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I love this image.

Here are a few shots of my new home, still mostly empty but with lots of possibility!

pancakes are now available in a can

and they’re organic

Toronto is so full of life and colour, if you know where to look….

my flow shifted the day
I changed my focus from being all about my local “tribe” to wanting to serve the world in general
new angles
new angels
so
here I am Now
back in the big city
feeling energized by it all
each moment a mission
yet
I know I’ll see
the crystal mountain
again

I found a place to rent in Toronto and will be moving in at the end of the month. There is a possibility that someday I’ll go back West (or perhaps elsewhere) but for now it feels great to be here again. Unlike many cities around the world, a woman can walk almost everywhere in Toronto 24/7 and still feel safe. There’s extensive multiculturalism and comparitively very little racism.

I’m reconnecting with old friends and loving the potentiality of meeting so many new ones.

I’m especially looking forward to the return of bicycle season…

I have been very lucky to have nice places to stay while in transition! Here’s the view from my current abode, taken early in the morning from the 23rd floor, and sped up:

The main points from a document I like very very much:

Principles of Spiritual Activism
www.agnt.org/snvSpiritActive.htm

1. Love those with whom we are in conflict. This is a real challenge for most of us.

2. We are all spiritual beings. See the image of God in everyone.

3. We are all connected and part of the web of life.

4. We can pray. Prayer is powerful and effective and should precede all actions.

5. We are conscious beings and are part of a collective universal consciousness. As such, our positive thoughts and intentions can have a beneficial impact on all life forms.

6. Shift our motivation for action from anger to love.

7. Be aware of any negative thinking on our part. Be alert for fearful or angry images which arise in our consciousness. We have a choice. We can let negative thoughts rule us and our behavior or we can replace these thoughts with more positive images.

9. To promote peace, we need to become peaceful ourselves. Meditating can help us develop peace and learn to live more in a state of love.

10. Develop a non-attachment to outcome. Buddhists believe this is the path out of suffering.

11. Let go of the need to be right and in control. Be open to all possibilities.

12. When involved in a dispute, focus on the issues rather than attacking the opposition.

13. We should not isolate ourselves from the pain and suffering of the world. As we let the pain in, we become transformed, compassionate and motivated to action.

14. God created life and we are intelligent beings capable of creative genius. We can co-create, with God, a better future.

15. Peaceful, non-violent direct action is an appropriate way to demonstrate our protest to harmful, unjust laws or practices.

16. We are all One with God, each other and all life. In this oneness, may we love one another and be of service.

Today I’m thinking of two quotes. One is from my mother, and one is from a friend….

In life, err on the side of joy and adventure. – Priscilla Neale

It’s a miracle we’ve made it this far. – Gabriel Lightheart

My life is full of unknowns, however I have decided one thing: I’m currently planning to stick around in Ontario for awhile, especially because I want to be near the band.

We practice in Mississauga, so I’m looking for work within the zone where I can still get to rehearsals, likely in Toronto.

That said, I am open to alternative awesome occurences.

Is it possible for you to embrace uncertainty, and not demand that you should know what is going to happen to you in your life situation? –Eckhart Tolle

There’s a new Facebook group that encourages Canadians to “Spock” their 5 dollar bills. It is a phenomenon that has been around for awhile and it works with both the new & old bills.

This group is to celebrate the Canadian cultural phenomenon, known to some as the “Spock five”. The origins of this mysterious tradition are shrouded in secrecy, although it is widely believed to be totally awesome.

Many years ago, some clever individual whos name has no doubt been forgotten in the annals of time noticed that Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s portrait on the Canadian five-dollar bill looked remarkably like a certain famous Vulcan. And thus the Spock five was born. With the advent of the new Canadian five-dollar bill, Laurier looks even more like Leonard Nimoy, ensuring the Spock five has a long and prosperous future.

…

DISCLAIMER: This group, and its creator, in no way endorse the actual act of Spocking fives (even though it’s awesome), as defacing money is illegal, and somewhere, someone in Canada might actually care, or something. Despite this disclaimer, you should all Spock every five dollar bill you get, and encourage everyone else to do the same (not an endorsement).

I am so grateful that I still have a loving support network of friends in Toronto, even though I was gone for over five years.

Thanks to the individuals who have actively welcomed me back (you know who you are) and to the Internet for having made it so easy to stay in touch :)