tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63174403801389600582024-02-24T03:15:38.965-06:00 marginamiakghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02627518291982352081noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317440380138960058.post-7010294224920008922018-06-07T11:31:00.003-05:002018-06-07T19:08:40.238-05:00George + Georgia <div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BACzrVEykDM/WxlGrOZPAnI/AAAAAAAAE30/KcUpCdhykcEMAurRyTpV2MOhV2NTrN15ACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/George-Nakashima-Father-Aelred-Wall-Georgia-okeefe.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BACzrVEykDM/WxlGrOZPAnI/AAAAAAAAE30/KcUpCdhykcEMAurRyTpV2MOhV2NTrN15ACK4BGAYYCw/s400/George-Nakashima-Father-Aelred-Wall-Georgia-okeefe.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
George Nakashima, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Father Aelred Wall at the site of the Benedictine Abbey of Christ in the Dessert, designed by Nakashima, in the land where O'Keeffe (and Agnes Martin and so many others) created their most vulnerable work. I visited this magical place last week. I watched the mountain birds (I think they're swallows) nosediving into the river gorge and around my car on the 13 mile stretch of brown, gravel road leading to the monastery, a road with no railing and steep drop offs. The flight pattern of the birds matched the pattern of the flowing river. It was all playing together, joy in the form of harmonious movement, and I felt all of it in my own body. It broke something up in me, in my chest, touched a buried longing, and made room for what was to come. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've just returned home from this trip to New Mexico. I went to experience the desert, which was still so foreign to me when I left, and then introduced itself as old friend. I feel tied to it forever now. I went to experience favorite pieces of art by some of my heroes, in the land where they made their works. heroes who really were something of the hermit archetype that has resonated so deeply with me these last years. I feel them with me now, pressing me to create. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I went to breathe with a group of witchy women (and three awesome men) in David Elliot's Breathwork Healer Training. I experienced the back of my heart open for the first time in many years. I saw clearly my challenges going forward, how I've abandoned myself. how I've shown up for myself, loved, protected - those things, too. So many synchronicities and dreams, after years of silence. I was blown away. blown wide open. I'm feeling so grateful to everyone connected to this particular journey for me - those with whom I shared it, those who introduced me to it, offered me the practice, to David, and to myself for doing the work. I'm already looking forward to completing level 4, the final class, and connecting even deeper. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Those are the basics of why I went, the surface. What I learned about the deeper elements of why I went is for another post, maybe for a completely new blog. I'm still figuring out how to reawaken my writing and creative process here, whether to start fresh with a new site and blog (resisting the urge to tweak this one right now!) I'm feeling it out, and will find it, but I don't want to wait until things are perfect to share again. This hesitation to share kept me safe when I started using it here and in so many other areas of my life, but it's hindering me now. It's time to let it go.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So much has changed for so many of us in these last several years, right? It always does, I know, but this feels a more turbulent time. Myself, I left city life and moved to acres in the country, in a small county of creatives, makers/shakers, farm-to-tablers. I've fallen in love with the mountains and land here, the rivers, with the animals, the people, with my own hands. It feels energetically like a greener sister to Taos, NM, which has my heart now, too.<br />
<br />
I've become a teacher of Kundalini Yoga, too - a year long journey that challenged me in every way imaginable, and got me back in my body in a tangible way, showed me my broken heart, created space for me to open it up again.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I also left my marriage after many years of work and struggling to hang on. I alluded to it in a post here years back, the one about my daughter's tooth: "<span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b33; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , "freemono" , monospace; font-size: 15.399999618530273px;">Standing over my sink, warm water on my hands, staring out the open window, crying, I tried to imagine how to let go of of a chapter in my life that is overdue for release.....</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b33; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , "freemono" , monospace; font-size: 15.399999618530273px;">It will fall away when it's ready, a little at a time...</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b33; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , "freemono" , monospace; font-size: 15.399999618530273px;">" </span>That's exactly how it went - a little at a time, a slow easing in, though when I wrote what I wrote then, I could hardly acknowledge it. I made myself type it out then, so I'd trust it was a real knowing, that I wasn't going crazy. That was the first step. Showing up here and sharing what I wrote helped me validate what I did not want to face, what I couldn't say to anyone. Then, later into this transition, my shame around the loss of my marriage would begin to prevent me from showing up, from connecting - to people, to my creative process, to this space, to my heart. The initial instinct to protect there was healthy. After all, there's a time to hold things close to the chest, to keep them secret. but that time has passed, too. I'm ready to be seen again in all the truth of my life. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One thing I've learned about loss is that one loss often opens the door for more - people tend to leave together, sometimes sharply, sometimes softly. Sometimes they leave because they can't watch you suffer, or offer their energy while you come unglued. and they can't do this for myriad reasons, many of them solid reasons around their own need for boundaries. I see, respect, and honor that. Sometimes they step away because you actually left them while you grieved - things were no longer reciprocal, there was not an even exchange. I see and respect this, too, and I'm sorry to those I left behind in the midst of my all-consuming turbulence. However they leave, you let them go. You send them love, and for some you leave an open space for return, especially the ones you abandoned in your shame. I'm not alone here with this type of loss. I've heard this over and over from those around me - this has been a big part of the tumult of the last several years. I think a lot about how this is coming to so many relationships from a larger, overriding cultural origin. I want to understand it better, but my work now is to move through the feelings of it, how I've carried it in my chest and throat. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am entering the space of my Uranus half return now, in my (almost) 41st year, as Uranus moves further into Taurus. Astrologers call it the "motorcycle transit" b/c it's what we know in the west as a midlife crisis. I'm feeling it! It's pushing me out again (reluctantly, but I'm listening). There's a post on this topic bubbling up in me, too. Many of us are here together in this transition, and it's a big one. We can support each other through sharing. For now, I just want to say, you aren't crazy, and it's probably not menopause (yet). If you want to read more on this, I highly recommend the book: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
--<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Astrology-Rising-Kundalini-Transformative-Saturn/dp/1591431689/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1528391266&sr=8-1&keywords=astrology+and+the+rising+of+kundalini">Astrology and the Rising of Kundalini,</a> by Barbara Hand Clow. <br />
It's also great for understanding Saturn return (around age 30). And Chiron transit (50s) and wound.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have many more tools on navigating Uranus half-return, and will post them soon!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am still thinking about names! but mostly in a philosophical sense, about the sacred act of naming, of calling something into being through word, anointing. More specifically and concretely, I'm thinking about the naming process as I search for a name that feels right for the offerings I want to bring to my community, my beautiful community who has given me and my girls so much support and richness, held us, really, people as sturdy as the mountains they call home. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So here I am, easing back in. It wasn't so complicated. It wasn't so huge a moment. It needn't be perfect, over thought -- another thing I'm letting go -- and I don't need permission. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thank you for coming here even when I did not. Thank you for reading now. I don't know exactly where this space is going quite yet, but I know I want to invite you all along. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317440380138960058.post-21405513931950090522014-12-14T11:03:00.000-06:002015-08-30T10:06:24.092-05:00Eurythmy <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kQPYjUs2LEE/VI2vi_n6NjI/AAAAAAAAExw/n6APxEVEqHY/s1600/full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="451" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kQPYjUs2LEE/VI2vi_n6NjI/AAAAAAAAExw/n6APxEVEqHY/s1600/full.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I seek for myself in the WORD</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: grey; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; text-align: start; text-transform: lowercase;">© <a href="http://www.wordmoves.com/eurythmy/exercise">gail langstroth</a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm just gonna jump back in here after a long pause. This has been a busy year: moving, starting the grades work in our homeschooling journey, co-creating and organizing weekly a local homeschool co-op, new pets, planning a major trip, postponing the same major trip. So many times I've wanted to post but didn't make the time - I've been too overwhelmed (something I feel quite easily) trying to find a rhythm in the midst of all the newness and emotional ups and downs since summer. I'm happy to say I'm starting to find my stride . It was simple but overlooked: find what I'm most drawn to in the educational style we've chosen and focus on it. That's what I can offer the most authentically. For me, it's the spiritual and artistic leanings of our process. Waldorf education initially appealed to me because learning is achieved by weaving spirit (wholeness) into every task; wholeness is the goal of education, in fact; and we can't separate spirit and body, so learning is in movement, woven together with practices like archetypal stimulation and color therapy. I got overwhelmed in the tasks and forgot the underlying essence. Since this step back and refocusing, the rest is falling in to place, and I'm finding myself reenergized and totally inspired by much of Rudolph Steiner's work.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For the last few weeks I've been focusing my research on the practice of Eurythmy - basically the spoken word expressed as movement, used in education, therapy, and as a form of movement art. I can't resist a synthesis, and this one is particularly enticing. I remember reading once that we are all synesthetes in the beginning, but we grow into the neurological state of having separate and distinct senses. For some people, synesthetes, this development is arrested to varying degrees, so some of the senses remain entangled. But we all still have access to our own union of the senses (I think we each have different abilities in terms of what is easily unified for us). It's healing to actively unite them, anyway. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Does it take us back, perhaps, to a time when our developing, distinct consciousness wasn't so distinct, when our sense of self was blurred into the world around us? to a time when our primary experience of reality was one of wholeness and connection, both to everything outside us and of our own long since partitioned aspects-of-self to each other? And perhaps it simultaneously grounds us, incarnates us ever more into our very physical human experience, an expression of the non-dualistic nature of reality. My plan is to learn the dance and think/feel/move/teach my way into knowing Eurythmy.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Anyone have experience with Eurythmy? I'd love to hear about it!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
Above is a image of <a href="http://www.wordmoves.com/">Gail Langstroth</a>, eurythmist and poet -</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
- <span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">"<span style="line-height: 22px;">Each work of art is a transformation of a substance or material. The poet uses sounds, words; the sculptor shapes stone, metal, wood, clay; the dancer sculpts air in space; the philosopher moves the light within ideas. An artist feels the sacred roots of his or her individuality and imprints his or her idea into a given substance—changing its constitution into gold. </span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Art is the Alchemical Process of Holy Graffiti.</span>"</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> </span> </blockquote>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
- Her work is inspiring, from her intuitive <a href="http://www.wordmoves.com/the-eurythmy-rose-cross">translations</a> of Steiner - <span style="color: #444444;">"Earth's weight of gravity speaks through the word will of my feet" </span><br />
and her <a href="http://www.wordmoves.com/eurythmy/exercise">photographed</a> movement</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
- to her poetry, <span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I love </span><a href="http://www.wordmoves.com/poetry/blue-indestructible" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Blue Indestructible</a><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">.</span></div>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
- and <a href="http://www.wordmoves.com/films/halleluiah">Here</a> she is dancing Hallelujah. <br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Some other relating bits:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
- A <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks8VwzFTHoM&list=UUFjq-PoGMzyM8LgU45kWMYA">lecture</a> on Steiner and Jung (in fact, a lot of the lectures posted by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/ArchetypalView/videos">ArchetypalVeiw</a> seem super interesting).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
- The film, <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl8xbvNIxb0">The Challenge</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3R5rfzafMc">of Steiner</a></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
- just ordering <a href="http://www.waldorfbooks.com/anthroposophy/eurythmy">this</a> book, <u><i>Eurythmy - Rhythm, Dance and Soul</i></u>. love the description: <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">"<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">A historical context is provided by means of a brief survey of dance, from its beginnings in the ancient mysteries to today's forms of dance. The author explains Steiner's insight into the hidden laws of movement —which Steiner designated as belonging to the realm of the etheric." </span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I hope it won't be another six months before I check back in here! I've missed it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317440380138960058.post-70621073722982900482014-04-16T21:35:00.000-05:002014-04-18T14:16:15.008-05:00moving on again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xao4CaJIBKg/U07CUXGM3sI/AAAAAAAAEnI/ioipThMy2QI/s1600/e7807820b99711e392400e69aaaf2909_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xao4CaJIBKg/U07CUXGM3sI/AAAAAAAAEnI/ioipThMy2QI/s1600/e7807820b99711e392400e69aaaf2909_8.jpg" height="500" width="500" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is long one, a personal one .... a letter to something I've loved, though this goodbye is a timely and much needed change. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm packing up our home today. packing and crying. assuring my girls that these intense, sudden bursts of tears are beautiful, healthy medicine. Nona says, "I know, Mommy." I smile and breathe a sigh of relief because they're good with tears, their own and those of others. They learned this comfort here in this house, where they learned most of the good stuff they know (and the bad). </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Today is the anniversary of my mother's death. I had a memory as I stood, arms propped on a box of her belongings, taking a break from packing to cry some more: my body was in the exact same position the last time I stood over this box, when I was about to move it from her home in Tennessee to my home in Virginia. I had a ten month old baby on my back then. The box was in her garage, which had been being prepped to become a larger kitchen. her dreams and plans... there were so many, so much change in her life. I stood in her garage crying, hands propped on that box, trying to imagine how I would have the strength to get through that sort of move. I couldn't see myself doing it, getting from there to here. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yesterday was the day I counted how many times I've moved in my life. nineteen times. wrapping, packing, unpacking. I like to count, to group things together, see patterns. Today was the day I realized that the last time I did this moving, I was packing up my parent's home. I hadn't counted that one yesterday. amazing how such a realization could go undiscovered until the day I start sorting, wrapping and packing up this house. amazing that I find myself doing this work on the anniversary of my mother's death. It's a blessing. Moving my body in this way, doing these tasks brings it all up and out again, all the parts I haven't thought so much about, since..... the packing of her things, the letting go, the caring for two small children through it all. the finding out about people.... which ones were true and which weren't.... those losses, too. At times I felt I'd lost everyone but my children. and I was furious for their loss. and for my parents loss... that other people would get to know my children, but they wouldn't. I was furious about so many things, things that had been buried, things that were new. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I keep moving today in the same way as then, keep crying, though these tears are different. It feels good, like scratching an itch. I know this pain, I know what to do with it and I know where I'm going. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I think about how much has happened in our lives since moving into this home. We moved here just after my father's death. I was thirty-four weeks pregnant with our youngest. It was such a complicated time.... grieving a father, a place, and feeling such joyous anticipation for this new life, trying to stay as emotionally stable as possible for her. I gave birth to June in my bedroom here. It was perfect and beautiful. All of her firsts were here. and many of Nona's, too. I think they will forever be frozen in my mind at ages five and a half and three. always in their underwear, even in winter. messy brown hair. their voices. their feet pitter pattering on the floors, such distinct sounds from one another. their little toes.<br />
<br />
I learned to sew here, to love making clothes. Learned to knit, which I do now in my mother's knitting chair in our living room. I see why she chose it, the chair and the knitting. Her last project was a red sweater for Nona. My mom's friend (the one who taught her to knit, the one I didn't know well before my mother's death but who stuck by our sides through it all and continues to be a dear friend) finished knitting the sweater for her. for us. so we could "keep those precious stitches". I am knitting a sweater now.<br />
<br />
This home has seen me through the most difficult, beautiful and intense period of self-discovery. I broke down here, fell apart and rebuilt myself. rediscovered. I became a woman here, one who sees her flaws with honesty and loves herself anyway.... most of the time. This is the place where I learned to really share and trust, to know what I want, and how to give. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I saw my mother for the last time here in this house. We were hanging one of those flag banners in Nona's room. She stood there with her suitcase, waiting for my husband to take her to the airport. "Move the right side up a bit, sweetheart. That's it. Perfect. Here's Chris, I have to go." I took a good, long look at her and smiled, "You know I don't like to say goodbye. Can you just tell me you'll see me in a month? I love you, Mom." She smiled, "I love you, Kristen. I'll see you next month, sweetheart." <br />
I'll take the flag banner down tomorrow. <br />
<br />
This place is the last place she knew where to find me, knew our life. In her last memories, this is where we are. I think I've had this worry that some part of her will be lost when we go. Or maybe the worry is that some part of me will be lost to her.... lost to myself, too. My parents were the lone knowers of some parts of me. Sometimes I feel those parts have been lost. They haven't. It's up to me now to actively remember, give myself what my parents gave me, see what they saw, share it. know what to hold close and what to let vanish. vanishing bits aren't all bad. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We found our new home on the new moon. We weren't planning to move, but the stars aligned, and there it was. Our new neighborhood and home is so much of what I've been wishing for over the last few years. So much the girls have wished for. It's going to be really good. We'll be there in two weeks, unpacking. I look at my living room now and I can't imagine getting from here to there. But I know I will.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317440380138960058.post-47805757449168486462014-02-13T08:29:00.001-06:002014-02-13T09:07:51.783-06:00ghosts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7X4wmc6IRqQ/UvzfvHfyKZI/AAAAAAAAEg8/VSy5gpU36J4/s1600/tumblr_mif54q4iR31ro8s98o1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7X4wmc6IRqQ/UvzfvHfyKZI/AAAAAAAAEg8/VSy5gpU36J4/s1600/tumblr_mif54q4iR31ro8s98o1_500.jpg" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
"As dusk approaches in the hinterlands, a traveler ponders shelter for the night. He notices brushes growing everywhere, so he bundles an armful together as they stand in the field, and knots them at the top. Presto, a living grass hut. The next morning, before embarking on another day's journey, he un-knots the rushes and presto, the hut de-constructs, disappears, and becomes a virtually indistinguishable part of the larger field of rushes once again. The original wilderness seems to be restored, but minute traces of the shelter remain. A slight twist or bend in a reed here and there. There is also the memory of the hut in the mind of the traveler - and in the mind of the reader reading this description. Wabi-sabi, in it's purest, most idealized form, is precisely about these delicate traces, this faint evidence, at the borders of nothingness." </div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
- Leonard Koren, Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets, & Philosophers</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've been thinking a lot about (and feeling) this feeling lately, the feeling left by faint traces. especially today as I watch the little snow mounds where the girls buried themselves early this morning blend away. I hesitate to pick a favorite feeling, but this is definitely one of them.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
image - Cecile Daladier <a href="http://ceciledaladierjournal.tumblr.com/">journal</a></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317440380138960058.post-67756120257234194312014-01-07T14:50:00.000-06:002014-01-07T18:05:06.167-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cAbJpgM6XU0/Usxc-m58bgI/AAAAAAAAEf4/lRGlLQb-rv8/s1600/2f54773677cc11e392990e4ff8a698db_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cAbJpgM6XU0/Usxc-m58bgI/AAAAAAAAEf4/lRGlLQb-rv8/s1600/2f54773677cc11e392990e4ff8a698db_8.jpg" height="500" width="500" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Love this satellite mosaic image of Antarctica from Nasa's Goddard Space Flight <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/home/index.html#.UsxeCHmTzdE">Center</a>. I want to paint it. seems fitting on our coldest windy day in over twenty (thirty?) years.<br />
<br />
I broke my juice fast last night, as planned, with some delicious pineapple and guacamole. woke up this morning realizing I wasn't quite ready to end it, so I'm continuing on. I've gained a lot through this process, a lot of insight, but I only feel like typing and being online in short, limited spurts. so the only things I will share for now are:<br />
<br />
- a little jalapeño goes a long way (twenty something years of eating them, and this lesson is still hard learned for me).<br />
<br />
- lime and ginger are good in pretty much every juice.<br />
<br />
- the juice of 1/2 a pineapple, 1 white yam, and a knuckle of ginger is rich, milky perfection (mint is good in it, too). the best dessert! I'm excited to try it in a shake.<br />
<br />
- planning to try <a href="http://moonjuicevenice.tumblr.com/">this</a> green juice recipe tonight from owner of L.A.'s Moon Juice, Amanda Chantal Bacon.<br />
<br />
<br />
.... going offline from now till the end of this thing, whenever that is.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317440380138960058.post-31064766633754022382014-01-07T13:59:00.000-06:002014-01-07T15:36:02.810-06:00Claire Decet <center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="415" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/_rRWFhAwSgI " width="520"></iframe></center>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Found Claire Decet's work at <a href="http://tigerstolilies.blogspot.com/2014/01/claire-decet_5.html">tigers to lilies</a> a few days ago. then came across this short video of Claire while searching for more of her work. <br />
<br />
more favorite shots of her work:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FOyu0boQn-s/UsxXS4ikRsI/AAAAAAAAEe8/aQ1v_CkSnkE/s1600/cd-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FOyu0boQn-s/UsxXS4ikRsI/AAAAAAAAEe8/aQ1v_CkSnkE/s1600/cd-03.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i_nWkIfAN_4/UsxXSVrchqI/AAAAAAAAEek/kczo8--uP5Q/s1600/IMG_3969web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i_nWkIfAN_4/UsxXSVrchqI/AAAAAAAAEek/kczo8--uP5Q/s1600/IMG_3969web.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--urkOzl1Blk/UsxXSQ2M48I/AAAAAAAAEeg/tv8MNcuz5YQ/s1600/cd-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--urkOzl1Blk/UsxXSQ2M48I/AAAAAAAAEeg/tv8MNcuz5YQ/s1600/cd-02.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
images via <a href="http://www.jeanrochdard.com/claire-decet-works">johnrochard</a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317440380138960058.post-91475977062626147652014-01-02T13:10:00.001-06:002014-01-02T21:24:51.577-06:00white-cloud pear<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zcwQYIMu2N8/UsW0CH14m9I/AAAAAAAAEeE/mjgPrfBb60g/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zcwQYIMu2N8/UsW0CH14m9I/AAAAAAAAEeE/mjgPrfBb60g/s400/photo+2.JPG" width="540" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
My six year old names everything. I always love her creations. For Christmas this year I got a new juicer - she named it White-Cloud Pear. White-Cloud Pear is going to be a huge part of 2014. I find the things that hook me are as much about process as product - something addicting about the process of juicing. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
- I'm doing a juice fast with <a href="http://www.cycleofthemooncleanse.com/">this</a> bunch to start 2014. It's pretty powerful to think that there are hundreds of us (thousands?) across the country doing this new moon cleanse together (you can start anytime, of course.) Last night at my local market, noticing my tell-tale cart full of produce, the women helping me check out prompted a chat. One of them had also just gotten a juicer for Christmas and was starting a cleanse, too. Soon we were swapping recipes and sharing offerings of support - not super common in this neck of the woods, so all the nicer. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
- I'm <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/marginamia/">pinning</a> a lot of juice recipes and information on cleansing. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
- Doing <a href="http://www.thesphinxandthemilkyway.com/2014/01/new-moon-january.html">this</a> amazing meditation. I plan on doing the walking-grounding portion at least weekly this month. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
- On New Year's Eve I finished <a href="http://www.unconventionalwoman.com/meaning-aamp-purpose-resourcemenu-4/return-to-the-feminine-resourcemenu-5/10-circle-of-stones-book-judith-duerk.html">this</a> book by Judith Duerk. Then went to a neighborhood New Year's day gathering at the home of an older woman across the street. We've been neighbors for almost four years, but this is the first year I felt social enough to want to go. I'm so glad I did. I sat in a circle of women, all in their sixties and seventies, sharing and bonding. It's an invigorating and comforting energy found amongst women in their wisdom years. One of them was an early graphic designer and artist for Ben and Jerry's - shared stories of Jerry fire-eating at company parties. One of them was an avid traveler and photographer, having just returned from Ireland, and another a passionate environmentalist talking about the importance of replacing lawns with food bearing plants and wildflowers, the importance of all wild things - in and out. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
- And my neighbor, Joan, hostess of our party, was recently the subject of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNjYwFgKPYA">this</a> <a href="http://www.anordinaryhero.com/">film</a>, about her journey as a civil rights activist in the 1960's. Never knew this part of her. We have so much to soak up from the lives of our elders, now more than ever. They began a lot of our current movements and can offer us the guidance they didn't have in their time, which we can then pass on during our golden years. (amazing - *just* as I was linking to the film about Joan, a knock on my door - it was Joan, bringing butterfly art, stamps and books to the girls for our studies next week.) </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Since moving here to the dc area, I've really felt like a fish out of water - it's been lonely. Even my therapist urges me, "Kristen, you're in the wrong place." She's right, but I'm starting to see this particular challenge as an opportunity, too. Yesterday, I removed some of my self-imposed blockages regarding what social connections should look like, what friends should look like. I learned more about what I'm willing to compromise and what I'm not - Age, for example, or geographic proximity is less important than shared values and kindred connection, a place where you can bare yourself honestly and be affirmed. I experienced, yet again, the benefits of sharing oneself and the intimately personal, something I still find challenging. I am so grateful to those who embolden me, by encouragement and example, to trust in this sharing we do. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
which reminds me to end with this quote by Neil Gaiman:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
- "the moment that you feel that, just possibly, you're walking down the street naked, exposing too much of your heart and your mind and what exists on the inside, showing too much of yourself. That's the moment you may be starting to get it right." Found <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/lwilliamson/words/">here</a>. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2013 was absolutely transformative for me and my family. 2014 is off to an even more promising start. <br />
<br />
Happy New Year!</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317440380138960058.post-41610286074088636302013-12-23T10:36:00.002-06:002014-01-07T14:54:32.391-06:00Renate Hiller <center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/bfoByYLSBY8" width="560"></iframe></center>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<br />
Our hands have memories to share with us - memories of ourselves and each other, of our values, the cosmos. I love the idea that through movement (more specifically here through working with our hands) we come into direct contact with our most sacred values, with that level of reality that holds all else within it, with the essentials that must be felt to be known... to be remembered. I was thinking a lot yesterday about accessing memories through movement, and then about knowledge as memory, so I'm really seeing this video today through that lens.<br />
<br />
a little more about Renate and her work <a href="http://www.fibercraftstudio.org/about_us">here</a>.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy Holidays! </div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317440380138960058.post-84975318320874793182013-12-21T21:39:00.000-06:002013-12-22T08:59:25.909-06:00Solstice <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R8wHnkHp6nk/UrZTO3hm6SI/AAAAAAAAEdc/gkVgaAa5Jo8/s1600/fc8dae03a0570e43ad13495d8b451c12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R8wHnkHp6nk/UrZTO3hm6SI/AAAAAAAAEdc/gkVgaAa5Jo8/s640/fc8dae03a0570e43ad13495d8b451c12.jpg" width="418" /></a></div "Sostice" via Marginamia,image by Fabio Leone>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Tonight, this darkest night of the year, is a great night for dreams. As part of our solstice celebration, we filled an old family bowl with water and dropped in what we had on hand for wish making - eucalyptus leaves, berries, and small quartz crystals. We wished for what we want to dream about tonight. Tomorrow morning we'll gently take our dream water outside into the darkness. We'll gather over it once more to share our dreams with each other, then we'll eat sun cake and feed the birds as we welcome the sunrise. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I really liked the idea of making wish bread, dropping wishes (raisins) into the dough as we knead it. But we all prefer the taste of sun (lemon) cake, so we combined the traditions, substituting cranberries for raisins. A wish for the coming new year falling with each cranberry, stirred into the cake batter - it was my favorite part of the evening. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The idea for the dream incubation is in <a href="http://www.starhawk.org/writings/circleround.html">this</a> book, along with amazing seasonal activities, stories and recipes for the entire year. We were in real need of nature-themed, seasonal, archetypal stories that honor women and girls with the dignified roles we deserve - it's no surprise that stories from the goddess tradition do this really well. We do Waldorf homeschooling here, and while I agree that fairytales are beneficial for some of their archetypal imagery, I'm super put off by many of the stories in our curriculum. Often women are simply props or property to be married off to a young (male) protagonist as a reward for demonstrating his bravery. Obviously, such stories are not useable - I've spent too many nights rewriting them. Much of the Waldorf style of learning really resonates with us, so I'm happy to find such kindred substitutes for the parts that don't. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm going to end my night with some painting after a ten year break. I used to really love painting, but I quit because I wasn't great. I was missing the point then, but I won't tonight.<br />
<br />
How are you celebrating? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Wishing you all the time and space for quiet reflection and rest in the coming months - happy solstice!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://overdosage.tumblr.com/post/22928475768/fabio-leone">image</a> by Fabio Leone</div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317440380138960058.post-66313058026308049622013-12-11T12:59:00.000-06:002013-12-22T09:01:05.861-06:00one hundred years, tomorrow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vk7FLFKp6GU/UrZmRNjuIQI/AAAAAAAAEds/N3KkJiFu81s/s1600/4388565d99f4f8319f09270bb4ad0f98.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vk7FLFKp6GU/UrZmRNjuIQI/AAAAAAAAEds/N3KkJiFu81s/s640/4388565d99f4f8319f09270bb4ad0f98.jpg" width="440" /></a></div "100 years, tomorrow" via marginamia>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Some of my most transformative self-discoveries and mystical experiences (along with everyday, practical insights, like where that lost twenty dollar bill landed and how to get impossible lids off jars) have come to me in that state between waking and dreaming, in both coming in and out of sleep, though usually coming out. In researching Carl Jung's active-imagination technique a bit, I notice similarities to these half-awake explorations.</span><br />
<div style="orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; widows: auto;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="color: black;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">To date, all of my reading about </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Jung's version of this practice</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> has taken place in the last week. And I noticed something that's blowing my mind a little: Jung's first experience with active imagination happened on December 12th, 1913 - exactly one hundred years ago tomorrow! </span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I plan to allow myself plenty of opportunities tomorrow to practice active imagination (celebrating this anniversary of Jung's feels particularly ceremonial to me because he and I also share the same birthday).</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So…who's with me? If you're a fan of Jung, I can't think of a better way to celebrate him. </span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">There seem to be many ways to practice active imagination, from painting and dance to writing and meditation. But the place between dreams and wakefulness is a particularly ripe time to dive into this practice because it's a time when we are very relaxed, open and generous with imagery. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">We all experience sudden visuals or dream like experiences as we're drifting off or beginning to wake. The key, as I understand it, is to move beyond passive experience to active participation - to interact with the imagery, </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">give it personification, treat it as real,</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> ask it questions, all without controlling the outcome(as we often do in a daydream), and without drifting into sleep, forgetfulness or passivity. This practice is different from lucid dreaming, but I think the same techniques applied to lucid dreams could only enrich them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">While I have found this time on the boundaries of sleep to be super potent for imagery, it's also extremely challenging (for me anyway) not to drift off. I'm hoping to be able to hold my practice tomorrow in that magic half-asleep space, but I'm prepared to simply collect those images and work with them later if the urge to snooze overtakes me. I also plan to work with an animal that appears to me frequently in this state. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> The following links may make active imagination a little simpler for a sort of drop-in, short notice practice, though I certainly encourage a deeper exploration: </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">- <a href="http://www.bodysoulandspirit.net/hypnagogia/what/vonfranz.shtml">here</a> (I love Marie-Louise Von France - take special note of #4)</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">- <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8TU5KAjV-Q">here</a> (super quick, super simple video)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">- <a href="http://www.bodysoulandspirit.net/hypnagogia/what/jung.shtml">story</a> of Jung's first experience with active imagination</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Please do leave a comment with further resources,experience, or suggestions if you can, and by all means, if you participate tomorrow, feel free to share your experiences! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> And you all may notice I'm not writing as much these days about the *names* in the margins - just gotta go where my heart goes - but I promise to keep it all marginal around here and not to abandon names completely. Word to the wise? When creating a blog name, give it room to grow with you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/195062227584078445/">image</a> </span></div>
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317440380138960058.post-84076411661005029592013-12-10T19:42:00.002-06:002013-12-10T20:21:30.576-06:00lost things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KDSX0q7u4hE/UqYrSkYSrdI/AAAAAAAAEb8/5SNCJEOZnpk/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KDSX0q7u4hE/UqYrSkYSrdI/AAAAAAAAEb8/5SNCJEOZnpk/s640/photo.JPG" width="540" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Some connected bits from last week's journaling. Here's to sharing….<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
Sunday: Her first loose tooth still wasn't out, and the new tooth was coming up behind it - shark teeth, they're called. I googled, I worried, I wondered if we should just give it a tug. So I wiggled a little too much. "My tooth just isn't ready, Mommy!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Tuesday: It was a warm fall day, 54 degrees. Standing over my sink, warm water on my hands, staring out the open window, crying, I tried to imagine how to let go of of a chapter in my life that is overdue for release. Then I look up to the last holdout tree in the yard as a hundred or so leaves fall and are blown through the air, though many more stay put. "It will fall away when it's ready, a little at a time, like the leaves, like her tooth. New growth comes, old nerves deaden, and the old just falls away...<br />
…This is how," my mind answered.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Wednesday: I awoke from a dream in which I was listening to "This Woman's Work", by Kate Bush. In my dream, the song echoed a longing to reclaim unsavored moments from my girls' early years. In the dream the girls were several years older than they actually are. I awoke to her patting my head, staring at me with those blue circle eyes, having climbed into my bed. She was still six…..felt like going back to a time lost. I savored every moment that day (brushing their hair by the kitchen table stands out most now), knowing to ride the emotional wave (the gift) of the dream. knowing all too well after many such lingering dreams that the feeling would fade by week's or even by day's end…..</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So I savored, ditched our lesson plans and took the children to the museum to see minerals and gemstones. We saw a pair of Marie Antoinette's earrings. huge diamonds. The light would hit them and we'd almost have to look away. In the evening, as they slept, my eyes welled up with tenderness. The tears held the shape of my eyes for a moment before falling.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Friday: Another dream - I'm having a ceremonial celebration in a building from my childhood, a building where a very difficult and defining chapter for my family started, a chapter that would echo, though we couldn't consciously hear it, throughout the rest of our time together, right through the deaths of my parents. This was the building, in our very small town, where my father lost his very public job. I realize upon waking that the celebration in my dream is alchemy... not so mysterious, pretty simple.<br />
I finally let go. for all of us.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sunday: "I'm like Marie Antoinette's earrings - my feelings just burst out of me, like those bright sparkle rays," she said, crying. I couldn't think of a better comparison for my daughter who, having just lost her first baby tooth (it fell out shortly after dinner, by week's end), had sobbed for a half hour. "I'll never do a day with this tooth in my mouth again. You said it was my first tooth when I was a baby, Mommy." <br />
She cries some more and then, "I think I'll always be this way… you know, like how when something changes it feels a little bit happy but also a little bit sad to me. and that's okay with me." She cried hard into my chest one last time, before she licked her salty tears, remarking with surprise and delight at how tasty she found them, even though she hadn't at all liked the taste of the ocean when it splashed her in the face last summer. Then she remembered my old tooth fairy pillow tucked away for her in the closet and made a run for it.<br />
"This is how," my mind answered.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The tooth is gone. That tree is bare, covered in our first snow. I've shed wounds so old I'd forgotten them, until I couldn't. And after much internal moving and shaking, I've started a long movement that begins with quiet, patience and trust.<br />
Trust - so hard for me. my biggest lesson maybe.<br />
<br />
This week I became a time traveler. In a single moment, and there have been many of them, my present is both a salve for a weary past and a beautiful token for a nostalgic future, where too many of these moments with young children lay behind me, where all of this soul searching is less marked... more settled (it's messy, but it's magic, after all). The gifts from my dreams are lingering, but they're starting to fade….. by week's end. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317440380138960058.post-7452851139325802062013-12-10T18:47:00.002-06:002013-12-10T19:44:00.162-06:00Sunny<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xd4PJdOcHAY/Uqe1icxLO4I/AAAAAAAAEcU/6oK1wejXfl8/s1600/7-2-molly-guy-8W8A2495-ew-780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xd4PJdOcHAY/Uqe1icxLO4I/AAAAAAAAEcU/6oK1wejXfl8/s640/7-2-molly-guy-8W8A2495-ew-780.jpg" width="540" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Boy, do I love the <a href="http://www.dailycandy.com/everywhere/flipbook/162332/Interview-with-Stone-Fox-Brides-Molly-Guy#slide=6">name</a> Sunny on a girl.<br />
<br />
image by Stephania Stanley </div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317440380138960058.post-14398793381609645702013-12-05T19:33:00.000-06:002013-12-05T19:39:51.806-06:00Nelson Mandela<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-spp_yJcqGYY/UqEn3M1ccJI/AAAAAAAAEbs/kIRcXgtL-kc/s1600/Nelson-Mandela1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-spp_yJcqGYY/UqEn3M1ccJI/AAAAAAAAEbs/kIRcXgtL-kc/s640/Nelson-Mandela1.jpg" width="540" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
- "There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered." </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thank you, thank you, thank you…. what a light you are.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://guardianlv.com/2013/11/nelson-mandela-not-just-defined-by-presidency/">image</a></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317440380138960058.post-13031872054019369522013-11-27T09:49:00.002-06:002013-11-27T09:53:05.615-06:00Lauren Spencer King<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-brfgP-5ZWuA/UpYDbwIEnsI/AAAAAAAAEZw/oIhUJfkLB2Q/s1600/Freunde-von-Freunden-Lauren-Spencer-King-042-930x620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-brfgP-5ZWuA/UpYDbwIEnsI/AAAAAAAAEZw/oIhUJfkLB2Q/s640/Freunde-von-Freunden-Lauren-Spencer-King-042-930x620.jpg" width="540" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V0lZ4YNSoOc/UpYDdVoUHxI/AAAAAAAAEaM/UCBMmUK8sRg/s1600/Freunde-von-Freunden-Lauren-Spencer-King-240-930x620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V0lZ4YNSoOc/UpYDdVoUHxI/AAAAAAAAEaM/UCBMmUK8sRg/s640/Freunde-von-Freunden-Lauren-Spencer-King-240-930x620.jpg" width="540" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2KP4WrJq2o0/UpYS5IdpLII/AAAAAAAAEbY/_NlIy3pffd0/s1600/Freunde-von-Freunden-Lauren-Spencer-King-239-930x620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2KP4WrJq2o0/UpYS5IdpLII/AAAAAAAAEbY/_NlIy3pffd0/s640/Freunde-von-Freunden-Lauren-Spencer-King-239-930x620.jpg" width="540" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Q7MG8ShycA/UpYDb5sjt_I/AAAAAAAAEZs/kxJ83bvm1XA/s1600/Freunde-von-Freunden-Lauren-Spencer-King-060-930x620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Q7MG8ShycA/UpYDb5sjt_I/AAAAAAAAEZs/kxJ83bvm1XA/s640/Freunde-von-Freunden-Lauren-Spencer-King-060-930x620.jpg" width="540" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-589H4ylt3Ug/UpYKqGfowDI/AAAAAAAAEbI/GZdU3hkNXGQ/s1600/Freunde-von-Freunden-Lauren-Spencer-King-025-930x620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-589H4ylt3Ug/UpYKqGfowDI/AAAAAAAAEbI/GZdU3hkNXGQ/s640/Freunde-von-Freunden-Lauren-Spencer-King-025-930x620.jpg" width="540" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love Lauren. Knowing her is absolutely one of the most beautiful treasures I've gained through online connectedness. Her home/studio interview, by Claire Cottrell, is on <a href="http://www.freundevonfreunden.com/interviews/lauren-spencer-king/">fvf</a> today. just wow. Her spaces and work are as multifaceted as she is - a reflection of someone dedicated to beauty, meaning, seeking and serving. </div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666;">-- "<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px;">During a period of time when I was reading a lot of alchemical texts I fell in love with this concept: As above, so below. I started looking at the cosmos as a mirror, what was it reflecting back? It is a place that holds so many unknown mysteries and it plays a huge role in divination through astrology."</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px;"> </span> </span></blockquote>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
This <a href="http://www.freundevonfreunden.com/interviews/lauren-spencer-king/">interview</a> is amazing. more beautiful outtakes at <a href="http://www.thesphinxandthemilkyway.com/2013/11/fvf.html">Lauren's</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
images by Claire Cottrell for Freunde von Freunden</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317440380138960058.post-83559927048899050592013-11-26T22:34:00.003-06:002013-11-27T06:26:20.593-06:00Rosemary Gladstar <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sVSameBEZ7k/UpVe0jvtSrI/AAAAAAAAEZM/VvY8KBgDWsM/s1600/Sage_Mountain_APPRENTICE_TWO__PHOTOS_212-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="540" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sVSameBEZ7k/UpVe0jvtSrI/AAAAAAAAEZM/VvY8KBgDWsM/s640/Sage_Mountain_APPRENTICE_TWO__PHOTOS_212-1.jpg" width="316" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4filFyTpoCA/UpVzvSql6KI/AAAAAAAAEZc/qkTu2zutIwI/s1600/d2da900a3f3911e39e3b22000ab5ba93_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4filFyTpoCA/UpVzvSql6KI/AAAAAAAAEZc/qkTu2zutIwI/s400/d2da900a3f3911e39e3b22000ab5ba93_8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
This name! on an herbalist, no less. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My family and I discovered a farm recently while taking a drive. When we learned about the plant medicine class taking place there the following day, my oldest daughter begged to attend. I was a little nervous about taking a six year old, but with a light in her eye and a pounding in my own heart that I just had to honor, we happily returned for the class. We loved it. And so … here I am being drawn back, full circle, to a path I took up and then veered from years ago. Funny how our kids can bring us round again - that I should have a six year old interested in "plant potions" and through teaching her I rekindle something essential, something richer even for the detour. And the detours …. I gain a better understanding of them, too. beautiful loops. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm starting<i> Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs </i><a href="http://www.herbsandearthawareness.com/Rosemary%20Gladstar's%20Medicinal%20Herbs:%20A%20Beginner's%20Guide">book</a> now. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic4kdY73OJ4">this</a> video tutorial of Rosemary making cough syrup. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Getting <a href="http://www.learningherbs.com/wildcraft.html">this</a> game, and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/931471.A_Kid_s_Herb_Book">this</a> book for my little herb lover. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My favorite herbal names: Clove, Nettle, Noni, Rosemary, Yarrow. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.sagemountain.com/rosemary-gladstar/student-interview.html">image</a> - from an interview with Rosemary</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
image - mine, from <a href="http://accokeekfoundation.org/tag/colonial-farm/">National Colonial Farm</a></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317440380138960058.post-36738584295687862972013-09-13T14:42:00.000-05:002014-01-02T21:31:45.167-06:00Totokaelo <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bta-i4cqRDM/UjNqCv6e48I/AAAAAAAAEYI/Kf3dpzOrgGI/s1600/main__MG_4303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bta-i4cqRDM/UjNqCv6e48I/AAAAAAAAEYI/Kf3dpzOrgGI/s640/main__MG_4303.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I like how Jill Wenger sought and chose a name for her <a href="http://totokaelo.com/">store</a> and brand. I like the outcome and meaning just as much - pretty simple, indeed.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
From an <a href="http://zero1magazine.com/article/totokaelo-interview-with-jill-wenger-2/">interview</a> with 01 Magazine, by Jennifer Latour and Jennilee Marigomen:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong style="border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></strong>
<strong style="border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></strong>
<strong style="border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">-- You changed your name to Totokaelo. What does it mean?</strong><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444;">I wanted a new word, a blank slate. Something fresh that didn’t have perceptions or meaning already associated with it. And I wanted to like how it sounds. Again, pretty simple. The roots are Latin. Toto means Total and Caelo means Sky. Total Sky. It’s a Latin expression roughly translated as ‘The shell of the sky and all of the heavens’. Western translation ‘The sky is the limit.’ </span></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
image - courtesy Totokaelo</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317440380138960058.post-49368378869198307922013-09-09T16:31:00.001-05:002013-11-27T10:00:08.615-06:00Lili + Elijah <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qu-7wPqMsRg/Ui4_dLGwiiI/AAAAAAAAEXo/RGHlzEl-e8o/s1600/Freunde-von-Freunden-Lili-Cuzor-Elijah-Pointer_7433-461x692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qu-7wPqMsRg/Ui4_dLGwiiI/AAAAAAAAEXo/RGHlzEl-e8o/s640/Freunde-von-Freunden-Lili-Cuzor-Elijah-Pointer_7433-461x692.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i_KkiG44j5c/Ui4_dPmlV6I/AAAAAAAAEXw/ZE_QY40Zc98/s1600/Freunde-von-Freunden-Lili-Cuzor-Elijah-Pointer_7673-461x692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i_KkiG44j5c/Ui4_dPmlV6I/AAAAAAAAEXw/ZE_QY40Zc98/s640/Freunde-von-Freunden-Lili-Cuzor-Elijah-Pointer_7673-461x692.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nDlwRayeDDE/Ui4_dPiAEoI/AAAAAAAAEXs/ylFROF1MfJk/s1600/Freunde-von-Freunden-Lili-Cuzor-Elijah-Pointer_7663-461x692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nDlwRayeDDE/Ui4_dPiAEoI/AAAAAAAAEXs/ylFROF1MfJk/s640/Freunde-von-Freunden-Lili-Cuzor-Elijah-Pointer_7663-461x692.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><a href="http://tigerstolilies.blogspot.com/">Lili Cuzor</a> and Elijah Pointer's interview and home tour by Claire Cottrell are on <a href="http://www.freundevonfreunden.com/interviews/lili-cuzor-elijah-pointer/">FvF</a> today. These are such lovely names on their own, but even better as a pair! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">- "We try to maintain a light load. Respect is a really big factor in the equation: we respect our home, our garden and our neighbors .... </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Simplicity is beautiful. A branch is beautiful. I wish to surround myself with as much beauty as I possibly can. That’s the filter I chose to view my life through. Elijah and I don’t have much in the sense of material items but I think our home feels grand."</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <span style="text-align: center;">such a satisfying and refreshing philosophy for creating a home - theirs is absolutely one of my favorites featured. </span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
images: by Claire Cottrell </div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317440380138960058.post-50189897691095440042013-09-09T09:45:00.001-05:002013-09-09T15:39:29.172-05:00Olive + June<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lkY4EpXGZ5k/Ui3bNGcOb1I/AAAAAAAAEW8/gzPiJLdLBfc/s1600/9556068308_813d009e75_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lkY4EpXGZ5k/Ui3bNGcOb1I/AAAAAAAAEW8/gzPiJLdLBfc/s640/9556068308_813d009e75_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's a silk flower fest over here today. I just posted on Jim Hodges' installation at the Hirshhorn, which then reminded me of the pretty silk flower decor at new L.A. nail salon, <a href="http://www.olivejune.com/">Olive + June</a> (named after the proprietor's grandmothers! you know I love it.) I fell in love with the design of this place after seeing it over at <a href="http://lainbloom.blogspot.com/2013/08/inspiring-business-olive-june.html"> L.A in Bloom</a> - you can read more about it there. Beautiful space, perfectly named.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
image - by Heather Taylor of L.A. in Bloom </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317440380138960058.post-61218998594586250512013-09-09T09:20:00.000-05:002014-01-02T21:30:34.348-06:00Jim Hodges<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WMPnhENM_50/Ui3TxnuCfhI/AAAAAAAAEWE/BI78IpEL914/s1600/photo+copy+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WMPnhENM_50/Ui3TxnuCfhI/AAAAAAAAEWE/BI78IpEL914/s640/photo+copy+7.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-brhU17HAK-s/Ui3Tyc8FsVI/AAAAAAAAEWg/k-dytVzJn-4/s1600/photo+copy+9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-brhU17HAK-s/Ui3Tyc8FsVI/AAAAAAAAEWg/k-dytVzJn-4/s640/photo+copy+9.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S0uqNLU4ymY/Ui3TwiNwCGI/AAAAAAAAEVc/vrgfMMK1sVY/s1600/photo+copy+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S0uqNLU4ymY/Ui3TwiNwCGI/AAAAAAAAEVc/vrgfMMK1sVY/s640/photo+copy+3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2q63Ghb844M/Ui3Tx67qv9I/AAAAAAAAEWA/cIiEJ52zbJc/s1600/photo+copy+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2q63Ghb844M/Ui3Tx67qv9I/AAAAAAAAEWA/cIiEJ52zbJc/s640/photo+copy+8.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3B-PQBJiCoY/Ui3TwhuvwoI/AAAAAAAAEVU/atPypcATaSU/s1600/photo+copy+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3B-PQBJiCoY/Ui3TwhuvwoI/AAAAAAAAEVU/atPypcATaSU/s640/photo+copy+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AFOirMLZLG0/Ui3TwNXzyaI/AAAAAAAAEVM/dRg18PucmB4/s1600/photo+copy+12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AFOirMLZLG0/Ui3TwNXzyaI/AAAAAAAAEVM/dRg18PucmB4/s640/photo+copy+12.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<br />
Yesterday, I took my oldest to the <a href="http://www.hirshhorn.si.edu/collection/home/#collection=home&detail=http%3A//www.hirshhorn.si.edu/bio/directions-jim-hodges/">Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden</a>. We had a lot of loves there, but this silk flower installation by Jim Hodges really got us. We kept leaving the room and reentering to get the feeling of being greeted by walls full of flowers. And yep - I love the name Jim, of course. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And because I can't write a post these days without sharing synchronistic happenings ... I found out last night from a friend that she actually worked for this artist and made a map for the piece when it was brought to the Hirshhorn - the same friend my daughter said would love the piece when we were looking at it. It really is a small world, isn't it?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">images © Kristen Gregg</span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317440380138960058.post-53154830828452602372013-08-21T14:54:00.004-05:002013-08-21T16:34:18.121-05:00Bluemoon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FIkpJfZctiM/UhT7ssI9jWI/AAAAAAAAEU0/ZiXmbdQY7Q8/s1600/PuntaAnimas1985OilandWaxonCanvas48X53_0923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="577" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FIkpJfZctiM/UhT7ssI9jWI/AAAAAAAAEU0/ZiXmbdQY7Q8/s640/PuntaAnimas1985OilandWaxonCanvas48X53_0923.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Last night I awoke around 3 am from a dream so visually intense it caused me to wake. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Before falling asleep, I fully intended to do some blanket moon gazing, but having a fever, myself, and caring for sick kids all day led to my passing out with my littlest, missing the full moon but dreaming the night away.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I dreamt I was in my kitchen pouring a glass of water. Lightening began to flash, drawing my attention through the kitchen window. I was gazing out and awaiting the thunder when the clouds parted, revealing the full moon, perfectly situated in the window's small frame. I then noticed a painterly blonde woman opening a gate (one which doesn't actually exist in waking life) in my neighbor's yard. All of the moonlight was fixed on her for a moment. As she looked up to the sky, my own gaze went back to the moon again. Only now I could see into it with such crazy detail and became so excited by it that I woke up. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Only after trying to get back to sleep for a bit did I think to actually get up from bed to see if the moon was in fact passing by the kitchen. Not knowing the time yet, I groggily went to my kitchen window and there was the moon, perfectly situated within it, almost as picturesque as it was in my dream! I stood there in massive awe for a while before returning to bed, thankful for a second chance to enjoy the blue moon.</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Name smoosh, Bluemoon, is one i've never considered before. After last night, I'm definitely feeling it. Of course, I'd pair it with something traditional, but the wild amongst you may like to play it up with something equally daring. </div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Speaking of meaningful moons, I'm loving Lauren's thoughtful <a href="http://www.thesphinxandthemilkyway.com/p/moon-info.html">moon posts</a> - scary spot on they are! </div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">image - painting by <a href="http://www.peteralexander.com/pa/?page_id=164">Peter Alexander </a></span></div>
</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317440380138960058.post-29691550935009413362013-07-27T16:35:00.000-05:002013-07-27T16:35:22.133-05:00Saskia Moore<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LiBRGWwwa4w/UfQ6WvYiBhI/AAAAAAAAEUk/D2a0Ks7bU2Y/s1600/sm-test.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LiBRGWwwa4w/UfQ6WvYiBhI/AAAAAAAAEUk/D2a0Ks7bU2Y/s640/sm-test.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Saskia Moore's<i> Dead Symphony</i> (<a href="http://saskiamoore.tumblr.com/deadsymphony">here</a> and <a href="http://www.superkaleidoscope.com/featured-artist-august.php">here</a>) - s</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">ure wish I could go to this one!</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">-"a contemporary symphony, comprising many documented accounts of music heard during near death experiences."</span></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">image by Saskia Moore</span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317440380138960058.post-68354357961944730922013-07-15T08:31:00.001-05:002014-01-02T21:31:29.213-06:00Richard Alpert<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O4jxNRZe03c/UeF8DGNOUoI/AAAAAAAAETg/roa85qaBR1s/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O4jxNRZe03c/UeF8DGNOUoI/AAAAAAAAETg/roa85qaBR1s/s640/photo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love this early photo of Ram Dass. It's neat to think that here he was, pregnant with all he would become though he didn't yet know it, couldn't yet feel his transformation as a possibility. And yet, it was there with him then, too, when he was Richard Alpert, Harvard professor.<br />
<br />
Ram Dass means "servant of god". Richard means "strong/powerful leader". Both names seem fitting, given the course his life has taken (and it's probably no small coincidence that the Richard Alpert character on LOST shares his name). </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm really drawn to Richard's journey lately. again. fifteen years after my first love affair with the Harvard spiritual pioneers of the fifties and sixties. I watched <i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqbRGzv3KMA">Ram Dass, Fierce Grace</a></i> for the first time this weekend. I'll definitely return to it again. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Have you read <i>Be Here Now</i>? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317440380138960058.post-61524043768190416662013-07-12T11:28:00.002-05:002014-01-02T21:30:58.426-06:00swim class<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/therikpics/4947658721/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="swimming into the paint by the rik pics, on Flickr"><img alt="swimming into the paint" height="475" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4135/4947658721_ea96fc38e5.jpg" width="650" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Here is the list of names from my oldest's swim class. I always enjoy watching individual names blossom when they become part of a set - like people, names seem to gain something special by mingling:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Gaspard</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Gabriel</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Nona</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> Audrey</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Yaphet</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Madeline</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Libby</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Rawan</span></span><br />
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/therikpics/4947658721/in/photolist-8xd3yH-apfKQB-arvY2-4zksbw-5mWEzm-5mWH25-eGoiz-6NtkR1-duAmc8-5eFmDV-biXeGF-9Dc76S-8dNSTb-87Goyk-6K25H4-4jNWB9-4gWp5v-5NduDV-jZ8Li-7iZ4qj-9vze7i-7W3KCy-2RjYFk-yMoDp-5wbDMZ-8dqrg1-4aCE4V-oMBkn-9xQuTg-6g7y6H-9gUNeN-3JvLGw-dyheDN-8XPbLm-6gbHb7-6hpgZV-adUhtP-9jT2ji-iFaUn-6qBEDt-6qFQRj-kfo1d-9JREdY-Go2uJ-pgwdB-4CkGDn-8qgrbj-4W69iH-4oer2i-4oer6g-5fjy3m/">image</a></span></div>
<br /></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317440380138960058.post-50132611189617556922013-06-29T07:39:00.002-05:002013-06-29T07:53:16.155-05:00 selling my summer dresses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wmYZ38OvUns/T-zFy0YyMMI/AAAAAAAAC1A/NZdbfGbCQJA/s1600/$(KGrHqR,!q4E-ZWZrPuCBP5Pb30eOw~~60_12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wmYZ38OvUns/T-zFy0YyMMI/AAAAAAAAC1A/NZdbfGbCQJA/s400/$(KGrHqR,!q4E-ZWZrPuCBP5Pb30eOw~~60_12.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
1. Ace & Jig SS12 Minidress in <b>Providence</b> Stripe, XS. The fabric is such a comfortable, soft linen. Tried it on a few times after my husband bought it for me a size too small, but it just doesn't fit (it was non refundable from Steven Alan).<br />
<strike>Listed </strike><a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ace-Jig-Spring-Mini-Dress-XS-Providence-Stripe-/231007728668?pt=US_CSA_WC_Dresses&hash=item35c922341c" style="text-decoration: line-through;">here</a><strike>, on ebay</strike>. <b>SOLD</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/4/0/4/2/8/4/webimg/668754020_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="eBay Image Hosting at www.auctiva.com" border="0" class="image" id="img_CurrentImage" src="http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/4/0/4/2/8/4/webimg/668754020_o.jpg" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
2. Steven Alan SS12 "<b>Wade</b> dress" in the lighter wash (pictured), size 4. Worn a several times, laundered once.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strike><a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Steven-Alan-Wade-Dress-size-4-chambray-/231007734350?pt=US_CSA_WC_Dresses&hash=item35c9224a4e">here</a>, on ebay</strike>. <b> SOLD</b></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oxsw8PuIZyo/T-zFAbkSSTI/AAAAAAAAC04/gnNRQpi6C3U/s1600/S12_1_WDR0145_SW132_OB.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oxsw8PuIZyo/T-zFAbkSSTI/AAAAAAAAC04/gnNRQpi6C3U/s400/S12_1_WDR0145_SW132_OB.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
3. Another dress on final sale from Steven Alan, <b> </b>"<b>Danielle</b> dress" in gray (tencel linen blend), size 4. <br />
Listed <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Steven-Alan-Danielle-Dress-Size-4-/231007732514?pt=US_CSA_WC_Dresses&hash=item35c9224322">here</a>, on ebay<br />
<br />
<br />
I may list more of my own clothes as I continue to pare down even further. I will be listing some children's pieces, waldorf/wooden/handmade toys, and our cloth diaper collection, too. All in the coming week or two <a href="http://www.ebay.com/sch/kgregg77/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686">here</a>. <br />
<br />
I am doing some major purging with everything else in our home (and my virtual and mental spaces) too. We joke that the summer will end with us having just a few cushions, mattresses, blankets and art supplies. And it just might. It feels amazing to let go, doesn't it? So amazing that, once you start this process, it's kinda hard to stop! <br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317440380138960058.post-33444694312700540232013-06-23T21:47:00.000-05:002013-06-23T21:47:39.601-05:00June Leaf<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RG2iCKJixQ4/UcesZCjVX4I/AAAAAAAAES0/BVyNQFpLfh0/s1600/56128288738737ad3303e351df238639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RG2iCKJixQ4/UcesZCjVX4I/AAAAAAAAES0/BVyNQFpLfh0/s640/56128288738737ad3303e351df238639.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oEHPJEB0yFw/Ucev5CFM7_I/AAAAAAAAETM/W4zNXJ2hodM/s1600/6885150171_c264f22bf6_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oEHPJEB0yFw/Ucev5CFM7_I/AAAAAAAAETM/W4zNXJ2hodM/s640/6885150171_c264f22bf6_b.jpg" width="510" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I found this painting by June Leaf on ebay last year, but missed bidding on it. I was also so smitten with her name and knew it would delight me each time I passed the painting in my home. June paired with last name, Leaf, is pure name poetry. According to the seller, the painting was done sometime in the fifties (pretty unlike her later work, also lovely). I've thought of it often, and now again this month, as I reflect on all the admirable Junes out there. Richard Avedon did this portrait of June in the seventies - I love it. </div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2