Archive for June, 2009

Practice your “listening” skills

When you surrender to your Spirit, you need to then listen for guidance and be available to act on it. This will become a habit, and you’ll find that the more surrendered you are, the more your ideas and actions will naturally be in alignment, but if this is new to you, playing the “What Would You Like Me To Do Now?” game gives you practice in staying attentive and attuned.

Here’s how you play: Give yourself a set time period for playing in this kind of focused way (though you’ll really want to make this your 24/7, 365 strategy!) An hour or several will work. Express your intention to your Spirit to follow its guidance. Then, simply say to your Spirit, “What would you like me to do now?” and wait for a response. When the response comes, act on it.

Whatever it is that comes to you to do is probably it—whatever feels harmonious and that you have energy for. If it feels really good, or like a relief, to do it, you know your interpretation of the guidance was accurate. If you feel strong resistance to doing it, or your attitude about it is less than loving, it is probably your ego horning in with its own ideas about what you should do. “Shoulds” are not from your Spirit! When it’s time to do the challenging stuff, it will become easy and you’ll be internally motivated and energized. No forcing allowed here, as that means it’s not guidance from your Spirit.

If it’s not clear to you what your Spirit is “saying,” simply do whatever feels authentically good to you because that is always what your Spirit wants you to do!

As soon as you complete the thing, ask again, “”What would you like me to do now?”

Don’t edit the messages coming through, and don’t get hung up on any ideas of loftiness or whether or not what you feel guided to do fits some agenda or other—simply do it, even if it doesn’t make sense. You may feel silly, or even self-indulgent, but that’s okay. Judgment will not advance you in this game.

Keep your focus on your Spirit and your willingness to take action on its guidance. Unless whatever it is poses a danger to yourself or others, keep doing what you “hear” and “feel” to do, and after each task, ask “What would you like me to do now?”

Enjoy the adventure!

Listen to Kala’s interview with Julia on The Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show as they discuss Julia’s first book and life experience in Recreating Eden: http://exploreyourspirit.com/Media/shows3.shtml#RECREATINGEDEN

More about Julia Rogers Hamrick…..

Julia Rogers Hamrick, visionary author and teacher, has been a spiritual-growth facilitator since 1982 when she underwent a radical spiritual awakening, including an occurrence of spontaneous cosmic consciousness, as a result of surrendering her life to Spirit in response to a health crisis. With this experience as the foundation, her teaching focuses on deliberately creating new realities through managing our vibrational state, with an emphasis on the relationship between vibrational frequency and our experience of life. Most recently, in a whisper from the Divine, Julia was gifted with the remembrance of the parallel reality called Easy World, “where everything is easy.” Upon sharing this extremely simple concept, it began spreading like wildfire as people at all points of spiritual evolution have clicked with the words, “I live in Easy World, where everything is easy,” have found their lives transforming with utmost ease, and have shared Easy World with others. Her new book Choosing Easy World is due to be released soon.  More info at: www.juliarogershamrick.com or  www.iliveineasyworld.com

My one-of-a-kind Goddess jackets, cover-ups and coats are composed of sophisticated combinations of rich, elegant and exotic fabrics and trims, all appliquéd and carefully tailored into timeless, glamourous garments imbued with serene beauty and enchantment.

I specialize in creating luxury masterworks that fuse fashion and art. For the client that requires a special order, a brief but meaningful conversation enables me to incorporate my client’s distinctive style, colors, and symbols. The resulting work of art is meant not only to be worn or displayed, but to promote protection, hope, courage, and joy.

As my work has progressed, so has my interest in how ancient cultures used art and how that might relate to the art coming through me and its place in our world today. My fabric collage paintings are descended from the ancient Persian and Oriental concept that art should be used as a cultural tool to remind us of the beneficial power of Harmony and Beauty—the Divine effects of the creation of art.

I also feel connected to other cross-cultural ritualistic art, especially the mysterious power of the meditative “Tonkas” of Tibet and bur¬mese”Kalagas” of the 19th century, not just because they are also elaborately appliquéd and embroidered hangings of the mythological significance but because, like my work, they are conscious attempts to produce work that is, as André Malraux wrote in the “The Metamorphosis of the Gods”, “Sacred art—art that imposed the presence of another world.”

The central panel of each of my Spiritual Couture garments is made of precious, carefully chosen silks and brocades, velvets and satins, and special ribbons, embellishments and trims. Each is reinforced by the beauty, the rarity, and the uniqueness of the combined variations to imbue each garment with vitality, affirmation and ceremonial intent.

The act of seeing these embroidered mythological gardens come to life is itself a potent form of visual meditation. It creates a condition that is regenerative of our sense of our own possibilities and divinity. When these garments are worn, we can become the essence of The Goddess, and remember our true beauty and power. We can become the deep mystery of ultimate spiritual experience where concepts and explanations are transcended.

My creations are in the collection of many notable women including Elizabeth Taylor, Patti LaBelle, Shirley MacLaine, Oprah, Goldie Hawn, and Martha Stewart and are sold through Bergdorf Goodman in NYC  and my website  www.TheEnchantedWorld.com.

PATTI LABELLE on Amy Zerner’s Spiritual Couture-

“All of Amy pieces are simply divine! None of my words can adequately describe their beauty and uniqueness! It’s as if they speak to your soul! They are definitely healing garments, every time I wear one it is an uplifting experience. Amy made me a special entrance coat to wear on stage and I must tell you…every time I wear it the audience goes wild! I keep my back to the audience for about 5 minutes so that they can get a chance to take it all in. I def feel like a queen when I wear it! Her pieces give me a better understanding of how richly ornamented and special Joseph’s coat of many colors (Genesis) had to be. They are all poetic works of art!”

View Amy’s Spiritual Couture Collection here:
http://www.theenchantedworld.com/productshowcase/productshowcase.php?Subpage_ID=0&Section_ID=12

My lower- priced denim jacket Art-to-Wear collection is created for the customer who wants to display their individuality and interest in fine craft and nature. They are great to wear everyday, or for special occasions. The “enchanted world” on each jacket is richly appliquéd, embroidered, and embellished with beads, trims, and magical details. See them here:

http://www.theenchantedworld.com/productshowcase/productshowcase.php?Subpage_ID=0&Section_ID=11&Subsection_ID=18

In my upcoming blogs I will write more about my artistic process. Thank you, Goddesses!

Visit Amy’s award winning website: www.theenchantedworld.com

Listen to the interview with Kala and Amy Zerner and Monte Farber on The Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show.

The show airs on August 7th, 2009.

More About Amy Zerner and Monte Farber:

Internationally known self-help author Monte Farber’s inspiring guidance and empathic insights impact everyone he encounters. Amy Zerner’s exquisite, one-of-a-kind spiritual couture creations and collaged fabric paintings exude her profound intuition and deep connection with archetypal stories and healing energies. For more than thirty years they’ve combined their deep love for each other with the work of inner exploration and self-discovery to build The Enchanted World of Amy Zerner and Monte Farber: popular books, card decks, and oracles that have helped millions answer questions, find deeper meaning, and follow their own spiritual paths.

Together they’ve made their love for each other a work of art and their art the work of their lives, with over two million books in print in fourteen languages. Their other best-selling titles include The Chakra Meditation Kit, The Tarot Discovery Kit, Karma Cards, The Enchanted Spellboard, Secrets of the Fortune Bell, Little Reminders: Love & Relationships, Little Reminders: The Law of Attraction, Goddess, Guide Me!, The Animal Powers Meditation Kit, Astrology Gems, True Love Tarot, The Instant Tarot Reader, The Psychic Circle, Wish Upon A Star, The Pathfinder Psychic Talking Board, The Truth Fairy, Spirit of the Ancestors Altar Kit, Vibe-Away!, The Mystic Messenger, The Breathe Easy Deck, The Healing Deck, and The Ghostwriter Automatic Writing Kit.  More info at: www.TheEnchantedWorld.com

All living things vibrate with energy. To me this energy appears as color. As a child whenever I was bored I would daydream. This was a frequent occurrence when I was in school. It’s not that I didn’t like school; there were just some subjects that didn’t appeal to me. What did interest me however, was that during my lapses into la-la land I could see colored lights around the heads and shoulders of my teachers. My mother who was one of the pioneers of yoga in Britain taught me the yogi philosophies, a wonderful foundation for my enquiring mind and the basis of most teachings today. When I told her about the lights she could hardly contain her excitement. She knew exactly what I was seeing, but proceeded to get my eyes tested just in case. My eyes were fine I was seeing auras, the electromagnetic vibration of life visible to psychics as color.

I learned what each color meant from my mother and from the few books available on the subject of auras and colors. When I told anyone what colors I saw the usual reaction would be, “What does that mean?”  I could offer up a basic interpretation, but it never felt complete – something was missing. Then I discovered color therapy. This gave me a greater understanding of the meaning of individual and combined colors and set the tone for my future work. In addition, training as a psychic medium solidified my gifts and gave me the confidence to interpret color using intuitive insight and connection with my guides.

Color has a language that can help us define and embrace our inner world. We are made of light and thanks to Sir Isaac Newton we know that white light is the source of all color. Shone through a prism, we can see how light divides into a spectrum of colored rays. Raindrops act as prisms when sunlight splits into a rainbow. Newton described colors as “visual vibrations,” like musical notes.

I am often asked, “What color am I?” The answer to this question is not that simple. We are complex creatures comprised of many layers. When I see clients I usually describe what I do as looking into their “vibrational wardrobe of outfits.” Take a look at the clothes in your physical wardrobe – how many different colors are there? You probably have more than one color. Well it’s the same in your vibrational energy field.

Some of the colors in your energy field can be more dominant while others may be completely missing. If a color is absent then wearing, eating or drinking the missing color can simply replace its essence. This is essentially the basis of Color Therapy. For example, red is an energizing color. If you are low on energy then maybe you lack red in your energy field. To counteract this you can wear red, eat red foods such as beets, or/and drink red fruit juices. You can also replace a missing color using color visualization or by drinking solarized water – water placed in a colored glass and positioned in direct sunlight for at least 24 hours. The resulting water will contain the vibrational energy of the vessel’s color. This method can be used to bring all the colors of the rainbow into the physical to encourage balance, healing and wholeness. My mother used to fill seven colored vases with water reflecting the seven major chakras and then drink a little from each one every day, a kind of light spectrum supplement.

My work with color inspired me to create a number of tools for healing, self-understanding, and prediction. In my consultations I advise my clients to use color to enhance their lives and to encourage particular energies. For this I designed a line of color healing jewelry and was inspired to call it Rainbow Spirit.  Each piece of jewelry has a name and purpose. For instance, pink is the color of unconditional love. If you want more love in your life then you can surround yourself with pink. Whenever someone talks about someone or something they love their energy fills with pink. As a color-healing tool the jewelry works so well that when I give consultations I have to take my bracelets off, otherwise I see my clients through the colors of my own energy field.

One of the ways we subconsciously use color is in our clothes.  I am always aware of the colors I intuitively choose every day. When my energy is low I tend to wear red. If I select black then I know that my soul is telling me that I need to protect my sensitivity. And, when I combine orange with violet it usually means that I am going to need some form of emotional healing.

Here are a few colors with some of their meanings, their gifts (positive) and challenges (negative), and when to wear or not to wear them.

Red

Symbolizing awakening red exudes power, energy, and a passion for life. Red is known to heal sexual difficulties and anemia.
Gift: movement; new beginnings; decisions; passion; love; energy; life; security
Challenge: anger; frustration; lethargy; nervousness.
Wear red when:
You want to stimulate your sexuality.
Your energy is low and you need a boost.
You want to be more assertive and want to make things happen faster.
Don’t wear red when:
You are feeling nervous.
You don’t want attention.
You are feeling frustrated and angry with everyone.

Orange

Often worn by eastern aesthetics, orange is associated with vibrant health. It has the same vibrational frequency as DNA, the template of all human cells. This color is known to heal shock.
Gift: creativity; new ideas; confidence; joy; sensuality; ambition; sports; childhood
Challenge: shock; fear of survival; dependency; letting go; control.
Wear orange when:
You want to have fun and your sensual circuits need a boost!
You need to heal your emotions.
You want to heighten your creativity
Don’t wear orange when:
You want to relax your feminine/masculine charms.
You feel restless.
You want to take a rest.

Yellow

A color often worn by entertainers because it makes them stand out in a crowd and confronts the challenge of being the center of attention. Yellow is known to heal the digestive tract.
Gift: freedom; optimism; mental activity: concentration: open-mindedness
Challenge: fear; no boundaries; negativity; timidity.
Wear yellow when:
You need to attend to details.
You are studying and need to keep your mind awake.
You want to infuse some joy into your life.
Don’t wear yellow when:
You feel fear.
You don’t want to be the center of attention.
You want to relax your mind.

Green

Those seeking their own identity, fulfillment of their heart’s desire, and/or are searching for a new direction, are drawn to wear this color. By doing so they are challenged to find ways of creating their own abundance. Green heals the heart, eases tension, and regenerates cells.
Gift:  security; abundance; nature; heart matters; new space/beginnings; balance.
Challenge: unrealistic; shying away from people/society; stagnancy.
Wear green when:
You want to see things from a different perspective.
You desire to feel more space around you.
You need both feet on the ground.
Don’t wear green when:
You are confused about where life is taking you.
You feel your life is stagnant.
You don’t want to face the truth of a situation.

Blue

“True blue” symbolizing devotion to duty is a color worn by many authority figures – nurses, policemen, etc. Those who consistently wear blue are considered deep thinkers and tend to re-energize by seeking their own company above that of others.
Gift:  authority; peace; organized; practical; devotion; structure; communication
Challenge: aloofness; control issues; isolation; depression; martyrdom.
Wear blue when:
You want to exude an air of calm authority.
You need to be more organized.
You want to communicate something important.
Don’t wear blue when:
You are feeling isolated or lonely.
You feel depressed.
You are being critical of both yourself and others.

Violet

Violet can indicate major change and a need to retreat, as a caterpillar retreats into a cocoon before it transforms into a butterfly.
Gift:  transformation; spiritual self-realization; truth; creativity; recovery; healing. Challenge: pain; misuse of power; bruising; looking for a way out; grief; unemotional.
Wear violet when:
You want to transform something in your life.
You are seeking purpose in your life.
You need to let go of destructive behavior or addictions.
Don’t wear violet when:
You are daydreaming instead of doing.
You want to turn your back on society.
You are grieving but your emotions are blocked.

Pink

Pink symbolizes unconditional love. Wearing it encourages a sense of affection, increases sensitivity, and challenges you to confront your vulnerabilities.
Gift: unconditional love; affection; flirting; open to love; hearing.
Challenge: lack of self-love/self-esteem; healing grief; immaturity; vulnerable.
Wear pink when:
You want to feel feminine and vulnerable.
You want others to love you instantly.
You need to concentrate and listen.
Don’t wear pink when:
You feel vulnerable and insecure.
You are giving and not receiving.
You feel fragmented.

Brown

The symbolism of this color is based in part on the natural world. For instance soil offers some insight into the meaning of brown. Soil is used to grow food, it can be fertile or dry, and at a certain level in the earth the temperature stays static.
Gift:  security; practicality; work; money; commitments; determination to succeed.
Challenge: loss of security; lack of money; fear of survival.
Wear brown when:
You need to get down to some hard work.
You want to organize your finances.
You want to feel that everything in your life is going well.
Don’t wear brown when:
You want to expend lots of energy.
You are feeling too bogged down with things.
You are not interested in hard work and want to play instead.

Turquoise

Known to enhance healing of the immune system. Native Americans use the semi-precious stone Turquoise as an allergy healer.
Gift: communication; lecturing; media; creativity; immune system healer.
Challenge: inability/unwilling to communicate; poor defense; rejection
Wear turquoise when:
You are lecturing – wear around the throat.
You want to tap into your creativity through dance, music, art, etc.
You want to connect with your own spirituality.
Don’t wear turquoise when:
You feel rejected.
You don’t want to talk about it!
You are more interested in yourself and not others.

You are made of light – you are made of color. Color consciousness is a wonderful way to get to know yourself better. You don’t need someone to tell you what color you are. Just close your eyes and say, “What color am I today?” Without judgment, allow the answer to come to you and when it does follow up with, “What does that mean? Or, “If I knew what would that mean?”

I am constantly learning about color not from books, but from my own inner-tuition, my guides, and by my creative inspiration. Color is fun. Play with it and a whole new world will open up to you.

Kala speaks with Elizabeth Harper on The Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show This Fall! Watch the home page of EYS for upcoming dates.

And a Special Bonus Feature! Watch Elizabeth’s Weekly Video ColorScope!  Featured on the Bohemian Blog main page.

More about Elizabeth Harper…
Sealed With Love founder, Elizabeth Harper is the award-winning author of, Wishing: How to Fulfill Your Heart’s Desires (Atria/Beyond Words). She is a color intuitive, psychic artist, and spiritual guide with an eclectic array of coloriscious offerings, including Divinely inspired Rainbow Spirit Jewelry, a Chakra Workout Meditations CD, and an innovative ColorScope – a unique system of color forecasting.  Find out more about her work on her website www.sealedwithlove.com

Summer Solstice came at 5:45 AM GMT in London, or 1:47 AM EDT in Washington DC. The following are observations made for the UK, US and Iran as Iran has been coming up in the news recently. For the world overall the summer months promise to bring a lot of constructive work with no small degree of mental stress. Where the charts for the Vernal Equinox showed a serious rise in crime, especially in the US, the charts for the Summer Solstice don’t don’t emphasize crime. This is a good sign of constructive progress being made towards financial recovery now.

The chart for the US shows the public attitude, or national consciousness, becoming more optimistic and cooperative especially in connection with labor. This means more people will be working. The employment situation promisses to improve. The President’s interest in health care reform looks very positive; the people in general support it. The main obstacle that is shown to health care reform is the cost. Financial obstacles will have the effect of slowing down, or belaboring progress but will not stop it from happening. There will be a long and serious discussion about different options and solutions before reforms are put in place. The financial picture in general shows fluctuations, especially in stocks and in the money market, with strong hopes of improvement against continuing obstacles. While a lot of people will still be out of work the picture is changing for the better. There are plenty of people in want and suffering from ill-health and seriously discontent. Legislation to alleviate the suffering of the poor and to bring about reforms in public institutions is delayed, but will come about. Attention in the media is being given to complicated matters abroad. The media, as usual, is slanted.

The situation in Iran shows serious discontentment and distress among the people in conflict with the Government. At the same time, there is the positive intention of the religious institutions and institutions of higher learning to make constructive efforts to work with the people. The intellectual class of the country is taking a very positive and constructive position. Considerable discontentment appears to be coming from the working class. The Government is not popular. It is possible there will be some scandals in high places of the Government bringing disgrace to public officials. Foreign intervention is a problem and is not welcome. There is danger of treachery and double-dealing on the part of Foreign Powers. The nation needs to be on guard against plots, and schemes and secret attacks from Foreign Powers. Disruptive activity was brewing in May this year. More will happen in August and September, and again next year.

The chart for the UK shows changes coming to the Government. There is a lot brewing in Parliament connected with problems in areas of communications, transportation, migration, public discontentment, schools, and matters relating to agencies having to do with foreign countries and international affairs. It appears there will be a sudden and unexpected development in Government circles that may cause the defeat and resignation of someone in a high position. There may be some outrage against the Royals as well.

The Chinese astrological chart for the Summer Solstice shows it to be a period that favors creative activity. Action, especially creative action, is vital to the time. The elements of the chart are extremely unbalanced. Changes, therefore, must and will happen. Translated to an I Ching hexagram, the Chinese astrological calculation gives us hexagram 21, 6th line. Hexagram 21 is Biting Through. Time to get rid of evil spirits. Biting, or cutting through has success. It is a favorable time to execute justice. The 6th line warns of not listening. Misfortune will come to those who cannot hear. The advice given is don’t be deaf to counsel; incorrigibility leads to misfortune.

T. Raphael Simons will be on The Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show this Fall. Check back for the official show date coming soon.

More about T. Raphael Simons…

T. Raphael Simons is a psychic reader, astrologer (Western and Chinese forms), feng shui expert, hypnotherapist and life coach and is  available for consultations and counseling in person and by telephone. Author of Feng Shui, Step by Step, Feng Shui Strategies for Business Success: Arranging Your Office for Success and Prosperity, and The Feng Shui of Love, his interest in the metaphysical sciences and arts began in 1970, he first learned to read Tarot cards in 1971 and took up reading them professionally in 1977. From there he studied astrology for seven years with Ivy Jacobson beginning in 1980. In 1988 he took up the study of Chinese astrology and fengshui with Terry Lee in New York and has been practicing and teaching Chinese astrology and fengshui ever since. He also trained in channeling in New York with the medium Alex Murray. Since 1999 Raphael has been a member of OBOD (the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids), the most ancient bardic and druid order in the UK in which he was elected a full member in the Druid grade. Raphael has been living in Durham, North Carolina since 2003, moving to NC from New York City. Originally trained as a musician, he taught music at Princeton University and Oberlin College. More info at: www.psychicarts.net

In June, we celebrate Father’s Day. It is the perfect time to explore the Divine Masculine and the concept of “sacred marriage”. From a spiritual perspective, it is auspicious that Father’s Day and many marriages occur during the astrological cycle of Gemini. The sign of Gemini is depicted as the twins – the one becomes two. Metaphorically, Gemini represents the “sacred union of creative opposites”. Gemini, therefore, serves as our guide on the path to Unity.

The Divine Masculine desires to be re-awakened within each of us. In indigenous societies, the original aspect of the Divine Masculine or the Warrior was very much revered. He was the beloved consort of the Feminine and walked in balance with her. The Green Man and Mother Earth are an example. Both the feminine and masculine aspects of the Divine were viewed as equal in spirit, intelligence, and importance. In the physical and emotional areas, they were viewed as complementary.

The Divine Masculine was then and is spiritually self-aware, secure in his power, both tender and wise, and is outwardly creative. He embodies the qualities of courage, healthy assertion, focused will, structure, strength, balance, and perseverance. In those societies, he was venerated as the seeker, the discoverer, and the creator of something greater than himself. Never were the energies of destruction and reckless use of power associated with him. In some cultures, individuals that behaved in that manner were considered “mad”. It was unspeakable and brought shame to the family and the tribe.

A new paradigm later emerged based upon patriarchal monotheistic perspectives. This standard displaced the original teachings, resulting in a disconnect between the masculine and the feminine. Osho spoke about the effects of this lingering consciousness in our lives today:

“The ordinary man is living a very abnormal life, because his values are upside down. Money is more important than meditation; logic is more important than Love; mind is more important than Heart; power over others is more important than Power over one’s own Being. Mundane things are more important than finding some Treasures which death cannot destroy.”

Today, our men, women, and children suffer the ramifications of that paradigm shift.  We carry the memories and pain of those decisions in our physical and spiritual DNA. It is a “collective wounding” and “identity crisis” which calls out to be balanced, forgiven, and healed. The feminine principles have been made subservient to the patriarchal paradigm of masculine power. The wisdom of the heart and the feminine qualities of receptivity, instinctual wisdom, relating, and compassion have been relegated to imply weakness. This creates shame in women and men that express those qualities. The true nature of the Divine Masculine has also been repressed. The phrase “Be a Man” is sometimes a tool used to shame our boys and men into not showing who they are or how they feel.  How are they to forge healthy relationships with others or know themselves, if they are programmed to deny rather than express their true natures? How are we to let them know that they are loved if they are programmed to invalidate their feelings? Kent Nerburn in his book, Letters to My Son advised:

“Do not fall prey to the false belief that mastery and domination are synonymous with manliness.”

Because all of us are both the masculine and feminine, are the alternatives for our girls and women any clearer? Are they to emulate “Be a Man”, as well? Or, are their options still invisibility or servitude in various guises? Although strides have been made toward healing these attitudes -there is more work to be done. Until we address this fundamental issue, we exist outside our Divine Potential – disconnected from our true nature and purpose. Humanity has the ability to grow beyond this wound. Within each of us, is the potential of great beauty, passion, and commitment, which is animated by the Divine.

It is time to bring an end to an “error”. Moreover, it is time to reclaim the Divine Feminine and reunite her with the Divine Masculine — first within ourselves individually, then in the outer world. This unification of the Self is one of the highest messages of Gemini and clearly identifies that the “sacred marriage” is an evolution of consciousness. The Divine Masculine seeks his beloved consort, the Feminine. She holds the space of Love and Compassion and holds the power of creation from within. He seeks to bring form to their creation, which reflects Love and Harmony to the outer world.

More about Diana Harris…
Diana Harris is a nationally recognized workshop facilitator, spiritual counselor and psychic medium. She travels regularly to conduct transformational workshops and is often featured in the media. Most recently, Diana is a frequent contributing writer to SpiritSide magazine and other holistic journals. Her current creative projects include an animal oracle deck and her first book.  Website: www.sacredspiraldance.com

Diana has been a guest on The Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show, listen to the show here: http://exploreyourspirit.com/Media/shows2.shtml#HARRISTOTEM

Diana will be back on The Explore Your Spirit with Kala show soon, check the home page of EYS for her upcoming show later this year.

Hello there. I’d love to tell you the story behind one of my favorite paintings called “Into the Mists”.  It is an oil painting on canvas about 14” x 18”.   I started the painting about a year before I finished it and in that time I let it sit for several months because I couldn’t figure out how to complete it. It began as a simple landscape.  I was driving in Maine right after sunset one evening and it was a particularly misty foggy night.  I drove past a lake where the mist was rising and the colors and the atmosphere was absolutely magical.  I was with my boyfriend who was used to me screaming out “pull over!!” anywhere we would be driving so that I could photograph for future paintings.  This was so awesome that he didn’t do the usual griping over having to wait for me to finish. He knew how special it was.

I began the painting some days later after we returned home.  I just couldn’t finish it.  So I let it sit.  It sat for almost a year until a friend was visiting and commented that I should have a moon in it.  At the time it didn’t.

I placed the moon but it still did not feel complete to me so I continued to let it sit.  One day as I was shuffling through some photos in my studio I came upon a series of shots I had taken of a friend at a nearby mystical location and realized that she would look great in that painting.  Voila!  As soon as I placed her there I knew that was the ideal solution to what was missing.

I hope you like it as much as I do. To see more  of my images visit my website at melissaharris.com.

More About Melissa Harris:
Melissa Harris holds an MFA and BFA in Painting and was awarded a Fulbright grant to study painting in Paris. CREATRIX is her company featuring her artwork and messages on notecards, prints, and other gift items. Her work can also be found on book, magazine and CD covers as well as calendars. Watch for her new affirmation deck called “Goddess on the Go” soon to be released. She teaches art-making workshops at spiritual centers throughout the US and at her home studio. Melissa finds her inspiration in nature, travel, personal relationships, and dreams. Series include butterflies, women and magic, women and nature, women and dreams, cycles of the moon, intimacy, and more. According to Melissa, “Whatever my subject matter is, I like it to have a certain edge whether compositional or emotional. I like to think that a key word for my work could be “depth”, depth of space and depth of emotion.” More info at: www.melissaharris.com

Listen to Melissa’s interview with Kala on The Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show here: http://exploreyourspirit.com/Media/shows3.shtml#CREATIX

On Explore Your Spirit with Kala’s Bohemian Blog, we continue to seek out the most talented and innovative designers of the 21st Century.   Join us this summer as we meet up with bright souls who do what they love and allow the rest to unfold as it should. On this path, we connected with Susie Holladay, who creates custom jewelry. Enjoy the interview here with Susie…  *~Kala~*

Kala: Hi Susie, Thanks for joining us here on Kala’s Bohemian Blog. This summer, we’re featuring Fashion and Design for the Body, Mind and Spirit.  I discovered your work via Twitter, which led me to your jewelry on ArtFire and Etsy.  I find your designs to be mystical and refreshing with unexpected introductions of inspired whimsy, which is delightful. Tell us, how did you begin making jewelry and what do you enjoy most about it?

Susie: Thank you Kala.  I’m delighted to be here.  I have always enjoyed being creative, whether it is music, sewing, painting or gardening.  My introduction to jewelry making came from my love of “rocks”.  It doesn’t matter what kind either.  I can see beauty in the plainest stone.  I’ve collected rocks for years and used them in various ways. I gradually began to want to make something “pretty” to wear and I was hooked.  It has been one of the most satisfying endeavors I’ve undertaken.  Each piece is unique and special.  When I work I seem to go somewhere else and become completely at peace.  Hours can pass without realizing it!  Usually when my stomach growls I know it’s time for a break!   The thing I enjoy most about jewelry making is the creative aspect of it and the peace within that comes from each experience.

Kala: When viewing your work, I was immediately attracted to one particular piece, this beautiful amethyst bracelet which was described as a bohemian design, of which I am now the delighted owner.  What was your inspiration for this piece?

Susie: The amazing thing about this bracelet was the fact that as I was working with the stones I actually had you in my mind which caused me to give it the name of bohemian after your blog!  I never dreamed you would be the one who would buy it!  I guess this is a perfect example of how the Universe works.  I couldn’t have been more delighted when you found it!  It truly was meant for you.

Kala: I love that too, so synchronistic! I am delighted that you are a fan of the show and the blog and had made this piece with me and the blog in mind! I had no idea, I saw your general Tweet sharing your work and went to look and fell in love with this bracelet. I agree, the Universe works in many powerful and mysterious ways and it’s so fun to watch it all come together.

Looking at all the stones you use in your designs Susie,  I see that you work with Sleeping Beauty Turquoise in some of your designs. What are the unique properties of this turquoise?

Susie: These turquoise stones are world famous.  I did some research on them and found that they are highly prized and some of the best turquoise available!  The one’s I have are just like they were when they were mined back in the 70s.  They have no need for enhancement or stablization which is unusual these days.  Turquoise is such a wonderful stone and treasured by many cultures.  It is the stone of longevity and prosperity.

Kala: Do you connect with the gemstones when you work with them? Do you have a design in mind when you begin or do the stones lead you to the design?

Susie: Yes I do connect with the stones.  I just love to handle them.  Sometimes I have an idea in my mind but usually the stones have the final say about it.  It’s amazing how things come together!

Kala: You’re a musician, artist, jewelry designer and love to travel. How have your travels inspired your designs?

Susie: Just being in nature and different cultures seems to inspire me to try different things!  I just love the wonderful designs in nature.

Kala: As a creative person, you’ve found many outlets to share your talents with the world. How do they differ and how are they the same when you are expressing yourself?

Susie: I guess music was my first real passion.  I love people and this allowed me the privilege of connecting with them.  I love bringing joy to others and letting them know just how special they are.  The pleasure and satisfaction of bringing joy to others is always in my heart.  I am older now and seem to be less active in the world and I am finding jewelry making is giving me another outlet to connect and hopefully bring happiness to others in a different way though my desire remains the same.

Kala: Your work is beautiful with the introduction of copper in many of your pieces. I have to wonder if you are connecting to past lives in Egypt, as several pieces you have designed include spirals and sacred symbols and appear to call forth an ancient energy. What inspired you to use copper in your creations?

Susie: It is interesting that you bring this up.  I do seem to have a special connection to spirals and sacred symbols.  I have often wondered if I might have been a musician or artist in another lifetime in some ancient culture.  I am very interested in ancient symbols.  A few years ago I became fascinated with indian symbols and began painting them on rocks.  In jewelry designs, especially copper, I love to use lots of spirals and coils in the designs.  Copper is such a warm and wonderful metal and is used by many people for health benefits.

Kala: Do you accept custom orders? What has been your favorite piece that you have designed thus far?

Susie: Yes, I would be glad to do custom orders.  I will do my best to fill any request.  If I find I can’t do it then I will gladly give a refund.  To date I guess my favorite piece would be the Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Necklace but it’s really hard to say for I like them all.

Kala: I love the work you do with freshwater pearls. There’s something so light and soothing about these pieces. Pearls seem to embody the essence of every woman. What do you feel when you work with pearls and can you describe your inspiration regarding this particular piece…

Susie: I love to work with pearls.  They seem to embody all that is feminine….. graceful, beautiful and lasting.  I think every woman should have a string of pearls!  This necklace is especially interesting.  The pendant is rather unusual in that it can represent something different to each person.  I can see a dolphin, a seal, and a cross in this pendant.  Someone else might see something different.  The small freshwater pearls with the purple quartz seen to combine land and water.  The pendant was the inspiration in this piece and I just worked from there.

Kala: Who is Susie Holladay? If your friends and family were to describe you in five sentences, what would they say?

Susie: I think they would tell you I am a very optimistic person, always trying to look on the bright side of things and that I value my family and friends and can be counted on to lend a hand when they need me.

Kala: What advice would you give to someone who wanted to connect more with their creative side?

Susie: Just begin.  Find out what really interests you and experiment.  Don’t be afraid to try.  Something will come along that will grab hold of you.  Life is a journey so fill your life with things that give you happiness, then you will be able to share that happiness with others.

Kala: Beyond your artistic creations here Susie, what inspires you? How do you Explore Your Spirit?

Susie: I love to listen to the view points of others and studying things I’ve never known.  I have an avid thirst for knowledge and understanding.   I try to keep an open mind and heart and have found by looking inward we already have the answers.  We only need to seek.

Kala: It was a pleasure speaking with you Susie. Looking forward to seeing more of your work and best wishes for your continued success.

Susie: And thank you Kala.  It has truly been a pleasure being here with you.   So many of us look forward to your podcasts and blogs.  I learn something new every time.  You are an inspiration to so many people.  Keep up the good work!

More about Susie Holladay…

Hi, I’m Susie Holladay and I love rocks!  My husband and I have spent many years traveling out west looking at all the natural wonders available to us.  The first part of my life was spent in music which has been a passion all of my life.  Now I am taking it easy and just enjoying life.  I have had various jobs over the years from substitute teaching to being a post master relief in our local post office.

My husband retired in 2000 and I worked on for another 6 months.  One morning I woke up and just knew I was ready to quit too!  I haven’t looked back since.  From our travels I have developed a deep love of nature and rocks.  It was only natural that I would eventually make jewelry which I absolutely love to do!       (Discover Susie’s jewelry at ArtFire and Etsy.)

In July, 2006 I returned from a gathering at Mountain Home Ranch Resort, located in the hills of wine country between Napa and Sonoma Valleys in northern California. The focus of this gathering was a training called “Honoring Life’s Final Passage with Love and Compassion: Death Midwifery Level III”. It was taught by Jerrigrace Lyons, Founder and Director of Final Passages, an educational non-profit program founded in 1995 and dedicated to dignified and compassionate alternatives to current funeral practices. For eleven years she has offered her services to the community and beyond, helping over 250 families plan and create their own home funerals. She also teaches workshops, consults and sells informative guides and pamphlets. Thirty-five of us from six different states gathered at a most appropriate time of year for this training – early November, during what the Mexicans call “Los Dias de Muertos” or “Days of the Dead”, Mexico’s traditional holiday honoring departed ancestors, friends and family. This is a time in the wheel of the year when the “veil between the worlds is thin”, and I felt it to be an auspicious time to further my training in Death Midwifery!

I remember the first time I became aware of the reality of death. The year was 1962; I was in second grade, and not more than seven years old. I would walk twelve blocks to my grade school, outside the city limits north of Spokane, WA, and was often accompanied by my older sister, Cheri. During this walk I would always see a young girl, about my age, from a distance, walking with a nurse or a nanny. What first caught my eye was her size; she was unusually overweight for a girl her age. There was also something mysterious about her, for she lived in my neighborhood and yet I never saw her at school. She was never alone on these walks, in that she always had an adult with her; and yet she was always alone, in that I never saw her with other children. I often thought about her, and wondered if she was lonely, but I was too timid a child to introduce myself and befriend her. I eventually discovered that she suffered from leukemia, and that the medicines she took caused her to gain the weight. I never knew her name, and only saw her on her walks, on my way to and from school.

One day I realized that I had not seen her walking for several days in a row. I don’t recall how I found out, but word came that she had died. The finality of it began slowly sinking in and my innocent sense of well-being came crashing down around me. Death did not just come to old people! Someone my age could, and has died! Suddenly, I realized that it could also happen to me. I remember going to my mother in her bedroom, lying on her bed, sobbing, and trying to explain to her what was wrong, longing for consolation that I knew in my heart of hearts she could not give. This was a hurt she could not kiss away. The world shifted for me that day in an irrevocable way. I was crying, not only for the unnamed, unknown girl; but I was crying for the recognition that some day I, too, would be no more on this earth, and I was afraid.

That fear of death stayed with me throughout my childhood and into my middle adulthood, primarily because, like most of us in this culture, I was not taught experientially about the natural cycles of life and was protected from any direct contact with human death. The first funeral I attended was for my paternal grandmother when I was 14. I could have looked at her in the open casket, but was too afraid. Death was such a scary thing precisely because it was so mysterious and unknown to me, and I was so inexperienced with it. We humans tend to be afraid of things that we don’t know, and therefore don’t understand. The truth is that our culture teaches that death is something to be ignored, denied, feared and avoided as much as possible. We try to insulate ourselves from the reality that death is a natural part of the cycle of life.

As a young adult I moved to Whidbey Island, WA and studied Native American and European earth-based spiritualities. Through the teachings of the Medicine Wheel I came to know more intimately about the life-death-life cycle, ever present in the seasons of the year. In my mid-thirties I experienced a metaphorical death through the loss of a 10-year marriage that I valued. This shattering led me to explore many of the classic descent myths. The myths helped me, after much resistance, to eventually befriend the surrender and letting go process that is inherent in any death, be it physical or metaphorical. Although it took me many years to heal from that experience, I did emerge with a stronger sense of Self and a belief in and a deeper understanding of the promise of renewal that follows any death. I eventually came to see the divorce as one of the most valuable experiences of my life because of the wisdom I gained through it. I was becoming more familiar with the territory of death. However, it wasn’t until I was in my early 40’s that I had the privilege of being present at the death of a dear friend, Sara, in 1997 and my fear of death completely fell away.

Sara had been a participant in the first year of a women’s spiritual growth group that I co -created and co-facilitated with my friend and business partner, Renie Hope, called “Gaia Spirit Rising”: Healing Ourselves, Healing the Earth.” From the fall of 1989 to the spring of 1990, Sara, along with 15 other women that year, gave herself fully to nine months of gathering weekly together, sitting in circle, exploring issues of spiritual, cultural and personal transformation through study, discussion, movement, creative expression, drumming, chanting, and sacred ceremony. Sara, like most of us, had grown up a daughter of the patriarchy, in a male-defined religious institution and identified fully with masculine ways of being successful in the world. Like many women, Sara was searching for a “God who looked like me” and she used the Gaia curriculum and experience to find a new source of empowerment for the second half of her life. Sara especially loved the chanting and drumming that I would lead at the beginning of each gathering.

Renie and I had created the Gaia program from the ashes of our failed marriages and the ending of our close association with the Chinook Learning Center. We had been covenant members of the Chinook community on the south end of Whidbey Island for many years, and had worked together on the educational staff, facilitating both residential and non-residential, nine-month long programs. Major changes at Chinook, including the disbanding of the membership, closely followed the exodus of our husbands from our marriages (ironically, within two months of each other). Our lives as we knew them were suddenly and irretrievably over. We were being kicked out of the “nest” and needed a new way to support ourselves financially. We also wanted to continue our in-depth educational work and have the opportunity to teach others how to create community, even as we sought to recreate it for ourselves. Being participant-leaders, Gaia became a crucible not only for the healing and support of the women who came to us, but for our own healing as well. We went on to facilitate the Gaia program for seven more years, but there was something about that first group that bonded especially deeply. After the official end of Gaia 1, they continued meeting without us through the years, with Sara emerging as one of their strongest leaders.

Then, in the fall of 1993, Sara was diagnosed with cancer. We were informed that her prognosis was not good and her doctors gave her 3 to 6 months to live. Sara’s one wish, at that point, was to live to see the birth of her grandchild. Her daughter, Jennifer, was newly pregnant at the time of her diagnosis. Her Gaia group and the extended Gaia community rallied around to support her and her husband, Allen. Our support included hospital visits during her many surgeries, emotional support, healing ceremonies – creating ways to uphold Sara and to hold our own sense of shock and disbelief that this was happening to one of us, so young. Months went by slowly as Sara grappled with the multitude of issues and decisions facing her. I had no easy answer for her when she asked my advice on whether to do chemotherapy or not. Initially she did do chemo, but soon wearied of the negative impact it had on her body and spirit. She then courageously chose to leave that known path sanctioned by western medicine and began to trail-blaze one of her own. She began working with a medical doctor who offered alternative treatments for cancer. More months passed. Sara’s granddaughter was born, and she was overjoyed to have made it that long. Never once did I see Sara get caught in self-pity. She lived on, beating her doctors’ timeline by three and a half years.

However, in the spring of 1997, I received a phone call from one of the Gaia women telling me that Sara was well into her dying process, and that if I wanted to come to Seattle and say goodbye to her, I should do it soon. I was also informed that Sara had requested that I facilitate her memorial service. When I arrived at Sara’s home, she was surrounded by the sounds of life; her hospital bed was in her living room, a makeshift altar nearby, candle flickering, casting shadowed light on fresh spring flowers, pictures of her loved ones and her special, sacred objects. The exquisitely beautiful and lovingly hand-crafted quilt made by her women’s group hung nearby, each square a testimony to Sara’s bright and giving spirit, and how cherished she was by each woman. Her family was there in support of her process and to grant her last wish – to die at home. There was a surprising lack of machines or medical equipment, save one computerized unit that served to dispense pain medication slowly to Sara through an IV drip. At this point she was refusing fluids and intravenous feeding, but the pain medication, given at regular intervals, helped her to rest more comfortably.

At first the everyday atmosphere seemed to contradict what was happening. Amidst a backdrop of Sara’s family chatting away over a supper brought in by another Gaia 1 participant, Sara’s slow, labored and uneven breath was taking her step, by invisible step, closer to her passing. There was incongruence here, and yet a lovely perfection — for death is a part of life, as much as it may be denied by our culture. I was honored to be included in this sacred leave-taking. However, I was feeling awkward, as I had never been so close to human death before, and because there was no private space to express my personal grief. I leaned over to whisper my assurance to Sara that I would be honored to facilitate her memorial service. I wanted her to know so she would have one less worry. Yet, as I spoke the words, I realized in her semi-conscious state that she was beyond the concerns of this world. Still, she opened her eyes, silently communicating to me that she understood and knew that I was there.

I sat next to her, longing to help ease her transition. I had brought my drum. The thought of drumming and singing to Sara had crossed my mind, but it was edited out by the impracticality of doing so in an environment where it might not be understood. Within just a few minutes of having this thought, Sara’s husband, Allen, came to me and asked, “Would you be willing to sing some of the Gaia chants that Sara loves so much?” I was stunned, yet grateful for the synchronicity of the moment. I turned my attention briefly to Allen, acknowledging to myself what a fine, gentle and good husband he is and how supportive through this four-year process he has been to Sara. I watched him wipe her brow, lovingly caress her dry, chapped lips with a moist sponge, and check her IV.

Relieved to have an avenue of expression for the mixture of joy and pain, sorrow and love I felt for Sara all at once, I began to sing. Suddenly the words rang through with clarity and new meaning:

“Mother Earth, Birth and Death,
Come and hold me in your arms,
Mother Earth, Life and Breath,
Come and hold me in your arms.

Cradle me, Circle me, Hold me in your Mystery.
Challenge me, strengthen me, Hold me in your Heart”…1

Chanting, the repetition of simple words and melodies over and over
again, is an ancient practice developed to create sacred space. As I was chanting, I was struck with the realization that I had done this for Sara before, during the Gaia program. Through a ritual reenactment of the ancient Sumerian myth of Inanna’s descent to the underworld, I had stood by, chanting and holding the space consciously and with great care while she “died.” I had led her down through the seven gates to the underworld where she had released layers of her identity, one at a time, to each ritual gatekeeper. As Inanna, she had then “hung on a peg,” until her body turned to “green, rotting meat.” Although a metaphorical death, it had many of the same aspects of Sara’s physical death. The story of Inanna is a death and resurrection myth, similar to the Christian myth, yet it predates Christianity by 2,000 years. This ancient myth involves goddesses and is told from the feminine perspective. It was a fundamental aspect of the Gaia curriculum because it is such a potent template for a pattern of psychological and spiritual growth. Our hope was that by relating to this very early myth, from an age when the Great Goddess was still vital, that participants would be able to reclaim some connection to the archetypal feminine instinct and spirit that our culture sadly lacks.

“I am your child, oh Ancient Mother,
I am your child, oh Mother of the World.
I am your child, oh Ancient Mother,
I am your child, oh Mother of the World.

Ohhhh Inanna, Ohhhh Inanna, Ohhhh Inanna.
It is you who teach us to die, be reborn, and rise again.

Die, be reborn, and rise again, die be reborn and rise”…2

During Sara’s ritual death I had stood in support of her process just as Inanna’s trusted companion Ninshubur stood watch for her journey. During Sara’s ritual death, I had led her with chant, prayer and drum to help build a sacred container strong enough to carry her through. I could only pray that this small offering now would provide her some of the same for this, the literal death of her body. The difference was that this time l would not be there when and where she re-emerged to be reborn. I could only pray that there would be unseen and loving hands to greet her on the other side, for I knew in my bones that she would be reborn, just the same.

“Return Again, Return Again, Return to the Land of your Soul.
Return Again, Return Again, Return to the Land of your Soul.
Return to what you are, Return to who you are,
Return to where you are, born and reborn again.
Return again, Return again, Return to the Land of your Soul”…3

This took me more deeply into a place of communication and communion with Sara than merely speaking to her could have. Her breathing quieted and her pain and agitation seemed to ease for a while. After an hour or so I stopped. It was time for me to go. Remarkably, the rest of Sara’s family had retreated upstairs, and I was surrounded now only by the quiet of Sara’s breathing.

I returned the next day as soon as my schedule allowed. I arrived to find that Sara had died only twenty minutes prior, and Ruthe, another of the Gaia 1 group and a registered nurse, was there alone. It was time to bathe Sara’s body and to prepare for her lying-in-honor. We did this together, the silence occasionally broken through our chanting . Not only did I find my personal fear around death being released through this experience, but I also felt incredibly gifted by it. It was heart opening, healing and transformational.

When someone dies, the portal between the worlds opens, just as it does during a birth, and it is very powerful. I was transformed by being present to this energy, by touching, bathing and dressing this woman who had been my friend, but who was now in the process of leaving the shell that was her physical body. Some part of me mused that the patchwork of scars on Sara’s belly from her many surgeries was reminiscent of the beautiful quilt that hung near by. Rather than being afraid, I found it to be a privilege and an honor to be able to tend to someone who has passed. Her spirit permeated the room during those initial hours after her death, and during the hours that she lay-in-honor in her bedroom, allowing friends and family to come and say their goodbyes. However, her spirit slowly diminished and when the family was ready, she was taken to cremation. Eventually, I felt Sara’s spirit dissolve into all of nature, into everything, including myself. I took part of her away with me, and, I no longer feared death. This was Sara’s gift to me.

A second gift would come from this experience, unbeknownst to me. At the time of Sara’s death I was grappling with another death – the ending of the Gaia program itself. We had created Gaia at the crest of the wave of the emerging women’s spirituality movement. Now, after riding it for eight years, this wave had expressed it’s fullness, splashed on the shore, and was receding back into deeper waters. Enrollment for the program was down, but I had also grown weary of the work, as fulfilling as it had been. I had been leading nine-month long groups for 16 years, and something else was calling me forward, although I had no name for it. At the time all I could feel was the grief of letting go. The form that enabled me to lead and participate in sacred ceremony, which had led me to my true vocation, was crumbling, and I had no idea whether or not a new form would take its place.

Eventually, the experience of Sara’s death and the facilitation of her memorial service were the transitional events that planted the seeds for a new expression of my work. For the first time, I experienced myself in the role of “priestess” in a more mainstream form. Shortly thereafter I became ordained as a non-denominational minister and have developed a small business facilitating weddings. Additionally, during these past ten years I have had several dreams about caring for the dead and have experienced the deaths of three more friends. These things have all brought me to my current sense of calling as a Death Midwife.

Conscious after-death care follows in the footsteps of home birthing, and conscious death and dying. Hospice has helped bring caring for the terminally ill back into the home with wonderful, loving care. However, once the person dies, most people call a funeral home. Strangers arrive; the deceased is zipped up into a body bag and immediately taken away. This can be a very impersonal, institutionalized process, and always includes embalming, which is an expensive, very violent and unnecessary process. Many faith traditions believe that it may take up to three days for the soul to leave the body. Is this how we would want our loved one’s body to be treated during this important transition? How much more wonderful for them to be at home, ritually washed and dressed by those who love them. What a gift it is for those left behind to be able to spend time with the body of their loved one, to create and hold sacred space for them to lie-in-honor, to have the time and privacy to do their grieving, and to perhaps transform their grief through the creative process of decorating the urn or casket (typically a pine or cardboard box.)

Caring for our loved ones after death is nothing new. It has only been three or four generations since everyone cared for their own at home in this country. Consciously tending the dead at home is reclaiming something very ancient — something most cultures around the world still reverently do for their loved ones. It is only natural that we bring back this very personal, family involvement and participation in a way that becomes a simple, loving part of the cycle of our lives.

Little Known Facts:

~ Caring for your own dead and creating a home funeral is completely legal in Washington, and in most states in the U.S.

~ Embalming is not essential.

~ A family member or Advanced Health Care Directive Agent can:
· Act in lieu of a funeral director to facilitate all arrangements and carry out all decisions.
· Fill out and file end-of-life documentation.
· Transport the deceased in any vehicle to a home, place of ceremony, crematory or cemetery.

~ A loved one can lie-in-honor in the home of family or friends. One to three days is customary.

~Friends and family can create an atmosphere that reflects cultural and personal beliefs, including casket decoration, ritual and storytelling.

~The average cost of a funeral in the U.S. is $8,000. A loving and meaningful ceremony can be created to honor someone’s life for a very small cost.

1. Chant written by Betsy Beckman
2. Author uknown
3. Chant written by Rabbi Schlomo Carlebach

More about Marilyn Strong:

Marilyn Strong holds a BA in Religion and Adult Education and an MA in Spirituality and Culture. She is a skilled creator and facilitator of adult spirituality programs and workshops. She also performs weddings as a non-denominational minister, is a vocalist and a Certified Death Midwife. She provides coaching and information on natural death care and services to families as a home funeral guide, including memorial services . She also offers informational workshops on “Befriending Death.” More info at: http://www.handsofalchemy.com/

“Mr. Fluffy” was a Himalayan cat with long white hair and gorgeous blue eyes who lived with us for seven years. I called him my “angel boy” because he was so ethereal, so much more than a mere cat. Sometimes I imagined he was a higher soul who had taken a feline body because of some past-life karma we had together.

Unfortunately, he was quite naïve. As a kitten, he fell off the roof chasing a blue jay, and he contracted liver flukes from drinking the outdoor bird water. He didn’t seem to understand that there were people and other animals in the world that might do him harm, and this made him prone to getting in trouble. In the spring of 2007, he was attacked by a feral cat and contracted the feline version of AIDS (called FIV). He died three months later, despite all attempts to save him.

Even though I am clairvoyant and do a form of energy healing from the Philippines called “magnetic healing,” I was unable to change the course of Mr. Fluffy’s final illness. But the situation did bring us into deeper telepathic communication. Even before he passed, Mr. Fluffy told me that after his body died he would stay with me in spirit. He would be one of my Spirit Guides when I do clairvoyant readings and healing with other animals. He said being in spirit would be much easier, because then he would be pure light and wouldn’t have to deal with the urges of his feline body. As a cat, he had always had a hard time controlling himself.

After he was gone, my telepathic communication with him became even stronger, although it wasn’t always a positive experience. Two weeks after he died—while I was holding Buster, one of our other cats—I felt an energetic wave of loneliness and remorse moving towards me. It was Fluffy’s Spirit. Perhaps he was observing me with Buster, and it made him realize how much he missed me. I had the sense that he was stuck in some sort of “spiritual limbo,” but that someone was telling him it was time to “go to the light.”

At first, I didn’t know what to say or do, but then I started telling Buster, “You can be my number one and a half, but never Number One, because Fluffy will always be my Number One.” I wanted to communicate to the Spirit of Mr. Fluffy that no one could ever take his place.

Sensing it was time for our final goodbye, I lay down on my healing table with Mr. Fluffy’s photo held to my chest. I felt him in spirit as he lay down, too, for one final “heart hug.” At this point, it definitely felt like another a spirit—one that was vibrating at a very high level—was directing everything.

The Spirit of Mr. Fluffy sat upright on my chest and looked at me for a moment. Then I felt the cord between us at the heart chakra level being pulled out. It was extremely painful, both emotionally and physically. I could hardly believe how much it hurt. I began to weep from the pain, but also relief because I knew that now we could both move on.

As his Spirit began to slowly move away from me, I sensed he was holding the hand of an enormous angel, who was guiding him towards the light. He turned once and looked back at me, and then they were gone.

As I continued to cry, I felt my Spirit Guide come towards me as a ray of rose-colored light. He pressed his energetic hand into my heart, as if to close up the wound left by the cord removal. I understood this because I do the same thing for my human clients after removing an energetic cord. My chest became quite warm from my Spirit Guide’s energy, and then I felt him patting my head until I stopped crying.

Seven months later, during meditation, I asked God to show me where the Spirit of Mr. Fluffy had gone. Almost instantly, I was in a place that can only be described as “animal heaven.” It was filled with iridescent crystal light and appeared in the form of a beautiful, colorful garden. There were no human souls there, but rather thousands of different kinds of animals, who were engaged in active play. They were running and laughing, and when they jumped they would rise up fifteen feet into the air, as if free from the constraints of gravity. It was the most incredible thing I thing I’ve ever seen (in any dimension!).

There was just SO MUCH JOY!

Then I noticed the Spirit of Mr. Fluffy, and he wasn’t doing so well. He appeared sunken into himself and filled with sadness. His head was down on his paws and his eyes were closed. I sensed that he had no idea where he was, and that he was feeling sorry for himself. Perhaps he felt like he had failed us (and himself) by getting into a fight that made him sick and caused his physical death.
Mr. Fluffy’s feeling tone of regret was overwhelming. I began to pray to God for help, and I talked to the Spirit of Mr. Fluffy, telling him things like: “I forgive you. It wasn’t your fault. I’m sorry for anything I did that might have hurt you. Maybe I expected too much of you.”

After a few minutes, he opened his eyes and lifted his head. The look on his face seemed to say: “Where am I?”

At this point, my attention was turned away. When I looked back at him, I saw that he was sitting up and looking around in amazement. Again, my attention I was drawn away. A moment later, I saw that now he was lying down in a full stretch and yawning, as if he was coming out of his stupor.

Finally, I observed the Spirit of Mr. Fluffy playing with another cat spirit. He was chasing his new feline friend and having the “time of his life.” At one point, he turned his head towards me, smiled, and winked. It was hard to let him go, but mostly it was a relief to see him moving into a more positive spiritual space.

Everyone knows cats have nine lives, but I was blessed to observe the “Tenth Life of Mr. Fluffy”—the life he is now living in the spiritual realm. I have had other “messages from spirit” telling me that he will come back in a new incarnation, and I remain open to this possibility. But since our Fifth Dimensional healing, I have not missed him quite so much.  You can learn more about communicating telepathically with your pets (living or not) in the book “Animals in Spirit” by Penelope Smith.  2009 Jessica Bryan

Listen to the interview with Kala and Jessica Bryan on http://exploreyourspirit.com/Media/shows3.shtml#BRYAN

More about Jessica Bryan….

Jessica Bryan is the author of “Psychic Surgery and Faith Healing: An Exploration of Multi-Dimensional Realities, Indigenous Healing, and Medical Miracles in the Philippine Lowlands” (Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari 2008). Jessica lives in Southern Oregon, and is a gifted clairvoyant and energy healer. Contact her at 541-535-6044 or by e-mail to psychicsurgery@mind.net.

Recently, I’ve discovered some very talented artisans who are designing unique, one of a kind jewelry using natural gemstones, crystals, and geodes. I’ll be featuring interviews with them about their designs throughout the summer on the Bohemian Blog, as we focus on fashion that nourishes, harmonizes and enhances the body, mind and spirit.

First up we have Ginny O’Shea from New York. Her jewelry can be purchased on ArtFire.  Enjoy!

Kala: Hi Ginny, Thanks for doing this interview. I’m the proud and delighted owner of one of your beautiful pieces, a rose quartz necklace. What drew me to your work was your extensive use of natural stone work and gemstones in bold designs. How long have you been making jewelry and how did you get started?

Ginny: Hi Kala, I’ve been making jewelry for just about two years now. When I lost a bead to a pair of earrings that a friend had made for me, I went to the local craft store to find a replacement. Couldn’t find the exact bead, but what I did find was a whole new way for me to express myself through making jewelry. I bought a few tools and beads and that was it!

Kala: You mix a variety of gemstones together and the colors and dramatic designs are eye catching and make a statement. It’s what attracted me to them as I felt the energy in each piece and the confidence in the message it was trying to convey. How do you connect with the stones you work with and what is your process for creating each design?

Ginny: I start by purchasing gemstones that appeal to me. I tend to like a rustic chunky look for my necklaces. The stones just jump out at me and I have to have them! Sure, you can make a necklace to go with a specific outfit, but for the most part, I randomly lay the stones that I think will work together out on my work table. Then the colors and textures that belong together become clear to me. Those are the ones that get played around with until the design is decided upon. Eventually there’s always a necklace in my house that will go with any given outfit!

Kala: You’re also a musician. What commonalities have you found between music, art and design?

Ginny: That’s a great question Kala. I would say that when you create things that you like, the sense of accomplishment and joy is something that you want to experience again and again. It never gets old! So whether you sing a song, design a piece of jewelry, or decorate a room, you are expressing yourself in a unique way. There’s real satisfaction in that.. I’ve read that when the brain experiences anything new, whether it be a beautiful view, or new book, or even a new scent, it stimulates your whole being and lifts you to a state of enjoyment that fights depression. I really believe that’s true.

Kala: Do you accept custom orders? What has been your most favorite design of all to date?

Ginny: Oh yes definitely! My favorite piece to date would have to be this geode necklace.

I love when a necklace features one geode as a pendant, but this one has five! That’s five sparkly amazing miracles of nature glowing around your neck.

Geodes or Drusy is when a crystal formation occurs over time on a stone, and each one is beautifully unique.

Kala: Are there any limits to what can be used when making jewelry?

Ginny: I believe there are no limitations when it comes to designing jewelry. I can honestly walk into a hardware store and find a lot of possibilities! But I know my heart belongs to gemstones. They are each so unique and beautiful and earthy to the touch.

Kala: Looking at another one of your designs here, this is the rose quartz necklace that I fell in love with. Describe this for us… and how did you decide upon this layout?

Ginny: This design came from the stones themselves. The sugar candy looking Rose Quartz stones just spoke for themselves, leaving me to keep within a simple design. They are so soft and feminine and perfect. It’s Rose Quartz at it’s best.

Kala: You’ve followed your passions in life, from music to design. What advice would you give to other women who are thinking about following their passion and embarking on a new career?

Ginny: My advice would be, and it’s so simple, to quote Earl Nightengale, “just do your work”. That’s it! Do your thing. When you have a passion for something and do it day after day, something marvelous happens. Your positive energy comes back to you. It happened with my music, and I’m so excited to be in this place in my life. When you love what you do, it shows and people connect with that. Yes, it takes time, but all successes take time. Don’t look back, just do your work.

Kala: Do you have plans for expansion? I’ve seen jewelry and stones now being woven into bridal veils, clothing, purses and home decor. Where do you think your work will take you?

Ginny: I’ll go wherever this takes me! I don’t mind being challenged, because that’s what makes us grow. Right now I’m working on an instructional DVD about getting started making jewelry. I’d like to help people save time, money and hours of frustration that get wasted when you’re a beginner and you have no idea what a crimp bead is or what kind of stringing wire you’re supposed to use. It’s all very confusing!

Kala: This next piece here is most intriguing. Tell us about it…

Ginny: This is one of my favorites! The blue Lapis beads I knew needed a bold pendant. I found this slice of drusy Agate and knew they should go together. Then I added a second row of Lapis because I felt the size of the pendant required a more substantial row of beads.

Kala: Who is Ginny O’Shea, if you had to describe yourself in three sentences or less, or if a friend were to describe you, what would they say?

Ginny: Ginny O’Shea always sees the glass half full! I’m positive, hopeful and grateful for all the good things in my life. My daughter says, “Mommy always needs a project” I guess she’s right.

Kala: Beyond the jewelry, What inspires you?

Ginny: Songs written in minor chords
Spending time with my daughters and appreciating what truly caring, responsible and intelligent young woman they’ve turned out to be
Random acts of kindness
My husband’s huge heart that’s equally matched by his depth of integrity
Watching my two dogs greet guests at the door sporting , yes , doggy jewelry!!
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Ginny’s Bio: I grew up, one of seven children, on Long Island, NY. My mom was always doing creative activities from making our Halloween costumes to writing articles for the local newspaper! She set a great example for her kids to not be afraid to go for whatever you want to accomplish in life. I’m married to a wonderful man and have two grown daughters. I’ve been a singer/songwriter for 20 years, and am now enjoying this new adventure. I feel so blessed to find such joy every day in my craft. I’m honored to share my creations with all of you. Thank you!

Discover the artistic vision and jewelry of Ginny O’Shea on ArtFire