Take a walk in the woods.

I wonder what our world would be like if every human being took at least a weekend every month and spent it in the woods? The woods, the healing trees. Providing us with oxygen, shade, songs with the wind, solitude, medicine, balance and communion with animals. When I take time to walk in the woods, listening to no human sounds, I feel calm. A calmness that can easily be forgotten when I don't take the opportunity to spend time in the woods. Human beings need to be quiet. We need to listen to the woods. We need to if we are going to raise our vibrations and walk into our own internal world, into the unseen landscapes of our life. And once we go inward, if we are brave enough to continue inward (cause sometimes what we encounter is not always pretty or easy or comfortable) we find peace. We walk in a different way in the world. We begin seeing the interconnectedness in all. We find it possible to forgive our enemies, even if that doesn't seem logical. We see beauty everywhere. We smile... Often. And we become our own best friend! Please take some time and walk in the woods. Sit in the woods. Breathe in the woods. Sing in the woods. Pray in the woods. And the woods will circle you in magic!! Love to you, love to me, love to the woods!!

Lessons from a Doberman

This morning as I sat under Grandmother Willow sharing coffee with my dear friend Athena, we began a conversation about Brutus and his amazingness... We were watching Brutus jump at frogs and butterflies and talking about the many life lessons I learned from him (as did others). For anyone who has never met Brutus, he is a Doberman. He is stubborn, hard headed, assertive, pushy sometimes, protective, loyal, thoughtful, and very very connected! He came into my life when I was struggling with the complexities of being "nice" and getting confused with niceness and allowing others to push past my boundaries. I was wishy washy because I was afraid of being seen as "not nice". Brutus taught me that when I am clear in what is expected and what is okay with me, there are less opportunities for misunderstandings and hurt feelings. This I realized is NICE!. He also taught me the meaning of saying NO firmly without being nasty. He taught me that its NICE to say NO if your heart is not in something, and that allowing what doesn't make me happy is not nice to me or the other person who was unaware of my feelings and who thought all was well because I didn't say NO. Brutus also taught me about consistency, about being clear in my own mind before speaking something outloud. For him it was "this word means A, B, C" and this word means something else. Being clear and consistent in training him, helped me become more clear and consistent in my relationships with others. Patience is the most recent lesson from Bru... Introducing a hunting dog to a little kitten in a way that is safe and easy on all, dog cat and human, is very much about patience. We began the introduction into Sacred Waters with putting Zeva (kitty) in her own room so that Bru gets used to her scent. Then we had Bru in his own room and brought Zeva down into the rest of the house so he gets used to the scent of her in the house and also used to the idea of her being part of the "pack". Last night was the first face to face introduction, and there was no barking or growling. Bru was a bit excited, but no aggression and I believe that is because I was patient. Taking the steps A B C instead of going from A to Z in one day. I continue to learn everyday from this wonderful creature. And now I imagine I will learn from Zeva too. Gifts and surprises daily!!

The Flicker, one small bird with one LARGE message

As you may know, I believe that the natural world guides me (and you) and validates often what I have been hearing inside my own heart and head. This truth has been shown to me many many times over the last 10 years, so it is the information that I trust completely even if it is not logical or makes sense to anyone else. The Flicker has been making itself known for the past week, even almost flying into my windshield while I was on my way to grassroots and to the SPCA to pick up Zeva, my new kitty. Even my children don't understand that choice (zeva) since I have a very large doberman who is a hunter in the wild. I saw Zeva in a dream 2 nights in a row and then had a reading by an amazing animal communicator, Coryelle Kramer, who said yes indeed she was coming and Brutus had requested her. This is what Flicker represents energetically (Animal-Speak, Ted Andrews): The same energy that can be used for war can also be used for healing and if Flicker has shown up it indicates a time of RAPID GROWTH and TRUST. Flicker will awaken a new rhythm and the ability and opportunity to manifest all-healing love. Now if that doesn't say it all, then I don't know what does... So to all those who don't understand my life choices, or how feel it is their "right" to criticize, condemn or condone my actions or non-actions, I say: Flicker... Much love! Janet

Expand Time! Ask and it is so!

Gosh, its been over a month since I last blogged... Where does the time go? Is this what you ask yourself too? I could spend lots of energy wondering about time, the lack of, or too much time on my hands, etc. Instead I will be linear and list all the things that have happened since last I posted: 1) Completed an advanced anatomy of the neck certification 2) Getting more indepth with my knowledge of the meridians 3) Getting ready to bring a new family member home (Zeva kitty)and educating myself on how to integrate her into my dog household. 4) Planning family get together in August 5) started a new tattoo on my forearm (fairies YEAH!!) 6) Rearranged my office AGAIN... 7) Preparing for an advanced sports massage certification program that begins in August and ends in October, which will mean volunteering at a sporting event and working directly with athletes as case studies... 8) of course breathing, breathing, breathing and spending lots of time with my partner and family. Gosh, how do I find time to work?? Here's how I do it... I take time each morning to connect to myself through breath and QiGong practices, or taking a walk for grounding too. Then I ask the Universe to "expand time". I actually say it outloud as I sing to my garden and take time to walk the land and appreciate the local beauty. Taking the hour each morning before hitting the road running keeps me slow on the inside so that when the outside is chaotic and fast paced I can move slowly and remain peaceful in my heart and mind. Hope that you all have techniques to slow yourself down too. IT really does make a difference in the way you experience the life you have created! Enjoy!!

We always know, even when we say we don't.

Since I was a little girl I could always tell when something in my life was about to change. I would get a "feeling", a way of breathing that would seem deeper and more spread out inside my body. This spread out air feeling, along with a sensation of being wrapped in a "fizzy blanket" used to scare me. I was so afraid of change. I would imagine all good things being taken away, or my way of life changing so drastically that I would lose my footing in life. This knowing of change always ended up being correct... moving to another state (a few times), boys who claimed to be in love drift away, broken bones and accidents, death of friends, all were preceeded by this "feeling". Now that I am older and wiser (sometimes...) I have become more aware that this fizzy feeling does not have to be "bad"... Now I believe the knowing inside my body that thoughts create things; how I look at something changes how it is; the Universe always provides; Life IS always good; and that I may not understand but I always trust that there is a purpose, a plan, and it is for my highest good has made life so much easier, and way more fun! Now when I know a change is about to happen I get excited! I wonder what wonderful surprise the Universe has in store for me, and I always know that if I just allow the "fizzy" feeling to bubble inside my body and if I can giggle as my cells expand and fill up with new air rather than panic that my safe secure way of being may be challenged, than the change will be easy and effortless, and generally fast and painless! So as I sit here sharing about how my body speaks to me, I am getting that feeling again. Its subtle, but its there, and so for now I tell myself to breathe, feel, laugh, expect magic, and pay attention! And to you folks reading this, I say, hold onto your hats cause change is in the air!!

First Sunday of the Month Gathering

Cindy Black, director of Meridian Massage Institute recently wrote  “Qi is not linear, it does not conform to intellectual ideas, and it is greater and wiser than any one person. A simple premise with powerful results”. On this thought I build. I build my own practice. A practice of sitting quietly each morning, checking in with myself, taking 10 minutes to connect my chakras (spinning vortex of energy) and breathe. This is just one way I practice going inward. This is just one way out of many that I know of to go inward. Going inward helps me to trust the energy that I feel and to be able to trust the information I feel when I touch others. Without this practice I feel “frazled”, “harried”, “anxious”. Once in a while, because of circumstances beyond my control, I skip or forget this morning practice, and I feel the difference and notice the difference in the way that my day goes. And then I am brought back to the reminder that I am important, that this practice is important, and that without it I struggle. My practice is centered on gratitude, gentleness, and awareness; gratitude in my heart for the Qi that surrounds and interpenetrates every cell and every thought and every action; gentleness to myself and others as we make our way on this journey I call “life school”; awareness that we all do the best we can with what we know, and the more we know the better we do. What about you? Do you know where to start? Are you interested in learning ways to slow down and go inward? Would you be interested in building a community that is also taking the time to go inward and who you can share your experiences with? If yes, then join me this Sunday, June 3rd @ 4pm. Learn an energy technique, bring a dish to pass and your own table setting, and an open heart... an hour of learning and practicing, along with sharing a meal (dish to pass) and conversation is what I offer. There is no fee, just your commitment to yourself to go inward! In joyful service, Janet

Lessons, past wrongs, energy flowing smoothly, winning, losing, right, wrong, anger, frustration, revenge, and then finally balance. Sound tiring? It has been. The last few days have been a roller coaster, a big 'ole ride inside, hills and valleys of my internal landscape... So here's my story. I tell it so that I can get it out, so I can share with others how I go inside and look deeply (with gentle, lovingkindness) at a life that I created based on choices made and lessons learned, and pave the way for others to do the same. A few years ago I lent a very large sum of money to someone for education and home renovations, with the understanding and agreement that we would create a marvelous business, offering opportunities for spiritual community, education about the body, and hands on work. I was trusting and fully invested physically spiritually and financially. I was excited about sharing and growing and creating. The person I was partnering with said they were excited about this too. What I found out later was that if you have a feeling of unease, and words don't match actions, its okay to recognize the behavior and end the relationship. Sadly, when money is involved in the ending of an unhealthy relationship, it touches a core survival instinct and can be just plain yucky... That's where I was a year ago. I had the signed agreements and the receipts and the statements and the repayment schedule discussed and the anger at learning that while I was investing in him, he was investing in another. I felt rage. Yup, that's exactly what I felt. Had visions of his body being enveloped in flames, and many many other nasty painful ugly thoughts. I sought justice. I filed a lawsuit and was going to hold him accountable for his lack of honor and integrity (blah blah blah)... Fast forward to the present... I must once again look at this because his "side" wants to move it from one court to another (again), which means more money and more time and once again another legal tactic to drag this out has begun... So I cried. I screamed. I broke down. I spoke directly to my guides, my angels, my teachers, the trees, the rain, the creator and I surrendered. I am not giving up, I am surrendering. I am feeling it, I am moving it, and I am once again with the help of energy work, prayer, and the amazing earth moving forward. Thanks be!