Claim Your Castle: Draw a Bridge From Fantasies and Fairy Tales to a Well-Lived Reality

Good morning and welcome to part 3 of my autumn Monday Morning series, Salem Spirit! Today's feature photo is of the Hammand Castle Museum located on the coastline of Gloucester, Massachusetts. Roughly a half-hour drive from Salem, and a must-see while making the fall touring rounds of New England.

Today's post is not only personally inspirational, but it also demonstrates a dream come true for my oldest daughter. So, stay tuned as I draw a metaphorical bridge from fantasy and fairy tales to a well-lived reality. The time is here, the time is now, to start taking the steps to claim one's very own castle.

Like last week's Monday Morning Huddle, I will share several photos of Hammand Castle scenery.

Here is part 2 for anyone who might have missed it.

First, let's dive right into the nature-inspired spirit-guided message I received and its linking parts. I like to call it a map of sorts, blending imagination, the place where fairy tales live, and reality, a place where all fantasies and dreams come true.

Perhaps you think I am talking nonsense. Maybe you:

• Don't believe that fantasies can come true
• Believe that fairy tale living is only meant for someone more worthy
• Draw the line at dreams, favoring only reality-based ideas

Is so, I understand, but I aim to change your mind by combining my September channelled message with an event that happened yesterday, October 5.

...

While standing outside Hammand Castle Museum, waiting for our guide to begin the tour, I captured today's featured cover image. It was a beautiful, clear, sunny day in September, and my first thoughts were focused directly on the bridge. While the photo is of the medieval-style castle museum's physical entrance, my mind quickly turned to a personal fantasy land, a place where the magickal mind was insisting upon a release onto reality's fertile ground.

Special attention was given to the two stone lions on either side of the bridge and the three interlocking chains.

In my mind's eye, the two lions spoke to each other, and this is what they said:

"Step inside, let thoughts collide, and guard your heavy-hearted dreams. Weigh pros and cons and explore beyond, where nothing is as it seems. Real or not, perhaps you forgot that fairy tales set the pace. A bridge dawn is tomorrow's dawn, mapping fantasies to a real living space.

Hitting like waves, I stepped into the Hammand Castle Museum, thoroughly enjoying every step of my guided tour, from the detailed history and relevant tales to the many picture-perfect moments caught on film. I indeed felt like I was living a parallel princess experience.

A medieval time travel through artifacts, architecture, and stories felt surreal, but at the same time, this little escape prompted a map-it-out calling, linking the "what could be to the what actually is."

And my so-called "parallel princess experience" continued. Was it a memory of a past life? Was it my larger-than-life imagination? I wasn't sure, but what I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt was that many a great thing awaited my future outside the castle doors.

The creator in me salivated at the thought of all I would soon write about, and the intuitive in me knew that my divine soul path had many encounters awaiting my attendance.

Mapping out further, apple picking at Stanton's Feura Farm

I now turn to a family apple picking event yesterday, October 5, at Stanton's Feura Farm.

Yesterday, my oldest daughter, Brittany, her long-time boyfriend Noah, their five-year-old son Lennox, and I went apple picking. Brittany chose the place based on the name; Stanton is her grandfather's name. He is a 91-year-old retired painter and architect who will be relocating from Rhode Island to Albany soon to be closer to our family.

The name held sentimental value, and little did Brittany know how fitting her choice actually was.

Before proceeding with my story, I must mention that over the past two weeks, I've been having recurring dreams about weddings. Although the who and what details were always hazy, one thing that was crystal clear was family members dressed in fancy wedding attire and the blissful feelings of blessings long-awaited.

Then it happened: Noah proposed to my daughter right in the apple orchard, making not only Brittany's dreams come true, but also mine. I have often dreamt of the day when all of my daughters would be married, and the fantasy was finally merging with a well-lived reality.

For complete disclosure, Noah made me aware of his plans the night before, when he asked for my blessing. I caught the proposal on film while he creatively revealed an apple with specific details written on it, prompting Brittany to turn around to see him on bended knee. He even proposed to her with the exact ring of her dreams. Lennox was included, as he brought his mom the apple that his father had hidden, waiting for the perfect moment.

A dream come true, followed by champagne toasting at Stanton's Feura Farm.

From fairy tales and fantasies, Brittany and Noah are officially engaged. Their story is even more beautiful as they beat what others might call all the odds and made not only headway with specific challenges they have faced. Over ten years strong, together, they have risen to the occasion, have prevailed despite all adversity, and are the ultimate testament to dreams coming true!

There are many details to prepare, but my daughter, future son-in-law, and grandson will soon become the Harmon family. I like to add a 'y' for harmony, as this is highly resonating, spiritually speaking.

Navigating backward on the map to photos of Hammand Castle Museum.

The following are only a few of the many pictures I photographed inside and outside the beautiful medieval-style castle.

Closing out my Salem Spirit autumn series

While concluding my three-part Salem Spirit autumn series, I reiterate the spiritual message I received while waiting to enter Hammand Castle Museum:

"Step inside, let thoughts collide, and guard your heavy-hearted dreams. Weigh pros and cons and explore beyond, where nothing is as it seems. Real or not, perhaps you forgot that fairy tales set the pace. A bridge dawn is tomorrow's dawn, mapping fantasies to a real living space.

Linking the story of my daughter's engagement provides further insight into personal recollections, both while visiting the castle and later, most recently, during repeating dreams.

Claiming one's castle equals stepping into both worlds, the seen and unseen, and drawing a bridge connecting what might seem impossible to ultimate reality. And who says fantasies can't come true? After all, many fairy tales are linked to watered-down versions of real events. Yes, historically speaking, many of these events are rooted in discomfort, even gruesome details, but the embellished version provides magick, inspiration, and a valuable lesson.

Dreams really can come true.

Draw your bridge. Find a connection between fantasy and reality. Make a plan to incorporate specific ideas into physical living- map it all out, and watch what happens when believing before seeing becomes the castle you've longed to claim.

As I finish, I realize this Monday Morning Huddle post might make a decent entry in the Maps of the Self challenge, so I am throwing this story into the ring, with a spiritually related piece. Although personally reflective, my huddle is also meant to be a map of different sorts, helping those who might need assistance discovering their way to a well-lived reality that everyone deserves.

Thank you for reading, and have a beautiful week!