My Favourite Room

I love my bathroom. I have an extra deep tub that is slanted just so. I glazed the tiles myself to go around the tub. Its a serpent loosely based on the Toltec mythology of Quetzalcoatl.
Don Miguel Ruiz suggests when one goes to the Pyramids at Teotihuacan, that when traversing the Avenue of the Dead, one enters the mouth of the serpent. The idea is to come out at the other end, through the other head, thoroughly transformed.
I love lighting candles and adding soothing bathsalts and scent to the water. Sometimes I listen to music, other times I put on an inspirational audio book and soak for awhile.

Holiday Tag

I have been tagged by Candy Minx

Its a nice easy tag.




1. Grab the book closest to you.
2. Open to page 123, go down to the fifth sentence
3. Post the text of next 3 sentences on your blog
4. Name of the book and the author
5. Tag three people


The book, "The Presence Process" by Michael Brown has been within reaching distance for over 10 weeks now. So I opened it to page 123 and its at the end of a chapter. Still, here is the next 3 sentences;



"Session One

Our Presence Activating Statement for the next seven days is:

I choose to experience this moment.

Our Inner Presence

From birth we are taught that our identity is that which makes us different from everybody else. In other words, we are taught to believe that our real identity is based on our appearance, our behavior, and our individual life circumstances."

I tag Ruth, Ginnie and Heather!

Winter Solstice 2006

Not the best photo .....but it was dusk and I was far away, ....I should have used a tripod.
On December 21st at 4:22 pm some friends and I walked down to the Stone Table and lit candles (as seen here).
We said some nice words and sang a beautiful song. We hadn't planned it, it all came together spontaneously and it was wonderful.
Before that we had spent some time discussing Pagans, Yule and Solstice. Then as synchronicity would have it my friend posted this on her blog. (just click on the word, "this")
4 hours later, I went out to feed the horses and the candles were still lit!!
They were twinkling away just like Christmas lights.

4 Agreement Discussion Group

Next meeting will be January 2nd and we will be considering:

"Always Do Your Best. Practice makes the master. By doing your best over and over, you can master the art of transformation. By doing your best, the habits of misusing your word, taking things personally,and making assumptions will become weaker and less frequent with time."

The following Thursday, January 4th, we are examining part of the Circle of Fire prayer:

"When the divinity returns to me
when living my free will, and with all the power of my spirit
I decide to live my life in free communion with God
WITH NO EXPECTATIONS"

The moderator this week asked that the emphasis be put on the no expectations part.

The Topic This Week for 4 Agreements

On Tuesday evening we will be considering the quote:

"Imagine that the message of love is possible and you will find that it is yours."


For the Topic of the Thursday meeting: December 21 is the Winter Solstice, when the days begin to get longer, the light returns, another cycle of nature begins, another turning of the wheel of time. We look back with gratitude on the joys and challenges of the past year, look forward to new opportunities and awareness in the coming year, and contemplate the coming of the era of the Sixth Sun.

I Feel Blessed

My son comes home on the weekends and rents my bachelor suite at the end of my house.
I feel thoroughly blessed to be able to see him and not feel burdened. He has his own space and I earn an income at the same time. Its a win win.
Even though he is making fun of me in this photo, I love his smile and the fact that he is enjoying himself cancels out any tendency to want to take it personally.
Oh and nice shirt, Caley!

Joanna Newsom concert in Vancouver

Well, I got to see Joanna! I had an especially good time because I was with my 2 eldest sons.
Bill Callahan (smog) started off the show with some beautiful tunes,
Callahan's voice is an acquired taste, a low baritone croon that recalls Leonard Cohen or a countrified Lou Reed.

I was surprised when cheering in between songs and my sons friends were whistling....that the seats in front of us got upset. They didn't like the whistling and asked her to stop because it "hurt their ears"....I piped up and said "Wait til Joanna comes on!"
(Her singing has been known to hurt ears)
We were seated in the balcony and were showing appreciation at a concert. I have never heard of being asked to stop before. The worst of it was, after every song they would turn around with absolutely disgusted looks on their faces. ( the stinkeye)
During the break, before Joanna came on, my sons friend was so upset that she left and missed the rest of the performance. Then the security gave us a talking too. I was pretty perplexed. Josiah says the crowds are like this in Vancouver. Kind of reserved and prudish.


Joanna's performance is summed up here;
"Structure of the new work, a complex narrative of love and desire eschewing traditional song structures, illuminated a progression in her skills as a songwriter and confidence as a performer. Without the backing of an orchestra, Newsom and her harp were instead augmented by tambura, banjo, glockenspiel and musical saw. The result sounded far more organic and it naturally integrated with Newsom's delicate songwriting. As the only "Ys" song without orchestration, "Sawdust & Diamonds" served the starkest contrast with Newsom's earlier songwriting. Building to a mesmerizing vocal crescendo, it demonstrated Newsom's new songs as bigger in scope, more expansive in range and clearly more ambitious. This material makes significantly higher demands of the aud -- 15-minute complex metaphorical narratives lacking traditional pop structures -- but is all the more rewarding for it.

These days, opener Bill Callahan is better known as Newsom's partner, but under the nom de plume Smog he's been carving his own idiosyncratic niche for some 15 years. Judging by the morals and ethics of their lyrics, Callahan and Newsom clearly share certain philosophies and attitudes but their styles of expression are polar opposites."
--by Alex Romanelli
*

Wisdom Group Topic

The topic for next Tuesday's 4 Agreement meeting is:
"Don't Make Assumptions.
Learn to ask questions. It is always better to ask questions than to make assumptions. Have the courage to ask questions until you are as clear as you can be. Once you hear the answer to a question, you won't have to make assumptions because you will know the truth."
~Quote from The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

Next Thursday afternoon's group will be contemplating:

"You no longer have the need to be good enough for anybody, including yourself. You accept what you are, whatever you are, even if you don't know what you are. And you don't care to know anymore. It's not important to know, and that is wisdom."
~Quote from Voice of Knowledge by Don Miguel Ruiz

This is the Same Place

What a difference a season makes. Here is the view from the deck, overlooking the small orchard and then down into the horse pasture. If you look carefully you can see the rope swing hanging in the maple tree.
I enjoy the contrast. Both seasons have their charm and I embrace them equally.

Crackerjack Snow!

I stole Steel String Poetry's expression. Cracker Jack! Last post she commented that the snow was cracker jack. I don't think I have heard this expression. That is what is nice about blogs and having access to wordsmiths.
Here is some shots of down in the horse pasture. The stone table is obscured and the trees are bending over from the weight.

Westcoast Snow

I think we have some sort of record snowfall. 2 people came to the last day of the Christmas Artisan Tour as opposed to the 158 people the day before. Because we generally don't have alot of snowfall each year, we have just a handful of snow plows and sand/salt trucks. The back country roads (where we live) may not see a plow for days.

Thank goodness for strong teenagers. He shovelled our walkway to the barn and our neighbours path to her door.
Thankyou son! Schools were closed and many businesses in town were shut down. Even the public transit wasn't running.
Power may go out. We are prepared with a woodstove and candles.
Actually, its amazing that we have power now. Usually a heavy snow will bring down lots of trees on to power lines by now.

Art, Music and thou

The Artisan Tour is on this weekend. Today I counted the people that came into my gallery..........158.
I thought that was awesome.
The kids have been very supportive. My son and his friends played music for hours on Friday. People were treated to live original music.
Bill, our drumming teacher, shared the space with me. He brought his handmade drums and these incredible wood creations. We call them bowls but they are really art.
Tomorrow is the last day. We plan on gathering our drumming circle together for a drumming performance.
Believe it or not, it snowed today! Alot of people on the westcoast are not comfortable driving in snow. So we may not have alot of visitors tomorrow.

There's Nothing Wrong With You

Here is an awesome video that is an assisted meditation.
It might take a bit to download, but it is wonderful.
Click Here

Or check out the website, Be Who You Are

4 Agreements Contemplation

Tuesday Evening, someone suggested we read the Prayer for an Angel from "Book of Prayers" by Don Miguel Ruiz

Today, Creator, help me to remember my real nature,
which is love and happiness. Help me to become what
I really am, and to express what I really am.

Beginning today, help me to recognize every human as
your messenger with a message to deliver. Help me to
see you in the soul of every human, behind the masks,
behind the images we pretend to be. Today, help me to
deliver the message of my integrity to that part of me
that is always judging. Help me, God, to let go of all my
judgements, to let go of all the false messages I deliver to
myself and to everyone around me.

Today, help me to recover the awareness of my own
creation as an angel, and let me use my awareness to
deliver your message of life, your message of joy, your
message of love. Let me express the beauty of my spirit,
the beauty of my heart, in the supreme art of humans:
the dream of my life. Amen."

Thursday afternoon, the next moderator chose a card from the Voice of Knowledge deck:
"The word is pure magic. The power of the word comes directly from God, and faith is the force that directs this power. Everything in our virtual reality is created with the word. We use the word for the creation of our story, to make sense out of everything we experience."

To Brighten Your Day

To gain perspective and to brighten your day
Press Here

Joanna Newsom and Smog

My son got tickets for me! Yah! She is playing in a really nice venue and my 2 oldest sons are going to accompany me. It should be lots of fun. Smog is playing with her. I haven't heard alot of his stuff but I am going to start listening now. Check them out on Youtube.
Truth Serum by Smog
Joanna's Song, "Book of Right On"

She is truly unique. If you haven't encountered Joanna's music before you are in for a treat!..... of Interesting Lyrics, Harp and a voice that is only for some of us.

Topic for the Wisdom Group

On Tuesday evening, the moderator asked us to consider the quote: "Imagine expressing what you want without fear, choosing what you want without doubt, and moving into action with commitment from every part of your being."
Thursday afternoon's group will be comtemplating: "What does it mean to be a Spiritual Warrier?"

New Four Agreement Topic

"Imagine Living without the fear of loving and not being loved in return. You are no longer afraid to be rejected, and you don't have the need to be accepted."

The Stone Table Drummers

Here we are: The Stone Table Drummers!
All summer we have been meeting around the Stone Table in my horse pasture to learn African drumming. Now that it is dark and cold in the evening we meet once a week in either my living room (as seen here) or my neighbour's Joanne's. I am not sure if we are "good" or not, but I do know we laugh alot and I always feel better physically and mentally when we are done our 2 hours or so.
I will have to get some more photos as Joanne was at a Farmer's meeting and I was taking the photo (but you can see our drums)
Last month we actually performed on stage! It was a hoot. Our first coffee house. This month we will be giving a small performance during my Artisan's Christmas Sale. I have always been more of a Pagan celebrator than the customary Christmasy thing anyway. Bill is our teacher and he has been a fabulous coach and lender of drums.

The Next Topic for the Wisdom Group

Wow, a week has gone by already.
Next Tuesday evening's meeting we will be sharing about, "Assumptions. What are some of the ways in which we make assumptions."
Next Thursday afternoon, the volunteer moderator picked a card with a quote from the book;

"Don't take anything personally. Everyone lives in their own dream. All people live in their own dream, in their own mind. They are in a completely different world from the one we live in."

love and light

The Four Agreement Topic

Tuesday night's meeting falls on Halloween. A great occasion to reflect on the Angel of Death, and the gifts she brings.
Thursday afternoon's meeting has the topic;
"Don't make Assumptions. Speak openly and honestly. When you speak openly and honestly, you won't have to make assumptions. The day you stop making assumptions, you will communicate cleanly and clearly, and achieve impeccability with your word."

Down by the river..........

This spot on the river is visited by a group of men that have a retreat center within walking distance.

They built this cool fire pit.
I Love the face.

Leah built a fire while I wondered around looking for fire wood.

I ended up finding a bunch of fossils.

I was excited to find one...then another and another. It was a bed of shale that was starting to break apart and there was just a whole mess of them!

Nanaimo is known for its fossils anyway. Now I know why.

The fossils I found were mostly of leaves and ferns.

Another lovely day being blessed in Nature.

peace.

More River Love

I had a wonderful hike with my dear friend down to the river. I was able to capture the fish on the camera this time. The sun was lower and there was less reflection on the water.

We have been experiencing a very dry fall, and the water level is very low. Which made it very easy for me to see the fish.

The females were busy laying eggs and the males were fertilizing them. I could see it all unfold quite clearly from the shore.

If you click on the photos they will get bigger. The fish are Huge!

What an awesome fall we are having , the sun was so warm I was able to comfortably undress and enjoy the rays.

I tried the water and I was ankle deep when I changed my mind.
Ice cold.

The 4 Agreements Topic

The topics this week are:
Tuesday's is "What does living your life with Loyalty mean to you?"
Thursday's is "The ways we play and have fun. How do we bring more joy into our lives?"

Byron Katie Works!

I was introduced to Byron Katie's book,
"Loving What Is", a couple of years ago.
I have since acquired the audiobook,
Which I reccomend above the written
book, because hearing Katie's voice is
transformative in itself! And then her
book, "I Need Your Love, Is That True?"

She has a great website full of free info.
Byron Katie
She has just started a blog with lots of video clips on it. Katie's Blog

I love her. Thankyou, Katie!

On the Stone Table

Hey Mom, these photos are for you.

My daughter and I have been collecting rocks at the river this summer that have holes in them where we can put a candle. "Coincidently" my Mom bought 3 beautiful drilled stones for candle holders at an Arts and Crafts Fair this summer. She has them displayed on her coffee table. I was not able to photograph them as she lives in another town.
Here are the specimens that we found. (The one with the handle we "found" at a Thrift Store.)
I love rocks. They are so ancient.
I know that they are made of the same vibrating atoms as everything is, but the energy seems to be slowed down and gives me sense of What is Enduring.

Thankyou for......

The topic for our discussion group was Gratitude. Today I took my camera around to snap a few
gratitude photos.
The theme is appreciating the amazing October.
I can still go for walks with just sandals on. Its that mild.
I can still pick veggies in my garden.
There are still berries I can gather in my backyard.
Thankyou, All That Is,
I am enjoying life.
Saying thankyou, just feels good.

Well

The blue container is the pressure tank.
The pump is fairly new. Last year, when I had to prime it I turned the nut too hard and ended up cracking the cast iron caseing. So I was extra careful this time.


I lowered a lightbulb down into the well to get this photo.
It looks pretty creepy down there.
The first year I moved on to this property, my dog accidently fell down here.
I didn't know the well then, nor did I have a light.
But since she sounded like she was drowning, I tied a rope around my waist and lowered myself down and was able to get her out. So I have actually been down there. It wasn't so bad.