tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11817543120661096962011-10-09T22:27:51.295-04:00finding the spiritual practices hidden in stories of everyday lifeDeborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.comBlogger1351100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-34013008138309395652011-01-10T13:56:00.004-05:002011-01-10T14:24:55.235-05:00

One of the things I didn't write down in what I'm willing to do in 2011 is crafting. I'm a "crafter" - arts and crafts: sewing quilts, doll clothes and stupid sock creatures, scrapbooking, paper crafts, collage (with spiritual overtones) and all sorts of other stuff.Sometimes it's hard to justify all that stuff. It's not a direct line to say if I make this collage/treasure map of my intention for

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-14619652819854037182011-01-05T09:23:00.004-05:002011-01-05T09:45:27.155-05:00

my writer's set of Story-Beads at Caumsett State ParkHappy New Year! Time to embark on that time honored tradition of feeling guilty for not living up to those rosolutions! Yay!Or not. This year I'm trying something different and playing with ways to work with my usual resistance.For me a lot of resistance is just a question of symantics. For example, I've learned that I can't use the phrase "I

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-82127343032299040352010-12-01T22:20:00.004-05:002010-12-01T22:50:17.879-05:00

It's the holiday season and I feellike I need all the help I can get in staying focused. See, although it's not ideal now seems to be the right time to work through writing the copy for my newest website, La Padre, which I really want to launch in January. So this morning I took a lengthy pause beforesitting down to write and set up a new altar - a writing altar.Altars have always been a focal

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-57586988996067380882010-11-05T15:06:00.003-04:002010-11-05T15:19:49.540-04:00

I recently stumbled upon a most excellent album: Leonard Cohen Live in London. I am always grateful when I find music that sustains me, that supports me in life and in my work. Here's one of the songs sustaining me:The birds they sangAt break of dayStart againI hear them sayDon't dwell on what has passed awayOr what has yet to be.Ring the bells that still can ring.Forget your perfect

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-65508676833750513272010-03-01T19:40:00.003-05:002010-03-01T19:59:25.403-05:00

Like my cat hiding under the blanket, I, too, have been digging in. My nephew and sister left for their new home in another state. It's been three weeks.The grief has been...well below the surface. Their leaving, though sad, was not the most difficult part. Watching my children's heart break as their "pseudo-brother" left was tough. Old childhood wounds were tough, too.But today I cleaned up my

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-57764424892153185942010-01-10T22:37:00.001-05:002010-01-10T22:40:26.599-05:00

I've been rereading Wayne Muller's book, Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives and seeing how the idea/practice of a day of rest fits into my life as it is now.When what you do is spiritual practices and what you make your living on is teaching others about those practices and how to make them their own then the line between work and rest becomes a bit blurry. Practices

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-25504344909016283862010-01-05T21:08:00.003-05:002010-01-05T21:28:08.615-05:00

So, this detour has been going on since Halloween morning. We've moved from crisis phase and transitioned into a new, if temporary, reality and though I know things will again change, I'm feeling the tug for a sense of personal normalcy.That means that over the last few days I have been gathering up the lost bits of myself. There are four journals which need to be brought back from the four

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-84694439210918517412010-01-03T21:46:00.004-05:002010-01-03T21:56:54.376-05:00

My little ones (7 and 11) have cried themselves to sleep on this, the last day of vacation. The 14-year-old, my newest (and temporary) charge lies restless in the other room, dreading in his own way the start of school and the necessity of leaving the security and loving warmth of being close.Sometimes life comes along and knocks you on your ass - you know what I'm talking about. Those

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-64361799556774945932009-10-07T10:58:00.002-04:002009-10-07T11:06:12.586-04:00

It's the Jewish New Year again, one of the two times a year I get to start over fresh. Being a teacher, this time of year has always been a starting point, with the traditional end of the year a bit of a gaudy follow-up. They have different flavors, is all.So, another New Year, another basket of aples for sweetness and a thought on writing:At Rosh Hashanah we say "L'Shana Tova" or "May you be

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-87357594578723366822009-07-31T10:51:00.003-04:002009-07-31T10:59:44.882-04:00

Nothing makes my cat happier than when I sit down with a blanket on my lap and keep still. Such a simple thing and so appreciated. Just keep still.I have a thing for sleeping cats - I just adore a sleeping cat! I try to capture it in photos but there is something illusive about a sleeping cat.Maybe what I find so great is how they OWN it. Right or wrong, your sweater or your lap, whether

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-90018455986296463102009-07-26T20:14:00.003-04:002009-07-26T20:23:29.303-04:00

Someone spray painted this on the marble ledge of a building in town. Now, whereas I don't subscribe to valdalism I do like that in this particular person chose a positive message to pass along.Happy Sunday! What do you do to pass along a positive message to the world at large?

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-21229262109068655322009-07-23T10:29:00.002-04:002009-07-23T10:33:02.670-04:00

for memphis: hope in the healing, originally uploaded by champagne.chic.My favorite prayer in the Jewish tradition is the Mi She Berach. There is a heartbreaking tune that I learned it to that stays with me throughout the day.Today I am in need of the Mi She Berach...Mi she berach avoteinu,M'kor hab'racha l'imoteinuMay the source of strength, Who blessed the ones before usHelp us find the courage

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-42636557946378832802009-07-16T10:24:00.003-04:002009-07-16T10:41:07.224-04:00

This place is very much becoming my home away from home; I love it there! It's local, family run and guarantees that I will see a friendly face (other than my family members) everyday when I go get a cup of coffee. Sure, I could make one at home but I have discovered that I am a better person if I get out of the house and see other people, even if it's the two minutes in the coffee shop. At

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-66163585612058459832009-07-10T09:14:00.003-04:002009-07-10T09:39:08.952-04:00

from I Can Has Ceesburger - LOLcatsWhy is it we always assume the worst of ourselves?Earlier this week I had a delightful lunch with someone I hadn’t seen in a year. A year had passed partly because of the weirdness of the whole hibernating thing. Partly it was because after a certain amount of time had passed I felt so awful about it that I couldn’t psych myself up to call her.My mother would

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-16292497087369916662009-07-07T12:09:00.005-04:002009-07-07T12:16:07.268-04:00

It is so easy for me to lose focus. Not only do I lose focus but I forget that I’ve lost focus! I don’t even remember that there was something I was intending to focus on. (Renewed commitment to this blog for instance…) Enter: STORY-BEADS. In the same way that we teach what we most need to know, I make Story-Beads to remind myself that there are specific (empowering) things that I want to keep in

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-55708473759445244942009-06-01T11:11:00.012-04:002009-06-01T11:41:01.326-04:00

Yup. Time is slippery and it keeps getting away from me. Nothing seems to be able to firm it up either. Its one of the great mysteries and one of the human constants like the weather and what the next meal will consist of. (Think about any work place and what does everyone talk about - the current weather conditions and "What's for lunch?" with an occasional "Can you believe it's already_____

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-48474023178380439782009-04-18T16:49:00.000-04:002009-04-18T16:49:32.256-04:00

BlissChick: enCouragingBliss: A 100 Day Vow -- I Double Dare You!I've enjoyed my walks so much over the last few days that I am vowing to walk, every day, rain or shine, even if its just once or twice around the house, for one hundred days. Christine at Blisschick (who interviewed me a short while ago) says we'll be done on July 25th. How's this for a spiritual practice?

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-69132188703718097252009-04-16T14:53:00.007-04:002009-04-16T15:25:09.784-04:00

This unfamiliarHummimg in my chest - it's joy.It's just exhausting."It requires a direct dispensation from Heaven to become a walker." -Henry David Thoreau.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } Swan, originally uploaded

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-39566929760903500202009-04-06T21:42:00.006-04:002009-04-06T21:53:22.520-04:00

So, I am impatient for Spring – weather-wise and in within myself, in spite of previous intentions to allow for unfolding. I keep feeling the need to “have done with it already.”One of the ways this impatience keeps cropping up is in my ongoing process of de-cluttering. We were blessed three years ago to by this big, beautiful and spacious house but still I’m struggling with the same “small

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-9296495011888075352009-04-01T12:45:00.001-04:002009-04-01T12:45:53.121-04:00

Wanna know what heralds Spring in my extended family more than anything else? Continued bemoaning of the cold weather. This year I am no exception. Checking the thermometer this morning and realizing that yet again I'd have to put on a winter coat if I didn't want to freeze my ta-tas off while waiting for the bus, I let out a string of profanities that would have wilted the precious snowbells

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-77831887567743133272009-03-30T11:31:00.004-04:002009-03-30T11:40:59.903-04:00

The annual Dropkick Murphy's concert was a week or two ago. This year we rented a limo so we could have a "good time" in a reponsible way. It was loads of childish, wild fun.At one point my cousin's wife made a comment about making this a family tradition and looking around the limo we realized that for us family has a wide definition and certainly isn't limited to blood relation: in the limo

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-72536657825114208212009-03-17T21:47:00.003-04:002009-03-17T21:52:36.533-04:00

A little fun for one of my favorite holidays:Ode To a KiltA Scotsman clad in his many patterned kilt left the bar one evening fair,one could tell by the way he walked that he had drunk more than his fair share.He wandered round and round till he could no longer keep his feet,then he stumbled off into the grass to sleep beside the street. About this time two young and lovely girls just happened

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-37329440011918674062009-03-06T11:58:00.000-05:002009-03-06T11:59:35.307-05:00

the angel on my current set of Story-Beads - thanks Caroline for letting me steal it! Love you!One of the things that came out of the retreat that I did last month was this feeling that I have forgotten everything I know, as far as spirituality and spiritual practices go. I have not been following any of the usual practices that I find comfort in: journaling has been stale, collage work never

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-59557555411240350782009-03-04T12:28:00.003-05:002009-03-04T12:45:13.494-05:00

Where do people weigh in on Twitter?Sure, it has the possibility of being a cool marketing tool, and yes, I've written before about liking the idea of catching little slices of people's everyday pies, but.But. I won't even go into how abysmally some Republicans are using the site, nor do I need to mention that it really does take away from being present in the current moment (like, oh, I don't

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-9300378948049069272009-02-28T09:06:00.000-05:002009-02-28T09:07:08.926-05:00

I should have known something was up last year when I suddenly decided to reread Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley, followed by the traditional The Stand by Stephen King. A strange combo, I know, but I read them together when I was 18, and then at 30, when I reread Mists, I felt I had to reread The Stand as well. So, at 36, they both got reread together...again.I have taken something

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-51209072850991944722009-02-27T16:34:00.005-05:002009-02-27T16:57:19.593-05:00

An abundance of Story-Beads!! Havi Brooks and her duck amiga Selma over at Fluent Self have commisioned a signature set of Story-Beads to launch her latest venture. This is what 80 sets of Story-Beads looks like just before blessing and packaging and shipping.I wish everyone could reach through the "internets" and grab a handful because they feel...substancial and heavy and smooth and

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-80580848041116819272009-01-21T10:45:00.003-05:002009-01-21T11:06:52.942-05:00

the-MATRIX--Wallpaper, originally uploaded by brandonj74.Is it just me or do other people see the emergence of a new archetype - black men as the wise mentor. You know, the guy in the know, the one who has not only intelligence but actual life experience, not to mention a very cool look.Just look at recent movies: The Matrix, for one. Morpheus is the guy in the know, the one who finds Neo and

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-84557514839249255472009-01-07T11:39:00.008-05:002009-01-07T12:02:27.367-05:00

Today the tree comes down and the ornaments get stowed away, not to be seen again until next Christmas, like old friends you only see once a year. From the chaos of that one box of ornaments comes a lifetime of stories, each one a reminder of a certain year, a certain time, a certain person. I put away the one armed soldier into the box next to the little sheppardess and I am suddenly in the 4th

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-82734344394263834022008-12-17T09:40:00.002-05:002008-12-17T10:02:20.005-05:00

May I introduce you to Slushy the Snowman, a joint effort between my daughter and I while waiting for her bus. Three guesses what kind of weather we've been having here in Centerport, NY.This is how I've been spending my time of late, making miniature snowmen and loving my kids - not a bad way to spend one's time, I think.But still, I miss the blog. Not just that nagging guilty kind of missing

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-18270673442105768042008-09-11T09:51:00.002-04:002008-09-11T10:06:04.425-04:00

flower in the reflecting pool site 9 11 01, originally uploaded by cmarina28.Miss M brought home a reminder about the blood drive at her school next week. I mentioned that I really should try to donate (assuming my iron was high enough.) She and her brother, nervous about needles, were incredulous.I explained to them that it was my duy to try to donate. I am physically capable of it and

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-79977596837293110812008-08-28T23:41:00.002-04:002008-08-28T23:54:22.407-04:00

Barack Obama: A mosaic of people, originally uploaded by tsevis.I just finished watching Barack Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention. WOW. I used to joke with West Wing watching friends of mine that Jeb Bartlet was my president. It helped to ease the sting of the Bush years.I don't want Jeb Bartlet anymore. I want Barack Obama to be my president. But in the spirit of that

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-66783388473454567492008-08-20T12:58:00.004-04:002008-08-20T13:24:26.023-04:00

The deal was finish camp and he could get a mohawk for the last two weeks of summer. Come the day after Labor day the whole thing will be taken down to a buzz cut so he can return to school looking presentable and mainstream. In the meantime he gets to be hardcore (or as hardcore as you can be at 6 in the suburbs!)A friend of mine said I was the most "radical" parent she's ever met. Again, being

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-61747773607115649702008-08-07T09:42:00.007-04:002008-08-07T10:04:07.829-04:00

On July 29, 2008 my dad died. We were estranged in the years before his death and it feels as though I have grieved him so many times before that this is a much softer process to go through that could be expected.It is difficult not grieving in the traditional sense. People don't know what to do with you when there is no impending funeral; a promise of a memorial service in a month doesn't seem

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-13657760134262219682008-07-23T17:22:00.002-04:002008-07-23T17:38:02.023-04:00

Today I was mistaken as an organized individual by a new business associate. Then, the guy at the local post office where I mail off my Story-Beads orders said he'd see me tomorrow because he knew I had orders and he said I was good at getting them out.Whoa! Now hold on a minute. Those two points of view couldn't be farther from...well, not the truth because sometimes I'm organized and

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-27163386222936674332008-07-20T22:49:00.004-04:002008-07-20T23:13:14.755-04:00

A friend of mine in Switzerland asked where I've been and why I haven't been posting on my blog. What a truly excellent question! And the answer?I've been at the beach!Two years ago we moved out to Long Island to (in part) have a closer relationship with Nature than we were really able to have in Queens. It was less a locality issue as a need to make it EASIER for me to do those things that, in

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-86353152068162979662008-06-30T19:37:00.005-04:002008-06-30T23:33:49.583-04:00

I am officially a published author!(OK, so maybe I should count the PTO president's letter that used to go out in the monthly newsletter but that never felt very official.)Marilyn over at ReEnchant Planet Earth accepted my piece and we've decided to further the relationship. So, if you'd like to learn more about the practice of story in our day to day lives, I invite you to sign up for their

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-35612808881278307542008-06-29T21:51:00.002-04:002008-06-29T21:55:34.122-04:00

~~ Summer Solstice ~~, originally uploaded by suesue2."How could we forget those ancient myths that are at the beginning of all peoples, the myths about dragons that at the last moment are turned into princesses? Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us,once, beautiful and brave. Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest being, something

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-9635647404124452772008-06-16T11:02:00.002-04:002008-06-16T19:18:17.792-04:00

I am newly back from my first ever vision quest. WomanQuest is based on the Native American tradition of going out into nature unencumbered and fasting until a vision comes to you. This wasn't quite so harsh - we had a 24 hour timeperiod (sunrise to sunrise) and sleeping bags, though food was optional. There will be many stories to come from my experience and all the glorious ladies I met

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-14112322288778819892008-05-18T22:21:00.002-04:002008-05-18T22:25:51.697-04:00

Red Fox Sitting, originally uploaded by The Roaming Ranger.Two weeks in a row now fox has darted in front of my car on the way home from my Wednesday night creativity group. Teacher and storyteller Christina Baldwin says to pay attention to "call and response" or what I think of as omens. Foxes are rare enough in this area for me to perk up and take notice.Crafty. Clever. Also hiding in the

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-65584130624119494992008-05-09T16:50:00.003-04:002008-05-09T16:56:42.050-04:00

In the bookstore today it occured to me that I don't look through all the self-help books and books on getting organized because I need the know-how. I realized I have all the knowledge I need. What I look through the books for is inspiration. That feels very freeing.Where do you find inspiration?

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-69639473265785731582008-05-04T15:12:00.017-04:002008-05-04T23:01:18.444-04:00

Before...I've been trying to do a post about my own set of Story-Beads since February when I first made them on my birthday, but I never did. It's strange because it's such a special set this year. They are made with specially saved beads and the handmade beads made specially for me by Kara who infused them with special intentions when she worked with them. They are made of story-teller clay from

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-81447015641560728572008-04-29T14:51:00.005-04:002008-04-29T15:12:32.141-04:00

Last September, after our cat passed away, I took the kids to Caumsett State park; it's our special place, well known enough that we're comfortable there and we find comfort there amoungst the trees and fields. The longer walk to the beach adds depth to our retreats there. It's a container big enough to hold us all, no matter what feelings we bring there.I know its been too long (from a "good

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-85532222577325341952008-04-17T09:58:00.004-04:002008-04-17T10:13:51.644-04:00

the view from our driveway It has been an emotional week. Everyone here is fine but events in the bigger world remind me to be mindful. Here is the entry from my journal on April 15th: “There are so many people in the world. It hits me every so often – like now, riding on the subway. All these people and the expansive connective web of their lives that stretches out from them through their

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-15182387410812561252008-04-06T23:17:00.003-04:002008-04-06T23:29:28.324-04:00

I haven't taken a bath in close to ten months. It hasn't been by choice, exactly, except that the contractors recommended that I avoid them lest I, and my 800 pounds of water, wanted to end up in the basement below. Fair enough.After three weeks of construction our bathroom was ready for its inaugural bath. What joy! What bliss! Well worth all the agravation and running around I've been

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-29709655727840476072008-04-02T16:59:00.003-04:002008-04-02T17:24:59.241-04:00

I got glasses on Saturday. Its a big adjustment for me. My world is literally framed in a new context. Its like watching life in Hi Def - I'm not a big fan of HD, but neither am I a big fan of squinting all the time, so glasses it is!I went on my monthly retreat to Caumsett today. The world moves in a weird kind of way in these new glasses and it was really distracting so I chose to take them off

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-17458701962876454162008-03-17T16:26:00.003-04:002008-03-17T17:02:47.868-04:00

The Blarney Stone, originally uploaded by howzey.So there I was, 6 months pregnant, hanging on for dear life but determined to kiss the Blarney Stone. (Perhaps that's part of Miss M's problem...)I'm not Irish, except by adoption. It's more that I'm Celtic in spirit, but having a dad whose parents came from Ireland and whose grandfather once tried to convince his wife that "'twas the banshees"

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-48658141473405761312008-03-16T21:17:00.004-04:002008-03-16T21:41:54.443-04:00

"We are God's hands"On Wednesday the kids and I will be attending a candleight vigil, arranged by MoveOn.org, hosted by someone in our community, to protest the ongoing war in Iraq. Wednesday marks the five year anniversary.I have been listening to Christina Baldwin's CD set Lifelines. It's a wonderful set from a wise and infinitely accessible woman and it is opening up new paths before me. One

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-26807964646784446012008-03-11T21:18:00.002-04:002008-03-11T21:53:35.074-04:00

III. The Empress, originally uploaded by chrismaverick.I have been working with Suzanne Falter-Barns' offering The Self Help Author's Crash Course. The very first CD has a meditation that invites your "authentic self" into the spotlight. I had such an interesting and beautiful image evolve from that that I want to share it.The image that my mind offered up as my authentic self was an archetypal

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-1565841271878277542008-03-04T17:39:00.003-05:002008-03-04T17:50:21.587-05:00

This is my friend June on the day of the wedding. I love this photo of her - she's so relaxed and content. Her inner beauty really shows through here.I wish all pictures could be like this one. I wish all pictures could show how we are on the inside, all that love and beauty flowing out into the camera. What photos show your inner beauty?

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-5474096952890902652008-03-03T14:38:00.009-05:002008-03-03T21:28:15.395-05:00

the bride and groom exchange vows, while I hold the space for an emotional pairSo, it seems that the term "non-denominational minister" doesn't translate too well into Spanish. Hell, its a mouthful in English. Equally difficult terms are"officiant" and "the person doing the ceremony." None seemed to explain who I was to the Mexican staff at the Hacienda Las Trancas, when native English speaker

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-16534000881154370792008-02-29T15:30:00.010-05:002008-03-03T14:36:14.571-05:00

This beautiful and enchanting place is where we stayed in San Miguel De Allende. Its called Casa De Los Olivos and comes highly recommended! I mean, just look at how beautiful it is!We pulled up in the dark of night to the non-descript entrance on the cobblestone street; I worried half the night about being able to find it again once we went out exploring in the daytime. It opens, like so many

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-81688499038824583432008-02-25T20:11:00.005-05:002008-02-25T20:37:17.889-05:00

Hacienda Las Trancas, originally uploaded by BillieS.The family and I have just gotten back from Mexico, where I performed my second ever wedding ceremony, and the entire experience was absolutely magnificent! There is so much to tell about it I hardly know where to begin!Above is a picture of the Hacienda where the bride and groom chose to get married. Imagine it candle lit with orange and

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-55236282186431800782008-02-15T14:16:00.003-05:002008-02-15T14:30:52.127-05:00

Brad Pitt in GQ 06/2005, originally uploaded by Miss Peach.The pile of laundry has once again grown to over four feet and so I'm folding away with Fight Club on in the background. Watching movies makes a boring job palatable, and the folding leaves room to ruminate over the movie I've chosen.And so, today's thoughts hover around men's spirituality. Not so very long ago I was very distressed at

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-11799764174807687352008-02-14T16:29:00.004-05:002008-02-14T17:01:27.257-05:00

Sea otters, originally uploaded by Wiggum03.What a wonderful day, and I'm not a big one for Valentine's Day, generally speaking. But today was a day of full-hearted gratitude.Today started with my first ever Reiki circle. Although I was certified in Reiki nearly six years ago, today was a first. My new friend Jenn invited me and I said YES! How wonderful it was to experience four people giving me

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-83932004039061414652008-02-11T21:23:00.001-05:002008-02-11T21:41:35.266-05:00

The last time I tried to post to Wikipedia I didn't follow protocol quite right and they removed my posting and blocked my account. It was very (read "irrationally") upsetting. It's taken me all this time, and the support of my coaching group, to try it again. Tonight I did!I know what I'm talking about when it comes to non-denominational prayer beads. It isn't just that I've built a business

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-86533691189896939072008-02-02T22:58:00.001-05:002008-02-04T13:48:46.346-05:00

May I introduce you to the Mitten Twins, Miss M's latest creatures. I was told that they were the newbies and all newbies get to sleep in her bed their first night. So while the other sock creatures wandered over into the fairy fort, the newbies settled in next to her pillow.Here are her creations, chilling in her fairy tree fort. There are, of course, story lines that go along with all of

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-67516070075164647722008-02-02T22:44:00.000-05:002008-02-02T22:51:59.725-05:00

A little history. Imbolc is the ritual that falls between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. It is the celebration of the noticeable lengthening of the days. In ancient times the festival came when the ewe’s gave milk since the lambs were (apparently) born at this time. Imbolc translates somehow into “ewe’s milk.” (Sorry, I’m a little rusty on my ancient languages!) (No doubt if its

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-80939572473958317572008-01-29T16:14:00.001-05:002008-01-29T16:33:59.751-05:00

One of the things that everyone who has heard and seen my three year vision has mirrored back to me is my desire to de-clutter the house and feel organized. (I know, welcome to January, where dreams of organization fill everyone's head.) Still, the truck is filled with 11 boxes/bags of stuff due for the thrift store; even Miss M donated 17 stuffed animals and a giant unicorn that she's had for

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-7993342470581016212008-01-23T10:26:00.000-05:002008-01-24T09:00:15.558-05:00

The older I get the harder it is to find songs that relate to my life experiences. It's not like I'm 18 and falling in love. Or even 18 and having my heart broken. I'm a mom with a kid, figuring out how to stay connected to That Which Is Bigger. Pop music can be very limited, but that makes it that much more touching when I find a song I can relate to, like Aerosmith's Dream On, which I find

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-47340173841522472342008-01-18T23:09:00.000-05:002008-01-18T23:12:21.579-05:00

There's a faery ring around the moon tonight here in North Carolina. My brother's girlfriend tells me that down here in the South, that's a sure sign of snow. Today we walked around in shirt sleeves - change is coming.How do you sense a change coming?

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-14458020182491608452008-01-17T09:24:00.000-05:002008-01-17T09:36:05.362-05:00

I was listening to this song in the car yesterday; I had put it on a mix (The Godless Mix) that I made for a thirteen year old budding atheist. I told him when I gave it to him that I felt it was better that he be an informed agnostic than an ignorant atheist. Totally over his head, as is the song, but my hope is to plant little seed.This song is one of the most under-rated songs about the

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-15448137996748386752008-01-14T20:58:00.001-05:002008-01-14T21:08:06.964-05:00

I cannot even begin to describe how wonderful (?), humbling (?), awesome (?) it feels to see the work of my hands enriching other people's lives. I can't find the words. What a gift to have people who get me. What an amazing, wonderful gift to have people who see my worth and reflect it back to me. Thank you, thank you, thank you... Sacred Life Sunday: Prayer from Anna's World

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-60614502202107804882008-01-10T10:13:00.000-05:002008-01-10T10:31:31.443-05:00

I recently emailed a friend to wish him a happy birthday. His response was mostly and apology for not emailing more often (with some catch-up details thrown in for good measure.) We go through this little exchange any time one of us emails the other. Admittedly, we don't email each other very often but we could save ourselves so much angst if we'd just agreed that this is the way our

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-90148641005454249032007-12-31T05:32:00.001-05:002007-12-31T05:49:24.957-05:00

I have missed yet another Sacred Life Sunday but this week with good cause! I am writing today from the heart of Zürich, looking out over the Old City, having seen the wonderful Chagall windows yesterday (which I didn't even know existed.) Its quite wild to try to log onto Blogger when it pops up in German.Unlike my last trip, this trip to Europe was anticipated and has been delightful. The

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-54135674289377855172007-12-18T16:29:00.000-05:002007-12-18T16:30:08.983-05:00

Coming from a "mixed marriage" - one that's a blend of seemingly very different traditions, there comes not only a division of holiday labor but also the compromise.After years of trying to get my husband to enjoy (not just take part, in but really enjoy) certain of my holiday traditions, I have acceded him the decorating of the Christmas tree. He bows out, choosing instead to be the official

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-79005350328768720302007-12-17T10:49:00.000-05:002007-12-17T10:59:22.321-05:00

My house smells of chili. The wonderful complex odors of cumin and chili powder and tomatoes all mulling together. By 6 o'clock tonight as we sit down to eat, all of us together as a family before trimming the tree, the smell will have infused every room of the house. There will be no escaping it and all I'll be able to think about all day is how good that chili will taste. It will be a good

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-85768572973075572852007-12-14T08:15:00.001-05:002007-12-14T08:19:13.377-05:00

My prayer for this morning:God, grant me the serenity not to snap, and the wherewithal not to sit around and do nothing all day. So mote it be.What's your prayer - right now?

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-65886596356800700002007-12-13T13:45:00.000-05:002007-12-13T16:08:04.700-05:00

Ritual is a part of my every day life. Authors Renee Beck and Sydney Barbara Metrick say of ritual that it is "a series of symbolic acts focused toward fulfilling a particular intention." Ritual is at the core of the work I do for Story-Beads and its at the heart of what I do in my life.Admittedly, some rituals are more elaborate than others. Yesterday's, intended to bless the

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-24368175638918240322007-12-12T17:29:00.001-05:002007-12-13T01:14:00.929-05:00

(a picture of my yearly set, looking a little worse for the wear so late in the year. The dog ate off one of the other beads but that's another story...)It was a busy day of beading, mostly to be given as gifts but I made myself two new sets while I was at it. That makes four in my pocket right now. It's a good feeling to know that all I have to do when I need to connect to Guidance, is reach

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-31659612908991863022007-12-06T23:05:00.000-05:002007-12-06T23:13:31.776-05:00

Back when the Romans were in charge, the Jews were forbidden to tell the story of Hanukkah. They were allowed to gamble though (the Romans were big on gambling) and so the Jews invented the Dreidel game. On the surface it is indeed a gambling game but the letters and the sentence they form "Nes gadol haya sham" ("a great miracle happened there") were a teaching tale, secretly hidden

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-50555847383149126162007-12-04T16:46:00.000-05:002007-12-04T17:18:55.362-05:00

Our family moves between several different worlds - there is my husband's Judaism, my Catholic past and our loosely neo-pagan traditions that we follow as the seasons turn.Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah and so our traditions turn to a God who is decidedly masculine and whom we thank for the "miracles wrought for our forefathers in those days at this season." We try to help our children

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-18868916014625889312007-12-02T23:00:00.000-05:002007-12-02T23:05:50.746-05:00

Snow and fire; warm and cold - these are the glorious delicious blessed dichotomies of my Sacred Life!What are the sacred dichotomies of your life?

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-4677447904242992472007-11-29T16:04:00.000-05:002007-11-29T16:50:22.984-05:00

I've been tagged by Julie over at S'up (how cool! Now I'm a "real" blogger too - thanks Julie!) - she's a lady with a great sense of humor. So, here it goes:1. Link to the person’s blog who tagged you. 2. Post these rules on your blog. 3. List seven random and/or weird facts about yourself 4. Tag seven random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs. 5. Let each person

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-84275699257982902392007-11-28T12:37:00.000-05:002007-11-28T13:14:15.286-05:00

My son started kindergarten this year. It's a tough time - the stakes are higher in Kindergarten than they were in preschool. There's homework. Disappointments are, for some reason, harder to take and the tears that ensue are not always met with understanding.In short, it's a bad time all around to start losing your sneakers and forgetting where you left your socks.I suppose Lima Bean's

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-32392890208183033572007-11-18T21:05:00.000-05:002007-11-18T21:34:56.044-05:00

"Stock footage" from two years ago because I forgot my camera when we went to the movies today.(Sorry R and D! I'll post ya next time!)This evening the kids and I went to see Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, a much better movie than I was expecting, made all the more enjoyable for the company we were with. Our family has been blessed enough to discover friends who we've become so close with that

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-18198325448726670272007-11-11T22:37:00.000-05:002007-11-11T22:50:49.956-05:00

Milo came home yesterday. Oh! the joys of a new kitten. Here are some pictures to share in the joy (for those of you who are cat people.)Curious about the book I'm reading (A God-Shaped Hole - good but sad.)A cozy nook in The Hubby's lapMilo doing an impression of E.T. in amongst Lima Bean's stuffed animals.Cat person or dog person? Animals or plants or people?

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-52765513418660088792007-11-10T18:36:00.000-05:002007-11-10T18:45:54.737-05:00

How does the Universe reward all my hard work last week of posting everyday? Why, by knocking out my internet connectivity the instant The Hubby walks out of the house for a week long business trip. It was up within half an hour of his return. His professional opinion? "One of the nobby things came loose." Excellent.Realization? I have become very reliant on my computer. And I missed

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-42471326787847807202007-11-04T09:04:00.000-05:002007-11-04T21:34:55.758-05:00

Welcome to another Sacred Life Sunday! This week, for the first time ever, I posted to the blog every day and so today:I'm my own sacred life! (sung to the tune of "I'm My Own Grandpa...")I don't know what I look like. I can't be the only one, either, but I really have no mental image of what I look like and what my face and body present as. Watching fashion advice shows doesn't help much when

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-59742464167778571302007-11-03T21:46:00.001-04:002007-11-03T21:54:22.409-04:00

There's a potential new family member on the horizon but until he's neutered, well, let's just say he's singing the blues:"Well if they freed me from this prison,If that railroad train was mineI bet I'd move it on a little farther down the lineFar from Folsom prison, that's where I want to stayAnd I'd let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away....."-Johnny CashI'll keep you informed.Who have

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-48264563213025996042007-11-02T12:12:00.000-04:002007-11-02T12:15:21.908-04:00

Yesterday, I mentioned marketing. Since Story-Beads began its inception I've learned such great things about marketing and found so many great sites that make marketing something real and authentic and, dare I say it? A spiritual practice.Still there's nothing like the support of others. I am infinitely grateful to Carla for all her help and so, passing along the love, what follows is post

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-53685473993399650962007-11-01T22:11:00.000-04:002007-11-01T22:30:39.706-04:00

Pinch Punch first of the month! Here are the collages for this month - note the coaching sessions on the 8th and the 29th. That's my inspiration for these, based on Laura Howard West's vision boards. I've joined a business coaching group to breathe some new life into the marketing I'm doing for Story-Beads. I'm looking forward to it and I like looking at this upcoming month too which is the

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-29352705514257265462007-10-31T16:26:00.000-04:002007-10-31T16:31:11.472-04:00

As the veil between the worlds is lowered this night, wishing you and yours a blessed Samhain and a very happy and spooky Halloween.Who has crossed over that may want remembering this year?

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-78797317594684366422007-10-30T23:08:00.001-04:002007-10-30T23:17:17.619-04:00

Inspired by an ezine by Laura Howard West over at Cafe Entrepreneur, I decided that my best hope for getting "organized" and using a day planner was to take a new approach. Combining it with something I love (collage work) makes the planner something I look forward to. Two months in and so far it's working. I'll post November's on the first...When has thinking outside of the box served you?

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-65242223789256815892007-10-29T10:58:00.000-04:002007-10-29T11:23:55.329-04:00

I am watching (and reading) with interest as Olivia takes part in Do one thing every day that scares you. I have no interest in doing it myself, mind you. I am curious about one thing, and it's something that troubles me on and off these days: how do you get over the idea that things that are hard for you are a cakewalk for others? I'm pretty sure its my vanity (and my perfectionism)

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-44382899908902618512007-10-28T17:26:00.000-04:002007-10-28T17:41:49.326-04:00

Never in a million years would I ever have thought that I'd include a football game as part of my sacred life, and yet here we are on a Sunday afternoon, watching the Jets try not to get clobbered, eating junk food and learning the ins and outs of the game.Ever since The Hubby began uncovering what brings him joy, Jets football has been a part of of lives. And because we love him we watch, too,

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-89654014911607068172007-10-27T20:46:00.001-04:002007-10-27T20:50:31.560-04:00

The Hubby brought me home a chocolate bar from Switzerland. Check out the upper right hand corner - it's SURVIVAL CHOCOLATE! I knew there was a reason I loved the Swiss!What dreams of yours have come true?

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-69223069920033323062007-10-22T09:56:00.000-04:002007-10-22T10:12:50.562-04:00

Last night's silence was less fulfilling than I might have hoped. I think I might have been happier watching Blood Diamond again, (my latest favorite movie) journal in hand, than silently untangling all my jewelry. So, what did I do?I sat outside and watched the moon with a glass of Italian wine - silently.I took a hot shower by candlelight - silently.I undertook the long overdue process of

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-71275445720981115932007-10-21T20:10:00.000-04:002007-10-21T20:24:32.300-04:00

In about 15 minutes I will be doing an exercise recommended by Julia Cameron in several of her books - An Evening of Silence. With two kids and a hubby, an entire evening without the company of others is truly a rarity. The kids played hard today and are in bed for the night. Meanwhile, The Hubby is somewhere over the Atlantic, heading to Zürich on a business trip. A rare opportunity for an

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-58137616862921503322007-10-18T08:18:00.000-04:002007-10-18T08:19:23.335-04:00

FearieCon: imagine a renaissance fair with an other-worldly theme. Hosting the whole shebang is Brian Froud, along with his wife Wendy. You may not know the names but chances are you know their work: they are the concept designers behind the wonderful Jim Henson productions The Dark Crystal and Labrynth (with David Bowie and the glass ball, remember?)The art of Brian Froud fills me. Some

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One of the many wonderful people I met at FaerieCon was Marc Lewis, a storyteller by trade and by calling. He was remarkable, not just in his tales but in who he was in the few brief moments we had to chat. This is one of the tales he told: The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes PART ONE I

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-14828702020142081622007-10-14T23:01:00.000-04:002007-10-14T23:15:07.250-04:00

Miss M at the "Bad Faeries Ball" with foam "snow" magically raining downI just got back from an absolutely wonderful weekend spent at FaerieCon with my own personal faery, Miss M. Our first mother/daughter trip together. I feel so privileged to have been able to take this trip with her, knowing that we can afford it and that everything at home was taken care of by The Hubby. I am a lucky woman

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-18871646017532378182007-10-10T13:20:00.000-04:002007-10-10T13:22:06.754-04:00

My Sacred Life, Day 30One of my favorite ways to pass idle time is to look through my past and trace the steps that got me where I am (physically, emotionally and spiritually) today. A sort of spiritual connect the dots, if you will. I am lucky; I have grown enough that I can recognize that even the most difficult things in life have been blessings. The teenage depression that I suffered, the

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-13210480591459003642007-10-09T21:19:00.000-04:002007-10-09T21:20:00.678-04:00

My Sacred Life, Day 29My journal is the one spiritual practice that I have maintained through all the ins and outs of my life. It is the container that holds everything that I have. On the page I have learned to feel safe and "speak" even the darkest fear, only to see that its really not so terrible. It is on the page that I often find myself closest to "God" and on those pages are the

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My Sacred Life, Days 24 - 28It is the first full day of a business retreat with The Hubby's company. I have now been driving around, lost in Italy, for well over an hour with a lovely young woman that I had just met that morning, who is equally upset about our situation. The powers that be have neglected to give us instructions on how to put the classic car (a cute little Fiat Spider,

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My Sacred Life, Day 23I needed a good laugh and my mama sent me this:Proof that McDonald's has come to AfricaWhen do you rely on humor to get you through?

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-76184209200612838642007-09-22T22:11:00.000-04:002007-09-22T22:21:39.267-04:00

My Sacred Life, Day 22Driving home today, half an hour after the call from the vet to say that Nini had passed, Ob-la-di came on the radio. It's sweet of him to let us know that even though his death was not as we had hoped (i.e. at home) that he is OK and we should be, too. In loving memory...What reassurances assuage your grief?

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My Sacred Life, Day 21It was a difficult day, one where doing only the barest of necessities was the theme for the evening. One thing that is non-negotiable is our evening routine and I am grateful tonight for its simplicity. Every night from the time that Miss M has been 4 months old, we have sung this Beatles song, usually twice, to put our little ones to sleep:Desmond has a barrow in the

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My Sacred Life, Day 20Yesterday was a day of firsts for me.I performed my first wedding as a non-denominational minister yesterday:And I had my first NYC club experience - The Dropkick Murphy's at Roseland and it was AMAZING! (You haven't lived until you've heard Amazing Grace with a punk rhythm!)It was a busy but well-balanced day.What dichotomies do you revel in within your life?

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My Sacred Life, Day 19The wordiness of the last few days fades away into the contemplative quiet of remembrances of 9/11 and the holiness of the Jewish new year. May your life be sweet.Where is your sweetness?

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00043030845047809640noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1181754312066109696.post-54959461246061808972007-09-10T11:32:00.001-04:002007-09-10T12:09:57.583-04:00

My Sacred Life, Day 18 - Just being enough in a pissy kind of waySo, I'm watching Penn & Teller's Showtime origional Bulls*#t. I don't always agree with them (and admittedly they are really off color) but they make some excellent points in favor of reason over fear.Like today's recorded episode which is on collonics and detoxing. They make points like the average body in the US doesn't get

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