Had a good friend come to Meditation Night last night. She and I were very, very close a few years back but went our separate ways or in different directions. When she & I hung out a lot, we were both very frustrated and controlling and spent large amounts of time defining every thing that was wrong with everything and everyone in our circles. Somewhere along the line we both hunkered down in our own lives and let go of what was wrong in every one else's. The big news? Life still went on. Without us. Imagine.
We were standing outside after class, just basking in the glow, feeling our friendship and one of our formally favorite 'chew it til it's dead' subjects came up. Here's what's astounding:
It turned into a frank discussion of how happy we are. How blessed our lives are. How we never would have imagined doing what we are doing and how lucky we are to do it. Every day. This is our life now. And I was struck by the thought that even though both of our lives had changed dramatically and even though we hadn't really made a specific place for one another in our 'new' lives, we still had a large place in our hearts for each other. And the force of our friendship had created huge necessary change which, although painful, had been an enormous catalyst for who we are now. And how cool it was that we were no longer bound by dissatisfaction, we could create a new friendship based on satisfaction. Wow.
Clarity is a cool thing. Present-ness is amazing. Having moments within moments....
Take a look at your relationships. How many are based on a need for gossip or other's problems to be a topic of your conversation? Can you change those friendships into genuine concern for yourselves? It's an interesting thing to do. And while you're at it? Get rid of those toxic ones. They really aren't doing you any good. I know. I been.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Flower Essences
I've been making Flower Essences! I've got impatiens for impatience and trumpet vine for the throat chakra....
Willow for releasing grudges and Bee Balm
for manifesting JOY!
Willow for releasing grudges and Bee Balm
for manifesting JOY!
So Fun! Here's the finished product... well, minus the flowers inside... these were soaking up a bit more sun outside my spirit room window...
I have just been in mass production lately. Did I tell you I found a source for flax seed? Maybe that was a newsletter.... Anyways, I have 50 pounds of flax and have been making all kinds of eye pillows and boo boo pillows and dream pillows and belly soothers. Heaven. Just absolute heaven. My house just reeks of goodness. Lavender and mint and jasmine and cloves and a beautiful lily that bloomed and fell outside my back door....tra la la.....
Okay. I've been a little lost in my stuff lately. Went to Women of Faith on Saturday. Interesting. Some really GREAT music! OMG! How I wish I could go to a church that had music like that! My buds and I were dancing and clapping and yelling and a hootin and a hollerin'.... Kind of depressing. You Know? A bit of it was a bit too .... what's the word? Crud. You know when they try and make you feel something instead of it just happening? Some of the speakers were that. Contrived? I don't know. Other ones were hysterically funny and very touching.
Went and heard Mario's band in the rain last night. So cool. I love Mario and his family. They are the nicest people I have ever met. I just love being in their presence.
Meditation night tonight. Busy week. SoulCollage Friday. And then Tech Week for JCS. Trying to get Rhia ready for Montreat. And ourselves.... of course, according to her last blog, well, let's just leave it there.
Will have much more insightful stuff soon. Maybe. LOL!
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Scheduling Destiny
My schedule is a bit twisted. I can't seem to find the blog time like I used to. Although I did find time to read a book so... time is just an excuse I'm afraid. Think about it. How many times have you said, "oh, I wish I could ________ but I just can't seem to find the time." Usually said while you are out at dinner or watching tv or something that maybe wasn't all that necessary in the long run. Truth is we find time for what we WANT to do. That's the truth. And sometimes for what we HAVE to do. Which is really just another way of doing what we want to do.
Not that I don't want to blog. Just that I have other things pressing first. And maybe that's the second insight about time. Sort of like things coming up in a Que or rotating through, we make time sometimes for some things and then later take that time away to do something else. Like read a book. Which feels decadent. TV watching? Not so much. Why is that?
I try really hard to catch myself when I play the "I don't have time for _______" game. It's so easy to play though. Everyone's doing it. You begin to feel like something's wrong with you if you do have time. I guard my time. Religiously. And semi-faithfully. I know what I'm like if I don't have that don't haveta time. It's an ugly thing.
Taking up my time right now mostly is herbs. I am tickled to death that people are actually buying my herbal products. It's a long standing dream of mine, putzing in my gardens, drying herbs all over the place, rosemary, mint & lavender up to my armpits, life is GOOOD!!!! I found a source for flax seed last night and got 50 pounds of it! I have all kinds of potions brewing and I ordered a bunch of beautiful blue bottles to put them in. Oh, I am in heaven right now. My house smells like a cacophony and every where you turn are little projects I am working on. Now, if only I had the time.....
Time to focus, of course. I have a horoscope book that states your destiny. My destiny is Structure. Now, that means that the Universe will provide me with lots of opportunity to perfect my destiny. The meditation for someone with my destiny:
The secret to concentration is the acceptance of endless distractions.
The suggestion for my destiny:
Think of information as a tool. Realize that decision making is about putting all considerations into perspective. Don't feel overwhelmed. Get organized! Take one step at a time.
No kidding. Sometimes the irony of my destiny amuses me. So, someone who has trouble with distraction and feeling overwhelmed and disorganized chooses a career that is nothing but distraction and impossible organization. I mean, I work a bit in the morning, shift to another form of work in the afternoon and shift back in the evening without ever having a clue how many, who or what.....
I've said it before and I'll say it again. God must have a tremendous sense of humor. And I think I may be an endless source of amusement. Considering I have rarely spent more than a month with the same schedule in my life.... it must be quite comical.
Oh well. I will try and get organized and find more time to blog. Now, what to give up? I know!!!
The bathrooms are on their own. I apologize in advance.
Not that I don't want to blog. Just that I have other things pressing first. And maybe that's the second insight about time. Sort of like things coming up in a Que or rotating through, we make time sometimes for some things and then later take that time away to do something else. Like read a book. Which feels decadent. TV watching? Not so much. Why is that?
I try really hard to catch myself when I play the "I don't have time for _______" game. It's so easy to play though. Everyone's doing it. You begin to feel like something's wrong with you if you do have time. I guard my time. Religiously. And semi-faithfully. I know what I'm like if I don't have that don't haveta time. It's an ugly thing.
Taking up my time right now mostly is herbs. I am tickled to death that people are actually buying my herbal products. It's a long standing dream of mine, putzing in my gardens, drying herbs all over the place, rosemary, mint & lavender up to my armpits, life is GOOOD!!!! I found a source for flax seed last night and got 50 pounds of it! I have all kinds of potions brewing and I ordered a bunch of beautiful blue bottles to put them in. Oh, I am in heaven right now. My house smells like a cacophony and every where you turn are little projects I am working on. Now, if only I had the time.....
Time to focus, of course. I have a horoscope book that states your destiny. My destiny is Structure. Now, that means that the Universe will provide me with lots of opportunity to perfect my destiny. The meditation for someone with my destiny:
The secret to concentration is the acceptance of endless distractions.
The suggestion for my destiny:
Think of information as a tool. Realize that decision making is about putting all considerations into perspective. Don't feel overwhelmed. Get organized! Take one step at a time.
No kidding. Sometimes the irony of my destiny amuses me. So, someone who has trouble with distraction and feeling overwhelmed and disorganized chooses a career that is nothing but distraction and impossible organization. I mean, I work a bit in the morning, shift to another form of work in the afternoon and shift back in the evening without ever having a clue how many, who or what.....
I've said it before and I'll say it again. God must have a tremendous sense of humor. And I think I may be an endless source of amusement. Considering I have rarely spent more than a month with the same schedule in my life.... it must be quite comical.
Oh well. I will try and get organized and find more time to blog. Now, what to give up? I know!!!
The bathrooms are on their own. I apologize in advance.
Monday, July 07, 2008
Reiki
Have you ever had a Reiki treatment? It's something you have to experience, I think, to really understand. I mean, before I became attuned or received a treatment I don't know if I really would have gotten it. How can someone's hands hovering over you and gently holding yours do anything?
Once during a women's retreat, my friend Sheree offered to do Reiki as a demo in her room so people could see what it looks like. I, being very skeptical but wanting to support my friend, hopped up on the table and tried to make her look good. I didn't have to work very hard. The minute she took my hand a jolt of energy came rushing up my arm. Now, at the time I would have said it was the power of friendship and it was. That & much more, that is what Reiki is, just love and friendship, wanting the best for someone and asking for it. Consciously asking for it, also known as the power of prayer....
After that session, another friend came up to me with tears in her eyes. Now this friend is even more skeptical than I. She is very dismissive of new agey stuff, in fact, she was the one who was very upset about my SoulCollage stuff, feeling that I had become wiccan or something. She said that the minute Sheree took my hand she 'saw/felt' a huge flash of white light and it made her start sobbing with the power of our friendship. It's even more interesting when you consider that I barely knew Sheree at the time. Had only met her less than a handful of times....
It's hard to talk about stuff like white light, energy and prayer without getting all woo woo but sometimes it just really is unexplainable. Reiki is hugely mysterious, even to those of us who are lucky enough to be a conduit of the energy. We don't know why we can feel where the Reiki needs to go, why is there so much heat and why does it make people feel so much better? The thing about being a Reiki healer is that you don't need to know. You don't have to have the answers, you don't have to question the energy, you just know it's there. It's all about trust. Trusting the Source of the energy and power.
Reiki found me after I had attended a seminar at CCPC with a gentleman named Dr. Theodore Lichtmann. He was talking about his power to heal and how he discovered it when he was a child. He was a hands on healer I think, I don't think he was Reiki attuned but I could be wrong. The point is, he started talking about it and something within me switched on and I realized that I had it.... I had always had it but was reluctant to trust it or let anyone know I had it. I came right home and told my husband to let me try something... said a little prayer and just gave my self over to intuition and began 'healing'. I instantly felt heat in my hands and knew where to place them, it was wild. He had a shoulder injury for years that the next day went away. Now, some might say it was the power of suggestion or positive thinking. And It was. And more.
I decided after that to go ahead and get my Reiki attunement even though a part of me knew it was unnecessary. I already had it. But I thought it may make other's feel better....I didn't realize how it would deeply affect my life though. I had always been caring for others, Reiki helped me to start caring for myself. It's like a constant source of strength, like a physical sense of healing, like it is circling me and guiding me all the time, I just take a breath and there it is. There are so many 'coincidences' around the Reiki and the energy that I cannot deny it's validity-- even my skeptical raised by rednecks self. And I mean that in the most respectful way.
Ooops, gotta go to work, more on this later....
Once during a women's retreat, my friend Sheree offered to do Reiki as a demo in her room so people could see what it looks like. I, being very skeptical but wanting to support my friend, hopped up on the table and tried to make her look good. I didn't have to work very hard. The minute she took my hand a jolt of energy came rushing up my arm. Now, at the time I would have said it was the power of friendship and it was. That & much more, that is what Reiki is, just love and friendship, wanting the best for someone and asking for it. Consciously asking for it, also known as the power of prayer....
After that session, another friend came up to me with tears in her eyes. Now this friend is even more skeptical than I. She is very dismissive of new agey stuff, in fact, she was the one who was very upset about my SoulCollage stuff, feeling that I had become wiccan or something. She said that the minute Sheree took my hand she 'saw/felt' a huge flash of white light and it made her start sobbing with the power of our friendship. It's even more interesting when you consider that I barely knew Sheree at the time. Had only met her less than a handful of times....
It's hard to talk about stuff like white light, energy and prayer without getting all woo woo but sometimes it just really is unexplainable. Reiki is hugely mysterious, even to those of us who are lucky enough to be a conduit of the energy. We don't know why we can feel where the Reiki needs to go, why is there so much heat and why does it make people feel so much better? The thing about being a Reiki healer is that you don't need to know. You don't have to have the answers, you don't have to question the energy, you just know it's there. It's all about trust. Trusting the Source of the energy and power.
Reiki found me after I had attended a seminar at CCPC with a gentleman named Dr. Theodore Lichtmann. He was talking about his power to heal and how he discovered it when he was a child. He was a hands on healer I think, I don't think he was Reiki attuned but I could be wrong. The point is, he started talking about it and something within me switched on and I realized that I had it.... I had always had it but was reluctant to trust it or let anyone know I had it. I came right home and told my husband to let me try something... said a little prayer and just gave my self over to intuition and began 'healing'. I instantly felt heat in my hands and knew where to place them, it was wild. He had a shoulder injury for years that the next day went away. Now, some might say it was the power of suggestion or positive thinking. And It was. And more.
I decided after that to go ahead and get my Reiki attunement even though a part of me knew it was unnecessary. I already had it. But I thought it may make other's feel better....I didn't realize how it would deeply affect my life though. I had always been caring for others, Reiki helped me to start caring for myself. It's like a constant source of strength, like a physical sense of healing, like it is circling me and guiding me all the time, I just take a breath and there it is. There are so many 'coincidences' around the Reiki and the energy that I cannot deny it's validity-- even my skeptical raised by rednecks self. And I mean that in the most respectful way.
Ooops, gotta go to work, more on this later....
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Hello!
I've been sick. Really sick for me. I am really blessed that I rarely get sick and usually when I do, a bit of yoga makes it better but not this time. But I'm better now, thank good-ness. Just a stomach thing I suppose but particularly violent which seems random. Unless you consider that Uranus has gone retrograde, then maybe it makes perfect sense.
Speaking of random, last night out of nowhere Ronnie Random says,
Speaking of random, last night out of nowhere Ronnie Random says,
"So When are you going to update Your blog? Jeeeeez!"
And Patty Pipsqueak chimes in
"Yeah! No one cares about your silly events!"
And then Ronnie Random says,
"Amanda's dog is really nice".
Ummmm. Yeah. Life at my house. The fact that we know 3 Amanda's doesn't help. But here's your update:
While I was away, Ronnie rearranged my living room exactly how I told him not to and sliced up my wisteria so you can now get on my porch-- errgh.
Ummmm. Yeah. Life at my house. The fact that we know 3 Amanda's doesn't help. But here's your update:
While I was away, Ronnie rearranged my living room exactly how I told him not to and sliced up my wisteria so you can now get on my porch-- errgh.
Patty says, "Man! Now our house has no mystery!!"
But I did notice the mailman seems happier.... And Ronnie assures me that when we get our WII Mario Kart back we will be able to play much easier now that he has arranged the living room around the TV and Home Theater speakers. It's interesting how my flower bringing hippie poet has transformed into a 'bring me a beer!" caveman. (yes, Ronnie, I know you prefer wine and would never ask me to bring it--it's just for dramatic embellishment, like when I re-wrote the gospels LOL!)
Since I had a lot of time on my hands, most of it spent in the bathroom (sorry, too graphic?) I decided that what your supposed to do when your in the bathroom is read, right? So I grabbed the first book I went by in a mad dash (again, too graphic?) It turned out to be "The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett. Have you read it? I haven't read fiction for a while--a very long while, so I felt completely decadent. Can I just say, "Wow"? I just said it. "Wow." What a dreadful book. So graphic. And upsetting. Turning my stomach. I can't put it down.
I had read some Ken Follett in my 20s. He's real action-adventure, I remember a book about Afghanistan.... Lie Down with Lions? I bought Pillars of the Earth for my mother-in-law for Christmas since it was an Oprah best-seller and supposed to be so over the top good. I'm wondering if she read it before she brought it back and if so, Oh my Gosh! It's full of murder and rape and pillage and horrible stuff-- sort of like a epic historical romance written by a man. Well, not sort of like. That is what it is. Don't get me wrong--it's really well written and very compelling, I think I just haven't read a book like this in a while. When I was young I used to read those historical romances all the time, in fact, most of what I know about history came from there. Why is it that accidental rape always leads to great towering passion in these books?
Since I had a lot of time on my hands, most of it spent in the bathroom (sorry, too graphic?) I decided that what your supposed to do when your in the bathroom is read, right? So I grabbed the first book I went by in a mad dash (again, too graphic?) It turned out to be "The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett. Have you read it? I haven't read fiction for a while--a very long while, so I felt completely decadent. Can I just say, "Wow"? I just said it. "Wow." What a dreadful book. So graphic. And upsetting. Turning my stomach. I can't put it down.
I had read some Ken Follett in my 20s. He's real action-adventure, I remember a book about Afghanistan.... Lie Down with Lions? I bought Pillars of the Earth for my mother-in-law for Christmas since it was an Oprah best-seller and supposed to be so over the top good. I'm wondering if she read it before she brought it back and if so, Oh my Gosh! It's full of murder and rape and pillage and horrible stuff-- sort of like a epic historical romance written by a man. Well, not sort of like. That is what it is. Don't get me wrong--it's really well written and very compelling, I think I just haven't read a book like this in a while. When I was young I used to read those historical romances all the time, in fact, most of what I know about history came from there. Why is it that accidental rape always leads to great towering passion in these books?
What the Hell?
So, that's where I've been. Sick and sickened. But I have to finish this book. I have to make sure that the evil, disgusting William gets his just desserts. And that everyone lives happily ever after. Like me and my caveman. And Patty Pipsqueak and Billy Bi-polar.
So, that's where I've been. Sick and sickened. But I have to finish this book. I have to make sure that the evil, disgusting William gets his just desserts. And that everyone lives happily ever after. Like me and my caveman. And Patty Pipsqueak and Billy Bi-polar.
Don't start me on him....
gtg, ttys, ly, bb!
gtg, ttys, ly, bb!
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