Live like you were dying

"So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart.

Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and

Demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life,

Beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and

Its purpose in the service of your people.

Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.

Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend,

Even a stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect to all people and

Bow to none. When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the food and

For the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks,

The fault lies only in yourself. Abuse no one and nothing,

For abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision.

When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts

Are filled with fear of death, so that when their time comes

They weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again

In a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home."

Chief Tecumseh

Goddess in the tree!

It's as if the image of her soul rose to the surface, who will see me? This tree symbolizes a complete metaphor of the sacred feminine in all her creation.  Gentle and strong, her image is surrounded by the shape of a heart so perfectly placed as if to show the most intimate part of woman. If you can unlock the her heart, you will gain access to her soul, and her true souls beauty. As a women in general, this sweet spot has been cloaked under layers of protection.  We are now rising up, ripping of the layers one by one, and discovering that within this chamber, is the magic of who we are.  Joseph Campbell draws a stunning parallel between the womb of woman, and the universe. Pure in creation, giving life, love, and nurturing.  Through photosynthesis we breathe what the tree exhales. Deeply rooted in the earth, a tree provides us with so many nurturing gifts. Shade, shelter, food, breath, and fire as she dies, preparing the way for new growth. She is also home to the winged ones, who build their nest in her branches, and fly into her interior for protection from the storms of life. Just like a child returns to it's mother for comfort and protection from human storms.  In the womb space of this tree goddess you will see a nest so appropriately nestled in the cavity of her belly. And what a joy to see the bird that calls this home. 

 Then there is the unseen part of the tree, the root system. The grand redwood trees are feminine. When the mother tree dies, the burls attached to her trunk, are released from the trauma of her death, stimulating these pods. The seeds then give birth to the ring of daughter trees around her. Those daughter trees absorb the sunlight that was stored in her bones, and they continue to sustain nutrients from her strong and stable root system.  The daughters grow independent of their mother, but continue to sustain themselves through the unseen parts below ground. Perhaps this explains our deep connection to the ancestors. When you consider the ebb and flow of life and death, and understand the role nature plays, it can be a very grand and humbling process. 

As I was driving down the road, in my state of contemplation and mediation, my peripheral vision caught a glimpse of this image. I pulled to the side of the road and stood in awe as I stared at the "Woman in the tree!" How does this happen? Has anyone else noticed? How could you miss it? It has caused deep reflection as I have uncovered the message for me. I felt I needed to share this wonderment with those who stumble upon it. Unplug every now and again when your in the car. Turn off your phone, and notice nature passing by. It may just amaze you when you see the hidden messages just outside of your window.  Within nature are metaphors so beautiful, they can answer your prayers, and give insight to the concerns you face every day. 

Carpe Diem Seize the day!

Carpe Noctem Seize the night!

Carpe Noctem

Guest House

Projection Selection...

I was born with a spirit that called me to venture "off the beaten path." In kindergarten, my teacher, Mrs. Bankhead gave us a coloring assignment. I began "outside" of the lines, creating my own crayola masterpiece in the margins.  There was a rhythm to her monitoring. She would glance down at each child assessing their progress. I could see from the corner of my eye that she was getting close to me. With giddy anticipation, I waited for her to praise my blending of colors, and whimsical patterns all outside of the black line in the middle of the page. Would she find me creative and wonderful? A solid whack to my tiny knuckles with a pair of scissors, ripped me out of my wandering fantasy, and into her classroom. Her huge tangled beehive hairdo, came very close to my face and her bright red stained lips shouted, "NEVER COLOR OUTSIDE OF THE LINES!" Her old lady breath, penetrated my skin, and her words embedded into my soul, a frightening realization. "You must obey the rules." On this day, I thank Mrs. Bankehead.  The day I remembered this moment, was the day I shouted hallelujah!! I have spent a lifetime with the deepest desire to wander outside of the lines, and explore. What I realized, is that I was born with this fascination, as a child, i naturally ventured to the area outside of the line, I loved exploring those margins.  When I turned 40, I was finally able to understand that this was a tremendous gift worth honoring. I realized that my life up until then had been much like the collapse of the wave function theory. I was told that I had to "observe" a specific way of thinking, and behaving, which caused the "collapse."  The act of the observer, causes all other possibilities to fade away. I call this "projection selection." It is allowing others to project their beliefs and  ideas influencing your selection. By doing this, the infinite options available, tend to fade away.  So knowing that answers take seed in the question, I allowed my self to question outside of the box. Exploring those paths that may look or feel different. What would happen if???  What I realized, it that within my own unique soul, there are answers that are very custom made for me. The mystery of the exploration has allowed me to see the infinite possibilities. I have practiced observing or focusing in on the one or two choices, that will take seed that makes sense for me. I trust that my spirit's knowing decides to collapse the wave, when it is time.  As my journey takes me off the beaten path, I observe new truths, and the system can then evolve again.  I love to wander with the knowing that I am not lost, not at all!!!

Facing your reflection

Trigger points of change

"No one is immune to the cycles of balance and change. Regardless of how large our families are, how many friends we have, how many books we've written, or how successful we've become, we all have a trigger point that invites change into our lives. Interestingly, the trigger appears to be different for eveyone. While we may believe that we have neatly arranged life as something that we can regulate and control, all the while each experience and every relationship is training and preparing us for something that may be beyond our control.

"In doing so, we move ever closer to the moment when we'll be given the opportunity to demonstrate our mastery over our betrayals, violated trust, and hot-button issues. It's only after we've put our last spiritual tool in place to create the balance, however, that we signal our readiness. It is our balance that says, 'Hey! I'm ready. Bring it on!' Now we're ready to demonstrate to the universe what we've learned." Greg Braden.

"People see God every day, they just don't recognize him."

People see God every day, they just don’t recognize him.” - Pearl Bailey

It was a chilly day at the beach. My body temperature is always registering a few degrees below normal anyway. Part of me wanted to leave, or go sit in the car with the heater on. And then then I noticed the magic. My son was having a mud flinging  contest with his buddies. The sun was preparing to kiss the ocean goodnight, providing a mystical light. There was a mist in the air as the tide was pulling back for the day. I grabbed my camera, and forgot about the chill in my bones. I only saw magic in every shot. The kids were delighted and full of wonder lust as they flung salted, wet sand into the air, and at each other.  This beach was providing the kind of fun that doesn't cost a dime. Their brains are not overloaded with T.V. ad's and video games. The true joy of their spirits are bubbling over and out, with the laughter of voices floating on the wind currents. How full of gratitude I am, that I took a minute to pause, and in doing so saw God all around me. It reminds me of a lyric by India Arie. "It doesn't cost a thing to smile. You don't have to pay to laugh. You'd better thank god for that!" 

And so in that very moment, I said Thank you, thank you, thank you. My soul smiled, my heart opened, my bones warmed, and I noticed!!

Winter Solstice...Time of reflection

Sweet Darkness

When your eyes are tired
the world is tired also.

When your vision has gone
no part of the world can find you.

Time to go into the dark
where the night has eyes
to recognize its own.

There you can be sure
you are not beyond love.

The dark will be your womb
tonight.

The night will give you a horizon
further than you can see.

You must learn one thing:
the world was made to be free in.

Give up all the other worlds
except the one to which you belong.

Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet
confinement of your aloneness
to learn

anything or anyone
that does not bring you alive

is too small for you.

~ David Whyte ~

Honoring the beauty of the shadow!

It was finally our turn, here in the west to witness an eclipse. They always appear in the pre-dawn hours, when I am finally falling into that deep restful sleep. But this time, I was determined to witness the event that I have slept through in years past. It was 20 degrees outside, I was worried that my camera would retaliate giving a foggy image. When I stepped outside of my garage, and looked up, I gasped. I sped away in my car to a higher elevation where I had full view of this glorious moon.  I love seeing the world through the lens of my camera. The large zoom gives me a closer look, and the excitement of capturing an image makes me giddy. Once the tripod was set and the cameras timer was clicking away, I took a moment for reflection. The shadow cast on this otherwise glowing orb of light, was so beautiful. I reflected on my own shadow's that have been a constant companion throughout my life. My shadows, have been my greatest teachers. The light of the moon does not cease to exist, it merely accepts the dark, and makes it desirable to look at. Thousands of people gather around the world to witness these events. As I have looked at my own shadows, they have become equally beautiful companions that co-exist within me. I have deepest gratitude for the difficult lessons that shadow has taught me. We are all luminous beings. When we allow that light to shine through the darkest times of our life, we are eclipsing the demons, and creating allies that we can then carry into the world in beauty. This process of transformation, is as grand as the events that draw thousands out of their beds, to see with their own eyes, what the heavens are teaching us. I bow in honor to my demons and shadows. I offer gratitude

for the insight and transformation that has replaced the dark. May you all find the beauty within your soul!

“Our shadows hold the essence of who we are.  They hold our most treasured gifts.  By facing these aspects of ourselves, we become free to experience our glorious totality:  the good and the bad, the dark and the light.  It is by embracing all of who we are that we earn the freedom to choose what we do in this world.  As long as we keep hiding, masqerading, and projecting [the negative messages we hide] inside us, we have no freedom to be and no freedom to choose.”

Debbie Ford~

Loving Trees...

Words, like nature, half reveal and half conceal the soul within.

- Alfred Tennyson

Sharing my love of Trees, through my lens...

Breathe, Nature is an elixir, no prescription required and free!

If you want to breathe life into your tired old bones, I have the remedy. Go outside! I am so blessed to have the most exquisite mountains in my back yard. I had many thoughts today as I observed the mountains as they are preparing for slumber. Nature can be such a brilliant teacher. When I look at the exquisite beauty of Fall, I can't help but realize that this vibrance is actually death. If I can look upon death and all of it's beauty, realizing that the earth mulches and fertilizes the ground, and in the spring gives birth again to the slumbering. If I can sit with death, then I can enjoy the beauty of life. If I enjoy the beauty of life, then all of that enjoyment and love will go with me in my own Fall, when my soul in all of its beauty makes a grand transformation. I have had to live with death, and the sadness of loss. In reflection of that loss I see the beauty and honor the teacher. May I LIVE each day and be the beauty that wraps my soul in the tincture of nature. Fall is my elixir. Death is my ally. 

Maples trees glow fire red as the sun glistens through. Breathe... 

Snow Sage and quaky aspens mix and mingle with the green pine as if they are showing off their splendor. Breathe.....

The blue sky is like paint on the wall, a masterpiece. Breathe....

Sage, flowering, not always noticed but when we offer attention look at the beauty!! Breathe....

Layers, from sage, to trees on fire. Rocky knolls, then sky. Awww.. Breathe...

And the grasses. They dance and create a desert ocean wave. Wow!! Breathe....

Carpe Diem, Seize the day, live consciously and Breathe!!

Where is your power?

"Our real power is not derived from our positions in life, a hefty bank account, or an impressive career. Instead, it is the expression of that authenticity inside of us, our strength, integrity, an grace externalized. We don't realize that each of us has the power of the universe within us. We look around and we see others as powerful, we see nature as powerful, we can witness a seed turning into a flower or the sun crossing the sky every day. We even see life created in us, from us. Yet we see ourselves as disconnected from all of this power. God did not make nature powerful and man weak. Our power comes from the knowledge that we are unique, and from our understanding that we have the same innate power as all other creations. Our power lies deep within us. It is the power with which we were born. If it has been forgotten, it needs only to be recognized again." ~Elisabeth Kubler Ross~

This picture depicts this very concept of knowing your own power, and standing firmly in it. This precious little one, stated firmly that she wanted to be a "Bearpaller" (pallbearer) and with determination despite the status quo, jumped in and created a moment! In this crazy time, stop... slowdown, get quiet and remember the source that is deep within you.

Carpe Diem, seize the day, live consciously!

A tribute to my Mother and all those who have gone before me

Who am I behind my eyes?

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” ~Steve Jobs




In memory of a friend who had the courage to become and soar.. Brent, you will be missed. 

PETRICHOR. The fluid that flows in the veins of the Gods of Greek Mythology

Petrichor

petrichor {PET-ri-kuhr} noun

The pleasant smell that accompanies the first rain after a dry spell.

[From petro {rock}, from Greek petros {stone} + ichor {the fluid that flows in the veins of the gods in Greek mythology}. 

Petrichor, is woven into the fabric of my DNA. There is not a smell on this earth, that catapults me towards it more than petrichor, the fluid that flows in the veins of the gods. 

When I was pregnant, it was not pickles and peanut butter, or ice cream with catsup that called for consumption, but this smell....I need a rock. A fresh rock from a field or garden would make its way to my mouth. The taste and smell took me into a realm of bliss that helped me forget about my host body, and the uncomfortable stretching and growing taking place in my womb. It was a basket full of rocks that was the centerpiece of my table. I was sure that I had gone mad. I announced this craving to my doctor and was very clear that I enjoyed it so much that I didn't want it fixed, just wanted to make sure it was safe for me and my unborn child. His explanation was something like "Ive heard of aboriginal and tribal women who have this craving, it's most likely a mineral deficiency. I wouldn't make a habit of eating dirt, but the licking of rocks is most likely fine."  I was proud to have a craving considered tribal and full of pure giddiness knowing that my rock licking and smelling was a craving that wouldn't hurt me. During a rain storm, I would throw my pregnant body on the wet ground, and breath. I would take in that smell as if it were the fuel charging my body until the next storm. Petrichor is the  fuel flowing through my veins, sustaining my sanity and comforting a craving so powerful! This craving did not ever go away. I have never met a rock I didn't love, or a rainstorm that has been ignored! I know its strange, but It has a name, and a freaking awesome description. 

Petrichor...Petrichor....Petrichor.

Next time your are blessed with rain, go outside and breathe in to your body the beautiful smell that only comes when the moisture of heaven kisses the earth and releases a fragrance shared with the Gods. It's a blending and marriage of ingredients that can only be created in the natural lab of earth and her miracles. 

Carpe Diem, live consciously, seize the day!

When Heaven kisses the Earth.

“To be a warrior is not a simple matter of wishing to be one. It is rather an endless struggle that will go on to the very last moment of our lives. Nobody is born a warrior, in exactly the same way that nobody is born an average man. We make ourselves into one or the other.””
Carlos Castaneda 

Timeless Art In Terminal 2...

I've traveled to San Diego for over 15 years. I have only entered and exited that airport from terminal 1. Last week, as I was leaving the airplane down the jet way and into the terminal, my balance was thrown off when I didn't recognize my familiar surroundings? Where am I? My husband said, "we are in terminal 2. Thats odd, I haven't been in this terminal for years." Walking down the hallway, I noticed an artistic exhibit that commanded my attention. In a rush to get to the car rental bus, I couldn't help but stop and look and take a couple of photo's. John was anxious to get to the curb as the clock was 2 minutes to 11, the last shuttle to our car rental would leave in aprox. 2 min. The exhibit was clocks, and inscribed on the walls, poetry. I was so torn to rush forward in linear time to the shuttle, and at the same time wanting time to stand still so that I could absorb this art and poetry. John enticed me out of my trance with a flyer describing the art work and a sampling of the poetry. Thinking that I could now go to a web site, I changed my focus and ran with my husband to the curb. Just in the nick of time, we jumped on the last shuttle of the evening and made it to our rental car.

The Artist: Jeff Steorts his website  www.jeffsteorts.com

His Work:  "A San Diego artist whose work is inspired by ancient concepts found in mechanical, poetical, horological and spiritual studies. Through the use of sculpture, symbols and poetry, Steorts seeks to convey timeless notions of spiritual transformation and the search for inner divinity within the heart of humanity."

Within the Heart of Time and Space....

There is within the very heart of everyone and everything an eternal timekeeper; a divine mechanism that governs the world and all creation. When the divine hour strikes we begin to wake up to our innermost spiritual glory and our outermost potential. It is through this grand illusion and intersection of time and space that we evolve and grow:

From darkness to light

From the finite to the infinite

from a state of separation to complete oneness

From the temporal to the eternal.

I have been fascinated with the concept that time can be viewed as circular, rather than linear, realizing that the present moment is influenced by the past, and in the same moment, we can also influence the future by our conscious choices in the here and now. It's easy to be caught up in the locomotion of forward movement paying little attention to our ties to the past, and our visions for the future. I believe that as we awaken and become conscious in our present, we are able to heal past wounds, and dream a bigger vision not only for ourselves but for our children and the future that is yet to come. As I have learned to step outside of time, I am able to reflect on the genetic gifts that have been handed down through the DNA strands of the past, and in the same moment, set free those shackles of days gone by. I believe that we change our future when we make changes in our todays and tomorrows. I love the messages and art work provided in the East/West corridor of terminal 2 in the San Diego airport. If you have a chance to see this timeless work, I highly recommend it! 

Thank you Jeff Steorts, for your captivating art, that allowed me to step outside of time for just a moment 

as I took in the magic of your work. In that moment, I stepped outside of time, and still made the shuttle. It should have been impossible, but I have come to realize that miracles happen in that mysterious place of the in-between!

Carpe Diem...Live Consciously...Seize the day!