the (happy) view from here

oh hello there october.  you kinda snuck up on me this year.

i'm so glad you are here.  you make me happy.

also making me happy:

• working from home
• and the backyard (aka the technicolor dream forest), sitting crosslegged in the purple adirondak chair under the japanese maple
• biggest problem of the day:  remaining focused on curriculum and not daydreaming about creating my own labyrinth in aforementioned backyard
• working barefoot
• working in yoga pants
• watching these two
• living in a city that has a great walking and biking trail
• joyful genius babies
• exploring the lives of artists, dancers and writers previously unknown to me while working on myers-briggs for artists
• purging (everything from email subscriptions to old magazines to clothes that no longer show the world who i truly am)

what's making you happy this week?

tiny saviors

things that save my soul wee bits at a time:

• lavender kombucha mixed with ginger kombucha
• washi tape
• in the current deluge of euphemism and metaphor:  simple truths spoken in simple language
• regular old facebook status updates instead of more things to push and sell and p.r. 
• the fortune cookie that says, "the current year will bring you much happiness."
• the job offer that i'm still afraid is too good to be true.
• being paid what i am worth.
• writing this post instead of "tiny things i hate"
• mumford and sons and emmylou harris together (thanks michelle, i would have never known)
• speaking of michelle:  this
• predawn walks in the rain with luca dog
• and my all-time favorite:  falling asleep to the sound of my favorite person in the world reading aloud

jumpstart

autumn is my new year.  i've said it before and each year it becomes more clear.  it's in the air dancing with the tiny golden leaves, crisp breezes and soft scent of campfire:  change.  it is the time for renewal and transition and jumpstarting.  do you feel this way too?

last night i was lucky to be a part of my friend and squam cabinmate jess greene's jumpstart creativity tour.  (side note:  i swear wayonda 2009 was the magic cabin.)  i am so in awe of jess and have been endlessly inspired by her ideas and journey.  she's travelling around the country, stopping at different cities to get people making art.  (what?!  i know!)  there are a few east coast cities left on the tour.  go if you get the opportunity.  you will be happy you did.

over the last few months, i've been pulling together materials for my myers-briggs for artists program and i am endlessly fascinated with the concept of intuition.  my intuition (in this context defined as my worldview and what i know and trust to be true) was smothered in my prior job.  since leaving, i'm exploring letting my intuition run wild, seeing what unfolds, playing with the ideas and imaginations that come up, living my intuition.  it just feels good.  and true.

i've also been exploring my apache heritage, a long-ignored but essential part of who i am.  this little piece is my touchstone honoring the connections between intuition, creating, culture and the wild spirits of my ancestors.

some sunday grace

from my yogi tea.

in the last days of summer

there are these things:

golden light.  wind chime tinkles.

grapes and figs and the last of the summer berries.

windows wide open.

a confetti of pansies.

prayer wheel crafting in progress.

acorn gathering.

pumpkin smoothies*.

moments that whisper, come on in beautiful.

*for the pumpkin smoothie

blend together:

• one ripe frozen banana
• one-half can organic pumpkin
• one single serving container of organic greek yogurt (plain)
• two spoons chia seeds, plus more for garnish
• two spoons of chopped pumpkin seeds, plus more for garnish
• one spoon sweetener of your choice (i've been trying out coconut palm sugar, tastes good and is way lower on the glycemic index than sugar, but the price is high)
• almond or coconut milk to liquefy to your liking
• any combination of autumn spices:  cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, etc.

happy equinox.  here's to bright beginnings.

face north with gratitude

dear beautiful,

you tried your best.

it didn't work out the way you planned.

now you feel sad.

i understand. really, darling, i do, and i'm sorry if you're hurting.

but let me clue you in on my little secret. it might masquerade as failure or rejection. you might judge yourself because it didn't work out.  you might worry what others will think.

but sometimes the only way the universe knows how to communicate that it's in the highest good for all beings if you face north instead of south is to block your path.

don't take it personally, my dear.

bless the redirect.

thank the universe.

face north with gratitude.

(sweet note from the universe received today via the daily flame.)