With the Super Moon we had this past weekend and with the way the astrological influences have been, the energy has been quite a doozie! I found myself needing to really listen to what my body and soul were asking for. There were days that I felt so wiped out and exhausted, I just let myself take a nap each of those days. Rather than push through, I felt I needed to honor this “temple that houses my Spirit”. At times I felt that feeding my creativity would be most nourishing for me. And in doing so I ended up getting some “work” done. I made a photo collage that was the basis for a blog post. And here is another photo collage I made called “Serenity”.

Allowing myself to “stop and smell the roses” (or technically “stop and photograph the roses” ) kept me in the moment and focused on beauty. This fed many aspects of myself – my creative self; the part of me that loves the beauty of Nature; the Replenish Your Spirit coach listening to her own advice; and the business owner who had something to share on her blog and Facebook. And hopefully, the energy of Beauty and Serenity have been felt by each of you viewing this.

Yesterday, I started feeling lighter. Today I’m feeling really quite good. So, where I had been having a hard time organizing and tidying my office a few days ago, it is now flowing in a much more graceful way. Just a bit ago I was sitting outside to eat my lunch and I spotted a large, gorgeous butterfly flitting around my yard. I don’t typically see many butterflies in my yard, so I paid extra attention. Then a hummingbird flew around the butterfly. Wow – what a message I sensed was being given to me! Butterfly is about transformation, and hummingbird is about joy and lightening up. It felt like I was being given a gift; a reward for having paid attention to what I have needed and then honoring that. This is indeed a time of change and transformation. And hummingbird’s energy felt to me that it can be a transformation to a joyful life – and getting that by following our joy and lightening up. Cool! I like the sound of that!

What have you been feeling like doing lately? Have you honored that, or have you made yourself push onward? And did that pushing onward actually get you anywhere? Or perhaps you found yourself procrastinating instead of taking those action steps towards that something better you’re wanting to create? Hmm…lots to consider

I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments below.

I recently found that photos that I take with my phone actually have a pretty nice quality. Hooray! I can just take photos on the fly if I’m out walking. I’ve even gotten some great photos outside my chiropractor’s office.

This week’s lesson was on how to make collages (or storyboards). I couldn’t wait to put some of my new photos into one! So here is my first attempt (OK, so I made a little oopsie in it, but that’s OK – I love it anyway )

Creativity and beauty is one of the ways that I Replenish My Spirit.  How about you? Are you craving a little more creativity in your life? Explore what types of creativity would bring you Joy.

I’d love to hear your ideas and comments (below)!

Today I started my blog post (below) which talks about the deep affect one part of the movie “Mamma Mia!” had on me the first time I watched it. When I felt I’d take a break and go for my walk, I decided to bring my iPod to listen to the “Mamma Mia!” soundtrack while I walked. The sun was out and the sky was blue and I had that music playing which just put a spring in my step! Actually, so much so that I was walking at a quicker clip than normal – keeping in time with the beat of the song. It just lifted up my Spirit so much! During the song “Dancing Queen” I saw in my mind’s eye that I was right there with those women in the movie, skipping and twirling along that trail that took them to the water. I could feel the energy of it as if I was physically doing it! Pretty soon I was “flying high” and feeling gratitude! What an energy booster! When I got home, with the music still playing, I let myself belt out the songs (since only my cat and dog could hear me and danced around the laundry room as I put the clothes from the washer into the dryer. Now THAT’S the way to do housework!

I remember hearing friends telling me that when they went to see that movie when it first came out, there were women dancing in the aisles throughout the movie. Ah! I wished I had gone to see it at one of those times. I would have loved to be immersed in that fun sisterhood energy! That also is spirituality. Spirit is present in all that joy.

So, perhaps the next time you need to clear your head, or want to get your body moving, or get a little pick-me-up, go grab your iPod and put on some uplifting music to accompany you on your walk. Call your Angels to come walk with you (or skip or dance with you in your mind’s eye). Or just start dancing around your living room. Connect to Spirit in a fun, magical, joyful way! Joy is one of the highest vibrations, so do what you can whenever you can to bring yourself some joyful energy. That’s an easy way to Replenish Your Spirit!

Now for the blog post I was talking about:

Back in 2008 the movie “Mamma Mia!” came out. It was such an uplifting and fun musical! However, I found myself deeply affected by one part of the movie. It was during the “Dancing Queen” song. Meryl Streep plays the part of a Mom who has worked hard for many years, raising her daughter and running her business. The song’s scene starts with two of her friends from the good old days, who ask her, “What happened to you?” and she answers, “I grew up!” They start being silly and having fun and getting her out of her funk. The three of them skip off, with many of the other nearby women leaving their chores or their husbands to join in the fun. As I watched them all skip and dance along the trail, looking so carefree, leaving their responsibilities behind…the tears just started rolling down my face. It hit me hard that I was really craving that feeling. Being a busy mom, with so many responsibilities, and always pushing myself hard to keep my work and home lives going, it was really easy for me to put fun and recharging my batteries last on my to-do list. That day at the movies was a good wake-up call and reminder to take care of ME too. I now keep it in my awareness to do simple things that rejuvenate me or uplift me. I live the “busy woman’s life” and know how easy it is to forget to put ourselves as one of the priorities. This is why I absolutely and passionately LOVE doing my Replenish Your Spirit coaching work with women! I’ve been there; and to be perfectly honest, I still struggle with it at times. And I love watching women begin to glow again! To help them release hidden beliefs that have kept them from their joy. To hold their hands through a journey of transformation and empowerment. So they can become a “Dancing Queen”! Wow – I’ve got the greatest job that Spirit has led me to!

(You can check out my Replenish Your Spirit Coaching website page by clicking here.)

Watch the “Dancing Queen” scene video here.

• post the rules
• answer the 11 questions the tagger posted for you
• create 11 questions to ask the people you tag
• tag 11 people
• let them know you’ve tagged them

Well, I’m breaking the rules Most of the people I’d be tagging have already been tagged, so I’m not tagging anyone.

Here are the 11 questions I was given with my answers:

1. What did you want to be when you grew up?

Answer: A dancer

2. When do you feel most free?

Answer: I always feel so free when I’ve been able to get away for a few days and not be responsible for kids, pets, house, etc.

3. If you could be Queen for a day and change one thing about the world what would it be?

Answer: Everyone would treat all other living beings and living things with love and respect.

4. Tell us something unique and/or quirky about you?

Answer: I have a collection of teapots and teacups (many from my grandmother).

5. What would your inner wild child love to do?

Answer: Hang out in Nature and dance and create!

6. What is your favorite color?

Answer: Pink

7.  How many animals do you have?

Answer: Two (a feral kitty that we took in when he was 2 weeks old and a big ol’ Newfoundland dog).

8. What song makes you want to dance?

Answer: These two songs do these days: “Moves Like Jagger” by Maroon 5 and “Lonely Boy” by Black Keys

9. What time of day do you like best?

Answer: Morning

10. What is your favorite desert?

Answer: Anything chocolate!

11. If you could be a superhero, who would you choose and why?

Answer: I never was “into” Superhero stuff, however the name “Sheera, Princess of Power” sure sounds good! Why? So I could use my Sacred Feminine powers for the good of (hu)mankind, of course

Now, here are my questions for you to answer:

1. What piece of advice would you give to the younger generations?
2. What is your favorite way to express your creativity?
3. What is your favorite spot in Nature?
4. What is the last great book you read?
5. What was your favorite thing to do as a child?
6. What’s your favorite way of taking care of yourself?
7. If you won the lottery, what would be one thing you’d do for someone else?
8. What is your favorite scent?
9. If there were no limitations of money, time, etc., what would you do for your next vacation?
10. What animal do you feel you are a “kindred spirit” with?
11. What brings you JOY?

Leave your answers in the Comment section below. Tag your friends with your questions too. Enjoy!

Don’t you just love when something strikes you so funny that tears roll down your face from laughing so hard? My husband’s sister and I can get laughing over the most bizarre things. Something about it will make one of us laugh, and then the other starts in. And when she laughs hard, all you can hear is air coming out of her (like a Scooby Doo laugh). Well – then I’m goner! That makes me laugh even harder. I’ll be cackling and squealing, and all you can hear out of her is that Scooby Doo air thing   We finish up just spent! And I always say, “Oh, that was so good for me! That was medicinal!”

This reminds me of a time when my husband and I must have laughed for a half hour straight. (Now, please don’t think we are crazy or irresponsible! Everything turned out fine, and I guess because there really was no danger, it was safe for us to let ourselves just laugh.)

A few years ago our family took a vacation in Canada. We were driving from Lake Louise to Jasper with a scheduled guided hike on a glacier between the two places. After our hike in the pristine air, we continued on to our destination. We were all a bit tired from the exercise, along with the heater on in the car, and we found a couple of the kids had fallen asleep in the back seat. I found my eyes getting heavier and heavier, and the next thing I know, I’m opening my eyes to seeing the yellow  line of the road on the right side of our car. I remember thinking, “That’s odd. I guess in Canada they have the yellow line over on the right side of the car.” But then I realized we were driving on the wrong side of the road. I looked over at my husband and his eyes were closed. A second later he opened them and so very calmly just got us back into the correct lane. Well! I guess having that moment of danger and then realizing we were fine since there weren’t any cars to be seen, we just started laughing; and laughing; and laughing. We laughed so hard we woke the kids up. Most people don’t seem to find this as hysterically funny as we did at the time, but it sure did shift the mood for us for the rest of the drive.

Those good belly laughs; the ones that make your stomach hurt and the tears stream down your face – now, that’s good medicine!

Here are some facts about laughter:

• Laughter relaxes the whole body.
• Laughter boosts the immune system.
• Laughter triggers the release of endorphins (the hormone that gives us a sense of well-being and can temporarily relieve pain).
• Laughter dissolves negative emotions.
• Laughter helps you “recharge your batteries”.
• Laughter helps you shift your perspective.

So, go watch a good comedy or search YouTube for videos of babies laughing. Give yourself a good dose of “medicine”.

I just love how little children feel so comfortable with who they are and how they choose to express themselves. I was reminded of this last week. I received a photo from my niece, Caron, of her little one, Grace, wearing the sweater I knitted for her. The next day I received an email from my sister-in-law (Caron’s mom and Grace’s grandma) sharing with me what happened that day when she was babysitting Grace.

Hi Maryellen,

I thought of you yesterday.  I picked up Grace and she looked so cute: nice jeans, cute white turtleneck, Cinderella shoes, hair combed and a clip, and the beautiful sweater you made her.  WELL…She got too hot so the sweater went, jam got spilled on her pants during lunch, the shoes came off at nap time, the clip came out right away. After nap she found a basket of clothes so she put on some fuzzy sweat pants, over that some huge plastic training pants and her Cinderella shoes on the wrong feet.  She kept saying she loved her “beautiful underpants”.  Caron was quite surprised when I took her home wearing her new look.  It was quite a transformation.  Grace then put on her pink tutu to complete the ensemble and danced around the room feeling quite beautiful. Once again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Love,
Debbie

Isn’t this the cutest thing? I wish we as adults would more often allow ourselves to feel beautiful no matter what we wear! So, today wear your “beautiful underpants”

I was going through some old files and found something that I had written while taking a writing class back in 2004. At the time I had been concentrating on writing for young adults and wrote this short piece for a class assignment based on a beautiful experience I had one day. I can still remember that day quite vividly. I had been listening to some Josh Groban music outside (in those days it was on a “walkman” ) as I needed a break from my to-do list. I was just sitting in the sun and soaking up the healing warmth when a hawk flew overhead. As I watched him, he was actually gliding and flying to the music! It was so amazing. What a gift from Spirit! As he started moving on, circling a little farther away from me, I sent him these words, “Namaste, dear brother Hawk. The spirit in me honors the spirit in you. Thank you, my friend, for my day has been truly blessed.” So, I grabbed a pen and pad of paper and started to write…

“Saturday is supposed to be the day you have nothing to do!” Corinne grumbled to herself. Her mother had left her a list of chores for the day. Why did Mom have to work every Saturday anyway? Corinne scanned the kitchen. There were last night’s dinner dishes in the sink, breakfast dishes on the table, and sections of the newspaper on the floor next to Mom’s chair. What a mess! Couldn’t Mom even open the mail that’s piled up? As Corinne started cleaning up, she remembered that she also had to study for Monday’s Algebra test. So much for Saturday being a day to enjoy!

When the kitchen was finished, she surveyed the sight. The sink was empty and sparkling. She actually could see the blue and white pattern in the tile on the counter tops. She stretched and decided to take a break before tackling the remainder of the list. She grabbed her walkman and headed out the back door. The lounge chair was calling her. Yes, that would be just the right spot to sit with the flowers and trees in view. This year her mother had planted purple, yellow and burgundy pansies, tucking them in between the pink astromeria and the white and yellow daisies. The willow trees, with their branches dangling down, made the spot look so inviting.

She settled in and got comfy. Putting on the headphones, she found that a Jimmy Goodman CD was in the walkman. Oh, Jimmy Goodman – what a voice! Corinne always marveled that this deep, rich voice came out of such a young, and oh-so-cute, guy. Jimmy could take rock and roll and mix it with violins, French horns, and Spanish guitar to make the most incredible music. With eyes closed she listened to the music. She seemed to become the music. Her heart expanded with each crescendo. She was lifted up, up, up as the notes rose. She felt like she was flying to the music. Suddenly she noticed a shadow moving above her. Opening her eyes, she spied a Red-tailed hawk. It seemed as though he was flying to the music. He was gliding, swaying and lifting as the music lifted. She caught her breath and put her hand to her heart. Watching this beautiful hawk while listening to this wonderful music really moved her. Tears rolled down her cheeks while a blissful smile graced her face. Time stood still as she enjoyed the hawk – circling above her, to the right of her, behind her. At times she caught only glimpses of him behind the branches of an old pine tree. Wispy, white clouds and deep blue sky were the back drop of this incredible scene.

When it was time for the hawk to move on, Corinne thanked him for she knew this experience today was truly a gift. In the middle of what had started out as a busy, busy day, this most precious gift was bestowed upon her. She walked back into the house – no, it was more like gliding into the house – and looked at her chore list. No longer did the busyness of her day annoy her. She felt so contented now. And in this state of mind she continued on with her day.

That night, getting into her pajamas, she decided to call Jason and tell him all about the day she had had. As she relived the whole experience again and knew that Jason understood what she had felt, the contented feeling came over her again. Before hanging up she said, “Good-night, Jason. Sweet dreams.” Corinne knew that on this night surely her dreams would also be sweet.

I was invited to review the new book “Help! I’m Sensitive: 50 Tools to Help You Survive and Thrive” by Ronni Ann Hall, and I highly recommend it! Ronni has such an easy way with her writing. It feels like we’ve been invited to take a peek into her personal journal. She gives us insights through her experiences with being sensitive and the tools she has discovered.

As a sensitive myself, I know how difficult it can be if we don’t take care of ourselves energetically. And there are so many different ways we can be sensitive. Besides soaking up and taking on other people’s emotions, there are a number of ways sensitivity can show up. Ronni’s book talks about 50 of these ways and the accompanying tools. When we use these tools we can remember that our sensitivity really is a gift and not something to curse.

So many of us are sensitive and empathic. You may be too and just not realize it. Here is Ronni’s quiz from her book and website:

Are you a sensitive?

1. Do you feel everyone else’s emotions as if they were your own? Walk away from talking to a sad friend and are sad or tired and drained? Comfort an angry friend and are angry the rest of the day?

2. Do you know or can sense what an animal is thinking? Feel comfortable in Nature?

3. Are crowds exhausting to you? Do you lose your center when walking in a mall and start to feel overwhelmed?

4. Have you ever been told you are too sensitive? Need to “toughen up?” Do you care deeply about others and life?

5. Are you sensitive to the chemicals in food? Or in your laundry detergent? Or in the air?

6. Do you just “know” things and see things that others can’t see?

7. Do you hear the news and it feels emotionally upsetting to you? After news of the recent earthquakes, tsunamis, did you feel overwhelmingly sad, or carry a vague sense of dis-ease? Felt off balance?

8. Do you need time alone at the end of the day or you feel crazy? Too much people-time overwhelm you and you start to feel nervous?

9. Do you sometimes feel like you need to shut everyone else’s thoughts and feelings out?

10. Do you feel that your sensitivity is even increasing? Your psychic ability is increasing?

If you answered YES to most of these questions, welcome sensitive! You are an empath. It’s a gift if you learn how to balance your sensitivity and use it as the ability it is.

Get a copy of the book today by visiting http://ronnispsychicroom.wordpress.com/e-books/.

Leap Day – the Gift of an Extra Day

Have you ever had one of those days, or weeks, where you had been making great strides, but suddenly things keep coming up and getting in your way? Ugh – I hate that! This is how it has been for me recently.

So, this was how the last day and a half went for me (now, don’t let this suck you down, it gets better :

• Monday night one of my sons announces that he has to make some sort of French recipe Tuesday to take to French class on Wednesday (and “he” means “we” as he is not proficient at cooking or baking yet!)
• Tuesday I hear from the tile guy letting me know what may be involved with our master bathroom shower problem (it’s leaking into the wall and we may have to have it reconstructed if there’s dry rot); and that he could start on Monday (my calendar that had lots of phone sessions that I do from my home office was not going to be in agreement with a lot of noise in the house, along with a whining and barking dog, who will not want to be in his crate).
• I started coming down with a cold/virus
• My son had chosen a recipe for muffins to make, but we needed more sugar. Rather than me taking time out of my workday to purchase it, after picking him up from swim practice we swung by the store for him to go in and get the sugar.
• As we were heading home, at this point it’s 6:00 pm and dinner still needs to get started, my other son says that he needs a book for school to start reading that night (he had thought his brother already had the book, but just found out he didn’t); needless to say I blew my cool at this point!
• Dinner was rather late from getting a late start.
• Helped make 36 muffins.
• There was no way I was getting back in the car to go get the book, so I bought the Kindle version and let my son use my Kindle (I thought I was pretty brilliant for thinking of that solution )
• Finally finished with all that at 9 pm. I was pooped and not feeling all that well, and announced that I was going to bed.
• My husband says “Aren’t you going to watch American Idol with me?” (he’s sounding a little disappointed as this is something we like to do together). I watch for 10 minutes and then go to bed.
• Notice that my watch’s battery has died. (Ugh, one more errand to run!)

I woke up today and was still feeling that “I can’t believe all this crap is going on.” It makes me really mad when I feel I’ve got momentum going and I’m trying to get the zillion things on my list accomplished, and then “life” happens and I end up feeling like I’ve taken 5 steps backwards.

And then I read an email newsletter talking about it being Leap Day and an extra day in the month. Those few words were such a gift to me! Wow, the Universe just delivered to me a totally extra day this month! An entire 24 hours! I felt so grateful – and that seemed to shift everything for me.

As I drove the kids to school I noticed a few Tulip Magnolia trees that were blooming so beautifully (I LOVE when these trees are in bloom!) I also noticed all the other blooming trees (that I pass everyday), but really noticed how lovely they were along my route to school. The radio announced who the participants will be on Dancing with the Stars that will start soon (I love dance and this is another show that my husband and I like to watch together). When I got home, since the weather was nice, I decided to take a walk. I enjoyed listening to the birds chirping, and even saw a woodpecker up close pecking away on a tree. (I usually only hear them – and maybe see them – from afar.) It reminded me that yesterday I saw out my kitchen window a woodpecker  just standing on my lawn. I have never seen that! I smiled as I walked by “cardboard hill” (as the neighborhood kids call it), remembering seeing a couple boys sliding down it on pieces of cardboard the other day. What fun that must be for them! That’s good, old-fashioned fun! And when I was almost back to my house, I saw a hawk flying above. Hawk always reminds me that things don’t have to be hard. They ride the currents and only have to exert themselves for flapping their wings just now and then. And Woodpecker can teach us is about rhythm; and for me that’s about remembering that my life seems to always have its own rhythm. Things always get back on track. Things may slow down, but then turn around and I get my momentum back. Thank you, Hawk and Woodpecker – I choose to breathe your wisdom into my being! And thank you, God, for providing messages to us through Nature and all that is around us.

We can have crummy days shifted in an instant if we just allow it. If we can look for the small gifts in life, it can be just enough to adjust our perception of how our lives are going. It was a huge shift for me! I went from “shaking my fist at the heavens” about all  the 3-D stuff getting in the way of my Lightwork, to thanking God for all the lovely things I witnessed and experienced that day. Now that’s a shift!

Here’s a great blog post by Jaden Rose Phoenix of Alchemy Wisdom. I love that she talks about connecting to your passion for life!

Lupercalia was the original pagan festival that Valentine’s Day replaced –a festival of the she-wolf. The festival celebrated spring and fertility. Young men would strike women with goat-skin strips  to bring fertility and easy birth.

While Valentine’s Day is today a much gentler holiday, with kisses instead of blows, the commercialization and sentimentalization of love that surrounds much of our experiences of this holiday comes up just a little short of what we could be experiencing.

What we can retain from the earlier rites is the passion! Yes, passion! And not just lustful passion.

A celebration of fertility is a celebration of life, specifically the large powerful force of procreation.  A wolfish lust for living, the desire for propagation, is the life force itself being creative.

Individually, we may want children or not, but the life force within us desires creation–whether it creates by flesh or by idea or by changing reality itself, creation is a key energy of the spring festival of Lupercalia.

Our life force is compelled into creation, but we are also driven–when we listen closely to our deepest longing–to live fully, wildly, and freely!  Lupercalia is this celebration of wild freedom.

While modern Valentine’s Day can be a sweet way to connect with those we love, I plan to connect more deeply into the full and wild passion of life!

Connect deeply with Passion!  Join us on for a special activation–Passion Invigoration–February 13th at 6pm Pacific Time.  Read more or register here.

Creative Commons (c) 2012 by Jaden Rose Phoenix and Alchemy Wisdom.