I'll Fly Away (again)

TRANSITION: noun.
1. a change or passing from one condition, place, thing, activity, or topic to another.

There is something special about a life transition--sometimes I go through the process willingly and happily and other times life drags me through the transition portal kicking and screaming. This time, it just feels familiar to be moving again because I have been doing it every 6 to 9 months for over 2 years now.

So in about a week I'm off again--first to Washington & Oregon to visit my girls and their families, then heading North to Alaska to work. Ah! that lovely seasonal summer gig as the "chef" at the rustic and yet homey and very comfortable Laughing Raven Lodge--out in the Alaskan "bush" (ie. very wild wilderness just out the back door, no kidding) on Baranof Island.

So for the summer, I'll be staying here--in my little cabin in the woods --quite near the Lodge.

Quiet--ah! so quiet, and nice and comfortable--I'm really looking forward to some time among the trees, ferns, and devil's club in the great Tongass National Forest--a true Northern Rain Forest with green green moss and ferns everywhere...

and wildflowers blooming all summer....of course all kept very lush and green by copious amounts of rainfall.

yes, I truly do believe that "in wilderness is the preservation of the soul" since spending a few months in Alaska--or even a week--can do wonders for my soul. And please do remember that a National Forest belongs to all of us...so you should plan a visit sometime to the one nearest you or to Southeast Alaska.

So, as far as transition go--this one isn't very difficult since I am going to a place I know and love. After that, who knows? But I bet by the end of the summer all will have become clear....

New Day Dawning

There have been several times in my life when I wanted to create or do something so much that I really believed it would happen if I just kept sending the desire out into the universe and then stayed very aware of the hints or help that came my way.

I believe in two things: "way will open" and "follow your dreams"---and recently these two beliefs have been re-enforced by the way my plans for resuming textile design school ( at the California School of Professional Fabric Design) this fall just keep falling into place. In order to afford to live in the Bay Area and attend school and only work part time---I needed to find very affordable (ie. cheap) housing.

So, I sent out an e-mail to all my Bay Area contacts saying I planned to return there to resume school--and I was looking for a room to rent in exchange for part time personal chef work, or yardwork or housework--and guess what?? I found the perfect place!!! thanks to good friends...

So, as my plans fall into place, I am reminded that when you follow your dreams, way will open....deep down inside I know I will be a terrific textile designer and that I will find that perfect design job....

After all, as a friend reminded me recently--my very name (Aurora) means "new dawn"

faith
noun
1) complete trust or confidence in someone or something : this restores one's faith in the universe
2) a strongly held belief or theory : faith that life will support your dreams

"Leaps of faith can put us in a new spot we couldn't see from where we stood before." --SARK

Water Week : Day 14

"Who I am is enough, just as I am."

How many of us truly believe this--deep down inside? If we weren't all struggling with this concept---and how we feel about ourselves, would we be in this Soul Coaching online group?

Today is all about stepping out of the victim role---a good reminder for me. For many years now I have viewed myself as a survivor and thriver---and not a victim. However, the Day 14 exercises caused me to be aware of how I had subtly slipped into the "poor me--look at what he's done to me" victim role much of the time in the past 3 months.

Now that I see that--I can take steps to remove myself from that role, and return to being a thriver...all it takes is awareness and then re-framing my thinking.

Each tiny action cause ripples in the pond--spreading throughout my soul....

Today's Quote: "What is a soul? It's like electricity - we don't really know what it is, but it's a force that can light a room." ---Ray Charles

Soul Coaching: Turning Points in My Life

This week is WATER WEEK and I have always loved sitting on the back deck of a boat and watching the boat's wake.....

I wrote this list of TURNING POINTS in my life--then realized they were all about relationships....I left out moving from a tiny town of 120 in Alaska to a larger town of 50,000 In Washington State! which was a huge turning point....or my 3 week trip to Russia in 1985 with Alaskan Performing Artist's for Peace--a trip that changed my life...I'm puzzled why the only turning points I first thought of had to do only with the love relationships in my life?





I can't even begin to look at what I gained or discovered from each of these events in my life....this requires too much introspection for me right now. Perhaps I will be able to return to these points some time and do this....

Ah yes and SOUL COACHING : DAY 7
We were supposed to write our "soul mission statement" ---and answer the question of "Why am I here?" this took me awhile to see--but then I had an AHA! moment and knew this :

THE PURPOSE OF MY LIFE IS TO SHARE MY CREATIVITY

whether I do this through teaching or having my designs printed on wallpaper or fabric, or by selling my artwork or giving it away doesn't matter....I just need to be creative and share the results or my skills freely....

Today's Quote : "You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. " --Maya Angelou

Soul Coaching

I am joining a " book-blogging" group--and today! the 1st of November--- is the first day.

The concept behind a book-blogging group is that a community of bloggers work their way through a book, sharing their experiences by posting on their own blog and by reading what other participants are sharing. You can choose to share as much or as little as you like. This book blogging group is hosted by Jamie at THE NEXT CHAPTER blog. (thanks Jamie!)

We're starting out with the book Soul Coaching 28 Days to Discover Your Authentic Self by Denise Linn.

I was attracted to this group and book because I am in the midst of a huge life transition--a friend recently told me that he thought transitions were just chaos--and since mid July that is how I feel most of my life has been--rather chaotic and messy.

Soul coaching "is a process that takes you to your spiritual source and helps you find meaning and sacredness in your everyday life." (and who could not use that?) "It allows you to take an honest look at yourself and your life, face fear, release old negative patterns, get motivated, and step boldly and joyfully into your future."

Now, I am aware that this life transition---although not from my own choice--was never-the-less caused partly by own action--or inaction; so the above concepts---taking an honest look at my life, releasing old negative patterns and so on--- seemed very appropriate for me at this time.

In three weeks I will be moving from Berkeley/Oakland California to Portland, Oregon. Of course, I am both excited and a bit apprehensive about this move. I guess I thought the process of being in an online book group and reading this book and doing the suggested activities would help to keep me grounded and aware while I pack, apartment hunt via the net, and move.

Am I ready for change? the honest answer: not really--but life thrust it upon me, and so I am endeavoring to go with it. A few days ago I set up a small alter in my room---I was unaware that the Soul Coaching author Linn would suggest doing this--I just felt the need to have one set up....synchronicity already?

"We can't control our destiny, but we can control who we become."---Ann Frank

the Creative Healing Zone

My fine art and crafting have always sustained me through any big transition or crisis in my life. Currently I am in a major transition, and once again I am finding myself--and taking back parts of myself I gave away--by meditatively, quietly, calmly stringing tiny beads in intricate patterns.

Every night, I sit and string up new bead patterns, exploring different color palettes, and the feeling of being adrift---which has been with me since I was forced to move out of my home of 6 years--melts away and a feeling of well being grows as the string of beads grows longer.


I am stringing the seed beads on thread to crochet into bracelets---and after I have strung enough beads for a bracelet (about 40 inches), then I crochet a few inches to see how the pattern and colors I chose looks.

Like knitting, stringing the beads and crocheting the bracelets is a repetitive act---with a rhythm all its own, which puts me into a meditative state---the healing creative zone--is how I term it. Transitional states are always painful for me--and this one is especially painful and chaotic---but while I am stringing beads nothing else matters---just the beads and the pattern that is growing beneath my fingers. As I do this I meditate on letting go, and on some level I am putting all that I am letting go of---into each bracelet. For me, the process of creating something has always been more important and more satisfying than the end result.

I think this quote from a book I have been reading lately----THE KNITTING SUTRA Craft as a Spiritual Practice by Susan Gordon Lydon--- sums it all up nicely:
"...the purpose of craft is not so much to make beautiful things as it is to become beautiful inside while you are making those things."