Manifesting For Someone Else: Divine Timing

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Did a working lunch at a local place with a good vibe.  A guy who works came in for his shift as I was walking out.

Walking home.

I stopped to chat.  In particular I asked about his family.

His grandmother lives in the path of the tsunami as well as typhoon season.

After assuring me all was good we chatted about music.

We’re both big time metal fans.

At one point I worried I was taking too much of his time.

He was the one talking but still.  It was shift change and the place was relatively busy.

I eventually made my way home and as I was waiting on a light at a busy intersection I hit the button for crossing then glanced back to see a guy standing behind me.  As he was taller than me – aka longer stride – I decided when the light changed I would allow him to go before me.

When the light chnged I turned around smiled and said “You can go ahead.”

As It Happens…

When he used body language to verify I realized a startling detail.

Walking Stick

The man was blind.

I never noticed the stick – only that he was wearing a fashionable hat to keep his face from burning in the sunshine and that he was taller than me.

I assured him he was safe and slipped in behind him to make sure no impatient drivers tried to do something stupid.

Wait!  There’s More!

Gotta love Ginsu right?

We got close to a very busy parking lot.

Fast food restaurant drive-thru at lunch hour.

I stopped and waited – called out to him I was going to keep us safe.

He had his cane going back and forth across the sidewalk.

I made sure the drivers ready to zip out of the parking lot saw me.

And by extension him.

We eventually went our separate ways.  As I was walking the final leg home I thought about the timing of it all.  I’d been worried I was going to get a worker in trouble for talking to him during lunch hour but if I hadn’t fought my initial thought to politely excuse myself so as not to get him in trouble?

I was really interested in everything the cool restaurant worker was telling me.  I did NOT want to get him in trouble!

I would have missed being there for someone who benefitted from my protective presence.

Divine Timing.

Thanks Universe!

Manifestation?

I was there when that guy benefitted from it.  I manifested safety which may have been on his mind.

It is a very busy highway with people who regularly fly through and do “No Cop No Stop” behavior.

Trust your instincts.

Be Well.

Podcast Resource Update

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Sharing a quick update that I’ve added links referenced in the 2nd Podcast episode to the Podcast Resources page.  What makes this interesting in a synchronistic way is one of the stories I mention in this Podcast has to do with the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.  To understand why it’s particularly interesting I need to point out I wrote the script for the 2nd Podcast in early May.  I had no idea there was any sort of event regarding the Edmund Fitzgerald in the works.

If anything I’d think they’d do something in November.

Then I read the news this morning.

Turns out today is the day of the Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim.  Specifically, the 50th anniversary.

Wow.

I love synchronicities because it’s the universe telling us we’re on the right path.  To round this out I’ll share a story from the Podcast.

My maternal great-grandfather emigrated from Scotland to Detroit whereafter he owned a shipping company.  One of the ships in his fleet was the PS Tashmoo.  The bell from the Tashmoo is in the Maritime Sailors’ Museum in Detroit.

The bell that Gordon sings rang 29 times for each life on the Edmund Fitzgerald.

My Story

I used to have a very cool sweatshirt with a picture of the Tashmoo on it.  Years back Aaron and I were walking in Union Square in San Francisco when an older couple stopped us.  The man said “The Tashmoo?  How do you know about the Tashmoo?  You seem awfully young for that.”

I explained the ship was part of my maternal great-grandfather’s fleet to which he told me he and his wife who was standing beside him had their honeymoon on the Tashmoo.  He told me what a wonderful time it was and went on to share stories about her grandeur.

Have an awesome day. I hope life brings synchronicities that make you smile.

Be well.

2nd Podcast Available

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I’m pleased to announce the 2nd Navigating the Holistic Path podcast is available.  This episode highlights the influence of others on our decision to live the holistic path.  Includes holistic versus allopathic approaches to health and wellness and tools and strategies for living the holistic path.

Audio Only.

I made the decision to switch to an audio only format to provide a better experience. 

This episode is different from the Welcome episode stylistically even as I include lots of information on holistic health practices.  While I summarize at the end of the episode listeners will infer from the stories what tools and practices belong in the holistic bag of tricks.

I hope you enjoy learning about the influence of others – including family – on our decision to live the holistic path.

And the tools and strategies to help you integrate holistic health practices into your life.

Be well.

A Fun Memory

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Decided to share a light-hearted memory.  I’m listening to the Who’s Boris the Spider.

Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy is a favorite.

In addition to listening to the vinyl we had it on 45.

The memory.

While working for HP I attended a class in Corvallis Oregon, the training focused on a new network router that would manage loads in different time zones. 

Follow the sun where as one region is going to sleep another is waking up.

The servers would take the load off the networks.

Spreading the load makes for better and more consistent performance.

There were two classes ongoing in separate rooms.  I wound up in a room full of HPers from Canada.  We clicked and had a lot of fun working through the labs.

The instructor who was a very cool guy from San Diego would come over to see what we were laughing about.

We finished the labs early so asked if it was okay that we went to lunch.  

Comeraderie and Fun Stories.

While eating in the cafeteria we exchanged amusing stories on various topics.  One was spiders – who was and wasn’t afraid of them.

I’m not but shared a funny anecdote where several aunts saw a little one and went shrieking after which my grandmother said, “Oh for heaven’s sakes you’re afraid of that little thing?” then took care of it.  

I’m chuckling remembering how they scrambled over each other in an effort to get away from where it was sitting on the wall.

One of the guys told a story that had us laughing.

Though we were all very sympathetic to someone being afraid like that.

He got home from work to find his front door wide open.  As he walked into the house he called out to his wife.

No answer.

He walked around the house becoming more alarmed as he couldn’t find his wife and she wasn’t answering his calls.  

Then he got to the bedroom.

His wife was standing on the bed staring at the top of the bedroom doorway.  He walked in, turned to see what she was staring at.

A small house spider.

Turning back he asked if that was the problem.

He knew she was afraid of spiders but had never seen her like that.

She didn’t say anything though he saw the slightest nod.  After taking care of the spider his wife went rushing past.  

To the bathroom.

Apparently she was convinced that if she went through the bdroom door to get to the bathroom the spider would fall the moment she was beneath it and land on her.

Back to Class is Back to Fun.

The second and last day of the training went pretty much like the first with the Canadians and me having a blast working through the labs.

Which increased in difficulty throughout the class.

When the instructor came over toward the end of the second day I assumed it was just to see what we were laughing about.  

A Spoonful of Sugar …

Helps difficult labs go down.

Turns out the other class was seriously behind.  Not only that they were apparently complaining about how difficult the labs were.  When the instructor asked if we had any insight into the stark differences we searched for something to say.

None of us wanted to bad-mouth fellow HPers.

One of the Canadians made a comment about Canadians being good-natured.

Implying the other group came from a different region [of the US] and was likely culturally influenced.

The instructor looked at me and said, “You’re American aren’t you?”

I explained “Yes but I was born in Detroit and grew up in Michigan about 30 miles from the Canadian border.”  

I also supported global supply chain for the automotive industry so many Canadian companies were customers.

The fun rubs off.

I hope you are able to find fun moments in challenging situations.

Be well.

Look for the Bright Spots

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Getting ready to record the next podcast episode.  This one is different stylistically as it focuses more on the nurture side of things but the stories provide context and there’s plenty of information on how to integrate holistic health practices into everyday living.

Sharing the stories had me thinking of how throughout my life – a life filled with plenty of adversity – I always had some wonderful positive experience (or person) to offset or perhaps more apt – get me through that adversity.

To Give Context

I’m wearing a cool t-shirt with Tarpon Springs (FL) on the front.  While on my walk this morning I chatted with someone who thought she’d been there.

I walk 7 – 10 miles a day 7 days a week.

As we compared notes it became evident we were talking about the same cool place.  

Closing the Gap

The process of comparing notes had me describing the area in detail.  A big part of that was talking about the sponge docks where the boats in the harbor gather sponges from the sea floor, bring in shrimp, and a handful who do whaling.

It was when I described how they celebrate the Epiphany she knew we were talking about the same place.

It’s so cool.

As I was finishing my walk and just now sitting here I was thinking about why I knew so much about this place.  

That knowledge certainly didn’t come from going to school there for a handful of months.

A classmate I befriended invited me to her home.

A small sailboat she shared with her dad and older brother.

She walked me through the area and introduced me to a number of guys who made their living by the sea.

And who were fiercely protective of her and by extension – me.

I loved learning the whaling boat in the harbor that day had a kitty who loved to sail the seas.

What’s special about this? It’s one of many rays of sunshine that poked through clouds over my life.

My parents were on the verge of a divorce that plunged my mom brother and I into financial hardship as well as a host of other fun pieces to the separation puzzle.

It’s a reminder to look for the bright spots because they’re there even in the midst of chaos.

Be well.

Did Homeopathy Speed Healing?

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Wanted to share an observation that may help others.  

Anyone who’s listened to the introductory episode of my podcast series Navigating the Holistic Path: Integrating Holistic Health Practices Into Everyday Living knows I’m big on homeopathy as part of my holistic bag of tricks.  I recently had a healing experience that – as I aim for – gives context.

I’d been taking hypericum perforatum to address sciatic pain.  It didn’t take long to feel a significant reduction in pain but – as they say in Ginsu Knife land – there’s more!

I noticed I was sleeping better.  I went from [often] waking up between 1 and 3 am (after going to bed at 10 pm) to waking up after 4.

Going from 2 – 3 hours a night to 5.5 – 6!

One blessed day I woke up close to 6!

Curious I did a bit of research – saw that this is a homeopathic version of St. John’s Wort.

Homeopathic formulations are micro-doses and are not the same as their herbal counterparts.

St. John’s Wort is used to – among other things – help with sleep!

Ginsu Sharpening

There’s More!

The therapeutic nature of this homeopathic remedy is its effectiveness as an anti-inflammatory which is why it’s helpful with sciatica.  As it happens I was on my morning walk days back when I took a spill.  Putting my hands out I ended up scraping my right palm and left thumb to the degree there was a bit of bleeding.

Right knee too.

While it stung I continued on.

To walk it off.

I’m grateful for the commuters who stopped.

Offered to take me somewhere – made sure I was okay.

Am I Seeing This?

Sci-fi comes to life.

As I walked I periodically looked at my scuffed skin.

Kept mentally replaying what if I hadn’t… could I have avoided…?

I noted something pretty unbelievable.  It appeared as if my scrapes were healing before my eyes. They were literally disappearing!

Like something out of a sci-fi film!

Doubting Thomas Rides The Skies

I kept looking – kept seeing progress too quick to be believed.

And yet I was seeing it.

Plausible Explanation

I suspect having taken the hypericum – anti-inflammatory – for days before the spill meant my body was primed to throw healing resources at the wound.

Reducing inflammation so the body could heal as it’s meant.

And Now?

Within 2 days the wound was 1/4 in size.

No bruising – never was any which is fantastical given the fun of doing a baseball slide into rough pavement.

The thumb is completely healed and after 3 days the palm is almost free of any scabs.  

Incredible.

If I hadn’t seen it I would never have believed it.

This is the kind of story I share in my podcast series.

Real life.

Be well!

Banishing Demons (Negative Energy Pulling You Down)

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I recently launched a podcast series about integrating holistic health practices into everyday living. 

Drawing on my tendancy to use stories to give context.

While the initial episodes focus more on the body and mind part of the equation I do sprinkle in the spirit piece.  

I’ll be including more of the third part of the holistic pie in future episodes.

Wanted to share a recent experience that illustrates I walk the talk.

The Universe Steps In

Kismet in Action.

I was reading through the Apple News feed

Insert whistling and carefree skip down the morning routine trail.

An article appeared that intrigued me with its title.

A piece suggested based on something that caught the algorithms’ eye.

Not even halfway through I knew this was the perfect information at the perfect time.  Even though we hadn’t renovated we had areas in our home that had stagnant energy.

Including some that felt almost ominous.

Energetic Case Study

Bedroom Closet

For whatever reason that closet has long bothered me, to the degree I insisted the door always be shut.

In hindsight this probably added insult to injury since it meant no air circulating.

Aaron and I share the closet and he was baffled why I was so insistent the door always be closed.

I knew something off with the energy in there.

 Excited I might have a fix I put a bowl of lemon water in and yep – it lifted the energy. 

I also sprinkled a mix of baking soda and salt on the carpet with the intent it be vacuumed up in a day or two.

I knew putting a bowl of salt in a room or space where an argument had taken place would remove negative energy but hadn’t heard of the mix before.

Weirdly enough after the space was vacuumed the energy came down again.

I did a repeat lemon water treatment.

When I came to the realization I was going to have to do at least one more lemon water – maybe every couple of days indefinitely – I decided to get to the root cause.

Keep Digging

The root’s there somewhere.

I’m sharing because – as I mention in my podcasts – conditions are likely to return if you only deal with symptoms.

Holistic healing deals with root cause.

But First…

It isn’t as if I hadn’t tried dealing with the issue.  

For the past several years.

  • Switched my side with Aaron’s
  • Switched front to back
  • Organized by clothing item
  • Organized by color/season
  • Got rid of anything that no longer served

Nothing worked.

I ended up switching the two sides back to how they were.

Out of Sight But Not Out of Mind

Or Spirit

Just so happens I had a small inexpensive box I’d purchased at Michael’s Craft Store containing items that – though they used to hold joy – now held disappointment.

To the degree even thinking of what was in the box made me sad.

The fix wasn’t something I could tackle with a plan.

I’d held onto the items in the hopes maybe the individual who did have the fix might … 

I know. When we leave our happiness up to someone else’s behavior or actions we set ourselves up for failure but I felt getting rid of what was in there was admitting defeat – that the situation was hopeless.

Stubborn Celt that I am I refused to give up hope.

After awhile I shoved the box where I wouldn’t have to look at it.

And be reminded of what I’d lost.

I was determined to get to the root cause of the negative energy in that space.

The box and its contents as they were now energetically entwined.

Timing is Everything

When I opened the box I saw another smaller one inside.  I got the biggest smile!  

I thought I’d gotten rid of it during a before or after move sort/organize.

Not only did I still have this box which brings memories of a wonderful time in my life but upon opening it found things I thought lost in a move!

I was so happy!

After securing the box and the items it contained I turned to the other box.

And items representing disappointment and sadness.

I wasn’t sad!  Finding those items I thought gone lifted my spirits to the degree I could look at the remaining items dispassionately.

I could also let them go without feeling all hope was lost.

I just didn’t care anymore.  Waiting for something that might never happen was no longer worth my time or effort.

This morning I noticed that for the past few days I’ve been leaving the closet door open.

The monsters hiding inside have been banished.

More adventures coming soon.

Be well!

Ice Cream Man: We Need to Tell our Stories

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I volunteer to help kids with literacy.  I showed up on a recent day and was asked if I’d be willing to work with a special needs child because the specialist had to call out.  Happy to do so I soon found myself in a secluded part of a hallway listening to a little boy read about a tour of an ice cream factory.

The nature of the program means the volunteers and students find places to sit together which may be in an overcrowded room with a cacophany of voices or in a hall where students changing classes walk by.

At one point he looked at me and asked “Why so many screams?”

This was after watching him struggle with the fact he was trying to form the thought.  Telling him to take his time seemed to help him relax and articulate what was on his mind.

Why So Many Screams?

I immediately picked up his concern over the word scream but also knew he lacked context.  I quickly explained it was a childhood rhyme.

I scream you scream we all scream for ice cream.

I suspected my explanation didn’t fly because he wasn’t familiar with the rhyme so I quickly explained it was something kids would call out when chasing the ice cream man.  This necessitated I explain what the ice cream man was.

And why kids would be chasing him.

I admit – I have not seen or heard an ice cream man in all the years I’ve lived in this region of the country but that didn’t stop me from telling this sweet boy

“I’m old.  When I was little in Michigan my friends and me would chase the ice cream man – you could hear him coming by the music in his truck – yelling “I scream you scream we all scream for ice cream.”

I watched him think over the honest explanation then slowly nod.  And then he smiled.

A beautiful smile that lit up his features.

He said “I can’t wait to tell my mom.”

I don’t know if his mom is a translplant from another part of the country – maybe a place where she grew up hearing the telltale sound of an ice cream truck coming in her direction – but it reinforces my belief that we need to share stories with our kids

and grandkids …

I saw first hand how the lack of knowledge confused and alarmed.

We need to tell our stories

To share wisdom and give context.

And to reassure.

Mushed Back Into the Cookie Dough

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Taking a much needed music break.

Listening to Solar Echoes by Sir Nigel Stanford which – interestingly – maps beautifully to my Metatron’s Army series and NO – the brilliant creative does not endorse my work.  

I didn’t even realize this until years after I published the series.

Doubt he knows I exist or knows his Cymatics video put into motion parts of my EMF Sensitivity experience that were difficult to explain.  His Solar Echoes?  Well that’s a whole other beautiful ball of interconnected creative wax.

I’ve spent the past weeks pedal to the metal on an upcoming project – at times truly asking myself what the hell I was thinking.  I mean aren’t I the person who just spent 2 plus years putting myself back together after Covid Lockdown induced burnout scattered my soul to the wind?

To Burn Out

Or Not

I honestly never thought I’d write again.

Didn’t think I’d be able to read fiction either – I was in that much pain.

It wasn’t until I ended up in the hospital because of this fun that I was able to find a way out of the soul cave-in my life had become.

The ER Visit? I translated their allopathic mumbo jumbo into my holistic “This is what I need to do.”

Including stopping medication in lieu of holistic alternatives – something I’ll be discussing in this upcoming project.

Walking for weeks that turned into months – hours spent in silence with only my wounded soul as my companion – I slowly put myself back together.

It was painful because I would start to think of something I could write which gave me immediate severe psychic pain that almost had me doubling over in the middle of the sidewalk at 6:45 am.

Music Soothes the Broken Soul

I just took a moment to see which song was playing as I write this.  

Because it speaks to my healing soul.

Solar Echoes.

I’ve long written about music as a healing agent.

Playlists for EMF Sensitivity among other uses.

In this context it isn’t just a break but a reminder that I can’t wander into that creative swamp again.

I’d drown.

And as my need to create wars with the thought of having to pick up the pieces again I realize that like a cookie cutter segments pieces of the whole to put on display at holiday time the place and time I live in has forced me to carve out pieces of my work.  

Pieces of my creative soul.

And the Burnout?

What do we do after we’ve punched out a number of shapes to showcase?

We mush the remainder into a ball and bring out the rolling pin.

To Start All Over Again.

Back into the Mush.

Generations: Why We Need to Tell Our Stories

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Finding myself staring at the sceen and knowing I needed to get out of my environment to break it loose I decided to take advantage of a bit of chilly winter sun and walk to a place I could get lunch.

It’s a further walk – more Vitamin D – and with my laptop in my backpack – more of a workout.

I was seated at a booth on the other side from a table of adults where I proceeded to set the laptop on the table and open it up.

And dig into some awesome chips and salsa.

Not long after and before ordering a woman with two small children came in.  The younger one – a boy about 4 – was already whining.  

Diagnosis?  Overtired and very hungry.  Maybe some molar action too.

I’d just gotten my lunch order when a mom came in with a very whiny toddler – about 4.  

They put them on the other side of me.

Working diligently I was able to block out the chaos going on on either side of me.

Mostly.

At one point I saw the mom take both kids who’d be in competition with a fire alarm outside.  At the same time I heard the woman behind me explaining to a 4-year-old what  SHE does when she has a tummy ache.

Ummmm – did that translate?

I kept at it making awesome progress on my project.

To the degree I was happy I followed my instinct to go to this place for lunch.

At one point I saw the mom of the two youngins crouch down and ask a very teary-eyed 4-year-old – bawling from being overly tired – while his older sister – also whining – stood by his side.

“What do you want?”

What Do You Want?

A for effort mom but – um – not the most productive approach.

His wailing would have been heard at Ford Field after the Detroit Lions scored a touchdown.

Not being critical just realistic.  I seriously wonder if – bawling his eyes out – he even heard the question.

Generations.

It was at this point I recalled a conversation my son and I had recently wherein we talked of the benefits of multiple generations being involved in family life.

I went so far as to suggest a big part of why fewer couples are having kids is because they don’t have the support they need and don’t want to have to choose between the well-being of their kids and the need to bring more income into the home so they can make a better life for their kids.

As I watched both moms struggle to control kids who were going further and further into meltdown territory…

At one point a woman came in to help the mom behind me and I heard her shortly after order a Jim Beam with lime. 

 Kiddo was fun!

I thought how different the day could have gone for each mom if they’d been coached by someone who’d been there before and could explain why their go-to strategy was making the situation worse.

Grandparents?  Older Sibling?  Cousins?

All People I watched guiding family members through those fun days.

And who later guided me.

It made me think how I grew up in a large multi-generational family – holding babies on my lap from the time I was old enough to bear their weight so my aunts and uncles could get a break long enough to eat.

And listening to my grandma coach her daughters – new moms – on the normalcy of what they were experiencing and offering other advice.

Which included “THROW THAT BOOK OUT!” when it came to the Dr. Spock book.

It brought me back to the conversation with my son and how even though the realities of today’s economy makes it so some have to move far from home

Having lived through multiple economic downturns in Detroit – thanks to the Manufacturing Industry – I understand the need to move so you have peace of mind to start a family without having to worry about being laid off shortly after you do.

There is a need for people to tell their stories!

Email?  Cell phone?  SNAIL MAIL?

Why not me?

Oh sure I considered offering a word of encouragement to the harried women or even distracting their kids by telling the little girl how beautiful her dress was, etc but I remembered how well that turned out for me last time.

I was at Target and needed to go to the bathroom.  There was a very young toddler girl in there by herself asking for her mom and putting her head under every stall door – including mine – in an effort to find her.  Alarmed when this went on for several minutes I decided I’d go to a customer service representative after I washed my hands so they could page for the mom …

This poor little girl was so scared asking all these strange adult women for her mom.

After drying my hands I stepped out to find a woman standing in the general area.  I inquired whether she had a young daughter to which she replied yes.  When I mentioned she was scared and going under the stalls asking for her mom the woman turned on me like a rabid animal and snapped “Well you’re just perfect aren’t you?”

???!

Um – no.  

Never came close to suggesting as much either.

She followed up by screaming at me with a lot of – well – it wasn’t great to be on the receiving end.

At the restaurant? My heart went out to the moms but with the memory of the Target fun – which happened years back – inflicting fresh wounds? I elected to stay silent rather than offer a word of encouragement.

Or to compliment the little boys on how cool their sweatshirts were which might have distracted them long enough to give the mom a chance to catch their breath.

Once Bitten Twice Shy, No?

All the more reason we need to tell our stories!

I offered silent support but thought how much better it would have been for those women had they had the type of support that comes from generations of moms telling their stories.

So they would have a plethora of tools in their toolbelts.

We Need to Tell Our Stories

Note: Image by Richard Anderson of San Jose, CA