noticing: wonder

point defiance pause . october 22, 2011

Yesterday, Ellie Jane fell asleep in the car when we were on our way home after picking up a few things at the store. She had been so fussy, but suddenly, while I was singing to her, I noticed that she had settled and her eyes were closing.

I was so happy to simply have a few moments of quiet to breathe and not feel like I was maxed out on multitasking.

As we got closer to home, I decided to just keep driving and headed toward Point Defiance Park. As John Denver sang about one man finding himself in his twenty-seventh year and a mist of rain fell, I began to notice that autumn really has arrived and the leaves are shedding their green. The pine trees are shedding as well, and the green moss seems to be moving out of the shadows and onto center stage.

The park was beautiful. I lowered the windows a bit to invite in the sound of the rain and slowed down to take a few photos with my iphone. Ellie continued sleeping, John Denver kept me company, and I could feel my body begin to relax. My mind was able to slow down enough to just notice one or two thoughts in my usually swirling brain.

In the middle of the drive, as I came around a curve in the road, I saw one yellow maple leaf twirl toward the ground.

When I say twirl, I mean literally it swirled in a tilt-a-whirl inspired dance right toward the earth. The wonder that came up in me in that moment honestly took my breath away. As a child, maple seeds were often a source of delight as I would pick them up and then watch them helicopter in the air, but I had never seen a maple leaf do this same dance.

I was struck by this idea of the connection between the seed, the beginnings of this tree, twirling toward the ground long ago and how the leaf remembered and followed its ancestor. In this moment, I think about Paul Simon's words in the song "Under African Skies:

This is the story of how we begin to remember
This is the powerful pulsing of love in the vein
After the dream of falling and calling your name out
These are the roots of rhythm
And the roots of rhythm remain

So it is for the maple tree. So it is for us.

And so this is my practice: Creating space in my life to notice the world around and within me. Even in the midst of the multitasking and all that must get done. Even in the midst of the roles I play and the realization that letting go of some need for balance is necessary.

My practice: Slowing down, noticing, opening my heart to what I find...to life. And I am reminded over and over again that the first step is to show up as me. And then take a breath. And then another. And trust.

If you are seeking ways to be more present to your life...if you are seeking ways to simply begin to recognize that this space for noticing your world and what you need exists in your life...come along with a few other kindred spirits and experience Create Space. We are gathering this weekend and will begin on Monday. Find out more here and please email me with any questions.

May your day be full of beauty, wonder, and moments to take it all in,

Liz 

oh these poems

this teacher's toolboxes

At Create Magic, we spent time in the world of words and poetry. Watching my students devour their word lists and play and write and laugh and share their truths was such a gift. Poetry heals. Yes. Yes. Yes.

And their poems...their poems took my breath away. I keep visiting their sites to read them again and again. Here are a few:

the light keepers
here
a girl
this girl she
there is a moment 

And the posts from my fellow teachers about the retreat have truly warmed my heart. You can read more over at Mindy's site and then at Viv's. 

*****

If you live in the Pacific Northwest and are wishing for a day filled with an invitation to find your inner poet and to spend time noticing your senses and the world around you and to take an adventure in self-portraiture (on the page and behind the camera lens) and to create a journal to house all your discoveries, consider joining me for Creative Self-Care here in Tacoma on October 29. An incredible group of women is gathering for this one-day workshop, and we would love to have you come along. Find out more here.

creating space for all of it

Earlier today, I experienced a moment that surprised me as it opened me up (how grief often arrives in the cloak of surprise). Even though I come to this space a bit dishevled and vulnerable, I felt really called to just show up as me and share about this moment in a video post.

Also, the "Nona" I mention in this video is Nona Jordan. A post about my experience working with her (including how she is inviting me to finally let go of some major shame around money) is coming soon.

*****

If you would like to continue this conversation about creating space for grief and all of our experiences, consider joining me for Create Space, the ecourse that begins Monday. This is going to be a really intimate class that will give you the space to open your heart to joy, beauty, truth, love, and what is real in your life. As I gather up all that we will be exploring, I am so excited to share tools and stories that can be companions for you on your journey. Find out more about Create Space here.   

authentic living

a peek at my new article

"In This Moment: Healing One Patch at a Time" is my new article in the Autumn issue of Somerset Life. It is the first of three articles I am writing for their Authentic Living column. So honored to be sharing stories about being "in this moment" in the midst of it all.

In this article, I share the story of how making a quilt earlier this year helped me to begin to come out of survival mode and lean back into living and getting out into the world. 

a backyard poetry reading for one (photo in the article)

Oh how I love this quilt.

You can find Somerset Life at Barnes and Noble and other bookstores, and you can order a copy here.

joy seeker (september)

A guest post from Jon:

We were wandering on that stretch of beach near the Point Wilson Lighthouse, and you found a stick in the sand. My first instinct was to keep it away from you for fear of injury, but I knew you needed to be allowed to investigate and explore things in nature. Also, you are currently figuring out how to be quite persistent, so I decided to see how this moment would unfold. You tromped and stomped around in the sand, briefly losing your footing, only to regain it an instant later. You would swing the stick wildly to spread out sand and then move on to another spot. Later, we played with a small stone and tapped it against larger rocks and logs to make music. I always want to remember the sense of discovery you had throughout our adventure on the beach.

*****

the series "joy seeker" is one way i am documenting the "joy" superhero power that ellie jane has. i hope to gather these glimpses here on the blog from her first to second birthday, and then, i will put them all together and have them printed in a small book.

quick shop news

you are loved . a ready to ship necklace in the shop

My Etsy shop is open again! You will find several ready to ship necklaces along with some layering pieces and several simple soul mantra locket necklaces.

Quick note about holiday shopping:

I will take custom orders again in early November in time for gift giving and will share a new collection at that time. Just let me know if you have questions! I will keep you posted in my shop announcements and with blog posts here.

I am so blessed to create these talismans to send out into the world and am looking forward to getting into the studio again. Thanks so much for your support! 

Blessings,

Liz

there are things i want you to remember {7}

you
are
the
only
one
who
can
live
your
dreams
into
reality

what is real (october 7)

mirror self-portrait (straight out of the camera) . frog creek lodge

one year later.

after everyone had gone to bed friday night, i stood in front of the mirror and couldn't help but smile wide at this girl i saw before me. she looked lighter and maybe even more real. and she looked beautiful.

these are the thoughts that went through my head: this is why i choose to seek the joy. this is why i let laughter in. this is why i know that all you need is love. this is why. this face of light and love is why.

hello you. hello me. it is so good to see you.

one year later.

yes.

*****

::what is real:: is a mirror self-portrait photo + a few words series that began in july of 2010. during the last year, i have noticed that the act of taking these photos feels like a meditation practice. before i take the photo, i stand in front of the mirror and think about what is real in this moment and let my face relax to wherever that truth lies. then i snap.

i document the series over on flickr but share them here from time to time.