OK, so older (not old) kitties (not dogs , for sure) can really learn new tricks. Yes? But I must admit that it it isn’t so easy or so fun. Or maybe it will be soon. At the moment, it’s just a little nerve-racking. But we are all here together, and that always feels so good. But Anita is showing off a little and I love her for it. Marci is so patient, and Stan is so wise. And I’m learning to add a blog.
For the past few days, I have been glued to the news, watching as the situation in Japan continues to unfold and to be even more troubling than we at first thought. An earthquake/tsunami of this magnitude is a rare thing, but when compounded by the threat of radiation exposure from the nuclear plants, it becomes even more overwhelming. It’s almost too big to begin to comprehend.
I’ve been getting calls and emails from various Reiki friends, healers, teachers, and writers about sending light and energy to the people and to the land of Japan. Many wise and powerful messages are out there. But I still want to add my voice to theirs.
Please send Reiki light and energy to Japan in the coming days and weeks. Please do not stop when the news media goes on to cover something else. They will need our love for a very long time.
But also please remember that when something this huge happens on our tiny planet, we are all affected. When the Earth goes through so much upheaval at once, it touches each and every one of us. We are feeling it emotionally as our hearts open up to all the people in Japan who are suffering such great losses. Some of us may be feeling it physically as well. This may manifest as low energy, exhaustion, nausea, dizziness, etc. It’s possible to be affected mentally as well. Some of us may be feeling mental strain or having trouble concentrating.
Yesterday, I sat down to send Reiki and felt a combination of all of the above sweep over me. I could feel the energy coming in waves across the ocean directly to the West coast. I had to stop, regroup, and give myself Reiki first before going on.
So this is the message. If you are feeling especially tired or sad, that is perfectly natural. Watch your own physical and emotional state in the next few days. Listen to your body, your mind and your heart. Keep your own vessel pure and open, and give yourself lots of Reiki. From that place of strength, know that you can make a difference. Surround yourself with light. Feel safe and protected. And then…send tons of Reiki energy to Japan.
Big things (natural and man-made) are beginning to happen more frequently and with greater intensity. It is a challenge to watch it and feel it all thoroughly, and not to succumb to pessimism or fear.
There is much healing to be done. But now…just for today…Japan….
With much love and light, Susan
I can’t remember exactly when my friend Vivian turned me on to this old Southern tradition, but it was probably about 30 years ago. On New Year’s Day, one must eat black-eyed peas and greens. It’s supposed to bring good luck. Since then, I’ve heard about the ritual from many different sources. But I always attribute it to Vivian who had lived in the South and had tons of Southern relatives.
Over the years, my recipes have varied. Any number of greens can be used. The peas have the ability to create their own aromatic broth, to which I can add fresh herbs or make spicy. Some years the addition of garlic has dominated. Or carrots have been added. Or rice has made the soup into a stew. But it is always delicious and always served on the first day of the new year.
According to Vivian, one must also always have corn bread to accompany the black-eyed peas, and I have diligently followed this advice as well. And the results…. Well, my life isn’t perfect, but I am blessed with health (knock wood), wonderful friends and relationships, a small but solid family. I live on an island for heaven’s sake, and love my work.
I would say offhand that those black-eyed peas are working just fine!
But this year eating them on New Year’s Day was not meant to be. For one thing, I had run out of them. And even more significantly, we were off to Seattle for a family gathering on New Year’s Day. I admit that I was a bit stricken when it hit me. Would the sky fall in? Would my life begin to fall apart and unravel? How would the Universe punish me?
Well, in my world the Universe is pretty soft and gentle. Forgiving and flexible, understanding, compassionate and wise. So I tuned in and the message came through loud and clear.
I had been given a Grace Period! By the Universe no less!
So on Monday, January 3rd, we stopped at the Coop on the way home and got the black-eyed peas and organic collard greens. I cooked them and we ate them and they were delicious, as always. Maybe they even tasted a little sweeter this year because I ate them two whole days late and savored the grace in that.
I breathed that in, connected to my good fortune, and felt so grateful for it. And I wonder why it all can’t be just that easy.
What does all this add up to? I’ve decided to continue the work of the Universe and to give myself another longer Grace Period. One that will last forever. Well I’m going to try it out, at least. At least, just for today….
I am busily trying to pull all the loose ends of my loose life together by 5:10 pm tomorrow when I get on the ferry and begin my journey to Delaware Water Gap. Then I can sigh and sleep. Right now, it is as if a small tornado has taken hold of my consciousness and is quietly swirling within me. So many projects, so little time. The beaded bracelet project has taken over the dining room table. Garlic baskets are on the coffee table (a perfect project to do while watching a movie or football). Upstairs, my office is filled with neat little piles of mandala coasters needing to be sorted. And the newest addition to the mandala family is a mandala cutting board, waiting for me to attach feet to their bottoms. Dennis has taken to calling our house Susan’s Sweatshop (meant in the kindest of ways, but not without a little frustration since he does love clear surfaces and they seem to be impossible for me to achieve). And then there was Thanksgiving weekend with many meals and many people weaving their way into mix. Oh, and all the myriad of small and large things I need to do here before leaving.
So I woke up the Wednesday before Thanksgiving feeling so enormously grateful for my life and totally panicked at the same time. I thought of my list of things to do and I thought of my family coming. Part of me wanted to just be alone and keep beading bracelets or stay in bed with the covers over my head. I realized that I had a choice to make. I could look at the whole experience as stressful and the cooking as work and the time away from projects as really inconvenient. Or I could choose to have FUN and relax and trust that it would all get done. So I breathed life into that idea and let it grow as the day progressed. I made a bracelet in the morning and only then cleaned the house. I started cooking at 6 pm and just made dinner for that night, instead of being two days ahead of the meal situation. I threw my menu and most of the recipes out the window and improvised more. As a group, we all decided what to eat next and when to eat it. Everyone helped. I spent time outside. I watched some football, made some baskets, sent some emails, and really enjoyed the company of friends and family, cats and dog. I kept breathing and it kept flowing! Could this be the start of something big?
Written on 29th November, 2010
Mandala Design Works‘ artists look forward to being at the Delaware Water Gap Celebration Of The Arts (COTA) again in 2010. Starting on Friday evening, 10th September, this music and arts festival is an area tradition that we really appreciate. It’s awesome to support all of the local and international artists who show up for the weekend.
Anita, Marci, Stan and Susan hope you’ll drop by our booth on Saturday the 11th and Sunday the 12th, admire our art work and say “hello”.
Visit the COTA web site for details on the festival schedule.
susanbradfordart.com 