Beaver

Well today was a total surprise - one of those once-in-a-lifetime events.  On my way home from town I found a beaver lying in the road over a bridge  - obviously someone had run over her.  I managed to get her into my 4-runner and brought her home to Todd.  He spent several hours skinning her and will later work the hide - not sure exactly what that entails but he knows.  What a fun thing watching him go through the process.  Here's me with my roadkill - fortunately she was dead only a short time and seemed to be damaged only in the head so the fur was intact - and still is - miraculously - even after he peeled it off - all in one piece!  Certainly not exactly what I planned doing today!   But, watching the process was a fascinating experience.   Look closely at the photo of me and you'll see the tail in front of the yellow rope on the left and the webbed feet - no wonder they swim well!
 

Sassafras Tree

So here's the sassafras tree - right next to an eastern red cedar at our mailbox (We call it a cedar, but it isn't a true cedar.).  Also, here is a small branch with the three different shaped leaves characteristic of the sassafras - one elliptical, one three-lobed, and one "mitten"-shaped all on the same little branch.   Just a quick forestry lesson for you…...  Another  yoga class on the deck last evening.  And, we are enjoying it so much we'll try another even after the time change this weekend when it will definitely be dark by six o'clock.  So, wear a jacket.  Soon it will be too cold, but now it is a joy.  We were serenaded by an owl last evening.   Today will be another beautiful fall day at The Pond.  Come join me for yoga on the deck at 10…..Also, you might want to make an appointment for a shamanic energy healing session. If you are interested, give me a call and I'll tell you more.  Several new practices are now in my tool box.

Shaman Stuff

It's great to be back home again - already four yoga classes so a good chance to say hello to many students - and introduce a new practice - that of "breath of fire" and "pulsing" - drawing energy into the body.  The "Breath of Fire"is like the yoga uddiyana bandha practice.   Come see what it's all about if you haven't already tried it with me.  Or, even if you have.  It's a great energizing practice.  And who doesn't want more energy?…...  So, today is a day at The Pond - no reason to go to town.  These are lovely days - beginning with an hour of meditation in the Yogatorium to a new CD of Steven Halpern's - meditation music in 5-minute segments for 70 minutes. By far the most workable meditation session I've had.   Left me with a feeling of being able to track with more success. "Tracking" is one of many, many tools now in my shaman's basket. It's a technique for following a client's energy.   ……As you can see, I haven't yet come back down to Earth….but I'm close enough…Here's a photo of my red maple tree right beside the hammock.    One of the most beautiful redness on the land here.   Although, the sassafras at the mailbox is great too - I'll get a photo of it today.

Wild Woman

Wild Woman - Omega 2013

Arrived home Saturday about 5 pm after a 10-hour drive of 600 miles.  Amazing that it was not really a bad day at all - full of lots of processing of what had gone on the previous two weeks - which I am still doing and will be for some time.  Very powerful training - the final two weeks of my 7-week Healing the Light Body School with Four Winds Society over a span of 15 months.  Many new tools added to my shaman tool box now ready to pass along to you.  Here's a photo of me in my costume for a skit - I'll give you the poem I used to exemplify the Wild Woman I am.
A Summer Day- by Mary Oliver
Who made the world?
Who made the fox, the snake, the hawk?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean - 
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms ad thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is,
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

Checking in after Week One at "Walking with Protection"

Surprise!  Taking a bit of time to blog again.  Last week was extremely busy going from early morning breathing sessions till 10 at night most days.  Now in Albany, NY visiting with friends - to return to Omega this afternoon and begin the second week of training.  I must admit, I am truly in my element at these trainings.  The other students are great fun to work with and helpful - we do nearly all of our work in teams of 2 to 5.  The instructors are talented and easy to work with.  There are only 20 students in this class (usually 40 to 60) so we have become great friends over the last week.  Now, another group will show up this afternoon, although one or two from this week will carry over as I am.  This past week was spent learning many, many methods of going deeper into my own Self and learning ways to assist others in their journeys.  Many astounding events have occurred.  I feel-----resurrected is the word that comes up--healthier mentally, physically, and spiritually.  I will try my best to pass some of this along to you in our gatherings when I return.  Now, time to introduce my friends to the practice of illumination.  Don't look for more posts before Friday evening.  I'll try then unless I've driven so far I can't do anything but sleep!

To Healing the Light Body School

Clouds in Matamoras, PA

Spent the night in Matamoras, PA only 25 miles from my destination but a lovely spot (3 weddings here this weekend) and needed a long morning to lazy around - which is what I'm now doing.  Just finished a nice long meditation gazing out the window at these fascinating clouds.   The sun is now breaking through and it will be another delightful October day.  The fall colors of the trees have been gorgeous in parts of PA mountains I ended up with yesterday, but otherwise, not yet full color.  The trip has been totally uneventful so far - only got lost once - went to Chappells rather than Coronaca to 72 and found a road never traveled before from Chappells to Clinton!   Free today for a few more hours - classes begin at 4:00 today and end at noon on Friday - then up to Albany to visit long-time friends (over 40 years) Friday and Saturday nights - then back for next week's program (Walking with the Sacred).  This week is Walking with Protection.  Since these are the last two for the Healing the Light Body School program I expect to be wearing wings when I get back home!

Deck Screws

Just for fun here's a photo of the screws (some of them) Todd installed in the deck (2700 of them!)

In Staunton, VA for the night - a bit over 400 miles leaving about 500 still to go.  On my way to Omega Institute near Rhinebeck, NY for my final two weeks of shaman training.  I'll spend another night on the road tomorrow somewhere.  What a a joy to be traveling again!  I love it.  Today I began listening to Carolyn Myss tapes on Sacred Contracts - all about archetypes, astrological wheel, and such - great preparation for Working with the Sacred week coming up - I think - don't really know what the training will be about.  Anyway, gaining a new perspective about learning to live with myself in this spiritual world.  ......We did get a yoga class on the deck Wednesday evening - what fun!  But, too cold yesterday morning.

Yoga on the Deck

On the way early this morning to Anderson for a visit to my podiatrist.  But, thought you'd like to know  the deck is ready for yoga class on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning!  Todd has been working hard to get it ready before I leave on Friday morning - and it's READY!  (not quite totally finished, but ready enough)
 Come join us to enjoy Yoga on the Deck under the trees!  You'll love the experience!

Deck Progress

Jaquie on South Deck

Monday morning after a lovely weekend - lots of progress on the deck.  You're looking at 1/3 that already has the deck boards down - 2/3 more to go.  Yes, it's BIG - 32 by 20.  Three levels.   Now rain has come so progress will be stopped for a while.  What a great place this will be for yoga sessions!  AND,  spiritual and energy healing sessions under the Persimmon Tree!  Yesterday's spiritual session was truly inspiring.  We'll take a break now and begin again November 3 after I return from Omega.  Plan to come join us Sunday afternoons from 2:30 to 4:30 as we go through Richard Rohr's Falling Upward: Spirituality for Two Halves of Life.   We're gaining valuable insights.

Long Bodies

Whee!  Friday is my day off - no classes - so more household chores and reading and studying and just plain being!  Here's a little fellow who has been greeting me the last few days on my front stoop.  What great pets they make!  No words of wisdom this morning except - Just Be! Oh, yes, that's me imitating my buddy.

Building Again!

Jaquie, the Level Woman

Once again, a busy week - lots happening - main thing is a deck is being built behind the Yogatorium.  This is something I dreamed of 6 years ago the very day the Yogatorium was completed!  And, so now, it is underway.  I got a chance to help by watching the bubbles in the level when the posts were being set.  Now waiting for delivery of rest of the materials tomorrow.  Am busy reading advance materials for my training beginning October 13.  Spent some time today washing windows after getting them unstuck from years of paint.   Now, I can really see out of my front windows which were filled with mud dauber nests, spiders, etc. etc.  Even cloroxed the spider mess on the walls under the light by my front door!  This cleaning bit is a common occurrence this time of year - First Pod sisters will be here the first weekend in November, then the whole family - all 10 of us gather here for Thanksgiving for three days - We're REALLY thankful so it takes several days to do it right.  So, I do my big cleaning prior to the arrival of my daughters-in-law.  Thank goodness they come once a year!  Otherwise, I'd probably never really clean house.