Blowing in the Wind

I've long-loved the beauty and magic of Tibetan prayer flags - the messages and symbols on the flags are said to be carried by the wind, distributing prayers of peace and love to all. Not being a practicing Buddhist (although I deeply appreciate the teachings), I've never felt comfortable flying traditional prayer flags. However, recently inspired by this post and this one, I've been thinking about tapping into the power of this ancient Buddhist philosophy by creating some prayer flags of my own.

A little more research garnered more ideas on how to make you own prayer flags and a lot more inspiration, as seen here and here. I even found a fun prayer flag project for kids.

Hmmm... still on a treasure mapping high, I'm seeing a prayer flag gathering in my future... perhaps the next new moon, mamas?

Sisters

The only feeling as magical as the love I have for my girls is watching the love they have for one another blossom and grow. As Sage leaves "baby" behind, entering the wide world of "little girl," Selby is there, holding her hand. She teaches her enthusiastically; waits on her patiently; talks to her sweetly; and loves her unconditionally. Of course, Sage is Selby's biggest fan. She lights up when her "bubba" enters the room; she copies her every move; she bestows on her endless kisses and loving pats; she is nothing short of enchanted. I know how special this bond is, as I too have just one sibling, an older sister. No one else knows me like she does; and me her. Our friendship runs deep and is unconditional. There is no love quite like that of a sister. And now, getting to watch it develop, is pure joy.

Creating & Manifesting

Creativity ran rampant at my new moon circle last night! After an abbreviated - although very powerful - circle, the Mamas and I got to work on our treasure maps to ring in the astrological new year. This was manifesting at its best!

There was certainly no shortage of creative supplies. Our host, Rose, shared stacks of magazines and full access to her wealth of arts and crafts materials. The Snail arrived with arms full of fabric pieces and a sewing machine. And our resident artist brought boxes of beads & jewels, ribbons, a tin of antique buttons and a rainbow selection of paint. We dug in and quickly made a big creative mess, fueled by red wine and chocolate (top picks of the night: Lindt Dark Chocolate with Chili and Smoking Loon Cabernet Sauvignon).
It was fascinating to watch each of my sisters' creativity unfold with their own unique take on the treasure map. An avid quilter and crafter, The Snail created hers with fabric - read more about how here. Tapping into the power of artful journaling, Rose filled the pages of a blank board book. The rest of us each put our own spin on a traditional poster board collage. A work in progress, I love the way mine is turning out. Using the feng shui bagua for form, I'm selecting images based on these principles:

• Be specific.
• Images should evoke the feeling of what you want to manifest.
• Dream BIG.

Here's how mine looks so far (see a close-up shot above).
This weekend, why not join in and set a visual intention for the year ahead? Then post images of your treasure map - and view others - on this treasure mapping flickr group set up by our inspiration over at Exhale. Return to Center.

Happy Friday and happy creating & manifesting.

I Am Writing :: Full Circle

I love synchronicity. After three recent (and unsolicited) referrals to books and authors on the subject of women's circles, I knew it was time to begin work on an article I've been writing in my mind for months. And once I further delved into the subject, I realized the strong connection writing this article has to writing my novel. I came full circle.

While researching the history, symbology and benefits of circling, I began to understand the magic that ensues when my mama friends and I gather in circle. We are connecting to the sacred. We are creating community through common needs and experiences. We are women healing, teaching and supporting one another in the same way generations of women have before us.
As for the writing, it is well underway! The article is shaping up to be both heartfelt, tapping into my own real-life circle experiences, and well-researched (I'm wading through many books on the subject- including Women Circling the Earth and The Millionth Circle - as well as a documentary film, BeComing: Women's Circles, Women's Lives).

I'd tell you more, but it might ruin the article for you. So you'll just have to wait for publication. Of course, I have to sell it first...and I will.

In the meantime, I'd really like to know if you belong to a women's circle and what it means to you.

A Return to Me

Tomorrow is the the new moon, and the beginning of the astrological new year. It's the moon for fresh starts, turning over a new leaf or starting a new phase. I couldn't be more ready for this. Over the past few days, I've felt like I was at the end of a marathon, pushing myself to keep up the pace, knowing the finish line is near. I'm ready to cross that line and enter a new space.

So, in the spirit of the Aries New Moon, I'm setting a couple of new year's resolution-like intentions to help with a return to me.

A Return to Journaling In the time before kids, I used to journal every day. I'd start my morning with a cup of hot coffee and a blank page, writing free-thought morning pages Julia Cameron style, as described in The Artists' Way. I do miss this. I don't know if I can pull off morning pages again at this stage in my mothering game, but certainly I can find the time to fill three pages a day. Unloading all the random thoughts filling my head would be like a little spring cleaning for my mind & soul. (Thanks for the reminder, Erin.)

A Return to Yoga

Selby takes a yoga class every Thursday...what about mommy?

Seems everywhere I turn lately, someone is talking about yoga. I miss this too! The stretching, the union of body, mind & soul...I need these things right now. So I've been thinking about how I can make this work. At the YMCA the other day, I picked up a flyer for a yoga class- it's not the authentic studio/practice I'd envisioned. But it is yoga; and I do already have a membership; and there is child care. I'm going to give it a go on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.

I hope finding, no, making time for these mama-centered activities will help this mama return to her center. For as we all know, a happy mama makes for a happy home.

Welcoming Spring

It was a celebration of Spring all weekend, starting Saturday at our downtown Farmer's Market, where Sage stopped to smell the flowers.... ...and Selby picked out a Spring addition for her garden. I ogled the lovely spring bounty of asparagus, delicate baby greens, herbs and mushrooms.Our delight in the season continued with a picnic by the bay front, where Sage sampled some fresh sprouts. After lunch there was playground fun......seed collecting... ...and a walk down to the water.
Sunday consisted of some spring cleaning projects, including re-potting most of our house plants.We also worked on Selby's seed project for preschool. Over the past week, she's collected a dozen different seeds from outside and in the kitchen. She glued them into an egg carton, ready to be labeled. The lesson: seeds are everywhere.Bright flowers, tender produce, sunny bay breezes, rich soil and seeds - welcome Spring!

The Tour :: Office/Studio Part II

As promised, a tour of my cleaned-up, fixed up office/studio, all ready to house new creative growth this spring. I finally put up shelves above my project desk to hold all of our family arts and crafts supplies. Of course, a little inspiration is peppered in too.
I love this over sized chair, handed down to me from my parents. It makes a great spot to read and journal. The big blank wall behind it is where we will hang our treasure maps.My desk is finally clear of clutter and I believe the chalkboard mural is the greatest part of the redo! Hope you enjoyed the tour. Happy Friday!

I Am Writing :: On the Brain, Not Paper

This week has been challenging for me to stick to my routine. My writing is on the top of my brain, but I can't seem to find the time to get it out of there.

Lots of thoughts on the book....playing with different narrative points of view. Originally it was going to be first-person, told by me. Now I'm leaning towards a third-person narrator. Both perspectives have benefits & drawbacks. I did manage to get a little bit onto the page. Really, it was so little it should barely count.

My brain has also been working hard on an article idea about women's circles...I think it would be perfect for Mothering.com/Mothering Magazine and that is where I plan to pitch it. As soon as it makes it out of my head... The research for this article keeps falling into my lap by way of friends and blogosphere acquaintances. It's like a sign from the universe saying "write me!" I got it. This article is my weekend goal, above all others.

And there are so many others...

Writing On The Wall (My Office/Studio :: Part I)

In a creative outburst last week, I painted a large portion of the wall above my desk with chalkboard paint. My vision was a big blank space I could use to make notes for my novel, as well as tack up inspiration. I decided to keep the edges rough, but then realized it needed an artistic touch. So I called upon my artist friend (and novel mama), Maggie, who came to my rescue yesterday. Together, we decided upon a design: the large space on the left will be for writing notes & working on the outline and the smaller column on the right is where I can tack up photos and bits of related inspiration. Maggie, the visionary of our village, drew the entire border freehand with sidewalk chalk, then rubbed it with her fingers to create a soft look. She added the book title and a little birdie, of course. I'm so excited about my chalkboard mural, the perfect final touch on my revamped work space. Check in to see the rest of my office/craft studio later this week in Part II. Right now, I gotta go fill up that board!

Treasure Maps

Next week is the new moon in Aries. Inspired by this post, my moon sisters and I have decided to participate in a little treasure mapping. A treasure map is a visual collage, similar to a vision board, of what you want your life to be like in the coming year. What makes it different from a vision board is it's created on the Aries new moon, the beginning of a new astrological year. Treasure maps are said to hold great manifestation powers because they are created during the first sign of the zodiac, allowing the entire year ahead for realizing your dreams & wishes.

So, at our new moon circle next week, my sisters and I will be armed with piles of magazines, craft supplies and glue to create our maps for the year to come. I plan to use the feng shui bagua to organize my board, which breaks the board into 9 areas that cover most all aspects of life. The bagua looks like this:
Daddy Bird is also going to create a treasure map and we plan to do one together with the family as well. We have purchased three poster board frames for our completed boards (which are to be done before the full moon) and will hang them on a wall in my office/craft studio.

I'm so excited for this project and the company of my moon sisters and family in doing it. Perhaps you'll join us too?

Sunny Daze

We spent the past several days on the beach with family from out of town. It was like a mini-vacation in our own backyard. All sun kissed and salty, I'm feeling refreshed and recharged, ready to start a new week and a new season.

I Am Writing :: Project Bible & Outline Part II

I've been focused on two writing projects this week:

The Project BibleI began creating a Project Bible for my novel. It's a three-ring notebook (decorated with super- cute transfers of birdies) that houses everything I need as reference for my book: lists of facts, character names & descriptions, research findings & sources, etc. Additionally, it serves as a place to jot down ideas, thoughts, words, free writing, etc. when I'm not at my desk. So that way, when I get a great idea while washing the dishes, I can get it on paper and revisit it later.

Outline, Part II (and ongoing...)
Also on my desk this week has been that outline I mentioned last week. I've taken my initial basic structure and began to develop it into a more detailed plan, plugging in dates & themes and creating a basic flow for the story. This has been extremely gratifying work, but it still has a long way to go.

I've also been fixing up my office/craft studio, 'cause you gotta have a pretty, inspiring place to write, right? The re-do should be ready for a big reveal next week!

Soaking in Spring

Warm Gulf breezes scented with orange blossoms and sea salt. Clear sun warming the skin and brightening the spirit. Water play. New growth. Bare feet. Spring peeks out and we bend toward it, seeking a fresh start. A space for new ideas, new journeys, new manifestations. I'm blissfully soaking it all in.

A Kid-Centered Home

A lot of mamas ask me how I have so much grown-up stuff around my house that doesn't get ruined by little hands. My secret is "kid centers." The girls have their own play areas in almost every room of our home. Next to my kitchen is the kids' kitchen/market/restaurant center. It's stocked with wooden play food, cooking and serving materials, a tea set, aprons and play money. This center is the only way I ever get any cooking done.
Just off our main living & dining area is a kid zone stocked with seasonal goodies. Spring arrived at our house over the past week, so this area currently features Spring-themed books, toy bunnies, a basket of pastel-colored play silks, a fairy house full of little fairy friends, fresh flowers and, of course, a basket full of plastic Easter eggs.Our art center is located on the back porch where big messes are no big deal. I have a vinyl tablecloth over our vintage wrought iron patio table for easy clean up; and art smocks are always ready on the backs of the chairs. This center sees near daily activity.
My backyard lacks a decent play area, so we set up a courtyard off the front entrance as a children's garden. Along with playing in the sandbox, the girls have fun doing some container gardening here, as well as bug hunting.

I also keep a basket of toys and wooden blocks in my office/craft studio with the never-ending dream that I will be able to work while a child plays quietly on the floor.

There are two final secrets to keeping the girls away from my toys and interested in theirs:

1 - I switch up the contents of these centers regularly. Selby loves to come home and discover something new in her seasonal living room. Or a grocery store all set up in the kitchen center, complete with cash register and (reusable, of course) Publix bags. Seasonal items are rotated throughout the year, as are various toys.

2 - The toys and play things we have around our house are designed to engage a child's imagination. You won't find many plastic or electronic things, although a few do make it by me. Instead we stock wooden and plush toys that don't eat batteries, natural items like shells & stones, real kid-size musical instruments and a wide variety of art supplies.

All this planning & staging gives my little chicks free range in our nest, while allowing me to have out all the pretty grown-up things I love!

I Am Writing :: Outline & Routine

Welcome to the first of a new weekly post, "I Am Writing." It's an affirmation, a way to chronicle my journey and a means of accountability.

Outline
I met with The Snail yesterday (my unofficial agent) to brainstorm on my novel. Over a couple of cinnamon dolce lattes we hammered out a structure for the book. It will consist of two parts, 12 chapters each. Did you know an average novel is 400 typewritten pages? So that means each chapter can average about 16 typed pages. Just having this basic composition really helps me get a handle on the enormity of the project. So, with this general arrangement in mind, I'm beginning work on a detailed outline.

Routine
It's become apparent that writing time is not going to magically appear. So I'm working out a writing routine to ensure my creative work is as important as my income-earning work, household responsibilities and mothering duties. I hope this dedicated routine, along with unplanned opportunities, will generate enough time to produce some real work.

I just read that daily chores are a great thinking time for writers. Folding the laundry and walking the baby offer a chance to review plots, develop characters and generate new ideas. I definitely plan to take advantage of this important "non-writing" time, and recognize it as part of my writing routine.