FESTIVAL UPDATE!

We are three weeks away from our third annual Summer Solstice Lavender Festival!   We have many updates on events and activities to share with you:

FREE OUTDOOR YOGA:  Instructors from Main Street Yoga and Wellness Studio will be leading free yoga classes in the lavender fields from 2:30 to 3:30 both Saturday and Sunday.  Adults and Kids welcome to participate!

FACEPAINTING: Professional facepainters will be on hand Saturday and Sunday creating complete face designs of any animal or character!  Check out photos of their awesome work online.

MUSIC: We are excited to host Douglas Blue Feather, Internationally known performer of Native American flute music.  He will be playing from 2-3 pm on both Saturday and Sunday.  Rob Stuckert of Clinton County Live will be at the festival all weekend sharing his awesome musical talents.

FOOD: General Denver has confirmed to cater our event!  We are huge fans of their food, and can't wait to try the many edible lavender creations that will be prepared by the incredible Chef Jennifer Purkey and her staff.  On the menu this year will be lavender chicken salad on crossiant, lavender lemonade, lavender desserts, and many other festival grill items. 

TAI CHI:  Our regularly scheduled tai chi class will be held on the farm at the festival on Sunday!  Class will be held in a private setting on the farm at 3:30 p.m., led by instructor Dave Crowell. 3:30 p.m.  $15 registration.

See you at the 3rd Annual Summer Solstice Lavender Festival June 18-19!  Tell your friends and family, this is an event that you absolutely cannot miss!  Click here for complete event information, RSVP to our Facebook Event Page, and register here for our workshops!

Wellness Studio welcomes new Massage Therapist to staff

Peaceful Acres Wellness Studio is pleased to announce the addition of Tabitha Speiaght, Licensed Massage Therapist, to its staff.   Tabitha is a 2008 graduate of the Dayton School of Medical Massage and received her State License for Massage Therapy in 2009.  She specializes in Deep Tissue and Swedish Massage, as well as Trigger Point Therapy and Positional Release.  Visit Tabitha's profile to learn more about the services she offers.

The Wellness Studio now has both male and female Massage Therapists on staff.  Tabitha is available for walk-ins on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the studio from 11-6 pm.  To schedule a session, fill out our online form or call us at the studio at 937-488-0006.

Rain, rain, go away!

Rain, rain, go away, if not, the lavender will not stay! I hate rhymes, but with all this rain it feels like a never ending life in Washington state where they receive over 150 days of rain a year. I always wondered how they grow lavender in Sequim, Washington. It must be the elevation and location to the coast that keeps the rain inland more. As for our wet Ohio, this is the first time in  more than 5 years that I can remember a true April rainy season. That's the least I can say, we actually are way above our records and the lavender fields are feeling the challenge.

As some of you know, lavender does not like wet feet/roots. And with all this rain, we are keeping our fingers crossed and sending dry warm energy to our lavender fields. Our two ½ acre plots are two years apart while our oldest field is going on its fourth year. Root rot is the disease we are trying to avoid and as of now (knock on wood) we have avoided such damage and disease. Only the ice has affected our production killing nearly 200 plants in our fields. That’s a 10% loss in 4 years.

This year Peaceful Acres was approved for a SARE (Sustainable Agricultural Research Grant) which funds us to research better ways to help increase production in Ohio. With this backing by SARE and the dedication of our farm staff members and volunteers we will better understand how to avoid wet and icy weather. How will we do this? By utilizing different soil amendments to drain water from our raised and flat beds.  We will also utilize low hoop house tunnels during the winter and rainy season to avoid as mush moisture as possible. We believe with our research efforts we will be able to collect enough data to help other farms in the areas grow this healing crop.

In the long run the idea is to feed off our current production and determine a feasible way to extract oil in Ohio using oil producing lavender varieties. As of now these Lavundin oil varieties will not live long enough to produce oil over the plant’s 8-10 year perennial commercial cycle. When our research is complete we will have answers on how to help produce lavender commercially in Ohio. Being Ohio’s largest lavender farm we hope others can achieve the same goals we have set forth. And that would be producing a high income, low acreage crop of lavender.

Like we always say,

Peace, Love and Lavender!

The Journey of this life and new turns always in sight.

Time has been moving by so fast... I had to go back to my last post in here from January to even remind myself where everything was then, and what I felt needed to be shared in order to know where to begin. I have felt very called to write again, and to share what has been going on with us. Many people we have seen this year are asking why we did not make our move out west.

Last year at this time, we had decided to sell the farm. We had given it all up for the universe to move and allow the winds of life direction to lead us where we were meant to be. All I knew at that time was that we could no longer continue at the rate we were going. Physically for Mike's health, and emotionally for me, trying to keep up with everything that needing to be done.

When we moved into our woods and built our home 7 years ago, Mike was working full time. We had a successful fitness equipment repair business and our dreams of having a farm and living in the woods was becoming a reality. We sold our pop-up camper, and used every spare dollar we had to create a lavender farm. Soon after we planted our first half acre of lavender, driven by the beauty of the plant, and the amazing benefits it contained, Mike was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy. We knew before this that his physical body was not able to keep up the way it used to. Initially we had thought it was from his back. We were already in full motion to create a way of living on the land and creating a space of sanctuary for people other people to escape stress. So, with his

diagnosis, along with a normal process of accepting this new way of living, there was a lot of worry around how we would keep doing all we needed to do.

We always knew we were meant to go down this road. As the more physical work took more of a toll on Mike's health, the more I was urged to take over. Honestly it was a chance for me to feel empowered. I have always felt I could do anything if I just set my mind to it, and running the field, doing all of the markets and events, creating product, still running a repair business, and being a good mom, and wife, was a perfect chance for me to really test my strength and my limits. We all had to go through a process of acceptance and knowing there were many things that needed to shift in Mike's role in order to ke

ep him healthy. Life is always changing and creating new directions. I have always had trust that if you follow what you feel is right and truly listen to what you are being told, then everything will always work out, somehow.

A lot of trust, a lot of faith, and a lot of us listening, led up to making major changes and simplifying what we could. Gradually leading up to the point of selling everything,

last spring. We had really loved what we created here, loved the earthship coming into form for the wellness center, and loved living on land that we knew could support our family for food. At the same time we loved the beauty of life, and being able to take the time to breathe in every moment and appreciate everything about it. We knew even more that life is so precious and enjoying every moment while the kids are little is something you can't go back and re-do. We were losing our home, and wanted to make a conscious choice for our future instead of waiting until we didn't have the choice. I wrote about it all before, but we stepped out of life last summer and took a month long trip to really search and decide where we wanted to start over. We used the money from the lavender festival, fed ourselves along the way, did a lot of camping and slept in our van. We had some wonderful people along the way who offered us places to stay, and we knew we needed to take this trip. We always like to look at the good things in life, and wanted this to be an exciting change f

or our kids, an adventure, and not something scary. The journey that we took led us back to understanding that starting over somewhere else, where we did not know anyone, trying to create a sustainable future was not looking like a very logical way to go. We had Eric holding together the farm while we were gone, and he helped convince us that he would be able to take on more for us. He does so much for us in all of the little things needing done, that it really ads up to a lot or weight off of us here.

Spending the time away with our family was such a beautiful experience, something I know in my heart that will be something they remember, and something I will cherish the rest of my existence. When we got back last July we knew that finishing the earthship as our home was the way that we could still hold onto this life. We had put all of our time, and energy into following creating this farm. We still held the vision of creating buildings for people to stay in and escape, adding meditation and prayer areas, and having enough food planted that many families c

ould come and pick to keep themselves fed. We also still had decided to help other people live sustainably, and knew in our hearts that getting in touch to inspire, guide and help to support and heal people are wrapped up in the whole existence of the energy that was flowing with the farm.

So, we went full force into working on the earthship. We were able to get the roof finished, plumbing in, and most of the walls cobbed. We did finally seek out help and ask for i

t, we had wonderful people who came and volunteered time with us to help keep it all flowing. Accepting help is something that both of us were not ever very good at. We ran into some issues with permits because of it now being a residential home, and somehow everything seemed to come to a halt.

For several years we have let everyone know that our Earthship wellness center would open this spring. This winter brought about many dreams of bears, time of nourishing and an urge to emerge with our new babies in the spring. We were feeling overcome with guidance and a knowing that even though this center was not going to be at the farm in the original intended space, that this was still THE time that we needed to move forward with it. We knew that we had to stay close, and we hoped that adding this type of a service and central space in Wilmington for guidance, nurturing, healing and helping... would be able to fulfill even more of the need I have deep inside to truly help and make a difference in other people's lives. Anyone who knows me knows that I feel so blessed by every experience I have ever been though, my entire life. Everything hard, everything good, is a chance to grow and to become a better person. Many times in this same life I was at a point where I really didn't think I could go on any longer, that I couldn't take any more. Seeing life from where I am now, gives me so much desire to help people to grow as well, and to see their life for what it is, their own path and their own power to make it wonderful, no matter what they have, or feel they don't have.

Working on people through the energy work, Reflexology/ Reiki , is so amazing for nurturing and helping their physical bodies bring about balance and healing. Living with someone who has been through a lot of pain, I know first hand how different life can be if you can get even some relief without having to take medications that have sometimes unfavorable side effects.

With all of this said I had SO much back and forth about taking another step forward. We are on a path to really try and simplify life, get very basic in living, and here we are, being guided to do what? Open another space...pay rent, electric bill and gas bill, new internet... you can see where my struggle was in all of this. Also knowing my kids, whom I am working so hard to spend more time with are going to have to adjust to a lot of time in this new space, away from the woods and the farm they are used to exploring in. I REALLY had to step back, pray, breathe, meditate, listen to my dreams, and again, LET GO.. in a different way this time. As soon as I felt the bigger picture of what was happening, and truly felt how much this is completely not about me, I knew it would all work out and be taken care of. Being divinely guided can be a beautiful thing when you let go of ego, and self and worry about it all and just listen.

We have now been open almost 2 months. The week before our opening I know we were being tested to our limits. Many things re-surfaced in me that I thought I had let go of years ago. Our oldest dog child, Sage, who was going to be 13 this summer had to be put to sleep the day before our opening. We worked (with the help, again of wonderful people, the Guindons, and Pierre Nagley-an amazing artist from Yellow Springs) so many days, long hours, and until 5am the day of our opening! But it all came together because it was meant to. We now have a space for so many gifted people to share their gifts with the community, and providing this space of sanctuary right in the middle of town feels so good for me. We have many people from all over the area wanting to come and teach classes, hold workshops and share so much, which we will be able to add to what we have now as soon as we have more space in the upstairs of the building available. This has been a huge adjustment and test for me, regaining balance of time to make products, having enough of my time truly giving to people who need it , getting new clients, and not having the kids always at the center. They got burnt out pretty quick there every day!

We also have been wanting another baby, and there has been a little baby soul wanting to come into our family for quite a long time too. (If my beliefs are off from yours on this, please don't let it scare you.. just the intuitive side of life and feeling my way through it all) We finally decided there will never be a perfect time to have another one, and now is always time for anything when it involves the higher good of everything. Our kids are the most meaningful beings in our lives, and we will be blessed by another one in November....

So here we are, the farm is waking back up, the plants are becoming green, markets will soon start, planting will need to begin on the grant funding. Eric will be taking on much more of the farm and if the mud ever dries up from the earthship we will slowly start the progress again on our home. We are in the final stages of a short sale of our current home with a new family on their own life quest. We will be digging out the collapsed trenches of plumbing pipes, and moving forward as quickly as we can on the earthship. We are really trying not to get overwhelmed again, and know it is all part of a transition period with opening this new space. We are pushing away the thoughts that keep sneaking in reminding us of the money we put into our new wellness studio and how that could have been our new windows, or another permit completed, and again just trusting this path and where we are. Eventually the time will come when we can be in a fully sustainable place and support our family, but for now this new direction on the path is leading us to be there to help in other peoples transitions.

I can see a vision of living simply, showing the kids a true way to live with the earth. I can even feel it, it is just not quite in reach yet. Part of the path with this new baby growing inside has been really forcing me to listen to my own body, and acknowledge for the first time in many years that I am not superhuman and that I do need to have limits. I got so used to taking on so much to keep Mike from doing things he shouldn't. Self care and taking time for your own healing and own nourishing is what I love teaching other people... guess the universe is calling me on another new level to practice what I preach on every single level of my existence.

By the end of the summer, somehow we will have the earthship sealed in, floors and walls mostly done, and the necessities in. The window sun will keep us warm along with the ancient woodstove we got from our woods, and even if we cook by a coleman stove, primitive living will feel like the most amazing thing in the world. Going from feeling like the world was going to end because I felt like I was losing many things I was sure of, its a powerful place to know things will always change.I now enjoy taking a ride with the winds, and the shifts of this life, and guiding the sails gently to a better place... and it is so humbling to know none of it is just about me...

Wellness Studio Grand Opening this Saturday!

Join Peaceful Acres Wellness Studio Saturday, April 9 from 10 am-7 pm for our Grand Opening!. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at noon.

Our many talented wellness practitioners will be offering mini sessions all day for massage, reflexology, Reiki, Chinese gong meditation, and intuitive readings.

There will also be door prizes, , FREE gong meditation sessions, lavender food, gift shop and more fun for family and friends!

We are excited to share all the additions and improvements we have made to our new space! Come visit Clinton County's most unique business! Check out the video that follows to take a look inside the Wellness Studio!

Check out the video that follow to take a look inside the Wellness Studio!

PA receives SARE grant proposal funding

Peaceful Acres is pleased to announce that our grant proposal has been selected for funding through the SARE-Sustainable Agricultural Research Education program!

The project we will undertake includes the planting of an additional acre of lavender at Peaceful Acres. Research will be conducted on improving growing conditions for oil-producing lavender varieties with a goal of future oil production in Ohio. Data and results will be reported to SARE over a period of two years.

Since 1988, the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program has helped advance farming systems that are profitable, environmentally sound and good for communities through a nationwide research and education grants program.

Peaceful Acres is extremely excited for the opportunity to become an official lavender research farm. This will help further our mission of providing education and being a model for sustainable agriculture.

Feeling down? Get gonged!

Feeling stressed, depressed, or experiencing anxiety? Visit the Wellness Studio for a Chinese Gong Meditation session with GongMasters Mike and Eric to achieve instant relaxation.

During a session, you will recline back in our zero gravity reflexology chair, sitting between 40" and 36" Sub atomic gongs. As the GongMasters begin to play, the powerful, soothing sounds and vibrations of the gong will allow you to immediately enter a state of relaxation and meditation. At the end of a session, you will find yourself grounded, balanced, and relaxed.

Sessions:

2 minute ($5)

5 minute ($10),

10 minute ($14)

Busy Friday at Wellness Studio! Come check us out!

Join us tomorrow for our very first Friday at the Wellness Studio! Come in, chill out, and relax after a hard week at work!

A busy Friday it shall be, as Kym, Kevin, and SageWoman will welcome walk-ins for Chair Massage, Reiki, Reflexology, and readings from 3-7. Gong Masters Mike & Eric will be offering $4 happy hour gong sessions!

Just want to hang out? You’re welcome to do so! Park yourself on our super comfortable couches and fold some origami, read a book from our lending library, play scrabble, drink some lavender tea, check out our gift shop, listen to funky music, and chat with friends. If you haven’t been to the shop yet, you’re missing out! See you tomorrow at Peaceful Acres Wellness Studio! Open 10am- 7pm.

Check out more information about all services offered at the Wellness Studio here.

Wellness Studio Open House: Thank you!

Thank yous are in store for the many individuals, businesses, and organizations who helped make the Wellness Studio Open House a success.

A very special thanks go to handyman Dale Guindon for working tirelessly to help transform the new space.

We are truly appreciative of your support!

We thank the following individuals and businesses for their generous contributions of time, energy, door prizes, beautiful flowers, plants, and more.

Tammy Reed and Main Street Yoga

Janet's Our Store

First Choice Video

Jen's Deli

Books N More

Andilites

Swindler & Sons

Anita Stanley

Rob Stuckert and Clinton County Live

Pierre and Bito

Dave & Becky Stanton

Kevin Stackhouse

Kimberly Pridemore

Joni Stuckert

Keenan Rhinehart

Eric & Sandy Wogoman

Gong Meditation at Peaceful Acres Wellness Studio

From growing a full acre of certified organic lavender, constructing a home built from recycled tires, cans, and dirt, and teaching ancient natural healing methods, Peaceful Acres is known for being unique. None of these things may be quite as unique, however, as the addition of GONGS to the Peaceful Acres Wellness Studio.

Gongs are one of man’s oldest therapeutic instruments, used for meditation purposes in the practice of sound immersion, or sound therapy. The sound and vibration of the gong creates a deep relaxation, excellent for reducing stress, depression and anxiety in the mind and body. In a gong meditation session, allow the deep healing bronze to help you through denial and emotional blocks to achieve a greater and higher resonance with your spiritual self.


Wellness Studio by Peaceful Acres will feature two Subsonic gongs (36” & 40”, pictured below) to be used for meditation sessions.



Pricing:

$15 for 5 min
$25 for 10 min
$40 for 20 min

Come get gonged March 5-6 at our Wellness Studio Open House!

Wellness Studio Open House: March 5-6, 10am-7pm

2011 is a powerful new year, of new shifts, new growth, and a world of support from the universe to fulfill great healing. Anything that is based from pure love and true to our life's purpose is going to be supported this year.

For three years, Peaceful Acres has continued to share with our patrons and our friends some of the most unique ancient natural healing methods.  We are educating and providing training opportunities for techniques that many never would have expected to learn about or practice.  The new wellness center is a central location for a place that everyone can experience instant relaxation, transformation and enlightenment. Combining the talents of many gifted people we are offering classes, workshops and holistic services to help guide you on your own path of purpose and overall well-being.

Please join us for our Grand Opening Open House March 5-6 from 10am-7pm.    The open house will be an opportunity to meet the many talented wellness practitioners who will be joining the Peaceful Acres Wellness Studio staff.  Mini-sessions will be offered for Reiki, Reflexology, Massage Therapy, Intuitive Readings, and other services.  Our gift shop will also be open in the studio and is stocked full with our many wonderful lavender creations!

Peaceful Acres has great expectations for downtown Wilmington and is excited to be a part of helping shape the future of Clinton County.

Wellness Studio Downtown Parking Map

Downtown Wilmington parking availability, or the lack their of, is a much talked about issue. As Peaceful Acres prepares to open their downtown Wilmington studio, we are here to educate and inform Wilmington residents and other visitors about the parking truth. Plain and simple, a direct trip from an unlimited amount of parking spaces to Wellness Studio doors is faster than walking to your car at Wal Mart or Krogers. As a downtown frequenter, I can assure you this is the case.
According to research completed by Buy Local Clinton County "there are 500+ parking spots available inside the Historical District alone." And these are FREE spots! Besides the on-street parking spaces on South St. and Main, there are many other FREE parking spots on side streets and unrestricted lots within a block of Wellness Studio by Peaceful Acres.
For your convenience, Peaceful Acres has created a Wellness Studio parking map. Also review the downtown parking map created by the Buy Local campaign. Use these when visiting the Wellness Studio, and while you're at it, visit many of the other fine downtown businesses!

Wellness Studios by Peaceful Acres to open in downtown Wilmington

Peaceful Acres is excited to announce they will soon assume a presence in downtown Wilmington. “Wellness Studios by Peaceful Acres” will be a full-scale holistic care source and wellness center located at 14 N South Street (formerly the Next to New Consignment store). The projected opening date is March 1st.

Opening a wellness studio has long been a vision of owner Kym Prell. Kym is a certified Reflexologist and Reiki master and has held regular workshops at Peaceful Acres Lavender Farm since 2009.

The center will feature several experienced healers and wellness practitioners from around the area, providing such services as Reflexology, Reiki, Massage Therapy (licensed), Tai Chi, Yoga, Self-empowerment workshops, Intuitive Readings, and Astrology readings. The new space will also feature a gift shop with Peaceful Acres Lavender Farm handmade creations as well as many other wellness products.

Adult and youth classes will be offered for the majority of services, with individual and group classes available. Designated days for “Walk-ins” will also be offered. To learn more information about Wellness Studios services and to get updates on class schedules, visit the “Wellness Studio” page at www.peacefulacreslavenderfarm.com.

Ice Hits Peaceful Acres

As the entire Midwest experiences serious winter weather, Peaceful Acres asks all of our supporters and friends to send warm, positive energy to our lavender fields! Lavender is not adverse to cold and snow, but ice poses a definite danger to the life of lavender plants. Lavender is a very woody plant, and the weight of the ice coupled with high winds can cause plants to split and break off.

We found our lavender plants covered in ice on Tuesday and were worried that severe wind we were to receive overnight (gusts over 40 mph) and freezing rain may cause us to lose some plants. Thankfully, however, the lavender stood strong overnight, and we didn’t receive any more ice today. At this point, we have not lost any plants and the lavender is currently holding no ice.

Peaceful Acres is committed to research on lavender care and protection. We plan to plant an additional acre of lavender this growing season and would like to experiment with low hoop housing to provide more protection for our plants during Ohio’s harsh winters. To protect your own lavender at home, Kym suggests placing a bed sheet, plastic or any other covering over your plants.

Warm yourself up this winter by visualizing yourself attending our third annual Summer Solstice Lavender Festival June 18 and 19! This will be our biggest and best event yet, and we can’t wait to share it with you! Pick your own lavender bundles, yoga in the fields, nature trails, lavender food, music, vendors, Reiki, reflexology, lavender gift shop, adult and children lavender workshops, and many more activities planned! Mark your calendars now and spread the word to friends and family!

A year's time and lessons way beyond myself...

Here we all are.. we have stepped into another new year.. we have been through another full cycle of another beautiful year. This however, is a year so different than any year any of us here on earth now have ever experienced.

I know this, and I can feel this with all of my being. Things are changing, everything is always changing, but it is different this time. The univers

e, the earth, the entire energy is crying out for healing, and crying out to be re-noticed.

Like I have said so many times before, our ancestors before us were so much more connected, to each-other and to everything around them. They knew the plants, the animals, they knew on a personal level everything around them that could be of use, and so importantly they knew and valued the exchange of energy. Giving and receiving on so many levels.

The last few years have brought about a global awakening, or should I say a global test of awakening. There have been so many obstacles put in the path of so many people. So many people loosing their jobs, their homes, everything we all valued as the basics in life...

There have been so many chances to let it bu

ry you alive and force you to a life of grief, or a chance to truly clear the clouds of your perception, see things exactly as they are, honor them for what they are and how they came to be, and then use them to GROW..

We all do have our down times, we are ALL on this human path and have human emotions. I will be the first to tell you that I am not always happy and in a perfect space of bliss... but I will tell you that every single thing put in my path have all been such a blessing because they all helped me to grow into who I am and what I value in this life. The hard things, and the things of complete joy..they are all a part of me. Every person I have been blessed to learn from, to meet, a little bit of every one of them is a part of me and who I am. Its a wonderful feeling to think of many of those people, (and animals) and feel the essence of them all around me, because they are a part of me, it becomes really hard to feel alone...

I am much more able to see my obstacles, or my s

adness, really honor it and then let it go.. get back to really seeing the beauty in so many things all around me, so much easier than I every thought possible.

We live in a life of abundance, weather you see it now or not, it is so available to you, and you will feel so amazed at a NEW start to life. A newness to everything around you, like you are a child discovering things for the first time. I know for me, these feelings were intensified with my Reiki master attunment.. like something made the final click I needed to feel the warmth of the world around me and be on my true path of purpose... but you don't need that to feel what I now feel.

As I look back at the past few years and the changes I have gone through I know the root of changes and how important they each are to set you on a new experience of life around you..

I have no idea if there is an order these need to go in, but I feel everyone experiences them at some level over and over and maybe in cycles. I tend to do a lot of things backwards, or in an order that seems very out of the normal.. on so many levels of life... but that's just how I roll :)

As I think of my path and the 'order' which I fully learned and lived each of them, I see right away how the last one I 'got' may really be the best to start with for most people. However, in the universe everything happens exactly the way it should in exactly the order it should for every person. No two people are on the same path. Its yours and yours alone and YOU are the only one who can truly listen and know what is right for you at a specific time in your life...

The most recent thing I finally TRULY learned about is self care. I have heard it most of my life I have said I practiced it, but so much of mine, and I know many other peoples make up is meeting other peoples needs. Making sure they are cared for.. especially being a mother, a wife, a husband providing for your family.. You truly can do no one else any more good than you do for yourself. If you really want to be the best help you can to those you love, you better really understand this concept. You can not give out any more love, respect, care, or nurturing than what you have contained inside of yourself FOR yourself. It was said to me many many times, but not until you are really taking that time for filling yourself will you every fully understand what I am saying.. What really helped me through this was to throw out the window all of the worry and issues I was having trying to see my place in the world. When I started running workshops, I quickly realized that I was about the youngest person in the room every time. I started thinking, who I am I to teach these people anything, to lead them in any way.. I worried about what I really could teach people. I was drawn so strong to play this role in life but very un-confident in WHY. As soon as I changed my thoughts to what fulfills me and what am I passionate about.. the rest faded away and I look for that feeling in many places of life.

Start simple and see where it leads, find the feeling that fulfills you the most and make more time for it. Fulfill yourself by fulfilling what makes you happy, You will be in gratitude that you did.

The next thing is truly LETTING GO of everything. This does not mean giving up, or loosing hope at ALL. This is simply acknowledgement that the universal energy flows through the world at the path of least resistance. It flows to positive light and only works for the highest good of everything involved. This may not always be easy or what you think you really want.. because you are now letting the universe/ god/ the outside forces lead you on your path here. I know from my own life, completely letting go does not always mean you will loose everything you let go of, it just allows that space for the winds of the universe to blow freely and gently push you along your path. When you say you have let go but you are still holding on, even with little strings on the way you want the outcome to be personally, you have strings in the way of that wind and it cant really do what it needs to do for you.

Which brings me to another thing, giving and being completely unattached to the outcome. When you give things, such as love, energy, and support to other people purely from your heart with no strings attached.. this is where true magic can happen. I personally give because I absolutely love giving, its a win win place for me because in spaces such as my client sessions, in workshops, or just in my daily life.. any small thing I can give to someone else instantly adds so much joy into my life. But if you don't feel that instantly that is completely fine, all people are different and we all experience things differently. Just remembering how energy works, what you put out there is what you will receive back, is some form or another. Don't do things expecting something back in any other way either though, because you are attaching strings. Just know the universe will provide for you and leave it at that.

The last thing I want to touch on, since I am trying to write a blog and not a book... (thank you for reading this far if you have) is the importance of being in gratitude. Feel the connection to everything around you and be so grateful for it all. We are so blessed by this life. Our soul chose to come down to this earth to fulfill a journey, and to live this life you are living. Everything is so beautiful. Looking out my window as I am writing this I am in gratitude. The sun is shining on the trees, they are all so strong and so full of energy, they are leafless and dancing gently with the wind. The birds are flying through the branches and much of nature is sleeping, yet providing to so many others, including me. We are all so blessed to be here on this earth, and I feel so connected and so full of purpose just knowing I am a part of it all. I am connected to everything and everyone in some way, and so are you. Your path will touch so many other peoples path and parts of you will be carried with them, just like I carry so many with me.. Gratitude just grows more gratitude and with that comes feeling more connected to the world around you, with connection comes an awakening of your own inner knowing and inner purpose. If you have trouble being in gratitude, start how I did, make a list every day of things you are grateful for. It may start with one thing, I know mine only had a few, and that's ok. You will be amazed at how your list will grow. Can't think of one? Start by being thankful for getting out of bed, for having another day in this life, or having your loved one for another day in your life, because no one is gaurenteed another day.

With ALL of that said..I was feeling so called to share this information with you because we are all in a time of amazing movement. The power of manifestation seems to be amplified right now all over the world. Things you used to have to focus on for a long time to make them a reality are somehow being instantly answered by the universe, IF they are only for the highest good. Time seems to be timeless right now. (and for me, who has a hard time with the concept of time anyways.. this can feel really overwhelming) At the same sense, everything is so amplified right now, and the intensity of the low points can easily pull you down if you don't consciously change the way you think of your own reality. Because that is what it is, it is your own path and your own reality, but you are so far from being alone on it.

We all need each other and connection to each other more than ever, for support when we give it and support when we are in a space to accept it. It is all infinite, it is all connected and life is so so beautiful. Praying in a sweat lodge is my way of practicing connection, but this of course is not the only way of connecting. A lot of knowing comes from within.. and a lot comes from the universe, your guides, and from messengers everywhere waiting to be discovered by you.

In all of history time blocks of years had great change, HUGE shifts that the people and animals of earth had to adapt to and change with. It really makes me wonder how we could be so naive as a whole to think that we are in the ONLY period of time on this earth that will be the same forever. Earth is actually over-due for an ice age. Hearing that and seeing the research was a wonderful reminder of adaptation. Animals in nature who are most adaptable to climates, movement and changes are the ones who are the strongest in number.

Wankantanka... the great mystery... there is so much in connecting to it all and embracing it on your path.