Yayyyy my first postcard came from the Benevolent Postcard Society!

I mentioned a couple posts ago how thrilled I was to be a part of this fun project. I recently received this adorable guy from a lovely woman in Norway – thank you Therese for the teddy bear and happy wishes – he makes me smile every time I walk by!

A big thank you again to Lori Langille, the kind soul who put this all together – anticipation of next months mailing has gotten me drawing again and it feels so good after so long!

Have a fabulous day out there everyone!

The entrance to J Woeste in Los Olivos – a truly magical place!

Some days they would be anyway…

A brief, generic ‘having a great time – wish you were here’, sometimes a deeper gesture to encourage a reconnection, a snapshot glimpse of an enchanting place you’ve yet to experience yourself, a quick message of love and devotion possibly accented with a hint or a smack of sultriness, steam or scent of perfume, or coupons to entice you into purchasing a new product or service, and now, for me and for 250 plus others around the world, a unique way to just share a short, sweet message of unconditional optimism – a grand way to shine a flicker of light, blast of color, texture and design in between the not as exciting packets of junk mail and bills. Can’t wait to receive my first card from the Benevolent Postcard Society, I await its arrival with keen anticipation – and I hope my new friend likes the one I sent along, my beloved sheep from the LA zoo. Thank you so much to Lori Langille for letting me be a part of this beautifully inspired project – just made it in under the wire – I am so thrilled.

Minor diversion during mise en place.

Too much time on my hands?

Possibly, but now I just have to fold in the corners and dump it in a pot.

Sara and Aileen!

Congratulations to you both and I will look forward to meeting up with each of you for your one hour Reflexology session very soon!

Thanks so much to everyone for playing and for taking the time to share your comments.
It was fun and I will enjoy doing something like that again some time in the not too far off future.

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Donna

Although purely utilitarian in nature, the initial impact of this image was a bit startling. From the vantage point of my lens capturing the shackles around these beautiful bronze bubble toes, I felt a twinge of sadness until I followed the path of the metal upwards.

Delightful isn’t she? Completely appropriate word for her I think. Light, fun, goofy – just like the rest of her friends in the garden. Just look at them.

For more images of Phillip Glashoff’s sculptural whimsy and other wonderous works at the Judith Hale Gallery in Los Olivos – click here.

But back for a moment to the emotions stirred from the original image – such a perfect metaphor really, for how the human spirit is able to overcome adversity. When we are “held captive” or “stuck” by either external sources or our own fears, what is it that gives some individuals the strength to persevere, to keep trying to move forward, the personal power to overthrow their adversaries, the desire to continue to survive and prevail? Is it just undying faith? The unwavering belief that this is not their destiny and the best will surely come sometime soon? Do they maintain their fortitude on behalf of another? Do they just shut themselves off from the reality of the earthly situation and venture off to another more loving, peaceful place in their own minds? How is it that some people have endured a life time of repeated loss, tragedy and hardship and still their soul has the capacity to soar? I have met people like this as you may have too – circumstances that would break a good share of us seem to make these people shine even brighter. Is it a profound sense of gratitude that they maintain for what they DO have? Do they just continue to count their blessings? Do they see the gift in the experience no matter how potentially crushing and catastrophic it is?

This act of seeing the gift in every situation is not a new idea, but if we could master just this one practice, just think about how the course of our lives could be altered for the better. Sometimes it is very difficult to find the gift in a situation, but if you write down every bit of your past baggage, every occurrence that repeatedly flies back into your life to reek havoc, every devastating tragedy that you have withstood, and partner it with a gift you received from it – I bet you would be surprised how you can turn your focus around and these past happenings will be empowering rather than sabotaging. You will be able to move on. You don’t have to forget, but your focus will be different and it will open you to inspiration and the strong urge to create once again.

Give it a go and let me know how it works out for you. Those silver linings – we just have to keep searching them out.

As a Recipient I LOVE:

• The fact that I only need to remove my shoes and socks to experience complete release of tension, soreness or pain throughout my entire body.
• That I am able to achieve such a profoundly deep level of relaxation, unlike any other form of body therapy I have ever encountered.
• That I can consistently arrive at that glorious altered state this work is known for.
• That the level of peace and calm that is realized during a session stays with me long after I leave the practitioner’s chair. It is seemingly a cumulative effect that is experienced, where that balanced state is maintained for longer periods of time afterwards, the more consistently I schedule my appointments.
• The concentrated attention on my feet. It feels fabulous especially after dancing, walking, or just standing for hours at a time. I also feel very cared for when having my feet worked on. There is something very soothing and comforting about this work. It is very nurturing.
  
• The greater flexibility and range of motion that I have in my ankles, feet and toes.
  
• That I can immediately tell where I have imbalances simply by having points on my feet palpated (or working the points myself). My feet give me immediate and accurate feedback.
• That Reflexology has always been a perfect reminder for me to BREATHE, and when I receive it regularly, it allows me to feel more balanced in every aspect of my life.
  

As a Practitioner I LOVE:

• Seeing my clients faces and states of being completely alter from when they first arrived. By the end of their session they usually look significantly softened, lighter – sometimes completely luminous, a bit spacey, unquestionably relaxed, and they are usually sporting a lovely smile on their faces. (ahh – makes me so happy !)
• Being able to assist people in their process of restoring or maintaining vitality.
• When they come back and tell me that they just feel so much better on a whole since receiving this work. They feel more in balance.
• When they share with me upon getting up off of the table that they are pain free….and they are so excited!
• When they get off of the table and tell me their headache, migraine or stomach ache is gone.
• When they say that they feel they are better at coping with life’s challenges and they are not feeling depressed anymore (and they feel that Reflexology is partly responsible for this improvement).
• When they express that it is just nice to feel a human touch.
• When they tell me they were transported to another place in time…some place really beautiful…
  
• When they fall asleep and snore, after they informed me that they hadn’t been sleeping well for days.

I have heard the above reactions from many different people time and time again. People’s responses are varied of course, but at the very least, 99% of the time they report feeling more relaxed and refreshed then when they first walked through the door.

It has been a privilege and an honor for me to share this work with others over the past 22 years. I am as jazzed about it now as when I experienced my first session with my first Reflexology teacher back east. It was a complete “WOW” for me – truly a life changing hour, and I new as soon as the session came to an end that I wanted to learn how to work with this wonderful energy therapy. As I mentioned clients have told me of many different ways they have felt better after the session. I don’t believe it is me “healing” them as some practitioners purport, but rather ‘this work’ leads them to such a state of deep relaxation that the body is then in an optimal position to heal itself.

I also thoroughly enjoy teaching Reflexology, and am constantly learning something new about it with each group of students I have the pleasure of instructing. It is fun as well as enlightening to explore it through other people’s experiences as well as my own.

Have you ever had a Reflexology session before? How did it make you feel? What did YOU love about it?

I would love to hear, and if you would be so kind to tell me here by clicking on the Comment link below, I will happily enter your name in a drawing for either a:

One Hour Reflexology Session (if you live within the Los Angeles County Beach Cities of Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach or Torrance)

or if you don’t live close by, you will be entered into the drawing to win a gorgeous laminated set of 5 Sole Garden Reflexology Charts

Never had a session before but would love to try it?
I want to hear from you too, so please leave a comment as well and I will gladly add you to the drawing.

Drawing will be held on Friday, August 21, 2009.

Two winners will be drawn digitally and will be announced right here on the home page, and also will be notified by email.

Thanks for playing!

Best Wishes, Donna

Who has walked this path before me?
How many through the ages have covered this very ground where I now journey – have stood here from this exact point in space – watching the storm move in, waiting for the boats to return, contemplating how they would possibly feed their family, professing their undying love in eloquent rehearsal, enjoying the heat of a bonfire, wondering how they would ever get back to the main land, enjoying the pure rush of it all – embracing the scenery, the salt on their lips – the wind kicking up their hair that makes their eyes water, grasping the last flicker of courage to plunge into the cold, not being able to endure another day- moving ferociously, alarmingly underneath and then acquiescently transporting beyond, reaching finally the new land where they will begin again, frolicking in the waves at the water’s edge carelessly watching their castles get leveled, dying for their heartfelt beliefs after a nameless battle…What were they doing.. what were they thinking, what did they look like, how did they feel? Who did they love, who were they fighting, what were they in the process of creating, or what did they live to destroy. What brought them inexplicable joy, and filled their souls with unsurmountable fear?

So many memories stored in the earth. If I take my shoes off and stand very still, I can feel their thoughts and uttered words swirling within and around me. I feel what they feel, I become one with their fibers, their waves, moving in, spiraling around and fluttering out of their being, I see what they see – what lay before them, and what they could be running from, I hear what they hear, the loudest shrillest sirens, the deepest core wrenching horns, the softest most uplifting lilting hum. Some beckon me to move away from the painful spot and some encourage me to stay and revel for as long as possible, all dependent on the quality of the memory that that space in time held for them.

Sometimes when taking long drives through the desert, I find myself wondering if there is a spot out there on the side of the road that has never been touched by a human sole – completely free of any imprint whatsoever. I asked Louis what he thought, his reply, “of course, there are many”.
Maybe if I stood out there in the wilderness of the desert, instead of human stories I would feel tumbleweed stories, or scorpion stories, or sidewinders weaving their tales, or coyotes calling from one end of the horizon to the other, and I would then know the many reasons for their howl.
But I usually don’t get out of the car at these desolate looking points along the highway.

Things can change significantly from one moment to the next, as we know nothing is more constant than change.
Now my mind wanders to how many trillions of experiences happen during one moment in time. These moments, these seconds-long patches of life have such full and rich histories, and while one moment can be the absolute most blessed of someone’s entire life, that very same moment could be ripping someone else’s completely to shreds.

It fascinates me. I want to feel the moments of that spot I am standing. I want to feel the joy, the pain, hear the thoughts, absorb the lives, get a full education, learn real history…and then I want to leave un-turbulently, in peace, a gentle, respectful, and unassuming and inviting imprint of my own.

With over 120 varieties of top-rated chocolates from all over the world,
it certainly wouldn’t be difficult to fill this bag up a few times over!
Proprietors Steve and Pam Jennings couldn’t have been more welcoming,
and gave us the fascinating backgrounds of each of the artisans
whose delectable work they showcase – a very tasty tour indeed!
Whether you are a lover of milk or dark, fruited or plain, crunchy or smooth, sugar free or regular, there surely will be something there to
tease the taste buds and please the palate.
Bars, blocks, boxes, bags, bricks, bits – chocolate in all shapes and sizes, to enjoy solitarily or as the perfect accompaniment
to a rich deep cab or tall glass of milk.

Go in and say hello, but make sure you have about fifteen minutes or so to receive sufficient lay of the land.
There will most likely be some sumptuous samples for you to savor as well!

Chocolota
20202 Anza Avenue
Torrance, CA 90503
(310) 793-7793

www.chocolota.net

Nestled under the Eucalyptus, carved into the side of a hill is a magical land
where imaginations have converged.
Saunter over pathways of wood chips (breathe in the earthiness – it’s heavenly)
and you will find an eclectic array of artistic offerings
sprawled across expanses of wall, and shelved within newly individually fabricated booths.
Nosh on tasty lunch type fare and enjoy a cool drink
while listening to local musicians play anything from
folk, honky tonk, rock, reggae, world, blues and jazz.

Need to unleash your creative side?
Participate and enjoy a wide variety of workshops for folks of all ages
from ceramics to print making – check their site for schedule of events.

One of our favorite things to watch though is the Glass Blowing Demonstration
Such an amazing art to observe, and a fascinating process to behold.
The results are just stunning and it is interesting to see the unique style of handling and working with the glass that each individual artist imparts.

I think best of show for me this year would have to be
an artist named Isaac Anderson.
As if his painted photographs weren’t captivating enough,
his frames were incredible.
Plaster over wood so he told me, but gave the presence of solid stone.
Check his site out and see if it doesn’t move you too.

The Sawdust Art Festival is on daily from 10 to 10 until August 30th.
Fourth of July hours – 10 to 6

Go check out their site for more details, and do plan on visiting before the summer is out, being amongst tall trees is certainly reason enough to visit, but there is just so much more…