New World, Old Ways

New World, Old Ways Reading a book and listening to music are two common experiences of altered states, although most people don't usually describe them that way. These experiences are now changing. With the downloading of music onto ipods, the record industry has been shrinking, and in turn, neighborhood record stores are going out of business.

Locally owned bookstores are also declining due to the rapid expansion of chains and online retailers. There was a time not so long ago when browsing through a record store was the same sort of experience as browsing in a good bookstore. Not so long ago, bookstores and record stores were typically owned and operated by people who knew and loved books and music. Going there to find a book or recording was a satisfying experience because you could talk to someone who knew their material and could ask them questions in order to find something you wanted or needed.

That whole experience is being lost for many people. There is a difference between finding a handful of books at a discounted price on a table between the canned goods, office supplies, sweatshirts and tires, or finding a rack of CDs bewteeen the TVs, phones, and computers and going into an owner operated book or record store.The experience of a good used bookstore or music store is an even different refinement, because they present an opportunity to get not only what is new and recently popular, but old classics, out of print material and obscure creations by great artists. Some people do not know or care about the difference. I do.

Then again, there is a whole generation that has grown up thinking that fast food hamburger places are always on every corner and that's how food is supposed to taste, and that the pizza delivery places are what pizzas are supposed to taste like, rather than the Italian restaurants where I ate all of my pizzas when I was younger.I work with younger people who never go into bookstores and never buy or read books. Instead they play lots of video games, look at videos and download music that is recently popular. They have a limited range of experience with older music. There are people who think that a friend is someone who sends you an email on facebook or myspace, but has never met you in person. Maybe there are different degrees of friends. Yes, the world is evolving.

Pan dances through the world with a taste for the old things, like used bookstores, music from a long time ago, and food cooked in restaurants that are owner operated, with the owner perhaps being someone who actually enjoys cooking and planning menus. Pan also appreciates and uses the new, like cell phones, email and the web. Pan dances through it all.

Free Facial

Try this. As you drive to work (or wherever you have to go), listen to some soothing classical music, some smooth jazz or other soft music. When you arrive where you are going, look in your rear view mirror. Does your face look more relaxed?

Now try another experiment. Listen to the news or some talk radio program. Look at your face in the rear view mirror when you arrive at your destination. How does your face look now? More lines? More tension? More negative emotions?

What input makes your face look better? If you can't find anything you like on the radio, there are always books on CD or tape, or bring your own choice of music. It will not take long for your face to look like you had a makeover. And it is free.

Living the Dream

What makes a good day for you? Each of us has our own answer to this question. And the answer can vary from day to day. What made a good day yesterday might be different than what makes a good day today or will make a good day tomorrow. We can decide to be happy because we had a good interaction with someone, because we are in reasonably good health, because we have shared time with people we care about.What will make a good day for you today? Can we help each other achieve that?

In the Light of the Full Moon

It always feels good to spend some time admiring the full moon, creating a simple ritual that brings our natural energies into harmony with the universe. One of the advantages of living in an area like this is that you really get a good look at the night sky.

The light of the full moon illuminates the landscape and you can ease right into a meditative state of mind, and bathe yourself in all of those moon energies of intuition, romantic moods, reflection and softness of spirit.

Full moons are always beautiful nights. Have a glass of wine and gaze at her for a while. Feel the tides move in your body and soul, just as surely as they do in the oceans and lakes. What a marvelous night for a moon dance!

Our First Priority

The world can be a crazy, chaotic place. By healing, doing spiritual and introspective work, by making strides in our personal growth, we make the world a better place right in our own personal space, in our selves, and then having it emanate outward from there.

Getting strength for our journey and clarity for our purpose, we gain the courage to do what we choose to do. We each have to do whatever it takes to make our life work. I am committed to helping you take whatever steps you desire in order to have the healing, peace, love and progress you seek.

Even if there is just one thing I can do to help, that is a step in the right direction. Is there a healing session that would help you feel better? Try Reiki? It is very gentle energy. Looking for clues to your life purpose? Try a Past Life session. Want to learn something that you can use for yourself every day? How about Tarot, Runes, Drumming, Chanting, Movement, Writing, Journaling, or Dream work? What do you want? And since I work on a love offering (donation) basis, there is no better time for taking that next step now.

Home Fires

With this crazy weather, we have a good excuse to light the fireplace and relax in the living room in the glow of the flames. There are many ways to keep the home fires burning.

Staying close to the flames, with a little wine, a good book, a cup of tea and some poetry. Maybe a movie or a personal growth tape or book on tape. Maybe some soft music and just gazing into the flames. The warmth from a gas log fire is not as intense as from a real wood fire, but it still brings a magic to the cold nights.

There are many ways to keep the home fires burning. One flame always lights another.

Spring Fever

When I first moved out here two years ago and they told me that nobody plants their gardens until May, I thought they were exaggerating.

I had just come from a climate where we had daffoldils blooming by February 1, and then there was a steady parade of blooming flowers, shrubs and trees: tulips, azaleas, honeysuckle, wisteria, dogwood, cherry, magnolia, and on and on. Annuals and vegetables were in the ground by Spring Equinox and showing vigorous signs of growth by May.

But here we are in April and we still go back and forth between sunny and warm and cold and snowy, with hot and cold days back to back. It is snowing outside right now, and my mind is still thinking that this is the time of year for spring, but the snow is falling and it looks like winter.