Recently I had the opportunity to re-connect with the kind and friendly Michelle Love, an  inspired designer of clothing, costumes, belly dance ensembles, finely etched leather goods, and a variety of exquisitely designed home furnishings. Down a green and glorious path flanked with fragrant jasmine and vibrant purple clematis, she welcomed me into her place of creation. Upon entering you are met immediately with the impressive presence of her huge cutting table.  Precisely placed packets of various projects in their many stages of evolution lay stacked along the perimeter seemingly overseen by a completely serious commercial sewing machine on the opposite side of the room.

One could sense just standing there in that space that a great amount of heart and soul must have been poured into each individual garment she had created. Her surname obviously not a misnomer, she seems to infuse love and great care into everything she fashions.

And aren’t these pattern weights fantastic? She told me a friend brought them to her long ago from Burma – Very old and surprisingly heavy, their original use being opium weights – hmm – fascinating…

To see her portfolio or to consult with her regarding a special project you may have, call or email:

Michelle Love at (310) 780-6382, mlove90277@yahoo.com

Entwined – that is what we are. And when something happens to one it affects the whole. Subtly sometimes and at other times cataclysmic. Precisely why with the event of the recent earthquake in Haiti, it has been difficult for so many to not become completely consumed with the intense, multi-levels of pain these people so far away have had to withstand. According to the dictionary, empathy is ” the intellectual identification with or vicarious experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another.”A state of consciousness most humans share. The definition doesn’t seem to differentiate between identifying with others only in light of positive or negative circumstances, so that says to me that either could be present and one could still be “empathetic.”

After the paralyzing shock of hearing such news, whether it be the devastating chain of events occurring in Haiti or anywhere else in the world right now or any other time, a fog seems to roll over those of us who might not be immediately affected but who are still connected by that human link. We might get very wrapped up in the perceived feelings of the people actually going through the situation that we lose sight of our own path for awhile. We feel sorry, we feel a deep sense of loss, we cry, we make phone calls and commiserate, and we try to make sense of it all. We take action, send money, maybe collect food and clothing, doing what we can to help.

It is interesting the things that we think or feel during times of great tragedy. Some of us feel guilty – for being spared maybe, for living and enjoying our lives, for carrying on. After all, how can we celebrate our promotion, our husband’s birthday, the sale of our artwork when so many people are suffering out there? But we must continue to move forward not only for ourselves but for the good of the whole. There is time for empathy and experiencing the sadness, and then there is time for empathy and spreading the love and light. Hold some of those faces you’ve been seeing online in your eyes and in your heart and send them love. That is what they need from us right now. Wish them peace and strength and shower them with warm golden and green light. And in your minds eye reach out and hold their hand, give them a warm, comforting embrace and a sweet caring smile. You need to spread the light. It is an extremely important job that the world needs always but especially in times of crisis. You share the pain, then you share love and celebrate lives.

I am very excited to announce my new class being offered at the Reiki Center.

Restoring Vitality with Foot Reflexology

Come learn this powerfully transformative therapeutic modality
and see how it can enhance your well-being and that of the people you work on.

Where: Reiki Center 1848 South Elena, Suite F
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Dates: 2 Consecutive Saturdays, 1/16 and 1/23/2010
Time: From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: $195.00 (Price includes 5 laminated charts)
A $50.00 deposit is required to hold your spot
To register go online to the Reiki Center site here or call (310) 375-3755
For additional details on the class you may email me here.

Located a couple blocks from the beach in beautiful Riviera Village,
Reiki Center is an inviting and inspiring environment which
should prove a most enjoyable venue
in which to teach, learn, exchange ideas, and meet new people.

Owner and Reiki Master Lucia Galante Johnson is as warm and genuine as they come, and she has created an atmosphere of peace where you feel kindly embraced as soon as you pass over the threshold.

“Reiki Center is a full service treatment center offering
traditional Usui Reiki from the introductory level on up
to the Masters degree. Mentoring programs are also
available to qualified students.

Reiki Center also offers classes in Reiki Drumming,
Angel Reiki (Intuitive work), Retreats to sacred locations.
Reiki for Children and Teens coming soon!”