As the moving day approaches I am spending lots of time releasing stuff. I find things in closets, drawers, and especially the basement that I haven't used in 18 months and I am sitting with it and asking it where it needs to be. I have donated much, given gifts of love (with my stuff) to dear ones, sold a few things (which will help cover my childrens travel home this winter) and am not even close to being done. One of the best parts of this move is connecting to the memories that are attached to my stuff and enjoying the moments all over again. Its so fun! One of the hardest parts of this move is the knowing that my dear friends whom I have loved for years will be a little farther away. Thank goodness for technology so that I can remain "virtually" present with them and I can still be available when needed. One of the most exciting parts of this move is the fact that I will be able to kiss my love goodnight EVERY night, wake up and create our day together, and not have to worry about cell service and technology... May you, in your life, embrace the changes that are gifted to you! Embrace the good, the not so good, and the absolutely fantastic!! Namaste!

Alice, Sean's Angel

Good morning! And what a glorious autumn morning it is! Brisk and clear and perfect for a morning walk in the field with Bru. As I was walking in the field I kept replaying something that happened to me last night during meditation. Since it seems to be staying in the immediate thoughts I figure it must be that I should share it. And so here it is... Often times I will take a day (or a few hours) and pray for an individual. I spend time thinking about their goodness, the joys they have shared, the sorrows that fall upon their hearts, the amazing possibilities that are theirs when they recognize them. I believe that sending love and good wishes to another is the best thing we can ever do for them. It is more powerful than bailing them out of messy situations, or giving them money, or fixing their problems. It may not be something that can be measured or seen, but I always see changes and positive opportunities presenting themselves for someone after they have been the focus of prayer. Yesterday was Sean’s day. Sean is my son. He has been struggling for sometime. He is now in a safe place but still searching for peace. So, all day long I was remembering him, his sense of humor, his generosity and love of friends, his goodness, many events over this 28 years here on this earth. And in the evening I sat and meditated. Candle, his photo, incense, all set. Breathing in, breathing out, breathing in, breathing out. Ahhh, my mind is finally quiet, when I hear clear as day... “I’ll look after your son, you look after mine”. Talk about bringing me right back to my body... I was so alert. I felt like I could feel every cell inside me, every pore on my body breathing, every hair on my head buzzing and at the same time I had an amazing peace wash over me. Not easy to articulate an experience from the unseen world, much less process it, but here is what my mind and heart tell me... The voice was Alice, Fred’s mother who passed a few years ago. I imagine she feels like he is in a good place with love filling his heart and so she can now let go a bit and be someone else’s angel... And I believe she has chosen Sean. Thanks be to those spirits who guide, to those spirits who support, to those spirits who love deeply, whether they are seen or unseen. And so as I walked in the field, watched my breath paint pictures in the air, listened to the silence, and witnessed the sun rising I said (once again) Thanks be!

As you may know, I recently adopted a kitten, to be Bru's playmate. They have been loving each other well! Today was the first time outside for the kitten, Zeva. She was skittish at first, actually doing an "army crawl" across the grass... After about half hour she began "hunting bru". Jumping out at him, chasing him, teasing him, and finally stealing his favorite spot under the tree. That was such fun to witness! When she "gave him back his spot"she snuck around the front of the tree, then quietly climbed up and then started to jump on his back, but thankfully, I caught her and her plan was nixed... Here are some photos from our fun frolick!!

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!!