It’s always interesting when a symbol starts showing up repeatedly, and for me it’s been stars. I’m dreaming about them; they’re falling out of envelopes; I wake up in the middle of the night and am irrevocably drawn to the windows to gaze at the stars.
There are people in this world who are shiny stars.
(Actually, truthfully, I think we are ALL shiny stars. But we just don’t get seen that way by everyone. And that’s okay. We only have really have to see ourselves as shiny, and anyone else seeing it is a fun bonus).
I’m thinking I should make it a more regular practice on my blog to share those people I think are stars, and maybe you’ll find they light your life as well. Let me start today with two.
Mandy Steward is a shiny star, although I’m not sure she always sees herself that way. But I know the truth of the matter. Every week she shows up in my e-mail box and every month her zine wends its way through the mailstream and shows up in my mail box. And each time I think – wow, this woman is crazy shiny with magic. She pokes at my heart and makes me cry, she sneaks up behind me and makes me laugh, she shows me her rusty bits and I lean in and see the beauty there.
Three thousand bonus points because she produces a zine and you know my fondness for zines and their creators, and a kajillion more bonus points because she’s the founder of the Secret Message Society. And seeing as how I believe we live in an oracular world filled with messages of love hidden in the most incredible places, and I happen to have a very special secret message decoder badge, you know I’m a card carrying member of the above mentioned Society.
I invite you to poke around Mandy’s site and see if she shines for you as well. Do her the justice of digging deep and meeting her fullness.
Someone else who invites deep thinking is Janelle Hardy. Her newsletter showed up in my mailbox this morning and I’ve been thinking about what’s she written and the questions she’s posed. The jumping off spot is a home fire in her neighborhood, but as with all things, where we start is simply where we start. The invitation is to turn the lens at other places in our lives as well. Do go read what she’s written, and then see if you aren’t left thinking about your home. Not just your physical home, but the life you’ve created that is the home for your spirit.
Besides sharing a little love of these two shiny ones, let me share a couple of other things as well. First a peek at a locket I’ve had for a while, but is currently up front in my attention again. It’s engraved with the constellation I was born under Cancer the Crab.
And finally, this quote from Amy Tan:
“I am like a falling star who has finally found her place next to another in a lovely constellation, where we will sparkle in the heavens forever.”
That’s a beautiful way to feel isn’t it? I think we’re all striving for that – looking for those stars that shine with colors and spirits that resonant with ours so we can hang out together. In beautiful configurations and constellations. And yet knowing we’re all spinning, we’re all moving, we’re all part of something even greater.
And that’s the thought I’m holding on to today.
What about you? Have a star you want to share? What zodiacal constellation were you born under? What makes you feel shiny? Do your wishing under a star? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
I love your posts where you take a symbol and then connect it to unexpected places, it always makes me wonder where you’ll take it next (and I admit my curiosity makes me skip and read ahead a bit, I used to read the end of a book first when I was a child 🙂 I agree that we’re all shiny stars. Maybe, not everyone sees us, but there is always someone who does. Even if you are a star to just one person – you are sharing your light and you are a star.
Your comment really makes me smile Tat. First because I agree we’re all stars, but also because you mentioned skipping ahead. I remember you mentioning you were a skipper when you were reading the Hop, Skip, Jump book. How fun to see it in play in another way.
Beautifully written Deborah, and thank you for sharing your shining stars–I’m looking forward to “meeting” them through their sites!
Thanks for the kind words Julie. And it’s fun to meet other stars isn’t it?
I’m constantly drawn into the night to look at the stars. Then in the day, I try to figure out what constellations are up there that I can’t see because of the light. I’m Aquarius, with Sag rising, and a Pisces moon, so that curiosity is strong.
Love that Linda. Eyes to the skies!
I’m a Draco. Dracos are imaginative, creative, sarcastic and think astrology is almost entirely bunk.
As I always say, it’s good to know who you are.
Love this, Deb! We each have such light to shine if we allow ourselves.
Indeed we do Naomi!
I agree with you Deborah. I think we are all shiny stars and your blog post is such a timely reminder. I led my second retreat last weekend and it went well. There were many shining stars at the retreat letting their lights shine. I love the quote from Amy Tan. Thanks for sharing!
How fun about leading your second retreat Nancy. And it’s such a blessing when we see each other as the stars we all are, isn’t it?
Well, certainly my biggest star of late is Xorin Balbes, the author of SoulSpace. Wow. He has just done such amazing work in this lifetime! What a great idea to honor your stars! 🙂
How fun you got to interview him – and what a wonderful thing for the rest of us.
Thanks for introducing us to Many and Janelle. So many fun websites to explore! I love your birth constellation locket. I was born under the constellation Gemini — in fact, I believe I’m a triple Gemini, which means I fill out my star charts in triplicate.
A triple Gemini – how fun.
Funny thing, yesterday someone asked me what time of day is my favorite. I told her that 1am is my favorite time of day because I adore sitting outside and staring at the stars. I LOVE them!
Thanks for the additional informational links. I can always count on you to introduce me to such fascinating people, places, and things.
Oh how wonderful Elda. I love 1 AM. I once did a little one-page zine posting about “Who I AM at 1 AM.” I may have to dig around and find that.
I love Mandy and thank you for introducing me to Janelle!
It’s always fun sharing our treasured finds isn’t it?