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Then What to Their Wondering Eyes Should Appear
This magickal Yuletide rendition of one of the most famous Christmas poems has become a favorite of mine. When it was originally shared with me in 2018 by a sweet friend, I did post it here on my blog. Today, I share it again with all of my friends, new and old, to ignite an extra bit of enchantment to stir in your heart as we edge to the end of 2020. The poem speaks to the spirit of the season and reminds us of its true nature and reason. It’s thought to be written by C.C. Williford.
Since Christmas Eve holds a most wondrous place in my heart and happens to be Joy’s birthday – my rabbit companion now a star in the bright sky – I felt to share it today, accompanied by a visual delight of our seasonal lights and simple, nature-inspired decorations here in our cozy mountain home on the forest. I’m also adding photos of the office and creative space I share with Astrid – however these lights are what enchant our room year-round. Hehe! Astrid and I love having wonder as our daily partner.
Wonder is a dear friend who has been with me through thick and thin. I never ever take for granted an encounter or experience no matter how often it happens. Every time the snow falls is the first time. Every time a squirrel runs by is a tender moment. Every time I see a tree, plant, landscape, way the light hits is always a sacred encounter. Every time I come across another being is a remembrance igniting a new depth of love. May wonder wander through life with you, enchanting each moment with possibility.
TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE YULETIDE
Twas the night before Yuletide and all through the glen
Not a creature was stirring, not a fox, not a hen.
A mantle of snow shone brightly that night
As it lay on the ground, reflecting moonlight.
The faeries were nestled all snug in their trees,
Unmindful of flurries and a chilly north breeze.
The elves and the gnomes were down in their burrows,
Sleeping like babes in their soft earthen furrows.
When low! The earth moved with a thunderous quake,
Causing chairs to fall over and dishes to break.
The Little Folk scrambled to get on their feet
Then raced to the river where they usually meet.
“What happened?” they wondered, they questioned, they probed,
As they shivered in night clothes, some bare-armed, some robed.
“What caused the earth’s shudder? What caused her to shiver?”
They all spoke at once as they stood by the river.
Then what to their wondering eyes should appear
But a shining gold light in the shape of a sphere.
It blinked and it twinkled, it winked like an eye,
Then it flew straight up and was lost in the sky.
Before they could murmur, before they could bustle,
There emerged from the crowd, with a swish and a rustle,
A stately old crone with her hand on a cane,
Resplendent in green with a flowing white mane.
As she passed by them the old crone’s perfume,
Smelling of meadows and flowers abloom,
Made each of the fey folk think of the spring
When the earth wakes from slumber and the birds start to sing.
“My name is Gaia,” the old crone proclaimed
in a voice that at once was both wild and tamed,
“I’ve come to remind you, for you seem to forget,
that Yule is the time of re-birth, and yet…”
“I see no hearth fires, hear no music, no bells,
The air isn’t filled with rich fragrant smells
Of baking and roasting, and simmering stews,
Of cider that’s mulled or other hot brews.”
“There aren’t any children at play in the snow,
Or houses lit up by candles’ glow.
Have you forgotten, my children, the fun
Of celebrating the rebirth of the sun?”
She looked at the fey folk, her eyes going round,
As they shuffled their feet and stared at the ground.
Then she smiled the smile that brings light to the day,
“Come, my children,” she said, “Let’s play.”
They gathered the mistletoe, gathered the holly,
Threw off the drab and drew on the jolly.
They lit a big bonfire, and they danced and they sang.
They brought out the bells and clapped when they rang.
They strung lights on the trees, and bows, oh so merry,
In colors of cranberry, bayberry, cherry.
They built giant snowmen and adorned them with hats,
Then surrounded them with snow birds, and snow cats and bats.
Then just before dawn, at the end of their fest,
Before they went homeward to seek out their rest,
The fey folk they gathered ‘round their favorite oak tree
And welcomed the sun ‘neath the tree’s finery.
They were just reaching home when it suddenly came,
The gold light returned like an arrow-shot flame.
It lit on the tree top where they could see from afar
The golden-like sphere turned into a star.
The old crone just smiled at the beautiful sight,
“Happy Yuletide, my children,” she whispered. “Good night.”
A Winter Solstice Visual Spell to Activate the Light Within
Today’s Winter Solstice (for the Northern Hemisphere – Summer Solstice for the Southern Hemisphere) is imbued with rich possibility, accentuated by the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn forming a rare Christmas Star. These two planets will be the closest they’ve been in 800 years. Innovative Aquarian energy has anchored as well, and so there is a fresh reset for humanity at hand.
Winter Solstice celebrates a return to light and provides a regenerative portal to honor the remembrance of this light that you are, for making those leaps in consciousness by moving within to shine your own light even when no one else around you is, and to “see the light” even when things get dark and you’re unsure of what to do, where to go, or even how to think or feel.
Through inward focus you can receive insightful guidance on the months and year ahead. Perhaps you might envision the light and inner fire of your heart and soul expanding and filling your entire body and emanating out and joining with the light of our Great Central Sun, allowing yourself to take up more space and be who you really are.
We need each of you standing in essence, more than ever.
This quietude and dreamtime mirrors the germinating seeds lying under Earth’s winter-kissed skin. Nature awaits renewal in the stillness of brisk air and clear stars. While much seems asleep, everything is percolating.
Today I offer you this visual spell I was guided to create as a way to help activate the light within. I stepped into essence and the child I was born on Earth to be, recapturing the dance and song I used to share as a little girl to all who visited us. There was a time I would tell stories through my dance and the music moving through my spirit – it was an energetic dance shared heart to heart.
The root of my name, Tania, comes from Titania – The Faery Queen. I was born a Winter February baby and with Jupiter and Venus in Aquarius, the energetic landscape upon us feels right at home.
From the essence of which I was named and that I be, I drop into my heart and spread love and harmony throughout the land.
It is my hope we remember and embody the nature of kindness and compassion, come to live with each other, every living being, and Earth’s realms in true cocreative partnership, and open our hearts to the creative magick within each of us to manifest new realities for the highest good of all concerned.
Along with the visual spell, here is a Winter Solstice Spell from Ben and Christina of Wytch Wood (my favorite Vermont Magick Maple Creators):
Winter Solstice Spell
Winter is here, and as I light my space,
Bring forth only love and peace in my place.
Accept my Yuletide offerings to help my wishes come true,
May there be wisdom in all I do.
Abundance flows generously, to me and through me,
I place blessings and love to all beings on land and sea.
Earth Spirit, this is the year’s last cycle learning,
And I welcome the next season turning.
My candles are burning free,
as the sun returns, so it shall be.
Blessed Be and So it is.
Summer’s Lazy Haze
As Summer sweetens into a lazy haze, my bare feet find solace in the thick cool clover reminding me that my blossom friends will return again.
Hints of auburn and gold Autumn hide between pine needles and sneak up each morning after anointment of faery wands dancing through the night.
Late afternoons and darkening evenings glow by the silvery song of the tree frog.
He croaks outside the door to call in a mate and his voice is both sweet and sad. I hope he won’t be alone for long.
This bitter and sweet lingers on the air of transition, as I say goodbye to the last of the foxgloves and hello to the seasonal wildflowers that seem to come and go in a blink.
Life spans are shortened like the days and light, as a mystique rolls in on the Zephyr winds.
Change is rumbling through the Earth and our bones, as seasonal circadian rhythms take on a new dance with the forest creatures in preparation.
My feet sink deeper into the cool clover; toes curling into their memories.
Whimsical Wednesdays ~ The Artist’s Corner: Wondrous Gifts from the Elemental Realm
Who better an artist to highlight whimsy, magick, wisdom, and harmony all woven imaginatively together, than the Earth Spirits themselves? Today’s short share brings to light how the Elemental Realm has been so sweetly showering us with surprises here in the days leading up to our wedding, and how much delight it has been to receive these generous and thoughtful gifts.
My sweet friend Mari pointed out how our Forest Portal Faeries are having a joyous time making sure that there’s a continuation of celebrations leading up, on, and following the big day – remarking on how they enjoyed sprinkling the sparkly powdered dust to create extra snowy enchantment that they know we both love.
The magickal snow seemed to enchant the garden too, as right after, my yellow lilies began to bloom right outside of my office and shared room with Astrid.
They evoke such joy, warmth, inspiration, purity and light heartedness. Seeing them makes my heart smile and believe in happy endings.
They anchor the path along with the welcoming yellow daisies in my garden and create a beautiful aura of energy in synergy with all my pink, peach, purple and white foxgloves blooming.
I have beautiful little blue faery flowers also blooming in the rock garden to the right of the lilies creating a lovely contrast.
I can’t wait until all the rest of the flowers burst with joy. I saw my first pink rose bud pop up at the same time the yellow lilies opened and all the wildflower plants and clover we seeded are all growing wonderfully too.
It’s the little things that make a difference.
The late morning before the surprise snow fall, we went on a crisp walk along the lake where I found four large geese feathers and another beautiful great horned owl feather.
Alongside the refreshing winds of change and clarity that day, these treasures were very meaningful.
There’s also continued to be a lot of new adventure hikes revealing inspiring vistas, sweet beauties, and unusual hidden things for my wondering heart to enjoy.
This included finding the largest sugar pine cone I have yet to discover at nearly two feet long from stem to end.
It’s exactly 21 inches! I thought the one I already have sitting on my desk was big, but this one towers over it nearly 6 inches more! I learned from another friend that pine cones were the first flowers so they carry ultra ancient wisdom and energy.
I looked it up and found amazing scientific information on it dating back 130 million years ago! Incredible! Also interesting is “the likelihood that a single male cone was responsible for the world’s first flowering plants owing to the elasticity of their genetic structure.“
I knew some of the symbolism of pine cones, but this info really put a new spin on them for me. I even read that in 1244 BC in Egypt they found an Osiris staff with pine cone at the top entwined by serpents rising up to meet it. The pine cone is associated with the pineal gland, spiritual consciousness, enlightenment, and eternal life. To be gifted such a huge one is something else.
The largest pine cone found according to the Guinness World Record is also a sugar pine at 22.9 inches. So, yes, I’m quite in awe by this massive cone gift that now sits beside my other one on my desk bringing in the ancient wisdom and forest energy to my creative space.
Other fun finds and sweet gifts have been little faery bell wildflowers, tons of lady bugs landing on us, swallowtail butterflies dancing between us, serene lush beauty that provided a natural healing
attunement for me during a solo hike on Sagittarius’ Full Moon Lunar Eclipse, a dreamy spot
where you can swing from a tree overlooking inspiring beauty, an incredible little cabin hut
someone is building off-trail out in the middle of the forest, and a carved stump made into a mini throne/chair also found hidden in the forest.
But these Earth Spirit gifts are not just for my/our eyes alone.
Earth Spirits show up in our lives to teach, guide, nurture, heal, inspire, and so much more.
They are way-showers to self-nourishment, living in harmony, stability, and abundance, and showing up responsibly and compassionately in cocreation with all life and consciousness on Earth.
The Elementals of air, water, fire, earth, and ether are spirits that embody varying forms of energy to assist with different aspects of life. Within each Elemental family there are varying creatures, beings, tree, plant, mineral – crystals, rocks, and stones – spirits, and life forces that help us to understand our place within the rhythms of nature and this world.
We can learn and receive so much from the subtle and potent messages they bring us that ultimately fine tune us to both our Earth and Cosmic selves.
They offer us ways to feel lighter, more flexible, listen within and trust, support greater creativity, imagination and inspiration, help us to clear and balance, experience more grace and flow, learn the secrets of transformation and purification, increase our vibrancy, awaken our dynamic nature, pave a way for clearer communication with all life forms, provide soulful illumination, meld instincts with heart guidance, strengthen and ground our life force energy, and overall guide us to raise our vibration and live in greater alignment.
As we open our hearts more to all that is going on in the world, let us not forget we have powerful allies within the Elemental Realm, too, that show up in the most wondrous of ways.
Monday Musings ~ The Writer’s Corner: Magickal Rituals & Tales from the Forest Portal
While I’m immersed in painting portal flow working on an author’s book cover, creative writing has been coming through me in small channeled snippets during a mini novel break. I love how everything interweaves together and supports the other. So, in my own short book hiatus, I’m still very much writing and book focused, with simple musings and artistic inspirations. These are two recent channelings that came through, inspired by the forest and my enchanted garden, which I shared on Instagram and compiled together for my sweet blog friends. I hope you enjoy and/or find your own inspirations from them. One friend called the tree channeling a magickal spell in ritual. In both musings, the words glided through me, but were both me and not me. Enjoy.
INVITATION TO THE GRAND SUMMER BALL
The flower faeries are beginning to appear and invitations to the Grand Summer Ball have gone out.
Some can hardly wait and have thrown on their gowns while they make preparations.
They are the way-showers for all the new faeries of this realm and ensure pollinator guests for when they make their appearance.
The mainstay perennial hosts have returned with vigor and in some cases multiplied with glee. They are cycling in intervals with many yet to bloom and others taking the plunge into early brilliance. They encircle the enchanted garden bed – the ballroom stage for this yearly celebration – awaiting the tiny green shoots newly seeded this year that carpet the realm.
You can’t make them out, but I assure you they sprout with glee to reach the sunshine and join the dance. Sparkling butterfly and dragonfly guardians decided to watch over the garden this year too, and send out beacons to all their family, inviting them to what could likely be the biggest celebration this realm has yet to see.
There’s even been an addition to the serving stations to ensure all forest creatures can easily hydrate during the jubilee. Alongside the larger standing water bowl and bath anchored with a quartz crystal center, there’s now a small sunflower dish with bird hosts watched over by a pair of rabbits with solar succulents that light the way for forest creatures of the in between hours. In this way the ground dwellers like rabbits and mice can sip of its contents, while the birds, chipmunks, squirrels, raccoons, and opposums can continue enjoying the higher water station.
There is much excitement and many whispers throughout the land, calling in the seen and unseen creatures of the forest portal.
Summer Solstice is near and everyone is doing their part to make it a beautiful celebration.
* * * * * * * * * *
GREAT TREE
Oh Great Tree your roots carry the whispers of times forgotten, your branches see times yet to come, and yet your strength is in the presence you bear witness to unconditionally.
You are a portal to your Mother, The Cosmic Tree, through which multidimensional experience is woven.
Pressing my heart to yours I remember.
Monday Musings ~ The Writer’s Corner: Twas the Night Before Yuletide
My dear friend Mark of Ravenwood Inspired, who also happens to be the wizard behind making me two new fantastically magickal Faery wands (one of which just arrived recently in time for the Solstice), sent me this version, below, of one of the most famous Christmas poems. I have to say, however, that I really love this one a lot more and I think you’ll understand why.
I thought it would be perfect for today’s Monday Musings. It also reminds me of my Russian Tortoise, Gaia, and celebrates this sweet Eve that is also Joy’s birthday (my sweet angel rabbit who returned to the stars).
If you haven’t heard or read it, I hope you enjoy this enchanting Yuletide rendition that speaks of the spirit of the season and reminds us of its true reason. The poem is thought to be written by C.C. Williford.
We’ll be back to regular Monday Musings next week, which will feature more poetry and other works by a sweet author friend of mine. Stay tuned!
Until then, I hope you enjoy a beautiful holiday evening, however you choose to celebrate this time of year.
I’m about to jump into my snuggly bunny onesie, enjoy Christmas lights by the fire, prep a yummy meal and dessert, and get ready for the continuation of the new Watership Down miniseries and present opening.
Wishing you a beautiful Christmas Eve.
TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE YULETIDE
Twas the night before Yuletide and all through the glen
Not a creature was stirring, not a fox, not a hen.
A mantle of snow shone brightly that night
As it lay on the ground, reflecting moonlight.
The faeries were nestled all snug in their trees,
Unmindful of flurries and a chilly north breeze.
The elves and the gnomes were down in their burrows,
Sleeping like babes in their soft earthen furrows.
When low! The earth moved with a thunderous quake,
Causing chairs to fall over and dishes to break.
The Little Folk scrambled to get on their feet
Then raced to the river where they usually meet.
“What happened?” they wondered, they questioned, they probed,
As they shivered in night clothes, some bare-armed, some robed.
“What caused the earth’s shudder? What caused her to shiver?”
They all spoke at once as they stood by the river.
Then what to their wondering eyes should appear
But a shining gold light in the shape of a sphere.
It blinked and it twinkled, it winked like an eye,
Then it flew straight up and was lost in the sky.
Before they could murmur, before they could bustle,
There emerged from the crowd, with a swish and a rustle,
A stately old crone with her hand on a cane,
Resplendent in green with a flowing white mane.
As she passed by them the old crone’s perfume,
Smelling of meadows and flowers abloom,
Made each of the fey folk think of the spring
When the earth wakes from slumber and the birds start to sing.
“My name is Gaia,” the old crone proclaimed
in a voice that at once was both wild and tamed,
“I’ve come to remind you, for you seem to forget,
that Yule is the time of re-birth, and yet…”
“I see no hearth fires, hear no music, no bells,
The air isn’t filled with rich fragrant smells
Of baking and roasting, and simmering stews,
Of cider that’s mulled or other hot brews.”
“There aren’t any children at play in the snow,
Or houses lit up by candles’ glow.
Have you forgotten, my children, the fun
Of celebrating the rebirth of the sun?”
She looked at the fey folk, her eyes going round,
As they shuffled their feet and stared at the ground.
Then she smiled the smile that brings light to the day,
“Come, my children,” she said, “Let’s play.”
They gathered the mistletoe, gathered the holly,
Threw off the drab and drew on the jolly.
They lit a big bonfire, and they danced and they sang.
They brought out the bells and clapped when they rang.
They strung lights on the trees, and bows, oh so merry,
In colors of cranberry, bayberry, cherry.
They built giant snowmen and adorned them with hats,
Then surrounded them with snow birds, and snow cats and bats.
Then just before dawn, at the end of their fest,
Before they went homeward to seek out their rest,
The fey folk they gathered ‘round their favorite oak tree
And welcomed the sun ‘neath the tree’s finery.
They were just reaching home when it suddenly came,
The gold light returned like an arrow-shot flame.
It lit on the tree top where they could see from afar
The golden-like sphere turned into a star.
The old crone just smiled at the beautiful sight,
“Happy Yuletide, my children,” she whispered. “Good night.”
Where Do We Go From Here? ~ New Realities Underway
Wow! Where do I start? It’s always hard to find the words that will encompass the totality of experience had, but since this is impossible I can only do my best to express what feels most important to impart from my heart. The last week, as you know, I’ve been immersed in the alchemy of weaving cycles into seamless progression while sweet Laura joined for a Faery visit and an important Equinox and Full Moon gathering. We had no idea what was in store, nor the totality of reasons for it all, but we followed the nudges and committed to seeing it all through.
I’ll do my best attempt at summarizing the key points and expressing the nearly impossible to put into words. I’m also only sharing a fraction of the photos taken during this week, although if you’re on Instagram you can see more of the nature and magick we were gifted via that channel.
For sake of energetic completion and being that this was also the first and last time for Laura and I to teach together, most of what is shared is the synergy between us through photos, as we journeyed the spirals of experience.
And what a powerful, but gentle and nurturing week it has been for us and everyone. This softness mirrors the extensive work we’ve both been doing to get to this point and unlike more dramatic or even intense times we’ve been known to share and heal through, this was instead very anchoring, supportive, and empowering of the choices we’ve made and the paths we’re being led forward on.
All of it beginning just before the Equinox, as we came together for the first time in two years. We noted that the gaps between in-person visits are shortening, whereas they used to be years upon years in the beginning. Now it’s turned into a yearly or bi-yearly event and feels to mirror the quick shifts and activations that these gatherings both reflect and create.
This led us to 9/22’s event that brought 11 of us together for a very special gathering, which I’ll share a bit more on since it is a marker point for many. Even the number felt, once again, to reflect divine alchemy at work, given its potency, our address being an 11, and our house blessing with the Gaden Shartse Monks also bringing together 11. I’d been led to prepare bottles for all of us, equaling sharing the holy water they left us for the participants to take away from our time together, as well as to receive extra activation they could then bring home to use. Each bottle was lovingly prepared and infused with quartz, amethyst, and golden selenite blossom crystals, fastened with a butterfly and three Steller’s Jay feathers from the Forest Portal.
I had a feeling 11 is what was meant to be, which was then reiterated by my only having 11 bottles. And this logistically worked itself out due to 1) our change of dates that made others who wanted to come unable to and 2) the shuffling around of energies that created last minute drop-out and synchronous incidences with others that put in place those that were meant to be here. Things always work themselves out for the highest good when we release attachment and expectations and although we would have loved having all who originally felt called here, we know that everything has its perfect reasons.
Astrid was a huge part of preparations, both energetically and with details, working her magick as she does. And although she chose not to make a physical appearance during the event, she was there right beforehand, running laps and jumping exuberantly, as she sprinkled her magick and moved the energy to get it ready for everyone. I later discovered that 9/22’s Equinox was also International Rabbit Day and so I know she was ultra busy not only anchoring and supporting energy from below us, but also sending out energy to the rabbit collective.
It was also a weekend pilgrimage that seemed key to the event, as everyone who gathered came from out of state or drove in from out of the area. So although Laura and I didn’t know the full why’s of this seed idea that manifested, there was no doubt it was meant to be, which was reiterated when we all came together and heard the reflections for why each soul was there that involved huge transitions on one level or another.
There would definitely be personal evolutions ignited, but also collective significance for this powerful group of Sacred Feminine energy to gather as we’ve done in another time and place before.
To add to the alchemy, we also had within our group, representatives of the Maiden, Mother, Crone energies with a mother, daughter, grandmother trio, as well as an unborn coming through one of our lovely members who was 34 weeks pregnant. Talk about potent – it’s things like this and so much more, that you just can’t make up.
Nor could I have asked for a more perfect closure to my last teaching experience (at least in this vein and platform), but also as the marker for the end of everything I’ve been doing up until now, which has been a full circle closure to all versions of me from other timelines/”past” lives. I’m very ready to move forward and retrieve future me’s, instead, to merge into now.
It was an incredible gift and honor to be with everyone who joined us for a day that blended a workshop experience with nature immersion time and concluded with quite the sacred ceremony for activating the new – a ceremony that was joined by many of the avian clan around who chimed in with their songs and calls, beginning with Ravens, and where the Wind blew through at very aligned moments, while the Sun cast its timely light.
The day before the event, my dear wild rabbit friend, Blueberry, had also made his first appearance in months making it clear he, too, was preparing the energy at the Forest Portal along with all of his friends. It was also the big reveal of my staff I made in time for the event, which was part of the ceremony in opening the new portal timelines for us each to walk through. Perhaps I’ll share a photo in a future post.
Topics included tapping into our multi-dimensional selves, working with our timeless selves and creating new realities, communicating with other worldly and cosmic beings, animals, and Faeries, sound healing, shapeshifting, ways to recognize and trust what’s within, tapping into greater empowerment and embodiment of essence, perspective shifts that help you to live a more magickal life, several powerful meditations and exercises, and more.
It was quite the day where time merged and felt both short and endless and brought together souls we’d either never met in person, this life, or souls we hadn’t seen in years.
Each and every soul that was with us is incredible and powerful beyond what they even know, but hopefully are now truly feeling the truth of and understanding even more.
The potent sharing concluded with a fun and yummy pizza night out with everyone except one person who needed to get back home, before the rest of the group headed out that evening and the next morning.
A few people remained for the next day, which enabled us to share a gorgeous hike that integrated more nature time for grounding.
The messages were clear and the energy seeded during our time together will continue to grow and blossom in the days to come. My gray mouse friend just came by the sliding glass door, as I wrote this.
The message of re-membering who we are, lingers.
And the rest of the time Laura and I were able to focus our energies on receiving the gifts of now, nurturing ourselves after all we’ve been through up to this point, reflecting on closure, and visioning the futures we’re now focusing on.
What we noticed was great peace, clarity, and anchoring of everything and we did that through moving the energy via hiking, talking, and touching in at various potent areas.
We also noted how some experiences and things that showed up were specific for one of us, where as other things were meant for both of us.
This reconnecting time also gave us the chance to have a Faery reunion in Reno with our dear friend Timothy Glenn, whom many of you know from Laura’s blog and his astro-insight updates. We picked right back up from our over 11+ years of last having seen each other all together and continued the Faery feasting we used to do after workshops and gatherings.
We then got to visit Storey County’s old Virginia City in the Virginia Mountains where we loaded aboard the train taking us forward and backward in time (literally) through tunnels along the old mining grounds of the 19th century mining boom, visited two sister crystal shops where we found special items to take home for the adventures ahead (I even found a 5 piece broken crystal geode in the dirt as we strolled), walked down memory lane through the historical little city, giggled to tears, and stopped at the 111 church that seemed to message completion for things Laura had felt drawn to go here for.
The rest of the week was full of morning and day hikes, relaxing, rest, talks of what’s to come – interesting that these are “now”and “future” oriented whereas before we would focus on “past” events we were healing and integrating, Tarot readings for each other, and of course LOTS of continued yummy Faery feasting.
We also shared a Full Moon activation we did for each other with Astrid assisting. We used new wands I got for us as gifts a few months back, but at the end of the activations, I went to put my wand back with the wand Laura had given me two years ago and the older one flew off my shelf, breaking the quartz at its tip perfectly in half. It was evident I’d made a clear cut and closure with the old and when we contemplated the wand’s break, Astrid chimed in. I held up the point that broke in one hand and the wand with half quartz in the other, several times to her and each time she was quite adamant about the broken one being the new way and that it should stay broken, as to welcome in new energies through that opening. She did this by wrapping her teeth and mouth around it and giving it a little nibble, but nudging away the broken piece. Such a wise one!
And speaking of wise ones, we had quite a few potent visitors and sightings that shared their medicine including a fox. Oddly, but not surprisingly, I saw its reflection across the street in my mirrored closet door while I sat in my chair – basically reflecting it backwards to me and I called Laura over so we could look at it outside. Interestingly, a few women from our Equinox group also chimed in with fox synchronicities, as well as Laura’s husband.
I found an owl feather hidden in the birch trees.
Laura will share more about the fox and owl synchronicity in her share.
We also stumbled upon many Faery portals and stone and tree guardians, not to mention, were gifted gorgeous weather, journeyed to six lakes, crossed several creeks, and wandered enchanted forests.
But to continue with the animal spirit guides and sightings, we found the remains of a bird in the forest with feathers spread about.
Butterflies and dragonflies were always flitting about, along with tons of the usual forest creatures here.
A caterpillar wiggled across our path.
Sleeping and flying geese greeted us at the lake.
Hawks were in ultra abundance and turkey vultures also ventured forward near the end.
Steller’s Jays were prolific, but especially notable was an extremely sweet elder female that made a point of getting our attention and hanging out. I was particularly moved by her.
And an incredibly rare, beautiful, luminescent baby Rubber Boa made its appearance on our last big day of hikes. We both felt this one was for me, especially given my snake/serpent connection, snake dreams I’ve had recently, and the shedding of skin and big transformation I am making currently and ended with our Equinox gathering.
We (Laura, Dave, and I) even “accidentally” all wore animal spirit guide shirts without knowing until we saw this photo.
We each had our own very powerful reflections and mergings, but I’ll let Laura speak to her own things in her share.
What I noted for myself, also, was that before the baby Boa sighting we’d taken a photo together in which the a-line style of my top made me look as though I was quite pregnant and ready to give birth, as you can see here.
That felt symbolic of the new journey I’m embarking on and what I am literally birthing forth in creation with my book and what’s to follow. Being a baby boa truly indicated this new birthing moving through me and I noted it was the size of the serpent I wear as a sacred tattoo wrapped around my right wrist and hand.
I can’t thank everyone enough who said “yes” to this weekend’s Equinox gathering and events and opened your hearts more courageously. You helped make this a rich and beautiful experience for us all and without a doubt, for me. You are all truly leaders in your own right and through your example, are lighting up the collective grid into new realities of unlimited potential. Keep anchored in the energy we created together and call it up when you need to. You all have a very special place in my heart. ❤
And to Laura, thank you for being a constant supportive light in my own life and for always saying “yes” to the changes knocking at your door. I’m beyond grateful to have you along for this wild ride and to share many an adventure with. I’m so excited to see how our lives shift after this potent time together, since each time seems to invoke leaps. And although we do things differently, the parallels are uncanny, and it’s all more fun with you there. I can’t wait to see all the new you’re channeling through. I love and appreciate you. ❤
I found the entire week reiterating, anchoring, and freeing. There was also a very gentle deepening and sweet essence to everything and the clicking in of something that can’t be put into words, but merges the Earth and Cosmos within that I’ve come to know as me. Perhaps others are feeling their own version of this too.
It will be fun to see what evolves for everyone who was part of our gathering and in general, to observe the micro and macro reflections overall.
Where do we go from here?
That’s a question I pose to each of you. And ultimately, it’s an answer you get to choose how to bring forth from your heart into embodiment.
Regardless of the unknowns, I know it will be amazing.
May all possibilities be open to you.
~
Where Do I Go From Here?
During our week together, a very special Faery named Orla and Merlin piece (falcon, activating more of my Horus connection and new energies needed for the journey now) for my Wonderland office also arrived home to me – something I gifted myself for this time period and as an accompaniment to a magickal piece with a White Hare, three Moon Sylphs, and five toadstools that arrived earlier from the same artist just in time for the Equinox. These will be companions for my continued writing adventures – in fact, the Hare and Sylphs sit to the left of me on my desk. I also love the acorn caps and twigs on the Orla and Merlin piece that come from a huge old oak tree in England. The artist is going to send me a few more of these and something special from magickal Dartmoor from her time there as well.
And on the day I took Laura to the airport to head back home, a butterfly ring I’d gifted myself for this transformational stage in my life was ready for pick up, as I had it resized. That also felt especially potent since the butterfly was the very first symbol that came to me at the onset of my spiritual journey so long ago, as the symbol of my path, and was the first tattoo I ever got. So to now have this new ring was yet again a full circle ignited.
I’m spending this weekend finalizing a bunch of little things here, so I’m fully ready to jump back into my writing full time come Monday, October 1st. I had a great 2+ month break of closures and stepping away from my book to refresh since receiving it back from my editor. I know I’m ready to get going, as the last couple of nights I’ve been dreaming about my editor and editing again. Astrid is quite anxious, but has patiently assisted this transition. We are both VERY ready to walk fully into the new.
And part of that new also entails some fun artwork upcoming that I will be doing alongside my writing to keep a healthy creative flow going. These will be available when I do and will keep you posted on that.
There will also likely be a crystal sale update coming soon – so keep an eye out, as these move quickly.
I begin my new fitness program Tuesday, October 2nd to balance the very focused time ahead.
Synchronously this all aligns with what seems to be an initiation into my upcoming personal #4 year (in numerology) that kicks off in February on my birthday, which is the year of setting foundations – a more serious year after a lighter one. It involves a lot of deep cleaning, building, working in more structures to my life and systematic ways for optimizing and creating more effectiveness in the years to come. Although I’m still finalizing this last year’s energies, which will still weave into things, it seems I’m already starting to fasten my seat belt for the challenge of this new ride.
Full Moon Shifts & Potent Portal Possibility
If you haven’t already noticed, I’m a bit bunny crazy and the bunny energy just keeps multiplying, as rabbits do! My birthday gifts were full of bunnies (including a sweet donation to Save A Bunny in my honor and the White Rabbit ensemble pictured here), but I spent a low-key hoppy birthday week mixed with nurturing and reflection. I also experienced a big energy hop where things intensified on my birthday and then released a couple of days after, in alignment with the Virgo Full Moon. Since Astrid is a Virgo, there is definitely bunny synchronicity going on there too and I noticed some different behaviors in her as well.
As I mentioned in my last post sharing Lee’s Energy Update for March, I’ve been profusely immersed in the themes he speaks of – innovation and creativity – constantly feeling this impulse to create whether it’s baking up a storm (perhaps quite literally as we are in the midst of a 3-day snow blizzard), rearranging and decorating my office some more (will share that fun stuff in an upcoming post), transplanting and planting succulent fun, shifting my wardrobe, getting more clarity on the new directions I’m going and things I’m feeling called to implement, and finalizing the editing of my book (this last go around really shifting it the most yet).
The snow levels when I woke up this morning in our backyard forest
The snow levels from my office that have continued as I write this blog
It’s like my wellspring of creative energy is wanting any outlet possible, so I’m both going with that flow, but also being mindful of directing my energies so they don’t get too diluted. I know I have that tendency and am nipping it in the bud so that I can remain efficient with my intents and that Cappy energy wanting focus.
Virgo’s Full Moon yesterday kicked in a snow storm here and we’re already at, now, 2-3 feet at our 6600 elevation with more on the way today and tomorrow. We’re finally getting a true Tahoe winter and a late winter, as I predicted. A perfect send-off for fun snow shoeing out our backyard forest and skiing before we head to Arizona next week and our camping/trekking adventure in the Grand Canyon. Incidentally, I learned from KC, aka Bean, that the Grand Canyon’s 99th birthday as a National Park was on my birthday. Isn’t that a coinky dink?
But back to that energy shift briefly, I definitely think the Virgo energy was triggering the perfect alchemy in my Pisces counterpart, as I felt an influx of anxiety that was a mix of excitement and scary. I feel it was the realization of having tipped the scales and now am off the edge of the cliff with no turning back and it’s all about trusting what I’m feeling to do despite having no reference for it and no knowledge of outcome.
Incidentally, I was out driving two days ago, before the storm, to pick up some packages at our P.O. Box and the car in front of me had the licence plate, “TRUST.”
I wanted to snap a photo, but kept my hands safely on the wheel and instead voiced a thank you for the supportive message at the perfect time.
I was prompted to go even deeper into more levels and knowing that my Pisces self needs to implement full devoted Virgo well-being of self through fulfillment of my personal expression of “mission” for lack of a better word that I feel compelled to manifest. Although I knew this and have been on this path, all of my parts are helping me to ground deeper since I’ll be needing all the backbone strengthening possible for a spineless fish to move into the platforms I feel called to and the amount of empathic exposure and scrutiny I may be exposed to…a pretty big feat when you have to build and manifest what was never there, but not impossible! I’ve been working on that my whole life and this energy simply called for extra attention, which Astrid is so wonderfully assisting with for the bigger work I’m about to commit to. This was why the anxious feelings popped through, as Virgo energy can bring up these “what if’s?” about the future. It was a check-in and a review of “is this really what I want?”
In the end, I found my answer could only be “yes,” otherwise I have no reason to continue on here.
This Virgo Full Moon definitely turns our attention to how we manage our lives and to let go of that need to control everything, so that instead we can surrender to the fostering of our dreams through heart magick. This includes letting go of how and when those dreams manifest so that they do in a way that is for the highest good of all concerned.
The Virgo Full Moon also calls up our sensitivities and we may be easily triggered emotionally. As long as we understand what this truly is about, we can then take a breath and a pause to sink deeper into responding instead of reacting.
The Virgo Full Moon also helps us align with things most authentically in resonance so that we see what no longer serves us and our highest purpose and potentials. We can then let these go with love, knowing that anything less than supportive is simply harmful. If we allow others to drag us into chaotic dramas, this will only lower our vibration and create a feeding ground for more. Maintain your vibration above all else…I experienced this for an hour or two and was so proud of myself in turning what in the past would have taken me weeks or months, into a more profound barrier of “not on my watch.” Be grateful for these opportunities, rather than seeing them as weaknesses. You have the power to create alchemy at any moment through realization.
The Virgo Full Moon can draw up critical self examination and yet wants us to constructively love our parts as perfection in the puzzle of our personal tapestry of life.
So, it has been a profound and powerful birthday week here and I’m experiencing a further deepening into what it is I’m really doing here with the creative heart work I’m feeling called to.
And that leads to a fun and magickal announcement of potential, perfectly aligned with Virgo energy of service grounded in well-being for all.
Laura posted her workshops for March, which includes a possible workshop with me.
Yes, I may be coming out of my temporary teaching retirement for a co-creative and potent event.
And yes, it seems we’re feeling called for another in-person activation together, which is a rare event in and of itself…so a workshop will be quite something.
As Laura mentions, we are planning a visit for this Fall and seeing how there’s a potent alignment happening at the time we’re feeling, this could bring our long-felt brewing and percolating thoughts about co-hosting a workshop finally into manifestation.
We’re still feeling this out and what will be offered, but are putting it out there so you can share your feelings and thoughts as well.
Possible topics percolating, but not limited to, are “Faeries, Manifestation, Manifesting with the Faeries, Tuning into Nature, Everyday Magick, or some other inspiration TBA.” I have some other ideas evolving as well.
It would be held on 11/11/11, as 2018 is an 11/2 year at our magickal Forest Portal here in Lake Tahoe at an address that numerologically equals an 11 as well. Talk about potent.
This visit and workshop will be full circle for us, as this is where we first met – the Tahoe/Reno area – and everything we’ve gone through together first began, including my receiving Reiki Master Teacher training from her and many an adventure – oh my! Quite the energy activation in store we sense.
If this interests you, please let us know. Simply send a message via the link here.
Either way, we’re excited for this visit and look forward to the adventure of rewriting a new reality from this potent portal.
In a paraphrased version of my favorite Willy Wonka quote:
The suspenseful possibilities of what might open are terrible 😉 I hope it lasts.
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
Cultivating Inner Child Innocence
One of the things I’m grateful for and cherish most about my family is that my parents have always cultivated and kept alive the essence of the “inner child” for us. This is likely why they remain eternally youthful, both in appearance and expression, as they continue to play, be silly, laugh A LOT, and have fun always. My brother and I have continued in this vein, never fully growing up and keeping our innocence in tact, despite all that we’ve gone through in challenges.
Yesterday my parents came up from Reno to visit and we got to share with them our Forest Portal backyard, which was fun. My mom and I were two little Faeries, arm-in-arm, walking together along the path the whole way and me helping my mom across the creeks.
We stopped in the meadow where the light was dancing magickally, lighting things in gold, to take some fun Faery photos.
We peeked out from the grasses with mischievous joy and then rolled in endless laughter when my mom’s foot kept sinking into this dirt pile and couldn’t get back up!
I wrapped my arms around her to pick her up and we were stuck there in giggles until tears, unable to move for a while. Dave caught these fun photos of us.
The rest of the photos are of our walk and captures on the path, including some of the beauty, and our home on our return back.
Here are some words I’ve shared in the past about the power of the inner child and innocence.
Many of us have forgotten about our own inner child, or have lost it along the way, and in doing so, do not remember the power of hope and believing. Nurturing the imagination is vital and contains the ingredients necessary for manifestion. Anything you can envision and feel, IS possible.
When we realize that we have the power to manifest miracles in our lives, I believe we will responsibly learn to co-create. Whatever we choose to believe, is what our reality is. But if we don’t even know how to believe anymore or how to hope and dream, or how to choose consciously, then we are missing out on what life could be.
Doing my part is simply and authentically about expressing who I am, as a cohesive thread in the collective consciousness, through the unique form that I have to share (as we each uniquely have an expression of gifts to share with the world). In embracing ourselves and allowing that which we have inside to flow to all, we can create much beauty.
I have always resonated with children and animals, understanding that they hold a key to healing on a deeper level. Their naturally loving, expressive, playful, connective, and instinctual natures are important ingredients to integration. We have lost our innocence and natural ability to feel and to trust in our knowingness, as a result of forgetting our essence and from being out of tune with our bodies’ natural rhythms. Children and animals love us regardless of what we look like or how we may behave. They know what it means to love unconditionally and that is all they hope of us – that we will love them unconditionally.
Children are powerful in their vulnerability. In their innocent self expression, they emanate an aura of invincibility. To be vulnerable is to be powerful. Vulnerability is a sense of trust and the willingness to express yourself freely and without inhibitions. As we grow older, we lose our innocence and vulnerability, in place of self control and judgment. In a sense, we lose our authentic power.
Recapturing our child-like exuberance, opens the flow of joy and the electric energy of life to surge through us. To go farther than you ever thought possible, daring to explore the depths of your imagination, is truly being alive.
Dare to have fun, explore, laugh, love, believe, and dream. The world is yours to create. What do you want your life to look, feel, sound, taste, and smell like? Indulge your senses with your imagination…..
The child within awaits your loving recognition and nurturing, which in turn will unlock the door to your authentic and magickal experiences that await you.
Inner child work has always been a powerful seed “key” to creating change. And when done with unconditionally loving courage, can be the impetus for empowering yourself in unlimited ways.
We all have a child within that is in need of our loving acceptance. No matter how strong and self-reliant you think you are, there is a time for tender vulnerability in everyone’s journey that is needed to cultivate a garden that your child-like heart can creatively and expansively blossom in. This will provide astounding results in your current experience and with all that you intend.
As adults we carry with us false beliefs from the past that as children we learned to believe. A lot of that includes the things that we were taught was “wrong” with us and so the greatest rejection living with us today is the one to, and of, ourselves with these beliefs.
Listening to and softening our inner dialogue to embrace the perfection of all that we are, is a needed part of our daily practice. It is important to know ourselves to be whole and forgive ourselves, as well as revel in the quirky beauty that our inner child has to share.
Loving your inner child will support healing the darkest experiences by shining light on the beauty that was always there. This opens doorways that the Universe will support you with when you are willing to partner with it.
Tania Marie 