When women gather...

Magic Happens

Love Happens

Understanding Happens

Stories Happen

Friendship Happens

I am finishing out my second session of Pixie Campbell's Soulodge virtual gathering and I'm really not sure at what point I will stop participating in these. There is that much goodness here. Truly. I want to leave the mystery of what happens in lodge there but do want to encourage you if you are least bit curious to click on over and learn more about the Winter session. I will be there participating once again, quietly holding space for others, learning to create my own wild woman medicine and diving deep into the intricate parts of what make me, "me."

Also next month I hope you will join me along with other women across the globe (and hopefully some men too) in The Mother of All Releasings Ceremonies. This will be my first year actively celebrating and embracing the wonder of Winter Solstice and I cannot think of a better way to honor that time then with a special ceremony in my backyard over a blazing fire. When I think about how many others will be participating in their own backyards on this night as well it sprinkles that much more mystery and enchantment into the event.

This year has been one big huge spiritual leap for me and I plan on continuing to walk this path, wherever it leads. I hope to greet you along with way with a bow and a smile as we cross paths on our own journies.

Namaste~

A Million Little Pictures

Last Spring, armed only with a disposable camera I set out to capture a full roll of photos centered around the theme: Simplicity. The project was hosted by the Art House Coop (who is also the brains behind the Sketchbook Project I am currently working on). Signing up for the project I picked the theme simplicity with the grand idea it would be a breeze to find subjects to shoot. In actuality, attempting to portray a feeling of simplicity through a disposable camera was quite a challenge. Not every single photo turned out stellar but I was able to submit 20 photos to the project.

Photo complements of Jojo Blondal

The photo tour began this Fall in the back of a small tractor trailer traveling around the United States. I was not able to visit the photos but my trooper of a friend, Jojo, visited for me when they made their last stop in Los Angeles this past weekend. I was so happy to see 2 of my shots pinned up on the wall, knowing that they made the journey for others to enjoy too.

You can find the entire set of the photos I submitted here. I really hope they do this project again next year and it continues to grow in publicity and participation. Such a simple concept yet a great opportunity for artistic expression.

Shop News

New in my Etsy shop is this Typewriter print. I've been acquiring quite a few new "old" typewriters lately but this one happens to be my dad's for now. Attempting to bargain with him because I am in love with this color of blue!

All prints in my shop are now reduced in price. In addition I am offering FREE SHIPPING within the US for the holidays. Use the code: Santababy when you are checking out to apply the discount. I will personally be supporting Etsy artisans this year for a good chunk of my Holiday shopping. I hope you consider supporting your local and handmade artisans this year as well!

Here

Here

Is a woman 

who wrestles with doubt, fitting in and being enough

Here

Is where the wispy remains 

of contrails drift through the sky above.

Here

Is the little girl inside 

who feels unrooted, afraid and alone.

Here

Are the tattered, tangled strings

of prayer flags dancing in the wind.

Here

Is her thick crab shell 

that armors her heart and soft yielding insides.

Here

Is the soft scraping 

of bird beaks cracking their humble offerings of seeds.

Here

Is where her journey 

continues on her own path and hers alone.

Here

Are the words 

that whisper from somewhere within, searching, seeking, knowing.

Here

The voice echoes 

with a truth: "this is the only moment that matters."

                                                                                                          ~Celina Wyss

Monday Musings

5 things that inspired me last week:

• Listening to Danielle's passionate interview on CBC radio.

• Having a full moon intention ceremony with my daughter, Hailee, and hearing her read her "Dear Moon" letter out loud.

• Watching this humble collaborative movie on 11/11/11 

• This video 

• Reading this post and feeling as though it was calling out right to my heart.

Happy Monday all! May you have an inspirational week filled with love and joy!

A Message

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
                                                                                                                              ~Steve Jobs

The Sketchbook Project

This week I have been plugging along on a project that has been in progress for awhile now. I'm trying to let go of the pressure I tend to put on myself to make it "perfect" and let it unfold how it will. I am collaborating with the wildly talented Jojo Blondel to complete this book for the 2012 Art House Sketchbook project. Our deadline is fast approaching.

Our theme is "Time Travel" so we opted to go for a fun nostalgic route. I took many field trips to thrift shops to pick through the piles of unwanted games, books and magazines to find vintage pieces for our project and Jojo did the same. We each have matching pieces of ephemera so we now are working on incorporating them into pages separately. Even though our pages have a similar element I am sure they are going to look vastly different in design. This is the part I am letting go of. Trying not to worry about how much of an amazing designer and artist Jojo is and let my messy collage-y style come out.

I'm hoping to be finished with my pages by next month so that Jojo and I can assemble our book and send it off to Art House in plenty of time to be a part of next years exhibit. I can't wait to share the completed book with you all. I'm sure there will be some celebrating going on. Until then I will keep playing and practicing letting go.

A Message

The Return

Some day, if you are lucky,
you’ll return from a thunderous journey
trailing snake scales, wing fragments
and the musk of Earth and moon.
Eyes will examine you for signs
of damage, or change
and you, too, will wonder
if your skin shows traces
of fur, or leaves,
if thrushes have built a nest
of your hair, if Andromeda
burns from your eyes.
Do not be surprised by prickly questions
from those who barely inhabit
their own fleeting lives, who barely taste
their own possibility, who barely dream.
If your hands are empty, treasureless,
if your toes have not grown claws,
if your obedient voice has not
become a wild cry, a howl,
you will reassure them. We warned you,
they might declare, there is nothing else,
no point, no meaning, no mystery at all,
just this frantic waiting to die.
And yet, they tremble, mute,
afraid you’ve returned without sweet
elixir for unspeakable thirst, without
a fluent dance or holy language
to teach them, without a compass
bearing to a forgotten border where
no one crosses without weeping
for the terrible beauty of galaxies
and granite and bone. They tremble,
hoping your lips hold a secret,
that the song your body now sings
will redeem them, yet they fear
your secret is dangerous, shattering,
and once it flies from your astonished
mouth, they–like you–must disintegrate
before unfolding tremulous wings.

                                            ~Geneen Marie Haugen

A Message

“What you seek is seeking you.”

                                        ~ Rumi