Main Photo Credit - Michael Neville

Sunday, September 16, 2018

Hitting The Restart Button



I decided to hit the restart button on my diet and recharge. I have been eating less than optimally over the summer and I that might have caused some havoc on my health and energy levels. So I am relying on an old standby that I use when I want to detox,The Master/Lemon Cleanse. I have blogged about the Master/Lemon Cleanse in detail in a previous blog from years ago. Essentially when I do a Master/Lemon Cleanse Detox, I ingest nothing but a mixture of cayenne, maple syrup, lemon juice and spring water in measured quantities for a duration of 3 or more days. The Master or Lemon Cleanse as some call it, was created by Stanley Burroughs, and can be followed for up to 20 days safely. My goal this time is to cleanse for 14 days. I think it's the perfect solution for a fall reset. There is a wealth of information online about this cleanse to which I will include some links below. You can also order the book online through Amazon.

http://themastercleanse.com/

https://maplevalleysyrup.coop/how-to-do-the-master-cleanse-lemonade-diet/

Monday, June 4, 2018

Taking A Day To Regroup



So I did an energetic Walk Away The Pounds session with Leslie Sansone and then followed that up with this yoga session for tired feet. Today is about regrouping, and getting things done, running errands, reassessing my commitments, taking out a little time for TLC, some skincare and hopefully getting my nails done too. My feet were pretty achy from standing on them during long massage sessions throughout the week and they are going to receive some much needed self-care. I'm taking another stab at my ever-evolving home organizational project. It's pretty much a total mess in my room. I need to do laundry, vacuum, clean my crystals, and get some blood labs taken at the hospital to confirm that my kidneys are in working order from last week's infection. It should be nice. I'm cleaning up my diet too. More smoothies, greens and clean protein are getting thrown into the mix. Less caffeine and processed foods are also in order. In short, spring cleaning and preparation for my summer body are in full effect!


Thursday, May 31, 2018

How Do I Feel?


That's the question I've been asking myself. It's been about three days since I last wrote in my blog. Although I still kept up my yoga practice, my meditation and journaling as definitely suffered from my current set of events. On Monday just before the last rehearsal for the Jazz Club I helped form (we performed yesterday on May 30th at Bird & Beckett Books in San Francisco) I found our that my friend Rhonnel had been taken off life support despite the news that he was originally going to be given another week. I had mentally prepared myself, although emotionally it was much harder to. I knew that his chances of recovery were almost nonexistent, so the news didn't come to me as a major shock. Still, I was left sad and numb and emotionally fatigued in its wake. Honestly, I didn't know what to do, so I went on to my rehearsal and laughed and smiled and practiced parts of our two hour set even though I felt listless at points and at times filled with gratitude for the music and fellowship I enjoy with the Jazz Club.

The next day on Tuesday, possibly because of stress and the overload of emotions, I came down with a kidney infection. I was in so much pain and I listened a ton of isochronic tones on YouTube and drink copious amounts of water, tea with tulsi, turmeric and ginger in it, and drank almost an entire bottle of cranberry juice. I was still in a lot of pain when I went to sleep that evening before the performance and was up to four a.m. in the morning because of the discomfort. Finally I managed to slump to a side that was more bearable and dose off. The tones and fluids must have worked because when I woke up I was in much less pain than the previous day. I ended up taking two 800 mg strength ibuprofen that I had from a doctor's visit a while back. They worked to take away the pain.

The performance went off without a hitch and was actually one of the happiest moments of my life. Even though there were technical difficulties with the microphones giving feedback, the logistics of the number of people on such a small stage and fact the the power went out right in the middle of my solo, we all soldiered on and the event was a total success. We were invited back to play again.  I will remember it when I'm old and gray. It was truly and amazing event. And at the end of it, Jay who had cheered me on was there for me to tell about the trials and joys of my week. This afternoon I have a doctor's appointment scheduled to check myself out and hopefully if all goes well, a hot date this evening. Yes I'm still dealing with grief and emotional trauma, but I'm working through it as opposed to going around it or over it. I am laughing, crying, working out and sweating, making love and loving, waking up and living.


Sunday, May 27, 2018

Getting Active Again



Today I'm taking a step forward to get moving and active again. I realize that I can accomplish nothing by moping around all day long. I need to make my emotions work for me rather than against me. Of course this is easier said than done, and at the end of the day some emotions are just too damn hard to power through. With that said, I will do what I can to survive them, process them, work through them and to keep moving as I experience them so that I don't go into an emotional atrophy and get stuck replaying them over and over again. There is nothing better to shake up stagnant feelings than some yoga, some movement and some meditation. It's Sunday, and I'm taking stock of my goals, recharging and restructuring for the future. All I can do is stop, pause, take a mindful moment and keep on going.



On And On by Erykah Badu


Saturday, May 26, 2018

Letting It All Out


Letting It All Out

I've just been riding the rollercoaster of emotions lately and they have been many and varied. Sometimes I'm numb to it all, others I'm anxious, at other times I'm balling my eyes out. And now I just don't know how to feel anymore. I've been pondering the merits of gratitude lately and even with the events of the past few days, I'm grateful for the support system and the friends that I have left. I just found out that my friend is still on life support for another week. I don't know how I feel about that either. No matter what happens, I'm going to try and find the moments of joy where I can even in the darkest moments -- realizing that life can't always be clear-cut with everything tied up neatly in a bow. It's messy, it's challenging, it's painful, it's miraculous and its paths are often uncertain. Abd that is both the frustration and the beauty of it. So I am going to let the laughter and the tears flow.


Friday, May 25, 2018

Taking A Moment


Today I'm giving myself time to reflect. I'm taking all the moments that I need to feel whatever it is that I need to feel and to come to terms with the ever-changing currents of life that I find myself awash in. I'm just allowing for whatever I need to go through right now. Healing takes time and I'm going to give myself all the space that I need in order to move forward again.


Thursday, May 24, 2018

On Losing Loved Ones


On Losing Loved Ones

The one thing that I can say about the loss of a loved one is that no matter how many times you deal with the aftermath of death and the grief that follows, it never gets any easier. In fact it actually gets harder with each subsequent loss. Today I learned that my friend and next door neighbor Rhonnel is going to be pulled off life support tomorrow after he collapsed with an aneurysm the day before yesterday shortly before 10 a.m. in the morning. I'm going through a roller coaster of emotions, memories and regrets right now. Never again will we binge-watch Netflix on the living room couch, or share a curry wrap, share laughs at a neighborhood BBQ or battle rounds of Tekken on PlayStation. Today I said goodbye to my friend and I'll never see him again. This is the third friend that I've loss in less than a year and it's really hard. I'm trying to come to terms with this all. You never know when someone that you care about can just be gone so cherish the moments you have with them while you can. That only constant in this Universe is love, of that I am sure.




Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Highs And Lows And Finding Calm In The Storm


Highs And Lows And Finding Calm In The Storm

This morning I woke up to my next door neighbor's mom beating on my window. It turns out that he had collapsed and hit his head and was rendered unconscious. I called an ambulance and they rushed him to the ER. He is now in critical care. After accompanying his mother to the hospital, where I stayed for a few hours, I left for the last of my rehearsals before the end of semester jazz performance. It felt strange at first having the rehearsal go on as normal, but since I have about 5 songs in the set and the performance is set for next week Wednesday, I had to go. This happened just about three months shy of the anniversary of one of my best friend and next door neighbor Claire's passing in August of last year. Claire was also a friend of Rhonel as well as my roommate Todd who drove me and Rhonel's mother to the hospital. The fact that I've replayed this scene of watching a loved one in critical care in a hospital bed many times was definitely not lost on me. I'm beginning to wonder if there is some kind of Divine plan or karma in all of this that I am being made aware of. The significance of the amount of dear loved ones who I've lost or have had to witness through serious illnesses is growing. It's making me ask myself what I am doing to attract this or if this is part of a larger pattern? Only time will tell. Until then I will follow the road that I am led down and explore the larger journey within.

Monday, May 21, 2018

Calm And Steady


Calm And Steady

What I need to cultivate today is more a fresher and more serene approach to my day. I am setting an intention to bring the balance and serenity that I have a developed in this morning's yoga practice to everything that I do in the day thus far. When I feel stress I can take deep breaths and find stillness inside to achieve my goals. I can ask myself what it is that I need to make my day run more smoothly and then put  my endeavors there with a minimum of fuss, remembering to stay centered. I just have to remember that whenever I take a new step towards my goal to slowing inhale... exhale.

Sunday, May 20, 2018

Finding My Energy Again!


Finding My Energy Again!

This was the perfect yoga practice for me. I got up at 6:15 am bright and early, just in time to take an Uber to the Bay To Breakers race and snag some amazing photos!📷 Today was all about living in the moment and practicing gratitude. And today I couldn't have been happier to receive the bounties of love and friendship that I did. After the Bay To Breakers, I went to Jay's friend Morgan's house and I played my first D&D role playing game ever! To those of you not in the know, D&D stands for Dungeons and Dragons. I had a lot of fun and was even gifted 🎁 with my own gaming dice set. It was the perfect way to end the day -- that and being in Jay's arms. Sigh...

Saturday, May 19, 2018

At The End Of The Day...


At The End Of The Day...

I ended the day with a lot more optimism and energy than I started it with, which is all that anyone can ask for. Today's yoga practice was just what I needed to wake up and take on the day. Now I can go into my meditation before I head off to bed. I'm going to try my hand at photographing San Francisco's famous Bay to Breakers race. It should make for an exciting day if I can manage to wake up that early. Let's see what tomorrow holds!

Friday, May 18, 2018

Finding My Inner Sunshine




My yoga practice today was called Yoga For Beginner's Mind from the Yoga With Adrienne YouTube channel. It was just what I needed along with a sunny little meditation from Tori Hartman's "Chakra Wisdom Oracle Toolkit" workbook that encouraged me to look within for my happiness and imagine a bright ball of sunshine permeating my entire being starting at my solar plexus. What better way  to stay connected to your instincts than to go from your gut -- a primal place of understanding and processing of action and movement! I plan to practice this meditation throughout the day to align myself with the things that I want to manifest for my highest good -- the things that bring me my hopes, dreams and desires. I'm letting go of resistance in my world view and giving up the ghosts of past failures that  have haunted me. I am open to letting all the wonderful things into my life that I deserve!

Thursday, May 17, 2018

Moving Through My Life With Joy


Moving Through My Life With Joy

I'm am exploring a question lately. How can I find more ways to move through my life with joy? How can I create an existence of peace and happiness despite the memories of the different tragedies I've experienced on the path of enlightenment thus far? Today's activity in Tori Hartman's "Chakra Wisdom Oracle Toolkit" workbook examined the fable of "Dancin' Daisy" even further. It asked me to make a list of all the things that bring me joy in my life and write them down and commit to doing at list one of these things each week. Curious about what I wrote? My list was surprisingly easy to make. I was holding my little kitty Fjord in my arms when I read the assignment. I had my notebook right next to me and so I wrote:

1. Holding my baby kitty Fjord while reading sci-fi, fantasy or romance novels, or watching Netflix
2. Cuddling with Jay
3. Singing
4. Playing piano
5. Listening to music
6. Going to the ocean
7. Being with friends
8. Dancing
9. Taking aromatherapy baths.
10. Writing fiction, poetry or song lyrics
11. Photography
12. Healing crystals
13. Of course yoga! I'm just a little over 6 months into my daily yoga practice ( I haven't missed a day!)

Then I dawned on me that all the persons, places and things that bring me joy are just some of the many reasons I have to be grateful! If anyone wants to, feel free to write down your own joy list in the comments section of this post!

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Deepening My Yoga And Meditation Practice


Deepening My Yoga And Meditation Practice

I've noticed that my yoga and meditation practice is starting to move to a difference place in my reality. I'm not sure where it's going to end up and that is all part of the growth. I know that the more I practice, the more essential it becomes to me that I practice on a daily basis. Today I felt much more grounded on the mat and assured in my practice. I am so grateful that my energy level has increased to the point where I am able to enjoy longer and more strenuous yoga sessions Also, the form of my asanas is getting much better as well as my level of flexibility. I am so pleased with this. I am so happy that I yoga has re-entered my life and has allowed me to add a new dimension to being in this world. I has saved me so many times from my anxiety levels and has relieved me of stress and worry on many occasions. I honestly don't know what I would do without it sometimes. It's more than the amount of physical movement and shapes that I can bend myself into, it's the way I can hold space for the energy of breath and tranquility -- it's the calm that it helps me to tap into that comes from deep within.

Monday, May 14, 2018

On Being Happy


On Being Happy

After reading today's fable in Tori Hartman's "Chakra Wisdom Oracle Toolkit" workbook entitled "Joy Dancin' Daisy", I am pondering the nature of true joy and happiness. The "Dancin Daisy" fable encourages me to look within myself for all the moments of true happiness that I can find and not to analyze them or tear them apart with thoughts from my monkey-mind, but just to acknowledge that these moments of true joy are out there, recognize them for what they are and examine exactly how I can express gratitude for them. It is through this acceptance that that these feelings can naturally multiply -- no forcing or wishing required. We just have to notice them, appreciate them and give thanks for them each time they show up in our lives. I had many such moments yesterday. I was enjoying the simplicity and beauty of Jay's company. And there was one moment, a lull while he was nearby busying himself on a computer game and I was about to read a book where I turned over and closed my eyes to the perfect warmth of the sunshine and knew that he was there and I smiled into the sun with my eyes closed, basking in its bright glow. I felt truly at peace. Today on the yoga mat with my large Norwegian tabby Fjord and my my yoga mat, I felt a similar simplicity of love and joy. Fjord came and nudged my head while I was in child's pose, attempting to lick the essential oils I had rubbed on my chest off of my fingers. It was so sweet and I have to say that I really feel fortunate today. I'm sitting here writing this and giving thanks for the blessings I have. Namaste!

More Notes On Peace


More Notes On Peace

It has been more and more important to me that I gain peace ✌ from within. Separating my reactions both emotional and physical from a situation or state of mind is key to part of my journey on the road to enlightenment. I view enlightenment in the terms of a state of being and a conscious effort of a lifetime rather than an achievement.

Yesterday was so busy that I almost forgot my yoga practice for the day. It was nearly two in the morning and I sat straight up in bed remembering, and realizing that I could either go to bed or practice before I closed my eyes. The choice was easy -- a brief, simple bedtime yoga session from the Yoga With Adrienne YouTube channel. You always have a choice, and I chose not to give up my nearly eight month stretch of regular daily yoga that I have practiced every day before I close my eyes at night. 🌙 I feel like the beginning of becoming enlightened is to commit to positive practices of both mind and body. Yoga and meditation have become my both go-to and my to-do. They are some of the best additions to my everyday they I have ever added. I can't wait to see where a few years of steady practice will take me!


Friday, May 11, 2018

Finding Peace In The Swirling Sea Within


Finding Peace In The Swirling Sea Within

Today my anxiety ramped up again when I found out that my roommate's sister had been in a serious car accident and is in serious condition. I don't know her extremely well but we have spent some social functions and holiday events together. Now it seems that I am facing the feeling of seeing a friend of mine go through exactly what I have gone through (and unfortunately he has also gone through) time and time again. So I really needed to tune in and ground myself in the moment. There is nothing any of can do but wait to hear updates of her progress from the doctors. I'm so sad that this has happened. Now all I can do is try to find peace within the tumultuous emotions that are surfacing within me like debris that is stirred up from a storm on the sea. I am doing my best to surf the waves of feelings that this is bringing up within me.

Thursday, May 10, 2018

Getting Grounded Again



Sometime between yesterday and today, I got a little shaky and off-center in the doing of all my tasks. This afternoon, I realized that I needed to infuse a some grounding back into my life, so that I can get a bit of my own back. It has been a busy week thus far and I have come to terms with the fact that I don't have to do everything perfectly, but sometimes that impulse to over-think and "monkey mind" everything tries to take over again. At least now I know what's happening when I see it and I can relax and relinquish that tight grip on my existence and remember to breath -- confident in the knowledge that everything is going to work out for the best and that it always does somehow. This yoga practice really helped me a lot. More kudos to the Yoga With Adrienne channel!

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Exactly What I Needed!


Exactly What I Needed!

OMG was this practice everything that I needed to do and hear in the moment! Since at least a week, I had been plagued by thoughts of self-doubt about my performance and singing abilities and my life path in general. And then I went up there on stage and I felt that I just 'hit in out of the park' in terms of my performance. It was an awesome feeling and then the next day when I thought about the things I have to finish up before the end of the semester, I started to get anxious and doubt myself yet again. After I completed this Yoga With Adrienne practice to conquer the times when you simply don't believe in yourself enough, I begin to see the patterns of the times when I doubt myself and how it can often be a vicious cycle. I'm committed to working through this tendency, not by pulling away from the uncomfortable emotions that self-doubt can generate, but by examining them, facing them with frankness and honesty, learning what I need to and then letting it go.

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

The Moment of Truth


The Moment of Truth

So in this crystallization of time, this second of mental, spiritual, emotional and physical growth, I am feeling the weight of all my decisions. How will I respond to everything that is being asked of me? How will I react to the truth of understanding that dawns on us something -- hitting us like a brick of realization? For me that realization is dealing with feelings of self-doubt and fears about my proficiency as a singer and performer. I somethings wonder if I'm good enough to be around all the talent that I have the privilege to enjoy in my musical social circle. I know that this is coming from a deeper place -- a wound created by my childhood, when people didn't believe in me or think I was capable of great things. My challenge today is to take a deep breath and just melt into the moment of truth when it comes and to infuse with playfulness and lighthearted energy. I can ask myself, if this was my last day or chance to be on earth, would I want to spend it in fretting and worrying, or would I choose joy instead? I want to choose joy.

Monday, May 7, 2018

Tired But Inspired!


Tired But Inspired!

I needed a dose of caffeine after my morning yoga and then I had to head off to my classes. I have a performance tomorrow, and maybe it's the stress I have faced over the last two week, or the toll that being sick took on my whole system and frazzled nerves, but I find my self nervous. There are points durning the day when I wonder if I can do it. Logically I know I can, and that all I have to do is just get out there and have fun, but still the nagging little spears of self-doubt remain amid all the happy parts. Maybe the key is just to accept the whole picture with both the good and bad feelings and just let everything go. I think I'm going to practice doing that tomorrow. This is me letting on and letting God/Goddess take the wheel. And cue second yoga practice....


Sunday, May 6, 2018

Moving With Confidence


Moving With Confidence

Today I felt so much better about myself, in large part due to my exploration of what makes up the pleasurable and painful situations we experience in life, and finding ways to come to terms with the how the tragedies of my life intersect with its most joyful experiences. As Jay told me yesterday when I was getting in touch with that pain, "Life isn't fair.". That statement rung true for me. A lot about my life's journey up until now has been wrought with sorrow and disappointment. That's not to say that I didn't have many breathtaking and amazing experiences to take snapshots of, it's just that I honor and accept that moments of intense sadness have most definitely also been a part of that tapestry. Where does that leave me? Well, honestly, I'm still figuring that part out. Right now I'm deeply aware of both states of being in my mind's eye, and that's OK -- healing even. I sense that my coming to terms with these dualities, is going to be the focus of the summer, and maybe the rest of the year. It's better to face the shadows than to run from them - even if you're fleeing into the beauty of the light.

It's Late!


It's Late!

OMG! 😲 look at the time. Yes it's late, but the day didn't feel complete without jotting a few words down in my blog. Yes I'm managing my anxiety and yes yoga and meditation are helping. Aromatherapy is helping me tackle the fret and worry beast as well. Then there's the mindful journaling. I'm going to master the fine art of being.

Friday, May 4, 2018

Keep On Going!


Keep On Going!

Just keep towing the line! That seems to be great advice as this semester comes to a close and summer gets closer  and closer. That's just what I'm going to do. Even when the going gets tough, I'm not going to give up. I chose today's practice because I needed to keep my eye on the ball and go for the gold. I have end of semester projects to complete and a two concerts to sing in for the month of May - one on the the 8th of this month and another on the 30th. I love doing what I do and now it's time to start making it work for me. I plan to serve up videos both on a "That Healing Girl" Youtube Channel and on my Adina Pernell Youtube channel to marking my singing and musical pursuits. I also plan to write a book on crystal healing. I've got a lot of work to do this summer (most of all in fun). It's time to fire up my goals and get moving!

Thursday, May 3, 2018

Where Do I Go From Here?


Where Do I Go From Here?

To loosely quote Joss Whedon, that is the question of the day. I'm feeling hopeful, inspired, joyful even. No I don't know what the future may hold, but that's sort of the point -- taking a leap on faith. I don't have to be 100 percent sure of the outcome to go with my gut and choose a path of adventure and wild abandon. It's a place to start forging the life of my dreams. It's time to start dreaming again!

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Picking Up The Pace


Picking Up The Pace

I'm back in the flow of life again and I'm feeling like the shadows of illness and fatigue are moving away and the last vestiges of sickness are leaving my body. And it feels really good! I'm stretching my muscles a bit more in yoga and I think I'm ready to start longer practices again - maybe 20 minutes or so to begin with and then incorporate some 30 and 45 minute practices in there again. My first forays into the swimming pool again in swim class convinced me that I want to keep swimming a part of my regular routine throughout the summer. So when school is not in session, I need to find a community pool to keep my busy. It's great exercise and it's so calming to be in the water and at one with such a formless element. I'm still taking it easy though, but that's more than OK. I'm excited for the promise of summer!

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Getting Through It All


Getting Through It All

Today I got so much done! I've nearly wrapped up the photo 📷 story that I'm working on, I worked on the songs for the upcoming Spring Jazz Concert at City College of San Francisco and I'm finalizing things for the performance that the jazz club at the college is going to hold at Bird And Beckett. The word that sums up all the positive endeavors I'm pursuing is simple. This is what accomplished feels like. ☺

Monday, April 30, 2018

Checking Back In With Myself


Checking Back In With Myself

I'm readjusting to my fresh outlook on life and the next chapter of my year that feels like a new day. Today was about me getting back to my whirlwind of activities. But there is a new tone of moderation that is setting the mode of my operations from here on out. I have learned my lessons and I'm taking my "me time" more seriously. And I still got a lot accomplished today!

Sunday, April 29, 2018

Getting Stuff Done!


Getting Stuff Done!

It turns out that stretching it out in a 20 minute yoga session with SaraBeth is just what I need to get my day off to a great start! I'm feeling more like my self and more full of energy than ever. I am purging myself of the negative thoughts that have been plaguing me lately (as recently as yesterday) and I'm heading towards a great summer. Question are beginning to form on the edges of my horizon. I'm starting to ask myself how can I optimize my extra time this summer? How can I write the crystal healing book I've been wanting to write? How can I resolve and/or heal relationships that need TLC or closure? How can I optimize my health? How can I better reach my goals for weight loss, saving and spending money and organization and life-simplification? How can I implement plans for my financial and educational future? And how can I have fun? I will use the month of May to find out just how I want to explore all of these questions and handle the planing phase and to wrap up any loose ends that I need to complete for the rest of the semester. I'm back in the game again!

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Staving Off My Anxiety


Staving Off My Anxiety

The day before yesterday, my cat had a breathing scare that set off not only issues from my own trauma around breathing difficulties, but also my issues surrounding my fear of losing any more of the ones (furry or otherwise) that I love and care for. This fear I realize is like a post-traumatic stress landmine that can go off without warning, leaving me vulnerable, panicky and full of anxiety that it can be hard to let go. I have also been using crystals and aromatherapy that might possibly be working energetically in tandem with the approaching, emotional full moon in Scorpio, which could be enhancing emotional outbursts.

I've already forgotten to heed the lessons I've learned that everything that is happening to me is universally perfect in its own way and not to attempt to control the universe, rather my reactions within it. I also haven't been practicing regular meditation in about two weeks. I'm sure that has a lot to do with my current anxiety levels as well. As I'm writing this, I'm giving myself a detoxing foot soak. One of my clients who was going to get a foot reflexology session from me didn't show and I decided to use her soak instead of dumping it. Waste not want not. This would probably be a good time to meditate, as I now have the spare time. Again the motto is waste not, want not. I'm gonna go zen out now.

Heading Towards A full Moon


Heading Towards A full Moon

A full moon in scorpio is set to rock 🎸 our emotional landscape on Monday. But, for the more sensitive souls among us, we can feel its lunar energies sometimes a few days or even a week or two before and after the moon's full phase. Personally I'm feeling it today. My emotions are watery and deep and I'm not afraid to dive into them or express them. Usually I would be more reluctant to do so, but today I've felt someone weepy and compulsive.  It's time to explore my feelings and see where they take me.

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Concentrating On Staying Afloat


Concentrating On Staying Afloat

Again, I am turning to ancient practices where Western medicine has proved inadequate to server all of my healthcare needs. My focus for the next few weeks is going to be on my health and on getting through the current semester. In the coming weeks ahead, I will be gathering my strength to correct my financial issues as well. But first things first, my vitality and energy need tending to. I'm also going to put my cat on a regimen for health as well. He might as well follow his human mommy and keep his health up too. He's looking spry for an almost ten year old feline and I want it to stay that way. I'm also putting my time into getting organized this spring before summer hits. It's coming soon and I need to get in gear so that I'm fit and in the condition to enjoy it!

Breathing Issues...


Breathing Issues...

It seems that this yoga practice was in order today to ground my anxious thoughts. My recent bout with illness not only left me with a lot of work to catch up on, but it also left me with some lingering breathing problems. The upper respiratory virus that I am still recovering from, apparently has affected my lungs in some way, as I have taking to wheezing during sleep and getting a taste of my hereditary sleep apnea mixing with it to give me quite the combo when it comes to getting my Zzzz's. No wonder I've been so tired. Now what can I do about it? Well if it doesn't clear up on its own, see the doctor again, but until then herbal teas, an anti-inflammatory diet, mudras, yoga, crystal healing and of course a good dose of patience. Let's just wait and see. Meanwhile, the race to finish this semester is on. Wish me luck!

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Doing What I Can

Practice # 1 

Doing What I Can

I practice three 20 minute practices from the SarahBeth Yoga channel's Deep Stretch series on YouTube. I really needed the long, slow sequences of asanas as my anxiety is starting to ramp up around just how many things that have built up during the course of my illness. Now I have to play catch up with everything and it's getting pretty overwhelming. I'm just going to start with the things that I can do right now and handle the rest in the order of importance that it comes to me. Now I'm going to take a relaxing bath, do a tarot reading and regroup by listing all the things I have to do and the reasonable amount of tasks that I can undertake today to accomplish them. I'm not going to over-do it. I've learned my lesson on that score. The proper amount of rest, food and care is essential to me finishing out this semester with decent grades. I'm going to give it my best shot, while honoring the commitments I have made. Let's do this!

Practice # 2

Practice # 3

Monday, April 23, 2018

Getting Off To A Slow Start


Getting Off To A Slow Start

I thought it best to take it easy after a day of revelry yesterday. Even though I had a pretty relaxing, if fun day, I noticed that the activities still took it out of me. It's a humbling experience to have to take breaks for energy as if late. I'm taking it all in stride though and finding my footing. Let's see where tomorrow takes me.

Sunday, April 22, 2018

Moving Into The Light


Moving Into The Light

Today I helped celebrate the wedding of my amazing friend Bethaney's wedding and met a lot of new friends along the way. It was the second day of my glorious weekend that started out with the famous drag brunch at Sir Francis Drake Hotel's Starlight Room in San Francisco -- a room known for its incredible views. From there, our party moved on Archimedes Banya, an amazing co'ed spa known for it's saunas and invigorating treatments such as cold plunging after the intense heat of the sauna. Afterwards we enjoyed a sumptuous meal at AsiaSF, San Francisco's premier restaurant and drag show before I headed home. I am immensely grateful for this restful, and healing weekend. I feel as if I am heading towards even more amazing things to come, as I build on the accomplishments in my life thus far and express my appreciation and gratitude for all the wonderful things that life has given me! One of the many things it has given me is a deep and loving relationship with my partner Jay. We recently made our relationship official. It is unconventional, new, and growing, and it is uniquely us. I am blessed.

Saturday, April 21, 2018

Coming Back To Life


Coming Back To Life

I feel as if I am waking back up from a long and fitful slumber and I can see the fresh and vibrant colors of a new world -- one that is exciting and full of bright possibilities. I spent an awesome and relaxing day with Jay on his birthday enjoying his company and seeing him smile and getting in some much needed pampering along the way. I treated him to his and her pedicures and we dined on Vietnamese cuisine and amazing drinks. Afterwards we tried our hand at soaking in sensory deprevation tanks, and then ended the entire experience with🍦ice cream. It was a lovely day with wonderful memories!

It's Been Nice...


It's Been Nice...

Yes. It has been lovely to enjoy some much needed R&R -- the calm before the storm. There is about to be a wave of activity next week and I have to manage to stay grounded through it all.  I can do it though. There are only a few more weeks left in the school semester. I can do it. I got this! ☺

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Finding More Energy


Finding More Energy

Sometimes tapping into your energy reserves can be as simple as drinking more water, detoxing, finding your calmest center point by grounding into the earth and meditation with a crystal that calls to you. I think that today that crystal is citrine and clear quartz, which I will place in a grid around  an energizing bath today. I am starting to feel better. I'm coming through the fog of fatigue that I was in and my mind and body are waking up again. I can see myself being, doing and accomplishing things again. But I know that it's important not to rush myself and to find a steady pace in which to get my daily tasks done without burning out again and to let go of distractions. It's time to have tea and a soup infused with healing herbs like garlic, turmeric and ginger -- to fire up my digestion and kick start my immune system and my third chakra. It's time to think and be positive. No more tears!

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

The Next Chapter




The Next Chapter

Moving into the next phase of my life this year, I am focused on restoring and repairing my chakras and immune system. I went to the doctor yesterday and discovered that the flu I thought I had was a virus that had settled in my respiratory tract. The doctor said that the fatigue and subsequent shortness of breath that I had recently experienced over the weekend was likely from the virus and that it seems that it is moving its way out of my system. So that is great news. Yay! I could look at my recovery from this recent bout of illness as a setback, but I'm going to take it as Mercury Retrogrades shadow reinforcing that fact that I need to pace myself and take greater care of my health. Today's yoga practices are about repairing my throat chakra because my vocal cords need the TLC after coughing so much along with some gentle vocal exercises and herbal teas. I took my vitamins like a good girl. LOL both literally and figuratively. Now all that's left is to take a break, take a breath and move forward.

Even Just Five Minutes Counts


Even Just Five Minutes Counts

Today I couldn't fit a full-length yoga practice into my day, but sometimes you have to get it in where you can fit it in. Still I haven't missed a day of yoga yet and I don't plan to start even if I am getting over an upper respiratory tract viral infection. "I went to the doctor and guess what he told me" to quote Sinead O'Connor in the late Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U". Well his advice certainly wasn't about having fun. He told me to rest and that is exactly what I'm going to do. Sip some tea. Study. Read a book. "Watch a thing," as Jay says. I'm going to chill out. So goodnight people. 👍

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Busy Day


Busy Day

Today was a crazy day where nothing went according to planned except cuddling in Jay's arm and telling him all about it. That was the best part of an otherwise dismal day. I was clutching my mostly green rainbow flourite crystal by the end of it all and taking deep breaths. And then there were taxes and a doctors appointment to make, along with woes. Tomorrow is another day.

Sunday, April 15, 2018

One Step Forward And...


One Step Forward And...

Well you know how it goes sometimes, the one step forward and the whole "two steps" dilemma can screw things up sometimes -- turn them on their heads. I spent a lovely lazy Sunday with Jay and we went to the gaming party Open Battlestar and from there my energy levels took a dive again. I'm going to get it all checked out tomorrow so stay posted. Finger's crossed that everything's A-OK. See you on the flip side people.

Healing Energy


Healing Energy

Talk about healing energy! Today was all about it. I could feel my own coming back so much stronger. I have been working with the frequencies of colors both in meditation, chakra healing and in invocation of color energy as well. Today I called upon the spiritual, mind-body-soul connection of the healing purple ray. I've been drawn to it a lot, which has led me to work with lavender essential oil, amethyst crystal, Archangel Uriel and the calming, gentle nature of restoration that it brings with it. I am feeling blessed and grateful.

Friday, April 13, 2018

Crystal Madness


Crystal Madness

So lately I've been pretty engrossed in working with crystal energy. I am exploring the metaphysical properties of shungite and flourite and dreaming up crystal layouts and recipes for crystal elixers. Not surprisingly, I want to create a few for energizing the body and fortifying stamina. I also have ones in mind for immunity and health and vitality. When I create some, I'll post a few layouts and recipes on my blog. It should be a fun summer project to dream up recipes and various crystal healing formations. This is gonna be great fun!

Thursday, April 12, 2018

Thoughts On Drishti


Thoughts On Drishti

In yoga we hear a lot about focusing your drishti. I recently read an online article in Yoga Journal's Yoga 101 section of their website that illuminated the phrase that you hear a lot of yoga class quite simply and elegantly and gave me much food for thought, as I contemplated just how and where I focused my eyes while practicing my asanas. https://www.yogajournal.com/yoga-101/the-eye-of-the-beholder. The article made me realize that sometimes my constantly wandering mind (especially susceptible to roaming because of my chronic anxiety) could be stilled by concentrating on my drishti. I see drishti as a way of seeing and also a way of disengaging your monkey mind and tuning into your third eye to access that inner knowing that only each and everyone of use knows is our truest council. Practicing where I place my dristhi ( point of focus) in my daily yoga practice will enhance my energetic flow, soothe my racing thoughts and clear my 6th chakra, the anja point. This is just what I need right now. Clarity.

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Working With Crystals


Working With Crystals

I've been working in meditation with crystals a lot. I've been particularly drawn to amethyst, selenite, fluorite and moldavite recently and lately I've been working with the energies of shungite. Shungite is a stone that is reputed for opening up your whole being to receive high vibrations of light body currents to facilitate a healing on the deepest of levels. I had lost a simple shungite pendant suspended from a piece a rope that I purchased recently. I'm hazarding a guess based on working with crystals that I've lost in the past and that have turned up out of the blue when I needed them most, that this time is no different. Shungite's innate intelligence for cleaning the energy field, together with the fluorite crystal I've been working with have had a synergistic effect on my well-being. Maybe the gentler frequencies of the fluorite were needed to work on my energy body for a while before shungite's energetic scrubbers  could go to work -- clearing my aura after a long illness. Once again my crystal allies have come valiantly to my rescue!

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Self Reflection


Self Reflection

Today's practice and subsequent daily tasks have me in a thoughtful mood. I am analyzing the emotions I've experienced around loss after reading "The Fable of  Final Sunset" in Tori Hartman's "Chakra Wisdom Oracle Toolkit" where she ask you to consider how you respond to the endings in your life. In reality endings are as inevitable as well... death and taxes. I realize that I often hang on to the nostalgia and the memories at the expense of moving forward. I've lost so much that it's sometimes hard to remember that in new beginnings I have the potential for so much to gain at the other side of new beginnings. Today I'm turning this concept around in my hear and allowing it to be whatever it is, letting feelings come and go, taking it with me into meditation and also allowing for the insights from the meditations from Briana and Dr. Peter Borten's "Rituals For Transformation" to sink into my mind. It has helped me to remember that we are one with Divinity and Divinity is one with me and the Universe. I spent nearly two weeks on this concept because it's just that deep. I'm still pondering it... pondering... life

Monday, April 9, 2018

Moving Bravely Ahead


Moving Bravely Ahead

Today's yoga practice was chock full of warrior poses and sun salutations, making it the perfect practice for me to face the day and get back into things. I started my herbal remedies with Bach's Flower Essences and crystal meditation and I already feel brighter about the coming day! Yesterday was a no-go with the photojournalism assignment and so I'm going to try again today. I'm hoping that I can get some pictures in. Of course there's a late breakfast/brunch and tulsi herbal tea to balance my doshas and my cup of coffee later at the coffee shop. Later on it's more photos and singing at jazz club as I begin to start pursuing my passions again. I am hopeful for the rest of the day. We have a few more days of Mercury Retrograde to go and I am arming myself with lavender, peppermint and melissa essential oils, yoga and letting go what needs to be gone. I got this!

Sunday, April 8, 2018

Taking A Lazy Sunday...


Taking A Lazy Sunday...

Today I'm taking it step by step, starting with allowing myself to sleep in before trying out a yoga sequence for detoxification and digestion on the SaraBeth Yoga channel. It was definitely more rigorous than yesterday's flow of asanas, but not so fast-paced a flow that I couldn't handle it. I think I will take a few more practices like this 15-20 minute sessions before moving on to 20-30 minute routines. I'm being smart about this and honoring my body's current capacity for energetic movement. I think that I might try my hand at pictures for my photo story after a leisurely bath if the coffee shop where I proposed doing my photo story project for my photojournalism class is still open. I also decided that I will probably drop my swim class and take it easy for the rest of the semester by focusing on my photojournalism class, math, and of course work. The rest of the evening should have me snuggling in Jay's arms, preparing to face the week ahead.

Saturday, April 7, 2018

Pacing Myself As I Go Forward


Pacing Myself As I Go Forward

This short simple yoga practice on the SarahBeth yoga YouTube channel primed me for the day ahead. It was energetic, but not too enthusiastic for a day when I still felt rough around that edges and was plagued by off-and-on-again bouts of fatigue. I ordered my vitamins off Amazon and have my protein smoothies and my whole foods based shopping list ( and by whole foods, I mean processed and not the famous grocery store. I'm going make some more anti inflammatory soup tomorrow and a big green salad with organic cherry tomatoes. I kind of fell off the wagon today and ate some processed foods, but I realized that it was just a gut reflex (literally) and that I didn't even really want to eat it. My body needs the simple whole ingredients to repair itself. It craves the herbal teas and homemade soups and dishes that I make myself. Time for more healing aromatherapy baths, chi energy sequences, Reiki, and of course yoga!

Friday, April 6, 2018

The Comeback Kid


The Comeback Kid

So, as I mentioned yesterday, I feel as if I'm making a comeback. I plan on using the last 10 days of Mercury to tie up loose ends, spring clean the house, do some deep thinking and meditating and of course some yoga. Duh! LOL. I couple more gentle asana flows before I transition into more lively practices and try my hand at vinaysa or kundalini yoga. Of course I plan on finishing out the Yoga With Tim challenge within the month of April and use May to prepare for June. I am returning to my body makeover plan. I'll be returning to my every-other-day high intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions soon and my twice weekly swim classes. It's time to rock and roll!

Thursday, April 5, 2018

Tapping Into Inner Reserves Of Strength


Tapping Into Inner Reserves Of Strength

I'm learning how to access the core of my being -- my Higher Self -- that place that no one and nothing can tarnish. It's the eternal part of my very being that guides me through my life choices and has my back when I don't think I can move forward any longer. It's the part of me I access in my daily meditation practices. And it's telling me to move ahead with my goals no matter what. My energy is coming back and I purchased some supplements, teas, essential oils and crystals for my health and well-being. I added another part to my yoga/meditation/journaling routine and that is qigong exercises for raising energy in the body along with Sapien Med's healing frequencies I mentioned yesterday. The exercises in question are from a book called "5-Minute Chi Boost - Pressure Points for Reviving Life Energy, Avoiding Pain and Healing Fast" by William Lee and Sasha James. I don't whether it's this book's exercises for raising chi, Sapien Med's healing sounds, the Vata-friendly yoga sessions, the healthy servings of fruit and vegetables, the anti-inflammatory turmeric and ginger soup and teas, the crystal grids, self-acupuncture, aromatherapy baths or maybe a combination of all of theses things working together, but I am finally starting to feel like my old self again. For this I am so grateful that words cannot express! I was really sick. Now let's let the healing commence. I'm ready to get back into the swing of things again!                                  

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Throwing My Hat In The Ring


Throwing My Hat In The Ring

Fresh from balancing my excitable and anxious Vata Dosha, I'm throwing my hat back in the ring. The ring of what? Well I'm going back into the ring of life, albeit this time with more of a focus on mindfulness and keeping my energetic equilibrium more stable. I'm grounding myself and digging my heels in for the long haul, armed with the insights I'm gaining from Tori Hartman's lessons on perseverance from week 14 in her "Chakra Wisdom Oracle Toolkit". I am discovering so much about myself and what often triggers me to give up just before I've won the battle.

I'm fortifying myself by listening to some isochronic tones from one of my favorite frequency guru's on YouTube, Sapien Med's channel. What are isochronic tones? Shortly described, they are rapid pulses of sound created to align with the rhythm of your brainwaves and create various states of being through the mind/body connection. There are isochronic tones for everything from healing to beauty to mindsets. I am listening to among a plethora of others, tones specifically for increasing (chi, prana, qi,) energetic levels in the body to help me to recuperate from my body's recent illness, and to fortify my overall health and immunity. I will post four videos from Sapien Med's Internal Alchemy series part 1-4 below. I listen to them two times per day each at roughly five to six minutes each, that's not a lot of time to invest in my health and well-being. In fact, I feel it's time well spent. I can literally feel the energy coursing through me when I listen to these. After napping and falling asleep to these today. I woke up feeling refreshed and much stronger. I highly recommend these videos and indeed, exploring all the videos on Sapien Med's YouTube channel. The work he does to encourage mind/body/soul healing is invaluable! Try it and see for yourself.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Resetting My Values


Resetting My Values

Today I feel so much better not only physically but mentally. I realize that this sickness might also be an emotional and spiritual purge as well as mental and physical purging of toxins and impurities. It's as if my mind, body and soul needed a reset -- a reminder to love, nurture, heal and slow down and take each step mindfully again. This week's fable in Tori Hartman's "Chakra Wisdom Oracle Toolkit" is the less on of the "Carrot Coloured Cloak". This lessen is about a woman whose bright but tattered cloak represents her dreams and all the hard work and hard knocks that her dream has taken in order to be recognized. In the fable she gave up when things got hardest, just before her dream was about to be realized even though her guides, angels her version of Divinity were pointing her in the right direction. I see myself in this women. I admit to having thoughts of wondering what I'm doing it all for? Of questioning my path thus far. But I take this as a direct message not to stop pursuing my passions and to move ahead towards them whole-heartedly!

Recently I've been seeing repeating sequences of numbers for the past two years or more and now the frequency of these occurrences are coming to a fever pitch. I constantly see 11, or 111 or 1111 or 1010. I've also see 333, 33, 22, 222, 2222, 55, 555, 77, 777 and even 88 and 888. I looked up all of these numbers and read that they are angels, divinity, guides ( I like to think of them as angels or light-beings) communicating with me. I see the numbers on clocks, a lot, but also at other times like noticing the page in a book is 111 or 222, or looking down at a label and seeing the repeating numerals.  Sometimes the energies of the numerical messages will mix. I've been seeing a lot of 15,115,1515, 1212, 112 21, 212, 244 313, 113 and 1444. Most recently I have seen 44, 444 even more. Yesterday I went shopping and my grocery receipt was exactly $44.44. I looked up the numbers of various websites (listed below if you're curious) and I read that it meant that the angels are telling me that I've worked really hard thus far towards my goals and dreams and will see benefits from this work, but that in order to achieve my goals, I will have to continue working even harder -- probably even when it seems impossible not to give up.  This message rings true. There's a reason why when I looked at the number of page views on the first link, Angel Numbers - Joanne Sacred Scribes it read 172,977,764. I'm not alone.


Links To Angel Number Websites:

http://sacredscribesangelnumbers.blogspot.com/2010/08/angel-numbers-number-sequences_9737.html

https://trustedpsychicmediums.com/angel-numbers/angel-number-4444-meaning/

https://willowsoul.com/blogs/numbers/5-reasons-why-you-are-seeing-4-44-the-meaning-of-444

https://www.luvze.com/angel-number-4444-meaning/

https://www.sunsigns.org/angel-number-4444-meaning/




Monday, April 2, 2018

Turning It Around


Turning It Around

Today I felt a definite shift in my energy levels. I was still really tired and had a lot of chest congestion but I felt more steady and sure. I went to the college campus today and took my math test but didn't do anything else. I decided to go home and convalesce, as well as take care of some much needed purging around the house. I feel like I really need to focus on me and my health -- regroup. Do some self-healing and energy work, lay in some crystal grids and drink crystal elixir, practice reflexology, acupressure, yoga and qigong to strengthen my body for the tasks and goals ahead. This Vata dosha balancing practice was just what the holistic doctor ordered.

Sunday, April 1, 2018

Starting To Recover


Starting To Recover

Today's practice was another slow and easy one followed by a Triple Warmer acupressure point session. I'm giving myself the TLC that I need to recover and being gentle on my body. Plenty of rest is in order. It's time to take care of myself. Speaking of care -- I'm going to get some rest and crystal healing with amber and elestial quartz today and perhaps amethyst. Tomorrow I start my spring cleaning and Mercury Retrograde and the releasing energy of the full moon in Libra are a great time both to purge, reset and find balance.

Saturday, March 31, 2018

Another Gentle Yoga Day


Another Gentle Yoga Day

So I needed another blissful yoga practice today. I'm still healing. I couldn't handle anything too vigorous, but I feel that I will be able to do so in the near future. Then I can resume my Yoga With Tim sessions. Today however, I practiced a brief but nurturing heart opening yoga by Caren Baginski. It was just what I needed. I've also been practicing self-acupressure to aid my body's healing practice. Of course I've been drinking plenty of water and trying to eliminate toxins from my body and strengthen my immune system. I feel like I am purging on a deep energetic level in preparation to move ahead to a newer, brighter future -- the beginnings of positive change.

Friday, March 30, 2018

Taking Things Slowly...


Taking Things Slowly...

It was one of those days where I had to drag myself out of bed to start the day. Again I diverged from Yoga with Tim's energetic session in favor of this gentle Vata-friendly session on the SarahBeth Yoga channel. I worked a half shift at work after taking cold medicine. I almost fell asleep 😴 in the Uber there, but I made it in one piece. Now I can chill out at the end if the day. I've got my herbal tea ☕ so it's all 👍 good.


Thursday, March 29, 2018

Regaining My Balance...


Regaining My Balance...

Yesterday evening because I was bored after watching an entire K-Drama called "Best Lover" on Netflix, I decided to investigate my waning energy levels through the lens of Ayurveda. I believe the Universe and my guides led me in the direction in which over the course of investigating three different sites where I was diagnosed with three different doshas (the Ayurvedic descriptor for health profile). The three site I'm referring to are linked below just in case anyone wants to find out their predominant dosha. My second most prominent dosha was Kapha followed by an almost equal amount of Pitta. It was clear thought, that after taking the tests that my main imbalance in all three, even though I got varying mixtures of other doshas,  was Vata.  Vata imbalance is characterized by anxiety, being all-over-the-place, constantly busy and not always giving self-care and the list goes on. So I decided to practice balancing my Vata, which means establishing and regular bedtime and wakeup routine (I will try. LOL.), cutting refined sugars and processed foods (I've been doing that), meditation and pranayama (I've been doing that. Yay!), TLC. With that goal in mind I started decided my yoga practice today would be a 20 minute gentle ground sequence by Sarah Platt-Finger of Ishta Yoga. I will have to say that it really did help a lot. Now I'm going to take an aromatherapy bath and perform a self massage with oils before eating a nourishing meal. I am taking all this good advice to heart.

1.  https://www.joyfulbelly.com/

2. www.theayurvedaexperience.com

3. www.banyanbotanicals.com

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Rebuilding My Energy


Rebuilding My Energy

The hacking and coughing aside, I was really weak yesterday and so I'm taking it slow today and doing my best to practice nurturing and self-care. I think I got sick somehow on that 10 hour bus ride to SoCal either to or from the Journalism Association of Community Colleges (JACC) convention. Then there's the abrupt weather changes from cold and rainy to sunny and bright, the not-so-healthy fast food at truck stops, and being crowded on a bus with at least 40 other journalism students. Of course this is also Mercury Retrograde season which decided that I needed to have my period throughout the SoCal trip and might have just decided that I needed to slow down and repair my body. Hey it's better to get sick during Spring Break than during the rest of the college semester. Maybe it's time to rest and regroup. If that's the case, I've got the message loud and clear!

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Still Sick...


Still Sick...

I wanted to try, but I just couldn't hang with a long, strenuous practice today from Yoga With Tim, and so I had go with a tried a true practice for when I'm feeling under the weather on the Yoga With Adriene channel I'm just relaxing into the fact that I can't really do very much right now and forgiving myself. I was going to use this week to accomplish so much... And maybe I am. Maybe being sick is just what the doctor ordered to help me slow down this Mercury Retrograde season.

Monday, March 26, 2018

Feeling Drained But Focusing On Energy


Feeling Drained But Focusing On Energy

I didn't write in my blog yesterday because I had to make the over 10 hour journey back on the bus from Burbank to San Francisco and then make my way back to the Bay Area. I did however, make time to complete my yoga practice in the hotel in the morning. It was  a chill little recovery yoga video from The Yoga With Tim 30 day challenge with a focus on meditation. Today I feel a bit of a cold coming on, but maybe I'm just tired from such a long weekend of activities. So I'm going to do not a lot but rest today. I've definitely earned it. I am so grateful to have all the encouraging experiences and friends that I have in my life at this moment. I take courage and comfort in that fact in the days ahead as I endeavor to keep my thoughts focused and positive!

Saturday, March 24, 2018

A Day Of Rest And Creativity


A Day Of Rest And Creativity

OK. So yoga kicked butt today, but I recharged with an energy-packed breakfast and some caffeine and I meditated and journal. Bring on the rest of the day people! The Journalism Association of Community Colleges (JACC) is winding down, and there's a few more workshops that I could enjoy. I'm all set to meet my friend and composer Soren Sorenson -- the Rodgers to my Hammerstein. We're going to meet in the hotel lobby where I'm staying in Burbank, CA and chill out with a refreshing beverage by the pool (if the weather holds) and catch up and talk about the album we're working on together. I should be a really chill day. I feel my creative juices working and I might take a 30 minute nap if I have time. Later on is the JACC Awards Banquet Dinner. After that, maybe I'll hit the nightlife scene for one big party blast before I head to bed, catch a few winks and make the trip back to San Francisco. Today is going to be so much fun!

The Theme Of The Day Is Perseverance...


The Theme Of The Day Is Perseverance...

I got up and started my day right with yoga and had a good breakfast at the hotel. Later that day Mercury struck when a guest speaker that was the subject of a journalism contest at the Journalism Association of Community Colleges  (JACC) was over two hours late and the conference had to push the contest deadline back by two hours. On the upside they gave us more time to write our feature stories on the downside, we had to write straight through an awards ceremony and the student mixer and I didn't turn in my final draft of the story until 10:45 pm. Overall though, the day went well. I bonded with two students from Foothill college, and got closer to my fellow journalist at the paper as well. I attended a very informative story creation workshop in the afternoon, which I learned a great deal about perfecting my craft from. Even though I could feel the lag of Mercury Retrograde slowing things down, the day felt singularly productive. And the speed bumps that I hit only only served as reminders that we might want to go over things with a fine tooth comb in our writing process.

Thursday, March 22, 2018

On The Road Again


On The Road Again...

I've been on a bus 🚌 on the way to Burbank, California for the JACC Journalism Association of Community Colleges. It's been a long long rainy ☔ journey there and we still haven't arrived. There are delegates from three different community colleges aboard and we just made a stop for truck stop 🚚 cuisine. For the first day of Mercury it has been uneventful. Maybe that fact is because I tried to give myself ample time to do everything I needed to do. And I still managed to forget my tarot cards. I got my crystals and supplies to make Mercury Retrograde oil. I'm so glad that I got in my yoga practice before and who knows, possibly after I get checked into the hotel. I meditated. Now I just need to grab a crystal and hold onto it. I'm ready to face the day!

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Taking Care Of Self


Taking Care Of Self

Continuing on the theme from yesterday, today is all about making sure my needs are being met, all the mean while, using love and compassion to accomplish that task. This means caring for others, but also making your you put a healthy dose of self-love into the mix. Finding this balance isn't always easy, but it's necessary if you are going to thrive and grow. I'm going to use this Spring to heal and renew, and find out what it means to put my needs first when it comes to my goals and dreams and also making room for the goals and dreams of those in my life whom I love and support. Maybe together, we can see that all of our hopes and dreams come true. Tomorrow I gear up for Mercury Retrograde and leave for JACC Journalism Association of Community Colleges to represent The City College of San Francisco's Newspaper: The Guardsman. I recently vacated the Culture Editor position which I held there for nearly two semesters so that I could focus more on my writing, learning the ropes of photojournalism and furthering my financial goals. This was one of a few choices I made to simplify my life and get a crystal clear picture of where I am heading in the coming months. I hope to get an opportunity to make Mercury Retrograde oil to stave off some of the symptoms of it's current cycle of planetary changes. I am actually looking forwarding to this trip and the irony with a little tongue-in-cheek amusement. I can't help it. I mean we are getting ready to embark on a journey half-way across the state to a convention that is dedicated to writing, media and communication. Gotta love it! I mean I can't make this stuff up. It's golden! This is going to be such an interesting trip!

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Maintaining My Priorities And Energy Reserves


Maintaining My Priorities And Energy Reserves

OK. It's ironic that I'm talking about this as I have just completed two yoga practices and a High Intensity Interval Training session on but I did. You'll find the two sessions I completed in the videos below. The most important thing is that I'm gathering the strength and time to do all these things because I'm listening to the messages I received from Spirit about focusing on the goals that really matter to me and the wisdom from the fable of Saint Apricot in Tori Hartman's "Chakra Wisdom Oracle Toolkit" journaling workbook. It's amazing what you can accomplish when you don't have to worry about the approval or others or the guilt of not following your true path to please outside parties. Saint Apricot reminds me that it is often necessary to take the "road less traveled", as Robert Frost wrote in his seminal poem. I've had to ask myself how many times when I have ignored my gut and done things just to please others, have I ended up in a happy place where I felt good about my actions at a soul level? The answer of course is none of the times. All the times when I have (left the cult religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, when I was told that to leave meant destruction, moved to San Francisco with no job and not money, started doing yoga when I was told it was sinful, agreed to go with a close friend to Mexico and didn't know where I was going to find the money, left a job that was having a negative impact on my emotional health with no other employment in sight, embarked on a lifestyle that was far from the societal norms) I have found nothing but joy at the end of the tunnel. The advice is clear. I must follow my own heart and the yearnings of my inner spirit -- the whisperings of my Higher Self and Divinity. I must grow in soil that is hard to flourish in at first until I take root and establish something that I never knew I could and succeed against all odds. I must believe in myself!


HIIT...


And More Yoga... After everything was said and done, it felt good though! Now I have a JACC Journalism conference to pack for in Burbank, California.

Monday, March 19, 2018

Learning Self-Love


Learning Self-Love

Today in the "Chakra Wisdom Oracle Toolkit" by Toni Hartman I explored the lesson of Saint Apricot which tells us to value our worth and put ourselves first when necessary in order to live the life of our dreams and honor our personal truths and boundaries, even if that my mean that we lose the approval of our loved ones. Sometimes it's better to be understood and respected than well-liked. This is the realization that we all must come to if we are to truly be our own masters. I see that, as well as the areas in which I have given away my personal power to please others. It is now time reclaim those parts of myself and stand strong. It is now to for me to honesty see how much I am worth and recognize that lobe and self-respect are the birthright of every being in The Universe!