In the sea of my heart, words struggle to find purchase on the roiling flow of feelings.

I want you to feel all this inside me – to breathe in this wonder, to bask in this beauty, to fall into the softness of release.

Yet, words elude me.

They tumble and tangle in curlicues and filigree belying their past stories and busting into brand new moves.

I reach for them. Greedy hands trying to capture the bubble before it implodes, the butterfly before it departs.

The language reveals itself impossibly s l o w l y in tiny incremental tokens.

A discovery:

At the core of my spirit – of this practice – my soul is fed by Wonder and Beauty.

I wrote about this for the Wise Woman Council about self-care.

The more I hold these words, the more I study their facets and cracks, the more they awaken the Divine in me.

They are, of course, just words. Words that will fall short of the meaning I give them.

Words that may guide you towards this place I want to share, but may lead you somewhere altogether different.

An evolution:

I forget sometimes that this need not be a solitary act. In the eyes and hearts of the right people, the language, even the words, can evolve with their own wonder and beauty.

There, in my butterfly rabble, filled with all the right people, lovely Tina offered lepidolove – whose core begins with Lepidoptera, the order of insects that includes butterflies and moths, and whose apex is selfless and welcoming love.

A new word so filled with promise and butterflies and the peace of the universe. I can not help but be smitten with it.

A purpose:

This is all for you. For us.

A language and tools for us to find our way to our souls together. For us to awaken together in the light of our own Divine.

And can the threads be pulled together into a tapestry, a statement that guides my path?

Through the gorgeous and wonderful Purpose: Finding the Thread Course, there were new discoveries, new plans and thoughts and a grand coalescing of ideas, distilled into a beautiful purpose statement destined to evolve as we move forward.

“My role is to lead tender-hearted ready-to-heal people to the peace of their deepest knowing through Wonder, Beauty and artful spiritual tools.”

I fall down with the language of what I can offer, but I continue to flow into the path of the right words.

It will come together. We will find our language. In time. In love.

I stumble again when it comes to you.

Those of you whom I lead, those who lead beside me, those who are healing every day, what words can I find for you?

What do you call yourself? Seeker? Soul? Student?

I want to etch your word for you on my heart so I will know you whenever I see you, even when we are far apart.

Forever connected in lepidolove, we are kin. Forever bright in the eyes of each other.

Hearts entwined in shimmering tapestry, shattering the myth of alone.

Together.

Hooray! You have a pendulum!

Or you’re thinking about getting a pendulum! Yay! It may even be one of my custom made Gratitude Tarot Pendulums. (and if so, thank you! I’m so glad you’ve got one!)

If you’re new to using a pendulum, you might be wondering a few things. I’m going to do my best to fill you in on the coolness that is your pendulum.

So just how do I use this pendulum thing?

The first time you use your pendulum, you’ll want to get to know it. Hold it in your hand, check to see if you notice any sensations as you hold it. Breathe in the loving energies that created it for you.

Next, let it show you how to hold it when you want to use it.

As you hold the pendulum in a few different ways ask yourself these questions:

How does it feel to you? Does it feel natural in your hand? Do you feel any of its energetic properties? If you move it purposely, does it swing freely in every direction? Does it swing in a circle in both directions?

To find the best way to hold yours, start at the top, holding the “handle” bead between your thumb and finger. Check in to see how that works for you.

Try holding it from a lower bead, with the handle nestled in your palm like in the photo. This will be particularly helpful if you have a long pendulum.

Try your grip on a few different beads on the pendulum’s string.

Notice how the feel changes with each different hold. You and the pendulum are getting to know each other, getting to understand how you’d like to work together.

Notice when you find the sweet spot. You’ll probably always prefer to hold your pendulum this way.

Now that you’ve got your pendulum well in hand, -did you see what I did there?- now what?

Listen to your pendulum. Which really means – watch what your pendulum does.

One of the things a pendulum loves to do is give you a yes or no answer. In order to understand its answers, you’ll first have to learn its language.

While holding your pendulum in its favourite position, ensure it has room to swing freely without hitting any objects or your body. You may wish to rest your elbow or forearm on something solid like a chair arm.

Now release your expectations and worries. Relax yourself and focus your attention on your pendulum and the question in your heart. Calm your mind and open your heart.

Now tell your pendulum, “show me a yes”.

When you and your pendulum are just meeting it can sometimes take time for the pendulum to respond. Be patient with it. Allow it to move freely. Watch for even tiny movements.

Does your yes swing side to side? Or front to back? Or does it swing in a circle? Clockwise? Or counter-clockwise?

This is your yes. This most likely will always be your yes with this and most pendulums you ever use.

Silly as it sounds, I often thank my pendulum after every answer. Because I know the pendulum is just a weight on a string and is really a physical view of what my deepest knowing wants me to hear, I know I’m really thanking myself. And that is something I can never do too often!

Now that you know your yes, it’s time to find out your no.

Return to your calm mind and open heart. Now tell your pendulum “show me a no”.

As before, be patient and watch for the exact movement. It’s different from the yes, isn’t it?

For me a yes is always front to back and a no is a circle. Your combination will most likely be different from mine.

Now you know your yes and your no.

Each time you use your pendulum, asking for a yes and no. I’d be surprised if it ever changed much from your usual yes and no, but it’s a good way to be sure you know how it’s speaking today.

It’s also a great way to connect with your pendulum, and your inner knowing, and let them know it’s time to work. In fact, with time and practice, these simple questions will be all it takes to get you into the relaxed and open state you need to hear your pendulum.

Ask your pendulum anything you like.

It will answer literally. You’ll come to see that the art of asking the question will be the true mastery of using your pendulum.

One type of question I ask my pendulum frequently is about what to wear. I like to feel comfortable and look great whenever I go out, but I can’t always predict what will feel comfortable hours from now. With these questions I am very specific – especially asking about footwear and whether I want to bring a sweater for later. Lately the only times I find myself with sore feet or feeling chilled is when I haven’t taken the time to ask my pendulum!

Of course you can ask much more serious questions also. Things like: Is June 16th the most beneficial time for me to launch my new Butterfly Way course? Is it in my best interest to sign up for Rhiannon’s Purpose: Find the Thread course on the day it launches later this month ? Will my friend feel how much she means to me if I give her 23 Whispers for her birthday?

Specific questions get the best answers.

A question like: Will I be happy? is nowhere near specific enough.

Honestly, though, I’m not much of a yes/no kind of person. In those cute little memes that go around asking if I like one thing or another, I usually either like a third option that’s not offered, or want to say both.

Really, I appreciate that for most situations the possibilities are infinite – that we can only see small slice of what could be.

So how does my pendulum help with that?

Doesn’t a pendulum only answer yes and no questions?

No!

The more deeply you connect with your pendulum, the more you will get to know its movements. You may see different and sometimes subtle changes in how it swings for you.

You may see that sometimes when it swings back and forth it also circles to a different angle and swings from there. You can use that to your advantage!

Give your pendulum choices!

Place your choices in different directions and let the direction of your pendulum’s swing give you the answers you seek.

Try this: Write three choices on separate pieces of paper. Lay them face down in a semi circle. Hold your pendulum above the center of the circle and ask your question. Watch your pendulum swing towards the best answer for the situation.

If you who are more visually inclined and colour-centric, like I am, click to download the Ask Your Pendulum colour wheel tool I created for you.

In the photo I was asking the pendulum to show me my colour for this year. The angle of the photo may not be clear – it was swinging through green, my colour for 2013.

I could have created this in all sorts of ways, but chose this design because everything is better with colour!

I also created it with 7 distinct colours so you can use it to ask questions related to your 7 chakras, or which colour to use for the text on that beautiful inspiring quote photograph you’re going to share.

I could have gone on a tool-creating frenzy and made a unique tool for numbers, a different one for text, even one that we could slide cards into, but wouldn’t you rather have one tool that can do it all? This tool is so versatile you can use it to choose in virtually any scenario.

The only limitation is that there can be no more than 7 options at a time.

What can you do with this Pendulum Colour Wheel tool?

• Number the section to learn how many of something to do – I usually number them red -1, orange-2, yellow-3 up to purple-7
• Use the same numbered sections to choose an option from a numbered list (use a random number generator to make the sequence unexpected)
• Write your choices on slips of paper placed face down in different sections.
• Place objects that represent your choices in different sections.

Allow your pendulum to swing towards the choice you want in your deepest heart.

But if that sounds too serious, and you simply need to choose one thing of many, allow the pendulum to suggest that one thing for you.

I used this just the other day. I offered a free SparkEssence Butterfly Healing to someone in my Butterfly Rabble group. I used this pendulum colour wheel to tell me who to give it to. In this particular case, I asked the group to comment with a colour and I asked the pendulum to show me which colour would win. It was that simple.

I could just as easily have written the names of everyone who entered on slips of paper, placed those papers on the sections of the colour wheel and asked the pendulum to choose one.

Either way works.

And it’s exactly that flexibility that allows using a pendulum to be exactly what you want it to be for you.

So, then, all a pendulum does is answer questions, right?

Not really. Pendulums can be used in energy work, space clearing, identifying spirits, communicating with angels, strengthening your intuition and many more useful activities.

Learning to use a pendulum for those practices is definitely a deeper topic than this blog post can cover. And more than I have to offer you at this time. Will I be sharing more pendulum uses in future posts? Well, I guess we both have something to look forward to! My pendulum said “yes”

Have you used a pendulum before? Do you have any tips for new pendulum users? Do you have any questions about pendulums that I didn’t answer?

All photos taken by me of me using my latest Gratitude Tarot Pendulum: The Hierophant. She is really responsive and fun to work with!

Your Favourite Mom*.

You want to thank her.

To let her know she is Beauty to you.

To treat her to something to make her heart sing.

To pamper her with a moment of Wisdom and Beauty. Again and again. For 23 days.

Like a miniature trip to the spa.
23 times in a row.

Like a beautiful meditation at the start of her day.
23 days in a row.

Like a glimpse into the heart of Beauty. Into her own soul.
23 moments of Beauty.

Making space with Butterflies and gorgeous images.
Filling her heart with Beauty and Wisdom.
23 Whispers.

Gift 23 Whispers to your Favourite Mom*!
$23.00 CAD

Click Whee! to buy, then fill out the contact form on the next page.

Learn more about 23 Whispers here.

Gift 23 Whispers to your Favourite Mom*!
$23.00 CAD

Click Whee! to buy, then fill out the contact form on the next page.

I did’t invent this practice of butterflies. I didn’t get a certificate, attend classes or take a workshop, either.

It sparked its way into my consciousness years ago, a beautiful gift I happily used without any need to understand it more.

Until one day I needed to know more.

How was it that this practice of butterflies has become so much a part of my life?

What is this feeling I get when I send them, when I invite them in, when I feel them flow through me and out into the universe?

How is it that they’ve helped me through health crises and worries and difficult times?

Exploring Butterflies

I began to decipher their meaning by sinking deeper into the feelings – by using the butterflies more mindfully, more intentionally.

I began to see their many layers being unraveled.

A little at a time.

One shimmering facet revealing itself after another.

Each new realization a wonder. Each bright shining segment bringing the bliss of a-ha.

It feels like discovery.

It feels like unpacking the mysteries of the universe.

It feels like finally giving language to a spiritual practice all my own.

And that seemed like a perfect reason for this series of blog posts.

Sharing my Explorations

A post for each layer.

For each gem.

For each insight.

All tied together by this idea that butterflies are the spiritual practice.

Warning: There’s no order here.

Just like a butterfly, I don’t follow a linear path. I flit and flutter from one sparkly idea to a shimmering other.

As I write a post, I share it.

In no discernible order.

Not meant to be followed with deft precision.

Instead these are touch points to consider, gifts to be opened when the light shines upon them.

If I were to recommend a starting point, though, it would probably be this very post.

The fact that it’s not just adds to the playfulness of the journey.

I have a list of the gems to explore, ideas to base my blog posts on. I expect this list will grow. And change.

You can find all of the posts in The Butterfly Way. Enjoy the journey!

With all that the butterflies do, there is always more, will always be more. This excavation may never find completion, as more and more depth to this practice finds its way from my heart to my mind to my words.

Do you have any questions about the butterflies?

Have you noticed an aspect of these butterflies that I haven’t shared yet?

Let’s talk about how the butterflies are working for you.

You can also sign up for one-on-one Butterfly Healing and other ways to tap into Butterfly Power.

Release.

Let go of anything that no longer serves you.

I know you’ve heard this before. And you might be thinking: it’s a lovely sentiment, but how do we actually let go?

How do we drop our fears, our hurts, our anger?

How do we step away from the pain within them to see brightness again?

Give them wings.

Let the butterflies carry them away.

Every butterfly-send is release. Their bright energetic bodies flying beyond me into the universe.

And I get the benefit of it!

Every time I release butterflies, I release something of my own. Something I no longer need.

An old belief, a negative thought, a regret.

The release happens whether I plan for it or not. But the healing power of this is exponential when I set my heart to it.

Sometimes I know exactly the thing. I can almost picture it, balled up in my stomach, or heavy on my shoulders. A gremlin, a weight, a dervish mid-whirl.

I can picture gently plucking it from where it sticks, pulling away as much as I can, and gingerly depositing it upon the waiting wings of a butterfly.

Often I don’t realize exactly what I’m releasing.

The beauty of it is, I don’t need to know.

When I feel something weighing me down, it doesn’t really matter what it is. Of course I want to identify it. I want to quantify it. I want to know where that thing came from and how it got in here.

But I don’t really need to know.

All I need to do is release it.

Which is what these butterflies are positively genius at.

Alchemic wizards that they are, the butterflies transform the energy of all that is released into fuel to brighten their colours and carry them far out into the world.

Back in the depths of my heart, now that the thing is released, there is new space. Space to receive the gifts of the butterflies: love and ease and comfort and joy.

They take away all we don’t need. They bring us all that we need.

As with the other facets of butterflies, we can practice this simply. The idea of release can flutter through our mind as we see the butterflies.

Or we can go deeper, feeling the things we need to release – even if we don’t yet know what they are – and seeing ourselves gently loading them on bright waiting wings.

We can fall into the vision as we watch the butterflies gain altitude, and transform in colour and size as they burn our worries as fuel to carry them to the next destination.

They give and they receive. They arrive and they depart. They bestow and they release.

Like breath.

Like life.

Like butterflies.

Is there something you are holding that is stopping your heart from feeling peace? Is there something you are ready to release?

Picture your butterflies happily carrying away all you no longer need. Feel the flow in your heart where it once hurt.

Share in the comments how it feels to you to release to butterflies.

Would it feel nice if I helped boost your butterfly power?
You might be interested in Butterfly Healing.

we ache as one
each heart hurting
ruptured
by what we have seen

and yet

love is here
in stories of heroes
who ran towards danger
who carried the hurt
who pinched the flow of life
from escaping

love is here
in dedications
and comfort dogs
and lemonade stands
and in the media
carrying their stories
beside those of chaos
and destruction

love is here
in messages of caring
from a whole world
who aches as one

a steady flow of
prayers and
drums and
chants and
butterflies

we are not broken
our humanity is strong
alive
connected
and filled with love

share love
say love
pray love
send love

we hold each other
we help each other
we heal each other

love is here

“Can we lose the best of ourselves when we focus too much on trying to not offend anyone?”

This is what I asked on Facebook yesterday. Based on the 21 comments it received in its first 2 hours, the question may have struck a nerve for a few people.

But what was I talking about? Something must have spurred me to ask the question.

Sure it did, but my thoughts and the back story are longer and more complex than a Facebook discussion could easily hold.

And so a new blog post was born.

Let me begin with some details you may or may not know.

Part of my intention on social media channels, and in life in general, is to be supportive and loving to others. Sometimes based on an intuitive nudge, often as a response to a difficult situation they have mentioned.

My go-to expression of support is, of course, to send butterflies.

Sometimes I am specific about who the butterflies are for:
…healing butterflies for the loved one going into surgery, calming butterflies for the family and loved ones waiting on her and calm, confident and alert butterflies for the medical team performing her procedure.

Sometimes I am specific about the type of butterflies:
…shimmering orange butterflies so you remember how amazing you are and the job interviewers find you irresistible.

Sometimes they are more generally supportive, especially when I know the person receiving them is not really in the know about my butterflies:
…sending butterflies and hugs…

But the question remains: Why send butterflies? Why not pray or something else?

My reason is simple. I know butterflies. My relationship with them creates the most powerful transmission of love and healing that I can generate.

Butterflies are my richest blessing.

Is sending butterflies like praying? Definitely. It’s a lot like praying – connecting with the Divine with loving intention.

Is sending butterflies energy work? In fact, yes, the butterflies are super helpful with making space for energy.

Is sending butterflies like sending healing light or positive vibes? Absolutely. My energetic butterflies are composed entirely of healing light and positive intentions.

Is sending butterflies like Reiki? While I have not been taught the ways of Reiki, my understanding of its healing principles tells me, that, yes, I think it is.

In fact, sending butterflies is like shorthand for saying “may all the energy and light of the Divine that you need arrive just as you need it and may it help you to also release all the difficulties of this moment”.

When I think of all of these practices – prayer, energy work, Reiki, positive vibes, butterflies – I see them now as the expression of the Divine within us. Perhaps the Divine in you would rather play drums, while the Divine in another lights candles, and yet another practices magic.

Each of these is the Divine awakened in you. Each of these is just as sacred as the next.

So here is where the question came from.

Over my many years of connecting online, I’ve been active in a lot of groups and forums. People being the human creatures we are, frequently ask for support in difficult times.

Since I want to be supportive, I send butterflies.

Yet, butterflies are not always welcomed.

In some cases, I have been scolded for not praying when prayer was asked for.

I have occasionally been asked to not send butterflies in a group, or to provide only the type of support that people are asking for.

So be it. As a rule follower, if I am in a group I follow its rules, usually to the letter. If I disagree with the rules, I may decide the group is not for me.

In some cases I’ve stayed in the group and silently sent butterflies, while staying active in the group in other ways. Sometimes when I know the person who is asking for support, I’ll send them butterflies in a private message, or in my own butterfly group.

After I have grown tired of having to withhold butterflies I’d like to send, I will usually quietly leave, butterflies and all.

These request to respect another person’s beliefs made me wonder. What is the most effective way to offer support to someone?

We each have our own way of energetically supporting others, our own expression of the Divine. This is one of the beautiful things about our differences: look at how many options we each have!

Do we gain more by only receiving the support with which we are most familiar? Or could it be that when others send us their most familiar support that the energy is even more powerful? Is it possible that receiving more than one type of energetic support at once could bring us more healing, more gifts and more love?

I know I didn’t always see it this way. There was a time for a few years when I held enough bitterness towards the church that I never wanted anyone to pray for me or anyone I loved.

Mellowed over time, and through my own spiritual awakening, that bitterness has dissolved and I now see that prayer is as much an expression of the Divine as all of the others. I’m so grateful I can see this now!

Here’s where my question came in:

I do think we can lose the best of ourselves if we spend too much energy on not offending anyone.

What am I without my butterflies? Not nearly as alive, as vibrant, as healing, as amazing.

Should I hide my butterflies because someone else doesn’t get them? Or because someone else would rather share chanting or animal totems?

I think not! Just as I think they should not hide their chants or totems.

We all need the Divine and we need to see more of her any chance we get. That amazingness in you? That’s the Divine. I want to see yours. And I want you to see mine.

If we took all of our different ways we support each other, all those little bits of the Divine we bring to each other, brought them all together and gave it a good shake, we may just get a glimpse of how amazing the Divine really is.

That Divine in you is just one facet of the immeasurable greatness that permeates our existence. With all these facets surrounding us and supporting us, we can only grow stronger and more loving.

Show me your Divine. And I’ll show you mine!

How does the Divine express herself through you? What is your amazingness and how do you share it?

When I send butterflies all the world kind of fades from view for a moment, so the butterflies can reveal themselves.

My mind becomes still, focused only the person the butterflies will visit.

My heart opens, ready to channel whatever the universe is sending through me to them.

Each time it’s a quiet, peaceful moment.

I love this moment so much, I relish it deeply. I savour its rich warmth flooding through me.

I’ve been sending these butterflies for years now, guiding their healing energies towards those who need them.

Not that long ago, I began to notice something that surprised me about these butterflies. Something that made me realize the depth and power of their healing energy.

Something that made me love them and that moment so much more.

I can see their colours!

Well, more accurately, I feel their colours.

I feel how the butterflies are as they flow through me to you, and the best words I have for those feelings are colours.

And knowing the colours they bring to you is a way for me to see what you need, what you are dealing with.

It’s like my intuition draws back the curtain that divides you from I, and I can pour my love and intention directly into the parts of you that need it most.

I love knowing that these butterflies are much more than mere flighty critters popping in for a moment of wonder. Infused with colour they bring gifts that are exactly what you need.

How do I know how to describe these feelings?

The words just pour out of me.

Soft green and light blue feel like a comforting hug.

Bright orange and bronze feel powerful and filled with confident energy.

Dark purple and blue feel rich with connections to the universe.

There are layers to the beauty in these colours.

As they flow through me, as I allow the words to pour out, we know there is something of me in them. Love and intention, surely, but also something more, something that strengthens the butterflies for their flight.

So there are the butterflies, straight from the universe, ready to help you. And there is the element of me, ushering them through, sending them off, holding the intention and colour I felt for you.

In a pulsing beauty of alchemy, there is even more to this.

When they arrive with you, when you feel the butterflies connect with you, they are changed again. As are you.

Your colour, your sense, your needs, your vision all meld with the butterflies and my intention to fill you with exactly what you need.

What was bronze may brighten to orange. What was purple may mellow to blue or transform to gold. What was transparent may fill with all of the colours of the world.

Even if I don’t tell you the colours I see in your butterflies, you’ll always receive exactly what you need. And it fills my heart in more beautiful ways when I hear from you what you received.

Energy and love flow through the universe carrying a world of colour, reflecting back to us the beauty of our soul, the colours of our life.

You could start each day with a beauty-filled butterfly moment inspired by a card from my Gratitude Tarot, delivered to your inbox as 23 Whispers.

And join our Butterfly Rabble on Facebook to enjoy all things butterfly in a warm and fun community.

So, tell me. What colour are your butterflies today?

The journey to your soul can feel like a treasure hunt. Yet the treasure is not a shiny bauble at the end of a long trek, it is peace in your soul throughout this journey of life.

How can we even describe what is happening here? These are thoughts and ideas bigger and yet more intimate than words can do justice. And yet, I shall try.

I’ll take my clumsy and mostly-formed thoughts to try to describe this feeling I have been cultivating. I beg you to look past the awkward bits and try to feel it along with me.

It might be described like this:

To reach the wisdom of your soul is not so much a discovery, as an unfurling.

Your soul is unfurling throughout this life, possibly quietly, maybe riotously, definitely constantly.

While the path may not always be peaceful, your heart can be. Indeed I believe the goal of your soul is peace in your heart.

This is a journey that does not have a start and a finish and a set number of stops along the way.

This journey – this living peace – is everything we are here for.

But how do you grow peace in your heart?

There are many ways, indeed. Check into any spiritual practice and you’ll find a lot of rituals, a lot of ideas, to help get your soul to where it needs to be.

Many even agree that the place it needs to be is in peace.

There are lots of ways, yes, and my way is all about one thing:

Butterflies!

You know I believe they are a bright and playful spiritual practice.

Here’s how it works.

Imagine a butterfly has just arrived. Picture it float in over your left shoulder. Notice it as it hangs in the air before you.

Do you see the dappled blue of its broad wings?

Do you notice how it floats gently down to your screen with the slightest twitch of its outstretched wings?

Do you see it watching you, waiting for you to stop all that you are doing so you can really see it?

Think about the butterfly for a moment.

If you were able to see the butterfly I’m going to guess something.

You smiled.

Come on, you can admit it. The muscles in your face relaxed into a joyful, peaceful smile. You sunk into that feeling of wonder, that experience of beauty, and you smiled.

And if you stayed with this image a little longer, you probably felt your heart release a little. Like someone opened the lid and let the light shine forth. Like the door opened and in rushed peace and confidence and trust. All the things you needed right now.

This is how it feels to receive butterflies.

This is how it is to have peace in your heart.

Don’t worry that it may not last.

The only time your heart knows is now. Even one moment of peace is still peace in your heart.

You can have these butterflies – this peace – in your heart whenever you want.

Call upon them on your own. Join my Butterfly Rabble group to share the butterfly love. Or get 23 Whispers to receive the butterflies that came to me as I fell into the beauty of the 23 cards of the Gratitude Tarot’s major arcana.

I’d love to read your thoughts in the comments below. Did you see and feel the butterfly? Did you smile? Do you agree that this really is a spiritual practice?