There is never Nothing Happening

If you’ve ever read “Way of the Peaceful Warrior” then you know Socrates always had great statements to help bring Dan into the moment. One of those statements are “There is never Nothing Happening”.  I have used this as a tool many times to find the deeper subtle magic that is playing out in the simple moments, the quiet gestures, the dance of energy that plays through form.

With all the changes happening in my life and around me, I like to keep a clear perspective that we are drawn to change for a reason. I like to believe that there is a grand design which we are all a part of.  At the same time, we co-create this grand design with our input and interactions with our environment.

I awoke this morning after the best night’s sleep, feeling the pure potential that is waiting to be expressed in the day.  After turning on the sauna, I curled back under my bed and gave thanks for all that is happening.  Neale Donald Walsch states that all Change is change for the better, and I must agree.  It’s easy for me to relate to this perspective because I’m always looking forward and when something happens in my life that feels “unfair” or “painful” I search until I find the beauty of the lesson.

So What is Happening? I’ve come to realize my relationship to the world is much more connected than I have been living and my excuse for holding back has been my fear of hurting others. I know that I’m here to uplift others and myself.  I’ve committed to taking care of myself so that I can support those in my life on their journeys. Daily exercise, quiet time, tea, letting go of unhealthy patterns, being kinder than necessary, gentle truth, all are helping me support my inner world.

As we walk through our day, we can take daily tasks and go through the motion without feeling connected or we can choose to see the magic, the subtle energy that supports all of life. I choose to live grandly, and remember that there is Never Nothing Happening.

“What are you afraid of? Boldness changes everything.

Take the leap, find the courage, oh what a feeling!”

It’s not easy finding motivation within myself on dark, cold days. There’s no man overhead breathing down my neck, no alarm clock pushing me into the day. How do I continue to push ahead when the coffee doesn’t provide a kick and my enthusiasm wanes with the wind current?

Since I left Nama, I’ve been focusing on feeding those passions I enjoy, creatively imagining money pouring in through these outlets of enjoyment. But I awoke this morning with a total disinterest in leaving the bed.

It’s a challenge as an indie artist with a “no-budget” plan. As a performer, I’m constantly trying to find ways of exposing my music, promoting sales, advertising on FB and other free services. From updating my website to putting promo kits together, from managing CD duplication and scheduling  to showing up on stage with my full presence, this Indie business is hard work! But those of us who work this hard at being an artist, the joy is in the creation, in the sharing. So I plug along, promoting and playing, printing and planning to bring you the art that is within.

And this isn’t my only endeavor. I’ve also started a Misty Flowers Boutique on Etsy to share my hats, flowers and other goodies!

I’m off to procrastinate!

“It’s not about where your dreams take you but where you take your dreams.”

Life is Change

In my short 30 years I’ve seen a lot change. I’m sure by the time I die I will have seen So Much More. I realize that the only constant in life is change and it’s in riding the wave that we allow ourselves to grow and feel the freedom of living. If we are afraid of change, we grasp and cling to things that are impermanent and when they change, we suffer.

Two great changes in my life in the recent past: letting go of a dream that I had put so much energy into and my dear buddy, Cheech the dog, died. Both of these changes were out of my control (as life is!) and I’m re-membering once again that life is change, no way around it. So, how do we embrace change?

“Keep it simple, live simply with the rhythm of change.”

Oh Earth

If I could draw as easily as I paint words

the landscape would be watermarked with yellowish-green leaves and rotting bark, sacrifices to the Earth for her healing love. The wet ferns would glow to show the radiance of her never ending life, growth, resurrection.

Oh, Earth.

If I attempt to capture you on paper,

I fear it will only bastardize your beauty

And I, your humble inhabitant

should bask in the glory of your life,

retain the essence of your fragrance,

and sing you into a portrait.

9/22/04

Oh, what a day.

The day started grandly, with breakfast in Fairhaven and after a little chat with the Alaskan living travelers, we headed to the studio.  The studio welcomed us and I poured 5 songs into the recorder, sweetly enjoying the magical moments like the train in the distance at the end of a song. “Masquerade Ball”, “Beautiful Heart”, “Tapestry”, “Unity” & “Living Without You” we laid down.

From the studio, I journeyed to Peter James Studio with two bags of clothes, a collection of hats, some boots and a wig. The photo session was so much fun and I had the opportunity to have two cameras in my face at once! I felt like a star. haha

After the fun, we headed home and the van battery died. There was a strange funky feeling in the air.  A stranger lovingly helped us get our van started, and we traveled home…

Our family dog, Cheech, got hit by a car and had been strung apart by the time we pulled in. Our fence that keeps all small living creatures safe from Hannegan had been left open accidently. He was the coolest dog and we’re all super sad.

Life strings events together very strangely.

And once again I’m learning to Let Go.

A Day in the life of a musician

Today I remembered how to appreciate the flow of the day without getting tied too tightly to results. Our time in the studio shooting video and capturing audio took us into a time warp when we weren’t able to get a good sound out of it all. We did manage to get some video and some audio but we’ll see how the results turn out. Luckily, we’re able to get back in there next week to get more down.

All in all, life is sweet. Take each moment as it comes and usually it will be easy to manage. Unless you live in a high stress environment. In that case, find somewhere you can relax and be happy because we don’t have forever. The best we can give to life is our joy.

“Speak the truth you need to free. It’s o.k. if I see it differently.

Let’s show the world love is all we need to live in harmony in a world of change…” -Unity, from my upcoming album!

transformation happens

It seems like so long that I’ve lived in this cacoon, waiting patiently for the moment to arrive where I can show my beautiful new wings to the world.  My restlessness causes me to press against the walls of my womb, creating seams of cracks that will take me to my freedom. I feel my strength building and the light pouring through. It won’t be long now before I can dance in the sun with the words of the wind on my wings.