Harvest Dream

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October has come around and as I was strolling through my neighborhood Saturday evening, I realized how much I love this month. The air is crisp and scented with apples and the first hearth fires. There is a silence in October like no other. An expectancy. A farewell. It's bittersweet.

People are beginning to settle in for winter. More pies are being baked. Plans are being made for Thanksgiving and Halloween. The lights in the homes are inviting. The pace is a bit brisker. With more purpose. The destination more gleeful.

As I walked. The moon walked with me. She was beautiful and pristine. She smiled one of those knowing smiles. My companion.

And I wished on her that night. For his company. Arms entwined. Bodies close for warmth. As we walked the streets of my neighborhood. I wished for gatherings and tables laden with food. Happy faces sitting around. Enjoying each other. Enjoying the moment. I wished for a fire in the wood stove with a glass of wine. Feet up. Content.

Content.

The sweet smell of cedar as it burned, wafting though my home. And a strong hand to hold. A loving smile to share. A kiss to savor.

Under the harvest moon, I made my harvest dream. She smiled down at me. And I up at her. As the leaves fell, and the smoke rose from the chimneys.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To find Jamie Ridler's gathering of harvest moon dreamers, go here !

Sweetness the Moon

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Tonight, the Moon will show us her beautiful face. Her sweet milky smile will light the corners of the night. Flowers will sway and branches will reach up to feel her sweet caress. And we humans, will feel her presence in the sky, and in our blood.

We celebrate the gifts of the Moon, as she guides our footsteps with her far-reaching lantern. Many of us gather, here, online to celebrate together with our generous hostess, Jamie Ridler who, like the moon, shines her grace on us.

This month, I ask Sister Moon to help me turn my garden from the Amazon jungle it has become into a graceful oasis. My digital collage has all the elements I want to have in my garden, so that I might find joy and solace there, and invite others to come celebrate with me.

Join the Moon spinners and their intentions here.

Give yourself the gift and take the time. Look up. And drink in her blessing. :)

Hoops & Barbeques & Dreamboards, oh MY!

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Et Voila! My dreamboard for the Honey or Strawberry or Lovers Full Moon!

I made it at the effervescent and ever-inspiring Jamie Ridler's first Full Moon Dreamboard Circle yesterday! To say it was fun and deeply enlightening is an understatement! I got to meet, for the first time, some of my blogging friends and I was thrilled to see how absolutely wonderful they are in person, as they are online! I will write more on this when I have more time (?) this week.

I am in the process of studying my dream board, as I put it together intuitively. I grabbed images that I was drawn to, then put it together. I added the card I drew from the deck Jamie provided and kindly allowed us to keep. GOALS. How fortuitous is that? I added the advice on the back which I thought was particularly potent for me. Set a goal... and release the outcome. The second part is particularly important for me. Releasing expectation and worry. Just letting the wish and goal float up into the Universe. This dream board has a lot in it that makes my heart sing.

I welcome your thoughts. What do you see?

If you want to participate in the full moon dreamboard experience just go here!

This weekend, I was a bad girl! I finally sat down to do some of the work that has been piling up like Mount Kilimanjaro on Sunday night, after a nice dinner of (you guessed it!) sushi with my goddess daughter and my friend who also participated in the dream board circle.

On Saturday, I popped in to visit the ever talented and light-generating Danette who was hosting a hoop sale for the amazing and hoopalicious Allison. We hooped. Well they did. I managed to keep the hoop up for 15 seconds! We hung and chatted on Danette's porch and took in the beautiful spring morning.

Then I went to a barbecue, and dragged myself home late that night with enough energy to shower and plunge into bed.

Oh well! Life is meant to be lived, not graded. :)

And since it's Monday, you know what that means?

TIME TO DANCE!



YEAH BABY! :)

Luminous Flowering

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As the moon fills and graces the sky with her loving glow, our magical guide of inspiration, Jamie Ridler, is hosting once again the Full Moon Dreamboard! This month is the Full Flowering Moon, and Jamie asks,

"What seeds will you plant this month?
What do you want to bloom with this flower moon?"

I painted my dreamboard in Photoshop, letting my wish find expression. The moon is a flower that blooms in the sky and showers the world with its light petals. The couple walks arm in arm in the vast field of moonlit flowers.

This month, I ask the moon to merge my path with that of the other. To stand in a field, in peace, in unity, in silence, and feel the light bathe us in her glow. I wish to gaze at the moon with love in our hearts, and the quiet that comes from knowing the path we walk on is no longer a solitary one.

I wish to strengthen my bonds with those of like spirit, like mind, like heart, as we come together to make the world a more loving place, a giving place, a creative place, a green place.

I wish to heal all little rifts, and stupid misunderstandings that separate us.

I wish to spread the joy that is being, and see smiles dissolve the worries and petty grievances that weigh people down.

I wish to sow the seeds of love that will fill this earth with fields of luminous flowers.

I wish for every heart that has felt pain to heal.
For every child to find laughter.
For every lonely one to feel the touch of a loving hand.
For the land to prosper in health, in prosperity, in enlightenment.

This is my wish.

Dream a Little Dream

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First of all I would like to extend a big Thank YOU to Jamie for keeping the dream alive with the monthly Full Moon Dreamboards!

This month Jamie asks, "What if this spring, we softened? What if we let what's within find its way to the surface? What tender dreams would be revealed? "

My immediate response was to paint the above image in PS. In wind, in air, swinging in glee under the loving gaze of the moon. She smiles, she lets go of all care. Can you hear her gleeful giggles? Her joyful abandon of all preconceptions, as she lets the moon guide her? In instinct, in creativity, in power.

As the spring soil stirs with new life,
so I would like to be reborn.
As the day lightens and opens to new possibility,
so I would like to awaken.
As the air quickens with fresh breezes carrying long forgotten dreams,
so I would like to feel.
To feel
To awaken
To be
To be
free of all that tethered me
down
as I rise
UP
to meet life
and all its treasures.

I invoke the beautiful moon's energy to stir sweet life in all of us.

Blessed be :)

Snowy Dreams

Stellar Jamie, the Princess of Potential, the Empress of Engagement, the Goddess of Gratitude, is once again hosting the Full Moon Dreamboard!

And of course I'm playing!

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This full moon is about the heralding of spring and new growth. It is about the melting snow and all the life-giving goodness that lies underneath, waiting to sprout into new promise.
So this Full Moon:
I am dreaming of and manifesting LOVE!

I love each and every one of you and all your blogs that are abundant with inspiration, reflection, creativity, growth and love.

I love my friends who have been there for me, one way or another.

I love my Stinky, who has been my most loyal companion.

I love myself through thick or thin, down or up, inspired or low, happy or sad.

I love this earth, the waters, the trees, the air, the valleys, the clouds, the deserts, the snow, the rain, the sun, the grass, the flowers, the critters big and small.

I love the young. I love my goddaughter, little children, and babies, my students, those who need love and caring and guidance.

I love life, for it has blessed me with health and home, experience and wisdom, love and loss, discovery and purpose, freedom and light.

I love music for all the wonder and happiness it has brought me.

I love art for its soulful expression and the miracles it contains.

I love the Universe and all its enchantment!

I am sending love to all those who are suffering loss in Australia.

This full moon, I manifest the romantic, soulful, authentic, exciting, fulfilling, sexy, inspiring love of my mate whoever he may be. Hurry up already! :)

What do you wish to manifest this month?

Garnet Moon

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Before I say a single word about anything, I would like to once again say THANK Y♥U to each and every one of you! Thank you for coming to my humble blog. Thank you for leaving your comments of encouragement, support, praise, advice, perspective. Thank you for sharing your stories; thank you for showing me I am not alone. It makes me happy that I know you are somewhere in this world, making it a better place.

Tonight is a FULL Moon! If you can, you must go out there and bathe in her splendor. I must be part wolf, because the moon has always been my guiding light and haven. She is so serene, so purely sculpted, and even if defiled by astronauts and their toys, she has retained her beautiful dignity.

The magical Jamie, our fountain of inspiration, is now hosting the Full Moon >Dream Board!

I decided to combine two of my inspirations into one.

I am also participating in Jamie's book club -12 Secrets of Creative Women- (see left sidebar). As part of this amazing circle, Jamie is interviewing 12 inspirationally creative women, the first of whom is Jennifer Lee. You really must listen to the interview yourself! Just follow the links :)

Ms. Lee talks about acknowledging her inner Muse's voice. While I was listening to her interview and, before that, reading her blog, I thought, "I have acknowledged my guide; it's time to acknowledge my muse."

So here she is: Garnet Goddess, featured in this month's dream board above.

The garnet is one of my favorite stones which coincidentally is my birth stone. It contains the richness and headiness of wine, the life force of blood, and the dulcet tones of passion. This fully describes my muse because she is fearless. She is confident. She is fiery. I am happy she is in my life.

I painted her using PS and a mouse as per usual. I added a couple of pieces of stunning garnet jewelry to adorn her, and gave her a back drop of Garnet Brocade flowers. I really enjoyed making this piece. It was a wonderful way to focus, meditate and create. Thank you again Ms. Lee for the sparkling inspiration!

For the Dream Board, I added my wish to the moon. Unconditionally. That is how I want to be. :)

On that note, I am happy to announce I made my decision. It came loudly and clearly. I will take the position of Curriculum Leader for one more year. I need to finish what I started and see it to its completion. Then, I can step away, knowing I have done everything I need to do in restoring order to a department that desperately needs it. Then, it will be off to whatever new challenge comes my way. :)

Speaking of challenges, I was so intrigued to find so many voices joining mine in their childhood experiences with art. I am currently working through all the wonderful blogs on my roll and on the rolls of 12 Secrets and Creative Every Day where I am finding such synchronicity, it sometimes brings tears to my eyes.

One of my new blog friends, Steve Emery made a very insightful comment (among so many) in yesterday's post that left me thinking. He said, "Oh - and as for the discouragement of teachers. Sigh. Sometimes it makes me angry. Other times sad. And yet other times I wonder if it's like the soil a seedling has to push through - it's tough, not everything or everyone makes it through, but when you do, you are firmly rooted in it - almost like the criticism makes you stronger, more determined, more yourself."

So TRUE! Their criticism did egg me on to prove them wrong because I am a stubborn wench, and I cannot abide by others putting me or anyone else into a box, into a category, into the corner. So I must take a moment to thank Steve for pointing that out, and to thank all the naysayers in my life, because without them, in part, I would not be who I am today. My roots would not have been quite so sturdy and my quest for the light would not have been quite so determined!

May you each find the strength to bust through the confines of others' judgement, find your inner muses, and sing in the moon's lovely light! And sing it loudly and unconditionally! :)

Blessed be :)