As I sit here by the water’s edge contemplating my departure from The Keys to my next stop, Miami, I pause to take a moment reflecting on my experience. My experience to The Keys will not be like anyone else’s, just like life, we have our own unique experiences.  It was full of love and learning, sunshine and creativity, music and good food.  I revel in the serendipitous nature of my journey here, a random message from an acquaintance that became a friend.  

Arriving on Monday from Miami I wasn’t sure how long I would stay or what the next step would be.  I was open to wherever the wind was directing me, and by Wednesday, I was ready to set a course for how long I would stay there.  My time with Mary had been easy and exquisite.  She had so much to share with me, and the days would happily roll by as we shared time, company, art, and outings.  Swimming there was perfect for my body, awakening to the splash of the rising sun on the water, a dock to do yoga, painting together, friendship, a very sweet cat, all was perfect.  But never outstay your welcome.  

I am the kind of traveler and person who likes to have a plan of “what next.”  It gives me direction.   If I’m with someone, I will tend to list the things I will do in what order:  “I’m going to do yoga, I’m going to drink some tea, I’m going to jump in the water, then I’m going to come back and drink more tea with you.”  It helps me and I like to think it helps others too.  So what would be next?

When I was in St. Pete, I smelled a woman who made me think of Carol Perrone.  It was a soft rosy floral scent and wherever she went the scent would follow.  I dialed her up, and she answered, her husband Mark  on speaker phone with her.  I love those guys.  They are the some of the kindest, most generous hearted spirits I know.  Being with the charismatic Mark is always fun and entertaining.  Being with the demure and goddess keeper Carol is always deep and filling.  We had traveled before and we had done it well.  Our friendship was solid, honest, and open.  Going with the randomness that caused this trip in the first place, I asked them if they wanted to meet me in The Keys.  By Saturday, they were here with their 18 year old daughter and her friend.  During Covid times, there is just more to think about, more need for honesty and trust.  We openly discussed our views on the pandemic and the precautions we had taken, and we decided the risk was low and the reward was high.  And the reward was high.  The girls were great.  Fun, easy, sweet, smiley, the opposite of what I imagined it would be like to be with two 18 year old girls.  It gave me hope for the future.  Mark, as always, was full of laughter and playfulness, a pleasure to be around.  And Carol, as always, left my head full of thought, change, and magic.

There are 3 offerings I received, all individual yet relative to one another. (I chuckle as I realize that the number is 3. Of course there are 3.):

There are 3 types of magic as interpreted by my early understanding. (3 again. Lol)  White magic, grey magic, and dark magic.  White magic is the divine magic that connects us to the higher power, our higher selves, that which we were born manifest to do.  Grey magic is healing and good we do for ourselves and others. Dark magic is the negativity and dark spells we use against others.  

“Think about it,” Carol said, “any kind of resentment or bad feelings we have for another or ourselves, whether or not you’re even thinking about it, you’re sending little daggers of resentment their way.”  As she talked, she mimicked it with her hand, and I knew she was right.  To have resentment or negative thoughts, to think ill of another, to hold a grudge, we consciously or subconsciously  are throwing little arrows and daggers of darkness their way. 

There are one or 2 people in my world that I need to find personal healing with so that I may begin to send only rainbows of light.  I begin to think of this when I think of them, changing my world and changing theirs.  Now, I send them compassion and thoughts of healing.  I have overcome my ego and even invited them to join at a small gathering I will be hosting.  The others, though I may not feel a need to ever talk or connect with them ever again, the anger has subsided.  I will choose not to be a thrower of daggers instead a shiner of Light.

There is white magic, our divine right as a unique living being on this earth.  “The things that is mine by divine right will stick,” Carol told me sharing one of her powerful affirmations.  “Everything else will fall away.  I have a divine right to what is already destined to be mine.  The Universe wants me to succeed.  It is already mine by divine right.  Everything else falls away.”  Again, she gestured with her hand, heart, light, center, soul.  I understood.  Learning this changed my thoughts.  And I began the mantra she taught me.  “I magnetize everything that is mine by divine right towards me.  It is mine by divine right.  Everything else falls away.”  

Everything else falls away…