Recreation based in Trust

Life has been a host of highs, with the big pre-travel wind up last week in preparation to hear Gabe give an inspiring and witty look into his creative life's work as a guest speaker at the New Museum, catching up with old friends I love and miss so much, meals and shared space with family, wandering city blocks in the sun, wondering and appreciating life in one of this planet's most stimulating settings. Incredible.The term recreation comes to mind, in the sense of play that can loosen the grip we have on life while exploring, creeping up on refreshing encounters and experiences and also in that most crucial sense of finding, knowing, executing and being oneself.As I begin a much busier work schedule over the summer with few actual days off (this is a good thing), I take this term re-create and stretch it out, soften and sharpen it for clarity, much like when I pop my singing bowl and at once lengthen

a moment in time and kindly arrest any advance of

productive thinking, for a second anyway. Now that I am settling into a new season I ask how can this dry summer, big bad sun inspire me and grow my awareness? Can I take it's expansive, enveloping brightness and let it warm my heart, providing a heightened sense of trust? Let's even do the capital T- Trust, a word that inspires an absolute state, a feeling that in my surrender I may come to know and gracefully accept my place in this life, each day, as it is? And in the quality of these more present, less jack hammered and insistent moments I am actually doing more to foster my pioneering spirit than any amount of shove and worry have provided. This sounds good to my ears. A strum. A hum. A raven's caw. Any single sound that promotes peace of mind.

I have found it difficult at times to wrap my head around the powerful, intricate and delicate implications of my career development. Why the slow start, where does my head fit into the picture, how much planning and action is needed, and how much listening and backing off is required? Here is where I give myself and anyone who reads this a little advice.

The answer lies in my own body. Recreate through receiving bodywork from others. Set pure hearted intentions and utilize gentle, subtle listening skills when I am with clients. Bodywork is complex in it's straightforward aims, metaphysical and powerful in it's very substance. I am thankful I am at a place in life where I am giving myself permission to create new space for my technical skills to develop as I have always wanted to have some element of pragmatism threaded through my life, however all my "technique" must be soaked in Trust.

This is easier said than done.

I sense I am up for it now, Trust. Hold still. Re-create, lengthen that sense of what's possible and give yourself far more than the benefit of the doubt. Have none. Put your time in your work, quality will exist in this world. Trust that the universe will take care of you as you care for others. It really can be that simple. That stripped down. That sound.

Update for India Fundraising

It's about 4:30 on Saturday and the heat that will settle across the valley for the next many months has arrived. I have planted some california poppy seeds around the yard, begun various veggie seeds indoors, turning compost, pruning this and that and still yanking spinach and kale I planted back in December. This is a good time here on Raven Street, knowing these seeds are popping up and struggling to take root and get bigger, more colorful and fluid, providing pleasure for all us animals out here feasting. A nice metaphor for my current fundraising project. I have been truly feasting off of everyone's response. I sent word around via email and facebook a little over a month ago and have gotten so much positive response, either through direct donation and/or through people passing the word along or simply reaching out and saying they are excited for me. I was shocked the first time I got a message in my inbox that someone had made a donation. My mind realized that people are very interested and this particular techno forum for spreading the word is effective. I will continue, without a doubt.

However, it seems I am at a place where I need to develop more face to face initiatives to stretch my reach into other people's awareness. I have heard throwing parties to fundraise is another way to go. While I like this idea, there is some hesitation involved. It may feel strange and disappointing and being new to LA, I don't have a readymade collection of folks to invite. Gabe knows some folks though and I am slowing meeting my own crew. I need to put some brainpower behind this next step and ask advice from those with more experience. I am eager to see this project come to life at the end of the year, which means I have to be willing to try new things to make it happen.

Back to the garden for some methodology, a couple points to consider: building a strong network involves good timing and maintenance and broadcasting as my grandma called it. If I miss a day moving the seed trays out into the sun or keep them in the heat too long or oversoak them they look sad and need my attention. And you have to cast your seeds wide and see what takes hold, knowing some will and many won't. That's just how it works. And when you throw those seeds have a little faith and be grateful for what pops up. That too is just how things work. Humanity has depended on this. It's called agriculture!!!!

Nurturing and strengthening the ties that already exist, keeping in mind the parallel that growing new experiences, just like growing food, takes a variety of essentials and consistency. Water, proper placement, healthy soil, and sunshine. What of these could I utilize to help get me massaging others in India?

I'll spell things back out for you and me....timing, nurturing, watering, casting wide, face to face, faith, consistency, experimentation, sunshine, placement and hearty ground................

Okay.

Stage 1 seems to have morphed into Stage 2. Mia gets out from behind the computer and gets some motion potion......yes, I just made that up. Some potion to put these ideas in motion.

Being in LA makes you want to stay outside and play.

Outside. Play. India. Fundraise........Mia fundraise.