The Heron

I was in my office writing copy for this very site today when I first heard it. Our dogs, Maggie Elvis, and Lucy immediately entered “defense mode” when they heard it, too. Defense mode is basically high alert, ears up, heads cocked, attention focused and ready to go. As I heard it again, I suddenly found myself looking just like them.

The sound was incredibly loud and piercing; musical but not music. Rhythmic, yet in short stacatto bursts. Like a machine gun singing opera. It had a wooden timbre, but was definitely powered by a full set of lungs. All of a sudden it sounded like it was right over our house. Then silence. Then there it was again. As this sonic circus unfolded, the neighborhood dogs began to bark to alert each other of the oncoming invasion. Our dogs began quickly trotting back and forth as they huffed and puffed. Something was definitely up.

I took a quick look through our kitchen door and there it was – standing about three feet tall at the bottom of our driveway. Long, strong legs with big claws at the bottom, blue and white feathers covering huge, powerful wings, a gracefully curved neck with a red stripe, and a long, sharp, beak that could mean business in a hurry. And it began walking right up our driveway with a natural dignity and grace. It was a heron. A big heron. I have seen these magnificent and intelligent birds in streams and lakes in wooded areas before, but I have never seen one make a house call like this.

I quickly thought “camera and food” and ran through the house to find both. The camera would help capture this “suddenly safari” moment, and of course, the food would help keep the heron interested during the production. I scrambled through the house and returned outside with the goods, but our neighbor was just pulling up the driveway in her suv and it scared the big bird away. But instead of flying, the heron turned and began to walk down the side of the driveway and onto our neighbor’s lawn. Interesting I thought; this bird is concerned enough to relocate, but not concerned enough to fly away.

It made its way across her lawn and kept going once her children jumped out of the car and moved toward it. As soon as it saw the kids, it walked farther down the street. I followed it at a distance and watched it walk around the corner. It finally stopped in front of a neighbor’s house and I was able to take some photos just before everyone seemed to appear from their homes pointing at the heron. Some kids ran towards it but I yelled “Stop!” to them, and realizing the possible danger presented by this wild creature, they paused for a moment. Their grandmother made her way over to us and she didn’t seem to think there was any problem with the kids “meeting” the heron. I remarked that the bird was taller than her grandchildren and it might be a good idea if they didn’t get too close as the birds legs looked pretty strong and it’s claws were pretty large…

This seemed to ring a bell and she soon called the kids over. I guess grandmom did not want to have to explain to the insurance company how the kids left in her care were beat up by a giant bird…

The heron then looked at me as if to say “Thanks.” After a brief pause it began walking away again, this time around the house and through a yard, and made its way towards the creek about a half block away. I was able to keep the kids back while taking more photos, and helped the bird nearly make it’s way to the water where suddenly more neighbors appeared from the other side of the house. This time the rush of humanity was too much for the heron. It bellowed its loud call, stopped everyone in their tracks, and took off gracefully, flying straight down the middle of the creek where no one could get in its way. It shrieked a loud goodbye and soon disappeared from sight.

I am grateful that I was finally able to see one of these magnificent birds up close, and I hope you enjoy the photos I was able to take while on the run. However, I hope that the next time our special friend stops by, it will stay a little longer…

What Do You Want?

A dear friend of mine for many years recently contacted me after being out of touch for a while. She is hardworking, talented, creative, caring, loving, kind, healthy, fit, and has a background in health and wellness. After catching up about many things, she told me she was well, but had not yet found success in the booming alternative healthcare industry despite the fact that she is a degreed professional in this field, and more people than ever are now exploring new ways of taking care of themselves.

She mentioned that for all of her training and experience, she felt like she was lost and drifting. She is a good person and only wants what she feels are the best and right things for herself and her small family. She plays by the rules, treats others well, has her own spiritual code of ethics and could easily be a radiant model featured in any health and wellness ad. Yet she has not “arrived.”

When I heard this I was somewhat surprised as I thought by now she would be riding an Oprah like wave of success, helping all those in her path with the knowledge at her disposal. Since this was highly unusual to me I asked her if she would be interested in hearing what the universe might have to offer concerning her situation, and she said “Of course.” If that last line confused you, it’s okay; please read on…

Part of my being the Uncommon Sensei means that I am a Reiki Master. One of the exciting things about reaching that level of proficiency is that masters have close contact with the spirit of the universe since we work with it on a regular basis. The word Reiki is from the Japanese, and means “universally guided life force energy,” and is one of the ways I heal those who reach out to me for help. So I sent out the thought vibration about my friend into the universe before going to sleep and let it go, knowing that as always, an answer would make it’s way back. Although I know not to try to rush God, the Creator, The Supreme Being, The Power of The Universe or whatever name you are comfortable with, I did hope for her sake that there would be a speedy response.

Well, I woke up the next morning with a question reverberating loud and clear in my head. “What do you want?” “What do you want?” I was a little fuzzy at first upon waking up because I know the answer to that question for myself and couldn’t figure out the message from above, but then it dawned on me that it was what the universe was asking my friend! Sorry, but I’m still a little slow like that sometimes. “What do you want?” She needed to ask that of herself! I quickly compiled for her an outline of how the law of attraction really works. Then I also listed some of my “Secrets of Success” for her to apply to her situation if she wasn’t doing so already. And I had a feeling she wasn’t, because if she was, she wouldn’t need them from me now!

In case you are unfamiliar with the secrets of success and the law of attraction I speak of, this law is a version of “like attracts like” but on a grand, cosmic scale. Whatever you wish for or fear the most in life is what will ultimately come to you, because either directly or indirectly, that is what you are focusing your attention on. Of course, there is work and life and hobbies and everything else going on throughout this process, but you had better be careful what you wish for because one way or another, you will get it. Also, if your mind isn’t really focused on anything specific, you will get just that – a sort of wandering from one thing or job or relationship to the next ; getting by and drifting from location to location – but never really getting a big payoff either.

Here is where the secrets of success come in to play for you – and my friend.

In order to get what you want, you must ask yourself:

"What do you want? For your self, your life and those in it?

I mean specifically... not just happiness or peace or... but who, what, where, when why and how do you see it in your life? What does it feel like? Smell like? Taste like? Use all of your senses to animate what you want in your life. For example, if it is a new car you want, picture yourself in it, then add the information from your other senses and notice how much more powerful this process becomes.

In order to be successful you must:

Decide what you want.

Make it happen.

Be yourself. Do the thing. Go! Until you achieve it.

Sounds easy right? But it's not. We get in our own way whether it's about success, relationships or, just fill in your own blank.

Remember, dreams only end one of two ways: they either come true, or you give up on them.

I know this may sound simple and maybe even cold, but if you're drifting it's because there is no destination; just like a sailboat at sea with no targeted land.

The wind fills the sails and the boat goes "wherever." Of course, there is something to be said for "going with the flow" and "bending like the reeds" but that should be within the context of situations along your chosen destination.

So what is the destination of your journey?

“What do you want?”

Finally, for those of you out there who are conflicted about succeeding in your particular endeavors because they may be artistic or even spiritual, and you think that by succeeding you will not appear humble, dignified, or respectful, these five $pirit Principles may help you see things differently enough to succeed at last!

$pirit Principle Number One:

Thoughts and ideas are things, and you can conceive, believe and achieve anything you want. Turn your thoughts and dreams into your life and livelihood.
This may not be easy, but if you can dream it, you can figure it out and live it!

$pirit Principle Number Two:

Ask yourself, what do you love? What are you good at? How can you use it to be of service to others?

What you love and what you are good at will be the things that generally come naturally to you like a talent or knack for something, but that last question is the most important one to ask yourself after you have decided what you want to do.

How can you use your gift to be of service to others? That is not only the cornerstone of good business and client relations, but it is a humble way to ask how you can help the person in need standing in front of you, and that is very noble in any religion, spiritual discipline or business endeavor.


$pirit Principle Number Three:

Anyone who is successful has had to help people on their way, no matter what their mission. Whatever you choose to do, you will have to work with others and you will affect people’s lives, so be sure to do it positively on your journey.

$pirit Principle Number Four:

The poor have no money to help the poor; but someone who is successful can help others in many, many ways. Of course, you can always offer something to someone who has less than you, but you must have the proper resources if you want to succeed on a grand scale. The more you give, the more you will receive!


$pirit Principle Number Five:

Money is simply an agreed upon measure of value for services offered or exchanged. Without it, we may as well be trading rocks!

It simply helps us to honestly say, "What I offer you is worth this; what you offer me is worth that," and it levels the playing field. Nothing more, nothing less.

We can't be afraid of decimal points and mathematical symbols as we follow our calling, whatever it is. We are made in the image and likeness of God, and God can surely handle numbers!


Now here is one final, extra $pirit Principle for you that is so special I don’t even want to put a number on it!

If the position/job/career you want does not exist, create it! Don’t wait for someone to offer you a job that fits what you do. Create a special niche for yourself. Make yourself invaluable, and you will be!

Be. Do. Go! Because life’s too short…

I wish you peace, love and success.