Giving Thanks

During meditation this morning, I asked my Spirit team what they wanted me to share with you, and they responded, "Giving Thanks." I liked the subject, for it is something I practice daily. The image that I've attached to this message is a tiny book I was gifted several years ago. It is the Haudenosaunee, otherwise known as the Iroquois Confederacy, Thanksgiving Address (Ohnenten Kariwatekwen). I used to keep the book on my office desk to emphasize its importance to me and anyone meeting with me. It now sits next to me in my home office as a reminder of the significance of gratitude. I have been told that when a Haudenosaunee person says the Thanksgiving Address, it is a prayer of gratitude to Mother Nature. In doing so, they recognize their spiritual connections to the natural and spiritual world. Giving thanks in this way reminds them of the love, respect, generosity and responsibility that underlies their relationship with Mother Nature and acknowledges the Web of Life: Whatever happens to nature also happens to them. This is the power of gratitude for the Haudenosaunee, and I believe we have much to learn from this Address.

Even science backs up the importance of giving thanks for those of you who doubt the ancient wisdom of the First Peoples. A study revealed that people who consistently showed their gratitude by writing what they appreciated were more optimistic, in general, and felt better about their lives. It also affected their physical health more positively because they were able to make healthier choices. All this in only a 10-week period! Other research indicated positive results when participants were asked to write and hand-deliver a letter of gratitude to someone whom they never previously thanked for their kindness. They had to do this for just one week, yet at the end of the week, their happiness scores were off the charts with the benefits lasting up to a month (Harvard Medical School, 2021).

Taking time out of your day to give thanks is important to your well-being, and in my opinion, connects you closer to the Great Spirit, Source, Universe, or whatever name you wish to assign to the Higher Being. Some of you may be thinking, "You don't know the hell in my life right now," or "Have you seen what's happening in the world? How can I be grateful when people are suffering?" These are two understandable sentiments, and both hold truth. I empathise, and do offer my prayers that those who are suffering are helped. These prayers are offered daily at the end of my meditation, but in spite of this, I still challenge you to identify the good things in your life and to give thanks for them. I will share what my thanksgiving prayer encompasses:

I give thanks to the Great Spirit/God, my Higher Self, Yeshua, Mother Mary, Mary Magdalene, all the ascended Masters, my galactic family, each of my spiritual guides and master teachers (whose names I list), the angels, my family and friends on the other side, my family and friends on this side, Mother Earth, the trees, the water, the plants, Father Sun, Grandmother Moon, the elementals, the breeze that caresses my face, my winged friends, my finned friends, all the animals and spirits of nature (two-leggeds, four leggeds, and many-leggeds), my spirit animal, the clouds, the rain, the stars, the air I breathe, the food I eat, the home where I live, and the magic in my life.

It's a long list, I realize, and I often add to it depending on the circumstances in my life. I take time to give thanks at the end of my meditation or at the end of my day before I go to sleep. I used to write it down which I think is a great practice as it helps you to truly focus on those things in your life for which you are truly grateful. One year, I purchased a gratitude book for my best friend and her grown children. I don't know if the "kids" appreciated the book, but my best friend and I would talk on the phone each night to share what we wrote in our gratitude journals. It was an excellent way to crystalllise our gratitude and really embody those feelings of appreciation. It was also a wonderful way for us to connect and reveal our true selves. That, in itself, was a gift for which I was grateful.

Spirit encourages you to take time out of your busy day to give thanks. A daily practice of gratitude will not only make positive changes in your life, but I believe it will make positive changes in the world. As each of us deeply feel grateful, it will be expressed in how we navigate the world and how we treat each other and Mother Nature. That will raise our vibrations and ripple out to the rest of the physical and spiritual worlds. A 10-minute commitment is worth your time.

You are welcome to share your gratitude journey with me on Facebook: Sacred Soul Teachings. If you see a tree as the photo, then you've found me. :-)

I am grateful that you took the time to read this message. Have a great week!