Category: Writing

The Talk

Posted on by Tom Kelly

Today I’d like to share a story about a life experience of mine, and I hope that some of you will be able to relate to it. It’s about public speaking, the fear and anxiety it can create, but also the power that comes from taking a step forward that is uncomfortable.

Before we get started, you should know that I had mostly forgotten about this experience until the other day, when it stepped forward as a new story idea. Not only did the idea come through as a powerful nudge, but I’ve had several synchronicities come through to help anchor it.

Sitting down to write about this experience brought back some of the feelings I experienced at the time. I feel now that this was an important exercise for me to complete, and maybe it will help someone who is stepping forward with their own scary moment.

So let’s get started.

This took place a decade ago, and at the time, I ran a large lifecycle and asset management program for the City of Ottawa. Our program was responsible for every personal computing device, every phone, and all licensed software. It was a busy but fun role, and I understood each city department and the roles they played to keep our city functioning.

One morning, my manager came to me and said, Tom, I need you to give a talk about our program.

My reaction was a long pause. I felt my body twist and turn energetically as I tried to focus on what she had just said, and yes, these words had actually just come out of her mouth.

I remember confidently saying. Here’s the deal. I’ll create all the talking points and all the slides for you to give the presentation. In reality, I was anything but confident; I was more than a little uncomfortable. I was terrified.

My manager said. “No, Tom, you’re giving the talk. I’ll approve what you talk about.” And with that, she left my office.

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Hill of Tara

Posted on by Tom Kelly

The Hill of Tara > Audio on Patreon

It was the first day in Ireland, the kind of day that blurs after a long flight and little sleep. Our friends were driving us north to their home from Dublin. Somewhere along the highway, they pulled off and said, “Let’s stop here, there’s food, coffee, and there’s an old historical site, maybe something interesting to see.“

At first glance, there was a cute country store and restaurant on a medium-sized hill, with a narrow parking lot and washrooms. I was glad to stretch my legs and let the first sights and scents of Ireland touch me. The tiredness I felt eased as I studied the landscape. The valley stretched out below, and I marveled at the cows grazing free, Holsteins. I commented that back home in Canada, cows are locked away in barns. It made my heart happy seeing them at peace on the land.  Already, Ireland was showing me something different, something freer.

Inside, the café was slow, friendly, buzzing with tourists and locals. We were seated and ordered our lunch. While waiting, I wandered into the gift shop up front. Still dazed, I noticed that everywhere I turned, one word followed me: Tara. Shirts, mugs, magnets, books. Tara. There were even containers of crystals, sage, and feathers. This was my kind of shop! I hurried back into the restaurant and asked, “Are we at the Hill of Tara?” My friends laughed. “Yes, Tom. We thought you might find it interesting.“

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Rock of Cashel

Posted on by Tom Kelly

Rock of Cashel > Audio on Patreon

From the moment I arrived at the Rock, I felt its presence. Large, unyielding, a stone giant rising from Ireland’s green heart, the Rock of Cashel stands as a sentinel over the ages. Its walls, rough and cold, are patched with lichen, gray-green and ancient, like the earth’s own memory.

A gentle wind whispers through, brushing along the stones, soft and unnoticed, yet alive, a breath that seems to carry the clearing, the shifting energy of this sacred place.

Outside, the graveyard sprawls, Celtic crosses standing tall or leaning crooked, their carved circles weathered by many years without new burials. These stones mark Ireland’s storied dead, chieftains, poets, souls who shaped this land, their presence woven into the wind’s quiet song.

At the Rock’s heart is a grand hall, not a chapel, but a magnificent ruin that once buzzed with life. Its floor is lined with stone slabs, tombs, raised just enough to mark the graves beneath. You can feel the faint emboss of these graves underfoot. Through tall, glassless windows, remnants of soaring arches, golden white sunlight cascades in, long, rhythmic beams. From east to south to west, the light shifts, painting the slabs with a warm, protective glow, almost godlike, transforming the cold stone.

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The Illusion

Posted on by Tom Kelly

For many years I’ve wondered how the universe presents itself to us and me.

We hear about many things such as our collective experience and our personal experience within the collective. We hear about backdrop or background people as though our experience can be filled in with people to satisfy our reality.

My curiosity tries to understand and resolve how reality is created, yet in the end, I simply allow simplicity to breathe for the universe. Does it matter how it all works?

Recently, I spent a week in Orlando Florida with family. On this trip, many things were exposed and more clearly defined. I became aware of old energy being purged. Much of this exhale came through strong and present-moment experiences. What was significant was that others close to me saw and felt this too. This allowed me to witness a collective and personal healing like I had never experienced before, as we were all shedding and being unburdened together. Watching us cling to the old even when it didn’t make sense was fascinating, and then finally allowing release.

Healing and alignment were just part of the package.

I normally experience visions in a meditative or dream state with a smaller percentage occurring while fully awake. Personally, I like visions while awake because they can be better understood and of course trippy.

While in Orlando, I was shown many visions (stories) in my daily awake time.

I was advised that we are now in a new time energetically where we will understand and discern information live and in the moment. This was not new to me, but what was new was the level of information being provided in this live format.

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The Gift of a Second Chance

Posted on by Tom Kelly

My father was starting end-of-life care at an Ottawa hospital and I had just arrived for what had become my daily visit. He was growing less aware and my time with him was becoming more solitary, although it was still nice to be in his company and share this way.

Today I was lucky and able to park closer to the hospital. It was a gloomy, grey day in November with a lick of wind to enhance the understanding of the coming transition into winter.

I pulled my coat together and hunched to maintain warmth as I walked to the crosswalk, and then along the path to the main entrance.

I noticed a man walking in the opposite direction, along the driveway with parked cars between us. He had a cane and was moving slowly and with poor balance. My first thought was “Where could he possibly be going without help as he looked that frail?

By now I was almost stopped, worried, yet excited for every new step this man took. Others were watching too and as he approached the crosswalk I assumed someone closer would assist him. This was not the case. He staggered across the road and up a cut in the sidewalk, gathering himself for the remainder of the journey to his vehicle.

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The Magic of a Sneeze

Posted on by Tom Kelly

Recently I was sitting on our front porch with our dog. It was a beautiful and warm evening and a neighbor saw us and came by to say hello.

We weren’t together long before another friend showed up. Matthew is a neighbor’s son and is just a wonderful spirit. He is in the sense of our world challenged in that he wouldn’t learn or socialize like most but this has never stopped Matthew from fully enjoying life.

Matthew waved from the street turned toward us and marched up the driveway, asking if he could sit and visit with our dog Tucker. Matthew is always welcome so I gestured for him to have a seat.

Matthew lives a block away and spends his summer evenings visiting people in our neighborhood.

One day when I was at the grocery store he came over and we started chatting, which concerned his mother. I think she wondered who I was and how I knew her son, to which I told her we live around the corner and see Matthew often. This brought a warm smile to her face and she said, “I hope he’s not bothering you.” I told her that he’s not and is always welcome.

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The Beauty of Animals

Posted on by Tom Kelly

This story comes from the field, through a wonderful friend, Tucker (Our Dragon Pup).

Tucker is our dog and came to us like all animal friends as a gift from God. Recently, while I was playing with Tucker, he stopped and calmed and looked at me. In this moment love flowed as pure as love can.

I thought about Tucker and the previous dogs we’ve had and was saddened that these beautiful creatures can’t stay longer. That they come and go in lives too short.

It was at this moment I held him closer and these words came forward from him.

He said, nothing of source light is ever gone, nothing leaves. What you can see and touch (like me) is an expression of source. We hope humans see this light through us and then see the light of creation within every living thing.

More than anything, we (the animals) want you to know there is no separation. The things you see in me and the things I see in you are a blending of energies made for this moment. This love that we share is never lost or forgotten.

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Meditation for Peace

Posted on by Tom Kelly

I start by gradually releasing all thoughts and gently bringing focus to my heart, expanding light here.

Expanding my heart, sensations of warmth and peace are felt throughout my body. I continue to feel this growing sensation as it evolves into a golden sphere surrounding me. Powerful energy is with and I sense the presence of my entire team.

I rise up and into the atmosphere above the earth, able to see through the dark of night and witness the glorious earth below. From here I focus on the Middle East and find myself moving closer to this area of the planet below me.

This visual is amazing! I can see individual people across many countries. I see a beautiful strand of silver light connected to each person below. This strand flows upward through the night sky and connects behind me far out in the universe. This light strand provides powerful illumination for each human and I witness light traveling down to each person’s heart where it expands. This light flows downward through their bodies and feet, connecting to the earth.

The earth is providing powerful energy upward into each human body. This is a brilliant moment to witness as each body glows brighter and brighter. I sense a divine connection as this light pulses and strengthens.

What I see next is interesting. A pattern is drawn around the feet of every person, which looks like a glowing outline that matches the same golden frequency within each person. As the frequency increases within each being, so does the light ring around their feet. This pulsing ring expands outward touching objects, nature, and other humans.

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Band of Brothers (insight from the guides)

Posted on by Tom Kelly

This weekend I started re-watching “Band of Brothers” a 2001 miniseries that follows the 101st Airborne “Easy Company” during World War II.

Not just that, I’ve watched several similar movies recently and visited Arlington, VA, along with the Vietnam and Korean Memorials in Washington.

There is no glorification of war here, just stark reminders of the service and loss to a nation, and many nations.

The question is, why was I drawn to these somber places and to watch these historical films? What was this calling?

I’ve been close to these spaces all my life, it’s deeply rooted.

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Family Style

Posted on by Tom Kelly

I recently returned from a 16-day trip to the United States, visiting 11 states and districts.

From our first step(s) south, there was an easy feeling that continued for the remainder of our trip.

Why is this notable? Because from where I live in Canada, the US is portrayed as a nation in crisis, divided on every level, yet this was not my experience.

I’ve struggled to write about my experience because so much information wanted to be expressed, yet the story was not complicated. Boiling syrup to get something sweet has been my challenge.

It forced looking at America and feeling into this brotherly dynamic we share. Looking at the deep roots that connect us and how we’ve grown to become who we are.

We are both free and sovereign nations, yet we express our freedom and liberty quite differently.

What I was expecting to see in the US were cracks in the fabric of this deeply patriotic nation and yet there were seemingly none. Back home in Canada cracks are everywhere, so what was happening?

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