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A Little Woodsy Magick
Yesterday we decided to visit Fallen Leaf Lake, which we hadn’t in a while, for a simple hike and woodsy mission.
We were on the look out for some wood to create a special sculpture, as well as to take in some nature goodness.
The lake was still and mysterious looking, but no snow except in little patches in the woods and on the mountain tops.
It’s definitely continued to be a mild winter here, but always beautiful and surprising.
It’s been fun having variety where we can choose to ski, snow shoe, hike with crampons, or simply hike – all depending on where and what altitude we decide to venture in at any given moment.
Speaking of wood sculptures, we made a lot of fun discoveries exhibiting nature’s fine job as an artist.
This included beaver’s work and a natural turkey vulture or condor work of art, as this Faery explored the forest’s gifts.
We then stumbled upon this mega magickal tree.
It was love at first sight.
Only nature knows truly how to touch our hearts in the deepest of ways.
Faery bliss abound with this incredible tree that had two portals in it.
Love the energy coming off of it. I found this photo on my camera that “randomly” showed up when I was taking a photo of the side portal.
Some of the tree’s energy showed up glowing red and red violet.
Can you see?
Rich, rooted, and regal.
Such life force burning even after having gone through the fire.
Proof we can thrive even when burned and challenged.
Love sharing nature’s magick with you. We’ll see what’s in store today, as we head out on another hike.
Enjoy this beautiful day and get outside!
The Magick of Cosmo
Near or far never changes your presence in my heart and the magick you shower my life with. I love you more today and although you were only with us for a short while, your love is etched in my spirit eternally.
Three years ago, today, this sweet boy came home with me, forever stole my heart, and both changed and saved my life forever.
Today, I woke to the most snow we’ve had yet this season here at the Forest Portal.
No coincidence this fell on our anniversary.
It felt like a sprinkling of your magick, sweet Cosmo, coming through the portal here.
Thank you.
I love, adore, and miss you.
Not a day goes by that you aren’t felt or spoken of.
Your love and spirit are as pure as the powdered snow in this Winter Wonderland.
A Three Hour Tour, Cappy Energy & My True Song
It’s been incredibly fun and oh-so-good getting back into our outdoor groove again now that house renovations are finalizing. This has meant bigger outings and extra vigorous trekking, which has increased with excitement by fresh snow recently. I’ve always loved Winter, especially since I didn’t get to enjoy a true snow and four seasons, living in Southern California most of my life, but I’ve always really not liked all those layers and found myself bored with the usual winter wear (and hiking gear in general). I’ve mixed things up a bit here and there, but this year I vowed to make Winter (especially) fun and to reflect the inspiration and feelings it brings up in me that mirror my inner child.
Hence, you’ve been seeing a lot more unique colors and joyous vibes coming through my own unique style that showcases my heart on my sleeve – literally! No reason not to be all warm and giggly inside and out and to share with Nature how she makes me feel, even if she’s showcasing a white gown.
After all, they don’t call it a Winter “Wonderland” for nothing!
Trekking in the snow is a lot more effort (at least 2x’s as much and sometimes 3x’s if really deep snow and lots of elevation climbing is involved). So, where you might do more miles in the other seasons, less miles can equal the same in Winter.
That said, we’ve recently upped our game and took on the snow with vigor, doing 5-8 miles at a time.
You saw our recent snow shoe hike where we met up with our favorite little tree, which we named Tiny Tim after Cosmo’s nickname and our enchanting more tame terrain hike.
And yesterday it was a snow hike extravaganza up to High Meadows!
I’d like to call this “the snow hike we didn’t know we’d be doing” that ended up as an 8 mile adventure climbing 1470 feet.
It was a three hour tour into “beyond sunset” without the ship wreck, but was filled with giggles and enchanting nature surprises.
Our group made me the deciding factor to choose between either the easier route at the fork or the longer climbing route.
The “cappy” me (Capricorn mountain goat) said, “let’s go up!”
And we did.
Troopers everyone was on quite the trek!
I was trying out my new mega snow hikers for the first time, which rocked! We all wore crampons, but my hardcore shoes would have totally taken on all of it without them. I don’t know if it was them or if I was just on fire, but I conquered this climb and hike like never before and even better than in the warmer weather, which is quite something with snow and the increased amount of energy and effort this takes.
Or, maybe it was simply my “cappy” go-get-em attitude that’s been anchoring in more.
Another change I’ve been noticing is how hot I get when I’m in active mode. So much so I have learned not to layer up like crazy because I end up sweating and very uncomfortable. So I wear lighter layers and ones that will leave me the most comfortable. I actually had a tank top under my sweater this time and that suited me just fine! I’m usually the first and many times, the only one stripping off layers.
I feel like this increase indicates an increase in the energy I am channeling within and perhaps that is being mirrored in my dying cell phone – this time the battery is blowing out, which is why most of the photos recently you see are taken with Dave’s cell phone or Sharon’s (in the case of this post) because my cell phone dies and is useless anymore. I’ll be either getting a new super-charged battery to match my own inner energizer bunny battery within, or a whole new more robust energy one that can handle things and not poop out.
In any case, I’m noticing a lot of shifts energetically that are reflecting in physical and outer changes, as well as a “more me” embodiment inside and out than ever before, which includes the child and otherworldly me who is just overtly expressive of sharing my frequency with joy.
And speaking of that joy and oh how Nature brings out the best in me.
Moss and me = Faery weeeeee!
Loved this little moss, lichen, and icicle enclave we stumbled upon up the climb.
It was SO magickal!
And it was so me!
“The self must know stillness before it can discover its true song.” ~Ralph Blum
Spritely Mischief & Magick
There’s been a rainbow sprite sighting on the Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT). Keep your eyes open for mischief and magick in the High Sierra. You never know who or what you might see.
And what you might get yourself into and discover by walking with a light foot and heart through it all….and life.
Because every day should be filled with fun, giggles, mischief, magick, and weeeee! Heart tickles to you from rainbow sprite me!
It’s always a gift to get outside and explore what nature is up to each day. So much incredible discoveries, expansive views, tiny details, and portal potency.
Especially heart warming is getting to see our tree friend whom we helped and nurtured all last winter during the craziest snow fall here in Tahoe. You might remember my posts on him last winter. The huge drifts of snow would come down the mountain on him and had him bent over, highest limbs touching the ground. We’d dig him out every time we passed and give him love. So wonderful seeing him strong and having grown several feet already this year! He’s nearly straight and looks like he’s going to be just fine.
Other trees end up getting uprooted. What was also sweet is that right behind him a new baby tree is growing. I know he’ll take good care of her. The two photos of us each by the tree show how big he’s gotten. When it was my turn to get my photo with him I started walking toward him and tripped on a bush or root buried in the snow. We felt he wanted me there from that perspective, but also wanted to have a little fun with me. So we took the photo of me after my fall looking up at his beauty. That photo is above.
And below is the world of wonder as seen through a sprite’s eyes.
At the end of the day, it’s not how much you have or have accomplished that matters, but how much more your heart opened. Nature helps mine expand and deepen daily more than I thought possible. If you feel your heart tight like a bud or wilted and hurting in some way, let nature in. She has a way of touching the hardest to reach places and bringing a warm smile where you thought you never could feel again.
Snow Bunnies
Over the last two nights it seems our late Winter started to take a turn, providing us a Winter Wonderland to explore and immerse in. The last two nights have also amped up magickal dream time and visits through the Forest Portal here. Seems completing Wonderland was the activation for it all. Wonderland inside and out! Interesting, too, that the snow came right after that as well. We’ve had dustings of snow 2-3 times since we moved in, but this is the most we’ve had so far and not just at the higher elevations. It’s a huge contrast to last year’s mega Winter – the biggest in like 40+ years, but any variety Nature wants to throw our way is a gift and gorgeous, nonetheless.
It made for beautiful hiking yesterday and will be fun to explore snow shoeing in up at the higher elevations.
Faery T was able to get her Snow Bunny on yesterday and this morning I thought it would be a perfect introduction for Astrid to see if she, too, is a Snow Bunny and if she likes snow as much as mom.
I’m happy to report that she does.
I’ve always said she reminds me of the Snowshoe Rabbits I fell in love with in Montana and Canada and felt that was in her spirit strongly.
There wasn’t a whole lot on the deck outside of my office because the morning sun hits there warmly first. But it seemed the perfect amount for her to get her feet “wet” before going big.
I took a video of her very first snow day experience, which was adorable to watch.
I’d gone out, barefoot (hence my foot prints alongside hers in the snow) to set up a protective pen barrier so she felt safe and didn’t wander off into the great outdoors. She’d probably be fine, since this area is fenced off, but she may not want to come back in. 😉 She exhibited her curiosity right away in finding the small hole I wasn’t diligent in closing off, sticking her nose through near the end, but luckily I caught that before it turned into Astrid gone wild.
It was fun because I told her what was happening before it did and she was very curious, listening with bright eyes and alert ears. She played coy for a while, exploring her house and licking her gnomes and mushroom next to the open sliding door I left that way for her to go out.
Then she went for it, cautiously, but courageously.
I love the little happy thump she gave at the threshold of the door.
I can tell there’ll be many more snow days for miss Astrid, as she seemed to really like it. I can’t wait for there to be a lot more snow so she can play in it and get in deep. I’ll be sure to capture those sweet memories and share.
Two Snow Bunny peas in a pod we are.
Here’s Astrid experiencing snow for the first time – at least this life!
Finding Our Groove While Nature Changes Things Up
We’re finally down to the wire with house renovation work, which means we’re beginning to find our new groove with what life will be like here without all the commotion and activity of contractors. We are basically done redecorating (I think we’re only waiting on one piece of furniture to arrive) besides minor touches I’m sure we’ll continue to fine-tune over time, only have a hand full of contractor days remaining (that will be spread throughout now and end of the month (so no more daily invasions), and are starting to get back to our longer hikes and Dave’s been getting out skiing.
One cool thing that completed this last week was our downstairs room we made into an exercise/meditation room, which we’ve never had before, but because the physical is equally as important, this is a good integration room. We feel it important to bring even more body and resonant/aligned types of exercise into our lives when we aren’t out in nature doing that, alongside the peace and stillness we’re bringing in. That’s a good way to ground, embody, and manifest too!
And speaking of exercise, we got out on some bigger hikes this week, which included hiking from our house to the lake for the first time. The full loop is about 4 and a half miles.
We are only a two mile hike away from Lake Tahoe and whether you go one way and back or take the loop, you’ll find yourself meandering through a variety of beauty to include, creeks, forest, meadows, rock outcrops, ponds, beach, and yes, the huge ocean-like lake.
We also discovered that in 18 minutes we can walk to our favorite Thai restaurant from our house or the Italian place next to it that has yummy vegan pizza. There’s also a hot pot place and a sushi place in the same complex – all with vegan options – so we can basically walk down for lunch if we want, not to mention can either walk or bike down to the beach in the summer to avoid the parking crowds. The same distance the other way also takes us to Safeway and all the shops there.
We’re constantly hit with surprises on why this house was so perfect for us and definitely creates a wellspring of things to be grateful for.
Alongside settling into life here and being able to focus more on other things besides the house, we’re gearing up for our first visitors in about a week and a half here.
However, in the meantime I’m finding it REALLY nice to be in the peace of my new shared office with Astrid and seeing my list of to-do’s dwindle completely away so that my time is freed for my book fully once again.
That’s a huge phew! as although I know getting the house anchored in was important, I have been hearing the call of my path saying, “it’s time!”
I will soon share photos of our new magick room where Astrid and I immerse in the good energies together and are master minding the new, but for now I thought I’d share some nature inspiration.
We are having a warm and late Winter so far, which means we’re still hiking and not snow shoeing yet, as we’ve only had 2-3 inches of snow dustings here about three times, even at 6600 elevation.
There’s more snow at the higher altitudes, but nothing close to last year’s record setting amounts, at all levels, and the overflowing creeks and rivers.
You definitely can’t predict anything anymore and it just makes you surrender into the beauty and surprise of the moment.
Like this beautiful, large grouse I noticed and who seemed to take note of us very deliberately.
Anyway, for my blog friends AND my mom who diligently follows along here as well, I thought I’d share some of Nature’s beauty recently from our getting back in the swing of things here. I post on Instagram, but know not everyone is on a social media platform.
Enjoy!
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.
Everyday I Fall In Love A Little Bit More
Living here is such an incredible reminder of what is possible in terms of creating and manifesting reflections of my heart’s desires and having the peace I feel within, mirrored to me. When I first saw this house, despite knowing we would be doing a complete internal demolish and remodel, I knew the footprint, its energy, the layout, and the essence of the land here was meant for us. I always felt the end result and not the process and the Faeries kept reiterating this to me with signs, messages, and to continue to trust even when challenges arose. They told me to be patient and they would handle the details, which they did and have.
Although we’re still in remodeling mode, the major work is starting to wind down and we’re beginning to see the fruits of our labor come together.
This includes the magick of the forest land we sit on and our expansive forest backyard.
Yesterday our contractors left early so we had opportunity just before sunset to do a short hike out back. All of the photos you see here are of this trail we took from our home.
We have a whole grid work of hiking/biking trails right off our deck and yesterday we discovered a new one, which was this big loop that takes us through the forest, across a creek, along it, then through meadows, and back into the woods and along a second creek that then returns us home.
It was gorgeous and the light of the day had an aura of golden glow that just lit everything up with enchantment.
Soon this whole area will be covered in thick blankets of snow and we’ll be able to wander to our heart’s content on snow shoes. Dave intends to try out cross country skiing too, which will be perfect here as well.
To have this as our backyard is just incredible. I would say “pinch me,” but I know I’m not dreaming.
It’s taken me nearly 45 years of my life to get here, but it’s been worth the work and wait. Couldn’t have happened at a better time and goes again to show you that all things have their divine alignments, as now is when this all means the most to me and supports the next phase of life I’m entering.
Surprise Gifts from the Faeries
Every day is a gift, each moment is an adventure unfolding, and every breath is an opportunity for expansion. It’s been an incredible journey with surprises around every corner and most recently, surprises discovered in our own backyard. We haven’t yet moved into our new magickal dream house, but we visit each day to manage remodeling, care for our new trees, and when time allows, explore a bit of our enchanted forest garden. I’d made promises to the Faeries to work with the energy here and in turn they opened the doors for this house to manifest and have sprinkled hidden treasures to uncover along the way.
Back view of house
I’ve already begun to plant some seeds of new in our front yard for the Faeries, which include five daffodil and five iris bulbs that were gifted to me by Faery sis Laura. If all goes well, they’ll be blooming once the snow thaws, bringing enchantment and color to the entrance of our home, lined along the large trees and Manzanita where I felt called to place them. As mentioned, an earth worm showed up while I was doing so, which felt like an affirmation of placement and gratitude.
We’ve been starting to work on a few changes to the area just outside my new office as well, and have been dream journeying with ideas for the yard there that will become a Magick Sanctuary that will at some point include a labyrinth and more. A work in progress for sure and can’t be started until Spring. For now we are focusing on the inside of the house, as truly the yard is a Nature’s work of art already.
We knew this was a magickal space, sitting on the National Forest with only one house to the right that isn’t on top of us, but also aren’t year-round neighbors, however we continue to discover just what the Faeries had in store for us with guiding us here, as we uncover more of their surprise gifts each day.
Today marks seven weeks since my foot fracture, and I’m no longer wearing my healing boot. I’m now able to wear regular supportive shoes and am moving around well. This has enabled me to start doing some easy hikes and walks, which include the beginning of explorations in our forest backyard.
We have an endless circuit of hiking trails out back that lead all over, including connecting to the Tahoe Rim Trail. I have only walked about a mile so far, but in doing so last week, discovered some treasures!
Not only did the Faeries leave raw quartz directly behind the house and along the trail….gorgeous pieces of pink quartz….but we discovered some very cool things about where the house sits, including having views of Heavenly Mountain Ski Resort.
We are exactly smack middle of two year-round flowing creeks, literally just a quarter of a mile in either direction (we clocked it) and about 3-4 minutes walk. What incredible energy that is having flowing water and the magick of these little Water Nymph areas perfect for this Pisces.
Here’s a short clip of one. The other has a bridge over it. This one has a log bridge over it.
Throughout the trail there are beautiful granite outcroppings of large stones that create sacred areas and energy as well. Some are large and others smaller. In some cases create rings or circles, and in other cases are just deliberately placed and have distinct shapes. I didn’t capture all of these in photos, but this is one of the larger areas.
And to our surprise we have very tiny peeks of Lake Tahoe. Not the full, expansive view of our tree house, but indeed open channels and portals connecting her energy with our home, both seen from the deck and back rooms of the house, and also wider openings along the trail just yards out.
This became extra apparent as we were there at sunset and I saw what appeared like two Suns setting. Then I realized the second was actually the Sun reflecting on the water and I could actually see the waves rippling on the surface of the Lake.
They don’t show up in the photos much, but give you a tiny idea. In person, it’s quite magickal.
I love the streaming of water and light through these little doorways, which creates this incredible portal of flowing energy tying in so many elements here that it’s almost beyond words to describe the feeling of. It just feels perfect, aligned, and definitely meant to be, plus creates a lot more mystery, magick, and mischief!
The dances of light that have been present the last few visits at our home have been revealing too and excite me as to all that will continue to reveal itself when we do in fact live here and what will take place and become possible in creating.
Oh what magick we will weave with secret visitors abound!
I love this video of the light in the yard and if you look closely near the railing you’ll see this magickal little white energy flying through the air and following my movement…then disappear.
Gratitude overflows and excitement builds. Yet patience is my constant partner for all that lies ahead and is unfolding step-by-step.
Life continues to be a journey of trust, loving commitment, and continued dreaming…
Miracle Wishes & Autumn Delights
Yesterday was a beautiful celebration shared with Dawn and Miracle on our last day, for now, together on her Tahoe adventure. Astrid got to meet Dawn in person, deepening their connection, I got to share my home made butternut squash soup with Dawn for lunch overlooking the lake from our tree house, and we then went on two different forest hikes filled with Faery gifts, intentions ignited together, and light galore dancing with the trees and Nature all around us.
I was able to share our forest backyard with Dawn, which was delightful and had Miracle enjoying the water for her second time.
She loves to wade in if her mom does – so cute! And upon our hike we found incredible little golden, coral, and pink sparkly quartz just laced “randomly” in the forest left behind by the Faeries for us to find. I love finding them right behind our home, feeling like a trail of gratitude from them for the promises I’ve made in caring for and activating the land here.
Before leaving, we found a single dandelion on our lawn (the only one I’ve seen anywhere), which we decided was meant for making wishes together. So we sat intentfully with what we wanted to create and then blew away. Each time we blew – which was three – Miracle would turn around and add to the intents, facing the dandelion with us.
There was one single seed left after that and Miracle turned around and removed it with her nose. It clung there for a minute, as you can see below, so that not only Miracle could put intention toward her wishes, but completed the triad of our intentions. It was the sweetest thing!
We then went on another forest and meadow walk, which took us near the lake as well, finding giant hallucinogenic mushrooms, sweet blossoms that were still hanging around (some pink and purple ones), discovered more heart shaped stumps, and were drenched in light dancing with Nature and beaming activations through.
Giggles filled the day and love was abound.
Dawn and Miracle extended their stay, being led to soak in and work with the energies here through Monday, which truly makes me happy to know they are receiving the nurturing of this beautiful area and are deepening their bond and roots to a place I love, so that they will be a part of things here long after they depart.
Although we will be busy with Birthday celebrations for Dave and his visiting mom and step dad this weekend, Dawn and Miracle will be in heart and as always, it’s only a farewell for now since the connections in spirit are forever.
I’m so grateful for my Faery family and friends, as they truly make life giggly fun! I love being able to just relax, take in the magick, see the miracles, and laugh and enjoy life’s beauty. The friends I have that enjoy the same are truly cherished, as when I want to just play that’s all that is on my mind…not work, not being of service, but truly just living and loving all the way and living as an expression of simply being! Thank you Dawn and Miracle!