A warm night. The kitchen window wide open. I’m unloading the dishwasher, second nature. Feet moving along the well-worn path between cupboard and drawer. Hands depositing glasses, forks, bowls in their waiting places. Suddenly, I hear something that stops me in my tracks: the unmistakable sounds of a small group of people gathering. Laughter. Lilting … Continue reading
What if all the advice out there about needing a clear vision and destination for your life is misguided at best and harmful at worst? I sincerely believe that the people giving this advice are well-intentioned. Still, I cringe a little every time I see a variation of it (and there’s a lot of it out … Continue reading
This is a story about worry. And it just happens to feature two amazing women, Angeles Arrien and Gabrielle Roth. Here’s how it goes: several years ago I was reading a book and came across an interview with Angeles Arrien where she talked about the four healing salves: singing, dancing, storytelling and silence. Her words … Continue reading
One night, in the circle of women, I told the story of my grandmother’s hands. The hands that chopped and seasoned and scrubbed and laundered: working hands. The hands that cradled and caressed and stroked and wiped tears away: loving hands. The hands that knit and sewed and crocheted and cross stitched: creative hands. The … Continue reading
It’s official: I have spring fever. I came down with it a couple of weeks ago when this splendiferous weather arrived in Northern California. Where a few months ago I was content with my black and white winter garden, now I’m itching to get my fingers in the soil and bring color and growth back … Continue reading
And so, we come to the end of the story of 2012. If you’ve been here recently you know I’m celebrating the past year with a series of prompts that help me look at 2012 as if it were a mythic story. I’m letting the words, images, colors, symbols and metaphors tumble out in ways … Continue reading
I’m not exactly a morning person. In fact, sometimes I wake up feeling a bit jarred because the sun has actually risen and another day has begun. Most days I make the transition from dark to light fairly well, but other days there’s a pressing feeling that accompanies my waking. It could be tension. Or … Continue reading
I’ve always been a doodler but never thought much about it. My husband often remarked on it, lavishing compliments on me and my doodles that seemed unnecessary. It wasn’t until years later, when I began to understand more about the creative psyche, that I realized he might be responding to the deeper unconscious origins of … Continue reading
Sometimes when I’m with a client she’ll begin to cry and then say something like this: I’m sorry. I didn’t expect to do this. I feel like I dumped all over you. I don’t know what’s come over me. I don’t usually act like this. Of course, crying isn’t the only way my clients express … Continue reading
Hey…have you heard? I’m on Twitter. First things first: you can follow me here. Please do. For sure I’ll follow you back. Even though I’m new to Twitter, I’ve actually been on the fence for years, hesitating about jumping in. Mostly that’s because I thrive on juicy face-to-face conversations and I also struggle with the … Continue reading
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