Sunday, April 6, 2008
MARCH = YELLOW
TO ANCHOR THE FREQUENCIES OF HOPE, JOY & HAPPINESS
I would like to maintain my sense of hope that my second trip to Northern BC will happen as I have planned. I am also hopeful that I will receive a cheque from a woman in North Vancouver who owes me about $400.00. On both of these accounts I am striving to remain detached from the outcome, and in the spirit of non-attachment, I think it is important that whether any of this actually happens, I remain happy and joyful. It’s not hard to be happy and joyful here in the Comox Valley; there is almost no traffic to speak of, the climate is moderate and I am able to use my bike for most of my errands.
The final two weeks of the month will also be spent dog-sitting, and the location of the house works really well for both Angelo and I. This is important because it is difficult to anticipate all that we will need and more often than not we need to grab some items from home.
This month my altar contains a couple of items that directly correspond with joy and happiness. A ribbon from my youth is significant because horseback riding was a huge part of my childhood and something that represents some of the happiest days of my life. I could ride for hours on end with no thought of school or peer pressure.
I also placed a pair of yellow-tinted sunglasses on the altar. These were purchased during a trip to South Beach, Miami with my girlfriend, Karey. Karey is one of a handful of friends that I have stayed in touch with (we met in 1996) and I have now made three trips to Florida with her. We always have loads of fun and the glasses are particularly useful in BC as I wear them when it is overcast and grey and the lenses give me a (false) sense of sunshine and happiness. My yoga block keeps me grounded and the continuation of yoga as a spiritual practice can be interpreted as a sign of hope since it has persisted for centuries. Happy faces and daisies are two more happy symbols, and the candle also signifies the flame of hope. All in all I enjoyed looking over at this altar, particularly since March was a fairly bland month, with rain, wind and grey skies.
I would like to maintain my sense of hope that my second trip to Northern BC will happen as I have planned. I am also hopeful that I will receive a cheque from a woman in North Vancouver who owes me about $400.00. On both of these accounts I am striving to remain detached from the outcome, and in the spirit of non-attachment, I think it is important that whether any of this actually happens, I remain happy and joyful. It’s not hard to be happy and joyful here in the Comox Valley; there is almost no traffic to speak of, the climate is moderate and I am able to use my bike for most of my errands.
The final two weeks of the month will also be spent dog-sitting, and the location of the house works really well for both Angelo and I. This is important because it is difficult to anticipate all that we will need and more often than not we need to grab some items from home.
This month my altar contains a couple of items that directly correspond with joy and happiness. A ribbon from my youth is significant because horseback riding was a huge part of my childhood and something that represents some of the happiest days of my life. I could ride for hours on end with no thought of school or peer pressure.
I also placed a pair of yellow-tinted sunglasses on the altar. These were purchased during a trip to South Beach, Miami with my girlfriend, Karey. Karey is one of a handful of friends that I have stayed in touch with (we met in 1996) and I have now made three trips to Florida with her. We always have loads of fun and the glasses are particularly useful in BC as I wear them when it is overcast and grey and the lenses give me a (false) sense of sunshine and happiness. My yoga block keeps me grounded and the continuation of yoga as a spiritual practice can be interpreted as a sign of hope since it has persisted for centuries. Happy faces and daisies are two more happy symbols, and the candle also signifies the flame of hope. All in all I enjoyed looking over at this altar, particularly since March was a fairly bland month, with rain, wind and grey skies.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
MONTH IN REVIEW
Well, February was not a month for journal entries, that’s for sure. We spent the last two weeks dog-sitting next door, which threw us off our schedules a bit, and otherwise, I guess I wasn’t in the mood for writing.
I am happy to report, however, that my trip into Vancouver to speak to members of the BC Human Resource Management Association was a HUGE success. I found myself getting a bit intimidated when I saw the participant list including their position titles and place of work, but managed to hear Angelo’s advice when he said, “they are just like everyone else, trying to stay organized in a busy world”. So true.
As usual, preparation was the key, and I was ready! Instead of being short on material as I had feared, I had to wrap it up at 4:30pm on the dot, and that was with having forgot a couple of items.
We have continued to eat well from our new recipe book and I managed to do my sit-ups a number of times throughout the month. I saw part of the lunar eclipse, took my first flight in a float plane and rang in the Year of the Rat.
I am happy to report, however, that my trip into Vancouver to speak to members of the BC Human Resource Management Association was a HUGE success. I found myself getting a bit intimidated when I saw the participant list including their position titles and place of work, but managed to hear Angelo’s advice when he said, “they are just like everyone else, trying to stay organized in a busy world”. So true.
As usual, preparation was the key, and I was ready! Instead of being short on material as I had feared, I had to wrap it up at 4:30pm on the dot, and that was with having forgot a couple of items.
We have continued to eat well from our new recipe book and I managed to do my sit-ups a number of times throughout the month. I saw part of the lunar eclipse, took my first flight in a float plane and rang in the Year of the Rat.
FEBRUARY = ORANGE
FEBRUARY = ORANGE
TO ANCHOR THE FREQUENCIES OF CREATIVITY & CONFIDENCE
I surprised myself: I didn’t go with my initial colour. I had originally thought that I would go for pink, in part, I admit, because it would correspond with Valentines Day and would also put some focus on my relationship with Angelo. In truth, I think I take our relationship for granted…and forget that it too, needs attention. I don’t want our relationship to end, yet I ‘assume’ that it will continue forever.
At any rate, I went for orange instead of pink. Funny, because at first I thought, ‘but I don’t have much orange’, but as you can see, I found enough items to make a beautiful altar.
So why orange?
Well, I have a big gig coming up in Vancouver at the end of February and given the audience, members of the BC Human Resource Management Association, and the implications, I figured I could use an extra dose of confidence. I am also aware that in facilitating a workshop, the more creative I can be the better. I am also doing a workshop for the Comox Valley School District in early February, and I have already determined that the participants are going to love it!
My altar is composed of a photo card of a beautiful orange rose, captured by our neighbour, Karin. She writes the best, heart-felt cards so her words and love are also contained within the text. One of my favourite bead necklaces also contains a lot of orange, and since it is more of a summer necklace, there won’t be an issue in having it on my altar for the month of February. I also chose to fill a funky, orange bowl that I bought at a second hand store with white stones that I brought back from Mexico last year. On the stones I have written various words (create, trust, wealth…) so the bowl also includes powerful words. And finally, I have included some other orange-tinted shells that we brought back from Mexico, along with an orange card that I received from an Aunt at Christmas. The entire scene is contained by an orange piece of construction paper. I like it!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
MONTH IN REVIEW
Saturday January 26, 2008
As the end of the first month of 2008 approaches, I thought I would say a few words. I chose the colour red for a reason: I wanted to get the New Year off to a great start and I think I have succeeded. Check it out:
· Angelo and I completed a 14-day cleanse from January 7-14. We were raw for the first week, and vegetarian for the remainder. We both felt fantastic! I noticed a huge increase in my energy and mental clarity.
· We went without alcohol from January 2-20, when we ‘broke our fast’ with our good neighbours, Karin & Agathe, and shared a few glasses of red wine. At the time of this post we have not had any other alchohol.
· I planted a number of seeds that will hopefully germinate later on this spring:
o Recreation Complex, Powell River
o Green Initiative, NWCC
o Terrace Public Library
o Salt Spring Island Books
o Ministry of Agriculture & Lands
o Port Alberni
· I secured a new contract: working for the Tree Lady!!
Not bad for the first month of 2008! But just in case you think it was all smelling like roses, two local workshops (Jump Start your New Year and Rescue your Resolutions) had to be cancelled due to a lack of interest. C’est la vie.
P.S. Later on that evening:
Angelo has been busy listing items on EBay and I didn’t want to interrupt his flow (especially since I was the one who ‘reminded him’ that he said that he was going to do it this weekend…) so I had to keep myself occupied.
As many of you know, we don’t have a television and earlier this afternoon I finished yet another book so instead of lying down and closing my eyes (which I could easily have done), I finished entering all of my 2007 data into my master expense sheet.
Yes, here it is, not even the end of January, and I am 90% finished my income tax!
Now that’s a first!
Here’s an interesting observation:
Today is Sunday the 27th and I am anxious about changing my altar, even though I really have five nights and four more days in the month. I have already chosen the next colour and have been scouting around the apartment for items of that colour which would be appropriate for the altar.
As the end of the first month of 2008 approaches, I thought I would say a few words. I chose the colour red for a reason: I wanted to get the New Year off to a great start and I think I have succeeded. Check it out:
· Angelo and I completed a 14-day cleanse from January 7-14. We were raw for the first week, and vegetarian for the remainder. We both felt fantastic! I noticed a huge increase in my energy and mental clarity.
· We went without alcohol from January 2-20, when we ‘broke our fast’ with our good neighbours, Karin & Agathe, and shared a few glasses of red wine. At the time of this post we have not had any other alchohol.
· I planted a number of seeds that will hopefully germinate later on this spring:
o Recreation Complex, Powell River
o Green Initiative, NWCC
o Terrace Public Library
o Salt Spring Island Books
o Ministry of Agriculture & Lands
o Port Alberni
· I secured a new contract: working for the Tree Lady!!
Not bad for the first month of 2008! But just in case you think it was all smelling like roses, two local workshops (Jump Start your New Year and Rescue your Resolutions) had to be cancelled due to a lack of interest. C’est la vie.
P.S. Later on that evening:
Angelo has been busy listing items on EBay and I didn’t want to interrupt his flow (especially since I was the one who ‘reminded him’ that he said that he was going to do it this weekend…) so I had to keep myself occupied.
As many of you know, we don’t have a television and earlier this afternoon I finished yet another book so instead of lying down and closing my eyes (which I could easily have done), I finished entering all of my 2007 data into my master expense sheet.
Yes, here it is, not even the end of January, and I am 90% finished my income tax!
Now that’s a first!
Here’s an interesting observation:
Today is Sunday the 27th and I am anxious about changing my altar, even though I really have five nights and four more days in the month. I have already chosen the next colour and have been scouting around the apartment for items of that colour which would be appropriate for the altar.
JANUARY = RED
RED: TO ANCHOR THE FREQUENCIES OF
MOTIVATION, ACTION & ACCOMPLISHMENT
In my mind I have a series of talks lined up for the first four months of 2008, some are further along in development than others. To be honest, some don’t even exist (outside of my mind that is). Unless you want to count the transmission of my vibe, my vibrational frequency across the air waves. Yeah, I think I want to count that transmission.
After almost four weeks of excess and gluttony (at least when it comes to rich desserts, fruity drinks and frequent meals) I am ready. I have hit the bottom. I can feel the roll of my stomach pressing against my blissfully comfortable stretch pants - you know, the ones women tend to wear out on coffee dates and as a result always look brand new?
Plus my sleep is all out of whack. I have lived up to my new nick name, the one afflicted by ‘sleep-a-bedes” (rhymes with diabetes, in case I forget). Add on the cups of coffee, champagne and Orange Juice and cheesecake, and I am losing the battle of self-discipline and self-regard.
Yup, time to quit cold turkey, turn over a new leaf. Start a new chapter in my life; unpeel another layer of the onion. About a month ago we purchased the kits from a health food store in Qualicuum. The kits now sit on the kitchen table, indicating by their silent presence, the upcoming dietary challenge and test of will power that waits.
Yup, you got it: a new year’s resolution. This year mine is quite involved, multi-layered if you will, so I won’t go into all of it now. But I crave structure, and markers of some kind, and this activity came as a surprise, from left field as they say. I’m going to exercise the artist in me by documenting a twelve-month photo diary.
Back to the issue of health & wellness. I have always said that it helps to reach rock bottom, because then there is no choice but to go back up. Not that I am really at rock bottom, by any means. But I am feeling particularly disgusted with my physical existence and prevailing mental fogg. And yes, I did mean to have two g’s there. Part of me would love to live up to the ‘alcoholic author’ stereotype, but I am too vain. I worry enough about my wrinkles and excess weight without drowning myself in drink.
So back to the red altar. The colour theme is red, so I quickly ran through our basement suite (mentally of course), and grabbed a total of six items. I have used my old, red waffle jersey as a fabric base, and moved my beautiful burgundy jewelry box and Asian flower tile to sit on top of the boxes.
In order to indicate that our success and accomplishment is very much a team effort, I have moved a tiny red pair of candles to the scene as well. From a row of books I plucked two red ribbons, one with speaker written on it and the other a toastmaster’s relic. As you can see, every item on the altar is red. Fire. I’m an Aries – this is looking good!
p.s. the other amazing revelation I had today was my plan to hold two, fundraising workshops in both Powell River and the Comox Valley. The workshops (and a percentage of the corresponding book sales) will go to Diane Lukera’s orphanage in Kakamega, Kenya. The workshop will be followed by a community wide, mega, weekend garage sale, with the themes of re-use, recycle and re-purpose.
That should help move me to a kosmo centric way of looking at the world :-)
After almost four weeks of excess and gluttony (at least when it comes to rich desserts, fruity drinks and frequent meals) I am ready. I have hit the bottom. I can feel the roll of my stomach pressing against my blissfully comfortable stretch pants - you know, the ones women tend to wear out on coffee dates and as a result always look brand new?
Plus my sleep is all out of whack. I have lived up to my new nick name, the one afflicted by ‘sleep-a-bedes” (rhymes with diabetes, in case I forget). Add on the cups of coffee, champagne and Orange Juice and cheesecake, and I am losing the battle of self-discipline and self-regard.
Yup, time to quit cold turkey, turn over a new leaf. Start a new chapter in my life; unpeel another layer of the onion. About a month ago we purchased the kits from a health food store in Qualicuum. The kits now sit on the kitchen table, indicating by their silent presence, the upcoming dietary challenge and test of will power that waits.
Yup, you got it: a new year’s resolution. This year mine is quite involved, multi-layered if you will, so I won’t go into all of it now. But I crave structure, and markers of some kind, and this activity came as a surprise, from left field as they say. I’m going to exercise the artist in me by documenting a twelve-month photo diary.
Back to the issue of health & wellness. I have always said that it helps to reach rock bottom, because then there is no choice but to go back up. Not that I am really at rock bottom, by any means. But I am feeling particularly disgusted with my physical existence and prevailing mental fogg. And yes, I did mean to have two g’s there. Part of me would love to live up to the ‘alcoholic author’ stereotype, but I am too vain. I worry enough about my wrinkles and excess weight without drowning myself in drink.
So back to the red altar. The colour theme is red, so I quickly ran through our basement suite (mentally of course), and grabbed a total of six items. I have used my old, red waffle jersey as a fabric base, and moved my beautiful burgundy jewelry box and Asian flower tile to sit on top of the boxes.
In order to indicate that our success and accomplishment is very much a team effort, I have moved a tiny red pair of candles to the scene as well. From a row of books I plucked two red ribbons, one with speaker written on it and the other a toastmaster’s relic. As you can see, every item on the altar is red. Fire. I’m an Aries – this is looking good!
p.s. the other amazing revelation I had today was my plan to hold two, fundraising workshops in both Powell River and the Comox Valley. The workshops (and a percentage of the corresponding book sales) will go to Diane Lukera’s orphanage in Kakamega, Kenya. The workshop will be followed by a community wide, mega, weekend garage sale, with the themes of re-use, recycle and re-purpose.
That should help move me to a kosmo centric way of looking at the world :-)
INTRODUCTION
Surrender to the reality: clutter of some sort, always surrounds us. Sitting in front of our fireplace (which we rarely use) are three cardboard boxes of binders, left over from a previous contract. Unused? Yes. Unopened? Yes. Clutter? Not necessarily.
While we waited for a new purpose to present itself, Angelo listed them on EBay. The idea was to turn our clutter into cash: to move the items out of the apartment and recoup some money at the same time. So far, no buyers. As it became clear that these binders were going to accompany me into the next year, and understanding that ‘what we resist persists', I decided to embrace them.
I was inspired by an e-newsletter which contained a simple chart of colours and their meanings with respect to altars. With this information, I decided to embark on a photo diary. I would create a monthly altar based what I am trying to attract in my life at that time. In addition, I would journal the process and capture any developments.
With the coming New Year I am feeling charged up, excited. I LOVE the New Year and exploit it shamelessly as a catalyst to move my life in a different direction.
In a split second I saw the tremendous benefit of having three boxes of unused binders stuck in my living room: I could turn them into an altar, and adorn it with items of colours that most closely corresponds to what I am trying to attract in my life.
Here goes.
While we waited for a new purpose to present itself, Angelo listed them on EBay. The idea was to turn our clutter into cash: to move the items out of the apartment and recoup some money at the same time. So far, no buyers. As it became clear that these binders were going to accompany me into the next year, and understanding that ‘what we resist persists', I decided to embrace them.
I was inspired by an e-newsletter which contained a simple chart of colours and their meanings with respect to altars. With this information, I decided to embark on a photo diary. I would create a monthly altar based what I am trying to attract in my life at that time. In addition, I would journal the process and capture any developments.
With the coming New Year I am feeling charged up, excited. I LOVE the New Year and exploit it shamelessly as a catalyst to move my life in a different direction.
In a split second I saw the tremendous benefit of having three boxes of unused binders stuck in my living room: I could turn them into an altar, and adorn it with items of colours that most closely corresponds to what I am trying to attract in my life.
Here goes.
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