As has been the flow of things lately, consistently full days create infrequent, but full shares. As always my reflections encapsulate personal experience, but embody collective themes to unravel through the stories. If you’re interested in seeing how things tie in with what you’re experiencing or wondering about currently, these shares may be reflective, confirming, or helpful. If you’re interested in updates on offerings, I also add these at the very end of posts – so you can scroll to the bottom if you’re only looking for that. And if nothing else, perhaps the photos are fun and inspirational.

When ever we’re away from home these days I feel extra untethered from things – and in general, I think this is an overall consistent experience for me now. There used to be Astrid and the kitty babies that created an anchor to reel me back in. Now my sail is filled by the wind’s divine direction and what ever feels important moment-to-moment, with Astrid and the others as the North Star to my heart.

I find myself moving with these rhythmic cycles as an increasingly more fluid experience and while I do have my own inner sense of center and also one within the space we call our physical home, these reflections of “home” take on a broader scope I more easily carry or access where ever I am. This to me is a reflection of being more in my “essence.”

This is also in part because my love anchors travel expansively themselves now, and so it’s increasingly become easier to carry connection where ever the wind takes me. And to truly experience the reality of this in body and not just as an idea.

It’s also aided by my not having fear of where tomorrow takes me. Whether it’s a minute, a day, a month, or years, near or far or never again seen the same way… it’s all okay…because there is no end of forever.

Perhaps some of you may be experiencing this, but for me the more I hear of “crazy” things happening in the world or energies being experienced as intense, the more I feel peace within and experience something completely different. It’s an interesting space to be in, especially when others may give off reactions and shares that want my comradery of joining in on their crazy. However, this just doesn’t mesh in my experience. I can feel and understand how it is affecting them, but my turmoil would be more about how can I help them to understand how I feel when everything they may be focusing on points to something completely different?

It’s simply not possible, nor necessary. So, I just go on being me, understanding the variances of experience there is opportunity to have, and I continue to hold the energy that is in my reality.

I live to create possibility and to weave new moments and memories…the kind that transcend one reality in order to permeate the multi realities of a consciousness that surfs the cosmic ocean.

I live to outlive myself.

And while all of this is a part of me, I do still also love hunkering down in our mountain house on the edge of the forest where hearts have created a vortex-to-forever through love.

Our recent time away took us to the Atlantic Ocean, which was a change from our western alpine home. It’s always interesting to me to experience the contrasting energy of East and West or any contrasts for that matter that reflect the internal world. It’s a way to dip in and explore the energies to feel where there’s any holes or imbalances, triggers or forgotten parts that would be beneficial to harmonize, retrieve, and transmute.

I’m grateful for the way I’m experiencing things in these current times, as I know it’s not the same for everyone. I also know nothing is a given unless we consciously work at aligning ourselves. So I’m also grateful for being given the opportunity to grow. It may seem tedious at times, but the pay off comes with greater ease and fluidity.

Do you ever wonder if it’s possible to experience life differently than how you have been experiencing it?

What makes a difference? Is it truly luck, randomness, what some call karma, dedication, or chance? Or is it about cultivating more of our innate consciousness?

I’ll leave that question to each person for pondering.

For me, my own pondering is vast and I love using photo stories to let pictures speak the thousand or more words they’re said to offer, while adding an energetic pulse to the experiences.

In summary though, this was a trip about family, roots, and community, highlighting appreciation for the fabric of history that has shaped a corner of the world from rock and soil to blood and beliefs, as well as the lineages of ways that bring meaning to lives perhaps different but connected to our own.

Having a dad that came from the East and migrated West, and a European mom from an ancient village who journeyed even farther to come with him, plus a system of beliefs and values in our own heritage that mark some of the foundations that started areas like the one we traveled to at the root of its history, all plays into how I work with these kinds of journeys and use the energy that comes up, as well as infuse my own energy into new roots for sprouting.

We had a chance to soak in the qualities that felt nurturing, appreciate the differences, integrate the value of old parts made fresh, fun, and new through integrative hearts, while also leaving our own vibrational mark in the footsteps we left behind.

With the amount of photos I have from my time away I could make several posts, but I do want them together in this one because they weave together an energetic vibration I feel important to the underlying theme this share is about. I hope they convey the heart of what I want to express and that you may glean the perfect reflection of that which speaks to your own heart and transformational journey.

The personal journey is what’s key. And although it is tied in with the collective one, it is yours that makes the difference to all of it.

Rather than be a byproduct of the environment, you can shape the environment and also create different paths for how to navigate it all.

You are the map cartographer charting new courses to treasures only a heart compass can find.

And that’s what I did on this trip, as I always do where ever I find myself…looked through the eyes of my heart. In this way, I always align with and find the magick because this is my energetic footprint.

If we let other things overpower us and take over from what our true nature would otherwise be, we easily become something we aren’t and experience things in ways to get our attention to that – which is simply an ingenious way we message ourselves that we’re off course from the map our hearts originally charted.

On the morning of the day we departed, a big, adult, wild rabbit emerged from the bushes next to my garden and made my heart leap with him as he darted off to the back of our yard. I hadn’t seen Frith for a while and this sighting set the course for my heart feeling in alignment the whole journey ahead. He also reflected something about myself that is just beginning to mature and surface like him.

After a red eye out and long travels of three connections, we touched down on Martha’s Vineyard for the week.

And the fun kicked off with Dave’s mom greeting us at the gate with vegan ice cream bars on sticks in a variety of flavor options to choose from.

Life is like a handful of ice cream popsicles! You never know what you’re going to get lol!

AND you never know what you can create! It’s up to you to choose and shape each moment.

The first day was full with touch-ins at the fair grounds to get a feel for the lay of the land and see craft entries brought in before its official opening the next day, gathering yummies at markets, lunch on the back deck, beach time with rock hounding,

greetings from all the wild turkeys, osprey, crab energy, and a giant moth beauty to welcome me at the threshold of our doorway to the room we stayed in, and then a night that was a perfect welcome to Martha’s Vineyard – the 153rd Grand Illumination.

This event begins at the community Tabernacle in the middle of Oak Bluffs with songs, music, and historical and community remembrance, and ends with all the cute cottages lighting up their unique paper lanterns for everyone to enjoy.

The first Illumination began on Saturday, August 14th, 1869 where Chinese and Japanese lanterns were displayed, suspended from cottages and trees and has continued ever since.

We were sitting near a woman who had attended every single one of these yearly events for the last 80 years.

Here’s a taste of this special event.

Dave’s mom has lived on Martha’s Vineyard over forty years so she knows a lot of history and is tapped into the community and the fabric of the land in ways that unravel the threads of the tapestry with understanding of how it all weaves together.

We timed our trip just right, as this week was full of daily and nightly events that gave us a rich immersion of what life is like here on the island and for this part of our family. I hadn’t been to the island for thirteen years – the last time being a short visit for my brother and sister-in-laws’ wedding, so this was really my biggest immersion. Dave, of course, has spent a lot of time on the island over his years. I enjoyed it very much and thought our timing was perfect for a well-rounded experience.

I was also grateful to experience the warmth of what life is like here for Dave’s family, the extra connection of community and variety of cultural events, and the hidden magick for faery eyes and hearts to see.

That continued with the hike Dave and I did the next day when mushroom magick was off the charts for me to discover along moss and stone trails through the forest and along lily ponds.

We enjoyed another day on a different, well known beach, and then hit the official opening night of the fair, which was quite dramatic with a downpour of raining starting not long after we arrived.

I had just enough time to pick up these perfect-me butterfly, mushroom, and moon and stars overalls I had eyed the day before upon our arrival.

Then we all headed into the main hall to escape the rain and explore the huge variety of crafts, produce, flowers, and art entries and ribbon winners.

All of it was amazing – the produce incredibly beautiful and giant, including this Jack-and-the-Beanstalk award-winning sunflower that reached from ground to ceiling.

The night ended shorter than it would have been, but we did get in a delicious meal from the vegan truck and listened to music before heading home to get out of the rain. This all just meant we’d be coming back yet another day for the rest of the fun the fair offered, so we could enjoy things by sunshine.

The next day found us shopping for an upcoming event we volunteered for – Dave and I aided his mom in creating a vegan lemonade hour after her Sunday church she attends. I found the markets so beautiful, warm, and quaint. All of the produce and offerings were colorful and bountiful, including many vegan finds.

Even the local kitties reflected the feel for the energy in the air of these late Summer days on the island.

Anyway, Dave’s mom has done a couple of these vegan offerings to help expose people to other options, doing just simple fruit and baked dishes with a friend. This time we were going to do things up a bit more. So we went shopping for the things we needed. More on that later.

Afterward Dave’s mom took us on the most enchanted trail walk ever called “Island Folk Pottery’s Sculpture Trail” set in this magickal forest.

Julie chose this specifically for me, knowing the kind of thing I would love and she was absolutely right!

She also thought it may inspire me and she was double right!

I got a lot of idea add-ons for things I would love to do in our outdoor space here at home while getting completely swept up in the enchantment of it all.

This was truly a special experience that felt close to heart.

It was like walking through a whole other reality – well my reality lol! – come alive, as if you slipped through a portal to the Otherworld or the veils lifted and worlds merged.

It was complete with portals, castles, magick mirrors, sentinels, tree spirits, fae, elementals, and flying dragons…

circling Titania…

that match her dragon tattoo. Hehe!

I’ll let the photos do the talking.

There were nature cabinets and armoires to open and discover thing inside every door or drawer.

There were faery tale books and poems, as well as sacred rituals to explore.

But mostly there were eyes a-watching from every hidden corner and nature spirits holding their ground to invisible doorways, realities, and potentials.

We even stumbled upon the bones and fur of a full animal along the trail – quite potent and of course, to me, sacred.

We picked up another vegan lunch after the stroll down faery lane, and enjoyed it back on our home-away-from-home deck before some more beach time. It’s great there were so many healthy and yummy, fun vegan options on this small island for us to enjoy.

We then concluded another well-rounded day with a special Oak Bluffs Fireworks summer night.

This was a spectacular display over the water, but because of winds they shut down the beach fireworks area and only shot fireworks off of the barge.

This was a safety response to embers and smoke blowing into the crowds.

This didn’t seem to alter the amazing show, which we enjoyed from our beach chairs on the lawn while enjoying munchies we picked up on the downtown streets lining the marina.

There were a lot of “oohh’s” and “aahh’s” from the crowd and squeals from our niece.

The next morning, while Dave enjoyed a bike ride with his brother, I got the first part of our church food offerings going – Fudgy Date and Coconut Balls. Beach time was always our go-to in between to enjoy a swim, rock hounding, relaxation, and integration, so that followed the morning events. And off we all went back to a sunny day – this time – at the fair again.

This time was filled with rides Dave and I took our niece, Violet on – you likely recall her from past posts and the faery time she and I have spent together, as well as her magickal time meeting and being with Astrid.

Lots of screams, giggles, and yummies took place.

We returned to the vegan truck getting the same dishes as the first night because they were SO good and we just had to immerse in a plate of cinnamon and powdered sugar fried dough balls.

The experience was full of color and high vibed energy – even the dinosaurs wanted in on the action and kombucha-fueled time.

The day didn’t end there, as this night was the 28th year anniversary of “Built on Stilts.”

Everywhere you turned the streets were filled with charming delights and colorful blooms that mirrored the variety of creativity this event would showcase.

This is a community event that spotlights dancers, artists, and performers from the island of all experience levels to share their passion and gifts with everyone. Each evening has about eleven or so performances and is kicked off with a drum circle.

What I found interesting is that on the first night we went to this – we went two nights in a row – during the first drumming I suddenly felt this sharp pain at my right side of the head area just behind my ear. It came on suddenly, but as they slowed the drumming and transitioned into a different harmonic, it disappeared just as spontaneously.

I instantly felt that something had been awakened and was tuning into the energy of the land. I then went to look at the performance pamphlet they handed out and read the description. There was a section on “Land Acknowledgment” that shared “We respectfully acknowledge that Built on Stilts and its collective are situated on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of Noepe, the homeland of the Wampanoag people. We honor their connection to this region and recognize their continued, permanent presence here. We give thanks for the past, current, and future opportunity to live, work, and learn on their homeland.”

This answered what I felt.

The night was fun and each performance added a color to the tapestry of this community and to the value of creative expression at large.

We woke to an early start with me cooking up vegan smoked tempeh bacon over three skillets for the vegan blt’s Dave and I shared in creating for The First Congregational Church. I did this while Julie put together her fruit skewers and dates stuffed with toffuti sour cream and topped with hot pepper jam. We found the perfect, beautiful rye bread I had imagined for the blt’s and Dave did a great job assembling and cutting them up. We made forty balls, forty finger food sandwiches, and all the rest you see in the photos.

We got there early to set up, and just as mass was ending (which was also streamed online – this is a very progressive church in all ways and inclusiveness), we slipped out during the last hymn, and prepped the lemonade and last touches. Dave’s mom even created a table with books people could take home to read and learn.

It was a HUGE success.

We thought we may go home with some left overs, but not one bite of anything remained and everyone told us how incredible it all was.

They LOVED it and were asking questions and were so excited. We showed them how easy and yummy incorporating some plant based dishes can be. We had typed up recipes ahead of time and most of those were taken too.

We returned home to share a vegan bbq with the family, strolled the beach, and then took in a short kayaking journey similar to one I did with Dave here thirteen years ago.

We took the golf cart down to find the kayaks and then headed to the water to see what we’d discover along the way.

After, I decided to bake a morning bread with very ripe left over bananas that were going to waste otherwise – without a bread pan I turned it into a banana chocolate chip bread cake with chocolate icing, and we completed the day with another evening Built on Stilts creative performance.

Our next day was a full day of heavy rain and coziness.

This day of rain produced flash flooding on some parts of the island and brought four inches over several hours.

It created a nice relaxing day and Dave and I actually opted to take a walk up and down the road when the rain looked like it was lessening up…it then picked up and was a consistent downpour, but since we were already out and wet we continued on doing about three miles and it was very cleansing, fun, and potent with water pouring over us and thunder and lightning in the sky.

This was something we haven’t done in a long while – walking in the rain. It felt like an important part of the process of embracing the ease of letting go and allowing things to flow through. It also really reflected the importance of feeling all that lives within us and letting it have an outlet of expression and recognition.

This was the day of the Full Moon, which I thought was cool that the exact time of it where we were was 2:26 pm – my birthday in numbers as a rebirth energy of illumination. The rain did let up and clear for us to later do another walk together by the beach where we saw erosion from the day’s storm, and then to smell the freshly moistened grass through the beautiful fields between the beach and pond.

And that evening the girls decided to start a puzzle. I hadn’t done one in forever and found it quite fun. I continued working on my corner over the next couple of days and was disappointed I couldn’t stick around to finish it because it had become a bit of an obsession – enjoying the hunt of pieces fitting into pieces, and the minute details to weave together.

All very symbolic of life growth and the way I’m especially experiencing things right now.

It was a cozy and nostalgic kind of day that even their sweet dog, Oliver, wanted to snuggle into and bottle those sweet dreams up in with us.

This brought us to our last full day where of course more beach walks in the morning and beach time until lunch were enjoyed.

For two water signs, this was a favorite part of our daily rituals.

Are you noticing a lot of water and ocean energy infusion into our experience?

Adding balance, flow, cleansing, and extra essence joy to all the energetic dynamics and experiences.

Also a way to soak in the energies carried in the waters of this part of the world and rolling or crashing in on storyteller waves.

I definitely was feeling the ancient vibes of times long ago I spent in these oceans held in the droplets that washed over and around me.

And this was also held in the stones and crystals I was finding that were created by the glacier that ran through here once.

The crystalline sands between my toes and infused within each stone also whispered reminders of origins and the beauty of the transformational journey.

I felt more retrievals and merging taking place within – all infusing added layers of peace and joy to being in my skin.

During our beach walk we scattered some of Boojum and Sweet Pea’s ashes at a spot where Dave had once brought his twin soul cat, Kitty Boom Boom, feeling that it would be a nice place for them to roam too.

I loved how eight geese were up on the peaceful lawn ahead of us where we did our little ceremony and there was one beautiful rose blooming, which reminded me of Sweet Pea.

While we were out, Dave’s brother created a homemade pot of vegan chili for the family, which was amazing. We then accepted Dave’s mom’s invitation to go to contra dancing that night – something new for us both. My brother and sister-in-law joined as well for the first time. It was held at the Grange Hall.

We LOVED it! We learned about seven different dances all night and were laughing, sweating, and enjoying the energy of the live band and dancing with different partners the night away.

In between, at break time, there was waltzing.

This is a taste of things when the night was just beginning, but the crowd grew huge and the entire room was filled wall-to-wall with four lines of dancers.

Dave’s brother and wife left earlier than us and texted us they had prepared the fire pit back home – I had expressed my hope we could toast vegan s’mores while there and this was the night.

So by the light of a still nearly full moon mystically illuminating through the moving cloud veils, we enjoyed a late night outdoor roast.

During our trip we encountered many red tailed hawks very up close – three we nearly bumped on and one of which had just captured a snake that you can see here on top of the tree after he flew off from the trail we both shared.

We also had many osprey encounters including juveniles and nests just across the way from where we stayed. Daily wild turkey visits including a family with little ones, great blue herons and great white egrets.

I found a lot of feathers and of course beach stones of clear, smoky, and golden quartz, agate, jasper, calcite, feldspar, and so much more I have no idea what they are. I even found what appears to be some kind of sparkly black granite or a mix with tourmaline that has one gorgeous, smooth like-glass side.

And like that our time on the island came to an end.

That last morning our sister-in-law generously shared insightful and confirming, short readings about our Pluto transits – she’s an astrologer- which felt like a great way to frame things for our paths ahead and a closure for this trip.

We did a last hike through the green magick of the forest along the only small river on the island with Dave’s mom – where I found the black granite.

Then we said farewell to the Atlantic Ocean and found a recently transitioned nonvenomous milk/king snake (potent stuff), picked up a vegan pizza and made our way to the airport.

It was a full week of rich experiences and integrated depths.

We had another long, three connection flight day ahead, which turned into being a two-day adventure.

The short of this long ending to our travels was that our second flight was delayed and had us laid over in Chicago because there’s only one flight out a day. Synchronously, we had no plans or things to get back to, so we rolled with the changes and the delay turned into a little extra vacation bonus for embracing the joy of the moment.

This felt to be a supportive transition of “the in between” between our East and West migration back – a chance to integrate energies. If I had known ahead we’d be there it could have been an opportunity to touch in with a few people I know in the area, but being just a day and happening as it did, it felt meant to be our little vacation window and energetic reconfiguration, as well as a collective calling to be there to hold energy. From things I learned about later, it came through in confirmation that there was purpose for this particular drop-in on the Earth grid for things taking place in the unseen realms that could help rewrite and course correct timelines.

We couldn’t have imagined an impromptu lay over being any more perfect than it was – with everything aligning, coming together, and being so in tune in that time-out-of-time surreal and unexpected reality we found ourselves in. It felt to be a true portal between worlds and realities for us.

After our hotel voucher stay we found a nearby trail on Cricket Creek to enjoy where the cicadas and crickets were abundantly singing.

I even had a visitation from one that felt so potent to be able to hold and place next to my cicada sacred tattoo.

They have great meaning to me and were even part of my wedding vows.

My hawk eyes also tracked this sweet spotted fawn.

Her momma was not far ahead in the trees.

This was a beautiful gift since the only deer we experienced on the island where deer are plentiful, was one that we bumped upon and leapt quickly off into the forest before we could even see each other.

We then spent a full day at Navy Pier on Lake Michigan, getting one of the only four electrical hookups in the parking lot for our first-time-driving a fully electrical rental car. We celebrated with vegan ice cream cones from Ben & Jerry’s – I tried the new strawberry cheesecake flavor.

The rest of the day was filled with an architectural shoreline boat tour, which was fantastic, and a whimsical immersion in the butterfly pavilion (we all know I love butterflies and how meaningful they are to me).

It was such a joy to have butterflies fluttering around us and brushing my skin on fly-by’s. Dave enjoyed feeding them sugar water.

We especially remarked on how wonderful it was to see so many different varieties of butterflies and moths all coexisting peacefully together.

And of course it was very sacred to be a part of these minutes of their lives, since they live for only days or weeks.

From those excited to just be starting the first leg of that short journey. To those in the middle of it, mating, exploring, and going about their missions. To those at the end of their cycle and even one I held that had recently transitioned.

Their life is short, but sweet, fragile, but resilient, soft and graceful, but powerfully transformational and integral to life on Earth.

Every single, unique butterfly has a purpose and value.

There were so many beauties and it was such a joy for us – especially for me to be with my butterfly friends.

This is where a Rusty-Tipped Page graced my shoulder where the wings to my dragon tattoo flow from, and hung out with me for a long time.

I love this photo capturing a little girl peeking out or emerging from the right – a reflection of me being lit up in my little-girl-of-wonder mode when with and in nature.

I was a happy faery!

We then took a spin on the giant Ferris Wheel, enjoyed vegan burgers, and a long walk down the pier to take in the lake energy that is very different from our own back home.

We certainly made the most of our lay over, soaking in every minute of experience and self nurturing that we could possibly enjoy from embracing this gift in disguise of a “delay”.

We didn’t end up getting home until 2 am and in bed by 3, but I did find it interesting that when we stopped to pick up some quick groceries to have on hand, two coyotes ran across the parking lot ahead of us and we arrived at the very start of a two-day cold front with winds gushing.

Our first two days home, temperatures dropped from mid to high seventies and eighty, down to the high 50’s with an evening of rain that actually brought August snow to the very high mountain tops at 9000 plus feet.

It’s always interesting to me to observe all of the reflections of the journey, shifts, and transformations – as within so without.

Our first day’s hike back greeted us with this.

Followed by an evening thunderstorm and rain that lit the sky in stormy sunset colors through the forest.

Then opening up to quite a windy and cool second day that laid an expansive backdrop for the cleanse and change that the elements brought through.

We’re now back into the mid to high seventies and eighty range again, so everything really has been an integrative in between. Each really big change outwardly indicating big shifts inwardly.

On our third day’s hike back we stumbled upon an unusual sighting of a decapitated, dead marmot and just yesterday I brought home a big haul of Sierra smoky quartz – light to dark and even Morion.

I’ve been drawing in a lot of smoky quartz lately and the darker the more resonance I’ve had.

All of these things reflecting the movement of and focus of energies, as well as the continued changes of personal identity and inner workings to match this that are grounding and rooting.

My garden is currently giving off Autumn vibes.

By the light of early evening hours it’s hard to distinguish the color of late Summer blooms that are currently all in the gold, crimson, and fuschia color rays because the overgrown lush wildflower plants are drenched in golden green auras that weave everything as one.

But if you tip-toe closer and peek through from the vantage point of a faery, you just might see the hidden pops of color and other magickal creatures peeking back at you.

And just like that, after integrating back we’re heading off again on a new backpacking adventure in a whole new location and world. As you read this, we’re beginning our road trip. Will share more upon return, as it’s certain to be wondrous and full of more growth reflections and wayshower potentials.

Until then, I hope you can embrace and enjoy the journey even when twists and turns pop up that you weren’t expecting. There’s always something to glean or a silver lining and purpose to changes and delays. The more we learn to flow and align with it all, the more we can have every experience be filled with greater ease, peace, and of course….a little or a LOT of magick.

May we all, also, find ways of integrating the best of all worlds, old with new, and make differences into mutual bridges of enjoyment and value.

OFFERINGS UPDATE:

I can feel the transitional period beginning from season to season and I’m already internally starting to prepare for some big shifts coming this Fall and Winter.

Part of that includes a fun little surprise offering coming Monday, September 2nd on the Virgo New Moon, which also happens to be Labor Day – stay tuned!

Currently all crystal beings have been homed, but keep an eye out in the next couple of weeks as I have a feeling there may be a very small offering upcoming. I’ll know more soon.

The only current offerings I have right now are the potent Earth custom framed art portal – still wondering where its key energy will end up – and 1 spot remaining in the transformational Mentor Muse Program.