Photo is from an email titled Super Photos, photographer unknown to me

You'll meet more angels on a winding path than on a straight one.
~Daisey Verlaef

Photo is from an email titled Super Photos, photographer unknown to me


Life is not measured by the breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away.
~ Boyd Palmer

A happy dog!

“A dog doesn't care if you're rich or poor, big or small, young or old. He doesn't care if you're not smart, not popular, not a good joke-teller, not the best athlete, nor the best-looking person. To your dog, you are the greatest, the smartest, the nicest human being who was ever born. You are his friend and protector.”
~ Louis Sabin

Wolf Creek, Trotwood, Ohio

Elder's Meditation of the Day - October 28

"Our religion seems foolish to you, but so does yours to me. The Baptists and Methodists and Presbyterians and the Catholics all have a different God. Why cannot we have one of our own?"
~ Sitting Bull, HUNKPAPA LAKOTA

The Creator gave each culture a path to God. To the Indian people, he revealed that the Creator is in everything. Everything is alive with the Spirit of God. The water is alive. The trees are alive. The woods are alive. The mountains are alive. The wind is alive. The Great Spirit's breath is in everything and that's why it's alive. All of nature is our church, we eat with our families in church, we go to sleep in church.

My Creator, let us leave people to worship You in the way You have taught them.

I went to my church yesterday. I sat on the banks of Wolf Creek and felt close to God. I have always felt you don't have to be part of an organized religion to worship God. The whole world is our church and God is everywhere. I always feel closest to God when I am in nature, there is so much of God's beauty and wonder here. God is always with us where ever we are.
Here is an affirmation that speaks to this:

The light of God surrounds me
The love of God enfolds me
The power of God protects me
The presence of God watches over me
Where ever I am God is!

Tar Hollow State Park, Laurelville, Ohio

"You need to claim the events in your life to make yourself yours. When you truly possess all you have been and done, which may take some time, you are fierce with reality."
-Florida Scott-Maxwell

Tar Hollow State Park-Laurelville, Ohio

In a gentle way, you can shake the world.
~ Mohandas Gandhi

Charleston Falls Preserve

"We do not walk alone. Great Beings walk beside us. Know this and be grateful."
~ Polingaysi Q“yawayma, HOPI

This quote seemed appropriate as I am heading off for the third weekend of my 2 year Shamanic apprenticeship. I will be working with my Great Beings and I am grateful to know that they are always there walking beside me. Thank you to my husband for holding down the fort at home while I'm gone! I will not be posting for 2 days, no modern conveniences, we are camping! We will be getting close with Mother Earth.

Charleston Falls Preserve, Phoneton Ohio

“Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.”
Winnie the Pooh quote

Ah, another wonderful hike, this time with my soul sister Hope at Charleston Falls. What a perfect Indian Summer day! The fall foliage was blazing a beautiful gold. The earth was emitting a delicious humus scented perfume. The Falls were trickling musically. As we moseyed along enjoying the scenery, I breathed deeply and felt Mother Earth's energy fill me up. I left Charleston Falls a better person that afternoon.

"I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."
~ Albert Einstein

The Yellow Springs- October 19, 2009

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.
~John Muir

Yesterday my dad and I hiked in The Glen to get some water from The Yellow Springs. The day was perfect with sunny, blue skies, vibrant fall foliage and rustling leaves under our feet on the trail. It was nice to spend sometime with my dad. He walks in The Glen most everyday for exercise, so we walked at different paces some of the time. I like to mosey and look at my surroundings as I walk along. At the end of the hike there are about 100 stones steps to climb. I climbed these with no trouble and I was just a little breathless at the end. And now the really exciting news, I feel fine this morning, no aches or pains after the hike!

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.
~ Helen Keller

Wow, it is Sunday again! Time for some more Fibro talk. Sometimes, well, most of the time, it feels like time just flies by. No wonder it is so hard to find time to take care of ourselves in our busy lives. I have found that it is important to take care of myself or my Fibro symptoms reappear. They don’t comeback full strength, but enough to remind me to get back on the program. What is my program you ask?
Well, here is what I believe is maintaining me at such a high functioning level. These are in no particular order.
• Having my marriage running smoothly, being loved and giving love is so wonderful! Sometimes this takes work, but it is worth it!
• Going with the flow and knowing that everything will work out OK, as it should. I like the saying “Let go and let God” which helps me with this
• Massage every week
• Bowenwork twice a month
• Self massage each morning-an Ayurvedic practice
• Chiropractic care every 2-3 months-both regular chiropractic and B.E.S.T.
• Cranial Sacral therapy has really loosed up my hips and it works on my mind too.
• Low or no caffeine
• Drink lots of water
• Reiki-ing myself –daily if I remember
• Good sleep- My memory foam mattress topper, sleeping with one pillow help with this
• Being with friends and family
• Praying, embracing God and this wonderful life He has given me!
• Being grateful for the abundance in my life
• Meditation
• Drumming and Shamanic practices
• Going in the healing chair at the Grandmother Drums Healing Circle in Yellow Springs
• Supplements-Malic acid, Magnesium, Hi-Active Tart Cherry and SAM-e are my top favorites
• Using crystals and essential oils
• Moderate activity, like gardening, walking, easy yoga
• Having someone come and mow the lawn and rake the leaves
• Using my hot flax pack if I have aches
• Keep your stress down. How to do this you ask? “Let go and let God”, deep breathe, meditate, feed & watch the birds, walk in nature, stop worrying, drum, have girlfriend time, be crafty
• Loving and being loved in return by my pets
• Volunteering-giving to others is so fulfilling
• Having time to read, both fun books and educational books

Sure, sometimes it is hard to keep all these things up. I am sharing this in the hopes that if even one of my ideas helps you that would be wonderful. Please share your things that work. We need to stick together and figure out ways to heal holistically.
My life is not perfect, but it is my life and I am happy in it. Keeping a positive attitude really helps me to get through the tough stuff. I send out love to my husband and all my family and friends. Thank you for all the love, support and understanding you shower me with!

“Enjoy who you are. Don't hate yourself for what you aren't.”
~ Unknown

Staghorn Sumac in fall

“On the motionless branches of some trees, autumn berries hung like clusters of coral beads, as in those fabled orchards where the fruits were jewels . . .”
~ Charles Dickens

Whether a situation is good or bad it will change.
~ Author Unknown

Live with the 3 Es
Energy
Enthusiasm
Empathy
~Author Unknown

Gratitude helps you to grow and expand; gratitude brings joy and laughter into your life and into the lives of all those around you.”
~ Eileen Caddy

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
~Joyce Kilmer, "Trees," 1914

Chiiropractic Care

painting by Lucianne Lassalle, website:luciannelassalle.co.uk

In the spring of this year I just knew I should go to the chiropractor. I found a local one, Dr. Clark, online and booked an appointment. He did a big assessment of my range of motion and my spine. He felt I wasn’t really in too bad shape. What I liked about him was the way he does electrical stimulation (e-stim) therapy with a warm pack on your back before he adjusts you. Then after the adjustments he has a massage therapist do a quick back massage. I felt well taken care of. I went once a week a couple of times, then every other week, then once a month and now I go every 2 months. I know I can go back if I need to before the 2 months are up. There is something that feels so good as my vertebrae pop back in line. The neck adjustment is a wee bit intimidating with those two loud “cracks” that sound so close to my ears. The doctor always says, “OK, relax now,” as he grabs my head and twists it. Relax, hah! Relaxing during that part can be hard for me to do! I do like the part I call the mermaid. For this adjustment the lower half of the table goes up and down and your legs go up and down too and it moves your lower spine. This maneuver opens up the spaces between the vertebrae, so the disks don’t get compressed. I figure it will help keep my back in good shape.
I have a lot less (really none most of the time) backache in my lower and middle back since I restarted chiropractic care. I hadn’t seen a chiropractor for at least 3 years.
If you start going to a chiropractor expect that your back muscles may feel sore at first. I was sore and my wonderful flax seed blanket helped with that. I made this flax seed blanket by filling a soft, flannel pillow sham with flax seed and sewing squares into the sham, so that the flax seeds are distributed evenly through out the “blanket”. It has a nice weight to it and ahhhh, the warmth after zapping it in the microwave for 4 minutes is so cozy. The flax seeds also impart a moist heat. I love the way the heat soaks into my muscles and bones. If you want a cold pack the “blanket” can go in the freezer too. So it is actually a hot/cold pack.
If your insurance doesn’t cover chiropractic care, be sure to ask how much a visit will be. In our area it ranges between $30-$35. Chiropractic care is part of the holistic regimen I have developed that helps me manage my Fibromyalgia. I also go to another chiropractor, Dr. Brenda Borst in Yellow Springs and she treats me with B.E.S.T. See my post on June 8, 2009 for a long post about B.E.S.T. This type of therapy does not involve physical manipulations, which might be more comfortable for some with Fibromyalgia.
It is a tricky journey finding what works for you. There is a lot of trial and error and really paying attention to your body. Don’t give up! There are ways to heal yourself without drugs!
Sending you blessings and love….

A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present, and the hope and promise of the future.
~Author Unknown

the two princesses enjoying the fire...

“May you always have walls for the winds, a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire, laughter to cheer you, those you love near you and all your heart might desire.”
~ Irish Blessings

photo from the Daily OM


“Whether we name divine presence synchronicity, serendipity, or graced moment matters little. What matters is the reality that our hearts have been understood. Nothing is as real as a healthy dose of magic which restores our spirits.”
~ Nancy Long

photo is from wareseeker.com

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.”
~ John Muir

Today is a cool, blustery fall day here in southwestern Ohio. This kind of day energizes me and makes me feel wild and free inside. I should go fly my kite today!

Photo from nationalgeographic.com

"Lots of people hardly ever feel real soil under their feet, see plants grow except in flower pots, or get far enough beyond the street light to catch the enchantment of a night sky studded with stars. When people live far from scenes of the Great Spirit's making, it's easy for them to forget His laws."
--Tatanga Mani (Walking Buffalo), STONEY

"In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us."
~ Flora Edwards

Drumming can help with Fibromyalgia!

This picture was taken at a really neat drumming event called 10 Billion Beats. This event started on September 18th in the Central Time Zone of the USA and then traveled around the world ending with our group in the western part of the Eastern Time Zone. We drummed on September 19 from 7-8 pm. We felt honored to end the 24 hours of drumming. This drumming was done to help change global consciousness and promote peace and harmony. Well, it definitely did this in our little piece of the world. I felt so filled with peace and harmony after. Then we watched the fire, talked, thought, and ate forbidden hot dogs and marshmallows and S'mores. Here is the website for 10 Billion Beats:www.10billionbeats.com

Last night I had Grandmother Drum Healing Circle, so the power of drumming is on my mind. I feel so good after drumming. It is a mix of feeling energized, relaxed, peaceful and in touch with my inner spirit. A drum beat is the first sound we hear in the womb, our mother’s heart beat. Being in a drum circle connects me with a primitive, ancient part of my soul. Studies have been done on what drumming does to the human body. What the studies showed was that the natural killer cells are increased and the cortisol levels were decreased in the body after drumming. Cortisol is a hormone that increases in your body with stress. Drumming can also boost your immune system and help with chronic pain. Here is an article online with a lot of good info about the health benefits of drumming. http://www.inrhythm.com.au/Health-Wellness/Health-Benefits-of-Drumming.html
Check it out!
A year ago my husband and I found a big, old, black, kettle drum from India at a second hand store. This drum started us on the healing path to drumming. That drum called me over and I played it. I mean I played it! It sounded good! I am not musical, on iota! When I played it, the drum spoke to a place deep inside me. This place started to come alive, to unshrivel. I was moved and excited and had to have that drum!
I always thought I was a white chick with NO rhythm. Well one year later I have discovered my inner drummer. I even drum on my leg in the car or on the steering wheel as I drive along.
We go to 3 different healing drum circles each month. I do drum at home too. It is just so, mentally and physically, to beat away on a drum. We have many drums now of all different kinds. They each have their own personality and magic.
I’ll share a little secret! There is no wrong way to play a drum! Play whatever comes out of you. It is a freeing, empowering and joyful experience!
Around this time last year, I also found my wonderful holistic MD, Dr. Jonas. He says that drumming resets our crystal set. He believes that the human body is like a crystal set in a radio and it can get out of balance. Drumming resets this crystal set. He actually drums over his patients at the office and the hospital and the nurses at the hospital. How cool is that? One time at an office visit, Dr. Jonas drummed over my lower back, which was tight. The drum vibrations loosened my back and when my back loosened up the drum tone changed.
I know drumming has changed my life and how my body deals with my fibromyalgia. I can’t tell you how it works, but I can tell you THAT IT DOES WORK! Plus, if you join a drum circle you will find new friends that offer LOTS of love and positive energy. So far, I have never met a drummer I didn’t like!
Are you interested in finding a healing drum circle in your area? Do a Google search. That is how I found our first drum circle. If you live in the Dayton Ohio, area I can hook you up with a drum circle.

Keep on stretching yourself...

I gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which I really stop to look fear in the face...
I must do that which I think I cannot.”
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Hi! I am going to make a commitment to write my Sunday blog post about my fibromyalgia journey. For some reason I find myself feeling resistant to write about my fibromyalgia. But I do need to really see if it works to share at least once a week. Examining myself, I am wondering if I don't want to remember the past, since I am feeling so amazing NOW!

And God took a handful of southerly wind, blew his breath upon it, and created the horse.
~ Bedouin legend

I chose a horse quote today because last night I dreamt of horses. And that got me reminiscing about a special pony named Cocoa. I was 7 when Cocoa entered my life. Over the next 6 years he was my best friend, confidante and teacher. This is the only photo I could find of Cocoa. Here I am at age 7 riding him with my little sister Helen.