Morning Rituals

I've been suffering with a terrible cold/flu this past week and this morning I'm grateful that it's subsiding and I'm feeling much better. There's nothing like being sick to make you realize, when you're well again, how beautiful mundane life can be.

Keeya eating a carrot on her favorite perch - my shoulder.

As I was taking care of the birds this morning, I realized how grateful I am for each of their little souls. They get me out of bed in the dark mornings of winter, they cheer me, they frustrate me, they make me laugh. They provide such joy and most days, I'm sad to say, I take them for granted. Not this morning. As I was doing up the dishes, I looked around me and was overcome with a sense of wonder. I realized that every morning for the last five years, since we've had the birds, I perform a ritual. One that I go through without even thinking about.

Picasso eating his favorite cookies . . . dipped in water of course.

I get up, I let the dogs out, I feed the dogs. I uncover the birds, letting them out of their cages and I say good morning to each of them. Then I stand in the sunroom with Bijou for awhile, preening her feathers and greeting the morning sun (when it's out that is). When she's ready, I gather up the food dishes and we head into the kitchen, where Bijou's tea is waiting.

Bijou drinking tea from her favorite cup her daddy bought for her.

As she slurps her tea (in the most ladylike fashion) and eats her breakfast, I feed Picasso and Keeya. I chop vegetables and fruits. I fill up the treat tray. I empty, clean and refill water bowls. I yell at the dogs for barking at the front window. And the morning goes on . . .

Bijou rearranging the tupperware cupboard.

This lid doesn't belong here!

Picasso rearranging the floor design.

It's in mornings like this that I appreciate the fact that I don't have to work - that I can stay home, take care of our fur and feather babies, take care of our home and pretty much manage my day in any way that suites me. I am truly blessed and grateful for this mundane life and the magick in the morning ritual.

Abundance

I've been slowly and carefully putting together an abundance altar for our home. Not only is it something magical, but it's also filled with power and grace. It sits in my kitchen garden window and as I was looking at it and appreciating its beauty, my attention was taken by all the activity going on outside the window.

I was awestruck at all the birds that were sitting on my bird feeders. There were Chickadees, Gold Finches, House Finches and Sparrows. Each little perch was filled with a bird happily eating the seeds that I offered there. And as I was watching this amazing dance of color and flight, a Hummingbird flew past the feeder and made his way around the Hummingbird feeder I have hanging close to the bird feeders. I love Hummingbirds, they're the magical and evasive fairies of the garden. I was in awe of the glorious activity going on before my eyes. And if all this wasn't enough, a female Cardinal flew in and joined in the reverie along with a couple of morning doves and a chubby cheeked chipmunk gathering seeds on the ground.

I am in a glorious state of GRATITUDE this morning for all of the ABUNDANCE that surrounds me. My heart is overflowing with it. Thank you, thank you, thank you.