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Practice - 4/6/2007 8:11:46 PM

Heidi

Posts: 14
Joined: 4/6/2007
Status: offline

Hello,

I've just joined this forum, and this is a first post. I've been visiting Gratefulness.org everyday since November 2006. Visiting this site has become a Life Practise. I light candles first, then Angel of the Hours, I like the new chants which have been added to the bells.

Then I do a pilgrimage through one of the labyrinths and then listen to one of the audio links of Brother David. I have found that visiting has enabled me to think of those things and people in life which I am grateful for even on days when feeling a bit low.

Take care and blessings.

Post #: 1

RE: Practice - 4/7/2007 8:55:58 AM

Heidi

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Joined: 4/6/2007
Status: offline

I was thinking earlier today, What is Gratefulness and how is gratitude different from thankfulness.

Thank you is an acknowledgement of something, someone else has done. Whereas Gratefulness is felt. I discovered recently that I cannot be unhappy and grateful at the same time.

I'd like to know what gratefulness means to you?

Post #: 2

Dictionary meaning of Gratefulness - 4/7/2007 9:50:59 AM

Heidi

Posts: 14
Joined: 4/6/2007
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I've just read Merrian Wester's dictionary and this is what it says gratefulness is

1 a : appreciative of benefits received b : expressing gratitude <grateful thanks>
2 a : affording pleasure or contentment : PLEASING b : pleasing by reason of comfort supplied or discomfort alleviated

An easily accessible dictionary is something to be grateful for.

I whole heartedly agree that gratefulness leads to pleasure and contentment and happiness.

I've just thought of something else to be grateful for, but I'll wite about this later. Bye for now.

Post #: 3

Angel of the Hours - Vespers - 4/8/2007 2:58:19 PM

Heidi

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Joined: 4/6/2007
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It is now 7.38 pm in the UK, and the sun is setting.  The sky is pale blue tinged with pink and peach. There is a vapour trail of an aircraft which has left a pink trail across the sky. An evergreen tree stands out black against the sky and its branches are gently moving in the breeze.

Just spotted another aircraft almost impossible to see as it is flying so high.  The sun, even though it is only just above the horizon has caught the vapour trail and turned it peach and I can see the aircraft's slightly winding path.

I have just listened to Angel of the Hours, Vespers, the bells and then the chants.

This is a link to the prayer chant.

http://www.gratefulness.org/angels/displayAngel.cfm?page=remain&hour=vespers&sound=1&l=ENG

Isn't it beautiful? I find it very soothing and calming at this time in the evening.

Well, it has been a lovely Easter Sunday which I'm grateful for.

Have a pleasant night.

Post #: 4

RE: Angel of the Hours - None - 4/9/2007 11:25:14 AM

Heidi

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Joined: 4/6/2007
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Easter Holiday Monday, today. I've just lit a candle and have listened to the bells and chants of None, the afternoon prayer. This is the chant of None, takes a few seconds to start, patience.

http://www.gratefulness.org/angels/displayAngel.cfm?page=remain&hour=none&sound=1&l=ENG

I then did a pilgrimage through the labyrinth. Shakti Gawain's message is about welcoming surprises.

I have a new book to read, A New Earth by Eckhardt Tolle. I'm going to read some chapters now, and will probably write some more later.

Gratitude for books.

Post #: 5

RE: A New Earth & various musings. - 4/9/2007 8:49:58 PM

Heidi

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Joined: 4/6/2007
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It is now past midnight. Just settling to write this, having made a fresh cup of coffee, lit an incense stick which is on the window sill below the wind chimes, which are very lively in there chiming to night.

That was a long sentence, I suppose I should have put another full stop in somewhere.

I said I was going to read some Chapters of a New Earth, but was distracted and have only read one chapter.

Apparently 144 million years ago the first flower appeared, which heralded an evolution in the life of plants. Later, flowers came to play an essential role in the evolution of consciousness of human beings, as flowers were most likely the first thing that humans came to value, which had no utilitarian purpose, and was not linked to survival in some way.

The first recognition of beauty was one of the most significant events in the evolution of human consciousness, and feelings of love and joy are connected to that recognition. Flowers would become for us, an expression of that which is most high, sacred and spiritual.

Paraphased from a New Earth.

I like looking at flowers, they are as individual as human beings. I have some yellow long trumpet daffodils in a vase, and am intrigued by there simple beauty. Six petals, three laying on top of and between the other three petals, and the long pleated yellow trumpet containing the stigmas of the flowers.

I've bought daffodils each year, which were supposed to last for five days, but they always faded in three.

Then I read somewhere, that the water should be changed and a couple of cms of stalk should be cut everyday. Since I've been following these directions the daffodils have lasted at least five days.

Gratitude for directions.

My friends say that daffodils are scentless, however I can perceive a very delicate and sweet scent. So I think myself lucky that I have such a good nose.

Gratitude for the beauty and pleasure that flowers give.

I've discovered that I can change the colour of the text, so my posts are likely to be more colourful from now on.

Gratitude for colour.

I thought I would add the following link to Brother David and the flower sermon. Fourth from the top.

http://www.gratefulness.org/brotherdavid/audio.htm

G'night.

_____________________________

Embrace the many as the one.

Post #: 6

A meditation - 4/10/2007 9:24:43 PM

Heidi

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Joined: 4/6/2007
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2.00 am Wednesday, and feeling tired, so will write just a few lines.

Have just looked to see if there are any stars in the sky, can't see any, no moon either, so probably cloudy. I like the phases of the moon on its lunar cycle. So many religious festivals and holidays are decided by the moon.

Found this very peaceful meditation by Thich Naht Hahn earlier. Helps clear the mind.

http://www.beliefnet.com/broadband/bnetPlayer.aspx?mediaType=rm&mediaURL=http%3A//www.beliefnet.com/features/peace/audio/breathing.rm&mediaCaption=Thich%20Nhat%20Hanh%3A%20A%20Breathing%20Exercise&av=aud&audPic=http%3A//images.beliefnet.com/imgs/v4/broadband/bbSwirl.swf&wid=300&hei=218&logoURL=none&sqAd=00/13/21/79&bnrAd=00/14/11/25

Gratitude for peaceful and mind clearing meditations.

Night.

_____________________________

Embrace the many as the one.

Post #: 7

The interview with God: - 4/20/2007 5:12:19 PM

Heidi

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Joined: 4/6/2007
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Thought I'd share this with you:

www.theinterviewwithgod.com/viewmovie.html

_____________________________

Embrace the many as the one.

Post #: 8

RE: The interview with God: - 4/21/2007 7:26:49 AM

Imenuff

Posts: 720
Joined: 3/23/2007
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Dear Heide,

Thank you so much for sharing this. This is a special website to "Be Still and Know that I am God."

Shalom,

_____________________________

Shalom(May you be at peace in Body, Mind,& Spirit)

I'menuff

Post #: 9

RE: The interview with God: - 4/22/2007 8:11:34 PM

Heidi

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Joined: 4/6/2007
Status: offline

Hello Imenuff,

I heard a meditation on Be still and know that I am God, consisting of the following:

Be still and know that I am God,

Be still and know that I am,

Be still and know,

Be still,

Be.

_____________________________

Embrace the many as the one.

Post #: 10

RE: Dictionary meaning of Gratefulness - 5/21/2007 5:24:36 PM

China Doll

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Joined: 5/2/2007
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WELL, WHAT GRATEFUL MEAN TO ME IS TO KNOW THAT JUST WERE I AM IN LIFE IS WERE I AM SUPPOSE TO BE. TO BE AT PEACE WITH ONE SELF AND TO BE THANKFUL. NOT STRUGGLING WITH THOUGHTS THAT I SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING ELES OR SHOULD BE SOMEWERE ELSE.

Post #: 11

RE: Dictionary meaning of Gratefulness - 6/7/2007 9:03:24 PM

arows1faith

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Joined: 6/7/2007
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To me, grateful is a point when I look at my life; and I see the good stuff: birthday parties, rollercoaster rides, dancing, 3am conversations with a friend who needs someone to just listen. I know that, as a singular person, none of these times would be something to cherish if I had not endured these experiences with others, it's in the sharing of the mind-set, moment, feeling....
Thankful is much more cold. When I say thank you, I'm basically just acknowledging that someone has 'made my life easier.' You cooked my burger: Thanks. You held the door open: Thanks. I can do these things perfectly well on my own and if another person is going to do them for me, I should acknowledge that.
Thank you is one of those things you do all on your own (I've never seen a religion where the omnipotent being is in a big rush to say, "Thank you."), but grateful.... I like to think this: Even if I'm being grateful all by myself just because I saw a butterfly (no butterfly=no grateful. grateful isn't done alone) or I had enough money to pay all the bills (no boss=no money. again, not alone), I can't imagine that the Goddess isn't being grateful right along with me, too.

_____________________________

The Goddess is alive and there is magick afoot.
Arow Blackdragon
Valley of the Kings

Post #: 12

RE: Dictionary meaning of Gratefulness - 6/19/2007 1:26:12 PM

arows1faith

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Joined: 6/7/2007
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Scratch what I said about 'thanks.' I've realized that I don't really understand the difference between the way each one feels to me. I still feel that 'grateful' goes deeper in my soul than thanks, though. I'm going to work on understanding that difference, diligently.

Arow

Post #: 13

RE: Dictionary meaning of Gratefulness - 6/20/2007 4:27:08 AM

Solomon

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Joined: 6/9/2007
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To me, "thanks" is a word that you say to someone. "Grateful" is a way of being.