tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11861030579628538522012-01-24T10:34:32.981-08:00Lianoreply@blogger.comBlogger911100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-80971039182356594982012-01-23T14:49:00.000-08:002012-01-23T14:50:13.759-08:00

For a large portion of my life, I thought I had all the right answers, that I knew everything needed to guarantee me a prosperous, healthy, satisfying, even (dare I say) perfect life. And when things didn't go according to plan, I assumed there was something I wasn't doing "quite right." That it was my fault that this perfect life hadn't happened to me yet. After all, I had been promised by my

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-42892076873840524132011-11-09T11:41:00.000-08:002012-01-23T14:50:13.761-08:00

As I was trying to sort through some work-related problems, I realized that I was feeling tight and panicky in my chest, over my heart. That I had allowed myself to take on the pain and issues of everyone involved in the current messiness and "fix it." When I realized what I was doing, I paused and put my hands over my heart. For the next few minutes I meditated about sending love to those

Lianoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-82413822136198152872011-09-29T12:59:00.000-07:002012-01-23T14:50:13.762-08:00

Well, this morning I came out my front door and started to jog down my driveway, and right there was a group of four adults: my neighbors and their friends out for a smoke break, and they watched me as I turned to run down the street. I said a mumbled, "Hi," as I ran past, and then I tried to run so the trees would be between me and the foursome. I understand rationally that none of them

Lianoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-13678278955901248482011-09-28T15:13:00.000-07:002012-01-23T14:50:13.764-08:00

So, it has been a while since I've written anything here, as my energies are engaged on another project. However, I'm also going through a huge personal transition right now, and I find that I want to bring part of my process here, for anyone it might help. First of all, while I've tried to be a healthy person throughout my life, I've always struggled with health problems (some of them very

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-52992496677602326842011-06-14T16:35:00.000-07:002011-06-14T16:35:30.149-07:00

Well, I've had a busy few weeks with moving and having this big project unfolding. And I've discovered something. When the Universe brings me a big project that hits a need for many people ... it can end up taking up my life if I let it. Watching this project grow has been amazing, but watching it grow to inhabit each little spot in my life has not been so great. I've learned a lot about setting

Lianoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-28260615725241588302011-05-13T11:47:00.000-07:002011-05-14T10:20:44.809-07:00

Well, just so you know, there was a post here about how I'm moving, and more about the project I've been working on. But Blogger had a bunch of technical problems during the past few days, and it looks like they reset to a system restore point which effectively deleted my last post. So ... just so you know, I'm moving ... and life is crazy. And that big project is taking off in ways that astonish

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-76194096262008813632011-05-11T23:18:00.000-07:002011-05-14T10:19:14.990-07:00

As I've noted in the past couple of posts, I've been taking a big risk by following a BIG idea that came to me. I just wanted to give a quick update: The universe had something really big in mind. The project has taken off in a way that has astonished me. It is fulfilling a need for many people. This shows me that my needs are often not only MY needs. They are others' needs as well. Now a big

Lianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-33025103008658676812011-04-25T16:01:00.000-07:002012-01-23T14:50:13.765-08:00

So, my last post about acting on a big idea that really scared me ... well, here's a follow up. I'm feeling the anxiety of going toward something that feels so big. It's stretching me in ways that make me feel giddy and jumpy and ... terrified. And as I've been feeling this way for a few days, I've realized something. Often, when I envision myself doing something really big and amazing, I see

Lianoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-84544698806231719402011-04-19T23:16:00.000-07:002011-04-19T23:17:26.993-07:00

This morning I woke up with an idea in my head. The kind of idea where suddenly something makes sense in a new way. As this idea settled, I saw a path for possible action. It was a path that I never would have considered. Ever. And yet ... here was the idea in my mind so clear and available. I had other plans for today, but they were flexible. And so, I did the almost unthinkable: I acted on

Lianoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-24757222550073579272011-03-31T23:27:00.000-07:002011-03-31T23:36:50.533-07:00

Well, thanks for joining me during my push to put up healing tools during the month of March. I got twenty-six put up, which feels pretty good. I've still got quite a list that I want to put up, so maybe I'll dedicate another month to healing tools sometime soon. Thank you very much to those of you who commented. It really helped me to stay motivated to keep putting up my healing tools. I hope

Lianoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-39876779852533978032011-03-31T22:57:00.000-07:002011-03-31T23:28:10.633-07:00

What is it? Carnelian is one of my all time favorite stones. In fact, as I write this, a large piece of carnelian is close at hand. It is a stone that ranges from orange to deep red. For me, it is an incredibly grounding stone. A stone of courage and confidence; creativity and individuality. Pretty much, it's a stone that makes me feel more like myself. How do I use it? When I want it around me

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-21687258239604387772011-03-31T22:54:00.000-07:002011-03-31T22:54:23.171-07:00

What is it? Selenite is a beautiful white stone that is excellent for cleaning and repairing the aura. It is one of the few stones that doesn't need to be cleansed after use, as it doesn't continue to hold energy.  It is a very luminous stone, catching light along its fibers. How do I use it? I use this stone in several ways. The most common for me is to use it kind of like a bar of soap that I

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-62478442863557249282011-03-31T17:12:00.000-07:002011-03-31T17:12:45.469-07:00

What is it? When we write or draw with our non-dominant hand, we access our brain paths differently. In different forms of art therapy, this is a technique that is used to allow access to things we may not want to admit or face, or to come into contact with our "inner child." How do I use it? Get some paper, crayons, markers, paints ... and then sit down and make art using your non-dominant

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-70745701086395666292011-03-31T15:17:00.000-07:002012-01-23T14:50:13.766-08:00

What is it? When I was young and believed the simplified truths I had been fed by well-meaning people, I used to think that if I did, said, and thought all the right things that somehow I would be able to control the outcome and make it good and pleasant. But the truth of life is that reality is what really happens. And reality cannot be controlled. Learning to accept that life events are not

Lianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-38717774322741200432011-03-31T13:01:00.000-07:002012-01-23T14:50:13.767-08:00

What is it? Morning Pages is the name of a freewriting technique that I learned from Julia Cameron's book The Artist's Way. Here's how it goes: When you get up in the morning, you begin the day by sitting down with a pen and notebook and you write non-stop for three pages. The intent is just to pour your brain out. You're not trying to be poetic or meaningful, you're just letting out anything

Lianoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-9456757514292062092011-03-31T12:33:00.000-07:002012-01-23T14:50:13.768-08:00

What is it? Prayer is something found in almost every culture. There is a innate desire in the human spirit to call on the higher powers: sometimes to offer thanks, sometimes to ask for help, and sometimes just to talk. Now, just to make sure my readers remember: This is MY view of prayer. I realize that prayer is something very personal, and this is true for me as well. So, the views that I

Lianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-10938617997704626842011-03-31T12:13:00.000-07:002011-03-31T21:32:30.057-07:00

What is it? Our feet are really quite amazing. They are full of nerve endings, reflexology points, lots of little bones, and more. In fact, they have so much going on with them that if you're wearing a bad pair of shoes, it might just make your whole day worse. A simple foot rub (no training required), where you just use your thumbs and fingers to work the bottom, sides, and top of each foot, can

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-91604554255187604102011-03-18T23:56:00.000-07:002012-01-23T14:50:13.770-08:00

What is it? Music has risen out of the human soul for thousands of years. In the lore, there are all kinds of stories about how music soothes the savage beast or brings someone to their senses, and more. Music is a sort of magic that, when used properly, opens and heals the spirit. Have you ever wanted to play the same song over and over and over during a hard time in your life? If so, then you

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-85299684169775215552011-03-18T00:16:00.000-07:002011-03-18T00:16:42.210-07:00

What is it? Lavender essential oil is one of the best for calming and soothing. Tea Tree is one of the best oils for cleansing and clearing. Together, they make a brilliant blend that clears and calms. Usually, I make my own blends, but Desert Essence Lavender and Tea Tree Oil blend is so excellent that I always keep a bottle on hand. How do I use it? My two favorite ways to use this oil are

Lianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-6601900033639255232011-03-17T23:48:00.000-07:002012-01-23T14:50:13.771-08:00

What is it? Ever since we were babies, we've been stretching our bodies. As we get older and tired ... sometimes it seems like it's too much effort to really stretch. But when we do, it feels so good. Stretching is anytime when you elongate your limbs and body to gently pull on your muscles and tendons. Part of the wonder of stretching is how much tension it can release. When I am afraid or

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-29094840315900307632011-03-17T23:37:00.000-07:002011-03-17T23:37:55.507-07:00

What is it? Meditation beads offer a focus for the chattering part of the mind when you're trying to quiet your soul and be still. Like other meditation practices and tools, the idea is to give your mind something to latch onto so that it will release your conscious attention. Traditionally, you've probably heard of Rosaries and Malas, both of which are different types of meditation beads, often

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-12403425078088843002011-03-17T23:24:00.000-07:002011-03-17T23:24:12.313-07:00

What is it? Like chimes, singing bowls, and drums, clapping is a way to change the energy of your surroundings through use of sound. If you have two hands, you can clap, and the motion of it is energizing. How do I use it? Heh. Put your hands together! I think most of us can cup our hands just right when we clap to get a loud, resonate clap.  Generally, when I'm trying to break up energy in a

Lianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-60959455556089503552011-03-15T20:39:00.000-07:002011-03-15T22:52:17.062-07:00

What is it? I used to think there were pretty much only two types of cards: playing cards and Tarot cards. I'm not really much for card games, and Tarot cards aren't my style at all. So, I had always just ignored cards, until I saw what others were doing with them. They were making meditation cards, oracle cards, story cards, and more. These types of card deck has an intrinsic usefulness for me.

Lianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-500988489660343912011-03-10T16:16:00.000-08:002011-03-18T00:17:15.467-07:00

What is it? These chimes have a very concentrated tone. When struck, they create a long, piercing tone. It's a very pleasing sound, and the three chimes each have a different tone, and they match harmonize beautifully. How do I use it? Pretty easy ... just lightly strike the chimes and enjoy! The tone lingers for quite a while, which adds to the effect. When do I use it? These chimes are

Lianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-9348417466339120902011-03-10T15:41:00.000-08:002011-03-10T15:42:59.040-08:00

What is it? This oil has a deep, woody, earthy scent that is very grounding. It improves with age. My wonderful little vial of aged oil is pretty much gone, so I recently bought a new bottle. Its scent right now is too sweet and a bit off-putting, so I'm just letting it sit until it gains that marvelous round scent that feels like being held in the embrace of Mother Earth. How do I use it? My

Lianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-23089081930202393272011-03-10T15:15:00.000-08:002011-03-10T15:15:12.373-08:00

What is it? Singing bowls are cast or hammered from various metals so that when a wand is rubbed around the edge of the bowl, it will sing (kind of like if you rub your finger around the rim of a crystal goblet). There are all kinds of stories about how these bowls came to be ... that they were originally just bowls to put things in, but that then someone discovered that they could sing; or that

Lianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-42427289461705178062011-03-10T14:54:00.000-08:002011-03-10T14:55:08.208-08:00

What is it? Room spritzes are a great way of diffusing essential oils and flower essences into the air. How do I use it? Get a spritz bottle (you can find them in a small size in the travel section at the store). Then select what you want to put in it. Be careful if you're mixing oils so that you end up with a pleasing blend. Put 10-20 drops of oil and/or 4-8 drops of flower essences into the

Lianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-13504687667277512282011-03-09T17:59:00.000-08:002011-03-09T17:59:02.619-08:00

What is it? Lime Essential Oil is is well known in folklore for its ability to cleanse, purify and renew the spirit and the mind. It is also said to be effective in cleansing the aura. To me, this is one of the best "uplifters." How do I use it? Hold the open bottle under your nose and inhale.        OR Put some on a tissue so you can smell it without worrying about spilling the bottle.

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-28214393292152176152011-03-09T17:43:00.000-08:002011-03-09T17:44:53.359-08:00

What is it? Ignatia Amara is a homeopathic remedy for grief and emotional upset. And it is fabulous. How do I use it? Since it is a homeopathic, you need to realize that our western allopathic idea of "what's good for a little is good for a lot" does not work with homeopathy. With homeopathy, you want to take just a hint to remind your body what it is trying to do naturally. So, if it's working,

Lianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-80784268561299837402011-03-09T17:26:00.000-08:002011-03-09T17:45:21.525-08:00

What is it? Crab Apple Flower Essence is one of the best tools I've found to help with feelings of unworthiness, imperfection, brokenness, "being unclean." It's one of the Bach Flower Essences that I really put to use during certain phases of my healing process. How do I use it? For flower essences, there are several ways to use them. The most common is to drop four drops under your tongue and

Lianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-85498579101764970042011-03-07T10:41:00.000-08:002012-01-23T14:50:13.772-08:00

What is it? Gratitude Rocks are just a little bowl of rocks kept near my bed. I came up with them during a time when I was feeling that life wasn't working very well. A time when I was hurt and sad and wounded. I needed something to show me the places where life was still working. So, since I really like rocks, I got out some small tumble rocks I had and put them in a little wooden bowl. It fit

Lianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-5633912377000687192011-03-06T16:38:00.000-08:002011-03-06T16:38:12.139-08:00

What is it?  A Vision Map is a collage of images and words that represent what you are working toward. It acts as a visual reminder and focus piece that can really help when a situation is challenging or difficult. When do I use it? I have used Vision Maps for all sorts of needs. I made one when I was going through a very vulnerable and scary time, and it gave me comfort. A friend of mine

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-58086244009227172482011-03-04T20:21:00.000-08:002011-03-18T00:17:59.116-07:00

What is it? Do you remember when you were a child and played with percussive instruments at school? There were probably little drums, tambourines, a triangle, some shakers, and little bells on a stick. Basically, what you're looking for here are some pleasant sounding bells. Mine sound like how I imagine Santa's sleigh bells jingle--gentle, happy, twinkly. When do I use it?  I use them when I

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-84640259018673234532011-03-04T20:05:00.000-08:002011-03-04T20:05:29.008-08:00

What is it? It's amazing how often I forget to breathe. There are times when I realize that I've been holding my breath for who knows how long. Or times when I find that I've been breathing shallowly all day long. When we breathe fully and deeply it minutely moves each bone in our bodies, sort of allowing a full sweep of our systems so our bodies can function more properly. So, when we don't

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-86814323483778747852011-03-04T19:43:00.000-08:002011-03-04T19:48:10.512-08:00

What is it? Rescue Remedy is a blend of five flower essences: "Rock Rose for terror and panic, Impatiens for irritation and impatience, Clematis for inattentiveness, Star of Bethlehem for shock, and Cherry Plum for irrational thoughts." It acts like a homeopathic remedy, giving sort of energetic echos to the body to remind it of what is is trying to do. In this case, it is reminding the body

Lianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-42358774609027646762011-03-04T17:51:00.000-08:002011-03-04T19:47:21.999-08:00

What is it? Frankincense has been a valued healing oil for a very, very long time. In fact, legend has it that frankincense trees were so valuable and precious that they were guarded by winged serpents. Anciently, it was prized as highly as gold—because it could cure just about anything. It was a miracle. (I’ve wondered about the frankincense brought by the magi to Mary, Joseph, and

Lianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-78931305820337723592011-02-22T20:56:00.000-08:002012-01-23T14:50:13.773-08:00

Last week our lives ... changed.  My husband finally got a job offer after a job hunt of more than two years. We thought we had three weeks to get him ready to go, but it turned out we only had two. Sort of. We ended up driving a couple of states away to look for housing this weekend, the day after the job offer, which made all kinds of complications in the rest of our lives, especially mine, as

Lianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-7131974601000824722011-01-24T10:31:00.000-08:002012-01-23T14:50:13.774-08:00

A few days ago, a friend of mine and I were talking while the afternoon sunlight was coming in the window. As we talked the conversation turned to a status update she had put on her facebook profile saying that she found the aging process disconcerting. I asked her what she meant by it ... and soon we were talking about all the ways our bodies change as they get older, especially about how they

Lianoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-24824074927278003762011-01-08T11:54:00.000-08:002011-01-08T11:54:32.584-08:00

I'm writing a novel. Here's how it started. A friend of mine recommended the book No Plot? No Problem!, written by the man who started National Novel Writing Month. It's a fun, quick book about actually drafting a whole novel (defined as 50,000 words) in one calender month. He talks about "someday novelists"--referring to people who would like to write a novel "someday."  Admittedly, I fall

Lianoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-11248357619286801282010-12-21T22:26:00.000-08:002010-12-22T22:30:57.443-08:00

Obviously my screen cleanse worked really well. I'll be back after Christmas, which will make this a very long break on this blog .... I will be back ... soon. Enjoy the holidays.

Lianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-28103612837031645202010-11-15T10:28:00.000-08:002010-11-15T10:28:12.552-08:00

From time to time, my husband and I like to do a "cleanse" of some part of our lives. Last Winter we did a double two-week liver cleanse that helped detox our bodies and resolve some health issues. After this cleanse, we had made some major breakthroughs with how we relate to food and our bodies. It was a very difficult but rewarding experience. This Spring we did a "consumer cleanse" where we

Lianoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-88538287587488170302010-11-13T14:49:00.000-08:002010-11-13T14:51:21.354-08:00

I've been working on publishing the memoirs of my husband's grandfather. We're trying to get it done before Christmas, and the phase of the project that we're currently in involves researching to get some footnotes where more information is needed to understand what he's writing about. The research has been fascinating. And the internet has been a remarkable tool to help us as we go. Some of the

Lianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-9005480179817396932010-10-30T10:26:00.000-07:002012-01-23T14:50:13.776-08:00

I'm a cold-bodied person. If I have control of the thermostat, I tend to put it up pretty high. During the cold months, I wear lots of layers and I put a mattress heater on my bed. And you should see my tea collection. I have a whole cupboard full of exotic teas to give me endless variety in hot sipping. And scarves. I wear warm, cuddly scarves, even indoors. Yes, I'm a freezing person. Because

Lianoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-67521854294134953862010-10-19T19:59:00.000-07:002010-10-19T19:59:52.597-07:00

I've noticed that when I'm not feeling well, I often take the path of least resistance. In other words, I sit around feeling sorry for myself while trying to distract myself. It doesn't help much. Today, I've been feeling under the weather, and I finally thought, "Why don't I do something that will actually make a difference?" So, I took a nap and then dry brushed and showered. And now ... I

Lianoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-16783665284391656702010-10-08T22:33:00.000-07:002010-10-30T10:27:53.768-07:00

Back when I first started this blog, I felt like I often offered practical ways to engage with life to increase awareness. As I've been going through a lot of crisis in my life lately, I've found that my blog posts tend to focus on that instead. The other day, I realized that I have actually done something very, very practical lately to help deal with the chaos. I call it my Sanctuary on the Go.

Lianoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-86716166757169319132010-09-20T22:27:00.000-07:002010-09-20T23:59:55.706-07:00

Well, it has been a week since I last wrote on this blog. It has been an interesting week, filled to bursting with all sorts of life, happening so fast and crazy that the past week could fill up a month. Sometimes life gets like that. A couple of days ago, I was thinking about this blog, and how, since my life had a huge avalanche, that I haven't written as much here as I would like. And then I

Lianoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-33064961220255553222010-09-13T22:12:00.000-07:002010-09-13T22:12:10.828-07:00

The other day, a new acquaintance of mine and I were discussing religion. As she described where she was at on her spiritual path, she did so by listing the things she didn't believe in any longer. Then she remarked, "but that doesn't describe what I do believe." The comment stuck with me. And here I am, still thinking about it several days later. I think there's a tendency sometimes to define

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-43573435186244709952010-08-26T12:07:00.000-07:002010-08-26T23:26:04.791-07:00

At little while ago, I read about a woman who had only one memory of ever being really "seen" as a child. Her parents were both absorbed in their own lives, and didn't consider children to be real people. One day, when she was about 4 years old, her father took her to work with him for some reason, and then promptly left her in the lobby. She felt afraid. She didn't want to be left alone in a

Lianoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-51214452687828103692010-08-15T23:12:00.000-07:002010-08-15T23:12:13.330-07:00

A few months ago, my mom and I were having one of those rambling conversations that covers all kinds of topics, and goes from trivial to deep without warning. At one point, we were talking about the overwhelming amount of messages women receive about how we should look a certain way, but, (in our particular slice of culture), not be sexual or enjoy our bodies at all. In other words, we should

Lianoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-61609039099520093732010-08-07T19:48:00.000-07:002010-08-07T19:49:04.618-07:00

NOTE: I'm so pooped right now that I'm probably half-asleep. But I really wanted to put something up after this experience today. So, please love me for being less articulate and developed than usual.  Well, this morning when I woke up, I was totally trashed. I could hardly get my head off the pillow, and I just wanted that alarm to shut up. It was early. Too early. My husband and I had plans

Lianoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-75086480103936142662010-07-29T09:42:00.000-07:002010-07-29T09:42:45.411-07:00

Have you ever had a series of events that interlocked in such an extraordinary way, that when you looked back, you saw the hand of God (or the universe, or whatever you call the higher powers)?  I'm in the middle of one of these divine cascades.    At the end of June, I was getting ready to settle down and take a break. I had just finished teaching Spring term, and all the things that were

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-35925885615297116712010-07-28T20:16:00.000-07:002010-07-28T20:16:54.926-07:00

So, I've been working on another post. And I feel good about it, and have been enjoying the writing. It's a worthy topic ... but, I'm finding that what I really want to be doing right now is sketching. Since we've just moved, this would mean finding my sketch pad and so forth ... which sounds like work. In other words, I think I'm letting it be a barrier to stop me from creating what I want to

Lianoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-91817751101288778882010-07-19T12:35:00.000-07:002010-07-19T12:46:49.543-07:00

I grew up in a strong religious culture where the message I internalized was that if only I were "righteous" enough, then God would make me happy. What I didn't realize was that the huge blackness inside me had nothing to do with how "righteous" I was or wasn't, but rather was because some very dark things had happened to me. My response to this darkness was to try to be perfect. If only I were

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-54908816622307834342010-07-18T11:07:00.000-07:002010-07-18T11:14:53.690-07:00

Recently, as I was in the midst of beginning this crazy moving project (now I'm in the middle), a book I had placed on hold at the local library finally came up. It's called The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. I had heard this book praised to the skies by many people for  years, but I had never read it. So, here it was, at last, in my hands. And I was moving. So strange how life goes. Being

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-47721646313577922010-07-15T21:59:00.000-07:002010-07-15T21:59:27.940-07:00

... that I've given up on this blog ... fear not. For behold, the avalanche has come, and rocks are falling fast and furious all around me. But I have found a cave wherein I can take shelter and await a time when the cosmos shall come together in glorious triumph. Or something like that. I'm in the middle of moving and things are very crazy. In fact, tomorrow, my computer will be taken apart.

Lianoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-69227896432112493722010-07-04T15:00:00.000-07:002010-07-04T15:01:57.262-07:00

Wild Geeseby Mary Oliver You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves. Tell me about your despair, yours, and I will tell you mine. Meanwhile the world goes on. Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain are moving across the landscapes, over the

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-58674512624357757292010-06-29T12:50:00.000-07:002010-06-29T12:52:11.977-07:00

You know that saying about "the straw that broke the donkey's back"? Well, there really is some truth in that. Last night, I realized that all the HUGE things that are out of control in my life right now were being somehow manageable until last night when our landlord came to tell us that we need to move out by the end of July because he has a "family situation" that he needs to put in our

Lianoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-79210747900454262292010-06-25T11:30:00.000-07:002010-06-25T17:33:27.424-07:00

Have you ever worked really hard on something, gotten everything just right, made it beautiful, and then been ready to enjoy the finished product, only to find that it was ruined? I've recently had this experience in a sort of repeating cycle. A small project I've been working on, and have finished several times, continues to destruct when the printers get their hands on it. Now, this isn't an

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-11722537140554049052010-06-25T11:16:00.000-07:002010-06-27T12:30:53.319-07:00

This post is a little more introspective and problem-thinking than usual. You see, in the past couple of weeks, I have learned something about my creative process. While I enjoy having someone to bounce ideas with, and while I generally want to have another eye look over and offer suggestions about what I've created or written, I very much need my own space to create. My husband is one of many

Lianoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-68250490692897862072010-06-14T21:45:00.000-07:002010-06-14T21:45:08.872-07:00

I think a lot of the time, we end up moving by being pulled along by surface needs and desires. Something "invites" doing, so we do it. We wake up and automatically head to the shower. It's morning, so we eat breakfast. The phone rings and we answer it. There are snacks sitting on the counter, so we eat them. Sometimes, we do a reactionary response to surface needs or desires. Like when a

Lianoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-48712780408335893472010-06-08T17:08:00.000-07:002010-06-08T17:08:04.414-07:00

Love After Love by Derek Walcott The time will come When, with elation, You will greet yourself arriving At your own door, in your own mirror, And each will smile at the other’s welcome,   And say, sit here, Eat. You will love again the stranger who was your self. Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart To itself, to the stranger who has loved you All your life, when you ignored For

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-39457742932056137752010-06-04T11:01:00.000-07:002010-06-04T11:04:38.326-07:00

With intuition we are like the starry night, we gaze at the world through a thousand eyes.  —Clarissa Pinkola EstesThis is one of my new favorite quotes, because it so simply and poetically acknowledges the vast vision of our inner gifts. Recently, I completed something very, very big that I've been working on for two and a half years. It was a giant mending of the heart and a releasing of

Lianoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-72350895067985499862010-05-31T10:50:00.000-07:002010-05-31T10:51:13.409-07:00

Many people go through life assuming that they have no choice but to continue doing what they've always done. They feel that if they did things differently, they would be SOMEONE ELSE. Believing that you would be someone else if you did what would make your life happier comes from defining your identity too broadly. You assume that "I" includes all sorts of habits, positive and negative. —Cindy

Lianoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-40489708965234910742010-05-28T10:54:00.000-07:002010-05-28T10:54:26.749-07:00

Yes, that's right. I've recently discovered that clutter has value.  I'm one of those people who frequently organizes her belongings, separates out what is no longer serving a purpose and donates that pile to goodwill, and then tries to put the other things back together in a way that makes intuitive sense so I can find "it" next time. I do this a lot. A lot a lot. And I like to read books

Lianoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-13481649245585799102010-05-24T11:49:00.000-07:002010-05-24T11:54:38.149-07:00

So, I noticed just now that my last post was a week ago. My goal has been to post several times a week on this blog, but it didn't happen this past week. Why? Well, I could put my pile of excuses out there, namely that I've been sick with a bad cold and that my husband has been making a huge life shift from being employed to looking for employment. But what about the week before that? It didn't

Lianoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-3444442049746990632010-05-16T22:31:00.000-07:002010-05-16T23:09:06.930-07:00

Do you ever have desires that make you feel like you must be a bad person for having them? I think everyone does. Our usual response to these desires is to suppress them, stuff them, or squash them in some way. If we want to try a new response to these desires, what would that look like? If we're not stuffing them, would we be giving in to these desires? And are we bad for having them in the

Lianoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-79050231722501069382010-05-12T12:04:00.000-07:002010-05-12T12:07:01.800-07:00

Have you ever felt broken or inadequate because of illness—whether physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual? I know I have. I've had times where I felt like I damaged the world by being in it. I mean, I had so many problems and issues, I was so full of pain—how could that not make me a blight? Following from this was a feeling that anything that came from me, anything I created would

Lianoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-63723100490111126842010-05-06T16:19:00.000-07:002010-05-06T16:19:42.024-07:00

One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light but by making the darkness conscious. —C. G. JungIn my life, I have received a lot of pressure from many sources to “be happy.” While being happy does feel good—false cheer seems to corrode my soul. This demand for cheeriness makes grief, fear, and anger (and other “unhappy” emotions) unacceptable. However, I believe that there is

Lianoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-37025248524262861942010-05-05T12:03:00.000-07:002010-05-16T22:20:32.111-07:00

how do you tell if a "root desire" is good? are there "root desires" that aren't good? sometimes i wish i could just chop away from all those roots and be free. —mirandaMiranda asked a question that I think most of us have wondered from time to time. These deep desires that we have, are they good? Are they bad? What are they? Our true desires are, I believe, good. They are inherently

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-54049946619416335872010-05-05T11:44:00.000-07:002010-05-05T11:44:59.093-07:00

This morning, I got up and surprised myself by getting on the phone and scheduling a doctor's appointment, a hair cut appointment, and more. Generally, I procrastinate doing these types of things until they absolutely must be attended to. Indeed, I have already been putting them off for a while (you should see my hair). Plus, I really don't like to talk on the phone. As I made the third call

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-63472879199739759832010-05-04T20:19:00.000-07:002010-05-04T20:20:20.386-07:00

Do you resist grief? I do. It has taken me years of work to open myself to grief, and even now, it's very difficult for me to let my sorrow and pain manifest fully. Usually, I subconsciously try to find ways to stifle or numb my grief. For instance, all day today I've been craving Swedish Fish. Why? Because I'm hurting and I'm alone. However, I've been trying to hold on and stay aware of what

Lianoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-5333186425431098422010-05-03T18:48:00.000-07:002010-05-03T22:53:46.794-07:00

Saturday night, a friend of mine died from pulmonary embolism. I had to look it up to see what it was. To see what killed him. It was so sudden. There was no warning at all. I think I'm still in shock over it. My eyes get hot and tight sometimes, like I want to cry, but I haven't processed it enough yet. The tears are yet to come. I've known this man for about ten years. He's a good man. And

Lianoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-3956657270874009162010-05-01T13:49:00.000-07:002010-05-03T22:46:20.165-07:00

Maybe you've been in a situation like this before: You've had a realization about yourself that directly conflicts with how you like to be perceived by others. You would prefer to keep this realization to yourself and continue as normal, but ... will you? A couple of months ago, I realized that I was terrified of not making a regular salary that I knew would support me. You see, right now, my

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For a couple of months, my life was feeling full to bursting. Then the past two weeks it was so crammed that it was hard to find breathing space. And now ... now things have finally let go and slowed down. I have time to think and be and breathe. Consequently, I've been thinking about emptiness for the past few days.   Sometimes "empty" feels spacious and open. Vast and expansive.  Sometimes "

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My husband is away on a business trip, and I have tendonitis, making my right hand not very usable. Somehow, being injured and alone makes me feel vulnerable. In the past, when I felt vulnerable, I would thicken my walls and come across as the most competent person in the world. When I had injuries, I would just keep blasting through with a pocket full of Advil. If I did let people help me

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-63387194849860857372010-04-28T09:35:00.000-07:002010-04-28T09:37:00.416-07:00

How would you feel if you lived at a nice house but were always left to find shelter out in the cold and had to go through the garbage to find food? How would it feel to be so unwelcome? I've thought about this idea a lot in relation to those part of myself that I had "locked up in dark closets" or "pushed underground." For most of my life, I've sent the "unacceptable parts" a strong message

Lianoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-42238572620247353892010-04-27T09:32:00.000-07:002010-04-28T09:01:45.388-07:00

Dark Sister: Part II In the first post about this dream, we got a glimpse of how violently we can beat down the parts of us that we find "unacceptable." That we resist accepting ourselves as our whole selves, including the parts that feel dark or dangerous. Here is the last half of the dream: We are now sitting facing each other on a carpeted floor in a nondescript room. Logic and Emotion

Lianoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-2668764434733335902010-04-26T12:22:00.000-07:002010-04-26T12:23:29.669-07:00

To start off: This is going to be a short post because my wrist is in a brace. You see, I got distracted. Very distracted. My husband and I were getting him ready for a two-week business trip, and it turned out to be a lot of work. We needed to get his two blogs polished and revamped to make them more professional, design and order two sets of business cards, buy a new business wardrobe (he only

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-17754551870210996592010-04-15T14:29:00.000-07:002010-04-15T14:29:17.934-07:00

When you think of the term "destructive," do you think of something positive or something negative? I'm guessing you probably answered "negative." So, then, if we flip the coin to the other side, what is your response to the word "creative"? Very likely, "positive." Creator/Destroyer is one of the most fascinating instances of duality for me. It often comes across as strongly as good vs. evil,

Lianoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-3110651095752571192010-04-13T22:40:00.000-07:002010-04-14T10:37:20.431-07:00

There is a part of the self that is often pushed underground. We don't want to see it; we don't want to acknowledge that it's part of us. Sometimes this denial is dangerous, sometimes it stifles growth and progress. By not embracing the "underground" parts of ourselves, we are incomplete. Over a year ago, a close friend told me of a dream that had left her feeling shaken and disturbed. She

Lianoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-36886381630782602272010-04-11T16:08:00.000-07:002010-04-11T16:08:28.726-07:00

Have you ever received mixed messages about yourself? Have you ever had one side tell you that you did just right while another side is telling you that you really messed things up? I have this happen frequently. I teach writing to college students, and the mixed message I receive every semester is that I am a wonderful teacher and a horrible teacher. One semester, I got emails from two

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-71478143566022738112010-04-08T17:04:00.000-07:002010-04-08T17:05:36.951-07:00

A friend of mine has this new word-concept that I just love. To be babed (by someone or something).  Example: I'm totally babed by you= I find you smashingly desirable and good-looking in every possible way. (You're a "babe.") My favorite way that she uses this term is this: I'm totally babed by myself.  (In other words: I find myself smashingly desirable and good-looking in every way

Lianoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-23506521869509672322010-04-08T13:42:00.000-07:002010-04-08T14:31:58.655-07:00

—Duality: Taking in Both Sides—  The different techniques and ideas I present in this series are related, but they aren't in a particular order. Are you racist? Most of us would immediately say, “No!” But, when we really stop to think about it, maybe we are; maybe everyone is. Sometimes. Because there are things we prefer about being surrounded by one race or another. I picked racist on purpose

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-56592185627192968692010-04-07T15:41:00.000-07:002010-04-08T11:16:22.125-07:00

 —Don't pull on that loose thread!—The different techniques and ideas I present in this series are related, but they aren't in a particular order.Sometimes when I look back on earlier parts of my life, I judge myself. I have thoughts like "If I had just done that then this would have turned out better" or "I really wasted a lot of time" or "I shouldn't have done that." Sound familiar? I think

Lianoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-84210586202346281462010-04-07T14:33:00.000-07:002010-04-07T15:39:22.124-07:00

—Identifying Thoughts Technique—The different techniques and ideas I present in this series are related, but they aren't in a particular order.You know how every now and then you can stop and catch yourself thinking all kinds of crazy thoughts? How your head will just be swimming with them? I find it fascinating that our minds are so fertile that they keep going even when we're sleeping! As

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-29659482022846981422010-04-07T11:32:00.000-07:002010-04-07T11:40:09.585-07:00

There must be another way to find balance. It has to be a change inside of me where I can accept my loneliness and find a greater purpose for my life...or something like that. Any ideas? --AngelineLoneliness is hard. It's such a personal feeling. For me, sometimes it feels like a great aching hole, and other times like a smothering nothingness. When I feel like loneliness is defining my

Lianoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-44759855150167713382010-04-06T13:44:00.000-07:002010-04-07T11:31:38.210-07:00

Isn't it amazing? You start off some new venture, full of ideas, confidence, enthusiasm, and motivation, and then ... yes, and then, suddenly, whack! You suddenly wonder, "What am I doing?" and "Why did I think I could do this?" and "None of what I'm doing is any good anyway. I should give up." I know this feeling very well right now. I'm feeling this feeling. Right now. I've just started this

Lianoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-84591765004383234622010-04-06T12:32:00.000-07:002010-04-08T12:10:24.755-07:00

Sometimes decluttering isn't enough. The physical space may have been cleared out, but the inner space is still clogged. During our recent decluttering, as we handled all our possessions, we started to become aware of underlying patterns in our life. We felt that we had fallen into consuming habits, where we would buy out of reflex instead of need, where we would buy because it was easier

Lianoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-25968952679269092102010-04-06T11:40:00.000-07:002010-04-06T12:55:43.529-07:00

Closets full of stuff. Storage space full of stuff. Drawers full of ... more stuff. Have you ever felt like your life is stuffed?  I recently heard of a woman whose house burned to the ground while she was away. She lost everything: her clothes, her furniture, her dishes, her photographs—everything. It had gone up in flames and been reduced to ashes. Her response has stayed with me. She was

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-83288942529379877282010-04-06T11:02:00.000-07:002010-04-06T11:03:59.530-07:00

Have you ever felt panicky about money? Like you didn't have enough? Or like it was controlling you in some way? I have certainly felt this way. In fact, there was a time in my life when every day I woke up with the thought of, "We don't have enough money." I was afraid that we wouldn't be able to pay our bills, put gas in our cars, write out our rent check, etc. The panic was almost constant.

Lianoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1186103057962853852.post-89152937224112043002010-04-05T11:36:00.000-07:002010-04-06T12:56:53.845-07:00

I've found out something about myself. I want to change the world. But not in the usual way. Usually when people talk about changing the world, it's something BIG. They are going to create world peace, end hunger, stop child abuse, eliminate war, and so on. These are wonderful aspirations. But how will they be achieved? You may have this same question. And you may have this same feeling about

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