August Planting - through the Lions Gate

 Last summer I picked up a couple of damaged wading pools from Hopscotch toy store (for a donation) with the thought of making a couple of beds. While my soil is good clay, our dry summers and the shade in my overgrown yard make it challenging for some pants ... And my daughter has a BIG garden!

This spring while Kayleen and I cut back blackberries on one side, I noticed that area receives good sun, and moved one of the pools into place in June! I have been enjoying no-dig and container gardening videos, and used ideas from both. The soil is a mix from other areas, my compost, and from various pots. 

I got a Taro and Chinese yam from my friend Melissa Van Hevlingen, and had two tomatoes and a garden marigold from the Farmers Market, which I put in back of the empty pots.

Seeds included red Orach, spicy lettuce, Asian greens and Mesculin mixes, Okra, New Zealand spinach, chiogga beet, Kuroda carrot, and Pattypan squash. Borage, tomatillos and purslane volunteered in the surrounding soil and in the pots. ... And an avocado sprouted (from the compost!) The purple tulle provides a bit of shade for the Taro

I began working on the second pool this week, (note Percy kitty, enjoying the shade!) I cleared the brush, tied back the spearmint and vitex - which the bees love! 

I filled the bottom of this pool with the dried blackberry brambles, and the same soil and compost combo, topped with a bit of potting soul, and planted many of the same veggies, with the addition of lemon cukes, a round zucchini, endive and radiccio, sets from my topset leek, and a mix of flower seeds in the center for the pollinators.

I put a plant cage in for the peas that are soaking, and will plant beans as well ... Added a clump of garlic chives and baby Mullein, and covered the lot with tulle to deter the kitties! 

I sprinkled fresh seed from my Good King Henry, and hope some sprout to share. My plant is over a decade old, and going strong! 

Clearing the Decks

 We've all got them, areas or a whole house full of too. much. stuff.  

Do you get bogged down just thinking about it? I do a good job for awhile, then get busy and things multiply!! 

CLEARING CLUTTER for POSITIVE CHANGE
Clutter accumulates when energy stagnates, and likewise, energy stagnates when clutter accumulates. It can be a vicious cycle, clutter is both a symptom and cause of heavy or stagnant chi, of struck life force.  And fortunately, movement of either prompts flow in both!

When we clear physical, emotional and mental clutter and stagnant energy in our environment, we free and release the stuck energy that keeps us in a holding pattern of exhaustion, overwhelm, and/ or procrastination. 
Clearing clutter also enhances sleep, clarity of thought, vitality, sparks joy, enhances prosperity, and healthy weight! An added bonus, clear space requires less time spent cleaning, and easier upkeep.

Take a moment, and think how you feel in your messiest space. Notice your posture, and sensations in your body. Take a breath and shake that out!
Now, picture walking into a beautiful, serene space, perhaps in a spa or retreat center. Notice how your body reacts, is your breath fuller? Do you feel like you can take up more space? Stand taller? 

When you're ready to dig in, here are some tips from my inspirational friend Gwynne Warner, Feng Shui consultant, and  from a few others on clearing clutter and setting a more harmonious environment.  

 Basic guidelines:

• Pick a day when the wind is not to strong, nor eerily still. When the wind is strong, wealth can't accumulate - this can be a good time to get rid of dated documents, files, or office paper!
• Choose a time you feel the most energized, daylight and morning are great
• Wear bright colors, orange, yellow, red are yang and give energy. (Blue, grey and pastels are more yin, and better for relaxing) 
• Take breaks for crying, dancing, breathing, drinking water, eating a good snack. After 25 minutes, feel free to stop for the day, or take a 10 minute break, and do some more! 

Before you begin:

• Make some notes on what you'd like to accomplish.
• Keep a clipboard handy for jotting down action steps. 
• Fill a Waterbottle or big glass of water with a sprig of mint, lemon and cucumber, and remember to drink some periodically. 

• Start to sift the stagnant energy of the area by increasing yang (active) energy
• Turn on all the lights (bring in more light if it's a dark area!) 
• Open windows and doors in the space - even just a crack for at least 10 minutes. 
• Burn incense: sandalwood, juniper, nag champa, or spritz with essential oil in water: orange, Neroli, bergamot
• Clap or ring bells to "wake up" the space
• Play uplifting, joyful music, or a video on cleaning that space, or, ...

While You Clear Clutter

• Clear in blocks of 15-45 minutes - set a timer, and take breaks. 
• My favorite patterns are 20/10 (especially good if you have chronic health challenges or are depressed) and 45/15. 
• And remind yourself - even 5-10 minutes is better than Ø ! 

Gather 4 bags, bins or boxes, and Mark:

• Obvious Trash (things someone else would toss)
• Recycling (ditto - I have a tall white trash basket for recycling that I bring into the room I'm working on)
• Donate / gift/ sell
• Things to take to another area

Pick up one thing at a time and ask yourself

• Does it LIFT MY ENERGY when I think about it/ look at it?
• Do I absolutely LOVE it?
• Do I actually USE it? (Or have another like it that I like better?)
• Do I NEED it?
• Where would I look for it?

If your answer to any of thefirst 4 is, "No!" -  count it as clutter, and let it go!" Place it in the appropriate box.  Pick up the next item and ask the same question.

After You've Finished Clearing Clutter for the Day

• Allow yourself 10- 15 minutes to:
• Empty the trash immediately, outside your home
• Take recycling to your bins 
• Take things in the transit box back where they belong. If that area is also cluttered, put it close, books by the book shelf, etc.
• Put items to donate in your vehicle (or in separate area, and make a note of when you plan to deal with them)

Tidy time - I like to allow another 10-15 minutes for this step!

• Sweep or vacuum
• Spray with aromatherapy/burn incense
• Look at the area you've just cleared, and congratulate yourself! 
• Woo hoo, we did it! Even if you only spent 10 or 20 minutes, it is that much more than nothing! 

After You've Cleared Clutter from the Entire Room

• Clean the room - I personally love Melissa Maker's "Clean My Space" videos and blog! Her 1, 2, 3 room sweep is great (and works great for minor clutter!) 
• Use simple cleaning products (Melissa has tutorials on making your own!) Scent with lemon grass, pine, basil, orange or rosemary if you wish.
• Bring in or buy fresh flowers
• Sit in your favorite chair and admire the room, you did a great job!! 
• Reward yourself! (Hint, think experience rather than retail therapy!) 

Staying Clutter Clear
Are you great at doing "Bumble-Bee Cleaning" (BBC) just before someone comes over? I am! Rachel Hoffman of UFYH reminds us that we are important, and suggests we clean for ourselves, not just for company! "Company ready is good, but you ready is better!"

• After an area or room has been Cleared of Clutter, it's easier to keep it that way if you do a little every day! Set the timer for 20 minutes, and do a basic reset. 
• Notice where Things tend to accumulate, and streamline ways you deal with those. 
• UFYH offers great tips for getting on top of the clutter. (And there's a Facebook group, Team UFYH (official) which offers awesome, shame free group support.)
• Melissa Maker's video on maintenance has great tips on "keeping it up." She has videos for each room, I like to put one on while I'm cleaning! She also has one on getting motivated! 
• To assist yourself in being neater, hang a 50mm faceted leaded crystal sphere (Gwynne carries these in her online boutique)
• Take advantage of charity yard sales, and donate items (they'll often pick up)
• Houston Clutter Fairy, Gayle Goddard has a MeetUp and posts videos with monthly tips on tackling different areas. I was intrigued with her statistics on Boomers, and the number of us drowning on clutter! While we use technology, we often don't quote trust it, hence keeping paper etc we don't really need to!
• Compile list of daily, weekly and monthly basics in a way that works for you. 
• If you share a space, engage others in cleaning if you can, ... Clean anyway, if you can't! 
• If it starts to pile up again, pick a messy area and stare at it. Do nothing. Breathe. Stare at it. ...ideas may begin to percolate... Breathe. Stare at it, breathe. When you can hardly stand it, take another breath. Then dive in, using these tools!

Happy clearing! 

Home Blessing & Tuning Hour

Now that I'm home on Monday mornings, I have more time/energy for Fly Lady's 'Home Blessing Hour.' 

Fly Lady's list includes several things I don't have - a vacuum (only carpet is on the stairs, so I sweep with my beautiful broom) magazines (lots of books) .... 
As she suggests, I set the time for 15-20 minutes, & go through a round in each room (if there's more time/inclination, I'll do several rounds) & a 10-15 minute break after an hour. 
Another practice I wish to incorporate more is the 'Walk Through' My mom did this naturally ....On her blog 'Dragonflies & Me,' Jean writes: "The walk through is simply going through a room and picking up everything that is out-of-place AND putting it away where it belongs.  Simply eh?" (best done several times daily!)


Blessing Way 'Creating Holy Order'  - a process by which everything in your home supports & nurtures your essence

• Put on happy music, light a candle & some incense, brew some tea
• Kitchen: clear the counter, gather cloth, paper/books, sweep the floor
• Living room:  coffee table, piles, paper, clothes, sweep,
• Bathroom: swish & swipe (toilet, counters) clean mirror, clothes, sweep
• Break: Relax, admire, drink tea

• 2nd round: (you can cycle through several times, or stop at one!)
• Kitchen, Living Room, Laundry
• Break every hour for 10-15 minutes. You may wish to go outside & admire the day (yes, even if it's raining or blustery!) Open the doors & windows for a few minutes as well. If you have any rugs, take them out & give them a good shake or pop them in the wash.
• address: Paper, books, cloth, & gather garbage & recycling

• Round Three

• If you have a drum, rattle or bell, make a round through the rooms making some good noise! Take time to listen for shifts in the sound, & notice any corners that need attention.

Part two: Energetic Blessing - this is a lovely time to ground your home & property. If you didn't light a candle before, now is a good time to do this.

• Put a grounding cord on your home - imagine the 'footprint' of your home, now imagine a cord or tube reaching down into the crystal heart center of the earth, & connecting with it
• From your home's roofline, imagine the cord reaching into the heavens, up to the sun & beyond, to the central sun of the galaxy - we are poised between heaven & earth!
• Visualize a rose-gold sun in the centre of your home - let its light fill every corner! Allow this sun to continue expanding, till it surrounds your home.
• As the sun reaches the outside of your home or space, begin the 'Tune-up' process by invoking the devas, elementals & guides to Cleanse, Clear, Restore & Illuminate your home & grounds.
• Ask that any negativity move through a clearing grid, & the Violet flame * so the energy can be used as compost, burned in the sun, or 'return to sender.' (with no return address!) 
• Surround the cleared land with a violet bubble, a gold pyramid, Dolphin Star Temple, or a briar rose hedge (whichever image feels right to you - or one of your own!)

* Violet Flame: Picture a soothing flame, like a flame in a fireplace, but violet in colour. See it penetrating your very being and world. When you call forth the Violet Transmuting Flame, a flame comes from the hands, heart & head of your I AM presence / Christ Self - and as it touches the ground beneath your feet, it bursts into violet flame! You can also use the essences: Comfrey (Pattern repair) Violet & Lavender to help 'seal' the pattern.

Thank your guides & go on with your day.

Well-Being

Jamie's prompt this week on Wishcrafting Wed - "what do you wish for your health & wellness?"

Quite timely, at the beginning of a new year - double, as this week we left Rabbit & entered the Year of the Water Dragon!

My first thoughts are more movement, healthy food, clearer home & serenity!
Yesterday I picked up my first Veggie share from my CSA. I've eaten mostly local OG veggies & fruit, & try to keep the rest of my food as close to home as possible, for most of my adult life - 40 years!

Our little family (daughter, her family & myself) have eaten Gluten Free for 2 1/2 years, & added mostly dairy free last fall. I experience more energy, healthy weight (weigh about 5# more than I did in my 201-40s), clearer sight, .... it's been great! & contrary to some folks experience, I see 'glue-y' items & am just happy they're not on MY plate!!

Movement - as a kid, I HATED PE - mostly ball sports with guys or 'jock' women teachers. Blagh!! Then in my late 20s, we went to see my oldest niece in Nutcracker - wow!! The next week I began taking classes (from a world class, Russian method teacher, whose 26 year old daughter is now the principle teacher) .... Here's my son Josh as 'Mother Ginger,' from the 2011 Nutcracker, with one of the principle dancers peeking out from under the skirt (my 6 year old grandson LOVES Nora!) Miss Emma insisted Josh keep his beard, tho the red hair isn't his :)

A few years later, I began taking (& later teaching) Tai Chi & Qigong, along with becoming a Massage Therapist.
The last few years I've taken occasional classes, along with my more regular ballroom & square dance, & have been going weekly this winter - so I plan to continue that. AND next week, am teaching my own Chi Based movement class - 'Dragon Dance,' at a local workshop centre. Stay tuned :)

I'm still at work clearing & cleaning my home! Was actually challenging on Monday (1st day of the Chinese New Year) NOT to sweep or clean much (just put the dishes in the sink, & swabbed a counter! - here's a sweet link for activites of each day)
I'm making headway, & it gets easier. Yesterday I cleared off the little shelves beside the kitchen sink (the house I grew up in had these, & my mom always kept ivy on one) .... & put up teapots & various blue & white cups & containers.
Now I need to deal with the stuff that was there!

My daughter said she feels this year of the Dragon is the year I'll 'get your little Breitenbush house back!' when I live with less 'stuff' around me, it's much easier to keep it neat! I have 6 or so bags in my car to take to Good Will, & a few bags for garage sales ....

What do YOU wish for health & well being in this year of the Water Dragon?

Reclaiming

Wishcasting Wednesday, & Jamie's prompt is "What do you wish to Reclaim?"

I'm working on reclaiming my home!!

At almost 8 months old, Baby Z is getting more mobile, so it's time for baby-proofing - & beyond that, time to go through those piles that seem to accumulate & build up, over time! I spent Monday working on getting the dining 'nook' in order, & the center of the kitchen floor CLEAR for him to play in! And I took 4 bags to Goodwill, only brought one home! (some new clothes, so purging more of my closet as well)

Success! Today I want to clean out the fridge (he's at the other grandma's), & begin on my little pantry - to the Rt of the colourful pile (boxes I hadn't gotten to, draped to keep Mr Curious at bay ... I had it set up as a computer room, but have been using the laptop for more than a year now .... so it's time to get the equipment & desk out, & some shelves up.

As I reclaim my home, I will free up time & energy ...
I love Karen Kingston's book "Clear your Clutter with Feng Shui" Karen suggests asking yourself:
1) Does (an object) lift my energy when I look at or think about it?
2) Do I absolutely LOVE it?
3) Is it generally useful?

As I reclaim my space, I make room for creativity, guests, that lovely grandson ....

So off to the kitchen, to continue pulling stuff out of that pantry, clearing the counters, .....

What do YOU wish to reclaim?

Wischasting Wednsday - what is your Dearest Wish?

The first thought that came - 'World Peace' a la that silly Miss America movie - ooo, what's it called??? "Miss Congeniality!!" Where all the candidates wished for world peace ...

The last few weeks my mind has been on this particular window of emerging consciousness, & sense that we can, each one of us, assist in birthing our OWN greatest, dearest being, shine our light, & encourage those around us to do the same!

This Saturday I'll be going to Portland (good weather, please!!) with one or 2 girlfriends for a class with an author I've admired for 20 years - Barbara Hand Clow & her husband Gary. Author of 11 books, founders & editors of Bear & Company - the afternoon offering 'Entering the 9 Dimensions' is especially geared for bodyworkers/ lightworkers to assist our clients in learning to tap the healing & energy of the dimensions for themselves.

Mundane wishes - continuing to manifest abundant nourishing food, safe secure shelter & warmth for myself & those around me being so blessed - & all of you!!

(the Picture is beloved Mt Shasta, recognized by several Tibetan Lammas as the New World holder of the energy of the Himalayas - "(Úytaahkoo in Karuk or "White Mountain": the origin of the name "Shasta" is vague, perhaps from Russian (Tchastal, "white, clean, pure") from the early Russian settlers in California) is located at the southern end of the Cascade Range in Siskiyou County, California, at 14,179 feet (4,322 m) is the second highest peak in the Cascades." (Wikki)


What is YOUR Dearest (Greatest) Wish??

Chinese New Year's Eve

Count down to midnight & Chinese New Year!

My daughter & son want Valentine's weekend Dates, so we're juggling kids throughout the weekend - two stayed overnight with me last night - this morning the youngest just came from next door to see if her cousins are up yet!! YEP!! Now time for breakfast (millet,buckwheat, amaranth, teff & hazelnuts - cook in ~ 20 minutes, so a great quick grain combo)

& Oranges! I have a bowl of oranges & a bouquet of flowers on the dining room table, so KaKay peeled SEVERAL to share! I've been getting fresh flowers for my office the last couple of weeks, so brought my flowers home last night & added them to a few others.

My girlfriend Gwynne has lovely tips on her blog for celebrating Chinese New Year on Sun the 14th, inc: 'Roll 88 cases, or 88, or 8 single oranges one by one through your front door (& every exterior door that enters your home) and across your threshold, as well as real coins, ingots, gold chocolate coins into your home & business to symbolize filling them with abundance of good luck & prosperity. Then share with friends & neighbors.

Here's my 'money tree, (there's an old Chinese legend of a tree with branches of coins & gold, 7 when you shake it, the gold falls like rain from heaven) - I need to add some coins in red envelopes :)

I'm still working on the preparations (which 'should be in place by the afternoon of the 13th . . . #1 - Give your home & business a fabulous spring clean! Clear away dirt, clutter, & old stagnant chi to welcome new energy for the New Year. Everything should be sparkling!!

Pay off debts, & "Treat yourself to a brand new purse & wallet, & fill it with lots of cash!"
I've been paying bills, got a new red wallet, (guatamalan - I got a new purse a month or so ago.)
When I was making my deposit Fri (inc an IRA contribution :) I asked for 27 uncirculated $ bills, & 33 new 1 $ coins! The teller was intrigued, & quite helpful - I got some extra $ coins for giving in red envelopes . . .

I didn't have any of the lovely 'official' ones, so yesterday I stopped at the Dollar tree, & found a set of invitations that came with Red Envelopes! They have a white box for address, so I pulled out the gluestick & red & gold napkins left from last year's beeswax collage Valentine project to give these a more traditional look, & some of that sparkly gold (which doesn't show as much in the photo) - what do you think?

Other suggestions inc. getting a new haircut & red jewels - (I got one a few weeks ago, & two of my grand daughters got their hair cut Friday!!). I found earrings & a red necklace this last week at two local shops (one locally made!), &

My son's kids caught fish at the sportsman show, so that's part of dinner (the word for fish, 'yu' sounds like the words for both wish & abundance, serving fish at the end of the New Year's eve meal symbolizes a wish for abundance)

The kids have danced (ballet) & are fed & tucked in watching a movie at Mary's - back to that 'shining' & clearing!

Imbolc & Count Down

Imbolc is one of my favorite 'cross quarter' holidays, (the ones between Solstices & Equinox) : the time the goddess washes her face, & is renewed!
Fiona Morgan, writing in the We'moon calendar says: "A pure new light sparks as we emerge from winter's dark sleep. . . We recharge our psychic batteries as the entire universe begins to quiver & pulse its cosmic rhythm. Earthlings feel Her intensity acutely as the Wheel shifts in these troubled times."

I often play harp, light candles & incense to honor this cross quarter (tho astrologically, the halfway point is closer to the 6th or 7th)

Last Thur, I 'attended' my friend Gwynne's 10K Feng Shui confrence call on preparing for the upcoming year of the Golden Tiger last week, & am working on her suggestion of getting as much clutter cleared, & systems (filing, bills caught up, etc) in order over the next few days!

Gwynne shares many lovely suggestions & a wealth of information on her website & blog, & offers 'case history' suggestions, like this one for a Home Office makeover! The conference call was inspiring - Gwynne always is! [We were 'sisters' at Breitenbush in the early 90s, & share a birthday (tho I'm a Tiger, & she a Rabbit) - I always have admired her integrity & her ability to hold space.]

It was frustrating to need to wait to begin the clear out, as I watched my grandkids from Thur - Sun (& all 4 overnight Sat - which is actually easier, as they entertain each other!) at my daughter's home, while she was off on an anniversary trip to Las Vegas!! & tho I live just next door, I needed to put 'my' projects on hold.

I intend to make a soul-collage card soon, "I am the one who delights in her warm & welcoming home! I am the one who entertains with ease & grace, I am the one who has streamlined her life & surroundings, to flow graciously & gracefully."

• I've been working on my first of the month bills (& Gwynne suggests pre-paying any you can, & going into the year as 'debt free' as possible)

• Cleaning off the front porch (the Fly lady 'mission' for Tue - this week's focus is on the entrance & dining room - great, since I've been planning to move my sewing project & 'Sally' (Singer) upstairs, & reclaim the dining room table.
  
• Following my 24 hour dish rule - not let dishes sit around more than 24 hours before washing up! At my daughter's Ihad the kids load the dishwasher after meals, & ran it several times over the 4 days they were gone. I have a dishwasher, but as a single person, rarely use it!
• Getting behind the L room couch & restoring order
• Sorting through my closet & piles (& piles) of clothes, earmarking some for a couple of jumble sales planned this spring, taking others to the thrift shops.
  
• Getting & hanging/placing some new art - am replacing my dad's photo of Mt Jefferson from the Head of the Metolious River with a waterfall photo in the prosperity corner of my upstairs bedroom. My dad took SO MANY photos of Mt Jeff & the Metolious, one of his favorite places - when I found the nicely framed waterfall @ Goodwill, & noticed it had a PDX photographer's stamp on the back, 'guessed' that it was the falls at Oneonta Gorge on the Columbia River, a place my dad & I hiked into when I was a teen! So another place he enjoyed, off the beaten path!
  
• Kitchen counters & floor! FInd them :)
  

I'm enjoying the focus of this project - I've been working on clearing clutter for awhile - with greater & lesser success, lol; it feels good to be at it again!

What are you up to this Imbolc & eve of the Year of the Tiger

TIGERS & Chariots

After a lovely lunch with my dear daughter Mary (Thai) I came home to concoct a salad with greens from our Sat. Market & roots from the CSA share, & from my yard, this little pile of Chickweed (Stelleria media) & yarrow. With a light sprinkling of raspberry vinegar & my (wamred up) olive/coconut oil & balsamic vinegar this was just what I needed! Susun Weed is a great fan of Chickweed, & it's a sweet, mild green - if you've never tried it, it's a great winter salad green.

This post on simple & frugal fare is inspiring - I'm also a fan of raw (GF) rolled oats!! & salads . . . . green smoothie girl offers lots of suggestions for the dinner Arlene suggests. & if you ever think your home is small, check out their 'mini-moblie' cottage!! Less tahn 200 sq. feet!! The single-wide I lived in for several years, at over 400 sq. feet was HUGE! & my 950 foot home is a castle!

In a few weeks it will be the Chinese New Year, & the year of the Tiger! I'm a metal tiger, & will turn 60 this fall, so am looking forward to this year. It already feels exciting, intriguing, fresh & happy. My friend Gwynne, who is a Feng Shui practitioner, is offering a FREE confrence call this Thur, Jan 28, offering tips for welcoming the year &

***Astrological forecasts for a Metal Tiger year
***Predictions for the year by Feng Shui Grandmasters from Taiwan, China, Malaysia, and Singapore
***Simple, fun and inexpensive ways to prepare your home and business for the Chinese New Year
*** How important it

is this year to use Feng Shui to rock the Tiger energies with my forthcoming “Chinese New Year Party and Rituals in a Box” and “Golden: Year of the Metal Tiger” live events
Just click on this link to register for the free call!

I've begun driving my daughter's last car, as she & her hubby inherited a newer Nissan from his grandparents in the spring. I had my dad's '91 Chevy Lumina (Bluebird) since his transition in the early 90s, & it's been good to me. I've passed it on to friends who were in need of another vehicle, so this 'loop' feels good.

'Aurora' is a '99 Mercury Sable wagon - great for hauling harps n grandkids; a bit bigger than I'd thought my 'next' car would be - but a great price (free!!) & newer. I took 'her' in for an oil change (with the mechanic that's worked on her for my daughter), & had a tune-up a s well; next new tires.
I tend to balk at driving a car I haven't driven before, but am enjoying the shift. She's a long car, & the grandkids LOVE riding on the bench seat in the very back! Took all 4 of them to S. School & then out to lunch on the weekend, & no one was crouded!

I've been working on rearranging my living room, & attacking the clutte r (yet again!), & Gwynne suggests that as the first step in preparing for a new year - clear the decks. The new arrangement of the L room feels good - I've moved the couch away from the wa ll, & made a 'cozy nook' for reading/knitting by my lovely Tiffany style lamp.

I need to rearrange the rest of the room, & think about having the piano tuned . . . .

OK - time to head to work!!
What are you working on??

New Years Altar

This AM I began deep cleaning my kitchen! Interspersed with sips of tea (Luscious Licorice: Licorice, Cinnamon, Anise, Cloves, Chamomile & Orange Peel) with a bit of Burdock, Ginger, & Damiana added; & intermittent blog browsing.

Looking at several posts that talk about altars, & thinking what a good time to refresh them, if needed. This wee altar (in need of dusting!) is on the East wall of my bedroom. Here are a couple from earlier posts: 1 & 2.

My headboard (a 'firescreen'), the brown beaded hanging lamp, a dream catcher, & the wee pictures from the "I AM" shop in Shasta city. They are different swirls of St Germain's Violet transmuting flame, & a sweet reminder to keep energy clear.

Other altars: Druid's is lovely (this is an older post :) & here's a whole Altar site (with lots of great references!
& here's Heather's (with links to her older post), a college student with a great solution for 'small space' altar - atop her printer! These are her 'home' altars.

(Went off to the mall with my daughter (getting married at the end of the month, so needs some pretties!) . . . & back again. Two grand daughters that alternated NOT wanting to be there - sigh. Even we checked out the Disney store while my dau, & later dau-in law tried on some things. Sigh. So home - with at least 'what we went for,' but a trip that was less fun than it could have been. They usually do well shopping, but this wasn't one of those times!)

Home again, more clearing & cleaning - picked up a book at the library yesterday "Spiritual Housecleaning" by Kathryn Robyn - 'healing the space within by beautifying the space around you' Kathryn writes (p 8): "when I was a "starving" performance artist, I cleaned houses for money instead of waitressing like so many others did." & on page 12 "Healing is accepting your right to exist whole or in part, as you naturally are." Kathryn explores issues like which rooms bring you the most pleasure, & talks about issues including anorexia & over eating in relation to the childhood home, ideas we hold about certain rooms, & our cleaning 'styles.' Fascinating.

She begins with the Kitchen, the 'heart of the home' (reminds me of fly lady & cleaning the kitchen sink) . . .

& from a new favorite, Wise Child (Monica Furlong), when the Duran, (green witch) Rowan, is discussing cleaning & picking up after herself with her new fosterling, the Wise Child, Rowan says: Keeping yourself clean, preparing the food you are going to eat, clearing it away afterward - that's what life's about, Wise Child. When people forget that, or lose touch with it, they loose touch with other important things as well."

That resonates with me, & I am working on doing those 'menial chores' more graciously!!

Have a blessed New Year!

OH - I almost forgot! Please post a link to an altar, if you have one :) I'd love to see what we're creating :)

Year's end

The snow's melted (except for some piles in parking lots & lawns - inc. mine!) & life is 'back to usual' - except it's still vacation for the kids, & work for the 'grumps' . . . so juggling that. I'm doing some extra child care over the holiday, & did some SoulCollage cards for the New Moon in Capricorn with 2 of my grand daughters.

It's the time of year for wrapping up & completion of various projects. An ad. that I haven't finished the changes for, (is it too late??) remembering to pay bills, getting a new calendar for my purse, all those odds & ends. I like new calendars - got one of Leah's wall calendars for my kitchen, & enjoy picking up book keeping odds & ends at the stationer's.

One friend turns 50 New Year's Eve, & though her kids are visiting from out of state, she doesn't think they're doing anything for that milestone. Are they? Should we (her friends?) . . . I don't often host parties, & the friend whose house is a 'natural' has been invited to a wedding, . . .

Many of us in Blog vales are talking about clearing clutter - found this cool blog by Stephanie, who's written a book on the subject :) Love her 'smile in the sky' winter solstice photo! She writes: "Clearing raises awareness. Clearing releases attachments. Clearing reveals a spacious part that’s been there all along."

Over at the Red Leather Couch, DarklyFey writes about being given a mended gift that her son describes as Wabi-Sabi. What a delightful word which describes being satisfied with simplicity, free hearted harmonious way of being. I'm working on it!

Flame Fanning

New Altar

What a lovely day! as much as I wanted to get up & just play with creating something, I decided to create some order in my home! & lit lots of candles, & some lovely incense my harper friend Dennis gave me (in the long box behind the candle). Angels for today are 'Awakening' & 'Expansiveness.'

It's been a busy week, & I had several things I could have done today, but . . . There was time & I had some ideas for shifting things around. & as Suzie says, the sun has moved into Sag - whee!! Like the idea of that giving some energy for accomplishing some things. Yes. & I recently realized I'm upon my 2nd Saturn Return . . . not as 'shaking things up' as the one in late 20s tends to be; more 'are you on your path?' & I feel I am.

. . . I don't know about you, but I enjoy thinking of new ways to rearrange things more than I do 'just' cleaning! & throughout the week, I'd been thinking of doing just that. So I shifted one shelf; (& thoroughly reorganized it), & then moved a second to the first location, & reorganized that. There are still lots of piles of things that need to be gone through, the whole room doesn't look better yet, but it feels better.

My wize former hubby told me once, when you're feeling disorganized, clear your altar! Now, at the time, I don't recall if I even had an altar! But we shared memories of other times, & I certainly had 'before!' So I began with clearing out that bookshelf, moving it, & setting up a new altar!
You'll find elements of it here & the Star lady hangs above it (here) After finishing the altar, (mostly, things kept wanting to be there throughout the day) I set to refilling the shelves, but with a different grouping of books, & some of my harp music.
Etc. Rather sloggy, at times, but good momentum. & I used the cinnamon oil spritzed besom for sweeping the floors under the shelves I moved - yummy!!

I managed to get quite a bit done, yea!

In the afternoon my friend Donna stopped by - she's been looking for work (does cleaning & in spring, taxes, is ready to get out of each) & struggles with depression.
I'd given her some suggestions on some of the energetics she could use in addition to the 'usual' job apps. & such, & she made a comment about not 'buying into' some of her friends' ideas - not sure if she was talking about that (& I didn't ask) . . . but she's feeling stuck.
Ironically, she wanted to be a doctor - but got PG, & still grad. with her class, as salutatorian! She ended up skipping college, & having 5 kids. So very bright, & very capable, but hard to quantify some of that! When we 'do' our annual shopping adventure in 'the big city' (Portland), she is our mass transit guide - always knows which conveyance is going where we want to be, which is the free area, etc!
& I have to work, sometimes, at not 'helping' or 'suggesting' too much - just listen & be nurturing, not 'fix' it! Sigh.

Then in the PM, our (liberal, peace & justice) church had 'bought out the house' of our little theater's production of "Peter Pan!" My dau. engaged me in helping set up & serve refreshments.
Wow - it was great! The original play was prod. in London in 1904, so it's just over 100 years old. & the director had set it as 'Wendy's dream.' Being a fan of the Findhorn Community, I have been intrigued with the setting of the Darling Home, overlooking Kensington Garden. An original Findhorn friend, & author of one of the sections of the first book, was R.O.C., a distinguished older Scotts gentleman, who began seeing the nature spirits, including PAN in his elemental/God being, in Kensington Garden! I have a tape with him telling his tale, of meeting PAN, & later returning to a stream he'd visited as a child, & the fairies asking him if he was glad they had granted his wish - to see fairies?!! (which he'd forgotten making :)

3 of my 8 year old grand daughter's classmates joined us, & the 4 year old sis was on the edge of her seat. Every time the lights went out, she'd ask "Will the 'movie' start again?" They did just the right 'vaudeville' flavor, so it wasn't too scary, & the kids LOVED it! A friend's daughter played Tink (laser lite - she did the voice!)

I took a dance class with the teen playing the Indian Princess "Tiger Lily!" She is such a wonderful young goddess. Last summer she & another dancer came to hear me play harp at the farmer's Mkt.; & she lit up when she saw me tonight. I made sure I talked to her after the play, & intro. her to my dancer daughter :) She would 'like to make a name for herself" (& is in honor society, teen UN, an environmental group, . . . she may!!) It felt sweet (& easy:) to connect with her - & uplifting for us all.

Here are a couple of links on a barter system that's been set up in the UK - got it from another blog, & now I can't remember which!! & I tend to skip around - so thank you!!

exchange banking tax

hugs