Today is the day of Francis of Assisi, who talks to birds (I’m sure he listens too), loves critters of all kinds, is a protector of the natural environment and lover of people. Each year we honor his day, and summon his blessings for all living things. I was named Francis by my father, the Franciscan from Flatbush, whose father was named Samuel Francis, and whose mentor was Father Eric, a Franciscan priest. It’s a great name to have, and I offer Planet Waves in the spirit of my good friend, Francis of Assisi. –efc
Great! Thank you.
Sure, Paola — this is Beacons of Light:
http://lightworker.com/beacons/
The link in purple is the one you want.
I’m sort of – obsessed is not the right word, but I very often think of it – this story of names. Looking for a ‘new’ name, my feeling is that I like new names all the time for some time, then I like a different one. I read that spiritually our name is a vibration and it changes all the time, so this is kind of appropriate.
Judith – can you tell what is that website? Thanks!
Fascinating, Judith! I’ve long felt my name wasn’t quite right. Work for the weekend, I’d say!
It is said that we DO assist our parents with our naming and I think that must be true. I was not named as my (absent at war) father supposed I’d be, he loved to tell the story of his shock when he got the telegram. My son-in-law announced the name of his daughter to family and friends and then had to call the next day to tell us all that my daughter had spent the night with her child and realized that was not her name. Names are vibrations, after all — they matter.
There is a channel I follow that suggests that this is the time to change our name if the vibration is not right for us. As they propose, it’s done all the time for reasons less magnificent than assuming our authentic identity. My dear friend Christine DeLorey would tell us the numerology can change the lifepath. And as Paola sez — it’s a great thing to love ones name, striking a perfect tone.
Pope Francis went to Assisi yesterday to celebrate Saint Francis. It’s like Francis squared – in a way 🙂
Eric Francis, I’m happy for you. It’s a great thing to be really happy of the name we have.
Blessed energy on this day. Thank you Eric Francis, and all who shared stories. I spent the morning photographing bees, and I will retroactively dedicate their exultation of pollen and nectar to St. Francis.
I did not know that St. Francis spoke to the birds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz6inRHoCSs
🙂 ))))))))))))))
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
There where there is hatred that I love.
There where there is offense that I put forgiveness.
There where there is discord that I put the union.
There where there is the error that I put the truth.
Where is there doubt that I put faith.
There where there is despair that I hope.
There where there is darkness that I put your light.
There where there is sadness that I put the joy.
O master, that I’m looking not so much:
To be consoled… to comfort.
Be understood… that to understand.
To be loved… as to love.
Saint Francis of Assisi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9-FlrMTLn8
Thank Eric Francis 🙂
The Canticle of the Creatures
VERY high, all powerful, and good Lord,
You praise, glory, honour and all blessing!
You alone, they agree, O most high,
And no man is worthy of appoint you.
Praise you my Lord, in all your creatures,
Especially Sir brother Sun,
By which you give us, the daylight;
It is beautiful, radiant, of great splendor,
And you most high, it gives us the symbol.
All praise be yours, my Lord, for sister moon and the stars!
In heaven you as trained, clear, precious and beautiful.
All praise be yours, my Lord, for brother wind.
And for Air and clouds, for the azure quiet
And all the time
By which you give support to every creature.
All praise be yours, my Lord, for sister water,
Which is very useful and very humble, precious and pure!
All praise be yours, my Lord, for brother fire,
Through whom you light the night!
It is beautiful and joyful, indomitable and strong!
All praise be yours, my Lord, for sister mother
The Earth,
Who carries and nourishes us,
Who produces the diversity of fruit
With the tricolour flowers and herbs
Praise and bless my Lord,
Give him thanks and serve it with all humility.
St Francis of Assisi.
I wonder if we don’t help our parents choose our names? What a wonderful namesake to aspire to!
And thank you, mom, for overriding dad’s wish to name me Loretta. Loretta would not have served me on my journey, not to mention that it wouldn’t fit an Irish/English/German/Mohawk (ex) Catholic girl from Brooklyn.
Thanks for the gorgeous story, Mystes!
Assisi is one of my favourite places on this earth. Even though it’s swarming with tourists, it exudes a sense of peace and serenity, and tolerance of people. ‘tolerance’ is the word I always associate with this wondeful Saint. And by the way, a belated Happy name day, dear Eric!
There’s a story I heard from an old Sufi before I became a mother. He told me that Francis of Assisi went on Crusade, and like all the young studs, would war all day and gamble all night. There was a particular gambling house he favored and his game was draughts. One night he kept losing and losing to a black-robed man with hands like a pair of furnaces. Piece by piece he gambled away his armor, his horse and his beautiful clothing.
When he left that night, nearly naked and humiliated, he and his companions plotted to rob the old bricklayer who had bested him. Standing in the shadows, Francis raised the poignard; but as the old gambler exited the tavern he didn’t even look up, just caught the hand as it descended, turned it once and floored the manboy as the dagger clattered to the ground.
With the crushing power of his grip, the old man chuckled and said: “I can start with your arm, breaking it into 12 pieces; then move on to your neck. Or…” “Or what,” snarled the young virile. “Come with me, and I’ll teach you to lay bricks.”
And so he did. Bricklayer extraordinaire, Rumi’s master and lover, the assassinShams-al-din-i-Tabriz, was the teacher of the Francis who would come to be Saint.
Every mighty river shares the same wellspring.
Thus have I heard it said.
***
**
*
paola- When I visited Assisi I did not know about the tree. I did visit the tomb, under the two churches, and the spiritual presence down there is beyond words!
October 4, 1970, was the night that Janis Joplin passed from the world. The Grateful Dead later wrote a song honoring Janis called “Birdsong.”
“All I know is something like a bird within her sang,
all I know she sang a little while, and then flew on,
tell me all that you know,
I’ll show you, snow and rain…”
St. Francis talked to birds, and so Janis flew back to him on his day. Sweet.
tyrant is an invention: tie rods.
If you go to Assisi (3 s, by the way, at least in Italian…) there still is the tree where St Francis talked to the birds. It’s kind of impressive because they put big metal tyrants to keep it up, but it is alive.
Peace to all, love.
“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.” St Francis of Assissi