Sunrise in the Outer Banks

Two days in a row I have had the wonderful opportunity to walk on the beach in Emerald Isle early in the morning. Yesterday I walked and wandered for almost 3 hours which resulted in a horrendous sunburn on my neck and shoulders. Its late October, why I am getting sunburn? Today I started out earlier, didn't walk as far and sat on the sand thinking and pondering while the sun struggled to peek out behind heavy clouds. It succeeded a couple of times, spreading yellow and pink light in several directions. Once I looked back and saw the "Jesus Light" streaming down in multi-faceted rays. I call it that because it reminds me of the the rays of light in the old paintings of biblical scenes. Eventually the clouds won and the sun lost so I headed back to the house. Seashell treasures clinking in my pockets, pants wet to the knees, pelicans sweeping over the waves in graceful maneuvers, just beautiful. This morning before my walk we saw a pod of dolphins cutting through the waves like a hot knife through butter. Their unique shapes dark against the blue gray ocean. Although they passed by in a matter of minutes, it was clear we had been touched by their divine essence.

Snow on Deer

A few days I go I woke up really early and it was still dark outside. I had set the alarm for 6 am as part of my new work plan but I hit the snooze button three times so it was 6:18 when I finally turned it off. I fell back asleep and had the most amazing dream. Several days later the imagery and emotion is still with me. It was as if I was actually there and it felt so real. The overall feeling was one of awe and breathtaking beauty.

The dream was not very clear in the beginning, who I was with or exactly where I was going but the impression was that I with a male friend and we were driving in Pennsylvania to visit my family or visit where I grew up. The road felt familiar. It was nighttime and there was clean freshly fallen snow everywhere. The stars were out. We stopped along side the road at the top of a driveway to somewhere I knew. Also not very clear. I got out of the truck and stepped into a few inches of fresh powdery white sparkling snow. I looked down at my feet amazed at how beautiful it was. I did not feel cold or at any time think of cold. I was talking to someone, a 3rd person who greeted us, and I saw movement in the fringe of the forest. There was moonlight illuminating the new snow, the road and the harvested cornfield across the road. The edge of the trees on our side of the road were still in shadow. 

I saw a small form run out of the trees heading right towards me. I recognized it was a small deer or a fawn. The creature bounded gracefully towards me. I leaned down with my hands outstretched as if to welcome it, scoop it up into my arms and hug it. I felt an immense surge of love. It ran straight for me and veered slightly to pass me but not before it brushed against my leg and my outstretched hand. I felt soft fur and a light dusting of snow before it bounded across the road disappearing into the cornfield. I couldn't speak or move, I barely breathed. Then out of the corner of my eye I saw more forms exiting the forest in waves of grace and agility. Many more deer in all sizes flew past me, dusted in pure white snow, glistening like jewels in the moonlight, not stopping, but crossing the road and disappearing into the broken cornstalks. Some came so close to me I felt their fur brush me as they passed quietly, barely making a sound in their surge forward. Then the wave was over and complete silence filled the air. 

Nobody spoke. The cornfield rippled slightly in the distance. I looked up and saw thousands of stars in the black sky. I didn't see the moon, only instinctively knew it was moonlight illuminating the night. When I brought my eyes back down to the cornfield it was quite still and there was no more movement where the deer had gone. I woke up shortly after that with the feeling I had witnessed something truly inspiring and meaningful. Life changing even.

The night before this dream I had laid in bed meditating and I asked my Spirit Family to help me release any emotions or negative memories that were possibly holding me back. I suspect this was that release because I felt so light, loved and awestruck by the beauty of the whole scene. I've researched the symbolism in the dream and the deer, snow and moonlight all indicate a good omen. One statement in my dream research really stood out: "To dream that you find something in the snow, suggests that you are exploring and accessing your unused potential, abilities, and talents. You have uncovered some hidden talent and ability within yourself. It may also indicate forgiving yourself or others". 

I can still feel the peace and beauty of it all so I am sure the dream was confirmation of my spiritual progress.

The Beginning

Today is the first day of my blog. It isn't the first day in my writing journey. I have wanted to be a writer for a long time. I bought all kinds of books on writing, screenplays, writing for children etc. Most of them sat on a shelf or were eventually sold on e-Bay to other aspiring writers. Then I lost my job back in June. I suddenly had oodles of free time after the resumes were sent out. I thought, wow, now would be a good time to work on the dream. Right! I find that without structure my time management goes to crap. I am not productive and have barely written anything or read two books.

Its time to work the dream as if it is my full time job. I've taken enough seminars to know you just have to pick up the pen and start writing. Or this day and age open the laptop and start typing.

Yesterday I received my new copy of The Writer's Journey by Christopher Vogler from Amazon. I'm so excited to read this book. It was highly recommended by several writers. Last Saturday I attended the Carolina Romance Writer's meeting and met numerous authors and enjoyed the Hero's Journey presentation by Suzanne Adair. http://www.suzanneadair.com/

My current goal is write every day as if it were my 9-5 job and read books by other authors in the similar genre and age group I want to be published in. This week I am canceling my cable and DVR box so I won’t be distracted by watching too much TV. I feel confident I can achieve my goals if I stay focused and motivated.

A couple weeks ago I read a tip that you should write a mission statement onto an index card and place it on your computer. I wrote my mission statement out 5 times and placed them all over the house in key visual areas so I would see them everyday. In the bathroom, above the kitchen sink, below the security system keypad, above the thermostat, etc. This has been a huge boost in my confidence.

MISSION STATEMENT: I write stories about love, magic and adventure that allow me the freedom to earn an abundant living working from home as a published author.

And so it begins on a dark and stormy night…