Monthly Archives: January 2018
Once in a Blue Moon & Once in a Lifetime Mom
We have an incredibly rare (first one in 150+ years) Super Blue Blood Moon Total Lunar Eclipse in Leo today that took place between 4:51 am and 6:07 am. It is the second Supermoon of the month, which makes it known as a Blue Moon and therefore is a “once in a Blue Moon” occurrence. It also happens to be my mom’s 75th birthday today – happy birthday mom! Talk about a cosmic celebration for this milestone day and talk about a once in a lifetime mom. ❤
Photo taken this Saturday on the 27th as my mom headed out to a romantic celebration – the reason my parents couldn’t make our house blessing. Looking good mom!
Seems appropriate she should get a big cheer all the way from the stars, as she is a star herself – always giving, loving, and carrying joy and lightness in her heart. I’m very grateful to have her as my mom and we are lucky to have someone like her on Earth along with all of the other Earth Angels, working to make this world a better place filled with kindness and compassion.
2018 is a big year for my family with milestone celebrations – my mom’s 75th birthday, my 45th birthday, my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary, Dave’s 55th birthday, and our 10th anniversary. It also seems to be a big year for other things, which of course include celebrating our new home being complete and some other personal shifts upcoming.
Interestingly, I have been feeling my birthday shift since end of December for some reason, perhaps because of all of the new and changes. I seem to already be in celebration mode along with my mom, which is no surprise since she and I are so close and always have been like two peas in a pod. This has included already gifting myself things, which I have found important to do these last couple of years, and receiving early birthday gifties. So, I feel we are celebrating together our 75th and 45th and of course gifties are on their way to mom, to add to the vegan pizza and cake celebration upcoming!
There will be no Full Moon in my birthday month of February, although last year there was a New Moon Solar Eclipse on my 44th. This “no Full Moon month” is another rare occurrence that happens about four times a century (the last was in 1999) and only takes place in February due to the lunar cycle being longer than the number of days this month has. And thus, January and March end up with two Full Moons as a result.
Anyway, I didn’t set my clock to wake to see the Moon this morning, but apparently my internal clock knew, as I woke at just after 5 am to use the restroom (hehe). I found Astrid in the living room taking in the Moon and found the Moon perfectly situated in an opening of the trees in the forest out back, which would put it directly over the lake at this time. I continued to watch it until the first light started to illuminate it again. But up until then, the moon was big and red and very ominously mysterious sitting in this portal of the Forest Portal.
I stated my intentions aloud and anything I wanted to release in order to create them.
When the light arrived, it was almost like an egg birthing on the left side of the moon because although it created a crescent shape as it extended right, it had this small protrusion where the light kissed the dark, making it very interesting looking.
I watched it until the moon moved behind the trees and went back to bed to relax and rest some more.
I’ve definitely been feeling the energy of this moon, as the last few days I’ve felt the need for more rest and nurturing than normal.
It offers a clearing and liberating energy, to uncover the real, live that consistently, and be the love of the New Earth on every level. I’ve been seeing and hearing of more and more people stepping into the life they dreamed of, making the impossible possible, and manifesting new shifts with their life and careers by going for their dreams all the way!
A potent portal for evolutionary change on a global scale and individually.
And a potent birthday for mom.
A Sacred Day to Remember
Saturday the 27th we welcomed the Gaden Shartse Monks to our new home to conduct a house blessing ceremony for us. We’d met them on Tuesday evening at the Green Tara Puja Blessing and Tea Offering held at The Loft here at the Lake and knew then that the timing of their arrival and our house completion was meant to be. Not to mention was within the influence of Wednesday’s upcoming rare Super Blue Blood Moon Total Lunar Eclipse and Imbolc, all creating some wonderful celebrations for this threshold to the new and our new life adventure in our new home base Forest Portal sanctuary.
The ceremony and experience was more than we could have imagined. We’d attended a house blessing once about five years ago or so, which had also been conducted by a female Buddhist monk. Although a lovely experience, it was very different than what we shared at our home, which felt perfectly aligned with us. We didn’t know what to expect and therefore expected nothing, which made it even more of a warm surprise.
Everything down to the number of people who were present, ended up to be divinely put together. We were 11 – the master number known as “The Illuminator,” “The Messenger,” or “The Teacher.” It draws forth the energy of illumination, enlightenment, inspiration, transformation, balance, inspirational guidance, creativity, vision, refinement, and fulfillment.
Through one reason or another, just like with Reiki classes, people weren’t able to come at the last minute and even one of the five monks didn’t come because of preparation for the event after our house blessing where he would be channeling a deity. Eleven also aligns with our house address numerology being 11 too! No coincidence there.
We did end up with five monks, as Lobsang Wangchuk – the director of the Gaden Shartse Cultural Foundation who was a monk for 25 years, but now coordinates their tours, came with them, which was wonderful, as he very thoroughly described everything that we would be experiencing during the ceremony and what the monks would be doing in their ritual.
I had prepared a light spread of hospitality for them, which we enjoyed after the ceremony was complete.
This included my baked almond cheese ball coated with field of flowers peppercorn medley and a mandala of raw chocolate truffles made with hazelnuts and dipped in cacao butter mixed with matcha green tea and ginger for the green balls and turmeric for the yellow balls.
The rest was store bought treats and veggie delights along with organic mint melange tea and organic, decaf French roast coffee.
Our home seemed to have the perfect set up for them, and it was fun to watch them prepare everything to ready the setting for this special experience. The TV cabinet above with bamboo runner and Buddha are ours, as well as the two plants they used to add to their ceremonial set up.
As you might recall, I had fallen in love with one of the Tibetan signing bowls at the Tuesday event, but not having cash or check with me, was unable to purchase it at that time. I kept feeling its connection and before the house blessing had texted with one of the coordinators, asking that if by chance it was still available, if it could be brought to our house when the monks came.
The first thing I was presented when they arrived, along with the sweet smiles and warm hand clasps, was my bowl.
Another wonderful blessing, as I love it so! It has a wonderful tone that I feel at the core of me and is so easy to play.
After preparations, we sat in the living room, listened to the explanation of what we were about to experience, and then went into a peaceful state of receiving from the melodious chanting, song, and tones of the monks. It was so beautiful.
We don’t have any of this long portion of sacred sound and invoking on video, but the sacredness feels too intimate to share that part of the ceremony, even if we did. I’m also not sharing any of the videos taken for the same reason, but the few photo captures give you an idea of the energy.
The night of the Green Tara Puja Blessing was lovely, but this truly topped that taking our home into several octaves higher of frequency and transporting me through portals and elevated states of chilling and unbounded love.
During the ceremony I felt the sun’s glow come around and illuminate my face….it felt like All That Is and the presence of Love laying a warm kiss upon my spirit.
The ritual lasted about an hour and then we immediately moved into the individual blessing of every room in the house, where we guided them around, one by one and they added their love, protection, and seeds of possibilities to every space.
We do have several Buddhas in our home, and the way our house was set up created a perfect sanctuary for the monks to feel at home.
I love how they stopped at the meditation part of our downstairs family room where we have a wood Buddha sculptured plaque hanging between my two paintings, “The Mystic” and “Temple of the Sacred Heart” and Buddha statues. This wall is shared by my office on the other side that has a matching green round shag rug.
At completion, once we ascended the stairs, we were then presented with a certificate by the monks of appreciation, a Ruel to hang above our door or at our entry (a Tibetan amulet that is considered to be the most powerful protection against black magic and in general protects against any unforeseen factors that could affect your life at every level, as well as screens the energy of everyone who comes to your door to keep away non-resonant energy), a white scarf (known as a khata – white represents the east, water, and peace – perfect for two water signs), and everyone present received a five-colored, braided cord that represent the five elements and five pure lights blessed by the Dalai Lama and all 1500 of the monks from the monastery – meant to be worn always to provide protection and “according to traditional Tibetan medicine, health and harmony are produced through the balance of these five elements.”
We then enjoyed food and drink, along with conversation that included learning about the monastery and a personal invitation to visit them and be their guests there. We were also gifted the water used for the house blessing and the “nectar,” which Lobsang explained thoroughly to us and how we could keep this and drink of it in parts when we wanted to infuse our bodies with its radiant illumination.
The whole experience with the monks was a little over an hour and a half and then we continued with food and celebrations after a heartfelt farewell for now.
This was a very special occasion and for anyone who hasn’t experienced one, I am sharing just a few photos that some of the participants captured for us, since we were very absorbed and present with the ceremony. A way for us to remember this sacred day too.
Gratitude and love aren’t enough to say in words, for what we feel, but the sweetness and peaceful lightness of this day will always be remembered and cherished, and the monks will always have a dear place in our hearts.
The monks will be continuing their U.S. tour and returning to Carson City next year, so we’ll get another chance to see them before they head home. If this calls to you to experience one of their events or blessings (they do personal and house blessings) please check out the link to their website above, as they may be traveling through your area, or returning again through your area as they are doing here.
The Magick of Cosmo
Near or far never changes your presence in my heart and the magick you shower my life with. I love you more today and although you were only with us for a short while, your love is etched in my spirit eternally.
Three years ago, today, this sweet boy came home with me, forever stole my heart, and both changed and saved my life forever.
Today, I woke to the most snow we’ve had yet this season here at the Forest Portal.
No coincidence this fell on our anniversary.
It felt like a sprinkling of your magick, sweet Cosmo, coming through the portal here.
Thank you.
I love, adore, and miss you.
Not a day goes by that you aren’t felt or spoken of.
Your love and spirit are as pure as the powdered snow in this Winter Wonderland.
Auspicious Blessings
A short share about synchronicity and alignment, which happens more often when we are living in alignment with ourselves, being more in our essence, and stepping into a more gentle, freer space of letting go, supporting ourselves, trusting, and believing. It also happens when we live with greater presence and deeper reverence for life, making ourselves open and available to the small and big reflections that cross our paths every day.
“Synchronicity is an ever present reality for those who have eyes to see.” ~Carl Jung
It was an honor to meet the five Gaden Shartse Monks last evening while they’re on their Sacred Earth and Healing Arts of Tibet Tour. Three are from Tibet and two from India. They have made quite the trek to be here, including at least a 20-21 day journey by foot through the mountains to get to where they could even pick up their next mode of transportation to get here.
We attended the Green Tara Puja Blessing and Tea Offering held at The Loft here at the Lake, which was a beautiful and powerful meditation of deep guttural chanting and sound. I felt transported and got chills and visions running through me during the hour of chanting and was in deep peace and buzzing sweetly, thereafter.
The photos in the post are both pre and post ceremony. I also thought it synchronous I was wearing my green coat this evening, having completely not even thought about the connection of the Green Tara for the evening’s focus.
We arrived early to meet and greet with the lamas, which allowed time to talk with one of them about the Tibetan singing bowls.
I got to brush up on my skills and fell in love with one of the bowls I hope to bring home to add to my sound healing bowl family.
We also learned that while they are here through end of this week, that they are available for personal or house blessings, which immediately rang a deep inner bell off within me and clicked a resonance of alignment Dave recognized as well.
We knew a house blessing was in order and this morning it was confirmed for exactly when we were available and desired too, on this Saturday.
It feels too auspicious that they are traveling through our area just as our house renovations come to closure this week. We are listening to the synchronous messages and embracing the alignments.
And so, with great reverence and gratitude we will be welcoming the five (yes my favorite number jumping out again) monks to our home for a house blessing.
They’ve been here in the states nine months already, but you can check out their schedule to see if they’ll be in your area during their two years of travel through the U.S. at sacredartsoftibettour.org
A Three Hour Tour, Cappy Energy & My True Song
It’s been incredibly fun and oh-so-good getting back into our outdoor groove again now that house renovations are finalizing. This has meant bigger outings and extra vigorous trekking, which has increased with excitement by fresh snow recently. I’ve always loved Winter, especially since I didn’t get to enjoy a true snow and four seasons, living in Southern California most of my life, but I’ve always really not liked all those layers and found myself bored with the usual winter wear (and hiking gear in general). I’ve mixed things up a bit here and there, but this year I vowed to make Winter (especially) fun and to reflect the inspiration and feelings it brings up in me that mirror my inner child.
Hence, you’ve been seeing a lot more unique colors and joyous vibes coming through my own unique style that showcases my heart on my sleeve – literally! No reason not to be all warm and giggly inside and out and to share with Nature how she makes me feel, even if she’s showcasing a white gown.
After all, they don’t call it a Winter “Wonderland” for nothing!
Trekking in the snow is a lot more effort (at least 2x’s as much and sometimes 3x’s if really deep snow and lots of elevation climbing is involved). So, where you might do more miles in the other seasons, less miles can equal the same in Winter.
That said, we’ve recently upped our game and took on the snow with vigor, doing 5-8 miles at a time.
You saw our recent snow shoe hike where we met up with our favorite little tree, which we named Tiny Tim after Cosmo’s nickname and our enchanting more tame terrain hike.
And yesterday it was a snow hike extravaganza up to High Meadows!
I’d like to call this “the snow hike we didn’t know we’d be doing” that ended up as an 8 mile adventure climbing 1470 feet.
It was a three hour tour into “beyond sunset” without the ship wreck, but was filled with giggles and enchanting nature surprises.
Our group made me the deciding factor to choose between either the easier route at the fork or the longer climbing route.
The “cappy” me (Capricorn mountain goat) said, “let’s go up!”
And we did.
Troopers everyone was on quite the trek!
I was trying out my new mega snow hikers for the first time, which rocked! We all wore crampons, but my hardcore shoes would have totally taken on all of it without them. I don’t know if it was them or if I was just on fire, but I conquered this climb and hike like never before and even better than in the warmer weather, which is quite something with snow and the increased amount of energy and effort this takes.
Or, maybe it was simply my “cappy” go-get-em attitude that’s been anchoring in more.
Another change I’ve been noticing is how hot I get when I’m in active mode. So much so I have learned not to layer up like crazy because I end up sweating and very uncomfortable. So I wear lighter layers and ones that will leave me the most comfortable. I actually had a tank top under my sweater this time and that suited me just fine! I’m usually the first and many times, the only one stripping off layers.
I feel like this increase indicates an increase in the energy I am channeling within and perhaps that is being mirrored in my dying cell phone – this time the battery is blowing out, which is why most of the photos recently you see are taken with Dave’s cell phone or Sharon’s (in the case of this post) because my cell phone dies and is useless anymore. I’ll be either getting a new super-charged battery to match my own inner energizer bunny battery within, or a whole new more robust energy one that can handle things and not poop out.
In any case, I’m noticing a lot of shifts energetically that are reflecting in physical and outer changes, as well as a “more me” embodiment inside and out than ever before, which includes the child and otherworldly me who is just overtly expressive of sharing my frequency with joy.
And speaking of that joy and oh how Nature brings out the best in me.
Moss and me = Faery weeeeee!
Loved this little moss, lichen, and icicle enclave we stumbled upon up the climb.
It was SO magickal!
And it was so me!
“The self must know stillness before it can discover its true song.” ~Ralph Blum
Spritely Mischief & Magick
There’s been a rainbow sprite sighting on the Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT). Keep your eyes open for mischief and magick in the High Sierra. You never know who or what you might see.
And what you might get yourself into and discover by walking with a light foot and heart through it all….and life.
Because every day should be filled with fun, giggles, mischief, magick, and weeeee! Heart tickles to you from rainbow sprite me!
It’s always a gift to get outside and explore what nature is up to each day. So much incredible discoveries, expansive views, tiny details, and portal potency.
Especially heart warming is getting to see our tree friend whom we helped and nurtured all last winter during the craziest snow fall here in Tahoe. You might remember my posts on him last winter. The huge drifts of snow would come down the mountain on him and had him bent over, highest limbs touching the ground. We’d dig him out every time we passed and give him love. So wonderful seeing him strong and having grown several feet already this year! He’s nearly straight and looks like he’s going to be just fine.
Other trees end up getting uprooted. What was also sweet is that right behind him a new baby tree is growing. I know he’ll take good care of her. The two photos of us each by the tree show how big he’s gotten. When it was my turn to get my photo with him I started walking toward him and tripped on a bush or root buried in the snow. We felt he wanted me there from that perspective, but also wanted to have a little fun with me. So we took the photo of me after my fall looking up at his beauty. That photo is above.
And below is the world of wonder as seen through a sprite’s eyes.
At the end of the day, it’s not how much you have or have accomplished that matters, but how much more your heart opened. Nature helps mine expand and deepen daily more than I thought possible. If you feel your heart tight like a bud or wilted and hurting in some way, let nature in. She has a way of touching the hardest to reach places and bringing a warm smile where you thought you never could feel again.
Snow Bunnies
Over the last two nights it seems our late Winter started to take a turn, providing us a Winter Wonderland to explore and immerse in. The last two nights have also amped up magickal dream time and visits through the Forest Portal here. Seems completing Wonderland was the activation for it all. Wonderland inside and out! Interesting, too, that the snow came right after that as well. We’ve had dustings of snow 2-3 times since we moved in, but this is the most we’ve had so far and not just at the higher elevations. It’s a huge contrast to last year’s mega Winter – the biggest in like 40+ years, but any variety Nature wants to throw our way is a gift and gorgeous, nonetheless.
It made for beautiful hiking yesterday and will be fun to explore snow shoeing in up at the higher elevations.
Faery T was able to get her Snow Bunny on yesterday and this morning I thought it would be a perfect introduction for Astrid to see if she, too, is a Snow Bunny and if she likes snow as much as mom.
I’m happy to report that she does.
I’ve always said she reminds me of the Snowshoe Rabbits I fell in love with in Montana and Canada and felt that was in her spirit strongly.
There wasn’t a whole lot on the deck outside of my office because the morning sun hits there warmly first. But it seemed the perfect amount for her to get her feet “wet” before going big.
I took a video of her very first snow day experience, which was adorable to watch.
I’d gone out, barefoot (hence my foot prints alongside hers in the snow) to set up a protective pen barrier so she felt safe and didn’t wander off into the great outdoors. She’d probably be fine, since this area is fenced off, but she may not want to come back in. 😉 She exhibited her curiosity right away in finding the small hole I wasn’t diligent in closing off, sticking her nose through near the end, but luckily I caught that before it turned into Astrid gone wild.
It was fun because I told her what was happening before it did and she was very curious, listening with bright eyes and alert ears. She played coy for a while, exploring her house and licking her gnomes and mushroom next to the open sliding door I left that way for her to go out.
Then she went for it, cautiously, but courageously.
I love the little happy thump she gave at the threshold of the door.
I can tell there’ll be many more snow days for miss Astrid, as she seemed to really like it. I can’t wait for there to be a lot more snow so she can play in it and get in deep. I’ll be sure to capture those sweet memories and share.
Two Snow Bunny peas in a pod we are.
Here’s Astrid experiencing snow for the first time – at least this life!
Astrid & T in Wonderland ~ The Adventures Begin
There’s many things we love about our new home, but one of the standouts for Astrid and me is having our own little magickal room all to ourselves, which we call Wonderland. That to include direct access to our backyard and forest, as an extension of this new realm we’ve created together. Everything we love and that brings us joy, inspiration, and feeling of direct connection to Nature, the Cosmos, our creative wellsprings, and hearts, have been infused into this room. And yes, portals and welcoming for all of our friends, as well as for journeying into the imagination and beyond.
I’d promised to share, once things were complete and I had the time, so today is the day and feels appropriate, as I’ve been immersed more deeply in book editing since the New Moon and will be getting lost in that world more again.
There is SO much I could share about every little detail in our new sanctuary space, and for anyone who visits and IS interested, I will be happy to point them all out, share their stories, and the incredible synchronicities of how they all came together and tied into one another by their own divine weaving. It truly was as if I’d waved a magick wand with intention and then all the pieces came together and were drawn in by the energy vortex created here – but then perhaps I did 😉
“Oh, you can’t help that,’ said the cat. ‘We’re all mad here.” Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
Wonderland pretty much named itself, the moment I placed one of my prized birthday gifts to myself of last year, “Wonderland by Kirsty Mitchell,” center of my book case with two of my crystal wands laying atop it, framed by shelves of two Labradorite unicorns and a selenite unicorn horn above it, with my bunny collection below it. Chills rose up my back and my eyes locked in on the beautiful green, gold, and black book binding (matching my Faery Queen Astranaithes tapestry) with Wonderland written across it and knew the room and all who inhabit it had named it. We (Astrid and me) had indeed created our own version of a richly woven Wonderland.
That tapestry, which I had in our last home but feels was meant for this one, became the backdrop to my new desk space. It features the Faery Queen Astranaithes (pretty cool similarity to Astrid’s name) with her dragon familiar and harbinger by artist, Nene Thomas from her limited edition painting of the same. I’m always awed by how many people say that she looks like me and think that I had it made after myself. I’ve had several contractors now say the same thing and it always gives me chills.
The other of my last year’s birthday gifts I shared in the above link as well, 432hz binaural beat theta wave pair of A-note 9 inch quartz singing bowls, also made center stage of my room along with all my musical instruments, including a Chakra drum, Tibetan singing bowl, and flute and shamanic energy rattle I took home from Peru. Sound channeling will be a focal point and anchoring foundation of this new realm and for the first time I would have a space they could soak in the sun’s rays and support my musical musings.
I was hesitant at first to put them out, as Astrid likes to explore everything and I wanted to make sure she wouldn’t jump up there and knock over the crystal bowls or crystals. But within the first couple of days, I realized she was quite aware that this was sacred and she had no intention of doing anything but take in the energy of it all and support the creating to be channeled from them. She also seems to love her crystal orgonite Dragon. A chip off the old block.
Wonderland reflects the child within the soon-to-be 45-year-old-me, who I will eternally be, despite my silver hair.
It also reflects childhood dreams, my and Astrid’s essence, the author and artist me, and the love I have for my child – Astrid.
Others have human children while I have animal ones….they are all spirits embodying different forms, but for me I’ve chosen to support and co-create with the ones covered in fur that reflects their tender hearts. It is simply my path and what aligns most with my heart.
One of my intentions with this space was to make it feel like an indoor Faery garden, while still to have the practicality of being my creative/master-minding office space and meeting Astrid’s needs, feeling cozy, inviting, and transporting, overtly sharing who I am, but most of all I wanted to be surrounded by Nature and Magick.
Hence:
- the round sparkly green shag rug at center that mirrors grass – a favorite place for Astrid to lay
- green in general being the focal color of everything (also connecting to the heart chakra)
- two tapestries of the forest in green
- four metal accent tables my succulents (2 topiaries and 2 Faery gardens) sit on that are tree branches with cardinals sitting on them (incidentally they just so happen to mirror the one red part of my Faery Queen tapestry, which is a cardinal)
- a three tiered leafy vine metal shelf that happens to match the accent tables and houses all of my 25 Tarot decks
- raw quartz (small and large that I found mostly all here in Tahoe) and crystals abound
- two goddesses residing over the realm – Earth (she sits with two rabbits upon her) and Water (a Mernymph holding a harp) – depicted in collector’s plates a dear faery friend gifted me
- two topiaries – a rabbit and turtle – decked out in succulents I planted on them
- two pots of succulents with dragonflies and raw stones that sit atop my book case
- two mini Faery succulent gardens (each their own realm)
- three succulent wall planters – a star, a butterfly, and a musical note – that I planted and waited to root so they could be hung as live art (this was that big project with the over 100 succulents I hinted at before. I actually just got 15 more, as I’m adding in some, with a few others on the way because I’m creating a succulent centerpiece for our dining room table
- tons of rabbits, butterflies, Faeries, dragons, Cosmic Eggs, unicorns, and even mermaids everywhere! This to include a little Faery village at the top of my book shelf resided over by Horus (a one-of-a-kind statue I picked up in Egypt) and includes a Merfaery shell house, a Faery house and even a happy little Gnome amidst the group next to a bottle of pixie dust.
- I had gotten a rabbit foot mat for the sliding door, but it has become the foot mat under my desk instead because Astrid loves it so much and likes to lay on it by my feet when I’m there – I don’t blame her, as the three rabbits look exactly like her, not to mention there’s a rabbit hole to the left of them I think she is journeying down.
- a garden stone mushroom and two Gnomes with moss that my parents gave us for our outdoor Faery garden when we get around to it, but for now they have become part of this realm and Astrid loves them so we’ll see if they end up staying
I have a video of her pretending to be part of the Gnome family and playing statue along with them, but it’s too large to upload here. She loves licking the mushroom and the Gnomes as well, which it captures, and exploring everything in sight within her realm.
- a solar Faery with crystal ball globe also for the garden, but has taken a liking to my desk for now
- a six and a half foot staff awaiting me to channel it into life
- and more!
Everything is so alive and has a story to share. I couldn’t be more in my joy here even though I know for many this room would not be their cup of tea.
Yet here, the tea parties are ongoing and Faeries, bunnies, and the like are always sharing in jubilee, as this is a place for imagination and reality to meet.
“It’s always tea-time.” Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
A portal to take you out of one reality and into another. Once you step in here, time is forgotten. Each of the tapestries and the painting act as large portals where the Other Realm can enter through. I remember in the last house when I first hung my painting that now again hangs here, that night I awoke and saw Gnomes, Elves, Faeries, and the like all jumping out of it and running through the halls. That’s when I knew it was alive with magick.
I love my desk, which is made of reclaimed wood atop metal legs to be safe from Astrid’s need to move energy through her teeth, as I have all of my beloved rabbit soul family (and Gaia) there in picture frames, embodied in their crystal reflections, and their ashes sitting in gorgeous pendant bottles supporting me daily with my channelings. I’m just missing my first bunny, Twinkie, as I am looking for the right photo and frame. But even how this desk came to me, the third-time’s-a-charm desk that was sent out, as each of the others was broken, was super cool. This was the most beautiful of the three and had a vibrant blue on the top third of it matching the blues in the painting and tapestry. The company never questioned a thing and just kept sending me new ones. We ended up with two for one because we were able to piece parts together from the other two, so we’ll have an extra for the garage.
But even my desk chair command post is out-of-this-world green (blending Nature and Cosmos – beam me up!) and will soon have a supportive pillow, which is the last thing on the way from Russia that showcases a sweet watercolor of a white rabbit by artist, Karina Soboleva.
I got a mini desk converter that allows me to create a stand up desk when I want to get off my Faery butt, by attaching legs to it that can be adjusted and placing my computer on top of it. It has a pull out side mini desk that holds a notebook and pen, a cup or water bottle holder and even a cell phone holder. The legs on it can also be extended so that I can create a mini desk that stands near my favorite chair so that I can sit in it to write and work, or move it next to a couch to do the same. Comfort and physical fitness versatility in one!
One of my other favorite things is the comfy labyrinth circle chair next to my book case where I can read, work, or do Tarot readings in comfort and in the company of the two bunny pillows that reside there. One of them reminds me of the Velveteen Rabbit, as it is so real and alive. It features a primitive, folk art standing rabbit pillow by Arnold Print Works of North Adams, MA. that is a vintage reproduction made c. 1960s. The Arnold Print Works of North Adams, MA dissolved around 1947, but this bunny remains alive and full of magick. The bottom of the fabric has seals on it of 1876 and 1892, so I take it that it is a reproduction of one from that time period.
Astrid seems to love the chair too and likes to talk to all of her friends up close and personal.
She seems especially interested in the two lower shelves of mom’s book case that house our rabbit collection, as well as hold hold our music and children’s books.
And speaking of vintage, that reminds me of our antique doors I made mention of in a previous post. One of the cool things I LOVE about this home is the antique doors. They are all originals and come from some old mansion in Reno that the previous owner purchased and put into this home. Each and every one of them is different and has all of the original brass hardware on them. They are quite old, worn, and different sizes, but beautiful. We’ve cleaned them down since all of the renovation and they just shine. I may shine them up myself later with some linseed oil even further, but the wood is really stunning. None of the locks work, and the ones with key holes would need a skeleton key, which do not exist, except for the one downstairs bathroom that has a big latch lock on it, almost like a barn door or something.
Anyway, I love these, as they feel like portals to different worlds and realities. The other cool antique that came with the house is an old claw-foot tub and that too draws me in to float off to another time and space reality, and adds this wonderful mix of old and new and timelessness here.
“Alice: How long is forever? White Rabbit: Sometimes, just one second.” Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
The door on my office door is a skeleton key door and suits the energy of Wonderland with its old world feel.
I also love that our room is downstairs because it makes it feel like a Rabbit Hole and a secret Faery realm, which is supported by the fact that this room and the exercise/meditation/art and guest room and bath only sit under half of the house and the rest of the house under the main, upstairs living space is underground and has a crawlspace under it and under the deck. So in fact, Wonderland is on one end of the rabbit hole before you surface.
I’ve been gifted a lot of cool things right before creating Wonderland, which includes a bunch of Faery, Gnome, Unicorn, and Rabbit collector’s pop up and children’s books (all now finding the perfect place on my book case), some lovely old rabbit figurines (including a collector Blackberry rabbit from Watership Down, the collector’s plates I mentioned, and some other fun things like Faeries and orbs created by a sweet friend from resin, crystals, and metals for me and Astrid.
Yet, it’s Astrid’s special things I gifted to her as Christmas gifts that make my heart smile biggest. This includes her very own castle, as every Queen MUST have one!
Her castle has a tunnel in between and places to go inside and on top, where she can survey her realm while munching on hay and snacks, or taking a nap under the stars with her three crystals I placed there with her blanket.
I had a video of her eating from her special hay bin atop her castle, then moving to center over her tunnel to pose, and finally making a dash to her cushion throne under the center table. It was pretty cool, but too large to upload.
So, instead, here are some photos of Sleeping Beauty taking a snooze inside of her castle (front and back end sticking out in intervals), her peeking out to see if the coast is clear, and then making a mad, magickal dash when she thought no one was looking.
She also has a new bed/slash digging box decked out with loads of eco-nesting materials that are safe and edible, but cushy for her too.
She’s able to move in and out of her digging box bed to her castle with ease. Everything is set up for fun and wee!
AND, there’s the bunny romper room, rainbow lotus playhouse that sits under mom’s painting, titled “Once in a Blue Moon,” featuring Nestor and Joy (I plan to add Cosmo to it when I have time).
Her Lotus world houses her other bed/throne, litter/hay box, food/snack/water dishes, and a new play table that get this – it’s actually called the “Wonderland Play Table!”
It features birchwood legs for chewing, a digging box floor, two snack mobiles to chew and pull, and a top to hop on and survey her land from.
She still has her favorite two-story carrot house that now looks out on the side yard and forest from our new sliding door and deck (in the summer I’ll be able to put up her pen there for her to enjoy the outdoors and go in and out).
And she adores the grass-like shag rug at center that is anchored by three giant raw quartz that I found hiking here and has a little meditation/cushion support seat for mom to create her music there on the altar table that acts as another house for her.
If she’s not in her castle tunnel, on the second story of her carrot house, or by my feet, she can be found under this table – mostly on the seat cushion like a proper Queen – or laying next to her favorite giant Mother Quartz.
It pleases me so much that she loves her room and that I have been able to gift her what she deserves after all that she’s been through. I’ve always wanted to have something like this for my bunny loves, and now I finally can. I remember the first day she entered her realm and explored, and those moments we shared of mutual love and gratitude for the journey we both went through to get here. She and I both shed tears of joy and sunk deeper into our connection.
I’m grateful to be able to reflect to her that I SEE her and know who she is.
And I know she appreciates having her own space, which for the most part the cats stay away from. For 90% of the day that’s where you’ll find her. The rest of the time she might go exploring a bit, or come find us upstairs in the living room to watch movies with us at night, but mostly she loves the in between Faery times at dusk and dawn to herself, where she’ll be either at a window or sliding glass door peering out at the forest, stars, and Moon, or she’ll be jumping and racing about on one of the upstairs area rugs, which is sure to make anyone who sees her, giggle out loud.
And since we got the downstairs room put together, which is next to Wonderland, she is interested in that as well…especially curious about the exercise bike and all of the cushions, but also seemed to be giving mom’s easel a little nose nudge and lick of magick for future creations to come.
I’m curious to see if she’ll be as fascinated with mom’s rebounder, as Joy was.
I hope you enjoy this stroll through Wonderland through Astrid’s eyes and my own. I’ve laced this blog post with photos of it, Astrid enjoying it, and a couple of videos.
I love sharing my space with you, as it’s a way to give you a glimpse into the heart of me and Astrid, as well as an inside look at my creative realm and how I create it energetically and literally to support my intentions and life.
Maybe it might inspire others to create any kind of sacred space for yourself with intention that really supports, cultivates, nurtures, and inspires you to bring forth the best of you and your gifts you have to share.
I look forward to being in our space every day and am excited to see what will evolve from it.
Let the adventures begin!
Down the rabbit hole we go …..
“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?’
‘That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,’ said the Cat.
‘I don’t much care where -‘ said Alice.
‘Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,’ said the Cat.
‘- so long as I get SOMEWHERE,’ Alice added as an explanation.
‘Oh, you’re sure to do that,’ said the Cat, ‘if you only walk long enough.”
Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
Favorite Immunity Boosters
This is a timely reblog post from Laura with lots of good immunity booster tips, as so many people are worried about this flu “epidemic”. I can’t tell you how many people I know or indirectly know/hear of that have been hit hard with this and the countless people in huge “fear” over it (since many have died), so much so they won’t go out, wear gloves, carry around sanitizers and masks, and even get flu shots when normally they wouldn’t. It’s the topic of constant worry for some people I know so every little bit of info helps people feel more empowered. And of course, listening to our bodies and soul promptings help a lot too, while not obsessing with paranoia that feeds your inaction of not living your life fully.
I, too, am grateful not to have gotten anything at all since I was a child, but even then never had anything that kept me out of school ever, so I’m extra grateful for my strong immune system, genes, or whatever it is that has supported that. I also haven’t been to a western doctor either in over 20 years except for foot fracture xrays and to talk to a naturopathic and energetic doctor once each.
Yet, I know that where we may be strong in some ways, we can make up for that in creating other big messages for ourselves, which I definitely am very familiar with and in some cases can become even more detrimental if not listened to. I feel that involves being aware of the life nudges that we get, but also the nudges around lifestyle overall, as this way we can avoid small messages become huge ones.
As Laura pointed out, rest and taking care of yourself on every level will assist in doing wonders.
Living a joyous, passionate, thriving life will help contribute to well being also and help avoid or lessen the downtime of such experiences for us, even if we do get a cold or flu.
The list of immune boosters Laura provides are a great mini handbook to have to strengthen anything you’re already doing and to help give you boosts when you aren’t feeling quite as strong, or know you’re in a susceptible time period because of things pulling from your energy in your life.
I know lately I’ve been sleeping a lot more and relaxing even more so, without pushing anything more than one big focus at a time, rather than the usual past me who would be trying to do it all right now and squeezing every bit of reserve energy I have as far as I can.
The Capricorn New Moon emphasizes the physical, your body’s wisdom, your bones (the foundation of you), and restructuring your life into a more healthy, radiating, and thriving one to maximize the energy you have and make the most of your gifts without wasting them.
With all the concern over the Flu, I thought I’d post some of my favorite tips for staying well. You don’t need to buy into the American pharmaceutical industry in order to benefit from some extra health precautions. I haven’t gotten a cold or flu since 2004, despite working in close proximity with many people who’ve been very ill and coughed or sneezed all over me. 🙂 Here are my top-twelve quick fixes whenever I feel a bit under the weather. As usual, I’m just sharing my own experiences and observations; nothing here constitutes medical advice:
1 ) Oil of Oregano. This stuff rocks! I bring some with me every time I travel by plane, because it’s anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-parasitic. A few drops in water (putting it on the tongue as instructed burns like crazy) helps me feel immune to any sneezing or coughing going straight into…
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New Moon Insights
Here we are at the first New Moon of 2018 and it is a powerful one full of Cappy energy – 6 planets in Capricorn in fact! – which is fantastic for intention focusing and creating the path to manifest goals and resolve things, especially with no retrogrades around. It’s also calling our attention to the body’s inner wisdom, rather than letting the mind lead alone. I love and totally resonate with what astrologer, Pam Younghans, shares in saying that “…..with Uranus in Aries closely square the New Moon, our goals cannot be echoes of the past, or merely revamped versions of previously-held ambitions. Instead, Uranus challenges us to rebel against old definitions of who we are and to reimagine what we are capable of. This imperative is increased due to Uranus’ alignment with dwarf planet Eris and asteroid Pallas Athene — both of which were named for strong, independent, creative, intelligent feminine goddesses. These influences dare us to walk the road less traveled, and to set goals that reflect our unique and very individualized perspective.”
It is time to BE YOU and do things like you’ve NEVER done before, but that truly reflect YOUR unique frequency and song signature in the NOW. Break those old patterns and become your own empowered authority and creator.
Here’s a great breakdown of the energies of this New Moon from Patricia Liles here:
Tania Marie 