Tag Archives: Celebration

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Aquarius Moon

Photo by Ganapathy Kumar on Unsplash

In honor of tonight’s moon in Aquarius, I found this piece published over a year ago to celebrate tonight and the beginnings of new journeys.

Can I say I was thrilled when I learned that we were headed out of July and into a new month very soon and part of that meant that the new moon was in Aquarius? Yes, I love astrology. Do I live my life by astrological predictions and the phases of the moon? No. Astrology is fascinating to me. It’s an ancient science that goes back thousands of years and has endured centuries of changes in our world. We can learn a lot about our world, the space that our planet is hurtling through and how is this possibly affects the human race.

So what does it mean that the moon is in Aquarius? Well, the astrological sign of Aquarius represents philosophical ideology, humanitarian works, creating a better world, excellence in communication, quick intelligence and having fun in everything you do. Aquarius is an air sign and air signs usually act quickly and perform fast. Many people become slightly confused when they realize that Aquarius is an air sign, because Aquarius is the water bearer. It makes sense though when viewed from the perspective that water is necessary to life and that abundant water translates to abundant ecosystems and thriving organisms. Symbolically, Aquarius is bearing water and all it stands for to the universe. Knowledge and compassion flow from beloved Aquarius.

How do we make this auspicious time work for us? Do as an Aquarian would do. My first and foremost thing to do like an Aquarian is bring my people together. Gather up your loved one and friends and have a celebration. Include everyone you know from all walks of life and watch how different people from different worlds can connect and click. Plan a fundraiser or some event that’s for your favorite cause. Post good things that are happening in the world on your social media accounts and promote, promote, promote!

Next,it’s time to pull out those projects that have been on the back burner for who knows how long? Time to start working on them and complete them. The stars are telling us that to ignore these projects may result in a backward flow of good energy if not utilized for actualizing a better world.Like an Aquarian don’t delay, but remember to always stop and smell the roses, have fun, like an Aquarian would do.

I was blessed to have an Aquarius as a parent. When I was seven my life was thrown into chaos by illness of a family member. My Aquarius dad made lemonade out of lemons. Every weekend he took us into nature, despite his grueling career as a pressman. We regularly camped at Salt Point on the Northern Coast of California and treked up to the wild coast of Fort Bragg and beyond. We camped in the Sierras, Yosemite and Gold Country. He drove us back far into the mountains on dirt roads there were nearly impassable and showed us that the world was beautiful and we were capable enough to survive anything that life threw at us. He taught me to build things and how to forage for food in the wilderness. He bought us farm animals to care for and guided us how to keep them healthy and serene. Everyone I ever brought home was welcome. He loved and accepted people from all walks of life. So, yes, I know about Aquarius first hand. I learned about adventure, love, compassion and communing with my fellow man from an Aquarius and am grateful for those gifts.

By the time this is published, the moon is waning, but the door has been opened. Beyond that door are good things waiting for us all in this new moon of Aquarius.

Photo by Julie Tupas on Unsplash

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Balancing Ambition

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Photo by Leio McLaren (@leiomclaren) on Unsplash 

I was recently contemplating ambition and the force of nature that compels human beings to push forward or not.  Pushing forward meaning working towards goals and how we choose to move towards these goals.  We live in a culture that celebrates hard work and success.   Our success is often defined by what we own and what title we hold in our chosen career.  Did you attain fame or notoriety? Where do you live, what kind of dwelling do you live in? How hard did you have to work? Are you working now? Just a scant few of the thousands of ways that success can be measured.     

Photo by Adam Jang on Unsplash

Ambition is a force of nature.  It moves like a river with an unrelenting force; yet delicately molding and shaping what it flows over. It’s a dance of intricate moves and balancing.   Similar to a professional ballerina who performs a high releve on her toes and holds a graceful arabesque; looking fragile and effortless, but requiring intense strength and complex coordination. It’s a perfect game with all the right moves, the team moving expertly through each of their positions and meeting the goal.  

As we move toward the goal, there are twists and turns and setbacks, but the river still flows and the key is to move with the flow and don’t stop moving.  Let life takes it’s course and you end up in wonderful places.  You pass through dark places too, but it’s all transient; sometimes when the bad part is over, it’s almost as if it were a dream.   

How much is enough and will ambition fade out and diminish as we age? How long are we willing to stay on the treadmill of life or how long will life let us stay there?   As our bodies lose strength and vitality, our minds and spirit grow stronger and balance is maintained. Some say that once you have had the career, the family, that there’s nothing else, but I beg to differ. There is more, so much more.

  

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

There is the celebration of life that we wake up to everyday.   If we wake up, we are alive and we choose the day ahead.  Yes, the circumstances may seem bleak, but as long as you are living, things will most likely change, because life is always changing.   And then there is beauty, all around and free.   It make just take a tweaking of your perspective, but it’s there.

Ambition is human and it’s fluid.  We balance ambition carefully to create the perfect equation for success,  whatever that means to us.  It’s different for everyone.  My choice is to flow with my ambition and have faith that I’ll get there. Stay open to all possibilities and opportunities for growth, sometimes even the scary ones.   Change, growing is challenging and as we gain years and experience in life the challenges grow greater and make life exciting and worth living.   So we grow, we change and hopefully keep the balance. For that in it’s self is everything.  

A garden requires patient labor and attention. Plants do not grow merely to satisfy ambitions or to fulfill good intentions. They thrive because someone expended effort on them- 

Liberty Hyde Bailey

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T-painting

The onsies clung to small white handled  bags and dangled from various locations throughout my home. They were on lantern hooks, the front door wreath and the bookcases in my small library.  A blue laundry line traversed the expanse of my kitchen and onesies dangled from blue clothes pins painted in fluorescent and bright colors of every hue. They waved like flags saluting the joy of parenthood and inviting spectators to the event of a new life soon to enter the world.  Messages and love notes from family and friends.  We created wishes with our own hands  for a joyful and happy babyhood.

 

 

We ended up with 50 painted onesies. They were painted by women aged from 4 years old to 79 years old. Each creation was unique. Some hilarious with clever sayings to entertain my daughter and her husband in the darkness of night and some with sweet messages conveying love and caring. Sayings  that would cut through the fatigue of new parenthood, while the new parents were immersed in an endless cycle of feedings and diaper changes for the next two years. Maybe more if they continued to expand their brood.

 

It was a big baby shower.  I wanted to gather everyone there that had been there for us over the years. And new friends too.  Some of them were my daughter’s new friends through marriage or her teaching position.  So here we were; laughing, painting, creating and hosting a party.   The women gathered in and there definitely wasn’t enough room for us all. White rental chairs lined each wall and some of my friends had to sit in the hall.  I tried to make it around to everyone for at least a small chat and was fairly successful. We reminisced and shared our favorite stories.

We had mini 7 layer bean dips with huge corn tortilla chips.  Frozen grapes dipped in vanilla meltaways and rolled in slivered almonds. There was a croissant bar with chocolate humus and honied butter along with cold-cuts and cheese. Baby blue punch in glass decanters with spigots tied with sparkling blue ribbons.  I had kept my head in Pinterest for months looking up recipes and baby shower concepts. They ate and told me they loved the food- they never knew I could cook like that. I had been planning, practicing and plotting for months. The preparation had been an event in itself and  one of my favorite parts of the party.

 

 

 

Games were played, gifts opened.  The time flew and before I knew it, we were picking up chairs and taking down decorations. Sweeping up glitter and pulling brightly colored tissue paper out from underneath the couches where we had stuffed the paper to make room .  The onesies floated back and forth in the cool December breeze.  California sunshine poured down through a cloudless and brilliant blue sky drying the new baby couture.  Smiling faces and kind words floated around me.  After the guests were gone, we had tea. As we sipped, we reviewed the day, the highlights, the catastrophes, the sighting of new and old friends, the joy and the fun.

 

Baby Shower Onesies Activity:

Needed: Dreft(to wash the Onesies, Onesies(any brand, lots of sizes), small paper bags(to be used as hangers), twine, clothespins, paint, brushes, disposable wipes or old clothes to clean up messy hands and floors, aprons(optional), disposable vinyl gloves(optional).

1.) Wash the onesies prior to painting in a baby friendly detergent so the material will shrink a bit and assume a natural shape.  This ensures that when the new Mom washes them, the entertainment will go on, because the painted sayings won’t shrink or get distorted.

2.) Utilize fabric paint.  Fabric paint is the only paint that will be sufficient if you want your works of art to last and the color to hold.  The paint is non-toxic to baby and is easy to work with for novice artists.

3.) Buy bright and fun colors.  No explanation needed for this one.

4.) Buy a multitude of inexpensive disposable brushes made of various materials; such as sponge to create unique prints.

5.) Twine and clothespins. Tie the twine and secure between two nails. Do this  in an area  where you can easily wipe up spills and you don’t mind if it gets sprinkled with paint.

6.) Hang a line with samples over the activity area, so guests can get inspired.

6.) Laugh, make jokes, get creative and have fun!

 

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Falling Into Fall Love

Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash

Fall is a time to love. It’s coming quick. We are in the last summer days of August. We had some heat and we had some unusually cool days too. What we did not have was rain. But here comes fall anyway. Falling leaves, new colors in the naturescape, brisk air and excitement of the holidays on the way. The stores become bright and fun with an array of merchandise that’s beautiful and jolly.

Fall is a time to get warm and love finding ways to do it. Building a fire, finding the perfect cozy blanket and drinking warm, comforting drinks. Fall is for cooking-serious cooking. Baking and stewing and creating delicious new foods that are hearty and full of spices. Foods that are sweet and warming that bring joy to the belly and the brain. Foods that when you take a bite, you become alive with warmth and joyous memories. It’s almost ridiculous what food like this can do to you.

It’s a time to be with friends and love ones if you have them and love life with the very core of your being. The season is about celebration and everyday is perfect for a new reason to do something fun or meaningful with anyone you can get to come along. It’s a time of year that’s inspiring and awesome.




Every year of my life has been punctuated by the brilliance of fall and all the wonderful events that take place this time of year. Even as a small child, memories were created that were embellished with sparkles and glowing lights that emphasized the joy and warmth of the season. It started with the excitement of going back to school. The anticipation of meeting a new teacher and seeing if everyone was still in your class. Halloween rose over September like a big hot air balloon filled with spooky treats and stories and the fun of creating a new costume, different than last year and of course, always better. The anticipation of hiking city sidewalks in the dark with crowds of parents and kids dressed up and asking for candy. Going from door to door and your neighbor excited to see you and wanting to know who you were.

Halloween evening passes at a brisk pace. First the preparation and then the rush home from work before it gets dark to get the kids ready. Then we are out the door and into the first really cold night of the season. We walk, we smile and call greetings to new and old friends. Up and down pathways we go and then our legs are tired and it’s time to head home. After counting the candy, we pass out and fall into a deep sleep.

The next morning we wake up to a new holiday rising. The promise of good food and family love and friendship. Thoughts of huge, juicy turkeys with steamy apple and nut dressing oozing into the baking pan. Golden apple pies shimmering with a dusting of sugar and cinnamon. The promise of Christmas, further away, but a shining light that will guide us into winter.

The leaves are golden and glorious and falling; leaving branches bare in preparation for winter. Animals scurry to collect the last portion of their reserves for the coldest days of the year. They prepare their nests for nestling and staying warm during a long winter’s sleep.

Fall is here. For one more time, one more year, we prepare, we enjoy and fall in love with life all over again.