by Dana Taylor
There’s trouble at the North Pole! After five hundred years of snow, ice and polar bears, Mrs. Claus is ready for a change. But dear old Santa is pretty set in his ways. She may have to take drastic measures. Aloha Santa gives a merry new spin on the beloved Christmas characters with a fun verse and bright, charming illustrations.
Ho! Ho! Ho! and Mele Kalikimaka! It’s the time of year to share one of my favorite books, ALOHA SANTA. The book reminds me of the years I sang with the Na Leo Lani Chorus of Sweet Adelines in Honolulu. What a wonderful time we had spreading the Spirit of Aloha across Oahu. Aloha Santa began as a performance verse I created for a Christmas show. After hearing it, chorus members encouraged me to turn it into a children’s book.
Thanks to the wonderful artist, Jaana Baker, the story came alive through her illustrations. Aloha Santa is a read-aloud family tradition for many families. Perhaps you can make it one of yours!
A Meditation by Dana Taylor
Nature feels magical in Santa Cruz County, CA. The sentinel redwood trees spearing into the skies and the protected marine reserve filled with sea life in the coastal waters provide rich opportunities for enjoying the great outdoors of Northern California. October and November are the months of the highly anticipated return of the monarch butterflies as part of their amazing migration from Mexico to Canada through several generations every year.
I’m fortunate to live only a half hour from a popular monarch destination, Natural Bridges State Park. The park provides a beautiful beach along with wooded hiking trails lined with eucalyptus trees and other plants that thrive in the area. A wooden path winds in a glade where the monarchs congregate. Seeing them flutter about makes me think of forest fairies.
On a recent Saturday morning I awakened and felt nudged to head down to Natural Bridges. I was given a clear image of the excellent parking spot I would grab, which made me laugh. Sure, I believe in miracles, but getting the #3 spot on the coveted side street parking lane seemed impossible. Nevertheless, I got up, breakfasted, and headed down the mountain to the beach. The parking was bumper to bumper, as usual, but I tested my vision and drove all the way to the front and, shockingly, nabbed space #3! The magic was definitely on.
Even though there were plenty of cars and folks down at the beach, along the monarch trail I was by myself, feeling led by Spirit every step of the way. Especially exciting was a whisper to look up. High in a eucalyptus tree sat a large, tufted ear great horned owl. We stared at each other for a long time until I finally moved on. What a gift! (The owl in first pic is a representation.)
I’d been asking my guides for inspiration for a new meditation. Ask and ye shall receive! I enjoyed the magical experience. I hope the meditation that came from it is inspiring and uplifting to those who listen. Meet Your Spirit Guide on the Monarch Trail will also be available on the Planet Meditations page.
Bright blessings,
Dana
The River of Life Meditation is also available on the Sleep Meditations Page on the main menu.
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Hello, Friends ~ I’m very excited to invite you to this weekend’s Spiritual Awakenings International Conference 2025. As Executive Assistant to the President, I’ve been working hard behind the scenes to help bring it together. We’ll have 40 speakers from 12 countries sharing on topics such as Near-Death Experiences, Spiritually Transformative Experiences, reincarnation, afterlife communication and more.
Watch this short video for an overview of the conference! Registration is FREE at SpiritualConference.org
