AUGUST- "Exactly where I had been standing minutes earlier, laid a majority of the maple tree."

It was a typical beautiful summer day in August of my eighth summer, and I had only one thing on my mind: kickball. Like any other red blooded American kid, summer vacation to me meant three months of pure bliss and competitive backyard games. This day was no exception. It was the typical slew of characters: my older brother, my best friend, and a few kids from the neighborhood. Since the days of summer vacation were quickly dwindling and our lush green grass would soon be covered with snow before we knew it, the intensity to win was rising with every game.


I'll set the scene: it was a girls versus boys game where the winners get bragging rights and the losers walk away shamed. As a team comprised of little sisters, we had a lot to prove. The girls team was up, it was the last inning and bases were loaded. And with backyard kickball, I use the term "bases" very loosely. First base was the sprinkler, second base was the hydrangea bush and third was a maple tree. That's where I was, third base. My feet were planted between the sinewy roots with my eyes affixed at home plate (aka the gate to the front yard). The whole game was riding on a good kick and me making it home. Suddenly, ad mist my anticipation for the pitch, I felt the urgent need to call my mother. Regardless of the groans surrounding me I hurriedly ran inside and dialed her number. She had just answered and I let out a reassured sigh of relief when suddenly I heard a scream from outside. I hung up and ran to the door to see what all the commotion was about. Exactly where I had been standing minutes earlier, laid a majority of the once majestic maple tree. Apparently the tree had been ridden with termites and collapsed without a warning. Had I not had the urge to call my mother, I would have been a kickball casualty. I had never felt an urge so strong prior, or since that moment to do something. Still fourteen years later, it is inexplicable, but I am thankful to whomever, or whatever, saved me that day.


Alayna Mallon, Long Island, New York


Artist: Emily Simpson, Howell, Michigan
Emily's flickr

JULY- "His soul was bigger then his body and it filled the room."

"This is an experience I had with someone at a car dealership. I brought my car in to get it inspected. As I was sitting in the waiting room I heard this very soft gentle voice say Mr. H. I stood up and looked over at the doorway. I noticed a guy about 5'8, Blonde hair and blue eyes walking my way. He was the mechanic that looked at my car.

I stood there to listen to what he had to say and he told me that there was nothing wrong with my car. While he was speaking I had looked down at the ground for a minute. All of a sudden I started gasping for air, in which I noticed I could not breath. It was a feeling of great beauty that came over me. I started to have to breath heavy because I felt the presence was almost too beautiful for my human heart and mind to comprehend.

Then as I tried to get my breath back an over whelming presence of unconditional love came over me and the inside of my head was literally vibrating with energy. The feeling was none I had ever experienced on this earth.

The next thing that happened was I started to notice I was feeling this guys soul. His soul was bigger then his body and it filled the room. This guy I had came in contact with was so beautiful. His soul was pure love I, could feel him. It was as if I was bathed in his love.

This experience happened in January of 2009. I did not know what to take from all of this. A number of things was running through my head about who this guy was to me for me to be able to feel his soul the way I did. I questioned, was he someone very close to me in a past life, was he a soul mate, was he a highly advanced entity, or maybe someone who is not originally from earth.

All I know is my heart aches to feel that again. It was the highest of highs. It was beyond this earth to be exact. I can't get over how beautiful his soul was and how I am honored to have came in contact with him."


Anyonymous


Artist- Danielle Stormes, Orlando, Fl
Danielle's flickr

JUNE- "...we had uncovered a small secret and only her and I shared it".

 

"I think we have all experienced moments where we have been in the presence of a creature or animal and have felt absolute awe at their majesty and beauty. Once, while visiting Muskoka my sister in law and I were taking a nature trail when suddenly she stopped with such force that I almost toppled her over and myself. I was about to complain about this interruption in our walk when I saw her eyes glued to a near bye spot in the woods. There standing only 10 feet away from us way a small doe. She was staring straight at us. The air was so still and time seemed to stand still as we all watched each other. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. There was this halo of mist around her and the sun seemed to shine on her regally.


I remember feeling slightly frightened because we were in the woods and there was simply no telling what an animal would do if they felt threatened. This was a moment of absolute awe for a creature that belonged to God. The Doe had been in a realm of serenity and natural bliss and we had trespassed, yet it had let us in, if only for a few short minutes before bolting. The experience left us both amazed and we walked away that day feeling almost as if we had uncovered a small secret and only her and I shared it."




Franca Licardi, Ontario, Canada
Franca's blog


Artist: Dawn Frary, Iowa City, Iowa
Dawn's website

MAY- "Then I noticed the guy in front of me, and he looked as mesmerized as I was".

"Everything would have seemed quite mundane; was on the bus on my way to work staring out the window, and someone infront of me was looking out the same window, at the same bridge that millions of cars go over, but when I looked at the grass around it I felt it. It felt like my spirit was looking at the world, and I could understand how it saw the beauty which existed in a single blade of grass. And then billions of blades of grass, and the curves of the roads; everything inside of my being felt immense gratitude and love for everything. And then I noticed the guy in front of me, and he looked as mesmerized as I was and I pondered if he too was feeling something too, and intuitively I knew he was, and I felt like both of us knew we were sharing the same moment, looking out that same window, and we were grateful."


Michael Wong, Barcelona, Spain


Artist: Alessio Semucci, Budapest, HungaryAlessio's flickr

APRIL- "I began to ask her who she was when she dissolved into the air."

"At the age of 19 and thereabouts, things got really interesting.
I had already had the experience of waking through the night and seeing people and occasionally animals slowly fade out of view. I'd always put that down to hallucinations associated with dreaming.
My sister had left home but hadn't quite made a full transition, in that she'd occasionally spend the night. My brother was in the airforce so I had moved into his room, leaving behind my old room with the double bunks.
J, my sister, had been to see one of the "Nightmare of Elm Street" movies and scared herself silly. She asked if I'd sleep in the old room with her and when I refused she relocated to my bed. She particularly didn't like this room. Despite this, she fell asleep quickly, as she always does. I, on the other hand, have always taken some time to fall asleep. This suited her well growing up as she always felt reassured with me listening to her before she nodded off.
Having been raised a catholic, with my parents using the daily 8.30 mass as a kind of childcare, I was in the habit of praying before sleep. I had my body turned in towards my sister and was praying when I got a distinct feeling of someone behind me. I rolled over to see.
Standing there was a little girl, solid but kind of luminescent. She was about ten with straight blond hair and I could see freckles on her nose. I believed she was physical, having wandered in off the street. It was hot and our front door was open with just a screen door to keep out insects. The expression on her face was serene, maybe mildly inquisitive. I began to ask her who she was when she dissolved into the air."


Anonymous, Australia
Artist: Michele, Georgia, United States http://www.flickr.com/photos/paperlilies/