The Breath of Reiki from International House of Reiki on Vimeo.
* o
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Spring
Happy Easter. Welcome Spring, which I think is finally arriving here.
After a long dry spell, I'm hoping this Easter season to resurrect some creativity. The lack of it has decidedly left me in a funk.
Bought these tulips at the grocery store this weekend, and love how vibrant and alive they are. There is nothing quite like a bunch of fresh flowers on the table to cheer you up! * o
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Summer Reads - Murder in the Pit
"Murder in the Pit" is the latest novel from Erica Miner. Erica's first novel, "Travels with My Lovers"" is a sensual, romantic romp through Europe. "FourEver Friends" is the coming of age story of four girls growing up in Detroit in the 1960's. And her latest, "Murder in the Pit" is a mystery/suspense (with a touch of romance) that takes place in the Metropolitan Opera House.
You might think it would be difficult for an author to switch genres with each novel, but Erica manages to pull it off and each novel is actually tied with a common thread - something I've come to think of as Erica's signature style - her knowledge and love of opera and classical music. One can't help but be absorbed in opera when reading one of Erica's novels, and it's the kind of learning you don't even realize is taking place!
Maybe it's because a murder mystery is one of my favorite reads, or maybe it's because of Erica's maturing talent as a writer, (or both) but "Murder in the Pit" has to be my favorite of Erica's books to date. I thoroughly enjoyed the story. The characters are interesting and well developed and there's just enough plot twists to keep the story moving along. In fact, I so enjoyed the main characters that I would love to see a sequel or follow-up novel featuring the heroine, Julia.
You can pick up a copy of "Murder in the Pit" from Erica's website or from Amazon. Enjoy a little opera with a twist of murder in your summer reading! * o
Monday, April 19, 2010
The Next Chapter - Happies!
She sells seashells by the seashore.......
"Happies" arrived this week in the form of a box of seashells, sent all the way from Florida by a dear friend. I love the ones that look like angel wings.
For a dose of giggles and overload of cuteness go to The Next Chapter and watch the video of the golden retriever pups. Absolutely adorable! * o
"Happies" arrived this week in the form of a box of seashells, sent all the way from Florida by a dear friend. I love the ones that look like angel wings.
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| From Random |
For a dose of giggles and overload of cuteness go to The Next Chapter and watch the video of the golden retriever pups. Absolutely adorable! * o
Saturday, April 10, 2010
The Next Chapter - Happy Book, Happy Update
I seem to miss the Friday timeframe for posting my happy updates for the week, but the weekend is good enough I guess!
The Bliss groups copy of the Happy Book is now in Alaska, so it is most definitely putting on the miles.
Happy bits from me this week include my new backyard labyrinth, that I started working on last weekend:
Wrapped up the week today with a great day in the city shopping with the Teen!
What made up your happy moments this week? * o
The Bliss groups copy of the Happy Book is now in Alaska, so it is most definitely putting on the miles.
Happy bits from me this week include my new backyard labyrinth, that I started working on last weekend:
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| From Random |
Wrapped up the week today with a great day in the city shopping with the Teen!
What made up your happy moments this week? * o
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Eye of the Heart - Week Five - Images of Self
This week's theme was self-portraits and receiving images of ourselves. Not an easy assignment for someone who dislikes their photos!
I'm still working up to the "face" self-portraits, but for now I offer this self-blessing - connecting to heart....
*
o
I'm still working up to the "face" self-portraits, but for now I offer this self-blessing - connecting to heart....
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| From Random |
Saturday, March 27, 2010
The Next Chatper - Happy Friday - the Saturday night edition
It's been a busy week, and I'm a day late in posting this. The happiest thing about Friday was that it WAS Friday and at least a long work week was over!
A happiness highlight for me this week was having time to create today. I spent the better part of the afternoon working with my watercolor crayons and creating this:
It was great to have some creative time.
Stop by The Next Chapter and check out the happy's from around the world this week. * o
A happiness highlight for me this week was having time to create today. I spent the better part of the afternoon working with my watercolor crayons and creating this:
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| From Random |
It was great to have some creative time.
Stop by The Next Chapter and check out the happy's from around the world this week. * o
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Eyes of the Heart - Week Four - Reflections
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| From Random |
Mirror, mirror on the wall.....
I'm not a fan of mirrors, or pictures of myself. When you look in the mirror are you happy with what you see there or is there all kinds of negative self-talk going on in your head? What is it you choose not to see?
You can't see my soul
reflected there in the mirror.
For that,
you would have to close your eyes
and wait in the darkness
until you could see the light
reflected in my heart.
*
o
reflected there in the mirror.
For that,
you would have to close your eyes
and wait in the darkness
until you could see the light
reflected in my heart.
Friday, March 19, 2010
The Next Chapter - Happy Friday!
If you're wondering exactly what The Happy Book is all about, check out this great video on the blog.
For me, I'm just happy that it's Friday and I'm relaxing and watching a movie with TeenBoy. Last weekend I had a splurge of cleaning energy and rearranged the livingroom. Now it feels larger, cleaner and more spacious in here and I'm enjoying that energy. I'm looking forward this weekend to having some "creative time" to myself!
What made you happy this week? * o
For me, I'm just happy that it's Friday and I'm relaxing and watching a movie with TeenBoy. Last weekend I had a splurge of cleaning energy and rearranged the livingroom. Now it feels larger, cleaner and more spacious in here and I'm enjoying that energy. I'm looking forward this weekend to having some "creative time" to myself!
What made you happy this week? * o
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Eyes of the Heart - Week Three - Framing
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| From Random |
This weeks theme for the Eyes of the Heart course has been "framing".
I love in the picture above how the bird is framed by the branches of the tree - almost in a star shape.
How do you frame things? When looking out into the world, what do you zoom in on? What do you leave out? * o
Friday, March 12, 2010
The Next Chapter - Happy Friday?
While Bliss Group's copy of the Happy Book journeys from Australia to Alaska, tonight I'm struggling with finding the happy in my week. It's been a blah week here and a difficult day today. The hot water heater went on the fritz last night, work is insanely busy and stressful and my best friend's uncle passed away.
So tonight I try to gather up some pieces of happy, since they are kind of spread out and I need to collect them. The hot water heater is fixed now, and while it was frustrating to go without for awhile I am reminded of how lucky I am to have hot and cold running water, when many go without that basic luxury. Work is crazy, yes, but tonight I remind myself that I have a good job, with good pay and how lucky I am to have that when many go without work and money to pay for basic necessities. Tonight I will sit with a family in grief, and I am reminded of how precious life is and how important families and friends are.
This morning there were two purple finches in the bird feeder and I spent a few moments just watching and listening to them "trill" to each other in beautiful bird song.
What is making up the "pieces of happy" for you tonight? * o
So tonight I try to gather up some pieces of happy, since they are kind of spread out and I need to collect them. The hot water heater is fixed now, and while it was frustrating to go without for awhile I am reminded of how lucky I am to have hot and cold running water, when many go without that basic luxury. Work is crazy, yes, but tonight I remind myself that I have a good job, with good pay and how lucky I am to have that when many go without work and money to pay for basic necessities. Tonight I will sit with a family in grief, and I am reminded of how precious life is and how important families and friends are.
This morning there were two purple finches in the bird feeder and I spent a few moments just watching and listening to them "trill" to each other in beautiful bird song.
What is making up the "pieces of happy" for you tonight? * o
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Eyes of the Heart - Week Two - Shadows
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| From Random |
This week in the "Eyes of the Heart" course we have been working with and talking about shadows. Often we think of shadows as dark and dangerous places. We talk of the "shadow side" of our personalities - those traits we have that are less than pleasant. Scary things hide in the shadows. Shadows are the opposite of light. Jen Louden, the Comfort Queen, often talks about "shadow comforts", those things that we do to avoid being creative or following our passions - like surfing the net, endlessly checking email or watching TV. Not essentially bad things on their own, but when used for avoidance, well then not so good.
Today when I was out on my walk, I turned the corner from the very bright sunshine and onto a shadier section of the sidewalk. The coolness of the shade hit my face, and I realized that sometimes shadows are necessary. They provide a place to rest and restore, a chance to lick our wounds and heal if we need to do.
The key, I think, is knowing when we are using the shadow to heal and when we are using it to just hide and not deal with things. And the next step is knowing when it is time to come out of the shadow and back into the sunshine.
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| From Random |
(top photo: "Chalice in Sunlight", bottom photo: "Me and My Shadow") * o
Friday, March 05, 2010
The Next Chapter - Happy Friday!
Check out The Next Chapter - The Happy Book for some great happy pictures this week!
For me this week, my happy is this:
Birdies! I love watching them at the feeder, and this week this guy has been a frequent visitor. The sun has been shining, and the air is full of bird songs - ones returning and ones that are stopping by on their way back to somewhere. It's what I miss in winter - the symphony of song.
What made you happy this week? * o
For me this week, my happy is this:
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| From Random |
Birdies! I love watching them at the feeder, and this week this guy has been a frequent visitor. The sun has been shining, and the air is full of bird songs - ones returning and ones that are stopping by on their way back to somewhere. It's what I miss in winter - the symphony of song.
What made you happy this week? * o
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Eyes of the Heart - Week One
I am currently taking part in Christine Valters-Paintner's online class "Eyes of the Heart - Photography as a Contemplative Practice" so for the next six weeks I'll be sharing some of my images from this course and some thoughts on the process.
Last week was "Week One" and the assignment was to take a contemplative walk around your neighborhood, allowing yourself to be led in whatever direction you feel you should go with no definite purpose or place to get to. Along the way, I was to notice what my eye was drawn to, to receive the image with my camera, and then to pick some of the photos to share and reflect on.
One image that really caught my attention was this one:
Leave One Lane Open. Leave yourself open, don't fill up on too many things. Don't keep yourself so busy you can't breathe. After all you can't breathe if you are not open. * o
Last week was "Week One" and the assignment was to take a contemplative walk around your neighborhood, allowing yourself to be led in whatever direction you feel you should go with no definite purpose or place to get to. Along the way, I was to notice what my eye was drawn to, to receive the image with my camera, and then to pick some of the photos to share and reflect on.
One image that really caught my attention was this one:
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| From Random |
Leave One Lane Open. Leave yourself open, don't fill up on too many things. Don't keep yourself so busy you can't breathe. After all you can't breathe if you are not open. * o
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
The Next Chapter - Happy Friday!
The Happy Book for the Bliss group is still in Australia, in the meantime here's a bit of happy from my corner of the world this week:
Ya, what's better than Olympic spirit and cake??
A group of women in the building I work in have been going all out with Olympic spirit the last couple of weeks, topping it off with cake today served up by their mascot, "the Beav". Thanks ladies for a fun way to end the week! * o
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| From Random |
Ya, what's better than Olympic spirit and cake??
A group of women in the building I work in have been going all out with Olympic spirit the last couple of weeks, topping it off with cake today served up by their mascot, "the Beav". Thanks ladies for a fun way to end the week! * o
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Hello Moon, Goodnite Moon
Friday, February 19, 2010
The Next Chapter - Happy Friday!
Yay! It's Friday again - something that always makes me happy!
The Bliss groups copy of The Happy Book has made it's way to Meg's in Australia - long journey for a little book!
Pieces of Happy for me this week include:
* Watching the Olympics - Go Canada!! Some awesome moments by Alexandre Bilodeau, Maelle Ricker and Christine Nesbitt, not to mention some nail biting good hockey from the Men's Hockey team :)
* Even better than watching the Olympics, is watching them with the boys - it's been wonderful to have the college kid home from school this week.
* My new camera - loving the new Canon Power Shot.
* The weather - despite a cold, crappy start to the week, it turned out spectacularly sunny for the end of the week. I'd love more of that, please!
* Steak supper, cooked on the BBQ - yum!
What made you happy this week? * o
The Bliss groups copy of The Happy Book has made it's way to Meg's in Australia - long journey for a little book!
Pieces of Happy for me this week include:
* Watching the Olympics - Go Canada!! Some awesome moments by Alexandre Bilodeau, Maelle Ricker and Christine Nesbitt, not to mention some nail biting good hockey from the Men's Hockey team :)
* Even better than watching the Olympics, is watching them with the boys - it's been wonderful to have the college kid home from school this week.
* My new camera - loving the new Canon Power Shot.
* The weather - despite a cold, crappy start to the week, it turned out spectacularly sunny for the end of the week. I'd love more of that, please!
* Steak supper, cooked on the BBQ - yum!
What made you happy this week? * o
Monday, February 15, 2010
Way of the Monk - Week Six - Final
This week wrapped up "Way of the Monk, Path of the Artist". It's been an amazing six weeks and I've met some wonderful fellow monks and artists along the way.
Christine has other offerings of this course available, and if you are in any way thinking that this is calling to you I urge you to check it out. You won't regret it.
This week, we looked at creating some sort of Rule for ourselves. A rule being a sort of framework for our lives as monks and artists. Being the creative group that we are, the rules came in all shapes and sizes - written rules, poetic rules, mandala's, etc.
Here are my "Rules of the Inner Monastery", they are all about "Bee-ing""
Written on the wings of the bees in the corners:
Be a friend to your body
Be a listener of the wind
Be thankful
Be in nature
Be in Awe
Be creative
Be an explorer of your soul
Be Here Now
Be Mindful
Be in prayer
Be Still and Know that I Am
Now I am resting in this week, as I prepare for the beginning next week of the next class, "Eyes of the Heart".......glad it's not completely over yet! * o
Christine has other offerings of this course available, and if you are in any way thinking that this is calling to you I urge you to check it out. You won't regret it.
This week, we looked at creating some sort of Rule for ourselves. A rule being a sort of framework for our lives as monks and artists. Being the creative group that we are, the rules came in all shapes and sizes - written rules, poetic rules, mandala's, etc.
Here are my "Rules of the Inner Monastery", they are all about "Bee-ing""
 |
| From Random |
Written on the wings of the bees in the corners:
Be a friend to your body
Be a listener of the wind
Be thankful
Be in nature
Be in Awe
Be creative
Be an explorer of your soul
Be Here Now
Be Mindful
Be in prayer
Be Still and Know that I Am
Now I am resting in this week, as I prepare for the beginning next week of the next class, "Eyes of the Heart".......glad it's not completely over yet! * o
Friday, February 12, 2010
The Next Chapter - Happy Friday!
Hey it's Friday again and time for The Happy Book update!
Featured on The Next Chapter blog, a fabulous slideshow by Nadia of her time with The Happy Book. The Bliss circle's copy is still making it's way to Australia.
And here's what is making up my pieces of happy this week:
1) One more day and the college kid will be home with us for a week!
2) Making my plans to go on retreat in May at Sisters of St. John the Divine, where I'll get to hear Phyllis Tickle!
3) Going out for chinese food tomorrow
and finally,
4) taking part in the Virtual Retreat this weekend - tonight and on Sunday! So pumped to be listening tonight to Patti Digh, and Fabeku Fantenmuse!
Happy Friday and have a great weekend! * o
Featured on The Next Chapter blog, a fabulous slideshow by Nadia of her time with The Happy Book. The Bliss circle's copy is still making it's way to Australia.
And here's what is making up my pieces of happy this week:
1) One more day and the college kid will be home with us for a week!
2) Making my plans to go on retreat in May at Sisters of St. John the Divine, where I'll get to hear Phyllis Tickle!
3) Going out for chinese food tomorrow
and finally,
4) taking part in the Virtual Retreat this weekend - tonight and on Sunday! So pumped to be listening tonight to Patti Digh, and Fabeku Fantenmuse!
Happy Friday and have a great weekend! * o
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