Drumbeats

Sound therapy is an effective way of raising our vibration or state of consciousness to allow our body and soul to heal and recharge our inner batteries. For those of you naysayers, you need to try it before poo pooing it. There are many therapies that compliment modern western medicine and many enlightened physicians and therapists will recommend these alternatives as many of them are active participants. A good number of my clients are medical professionals and have seen firsthand, the positive effects these therapies have on their patients and clients. It is my experience as a healing energy practitioner and teacher, that this is indeed, very helpful to those seeking additional and sometimes "outside of the box" kind of treatments and it is amazing what a difference these enhancements can be in the lives of those who actively pursue natural means of increasing and maintaining better physical, mental and emotional health.

One of the sound therapies I have started to embrace is the art of drumming. I have participated a few times now in a local drum circle which is always an amazing experience. There are key drummers with experience who lead the masses and a very energetic founder whose light force energy encourages the drummers to follow him on his journey to a place of pure joy and the hypnotic sounds of the drumbeats, the beauty of the dancers and hooper's movement and the occasional sound of rattles and tambourines.

My favorite place is located on a peninsula surrounded by a lake during a full moon. It is quite the walk to get there but it is well worth it. A bonfire is lit when darkness falls and there is dancing around the fire as the energy soars and the rhythm of the drumming increases. A euphoria takes hold and you become elevated with the beauty of sound and movement and the wonderful supportive camaraderie of the circle of those, who only want to leave behind their worries and stress and just enjoy a moment of happiness and inner peace which transcends us beyond our earthly obligations and responsibilities. We are diverse, this group of business professionals, artists, engineers, therapists, whoever decides to grace the circle with their presence. There are those who are broken and struggle with addictions, physical limitations, mental and emotional health issues, family obligations and we are all welcomed.

There are no politics at the circle, no judgment or expectations other than we share in the joy and healing which this circle of drummers, dancers, hoopers and even onlookers have come to look forward to the magic under the light of the full moon and the rhythm of the drumbeats.

I dedicate this heartfelt blog to Elmore, Verge and those enlightened ones who lead the circle of drummers and inspire us to find joy in the healing rhythms of drumming.

Drumbeats

Sound therapy is an effective way of raising our vibration or state of consciousness to allow our body and soul to heal and recharge our inner batteries. For those of you naysayers, you need to try it before poo pooing it. There are many therapies that compliment modern western medicine and many enlightened physicians and therapists will recommend these alternatives as many of them are active participants. A good number of my clients are medical professionals and have seen firsthand, the positive effects these therapies have on their patients and clients. It is my experience as a healing energy practitioner and teacher, that this is indeed, very helpful to those seeking additional and sometimes "outside of the box" kind of treatments and it is amazing what a difference and enhancement this can be in the lives of those who actively pursue natural means of increasing and maintaining better physical, mental and emotional health.

One of the sound therapies I have started to embrace is the art of drumming. I have participated a few times now in a local drum circle which is always an amazing experience. There are key drummers with experience who lead the masses and a very energetic founder whose light force energy encourages the drummers to follow him on his journey to a place of pure joy and the hypnotic sounds of the drumbeats, the beauty of the dancers and hoopers movement and the occasional sound of rattles and tambourines.

My favorite place is located on a peninsula surrounded by a lake during a full moon. It is quite the walk to get there but it is well worth it. A bonfire is lit when darkness falls and there is dancing around the fire and the energy soars as the rhythm of the drumming increases in which a euphoria takes hold and you become elevated with the beauty of sound and movement and the wonderful supportive camaraderie of the circle of beings who only want to leave behind their worries and stress and just enjoy a moment of happiness and inner peace which transcends us beyond our earthly obligations and responsibilities. We are diverse, this group of business professionals, artists, engineers, therapists, whoever decides to grace the circle with their presence. There are those who are broken and struggle with addictions, physical limitations, mental and emotional health issues, family obligations and we are all welcomed.

There are no politics at the circle, no judgment or expectations other than we share in the joy and healing which this circle of drummers, dancers, hoopers and even onlookers have come to look forward to under the light of the full moon to experience the rhythm of the drumbeats.

I dedicate this heartfelt blog to Elmore, Verge and those enlightened ones who lead the circle of drummers and inspire us to find joy in the healing rhythms of drumming.

Divisive Nation

The world is a puzzling place at the moment.Never have I witnessed such dissention among Americans in all my many years upon the planet. Name calling, threats, accusations, snarling, backbiting...I think I've made my point here. We have become a nation divided by political views, race, religion and whatever else ignites one's anger and indignation. Social media, news, reality television, all of which only acerbates the escalating anger of the masses and forces one to take sides, protest, shake our fists and raise our voices.

Does any of this actually accomplish anything? Do symbols matter more than humanity? Does taking a knee during the national anthem truly offend us? If so, we do not have our priorities straight in my humble opinion. We as a nation are backsliding into a mentality that judges all who do not agree with us disfavorably and we bravely call any and everyone out who is not on the same page and then the mudslinging begins. There are those who have a great deal of courage behind a keyboard or cell phone and throw caution to the wind when spewing forth verbal attacks based on differing views and then will even stoop so low as to launch attacks based on one's physical appearance and age. I don't know about anyone else but frankly, I have had enough. It is hard to be a light and a visionary when adults who should know better and should set an example of exemplary behavior for our country's youth, including their own children and grandchildren, become the bullies we try to keep out of the schoolyard.

Never have I witnessed such disrespectful behavior from our nation's highest office. I have no problem with others who do not share my views respectfully, as we do live in what is supposed to be a free nation. I, however, have zero tolerance for hatred or violence aimed toward anyone no matter their politics, race, sexuality, religion or social status. We now have resorted to misquoting the constitution to further our own agenda and bemoan it is our right, while denying the rights of others. We have politicians calling out a lynch mob for certain political figures while turning a blind eye to the misdeeds of others. We have news channels that spew more venom than a rattlesnake and call themselves professional journalists. We fear what we do not understand and therefore, point fingers and lay blame rather than educate ourselves before engaging in verbal or physical warfare.

What is the answer to all of the above? Guns are not the answer, rather becoming the problem. I am not suggesting ones sacred second amendment rights be taken away, rather the ease of attaining a weapon be more stringent to avoid as much as possible, guns in the hands of those who should never possess them in the first place. A responsible gun owner should have no problem with this. Perhaps we learn how to calmly and effectively communicate with those we disagree with and see the value of their opinion as long as they can carry on respectful dialogue. Let us remember that the Civil War has long since ended and waving the confederate flag does not symbolize honor and respect, rather sends a blatant message of racial injustice that needs to end once and for all.

Isn't everyone tired of all the needless battles while we try to keep this country and its inhabitants safe from harm? I am even finding some members of the military to be filled with hatred and rage toward anyone who does not see things their way. I respect and have supported veterans and the organizations that support them. I do not now nor will I ever respect violent and threatening statements and actions that not only demean those with whom you are communicating but it says even less about you. Let's try supporting and uplifting each other instead of tearing each other down. In the face of world terrorism, lets not give strength to those who seek to destroy us by destroying each other. Let us unify instead of dividing. I love my country but wish we could be the kind of nation we are capable of instead of the embarrassment we are becoming. We don't need to "Make America Great Again" We need to look within and make ourselves better or we will be responsible for our own demise.

I try to be a beacon of positive light but it is a battle and I am determined to keep darkness out and let my light shine. Our country is not just geography, landscapes, symbols and landmarks but the most important commodity we have is humanity. Let us strive to pay homage to the beauty of what the freedom so many have fought and died for truly represents so that "We the People" can enjoy freedom and justice for all who live in these UNITED States.

The Healing of a Nation

The world is a puzzling place at the moment. We have all been thrust into the abyss of a presidential election year that has been the most cutthroat of any I have ever witnessed in all my many years upon the planet. Name calling, threats, accusations, snarling, backbiting...I think I've made my point here. We have become a nation divided by political views, race, religion and whatever else ignites one's anger and indignation. Social media, news, reality television, all of which only acerbates the escalating anger of the masses and forces one to take sides, protest, shake our fists and raise our voices.

Does any of this actually accomplish anything? I have the opinion that we as a nation are backsliding into a mentality that judges all who do not agree with us dis favorably and we bravely call any and everyone out who is not on the same page and then the mudslinging begins. There are those who have a great deal of courage behind a keyboard or cell phone and throw caution to the wind when spewing forth verbal attacks based on differing views and then will even stoop so low as to launch attacks based on one's physical appearance and age. I don't know about anyone else but frankly, I have had enough. It is hard to be a light and a visionary when adults who should know better and set an example of exemplary behavior for our country's youth, including their own children and grandchildren, become the bullies we try to keep out of the schoolyard.

Never have I witnessed such disrespect toward our nation's highest official and his spouse. There have been a few leaders I have not agreed with but under no circumstances would I wish them or their families harm. I have no problem with others who do not share my views as we do live in what is supposed to be a free nation. I, however, have zero tolerance for hatred or violence aimed toward anyone no matter their politics, race, sexuality, religion or social status. We now have resorted to misquoting the constitution to further our own agenda and be cry it is our right, while denying the rights of others. We have politicians calling out a lynch mob for certain political figures while turning a blind eye to the misdeeds of others. We have news channels that spew more venom than a rattlesnake and call themselves professional journalists. We fear what we do not understand and therefore point fingers and lay blame rather than educate ourselves before engaging in verbal or physical warfare.

What is the answer to all of the above? Guns are not the answer, rather becoming the problem. I am not suggesting ones sacred second amendment rights be taken away, rather the ease of attaining a weapon be more stringent to avoid as much as possible, guns in the hands of those who should never possess them in the first place. A responsible gun owner should have no problem with this. How about we learn how to calmly and effectively communicate with those we disagree with and see the value of their opinion as long as they can carry on a respectful dialogue. Let us remember that the Civil War has long since ended and waving the confederate flag does not symbolize honor and respect, rather sends a blatant message of racial injustice that needs to end once and for all.

Isn't everyone tired of all the needless battles while we try to keep this country and its inhabitants safe from harm? I am even finding some members of the military to be filled with hatred and rage toward anyone who does not see things their way. I respect and have supported veterans and the organizations that support them. I do not now nor will I ever respect violent and threatening statements and actions that not only demeans those with whom you are communicating but it says even less about you. Let's try supporting and uplifting each other instead of tearing each other down. In the face of world terrorism we give strength to those who seek to destroy us by destroying each other. Let us unify instead of dividing. I love my country but wish we could be the kind of nation we are capable of instead of the embarrassment we are becoming. We don't need to "Make America Great Again" We need to look within and make ourselves better or we will be responsible for our own demise.

I try to be a beacon of positive light but it is a battle and I am determined to keep darkness out and let my light shine. Our country is not just geography and landscape and symbols and landmarks but the most important commodity we have is humanity. Let us strive to pay homage to the beauty of what the freedom so many have fought and died for so that "We the People" can enjoy freedom and justice for all who live in these UNITED States.

Babette the Reikitty

Such a face! There are many kinds of pet owners, those who can't be without one, those who are allergic and those who prefer dogs over cats as they find them to be "friendlier". This is just my opinion and while I appreciate their cuteness and faithfulness, I also find them to be a bit needy for my taste. I like the self sufficiency of my feline companion and her ability to show love and affection (on her terms) and be dismissive and allow me to have time to myself without needing constant attention. I admire that in a pet frankly.


As a Reiki and healing arts practitioner, I find it very necessary to have as much peace and tranquility in my home as possible. When clients come for a healing session, dear old Babs makes herself scarce until the session is over, then, as if on cue, she appears and allows clients to pay attention to her, or not, whichever they please. I think she feels that the healing is not complete until she makes an appearance. She is probably right.

There are those who have doubts as to the healing qualities that animals possess but I know better.
Have you ever noticed your pets staring at a spot on the wall, avoiding a certain room in the house, or even avoiding certain people they may come in contact with? I never ignore my cat when she seems to "warn" me of something or someone to stay clear of, or gravitate to, whatever the case may be. Animals have a heightened sense of their surroundings and when they give warning, we would do well to take heed.

Native Americans have long since had a healthy respect for the intuition of animals. There is a reason why they choose animal totems to guide them in their daily lives. Humans possess intuition but on a very different level than animals. Many cultures find animals to be sacred and a gift from the spirits. That is how I feel about my furry friend, Babette.

When I am not feeling the healthiest in body and spirit, she lays on me or near me to "heal" me and it usually works wonders. I always feel better when petting her and when she reaches out her paw to express her love and unconditional acceptance, I melt a little inside. Call me a pushover but I never feel judged or that any more than love and affection are needed from me. People however, are not always so easy to please.

Being a lightworker has brought much joy and meaning in my life and besides my family and close friends, so does my dear Reikitty Babette. She is now 15 years old and I cannot bear to think of the day she will no longer be with me in this world. Pets are family as much as our human family members and often cause us less stress. May every pet owner be kind and gentle and remember that our animal companions give as much to us as we give to them and sometimes, maybe even more.

Happy Birthday Miss America

The land of the free and the home of the brave, or so they say. Some may not agree with this time honored statement but if you compare our freedom and democracy with other countries, we actually have it pretty good my fellow Americans.
Let's face it, the world in general needs some work. Let us start by ending hatred, hunger, violence, abuse and financial devastation. These are all fixable and there are solutions to end these problems worldwide. However, we just need to do one thing...Compromise!  It begins with listening to one another and actually communicating in a effective and positive manner. One can wave the flag and becry the injustices we think we suffer from but my opinion is, people seem to listen harder when you speak softly and without judgment and condemnation. Let us all spend more wisely, judge others less harshly and work more effectively as a nation to end poverty, hunger, healthcare reform and violence.

It seems, we Americans tend to love the drama of negativity. Perhaps less reality tv and deal with reality off screen, cause we all know reality tv is a bit, shall I say, enhanced. Quit texting for 5 seconds and actually speak to someone in person for a change. Disconnect from our cell phones long enough for a personal exchange with a human within close proximity of you. Am I saying this technology is necessarily a bad thing? No, because I use all of the above but try to stay connected on a personal level with people whom I care about and do business with. If you ask me to lunch and spend most of your time texting or on your cell, I am going to haul my butt out the door because you have been beyond rude and don't deserve my time and attention.

Please stop blaming the plight of lost manners and poor behavior on our youth. Where do we think they learn this from? I have seen more moronic behavior and bad attitudes from adults than I have ever seen from children. I do not play into the "back in my day" BS either. Adults keep blaming the generation before and we need to just shut up and set a good example. The good old days are gone so quit reliving them and worry about the here and now. I am no longer in high school and don't want to go back. I have no misconceptions of how wonderful life "used" to be. We need to focus on the life we are currently living and deal with our problems in the present because, the "good old days" weren't always so great. We still had wars, domestic violence (keeping the little lady in line) child abuse (erroniously called discipline) racial unrest, murders, rapes, incest and the list goes on. The only reason we are more aware of these issues today is due to the media reporting everything and anything.

Want America to be better? Be part of the solution instead of part of the problem. The government isn't perfect and neither are we. Love your country? Prove it! Volunteer to help worthy organizations, support our neighbors instead of tearing them down, be a positive instead of a negative voice in the community, stop whining and start doing something. There are amazing citizens who make a difference every day in their communities and we should applaud them. Start putting positive posts on your facebook page instead of hateful and negative ones because frankly, I am getting sick of them.

Let us all love this country the way it deserves. Set aside our differences, political and religious views and combine energies to make this a country we can be proud to call our home. It is our responsibility to make it the best that it can be. As this Fourth of July celebration approaches, let us all take pause to remember why we honor this day in the first place. "Liberty and Justice for ALL"

Bitter Sweet May

We wait throughout the winter season, amid freezing temperatures, snow and ice covered roads which create hazardous driving conditions, endure post holiday blahs and long for the sweetness of spring. March welcomes in the season we long for but as any of us who live in the unpredictable Midwest know, March can and does come in like a lion. April can be lovely but there is still more likely than not, a chill in the air. May can bring equal parts of warmth, sunshine and a hint of summer.

For me, May is my favorite month of the spring season. Blossoms abound and the scent of flora and fauna intoxicate my senses, as I long for invigorating walks in nature, appreciating her colorful display designed by the most brilliant designer in the universe...Mother Nature. May is also the birthday month of my dearest friend of twelve years. We have had many adventures and will have many more I am sure.

May also holds bitter sweet memories of my parents, whom I dearly miss. My mother's birthday would be May 19th and my father's May 20th. My mother was a transplanted southern belle who still had a gentle lilt to her voice. I admit to having my moments with mom in my youth but any negative, rebellious feelings have long since passed and I came to respect and love her dearly. She was a marvelous grandmother and she is dearly missed by those who loved and still do love her. I am amazed that it has been almost twenty years since her passing and I cannot help but feel a bit envious at times when others of my age enjoy the company of their mother's. Mother's Day means even more, not only 
because I am a mother myself but this year, my oldest daughter will enjoy her very first Mother's Day. It is a time of joy, yet, I still have a stirring in my heart for my own mother.

How can I describe my dad? He was energetic, silly, sometimes exasperating and stubborn but he also was a social butterfly, good dancer, animal lover and had the huts pah to jump out of a plane at the tender age of 80 (which scared the life out of his daughters) and continued to do so until he was 85, stating "If George Bush can do it at 80, so can I". I believe the town he resided in is a bit quieter without him and I hope he, as well as my mother, are remembered as fondly by others who knew them as they are by their family.

This year, I will bake a cake for them both and wish them a "heavenly" birthday. I hope they look down favorably upon my creative and caring spirit and give a blessing to myself, my sisters and our children and now their great grandson.

May is a time of transformation and transition with cherished memories and the promise of hope and inspiration. For all the special days and special people both here on earth and beyond...celebrate May!