{"id":857,"date":"2011-06-20T10:00:47","date_gmt":"2011-06-20T14:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/blissblog\/?p=857"},"modified":"2011-06-20T22:26:42","modified_gmt":"2011-06-21T02:26:42","slug":"presence-and-essence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/2011\/06\/presence-and-essence.html","title":{"rendered":"Presence and Essence"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \"\"<\/p>\n

Part two Solstice weekend….\u00a0I returned to Happy Tree\u00a0Farm to participate in a service officiated by a sister\u00a0Rev.\u00a0named Mirabai Galashan; a chaplain who serves hospice\u00a0patients and their families, as well as offers spiritual services and presentations.\u00a0Her soft and elegant style welcomed us under the tent next to the magical lake I spoke of in\u00a0Monday’s Bliss\u00a0Blog entry. The focus of the service\/celebration was honoring those who have passed over to whatever it is that awaits us. She asked us to recall those we love and what gifts their lives have offered and each of us was to take a rose and\u00a0select a petal to be strung onto a string tied to balloons that would be set aloft. She invited me to share my Mom Miracle stories that emerged in the past year when our hospice journey began last May and ended when she took her last corporeal breath the day after Thanksgiving.\u00a0Both of my parents are very much present in my day to day. A solitary butterfly swooped and dove around me as I spoke. Before my mother died, she told me she would come back as a butterfly which is a magnficent symbol of renewal and rebirth. I allowed for the tears to flow today and felt much peace in the surrender. Stephen also spoke about our presence and essence, all that we are, where we came from and to whence we will return.<\/p>\n

Mirabai read this poem that I share with you:<\/p>\n

My Dearest Family
\nSome things I\u2019d like to say, but first of all to let you know that I arrived okay
\nI\u2019m writing this from Heaven where I dwell with God above where there\u2019s no more tears or sadness there is just eternal love.<\/p>\n

Please do not be unhappy just because I\u2019m out of sight remember that I\u2019m with you every morning, noon and night
\nThat day I had to leave you when my life on Earth was through
\nGod picked me up and hugged me and He said I welcome you
\nIt\u2019s good to have you back again you were missed while you were gone as for your dearest family they\u2019ll be here later on
\nI need you here so badly as part of My big plan there\u2019s so much that we have to do to help our mortal man
\nThen God gave me a list of things He wished for me to do and foremost on that list of mine is to watch and care for you
\nAnd I will be beside you every day and week and year and when you\u2019re sad I\u2019m standing there to wipe away the tear
\nAnd when you lie in bed at night the days chores put to flight God and I are closest to you in the middle of the night
\nWhen you think of my life on Earth and all those loving years because you\u2019re only human they are bound to bring you tears
\nBut do not be afraid to cry it does relieve the pain remember there would be no flowers unless there was some rain
\nI wish that I could tell you of all that God has planned but if I were to tell you you wouldn\u2019t understand
\nBut one thing is for certain though my life on Earth is o\u2019er
\nI am closer to you now than I ever was before
\nAnd to my very many friends trust God knows what is best
\nI\u2019m still not far away from you I\u2019m just beyond the crest
\nThere are rocky roads ahead of you and many hills to climb but together we can do it taking one day at a time
\nIt was always my philosophy and I\u2019d like it for you too that as you give unto the World so the World will give to you
\nIf you can help somebody who is in sorrow or in pain then you can say to God at night my day was not in vain
\nAnd now I am contented that my life it was worthwhile knowing as I passed along the way I made somebody smile
\nSo if you meet somebody who is down and feeling low just lend a hand to pick him up as on your way you go
\nWhen you are walking down the street and you\u2019ve got me on your mind I\u2019m walking in your footsteps only half a step behind
\nAnd when you feel the gentle breeze or the wind upon your face that\u2019s me giving you a great big hug or just a soft embrace
\nAnd when it\u2019s time for you to go from that body to be free remember you\u2019re not going you are coming here to me
\nAnd I will always love you from that land way up above
\nWill be in touch again soon
\nP.S. God sends His Love\u00a0 Unknown (my favorite author…second only to Anonymous:)<\/p>\n

An offering of song came from Elaina who I met yesterday in the yoga class under the trees.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/youtu.be\/UdPh4MpxwJo<\/a><\/p>\n

MAY I SUGGEST<\/strong> <\/em>
\nFrom: New Non-Fiction (2001) <\/em>
\nCopyright \u00a9 Susan Werner<\/em><\/p>\n

May I suggest<\/em>
\nMay I suggest to you<\/em>
\nMay I suggest this is the best part of your life<\/em>
\nMay I suggest<\/em>
\nThis time is blessed for you<\/em>
\nThis time is blessed and shining almost blinding bright<\/em>
\nJust turn your head<\/em>
\nAnd you’ll begin to see<\/em>
\nThe thousand reasons that were just beyond your sight<\/em>
\nThe reasons why<\/em>
\nWhy I suggest to you<\/em>
\nWhy I suggest this is the best part of your life<\/em><\/p>\n

There is a world<\/em>
\nThat’s been addressed to you<\/em>
\nAddressed to you, intended only for your eyes<\/em>
\nA secret world<\/em>
\nLike a treasure chest to you<\/em>
\nOf private scenes and brilliant dreams that mesmerise<\/em>
\nA lover’s trusting smile<\/em>
\nA tiny baby’s hands<\/em>
\nThe million stars that fill the turning sky at night<\/em>
\nOh I suggest<\/em>
\nOh I suggest to you<\/em>
\nOh I suggest this is the best part of your life<\/em><\/p>\n

There is a hope<\/em>
\nThat’s been expressed in you<\/em>
\nThe hope of seven generations, maybe more<\/em>
\nAnd this is the faith<\/em>
\nThat they invest in you<\/em>
\nIt’s that you’ll do one better than was done before<\/em>
\nInside you know<\/em>
\nInside you understand<\/em>
\nInside you know what’s yours to finally set right<\/em>
\nAnd I suggest<\/em>
\nAnd I suggest to you<\/em>
\nAnd I suggest this is the best part of your life<\/em><\/p>\n

This is a song<\/em>
\nComes from the west to you<\/em>
\nComes from the west, comes from the slowly setting sun<\/em>
\nWith a request<\/em>
\nWith a request of you<\/em>
\nTo see how very short the endless days will run<\/em>
\nAnd when they’re gone<\/em>
\nAnd when the dark descends<\/em>
\nOh we’d give anything for one more hour of light<\/em><\/p>\n

And I suggest this is the best part of your life<\/em><\/p>\n

At the end of the service, we gathered in a circle and Stephen’s daughter Meurcie stood on the diving board hovering over the lake and released the pink, red and white balloons that had the pastel pink and white rose petals attached to them. Instead of rising immediately, they skirted the grass and only slightly\u00a0lofted and attached themselves to the tiki torch next to the tent. Someone untangled them and away they went, rising into the sky, but remained visible for quite awhile; a poignant reminder that those we love are never very far away.<\/p>\n

www.mirabaigalashan.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Part two Solstice weekend….\u00a0I returned to Happy Tree\u00a0Farm to participate in a service officiated by a sister\u00a0Rev.\u00a0named Mirabai Galashan; a chaplain who serves hospice\u00a0patients and their families, as well as offers spiritual services and presentations.\u00a0Her soft and elegant style welcomed us under the tent next to the magical lake I spoke of in\u00a0Monday’s Bliss\u00a0Blog…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":233,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40,13,8,70,41,94,49,22,4,54],"tags":[100,434,435,432,425,412,433],"class_list":["post-857","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-affirmations","category-blissfull-thinking","category-communication","category-community","category-death","category-family","category-friendship","category-healing","category-inspiration","category-interfaith","tag-hospice","tag-may-i-suggest","tag-memorial-service","tag-mirabai-galashan","tag-stephen-redding","tag-summer-solstice","tag-susan-werner"],"yoast_head":"\nPresence and Essence - The Bliss Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/2011\/06\/presence-and-essence.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Presence and Essence - The Bliss Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Part two Solstice weekend….\u00a0I returned to Happy Tree\u00a0Farm to participate in a service officiated by a sister\u00a0Rev.\u00a0named Mirabai Galashan; a chaplain who serves hospice\u00a0patients and their families, as well as offers spiritual services and presentations.\u00a0Her soft and elegant style welcomed us under the tent next to the magical lake I spoke of in\u00a0Monday’s Bliss\u00a0Blog…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/2011\/06\/presence-and-essence.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Bliss Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/snuggleyoga\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2011-06-20T14:00:47+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2011-06-21T02:26:42+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.mirabaigalashan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/newhs.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Edie Weinstein, MSW, LSW\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@EdieWeinstein1\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Presence and Essence - The Bliss Blog","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/2011\/06\/presence-and-essence.html","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Presence and Essence - The Bliss Blog","og_description":"\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Part two Solstice weekend….\u00a0I returned to Happy Tree\u00a0Farm to participate in a service officiated by a sister\u00a0Rev.\u00a0named Mirabai Galashan; a chaplain who serves hospice\u00a0patients and their families, as well as offers spiritual services and presentations.\u00a0Her soft and elegant style welcomed us under the tent next to the magical lake I spoke of in\u00a0Monday’s Bliss\u00a0Blog…","og_url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/2011\/06\/presence-and-essence.html","og_site_name":"The Bliss Blog","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/snuggleyoga","article_published_time":"2011-06-20T14:00:47+00:00","article_modified_time":"2011-06-21T02:26:42+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"http:\/\/www.mirabaigalashan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/newhs.jpg"}],"author":"Edie Weinstein, MSW, LSW","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@EdieWeinstein1","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/2011\/06\/presence-and-essence.html","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/2011\/06\/presence-and-essence.html","name":"Presence and Essence - The Bliss Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/2011\/06\/presence-and-essence.html#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/2011\/06\/presence-and-essence.html#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"http:\/\/www.mirabaigalashan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/newhs.jpg","datePublished":"2011-06-20T14:00:47+00:00","dateModified":"2011-06-21T02:26:42+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/#\/schema\/person\/edcd643a643a9ca91adb1e8f9e177386"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/2011\/06\/presence-and-essence.html#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/2011\/06\/presence-and-essence.html"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/2011\/06\/presence-and-essence.html#primaryimage","url":"http:\/\/www.mirabaigalashan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/newhs.jpg","contentUrl":"http:\/\/www.mirabaigalashan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/newhs.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/2011\/06\/presence-and-essence.html#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Presence and Essence"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/","name":"The Bliss Blog","description":"Beliefnet Voices - Edie Weinstein","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/#\/schema\/person\/edcd643a643a9ca91adb1e8f9e177386","name":"Edie Weinstein, MSW, LSW","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/0d6\/0d6cd7619da51a9a40cc705280e88f9cx96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/0d6\/0d6cd7619da51a9a40cc705280e88f9cx96.jpg","caption":"Edie Weinstein, MSW, LSW"},"description":"Edie Weinstein, MSW, LSW is a colorfully creative journalist, inspiring transformational speaker, licensed social worker, interfaith minister, editor, radio host, BLISS coach, event producer, Cosmic Concierge, the author of The Bliss Mistress Guide To Transforming The Ordinary Into The Extraordinary and co-author of Embraced By the Divine: The Emerging Woman\u2019s Gateway to Power, Passion and Purpose. She has also contributed to several anthologies and personal growth books. Edie has interviewed such notables as Ram Dass, Wayne Dyer, Debbie Ford, don Miguel Ruiz, don Miguel Ruiz, Jr. Marianne Williamson, Grover Washington, Jr. Noah Levine, Shirley MacLaine, Dennis Weaver, Ben and Jerry and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. She calls herself an Opti-mystic who sees the world through the eyes of possibility. 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