Trumped...but Still Beautiful

It's been an adventurous month crossing the USA. I have a few minutes while I await a dental exam (another one) to begin putting my thoughts into words here. To my dismay, a cavity that I had filled two months ago is very sore and so I wait for a seat in my least favorite type of chair....

On a lighter note, it's been a beautiful trek across America, and just so our Canadian and global friends know: America is the same place it has been for a very long time. It's not suddenly evil. The people are generally kind and friendly - just like in Canada. The land is gorgeous and the wildlife is abundant - just like in Canada. Everyone is doing the best they can. Occasionally, we have spotted red, white and blue billboards, signs and bumper stickers saying "TRUMP: Making America Great Again". In my humble opinion, America IS great, but it has nothing to do with the politics. It's simply another incredible place on this earth, and the abundance of amazing human beings is what makes it greatest. 

When we approached the border between southern Alberta and Montana, the guard looked at my American passport and said "welcome home". I smiled and said thank you, but also felt a bit funny because I haven't considered the USA to be my home in over a decade. 

We made our way south to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. The geysers were so beautiful and bizarre. It was tricky to capture the true essence of their steamy mystery in photos. 

Herds of bison grazed the foothills and elk and moose could be seen in the fields and forests. 

Heading into eastern Wyoming, we took a detour when we saw a sign that said "wild horse scenic tour". We drove for nearly two hours through the dry badlands on a high plateau overlooking prehistoric canyons with layers of colored rock shelves exposed from centuries of erosion. The roadside markers described what was believed to be a prehistoric ocean millions of years ago. Also we never saw a single wild horse...so that was a bummer. We had fun anyway!

We had to do a last minute route change, due to an avalanche closure of a Rocky Mountain pass through northern Colorado. Instead, we went a bit south through Denver. As soon as we drove into the downtown area, marijuana was in the air. We parked and found a hip Thai bistro and has a great chat with the young man, perhaps 25 years old, who was the waiter.  He had spent a year in Thailand and was feeling obligated to remain in the USA because he felt that he would be throwing away his winning birth lottery of being born American. We smiled and suggested that he just do what made him happiest. He said the legality of marijuana in Colorado was causing a crunch in housing availability. Everyone wants to be a part of the cannbis revolution. He mentioned that he was observing the current generation's new American Dream: have a career that allows you to be your own boss and live anywhere you want to. We said that is precisely what we are aiming for...

We downloaded an excellent audiobook called "Stop Saying You're Fine" by Mel Robbins. It's SO good. She is a no-bullshit kinda gal and is a former lawyer, who now has an inspirational radio show. It is full of great stories and tips to inspire even the most stuck person into just doing anything, rather than nothing to make a change in their lives. We took notes as we listened day after day while traversing the corn and wheat belt of the American Midwest. We found this gem of a park to camp in, right in the middle of Kansas. We saw the name on our atlas (yep, we have a vintage paper atlas) and just knew we wanted to camp there. It was beautiful. 

We had a lovely weekend with my older brother, who is an air traffic controller. He wanted to take us into his center and show us the behind the scenes of his job, but they said no Canadians allowed in there. So much for that. America's air security is seriously serious.

So we made it to the east coast. We are currently visiting my dad in rural northeastern Pennsylvania. It's so beautiful here. We have been getting up and going for a long morning stroll around the neighborhood where I grew up exploring forests and streams. We saw a family of red foxes and found this turtle in the yard today. A pair of robins built a nest on top of a Christmas wreath that I hung for my dad over a year and a half ago next to his front door.  

We harvested a ganoderma tsugae mushroom, a type of reishi that grows on hemlock trees here. We dried a big one for tea and Tanner sautéed a chunk to enjoy fresh also. He said it was delish. 

We made a visit to the Himalayan Institute last night for supper and a kirtan, Indian devotional chanting. It was a wonderful visit and in one week we will begin the 200-hour training to become certified yoga instructors. We are very excited.

Front entrance at the Himalayan Institute in Bethany, Pennsylvania

Hearts Know No Distance

Maple Bay, Vancouver Island, British Columbia

It's dawn on Kootenay Lake in Nelson, British Columbia. What a gorgeous place on this planet. The ravens are plentiful around our campsite and have been belting out a wide variety of songs to each other. I have been awake since 3am (3 hours now). This is not typical for me. I am normally a pro sleeper. The nocturnal munching of mice on the other side of the thin, vinyl tent from my pillow was what kept me awake at first. Then a very nearby train with a persistent whistle. Now the morning traffic has also begun. The world here is buzzing and in action like the springtime pollinators. 

The sunset view across the Georgia Strait on our way to Vancouver. Another ferry headed to the islands.

I am letting the reality sink in that we left our home of Vancouver Island and all of the amazing people there. In a way, I wish I could have brought them all with me. Realistically though, I know we are all on our own unique journeys and that hearts know no distance. 

 

It's been a very full and transformational month for us and this blog post has been slowly coming forth through it all. 

Photo by Roxanne Wood. Thanks Roxanne!!! Xo

I want to mention an incredible gathering of amazing women that took place on earth day, April 22nd, in Saanich on Vancouver Island. My sweet friend and magical musician, Astaria, and myself gathered with these ladies and shared a beautiful day of heart connection and earth connection. 

In less than a week after listing her for sale, we sold our sweet motorhome to an amazing retired couple. They intend to take her to the Yukon way up north and also down to Mexico. Our kind of people, indeed. 

"I Believe in the Good Things Coming"-Nahko Bear

On the day we sold our little home on wheels, we packed up our trusty old Jetta with our belongings, except what wouldn't fit in that first car load, which was probably stuff we didn't need anyway. 

We also sold both of our bicycles. We sold our garden rototiller and a few other odds and ends too. We sold the dehumidifier that we had purchased to keep our RV dry through the wet winter months to a man who was raising his two kids in a school bus that was converted into a long, homey RV. Humans and their life adventures are so amazing.

We also decided to search last minute for a larger and more economical vehicle. Our 2003 VW Jetta was amazing and yet she was really showing her age and the 300,000+ kms that we put on her.  We bid on a green 2008 Ford Escape hybrid and got her for an incredible price. She needed a bit if aesthetic TLC, but she is worth it. Tanner suitably named her the Green Goddess. Bye-bye Blue Billy Goat (Jetta's name after trekking through the Mexican and Guatemalan mountains).  Welcome to the One World Wellness team, Green Goddess! You're in for some fun times!

We stayed temporarily at the home of a dear friend on Vancouver Island for the last two weeks while we tied up all loose ends so that we could make a clean departure toward the east coast. Sold a final few items and donated about 7 liquor boxes full of things and stuff we didn't need to carry on with life. Refreshing!!!

We co-hosted a cacao ceremony in North Vancouver at a beautiful venue and said farewell to our shining soul sister, Astaria. We know we will meet again before too long!

We then travelled to Harrison Hot Springs and co-facilitated a beautiful small ceremony with two sound healers (among many other titles) who had an amazing collection of crystal bowls and a crystal lyre, crystal pyramid, chimes, tuning forks, gongs and more. It was sensational. We normally contribute during a sound journey at our ceremonies with the small collection of instruments that we own. This time though, we both laid back and simply soaked up the sound journey vibrations. What a beautiful gift. Learning to receive is something I have been working on for my whole life: material gifts, compliments, nurturing, etc. 

We have just received invitations to Hawaii and Australia for the fall and winter to share our cacao ceremonies. Time will tell which direction we travel...at this point we can only guess. It all sounds great to us! It's all possible because we have taken many small steps to reduce our needs and our ties to any material limitations. Every little thing we own is with us in our vehicle. It's a truly remarkable feeling of freedom. 

I am already missing the fresh stinging nettle soup that we enjoy this time of year on Vancouver Island. We picked and ate so much nettle in April. There is nothing like the green nourishing energy of a big bowl of nettle soup. It has so many physical benefits (google it). We enjoyed our last jar on the ferry from Vancouver Island to Vancouver. 

Enjoying nettle soup while waiting for the ferry. 

Wrapping up this blog blurb, I'm at a little coffee shop in rural Alberta that I used to frequent when I lived here. (I sometimes start a blog in one place and then finish it wherever I can). 

We are facing an interesting reality that Albertans, in general, are not nearly as receptive to cacao ceremonies as British Columbians are.  We are supposed to host two ceremonies this weekend and neither has garnered much commitment from guests, so we may postpone them to a much later date. All we can do is try.

A blurry and dark glimpse of the sound journey at one of our cacao ceremonies. 

It's my mama's 69th birthday today! She was diagnosed with breast cancer over 10 years ago and I did not think that she would be here to celebrate approaching 70 years! Life is truly amazing. With the combination of poor cell phone reception and no wifi on her end, I have both called and texted her today with no luck of hearing her voice yet. I did leave her a voicemail. There are still a few hours left in the day, so hopefully we will connect. Technology remains a baffling mystery to me...it both enables us and limits us in mysterious ways.

Happy Birthday Mama! We are headed your way...it won't be long and then we can have a real hug.

That's my sweet sweet mama, Linda xoxo

Ps. This song is AMAZING!!! I played it for friends last night and they said it sounds like the One World Wellness theme song. Haha!! And so it is.

https://mamuse.bandcamp.com/track/welcome

Dare to Be Different

I am writing this while splayed out on the bed in our motor home (aka our Om Sweet Om) like a starfish and my feet have a distinct heartbeat. It is painful. Just after the start of the new year, I decided to take some action regarding warts on several toes that developed after our adventures in foreign countries, nearly two years ago now. Despite the dedicated use of flip flops in hostel showers, warts found their way onto one baby toe...then two toes...then five (plus one on the ball of one foot). I tried some natural remedies, but I couldn't get ahead, so I finally asked for professional help and it has been an incredible foot journey in the last 11 weeks!

I am taking Thuja (white cedar) homeopathic in conjunction with weekly liquid nitrogen treatments. The pain level is really no fun, and yet there is so much learning in that pain. Such as: Pay attention to ALL parts of your body. Don't ignore little things until they become big things. Ask for help when you need it. Step lightly. Slow down. Put your feet up. Take your time moving forward. No need to rush or race. Move at your own pace. Just be.

 (It's hard to tell, but this is me holding hands with that starfish. And we are matching in our purple tones.)

Yoga has been more challenging than ever before in my life with half of my toes in bandages for these few months. Want to really test your balancing skills? Wrap your toes up in gauze and tape. Haha! This is a great way to both humble oneself and challenge mental limitations. 

Speaking of yoga, Tanner has been accepted into the yoga teacher training program with me! We are so excited to dive into the depths of yoga science and philosophy together this summer. We have both been truly enjoying the required reading list during these lingering cold weeks moving toward spring.

I am half way through this one:

It contains an incredible amount of truth and wisdom and I am feeling so grateful for these teachings. 

One part of the reading that was profoundly pertinent to me was the section that addressed "four mental contaminants" from a spiritual perspective. They are: animosity, cruelty, jealousy, and self-righteousness. It is stunning how often I observe these tendencies in the realm of "spiritual seekers". Not what it's all about. In fact those things are the opposite of what we all truly desire.

After a late night conversation with Tanner, I came to a realization that what I'm seeking in my relationships with people (especially those that I spend lots of time with) is a reciprocated level of authenticity and vulnerability. This is huge. I am suddenly understanding why I often feel frustration after my interactions with friends and acquaintances. I have a deep desire to be met with equal authenticity. Many of us humans are less than authentic because we carry the weight of social fears- aka "the four mental contaminants".

So how do I, myself, encourage this authentic way of being in me and those around me? Well, I suppose that I simply keep modeling what that looks and feels like for others to witness. This means remaining aware of my own thoughts and intentions at all times. The main messages that keep coming for me are that I must let go of my expectations of others and also create healthy boundaries with those who are not living in this way when it feels like it's not supporting my own well being and growth.

This topic recently sparked the latest 20 minute episode of "Walking the Path" with myself and Christine Yole about embracing our gifts and being authentic while also maintaining healthy boundaries. You can watch or listen here: Walking the Path episode #10 

We have been enjoying some global cacao sampling to ensure that we have the best quality cacao paste for our spring cacao ceremony tour throughout western Canada. We have found a new incredible source for our cacao and we are expecting our first batch to arrive next week. Woohoo! 

We had an incredible group gathered last night for one of our most powerfully transformational ceremonies to date. It feels like we all just keep expanding to depths that are new and amazing. So many people are ready to branch out and experience new ways of being and shifting into their higher purposes in this lifetime.

Daring to be different is the new black. 

Speaking of different... If you are in British Columbia and are seeking a super sweet home on wheels, our little OM SWEET OM, is looking for a new person (or persons who really like each other and can thrive in a tiny home) to call her hOMe. It's a bittersweet parting, as we would love to keep her but, we will be away on adventures for half of 2017 and do not wish for pouring of our funds into her gigantic thirst for fuel. She does, however, make a wonderfully cozy living space and vehicle for shorter trips. oneworldwellness@yahoo.ca to inquire about her.

Until next time, feel free to get in touch via email, Facebook page One World Wellness (has the little peace earth logo) subscribe to our YouTube channel or find us in person! Peeeeeace. 

A Pinch of Magic

It's been just over a year since I began creating these crystal and gemstone headbands. In 2016, I created and sold over 100 of them to awakening seekers. Open Arise Creations has had a great first year and although I do not intend to pursue this as a full-time "career" in 2017, more of a fun, supportive hobby, I look forward to bringing smiles to some crystal lovers worldwide!

Here is the etsy shop link to browse the Open Arise Creations on Etsy

Also, I am thrilled to say that we just acquired our first ever retail location in BC! Woohoo! Spreading the beauty and the magic!

Photo of Kristin on Mushroom by Kim Yanick Portraits 

(more amazing work on FB here: Kim Yanick Portraits )

We both began the new year with a month of micro-dosing with psilocybin mushrooms. After our incredible experiences using larger doses in a ceremonial way last fall, we then did some reading about micro-dosing to shift one's overall perspective on life. Well, in the way we tend to do, we needed to try it for ourselves to know if it was a viable protocol to suggest to others. We regularly took a tiny amount of the magic, not enough to feel much, but in the way medicinal ingredients work, the experience was just...a hint different. The end result? We are still ourselves. No huge notable shifts. Still both mostly optimistic. Still both forging our own unique paths in the world. Still busy as ever with all kinds of interesting things. Still unsure or the purpose of life. Overall, we are happy and taking life moment by moment and day by day. It works for us! We continue to be amazed by the plants/fungi!

On the topic of medicinal things, we are excited to have a CACAO supply again! Tanner's mom, Cori, has returned to Vancouver Island with a heap of the good stuff after her journey to Mexico and Guatemala. 

Tanner and I will offer our first cacao ceremony of 2017 next weekend. We are in the midst of organizing a spring series of collaborative ceremonies with some sound healer friends. It's going to be so lovely! Here is our cacao ceremony page: Cacao Ceremonies by Cacao Connection!

Also, for your viewing/listening pleasure, here are new episodes #7 and #8 of Walking the Path. It's a series of conversations between myself and our lovely pal and intuitive spirit magician, Christine Yole. We discuss things like "what is my purpose?" and "getting into the flow of life" or "conscious communication". You know, stuff like that. Check it out if you feel inspired to hear our thoughts and experiences. We have a lot of fun recording these: Walking the Path: With Kristin and Christine!

I have begun studying my required reading list for the yoga teacher training program in June. Excellent stuff! Mind expanding content galore and so much beauty and truth within these pages. I am loving it. Yoga Sutra, Bhagavad Gita, anatomy and more. Yum.

Where is my challenge lately? Social media. I'm being totally honest here. As always. I do not feel good about the entire concept. I am at a total loss for finding a marketing alternative that reaches as many humans. I'm wowed at how programmed humanity has become to rely on these things.

As each week passes by, I hear more and more people of all ages sharing their woes about the weird stuff happening through social media. I am thrilled, THRILLED, to be not using Facebook anymore for personal socialization, entertainment or things that aren't serving my ultimate wellbeing. The amount of true connection time with friends and loved ones has increased significantly. And so have my mental clarity and energy levels. I feel freer!! 

We just Skyped with a sweet young guy friend of ours who is far away from us tonight. He shared his experience of his first month of being Facebook-free.  He was bubbling with joy and said he is totally focused on his own life, not on what everyone else is up to. He is present for what life is showing to him each moment. He has been cooking more and socializing and doing what he loves. He said he feels freedom and peace of mind. 

Yes!!!! It IS possible. And he didn't go missing off the face of the earth. He's still himself. A more complete and present version, too! He reached out to us and asked for a Skype so we could laugh together and share good stories and remind each other that we love one another. That is the true heart of life, right?

Astaria Light, bright light sound healer at Light of Sound, and myself, sharing our booth at a wellness fair in Victoria, BC last weekend.

Footloose and Facebook Free

Today is the last day of the liver cleanse which I followed in this first week of 2017. It was a perfect alignment that it arrived in the mail just in time to be a "New Year's cleanse". In mid-December, I experienced several evenings with a mild, dull pain under my right rib cage. The final evening that I felt it coming on, it escalated to a full-blown gall bladder attack. My best guess is that I had a hefty gall stone that was trying to pass through a tiny duct, and it felt like a miniature taste of what childbirth may be like (am I yet to experience this). I went in and out of being able to move or speak properly because of the level of pain that came when waves of contracting organs were literally squeezing me. It was one of the times I can most relate to an out-of-body experience.

It was so unpleasant that I knew I needed a full liver detox to do my best to flush out any other unwanted toxins or tidbits. So if you're feeling like your liver needs some lovin', visit Global Healing Center's online store and order yourself up a liver cleanse kit (actually, I just went to the site and it's out of stock... a lot of liver lovin' is happening apparently...but they have a spot where you can leave your contact to be informed when it's back in stock!). It requires minimizing food intake to particular fruits and veggies (and a few nuts) for 5 days and a very structured daily routine of drinking some potions too. Oh, and a lot of toilet paper. A lot. Like, buy some shares.

I quit Facebook!  It feels sooooo good. I feel free and happy and connected to real humans more than I have in a loooong time. I am focusing more on Me and the people who are right here in my community. For those loved ones far away...we have phones. Skyping. Letters in the mail. Emails. Photo albums. In-person reunions. That's what my 2017 will be full of. This week has been loaded with many of these already. Yahoo!

I closed my Facebook account on January first. Then we decided to have a movie night, which we don't do often. We chose to watch Snowden. We knew little of what it was about. Wow. Was it ever relevant! If you aren't familiar with who Ed Snowden is, he is a former CIA agent who leaked info about the lack of privacy around our information that we all share on computers, email, social media and cell phones. It is a real eye-opener. Make it your next movie night and be ready to learn a lot. We sure did. (The government may be flagging this blog right now. *shiver* Oh well. Maybe they will learn something new by reading it?) Click here for the link to the movie trailer.

We rang in the new year with a plant medicine journey around a campfire under a starry winter sky. It was perfect and relaxed. It reminded me to have fun and take time to laugh and enjoy the simple things: the hidden bits of magic and the special souls who weave their way through our lives. 

Our lovely friend, Christine, and myself have recorded a handful of episodes of our consciousness-themed chat show that we call "Walking the Path".  Each episode, we select a topic and then press record. We completely wing it each time and it's so much fun. I am really excited to share this one with you. It's my favorite so far. They all have nuggets of good info and wisdom in them. I even feel like I learn a whole lot from them!

Speaking of wisdom, I am into a few amazing books this week. Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom by Dr. Christiane Northrup. It's brilliant, and even though it's from 1998 it is highly relevant now (with some outdated details). She weaves together science, physiology, spirituality and reality in a beautiful way. Very vulnerable and real. 

I was recently given a vintage pocket-sized copy of The Prophet by Khalil Gibran. The first time I read this gem was in 2011. A friend offered it to me when I was wading through some very rough tides. It blew my mind and heart wide open. His poetry is magical love alchemy on paper. I can't wait to dive in again!!!

Lastly, but not least, I will re-mention the Gene Keys book and evolution system. It continues to excite me and helps me to focus on the divine essences of many people, including myself. 

www.genekeys.com  You can learn more about it, and get your free gene keys profile here.

I have been accepted into a summer yoga teacher training program in my Pennsylvanian hometown, at the Himalayan Institute. I am so excited for this opportunity!!!  It's been a long time coming (13 years to be exact). Ommmmm sweet Ommmmmm. 

Ps. This is a must see clip - partly humorous... but mostly how I see social media. Thanks friend, for passing this along!

Snowga, Salmonkeys and Stuff.

(A catchy title just wasn't coming, so I squished the blog topics together!)

I finally applied for a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training. I had applied for one back in the spring of 2015, that was going to happen at a retreat in Mexico, but it was cancelled due to low registration. So two years later, I apply again. The training isn't until the early summer of 2017 and it takes place at the Himalayan Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy in my hometown of Honesdale, Pennsylvania. The authenticity of their traditional practices is what has always appealed to me. I look forward to learning and sharing with the world in 2017 and beyond.

I spent six months living at "the institute" in 2003 learning the yogic ways of living. It's where I met my former partner, who was a Canadian on a USA work visa, and how I ended up living in Canada for 13 years...so far. I worked remotely from Alberta for three years as the production manager of their former publication, Yoga International magazine. Another great life experience on the long and growing list. I anticipate hearing back from them whether I have been accepted as a student and we will proceed with travel plans from there. 

In the meantime, we are in the midst of receiving a huge quantity of the white stuff here on Vancouver Island. So much so that we broke out our cross-country skis for the first time in three years. The last time we used them was in 2013 when we still lived up north in Alberta. 

We have been feeling the inspiration to create gatherings and celebrations in this cold, dark season. Potluck dinners and crackling campfires (when the west coast winter rains aren't pouring down) are ancient, time-tested ways to connect community members and warm hearts and hands. Humanity in the western world has been increasingly encouraged to isolate, separate and differentiate between you and I. Between us and them. Between mine and yours. Division and competition among families, communities, religions, races, cultural statuses, various health professionals, political parties, sports fans, neighborhoods, borders and boundaries, students, and belief systems (to just name a few) has been driving invisible wedges between human beings for a long, long time. And for what?! Really. Seriously. In the end, what is that all for? Power? Then what? Survival? Then what? We will all fade away eventually. Let's be honest. None of that stuff matters. 

Inviting all of these separated people, opinions, views and things to join in gratitude around a table and to share a meal, some laughter and meaningful conversation is the most rebellious antidote to all of this separation and madness. All of us can do something to counteract what is happening right before our eyes. We ARE the difference makers. Let's put away our little ticky-tacky devices and shift toward a personal and human connection world again. 

(I know, I typed this on an iPhone.) Aaaaannd, I'm about to put this away and go for a headlamp night ski. With my favorite person and adventure partner, Tanner. 

But first, I want to mention the Gene Keys. This system is one of astrology meets the I Ching. It's amazingly accurate and insightful. It's customized to each of us based on birth date, location and time of birth. It shows us a map of our personal strengths and gifts. It describes each of your keys from the lowest vibration (Shadow), to the middle vibration (Gift) all the way to the highest possible vibration (Siddhi, or Divine Essence). The website is www.genekeys.com

You can create your own map for free. You will, however, need this book to make any sense of your map. We ordered a used copy from www.amazon.ca (there are other options for getting the book as well).

There are many YouTube videos by the author as well. If you seek a deeper understanding of yourself and your life's unique journey and purpose, use this tool. It is incredible and we highly recommend it. If you try it out, we would love to hear what your experience is!

I will sign off with a shout out to the salmon. They are incredible creatures and are such a crucial part of the life cycles in the Pacific Northwest (and other parts of the planet). Amazing!!

We took a stroll down to a very small tributary stream this week. We didn't even expect to see salmon. But there they were. One pair, who safely made their journey back to where they were born, swimming parallel in a calm side pool, dancing their dance of life and death together. They were beginning to show white patches, showing that they were weakening and nearing the end of life. We stood very still and observed their flashy routine. The smaller female would swim up alongside the huge male and nudge him. Then he would quickly turn and swish to where the eggs were and turn on his side and flap and flap as he attempted to fertilize them. His brilliantly-colored scales shined pinkish with his movements. We were just a few feet away and it was special to witness their last act before they would slowly perish and become a meal for a hungry critter.

A few days later I returned and there were many pairs in the  same creek. There was even one pool were several huge males, longer than my arm, were hanging out together. When they saw me, they stopped pushing upstream and floated backward over some small rapids and around a bend to safety. I decided not to interfere and make my way away from the stream so they could do their thing.
Here is a salmon spawning video that was made on Vancouver Island...it's really well done!

Ps. Great info about the salmon life cycle here.

The Road Less Traveled

I could feel these words ready to burst forth when I climbed into bed last night. I was humming a song called "Take Me Up" from a live performance of a Canadian band called Oliver Swain and the Big Machine that I had just returned from. That particular tune paints an image of going up to space to live life elsewhere with aliens. It's a strangely beautiful symphony. I was feeling uplifted and vibrationally charged with love and music. 

This is one of my life medicines: musical magic.  

Another recent dose of musical medicine from Nahko and Medicine for the People. Amazing.

 

Plant medicines have also been a varying part of my entire life (as for most of us) , though many of us don't even realize this (yet). Now, in the last two years these beautiful beings have taken the honorary copilot seat in my life. (Or maybe I am the copilot with the poorly folded, crumpled maps?!) Either way, we have been having a beautiful journey together so "who is leading who" doesn't feel much like it matters. Back to this topic shortly...

I had been trying to push aside the nagging message that I kept receiving to disentangle myself from the virtual reality of Facebook. It has come and gone many times in the last few years. The idea of being "connected" to those that I love is what has kept me involved. That and the fact that I have been using Facebook heavily to promote our cacao ceremonies and my crafty crystal headband creations that are for sale (and my other businesses prior to that). {Insert business plug} www.etsy.com/ca/shop/OpenAriseCreations is how you can find the magical headbands!!!

Well it's happening! Finally. I have officially announced to the world of Facebook that as of January 1st, 2017, I will be freed of its temptations until it makes sense to use it (if ever). This has punted me into action to find new ways to promote what I'm offering and to go back to basics with my communication techniques. This is a retrain-the-brain exercise and I'm trying to be very patient with my transitioning skills. Old habits can be so tricky to shrug off! (Please subscribe to this blog on the top right of this page if you're interested to keep up with our uncharted adventures. You can also reach us at oneworldwellness@yahoo.CA)

On this road less traveled I am already excited to be discovering what is possible without this cloud of new technology that we have been thoroughly trained to rely on for almost everything in life. I have known that less technology is the key to furthering my personal awareness of self and the endless streams of magic that swirl around us all. If we are focused on screens of all shapes and sizes then our amazing senses are not as trained to the subtleties of the universal play of existence. So many of us have been and are in denial about the way we live and communicate as a culture. I feel it becoming a massive divider, not a true connector. 

Plant medicine is all around us. 

Back to the plants. I'm sitting in a beautiful veggie garden where we are housesitting, soaking up some sunshine, which is not a readily available medicine in this darker, wetter season on Vancouver Island. 

I feel more relaxed and freer by the day. Life has given me so many opportunities to explore the infinite realms that are teetering on the edge of my discomfort. My sphere of comfort and acceptance continues expanding each time that I relax into the flow of the river of Life. Plant medicine journeys of various types have been guiding me to places of awareness that I never imagined possible. Awareness of my self. My thoughts. My words. My actions. My beliefs. My relations. My surroundings. It is a strange seat of awareness to sit in. I feel as though I am walking a winding path between the reality of our "normal" global society as an average collective, and then a wildly magical and beautiful reality that I know is the natural state of being for all of Life. It's wonderful, although at times, challenging. I have only met a few others (so far) who seem to have been navigating a similar path. We happened to cross paths which has given us all reassurance to keep going. It can feel a bit lonely at times, having few people who can relate to me in my current state of awareness. As the days pass, I notice more and more humans past and present (mostly musicians, authors and other artistic types) are revealing themselves as familiar friends of this journey of collective love and cosmic awareness. I am practicing (key word) deep patience and acceptance with myself and all others. I often have no words to describe even the simplest experiences of daily life in this "between the realms" reality. Simple conversations have become a bit challenging for me. The question of "how are you doing today?" has become a funny one.  Being with others together in a collective space of loving intention is what feels pertinent and crucial NOW and always. It's a fun experiment. That much I know.

This guy knows the path that I speak of.

Tanner and I have become the rocks in the river for many friends and acquaintances throughout our parallel journeys together. Wherever we find ourselves, people seem to gravitate toward us to seek shelter and support in our presence. We are not gurus or spiritual teachers or anything you can label. We are just like everyone else but perhaps we just approach life a bit differently. "Human beings on another fucking journey"-Nahko haha. Well said. 

 

*drumroll* The secret Rx for happiness we use is this: 

*Let go of our fears (or prove them to be just-plain-silly), one by one. 

*Take chances: some little, some BIG. 

*Trust in the MAGIC (thanks Carien). 

*Ask for what we need. 

*Say how we feel.

*Be ourselves. If you don't know who you are, do whatever it takes to get to know the essence of YOU. 

That's it. Perhaps you will try this for 2017...we all have the wisdom within.

I love writing. The space between these blogs has grown uncomfortably huge. I intend to write more often again. I should have more freed up time coming without FB. 

Until the next time the words are bursting forth....I leave you with these two lovely tunes. The lyrics are as lovely as the sounds. EnJOY!

https://yaimamusic.bandcamp.com/album/pellucidity

https://yaimamusic.bandcamp.com/track/gajumaru-2