Natural wonders of the PNW

The Ultimate Secret

Secretly we spoke, that wise one and me.
I said, “Tell me the secrets of the world.”
He said, “Let silence tell you the secrets of the world.”
~Rumi

How often do we rely on others for answers? For validation? What are we seeking affirmation of?

Oftentimes we are in the mode of analyzing every situation and question we have in our lives, and it makes sense! We are primal beings and our brains are hard wired to know every single outcome… after all we survived all these thousands of years to get here right?

However, once we recognize we are safe, we have food to eat, and we have a roof over our heads… we begin to fill out brains with strategy, over analysis, and ultimately we are seeking control of our lives.

Unfortunately this is where we get into trouble. Believing we need control of our lives is what leads to anxiety, depression, and at the end of the day – it leaves us in a state of FEAR.

When we cut through the muck and stop thinking, analyzing and strategizing (left brain) and begin to feel and BE the flow of life (right brain), we come to realize we already have the answer.

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Mother Nature

This is a reminder to feel into the moment, to allow your brain to rest, to allow yourself to accept this moment and just feel into what is NOW.

When we do this and are willing to see things differently, we are doing more than just accepting and surrendering, we are allowing room for magic. This extra space we didn’t have before is now leaving room for breathe! It is now activating your unconscious to search for creative solutions you may not have otherwise have had the chance to consciously be aware of because our minds were so fixated on our limited thinking.

So I urge you today to lean in a little to the NOW. Be ok with what is just a little longer, and trust you are already taken care of.

Namaste,

Susan

Naturally Shed Deer Antler. Hand made with real, high quality crystal beads. Sage cleansed and high vibe.

Divine Prana

What does it mean to live with unconditional love? To infuse this unconditional love with your personal power? Your life force? Just how different would our lives be if we lived from this state?

Not too long ago I completed this mala for a beautiful soul. When choosing the gemstones I found Blood Jasper and Honey Jade to be the perfect combination to help support Divine Prana. Let’s do a quick deep dive into what these gemstones represent and support.

Blood Jasper: Ahh, this stone is special. I love how you can get lost in the depths of its dark green mass mixed with a unique blending and swirling of it’s equally dark counterpart – red. Legend has it that the red represented the tears of an ancient dragon. Blood Jasper is known for its prana, Qi, and life force. This stone supports anyone to develop and harness one’s courage, strength and vitality.

Honey Jade: When looking at this beautiful stone I am reminded of the sweet, delicate drops of natural honey. I choose Honey Jade to complement Blood Jasper due to its representation of the third chakra – the Solar Plexus – the power house chakra. Not only does Honey Jade aid in supporting your personal power, it radiates divine, unconditional love. It is also a grounding and calming stone.

Lastly, I felt called to choose the naturally shed deer antler to complete the piece. For some reason I felt that it represented the full circle of life.

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Very excited for this mala to meet its special owner. May this mala support personal power and living life with integrity, yet showing up in the world with the most powerful force available within all of us – Love. May Love always lead us to co-create with Nature to uplift and raise each other up.

In wellness,

Susan

Friday Focus – 8/11/17 {Last Days Of Summer}

This morning I sipped my morning coffee outside on the lawn and did a few sun salutations and heart openers. I felt the cool breeze move through my untied hair and really savored the moment.

Lately the days here in Seattle have been filtered with a never ending haze strewn across the sky, but that doesn’t stop me from enjoying every last bit of what Summer has to offer us.

It wasn’t until after a bit of yoga this morning I walked over to the apple trees in our backyard when I noticed that in about another month the apples would be ready for harvest. “Wow, already?” I thought… and of course, “How beautiful are these apples…”.

As I felt the wave of emotions rush over, in that moment, I understood these were the last few days of Summer. Time to enjoy every last bit of it. The getaways, the hikes, backyard bbqs, picnics in the park, patio brunches with friends… all of it. Time to savor it all.

How are you spending these last few days of Summer? Are you taking the time to unwind? To enjoy and let loose? In what ways can you relax (in your unique way) to prepare for the “harvest”?

All good questions to ask ourselves.

In wellness,

S.

 

Getting Creative With Ceramics

I’ve been writing a lot about creativity and allowing your deeper self to play, have fun, and explore. If you haven’t checked out the 5 days of POWERFUL QUESTIONS do it now! It is all about finding your own creativity and how to show up in this world in our own authentic way.

If you’ve been following along you know one of my biggest and playful outlets has been working with CLAY! Learning from others, making new friends, and most importantly LETTING GO of all expectations has been the **best** part of this Summer’s creative experiment.

I remember the first day I entered the studio I had such a hard time creating pieces. The ideas weren’t flowing. Then, the moment I started creating for others it’s as if my hands couldn’t move faster than the ideas.

(Friends, you know what you’re getting for Christmas right?)

Something else I learned while being in the studio? Detachment. Letting go. Surrendering. Clay is funny, some days you get it right, and other days it decides to break or deform overnight. Allowing what is to just be (yes, even the pieces you lovingly worked on), and enjoying the process is what makes the 3 hours a day not only feel magical but go by **real** fast.

I can’t believe there’s only a few precious weeks left of studio time… and I still have another 25+ pound bag of clay! I am looking forward to deeper play, honoring my creativity, and allowing the magical alchemy of surrender influence the next few pieces. Time to get to WORK!

In wellness,

Susan

Milky Way

The Never Forget List

NEVER FORGET

? Be bold
? Define what happiness, your role, your life looks like, and insist on it
? Own your yes and own your no
? Do not fear failure
? Stay detached

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Taken at Haleakala, Maui

This list was written years ago and often changes but I keep it handy for the turbulent times, the fearful times, or the times when I suddenly feel off kilter so that I can find my voice amidst the storm.

There are many other ways to find your voice, this is simply one of the easiest ways I personally deploy as a quick and easy reminder by having it as one of my notes on my phone.

Here’s a simple exercise to get you started on your list.. what’s ONE thing you never want to forget? No matter what is happening in your life, what is the ONE thing you never want to lose sight of in ordinary, and of course the not so ordinary moments?

I encourage everyone to take some time to think of their list. You may be surprised to see what you find 😉

Namaste,

Susan

Friday Focus – 8/4/17 {The Community Of SISTERHOOD}

Anyone else melting in this Seattle heat? I couldn’t believe we reached 97 yesterday but I’m not complaining. That’s when you call your sister up and eat acai bowls to cool off!

Speaking of sister, today I wanted to focus on something very special to me. I wanted to honor all powerful women, especially the powerful women in my life. Who would we be without community?

No really think about it…

Above many things I love and prioritize connection and community. To be able to be in deep communion, to learn from others’ wisdom, and equally important… to give back and share your own wisdom in the same respect.

Even more I am grateful for the Sisterhood, the feeling of **coming home**, whenever and wherever we gather in the world.

It has been amazing to watch the growth and wisdom explode over these past few years of the many sisters in my life, and I am honored to hold witness to this experience as well as share my own journey to an incredible line up of women.

And for this special bond I am forever grateful.

I encourage you today to write a letter of gratitude for the women (or your own special community) in YOUR life. Cherish those bonds. Tell them how much they have helped you in your growth and how you plan to be there for them. Strengthen these ties as they will strengthen you back with the amount of energy you tend to it.

So here’s to even more belly laughs, rolling tears, sunsets and sunrises, and all the gluten free desserts with all the special people in my life. Today I celebrate YOU.

In wellness,

Susan

 

Beautiful space at Ritual Yoga Seattle

Finding Your Voice When Presented With Too Many Options

Are you ever presented with too many options? Where every choice seems like the right choice? Or maybe two choices seem like they can go in either direction and you’re actually OK with one or the other?

What’s a person to do?

The easiest way to make a decision comes down to one question: Are you doing x out of Fear or LOVE? What tugs at the depth of your heart just a little more?

It’s much too easy in these times to get caught up in a story, the past, the future, technology, other people, and the 100 million other things on your to do list. When I’ve put off making a choice because I’m in analysis mode (left brain), and not in feeling mode (right brain), this simple question always brings me back to center when it’s crunch time, Fear or Love?

For me, choosing LOVE makes it very clear in finding my truest voice. I drop into what’s real and what *was* the facade naturally fades away… pretty quickly too! Other questions that help bring clarity when it comes down to making an important decision?

⚘ Who am I overly considering in my choices?
⚘ What feels lighter and brighter?
⚘ What is serving Love?
⚘ How can I serve the most amount of people?

All that said, what truly matters is making the one, small step. It’s the only way you’ll get more data to make the next small step.

I’m curious, how do you find your voice amidst the storm and voices in your head?

In Love,
Susan

Sage cleansing

What Is Collaboration Really?

What would the world look like if we surrendered concepts such as “yours” and “mine”? How different would we approach each other and how much more would we collaborate?

To me, collaboration is the essence of life. It’s the surrendering of these concepts “yours” and “mine”.

It’s understanding there is a slice of pie for EVERYONE at the table. This way of collaboration implies we are ONE, like a wave in an ocean, working toward a common goal or from the same heart space.

No need for jealousy, yearning, or craving because universally what’s yours is mine and what’s mine is already yours ❤ At the end of the day we are all craving STATES, resources we all have within us, and I can guarantee we all have the ability to access these states such as love, freedom, and peace. You are already these things. No more searching or looking outside you. You are already perfect.

I’m not going to sugar coat. It takes work. It takes support. It takes know how and practicality with actual tools and frameworks. But what I am here to tell you today is that it’s possible. It’s possible because it’s already within YOU. Yes, YOU hold these resources. You already are these resources. Feel my passion yet? 😉

As Francis of Assisi would say, “The one you are looking for is the one who is looking.”

?
In wellness,
S.

Summer lavender

Life Is Unfolding FOR You

“Nature doesn’t waste anything.”
~Anne Ortelee

Never feel as if you’ve wasted your time. There is always a lesson. So much of how we view life is not based on the actual experience it is based on our BELIEFS of our experiences. Believe this…

  • You are already perfect
  • Life is unfolding FOR you not AT you
  • Your reality is a replica of your beliefs
  • Mindset is everything

A little magic and lavender from the garden on this beautiful Monday morning… No matter where you are or what feels as if is happening to you, just remember you are never alone and positive change can happen in any moment.

In wellness,

Susan

Black Onyx and Amazonite Protection Stack. Hand made with real, high quality crystal beads. Sage cleansed and high vibe.

Powerful Questions Pt. 5

In lieu of Friday Focus I wanted to wrap up the Powerful Questions series with our last set of questions. I couldn’t be more excited for this because this is where we get to take ACTION.

Being a type A person taking action is my jam. This is the time where we now understand what it is we desire and what it was that was holding us back.

Oftentimes we make everything big in our minds: our fears, our embarrassing moments.. heck we even make our dreams so big sometimes it seems impossible!

But today is all about BREAKING THINGS DOWN.

?What is one small step I can take today to create positive change in my life?
?Now what’s an EVEN SMALLER step I can take to create positive change?
?Name one person with whom I can share my creative vision with.

Dare to dream big. Go wild. We only have one life after all! Just make sure you follow up with easy, actionable steps.

Pictured in this post is a creative passion that has been bursting at the seams! Remember how I said what is one small step toward your said goal? Well for me I knew I wanted to create jewelry with intention. If I was going to wear jewelry I felt was sacred and close to my heart, I needed to know where it was coming from and from whom. That was when I decided I wanted to design and make my own jewelry line, and the one small step I took was 1 hour of research a day. Yup, that’s it! My first small step was to set a time limit of 1 hour of research a day. Whether it was for sourcing, how to, the best materials, etc. I knew I only needed to fulfill 1 hour each day until I felt comfortable enough to move on to the next small step.

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Designing these beauties from the aesthetic, how it wears, but most importantly the perfect combination of stones that speaks to a specific blend of energy is what gets me going. No huge shop, just me following what floats my boat and meeting strangers on the street! (Yes, I’ve met a few people who wanted to know where these were from)

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And what I’ve been loving the most is connecting with other beautiful souls in a whole new way to better understand what stones can help their current season in life or what they hope to bring into their life in the next season❤

So remember to celebrate the small wins, and besides… what have you got to lose anyway? ????

Namaste.

Susan