Monday, September 28, 2009

Pics

Bride and Groom Pre-Wedding Cleansing
The First CeremonyWe Did It!

Pot Luck Party AfterWedding Number 2My Beautiful Daughter

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Wedding number 2

This week was stressful. One of the most stressful. Having to get Rhia home from NC and keep her from freaking over all the work she had to do to make up the time she was missing, get my classes covered and rewriting and rewriting the vows, finding purple shoes for Rhia, figuring out what I was gonna wear, and worst of all, getting Rhia's dress hemmed in one day... ugh.

See, Rhia was supposed to be home going to school in Maryland. For those of you reading, you may recall she decided at the last minute to go to school in North Carolina. Since she was gonna be around, we figured we had plenty of time to get her dress taken care of. And her shoes. Alas. I've been emailing and begging all my friends/students who I know could sew to see if they could help me out. Trying to find someone who would be available Thurs. morning, who could get the dress sewn and back by Friday morning, not easy. We were worried a tailor wouldn't be able to rush it and all my experts said we could not guesstimate a hem.

Tuesday morning I decided to just hem it myself. Stop laughing.

Tuesday night my yoga students begged me not to.

Wednesday morning, in desperation, I announce my dilemma to my class and throw myself on the mercy of the Universe. The Universe responds immediately with a beautiful angel of sewing who cheerfully says, "I CAN DO IT!!!" Course she proly didn't yell or exclaim even but it felt like bells ringing. Ok, maybe I exaggerate. But I felt saved. We make arrangements for her to come the next day, exactly at the same time as my Reiki client. Sigh. No worries, it's one of my favorite people in the world who I knew would understand. Plus, she was subbing for me at my yoga class that night so we had to get together to plan the routine.

Now, at this point I realize that I was making things much harder than they needed to be in so many ways but whatever. I didn't want to stop the momentum that my business has been experiencing and blah, blah...

Anyways. Nancy comes and measures and pins Rhia. She happily takes the dress to get done before 4pm Friday. We go to the rehearsal dinner and they inform us that Rhia is supposed to be at the wedding place at 1:30pm Friday. At that point, we realize that we don't know Nancy's phone number.

I can't talk about this anymore, I will need another tranquilizer.

All's well that ends well, somehow we all make it to the wedding place on time (unlike the night before when we were over a half hour late, where in the heck did all that traffic come from?) The wedding was fine, more formal and showy, less intimate and meaningful. Even though her mom did her hair and make up and not a professional, Rhia looked gorgeous, "stunning" was the word people kept saying. All the girls and guys looked wonderful. Bride and Groom looked lovely. The music was awesome --MARIOOOO!!!!. The service was short, no voice cracking. Lots of people I didn't know came up to me and told me I did a great job. I wasn't a bit nervous, was looking forward to my empty calendar in October ha ha.

The only snafu was the bride sprained her ankle walking back down the aisle. Her mom wrapped it and I gave it Reiki and she was dancing in no time. They had bubbles everywhere, lots of little kiddies looking cute, everyone danced and sang and had fun.

So there you have it. 18 months later, they are married. Twice. I really enjoyed being the Officiant, would do it again in a heartbeat, in fact.

But only if Rhia isn't in the wedding.

Congratulations Matt and Jaime. May you live long and prosper.

Wedding 1 part 2...

So we get onto the bridge where there are people fishing. Jaime's mom informs them that we are having a wedding there... and they run. (Men, so silly) Me, Matt & Jaime go to one end of the bridge and everyone informally gathers around. I begin with a greeting and a prayer and then to the part I was most worried about: The Two Hands Reading. My voice cracked a bit but we all giggled together and just went with it. I love this reading, I remember being a young bride with all the hopes and dreams ahead of me, stars in your eyes. Yeah. Plus there's a part about letting go of your babies when they grow up... good thing Rhia wasn't at this first one. Here it is:

These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life.

These are the hands that will work along side yours, as together you build your future, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams.

These are the hands you will place with expectant joy against your stomach, until he too, feels his child stir within you.

These are the hands that look so large and strong, yet will be so gentle as he holds your baby for the first time.

These are the hands that will work long hours for you and your new family

These are that hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes: tears of sorrow and tears of joy

These are the hands that will comfort you in illness, and hold you when fear or grief wrack your mind.

These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes: eyes that are filled completely with his overwhelming love and desire for you.

Isn't that beautiful? There's a whole second half for the woman but I'll give you a moment to collect yourself. We all were enveloped in a cocoon of joy, it was very nice. Then I gave the guests a chance to give their own blessings to the couple. Jaime's mom was first, she had brought a family heirloom, the tree of life pendant that Jaime didn't know she was going to give her. She bestowed it upon her with a beautiful blessing which then stopped the wedding as the bride needed a few moments to pull herself back together, it was so touching. Needless to say, no one else wanted to follow.

Vows, Rings, Prayers and a special Rose & Vase Ceremony, it was really, really a great wedding. We cheered and hugged and all made our way joyfully back to the park and to the potluck party after.

Ready for the rest? Here's the women's part:

These are the hands of your best friend, smooth, young and carefree, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life.

These are the hands that will hold each child in tender love, soothing them through illness and hurt, supporting and encouraging them along the way, and knowing when it is time to let go

These are the hands that will massage tension from you neck and back in the evenings after you’ve both had a long hard day.

These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times

These are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick, or console you when you are grieving.

They are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.

These are the hands that will hold you in joy and excitement and hope, each time she tells you that you are to have another child, that together you have created a new life.

These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams. Together as a team, everything you wish for can be realized.

Yeah. Unfortunately, I guess the bride and groom must've gotten some questions about the whole baby thing so they elected to take it out of wedding part 2. And the rose/vase ceremony would have been redundant so...

will finish with part 2 soon...

Monday, September 21, 2009

The Wedding

Well, one down, one to go. I really think I may have found a cool new niche. This was such a marvelous experience.

We started at my house, just the 3 of us. Matt & Jaime were open to some cleansing rituals so I had planned a variety of things for them before we actually went to the wedding. Since marriage is a new beginning, I thought we could do some of what my family does on New Year's Day. I had them write down things they wanted to let go of, to start fresh in their new life together. They went into separate rooms and wrote their "letting gos" on small pieces of paper. We then went outside (it was gorgeous weather, Thank God!) and I put sage and sweetgrass into a clay pot and one by one they burned their papers, smiling and holding hands. Afterwards, I lit a smudge stick and smudged them, signifying the cleansing act of smoke, purifying and making fresh.

We came back inside to a table where I had their rose and vase for the ceremony, a white candle for purity and an amethyst quartz for intuition. I did a mirror tarot reading for them so they could see what individually they were each bringing to the marriage and what the power and strength of their union would bring. It was very cool... unbelievably insightful. We were amazed. After that, I encouraged them to do Reiki on one another. Matt went first. I put my hands on his shoulders, prayed and called up the energy and he began to place his hands on Jaime's head, shoulders, where ever he felt led to send her love and energy. It was so powerful, you could almost hear the energy crackling whenever he moved his hands. Jaime went next. I am humbled to witness the love they share, it was beautiful watching and feeling the care they were taking with one another.

After many hugs, and sharing our excitement for the next part, we all needed to get ready for the wedding. Jaime's attendants had plans for her so they left only to meet up an hour later at the park. It was so cool driving up and seeing everyone with nice clothes on, just casually waiting for the big event. There were about 20 of us there. Together we made the trek to the bridge over Fox Hill pond, laughing and chatting about how we should have tambourines and ribbons as we danced and sang wedding chants. It was really fun.

I'll have to continue this later... work calls...

Monday, September 14, 2009

Whirling Dervishes

Crazy week, well, crazy month to be exact. This is 'let's make Linda get outside her box in a big way' month. My first step outside my box was on Saturday. One of my yogis, and member of my Spirit Board, Carol, has asked me to speak at her annual myasthenia gravis conference for the last 3 years. Now, this may come as a shock to some of you but I am terrified of public speaking. Well, maybe terrified is too strong a word but I wouldn't have known since I avoided any opportunity that came along that asked me to speak in public.

I can just hear you now: Linda, do you not realize that every time you teach yoga you are speaking publicly?

Let me explain: When I teach yoga, it's coming through me... not from me... I don't have to plan, I don't have to think, I just take a deep breath of gratitude and let it pour. Sort of like the cup running over, you know? It's a completely different thing to have to talk about it. I'd rather do. Trying to explain yoga... or Reiki... or anything else I feel really deeply about is extremely difficult. Seriously, how do you explain breath? You just do it. You don't say "well, I open my nasal/throat passage and try and pull air up through them by .... what? thinking about it?" By the time I figure out how to describe it 3 breaths have gone by and I missed them. I like to pay attention to them when I can, you know?

Anyways, I felt like I had to do this for Carol. Not to say I didn't silently think bad things about her or come up with 15 different excuses every day. But I did it. And some may say I ROCKED THE HOUSE!!! Others may say I was aiiiight. Personally, I think I was somewhere in between. People seemed to like it, I didn't say hardly anything that I planned but I was comfortable and didn't sound like an idiot, maybe a little woo woo but these days who isn't? It was a tough group, 60 folks in varying stages of illness, not necessarily open to woo woo, but anyone can breathe so they were willing to do that. I did a little yoga, a little meditation, a lot of breathing and sending Reiki. I was accosted in the bathroom after by a group of ladies telling me they loved me so yeah.. I guess I was aiight.

It was a crazy weekend. Went to a great party soon after getting home from prior, then to church on Sunday (I KNOW RIGHT?) ran home frantically preparing for my open house cause I sort of had a crazy week too. Had a lovely Open House... so many beautiful ladies showed! I was most excited, at one point sitting around the table in the back yard (wasn't it great weather yesterday?) I noticed that I had yogis from every place I've ever taught there: Slim & Tone, World Gym, CCPC, Yolinna's Spirit Room... very, very cool. I had a lady there who was with me my very first grown up class at Bowie Athletic Club and 2 ladies who just started this week, 1 at CCPC, 1 at my house. Had dear friends there and a lady I never met before who a mutual friend sent. It was neat getting to know new and old friends and watching them get to know each other.

Can I just pause here and say a big WOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!! I love my life.

Anyway, step 2 out of my box comes Friday when I get to marry my first couple. My son keeps saying, "who do you think you are, what right do you have to marry people?" A reasonable question, if somewhat belligerent. Answer: I am a terrified of public speaking woman with 29 years of marriage experience who can send a great deal of positive energy to a beautiful couple just starting out. That usually sets him on a rant about how marriage is not religious and.... well I don't know cause I go to the land of breath in, breath out.

I love my son. He's not the most nurturing type though. Especially when I'm taking big steps out of my box. I'm excited. But I gotta keep breathing so I can do this. I'm just thinking that this Friday is the dress rehearsal for the big one next Friday.

I think I'm gonna be aiiiight.

Saturday, September 05, 2009

A Witch?

I think maybe I was a witch in another life. I know, some of you may say ANOTHER LIFE?... and some of you may use a different word LOL but I can't tell you how much fun I had at my Restorative Yoga Day today. Last night, I got the bright idea that since it was a small group of loyal ladies that have come to just about every RYD I've ever had, I would give them a special treat.

So I pulled out my potion book...err.. herbal recipe book and found some great concoctions to give them a facial! What fun I had pulling out my mortar and pestle (seriously!), going to the garden for fresh thyme and crushing dried fennel seed for cleanser... cutting and pureeing cucumbers, mixing with chamomile and other secret ingredients for a special mask... and then creating a simmering aromatic green tea/lavender potion in my little crock pot filled with washcloths.... mmmm. I was ridiculously happy.

Well, cept when it came time to put the glop on their faces it got a bit messy. And, note to self, large cucumbers do not fit perfectly over eyes... smaller ones work better, I suppose. Thank goodness for eye pillows to hold the cukes in place!

But oh... after a 20 minute relaxation, handing them a steaming cloth to rinse off and seeing their beautiful shining faces looking so rested and lovely made it all worth it. It was soooo cool! And the cucumbers really did the trick, their eyes were all open and well, bright eyed and bushy tailed! Course, when I said to eat the cucumbers... ummm yeah. Silly wabbits.

It was just too much fun. And to think, this is my job... crazy!

Thanks again ladies for being such good sports and guinea pigs for my potions-- it was a great day and I am blessed to have spent it with you!

Namaste' and ABRA-CA-DABRA!!!

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Random Thought Day

September. Seriously? Wasn't it just June?

You gotta admire spiders. What amazing creatures.. how does all that silky web fit inside that little body?

I have had the longest stretch of happy days I think I have ever had in my whole life. Why can't I just accept it and not worry about the storm clouds brewing?

Paradise: Having the windows open, hearing the birds and then watching the sheers gently billowing. I don't think billowing can be used in any other sentence btw.

I was reading a book on writing and was bored to tears. Does this mean that the author was a bad writer? If so, why is she telling me what to do?

Paradise x 2: An air bed facing the window in my spirit room. And time.

You can have a mercury retrograde without all hell breaking loose. Repeat.

My relatives are starting to crawl out of the woodwork. Hence the storm clouds a brewin'

September is a busy month. REALLY busy month. I will miss my air bed.

Barry & I are thinking of coming to church more regularly (more regularly than not at all). Maybe if he sings in the choir again?

I have had a survey for people to fill out on my email program. It has been the most enlightening fun. Educational too since now I don't have to offer programs that people really aren't interested in. Who knew?

Today's schedule: Reiki, Tarot, Yoga, Yoga... why am I blogging?

Have I told you lately how much I love you? Yes, you.

Kiss a teacher today!