Crystal Magic. Thanks 2015!

The autumn of 2015 was very busy and full of unexpected events for us. I have been finishing up the 90-day herbal treatment that was recommended after my live blood analysis in October. I have about 3 weeks left. It has been difficult to get through. The blood retest at 5 weeks into the treatment showed big improvements, which was encouraging. It has left me feeling overall tired and my body has been working overtime to cleanse and rebuild itself, cell by cell. I have been faced with forced resting a LOT, and not participating in many normal activities that I usually do without even thinking twice. So tired. It's been a big challenge to just REST and not DO, DO, DO.

The autumn all over the USA and Canada was unusually mild (as most of you may have noticed), which is pretty bizarre. It also meant a longer growing season and more fresh veggies at the farmers markets in Pennsylvania (and everywhere). We were so excited to find such beautiful, nourishing fall foods. We enjoyed meeting the farmers who grew the food and even went apple picking in the neighborhood at an abandoned orchard. There was such a bumper crop of apples that no one knew what to do with them all this year. Yum!

We ended up spending about 9 weeks with my dad in Pennsylvania. We reconnected with many of my friends and family members. It was a time for healing and cleansing on all levels. I learned a lot about my dad and his side of our family tree. I enjoyed the stories that answered some questions for me.  My dad passed on many gemstones and crystals to us that he had inherited from his parents. They were rock hounds and my grandfather was a lapidary and jeweler. He passed away the month before I was born, so I never met him. However, with all of the stones and stories I have inherited, I am grateful to continue working with earth's treasures like my ancestors did. I just know it's a part of what I'm here to share!

We also shared our knowledge of crystals and stones with my nephew. He and uncle Tanner built an Angelic Gateway with crystals while we were in Pennsylvania. He was so excited about this idea. As they tucked each stone into little holes in the earth, he gave them a leaf blanket and pillow and said goodnight as he patted down the soil on top. 

Shortly before the chaos and terrorism erupted in Europe and beyond, I received a very clear message during a meditation that I am to create headbands using copper and crystals to enhance the communication between humans and the higher realms. I wasted no time gathering materials and starting to create these unique beauties. You can see my work available on the etsy page (custom orders welcome!):

www.etsy.com 

shop name: OpenAriseCreations

Or on Facebook at Open Arise Creations

Since I'm on the topic of crystals...we recently acquired two amazing quartz crystal singing bowls. We were in Montana on our last night in the USA and we discovered a gorgeous shop that sends its proceeds to a project in which the shop owner works on healing rescued elephants with singing bowl sound therapy. Here is their site:

www.darirasa.com

We have been waiting for the right bowls to present themselves for quite some time- and they did. We are so excited to add the healing vibrations of these bowls to our cacao ceremonies and other events. We have really enjoyed getting to know them so far!

We have returned to Home Sweet Canada for the foreseeable future. After a journey of 30,000 kilometers of both calm and wild rides in 2015, we will be settling on lovely Vancouver Island...at least for a little while, anyway. 2016, we are excited for the wonderful experiences you will bring! In 2016, we commit to continuing to plant the seeds of LOVE around our world. It's what we do best. 

Hometown Hoedown and Woodstock Wonderland

When I say that I was born in New York, most people assume that I mean New York City. It was close to the city, in a place called White Plains, but the state of New York is pretty big and encompasses all kinds of beautiful terrain. If you haven't been to New York State, I highly suggest that you make it a destination on your bucket list. We departed the Niagara Falls region and crossed the Rainbow Bridge back into the USA. 

Rochester, NY was our next destination. My sweet cousin is there and is expecting a wee one soon. She and her fiancé took us to an amazing little cafe called the Owl House, where we had a scrumptious vegan dinner. We even tried kombucha beer. I had no idea that existed. It was very tasty! We gifted them an adorable tie dyed onesie for their little girl on the way. Part of our early-start hippie program. :) 

Creative construction barrier. 

We had decided against an itinerary for one day so that we could wander slowly south through New York toward my hometown of Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Something amazing happens when we plan less and open up to the possibilities of the universe. We headed to Ithaca, New York via the Finger Lakes wine route. Vineyards covered the rolling hills in all directions. It was a gray day with a fair bit of wind and misty showers on and off. A little too late we googled "organic winery" in the area and discovered that the first organic winery in North America, Four Chimneys, was an hour back in the wrong direction. Would have been neat to see!

What we did see was more breathtaking than any winery. We turned off the main road at a sign for a waterfall. We had just been at Niagara Falls, and couldn't imagine that some random waterfall in the middle of nowhere could even come close to the magnificence of that landmark. Well...it did. We first looked over the edge of a lookout point and saw this. 

We then found a trail at the base of the hill along the river's edge.  The fall colors were stunning as we made our way to the base of the 215' high Taughannock Falls.  What a find. 

On the way back,  I had just finished saying that I hadn't seen many snakes in the 9 years of living in Alberta. As we stepped off the trail to peek at some mini falls we noticed half a dozen snakes wrapped up in a vine-covered tree only a foot away. Very funny Mother Nature. 

We arrived in Ithaca late afternoon and as a result of googling "vegan restaurant" discovered that THE Moosewood restaurant was located here. I had seen countless Moosewood cookbooks in many kitchens over the last decade. After strolling downtown's eclectic shops, we had a yummy veggie dinner there and headed for Honesdale. 

We stayed with my dad for a few days and saw my sister and her man and my adorable nephew. We caught salamanders to add to his pet turtle aquarium and carved a jack o' lantern for Halloween. We also went to an outstanding performance of a country rock band called Sour Bridges, fronted by two brothers that I went to high school with a decade ago. It was a full house and we danced our pants off! Wooooooweeee!  What talent!

Saturday led us an hour from my hometown to Bethel, NY, home to the one and only 1969 Aquarian Exposition, aka Woodstock music festival. A museum and performing arts center was erected on the Yasgur Farm site in 2008 to preserve the memory of the culturally transformative event.

 In the first 10 minutes of the brilliantly designed self-guided tour, I found myself overwhelmed with emotion and my eyes welled up with tears. Woodstock took place during a time of great turmoil in America and the 1960's were bizarrely reflective of what is still occurring with our government and society today. 

We spent 2.5 hours wandering through the museum listening and laughing, watching film clips and marveling at the relics of  the landmark event.

 It was one of the most moving and memorable historical venues I have ever visited. I could write an entire blog about Woodstock but I think you should go have a look for yourself. Wow. 

On the way home from hippie ground zero, we passed a little store that caught our attention. It was well after business hours but the lights were all on, so we did a U-turn.  It was a tie dye shop that has been in my hometown for at least a decade. I had never stopped in before. We had a mind blowing conversation with this guy. 

 He's a master dyer and philosopher and we hardly got in a word! We did leave with several new articles of wearable art. Check out his Etsy shop www.etsy.com/auratiedye

We decided that was one of the most memorable days of this trip so far. 

Crazy orange mushrooms!

Today we sit on the shore of Lake Wallenpaupack writing and soaking up the fall colors and the sweet sunshine. 

Next stop is my mama's house in New York, on our way to the Big Apple. The US Government is back up and running. Whatever that means.