Full Moon Dreamboard Dec 31, 2009

Click on picture to get a better view, sorry the best pic came out crooked

Over at Jamie Ridler's Studio today is the Blue Moon Dreamboard of Dec 31, 2009.

We were asked to think about what we want to welcome in to our lives in 2010. I had lots of thoughts and words and as always the final result is not what I thought it would be. I love the process of creating these dreamboards, I feel so grounded in the creative space and the results seem to take place so unconsiously and I am always surprised with them.

I think the ferris wheel and the bird flying on it's own away from the flock represent courage and fearlessness.

The woman in the center is releasing to the universe all that is not working for her. Some of the other images represent hope, good health, romance, grounding, action and creating. The elephant and bird just wanted to be there.

Can you find Jane Austen, she represents the writer in me and the word poet also represents that. I am not sure yet what it all means.

My words for 2010 are "Release" and "open", some other words that came to me as I was doing the dreamboard were:

Release, Open, community, creative, nutrition, good health, romance, forgiveness, beginner, mind/body/spirit, de-clutter, healthy home, positive, daily practice, love of self, gentle, ground, center, balance, courage, organize...

I wish you all a Healthy and Happy New Year filled with all that you wish for.

Namste,
KAren

Wednesday Wishcast: What do you wish for 2010?

Photo: Emma Thomson - Allposters

Hi Fellow wish makers and dreamers. Over at Jamie Ridler's Studio it is time again for wishing. This week Jamie asks, "what do you wish for 2010".

There are so many things to wish for but since you can only start with yourself and then move out from there here are some of the things I wish for 2010 in no particular order:

1. As I spoke in my spirit wish a few weeks ago the word I chose for 2010 is "Release" you can read about it here if you did not last time. But I mean Release in the sense that if I release some things and behaviors that I have been holding on to this can make room for change, make space for some new things and healthier behaviors.

2. I wish to give myself permission to just BE ME and to be ok with all the entails, even if that means certain relationships in my life will change because of this, heck I am thinking they will change for the better. And to really be present in my relationships with others and self.

3. To be gentle with myself as I explore new parts of my path especially in regards to my body and my spirit. My wish is to take steps forward in becoming healthier in mind/body and spirit. I would like to embrace the beginners mind here and take things one step at a time.

4. To know that even though I want to try every ecourse out there and attend every retreat that it is ok to slow down and if I don't catch something the first time around I can always catch it when it comes around again.

5. To be more courageous and less fearful, to trust that things are ok and to dip my toes in some unfamiliar waters.

6. To reach out more in community, to be willing to explore different communities to see which ones may fit for me and to not feel like a failure when one does not fit.

7. This sounds corny but to love and forgive myself and others for past events that are long gone but still may be blocking me from moving forward, all things can start with love and forgiveness.

8. To begin scheduling daily practices into my life to support my path especially my creative one. I will write more about this when I set up my schedule. It may sound weird but I actually went out and bought a desk calendar and I am going to actually schedule things into my day like I would any appointment even though they are only appointments with myself. I think my Capricorn mind needs this structure.

9. To be more open to giving and receiving love with my husband, friends and family with as little expectations as I can possibly manage.

These are just some and I always like the number 9 where some like 10, I like to leave 10 as a mystery.

I am sure this list will change and grow throughout the year but this is what is coming to me now. I am not making any resolutions per say since I believe just the word resolution gets my self-sabotaging gremlins all giddy. I like calling them wishes, it feels right.

So my friends what are your wishes for 2010, may your New Year be filled with good health, love, happiness and possibilities.

Namaste,
Karen

Astrological Doozies this Month

Picture
There is alot going on in the sky this month. Here is the low down:

December 20th: Mars goes Retrograde (until March 10th) Avoid scheduling surgeries. New projects/plans can go awry. Look our for arguments, accidents or decisions made impulsively. Health issues can become agitated with extra internal stress, so ground yourself in meditation or yoga or any practice that brings you back to self.

December 21st: Winter Solstice: Longest night of the year but then we welcome the return of the light.

December 21st: Jupiter conjuncts Neptune: These planets can inflate fantasies but they can also deepen your spiritual connection to whatever high power you connect to. Great time for prayer.

December 26th: Mercury retrograde: for 3 weeks. During this time be cautious with signing contracts, decisions or making purchases. Be prepared for last minute schedule changes, breakdowns and travel frusterations.

December 31st: Lunar Eclipse. Eclipses can rock the status quo. They can bring changes on suddenly, especially much needed ones.

Astrologer Dana Gerhardt gives the following advice: "With Mars and Mercury in retrograde and the lunar eclipse, best to rest, review and rethink rather than push events."


Namaste,
Karen

Wednesday Wish: What do I wish for the Holidays?

Hi Wednesday Wishers, it's that time again at Jamie Ridler's Studio. A time for wishing and dreaming and sharing with others.

This time I did not just immediately write what came to mind, I actually read the wish prompt before I went to bed then when I woke I thought of it again. What came when I woke was this expression.

"Peace on Earth and Goodwill to All" and this wish is a wish that I have not only for myself but for all of us.

I wish for peace in our hearts and spirits. When we truly know some peace within I feel we can then spread that peace outwards to those around us and the earth. I have struggled with finding this peace within, I feel overwhelmed sometimes with things that disrupt or interrupt that path to peace. But I continue to walk towards it.

Goodwill to all, to me this means really being present with others, to really see them, to hear them, to be there for them. When my stuff gets in the way when I am with others I can't really hear and see them for who they are.

So I wish you and yours the joy and love at the holidays and most of all I truly wish you PEACE and GOODWILL.

Thanks for always listening and being here.

Namaste,
Karen

Some music and motivational links

The above picture is our puppy Bella last year in the snow.

Hi All,
We are getting ready for the big snow to arrive here in NJ, it just started and the forcast calls for 10+ inches.. I could use a snow day and as long as I am close to home it's all good.

I saw this link on Jamie Ridlers website this morning and it just stroke a chord in me, it really moved me.

Here is the link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI_HOPqcRFA&feature=player_embedded

And here is one of my favorites around the holiday time. The sound is so big and dramatic.

Trans Siberian Orchestra

Enjoy your Saturday,

Namaste,
Karen

Overwhelmed

Hi!
I just want to start by saying this is not to fish for compliments or anything like that, it is how I truly feel right now.

I am so overwhelmed out here in blogland, there are so many talented people with beautiful blogs and forget the amazing artists, too many to count. And I am spending so much time reading everyone's blogs and getting lost in the information overload that I am finding it hard to find my place here.

I feel like I will never get to the place where these other bloggers/artists are yet I am sure they had to start somewhere also. I just feel like a really tiny minnow in a huge pond just treading water.

I have been connecting with people and have met so many wonderful souls out here but at the end of the day I am home with me and I feel like i will never catch up to others that have gone before me.

I have just realized today that I need to start DOING and LEARNING so I can actually have something to write about so I am in the midst of trying to figure out how to go forward into 2010 with blogging and my creative work, whatever that means.
I have some e-courses lined up so I am trying to gain some focus, right now I feel like I am all over the place with no vision, plans or goals.

The funny thing is when thinking of a word to describe 2009 per Gwen Bell's Best09 I came up with turbulent. That sums up how I felt this year, starting creative work, be it writing, painting, singing, cooking, etc stirs up emotions and create cracks in your heart space which is a good thing. Creating those spaces makes room for growth...but...it also leaves you needing to let go of some stuff and boy am I finding that hard. My word for 2010 is RELEASE and I am hoping to release and then open.

If there is anyone out there with any hints or tips on how they got started with their creative works and blogs I would love to hear your stories.

Namaste,
Karen

*8Things: To Enjoy in the Dark - Magpie Girl's Prompt

So I have discovered Magpie Girl's *8 Things and I have decided to play along.

This week Magpie Girl asks "What do you do during this season to make it through the darkness? How do you fight S.A.D.? What parts of the season can you embrace with honesty? What *8Things do you enjoy in the dark?"
Here are mine:

1. Snuggle, Snuggle, Snuggle with any warm body in the house be it human or puppy (see below pic)


2. I am lucky that I can be home some days before 3pm and that is the perfect time in my den on a cold sunny day to bask in the sun that streams through and hits the perfect spot where I sit on my couch, of course I am blinded for those 20 minutes or so but It feels warm and toasty on my skin.

3. Read, I am an avid reader and this time of year is perfect for grabbing the blanket and a warm mug of tea and diving into a good book.

4. Making comfort foods like soup and stews, they help warm me up from the inside out. Something about a hot bowl of soup on a cold day just feels so good.

5. Sometimes I turn the lights down and light my candles, the candle light in the darkness lends mystery and magic to the night.

6. Turning inward a bit and taking advantage of this hibernating time to kind of take stock of the year and gear up for the next year, so preparing as well as hibernating.

7. Taking off my shoes when I get home and putting on my snuggly, comfy,cozy socks... ahhhhhhhh.

8. Wearing all my beautiful scarves that I have collected over the years, my neck is always cold so most days in the fall and winter I am wearing a scarf, I love the feeling of my neck being warm and protected.

So what are the *8 things you enjoy in the dark?




Namaste,
Karen

Wishcast Wednesday: What do you wish to give?

Happy Wednesday my fellow wishcasters. It's wish day at Jamie Ridler's Studio.

Today's wish prompt is, What do you wish to give? Sounds simple enough, giving should be easy, right? Just like anything else in life even something as simple as this brings up anxieties, uncertainties and whatever other "stuff" we carry around, like: who should we give to, are we giving enough, will the recipient like what I have to give, see sounded easy but my monkey mind gets in the way and I start to over-analyze just like with everything else I do.

So excuse me monkey mind but get out of my way please and let the answer flow.....

What I wish to give is my unconditional love and support to those who are in my life or touch my life, if I know them personally or not. I know this is a big wish and it may take me awhile to get around my "stuff" to accomplish this one, especially the unconditional part I think alot of people don't consciously have expectations when giving, but it happens, we are human. In the meantime I can take whatever steps in giving of myself that I can do in each moment as it comes.

Some things I can give now are:

1. A smile to friends and strangers alike.
2. Time, to spend with friends and family, to share with them their stories and mine, to just BE present with them.
3. Charity where I can in the form of giving away things especially since I feel sometimes overwhelmed with stuff, especially clothes that I know I will never wear again, maybe someone else can use some of it.
4. Prayers/Reiki/Support where needed or blessings of joy to share in celebration.
5. To give myself and others a break, knowing no one is perfect.


There is so much to give I can list them one by one but these are a broad range and I think it gets the idea across. I feel like I am having a hard time expressing myself so I hope this post make sense to you today.

So my fellow wishcasters what would you like to give?

Namaste,
Karen

The Cutest Puppy - Just for Fun

Hi All,

I have been busy this holiday season and in gathering resources for the New Year so I have not been writing as much.

Just wanted to drop by and Say HI! And share a cute puppy moment with my Jack Russell Bella.

When I took this the first caption that came to mind was "Bella trying to take a nap after a long day of reading"

Namaste,
Karen

Time Out for De-Cluttering

The picture above is of me standing in my closet. Hi My name is Karen and I am addicted to Magazines!!!!

I have so many books and magazines I could open my own library. I am getting seriously weighed down with the magazine/book clutter in my life.
I am taking today to go through the bags of books/magazines that I have and I am determined to cut down on some of.....but.... I have such a hard time letting books go.

I use the magazines for art projects and collages and such but I don't think I need as many as I have. I am starting to become mentally cluttered with all this STUFF.

I think when we are surrounded with so much clutter it can really effect our mental health, I feel overwhelmed by it.

So my dear friends what do you have too much of in your homes that you can give away or give up and if you have any de-cluttering tips I would love to hear them.

Namaste,
KAren

Wishcast Wednesday: What is your spirit wishing for?

Happy Wednesday my fellow wishcasters. Today over at Jamie Ridler's Studio Jamie our wishmaster has put forth the following wish prompt: What is your spirit wishing for?

As always I like to see what comes to me right away, if I ponder too long my critical mind gets in the way and starts to edit all my thoughts.

So today...the first thing that comes to mind is RELEASE, this word came to me when a fellow Full Moon Dreamer, Pen pointed me in the direction of Christine Kane and her word of the year suggestion. The first word that popped into my mind for 2010 was RELEASE and I guess that is a message my spirit is sending me regarding it's wishes.

I feel releasing some of the things in my life that are obviously no longer working for me can allow space for change and growth in my life in all areas, mind body and spirit. I feel I could benefit from releasing some of my expectations regarding the way I think things "should" be, actually I think I really need to limit that word from my vocabulary.

I would also like to release my dependency on food for comfort and start to really make room for healthier alternatives to comfort my spirit.

Most of all I wish to release my spirit from the cage I have put it in over the years and finally let it out to help me soar to those heights I have been afraid to climb. I have been ignoring my spirits messages for so long... I feel it is time to wake up and listen and thanks once more to Jamie the message is coming across loud and clear.

I picked a picture of a soaring eagle this week since in animal medicine/totems the eagle represents the spirit.

So my fellow wishers what are the messages your spirit is sending you, what does your spirit wish for?

Namaste,
Karen

"Reality leaves a lot to the imagination"....John Lennon

This song says it all.................all I can add to it is "ditto"

Imagine

Namaste Dear Ones.

Are you in a creative slump? If so check these out!

Hi All,

I have been a little quieter these days, trying to slow down and actually enjoy this season. I have been surfing the net and gathering creative resources so I can start off the New Year with a creative BANG!!

Do you have any favorite sites with creative prompts and challenges, if so feel free to share them here. There are many beautiful creative websites and blogs out there I can get lost checking them out, the below are ones that specifically offer prompts,ideas and ways to interact on their sites, check them out and play along if you feel like it.

Jamie Ridler’s Studio: Full Moon Dreamboards, Wishcast Wednesday
http://jamieridlerstudios.ca/

The Drawing Board: Self Expression Springboards
http://www.danetterelic.com/drawingboard/

Leah Creative Every Day: Creative Art Challenges
http://creativeeveryday.com/

Illustration Friday with Penny: Creative Prompts
http://illustrationfriday.com/

Read Write Poem: Poetry Prompts
http://readwritepoem.org/

Inspiration Avenue: Creative Challenges
http://inspiration-avenue-team.blogspot.com/

Soul Journaling: collage/journal ideas
http://www.souljournaling.com/prompts.php

Collage Diva: Kathryn’s got some great creative ideas here.
http://collagediva.typepad.com/collagediva/

Suzie Ridler: Suzie the Foodie.. shares wonderful recipes and follow along cooking instructions.
http://suziethefoodie.blogspot.com/

Winners for Gratitude Giveaway Are.....

So the suspense is over......drum roll please......rat a tat tat......

And the winners of my Gratitude Giveaway are as follows:

Winner #1: The Unravelling E-Course is: Sarah over at Cottage Garden studios.
Winner #2: $30 Gift Card for Michaels Art: Paula over at Happy Snappy.
Winner #3: $30 Gift Card for Amazon is Michelle who is from a woman's group I am in.

CONGRATULATIONS to all the winners and thanks so much everyone for joining in the fun. I will definitely be doing some more giveaways in 2010.

I chose the winners using Random.org taking the number 37 (people who commented) and asking for 3 random numbers then applying the numbers in the order that they came up (ie: 1st winner=commenter #5) see below for a cut and paste of the results.

True Random Number Service Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:

5
7
3
Timestamp: 2009-12-04 05:19:30 UTC

Check out the giveaway over at Magical Holiday Artists Blog

Hey all,
Check out the holiday giveawy over at Magical Holiday Artists Blog! There are some prizes from one of our fellow wishcasters Sarah from Cottage Garden Studio included.

Have a wonderful day all,

KAren

Holiday Joyful Memory

Hi everyone,

I connected to a moment of holiday joy last night. Can you guess what it was????

Yep.........Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer......

Love the characters, the story, the voices. I was so happy I caught some of it last night, it made me feel the warm and fuzzy holiday feeling from my childhood.


Enjoy your Thursday and don't forget if you haven't signed up for my giveaway yet today is the last day to do so.

Have a wonderful day everyone.

Karen

http://deldino.blogspot.com/2009/11/amazing-giveawayscome-see.html

Full Moon Dreamboard - December

click picture for a larger view

Hi Fellow Full Moon Dreamers. Today over at Jamie Ridler's Studio is December's Full Moon Dreamboard day.

I have to admit when I first was putting together my dreamboard I was using images from my December magazines and I was adding images and then I looked down and noticed all the images were so commercial and there were no pictures of nature or natural things so I took it apart and re-did it. When I re-did the board I did not have any thoughts in my head I just added images until I was done, it was a little frustrating for me and I am not sure I like it or even understand the final product, but I will sit with it and see what messages there are for me in this dreamboard.

The one center image is of *Angela Farmer who is a yoga teacher who was blacklisted from the Iyengar community in 1984 for her then considered radical approach of free-form energy and movement. At 71 she said she is "more interested in watching where her body holds tension, pain or fear and finding how to get in there and be with it."
*Yogaplus.org winter 2009-10 Magazine.

So my fellow dreamers I wish you all the peace and joy the season has to offer and may you remember to nourish yourself and stop to breathe in each moment....

Namaste,
Karen

Wednesday Wishcasting: A winter's wish

Today over at Jamie Ridler's Studio the wish prompt is What is your winter wish?

My wish for this winter season is that I slow down and tune in to my internal rhythms. Winter is the time for hibernating, introspection and dreaming. To settle into the the darkness and prepare for the coming light.

It is not the season of doing and yet the commercialism around this time of year can sometimes have people running here and there from party to party and shopping mall to shopping mall, this is just not the natural state for this time of year and all the stress and running around probably contributes to lowered immune systems and cold catching.

So My wish is to slow down, breathe and connect to the real joy to be found in this season, connecting with my friends and loved ones in a more genuine way. To continue to be grateful for all I have now in this moment and to try to find ways to share with others.

I also wish for the type of snow day where everyone is safe at home before a fire with a warm cup of tea or cider in their hands, for that kind of peace and quite that is found after the snow has stopped falling where everything seems to be standing still and there is magic in the air.

What are your winter wishes my fellow wishcasters and dreamers.

Namaste,
Karen

Honest Scrap Award From Diva

I received an blog award from Diva Kreszel last week and I must say I was quite honored to receive it, my first blog award, thank you so much Diva. I never knew how much blogging would add to my life. I am constantly in awe of the honesty that my fellow bloggers, including Diva write with on their blogs, and I try to follow their examples here on my blog.

I have been instructed to list ten things about myself and then pass this award on to ten more bloggers, while I can share ten things about myself below I am finding it way too hard to just pass this along to 10 bloggers, there are so many out there that are deserving, maybe I can narrow it down in the future.
I am sorry Diva, I am not copping out just being my honest self here ;-)

Ten Things about me:

1. I never missed an episode of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel" I love science fiction/fantasy shows.
2. I REALLY dislike the word "puke", it actually makes me nauseous.
3. I am afraid to fly and I really hope to overcome this as there are so many places I would love to see.
4. When I was a kid I wanted to be an archaeologist or a librarian.
5. I love the book and movie "The Secret Garden" and wish I had one to escape to from time to time.
6. I love to read, I can go through a book a day, I read through a traffic jam once.
7. I hate to clean, people come over and when they say "Oh your house is so uncluttered" I pray they don't open any closet doors!!
8. I love all music from ABBA to Metallica and everything in between.
9. I love my freckles and always wished I had red hair to go with them.
10. I don't like surprise parties and have always been able to talk my friends and family into telling me if one was planned for me.

Ok that is enough about me! Thanks to all who stop by here to check out my blog.

Namaste,
Karen

Finding the joy in the holiday season

Hi All,

I hope everyone who celebrated Thanksgiving had a wonderful holiday. I am finally emerging from the turkey overload ;-)

Ok, so it is the day after Thanksgiving here and what do I see as I drive around town, everyone is out dumping there pumpkins and corn stalks and putting up their wreaths and holiday lights as the radio alternatively plays christmas music and holiday gift buying commercials. Cut to relaxing at home later and putting on the TV and lo and behold commercial after commercial for buying christmas gifts. People don't stay in the moment anymore, I feel like it is one holiday or event done and then rushing to the next one. (disclaimer: my husband was one of those people putting out the lights on our house, he said it was too nice of a day and he wanted to get it done....)

Each year I get more and more discouraged during this time of year, the holiday has become more and more about commercialism and stress over buying the perfect gift for so and so, what about peace on earth and good will towards men/women, I guess that isn't commercial enough. I know I am letting the commercialism get to me and I can choose to ignore it, but it is so hard when it is coming at you from every direction. So this year I am going to try something different.

Every time I get annoyed or discouraged or start to feel the holiday stress creep in, I am going to stop, breathe and take in whatever moment I am in. After pausing I am going to look for the joy in the holiday season, I know it is still out there. I will surf the net for inspiring stories and go through my collage images that I have collected from my magazines and look for uplifting pictures to bring me back to the joy. I am also going to rethink the need to overspend on gifts and try to find gifts that may cost less but are just as meaningful. I don't have to compete with anyone and sometimes just getting together and spending quality time with your loved ones can be a gift itself.

As far as the holiday music bombardment I will turn it off when I need to and then play some Cd's at home when I am in the mood to hear them. There are some beautiful holiday songs that I love and I don't want to be turned off to them before the holiday even gets here.

I am determined to put the joy back into the holiday season for myself, so this way I won't start turning as green as the Grinch and answering to the name of Scrooge!! I'll let you know how it goes.

What do you do to beat holiday stress?

Namaste,
Karen

Wednesday Wishcasting: What step do you wish to take?

Image from Gaian Tarot

Hello fellow wishcasters and dreamers. Today's wish prompt over at the wishmaster's Jamie Ridler's Studio is: What step do you wish to take?

Hmmm... pondering.....hmmmm..... I tend to go with the first image or word that comes to me and today it is...

STRENGTH, I wish to take steps toward's building my strength, in mind body and spirit. I tend to look outside of myself for strength and security and I am slowly but surely learning that if I don't have that within, I will not be able to find and connect to it outside of myself. Does this make sense?

So I am slowly building a foundation of strengh and security within so I can finally give from that foundation and be open to receiving from without.

Some steps I am currently taking are:

1. Grounding myself throught meditation and other centering practices.
2. getting back to my Reiki self treatments, even a few minutes a day.
3. Exploring my creativity, it really seems creating brings me into the now.
4. Walking 30 minutes a day and exploring the Anti-Flammatory diet.
5. learning how to say yes but also no when necessary.
6. Exploring my spirituality and what it mean to me to have faith and trust.

Looking at this it seems like it is all about me but when you spend your life with everything being about someone else you can get lost in that cycle. I want to break out of that cycle and start a new healthier one that will benefit me and the loved ones in my life.

What steps do you wish to take this week?

Reminder: Gratititude Giveaway

Namaste,
Karen

Thanksgiving

Image: http://a4.vox.com

Hi All,

I have had so many health issues the last few years that I have let it get me down. I think these problems have alot to do with stress and the way I handle it.

I really believe stress can be so very harmful to our minds, body and spirit. I am committed to finding better ways to handle the stress I have in my life.

I was just starting to feel the stress of preparing for Thanksgiving at our house when I stopped myself and thought are people really going to think less of me if my house is not spotless and perfectly decorated. I am sick this week as it seems to be every holiday season and I need to just work around it and whatever gets done is fine, I will be ok with that.

We will have food on the table and friends and family over and that is what I am choosing to focus on, the friendship and the community spirit of Thanksgiving..

Of course I say that now, I will let you know it acutally pans out ;-)

Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy Thanksgiving. I leave you with this Thanksgiving poem:

Thank You Life

Thank you for this breath
Thank you for this inhale
Thank you for this exhale
Thank you for this Life

Thank you Heart
Thank you for this pounding
Thank you for this pulsing
Thank you for this Love

Thank you feet
Thank you for this walk
Thank you for this run
Thank you for the Dancing

Thank you Eyes
Thank you for the Sunrise
Thank you for the Sunset
Thank you for all the Colors

Thank you Ears
Thank you for The Music
Thank you for the Rhythm
And Thank you for the Stillness

Thank you Hands
Thank you for the Caressing
Thank you for the Clapping
And Thank you for the Holding

Thank you Mouth
Thank you for the nourishment
Thank you for the Wine
Thank you for the Kisses

Thank you Nose
Thank you for the Flowers
Thank you for the Pines
Thank you for the Sniffles

Thank you Arms and Shoulders
Thank you for the Carrying
Thank you for the Burdening
And Thank you for the Hugging

Thank you Voice
Thank you for the Expression
Thank you for the Word
Thank you for the Gift of Creation

Thank you for this Day
Thank you for the Light
Thank you for the Stars
Thank you for the Night

Thank you Self
Thank you for the Laughter
Thank you for the Play
Thank you for You

Thank you for the Emotions
Thank you for the Joys
Thank you for the Tears and Sorrows
Thank you for the Richness

Thank you for the Abundance that is.
Thank you for the Abundance that is given.
Thank you for the so many experiences and so many things
Thank you for this Dance.

Thank you Life

by Gary van Warmerdam

The Truth and a music video

Here is my truth for today...

I am sad, deep down in my soul sad.. trying to find my way to joy..

My song choices today fits my mood. I know there are many versions of the Hallelujah song but I really love the quality of Jeff Buckley's voice here. (click below)

Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah

Then there is this Kenny Chesney song which I just heard recently and I would like to carry this song with me during this sad time, it gives me hope. The link is below as well as the lyrics.

Kenny Chesney/Dave Matthews: I'm Alive

So damn easy to say that life’s so hard
Everybody’s got their share of battle scars
As for me I’d like to thank my lucky stars that
I’m alive, and well

It’d be easy to add up all the pain
And all the dreams you sat and watched go up in flames
Dwell on the wreckage as it smolders in the rain
But not me, I’m alive

And today you know that’s good enough for me
Breathin' in and out's a blessin' can’t you see
Today's the first day of the rest of my life
And I’m alive, and well
I’m alive, and well

Stars are dancin’ on the water here tonight
It’s good for the soul, when there’s not a soul in sight
But this boat has caught its wind and brought me back to life
Now I’m alive, and well

And today you know that’s good enough for me
Breathin' in and out's a blessing can’t you see
Today is the first day of the rest of my life
Now I’m alive, and well
Yeah I’m alive, and well




Namaste,
Karen

Wednesday Wishcasting - What do you wish to Embrace?

Hello Wishcasters. Today over at Jamie Ridler's Studio the wish prompt is: What do you wish to Embrace?

For some reason my very first response to this prompt was sadness, my eyes actually teared up. I think because I am missing that feeling of a loving, caring embrace in my life. Though I have family, friends and a husband I think in some ways I have a barrier that I have built up based on past events in my life that taught me distrust, fear, anxiety and shame.

So the big question is can I embrace myself and accept me for who I am now in this moment and trust that others will follow?

So the answer to this prompt would be that I wish to embrace myself in a warm, loving and nuturing way, a way that will make me feel like everything is going to be ok. I was not embraced this way many times as a child so I will have to learn how to do it now as an adult, the time for waiting for others to do it is done.

Ok, Jamie you really got me this week.. You truly are a Wishmaster!!

Sending you all love and virtual embraces today. I look forward to reading your wishes today.

PS: If you have not entered my Gratitude Giveaway yet here is the link if you would like to enter:
http://deldino.blogspot.com/2009/11/amazing-giveawayscome-see.html

Namaste,
Karen

Feeling oddly silent

Good Eve,

I have been feeling oddly quite these last few days.
Trouble sleeping, body aching, out of sorts.. words are hard to find. I have just been losing myself in sci-fi fantasy books, I guess I need a break from reality right now.

Today is also the 5th anniversary of my Dad' death, maybe my body holds the memory of that day even though mentally I am not focusing on it.

Just wanted to pop in and say hi..


Namaste,
Karen

A Pause for musical entertainment

Here is one of my favorite Joni Mitchell Songs.
Enjoy and have a wonderful Friday. (Click on Title below for video)

A Case OF You

Wishcast Wednesday: What Do You Wish To Dare

Image

Hello my fellow wishcasters. Today over at Jamie Ridler's Studio Jamie asks us this question: What Do You Wish To Dare?

The first thing that comes to my mind is that I wish to dare to live my life with trust and faith that things are unfolding just as they should and I am exactly where I need to be at this point in my journey.

The last few years I feel like things are falling apart around me, my marriage is not as secure as I would like, my health seems to be worse, my anxieties greater, my fears more intense. Yet when I look a little deeper I see things are being stirred up so I can move through some stuck places.

In all areas of my life I am being given messages to wake up, to transform, to grow and sometimes those messages can cause discomfort and uncertainty.

So my friends I wish to Dare to live my life with faith and trust that I have the tools to get through this time in my life and that things are going to be just fine, I just have to let go and step into the flow!

I wanted to let you know I am having a gratitude giveaway here at my blog so click below if you would like to enter.

Gratitude Giveaway

Have a wonderful week and I will see you all here next week.

Namaste,
Karen

I'm Feeling a little bit Country

In honor of the Country Music Awards that are on this week, I am posting a country music video for your listening pleasure. I like the women in this video, they seem kick ass and confident if you know what I mean.

Enjoy...

Jason Aldean - She's Country

The Joy Diet: Play

Hi fellow dieters, I am late this week due to some computer technical difficulties. I think my husband was contemplating smashing our laptop with a hammer ;-)
I am back online so I am ready to join in this week of play over at Jamie Ridler's Studio where we are book blogging, "The Joy Diet" by Martha Beck.

I love this quote from Julia Cameron regarding your true life's work being like play, I hope to find that some day. It kind of goes along with what Martha Beck is saying about play being good for your career. Here is the quote:
"What we really want to do is what we are really meant to do. When we do what we are meant to do, money comes to us, doors open for us, we feel useful, and the work we do feels like play to us."

I have to say I was not really that keen on Martha using September 11th as an exercise, for some reason this does not feel right to me, so I did not do that one. I actually have family members that are in law enforcement and one cousin who lost people he knew at Port Authority. I can't even remember what I did that day or the next, I think it was spend in fear and anxiety, so no not so keen on doing that exercise, no offense to Martha just a personal choice and I do get what she is saying here.

I was thinking about the part when Martha talks about your present life/job and does it serve the goals you have. I am currently working at a part time job in an accountant's office and on first thought I would say no, this does not serve my larger goals... but... when I thought about it some more, it really does serve my larger goals. The way it serves my larger goals is in the way it has allowed me to take a break from a higher stressed job in a corporation that was really not serving me. My current job also frees up time for me to do things like this book blogging and some other online adventures, as during non-tax season my hours are 9am to 2pm.

I think I am in a learning stage in my life, gathering information and skills that are currently serving my life's purpose.

I also like what Martha says about setting an alarm/reminder for fun. I am going to set an alarm on my cell phone and when it goes off it will be like a commercial break in my day, a time out for song and dance! I am also lucky to have a very playful dog who reminds me to play (with her!) as soon as I get home. (see her picture above)


Gratitude is on my mind especially during this time of year so I have decided to have a "Gratitude Giveaway" at my blog. Click the below link if you want to enter.
"Gratitude Giveaway"

Wishing all my fellow dieters a wonderful week, until next time.

Namaste,
KAren

Thank you Giveaways at my blog.

Hi Guys,

I have had a wonderful time here blogging the last few months. Some days I post fun things and other days I almost feel like this is a diary of sorts where I have released some emotional stuff, it has been both fun and cathertic.

I have met the wonderful wishcasters and book bloggers over at Jamie Ridler's Studio as well as some amazing folks in some online classes that I found through the blogosphere.

The support I have found here has really touched me. There are so many stories to listen to and to share, it really is a small world. I have met some people I would have not met otherwise, especially those overseas as well as well as all over the USA.

It is the season of giving this time of year and I would like show my gratitude here at my blog with some giveaways.

All you have to do is leave a comment here with the answer to this question:
What do you do to put a smile on your face when you are feeling down?

So now on to the good stuff. I am offering 3 giveaways and here they are:

First Giveaway: A spot in the e-course Unravelling with the amazing, inspirational and generous Susannah Conway. I have just taken this course and it has been truly eye-opening and has moved me forward out of some stuck places. You can read more about it by clicking here: Unravelling: Ways of Seeing Self.

Second Giveaway: A $30.00 Gift Certificate to Michaels Art Supply.

Third Giveaway: A $30.00 Gift Card to Amazon.com

Good Luck everyone and I wish you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season.
I will be choosing the winners on Friday December 4th.

Namaste,
Karen

Wednesday Wishcast:What do you wish to experience?

Hello my fellow wishcasters. Today over at Jamie Ridler's Studio our wish guru asks the following: What do you wish to experience?

I have to say nothing is coming to mind right away like usual and I think that could be my fear/anxiety getting in the way here. So I am sitting with this question for a few minutes to let it sink in....

So I would like to experience.....freedom from fear and anxiety, not the save your life kind but the every day mind vigilance, monkey mind, always looking for the other shoe to drop, inner critic..you get the picture.

And then with that freedom in place I would like to experience the joy and adventures of a life well lived. Adventures into creativity and community with family and friends.
More adventures and every day moments lived with passion and companionship with my husband without the insecurities.

And I would love to experience the kind of self love and healing that will allow me to let peace, love and happiness into my life without the road blocks I usually put up.

So my fellow wishcasters, what do you wish to experience today, and may your wishes come true.

Full Moon Dreamboard - November

Please click on above picture to get a better view.

Hi All,
I am a little late posting my dreamboard, but I'm here now.

This month Jamie over at Jamie Ridler's Studio asked us " What do you want to bring with you into this final quarter of the year? If you set intentions for 2009, is it time to renew them, to infuse a final burst of energy into making those dreams come true? What will you dream of for the Full Frost Moon? Come back and share your dreams in our online circle on November 2nd"

So I thought about it and the intentions I want to renew and carry through to next year are as follows:

The intention to find balance in my life, spiritually, mentally and bodily (health).
I want to make the choices that are good for me and let go of some of the old choices that are about anxiety and coping. In my board this is represented with the woman in yoga balance pose, the healthy refrigerator sign, the grapes, the keening woman, because I believe if I let myself feel the pain that I repress and let it out through emotions like crying it will be very healing.

The intention to keep up with my creativity with myself and in community. This is represented by the group of woman at the bottom with the words "share your stories" and the paint at the bottom right.

The intention to trust and have faith in love in my marriage. This is represented with the wedding couple at the bottom with the word "trust".

The intention to give thanks for what I do have. This is represented by the two bottles on the right side, it is hard to see but they say "thanks" on them.

The intention to create a warm loving home. Represented in the warm, inviting living room on the bottom left.

There are also the bottles for wishing, dreaming and hoping, I always want to remember those. There is the budda for spirituality and the Reiki drumming circle because I went to get back to my Reiki Self treatments.

The center picture is from the We'Moon calendar and it is titled "Healer" this is a reminder to heal, love and find balance in my life.

I had a very hard time taking this picture with my camera so I had to darken the picture, I hope you can click on it and see more details.

See you next full moon my fellow dreamers.

Namaste,

Karen

Happy Birthday Dad - Thinking of you today

Today is also my Dad's birthday, he has been gone for 6 years now, it is so hard to believe it has been that long.
He died of esophageal cancer, which was hard watching him go through, especially being so involved with the caretaking.
He was a man who loved his food and near the end he could not really eat much, but we made him yummy shakes. He was very strong right to the end.

My family had a period of time for about 5 years where 4 members (Dad, Father in law and 2 Aunts) were suffering from cancer back to back and eventually passing away. I was involved very closely with 3 of them and was actually there at the time of death with my Aunt and Father in Law. It was like I was on autopilot, I can't really remember much of it, you are kind of in a time outside of regular time. I have to say I did not have any warm and fuzzy experiences at the time of death, it was a little scary to see someone actually die.

Anyway I am sorry to go on and on about this but It just came up for me. I think with each illness/death a little piece of me died and I feel numb sometimes.

I went to visit my Dad's grave today and left a little bundle of marigolds/lavendar/rosemary and one of his favorite candies, Reese Peanut Butter Cups.

I miss you Dad, we had our differences and there are some things I may never know about you but I know you loved me and that meant the world to me. Love you.

The Joy Diet - Ingredient Treats~

Hello my fellow dieters over at Jamie Ridler's Book Blogging Group.
This week in "The Joy Diet" is the ingredient TREATS. Well I have to admit although I could not find the time to read this chapter this week I kept the idea of "treats" in my daily thoughts. Here are some treats I did have time for these last few weeks.

A long overdue shopping spree to Anthropologie, I love this store and I try to save up for a visit here and there. I love going in and browsing it is just so beautifully layed out. Here is a picture of some purchases I made, most on sale, which was great.

Click for larger view.

I have treated myself to some online courses in writing/art/photography and even a retreat class from a fellow wisher/dieter which I am loving, thanks Kathryn at Collage Diva. I have to say these treats have paid off in spades, they are treats that just keeps giving. I have met some wonderful people and I have discovered some creative energy in me that has been longing to get out and play.

And of course as the picture above shows I have treated myself to some dark chocolate everyday, just some at the end of my work day, I don't drink coffee so this is my pick me up treat.

And finally I continue to treat myself to this book and blogging with my fellow dieters, it has been a wild ride and I am enjoying sharing it with all of you.

I look forward to reading all about your week with treats and I will add to this post when I read the chapter.

Have a great weekend!
Namaste,
Karen

Wednesday Wishcasting-What treat do you wish for?

Today over at Jamie Ridler's Studio the wishcasting prompt is WHAT TREAT DO YOU WISH FOR?

Well this is going to be short and easy today, no lengthy ponderings. This wish has been coming up for me in some online classes I am taking. Here it is.... READY....

The treat I wish for is to find my way to the SQUAM Art retreat in September of 2010. Now to do this I have to overcome some insecurities, which are feeling inadequate or feeling invisible at an artist's retreat. Then there is the thought of how am I going to get there, it is a 6 hour drive and I really don't think I would feel safe making that trip alone. There has been some interest in car pooling, but do I take the chance and put a deposit down in January and risk that by September plans will work out with traveling companions?

I think the answer my wonderful wishcasting friends is a BIG FAT YES! I will trust that things will work out. So this is the treat I wish for, what treats are you craving this week?

Namaste,
KAren

How do you dress up your blog and some musical entertainment.

Hi my fellow bloggers.
I was wondering if you can share any tips and techniques you have used to dress up your blogs? I would love to spruce up my page but there is just so much information out there. I tried a free template but it deleted all my links and it was limited in what it let me add.

Any help would be appreciated very much.

I leave you with some music to enjoy.

Feeling Good - Nina Simone

Namaste,
Karen

PS - the pic is a mosaic of some of my tree pictures, I love trees and I take pictures of them wherever I go.

The Joy Diet - Ingredient: Risk

Hello fellow Joy Dieters. This process has been very topsy turvy for me, I am up then I am down then I spin myself around! I am really enjoying being shaken up a bit because you know it is better than the numbness I was experiencing in my life.
I am acutally FEELING things and that is a very good thing.

So this week in the Joy Diet is RISK and here is what Martha Beck says: Risk: Take one baby step toward reaching your goal. The only rule is it has to scare the pants off you.

Some of you may know I sometimes express my feelings in poetry, not pretty, flowy poetry, but short static rhyming poems, that is just the way my brain is producing poetry right now. I have had no training in poetry or creative arts, I have just been dipping me toes in. I am going to take a BIG RISK here and share some of my poems that come from a deep, sometimes dark place in me. I would like to shed some light on them. I figure if I really want to explore poetry and put myself out there with my words I have to willing to expose myself to others, even if I RISK them judging me.

I would like to learn more about poetry and poetry writing along with some art techniques because one of my dreams is to run one day retreats for like minded souls where I can lead them in different art projects and such. So this next year I am going to try to learn and grow as an artist and a poet.

Here are some of my words that came from a place in me that is slowly being uncovered. I am giving that side of me it's say.

Thanks for listening.

1.
You look at her with something in her eyes
while I watch something within slowly dies
do you see me here where I stand
won't you reach out with your hand
I've tried to tell you how I feel
now it's left for me to heal

2.
Put on the weight, the protection you need
if you were sensual, where would that lead
somewhere unknown and not so sure
to be loved, to be touched, not impure
are you ready now to take that chance
to wake from this self imposed trance

3.
Raised in fear, not knowing what to trust
bodyguards and bullets, they were a must
in hiding, when can we go home
out there, does danger still roam
how can the child figure it out
finding trust, when there's only been doubt

4.
What would it feel like without the guilt and shame
Can I live with myself with no one else to blame
Did the choices I make help pave the way
though I may have felt that I had no say
Letting go of the past and the hold it has on me
May this be the beginning of setting myself free


Namaste my fellow dieters. See you here next week, same bat time, same bat channel.

Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos)

Photo Credit: http://www.thaneeya.com/

The Mexican holiday of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) that takes place on November 1-2 has always intrigued me. Imagine sitting in the cemetery and celebrating with your relatives, those alive and those dead. I love this below quote from the SanFranciso Gate.
“The difference between the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) and Halloween mirrors the contrast between U.S. and Mexican attitudes toward death. Halloween's frightful images reflect the fear of being dogged by vengeful, if not gory, spirits; the Day of the Dead is an exuberant reunion with friends and family members who have moved on to the next stage of their journey.”

It seems a great way to honor your ancestors. The art created around this day (see Skull above) is always so colorful and vibrant not ghoulish.
I have posted some links below with some great information about the holiday. The link for Mexconnect has some beautiful photos on their page.

My Dad’s birthday is actually on November 1st so I think this year I will visit him in the cemetery and leave him some marigolds and sweets.


Dia de los Muertos Links:
http://www.livinginseason.com/category/celebrations/
http://www.mexonline.com/daydead.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead
http://www.mexconnect.com/tags/day-of-the-dead
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2009/10/21/mexicomix102109.DTL&type=travel

Wishcast Wednesday: What do you wish to say YES to?

Good Morning fellow wishcasters and our Wish Guru, Jamie Ridler. Today over at Jamie Ridler's studio the wish is, "What do you wish to say YES to?".

As always such a seemingly innocent question leads me to some big revelations.

I wish to say YES to ME! I wish to say YES to loving and taking care of myself. I have no problems saying yes to those in my life so now I would like to say YES to myself.
I will list some things here as a reminder to myself of the things I know are good for me and all about taking care and loving myself:

1. Giving myself permission to be creative, to be in creative space, I KNOW this brings me back to self and grounds me to the here and the now.
2. Going back on Nexium for my Heartburn, with the intention of it being short term. I tend to thing all or nothing, so I avoid medicine because I don't want to stay on it forever. But my heartburn effects my asthma and I need to listen to what my body is telling me.
3. Getting my diet cleaned up and really noticing what foods are good for me and which ones aren't. I feel this is the only way I will be able to get off Nexium if I go back on it and ultimatly heal myself.
4. Moving my body, even if it is just walking daily to start.
5. Practicing my Reiki self treatments as another healing element in my life, for mind body and spirit. I became afraid of it because sometimes it made me feel things I could not explain.
6. Getting back to Spirit Singing, I know it works for releasing stress/anxiety.
7. To DREAM BIG and allow those dreams to be expressed in my life.
8. To having Faith and Trust even if I don't know what's to come.
9. This is a big one: saying YES to saying NO, when no is the right choice for me.

I know these things are good for me but I often do not choose to do them. In the last year I have been trying hard to figure that out, and the conclusion I come to is I often do not love myself enough to do what is good for me. I am stating for the record that I want to love myself and give myself a chance to be the person I am meant to be. I want to set myself up to succeed, not fail!

So fellow wishcasters what are you saying "YES" to today?

Why is is so hard to do right thing for oneself?

I am sitting here home sick on a Monday and when I am sick my mind seems to get a little negative.

I am wondering why is it so hard to do what's good for you? In my case I know I have heartburn problems and asthma and yet I don't always do the right thing for myself. I know chocolate and sauce and other things will bother my heartburn and yet I still choose to eat them.

I know I am overweight and walking 30 minutes a day could be extrememly beneficial, but do I make that choice, no I choose to sit on my rump and watch re-runs of old shows.

I don't understand my mind sometimes, I know logically what I could be doing to help myself, so why don't I do them, does anyone else struggle with this type of behavior?

There are people that say to me you just suck it up and do it, and I envy them because my brain doesn't seem to work that way.

But I will continue to prod myself with the hopes that step by step I get closer to making the right choices most of the time.

Just felt like rambling a bit.. thanks.

A Pause for some Musical Entertainment

I have had a heavy week, work was a bit stressful and busy so I just wanted a fun uplifting song for today.

Enjoy this blast from the past.

Journey - Don't stop believing

The Joy Diet - Creativity

So it's Friday again over at Jamie Ridler's Studio and it's time to talk about the next ingredient in The Joy Diet. This week's ingredient is CREATIVITY. When I started the chapter I was thinking it was going to be about creating like in art/poetry/music, etc., but it was about CREATING your life and how to do that by using creativity. I do like what she says about one psychological equivalent of yoga, an act that strengthens in a gentle but insistent wayk is the act of creation (pg 67) I believe I have felt this before while creating.

I have admit I had came across a roadblock with the "Perseverate Your Enemies" section and kind of got stuck there. So this post will be about what I did up to that point and hopefully I will add on when I make it through the rest of the chapter. So here goes:

Uncomfortable Truth #1: You are responsible for creating your life......

Ok, so that is a bitter pill to swallow. I have a friend who is a recording artist and her motto is "Create your reality before your Reality creates you" and I do believe if I don't stand up for myself or get off the sidelines of my life situations, events and people can gain too much control. I have to take that back for myself.
Two of my desires, to be loved and seen for who I am and to forgive and be forgiven have to start with me. If I don't love and forgive myself I don't see how others can. And If I don't show my true face, how will others know me.
So a way I can create my life is to be the person I am without worrying about what others think and show my true face to the world, at the very least I will love myself.

Uncomfortable Truth #2: Creation is Hard.

To stay with creating your life and personal power can get hard.
There seems to be so many outside forces teaming up with internal forces to throw up roadblocks to that creation. I am starting to see that part of the hard work is how to not get stuck at these roadblocks but to learn how to navigate around them.

Uncomfortable Truth #3: Creation Usually Does Not Work.

I can sum that up with this Japanese Proverb:
"Fall down seven times, get up eight"

As I said above I got stuck in the Perseverate Your Enemies section, since the enemies I could list were people who committ crime against others and I felt there was nothing I could learn from them and take on as my own so I am stuck at one of those roadblocks, but not to fear I am thinking up creative ways of getting around this one! ;-) My vision picture for this week shows I may be stuck but I am finding my sense of humour here! Actually I think I will just drive on by that section and on to the next!

I think like with any recipe you are working with, you add and adjust ingredients to suit your needs, I have found some things helpful in this book and others I had a hard time with so I will take what works for me and leave what doesn't.

I look forward to checking in with all my fellow dieters to see how their week with "creating" went.

Namaste for now.

Wishcasting Wednesday - What do you wish to let go

Phote: LisaCharlene
Today is wishcasting day over at Jamie Ridler's. The prompt today is "What do you wish to let go of?" Man oh man sometimes I feel like Jamie is speaking right to me and saying just what I need to hear when I need to hear it.

Here are the three big things I wish to let go of:

1. FEAR - the fear of change, the fear of not being good enough, the fear of not being loved, the fear of so many things.
2. ANXIETY - the constant monkey mind, the eternal critic's voice chattering away in my head, the constant worrying, it is wearing me down.
3. OLD WAYS OF COPING: the old ways are not working anymore, the emotional eating, the numbing out in front of the tv, the ignoring the signs, nope, just not working anymore. I have found peace in creating and I would like to give myself permission to be in that space more.

I wrote a poem today while thinking of this wish, here it is.
________________________________________________________________
what is this fear and anxiety that lives deep inside me
when did it start, when did I truly start to see
faith, love and trust, these are what I now seek
not this fear and anxiety which only makes me weak
while I move forward through this healing time
I remind myself the path to wholeness is worth the climb
__________________________________________________________________

So my fellow wishcasters, what do you wish to let go of?

The Joy Diet - DESIRE

Well my fellow dieters I don't know about you but this was another interesting week with the joy diet. The "ingredient" this week was desire and that word desire always scares me like it is a bad thing, like it is too intense to truly feel into desire.

I usually read the chapter and a sentence or section will jump out at me and then I follow the feeling, almost allowing the intuitive flow to lead me where I need to go. Anyway here is my experience this week.

On page 47 this paragraph jumped out at me "early on we learn through observation, advice and painful experience that wanting is an appallingly dangerous activity."
Oh boy did that hit home with me, I was surrounded by people who were squashing their desires.

I remember one Aunt who was very involved and played a big role in my life always saying to me when I expressed wanting something, "How does it feel to want?", she would say this in a sarcastic tone, and the feeling she gave me was that it was a bad thing to want anything. Ironically I think she wanted anything but the life she had and she dealt with this unhappiness with denial and drinking.

I would read romance novels as a young adult (I still do sometimes ;-D) and the same Aunt would say to me "you know there is no knight in shining armor out there for you." Until now I did not know how much that affected me, maybe she thought she was being realistic and helpful but really all she was doing me was teaching me it was ok to settle for less. Over the years her pessimistic attitude rubbed off on me some. I was born an optimistic person and I want to get back to that person and I don't want to settle for being less than my authentic self anymore.

Here are some of me desires now:

**To be seen, heard and loved for who I am, and not what others want me to be. Hey, I have a sneaking suspicion that who I really am is a pretty amazingly cool person!

**To forgive myself and others for past hurts, it is time to move on and let go of that hurt, so I can fully engage in my life now. (I wrote somewhat about this on my Wed Wishcasting post)

**To honor my desire to help others. This is a desire I had ever since I was young. My Dad squashed that desire in me by telling me I am too sensitive a person to become a therapist, which is what I wanted to do. Well I don't see myself going back to school now at 43 years old to become a therapist but I can find other ways to help others. Maybe I can help others find their stories through creativity, who knows, I am open for what comes my way.
**I also desire to have more passion in my life and for my life, physical, spiritual and emotionally. I think the other desires will lead me there also.

WOW this book is cracking me open like a walnut, and I kinda like it. The Photo above (click to enlarge) if from my October Full moon dreamboard, I desire to be like the woman in the center, who is grounded in her earthiness!!

Enjoy your week of creativity and I will see you back here next week my fellow dieters.

Namaste,
KAren