Greetings!
Happy Spring Equinox! First of all, I want to thank everyone who attended my channeling last month at Controversial Bookstore. Melinda, Janet, and I are planning another one soon.
Spring has definitely sprung here in San Diego, and it's even more glorious thanks to the recent heavy rains. I hope that all you folks back East
are finally thawing out.A few weeks ago, I had my astrological chart done for the first time, and it was quite an illuminating experience. Although I believe the Divine speaks to us in many ways, it had never seemed to speak to me through astrology. However, last fall when I guested on the Lightworker Virtual Light Broadcast, I met fellow guest Chetan Parkyn and his wife, Carola Eastwood.
Chetan is the author of an excellent new book called Human Design for Us All. Human design is a system for understanding one's individual blueprint and learning to live in alignment with one's own nature. It combines wisdom traditions such as astrology, the chakra system, I-Ching, and the Kabbalah with sophisticated psychological tools. Later that day, I attended a Human Design workshop given by Chetan and Carola, and was presented with my Human Design chart. It was eerily accurate. Happily, Carola, Chetan and I stayed in touch and became friends. Carola herself is a widely-respected astrologer and psychotherapist who writes a monthly column on planetary cycles in Planet Lightworker and The Life Connection. So...I decided to schedule a session with her. Carola incorporated astrology, Human Design, intuition, and her training as a psychotherapist to give me an intensive, inspiring and stunningly accurate two-hour reading. I felt focused and empowered by the session. I highly recommend this experience to anyone, whether you're "astrologically-inclined" or not! Carola's website is www.EarthStarConsulting.com, and her husband Chetan's is www.HumanDesignForUsAll.com.Until next month, I wish you all a happy Easter, Oestre, Ostara, or whatever spring celebration or ritual you observe. We are all One!Blessings,Catherine
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March Events
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"Insights for the Soul" - Monday, March 22, 7 - 8:30 PM PDT: I'll be a guest on the radio show "Insights For the Soul" on Monday, March 22, from 7:00 - 8:30 PM PDT. "Insights for the Soul" is presented by the Foundation for the Soul, an
organization which assists the body's natural ability to heal. You can listen to the broadcast and call in with questions at www.blogtalkradio.com/foundationforinsight "Rainbow Visions" - Saturday, March 27, 4 - 5:30 PM PDT:I'll be a returning guest on the radio show "Rainbow Visions," hosted by the lovely Betsey Lewis on Saturday, March 27, from 4 - 5:30 PM. You can listen to the broadcast and call in with questions at www.blogtalkradio.com/rainbowvisions. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In addition, I am available for psychic readings at Soulscape in
Encinitas on Wednesdays from 4:00 PM 'til 8:00 PM, at Controversial Bookstore in San Diego on Fridays from 11:00 AM 'til 6:00 PM.
Please call (619) 296-1560 to schedule a reading at Controversial, and
(760) 753-2345 to book a reading at Soulscape. Walk-ins are also welcome
at both locations. Please check the Events
page on my website for more details.
As always, I am available for phone readings and in-person session throughout the
week. Please telephone (858) 220-0374 or email me for more information.
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Transcending Grief
by Karen Mehringer
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It is my pleasure to share a beautiful article penned by Karen Mehringer. Karen is a writer, inspirational speaker, life empowerment coach, and psychotherapist. She is also the author of one of my favorite books, Sail Into Your Dreams: 8 Steps to Living a More Purposeful Life . Find out more about Karen at www.LiveAPurposefulLife.com.
Spring was in full blossom with an
explosion of green everywhere. Birds chirped wildly as they darted outside the
hospital room. Life was in high gear outside, but winding down inside. It was
the last day of my father's life. My sisters, brother, step-mother and I sat by
his side, watching intently as his chest rose and fell with each breath,
waiting for him to transition. As we watched and waited, the hospice nurse came
in and monitored his progress. While rubbing his feet, she encouraged him by
saying, "Go into the light Mr. Butler. Go
into the light." Talking quietly, we shared memories of my father as tears
fell down our faces.
My
dad had been admitted to the hospital eight weeks prior. He was unable to keep
any food down and was losing weight rapidly. Within days, cancer was found in
his abdomen. Doctors were unable to locate its source, but decided to
administer chemo therapy which landed him in the ICU with an infection and
temperature of 105 degrees. We had a decision to make...should we let him go
since the cancer would inevitably take his life, or should we put him on life
support and pray for a miracle? The doctors suggested we let him go. We decided
to keep him alive. It had been less than a week since the cancer was discovered
and we weren't ready to say goodbye. Further, my father appeared terrified as
he sat up in bed with an oxygen mask on, hooked up to monitors and IV tubes,
laboring for each breath, fighting to stay alive. This was not how we wanted to
remember him.
The
next seven weeks were a roller coaster ride with miracles of healing and
moments of hope alternating between set backs and feelings of deep despair.
Ultimately, my dad was taken off life support and moved from ICU to the fourth
floor of the hospital where he experienced drug-induced hallucinations and
mental confusion for several weeks before being transferred to the VA Hospice
in Palo Alto, California. Here he received excellent care and was more lucid
due to better medication management, which allowed us to interact with him and
experience closure before his death.
On
that beautiful spring day in May, my father surrendered his life. He was
surrounded by the love of family and died in peace at the age of sixty four. Only
three years earlier, almost to the day, my brother, Kyle, died from Cystic
Fibrosis, a terminal genetic illness. He was only fifteen years old. Like Kyle,
my dad was strong and brave as he fought for and eventually surrendered his
life, but, before he let go, he left us with a final gift....Not being a
religious man, he said, "God, there you
are" several times and his last whispered word was "Kyle." He left us with the knowledge that he was safe and in good
hands with his Creator and son.
My father gave me another gift...my
passion for sailing. At his deathbed, I cried while uttering, "I will always remember you every time I
step onto a sailboat." At the early age of four, he introduced me to
sailing. We were on summer vacation at the Stanford Family Camp, near Lake
Tahoe, California. Surrounded by pine trees, we sailed in the middle of a
beautiful alpine lake aboard our 22-foot Catalina. Every time the boat heeled
with the force of the wind, I was afraid it would tip over and capsize. My
father reassured me that this would never happen.
My first cruising experience, at
the age of ten, was with family friends on their 50-foot yacht. Heading out to
sea past the Golden Gate Bridge at night, under a moonless sky, butterflies
filled my belly as the boat glided into the dark, into the unknown. During our
five day voyage, we experienced whales breaching near our boat and saw over a
hundred sharks. Abundant sea life surrounded us!
Later, my dad sold his 22-foot
Catalina and upgraded to a 31-foot Pearson which he moored at Pier 39 in the
San Francisco Bay where the winds were stronger and the swells were larger than
what I was used to. At the age of twelve, I was often assigned to the helm as my
dad went forward to raise the sails. Anxiously, I held the boat steady into the
wind fearful my father would fall overboard. Thankfully, he never did.
Over the years, my love for sailing
grew, so much so, that my husband, John, and I, while taking a year off to
re-invent our lives, decided to crew a 46-foot sailboat cruising from Fiji to
Singapore for six-months. On our first ocean passage, sailing into open sea,
away from the sight of land, I felt excited as if I were an explorer heading
into uncharted waters. Dolphins playfully swam at the bow of the boat, escorting
us on our grand adventure as the sun set ahead of us casting hues of bright
orange and red on our path. Satisfied, I smiled with a deep sense of knowing
that all was well.
Shortly after my father died, John
and I made a commitment to follow our hearts and pursue a vision we had had during
our one-year hiatus...to own a cabin in the mountains and a sailboat on the
ocean.
Sitting aboard our 30-foot Catalina
in our Oxnard, California marina slip, leaning against a pillow resting, I
noticed the sound of sea gulls; sea birds darted into the ocean attempting to
make a catch; boats glided past on their way out to sea. A feeling of peace
washed over me and then a thought surfaced, "I
would not be experiencing this wondrous moment if it were not for my dad."
I began to cry, missing him. But as
the tears rolled down my face, a deep feeling of gratitude welled up and a
profound insight developed..."I would not
be feeling this much grief if it were not for the depths of love I have felt for
my father." It occurred to me that my grief was in direct proportion to the
amount of love that we shared. I realized how blessed I was to have experienced
so much love in one lifetime. In awe, I was transcended, as my grief was transformed
into a deep well of joy that bubbled up to the surface of my being. In the
moment, I was overcome by God's amazing grace.
Two years later...sitting at the
kitchen table in our cozy mountain home in Evergreen, Colorado, eating lunch, I
gazed out the window at the pine and aspen trees. Their beauty mesmerized me.
Shocked out of my trance-like state by the loud bark of Rennie, our German
Shepard dog, I thought, "Someone must be
at the front door." I looked up to find The UPS delivery man standing at
the door with a surprise package for me. It was the cardboard version of my
book cover - front and back! I had seen the front cover of Sail Into Your Dreams in an e-mail attachment, which I was very
pleased with, but I hadn't seen the back cover yet with the blurbs, description
of my book and life, my bio and picture. Reading the description, tears
streamed down my face. In awe I thought, "Was
this really me? Was this really my life?"
Soon I was bawling uncontrollably.
The thoughts that ran through my mind were, "My
life is so amazing. I can't believe how amazing my life is. Why didn't I see
this before? My life is so amazing!" Next I questioned, "If my life is so amazing, then why am I
crying uncontrollably?" It was as if tears of anguish were coming up from
the depths of my soul. To make things even more confusing, I was simultaneously
experiencing bliss.
I didn't get it right away. But,
several days later it dawned on me...my life is so amazing today not despite the
painful losses that I've experienced, but because of them. I wouldn't be the
person I am today nor would I be living the life of my dreams if I hadn't
weathered and transcended the storms in my life. The joy and bliss that I
experienced were in direct proportion to the pain and suffering that had been
transcended.
"When
you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you
are weeping for that which has been your delight."
-
Kahil Gilbran, Famous Poet
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About Catherine
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 Catherine Richardson is a former corporate attorney who spiritually awakened following a near death experience. She found herself profoundly changed, and decided to pursue a career in the healing arts. Catherine has a Ph.D. in transpersonal counseling, and is also a certified life coach and ordained minister.
Catherine is the author of The Starfleet Messages, a channeled book that has been described as "a modern day guide to higher conscious living." Her articles and channels have been published in Sedona Journal of Emergence, The Magic of Being Magazine, and Cosmic Lighthouse Metaphysics Magazine. Catherine is a frequent radio guest, and has appeared on the Lightworker Virtual Light Broadcast in Las Vegas. She conducts private sessions, and teaches workshops on empowerment, self-healing, and connecting with the Divine.
Catherine resides in San Diego, California. To contact her, please call (858) 220-0374 or email Truth Joy Love™. | |
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