by janet | Jun 18, 2016 | Blog
I’m back in California for some training and paying attention to the details. As my wrist heals, I’m having to learn how to do many things differently. In addition to this, an ongoing pattern of real or potential mini trauma or drama is showing up, followed by a quick recovery of sorts. For example, I forgot my cell phone when I left for the airport, which would have felt disastrous. Luckily, I noticed when I went to capture the gorgeous skyline at the end of my street so I was able to pick it up quickly. It means a lot to mean to be able to stay connected when I travel so I am very grateful. Over the past 2 weeks I’ve had 3 black and white bracelets break – 2 of them were beaded medicine bracelets I made myself and have worn for several years following readings by medicine men in Zimbabwe. It was startling to release these healing talismans and, at the same time, a part of me acknowledged that I don’t need them anymore. I’m now wearing a combination of bracelets that have meaning for me. They happen to be black, white and pink which feels like heart energy balancing the yin / yang of the masculine and feminine, light and dark and other dualities. Who knows how long they will last. The right arm of my prescription eye glasses broke on the first flight yesterday making navigating the airport extra challenging. Luckily it wasn’t far to my connecting gate even feeling as disoriented as I did. Prescription sun glasses got me to my hotel and...
by janet | Jun 12, 2016 | Blog
I started this post in the dawning of the recent new moon which is carrying the energy of change. My work is about transformation and transformation is about change so this should be familiar territory for me. Right? The thing about change is, it’s constant and, well – always changing – so it’s hard to stay on top of it. A recent wrist injury has me pondering how fast things can change. One minute I’m bouncing down the sidewalk on West Century Blvd near LAX “thinking of love and feeling groovy” and the next, tumbling to the sidewalk with more than my dignity ruffled up and backtracking to “slow down, you’re moving too fast”. Scrambling to right myself, many thoughts arose. Slow down definitely resonates as I have fallen into pushing rather than allowing and yes, I get the pun about falling. It was 6:00 AM so I was probably thinking more about coffee than love and I was headed to Norma’s, a nearby family restaurant, to work before we headed to Venice Beach. Letting go and trusting things to unfold with ease and grace is part of it too. While trusting is something I am deeply committed to, I am very much a work in progress. The delicate balance between showing up and doing my part, and getting out of the way to allow what is emerging the space it needs, is something I get to play with almost every day. I’ve learned to take note of my thoughts when something sudden and jarring, like falling, happens. As Mike Dooley, the author of Notes from the Universe reminds...
by janet | May 29, 2016 | Blog
Rocks and stones have always intrigued me and studying earth honouring traditions has deepened my relationship with the stone people. Growing up in Sudbury in the 1960’s, we enjoyed lakes, rivers and rocky terrain. Rocks were a beautiful, sculptural part of the landscape and I had no idea the area was considered a barren moonscape. While we reveled in their beauty, there was no hesitation when it came to blasting huge rock faces to widen the connecting highways or make way for other structures. It’s unlikely anyone thought to commune with the rocks before tearing them up with explosives, let alone ask for permission. Sudbury was primarily a mining town although no one in my immediate family mined. Even those of us that loved the rocky terrain were largely ignorant of its life force and innate wisdom. Mother Earth was our play ground to shape and mold as we saw fit or so it seemed. Thankfully we’re becoming more aware of our role as caretakers of our earth mother who provides for all our needs. I was completely taken aback when I moved to Southern Ontario as a young adult. People kept referring to Sudbury as a barren moonscape that NASA used to practice moon landings. This didn’t make sense to me but to my surprise there was truth in their comments. Click here to see a short video clip Moon Landing Sudbury Ontario early 1970’s Part of what made Sudbury interesting to space study is that the Sudbury Basin is in fact one of the world’s largest meteorite impact craters. Visiting astronauts studied shatter cones (conical, striated rock chunks) and impact breccia (rock...
by janet | May 16, 2016 | Blog
We spent our summers at the lake with Mom as kids. That freezing cold plunge late May marked the beginning of the season filled with lazy days basking in the sun and playing in the sparkling clear waters of northern Ontario. Books, puzzles, hot dogs, popcorn and swim breaks – no rush, no fuss. As often as not, our water adventures left us covered in leeches and running for the salt shaker. Garter snakes, raccoons, frogs and other creatures wove their way in and out of our attention. On weekends when Dad joined us, seven kids and 2 adults crammed into a wide-bottomed but tippy, metal motor boat. Fishing gear, towels, snacks and the essential “fisherman’s brew” my father concocted with his own secret ingredients and the rumoured dollop of beer to add some spice, all fought for space between scabby knees and sunburnt bodies. It wasn’t really about fishing – it was about being together on the water. Life, like the boat, was full to the brim then and still is. Five years ago, I felt a strong urge to live near big water. I still dream about a home by the sea but for now, Lake Simcoe is our ocean. I had no idea I would fall so deeply in love with these waters. Sunrise walks have become a nourishing and inspiring way to start my day. Most of the time, I can’t wait to jump out of bed and race to the water with a greedy grin on my face. Everything else can wait – even brewing that first cup of coffee. That fiery ball...
by janet | May 9, 2016 | Blog
As the recent new moon energy fades, I’m thinking about the seeds I’ve planted. I’m in the middle of launching a new website and re-organizing my art and healing businesses under one roof. It’s engaging work and there are tons of details to attend to. I could feel overwhelmed and, in the past, I might have. Instead, I feel light-hearted and energized. Everything I need is more or less appearing at just the right moment.Bringing my worlds together is a creative process. As I thought about this, seven key ideas surfaced that feel important; Intention – Pulling together my businesses is about making a life that I love that will take us through the next few decades with ease and grace. I intend for this life to be a creative one of sharing and continuous expansion. This is my “flight plan” or guiding light – that big hairy audacious dream that is drawing in everything we need. Focus – As long as I stay focused, there seems to be enough space to get things done without crowding out relationships or losing my perspective. Focus fuels the journey set by my intention. My life has always been full – full to the brim which is beautiful, rich and fulfilling in so many ways. It can also be very distracting. Lots of shiny things to catch my attention so focus is a good thing. Surrender – My best work comes out of allowing for free fall creative brainstorming. I need to let ideas and insights come through unfiltered at first – a kind of letting it all hang out. This is...
