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.)
Great Horned OwlMonarch ButterflyButterfly flowersAngel Guide FeatherMonarch walkwayNatural Bridges
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.
May is the month we officially honor mothers. Personally, I look back with gratitude at the women who came before me. I was blessed with a loving mother and strong grandmothers. Their cultures differed, but their struggles and strengths were similar.
Gramma and Grandpa Rojas, 1940’s
Gramma Rose, born as the daughter of a doctor in Mexico, expected a life of social status and privilege. Instead, she was orphaned young, moved to Colorado and developed fortitude living in cramped quarters with her older brother’s family. Her character was further honed through a stressful marriage to my grandfather and the six children that followed.
Nana Betty was born in Illinois, the daughter of Norwegian immigrants. Her romantic, roaring 20’s exuberance led to a teenage marriage to handsome, dark-haired Ed, my grandfather. At sixteen, she gave birth to my mother, Gloria, followed by the birth of my Uncle Eddy the next year. By the time she was twenty, the Great Depression had cast darkness across the nation. Burdened with two children and a husband struggling to keep food on the table, her girlish dreams had turned into harsh realities.
Nana Betty Bennett
Ultimately, after World War II, both women encouraged their husbands to leave their respective states and follow the dream of California. Neither knew what might lay ahead in the Golden State, but they had the courage to sell off their belongings and head West for a better life.
I once asked my Gramma Rose how she and Grandpa had the courage to leave their family and friends in Colorado. She shrugged and said with a smile, “Loco.”
Nana told me her mother cried and cried when the family had stopped by for a last goodbye before driving toward Highway 66.
“Why are you crying?” Nana asked.
Her mother replied, “Because I’ll never see you again.”
At the time, Nana thought her mother was being ridiculous. But, as it turned out, her mother was right. There were phone calls, but never another time together. Never another hug or shared meal.
Nana Betty and Gramma Rose have both been gone over twenty years now. Yet, I can hear them in my mind, recall poignant and bittersweet conversations. They are just two of the countless generations of women before me who carried on despite dashed dreams the best they could, with the opportunities that came their way.
This meditation is dedicated to them and to all the mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers and on and on and on……
Healing the Feminine Ancestral Soul will also be available in the Sleep Meditations Page.
On this Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, I dedicate this post to Pope Francis, who passed away early Monday morning. He was keenly aware of the fragility of this planet and its inhabitants. He admonished us to change our ways of consuming destruction to conservation and preservation.
Though I’m not widely traveled, I’ve been blessed to live in vastly different environments. I was raised in the mild climate of Southern California, then lived thirty years in Oklahoma, where “the wind comes sweeping down the plain.” Later, I enjoyed the Spirit of Aloha for six years in the Hawaiian Islands. Currently, I find myself nestled beneath the protective arms of the redwoods in Northern California.
Now in my 70th year, I love Planet Earth more than ever–the sounds of creatures, whipping winds in branches, scents of roses, herbs and cut grass. And oh, the sights I’ve seen–majestic volcanic hills and miniscule shiny beetles. I’ve stood awestruck under the starry Hawaiian night sky, and huddled–praying–in an Oklahoma basement for the tornado to pass us by. Gaia energy rippled through me while swimming Hawaiian white-capped waves, jolted me through California earthquakes, and startled me as thunder crashed and lightning lit the Oklahoma skies.
Oh, what a wonderful world! And, how I want my grandchildren to thrive and bask in the beauty of nature. The Earth can be exploited, trashed, and destroyed. Or it can be protected, valued, and preserved. Each of us can make a small difference; collectively we can make a huge difference for the future of the planet. Or is it too late?
Well, I’m an optimist and a woman of faith. I believe there’s hope for the old girl, Mother Earth, yet. I’ve created this meditation to support and honor the planet.
Join me this Earth Day in honoring Pope Francis’ legacy to create a vibrant home for all creatures of the earth for generations to come.
Here’s a meditation to turn on in the first moments of morning consciousness, still huddled under warm blankets as the last wisps of dreams drift away. This meditation offers an alternative to scrolling through anxiety-inducing early morning news. Breathe away stale energy, connect with higher energies, and set good intentions for the coming day. Open your chakras with a light frequency shower. Rise and shine into the new day!
Bright blessings,
Dana
The Rise and Shine Meditation will also be available on the Opening Chakras Meditation page.
Can prayer influence the natural world? Stories abound. The Bible shows us Jesus calming the sea in several gospels. Jesus is napping during a boat crossing while his disciples keep watch, when a sudden storm overtakes them. Fearing for their lives, the disciples awaken their master asking, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Jesus rouses and takes control of the situation saying to the wind and sea, “Peace! Be still!” and the danger quickly abates, much to the amazement of his companions. Who is this this that even the wind and sea obey him?
As a long-time follower of Jesus, I believed him when he said followers would do his works and even greater things. I began in the realm of healing prayer and energy healing. Later, I delved into influencing the natural world, including the weather. Through the years I’ve learned how to connect with the forces of nature and have gathered more than a few anecdotes. It’s not unusual for my family and friends to call and ask for intervention.
Protection in Storms
My husband, David, once called me in the midst of a humdinger Oklahoma City hailstorm. “Do you hear that?” he asked. Indeed, from my California connection, I heard the pounding of ice on his roof. “Pray for my car! It’s out in the open in the driveway.” Staying on the phone, the two of us prayed fervently for the protection of his old jalopy. Spirit surged as I spoke my prayer language, lost in the power and emergency of the moment. At the same time, only a couple of blocks from David’s house, my friend, Helen, was dashing in her car toward the nearest shopping mall, hoping to get in the covered parking garage before her car was too damaged. Unfortunately, she didn’t make it before the power of the storm blew out her rear windshield. By the time she got to safety, she was covered in shards of glass. David’s car remained intact, without even the dimpled damaged expected from a hailstorm. In the days after the storm, he realized the amazing grace we experienced, as cars all over town drove with vinyl covers over broken windows. Windshield repairs and car rentals were in high demand that spring in OKC.
A few years ago, when I was living in Hawaii, my daughter in Missouri, Sara, called and said, “Pray for Will and Gracie right now. They are on the school bus in a terrible storm and a tree has come down in the road.” Once again, I kicked into high prayer mode. This time modern technology showed me the moving storm on my phone. Their bus was in a significant red zone. In that instance, I connected with the energy of the storm and began visualizing the area over the familiar streets. I saw Will taking care of his scared sister in the bus. As I spoke protection and dissipation of the storm, I watched in real time a horseshoe shape of calmer color push into the red zone over their area. It was a fascinating confirmation of the work I was doing.
When Fires Rage
One more story. Last summer on July 24, 2024, at about 7 PM, I sat on my couch after a long day and opened Facebook. The first post to catch my attention was from YWAM (Youth With a Mission) asking for immediate prayer for YWAM Chico, CA. A brush fire had recently broken out, raging out of control, and was headed right for the base. All staff had been quickly evacuated. My adrenaline spiked, knowing the YWAM Chico base well. Situated in a hilly canyon, the base was formerly a popular hotel, known for healing mineral baths. It now served as a major West coast base for the YWAM organization and has strong connections to my younger daughter, who is also involved in YWAM. I surrendered to an inward call from spirit to pray. The prayer became a guided vision. A still power rose within me, and I worked in partnership with unseen spiritual beings. In my mind’s eye, I saw the main buildings and the encroaching fire. We built a dome of protection over the base, an energy field woven together. After that, we began to talk to the fire, which seemed to have a presence. We directed it to go another way, down a hillside and move on around the base in its relentless consumption of fuel. After about 45 minutes of being in a spilt state of consciousness, the vision lifted. It was over. What just happened? I thought. Had it been real? A figment of an over-active imagination? As it turned out, that had been the beginning of the Park Fire that continued burning for three weeks and consumed over 95,000 acres. YWAM Chico was miraculously spared. The fire raced up to the buildings and stopped, even the resident ducks and chickens survived.
These are all examples of working with natural forces for protection in the midst of encroaching devastation. In my experience it’s possible to connect with the Gaia spirit and other elements to shield and mitigate the worst of damaging forces of nature. I recorded the following meditation as a teaching tool for people who are interested in developing their consciousness and capacity to work with the weather. Climate change is real, but so is the power and protection Divine Intervention when we learn how to connect. I encourage you to give it a try.
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