Day 10 Lovin Nelson- When They Come Back

I GOT A JOURNAL BACK!!! Not handed to me, like the first one that came back, or mailed to Jeremy in the States, this one came to me...ME! *I* got a journal in the mail...it took waiting for nearly the whole project to be done for it to happen but it finally did! (BIG SMILE)

It is 12 days journal #102. I left it with artist Ava Avione in Stockton California. She is the one that lives in her studio, giant paintings stacked over 10 deep in piles covering the walls of over 1000 square feet, and that is just her downstair studio! I have spoken with her about going to paint with her when this project is finished. I need to do SOMETHING when this is done. Life after blog looms in the not so distant future...ACK! Here is the journal entry from the day I was at her studio with my friend Linda. (HI LINDA!)

​

I have only had a quick chance to skim the journal. It looks as though Ava used it as a sketch book for painting ideas and to write words of wisdom. The question in her journal was “What are your habits?”. She answers this question the way a mystic would, with poetry and woven words. In the journal I found this quote from Ava

“Only reach to the heart. All is real again”

And this is what I keep doing lately. Reaching to the heart. The response often doesn’t bring comfort I hope for though.

I know I am being cryptic, and enough of you have written to me to ask what is up that I know my attempts to stay veiled are failing miserably. I just need time to let this one out.

“How do you know when you are ready to tell?” is the question in 12 days journal #332

Day 9 Lovin Nelson- More Ugh

So in the beginning of the movie Avatar we find out that the main character has been asleep for 6 years, sealed up in a container, kept asleep, no need to do anything except pass time. I was thinking of getting one of those machines. Right now sleeping for a few months seems like it might be a good idea.

This has been a good commitment for me to make at this time. Keeps me out and active. After all that talk last week of being present, now I am struggling to not shoot ahead into the future, usually coming up with outcomes that do not comfort me. I visit the past now and then, get upset, but mostly it is the future I am having to work hard to stay out of, it is the future that now brings imagined sadness and loss. Stay here in the present and be released from pain I tell myself. Stay here, Stay here, stay here......stay..... ugh.

My stomach aches.

“What recent challenges have you dealt with?” is the less than inspired question in 12 days journal #331

Day 8 Lovin Nelson- Calm

I was told an amazing story today. A man I love and admire, despite not knowing him super well, told me he intuited that I blogged about him. Is that cool or what? He has spent 62 long years on this earth. Has dedicated himself to a path of truth, and has followed a Buddhist path for nearly 30 years. He practices Tantric yoga and has created a company building homes in a way which does right by the world, including the Mother.

He had heard about the 12 days project a few days before we saw each other at a dance. I wrote about dancing with him, around the same time he decided to look up my blog. He intuited the web address despite not having heard the name of it, typed it in and ended up on the very day I wrote about him. Wow, I would say he is pretty connected.

I hear this story as I sat on his couch. Mostly though he didn’t talk, he listened, asked me what I needed. I told him, rest, connection, love, and ease. Why is the ease always the one which seems so elusive?

Thank you friend, for wise words, soft heart space and a gentle reminder of breath.



“Do you trust your intuition?” is the question in 12 days journal #330

Day 7 Lovin Nelson- Valuable Treasures

Give a kid a break! A beautiful little boy just came up to me while I was editing and offered to sell me a magnet, his friend and he had just made them. He then came down to Oso Negro to sell them. It takes courage to do the cold call thing, to walk up to adults and ask if they want to buy something that was just created. The part I don’t get is, he is only asking asking a dollar each, the room is filled with people drinking 3 dollar coffees and not one person bought one? He steeled himself going from table to table dealing with the “no thanks you’s”. It is not easy being a child in our culture. Kids are generally not seen during the day, they are institutionalized from breakfast till just before dinner. When I am out with my children one of the first questions which is often asked is “Why are you not in school?”. For anyone who has travelled elsewhere you probably saw how in many other cultures children are much more integrated. They go to work with their parents, they take care of each other while playing out in the streets. Kids are seen and heard all the time. They are dispersed within the community.

I want to live more in community. I do live in A community, even a tightly knit, caring community. What I really want though is to no longer live in a house with a yard, next to another house with a yard. I want community gardens, community art projects, space to be alone, space to be together, easy access to everything I need in a comfortable setting with friends all around me. And I want kids, lots of kids, to help out, to experience learning outside of a classroom. I want my children and the children around me to feel honoured and valued, I want them to know that their home-made valentines magnets are worth as much to me as a cup of coffee.

​
(picture of my new magnet, and that there is Oso Negro in the background, this is the view from my “office”)

I got this little gem for 2 dollars and 50 cents, same price I paid for my cappuccino. I think I got a hell of a deal.

“How do children show up in your daily life?” is the question in 12 days journal #329

Day 6 Lovin Nelson- Birth Day

I met Michael 9 months ago today. Meeting him changed my life in ways I could never even have dreamt of. We have had a wild amazing ride, I am grateful for every second.

If we would have made a baby that first time we were together, and we did wonder for a whole two weeks if we did, that baby would have been born right around now. We did make a baby, a non-human baby, we named it Bam. Last night we blew out a candle for Bam, as though it was a birth day. It was a beautiful ceremony.

Thank you baby.



“What do you need to feel met by your partner/s?” is the question in 12 days journal #328

Day 5 Lovin Nelson- Quote Basket

“Perception is a choice and not a fact.
But on this choice depends far more
than you realize as yet.
For on the voice you choose to hear, and on the sights you choose to see,
depends entirely your whole belief in what you are.”

I may have read this 6 months ago and believed I knew what it meant, and in a way I did. Now though, after 6 months of peeling back the layers, I get it in a whole new way. I have learned to love myself a whole lot better, and the more I love myself, the more loveable I get, and the easier it gets to keep on loving myself. The more I love myself, the easier it is to love everyone around me. I still struggle some days. Today I walked through a storm created by two people who love each other so strongly, two people desperate to be heard, knowing this was imperative to cease the fading. At the end of the day I loved and loved and loved when I could have cried, could have felt pain. I choose to see what was right in front of me, to hear my own sweet voice running through my head reminding me over and over of the love that I have for so much and so many. I choose to hear and see what creates a belief in myself that brings comfort and joy. The amazing thing was when I held this mantra of self love, I could hear almost anything and not take it personally....almost anything. Imagine, this lesson finally coming at this time. If I wanted to be cynical I could say “To little too late”, but I choose faith, I know that everything is perfect, exactly as it is.

If I forget any of this will you please remind me?

Thank you.

Oh and I have one more,

“Reality cannot ‘threaten’ anything except illusions, since reality can only uphold the truth”

I am starting to understand this better, another layer was peeled on the understanding of this one today. I am getting better at seeing it. I am growing and as spring brings us these bright shiny days, my tender shoots will emerge from the ground. They will grow and grow and grow. All my hard work this winter, work which went virtually unseen, matted roots pushing against frozen ground, will give way to effortless growth; leaves unfurling soaking up the nourishing light.

Here is one last quote, it was spoken aloud to me tonight when I asked the question..

“Who are you?”

“I am light”, he says.

“Thank you...Who are you?”, I reply.

Yes you sure are.

“Who are you?” is the question in 12 days journal #327

Just to add a little humour to this string of “ugh” posts here is puppetji doing “Who am I?”...this one is my personal favourite.

Day 4 Lovin Nelson- Double Ugh

Double Ugh.... I am still enjoying Nelson, grateful actually for how wonderful a place I live in, a wonderful place to experience “UGH!”.

“What gives you hope?” is the question in 12 days journal #326

Day 3 Lovin Nelson- Ugh

I haven’t been this angry, frustrated or hurt for a long time now. I mean I have felt these things, but not in a way which overwhelms me like I am now. I hate feeling like this, it takes up so much energy. Time that could be spent enjoying life is wasted. I can feel the muscles in my face, how I am holding my mouth. I don’t like the way my face looks when I feel this way. YUCK!!!! Generally I feel that I can navigate situations that bring on these feelings pretty well, not let it take me over. I bounce back into appreciation fairly easily, remarkably easily actually. But throw in the cocktail of circumstances that I am experiencing this morning and I am left feeling like I am running in a vat of molasses, going nowhere, out of ideas about how to change this dynamic that exists. I feel defeated, like giving up.

I do have faith that by the time I write again that I will have found resolution on this, will be in the love soup and out of the molasses funk.

“What ongoing issue in your life do you long to find resolution for?” is the question in 12 days journal #325

Day 2 Lovin Nelson- Shine 324

The everyday dance is essential to keeping alive what was created in the dome by the ocean where I danced with so many loved ones. So many beautiful people who opened their hearts and said YES to the world, to God, to me, to themselves. Jill helps to remind me to do the everyday dance.

She saw me in Oso this afternoon while I was reconnecting with one of my beautiful brothers, a peaceful warrior ready to take the sword when the time comes . Actually scratch that last part, he already taken the sword time and time again, he has shown up to be his glorious self, even in the face of fear. Jill danced in and reminded me to dance. We set a date, when I was done my conversation and coffee I was to make my way to her shop to dance.

I walked in and told her what I needed. I need support in staying on track, in finishing this project. I need someone to kick my ass out of conversation and down to a quiet space to write. I need to take all the love that I have conjured in the last 11 days and use MY medium, this blog, to spread that love. Love is infectious, I see it time and time again. I saw it last night with my family when I stood up to Chris with a powerful dose of love as our children watched. It was a little tense at first but by the end we were all in a big love cuddle pile. Lily beamed from ear to ear as she witnessed the proof of our families love. Love truly is the way, it is the answer. So simple.

In honour of the everyday dance here is a link to a beautiful sister who is doing a similar project to my own. She is committing to filming a dance everyday, doing her everyday dance and sharing it with the world. She is a bright beautiful light. Shine sister shine! And for the rest of you who enjoy watching Mary’s dance, or reading my words and who are finding your own way to spread love...you shine too!!. Infect the world with your own personal elixir, intoxicate others the way that only you can, because there is only one you. If you do not let your personal love shine it will be lost to the world. This world needs you.

Shine brothers and sisters....SHINE!!



“How do you make the world a better place?” is the question in 12 days journal #324

Day 1 Lovin Nelson- Present Tense

In the moment I write this I believe I am the closest I even have been to not finishing this project. Not because I am stressed out, or uninspired, or anything “uncomfortable”, I am more just loving being here in the moment, every moment. It is difficult to get motivated to write about the past or think about my future deadline which is now just over a month away. Can you believe it? I just got an email... oh and Michael just walked in the door after contact dance, I feel the call again to walk away from my computer, experience what is happening right here, right now, cuddle the man I love.

(time passes)

It is 14 hours later now. Right here just has so much beauty, so many conversation to be had, it is making it really hard to get caught up. To help me deal with this I have been asking for help, letting people in my life know that my current state of intense presence has a glorious shadow side that makes being present somewhat inconvenient. I constantly loose my keys, as soon as I no longer need them to run my car I forget them. I have a tendency to want to doodle when inspired, make art from the moment instead of editing posts already written. This is my main reason for falling behind on this blog. I am coming up with creative ways of dealing with this. I am thinking of getting a purse that has compartments (I know other womyn figured this one out years ago, but I never got with the program), or better yet getting Jill to create pockets for my existing bag which I love so much. I am asking friends to kick me out of their shops and homes, encourage me to go write. I console myself with the promise of doodling unencumbered by troublesome thoughts of “work to be done”.

I know I am going to finish, how can I not?! This project is so great, so amazing, and I want this. I am getting better and better at asking for what I want, at giving it to myself and accepting it from others. If you read this you will know I made it through, and know when you do that you helped me in you own specific special way,in a way no one else could because no one else is you. Thank you. I love you.

​
(pic of me at Esalen, one of the many places I have learned about soaking in the moment)

“How do your friends help you?” is the question in 12 days journal #323

Latest Commitment! Enjoy Nelson

The fact that I am not going back to Cali for a scheduled trip until June means I can FINALLY really settle into living in Nelson again. Nelson rocks, sure it has it’s shadow side, but for the most part it is an amazing place to live. So I am committing to really enjoying being in Nelson. The sun has been shining since I got home, people are out in droves, ready to talk, getting excited about spring. I am getting excited about being right here, right now.

I commit to really enjoying where I live for the next 12 days. Enjoying the town, the outdoors and the people of my lovely little mountain town.

Day 12 Photo Op- The Blessing Way

Imagine how we as womyn may have looked at pregnancy and birth if we got to participate in Blessing ways as little girls. These little Goddesses that you see here washing my friend Melissa feet each are wearing have a strand of yarn around their wrist. All of us who were at the blessing way have one. We sang a song and created a web with yarn, it was symbolic of the web of support every birthing mother needs around here, especially when she does it on her own with a 2 year old. We each cut a strand and will wear it until Melissa’s new baby comes into this world.

Now I better hurry up and get my earlier journal entries edited so I can post this pic before she has a baby!

​

“What are you currently way behind on?” is the question in 12 days journal #322

Day 11 Photo Op- Happy Happy Joy Joy

I have so much to write about this day, and so little time to do it. We are headed home, it has been a full day of travel and we still have a way to go.

My eclectic dress and outlandish ways tend to get noticed when I travel. Travelling with Jill increases this about 10 fold. We went from destination to destination today enjoying every opportunity to connect. Jill gave away hand made patches while I took pictures and jotted down ideas for writings.

​

I noticed something today that I am very proud of. I have been aware of it before but travelling with Jill really made it pronounced! When we left people after connecting with them, be it the check in guy at the flight desk or the man in the gas station, we left them happier than they were when we first met. I knew this by the smiles on their faces, by their relaxed body posture and by how they were now speaking to others around them. The gift of happiness is one I am proud to be able to give. The best part is, every person I leave happier increases my happy. My happy is definitely on full today, thanks to Jill and all the people I have met today.

“What makes you happy?” is the question in 12 days journal #321

Day 10 Photo Op- Motel 6

Jill and I left Esalen in a storm today. Driving rain, boulders on the road, and our hearts filled with so much to take home and process. I found many answers, the work now it to decipher these answers.

This stretch of coast where we spent the last 7 days was once owned by the empire of William Randolph Hearst, a man wealthy beyond measure. He built a castle with his fortune, one that he worked ceaselessly on, dyeing before it was fully finished. This beautiful land inspired this man to build his dream. With endless resources he produced a real live European style castle filled with magic. This land has inspired much magic. Some call it a “power spot”, just like Nelson. I have spent time with my family here, I have met so many life long friends here, friendships where the connection ran deep within the first hour of meeting. I have sat at the feet of my teachers here, and have benefited from the teachings of many who never even knew they were my teachers. This day I drove away with a sister who is relatively new in my life,one who is now deeply embedded in my heart. This land is home to amazing spots like Esalen, artist enclave and hot bed of the human potential movement. It was a breeding ground for the revolutionary ideas of visionaries like Aldous Huxley, Abraham Maslow, Fritz Perls, Carl Rogers, Timothy Leary, naming just the tip of the iceberg. The Esselen people of the first nations lived here long before either the Hearst's or the founders of Esalen, they considered this land to be holy. Jill has her own personal history with Big Sur, the “town” which is not really a town but a littering of shops and amenities along the highways. The connections run deep for the both of us.

We had big plans, a bunch of big plans. Drive to San Fransisco, go dancing, stay up all night, maybe drop by our place in Santa Cruz where Dariel lives, maybe go to the market in the morning. As it turns out we made it to the Motel 6 in Gilroy, a town barely 60 miles away from Esalen. We modified the plan, decided to repack our bags then hit the town. We never left the room, our car stayed in the loading zone all night long. In case you are getting the impression that we fell asleep here is a picture out our window at nearly 6 in the morning.

After crying, laughing, processing, loving, and bonding all night long we finally fell asleep only because we were worried we wouldn’t make our plane in the morning if we didn’t. She is my sister, a fellow Goddess. She has so much to teach me and I am blessed to have her in my life. Thank you Jilly Bean, for this perfect night. I can think of nothing I would have rather done upon my exit from the magical land of Esalen, the Hearst Castle, Big Sur and the Esselen people, than spend it in a Motel 6 with you.

​

“Where have you travelled?” is the question in 12 days journal #320

Day 9 Photo Op- Ceremony

This is the spot where it all began. We started with a tobacco offering. This magical spot at the edge of the ocean, with nothing but salty water and ocean life for hundreds of miles, was where my journey with a new friend began. I have created much ceremony and ritual in my life, I am a bit of a junkie for the reverent. Finding the mystical in the day to day brings me closer to God, closer to me. And so this is where, after agreeing on the logistics this afternoon, we entered into ceremony together.

If you look up to the top of your screen, under the word “year” in “12 days 2 inspire ~ a year long journey, 12 days at a time”, you will see an ammonite. It is actually half of an ammonite, I have both halves, or at least I did. I brought both halves to Esalen with me, they sat on the altar in the dance dome while we prayed with our souls in motion, there they soaked up all the wondrous juju created by our dance rituals. Today I took both halves from the alter and gave them to my friend in the lodge, I asked him to hold them until we went into ceremony tonight under the almost full moon. Once we were finished offering tobacco to the mother, I bound the ammonites together. They were whole again, held in place by grasses pulled through the fence in this picture. From here we went on to create healing, forgiveness and beauty together; two souls meeting in meditation, two souls opening, steeping in the divine. We used ceremony to see our own selves through each other, we offered each other a mirror

“You've no idea how hard I've looked for a gift to bring You.
Nothing seemed right.
What's the point of bringing gold to the gold mine, or water to the Ocean.
Everything I came up with was like taking spices to the Orient.
It's no good giving my heart and my soul because you already have these.
So- I've brought you a mirror.
Look at yourself and remember me.

- Jalaluddin Rumi”

When the ceremony was complete, we unbound the ammonite, separate halves of a whole again. My friend took half and I took the other. If either of us ever needs a reminder of what we learned that night, of what we saw, of the truths that were spoken to the starry sky, we can hold our ammonite and remember. If we should need to come together again, our halves of the ammonite will call out to each other, manifest a reunion. I will keep mine on my personal altar and listen carefully when I bow before it each day.

“How do you get what you want?” is the question in 12 days journal #319

Day 8 Photo Op- Mac Fest

What a trip this place is. It is process land, like a huge multi layered onion. So many beautiful folk filled with light and questions, shadow and yearning. So many on a path of discovery for self, discovery of the source eternal, trying to reconcile the two as one. Letting go of the idea of duality is a process with many layer, and Esalen has a way of tearing them away in quick succession.

I didn’t go to dance this morning. I went instead to help Rachel pack up Skylah and all the stuff babies require when travelling. After cuddles and aknowledgments of each others wonder, she left, on her way back to LA. Then I called my family. There were tears, onions are known for causing tears. I spoke with Michael, Chris and Ayla, it was so nice to speak with all of them. Each gave me a piece of what I needed to remember that I am whole here, even as I delve through so many layers. I love my family, we are so very beautiful, what we have created is magical.

With so little time left in the morning class I came to the lodge to write. It took till nearly noon for this to happen because it is so very hard not to get drawn into amazing conversations in this place. When I finally did find a place to settle down and write I found myself in a room full of my own people...Mac people. If there was an Olympics for new age sensitive types it would be sponsored by Mac. I am currently sitting in a room with 8 macs, 9 if you include the iPhone I took the picture with. It is such a funny phenomenon, this Mac revolution...I do so love my mac.



“What tools do you use to help you in your day to day life?” is the question in 12 days journal #318

Day 7 Photo Op- Valentine for God

Valentines was a little hectic this year, I felt a little stretched. Because of this I missed sending a Valentine to my main man...God.

Nearly 2 weeks late I created this drawing while in the dance. I have been taking it easy, not dancing as hard as I usually do, wanting to take care of this body of mine. I am healing, I am doing great, and I am being mindful not to push myself too hard. So for part of today instead of dancing, I doodled, wrote, created beauty with pens and paper rather than with my body. This creation began to emerged as I scribbling down the words spoken allowed by my teacher, friend and guru Vinn. I know that last one will really irk him, but hey, it is truth. He is the closest one outside myself that I have considered a Guru, an everyday mystic. Eventually I added colour to the drawing, and some more words. I didn’t start out with the intention of creating a Valentine, but this the wondrous thing about journals, magic emerges from the smallest of scribbles. My own personal journal has been sure a source of solace during the creation of the 12 days project, a place to put some things just for me, God, and now and then all of you.

​
(“I don’t know no tantra mantra, or ritualistic workshop. I only know you. Hold my Hand.”, “Slowly, Slowly, Slowly, Slowly......”)


The words on the Valentine are not Vinn’s. I was so entranced by the dance, by the voice of this mystical man who creates along with all of us a majestic manifestation of love, that I missed the author. It doesn’t really matter though, trace anything back far enough and it all come from the same source, The Source Eternal of All That is Known...some call it God, some the Goddess, there are many names. Today for brevity’s sake I choose to use God.

God, will you be my Valentine?

​
“How do you seek connection with others?” is the question in 12 days journal #317

Day 6 Photo Op- The Cat Came Back

This is Jeremy stretching his back after dance. Jeremy was my muse for this whole project and my first ever commitment partner within this magical foray into polyamory. I want to state for the record (and Jeremy) that he is not polyamorous. Despite this we fell in love and made it work for about 7 month. Then we went back to being friends, well not right away, I was a little pissed off and needed time to come around. Eventually though, we found our love again.

(A PICTURE OF JEREMY WAS SUPPOSE TO GO HERE BUT MY BLOG SOFTWARE IS OVERLOADED AND WON’T LET ME POST TWO PICS IN ONE POST, I can tell you he looked really handsome and it pains me to not be able to include the photo....c’est le vie)

Jeremy is the keeper of the journals here in the United States of America. He sent me an excited email a few days before I left home, a journal had arrived in the mail! We were both giddy. I told him he could open it, read it, and share it with me when we got to Esalen. He did.....

The journal which came back was 12 days journal # 54 Inside was but two entries. The first was from my sweet friend Katie, from Boulder Colorado, a reader and supporter of this blog (HEY KATY!! MISSING YOU HERE AT ESALEN!!!). The next was the following entry.


(“This was placed in my bicycle basket while I was in a shop. Why did the person not ask me permission before placing it in my personal space?? I felt invaded.”)

There was nothing else in the journal, it was completely blank other than this post it and Katie's first entry.

I am so thrilled, I think Jeremy thought I would be disappointed. Nope, not one bit. I love it. I love every authentic little bit of life that ends up on the pages of each journal.

It is really time to find the keys to my Canadian mailbox and check to see if anymore journals have arrived home. This project got so big I had to narrow my focus and as you might know it had to be the blog, it demands so much friggen attention. Then there are the emails, keeping up with all the beautiful people who write to me. It is now my full time job, I have worked every night I am here, and likely will continue to do so. Now is the time my hard work is paying off, the journals will start flowing in. The ones I have made that is, I think at this point I am backed up by about 100 journals. I know...brutal, but true. And if this blog is about anything it is about truth!

12 days journal #54 has continued it’s journey. It was given to a man by the name of Samuel. I know that this magic man will take care of this journal, and I can’t wait to read what he writes

“Whom have you met recently that inspired you?” is the question in 12 days journal #316

Sam you inspire me brother, thank you for seeing me.

(Note to Jeremy: Click the link above named 12 days journal #54, it will take you to the journal entry which created this journal that came to you first, the muse for the question “What is love?”. Go look at the comments, an annoying mouse posted a story which I heard recently, perhaps even this day, in the tubs.... there are no coincidences my love.)

Day 5 Photo Op- The Tchotch

Sunday...my first day at Esalen. Although as I write this I can hardly believe it, this place seems so familiar it is like I never left. Some things have changed, however, like the fact that I am sitting here writing at nearly 1 in the morning... instead of soaking at the tubs. I haven’t even been down to the hotsprings this evening. I just came straight into the lodge after dancing and started working...THIS is new! 



This is a picture of three of my favorite people: Rachael, Benjamin and The Tchotch. The Tchotch would be the small one wearing the onesie and the funny hat. To understand why she is called The Tchotch you would have to know her parents (just in case it is confusing, Benjamin is NOT the father of The Tchotch). For those of you who are alarmed about her being bullied, she does have another beautiful name, Skylah, but for now I, too, have taken to calling her The Tchotch.

Benjamin is a permaculturalist, and a lover of honey. He does amazing work at Esalen and around the world. I don’t pretend to understand all of what he does, but I can say his work is Holy and more necessary now than ever.

I love this place. Filled with Angels.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” is the question in 12 days journal #315

Day 4 Photo Op- Tea House

​

We make teeth brushing look pretty good, don’t we? I think if the dental industry used us as poster children it could sell a lot of toothbrushes. 

This is me and Jill at the Tea House. This is the sacred place where our friend Dariel spends his days and nights, up in the mystical hills of Santa Cruz. The building is a tiny ceremonial tea house. It barely fits his bed and a desk. There is no other part of the house; this is it, just a tiny little 150 square foot place. Amazing. He does have a separate office where he runs Maggie’s Soapnuts , and it, too, is tiny. We spent this morning in an outdoor bath getting spa service while talking about God. It was one of those brilliant days, after an equally brilliant night. There is no way for me to explain to you right now how or why it was such a magical experience to be here...it just was. Perhaps if it weren’t so late and I weren’t so filled with bliss. Enter the picture. It was just that kind of day where even brushing my teeth seemed sacred, and look...I was not alone! The picture says it all. 

​

Dariel sent us these photos and the following in an email.



Dearest Bernice and Jill, 
 Thank you so much for blessing our home in Santa Cruz.  I look forward to your return.

  Namaste, juicy darlings, Namaste,
                  Dariel”

I am really liking this commitment.

“Have you ever experienced bliss?" is the question in 12 days journal # 314