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On the Wings of a Rabbit
A sign from above or simply coincidence? I’ll leave that up to you. I’ve shared many a photo of Astrid’s shape-shifting fur markings (especially on Instagram), but this is one of my favorites. Today happens to be the 10 year anniversary of my beloved twin soul rabbit, Nestor’s, transition to the stars and Astrid has quite a symbol on her back to celebrate it. Astrid, to me, embodies the energy of the cosmic rabbit collective and much of Nestor, as well as bits of Joy and Cosmo are alive within her. I often almost call her by their names because she embodies a piece of all of them.
Well, these are photos of her latest window into her soul in the form of symbols etched in her fur. You’ll likely see many things and more than I share about, but a few things stand out to me.
One, they appear like two (angel/faery) wings resting at her back and at her shoulders. Two, the section between the two wings looks like a being itself and when she stretches her back the top marking is a near heart. The stretching also creates more of the wing clarity, but also reveals something else.
From upside down the lighter design between the two dark wings appears exactly like a rabbit when looking at it from behind – cottontail included!
Wow indeed! It’s interesting that Astrid has been very meditative lately as well and this morning was so excited she was running laps all over the living room and jumped up on our bed to welcome the morning, which she hasn’t done in a very long time.
She also happened to jump on Dave’ side of the bed right near his face.
Perhaps it was all the celebration, including it being Dave’s 10 year vegan anniversary today, too. Astrid simply wanted to share her love and appreciation!
I put this little collage together for him today including all of his loves – our fur babies, Lake Tahoe, mountain biking, hiking, and foraging in nature, playing the guitar and ukulele, and of course vegan donuts! It’s him in his essence and this is definitely a day to remember of transitions into essence.
Astrid has also been enjoying two harvests already from the Garden Tower, which is doing great by the way. So far so good with my implementation of frost night protection when it’s reached those temperatures, and a pen to ensure critters don’t eat it all.
Speaking of critters, another very special – well at least to me – thing happened at the same time of all of this that still has me buzzing. Last evening while I was writing and Astrid was sleeping in her bed next to my desk, something caught the corner of my eye. We have tons of resident chipmunks, squirrels, every variety of bird, a wolf-sized coyote, and more, but I had yet to see a rabbit.
We haven’t seen bear or deer here at our new house yet either, nor the porcupine, beaver, bobcat, mountain lion, skunk, and other animals that live in the area and have been sighted by us or friends other places, but they are around. It’s simply about alignment and if their medicine is important to connect with when they show up.
Well, I believe that this special honoring of Nestor and Astrid’s chiming in, called the bunnies forth and what feels to be a portal has opened. Although we know there are tons of them around, as I see their footprints in the snow, they just aren’t seen hardly at all. I think I’ve only seen them maybe three times since living here, and two of those were with Dawn when she visited.
This might be changing, as yesterday the movement at the corner of my eye was indeed a sweet little bunny. To say I was excited is an understatement, but I stayed calm and didn’t move, as I didn’t want to alarm her.
She sat just outside my office door and I watched as she was feeling the air for safety. Dogs were barking down the street so she was on alert.
Then she ran over to the bushes you see in the photo by the tree and the next thing I know, two bunnies emerged! It happened so fast I couldn’t get a photo of both of them, but it was adorable because the first bunny was pushing it ahead with its nose nudging the other’s behind.
The first one felt to be the scout bunny who surveyed for safety. There is a place under the fence where all the little ones have made a trail to come in and out of the side yard. They must have come the same way and the littler one took cover in the bushes, until the other said it was safe. After the nudging, the littler one took off fast and escaped through the fence at the other end.
But the scout bunny hung back not far from the Garden Tower to make sure things were safe, no one was following her bunny friend, and/or to make sure I got time to connect with her.
The dogs were barking a lot and she stood absolutely still just feeling things out, but also presenting opportunity for her and I.
It was so special given I haven’t seen any and now at this important time period, the two of them appear. Given what I was writing, too, it was all more than perfect and wonderful signs from my dear ones.
Alignment, flow, harmony, magick, portal openings, and support seem to be all around and for that I’m grateful beyond words.
The above photo is from yesterday at my parent’s house where I sat with my meditation frog I gave to my parents, in their zen garden. I got the frog not long after Nestor’s transition and I moved into a new little apartment by myself (when I divorced) above the lake where Joy and Gaia came to be with me. It’s also when/where I met Dave. Full circles all around!
Christmas Reflections & New Stage of Life
It’s been a big week so far, beginning with warm celebrations at my family’s house in Reno for Christmas, some completions, and a huge day today for Astrid. I was able to complete my office, except for a new sliding glass door and three special things to hang, which meant it was time for the reveal to her. And boy was it the best day of her life, and my life with her, yet! She had a huge day of joyful tears, soulful release, and courageous leaps – quite literally!
This mirrors me, as I’ve been reflecting on all that has completed and is about to begin in my own life, which was reiterated by the Tarot cards I pulled on Christmas.
My family and I always pull cards at the holidays to see what current theme is streaming through and what the New Year holds for us. All of them were very accurate, and mine were no exception to that.
They spoke to the rebirth taking place for me, an inner calling surfaced, release from all karmic ties, and everything coming together in my life story as I reach a significant stage on my journey.
Synchronously, the last week or so I’ve had an influx of people inquiring for services I have let go of and items I used to offer. To all of them I politely said no, but shared my gratitude for the reflections. It’s become much easier to do this, as I get the clearest yet about myself and what I want and don’t want.
As I felt into the messages of the cards, it was such a relieving confirmation and when I saw Astrid’s joy today and felt and heard her own release and depth of gratitude, I knew we were riding this new path together in all ways. Her feelings were mine reflected, and vice versa.
I will soon share a post on Astrid’s explorations and fun in our new shared room, which got its name a few days ago.
For now I’ll just share this one tiny peek of her in one of her play areas, standing tall and proud, and want to express the touching moment for us.
After she explored a bunch, she returned to the center of the room where I sat. Normally when she’s excited, she’s very interested in doing her own thing and will jet off if you come to her. But this time she came right to me and I put my hand on her head and caressed her softly, as we shared words.
Her eyes softened and lids lowered and she melted into my hand. All I could hear and feel was her joyous release and appreciation.
Like me, she’s had a long, hard journey.
Like me she’s waited patiently and kept going and believing, even when there seemed no hope.
Like me, she is experiencing the best time of her life now and receiving reflections of all the work she’s put into things, come to fruition…finally.
I could see her past and all she went through to get to this moment…how she waited for the right time and person to adopt her.
No one would and kept passing her by because they couldn’t “see” her.
She waited nearly three years, which is a lot for a little rabbit, as all of her friends at the rescue got adopted and left her behind.
And now, here she was, being gifted a magickal rabbit playroom fit for the queen that she is.
It was all overwhelming for her in a beautiful full circle way.
I felt both of our hearts open wider and our connection deepen, as we both shed tears of gratitude.
I knew her journey, as it mirrored so much of my own.
I’ll share again more in an upcoming post, but today was a huge day for us both. And on top of that, she learned to go up and down the big staircase all on the same day.
I knew she could do it, but thought it might take longer.
Astrid proved her bravery, as within a couple of hours she was up the stairs. And just a bit ago, she made it down.
It was such a cute process….the down that is, as she kept coming to me to help her. She kept nosing my ankles and then tugged on my pant legs with her teeth, to help. So I gave her a pep talk and went to the stairs to show her how. It took a little while, as she kept checking the first step down and then circling to regroup. And then it was done.
Today was a BIG day for both of us on so many levels. Speaks to the New Year to come!
Here are some photos from our lovely Christmas we all shared as a family, which was festive, fun, and full of giggles and yummy vegan feasting! Grateful to have parents that support our vegan lifestyle and always make, buy, or search out vegan restaurant options for us. My brother (who is absent in the photos due to camera shyness, but far from absent in the shenanigans shared) is vegan and was actually vegan a few years before I even knew what being vegan was. Both my mom (makes the entrees) and dad (makes the desserts) got in on the vegan creations and sent us home with care packages and apple dumplings to enjoy for the mornings.
Grateful also to have Faery folk as parents, which brings to Christmas and all holidays the magick I love.
The painting hanging here in their living room is an original by me of Venice that I painted while living in Sedona in 1997 – my first major painting I ever did – as an anniversary gift to my parents (it replicated a photo from their trip there, with a little “T” twist)
Such warmth shared all around! And wonderful gifties too!
I hope everyone that celebrates Christmas enjoyed a warm, peace, and love filled one and that the holiday season (however you celebrate or don’t) was a perfect reflection of you.
Faery kisses to all!
Tree Love & the Journey
I thought I’d post this as a short blog after having posted it on social media because it’s special to our hearts. The photo you see here is one that our friend, Seba Johnson (history making Olympian as the first African American woman to ski in the Olympics and youngest alpine ski racer at age 14, vegan since birth, actor, speaker, and simply loving soul), captured a couple of days ago on one of the hikes we’ve shared with her since meeting and spending time with her while she’s here in her childhood home of Lake Tahoe working on her memoirs.
This is a very meaningful tree to us. During the winter Dave and I would snow shoe here and this little tree, now about 3-4 feet taller, used to get plummeted by snow and the wind from the slope it lives on at the bottom, completely bending it over to the ground with the weight.
We would free him and dig him out every time we’d pass after a snow storm, so that he had a chance and wasn’t permanently bent. We’d do it to other trees too, but this one in particular would get hit the hardest and became connected to us.
Seba (pictured above with me on our 7.4 mile, 1200 feet climb Tahoe Rim Trail hike) thought it would be a cool idea to take photos of us with him over time to see his progress. As you can see he’s pretty straight even though at a slight angle, but doing well! During winter this was not the case and we wondered how he’d fare, as he was completely bowing to the ground.
Other large trees above him haven’t been so lucky and really are curved, twisted, warped, and likely will fall at some point. This little one was born in a challenging spot, but it is just those challenges that make you stronger and provide even more to share with others.
Life is definitely an adventure and often times a challenging journey.
Every little thing we do, DOES make a difference, even if you can’t see it right now or are provided immediate feedback and affirmation of it. You simply need to follow your heart, regardless of any reward, knowing it’s just about being in your highest essence in each moment and being in that unconditional universal love as much as possible.
We’re grateful for the time we’ve spent with Seba, her sweet dog companions Braddock and Langston, and being able to share some special places to our hearts with her, and so many synchronicities we share including living in the same place she used to (her condo is just below ours) where she spent her childhood and ski training days.
As an animal activist and vegan all of her life, enjoying the magickal and synchronous signs, honoring of Nature and Earth, our being just 2 and a half months apart in age, all adoring Lake Tahoe as our home and special portal space (she plans to live here again too), and both currently writing books, we had a lot of beautiful connections that will be lovely to keep touching in on, which now will include the growth and life of our special tree that will mirror the life shifts we all go through.
He already mirrors the challenges we’ve each been faced with and now will reflect what we embrace, nurture, and embody to bring forth for the rest of our lives.
We’re grateful for the time we’ve been able to share with our new friend Seba and for the journey that continues to provide rich experiences and beautiful surprises around each corner.
I look forward to seeing how our journeys evolve from here, and how our beloved tree will experience his own growth and evolution. We’ll be sure to nurture him, as long as we are here and as much as he nurtures us and all of life that depends on him and Nature.
(Photos courtesy of Seba Johnson)
Top 100 Most Influential Vegans of 2017 Part 2
After receiving input from viewers across the globe, Plant Based News has released their second installment of their hugely popular Top 100 Influential Vegans series that highlights the most inspiring vegans currently out their promoting the movement. I’m excited to share that our very own David Robinson Simon (my partner and the author of Meatonomics) came in at #65, right behind T. Colin Campbell. I’m so proud of you and everyone out there courageously speaking your truths and enlightening us all. What an honor, but most importantly a huge thank you to you Dave, all of the leaders and visionaries spreading awareness and compassion in expansive ways, and to everyone out there who is creating their own transformative waves through their own embodiment and daily practice of more conscious living and inspiring others to do the same.
You can also view it at Plant Based News’ website here:
Top 100 Most Influential Vegans Part 2
Plant Based News is a free service that shares the latest news about animal rights, ethical consumerism, plant-based food trends and more to 3-5 million people each week through their website and social media platforms.
2017 Voiceless Animal Law Lecture Series
Time flies and our Australia trip is nearing quickly. My partner, Dave – aka the author David Robinson Simon of Meatonomics and lawyer – has been invited as guest speaker of the Voiceless Animal Law Lecture Series this May. Very proud of him, as it’s an incredible honor, but also a collective gift of opportunity he will offer as seed to different perspectives to reflect upon.
This is a seven city tour to Australia’s capital cities of Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Hobart, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Canberra. The Melbourne event is already sold out!
If you’re in Australia and interested in attending one of these events, here is the link for more information and tickets:
2017 Voiceless Animal Lecture Law Series
For this exclusive Australian Lecture Series, Dave will challenge the current animal production system – and discuss whether a tax on meat could be the answer.
I will not be joining him for the two-week, busy speaking tour, as I have my own goals to meet with my current writing project, but will be joining him on the 10th of May for a 19-day adventure from Melbourne to Brisbane exploring along the east coast of Australia.
Your Message & Love Lives On
Today would have been the 2 year anniversary of my precious rabbit, Cosmo, having first entered and graced my life with his presence. But he was long before that spreading his messages of healing, as an ambassador of compassion and peace for the Humane Society International – End Animal Testing Campaign in China.
This is an ad from that campaign where Cosmo is featured with actress Zhu Zhu – the first Chinese celebrity to ever speak out about animal testing in China.
I am honored that I could help continue to bring his messages and be his voice for the time he was with us and will continue to spread his message.
I’ve written extensively about him in my blog and shared what he taught everyone who came in contact with him and experienced his unconditional and unwavering love and peace, despite having lived an extremely challenged life and being a special needs rabbit.
Today, and always, I honor this incredible soul that changed me forever in the best of ways and continues to make a difference in the world.
A Festive & Potent Thanksgiving
Yesterday we made our way down to Reno to share the day, warmth, cheer, and decadent delights with my family. It also proved quite auspicious. It’s nice to be close to them again to visit and especially so around holidays, as my parents are known for decorating the house in festive magick throughout. They are definitely the parents of a Faery, harnessing their own creative and artist alchemy to beautify and create dreamy realms that echo the heart of one’s inner child.
The photos here are but a tiny sample of how things were decorated, as they had splashes of autumn beauty everywhere.
From moment of entering their own mini castle in their little oasis sitting between two mountain ranges next to a wash and with their own season mini creek bed amidst their Faery yard, you feel and smell the welcome of entering into a place that nurtures the heart.
We shared a lovely day, enjoyed a huge feast both mom and dad prepared, followed by dad’s gourmet baked goods all made with love. They always make us everything vegan too.
The rest of the day was filled with conversation, naps for some with full tummies before dessert, and lots of metaphysical talk, and Tarot and homemade Rune fun, as we delved into explorations in both.
And we topped it all off with dad’s apple and pumpkin pie.
I marveled over how magickal the piece on my plate lit up with sparkly Faery dust and crystalline light.
Curiously, I had brought my small laptop with me, feeling like I wanted to share just the beginning of my book I’m writing with my mom, which would be the first time anyone but myself and those helping to channel it would hear it.
But apparently it was not the time even to share a glimpse of it with anyone, as when I pulled it out to do so, my computer wouldn’t turn on. The battery was completely drained, which has never happened before that quickly. And I did not bring my charger.
I got the message. It was still not time for it’s reveal.
And this occurred on a day that was filled with potent symbolism and messages leading up to arriving to my parent’s house.
Within a short span of about 35 minutes I’d seen 27 hawks. That’s incredible! They just popped up everywhere I turned. So many variety too. Some perched in trees, at the edge of meadows, on light posts, and a few flying straight at the car. All of them very very close, so I could see the full detail of their feathers, colors, faces, and incredibly powerful bodies. Each one, as if time stood still and locked in on them with a zoom lens and pause into timelessness. Amazing!
It was like an armada of sentinels and felt to be messengers from the Cosmos and my star family.
And, in the midst of the hawks, which are one of my main spirit guides, I also saw one most beautiful barn owl, which is my favorite owl and is part of my life path from here forward.
This incredible owl had unfortunately transitioned, but with such a beautiful, peaceful expression full of grace on its face. Her head turned, facing me directly.
And once again, time stood still, zoom took place locking in on her face, and another timeless pause so that she is etched in my mind’s eye.
This all felt powerfully meaningful for my life right now and what I’m involved in.
And then this morning as I was enjoying my favorite apple dumpling, my dad had made for us to bring back home, for breakfast with a homemade latte, I looked up and another incredible sighting appeared over Lake Tahoe’s portal directly in front of me where I sat at my computer.
An Arcturian symbol was etched in the sky, hovering over the Sierra Nevada Range, specifically over Mt. Tallac. This is a symbol of their main starship and one I wear in a sacred tattoo.
This is all no coincidence.
Something is afoot and it feels incredibly alchemical and much support is all around.
And so I continue forward and keep my senses on all-time high to be with what is unfolding.
There are messages everywhere and the more we open to presence and embrace, while expanding our perspectives, the more we see and receive them.
Not your completely typical Thanksgiving, but it fused Earth and Cosmos, physical and ethereal, nurturing comforts and expansive alchemy, human and star essence….my kind of celebration of life with the best of both worlds.
First Vegan and Sustainable Grade School Here in SoCal
Two cool articles about the awesome things James Cameron and his wife Suzy Amis Cameron are doing with their MUSE School CA – the first vegan school in the United States, right here in Calabasas, SoCal.
Here’s the first one that talks a bit about the school with related links you can explore:
James Cameron & wife are at the helm of the first vegan grade school in the United States
And here’s the latest article that shares what James got his wife for her birthday – five great big photovoltaic Sun Flowers on the grounds of the MUSE School:
James Cameron gifts his wife five giant solar Sun Flowers to power her sustainable SoCal school
Thanks Kelly for sharing! So fantastic to see the manifestation of change in action.
Origins Exclusive & Free Worldwide Premier & Cowspiracy, A Ground-Breaking Film Environmental Organizations Don’t Want You To See
I’m so, so happy to continue to see conscious awareness, documentary films being produced consistently these days to provide revealing and eye-opening information that no longer provides an excuse to remain blind to things. What you do with the information is up to you as an individual, but you DO have a choice and you DO have the power to create change with that choice.
Two days ago my sweet friend Dawn Vierra posted the film, Origins, which was the first time I had heard of it. I had the opportunity to watch it since and felt inspired to share it here, especially since it is being offered as an exclusive, worldwide FREE viewing until November 22, 2014.
The link is below for your viewing. I think the film makes some great points and connective dots. Like with anything, there is always more to the story and there are different opinions to explore when it comes to health, in particular, through educating ourselves, but also connecting with the nature of you.
Origins touches on how it’s important to return to our “origins”, connect and align with Nature, and that eating whole, organic foods is key to our health and well-being and integral to Earth’s vitality, ability to sustain us, and the web of life. Nature is within us and connects us and by fostering a deep respect and love for Earth, we protect our future and create our hope. The power of change happens when we work as a community.
I decided to share Origins alongside the documentary film, Cowspiracy ~ The Sustainability Secret, which I believe is incredibly important to watch and takes some of these things to the next level that are touched on in Origins. Although Cowspiracy is not available for free viewing, unless organized as a community screening, it is available here: http://www.cowspiracy.com/
As David Simon, author of Meatonomics (and makes a guest appearance in the film) shares in his article interview of the film’s producers, Cowspiracy is a “source of embarrassment for many of the nation’s leading environmental organizations and government agencies, including Greenpeace, Surfrider, Sierra Club, Rainforest Action Network, National Resources Defense Council, the California Water Resources Control Board, and others” that turn a blind and/or convenient eye away from matters at hand.
Having watched the film myself, I whole-heartedly agree and cringed for these organizations as they evaded truth.
Cowspiracy may be the most important film made to inspire saving the planet.
— Louie Psihoyos, Oscar-Winning Director of “The Cove”
A documentary that will rock and inspire the environmental movement.
— Darren Aronofsky, Director of “Noah” and “Black Swan”
I hope you get a chance to watch both of these and the many other “awakening” films out there, as well as hope that you invite an openness to the educative resources you have available that can change the course of your life and this planet at large.
Here is the FREE viewing of Origins…but remember it is only available until November 22, 2014.
Summer Reiki Share Gatherings
We had so much fun and powerful experiences from our last Reiki Share that we all decided this should become a regular gathering.
So, by request I’ll be hosting some monthly shares this Summer in Costa Mesa for any of my past/present students who would like to and are able to join.
These will be evenings of conscious conversation, high-vibe food, loving connection, practicing Reiki (so some good giving and receiving to each other), and depending on what time allows, some group Reiki distant work for personal and global intents.
These are vegan potlucks, just like last time. We can coordinate food with each other, as the days approach so we have enough variety.
Events are FREE – your admission is a yummy vegan dish and an open heart!
Here are the proposed dates:
Friday, June 27th
Friday, July 11th
Friday, August 1st
Each evening will be from 6:00 – 9:00pm
Please let me know as to which date/s work for you, so I know if any of these are good for the group and make sense to host in terms of how many are joining. These are proposed dates that work on my end, but we’ll only schedule the ones that the most people are able to join.
Please let me know if you are bringing a guest with you as well. Guests, if not Reiki attuned, will be shown how they can naturally channel their healing abilities so that everyone can be part of the evening’s sharing.
Looking forward to more connective time with you all.
Tania Marie 