now 'almost' six years. Christine was telling me that when she was in the hospital and also at home sick with cancer that she didn't want visitors. She didn't want anyone to see her the way she was. She just wanted to be alone. Our dear friend John (Julie's husband) who passed 2-1/2 years ago from cancer said the same thing. Christine said as much as she didn't want anyone to come, she didn't want anyone to leave either. When no one was there she wondered where everyone was at. John was the same way. Contrary to either Christine or John's wishes, the family and friends didn't listen and just kept coming.

Visiting the sick or poor in spirit isn't just one of those seven practices of charity a.k.a. seven corporal works of mercy (that we Catholics call it) from The Beatitudes (first part of the Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 5:3-10). It's one of those things that is the right thing to do. We should be doing these things because we can't imagine doing anything else. What do we have going on that is more important that visiting the sick? Seriously! What could have been going on that would have been more important than visiting David and connecting with Joan? Christine and I released the eagles from our plan the minute Peg said, "Go with me to Columbia to see David." This was Peg's nephew! Do you have a nephew?

People often ask me about different rituals, practices and ways of Life that people do on the reservation where my family lives in Cherokee, North Carolina. I'm supposing what they might be asking for is something that might inspire their own Life that comes from a sacred practice and belief. I can tell you one thing they do above anything else, and I'm serious about this, is they visit and take care of their aged, the sick and the poor in spirit. They are devoted and thoughtful people who make the time to visit others in their time of need, hopelessness or fear. My grandmother (Stella), my mom (Mary), my Aunt Jackie (mom's sister) and my Aunt Joyce (mom's sister) are all the same way. Actually folks, now that I think about it, they don't have to make time for these visits because it's a way of Life. Visiting the sick or the elderly is part of their Life just as much as going to the store or going to work. It's just how they roll.

If you haven't gotten off your 'Rumpelstiltskin' and listened to my online radio show what the heck are you waiting for? Click and listen. Read the last daily message titled, Why Doesn't God Just Bail Us Out? Don't forget to read your daily Spiritual Progression Path.

Denadagohvyu ['Until we meet again' in Cherokee]

A bazillion blessings~ Dr. Loretta Standley

[ back to top ]

[Posted 12:15 PM EST - Friday afternoon, 1/18/2008]
Click my picture and listen www.drstandleylive.com
Visit me at www.myspace.com/mentator