October is truly a beautiful month of the year. And up here in the alpine region it is quite splendid in temperature and colors.

We’ve been continuing to enjoy where each day takes us, while traversing both familiar and new trails each day.

I love discovering new things and that includes hikes. Even though we’ve lived in this area nine+ cumulative years, we continue to find fresh adventures around every corner. It’s such a vast region that one can never get bored. Between back country areas and little hidden local spots, it’s a treasure trove of beauty and bounty that evokes tons of gratitude. That said, even the same spots feel new in every season and by the light of each new day.

Even when we think we’ve reached our limits, we can stretch ourselves into new landscapes of experience. Our hearts are resilient and limitless. Trying something new in any area of our lives can support fresh perspectives and foster hope. It may even just help us realize that there is actually much to be grateful for.

We always enjoy and find gratitude in new discoveries and sacred little realms like this forest pool and tree portal, large enough for big faeries to pass through.

And relish in serene days to ourselves on secret coves with only ancient rocks, crystalline water, and expansive sky displays to accompany us. I’m sure you can glean your own feelings or inspired messages from these wondrous windows.

Mystical sun halos greet us by day – perhaps foretelling a hard Winter…or at least that’s what weather lore whispers.

And mysterious, dramatic sunsets tuck us in at night with the crescent Moon ready to sing us lullabies.

Just look at these colors bursting from our back deck – and to think that in person they were even more spectacular and vibrant!

And all the while our big, wild rabbit friend continues to visit us…hanging out by each of the sliding glass doors along the garden. And while I’m not always prepared with camera in hand to capture him peeking in on me, you can see evidence of him here by his little droppings on the rabbit mat outside our Wonderland indoor realm.

A wonderful messenger for me right now and harbinger of creative flow.

Alongside some creative fertility that’s literally been pulsing from the inner womb, there continues to be a lot of organizing and clearing going on here, although I’m waiting until late November to finalize clearing of the garden and yard for Winter.

In the meantime, Dave and I both received refresh trims on our crown – by each other! Yep, not only have I been cutting Dave’s hair now for the last few years, but he’s now become my official bang trimmer and he’s doing a great job, don’t you think? I can wear them straight across or however they organically fall, like here.

My hair has been growing extra fast these days…perhaps part of the creative thrust oozing all over, but he’s had to cut my bangs now within just over three weeks because they start to go into my eyes and I prefer them shorter, rather than brushing them to the side.

Making life simple has been the focus and cutting our own hair just organically kind of happened as part of that.

We’ve had a full month, which has included celebrations of our first date fourteen years ago, as well as Mr. Scorpio’s birthday. Yep, Dave just enjoyed another vibrant year on Earth and we’ve been continuing the fun with feastings that showcase his favorites. This included home made waffles by me, loaded with mashed potatoes in between and topped with air fried Gardein’s Ultimate Plant Based Chick’n Filets and gravy. He was a happy boy!

Our friend even brought him over this giant, vegan cake.

But in between it all we’ve also had some bitter sweetness, as giant excavators (huge bulldozer-like vehicles) have been in our backyard the last few days clearing more trees and taking away the dead. We’ve had as many as four of them at once and it’s like watching live, steel monsters in a kind of apocalyptical world, as these machines not only take down and haul away, but also remove branches, bark and cut trees with their large arm and claw. It’s quite something to witness, which I never have in person before until now.

While it’s part of the now-necessary fire prevention in a world quickly changing, for creating a safe line and defensible space area lining the homes along the forest, it’s also sad to watch over 100+ year old trees go down. It’s a mixed bag for sure that is fitting with the Scorpio season right now, so we’ve just been mourning and honoring the trees, sharing our gratitude for their presence, wisdom, guardianship, and sacrifice, as well as honoring the new cycle of rebirth and tree offspring that will rise again.

In fact, we plan for Samhain to be an extended ritual for this and we’ll hold vigil in our backyard for the tree spirits.

I’m grateful to be able to repurpose some of the wood wedges, as I’ve shared in previous posts of our nature scape yard displays and other artsy things I have in mind.

I always look for the ways to recreate things and flip perspective to find the gold alchemy within the less obvious.

This may come by way of taking pause – something that can help most situations where we feel triggered.

There is so much stimulation coming at us increasingly these days from all sides…taking pause and breathing becomes a necessity to create stability and peace of mind.

Nature is our best friend in these times – bringing us back to the nature of our own humanity and the wisdom of spirit in flesh.

Even our animal companions, plants, minerals and crystals, and our own bodies are there to reflect to us this vital aspect of life many of us are missing or could use more of. 

And speaking of animal companions, with Halloween and Samhain right around the corner, look at how these two kitty beauties fit in with the season.

We’re grateful that we have our very own honorary black cat – the loving and wily Boojum, as you can see up to his usual playful antics with somewhat mesmerized-with-mom-googly-eyes.

As well as our black and white cat – the sensitive and mother hen Sweet Pea whose looking quite the royal princess here with a little mischief behind those deep eyes.

And then of course the magick rabbit queen of the in between – Astrid.

That’s a little update of things lately here, woven in with what ever little tidbits you might find speaking something just for you.

Halloween is tomorrow and for some you may celebrate Samhain – an indeed magickal time of the year, rich in lineage and expansive enough to invite you to add your own to it.

Samhain means “Summer’s end” and it kicks off the Celtic New Year and marks the midpoint between Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice. However you choose to celebrate this day, it is a special time of year to be conscious of and honor the other side of the veil – the unknown and unseen realms – while tuning into the subtle energies.

This is a time for celebrating the bounty of the Earth and the passing of one phase of life to another.

I know how I’ll be focused, in sacred presence and heart offering, including celebrating my sweet boy and powerful love wizard Cosmo (one of my powerful rabbit companions, for those of you new here) who slipped through the veil on this very day – Samhain – six years ago.

This is the two of us on that very day, on the shore of our beloved Lake Tahoe.

And that brings me to these.

You can read about these four Autumn and Samhain inspired bottles of magickal goodness, and even bring one home if they call to you, here: Sacred Offerings

Late Saturday afternoon we were wide-eyed like children on Christmas morning to witness our first snow.

It came just as our lunch gathering was nearing end, where we were ironically enjoying a last barbeque feast by Autumn forest decor with touches of Winter-white frosted candles and fresh pine scented branches that had fallen from the previous night’s wind.

Even though it was just a teaser of Winter enchantment, it was still such a beautiful gift to watch.

This first snow was also the onset of dropping night temperatures, taking us from the low 40’s the previous night to 18 degrees. So, this marked the end of the season in the garden for us, as we shut off the water and driplines that same day until Spring arrives. That means I’ll be in Winter prep, garden clean-up mode in the coming weeks too.

But for now, waking up to the last blooms frosted in white enchantment was pure magick.

Just look at all the pretty shades of pinks, violets, crimsons and greens popping through their white lace.

There were also some Black-eyed Susan yellows dawning lovely snow caps and skirts.

Even the garden friends were feeling sparkly with Jack Frost’s early kiss.

In all, the garden felt extra enchanted with this burst of Wintry delight.

We woke to a colorful, frosty-feel sunrise out front.

And an expansive white-dusted landscape out back.

Even our new Aspens took on a fast transformation, losing most of their leaves from the cold winds in preparation for their Winter wardrobe of white-on-white.

This was their Autumn glory wardrobe, after newly planted.

Although day temperatures will rise this week from the low 40’s of that first snow to 50’s, the nights will remain in the 20’s. So, it looks like our extended, temperate, late Summer-like weather may be at end, and Autumn has set in more fully.

The cozy time of year begins, and even the fur babies are enjoying curling up in the warmth of morning sunshine streaming through the living room, as the outdoor snow begins to melt. Boojum likes variety as you can tell – moving from spot to spot.

But Sweet Pea’s much more predictable and can always be found curled up on her favorite floor heater vent when the temperatures start to drop, with snow bunny queen Astrid nearby keeping her company.

The snow melted quickly at our elevation – taking longer at the very tippy-top of the mountains. So for now, this has been a taste of the season-to-come and we’re back to enjoying the here-and-now beauty of the current season in full gear.

The garden still takes on different modes of enchantment throughout the various times of day. And rather than Jack Frost’s kiss, by night they receive solar infusion of colorful faery lights, extending the magick to all hours.

And those new mini mountain range displays of repurposed tree wedges we added to the front yard, have now also received their own spotlights so that the night landscape reveals how everything is alive even in the dark and can reinvent itself through transitions.

Leaves may be falling, plants may be wilting, and the rocks, trees, and ground may soon be invisible under the drape of white stillness, but everything is very much conscious with potential.

Warm New Moon Solar Eclipse wishes for fresh directions with greater alignment.

It’s been exceptionally stunning here in the alpine region while Autumn continues to dance in splendor. Every turn and every step along a trail has me repeating how amazed I am by the beauty surrounding me. I’m not sure what it is, but I find everything more incredible than ever before. Or, perhaps my heart is just opening wider.

Today, I’m mostly just wanting to share some of these incredible portal vistas with you, so that you can breathe in and receive what ever you need in this moment.

I’m also called to mention the animal messengers that are showing up.

We’ve been continuing to experience an abundance of wildlife encounters. I’m not sure what’s up, but we’re seeing more animals in the few weeks we’ve been back than we do over longer periods – especially bears. We came across three bears on a hike just two days ago with our friend (you might recall the injured momma and cub the week before) and the second they saw us they took off like a flash. The black bears here are very wary of humans out in the wild, which is a good thing.

We also saw a deer – synchronously I’d been thinking/talking about the pair of deer antlers I found in October of last year when we were away in similar surroundings and Autumn bounty. And our friend showed us the most precious little momma and baby bat he found transitioned, before he was going to bury them. They were both so tiny and passed peacefully together. We’re not sure why. Bats have been on my mind as well and when he showed them to us, it was like a huge a-ha. (Side note: No joke…Astrid thumped twice really loudly as I was writing about the bats)

I haven’t been able to capture photos of them all, as they’ve been too quick or it didn’t feel right, but I did manage to capture this sweetheart in the garden, below. I saw him twice in the same day – yesterday. I also think he’s the one I saw across the street when we first arrived home. This cottontail is quite large – one of the largest I’ve seen here. Can you guess who it might be grown up? Oh my heart!

I do also continue finding other messenger treasures like these five Steller’s Jay feathers reflecting the 5 elements that create balance.

There are mythology stories about Steller’s Jay saying he is a messenger of hope in disrepair, strengthens the will to live and teaches adaptability and survival, along with use of personal power and presence.

As we continue to ride many energy streams these days on Earth, I’m reminded that there’s potential for whispers to float across the air, rather than become sharp lashes that sting relentlessly. With the upcoming Scorpio New Moon and Solar Eclipse early morning of the 25th, we have opportunity to plunge into the shadows and discover revelations amidst all that’s been tucked away. Even self-imposed limitations may see the light and the Solar Eclipse supports opportunity taking us in new directions when we realize the core of what we’ve been operating from. Aligning with the truth of our realizations and allowing natural movement of emotions they evoke, can set the tone for break-away potentials and more satisfying outcomes.

As I look out on the landscape before me I’m reminded of the vastness of my heart and it reminds me with each expansive breath, that I can open it a little bit wider than it was the day before.

Experiences in life may harden us, yet I’ve found that the tighter we hold to things, the more they cling back and their tentacles trickle into every nook and cranny of our lives.

It’s hard to open to feeling deeply again because that includes possibility of feeling every kind of emotion.. not just the ones we deem more favorable.

I’ve found that the depths of any emotion are inclusive of the flip side of the coin and the deeper I’ve hurt, the deeper I love.

Emotions are a journey and no one can take that from us.

I only know that for me, when I shift my focus wider, my emotions have the space to flow more freely and move organically as a unit like nature and her cycles, rather than isolate unnaturally in a state of perpetual static or decay.

It makes a difference for me.

P.S. If you missed Thursday’s reblogged heart channeled message and mini update, there’s three crystal friends remaining.

It’s amazing to me that we’ve only been home for just under two weeks, as I feel like tons of things both happened and got accomplished in such a short period of time. Perhaps that’s a small part of why I needed extra sleep the days leading up to the Full Moon – both actual and behind-the-scenes energetic things have been rapidly taking place. The latter could also be why it felt like things caught up with me and my body indicated rest as the way to integrate it all. Included in the actual things have been several really potent, divinely orchestrated experiences/opportunities that acted as forms of transmutational diffusers and buffers I’m grateful for.

Then suddenly the Aries Full Moon zapped a lot of energy, clarity, and this extra core strength of self through me. The night before its fullest illumination, I found myself waking with energy in the night and feeling like at any moment I could get up and be just fine, whereas nights before that I was sleeping deeply through and if I woke up, I was dead set on going right back to sleep and easily slept in. And that extra powered up and refreshed feeling has continued since, with a very awake sense of things creating a stable and secure feeling amidst it all. Even the day of the Full Moon I was in a rare state in the presence of others that made it clear that this Moon’s energy really vibed well with me and that something clicked in.

The Full Moon sunset felt like a reflection of this renewal that I was feeling.

As you can see, it was so enchanting through the forest from our deck, I had to stop everything and just go out to soak it in. I loved the colors bursting in the sky and even the lake shared her joy with a little blue burst between the trees at left.

The colors and cloud presences were even more incredible in person and I imagine that over the lake the view would have been quite sweeping. I love sunsets through the trees, as there’s a sense of mystery and beckoning that comes through. The day of the Full Moon felt like walking through a new door of experience I’ve sensed coming, but now felt flowing through me very tangibly. It was like waking after a deep integrative sleep. This Full Moon really flipped a switch and made me curious if others felt changes in the days leading up and through it?

Regardless of the why’s behind any of it, being home and the alpine environment feel very nurturing.

And while I’ve been getting a lot done since being home – the things I’ve been doing are part of the ways in which I nourish myself, which include simply being in the energy and surroundings I love.

Nourishment has been a constant, reiterating theme that asks for attention, which is why I wrote about it again last week on my Instagram feed and this is the gist of what I shared:

Feeding my body, heart, mind, and soul is a necessity, as vital as breathing, to give to myself as consistently as possible so that my well is full to continue giving out in the ways I desire. It doesn’t have to take a lot of time and the ways in which to do this can even be free. Usually, I find that a core, limiting factor to being able to freely nourish ourselves stems from a conditioning around abundance – which is the balanced scale of giving AND receiving. I know that I’ve had to shift inner dialogue around receiving and archetypes of victim or martyr that became accepted ways of living – and this feels prevalent in the collective as well. Healthy, loving boundaries also play a part in this, to cultivate for the highest good.

The latter, for me, has been around saying “no” more often and recognizing and releasing that which is not mine, nor taking on anymore of what is not mine or something that I don’t want part of. It’s also included letting go more and more, not micro-managing, and compassionately holding space so others can move through their own journeys freely while I release allowing others to define my experience in any way. These also feel like key themes circulating through the collective web.

Anyway, I won’t repeat my long list of ways I nourish myself, but I will expound upon a few of them that have kept me busy, recently, in really core ways that helped my body get the good nurturing and rest it wanted. And if you’ve been feeling the itch to find your own sense of peace and grounding amidst the whirlwinds out there, perhaps these may spark ideas for you to explore in your own way.

These include: time in and with nature, outdoor exercise, gardening, feet and hands in the dirt, sand, and water, sunshine on my skin, listening to the messengers within the elements around me, and creating balance daily.

And by the way, these things I just mentioned that nourish me, also help me as a sensitive to maintain my personal equilibrium and know my frequency zone outside of the energies that are flying through the airwaves.

We’ve been able to get back out on the mountain, in the forests, and on the beach – yes, it’s still amazing beach weather here in the alpine world.

Temperatures right now are perfection, the light is incredible, and the onset of changing colors and golden glows sweeping across the land would warm anyone’s heart.

I’ve so been enjoying immersing back on familiar trails, exploring some new ones, and dipping my toes in the crystalline water on crystal-laced sand.

The sunshine is still cultivating tanned skin and blushing cheeks, while the plants and animals are making me feel like a super spoiled faery showered in all my heart delights that support my recreative momentum.

Speaking of plants and animals, some incredible messengers welcomed us back home and my garden received a new seeding and recreation of its own.

Just a few days after our return, we encountered one of the most rare animals and experiences up here in the mountains yet. We were out hiking with a couple of friends and came across not one, but three full grown porcupines out in the day. I’ve only seen two other porcupines before – one on our rv trip during a hike and one dead on the side of the road near our post office here about a year ago. To see one is pretty amazing, but three!?

I couldn’t get all three in one photo together, as the third one was high up already in a tree off to the left, but these two were climbing up the same tree together.

Porcupines are primarily nocturnal and rest during most of the day, but these three were out and about foraging, as they were making their way between, and climbing, the trees. Porcupines are solitary by nature, but may den with others during winter. They are known to spend a lot of time resting and feeding in trees, but to actually see them and three together, was highly unusual and quite fortuitous. I felt a lot of depth to why we were seeing them, including what the season ahead may hold.

They reminded me of a cross between little bear cubs and sloths, with quills. They are very slow moving up the trees and we all sat still in awe, watching and listening to their long claws clanking along the bark as they pulled themselves up the trees. I was completely fascinated and immersed in their energy – loving every moment with these sweet beings.

It’s no surprise their energy is so wonder-filled and childlike, as part of the messaging they impart. The hope, curiosity, joy, and playfulness they foster is supportive in times of grief, pain, turbulent emotions, and even depression, which have been a big part of energy streams the collective has been riding. Porcupines also assist in communication with the spirit realms and invoke innocence, strength, vitality, love, and protection. I loved reading about the zen awareness they carry and agree – they are always calm, but alert and there’s a sense of them as great protectors or warriors for the innocent. I like to think of them as the empowered inner child.

A couple of years ago I found a tuft of shed porcupine fur with quills on one of our hikes, which I’ve cherished ever since. I also loved reading how the quills are known to represent the generations of ancestors and their wisdom, with each quill being a representation of a family ancestor. For this reason porcupines are messengers of the ancient ancestor’s way of life and the knowledge of harmoniously living with the land and animals. Respect and reverence is a core teaching of porcupine wisdom.

You may recall that that I created a painting – The Child In Us – that featured porcupine animal spirit. It recently found its forever loving home where I’m happy to know it’s been cherished and supporting big transformations for its copartner. That painting was part of a collection of animal messengers to support the new energies of these times and of which, curiously, only Gem of the Emerald Forest (panda) remains.

Porcupine was the first of several more welcome-home messengers to come. The next was tree frog who greeted me while I was repositioning all of our potted plants back on the deck, resecuring their driplines, and cutting/pruning away seasonal transitions.

He was hanging out in one of the pots – apparently making this area his home all Summer – and jumped out as I moved it. “Well hello!” I said. I was so happy to see him and he let me stroke his back gently. Eventually I helped him back up after getting all the plants secured. I’m happy to know he’s become their guardian.

Wildly synchronous, but true – back in 2016 frog showed up for me at the Aries Full Moon of that October! I found this blog post I shared about it and the energy rings true for the now so much too:

Frog & Moon Magick

I took a lot away from that post that echoed things in my life currently.

And then it was garter snake – twice – appearing. We’d seen SO many on our two month away adventure on the coast and the snake energy continued here at home. First a larger one slithered across our path while we hiked a new trail with a friend. You can see her here in the Autumn colors covering the ground.

The second one appeared in my garden – a smaller one about 10-12 inches long – while I was out planting seeds. She hung out for a bit while I talked to her. I love that we have so many snakes in our yard and garden, as I’ve seen quite a few garter snakes and a beautiful rubber boa that call it home. Transformational energy abound!

Then, just yesterday while hiking with Dave we encountered three different messengers on a hike from our house that included four animals. I suggested this trail, feeling it was easy to do without driving anywhere and different, as it takes us more south and onto Heavenly Mountain. When we were close to our end point Dave saw something moving and thought it was another porcupine, but as we stopped and looked closely, we saw it was in fact a baby bear climbing a tree this time. He was already half way up and was continuing to pull himself higher – seemingly on a mission.

We don’t see bears climbing that much (last time I remember was up in Waterton Lakes National Park when we saw two grizzly bear cubs playing in a tree with momma bear watching), nor this high up the tree, so we were glued to watching him and fascinated at how such a large and heavy creature could do such a feat. We then knew right away where baby is, momma’s not far. So, we were on alert so as not to have momma feel threatened. Luckily we have black bears here instead of the brown/grizzly bears, and they are mild tempered and usually more scared of humans than we are of them. Yet, a mom is a mom and we’re very respectful of boundaries. We then spotted mom straight ahead on the trail. She seemed to be focused on foraging or something and while she noticed us, she was very calm and not threatened. I saw that there was a path down below and told Dave we should make our way down to it and then could go around her. So, we proceeded to do that and when we were far enough down we turned to watch momma pass.

She came straight down the trail we had been on and was slowly making her way to baby bear, but we both noticed immediately that she was injured. Her gait was slowed and she was limping quite a bit. It appeared that one of her back legs was the site of some injury or pain. Perhaps this lent to her more solemn mood. She knew we were there and looked at us, but continued on her way, limping as she went.

We were both heart-broken and of course I flashed to all the injured, dying and dead animals we encountered on our trip and now here was momma bear.

I sent some healing energy, but focused even more on it once we arrived at our destination and sat for a moment. I continued as we got up to make our return and increased my channel to her. And right then Dave points and we both see a Swainson’s Hawk coming directly at us. She was flying so low and just soaring silently with wings spread out so we could see her feather markings and coloring fully. I said hawk. Dave thought perhaps peregrine falcon. But, to me, she didn’t have the coloring and markings nor the size. This bird of prey was larger and because the feathers were so clear to me, I was able to later look her up and learned what type of hawk she was.

This felt like a deliberate fly-by taking place as I was sending healing energy to momma bear and protection around her and baby bear. Hawks have always been guardians and messengers of confirmations and support – especially for my bunnies when I have taken them to vet appointments where something was going on with them, and when I’ve taken them home from adoption, as well as on travels. They also have done similar for things and people in my life when I’ve been focusing energy toward an intention or support around them. I took her presence as a sign my message had been received and that momma bear would be watched over and protected.

Interestingly, these were some of the potent things that were surrounding the area where we came upon momma and baby bear.

On our way home we then saw this wild rabbit.

He didn’t move an inch the whole time we walked by, stopped, and I talked to him. Dave even thought he was a garden statue at first. I assured him that the bunny was quite alive and real. Dave then went on to call him “quite the guard rabbit”. This dear one was a continued messenger of my rabbit kin now in cosmic form, watching over momma bear.

And simultaneously all of these three different animal spirit guides shared their own messages with me outside of the web of support around momma bear.

When we got home Dave called the Bear League to inquire and let them know about her. They told him that they see this a lot and that momma bear will probably make it and there’s nothing they can do. So, I trust in our team sending energy and protection and feel like she’ll heal and be able to care for baby bear until he’s ready to be on his own. I know a momma’s heart and there’s nothing so strong as that bond and especially momma bear’s determination.

So many things I continually learn and experience profoundly through the animal world and nature realm, including the treasures I find.

It’s nonstop and for me, it all helps me to understand and work through so much of the collective energies and my own thread of that.

Transformational indeed and that energy is reaching through every part of me, as I feel it rewiring every layer within. From ideas, beliefs, and feelings to goals, trajectories, and lessening involvement in ways that seemed important at one time and now no longer are. I definitely haven’t landed at any destination, but continue soaring through evolving energy streams as I creatively stretch myself a little bit more.

And that creative transformation has also stretched its reach to our garden and yard, as part of the things that have kept me busy upon return has included Autumn seeding and planting galore.

I planted nearly 200 bulbs that included 11 varieties of daffodil, tulip, hyacinth, iris, and crocus. Then, after that, I got three bags full of wildflower seeds into the Earth which included two variety bags and one bag of just lupine varieties.

Dave and I also added to our zen yard that we did ourselves, keeping with the natural vibe, but with a little creative vision.

Before we left for two months, we gathered wood pieces from the cut down trees at this one particular location where these gorgeous half rings were plentiful. The wedge cut of the wood, along with the bark creating a ray effect, really spoke to us as a beautiful way to repurpose the cut down trees. To us, they double as mini mountains and when put together, create mountain range displays. They also look like rising suns or have a temple effect.

Anyway, we created four displays that we hand dug leveled areas for and filled in, so that our yard has a naturescape that speaks to our hearts and conveys our love of Nature.

We also have three new Aspen babies – well they’re more like teenagers, as they’re 15-18 feet tall – that are becoming part of our forest family. We, unfortunately lost three trees we planted when we first moved in, as we discovered that their root system never grew properly. We’re not sure if it had something to do with how they were put in, or the soil there, or if the couple of Winters at the start that pummeled them hard – one actually broke at the top. In any event, we sadly had to say goodbye to them. Yet, all endings are beginnings, and so our Aspen trees are taking over the new cycle that is starting.

This is them when they first arrived.

Their home is down further on the side of the house, but you can see how lovely they are already. Two are already in and the third will be done today. Where they first were dropped off is an area where we let our grass go on our side yard, but again, one ending is a beginning. Where we don’t water anymore and the grass went back to the natural terrain, we have a dozen or more baby Aspens all growing – you can see them here in the front of the new potted trees awaiting planting.

I believe they seeded themselves from two trees our neighbor has and so in the years to come we may have quite a lovely Aspen forest all along the right side of the house.

I really love Aspens and they do so well in this area. I always feel nourished when walking through the forest lined with them. Don’t they just make you feel good?

While we were away, the same people who removed our trees and planted our Aspens, as well as did quite a few home projects for us, built our new pergola.

We returned home to a beautiful new deck that looked like it always was meant to be this way. Due to all the fire prevention tree cutting and continued cutting on the way that removed some of our natural canopy, our pergola offers us just the right amount of shade during certain seasons while letting the perfect amount of sunshine through during others. It also helps the plants there to get a little break from the full-on sun they get all day, so it’s all-around supportive.

And right now, the garden and yard are still enjoying this beautiful weather. I have a few things continuing to bloom and grow, and others saying their goodnights early.

But overall, I just LOVE the light at this time of year and how everything just glows golden.

And while all of that is going on outside, inside the jars of dried herbs are growing – a favorite thing I do at this time of year. I had a lot drying while we were away, as I had the foresight to harvest before our trip because I felt I’d miss out on a lot if not. And I was right!

I’m also enjoying some new lavender sprigs in the kitchen along with our gnome family that are adding to the Autumn warmth.

We also discovered that our favorite wild comfrey plants we thought had disappeared along the creek we walk to from our house, returned in full force in two new, but close locations thanks to the beavers creating a wonderful ecosystem. We harvested four large leaves that Dave carried home for us as wings, and that I dried and blended to keep for use when needed. I’m looking forward to my own comfrey plants really flourishing.

I’m happy that they’re doing well so far since I planted tiny starters before our time away. I wasn’t sure if they’d take, but they are! They reside in one of my favorite little areas with my flourishing lamb’s ear plants, elderberry bush, other berry plants, mock orange bush, and some wildflowers on the way.

I also found this sweet glass ball vase that I knew was the perfect holder for the amazing agates I found on our trip. Look at how they love the light!

I wanted so much for them to be able to be seen, felt, and a part of our daily life, so after intentionally filling the vase, it now rests at the center of our living room next to another glass vase I have filled with Tahoe raw quartz varieties and other amazing stones from this area and other hiking adventures.

Astrid loves it, as she spends a lot of time in the living room at night when we’re asleep. It’s a favorite spot for her to tune into the outdoor and sky energies, as well as feel the Moon’s light streaming through to her. She also loves family time in the mornings and evenings there. So the stones and crystals anchor energies for us all.

And speaking of Astrid, she’s doing amazing, as are the kitty babies – Sweet Pea and Boojum. They’re all super happy to be home and although love being with us where ever we are…their heart home is here.

Astrid is especially fond of her new forest friends rug that awaited her return and to nourish her soul after some of her own transformational shifts she went through.

There’s so much I could continue to share and yet these feel like the highlights that may offer some collective tie-ins one can draw upon, while also being the right amount of give, while I also keep a little to myself to receive. I share quite a bit, but there are some things that I’m guided to simply bring through energetically rather than speak about. Increasingly, example is the guiding force in my life and is also how I’m touched most by others, so finding ways to share via my experience is what moves me most.

I’m really enjoying this season right now and grateful to all the endings lending their cycles to beginnings in the micro of my life and the macro to which that is a piece of.

I’m calling this the Autumn of harmony, as much of my focuses feel to be building such a strong balance of that in my life with a blend of clarity and flow being the partners in my days and through the things I am called to work on. As I recently shared on my Instagram page, there’s such crispness in the air and yet the onset of changing colors is so fluid. We, too, can experience life with both clarity and flow, having vision of what we’d like to create, while being mutable to the twists and turns so that we stay in alignment with the shifting energies.

I’m getting more revved up as October days move through, as I have so much of my life mirroring those endings that are simultaneous beginnings. The projects that are in my life are extensions of my heart beats and that means they ARE life and breath to me. What a gift!

I am a dreamweaver dancing, singing, musing with the record keepers of the forests.

I tune in and I tone, shaping the frequencies to form realities reflecting the beats of my heart.

How often do you listen and breathe in the brilliance that inhabits every molecule of consciousness within and around you?

There is potential in every breath and creative potency in every fiber.

The forests awaken memories of a past and future you that is threaded into the now.

Nature really is a wondrous friend, guide, and mirror to support accessing your expansive potentials.

Autumn Offerings Plus Ways to Empower Your Inner Light

On a side, fun note, I have a couple of offerings currently and upcoming to share. The first is something I’ve had for a bit, but just hadn’t posted about here. Because I continue to receive a lot of questions about where I get my clothing, I decided to post the link to my page on Poshmark where I offer discounted, quality, eco/artisan clothing. Poshmark is an online marketplace where people can buy and sell new and secondhand everything. I have a small closet there I’ve created that features several of my favorite designers. It’s a place where you can make offers, as well as feel free to ask questions directly in the comment sections under the listings.

I donate a LOT of things when I am refreshing my closet and redecorating, but many of my items are in such perfect condition and of beautiful, quality materials and uniqueness that I’ve started sharing them there – so it’s opportunity to bring home some special items at discount. I love supporting women entrepreneurs who are artisans on every front and the clothing offered is what’s known as slow fashion, which is sustainable, ethical, made by hand, and using natural fibers (much of which is organic) and recycled materials, and ecodyeing processes from plant sources. They are also created in small batches and each is unique – sometimes being the only piece ever made and sometimes just one of a small grouping made and could even be a discontinued design.

Anyway, if you’re curious or looking for some unique pieces to your wardrobe I have a variety of seasonal items currently available and will be/am continuing to update it as I have time. So, you can check in later too. Sizes will vary from xs – large, as each piece fits differently and is very versatile, or may be One Size like some of the cardigans. If there’s something you liked that sold, I may have more similar items coming. I have quite a few things to still list, including unique shoes and other items. The “Not for Sale” items are sold as well, but happened in process of posting them, as I made them available to someone before listing and they released them due to timing, but then came back for them.

Here’s the direct link for anyone potentially interested in a new splash to your wardrobe energy and I’ll likely put a separate page up on this website with the link so that it’s easy to find over time as well:

My Closet

The other fun will take place on Thursday 10/20/2022.

I’ve been holding onto a small group of crystals that I was waiting to make available at the right timing – I got extras of these crystals when I got some for myself because I felt they would speak to some of you. Perhaps between being busy and also loving them so much, added to the delay on releasing them. 🙂 These will finally be released on the date mentioned above. I’ll be adding them to the page I create for the closet link and may also announce it on that day as well, but you can also just check on this website on that day to explore the offerings.

During a time when the light out there is decreasing and redirecting us to the source within, some of you may find these of support:

If you’ve felt a call to bring Reiki into your life, I’ve made it easy to receive your full training via online video modules. I’ve been getting a lot of inquiries about this too lately, so I think the collective energies are amplifying personal transformation for people. The link to the training and info can be found here:

Reiki Certification Training

I was recently talking about how Reiki has supported me so much during one of our Meditation and Mindfulness Meetups in being able to regulate my energy, create protective boundaries, and support empowered cocreation in my life – so much more so these days being an invaluable blessing to me amidst the world scene and overall, as a native, boundless Pisces. This was part of a discussion we had where people shared how challenged they are being sensitives and empaths.

If anyone’s interested in adding to their daily support system for integrating Reiki into your life there’s also an online workshop I offer here, along with one on Transcending Duality:

Empowerment Series

Sixty-eight sea stars saved, four sea lions supported through their transitions, eighty perfect sand dollars found, and countless other profound, miraculous, and divine experiences later, we find ourselves back in our beloved home just in time to watch the Autumn colors shift, as you can see above. Our timing is perfect, as only hints of golden delight are beginning from the ground up. I’m excited that we get to watch the Aspens now turn along the creeks that cradle our house.

We LOVED our rich time away and yet find ourselves grateful to return to our Forest Portal. As a Pisces, (fish), the ocean will always feel like home, but it is not a place for me to immerse for long periods. The strong Capricorn aspects of me – half goat and half fish – need balance. What I’ve come to learn over the course of my life is that the ocean provides a supportive space for me to deep dive and do tremendous subconscious, shadow, emotional, and spirit work, as well as jump start creative ideas. It offers access and fluidity to these energies, but then in order to integrate and bring these forth, it is the realm of the alpine mountains, forests, and lakes that support anchoring and integrating that into being. Too much water energy is simply too much for me for ongoing amounts of time. That’s not the story for everyone, but it’s mine – at least up until this point in my life.

I can look back at all of my trips and time periods where I traveled to, or lived on or near, the ocean and it all points to the same thing. Even the nearly full year I lived on Puget Sound in Washington state loudly told me the same. Because of my intimate Ocean and Water connection, they are not afraid to kick me out and have tough love when they know I need it most.

I cherish all of the variety of terrains I’ve explored in my life and the little vortex we were gifted to be in the last two months on the ocean was a gem that supported an extremely powerful and timely reset for me. It became evident, though, in the last week before we left that it was time to go home. There’s too many layers to share and many feel to be pieces just for me, but all of this to say that when we listen to our hearts we can always be assured we will align with the perfect mirror that supports us. The heart is the measurement of truth.

I took this photo near the end of our trip and I just love the heart-shaped sea anemone near the center that showed up along with the pastel rainbow energy that created a painting effect to this seascape. It also very much carries the essence of my experience in totality by the ocean – from the layers and complex textures, to the soft graceful flow – all woven together as a beautiful tapestry.

Along with sea lions and harbor seals, I would say that snakes, great blue herons, sea stars, banana slugs, and sea gulls were stand out messengers. I had profound communication and relating with so many others, but these were so frequent and deliberate that they became part of my daily life mirrors.

There were several powerful and even miraculous snake experiences that took place, including one that literally flew out of the bushes at a precise moment to me bringing huge, transformative, healing magick my way. And just three days before we left this beautiful snake friend (below) showed up in the already fall-colored ground of the last hike we shared with our friend Lynne again. I seem to notice the snakes first and this was the only one that was on alert. We agreed that likely she may have had a nest of eggs in the bushes, which was in itself a beautiful marker of a new cycle birthing.

The collage also showcases the very last large agate I found just two days before we left and the caterpillar (if that isn’t direct metamorphosis support) that just so happened to be sitting on the log next to Dave where I did a huge, all-encompassing Reiki Healing Attunement for both of us in the most enchanted forest we frequented. This was both a grateful sealing of things and invoking of new. We did that hike from our place on the last day before leaving and we had the most banana slugs, as well as the most eerily mystical and mysterious sounds and movements around us while the ritual took place. The sounds started when I started and increased during the process, then completely stopped when I finished. Dave even remarked on the sounds and we laughed at him saying one was a “chupacabra”. They were definitely from a different realm.

This last day I also got to see my favorite sunflowers on the way home from the enchanted forest, which I showcased in some of the photos from my last blog post, Revolving Doors ~ Walkers of the In Between. The profoundness of that post and its title coming before ending events of our trip is quite something to me.

But what I love about my favorite sunflowers was that each time we went by them, there was a new variety growing and another one that had passed. In all, I think we saw four varieties in this one patch and on this last pass, all of them were gone except for these giant Teddy Bear Sunflowers amidst a variety of rainbow bloom friends.

Just look at how joyous and sweet they are! The largest was as big as my head.

It all put me in extra Autumn mode, after the Equinox was a marker for turning over a new leaf in my life. It also made me extra excited to get back home to my garden and our forest to see how things held up while we were away and what changes were in store.

We came back to a lot of changes in the neighborhood, and even our pergola being completed while we were away. But the great surprise was seeing that my garden did wonderfully and was so abundant. It had that Autumn vibe where things are starting to shift, and a somewhat overgrown look, but everything faired well and some things went gangbusters. I did notice that a few of my sunflower plants looked to have been eaten by underground dwellers, but the ones that remained were huge! I look forward to them flowering, but for now I’m just enjoying the wild essence of my own enchanted forest garden.

I’m still settling back in and taking it easy, but I do plan to do a little garden clean up and planting in the next couple of weeks. I did get out to pick up a bunch of bulbs – I got 11 varieties including daffodil, tulip, hyacinth, iris, and crocus. Along with them, I have some bags of wildflower seeds that will all be part of this year’s Autumn planting. Then in a couple of months it will be time to put everyone to rest for the Winter ahead.

I also have a lot of stone and ocean treasures that I brought back to integrate into my rock garden. This will all be a great way for me to ground the energies from my journey in and anchor the new.

While out grocery shopping to stock back up and get some things to make yummies, I picked up these Autumn cuties just to add a little seasonal sweetness to our space while I’m still integrating and settling back.

I even pulled out my October/Samhain vibed witchy soap that has essence of lavender, patchouli, lemongrass, orange, and pine scents.

Just quick little touches to get in the mood and soon I look forward to cooking and baking fun in the faery kitchen, especially since I have a lot of goodies from my garden that were drying while we were away. Of course that includes a ton of lavender! I love my lavender!

We did get the chance to step out for an immersion home hike and Tahoe enveloped us with a warm welcome back filled with rainbow energy and hints of Fall in the air.

The meadow was so magickal and the rainbow veil so lovely, I had to share it twice. We actually did two short hikes yesterday – a familiar and new one. The wide meadow was from the new one.

And along the way the beautiful mushrooms and ferns were deliciously dressed in Autumn charm that warmed my heart.

It was wonderful to journey away and it is wonderful to be back.

Astrid and I are deeply entwined in transitioning energies, mirroring each other like never before. It will be a couple of weeks of integration and getting things fully settled, but we’re grateful to have each other – the perfect Virgo/Pisces counterparts always balancing each other and doing simultaneous personal and collective easing of energies. I had so many powerfully healing emotions move through me, along with wonderful grieving, and a-ha empowering moments while away. I worked very closely with the creatures of the ocean and they took me on a womb journey of my inner child’s recreation – very embryotic and nebulous in a cosmic star death and birth kind of way. I’ve always felt and learned most from souls in animal bodies – they hit me the hardest, as that’s my energetic make-up for life experiences to be underscored.

Our time away was a mega exclamation point of fully stepping into the new, change becoming even more fluid, that our oceanside work was complete, that listening to the inner compass was essential, that presence and methodical/deliberate steadfastness was the navigational pull, and the fine line between all illusions – even the ones we dress up in fancy disguises to dance around – are not a space I/we want any part of.

Balance is so vital, and at least for me, I know it’s the continual goal I focus on as my anchor.

So many of the themes I’ve spoken about are also underscored by Lee’s new Energy Update for October, which I’m sharing below for you to explore when, and if, you feel to.

For now, this is just a little touch-in to share that I’ve returned home and am getting ready to immerse fully into the new timeline that I stepped through the doorway of.

I have a couple of fun things to share soon, but other than anchoring home I’ll be keeping the momentum of my choo-choo train that I got rolling while I was away.

I’m excited for the rest of enchanted Autumn here and very much look forward to a rich Winter ahead. I can feel the creative juices bursting from the seams.

Sending lots of love for where ever you find yourself on your journey.