tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62599165467128311172024-03-05T00:33:38.047-07:00keeping it so simpleJuliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05682070760661752975noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259916546712831117.post-47036572550433639952014-08-01T18:02:00.001-06:002014-08-01T18:02:07.466-06:00http://www.keepingitsosimple.com/<div style="text-align: center;">
My deepest apologies to anyone who has ventured here. I missed you. </div>
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Please visit my new space http://www.keepingitsosimple.com/ where you can keep up with all my silly writings and goings on.</div>
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Life continues to remain beautiful especially while keeping it so simple.</div>
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See you soon, over at the new place!</div>
Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05682070760661752975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259916546712831117.post-40994189391175295262014-06-12T13:33:00.000-06:002014-06-12T13:33:45.283-06:00Three Practices or Simply Connectedness<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s now two weeks post surgery from revision of the distal
end of my right leg and repair of a complete tear on my right shoulder repair. Over
the past 17 years there’s been numerous surgeries, 5 within the last 2 years
alone. Recovery’s road is not unfamiliar
ground to me but implementing 3 new practices in the last 3 years has made the expedition
far more tolerable and healing much greater not only physically but
emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><!--[endif]-->I Incorporating the Ideal Life Vision program has
taken me leaps and bounds in honing in with clarity my dreams and setting and
accomplishing my goals. Personally there have been and continue to be powerful
and successful shifts in my life thus it is the base program I use with clients.
While this is a little plug for Keeping It So Simple it is more of a thank you
to Lauri Cox for introducing me the program and Ann Webb for its creation.
Recognizing and honoring my Vision as a living document of me and remaining
persistent and consistent has brought more awareness to my limitless possibilities
and potential and healing.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">As my
life has spanned so has my prayer and meditation. The past several years I sought
assistance for energy therapy guided by some spectacular practitioners. This
type of healing work has brought up a lot of stuff, a surfacing of things, as
well as satisfying answers or altering perspectives to a wide range of
emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental feelings, thoughts, questions,
aches, pains...yeah this is a good juicy practice which brings clarity to a
different realm of me. I’m blessed to have worked with Vickie Warner, Pam
DiFranco, Shamsi Pettus, Lisa Dieken, and Jill Chesrow. I will continue to work
with some of these gifted women as well as continue to expand my own energy
work. Like my vision, remaining persistent and consistent to an energy practice
offers holistic well being and expands my awareness.</span></div>
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Pre surgery I was taking another of Connie
Hozvicka’s intuitive art classes, Painting the Feminine. Intuitive art is the third
practice. I’m deeply grateful to have immersed myself in and Connie’s courses
which introduced me to this practice. For several days leading up to surgery
this painting kept calling and calling me. While there’s much meaning for me in
the process and imagery of this piece, it is the bubble, circle shapes on her
head which made me most curious. I resisted, in fact, painted over them at
first but inevitably had to give in. This shape reoccurs not just in my work
but in several intuitive artists work as well and that’s what drove my
curiosity. Pondering this shape the night before surgery I woke with this
thought and I’m gonna date myself here, but I thought of Laugh In, a ‘60’s
television show filled with hilarious skits. One skit was done by Lilly Tomlin
in which she portrayed an operator. She sat in front of switch board plugging
and unplugging callers into one another, she was controlling the connections.</div>
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T These 3 practices, this intuitive
art piece, these shapes, are about that, our connectedness, our ability to plug
into one another. I think at times we become energetically intertwined which
isn’t necessarily a bad thing, or sometimes it is, there are times when we no
longer serve someone or something or they us. The key thing to note is that we
are the switchboard operators; we hold all the power to plug in or unplug, to
mix and mingle or intertwine. </div>
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We do not need sojourn this life
alone, we are meant for connections. As for me, surgery after surgery then
embarking along recovery’s road, I am ever grateful for the connections I have
chosen to plug into, family, friends, clients, tribes, teachers….from well
wishes, thoughts, prayers to 3 of my kids coming home and helping me out (much love
to Heather, Chris, and Audrie), yes grateful for allowing me to plug in and a
knowing when to unplug.</div>
Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05682070760661752975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259916546712831117.post-23748920375969239672014-05-21T08:56:00.002-06:002014-05-21T08:56:19.499-06:00Thoughts, 1997, Have Your Happy<div class="MsoNormal">
After 17 years it still happens this way. At some point
during the days leading to Memorial Day weekend something will trigger the
thought, “What was I doing this day in 1997?” The <i>something</i> though usually has its own little journey leading to the
question.</div>
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Yesterday, driving south just about to the crest of
Blackridge, I notice pieces of a blown, peeled semi tractor trailer tire lying
on the side of the road. Not an unusual sight for this stretch of I-15, however
it sparked the journey of thought. </div>
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A few months back at this location I had
one of those intuitive driving moments which we all have and I am ever grateful
for acknowledging. I went to pass 2 rigs, passing the first and about to the
rear of the next when my gut told me to slow down. Speed reducing, I glanced in
my rearview mirror. An in-a-hurry driver was racing up behind me flashing
headlights sending me the message “pick up your speed or get out of the way!” There
was no way I could merge back into the right lane so, with anxiety I began to
accelerate. Again, my intuition said, “Julie, don’t speed up!” Boom! One of the
outside tires from the passenger’s side of the flatbed popped, rubber peeling
and shredding pieces flying into my lane. I was able to avoid the largest piece
which would have done some serious damage. We’ll never know if honoring the
gift of intuition saved me or Mr. Speedy behind me but I was ever glad to have
listened.</div>
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So yesterday, I notice tire remnants, which sparked this
memory, which gave me pause to offer thanks for my intuition, which lead me to
wonder why I didn’t honor this same divinely inspired intuition the night of my
accident, which lead to a question asked by a 4<sup>th</sup> grader during one
of my elementary school readings, “If you could go back in time would you
change things and listen to that voice?” Yeah, a 4<sup>th</sup> grader asked
that!</div>
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My response to the profound question of this beautiful
child, “If I went back to that moment without any knowledge of what I know now
other than I’d be run over as a result of not listening, yes, I ooze with
humanness, I’d listen and not open that gate. But, knowing what I know, having
the experiences I have including the opportunity to be able to visit, share,
and bring diversity awareness to people like you, no, I wouldn’t change what
happened.”</div>
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Driving along yesterday I was lead back to the thought, “What
was I doing this day in 1997, the Tuesday before Memorial Day.” I would never have imagined in a million years
that the Tuesday after Memorial Day 1997 I’d be in trauma ICU clinging to life
nor that it would have been the last Tuesday that I’d ever stand on my own two
feet again.</div>
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As thoughts continue this week, I shall take a deep breath,
offer gratitude for my many gifts, survival, abounding joy, life remains
beautiful, yes all the gifts…and remember today is.</div>
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A note from a 2<sup>nd</sup> grader, inside she writes, “I’m
glad you still have your happy.”</div>
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Here I am with Winter the Dolphin happily swimming on my shirt, can you see she's missing her tail? Those are my 'fake' knees with hearts added to them, very sweet, and 'fake' feet, I had shown the classes my stubbie feet and she drew them, but the best part is my big smile, yep, I still have my happy, do you:?</div>
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05682070760661752975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259916546712831117.post-11055969976107594912014-05-12T11:00:00.002-06:002014-05-12T11:00:47.898-06:00Blog Tour!!!!<div class="MsoNormal">
Hoping Mother’s Day was absolutely wonderful for all the
Mommas reading today’s post. The weekend prior I was blessed to be with 3 of my
Fab 5, plus 2, for my oldest son and his wife’s gradation. Yesterday, my
youngest son who is in Colombia did Skype in for a visit. The video froze on us
but his voice was clear and beautifully him. </div>
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Earlier in the week I had planned to spend most of Mother’s
Day in the gardens with our great Mother Earth but a Winter, yes Winter storm
had blown in and changed my plans. How odd it was yesterday to be overly windy
with snow flurries as Saturday, thankfully, was warm and sunny.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Mother's Day 2014 Snow Flurries</span></div>
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For the past few years, well since they’ve noticed fairies
live on my property, two of the neighboring girls have been coming over to
visit. We’ve built fairy houses, which goes without saying, sat in the gardens
and chatted, but their most favorite thing to do at my house is paint and
Saturday was a near perfect day for a outside paint date.</div>
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From the patio, they had such a fun time painting on big art
paper. We talked about blending primary colors so they experimented with that.
They went about the gardens and yard asking and offering gratitude to various
plants if they could take some leaves, blossoms, and petals to use as stamps.
Sitting before their big paper canvas, they decided to skip the brushes and use
not only their fingers and hands but, for my benefit, they wanted to paint with
their toes and feet! Certainly I encouraged this delightful mess!</div>
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A few years ago these two little girls said most
empathetically to me, “Julia, you don’t have to miss your feet because when you
turn 18 they’ll grow back.” <u>I adore their world</u>!</div>
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As the girls were leaving on Saturday they said, “We love
your house it’s full of books and paint and crafty messes everywhere.” And so
it is!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Part of my process is intuitive art. This is part of my participation in Painting the Feminine & a TAG journal. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">What my knitting & crocheting should look like.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">What TinyCat thinks my knitting & crocheting should look like.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">My alter/prayer place. This is my favorite place to sit when I'm not sitting in the gardens.</span></div>
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Today it is quite an honor for me to participate in a Blog
Tour and not just any tour, this particular tour has been going on for some
time and has journeyed to the sites of brilliant, soul-full creative’s whose
work and purpose is art. I, however, am a soul-life coach or as I prefer to
view myself, I am a soul-life guide, a consultant, and a speaker. On this tour I’m
to answer for you gorgeous readers, 4 questions:</div>
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</span><!--[endif]-->What am I working on?</div>
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</span><!--[endif]-->How does my work differ from others of its
genre?</div>
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</span><!--[endif]-->Why do I write/create what I do?</div>
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</span><!--[endif]-->How does my writing/creating process work?</div>
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2 – I’m not overly familiar with the process of other ‘coaches’,
I have, however looked into other ‘programs’ and settled into the simplicity
and effectiveness of the Ideal LifeVision. Implementing this process in my life
several years ago produced immediate results and a complete shift in my goal
setting and accomplishments. It continues to manifest results, magically, and I’m
never not delightfully surprised at the magic of the process, even years later,
in my life and the lives of my clients. While Ideal LifeVision is the scaffold,
I strive to meet every client right where they are and see each individual as a
spirited, divine soul. I originally thought I’d be interacting with individuals
who face life with diverse physical challenges but as I follow my God and Guides
I’m lead to engage with elementary school children bringing diversity
awareness, partnering with creative souls and other coaches, and speaking to
active aging ‘senior citizens’. I suppose it’s seeing each individual as divine
souls that have stretched my demographics. And, I do approach my ‘work’ with
the same attitude, empathy, and world view as my two little friends.</div>
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1 – Currently I’m updating my own vision (which is ever
ongoing for things are manifesting so quickly) to include writing a book, creating
an accompanying journal for clients to use in assisting them in writing their visions.
I’m honing in on my physical and fitness goals for the great success of a
scheduled surgery, implementing the Unicity transformation (return often as you're gonna want to follow this), and back to
training on my mini blades. My consulting opportunities with School of Life
Foundation are expanding into two more high schools next school year, which is
very exciting for me. I'm always involved with various online courses which are vital for my intuitive and spiritual process (question 4 too) Right now I'm participating in Painting the Feminine (w/Dirty-Footprints Studio) and will be starting this week Boundaries Boot Camp (w/Pixie Campbell)…yeah, could go on and on…</div>
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4 – I kind of touched on how my process works through my
words and photos above. I also allow time every day to play, keeping a TAG
(thanksgiving, appreciation, gratitude) journal, but I think the most important
and essential part of my process is my connection with God. My spiritual
practice through yoga, meditation, reading, sitting with Mother Earth, playing
in the gardens, breath, prayer, really tapping into my soul and spirit and allowing
and knowing the Universe within is as expansive, pristine, and heavenly as the
Universe beyond. Keeping it so simple, recognize life remains beautiful…yeah, I
could go on and on again...</div>
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3 – I do what I do because it brings me abounding joy and
joy is my, our, purpose! Plus, I simply love what I do!</div>
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Whew, there you go! Now let me introduce to three amazing,
creative, remarkable and gorgeous women who will pick up the tour next week:</div>
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<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">My
name is Melanie but my soul prefers to be called Gypsy. I am a dabbler in all
things alternative. I aspire to empower the women in the world and have made
that my personal goal in life. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Gypsy
is in my ‘neck of the woods’ and I have yet to meet her in person! You can find
her at<span style="color: #222222;"> <a href="http://alternativewombyn.weebly.com/">http://alternativewombyn.weebly.com</a></span></span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Lisa Dieken’s life purpose is to
help others raise their consciousness in order to become their Divine Self,
carry out their life purpose and manifest their dreams. The online
courses she offers teach you how to become your Divine Self.</div>
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Lisa and I
have been soul sisters for years. I've worked with her personally and can say
she is excellent at what she does! You can find her at<span style="color: #1f497d;">
<span style="color: #1155cc;"><a href="http://www.wildcreativeheart.com/" target="_blank">http://www.WildCreativeHeart.<wbr></wbr>com</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Deanna is a mixed media artist and owner of A New Day
Art Studio, an online shop specializing in mixed media art supplies.
Deanna's battle with chronic pain is what original brought her to seek the
healing power of art. Now her passion is showing others that anyone can
create and regardless of talent or training, they just need to "make a
mark"</span><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">.</span></div>
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<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Deanna is remarkably creative; you really need to check out
her leggings! You can find her at <a href="http://anewdayartstudio.com/">http://anewdayartstudio.com</a>
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05682070760661752975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259916546712831117.post-33725417479714827032014-04-30T12:19:00.001-06:002014-04-30T12:19:55.957-06:00Bighorn Sheep<div style="text-align: center;">
Whether a creationist or evolutionist or somewhere in between, we, humans arrived after the waters and land, plants and animals. It could be said the best was saved for last. It could also be said that we are guests here on this gorgeous, life sustaining planet.</div>
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Maybe it's both.</div>
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Have we, humans, over the millennial, centuries, decades, currently, today are we respectful stewards and/or guests?</div>
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Now wait, this isn't what today's post is about, except to say that I believe with all my heart, we have much to learn from those who were before us and we can all be better as co-inhabitants of Earth. </div>
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Still, this is not today's post, well, kinda. </div>
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Today is about sharing part of my intuitive art practice, which isn't something I'm fully comfortable with (the sharing part not the practice part). Actually, all of today's post is just about sharing the parts. I have so much to say about the practice and about animal wisdom and being an inhabitant and about being human...but today, it's just a part of each of these as they work their magic into the whole of ME.</div>
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<a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=662335a692&view=fimg&th=145b360e3d512a46&attid=0.9&disp=inline&safe=1&attbid=ANGjdJ_H3b_Ge5iPjqjksQdVWp8Qjh7mgvTBhMDazCfD170dkbzzOYmF963yXkFIDhQatMnGuGfILLU8Y-elsX2ncfLCgRjoWNuvEVl1P3_wFaDxMtsid9Eol2VOvPs&ats=1398878053648&rm=145b360e3d512a46&zw&sz=w1168-h562" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Displaying photo 5.JPG" border="0" height="240" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=662335a692&view=fimg&th=145b360e3d512a46&attid=0.9&disp=inline&safe=1&attbid=ANGjdJ_H3b_Ge5iPjqjksQdVWp8Qjh7mgvTBhMDazCfD170dkbzzOYmF963yXkFIDhQatMnGuGfILLU8Y-elsX2ncfLCgRjoWNuvEVl1P3_wFaDxMtsid9Eol2VOvPs&ats=1398878053648&rm=145b360e3d512a46&zw&sz=w1168-h562" width="320" /></a></div>
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A few weeks back in my post titled Slow Down, I mention exploring Bighorn Sheep. This exploration took me into my intuitive art practice. Through the layers and layers of creating, I was brought deeper into the wisdom, gifts, and understanding of Bighorn Sheep which in turn brought me deeper into an understanding of me, my layers now in the present, in the slowing down, in feeling the presence of Bighorn Sheep.</div>
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<a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=662335a692&view=fimg&th=145b360e3d512a46&attid=0.7&disp=inline&safe=1&attbid=ANGjdJ8Ag4DF3wwUSrKIS-NuqJ9a7dHG2uJTUYFjBdWm83mnH7MjiJc3YB-mExzxCfeGmVyPV9iOCWZc74uXIkKItw7tVac3bH_w9SzIA473Nb7rGJBKeNqrYRBWyMY&ats=1398878053648&rm=145b360e3d512a46&zw&sz=w1168-h562" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Displaying photo 4.JPG" border="0" height="240" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=662335a692&view=fimg&th=145b360e3d512a46&attid=0.7&disp=inline&safe=1&attbid=ANGjdJ8Ag4DF3wwUSrKIS-NuqJ9a7dHG2uJTUYFjBdWm83mnH7MjiJc3YB-mExzxCfeGmVyPV9iOCWZc74uXIkKItw7tVac3bH_w9SzIA473Nb7rGJBKeNqrYRBWyMY&ats=1398878053648&rm=145b360e3d512a46&zw&sz=w1168-h562" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /><a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=662335a692&view=fimg&th=145b360e3d512a46&attid=0.5&disp=inline&safe=1&attbid=ANGjdJ_MWEKBtmRqkPg5uc4h3r28Kgh2D_lIUmLiRvwf-vxsogSclT9GjKDFfraVSZVpeMhZX8e1i0TdpBORngIsGp-Y1MQbaiPTTos90RZOGN_4r7gYzTDog1r7qN0&ats=1398878053648&rm=145b360e3d512a46&zw&sz=w1168-h562" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Displaying photo 3.JPG" border="0" height="240" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=662335a692&view=fimg&th=145b360e3d512a46&attid=0.5&disp=inline&safe=1&attbid=ANGjdJ_MWEKBtmRqkPg5uc4h3r28Kgh2D_lIUmLiRvwf-vxsogSclT9GjKDFfraVSZVpeMhZX8e1i0TdpBORngIsGp-Y1MQbaiPTTos90RZOGN_4r7gYzTDog1r7qN0&ats=1398878053648&rm=145b360e3d512a46&zw&sz=w1168-h562" width="320" /></a></div>
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While I'm not sure he's finished-finished, he is complete or I'm complete for now, anyway. His eyes were saved for last and after stepping back and looking deep within those eyes I realized of all the messages he holds for me the most important isn't even shown here; his feet, but hey mine aren't visible either. And yet looking back at the first layering's I have the words, 'surefooted' and 'secure'. </div>
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Just love this intuitive art process. </div>
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This morning I referred to <i>Animal Speak </i>by Ted Andrews, a great go-to book. Yep, I was in Bighorn Sheep's environment a few weeks back, and he noticed me. So it was, after the eyes, that I read this, "Those with this totem must learn to trust in their ability to land safely on their feet as they make new moves and new beginnings." Grateful for his wisdom then as I passed through the Gorge, grateful for his wisdom now.</div>
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An interesting side note, over the past few days as I was painting and exploring Bighorn Sheep one of my photographer friends, Mark Andrews kept sharing current photos of Bighorn Sheep on FaceBook. Interesting? or another part of the magic.</div>
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This post, again is parts, tidbits, as these pictures are but parts, tidbits of the process, part of the practice, part of the exploring, part of the understanding...all simple parts of the whole, parts of what make me whole.</div>
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Life Remains Beautiful.</div>
<br />Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05682070760661752975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259916546712831117.post-36769237692291886732014-04-23T08:50:00.000-06:002014-04-23T08:50:08.939-06:00Another Lesson in Easy vs SimpleOne would think I'd have this whole easy vs simple thing down. In all actuality I do, sometimes though, "I just want easy!!!!!"<br />
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For example, standing up from sitting. Such a simple concept and for many an easy skill. Attending BootCamp two weeks ago I witnessed and was inspired by many bilateral above the knee individuals who make standing up look rather really easy. Me, I must have lead in those jello-jigglers residing in my hiney.<br />
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Another example, my gardens. Aside from a pending surgery on my right shoulder, getting up and down from the ground, scooting across the gardens, pulling weeds (heavens there are tons of weeds and this coming from a girl who welcomes most weeds as wildflowers into her gardens) just isn't easy, simple yes, not so easy. Then there's the simple idea; Mother Earth, how easy would it be for the grasses not encroach into the Creeping Myrtle or for the Goat Heads not lay a carpet of new seedlings around the Angel Hair Mugwort. "I just want cleaning up these garden areas to be easy!!!!"<br />
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Oh, but how much I learn from Mother Earth and from outstanding young adults.</div>
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While at BootCamp, Pedro, a young man not only missing both legs above the knee, he's missing both arms above the elbow and who happens to be one of my super hero's, says to me during standing up training, "Julia, I don't care if you are 34 (he's also charming) there isn't a bead of sweat on your forehead yet!"<br />
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Yesterday while speaking to my son Chris, I mentioned the gardens and how I can't wait for him and his siblings to be home next week (they know I'm anxious to give them a yard 'task'; task sounds better than 'chore') and he asked how the Lavender is doing. He and I had chopped and trimmed and cut the woody shrubs way down a bit too early this Spring for we had a few freezes after the cuttings.<br />
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"They are doing remarkable!" I told him.<br />
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"See Mom, a good cutting back is healthy," he replied.<br />
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"Well it wasn't so healthy for me," I sarcastically shot back.<br />
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"But I believe it was Mom."<br />
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What Pedro, Chris, and Mother Earth taught me, what they continue to teach me, is life isn't easy, it's not meant to be easy but when I, when we, exert effort and commitment into our lives all the while keeping it so simple, we simply discover our beautiful, ideal, treasure filled life!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">A treasure from one of the gardens. After these Bleeding Hearts were planted two years ago, Cadbury our dog ate them and trampled what was left. A few months later, Cad who was already ailing, took a turn for the worse and we had her put to rest. These beauties hadn't bloomed since. While they attempted to grow once before they were plucked out mistaken for a weed. I believe these are a gift from the other side given by Cadbury!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Here's a glimpse at my Super Hero Pedro! He also has a Ted X talk but it's all in Spanish, still remarkable to watch. </span></div>
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05682070760661752975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259916546712831117.post-41308017696058889812014-04-16T09:15:00.001-06:002014-04-16T09:15:39.655-06:00Slow Down<div class="MsoNormal">
There was anxiousness heading to Las Vegas last week to
catch a flight. I left plenty early however I didn't take full consideration of
highway construction in the gorge. As I approached, my anxiety grew. Sections
of I-15 were down to one lane, speed reduced to 35 MPH, behind several tractor
trailers, I was forced to slow down.</div>
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Maybe it’s the ongoing
practice of ‘slowing down’ which eased me into a blissful state. Taking a deep,
full, rich breath I was awakened with vividness to the pristine beauty of life.
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The morning sun’s play of light and shadow soften the rugged
walls. This truly is a magnificent pass. I noticed the vertical carved ripples
in the rock and recall Jeff telling me how years before these areas were
drilled and blasted to make way for the interstate. </div>
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This day, current construction crews had erected a
protective barrier around a shrine which has been well maintained for years. I've
notice the hallowed place before; the cross always freshened and silk flowers
and tokens deliberately laid in honor of a lost loved one, Fred, his name
painted on the cross could now be read.</div>
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Wiry creosote bushes danced in the canyon winds as if to
show off their fresh spring green foliage and yellow-green buds, this is the
plant I miss the most from the desert. If only there was morning moisture to
release its heady fragrance.</div>
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Looking closer at the desert floor the wild flowers were
bursting in their splendor, such a small window of opportunity for them to take
center stage in the desert terrain. </div>
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Even with the frightening lack of winter snow a bit farther
north, there was quite a bit of spring runoff water in the river. I watched her
flow, no looking back, no regret, no fear of what lies ahead, she simply continued
on her journey, a destination not yet known to her, but ardently she flowed.</div>
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Humble and grateful tears filled my eyes. In the stillness
which lies just beyond the shoulders of a busy interstate there is wonder,
pulse, beauty, an ever alive nature. Again and again I am reminded that life
remains beautiful. </div>
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Wiping a tear from my right eye a surge of excitement filled
me, “Maybe in this slow down I’ll see a big horn sheep!” In my current state it
only seemed fair and right to receive such a gift.</div>
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Emerging out of the mouth of the gorge, there was a slight disappointment
at having to speed up but even greater disappointment at not seeing big horn
sheep. And just as I approached 50, 65, 70 MPH, looking in my rearview mirror
at the shrinking, massive gorge a knowing hit me. I was in his environment. I
may not have seen big horn sheep but he saw me, he felt my presence and respect
for him and sent me a wave of his medicine. </div>
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As the day continued and the following crazy, hectic,
difficult days unfolded, I carried this wondrous experience to ‘slow down’ with
me, with gratitude, I welcomed the ease it offered.</div>
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Slow down…simply slow down…what can you, what will you glean
if you but venture to the experience? With promise, all will get accomplished
and oddly enough, quite possibly even more.</div>
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It’s been a week since the ‘slow down’ and I still feel this bliss as well as big horn sheep’s medicine with me. What power does he offer?
What gifts does he wish to give? It’s now time to explore his medicine….</div>
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05682070760661752975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259916546712831117.post-10180905026224079632014-03-12T11:39:00.001-06:002014-03-12T11:39:21.400-06:00A Little Morning Joyful Surprise<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">"</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17.940000534057617px;">I must share. I just pulled the card "GRACE" thank you </span></span></span><a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1713473269&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A332232100240590%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/robin.reiss.10" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.940000534057617px; text-decoration: none;">Robin </a> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.940000534057617px;">"...surrendering to the gifts from source" this was so timely. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I have been diligently working with<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=100001533836587&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A332232100240590%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/julia.frehner.1" style="cursor: pointer;"><span style="background: white; color: #3b5998; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Julia
Frehner</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">as my coach these last
months...co creating with the universe, and watching things transform, guided
by Julia’s gentle wisdom, and clear sight (such a joy to work with) and I’m all
giddy with excitement right now, due to what I'm seeing and feeling happening.
I so believe in manifestation now! I am so grateful that I took Julia up on her
coaching offer! If anyone is ready to do this with her, Please do it...even if
you don't think you are, do it! This experience has been such a fire under my
bum. Thank you beautiful Universal Love Energy for leading me to all of this....</span>”</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">What a way to greet the day!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Waking this morning, checking mail and
messages, one of my gorgeous clients posted this in a group we share. Tears
filled my eyes and my heart swelled. </span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">It is an absolute honor to partner with inspired individuals who are ready and eager (even if they don't know it yet) to transform their amazing lives.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Synchronicity. Every one I'm currently partnering with is experiencing synchronicity. How blessed I am to mingle in as a part of this divine, heavenly process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Do you know that you, yes you, are
a vessel of divine magic? Do you realize you dwell in a Universe filled with limitless
possibilities and potential? Do you soak up the warm rays of synchronicity which always shine upon you? Can you feel the power within you wanting to wield?
Are you hearing the whisper to create and manifest a greater ideal life for yourself? Stop holding back your innate ability! Let's chat.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The deck she mentions is a collaboration of 38 beautiful and inspired women from several countries of which I humbly participated with. Powerful stories continue to flow in of how the messages and images from this collection have assist, aspire, and inspire. I have a few decks available if you're interested. </span></div>
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<o:p></o:p>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05682070760661752975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259916546712831117.post-45486984671337895972014-02-28T09:53:00.001-07:002014-02-28T10:04:14.208-07:00New Moon<br />
Tomorrow evening is February’s New Moon. Sweet Luna enters Pisces a water sign;
both water and the New Moon hold a turning within, a gifting to see reflective
qualities.<br />
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Many of us seem to be facing struggles in our lives which
add heaviness to our journey and creative processes. With humility I have been
moved to ask those in our circle and my family, while during this divine space
tomorrow evening, I could hold specific prayer requests for you. Several have responded
and this truly is an honor. There remains a strong call within me though that
there are a few more of you who would like to be lifted in prayer. So, once
more Spirit puts this forward; please feel free and safe and supported to send
me any request via a private message, email, even a phone call.</div>
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During meditation this morning an impression was brought to encourage
you who have entrusted me with your prayer request, to please, over the next
few days, simply allow your attention to go towards your situation but, with tenderness and compassion meet and
overlay that situation with a vision of a harmonious and healthy outcome, resolution, result. Really envision, letting
the vision expand out through your mind’s eye and your crown, with crystal clarity, see this
goodness. Now, simply, let this harmonious, healthy, clear vision gently stir emotions
from deep within you. Then merge your vision and your emotions at your heart center
and feel all the goodness, truth, joy, happiness, compassion, feel all the
positive vibrations and allow all those high vibrations to fill you, carry you,
and radiate from you, completely and holy.</div>
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So tomorrow, under the New Moon, I seek you in the reflective
pool of Spirit. With deep gratitude and honor, blessings and pure love to you.</div>
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(TinyCat loves this space, BabyCat and Bear are sitting right near by)</div>
<br />
<img alt="Displaying photo.JPG" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=662335a692&view=fimg&th=144795846efd427a&attid=0.1&disp=inline&safe=1&attbid=ANGjdJ8n00GrPPh4VvbgKGSM1Iu_lh7GJkBnZkSmEpBCRmyouLEe_UV-xg1ophfsNYrsoPqtl_YPxEuUrniZpJs-VzwNB7GgNGCX-K-4ZUoflvgCi5A5sjtMHx8pZoM&ats=1393605289824&rm=144795846efd427a&zw&sz=w1168-h562" />Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05682070760661752975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259916546712831117.post-28890772611154551442014-02-13T12:06:00.000-07:002014-02-13T18:11:55.299-07:00Roses<div class="MsoNormal">
February 12, 2006 was a Sunday. Jeff had been in the
hospital, ICU, for over 2 months, 2 very painful, emotional, long months. Saturday
evening, the 11<sup>th</sup>, he looked good, he was quite responsive and
alert. Prior to dad arriving and me leaving this evening, Jeff and I in our odd
way of communicating (as he couldn't speak or write) agreed things were going
well. He felt pretty darn good and for the first time since he’d been in the
hospital I was going to take a day off to spend with our 2 youngest boys. As I
was leaving, I felt a comfort looking into his eyes, seeing a light, a sparkle
I hadn't seen for far too many days. </div>
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Arrangements were made for sisters to take shifts spending
Sunday with him. With confidence I entered Sunday a bit less burdened, my
breath a bit less quickened and shallow. The day simply eased on with a surreal
grace, nothing notably memorable other than the grace of which carried me
though the day and cradled me into a deep peaceful sleep.</div>
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At about 3 AM Monday the 13<sup>th</sup> the peace was
shattered by the ringing phone. I knew who was calling and why. There had been
2 previous early morning calls over the past 2 months; Jeff had crashed again. By
about 6 AM he was stable. I needed to go home. From the shower I could hear the
phone ring. I don’t want to go back, I can’t go back. Finally, I answered, it
was our daughter Heather, “Momma you need to get here now, it’s time.”</div>
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Time, was a complete blur. Arriving, I cleared the space
around his room of our children and family. I watched as attempts were made to revive my
husband, shocks, equipment, alarms, frenzy, panic for hours and yet time was a
sluggish blur. There was an ICU nurse standing over Jeff, on his bed, working
frantically, she’d look over at me and then at Jeff and back at me. His head
was purple, his face ashen. I knew, I knew and then looking at me again, “What
do you want us to do?” she asked. </div>
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“It’s enough.” I quietly said, “It’s enough.”</div>
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Family went to our house. I needed to wait for the coroner;
it was something I just had to do.<br />
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When I got home, seeing all our families cars parked
outside, I felt like whatever happened today was not real and I was coming home
to a family gathering, a joyful family gathering. Jeff was there, his truck was
home, of course, silly me, where have I been, there’s a family gathering and we’re
all here, we’re all okay. Entering the kitchen I noticed a huge bouquet of roses, 2
dozen gorgeous, fragrant red roses. Hanging from the vase was a small wooden
heart which read, “husband and wife together for life.”</div>
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Jeff’s sister, Tonya, came up to me and told me during her ‘shift’
with Jeff on Sunday, it took 4 hours for him to express and for her to finally understand
his request. “He wanted you to have 2 dozen red roses delivered not on
Valentine’s Day, the 14<sup>th</sup>, no, he was very specific they needed to
be delivered on February 13<sup>th</sup>.<br />
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In Loving Memory</div>
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Jeff Frehner</div>
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2-26-60 - 2-13-06</div>
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xo</div>
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05682070760661752975noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259916546712831117.post-32837807881209472342014-02-05T21:25:00.000-07:002014-02-05T21:25:18.275-07:00Simple is TruTh is Simple<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A few days ago, while making a
hotel reservation, I needed to speak to a ‘real live’ person. The
reservationist was most polite and professional. She was able to get the
details worked out, for which I needed to speak to someone about, and a room
reserved. When asked my email address for receipt of confirmation, I gave her keepingitsosimple@gmail.
To my unexpected surprise the professional reservationist, relaxed and, with hopeful anticipation that I might have the secret answer, asked, “Have
you figured it out, how to keep it so simple?” With a little giggle I responded, “I’m
still working on the details, but life, while it isn't easy, is so simple.”</div>
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Often when consulting with perspective life
coach clients I hear with exasperation, “I just want my life to be easy!” I
have learned, over the past few years, to not laugh at this statement, for having
done so has probably cost me a few clients. It isn't that I laughed at them or
at their desire for their life to be easy, I laugh because, well, from my
experience, from all the research I've done, life isn't necessarily going to be
nor intended to be easy.</div>
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What I have discovered, what I've
learned, is that while life isn't always going to be easy, life is simple. When
we peel the layers of our life back, peel back to the point of what we really
want, or to what the real ‘issues’ confronting us are, we will find at that raw
point lies the simplicity of desire and resolution. And, what else I've discovered
by peeling back, opening up, is that what is exposed is pure truth. When we are
true to self, to the divine within, and to our lives we will find simple is truth and truth is simple.</div>
Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05682070760661752975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259916546712831117.post-59621771009209697502014-01-19T15:16:00.002-07:002014-02-06T18:29:18.147-07:00Ideal Life Vision Testimonial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It is my honor to currently be partnering with four amazingly brilliant, talented, gorgeous women as they hone in on their IdealLife Visions. I completely, unequivocally<span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">adore what I do</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> as a life coach or as I prefer, a metamorphic guide. It is a sacred view from hallowed ground witnessing dreams manifest. Every now and then, greater blessings are bestowed upon me by a gift like the video below. As you fully emerge into and engage with the new year, may you quickly discover that all the power and magic is within yourself to create your most abundant, crystal clear, aspired IdealLife.</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxMNpLCUaL517s15nZtKMvcGRc2vaf6AneoukP-8VoXaEbS893VMVEkZ15Y7OIl18u1JyjO9boPzQxZil8UTg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
If you find yourself in need of a little extra support, push, stretch or curious about ILV program or what a soul/life coach can do for you, contact me to set up a no cost consultation. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Life Remains Beautiful </div>
Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05682070760661752975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259916546712831117.post-18656401626467718792013-12-21T09:03:00.001-07:002013-12-21T09:03:40.062-07:00Synchronicities, Simplicity, Solstice and Journaling<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are several names for each full moon deriving from
various ancient cultures, tribes, regions. Over the years I have mixed those
names creating my own annual list as they appeal to me (if there are rules or
guidelines to moon name calling, well then, I broke the rules again). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Long Night’s Moon (the name I chose for
December) was on the 17. For weeks I had contemplated a tiny
solitary celebration which ended up being nothing more than what I seem to have
done for the last 11 full moons; gaze upon dear Luna in admiration and
honor. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On the 18, as I awoke, got ready, and set out
for my early trek to work, Luna continued to beckon me with her glorious light.
It’s in her light (which, yes, I’ve written about it before, her light source
comes from the Sun but oh how she reflects him…many messages there) it’s from within her glow that
I hear her whispers. And, as typical for me, it wasn’t so much December 18 or
19 but on the 20, when during my entire drive south on I-15 she, in her gentle
hovering, continued to reveal herself, that the ‘message’ began to articulate in my brain. And, as typical,
it wasn’t only one awareness, one happening, or just Luna and Sun doing what
they do best, but a sequence of occurrences, which probably occur quite often but too
often go unnoticed by me, that struck my Spirit.</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, I could go into all the little synchronicities, but I
won’t, not this time. This time I’m just going to the core of the message, I'm going to keep it simple,
because it so applies for today, the Solstice (Sun stands still). It is a
recurring message for me as I tend to slip up or slip out often…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">”Be still long enough to glide back into rhythm."</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I laid awake last night from midnight until 3AM, watching
the clouds, which seemed to enjoy being illuminated by Luna’s glow, move across
the sky (oh how I love the sky lights above my bed) mingling with all the gazillion
thoughts I had, was one penetrating question, “How do I avoid this slip out of rhythm again?
How do I sync in with the Universal flow?” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Besides the usual answer for every soulful delimia of deeping meditation and prayer, the only other answer I received was to journal. But, instead of complete dread which has kept me from journaling
this past year, I was filled with a bit of excitement. Again, Jules, there’s no
rules or guidelines (if there are, break them), keep it so simple, even<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>if it means you have several journals, it’s
okay, it’s safe, it’s not cumbersome, it’s rhythmic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I will conclude this post with a bit of promise to myself…this
blog space is a journaling space, journal...as much as I’d like to just remain disassembled
today and stay home, go purchase a few fresh, clean journals...I am free to create, create a
new gratitude journal even several little journals...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For
a moment this Solstice, I too shall ‘stand still’ in potient prayer and meditation, and begin journaling…I think I shall start with Luna, the Moon and the Sun for they, in their waxing and waining, in their Universal place in space, they are constant particpants, reminders of the rhythm..</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I invite you to join me in keeping it in rhythm and keeping
it so simple…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">PS ~ New Year's Day is the New Moon, January 15 is the Cold Moon.</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05682070760661752975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259916546712831117.post-2071433882040616112013-10-02T12:20:00.000-06:002013-10-02T13:02:48.706-06:00W3 Wednesday<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This morning I awoke feeling more alive than I have in the past
week. Since returning home from my sister’s several weeks ago I haven’t felt
really well and last Wednesday I was hit with a cold that has knocked me down
hard. For the better part of the past week I have felt, along with all the discomforts
of a serious cold, as if something foreign has attached itself to me draining
out life. But this morning, even with another restless night, I feel so much
better and as I lay in bed watching dawn's light grow brighter I wondered what,
if anything, I had to learn from this down time. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As typical for me the response to my wonder was very simple:
aware, be more aware, awake, attentive, conscious and thus becoming more
appreciative, grateful…</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With this simple, and yes reoccurring thought of awareness
in mind, I chose to acknowledge what I have noticed over these shut in days as
I look out my windows; Autumn, change, but the thought led me to as much as I love Autumn there is
always a sense of sorrow, passing, a crossing over, now mingled with a sense that I
did not celebrate with any more than the ‘glancing of and a bow of gratitude
toward’ the harvest moon. Even though it wasn’t a sloughing off I sadly realize there
will be the crossing of seasons and 12 full moons before I arrive to her again…Really, Jules, come on....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What else have I noticed these past few shut in days as I've looked out my windows? The Creeping
Virginia across the way has evolved, stretching her colors, growing richer
until reaching her full crimson red</span></div>
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<span id=":11a"><a class="e" href="https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=662335a692&view=att&th=1417a57e3a8246b0&attid=0.1&disp=inline&safe=1&zw" target="_blank"><img alt="photo.JPG" class="hv" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=662335a692&view=att&th=1417a57e3a8246b0&attid=0.1&disp=thd&zw" /></a></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Box Elder tree out back altering his colors as well,
slowly, releasing some of his leaves, and the early transition, had I not been so shut
in, would have gone unnoticed</span></div>
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<span id=":px"><a class="e" href="https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=662335a692&view=att&th=14179b9a778c0cb1&attid=0.1&disp=inline&safe=1&zw" target="_blank"><img alt="photo 1.JPG" class="hv" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=662335a692&view=att&th=14179b9a778c0cb1&attid=0.1&disp=thd&zw" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh, yes, the delphinium and lavender out front have
re-bloomed, beautifully re-bloomed, and gratefully, this morning I recall over
the past few shut in days noticing their tender buds emerge and swell and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">beautifully re-bloom</i></span></div>
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<span id=":pz"><a class="e" href="https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=662335a692&view=att&th=14179b9a778c0cb1&attid=0.3&disp=inline&safe=1&zw" target="_blank"><img alt="photo 2.JPG" class="hv" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=662335a692&view=att&th=14179b9a778c0cb1&attid=0.3&disp=thd&zw" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wheeling into the kitchen, my home filled with morning
quite, there is a gentle brushing sound. A leaf, from the bouquet of New
Harmony Autumn which I was graced with by my dear friends, Brent and Monica, this past weekend,
fluttered down, gently reminding me once more….</span></div>
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<span id=":q0"><a class="e" href="https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=662335a692&view=att&th=14179b1efbd9225f&attid=0.1&disp=inline&safe=1&zw" target="_blank"><img alt="photo 1.JPG" class="hv" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=662335a692&view=att&th=14179b1efbd9225f&attid=0.1&disp=thd&zw" /></a></span></div>
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05682070760661752975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259916546712831117.post-45280501050944801132013-08-28T08:08:00.003-06:002013-08-28T08:08:48.626-06:00W-3 Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfm4nuHzWR2FLypQK48Q8s0VAru_hH1WDrQ_AO3Qsy45WHxXAa2ZRbvOntearpFZgNulIGVeOISUkeZXzhl41-XN5Rru126anBfkR2F7JdBVduGUPWoI_whIzD-zTdBzxvNT5LNkMR5-i3/s1600/weatherthestorm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfm4nuHzWR2FLypQK48Q8s0VAru_hH1WDrQ_AO3Qsy45WHxXAa2ZRbvOntearpFZgNulIGVeOISUkeZXzhl41-XN5Rru126anBfkR2F7JdBVduGUPWoI_whIzD-zTdBzxvNT5LNkMR5-i3/s320/weatherthestorm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This came across my Facebook feed last night. <br />
<br />
My first thought was to scoop up this sweet little critter and bring her inside, dry off her wings, hold her until the storm passes, and then set her free. <br />
<br />
My next thought was a memory; a memory of when I was in the hospital, just after being sent from ICU trauma to an isolation room. It was a mid-morning, having another unit of blood coming into me, all kinds of fluids, antibiotics, morphine...I was in and out. While all those things are clear in many of my memories from back then it is the memory of glancing over to my left and seeing my dad sitting next me.<br />
<br />
This mid-morning, when I looked at my dad I caught him weeping. I had never in my 35 years of life ever, not once, seem my dad cry. During the space of time which we didn't say anything I had this beautiful thought, "If my dad, my Earthly dad is weeping for his daughter, how much is my Heavenly dad weeping for me?"<br />
<br />
I know my dad was weeping for me, his daughter, feeling helpless, feeling like if he could he'd take this all away for me, he'd give me back my legs, he'd release the pain, he'd eliminate the fact that his oldest daughter might still die....oh I know the countless reasons why he was weeping and all the soulful, pure, unidentified reasons he was weeping. And I wondered, "If my dad is weeping like this for me how much more does my Heavenly dad weep for me?" but I didn't know...does He, my great God weep for me? He surely knows what has happened, what I'm going through....<br />
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Of course I smiled at my dad, letting him know I was going to be okay, really I assured him I would be okay. He dried his eyes, smiled back and we simply visited.<br />
<br />
After he left I thought about the weeping Dad's but anger entered and I cried out to my Heavenly dad, "You could have stopped this, you could have made this less, you could have spared my legs, this is so damn unfair...." Yeah, if you know me, even in my drug induced self, I continued a really good fit throwing.<br />
<br />
My fits typically end because I exhaust myself. And, at that time I exhausted more quickly than usual. As I lay there alone in my fit-exhausted-overly-divinely-drugged-state, my great God, my sweet Heavenly Father whispered, "As much as your Earthly dad weeps for you I weep even more. I weep more because yes, I could have stopped this, spared this from you but you, my daughter can weather this storm..."<br />
<br />
This picture summonsed within me this memory, and as we all know memories which come with divine spiritual messages are beyond mere words. There is power in this picture for me eternal power, a reminder that in the storms of my life I must face them head on, in the down pour, in the bitter cold, remain steadfast and pray. As my heart breaks, as I, in my humanness struggle and throw fits, pray, I must continue to hold on and pray and know that my Heavenly Father wants to scoop me up and bring me in...my Heavenly Father can scoop me up and bring me in...but it's not time child, not yet. And I know this, while I'm there in the rage of the storm, I am not alone, He is there weeping for me, with me...and the storms will pass, my wings will dry, and because I did it, weathered it, prayed, and know my Father's love, I will fly stronger and higher....<br />
<br />
Face your storms, pray though them, and believe me <em><strong>you are not alone</strong></em>...your Great God weeps for you, He is supporting you through, knowing once the storm passes and your wings dry out, you will soar! To His Greatness and Glory, Soar.<br />
<br />Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05682070760661752975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259916546712831117.post-51832072771866017612013-08-14T11:59:00.003-06:002013-08-14T11:59:48.217-06:00Wacky, Wondrous, Whatever Wednesday
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This post has been simmering on the back burner of my mind
for some time; completely unattended but left to simmer still. Maybe had I
attended it, added a few ingredients or gently stirred it, it, this post might
pour out a bit better. But I didn’t attend it; it attended me and in helplessly
witnessing a tragic event unfold Monday I have been brought to this simmering
post and pour out its contents be they smooth or lumpy….</span></div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/935863_568850756504511_1670933711_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" border="0" class="spotlight" height="960" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/935863_568850756504511_1670933711_n.jpg" style="height: 602px; width: 452px;" width="720" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On a very busy road I waited, sitting in the center lane,
for the opportunity to turn into the fueling station. Vehicles were zip and
zooming by me on both sides. To my left I a little movement on the roadway
caught my eye; a squirrel. Oh my, there he was running, stopping, darting,
dashing, in his attempt to avoid the tires speeding by. He made it across two
lanes to the only safety he had, in front of my sitting-waiting-to turn car. At
this point if I knew I could reason with a squirrel I’d have gotten out of my
car in the middle of this bustling road and given him a lift to the other side.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not being a squirrel whisperer, all I could do was pray and
watch. While praying was, watching was probably not, the best thing for me to
do. Out he went from the ‘safety’ of our center lane resuming his running,
stopping, darting, dashing. Oh thank God, he made it across the first lane and
yes it appeared he would make it had the approaching truck been going 50 mph
and not 52. Just before he reached the other side he was hit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oblivious to all those zooming by, except me, I watched this
furry little critter attempt to get up, his tail flipping wildly to bring him
to his feet. Then another car, the last one needing to pass so I could turn…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Whenever I see a dead animal on the road I say, “Oh I’m so
sorry little critter, bless your heart.” I don’t know, but I suppose if you
know me you get it. One day, a few weeks ago, driving along I-15 to the big
city, I made an attempt to I indentify all the critters I was blessing the
hearts of. This particular day, while several were unidentifiable, there was a
variety of critters. I blessed the hearts of several rabbits and snakes, a
coyote, two raccoons, a few deer, and a cat. Wow, I thought how very sad they
didn’t either stay on their side of the highway or didn’t make to the other
side.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then the very next day as I began my I-15 journey to the big
city, a young buck (the four legged fur covered kind of young buck) caught my
eye, really caught my eye, like eye contact, like deer-totem-I-have-a-message-for-you
contact. Now I’m just getting on the freeway gassing it to join the other 75-80
mile-per-hourers and I’m making eye contact with a deer, feeling him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He was pacing the fence line along the 15, pacing on the
safer side of the fence. As I looked at him I felt his panic, his anxiety, my
heart began to race as his was, our breath quicken and became shallow. I knew
what he was thinking, “I have to get to the other side.” Whatever he wanted or
needed, what he longed for was on the other side of a crazy, high traffic, fast
moving interstate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I joined the other mile-per-hourers on the highway, I
watched him from my rear view mirror. I prayed for him, for his safe crossing.
I looked for him along both sides of the 15 from Blackridge to my exit for
days, hoping to not have to say, “Oh I’m so sorry little critter, bless your
heart.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">These critter events hold a lot for me, contain a great deal
of lesson and messages but here’s the thing I want to share; we all reach a
moment, a time in our lives when what we want or what we need or what we long
for….simply put, there is a time we must cross to the other side to continue
the journey of self. While our need intensifies we might begin to get, well
like that darling little squirrel (oh I’m so sorry little critter, bless your
heart) and run out, darting, dashing, stopping, dodging…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But we have choices. We could choose to forgo the longing,
need, want and settle back into the safety of the side we’re on; you know the
safer side of the fence. Or we could do the squirrel thing hoping to make it
and sometimes we do. Or we can set our sights for the other side trusting,
knowing, believing a safe crossing will open up, there is passage…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">”The way is shown.
The path is clear.” Tara Singh</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A footnote:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This great photo is by a dear friend of mine Brent Prince. I adore his work and hope he doesn't mind me using it here. He titles this one <u>When Deer Talk Back</u>, kind of perfect as I am a true believer animals speak to us, offer us lessons,
messages. Having been run over by a great big tractor/trailer, my
reaction watching that squirrel may have kicked in a little PTSD, had the other
folks at the gas station known they might not have looked at me so oddly as
this little-no-legged-girl sobbed filling her Equinox. I don’t know, just
thinking. But what I heard, learned from all these critters is way more than what I have shared here. Okay, a brief bit of comfort for me and maybe a few of you ‘critter’
lovers is this, I had once heard a talk given by a woman (sorry can’t recall
her name) who said she believed, knew, that animals are gifted to have their
spirits/souls leave their bodies prior to death…may it be so. </span><br />
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05682070760661752975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259916546712831117.post-62690394986690552122013-07-24T10:46:00.002-06:002013-07-24T10:46:47.800-06:00Wacky, Wondrous, Whatever Wednesday<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Recently a long lost friend & I had the chance to meet up online. This
person once was a dear and special part of my life. I hurt this person and that
act has tormented the deepest part of my heart &soul for a very long time.
It is inspiring to me how the human heart has the ability to forgive at that
deep of level. This person spent their time trying to ease my sorrow &
release the deep part of my soul from the regret & sadness that resides
there. That degree of forgiveness and kindness motivates me to forgive people I
feel have hurt me over what now seems trivial matters. I guess that forgiveness
is what I feel is the priceless gift. The ability to forgive ones self to that
same degree is a ongoing struggle that so far in life eludes me. I was however
reminded why this person was such a special part of my life & I will always
be grateful for knowing them." ~ Anonymous</div>
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Later, Anonymous wrote, "...all of the soul searching for some huge revelation or epiphany, was as simple and as complicated as a single word. Forgiveness..." Anonymous then refers to Don Henley's song <u>The Heart of the Matter</u>, "I think it's about forgiveness...", Anonymous writes, "...so after all of this, I found that in matters of the heart it is JUST the heart that matters, and I found me..."</div>
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These words and the purity of feeling which emanates from them are deeply, richly, boldly wondrous.</div>
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Journey of the heart requires boldness, and as we reach one level, in order to progress to another area (if we so choose) a new level of boldness must be achieved. I'm not sure I have that next level of boldness within me, not yet anyway, but because I choose to journey on, it must be summons. <br />
<br />
In the pursuit of this 'boldness' there must be a softening of the heart. Softening requires exposure, not full exposure for that is too complicated, too painful, too scary but just enough of a peeling back to view the next leg (oh pardon the pun) of the journey. A peeling back to see the messy pieces and parts of my heart. It's that which begins the softening and softening is ouchy and achy, a real physical ache as the heart is kneaded, conditioned...softened.</div>
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(In mentoring and life coaching I find many people choose not to journey on but rather want contentment where they are. As you might guess I nudge them to stretch into the 'boldness'.)</div>
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At my prayer place today the softening commenced and I ache. I pondered Anonymous' words and exposed heart, my own exposing heart and my sorted life...I went to the night of my accident, to the point where I knew I was dying, bleeding to death, to those frantic yet peaceful heart beats, and was reminded what I learned in those moments, reminded of something else Anonymous wrote, the most important thing isn't things, it is love. Love, a simple four letter word holds within itself so much emotion and feeling, including forgiveness.</div>
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I could write on and on but I believe if you've read this you take it to your heart and there make it matter for you. I do have, however, an affirming after thought, a thought which isn't shared by many life coaches but one I have known from my personal life experience; life is not easy, it's hard, life is really, really hard but when you get down to the heart of the matter, when you peel back the human layers (and in most lives there are a lot of human layers), when you commence with the ache of softening, and begin to expose the rawness of who and what you are, there in is truth and while life is hard, what is true is simple.</div>
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I inhale deeply and exhale fully. I lovingly place my hand on my heart center, holding your heart, holding Anonymous heart, holding my own heart...with boldness let us journey on and experience what lies at the heart of what matters...forgiveness, love, the simple trues...<br />
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05682070760661752975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259916546712831117.post-9720831145972659982013-07-19T11:35:00.001-06:002013-07-19T11:35:14.617-06:00Light and Dark or Dark and Light
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Light said to Dark, “Come let me show you my Light.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Light’s word became a lamp unto Dark’s path, easing Dark’s
fear and anxiety, calming Dark’s uncertainty.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dark entered and was bathed in Lightness.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Light and Dark were filled with joy and they came together
creating, giving birth to Shadow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Elated, Dark said to Light, “Come let me show you my Dark.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As Light followed, both Light and Dark noticed the light upon
Dark’s path and this calmed Light’s uncertainty, easing fear and anxiety.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Light entered but wasn’t completely bathed in Darkness, so
Dark said, “Maybe you must come further in.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As Light did, awe struck both, Light and Dark. Illuminated
before them were undiscovered secret places filled with hidden riches and
treasures tucked in Darkness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">~~~</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">During times when I am surrounded
by Darkness I need not fear it, succumb to it, or dismiss Light for as much as
Dark is, so is Light. I must understand there is as much Lightness which
surrounds me as there is Darkness and vice a versa. And while I dwell in one,
(and dwelling in Dark, I now know is as needful as dwelling in Light), the
other exists for me as well. This understanding brings an awareness that where
there is Light there cannot be complete Darkness and because Dark remains there
cannot be complete Lightness; thus we have exposure, shadow, opposition,
balance. They, Light and Dark, exist as a balance to the beauty of life.
Arriving to this knowing calms uncertainty, eases fear and anxiety, revealing
hidden riches of my secret places and treasures of my Darkness, bathing me in
Lightness.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">~~~</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Isaiah 45:3 “And I will give thee the treasures of darkness,
and hidden riches of secret places, that thou may know that I, the Lord, which
call you by name am the God of Isreal.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Isaiah 45:7 “I form the light and create darkness: I make
peace and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yogi Bhajan : “You are a human being. Hu means halo, light,
which we all have. Man means mental. Being means for the time being. For the
time being, you are a mental halo of light.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Psalms 119:105 “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light
unto my path.”</span><br />
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05682070760661752975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259916546712831117.post-33162292463908341022013-05-29T06:58:00.000-06:002013-05-29T06:59:13.301-06:00Wacky, Wondrous, What If Wednesday<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What inspires and motivates
you? What makes your heart sing?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Posting this question on Facebook got only three responses,
three very sweet comments. One, from my darling Krysta who said, “Pumpkins and
Fall”. The other two mentioned me. “Me” was certainly not where I was going with the
questions but it does follow what I was leading to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I was posing and
what I am posing here is simply this, “What inspires and motivates you?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You probably will find your answer doesn’t cost much if
anything at all, but it is priceless. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today, right now, when you state what inspires and motivates
you, and yes I want you to state it out loud, claim your motivation and
inspiration, be surrounded by whatever it is. As you approach and travel through
your Wednesday, seek out your inspiration and motivation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Are you noticing that which inspires and motivates you
really is closer than you thought, closer than you realized?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What if you could go about your daily life and be
surrounded, submerged in those things, people, places, happenings which inspire
and motivate? Would your heart joyfully sing? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As you crawl into bed at the end
of this Wondrous Wednesday, state out loud again and feel deep within your
singing heart, gratitude for that which inspired and motivated you today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">~~~</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’d love, love, love to hear how
this worked for you. Please leave me a comment here or email me or Facebook me
or call me…..I’m so over the moon excited to know how this simple act makes
your heart sing today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hey can you believe we are almost
half way through this year? Have you met or are you meeting your goals, seizing
your dreams? In honor of the half way point, in honor of the approaching
Solstice, I’m offering my 6 week life coaching program for half price. </span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">6 one on one sessions, the online program,
unlimited emails</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">a complete wonderful metamorphic change
for only $249</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Contact me for a no cost but downright fun
consultation and get ready to spread your wings and fly through the rest of
2013; it’ll make your heart sing!</span></div>
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05682070760661752975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259916546712831117.post-67476771614656372982013-05-24T08:36:00.000-06:002013-05-24T08:36:13.677-06:00Elementary School, Memorial Day, A Dolphin's Tail, GratitudeOne of my new favorite things to do is to go into elementary school classrooms and share Winter's Tale. I love reading Winter's story to the kids. I love how almost every student, even the rough n' tough boys want to give my darling stuffed Winter with her removable prosthetic tail a hug as they depart. I love bringing awareness to amputation and how no matter what befalls us life remains beautiful, we can choose to be happy, and how kindness matters. I love opening up discussion with these amazingly brilliant young people.<br />
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Originally I was only going to go in and read to classes during the month of April as it's limb loss awareness month. But, as word got around the readings continued and requests to come in the first of the next school year are being made. This is going to be a really good thing.<br />
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The discussion time with the students is, well like I write above, as amazing and brilliant as they are. <br />
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A 2nd grader ask, "How do you swim?" <br />
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After I explained when I kick I go no where but I have strong arms and I'm learning to free style and I can doggie paddle very well, I said, "But I think I'm going to get a mermaid tail." Oh, the little girls were in awe, they all want a mermaid tail and they wish we could go swim with Winter this summer.<br />
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When I first went into the schools I told the teachers, "All questions are open." And, I learned after the first reading, to allow and nudge the thought process...<br />
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Right before the end of our time together, one final question from a 5th grader, "Do you have disappointment?"<br />
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Wowers, profoundly powerful! I knew this was a moment of responsibility and teachibility. "Yes. Do you have disappointments?" She shook her head affirming and I continued. "We all do. Maybe you don't make the basketball team or you get a 'C' on a test you thought you'd get an 'A' on. Maybe your parents are going through divorce. We all experience disappointment in life but disappointments, failures, even successes don't define us but they can refine us, they can make us better."<br />
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Last Friday I had about 60 2nd graders followed by that many 3rd graders. The discussions went across the board without a lull. Some of the questions were, how do you get dressed, has your hand ever slipped into the toilet when you get on to go potty, how do you drive, do people make fun of you, why didn't you black out, what is it to black out, yeah, why didn't you black out, what did your legs look like right after you got ran over....then at the close of my time with them one more question from a 3rd grader, "If you could go back in time would you change what happened?"<br />
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This weekend, Memorial Day, marks the 16th year of my accident. For the past few days I have contemplated this question. I can see the innocent face of the young boy who asked the question, the way he cocked his head waiting for my response. It's a question I have often asked myself but had not ever been asked it by someone else in such a pure way before. My response remains,"I am so very human and if I would have no memory of what I have experienced I probably wouldn't have gone to the construction yard that night and open the gate. But, being here with you, knowing what I know now, having had wonderful experiences and meeting the wonderful people I have, no, I wouldn't go back and change anything."<br />
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I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to read Winter's Tail to kids. I am deeply grateful for the next generation of individuals. I am deeply grateful for Winter and her story, her happy face...I am deeply grateful for this life experience and how it has lead me to mix and mingle with the people I have...I am deeply grateful for the refining process even as I continue to ooze with humanness...I am deeply grateful for what my feet and legs had done for me, the places they took me, their service for me while with me. I am grateful to have run, to have felt squishy mud between my toes, to have had tall summer grass tickle my ankles, to have studied ballet...And, I am grateful for all that is yet to be...<br />
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<img alt="Photo: This face is sure to brighten your day! Help us #Caption this adorable pic of Winter striking a pose for the camera!" class="img" height="336" src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/p480x480/969432_522321934472327_1493917615_n.jpg" width="504" /></div>
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You can go to <a href="http://www.seewinter.com/">www.seewinter.com</a> for updates on this gorgeous girl.</div>
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This photo fills me with joy. What I see in her is what I feel in me.</div>
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05682070760661752975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259916546712831117.post-62595367874680119202013-05-08T07:35:00.002-06:002013-05-08T07:35:51.832-06:00Wacky Wondrous Whatever Wednesday<div align="center">
"When you understand who and what you are,</div>
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your radiance projects into the Universal radiance</div>
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and everything around you becomes creative </div>
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and full of opportunity."</div>
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Yogi Bhajan</div>
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Don't you love this quote? Read it and reread it. Soak it in. Let it pentrate your very being. Understanding who you, who I, who we are is simple yet complex. But if we simply sit at the seat of our own Universe and listen from the root of our own Soul and then allow our actions, words, thoughts, to occur from that space of our Being, well then, I believe we are radiating. I believe we actively create, seeing and seizing our boundles opportunities. And, as the tomorrows come we will naturally begin to flow, dance, eminate, move from this Divine, Glorious, BeautyFull state. Don't fight it, don't worry about it, don't doubt it, just go, begin to see yourself from the great Universe within, there is so much more to you than meets the eye. You are Love in the puriest state, yes you are. Go there and simply open up, allow your radiance to project, to shine and I promise Whatever befalls you you will still see how Wondrous your Wednesday is.</div>
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05682070760661752975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259916546712831117.post-9681189401774703982013-04-14T10:18:00.000-06:002013-04-14T10:18:17.916-06:00AwarenessWhen I recorded my 2013 life vision I declared, "I dwell within and seize the every flowing opportunities which bring awareness and alter the paradigm of beauty, age, ability. I inspire and encourage others to create abundant greatness in their lives."<br />
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And the opportunities have come and are flowing. They aren't necessarily comfortable for me but they are wonderful. They require stretch, a reach beyond, a summons of courage from a new depth.<br />
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I squirmed watching the video and of course, the Brothers Gremlin showed up. So I met them and greeted them and instead of shrinking with their questions I ask those questions to you, I send them out to the universe, "Am I bringing awareness? Am I altering the paradigm? Am I inspiring and encouraging?"<br />
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When the videographer came to my home she noticed my 'art'. So this is a point, a simple starting place to highlight, to ask, did you see more, notice more, are you inspired?<br />
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<a href="http://www.thespectrum.com/article/20130411/NEWS01/304110045/Amputee-athlete-uses-story-inspire-others?fb_action_ids=510555845672205&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_ref=artsharetop&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B351993794922331%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22og.recommends%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%22artsharetop%22%5D" target="_blank">Spectrum Interview</a><br />
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This collage is on the video. I created it prior to my surgery last June. Did you read its message?<br />
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"then she realized how much she would have missed had the caterpillar </div>
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chosen to be content rather than brave"</div>
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<img alt="Julia Frehner's photo." class="_46-i img" height="200" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/p200x200/485679_337731499621308_950324070_n.jpg" style="left: -9px; top: -1px;" width="215" /></div>
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And beneath the layers is written the names of individuals who were a part of my journey to that point. The intent being that all I am, where I am going, where I have come from, I did not do, arrive, or gotten through without others.<br />
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We are all connected. We need each other. We are, right at this moment, perfect, complete, whole, beautiful, divine beings which dwell in limitless possibilities. And, as created beings, we create, therefore tomorrow, regardless of what life brings, we have the freedom to create our beautiful, joyful life.Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05682070760661752975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259916546712831117.post-37369192963154275722013-03-27T12:34:00.002-06:002013-03-27T12:34:59.989-06:00Wacky, Wonderous, Whatever Wednesday
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over the past few months I have been working with our local
amputee support group. Last month was our first meeting of the year and we had
a darn good turn out. This month not so much, one brave beautiful man showed
up. The following is the reason why only one showed up but the following is
also my wacky idea, goal, mission, (deep sigh here) silly planning of which,
regardless of what anyone may think, I will not give up on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For weeks I promoted this month’s support group activity;
bowling. Yes, I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to gather together
as fellow amputees and do something a little different, something, which I
thought many in our group might contemplate attempting. And why not? It would
be a stretch, we’d have to figure things out, we’d be a group who could laugh
with and at each other because we have this commonality.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sadly, when I spoke to everyone (in our group that is) most
thought ‘they’d be busy with other things’ or, and I respect the honesty, said,
“I can’t do that.” CAN’T is such a foul four letter word, isn’t it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So Monday, this beautiful brave double amputee, one above
the knee and one below, arrived in his prosthetics with is cane and bowled with
me. I was in my chair, well a few times I thought the ball was going to roll me
out of it, but I stayed in my chair and, even though he and I used the bumpers,
we bowled; there was no ‘can’t’ about it, we bowled.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Were we great bowlers? Nope, but even when I had legs, real
ones, I wasn’t a great bowler. Did we have a blast? Absolutely. Did others get
a kick out of us? Yup. We all laughed, relaxed, and simply had fun. And I know
beyond any shadow of doubt, if the others in our group would have shown up,
they’d simply have done the same; laughed, relaxed, had fun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We bowled with my leg maker, one of the guys I work with who
happens to be a phenomenal 300 kind of bowler, and cute Kendra who heads up the
amputee support group. They have all their body parts so they didn’t get the
bumpers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, as we were
bowling I kept thinking about why do really good bowlers, like Mr. Phenomenal
300 Score Bowler get handicaps? Because they’re so darn good, there has to be a
handicap given to make the playing field or the bowling alley more competitive.
Am I right here in my thinking? So, for wheelchair girls like me, or toddlers on
new prosthetics like me, or those on old prosthetics, or anyone with any ‘handicap’
even if it’s not like mine, let me ask you, “How do you choose to be identified
with the word HANDICAP?” I say you are so darn good!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now here’s my mission, my goal, my idea, as wacky as it may
sound ~ I believe there needs to be a new paradigm for age, beauty, and
ability. And if that means I have to keep begging folks to come out and do
something a little outside their comfort zone, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or committing to a mini tri this autumn, or
going to elementary classes and reading Dolphin’s Tail; well...wacky, wondrous,
whatever… so it shall be!</span></div>
Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05682070760661752975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259916546712831117.post-27679517449944367872013-03-23T11:36:00.000-06:002013-03-23T11:36:47.801-06:00I Thought It Was Simply Weed Pulling<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A late winter snow followed by early spring 70 degree
temperatures causes buds and bulbs and weeds to pop. Maybe it was that, weeds
popping up which lured me out to the gardens early Friday morning. For days I
intended to begin tiding up the gardens out front as they are areas I see with
each coming and going. For whatever reason though I plopped out of my chair
into the strawberry patch which, being on the north side of the house and behind
the mulcher, is a spot I must wander out to see. Settling down where I didn’t intend should have been a clue
I wasn’t simply going to be pulling weeds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh it had been such a long time since I sat with Mother
Earth but it only took a few minutes for me to be drawn into a meditative
communion with her. I began pulling out the ground cover of fresh weeds, the 5
foot dried up stocks of deceased wild sunflowers, but it’s when I got to the
wild mullein which had set up residence in the strawberry patch last summer
that Mother began sharing her wisdom.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Strawberry leaves have begun to emerge from the core of their
decay. The tendrils which had extended out last season are dry and brittle, no
new life at the ends. But at mullein, even with dry, brittle tendrils, there is
new strawberry plant life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I had to explore mullein’s space. She had new beautiful
leaves sprouting from her center. Her older leaves remained vibrant through Old
Man Winter’s harsh cold temperatures, his pounding sleet, bitter winds, and
frosty snows. In fact, enduring such, her thick, velvety, layered leaves reached
out wide around her. Gently I lifted up her leaves. I brushed through them. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unlike the ground surrounding her which was dry, cracked,
and hard, beneath her the ground was moist, pliable, even somewhat warm. There I
found deaths debris. Some of her blackened, withered leaves gave way, others
were merging back into Mother Earth, while a few remained, tightly clinging to her. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found a decaying mouse who must have sought
shelter under her warm inviting blanket. I wonder if she made an effort to save
him and if her heart broke when the tiny creature succumb to Winter’s doing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I couldn’t bring myself to pull her out, remove her from the
place she chose to set up home. So there she remains, in the center of my
strawberry patch. She offers herself, welcoming, expanding, giving. Sitting
next to Mullein, the sun in position, I look down and notice our shadows had merged.
Together we were one, stretched out across Mother Earth being warmly kissed by
Sun.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I signed up for Jane Cunningham’s course, Facing the Minotaur,
(</span><a href="http://www.reframingyourstory.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.reframingyourstory.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">) I didn’t
fully understand that which we would be embarking on. I wasn’t sure I
understood shadow and darkness beyond the literal sense. Not sure how to expose
and greet mine. My life has been about overcoming the dark, scary parts. Through
Mullein, Mother, Sun, Jane and our circle of sisters, I think I’m learning at a
deeper, richer level that it is the merging, the coming together and the giving
into, the need for balance of light and dark, and without death there is no
life. The greeting of my shadows with a desire to know them, to hear their
message, and receive their gifts, to experience living with my shadow self as a
benevolent friend….</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Events in my life are quickly occurring, stirring,
requiring me to stretch beyond my comfort zone, out of the known light and into
a dark unknown. </span>Will I awaken to it? Am I ready to journey farther into the
labyrinth of life? Will I panic, flee from the shadows which follow and those which
lurk deeper in? Will I summons the courage to face Minotaur?.... </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I ventured out to strawberry patch. Today the Maiden of
Spring is blowing a cold north wind. What does Mullein do? She simply dances
with Spring. I notice the light shining into Mulleins velvet, sage colored
leaves exposing her veins. She is alive at many levels. I turn to wheel back in
and notice her shadow. It too is dancing with Spring; her shadow is simply
dancing with her. </span>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05682070760661752975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6259916546712831117.post-90784604316233832242013-02-20T16:14:00.001-07:002013-02-20T16:14:10.590-07:00Wacky, Wondrous, Whatever Wednesday<span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Been home all day which is quite wacky as I have taken a part time job, yikes yes, a J O B and I've been cleared, with no restrictions (sort of), to begin training which includes toddling all over again. So, between working and training and walking (okay toddling, but have ditched the forearm crutch while in the gym), to have a day home is very rare for me these days. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the new washer (after nearly 10 years of service the old one gave up the ghost) and dryer delivery guys who must not venture north of St George as they were in shorts and were certain they would get the truck and trailer stuck in the snow, came today. As typical not every thing went as planned (got the wrong type of dryer) and they happened to arrive when Elder Frehner called from the airport. Ugggg, crazy timing and darn mix ups.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After appliances were moved in and out, hooked up, sent back, and my wondrous conversation with Garth, wowsers he's on his way to Colombia, I took advantage of the time home and with a head full of things I'm busting to blog about, I wrote. After several hours, what I'd been writing turned out to be really too deep and heavy for me. Needing a break, I went about forwarding Garth's last email to family and friends. In so doing I re-read his PS which I absolutely adore, here it is ~</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"PS in Ether chapter 3 or 4. I can't remember. The brother of Jared pleads with God to bring light to the stones so they can have light in their vessels. God lights all 16 stones one by one. When he finishes the brother of Jared's faith is so strong that he was able to see the finger of God which was made out of flesh and bone. Pretty cool experience for him. But also we all need to remember that as God's children we are those stone and someone is always praying for us to be lit by the light of Christ. Even if we already have it, it can still grow brighter."</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Then browsing around Facebook I came upon this Rumi quote ~</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The light which shines in the eye is really the light of the heart. The light which fills the heart is the light of God, which is pure and separate from the light of intellect and sense."</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Don't ya just love that!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">In what I was writing (and at some point will finish) there was a place where I wrote about on the day before Jeff crossed over how there was such a brightness in his eyes. As I was writing it I could see that vision so clearly, I could see that brightness. Was it possibliy the light of his heart being filled with the light of God?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">And, as I was talking with Garth, I noticed such a lightness in his voice, an unencumbered ready for this new adventure lightness.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now, hours after I began writing, this is where I've ended up. While it's far away from where I began today, the 'message' really remains the same, love in its purest state illuminates. I wrote ~</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Love is an emotion as vast as the Universe outside us and the Universe
within us. Love holds a variety of emotion in and of itself. Have we not in
love felt fear, euphoria, joy, guilt, and compassion? The emotions not only go
on and on but continue to vary until love becomes conditional, defined, even
something to be scared of. (Oh, but remember Jules, it only takes the altering
of the c and a to turn scared into sacred.)"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Can we see, can I see, the sacred stone of my heart? As love gets smothered with stuff, emotional and human stuff, it seems to dim. Only when we peel back all the stuff and expose love in its pure, raw state can it, we, I then be touched, as Garth says, like the stones. There in our vessel, we truely experience the light of God which is just that ~ love in its pure, raw state. And from that state we can love purely, we can have faith, we can trust and pray and illuminate and have joy in our being...</span><br />
<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh my, I am simply busting with so much but hopefully in all this you find something wacky, wondrous, whatever or even something which makes you wonder, what if.</span><br />
<span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="messagebody"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05682070760661752975noreply@blogger.com0